"Breastfeeding support at Stapleford Sure start"

Below is a copy of a letter we have recieved at Stapleford Children's Centre from a mum who dropped into the centre to access breastfeeding support from one of our family support workers - Nicola Roulstone. We have contacted mum and she has consented to the letter being made public.

" Dear Nicola

I am writing to you because I wanted to say 'thank you'. I came to Stapleford Children's Centre on Thursday 21st May in order to speak to someone about breastfeeding. There were no peer support ladies available, so I got to speak to you. My baby Daniel, was 2 and a half months old (and I came with Nathan who is just over 2) I had received lots of help with breastfeeding and lots of reassurance that I was doing it corrcetlybut I still wasnt sure everything was happening as it should.

The things you shared with me completely changed my breatsfeeding and I spoke of you to everyone I met for the next week! We talked about not looking at the clock or timing feeds but using only Daniels cues for feeding. We also talked about not being able to spoil a baby and offering the breast if I wasnt sure whether he was hungry or not. You observed me feeding Daniel and noticed that he wasnt quite latching on correctly and encouraged me to retrain him to open his mouth wider before latching. You also explained to me how babies feed like it's a three course meal, which was not comething I had heard before and explained perfectly the way that Daniel was feeding.

After your advice, I went 'cold turkey' on clock watching and stopped looking at the clock completely (for both time of feed and length of feed). I offered Daniel the breast whenever I wasnt sure if he was hungry or not and I could tell almost immidately that he was much more content. I was much more relaxed about the fact that he was feeding in bits, as you had explained about the different courses of a meal, and I am pleased to say that now, at 4 months, he usually feeds in one block. He is also latching better so I am no longer sore when feeding.

I felt that you completely understood what it is like to be a new mum of 2 children, and what it was like to be breastfeeding Daniel. You were encouraging, reassuring and easy to talk to. I came away feeling that you 'got it' in a way that no one else I had spken to about breastfeeding had.

Thank you so much for all that you did for me that morning. I will never forget it "