"Health Visiting"

I had a traumatic birth with my first baby. I wanted to breastfeed my baby, but it didn't go well. I hoped to get some support when home from hospital but saw a different midwife every time. None of them seemed interested or able to help with breastfeeding. One midwife said if I didn't like breastfeeding just to give up and give the baby a bottle. When I was discharged they said to ring the health visitor if I had a problem. I didn't know what a health visitor was and felt really nervous as my experience of having a baby so far was not good.

My health visitor, Melanie came to see me the day after the Midwives discharged me. When she asked me how the birth went and how breastfeeding was going I burst into tears. I felt really embarrassed being so emotional, but Melanie sat with me, told me it was ok to be upset, and gently encouraged me to talk about how I was feeling. There was no pressure, she didn't make excuses for any of my experiences, she just sat and listened. I was ready to give up breastfeeding because I was so worried about my baby's weight and now much she was getting. Melanie reassured me that no matter what I decided, everything would be ok. I just really needed to hear that.

I tried breastfeeding feeding my baby with Melanie supporting me. She explained so much about how breastfeeding works, and in a really understandable way, it made sense. My partner adding understand before either, but Melanie included him and even got him asking questions. She took all the pressure out of it by talking through expressing breastmilk, and combination feeding. I managed to give my baby breastmilk for a few months before stopping (Melanie wouldn't let me say giving up). Melanie visited me and baby more often for support, not just for breastfeeding but to listen when I was able to talk about my birth experience. 

Me and my husband were adamant we wouldn't have another child because we felt so traumatised by the birth. I was also worrying about my relationship with my daughter, Melanie suggested that we contact the hospital and ask someone to talk us through the birth and care. Again I felt no pressure, she kept reassuring me only to do things when I felt ready. She also took the time to reassure my partner and include him as he had felt powerless. I also needn't have worried about my relationship with my daughter as every time Melanie came to see us, she would say our baby was doing so well and it must be because of all the singing, talking and play we were doing, We just felt so proud as first time parents that after a really terrible start that everything was ok, just like Melanie said it would be! We're now planning for our second baby and feel so much more prepared thanks to the wonderful health visiting service and our amazing health visitor, Melanie