Brain Child

As I sat in my lazy boy rocker nursing my son for his afternoon nap, I was thinking of something for the community of nursing moms. I started on the thought because I don't get to go out very much. Partly due to lack of transportation, but also because of the fact that I'm the only breastfeeding mom in the little town I live in. There's plenty of other moms with young babies, my boyfriend's cousins, all within walking distance. But I don't really know them and don't socialize with them. Which makes me feel Chase is missing out on the socializing that most babies his age would get.

So I thought how great it would be to have a place where I could socialize with other nursing moms, in public. And nurse in public as well. I'm very much pro NIP, but only do that in the car, as my son is very easily distracted and most stores do not have an area for sitting down. I was pleased to discover that Babies R' Us has a Mother's room area beside the restrooms. I haven't used it yet, but next time, I will.

So here's my idea. A small strip mall or bazaar where all the shops are geared towards parenting and pregnancy with many comfortable places to nurse. Perhaps even an enclosed play park with comfortable benches and a lovely garden. A lovely way nursing moms could spend the whole day, nursing at their leisure, meeting other moms and doing their shopping. There'd be cafes and clothing stores, book stores and toy stores, maybe a baby superstore or department stores aimed at children and mom's in particular. All with comfortable seating areas where moms are welcomed and encouraged to nurse their children. Also private rooms for nursing babies who prefer quiet, spaced often throughout the strip mall, and many restrooms for pregnant nursing mommies.

Course, dads would be welcomed too. The idea is to provide a place where people who are offended by public nursing won't be going. Nursing moms have the right in most states to nurse wherever they have a legal right to be. If anyone tries to kick you out of a store or public place for nursing, you can sue their friggin' pants off! Despite this, most women aren't comfortable nursing in public because of how many people would be up in arms about it.

And for the active mom, she may find nursing discouraging as she won't be able to do it any where she goes. My son has always hated formula and I'd had to mix breastmilk into it to get him to drink it at all. Besides, formula was always a major upset to his bowels, often causing constipation. Pumping is laborious and can take a month to get enough to last for a single outing. I'm sure many moms give up in part due to the lack of freedom.

I want to promote and encourage women to breastfeed. I feel if little strip malls like this, which would be in shopping districts were to pop up all over the country, I'm sure the statistics of mothers who continue to nurse for at least the first year would steadily rise. Our health care system and government agencies say they want to encourage women to breastfeed, yet there's nothing in our public buildings to accommodate for breastfeeding mothers.

I'll write more on this later. Please, feel free to share with me any ideas to get this into action or any comments you may have on this.

Pins and Needles

I'm not sure how many others have experienced this, though I read online, I think on a Babycenter.com forum, that a pins and needles sensation is fairly commonplace. To me, it was kind of painful. And after every feeding this pain would shoot through the breast I had most recently fed with. I almost wanted to give up then.

I asked my midwife what was wrong and to examine me. She said I was fine and sent me on my way. Perhaps, I hadn't properly explained the pain I was feeling. Or maybe she was just very dismissive of me. She dismissed my complaints of pain during my pregnancy that had me puking. Turned out to be gall bladder stones. Had to go to the ER to find that and they had no trouble figuring out what was wrong with me. So, I doubt my explanations were insufficient. Needless to say, she won't be my practitioner next baby!

Fortunately, I didn't have to go to the ER to figure this one out. I was worried that I might develop Mastitis, so my fears were alleviated thanks to BabyCenter. As near as I can figure, after a full nursing in which the hind milk is eaten as well I would experience this. Sometimes, when he fell to sleep still vigorously nursing, I would feel it before he'd finished and know I'd need to detach and switch sides. If he only had a quick snack, then I'd not have any problems. So I figure it's the stimulation of having been emptied.

To ease this, I found a deep tissue massage seemed to do the trick, or warm compress. I wish I had known about this beforehand so I wouldn't have been so worried that something was wrong. Well, I hope this information can benefit other mothers experiencing the same.

To me it was very excruciating in the beginning. I'm very well endowed and that might be a factor as to why it hurt so much. Others described pins and needles, but it is unlike your foot falling asleep type of pins and needles. That'd be weird... I think it was more like REAL pins and needles!

Knowing that my son was getting the benefit of my hind milk definitely helped me tolerate this. I still get it every now and then, when he eats more thoroughly. Some days he feeds more and others he eats more snacks and such. No real signs of weaning yet! It's still about every 2 hours for a feeding or snacking. Or snack n' napping!

