Friday 31 July 2015

The start of My Breastfeeding Journey



My breastfeeding journey began the year I married my husband, 2002.  We moved to Glasgow for 12 months while I completed my Masters degree in Nutrition at the University of Glasgow.  I can’t say that breastfeeding was even on my radar at that point.  I had no children, didn’t remember ever seeing anyone breastfeeding and I was barely breastfed myself so it wasn’t regular conversation in the Blackburn house.

I was introduced to breastfeeding during my time at the University of Glasgow by the wonderful Dr Jane Scott.  It just sounded so logical, there are so many benefits and I just wondered why anyone would want to do anything else after knowing about it.  I wrote my thesis on the effects of pain relief during childbirth on breastfeeding success.  It was quite eye opening.

I continued to learn about nutrition and breastfeeding when we moved back to the States and I was very lucky when I was hired as a Nutritionist with the WIC Program (Women, Infants and Children’s Supplemental Nutrition Program).  The WIC Program marries my two passions for nutrition and breastfeeding and I spent 6 fabulous years working with an amazing team of women to promote and support families to breastfeed and live healthier lives.

It was during this time that my husband and I became pregnant with our first child.  Working alongside women who considered breastfeeding as the usual way to feed a baby and that 2 years and beyond was perfectly normal meant that I never questioned my ability to breastfed and gave me an amazing wealth of knowledge and experience to draw from.

I wouldn’t say that our first breastfeeding journey got off to the best start.  It’s definitely something that I learnt from and second time went like clockwork.  My friends, colleagues and family supported me throughout our journey and William chose to stop nursing at 2 months shy of 4 years old.

This post is part of the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt 2015.  This year we are focusing on being #PositiveAboutBF and I invite you to start the conversation if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.  Learn about the many reasons there are to breastfeed for you, your baby and the planet and find out where to find your local support before you have your baby.

There are many posts to read all week long during World Breastfeeding Week 2015 and lots of competitions to enter for some fabulous prizes.  If you’d like to be in with a chance at winning over £700 worth of fabulous goodies from lots of breastfeeding friendly companies then please enter the rafflecopter below.  You’ll need to read at least 10 posts and enter all of the attached rafflecopters to be entered into the draw but that won’t be hard when we have so many amazing bloggers writing some amazing posts this year.

Wherever you see the Keep Britain Breastfeeding 2015 logo you will have the opportunity to enter so keep a lookout!

We are highlighting a couple of amazing organisations throughout the week because of the amazing work they are doing in the World of breastfeeding.


“The Breastfeeding Network’s Drugs in Breastmilk helpline provides support and information to thousands of families and health professionals every year. Our highly experienced and trained pharmacist offers breastfeeding support alongside evidence based information to anyone who is concerned about the effects of medication or treatments while breastfeeding. We have a dedicated helpline number and email address, as well as a range of information sheets on a wide variety of topics.
Currently the Drugs in Breastmilk helpline service receives no external funding and last year our #savedrugsinbreastmilkhelpline campaign was a huge success with hundreds of mums and health professionals proclaiming their love for our unique support service, and generously donating to help save this vital resource, which was at risk of closure due to lack of funds.
As a result of this, we’re very excited to launch our brand new ‘Friends of Drugs in Breastmilk Helpline’ scheme”.
If you or your business would like to become a friend of the Breastfeeding Network Drugs in Breastmilk Helpline by donating to this amazing service then visit the website for more information HERE.

Here are some links to other bloggers and companies taking part in the Scavenger Hunt so that you keep hunting – 

Laura from Life with Baby Kicks, is busy blogging about all aspects of parenting life of 2 boys under 3 from breastfeeding to toddler taming all whilst living the expat lifestyle in Dubai.

Ali, an extended breastfeeder who is the owner and writer of the parenting and lifestyle blog “Mum in a Nutshell” for stylish mamas, whilst also writing for The Mumington Post and Chic Magazine.

Jen from My Mummy's Pennies blogs about life as a penny pinching working Mum of two, from breastfeeding and cloth nappies to family days out and thrifty tips.

Princesspoet's Blog is a captures all the adventures that Lucy has with her husband and 2 little boys. We discuss everything from the exciting to the mundane. Breastfeeding, Parenting, Home Education , Marriage & Cooking.

Zoe from Lycrawidow is Baby-wearing, breastfeeding mama. French speaker and daydreamer. Hopeless romantic. Loving, supportive Military wife. Brain tumour survivor (so far). Swiftly approaching 30. Usually found at (road)bike races or drinking tea. 


Naked Website created the KBBF logos


Milk & Mummy have donated a £50 gift voucher for the Grand Prize


Snoob have promised a fabulous breastfeeding scarf to the winner





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday 26 July 2015

Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt 2015 - Positive About Breastfeeding!





It's almost August, and the kids are out of school in the UK and this can only mean one thing, World Breastfeeding Week is fast approaching and that means that Keep Britain Breastfeeding is beginning to take shape!

World Breastfeeding Week takes place every year from August 1st to August 7th and everyone can take part in some way.  The them this year is Breastfeeding and Work.

There are already at least 30 bloggers, 1 organization and  13 companies providing lots of fabulous prizes for the winner of the Scavenger Hunt.

I hope you are looking forward to taking part and reading blog posts on the following themes throughout the week, there are always amazing posts written so do pop back and tell me your favourites.



The Themes
Saturday 1st August - The start of my Breastfeeding Journey
Sunday 2nd August - Positive Public Breastfeeding

Monday 3rd August - How to Dress to Impress

Tuesday 4th August - Working and Breastfeeding

Wednesday 5th August - Extended Breastfeeding (past one year)

Thursday 6th August - The People Behind the Breastfeeder
Friday 7th August - The end of my Breastfeeding Journey
 
If you blog and you want to join the hunt through your blog by writing about your breastfeeding experiences, opnions and knowledge then let me know!  You can also ask friends and readers to guest post for you.  If you like running competitions you can partner with breastfeeding friendly companies to run additional competitions throughout the event.

If you are a company and you sell any breastfeeding product or service or you just love breastfeeding and happen to run a company that sells products or services to pregnant and breastfeeding women and their families then get in touch.  We would love you to join us in creating an amazing package of goodies for the event winner.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, love breastfeeding, support breastfeeding or just know others who could benefit for knowing more about breastfeeding then subscribe to this website and Like us on Facebook to hear about more details as the event approaches and to find out what you could win and who will be writing throughout the event.  Our hashtag for the year is #PositiveAboutBF

Throughout the week you will find out about all the posts that have been published by all of our lovely bloggers, as well as additional competitions and special offers taking place with our lovely companies.  Each blog post will have the KBBF logo and a rafflecopter at the bottom of the post for you to use to make your entries for the main prize.  The rafflecopter will be just like the one posted below, so use this as your test run and make your first entry to be eligible for the main competition prize.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway