Mother to mother support in childbirth and infant/young child nurturing is the fabric of ongoing life in many cultures across the world.
Do You Have a Great Story?
I’d love to get a group of great stories as part of my community WBW celebration.
It is so very important to state yet again that Breastfeeding is a very personal experience, one which is unique to each mother. Her breastfeeding goals are her own. It is critically important to support the mothers decisions……. especially if that means ending her breastfeeding relationship. This mother is possibly in need of more support than you realize. Perhaps that would be your story.
I’d love to hear that
3 Very Important things to consider when working with new mothers…. whether peer or professional…
SUPPORT THE MOTHER
SUPPORT THE MOTHER
SUPPORT THE MOTHER
My favorite example of a Peer Support Story is of course from my own experience and begins when I was 3 days post-delivery and out in the supermarket with my friend on way home from hospital! This involves the support from my friend, Little Old Men & Breastfeeding in Public……. (a PUBLIX to be exact). My friend was AMAZING and I don’t think I would have gotten as far as I did in my breastfeeding relationship without her unending and often wordless support.
From the WBW Website:
This year’s World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) theme, ‘BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT: CLOSE TO MOTHERS’, highlights Breastfeeding Peer Counseling. Even when mothers are able to get off to a good start, all too often in the weeks or months after delivery there is a sharp decline in breastfeeding rates, and practices, particularly exclusive breastfeeding. The period when mothers do not visit a healthcare facility is the time when a community support system for mothers is essential. Continued support to sustain breastfeeding can be provided in a variety of ways. Traditionally, support is provided by the family. As societies change, however, in particular with urbanization, support for mothers from a wider circle is needed, whether it is provided by trained health workers, lactation consultants, community leaders, or from friends who are also mothers, and/or from fathers/partners.
We are ALL important in the success of each and every mother to the best she can for her baby regardless her goals !
Tell me a good story and keep up the great work!
Filed under: Breastfeeding, SkinToSkin, Today's Thought Tagged: advocacy, Breastfeeding, family, guilt, Lacation consultant, lactivism, support, WBW
