To-wen Tseng Blogs
Got a breastfeeding problem? Well, the problem is not breastfeeding
We need to talk about how to solve the difficulties that hinder mother’s chance of successfully breastfeeding, not what to use instead of breast milk.
Read MoreHow I Keep My Breast Pump Clean
Between my two children, I breastfed for six years. During the six years, my breast pump accompanied me to a dozen cities, from Columbus to Austin to Berkeley, because as a working reporter, I travel frequently for assignments. For six years, my breast pump and the baby photos I pinned on the pump bag got me through many long nights…
Read MoreWe Knew What Is Relactation. Now We Know How.
In the past year, formula shortage has caused moms across the US to relactate to feed their babies. Relactation is when moms start breastfeeding again after a gap. That gap might be as little as a few days, or as long as several weeks or even months. There are different reasons why moms want to relactate, including changing their…
Read MoreThe PUMP Act is Now Signed Into Law. What Changes Is It Gonna Make?
Unless you live in a cave, I’m sure you’ve heard that the Senate passed the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers (PUMP) act, a milestone protection for new mothers in the last few days of 2022. You’ve also probably heard that it’s a major milestone for women’s workplace civil rights. But what does it really…
Read MoreHow San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition Made a Difference This Year
This is the time of the year when my inbox is filled with fundraising emails—from MSF, WWF to my local Y and San Diego County breastfeeding coalition, everyone is asking for support. No, I’m not complaining. I’m grateful to read about all the great work being done around the world and across the country. In fact, I feel too many non-profit…
Read MorePracticing Your Rights of Breastfeeding At Work
Earlier this month I received a letter from a nursing mom through my Chinese-language breastfeeding page. Here was the scenario: The baby was now nine and a half months old. The mother got to pump milk every four hours, twice a day at work. The mom has added solid foods to the baby’s diet, but breastfeeding…
Read MoreBreastfeeding Actually Saved Me Lots of Work
Between my two kids, I breastfed for a total of six years. I exclusively breastfed for the first six months of each of them, and we extended the breastfeeding relationship to 2.5 years with my older one and 3.5 years with my younger one. I was often asked, “Isn’t that a lot of work?” True, breastfeeding…
Read MoreBreastfeeding is a One-Of-A-Kind Experience
This National Breastfeeding Month, I invited the followers of my Facebook Breastfeeding Page to show their breastfeeding experience with five emojis. The results were truly fascinating and really reflect how unique each mother’s breastfeeding journey can be. Here are some most impressive responses: From a mom who did not attend prenatal breastfeeding class, “I couldn’t believe that…
Read MoreWhat do these breastfeeding guidelines tell us?
Last month, the American Academy of Pediatrics released an updated policy statement on breastfeeding that suggested increasing the duration of breastfeeding to two years or more from one year or more. This is the first update to the breastfeeding recommendations in a decade.
Read MoreIt Is Not Kindness For Employers To Support Breastfeeding Parents At Work; It’s The Law.
May is my favorite month. It’s warm, but not too warm. The Lilacs and lilies of the valley bloom. Both Mother’s Day and Chinese Breastfeeding Awareness Day (which is May 20th) are in this month. It’s also AAPI Heritage month. This May, I was lucky enough to tell my breastfeeding story with a video produced by StoryCenter in collaboration…
Read More