For months, I’ve been mulling the idea of documenting one of the most empowering moments in a mother’s life. Her child’s birth!

Taking back my creative outlet…

When I moved back to live on Martha’s Vineyard, I had to find a way to make ends meet. I was lucky enough to have found a full time job in a place that I absolutely love. For the past three years, my main focus has been to grow in my professional career while keeping up with motherhood.

This new found lifestyle meant that as much as I wanted to continue on with Breastfeeding World, as dedicated as I was before, it was practically impossible. After our most recent Big Latch On event in Times Square this past August 4th, I realized that something needed to change… Me.

Breastfeeding World has allowed me to get to know many many families. Since its conception back in 2013 I’ve been able to photograph over 150 mothers/families from different countries, ethnicities and beliefs. The best part of it all is that I’ve been able to learn about their parenthood journeys.

You know that feeling of pure accomplishment, wonder, passion, pride and happiness? That is what photography has meant to me since the day I grabbed my first camera. For the past three years my photography business has been somewhat dormant, just “a hobby for when I had time”. That phase has now come to an end.

Join us in our new and exciting endeavor our Martha’s Vineyard Birth Story Model Calls

My desire to continue documenting your family’s milestones with creativity, care and love has taken over. It’s time to take back your birthing experience and we can document every part of it together!

I’ve decided to host a Martha’s Vineyard Birth Story Model Call. I’d like to offer island families a chance to document this special loving day. These photo sessions are discounted to allow Breastfeeding World to introduce its photography services on the island.

Standby Martha’s Vineyard Birth Story Model Call

Birth photography is story telling of the moments that lead up to your baby’s arrival and afterwards.  The moment when you summoned up the strength to keep going after you believed you had reached your limit.  The moment when your partner expressed love, care and appreciation for what you were enduring to deliver your baby. The moments when your support team stepped in.  And finally, the moment when your baby first arrived into the world. The expression on your face and on your partner’s face when you first laid eyes on your newest family member!

Standby birth photography means that I’m not on-call.  This means that although I will not clear my calendar as I would if I was “on-call” (where I would have no other events scheduled from week 38-42 of your pregnancy) I will have my phone on me and available to you within reason based of my previous commitments.

There is no commitment for you to sign a contract or pay the full session fee until you call to tell me that you are in labor and I arrive. You will receive copy of all the documents to be signed prior to your due date so you can read through it ahead of time.

You will notify me when you’re headed to the hospital or when you contact your mid-wife. If there are no major impediments I will be there within minutes to capture your labor and delivery.

The Standby Martha’s Vineyard Birth Story Model Call includes: 

• Planning consultations on the phone, via e-mail or in person to discuss your birth plan.
• I’ll be there for you and your family starting with your active labor up to 1.5 hrs after your delivery.
• A custom gallery that includes 40-80 edited digital images in B&W and/or color that you can download directly to your computer.
• Print release so you at print at your convenience.

The regular cost of our basic birth photography sessions begins at $1500 and I’m offering it for only $500. Because this is a model call, I’ve significantly reduced the cost by 65%+ savings!

A $150 booking fee is required to confirm your participation in the model call, the remaining amount will be accepted once we meet for your birth coverage to being.  APPLY NOW

Fresh 48 Sessions & Lifestyle Model Call

My favorite moments to capture are those full of strength, love, excitement, and raw emotion. I love capturing the sparkle in your eyes as you hold your baby close, the way your partner’s hands become gigantic with your small baby inside them. The first few weeks of a baby’s life are incredible and I want you to be able to remember those moments forever too.

The Fresh 48 Model Call includes:

• Planning consultations on the phone, via email or in person.
• A loose on-call schedule to capture you and your new family within 48 hours of birth.
• A 1 hour session at the place of birth to document your baby, you and your partner, your new family members meeting your new baby for the first time.
• A custom gallery that includes 10 edited photos that you can share and use for your birth announcements.

The Lifestyle Family Model Call Session includes:

• Planning consultations on the phone, via email or in person.
• An at home comfortable 1 hour session to document your family with your new addition. This includes time for feedings, we go at your own pace. These sessions would take place up to 15 days after your baby is born.
• A custom gallery that includes 10 edited photos that you can share and use.

