I debated writing this for a solid week now. I’ve been going back and forth in my mind between this and safer topics such as: ‘the best baby toys to keep your baby occupied long enough to wash a sink full of dishes” and “why the hell did someone invent snaps when zippers are clearly meant for the lazy?” But in the end, my heart knew best what it wanted to express to the world.

I’m going to expose my self conscious side for a bit here. I hope that part in all of you is able to relate. So, boobs. Let’s just get that out of the way.

What are ‘Moobs’?

Plural noun of Moob, pronounced like boobs with an ‘m.’ Moobs is the combination of the words ‘mom’ and ‘boobs’ otherwise known as ‘Mom boobs.” Typically referred to as large and saggy breasts, used to take on the beautiful job of feeding a child. Also, something moms are embarrassed or ashamed by at least once during motherhood. Rather a mother should be proud of her moobs as they too represent the beauty and strength in being a mom.

A love hate relationship with my breasts

Today, I was sitting on my phone picking out the perfect picture for a new Instagram post from a photo session my husband did with my daughter and I. Instantly, I found myself nit picking and judging my own body. I was in love with one particular photo, it captured both my daughter and I smiling at the SAME TIME (unheard of) and the lighting was just right, the focus was on point and the photo just oozed happiness. Oddly enough, it was taken on a day I actually felt very attractive. I was wearing a brand new romper that I was overly excited to finally fit into, in addition to my favorite sandals that go with every outfit. I made an effort to braid my hair and I felt sexy, but somehow in that moment the socially aware part of my brain started to scream…

“No!! You have such ‘mom boobs.’ Don’t you dare expose the possibility that your breasts aren’t perfect! They ruin this photo.“

In my mind, that’s the truth.

An ugly and hurtful truth, but truth nonetheless. And that’s simply due to the fact that, in my head, the breasts I now wear aren’t normal.

They no longer sit high on their own as they once did. For the past 18 years of my life before becoming pregnant, I was used to embracing my perfectly small, B cup sized breasts and the beauty of never having to wear a bra. So my now enlarged, to double their original sized, breasts are something I’m not quite accustomed to.

Several months postpartum and here we are, still struggling to find all of my self confidence again. But, similar to stretch marks, my breasts are an image of mother hood. A beautiful one at that. They represent a healthy baby, a well fed child. They represent the many months we’ve endured together in our breastfeeding journey. My breasts are a reminder of the intense and magical bond I share with my daughter and I want to be proud of that, not ashamed.

Will my boobs fix themselves like my vagina did?

Scientifically speaking, it is more than just possible for your breasts to regain elasticity similar to their sister body part, the vagina. It is no secret the vagina goes back to her normal placement within months after childbirth. It’s a flat-out myth that your breasts sag due to breastfeeding… We can thank pregnancy for that! This occurs when our bodies are pumped with raging hormones causing extra blood volume, that results in swelling in our breast tissue. Our boobs fill with milk in preparation for baby and the weight of the engorgement are part of the reason the breasts have such a high potential to sag.

Your breasts are very mobile because they’re attached to the muscles of your chest wall by thin bands also known as Cooper’s Ligaments. Your breasts contain no muscle and aren’t pulled very taut, so it’s easy for even the slightest weight increase to result in the tiniest bit of drooping.

It’s TOTALLY normal and a BEAUTIFUL thing!

In order for our breasts to make room to carry milk for our babies, our breasts have to let go of the fat around the glandular tissue, so that it can be replaced with milk. Typically, when breastfeeding ceases, women find that anywhere from several weeks to months after, their breasts regain fatty tissue and fullness. Often, when she returns to pre-pregnancy weight, it becomes more likely the breasts will return close to normal! Can you believe that? Neither can I because I’m still breastfeeding and waiting for that day to hit me in the face!

Finding the empowerment to go on…

I wear all sorts of weird and unexpected sizes now. Even though I’m nearing seven months postpartum, I’m still taking my time figuring out all these new things about myself. One of those fantastic things, is finding the courage and confidence to embrace my new self and the beauty I already hold.

It’s not an easy task to take on. We all know from experiencing the ages 10-17, that puberty is all about maturing. About continuing to find new ways to be confident in who we are as individuals. It takes years to find comfort in our body types! Then pregnancy just comes along and strips that away to a blank slate.

