Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Nine years ago, almost to the day, I visited Baby Umbrella as I was struggling to breastfeed my new baby. At a few weeks old, my new baby was super fresh and completely glorious. The same could not be said for me: I was a tired mess. I thought that motherhood would make me feel like Diane Keaton from 'Baby Boom'; it was going to be an empowering experience - one where I bossed mothering whilst wearing a range of long, stylish coats. I was not prepared for the reality: recurring mastitis, googling "what are cluster feeds?" at 2am (FYI, nothing to do with pigeons) and feeling like I might just jack the whole breastfeeding thing in. Surely something natural shouldn't be THIS hard? I obviously wasn't cut out for it.

Half-asleep, I tried to navigate my way through overwhelming amounts of advice. Amid countless websites on different breastfeeding positions, I stumbled across Baby Umbrella - a free, in person support service for new parents. Although I had no real hope of anything changing, I took a leap of faith and booked an appointment for the next day.

I remember that cold January morning in 2016 like it was yesterday... Jenny, a Breastfeeding Consultant with Baby Umbrella, sat with me for 40 minutes. In that time, she calmly watched me feed and listened to the challenges I was facing, giving me the confidence and tools I needed to breastfeed my way out of mastitis. She reassured me and made me feel safe, offering a compassionate, fuss-free experience that, up until that point, felt very unfamiliar to me as a new mother. For so many women, birth is traumatic. This makes the role of this charity all the more important - the BF Consultants at Baby Umbrella are frontline heroes: not only do they support women, helping them to navigate the unwieldy new territory of breastfeeding, they are often the first professionals parents engage with when life has thrown them a curveball. They support people who are often feeling vulnerable in a pragmatic and non-judgemental way. What's more, it is truly inclusively and free to all parents who walk through their doors.

Since that first visit to Baby Umbrella, I leant on them multiple times for help with blebs (as strange as they sound!) and weaning (as messy as you suspect). Whilst on Maternity Leave with my second child, I also trained to be a Peer Supporter based in Tunbridge Wells. In addition to making tea and getting the chance to hold some lovely new babies, I enjoyed supporting women keen to continue breastfeeding once they had returned to work after their own MAT leave had ended.

Given that I am now working full time, I am unable to support them in the same way. However, what I can do (sort of!) is RUN. Full disclosure, I did "complete" a half marathon a couple of years ago. At the time, because it was such a mission, I vowed never to do it again! Honestly, I really can't think of a better reason to renege on that promise: Baby Umbrella is an exceptional charity that should be protected at all costs.

Thank you for any amount you are able to give - all of it will go directly to support Baby Umbrella continue their invaluable work in the West Kent area.