Below you will find all of our articles and stories related to breastfeeding. You can also click here to visit our Resources page, where you'll find links to support and information.
If you're looking for the rest of our blog postings, you can find them here.
On October 1 at 11am all over Canada and around the world, from Bermuda to Moldova, from Romania to South Africa, groups of mothers will gather to latch their babies on simultaneously and participate in the Global Breastfeeding Challenge. The Challenge, organized by the Quintessence Foundation in Vancouver, gives parents the opportunity to gather and celebrate breastfeeding in their communities.
Here in Victoria, the Vancouver Island Health Authority has organized several sites.
10:30 Story Time for All
11:00 Challenge Event
11:15 – 12:00 Welcome, Draw Prizes, Refreshments
Here is a post from a guest blogger: Dr. Alexis Blanks, ND
Dr Blanks will be speaking at the Mothering Touch Baby Groups on July 26 and 27 at 1pm. Please drop in, try the group and hear about how naturopathic medicine can help with women's health.
When you are pregnant, it's pretty natural to be
focused on the immediate task ahead...that little thing called labour! But once
the baby is born, along with that realization that you are now in charge of
another person's life 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, comes the challenge of
learning to breastfeed. Along with this challenge will likely be the realization
that although it may be the most natural thing in the world, breastfeeding is a
skill to be learned like any other and there may be all sorts of challenges and
questions along the way. As a relatively new mom, this is an experience that I
can relate to. As a naturopathic doctor and trained breastfeeding counselor, I
am so excited to have knowledge and skills to help new mothers during this
exciting time in their lives.
Naturopathic medicine and breastfeeding support is
a natural combination. One of our key principles in naturopathic medicine is to
prevent future health problems through education of healthy living. I have often
been struck by what a powerful effect the simple act of breastfeeding your child
can have on a baby's long term health – and the mothers health too!
Naturopathic doctors combine modern scientific
knowledge with more a holistic view of health and well being. We are experts in
the use of many natural forms of medicine such as herbs and homoeopathy and are
also trained to know when pharmaceutical intervention may be required. In my
practice I am also licensed to prescribe pharmaceuticals when necessary. A visit
to a naturopathic doctor is usually much longer than a visit to your
conventional doctor. This allows us the time to obtain a thorough understanding
of a mothers concerns and to provide enough explanation so that the mother can
leave the office feeling that she has been heard and that she has a good
understanding of the problem(s) and the solution(s).
There are a myriad of questions a woman might have
about breastfeeding such as how to deal with nipple pain, attain a good latch
and know that your baby is getting enough milk, I can help women with these
questions. There are also some questions that as a naturopathic doctor, I am
particularly well trained to answer. Questions such as:
the use and safety of
medications/herbs/supplements and homoeopathic remedies during breastfeeding
supporting milk supply with the use of
herbs/medications
options for treating medical issues such as thrush
and mastitis
the potential for certain foods in moms diet to
aggravate baby via the breast milk
the introduction of solid foods
As a nursing mother, I know how fulfilling it can
be to breastfeed your child. I am excited to combine the skills I have learned
in breastfeeding support with my medical and naturopathic knowledge for helping
women with this wonderful, and yet, not always easy skill!
I was recently reminded of a story about a grandmother-to-be.
Sheila (not her real name) came into Mothering Touch looking for a gift for her grandchild-to-be. She was very excited at the prospect of becoming a grandmother. As she wandered around the store, cooing over the cute baby clothes, she noticed our extensive collection of nursing bras. She wondered if she could buy a nursing bra for her daughter Catherine who was 8 months pregnant. We asked her if she could bring her daughter in to be fitted. "No," said Sheila, "she lives in Japan." We started to think about how to help her find a nursing bra in Japan, but Sheila said that Catherine is 5 feet 10 inches tall and needs a very large cup size, and is unlikely to find anything to fit her in Japan. Sheila was going to visit Catherine in a week or so and would stay until after the baby came, and she would love to be able to bring Catherine a pretty and comfortable bra that fit properly.
So we got Catherine on the phone. In Japan it was already the morning of the next day! She was delighted to hear her mother's voice and so happy to hear about the nursing bras. She had been looking online, but had no idea what to choose or how to measure herself. We explained how to do it: First around the top of her chest, above her breasts. Then around the fullest part of her bust (while wearing a bra). Finally around her rib cage just beneath her breasts. Catherine hung up and went off to measure herself and called us back a few minutes later.
