To Breastfeed in Public or Not

Most of you are aware that C Monster nurses, he is now 2 and 1/4 and still loves his breastmilk or lolo as we call it in our home.

I decided just before he turned 2 to call my milk lolo that way when a 2 1/2 year old screams at the top of his lungs "I want lolo" when you are in the middle of the grocery store you do not have to worry about what others might say.  I know I really should not worry about what others say but I do.

When C Monster was about 18 months old a stranger addressed him while he was nursing and told him he was to old to be doing that - I corrected them immediately.  When C Monster was 18 months old it did not phase him one bit I am not even sure he knew what the stranger was talking about; however now that he is older and understands a lot (more then I sometimes realize) I don't want this situation to repeat itself again.

So after that incident we slowly started encouraging other liquids on the go and kept nursing for at home, nursing rooms and at friends or places that I knew would not be judgmental.  Am I doing harm to C Monster with this I don't think so.  If he asks for lolo when we are out I usually try to figure out why he wants it - is he hungry, tired, hurt (beyond a kiss fixing it)  or just needs mama time. Typically it's because he is hungry - if it's for any other reason we find a quite spot and nurse - this is rare.

The reason why I started questioning if I am doing the right thing today is...  C Monster had an appointment to get a vaccine today as I always do I nurse him during and after the vaccination.  The nurse was surprised but ok with the fact I wanted to nurse my 2 1/4 year old during his shot. Christophe barely even flinched during the shot - just another breastmilk miracle.  After the nurse was done she said take as long as you need and started to close the door, I said no no it's ok we will finish nursing in the waiting room.  (I know they don't typically like it when you occupy the nursing station after the nurse is done - I think and hope she was just trying to be polite)

We sat down in the waiting room across from a family with a little new born (maybe 2 months at the tops) and started to nurse.  The father asked me if my son just got a shot and said wow he is so big we don't even think we heard him cry - what a brave boy.  I answered yes and explained that if you nurse your child during a shot they don't feel it as much.  The conversation when from there and the mother and father poured their hearts out to me on how they want to breastfeed but they can't seem to figure it out and so on.  We talked for a bit - I am pretty sure all her issues where due to a horrible latch and well by the time C Monster was done nursing and fast asleep in my arms; the mother decided to try to breastfeed her little one instead of giving her a bottle when she started to fuss and guess what she said it did not hurt, and we could all hear and see the baby girl gulp down her milk.

I gave her all the names of the various resources in the area for breastfeeding support and she said thank you and we parted ways.

Did the fact that I was nursing a toddler in public help this mother and baby maybe - would she have reached out to a total stranger otherwise maybe - we will never know.  However a situation like this make me think twice next time I ask C Monster to wait 5 minutes for us to get to a more convenient spot to nurse.

PS - if you are wondering what are the resources I gave her:
La Leche League Toronto Help Line - (416) 483-3368
Toronto East General Breastfeeding Clinic - (416) 469-6667
http://www.drjacknewman.com/

So I ask you are nursing a toddler? What do you think when you see someone nursing a toddler? Would you nurse a toddler in public?

The Weekend - Guelph Style

Saturday

With the Grain

Grandmama treated us to breakfast at With the Grain. I have to say I have mixed opinions about this little cafe both good and bad. On one side of the street is their bakery were you will find some of the best breads and pastries I have ever had that were not home made. The Bee Sting was to die for. The service was fast and friendly nothing to complain about.

Where we had a negative experience was at the cafe; we got there and their was a wait of about 15-20 minutes. This would have been less annoying if their was not some tables for 2 free and some tables for 4 with only 2 people at them - we were waiting for a table for 4. (eventually some of the patrons moved to a table of 2 and we got a table - I just wish the waitress would have asked them to if they were willing to move) While we waited Geoff tried to go order a coffee at the "to go" side of the cafe to drink while he was waiting and they said it was too complicated to keep the orders straight if he ordered his coffee from the "to go" side and then sat down in the cafe.

Once we actually got seated the service was great and so was the food. - just a few annoyances before we got or table.

Nancy & I Monster

When we go to Guelph there are always friends we try to see; it's great to see old friends and also for C Monster to get a chance to play with other toddlers.

One of the moms from my "Mommy Group" has recently moved to Guelph and C Monster had not seen his little friend since before Christmas. As I guessed correctly C Monster did not seem to remember Nancy or I Monster but that did not stop him from having a good time.

Sunday

Sick C Monster & Me

Well it's official we are sick both of us; Geoff is the only one that has eluded this nasty cold. C Monster has a fever and his nose is dripping like a faucet. This means the Visit with Kim and her family that I was oh so looking forward to is canceled. Geoff is still going to sneak out to say hi but we are grounded at grandmama's.

