This post has been copied from Makes Mom Happy, who, in an effort to spread the word, has allowed other bloggers to repost her article.  It is truly shocking.  I have posted some of her article here.  If you would like to read the entire article, click the link at the end of this post.  Thanks to Amy for writing this.

You may have just read my review of the Medela sleep bra. It’s a great sleep bra, probably my favorite of the ones I have in that particular style. But I have to be honest with you all and tell you that I have some major problems with Medela as a company. I’m doing a separate post on this, partially because my issues with Medela go well beyond any product they make, and partially because this issue is big enough to merit its own post.

The World Health Organization is the public-health related branch of the United Nations. In 1981, it adopted The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (produced by the International Baby Food Action Network, IBFAN). Basically, this code was developed to give breastfeeding a fighting chance against the constant onslaught of formula marketing. Breastfeeding doesn’t have millions of dollars behind it to create the kind of ad campaigns formula companies engage in, let alone all that goes on behind the scenes with donated products and sponsorships.

A lot of money stands to be made by the people behind the artificial baby milk. And formula companies profiting at the rates they do indicates a significant reduction in the amount of breastfed babies.

Think of “baby,” and I’m sure the image of a bottle isn’t too far behind. Over the course of history, breastfeeding has become a secondary image and thought behind the omnipresent image of the happy mother feeding her baby from a bottle. That has a lot to do with the massive advertising and marketing campaigns by the formula makers. And despite almost thirty years of the WHO Code being in place, endorsed by 118 countries throughout the world, they’re still at it.

Why? Because no one is monitoring or enforcing the Code. Here are a few excerpts from the Code, quoted directly:
“Health workers should not give samples of infant formula to pregnant women, mothers of infants and young children, or members of their families.” (Article 7.4)
“Health workers should not give samples of infant formula to pregnant women, mothers of infants and young children, or members of their families.” (Article 5.1)
“Manufacturers and distributors should not provide, directly or indirectly, to pregnant women, mothers or members of their families, samples of products within the scope of this Code.” (Article 5.2)
“Manufacturers and distributors should not distribute to pregnant women or mothers of infants and young children any gifts of articles or utensils which may promote the use of breastmilk substitutes or bottle feeding.” (Article 5.4)
Basically, the point is to limit the reach of the formula companies’ marketing and advertising campaigns, in order to give breastfeeding a fighting chance against them. I don’t know about you, but I left the hospital with my diaper bag supplied by Enfamil, filled with samples of actual formula. I even received free cans of formula in the mail!

Of course, given that no one is monitoring or enforcing the Code, it’s no surprise that the formula companies are doing whatever they damn well please in the way of their marketing. The idea of the WHO Code is all well and good, but without enforcement, it might as well not exist. More and more information, imagery, and actual products related to formula reach the hands of healthcare professionals and parents. This is happening all the time and is virtually ignored.

Parents need to be educated about breastfeeding and its artificial substitutes, so that they can make informed decisions about it. They also need proper support systems, both at the family and institutional levels. Without these, dropping the statement “breast is best” in the lap of a new mom isn’t doing anything but making her feel guilty when she fails to breastfeed. That’s not accomplishing anything positive.

Granted, there are organizations emerging like Best for Babes, who are trying to fight the good fight and get the word out. But it’s a David and Goliath battle, no doubt.

Luckily, there are responsible companies out there. Take Hygeia and Ameda, both makers of breastpumps, for example. Hygeia actually goes as far as to inform the public, via their website, that they respect the WHO Code and even have a WHO Code officer on their staff to ensure that they’re always in compliance. Now that is commitment.

Ameda, another pump maker, was recently acquired by Evenflo. You probably know Evenflo as a bottle maker, one who was in violation of the WHO Code. Due to its acquisition of Ameda and its commitment to breastfeeding, they state on their website that they’re becoming the first WHO-compliant baby bottle maker. I’m hoping they follow through on that change and I wish there were more companies out there like Hygeia and Ameda.

Unfortunately, there are also companies like Medela out there. Medela makes the famed Pump in Style breastpump. It’s incredibly popular and so many moms swear by it. In fact, when I went to research and purchase a pump, I could scarcely find a review of anything but Medela products.

