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• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 45 >> She felt very protective towards her son and was nervous about taking him out.

Loves breastfeeding despite painful beginning. Used nipple shields. Hates being separated from her baby. Feeding time is family time. Husband works away from home during week.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 26 >> He felt absolute joy watching his wife breastfeeding their baby.

Father of three. Supportive of long-term breastfeeding and co-sleeping.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 35 >> As a teenager, she had seen her older sister breastfeeding but had no information and unrealistic expectations. She had not anticipated her feelings o

Pre-eclamptic fit, caesarean section, breastfed in intensive care and later in coronary care (heart failure/post partum cardiomyopathy). Determined breastfeeder. Peer counsellor and breastfeeding programme administrator.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 13 >> She remembered with warmth in her heart the professionals who were helpful but also wished that others would listen to women and refer when outside th

Long-term breast milk expression for two babies with cleft palate. Relactation for second baby (viral meningitis at birth), extreme dairy intolerance, breastfed after operation to repair cleft.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 18 >> The times when her baby had a growth spurt and fed frequently were when she lost confidence and was tempted to give up.

Bottle fed first baby; breastfed second (6 months, enjoyable, copious milk supply) and third for six weeks (difficult, unsettled).

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 20-24 >> Interview 15 >> She thought that health professionals can be patronising and need to be clearer in their advice especially with women who have difficulty reading pamp

Bad hospital experiences. Copious milk supply, leaking, engorgement, solids at four months followed by breast refusal and early weaning. Now a peer supporter for other breastfeeding women.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 14 >> She did not find the professionals that she dealt with very helpful and is critical of the western system of childbirth and infant feeding.

Talks about "natural" birth and breastfeeding; pressure from Social Services and health professionals to conform to expected behaviours; conflicting advice, prolonged breastfeeding and the difficulties of weaning a toddler.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 25 >> She said that breastfeeding is not a technique, it is an experience and that professionals need to spend time listening to a woman's story but are con

Special Care separation from 1st baby emotionally difficult. Got into cycle of engorgement, expressing, mastitis, too much milk for six months. Has not expressed for second baby.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 05 >> She was annoyed about the early introduction of infant formula which impacted upon her breastfeeding experience.

Fed daughter expressed breast milk via bottle for 10 weeks until baby learned to breastfeed. Discusses pumping, mastitis, breast milk donation, weaning. Son's feeding straight forward.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 12 >> As a breastfeeding support worker, she was aware of unsupportive practices amongst health professionals and the impact that they had on women.

Breastfeeding wonderful, easy. Demand fed even when baby was in an incubator after becoming jaundiced. Encourages other women in her role as breastfeeding support worker. Breastfed through Ramadan.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 31 >> She thinks that consistent advice and continuity of care would mean one less stressful burden for women to think about around the time of their baby's

First month of breastfeeding was the hardest thing she has done in her life. Very sore and cracked nipples. Fussy babies at 4-5 months, early weaning with first baby.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 31 >> As a pharmacist her training focused on infant formula but all knowledge “went out of the window” when she became a mother and she relied on her insti

First month of breastfeeding was the hardest thing she has done in her life. Very sore and cracked nipples. Fussy babies at 4-5 months, early weaning with first baby.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 35 >> She developed the confidence to trust her instincts and realised that her baby wanted to be with her and that they would learn together as a family.

Pre-eclamptic fit, caesarean section, breastfed in intensive care and later in coronary care (heart failure/post partum cardiomyopathy). Determined breastfeeder. Peer counsellor and breastfeeding programme administrator.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 33 >> She was amazed and frustrated by how much time it took to feed her newborn baby until she realised that breastfeeding was the most important priority

Water birth, easy breastfeeding with first child. Sleep deprivation and mastitis with second. Weaning to bottle at six months in order to go back to work.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 01 >> Having her daughter changed her life. She said to enjoy breastfeeding, take it slowly, find a local support group and know that difficult times will g

Long labour, emergency caesarean section. Cracked nipples. Baby fed constantly but failed to thrive. Discusses chiropractic sessions, supplemental bottles, early solids, and milk donation. Now enjoying breastfeeding.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 42 >> She was reassured when her baby put on the weight that she was supposed to.

