Did you know, that when you were a baby, that I fed you in the bathroom?

It seemed so normal at the time. I thought I was being “respectful” of people eating in the restaurant, or shopping at Target. I wasn’t thinking about my immense respect for your tiny form.  Granted, I never sat in the stall. Instead, I awkwardly held you standing up (Even though we hadn’t quite mastered that skill yet), shirt cocked up, stomach exposed, swaying nervously, as I nursed you. I swayed to comfort you, but in reality, it was to soothe my own unease. Because for some godforsaken reason, even nursing in a disgusting public bathroom was still “nursing in public” to me, and I was afraid of what someone would say. Looking back, I was ashamed to feed you normally, out and about, around people. Ashamed of my huge, milk-laden breasts, afraid your friendly blue eyes would want to greet someone, flashing my nipple for all to see.

I’m so sorry.

I shouldn’t have felt ashamed to feed you in public. Instead, I’m ashamed I nursed you in the bathroom.

Now, my strong willed, brilliant princess, at almost 6 years old, you would look at me like I had two heads if I handed you an apple and shoved you in a public restroom to eat it. Sounds ludicrous, doesn’t it? So why did I think it was okay to nurse you in the bathroom then? How is it that mothers are so determined to raise brilliant, empowered women, yet still be afraid to feed their children in a way that is respectful… to their babies?

Read this: The Importance of Normalizing Breastfeeding by Lauren Lewis

Breastfeeding you was the first best thing I could do for your development

I’ll always be proud that I nourished you for the first 16 months of your life. Watching you grow, smile, coo, and learn at my breast created a bond like nothing else. Together, we struggled and overcame, all for your immune system, your gut, your social-emotional development. What I didn’t anticipate was how much it would change me as a mother.

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I didn’t anticipate that choosing to breastfeeding you, would help me find my own power as a woman and mother? That it would teach me to love and embrace my body, what it does, and what I choose to do with it. Those awful moments, breastfeeding, alone, standing awkwardly in a public bathroom, trying not to make eye contact with every woman who walked in- those moments taught me that not only were you better than that, but that I am, too.

Now I know better, and I promise I’ll teach you better, too

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You will grow up knowing your body is a temple, and to embrace it in all of its strong, capable glory. My wish for you is that you never feel ashamed to hide its beauty and capabilities in order to make society feel comfortable. May you continue to push boundaries, fight for what’s right… and never feel like you have to nurse your child in the bathroom.

Because really…. gross.

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

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 “I fed my baby in the bathroom” appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Normalizing breastfeeding is very important to me, but I was going about it the wrong way. Why did I decide to let my inner warrior go? I’d like to share my story with you.

I’ll admit, when it comes to dealing with life’s challenges, I have always been more of a furied fighter than a patient yogi. If I have a vision I go for it. Quickly.

But when my husband and I found out we were expecting our first child, the warrior in me relaxed. I took off my armour and settled into my safe place.

Even in the womb, I could feel how this baby was shifting my priorities.

I was shifting away from “not gonna let anyone stop me,” and towards, “appreciate this moment before it’s gone.”

It’s amazing how new life creates new ways of looking at life.

Then the baby arrived.

And I was caught totally off guard by a battle I never expected. My sword and shield were packed away in a closet so when the first shot flew at me I was shocked.

“Your baby won’t get enough nourishment if you breastfeed like that.”

Huh?

I slowly lifted my head up from my newfound mindfulness.

“It’s really unsafe to sleep with your baby.”

What? Another one?

“If you breastfeed too much your baby will be spoiled.”

Yikes. This was really happening.

Then, on the news, “Woman accused of indecent exposure for breastfeeding her baby in public.”

That’s it.

Forget mindfulness.

The warrior in me was back.

Every time I went out with my baby, my eyes darted around like a cat sensing danger, ready to retaliate if necessary.

On an airplane, I saw a woman nursing with a cover. I wondered why. Who would say something if she took it off? I was ready to defend her. And breastfeeding.

