A breastfeeding mother felt compelled to give back to the hospital that helped her during her own traumatic pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey.
In 2021 Gemma Nixon gave birth to her son Reuben at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland. During pregnancy, Gemma had been told her son would have complex medical needs, and was diagnosed with DiGeorge syndrome. Understandably it was a very stressful time for Gemma and her husband.
Gemma was determined to breastfeed her son despite the difficulties
Throughout Gemma’s pregnancy, she was determined to breastfeed but was told it would be unlikely her son would be able to. Once Reuben was born Gemma diligently pumped milk for her son whilst he tube-fed in an incubator and underwent lots of tests. Recalling those difficult few weeks in hospital, Gemma says: “I was attached to a pump 8 times a day but only holding my baby once – if I was lucky.”
Ultimately breastfeeding support in hospital (& everywhere else) needs better funding & we can’t solve that – but we are privileged to be able to give back a little to the team that supported us so much during Reuben’s first few months.
Gemma Nixon
Gemma credits the infant feeding specialists at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital for helping her establish breastfeeding and getting her son to feed from breast. “Both the infant feeding leads, Gillian & Barbara were so supportive and encouraging when I was in hospital with Reuben and trying to establishing breastfeeding. I still remember the incredible feeling the first time he latched on and fed, I was delighted and totally in awe of this tiny baby that after all he’d been through, still just knew what to do as soon as he was given the opportunity.”
Fast forward a year and as Gemma was getting ready to celebrate her son’s first birthday, her mind went back to those traumatic days in the hospital. She wanted to have something positive to focus on and so decided to find a way to give back to the hospital that meant so much to her. “To celebrate Reuben’s first birthday, instead of presents, we asked family and friends to donate money to the infant feeding team via a crowdfunding page. I also did 10k steps a day over his birthday month as an added incentive for people to donate.”
“To celebrate Reuben’s first birthday, instead of presents, we asked family and friends to donate money to the infant feeding team via a crowdfunding page. I also did 10k steps a day over his birthday month as an added incentive for people to donate.”
Gemma Nixon
Over £2000 was raised by Gemma’s friends & family
Donations were quick to come in and soon Gemma had raised £2086 thanks to generous friends and family. With the money she decided to buy breastfeeding supplies for the hospital – something she knew would make a real difference. “We bought 5 hospital grade pumps, bonding squares for around 40 families and 100 nursing covers. I had chatted lots with Gillian about what, as a team, they most wanted and they had been really keen to be able to supply mums who were expressing on the unit with nursing covers.”
“Having expressed in that neonatal unit I completely understood the need for nursing covers. It is already a vulnerable time for new mums and the unit is very open and busy. I ended up having big screens brought round the incubator so I could express beside Reuben, which is quite isolating. The covers give any mum who wants a little more privacy, the opportunity to have that without feeling cut off from everyone or unable to get anyones attention if she needs help. The covers are gifted to the mums so they can continue to use it as they build their confidence with breastfeeding in public too, if they wish.”
Gemma continues to breastfeed her son to this day and credits the support she received in the hospital for being able to enjoy a long and successful journey. “I really hope that our fundraising makes a tangible difference to some of the families who will find themselves in the same position we did. I really hope it helps them on their breastfeeding journeys.”
Gemma finished by adding: “Ultimately breastfeeding support in hospital (and everywhere else) needs better funding and we can’t solve that – but we are privileged to be able to give back a little to the team that supported us so much during Reuben’s first few months.”
“Ultimately breastfeeding support in hospital (and everywhere else) needs better funding and we can’t solve that – but we are privileged to be able to give back a little to the team that supported us so much during Reuben’s first few months.”
Gemma Nixon