World Breastfeeding Week - 2006

If you’re a longtime reader of the Celebrity Baby Blog, you may remember our weeklong World Breastfeeding Week Celebration in August 2006.  We raised over $1500 through advertising dollars and a raffle.  For 2007, I am planning an event in NYC with Big City Moms which I hope will raise at least $500 but I would like to raise much more than that with your help. 

I would like to either auction or raffle off prizes donated by our vendors. The prizes will be mostly baby clothes and gear, nursing and maternity items, but also some non-baby items.  Even if you couldn’t care less about La Leche League, you can snag some great stuff for a great price and help moms at the same time.

Which would you be more likely to participate in? 

Please also tell us what kinds of products you’d like to win.

Today is your last chance to enter the raffle to win a Baby Jogger stroller filled with stuff celebs love! 

Together with Forty Weeks, we are offering a raffle to help raise money for La Leche League International.  Win a Baby Jogger stroller filled with new and exciting products to pamper mom and baby.  I use the Baby Jogger as my primary stroller because it has the smoothest ride of any stroller I’ve ever tried.  You don’t need to jog to use a jogging stroller!

You will receive one raffle ticket PER $5 donated to La Leche League (via http://donate.llli.org) OR any breastfeeding support group of your choosing.  For each $5 you donate, you will receive one "virtual" raffle ticket.PLUS, donate $50 and receive a bonus 5 tickets.  Donate $100 andreceive a bonus 15 tickets. Awinner will be chosen by September 30.  Click here for the official rules of entry.

Here are the other fabulous prizes included:
-babydaze organizational tool for new parents and a must for moms like Rachel Weisz.
-Lil’Dipper Essentials Gift Set loved by Mary Louise Parker and Reese Witherspoon.
-Oopa Bloomer and Do’Rag, made out of the same delicious fabrics used for Oopa Baby slings – favorites of Angelina Jolie and Gwen Stefani.
-an assortment of Bravado Nursing Bras, worn by Jennifer Garner, Britney Spears and Angelina Jolie.
-SoHo Parenting’sA Mother’s Circle, an Intimate Dialogue on Becoming a Mother written byLisa Spiegal and Jean Kunhardt, recommended by Sarah Jessica Parker toall of her friends.
-Special Momease™ The Essential New Mother Comfort Kit™ – celebrity moms Katie Holmes and Jennifer Garner are fans.
-L’Oved Baby Nursing Shawl

Please note: If you have made a donation to La Leche League for the WorldBreastfeeding Week Raffle on the Celebrity Baby Blog AND paid with acredit card, you did not receive a receipt via email.  Since we need acopy of your receipt to enter you in the raffle, you will need to emailLPARRYLLL AT aol.com to request your receipt and then send it to us at wbwraffle AT celebrity-babies.com.  Sorry for the confusion.

If you have made a donation to La Leche League for the WorldBreastfeeding Week Raffle on the Celebrity Baby Blog AND paid with acredit card, you did not receive a receipt via email.  Since we need acopy of your receipt to enter you in the raffle, you will need to email lparrylll AT aol.com to request your receipt and then forward it to us at wbwraffle AT celebrity-babies.com.  Sorry for the confusion.

You will receive one raffle ticket PER $5 donated to La Leche League (via http://donate.llli.org ) OR any breastfeeding support group of your choosing.  The raffle closes on August 30th so pleased donate today!   For each $5 you donate, you will receive one "virtual" raffle ticket.PLUS, donate $50 and receive a bonus 5 tickets.  Donate $100 andreceive a bonus 15 tickets.  (Do not send money directly to us.)  Awinner will be chosen by September 30.  Click here for the official rules of entry.

If you have made a donation to La Leche League for the World Breastfeeding Week Raffle on the Celebrity Baby Blog AND paid with a credit card, you did not receive a receipt via email.  Since we need a copy of your receipt to enter you in the raffle, you will need to email LPARRYLLL AT aol.com to request your receipt and then send it to us at wbwraffle AT celebrity-babies.com.  Sorry for the confusion.

You will receive one raffle ticket PER $5 donated to La Leche League (via http://donate.llli.org ) OR any breastfeeding support group of your choosing.  The raffle closes on August 30th so pleased donate today! For each $5 you donate, you will receive one "virtual" raffle ticket.PLUS, donate $50 and receive a bonus 5 tickets.  Donate $100 andreceive a bonus 15 tickets.  (Do not send money directly to us.)  Awinner will be chosen by September 30.  Click here for the official rules of entry.