Difficult birth, engorgement, sore nipples, used nipples shields, unsettled baby required walking, rocking and massage, expressed breast milk for many months, talks about going back to work.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 35 >> She would tell a pregnant woman about the realities of breastfeeding, not just the benefits but the emotional dimension too.

Pre-eclamptic fit, caesarean section, breastfed in intensive care and later in coronary care (heart failure/post partum cardiomyopathy). Determined breastfeeder. Peer counsellor and breastfeeding programme administrator.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 24 >> Breastfeeding was a big part of being a mother and she wished that she had seen more women breastfeeding. For her, there was no substitute for hands-o

Ceasarean section with first baby, nipple shields, abundant milk supply, mastitis. Has breastfed toddlers and tandem fed new baby with toddler.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 11 >> Going home was overwhelming at first until she was able to get her baby to breastfeed properly.

Baby wouldn't latch on so fed expressed breastmilk through a syringe for first three days. Delaying return to work to spend more time with baby.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 17 >> Her advice is to say that you want to breastfeed your baby and to hold onto that thought - it is an on-going learning process for you and your baby.

Difficulties with breastfeeding including positioning, sore nipples (used nipple shields), low milk supply, poor weight gain, possible depression. Having nightmares about going back to work.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 40-45 >> Interview 06 >> She thinks it is important to keep things in perspective and realise that you may not get it right all the time.

Mixed breast and bottle feeding because the mother haemorrhaged badly after a Caesarean Section and was very ill for a long time. Expressing didn't improve milk supply.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 30 >> When she looked back, “proud” was the word that she used to describe how she felt about her breastfeeding experience.

Enjoyed breastfeeding, few difficulties, support network extremely important to her especially family, friends and the breastfeeding support group, La Leche League.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 14 >> She got in touch with her body through pregnancy and breastfeeding and tried to follow her instinct. Breastfeeding drew her and her daughter together.

Talks about "natural" birth and breastfeeding; pressure from Social Services and health professionals to conform to expected behaviours; conflicting advice, prolonged breastfeeding and the difficulties of weaning a toddler.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 33 >> Her exhaustion affected her milk supply. She needed to call on family support and slow down. She said that breastfeeding was physical but also psychol

Water birth, easy breastfeeding with first child. Sleep deprivation and mastitis with second. Weaning to bottle at six months in order to go back to work.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 41 >> Being able to provide breastmilk for her daughter, who was very ill in hospital and so helpless, kept her going and made her feel like she was doing s

Breastfeeding easy. Baby critically ill at 8 months, eventually underwent a heart transplant operation. Fed expressed breast milk in hospital and baby returned to breastfeeding at home.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 13 >> Being unable to breastfeed her baby felt like grief because she had lost something that was very important to her. Providing her milk was curative and

Long-term breast milk expression for two babies with cleft palate. Relactation for second baby (viral meningitis at birth), extreme dairy intolerance, breastfed after operation to repair cleft.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 08 >> Away from family and friends, she was very lonely, her baby was unsettled and she weaned prematurely. She still feels guilty about this.

Struggled to feed first baby, feeling very isolated in the Middle East. Second baby easier, fed through gastroenteritis infection. Both babies had short time in Special Care.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 20-24 >> Interview 09 >> She naively assumed that breastfeeding would be easy but found that it wasn't. She was determined and was proud to have succeeded at one of the things

Initially found breastfeeding hard with tongue-tie, sore nipples latching-on problems and syringe feeding. Sought help from chiropractor with craniosacral therapy for baby. Proud that she persevered.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 37 >> Her emotions at hearing her baby's cry over the telephone translated into the physical experience of let-down.

