Quote of the Day

"A man's work is from sun to sun, but a mother's work is never done." ~Author Unknown

Starting Solids - 8 months

Your baby is getting older and is able to digest new foods. You still need to make sure that you stick to the four day rule meaning, you wait every four days to introduce new foods to your baby.

Your baby should be able to grip most finger foods and should be able to gum most foods that you feed them. The food still needs to be soft to his/her mouth and a texture that can be mashed by their teethless mouths. Some babys have their front teeth but most don't have their molars. So becareful on the textures.

In the next couple of months to a year, your baby will probably want to attempt to feed themselves. So don't worry about the mess and let them learn. Remember that they will learn the more they practice.

Here is a list of the new foods to add:
Apricot
Apples
Cantaloupe
Honeydew Melon
Grapes (peeled and quartered, no choking)
Kiwi Fruit
Plums
Watermelon
Broccoli
Okra
Cooked Parsley
Tahini
Finely Ground Nuts
Finely Ground Seeds

You should still puree' your babies foods. You can gradually add less water to make the consistency thicker, but watch how your baby reacts. If your baby gags, chokes or spits the food out then it is still to thick. At about 8-9 months your baby will be able to eat the consistency of the 6-8oz store baby food. So you may want to compare the amount and the thickness when you are at the store.

Your baby should be eating about 4-5 servings of Fruits/Veggies everyday. They should be eating about 2-3 servings of grains/cereals and any proteins (tofu, nuts, tahini) that you want to add to their diet. Remember that breastmilk should still be their main source of food and make sure they are getting atleast 29-32oz of breastmilk a day (nursing 5 times a day). Make sure that you are adding water in with meals and in between with snacks. You could start trying a cup on your baby, but you can still use a sippy cup also.

Here is the feeding schedule to follow at 8 months:
Breastfeed upon awakening. Then you can nursing and feed solids for breakfast. Then nurse and feed solids for lunch. Then nurse and feed solids for dinner. Then nurse and put to bed. If you would like to you can add any snacks throughout the day. Add water in between feedings, especailly if it is a hot day.

I hope that your baby is accepting the solid foods and enjoying the variety that you are giving them. I hope that you are not struggling with the solids. It personally is not my favorite time. It is a real adjustment for me and another stage I have to get use to. So try to enjoy it and don't give up on your baby and solids.

Quote of the Day

"She never quite leaves her children at home, even when she doesn't take them along." ~Margaret Culkin Banning

Starting Solids - 7 months

Here is the list of food for your 7 month old. There is alot more food that you can feed them the older your baby gets.

When you introduce new foods make sure that you do it the early part of the day and wait at least four days in between new foods. Your baby will need time to adjust to all of these new foods. Your baby should be eating 1/2 cup or 4 ounces of food. That is the same amount as the little jars of baby food at the store. You will want to continue using the same food that your baby ate at 6 months. This is a new list to give you alot more options to feed your baby.

Here is the list of new foods:
Tofu
Homemade cereals
Asparagus
Carrots
Green Beans
Peas
Summer Squash
White Potatoes
Peaches

Here is a list of fruits to make juice:
Apple
Apricot
Grape
Papaya
Pear
Peach
Prune
Make sure when you do use juice to dilute it with more water than juice. Your baby is still to young for complete juice. Try to use more water than juices.

When you use the tofu you can mix it with the cereals or the fruit and veggies. Tofu is made out of cooked soybeans and is very nutritious. I could never get my kids to like it but I tried. So give it a try because my sister loved it for her kids. You can also try to mix bananas with the cereals to make it more tasty.

The food can be a little thicker as your baby gets older. You can puree' the food in your blender to make it the consistency of a thick cream. Make sure that it is smooth and not lumpy.

Here is the feeding schedule to include with your nursing:
When your baby wakes in the morning do your regular feeding and then give the baby some solids. Then you do your lunch feeding and then add some food. Then you do your feeding at dinner time and add some food. You want to start putting your baby on the some eating schedule as the family. Your baby needs to be eating solids at least 2 times a day if not 3. Make sure that your baby is still getting enough breastmilk because that still needs to be your baby's main food source. Your baby should still be nursing about 5 times a day. Finally you can nurse your baby before it goes to bed. Don't forget snacks if your baby needs something to hold them over before bed or a feeding. Also make sure that you are giving your baby enough water with the solid food. Your baby should be learning to use a sipping cup. Your baby doesn't need alot of water, but it helps with digesting the food better.

Quote of the Day

“A mother's love is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, it never fails or falters, even though the heart is breaking” Helen Rice

Starting Solids - 6 months

I am sorry that I haven't been posting as often as before. Life gets busy with kids and a husband and taking care of a house. I am sure you all know how busy mothers can get. So forgive me and be patient with me. I will try better to stay on top of my posting.

I thought that I would help with what to feed your baby if you are staring solids. I got this wonderful book from my sister called "Super Baby Food." It helps you know what to feed your baby month by month and gives you a food schedule to work with your nursing schedule.

If you want to be efficient and make your own baby food this book also helps you with that. I personally don't like the baby food in the stores. I used them with my first baby and she is a very picky eater and it was expensive. So I decided not to use it with my second baby and it was so much easier. My son just ate what he could eat from the table. I did have to make the food liquidy thin so that he could eat it, but it was much cheaper. With this book, I knew what I could give him and what I had to wait to feed him. He to this day eats anything that is put before him.

Here is a list of the first foods to give your baby:

Homemade cereal or store rice or grain cereal (rich in iron)

Oatmeal

winter squash

papaya

mango

pears

bananas

In the baby section at the store, you will find fun snacks to give to your baby. They are big enough for a six month old to hold because your baby is still working on feeding itself. The snacks can't be small like cheerios because your baby is still to young to pick up the small things.

Here is a daily feeding schedule to follow to help incorporate the solid foods:

When your baby wakes up, just nurse your regular feeding. Then you can nurse your second feeding and add some food. At noon time or before a nap do your regular feeding. After the nap or afternoon feeding, you can add some solids. Then you proceed the rest of the day with your nursing times. Make sure when you do feed your baby solids to add some water with the meals. Try to find some sippy cups that your baby will like to help them learn to transition from breast to cup with the time comes. If your baby seems hungry at night after nursing time then you can offer a snack before bedtime. Make sure that your baby is still breastfeeding atleast 5 to 6 times a day. If they aren't nursing that often then you need to pull back some meal times to make sure that your baby gets enough breastmilk. Your breastmilk is still the most important food that your baby needs, so don't worry to much about how much solids he/she is eating.

When you do start solids, you need to make sure that you start each new food in the morning and long before a nap. You never know what your baby might be allergic to, so you want to make sure that you can find out before they go to sleep. You can add more food next month. If your baby has a hard time with solids don't worry. My little girl wouldn't take to solids until about 8 months. You do need to make sure that your baby gets used to solids before 10 months or they will struggle with food. Good luck with the solids

Quote of the Day

"The best academy, a mother's knee." James Russell Lowell, poet

Constipation

Most breastfeed babies don’t get constipated and should have regular bowel movements. Starting with the very first feeding, the colostrums will stimulate a bowel movement the same day and it will be black called meconium. It will be black for about three days after birth. Your baby will probably not have very many wet diapers because they are not getting much from the colostrum. Once your milk comes in, your baby should have at least six to eight wet diapers. As far as bowel movements, you baby should be having at least three to four a day. If your baby is having that many or more bowel movements a day, then that is a good sign that your baby is nursing well and getting enough milk.

About the third day after birth, your babies ‘poop’ will change to a color green and then a couple of days later it will be a mustard yellow. The ‘poop’ will be runny, but make sure that the amount or size of their ‘poop’ is at least the size of a quarter or bigger to help indicate that your baby is eating enough. Really pay attention to the color and consistency because if your baby’s ‘poop’ is still green and watery after about the fifth day after birth, then that means that your baby is not gaining weight well. You could be switching breasts to soon and your baby is not getting the high calorie hindmilk that is needs to put on weight.

