Today, nursing moms and babies around the world attended the Quintessence Breastfeeding Challenge. The Quintessence Foundation is a Canadian organization which began the annual Breastfeeding Challenge 11 years ago to increase public awareness and raise support for breastfeeding. The event is a friendly worldwide competition for geographical regions to have the most babies simultaneously latched on and nursing.
I participated in the San Fernando Valley Quintessence Breastfeeding Challenge in Encino, California, with my 9-month-old son, and my mom (a breastfeeding advocate who nursed me for 2 years!) joined us. After getting terribly lost (thanks a LOT, Google Maps), we made it just in time to get signed in before the 11:00 am official latch-on.
When the clock hit 11:00, my son had absolutely no interest in nursing. Too much noise, movement, and babies! He wanted to watch the other babies who, by then, were all happily cuddled up to their mamas, nursing. I tried to get his attention, whispering “nurse, nurse” (he knows the word!) and finally resorted to working my nipple into his half-open mouth. Until finally, CHOMP. With his 3 sharp teeth. I raised my hand to be counted and that was the end of that feeding.
Apart from The Bite, we had a great time! We saw friends and made some new ones. There were a lot of babies! I was happy to win a bright pink Milkstars nursing top in the raffle. We had a chance to nurse quietly later on, sitting on the grass by the lake. That is, until two women approached us filming a documentary “about America’s obsession with breasts,” and asked permission to film me nursing.
We stayed so long, nearly all the Breastfeeding Challenge attendees had left and the next group was setting up a graduation party in the pavilion. As I was packing up, my mom got to chatting with a couple, telling them about the event that had just ended. “Breastfeeding. . . isn’t that hard?” the woman asked, which led nicely into a discussion about the benefits of breastfeeding. Way to go, Mom!
There you go, public awareness of breastfeeding! I guess we did our part toward the mission of the Breastfeeding Challenge.
Thanks for the pictures, Julie!
My friend Julie, an event volunteer, and her niece display their t-shirts. ("Breastmilk: It does a baby good" and "mmm...boobies.")
A few of the mothers, babies, and supporters at the event. It was a gorgeous day by the lake.
The women from the documentary approached me as well Christina. They filmed my shirt….”Breastmilk. It does a baby good.” So glad you could make it!!
This is awesome! And yes, your location rivals mine. I love the dialogue that took place between your mom and some other women. As ours was winding down, someone was taking down the Breastfeeding Challenge sign and two women walked by and read it and started giggling hysterically. They were in their late 40’s early 50’s I guess. But I suppose if you don’t know what it is it can sound kinda funny. One women asked me, in all seriousness, yet playfully, “What is it? Like do you have a contest for who nurses longest? Who has the biggest boobs? Stuff like that?” Interesting diverse reactions.
Yeah, it does sound pretty funny if you don’t know what it is! Some other possibilities: Who can squirt their milk the farthest? Who has the fattest baby? Laughs and all, what a good conversation starter!