There are photographs, sculptures and paintings.  This is one of my favourites:

Which one is you favourite?  Please add any image that isn’t on this list. We love to see breastfeeding in life and art!

This due date thing has my emotions on a roller coaster.  Suddenly, I’m “post-term”, I’m “overdue”.  Not only does my aching body tell me I’m ready to meet this baby, but my doctor uses phrases that imply I should have already!

I receive weekly pregnancy updates from BabyCenter usually with subject lines like your pregnancy – 40 weeks and this week the subject line was Your baby this week – your newborn.  After three paragraphs of how squishy and adorable my new baby must be it said “Still Pregnant?  If you are like many moms-to-be, your due date may have come and gone without your baby making an appearance yet”.  Exactly!  On average, first time moms go about a week “overdue”. So why am I stressed out?  I’ll tell you…

Yesterday was my 40 weeks doctor’s appointment.  I have discussed thoroughly with my doctor my desire to have a natural birth.  She has been very receptive.  I use words like “accommodating and flexible”, as if I’m surprised that she isn’t trying to force her overly medically trained ideas on me!  Anyway, I really like her and feel comfortable with her.  The appointment wasn’t really surprising.  We had briefly discussed policies on going “overdue”.  At our prenatal classes run by a local doula company, we were told that Montreal had a general policy of inducing at 41 weeks plus 3 days.  They implied that there was little flexibility on this.  My doctor has agreed, compromised really, and given me until 41+5.  Induction booked!

Talk about pressure!  This baby and I now have a deadline.  I’m trying to get a grasp on my hormones and emotions.  This does not have to be bad news.  Obviously the baby may just decide that’s plenty of time to get engaged in the pelvis and kick start this labour.  Artificial labour induction doesn’t have to lead to the cascade of interventions I so often read about.  There are always options and decisions to make.  As long as I am involved in what is going, I can achieve the birth experience I want.  It’s all about perspective!

Meanwhile, I am going to walk, squat, eat spicy food, scrub the kitchen floor, bounce on an exercise ball, have sex, practice relaxation, visualize, eat pineapple and go for a bumpy car ride:)

Did you have an induction booked?  What kind of things did you do to get labour going?

“If I don’t know my options, I don’t have any.”

~ Diana Korte

This quote comes from a blog post of quotes collected by Birth Without Fear. The quotes are about birthing a child, but I feel this one also applies to breastfeeding (and all things mothering, really).

Knowledge is power!  There are so many different ways to do things and it is up to us to find what works for our families.

Click here to read the birth quotes and affirmations.  With the impending birth of my first child (due Feb.8th), I found the quotes very empowering!

What are your favourite motherhood quotes?

Here is a great collection of campaigns, compiled by babble.com, from all around the world.

I particularly love these ones from the Ontario Human Rights Commission:

Did you see any breastfeeding campaigns in your area?  Did they impact your breastfeeding choices?

Not knowing many of the guests, it was great to have an icebreaker in the form of my giant belly:) I came away from the many conversations with an informal vote of gender prediction. My husband and I decided to not find out what we were having and it has been lots of fun hearing theories and guesses along the way.

We’re having a boy! Or so the majority of wedding guests believe, based mainly on the way I carry (high and straight out the front). My faith in this theory is waivering, as my sister carried much like I am and had two lovely little girls:)

Just for fun, I have been testing out a variety of gender predictors. According to the Chinese gender predictor, I am having a girl! According to the Old Wives tales predictor, it’s a boy!  The “wedding ring on a string” theory gave no results, as it didn’t move at all (pendulum means boy, circular means girl).

I thought by now I would have a strong feeling, instinct even, about what was growing inside me, but I don’t have a clue!  Of course, it doesn’t matter.  I am just so excited to meet this little person!

So what will we have?  The poll is still open:)

Did you leave the gender a surprise until baby’s birthday?

Here are some ways to get a great deal on Momzelle Breastfeeding Apparel:

Enter to win our sweepstakes!

We have teamed up with two amazing companies, Apple Cheeks cloth diapers and Simplisse Nursing Accessories for a great giveaway contest!

