Athlone mum attends breastfeeding support event in Áras an Uachtaráin

The president's wife, Sabina Higgins, recently hosted the annual 'Latch On' breastfeeding morning at Áras an Uachtaráin. The event was designed to raise awareness of low rates of breastfeeding in Ireland and the need to increase supports to mothers.

Athlone resident Omolayo Nkem was one of the 100 breastfeeding mothers who took part in the event. Omolayo has a three-year-old son and a 15-month-old daughter who was present with her in the Áras. She attends the Cuidiú breastfeeding support group which meets in Athlone library twice a month.

Omolayo wrote the following piece about her visit to the president's home and her breastfeeding journey to date:

"Last week (October 1 to 7) was National Breastfeeding Week in Ireland, and on September 27 my daughter and I were invited as Cuidiú members to Áras an Uachtaráin to celebrate breastfeeding along with other pro-breastfeeding groups from around the country.

It was a lovely event hosted by Sabina Higgins and a great opportunity to hear about the national, academic and civic efforts underway to try to improve breastfeeding rates in a country that has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates across Europe.

While I felt the event was preaching to the converted, my main takeaway was the sheer importance of normalising breastfeeding as a part of everyday life. There is still a lot of negativity and misconceptions around breastfeeding among the general public.

When we choose to breastfeed at home and in public we are contributing to the normalisation of a very normal part of human existence. I believe sharing our stories and journeys with others interested or curious about breastfeeding is also key.

I've had a relatively easy breastfeeding journey with my two kids, but several important factors made my breastfeeding much smoother.

These were:

* Working from home.

* An unwaveringly supportive husband who was a real champion of our kids being breastfed.

* My amazing mother and mother in law who both did omugwo (Nigerian/Igbo postpartum visitation that can last anywhere from a month to 3+ months) which allowed me the time, space and support I needed to do round the clock breastfeeding and healing in the early days.

* My knowledge of the benefits of breastfeeding, including recently when everyone in our house had a tummy bug except for my daughter, who likely got antibodies to it via my breastmilk.

* The nurses at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe. Breastfeeding my first child in Nigeria was a breeze and came easily, but when my second had trouble latching, and I struggled to remember the basics, they helped me out in my 24 hours there.

* The Cuidiú breastfeeding support meetings at the Athlone library where I continued getting support, encouragement and sympathetic ears as my daughter and I had more breastfeeding struggles.

*Cuidiú breastfeeding counsellor, Rachel, who answered my frantic breastfeeding questions at night when my daughter was being fussy at the breast and I worried it was because of my growing coffee addiction.

* A fellow Cuidiú Mom, Laura, who let me borrow her breast pump when I went away for five days for a conference in Kenya without my then 11-month-old daughter. I worried that I would prematurely wean her when I wasn't yet ready to do so, and I almost didn't go to the conference!

But being able to pump ahead and store milk for her (even though she never ended up drinking it) gave me peace of mind while I was away, and having the pumps definitely relieved my breast as well!

* And just a side note on how important community is for all of us, but especially women trying to juggle employment and family life: In addition to Laura, I also have to thank Nai and another family friend, coincidentally also named Laura, who checked in on my husband and kids in my absence just to see how they were faring, and another Cuidiú Mom's husband who offered to do the same.

Having that support allowed me to be at ease at the conference, which ended up being a pivotal point for my career - and imagine I almost didn't go because of breastfeeding/accidental weaning worries!

Honestly, I could go on, but I'm just so grateful to be surrounded by people who support my breastfeeding journey, without whom none of this would be possible.

On some busy days, my only moment of 'rest' is sitting still to breastfeed my daughter, but I might still use that time to catch up on some emails and texts while doing so!

On the cluster feeding days, without the outlet to vent to other sympathetic Moms, and the support and understanding of my husband, Moms, colleagues and friends - there was definitely no way I could have made it through!

Breastfeeding has been such a beautiful and exhausting experience and I feel honoured to be able to nourish my kids in this way.

"Wishing strength and comfort to every Mom on this journey and to Moms not on this journey: fed (whether breast, formula or mixed) is and always will be best."