Have you read this article yet?

I don't know what it was about the pre-breastfeeding-me ... I was oblivious to the benefits, the bonding, the process, everything about breastfeeding ... and now that I've immersed myself in the world of breastfeeding through my various support groups, La Leche League and the South Bend Breastfeeding Coalition, I feel like I see it everywhere in the media ...

From the Dec. 28 "Nurse In" held in Targets nation wide to random stories of women being chastised for being inappropriate in other public places ... it's shocking to me that some of the obvious points people are making (Hello, boobs on the news, on magazine stands, on your television .. how is that so 'normal' when breastfeeding has to be fought for?) are being so heavily resisted.

 Buffy Nurses Baby Cody -  1977

I recently read this article - Sesame Street Breastfeeding: Moms Push to Bring Breastfeeding Back to TV Show - and was shocked at how it was "noticeably absent from "Sesame Street" [since the 1990's] ... replac[ing] nursing with bottle feeding. Exemplifying this push for more puritanical imagery (a change from the "hippie parents" of yesteryear) ..."  What?? Breastfeeding is for hippies?? Well .. I do cloth diaper, hesitate to reach for paper products, and enjoy growing my own produce in the back yard .. but many women who are professional, or "square" as my husband described an antonym for hippie-dom, breastfeed .. so why even describe it was being something for hippies? <Sigh>

Tangent. Sorry.

Another highlight to the article that I found moving, supportive, loving and uniting -
Lani Michelle, mom blogger, posted an open call urging "Sesame Street" to bring the breast back. Another mom piggybacked off of Michelle's call-to-action and launched a formal petition.  In an email to Care2, Michelle explained her motivation for speaking out:

Women breastfeeding are the images we want to show our sons and daughters, so that they will view a woman's body as more then a sexual object. That's the only way we will see a change in future generations. My hope for this is that all moms, however they chose to feed their babies, come together and support one another.

Such a powerful thought.  It isn't about whether or not you breastfeed, whether or not you formula feed, what your reasons are for making either choice ... but coming together and supporting each other. Seriously. I receive such great support from my sisters and parents, family-in-law, everyone ... in my journey to breastfeed.  Periodically I am urged to "ween T - give him a bottle, end this struggle" ... but there is so much more to breastfeeding that just feeding the baby ... it's a relationship, a bond, in my mind it's through thick and thin!  Those urges to ween come at times when I am wearing my thin-times on my sleeve and need help, feeling frustrated or going through a rough patch with a plugged duct, a sore nipple, what have you ... and it's made in a loving gesture ... not a judgmental motion.  I always fight back a smile when my 4-year-old nephew dances around me while I nurse Thomas, covered or uncovered, asking all of those curious-4-year-old questions ... "What's he doing? What does it look like? Can I see it? Does he always eat from you?" ... catching a glimpse of my nip as Thomas pops off, milk drunk, yet curious about the action and happenings around him ... satisfied, his older cousin says, "Oh." and walks away.  Let's be truthful with children, honest, factual.  Some babies get milk from a bottle, some babies get milk from Mom, some babies get both.  It's a part of life. There's no mysticism or secret society ... o.k. some of the biology behind breastfeeding is pretty mystifying ... but that's a whole different story ;-)

Just as my family supports my choice to breastfeed, I support my sister's choice to feed formula - acquiring and sending as many coupons as humanly possible her way, taking tips from her on how to bottle feed and which bottles to chose ... we come together and support one another.  So enough. Why fight a good thing? We can all work together to bring the facts to children ... to educate families / expecting moms on their choices ... if it weren't for my husband of all people I never would have chosen to breastfeed, so yes, educate FAMILIES - boys, girls, grown-ups, everyone!

(Sesame Street - You're my Baby - I think it's from the 80s?)

(So stinkin' cute.)

Reading the comments below the article was so alarming ... one man commented on how taking a crap is natural but he didn't want to see it or learn about it on Sesame Street ... O.k. nursing and taking a crap? Seriously.  Another commented on the article with a very sound note -

"I can only say I support breastfeeding unconditionally. I am saddened our culture has become one where only the fringes fight oversexualization, but the masses push back on breastfeeding as inappropriate in public or on tv."

Here here.

Check out that petition.

6 Months is a (long/short) time!

Our first family photo <3

Today little T is 6 months old! I can't believe it!  The last 6 months truly have flown by ... as I'm sure many mommies can relate ... it's almost as if having a baby jams the 'fast-forward' button into place.