Click here to enter for a chance to win a Momzelle Hoody and a Gia Angled Nursing Pillow and a Little Bundle + 2 pack of Micro Terry Inserts!

Mama on a Green Mission wrote an amazing review and is giving away a $25 Momzelle gift certificate.   Click Here to Enter.

And Momzelle is in the midst of a HUGE winter sale!  All our tops are discounted, select styles up to 20% off!

I spent most of Christmas finding things to do on my hands and knees at my in-laws place; doing puzzles with my niece, reading, cuddling the cat, etc.  I listened to my hypnosis tape nearly every day.  I just couldn’t stop running the image of a c-section through my mind.  It really freaked me out that I might not even get a chance to attempt labour.  I felt the baby kicking a lot but I couldn’t tell if anything had changed.  At my 34 weeks appointment, my doctor confirmed that I was still transverse.  I was definitely feeling nervous now.  I still heard from helpful and hopeful friends and family that there was plenty of time (and room) for the baby to turn.  I just had a hard time believing it.

At a family New Year’s eve dinner, I discussed my predicament with my husband’s cousin.  She is also pregnant and due two weeks before me.  She highly recommended her chiropractor to help get the baby in the right position.  I have never been to a chiropractor before and even though I had read that it is one of the many theories to turn a baby, I hadn’t really considered it.  But now I had a phone number and a recommendation, so off I went!

This chiropractor specializes in prenatal and pediatric care.  During her initial assessment, the doctor palpated my belly (feeling my abdomen to determine how the baby is lying).  She said with about 70% confidence, that the baby was head down!  I may also have been breech.  Because she wasn’t entirely sure and there was obvious imbalance in my pelvic bone, she performed the Webster technique. I came out of the office with new hope.  I wouldn’t let myself get too excited though.  I left that up to my husband who was down right giddy.

The next day I had a doctor’s appointment and he also felt that the baby had turned!  To be sure, he took me over to the ER and we did a quick ultrasound.  It’s official, this baby has gone south in preparation for his big trip.

So was it the inversion, hypnosis, the cold pack of peas I put on the top of my belly a few times?  I will never know exactly when this baby turned, but I am very relieved!

Did you have a breech or transverse lying baby?  What did you do to encourage them to turn?

There are 10 specific steps that are needed to be followed to be designated Baby Friendly.  The hospital also must not accept free or low-cost breast milk substitutes.

I moved to a new city three months into this pregnancy.  I wanted to get a doctor and get one fast.  It wasn’t until after I had been accepted as a patient that I looked into the hospital in any depth.  Lucky for me, this hospital has recently been designated Baby Friendly, the first in Montreal.  We had our tour of the labour ward yesterday, which they call the birthing center:)  After an extensive, two hour lesson on what to expect in terms of breastfeeding in the 36 hour hospital stay (average time after a vaginal delivery), I feel very excited about their breastfeeding policies.

We are four weeks from our due date.  As the nervous excitement for labour day increases, I am feeling pretty good about our chances of having a natural, non-medicated hospital birth, although this is not dictated anywhere in the baby friendly initiative.  I am even more confident that I will get immediate skin to skin with my baby and a good start on my breastfeeding journey.

Did you give birth at a baby friendly hospital?  What was your experience like?

Here is an excellent article about the Baby Friendly Initiative and it’s progress and role in American hospitals

- JOB OFFER -

Marketing Coordinator

Momzelle (www.momzelle.com), a business established four years ago, is a nursing wear brand with a mission: helping mothers feel good about breastfeeding in public. Momzelle has won numerous awards, including «Best socially-minded business» in 2010 and «Best Young Entrepreneurs» by Desjardins in 2011. The nursing tops we design are sold through multiple channels: web, retailers and in our own store. We are now looking to hire someone to help us grow the business.

Job Description

Responsible in overseeing the marketing strategy (online and for the store) of Momzelle: establishing a marketing plan in continuity with what has already been done, putting it in practice and following up with a strict ROI calculation. The goal of this position is to increase the visibility of Momzelle, its mission, products and special offers, as well as to increase its sales through the creation of partnerships with the breastfeeding community.