As your baby gets older (4-6 weeks), he/she might not have as many bowel movements as they did when they were younger. Some babies will continue to have a bowel movement after every feeding, but some babies may have fewer. If your baby starts to have less then four bowel movements a day, it is nothing to worry about if your baby is continuing to gain weight. It is something to watch because it could be a sign that your baby is not getting enough hindmilk at feeding time. If your baby is not getting the hindmilk, then you need to make sure that your baby is emptying each breast at every feeding.

For babies from six months to a year to only have one bowel movement a week is not uncommon as long as your baby is on top of its weight. If your baby’s bowel movements are hard and dry, then he/she could be constipated. So you might need to talk to the baby’s doctors and also make sure that your baby is getting what it needs to help it have healthy bowel movements. If your baby is older and gets constipated, you can try molasses water or warm suger water to see if that will help get things moving. You don't need to much molasses to make it work. Just put enough in to make the water a light brown color. I also used this when my babies had upset stomachs.

I have never had to deal with constipation, but my sisters little girl was always constipated once she stopped nursing. For children two and older there is this stuff called liquid calcium that my sister used for her little girl. You get it at any health food store and it comes in flavors such as cherry or grape, etc. You need to start out giving them a small amount so if it works well it won't make their 'poop' to runny. My sister really liked and it helped her little girl out to where she could have regular bowel movements. If your babies or toddlers get constipated don't wait to long to help them out. They get in alot of pain and very uncomfortable. There is always suppositories, but make sure that you talk to your doctor before you use them.

Quote of the Day

"The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom." Henry Ward Beecher, US Congressional clergyman

Biting "Ouch"

Each baby is different when it comes to getting their teeth and biting. Some babies don’t get their teeth until 10 months to a year and some get them around four to five months. It takes teeth awhile to come through, but the baby may start to chew on his/her toys and start slobbering a lot. These are usually signs that the baby is feeling uncomfortable and needs to ease the pain of the teeth coming through.

When your baby does bite it is not to hurt you, but it may be out of play or to ease the pain of the teething. You will need to put a stop to it and let your baby know that it will not be acceptable.
Here are some ways to teach your baby not to bite during feedings.
*You can say,” Don’t bite Mama” in a firm voice to let your baby know that he/she can not do that.
*If your baby is smaller (2-5months) and your baby bites, put your finger in between the nipple and break the suction. Pull the baby away from the breast and say, “No biting” in your normal voice. It may take longer for younger babies to understand but they will learn.
*If your baby is older (6 months or older) and he/she bites, then break the latch and pull your baby away and firmly say, “No biting. It hurts Mommy. You can also tap the side of their cheek to make your baby aware that he/she hurt you. This sometimes makes them break the suction on their own. Put them down on the floor and give them a teething toy and tell you baby that he/she can nurse in a minute. Make sure that you have a finger ready to break the suction in case the baby suddenly turns its head or gets distracted. Sometimes your baby will want to take the nipple with them and that doesn’t feel good.
*If your baby bites you break the suction and them immediately put your baby back on the breast. If your baby bites again then you need to say, “No biting.” Try to put your baby back on your breast again and if your baby bites again, then you just keep taking the baby off and reminding the baby not to bite. Taking the baby off and on again and again teaches your baby that it is not ok to bite you.

If your baby is biting you often, then you will start to learn when he/she is about to bite. Some babies will bite at certain time of the day or at certain times of the feeding. If you baby is old enough to eat solids and keeps biting, then you can try to put off the feeding and try some food. You might have to put off feedings for a few minutes if your baby won’t stop biting. Be consistent and your baby will learn that he/she can’t bite you.

Here are some ideas to help you learn or sense when your baby might bite.
*Give your baby all of your attention during the feeding time. Make time to touch/massage, talk and hold your baby close, so your baby is not trying to get your attention. You will also be more aware that your baby is getting ready to latch off and is done nursing.
*Learn to recognize when your baby is almost done nursing. Most of the time the biting takes place at the end of the feeding to let you know that your baby is done nursing.
*Always check the holding position and the latch of the baby. When you have your baby correctly on the breast they are more likely not to bite. Your baby will not be able to bite your nipple with the correct latch-on.
*Make sure that you work hard to keep your milk supply up to make sure that your baby is getting enough and doesn’t have to work to hard at feedings. If your baby gets frustrated then that leads to more of a chance that he/she might bite.
*Try to recognize when your baby does bite, what is going on around you during the feeding. Is the baby in a playful mood or is there yelling around the house. If you are upset or yelling or tense, then that can make the baby more likely to nip at your nipple or bite.

I remember this happening only once with my little boy. After he bit me, I tapped my finger against his cheek and firmly said, “No, No, that hurts mommy.” He got very sad and started crying. He knew that I was upset and he never did it again. I was sad to know that I had hurt his feelings, but he had to learn that biting was not ok.

Quote of the Day

"There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it." Chinese Proverb

Weaning and Cabbage Leaves

Weaning
You want to take this process slowly and in a timely manner for both you and your baby. You want to take a feeding away every week. Start taking the feeding that is less important first. When I started weaning my daughter Reagan, I started with the morning feeding. When we would wake up in the mornings I would start with some solids and keep her distracted. I started this process when she turned 11 months old. Then by the time she was a year old, she would be weaned. After the morning feeding, I took away the early afternoon one, then the late afternoon one, then the night feeding. The night feeding was the hardest one, but she adjusted well. I struggled with the weaning process, wondering if I was ready, but by the time I got done weaning I was so happy to be done nursing.

Try to occupy your baby with other things, such as reading or playing or having a snack. Make sure that you offer water, so your baby doesn’t get dehydrated. Your baby should be use to sippy cups from when they started solids. You can try juice, but not to often. Some doctors say that milk is fine when they are 11 months old, but I don’t like to start it until the baby has turned a year old.

When you take a feeding away every week, then you don’t get sore breasts and infections. If you are a working mom and pumped for every feeding, then you would wean yourself from the pump just like you do with the breasts. Take a pumping session away every week.

With my second baby, Adam, he didn’t not wean. He just stopped nursing completely at 11 months old. He didn’t want me anymore and that was hard to adjust to. So I ended up getting plugged ducts and needing antibiotics to help my infection go away. I should of pumped more often and done more to empty my breasts, but I didn't think about it. If your baby just stops cold turkey with nursing and you get plugged ducts and get in pain and don’t want antibiotics, then maybe you can try cabbage leaves.

Cabbage Leaves

I remember hearing about cabbage leaves for the first time from my cousin. She weaned her little boy completely in one day. He was 14 months old and would still wake up at night to nurse. She had had enough and so she stopped nursing cold turkey. So after a day of not nursing she was really sore. Her breasts were really full and she was in a lot of pain. She went two days in pain and finally she asked her friend if she knew how she could take the pain away, and her friend told her to use cabbage leaves. Well my cousin wasn't sure about what her friend adviced her to do, so she called the doctor. When she told the nurse what was going on, the nurse told her to use cabbage leaves also. So my cousin decided to try it and she loved it. She said that it took the pain away that same day and by two days of using cabbage leaves she was pain free and milk free.

It doesn’t matter what color, green or red, you use (the red leaf will stain your clothing, so be aware of that). They both work the same. You want to lay the leaf flat and pound it with a rolling pin to soften it up. It needs to be able to form to your breasts. Then you want to wear a stretchy bra to hold the leaf to your breast. Place the cabbage leaf on the painful areas. Leave it there until it wilts and do this twice a day. Cabbage leaves are also known to dry out your milk, so that will help you also.

You can also use cabbage leaves if your engorgement is painful. They will help with the pain, but you don’t want to use them for very long because they can dry your milk up. The leaves also help with any pain you might have under your armpits after birth or when your milk comes in. If you are leaking from your engorgement, the cabbage leaves will assist in slowing down the leaking. Remember not to use cabbage leaves for very long because they will hurt your milk supply. If you are having supply issues with your milk, don’t use the cabbage leaves at all. The leaves are mainly used for weaning mother.

I really enjoy nursing and having my baby so close and spending that time together, but it is also nice to be done. You have more freedom and you are not so scheduled with feedings. You can run more errands and go out more and not be in a rush to get back home. Make sure that you find other things to do with your baby that keeps you close and connected. The babies only get more fun and enjoyable. It is great being a mother.

