Local Breastfeeding Mishap - Pearls From Sand

We've all heard the stories in our own areas:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgmbJso-2-o

"I was nursing my baby when our server came up and asked me to cover up. When I told her I was fine, but thanks for the concern, she picked up my napkin and tried to drape it over my babies face"...

"I was nursing in Target on one of the benches near the dressing rooms. The sales associate asked me to go into the dressing room to nurse. I told her I was fine where I was and my 2 and 4 year old's wouldn't do well in such a small space. She kept insisting and then even left to get a manager to try to get me to move. You could tell she was uncomfortable with my nursing my 2 month old"...

"I was breastfeeding my 4 week old when a nearby patron glared at me, wrinkled their nose in disgust, and told me I should have more class than that. She went on the complain to her friend that I was being slutty and wanted attention. I tried to ignore them but it hurt. Then, to add insult to injury, the manager came up and asked me to please, 'at least' cover up for the comfort of everyone else in the restaurant."

But here's a story of another sort... this morning I saw a story circulating in my feed of a local Houston woman who says she was asked to leave when nursing her baby at a local restaurant. So she moved her nursing into the bathroom.. but the server supposedly followed her in and asked her to leave. So she left to her car. Supposedly. But we don't have necessary information, and rumors abound...

Rumors are swirling that it didn't happen at all.. or that she was trying to nurse in the 21+ club area... or that she was unhappy with her meal... regardless though....

Why do I say supposedly?

• Because the original person it involves is MIA. No one knows who it is.
• The screen shot circulating is "my friend" or "an acquaintance of mine" and then the story"... no actual story from the horse's mouth
• Other breastfeeding mamas have come forward and said they have never had a problem nursing there
• The owners themselves, the woman used to be a breast milk donator for the Texas Children's Hospital Milk Bank
• Employees and security footage supposedly tells another story, and the owners are willing to share it and set the record straight... 

But the biggest reason I don't necessarily believe this really was a situation that even happened? Or at least not the way it was portrayed on social media?

The owners of El Patio ("club no minors") have set up an event to set the record straight, reestablish how family friendly they are, promote breastfeeding education and awareness, show how breastfeeding friendly they are, and give back to their community all in one fell swoop.

From the event's details:

Join us along with pro-breastfeeding community in Houston to help bring awarenes to the importance of breastfeeding and its importance in early childhood.
Breastfeeding is an important start to a child's life. There is a lot of misinformation around breastfeeding and its importance, as well as the support for Mom's to meet their goals. It's hard work!

Many moms don't breastfeed because of their fear or embarrassment of nursing in public, even though they have a legal right to do so. Mothers are frequently shamed when they breastfeed in public.

When word of an incident gets shared, fellow moms and caregivers band together to stand up for them. Mothers are a fierce group! Rarely, stories get twisted and confused, and aren't accurate.

El Patio, recently experienced one of these incidents where our 50 year reputation as a family restaurant was challenged. We are taking the opportunity to give back and help create awareness to this issue. 

Join us for a "Feed In" from 11-3pm on Sunday, December 13th. El Patio will donate 20% of all sales during this time to Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin to support their Houston outreach and efforts.

Please bring your families and friends to help support all mothers in Houston!

To read more information or to attend the event, see here.

I'll update this post as I hear more information, but in the meantime, I have to say, I love this businesses response! They could have simply refuted it and showed their evidence. They could have just made a public apology. They could have just made a public statement... but they are giving back to their community, taking this opportunity to educate their community, and give to a very worthy organization.

So bravo El Patio! I hope to see you on Sunday!

UPDATE:

So I've gotten some disgruntle-mail, people calling me a victim-blamer and a non-supporter of breastfeeding. This is the furthest from the truth... I have been to many nurse-ins, help women breastfeed and extended breastfeed, etc... the problem is that this isn't the norm.. I've never seen a woman not willing to stand by her word that she was attacked for breastfeeding and shamed. I've never seen a case where everyone else is so fired up from a second-hand account. This is classic 'telephone' (you know, the game we played when we were kids).

I believe that one of these is the case:

• there is no woman, someone just wanted to start something
• there IS a woman, but she hasn't come forward because she made it up or the issue wasn't breastfeeding and she was just finding something to complain about (i.e. trying to take a baby into the 21+ section and upset she couldnt)
• there IS a woman, but since making that first accusation, she found out she was wrong and it was a misunderstanding
• there IS a woman and she hasn't come forward yet because she's getting her legal ducks in a row

All that said, even if there IS a woman and this DID really happen, since when is someone guilty until proven innocent? Until I hear it 'from the horses mouth' it's just a second hand story and you cannot refute that.

UPDATE #2: 

So, the restaurant has surveillance footage and testimony from the waitstaff that night. There WAS a woman who had an infant who tried to access the 21+ area, but there wasn't an 'issue'... that same woman was also harassed by someone who was not employed by the restaurant (a patron) for nursing. That person did follow her in the restroom and did come across authoritative. The woman has recanted her story, saying that she thought the patron was a member of the waitstaff. She never intended for the information to get on social media and the friend who's screenshots were shared all over social media never wanted or intended for her information to be shared outside of their private parenting group..

I feel badly for the mom that a PATRON had such an air of authority that she felt shamed from doing something that SHE HAD the authority to do. I feel badly that she UNINTENTIONALLY set off a firestorm. I'm sad that the business was hurt by this story and that there was such a wildfire siege on their business from angry (mislead but understandable) breastfeeding mamas. I am SO HAPPY that they are all choosing to do right - the mother has rescinded her story, the friend has made an apology in the private group, and the business has decided to make the best of and do the most that they can for this incidence. Beauty from ashes, pearls from sand.. I am in love with humanity right now; now if only the people who have made yelp and FB reviews would rescind them.... 

Two Way Street

If you read my blog much, I'm sure you have seen at least some of these stories circulating:

• Who's the Boss
• Doula's And Don'ts
• 5 Lies My LC Told Me

And so many more that I just don't have the heart to link... what two things do these tell me?

One, I cannot stress enough - it is so important to choose the right provider and birth/postpartum team. Interview, fire, hire, question, become your own advocate and conscientious consumer. It is your responsibility to choose the best option for your needs and desires.

