In what should be a normal, everyday event, an Australian Senator has made history by being the first woman to (successfully and legally) breastfeed her baby in Parliament. The Senator, Larissa Waters, had recently returned from maternity leave and -- like many American mothers long to do -- was able to take her baby to work with her. Baby Alia Joy Waters, only weeks old, joined her mother on the floor of Parliament where voting was taking place. After the event, Waters took to Twitter to … [Read more...] about Senator Makes History By Breastfeeding Her Baby In Parliament
Activism
Doulas Have A Duty To Talk About Circumcision
Originally published on Mothering.com When I was pregnant with my first baby nine years ago, my doula was a personal friend, someone whose children I babysat often. She was also a great source of information throughout my pregnancy. I remember the moment I told her I was having a boy. I had gone in for an ultrasound to determine the sex of my child, and I later met up with my doula to work on some birth art. When I announced that I was expecting a boy, she responded with … [Read more...] about Doulas Have A Duty To Talk About Circumcision
This Is What Women Around the World REALLY Think of U.S. Maternity Leave
Originally posted on Mothering.com Did you know that every developed country in the world offers its families some form of paid parental leave? Every country except the United States, that is. Most American mothers are offered 6-12 weeks of unpaid leave, if they are lucky. Not everyone can afford to take unpaid leave. In a survey by the International Labour Organization, of almost every country in the world -- countries with a wide variety of income levels -- only the United States and Papua … [Read more...] about This Is What Women Around the World REALLY Think of U.S. Maternity Leave
Guest Post: Things I Wish I Knew When I Was Pregnant
Written by wise mama Amanda of Hippie Tree As mothers, hindsight makes it easy to look back on our choices and see what we would do differently. Mothering is such a learning journey, and I have gained so much knowledge along the way. I am now 23 weeks pregnant and I am able to put that knowledge to use in preparation for my next child. Making informed choices is an incredibly empowering part of parenting, so with that in mind, here is a list of things I know now that I wish I knew … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Things I Wish I Knew When I Was Pregnant
Pregnancy and Birth Etiquette in the Internet Age
Using social media to share our experiences with pregnancy and birth is a beautiful thing; through sharing our journeys, we build communities of informed mothers who feel empowered and supported. Yet with the information age comes a peculiar sense of urgency and entitlement towards this instantaneous form of communication. It seems that, as with pregnancy announcement etiquette, some people may need a refresher regarding how to tactfully and respectfully respond to pregnancy and birth, … [Read more...] about Pregnancy and Birth Etiquette in the Internet Age
Guest Post: Circumcision Part 1: Uninformed Consent– The REAL Dangers That Doctors Don’t Tell You About
Written by wise mama Amanda of Hippie Tree Hello, I’m Amanda Tyson and I had my son circumcised. I did it because it was “healthier.” I did it because my husband and brothers are all circumcised. I did it because it is what I knew and was comfortable with. I did it because my doctor did not tell me about the risks and complications. What I did is better called uninformed consent. Consent is a very important part of medical practice. It is something that we discuss often on MotherWise. … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Circumcision Part 1: Uninformed Consent– The REAL Dangers That Doctors Don’t Tell You About
This is Why I Breastfeed in Public
In recent years, many moms have embraced the act of posting breastfeeding photos on social media as part of our effort to normalize nursing. The reaction is always the same: lots of support and celebration, lots of oohs and ahhs, but also a plethora of insulting, attacking, disgusting comments. No matter how many times this happens, I am always stunned by the ugly reactions people have to a mother feeding her child. Our society has received some strong social conditioning, and apparently the … [Read more...] about This is Why I Breastfeed in Public
The Origin of My Doubt In Vaccination
Vaccination. No other topic is quite as contentious these days. There are numerous debates about breastfeeding and formula, circumcision, cry-it-out, carseats, and more, yet nothing gets so viciously attacked as the choice to refuse or even question vaccines. It is a very bad sign when people are expected to unquestioningly participate in one-size-fits-all mass medicine, and daring to wonder about the safety of this approach is met with often brutal ridicule. Some people say the angry … [Read more...] about The Origin of My Doubt In Vaccination
Pregnancy Announcement Etiquette
For some people, announcing a pregnancy is a happy, exciting time. Many soon-to-be mothers experience joyous reactions, hugs, happy tears, high-fives, and other loving, encouraging responses. Others are not so fortunate, and it seems that an etiquette guide is in order. I am a single parent, and although I was 23 and had a good job at a library, most of the responses I received when I told people I was pregnant were insensitive and inconsiderate. It appeared that the main focus was that I … [Read more...] about Pregnancy Announcement Etiquette
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