However, there’s nothing more refreshing than starting over when things are complicated. It’s far more beautiful to experience finding yourself when you have a new vision for the world. As mothers we adopt traits we didn’t posses before. Like, unconditional love. One truly doesn’t know unconditional love until they’ve had a child. There is not a thing more beautiful than viewing something through a mothers perspective.

So, if you too are struggling with any piece of your mom body, just think about what you would tell your child if they confided this problem to you. What would your mother tell you? You’ve worked hard to bring so much joy and love into this world. Why doesn’t your body deserve it too?

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts and be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our hashtag

#BreastfeedingWorld

Katherine Hovey

Katherine Hovey is a young first time mom, stationed on Guam, living life over 7,900 air miles away from her home and everyone she knows as she navigates her place in life as a mother. Currently she is studying to become a Certified Medical Assistance and spends her free time volunteering as a writer for Soldier’s Angels and a part time freelance photographer. Katherine’s motivation is the compassion she has for others. Ultimately she wishes to reach out and impact every life she can touch. Whether that’s getting the chance to help out a family in need, finding a home for an abandoned dog or getting the opportunity to hear someone’s story. She is an avid people person yearning to make a change and leave her mark on this world while never ceasing to observe the world’s lost beauty. If you’d like to learn more about Katherine you can find her on YouTube and Instagram at Hoveylife.

www.youtube.com/channel/UCGLjPPckEfB4M3QOKf-TQ3g

The post The Truth Behind “Moobs” appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Moms know well that there are many precious moments in their infants’ lives. But few can compare to the emotional closeness of breastfeeding. So many of those invaluable rituals pass almost unnoticed as we’re immersed in a sea of worries. As we think about how we can solve yet another issue.

Especially for moms that raise toddlers and infants simultaneously, like myself. It becomes crucial to create a soothing atmosphere in every room of the house. You will want to be present in those priceless moments and not worry about a sink full of dishes or tripping over toys on the floor. And that is where simple decluttering tips come in handy!

Inside-out makeover

Even if you’re in love with your trinkets and knickknacks; when you have a toddler running around the house while you’re trying to breastfeed your bundle of joy, it’s not easy to enjoy the feeding time with a peace of mind.

If it does’t bring you joy, considering purging it. Put away the smallest and least-used items in your home. Decorative, grabable items can be put in a storage unit, in a drawer, or up on a high shelf. Keep your rooms clean and focused around several larger pieces of furniture with warm accessories; such as pillows, carpets and curtains.

The same goes for your nursery – I’ve used many colorful boxes and sliding drawers to store clothes, extra blankets and toys, so that they are out of reach without my help. With that, every room is clutter-free. Plenty of clean, open space allows you to breastfeed in comfort and focus on your baby without panicking about that pile of books that needs organizing.

A breath of fresh air

Nothing inspires a sense of serenity quite like clean, fresh air. However, living with kids often causes burnt meals, smelly diapers, and as cute as baby farts might sound, they can be surprisingly hard on the nose! It took my husband a while before he got used to various baby smells. We had to learn how to change those diapers like a professional pit-stop team – in less than five seconds.

Living in cities alone exposes you to an above-normal level of air pollutants and unhealthy microelements. No matter how hard you try to keep your home clean and tidy, dust, pollen and hair find their way into every room.

With the help of low-maintenance plants and high-quality air purifiers, even the smelliest, stuffiest rooms turn into a breastfeeding oasis for you and your baby. Removing toxins and pollutants, will not only help your baby breathe better, stay calm and soothe them to sleep with ease, but it will also help them stay healthy and lower the risk of allergies or asthma in the future.

Stress-free maintenance

Our first baby shower resulted in so many doubles that I cannot even begin to name them all. Pacifiers, plush toys, breastfeeding pillows, crib blankets, you name it. Some of them, of course, were bound to come in handy sooner or later. But, most of them just took up space. This was definitely the case with a breast pump I had a special relationship with. I couldn’t wait for the time to get rid of it too.

With a second baby on the way, we had to get rid of all the extras and make room for the things we would actually need. So, a spring cleaning in the middle of winter ensued, and our home suddenly felt lighter, brighter and less chaotic. We decided to literally take baby steps to avoid collecting clutter in the future.

