Share how you've supported breastfeeding in 2007.

This year I'm encouraging everyone to support breastfeeding by taking the 2007 Motherwear Pledge.  On New Year's Day I listed 10 things you can do to support breastfeeding, and suggested that we all try to do at least 3 of these things this year.

Below is a poll to help us keep track of what we've done this year to support breastfeeding.  I'll keep a link to this post on the sidebar of the blog, and will remind us periodically.  And feel free to share your stories about what you've done (I just did) in the comments section.

Note that the poll only allows you to vote for one item at a time, so you'll need to vote several times to record everything.  Thanks for voting, and for helping to support breastfeeding!

*Remember, during the month of January, taking the pledge enters you into a contest to win a $100 gift certificate to Motherwear.

Comments

[Tanya Lieberman]

Here's my story about #1: I was out to a new year's brunch with my husband and good friend, and a woman at the next table was nursing her 6 month old. When she got up to walk her baby around I approached her and told her that I was really happy to see her nursing. She talked about how convenient it was, and how she was helped a lot by a La Leche League leader when she had to have an operation and needed to know how to manage breastfeeding. She also said that she was motivated to nurse because she (the mother) had had lots of problems with ear infections, and she wanted to try to prevent that for her daughter. I told her about the post I did on the study last month showing that breastfeeding can protect against ear infections even when there is a genetic predisposition (see the category "New Research on Breastfeeding" for that post). The thing that this mom didn't see was the dirty looks she had been getting from an older woman sitting several tables behind her. Wish I could have thought of something to say to her...

[Beth]

That's a great story. I too wish I had something to say when people sneer....I usually think of something a day or two later!

[springolife]

I am happy to see that breastfeeding is making a 'come back' but dismayed that it is still not encouraged like it ought to be. Every pregnant and new mom I know I encourage to breastfeed and some of them 'try' it but then say they didn't have enough milk. I know absolutely no one who breastfeeds their babies. Yet, they all say they wish they did! I am happy to offer advice (I know how difficult it is, I have had three very different breastfeeding experiences!)

I hope that this awareness campaign will help empower women to feel comfortable sharing with their friends (and perhaps even some strangers!) This isn't just a personal decision, it is the best decision for both mom and baby.

[Tanya Lieberman]

springoflife,

I think it's so great that you talk to other women about breastfeeding. Hope you'll keep encouraging mothers to try! It must feel discouraging, but I know that it's worth it.

Tanya

[Gillian]

I have trained to be a breastfeeding advisor and i educate people about the benefits and how to do it.

[rValley]

Hello! I am new to this blog and so happy to be here!

If I may introduce myself my name is Rachel Valley and I am a nursing mother/wife, professional photographer and lactivist.

I recently received a micro grant to put together a breastfeeding gallery of photographs in Northern California and the gallery will subsequently travel after it's initial stint.

This gallery will spur conversation and bring attention to the taboo of nursing in public. I am working very hard to put the spotlight on this issue and the gallery. I would like to see worldwide attention.

I found as a lactivist talking about breastfeeding can rattle some. I found myself at parties or get togethers and speaking to someone about how wonderful bf is and in turn offending or hurting someone else. My opinions got me in hot water with friends and family to the point I almost quit talking about it. THAT DIDN'T LAST LONG! I channeled my passion and art in photography to do the talking for me. And now a high profile gallery event will take place this August and beyond!

I need the help of our breastfeeding community!

Ideas, stories, models, sponsors....all will be greatly appreciated!

Sponsorship will benefit the donor with great advertising through gallery mailers, event brochures and if willing a website and much media coverage.

Models are needed. Aside from an experience like no other, I will supply the gracious mother with the photographs I take.

Stories will provide me with inspiration to grow the story of the pictures. Namely negative or strange public bf stories. I currently have a handful of storyboards and would adore fresh ideas from real experiences, straight from real bf mothers!

This is what I am doing to get the word out and I am so proud to do it!

I could go on and on....

Please contact me with any ideas resources or just to say hi!

Ladies....congratulate yourselves for providing your children with the best you can give....to them and to the future!

Respectfully,

Rachel Valley

email- rvalley@niftyimages.com

website- www.niftyimages.com

[ElizabethF. from The Whole Family]

I just love this site! I am new to it as well.
What a great story. How different that mom's brunch would have been if she had seen the other looks and not had such a supportive person to talk to. It could have ruined her day and possibly bruised her BFing relationship as well.

I have a blog where we talk alot about BFing as well. Come on by, I love to meet other BFing mothers!!

[LaylaBeth]

What a great thing this catalog is doing, not JUST in promotion of their products--but actually promoting the REASON for their wares!
It is SO refreshing to be able to see cute, stylish things that I can wear while doing what's best for my baby.
Since the birth of my daughter, I have become such an advocate for breastfeeding: yesterday, my eleven-week old daughter and I participated in the League of Maternal Justice's Virtual Nurse-In, protesting Facebook.com's BANNING of breastfeeding photos.
(See www.leagueofmaternaljustice.com for more info.)
Facebook does not delete the profiles of KNOWN pedophiles and also hosts over 200 PRO-ANOREXIA sites, yet photos of mothers simply feeding their infants are BANNED?
Utterly ridiculous.
Keep up the good work!
I posted your blog-button on my MySpace profile!

Sincerely, ~Layla Beth Munk~
Cedar Park, TX

[Julie Miller]

What a great poll. I had never sat down to think about what I was doing to help promote breastfeeding until reading this post.

While I have done some on the poll, I realize there is more that I can be doing.

With my first two children, breastfeeding was something that I refused to even consider. I thought that my breast were there for sexual purposes only.

When I became pregnant with my 3rd, I found a message board where the women were talking about breastfeeding and provided many links and resources on the benefits to both myself and my baby.

I decided to give it a try thinking that I could switch between breast milk and formula. And if I didn't like breastfeeding I would just quit.

Breastfeeding for me was an awesome experience. It is hard to put into words just how wonderful it was and how much I bonded with my baby through nursing.

I have since created a web store where I sell products for nursing Moms. A lot of the items I carry were invented my nursing Moms that helped fix a problem that they were having.

I feel the more people see nursing Moms and babies, the more "acceptable" it will become to our society.