Blessed Nest is excited to bring you an update from the International Princess Project.....more on IPP coming soon!
The Mission of International Princess Project: Establish self-sustaining enterprises and partnership with indigenous organizations that provide for physical, emotional and spiritual needs of women formerly enslaved in prostitution; AND advocate for women enslaved in prostitution around the world.
Today's post written by Blessed Nest Perch writer Holly at IntegrativeMom.com
Holly at Integrative Mom
When picturing my life as a mother, I had always planned to practice extended breastfeeding. I really hoped my son would nurse until age 2, and then gradually wean on his own. That was my hope and from my experience thus far, it was wishful thinking!
One scenario I had not planned on was becoming pregnant for the second time while still breastfeeding my first. I’m not sure why it hadn’t occurred to me, but it just hadn’t. Well, here we are. I’m currently 37 weeks into my second pregnancy, AKA full term, and I still have a breastfeeding two year old. I was assured by my OB that it was perfectly safe to continue nursing throughout my pregnancy. She reminded me that people in third world countries do it all the time and this is often the best nutrition these children receive during their lives. “But remember, we don’t live in a third word country, so it’s no longer nutritionally necessary to breastfeed your toddler. You just need to decide it you’re willing to tandem nurse a newborn and a three year old. If so, I usually advise my patients to give each child one breast, that way you know your newborn is getting an adequate milk supply.”
Whoa! I am so happy I found an open minded holistic ob/gyn, but even this was “out there” for me.
So then I consulted La Leche League who told me that many children will gradually taper off of breastfeeding as the taste of the milk changes due to hormones, and then is replaced with colostrum during the 4th or 5th month of pregnancy.
We were seeing signs of hope as my son totally quit nursing during the day, but then he also quit taking naps (since this was his main way of falling asleep). Once again, something I was not prepared for! He continued to nurse in the evening, then got used to the new taste and reinstated his daytime nursing. He also recently told me that he’s going to nurse on one side while the baby nurses on the other. “I’m a really good sharer, Mommy.”
Where will this journey take us? I don’t know, but I have learned one thing so far in my career as a mother- never say never. I’m certain you will find yourself doing and saying things you could not even fathom pre-child. As for me, I have anywhere from zero to three weeks to either make changes, or to just go with the flow and see what happens.
Since I’ve heard tandem nursing reduces any jealousy or behavioral problems the toddler might experience and creates a quicker bond between the siblings, I’m pretty sure if you see me in a few weeks I’ll have my hands very, very full.
A new law in metro Atlanta will limit breastfeeding in public.
On Monday night, Forest Park, Georgia passed a public indecency ordinance to prevent public nudity. Previously, the city only had a public indecency ordinance that covered adult entertainment businesses.
According to the law, no woman can breastfeed anyone older than 2 years old in public. City manager John Parker called the law a proactive step.
“It sets up a process whereby we can try to control nudity throughout the entire city," Parker said.
Those of us who choose to breastfeed our children past the age of two years now have to run the risk of being arrested and treated like some kind of pervert. This new law actually goes against the Georgia State law protecting Mothers’ right to breastfeed anywhere she and her child are allowed to be. That means if you are sitting in the park, at a café, in church, the library, ANYWHERE! You are allowed to breastfeed your child.
On Monday, May 23rd a large group of us Moms will peacefully go and sit on the steps of Forest Park’s City Hall and feed our babies the way that nature intended. It’s amazing that in the Bible belt, what God created to multi-task for our husbands (boyfriends, partners, what-have-you) and our babies has been turned into something dirty. We have been lumped together with adult entertainment.
If you feel the need to voice your opinion to the city manager, here is his contact information is:
Office of the City Manager 745 Forest Parkway Forest Park, Ga. 30297 Phone: 404-366-4720 Fax: 404-608-2343
This giveaway is now closed. We will post the winner later tonight! Thanks to all who entered.
We hope your Mother's Day was wonderful...Now let the pampering continue here at MOMday Morning!
