Monday, August 9, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
August: Why we start v. Why we continue
Meeting 1: Importance of Breastfeeding
Timbra lead this meeting. We started out by discussing World Breastfeeding Week, including theme (and reading the 10 steps for a Baby Friendly Hospital), a discussion on Elizabeth Smith's recent presentation at the Breastfeeding Cafe Kick-off event where she outlined and explained the ways in with our local University hospital worked to get this designation, fundraiser that our Murray group would be putting on during World Breastfeeding Week, AND the Breastfeeding Cafe class schedule and purpose (but on by Utah Breastfeeding Coalition at the Downtown Library in the SHARE space Aug 1-15 this year).
We followed with an introduction and "How are you beating the heat?"
Our discussion in this month's meeting was with regards to the change in our reasons for breastfeeding throughout this relationship with our children.
Why do we start breastfeeding?
Example
Pressure
Economics
Health
"Tradition"
Research
Why do we continue breastfeeding?
Many moms who begin breastfeeding have a "goal" in mind for the length of time they'd like to "attempt" and then usually throw in the towel if it's not going right by then. Some moms give this a couple of weeks, others a couple of months, some even so long as the first year. Many mothers are not exposed to the idea of child lead weaning.
Moms said they continued nursing beyond when they originally thought, or for reasons they didn't have before having children for various reasons:
Comfort
"I'm addicted to breastfeeding"
It's the only thing that special between he and I that only I can give him
Continued benefits for mom
Continued health benefit for baby (emotionally and physically)
Most of the moms at our meeting were mothers of babies under 1 year, therefore they have not gotten to a point where they have continued beyond what they once thought was a "reasonable" amount of time to nurse a child, but I hope this meeting offered a perspective on realizing that there are different reasons that mothers continue to nurse, which go well beyond all of the "utilitarian" causes that they perhaps went into breastfeeding with.
It is one thing to research all of the benefits, it is quite another to experience them.
We also discussed Diane Weissinger's "Breastfeeding Language" a bit, and talked about the difference between "may prevent" and "may increase risk of. . ." for instance, breastfeeding may reduce your risk of having breast cancer by 25% but the converse is that NOT breastfeeding may INCREASE your risk of getting breast cancer by 33%. Breastfed babies are sick less often. . .THEREFORE. . . formula fed babies are SICK MORE OFTEN. The converse statistic is a little more painful. And finally, mother's breastmilk is the #1 best thing for baby, then pumped milk, then breastmilk from a milk bank THEN formula. . . formula is the FOURTH best thing for a baby. So we need to realize that it is not just an "acceptable alternative."
Breastfeeding IS IMPORTANT!!!
Timbra lead this meeting. We started out by discussing World Breastfeeding Week, including theme (and reading the 10 steps for a Baby Friendly Hospital), a discussion on Elizabeth Smith's recent presentation at the Breastfeeding Cafe Kick-off event where she outlined and explained the ways in with our local University hospital worked to get this designation, fundraiser that our Murray group would be putting on during World Breastfeeding Week, AND the Breastfeeding Cafe class schedule and purpose (but on by Utah Breastfeeding Coalition at the Downtown Library in the SHARE space Aug 1-15 this year).
We followed with an introduction and "How are you beating the heat?"
Our discussion in this month's meeting was with regards to the change in our reasons for breastfeeding throughout this relationship with our children.
Why do we start breastfeeding?
Example
Pressure
Economics
Health
"Tradition"
Research
Why do we continue breastfeeding?
Many moms who begin breastfeeding have a "goal" in mind for the length of time they'd like to "attempt" and then usually throw in the towel if it's not going right by then. Some moms give this a couple of weeks, others a couple of months, some even so long as the first year. Many mothers are not exposed to the idea of child lead weaning.
Moms said they continued nursing beyond when they originally thought, or for reasons they didn't have before having children for various reasons:
Comfort
"I'm addicted to breastfeeding"
It's the only thing that special between he and I that only I can give him
Continued benefits for mom
Continued health benefit for baby (emotionally and physically)
Most of the moms at our meeting were mothers of babies under 1 year, therefore they have not gotten to a point where they have continued beyond what they once thought was a "reasonable" amount of time to nurse a child, but I hope this meeting offered a perspective on realizing that there are different reasons that mothers continue to nurse, which go well beyond all of the "utilitarian" causes that they perhaps went into breastfeeding with.
