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All about breastfeeding with Tiphaine
- The Frenchy Farmily -
Breastfeeding is a personal choice for every mom, but it has many health benefits for your baby and for mom. Coogli went to meet Tiphaine, creator of the Instagram account Frenchy Farmily about motherhood and more particularly breastfeeding. Mother of 5 children, she tells us today about her experience.
Tiphaine, can you tell us about your breastfeeding experience with your children?
I discovered co-breastfeeding thanks to social networks, and it allowed me to continue breastfeeding my daughter when my second child arrived: it was a great relief for me because it was a really difficult. Being able to discuss this on social media is great and I am fighting to normalize breastfeeding because it is currently very sexualized unfortunately. I have also received very virulent messages from some who do not accept that I expose breastfeeding on social networks.
Do you think that the advice given about breastfeeding in the maternity ward is comprehensive enough ?
The advice is not advanced enough unfortunately, we are sorely lacking in information and there is not enough follow-up after leaving the maternity ward. We can receive help at the beginning for the establishment of the breast, but once out of the maternity ward we are lost and we can feel alone.
Do you have any advice for mothers-to-be about breastfeeding ?
Trust yourself completely and listen to yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask for help: for example from a midwife or even from associations such as L’or Blanc association for example. I have recently joined it, and it helps mums through the difficulties they may encounter during their milk adventures. It must be understood that breastfeeding is not easy: the mother needs help and support, it is important to break this isolation and to discuss this subject and above all to feel supported.
Do you think there are any common misconceptions about breastfeeding that you would like to deconstruct?
Yes, for example in the maternity ward we are told that the duration of breastfeeding is ideally six months but we are not told about having the possibility of continuing it longer. Long breastfeedings exist, co-breastfeedings too. We have to learn to tell ourselves that we are doing the best, and as for the duration, it is up to the mother to choose according to how she feels, quite simply.
Can you tell us a bit more about co-breastfeeding?
We can talk about breastfeeding while pregnant, which can scare many moms: yes, you can breastfeed while pregnant. You should know, however, that the milk will change, and therefore it is possible that the child has less desire to suckle. It can also sometimes create contractions, in which case if the mother needs to be reassured she can speak to her gynecologist.
Regarding co-breastfeeding, the first child may not want to stop breastfeeding when his little brother or sister arrives in the world, so both children are breastfed. With one of my daughters, for example, when she was 2 years old, we tried to wean her during pregnancy but in vain. It ended in tears and it was not possible for me. The fear that she would think that the arrival of the baby would replace her was also present, so we continued breastfeeding when she arrived. We then gradually reduced the feedings with her, and her dad was a great help during this period, even if, when the baby was born, I found myself before a child who suckled like a new born. It was due to this change of milk, more nutritious. There may also be risks of diarrhea as the milk has changed. It is advisable to give him a solid diet in parallel, if possible.
One can also experience an AAA (feeling of aversion). Something I experienced during my pregnancy but also afterwards but you should not feel guilty. This is normal and can also happen with any breastfeeding. Be careful, however, when the baby is born, you have to give him the colostrum and not the older child. Besides, it lasts less long because the milk was already in place, but that’s just as feeding. The baby lacks nothing, quite the contrary.
Isn't it too tiring to breastfeed two children at the same time ?
All breastfeeding is tiring but yes, I feel more tired with two. I think breastfeeding with twins is similar.
What made you want to share your experience on social networks ?
I discovered co-breastfeeding thanks to social networks, and it allowed me to continue breastfeeding my daughter when my second child arrived: it was a great relief for me because it was a really difficult. Being able to discuss this on social media was great, I am fighting to normalize breastfeeding because it is currently very sexualized unfortunately. I have received very virulent messages from men who do not accept that I expose breastfeeding on social networks.
How do you manage to ignore the criticisms and negative messages you receive ?
I try to get over it but it affects me, especially the sexual messages because breastfeeding is not sexual, it’s just a child who feeds. The fact that we can associate these ideas with a child is very shocking. Some messages were much too violent so I had to file a complaint.
Do you have a message for mothers who don't dare to breastfeed in public, who are afraid of people's eyes ?
I am currently still in this process of reflection but I think we must not lose sight of the fact that we are not here to show off but to feed our child. We should not be ashamed to breastfeed our child. I know it’s difficult but I think we need to normalize the fact of feeding our baby in public, we should instead be proud of doing it. I have positive feedback from mothers who tell me that it is thanks to me that they allow themselves to breastfeed in public and it is nice to see that my actions have an impact. I even received a message from a man who thanked me for having made him change his outlook on breastfeeding, I was very pleasantly surprised.
Find Tiphaine’s advice on her instagram page The Frenchy Farmily.
Did you know ? With the Coogli application, you can record breastfeeding times and note which breast was used for breastfeeding in order to facilitate the organization of breastfeeding. Coogli is available on the Android and Apple stores, to download it, click on the buttons below:
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