Medela is a huge, worldwide company with a budget to fit its stature. And they’re also blatantly violating the WHO Code. Not on a single-incident basis, but perpetually. They even have a statement on their website acknowledging their violation of the Code and taking the position that they will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Isn’t this crazy?  To learn more shocking facts about Medela products and practices, please read the rest of this article.

———-> READ MORE.

I realize that World Breastfeeding Week is over, but there is something I have been thinking about for a while and wanted to post about.  Everytime I nurse my son in a public place, I am always prepared with a witty comeback to defend my rights.  But, I am not prepared with what I should be: proof of legality.  I am perfectly within my rights to breastfeed in public; covered, uncovered, semi covered, etc.  If the manager at Uno’s came to me and asked me to leave I would have choice words for him, but would I be able to justify my right to breastfeed with concrete fact?  A few days ago I looked up my rights.  La Leche League has a handy list of state laws, which I utilized.  Here is the law for New York State:

My BF Card

NY CLS Civ R § 79-e (Article 7 Miscellaneous Provisions).
1994 N.Y. ALS 98; 1994 N.Y. LAWS 98; 1994 N.Y. S.N. 3999

§ 79-E. Right To Breast Feed.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mother may breast feed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether or not the nipple of the mother’s breast is covered during or incidental to the breast feeding.

This addresses my right to breastfeed, and addresses the showing of my breast, but what if the manager argues that any of my breast showing is against exposure or obscenity laws? Well, he ya go mister!

NY Penal Laws § 245.01, 245.02

§ 245.01. Exposure of a person

A person is guilty of exposure if he appears in a public place in such a manner that the private or intimate parts of his body are unclothed or exposed. For purposes of this section, the private or intimate parts of a female person shall include that portion of the breast which is below the top of the areola. This section shall not apply to the breastfeeding of infants or to any person entertaining or performing in a play, exhibition, show or entertainment.

Since I am a busy mother of a very busy 8.5 month old, I don’t have time to memorize this.  As hilarious as it would be to rattle off penal codes to a very unsuspecting individual, it isn’t going to happen.  Instead, I have made myself a handy business card with the law printed on it.  This card will be stored in my wallet, and laminated.  Since it is a business card, I have opted to use the first law.  If you are interested in doing the same, which I highly recommend, and wish to include obscenity laws, perhaps you should make a sheet with all of the applicable laws.

Do you have any ideas on how to protect your rights?  Leave a comment, I would love to hear them!

This week, August 1-7, is World Breastfeeding Week! I have been wanting to make a post about it, but I haven’t known what to write.  WBW is about drawing attention to breastfeeding during emergencies.  I have actually thought about how thankful I am to be breastfeeding for this reason.  If our power was out, I would be able to feed my baby with no troubles.  If you want to read more about this, the lovely Melodie has a great post about WBW on her blog, Breastfeeding Moms Unite.

In honor of WBW, I am going to talk about nursing in public.  I am always amazed to hear the stories of women who encounter negative comments about breastfeeding their babies in public.  I have yet to receive a comment, positive or negative, but I am always prepared with a witty comeback just in case. Because of the sexualization of breasts, when they are seen even slightly while nursing our babies, they get looks.  No woman should ever have to be asked to feed their baby in a bathroom.  Or asked to leave a public place due to nursing their child.  I personally believe in modesty when breastfeeding my son.  I wear strategic clothing to keep my stomach and breasts covered.  I do not, however, use a nursing cover.  I also nurse my son while wearing him when convenient and possible.