From her measurements, and from Sheila's description of her body type, we made a guess as to what size might work for her. We told her about the different styles and she chose three different bras and a tank top which she wanted to try. Sheila bought them and walked out the store proud as punch about solving this problem for her daughter.
Six weeks later, Sheila was back from Japan with beautiful pictures of her cute little grandson. She was so proud of him, but prouder still of her daughter who was breastfeeding. "She's such a wonderful mother!" Sheila had experienced one of those high points of parenthood: when you witness your child moving competently on into the next stage of life.
Of the bras Sheila had taken to Japan, two fit Catherine perfectly. She brought the other two back and exchanged them for ones that would fit well. Then she said: "Can you help me to choose cloth diapers for them? Catherine would love to stop using disposables." We were happy to help.
We are always happy to help women to become mothers, mothers to become grandmothers, men to become fathers or uncles or grandfathers. We love that our job involves helping families to welcome new babies, all around the world!
The Globe and Mail is running a series of Things That Work in BC. And, third on their list behind the Crack Forensic Science Team and Victoria's Solution to Public Urination (really??) is the BC Women's Hospital Milk Bank. Now anyone who knows me, know how passionate I am about the Milk Bank. I am so happy to see it so well described and have its good work made know so widely.
.Click HERE to have a read
Have a look at this beautiful and touching new video on YouTube: Reflections of Breastfeeding
It was made by some students in the Douglas College Breastfeeding Course for Health Professionals. It's delightful, and heartfelt. I love the way it has parents talking parents and providing each other with support and encouragement. And it's positive, it talks about the joy and the solutions and the good things; we forget to stress those when we look at the problems and the challenges.
Congratulations, Amy, Taemar and Tara! You've done a great job!
- Eva
About ten years ago, Dr Wah Wong, a long-time internationl breaastfeeding advocate who had worked with UNICEF around the world to promote and protect breastfeeding mothers and babies, proposed the idea of the Breastfeeding Challenge to raise money and awareness of breastfeeding and breastmilk banking and have some fun at the same time.
In October of 2001, the Quintessence Foundation organized the first BC-wide Breastfeeding Challenge, challenging all communities in BC to see which one could gather the largest number of breastfeeding mothers in one place and have them all latch on simultaneously at 11am local time. In Victoria, Breastfeeding Matters ran a very successful event, gathering 122 babies and their mothers. Since then the event has been a highlight of the breastfeeding mother's year. I know some mothers who have attended every year, for the last ten years!
This year, the Breastfeeding Challenge is being organized by La Leche League Victoria at Fort Rod Hill. Moms and babies and their supporters are invited to arrive by 10:30 to sign in. Latch-on is at 11am SHARP! Fort Rodd Hill has offered us a special rate for this event. $1.90/person, children under 6 are free. When you arrive, please let the ticket person know you are there for the La Leche League event. The group will be gathering under the tents with the picnic tables. It's supposed to be a lovely day tomorrow - bring lunch and make a day of it!
The joy of the event is in the feeling of community and commonality of purpose. It is a celebration of breastfeeding and family. Mothers and babies, of course, and father and siblings and grandparents and friends all attend and join in this noisy and cheerful gathering. I love the energy and the pride I feel in the families there.
In 2002, Quintessence invited the rest of Canada to participate. In 2003 the USA and Mexico joined us and by 2009, 21 countries all over the world were participating in this celebration of World Breastfeeding Week. In each location, the goal is to get a group of mothers to latch their babies all together at 11am local time on the first Saturday in October. From 2002-2004, Victoria was proud to have the largest site of all. In 2008, we had our largest turn-out ever with 239 babies and their moms.
Happy World Breastfeeding Week everyone!
Does anyone out there have a stash of breastmilk they would like to put to good use? Contact info is at the bottom on the article.
Nelson Star - September 16, 2010 6:00 PM
Anaya Cassin-Potts, who just turned one, was diagnosed this spring with infantile Krabbe leukodystrophy, a rare disease where myelin disappears from the brain cells.
“She’s lost her ability to develop,” says her mother Camara Cassin. “She can’t hold her head up anymore, can’t smile or eat, and has lost her eyesight.”
Anaya is also fed through a tube and is intolerant to formula.
“When she first got sick and couldn’t nurse anymore, I started pumping breast milk for her, but I’ve only ever been able to get 10 ounces a day, and she needs 30,” Cassin says.
