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Breastfeeding – don’t bottle it!

by Sue Carr
14/ 5/2008

A GLOSSOP mum is spreading the word that breast is best as part of National Breastfeeding Awareness Week.

Alli Thomson had always planned to breastfeed daughter Rowan, whom she gave birth to nine months ago.

Despite teething problems, the 30 year old had the bottle to persevere and says she – and Rowan – couldn’t be happier.

"It looks so easy in the textbooks and some mothers have no problems at all but it turned out to be a lot harder than I thought," said Alli, who is also chair of the Glossop branch of the National Childbirth Trust. You don’t know how long you should be feeding a baby for, some babies feed for 10 minutes and some for an hour, and it’s emotionally and physically demanding. With a bottle there is a lot more formula to it but I would encourage other women to breastfeed, it’s the best thing I have ever done."

Alli, of Shirebrook Park, says that new mums should never be afraid to ask for help.

"There are a lot of benefits – your health, your baby’s health, you lose weight more quickly!" she added. "The sense of achievement I’ve got from it is amazing and Rowan is so happy and content, but you have to really want to do it and ask for help if you need it. Rowan was born at Tameside Hospital and the help I got there was fantastic."

The NCT holds a Bumps and Babes coffee morning for new and expectant mums every Thursday, from 10.30am, at Central Methodist Church, Chapel Street, Glossop.

Anyone interested in joining can also contact Alli on 01457 860318. To find out more about National Breastfeeding Awareness Week log onto www.breastfeeding2008.co.uk.