[redpajama]

So I was talking with my sister the other day.

You know how the Boy Scouts get little badges for different things they do, and then they sew them onto a vest and can wear them around?

What if there was such a vest for nursing mothers? Of course you'd get some sort of "bar" or something every time a nursling celebrated a birthday; that's only fair. So what are some of your other badges?

I've earned my "Nursed a child who was strapped into his/her carseat while riding on the freeway" badge, my "nursed in the bathtub" badge and, just recently, I finally earned my "really dirty looks and obvious whispering from the people at the table next to us at Red Lobster" badge, when I nursed my 2.5-year-old followed by my 7-month-old.

Come on--brag a little. What are your best badges?

 

[Snowdrift]

It's not all about birthdays--
"Milk Donor"
"Nursed another mother's child at the breast"
"Normalized milk-sharing by asking other mothers to nurse my child"
"Tandem nursed two toddlers, one belonging to another family, while pregnant"

Yeah, that last one was interesting...

Do I get a patch for pumping while crossing the Mackinaw Bridge?
How about for recieving communion while nursing in a wrap?

 

[redpajama]

Very impressive. Most women only dream of the "Nursed while taking communion" badge. Kudos.

 

[ChinaDoll]

'Nursing a toddler while riding an elephant through the jungle' must surely earn me a badge!

 

[TigerTail]

oh, that's a good one.

do i get one for most toilet hardware stuck in my back nursing in public toilets, with babe number one?

:

i want the mastitis badge and the engorgement badge, the tandem badge and the months of bloody nipples badge, and the harassed by mcdonald's manager (in walmart! a double!) badge, the discouraging, revolted mil badge, the 'what c-section problems?!' badge, and most of all, the squirting-the-nurse's-paperwork-from-two ft-with-colostrum-for-insisting-baby3-get-sugar-water-for-low-blood-sugar-because-'i couldn't possibly have enough to make a difference'-while- my-dh-couldn't-find-the-lactation-consultant' badge.

it's no elephant, but i was as proud of that one as my first awkward terrified nip

.

 

[ChinaDoll]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TigerTail and most of all, the squirting-the-nurse's-paperwork-from-two ft-with-colostrum-for-insisting-baby3-get-sugar-water-for-low-blood-sugar-because-'i couldn't possibly have enough to make a difference'-while- my-dh-couldn't-find-the-lactation-consultant' badge.

Ooooh, you definitely deserve a badge for that one!

 

[TigerTail]

it did shut her up

. in a good way; she looked surprised that it could be done. (and his blood sugar shot right up after i nursed him; duh.)

wow, is there a world of difference (if you do go the hospital route) between a meek primapara in her early twenties with a non-supportive spouse, and a cranky old bat pushing forty refusing to take any crap. ladies, friendly but firm

. 'no' is a complete sentence.

 

[Snowdrift]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TigerTail wow, is there a world of difference (if you do go the hospital route) between a meek primapara in her early twenties with a non-supportive spouse, and a cranky old bat pushing forty refusing to take any crap. ladies, friendly but firm . 'no' is a complete sentence.

I think I hit the "cranky old bat" stage, at least wrt officious and self-important medical personnel, sometime around my 25th birthday.

 

[TigerTail]

yeah, i was a late bloomer.

i should've clarified; THIS primapara.

 

[BensMamacita]

I'll take one of the "refusing formula for my newborn against the stern advice of the nurses because you're obviously not making enough to feed your one-day-old baby, otherwise he wouldn't be mildly jaundiced"

I'll take the "nursing in Starbucks while the college kids gawk and giggle";

I'll take the "nursing my 16 mo. at my auntie's house with the family practically shrieking in horror";

Oh yeah, I also get the "nursing on the highway with baby strapped into car seat" that was fun!

While none of these are extraordinarily courageous, for me personally they were huge (esp. the nurses in the hospital) - you know what I mean? Before I had my son I wasn't the kind of person to stand up for myself, and this strength has been one of the many great gifts of motherhood.

 

[redpajama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChinaDoll 'Nursing a toddler while riding an elephant through the jungle' must surely earn me a badge!

