“When my daughter would only nurse from one side I knew something wasn’t right”

Breastfeeding wasn’t something I had thought too much about before having children. However, whilst pregnant I knew I’d like to give it a try, but before you have a baby you can’t really imagine that bond people talk about. Well I couldn’t anyway.

My first breastfeeding journey was cut short

After having my first born, and the heartbreak of our breastfeeding journey cut short (we only got to 3 months due to significant weight issues from CMPA) there was no doubt in my mind that feeding Blaise was something I wasn’t going to do.

There is only 13 months between my children, so the heartbreak was still engraved in my brain as was the initial hard weeks and pain you go through when your journey first begins. Added to that, both my children had 90% tongue tie!

My second breastfeeding journey started well

Blaise initially got off to feeding really well. I did have concerns about her having a milk allergy, but we just took every day as it came and I kept a close eye out for the signs. Having had a baby with a severe milk allergy, and the fight we went through for answers as to why he was so unsettled, I felt I knew how to deal with it better should it arise. Luckily for us she didn’t. However, Blaise started to favour my left side, which I was told, is fairly common, but it started to become very apparent.

I did have concerns about her having a milk allergy, but we just took every day as it came and I kept a close eye out for the signs.

When I brought the matter up with the health visitor at her 6 week check, I was told to just persevere and it should sort it’s self out. I was told to keep placing her on the right side first and trying all the techniques suggested.

Something just wasn’t right

I really did give it a good try but gradually at around 3.5 months Blaise was completely refusing to feed from my right. I‘d tried changing positions, different environments but she was just so fussy and I knew my right sides supply was really slowing. Around this same time we were up and down from the hospital having CT scans and different tests and shortly after, Blaise was diagnosed with Saggital Craniosynostosis, early fusion of the skull. This was the reason she wasn’t comfortable feeding, lying, having her head in certain positions.

Blaise was diagnosed with Saggital Craniosynostosis, early fusion of the skull.

Although tough on my left side, giving up on feeding wasn’t an option and from around 4 months, Blaise has only fed from my left breast. She is now 16 months old and our bond is so special, she’s found comfort in feeding through two operations. When she wasn’t interested in solid food, breastfeeding gave me peace of mind that she was at least getting nutrition from me.

We’ll stop when she is ready

I’m so happy we’ve made it work. I never had a time frame in mind for how long we’d feed for, I imagined until around one year old. I definitely didn’t imagine we’d be feeding well past one year.

I never had a time frame in mind for how long we’d feed for

There have been times more recently that I’ve had comments around when we’re stopping breastfeeding. It has made me question things, but right now she seems to have no plans to stop. She has reduced the amount she feeds a lot, and she loves her food. For now, I’m happy going with the flow and following her lead.