Happy Black Girl Day!

I'm pleased to present a post today in honor of the Happy Black Girl Day 2: Happier and Blacker. HBGD was created by Sista Toldja of The Beautiful Struggler, whom I fell in love with after her post on why black women weren't exactly thrilled with the choice of Reggie Bush as Essence Magazine's "love issue" cover model. But enough about the stuff that pisses us off, Happy Black Girl Day is about celebrating everything that is wonderful about being a black girl.

So today I am celebrating some of my favorite black girls who understand the importance of birth autonomy, breastfeeding and natural parenting. Here are my Top 5.

#1. Phylicia Rashad- Yes, the original black Super Mom is a breastfeeding mom in real life. Not to be outdone by the character she played for years, Phylicia is a phenom who is not only still acting but also recently narrated "Bringin' in da Spirit," a documentary about the history of black midwives in America. She hosted a DVD that provided breastfeeding information for parents-to-be called "Your Healthy Baby." On Mother's Day she appeared on the Al Sharpton radio show to discuss maternal health and stressed the importance of food as medicine and the importance of motherhood.


#2. Lisa Bonet- OK, so she's a little nuts (I mean, Lilakoi Moon? Really?) but she's in a relationship with the super hot Jason Momoa and has ridiculously gorgeous kids. She's also a self-proclaimed "hippie at heart" who gave birth at home and breastfed all her babies.

#3. Deborah Cox- The platinum-selling singer is a mom of three breastfed babies. Deborah says she is "a big believer in breastfeeding" because "at the end of the day, you have healthier kids." So true!

#4. Halle Berry- The most beautiful mom on the planet breastfed her daughter and praised Larrivo nursing bras for making breastfeeding "sexy." She's also a co-sleeping mama: baby Nahla slept in an Arms Reach co-sleeper.

#5. Tonya Lewis-Lee- Spike Lee's wife Tonya is the executive producer of the film "Crisis in the Crib," a documentary about the high infant mortality rate in the black community. She is working with the department of Health & Human Services to promote breastfeeding and was the face of the "A Healthy Baby Begins With You" campaign. Tonya was breastfed herself until she was two and plans on nursing her own daughter just as long.

Want to read the other Happy Black Girl Day posts? Check them out here (will be updated throughout the day).

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Breastfeeding jokes galore on The Office

Did you catch last night's episode of The Office? Before it started, I tweeted my prediction for lots of breastfeeding jokes and they didn't disappoint! Pam and Jim had their baby girl and like many new moms, Pam had some trouble getting the baby to latch. Every time she tried to ask her nurse for help with breastfeeding, the nurse offered to take the baby to the nursery and give it a bottle. So frustrating, but unfortunately, that seems to be a universal experience amongst moms who gave birth in the hospital.

I loved that the lactation consultant in the hospital was male and that Pam accidentally breastfed her roommate's baby (wonder if she'll sue the hospital?) The only part I didn't like was Pam wearing that damn nursing cover all the time, even when in the hospital bed (does anyone really do this?). In the last scene she is struggling to get the baby to latch on while Jim has gone to install the carseat and I was hoping she would snatch the cover off and that would make the baby latch on properly, but alas it didn't go down that way. Oh, well, you can't have everything, right?

My next prediction? Pam is back to work and pumping, Michael "accidentally" walks in on her and hilarity ensues.

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Kourtney Kardashian: Future Lactivist?

I swear, I was never a fan of the Kardashians, but I am quickly falling in love with Kourtney. The new mom was calm, cool and collected during the recent birth of her son Mason (she even caught the baby herself!) and has been extolling the virtues of breastfeeding online. She has talked about tasting her own breast milk on Twitter and now we get this choice quote in the latest Us Weekly:

"If I have to feed him, I just whip it out. If I'm doing it in public and someone doesn't like it — don't look. I don't give a shit."

Loves it!

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Simplisse Breast Pump Review & Giveaway

I've got a fabulous giveaway for a Simplisse manual breast pump and breastfeeding accessories over at Blacktating Reviews. The total prize is worth over $100! Go enter now. 


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Wordless Wednesday: Imagine Living in this Building

 

Breastfeeding Mural, Denmark

Photo by Passion for Birth

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Stephen Colbert Breastfeeds His Grammy

Stephen Colbert must know a lot of about breastfeeding. First, he discussed pumping at work with Rep. Carolyn Maloney. Now, he talks about breastfeeding his Grammy.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Stephen Apologizes for Feeding His Grammy Baby Food
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Skate Expectations

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Action Against Hunger & UNICEF's Breastfeeding Initiative in Haiti

The organization Action Against Hunger has created an initiative in Haiti, supported by UNICEF,  to protect breastfeeding in Haiti. Since the earthquake, lots of mothers have stopped breastfeeding under the mistaken belief that stress and lack of adequate food would make their breast milk go bad. With the influx of formula donations, a lot of women began to formula feed, despite the lack of access to clean drinking water.

After the earthquake, AAH set up tents in Port-au-Prince to provide mothers a safe place to breastfeed their babies. The women in the tents also provide mothers with medical, nutritional and emotional support. Here is a short video about the initiative and how AAH is working to protect breastfeeding in Haiti.


Meeting Urgent Needs of Women with Young Children in Haiti from Action Against Hunger USA on Vimeo.

You can read more about these "Baby Tents" on UNICEF's site. Also, American Idol star Kris Allen recently visited Haiti and performed "Amazing Grace" for the women and children in one of the Baby Tents.

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