Hi, I just started reading a book that I think will help us all be happier.
It's called "To Love Is TO Be Happy With" by Barry Neil Kaufman. Here are just a few paragraphs.
"Most of us believe that we have to be unhappy now so that we can be happy later." Wow! I realize that I say that to myself. Oh, I'm not happy now, but when I get what I want I will be happy.
"In using unhappiness as a motivator, reinforcer and gauge (to measure caring), we create a continual cycle of discomfort."
Think of something you are unhappy with and ask yourself,"What am I afraid would happen if
I weren't unhappy about it."
Another good one: "If I weren't unhappy about it, it would mean I didn't care."
Ask yourself these questions, "Am I afraid to give up some or all of my unhappiness? Do I believe that being perfectly happy would be boring?"
On page 120, "If I believe that I have the power to control others, then I might think I have the power to determine their desires and behavior. Yet, if I create my own feelings and behavior from my own beliefs, the only person I can possibly control is myself. How can I be responsible for the unhappiness of others or they be responsible for mine." Maybe just for today we could all try to have fewer expectations of our loved ones, and allow them to just do the best they can. After all that is what we are all doing. Have a great day and give lots of hugs and kisses to those beautiful kids of yours. I really miss mine. They grow up so fast. If you would like to get a copy of this book, I picked this one up at the library. They didn't have any and Barnes and Noble. I want to purchase me a copy, so I am going to check on Amazon.
Thanks for listening sweety pie, Jelene

Quote of the Day

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The women existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new." Raineesh

THRUSH

A fungus, that is naturally in our bodies, gets overgrown and causes thrush and yeast infections. This fungus thrives in moist, dark area, such as vaginas, nipples, and baby’s diapers and in baby’s mouths. You, the mommy, is more likely to get thrush when your bodies are thrown out of balance. For instance, illness, antibiotic, pregnancy, may cause the thrush fungus to get overgrown to cause yeast to occur. It is very contagious; so make sure that you are always washing hands along with everyone else in the house.

You need to make sure that you rule out any other problems such as mastitis, bad latch by baby, eczema, abscess, psoriasis, etc, because these problems can have some of the same symptoms as thrush. If you or your baby has been diagnosed with thrush, you both need to be treated together.

Symptoms of the mother:
*You will have intense nipple or breast pain during feedings and won’t improve with the baby latching on better or changing positions
*Pain of the nipple or breast coming on suddenly after not having problems with breastfeeding
*Your nipples will start itching or burning, or may look pink or red; the nipples may also appear to have a rash with tiny blisters.
*You may have some white in the folds of your nipples or breasts
*New cracks or olds cracks on the nipples will not heal.
*You will have shooting pains in your nipples or breasts during or after feedings.
*The mother may have a vaginal infection

Symptoms of the baby:
*The mouth of the baby will look white; there will be white patches on the baby’s gums, cheeks, and tongue.
*The baby will get diaper rashes (may be a normal rash or the rash may have raised red dots)
*Baby may refuse to nurse, or pull off of the breast because of pain in the mouth or start making a clicking noise.
*The baby may start to be more fussy or gassy.

Here are some other factors that might increase your chances of getting thrush.
*Prior nipple damage.
*You have had an excess of yeast infections in the past.
*To many antibiotics during pregnancy or labor or throughout your life.
*A heavy consumption of sweets.
*Not changing your nursing pads often enough.
*The baby may also get it from a pacifier or from antibiotics.

To help you with yeast problem or preventing you from getting thrush, you can take some acidophilus, reduce sugar intake, garlic, grapefruit seed extract. Some other treatments for the mother are:
*Nystatin cream or ointment – prescribed by your doctor. This treatment will be the least effective of all the treatments.
*Gentian Violet – this one is over-the-counter. This one will stain your clothing so use some old clothing while using this treatment.
*Clotrimazole – this is prescribed or over-the-counter. This is also a cream, also called Lotrimin or Lotrimin AF
*Miconazole – this is over-the-counter. Can also be called Monistat-Derm cream or lotion.
Make sure that you check with your doctor to see what treatment is best for you. There might be other treatments that I have not listed.

If your baby has thrush, check with your pediatrician to see what treatment is best for your baby. Here is a list of a few treatments:
*Nystatin – prescribed by you pediatrician.
*Gentian Violet – over-the-counter.
*Clotrimazole – prescribed by your pediatrician.
*Miconazole – prescribed by your pediatrician.
There might be some better prescriptions for your baby that are not listed so check with your pediatrician. There is also a cream that can be put on the babies diaper rash that you can get from the doctor.

You need to breastfeed during treatment of thrush. Depending on what treatment is given, symptoms and pain can be gone with in forty-eight hours. If it is a more severe case of thrush, symptoms may last for three to five days. It will be painful and hard to nurse, but don’t give up. Remember to follow the instructions with the treatments and finish all of the medication to make sure the thrush is fully cleared.

To help you make it through the pain of nursing, you can rinse your nipples with water and air-dry them after every feeding. Make sure that you change your nursing pads often. You can also try offering more often short feedings, start the feeding on the side with the least pain, and make sure that you break the baby’s suctions from the breast rather then just pulling the baby off. To help keep thrush away, you will need to boil and really clean you pump, baby’s pacifier, toys, and wash your hands well all of the time. Dry your hands with paper towels for a while to prevent thrush from coming back. Make sure you wash your bra every day and clothing. Thrush is very uncomfortable for both you and your baby. Try not to give up and know that there is treatment and help out there.

FORTY FIVE YEARS!!!!!

When mama told Kay, my older sister about menstruation, she decided to include me so she
wouldn’t have to repeat herself in one year. Mama told us that this information was just for our
ears and that we shouldn’t talk to our friends at school about this, because their mama’s would
want to be the ones to tell their own girls. So when all the fifth grade girls were sent to watch
the "Menstruation Movie’ I was feeling pretty smug because I was the only one in the whole
class who knew all about "It" and what was going on. And I informed my friends "Oh yea, My
mom told me all about this already."

We were on our way home on the bus that day after school and of course we were all talking about the movie. One of the girls said, "I can’t believe we have to do this until we’re 45 years old!" And all of a sudden, it was like I had had a stroke. I couldn’t breathe. "FORTY FIVE YEARS, I yelled! You have got to be kidding me. I thought we only had to do it once, not once a month for forty five years!" I don’t know how I could have got my information so mixed up. How could I have been so excited about something that was not going to be any fun at all. Now I knew why everyone else was so bummed out about the whole thing. All I can think is that I had heard 'once', and stopped listening. I hadn’t heard, once a month, for the rest of your freaking life.
Kay reached her arm around my shoulder and said , "Oh, come on, it’ll be ok." I frowned at her and said, "I don’t want to talk about it."

Quote of the Day

"God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mother." Jewish Proverb

Breasts and more Breasts

I thought since I talked about nipples and the problems that you can have with them, we should talk about the breasts and their own problems. I will about breast implants to breasts infections to breast sagging. So get ready for alot of information.

Breast Implants-

Can you still breast feed your baby? You can but it widely depends on your how your doctor did the procedure. If your doctor cut at the fold of the breast or near the armpit, then it is likely no damage was done to the milk ducts or nerves. But if your doctor did an incision close to the areola, than that will be more of a problem for nursing. A cut by the areola is more likely to damage the milk ducts and nerves. You might need to ask for help from a lactation consultant to make sure that you and the baby are breastfeeding correctly. You also need to watch to make sure your baby is gaining weight and has 8 to 12 of each wet and poopy diapers. If that is happening and the baby is gaining then you should be fine.

Breast Infections-

Mastitis

I remember having this after my second child, my son, who decided to just completely stop nursing and didn't' let me wean him. I didn't pump enough and got to full and got plugged ducts. Then it got more painful to even move. So before long I decided to get on some antibiotics.

You can catch the pain from turning into mastitis by putting a heat pack and massaging the lump (sore area) downward to work it out. You can also nurse as often as possible through all of the pain to help not get mastitis. I always put aspra cream (that you use for sore muscles) with a hot rag over the cream and sore area. I also massage my breast downward with the cream while I am putting it on.