I learned about the other warrior mothers out there, just trying to raise and feed their babies the way they choose. Court cases, pumping laws, talk show hosts who tell their viewers to “be discrete.”

“Breastfeed Wherever You Want.” The ad for a Latch On that was held in Rome this past May.

I learned that this battle is so big that women need to join forces in Latch Ons around the globe, just to get the message out there that this. is. normal.

To learn about Breastfeeding World’s Big Latch Ons that will take place on August 4th and 5th, 2017, visit our home page.

I live in Italy and I can tell you that the struggle is real here, too. The ad for a Latch On in Rome shows a breastfeeding mother with the ultimate warrior look.  And here’s a video of a Latch On in Bologna.

Like all these mothers I was reading about and getting to know at La Leche League meetings, I was on a mission. The mission was to normalize breastfeeding. To educate. To defend my choices in motherhood.

I memorized my breastfeeding rights in case anyone challenged me.

I didn’t buy a nursing cover.

The pediatrician told me that my child was “too dependent” on me and I flipped out.

Back off, people!

So I started firing back. I was waving my sword around like a mad woman.

I preached the benefits of breastfeeding to whomever would listen (especially pregnant women). And I was ready to attack whoever challenged the bond, the antibodies, the right to feed my baby the way I wanted to.

I had to win. Yet, I was so confused as to why this was even an issue.

 

 

 

And then.

It was quiet.

 

 

In part because I ran out of ammunition. In part because I realized that I was firing randomly and “the enemy” was actually not on the battlefield.

I thought that there were a bunch of people out to get me. Out to change me.

But really there was just an absence of knowledge and experience.

In so many families, breastfeeding is not normal. Many pediatricians are not trained in the physiology of breastfeeding.

But no one is out to get me, really. A lot of people just don’t know. They don’t know what a gift this is.

They don’t know that giving my milk to my babies, like pregnancy and giving birth, is like pure magic.

I put down my sword and shield.

And I picked up my baby.

I unfurrowed my brow.

And shifted my focus.

There is no war. Only ignorance. I can’t fight ignorance.

I can educate, but I can’t force that either.

All I can do is breastfeed my babies, with a smile, knowing that I am doing what’s right and good for us.

The critics will come and go, and I’ll hear their words. But their words won’t hurt me, because I know that they are coming from a place of “unknowing.”

People can sense if you are living your life with calm resolution. The naysayers will have less and less to say if they realize that this, for me, is a non-issue.

I’m just going about my business, breastfeeding or not, pacifier or not, co-sleeping or not, when I want, where I want, how I want.

I’m still a warrior at heart, and living in the moment is still something that I have to consciously choose, but at least I have left this battle behind.

With the Third Annual Times Square NYC Big Latch On approaching, I applaud all of you mothers who proudly breastfeed, showing the world what is normal, natural, not always easy, but magical.

We can make this normal again. And there doesn’t need to be a battle. Just a bunch of mothers breastfeeding will do. With a smile. In peace. Together.

 

 

What about you? How do you normalize breastfeeding? Please share your experiences with us in the comments below. It would make my day.

 

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Anne Kathryn Rice

Anne Kathryn Rice is an American mother of two strong willed children living on the Italian Riviera. She writes about motherhood and listening to your inner voice, even when cultural expectations, baby books, and impromptu advice seem to challenge your instincts. You can read more about her personal experiences on her blog.

www.lovegrowdiscover.com

The post Normalizing Breastfeeding: Why I Decided to Let Go of the Warrior in Me appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

As part of our new section dedicated to our amazing readers “Facebook’s Breastfeeding World” we have chosen this lovely story submitted by the wonderful Heather Hoskins – mother of 2 – who wishes to inspire new mommies to not give up easily in their breastfeeding journey, their journey of love! Read on!

I Had never Breastfed in Public Before

As I walked into the busy building and prepared to get on the elevator – 3 year old on one arm and 5 day old in the other – I could tell she was hungry. I didn’t want to make her wait and make us all endure the inevitable yet somehow adorable screaming so I prepared to begin nursing my baby in public for the first time.