Here are a few tips I have discovered that could help you nurse your baby comfortably and discreetly in public:

1. Plan ahead: If you know that you will be out and you aren’t comfortable nursing your child in public, top them off before leaving your house or in the car before you arrive.  I did this often when my son was a newborn.  I usually didn’t even have to nurse him on our trips because we planned them short enough that he would eat before we left, and once we got back home.
2. Location, location, location: Ideally, every store and public arena would have a room for nursing mothers with comfy couches, a changing table, a refrigerator stocked with cold water, and relaxing music to set the mood.  Most of the time I will settle for a bench somewhere out of the way where there is little noise.  Your baby is aware of the world around him or her once they get older.  Because of this, every passerby, cash register beep, paging intercom, helicopter overhead, and bright light will cause your baby to turn and look.  When breastfeeding, this isn’t the best time to be stimulated.  Feeding in the quietest place available is best to keep your child latched on for the whole feeding.
3. Nursing Necklace: Most moms wear little to no jewelry because their little ones always seems to grab and play with it.  It is fun for them, but not for your jewelry or skin.  With nursing necklaces, your baby can play while nursing.  It may keep them entertained enough to stay latched on, which will keep your breast from peeking out!
4. Nursing Attire: You don’t have to buy “nursing tops” or even nursing bras, though they are handy.  Sport bras can be pulled over to the side, and so can many soft molded cup bras.  This might but extra wear and tear on your bras.  Even though I own a few tops designed for nursing, the choices are limited.  Here are come dressing combos that I find very handy for nursing in public:

2 layers-

A v neck or low cut tank top: (or a nursing tank top, which unsnaps at the top) under any shirt of your choice: You can pull your breast out from the top and either pull your bra over, or unsnap your nursing bra.  This is my combo of choice during the milder temperatures.  When nursing, pull the top shirt down around your breast, and there will be nothing visible.  It is very discreet!

A button up shirt or sweater, worn over a v neck or low cut tank top or nursing tank top: When you are ready to nurse your child, unbutton and pull your breast from the top.  This may show more because your cleavage will not be covered.  You can try to pull the opposite side of your sweater over as much as possible to compensate.  Buttons are a pain when your child is famished.

1 Layer and 1/2 Layers-

Belly Band- Do you remember that Belly Band your wore while pregnant to keep your pants up?  This is a great option to keep your belly covered while nursing as well.  Wear the band over your stomach, and top it with whatever top you like.  You can pull your top up to nurse, while keeping your mommy tummy hidden.  The band may slip around or ride up, but if it is comfortable for you then use it!

1 Layer-

If it is hot, I do not bother with a tank top underneath my shirt.  In this case, here are some 1 layer options.

A low cut v neck- I like these because I can pull up and to the side, and just unsnap my nursing bra.  While not as discreet because the top of your breast is visible, when it is hot, it’s hot!  This does keep your belly covered.

A Nursing Top- There are shirts designed for nursing that have convenient openings.  They are meant to keep you very covered, while allowing easy access to your breast.  Not all nursing tops are created equal.  I have tried a few that just plain didn’t work.  The slit was positioned oddly and was too small.  Some aren’t as discreet as the tried and true double layer method of a tank underneath and shirt on top.  I like nursing tops with hidden panels like this one that you pull over.  The only difference between this style and a low cut v neck is that the panel covers the cleavage, and leave you a little more covered.

Other-

Dresses- Sometimes, we need to dress up.  Whether for a purpose, or for fun, this is a challenge when nursing.  Shopping can be depressing when it comes to dresses.  I have actually stopped going to the dress department altogether.  The only way to nurse in a dress is to pull up or to the side.  You can pull up from a strapless dress.  I have done this, but there isn’t much that isn’t showing.  The best option is again, a low cut V that you can pull to the side. One day, I will get to wear a pretty dress that isn’t a V neck!  There are nursing dresses, but they are hard to find and very expensive.

Babywearing- For convenience, babywearing is one way to nurse that is also discreet.  Many mothers swear by ring slings or pouch slings for newborns.  I envisioned nursing my son while cradling him in a sling.  Unfortunately, my son did not enjoy this position.  I have nursed him in a ring sling while wearing him in the tummyy to tummy position, or while he was on my hip.  If you use a wrap, there are many ways to nurse.  I have yet to try them, but there is a great blog with this video of how to nurse in a wrap: Sling is Love. I have also recently discovered the ease of nursing in my Ergo.  When you loosen one strap, you are able to nurse by bringing your breast up to the baby.  This will require practice, and also works best with tops you can pull out of from the top. Today I nursed my son in the Ergo while shopping.  I checked out with him latched and no one was the wiser!  Here is a how to video on how to nurse in an Ergo.

