milkforthought-blog

[milkforthought-blog]

Weekly Wrapup & Links We Love!

Will you buy anything in October to support breast cancer research? Vix Swimwear has been tweeting all week about the benefits of breastfeeding in lowering the risk of breast cancer and is donating 15% of proceeds from their Pink Ikat Bikini to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Use the discount code VIP25 for 25% off any suit!

What we heard about breastfeeding support from the insightful ladies who responded to our Facebook poll

Thanks to Senator Jeff Merkley and others for working hard to secure breastfeeding rights in the workplace

Lost actress Evangeline Lily talks about breastfeeding on the set of her new film and jokes about him refusing to nurse because he didn't seem to recognize her in a hobbit costume with pointy ears!

Cheers to the new Baby Cafe that opened in Texas this week! On the big pink bus tour we met the founder of the U.S.'s first Baby Cafe, in Melrose, Mass. and the many, many grateful moms who attend.

A pregnant BabyCenter blogger shares her anxiety about trying to breastfeed her new baby after not doing so with her first child. Cheers to all the moms who told her not to give up, to forgive herself, and never to feel like she failed.

[milkforthought-blog]

conmanstolemyheart:

Statue in Argentina

Beautiful. Breastfeeding appears in so many places throughout art and sculpture!

[milkforthought-blog]

Buzz in the Blogoshpere: Marketing, New-Mommy Products & Breastfeeding

On Monday, the FierceMamas blog posted an interesting piece by Arie Brentnall-Compton called "How the Breastfeeding Industry is Destroying Breastfeeding" that has sparked a lot of intelligent discussion in the blogosphere about consumerism and marketing when it comes to "helpful" products for breastfeeding moms.

"A very large, capital I Industry has built up around 'breastfeeding.' What started as a small group of committed, WHO Code supporting companies has morphed into thousands of companies marketing 'feeding products.' Previously Code compliant companies have shifted their focus to 'Feeding,' offering little or no breastfeeding imagery, or products directly known to interfere with the success of breastfeeding," Brentnall-Compton states.

She goes on to call out companies such as Medela, Lansinoh and others for selling non-WHO-code compliant products, shifting their marketing imagery away from breastfeeding, and burying breastfeeding information deep in their websites.

She acknowledges: "It's hard for women who have yet to develop a successful nursing relationship to sort out the useful from the useless, the harmless from the harmful. ... That same mother expressing concern on social media today is likely to be sent to purchase a bag of lactation cookies marketed with dubious medical claims. Other products prey on the same fears: bracelets, charms & apps imply you may not remember to nurse on the 'correct' side; cookies, teas, supplements imply your supply may be inadequate without them."

And she is absolutely correct. Naturally, pregnant and new moms are full of worries and questions about birth, nursing and motherhood while being inundated with generally well-meaning but sometimes detrimental recommendations from all sides -- friends, family and yes, the media.

We really enjoyed the comments from readers on this blog post, too. MayasGold makes a great point when she says, "In my experience as a breastfeeding mom of two, the most essential thing for a nursing mother is free but sadly, not broadly available: support from other nursing moms. A community of knowledgeable & caring women with children at various stages of life can provide information about what to expect, what is normal, what to do when trouble arises... plus can stave off the isolation one feels as life gets turned on its head with the arrival of an infant!" Exactly how we feel as we build MilkforThought.com! 

We also appreciated Ally's insight, who helps run a breastfeeding support group and sees real issues with breastfeeding gadgets being misused, such as mothers lubing up with a cream before nursing and wondering why baby can't get a good latch.

So how do moms figure out what they need, what they don't, and how to have the best nursing experience possible? Connect with those credible, supportive resources, of course! From in-person mommy groups to meeting with an IBCLC, talking to someone who knows is so much more valuable than listening to the product recommendation blitz coming from the Internet, or even well-meaning friends.

