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Old young mum. Punk Rocker at heart. Not so jologs.

(Translation: New mom at 37. Was cool once. Jologs pa din.)

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I *heart* Breastfeeding

“Welcome to the Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (July). For this month, we join the National Nutrition Council - Department of Health in celebrating Nutrition Month with the theme “Isulong ang Breastfeeding - Tama, Sapat at EKsklusibo!” Participants will share their experiences in promoting breastfeeding or their tips on how breastfeeding should be promoted. Please scroll down to the end of this post and check out the other carnival participants.”

Miguel breastfeeding

Breastfeeding was a logical decision for me. After all, Breast mil k is still best for babies. Also, my sister and friends successfully breastfed their ch ildren so why can’t I.

What I didn’t realize is how I would actually feel about breastfeeding. I *heart* breastfeeding. I love breastfeeding my son (even now that he bites at times). I enjoy reading about it and I get really energized talking about it. I’ve even considered becoming a peer counselor but for now, these are the small ways I promote breastfeeding.

1. Sharing the Experience

Talk about it. Write about it. What really inspired me to exclusively breastfeed were the stories shared by moms during the Breastfeeding seminar by LATCH that I attended. So whenever I knew someone who was pregnant, I would share my breastfeeding experience in the hope that I get to inspire them. I also knew the importance of correct information so I would send them email links to the websites on breastfeeding that I referred to a lot like kellymom.com, breastfeed.com, international breastfeeding centre, and chronicles of a nursing mom.

I also shared my book The Art of Breastfeeding when I could. Of course, I also tell them about breastfeeding seminar schedules of LATCH. :-)

2. Giving a thumbs up

Though I’ve already made a commitment to breastfeed, it really felt good when I received words of encouragement that reinforced my decision. This is the best message I got during the early days of my breastfeeding. It’s from a college friend, Pinky Serafica:

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for breastfeeding! It’s your BEST gift to the bebe. Para sa kin, bayani ang mga nagpapadede na nanay kasi you are rearing hardier, happier and healthier Filipinos. Parang small thing and personal pero kapatid, kontribusyon mo yan sa bayan!!!”

(Thank you, thank you, thank you for breastfeeding! It’s your best gift the the baby. For me, breastfeeding mothers are heroes because you are rearing hardier, happier and healthier Filipinos. It may seem a small and personal thing, but sis, that’s part of your contribution to our country!!!”)

I try to encourage new moms by telling them to at least try breastfeeding though not be too pressured about it. I also give a smile to other moms I see breastfeeding (especially at the clinic of my son’s pedia)

3. Breastfeeding Everywhere

And I mean EVERYWHERE! For me, the best way to promote breastfeeding is to breastfeed whereever I am: pedia’s clinic, church, restaurants, even in a meeting once (during our off-site team building), in the mall etc.

One time, we were at Ace Hardware in Greenbelt and since I breastfed on demand, I ended up grabbing a chair and breastfeeding there. During this time, Miguel was probably between 3-4months old and I used a nursing cover. One of the sales ladies curiously approached me and was amused that I was able to breast feed in public. She never thought there were such things as nursing covers. She mentioned a friend who limited breastfeeding at home since she didn’t know how to go about doing it outside. I went on to tell the sales lady that one doesn’t really need to buy a nursing cover, a simple diaper cloth, shawl or any form of light cloth will do the job. :-)

Do check out the other entries to the carnival:

Three Ways I Promote Breastfeeding by Example by Dainty Mom

A Simple Breastfeeding Campaign by The Lazy Mama

I Am A Breastfeeding Mom by The Painter’s Wife

Why I Don’t Nurse in Breastfeeding Rooms by Legally Mom

The Low-Milk-Supply Mommy Did It! by The Odyssey of Dinna

Breastfeeding Promotion Tips from a Formula Feeder (Yes, you read that correctly…) by The Fearless Formula Feeder

On Promoting Breastfeeding by ImPerfectly Created

Milk Mama Diaries 3 by Mimma Benz

Breastfeeding Mama by canDIshhh

Spreading the Word on Breastfeeding by Mommy Kuwentos

Breastfeeding: Promoting It Even If I Didn’t Get Lucky The First Time Around by Glamma Momma (Mommy Erl’s Online Diary)