Sometimes mastitis will come unannounced and you will feel like you have the flu. When you feel this way you know that is it not just a plugged duct. Now is when you call your doctor and get on antibiotics. The pain will usually start going away before the day is over, but you want to take the medicine until it is gone. Get alot of rest to make sure that mastitis stays away. Depending on how many antibiotics you are going to be on, you might want to add some acidophilus to your daily routine to make sure you don't get any yeast infections, which can cause plugged ducts.

Keep nursing while you are trying to treat your breast infection. The more you nurse the better off you will be in helping it go away. It won't feel pleasant, but it will help.

If the mastitis is untreated it can turn into something much worse. I have never heard of this but it is called "Abcess". It is much more dangerous than mastitis and sometimes requires surgery. So make sure you don't put off treatment for mastitis.

Breasts Concerns-

Here are some issues that may happen to your breasts that need prompt attention:

*A lump or an area that starts to thicken in your breast or underarm.

*Your breast or nipple starts to change color, texture (becomes wrinkle, scales) with the skin of the breast, nipple or areola.

*You have strange discharging out of your nipple.

*Your breast are changing in their size or shape.

I want to talk about inverted nipples and the best treatments for them. Also about Breast shells vs. Nipple Shields. I forgot to add this in when I talked about nipples, so I will add it into this post. I am very thankful that I don't have to use the shell or shield. I am not sure how I feel about them, but I am not going to tell you to use or not to use them. I don't have a right because I don't have to struggle with flat or inverted nipples. So you decide if they are right or not for you and your baby.

Inverted or Flat Nipples-

The picture on the left is an image of a normal looking breast or a nipple that protrudes normally. The picture on the right is one of a inverted nipple. A flat nipple is just flat against the areola and doesn't protrude, but doesn't sink in like a inverted nipple. (pictures are from http://www.babycenter.com/). You know that you have a flat nipple if it is not stimulated from being caressed or cold. A inverted nipple sinks into the breast when the areola is squeezed.

Here are some treatments to help you nurse with these two different kinds of nipples.

*You can use a pump before feedings to help bring out the nipple and have your baby latch on immediately after pumping.

*Help make your nipple erect by putting it between your thumb and finger and moving it around. You can also help it erect by putting a cold rag or cloth on it.

*You can use the breast shells as I mentioned below. Wear it a half hour before the feeding.

*You can wear a nipple shield as I have mentioned below.

Make sure that you are patient with yourself and your baby. If the baby becomes upset at the beginning of a feeding remember to pull it back off and try to calm your baby down. Then try to nurse again. You don't want your baby to associate the breast with unhappiness and tension. Until you find something to help your nipples and that works for you and your baby, it is going to be a struggle. Try not to give up to easy and remember to ask for some help.

Breasts Shells:

These have two parts to them. One part lays on your breast to help the nipple extend out. The second part is dome-shaped which it used as a protective layer for your nipple. This devise it to help the nipple protrude. You can wear it before and after you nurse, but not during. Make sure when you do nurse that your baby has a wide mouth the latch on to enough of the nipple.

Nipple Shields:

This devise it completely different in that you wear it during the feedings. The advantage to the shield it that is keeps you baby at the breast and gets it use to nursing. You do need to make sure that you find a good fit for you and your baby. It needs to be comfortable on you and it can't be to long or short for the baby to latch on to. If it is to long then it can choke the baby and if it is to short then the baby can't latch on correctly. A good way to measure is putting your little finger in your babies mouth with the fingernail facing down and moving the finger in until you find the babies palate. Then have the baby suck on your finger and see how far your finger in its mouth. The one negative thing about the shields are that some babies get nipple confusion. Your baby can become dependent on the shield and not nurse without it. If you decide to use it just be patient when you try to weaning the baby from the shield. Don't be in a hurry to wean the baby from the shield if it is helping. You can wait until the baby it older and has a hang of latching on and nursing well. You know your baby better than anyone else, so do it at your own time. If you want to try it without the shield, just try it a feeding at a time. If the baby can latch on well and nurses fine then you could probably start weaning off the shield. If the baby still struggles without, then keep using it longer.

They now have this new thing called the "Advent Niplette" that you can order. I don't know anything about it, so make sure you do some research on it and see if it will work for you. I read that it has a high percentage rate of success in the tests that they have done on nursing mothers.

Large Breast, Sagging Breast, Breast Size-

This has been the hardest part for me and having babies. When I got pregnant with my first, my breast got big because I was gaining weight. But then my milk came in and they got bigger. So be prepared when you get your milk in. Then when you are done nursing hopefully they will return to a good size. Everyone told me that they would return to their regular size and I saw my sisters return to the size before nursing and even get smaller. So I thought that I would be ok. Well not really. My breast stayed their size DD even after I was done nursing and they sag alot. I mean alot. My sisters can't believe the size of my breasts after they came from being a size B. So lets just say that they are not attractive. I did talk to someone about it and they said that is it just because I have extra skin and fatty tissue, so getting pregnant and gaining weight made them stretch. I also have one that is slightly bigger and one that sags more. You can't hardly tell the difference thanks to bras. Just make sure that you find a nice bra. The ones I find I have to throw away because they start stretching and not holding me up.

If you get alot bigger then you were, you might have to try different nursing position with your baby. Your baby might have a hard time latching on with just trying the cradle hold. Just remember, nursing comes just as easy for big breasted women as it does for small breasted women.

I shouldn't talk bad about my big breasts. I need to be grateful that I can nurse and that they make my babies so healthy and strong. So be grateful for your breasts everyday and talk nicely about them.

Quote of the Day

"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." Author Unknown

All About Nipples

There are so many things that could happen to your nipples as you begin nursing. Most of the problems that occur with nipples, I have not heard about. So we will both learn something new to share with others.

Nipples Blanching-

This is when your nipples turns purple or white and tingles with pain. Sometimes it will contract and react to cold. This could last up to thirty minutes.

Nipple Blanching is also known as Reynauds Syndrome and is fairly common. Sometimes it can happen during or after feedings. Blanching can be caused by nipple trauma such as the baby chomping down to hard because of a overactive letdown, or not latched on correctly. If the trauma to the breast is not from either one above, then treat it with some heat. You can use a rice heating pack or a hot water bottle. But put something in between your breast and the heat so you don't burn your nipple. There are some ointments that will help such as nitroglycerin paste, but ask a lactation consultant to help you use it. Some other moms have used herbal supplements like Flax/borage oil, fish oil. Sometimes moderate exercise will also help. Make sure that it is not thrush that is causing all of your pain. Most problems to the nipples are caused from thrust.

Nipple Blisters-

If you notice a pimple like blister on your nipple, it is called a "Bleb". A white spot that is associated with a plugged duct. Sometimes a bleb is a symptom of thrush. So make sure you treat both you and the baby if you suspect thrush. After you have ruled out thrush, you can treat a bleb like you would a plugged duct. Put some heat on it and have the baby nurse as often as possible. The baby will most likely pop the bleb while nursing but it will not harm the baby. If you can't get the baby to nurse very often then work it out with a pump.

Plugged Ducts-

These appear as a red tender blotch on you breast. This is a sign that the sac that your milk is stored in is plugged. Your baby is not getting the sac emptied at every feeding. If it is untreated it can develop into mastitis.

A plugged duct is caused by:
*Your baby has a poor latch on or a weak suck
*Nursing in the same position every feeding
*Bad fitting nursing bra
*Clothing that is to tight

The best treatment is getting your baby to nurse as often as possible. It will be painful, but the babies suck will be better than a pump or massaging your breasts.

To help deal with the plugged duct, place a hot rice pack on the sore area for a minute or longer. You will need to put something between the hot pack and the breast so you don't get burned.

Here are some tips to help you prevent a plugged duct:
*Try new positions when you nurse
*Make sure that your baby has a proper latch
*Wear a good nursing bra. Don't use underwire bras
*Try to make sure that your breast don't get to full
*Clean your hands before you handle your breasts
*Try to dry your nipples after feedings with air-drying them
* Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water

Nipple Bleeding-

This can be caused by a bad pump, incorrect latch, or a dry nipple. Try to make sure you use a good pump if you want to pump. When you do pump, if there is any blood in the milk, make sure you dispose of that pumped milk. Make sure that your baby is latching on correctly. The bleeding could be a cause of thrush, so treat a.s.a.p, both you and the baby.