The regular cost of our Fresh 48 & Lifestyle Family Sessions start at $450 but for the purpose of this model call I’m offering it for only $200. APPLY NOW

A signed contract and model release are required for any of these sessions. Images taken may be used in promotional material for our website and social media platforms. 

Want to know more about Breastfeeding World? How it all began? Make sure you follow our Instagram to see our work and like our Facebook Page to be up to date on everything Motherhood related!

Alexia Garcia

I’m a proud mom to a beautiful little girl who is the reason of all my smiles | Creator and founder of the Breastfeeding World Project – passionate about normalizing breastfeeding | Professional photographer serving New York City

The post A new endeavor: Birth Story Model Calls on Martha’s Vineyard appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

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 Power in Imagery: Real Moms Breastfeeding on Instagram appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Just as previous years we will be hosting our annual most iconic and beloved Big Latch On events in Times Square, Central Indiana, Martha’s Vineyard and …… this 2017….. we’re bringing it to: Seattle, Washington!.

Thanks to the countless hours of voluntary work from my amazing Dream Team and our local lead volunteers as well as the support of the companies that contribute to our events, we were able to add another Big Latch On location. But that’s not the only good news…

Louisiana, are you ready for us?

Earlier today I got on a very important phone call, I had the pleasure of talking to Jacob Breaux, from JacobBreaux Photography. What started as a hobby in his teen years quickly turned into a passion and now, a profession. In the past 6 years, Jacob has perfected his breathtaking pictures. With varying subjects, he loves making each picture more exciting than the previous one.

A few months ago, Jacob held a breastfeeding photo session for one of the local moms in the his area. After some planning, they met and worked on producing a beautiful breastfeeding session. Once he posted the final results on his Instagram and other social media accounts, he felt shocked by how much support and encouragement one image produced.

He was instantly hooked.

He loved seeing the happy faces of the families. But when he realized how important empowering the new nursing mother he had just photographed, his attention caught immediately. Now he suddenly understood the ‘normalizing breastfeeding’ movement, and decided to join by giving back his talent to his amazing Louisiana community.

Breastfeeding World is coming to Louisiana this 2017!

After talking with Jacob over the phone, I knew fit our goals perfectly, and asked him to join our team of Coast-to-Coast Breastfeeding World Photographers.

We are extremely happy to announce that Breastfeeding World + Jacob Breaux Photography have united efforts in “sharing the breastfeeding love”. Together we will gift a few Louisiana moms a group photo session.

Our First Ever Breastfeeding World/Jacob Breaux Photo Session takes place in St. Martinsville, LA, at  5pm:

Reaux Property

1898 Old Spanish Trail Hwy S, St Martinville,  Louisiana.

(It is the first gravel road on the left past Spanish Lake Truck & Casino Plaza on 182 coming from Cade).

Jacob has requested attire as white dress with a flower head band, babies natural, and all  ages welcomed.

For Breastfeeding World is important to showcase the beauty of breastfeeding through the art of photography. But as photographers we love to tell stories through our images. Just like in previous years, we will be publishing with the Louisiana Mamas breastfeeding journeys from the shoot.. Please make sure you pre-register for our photo session and answer all the questions.

Do you know any more nursing mommies interested in participating? Let them know of our upcoming Louisiana Breastfeeding World’s Photo Session and stay tuned in our FB event as well!

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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Alexia Garcia

I’m a proud mom to a beautiful little girl who is the reason of all my smiles | Creator and founder of the Breastfeeding World Project – passionate about normalizing breastfeeding | Professional photographer serving New York City

The post Announcing BFW Louisiana’s Photoshoot with Jacob Breaux Photography 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.

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.

Last year, Breastfeeding World’s Founder, Alexia Garcia, with her friend and volunteer event coordinator, Lisa Maloney, hosted Breastfeeding World’s first ever Annual NYC Big Latch On. In the heart of Times Square in NYC, they gathered 76 nursing moms and over 100 breastfeeding supporters. Together, New York’s mothers celebrated their breastfeeding community.

