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Momzelle Giveaway

June 4, 2013 By 127 Comments

When is a business more than a business?  When it cares about something other than “the bottom line.”  That’s what we love about our TLB sponsors.  Though these companies care about many different social and environmental causes, there is one thing that they all have in common: encouraging families on their breastfeeding journey.  One such company is Momzelle.  Read on as Christine, the woman behind this Canadian TLB sponsor, shares about how Momzelle cares about breastfeeding moms and enter for your chance to win a fun and comfortable nursing top!

Christine Poirier co-founder of Momzelle

TLB:  You make a variety of simple and very elegant tops for expecting and nursing women.  What are some of the values that you incorporate into the design of your clothing?

Christine Poirier:  I design the tops for mothers who love and care for their babies, nursing them night or day, and the tops reflect these values of love and care. The materials are soft and stretchy, meant to be comforting to the mother and to the baby who will be nursing and holding on to it. Freedom is also one of the values that go in the design of the clothing. The tops are meant to provide freedom to the mothers, who can nurse anywhere, and to the babies, who can feed anywhere. The tops have practical and simple nursing openings meant to ease new moms into their new motherly task of nursing.

TLB:  What kind of feedback have you received from the moms wearing your clothes?

Christine Poirier:  The comments we receive are overwhelmingly positive. One of the good things about the Momzelle website is that each product has its reviews posted next to it, with little stars that help choose what’s best. Some moms wonder why they did not get one before, others say that the Momzelle nursing tops are the best nursing tops they own. One of my favorite comment came from a mom who wanted to show her newborn to her relatives in a different state. She had to fly there and she was distressed at the idea of nursing her baby next to a stranger in the plane. She received her nursing top in time for her flight and she said it saved the trip. She was very thankful. This is what we are all about: helping women feel good about breastfeeding, no matter where they are.

TLB:  I know that you like to find ways to support women directly.  What are some of the ways that you are involved in supporting expecting and breastfeeding women?

Christine Poirier:  You should have a a look at our Facebook page! We have over 9700 fans and we post fun breastfeeding pics, jokes and inspiring quotes on a daily basis. That’s the fun bit. On the other serious side, we also have an informative section on our website and blog, where we post articles from my favorite doctor and breastfeeding specialist, Dr. Jack Newman. Outside of the web, I really like to encourage breastfeeding support groups like La Leche League and the activities that they organize. We do so by providing prizes for their events and by sponsoring them. We do the same for events that go across the board, like the yearly breastfeeding challenge (when groups across North America compete in a friendly way to get the most babies at the breast at the same time on the same day).  A couple of years ago, our efforts in supporting breastfeeding women were recognized when we won the “Best Socially-Minded Business Award” from the Canadian Youth Business Foundation. We are quite proud!

300 - Nursing band nursing baby

Christine Poirier of Momzelle nursing clothing is giving away a fun and comfy T-shirt to 3 lucky Leakies.

This comfortable Momzelle nursing T-shirt is made of 95% cotton, 5% spandex, comes in your choice of black or fuchsia, and says: “I make milk.  What’s your superpower?.”  Retail Value: $46.00

020- T-shirt with I make milk print black

Currently Leakies can find this fabulous nursing top and other breastfeeding items in the Momzelle website.

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Good luck to everyone!  Please use the widget below to be entered.  The giveaway is open from June 4, 2013 through June 11, 2013.  A big thanks to Christine and Momzelle for their ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women; please be sure to visit their Facebook page  or follow them on twitter  (@momzelle on Twitter) and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.

This giveaway open to US and Canada entries.

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Breastfeeding beyond Infancy in Developed Countries

June 4, 2013 By 3 Comments
By Star Rodriguez for The Leaky B@@b
Breastfeeding beyond 12 months

Imagine a mom breastfeeding a baby.  Now imagine her breastfeeding a toddler.  Now a preschooler.  Do you feel uncomfortable with any of those images?  When do you start to feel a little weird?

In developed countries where breastfeeding duration is low and where nursing in public isn’t seen as often, it’s pretty normal to have a point where you begin to feel a little uncomfortable with thinking about breastfeeding a child.  After all, there are a multitude of foods and drink available readily and safely in developed countries, so why on Earth would someone need or want to nurse, say, a three or four year old child?

First, it’s helpful to understand what our natural weaning age probably is.  Katherine Dettwyler, Phd, professor of anthropology looked at natural weaning ages of animals and came up with five possible ranges.  First, she looked at when permanent molars come in, a normal weaning time for primates.  That puts the range at five to six years old for human kids.  Animals also often wean babies based on when they reach about a third of their adult body weight.  This puts human kiddos at four to seven years old.  With some primates, though, adult body size and not weight is the true test; our children would wean naturally, then, somewhere between the end of the second year and the end of the third year.  Some mammals nurse until their babies have tripled or quadrupled birth weight; this would mean human babies would naturally wean somewhere between two to three years old.  Finally, many mammals wean after the baby has been alive for about six times the length of gestation.  Therefore, human babies would breastfeed around four to five years.

Clearly, most of us are not breastfeeding our children until they are six or seven years old in developed countries where they have a plethora of other foods and many social activities.  However, there are a lot of women who quietly report to me that they nursed to two or three years, although they don’t tell their friends or extended families, because “they’d think I was crazy!”  More often than that, I get moms calling me, asking me how long babies should nurse, and what the benefits are to nursing beyond a year.

Sadly, there aren’t a lot of studies on breastfeeding beyond infancy in the developed world.  I’ve been told that this is because there aren’t a lot of women who continue beyond that, and, statistically, that is very true.  I see Leakies every day discussing breastfeeding beyond a year, and there are articles and websites that mention it regularly.  So I think there are more moms out there doing it than we often admit, but it might be difficult to gather them up in one place for a study.

That all said, we can surmise a few things from studies in less developed areas and what we already know about breastfeeding and breastmilk.

First, breastfeeding can foster independence.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Children are learning to be independent, especially through toddlerhood.  I am aware of this every day as my three year old rushes to tell me, “I do it!” and gets incredibly mad if I try to help her, or if she needs help.  Children still are dependent on their primary caregivers, though.  Nursing meets a lot of their dependent, nurturing needs and can help them to feel as though they are able to express their independence while knowing that they are able to be comforted and close to their mothers when they need to be.