If your nipples are getting to dry, put some Vitamin E or some lanolin cream. This should be cleared up within a couple of weeks. It will be hard to nurse, but try to keep going.

Nipple Pain-

This pain is just the basic pain that any mother will have when they begin nursing a new baby. So here are some tips to try to make it through the first couple of week.
*Air-dry your nipples after every feeding
*After nursing squeeze some milk from your breast and rub it into the cracks or blisters or you can use nipple ointment.
*Watch and be aware of warning signs of thrush, blisters, plugged ducts, and pain and burning before and after nursing.
*Make sure that your pump is set at a good suction and is not to strong

I will be back tomorrow to talk about thrush and other problems that occur with the whole breast not just the nipple.

Quote of the Day

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces that she never did care for pie." Tenneva Jordan

Milk Supply

I remember really wanting to nurse my babies and hoping that I would produce enough milk to feed them and enjoy the nursing experience. I am sure every mother wonders if she is going to have enough milk to be able to nurse her babies.

Every mom is going to be different on how much milk she produces and how hardy and creamy to how runny and watery the milk looks. The amount the mother has depends from day to day and even from morning to night. But most mothers are capable of producing a good milk supply for their baby.

For the first two to three day, sometimes longer, your baby will eat from the colostrum. It looks watery and thin, but is healthy enough for your baby for those first few days. Claire Martin, author of the book "The Nursing Mothers problem solver", says that if the baby it acting hungry after feedings, then the baby may not be latched on correctly. The babies are not able to feel full from the colostrum if they aren't sucking right. If the baby is not latched on correctly or is a lazy sucker than your milk will not produce a full supply of milk.

To know if your baby is getting enough the first few weeks of life, make sure that the baby has 6 to 8 soaked diapers in a 24 hour period and the stool is a mustard-color with a sweet odor. Also, if the baby has latched on correctly from the beginning and has a good suck, then your baby is getting enough milk.

Claire Martin also says that, "Almost always, your milk production adjusts to the baby's demands." If you need to increase your milk supply than feed the baby more often. Your body will produce what your baby needs. If your baby wants to nurse more often and is acting hungry sooner, that could mean they are going through a growth spurt.

Some moms might expect their breasts to look full the whole time they are nursing, but that is not true. The older your baby gets the more your breasts shrink and adjust to their right size. Even during nursing time or let downs, the breasts won't feel as full as before. Don't worry about your milk supply because you still have enough.

Somethings that do affect your breast milk are birth control pills and decongestants. You can use these suggestions to improve your supply of milk:
*Drink more fluids, more water. Avoid caffeinated drinks which are dehydrating.
*Get alot of Rest. Nap with the baby if you can and ask for help from others with the chores or cooking.
*Allow the baby to nurse more often, especially during milestones such as, growth spurts or teething.
*Try the herbal supplements Fenugreek, blessed thistle tea, mother's milk tea.

If you feel that you are not producing enough milk then seek some help and don't put it off. If you let it go to long then you probably won't ever produce enough and even loose it all together. I have personally never had to deal with a low supply of milk, but have friends that have and gave up way to soon. So I hope that if nursing is something that you really want to do or try to do, then give it a chance and don't give up to soon.

CUTIE PIE, HONEY BUNCH

Hi! I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July. We went up to my families ranch in the mountains. It is so beautiful there. The air seems a little bit airier. The grass and the hills are bright green this year because of all the great rain we had this spring. And the dogs bark louder there and keep you up all night so you can't really enjoy the airier air. But other than that.

My sisters and I practiced and performed "The Dancing Queen" from Mamma Mia at the family reunion program. You can watch it on youtube.com/user/mom2thebs. It is very funny.

I want to continue talking about "The Four Agreements". The first agreement is -- Be Impeccable with Your Word. We can all agree that our words are very powerful. So powerful in fact, that one word can change a life or destroy the lives of millions. We can use our word to give love or sorrow. The author relates a story about a women who was very intelligent and had a very good heart. She had a daughter whom she adored and loved very much. One night she came home from a very bad day at work, tired, full of emotional tension, and with a terrible headache. She wanted peace and quiet, but her daughter was singing and jumping around happily. The daughter was unaware of how her mother was feeling; she was in her own little world. She felt wonderful, and she was singing louder and louder, expressing her joy and her love. This made her mother's headache even worse, and at a certain moment, the mother lost control. Angrily she looked at her beautiful little girl and said, "Shut up! You have an ugly voice. Can you just shut up!"

The truth is that the mother's tolerance for any noise was nonexistent; it was not that the little girl's voice was ugly. But the daughter believed what her mother said, and in that moment she made an agreement with herself to never sing again. She became shy at school, and if she was asked to sing, she refused.

When we hear an opinion and believe it, we make an agreement, and it becomes part of our belief system. Sometimes these agreements are hard to break and only when we realize the truth can we set ourselves free. I hope this week we will listen to what we are saying to our special ones and say something kind and sweet every chance we get.

LeAnna taught me this when she was dating her honey. She called him "Loves" and "Lovie". It was so cute to watch them fall in love with each other. Oh, what a fun time his brothers had with that. When the love birds weren't around, one brother would ask another, " Oh, Lovie, do you want to watch some baseball with me tonight?" And the other one would reply in a high pitched voice, "Yes, Loves , let's do it!"

I find when I use endearing words like sweety and love, I am kinder and have more empathy for my loved ones. They respond with ease and love comes back to me.

Thanks for being there. CUTIE PIE! HONEY BUNCH!

Quote of the Day

"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother." Lin Yutang, Chinese Writer

Pumping and Storing milk

I am sorry that I haven't posted for awhile. I have been out of town and then had company come into town to visit.
I thought that I would post some pumping tips and then move on to stored milk and how long and what to store the milk in.

I never started pumping until after the first week of nursing. I know some moms use it to help their milk come in. Some moms need to pump right when their milk comes in because they have so much and are to engorged for the baby to latch on. Sometimes I was so full at night that I have to wake up and pump because I would be in pain. So pump when your breasts are painful or lumpy, because you don't want to get an infection. If you are going to be away from your baby for long periods of time, try to pump at the same time that you would have a feeding to keep your milk supply up.
I bought a medela electric pump from a hospital for about $100 and it has been a great pump. I haven't heard about any other pump but I am sure that you can order some online and find a great pump that works for you.

When I did start pumping I pumped an hour after I would nurse. I wanted to make sure that I could stock on some milk so if I needed to go out during a feeding. If you feel like you don't have enough milk, then try feeding your baby more often and see if that will increase your milk. The baby suck is hard and better to make more milk then a pump will be. You can also try a mother's milk tea or an herb called Fenugreek. I had a sister use Fenugreek and it worked well to where she was able to nurse four months longer then she thought she would be able to.

Pumping Tips

*If you are pumping and aren't getting alot out, be patient and keep pumping and your milk will increase.
*Make sure that you understand how your pump works because you could cause red sore nipples if the pressure is to high and the speed is to fast.
*If your nipples are sore use some Vitamin E or some lanolin-based ointment before you pump.
*You can lean forward a little bit while pumping to increase the flow of the milk.
*Towards the end of pumping, you can massage your breast to make sure that you have emptied them all of the way.
*Read the directions on how to clean your pump and sterilize it. You can order more parts if they break or melt in the dishwasher. You might want to order more parts at the same time you order your pump just to make sure that you will have them if something happens.

Storing and Using Expressed Milk

*After pumping put the milk into milk bags you find in the baby section at your supermarket and remember to label it with the date.
*Freshly pumped milk can sit in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days before it spoils.
*You can keep your unrefrigerated milk out in the open for about 15 hours before it spoils.
*Store your milk in the bags containing 2 or 3 ounces at a time so you don't end up wasting the milk. Store the milk in the back or middle of the freezer. Don't put it on the door because everytime the freezer is opened it can thaw the milk out.
*Always put frozen milk into a bowl with warm water to thaw it out. Never use a microwave.
*You can thaw your milk out in the refrigerator but it must be used within 24 hours. If there is extra milk in the bottle when the baby is done eating, save the extra but it must be used within 24 hours from the time of the feeding.
*You can store frozen milk in the back or the middle of the freezer for about 3 to 6 months and a deep freezer for 6 months.