And two, our system is broken - birth workers need to remember whom we work for. Mamas can only make the best choice with the options they have available to them - it is our responsibility to provide ethical services within our scope of practice.

'Nuff said.

End rant.

When Breastfeeding Sucks

A client asked if she could share her breastfeeding journey. Here it is in all of it's raw beauty! She and I enjoyed writing this together while sipping lattes and watching her little one nurse. If you need suggestions on postpartum doulas or lactation consultants in the Houston area, just send me an email.

Breastfeeding is beautiful, it's natural, and, if you are lucky, a sweet and gentle bonding experience for you and your baby. I meditated on those images during my pregnancy: a serene mother holding her baby close to her breast in a rocking chair, the afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows.  

She cradles her baby while humming a little tune under her breath and her baby gazes at her sweetly while liquid life force dribbles from the corners of her mouth. The woman's breasts are full and beautiful and perfectly perfect. This was my image of breastfeeding - this was my future - or so I thought.  

Breastfeeding is normal and natural, but sometimes it sucks!  

Instead of the milk goddess with suckling in arm, I was a baggy eyed, sobbing, snotty mess as my poor husband tried, once again, to put our baby to my breast. It wasn't afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows, it was 3am, again, when I had been nursing every 1.5 hours for 50 minutes each session, round the clock.  

I reeked like body odor and day old  baby spit up and my baby was red faced and angry as she beat at my chest with tightly squeezed fists. She reared her head back in defiance as I tried to coo to her through my shaky sobs, my hair shooting out in every direction from my bedraggled head. My nipples were red and ugly, chapped and bleeding in some places, and my breasts were hot and hard to touch. My husband looked from me to the baby to me again with a bewildered and slightly panicky expression. He finally took her to the kitchen and gave her a bottle.  

Sometimes breastfeeding sucks.  

And when my doula called the next morning to say she was in my neighborhood, I didn't even wait for her to invite herself over 'just to say hi'.. I cut her off mid-sentence, blurting "ohmygod can you please come over? I'm losing my f*ing mind (keening/wailing/crying at this point)."

She said, in the way only she can, "oh mama! I'm going to grab some lunch for myself, I'll bring you some too, and I'll be there in 20 minutes." I felt like my mama just offered to make me my favorite casserole from scratch, clean my whole house, and send me to the spa... I was so relieved I just nodded, said something incoherent, and hung up.  

I stood by the window overlooking the driveway the entire time. When she pulled up, I just fell into her arms, hugged her fiercely, and pushed my baby into her arms. I thought that she must think I'm a horrible mama, but she just hugged me again, said "the first few weeks can be hard, can't they" and, with my baby tucked under one arm, served me the most delicious fast food I had ever eaten.  

She then ordered me to the shower. When I emerged, the house had been picked up (a little), I could hear the laundry machine running, and my kitchen was clean. She was cooing over my baby, so I sank down next to her on the couch.  

She asked me to try to nurse, my baby was making rooting noises.  

I immediately felt panic well up inside of me and I shifted my eyes around the room, refusing to look into her compassionate gaze. I stuttered that my breasts were hot, and painful, and full. I mumbled that my nipples were cracked and bleeding. And I trailed off that we were just going to do bottles from now on...  

"I failed" I sighed, defeated. "Breastfeeding sucks." 

She smiled, placing her pinky into bubs mouth. "Yes, it can. It can be middle-of-the-night-bottom-of-the-pit horrible. It can also be that", she gestured to the picture I had been meditating on during my pregnancy. It was tucked into the breastfeeding guide that was sitting on our coffee table.

I took a moment, considered the options I had... and then slowly unbuttoned my nursing tank and exposed my breast. My doulas compassionate "tsk" told me that my nipple, did indeed, look like hamburger. She asked to see the other side. My other nipple was better. She placed my baby in my arms, facing the hamburger nipple, and proceeded to, in a matter of seconds, get my nursing demon newborn onto my breast. It stung, but it didn't pinch. It zinged but it didn't make me want to tear my breast off and throw it across the room.  

I hadn't even realized I had clenched my eyes shut and sucked in my breath, anticipating the pain that accompanied our breastfeeding relationship until they shot open in surprise. I looked down to see my baby's mouth much more open than before. She was calm and happy. Her hands quickly relaxed from little fists to open and resting, and she began to actually gaze around.  

My doula then showed me how to apply compresses to my breast while nursing, and how to massage them during feedings. She texted me some tips, the number of a few lactation consultants, and left me with a hug, full belly, clean self, and light streaming in from the windows and falling on my newborn, who had milk dribbling from the corner of her mouth.  

It took me another feeding before I was in the rocker, and another week before I was humming serenely while she nursed. But it was a turning point. I was ready to jump ship and never look back. But now we are going on 18 months of nursing! And even if I had jumped ship, I know now that I wouldn't have failed, I did the best with what I knew.  

Instead of jumping ship, I called that LC (my doula also copied the text to my husband), had a postpartum doula come over every day for a week, and threw out the formula.  

Breastfeeding can suck, but it does get better. So, when you are in the midst of your own night from hell, and your nipples are torture devices, your husband is a stranger, your baby is a vampire, and your sleep-deprived mind is conjuring up hallucinations, hold on to that for all it's worth, and get the help you all deserve!  

Below are the hurdles that we were able to overcome successfully (*) and other breastfeeding hurdles you might encounter that an LC/doula can help with:

• Tongue Tie (posterior or anterior)*

• Lip Tie

• Marathon Nursing/Sleep Deprivation (nursing for extended periods of time, or very frequently, or both)

• Deep/Shallow Latch*

• Forceful Letdown (milk spigots open like Niagara falls)*

• Diet Sensitivities (allergies or otherwise)*

• Playing Favorites (baby only 'liking' one breast or nipple)*

• Mastitis (infection of the tatas)*

• Clogged Ducts (not Donald - Milk... And those mother's hurt)*

• Pumping Issues (not being able to do it well, not being able to do it at all, not being able to do it without it hurting.. yadayadayada)

• Yeast (yup, yeast infections can happen 'there' too)

• cracked/chapped/bleeding nipples (it's as horrible as it sounds)*

• New Mom Syndrome ("I don't know if this is normal, am I making enough milk, can I raise this little human and not destroy it?")*

Thanks, Chelsea, for sharing!

