This week’s breastfeeding picture embodies the epitome of peacefulness! As this mother and baby picnic in the meadow, you can practically see the breastfeeding hormones prolactin and oxytocin working to relax the baby and mother and to promote bonding between the two
I think it’s lovely how breastfeeding helps a family get out into the fresh air together. I often hear women say “I can’t do [X] because I’m breastfeeding” (whether that’s true or not) and so I think it’s really important to highlight what mothers can do (or at least can do more easily) because they are breastfeeding!

Welcome to the biggest Carnival of Breastfeeding to date! Many mothers submitted posts to share their “how to” knowledge, from how to wean from a nipple shield to how to get a spouse to help with breastfeeding. After I discuss how to teach your baby nursing manners, take a look at the links to the other participants. You might also wish to enter to win a free baby carrier, sling, or wrap of your choice (contest ends Friday, April 24, 2009).
f you breastfeed for the recommended year or more, you might experience some occasional unwanted behavior from your nursling. I …read more

Without getting into a debate about how much breast or nipple it is appropriate to show in public, I simply want to share this breastfeeding picture as an example how nursing in public often appears. Absolutely no skin (aside from that precious baby’s) shows and many people might assume the baby is sleeping and not nursing.
Do I think all mothers need to be this discreet in order to nurse in public? Absolutely not. I believe a mother should do what is necessary and what she is comfortable doing to nurse her baby in public.

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{democracy:50}
Please leave a comment to explain your answer. Whether or not your child has known food allergies, do you restrict your diet in any way? How easy or difficult is it to eliminate particular foods from your diet? Is there a history of food allergies in your family? If your nursling has food allergies, to which foods? Did your nursling or other children outgrow any food allergies?

Photo Credit: viralbus

Photo credit: Alexander Tundakov

Today the Texas Supreme Court upheld the decision of the appellate court that all of the children seized from the polygamist sect’s ranch be returned to their parents. MSNBC reports that the justices stated:
On the record before us, removal of the children was not warranted.
It’s unclear when the move will take place, but the appellate court said the transition should take place within a reasonable time period.
This is one of those situations that leaves me unsure what to think. I want to be happy for the nursing mothers who were separated from their nurslings. Hopefully they have been pumping …read more

Required attribution: Raphael Goetter

Okay, maybe that title is a little misleading on a breastfeeding blog. The gift I want you to consider giving your nursling, if you haven’t already, is the gift of writing your will (and possibly a trust), a medical durable power of attorney (that specifies the person(s) who can make medical decisions for you should you not be able) and a financial power of attorney (ditto re financial decisions). It’s not enough for you to tell your family or friends whom you would like to be guardians for your child should both you and your spouse pass away. You need …read more

My rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Description: Children’s board book published in 2001.
Subject: “A nursling’s celebration of the joys of breastfeeding.”
Appropriate age of child: 6 months and up.
List price: $8.95.
Pros: Sturdy board book. Actual color photographs as opposed to illustrations.
Cons: Strained rhymes. Grainy picture quality.
I do not relish criticizing any book much less a children’s book about nursing, but I simply cannot give this book my unreserved endorsement. The concept has such great potential but the result is disappointing. I’m Made of Mama’s Milk by Mary Olsen contains over 20 photographs of a nursling who appears to be approximately one …read more