It can be tough for new moms to cut through the clutter and determine what tips and products are really beneficial to helping her reach her personal breastfeeding goals. One of the reasons we at MFT saw a need for a super-credible but hip online platform for the breastfeeding community is that new parents often feel lost amid the tens of thousands of YouTube videos, Google search results, and forums full of moms giving anecdotes and advice -- all of which may or may not be helpful.

So what does Milk for Thought take away from FierceMamas' blog post? Amid the overload of products and recommendations, it can help new moms to remember that the 2 things they need to feed their baby are free and readily available: Love and support and breastmilk!

[milkforthought-blog]

WE ASKED OUR MOMS ... Where did you feel most supported to breastfeed, and where did you feel least supported? NOW ... The results!

Yesterday, we asked MFT's Facebook followers to tell us where they felt the most and least supported throughout their breastfeeding journeys. We received answers that ranged from hilarious to exciting to surprising (good and bad). We tallied them up, and here's what we heard!

General themes that emerged ...

Dads are awesome! The most common answer for "most supportive" was your husband or partner, which is great to hear since the guys play such a significant role in nursing success! By contrast, only one person said her husband wasn't very supportive. Good job dads! Watch the fascinating and funny videos we shot this summer -- cool dads giving great support and advice!

Moms need more love from their in-laws. While several people cited their in-laws as very supportive, this was certainly the most common answer for where moms felt the least supported. When in-laws find breastfeeding "weird" or "unnecessary," it just shows we need to work harder to educate them before the baby comes in hope they'll understand that breastfeeding moms need their love and support, no matter what. Love and support from mom can make all the difference -- check out the moms who won't let their daughters give up in these two great videos.

Pediatricians & family physicians need breastfeeding education. We were saddened, although not super-surprised, to hear several moms say their doctors (or ex doctors!) told them they didn't need to breastfeed or should wean after just a few months. In the past, we've also heard of doctors giving a mom formula and saying it is "easier," or simply shrugging their shoulders when a pregnant mom asked about nursing. That sounds like pure misinformation  and lack of education and training to us! Luckily, we're really focused on collaborating with the amazing supporters out there who want to get those medical professionals educated and onboard with empowering breastfeeding moms instead of dissuading them. We shot some awesome videos this summer -- watch to see how the right training can change a nurse or doctor's mindset!

Everyone needs to understand that breastfeeding a toddler is normal, natural and recommended. Plenty of moms in our poll mentioned strange looks or disapproval from in-laws or friends when they were nursing an older child. This is a common and recurring theme! It's time to educate the public -- and our loved ones -- that the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding "up to 2 years of age or beyond."

Other interesting tidbits ...

Surprisingly, we didn't hear much about breastfeeding in public! A few moms even gave shoutouts to breastfeeding-friendly businesses and staff in their communities! We think that's progress!

Moms and friends are mostly super-supportive, even if they didn't breastfeed their own children.

Employers need to educate themselves and their employees that allowing moms short breaks in a comfortable, private place for pumping isn't just necessary, it's the law. And, moms shouldn't be made to feel they're "wasting time" or "slacking off." Tell them to check out the Business Case for Breastfeeding or watch these videos of employers, moms and coworkers who have successfully supported breastfeeding in their workplaces!

If you're not getting outstanding support at home, find a mommy group, midwife/doula, awesome pediatrician, or IBCLC right away. These are your go-to women! Check out these awesome videos of real moms talking mother-to-mother support!

Milk donation is still not well understood by most people outside the breastfeeding community. We need to promote HMBANA donation centers so more moms donate to those in need. These amazing moms and breastfeeding advocates are working to provide safe milk for at-risk infants!

Pumping while traveling can be trying with the 3-ounce liquid limit at the airport! :) Even government officials should know what's up! That includes TSA workers!

Thanks to everyone who participated and gave insightful responses!

[milkforthought-blog]

Good morning to our new followers!