What Does Christmas and Breastfeeding Have in Common

I love the Pope. And now I love him more. During a recent interview that you have probably read about:

"At the Wednesday General Audience the other day there was a young mother behind one of the barriers with a baby that was just a few month s old. The child was crying its eyes out as I came past. The mother was caressing it. I said to her: madam, I think the child’s hungry. “Yes, it’s probably time…” she replied. “Please give it something to eat!” I said. She was shy and didn’t want to breastfeed in public, while the Pope was passing. I wish to say the same to humanity: give people something to eat! That woman had milk to give to her child..."

Why am I bringing this up now? As we prepare for Christmas, I would like you to consider who you may see at Christmas service, Christmas Mass, or what other services your faith celebrates. Specifically, I am talking to my Christian readers - as 'we' seem to be the ones with the  bigger hang ups regarding sexuality, the body, and the breast. 

And why (and where) did we get our misconstrued views of the breast? I tell, you, it's not Biblical! 

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?” – Isaiah 49:15 

“…because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb.” [Genesis 49:25, NIV]

“Be joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who love her; Be exceedingly glad with her, all you who mourn over her, That you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts, That you may suck and be delighted with her bountiful bosom. For thus says the LORD, “Behold, I extend peace to her like a river, And the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; And you will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip and fondled on the knees.” – Isaiah 66:10-12

And for those who argue that it's fine to nurse, just not in public, I would challenge you to consider that artwork throughout the ages has shown Christian artists and depictions in churches across the world modeling Mary and churchgoing women nursing their babies in public. 

Even the most conservative religions, and factions of Christianity, nurse in public without issue. So.. 

As a Christian woman, and a prior breastfeeding mama, I encourage women, this Christmas, nurse your little ones. Nurse them in public, nurse them to remind those around you of the reason for the season: LOVE. Love to one another, love for mankind, love of a Father who sent His Son to the world. 

Pastors, clerics, priests... encourage your congregants to accept breastfeeding in service. Help Western culture to remember the Father's love for mankind by normalizing something that God saw fit, and nonsexual, to share between His people, and mother's and their children.

And Merry Christmas!

Breastfeeding Campaigns

I was so excited when this commercial came out. It shows NIP without a cover, something which America needs to get more used to.


And let's not forget this great series that TheBump made:


Now if we could only get more like them... like this one:


Or this one:


And this:


Or public nursing:


And speaking of nursing in public, this one would remind the public of how absurd it is to nurse in the bathroom: 


And this one, showing a young mama nursing her baby:


 And finally, my favorite:

Human Milk Sharing

Perhaps you are an adoptive mama for a baby who had been born into special circumstances. And, because of that, perhaps you believe that, more than usual, your baby could benefit from mama milk.

Perhaps you are one of the select few you truly cannot nurse your baby and really want all of the benefits of breastmilk for your child.

Perhaps you cannot afford milk-bank milk...

Perhaps you are a lactating mother who has a surplus of milk and are passionate about your 'liquid gold'...

For whatever reason, many women are beginning to seek out milk share programs, a place where lactating women and women who are seeking human milk for their baby can meet and exchange information. This is not a place to make money, and the human milk is raw (unpasteurized). Most milk share programs have a screening process for the lactating women, and many will screen the recipient families as well.

Regardless, this awakening is beautiful to me. Because it is not pasteurized, the human milk retains all of its miraculous properties. Because the donations are not anonymous, a village truly does get to raise a child! Women create long-term bonds and exchange wisdom, and babies benefit from the nurturing and nourishing of more than one mother. It is lovely to behold!

If you are in Texas and are interested in either donating milk or seeking out a milk donation, check out:

Milk Share
Eats on Feets

BABEs in Houston pt 2

Do you remember my review and introduction to the BABEs?

Jessie was one of the mamas I worked with prenatally. She and her husband took childbirth classes with me and then asked me to stop over when labor got active. They are a delightful couple who have an adorable son. After birth, though, she encountered some breastfeeding hurdles that she wanted help with. She asked Leah and Misti to come over and help her and this is what she has to say - "One of the most important things for any nursing mother is to have a great support team. Breastfeeding can be difficult at times and lots of new moms may find themselves giving up if they feel like they're alone when an issue arises. It's great to know that the ladies of Bay Area Breastfeeding and Education(BABE) are around.

I recently encountered problems with my newborn not being able to nurse properly. He was latching and unlatching multiple times during our 3 hour nursing sessions. Yes, 3 hours! Needless to say, I was starting to reach my wits end.

To make matters worse, I unexpectedly had to return to work full time. I decided to call BABE. They met with me in the comfort of my own home and started to assess the situation. It wasn't an easy fix, but their dedication to figuring out the problem was incredible.

They encouraged me through texts and phone calls while they searched for answers. I really liked how they gave me lots of information and supported me in making my own decisions to come up with a routine that worked for me.

They helped educate me on maintaining my milk supply while being away from my baby and gave me info on suck training exercises to improve the efficiency our nursing sessions while we're together.

I can't thank them enough for their support and dedication."

BABEs in Houston

I believe mommas are strong.  I believe babies are smart.   I believe birth is a dance.   I believe breastfeeding is natural.  And I am so excited to be a part.  Let the adventure begin!

- Misti Ryan, BSN, RN, CCE, IBCLC, RLC

Bay Area Breastfeeding is a newer lactation support and education business that is located South of Houston but serves all of Houston area on through to the Gulf!

It is ran by Leah and Misti, two wonderful women who recently helped a client of mine get through a very challenging early breastfeeding situation. I am so thankful for the network of birth and breastfeeding professionals that I can refer to, and wanted to let you, my readers and clients, get to know them!

Who are you, family/kids, personally?

Leah: My name is Leah and I am married to an amazing man, Ben, for almost 14 years! We have 4 boys ages, 11, 8, 6, and 2. We live in Pearland and love to spend our free time together as a family. We love to be in the outdoors and exploring Houston and the surrounding areas. 

My children continuously encourage me to grow and learn in my mothering journey. I feel I have gained more knowledge from them than from any book.

