To mark World Breastfeeding Week, we’re championing mums by sharing their honest, empowering breastfeeding stories. Each journey is different – from navigating NICU and returning to work, to starting again after a tough first experience. These stories reflect the strength, resilience, and dedication behind every feed. By sharing them, we hope to support and encourage other parents on their own unique path.
“Anna Rose having Trisomy 21 didn’t stop us from breastfeeding” – Laura’s story
When Laura gave birth to her daughter Anna Rose at 37 weeks, she knew she wanted to breastfeed – just as she had with her other two children. Although Anna Rose was born with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and was tiny in size, she latched perfectly right after birth. But challenges lay ahead.
Expressing with the Ardo hospital-grade pump
Due to her low birth weight and oxygen levels, Anna Rose was transferred to neonatal care the next morning. Despite the traumatic experience, Laura was determined to provide breast milk to support her baby’s immune system. With Anna Rose too sleepy to feed regularly, the hospital provided an Ardo hospital-grade double pump, which Laura credits for helping her collect those vital early drops of colostrum.
“The Hospital was beyond amazing and supportive, respecting my feeding choices, setting up and helping me with an Ardo hospital grade double pump (these are STRONG machines!!), syringing and storing that precious ‘liquid gold’.”
Although formula top-ups were suggested, Laura continued to express and breastfeed with the support of the NICU team. By day three, her milk had come in fully, and she built a strong supply with regular expressing and skin-to-skin contact.
Feeding at home – and continuing to express
After being discharged on day five, Anna Rose continued breastfeeding at home. Laura also used an Ardo hospital-grade pump on loan from TinyLife to maintain supply and make feeding easier for her baby, who had lower muscle tone due to T21. With consistent effort and support, Anna Rose regained her birth weight by four weeks and went on to breastfeed on demand for 13 months.
“The hospital arranged for a loan of the hospital-grade pump from TinyLife charity to help me at home. I used this for a few weeks to express for a quick 15 minutes after each day time feed. I also used a warm compress to encourage a faster let down and hand expressed just before a feed so Anna Rose didn’t have to work as hard to get milk.”
Laura’s story is a powerful reminder that with the right information, equipment, and support, breastfeeding a baby with additional needs is absolutely possible.
