Presentation from February 2017 for the Ohio Lactation Consultants Association Breastfest Conference
About Erin Andrews
A Gift for Mother’s Day
It is that time of year – Mother’s Day. For years, I worried I might never get the chance to become a mother. I was not totally sure, growing up with a physical disability, that I would be able to have children. I was even less sure that I could find a good partner who […]
What Every Disabled Mother Should Know About Breastfeeding
Nicky Boyte was wearing a flowered sundress when I meet her to talk about her experience breastfeeding her son. The two of us zoom into the restaurant in our power chairs, swapping crip war stories as we settle in. Nicky’s been a disability advocate for years; she’s active with both ADAPT and Not Dead Yet. We […]
The Day I Dropped my Daughter on her Head
All parents have days that are harder than others, and times when we do or say things we later regret. And kids have accidents – they fall learning to walk, they don’t make it to the potty, and they never think about safety first. As a disabled mom, I think about safety perhaps even more than other […]
5 Misconceptions about Maternity Leave and Why ME-ternity is Ridiculous
So this article is trending: “I want all the perks of maternity leave — without having any kids.” It’s an interview with Meghann Foye, author of a book entitled “Meternity,” about how she believes that American society, and particularly woman, need to stop allowing our careers to control our lives and make more time for ourselves. […]
The Truth About the Short Bus
Now that I have a little boy getting ready to start kindergarten, I’ve already been thinking about the school bus. He’s fascinated by large vehicles and wants nothing more than to ride the school bus to kindergarten. He loves “The Wheels on the Bus” song and book. I’m pretty sure the day will quickly come […]
A Tale of Toilets: Happy Unbirthday to You!
The other night my husband and I took my 98-year-old grandmother out to dinner with our two young children. My son, age 4, seems to always need to use the restroom. Seriously – his record is 5 pitstops in one meal! Anyway, this was a small Mexican restaurant with a single use bathroom. We were […]
Breastfeeding in Public: To Cover or Not to Cover?
Recently there was a news story about a coffee shop in our city that had come under fire after a barista (who turned out to be one of the owners) offered a female patron who was breastfeeding a towel to cover up. Another woman who was with the mother wrote a scathing review on […]
Staring: Different as a Parent?
I’ve dealt with people staring at me my entire life. Ever since I can remember, people would stare, surprised that I don’t have any legs and only have one arm. I’ve always just ignored it, or tried to ward off pesky starers by staring back, or saying something “clever.” Adults and children both stare. Most […]
The Travel System: Disability Considerations
As you prepare to become a parent to a baby or young toddler, you will find there are complete “travel systems” which include the carseat, base, and a stroller. This is one of the endless choices you will face while baby-shopping – to get a travel system or not, and which brand of carseat and stroller […]