What is Twiddling? The dictionary says that to twiddle is to, "twist, move, or fiddle with (something), typically in a purposeless or nervous way."  So what does that mean when it relates to breastfeeding?  The truth about twiddling while nursing is that, across the board, moms seem to have a love/hate relationship with it.  That is because when a nursling twiddles, it typically means that they are poking, pinching or playing with the nipple opposite the one they are nursing on. Why do Babies Twiddle? Interestingly, it's very difficult to find any literature about the physiological reason for twiddling.  A google search will find you … [Read more...]

When I first put those two words together, "ethics and breastfeeding", my brain felt as if it were moving through sludge. Have you ever contemplated something and, perhaps due to lack of sleep, boredom or just sheer mental exhaustion, cannot seem to fathom its meaning? This could be as simple as trying to define the word "the". Go ahead and try, you will get stumped too. Ethics and Breastfeeding - Defined But, really folks, these two words are quite entangled and not always for the better. Let's start by defining each word. Thank you Google for being my dictionary this evening: Ethics is defined as "moral principles that govern a … [Read more...]

Anti-public breastfeeding has been a hot button issue for years now. To be honest, sometimes I forget that public nursing is even a big deal to some people because nursing has been such a constant part of my life for nearly a decade and it just feels normal. However, just about the time I start to dismiss the idea that some people are actually still offended by women who nurse their children in public another story flashes across the news and women start flocking to nurse-ins across the country again. While I do believe that the breastfeeding climate is becoming more favorable overall, the fact of the matter is that stigmas do still exist … [Read more...]

Motherhood is hard.  Especially since so many of us mothers have unrealistic expectations of ourselves.  Such as having a spotless home, cooking from scratch for every meal, having perfectly behaved children, blah blah blah.  Even without those expectations, it's hard.  We have these tiny people who look up to us for everything, who we have a responsibility to raise.  Why don't we give ourselves a break?  Give ourselves some realistic expectations - and some realistic breastfeeding expectations? That seems fair. Breastfeeding can be hard.  Some of us are blessed to be able to nurse with minimal trouble, while others have to really invest … [Read more...]

It's a lovely day at the park.  Kids are screaming with joy, iconic fathers tossing baseballs to their sons, strollers are buzzing by, ladies nodding politely at each other as they kick those last few pounds of baby-weight in the rear, and there is a mother sitting under a tree on a park bench watching her young son in the sandbox. Her four-year old is happily building the world's tallest skyscraper utilizing branches, rocks and a few stray leaves.  She smiles contentedly for a moment. Her quiet reflection is interrupted by a tiny squeak in her infant carrier.  The little one inside has woken up from her nap and is alerting mom, "It's time … [Read more...]

For modest women, breastfeeding in public can sometimes be a challenge. If you are new at nursing and worried about stares, exposing yourself, or someone saying something to you about nursing in public, then doing so can be difficult. Here are a few tips that can help you overcome fears about breastfeeding in public. Cover Up Nursing covers are a great way to cover up when breastfeeding in public. Most nursing covers cover all of your chest area as well as baby's head. Most are also made with a large neck opening so you can see your baby while being covered up. With a nursing cover no part of your chest is openly exposed and most people … [Read more...]

A small baby's angry cry filled the tiny coffee shop as the mom struggled to bring the baby to her breast. The cafe was busy and the first time mom sat at a table in the center of it all. As soon as I saw her holding her baby beneath a nursing cover I knew I wanted to say something.  I wanted to tell her, "You are awesome!  Thank you so much for breastfeeding in public!"  Yet I was with four of my girl friends, and she was with her young husband. What would they all think? We ended up chatting after her husband offered to take a picture of me and my friends. Their adorable baby boy was just three months old. Last year on vacation they … [Read more...]

I had planned on breastfeeding from the minute I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. I don’t know why I was so excited to do it, but I was.  I read up on it and when she was born at the hospital, I talked to the lactation consultant every day. I wanted to be good. I also wanted to be able to nurse in public (NIP). I told my husband that I would do it and “forget anyone that would side eye me!” Then, one blissful Saturday afternoon, we were at Target walking around buying baby gear, and my little newborn baby started crying. She was hungry. I panicked. I started to breathe heavily and broke out in a sweat. What was I supposed to … [Read more...]