|
|
September 8th, 2010 by admin
 The lovely people from Family Friendly Working have a draw for a Boppy breastfeeding pillow that ends today at 2.45.
All you have to do is comment on the page here:
http://www.familyfriendlyworking.co.uk/2010/08/27/win-a-boppy-breastfeeding-pillow/
September 8th, 2010 by admin
Should Breastfeeding Be Taught In Elementary School?
From http://blogs.babble.com/being-pregnant/2010/09/07/should-breastfeeding-be-taught-in-elementary-school/
Posted by ceridwen on September 7th, 2010 at 8:42 am Here’s how it should go: As a part of the basic biology curriculum, children are taught about breastfeeding. How the milk comes in. What’s in it. How it helps the baby. Students see pictures of women of multiple ethnicities breastfeeding. There’s a homework assignment and several questions on a test. Twenty or thirty years later these kids, now fully grown new parents, may not even remember Ms. Morris’ biology class, but there might just be one less mental hurdle to breastfeeding.
The website Nursing Freedom ran a piece last week called, “Why Children Should Witness Breastfeeding in Public.” Here’s a line I liked:
“We need to make nursing in public so boring, so quotidian, that it garners no more of a glance or second thought than seeing someone drinking a coffee or hugging a friend in public.”
I read this on Friday and over the weekend kept thinking about public breastfeeding. Usually this issue comes up when some ignorant manager of a mediocre eatery stupidly asks a nursing mother to cover up and then has to endure all kinds of grief, including being read to from state laws concerning breastfeeding in public and/or local press coverage of a “nurse in” in which a posse of breastfeeders show up and breastfeed in front of or inside the establishment.
I support a woman’s choice to breastfeed in public. If breastfeeding is kept out of sight, no one sees it. No one sees it and it’s mysterious. It’s mysterious and people feel weird about breastfeeding. And on the feedback loop goes. More exposure would make the sight of breastfeeding “boring.” Or normal.
But then I saw a new mom in the park nursing under a kind of nursing tent/cover-all. It was a pretty cool-looking gizmo and propped up so that the baby could nurse privately without a blanket literally plastered over his or her face. I thought about the feedback loop and wondered whether this mother should just toss this fancy tent aside to help the rest of us get over our baggage.
Then I thought back to when I first had my baby.
I was quite engorged and it wasn’t the hot kind of engorged, the fake boob kind. It was the, Wow, how’s your back doing? kind. I won’t tell you the cup size, but let’s just say many people I do tell had no idea that size even existed. My over-supply meant that milk would often squirt out all over the minute I started unfastening things. The idea of doing all of this in public– as much as I supported the idea in theory– was hard.
After a few months when I’d gotten it all down, I nursed at friends’ houses, in restaurants and parks discreetly and without much fuss or a blanket. But at first I felt like this was all nobody’s business. I also felt a little cranky about the situation. Why do I have to change attitudes about public breastfeeding?? It’s hard enough learning all these new things. Do I have to change public opinion at the same time?
This is how I came to the breastfeeding in school concept. If Bill Maher and others had seen breastfeeding when they were kids, and been taught that it’s a normal part of life, like digesting or breathing, maybe there wouldn’t be so many snickers. Get to the kids before they get to the giggling stage– teaching teens about breastfeeding is also a great idea but by then too much squeamishness has settled in. The sooner the better.
September 8th, 2010 by admin
“I am a nearly 37 year old mum with two children (Connor nearly 4 and Katie nearly 2). I gave up teaching in a primary school (which I loved) so I could look after my son and haven’t looked back. Although money is tight, my husband and I are content with our lifestyle choice which is just as well as we are going to home educate our littlies and so won’t be bringing in much money any time soon. 