I want to talk about what I take when I am sick. Since I still breastfeeding the C Monster I am super careful as to what I put in my body. Many drugs are "compatible" with breastfeeding however some of the drug still passes threw to your child in your breast milk; this being said it is my belief that due to this you should try to avoid drugs all together unless necessary. Also always talk to you doctor before taking any drugs while breastfeeding - even over the counter drugs.

So what do I do to make myself more comfortable? Here is a list of the products I like and find effective. Remember I am not qualified to give medical advice, I am just a mom and this is what I find works - if you are sick for a prolonged period of time always talk to your doctor.

Thayers Slipery Elm Lozenges
These are great alternative to traditional lozenges; they help sooth an irritated throat from too much coughing.

Wedderspoon Organic Manuka Honey Lozenges with Ginger and Echinacea Active 15+
Double hitter has the healing power of Menuka Honey combined in a lozenges, these are great to suck on when your throat feels dry.

Wedderspoon 100% Raw organic Manuka Honey Active 16+
"Manuka honey is from bees who feed on the flowers of the Manuka bush, also known as the "Tea Tree" to produce a honey that has anti-bacterial properties. Tea tree oil is commonly from the related Melaleuca tree native to Australia and is used as a topical antibiotic and antifungal for wounds that fail to close." - Wikipedia

Herbal Teas I drink lots of herbal teas, the warmth is very soothing to the throat. If you are a breastfeeding mama make sure to vary the teas you drink to much of one tea could end up with a concentration of that herb or plant in your system and some herbs in large quantities are contradictory to breastfeeding. Such as: Sage; Peppermint; Ginseng; Rhubarb to name only a few.

Their is a great article about this on Kellymom.com.

Febriplex by Unda
This basically helps your body cope with a fever, we take one immediately upon onset of a fever.

Drosera Plex by Unda
This basically helps your cough be more productive.

Looking Forward

To finishing assembling C Monster Frog & for my cough to go away.

World Breastfeeding Week August 1 to 7 - 2009

Happy Breastfeeding Week to all my nursing mama and baby friends out there.

In honor of world breastfeeding week here is a compilation of on-line links with breastfeeding information:

• World Breastfeeding Week
• Breastfeeding Committee for Canada
• Australian Breastfeeding Association
• Baby Friendly USA
• Baby Milk Action Coalition
• Human Milk Banking Association of North America
• The international Baby Food Action Network
• International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners
• International Lactation Consultant Association
• INFACT Canada
• La Leche League Canada
• La Leche League GB
• Global Breastfeeding Challenge 2009
• Well Start International
• World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action
• World Health Organization
• Motherisk
• La Leche League International
• AnotherLook Breastfeeding and HIV/AIDS
• National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy
• Dr. Jack Newman

Remember the WHO recomandes that all babies if possible are exclusively breastfed until they are 6 months of age; breastfeeding is to continue until the child reaches 2 years of age or outgrows the need.

IF YOU ARE CANADIAN PLEASE SIGN

Explanation by Facebook

Today I received this following email from Facebook explaining why my account had been canceled:

Hi Pierrette,

A photo that you uploaded was removed for violating Facebook's Terms of Use. Photos containing drug use, nudity, or other graphic or sexually suggestive content are not allowed, nor are photos that depict violence or that attack an individual or group. Unfortunately, for technical reasons, we are unable to provide further information about the removed photo.

In order to prevent this from happening in the future, please refrain from posting photos of this kind and remove any that still exist on the site. For more information on conduct prohibited by Facebook, please read our Terms of Use, which can be accessed by clicking on the "terms" link at the bottom of any Facebook page.

Thanks for your understanding,

Roy
User Operations
Facebook

So it does seem that the photo I me nursing my son was the reason why my account got canceled.

Since Facebook has given me my account back I have added a few additional nursing images lets see what happens.

Facebook 1 - me 1 (not really)

Today at 2:09pm Facebook reactivated my account; no reason was given, no sorry was said. I emailed back Roy from User Operations at Facebook and wrote the following:

Hello Roy,

Thank you for reactivating my account.

Could you please inform me as to why it was cancelled in the first place with no notice?

Thank you.

I checked to see if the image of my son nursing was still up and it has indeed been removed.

All I have to say is Facebook sucks.

Photo Page 6

TERA has this beautiful page full of nursing mothers called Photo Page 6; the only sad part is the write ups that accompany these images. They are all about images being removed from Facebook or even worst accounts being closed.