Breastfeeding also provides antibodies.  How many toddlers and preschoolers stick everything in their mouths, as often as they can?  How many have no concept of personal hygiene, picking their noses, eating food off the floor, sneezing in the faces of others, and so on?  By continuing to breastfeed, you are continuing to provide them with immune protection tailored to the environment that they are in.  It won’t stop them from ever getting sick, but it can be helpful to some viruses.

Breastmilk remains tailored to the child and is often something that children can take in even when they are ill and not holding much else down.  The calories and fat in breastmilk are not empty calories like many other easily held down liquids (like lemon lime sodas, ginger ales, etc.)

Breastfeeding has analgesic properties to it.  Think about how often young children get bumps, bruises, and owies.  Carrying around something that can help them to feel better about those is a wonderful thing.

As far as moms are concerned, many of the wonderful things that breastfeeding does for mothers are dose related.  For instance, the longer women breastfeed over their lifetime, the more their breast cancer risk is reduced, and that’s certainly not the only health benefit that is tied to duration.  Further, mothers who continue breastfeeding continue to produce milk and subsequently burn a few extra calories, too.  Who couldn’t use, say, an extra cookie a day?

At the end of the day, the length of time that a mother/baby dyad decides to continue breastfeeding is a very personal thing.  Despite the fact that we live in a developed society where extended breastfeeding may not be necessary for survival, it can be a meaningful and beneficial thing to moms and babies.

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How do you feel about breastfeeding beyond the first year?  

How do you personally determine the duration of breastfeeding with your own children?

How much has cultural expectations impacted how long you were/are willing to breastfeed?

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breastfeedingStar Rodriguez is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, student, and mother of two in Minnesota.  She has done private practice work, worked with WIC, and now works in a hospital setting.  She is available for online consulting and in-person consults in the Brainerd Lakes area.  She can be reached through the Facebook page of Lactastic Services or you can find more information at www.lactastic.com.
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Filed Under: Articles from the professional experts, baby-led weaning, Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding and society, child led weaning, extended breastfeeding, Featured, Relational Resource, toddler, Weaning, Weaning Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Snugabell giveaway

May 24, 2013 By 122 Comments

Being a mom herself, Snugabell’s Wendy Bell is all about supporting moms.  Designing products that help moms reach their breastfeeding goals with a flair for style, Wendy is a sincere supporter not just of breastfeeding but also of the moms and babies it matters to.  I’m privileged to call Wendy my friend and excited to have her share more about her company, her breastfeeding journey, and extend her support to all TLB readers.

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TLB:  Hi Wendy, I always love when we get to feature Snugabell and your brilliant PumpEase line here on TLB.  You’ve supported TLB for a while now and have seen first hand through your support of Best For Babes, TLB and virtual breastfeeding support, how moms can come together and the difference mom-to-mom support can make.  What are some of your favorite examples of mom-to-mom support?

Wendy:  I have to confess that I am a little bit envious of the support that moms have online today.  I had a few issues breastfeeding my daughters (nothing major, but it was worrisome nonetheless) and thus reached out to my GP and a dietician at my local health unit, and also scoured the internet for hours on end, however all I found was conflicting (mis)information.  Those were the days before Facebook and Twitter.  Heck, I hadn’t even heard of KellyMom.com back then.  I felt alone and frustrated.  So this is an example of what potentially can happen without mom-to-mom support, how far we’ve come and what a huge impact it has today for a mom to ‘hear’, “Oh that happened to me too when my DD was that age.  It’s just a nursing strike”.  That feeling that you’re not alone in your breastfeeding journey, especially for first-time moms, is extremely powerful.

TLB:  What kind of support did you have in your breastfeeding journey?  Did you have someone or someones that were instrumental in providing support for you?

Wendy:  My GP is very pro-breastfeeding.  I remember telling him that I was going to add cereal to my first daughter’s bottle (of pumped breastmilk) to help her sleep longer at night (yup, I didn’t know any better – I was listening to the aunts and grandmas!) and he pretty much told me NOT to do that.  The nurse at his office was so encouraging too.  When I brought my eldest daughter in for her first post-delivery check-up, she weighed her and proceeded to give me major kudos on her weight gain.  It made me feel so proud as I had no idea what I was doing (or so I thought).  My family were all very supportive as well; no one was freaked out by a nursing mama; it was all good!  I didn’t feel super confident nursing in public (like in a mall) however, as I didn’t know about baby wearing either back then and therefore was trying to use a receiving blanket.  I know I would have worn my baby had I been better informed.  (In fact, for a few years after DD#2 was born and I had already started Snugabell and learned so much, I often told my husband that I wished I could have another baby if only to put into practice all this amazing new information!)

TLB:  You have a couple of new products as part of this giveaway; could you tell us about them and how these products help support moms in their breastfeeding journey?

Wendy:  Our ‘Through a Child’s Eyes’’colouring book was designed to help further normalize breastfeeding and pumping and to discover the beauty of breastfeeding!  The warm, inviting drawings and likable characters make it easy to answer curious qustions and keep little hands busy while teaching helpful lessons.  I love colouring with my girls and hope other moms do too!  You can even design your own PumpEase and share it on our Facebook wall!

Our fabulous new, all-purpose, reusable PumpEase Wet Bag is designed to transport all brands of breast pump personal kits (bottles, flanges and tubes) ‘incognito’.  It features a snap-loop handle and looks so cute decked out in matching PumpEase prints that no one will ever guess what’s inside.  Lined with waterproof PUL (you cloth-diapering mamas know what that is!  For those that don’t, it stands for Polyurethane Laminate and is a compound fabric made by laminating fabric to a thin film of polyurethane, thus creating a water barrier), you will find plenty of uses for it even after you’ve hung up your pump flanges – diaper changes on-the-go, keeping electronics safe at the pool, potty training, snacks, travel, cosmetics and much, much more!

TLB:  How does Snugabell actively cultivate mom-to-mom support?  How can Leakies connect with Snugabell and what will they find for support with you?

