We'd like to share a fairly new organization and some wonderful links that we've found which have been of interest for some of our moms.
First of all, a mom in Maryland started a one of a kind organization for African-American breastfeeding moms. It is called The African-American Breastfeeding Alliance. Her name is Kathi Barber and she is also the author of a book entitled The Black Woman's Guide to Breastfeeding.
You can hear a really interesting podcast which includes some great facts about the history of breastfeeding pre and post slavery with her on the Motherwear Blog. They really start to break down some of those assumptions/myths and how those turn into generalizations. Check it out when you get a chance!
Also, a couple of favorite blogs to check out are
MochaMilk and Jennifer James' Blog Black Breastfeeding.
Have a great rainy week. :)
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Working with Employers - some links for you!
Planning on going back into the workforce soon?
A great book to check out is Nursing Mother, Working Mother by Gale Pryor.
Here are some great websites for moms returning to work & looking for more information for their employers.
The Business Case For Breastfeeding: Steps For Creating A Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite
To order copies or print the pdf
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action – Women and Work
Cornell University Model
Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles, CA
South Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition
South Carolina Breastfeeding Action Committee
And here is a great article with tips on the Politics of Pumping
Feel free to pass these along to your friends!
A great book to check out is Nursing Mother, Working Mother by Gale Pryor.
Here are some great websites for moms returning to work & looking for more information for their employers.
The Business Case For Breastfeeding: Steps For Creating A Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite
To order copies or print the pdf
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action – Women and Work
Cornell University Model
Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles, CA
South Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition
South Carolina Breastfeeding Action Committee
And here is a great article with tips on the Politics of Pumping
Feel free to pass these along to your friends!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Myths of Breastfeeding
When I was pregnant with my first child, I heard quite a few myths from well meaning friends and family. One in particular was that I had to rub my nipples with a wash cloth to toughen them up for nursing. Thank goodness I just thought that was silly and didn't go on with that one!
I am lactose intolerant so another one that stuck in my mind was that a mother must drink milk to make milk. A healthy diet of vegetables, fruits, grains and proteins is all that a mother needs to provide the proper nutrients to produce milk. Calcium can he obtained from a variety of nondairy foods such as dark green vegetables, seeds, nuts and bony fish. No other mammal drinks milk to make milk!!
Another one that really bugged me was the idea that parents shouldn't hold their babies or they will spoil them. Babies who are held often cry fewer hours a day and exhibit more security as they mature. I never understood the rush to get a baby to be independent and I see looking back how nice it is to have that time to cuddle.
My two children had frequent ear infections. (yes breastfed babies do get sick) I was told perhaps the lying-down nursing position causes ear infections. I frequently nursed lying down to get some rest myself. Because human milk is alive and teeming with antibodies and immunoglobulins, the baby is less likely to develop ear infections overall, no matter what position is used.
I also had a doctor tell me that after "X" months my breast milk was of no value nutritionally. The myth that the quality of breast milk begins to decline after six months is ridiculous. The composition of human milk changes to meet the changing needs of baby as he matures. Even when baby is able to take solids, human milk is the primary source of nutrition during the first year. It becomes a supplement to solids during the second year. In addition, it takes between two and six years for a child's immune system to fully mature. Human milk continues to complement and boost the immune system for as long as it is offered.
Once I had these facts and others in my toolkit I felt more confident to make the choices I did for my family. Feel free to comment and tel us what myths you were told and how you handled them. You can find more "common myths" by clicking here.
Have a great day!
~ Naomi
I am lactose intolerant so another one that stuck in my mind was that a mother must drink milk to make milk. A healthy diet of vegetables, fruits, grains and proteins is all that a mother needs to provide the proper nutrients to produce milk. Calcium can he obtained from a variety of nondairy foods such as dark green vegetables, seeds, nuts and bony fish. No other mammal drinks milk to make milk!!
Another one that really bugged me was the idea that parents shouldn't hold their babies or they will spoil them. Babies who are held often cry fewer hours a day and exhibit more security as they mature. I never understood the rush to get a baby to be independent and I see looking back how nice it is to have that time to cuddle.
My two children had frequent ear infections. (yes breastfed babies do get sick) I was told perhaps the lying-down nursing position causes ear infections. I frequently nursed lying down to get some rest myself. Because human milk is alive and teeming with antibodies and immunoglobulins, the baby is less likely to develop ear infections overall, no matter what position is used.