If you have been victim to having a breastfeeding image pulled from Facebook, contact them as I did, your voice can be heard.

Something so natural should not be censored.

Breastfeeding Rally at Queen’s Park, Toronto

Breastfeeding Rally at Queen’s Park, Toronto

Wednesday, December 3rd

Dr. Jack Newman, the Toronto doctor known around the world as a leader in breastfeeding education and support, needs your help. The Newman Breastfeeding Clinic and Institute sees more than 2500 mothers and babies each year, but is on the verge of closing its doors unless it receives more funding. The NBCI is requesting donations, but until the government recognizes the importance of institutional breastfeeding support, the clinic will always be in danger.

Supporters of the NBCI are asked to come to Queen’s Park on Wednesday, December 3^rd at 10 am for a quiet nurse-in. Demonstrators will be advocating for the provincial government to recognize the importance of breastfeeding and to commit to funding breastfeeding clinics like Dr. Newman’s. The rally is supported by the New Democratic Party, and NDP health critic France Gélinas will be holding a press conference at 10 am. At 10.30 am, question period will take place in parliament, and Gélinas will use the opportunity to call for a provincial breastfeeding strategy and encourage the government to support hospitals going baby friendly.

The objective is to hold a nurse-in in the viewing gallery of Queen’s Park during question period. IMPORTANT: formal protests are not allowed within the building, so it is asked that no one bring signs, placards or banners. The hope is to fill the viewing gallery which will require a huge turn out, so please spread the word. This is an opportunity to change the status of breastfeeding policy in Ontario for years to come.

If you wish to attend please RSVP to Helen or Dani by December 1^st. Spaces in the viewing gallery are limited and the NDP are asking anyone wishing to participate to add their names to the list of guests as they will have to go to the security desk to give their names in order to get in.

What: Breastfeeding Rally and Nurse-in

Where: Queen’s Park, Toronto

When: 10 am, Wed. December 3rd

RSVP to:

dani@naturalmothering.ca
or
helen@naturalmothering.ca

Nurse-in Nov. 7 in Newmarket

Below is an email I received from INFACT:

Breastfeeding Rights Rally in Newmarket, ON
Mother was asked to breastfeed in the change room
Violation of Human Rights

Friday Nov 7th, The Aquacentre Pool at 2:30-3:30pm
1215 Stellar Dr., Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 7B8
Phone: 905 895 2782, Fax: 905 853 4229,
email: info@aquacentrenewmarket.com and ellie@trinityrehab.com

I was breastfeeding my daughter on the steps of the swimming pool when Ms. Ellie Karkouti, the owner of the facility, came to speak with me. Ms. Karkouti said they had one complain and that I could not breastfeed my daughter in the swimming pool. She said if I wanted to breastfeed I would have use the changeroom. I tried to say that based on the law I had the right to breastfeed in public places but Ms. Karkouti said that she was the owner and I could only breastfeed in the changeroom. After that I stopped breastfeeding. Ms. Ellie Karkouti left. I stayed in the swimming pool.

It was the first time I have suffered discrimination in my life! I wanted to cry so bad. I tried to pretend this has never happened. My daughter kept asking to nurse and I denied her while we were in the pool. My heart was broken. I did not know what to do. I was completely sad, lost and numb.

Only after a few hours, I believe I started to think clearly again.

I informed the group of families registered for this swim time at The Aquacentre about the terrible episode. The leader of this activity, Carol-Anne Brockington, sent an email to The Aquacentre asking for an apology. Their feedback was "At no point did we discriminate against the act of breastfeeding." They did not offer any apology.

After several emails of support from mothers ready to fight for the right to breastfeed, we have decided to organize a Breastfeeding Rights Rally, a peaceful nurse-in for Friday, November 7^th in The Aquacentre at 2:30pm.

Please inform as many people as you can about this discrimination episode and the nurse-in. Feel free to use this email. Also, everybody is welcome to the peaceful nurse-in, you do not have to breastfeed to participate! All support is welcome! If you are unable to attend the nurse-in personally please feel free to email, phone or fax the facility to voice your concerns over this incident and show your support of breastfeeding rights – anywhere, anytime!

Unfortunately, the Aquacentre in Newmarket is a private facility that charges to use the pool. For this reason, to be able to participate in the Breastfeeding Rights Rally it is required that you pay the fee of $5.25 per swimmer. I wish it was not necessary to pay but the law requests it. We also welcome supporters that would like to be outside with signs. Please bring your own sign! Supporters that will be outside do not need to pay any fee.

If you are interested then please email Carol-Anne Brockington off list ASAP at thebirthden@yahoo.ca. If you do not get a reply within 24 hours then please send another. Please do not contact the facility.

