A GROUP of mums are on a mission to ‘normalise’ breastfeeding and aim to launch Wales’s first milk donation scheme.

After launching their campaign with a series of images by photographer and new mum Sarah Haile, a group of mums on maternity leave decided to investigate the prospect of a milk bank in Wales.

Mother Nurture, is a photo series Sarah and her fellow new mum friends created together, capturing their everyday lives and breastfeeding journeys.

"We want to celebrate the beauty and diversity of breastfeeding with real mothers from all walks of life," said Sarah, mum to eight-month-old Jasper.

"We are sharing intimate and honest portraits with stories of our own experiences. Our aim is to showcase this beautiful chapter of parenthood it whatever form it may take. We offer support to those who need it and celebrate each other’s efforts," she said.

The campaign’s motto is ’empowered women, empower women.’

"We started by filling Facebook with my images of our breastfeeding mums going about their everyday lives while feeding. Let’s get people talking about boobs."

After the first few images were published on Facebook, Sarah had an influx of mums wanting to take part.

Her images feature doctor Katie Walbeoff and her eight-month-old daughter Ffion, local childminder Suzanne Carpenter and eight-month-old Eli, Hannah Mlatem, salon owner and her eight-month-old Luna, and Lydia Timmons, 32, social worker, feeding eight-month-old Lilly.

The group have also completed a breastfeeding peer support volunteer course, which is where they began talking about a breast milk bank.

"We got talking about the benefits of breast milk and how, back just a few decades ago we had milk banks and how important they are. Donor milk is a precious resource, especially for premature babies and those whose mums are unable to provide breastmilk." Said Hannah.

"We’re in talks with the milk bank in Bristol and hope to organise a visit and see what we can achieve in Wales. This, along with local support such as the group in Kingdom Come, Abergavenny and the Hilltop Hub, Ebbw Vale, we hope to educate everyone on the benefits of responsive feeding, which also includes bottle feeding," added Hannah.

Avril Jones, a former midwife and BFI Community coordinator for the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said the priority of educating the masses about breastfeeding should stem from nursery. Such as offering dolls for little ones to feed, as well as dolls with bottles.

“Breast feeding rates in Wales are very low; it is not considered to be the ‘normal’ way to feed our babies and as such it is a huge challenge to ‘normalise’ breastfeeding in our communities. Mothers in other countries assume they will breastfeed their babies and so only very rarely use formula feeding. UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative is working with national government, local health boards and peer supporters to change our view of breast feeding and to see it as a recognised health benefit for baby and mother.

“To build happy children we need to support responsive care of all babies, either breast or formula feeding. This is the most important nurturing element for the developing brain, attachment and emotional resilience in the growing child. Raising awareness in schools with age-appropriate schemes would be a great way forward.”

Dr Katie Walbeoff explained, “As both a doctor and a new Mum, breast feeding is an important issue for me. I find it so sad that the UK has one of the lowest rates of breast feeding worldwide with only 1% of the population exclusively breast feeding until the age of 6 months, despite this being the recommendation from the World Health Organisation. There are so many wonderful health benefits for both Mum and baby, not to mention the incredible bond it provides, the fact that it is completely free and ready (sterile at the perfect temperature) whenever you need it!

“There is compelling evidence that breast feeding reduces baby’s risk of SIDS, gastroenteritis, infection, asthma, eczema and childhood leukaemia; to name just a few. It even has long-lasting effects into adulthood, those who were breast fed being less likely to become obese or develop type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The benefits also extend to Mum with less chance of her suffering from osteoporosis, as well as cancer of the ovary or breast.

“It’s no wonder UNICEF UK’s Baby Friendly Initiative states that “breast feeding contributes to significant savings to the NHS, with initial investments paying off within just a few years”. The World Health Organisation currently advise ‘exclusive breast feeding until 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond’. Any breast milk, even if from a kind donor is a precious resource (especially for premature babies) therefore I feel it would be extremely beneficial if we were able to establish some form of milk bank in Wales and help support our local Mums and babies to have the best start in life.

