Welcome to the October Carnival of Breastfeeding! Today’s topic is “I wish I had known….” It’s perfect timing for my sister, who just made me an aunt over the weekend with the birth of her beautiful baby boy!
Today I share a guest submission from a woman who does not have a blog but who felt strongly about sharing her breastfeeding wisdom in hindsight. At the end of her comment you can find the links to all the other carnival participants. First, Crystal offers the following insight:
What I wish I had known…to trust myself and my body to do …read more

Ranging from just plain wrong to downright raunchy, lactation consultants (LCs) get called a lot of different names. Some are misguided, some are terms of endearment. These names provide a little breastfeeding humor to augment enhance brighten up your Friday!
Thanks to all the Lactnetters for sharing these substitutes for “Lactation Consultant”:
Location consultant (This is probably the most common. One woman was even listed under the real estate section in her local chamber of commerce directory!)
Lactitian
Lactitionist (as in “nutritionist”?)
Lactritionist
“The lactose intolerant – I mean the lactose tolerant – oh you know, what you are!”
Breast Lady
Milk Lady
Itty Bitty Titty Committee (now …read more

Finally the poll feature is functioning again here at Breastfeeding 1-2-3! This time let’s talk about your thoughts on tandem nursingHave you ever nursed more than one nursling at a time? Answer the poll and leave a comment to share your experience or your opinion! If you tandem nursed, how did you feel about it? Did you nurse your children at the same time (one at each breast) or nurse one and then the other? I will share that just after I had my second baby, I nursed my toddler and newborn at the same time so there was little …read more

Recently my body sent me a little warning that I needed to slow down. My husband was out of town last week and that left me on my own (with the three kids) for five days. I shuttled the girls to daily swim lessons, weekly library story time, the children’s museum and a playdate. On top of that I made a concerted effort to keep up with the laundry and other housekeeping chores. By the end of the week, the kids were happy, the house was tidy, but I was wiped out and my body told me so! On Saturday …read more

A wonderful new book has just been published! Check out the accomplishment of my friend and fellow blogger Tanya Lieberman and her co-author Diana Glick: Spanish for Breastfeeding Support.

I had the honor of reading one of the first drafts of the book so I can report first-hand that it’s a great resource for lactation professionals. Whether you speak no Spanish at all, remember a little of your high school Spanish, or you speak the language well but need to expand your lactation-related vocabulary, Spanish for Breastfeeding Support will teach you to communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking mothers. Lactation consultants can even …read more

Here is a reminder that the new Rhode Island law protecting breastfeeding in public takes effect today, March 1, 2009. This law is in addition to the existing Rhode Island laws excluding breastfeeding mothers from disorderly conduct laws, and requiring employers to provide a safe, private place to breastfeed or pump.
The entire text of the enacted bill reads:
23-13.5-1. Breastfeeding in public places. – A woman may feed her child by bottle or breast in any place open to the public.
23-13.5-2. Remedies. – In any civil action alleging a violation of this chapter, the court may:
(1) Afford injunctive relief against any …read more

*** Last Updated November 11, 2008 *** Please see the notes for each branch of the U.S. military. If you have notice of updates to military breastfeeding regulations and policies, please alert me with a comment and I will be happy to keep this information up to date!
A military new mother generally receives six weeks of maternity leave starting the day she leaves the hospital. The leave can be extended upon written request along with a physician’s recommendation.
Air Force: The Air Force offers four-month deployment deferrals after the birth of a child. On May 23, 2007, Air Force Instruction …read more

Are you participating in the Nestle-Free Week starting today, October 4, 2008? For more on the why and how of the Nestle Boycott and Nestle-Free Week in particular, visit Baby Milk Action’s Nestle-Free Week planning page.

There is still plenty of time to sign up for the Breastfeeding Challenge 2008! So far there are 105 sites registered in five different countries (Canada, United States, France, Cyprus, and Luxembourg). Reminder details:
The Quintessence Foundation plans the 8th annual Breastfeeding Challenge, scheduled this year for October 11, 2008. Basically it’s a friendly competition to promote breastfeeding:
This fun event is a challenge for which geographic area (province, state or territory) has the most breastfeeding babies, as a percentage of the birthrate, “latched on” at 11am local time.
Last year’s event involved 5,383 babies at 230 sites across Canada and the United …read more

In breastfeeding terminology, a baby’s “frenulum” is the membrane that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth. A short frenulum is called tongue-tie (technically, “ankyloglossia”), and tongue-tie can interfere with successful breastfeeding. There remains controversy among medical and lactation professionals about whether or not a short frenulum should be surgically clipped.
For more information on tongue-tie, see:
~ AskDrSears.com
~ DrGreene.com
~ Kellymom.com