I sat on the bench outside of the elevator and discreetly latched her. Then the elevator bell rang and the doors opened. We needed to get to our appointment so I stood up, baby still latched in the football hold (my favorite), toddler still hanging off of one arm, and proceeded to my destination.

As I got off of the elevator, I heard, “wow you can tell you’re a pro second time mom! You make it look easy!”

Ha! Little did they know I was far from a pro and I was crying inside from a bleeding nipple. I did feel a sense of accomplishment and pride, though. You see, I wasn’t able to breastfeed my son, I produced no milk. As hard as I tried- letting him nurse and even pumping every two hours for weeks, he maybe got a few drops of colostrum each time. The doctors didn’t know why. I felt like a failure. All I wanted was to breastfeed my baby. Could the scheduled (turns out unnecessary) C-section resulted in that failure? Maybe because I’m overweight? Perhaps something else is wrong with me, and I just wasn’t meant to nurture and bond with my baby like God intended. While I have my theories, I’ll never know why I couldn’t breastfeed my son.

“I felt so determined. If there was a way, I would nurse this baby…”

That’s why, in my next pregnancy I researched as much as I could. Next ,I spoke with multiple IBCLCs (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and other moms who had struggled. Determined, I knew that if there was a way, I’d nurse this baby. I ordered fenugreek and blessed thistle and was ready with all of the recommended supplements. I even requested a pump in my hospital room to make sure I had as much stimulation as early as possible. Then she was born and she was a natural.

She latched right away and seemed to know exactly what to do.  At less than 24 hours old, she started nursing and didn’t stop for 14 hours. FOURTEEN HOURS! I thought I was going to die from the pain. I mean, I prepared myself for pain, but not this kind of pain. Hurting, I nearly threw out my own “no pacifier request” in a desperate attempt to save my nipples (and sanity). Then, when a lactation consultant was checking in on us and addressing my concerns about lack of production, she pointed out the most beautiful thing. My daughter was swallowing, she wasn’t just suckling, she was actually swallowing something. I was producing milk already! I cried. I’m not quite sure if it was the pain or the joy, probably a bit of both.

“I nearly filled a stand-alone freezer with all of my pumped milk…”

When she was 6 weeks old, I went back to work as so many moms do. Not only was I sad to leave my baby, but I was mainly concerned that I wouldn’t be able to pump what she needed. I was also afraid that she would have nipple confusion and not want to nurse anymore. Boy was I wrong! I nearly filled a stand-alone freezer with all of my pumped milk. Most of that milk I donated to two precious babies- including my nephew, just three weeks older than my daughter.

For 14 months, I pumped. After that I continued to breastfeed my baby girl- we didn’t stop until She turned 28 months old. Meeting those milestones- I felt so proud of my super power. I didn’t want to wean her until she was ready. I nursed her wherever and whenever she wanted (well, mostly). We nursed while pushing a cart around the grocery store.  In restaurants, at family get-togethers, she breastfed anywhere she wanted.  Despite some looks and concerns I may have received (even from family), I wanted other moms to see me nursing my child and see that it is ok to nurse in public. Even in the toddler stage, it’s OK.

“Your baby needs you and it’s ok to nurture them.”

I wanted to let her choose when she didn’t want to nurse anymore.  Then one day she did. She nursed one evening and that was it, she didn’t ask again. Just tonight (she’s 3 now) she mentioned with sadness her “empty milkies” . Sometimes I am saddened because I miss that bonding time. I miss soothing her like no one else can. Other times, I look at my healthy and smart little girl and just smile. I got her here. I nursed her through some tough times, for both of us. Finally, we made it. Even with the world against us, we made it.

Do you have an amazing and inspiring nursing journey to share with Breastfeeding World? Have you experienced some difficulty for you and your little, one but you pushed through? We want to hear about it! Submit your story, to submissions@breastfeedingworld.org, and you could find your story featured in our site!

