Breastfeeding Awareness Week: Blog Carnival

It's Breastfeeding Awareness Week this week. Sadly, the government has cut funding for this, but we're trying to help in our own small way by hosting a blog carnival here today. Below you will find links to a collection of blog posts all about breastfeeding. What you might notice is how many of the posts talk about how the authors battled with breastfeeding to start with - for a number of reasons - but how they persevered and how glad they are that they did.

For some people, breastfeeding is easy, simple and natural. But for others it can be more of a challenge and when they don't find it easy, they give up thinking that they've in some way failed. What many of these blog posts show us is that with support, patience and a bit of perseverence it does get easier. All the more reason for National Breastfeeding Awareness Week.

As makers of comfortable, supportive nursing bras and nursing tops for the last 25 years, we are fully commited to helping as many mums as possible experience the joy that breastfeeding brings. So take a read, tell other people about the list and let's help spread awareness about the importance of breastfeeding. If you have written about breastfeeding on your blog but you're not on this list, please feel free to post the link in our comments section below.

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Overcoming the odds
Susan at Maternity Matters writes about how breastfeeding helped her to bond with her son after a traumatic birth.

Nicola from Bare Foot Blog an amazing post on how, despite everyone telling her she wouldn't be able to breastfeed, she persevered.

Lauren of Real Housewife of Suffolk County writes about breastfeeding when your baby has tongue tie.

Breastfeeding in public
Uju from Babes About Town offers this great guide to breastfeeding in London with a fab list of places that are breastfeeding friendly.

Danielle from The Aspiring Yummy Mummy has written about getting your breasts out in public. She intends to feed somewhere public everyday during breastfeeding awareness week.

Rose over at Nuture with Soul, is organising a breastfeeding flash mob for breastfeeding awareness week. You can get all the details here.

Meanwhile, Nicola from Bare Foot Blog has given us a list of unusual places she's breastfed her baby - go on, share yours with us below.

Incywincymummy explains how she felt like the odd one out at her baby group for breastfeeding.

Extended feeding
Mamamule gives us ten reasons why you should keep breastfeeding after the age of one.

Sarah of Catching the Magic writes about how extended breastfeeding was something she was unaware of before having babies, but is now a massive fan.

Battling to breastfeed
Rose of Nurture with Soul has also written about her own struggle with breastfeeding.

Helen from Cheeky Wipes gives us an honest account of how painful she found breastfeeding, but she stuck with it regardless.

Becky at Mummy Notes is another mum who battled with breastfeeding to start with but persevered with her own unique feeding style.

Rebecca of Mum of three Boys also battled with feeding following a really bad illness post birth.

Donna of Mummy Central writes about how she feels about not managing to breastfeed and wishing she'd had more help, support or advice

Debates & useful information on breastfeeding
Uju from Babes About Town looks at cultural differences and breastfeeding.

Nicola from Bare Foot Blog has written about why we need Sure Start centres - to help get through those rough breastfeeding periods.

Ruth from Dorkymum writes a controversial post on why breast is best, but there's no need to shout about it. We'd like to say: great points, well made.

Steffi of Mummydothat writes a great post about how breastfeeding research isn't a guilt trip.

Anna of Dummymummy has written a number of blogs for Real Parenting on the subject of breastfeeding including this one of the government cuts of Breastfeeding Awareness Week and this really useful list of places breastfeeding mums can turn to for advice and information. She's also written on her own blog about the funding cuts and has a link to the Lactivist petition to bring Breastfeeding Awareness Week back.

Isil from Smiling Like Sunshine has shared several relevant posts with us:
On why breast is best
Immune boosters for nursing mums
On whether breastfeeding advocay is anti-feminist

Jane of Acorn Pack Antenatal has written about the relationship between breastfeeding research and guilt.

Jane Blackmore of Northern Mummy with Southern children kindly asks people to leave her alone when feeding her 12 month old. She also asks whether breast is best.

Lushka of Diary of a First Child gives us her views on why we need National Breastfeeding Awareness Week

Denise of Snafflesmummy has created a fantastic list of breastfeeding tips - really useful for anyone about to embark on breastfeeding.

Mummy Mishaps shares her breastfeeding journey and getting used to feeding on demand.
Thanks to everyone who has joined in this carnival. Please help promote this great compilation of breastfeeding posts - you never know, they may just help a breastfeeding mum out there.

To find out more about Emma-Jane, go to http://www.emma-jane.com/, follow us on Twitter (@emmajanebras) or like us on Facebook to keep up to date with our latest news.

Happy breastfeeding everyone!