Unsatisfactory hospital experience with first baby; other two were home births. Regrets stopping breastfeeding her first child to go back to work. She didn't do that again.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 45 >> She was separated from her baby after birth and waited for four hours to breastfeed him. She was anxious that he would not know what to do but he latc

Loves breastfeeding despite painful beginning. Used nipple shields. Hates being separated from her baby. Feeding time is family time. Husband works away from home during week.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 34 >> Most of the midwives were “fantastic” but she was furious when a midwife in Special Care gave her baby infant formula against her wishes.

Caesarean section, daughter in special care, thrush, continued to breastfeed because the baby had an infection. Long-term breastfeeding with her son also.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 27 >> Her daughter received milk from the milk bank so she expressed and donated to the milk bank herself which made her feel good.

Nursing strikes with her son. Daughter required heart surgery after birth. Expressed breastmilk for her and also provided some for the milk bank. Working and breastfeeding.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 35 >> Even though she was extremely ill she wanted her baby with her. Breastfeeding was the only thing she could do and she insisted that her medication was

Pre-eclamptic fit, caesarean section, breastfed in intensive care and later in coronary care (heart failure/post partum cardiomyopathy). Determined breastfeeder. Peer counsellor and breastfeeding programme administrator.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 13 >> She expressed breast milk long-term for her two babies with cleft palates. Her second son was able to breastfeed after his cleft palate repair operati

Long-term breast milk expression for two babies with cleft palate. Relactation for second baby (viral meningitis at birth), extreme dairy intolerance, breastfed after operation to repair cleft.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 40-45 >> Interview 19 >> She breastfed her baby with Down's Syndrome until doctor's recommended infant formula for slow weight gain which turned out to be caused by her baby's

Breastfed baby with Down's Syndrome. Jaundice. Slow weight gain led to mixed formula and breastfeeding, possibly due to heart problem that required surgery at 4½ months. Baby constipated on formula.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 27 >> Her baby required surgery immediately after birth for a heart condition. Being separated was difficult but she focused on providing her breast milk. (

Nursing strikes with her son. Daughter required heart surgery after birth. Expressed breastmilk for her and also provided some for the milk bank. Working and breastfeeding.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 35 >> She was extremely ill with eclampsia and postpartum cardiomyopathy but the most important thing to her was to be able to breastfeed and mother her dau

Pre-eclamptic fit, caesarean section, breastfed in intensive care and later in coronary care (heart failure/post partum cardiomyopathy). Determined breastfeeder. Peer counsellor and breastfeeding programme administrator.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 41 >> Her eight month old baby underwent a heart transplant. She built up her milk supply and provided breast milk for tube feeding. Her baby eventually bre

Breastfeeding easy. Baby critically ill at 8 months, eventually underwent a heart transplant operation. Fed expressed breast milk in hospital and baby returned to breastfeeding at home.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 27 >> With the first breastfeed, she suddenly felt fulfilled. It was a spiritual experience for her.

Nursing strikes with her son. Daughter required heart surgery after birth. Expressed breastmilk for her and also provided some for the milk bank. Working and breastfeeding.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 45 >> Originally from Colombia, she says that most women breastfeed there. Her mother came to the UK to look after her for a month after the birth of her ba

Loves breastfeeding despite painful beginning. Used nipple shields. Hates being separated from her baby. Feeding time is family time. Husband works away from home during week.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 38 >> She loved being a mum so much that she delayed her return to work for as long as she could.

Breastfed - almost exclusively, only just beginning solid food at one year. Sleepy baby with jaundice, occasional blocked duct. Baby shares mother's bed. Support group important.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 17 >> She preferred to stay at home with her children as her own mother did and was dreading going back to work.

Difficulties with breastfeeding including positioning, sore nipples (used nipple shields), low milk supply, poor weight gain, possible depression. Having nightmares about going back to work.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 47 >> She got “a bit panicked” about going back to work until she realised that she would be at home with her baby more than she would be at work.

Excellent help with getting breastfeeding established with first child. No problems with either. Anxious about going back to work and being separated from baby.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 37 >> She regrets weaning her first baby to return to work but says that she will not make the same mistake again.

