Breastfeeding encourage-ment in its sweetest form delivered for world breastfeeding week

Bay Area Breastfeeding Support Cookies

The major theme for World Breastfeeding Week 2019 is empowerment. To me, this means providing the support, protection, and encouragement necessary for parents to reach their personal breastfeeding goals. 

World Breastfeeding Week can bring up some very deep feelings, especially when breastfeeding does not turn out as one expected or hoped. It is important for families I support to know that there is no one right way to feed and nurture a baby, and every drop of breastmilk matters. Aside from all of the practical aspects of breastfeeding support such as parental leave, community support, and hands-on help, one of the most important ways we support parents is by simply being present and providing a non-judgmental, willing ear. I like to call this the "warm fuzzies" of breastfeeding support.

warm fuzzies: plural. noun. 
:feelings of happiness, contentment, or sentimentality
:the warm, pleasant sensations one feels in their center when emotionally moved by an act of goodwill or love

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Warm fuzzies delivered by Allie

In the spirit of World Breastfeeding Week, we did a little supporting, promoting, encouraging, and empowering breastfeeding this week. One of our activities included delivering batches of special cookies to a number of healthcare providers in the San Francisco Bay area. The cookies featured breast-themed designs representative of a variety of skin tones and the Bay Area Breastfeeding Support logo. This logo is special to me because it represents not only the birth of a baby, but the birth of parents. It's about all families being sacred and beautiful. No matter how one births, feeds, or parents; it is a miracle every moment. 

These delectable delights were made with love (and very skilled hands) by Iced Crystals in San Ramon CA and delivered by our friend, Allie Lewenilovo.

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A different kind of warm fuzzy

World Breastfeeding Week may be over, but the promotion of breastfeeding will continue all month long! August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. It culminates with Black Breastfeeding Week, which aims to bring awareness to the racial disparities that exist not only in the rates of breastfeeding, but the related issues of infant mortality and higher rates of diet-related disease. Bay Area Breastfeeding Support will be supporting the local event scheduled in Berkeley. 

How did you celebrate World Breastfeeding Week this year? Tell me in the comments. 

If you are in the Bay Area and you need breastfeeding information or support, please contact me!

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