August 1 - August 7 is celebrated around the world as World Breastfeeding Week. As Kale gets older and we continue to nurse, I find I get fewer and fewer pats on the back and words of encouragement. Not that anyone is saying anything bad, they're just not "oh wow, you're still nursing? That's awesome! Good for you." Now it just stops at "oh wow...." That's ok though - I get lots of thanks and gratitude from a certain little man who continues to love his ba-boos (I also get lots of grabbing, twisting, and nursing gymnastics - it's not all cuddles and love).
Anyway, I know that a big reason that Kale and I have had a successful nursing relationship is because of the support we got from the start and continue to receive, so I thought I'd write a few little thank you notes for this weeks Friday's Letters link up.
Dear Canadian Government - Thank you for establishing paid maternity and parental leave for an entire year. Figuring out how to nurse and getting into a rhythm takes time. I'm sure this is at least partly why breastfeeding initiation in Canada is nearly 90% and in the US it's around 75%. Similarly, while only 13% of US mom's are exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months, 17%* are in Canada.
Dear Work Place - Thank you for giving me the flexibility and support I needed to continue breastfeeding after I returned to work. I went back to work after 8 month maternity leave (Kris took the remainder of our parental leave). For the first four months I worked from home a couple days a week so I could continue to nurse Kale (who was being taken care of by our nanny while I worked). I pumped at work until Kale was 1 and no one ever questioned whether I was making up the time, taking too long, etc. After Kale turned 1, I continued to go home for lunch every day to nurse Kale. If I was late getting back to the office, no one complained or gave me a hard time.
Dear Midwives and Doula - Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Those first weeks were TOUGH. You all encouraged me, gave me confidence, and hooked me up with a lactation consultant when I needed it. You came to my house to check and see how breastfeeding was going and made extra visits when I called in tears.
Dear friends and family - Thanks for being cool people and not batting an eye when I started to nurse Kale without a cover and in public. Thanks for not giving me your "opinion" about whether or not I should nurse past 1. Thanks for recognizing that Kris and I know what's best for Kale and for supporting our decision to continue extended breastfeeding.
Dear Kris - Thank you for being the most supportive breastfeeding partner I could have ever asked for. For waking up with me every time I nursed Kale during those first few months. For supporting my decision to continue nursing our son into toddlerhood. For giving me space when I needed it. For understanding and respecting the bond that nursing has given Kale and I.
Dear Kale - Thank you for putting up with my assertive let-down and sticking with me while I figured it all out. Thank you for being a fast and efficient nurser. Thank you for giving me milk-drunk smiles and giggles. For looking at me with love and gratitude while latched on. Thank you for making night-weaning fairly easy and for understanding and accepting "not right now."
Wow, I'm surprised that the rate is only 17% in CA at 6 months. I expected it to be much higher given the year of paid time off. I wonder why that is. Happy Bf-ing week to you too!
ReplyDeleteI did a bit more digging around and updated the post (see the note at the bottom).
DeleteBeautiful beautiful picture! I'm extremely envious of not only your maternity leave but your support at work. I was not so lucky at the first place I worked at after Park was born (which is why I'm not working there anymore). Happy World Breastfeeding week Kale and Randalin!
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I'm still nursing Hudson, he's two. He's such a boobaholic and loves nursing so much. Having a supportive partner was key in my nursing success too. Canada has amazing maternity leave! The USA needs to get their act together.
ReplyDeleteKale can be a real boobaholic too! He seems to go through phases though and some days I think he's going to wean - and then the next he tells me something totally different!
DeleteI have intense envy and sadness regarding breastfeeding. My gals were premature and their suck took weeks to develop. By the time they were strong and focused enough to suck from a nipple, they were beyond the point of developing a latch. I pumped and early on my production was phenomenal, but without actually nursing, my supply dwindled and it was no longer productive to spend hours a day pumping, to only get enough milk for one baby at the most. On top of that, I had to go back to work after 7 weeks, and I did not have the same kind of time and freedom for pumping, which sure didn't help the situation.
ReplyDeleteI am so grateful that there are other countries, like Canada, that do what is best for children and families, rather than just for the bank accounts of the wealthy. If you only knew how much I want to move to your lovely country. If it weren't for my family, we would very seriously consider moving to Cananda!
<3!
ReplyDeletebravo mama!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I love when a lady sticks to her guns and parents as she sees fit. Love that photo too! Oh what I'd give for a pretty and tasteful breastfeeding pic while my daughter's still small enough to hold in my lap. Thanks so much for sharing with the Mommy Brain Mixer today. I look forward to browsing your colorfully cheery blog now.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for still nursing! And congrats! It's funny how it turns from congrats to judgement so quickly as the age goes up! Support is the only thing that kept us going so long! It sounds like you have an amazing support system. I was thinking when I read about your work that that is just amazing! What a difference that makes. Happy World Breastfeeding Week from your newest follower and fellow nursing mom! :)
ReplyDeleteI love fun facts like this! I am so happy you have had such wonderful experience breast-feeding! I love that it is so good for my daughter and so dang convenient :)
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I adore breastfeeding! I know I'm late, but I'm SO glad you linked up to the Mommy-Brain Mixer, friend! I hope to see you again on Thursday! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty special isn't it?
ReplyDeleteHard work at first, much harder than it looks but worth persevering if you can. In NZ breastfeeding is the only feeding option they are legally allowed to discuss at pre-natal classes and formula cannot be advertised for babies younger than 6 months. NZ is quite extreme in support of breastfeeding, which can make it very difficult if breastfeeding is not working for you and sadly many mothers suffer stigma and judgement if they opt to bottle feed. I couldn't breastfeed my first baby (he was vicious with his suck) so i pumped for the first four months until I got RSI and then wonder of wonders, he took to the breast like a pro. I went on to feed him until 15months, glad I had perservered but also grateful for a caring midwife who helped me look at other otopions for getting the breastmilk into him without killing ME.
The next two babies were much easier, thank goodness, but that first experience gave me a lot of compassion for those who find breastfeeding painful and find they can't continue.
PS lovely letters BTW!
x