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts. Get 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 Second Time Around- Heather’s Breastfeeding Journey of Love appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

I have always known that I would breastfeed my children. I do not recall a specific time when I KNEW. I do know that I was exposed to it in adolescence, when my sisters were born. I watched and listened as my stepmother nursed both of my sisters at a time and in a town where breastfeeding wasn’t very common. I believe that it was her nursing relationships with my sisters which normalized breastfeeding for me. 

Full Circle. My (more grown up) sisters and I at my shower for my daughter.

Breastfeeding has always been synonymous with parenting in my brain. I had a healthy, successful nursing relationship with my daughter. I was proud to be a breastfeeding mother and determined to make it work. However, it wasn’t until my son was born that I truly understood why the #normalizebreastfeeding campaign was so incredible vital to mothers and babies everywhere. 

Happy Baby post nursing Milk Drool

You see, when I had my daughter, I still thought of breasts as something to be hidden. To “flash them around,” even while feeding my baby, was shameful. So we timed our outings around my daughters constant nursing sessions. My Imp hated being covered, so we nursed standing in bathrooms. We nursed on uncomfortable benches in changing rooms. When we had family get-togethers, I went and sat on the bed to nurse, alone and hidden.

I was lonely.

I was uncomfortable. 

I was done. 

Nearing the end of our 15 month nursing relationship, I realized how asinine it was to hide so much in order to feed my daughter. I was so proud of breastfeeding. So proud to give my daughter what she needed to thrive. Amazed at the “power” and incredible benefits that breastmilk provides. Why did I hide and cover?  I vowed that with my next child, I would do differently. 

Really, get over it people!!

Overcoming that feeling of being uncomfortable nursing in public wasn’t immediately cured when my son was born. I tried from the beginning, but it was surprisingly harder to nurse in front of family members and my friends spouses than it was complete strangers. (A special thank you to my father in law for never making it awkward for us.)

I am forever grateful to my husband, who never flinched and always supported me in the decisions I made breastfeeding our children. Breastfeeding was always normal for him. He would see moments of bonding with my son and I, when I was nursing and insist it was a wonderful photo opportunity, a moment to capture, instead of a moment to hide. 

I protested when hubs first took this. Now its a favorite of my son and I.

 
It was a mental push for me to learn to nurse in public. I loved the ease and simplicity of no longer rushing to feed the baby as we are already out the door. The first time I nursed in public, eating breakfast at a restaurant, all I did was look around to see if anyone was watching and silently judging me. A friend of the families was the hostess, and when I mentioned it later that day, she said she didn’t even notice. 

The day that it all came together for me though, the day it clicked and I was no longer afraid, (although I had NIP many times leading up to it) was a sunny day when my kids were outside playing. O was hungry and we had JUST gotten outside, and I really didn’t want to bring them in just to feed him. So I sat on the blanket, lifted my shirt. And fed him. 

Liberation!

It was this not so private moment when I realized why normalizing breastfeeding was so important. My hair was a mess, I had no make up on, but I felt free. I didn’t care what the neighbors thought. I cared that my baby was happy and fed. 

Breastfeeding is natural. It is amazing. And it is HARD. Why make it more difficult for mothers struggling by ostracizing them, when all they want to do is feed their baby? The more mothers who nurse, who talk about it openly, who nurse freely, the more new and struggling mothers will feel that bond of sisterhood, of motherhood. 

One of the things we nursing moms hear the most about keeping a good supply is to nurse frequently, feed the baby when baby is hungry. The problem is that for a mother with a busy lifestyle, particularly one who still feels the pressure for discretion, or whose baby hates being covered (and really, I don’t know a baby who LIKES being covered) is that nursing wherever, whenever, can be difficult. 

Don’t be ashamed. Just feed your baby. It’s a beautiful thing.