Where have we been? Well, our lives (all of our lives) have been a bit crazy! Donna from Blessed Nest is finishing up the home school year with her now kindergartner turning 1st grader and 2nd grader nowtuning 3rd grader..yikes! Wasn't it just yesterday when Tabitha was born and I needed a great nursing pillow which birthed the awesome Blessed Nest Nesting Pillow???... (Donna takes a deep breath & keeps writing)
Heather has been training our new and oh so wonderful seamstress at Blessed Nest...Kara-Noel from Eli's Lids had some BIG news back in March ( hint somthing about baby# 4) and Andrea from B.Y.O.G is keeping up with her two boys and working on growing her fabulous biz all while encouraging her amazing friends like miss Elaini.ous'.
Thank you for forgiving us for the absence of MoMday Morning. We hope you understand!
Blog of the month for MOMday Morning!
Speaking of fabulous friends we would love for you to get to know miss Elaini.ous' a bit better so we are placing her in the spotlight this MOMday Morning.
Andrea at B.Y.O.G met Elaini in 2008 when B.Y.O.G. was in its infancy!
This is THEIR story:
" Elaini sent an email one day asking if she could order gowns without the usual pregnancy related packaging. The gowns were for a 17 year old girl named Marissa. Marissa was battling cancer and enduring long hospital stays while she received treatment. Elaini wanted her to feel pretty and have something modest to wear. She thought our hospital gowns would do the trick. I thought it was so sweet of Elaini to buy the gowns for her friend but, as it turned out, at the time Elaini had never even met Marissa! She read an article about her in the local newspaper and followed her heart...amazing! I was so touched by her gesture and wanted to help too. We began to converse back and forth about her first visit to see Marissa in the hospital and after that she was kind enough to send updates. (I'm happy to report that it has been almost two years since Marissa's successful bone marrow transplant!)"
photo by Christa Taylor photographyWe are excited to be spreading the love......On Sunday May 1st one of Elaini's dreams came true. She launched her blog miss elaini.ous'. Elaini has designed a black dress that she will be wearing for 100 days. She will be modeling it on her blog daily but, it's really not about her or the dress though. It's about orphans in India. Here's an excerpt from her blog...
"Orphans in India can’t go to school without a uniform. However, they often don’t have clothes to wear. Growing up surrounded by turmoil, human trafficking, and loss, an education can help these orphans dream about a different life. I have been given so much that I can have “fashion,” while these children struggle to stay clothed. I have to do something. I’m hoping you’ll do it with me.
Join us in helping Elaini raise 50,000.00 for the orphans in India. For more details and to donate go here
MOMday Morning Giveaway:
This MOMday Morning you may enter to win $75.00 cash and a organic Nesting Pillow by Blessed Nest
Here's how to enter:
giveaway open to USA residents only with a USA shipping address. Thank you!
Visit miss http://misselainious.com/ then tell us here in the comments which “dress” day is your favorite. Remember Elaini is wearing the same dress for 100 days but changing it up everyday! This step is mandatory to enter the MOMday contest.
FOR EXTRA ENTRIES:
Make a donation of 20.00 or more to miss elainious here and tell us you did so in the comments. You will receive 2 extra entries
Twitter this MOMday contest and tell us you did so in the comments for 1 extra entry ( you can do this up to once a day)
Twitter about miss elainious blog ( http://misselainious.com/ ) and tell us you did so in the comments here for 1 extra entry. ( you can do this up to once a day)
Post either contest on Facebook and tell us you did so here in the comments for 1 extra entry.
blog about MOMday Morning May and give us the link here in the comments for 1 extra entry.
If you are new to MOMday Morning visit here for entry details, contest guidelines and a oh so cute video of Kara-Noel talking about all of us at MOMday Morning!
Contest closes on Monday May 16th, 2011 9:00pm PST
1 winner will win both the $75.00 cash and Blessed Nest Organic Nesting Pillow!
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 01:24AM 