Picture by Trausch Photography

Spreading the Breastfeeding Love

Last years event was such a huge success, we decided to have a repeat performance! So this year, together with Alexia, Lisa and Samantha Skylua (Breastfeeding World’s volunteer editor) have joined forces. On behalf of Breastfeeding World, they are hosting our Second Annual NYC Big Latch On and community picnic. However, we are not stopping in New York. For this reason, we are so excited to announce our event in the Midwest!  Breastfeeding World’s editor Lauren Lewis, along with her friend and fellow lactavist Leslie Cosand have been hard at work. We are especially excited about bringing  Breastfeeding World’s First Annual Hamilton County Big Latch On to Central Indiana!

Photo Credit Lindsey Trausch, Trausch Photography

Breastfeeding World’s Hamilton County Big Latch On will take place in beautiful downtown Noblesville, Indiana. On August 6 from 9am to noon,  the West plaza of the Judicial center will host over 200 nursing mothers, along with our community breastfeeding supporters. Here, at the grassy area between the Judicial Center Building and White River, we will begin to celebrate motherhood and breastfeeding.

After checking in, breastfeeding mothers and their families will be able to peruse our sponsored vendor booths and resource tables. During this time, there will be opportunity to munch lactation cookies, participate in baby boot camp, or have Q&A with our volunteer advocates. Finally, at 10:20, we will gather for The Global Big Latch On. At this time our nursing mothers will join over 30,000 women from all over the world in nursing their babes for one minute at exactly 10:30. After the Latch On, there will be an AMAZING raffle give away- with some really exciting prizes!

About the Global Big Latch On

Building community support, one latch at a time.

The Global Big Latch On takes place at a registered locations around the world. Here, women gather together to breastfeed and offer peer support to each other. Their friends, family and community join this celebration to promote and support breastfeeding. To host a latch on, Volunteers (like Breastfeeding World) in the community host in each location. Hosting a Global Big Latch On creates a lasting support network. The Global Big Latch On takes place annually  during World Breastfeeding Week (1st – 7th August).

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 Our First Annual Hamilton County Big Latch On appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Part of my family lives on the island and just being here brings me so many happy memories like sitting in Ocean Park during a hot sunny day and admiring the view of both the cottage houses and the close by beach. No wonder why every islander says… Once you visit Martha’s Vineyard you’ll never want to leave!

This year, when we decided we were going to come to Martha’s Vineyard for our last bit of summer vacation right after our very first Big Latch On in NYC, I knew that our little trip to the island had to be the best. We had to do what both my little girl and I are good at…. Creating amazing memories!

That is how our very first oficial event took place. Best Milk? Mom’s Milk was made possible thanks to the amazing support we had from the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard and business such as: Citrine MV, Made MV, Milk Makers, Mamma Chia, Silverette & The Naked Nursing Tank.

Photography by Alexia Garcia – Alegares Photography

After our successful event, making Martha’s Vineyard Breastfeeding World photo session happen was so empowering! I got to meet four beautiful breastfeeding mommies who had difficulties at the beginning of their journey but they didn’t give up! We went to the oh so famous Gazebo in Ocean Park, one of the very touristic icons on the island where they breastfed their little ones with so much love!

The breastfeeding community on the island is not too big but it definitely is an amazing one. According to a conversation I had with Dr. Miller, pediatrician from MV Hopsital, the brazilian breastfeeding community is the most affected by lack of proper information and education leading to an average nursing period of 2-3 months.  Unfortunately it was impossible for us to find a current Brazilian breastfeeding mama on island during our session.

Martha’s Vineyard Breastfeeding World – Stories of success!

Photography by Alexia Garcia – Alegares Photography

Saundra Hart and Baby Azealia LaBell

I knew breastfeeding would come naturally to me so when I finally started to nurse my baby I was shocked at the learning curve we both faced and the amount of pain I was in.  We eventually got in our groove and the pain started to fade until I forgot it had even been a factor. Then at two weeks my daughter started having severe digestive issues that caused her incredible stomach pain. She began to fall in the weight percentiles at her well visits. After some trips to the lab and a GI specialist we found out that she’s allergic to several foods I was eating. Her pediatrician suggested I stop breastfeeding her and put her on a special formula for babies with food allergies. I was devastated. This was supposed to be the easy part. I decided that my baby’s best interest was to be breastfed and changed my diet. I’ve always been a vegetarian but now I’ve cut out dairy, soy, wheat, and eggs. I’ve found reasonable dietary substitutes and my baby and I are both healthy now. It can be difficult when I just want ice cream or a sandwich but the nutritional and developmental benefits she receives are more important to me.  