Hannah added, “Having lived in Blaenau Gwent all my life, I did struggle when it came to looking for support with breastfeeding. I also found it daunting to feed in public in the beginning as I felt the only one in my circle who did and people would stare. Most of my friends and family bottle fed so we’re unable to help me. If we could continue to spread the word in Blaenau Gwent too the NHS would reap the benefits, as well as mums and their babies.”

To get involved in the picture campaign, visit Sarah’s Facebook page Memento Cottage Photography.

Mari’s Story

My experience of breastfeeding

When I was pregnant, I was really looking forward to breastfeeding. I knew of the potential issues that could happen, and was slightly concerned as my mum had experienced low milk supply due to thyroid dysfunction which I also have. However, I was quietly confident that my determination would see us through. My goal was to breastfeed exclusively for at least a year and hopefully longer. I never imagined I would only exclusively breastfeed for 2 weeks, followed by months of pumping, formula feeding and many tears (both mine and baby’s!).

After Thomas was born, he latched almost immediately and had his first feed. All the hospital midwives were impressed and I felt relieved and secretly smug that we seemed to be naturals. When we got home the next day, things changed very quickly. When my milk came in, I got mastitis the next day. It became clear that something about my baby’s latch was not right and he was unable to drain my breast effectively causing me to get repeated mastitis. Antibiotics and nursing round the clock helped the mastitis; however my nipples were sore, cracked and bleeding. I saw lactation consultants to try to correct the latch and tried every breastfeeding position in the book but nothing was working. Every feed was indescribable agony for the entire duration and tears would stream uncontrollably from my eyes. I had plenty of support from the community midwives and family members, I tried nipple shields, endless tubes of nipple cream but the pain continued to be almost unbearable. Of course I was not going to give up as I knew that eventually the pain would get better, I just had to keep feeding him.

This went on for two weeks, until the community midwife broke the news that my baby was losing weight at a dangerous rate, despite me feeding on demand. It suddenly became obvious how under nourished he was and I could see his ribs were jutting out. The midwife advised that I give formula ‘top ups’ after each feed, and pump after feeds to boost my supply. I felt panicked and trapped. I knew that introducing formula at this early stage could damage my supply further, but I also knew that for whatever reason my baby was not getting enough milk and that if I carried on feeding him myself even for another week I could be putting his life at risk. I was assured that it was possible to rely on formula temporarily until my supply increased and that I could then reduce the formula. We went and bought bottles and formula, and I cried as I gave him the first formula feed.

I was aware that ‘nipple confusion’ could happen but this was not the case with my baby as he still latched on the breast enthusiastically. However, he became increasingly upset during breastfeeding, pulling off and crying as if nothing was coming out. I spent hours scouring the internet for ways to boost milk supply, and began a regime of pumping, drinking lots of water, eating supply boosting foods and taking expensive supplements. I tried using a supplemental nursing system and sought help from another lactation consultant, but even she had to admit that she did not know how to help us. Eventually, Thomas would just cry when I offered the breast and I started pumping many times a day so that at least he could have my milk in a cup/bottle instead of formula. Unfortunately, my body did not respond well to pumping (even with a double hospital grade pump) and my supply steadily decreased. Two months on, I was pumping 8 times a day and getting less than one feed’s worth of breastmilk (in total!) - the rest of his feeds had to be formula. I felt completely devastated that we had lost our nursing relationship, and now that I couldn’t give my child what was natural and what I knew to be best for him. The time spent pumping and sterilising pump parts was taking away from time spent with my baby, and for such a minuscule amount of breastmilk I knew I could not carry on. My baby was now bottle fed exclusively on formula, and I was heartbroken. Looking back, I think failing to breastfeed caused me to suffer post-natal depression, which has thankfully now mostly lifted.