I also had a doctor tell me that after "X" months my breast milk was of no value nutritionally. The myth that the quality of breast milk begins to decline after six months is ridiculous. The composition of human milk changes to meet the changing needs of baby as he matures. Even when baby is able to take solids, human milk is the primary source of nutrition during the first year. It becomes a supplement to solids during the second year. In addition, it takes between two and six years for a child's immune system to fully mature. Human milk continues to complement and boost the immune system for as long as it is offered.
Once I had these facts and others in my toolkit I felt more confident to make the choices I did for my family. Feel free to comment and tel us what myths you were told and how you handled them. You can find more "common myths" by clicking here.
Have a great day!
~ Naomi
Friday, February 20, 2009
Upcoming Evening Meeting February 24th @ 6:30
Come join us for information, support or just to meet other like-minded moms going through what you are too. Even if you aren't needing support now, your input is valuable to other moms.
Pregnant? It can be especially important to come now and have the information now to avoid potential issues.
La Leche League of Charleston/Daniel Island meets on the fourth Tuesday evening of every month at 6:30 p.m., at Church of the Holy Cross, 299 Seven Farms Drive, Daniel Island.
La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding. Babies and toddlers are always welcome & meetings are always FREE. Feel free to bring a friend.
Pregnant? It can be especially important to come now and have the information now to avoid potential issues.
La Leche League of Charleston/Daniel Island meets on the fourth Tuesday evening of every month at 6:30 p.m., at Church of the Holy Cross, 299 Seven Farms Drive, Daniel Island.
La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding. Babies and toddlers are always welcome & meetings are always FREE. Feel free to bring a friend.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Toddler Meeting this Friday
Don't you just LOVE nursing your little toddler?
Please join us with your little "lovies" as we meet and socialize with our babies and toddlers just before Valentine's Day. :)
Charleston TODDLER ~ 2nd Friday of each month, 10:15 am
Seacoast Church, 2049 Savannah Hwy (US17), West Ashley
In honor of Valentine's Day approaching, we'd also like to share this link with you. It is a book review for the book Loving Without Spoiling.
La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding & are especially important for pregnant moms in planning ahead.
Babies and toddlers are always welcome & meetings are always FREE. Hope to see you soon!
Please join us with your little "lovies" as we meet and socialize with our babies and toddlers just before Valentine's Day. :)
Charleston TODDLER ~ 2nd Friday of each month, 10:15 am
Seacoast Church, 2049 Savannah Hwy (US17), West Ashley
In honor of Valentine's Day approaching, we'd also like to share this link with you. It is a book review for the book Loving Without Spoiling.
La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding & are especially important for pregnant moms in planning ahead.
Babies and toddlers are always welcome & meetings are always FREE. Hope to see you soon!
Monday, February 9, 2009
2009 World Breastfeeding Week Theme
We are excited to announce the La Leche League USA 2009 World Breastfeeding Week Celebrations theme is Breastfeeding: Prepared for Life.
It was chosen to compliment the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action theme of Breastfeeding: a Vital Emergency Response. Are you ready?
This theme focuses on the importance of nursing in an emergency as well as other aspects of breastfeeding, such as immunities, IQ, fewer illnesses, etc.
World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is August 1st - 7th and celebrates the signing of the Innocenti Declaration, produced and adopted in 1990 by participants at the WHO/UNICEF meeting on "Breastfeeding in the 1990s: A Global Initiative on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding." The document lists the benefits of breastfeeding, plus global and governmental goals. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in 120 countries on various dates.
Watch for more news later this summer or send us ideas for how you might like to connect to other local breastfeeding moms to celebrate this year!
It was chosen to compliment the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action theme of Breastfeeding: a Vital Emergency Response. Are you ready?
This theme focuses on the importance of nursing in an emergency as well as other aspects of breastfeeding, such as immunities, IQ, fewer illnesses, etc.
World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is August 1st - 7th and celebrates the signing of the Innocenti Declaration, produced and adopted in 1990 by participants at the WHO/UNICEF meeting on "Breastfeeding in the 1990s: A Global Initiative on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding." The document lists the benefits of breastfeeding, plus global and governmental goals. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in 120 countries on various dates.
Watch for more news later this summer or send us ideas for how you might like to connect to other local breastfeeding moms to celebrate this year!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Welcome Lilah!
Please join us in welcoming our co-Leader Marlo's newest addition to her family!!
Her name is Lilah and she weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces; born this past Thursday evening.
Congratulations Marlo and family!
Her name is Lilah and she weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces; born this past Thursday evening.
Congratulations Marlo and family!
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