At this time (6:20 p.m.) 6 months ago ... my parents were just arriving at the hospital! I was so glad to have Margaret in town when I went into labour, and it was equally as refreshing and empowering to have my parents there, as well. (of course in addition to DH who was my steadfast boulder to care for me while in the hospital)

Here's a tiny glimpse into what we've accomplished as a new little family over the last 6 months -

• At about 10:30 p.m. we found out we would be having a c-section ... my first major surgery.
• T was born at 11:07 p.m.!! Welcome to the world, little baby!
• I began breastfeeding
• I enjoyed an extended stay at the hospital .. lol luxury? Maybe not.
• We slept for the first time as a family in our little home ... on the futon downstairs because I was way too scared to venture upstairs (and back down?) after my surgery!
• DH and I figured out (and adapted many times ... lol) the best way to change diapers ... and eventually began cloth diapering our little one!
• We had the most company in the shortest period of time ever - spending the 5-6 of T's first 8 weekends with family.
• We have perfected the process of bringing our little one to the South Bend Farmers' Market and have gone almost every Saturday we are in town - T has a fan club among the famers' and vendors ;-)
• We know the ins and outs of breastmilk pumping, storage, freezing, reheating ... 
• We've struggled through and been successful in meeting our *FIRST* Breastfeeding Goal of nursing for 6 months! On to the next goal! 9 Months!
• We've tag teamed sleepless nights quite effectively
• We've become an amazing 3-person team and family ... loving one another more than we knew we could.
• Thomas has learned how to - grab, pinch, roll, drink from a bottle, suck a nuk (independently .. lol) and get it into his mouth, stand, pull-to-sitting with a steady strong head, sit with minimal support, and many other milestones ... I've only cried for two of them ... hahah
• We have learned to do a number of things one handed with a baby in the other arm ...
• We've traveled to and from Minnesota twice - 3 trips by car, 1 by plane - another baby first.
• We've taken more pictures than ever before ... even surpassing our wedding day pictures, and there were TWO photographers snapping then!!
• We've mastered tag-team eating .. you eat while I juggle the baby .. ok switch!
• I've made my own baby food <3
• We've talked about when the next little one will come along ;-) 

Ohh man I could go on forever ... It truly is amazing how having a little one changes EVERYTHING. Our little gift =)  He is incredible.

..........

Another feat I've accomplished for the first time is how on earth to do a mail merge .. I printed a heap of addresses onto envelopes today to mail or Christmas cards.  It occurred to me that we are PACKING tomorrow to LEAVE TOWN for 10 days in just TWO DAYS! Eek! I can't wait..!  So to minimize craziness it dawned on me that I should probably mail out these gorgeous Christmas cards we purchased courtesy of JCPenny and Groupon ... We should also figure out what we're going to do with all of these pictures ;-) Oh wait, we already have some ideas!

Little T is up from his nap .. I love listening to Ryan chat with him over the baby monitor - that thing is almost always on!  Lately T has been just catching a glimpse of Ry and doing his little "Ahh heeee" laugh, grinning ear to ear. We can't figure out what it is that invokes these little laughs ... maybe it's Ryan's goofy face? ;-) hahah

c'mon mom .. i just woke up!

Happy 6 Months, Baby T!

Breastfeeding + Work

I did a bit of research today (after preparing some more baby food for t - carrots and pears, anyone?) ... on breastfeeding and work, following yesterday's post.  After contacting my La Leche League (LLL) Leader / BF Support Group Leader / Lactation Consultant, I've decided to do some reading and research regarding breastfeeding at work ... she even offered to put me in touch with some Moms who attend the monthly LLL meeting to talk about their experiences, which I am eager to sort of figure out what I want to know as well as what information would be valuable to an audience ...

A simple google search turned up a heap of information from random .com-ers to more obvious resources such as Dr. Sears, LLL and websites like Babycenter.com and Whattoexpect.com.  Here are some favorites that I'm eager to dig into:

La Leche League - Working it Out - tips on how to convince your boss that it is best to continue breastfeeding your baby ... as well as references and links to helpful legislation to back up your requests.

U.S. Breastfeeding Committee - Workplace Support - many links to legislation and resources to support the importance of breastfeeding, as well as information on the Breastfeeding Support Act and the Business Case for Breastfeeding

National Conference of State Legislatures - This website offers resources on a state-by-state level with respect to breastfeeding ... it was last updated in May 2011.

Work and Pump - a website run by a working mom who offers resources gathered throughout the e-world, as well as a message board for support.

