I’ve been combing through some of the emails I’ve received (Um, wow, thank you by the way!! I had no idea so many women were paying attention!! Your personal experiences are so touching and very useful in helping me figure out where I want to go with writing here).  Anyway, while reading I’ve noticed a trend in your story telling that sort of makes me sad and I wanted to address it here.

The F word.

Failure that is.  I’m guilty of saying and feeling it myself so I certainly don’t intend to single anyone out or make anyone feel bad… but we won’t be using that word here.  We have got to give ourselves a break.

Supplementing with formula or pumped milk, exclusive pumping and bottle feeding or having to quit providing breast milk all together… whatever it is that you’ve had to do that you consider a failure, I assure you it is not.

Failure is most commonly defined as “lack of success”.  While things may not have worked out exactly as you had hoped it in no way means that you’ve  failed.  If you nursed or pumped for any length of time… if you provided your baby with any amount of breast milk, yours or someone else’s, even if only colostrum… if you spent time with your baby at the breast even just a few times… in my eyes those are all great successes.  I understand that bodies and babies aren’t always cooperative (I’ve been there!)  but how could providing your baby with the nutrition of breast milk or the comfort and closeness of time spent at the breast, no matter how small or short, ever be considered a failure?

I just wanted to put it out there.  We don’t say the F word here

- H

http://www.random.org/ gave us: Lucky #9!  Kathy!

I’ve sent you an email but if for some reason you haven’t received it you can email me at mamasmilkincookies@gmail.com

Stay tuned! First real post comin’ up tomorrow!! I had hoped to get it up this evening but the wee cranky one has other plans for us

‘night lovelies!

Hello all!  Please be patient with me over the next few days as I get things more organized here.

A little more about my vision… I have SO many ideas swirling around in my head!  This is all so exciting and I have so much to say!  In addition to my 2 cents about topics though, I really would like this blog to include your 2 cents as well.  I picture this blog turning in to a wonderful collection of *our* personal experiences that run the gamut of all things breastfeeding!  I plan to do my best to write about what my readers want to read about, include plenty of guest posts to hear different perspectives and compile a fantastic resource guide to take the guesswork out of finding answers to questions (outside of the insight that mamas can provide here).  I want this blog to be much more than just my musings on boobs…

I did want to mention, about the giveaway below, even if you don’t want to participate poke your head in and say hello! I’d love to see who’s reading!  You could put something like “NG” or something at the end of your comment or comment on this post instead!

And for a little more fun here’s a sneak peek at a few topics we’ll be covering over the next few weeks:

*Beginner’s basics: Beyond breasts and a baby, what do I really need?

*What to expect when you’re expecting your milk to come in.

*Zen and the art of nipple maintenance.

*Supply issues:  When bad things happen to good boobs.

*Talk dirty to me (diapers that is).  What’s normal, what’s not.

Stay tuned lovelies!

A little background… My name is Hannah.  I’m the proud mama of 3 kiddos (11 years, 5 years, and 4 and a half months).  All of which have been breastfed in some way or another.  Breastfeeding was fairly uncomplicated for the oldest and youngest (notice I said uncomplicated, not easy!!)  However, it was all very very complicated for my middle child.  I’ll be elaborating on each experience in the coming weeks.

A little about the blog… I hope that this blog will serve as a valuable resource to lots of people in all stages of their breastfeeding journeys.  I want this to be a place where all things breastfeeding and boob related can be discussed openly and without judgment.  All breastfeeders are welcome here.  When I say BF’er I am referring to any person somehow connected with breastfeeding.  Whether you are a current nursing mother, an expecting parent hoping to breastfeed, an exclusive pumper, a breast milk donor or recipient or the support person for someone who is breastfeeding.  Whether your baby gets your milk or someone else’s, from a breast, a bottle, a SNS or NG tube… all milk all the time or formula too.  Whether you nursed and/or pumped for a week or 3 years… I consider us all under the umbrella of BF’er. So, welcome.

A little giveaway… To get things started I have 1 lovely Medela 80ml Freezing and Storage Bulk Pack to give away!  These bottles are my personal favorite way to store expressed breast milk since my little dude will only take a few ounces at a time from a bottle.  These hold 80ml’s or 2.5 ounces.  You can pump right into them.  They fit nicely on any Medela pump and rumor has it Lanisoh and Ameda pumps as well.  Anyone care to confirm?  And you can feed right out of them as well! Pump, store and feed all out of the same bottle!  I don’t work for Medela, I swear

If you would like to enter the giveaway leave a comment on this post with 2 bits of information.  1) introduce yourself.. share your name, your blog, etc.  2) tell me something about breastfeeding and you.   That’s it!  Leave your comment before 12 noon (EST) on Friday, October 16th.  I’ll use one of those random number generator things and post the winner Friday evening!

Be well,

Hannah

While I’m getting things sorted out and writing my first real post I wanted to draw your attention to the links (over there ->) to some of my favorite online breastfeeding resources.

The CDC’s breastfeeding site is full of information!  Great articles and resources regarding breastfeeding mothers’ and infants’ health.

Of course kellymom my go to site for a large collection of evidence based information on all things breastfeeding and parenting!

The Le Leche League International site is a great place to go to find LLL meetings in your area as well as chat forums and podcasts.

LactMed Search allows you to search medications and find out information about their safety for breastfeeding infants as well as any potential effects on lactation.

The USDHHS breastfeeding site much like the CDC site is a wealth of informative articles on just about any breastfeeding question or concern you could have.

I will add to this list as I find new helpful resources!

Bear with me!  We’re getting things sorted out.  First post coming soon!

Be well,

Hannah