Thanks for joining us! If you enjoy breastfeeding, baby and parenting news, information, giveaways, store discounts and exclusives, or know a pregnant or new mom who does, share the love! And don't forget to "like" us on Facebook for even more insider info from Milk for Thought!

[milkforthought-blog]

YOUR BREASTFEEDING RIGHTS: New Law Allows for "Reasonable Break Time for Nursing Mothers"

During this summer's road trip, Milk for Thought talked a lot about the amazing work people like Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley are doing for workplace lactation laws. We all know that having a breastfeeding-friendly environment is instrumental in moms being able to continue breastfeeding after they return from maternity leave.

According to the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion, Communities Putting Prevention to Work, a provision that was successfully included by Senator Merkley as an amendment to President Obama's health care reform package, states that employers shall provide breastfeeding employees, who are hourly workers, with unpaid "reasonable break time" and a private, non-bathroom place to express breast milk during the workday, up until the child's first birthday.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 56 percent of mothers with infants under 1 year of age work. And according to the U.S. Census Bureau, one-third of mothers return to work within 3 months of giving birth, two-thirds within six months.

Benefits to employers include increased productivity through reduced missed workdays by parents with sick infants and significant savings through reduced health care costs.

According to one study on maternal absenteeism, one-day absences to care for sick children occur more than twice as often for mothers of formula feeding infants.

Who is covered/affected?

State laws that provide more protection to nursing mothers are not affected by this law. It simply sets a federal standard that is a floor.

All employers are covered but employers of less than 50 employees are not required to provide the breaks if doing so would cause "undue hardship" to their business.

The law covers hourly workers and other employees who are subject to overtime laws. These workers are those who have been found least likely to have access to the types of protections this provision provides. The Joint Economic Committee, which Rep. Carolyn Maloney chairs, just released estimates that suggest, by conservative estimate, at least 26 million employed women will be covered by these new protections.

{Source}

[milkforthought-blog]

Weekly Wrapup & Links We Love

Sunday Weekly Wrapups are back! Here's what caught our attention in breastfeeding news and stories around the Web:

A study reports the serious misperception that can prevent women with breast augmentations from having breastfeeding success ...

... the same day, celeb Kendra Wilkinson tells BabyZone she drank her own breastmilk at a Vegas nightclub. Odd but true.

A big hello to our friends in Louisiana -- breast pumps, nursing bras and other breastfeeding accessories are now sales tax free in that state! 

Canadian Breastfeeding Week kicks off October 1 with a Latch On breastfeeding challenge

Mommy blogger Carla celebrated reaching her breastfeeding goal of 1 year with her daughter Hannah by the pair donning MFT shirts! Thanks for the shoutout Carla!

MFT's Latch On America shirts and onesies are being sold in the store, but quantities are limited, so get 'em before they're gone! We even have shirts for toddlers and dads!

[milkforthought-blog]

A Friday treat -- a beautiful breastfeeding session photo by Kelle Hampton.

Would you ever have a professional shoot like this done? We think it's awesome!

[milkforthought-blog]

What gift does a brand-new mom really want?

We were inspired by blogger, huge breastfeeding supporter, and mom to Toby, Joanna Goddard's post about gift ideas for a new parent. She listed tangible items like a certificate for a massage and chocolate-covered strawberries, but also non-tangible gifts, which breastfeeding moms know can sometimes be the most valuable.

Joanna included ...

Cooking. Food of any kind. When Toby was a newborn, Alex and I were so, so grateful when friends would come over with soups, fresh salads, sandwiches, homemade cookies...It felt delicious and nourishing. (A handy tip: If your friend is breastfeeding, leave out garlic and raw onions, since those ingredients can make newborn babies fussy.) Cleaning up the house. I literally teared up when a friend came over and, without asking, went into the kitchen and did all our dishes. It's so wonderful for people to help around the house when you're a new parent! You just never get to those things. If a friend came over and swept the kitchen floor, did a load of laundry, changed the bedsheets, replaced the toilet paper, and did the dishes, it would be such a joy and gift to the overwhelmed new parents. The gift of no pressure. When Toby was brand new, my good friend in California wrote a lovely congratulatory email to me, and at the end, she said, "Don't respond, go and be with your baby." And it felt SO good to know that I didn't have to do anything but read her lovely words and then turn off the computer. So, consider, at the end of any emails or with gifts that you send, including the words, "No need to respond" or "Don't write a thank-you note. Congratulations again!"