Thank you!

Cinira Longuinho

Breast-feeding Chalange

Are you a nursing mom? Do you want to participate in a nurse-in to help bring awareness to breast-feeding? The Quintessence Foundation is chalenging you to attend the Breast-feeding challenge on October 11, 2008. Christophe and I would be participating but we will be away on our first family vacation that weekend celebrating Geoff and I's second year wedding anniversary. If anyone out there attends a chalange I would love to hear what you tough about it.

H&M breastfeeding coverup sparks human rights protest

I know I decided to participate in Wordless Wednesdays, but when there is news I must report.

As reported on the CBC: "Manuela Valle decided to nurse her two-month-old daughter while her husband tried on clothes at the H&M store in downtown Vancouver, she said on Tuesday.

When she attempted to start feeding her daughter, two sales clerks and a manager told her she had to go into one of the dressing rooms that they had assigned for breastfeeding, Valle told CBC News. "

There will be a nurse-in at the Vancouver HMV for more information check out there facebook group.

To read the full article go to CBC website.

Would you nurse a friend's child?

I found this great article on Parenting.com regarding cross-nursing. Would you let someone else nurse your child or would you nurse someone else's child.

I though about this long and hard...

If for some reason I was not able to nurse Christophe or express milk for him; ( I am pretty sure the only reason why this would happen is if I was dead or in critical condition in a hospital ) I would prefer, if possible, for him to receive breast-milk from another mother that had a similar life style then I did over formula. So yes if the scenario was there I would let someone else nurse my baby. I believe breast-milk it far superior to formula and weather it comes from me or someone else breast is best. However that said if I was just running late for 30 mins or was out running an errand and someone decided to nurse him without asking me first I would be furious. It's a trust issue, I would want to make sure the mom that is nursing him follows the same strict policies as I do as to what they ingest in their bodies. Also if you were baby-sitting someone's child and the mother left you with strict instructions as to what to gave them for lunch would you change the child's lunch or offer him something different; I would not it's all about respect.

Now for the flip side would I nurse someone else's baby; yes. As long as the mom gave me her consent and it did not effect Christophe supply I definitely would. I am sure if she had the courage to ask it means she really needed the help.

So would you cross nurse?

To read the full article go to Parenting.com

Image by Geoffrey Wiseman.

World Breast Feeding Week

This week is world breastfeeding week. I would like to give a great shout out to all mothers that have chosen the breast; and remember if you are having a hard time you are not alone we have all struggled with one challenge or another during our nursing carrier just ask one of your friends or another nursing mother and you will be surprised as too the amount of support they are willing to give you.

Books for mamas

I picked up the book "Fresh Milk" by Fiona Giles at Red Tent Sisters here in Toronto. I have to say anyone with an open mind that has ever nursed should definitely read this book. It is a combination of short stories and real life accountings of men and women from around the world and there breast-feeding experiences. It opens up many topics for discussion and makes you ask yourself tones of questions. The author sent out a questionnaire to a bunch of people in order to receive material for the book. Some of the questions she asks in the book and my answers are:

What single change in the world would have made breastfeeding easier for you?
For a visual aid to come to your hospital room and
demonstrate how it's done as soon as your baby is born.

If you could buy breastmilk by the liter from the corner store, how much would it cost?
If it was for babies that would otherwise be getting formula free. For anyone else; 1 000 000 for colostrum; 500$ a liter for a mother that has nursed less then 6 months and 100$ a liter if the milk comes from a mother that has been nursing more then 6 months.

If you could cook with breastmilk what would you make?
Ice Cream.

Within any given chapter in this book I cried, laughed and was slightly wired out.

It's an amazing book that all nursing mothers should read.

La Leche Legue - Moncton

As many of you know, I attend the La Leche Legue Meetings in Toronto; we try to go twice a month. It's a spot were I can connect with other moms with similar values as us. I noticed that while I was going to be in Moncton there meeting was going to be held; so we decided to join them.

The topic of discussion was breastfeeding challenges; before the meeting the leaders asked us individually if we were currently facing challenges or had challenges that we beat in the past. Anyone who has been reading our blog from the start knows that I was having major challenges with the amount of milk I was producing.

I ended up sharing my story and one of the moms came up and thanked me because she was happy to see that someone with the same challenge that she was not able to overcome in her previous pregnancy was overcome by someone else. This gave her more hope and determination for her current pregnancy and breastfeeding.

I also bumped in one of sister's friends at the meeting - one more person our little guy met.

