BEFORE MY DAUGHTER Katie was born in January, I never thought I’d be confident enough to breastfeed. When people asked me how I planned to feed her, I’d say breastfeeding, of course, but I secretly felt I’d be too body conscious to bear all in public.

As a first-time mother, having been handed this beautiful baby girl, I needed a lot of help getting her in the right position to feed her – it was awkward and messy. I couldn’t wait to get home to mix up a bottle of formula and escape this breastfeeding terror.

Abandoning formula 

Home at last, two days went by and the “formula dream” I so longed for came nowhere close to what I’d hoped for. Heating, sterilising and finding the right formula to agree with Katie wore me out more than I thought it would.

I wasn’t getting to spend the kind of time with her I’d hoped for, and so it was time to give breastfeeding another try. Eventually, I got into the swing of things and nightly feeds, instead of scaring me, became moments of connection and happiness.

The pure feeling of joy I get seeing her relax while I feed her is overwhelming. The bond I’ve built with my daughter through breastfeeding is such that her face lights up once she sees any sign of my top moving upwards. It’s a look I’ll cherish forever.

Breastfeeding in public spaces has become less intimidating as well. With the right clothing and little blanket, nobody sees a thing.

Precious bond

I respect and wouldn’t in any way want to undermine bottle feeders, but breastfeeding has been a huge gift to me. And I have nothing but admiration for my fellow breastfeeders, because I know all too well the dirty looks we face on a daily basis outside the privacy of our homes.

But in breastfeeding, we’re only doing what’s best for our children. In breastfeeding, we give our full selves – our bodies and minds – to them, and for this we deserve to be respected.

Teresa O’Toole is a 28-year-old, first-time mother. She lives with her partner and daughter in Carlow.