Supplementing with formula only created excess mucus and made Anaya sick.
Cassin put out a mass e-mail seeking local moms to pump milk for her, which made a world of difference.
“Breast milk has been her saviour,” Cassin says. “It’s the one thing that’s really essential. Since she’s been on a breast-milk only diet, she’s started gaining weight, although she’s still very small, about the size of a four-month old.”
In the last few months, some of the major donors have moved, and Cassin urgently needs to find replacements.
“Even if people had some frozen breast milk they wanted to contribute, we can use that,” she says. “Fresh is preferable but frozen is still a godsend.”
Right now six women contribute one feed per day, but Anaya requires eight.
Breast milk also allows her to be put on medication to dry up secretions in her throat.
“It has a laxative effect and helps pass through her system,” Cassin says. “If she’s forced to consume formula, the medicine will interact and plug up her bowel.” However, if she’s off the medication, they have to use a suction machine to remove mucus and phlegm from her throat. “It’s a very loud machine that she really hates. It’s uncomfortable and makes her gag.”
Despite Anaya’s many challenges, her mother emphasizes “it’s not all bad. She has awareness of sound. She loves to go for walks and listen to the birds and flowing water. She also enjoys bath time and can still recognize the people in her life, like me and her sister Solara. “She doesn’t move a whole lot and everything needs to be done for her, just like a newborn, but she’s not suffering every second. We have a full-time nurse who helps.”
The condition is usually fatal within two years, although some children have lived to six or seven with it.
“She’s still able to enjoy being alive,” Cassin says. “Every moment isn’t a struggle. She has a lot of good moments, she’s very loved and we’ll take good care of her.”
Women who might be able to provide breast milk can contact Cassin at 229-4034 or maraglow@gmail.com.
This is such a beautiful book! It shows breastfeeding as the pleasant, relaxing, organic, informal activity it should be. So many breastfeeding books identify problems that need to be solved. This one shows breastfeeding as a pleasure to be enjoyed.
The link below is to a podcast of an interview with Laura Keegan, the author of Breastfeeding with Comfort and Joy.
http://bymomsformoms.blogspot.com/2010/08/breastfeeding-with-comfort-and-joy.html
Well, of course, I have been blogging for years: writing short essays for my website on topics that I hoped would be useful to my clients and my colleagues. But now Mothering Touch has an actual Official Blog. This is a little intimidating. And yet, so much happens here every day of the week, I should never have trouble finding something to write about.
Right now, in the big activity room, Do Stier, a Doula Trainer for Vancouver, is running our annual DONA-International Post-Partum Doula Training. Fifteen enthusiastic and caring women are learning how to help mothers and families in the Post-partum period (the first six weeks after birth). Last week I ran a DONA-International Birth Doula Training and twelve new birth doulas have now joined our birthing community. One of my trainees, came from as far away as Edmonton!
In the store, Linda is helping a mom figure out how to put her 5-week old baby into her new baby-carrier. Jody is measuring a pregnant mom up for a nursing bra. Our manager, erin kicks, is stocking a new product: The HandyBite - for keeping baby toys and snacks from falling on the floor. My daughter Hannah, finally done with her grade 11 exams, is doing some filing.
A couple of moms with their babies, on a stroll downtown, have popped in to nurse on the comfy brown couches in our smaller back room.
That back room - officially called the Resource Room - is one of my favourite things about this place. We planned it as a room for breastfeeding consultations and private prenatal classes. It houses our lending library which contains books and DVD's on pregnancy, breastfeeding and early parenting. The room also gets used for meetings of local community organization, like the Doulas of Victoria or Breastfeeding Matters. And on most days, a few mothers and fathers and babies find their way there for a quiet time and a peaceful breastfeeding moment.
Tonight, when we've tidied up from the four-day doula training, there will be a prenatal yoga class in the Activity Room. Elke will lead the lovely round-bellied moms through invigorating and then relaxing poses. After that, I will teach the fourth class of six-week Childbirth Preparation Class for Doctors' Patients. Having spent the last three weeks learning about childbirth and natural self-help and coping measures for labour, tonight we will examine pain medications and other medical interventions. I look forward to seeing this group of excited parents-to-be, whose questions and curiosity always make the evening lively.
I hope this this blog can become an extension of our store - a place where new and expectant parents can be sure of a friendly welcome and balanced information. We hope you'll visit us often.