Wendy:  When we first hired the amazing Amy West to manage our Facebook and Twitter, she asked me what my goal was for those spaces.  I told her I wanted to build a community; it had NOTHING to do with sales.  Amy (CLC) and Hillary (studying to be a doula and still nursing her 21-month old son) co-manage our social media now and I (CLE) jump in when I can.  We provide evidence-based information, support, encourage support from our community and refer to an IBCLC as appropriate.  Gosh, sometimes a mom just needs an ear!

I am super-duper proud of the fantastic communities that we have cultivated in both arenas and am continually inspired by the conversations that happen there.  Leakies can find us on Twitter @PumpEase and @snugabell (that’s me) as well as on our Snugabell Facebook page.  Be sure to say “Hi!” and that you are visiting from The Leaky Boob!  :-)

TLB:  Thank you so much for supporting TLB and your generous giveaway providing support to these moms.  What would you encourage moms to consider in offering mom-to-mom support?  Any tips for finding and giving such support?

Wendy: I believe the key is to refrain from judging other moms’ choices or circumstances that led them to (believe they) had no choice.  I was there.  Again, if I were to have my first baby tomorrow, I would change a LOT.  This is what keeps my judgy pants off and my compassion glasses on.  We’re all in this together (creating the next generation that is), so let’s lift mamas up rather than beat them down.  We’re all doing the best that we can with the knowledge that we have.  And if I were looking for support today, I would turn to the internet, no question.

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Wendy’s children

Wendy is giving away one PumpEase Prize Pack featuring:

  1. PumpEase hands-free pumping bra  Retail Value: $38.00
  2. Matching PumpEase Wet Bag  Retail Value: $14.00
  3. Through a Child’s Eyes – Colouring Book  Retail Value: $12.00

Total Value: $64.00 USD

PumpEase_WetBag_ColouringBook

Currently Leakies can find these and other maternity, nursing and hands-free pumping products on the snugabell.com website.

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Good luck to everyone!  Please use the widget below to be entered.  The giveaway is open from May 24, 2013 through May 30, 2013.  A big thanks to Wendy and Snugabell for their ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women; please be sure to visit their Facebook page, follow Wendy on Twitter and follow PumpEase on Twitter and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.

Snugabell will ship worldwide.

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IBCLCs, Negative Experiences, and Self-Advocacy

April 24, 2013 By 11 Comments

Jessica and Sugarbaby Bfing

When my daughter was entering the 2nd grade at our local public school, we were all enthusiastic about the coming year.  She loved school, loved learning, loved everything about it.  But just a few short weeks into the school year things we drastically different.  She cried all the time, she hated going to school, she started struggling with school work, and every day she complained that her tummy hurt and she was too sick to go to school.  We were confused.  What had happened to our little girl?

It quickly became apparent that while there were multiple issues going on that I won’t go into here except to say there were some technical difficulties and an adjustment period that needed to happen.  Still, there was one particular issue that emerged as being critical: she didn’t like her teacher.  Believing we need to encourage her to work with people, even ones she didn’t like, The Piano Man and I tried to help her navigate this relationship.  This proved to be more challenging than we expected because, as it turned out, we didn’t like her either.  She simply wasn’t the kind of person we thought would be teaching second grade.  Or teaching at all.  Grough, grumpy, rarely smiled, she came across as cold and distant.  Suddenly, challenges our daughter had previously felt empowered to tackle loomed as impossible mountains.  Intimidated by the one she thought was there to guide and support her in facing these challenges, she withdrew and began to give up.

We tried to work with the school and the teacher but in a short amount of time we felt we needed to explore other options and ended up transferring schools.  It was that, or risk killing our daughter’s love for learning and that simply wasn’t something we were willing to sacrifice.

When we visited the new school Earth Baby was nervous about meeting the 2nd grade teacher.  Gripping my hand she whispered “I don’t like 2nd grade teachers, they are mean.”  I was surprised she had already jumped to a conclusion about a group of people based on her experience with just one of that group.  Given that she was 7 at the time, I probably shouldn’t have been surprised at such an immature response but I felt that we had worked hard to help our children understand how individuals can be so different.  Encouraging her to remember that Miss B. would be a person first, a 2nd grade teacher second, we met with the teacher.  Gentle, kind, friendly, and very warm, Miss B. proved to be the opposite of the previous 2nd grade teacher and Earth Baby ended up flourishing in her class.  Inspired with hope and confidence, Earth Baby made a lifelong friend in her teacher (and is seeing her this summer) and not only met but surpassed her goals for the year with an enflamed love of learning.  Interestingly enough, now she will talk about how wonderful 2nd grade teachers are and being a teacher is in her top 5 career options.

Why am I sharing this story on a breastfeeding site?  Moms often come to TLB looking for breastfeeding support. The support they are looking for is usually just about what is normal in breastfeeding journeys, the mom-to-mom support of experience and camaraderie.  Sometimes it’s for issues that are outside of normal and require more expertise support and help.  It isn’t uncommon for a Leaky and/or one of the admin to recommend seeing an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) for experienced and trained support.  These experts are usually the most equipped to help moms with true lactation problems having gone through intense training and having to comply to regular board standards in their continuing education and certification.  Just as often, someone then shares their negative experience with an IBCLC.  Frustrated and hurt, these women sometimes share that an IBCLC almost ruined their breastfeeding relationship with misinformation, intimidating and overwhelming directions, and sometimes down right bullying.