As soon as I receive a double gift or buy an extra item by mistake, I donate it, sell it or pass it on, in no less than a day or two. This helps me keep our home clutter-free, simple to clean, kids and breastfeeding-friendly. Instead of one major spring cleaning session that can take up a whole day or even a week, we created a manageable routine that keeps stress at bay and doesn’t interrupt or hinder my precious breastfeeding sessions.
Focus on finding the best long-term solution that will simplify cleaning and organizing your home, and every breastfeeding session will become a private, stress-free moment of bliss you will remember for the rest of your life.

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts and be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our hashtag

#BreastfeedingWorld

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Zara Lewis

The post A Breastfeeding-Friendly Home: How To Declutter Your Life appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

This one is definitely the most bittersweet breastfeeding experience, because she will be our last baby.

She is now 9 months, and I feel like we are counting down the weeks until our incredible journey is over. Not only just this journey, but my entire breastfeeding journey. I will miss so many countless things about nursing, but it has been a phenomenal experience and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Of course, I will not the bites, the twiddles, the nursing pads and bras, the leaking, the pain and soreness. But each time she looks up at me with those big brown eyes and gently places her soft hands on my cheek and gives me that sweet little smile in the middle of nursing it melts my heart. And that beautiful bond makes you forget about all of those other things. There are so many bittersweet breastfeeding feelings when I look at these pictures of my last nursing baby. Gah, I’m going to miss this!

About the Breastfeeding World Photographer:

Jennifer Effinger is the proud mother of Kellan (2 years old). She Currently lives in Greenfield, Indiana. Her Photography Company, Quite Dandy, focuses on Lifestyle, Natural Light photography. She loves capturing genuine interactions, and specializes in children, families, breastfeeding, and births. She is excited to Join the Breastfeeding World Team as a Photographer because she loves capturing the interactions of childhood, and  what is more precious than the bond between mother and child?

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our HT #BreastfeedingWorld 

–

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admin

A photography project founded in late 2014 by Alexia Garcia, photographer a Alegares Photography. Breastfeeding World aims to promote breastfeeding and encourage new moms to nurse their babies through the art of photography and story telling.

The post Bittersweet Breastfeeding: Behind the Scenes of a 5 time Mom appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Each mother and each child at our shoot had a unique and special story to tell. Tahwii shared with us the birth of her son and how she learned to trust her body, and to trust her baby through their journey together.

One of my first memories of breastfeeding occurred shortly after my brother was born.

I witnessed my mother breastfeeding and as many young children do, I mimicked her by breastfeeding my stuffed animals. I recall borrowing her nursing bras and using stacking toys with nipple shaped heads as my “breast”. When my own son was born I soon found out that breastfeeding was not quite as easy with a real baby.

Early on in our pregnancy we decided upon a planned homebirth under the care of a midwife. I wanted to experience the magical symphony of hormones that rush through your body during and after childbirth. As a former doula, I learned that labor & delivery drugs can often have a negative impact on breastfeeding and this played an integral part in our decision to go the natural childbirth route.

Our son arrived five days after his “due date” peacefully at home.

We couldn’t have asked for a more amazing experience. He was so tiny at just 5lbs 7oz with big hands, feet, and the hugest dimple. Once settled, I placed him on my belly to do the breast crawl. My husband didn’t believe that newborns were capable of such a thing, but sure enough this tiny guy made his way to my left breast. He crawled and threw his head over in the direction he wanted, pausing every so often to put his hands in his mouth. I was such a proud new momma in this moment, as I couldn’t believe my own eyes either. Our birth photographer was able to capture every moment as we all cheered him on. Finally, he latched right on and just stared into my eyes.

We gazed like this literally for days afterwards.

My brother later told me that my son stared at me as if I was his everything. We spent three days in our bedroom and despite some breastfeeding struggles it was completely magical. We napped under the sunlight coming from the window, spent hours doing skin to skin, and enjoyed meals together in bed. During this time we limited visitors to the house which made the time together even more special, but also allowed us to get the hang of breastfeeding without interruption.

It seemed as the hours, nights, and days went by things got pretty confusing.

I kept reminding myself to put him belly to belly, make sure he had a wide mouth, and to tuck my breast back a bit so I wouldn’t suffocate him. Breastfeeding by day seemed to be a breeze, however the nights were the toughest. I was never confident that I was doing anything properly, but found some comfort in tracking his wet and dirty diapers.

