Become a contributor and register to submit your story!
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

Boobingit
  • Mama Stories
  • Articles
    • All
    • Breastfeeding benefits
    • Breastfeeding challenges
    • Latest research
    • Pregnancy + Birth
    • Products + Reviews
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • Support
    • Tips + Advice
    Charlotte expressing milk with double electric pump

    What you need to know about expressing your milk

    Young woman cradling crying baby daughter on bed, over shoulder view

    Brain mechanism may explain why breastfeeding mothers leak milk when babies cry

    Four breastfeeding mothers share their story for NICU Awareness Month 2023

    Four breastfeeding mothers share their story for NICU Awareness Month 2023

    Getting breastfeeding right the second time around

    Getting breastfeeding right the second time around

    Breastfeeding at the beach – 10 mamas share their photos and memories

    Breastfeeding at the beach – 10 mamas share their photos and memories

    “I wanted to breastfeed for 6 months, but here we are 22 months later!”

    “I wanted to breastfeed for 6 months, but here we are 22 months later!”

    Trending Tags

    • boobingit podcast
    • breastfeeding support
    • diy breast milk soap
    • Breastfeeding in public
    • Celebrity
    • breastfeeding celebrities
    • Black Breastfeeding Week
    • Breastfeeding benefits
    • Breastfeeding challenges
    • Latest research
    • Pregnancy + Birth
    • Products + Reviews
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • Support
    • Tips + Advice
  • Guides
    • Breastfeeding after giving birth
    • Breastfeeding in public
    • Breastfeeding a toddler
    • Breastfeeding after a c-section
    • Breastfeeding multiples
    • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
    • Breastfeeding and Down Syndrome
    • Breastfeeding at Christmas
    • Expressing milk
    • Mastitis
    • Milk donation
    • Breastfeeding and teething
    • Milk supply
    • Tongue Tie in babies
    • Returning to work
    • Stopping breastfeeding
    • Breastfeeding aversion
    • Breastfeeding positions
    • Breast pumps
  • The Podcast
  • Contributors
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book
  • Mama Stories
  • Articles
    • All
    • Breastfeeding benefits
    • Breastfeeding challenges
    • Latest research
    • Pregnancy + Birth
    • Products + Reviews
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • Support
    • Tips + Advice
    Charlotte expressing milk with double electric pump

    What you need to know about expressing your milk

    Young woman cradling crying baby daughter on bed, over shoulder view

    Brain mechanism may explain why breastfeeding mothers leak milk when babies cry

    Four breastfeeding mothers share their story for NICU Awareness Month 2023

    Four breastfeeding mothers share their story for NICU Awareness Month 2023

    Getting breastfeeding right the second time around

    Getting breastfeeding right the second time around

    Breastfeeding at the beach – 10 mamas share their photos and memories

    Breastfeeding at the beach – 10 mamas share their photos and memories

    “I wanted to breastfeed for 6 months, but here we are 22 months later!”

    “I wanted to breastfeed for 6 months, but here we are 22 months later!”

    Trending Tags

    • boobingit podcast
    • breastfeeding support
    • diy breast milk soap
    • Breastfeeding in public
    • Celebrity
    • breastfeeding celebrities
    • Black Breastfeeding Week
    • Breastfeeding benefits
    • Breastfeeding challenges
    • Latest research
    • Pregnancy + Birth
    • Products + Reviews
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • Support
    • Tips + Advice
  • Guides
    • Breastfeeding after giving birth
    • Breastfeeding in public
    • Breastfeeding a toddler
    • Breastfeeding after a c-section
    • Breastfeeding multiples
    • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
    • Breastfeeding and Down Syndrome
    • Breastfeeding at Christmas
    • Expressing milk
    • Mastitis
    • Milk donation
    • Breastfeeding and teething
    • Milk supply
    • Tongue Tie in babies
    • Returning to work
    • Stopping breastfeeding
    • Breastfeeding aversion
    • Breastfeeding positions
    • Breast pumps
  • The Podcast
  • Contributors
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

Boobingit
No Result
View All Result

Breastfeeding after IVF, hyperemesis, and an emergency c-section

in Articles, Breastfeeding challenges, Mama Stories
Home Mama Stories

Since we’d needed IVF to conceive and then I’d relied on anti-sickness medication to get me through the pregnancy with hyperemesis, it was so important to me that I could breastfeed my baby when she was born. I needed to do one part of the whole journey “naturally”.

I did all the reading and attended online workshops to make sure I was as prepared as I could be for when my baby arrived. From 37 weeks of pregnancy, I spent many an evening attempting to collect colostrum. I had a low-lying anterior placenta and was given the go-ahead by my midwife and consultant to do this.

Unfortunately, I never managed more than 3-4ml of colostrum in one go. I think that was down to the amount of pressure I was putting on myself to collect loads, which obviously stopped that oxytocin flowing.

I ended up having an emergency C-section following a failed induction.

Emergency c-section

Unfortunately, I ended up having an emergency C-section following a failed induction. This in turn led me to lose a huge amount of blood and have a prolonged recovery in hospital. Of course, this impacted the start of our breastfeeding journey as I wasn’t even well enough to hold my baby when she was born, never mind feed her.

