Birth and Breastfeeding

This month’s online meeting was about birth and breastfeeding. We had a total of eight attendees from four different countries! I just love that ❤️ If you had hoped to make the meeting but couldn’t attend, we will have this topic again next March! 

Here are just a few highlights:

We talked about childbearing in the context of our faith. We were designed and created by God to give birth and breastfeed. The Fall did damage God’s perfect design. However, we can still trust in God to watch over us and lean on resources and support in our communities (don’t forget about the Catholic Nursing Mothers League!). We can also do our part by taking care of our bodies (and souls!) and by trying to seek out healthcare providers who share our values.

We also discussed birth options that support breastfeeding. Some ideas include: choosing a Baby Friendly hospital or birth center or home birth with a qualified midwife, choosing a hospital with an on-staff lactation consultant (IBCLC), educating yourself about the process of birth and routine procedures in hospitals and also tools for coping with labor and birth (St. Croix Birth and Parenting offers a wonderful online series of natural childbirth classes!), planning for a low or no intervention vaginal birth (while also understanding that sometimes unexpected interventions are necessary), planning to have baby with you in your room after birth, and nursing on demand. Also, prayer is another important part of birth preparation and birth itself!

During the meeting we also shared birth stories, shared suggestions for various breastfeeding concerns, shared prayer, and shared much much more! 

If you have been thinking about attending the online meeting but have been feeling shy, please consider joining us for the next one on Thursday, March 30! It is always so encouraging to gather with fellow Catholic moms to discuss the Catholic faith, motherhood, and breastfeeding! You won’t be disappointed!

CNML has one other post about birth and breastfeeding here that you might enjoy reading. It is an excerpt from the CNML book, Getting Started with Breastfeeding: For Catholic Mothers. If you would like a copy of the book, send us an email. CNML mails the book out as a gift.

Written by Gina M. Peterson, BS, IBCLC