My milk came in on day four, one moment I’m watching TV and the next my breasts are as hard as rocks! Soon thereafter I noticed that my breast tissue seemed to turn into mashed potatoes, I no longer had anything to grasp when I tried to tickle his lips with my breast to get him to open. It was literally nipple and stretchy skin. I also struggled with the fact that I could never feel my milk let down. Thankfully, a visit with a lactation consultant eased my worries. My son had a great latch, we could hear him swallowing, and he was gaining weight. The nurse comforted me and let me know that all of my breastfeeding experiences were indeed normal.

In the months that followed I was a bit shocked at the dedication required to breastfeed.

I stayed home with him- and when I did return to work a few hours a week, he came along with me. I couldn’t bare the thought of parting with him. We probably haven’t spent more than a total of 15 hours away from each other since his birth. Since we have always been together I’ve only pumped a handful of times. So I feel as though my body has been able to more naturally regulate supply for him. I have experienced the occasional clogged duct, but I’m thankful that I have never experienced sore or cracked nipples. Moreover, breastfeeding has never been a painful experience for me.

I love the closeness that we have and that he is so easily comforted when I offer him the breast.

At times life can get so hectic, but breastfeeding has allowed me to take time to sit and just be. I love holding him in my arms and watching him look back up at me with a huge grin while still holding on. I don’t think I will ever forget those big beautiful eyes looking back at me the way he does. At times it’s frustrating especially when I want him to get some rest, but as soon as he falls asleep I find myself still holding him, kissing him, and playing with his hair.

I plan to let him naturally wean himself off with hopes to make it to two years at least. With each month that passes by, I know that we are getting closer to the day he will no longer want to nurse. I had no idea thoughts of no longer breastfeeding could be so emotional, the irrational side of me fears we will lose a bit of our closeness and time for just the two of us. Despite what may happen when that time comes I feel so fortunate to have provided him with the benefits of breastfeeding that will last beyond the time he decides to stop.

Looking back on the past 16 months, I realize that during the tough times in the beginning I was analyzing every single detail to make sure I was doing it “right”, when in fact he was doing it right and I was interfering.

My son was a natural and we never had any red flags that we were in fact having trouble. My breastfeeding journey has certainly taught me to trust myself, trust my body, and trust my baby.

Tahwii Spicer is the owner of Simply Natural Baby Store- the eco-friendly, plastic-free baby store which aims is to provide safe, natural, solutions for conscious parents in the form of toys, baby products, baby gear, and much more!
She has a background in sleep medicine with credentials from the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. However,  after almost a decade in the sleep field, she chose to follow her passions and let her instincts guide the way to take part in what she often refers to as, “The Best Thing Ever,” working with new and expectant parents. Tahwii’s holistic credentials include being a Hypnobabies® Childbirth Hypnosis Doula, Level II Reiki Practitioner,  and Certified Educator of Infant Massage.

She has been featured in Pregnancy & Newborn magazine, Holistic Patenting magazine,  and Indianapolis’s Fox59 News. Tahwii is the mother of two
and has had her own wonderful experiences with home birth and
breastfeeding.

www.Simplynaturalbabystore.com
Www.facebook.com/simplynaturalbabystore
Www.instagram.com/simplynaturalbabystore
Www.twitter.com/theecobabystore
https://plus.google.com/+Simplynaturalbabystore
Www.pinterest.com/naturalbabyshop

About the Breastfeeding World Photographer:

Jennifer Effinger is the proud mother of Kellan (2 years old). She Currently lives in Greenfield, Indiana. Her Photography Company, Quite Dandy, focuses on Lifestyle, Natural Light photography. She loves capturing genuine interactions, and specializes in children, families, breastfeeding, and births. She is excited to Join the Breastfeeding World Team as a Photographer because she loves capturing the interactions of childhood, and  what is more precious than the bond between mother and child?

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our HT #BreastfeedingWorld 

–

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admin

A photography project founded in late 2014 by Alexia Garcia, photographer a Alegares Photography. Breastfeeding World aims to promote breastfeeding and encourage new moms to nurse their babies through the art of photography and story telling.

The post How I Learned to Trust My Body and My Baby appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Breastfeeding While Sick Is Not Easy

For the past 4 weeks, I’ve been battling one illness or another. There were times when I really, really need to not be touched by my kid. Or to hear her screeches because I asked her not to touch me. But the most recent bout of illness was a stomach flu. Have you ever had a stomach flu when you’re a breastfeeding mom?

