A few days ago I came back home, after a long trip across the Mediterranean sea. I had to take two buses, two ferry boats and seven airplanes to travel between six cities and four European countries within nine days. The reason for this trip, was my participation in two Breastfeeding Conferences. The first was the 15th Annual Breastfeeding Conference of Galaxias Greek and Cypriot IBCLC Association in Rhodes Island, Greece on April 13-14, 2024.

The second was the 12th Spanish Breastfeeding Conference of IHAN, on April 18-20, 2024 in Gran Canaria Island, Spain.

I met a lot of people. Learned a lot of things.

Gained new knowledge and techniques. Seen amazing images and landscapes.

Heard different kinds of music and dozens of foreign languages. Tasted a variety of food.

Until recently, I thought the main goal of participating in conferences, was to learn more about breastfeeding and lactation, so that we can become better lactational educators and consultants.

During the first Breastfeeding Conference, in Rhodes Island in Greece, I realized one of the main goals of a conference is to reunite with friends, while sharing a unique goal: To help families be happy and healthy. While staying in an amazing house with friends IBCLCs in Rhodes, we had breakfast, lunch and dinner together.

We became each other’s temporary family. We supported and helped one another, while expressing our needs and feelings. Although each one is different, we felt completely accepted.
We became a sharing, loving community, that talked less, and listened more.

After the first conference in Rhodes Island, Greece, and before my departure for Spain, I became a little homesick.
So I travelled back to Zakynthos Island in Greece (where I live), to spend a little time with my family. After getting a love-boost from my husband and two children, I was ready to get back on track.
I arrived at Gran Canaria on the 17th of April.

Although people were speaking different languages most of which I didn’t understand, I focused on what we all have in common:
The language of emotions.
While participating at the Spanish Breastfeeding Conference along with hundreds of people from many countries around the world,
I felt a sense of unity, I have never sensed before.

Most of us had travelled hundreds or thousands of miles. We spent many working hours and a lot of money, in order to be in that room.
We had sacrificed time with our families and loved ones, in order to participate in this event.
Many of us were physically and emotionally exhausted. But we were all there. United. Sharing. Listening. Accepting. Mostly loving.

No matter where each one of us came from, deep inside we all shared the messages of the two Breastfeeding Conferences:
That the art of breast(chest)feeding, along with parents and babies, create an (inter)net for our society, supporting health (salud), love (amor) and life (vida).

While dancing in the rhythm of samba, during the end of the Spanish Breastfeeding Conference, and seeing how music united everyone in the room,
I realized I wasn’t there about breastfeeding. There was something much more important.

Nobody was there about the milk. We weren’t there to force any parent to breast(chest)feed.
We didn’t want to sell products. We were there to create a network of supporters, that promote a better quality of life for everyone.

We were there because we understand,how we are all interconnected.

We know that helping parents bond to their children sets a solid foundation for our society.
We know that providing children the nutrition that their body, mind and soul need, our world will become a better place for everyone.
We know that pregnancy, birth and lactation periods are sacred, not only because a human being is coming to life, but also because whatever happens during these periods
has long lasting effects on the whole family, for many generations.
We know that by respectfully supporting families during pregnancy and lactation, instead of fighting symptoms and diseases,
we create a network that actively promotes good health (salud, υγεία), true love (amor, αγάπη) and a better life (vida, ζωή).

Konstantina Giannioti
Woman, Mother, Pharmacist IBCLC
International Member of APILAM, Spain
Board Member of Galaxias IBCLC Greek & Cypriot IBCLC Association