Audenshaw mum shares her painful breastfeeding experiences

A second-time mum from Audenshaw has shared her story of how she overcame breastfeeding issues thanks to one-to-one support, as part of World Breastfeeding Week. 

Laura Wafer (pictured) says she's now enjoying the experience of breastfeeding, after receiving support and information from the beginning from HomeStart. 

The 28-year-old wanted to help highlight World Breastfeeding Week, which ends on Saturday (7 August). It focuses on the impact of infant feeding on the environment/climate change and the need to protect, promote and support breastfeeding for the health of the planet and its people. 

Laura wasn't planning on breastfeeding her daughter, as she never did with her son. However, her daughter naturally latched on so she thought she'd give it a go.

Laura said: "My experience of the support from HomeStart has only been a positive one. I was first contacted by them the day after giving birth and the lady was super helpful. I was really struggling with the pain so had started to use formula in a bottle to help ease the pain during the day." 

HomeStart provided helpful tips and information about positioning and they explained to her there is no one way that fits all when it comes to breastfeeding. It’s about finding what is comfortable for her and her daughter.

Laura continued: “HomeStart rang to check in with me two days later. I was starting to find the pain unbearable and was very close to stopping our breastfeeding journey. I expressed I really wanted to stick at it so they sent me links to view latching on and positioning tips from YouTube.

“This definitely helped being able to see where I felt I was going wrong. After two weeks, something just clicked and I have been breastfeeding/expressing for my daughter ever since. She is now 12 weeks old.”

Her breastfeeding journey has by no means been easy. There have been lots of tears and times she thought she'd never carry on.

She added: “The help and support from HomeStart has been constant and I can honestly say that without their guidance I would have given up. 

“To anyone who is considering breastfeeding but unsure about the support available during these times, please don't be put off. HomeStart are there to give you the help and guidance you need to have a positive and enjoyable feeding experience.”

Home-Start Oldham, Stockport and Tameside (HOST) is a local community network of trained staff and volunteers, who work in partnership with the Community Infant Feeding Team - a jointly commissioned service who also offer support to mums in Oldham - and Tameside Hospital to provide support to help families with young children and provide information and support to help local mums breastfeed successfully.

Cllr Eleanor Wills, Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Population Health, said: “I breastfeed all three of my young children and having someone to talk offering advice and support is vitally important as there are so many issues that can be encountered when doing it. The reassurance and support given by HOST is of great comfort to many who will not be able to be close to family and friends at this time.” 

Denise Farrow, Infant Feeding Service Manager at HOST, said: “The Home-Start Infant feeding team is a service delivered by paid staff and volunteers. Our duty phone is manned from 9am to 6pm, seven days a week during lockdown and they can be contacted on: 07802 883947. There is also a National Breastfeeding Helpline open from Monday to Friday at 9am to 9.30pm on: 0300 100 0212.

“For more information visit our website at https://www.tameside.gov.uk/health/breastfeeding or search for Home-Start Oldham, Stockport and Tameside on YouTube to see our videos about the benefits of breastfeeding.”