About 8 or 9 hours after she was born, a very kind nurse came to check in on me in the high dependency unit where I was alone due to covid restrictions. She offered to help me hold my baby for the first time and even latched her onto my breast for the first time and held her there while she fed. It was amazing and I just remember bursting into tears as it was something I’d only dreamt of until that point. 

My milk suddenly came in while I was sitting on the postnatal ward and my baby, Harriet, started crying.

On day 3 my milk came in

Jump to three days later and my milk suddenly came in while I was sitting on the postnatal ward and my baby, Harriet, started crying. I couldn’t believe how much milk was suddenly leaking from both of my breasts! However, due to me still being really unwell and needing extra support (plus my nipples already being cracked and bleeding) I wasn’t breastfeeding and the hospital staff had been feeding Harriet with formula.

Once we got home a few days later and my nipples had had some time to heal, I started trying to breastfeed Harriet but it proved to be a lot more difficult by that point and I couldn’t get her to latch properly. I ended up with extremely sore, cracked, and bleeding nipples again.

breastfeeding after ivf

I contacted my local infant feeding team and they were brilliant, giving me advice over the phone and arranging for someone to visit me

My local infant feeding team were brilliant

I contacted my local infant feeding team and they were brilliant, giving me advice over the phone and arranging for someone to visit me to help with Harriet’s latch. They were really good and they arranged for me to hire a breast pump so I could encourage my supply even more since we were having to combi feed to ensure Harriet was getting what she needed (or at least that’s what I’d been lead to believe at the time!).

I was also extremely lucky to have the support of my sister-in-law, my breastfeeding inspiration. She was always at the other end of the phone to help me out, no matter what time of day or night I needed her! Without her support, we wouldn’t be where we are now – exclusively breastfeeding for the past 3 months, with a very healthy chunky little monkey!

breastfeeding after ivf and an emergency c-section

I’m so proud of how far we’ve both come in the past 7 months, despite it feeling at times like we’d never get here.

We’re seven months in now and I’m so proud

I’m so proud of how far we’ve both come in the past 7 months, despite it feeling at times like we’d never get here. Breastfeeding comes so naturally to us both now and makes life so much easier as there’s no bottles to prepare, no formula to buy and I can’t forget my boobs!! 

I know breastfeeding isn’t for everyone and there are so many factors that come into play, but I hope sharing our story helps another mama through what can be an extremely tough time! And we’re proof that it is possible to come back from exclusively formula feeding to exclusively breastfeeding. But we couldn’t have done it without the support of friends, family and local support teams.

The two pieces of advice that my sister-in-law gave me that got me through the toughest times, and that I always share with others now, are this – 1. Everything is temporary, the pain, the tiredness, the sadness. And 2. Think of any feeding or pumping as putting your order in for the following day. So even if you don’t get a lot of milk from pumping or your baby is cluster feeding, tomorrow will be better because your body will be more prepared for the demand!

Would you like to inspire and empower other mamas by sharing your own breastfeeding story? Sign up today to add your story! We’d love to hear from you.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Tags: breastfeedingbreastfeeding after a c-sectionbreastfeeding after ivfbreastfeeding journeybreastfeeding storyc-sectioncolostrum harvestingexclusively breastfeedinghyperemesisIVF
Louise Cowlishaw-Booth

Louise Cowlishaw-Booth

Previous Post

Breastfeeding babies can offset the risk of asthma from antibiotics

Next Post

Let’s talk about Sex and Breastfeeding

Related Posts

Charlotte expressing milk with double electric pump
Tips + Advice

What you need to know about expressing your milk

September 22, 2023
Young woman cradling crying baby daughter on bed, over shoulder view
Latest research

Brain mechanism may explain why breastfeeding mothers leak milk when babies cry

September 21, 2023
Four breastfeeding mothers share their story for NICU Awareness Month 2023
Mama Stories

Four breastfeeding mothers share their story for NICU Awareness Month 2023

September 19, 2023
Getting breastfeeding right the second time around
Mama Stories

Getting breastfeeding right the second time around

September 18, 2023
Please login to join discussion
Boobingit

Boobingit is here to inform, inspire, and empower you as you navigate your own unique breastfeeding journey.

Follow Boobingit on social

Be part of boobingit.com

Become a Partner

Become a Contributor

  • About boobingit
  • Shop
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2020, Boobingit - for breastfeeders everywhere.

  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
No Result
View All Result
  • Mama Stories
  • Articles
    • Black Breastfeeding Week
    • Breastfeeding benefits
    • Breastfeeding challenges
    • Latest research
    • Pregnancy + Birth
    • Products + Reviews
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • Support
    • Tips + Advice
  • Guides
    • Breastfeeding after giving birth
    • Breastfeeding in public
    • Breastfeeding a toddler
    • Breastfeeding after a c-section
    • Breastfeeding multiples
    • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
    • Breastfeeding and Down Syndrome
    • Breastfeeding at Christmas
    • Expressing milk
    • Mastitis
    • Milk donation
    • Breastfeeding and teething
    • Milk supply
    • Tongue Tie in babies
    • Returning to work
    • Stopping breastfeeding
    • Breastfeeding aversion
    • Breastfeeding positions
    • Breast pumps
  • The Podcast
  • Contributors
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book

Copyright © 2020, Boobingit - for breastfeeders everywhere.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
OR

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Breastfeeding for Beginners – Latches, letdowns & leaky boobs

Out Now!

Shop Now