I realize many of my bloggy friends have written posts in honor of WBW.  If you have, use Mclinky to add your post and share!

Sitting up and nursing.

The time that I have been dreading since taking my baby home from the hospital is here: top teeth. I used to always tell people when they asked how long I would breastfeed for that when he got teeth, we were done. The first time I considered this wouldn’t be the case was after I talked to my lactation consultant. She assured me that not all babies bite, and if they do, there are ways to handle the situation without weaning. Hmmm…. maybe I could get through it. I sure worked hard enough at breastfeeding that I didn’t want to throw it all away because of a few little teeth.
Read the full story

Everyone please click this link-Breastfeeding Promotion Act- and sign your name!  Here is what you are signing.

Dear Breastfeeding Supporter:

On June 11, Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (NY) and Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) introduced the Breastfeeding Promotion Act in both houses of Congress. This is the first time the bill has been introduced in the Senate.

Forty-nine states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands already have enacted various laws protecting breastfeeding mothers, but they are not uniform and most are not comprehensive. Ask your Representative and Senators to co-sponsor the Breastfeeding Promotion Act to provide a unified national policy to keep mothers, their children, and their communities healthy.

**TAKE ACTION**
Tell your Representative and Senators to co-sponsor the Breastfeeding Promotion Act:
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5162/t/6359/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1697

We know that breastfeeding is good for mothers, babies, and society. The medical evidence shows that NOT breastfeeding increases the baby’s risk of infections, diarrhea, SIDS, obesity, diabetes, asthma, and childhood leukemia, and increases the mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancers and diabetes.Breastfeeding also has significant economic and environmental benefits for families, employers, and society.

Given all of these benefits, all major medical authorities (including the Department of Health and Human Services), recommend that babies get no food or drink other than breast milk for their first 6 months and continue to breastfeed for at least the first 1-2 years of life. But mothers need more support: only 12% of U.S. mothers are exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months, and only 21% are still breastfeeding at 1 year.

Interest in breastfeeding is at an all-time high: 77% of women breastfeed their infants at birth. But breastfeeding rates drop rapidly after hospital discharge. More than 50% of women with infants less than one year old are in the labor force. Employed mothers are more likely to stop breastfeeding early if they do not receive the support they need in the workplace.

Together we can change this! Tell Congress to support the Breastfeeding Promotion Act to provide the support mothers need!

WRITE TO CONGRESS:
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5162/t/6359/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1697

The Breastfeeding Promotion Act (H.R. 2819, S. 1244) includes five provisions:

1. Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect breastfeeding women from being fired or discriminated against in the workplace.
2. Provides tax incentives for businesses that establish private lactation areas in the workplace, or provide breastfeeding equipment or consultation services to their employees.
3. Provides for a performance standard to ensure breast pumps are safe and effective.
4. Allows breastfeeding equipment and consultation services to be tax deductible for families (amends Internal Revenue Code definition of “medical care”).
5. Protects the privacy of breastfeeding mothers by ensuring they have break time and a private place to pump (applies to employers with 50 or more employees, see text of legislation for details).

You’ve been making great strides at the state level, and we know we can do it at the national level too! With a few clicks of the mouse today, you can help build critical support for a groundbreaking bill to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding in the United States.

We look forward to continuing our important work together to improve the health of mothers and babies, and thank you in advance for your support!

Please Please forward this link to your friends and spread the word.  Even though I have personally never run into issues with breastfeeding in public or had to deal with pumping in the workplace, plenty of women had.  We have to protect our natural right to feed our babies!

This entry is part of The Carnival of Breastfeeding.  If you want to read more inspiring stories about breastfeeding in public, you can find links to other contributors at the end of this article.  Enjoy reading my adventures in NIPing… and as I write this I am NAKing!  

Imagine my shock when I look at my twitter feed and see a post about nursing in public that sounds exactly like the one I had been planning out in my head for weeks.  Regret, ahhh, why didn’t I write it when I had the chance?  Well, instead of the incredibly cool rip off of Green Eggs and Ham about the places I have nursed in public (here is the entry I am referring to- PHDinParenting) I will just say it flat out, with no whimsical rhymes.

