Being present is actually more important. This doesn't mean hovering over your partner as they are breastfeeding. It means being there either a shout or a phone call away. I think the worst thing a struggling breastfeeding mother can feel is loneliness. She should never feel like there is no one to turn to...if nothing else this is the partner's job. A shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, a person to call for professional help if your partner wants it. Be there. This your baby too.

Even experienced breastfeeders can have problems. I was sure since I had nursed my first two children successfully that the third would be a breeze. But as they say, each child is different.

When we brought Logan home from the hospital we had a multitude of issues to deal with: a severe case of jaundice, a hungry baby that was losing weight - all resulting in a very worried and exhausted mother.

I had sore, cracked, bleeding nipples and thrush. I was so frustrated and anxious. All I wanted to do was feed my baby, to provide him with the nourishment he needed and to bond with him the way I had with my other two children.

Each feeding got to be a test of mental and physical fortitude…can I handle the pain? I was so determined to nurse that for me the answer was always 'yes'. But it was so sad; I would spend each feeding with tears streaming down my face thinking this isn't the way it is supposed to be. You lose your confidence pretty fast when things aren't going well. I felt embarrassed, guilty, sad and tired.

I finally decided to go and see the lactation consultant at the Health Unit and it was one of those life changing decisions. From the moment I walked in she was so calm, caring, and compassionate. She also seemed so sure that I was capable of making this work. It was exactly what I needed.

Nursing your baby is like nothing else in the world. There is a sense of connection, fulfillment and accomplishment that can't be described. When you cuddle your baby close, they look up at you while they're happily nursing, your eyes meet, your heart swells with love and you know in that moment everything is perfect in the world.

That was my first incorrect assumption as a new Mom! I couldn't have been more wrong. Yes, it is a natural function but getting it right immediately is not always easy.

I don't want to scare anyone off breastfeeding though - after we got it right it was the most rewarding and yes, easy, experience of all! It is so important for new Moms to get the right kind of support in those first few weeks. I know that if I had not had my midwife coming over every day to check in on me and help out I would have given up for sure.

My baby, Elizabeth, and I persevered and within six weeks of her birth Elizabeth was off the nipple shield and nursing like a pro. I will never forget the day she just knocked that thing off my breast and never looked back! I was ecstatic! We still went through some frustrating times ? but despite our rough start, I continued to nurse Elizabeth until she was almost two years old.

With our second baby, a boy, we assumed breastfeeding would go much smoother. The second time brought new challenges though. Sam was a very eager feeder, he was a bigger baby, 9lbs, 4oz… and he sometimes didn't know when to stop! However, I managed to get through engorged breasts and 'milk fever' with the expert advice of my midwife and the support of my husband. I ended up breastfeeding Sam until he was around 18 months.

It's important for new Moms to know that they are not alone with breastfeeding challenges, and it's important to not be hard on yourself if things aren't going exactly right. Don't be afraid to reach out and seek that help.

Breastfeeding is so important for the baby and for Moms - for so many reasons! Even though it can sometimes be a challenge and a struggle, in the grand scheme of things it is such a short time in your life yet such a significant time to your baby and you ? it is so worth the sacrifices you may have to make.

When he came home he was breastfeeding like a champ and continued to grow and gain weight on breastmilk alone.�Shortly after he came home from the hospital we had a�three day power outage. Because he was breastfed I didn't have to worry about keeping his milk from spoiling in the now warm fridge�or finding a way to warm it up when he wanted to eat.�It was nice to know that his food supply was�always ready�for him when he wanted it just as nature intended.�

I continued to pump so that when I was not with him he would still receive breastmilk in a bottle and when he started to eat cereal I would mix it with breastmilk.� Because of his prematurity he�is quite susceptible to illness and I feel that the�antibodies he received from my breastmilk is what helped to keep him fairly healthy in those early months.�

Don't be afraid to ask for help, breastfeeding is natural but it doesn't mean that it doesn't take some time and effort to get it established.