You Can Breastfeed Here !

This post is about places that are happy for you to Breastfeed at their premises, or not!

It will not be a big Name and Shame, more a celebration of good customer service, although if you have a problem with somewhere, maybe the readers would like to know!

If you have any successful stories or horror stories, please let me know at breast4babies@yahoo.co.uk and I shall add to the list.

I am pleased to say that, so far I have heard nothing but praise  in my local area for ...

Barclays Bank, Lowestoft Suffolk

TK Max Great Yarmouth will offer you a place to go and feed.

Royal Bank of Scotland, Great Yarmouth

Southwold Pier

Kwik-Fit Lowestoft

Beales, Lowestoft

And from other mummies countrywide ...

Costa Coffee, have nice comfortable sofas to feed!

Debenhams

StarBucks

Pizza Hut

John Lewis

One mum has reported that her local Dorothy Perkins was not at all helpful and she had to beg to use a changing room to feed her screaming baby!  Such a shame as I am sure many of their clients are mums with little babies.

and the star award so far goes to ...

Marks and Spencers in Manchester

One mummy reported that they were amazing, whilst she was BF her daughter, they bought her a coffee on the house.Its so nice to hear positive news, well done Marks and Spencers xxx



Benefits of breastfeeding for mum and baby

For all those pregnant ladies out there, considering which way to feed your baby, there are many benefits to breastfeed, bith for you and your baby. I am not trying to force you to make breastfeeding your only choice, merely giving you the facts, it is entirely your choice how you feed your baby, although I think most people will agree there are some great positives for breastfeeding.

Benefits to Breastfed Babies.

~ Better neurological development.
~Better jaw development.
~Straighter, healthier teeth.
~Protection against ear infections
~Protection against colds, chest infections and sore throats
~Prolongs natural immunity to mumps, measles, polio and other diseases.
~Lessens chance of eczema and other allergies
~ Lower risk of diabetes
~Helps prevent obesity
~ Protection against gastro-enteritis and tummy upsets


Benefits to mums who breastfeed.
~ Reduces the risk of breast cancer
~Reduces the risk of ovarian cancer
~Lower risk of hip fractures and low bone density
~Helps mother get her figure back quicker - it naturally uses up about 500 extra calories a day.
~ It saves money - formula feeding can cost as much as £45 per month.

I always said that my blog would not force it down anyone's throats, so I shall leave you with the list and you can make up your own mind, if you have any questions or queries, I would be more than happy to answer them, just drop me an email at breast4babies@yahoo.co.uk and I will give you any advice that you need, unless it is how to get more sleep because I am still working on that one!!

Thrupenny Bits Breastfeeding Cover Giveaway.

Thrupenny Bits is a fantastic website offering gorgeous breastfeeding pillows which can be used as a change bag too.
They are now making gorgeous breastfeeding covers in the most stunning fabrics, perfect for any breastfeeding mummy that would like a little privacy.
The wonderfull Melissa has kindly donated a floral cover to give to one lucky blog reader, worth £22.

To be in with a chance of wining this gorgeous cover, please

~ head over to Thrupenny Bits website and take a look, then head back here and leave me a comment with your favourite product

~ Follow Breast 4 Babies via GFC, Networked Blogs or via email

To gain extra entries you can:

~ Like Breast4Babies on facebook

~ Follow @Breast4Babies on twitter

~ Like Thrupenny Bits on facebook

~ Follow Thrupenny Bits on Twitter

Please leave a separate comment for each action, good Luck xxx

Closing Date: 28th May 2012

At The Beginning...

I cannot quite believe that it has been fourteen years since I began my breastfeeding journey.

Whilst I was pregnant with our eldest Xene, I was also training as a nurse. At 28 weeks pregnant I started my four week placement on the maternity, which included both antenatal and postnatal wards and out in the community.

The midwife that I went out in the community with, was responsible for running the Breastfeeding Workshops for parents to be, so I went along to find out more.
I had already decided that I would breastfeed, mainly because I disliked the idea of getting up in the middle of the night to make up bottles and we didn't have that much money at the time, and breastfeeding was FREE!

The session lasted a couple of hours and I came away feeling sure that I would give breastfeeding a go, and quite confident with the whole process.

I know that I was fortunate to have a fantastic midwife, who is completely supportive to all women that want to breastfeed, and she is still helping mums now, in fact she was the midwife that was present at Tyrus' home birth, and when I walked into the training room, she was the one delivering the course.

I am aware that many pregnant ladies are not so lucky, and have not had enough support.
How was your first experience, were you lucky like me, or did you feel that support was sadly lacking.

Hello and Welcome to my new blog.

As many of you may know I began my family blog Hex Mum last June and I love to write about our wonderful adventures and antics.

However this blog is slightly different. I have just begun my UNICEF training to become a Breastfeeding Peer Supporter, based in my local area.

After the first two days I realised that even after successfully breastfeeding six children, the first five until 18 months and our little man Tyrus is still going strong at nine months, there were lots of new things that I had learnt.

There have been many changes since I first started my breastfeeding journey 14 years ago and I wanted a way to communicate and share all these new things.

Don't panic I shall NOT be shoving breastfeeding down your throats, we are all grown women and men, capable of making our own decisions, but if I can answer just one person's query or put a mothers mind at rest, then this blog will be worth it.

If you are sat reading this and have a breastfeeding story that you would like to share with the world, or you have a burning breastfeeding question that you think I may be able to answer, then please drop me a line at breast4babies@yahoo.co.uk.