Premies have so little energy that they often will sleep through their feedings. How do you breastfeed a baby that won't suck? I was really tempted to give up but I kept breastfeeding her one feeding at a time until I looked up and I had breastfed her for 1 week, then another, and before long it was a piece of cake. In fact, to me it was easier than bottlefeeding because I saved time preparing formula, sterilizing bottles, and warming them.

All I had to do was take her out of her bed, put her to breast, burp and put her back to bed. It was free!!! My daughter, as a premie was more healthy than I was as at 8lb. fullterm baby! That was especially important to me during RSV season.

I didn't have to get back on birth control as my periods had stopped during breastfeeding. I also felt a close bond to her even when I had to go back to work and school. I don't think that healthcare workers want to "pressure" women to breastfeed. I think they are trying to clean up what they used to do, which is not be supportive of breastfeeding.

Doctors are just starting to figure out that what's best to feed a human baby is human milk. Everything is starting to come back to the natural way. I think the reason why it's so hard for us new mums is because we are so used to bottlefeeding as a culture. Breastfeeding is now like outside the norm. So while it is natural it feels awkward to us.

Think about it though, what would we have done if formula were not invented? We'd happily breastfeed our kids because it would be the only way to keep them alive.Breastfeeding can be hard in the beginning. It's like an intimate dance that mummy and baby do together. At first you have two left feet and step on each other's toes and before you know it with practice you are doing the tango! Hang in there all you mums. Know that you are doing the best you can no matter what the outcome may be. You are not a failure if you tried!!

I have found that by breastfeeding, my stomach has returned to its normal state quite quickly, a goal for many mums! The other advantage is convenience; we recently went on holiday to a caravan with our 6 week old and our other two girls of 4 and 5 years.

Being on holiday with a baby who is breastfed is a lot easier than one who is bottle-fed, not only do you not have to take along all the bottles, formula, and sterilising equipment but it also enables you to feed without any hassle. When we were on the beach for example I didn’t have to worry about the bottles and keeping them the right temperature. Once learnt, breastfeeding can be done so easily and discreetly. Some say that the father cannot get involved with the feeding and therefore may feel left out, but you can always express some milk and let them feed if that is what they want to do. By doing that you can always still get a night out!

My daughter comes with me to meetings (I work for myself) and anywhere else I need to be – breastfeeding has the selfish effect of making me feel warm and happy too, despite trying to work and bring up a family at the same time! So it suits both of us.

I have just come back from my health visitor and they say she is doing great. She is not growing madly large and so on her growth chart it looks like she is slipping behind BUT did you know that the charts in the book are all based on bottle fed babies? Apparently breastfed babies have a different growth pattern. Its bright eyes and good reactions that matter not just pounds and ounces!"