My experience of using donor milk

Months went by and Thomas was having stomach issues which seemed to be related to the formula. We tried various brands but he was often drawing up his legs, crying out in pain and getting constipated frequently. I knew that breastmilk would be easier on his digestive system and felt helpless that I couldn’t give it to him. Then one day I was reading an internet forum of other mothers who couldn’t breastfeed, and one comment mentioned a facebook page called ‘Human Milk for Human Babies UK’ where people can request or offer to donate their breast milk. I knew about donor breast milk but had always thought it was only used for premature babies or for mothers who had had mastectomies or severe physical issues that prevented them from breastfeeding. I knew that even if the breastmilk wasn’t mine it would still be better for my baby than the refined cow’s milk in formula. So feeling I had nothing to lose I posted a message on the facebook page briefly explaining that I had tried and failed to breastfeed, and that I would be very grateful if anyone had any to offer in the south wales area. I was not expecting to hear anything and even thought that the other women reading might think I had simply not tried hard enough to breastfeed. I was so wrong. I received four messages within the first 24 hours of posting the message. Women were tagging friends that they thought might be able to help me and offering kind words of support. Reading through other posts on the group I was blown away by this amazing community of women – mothers who were passionate about the benefits of breastmilk and who wanted to help each other out. I read through other people’s posts and whilst some didn’t explain why they weren’t breastfeeding, some did and I was struck by how varied the stories were. There were adoptive parents (both men and women) looking to feed their baby breastmilk, women with various health issues or on certain medications, women who were breastfeeding but needing to boost their supplies and even a success story post of a woman’s father being donated over 700 ounces of breastmilk to help with his cancer battle (some small scale research suggests that a compound in breastmilk has potential in cancer treatment). I now have 2 regular donors who are breastfeeding their own babies and they donate a freezer stash of milk to me when they have some left over. It is against the rules of the group to sell milk so as to limit the chances of someone sharing unsafe milk. However, as it is not a milk bank which would pasteurise and screen the milk for any diseases, informal milk sharing always carries a risk. I trust that as the women who are donating are also feeding their own babies that the milk is safe for mine, and I believe that they have been honest with me about their health status/medication use. Thomas seems much more settled when he is on their breastmilk, and whilst not made specifically for him, I feel that he is benefitting from a lot of the goodness that breastmilk has to offer.

I am still saddened to be missing out on the breastfeeding relationship with my baby, but being able to give him breastmilk at this stage has not only been beneficial for him but very healing for me. I used to feel that other mothers were judging me for bottle feeding and that those who had overcome breastfeeding difficulties would think that I must have given up too easily. Maybe some do think these things, but what I have realised is that mothers are so much more supportive of each other than I had given them credit for. The media constantly pits women against each other, when the reality is that more often than not, women have each others’ back. I am so grateful to the amazing women that are doing what our government has failed to do – normalise breastfeeding and milk sharing. Whilst support to help women with breastfeeding is improving, there are circumstances when women desperately want to give their child breastmilk but they simply can’t, and these women are left with no option other than formula feeding. ‘Breast is best’ is drummed into us, but if we fail to breastfeed there is a lack of support and no options. Accessible milk banks would ensure that the milk is completely safe and reduce the stigma around milk sharing.

Lydia and Lilly’s story

"The biggest learning curve I have had is that it is ok to feed anywhere, no one notices even though to begin with you think everyone will be.

My Eureka moment came after attended the breast feeding support group, and was having support with the latch. Bethan wanted to show me a new hold - biological. This involved her supporting me to get the boob in the right position for Lilly to latch correctly, helping Lilly to latch, and checking we were both ok, and doing it right, whilst it was all on show in Kingdom come! A few of us Mums went for lunch afterwards, and they were all breastfeeding and it then made me realise this is completely normal. From that day I just grew in confidence. I started going to places I knew were good for feeding - such as Emmelines, Coffee Pot, and Cafe Nero.

The moment that I realised I was 100% comfortable came when Lilly was about 6 weeks old, staying at my Mum’s - we had lunch at a cafe hoping Lilly would wake for a feed as she was due....she didn’t. Started walking back to my Mum’s....Lilly woke for the feed....the only place to do it was on a bench in the church graveyard which everyone uses as a cut through to town so a very public place....I didn’t think twice and just did it."

