A Deaf Mother’s Proud Breastfeeding Journey built on trust, love, and perseverance - from struggle to strength

Jade Makinson, July 2026

After my second C-section, I began a breastfeeding journey that would challenge me emotionally, physically, and mentally. It was a journey that also taught me patience, strength, and trust in both myself and my baby.

With my first child, I was unable to breastfeed exclusively and stopped breastfeeding completely after five months. When I became pregnant with my second baby, I knew I wanted a different experience. I set my heart on breastfeeding for at least one full year.

My baby was born at 38 weeks and weighed 2.9 kg. In the beginning, breastfeeding was very difficult, especially finding comfortable positions after my C-section. I struggled with pain and uncertainty, and I often questioned myself.

After two weeks, her weight had dropped to 2.6 kg. The nurse at the clinic suggested supplementing with formula milk twice a day. This made me feel overwhelmed and emotional, and I worried that I was failing as a mother but I still really wanted to continue breastfeeding.

At the same time, I was surrounded by comments from family and other community members saying things like, “The baby is starving,” “She is not getting enough milk,” and “Just give her formula.” Hearing these comments made me feel anxious and unsure of my decision to breastfeed. 

I realised that my baby was not latching properly, which made breastfeeding painful and ineffective, but as a deaf mom one of my biggest challenges during this difficult time was accessing breastfeeding support and information. Many resources, including the La Leche League support session on the October Health app, phone calls, voice notes, online audio sessions, and videos without captions, made it impossible for me to fully participate or understand the information. 

Eventually I reached out to a La Leche League (LLL) Leader who is also a medical doctor. I went to see her and she helped me achieve a more comfortable breastfeeding position. Thereafter, we communicated through WhatsApp messages and written communication, which allowed me to ask questions, understand the information clearly, and refer back whenever I needed to. The Leader provided helpful, practical advice and encouraged me to keep my baby close and to trust the breastfeeding process. This made me feel supported as I learned to trust my body and my baby.

Joining the LLL mother-to-mother support WhatsApp group changed everything for me because, for the first time, I felt understood, validated and encouraged by women who were also breastfeeding. Slowly, my confidence began to grow. I learned to block out the negative comments and focus on my baby's needs and feeding cues. I stopped listening to fear and started trusting myself and my child and I practised patience.

In time, being a deaf mother became one of my greatest strengths: I learned to trust my instincts, observe my baby's cues closely, and advocate for the support I needed. One of my greatest triumphs is that despite the challenges, I successfully breastfed my daughter for two years with no formula, no bottle, and no dummy. This experience showed me that being deaf did not stop me from building a strong bond with my baby or from achieving my breastfeeding goal.

I believe it is important for healthcare professionals and breastfeeding support groups to offer different communication options for mothers with hearing difficulties. What would have made things easier for me initially would have been more accessible resources, such as captions on YouTube videos, written information, text-based support groups, and communication through WhatsApp or messaging platforms. Having support available in formats that deaf and hard-of-hearing mothers can access would help mothers feel more included, informed, and supported throughout their breastfeeding journey.

For the next mother who has hearing difficulties, I would say: do not be afraid to ask for support in a format that works for you. Being deaf does not mean you cannot successfully breastfeed or build a strong bond with your baby. 

The support, information and understanding I received from La Leche League completely changed our experience. I am deeply grateful to everyone who encouraged me not to give up.

I hope my story can encourage other mothers who may be struggling: You are not alone, and with support, patience, and perseverance, things can get better.

Jade Makinson and 2 year old Gabriella