Let me tell you—it’s pretty freaking terrible.

We all know that when battling a stomach flu, you don’t have an option to just lay and wait for your child to fall asleep or unlatch. When you are getting sick, you’ve got to go. Fast. Or at least have a trashcan close by.

I was not the only family member sick…no. My husband and my youngest (my nursling) also caught the bug. So in between my runs to safety, I was catching or cleaning up her messes. My husband helped as much as he could, but he was pretty sick, as well. It was a hassle, to say the least. But the biggest problems I faced were when she wouldn’t unlatch or she got a burst of energy and decided to crawl across my aching abdomen. One of the times she went across me, she got me with her elbow and knee. Simultaneously. I thought I was going to die.

The Selflessness Is Strong In Us

The amazing thing about it all is that, even though I was so ill and in so much pain, I somehow focused on getting her better. I nursed her. Then I cuddled with her. Somehow    axc;c rdp I forced down all my urges to run to the trashcan and mind-over-mattered it so that she could peacefully fall asleep and unlatch herself. How? Who knows. I imagine it’s just the powerful woman body, doing what we are meant to do. Put our babies first–always.

It’s difficult, obviously. I’m not saying everyone can manage to avoid their toilet or trashcan run to snuggle a baby. But I was pretty amazed at my ability to focus so much on her healing whilst also taking care of myself. The selflessness that we exude when breastfeeding is a pretty remarkable thing when you think about it. We put forth so much energy and time and resources into being able to do this one thing for our child. Just for our bodies to produce milk is more energy than some people use in their entire day.

I have done many things in my life that I am genuinely proud of. But the most marvelous accomplishment has been this selfless act of breastfeeding while sick. Even in my most selfish moments, I still manage to put this child first. That is what breastfeeding is all about.

Lee Moffitt

Lee is a stay at home mom who blogs in her spare time. She is a mother to two girls who breastfeed, practices attachment parenting, babywearing, bedsharing, uses cloth diapers, and homeschools. She works with her local community to help women learn how to breastfeed and how to wear their babies. Lee is currently working towards becoming a La Leche League leader and a Certified Babywearing Consultant, so that she can better serve mother’s needs.

The post Breastfeeding When You Are Sick: Selfless, Difficult, And Amazing appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

photo by Trausch Photography

Jodie Allenson with Curvy Girl Studio demonstrates a Mommy and ME Mini-Movers class for Parents and Babes

Stacey Ware with Usborne Books is a nursing mama and business owner. Photo credit: Lindsay Trausch, Trausch Photography

Tahwii Spicer is an Advocate Partner for Breastfeeding World and the Owner of Simply Natural Baby Store

Dana Fledderman is a Breastfeeding Supporter and 31 Consultant.

Little Mr. Little Miss Baby Boutique

“The Bubbles were pretty awesome, but Just being there, enjoying times with other moms was great!” -Renee Smith

Lauren Lewis

Lauren Lewis is no stranger to childcare development, having spent over 10 years as a nanny or family childcare provider. She’s the wife of a travel geek, mother of two vivacious children, and has an amazing talent for trailing lost things behind her a la Hansel and Gretel. Her passion for lifting up women and advocating for children pours out in her work as a Central Indiana Event Coordinator, Writer, and Social Media Relations Director for Breastfeeding World. Her life is full of busy, crazy and LOUD. It is full of love and hope, ups and downs. And coffee, always lots of coffee- but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

www.raisinglaurenslittle.wordpress.com

The post Hamilton County Big Latch On- A Community Success! appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

On May 21st, 2016 breastfeeding supporters around the world joined forces and together we all celebrated the WHO Code Day of action, an initiative to create awareness and protect families from unfair marketing strategies.

The International Code of Marketing Substitutes is an International health policy for breastfeeding promotion adopted by the World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) in May 21st, 1981.

The Code was developed as a health strategy to recommend restrictions on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes such as infant formula in hopes of ensuring moms to not be discouraged to breastfeed their babies. Thankfully, since 1981, 84 countries have enacted legislations implementing all or many of the provisions of the WHO Code.

Unfortunately many baby food companies and hospitals all around the world have failed to abide by the code, which is why breastfeeding advocates created the WHO Code Day, specially to be able to educate mothers about it.