Misti: As I grew older and fully realized the value of family, my primary goals in life became serving God, getting married and having babies!  I am a busy wife and stay-at-home mom of five bright, beautiful “babies” and an active member of a local faith community.  My faith is the primary driving force behind all aspects of my life. Having babies rocked my perfectionistic world as I struggled to find the balance between mothering and my natural bent toward the desire to “be in control.”  However, with the birth of each baby, I found myself becoming more instinctual in my mothering and less tied to the societal norms of parenting.

Who are you professionally, certifications, side business, additional education?

Leah: I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, a La Leche League Leader, Biologist and owner/partner of Bay Area Breastfeeding and Education.

I love to research, I am always reading and researching topics of interest to me.  Nutrition, lactation and infant oral motor issues are top on my list. I also have a passion to grow in my parenting so I am often reading and researching normal child development and parenting topics.

Misti: Before I became a wife and mother, I became a nurse. Growing up I always had the desire to take care of others. I spend four years at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and graduated in 1998 with my bachelor’s in nursing. After sitting for the board exam in June, I started my first job in obstetrical nursing at a very small community hospital in July. I was pretty sure before but the job clinched it…I was destined to work with moms and babies.

I became certified as a childbirth educator in 1999 and have had the pleasure of helping empower 100s of couples for their labor, delivery, breastfeeding and parenting journeys, both in the private and group setting. Through the years I have stayed up to date in all things mother/baby through various continuing education classes.

I love to learn and take advantage of every opportunity I can to further my education. After the birth of my first in 2001, I attended my first La Leche League meeting desperate for solutions to my many breastfeeding challenges. It was exciting to see so many moms breastfeeding comfortably and successfully! I continued attending meetings, and in 2003 I was approached by my leader (and midwife), Jackie Griggs, for leadership myself.

In the summer of 2004, shortly after the birth of my third baby, I completed the leader accreditation process. I have been leading meetings in Pasadena since then. The first half of my 2011 was spent studying for the IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) exam, a dream over 10 years in the making. My passing results were issued in late October, and I jumped right into the business of providing private, in-home lactation consultations along with my fabulous friend and equally passionate business partner, Leah Jolly.

What started each of you on this path?

Leah: Through my college years I developed an interest in human biology.  Even though I started my college years as a veterinary major, I quickly realized it was human biology that I found most interesting!  I switched toa biology major and focused my studies on the medical sciences.  When I had my first son, I struggled in his early weeks figuring out breastfeeding.  After weeks of issues with his latch, he was diagnosed with Oral Motor Hypotonia, which means he had very weak oral muscles.  This condition was most likely a result of his traumatic birth. 

We never did get breastfeeding figured out and I spent weeks of shuffling through formula after formula trying to find one that didn’t make his tummy hurt! It was terrible and I vowed then, I would breastfeed any other children I had.

With the birth of my second son, I was clearly challenged on my determination and commitment to breastfeed because after another traumatic birth, this one resulting from a prolapsed cord, he too had oral motor hypotonia.

This time around, I sought out not only help with the physical issues but support for me to reach my goals, I turned to La Leche League and it made ALL the difference in my journey! The mother-to-mother support I had kept a difficult situation from turning into an impossible situation.

When I was able to successfully breastfeed my son with the proper support, I knew I wanted to offer this to other mothers. So I became a La Leche League Leader. I so enjoyed my volunteer work as a Leader. Helping and empowering mothers was so rewarding.  After many years of volunteering and learning through conferences and research I wanted to expand what I could offer a mother.

This is when I made the decision to work towards becoming a Lactation Consultant.  I spent several years gain the experience and education required to sit for the IBLCE exam in 2011. I was thrilled when I found out all my hard work paid off and I passed the exam!

Misti: I was working as a post-partum nurse(was newly married and no kids yet), and I struggled knowing how to assist my patient and her brand new baby with breastfeeding. The IBCLC came in, dimmed the lights, put the baby skin-to-skin, was so gentle and compassionate…I watched in awe the dance between mom and baby…I thought, “That’s what I want to do, help choreograph the dance.”

I was told it was a challenging journey to IBCLC, but a challenge has never stopped me. The birth of my firstborn was an even greater impetus as I struggled to breastfeed comfortably for weeks. I set out to learn of all things breastfeeding so I could help moms prevent the same problems I had. And now, more than 12 years since I was awed by awed by that breastfeeding dance, my journey to IBCLC is complete, and new adventures await…

What are your deepest desires for clients and their babies?

Leah: I want to support mothers in reaching their goals with breastfeeding. I want them to feel empowered with knowledge and supported in their goals.  I want to come along side them to support, encourage and inform them so that each mother can make decisions based off of their own desires and goals for themselves and their baby! 

I am always amazed at the strength of each and every mother I consult with.

Mothers often are not feeling very strong when they are struggling with breastfeeding but when given support,information and encouragement, I see them find their confidence and it always leaves me in awe at their strength to overcome even the most difficult situations!

Misti: One of my greatest desires for each mom is empowerment. No one knows her baby better than she does (even though she may not think she does at first!); my role is simply to equip her as she learns the rhythm of THEIR dance. It’s amazing to witness the transformation she makes as confidence in her ability to mother her baby builds.

Second, I desire a comfortable breastfeeding journey for both mom and baby. It’s such a short time from newborn to knee-high; my goal is to assist her in spending the early days relishing in her baby and her new role of mom and forming a healthy attachment for life. Last, for the sweet little innocent baby, I desire a feeling of security as mom navigates her way through the journey of motherhood.

How do you hope to make an impact on this area? And go ahead and toot your own horn, what sets you apart?

The most difficult issue with the Houston area is that many moms are not aware of the resource available for lactation support and help. Our desire, first and foremost, is to encourage mothers to seek support and help early in their breastfeeding journey. 

Many moms we encounter didn’t know Lactation Consultants do home visit or how to find a Lactation consultant.  Through Bay Area Breastfeeding and Education we want to get out in the community and reach mothers who need help and support. We reach out to medical professionals who may encounter a mother, who is struggling with breastfeeding, and inform them of our services and support so that we can reach those moms that need help!!

We also have a passion for educating mothers prior to delivery.  We have found that knowledge empowers the mother to feel confident and helps them avoid problems with breastfeeding.