... so many of these websites have a very serious connotation to them, with resources being linked to legislation and minimum requirements to support breastfeeding mothers.  It would be great to find a resource that approaches the needs of a breastfeeding mom and a conversation to be had, or resources to be provided to an employer that is very humanistic in nature.  I haven't yet come across information online that is related to a woman approaching her employer to say, "I am a breastfeeding mom and I need to pump at work x-number of times to support my child and I would like this type of space to do so ..."  Most of these resources pertain to a woman bringing in resources that say, "It is my right to pump at work, and you are required to provide me with the space to do so," which is a little aggressive ... but I'm sure with some organizations that is what it takes ... or these resources wouldn't be out there.

... onward and upward with my learning and advocacy for women who need better conditions, resources, and opportunities to support their breastfeeding relationship at work!

In other news. I've had two dreams about repairing Ryan's beloved T-Shirt quilt ... so I think this might become my next sewing project ... T and I just have to go pick up binding at JoAnn and get to work!  I also have a few bundles of fabric to work with, although I'm not sure they will be large enough for our bed.  I told Ryan we may have to retire his quilt from being our "Main Quilt" on our bed - man alive it is perfectly cozy - to which he responded, "Great. Make us a new one!"  Oi. Queen sized would be the biggest quilt I've made yet.

my curiosity, my (newest) passion, my life!

Breastfeeding. Really. What do you know about it?  If you haven't been closely knit to someone who has breastfed a baby, you may have been like me before I had baby T.  In fact, breastfeeding is the one aspect of child birth and child rearing that I walked into without instruction, guidance, coaching or experience.  Ok, I'll admit, I did check out 2 books from the library, and was shocked to find them under nursing in the non-fiction section after finding nothing on my search of  breast feeding.  I remember reading one of those books at the pool while catching some sun with my sister the morning before Thomas was born!  I'm not sure that it prepared me for what I was birthing into ... but it was reassuring to know that it was waiting for me at home once baby arrived.

Nursing my little baby T has been quite the journey that has evoked amazing feelings from within me ... spanning all extremes, both positive and negative.  As time has gone on, I have begun to understand that breastfeeding is one of those things that you learn about as you go, because every baby, every mom, even every boob ... is different!  If it weren't for my amazing support groups - La Leche League of South Bend, and the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center's Breast Feeding Support Group - and my desire for knowledge, I don't know if I would have made it five .. almost six months .. nursing my baby, unsure of where the end of our nursing relationship will be.  We are just five days away from reaching our second goal - six months of breast feeding!  Our next goal is twelve months.  With the introduction of solids, it will for sure be an adventure worth blogging about. ;-)

The fuel for my fire this evening comes from two e-mails I received today.  Both were from the USBC ... heard of them?   United States Breastfeeding Committee.  The first was titled "Thanks to You, Breastfeeding is Getting Easier," and it outlined the progress of the USBC throughout 2011.  I had clicked a button to send a letter to my congress person to promote opportunities for women who return to work to have the time and space to pump during the work day.  This e-mail was even more meaningful after Thomas and I attended our monthly La Leche League meeting and heard about some of the struggles women experience when trying to pump at work.  Are you ready for this?

Some women have to pump in the bathroom stall at work.  Would you want to eat a meal prepared in a bathroom stall?  Would you want to feed it to your baby?

Some women have a hard time pumping because of distractions that occur outside of the room they are aloud to pump in ... yes, stress and distraction impact let down and the overall ability to effectively express milk.

Some women experience a drastic decrease in milk supply once returning to work, resulting in an inability over time to meet baby's needs ...

I'm sure it goes on ... but having never balanced this working-and-breastfeeding experience, I can only empathize with moms who do return to work.  I can't imagine struggling through the experience, let alone giving up on what I hold so dear to my heart and my relationship with my baby.  The USBC is pushing to improve upon the conditions in which breastfeeding moms return to following their maternity leave ... and given what little I know about pumping at work - pumping in someone else's office outside of the main entrance to the school I worked at? holy distracting - I know it can be great or pretty bad ... but it shouldn't be a stumbling block along a woman's pathway to nurturing her baby.

So yes, breastfeeding has, at times, been a struggle for me ... but no, I can't imagine weaning my child from the breast.  It is such a huge part of our relationship that is working well for both of us (See, something I learned from my support groups - breastfeeding is a two-part relationship)  despite it's ups and downs, but what relationship doesn't experience ups and downs?

I'll have to post about the 2nd e-mail I received from the USBC this evening ... it may develop into a professional opportunity, or it may not ... so I leave you with that suspense!