So please, share this with your friends, with your family. Read our articles, post brelfies, and encourage yourself to nurse in public. It is our responsibility to raise the bar, lift the stigma for nursing moms everywhere. Get out of your comfort zone in order to help another mom feel more comfortable in hers. Every time I nurse in public I know I am setting the example for my sisters, my daughter, my son- that breastfeeding is NORMAL. It is wonderful. It is important. 

It is our hope at breastfeeding world to lift the stigma that breasts are something that should be sexual, and instead to teach that they are for food. 

So that mothers will read this and know that they shouldn’t be ashamed. So that grandparents can read this and support their children, their children’s children. So that husbands can read this and defend their wives. 

So the world knows that breastfeeding is normal, natural, and nothing to hide under a cover. 

What is your opinion about nursing in public? Do you feel that nursing mothers should hide or cover? Have you ever heard family or friends discuss positively or negatively breastfeeding? Tell us your story! 

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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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 Importance of Normalizing Breastfeeding appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

But, let’s be real…many breastfeeding journeys do not start out even close to any of those things.

The first three months of my troubled breastfeeding journey were extremely hard. From a bad latch and jaundice to a full body allergic reaction, to thrush and mastitis, to sore, cracked nipples and posterior tongue tie! We saw it all.

And we made it.

Is your wife, friend, daughter/daughter-in-law, sister, etc., struggling with breastfeeding? She will definitely need your support – but here are 10 things NOT to say to her.

1. “Breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt.”

Dealing with the pain of breastfeeding is both emotionally and physically difficult. We know that it should not hurt. We sometimes feel like our bodies are letting us down or that we are letting our babies down. We understand when it hurts, something is not right. We do not need to be reminded constantly that our bodies are wrong, because they are not. Breastfeeding CAN hurt. It hurts many women for many different reasons. So, what you can say instead of “breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt” is, “I am sorry you are having such pain breastfeeding – there has got to be a reason, let’s contact a lactation consultant and get to the bottom of this so you can start feeling better!”

2. “I think maybe your nipples are too big.”

Or too small. Just stay away from commenting on mom’s nipple size, please. We are already emotionally a wreck as we are trying to perfect this special bond and we do not need to feel as if our bodies are physically wrong. No nipple of any size will stop a baby from breastfeeding! If the mother thinks her nipples are the wrong size, she can check with her pediatrician or OB about this being the problem. We are not as comfortable as we look with being constantly topless around our daily visitors in the beginning, so don’t make this any worse than it is for us! If you see a troubled mom and think the nipple is the problem what you can say instead of commenting on the size or shape of mom’s nipple is, “I believe they sell something called a nipple shield that helps the baby latch well – would you like me to run out and get you one?”

3. “What have you eaten lately? Maybe the baby doesn’t like the taste?”

Most of us breastfeeding moms are educated and informed on what to eat and not to eat while breastfeeding. Telling us our babies may not like the taste of the milk we have produced is asinine! If you are worried we are eating improperly, buy us a book on healthy eating while nursing, but please do not shame the taste of our milk. That is most likely NOT the problem baby is having and our bodies have worked very hard to produce this milk! So instead, as said, buy us a nice healthy eating or recipe book for nursing moms, or better yet – cook us a healthy meal, quietly!

4. “I think your babies mouth is too small.”

Ugh, again with the size and shapes but this time of our babies! No, just do not! Do not tell us that our perfect little angel may have the wrong size mouth to breastfeed. If you are not educated on this matter – refrain from commenting on this altogether, but what you could say instead is, “Some babies have tongue tie or posterior tongue tie, which doesn’t allow their tongue to move as freely as it should while feeding. Have you asked your pediatrician to check for this or contacted a lactation consultant?”

5. “If you think it hurts now, wait ’til they get some teeth!”

NEVER! We as troubled nursers are already terrified that it will never get better, like they all say it does. Most of us may even be crying everyday and constantly on the verge of giving up. So please, do not discourage us further. If you have breastfed before and you know it gets better (because it really does!) you can tell us that for encouragement.