It is one thing to research all of the benefits, it is quite another to experience them.
We also discussed Diane Weissinger's "Breastfeeding Language" a bit, and talked about the difference between "may prevent" and "may increase risk of. . ." for instance, breastfeeding may reduce your risk of having breast cancer by 25% but the converse is that NOT breastfeeding may INCREASE your risk of getting breast cancer by 33%. Breastfed babies are sick less often. . .THEREFORE. . . formula fed babies are SICK MORE OFTEN. The converse statistic is a little more painful. And finally, mother's breastmilk is the #1 best thing for baby, then pumped milk, then breastmilk from a milk bank THEN formula. . . formula is the FOURTH best thing for a baby. So we need to realize that it is not just an "acceptable alternative."
Breastfeeding IS IMPORTANT!!!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
World Breastfeeding Week & SLC Breastfeeding Cafe
The first week of August marks World Breastfeeding Week.
There are many ways you can be involved in the promotion and protection of breastfeeding and it's "normalcy" this year.
1) Drop by read and comment on the blog Carnival posts http://www.bosoms-and-babes.blogspot.com/ is where Murray LLL Leader, Timbra Wiist, is posting for the Carnival and at the end of each post is a list of other bloggers sharing their thoughts and ideas about each topic, EVERY DAY from July 18-31st
2) Take part in our fundraiser: The La Leche League of Murray will be holding a fundraiser for World Breastfeeding Week in the form of "Mini Breastfeeding Portrait Sessions." Timbra Wiist will be offering her photographic services and time as a donation to the Murray LLL group and to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week. Please email landslidephotography@hotmail.com to RSVP for this fundraiser which will be held
~Murray Park Wednesday August 4th 4pm-7pm (Outdoor)
~Private Home in Sandy Thursday August 5th 1pm-4pm (Indoor/Outdoor) (Thursday proceeds will be split with LLL of Sandy)
AND
~Liberty Park Friday August 6th 3pm-6pm (Outdoor)
Further location details will be given through private email at time of RSVP
Minimum donation for Mini Breastfeeding Portrait Session is $20 and includes 5-10 Full Resolution digital images (emailed or uploaded to a photo purchasing site)
Snacks provided and additional donations for WBW appreciated
AND the third way to take part in WBW is to either visit or volunteer at the Salt Lake City Breastfeeding Cafe, which is in it's FIFTH year, being held in the Share Space at the Downtown Library. Check out the blog for more information http://breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com/
There are many ways you can be involved in the promotion and protection of breastfeeding and it's "normalcy" this year.
1) Drop by read and comment on the blog Carnival posts http://www.bosoms-and-babes.blogspot.com/ is where Murray LLL Leader, Timbra Wiist, is posting for the Carnival and at the end of each post is a list of other bloggers sharing their thoughts and ideas about each topic, EVERY DAY from July 18-31st
2) Take part in our fundraiser: The La Leche League of Murray will be holding a fundraiser for World Breastfeeding Week in the form of "Mini Breastfeeding Portrait Sessions." Timbra Wiist will be offering her photographic services and time as a donation to the Murray LLL group and to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week. Please email landslidephotography@hotmail.com to RSVP for this fundraiser which will be held
~Murray Park Wednesday August 4th 4pm-7pm (Outdoor)
~Private Home in Sandy Thursday August 5th 1pm-4pm (Indoor/Outdoor) (Thursday proceeds will be split with LLL of Sandy)
AND
~Liberty Park Friday August 6th 3pm-6pm (Outdoor)
Further location details will be given through private email at time of RSVP
Minimum donation for Mini Breastfeeding Portrait Session is $20 and includes 5-10 Full Resolution digital images (emailed or uploaded to a photo purchasing site)
Snacks provided and additional donations for WBW appreciated
AND the third way to take part in WBW is to either visit or volunteer at the Salt Lake City Breastfeeding Cafe, which is in it's FIFTH year, being held in the Share Space at the Downtown Library. Check out the blog for more information http://breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com/
Lack of Posts
I want to apologize for not having kept up this blog over the past several months. I enjoy being able to post about our meetings here for mothers who are not able to attend each month or for those stopping by who want to know what meetings are about and what things we discuss BEFORE stopping by in person.