Together with Forty Weeks, we are offering a raffle to help raise money for La Leche League International.  Win a Baby Jogger stroller filled with new and exciting products to pamper mom and baby.

Here are the other fabulous prizes included:
-babydaze organizational tool for new parents and a must for moms like Rachel Weisz.
-Lil’Dipper Essentials Gift Set loved by Mary Louise Parker and Reese Witherspoon.
-Oopa Bloomer and Do’Rag, made out of the same delicious fabrics used for Oopa Baby slings – favorites of Angelina Jolie and Gwen Stefani.
-an assortment of Bravado Nursing Bras, worn by Jennifer Garner, Britney Spears and Angelina Jolie.
-SoHo Parenting’s A Mother’s Circle, an Intimate Dialogue on Becoming a Mother written by Lisa Spiegal and Jean Kunhardt, recommended by Sarah Jessica Parker to all of her friends.
-Special Momease™ The Essential New Mother Comfort Kit™ – celebrity moms Katie Holmes and Jennifer Garner are fans.
-L’Oved Baby Nursing Shawl

Enter to win a Baby Jogger stroller filled with new and exciting products to pamper mom and baby when you donate $5+ to La Leche League.  Click here for the details.

BINSI Labor and Birth Apparel – Tops and skirts designed especially for labor and birth to help mommies relax and feel more like healthy women about to become a mothers – not patients.  This great alternative is designed with function and style in mind, so BINSI can (and should!) be worn before, during and after birth – offering versatility like no other. 

The BINSI Go Go top, as well as all BINSI skirts, are designed to allow skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth.  It is this special skin-to-skin contact that can help initiate successful breastfeeding by keeping babies warm and calm.  It is also a great way for moms and babies to bond.

All BINSI tops come with thoughtful features such as nursing hooks and side snaps for easy removal any time, are easily washable and great to wear while breastfeeding. 

BINSI was gifted to Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Jennifer Garner, Brooke Shields, and Melissa Joan Hart.

Today’s World Breastfeeding Week post is sponsored by the Monarch Nursery Chair.  The stylish Monarch Nursery Chair provides the optimum seating for feeding, story time, cuddle time and so much more!

Extended Breastfeeding

by Teba, Celebrity Baby Blog Reviews Editor

My little girl is officially a toddler now and like all kids her age she loves baby peas, Cheerios, scrambled eggs and watermelon but unlike most toddlers, Catie’s favorite food is her mother’s milk.  That’s right — we are still nursing and I have no intention of weaning her anytime soon. 

There are many reasons why I continue to nurse Catie and though I am aware that this isn’t something that many people in modern society feel comfortable with, I strongly believe that the benefits of extended nursing outweigh the social stigma.  There are the nutritional benefits, of course, but the rewards go way beyond nutrition and they are numerous.

I have heard people claim time and time again that there is no nutritional benefit to breastmilk after six months but plainly speaking, this simply isn’t true.  After the sixth month, and even well past the first year, breastmilk still contains the right protein, fat and other important vitamins that a growing child needs. After all, mother’s milk is made specifically for humans so why wouldn’t it be nutritious for them? On days when my little girl wants to eat nothing but Veggie Booty and French fries, I don’t have to worry because I know she is getting all the vitamins she needs from my milk.

Then there is the sick factor.  We all know that a baby who was breastfed in the first year of life is less at risk for illness than her formula-fed peers, however, those immunities don’t stop being delivered after the first year.  In fact, recent research supports the notion that nursing toddlers are less likely to get sick than non-nursing toddlers regardless of how they were fed in their first year of life.  I can tell you first-hand how nice it is not to have to worry when Catie steals her friend Abby’s sippy cup at playgroup or when her friend Felix uses her pacifier as a teether.  It’s also great knowing that when my husband and I have a cold, Catie will most likely never get it because she nurses so often.

Nursing also fosters a healthy independence in a child.  This sounds counterintuitive and many, many people have insinuated that nursing into toddlerhood will make a child too dependent.  However, research shows that the child who weans when she wants to is more independent and also has a higher sense of self-security.  By allowing Catie to decide when she is ready to wean, she is meeting an important milestone at her own pace.  Nursing for as long as she desires to is as biologically normal as walking and talking is.  I would never force her to walk so how could I force her to give up nursing? Furthermore, nursing allows us a bonding time that we normally wouldn’t have these days now that she is so busy discovering new words and trying to figure out what lives under the couch.  But before you start to say that I am nursing her purely for my own benefit consider this fact: You can not force a baby to breastfeed. It’s as simple as that.