6. “Maybe you are not producing enough milk..”

Again, most of us are educated and informed on milk production. Our pediatricians, OB’s and lactation consultants can discuss this with us. This was one problem that I, fortunately, never had, but I did meet many moms while attending support groups who dealt with this. It is another issue that makes us feel our bodies are failing our babies, that we do not need you commenting on. If you are educated enough on the topic, what you can say is, “There are many recipes that are supposed to boost milk supply, let me bake you some lactation cookies and we will see if this helps! In the meantime, let’s call a lactation consultant and get some more ideas!”

7. “Your nipples just need to toughen up.”

This is just wrong. This suggests the mom should just wait it out and also sounds like we are going to have super hard and rough nipples which is not enthusing to us! There is most likely a problem that needs solving if there is nipple pain, and needing to “toughen up” is not it.

8. “Let me cover you up.”

Everything about nursing is uncomfortable right now. We need to watch our baby eat to try to find and fix the issue. We need to be comfortable especially in our own home and bond with our babies as much as we can while biting our tongue through the discomfort. If we are in our home, and you are a visitor, instead of saying this, you could say, “I will let you two be while you nurse…I will be in the other room, doing the dishes or folding your laundry, just holler if you want a blanket or a glass of water!”

9. “Why don’t you just pump instead?”

Genius! Because we NEVER would have thought of that! Of course we pump and for many reasons… build supply, more comfortable on nipples, baby needs milk NOW and isn’t latching… and many more. For me, it was a LIFESAVER. However, we still need to breastfeed in order for our babies (and ourselves) to properly learn. Also, our babies are way more effective in retrieving milk from our nipples then our pumps are. Oh and not to mention, if baby feeds every two hours, as most babies do in the beginning, you will have zero time to relax. I had to exclusively pump for days, sometimes a week in order to heal my nipples. My timeline went like this: Pump milk for a half hour (at least), transfer to bottle & feed baby (another half hour), burp baby and get baby to lay down, wash all pump parts and setup for next time to pump – Oh wait, it is time to pump again, already! Pumping, feeding, washing…it becomes a vicious cycle! So, instead of telling us to “just pump” you can kindly say, “I will wash and sanitize your breast pump parts in case you want a break later, they will be ready for you to use!” (Many new moms don’t know this, but, there are ways to rinse your pump parts and refrigerate them after use to save time)

10. Lastly, never, ever ask us, “Why don’t you just give your baby formula?”

Trust me, as someone who was on the verge of giving up on breastfeeding everyday for two and a half months, this is something we do not want to hear. We know that formula is out there and that it exists. We know many babies are formula fed and are just fine. We know many mothers who formula feed and we do not judge. But we want to breastfeed. We are determined and we are trying to stay encouraged. Personally, I had a free sample box of formula just 10 feet away in my cupboards the whole time, but never got to the point of using it. If and when we decide that we cannot handle the pain or troubles of breastfeeding any longer, we know where to find formula. Most of us who are in a constant battle of wondering how much longer we can go are already weighing the options of trying it. We know it is an option, we just are not ready to give up on our bodies. So, please do not even entertain the thought of formula to us, as we will make that choice on our own terms.

Did you have a rough start to breastfeeding? What were some of the things people said to you that got under your skin? Let us know!

If you are a beginner breastfeeding momma and battling with infections, bad latches, sore and cracked nipples, PPD, or anything bothering you, please reach out. Lactation consultants are amazing people, and a local breastfeeding support group will really open your eyes to how many women are dealing with the exact same issues as you.

And I promise, although I know it is very hard for you to believe at this time, it DOES get better.

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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Teresa Finocchio

I am a 27 year old first time mom who lives in New Jersey. I had an all natural planned homebirth with the help of water and the self-hypnosis hypnobabies method. I am currently a stay at home breastfeeding mother to my beautiful baby girl and I’ll be sharing with you all some personal experiences and covering some other interesting topics, stay tuned.