I was absent from the February, June and July meetings, and of course have a difficult time doing meeting updates if I'm not actually present!
A renewed commitment to keeping our Murray LLL group blog up to date is here. . . starting with our August meeting, monthly updates will return! Thank you!
I was absent from the February, June and July meetings, and of course have a difficult time doing meeting updates if I'm not actually present!
A renewed commitment to keeping our Murray LLL group blog up to date is here. . . starting with our August meeting, monthly updates will return! Thank you!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Milk Donations URGENTLY NEEDED for Haiti
There is an urgent need for human milk to be donated for newborn (especially premature) babies in Haiti. . . . Here is the information regarding Haiti and below that, in red, a response to information from our nearest HMBANA Milk Bank (Denver) regarding eligibility and how to donate, beneath that more information on donating to programs that support mothers feeding their own children (in blue):
URGENT CALL FOR HUMAN MILK DONATIONS FOR HAITI INFANTS
The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), United States
Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), International Lactation Consultant
Association/United States Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA/USLCA), and
La Leche League International (LLLI) are jointly issuing an urgent call for
human milk donations for premature infants in Haiti, as well as sick and
premature infants in the United States.
This week the first shipment of human milk from mothers in the United States
will be shipped to the U.S. Navy Ship "Comfort" stationed outside Haiti.
"Comfort" is currently set up with a neonatal intensive care unit and
medical personnel to provide urgent care to victims of the earthquake. An
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant stationed at the U.S.
Navy base in Bethesda, MD is assisting with providing breast pump equipment
and supplies to the "Comfort." Dr. Erika Beard-Irvine, pediatric
neonatologist, is on board the "Comfort" to coordinate distribution of the
milk to infants in need. HMBANA, USBC, ILCA/USLCA, and LLL are responding to
requests to provide milk for both premature infants and at-risk mothers who
have recently delivered babies on board the U.S.N.S. Comfort, but an urgent
need exists for additional donations.
At the current time, the infrastructure to deliver human milk on land to
Haiti infants has not yet been established. As soon as that infrastructure
is in place, additional donations will be provided to older infants.
Mothers who are willing to donate human milk should contact their regional
Mothers' Milk Bank of HMBANA. A list of regional milk banks is available at
the HMBANA website at www.hmbana.org.
Currently milk banks are already low on donor milk. New milk donations will
be used for both Haiti victims as well as to replenish donor supplies to
continue to serve sick and premature infants in the U.S. Donor milk provides
unique protection for fragile preterm infants. Financial donations are also
strongly encouraged to allow HMBANA, a nonprofit organization, to continue
serving infants in need.
UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the Emergency Nutrition Network, and
medical professionals all recommend that breastfeeding and human milk be
used for infants in disasters or emergencies. Human milk is life-saving due
to its disease prevention properties. It is safe, clean, and does not depend
on water which is often unavailable or contaminated in an emergency. Relief
workers, health care providers, and other volunteers are urged to provide
support for breastfeeding mothers to enable them to continue breastfeeding,
and to assist pregnant and postpartum women in initiating and sustaining
breastfeeding.
For more information, contact HMBANA at 408-998-4550 or
www.hmbana.org . Additional information can be
provided from the United States Breastfeeding Committee at 202-367-1132
(www.usbreastfeeding.org), ILCA/USLCA at
1-800-452-2478 (www.ilca.org or
www.uslca.org), or La Leche League at 847-519-7730
(www.llli.org).
Thank you so much for your inquiry re donating milk. Re your interest in Haiti donations, our available information changes hour by hour, it seems! At the time I’m writing this email, we have been informed that HMBANA Milk Banks (we are one) will be providing milk to the US Naval ship docked in Haiti operating as a “floating hospital” for earthquake survivors. So far, the Mother’s Milk Bank of Denver has not received a call for milk to be sent to Haiti. I actually do not know for certain when or if that will happen. In the meantime, we are gratefully accepting donors whose milk will be used for recipients in the United States. When or if we get the call for milk to Haiti, we will quickly respond with whatever available donor milk we have on hand.
There is a minimum donation requirement of 150 oz of milk to offset our cost of testing your blood and processing the milk. We are accepting milk as old as May 2009, as of this writing.
