Aruba's mother-to-mother breastfeeding support groups

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This week we are having our monthly mother-to-mother breastfeeding support group meetings. I especially enjoy these meetings because of how many different experiences and stories you hear from mothers. Our support group is organized by our local non-profit breastfeeding organization Fundacion Pro Lechi Mama Aruba. We always enjoy an attendance of many pregnant women too, this is very good and important because the decision to breastfeed is made long before a woman conceives, and the more information she gets during her pregnancy, the better her chances are of succeeding at breastfeeding. Such support groups are essential because this is where a mother can go to find accurate, up-to-date information from breastfeeding professionals. These meetings are important too, because it can be a great struggle to find acceptance with our choices to breastfeed our infants among people who do not support our choices and/or who do not understand them. These support groups are valuable because mothers can come and find like-minded women and find validation and feel good about her choices. Depending on the topic for that month, I bring along some of my breastfeeding paraphernalia to show moms and give them an idea of what is handy to have. I bring along my breastfeeding pillows, Boppy and My brest friend. I also bring along my sling and nursing cover for the moms and moms-to-be to check out and see if they want to buy one. This month's topic will be about introducing a breastfed baby to solids. This is timely seeing how many a moms get confused (I was one of them!) when it comes to introducing solids. How many times a day? How much do I start with? What do I start with? How can I detect an allergy? and many more questions will be answered.

We are trying to encourage mothers to bring their babies and children with them! One of the reasons we have this support group is not only to dispense correct breastfeeding information but also to give mom some socializing time too where she can bring her babies without having to worry about a babysitter! We also encourage mothers to bring their partners or whomever is their "breastfeeding supporter" along with them especially during pregnancy. It's not only the mom who needs to be well informed but her support-system as well because they will excercise a great influence on her decision to stick it out or throw in the towel..

On behalf of Fundacion Pro Lechi Mama Aruba, I would like to invite you and bid you welcome to this month's Moedergroep!

                     Mom trying out sling for the first time with her 10-month-old