I like being creative, when I get the time, and I am not looking after children, cats, dogs or chickens. I enjoy cooking/baking, making jams and chutneys, making ring slings and clothes, making cards and my latest Sok Doodes. Sok Doodes were sock dolls that I made for my children but after I put photos on Facebook, I had lots of friends and family asking me to make them all kinds of creatures. My midwife loved them and asked if I could make a breastfeeding doll and I accepted the challenge as it was something that I had wondered about in the past myself and so Boobee Mamma was born!
As I posted the orginal photos on Facebook, a friend suggested I make a toddler as well as a baby so she could be a tandem feeding doll. Already she has created a lot of discussion at a family party and if I don’t get the opportunity to feed my daughter in my efforts to normalise breastfeeding (which to be honest, happen fairly regularly ) then at least I have something else to help the cause!
Boobee Mammas can be found on Facebook as well as my website www.lil-treasure.co.uk. If anybody wants to buy a Boobee Mamma, they can contact me through Facebook or email: boobeemamma@littleave.freeserve.co.uk
Tracey”
September 7th, 2010 by Bundle Jungle
The Bundle Jungle are pleased to announce that their charity auction in aid of Cheshire and North wales human milk bank is officially open for bids!
Items on offer include:
- Lactivist T-Shirts
- Modern cloth nappies from cheeks and cherries, Issy Bear, Fluff and Stuff and many more.
- Chambers and Beau charm bracelet
- Professional Photoshoot with Penny Wincer (London Area)
- Holden’s Landing Nappy and Knittybugz Wool Collaboration
- Designer maternity clothes
- Designer baby clothes
- SO much more!
All items start at just 99 pence with NO RESERVE. Come on over to The Bundle Jungle pregnancy and parenting forum now, sign up for your FREE account and get bidding! It’s all for a great cause and there are some serious bargains to be had.
Elle
www.TheBundleJungle.com
September 6th, 2010 by admin
If you look at the right hand side of www.lactivist.net under the links to our lovely sponsors you can see the new auction in action.
Every week I’ll be auctioning a different thing, sometimes I’ll be donating the proceeds too so if you have a breastfeeding friendly group that needs to fundraise let me know!
 This week I am auctioning a beautiful soft organic ‘I like milk from my mum, not from just any old cow’ baby t-shirt in size 4-6 months and the proceeds will go to help the Boobs for Babes, Tits for Tots – Pro Breast Feeding Calendar
Postage is always free on the auctions but they are for the UK only.
September 6th, 2010 by admin
Originally posted on http://www.rcm.org.uk/midwives/blog/saying-no-to-breastfeeding/ Royal College of Midwives online
15.27, 19 August 2010
A poll of young women finds a third would shun breastfeeding because they want to avoid saggy boobs. For some, vanity is the overriding factor when weighing up the pros and cons of breastfeeding. It seems a sad indictment of young women’s priorities when a baby’s health comes second to their looks. Or is it?
The survey of 1228 women between 18 and 25 follows the recent furore caused by model Gisele Bundchen who proclaimed there should be a law to force mothers to breastfeed their babies for at least six months.
Half of the women polled by BabyChild.org.uk would fall foul of Gisele’s law because they had no plans to breastfeed. And 32% of them said the main reason was because they did not want to ‘ruin the look of their breasts’. Half of them were afraid of their partner finding them less attractive should this happen.
Another 19% felt ‘uncomfortable’ about the thought of breastfeeding, a quarter of whom said they viewed their breasts as sexual and therefore deemed it inappropriate.
All these arguments seem feeble and bizarre when stacked against the benefits of breastfeeding. What about protecting the baby against obesity, asthma and childhood diabetes? What about helping the baby avoid ear, urine and gastro-intestinal infections?
I suspect that another benefit of breastfeeding would hold greater sway for those polled, which is that it can speed up weight loss during pregnancy.
My reason? Because the young women surveyed were childless and, at their stage of life, sexual attractiveness and looks are of great importance. They have no particular reason to know about the benefits of breastfeeding – more than three quarters of those who were against the idea believed their decision would not harm the baby’s health.