You can go through the initial phone screening by calling 303-869-1888. If you meet the eligibility criteria, we’ll send a packet of information and futher medical history questions for you to answer, then we send you the shipping supplies for a blood draw to be done in Utah, and the Fed Ex shipping supplies to send milk.
Our donors must be healthy, non-smoking mothers of infants under the age of 1 yr. You must have been on no medication (this includes herbs as well) while pumping your milk unless it is cleared through us first. Exceptions are: insulin, prenatal vitamins, thyroid replacement , progestin-only birth control, minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron, and food supplements such as DHA and fish oil (omega 3).
Thank you for your interest and your compassion in helping babies in need. If you feel you might be eligible and have the minimum donation amount required to become a donor, you can call and speak with any staff member to begin the screening process.
Sincerely,
Karen Wilson, RN, IBCLC
We are desperately in need of more milk for the Denver area Mother’s Milk Bank – our freezers are running on empty most days lately, and I know there are many compassionate mothers (especially through LLL) who would love the chance to help a baby in need. I wish there was more infrastructure available and a more organized relief effort in Haiti so that we could reliably take milk for use in that country. In the meantime, financial donations to organizations that support infant and children feeding programs are most effective in supporting breastfeeding moms in Haiti so that they can continue to provide mother’s milk for their own children rather than rely on “donations” (aka advertisements) of artificial mother’s milk (see www.hmbana.org for websites). This is a serious problem during every international crisis in which breastfeeding is at risk. Fortunately, there will be some donor milk available on the USS Comfort (“the floating hospital”) immediately for those preemies and seriously ill babies receiving care there. The generous women of the Dominican Republic are also donating their milk to the survivors of Haiti, so hopefully the situation will stabilize sooner rather than later.
URGENT CALL FOR HUMAN MILK DONATIONS FOR HAITI INFANTS
The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), United States
Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), International Lactation Consultant
Association/United States Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA/USLCA), and
La Leche League International (LLLI) are jointly issuing an urgent call for
human milk donations for premature infants in Haiti, as well as sick and
premature infants in the United States.
This week the first shipment of human milk from mothers in the United States
will be shipped to the U.S. Navy Ship "Comfort" stationed outside Haiti.
"Comfort" is currently set up with a neonatal intensive care unit and
medical personnel to provide urgent care to victims of the earthquake. An
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant stationed at the U.S.
Navy base in Bethesda, MD is assisting with providing breast pump equipment
and supplies to the "Comfort." Dr. Erika Beard-Irvine, pediatric
neonatologist, is on board the "Comfort" to coordinate distribution of the
milk to infants in need. HMBANA, USBC, ILCA/USLCA, and LLL are responding to
requests to provide milk for both premature infants and at-risk mothers who
have recently delivered babies on board the U.S.N.S. Comfort, but an urgent
need exists for additional donations.
At the current time, the infrastructure to deliver human milk on land to
Haiti infants has not yet been established. As soon as that infrastructure
is in place, additional donations will be provided to older infants.
Mothers who are willing to donate human milk should contact their regional
Mothers' Milk Bank of HMBANA. A list of regional milk banks is available at
the HMBANA website at www.hmbana.org.
Currently milk banks are already low on donor milk. New milk donations will
be used for both Haiti victims as well as to replenish donor supplies to
continue to serve sick and premature infants in the U.S. Donor milk provides
unique protection for fragile preterm infants. Financial donations are also
strongly encouraged to allow HMBANA, a nonprofit organization, to continue
serving infants in need.
UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the Emergency Nutrition Network, and
medical professionals all recommend that breastfeeding and human milk be
used for infants in disasters or emergencies. Human milk is life-saving due
to its disease prevention properties. It is safe, clean, and does not depend
on water which is often unavailable or contaminated in an emergency. Relief
workers, health care providers, and other volunteers are urged to provide
support for breastfeeding mothers to enable them to continue breastfeeding,
and to assist pregnant and postpartum women in initiating and sustaining
breastfeeding.