 I am incredibly proud of my skills at NIPing.  I have been told by more than one person how good I am at it.  One woman said I inspired her to NIP after she saw how I did it with such grace.  Aww shucks.  Another friend of mine gladly told me, “I have never once seen your nipple.”  Gosh guys… you are going to make me blush.  So there ya go, I have the skillz to pay the billz, and feed my son.  

I still remember the first time I nursed in public.  I was incredibly awkward at it.  I was using a cover, trying to nurse at the mall on a bench.  I had nursed in the mother’s room at Babies R Us before, but that was a horse of another color.  My husband was even more nervous that I.  He was constantly trying to make sure my breasts weren’t showing.  He positioned the cover over me, looked around as if we were guilty of a crime, and kept asking me when I would be finished.  I was very proud of myself for not going to a bathroom, where there were two hard chairs in a corner set aside for nursing mothers.  This same bathroom has the Excelerator hand dryers that sounds like jet engines.  Would you want to nurse next to a jet engine, or next to someone who is evacuating their bowels?  

My NIPing took a while to get going.  We didn’t exactly leave the house much when my son was very young.  Sometimes, we went to a friend’s house. There, I would go to another room and use a cover, just in case.  My husband;s boss walked in once while we were at his house.  He didn’t even give me a second glance.  I had taken my cover off, but I was wearing layers so nothing was visible.  He talked to me like I was a human being, not a 3 headed monster.  This was on Christmas Eve.  I was feeling much better about NIPing.

Dec. 24 2008 Taken just after I had nursed my son.  See unbuttoned sweater.

The breakthrough came when we all drove to North Carolina to visit family.  We were still nervous about flying with the baby.  Our game plan was to stop every 3-4 hours to change and feed the baby.  Our first stop was at a very nice rest stop.  I sat on a bench in the common area and, using my cover, nursed my son as truckers and families walked by.  Not so bad.  Next, we stopped for lunch at a McDonald’s.  I was too uncomfortable to nurse in the car so I decided to do it inside.  My husband wasn’t thrilled about that.  I sat in a very crummy chair and nursed my son, with a cover, in front of children and families.  It went downhill…. I ended up nursing in the car the rest of the way.  Scrunched up and sore, but persevering.  We made it to Charlotte, 15 hours later.  I went upstairs in my in-law’s home and nursed him.  

Things got better though.  Throughout the trip, I gained more confidence.  I start nursing without a cover at my in-law’s house.  My Mother-in-law nursed her children, why should I be uncomfortable in the home I was staying at for over a week?  Then, friends of ours came over.  We grilled out, and I nursed my son coverless in front of them all.  We carried on a conversation while I nursed!  For the first time I felt like I was not left out in the cold.  I didn’t have to be shut in a room to feed my son while the party went on without me.  I was still too uncomfortable to nurse in front of immediate family, like my father and sister.  But friends and strangers were no longer an issue.  My triumphant moment came at Ikea.  It was the grand opening.  I went with my pal on the second day.  I was carrying my son in his sling, having a grand time.  Once it came time to nurse him we went to the cafeteria.  I opened my nursing top and fed him proudly with no cover.  He was fidgeting though, and popped off many times.  A stranger came to try and help me!  She also wanted to put the sling over him as a cover, which I refused.  I knew he didn’t like covers, and I used to use them anyway.  But no more!  I kept feeding him.  I remember a man walking by and smiling over at me.  I hope it was a good smile; that he was happy to see a new mom nourishing her baby.  I like to think so.

On our drive back I had a terrible time, however.  We stopped at a rest area and my son needed to be fed.  I took him in, not realizing it was just a bathroom.  No common area.  And not even a chair to sit in.  I stood up and nursed my son while a revolving door of women came in and out.  I wasn’t embarrassed, just sad to have to feed my son in the restroom while toilets were flushing and hand dryers blared.  I vowed then to never, ever, nurse in a bathroom again.