Find the right IBCLC

From these comments it sometimes sounds as though they fear all IBCLCs will be just like the negative experience they had.  Hurt and discouraged by the one or two individuals they encountered in the profession, they are unsure they can trust anyone with the title and position.  Like my daughter felt unsure about 2nd grade teachers, these moms are skeptical of the entire IBCLC profession, not because they don’t know that they are all different people but because they may believe that what they didn’t like is actually expected to be a part of the profession.  As if the consultants are trained to support that way.  Just as with any profession, there are individuals within the lactation consultant profession that are rude, unsupportive, not helpful, judgmental, dismissive, and misinformed. Thankfully, most I’ve met go into supporting breastfeeding moms because they genuinely care and want to help moms reach their breastfeeding goals.  The IBCLCs I’ve interacted with understand the vulnerable nature of that time in a mother’s life and the importance of providing the right kind of support.  Most IBCLCs aren’t in the profession to push an agenda or tell moms what to do, they genuinely seek to provide legitimate support unique to each mothers’ needs.  Sure, I’ve met a few that seemed burned out and dogmatic just like my daughter’s first second grade teacher, but just like most 2nd grade teachers actually enjoy children and teaching, so most IBCLCs aim to provide sincere information and assistance.  I encourage moms that need lactation support to move on from someone that isn’t supportive to find someone that’s a better fit.   It’s that, or risk not reaching your breastfeeding goals and that simply isn’t something we should be willing to sacrifice without a fight.

I am aware that for many, a second choice, let alone a third or fourth, isn’t readily available.  Financial restrictions, local availability, and even cultural support from family and friends can make it difficult to find someone.  Sometimes, shoot, maybe often, the support you need will find you in unexpected places such as the internet or a new friend.  Moms may have to try other paths for lactation support such as virtual appointments via the web or attending a local breastfeeding support group or even reading articles online.  Whatever it takes, pushing on to find the support you need may be work but you and your baby are worth it.

You don’t have to be stuck with a professional providing inadequate support.  In the end, you are the biggest advocate for you and your child and if advocating for you both means moving on to find the assistance you need, you won’t regret doing so.  As Leaky and IBCLC Jackie Rauch shared:

I will sometimes tell my clients the story of me seeking her out just to let them know that even the people with the knowledge need to seek out help from people with the knowledge. If you are not getting the help you need, keep looking!

You never know, you may find the one that helps you turn it all around and inspires you with hope and confidence.

Need a lactation consultant?  This site can help you find one.

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What about you?  What has your experience with an IBCLC or other lactation professional been like?  Did you have to find someone else for better support at some point?  Did an IBCLC or other lactation professional help you in your breastfeeding journey?  Check out the conversation we’re having on this very topic over on The Leaky B@@b Facebook page. 

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Filed Under: baby, Breastfeeding, breastfeeding support, Facebook, Featured, Jessica Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Earth Day Giveaway

April 21, 2013 By 215 Comments

Happy Earth Day, TLB followers!  It seems fitting that Earth Mama Angel Baby would have a giveaway with us today, considering “Earth” is an integral part of their name.  As you can gage from the following interview, Earth Mama Angel Baby is looking out for the Earth as they create products that are good for mamas and babies.  Find our more about this TLB sponsor, and enter the giveaway below. 

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TLB:  What makes breastfeeding eco-friendly?

Melinda:  It’s to-go meals without any waste! No bottles, no formula, no transport costs. Of course you can buy things that make breastfeeding easier, or more comfortable, or more efficient for you, but at its simplest, breastfeeding is completely self-sustaining.

TLB:  How does Earth Mama’s mission support eco-friendly breastfeeding?

Melinda:  Everything Earth Mama does is about providing safe, comforting products for the benefit of mamas and babies. That includes Mother Earth. We use organic and sustainably grown herbs and continually refine products as organic ingredients or more efficient herbs are available. We make the extra effort to certify our products, and use certified organic herbs because “certified organic” is the only way you can know for sure an herb was planted, grown, harvested and handled in a safe and sustainable way. Of course there are no petrochemicals, artificial ingredients or toxins in any Earth Mama product, ever. We choose green and toxin-free business practices because we have a company-wide commitment to honor the earth and her valuable resources. It isn’t just breastfeeding, we approach every aspect of pregnancy and childbirth in a eco-minded way.

TLB:  Which products specifically support breastfeeding?

Melinda:  USDA Certified 100% Organic Milkmaid Tea helps support healthy breast milk production naturally, with time- and science-tested herbs known to help increase milk supply. Natural Nipple Butter is certified organic by Oregon Tilth and helps soothe sore, cracked nipples without petrochemicals or lanolin (which many mamas avoid due to concerns about allergies and pesticide residue). Booby Tubes® are 100% natural, gel-free breast packs that can be used warm or cold, depending on what breasts need!

TLB:  Would you call yourselves eco-minded, tree-hugging, peace mamas? 

Melinda:  We love to sign our correspondence, “Peace, love and Natural Nipple Butter for All!” so yeah, I guess you could say that!

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 Earth Mama Angel Baby is giving away 3 Breastfeeding Essentials Bundles to 3 lucky Leakies
(one per winner).  

Retail Value: $44.09 each

The Breastfeeding Essentials Bundle offers soothing comfort to nourish a new mama’s breasts, so she can nourish her angel baby, naturally.

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Currently Leakies can find the Breastfeeding Essentials Bundle and other organic pregnancy, breastfeeding and baby care items on the Earth Mama Angel Baby website.

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Good luck to everyone!  Please use the widget below to be entered.  The giveaway is open from April 22, 2013 through April 30, 2013.  A big thanks to Earth Mama Angel Baby for their ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women; please be sure to visit their Facebook page  or follow them on twitter  (@EarthMamaHQ on Twitter) and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.

This giveaway is restricted to U.S. residents only.

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One Creative Mama Giveaway

April 17, 2013 By 103 Comments

You all may know Judy Masucci from A Mother’s Boutique – she has been a long-time sponsor of The Leaky Boob, a mom and a breastfeeding advocate.  Well, she’s back with a new venture – One Creative Mama – cute breastfeeding advocacy gear for babies.  What a great way to show the world how much you and your little one love breastfeeding!  Judy is excited to introduce you to her new company and give 5 lucky Leakies some great gear too!

JudyJavin2

TLB:  What should TLB readers know about One Creative Mama?

Judy:  One Creative Mama was founded by a mom, lactation educator and breastfeeding advocate.  Her name was Sarah – and I used to purchase her items for my store.  About 2-3 years ago, Sarah stopped making the One Creative mama items because she has changed her focus to in-person mentoring of moms instead of making products.  So I decided to buy the business and give it a new look.  I took all of Sarah’s great breastfeeding advocacy sayings and made them into cute colorful shirts and rompers – so that babies can tell the world just how much they love breastfeeding!

