Emma Kwasnica, lactivist and developer of Human Milk 4 Human Babies
who runs Informed Choice: Birth and Beyond
It is true that rarely is there a human mother who births live young who is not also able to sustain them with her milk - provided she receives the help and encouragement she needs in our often myth-filled and unsupportive society. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) But for those mothers who (for whatever reason) find they need to supplement, HM4HB provides a way to continue giving our babies the only food designed specifically for their health, development, and wellbeing - human milk.
Read Block's TIME article here: Move Over, Milk Banks. Facebook Ramps Up Milk Sharing
URL: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2032363,00.html
Visit the Peaceful Parenting Breastmilk Donation Resources page for further information.
For additional sites, books, and articles to help the breastfeeding mother in your life see: Breastfeeding Resources.
Notes:
(1) The Politics of Breastfeeding: When Breasts are Bad for Business
(2) Our Babies, Ourselves: How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Parent
(3) Dr. Jack Newman's Guide to Breastfeeding
(4) Breastfeeding Made Simple
(5) Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding
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I just donated somewhere around 300+ ounces to a mama that i met through here who'd had stage 4 breast cancer while pregnant and went into remission!! But the drugs made her unable to breastfeed:( she's done all she could to ensure her preemie babe gets breast milk. I told her it was my personal mission to make her her sweet baby girl gets breastmilk till at least a year old!! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing!
Deletei just met another mom from eats on feets today who kindly donated 56 oz of milk for my sweet baby. she even offered to keep pumping for me! i love eats on feets & i think it's truly wonderful for mom's like me who just can't seem to pump enough.
ReplyDelete"The virtual village, it seems, is one step ahead of them" .. maybe that's because the virtual village isn't a greedy, money-seeking, blood-sucking infection on society ...
ReplyDeleteThis has got to feel better getting media attention for this POSITIVE development, instead of because of getting kicked of Facebook! good job Emma, and everyone else involved. Go mamas!!!
ReplyDeleteTake THAT, Mercola! :P
ReplyDeleteHaha. I'm thinking more along the lines of.. "Take THAT, corporate formula companies that are in bed with the government and make BILLIONS by destroying the health of children!"
ReplyDeleteYes, Justin. But Mercola *was* the catalyst, and I won't let that be forgotten (can you tell? :P).
ReplyDeleteBut you're right, Justin. And truth be told, I would have much preferred the title to be less about milk banks "moving over" and more about biting one's thumb at formula companies....
ReplyDeleteAwesome and well written, very informative!
ReplyDelete"In December, the FDA will hold a meeting on milk banking. "There are quite a few of us [in the public health community] who believe that we need to face it and do something about it," says Labbok.... "
Hmmm wonder what spurred that? LOL
Wonderful article!! So refreshing to see breastfeeding and donations in a positive light. Congrats to Eats on Feets!! :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats Emma and cute pic! :D
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea! and great to see more of Jennifer's writing (she's so awesome)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, mama! I am so proud to be a part of this and to know so many wonderful, caring, amazing mamas! ♥ Just look at what can happen when some strong woman work together for the greater good ♥
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful. I just posted on my local board for help.
ReplyDelete"Most women in the U.S. try to breast-feed, but many hit roadblocks. Facebook, however, is helping women turn to each other before they turn to formula. Jeannine Fisk of Eau Claire, Wis., knew she wasn't producing enough milk for her son when he was 4 weeks old and still not gaining weight. When a midwife suggested that she use donated milk, another mother who was at the birth center offered to pump some milk for Fisk right then and there. Fisk got another 5 oz. from a neighbor and found three more donors via the "Hey Facebook" page and Craigslist. She saw her son grow from wan to chubby, and within three months she was able to increase her own milk production. Now, she's donating her oversupply and administrating the Wisconsin Eats on Feets page." - That's AWESOME...I love hearing when moms help other moms out like that.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious - are there any definite figures on how rare genuine milk insufficiency is? The figure I've heard is 4%, which I think came from Marianne Neifert's work. But I don't know how it would be possible to get a figure for how rare or not-rare it is. (If it really is 4%, that doesn't sound rare to me.)
ReplyDelete