seems to like it. She didn't seem to like cow and gate did she?" (Neonatal Interview, Scrump, Victoria, Scrump's dad and Phoebe present, feeding expressed breastmilk to Victoria who is two weeks old). Therefore, most of the young mothers are not overly interested in the potential health benefits of breastfeeding and the advice that they have found useful and remembered is sometimes misunderstood. Scrump is the only one who talks about health benefits at any length or with particular feeling and she exclusively expressed for over five months; Victoria was exclusively fed on breastmilk and was the baby who received breast milk by far the longest. She was also the last weaned onto solid food. 5.2 Having stuff for the baby Having things for the baby was very important to most of the young mothers and was much discussed. All of them had bottles ready before they gave birth, though obviously, as per the inclusion criteria for my study, all of them had expressed a desire to breastfeed. Some said the bottles were just in case they needed them, whilst others saw them as just something you have to have when you have a baby. The cost of baby equipment and clothes was also often discussed and it seemed that expensive things were a source of pride, though most had a very limited amount of money to spend on themselves and the baby. Having things all ready before the baby's arrival was very important to all of the participants. Jessie expresses this when she talks about her excitement and mentions the things she has bought as being part of that excitement. "But everything is alright, and I'm looking forward to it and getting excited. We've got everything for the baby, we've got a pram and cot and everything so, it's going to be a really really good experience (emphasis in the original)." (Antenatal interview, Jessie and Phoebe present, Jessie's mum often coming in to offer food). There also seemed to be an element of telling me that they were ready, to demonstrate that they were doing well and were well prepared. As Alfie's nan says,
seems to like it. She didn't seem to like cow and gate did she?" (Neonatal Interview, Scrump, Victoria, Scrump's dad and Phoebe present, feeding expressed breastmilk to Victoria who is two weeks old). Therefore, most of the young mothers are not overly interested in the potential health benefits of breastfeeding and the advice that they have found useful and remembered is sometimes misunderstood. Scrump is the only one who talks about health benefits at any length or with particular feeling and she exclusively expressed for over five months; Victoria was exclusively fed on breastmilk and was the baby who received breast milk by far the longest. She was also the last weaned onto solid food. 5.2 Having stuff for the baby Having things for the baby was very important to most of the young mothers and was much discussed. All of them had bottles ready before they gave birth, though obviously, as per the inclusion criteria for my study, all of them had expressed a desire to breastfeed. Some said the bottles were just in case they needed them, whilst others saw them as just something you have to have when you have a baby. The cost of baby equipment and clothes was also often discussed and it seemed that expensive things were a source of pride, though most had a very limited amount of money to spend on themselves and the baby. Having things all ready before the baby's arrival was very important to all of the participants. Jessie expresses this when she talks about her excitement and mentions the things she has bought as being part of that excitement. "But everything is alright, and I'm looking forward to it and getting excited. We've got everything for the baby, we've got a pram and cot and everything so, it's going to be a really really good experience (emphasis in the original)." (Antenatal interview, Jessie and Phoebe present, Jessie's mum often coming in to offer food). There also seemed to be an element of telling me that they were ready, to demonstrate that they were doing well and were well prepared. As Alfie's nan says,