Some other things to look for when storing milk is if it looks curdled or smells funny don't use it. If you didn't chill your milk before putting it in the freezer it make look chalky when thawing it out. It is still fine to use chalky looking milk. If you pump and get blood in your milk you may have some kind of infection and need to see your doctor right away. If you get the flu you can still feed your baby, but throw your pumped milk out while you are sick. If your milk and thick and clumpy while pumping than you could have mastitis and need to see your doctor right away. After the milk it stored in the freezer it will separate into two layers and that is normal. That way you will be able to see how creamer your milk it. I was always called the creamy woman or the creamery because I have alot of cream on the top when the milk separates. My babies got fat fast from nursing all of that cream. Pumping is not the greatest, but it will help your milk increase and help you have a life and go out once in a while.

Quote of the Day

"Making the decision to have a child-it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." Elizabeth Stone

Latching On

Are you wondering why I haven't talked about this subject until now? Isn't this how breastfeeding begins? I am not sure why I am just talking about it now, but I hope some of the information and pictures that I give will help.

First thing to do when you start breastfeeding, is make sure that you are comfortable where you are sitting or laying down. You can use a footstool to support your feet and a boppy pillow or a couch pillow to help elevate your arm that the baby is resting on. Bring the baby close to you so you are skin to skin. Make sure the babies body is straight and its neck is not twisted. There are alot of different positions to try when nursing. You will probably prefer some over the other, but trying different positions might make nursing easier for both you and the baby. I found this chart of positions from this website http://www.parents.com/. The first and most common position is the cradle hold. The next most common for me was the the lying down position. I used this one with my first child alot. Then you can also try the cross-cradle hold or the football hold.

To get the baby to latch on, grab your breast in a C-hold, with your thumb on top of your breast and the rest of your fingers underneath the breast. Don't use the cigarette hold because that will prevent the baby from latching on correctly to the nipple. Make sure that the babies mouth is open very wide so he/she can put the nipple and the areola in its mouth. The areola is the dark circle around your nipple. You might need to help your newborn baby open its mouth enough at the beginning. Just pull down on the chin to help the baby get enough of the breast in his/her mouth. The babies nose needs to be touching your breast while nursing. They still can breath good this way and it keeps them from loosing the latch. If it seems that the baby is having a hard time breathing, then just lower your arm that the baby is resting on. The above pictures (www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/breastfeeding/visualguide) will help you see how much of the breast the baby should have in its mouth. If the baby doesn't latch on the first time try, try again. If there is any clicking noises or the babies checks are sucking in to much then he/she in not latched on correctly. Break the latch and try again. Don't just pull your breast out of the babies mouth because that can tear it. Put your index finger in the mouth of the baby to break the latch. By not having a good latch, the baby will not empty your breast right and it will make you really sore.

You will have sore nipples for about the first two weeks of nursing with a good latch. It hurts when they first latch on, but once they are nursing the pain goes away. Make sure that you are switcing breast every time you start nursing so one doesn't get more sore than the other. You start with the breast that you ended on the feeding before. So if you ended on the right breast with the first feeding, then you start with the right breast on the second feeding. My mom always had me put Vitamin E on my breast to keep them from getting too dry and cracked. My breast never cracked enough to bleed, but the vitamin E will help with the dryness. It won't hurt the baby, so put it on when ever you feel you need it. Breastfeeding is all worth the pain and effort if you can just stick with it. It is such a wonderful bonding time for you and your baby. You can talk, massage and sing while you have this time with one another. So enjoy every minute.

Quote of the Day

"We never know the love of the parent until we become parents ourselves." Henry Ward Beecher

Teaching the Bottle

I am blessed enough to say that I didn't have any problems with teaching my two children to use the bottle. Don't be in a hurry to teach the bottle, but I would also recommend teaching your baby to use one even if you are a stay-at-home mom. It is so nice to know that if you need or want to leave that you don't have to rush home to nurse. It is nice way to get your husband involved and let him have his time with the baby.
Most doctors and Lactation Specialist say not to introduce the bottle until the baby is about six weeks old. If I remember right I started the bottle on my first baby at about 3 or 4 weeks of age. That is what I felt good about doing, but do what you feel is right for your baby. If you wait to long then the baby will be more reluctant to try the bottle.
If you find that the baby won't take the bottle, it might be the nipple. So experiment with different nipples. Try one for a couple of weeks and then move to others if the baby it still not accepting the bottle. Some good nipples to try are: Advent, Playtex, and Evenflo. There are also some good nipples from the company that sell breast pumps. Another thing that might be affecting the babies willingness to use the bottle is the temperature of the milk. Most babies want it the same temperature that comes from the breast, so make sure the milk is not to hot or cold. A good tip that I read from the book 'The Nursing Mother's problem solver' is to put the nipple between the lips of the baby after he/she has fallen asleep while nursing. That way the baby can get use to the nipple. Remember that introducing a bottle to a new baby takes alot of patients. It might seem really hard but stay persistent. Try to get the baby to use the bottle at least twice a week so the baby will get use to it. Something else to try is wait as long as you can to feed the baby, but not to long that he/she gets upset. If the baby is really hungry, he/she might be more willing to take the bottle. You could try to hold the baby in a different position such as facing them away from you. Making it different from the nursing position. If the baby consistently turns away from the bottle, don't force it to take it. Calm the baby down and try again a few minutes later. Forcing the baby to take the bottle will teach them to hate or reject the bottle.
If you are a mother that is returning to work, don't wait to long to introduce the bottle. Give yourself enough time to help the baby get use to it. Try to have another caregiver feed the baby because the baby can smell you and not take it as easy from you as they would some one else.
Not to sound to negative, but this will be a trying process and will need your patients and love. Babies latch on to bottles differently than they do the breast. When they latch onto the breast, their mouths are wider and their tongue move past the lips to preform a lip-suck movement. While bottle sucking requires a closed-mouth position and the tongue remaining inside the mouth.
I personally am thankful for the bottle because I was able to get some time away and let my husband feel that he was needed. We could go on dates and leave the baby with grandparents and not have to rush home. The best nipple that worked for me was the Advent nipple, but I have heard good things about Evenflo and the Nuk's orthodontic nipples. Another nipple that got high marks in 'The Nursing Mother's problem solver' book was the Evenflo orthodontic nipple. It is said to have a large base so the baby needs to put more of it in its mouth, rather then make the baby work so hard to extract the milk. Make sure that you get some help if you need it and take your time. If you are consistent with making your baby try the bottle, then your baby will finally accept it.

Staying in Touch

I wanted to let everyone that views our blog that has any concerns or comments, to email us at thesweetestgift2009@hotmail.com. If you have something personal to ask or say, or need any help at all, go ahead and email my mom and I. We are passionate about helping women and their babies, so don't hesitate to ask for help.
We want to thank you for viewing our blog and hope that in some small way we can help you and your baby

Raising Dough

I got up this morning at 5:oo, when my husband left to work and decided I would make some Pecan Rolls. I found this little cookbook at a yard sale with tons of wonderful bread and roll recipes. So, hopefully the dough will raise and they will be yummy. I'll let you know.
One of the inspiring books I have read and enjoyed recently is "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz. On page 20 it says," In your whole life noboby has ever abused you more than you have abused yourself. And the limit of your self-abuse is exactly the limit that you will tolerate from someone else. If someone abuses you a little more than you abuse yourself, you will probably walk away from that person. But if someone abuses you a little less than you abuse yourself, you will probably stay in the relationship and tolerate it endlessly. The more self-love we have, the less we will experience self-abuse."
Why do you think we have such a hard time loving ourselves? Because we were told by our parents and teachers that we weren't measuring up to their expectations. Each child needs to grow up with a healthy self-love and self-esteem and not quite so many rules and regulations. Children gain self-esteem by learning that they are valued members of their family. Learning to pick up their rooms, fold their clothes and put them away, and eventually doing the dishes and mopping the kitchen floor as they get older. You can't talk your child into having self-esteem. It is something that has to be earned by them.
I read a book when my kids were little that said, " If it is not hurting him or anyone else, then don't make a fuss." Sometimes we get in such a habit of having to say something to everything our kids do. This is why they learn to tune us out. And they are hearing our constant disapproval of them. Constant disapproval of their sweet spirits. We should give 95% positive messages each day to 5% negative. Take a count one day and see if you are giving out the love you want returned. They are going to grow up to be awesome people. I just know they are. I used to lie awake at night worrying about my kids. One night I realized I had forgotten to feed my youngest,who was 3, lunch that day! How can you be a worse mother than that? She ended up being 6'1''ft tall, so I guess a skipped meal didn't hurt her to much after all! Love yourselves. Before we can love anyone else, we need to give ourselves some approval and love.
Yey, My Pecan Rolls are rising, raising, have risen! Let's eat!

