Getting the right help and support encouraged local young mum to experience the joys of breastfeeding

EVERYONE has a part to play in helping mums to breastfeed, as a local young mum found out with the help she received giving her the chance to experience the joys of breastfeeding.

Jemima Wright, 21, from Ashton-under-Lyne, is sharing her breastfeeding story, as part of National Breastfeeding Awareness Week running from 27 June to 3 July, to show others that help and support is available and that you don’t have to go through the experience alone.

It wasn’t easy or pleasant for Jemima at the beginning of her breastfeeding journey.  Firstly, there was an unfortunate delay in identifying that her son, Karson, had a tongue tie, leading to some pain and discomfort for Jemima during each feed.  Jemima’s mum recommended she seek advice from a family friend – Danielle, a peer supporter with the Home-Start’s peer support team working across Tameside and Oldham.

Jemima said: “I also found out that I had mastitis and was referred to Fiona, a community lactation consultant in Tameside, who saw me almost immediately.  She helped me to get the situation under control and referred me to the tongue tie clinic at Tameside Hospital to correct the issue in a matter of weeks.  I got mastitis four more times!  However, soon afterwards I had an oversupply of milk in one breast.  Danielle at Home-Start pointed out it would eventually settle, once my milk had adjusted to what my baby needed.”

To this day, Jemima is still happily breastfeeding Karson thanks to the support she received from Danielle, Fiona and her partner Konnor, who looked after her and Karson during her mastitis episodes.  She’s found breastfeeding has opened up the world of travel with Karson, whether at home or abroad, because she has everything her baby needs, no matter where she is. 

She added: “I grew up in an exclusively breastfed household of babies, so for me it was a given that I was going to breastfeed, or at least to try it.  Thankfully, Karson, who is 8 months old now, has made it so enjoyable that I have chosen to stick to it, until he tells me he is ready to stop!

“I’m so grateful to have had the support I did to help me become fully fledged in feeding my baby, so much so, I’m even considering becoming a lactation consultant myself!

“I most definitely recommend breastfeeding to everyone.  It’s such an amazing feeling to have a bond between you and your baby that you can’t even explain to someone else.  Watching my baby grow, especially in the first months of his life, has been so rewarding.  Knowing that my milk was, and still is, helping him grow and develop every single day!

“A common misconception is that people will look at you funny if you start to breastfeed your baby in public but honestly, so many people smile and reminisce about their own breastfeeding journey, which makes me happy to know that I’m part of a community of women who know the trials and tribulations of breastfeeding.  I have even taken up CrossFit, which I didn’t think I could whilst breastfeeding and everyone there doesn’t even bat an eyelid when I sit down after a workout to feed Karson! 

“I absolutely love breastfeeding, I will always be a strong advocate to anyone and everyone, old or young, and I plan on breastfeeding my future children!”

Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Population Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Eleanor Wills, said: “Thank you so much Jemima for sharing your fantastic story to highlight the fabulous support that is available locally to help new mums overcome any issues they may experience during their breastfeeding journey.”

Home-Start’s infant feeding team offers support to parents living in Tameside and Oldham and is a service delivered by paid staff and volunteers.  Their duty phone is manned from 9am to 6pm, seven days a week.  Telephone: 07802 883947 or contact the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212, open Monday to Friday from 9am to 9.30pm.

Professional support can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-help-and-support/ and on Tameside Council’s website at https://www.tameside.gov.uk/health/breastfeeding