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Breastfeeding is a very personal choice and being a hypnobirthing mum, I am a huge advocate for the "natural option", which is why I am more than happy to support the Keep Britain Breastfeeding campaign as part of National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (23rd-29thJune).

Having breastfeed both of my daughters but having had very different experiences with them both, I don't claim to be an expert but I am certainly an "experienced mum" (my midwife's words, not mine), so here are my top breastfeeding tips.

1. Nose to nipple. This was the most sensible piece of advice I was ever given. It is totally true and helps your baby to latch on as they will open their mouth widely and get a big mouthful!

2. Try different positions. This may sound obvious but just like us, babies can prefer certain positions more than others. My youngest daughter had a side preference too and for a while I found myself expressing one side and allowing her to feed from the other.

3. Be patient, it is not a race and I, for one,  never like to rush my food .... why should my baby?

4. Breastfeed how and when suits your baby. Some mums like to try and get a routine whereas others prefer to breastfeed on demand. There are no hard and fast rules ... make your own rules that work for you and your baby.

5. Breastfeeding is not only good for baby but for mum too!! Aside from helping your body adjust back to normal, it is reported to help fight the baby blues and may protect against breast cancer!

I could list a million reasons why it is good for you and your baby but the most honest one is that it is the natural choice. This is what we have been doing for centuries, giving birth and nursing our children is what we are designed to do. I know that for some women this isn't the right choice for them and the decision on how to feed your baby should be an informed one, but I would ask every expectant mother to simply try ... you may find it is the most natural thing you have ever done.

As part of The Keep Britain Breastfeeding Campaign, we are taking part in their Scavenger Hunt. The goal of this scavenger hunt is to inform and educate families about breastfeeding as well as providing an online platform for people to share their knowledge and own experiences during National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (23rd-29thJune).

The rules are here. 

Readers need at least 50 points from the rafflecopters to be elligible for the prize and we have listed below some other great reads where you can collect more points!

2 - a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Find other bloggers taking part here ....

Simply Hayley

Red Rose Mummy

Oh So Amelia

Twinkle Mummy

A Baby on Board

 

 

 

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Did I tell you that I was going to a blogging conference this weekend? 

Did I tell you that I was a little nervous about it?

If you have no interest in Britmums, my nerves or are simply looking for the usual news, reviews or bonkers anecdotes, then I promise normal service will resume next week but for now, I am "virtually" introducing myself, pre conference.

Name: Donna

Blog: Little Lilypad Co

Twitter ID: @littlelilypadco

Height: 5ft 5ish

Hair: Short-ish blonde bob

Eyes: Seemingly a mix between my moms brown and my dads blue eyes. So I end up with a greeny-grey!.

Is this your first blogging conference?

I attended Blogsummit earlier this year!

Are you attending both days?

Yes .... leaving my baby girls! (not babies really but they always will be to me!)

What are you most looking forward to at BritMums Live 2013?

Finding new contacts, friends and skills!!

What are you wearing?

Heels .... always heels, see my post here.

What do you hope to gain from BritMums Live 2013?

To meet some of the amazing bloggers I have met virtually!

Tell us one thing about you that not everyone knows

My second toe is bigger than my big toe .... which apparently means I am dynamic and resourceful! Who knew??

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This year has seen me gulp down some brave pills and decide to actually go and meet some fellow bloggers at some fantastic blogging events. I often feel massively out of my depth but I love meeting new people and I love to talk, so it shouldn't be too difficult should it?

The difficult part for me is what do I wear? (I accept that many of the regular blog readers may click off now but those that know me well, will roll their eyes in amusement)

I have a love of clothes but never have "anything" to wear. I always need a new dress / jeans and shoes .... oh the shoes! We had a big celebration last weekend so my thoughts were finding the perfect outfit for that and suddenly Britmums is this weekend and I have "nothing" to wear!

I need an outfit that travels well (going on the train), looks cool (obviously), looks funky (hopefully) can go from day to night (I realise I maybe pushing it now) and has shoes that rock (without crippling me). So this is what I have decided on ...

 

Although I still have 3 whole days to change my mind again, and again!

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It doesn't seem so long ago that my youngest daughter was clutching her arms around my neck when we entered the swimming pool, so to see her development in a relatively short space of time fills me with pride and amazement. She lies on her tummy in the bath each night kick kick kicking, happily putting her face in the water and she is just like the sponge with water in the bath tub, the way she absorbs everything she is being taught.

She now loves to watch her big sister at her swimming lessons each week and you can see her wanting to climb in. It is now bordering on a wrestling match to prevent her from getting in the water. It is interesting to see a little competition between the two girls about who does well in their lessons (well the older one moreso than the little one) but you can see her wanting to swim like her sister.

The thing is, she is actually really beginning to swim. Until around 6 months, babies placed in water tummy-side down will move their arms and legs in a swimming motion, so when their swimming reflex and the dive reflex are both engaged, a baby can look like they are swimming but now at almost 2 years old .... she is doing more than look like she is swimming.

This week they have been learning to blink when they come out from being under water. When they are tiny, the parents always wipe away the water but as they get older they have to learn to clear the water themselves, so all we have been saying for the last couple of days is blink, blink, blink.

This small change is another reminder that she is developing so quickly, copying her sister in her desire to absorb everything around her and it amazes me how swiftly things can in the blink of an eye .....