Medela Mom Mavens Learn and Share
Who Are Medela Mom Mavens?
I’m a Medela Mom Maven…Now What?
Where can I share my knowledge about breastfeeding, pumping and Medela?
Signing onto a Message Board
Acknowledging your role as a Medela Mom Maven
What do I get for being a Medela Mom Maven?
Abbreviations – the Lingo of Online Conversation
Sharing the Knowledge
Getting Started
Should I let you know where I've posted?
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WHO ARE MEDELA MOM MAVENS?
Kathy is hopelessly devoted to her eight-month-old and has an insatiable appetite for learning and sharing information on parenting and children. When Kathy isn’t changing diapers, organizing play dates or working part-time from home, she’s online reading the latest on feeding solids, asking moms on her listserv how they baby-proofed the house, or referring her neighbor to a local lactation consultant.
Jennifer is “a veteran working mom”. After giving birth to three kids in quick succession she has seen and done it all: 3 maternity leave negotiations, 3 years of breastfeeding and pumping at work, 15 months of sleepless nights and early morning meetings, 9 months of teething, 6 months of potty training and enough temper tantrums to earn a degree in crisis management. New moms at office luncheons, networking cocktail hours and weekend play dates see Jennifer as the go-to-girl for how to cope with parenthood while balancing a career.
Medela Mom Mavens are women who identify with Kathy and Jennifer. They are mothers, both new and experienced, who constantly share information, opinions and ideas on parenting. They are mothers that strive to provide their babies the very best by breastfeeding.
They are mothers like you.
I’M A MEDELA MOM MAVEN…NOW WHAT?
It’s time to share your knowledge with others! You probably know that there are countless venues to discuss breastfeeding, pumping and other parenting issues on the web, message boards, forums, user groups, online communities — these are all tools that bring mothers together, which is what being a Medela Mom Maven is all about.
WHERE CAN I SHARE MY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT BREASTFEEDING, PUMPING AND MEDELA?
Wherever you see conversations about breastfeeding, breast pumping, challenges facing working moms or parenting in general. Or where you see opportunities to start such a conversation and educate other moms. The possibilities are endless. Click here for a list of sites where breastfeeding is a frequent topic of conversation. If you’re looking for ways to meet other moms in your area mommy groups make an excellent starting point. Click here for a list of local groups in major cities across the country.
We also encourage you to engage other moms and moms-to-be in face-to-face discussions about breastfeeding. You may see an opportunity to bring up the subject at social outings, work, family gatherings, or during chance meetings.
HOW DO I SIGN ON TO A MESSAGE BOARD?
Once you’ve found a website to which you’d like to contribute, go to the “forum”, “community” or “message board” section. Look for a link that says “New User?”, “Sign Up” or “Join”. Some Web sites require you to enter in some personal information (name, hometown, birthday, number of children) and create a user profile. Others allow you to post just by providing your email and creating a password. If you have trouble figuring it out, contact the Medela Mom Maven team at mommavens@medela.com.
SHOULD I EXPLAIN THAT I’M A MEDELA MOM MAVEN?
Yes, please. Medela believes its Mom Mavens should disclose their affiliation with Medela whenever discussing the benefits of breastfeeding or recommending a Medela product.
So when you introduce yourself to a person or group, or are talking to people that you know, please let them know that you are a mom who breastfed and used Medela products, and that Medela has asked you to help them educate other women on breastfeeding and/or Medela breastpumps.
Click here to download an “I’m a Medela Mom Maven” button for use on your blog or message boards.
WHAT DO I GET FOR BEING A MEDELA MOM MAVEN?
When it comes to breastfeeding and/or breastpumping, your honest opinions and experiences are vital to new and expectant moms. To ensure that your opinions are taken for what they are—truthful reflections of your breastfeeding and breastpumping experiences—we have designed Medela Mom Mavens to be comprised of volunteers who do not receive any compensation for their involvement with the group.
What you will receive as a Medela Mom Maven is information and opportunities. As a Medela Mom Maven, you have expressed a desire to help other moms breastfeed successfully. To help you achieve that, we will provide you with breastfeeding and breastpumping information, access to nursing experts and a list of places to connect with other breastfeeding moms online and/or in your local area. As a fan of Medela, we will also give you a first look at new products, a chance to share your views directly with the company and we’ll alert you to occasional giveaway opportunities.
