Feeding a baby is often a joyful and satisfying experience

However they feed their babies, mothers often describe feelings of closeness and joy when they feed their babies – even when things haven’t gone completely to plan.

Not every feed is special, but often feeding a baby does feel very intimate, whether breastfeeding or feeding with a bottle.

Abi remembers feeding her son: “I loved it when he looked up at me when I was feeding him – and that look on his face when he fell asleep with his little tummy all full and a smile on his face.”