The List

I have a card in my kitchen that a dear friend sent me. It has a woman from the 1920s bent over a book with pen in hand. It reads: "Nothing beats the satisfaction of crossing things off a list"
 

It is a very gentle reminder of how the to do list can be all encompassing, how very busy our lives can be especially at this time of year with winter holiday and celebrations on our calendars - creating even more lists on top of the existing lists!!!

 

So where does that leave our families, the babies and toddlers, their needs are still the same regardless of all the busyness that holiday time can bring. Mothers are left juggling little ones needs and all the other needs of family life. – Sometimes it can feel that there is just not enough space or time for all that needs to be done.

 

I hope that we can look to those little ones to keep us on track to remind us what is really important:

 

A contented baby close to their mother fed freely on cue.

 

A toddler who is happily engaged in helping with some of those chores on the to do list.

 

As Naomi Stadlen writes in “How Mothers Love"

 

"If a mother opens up real heart room for her child, it does not seem possible to fold it away again".

So when the to do list seems endless; maybe it is time to slow down and breath into your heart space; look to the little ones and fold away the lists.

 

Breastfeeding LENS would like to wish you all an easy holiday with plenty of time to enjoy the little ones and big ones too.

 
Happy Holiday
 

Christine

UNICEF BFI Conference Cardiff

Back now from the UNICEF BFI conference in Cardiff. Whilst mainstream NHS breastfeeding support still has a long way to go, it is clear it has progressed enormously. Good information from BFI, LLL and other sources IS getting through! I am writing this with my head buzzing from meeting so many like-minded people.

I attended to staff an exhibition stall promoting membership of ILCA (International Lactation Consultant Association). We had plenty of interest and hopefully the stand had a positive effect. Access ILCAs Journal of Human Lactation and research about breastfeeding and breastfeeding issues is a real help. The BFI conference is also to disseminate information and research about infant feeding. Outside the work time, which was during the breaks and lunchtime each day, I managed to attend most of the conference. It was a real treat to hear and take away so many positive messages.

Here are a few:

• Breastfeeding is a relationship (Gill Rapley)
• Meet the needs of the baby and the nutrition takes care of itself (Gill Rapley)
• "There is no such thing as a baby, just a baby and other." quote from Donald Winnacott (Gill Rapley)
• Mother and Baby are a single unit a dyad (Carlos Gonzales)
• The role of the DAD in the DYAD is to provide the arms for support of the mother and baby pair (Carlos Gonzales)
• Dads are not stupid they understand that the baby needs her/his mother (Carlos Gonzales)
• The mother IS the baby's environment no matter where they reside (Carol Bartle)
• Sleeping together is the natural thing to do (Carlos Gonzales)
• 90 % of what we know in brain science has only been known in the last 15 years (Margot Sunderland)
• Attachment directly affects the genome (Margot Sunderland)
• Under fives have a need every 20 seconds (Margot Sunderland)
• "The mere presence of the mother not only ensures the infants well-being but also creates a kind of invisible 'hothouse' in which the infants development can unfold" quote from Myron Hofer (Carol Bartle)

If you were there, you may have other favourite quotes. What were they?
Anne

P.S. If you are looking for ways to integrate ideas such as these, see our
 www.breastfeedinglens.co.uk/mother-baby-together