Unsatisfactory hospital experience with first baby; other two were home births. Regrets stopping breastfeeding her first child to go back to work. She didn't do that again.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 42 >> She wanted her daughter to gradually get used to a bottle before she returned to work.

Difficult birth, engorgement, sore nipples, used nipples shields, unsettled baby required walking, rocking and massage, expressed breast milk for many months, talks about going back to work.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 03 >> Her baby attached straight away and she remembers just holding him, feeling him and stroking him. He fed for some time and then fell asleep.

Relaxed, long-term breastfeeder, very few problems, mastitis, baby fed on demand and sleeps with parents, child-led weaning at around 4 years of age. Child-centred family, home schooling older children.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 22 >> Her first breastfeed was uncomfortable but then the baby fed every two to three hours for the first day.

Difficulty with latch-on; poor weight gain; mixed breastfeeding and bottle feeding (expressed breast milk and formula); baby on regular 6 feeds during the day.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 40-45 >> Interview 39 >> She woke to find her first baby in bed with her and tried to latch her on by herself. Thereafter she lacked confidence, in contrast with her second ex

Lacked knowledge and confidence with first baby, relieved to introduce bottles. Breastfed second with ease and pleasure, would like him to take a bottle but he refuses.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 48 >> She was ill and unable to put her baby to her breast straight after birth which caused her to be apprehensive and anxious.

Apprehensive at first about not feeding straight after the birth and then positioning baby at the breast. No problems thereafter. Managing gradual weaning.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 20-24 >> Interview 15 >> Her baby needed resuscitating and was given infant formula. She was concerned about not being able to feed him in the first hour.

Bad hospital experiences. Copious milk supply, leaking, engorgement, solids at four months followed by breast refusal and early weaning. Now a peer supporter for other breastfeeding women.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 13 >> Her baby was born with a cleft palate. She had him on her chest for skin-to-skin contact and put him to her breast. She developed an 'incredible, imme

Long-term breast milk expression for two babies with cleft palate. Relactation for second baby (viral meningitis at birth), extreme dairy intolerance, breastfed after operation to repair cleft.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 20-24 >> Interview 15 >> Her hospital stay was so “horrendous” that she discharged herself early. She did not get the support that she requested because the members of staff w

Bad hospital experiences. Copious milk supply, leaking, engorgement, solids at four months followed by breast refusal and early weaning. Now a peer supporter for other breastfeeding women.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 10 >> For her, breastfeeding is all about an overwhelming urge to love.

Little help from midwives in hospital. Used nipple shields for inverted nipples, affected milk supply. Postnatal depression with one child. Dairy intolerance with another. Practices attachment parenting.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 03 >> She went to bed with her third baby and cuddled and fed him through the night which seemed natural and was quite different from how she had behaved wi

Relaxed, long-term breastfeeder, very few problems, mastitis, baby fed on demand and sleeps with parents, child-led weaning at around 4 years of age. Child-centred family, home schooling older children.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 48 >> She left the house in a hurry and came back to find that her husband and parents had cleaned it. She felt both happy and anxious to be home.

Apprehensive at first about not feeding straight after the birth and then positioning baby at the breast. No problems thereafter. Managing gradual weaning.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 38 >> She was self-conscious in hospital and came home early so that she and her baby could spend private time getting to know each other and learn together

Breastfed - almost exclusively, only just beginning solid food at one year. Sleepy baby with jaundice, occasional blocked duct. Baby shares mother's bed. Support group important.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 46 >> She stayed with her mother after the birth of her first baby. Her extended family helped out when she had the other children.

