Health Care

August 3, 2011

When I gave birth last year, I was certain I wanted to breastfeed my baby and I assumed it would be pretty straightforward: breast + baby = food, right? Our bodies were built for this and women have been doing it for thousands of years, I thought, so it shouldn’t be too hard. Boy was I wrong! Eight...

MomsRising Together

Phoebe Taubman

Health Care Blog Carnivals

August 3, 2011

Even though my mother raised four children at a time when formula was considered superior to breastfeeding – hence why we were all bottle-fed – I always knew I would breastfeed my children. I remember taking early childhood development courses as part of my work in AmeriCorps in the late ‘90s, and...

MomsRising Together

Elisa Batista

Health Care Blog Carnivals

August 3, 2011

Growing up, I was not your typical little girl. I never dreamed of finding my Prince Charming. I never planned my “Big Fat Mexican Wedding”. And, I never imagined that I would be a mother. When my childhood friends were out playing house, I was playing office. When they played with their dolls, I...

MomsRising Together

Gloria Riesgo

Health Care Blog Carnivals

August 3, 2011

Cross-posted from the Tiki Tiki blog . When I relocated to the U.S. from Ecuador and met my husband, we got married and a year later I got pregnant; what a blessing, we were so excited. During a prenatal care visit, my awesome doctor asked me if I was going to breastfeed. I found the question a bit...

MomsRising Together

Saray Hill, IBCLC

Health Care Blog Carnivals

August 3, 2011

As a physician, I have had many opportunities to see how important the support I provide is to mothers' feeding decision. I deal with many women for whom public nursing is difficult because of the disapproving looks and comments they receive. From letting them know of their rights to breastfeed...

MomsRising Together

Sahira Long, MD, FAAP, IBCLC

Health Care Blog Carnivals

August 3, 2011

Dear Expectant Parent, Before the big day, I would suggest you become familiar with three video clips, which can be accessed from the Stanford website. In our culture, the first time we typically closely observe a breastfeeding baby is when we have our own. It will be much easier to understand some...

MomsRising Together

Jane Morton, MD

Health Care Blog Carnivals

August 3, 2011

World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is here and there is much to report from the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), your breastfeeding advocacy headquarters! This year’s theme, “Talk to Me! Breastfeeding – a 3D Experience,” reminds us that communication is critical to breastfeeding success...

MomsRising Together

Megan Renner

Open Flexible Work Health Care Blog Carnivals

August 3, 2011

Roughly four million women give birth in the United States every year – and most choose to breastfeed (74 percent). After all, the nutritional value of breast milk is well documented. Numerous studies show that breastfeeding protects mothers and children from a range of acute and chronic health...

MomsRising Together

Vicki Shabo

Health Care Blog Carnivals

August 3, 2011

Childhood obesity is a dangerous epidemic, as more than one-third of American children are now overweight or obese. Many of these kids will develop life-threatening conditions such as type-2 diabetes because of their unhealthy weight — some even before they graduate high school. Everyone from First...

MomsRising Together

Elizabeth Brotherton

Health Care Blog Carnivals

August 3, 2011

When my son turned a year old in February, I started to hear one question quite frequently: "You're STILL nursing him?!" Why, yes. Yes I am. When will I stop? No idea. I weaned my daughter at 14 months, and I was working full time. Now I am home, so maybe I'll nurse my son a little longer, and...

MomsRising Together

Erika Chavez