Since that trip I have not used my cover.  I have come up with ways to nurse discreetly.  My dress for going out either incorporates a nursing top or, a nursing bra, an undershirt that can be pulled down, and a regular shirt to pull up.  This hides my mommy tummy.  Lately though, it has been hot.  I have only worn one shirt, and decided to heck with not showing my tummy.  My son covers most of it anyway.

Here are some of the more interesting places I have had to nurse my son.  

In a park, while wearing rollerblades:

On a plane. On a later trip, I nursed next a a perfect stranger just so I could sit in first class (woo hoo upgrades!) Totally worth it.

In a cave in TX. I nursed close to the entire tour to keep him happy and quiet. I am out of focus… but you can tell, I am really IN a cave.

In an aviary at Bush Gardens (I even nursed him while we walked through the interactive area, with birds flying all around us)

Other cool places that aren’t pictured:
On the beach.
On the pier.
At an outdoor festival next to a homeless person.
On a train.
In the airport.
In the grocery store while in a sling.
In Marshall’s while in a sling.
In many, many restaurants.
Next to a waterfall.
At the Zoo.
At the aquarium.
In a speeding vehicle. 

States I have nursed in so far: New York, North Carolina, Texas, Florida. (Illinois and D.C if you count layovers )

***Edited to add this hilarious story! ***

While we were in San Antonio we were using a different carseat than our usual.  This one was a convertible.  My son hated it and cried almost non stop while in it.  On one drive (to the caves in which I am pictured above) he was screaming.  I decided to try and breastfeed him while we were driving because my sanity could no longer take it and my heart was breaking.  I pulled up my shirt, pulled out my boob, and inserted it him his mouth.  Happy baby, uncomfortable mommy.  We got off of the highway and stopped at a red light.  I was still feeding my son, hunched over the car seat.  I look to the right and see a man in a truck smiling directly at me.  Then, it hit me that my boob is in my son’s mouth and he is smiling at me while this is happening.  He can see me.  If I pulled it out it would only be more visible so I turned away and hoped for a green light.  Meanwhile I am telling my husband, who crawls up a little.  His response, “What made you think people couldn’t see you?”  Me: “Our windows are tinted” (we are in a rental.) Him: “Not they aren’t… you are wearing sunglasses.”  Yeah, I am that dumb.  But, at least I put a smile on that guy’s face!

I wouldn’t say I am a lactivist, but I am proud to feed my son, whenever and wherever it needs to be done. I am just sad I didn’t begin Nursing in Public sooner, I could have saved myself a lot of heartache.  I have yet to hear a negative comment, although once in a restaurant the lady I was talking to promptly stopped conversing with me once I began to nurse my son. Other than that, the responses have been non existent or positive.

(Boobs) Out and Proud

Would you, Could you…

Here at the Restaurant

Nursing in a room full of people you know…

Aww, is he sleeping?

Nursing in Public: Chinatown, The Subway, The Vatican, and More…

Breastfeeding in Public

Nursing in Public as an Immigrant 

Breastfeeding in Public- Mommy News Blog

To Cover or Not to Cover

Nursing in Public, or NIP as its known.

Get kicked off a bus for nursing in public?  Here’s how to respond.

Thank You For Nursing in Public

Breastfeeding in the Summertime

Why Worry About NIP

Little Old Men… & Nursing in Public

Wee NIP in the Park

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles… We’ve Breastfed in Them All.

Nursing in Public: A Fresh Perspective on Nurse-In’s

 Breastfeeding Hats? YES! Nursing Covers? Uh… Not So Much

Products that can help you NIP

Easy, discreet way to breastfeed a toddler in public

Nursing in Public – What’s a Breastfeeding Mother to Do!!

[smartads]

Bed-sharing, co-sleeping, the Family Bed, call it what you will.  My family co-sleeps on a part-time basis.  My son is put to sleep in his crib.  He usually wakes up at 4 am to nurse.  I take him from his crib and into my bed.  He curls up next to me and nurses, and we fall asleep together.  It is the best of both worlds: nursing and cuddling.  

But, OMG you are going to smother your baby!!!  No, I’m not.  My son has his own blanket (swaddled) and I keep my own blankets below him.  My knees are instinctively positioned under him, preventing him from scooting under covers.  He sleeps on my arm, which stays around him preventing him from rolling off the bed.  I am also a very light sleeper.  

