Emotional win for breastfeeding mother

There were three winners from Cavan and Monaghan at this year's ‘Friends of Breastfeeding’ awards 2024.

Among them, was a Castletara mum who provided her newborn son with the best chance at life by providing him nourishment as he fought to overcome a rare a congenital heart disease.

Helena Lyons was awarded ‘Breastfeeding Mum of the Year’, a joint award shared with Charlene Donnelly from Leitrim.

Colm Miskelly, a community pharmacist, meanwhile achieved in the Breastfeeding Friendly Health Care Provider of the Year category (see page 3 for photo); Lorna Fitzpatrick Gaule was nominated for the ‘Voluntary Supporter of the Year’ award; and Andy’s Bar and Restaurant in Monaghan was named ‘Breastfeeding Friendly Business/Establishment of the Year’.

Helena spoke to The Anglo-Celt about her recent recognition, and the sad death of her infant son Luke.

Luke was diagnosised withShone’s complex before he was born.

Helena, having never breast fed her two older children, decided, with the advice of nurses, to “give it a try”.

She would pump milk in the Ronald McDonald House, which was then sent over to Crumlin Children's Hospital where Luke was fed through a nasogastric tube.

“It’s the most stressful time in your life and it’s not a normal pregnancy, it wasn’t a normal birth.

“We didn’t get to hold him,” Helena remembers, with tears in her eyes.

Luke was born July 18, 2022.

He would have celebrated his second birthday this week.

Helena described it as “tough” having to pump, prepare bottles, to take care of a medically complex child, and all the while maintain some semblance of normality with two other children at home.

“We never knew what it was to have a sick child,” says Helena. Both she had her partner Barry are thankful to their families for their support.

“We thought we got him through, he had two operations and then we were very very shocked last year when he died suddenly from pneumonia.

“He was after getting through so much and Crumlin was so happy with him.”

Baby Luke passed away at Cavan General Hospital on July 5, 2023.

“I’m very proud of myself for doing it [breastfeeding] and that’s why I said I’d go to the awards,” explains Helena. “I did it for Luke because he was so sick and we knew he was going to be a medically complex child.

“We were very close, he’s a big loss,” she adds. “We did it for him and I’m glad I did it.”

Before her experience, Helena said breastfeeding would have been “a taboo thing” to her.

“I always went into the sitting room and pumped,” she said, explaining how she “didn’t feel comfortable” doing it around others.

“It’s just a taboo thing in Ireland, we're just not comfortable doing it.

“Feeding a child naturally should be a natural thing and in Ireland it is still a very big thing. You’ve this little person relying on you for food.

“It needs to be accepted more really in Ireland, instead of this hiding.

“Fair enough there’s lovely things that you can buy, your shawls, but we should be able to [breastfeed].”

Fellow nominee in the awards Lorna Fitzpatrick Gaule was shortlisted in the Voluntary Supporter of the Year category.

Lorna is a breastfeeding peer support leader in the Virginia Breastfeeding Support Group. She has volunteered with the group since it was set up in 2015.

The group meets weekly supporting mothers through virtual and face to face meeting and a WhatsApp support group. The mother of two also finds time to manage the Breastfeeding Mammies in Cavan group.

Cavan pharmacist Colm Miskelly has been described as a “go to in Cavan for all things breastfeeding and medication related”.

His knowledge is widely appreciated by those who visit him.

The pharmacist was "quite taken aback given the strength of the other nominees" upon hearing that he had won the award.

"The award serves to highlight the role that community pharmacy can play in the breast feeding journey," he explained.

"So very often, pharmacies are the first visit when apprehensive parents leave the hospital with their new and terrifying and beautiful bundle of radiance.

"We are a uniquely placed resource to provide accessible and reliable information and sign posting for patients to help them on their breast feeding journey."

"It truly means a great deal, as the nominations come from within the community we serve, and it’s always good to hear when we’re doing something right," he beamed.

The Breastfeeding Friendly Business/Establishment of the Year award went to Andy’s Bar in Monaghan, owned by the Redmond Family.

A participant in the ‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly Monaghan’ scheme, Andy’s Bar is well known in for its supportive and welcoming attitude to breastfeeding.

The local establishment even ran a promotion during National Breastfeeding Week 2023 offering a free dessert or non-alcoholic gin to any breastfeeding mother having a meal.