TLB:  What’s the inspiration behind One Creative Mama?

Judy:  I am a huge breastfeeding advocate.  When the original owner of One Creative Mama decided that she wasn’t going to continue with her business anymore, I decided to carry on where she left off.  I love her creative sayings and I knew that I could build this business into a way for moms and babies to express themselves and their love for nursing in a cute, whimsical way.  It gives moms a chance to show off their babies and it tells the world that bresatfeeding is so normal – it’s on a baby’s shirt!

TLB:  How is breastfeeding advocacy important and how does One Creative Mama support breastfeeding?

Judy:  Normalizing breastfeeding is so important because when something is “normal” then everything gets easier.  Women won’t have to worry about being scorned for breastfeeding or asked to leave their location.  We have laws in place, but the best way to help normalize breastfeeding is to do it – openly and publically.  And wearing shirts that tell the world you are breastfeeding also serve to normalize it.  So for mom and baby – we make cute, whimsical shirts and rompers that are fun to wear and fun to give as gifts.  And for the world – it’s one small step toward the normalization of breastfeeding as the normal way of feeding your baby.

TLB:  What’s your favorite breastfeeding tip?

Judy:  My favorite tip is to stick with it.  In the early days, everything is difficult and lack of sleep can make it seem like it won’t get any easier.  But if you stick with it through the early days, it will get easier and you will get to enjoy a wonderful bonding session with your baby time and time again.

t-shirt collage1line-logo

Judy is giving away 3 different prizes to 5 lucky Leakies.

The prizes are:

  1. A One Creative Mama Baby Romper – your choice of saying, size and color – Five great sayings to choose from.  Retail Value: $17.99 – ONE winner
  2. A One Creative Mama Baby Shirt – your choice of saying, size and color – Five great sayings to choose from.  Retail Value: $12.99 – TWO winners
  3. A One Creative Mama Baby Bib – your choice of saying and color – Five great sayings to choose from.  Retail Value: $10.99 – TWO winners

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Currently Leakies can find these and other great breastfeeding and baby items on the One Creative Mama website.  

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Good luck to everyone!  Please use the widget below to be entered.  The giveaway is open from April 17, 2013 through April 23, 2013.  A big thanks to Judy and One Creative Mama for their ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women; please be sure to visit their Facebook page  or follow them on twitter  (@OneCreativeMama on Twitter) and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.

This giveaway is restricted to U.S. residents only.

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Naked Nursing Tank Giveaway

April 5, 2013 By 458 Comments

“Don’t go into business with friends.”  This is a generally accepted adage, but every once and a while you run into an example of friends working together that exemplify just the opposite.  Close friends – best friends – can sometimes be the exact chemistry required for a business to thrive.  This is certainly the case for Jessica and I (The Piano Man writing here); best friends AND married, we  love nothing better than to work together and we are continually bemoaning how little time we have to do so.  Jen and Carrie, the women behind new TLB sponsor NakedNursingTank, appear to be in the same boat.  In the following interview, we catch a glimpse into their busy mom/work/best friend lives.  They love The Leaky Boob community and are thrilled to offer our Leakies a giveaway of their unique tanks.  What is a Naked Nursing Tank, you may ask?  Here is their take on it:

“Vital to every nursing mother’s wardrobe, the Canadian made, NakedNursing Tank Fits EVERY body type providing coverage for your midsection during nursing. Our Luxury Bamboo Naked Tank line covers below the pregnant belly and can be worn during pregnancy as a layering piece, and it retains its original shape after washing so you can wear it with your shrinking figure for the perfect midsection cover-up while you nurse your baby. The Classic Cotton and Luxury Bamboo Naked Tanks are extra long in length and were invented by two nursing Moms who designed its unique low scoop beneath-the-bust shape, allowing women to select their supportive bra of choice without infringing on necklines or having to be limited to the one-size-fits-all shelf bras. Slipping on your Naked Tank underneath your outfit transforms every regular shirt in your wardrobe into a nursing shirt, saving you money while providing a stylish choice. No other nursing blankets or cover-ups necessary…Easy. Efficient. Effortless.”

14. Jen & Carrie profession photo for NT

TLB:  What inspired you to start your company, “Naked Nursing Tank”?

Jen:  I was nursing at the gym one day and was extremely frustrated with the nursing tank that I had on because it did not allow me any access to my sports bra.  At that moment I immediately ran to find Carrie, who happened to be in the bathroom, and I told her that I had come up with a great invention :)  We had NO idea what we were getting into that day in the bathroom ;)

TLB:  Could you tell us a bit about your nursing tanks, and how the “naked” piece fits in?

Jen: Our tanks are designed to keep the breast area open for easy access, and your midsection covered.  We knew that the easiest way to nurse was when your top half was essentially ‘naked’.  We needed to be half naked and yet half covered all at the same time, which is how we coined the phrase, “When you need to be Naked, we’ve got you covered!” …and voilà, the Naked Nursing Tank name was born.

7. BEFORE shot -with sour face -no caption8. AFTER -with caption
TLB:  How long have you and Carrie known each other?  In what way has this business venture changed your relationship?

Jen:  We have known eachother since we played Varsity Rugby at The University of Guelph, which was in *gulp* 1996…wow, a seriously long time!! The business venture hasn’t really changed our relationship at all.  We are together all of the time because we have 2 small children each who are the same ages, and we are best friends.  I think we have an enormous amount of trust in one another from our days playing on such an intense team together and we compliment each other because we really are polar opposites, which fits amazingly well into our business plan.  I am the ‘let’s get running & leap off this cliff and see how we land’ person, and Carrie is the one who has the parachute making sure all the details are taken care of. It’s a great fit for the both of us!

TLB:  Running your own business and having a family is tricky; how do you balance work and family?

Jen:  Haha, I am not sure if ‘balance’ is the proper word to use right now.  We have an enormous amount of passion for the Naked Tank and helping women to feel more comfortable while nursing, so we dedicate as much time as possible to running the business.  With that being said, we are also very passionate about the time that we spend with our families.  A lot of the time that is dedicated to the business are stolen hours at the gym while the kids are in the playroom and then also the time right after they go to bed…and the occasional 20 minute intervals strung together during the day ;)

TLB:  What is your favorite breastfeeding tip?