WHO Code Provisions

For the World Health Organization, the Code aims to shield breastfeeding mothers from commercial promotion that affects them, health workers and health care systems. Here we have provided some samples of the provisions regulated by the code:

Sam Graff Breastfeeding Her child

For Mothers:

Information and educational materials on infant and young child feeding should be objective and consistent and emphasize the importance of breastfeeding. In no case should such materials refer to a brand name of a product.

All forms of product advertising and promotion are prohibited.

Mothers should not be given free product samples.

• Promotional devices such as discounts and special displays at the retail level are prohibited.

For Health Workers:

• The Code gives health workers the responsibility to encourage and protect breastfeeding.
• Materials regarding products given to health professionals by manufacturers and distributors should be limited to ‘scientific and factual’ matters. They should not be tools to promote the use of products.
• Product samples may be given only when necessary for professional evaluation or research at the institutional level. In no case should these samples be passed on to mothers.

For Health Care Systems:

“Thank you for Breastfeeding me”

• Promotion of any product is forbidden in a health care facility. This includes the display of products, placards and posters concerning such products and distribution of materials provided by manufacturers and distributors.
• Formula feeding should be demonstrated only to those mothers or family members who need to use it and the information given should include a clear explanation of the risks of formula feeding and hazards of improper use of products.
• Donated equipment and materials should not refer to brand names of products.
• Free Supplies: Two subsequent resolutions (WHA 39.28 [1986] and WHA 47.5 [1994]) effectively call for an end to all free or low-cost supplies to any part of the health care system. Manufacturers and distributors are therefore prohibited from providing products to health care facilities for free or at low cost.

WHO is Breastfeeding? – A happy baby photo contest

For everyone who is part of Breastfeeding World, it is important to take action and join this global initiative so that we can fairly promote breastfeeding together; because of this we launched our “WHO is Breastfeeding? – A happy baby photo contest”. With this contest, we hope to encourage moms around the world to learn more about the WHO code- and it’s safe implementation.

In coordination with our Big Latch On Events quickly approaching- in NYC, Hamilton County and on Martha’s Vineyard- we decided that the winners of this photo contest would be the face of our national outreach campaign. Currently, we are designing the “Thank you for Breastfeeding Me” advocacy cards, which will be handed to all the participants of our Tri-State events.

But as you know, for Breastfeeding World every picture has to come with a story. These are the breastfeeding journey stories of these lovely mamas and babies! Meet them as you will see their pictures printed very soon!.

Shawna Sundberg –

With my first child, I was not prepared to breastfeed. In fact, I was only told it was disgusting and that I should not do it. Because I had no support, (we had moved to a new state three months prior to her being born) I just did not do it. With my second child, I was a bit more prepared, yet still was unable to breastfeed for long. I did not have any LLL or LC professionals within two hours of where I lived. So when I had a hard time with his latch and extreme pain, and taking 2 hours to feed him, I had no idea what to do. Therefore, we started formula at four months. If I had have someone with experience we would have been able to learn that he had a lip tie.

With my third child I was much better advised and researched. The internet had changed so much and there was so much more information available to me. We had a beautiful breastfeeding experience which lasted 20 months when she self weaned. My fourth, and current, baby is 8 1/2 months old and we are going strong! I have experience as well as great support where we live now. I love that breastfeeding isn’t as it was 13 years ago when I had my first. I love that it’s becoming more and more normalized…as it should be.

Sarah Brown –

“The way she snuggles right up too me is the best feeling any mommy can experience.” – Sarah Brown

Joni Jones –

admin

A photography project founded in late 2014 by Alexia Garcia, photographer a Alegares Photography. Breastfeeding World aims to promote breastfeeding and encourage new moms to nurse their babies through the art of photography and story telling.

The post Thank you for Breastfeeding Me – Photo Contest appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

In the beginning. <3

A friend of mine posted a question on Facebook the other week asking if (us) breastfeeding mamas had to change our diet while nursing, what we had to cut, for how long, and what changes we saw in our babies after. This is her second baby and it was déjà vu for me because I had such a different time nursing my second time around, as well.

Right when my Little Miss was born. My perfect little girl. <3

Right away, my daughter nursed so differently than my son did, which is okay because every baby is different, but it wasn’t until a few weeks old that we started to notice it was more than that. She would nurse so quickly, unlatching sometimes right after my letdown (spilling milk and I would try to catch it), but would want to nurse again very quickly because she would spit up almost after every feeding. She would only nurse from one breast and it would take forever for her to burp. Then if we could get her to finally burp, she would have hiccups and spit up. With my son, he was calm and would stay latched forever, falling asleep at almost every feeding the first few months (milk drunk), never spit up, never had trouble burping after a feeding and always nursed from both breasts each feeding.

