What does support mean? When it comes to breastfeeding your baby, the dictionary definition may, or may not be too helpful: Support /səˈpɔːt/ verb 1. bear all or part of the weight of; hold up. 2. give assistance to, especially financially. noun 1. a thing that bears the weight of Continue Reading
6 Visions of Breastfeeding Support for Cinderella
As brand new breastfeeding mothers, we can sometimes feel like Cinderella, sitting lonely in the kitchen while everyone else is having fun, feeling like we have been tasked with the impossible. But just like Cinderella, you are not alone. Even without her mother to care for her, Cinders had others Continue Reading
My Doula Year 2018
I started the year with twins. Sitting in the quiet, dark hours with a mother as she feeds one, and then the other. I hold a baby, pat and settle them both. Whisper reassurance into the gloaming. Christmas lights still twinkle outside the window. I doze on the sofa til daybreak. Next Continue Reading
Birth Trauma: The Emotional Ripple Effects
"At least you have a healthy baby" "It's over now, focus on your lovely baby" "It's horrific isn't it? You'll soon forget the pain and want another baby, LOL" "Chin up, try not to let it get to you" "All that matters is a healthy baby" "Why are you crying?" "You didn't really think you could Continue Reading
Dear Fed Is Best…
Today's guest post is by doula and trainee breastfeeding counsellor Becky Young. Trigger warning, contains content about an ill baby. I am honoured to host this story of suffering and prevailing breastfeeding trauma. If you have unresolved feelings of grief around your breastfeeding journey, please Continue Reading
Breastfeeding Celebration? The Lights Go Out in Blackpool
Today's post is from Zoe Walsh, a doula and trainee Breastfeeding Counsellor in Blackpool who is joining us to speak out against the cuts to breastfeeding support during 'Breastfeeding Celebration Week'. If, like us, you feel there really isn't much to celebrate (other than the amazing families who Continue Reading
Linda Goes to Dunkirk Again
My latest trip to the Dunkirk refugee camp, now christened The New Jungle, was a depressing but satisfactory visit. This time l went with some other doulas and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, who needed to visit the camp to assess the conditions for mothers either Continue Reading
Sorry: A Midwife Speaks
Today's post is an anonymous contribution from a midwife working in the NHS. I publish this to help her find an outlet for her feelings and to draw attention to the looming crisis that maternity services face as more midwives are leaving the profession than joining, funding is being cut and morale Continue Reading
Linda goes back to Camp…Dunkirk January 2017
Another guest post from my friend, Linda Robinson MBE. Linda’s account of her visit to the Dunkirk camp, January 2017. Life has not improved since I was there 2 months ago. I found more despair and I picked up the feeling that they felt that their lives were going nowhere. The trip had Continue Reading
Trapped in a Post-Fact Nightmare: infant feeding in the Dunkirk Refugee Camp
I used to be incredibly naive. I was brought up to believe that our leaders, even if we didn't agree with their particular brand of political philosophy, generally had our best interests at heart. Us, the people, were their top priority. Within that mindset came the belief that rules, laws and Continue Reading