MFT would like to add ...

Care for older children & pets. If you have other children, a friend or family member can bring them to see you and the new baby so everyone feels loved and included. Give other kids a little extra attention so they never feel left out of the excitement. You'll also need help with Fido or Fluffy while you're recovering, so dogwalking and petsitting are amazing gifts.

Run errands. A friend might offer to do the grocery shopping, pick up dry cleaning, run to the post office -- whatever moms needs so she can rest and not feel anxious that things are left undone.

The gift of silence! When baby is first born, sometimes you just want family and friends to let you get some sleep and spend time with baby and dad. It can be especially important for breastfeeding success for family to let you have those first hours alone.

Unconditional support for breastfeeding. Whether grandma or your neighbor breastfed or believe in breastfeeding or not, they should gift you the support and love you need. Helping you feel safe and confident will help you have a great start to your breastfeeding journey.

We all know that having a strong support network after baby comes can make all the difference in both bonding and breastfeeding! Ask your friends, loved ones and neighbors to read this list and let you know how they can help!

[milkforthought-blog]

BREASTFEEDING IN THE NEWS: Myth Keeps Women with Breast Implants from Success, Plus! The Truth About Breastfeeding & Breast Surgery, from MFT's Expert Panel

In the news this past week (via) was a study being presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) annual conference, which reports the belief in women with breast augmentations that nursing will negatively affect the appearance of their breasts is directly linked to an unsuccessful breastfeeding experience.

Out of a group of 160 breast augmentation patients, and the 97 women who were unsuccessful at breastfeeding, 86 percent believed breastfeeding would have a negative impact on the appearance of their breasts.

"If a woman believes that breastfeeding will adversely affect her breast appearance, she decreases her chances of successful breastfeeding," said Norma Cruz, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon and study author. "This misconception is unfortunate. Reassuring women that breastfeeding won't harm their breast appearance, and that it has significant health advantages for both mother and baby is vitally important."

This study followed the breastfeeding habits of 160 breast augmentation patients. Women who were successful or unsuccessful at breastfeeding were extremely similar in demographics such as age, body mass, implant size and incision location. The only significant difference between the two groups was the perceived effect breastfeeding would have on the appearance of their breasts. Among the 63 women who successfully breastfed, only 13 percent believed it would have an adverse effect on the aesthetic quality of their breasts. Conversely, in the group of 97 women who were unsuccessful, 86 percent believed breastfeeding would have a negative impact on the appearance of their breasts.

She adds: "It makes sense that breast augmentation patients would be concerned about the effect breastfeeding could have on the appearance of their breasts. After all, these women have invested both time and money into them. However, available evidence tells us that although breasts sag more with each pregnancy, breastfeeding doesn't seem to worsen these effects in women with or without breast implants."

Other myths and misperceptions about breastfeeding and breast augmentation (and reduction) certainly exist. Some mothers who have had breast surgery worry that they won't be able to breastfeed as a result. However, according to the Milk for Thought Expert Panel, many women who have had both breast augmentation and reduction surgeries can breastfeed. Some breast surgeries will affect the milk-making tissues or nerves in the breasts, causing low milk supply, and some will not. Sometimes, a breast implant can take up space meant for milk supply, telling the cells to produce less milk. You won’t know until it’s time to try! However, if you do decide to breastfeed, the implant and appearance of the breast will not be affected.