Breastfed five children without problems, two of them in tandem for a short time. Very proud of her achievements. Breastfeeding peer supporter for her local community.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 03 >> She says that she does not know how to wean a baby from breastfeeding as each of her children weaned themselves when she became pregnant with the next

Relaxed, long-term breastfeeder, very few problems, mastitis, baby fed on demand and sleeps with parents, child-led weaning at around 4 years of age. Child-centred family, home schooling older children.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 21 >> She stopped breastfeeding when she left her toddler and her husband with expressed breast milk for a weekend. Her milk supply dried up without any pro

Breastfed 1st baby with ease. 2nd baby has Down's Syndrome, breastfed but it wasn't easy. Gives tips for breastfeeding a Down's Syndrome baby.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 13 >> She has mixed feelings about finishing breastfeeding as it is her baby's way of connecting with her. He wanted to breastfeed again after she had been

Long-term breast milk expression for two babies with cleft palate. Relactation for second baby (viral meningitis at birth), extreme dairy intolerance, breastfed after operation to repair cleft.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 40-45 >> Interview 39 >> It was a relief to wean her daughter onto infant formula but she had to deal with her own engorgement and in the end it made no difference to her daug

Lacked knowledge and confidence with first baby, relieved to introduce bottles. Breastfed second with ease and pleasure, would like him to take a bottle but he refuses.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 04 >> She had doubts about her milk supply and no support for breastfeeding her premature baby at home. She was disappointed when they moved onto infant for

Baby 7 weeks premature, incubator and special care, 4-hourly pumping/feeding schedule, milk dried up soon after going home. Discusses mixed emotions, kangaroo care, pressure to breastfeed.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 48 >> She was planning in great detail how she would gradually wean her daughter between nine months and one year of age even though she knew that some babi

Apprehensive at first about not feeding straight after the birth and then positioning baby at the breast. No problems thereafter. Managing gradual weaning.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 20-24 >> Interview 09 >> Her priorities changed as she adapted to motherhood and her baby's needs became more important than going out.

Initially found breastfeeding hard with tongue-tie, sore nipples latching-on problems and syringe feeding. Sought help from chiropractor with craniosacral therapy for baby. Proud that she persevered.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 35 >> Her daughter's weaning was very flexible but she felt that their whole relationship had changed and struggled for a few months to come to terms with i

Pre-eclamptic fit, caesarean section, breastfed in intensive care and later in coronary care (heart failure/post partum cardiomyopathy). Determined breastfeeder. Peer counsellor and breastfeeding programme administrator.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 24 >> She was relaxed about weaning but does feel a bit guilty about weaning her first baby to get her periods back so that she could get pregnant again.

Ceasarean section with first baby, nipple shields, abundant milk supply, mastitis. Has breastfed toddlers and tandem fed new baby with toddler.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 34 >> She was fed up with breastfeeding her two-and-a-half year old daughter and decided to stop but it was still sad to think that she would not breastfeed

Caesarean section, daughter in special care, thrush, continued to breastfeed because the baby had an infection. Long-term breastfeeding with her son also.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 41 >> Her friends were encouraging her to wean before her daughter became very ill and required surgery. Now she is glad that she continued to breastfeed.

Breastfeeding easy. Baby critically ill at 8 months, eventually underwent a heart transplant operation. Fed expressed breast milk in hospital and baby returned to breastfeeding at home.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 10 >> She was devastated when her daughter rejected breastfeeding at one year but knew that she could have more children and breastfeed again.

Little help from midwives in hospital. Used nipple shields for inverted nipples, affected milk supply. Postnatal depression with one child. Dairy intolerance with another. Practices attachment parenting.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 14 >> She was getting pressure to wean her four year old but needed help with what to feed her. She was also worried about smoking and dental caries*.

