Wednesday, August 02, 2006

World Breastfeeding Week


I feel pretty strongly about breastfeeding. I was able to breastfeed both girls, Kamryn until 6 weeks and Lauryn until 6 months. I'm glad I had the experience and even with a third child I will still attempt to the do the same. Well before I had children I knew I wanted to breastfeed. Living in the States though I got many negative comments about it and only knew of maybe a handful of people who breastfed and I lived there for 22 years. So coming to New Zealand was pretty liberating and I didn't feel the need to 'hide' breastfeeding. It was a big 'odd' with Kamryn only because she was my first. But by the time Lauryn arrived, I wasn't shy lol. And it was great to not have to worry about where I was going to heat up a bottle when we were out or that we had to rush to get her back home for a bottle. I didn't have a diaper bag with Lauryn. We had a diaper and wipes in the car, no need for a bag. With each experience I learned more. Which kinda sucks cause ya wish you knew it all to begin with so you could persevere knowing it got better. I think Lauryn and I are closer because of the breastfeeding and she hardly gets sick. I really don't have anything negative to say about it. It's not easy for some and I know. My large breasts were a mission in themselves to make sure I wasn't going to suffocate the baby lol. There is discomfort from some of the first initial latching ons but then you reach a wonderful feeling about the whole thing. I remember doing a scrapbooking page about breastfeeding Kamryn. At the time (even though she was nearly a year old) it was still an emotional part for me. Six weeks wasn't when I wanted to stop, the milk wasn't there. I took numerous photos to the shop with me and my friend Jennifer said 'now remember there will be other people looking at your book so keep that in mind'. LOL, that didn't bother me. If someone was bothered by it then they could move on. It was an important time in my life.

So in honor of World Breastfeeding Week the Celebrity Baby Blog has put together a gallery of readers who have submitted their breastfeeding photos. It was very nice looking through the gallery. These are candid shots. So you aren't getting the professional pics that some mag does where you see a bit of breast and most of the baby's head. I loved looking through the gallery. Many shots almost brought me to tears, many I thought 'look at that positioning' and I really realized that a all shapes and sizes can do this. I am impressed at the women that continue past the age of one. I took mine monthly and six months was right with Lauryn. I remember breastfeeding in Kmart while walking around. I remember when mom was here and we were having ice cream at a cafe and she quickly went to shield me lol. I quickly told her that if someone had a problem with what I was doing then it was their problem, not mine. So have a wee gander at the gallery. It's very nice. And here's one that I want to share, enjoy!

5 Comments:

Blogger Hannah said...

I'm also a big supporter of breastfeeding. I fed Ethan until he was 12 months and Tyler until 15 months. Both of them started to wean themselves, otherwise I would have carried on longer.
I really love the way it helped me to bond with my boys. I'm glad that NZ is so pro-breastfeeding because I would not have enjoyed the comments and stares of people who didn't agree. Having said that, there were times I felt a bit self-conscious about doing it in public. Older people were sometimes a bit strange, but I didn't worry about what they thought.

I love your photo. I wish I had taken some but I didn't. I guess it is a bit personal and I don't think I would want my photos shown to anybody else, but that is just my opinion. I know there are some really tasteful pictures out there, I will have to check out that gallery sometime.

I would have also really liked to be part of that breastfeeding world record that they are attempting this year. It would have been such fun!! Pity they weren't doing it when I was feeding.

8:00 PM  
Blogger kiwicpk said...

Im still breastfeeding Alexander, and he's nearly 14 months old now. He still needs/enjoys it, and as long as he wants to we will keep going :-)
hugs
KIM

7:36 AM  
Blogger Christi said...

Kim - thanks for coming to my blog! I was happy to see you post the other day. I tried looking at your blog but you haven't started it yet :( Thanks for popping by and keeping in touch.

*hugs*
Christi

8:55 AM  
Blogger Michelle said...

I breastfed Madelynn until she was 15 months and I cried at the end of the last feed. I wanted her to do more but she had other ideas. Aidan was until he was 10 months and he just kept biting me once until I bled. I cried even harder the night I first gave him a bottle of formula.

I felt like a total failure, I think he just wanted more milk than was there and so he tried to get more by biting.

I wish everyone enjoyed breastfeeding as much as I did but I say to each their own and I feel really bad for people who get given a hard time who can't for any reason or choose not too.

7:17 PM  
Blogger Heidi said...

I am a maternity nurse and work with breastfeeding women on a daily basis. Canada is a pretty pro breastfeeding country. I breastfed my girls for 11,8,and 8 months, the two last ones were done then on their own. I personally think breastfeeding babies is the best thing, but breastfeeding "children" that to me is just gross!. By children I am saying over about 18mo. The pics in the gallery of preschoolers do nothing for me.

3:39 PM  

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