I really enjoyed the meeting maybe even more then the ones I go to in Toronto. This may have been because, unlike us in Toronto, mothers in Moncton who want to breastfeed pretty much only have each other. Hospitals still give formula and pacifiers routinly; there are no publicly funded lactation consultants and midwives are not paid for by the goverment. To me, the air in this meeting must have been very similar to the meetings held 40 - 50 years ago when women had almost no outside help with breastfeeding.

We will definitely be back to join them next we are in Moncton.

If you are in the Moncton Area and what to learn about breastfeeding or need help all women with children are welcome to La Leche Legue meetings. The Moncton meetings are held on the last Monday of the month at the Moncton Hospital.

Mommy mile stones

So during the past 11 weeks not only has Christophe passed tones of mile stones so have I.

• Not caring what other people think of my parenting style
  
• 1st day at home solo with baby
• fitting in my pre-pregnancy clothing
  
• 1st weekend away from dad solo with baby (well we went to visit grandmama so I had help if needed)
  
• Breast-feeding in public without a nursing cover (and not caring what other people may think)
• Left Christophe alone with grandmama while i went for quick shopping trip down the block (I have to say I never felt so guilty)
• First mommy and baby class (We now do yoga once a week)
  
• Leaving the house with baby in arms in less then 15 minutes (the trick to this is to always make sure your diaper bag is ready)
• Letting Christophe sleep a full night in his room alone (this was a mile stone for Christophe also)
• As much as I want to jump in; not intervening when Geoff is taking care of Christophe and he starts crying. He is just as great a dad as I am a mom and can handle it :-)
  

101 Reasons to Breast-Feed

I am extremely proud of myself for being abel to Breast-feed and here are 101 reasons why I should be:

101 Reasons to Breast-Feed your baby.

Thank you to New Mommy Rant for sharing this site with us.

Breastfeeding billboard

This blog entry regarding breastfeeding billboards really ticked me off today... Parentdish

Memere and pepere

We had a few busy weeks, my mom and dad arrived early in the month for a visit and stayed till last Wednesday. It was great having them around to help out.

My dad did al sorts of stuff around the house including finishing the Nursery (thank you so much); I will post about the nursery separately. My mom help with cooking and cleaning. Both of them also spent tones of time with Christophe.

One of the more eventful days was when we ventured out to the Eaton Center to visit with Suzan and Ed (my aunt and uncle). We ate out at a sit down restaurant, I breast-fed in the mall, we did some shopping at the Disney Store, Indigo, the Bay and Sears; I was so tired when we got home.

My dad bought Christophe the greatest toy - Fuzzi Lovebug.

Most of the days where not as action packed they involved walks in the afternoon and naps in the morning.

Well we miss you mom and dad; looking forward to the next visit.

Breast-feeding Help

I have been meaning to blog about this topic for a few days now.

As some of you may know I had a though tim with breast-feeding during the first month, all is well now and we hope to keep that way. I know my problems were very minor compared to some other moms out there; however one thing I have learned and will share with any mom to be is you can not ever be over prepared for breast-feeding.

For me I was a bit nervous about the delivery and overwhelmed with the idea that Christophe's nursery was not completed so I had completly forgoten about breast-feeding and in reality I when to a breast-feeding workshop and said this looks easy it's going to be a piece of cake. Was I ever wrong.

Looking back at the last month or so I wish I would have done the following thing differently and I urge any new mom to consider taking this advice.

1. Read a good book on breast-feeding. Not a chapter in a book a completed book dedicated to breast-feeding; such as The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: Seventh Revised Edition (La Leche League International Book) or Dr. Jack Newman's Visual Guide to Breastfeeding.
2. Consulting a lactation consultant as soon as baby is born. Most hospital will send a lactation consultant to your room if you request this. I had no clue about this.
3. Watch Dr. Jack Newman's DVD.
4. Watch Dr. Jack Newman's DVD. I can not stress this enough; I wish I would have watched this DVD before baby was born it is amazing.

And here is a list of the items I did to help increase my milk flow:
1. Pump, Pump, Pump. Not using one of those dinky little things you can buy at Babies'r'us but with a hospital grad pump that you rent. If you can afford the pump it's not a hospital grade pump. These are usually over 3000$ to buy that is why people rent them.
2. If there is a lactation clinic close to your home go over and over again. Make sure you have a concise list of questions to ask them so you do not feel overwhelmed.
3. Take fenugreek and blessed thistle.
4. Read and watch everything you can get your hands on about breast-feeding.
5. Last but I think this may be one of the most important ones - talk to someone that has been through a rough patch also there encouragement will make you feel loads better. (thank you; you know who you are)