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
    Faith with her baby and toddler

    Breastfeeding your baby when you have a toddler – a survival guide

    Shellie breastfeeding baby Adonis who has Down syndrome

    Breastfeeding and Down Syndrome – Baby Adonis’ story

    Laura Anderson breastfeeding September 2023

    6 of the best celebrity breastfeeding moments from September 2023

    Leane breastfeeding her toddler

    The realities of breastfeeding a toddler

    Alice breastfeeding her baby outside on a bench

    Breastfeeding shaped the connection I have with my child

    Charlotte expressing milk with double electric pump

    What you need to know about expressing your milk

    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
    Faith with her baby and toddler

    Breastfeeding your baby when you have a toddler – a survival guide

    Shellie breastfeeding baby Adonis who has Down syndrome

    Breastfeeding and Down Syndrome – Baby Adonis’ story

    Laura Anderson breastfeeding September 2023

    6 of the best celebrity breastfeeding moments from September 2023

    Leane breastfeeding her toddler

    The realities of breastfeeding a toddler

    Alice breastfeeding her baby outside on a bench

    Breastfeeding shaped the connection I have with my child

    Charlotte expressing milk with double electric pump

    What you need to know about expressing your milk

    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

“A surprise diagnosis threw our whole breastfeeding journey into question”

in Articles, Breastfeeding challenges, Mama Stories
Home Mama Stories

I breastfed my first child, Clara for 14 months and so when I got pregnant with my son I had no doubts I’d do it again. I hoped that second time around breastfeeding would be even better and smoother than the first time. What I wasn’t prepared for was a surprise diagnosis after birth that threw our whole breastfeeding journey into question.

A surprise diagnosis after birth

The day my son Caleb was born is a bit of a blur, for many reasons. He was two weeks early, and we just about made it to the hospital in time for delivery. Shortly after birth, we got a surprise Down Syndrome diagnosis.

In the whirlwind of everything that day, I remember uttering the words ‘Down Syndrome’ to my husband and feeling so disappointed.

To my delight Caleb was a textbook baby that commando crawled to latch from the second he was placed on me. “Second time round” I thought “This will be a breeze!”. There was no doubt about it Caleb was born hungry!

There was no doubt about it Caleb was born hungry!

Down Syndrome diagnosis

I was so pleased as I’d had a tough start to breastfeeding his older sister Clara due to a tongue tie, infections, and a milk allergy. Whilst I ended up breastfeeding her for 14 months I was therefore under no illusions that breastfeeding was easy!

I felt our breastfeeding journey was over before it had even begun

Caleb was born in a Midwife Led Unit so when the possibility of him having Down’s Syndrome came to light, he needed a blood test to confirm. This meant just a few hours after he was born, I was bundled into the back of an ambulance beside him. He looked so tiny in his incubator covered in wires. Along with all my fears regarding his health, his future, and what the impact of a Down Syndrome diagnosis would have on our family was also the realisation that this could mean the end of our breastfeeding journey.

Over time it became apparent breastfeeding was tiring for Caleb and we were told children with Down’s Syndrome find breastfeeding difficult. No one told me I couldn’t breastfeed him, but no one actively told me I could. I was exhausted, processing a lot of emotions and recovering from a very quick labour so he was bottle-fed some formula in the mean-time.

My “Angel Midwife” gave me the hope I needed

I will never forget my “Angel Midwife.” She explained to me that breastfeeding can take a lot of different forms and it doesn’t always mean feeding from the breast. She supported me to express milk as bottles were much easier for Caleb to manage as well as encouraging me to continue to offer short feeds direct from me and lots of skin to skin.

She explained to me that breastfeeding can take a lot of different forms and it doesn’t always mean feeding from the breast.

We left NICU not only feeling more positive about his future but more confident in our ability to continue our breastfeeding journey.

His weight crept up slowly but surely

Caleb’s weight gain was slow, and his jaundice made him sleepy, so he needed to be woken every two hours to feed. I was in an exhausting cycle of short feeds at the breast, a bottle feed, and pumping for next feed…all on top of looking after a lively toddler!

Each time the scales were produced my anxiety levels were through the roof because his weight gain solely depended on me. As the weeks went on his weight crept up and his short feeds at the breast became longer and more efficient. By about 8 weeks he was feeding direct from me, and we haven’t looked back since. 

By about 8 weeks he was feeding direct from me, and we haven’t looked back since. 

I decided to donate my milk to give back in some way

While our stay in the NICU was short, we saw many other babies there benefitting from donor milk. This inspired me to try to donate to give some of our liquid gold to others. I feel so pleased that we managed to donate 4 litres.

While our stay in the NICU was short, we saw many other babies there benefitting from donor milk. This inspired me to try to donate to give some of our liquid gold to others.

I naively assumed Caleb’s Down Syndrome diagnosis meant he would be unable to breastfeed, but I am proud to say he is 6 now months old and shows no signs of stopping!

A poem I wrote to sum up my breastfeeding journey

BREASTFEEDING

It’s one of the most natural things to do,
But no one tells you the toil it can take on you.
 
In the early days it’s so painful and sore,
And you just don’t want to feed anymore.
The cluster feeds to help build your supply,
Means you have to kiss your night’s sleep a goodbye.
 
When you feel like a 24/7 milking machine,
And every latch on just makes you want to scream.
 
It’s a learning process for baby and you,
While you both figure out what you’re supposed to do.
 
But It’s an act of which you’ll grow so very fond,
Because it sparks such a wonderful mother and baby bond.
 
Those little moments of quiet amidst the busy day,
Are a chance to connect with your baby in a very special way.
 
As they gets older and feeding is less and less,
The fact that we’ve made it this far makes me feel very blessed.
 
When my nursing journey comes to an end, I know I’ll shed a few tears.
But I’ll be so proud to know that I gave them the best start to their early years.

I found the following group so helpful and supportive in my journey: Positive About Down’s Syndrome Breastfeeding Support Group

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Tags: down syndrome and breastfeedingDown Syndrome diagnosisDown Syndrome Northern Ireland
Gemma McNally

Gemma McNally

Mama of two. Breastfeeding and Downs Syndrome advocate

Previous Post

How to relieve stress as a breastfeeding mom

Next Post

5 reasons why your baby might be breastfeeding more than usual

Related Posts

Faith with her baby and toddler
Tips + Advice

Breastfeeding your baby when you have a toddler – a survival guide

October 3, 2023
Shellie breastfeeding baby Adonis who has Down syndrome
Breastfeeding challenges

Breastfeeding and Down Syndrome – Baby Adonis’ story

October 2, 2023
Laura Anderson breastfeeding September 2023
Showbiz

6 of the best celebrity breastfeeding moments from September 2023

September 29, 2023
Leane breastfeeding her toddler
Articles

The realities of breastfeeding a toddler

September 28, 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