People are often shocked when they find out that I am still nursing and why wouldn’t they be?  We live in a culture where it’s not very normal to see a baby nursing past a few months, if at all, and certainly not into the toddler years.  People also seem to have this notion that the breastfed toddler nurses the same way as an infant does but this just isn’t true.  Most toddlers have no interest in nursing during the day if they are busy doing other things.  In fact, you probably know plenty of people who you would otherwise consider normal who may be nursing their two or three year old down to sleep at night.  Ask around and you might be surprised! 

If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of extended nursing, you can gather some great information here: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/index.html

Photos: Teba (author) and Catie, 11 months old; Melissa and Xavier; Nicola and Kellan, 2 1/2 years old; Amanda and Paloma, 13 months old.

Note: All photos are copyright to the owner and subjects.  Please do not reproduce these images.

For more photos of mothers nursing their toddlers, click the extended post.

Click to continue reading »

Books:
There are tons of great books out there but here are a few recommended ones.   

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International
This definitive guide to breastfeeding reflects current research whilemaintaining its trademark style of mother-to-mother sharing. Filledwith research along with personal stories from mothers, the seventhrevised edition of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding includes newexplanations of how the breast makes milk, details about effectivepositioning and latch-on, suggestions for using herbs and medicationsto increase milk supply, and more. Updated information provides motherswith the tools needed to make informed decisions about birth,breastfeeding, and parenting.

The Breastfeeding Book by Martha Sears and William Sears
Easy to read and thoroughly indexed, The Breastfeeding Book, by Dr. andMartha Sears covers everything from the basics of breastfeeding, fromhow to get the baby to latch on properly to toddler nursing andweaning. The "Consumer’s Guide to Breastfeeding Products" isinteresting as well as informative. Includes tips and interesting factsin sidebars throughout the text.

Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers by Jack Newman, MD and Theresa Pitman
Whether you’re on your first child or your fifth, this book is idealfor all mothers: those pregnant, those beginning to breastfeed, orthose wondering about weaning their toddler. The authors of thiscomprehensive guide provide valuable information including how toachieve good latch-on, what to do if a baby is refusing the breast,sore nipples and how to treat them, how breast surgeries can affectbreastfeeding, and ways to ensure a baby receives enough milk.

Why Should I Nurse My Baby? by Pamela K. Wiggins
Using a question-and-answer format, this book addresses common problemsand gives practical information about the early days of breastfeeding,positioning, diet, working and breastfeeding, and breastfeeding aids.This easy-to-read, concise book is a wonderful introduction to thebasics of breastfeeding and remains a convenient reference as questionsarise.

Mothering Your Nursing Toddler by Norma Jane Bumgarner
The classic handbook for mothers who breastfeed their children pastinfancy in an updated and expanded edition. Norma Jane Bumgarner putsthe experience of nursing an older baby or child in perspective, withinthe context of the entire mother-child relationship. She citesbiological, cultural, and historical evidence in support of extendedbreastfeeding and shares stories gleaned from thousands of families forwhom breastfeeding and natural weaning have been the norm.

Nursing Mother, Working Mother by Gale  Pryor
Mothers who combine breastfeeding with working will find this animmensely helpful and reassuring book. The author includes practicalinformation on planning for and returning to employment; clear, concisetips on breastfeeding; pumping, storing, and transporting milk; andpossible alternatives to full-time employment such as job sharing,working from home, and staying home full-time. The book suggestsnumerous ways mothers can build and maintain closeness with theirbabies in spite of separation.

So That’s What They’re For! by Janet Tamaro
A lighthearted and humorous look at breastfeeding in modern timesthat’s full of factual information and down-to-earth answers to theuniversal questions breastfeeding mothers have. This book speaksfrankly about possible changes in sexual relationships, offersoverwhelming support for the benefits of breastfeeding, helps mothersovercome their fear of nursing in public, and gives tips for continuingto breastfeed if you return to work.

We Like to Nurse by Chia Martin
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! This book presents breastfeeding asa natural part of life for many different kinds of animals–and forhuman "animals," too. Large, bright pictures and short, simplesentences make this book ideal for the toddler in your life.

All of these books are available at the La Leche League International online catalog (members save 10%) but also at Amazon, and probably Barnes & Nobles, Borders and most bookstores.

Organizations:
Do you need help breastfeeding?  Contact these organizations to find a lactation consultant or a breastfeeding support group. 