Photography by Alexia Garcia – Alegares Photography

Sarah Mattson & Baby Emilia

Breastfeeding for me was a real challenge and test of my strength. Naturally I want what is best for my baby girl but I actually found it hard to bond with her during her feedings because it was so very painful. After treating a yeast infection in each breast and a split nipple the pain didn’t cease. It truly felt like I was being cut with small pieces of glass. It seemed to get worse even though I treated my breasts by letting the milk airdry and using cold compresses. All I could do was stare into Emilia’s eyes and cry because that is how I made it through each feeding. Every week I succeeded I committed to one more week. This went on for 8 weeks. Turns out I also had Reynauds of the nipple and had been exacerbating it with those treatments. But with warm compresses and the help and support of some very wonderful women in the breastfeeding network on the Vineyard, I have come to love breastfeeding my sweet little lady.

Photography by Alexia Garcia – Alegares Photography

Melissa Schellhammer and Baby Juniper

Juniper was born pre-term and via cesarean section and it took her a long time to figure out how to latch. I am so grateful for the amazing nurses at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for teaching me safe bedsharing practices so that I could keep her skin to skin with me round the clock until we established a good nursing routine. I quickly realized that my body was not compatible with pumping so I worked hard to keep up a good supply and allowing Juniper to demand feed and co-sleep really helped with that. I struggled through 3 bouts of mastitis, one was so rough that I couldn’t even get out of bed. My goals for breastfeeding have changed over time; I went from hoping I could nurse my tiny baby to trying to at least make it to her first birthday, but I am proud to be still nursing my little two year old! There are definitely new challenges these days, mostly having to do with other people’s opinions on when enough is enough. My current breastfeeding goal is to think of what is best for Juniper and ignore everything else. Nursing has definitely not always been that perfect photo moment but every teardrop, every minute of lost sleep, every painful plugged duct disappears when I look down and see the comfort and nourishment that I am able to give to my beautiful Juniper.

We’d love tp hear from you! Share with us your up’s and down’s of your breastfeeding journey 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 

Alexia Garcia

I’m a proud mom to a beautiful little girl who is the reason of all my smiles | Creator and founder of the Breastfeeding World Project – passionate about normalizing breastfeeding | Professional photographer serving New York City

The post Martha’s Vineyard Breastfeeding World appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Thanks to the support from the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard we were able to host our event there during their weekly Breastfeeding Café gathering. It was very nice getting to meet some amazing mamas and little ones.

Breastfeeding World was very fortunate to have had the sponsorship and donation from nationwide business: MilkMakers, Mamma Chia, Silverette, The Naked Nursing Tank,  as well as local Vineyard stores such as Citrine MV and Made MV. While enjoying their milkmakers lactation cookies the moms gathered shared their breastfeeding stories of success with us.

It made us very happy knowing that all of the moms had been previously prepared and well informed of all of the amazing benefits of breastfeeding prior to giving birth. Although they knew the possible difficulties they would encounter at the beginning of their journey the excruciating pain was unbearable, but they pushed through it.

Continuing with our photography projects’ original goal we decided to find “Martha’s Vineyard’s Breastfeeding World”. With the sponsorship of Alegares Photography we will be capturing the love and beauty of breastfeeding on the Vineyard. Alegares Photography will offer one free group photo session for all the breastfeeding moms on the island who wish to participate, if you’d like to be part of it sign up by filling out the form on Alegares Photography “Contact Us” page. 

Enjoy the pictures from our event: Best Milk? Mom’s Milk  during the Breastfeeding Café on Martha’s Vineyard

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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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 A Breastfeeding Café on Martha’s Vineyard appeared first on Breastfeeding World.