Hey, Just Act Natural

Just a quick run down of places and situations I've breastfed my baby in:

on a panel, giving a presentation
during a Toastmaster's meeting
during a board meeting
in the chair getting my eyes examined
in front of a room full of med students doing rounds
at the airport during a protest
at a women's investment group meeting
at the mall
hotel lobby
at the grocery store
in the waiting room of the pediatrician's office
in front of relatives at family gatherings
at restaurants
at a breastfeeding committee meeting

At no time and in no place have I recieved negative feedback- to my face. My philosophy is simply this; anytime, anyplace. I've lately wondered why I 'get away with it' Am I so discreet no-one knows I'm doing it? Am I so bold and brazen folks are shocked into silence? Am I so confident and natural about it, that no one questions me? Perhaps a little of all the above. At any rate, I'm tickled pink to be nursing all over town and doing my part to make breastfeeding an accepted and acceptable behavior in public venues.

Have Agenda, Will Travel

Well, I guess the hiatus is over. I have applied for 3 speaking engagements for next year. I didn't speak at all this year (except through this blog) because of the pregnancy. Now that opportunities are presenting themselves I can't wait to jump in start again next year. So far (if I'm accepted by all) I'll speak on breastfeeding in San Francisco in Feb, SIDs in KC in Feb, and breastfeeding in Florida in Oct. I'm glad I've devoted time to refining my speaking skills through Toastmasters this year, and private coaching last year. Now I can devote myself to content and not making a fool of myself in front of scores of my colleagues. Yesterday at our monthly Breastfeeding Committee meeting someone mentioned an LC position at the city hospital (they don't currently have an LC, their bf rates are in the toilet and they have a high population of Latina, AA, and immigrant and refugee populations- some might think I would be a descent match for this.) I asked myself yet again, why I didn't see myself in that role. I could become an LC within the year if I wanted to, but I don't want to. Its not my calling, neither is being a midwife, or a doula, or a cbe. This is problematic for me because I very much want to talk about breastfeeding and birth- even while my career choices take me further away from active practice. I have no intentions of doing L&D again, yet its that credential that lends me the most credibility. I get excited about writing and speaking, but not about doing the things I want to speak about. This seems inconsistent to me and somewhat uncomfortable. But I'm older and wiser now. I won't stretch myself to fit someone else's mold- I have to do the things that in my heart I know I must do. Someone better than me will have to take the LC job (I hope she's African-American and bilingual and works well making change within systems). My job is to create change with my writing and speaking abilities, or make a fool of myself trying.

What Would Mr. Rogers Do?

Boy, am I ticked. I found out a few days ago, that my midwife, Kirsten can no longer continue her homebirth practice! Why you ask? Because her collaborating physician's malpractice insurance will no longer cover him if he backs homebirth after the end of this year. Talk about a catch 22. Certified Nurse Midwives can't practice without a collaborative agreement with an OB and OBs can't collaborate without risking thier malpractice coverage. How's that for a kick in the head. Can you say "restraint of trade" boys and girls?

Thanksgiving Meditation

I sit here profoundly grateful for my life and those who fill it:
my husband, whom I am blessed to share this life with
my baby Josiah who breaks my heart with his beauty and stregnth
all my other children who are so bright and healthy
my grandchildren who are well rooted and grow strong
my parents and grandmother who love me and keep me grounded
my sisters and thier families who fill my life to the very edges
my in-laws who gird us up and provide a strong support
my friends who keep me vigilent and accountable
my two cats and dog who give love and companionship so freely
all those in my life who freely share who they are and what they have
my creature comforts of hearth and home
my will to give, to take, to produce
my sense of mission
my saviour
my vision
me

Down in the Delta

Just back from the National Nurse-In. Josiah and I were the only ones there! What a disappointment : ( But I'm glad we went anyway. My sign read, "Delta's treatment of breastfeeding mothers is offensive" I passed out breastfeeding info, talked to a couple of folks and Josiah did his part by waking up to have a leisurely nosh at the breast (what a good little protester). He actually got more attention than I did. More people stopped to look at him than talk to me about my sign. Anyway, its done. Sorry Kansas City had such a low turn out and hope other cities fared better. But I feel great that we did our part.

National Nurse-In

Today is the National Nurse-In. Josiah and I will be at the Delta counter at our airport. I don't know if anyone else in town will be there, but we will be! I did sent out a few emails to the BF community but got no definite responses. I wish there had been more lead time, but it is what it is. For those who haven't heard, the Nurse-In was organized in response to a breastfeeding mom being removed from a Delta flight for failing to nurse "discreetly" (i.e. she refused to use the blanket the flight attendent brought her). I wouldn't use the damn blanket either. Seeing as Josiah and I will be flying several times next year (Mexico in January, San Francisco in February for starters) I certainly don't want to be harrassed while feeding my baby. I can't wait to get to the airport this morning. I've been working on my sign. Perhaps it'll say something provocative like "The boobs at Delta are offensive, not mine!" (okay, I won't make a sign like that, but part of me wants to) My sign will probably say "Delta unfair to nursing mothers" Anyway, kudos to all my Dear Readers who plan to attend the Nurse-In in your city.

My New Mantra

Created for me by Dear Reader, Celeste,

Flow milk flow
Grow Josiah grow!