5 reasons why #NIPLBC is important to me.
I know, that sounds like a cutesy little saying that we use to get mamas to keep at it. But it is so so true. Before I had Claire I had let a few people know that I was planning on breastfeeding and not using a cover, I just did not want to and felt like it would be one less thing to purchase. I had no idea what a personal issue it would eventually become. It was a little bit of a tough sell, my husband wasn't so sure he would feel comfortable with it, my mom said that she wasn't sure how appropriate it would be and some friends have and still say that they think its weird. I even wavered in the beginning and ended up with my very own cover [that I always forgot to pack].
I remember being at a wedding when Claire was about 3 weeks old, it was time to nurse so we headed off as far away as we could from the party and I placed a napkin over her head and my breast while Ryan stood next to me so I wouldn't be lonely. After struggling with the latch, being sad I couldn't eat my buttered roll and having to adjust the napkin again, I said, "fuck this" and threw it on the ground. I finished our nursing session and since then I have never allowed myself to be invisible while nursing again. {now if you use a cover I say HELL YES! You should nurse any way that works for you, if that is what is best for you and your nursling I give you a cyber high five! If you do it because you feel like you SHOULD or that you HAVE to then please call me and I will come nurse right along side of you until you feel more comfy}. Instead of hiding while I nurse I chat with my friends, explain to kids if they ask what I am doing, look people in the eye if they stare a little too long and I mostly just enjoy my child because that is what its all about.
2. The community.
We have 1130 women in our Long Beach Breastfeeds, Online Support group and I have to say that I have met many of them in person and they are an amazing tribe of women to have in your corner. In the private support group women are able to be open about any issues they might be having, the group of admins try to keep everything positive and helpful and there is even milk sharing going on when a mother is in a bind. Without this group I don't know if the friendly breastfeeding initiative would have passed but I know for damn sure that without Celine Malanum & Maricela Renteria de Rivera there would have been no way. These two GIVE ALL OF THEMSELVES to this group, Long Beach Breastfeeds is run by two mamas and some volunteers who are just making it happen. They want to unify & progress our diverse local breastfeeding community by bringing equitable, accessible, quality support to every family & every neighborhood. To say thank you to them and to our city please join us tonight [plus its Maricela's birthday] at Long Beach City Hall for the council meeting. Long Beach Breastfeeds will be receiving a resolution formally recognizing our work and August as National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. It's huge. It's important. And I'm incredibly proud of our breastfeeding community.
3. It is your right.
- A mother may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, except the
private home or residence of another, where the mother and the child
are otherwise authorized to be present.
Do not let anyone tell you otherwise, do not let someones eyes make you feel shamed and if they have the nerve to say anything other than, "oh what a sweet baby you have there" feel confident in knowing your rights and nurse on.
Here is a list of the state laws if you want to check where you or a friend lives LAWS
4. The bond.
Let me first say that I understand that if you breastfed for three weeks, 3 months or not at all that you are still bonded with your baby, my account of my relationship with my daughter is not to take away what you have experienced.
Nursing for me has been a life changing thing. After having an emergency c section I worried about breastfeeding, I had heard that the meds, that the recovery time and all sorts of things that go along with a major surgery could negatively impact our nursing relationship. Thankfully our hospital was very supportive and we were off and running as soon as I came out of my fog. My husband and family/friends have been always there with a shoulder or an ear or lactation tea and I am forever grateful because of that I know how to comfort my daughter almost instantly, I am able to nourish her with just my body and I know how it feels to have her look up at me while she is latched on while I sing her a song and smell her little bit of hair. I came home from a night away and she ran straight over to me, took my hand and led me to a lounge chair so that we could nurse, this is how we get to be still and reconnect. I love breastfeeding my daughter.
5. Long Beach is my home and I want it to be a loving home.
I am so excited that August is now National Breastfeeding Month in Long Beach!!! Since I became a mom and started breastfeeding I have made it a point to try and help any mama I know, I remember the hard days when I never thought we would make it off the milk soaked couch and another mom would text me and just ask how I was. Or when I made lactation cookies with a girlfriend so that we could both pump enough milk for day care. Without those women I don't know where we would be. I want my daughter to grow up knowing her neighbors, saying hello to people on the street and offering help as often as she can. When it comes to new moms I know sometimes people worry about coming on too strong, they don't want to seem like they are imposing but I urge you to reach out. Drop off a meal, or shoot off a quick text saying you would love to help in some way, send over some lactation tea or just offer her your arms to hold her baby so she can rest. Be there, be present and go out there and let's build a community of women who support one another because really what could be better than that.
Hope to see you tonight
xo
rsvp here!!