Jen:  Breastfeed on demand, your baby is the only judge of when he or she is hungry. And enjoy the precious time you get to bond with your baby…this was our favorite part!

9. Jen Coffee Shop

The Girls at the Naked Nursing Tank are giving away 2 different prizes to 2 lucky Leakies.  

The prizes are:

1.  A Luxury Bamboo Naked Nursing Tank.  Our luxurious blended Bamboo fabric in your choice of Midnight Black or Lily White.  Retail Value: $39.99

4. Both Bamboo Tanks Together2. Black Tank Rear View No Straps- rear view 06-19-2012_noBra

2.  A Classic Cotton Naked Nursing Tank.  Our super soft blend of Cotton/Lycra fabric in your choice of Charcoal Grey or Light Platinum Grey  Retail Value: $29.99

6. Charcoal Grey Mauve Bra5. Platinum Grey

Currently Leakies can find these and other breastfeeding items on the Naked Tank website, www.thenakedtank.com.

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Good luck to everyone!  Please use the widget below to be entered.  The giveaway is open from April 5, 2013 through April 11, 2013.  A big thanks to Jen and Carrie and The Naked Nursing Tank for their ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women; please be sure to visit their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter at @nakedtank and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.

This giveaway open to international entries.

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Changing for the breast? A 14 year old shares her views on breasts, breastfeeding, sex appeal, and society.

April 3, 2013 By 37 Comments
by Ophélia Martin-Weber
Photo credit Dorothea Lange, 1936 Library of Congress, American Memory

Photo credit Dorothea Lange, 1936 Library of Congress, American Memory

I wonder when people started treating boobs as objects used just for sex.  A long time ago did people respect moms and their breasts feeding hungry babies?  Even though they didn’t see women as equal did they know that breastfeeding was the healthiest, easiest, and natural source of nutrients to feed the baby and nothing to shun?  There was a time when women didn’t have the right to vote but could freely pull out their breast and feed their baby and today it seems like we have flipped those.  In some ways we have come so far in how women are treated and viewed in society but in other ways women, particularly mothers, are dismissed as their real value being only in their appeal to the opposite sex.  I wonder if we’ve lost something.  Then I wonder what that means for me and I’m only 14 years old.

When I was younger I didn’t know breasts had amazing powers to produce milk even though my mom breastfed my sisters and me.  All that I knew was that I had little boobies and I couldn’t wait for the day when my nipples would transform into breasts.  I don’t remember when the fact that mature breasts can give milk really stuck in my head but when it did I thought humans were related to cows.  Sure, humans and cows are both mammals but when I was a kid I thought maybe women actually were cows.  Today I know that’s not true and I also understand there is a lot of attention given to the sexiness of the female breast and that makes me uncomfortable.  Uncomfortable because now that I have breasts I find myself wanting smaller breasts in part because of dance but also because I know that bigger breasts are supposed draw attention from guys, are seen as more sexy, and could decide how I am treated by others.  Part of me feels that if I want to be liked I have to have big breasts.  I want guys to notice me but I don’t want guys to notice me (yes, I know this is a contradiction) and I really don’t want them to think I’m just here to have sex with.  I’m just not ready for that and don’t know if I ever will be.  To me, I’m so much more than my sex appeal.  So I’m careful about what I wear, I don’t want communicate that I want attention based on sex but that frustrates me too.  The clothes I like the best are more form fitting but if I wear yoga pants that fit my butt well will it be communicating that I want the wrong kind of attention?  Or in a leotard are my breasts speaking louder than my mind or my art?  I hope not.  I want to matter to others for more than just my body.  As a dancer, I work with my body a lot and I work hard to make it strong and healthy but not for attention.  That work is to help me tell stories, to use my body as an artist and an athlete.  Struggling with my body every day is part of my lot as a dancer and I have a love hate relationship with it and I’m ok with that.  What I don’t want is to question my natural biology simply because of how others say it should be.  Sometimes it feels as though society wants to punish those with female body parts yet tell us we’re equal without having to act like we really are.  I don’t get it, I understand that breasts are considered sex things but they don’t seem any more “sexy” than most of the other parts of my body such as my lips, my arms, my shoulders, my legs.  Men may find them sexy (is it that way in every culture or just ours?) but they aren’t sexy to me, they feed babies.

The author, Ophélia Martin-Weber

The author, Ophélia Martin-Weber

Looking back to what my childish mind was thinking and comparing it to some people’s opinions about moms openly breastfeeding in public, I wonder if they too see breastfeeding moms as cows?  Do breastfeeding mothers need to be fenced and herded together, separate from everyone else?  I know there are people that think about moms that way but not everyone does.  A lot of my adult friends have different opinions about breastfeeding but they don’t think poorly about my mom and they don’t ask her to cover when she’s feeding my little sister.  It doesn’t bother them that part of my mom’s breast is visible.  Pictures of beautiful and sexy women show off breasts at least as much as a mom’s breast is seen when she is breastfeeding.  In our culture, what is the most sexy part about women’s breasts?  The breast that is popping out of a too small shirt or the covered nipple?  Why?  If it’s the nipple, why is it such a big deal about breastfeeding in public if the baby is hiding the nipple?  Understandable because of the messages we get from certain parts of society, they might think it is sexual because a person’s mouth, even if it is a baby is on a woman’s breast but they need to get a grip and review their history lessons.   And also learn how breastfeeding works.

And why is it ok for men to show off their mammary glands but women can’t?  Why aren’t women “allowed” to expose their chest as much as men can?  Why is it considered indecent for me to be topless by my neighbor across the street can walk around just in his shorts and nobody has a problem with it?  How is that equal?  How is that not discrimination?  Stop telling me I can be equal to my male counterparts but then tell me I have to hide my body more as if there is something wrong with me.

