Breastfeeding parents nurse in public all the time, and most never have any issues. Recently, however, a Chicago mom was asked by a restaurant staff member to “do that somewhere else.” “That” was breastfeeding, and “somewhere else” was a bathroom, a dim corner, or (presumably) a cave. Hello, Dark Ages? Can you hang up now? We are soooo done with you. A couple reminders about breastfeeding in … Continue reading Can’t You Do That Somewhere Else?
We are SO CLOSE to meeting our goal of raising $10,000 to hire our first staff member! May 2016 is our 5th anniversary (go us!), and we are looking for organizations, individuals and businesses to sponsor our final fundraising push. What do you mean “sponsor?” We mean we want you to put up an amount of money you are comfortable giving to the organization as a … Continue reading Sponsor Breastfeed Chicago’s May Fundraiser!
I know you’re tired. Parenthood is exhausting. Just getting out the door has become a monumental task. When your days are full of nursing or pumping, diapers, back to work, family management, and all the other bajillion things that you need to get done before the sun goes down (and your baby wakes up, amirite?) thinking about insurance coverage violations are the LAST thing you have … Continue reading The ACA & Breastfeeding Insurance Coverage
Confused about your pumping rights in the workplace? Fear not! Breastfeed Chicago and the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois teamed up to bring you this handy webinar to walk you through the laws that protect your right to pump at work! Like what we’ve done? Want to see more stuff like this? Donate to Breastfeed Chicago so we can continue to bring you solid information … Continue reading Webinar: Pumping in the Workplace – Your rights in Illinois
Join ACLU-IL and Breastfeed Chicago for a lunchtime webinar outlining your rights to pump during the workday. The presentation will include an explanation of state and federal laws relating to pumping in the workplace, including the Illinois Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act, the Illinois Human Rights Act, and the Affordable Care Act. We will also discuss strategies for talking with your employer about pumping … Continue reading Pumping at Work? Understand Your Rights.
I have talked to so many new or expecting mothers who know something is wrong. They know their emotions feel out of control and they don’t feel like themselves. They have high expectations of themselves and they struggle to understand why they are suffering. They think it will pass eventually and if they can just persevere it will go away. They are hard on … Continue reading Why it is 100% necessary to put YOURSELF first when suffering from a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder! By: Sarah Cline, LCSW
Breastfeeding is hard work. And sometimes we need help! Prior to joining Breastfeed Chicago I had no idea what a lactation consultant was, let alone an IBCLC – International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. So when my little week-old Ruby was leaving me cringing at every hour-long feeding (I’ll spare the gory details), and still not gaining any weight, I was so thankful to be a … Continue reading All I Want for Christmas is My Reimbursement
We hear all the time about how great the dads in our lives are, but this is the first time we’ve had a dad on a blog post! What were we thinking??? Partners who support breastfeeding not only make Mom’s life easier, they ensure the very best nutrition for their little one and a lifetime of better health. (Thanks to Giovanni for being our inaugural … Continue reading Breastfeeding from a Dad’s Perspective
10 WAYS BREASTFEEDING AND SEX ARE SIMILAR….say, what?!?! 10. You get very little practical guidance from your mother about how to do it properly. 9. It is not enjoyable in the beginning. 8. In fact, it is usually painful which makes you happy that it doesn’t last long. 7. You should probably take a class or have a conversation with an expert before your first time. 6. … Continue reading 10 Ways Breastfeeding and Sex are Similar