WHAT’S WITH ALL THE ABBREVIATIONS?
There’s a whole language that’s used by moms who post on message boards. You don’t have to use this online shorthand unless you want to. Click here for a glossary of popular mommy-board terms.
THINGS TO SHARE AS A MEDELA MOM MAVEN
We know you’ve never been one to run out of things to talk about, especially when it comes to sharing stories and advice with other moms. When appropriate, we hope you’ll weave this information about breastfeeding and breast pumping into your conversations:
Research shows breastfed babies have a reduced risk of:
- Respiratory-tract infections
- Ear infections
- Asthma
- Food allergy
- Obesity
- Lymphoma
- Diabetes
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Breastfeeding helps a mom’s uterus return to its pre-pregnancy state more quickly
Breastfeeding decreases the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis for moms
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months, and continuing to provide breastmilk for at least the first year
For more information visit: http://usbreastfeeding.org/Issue-Papers/Benefits.pdf or http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496#SEC6
- 93% of breastfeeding moms use a breastpump.
- 73% of breastfeeding/pumping moms seek help, making certified lactation consultants a key resource to successful breastfeeding (Find an LC near you at www.ilca.org).
- The best time to offer your baby his or her first bottle of expressed milk is at least four weeks after birth, when breastfeeding is well-established.
- A personal-use pump should not be shared, due to the risk of cross-contamination. Many personal-use pumps have internal diaphragms and motors that can’t be removed, replaced or fully sterilized. Another consideration is the pump’s motor life. A Medela electric double pump might last through the breastfeeding of several children. However, like other electronic products, an electric breastpump has a limited lifetime. Medela guarantees its pump motors with a one year warranty. By using your own pump, you can compare the pump’s performance with each child.
For more information visit: http://www.medela.com/for-nursing-mothers/tips-and-solutions
- Babies instinctively start breastfeeding with a faster suck to stimulate let-down, and once milk is flowing they switch to a slower deeper suck. This is the basis for Medela’s 2-Phase Expression® technology, which can be found in Medela’s Symphony, Pump In Style Advanced, Swing and Harmony breastpumps. Because pumps with 2-Phase Expression feel more like baby, mom gets more milk in less time.
- For mom and baby’s health, all Medela bottles, breastshields and kit components are made from polypropylene, a safe, durable Bisphenol-A (BPA)-free plastic. BPA is an industrial chemical used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic and there is ongoing debate on its potential harm to human health. For more on BPA, please visit www.medelabpafree.com.
- Medela’s Breastfeeding National Network can help moms with breastfeeding advice, and help them locate Medela products and healthcare professionals in their area: http://medela.findlocation.com or 1-800-TELL-YOU
While your experience and encouragement can be invaluable to breastfeeding moms, some questions or issues require the help of a professional. If that’s the case, we recommend you refer these moms to a Certified Lactation Consultant. To find a local lactation professional, go to www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/bnn, call 1-800-TELL YOU, or go to www.ilca.org. Other helpful online resources include:
We hope we’ve provided you with the tools you need to start sharing your breastfeeding knowledge and breastfeeding experiences with other women. To begin, we suggest you hop on some of your favorite parenting Web sites and look for boards on breastfeeding. If you don’t have a favorite site, choose from one of the many we listed here.
See if there is a discussion on breastfeeding in which you can participate. Share a story about your own challenges, whether it relates to latching-on, pumping at work or decreased milk supply. Alternatively, remind a struggling mom that she can seek help through one of the resources listed above or through a certified lactation consultant. Your words can inspire, educate, comfort or empower another mom. Need help? Don’t hesitate to contact the Medela Mom Maven team at mommavens@medela.com. Good luck! And welcome aboard.
SHOULD I LET YOU KNOW WHERE I'VE POSTED?
Yes, please do! We'd like you to report on the information you share with others, whether it's online or during face-to-face discussions. Click here to access our online reporting form, and you'll be able to tell us how you're educating other women about the benefits of breastfeeding. You may want to add this link to your favorites.