Every Tuesday since Josh was 2 weeks old, with the exception of a couple when sick etc I have gone to what I call my ‘booby class’. I went originally to get advice on introducing a night bottle to Joshua and I was very apprehensive on my first visit. I thought I’d be walking into a group of breast loving, judge filled mamas but I could not have been more wrong. What I quickly realised was that every one of the mums also sitting in that room had the same fears, feeding problems and questions. We all sat there chatted, got some advice from the nurse but it was each other I think we found the most strength from. After 2 weeks of getting to grips with feeding, cracked nipples, engorged breasts we eventually found our breastfeeding stride and honestly never thought I would say this but find it so easy now, certainly easier than sterilising bottles and heating/cooling water! Once a day is enough for that with his night feed.

I am now nearly 6 months into the group and only pop into the class in the health centre if I want Josh weighed or a bit of advice. I must say from talking to second time mums that I don’t think my local health centre is the best, a bit hit and miss. One of the nurses is great but the room is small and when new people arrive it can get very packed and doesn’t encourage you to stick around! So.. Off to Starbucks we go. Some days there can be 15 buggies, babies and mamas taking over the coffee shop. We try and choose the spot that overlooks the sea, we grab our hot drinks and snacks and chatter away. Such a great group of women and I look forward to our weekly hook up. We are all pretty like minded or certainly travelling through the same stage of life and that creates a bond over our steaming drinks and weary bodies!

We have now even started meeting for other activities; cinema, fitness classes and walks and I can be pretty sure we will all be friends for many years to come..