The best thing to do is for you and baby to be followed carefully by your doctor. To be sure your breasts are producing enough milk, you should schedule regular weight checks for the first month of your baby’s life to be sure he is gaining adequate weight. As always with breastfeeding obstacles or questions, see a certified lactation consultant for extra help.

{Have a question for Milk for Thought's Expert Panel? Email Brettan@milkforthought.com!}

[milkforthought-blog]

At MFT, we never forget to thank the dads ...

[milkforthought-blog]

One Year of Breastfeeding Celebration!

Meet Carla -- a 28-year-old mom who is celebrating her daughter Hannah's birthday and meeting their personal breastfeeding goal of 1 year of breastfeeding! Carla appreciates Milk for Thought's message so much that she and Hannah are BOTH sporting MFT shirts in her video!

Carla and Hannah's story is an interesting one -- from infertility to a traumatic birth to going back to work at 9 weeks, this mom and baby have been through a lot to reach their breastfeeding goals. Carla's a great example of how not giving up and having the right support can make all the difference in breastfeeding.

Congrats to Carla and happy birthday to Hannah! Read all about their journey on Carla, the Bubblelush's blog and YouTube channel, and get inspired.

And, in celebration, Milk for Thought is offering a coupon code for 15 percent off all MFT shirts and baby onesies through October 22 to Bubblelush readers -- including limited-edition Latch On America shirts! Check out Carla's post for the exclusive code!

[milkforthought-blog]

Ryan's Road Journal: Los Angeles

After more than six weeks on the road, we wanted to be sure to go out with a bang -- and the wonderful team at The Pump Station sure made that happened!  We arrived to their Santa Monica store and the back parking lot was fully set up with tents galore!  There were many great organizations in attendance and a phenomenal lineup of panels and experts.

I had the honor of moderating the two expert panels.  The first one was about breastfeeding and included true leaders in the field.  The major takeaways for the audience were to educate yourself prenatally and to reach out for help sooner rather than later.  It was discussed how there are not many issues with breastfeeding in public in LA, and they acknowledged that Los Angeles was pretty progressive and breastfeeding has become the norm! After this panel, Dr. Harvey Karp, the mastermind behind The Happiest Baby on the Block line, wowed the crowd with his proven methods to calm and communicate with infants and young children. 

The second panel was about more general parenting topics (sleep, communication, back health and breastfeeding) with an emphasis family wellness.  As a 28-year old with no kids, this was a tougher panel to moderate.  Unlike breastfeeding, which I had just talked about non-stop for six weeks, I’m a lot less familiar about sleep cycles and understanding the different needs of an infant.  Needless to say, I learned a lot in this panel!  At the end of each event we have a ceremony where the local organizers put a star on the map.  We had the co-founders of The Pump Station, Corky & Wendy, do the honors.  Then, we did a group photo with everyone screaming ‘Latch On America’ for one last time.  These few minutes were surreal as I realized this was the 33rd and last time that we were going to do it on the tour. 

It's hard to believe that the trip has come to an end, but we couldn’t have asked for a better finale!

- Ryan

[milkforthought-blog]

Ryan's Road Journal: Austin

There is so much going on in Austin that we had to be there for a day and a half.  We pulled into Texas WIC headquarters in the late afternoon and spent time with two of Texas’s many breastfeeding rockstars.  Man, they have an incredible organization with wonderful resources and support for their mothers.  There were a few brochures that blew my mind, both in terms of content and presentation.  A lot to learn from them! The next day, we had a wonderful event coordinated by the Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin.  There was great turnout of moms and organizations … and media!  Not only did we have local news, we also were broadcast live on air on the area's largest Spanish-speaking radio station -- very cool! 

