Blog
The Week and the Work
World Breastfeeding Week is every August. Breastfeeding is important to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations. This year the theme is centered on “Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a difference for Working Parents”.
Thank you to our Sponsors
Soft Corner midwives offer a safe space for all phases of reproductive care. They offer a comprehensive Postpartum Care service that includes one prenatal planning visit and eight postpartum visits with a midwife, IBCLC and pelvic floor therapist. Soft Corner is also active in advocating for family-supportive legislations.
StoryTelling Event
This event, “The Patchwork of Parenting” was an enriching event. Each story was an engrossing ten minutes, though felt like a rich hour of storytelling. Every story helps us appreciate a wider view of what parenting requires.
Thanking our Sponsors
Partnerships between practitioners facilitates better care and improves how parents learn and understand their situation. Dirigo Pediatric Dentistry became a sponsor of the Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition in order to connect with IBCLCs, doulas, birthworkers and to support families, whether breastfeeding or not.
Learning from the pandemic
We can learn from the pandemic. Paid Family Leave costs money, though not having Paid Family Leave costs money, too. Other states have varied forms of family leave, Maine needs something, too. This is an important time to address Paid Family Leave with our legislators.
Tell It Like It Is
Zulilah Merry has made this documentary entitled “No One Told Me”. This film shows the support that honors the Transition of postpartum, not just the Birth. We see how the family manages big adjustments and gradually learns new skills.
Good News for 2023
There’s good news about the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) Act in 2023. In addition there’s the passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). These are both supportive of the unique needs of lactating and pregnant people.
Respectful Sleep Strategies
Parents can learn what is normal for a baby’s age and development. Parents need clear guidance and more time in the early months. Jenna Marion, CPSC, CLC is motivated to teach parents, even before the baby is born, about what is normal for the developing infant brain.
The Problem with Gift Bags
Gift bags and free formula samples are aimed at tired, vulnerable parents in the hospitl. These families who receive gift bags with formula samples discontinue breastfeeding sooner or even altogether. Banning these gift bags is a policy that supports breastfeeding and promotes the health of families.
The PUMP Act
The PUMP Act stands for Providing Urgent Maternal Protections. This new bill would fix the gaps in the FMLA law and the Break For Nursing Mothers law. Negotiations are ongoing, contact your senator.
Tongue Tie Discussion
Many muscles and nerves are involved in opening the jaw, moving the tongue and swallowing. There are several approaches to help babies with feeding difficulties. This panel discussion includes five practitioners approaches to tongue tie: an ENT doctor, a pediatrician, an IBCLC, a dentist and an osteopath doctor.
Sweet Sleep
Parents can learn more about sleep patterns for their children and understand how the whole family can rest easier. On behalf of the Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition, Jenna Marion, CPSC, CLC is presenting this webinar “Infant Sleep 101: Opening Up the Shades to Baby Sleep Success.”
Breastfeeding and Allergies
You are invited to attend this webinar organized by the Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition. “Was it Something I Ate? Discovering and Addressing Potential Allergens in Mother’s Milk”. This webinar is presented by Jacqui Stevens, MS RDN, CLC
World Breastfeeding Week
Every August is World Breastfeeding Week. The Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition honors this time with four interesting webinars. Learn more about food allergies and breastfeeding, sleep patterns for babies, approaches to tongue tie with five different practitioners and the experience of solo breastfeeding parents. Each of these webinars is free.
Listening to Each Other
This event, presented by the Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition, is called “The Patchwork of Parenthood”. Six women told their stories about becoming and being a parent. Some described difficult and emergency situations, some stories evolved over time. The audience had empathy for their experience.