Birth Announcement

Congratulations go out to my dear friend Geri who is celebrating the birth of her little girl, Ava Rose. Ava Rose White was born on April 13th at 9:50pm. She is 7lbs 5.5 oz, 19.5 inches long. Please give Geri some love! This is her third child, each has been an incredible blessing in her life. I'm happy for you, Hun!

The Cure For Everything

Only if life's problems all had this same answer as they do now. He's hungry -- Feed him. He's not feeling well -- Nurse him. He bumped his head -- Nurse. Right now, whatever is wrong (except a poopy diaper) then nursing is the simple solution... What he really wants the most is love, attention and to be comforted when things aren't going well and he's unhappy. Breastfeeding goes beyond the needs of nourishment. It is comforting to be held secure and snug in your mommy's arms where it's warm and cozy. Look up into her loving eyes as she smiles reassuringly to you to let you know that as long as she's there, everything will be alright.

Too bad our sweet little babies grow up and as they do they have bigger problems with harder answers. We should be grateful now, while they're still small enough for us to pick them up and kiss their foreheads to make it all better, that it's this easy to be the hero.

So whenever you're wishing your little one could fall to sleep on his own (and stay asleep) or that he'd give you more freedom from constant nursings, keep in mind that some day you'll wish that things were so simple. Some day you won't have the answer to every problem life throws at you and you'll miss these days. Cherish them.

My son rarely falls to sleep on his own. And hasn't slept through the night since before he got four teeth at once around 7 months. Well, that was 10 months ago! Ten months since I've slept though the night! The problem isn't that he needs to nurse to sleep, I don't mind that so much. It's that he wakes up three hours later and I haven't the heart (or rather, lack of) to allow him to cry himself to sleep.

I tried the cry it out method once, and he still woke up 3 hours later any way and still crying. Quicker and easier to nurse him. Besides, in order to listen to him crying and not come to his side, I had to attempt to emotionally detach myself from the situation. When I realized that, I felt horrible that I could ever do that to my child. Not care. He wanted my comfort and love, why on Earth would I withhold my love from my son whom I love so much? I'm willing to sacrifice my sleep and comfort my child to sleep. For another year if I have to, or however long it takes.

Yea, I can teach him to comfort himself, by not giving him my comforting, and what, teach him that when it comes down to it, the only person you can count on is yourself? I think that's a very pessimistic outlook in life, and I want him to learn that it is better to love and trust and be betrayed and hurt than to never open yourself up at all. For the chance that you'll find the same love returned back to you, it's all worth it.

Am I over intellectualizing the consequences of comforting method vs. cry-it-out? Yes, but so do all those cry-it-out fanatics who swear by it up and down and try to shove it down your throats. Enough already. I'm going to love and raise my son my way and I won't tell you how to raise your kids. There's no way to prove which is the right way. This is the way that works for me and we're all happy and that is all that matters to me.

It is tiring to have so many interrupted nights of sleep. We just moved him from our bed to a toddler bed. He seems to be adjusting well, but he still wakes, and now it's harder for me to comfort him back to sleep. Either I contort myself to nurse him in his bed, or I pick him up and nurse him in the recliner. Unfortunately, if I opt for the latter, I'm often too tired and fall asleep, and wake up with a sweaty baby in my arms. And putting him back in the toddler bed might just wake him up. It was easier in the bed, just had to whip it out and then he'd fall right back to sleep, and so could I. We'll all adjust....

Mothers Saving Lives

Breastfeeding can save lives, literally.

Kati Kim's Story Breastfeeding saved her children's lives in a crisis.

Unicef Video on YouTube In the wake of a disaster, breastfeeding vs. formula saves infants.

Unicef Article on CBS. Infant mortality rate drops worldwide.

During a Disaster, an article on University of Florida

Formula for Disaster, an article on the MotherWear Blog

Fitting Your Lifestyle

It is a big decision to choose whether or not to breastfeed and to choose the right way to do it that will fit your lifestyle. Myself, I am a stay-at-home Mom who can devote all of her time to the care of my son. Most mothers this day and age it really isn't an option to stay home. Even working from home moms might have difficulty meeting the demands of exclusive breastfeeding. But a fair in-between might work for you.

Unfortunately, the work field isn't generally designed for the working mom's needs in mind. Many workplaces do not have a break area where a mother can quietly and comfortably pump, and I'm not suggesting women use the employee restroom. You wouldn't eat YOUR lunch there, so why would you prepare your child's there? Many workplaces also will not easily accommodate for the time needed to pump. Generally once every two hours you'd need an averagely 15 minute break. In an 8 hour shift you'd need roughly 3 breaks totaling around 45 minutes or more. When deciding whether or not to breastfeed while working, talk to your employer about what accommodations can be made.