The post 10 things to NEVER say to a troubled breastfeeding momma! appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

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Image taken from Google search

This is how the ‘two-shirt’ nursing method works. Image taken from Google search.

To cover or not to cover, that is the question.  What do you think?

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This is the first time that I nursed uncovered at my parents’ house. Neither of them batted an eye… probably because the ‘two-shirt’ method keeps me pretty covered without my son having to eat under a blanket!

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We would love to hear from you…! What is your go to method for breastfeeding your baby in public?

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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Amber Castro

I’m currently a stay-at-home mom to my son who was born in January of 2015. I have my degree in Anthropology and spent the two years before my son was born teaching. After months of struggling with nursing, I was finally able to have the beautiful breastfeeding relationship I dreamed of. These struggles helped me find my passion for helping other mothers in their breastfeeding journeys and guided me to study to become a lactation counselor.

onlifeandleche.wordpress.com

The post To Cover or Not to Cover appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

With my first baby, I’d always keep the boppy pillow in the car and nurse beforehand, which is completely fine…but not always practical. Most baby stores provide nursing rooms for you but other retail stores don’t. Whether your nursing style is right out in the open, in a room, in the car, or under a blanket, unless you are dressed properly, you’re going to have a hard time.

The Nursing Bra

Most of you know this is a necessity. The nursing bra is normally soft with latches located at the shoulder for easy access to the breasts. All you have to do is undo the clip and latch your child on. You may choose underwire for extra support, but beware. The underwire can press the small milk ducts surrounding your breasts and can sometimes lead to mastitis or clogged ducts.

The Blouse

I’m six foot tall so I normally will opt for an oversize T-shirt with a cami underneath. They do make easy access shirts with special built in bra and snap clips. Great for layering and it makes nursing in public a breeze; you literally just move your shirt to one side and go!

Nursing in public in you carrier or sling

This also makes for discreet nursing in public, and is wonderful if you are walking through a store or theme park. I’ll even do it around the house in my soft structured carrier. Most people will be none the wiser and baby will be close to you and happy.  If you are unsure on how to do this, most carriers now include instructions on how to do this. There are also TONS of YouTube tutorials that explain how to do this for certain types of carriers.

Nursing covers

Ah, the nursing cover! The bane of many a nursing mother’s existences. They work for some moms, others look at it as a symbol of oppression. Either way, if you are using one, it needs to be light weight and breathable for your nursing baby’s sake.

Neither of my girls would nurse under a cover, they got too hot and I found it was a distraction for them. Some companies make amazing covers and they really have come a long way. Some look like stylish like a scarf that can easily and comfortably be worn by mom all day long as part of her outfit. Other nursing covers fold up as a handy bag that can be stashed inside of the diaper bag or purse. Most covers have a wire that is ran through the fabric at the top to allow mom to glance in at baby and for air to flow freely through the cover.

Nursing Necklace

I have to admit that when I started nursing, I honestly thought these were a waste of money and a fad. I am a believer now. After nursing 2 fidgety babies, these are a must have in my opinion. They are necklaces worn by mom while nursing to keep baby pre occupied and helps them finish up with the task at “breast”. You can find an array of nursing necklaces online. Just make sure they are brightly colored and textured. Also take care in finding a non-toxic necklace and if they have beads or shapes, you want to make sure they are secure and cannot be removed by baby and become a potential choking hazard. If you crochet, check out my blog post on how to create one yourself! 

I hope these tips help you while on your nursing journey, because we all know if mama and baby aren’t happy during nursing…ain’t nobody happy!

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Spen’sar Custer

Born and raised in Central Florida and currently reside in Tennessee. I am a working mother of 2, a wife, a vegan, a Buddhist, a breastfeeder and last but not least a breast milk donor. My dream is to one day become a certified Lactation Consultant. I have experienced an unplanned C-section, and a natural non medicated VBAC. Find her on Instagram: @themilkmonsters

themilkmonsters.blogspot.com/

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