I’m not sure I even want to have babies but if I do I will breastfeed them though I have to admit the idea of breastfeeding in public scares me because I know how people think of breasts, women, and moms.  That kind of attention isn’t what I want for myself.  I don’t know what I will do though because I know too much about breastfeeding to not breastfeed and I don’t think I’d want to just stay home all the time.  How sad is it that anyone would be afraid to feed their baby in public?  I’m a little disappointed in myself for feeling this way, I mean, my mom is The Leaky Boob, I feel like she’s the queen of breastfeeding.  But that’s where I am right now.  Fortunately, I have a long time to figure that out and I know I have a family that will support me along the way.

If all this obsession with female breasts didn’t actually happen, what would life be like?  If we could change the attitudes against breastfeeding would we actually change attitudes about women?  I hope we can learn from our mistakes.

 

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What do you think?  

Do you feel attitudes about breastfeeding are related in any way to our attitudes about women in general?  

How did you think about breasts, breastfeeding, and your own body when you were a teen?

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Completely unrelated to this post, this video shares the author’s story of dance and her dance aspirations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycG-NW1UGno

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IMG_0404 Ophélia Martin-Weber is 14 years old, the eldest of six girls.  Ophélia is in 8th grade, homeschooled, and is   passionate about dance.  A few years ago Ophélia wrote for The Leaky Boob, sharing her views as an 11 year old on breastfeeding and Jessica recently shared a proud mama moment about Ophélia.  You can see some of Ophélia’s dancing and hear her share her dance story and dreams in this video.
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Filed Under: body image, Boobs, Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding and society, Breastfeeding in public, breasts, Children and breastfeeding, covering, family, Featured, guest posts, Parenting Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Fairhaven Health’s Supplemental Giveaway

April 1, 2013 By 44 Comments

What makes a business more than just a company trying to sell you something?  The people behind the brand.  Suzanne, Director of Product Development for Fairhaven Health, is a mother of two and she is passionate about raising healthy families.  She has taken the time to answer a few interview questions about her life in the Pacific Northwest, her role at Fairhaven Health, and her views on nutrition and breastfeeding.  Take a moment to get to know her and this great TLB sponsor.  Then, enter the giveaway below for your chance to win some supplements designed to help breastfeeding moms maintain a balanced nutritional diet.  

Munson Family Lake Padden

TLB:  Hello Suzanne!  To start off this interview, what kinds of activities do you particularly enjoy doing this time of year?

Suzanne:  Spring is a great time of year in the Pacific Northwest.  After many months of short days, the extended daylight is always so welcome and I love getting outside in the evenings.  One of our favorite things to do this time of year is to meet up with friends for a walk or bike ride around the lake near our house, and have a picnic afterwards.  (The above photo was taken at that lake.)

TLB:  Could you tell us a bit about what you do with Fairhaven Health?

Suzanne:  I came to Fairhaven Health a number of years ago, after earning a Master’s degree in Nutrition from Bastyr University and working in the natural products industry for more than a decade. As a nutritionist and a mom of two kids, I can’t help but be passionate about raising healthy families. As Director of Product Development at Fairhaven Health, I get to spend my work day talking to women about how they can improve their reproductive health naturally, and I get to work with a team of medical professionals to dream up new products that help couples optimize their fertility and that keep women healthy during pregnancy and nursing.  What an awesome job!

TLB:  As a nutritionist, what would you like to share with our Leakies about how their food intake impacts their health?

Suzanne:   As a whole foods nutritionist, I definitely believe in the health benefits of eating “real” food! By real food, I mean anything that is minimally processed . . .fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and fresh meats, fish and poultry. And, the more you can avoid highly processed junk foods, the more room you will have in your diet for the good stuff.

Of course, eating well is important during all stages of life, but is especially vital during pregnancy and while you are breastfeeding.  It goes without saying that taking care of a newborn is demanding and tiresome (and wonderful!). And, producing breast milk requires extra calories and nutrients. So, eating real food, and plenty of it, is important to ensure that you have the energy and stamina you need to meet the demands of new motherhood.

TLB: Do you have any tips to help nursing moms get the nourishment they need?

Suzanne: The reality is that most us don’t really eat all that well, even under the best of circumstances. So, with the time constraints that accompany new motherhood, cooking, meal planning, even eating, might be some of the first activities to go.  Here are some tips that might be helpful:

  • Have fresh fruit handy
  • Buy vegetables in a ready-to-eat package to cut down on chopping time
  • Snack often on nutrient dense foods, like nuts (and nut butters) and seeds
  • Cook in big batches and freeze extra portions
  • Ask family and friends to bring meals

TLB: Fairhaven Health is giving away Nursing Postnatal. Why do you think it is important for nursing mothers to take a multivitamin?

Suzanne: While women don’t bat an eye about being told to take a prenatal vitamin before and during pregnancy, some women are surprised to hear that taking a multivitamin while breastfeeding could be helpful. As we touched on above, eating enough of the right kinds of foods is a challenge for most of us under normal circumstances, and is certainly no easier when you are breastfeeding. So, taking a daily multivitamin simply allows a mom to bump up her nutrient intake. This is important for her health, and it helps ensure that her breast milk is nutrient dense.

Breast milk is an amazing food, and perfect for your baby. It contains approximately 4 grams of fat, 1 gram of protein and 7 grams of carbohydrates per milliliter, and these proportions do not change even when the mother’s diet changes.  But, it is also true that a mother’s diet (and her overall nutritional status) can influence the vitamin, mineral, and the essential fatty acid (EPA and DHA) composition of her breast milk, all of which impacts the overall nutritional quality of the breast milk, and ultimately the overall health of the baby. Because of this, it is my humble opinion, that we need to encourage nursing moms to both eat as many real foods as possible and take a multivitamin.

TLB:  Did you personally take multivitamins after the birth of your children?

Suzanne:  Yes, I continued to take a multivitamin while breastfeeding with both my kids, and try to remember to still take one every day.  I actually have a bottle of Nursing Postnatal on my desk at work.  Even though I am definitely a “food first” person, my life is busy and hectic and I don’t always eat the way I know I should.  So, taking a multivitamin just helps to ensure I am getting enough nutrients.

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Fairhaven Health is giving 5 lucky Leakies one bottle each of Nursing Postnatal and Fenugreek.

Nursing Postnatal is a vitamin and mineral supplement designed specifically for breastfeeding moms, with extra amounts of Vitamin D and the B vitamins.

