For Dr. Nancy Massotto, breastfeeding led to a lot of other parenting decisions that took her down a more holistic path. She shares how the snowball effect that started with breastfeeding changed her life, her family, finding her tribe, and how she supports other women.
When Serena Tremblay responded to a call to share breastfeeding photos on The Leaky Boob Facebook wall, she didn’t think she was sharing anything extraordinary. From birth to the ICU to Facebook, one Leaky’s story of how support keeps on giving.
Nurse Julie, an L&D nurse in the hospital where I had Earth Baby, was in my life for a very brief period yet she made a very big impact. This is the thank you letter she may never see but is from my heart. There are lots of stories about negative experiences with hospital staff, this isn’t one of them.
Magazines, websites, even businesses now offer frequent support with articles on breastfeeding, pages devoted to trouble shooting potential breastfeeding problems, staff experts responding to breastfeeding questions, and even live support available online or to call in to speak to someone. In theory it sounds great and in some ways it is. But even in offering support there are opportunities for unsupportive support.
Socially, breastfeeding gets a lot of lip service (the “best” for baby!) but the cold shoulder in practice. It’s just not normal to see breastfeeding. So it’s no wonder there is a lot of misinformation and negative attitudes about what normal breastfeeding looks like. Add in a toddler or preschooler at the breast or relatives set to stick fingers full of whip cream in a 3 month old’s mouth and ignorance can become a damaging motive for unsupportive support.
They are the people that should most understand, breastfeeding activists. Sometimes the very people that should be the most supportive end up being incredibly unsupportive in their efforts. How to avoid being an unsupportive breastfeeding advocate.
Welcome to The Leaky Boob, your trusted companion on the journey of nurturing and nourishing your little one. We understand that feeding your child is a unique experience for every family, filled with joys and challenges alike. Our mission is to provide you with evidence-based information, practical advice, and a supportive community to empower you in your breastfeeding journey.
Hi, I’m Jessica, the founder of The Leaky Boob, Lactation Educator, Parenting Educator, Parenting and Relationship Coach, and mom of 9. I’m so glad you are here.