Breast-feeding twins ‘was like Twister’
But Angie Benhaffhaf, whose sons, Hassan and Hussein were born joined at the chest last December, encouraged new mums to “give breast-feeding a go”.
“Breast really is best. There are so many advantages – it’s natural, hygienic, it creates a bond with the child and it’s on tap – it’s there when you need it,” she said at the launch of an exhibition to mark the start of National Breast-feeding Week.
Angie breast-fed her two daughters Iman and Malika until they were two-and-a-half years old.
Hassan and Hussein were breast-fed until they were three-weeks-old.
But they were moved to bottle feed while Angie received medical attention in another hospital.
She said the physical challenge of feeding the boys in the first few weeks provided much-needed comic relief for her family. “I tried to feed Hassan and Hussein when they were joined and it was one of those rare funny moments in the beginning,” she said.
“I used to compare it to trying to have a game of Twister.”
She said the boys, who are thriving since their successful separation surgery at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital in April, are doing well and that her home, in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, is now a bustling but happy place.
She left the 10-month-olds at home yesterday to launch the exhibition in Cork’s Mahon Point.
The Friends of Breast-feeding exhibition features a collection of photographs and paintings of mothers breast-feeding infants. It will go on display around the country next week. It aims to make mothers feel more relaxed about breast-feeding in public.
Meanwhile, up to 60 mums and their babies are set to join in a world-record attempt at Mahon Point today for the most mothers breast-feeding at once.
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