We offer in-home personalized class on breastfeeding so that we can tailor the class to her and her partner’s concerns and needs.

Our big community impact goal is more babies getting breastmilk and more moms breastfeeding. We hope to accomplish this by:

• Promoting breastfeeding as the cultural norm.
• Supporting efforts to normalize nursing in public.
• Increasing awareness of our profession.
• Getting the word out to moms that help is just a phone call away.
• Educating working moms on maintaining their breastfeeding relationship with their babies.
• Discussing human milk donation with every potential donor mom.

Bay Area Breastfeeding & Education is unique in that we offer a family-centered, team approach to the lactation consult. Between the two of us, we have about 20 years of experience working with moms and babies, as well as over 12 years of personal breastfeeding experience.

We enjoy visiting clients together when schedules permit. While we may be unable to attend all consults together in person, the client still receives the benefit of two IBCLCs as we discuss and problem solve after every home visit. Clients have access to us after the consult via text, phone or email for follow up as needed. Breastfeeding doesn’t just involve mom and baby but the whole family.

We strive to involve partners and siblings in the consult as well as including them in the plan of care. Building relationships is the foundation of our practice…our clients are not just known by their breastfeeding issues but by their faces and the faces of their families.

To visit Bay Area Breastfeeding and Education on the web, see here. To visit them on Facebook, see here. To read some wonderful posts on their blog, see here!

For in-home or in-hospital consultations and assistance, contact them:
Phone: 713-496-2223

Email: welovebabies@bayareabreastfeeding.net

Mrs. Patel's Milk Makers

As it usually does, new, delicious discoveries fall into my hands (or inbox)... a friend of a friend recommends... and voila! I have a new favorite!

A prior client emailed me and told me all about her friend's family member's business... you know, everyday conversation... and with that, I was in contact with Mrs. Patel's Milk Makers.

Mrs. Patel's Milk Makers are Indian Ayurvedic-based lactation and postpartum treats that are simply delish! Mrs. Patel’s Milk Makers offers three products: Fenugreek Bars, Munch Crunch and Milk Water Tea. Based on the tenets of Ayurveda (a system of traditional medicine native to India), their ingredients have been used by nursing mothers in India for thousands of years.

When I received the packages (a sampling of each product) by mail, I was ecstatic to review them. I found Kimberly*, a new mama I was working with, who was anticipating returning to work, and we decided to try them out together. 

The Fenugreek Bar was nutty and rich tasting, bittersweet and, when chilled in the fridge, a nice little 'nibble treat'. I was surprised, to be honest, at how good it actually tasted! And, on top of that, it was there to help with lactation!

The Munch Crunch was even better. The flavor was, again, bitter and nutty, but was also very crunchy and earthy. I could easily see myself taking a teaspoon for a snack, not just for lactation support.

The only item I didn't get to try was the Milk Water Tea, but I was assured by Kimberly that, as long as she added a little teaspoon of honey for sweetness, it was the perfect sipping tea while reading a good book or while nursing in the rocker.

Long review short, Kimberly had, until then, battled with a slowly diminishing milk supply. Once she started using Mrs. Patel's Milk Makers, her milk supply plateaued, then started increasing. I'm a convert!

In comparison to other galactogogues, these were a nutritious, tasty treat, not a bitter, daily supplement. I love having this new product to offer breastfeeding mamas. Kimberly had such a great experience, I look forward to hearing more success stories like hers!

* name changed to protect identity.

Clicking for Breastfeeding

We talk a lot about pregnancy and birth. But, in addition to those very important topics, I love breastfeeding posts. I will literally scour my fellow bloggers sites to find tidbits of wisdom that I absolutely have to share with my readers... so here are my most recently discovered gems.

Nurshable writes a beautiful piece about 'human pacifier's and her feelings on that term. She gives such insight and passion that I was instantly taken back to a time when I, too, found myself breastfeeding my little one 'pretty much straight through the night'. This is a wonderful post on how to change our perceptions on those times when it is sometimes difficult to remember that it is good and positive to breastfeeding on request.

I am not a “human pacifier”. I am what you have a biological and evolutionary need for. I will not devalue your needs by implying that you lack the wisdom and understanding of what those needs are. I will not devalue your needs by becoming frustrated by your refusal to accept something that does not meet those needs. I want you to listen to your body from the beginning, to understand the difference between a healthy need of yours and a pacifying object. To have an understanding that dates back to the beginnings of your time on this planet.. That comfort comes from having your needs met, not from distracting yourself with something pink, pretty and plastic. - Read the rest here.

Bellies and Babies posted a history/art lesson on breastfeeding throughout time and cultures. I know, I know, I snuck myself into this post. But I loved researching and finding all of these beautiful works of art!

From the mythical figure of Philosophia-Sapientia, the personification of wisdom, who suckled philosophers at her breast and by this way they absorbed wisdom and moral virtue... To the Bible drawing parallels between absolute love and devotion, care and comfort as being a woman nursing her child... To the Egyptian goddess Isis, the symbol of motherhood and protection, nursing her son Horus. Breast has always been known to be best! Throughout history, women have been given special time to establish nursing and child caring after birth (such as the lying in time), given special sanction and law to be able to nurse their child on demand in any setting (such as allowance to not make exodus' to birth cities for census), and have been encouraged to nurse. - Read the rest here.

Breastfeeding With Comfort and Joy (which, by the way, I LOVE the book) has a wonderful post on a woman's yearning for her baby after birth. Although it is one of those 'duh' concepts, I love how she presents the information, a plea to hospitals to be more mother and baby friendly, along with great breastfeeding advise.

So I began my search for images of moms and babies skin to skin and/or breastfeeding in the operating room. Recently, with the help of Preparing For Birth, Mother’s Utopia, and Amy Romano of Science and Sensibility, I was alerted to a blog post with a photograph and a mother’s story of meeting her baby in his "birthday suit" in the operating room, and the video below that shows a baby skin to skin with his mom and feeding at birth in the operating room. I posted these and asked for moms’ comments. I am hoping that the images and comments help moms get that yearned-for closeness at birth when possible and that health care personnel become comfortable with the adjustment in procedures necessary to make this happen. - Read the rest here.