When Fletcher was born my in-laws made me very afraid of co-sleeping.  I remember when he was a few days old, out of desperation and exhaustion I nursed him in bed and slept with him next to me.  He wouldn’t stop crying and I just couldn’t find anything that worked besides cuddling.  I mentioned it at the dinner table and the response was, “Oh, I did everything I could not to fall asleep with my kids.  That is dangerous.  You should never, ever do that again, no matter how tired you are.”  Wah wah.  So, for many weeks I would wake up every few hours, take my son into the living room where I could comfortably nurse with my nursing pillow, then after an hour of him nursing (this is when we had troubles and I had to use a shield), I would try to get him into his cradle without him waking.  If he woke up, I could be up for quite some time.  

It was probably two months before I started co-sleeping.  The first time was a nap.  We were both tired.  I decided to give the side lying nursing position another shot.  Previously, I had no success at it.  This time, it worked.  I laid on the bed, Fletcher nursed, and we both fell asleep.  What an awesome feeling.  I got to nap and so did he.  I cannot describe how sleep deprived I was up until this point.  The old adage, “Sleep when the baby sleeps” never worked because he only wanted to nap in my arms.  And at night I was still nursing 4-6 times while having to stay awake.  

That week, every time my son would wake up from his cradle, I would take him into my bed, into my arms, and nurse him into a peaceful slumber.  From that point on I felt like a new woman.  Why had I let other people’s opinions matter so much to me?  Had I been doing this from the beginning I would have completely enjoyed my son, instead of resenting the fact that I had to wake up and nurse him all night.

To people who think co-sleeping can contribute to SIDS, please read this amazing article- Why Nighttime Breastfeeding and Bedsharing Is So Important- that is well researched and beautifully written.  The arguments for co-sleeping make so much sense to me.  I can’t think of a better way to wake up than seeing my son smiling and cuddled in my arms.  

Our first 4d glimpse of our son

38 1/2 weeks, my tummy baby

Six months ago my son was born.  7 lbs, 3 oz, 19.5 inches long, and cute as a button.  I didn’t get my dream birth experience since I was high risk, but I did deliver my dream son.  I remember when I was pregnant, passerbys, friends, and family alike used to tell me “Appreciate every day because it passes so quickly.”  That it does.  Thankfully, we did as we were told and took a million and one pictures.  

It took 20 hours after they started pitocin to labor and deliver my son.  I pushed for 3 hours.  Once his shoulders were out, I pulled him the rest of the way out and put him on my chest.  We allowed his cord to stay on until it stopped pulsating.  I was given a good amount of time to bond with him before he was taken to be cleaned and examined.  I wasn’t allowed to nurse until the NICU doctors examined him due to the “grunting” way he was breathing.  This was devastating to me.  I had envisioned delivering my son and putting him to the breast right away.  

Fletcher, a few minutes old

Once we were in the recovery room we tried nursing for the first time.  Apparently, nursing is not a natural instinct for mother or baby.  My son was a terrible latcher.  He has a recessed chin so his bottom gums rubbed my nipple raw.  To help regulate his blood sugar my colostrum was manually expressed (I was milked) by the lactation consultant.  He took this tiny amount of precious fluid and it did wonders.  We kept this up, and I also used the hospital pump to get colostrum for him.  

The first picture taken of mother and son.

My entire stay in the hospital was dedicated to learning how to nurse.  I slept less than 10 hours in the three days I was there.  It was a blur of nurses and lactation consultants coming in to attach my son to my breast, pumping, and doctor examinations.  I didn’t get to enjoy my son.  In some ways I was miserable.  Nursing seemed hopeless.  I felt defeated.  I was exhausted, sore from giving birth, and blistered from nursing.  Every time the nurse would come in to help me nurse, I cringed.  

Finally, after little success, the lactation consultant suggested that I use a nipple shield.  Hallelujah.  He latched on!  In a few sessions we were nursing.  I left the hospital mildly confident about nursing, and armed with a pump “just in case.”