Suzanne and Eli’s story

“My breastfeeding journey has now spanned four children and I feel very honoured to have that experience. It is a journey and like any journey in life, it has had it’s ups and downs but ultimately I have experienced such beautiful, cherished moments with my little ones. Now as I mentioned before I have had downs too and I try to keep it real. I have had soreness, biting when teeth come in, latching difficulties but I can honestly say that coming through those times and persevering, for me, was worth it. Why? Because of many reasons, those special moments when I come together with my child during feeding are so magical to me. I am providing a nutritious, tailor made food to my child that warmth and nurturing time. My child can reconnect with me listening to my heartbeat that they are used to hearing in the womb, we can share loving looks with each other as my baby smooths my skin in comfort. The rest of the world can stop in that moment and it’s just us further strengthening a special connection and bond.”

Hannah and Luna’s story

“When I was pregnant there was a list of things I wanted to do to try and be the best mam I could. I wanted to travel, introduce my baby to different foods, cultures, languages, give them everything I could - and breastfeed.

Having never known anyone who breastfed I didn’t realise what was in store. I had a brief google search at some point but I assumed that the baby just did its job.

Because Luna literally jumped onto latch when she was born, I was sort of left to my own devices with regards to breastfeeding. The nurses would come every two hours and asked if she’d fed. "Um , every two hours? That’s a bit nuts. It’s night time now." I was totally unprepared and naive.

On the maternity ward there was a lot of help for the bottle fed babies and I was left to my own devices because she fed so well. Google and YouTube were my 2am, 3am, 4am (you get the picture) friends. I had no idea what a ’latch’ or ’position’ was. The midwives showed me how to lie down and feed and put Luna on to feed and I was home. My milk came in and then the problems began. Now looking back I realise my latch was wrong because I became painfully engorged, including a milk duct under my arm pit (completely freaked me out!) so I had two Dolly Parton sized boobs and a third boob the size of a tennis ball that appeared to be growing out of my arm pit! I began dreading every feed. Toe curling didn’t cover the pain I was in. My husband would sit at the bottom of the bed so when she latched I could kick into him to help with the pain. And I thought this was normal!? You hear it hurts so you just carry on. Then came the bleeding nipples during feeds. No one had told me about the super purple nipple cream either! So with cracked, bleeding nipples, engorgement and no sleep in ten days I was close to grabbing the ready made formula when I remembered expressing machines. A 3am google search to find a 24 supermarket and a trip to a friend’s, I had a machine. Another google search later (along with Amazon it’s my early hours best friend and enemy!) I discovered the Abergavenny Breastfeeding Group. Beth and the girls saved my breastfeeding journey. After amazing advice, she watched my latch and recommend ’biological nurturing’ - the breastfeeding fog lifted. The pain went, Luna’s reflux stopped, no more wind pains and no more engorgement. It was the beginning of the best journey I’ve ever made. Breastfeeding for me is me of my greatest accomplishments. It’s equally the hardest and best thing I’ve ever accomplished. I had everything against me. Three days in gruelling labour, exhaustion, latch problems and not being able to walk, sit up or lift a toe for two weeks because of four hours pushing in stirrups after suffering SPD. It’s thanks to the local breastfeeding groups and my husband, who had to do everything for those two weeks, we’re eight months in and loving it. The bond I have with Luna is unexplainable. The fact that I carried her, birthed her and now have nurtured her totally on my breastmilk amazes me. I’ve kept this tiny human alive! Not only that but given her the best start in life. I feel it’s so important to normalise breastfeeding. You have so much to deal with in those early days, being able to go out and feed your baby is something you shouldn’t have to worry about. Being a self employed hairdresser with my own salon I’ve had to breastfeed in all manner of situations! I’ve fed a two week old Luna while styling a wedding with bride and her six maids, during a church rehearsal while walking down the aisle, during a wedding and across a field during a fifteen minute walk to the reception, on a ferry and on an aeroplane. If it wasn’t for the support I received at the breastfeeding group, and having the confidence to feed with my fellow mam friends at all the coffee shops in Abergavenny I wouldn’t have been able to do it. We’re always made so welcome at The Coffee Pot and there’s always a glass of tap water ready and waiting. I’d hate for the fact that a new mam would be too nervous to feed in public, stop her breastfeeding journey. Normalising the most natural thing in the world is something I’m very passionate about.”