BABEs wrote a great post on how to take care of a breastfeeding mama. As mama worries about feeding baby, others should be worrying about nurturing that relationship and loving mama back into health and community.

Share your successful breastfeeding stories and experiences and leave the negative experience or breastfeeding “horror stories” for another person……a new mom is already emotionally full as she processes her birth experience and contemplates motherhood…she is full of desire to be successful at breastfeeding and bonding with her new baby.  Offering stories of challenges may not fill her with the inspiration she needs, especially if she is struggling…..certainly let her know she is not alone even if there are struggles but adding to the list of “what if” and “could that happen to me” worries is probably going to have a negative effect. - Read the rest here.

Banned From Baby Showers recently had a guest post on her blog about her loathing of breastfeeding tents. It was a neat read, I love it when I can read a post and, at the beginning be like 'huh?' and by the end be like 'huh!'. KWIM?

They are bad for breastfeeding moms. They imply you should nurse your baby in them.  In fact, I have been approached at an event while nursing and told there was a breastfeeding tent. I was sitting within eyesight of it. I didn't need to be told.  I have no desire to interrupt my conversation or relocate it somewhere I don't want to be.  Even if I see it as optional, the person who told me about the tent did not.  She thought I needed to be in the tent.This makes the tent more offensive, in my opinion, than the controversial Hooter Hider, or nursing cover.  At least with a nursing cover, I have to pack it in my bag and make the choice to put it on my body.  A Breastfeeding Tent is kinda like having a stack of Hooter Hiders in the corner for "those" breastfeeders.  And empowering someone to walk up and hand me one. - Read the rest here.

Dou-la-la has a phenomenal post (another one of those 'huh's) where she gives another side of the story when it comes to getting off the Medela teat. You have to read it to understand it... and I am not sure how much I can really rally with her, but I must say I totally get her position now and can't disagree.

By way of introductory comments, I first need to hail the revival of Just West of Crunchy, which was rendered out of commission by a terrible crash. Welcome back! Secondly, I'm going to point you in the direction of a Very Important Post: The Problems With Medela. What's that you say? Problems? With Medela? But - they make breastfeeding products! They promote breastfeeding, right? And I love my slick Pump In Style. How can you have problems with them? - Read the rest here.

Dr. Jen talks about good bacteria, the role of breastmilk in immune system development, and that "one" bottle in an amazing post. I can't really even do it justice in a little blurb before quoting her, so I am just going to go onto the quote bit.

In a perfect world, a term, healthy newborn comes into the world vaginally. Again, I want to talk about normal. I know the process doesn't go normally all the time. (And I've talked about this here.) The delivery of that baby close to the anus is critical for immune system development. The healthy, term newborn's gut is sterile (without bacteria) and the bacteria that get into that pristine gut are truly important. During a vaginal delivery, the largely harmless bacteria around the mother's anus are the bacteria getting into the newborn gut. They increase in number, compete for food and space and help coordinate efforts to create a healthy gut for that baby. With the exception of our skin, the gut is the largest immune system organ in our body. Because breastfeeding is normal, what happens to healthy, term newborns who are breastfed is normal. The newborn has a delay in their immune response to bacteria. A delay? To a bacteria? Yup. Normal. After delivery, that newborn gut has many challenges from invaders that may not be friendly. Doesn't seem too smart not to fight back. We all have mechanisms in our body to fight infection. In the gut it's called Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT) and it's ready to roll at 19 weeks of gestation. All of the things that make up the GALT are waiting for a specific series of events to occur after delivery, when, if it proceeds normally, will result in a functioning immune system. - Read the rest here.

Timeline of a breastfed baby, written by the Alpha Parent, is a must read for all women intending to breastfeed, their support people, doulas, childbirth educators.. heck, everyone! It is such an easy read, with such positive information, that I have been sharing this post at every opportunity.

However there is a persistent and understandable demand from first-time mothers for information on what is considered ‘the norm’. This is particularly so with breastfeeding, as understanding breastmilk intake is more complex than looking at the oz mark on a bottle. This is a topic rife with large-scale confusion, especially as breastfeeding mothers are in the minority and can often find themselves, and their health workers, comparing their baby with formula-fed babies. Breastfed babies are not the same as formula fed babies. One is fed the milk of its own species; the other is fed the milk of an entirely different species, so it is unsurprising that stark differences can be observed. - Read the rest here.

And finally, for a little more wittiness and humor, check out Modg's 10 Things about Boob Feeding post. She had me snorting my coffee the other morning (yes, sorry Mary, my lovely and guru-like chiro, I was drinking that evil sludge when I was reading it; but you'll forgive me if you click on the link.. promise). It's riotous!

Guess what? It’s world breastfeeding week. That’s where everyone in the world has to find a lactating breast and take a drink. Hooray! In honor of this week of boobs, I wanted to 1) draw you a picture of boobs (and if your boobs are actually that round and symmetrical, I shoot rockets at you. SSSS.) and 2) talk about my experience with breastfeeding and the 10 hidden benefits of breastfeeding that you don’t read about in Lucky Magazine. I know, I didn’t see any in there either. Weird. - Read the rest here.

So there you have it.. my most recent finds on the blog universe. It's a lot of clicking, but I really encourage every breastfeeding mama, mama considering breastfeeding (or preparing to breastfeed), and breastfeeding advocate take a look at these. They are worth the click.

How to Breastfeed

I was surfing along the other day and I came across this gem. It's about time someone gets it right!

Two days ago thousands of mothers flocked to Targets across the nation like they do every day but this time, with breasts full & nipples poised to launch a milk attack against the retail giant. The demonstration or “nurse-in” was in response to a lactating female being asked to feed her child in a changing room, away from public view, rather than in a corner of the store days earlier. Upon hearing this news, leaking women from all over the United States descended upon their local Tar-zhays with babies and proceeded to feed them from their private parts as a way of saying “We’re here, you can leer, get used to it”

What breastfeeding mothers don’t seem to realize is that it is entirely inappropriate to expose upstanding citizens to teat nourishment in a public setting. We’re thrilled that you’ve chosen to feed your child the way nature intended but do we have to see it? I mean, we don’t pee in public (unless we’re drunk) and would prefer that you would show us the same courtesy.

