The Struggle is Real

Recently, an Indianapolis new station, Wish-TV 8, did a story on the breastfeeding rates in Indiana. The findings were surprising. The article states that while the numbers of infants exclusively breastfed by 6 month is low across the country (22.6%), in Indiana, the number is only 16%. (Find out more about the national and state averages on the 2016 CDC breastfeeding report card, here.)

It begs a question. When 81% of infant’s are born with the parents intending to breastfeed, why is it that only 22% (or 16% in Indiana’s case) are still going strong at 6 months of age?

Photo Credit Phosphorus Photography for Breastfeeding World:

[col1][/col1]

[col2][/col2]

[col3][/col3]

There are many factors at play. Whether the rates are low due to proper support in the hospitals, educated lactation care, mothers returning to work, relying on a pump, societal pressures- it all comes down to one simple answer.

Lack of support.

The Concept is Simple

Our team at Breastfeeding World stewed over how we can help these rates. As a Breastfeeding project geared towards mother support, normalizing breastfeeding, and “Sharing the Breastfeeding Love”, we figured that the best thing we could do is to create an emotional support system for mothers who want to meet those breastfeeding goals.

And so, Milk Mates was born.

The idea behind the Milk Mates Project is simple. Pair an experienced mom (who has nursed 1 or more children for 6 months or more) with a new or struggling nursing mother or pregnant mom, in a “Big Sister, Little Sister” type of format. Our hope is that with more emotional support, mothers will feel more inspired to reach their goals. At minimum the Milk Mates program is an excellent way to connect like-minded women in the community. Motherhood is lonely! Milk Mates can be a solution, particularly for women who feel they don’t have the proper support in their personal environment.

[left][/left]

[right][/right]

What Milk Mates is NOT:

Milk Mates is not designed as a substitute for seeking help from a trained medical professional. For lactation-specific questions, Breastfeeding World always recommends seeking help through a local IBCLC or Breastfeeding USA counselor. You can find a working list of Central Indiana lactation counselors, support groups, and IBCLC’s in our Facebook Files.

Interested in Joining Breastfeeding World’s Milk Mate’s Project, Central Indiana?

Find out more details here.

Register to be a “Milk Mate Mentor” or “Milk Mate Sister” here

And don’t forget, Central Indiana Moms; keep up with the latest breastfeeding news in our community by joining our Facebook Group. Central Indiana’s Breastfeeding World.

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 #LatchingwithLove2017

[col1][/col1]

[col2][/col2]

[col3][/col3]

Save

Save

Save

SaveSave

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 The Motherhood Support System You Were Looking For Is Here- The Milk Mates Project 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.