The findings of the poll would be much more worrying if they were the views of pregnant 18 to 25 year olds. But for childless young women to voice an uninformed opinion on breastfeeding is, perhaps, unsurprising.
September 5th, 2010 by admin
Thank you to Jenny’s mum Sue for these lovely before and after photos. Jenny is 6 months old and I love the difference in the pictures, you can see the power of mummy milk!
Love it!
September 3rd, 2010 by admin
 For the whole of September 2010 Lactivist will be donating £1 for every full price t-shirt bought from www.lactivist.co.uk to Boobs for Babes’ and watch out for fundraising auctions on www.lactivist.net
Boobs for Babes‘ mission is to raise the profile of breastfeeding both in the UK and internationally, lending support to those who wish to start breastfeeding, continue under difficult circumstances and educate those who have never considered it as an option.
They will be promoting this with their first ever calendar of breastfeeding mamas and their little ones which will be available from our online shop ready for the New Year.
Please email mail@boobsforbabes.com to find out more or to help with the campaign.
September 2nd, 2010 by admin
September 2nd, 2010 by admin
 There were some technical problems with the last poll but I am hoping that this will work now. I’ve deleted the old poll so this one starts fresh – please vote again if you have voted before.
The poll is in the left sidebar of www.lactivist.net. If you have problems voting please let me know and I’ll do my best to sort it out.
You can vote for up to 3 forums and the poll ends on the 31st October 2010.
Thank you to all the people who nominated their favorite breastfeeding friendly websites. I have sorted them out into categories and the first one is
The Most Breastfeeding Friendly Forum.
The forum with the most votes at the end of October 2010 will be awarded a prestigious Mothers Milk Marketing Board Seal of Approval! There will be runners up awards too!
Here, in alphabetical order are more details about the nominated forums.
Breast Buddies
http://www.breastbuddies.nice-forum.com
Breastfeeding Support Forum and Natural Parenting Forum. Topics ranging from Newborn feeding and full term feeding (extended breastfeeding). We also cover Babywearing, Cloth Nappies and other Natural parenting topics. Help for all mums
The Bundle Jungle
http://www.thebundlejungle.com/
The Bundle Jungle is friendly and welcoming to those trying to conceive, pregnant women, fathers to be and parents from all walks of life. What makes our forum different to other mainstream pregnancy and parenting forums is, not only our focus on community support but, also our interest in challenging the way we look at parenting.
“With the breastfeeding guru system, advice and support section, breastfeeding stories section and upcoming charity auction for Cheshire and North Wales Milk Bank we are huge breastfeeding fans!”
Cloth Nappy Addicts Forum
http://clothnappyaddicts.co.uk/forum/index.php
A forum run by Natasha, a WAHM and total cloth nappy addict and assisted by “SaraSeahorse” a woolly WAHM and “puddlepants” a nappy, woolly and clothing WAHM.
The Green Parent Forum
http://www.thegreenparent.co.uk/forum
The Green Parent is the UK’s leading green lifestyle and natural parenting magazine. A truly inspiring read, TGP is like nothing else on the newsstand, with insightful intelligent journalism covering topics from babywearing and attachment parenting to home-education and alternative medicine. Each issue features regular columns on Organic Gardening, Seasonal Food and Drink, Green Travel, Ethical Fashion and lots more. The magazine is produced by a small team of passionate experts who live and breathe the positive message of the magazine.
“So full of other mums who have the same ideas on breastfeeding and other topics. Always someone there to offer help, advice and support I always point breastfeeding mums there.”
I want my mum
http://www.iwantmymum.com.
“I’m someone who’s found the information and support there invaluable in successful breastfeeding, helping me meet other like-minded mums IRL, and having a great resource to recommend to expectant mums. Without their support I may well have stopped ( or at least tried to stop, my daughter would have a lot to say about it!) feeding my youngest, but instead we’ve past 2 yrs, still going strong and still finding the info there fab.