Here are a few tips that mothers should & need to adopt to help the rest of us feel comfortable.

1) Use a cover. Every time. There are many fancy ones on the market. Damask. Lace-trimmed. Or how about a swaddling cloth (if it’s good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for you kid)? Statistics show that human beings love being in confined spaces. Babies are on their way to becoming full humans so this applies to them as well. I personally eat many of my meals under a loosely draped fitted sheet in my bedroom and find it quite enjoyable. The importance of air circulation has been exaggerated by democrats and Al Gore; do not be fooled. When your baby’s mouth is fully affixed to your udder leaving only two little nostrils to breathe, why wouldn’t she love breathing in repeat Co2?

During the summer months, place two little straws in your baby’s nose scuba-style so that cool air can be retrieved without making us all barf from the sight of your boob flesh...

To read the rest, see here!

Breastfeeding Punks and Other Misnomers

Breastfeeding Punks, Nipple Nazis, Breastapo, Exhibitionists... I've been called worse!

At a rest stop on Interstate 95 recently, I made quite a scene. No, I didn't streak naked from the car to the Cinnabon line. I tried to feed my 5-month-old baby. Mind you, I picked the quietest spot facing the corner and slung my trusty nursing cover — a cloth designed to help mothers discreetly nurse in public — over my child. Despite being ravenously hungry, baby swatted angrily at the cover, tearing it off his head each time I tried to replace it, fists punching the air, grabbing at my shirt collar. It was like wrestling a wild bobcat in a mail sack. Mental note: Baby's not down with the cover anymore.

Seen from the highway not a mile away: a Hooters restaurant. One of the 455 franchise locations in the USA. This juxtaposition was not lost upon me. In a country where Hugh Hefner gets his own reality show and evening gowns require double-sided tape to hover just so, "breast is best."

Intolerance hurts society... Except when it comes to breastfeeding in public, that is. Just ask Natalie Hegedus, who said she was humiliated in a Michigan district court room last month for discreetly breastfeeding her sick infant at the back of the courtroom. Michigan is one of five states without laws that specifically allow women to breastfeed in public. After Judge Robert Hentchel verbally reprimanded her, Hegedus left the courtroom in tears. Intolerant attitudes like this contribute to our relatively low breastfeeding rates, and it's not just women and babies who suffer. - America, get over breastfeeding hang-ups

Breastfeeding punks? Sort of, kind of, not really. a punk is a member of a rebellious counterculture group. In some sorts of the word, it could describe those of us who either support breastfeeding in public or currently are breastfeeding in public.

But the thing is, only in the U.S. is public breastfeeding considered 'counterculture'... and that is why we are doing it... to change that public perception of breastfeeding - and make public breastfeeding more commonplace and accepted.

Nipple Nazis? (aka Breastapo) Not even close. Even if you separate the fact that we are not focusing on our nipples, but the nourishment that our breasts provide. And even if you separate Nazism as a literal definition (a form of socialism featuring racism and expansionism and obedience to a strong leader.) to the more common implied definition (fascism, a political philosophy or movement that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition)... it still doesn't fit.

Exhibitionists? Hardly! I can tell you that the majority of breastfeeding women have no desire to display their bosoms to the public any more than is necessary to nourish their child. And there are very few times you will see more than the tops of the breasts (as you would see in a v-neck sweater), unless you are really trying to see more. To give you a few examples, let's take a look at some famous nursing moms:

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Angelina Jolie

Salma Hayek

Gwen Stefani

Miranda Kerr

Jerry Hall, via Annie Liebowitz

On the other hand, I can give you example after example of media, Hollywood, and marketing showing off the female breasts in much more detail and much more sexualized than breastfeeding ever does/is.Just for matter of fair comparison, let's use the same celebrities in marketing photoshoots:

Jerry Hall

Angelina Jolie

Salma Hayek

Miranda Kerr

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Gwen Stefani

So, call me a breastfeeding Punk, a Nipple Nazi, or an Exhibitionist, if you want, but I contend that I am just a normal-feeding advocate that fails to see how the public can get so worked up over breastfeeding but not bat an eye at our media and marketing attempts to over-sexualize the female body and desensitize the public to it. Consider this great quote:

"If breastfeeding is sexual, than a bottle is a dildo!"

And just for some fun...


And there you have it, breastfeeding is normal, it is natural, it is beautiful, and it is maternal. And that, my friends, is why women across the U.S. are fed up (no pun intended) with the prudish and contradictory behavior of our culture.



For Additional Reading on recent Nurse-Ins:
Houston Breastfeeding Flash Mob
National Demonstration
Did the Nurse In Change Perceptions of Public Breastfeeding?
Michigan Breastfeeding Flash Mob Dispersed
Women's Only Gym Asks Mother To Move

Breastfeeding and Marketing

www.sheknows.com/

I love breastfeeding.. not just doing it, but seeing it and supporting it.

Breastmilk is the perfect food for baby. There is no substitute for the perfect thing, unless it is less-than-perfect. In fact, formula feeding is not even second best... it's fourth.

1. Breastfeeding
2. Pumping and providing expressed breast milk from the baby's own mother
3. Receiving donor milk from another woman's pumped breast milk
4. Formula           - Dr. Jack Newman, The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers

Christy Jo, author and blogger over at Birthing, Bonding, and Breastfeeding, has started an awesome campaign.

"This post is about advertising, marketing and deception.  We as educators, public health professionals, moms, citizens, consumers, tax payers, etc. have to demand honesty in advertising--especially from the formula companies. These companies use inferior ingredients, cut corners in production, and then lie about its value, causing customers to flock to the registers with complete peace of mind. As consumers, we question the quality of what we purchase and we want what we pay for...then there's formula..."

To read the rest of her article and to see more of her awesome advertisements, see Formula Companies Dare To Compare Imitation to the Real Thing.

If you are considering breastfeeding, there are some awesome resources I think you would benefit from:

• Best For Babes
• LLI
• Kelly Mom
• Lactation Consultant Association
• Jack Newman
• Breastfeeding.com
• Milk Share
• Human Milk Banking Association of North America 
• Breastmilk Counts
• Breastmilk and Breastfeeding
• MOBI Motherhood International

In addition to these, there are great videos to help you on your way to knowing how to perfect the breastfeeding latch, different positions, and more!