For more information, contact HMBANA at 408-998-4550 or
www.hmbana.org
provided from the United States Breastfeeding Committee at 202-367-1132
(www.usbreastfeeding.org
1-800-452-2478 (www.ilca.org
www.uslca.org
(www.llli.org
Thank you so much for your inquiry re donating milk. Re your interest in Haiti donations, our available information changes hour by hour, it seems! At the time I’m writing this email, we have been informed that HMBANA Milk Banks (we are one) will be providing milk to the US Naval ship docked in Haiti operating as a “floating hospital” for earthquake survivors. So far, the Mother’s Milk Bank of Denver has not received a call for milk to be sent to Haiti. I actually do not know for certain when or if that will happen. In the meantime, we are gratefully accepting donors whose milk will be used for recipients in the United States. When or if we get the call for milk to Haiti, we will quickly respond with whatever available donor milk we have on hand.
There is a minimum donation requirement of 150 oz of milk to offset our cost of testing your blood and processing the milk. We are accepting milk as old as May 2009, as of this writing.
You can go through the initial phone screening by calling 303-869-1888. If you meet the eligibility criteria, we’ll send a packet of information and futher medical history questions for you to answer, then we send you the shipping supplies for a blood draw to be done in Utah, and the Fed Ex shipping supplies to send milk.
Our donors must be healthy, non-smoking mothers of infants under the age of 1 yr. You must have been on no medication (this includes herbs as well) while pumping your milk unless it is cleared through us first. Exceptions are: insulin, prenatal vitamins, thyroid replacement , progestin-only birth control, minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron, and food supplements such as DHA and fish oil (omega 3).
Thank you for your interest and your compassion in helping babies in need. If you feel you might be eligible and have the minimum donation amount required to become a donor, you can call and speak with any staff member to begin the screening process.
Sincerely,
Karen Wilson, RN, IBCLC
We are desperately in need of more milk for the Denver area Mother’s Milk Bank – our freezers are running on empty most days lately, and I know there are many compassionate mothers (especially through LLL) who would love the chance to help a baby in need. I wish there was more infrastructure available and a more organized relief effort in Haiti so that we could reliably take milk for use in that country. In the meantime, financial donations to organizations that support infant and children feeding programs are most effective in supporting breastfeeding moms in Haiti so that they can continue to provide mother’s milk for their own children rather than rely on “donations” (aka advertisements) of artificial mother’s milk (see www.hmbana.org for websites). This is a serious problem during every international crisis in which breastfeeding is at risk. Fortunately, there will be some donor milk available on the USS Comfort (“the floating hospital”) immediately for those preemies and seriously ill babies receiving care there. The generous women of the Dominican Republic are also donating their milk to the survivors of Haiti, so hopefully the situation will stabilize sooner rather than later.
January Meeting
Our January Meeting marked the Murray group coming full circle. . . having begun last January. Hooray!!! The meeting was small, likely do in part to holiday travelers still being gone, as well as forgetting to send out a reminder email to our faithful mamas. . .oops! We did have one new mama, an expecting mama, who attended and we hope to see more of in coming months. We also have several mamas who were at our December meeting, expecting babies between Christmas and Valentine's Day.
In all we had 3 leaders, 1 veteran mama and 1 expecting mama. 4 toddlers and two babies were also in attendance.
Our discussion was led by Haley, who, of course, did a great job, and it was held on the topic "Baby Arrives." We made introductions and got into the subject matter, of course leaving plenty of room for the needs of our one new and expecting mom, which did not necessarily follow the subject at hand.
We answered questions with the prompt "Baby is here. ..how do i.. . . ?"
Take a shower
Have time (or desire) for intimacy
Find time for myself
Make dinner
Sleep
You know, all the important things that new mom's don't realize they are going to have to give up, or modify, when a new baby comes along. Of course most of the tips came from just being moms who had been through it all. I hope we didn't frighten away our "mama to be."
In all we had 3 leaders, 1 veteran mama and 1 expecting mama. 4 toddlers and two babies were also in attendance.
Our discussion was led by Haley, who, of course, did a great job, and it was held on the topic "Baby Arrives." We made introductions and got into the subject matter, of course leaving plenty of room for the needs of our one new and expecting mom, which did not necessarily follow the subject at hand.
We answered questions with the prompt "Baby is here. ..how do i.. . . ?"
Take a shower
Have time (or desire) for intimacy
Find time for myself
Make dinner
Sleep
You know, all the important things that new mom's don't realize they are going to have to give up, or modify, when a new baby comes along. Of course most of the tips came from just being moms who had been through it all. I hope we didn't frighten away our "mama to be."
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