Knowing that info on there is evidence-based, moderators include fully qualified breastfeeding counsellors who DO check the veracity of statements made. The emphasis is information, not advice, and a very friendly place to ask important questions.”
Mad Mums
http://www.madmums.com/
Parenting and Pregnancy can be very daunting and sometimes, it can really help to speak to people who have been or are going through the same things that you are. The Madmums Buddy Scheme has been designed to put you in touch with other Mums who have experience in specific areas of Pregnancy and Parenting. You can use this free and confidential service on a “one to one” basis away from the forums to get in touch with one of our Buddies who will then contact you personally.
Mama Pack Forum
http://www.mamapacks.eu/forum/
Mama Packs are the United Kingdoms ONLY ethically influenced, trade marked Mum & Baby sample pack. A pack you wont find nasty chemicals in, a pack you will love receiving!
“The ladies there have such a wealth of experience and a geniuine love for the benefits of breast feeding that I have been greatly encouraged to keep breastfeeding, despite my child being seriously ill and in an incubator when born and later whilst she underwent major surgery. Now I am BFing past the age I had previously thought ‘normal’ and my child is thriving!”
Natural Mamas
http://www.naturalmamas.co.uk/
A natural parenting forum with an emphasis on babywearing.
“It’s a natural parenting forum with an amazing breastfeeding support board. Members who contribute are lactation consultants, midwives, breastfeeding peer supporters as well as breastfeeding mothers. The range of breastfeeding topics covered is second to none and the support is phenomental, with lots of experience as well as good non-judgemental evidence based advice. I love it!!”
Rollercoaster
http://www.Rollercoaster.ie
Pregnancy, having a baby and parenting can all bring you to the heights of joy and the depths of despair – all within the space of a few minutes! RollerCoaster.ie accompanies you on this exciting journey.
“A great community of people with a dedicated breastfeeding board”
By admin, on January 30th, 2010
More brilliance from the blog of Conservative Granola Mummies:
http://conservativegranolamommies.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html
Breastfeeding is natural…the way God intended for babies to be fed. So it should be easy and automatic, right?
Well, maybe in a perfect world. But unfortunately, not in this one. Some lucky mothers never have the first problem. Baby is born, goes to the breast, latches on like a champ, gains weight and grows beautifully! The reality for many mothers, though, is that breastfeeding can be a real challenge. In fact, many moms just give up because they feel like they just can’t do it. That’s where a good lactation consultant is worth her weight in gold!
What Is a Lactation Consultant?
A Lactation Consultant is a health care professional who has received specialized training in the management of breastfeeding. She knows how to help moms who are having problems with latch-on, with milk supply, with sore nipples or engorgement and with sick babies. She can help a mother figure out what medications are safe to take while breastfeeding. She is both cheerleader and coach.
Unlike a peer counselor or La Leche League leader, she charges for her services because she is a professional who carries malpractice insurance and has worked hard to receive her professional credentials. Many times she will encourage mothers to seek out peer counselors or La Leche League groups for ongoing support because she recognizes the vital role they play in helping breastfeeding moms succeed.
The “gold standard” for lactation consultants is the designation International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). All IBCLC’s will also have the designation Registered Lactation Consultant (RLC). To become an IBCLC, the candidate must be able to prove extensive education in the field of human lactation. She (or he – some male physicians are IBCLC’s) must also have documented a specified number of hours of direct contact helping mothers and babies breastfeed. Then the candidate takes a challenging board exam and must achieve a passing score. Every 5 years IBCLC’s must recertify either by continuing education hours or by exam. However, they are required to recertify by exam at least once every 10 years.
Other programs do exist that certify lactation educators or breastfeeding consultants, but none is as stringent as the IBCLC. Hospitals looking for a breastfeeding professional want the IBCLC designation, and honestly, if you’re looking for the best possible care, you should, too. You can find an IBCLC near you at the ILCA site.
