"Postnatal care and breastfeeding support"

Having had a Caesarian birth, due to medical reasons, I stayed in hospital for two nights before being discharged from the ward in the QMC hospital in Nottingham.

I found that I had received little breastfeeding support while I was in hospital. When we got home we didn't know what we were doing, it hurt and my baby was constantly sick (later diagnosed as reflux). If it hadn't been for the amazing support in the community (including community midwives, breastfeeding support workers, breastfeeding groups at the children's centre and baby clubs at the local sure start centre) we would have given up for sure.

During my home visit from my midwife the day after we left hospital, I spoke of how I was struggling to breastfeed, she gave me so much advice and sent a specialist to help us that afternoon. I had so much help in my own home, it was amazing.

It was then through the local BABES group at the children's centre, and the surestart centre in Stapleford, that I gained continued support and confidence through our breastfeeding journey. We are now nearly nine months in and still breastfeeding, to think I nearly gave up after only a few days.

Breastfeeding is a natural thing so you assume it will be easy too, your baby will know what to do and it will come naturally to you. But they don't and it doesn't, things don't always go to plan. There are so many reasons that prevent it from happening, physical, medical and emotional reasons and peer pressure from family members, friends and society. Without local and immediate support it's no wonder that a lot of breast feeding journeys are cut short.

It appears it is a postcode lottery as to the support available to you as a new mum and with all the current cuts happening to the NHS and local services I really hope that good breastfeeding support is protected and made widely available. It is a huge shame that there isn't the support available from the moments after birth in the maternity wards of hospitals.