You know, I've been trying to work towards my "Toddler-Jungle-Elephant" badge, but it's so hard to find a willing elephant (let along a good jungle) around here.

 

[momuveight2B]

I've earned them all but not the "riding elephant" badge. Does Dumbo count?

 

[ChinaDoll]

Quote:

Originally Posted by momuveight2B I've earned them all but not the "riding elephant" badge. Does Dumbo count?

Dumbo should surely count!

I love the "while strapped into the carseat" one - it takes skill and flexibility to earn that one!

 

[My*Scorpio]

I haven't done this, but any mother who's breastfed a NICU baby deserves a huge badge of honor.

 

[muppet729]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! this is a great thread!

Nursing while mini-golfing badge (and winning

)

 

[Nunny]

OOoooh, can I have one for nursing while sitting on Santa's lap for the family christmas photo??? Much to the horror of all the extended family watching!

And I want one for nursing the 2yo to sleep on a row of airport seats while kneeling next to her in the Atlanta terminal.

And a badge for me and the kind German man who sat next to me as I nursed the baby on the plane. He made it a point to tell me not to worry about the babe kicking him, this was very normal in his country. What a relief!

 

[_betsy_]

Nursing on the totally-unsupportive-IL's couch must surely earn me a badge! Especially since she's now 9 months - "Surely," they said when baby was about a month old, "she'll be done with *that* by 6 weeks, right? RIGHT?"

Oh, and also, I earn the nursing while being punched, pinched, shoved and kicked and having my hair pulled all-at-once badge.

 

[PrennaMama]

And to Prenna's Mom:
The "I-have-enthusiastically-illustrated-through-pantomime-and-'hands-on'-demonstration-a-variety-of-techniques-to-get-a-GREAT-latch-with-new-moms-I-might-not-know-*THAT*-well" badge ("Like thiiiisss, flat like a sandwich!)...

The "Peer-pressuring-one's-frineds-and-family-into-not-only-accepting-CLW-but-deciding-to-practice-CLW-with-their-dc's" badge...

The "Laughter-is-the-best-medicine/defense-against-doubting-Thomas-and-all-his-co-horts" badge...

 

[CathMac]

Note, since I never mastered nursing with a sling, most of the Nursing sessions below occurred while I was holding the baby (or toddler) often with only one arm.

--Nursing while making a homemade pizza, including stretching the dough.
--Nursing while going to the bathroom.
--Nursing DD2 while changing DD1's diaper and getting her into her pajamas (on two separate occasions; I have to say the first time was more successful)
--Nursing while loading the dishwasher, washing machine and dryer
--Nursing while folding and hanging laundry.
--Nursing DC in a moving car while she was in a car seat.
--Tandem Nursing DD1 and DD2 to sleep downstairs and then carrying both of them upstairs with DD2 still latched on.
--Nursing smack dab in the middle of an open field at an apple orchard with absolutely nothing to back up against to control my exposure.
--Nursing 4 month old DD1 while shopping for my sister's Christmas present at Victoria's Secret, and discovering she was becoming distractable when she "popped off".
--Nursing a 6 week old, while walking 1 mile, in the shopping district, during lunch hour rush.

~Cath

 

[redpajama]

I got a new one yesterday, although I'm not sure who deserves the badge--me or my son?

We had just gotten out of the bath, and I was helping him get his underwear and shorts on (but hadn't gotten dressed yet). I was standing behind him, leaning over him with his underwear (you know where this is going, don't you?) when he looked up and latched onto the breast that was dangling over his head like a plump birthday pinata.

And this reminds me of another one: I was sitting at the computer (logging in to the computer almost stimulates a Pavlovian-style let-down these days) and my son came in and wanted to nurse (I was nursing the baby). So I lifted my shirt and opened my bra so he could have "other side." I was just thinking how this computer chair was just the right height for him to stand next to me and nurse as did this happy little dance in his socks while nursing. Then he slipped (hardwood floors+socks=trouble) and caught himself on what? My nipple.

So, on behalf of my little Sam, I will gladly accept the "Birthday Pinata Badge," but I'm keeping the "Breast Belay Badge" all for myself.