If you are nursing and experiencing any issues, get help now! Nearly every issue can be overcome with proper help and diligence. And, it is so. very. worth. it. Proper help is not your pediatrician, it is an independent lactation consultant with proper training. Where can you find one of those gems? Ask a doula, childbirth educator, midwife, or La Leche League for recommendations.

Most do home or hospital visits and, although they can get pricey at times... consider, if you can't resolve the issue, give up on breastfeeding and switch to formula feeding, how much more money will you dish out to pay for that formula? It is worth it!

Booby Traps

http://mybrownbaby.blogspot.com/2010/06/salma-hayek-kim-kardashian-and-creepy.html

Best For Babes has an awesome series up called Booby Traps™. This series has, so far, gone through all of pregnancy and how your pregnancy care, choices, etc.. might affect your milk production. Now, they are moving on to how your birthing time might affect your milk production.

Their latest post is awesome!

Of course, sometimes supplementation is truly necessary (Rule One:  feed the baby), but when done without trying to protect your milk supply, it can be devastating.


Poor intake can also make your baby sleepy, which can make him or her a poor feeder – one who falls asleep at the breast early in the feeding.  And that in turn can make babies take in too little milk, which makes them even more sleepy.  It also puts babies at higher risk of jaundice, which in turn creates makes even sleepier.  See the vicious cycle you have to turn around to make breastfeeding work?

What many of us don’t know is that there are things about your birth experience which can make it more likely that your mature milk will take longer to come in.  And that’s where the Booby Traps come in.

Read the rest here.

I love this series and highly recommend every woman read through it and continue following the series until close. I know I will be.

BTW, I got the picture from My Brown Baby. She has both an old and new site, I have only read the old one and love some of her posts, very inspiring! Go check it out!

Happy National Breastfeeding Month

Be sure to check out the breastfeeding blogs in my sidebar and the links in my resources tab.

3 Steps to Recovery

Stephanie is a new blog friend of mine and I asked her to write a guest post. Her writing is refreshing, open, and honest. Check out her blog for more inspirational and witty posts, and read on to find her advise for surviving the first few weeks after birth.

When I think back to my early post partum days and what I wish had been different about them, lots of different things come to my mind. The thing that stands out the most, is I wish I had gotten more rest.

My home birth midwife gave me a post partum check list for the first four weeks that included total bed rest the first week and semi-bedrest the second and third. I remember looking at it while pregnant and thinking, "what a joke!" I am way too type A for bed rest. And true to my form, I was up walking around and taking the trash out. The same day I gave birth. Like an IDIOT!

If you are type A like me, listen to me now and heed my advice. The trash can wait. The dishes can wait. The house can become cluttered for a few weeks and you will not unravel. I take that back, you will unravel, but its not because of the dishes, its because you are now a mother and your old life is dead.

Let everything just be, if you don't have someone to help you do everything. And Lord knows, if you are like me, and you do have some help, they are doing everything ALL wrong. They are gonna put the dishes away wrong or fold your shirt a different way.

The dish will not have a panic attack inside your cabinets by being put in there in the wrong spot. The dish will be fine, trust me. The shirt will not be mad at you for being folded a different way. It will all be OK, so just sit your butt, or rather lay your butt, in bed and do nothing but eat, drink and make sure your baby is eating and drinking from you!

Even if you feel great and feel like you could do more, just stay in bed. You will never again have family and friends bringing you meals and helping around the house (at least until the next baby) so just enjoy it. And I really think that I would be less tired now, 9 months later, if I had rested more in the beginning.

In Aruvedic medicine, the mother and child should spend the first six weeks in bed to regain her energy and strength, in order to sustain the mother over the long haul of the psychically and emotionally demanding first year. I was doing anything but. I was pumping like a maniac. And I let my husband talk me into taking our newborn daughter on a 10 hour car trip to visit family for the holidays...like an IDIOT!

So if you are going to be on bedrest or couch rest for the first six weeks you need to learn something very important. You need to learn how to nurse lying down, other wise known as the side-lying position. For me and my daughter, nursing in those first few weeks, or lack there of, was a complete nightmare. For her first week, in order to get her latched on at all I had to be sitting in a chair, on a boppy, (because even though I didn't tear and had a peaceful home birth, water birth-pushing out a 9 pound 1 ounce baby made my bottom hurt like a mother), with a My Breast Friend strapped on, with a rolled up blanket under my boob to lift if up, and with my husband squeezing my poor flat nipples and me holding my boob in one hand and the other holding my daughters head to shove her face onto my boob the second she opened up wide enough.

It was a freaking 3 ring circus.

My dear friend who had given birth 7 weeks earlier, did not have so many issues. She learned how to nurse her baby laying down from day 1. So she just laid in bed all day and all night and nursed her baby on demand while laying down and resting. I can't tell you how jealous I was of her and how much I hated my rocking chair of torture.

Some women have a hard time with the side-lying position at first, boobs can be too small or too big to make it comfortable at first. But keep working at it, and keep trying to find the right pilow or whatever to get comfortable in this position. It is a life savor for night time feedings. Once you master it, you can whip out your boob and go back to sleep quickly.

So lets recap. Things you need to do to get more rest during your post partum period:

1. Get over it. The mess, the untidiness, the laundry pile, the dishes, whatever. Just let it all be.
2. Lay down and stay in bed. I'm serious. Don't make me come over to your house.
3. Learn how to nursing laying down. Don't leave the hospital or have the midwife leave the house, without showing you how.

Come check me out at Mama and Baby Love. In the coming weeks I am doing a 5 part series titled Post Partum 101. Each day I will do a post from a different perspective; mama, papa, baby, grandparents and friends. And I also have an Infant Massage Video Tutorial coming soon, complete with a giveaway of 10 (yes, 10!) infant massage instruction books.

Stephanie is a first time mother to her daughter, Penelope. Born on 11.11.09 at home, in water, and into her own two hands. She is a Certified Birthing From Within Doula and Educator, Licensed Massage Therapist, and Certified Yoga Instructor. She has a BS in Environmental Science and was a Nanny for 5 years before becoming a mother herself. You can find her at Mama and Baby Love.