Patron Saint of Breastfeeding
September 1, 2008 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under breastfeeding, nursing in public
I learned at The Twinkies today that Saint Giles is the patron saint of breastfeeding, and that September 1 is the feast day of Saint Giles. The Saints Index explains that Saint Giles led “a lifestyle so impoverished that, legend says, God sent a hind [an adult female red deer] to him to nourish him with her milk.” So the next time someone harasses you for breastfeeding in church, smile sweetly and tell them you are sure Saint Giles is smiling down upon you.
Maybe that is why my son wanted to nurse non-stop today? LOL!
Thank you for this! I plan to start a novena to ask his help in weaning my son. I don’t want to wean but for reasons beyond my control, I need to.
I want to do it in a loving and gentle way so as not to upset my little guy, and, oh! How wonderful it would be if St. Giles would pray for us and if my little guy could decide on his own that he’s ready to wean!
Hi Ashli! Good luck with the weaning! You might like the books The Nursing Mother’s Guide to Weaning, Revised Edition
and How Weaning Happens
(this one is more about why not to wean, but has a few tips on gentle weaning techniques).
I do want to make sure that you really do need to wean. You don’t mention why, and I certainly respect any woman’s decision to wean, but if you have to wean for a medical reason (a medication, a breast lump, wanting to conceive) I hope you have talked to a lactation consultant and/or La Leche League leader. Doctors often say mothers need to wean when it truly is not necessary.
For more on weaning, see:
http://www.breastfeeding123.com/category/weaning/
Best wishes!
Thank you so much! Yes, I am also an LC
I don’t want to wean because I am so enjoying nursing a toddler….my other two weaned at 7mos and 10mos, and my little guy is now 14 mos. We are going out of the country for a week in Nov and my parents will be keeping our kids (that’s reason number one). We are also, as you mentioned, wanting to try and conceive after our trip, and when I nurse, ovulation is a no -go. {{{sigh}}}
actually it is Saint Martina! They cut her head off and milk came out instead of blood, or something. Look up Saint Martina.