Quote of the Day

"Who is getting more pleasure from this rocking, the baby or me?" Nancy Thayer, Author

Baby Blues=Postpartum

I wanted to talk about Antidepressants and make sure that we as mothers are getting the help that we all need. I feel that we ask to much of ourselves, but then feel it is wrong to be on any medication. There is nothing wrong with being on medication to help you to feel happy, so you can enjoy being a mom and enjoy life. One of my best friends is on two different kinds of depressions medicines because that is what helps her to make it through her days.
There are two kinds of antidepressants that are not good to be on while nursing. They are: Prozac and St. John's Wort. St. John's Wort is an inhibitor that can cause some serious side effects such as, seizures, gastrointestinal irritations, fatigue. Some better antidepressants are Zoloft and Paxil. Both drugs leak only small amounts in to the breast milk. Please talk to your doctor if you need to and get some help. The doctors with know what will be best for you. We all have great people around us, so we need to make sure that we ask for help when needed. They are always willing to help in any way.
I only had the blues/postpartum with my first baby for maybe the first month. I connected with her so much and I was truly in love with her. We had a first hard month, but I had alot of great help and I was able to make sure that I got some alone time. With my second child it was really different. I didn't connect with him like I did my daughter. He wasn't any harder then she was, but I didn't have the passion I had for my daughter that I thought I would. The only thing I wanted to do was to nurse and feed him, I didn't want to hold him much and be around him much. It really scared me because I started wondering if I would ever develop a relationship and a bond with him. I know for sure that I had alot more postpartum and held on to it longer the second time around. Then he got RSV and ended up in the hospital when he was six weeks old. We layed together in the same bed with tubes coming out of his little body for three days, and I know from that time on that I loved him more than anything. And now we can not get enough of each other and he is a joy to be around.
I will always remember when first baby was about two weeks old, my sister-in-law came over and told me to go out for a while and do what ever I wanted. I had just nursed the baby, but I so nervous about leaving her. But I also knew that I really needed to get out. I hadn't left the house for two weeks and so it was going to be good for me. I don't remember even buying anything, but I do remember just walking around Target and relaxing. I tell you this because, being a mom it hard and we all need help. We all have great people around us to help relieve some stress and emotions. So let them help us and make being a mother more enjoyable and less stressful.

On Being Me

Over the last few day, I have been thinking about what I wanted to say in my very first entry on our blog. I want to thank my sweet LeAnna for asking me to be a part of her blog. She has been very understanding with me and my adjustment to my empty nest. And I say- my empty nest -because it doesn't seem to have affected my husband much, having the last child move out and be on her own. He has been just as patient with me. I think he is just waiting, knowing I will someday stop moping around. Someday I will stop thinking I have to be busy every second. Going to my sewing room to find another project to throw myself into. Calling my sisters, just to have someone to talk to. And I am waiting too. But right now I don't know if the loneliness will ever go away. I was a mother for 35 years. There was always a game to go to. A dance recital coming up or a wedding to plan. I miss the noise, the food, the laughter, my son and his constant teasing. I'm not a person who plans too far into the future. I just let each day take care of itself, and so I never prepared myself for this time when my children would go into their own lives and live their lives so successfully as not to have any need of a mother to nag them into eternity. And for that I am very grateful.
Now it is my turn. And I don't have the slightest clue how to proceed. But I am determined to find my way. Over the last 2 years I have had time to read so many wonderful books. They have inspired me to want to live a life full of meaning. When you get to be my age, I know 57 seems ancient to any one under 40, you start to think about your relationship with God and I for one, want to have a daily walk with Him. I now relish my quiet time with Him, all the while missing my old life. So you see, I am making progress.
I'll never forget the birth of my first baby, Lillie. I was 20. I got married in Feb. and had Lillie in Dec. of the same year. It wasn't a hard delivery, only 5 hrs., but the doctor had to use forceps, so after 5 hrs, both baby and I felt like we had been run over by a Mac Truck. When I was settled in my room, they brought my baby to me and I was able to nurse her. I was overcome by how beautiful she was and how tiny, at 7 lbs 4 oz. In those days there was no rooming-in so they came and took Lillie back to the nursery for the night. In the middle of the night I woke up startled. I could hear a baby crying from way down the hall. A loud scared cry. I pulled my poor aching pelvis out of bed and limped down the hall to the nursery. The nurse holding the screaming bundle ask me if I was the mother of this baby and I said yes. Well , this baby really wants her Mommy. I settled, very slowly, into a rocking chair there in the nursery and she gently handed me my baby. I opened my nightgown and she recognized my smell. She quieted and whimpered alittle. Then she nursed and sighed and settled into my arms. She opened her eyes and looked up a me and we were in love. I knew then that I could be a mother.How did I know that was my baby crying? I don't know, I just knew. A mothers instinct, I guess. Another one of God' Sweetest Gifts.

Quote of the Day

"The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness."
by Honore de Balzac, Author

Mommy and Allergies

Are you a mom suffering with spring time allergies? Well your not alone. Here is some information that might help relieve your watering eyes and stuffy noses.

Specific Medications
Allegra: There is no information regarding its transfer to the breast milk. Seladine is a similar medicine and studies have shown that only a small small amount is transferred to the breast milk.
Claritin: Author Claire Martin says,"About 0.02 percent of what the mother ingests is transferred to her milk, according to the limited research available. Claritin is used for children, so it is considered safe for breastfeeding mothers."
Nasal Spray: Most nasal sprays are safe for mothers that are nursing. Try to keep the use or dose of the sprays to a minium and it won't affect the breastmilk. Some contents in nasal sprays have been linked to birth impairments on the fetus, so don't use them while you are pregnant.
Other nasal sprays that are safe are: Nasacort and Flonase
Author Claire Martin states,"Nasal sprays are considered topical therapy, and the amount your system absorbs is fairly low."

Quote of the Day

"Mother's hold their children's hand for a short while, but their hearts forever." Unknown

Colic vs. Acid Reflex

What I write to you today are about two subjects that I feel are very important to talk about. I have personal experience with both Colic and Acid Reflex, as do many moms with new babies.

Colic-
It doesn't usually start until about two weeks after the baby is born. The baby will get really fussy at about the same time everyday and will fuss or cry for about two hours. From the book (The Nursing Mother's Problem Solver), author Claire Martin says that, "Symptoms of colic usually start during the second week of life. Babies prone to colicky behavior are relentlessly fussy, intense, extremely sensitive, and high-need. The fussiness peaks at 6 to 8 weeks of age and usually disappears when a baby is between 3 to 6 months old." She goes on to say, "Some pediatricians think that an iron imbalance can aggravate colic, often because mothers continue taking prenatal vitamins and/or iron supplements after birth. " Some say that colic may be associated with dairy allergies. Try eliminating (iron or the dairy) one at a time, again for the two period, and then work on the next one. If the baby is still fussy and hasn't been checked for Acid Reflex, that would be the next step to take to help the baby.

Acid Reflux-
After having my first baby, Reagan, I couldn't get enough of her and wanted her with me every minute. She stayed in my hospital room and slept with me most of the time we were there. The symptoms of reflux started the second day, but I didn't know about it at that time and I had no idea why she didn't want to latch on and nurse. One other symptom was that she never would sleep. I thought that newborns were suppose to sleep all of the time so it was weird to me that she didn't sleep very good. Well I started thinking that we just need to get home where we would feel much more comfortable. Well was I wrong. That first night and the first month was a nightmare. She would not sleep unless I was holder her and she would not even latch on the eat. I, being a first time mom didn't want to give her a bottle, so I about gave up until finally on the third day my milk came in and she latched right on. She was pretty much starving and she knew that she wasn't going to get much from nursing, so she didn't even want to try.

