Anyone walking in this years March for Babies?

[PE&M]

We started a team & I'm brainstorming fundraising ideas. Right now our team is small, so I'd also like to get more walkers to join.

I just started a Coach bag "raffle" for those who donate to the MFB on our Molly's Mission blog but I need more ideas. Something that can be done w/ a homebound nursling.

Any thoughts?

[Le Bec]

I'd love to except that MoD aren't in Australia and don't seem to be interested in explanding

As far as fundraising goes, I'll be selling some of my handmade jewelry so I can donate through a friend who is walking.

[AllyRae]

We are doing it in Ryland's memory--it's our fourth year of it. Of course, we're also going to be doing it in celebration of Mia's safe arrival as well.

[PE&M]

Do you guys form teams or sign up as individuals?

[OGirlieMama]

Yup, team O'Girlie will be doing our 3rd March for Babies in April. I tend to mostly rely on email fundraising. The first year the team was just us, the next year it included my friend (who ended up being 13 weeks pregnant at the time!) and her husband. I'd like to get more people involved this year. I have one preemie mama friend (in the NICU with us) who I wish would do it with us, but I think she finds it too traumatizing. I'm hoping a lot of hugs might get her to do it and help her heal a little.

[AllyRae]

Originally Posted by PE&M

Do you guys form teams or sign up as individuals?

We formed a family team. It's actually really fun!

[sbrinton]

I'm going to be on the parent advisory council at the NICU where our son was hospitalized and I think I'm going to try to organize a group...

[squeekybuddha]

I'm forming a team (Maggie's Parade) comprised of friends and family. So far I've got 8 people on the team. I hope to have more friends and family join up as we get closer.

I set a group goal fundraising goal of $1000 and really hope that isn't too much to shoot for as this is our first year to walk. We are walking in honor of my daughter Maggie who is now 6 weeks 4 days (but just 34 weeks gest). We hope she will be able to ride along with us in a stroller as the walk here isn't until May 2.

I would love to hear some of your fundraising ideas as I'm at a bit of a loss.

[PE&M]

Our walk is May 3rd!

So far:
Coach bag raffle on our blog
Team members working at local ice cream shop for 3 hours & earning 15% of sales



I want to do a bowling fundraiser, but I'm not sure how those work.

[foreverinbluejeans]

I can't support MOD as long as they continue to allow baby bottles to be used to collect money and images of baby bottles to be used in connection with the MOD. The MOD says it supports breastfeeding yet knows that using bottles and images promotes artificial feeding. I write them every year and send quotes from the World Health Organization, UNICEF, ect. about the used of bottles. It's too bad they continue with the bottles, premature babies are the some of the babies that benefit from breastfeeding most.

[irangel]

Originally Posted by foreverinbluejeans

It's too bad they continue with the bottles, premature babies are the some of the babies that benefit from breastfeeding most.

I understand the disappointment but there are plenty of people who pump and bottle feed. It's extremely difficult, if not impossible for many moms of premature infants to breast feed directly and the most important thing for these preemies is not the mode in which they get their breast milk but the fact that they do receive breast milk. I personally see nothing contradictory about their use of baby bottles while saying they promote breast milk.

[irangel]

We have a team of about 20-30 who walk. We were all in the NICU together and delivered 23-25wkrs who are now turning 3yrs old (and we've added several later term preemie siblings now too). We have awesome shirts we designed but have done little in the way of fundraising other than to send out emails. We have plans to one day rent out a playnasium type place for a fundraiser and we've also talked about holding a carnival at one person's ranch and asking for a minimum $10 admission fee per family. We'll see when those things come to fruition, not this year.

[PE&M]

A playnasium? That sounds fun!

We set up a couple more fundraisers. We're half way to our goal!

[skylarsmama]

Originally Posted by foreverinbluejeans

I can't support MOD as long as they continue to allow baby bottles to be used to collect money and images of baby bottles to be used in connection with the MOD. The MOD says it supports breastfeeding yet knows that using bottles and images promotes artificial feeding. I write them every year and send quotes from the World Health Organization, UNICEF, ect. about the used of bottles. It's too bad they continue with the bottles, premature babies are the some of the babies that benefit from breastfeeding most.

Have you had a premature baby?
I don't know any preemie that hasn't had a bottle. My boys were too weak to get a proper latch but they needed to get off their feeding tubes. They got bottles of expressed milk and eventually learned to nurse. I think bottles and preemies kind of go hand in hand.
Anyways, I will be walking this year. I just signed up as a family team about a week and a half ago. I wasn't going to do it this year because of the boys being so small still but it's outdoors and I just can't think of any reason good enough to not try to help. I only set a goal of $250 and I've raised just over $100 so far ($25 of that being a donation to myself. lol). Next year, I have higher hopes and goals and I hope to try to get more people involved.

[PE&M]

Originally Posted by foreverinbluejeans

I can't support MOD as long as they continue to allow baby bottles to be used to collect money and images of baby bottles to be used in connection with the MOD. The MOD says it supports breastfeeding yet knows that using bottles and images promotes artificial feeding. I write them every year and send quotes from the World Health Organization, UNICEF, ect. about the used of bottles. It's too bad they continue with the bottles, premature babies are the some of the babies that benefit from breastfeeding most.

You're right! They should use a feeding tube instead of a bottle since that's how the majority of preemies & sick infants eat.

[organicpapayamama]

I am. Im in LA. The one I am planning to march in is april 25. Im looking forward to it! 8)

[waldenmommy]

Thinking about it. We're in the process of selling this house so who knows? But it would be great and good exercise, lol.

It would probably just be our family. I could sucker MIL into it; after all, I've done enough of her CF walks! Lol. However, I am ALL about the matching t-shirts! Hehehe. Next year, if this house ever sells and we have a nicer place, I would love to do a post walk party and the like.

[felix23]

Originally Posted by irangel

I understand the disappointment but there are plenty of people who pump and bottle feed. It's extremely difficult, if not impossible for many moms of premature infants to breast feed directly and the most important thing for these preemies is not the mode in which they get their breast milk but the fact that they do receive breast milk. I personally see nothing contradictory about their use of baby bottles while saying they promote breast milk.

:

I'm not going to be able to participate this year since the nearest walk is over an hour away. If I didn't have Lucy I would go, but she hates the car, and I am just not up for that long of a trip with a screaming baby. Good luck to everyone! I hope you are all able to raise a lot of money for such a wonderful cause. :

[OGirlieMama]

Originally Posted by irangel

I understand the disappointment but there are plenty of people who pump and bottle feed. It's extremely difficult, if not impossible for many moms of premature infants to breast feed directly and the most important thing for these preemies is not the mode in which they get their breast milk but the fact that they do receive breast milk. I personally see nothing contradictory about their use of baby bottles while saying they promote breast milk.

Ditto this, and the poster who said they really ought to use a feeding tube, since that's more likely for many preemies. I do appreciate the sentiment behind being angry at the MoD for using a symbol which you see as promoting formula feeding, but I feel that's throwing out the babies with the bathwater.

[waldenmommy]

Originally Posted by PE&M

You're right! They should use a feeding tube instead of a bottle since that's how the majority of preemies & sick infants eat.

LMAO! I can totally see people going, "What the HECK is that?! Is it a ... snake?!"

I have never met anyone irl who objects to the MOD using a baby bottle. I am so lucky that my preemie is directly on the breast now and behaving like a "normal" breastfed baby- he's bite/gummed me twice now! Yeow!