Breastfeed all the babies! Wear all the babies!

International Babywearing Week was October 5-11, 2014 and we definitely kicked it off with a bang; Shannon and I.  The sun was blazing, it was super hot inside my house, you know the one that my dad refuses to turn on the central air in? (yeah that one), and I couldn’t have been any more relieved to hurry and rush to Gracefull Birth for their Nurture event – A Celebration of Pregnancy, Childbirth & 4^th Trimester. MY KIND OF PARTY!

I knew exactly what I wanted to wear and how I wanted to dress Shannon, but I struggled a bit with styling my hair.   However, what I didn’t struggle with was my selection of a soft-structured baby carrier (SSC) to complement my vibe and that was my Ergobaby Organic Baby Carrier – Zen. It definitely matched the natural style event and the green lily pads printed on the hood make me happy. I mean nothing matters after that; its green lily pads!

I arrived just in time to take a look inside the Babywearing & Breastfeeding Lounge hosted by Ergobaby, munch on a few sesame seed ginger snaps and sip some organic juices before taking my place at the great rectangular table inside the garden for a good ole panel discussion:

Breast, Bottle and Bonding – Fourth Trimester Nourishment featuring Pediatrician Dr. Janesri De Silva, Breastfeeding, Baby Wearer and Pole Dancer Ashley Wright, Midwife Kara Rain and GraceFull’s Lactation Consultant Laura Rutherford

(*side note – my description makes me giggle.)

Moving on

In discussing breastfeeding we touched on the first latch, skin to skin, supply concerns, when you need a pump (if ever), the pressure of thinking a mama needs a gazillion ounces of breastmilk stash in the freezer, cosleeping and from me – demonstrating kindness, self-love, and building your village via connecting with other mamas; knowing you are supported if from no one around you for dang sure from me!

We all were in agreement for the most part, especially when discussing the necessity for skin to skin as soon as baby comes earth side. What was interesting was the different perspectives we shared on cosleeping, pumping and need or lack thereof for a stash.   The Dr. and The Lactation consultants approached the subject with bits of medical info and solid information. One of the LC’s stated that a mother should pump often to increase demand when baby is born.   Though that may be necessary in some cases, the Dr and I made sure to add some “amendments” to that route; in regards to having too much of a demand for baby and how a pump should not be introduced until absolutely necessary.

I informed mothers that in no way should they be pressured into pumping for the sake of a stash; looks cool but it takes a lot of work and is no easy task nor a necessity if baby is at home with you and feeding on demand.   Along with that statement I made sure to say that if in fact you are an exclusive pumping mother you are still very much a badass breastfeeder, if not badder. I don’t care if that’s not a word. It is today lol.

The topic of cosleeping was pretty unanimous in regards to it being a great thing to support the breastfeeding relationship and supply, however we did use the word RESPONSIBLE cosleeping.   And for those mamas who do not breastfeed nor co-sleep having a babywearing dance party is a great way to bond with your baby. Of course I really suggested that!

My last few statements to the crowd were that we are all on our own individual journey and that natural parenting to me is that a parent follows what sits right in their spirit and that it may look different from others. Nonetheless, the key is to be kind to yourself to be able to be kind and accepting to others while practicing empathy and compassion; especially with your baby. We are all doing the best we can in the circumstances that we are currently in.

So breastfeed all the babies! Wear all the babies! And have a dance party while doing both at the same time… Ergobaby is great for that!