Customer becomes Owner
Hi, I am Brooke and my journey with Rumi & Sol started when I became a customer after struggling to find breastfeeding friendly clothing after giving birth to my twins. Buying Rumi & Sol from Liv was one of the easiest decisions I have made.
the beginning
I am a mum of 3, My first born in 2020 then twins in 2023. I have had many ups and downs in both feeding journeys and have learnt so much from my baby, my body and those around me. My breastfeeding journey with my first started beautifully and was everything I wanted, until I was 5 days postpartum.
At 5 days PP, I developed what I would later realise was mastitis. In the thick of Covid, no GP, OB or Midwife would see me due to having high fevers. The only option I was given was to take my brand new baby into an Emergency Department for me to be triaged and wait to be seen that way. I was terrified for my baby and decided to try everything I could at home first. This also meant all of my midwife visits postpartum were cancelled due to the risk being too high for them to see me.
I managed to get through the masitis, however was left with a breast abscess the size of a 20c piece, over the next 3 months I had multiple ultrasound guided drainages however the abscess persisted. I continued to feed through this, however GPs, Paediatricians and even some Child and Family Health nurses started to doubt my body and suggested formula top ups.
When my baby was 3.5 months I had to have the abscess surgically drained and this meant an open wound with a drainage bag attached for weeks to allow the abscess to drain and hopefully heal itself.
The abscess caused my supply to drop on that side but I kept pushing, I loved breastfeeding and just wanted to keep going.
Over the next few months I had multiple checkups and at my sons 6 month checkup I was strongly encouraged to switch to formula completely. I was terrified and felt like I had failed my baby and was starving him so immediately started trialling formula and weaning his breastfeeds.
Which I am sure you have already guessed was the end for our breastfeeding journey.
Formula was not the answer and I still wish I had trusted myself and my body more. But my feeding journey with my twins (which started horribly) has healed me in more ways than I ever could have imagined.
the healing
When my twins were born in 2023, things started out rough.
They were born at 35 weeks and 2 days via emergency c-section due to complications in my pregnancy.
From the theatre they were rushed off to the Special Care Nursery due to respiratory failure. I didn't get to see them until hours later. When I finally got to meet my sweet twins, I was wheeled into the nursery in the bed and the paediatricians told me my baby boy needed to be flown 3 hours away in a helicopter for more specialised care. This meant I was to stay with our baby girl and my partner went with him. I was not cleared to express colostrum so had nothing for him to take with him. At first both twins weren't allowed feeds so i got started straight away at pumping. My baby girls first feed was my expressed colostrum but my baby boy was put onto formula due to the seperation.
I was told I wasn't allowed to let my baby girl latch as she would use too much energy, so she was 4 days old when I was able to feed her for the first time, and anyone with a baby who has been born prematurely may know the break periods between breastfeeds to allow them to rest and recover because sucking is hard work.
When my baby boy returned from Sydney I wasn't able to let him latch either and my first direct feed with him was at 7 days old. I continued pumping around the clock to boost supply to feed them both and had the help of some beautiful friends who donated breastmilk so my baby boy could come off formula completely.
I was told every day and multiple times a day by the paediatricians that I should switch to formula so they knew exactly how much the twins were getting and that would allow us to go home quicker, I persisted because I knew how important breastfeeding was to me at this point.
I was not exclusively feeding my twins from the breast until they were two weeks old and finally came off feeding tubes. I remember this day so clearly.
I continued to pump after feeds to make sure my supply was enough and I pushed back at every Drs appointment when the suggested formula to 'give me a break'.
Fast forward to now and I am still breastfeeding them now at 19 months old.
This journey although rocky has healed a part of me I didn't realise needed healing.
At Rumi & Sol, we're not just about creating stylish and comfortable clothing breastfeeding mums. Our focus is to build beyond a brand. We're about fostering a supportive community, a safe space for mothers to celebrate the beauty and strength of breastfeeding. By empowering and encouraging them to breastfeeding with confidence where ever and when ever.
Our mission is simple yet powerful: to provide breastfeeding-friendly clothing that is fashioanle, comfortable and size inclusive whilst also empowering mothers to embrace their journey with confidence and style. We believe that every mother deserves to feel comfortable and beautiful during this transformative period of motherhood.
Always Breastfeeding Friendly.
Thank you for supporting us to disrupt the Maternity Fashion Industry and build a community I am proud to say I helped grow and belong to. Brooke x
We always love hearing your feedback and answering any questions or enquiries. Please message us with your question or order number (if applicable) and we will be more than happy to help. Our email is rumiandsol@hotmail.com
When you are wearing our clothes, making you feel like you again!
don't forget to tag us in your pictures xx