When Should You Call?
As long as your baby is nursing well, you’re nipples aren’t sore, and baby is gaining weight, you probably won’t need to see a Lactation Consultant. However, if your nipples are still sore after the first few days, or your baby isn’t gaining weight like he should, you definitely need to set up an appointment. Some IBCLC’s will come to your house. That is really the ideal because you are in your own environment, and she can help you find the very best way to nurse there. However, you may have to go to her office. Be sure to take your breast pump and any other accessories you have been using.
Often nursing will start out just fine, then after several weeks or months, all of a sudden mom’s nipples will become very tender. It’s a good idea to go see a lactation consultant so she can check you for thrush. Sometimes when a mom returns to work she will need to see a lactation consultant to put together a pumping plan. IBCLC’s are usually able to help working mothers find a way to blend breastfeeding and work fairly seamlessly. Occasionally a mom will get sick or need surgery. The IBCLC can help her create a plan to sustain breastfeeding through this period.
Many hospitals have one or more lactation consultants on staff. It’s always a good idea for first time mothers to make sure they get to see one before they go home with their new baby. However, many IBCLC’s are in private practice. They tend to do home visits and may even have a breast pump rental business. Some IBCLC’s host support groups for moms. If you are able to attend a moms’ group hosted by an IBCLC, by all means do so. You will get expert advice without paying consult fees. Furthermore, being around other nursing mothers will encourage you, and you just might encourage them, too.
Next week IBCLC’s from all over the world will converge on Orlando for the International Lactation Consultant Association meeting. This professional organization for IBCLC’s (and those studying to become IBCLC’s) helps members stay up-to-date in their practice. Recent research will be presented, and participants will come away renewed and re-energized to provide you with the very best breastfeeding support available!
Posted by Glenni Lorick
By admin, on July 8th, 2009
 This is collection of answers from Twitter and Facebook, please feel free to add it it!
What helped? My own confidence, the unwavering, unquestioning support of my dh & my LLL Leader. They knew I could do it too! babyREADY
I breastfed my first 4.5 years. Support, finding like minded friends and reading about the benefits of extended breastfeeding. ArieleMoonfire
expressed for my 2nd who had a cleft palate for 21 months. Prior knowledge from first child, support, advocacy groups, good LCs . ArieleMoonfire
support from my lovely partner  Who would always check I was ok and see if I wanted anything during night feeds CharlieMoos
tenacity and stubbornness phdinparenting
Real life support, factual knowledge and LOTS of determination (my first and I had big problems to overcome in the beginning) Morgaine_LaFay
my Doula ensured initial latch on, and amazing support of my husband helped me bf for 23mos w/baby #1 + 13mos (so far) w/baby #2. joeyandaleethea
patience and time, lots of itand the closeness and the bonding it gives Andrea
The 24/7 support of my Doula & the never ending belief in me by my husband! 4manspeak
very proud & supportive husband (still boasts that the boys never had a bottle), and co-sleeping (did this for 2 years, each kid), also: knowing other moms who breast feed past 12mos – very encouraging (and the positive social pressure is NB), silly things too – nursing forces you to sit, relax, read a book if you can. i read a library when my first son was born! brodiegal
Shear determination! I know BFing is how nature intends us to feed our babies and I live by “how nature intends” Kunsthure
www.iwantmymum.com Mandi
sheer determination, no cost, my wonderful infant feeding co-ordinator nicky jones, wot a star. my husbands’ support. Kerrie
determination, stubborness, reaching out for support from la leche league and other like-minded people. oh and my husband’s support (just read one above me) Henrietta
Hard work !! Good friends. Patience. Persistence. Support of partner. Lots of healthy food. Lots of milk chocolate digestives !!! But I found it bloody hard !!! One more thing, lots of encouragement from husband & friends when I felt like just giving it all up ) Fiona
my husband, not having formula in house, and just reading up on what is best for my baby. Having snacks ready helped too! cindyambrose
breastfeeding cafes available on a daily basis via childrens centres with patient and kind experienced peer supporters x Rosie
breastfeeding club at local Surestart who gave out certificates when you reached milestones (1 week, 1 month, 3 months etc), support from husband.