In 5 weeks we were completely weaned from the shield after 2 visits with a lactation consultant.  In 3 months, I felt 99% confident with nursing.  By 5 months I was a pro.  

Exactly 5 months old.

Although I wouldn’t call it a goal, my expectation was to nurse until his teeth made an appearance.  Since then, I have changed my goal.  I want to make it to a year.  And from then, I will let Fletcher decide.   I am extremely proud of myself for reaching 6 months.  If you had told me in the hospital that I would make it to 6 months I wouldn’t have believed you.  Breastfeeding has taken more work than I expected, but it has brought me more joy than I thought possible.  Some of my favorite memories of the past 6 months have involved nursing my son.  He makes contented gulps and sighs, he clutches at my bra strap or top, he opens and closes his fists, he looks up at me with such love and trust, he drifts off in my arms, he is just amazing.

Now, he is no longer my little baby.  He is over 15 pounds and 26.5 inches long.  He has been eating solids since Mother’s Day.  

His first taste of solid food.

His first two teeth have cut, one 2 days ago, and one yesterday.  Thankfully, they are his bottom teeth so I have bought some more time before teeth become an issue.  He has such a personality; I consider him a watcher of the world.  He is a very serious child, he likes to take in his surroundings and study them  If he can take them in his hand and examine them with his mouth, he will.  I am constantly amazed by him, and how much I love him.  

Happy 1/2 Birthday, Fletcher!

If you have been visiting my blog from the get go you will notice many, many changes.  It has and will always be a work in progress.  What blog or website isn’t?  The two new recent developments:  I am part of the BlogHer ad network, and I am blogging for Justmommies.com.  For people visiting my site directly the only change visible is the new ad network.  If you are stopping over from Justmommies.com then “Welcome!”

I joined JM when I was pregnant.   I first started posting on the Gestational Diabetes board.  At the time I thought my life was ending.  No more carbs!!!  But I realized it is completely manageable and would end at delivery.  Reading those posts helped.  At about the same time I started posting newbie questions on their Cloth Diapering forum.   What a resource that board was and still is for me.  Cloth Diapering is such an overwhelming idea at first.  It takes a lot of online research to understand.  Not many people have stores or classes in their area they can take, which is why that forum was so amazingly helpful and the women are all wonderful.

I never posted in the Due Date Club- November 2008 while I was pregnant.  I was intimidated by how close the women seemed to be; they had bonded since they found out they were pregnant in most cases, and I didn’t want to intrude.  I did lurk when I found JM; many of their stories helped me personally.  One in particular was heartbreaking.  I decided to take the plunge and introduce myself after my son was born.  I really needed support from other moms going through the exact same situation.  I am so glad I did!  

I love all of the women on my “Playroom” as it is called now that all of our babies are here.  I can’t imagine my life now without obsessively refreshing our PR to see new posts!  While sometimes I wish I never found them since my housework has suffered immensely.  

Now on JM I visit my PR, the Cloth Diapering board, The Arts and Crafts board, Breastfeeding, and occasionally Attachment parenting (I don’t post on AP, just lurk).  My advice to anyone reading this who isn’t active on JM: try it out!  If you don’t like it, don’t go back.  Oh, and no drama!  JM is a drama free community

Yesterday was the nicest day of the year so far!  A friend and I went to Ithaca NY to buy some cloth diapers and tool around town.  I just love going to Ithaca because I am not the crunchiest person around.  While we were eating lunch a woman had to breastfeed her son, and did so without a cover.  I am not the only one.  Fletcher needed a nibble during this time too, so the outdoor eaters were treated to two breastfeeding mamas.  

Sleeping in the stroller during lunch, and looking cool doing it!

After the shopping and eating portion was over we walked to a little waterfall near downtown.  The babies were put on blankets and allowed to play in the grass.  This was the first time Fletcher’s little hands ever touched grass!  He seemed pretty intrigued by it, but never attempted to put any in his mouth thank goodness.  I walked him to the waterfall but he wasn’t impressed.  He does love the sound of water so he probably enjoyed that aspect of it.  

It ended up being a good trip, with some whining by both babies at some point or another.  

Touching grass for the first time

the waterfall we visited