International Lactation Consultants Association (ILCA)
919-787-4916
http://www.ilca.org

La Leche League International International
847-519-7730
Breastfeeding Helpline: 800-525-3243
Taped Message: 900-448-7475 ext. 26
http://www.lalecheleague.org

Magazines

New Beginnings – the magazine of La Leche League International
When you join La Leche League International ($40/year),you get a free subscription to what my favorite La Leche Leader Lizcalls, "a meeting in a magazine."  She’s so right- I love when the newissues arrive in the mail.  If you don’t want to join La Leche, you can also subscribe for $20 a year.  Check out the archives here.

Mothering magazine
If you’re looking for a parenting magazinethat caters more to the attachment parenting philosophy, here’s yourmagazine.  Sometimes I find it’s a little too crunchy for me, but Ireally enjoy reading most of the articles.  They feature lots ofarticles about breastfeeding.  In fact, the July/August issue has agreat article about why we need a breastfeeding culture.  A one year bimonthly subscription is $23.

Websites
Have a question that can’t wait until morning?  Check out these great websites.

Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre featuring Dr. Jack Newman and Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC – http://www.bflrc.com/
Breastfeeding legislation in the US – http://www.lalecheleague.org/Law/summary.html
American Academy of Pediatrics’ policy statement on breastfeeding - http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics%3b100/6/1035
Dr. Sears – http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020100.asp
Kellymom.com – http://www.kellymom.com/bf/index.html
La Leche League International - http://www.lalecheleague.org/bfinfo.html
Australian Breastfeeding Association – http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au 
Breastfeeding.com - http://www.breastfeeding.com
About.com’s Breastfeeding Your Child – http://pediatrics.about.com/od/breastfeeding/index.htm?terms=breastfeeding
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action - http://www.waba.org.my
Mothering – http://www.mothering.com

Do you have a resource to share?  Please post it in the comments.

by CBB Reader Deborah Minner, mother of Aidan, 3, and Sean, 2

I’ve always thought those two words sum up the key to my successful breastfeeding experiences. I never realized how much patience I had until my first son was born, but as a stubborn, red-headed, middle child, Aries, I knew I had plenty of persistence in my personality! I had planned on breastfeeding for at least a year per child before I even got pregnant, thanks to the support of my younger sister and mother-in-law. They both had breastfed their sons that long and I knew I could count on their support when I had children.

Click the extended post to reader Deborah’s story of persistence and patience with breastfeeding her two sons, Sean and Aidan, one of whom has Down’s syndrome.  Mothers of children with Down syndrome are often told that the baby will not be successful at breastfeeding and instead are told to bottlefed. It did take her son three months to get the hang of it, but he is almost 2 now and still nursing!

Click to continue reading »

Milkdudz – not your mommaz nursing wear is truly dedicated to the supporting and lifting up of the nursing mother!! With The Original BabyMina, The Convertible BabyMina,  The Goddess Gown, The Nursing Nightie, and the fabulous selection of Tanktopz, the Mommaz are committed to bringing style and fun into the world of breastfeeding. 

Based out of Temecula, California, Milkdudz – not your mommaz nursing wear was founded by two fashionista mommies who breastfed their own children without any stylish nursing cover-ups or sexy clothes.  Now celebrity mommies like Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie-Pitt, Gwen Stefani, Brooke Shields and many more can enjoy the fruits of their labor!  "We are both true believers in breastfeeding and we enthusiastically encourage women to be involved in the amazing experience.  When we nursed our babies there was nothing sassy or stylish to use as a cover-up.  We know that sometimes nursing women feel, as we both did, frumpy and out-of-sorts.  We designed the collection to help women regain their sense of style, sexiness and confidence.  The feedback we have received has been tremendous and we will continue to bring hip nursing accessories and clothing to the forefront of fashion,” explain The Milkdudz mommaz.

World Breastfeeding Week is the greatest outreach vehicle for the breastfeeding movement, being celebrated in over 120 countries.  The theme for 2006 is “Code Watch: 25 Years of Protecting Breastfeeding.”  This year’s theme provides an opportunity to celebrate the progress that has been made worldwide over the last several decades to protect and promote breastfeeding. It also serves to remind us that we each play a part in creating a positive environment in which mothers receive the support they need to breastfeed, which is why Milkdudz -not your mommaz nursing wear is a proud supporter, and during August 1-15, FREE shipping with purchase is gifted to all who enter WBW2006 in the promo code box! Happy Nursing!