So tiny and loving her milk.

When she started to spit up after every feeding, she also became very upset and fussy most of the day, especially from noon until midnight. It was so awful and frustrating, I felt like we could never leave the house. At first I thought it was just something I kept eating, so I started to pay attention to my diet and I figure it had to be all the spicy food I loved eating. I already ate a dairy–free and egg–free diet, and I babywore her almost always. But after all that, cutting out the spicy foods included, it still seemed to not make a big enough difference for her. I became desperate and went to our pediatrician, who gave us a prescription for baby reflux. But, after 5 days of her being on the medication I just started having a bad feeling about this harsh medicine in her tiny body. After researching and reading all the potential side effects, my husband and I decided that our daughter would immediately stop using it that day.

Boob pillow! Milk drunk and out. <3

We researched everything on natural, homeopathic and naturopathic ways to help manage or even cure baby reflux that night. My husband came across this blog or parent conversation board where this husband and his wife had figured out the right treatment plan that cured their baby from reflux. The next day we went and got what we needed and made the right appointments to get our baby girl the relief we were praying for. After a little over a week of following this plan our Little Miss was cured. No joke, you didn’t read that wrong – cured! Below are the homeopathic remedies she took, the specialists she saw, and the treatment plan we stuck to.
– I cut out onions, garlic, broccoli, peppers (all but a few bell here and there), caffeine, dairy, eggs, and all spicy foods. It was hard at first but I stuck to this diet until she was 7-8 months, then only slowly brought back these foods until after her first birthday.

Image from Google

– Hylands #10 Nat Phos 6, one after each feeding. We called these her ‘little baby tums.’ They easily dissolve, which can be crushed up and given to baby directly, or use a baby medicine or breastmilk syringe with a drop of water or breastmilk.
– Boiron Nux Vomica 30c, twice a day, morning and night. These are harder and take a little bit to dissolve, so I used a syringe with either some breastmilk or a few drops of water and swirled it around until completely dissolved to give to baby.
– One trip to a specialized pediatric chiropractor for a post birth therapy session. We’re spoiled and have a few great practices here in Portland with great homeopathic, pediatric chiropractors, but you should be able to find one in your area.

Image from Google

– One dose of pediatric probiotics applied to a pacifier or your nipple right before breastfeeding once a day. I was given a great one by my daughter’s pediatric chiropractor.
– Warm bath before bedtime every night. This is a great way to calm and relax colicky or reflux babies. Even if they don’t seem to like it at first, be consistent and continue giving them a warm bath as part of their night routine.
– Castor Oil tummy massage after bath, then cover with a washcloth, and clothe in a onesie. Maybe use onesies you don’t care about because the castor oil can stain.
– Dress baby in loose clothes, no tight waist bands, and be mindful of how tight the baby’s diaper is.
– When changing baby’s diaper, instead of pulling up her/his legs, like we’re taught, gently roll baby slightly to her/his side and carefully lift her/his leg up to wipe and replace a diaper.
All of this treatment was approved and encouraged by our pediatric chiropractor and my daughter’s pediatrician.

My baby girl, now. Not such a baby at 22 months old, but always one to me.

This may seem like a lot but it’s far better than the alternative, and we did this for only four days and saw a huge improvement! Every baby is different and my daughter was not diagnosed with sever GERDs, so it might take longer than a week or more pediatric chiropractic appointments than it did for my daughter, but it’s worth it.
I will say the first two days are a little tough because there isn’t an overnight change when you first start the treatment. But being consistent and just sticking with it will payoff, trust me.
I kept the homeopathic remedies on hand in her diaper bag in case she became irritated here and there, but we really didn’t have to use them much after a couple of weeks of treatment.

I’m not a medical professional nor do I have a medical license, but I do believe this treatment plan has to be better for babies bodies in the long run. This is what worked for my baby and our family, and it’s important that I share our experience with more parents because it could also cure your baby’s reflux.

We would love to hear from you! What has been your experience with Exclusively Breastfeeding and using a Binky? Share it with us in the comments below!