Then you'd need to acquire the right pump for the job. A double pump hospital grade should do the job in no time. Moms who won't be pumping as often can use a manual or lesser grade. Build up your milk supply before returning to work. To do this pump once every 2 hours round the clock for about two days, then start pumping at a scheduled routine. Example: Nurse in morning, then begin 2 hour pump routine as you would at work while feeding your child stored milk as he/she would from a caretaker, then at your return from work time continue feedings as normal. Of course, you'd need to adjust that to fit your needs. Some mothers may need to supplement with formula if their at work milk supply is low. With each growth spurt your child has, you may need to pump around the clock again to build up the milk supply. Babies do this naturally for you when they nurse practically all day and sleep the rest of the time.

Pumping tips:

Attempt to express hind milk from both breasts for maximum nutritional value and calories.

Massage and compression may help express hind milk or increase flow.

Sometimes warm compress may help with initial letdown or take a nice relaxing shower/bath.

Relaxing and breathing help, just like Lamaze, helps letdown sometimes.

Thinking of your child or looking at a picture is supposed to help, so keep a pic handy.

You'll express different amounts at different times, do not stress out on a low pump.

Your nutrition and health is very important, it effects content and quality of milk. Rest and exercise are also very important, though anyone taking care of a mobile infant/toddler gets plenty of the latter and not enough of the former.

Try to minimize your daily stresses and your pump sessions will be more productive.

Keep hydrated and snack healthy and often.

Welcome Extended

My son is now 16 months and still breastfeeding. I have encountered a bit of surprise as most Americans don't go beyond the recommended (at least) one year. Most American women aren't going beyond the first 3 months. Pressure, stress, work, society's demands, teeth come in and just the fact that breastfeeding is a lot of work. It's a full time job in itself. And that once every two hour feeding schedule is ALWAYS once every two hours (except sleep). Even when the baby starts eating real food.

My son wakes up to nursing, then has breakfast then sometimes nurses with his snack, then nurses to nap. Wakes nursing then lunch and nurse with snack, then sometimes takes his second nap, with of course, a feeding. Then wakes up and has his dinner and then nurses at least one more time before nodding off to bed. When you account for meal preparation in there, it seems all the boy is doing is eating. Well, he's doing a lot of growing too.

So, I want to help encourage women to continue breastfeeding as long as it's comfortable for both mother and child. At least one year for the health benefits, and beyond for all the other benefits. I'll be compiling a list of pro's and con's later on, which readers are welcomed to add to. If any breastfeeding mother (or if you're planning to) is wishing to help contribute to this blog, please send me a message for an invite, you are most welcomed.

I'm a stay-at-home Mom, so exclusive nursing was an easy option for me. To me, my son is worth the self sacrifice of my time for a year or two, which will benefit him for the rest of his life. Early nutrition is essential. Especially if your child is born premature or with a low birth weight. Besides, I enjoy the time I get top spend holding him, and now more so than ever as he wants to spend all his time running around exploring and playing rather than being held. I know when he gets older, I'll never get to sneak in those extra hugs and kisses, so best get all that I can now.

I plan to allow him to wean himself. He's already started dropping the snacktime nursings or not nursing as long when he does take them.. I hear it is easier on both mother and child if weaning is done gradually rather than all of the sudden. I remember the excruciating pain I was in the beginning when I'd become engorged. I've been told you have to not feed for about three days and be engorged all the time and wear a constricting bra and not take too hot of a shower and be in a lot of pain. No thanks. That sounds like Mastisis (sp? infected duct) to me.

And it can be traumatizing to have the comfort of nursing and mom's love suddenly withheld. Best to do it on his terms. If he gets to choose when to break free of nursing, he may lead a more independent life. So them crazy experts who do all those studies say.. What do they know?

Well, that's what fits my lifestyle the best. Of course, we'll each raise our own kids are own ways and who's right and who's wrong is really a pointless debate. I really don't want this blog to digress into heated debates about whether or not to breastfeed our children and who's evil because they do or don't.

The point of this blog is to spread the word about the benefits to both mother and child to breastfeed and to give encouragement to those who do to try to stick in there. The going will get rough, after three months of being deprived of sleep and your little bundle of joy has woken you up in the middle of the night to try out his new chomper and clamp down on your tender nips you might want to throw in the towel right then. So join this blog, tell your stories, share some mom to mom advice.

We're here to establish a support system for moms like us. All are welcomed here, no matter what creed, race or other. Only one rule, play nice. No nasty blogging or flame war type of behavior will be tolerated in the least. Myself and Julieta are both admins, so contact either of us to join.