How Breastfeeding Changed my Life

This week we celebrate Breastfeeding. World Breastfeeding Week is a global campaign coordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) that aims to inform, anchor, engage and galvanize action on breastfeeding and related issues. The #WBW2019 theme is ‘Empower parents, enable breastfeeding.’

Although research shows that breastfeeding is one of the best investments in saving lives and improving the health, social and economic development of individuals and nations, only 40% of all babies under 6 months are exclusively breastfed(WABA). Breastfeeding support groups such as BabyCaféUSA have become a life-changing resource to new moms everywhere, and most recently New Orleans moms.

Mom turned Lactation Consultant, Jade George, shares her journey of breastfeeding and how the supportive resources of Nola BabyCafé changed her life.

“Being a mom of two is extremely hard, especially without resources. I’m so thankful to have found Nola BabyCafe as a resource. They have changed my life in so many ways. I am one of the first people in my family to breastfeed, and to do so unapologetically. My two-year-old and I, are still going strong.

When I found Babycafe, my son was still 1, and I honestly didn’t know how much I needed the support until I received it. It was like a breath of fresh air. I found both Fit4Mom and BabyCafe, at the same time, and it was like I had finally found my place in both. The community that’s you experience just from walking through the doors is unlike anything else. I began volunteering at BabyCafe because I enjoyed being there so much. From there, I was given a scholarship to become a Certified Lactation Counselor. This was such a huge gift to me, as I have an extreme passion for all thing’s lactation, and I made sure to ace my course as my thank you.

I now work for BabyCafe as a Certified Lactation Counselor, and I have no plans on stopping there. It’s an honor to be there every week. I have a 10-year-old daughter as well, and she has also found friends from being at BabyCafe. She told me today, that maybe she could work at BabyCafe when she gets older. She’s also spoken about how she’ll breastfeed her kids when she gets older(way down the line)! It makes me extremely proud to be able to be a positive role model for her in these ways. I’ve learned so much from working with these moms. I love to see moms who meet at BabyCafe and become friends outside of that environment.

I love helping moms feed their babies, the food source that’s created specifically for that baby. I go to work, and I feel so fulfilled when I’m done. I feel that I’m actually making a difference in the world. I am thankful for my friend who told me about BabyCafe, and I’m thankful for everyone at BabyCafe who took me in with open arms. Krystle, Portia, MeShawn, and Victoria, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Nola BabyCafe recently partnered with Touro to open the Gulf-South region’s first hospital-based BabyCafe. Nola BabyCafe Touro is open at two locations: Uptown on the campus of Touro Infirmary and in the Bywater. For more information visit touro.com/babycafe