Conwy Breastfeeding Friends Peer Supporters have been nominated for the Pride Of Conwy Award and have decided to open their doors to those wanting further information about training to become a Peer Supporter.

Have you ever thought you’d like to help other mothers?  Have you breastfed your children for a 6 months or longer?  If so then come along to Princes Drive Baptist Church, Colwyn Bay, LL29 8LA on the Wednesday 7th March, from 10am-12pm.

You can ask questions about the training and what’s involved.  You can also find out about becoming a Breastfeeding Councillor too.  If you would like some Peer Support yourself, then you are welcome too.

There will be some filming for our awards clip but that won’t take up much time.  Tea and coffee will be available and some friendly faces and children are always welcome.

This is how Lactivists celebrate pancake day! Pancakes that look like boobs!

Boobs, mums and babies made out of pancakes! Pancakes in a bra! Strawberry aereolas and nipply bits! One mum said her daughter looked at her boob pancakes and said  “not your boob though mummy. Thanks for making my boob food!”

Thank you to everyone who sent in pictures for the Lactivist Facebook Wall!

Karen, the lovely mum behind www.boobiemilk.co.uk (who sponsor Lactivist) is going to be sponsoring the breastfeeding room at the Sussex Baby and Toddler show in Hastings on the 10th March.

She would like to know if you have any ideas for things she can do in the room. She can put posters up, leaflets, anything really. What would make it really good? There will already be water, flowers, some free sample breast pads in the room.

To print this out on A4 paper just click this link – keep_calm_carry_on_poster to open a PDF.

If you prefer this one, click this link – keep_calm_latch_on_poster

Thank you to Ruth for telling us about this on the Lactivist Facebook Page.

NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent have had an extraordinary response to their ‘Keep calm and carry on Breastfeeding’ campaign.

The purpose of the campaign is to drive home the message that it’s now illegal to ask someone to stop breastfeeding in public, and that women who wish to breastfeed should keep calm and carry on.

Breastfeeding has many health benefits for both mum and baby – including reducing the risk of breast cancer.

Breastfed babies are also less likely to suffer from asthma, eczema, allergies and diabetes in later life, and require less medical treatment and hospitalisation than bottle fed babies.

Want to spread the word?

The ‘Keep calm and carry on breastfeeding’ artwork can be downloaded and used by anyone who wants to create a poster, t-shirt, mug – or any other way to spread the word about breastfeeding.

• Artwork PDF
• Artwork jpeg

 http://www.easternandcoastalkent.nhs.uk/your-health/baby-matters/keep-calm-and-carry-on-breastfeeding/

To open up a PDF of a certificate you can print out and give to anyone who has helped you with breastfeeding just click on this link -

loved by lactivists

if you want one that doesn’t mention the Lactivist Facebook page click this link – loved by lactivists no mention of facebook

BREAKING NEWS from http://formulafree.com/pages/FacebookDebate.htm

Facebook is a very resourceful place for social and business networking.  However as most people have heard through the media lately, Facebook has removed profile pictures of breastfeeding.

While there are many opinions about repeated removals and no attempt by Facebook to accept the breastfeeding photos, I thought WHY?!?  Why is it a big deal?  Why would Facebook remove nursing photographs (most of which barley show any breast)?

The researched and factual answer is:

A Facebook Shareholder is the owner of an Infant Formula Company!

• Billionaire Li Ka-Shang who is a Facebook Shareholder of 0.75% (an estimated $165 million value) owns Hutchison China MediTech Ltd.

This may not appear to be a substantial amount, however when you review the shareholder list for Facebook it is a substantial influence.

Hutchison China MediTech Ltd announced on May 26, 2011 that it will enter the Chinese infant-formula milk powder market through cooperation with Hain Celestial Group Inc, a leading US natural and organic products company.

“By launching Earth’s Best and Zhi Ling Tong co-branded organic infant formula in China, the companies are targeting the country’s premium market” … China “sees 15 million newborn infants every year, thus the market potential of baby milk powder is huge”.

“In the next five years, the company will strive to gain 2 percent market share, which equals some $123 million.”

• A fast mention that Interpublic Group which is another Facebook Shareholder of less than 0.5% (an estimated $110 million value) is the parent company of Draftfcb, and Lowe + Partners.

Draftfcb client list includes Nestle and Pfizer.  Both companies are known for infant formula.  Lowe + Partners also list Nestle as a client.

You might ask what this has to do with breastfeeding photos on Facebook.  That is a simple answer; however, you tell me why Facebook’s shareholders who invest in an infant formula company would want to stop the promotion of breastfeeding?

There are many debates and disagreements within our society of how to raise a child.  But there is no synthetic substitute that can compare to true Organic Milk from a mother.  

Society should be changed for the better, to a culture that promotes Formula Free babies and supports breastfeeding.  What society seems to forget is that breastfeeding is normal!  The more you see something, the more normal it becomes and the less people will relate a bottle to a baby before a breast. 

It seems that Facebook while free to its users comes with a price.  Social networking is controlled by those who can afford to control it.  One thing the formula companies will never be able to market and never understand is the bond that breastfeeding creates.  We do not breastfeed to save money (that is just a bonus), we breastfeed because it’s the best thing for our babies, ourselves, and our environment! 

Breastfeeding moms make a difference!  Keep up the great work and if you want to pass on the research we’ve done, feel free to Share on Facebook, Tweet it or pin it!  We can all make a difference and you already have!

Nest is a natural parenting store, selling everything you need for a natural pregnancy, birth and for children up to 6 years, from nursing bras to cloth nappies to organic childrenswear.

They are also the latest stockists of Lactivist pro breastfeeding t-shirts and bags!

The Nest natural parenting store and website are now officially open. You can find the store at 74b Fore Street Totnes Devon TQ9 5RU or find them online at www.nest-shop.co.uk.

They also have a Facebook page – www.facebook.com/pages/Nest-Natural-Parenting-Store/134897626622628

Monkey Mama Nursing Necklaces are  having a sale starting at lunchtime on the 15th February to celebrate Isaac’s birthday and their 24 month bfing milestone – 24 products at 24% off for 24 hours.

Here’s the direct link to the sale section:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/monkeymamanecklaces?section_id=11137689

They are only 12 people away from having 500 likers on Facebook too so if you are not a fan please click on the link - https://www.facebook.com/monkeymamanecklaces?ref=ts, they often have bargains on there so it’s worth keeping an eye on!

The Biological Norm Breastfeeding Awareness Conference

4^th May 2012 The Village Hotel, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK

Speakers:

Dr Michel Odent, Michel Odent is best known as the obstetrician who introduced the concepts of birthing pools and home-like birthing rooms. He has published 12 books in 21 languages and recently completed a trilogy of books, The Scientification of Love, The Farmer and the Obstetrician and The Caesarian.

John Carnochan, Director of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, who talks about links between a child’s upbringing and environment and the risk they face of falling into violent behaviour.

Dr Kerstin Uvnas who is a recognized as a world authority on oxytocin.

Dr Charlotte Russell who is an infant sleep expert

Ann Sinnott the author of ‘Breastfeeding Older Children’

Contact: Claire Wakefield, Breastfeeding Support Service,

Dorset Healthcare University Foundation Trust

Community Health Services (Bournemouth and Poole)

551-553 Wallisdown Road, Canford House, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5AG

Email: claire.wakefield@dhuft.nhs.uk