Last updated on November 19th, 2023 at 12:57 pm
Celebrating it’s third year, parents (moms and dads too) across the UK are gathering in local coffee shops to support breastfeeding tomorrow in celebration of #TheBigBreastfeedingCafe event. It’s an event to encourage moms in the area to get together to talk all things breastfeeding, sharing experiences, tips, advice, support and just a friendly chat with other moms.
Medela set up #TheBigBreastfeedingCafe after recent surveys showed 50% of moms felt the most helpful breastfeeding advice came from breastfeeding support groups, family and friends. Our peers can teach us a lot. I know that in my three breastfeeding experiences (one still currently ongoing) each one has been completely different and asking for help and advice in support groups and from mom friends has been an absolute blessing for me. Sometimes it’s just nice to talk to someone else that is going through some of the same symptoms or issues like engorgement or latching problems as you. Sometimes you may not have any issues but you can help someone else or just have a general chat about how well your babies are both feeding.
So get online, check out the hashtag on twitter and help Medela along encouraging and supporting breastfeeding moms around the UK. Chat with other parents online about breastfeeding you don’t have to be in the cafe to connect with other breastfeeding moms. The date to host your own breastfeeding cafe event has passed but that doesn’t need to stop you from inviting a few of your mom friends around and start your own support group for breastfeeding or meet up with them in your local cafe.
“The Big Breastfeeding Café continues to be a brilliant way to demonstrate the importance of mom to mom support and raise awareness of breastfeeding in public.”
My first time breastfeeding experience, I didn’t struggle with the actual breastfeeding it was more the confidence to do it in front of people or in public. I was shy about it and uncomfortable at first. It took me a while and a few friends to help me through it so I can feed my son anywhere.
The second time around it was the complete opposite. I had the confidence as I fed my son in the end over a year and had lots of public practice and support. The problems I faced with my daughter were latching, engorgement, mastitis problems. All the things that could go wrong while trying to establish breastfeeding occurred. At first, I was hesitant to get help or support. I thought because I did a year of it with my son, what could I learn about it to help my daughter. I couldn’t have been more WRONG. Get help, support, advice. Reach out to those family and friends or if you feel confident other breastfeeding support groups or your midwife/health visitors. I should have before my breastfeeding got so bad I didn’t have a choice but to stop before I was ready to stop.
My third time around, with my youngest at only a week old. We have overcome the engorgement problems I had with my daughter because I got help right away from my midwives and a group called F.A.B. which are actually fab not just Families and Babies. I have friends that all have had babies close to same time as me and we chat online back and forth helping each other from afar. One lives in America and we are always sharing experiences, tips, and advice on how our new babies are feeding. It really helps to relate to other moms too. You don’t feel alone in your struggles.
As you can see, breastfeeding can be a different experience every time. Each time you will learn something new from someone new. It’s all about being open and talking with someone about it. You might just be the person that helps someone else out so much and don’t even know it. It should be a great journey for both you and your baby. One that you share. One that you are comfortable in public to experience. One that you will cherish forever.
*collaboration
