A Circle of Care

Here at Full Circle, we believe in a circle of care. We believe everyone involved is as important as another. We believe hierarchy has no place and all contributing ‘specialists’ need to look towards the real experts, the unique mother-baby-dyad, who sit at the centre of our circle.

We know there can be extra layers of unseen ‘pressure’ when breastfeeding issues arise such as; previously successfully breastfed, or perhaps a healthcare professional role (especially midwife or neonatal nurse) and many other varieties of hidden pressure. We believe it is important to identify and acknowledge the ‘stories’ we bring into our new motherhood journeys. However, it is equally important to allow ourselves to simply be new mothers, to simply surrender and learn… and relearn, each new journey.

It is when we let go of ‘knowing’ that deep, intuitive wisdom seeps in and we can finally hear (& feel) what our babies and bodies are saying to each other.

We had the greatest pleasure and honor of supporting this beautiful mother-baby-dyad (Megs and baby Ruthie). We share her powerful story with her consent.

These are her words…

Breastfeeding my first daughter was an overall very enjoyable experience, and clicked for us both quite easily from day one. Despite the challenges of her being born preterm at 34 weeks, we exclusively breastfed until well after her first birthday, and throughout my second pregnancy.

When my second daughter was born just a few weeks ago, I was quietly confident that our breastfeeding journey would be smooth sailing like my first daughters. Coupled with being a midwife myself, and having successfully breastfed before, I would be lying if I said I didn’t have certain expectations this time around; especially considering my second baby was born full term, and we had such a positive birth experience (which set us up well for a positive breastfeeding journey).

I came to Full Circle Midwifery & Lactation Support when my second daughter was just a couple of weeks old, experiencing breast refusal secondary to an abundant milk supply. I was devastated and sadly quite disconnected from my baby. I had mentally prepared to surrender to a journey of bottle feeding her.

After seeing Bekki at Full Circle and being reminded to lean into her own unique journey with my heart and not my head, I relearned to trust my baby, and my body. Slowly we relearned the dance of breastfeeding together, one feed at a time. She indeed COULD feed, and WANTED to breastfeed… something I had convinced myself of otherwise.

Fast forward a few weeks and we are well on our way to exclusively breastfeeding! It really has just ‘clicked’, and we now have a calm and happy family.

I’ve found the joy I was longing for. A feat I truely through unachievable in the depths of the breast refusal trenches.

I’m so proud of how far we’ve come together. We honestly wouldn’t be here without the support of our incredible village of family and friends, and outstanding midwifery and lactation support, I will be eternally grateful.

Thank you for your beautiful and powerful words. Thank you for trusting us to support you.