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our HT #BreastfeedingWorld 

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Page Rose

I am a 27-year-old WAHM to two intelligent and amazing toddlers (3 and 1.5 years), and two stepdaughters (12.5 and 8.5 years). I am a very active and passionate birth advocate working to change regulations, laws and cultural norms in the U.S. to provide parents to be educated and empowered to know all birth rights and options. I am a proud emergency, unplanned c-section, turned all natural, non-medicated VBAC experienced mama! I am a modern-hippie mama practicing attachment parenting, who loves babywearing and toddlerwearing, and of course breastfeeding! I love to laugh with my amazing husband/best friend and to travel to new places with our beautiful family.
For more of my lifestyle and mommy blogging updates, check out my Instagram page @PRbabywearingMama.

The post Breastfeeding a Colicky or Reflux Baby appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Us doing our normal thing.

Don’t be the Scrooge of Breastfeeding this Christmas!

Do not be the Scrooge of Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding your baby is important. I say this as a matter of fact- medically recommended, not as a judgment. The American Academy of Pediatrics certainly states so and so does WHO (World Health Organization), recommending that babies be breastfed until 2 years of age.
In 2012, the U.S. ranked last (LAST!) on the Breastfeeding Policy Scorecard for the World’s Mother’s Report for 2012. For many reasons, American women face many challenges and many avoidable obstacles with breastfeeding. So, if you are anti-breastfeeding, please keep your opinions to yourself and don’t be the Scrooge of Breastfeeding this Christmas and holiday season.

Know Your Rights, Don’t allow anyone to be a Scrooge of Breastfeeding this Season!

Nearly all 50 states protect mothers’ rights to breastfeed out in public, wherever they want and whenever they want. When babies are hungry, babies need to be fed right away. Babies are too small and immature to understand how to manipulate and lack the years of practice to gain patience to know how to wait to be fed, which a baby should not have to wait – it’s a baby! So, if you see one of us nursing out in public and you disagree, please keep it to yourself. Don’t be the Scrooge of breastfeeding this Christmas and holiday season.

Beautiful Breastfeeding!

Many of us breastfeeding mothers go through challenges and must relax while nursing, so don’t make it harder for us to feed our babies. Look the other way or leave if you are uncomfortable with a mother taking care of her baby to survive the best way possible, with love and nutrients. Don’t be the Scrooge of Breastfeeding this Christmas or holiday season.
Let’s not be at war with each other on what parenting group is “better” (breastfeeding or bottle feeding) this holiday season. We should know by now that America is driven by money-hungry corporations and formula companies are very aggressive towards new mothers and all parents. This puts so much pressure on moms when feeling defeated and exhausted from breastfeeding in the beginning. Don’t be the Scrooge of breastfeeding this Christmas and holiday season. We need to stick together, educate one another, support one another to be the best parent each of us are, in our own ways. Just remember, breastfeeding can be hard, so just try to love and support all mamas and parents feeding their babies. Don’t be the Scrooge of Breastfeeding this Christmas and holiday season.

Christmas time in the Rose house, filled with love and respect for breastfeeding.

And last, don’t be too hard on yourself and never give up on what you think is the best for you, your baby and family. Please know breastfeeding support and help is out there and you’re never alone. So, don’t be the Scrooge of Breastfeeding this Christmas by shamming something so natural, nurturing and beautiful.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

Do you have a difficult family member or distant friend who is unsupportive of your breastfeeding? Are you having to be around them this holiday season and feel stressed from it? Or are you surrounded by love and support?

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our HT #BreastfeedingWorld 

Page Rose

I am a 27-year-old WAHM to two intelligent and amazing toddlers (3 and 1.5 years), and two stepdaughters (12.5 and 8.5 years). I am a very active and passionate birth advocate working to change regulations, laws and cultural norms in the U.S. to provide parents to be educated and empowered to know all birth rights and options. I am a proud emergency, unplanned c-section, turned all natural, non-medicated VBAC experienced mama! I am a modern-hippie mama practicing attachment parenting, who loves babywearing and toddlerwearing, and of course breastfeeding! I love to laugh with my amazing husband/best friend and to travel to new places with our beautiful family.
For more of my lifestyle and mommy blogging updates, check out my Instagram page @PRbabywearingMama.

The post Don’t be a Scrooge of Breastfeeding appeared first on Breastfeeding World.