My published articles.

An article I had published via LLLGB news

  ( LLLGB news now renamed  Breastfeeding Matters) Members magazine

"Breastfeeding Saves the Day"   November/December 2007 LLLGB NEWS 34  

Friday night, something (possibly pollen) triggered my toddler Alfie’s asthma, and by Saturday morning we were at Accident & Emergency and he was with a resuscitation team on two lots of nebulizer and steroids! Four hours later he was running about, almost back to normal.

The worst bit? Not being able to get near Alfie apart from holding his hand, while doctors rushed round him strapping him up to oxygen and various monitors, while he cried out for me. The best bit? Giving him a breastfeed and a close cuddle, once we had settled down on the bed together, to the surprise of doctors and nurses who were amazed at his instant calmness! They even asked if they could write it on their notes, as they were impressed by how quickly he calmed down when he breastfed, despite his age (nearly two years at the time). Watching the monitor show his heart rate falling as he nursed was fantastic.

I shared some information with the hospital staff about long term breastfeeding and immunity. Every time a male nurse or doctor came in, they averted their eyes. But one lady sat talking to me about how good it was to see an older one being nursed, and how it would be nice if it were the norm. I told her that there are many families who practice extended breastfeeding, but because we sometimes get bad press about breastfeeding past one year, it’s a low key affair – although it would be better if it didn’t have to be.

I was glad I could be there for Alfie in every way possible. Breastfeeding is recommended up to and over two years by the World Health Organization and others, so why give our children formula milk, which sometimes triggers allergies, instead of breastmilk - home-made by us mummies?

Alfie turned two years old on 9th August, so I’m now feeding a two year old. As long as he is happy and healthy, I will go with the flow each day, let him take the lead, and follow his needs, as I did for his brother Harry before him. Harry, aged nearly nine, has now virtually grown out of his asthma related problems.

Pip Wheelwright, LLL Bexley & Bromley

My son Harry had a very traumatic birth by emergency caesarean, back in 1998. Although the hospital staff were brilliant, the support for breastfeeding wasn’t. The nighttime midwife on the ward took one look at me and remarked, "it won't work, you know, too flat chested." I resolved that night to make it work, whatever the cost, especially as we have bad asthma and allergies on both sides of our family.

When Harry was six weeks old, I attended my first La Leche League ( Bromley and Bexley) meeting with a friend. We walked out of that meeting saying, "We will never feed our babies when they are that big!" My determination to breastfeed paid off and Harry proved both me and the midwife wrong by breastfeeding happily until he was two years old.

My husband was diagnosed with testicular cancer when Harry was 20 months old and after treatment we were told the prospect of having more children was incredibly slim. Then suddenly, to everyone's surprise and delight, six years later, I fell pregnant with Alfie, who was born, via VBAC (Vaginal Birth after C section) with forceps in 2005, I suffered 3rd degree tears. Unfortunately I still did not get the breastfeeding support I needed from the hospital staff.

Sadly my dear Mum died when Alfie was just four weeks old and my Dad had recently suffered two strokes. Caring for my Dad (with other family members) and a newborn was very difficult, but thankfully breastfeeding posed no great problems for a second time running. We muddled through and I was so grateful each night for our quiet times together to nurse and cuddle through my grief.

I arrived at my first LLL meeting in some years ( Bromley and Bexley) when Alfie was five weeks old. I was craving some light relief from the busy times with Dad and my life in general, and the feeling of coming home and belonging was such an emotional one that felt so right. It helped me to focus on others and allowed me to help where I could. It was something positive while I was grieving. I have made a close group of friends through LLL and we continue to help each other through our ups and downs. I will always be grateful for the support LLL gave me over the years, and for the friends I have found through becoming a Breastfeeding Mum.

Over the past year or so, coming into contact with lots of children’s toys, it struck me that it is commonplace for role play toys that involve feeding babies to come equipped with bottles. Noticing this gap in the market every time I went shopping or as I watched Alfie nursing his soft toysMy educational dolls involve the use of totally secure, hidden magnets, at key points throughout the bodies, which enables them to kiss, hold hands, cuddle and breastfeed. The effect gives the child a magical visual image of the Mother and baby bond of breastfeeding! with clean facial lines (and no external attatchments, therefore less fiddly for role play) and all the child sees, is the happy smiling faces of the Mother and Baby dolls.

I’m really proud now that my project is nearing fruition and special sets are currently being made via a long standing America & Canadian toy manufacturer, with the help of their long established links in China.

I like to think of the set as a nice keepsake for after our nursing times are long gone to help me remember our special breastfeeding time together.

I want to Thank everyone for their ongoing help, especially Tony my Husband for his tireless support, without whom I would not have got this far. 

Pip Wheelwright

My next article published is entitled  "Finding Support", this is the the amended re-published version of "My Breastfeeding Story" through the LLL international magazine "New Beginnings" (May 2008 Issue 2, page 26) It only varies slightly from the above article so I will not show on site, but details there if you want to look for it! This magazine goes out to the LLL international members, but each LLL GB group leader generally get one copy for reference. 

I have re written this story upon request for the National Lactation Consultants of GB. published in "Treasure chest" with Alison Blenkinsop help. (See her fantastic Breastfeeding book FIT TO BUST - on Amazon.com)

You may come across this story in different forms I have written for other sites, in the reading room in breastfeeding articles on: www.mumstuff.co.uk

Also back in 2006 I wrote the basis of the above  www.about.com, under their Breastfeeding section.

This has been published again in an updated version  (October 2008 on www.breastfeedingmums.com - Pregnancy, Birth, Breastfeeding and Baby Information, Advice and Forums.)

Stella Onions Breastfeeding Community is also going to publish my breastfeeding story / advert,  I believe in  her new magazine in a future edition. ! 

January 2009 - Kent County Council (KCC) "Early years & childcare news" magazine page 23. Article about Boobie Buddies Doll sets.

JUNO magazine are featuring my dolls on their adverts page (March 2009 )- near the subscriptions area.

I entered the KENT Business challenge awards - (March 2009) I was a FINALIST!!!

May 2009 - to promote breastfeeding week, on May 10th, Antonia Chitty -

 of Family Friendly Working, is to feature seven Mumpreneurs - including Boobie Buddies Ltd! Antonia Chitty - (see my links page) has published my article on her website:      Working Mums - http://www.familyfriendlyworking.co.uk/acatalog/blog/2009/05/page/2/

May 2009- NBAW - TIPS website - Sharon Trotter had a prize draw to win a Boobie Buddies doll set  - Annette from Skegness won!!

Aspire magazine West Midlands - May 2009  My advert apears on the Natural living section, to the right of the article concerning NBAW in May.

AUGUST 2009 - Vanessa Radio London -  I discussed my dolls with Vanessa. - LIVE ! 

BBC News South East TODAY  - The reporters / jouralists interviewed one  local Children's Centre who have my dolls, and an interview filmed with myself and my children, at home!!