08/08/2022
This weekend was empowering. Mrs. StretcherMonkey and baby bear participated in a breastfeeding awareness photoshoot. She stood beside 342 other mothers feeding their children to end the negativity around nursing in public!
As world breastfeeding week comes to an end we want to recognize it, celebrate it, and we continue on to celebrate breastfeeding awareness month! We celebrate with our annual Breastfeeding Event!
We started with 10 moms at our very very first event 7 years ago.Last year we had 255 moms breastfeeding in the group photo.
Did we break the record for the 7th year in a row?? We absolutely did!!
343 BEAUTIFUL, strong, courageous moms stood before me and made another LOUD and HUGE Statement.
Power comes in numbers and this number keeps getting bigger each year.
We come together to celebrate breastfeeding. To look at what are bodies do for our children!
Our bodies literally supply our children life. From birth and beyond. Our bodies can supply one baby with the nourishment they need, or 10! Or a toddler and a baby! Our bodies make milk for what we need to make milk for. To help our babies fight the flu. To fight allergies. To fight hunger. To make them wake up. To make them go to sleep. Our bodies are TRULY AMAZING!!
We are absolute superheroes with the most amazing power in the world.
Our goal is to stand here and celebrate all breastfeeding. Whether that’s nursing, pumping, donor milk etc. We celebrate it. We bring power to it.
We are here together to tell YOU that we support you. We have your back. We will fight with you to continue to bring normalcy to breastfeeding.
Over the last few years laws have changed. In the last couple years breastfeeding in public was finally legal in all 50 states. People have started praising moms in public that are breastfeeding.
People have started helping moms breastfeeding in public. Hospitals have encouraged latching before ANYTHING else. Including even being weighed or other things they do in the hospital after birth.
The recommendations for extended breastfeeding changed this year for the first time in YEARS !
Families have encouraged their daughters to breastfeed more now than in many many years!
The amount of younger mothers that are breastfeeding and breastfeeding longer is going up.
The amount of mothers of ALL races breastfeeding are going up each year.
The moms who exclusively pump is going up.
The amount of moms who feed their baby donor milk exclusively is going up.
The amount of support for moms of all races and nationalities is going up!
YOU are doing that.
People thought that they weren’t a breastfeeding mom because they “only” pump. NO ! Breastfeeding in ANY way is hard! And you deserve all the recognition no matter how you do it. We are fighting to change that view of pumping! You ARE A breastfeeding mom!
So are the moms feeding baby donor milk. We have over 80 pumping moms in this photo! Most using pumps from Momcozy!
Does this make us “Against” Formula feeding moms? Absolutely not. Feed. Your. Baby!
This photo is here to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, And Breastfeeding Awareness month.
To remind you that you mama, deserve to be celebrated. No matter how you are breastfeeding.
You can do it wherever you want. However you want. If you aren’t breastfeeding you can support breastfeeding. You can encourage. Support. And stand up for those that get attacked for breastfeeding in public.
If you see someone breastfeeding give them the little head nod. Tell them to keep up the good work. Just a little “good job mama” Will probably make her burst into tears but it will make her stronger than you’ll EVER know.
Support yourself mama. Support each other.
Know that you, mama, are doing an amazing job.
Whether you breastfed one time or for 7 years straight.
Whether you pump exclusively or just sometimes.
Whether you get donor milk or give donor milk.
This week… This month… We celebrate YOU.
A HUGE shout out to The Ashley Castle in Chandler AZ for donating the venue to us.
Thank you to our AMAZING sponsor Momcozy that donated over 100 pumps, 320 bras, over 100 breast massagers, almost 2000 diapers, and 1000 nursing pads.
Thank you FOX 10 Phoenix for covering our event today.
Thank you to all the vendors that came to the event. And thank you to all the donors that sent items for the bags. You all made this possible and without you and your support for this we wouldn’t have had such a fun and amazing event with the most amazing gifts for EVERY mom in attendance!
Thank you to the volunteers that gave up their time and put so much effort to do so much for this event.
Thank you moms that came out today. You are strong to stand here. You are powerful. Without YOU we wouldn’t have been able to make such a huge statemen Each and EVERY one of you matter. Thank you for enduring the Arizona 107 weather because this statement mattered so much to you in your heart.
I’m honored to have so many of you capture your last latch at the event. Thank you for sharing such a special moment with me.
I’m truly honored to stand in front of such strength, power, and beauty.
I appreciate all of you.
I'm proud of you.
Don't ever doubt YOU for a second.
YOU did this.