NOT the midwives in hospital who said a) I shouldn’t bother trying because I’d had an emergency c-section with full anaesthetic and so missed the bonding time (idiots) and b) the midwives in hospital who said I should give him formula because we were struggling the first night. (idiots)
I breastfed for 2 years. Nicola
Stubburness when i was told at hospital i couldnt BF cuz my boobies wer 2 big + fleshy! Lush pick me up. And cuz i read up as much as i could find about what was in formula (not nice stuf!) + what was in boobie milk (100%pure + natural, ripe + ready, any time any where happy baby happy mummy juice!)
I had nearly the same help at hosp as Nicola – was MADE to buy breast pump + formula b4 i was allowed home  both waste of my £ after i seen local BF couciller + she helped me, fed 4 16m + son self weaned when i fell preg with baby num 2 Charlotte
pretty much sheer bloodymindedness after not successfully bf-ing dd1. And La Leche League Tracey
what helped me to breastfeed was knowing that my own Mom did it, in the 70s! &seeing her friends do it when I was a young girl. RadicalLactivist
By admin, on July 6th, 2009
By Ruth, on July 24th, 2008
Everyone needs a bit of help sometimes.
Home-Start is a charity that provides support to families with a young child or children, that are experiencing difficulties.
Perhaps you feel isolated in your community with no friends or relatives nearby.
Perhaps you, your child, or a relative is ill and you are having a hard time coping.
Perhaps you are struggling with the emotional and physical demands of having twins, triplets or more, or of having many children at a young age.
Perhaps there are other problems – practical or emotional – and you feel you are struggling.
Home-Start can help. Home-Start has trained volunteers with parenting experience who can visit you on a confidential basis and assist with whatever it is you need. They can provide a shoulder to cry on; maybe read to your children, maybe give you support to make or keep medical appointments, maybe find out about and even take you to activities locally so you can make new friends. You don’t have to pay for the help and it is totally non-judgemental.
You can find your nearest Home-Start by phoning 0800 068 6368 or by going to www.home-start.org.uk/findus.
Home-Start sometimes run groups for parents with young children if you feel that one-to-one support is not for you.
As an example, Home-Start in Knowsley helps with running a fabulous breastfeeding support group at the local Whiston Hospital. The group runs every Friday morning from ten until twelve; partners, grandparents and older children are always welcome. There is no need to book; you can just turn up on the day. A variety of support is available from midwives and breastfeeding counsellors to peer support from other Mums.
To find out more about Home-Start Knowsley call 0151 480 3910 or go to www.homestartknowsley.org.uk. To learn about the group at Whiston Hospital go to http://www.sthk.nhs.uk/library/documents/patientinformationdropinclinicnickijones4.pdf (opens a pdf document in a new window).
Ruth
By Jenny, on July 15th, 2008
We have just launched our new site, www.breastfeedinginmedway.org.uk to make information about our local drop-in groups, lactation-consultants and peer supporters available to everybody. The site is new and there are great plans for it, limited more by time than ideas, so please bear with us while we get it all together. Members of all the different groups have been working together to offer the best support to local families, resulting in an enthusiastic network of health professionals, breastfeeding counsellors, lactation consultants, peer supporters and mother helpers
Please visit the site for details of our local groups and do join us if you are nearby.
By Mandi, on July 14th, 2008
The Be a Star campaign is dedicated to increasing the number of young mums in Lancashire who choose to breastfeed. They hope to do this by showcasing the beauty, confidence and pride that comes with breastfeeding, as well as providing breastfeeding information and support and highlighting the unique health benefits that it brings to both baby and mum.
|
|
Recent Comments