Nursing Postnatal

Fenugreek is often used to help support breast milk production. Fairhaven Health’s Fenugreek contains a unique blend of organic Fenugreek Seed Powder, along with a concentrated Fenugreek Seed Powder extract (8:1), delivering a dose equivalent to 2000 mg of standard fenugreek seed powder in just 2 vegetarian capsules each day.

Fenugreek

Currently Leakies can find these and other pregnancy and nursing products at www.FairhavenHealth.com.

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Good luck to everyone!  Please use the widget below to be entered.  The giveaway is open from April 1, 2013 through April 8, 2013.  A big thanks to Fairhaven Health for their ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women; please be sure to visit BellytoBreast on Facebook or follow them on Twitter and/or Pinterest and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.

This giveaway is restricted to U.S. (including Puerto Rico and APO) and Canadian residents only.

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Will you allow me a proud mama moment?

March 26, 2013 By

Sometimes it seems like these days of breastfeeding, diaper changes, and needy babies are going to last forever.  We fear losing ourselves in the blur of caring for our children.  Counting diapers, checking ounces, charting milestones… every day becomes so full it doesn’t seem like this time will ever really end.

I always hate it when “they” say to hold on to this time, it goes so fast and the next thing you know you’ll be sad how fast they grew up.  It never really helps me, just makes me question if I’m ungrateful and selfish to not savor the poop filled, constantly breastfeeding stage when I’m tired and worn out.  And I have had moments where I’ve been convinced that my child would be the first child to actually still be breastfeeding when they go to college.

But you know what?  ”They” are right.  I have 6 children, 6 beautiful girls ages 11 months to 14 years old.  I blinked, you know, blinked and I have a 14 year old.  I could swear she was just a baby.  And no, she’s not still breastfeeding.

Help Ophélia Martin-Weber go to summer dance intensives

“They” are totally right.

It goes so fast.  Faster than saying can even convey.  And it is so bittersweet.  One day you feel stuck in a whirlwind of diapers and boobs and the next you’re helping them plan leaving for the summer.  Or forever.

Over 14 years ago I was made a mother when The Piano Man and I had our eldest.  Some days I look at her and remember the breastfeeding challenges I encountered with her and smile to think how far we’ve come and how distant that time feels.  Yet how very close still.  She helped mold and shape me to not only be the mother she needed but also to help form me to be the mother her little sisters would need and even set me on the path that led to starting The Leaky Boob.  I have shared the breastfeeding journey she and I experienced together, why I breastfeed for her even today, shared some of her sexual abuse survivor story, and she’s even written for The Leaky Boob herself sharing her views on breastfeeding just before she turned 12.  I am one proud mama.

We named her Ophélia Chantelle, which means little helper, little song but I call her Earth Baby here to give her a little bit of distance between her real life and what I share online.  She’s not completely anonymous.  With her permission I’ve shared her face, her name, and parts of her story.  She follows The Leaky B@@b and Jessica The Leaky Boob and has seen conversations I’ve had and from time to time she will help make a post using my phone and taking dictation while I’m driving.  Thanks to her questions and sharing her thoughts, I’ve been inspired for articles, status updates, and tweets.  Her critical thinking has pushed me to reconsider my views on some topics and to open myself up to considering other perspectives.  I am one proud mama.

Giving and full of love, she is a model big sister, making room in her life to play with her 5 little sisters in ways that are meaningful for them from building forts to playing peek-a-boo to going on walks to games of Battleship and climbing trees.  Creativity exudes from her, she knits, bakes, draws, writes, and above all, dances.  Her heart is big and she cares deeply not only for her family but friends and even strangers.  Sharing meals with homeless members of our community, volunteering to help others with babysitting, donating her funds when she can, and even making the choice to prioritize fair-trade chocolate so the treats she enjoys don’t oppress another child.  I am one proud mama.

She loves learning and is willing to take risks to pursue what she loves.  An introvert, she is growing every day in understanding herself more and putting herself out there.  Nothing brings that quite together like dance does and in just 3 years we’ve watched as she went from the girl turning 11 and begging for ballet lessons more than anything, even saying to us “I don’t care if I ever get an iPod, a cell phone, or a car, I just want to dance!” to today blooming into a young ballerina with opportunities to pursue her dreams.  Bloodied feet and being behind most dancers her age have never deterred her, just spurred her to work harder until she caught up.  This past January she pushed herself to a new level and attended auditions for summer ballet intensives with hundreds of other students, most of whom have been dancing at least twice if not three times as long as she has.  It was scary but she did it.  I am one proud mama.

It was worth it too.  She got into most of the programs for which she auditioned.  Consulting with her instructors and with The Piano Man and I, she narrowed down her choices to 2 programs.  Before she was even sure of where she wanted to go she began baking, running an ongoing bake sale to raise the funds that would be required to attend these training programs.  In a few weeks she raised enough to cover the registration to the two programs she selected.  I am one proud mama.

So it is from that place that I share her efforts and invite you to hear from her as she works to reach her goal.  Putting it all out there, she’s raising the funds to get to these summer ballet intensives to train further.  Employing the help of her sisters and her father and me, she created a video and fundraising campaign to try and get the rest of the funds before the deadline.  We had hoped for scholarships but that didn’t happen this time around and the costs involved simply are not in our budget, all the scrimping and saving couldn’t make it so.  The sisters worked together to plan, film, and edit the video sharing Ophelia’s love for dance and her willingness to work hard for her dreams.  I am one proud mama.

It’s not easy for her to ask for funds to reach these dreams, doing so is just one more indicator of how motivated she is to take risks and work hard towards her goals.  A tenacity that will serve her well through out her life, I believe.  Check out her fundraising campaign, it’s worth watching the video even if you’re not able to donate.  I’m sharing this and I hope you watch it then share it too because I’m one proud mama.

From a needy little baby to an increasingly independent young woman, I am one proud mama.  Thanks for letting me have a proud mama moment!

See her fundraiser here, every contribution, big or small, helps:

 

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Filed Under: Breastfeeding, Children and breastfeeding, family, Featured, Jessica, Parenting Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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