Kym Marsh health latest: Coronation Street star’s struggle after giving birth
Kym Marsh, 42, has played Michelle Connor on ITV’s Coronation Street since 2006, and over the years has used her celebrity status to highlight a number of health conditions she’s experienced. Speaking in her latest column in this week’s issue of OK! Magazine, Kym divulged she struggled to breastfeed her daughter Polly, 8, when she was born. The soap star decided to open up after The One Show presenter Alex Jones revealed she’d found breastfeeding tough.
Kym Marsh divulged she struggled to breastfeed her daughter Polly when she was born
“There’s a lot of pressure on new mums, particularly around breastfeeding,” she wrote.
“I did try my best to breastfeed after I had Polly but she was in special care and I wasn’t making enough milk.
“In the end, I was advised to stop trying.
“That said, I didn’t breastfeed with David or Emilie and they turned out just fine. I think people have to stop bashing each other.”
In the UK, more than 73 per cent of mothers start breastfeeding, according to the NHS, and there are many benefits associated with it.
It says it reduces your baby’s risk of:
- Infections, with fewer visits to hospital as a result
- Diarrhoea and vomiting, with fewer visits to hospital as a result
- Diarrhoea and vomiting, with fewer visits to hospital as a result
- Sudden infant death syndrome
- Childhood leukaemia
- Obesity
- Cardiovascular disease in adulthood
But not being able to make enough breast milk is a problem many new mums experience.
A number of things can affect your milk supply.
Alongside poor attachment and positioning, drinking alcohol while breastfeeding, previous breast surgery, having to spend time away from your baby after the birth, and anxiety, stress or depression, can all affect milk production.
Other problems new mums may experience when it comes to breastfeeding include:
- Sore or cracked nipples
- Breast engorgement (when your breasts get too full of milk)
- Baby not latching on properly
- Blocked milk duct
- Breastfeeding and thrush
- Too much breast milk
Zoe Ralph, an infant feeding worker in Manchester and Fellow of the Institute of Health Visiting, advises: “With skilled help, lots of these problems can be sorted out. If you have concerns about how much milk your baby is getting, it’s important to ask for help early.
“Speak to your midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding specialist. They can also tell you where you can get further support.”
Last week, Kym revealed details of a “painful” health condition she’d been dealing with.
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