Talks about "natural" birth and breastfeeding; pressure from Social Services and health professionals to conform to expected behaviours; conflicting advice, prolonged breastfeeding and the difficulties of weaning a toddler.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 37 >> She began to question herself and her milk supply when her baby gained weight slowly and got help from a breastfeeding counsellor and reassurance from

Unsatisfactory hospital experience with first baby; other two were home births. Regrets stopping breastfeeding her first child to go back to work. She didn't do that again.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 25 >> She felt that regular weighing of her baby was a judgement on her so she stopped going. Introducing solids early did not make any difference to her ba

Special Care separation from 1st baby emotionally difficult. Got into cycle of engorgement, expressing, mastitis, too much milk for six months. Has not expressed for second baby.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 15-19 >> Interview 32 >> Her breastfeeding experience changed her attitude towards her breasts which she no longer sees as purely sexual. She thinks that these attitudes affec

Really enjoying child-led breastfeeding. Supportive partner, family and friends. "Give it a go to see if it works for you" she says. Slight engorgement, copious milk supply.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 12 >> Her baby prefers breastmilk to all other drinks and the feeling that this gives her is beyond words.

Breastfeeding wonderful, easy. Demand fed even when baby was in an incubator after becoming jaundiced. Encourages other women in her role as breastfeeding support worker. Breastfed through Ramadan.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 03 >> Feeding is always a very special time for her to sit down and feel the closeness of her baby.

Relaxed, long-term breastfeeder, very few problems, mastitis, baby fed on demand and sleeps with parents, child-led weaning at around 4 years of age. Child-centred family, home schooling older children.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 22 >> Breastfeeding has been a fantastic experience for her and she has an incredible feeling of satisfaction and achievement for having kept going through

Difficulty with latch-on; poor weight gain; mixed breastfeeding and bottle feeding (expressed breast milk and formula); baby on regular 6 feeds during the day.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 25 >> She had two very different experiences of breastfeeding after a caesarean section. Positioning for feeding was important and lying down was the easies

Special Care separation from 1st baby emotionally difficult. Got into cycle of engorgement, expressing, mastitis, too much milk for six months. Has not expressed for second baby.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 13 >> Her milk supply went down because her baby with a cleft palate was unable to feed properly. It took a long time and a lot of effort to bring her milk

Long-term breast milk expression for two babies with cleft palate. Relactation for second baby (viral meningitis at birth), extreme dairy intolerance, breastfed after operation to repair cleft.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 18 >> The first time she had engorgement she expressed and had an abundant milk supply, the second time she did not, her baby was not interested in feeding

Bottle fed first baby; breastfed second (6 months, enjoyable, copious milk supply) and third for six weeks (difficult, unsettled).

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 34 >> Her periods returned early after her son's birth but she has not conceived. She gets irritable with breastfeeding around the time of her period.

Caesarean section, daughter in special care, thrush, continued to breastfeed because the baby had an infection. Long-term breastfeeding with her son also.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 25 >> Breastfeeding was physically demanding and she was keen to begin exercising again to maintain her fitness. She was keen to reclaim her body after the

Special Care separation from 1st baby emotionally difficult. Got into cycle of engorgement, expressing, mastitis, too much milk for six months. Has not expressed for second baby.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 47 >> Breastfeeding made her sleepy and relaxed. She did not lose weight but waited to diet until her baby had weaned. In the meantime she enjoyed eating wh

Excellent help with getting breastfeeding established with first child. No problems with either. Anxious about going back to work and being separated from baby.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 14 >> She did not want to take methadone or Prozac while she was breastfeeding and preferred to use natural methods to withdraw from drugs.

Talks about "natural" birth and breastfeeding; pressure from Social Services and health professionals to conform to expected behaviours; conflicting advice, prolonged breastfeeding and the difficulties of weaning a toddler.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 20 >> Having a baby brought about lifestyle changes and the social life that he and his wife gave up was for such a short time in the bigger scheme of thing

Two bottle fed and two breastfed children. Closely involved in baby care, supportive of breastfeeding. Difficulties with an unsettled baby who was eventually diagnosed as dairy intolerant.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 30 >> She could have gone out for a few hours at a time while her daughter slept but she didn't want to leave her so she took her baby with her in the buggy

Enjoyed breastfeeding, few difficulties, support network extremely important to her especially family, friends and the breastfeeding support group, La Leche League.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 45 >> She says that the world belongs to her and her baby at night time. Her mother encouraged her to take the baby into her bed with her.

