A Monaghan mum has spoken about the importance for breastfeeding mothers to reach out for the support available in their local area.
Joanne, who is parent to one-year-old John, told the Joe Finnegan Show that she encountered challenges on her breastfeeding journey, including her newborn being unwell immediately after birth. Joanne said she got through the difficult first ten weeks because, before John was born she had seen the benefits of breastfeeding from her friends and relatives.
She also started seeking out as much advice and information on the subject before her baby arrived. Doing research ahead of becoming a parent meant Joanne was prepared for all the possible challenges she might encounter on her breastfeeding journey. Her local branch of La Leche league in Monaghan proved to be one of the greatest supports: "I did incur challenges in the first ten weeks of breastfeeding," Joanne said, "I sought support from La Leche League, I shared my experiences, I listened to other mums and their experiences and I got support from the leaders who are trained to deal with the problems I encountered as well."