After a great event, we headed back to the Milk Bank for lunch, interviews and a tour.  It was a real honor and privilege to not only go on a tour of the space, but actually watch specific steps in the process.  One thing is perfectly clear, HMBANA milk banks go through a very rigorous process to make sure that the milk that comes out of their banks has been thoroughly tested and is safe.  I was surprised to learn that they go so far as knowing how many calories are in the different milk, so that they can offer milk with different levels for babies with different calorie needs.  In addition to interviewing people who work with the milk bank, we interviewed a mother whose child receives the milk.  I can say on her behalf, thank you to anyone who has donated milk -- it’s really a precious gift to provide another mother.  If you have extra milk in your freezer, there are plenty of milk banks that could desperately use it in order to meet the high demand for breast milk!

- Ryan

[milkforthought-blog]

Ryan's Road Journal: Houston

Houston!  They weren’t joking when they warned us that Texas was going to be hot!  Boy, was it...  Still, our day in Houston was a lot of fun.  Positioned outside the Children’s Museum, we not only had a lot of people show up specifically for the event, but also a lot of moms and babies who were just planning on going to the museum!  Always great to get a thumbs up from moms and a big thank you for promoting a cause that is important to them. In Houston, we had a huge turnout of WIC peer counselors.  At every stop, we could always count on having representation from WIC, but they came out in force in Houston.  So, a lot of my time was spent speaking to different peer counselors about the needs and issues facing their clients.  At one point, I was standing in a circle of five people, representing 3 different races.  It was awesome to compare and contrast the issues facing different groups.  I walked away from that conversation with a whole new respect for the concept of peer counselors and making sure that moms receive support from someone who they can specifically relate to. Houston set a high bar for Texas … I quickly was able to sense that different cities in Texas can be a bit competitive.  All in attendance were pretty excited that the Houston star was the first one on the bus’s map!

- Ryan

[milkforthought-blog]

Friend: The woman next to me on my flight was breastfeeding her baby! Me: You would rather sit next to a screaming infant? Friend: True.

#creatingchange

[milkforthought-blog]

Ryan's Road Journal: Phoenix

We had a very busy day in Phoenix, Arizona!  Not only did we have an incredible event we also went to a workplace that allows moms to bring their babies to work. First up, we had a packed house at Midwives Rising.  There were so many moms and babies, it was tough to move!  I was very surprised to learn that many moms felt that Phoenix wasn’t supportive of breastfeeding.  There was such energy and support in the room I would have assumed that the whole city was pretty welcoming.  But instead, many shared that if you can plug into the support community you can find incredible support, but outside of this tight knit group the rest of the city is much less supportive.  I spoke to a mom who was initially unaware of the community and these resources, and she said she felt very alone and isolated during her breastfeeding journey.  Fortunately, she met someone who introduced her to the community and she said her journey changed dramatically right then and there.  We wished that we could snap our fingers and have all the moms who felt just like she did walk in the room and see all the support and encouragement that was available in Phoenix.  As we build out the community on-line on Milk for Thought, our goal is to make it easy and fun for moms to find all their local resources. After the event, we made our way to the Arizona Department of Health & Human Services to interview members of an office that have a Babies at Work program. Back at our Salt Lake City stop in July, we'd met Carla Moquin, the founder of Babies at Work, so we were very excited to see a workplace that has had a successful program for more than 10 years! 

Not only did we meet one mother who had her son with her in the office, we met a colleague who was initially very skeptical about having to work amongst babies.  The program is very progressive and allows a mother or father to bring their baby to work to promote bonding and continued breastfeeding.  This program has proven very effective at retaining employees and getting employees to return to work earlier than they otherwise would.  While a typical concern is, "How can someone be productive with their baby at work?" the counterpoint is that the parent isn’t spending time worried about being separated from their child and eventually can come up with a routine and method that brings their productivity back to about 80-85% of their pre-baby productivity.  This is a much better alternative that losing good employees or having them stay away from the workplace for a long time after birth.

At ADHS, we learned that the office enjoys having babies in their company and that it can change the mood and help ground people and “put things in perspective.”  I was sold on the benefits of this program and can picture myself in work meetings and in my office with my baby strapped to my chest!   

- Ryan