Everything was going much better after my milk came in except the sleeping and she started to spit up alot. She also had the hiccups all of the time. It wasn't like vomiting, but it was all of the time. So I had a hard time getting her on a schedule for a long time because she wanted to always eat, which is another symptom of acid reflux. Babies think that if they eat all of the time that it will make it feel better, but it does the opposite. It makes that reflux worse. So to be honest I was not enjoying being a mom and I was very, very tired and emotional not know what was going on with my baby. She slept fine during the day, but when it got dark, we were both awake most of the night.

Finally, I get to take her in for her two week appt and I just break down to her doctor. Explain to him how she won't sleep, is very fussy and spits up all of the time. Well come to find out my Pediatrician specializes in gastrology and knew exactly what was going on. He checks her out and she is way past her birth weight and is striving and looked good. Then he prescribes me a prescription of Axid. He also told me that I need to get off dairy and any other foods that might give her gas. So for the first year of her life, I didn't drink milk or eat cheese or yogurt. I also got of any foods that would make me gassy like broccoli, beans, peanuts, cauliflower, etc. I wanted so much to help her, that I was willing to do anything. Another thing the doctor said was to get her on a feeding schedule of every 2 1/2 to 3 hours in between feedings. That will help the reflux and teach her that she doesn't need to eat all of the time. So we give that medicine a try for two weeks (the required time for medicine to work with reflux). Well I noticed that the axid worked for about the first week and then stopped working. So I asked for a different medicine and the doctor put Reagan on Prevacid. This was the stuff. It worked right away and worked until she was a year. I gave it to her everyday for the first 4 months and then I would only give it to her when she would start spitting up alot. I did give it to her until she was a year. My doctor said that Acid Reflux can last from anywhere from 3 months to 1 year of age.

With my second baby, Adam, he would sleep well, but he was much fussier and had colic at the same time. So he had to be on both axid and prevacid at the same time. I would give him axid in the mornings and prevacid at night. If I remember right he only had to take the medicine until he was about 9 months old. Both of my children didn't talk really soon and Reagan wouldn't eat solids until about 8 months old. Those are both symptoms of acid reflux. So it is very important to get babies on medication.

Now that my daughter is 4 yrs old, doctors are diagnosing Acid Reflux more and not mistaking it for colic. I was lucky to have the doctor that I had to help with my little girl. Some babies are worse than others, but they all can be helped with medication.

Acid Reflux is really called, Gastroesophageal Reflux, meaning that a valve in the esophagus closed improperly, allowing the contents from the stomach to come back up. So in other words the baby always has acid from the breast milk and stomach coming up and burning them and putting them in alot of pain. I also found out that my daughters stomach was to high and so that made the reflux worse because she could digest anything. I took her to a specialist to help pull her stomach down to where it needed to be. The valve eventually closes as the baby grows up. Some children with acid reflux don't learn to talk until later and some refuse to eat solids. But make sure that you keep trying with the solids because they need to learn to be eating solids at least no later than 10 months.

Symptoms to look for in your baby:
*Frequent spitting up after feedings, sometimes with spitting or projectile vomiting in between feedings.
*Frequent hiccups
*Wanting to eat all of the time, but only for a few minutes at a time. (feed the baby every 2 1/2 or 3 hours and that will help the reflux and burning)
*Acting hungry but refusing feedings
*Arching back after or during feedings, drawing up legs
*Sleeping in short burst with crying in between
*Fussing after feedings
*Hoarse voice
*Excessive gassiness
*Sour Burps or bad breath
*Waking from sound sleep screaming
*Poor weight, poor growth
*Wheezing or excessive coughing
*Resisting solids
Don't change to formula because it makes the reflux worse. It is fine if you are using formula already, but make sure that the baby gets some medication for help.

Things to try to make the baby more comfortable:
*Hold baby upright for 30 minutes after feedings. Try to keep the baby from crying because excessive crying can aggravate the reflux, allowing to much air to be swallowed.
*Offer smaller, more frequent meals
*Burp well after feedings
*Keep the baby away from cigarette smoke
*Consider sleeping the baby in his/her stomach, only if you feel right about it. You can sleep the baby where you can watch it while it sleeps. I slept both of my babies on their stomachs, but that might not be right for everyone.
*Elevating the babies crib mattress so the baby would sleep on a incline and sleep the baby in it's side. Make sure that they baby lays on different sides each night to make sure that the babies head forms right.

I hope that what I have said about colic and acid reflux with help. We as mothers know our babies, so make sure that your doctors listen to you and that you get help for your baby. Make sure that as mothers that we all get help and get out to get some space from the baby.

**Some of the information was used from the article called, Bundle of Misery, by Kim Fernandez, Washington Post, Aug 2002**

Acid Reflex-

Quote of the Day

"The highest courage is to dare to appear to be what one is." John Lancaster(Catholic Bishop)

Babies and Allergies

Most of my information will be from this wonderful book. I will also add my personal experience because allergies have been a problem with both of my children.

Author Claire Martin states, "If you are sensitive to certain foods, your baby may be, too. Babies are more likely to be sensitive to certain foods rather than truly allergic. If you or the baby's father or your other children have food allergies or sensitivities, or are prone to eczema, then your baby is more likely to be food sensitive, too. Symptoms of a food sensitivity include cramping and abdominal pain, bloating, foul-smelling gas, diarrhea, eczema, incessant fussiness, vomiting, and constant congestion or colds." She goes on to say, "If your baby is sensitive to a food in your diet, it affects the babies ability to nurse. Muscles respond to allergic reactions, and since the tongue is a muscle, an allergic baby may have a hard time using it's tongue to suckle."

"Signs of food-sensitivity reactions include fussiness, skin rashes, red cheeks, diarrhea, vomitting and congestion. If you've eaten something that provokes a sensitive reaction in your baby, she'll probably react within 3 to 6 hours after your meal. If your baby is sensitive to citrus, it may take 1 to 4 hours for the citrus allergen to show up in your milk and only one day for the allergen to build to a level she finds intolerable."

Author Claire Martin goes on to write, "The dietary culprits that provoke sensitive reactions include milk and diary products, soy, eggs, peanuts, wheat, fish, corn, and citrus........Babies also can be sensitive, but not allergic, to other foods: Broccoli, onions, cabbage, carbonated soft drinks, and caffeinated sodas or coffee can make a sensitive baby gassy."

To find out what your baby might be reacting to, start avoiding certain foods that might make you gassy. If that doesn't help the baby, then you eliminate others foods one at a time (for 10 days to a week) until you find what foods are causing the upset in your baby. Author Claire Martin suggests a food journal of everything you eat in a day to help you findthe food culprit.

The author states, "You don't need to follow a drastic elimiation diet. Instead, cut out the most likely suspects, such as diary, wheat, and peanuts. Because certain allergen-provoking foods remain in your system and can enter your milk several days after you've consumed them, you must strictly follow elimination diets for at least 10 days." Once the baby grows out of being sensitive to certain foods you can slowly reintroduce the foods back into your diet slowly, one food at a time.

I remeber with my first baby I had to eliminate all dairy and I didn't eat broccoli, beans, peanut butter and any other foods that would make me gassy for the first year of her life. I hated seeing her in pain, arching her back and crying all of the time. I was willing to do what I had to do to help her. With my second child, I had to get off just dairy products, mainly milk because he was allergic to it. I remember at his two week or month check up the doctor said his "poop" was a different color (I remember his "poop" being a green color and having alot of mucus in it) and ran a test to see if he had blood in his "poop". There was blood in his "poop" and the doctor said that he wasn't accepting the diary and that it would take him a good year for his body to handle diary. So I had to stop drinking my chocolate milk and once I did I noticed a big difference in how he was acting and in his diapers.

She (Claire Martin, author) has a good example of a food journal in her book. You can find the book at amazon.com or I am sure at your local library. It has wonderful questions and answers to anything you might want to know about breastfeeding. (Martin, pg 22-24)