Biographies

LeaningLactivist (aka Carol) I am the mother of two more-often-than-not awesomely cool kids. Both were breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months and nursed past the age of 2. I spent a total of 7.5 years nursing between the two girls (and they did not tandem nurse)*. I began breastfeeding about a decade ago and have watched the changes when it comes to attitudes regarding breastfeeding. When I began breastfeeding there were few laws on the books to protect breastfeeding dyads (in the US) and now we are watching as Rep. Carolyn Mahoney works to get federal legislation passed (in the US) protecting breastfeeding,

I have been active in the online breastfeeding community for over 7 years. In that time I have participated as a community member in several message board communities. I am currently moderating a really cool breastfeeding support community with a few (if 15+ is a few) friends. I am a proud former La Leche League member and was a leader applicant before a move and homeschooling my kids derailed me.

I’ve had personal experience with oversupply and forceful let-down (OALD), surgery while nursing, plugged ducts, milk blisters (nipple blebs), mastitis, nipple blanching (vasospasms), expressing breastmilk (a factor that complicated my first OALD experience) and toddler nursing.

I tend to be stingy with the personal information I set loose in the cyber world. You won’t be seeing any many (because you never say never) pictures of the faces of me or my kids. I know. You are beside yourself with disappointment. Yes, you can roll your eyes until they hurt if you’re feeling the need. Think of me as a woman of mystery or a suspicious stick-in-the-mud. Either works for me. *laughing*

I started this blog because I needed a place to let my hair down a little bit and discuss and possibly gently debate some of the breastfeeding issues we’re dealing with today. That, and I’m a bit sarcastic sometimes and I needed a place to let off just the tiniest bit of steam.

Unrelated Fluff

I claim a husband, and a mini zoo crammed full of a variety of animals – terrestrial, aerial and aquatic. We are all currently making Mexico our home. My children are bilingual while I am ‘can get by in most situations’ with my Spanish. When we leave Mexico the goal is to have the kids biliterate like their Papi. As I noted before, we homeschool. It’s amazing how much we’ve all learned because of that. I’m an avid reader and spend way too much time on the internet.

*If you are getting a shivery feeling down your spine at this revelation you probably want to hit the back button until you back straight off this site. I am an unapologetic advocate of extended nursing and child-led weaning.