Preggie Pals

expectations

Breastfeeding After Sexual Abuse

May 5th, 2013 by Emily Pickett

A few weeks ago I had the experience of attending a workshop called When Survivors Give Birth.  The workshop, developed by Penny Simkin, helps birth professionals identify the unique needs of women who have experienced sexual abuse in order to support their pregnancy and postpartum experiences.  While this was fascinating and useful on a professional level as a doula, it also revealed a great deal to me personally because I, myself, am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.

One thing that truly stuck with me from the workshop was the idea that much emotional baggage can fall on breastfeeding.  This is true in general, but may be especially true for women with a past history of abuse. For me, it definitely shed light on some of my experiences breastfeeding my first child. (more…)

Breastfeeding Expectations: The Tenth Month

Episode 51 | April 26th, 2013

We continue our series, Breastfeeding Expectations, where we follow three breastfeeding moms through the children’s first year of life. At ten months, what’s their favorite part about breastfeeding? What solids are their babies eating now? Are they supplementing with iron? (more…)

Breastfeeding Support For All!

April 16th, 2013 by Michelle Viquez

My passion for breastfeeding and all things mommy support really began at the tender age of 17. The culture of mommy support really only involved mothers of an “appropriate” age at that time. I’m talking late 90’s and it was probably worse prior to that. I was a young mother and besides my own mother, I was completely alone in any means of parenting or breastfeeding support. The resources just weren’t there. From what I’d learned over the years formula was the thing in my mother’s generation so not many mothers of that era breastfed. Formula was liberating to women and it was more the norm than breastfeeding. In the hospital, at the time of my son’s birth, I don’t recall a visit from any lactation nurse or any offers to try breastfeeding. I got some handouts and I was actually sent home with a few cases of formula. (more…)

Breastfeeding Expectations: The Ninth Month

Episode 47 | March 29th, 2013

We continue our series, Breastfeeding Expectations, where we follow three breastfeeding moms through the children’s first year of life. At nine months, what does their breastfeeding relationship look like? What is reverse cycling and how is it impacting one of our panelists? Plus, the challenge of keeping up your milk supply and maintaining a full-time job. (more…)

Nursing and the Military

March 26th, 2013 by Julia Young

Nursing in public. NIP. It’s a pretty controversial topic as of late. All over the country women are being shunned. They are being kicked out of store after store. Restaurant after restaurant. Shamed for covering. Shamed for not covering. Asked to nurse in bathrooms.

Federal Law states:
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a woman may breastfeed her child at any location in a Federal building or on Federal property, if the woman and her child are otherwise authorized to be present at the location.

This doesn’t state that the woman is only allowed to nurse in bathrooms. Only allowed to nurse with a cover. This doesn’t state that the woman is only allowed to nurse the way others deem appropriate. (more…)