Loves breastfeeding despite painful beginning. Used nipple shields. Hates being separated from her baby. Feeding time is family time. Husband works away from home during week.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 37 >> She described having her first baby in a Moses basket beside her bed but subsequent babies slept in the family bed.

Unsatisfactory hospital experience with first baby; other two were home births. Regrets stopping breastfeeding her first child to go back to work. She didn't do that again.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 25 >> She began expressing to deal with engorgement and mastitis and continued to do so for six months. Expressing built up her milk supply beyond what her

Special Care separation from 1st baby emotionally difficult. Got into cycle of engorgement, expressing, mastitis, too much milk for six months. Has not expressed for second baby.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 33 >> She struggled to get her baby to take a bottle when she wanted to gradually wean her from breast milk to infant formula. Occasionally using expressed

Water birth, easy breastfeeding with first child. Sleep deprivation and mastitis with second. Weaning to bottle at six months in order to go back to work.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 08 >> In desperation, she gave her baby artificial milk which made her baby sleep but quickly led to the cessation of breastfeeding. In retrospect she feels

Struggled to feed first baby, feeling very isolated in the Middle East. Second baby easier, fed through gastroenteritis infection. Both babies had short time in Special Care.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 36 >> She thought that buying an expensive breast pump would make her life easier. That didn't help so she tried infant formula and her son soon preferred t

Caesarean section, extended family support, thrush, early bottles of expressed breast milk and infant formula led to weaning at ten weeks. Discusses breastfeeding café and special foods.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 35 >> Her health visitor suggested solids at four months but they distressed her and her daughter so she waited until six months when they were both more re

Pre-eclamptic fit, caesarean section, breastfed in intensive care and later in coronary care (heart failure/post partum cardiomyopathy). Determined breastfeeder. Peer counsellor and breastfeeding programme administrator.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 38 >> Her one year old daughter was not very interested in solids. She ignored inappropriate advice from health professionals to stop breastfeeding and foll

Breastfed - almost exclusively, only just beginning solid food at one year. Sleepy baby with jaundice, occasional blocked duct. Baby shares mother's bed. Support group important.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 52 >> Her five year old son was supportive of her breastfeeding his younger sister and fascinated to think that he had been fed that way. He was a bit insec

Slow weight gain with both babies even though they thrived. Never expected to be feeding an older child, it just happened. Expressed for occasional bottle for first baby.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 31 >> With only a fourteen month gap, her older child was very distressed by the arrival of his baby brother.

First month of breastfeeding was the hardest thing she has done in her life. Very sore and cracked nipples. Fussy babies at 4-5 months, early weaning with first baby.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 26 >> His wife breastfed each child until she became pregnant with the next one. He thinks the emotional bond between mother and baby is more important than

Father of three. Supportive of long-term breastfeeding and co-sleeping.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 30-34 >> Interview 05 >> She still felt very attached to her baby which was wonderful but at the same time she wanted her body back.

Fed daughter expressed breast milk via bottle for 10 weeks until baby learned to breastfeed. Discusses pumping, mastitis, breast milk donation, weaning. Son's feeding straight forward.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 28 >> She breastfed through all four pregnancies and tandem fed her last two babies.

La Leche League Leader, long-term breastfeeder, needed to take care with latching on, engorgement, dealt with occasional blocked ducts herself, breastfed while pregnant, tandem fed baby & toddler.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 35-39 >> Interview 42 >> It was fun to see her daughter gradually take on different foods but sad to think that it was also the beginning of the end of breastfeeding.

Difficult birth, engorgement, sore nipples, used nipples shields, unsettled baby required walking, rocking and massage, expressed breast milk for many months, talks about going back to work.

• Pregnancy & children >> Breastfeeding >> Age 25-29 >> Interview 37 >> Having the midwife “shove” her breast into her baby’s mouth did nothing for her confidence in being able to breastfeed.

Unsatisfactory hospital experience with first baby; other two were home births. Regrets stopping breastfeeding her first child to go back to work. She didn't do that again.