Diplomas and Required Experience

• College degree in administration, marketing, graphic design or related
• Experience in e-marketing is necessary

Skills and Qualifications

• Bilingual French-English

• Detail oriented

• To learn quickly and be flexible

• To be self sufficient and highly organized with an ability to prioritize work load

• Be knowledgeable about breastfeeding and the mom demographic

• Ability to work in a team

• Able to create graphics (banners and images) with a design software: photoshop, illustrator, etc.
  • Excellent proof reader in both languages
  • Excellent analytical skills

To apply for this position, please email your resume to christine@momzelle.com, using “Marketing coordinator” as the job title.  Please include your cover letter in the body of your email.

This is a full time job at the Momzelle office, located at 1255 Bélanger Street, Montreal.

Competitive salary.

- OFFRE D’EMPLOI -

Responsable marketing

Momzelle (www.momzelle.com), entreprise établie depuis quatre ans, est une marque de vêtements d’allaitement qui a pour mission d’aider les mères à se sentir bien avec l’allaitement en public. Momzelle a été récipiendaire de nombreux prix, dont la «Meilleure entreprise à l’esprit social» au Canada en 2010 et meilleurs «Jeunes entrepreneurs» Desjardins 2011. Les vêtements que nous créons sont vendus en ligne, à travers un réseau de détaillants ainsi que dans notre propre boutique. Nous cherchons à nous adjoindre une personne pour participer à l’expansion de l’entreprise.

Description du poste

Responsable de la stratégie marketing de Momzelle: établir un plan marketing en fonction dans la continuité de ce qui a déjà été fait, le mettre en pratique et en faire le suivi avec un calcul strict du retour sur l’investissement. L’objectif de ce poste est d’augmenter la visibilité de Momzelle ainsi que ses ventes par la création de liens avec la communauté des mères qui allaitent.

Formation et expérience:

• DEC en administration, marketing, graphisme ou domaine connexe
• De l’expérience en e-marketing est nécessaire.

Compétences requises :

• Bilingue anglais-français à l’oral et à l’écrit

• Minutieux

• Excellent relecteur/réviseur dans les deux langues
• Connaissance du marché de la maternité et de l’allaitement

• Apprendre vite et être flexible

• Autonome, très organisé avec une excellente gestion du temps

• Capacité à travailler en équipe

• Être amical, de bonne humeur et courtois
• Être capable de créer des bannières et des images à partir de logiciels graphiques (photoshop, illustrator, etc.)
• Excellentes capacités analytiques

Pour postuler à ce poste, svp envoyer votre cv à christine@momzelle.com, en utilisant « Responsable marketing » dans le titre. Inclure une lettre de motivation.

Emploi à temps plein, au bureau de Momzelle au 1255 rue Bélanger, Montréal. Rémunération concurrentielle.

This year I do have something that I am determined to commit to.  I am four weeks away from my due date with my first baby.  It isn’t losing the baby weight or getting the babe to sleep through the night by X month.  It isn’t to purée my own organic baby food or become a super famous mommy blogger:)  My resolution is to breastfeed.

To be sure to attain this goal, here are my specific resolutions:

– Have immediate skin to skin after delivery

– Join my local La Leche League.  I want to be surrounded by supportive, knowledgeable women.

– Seek help.  I know this most natural and instinctive relationship can have quite the learning curve at the beginning and I want to be ready to tackle any hurdle that comes our way.  I have a list of lactation consultants already on hand.

– Breastfeed exclusively for the first six months.

– Embrace this new relationship, even when it seems consuming and overwhelming (and possibly painful).  I want to remember to take a deep breath and look down at my little one when it all seems too much.  I am nurturing a human being.  We are building a relationship of trust and comfort.

– When I am comfortable and confident, breastfeed in public.  I don’t imagine I will be going anywhere to soon, having a baby in February in Montreal, but as soon as we start to thaw I want to be out and about!  Rather than schedule my life around a feed, I want to embrace the mobility of breastfeeding and get out there.

– Follow my child’s lead in regards to weaning.  Reference WHO recommendations and breastfeed as long as is mutually beneficial (this is more of a resolution for 2013!)

What are your breastfeeding resolutions or goals this year?