HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!!!!!
Well my final paper is due on Monday, and after that I will be done with school totally. My two new years resolutions are to lose weight and to write in this journal regularly, so I'll be posting again soon. Have a good night!!
Got this in an email today....put a big smile on my face.
THERE IS BIG NEWS IN MASSACHUSETTS!
This morning, the Public Health Council approved revisions to Massachusetts'
Hospital Licensure Regulations for Maternal and Newborn Services that
prohibit the direct marketing of commercial formula materials to mothers,
including the distribution of commercial formula discharge bags. The
revised regulations also include additional provisions to strengthen
breastfeeding education and support in the hospital setting.
I'm just popping in quickly to say hi. I'm still alive and kicking. I haven't had time to update in a while. I'm in the final week of crunch time, last night was my last night of classes, but I still have a lot of papers to pass in and two finals to take. Monday I have three papers due and a final, and then my last paper is due the 22nd, so after that I will be back to posting regularly.
Brooke is good, she got another cold, which caused her to have an earache. The ped said she didn't have a full blown ear infection, but wanted to treat it as one anyway for preventive measures. She's doing great now, gives kisses regularly, and has learned how to point at things she wants.
She gave me a good laugh today while she was eating lunch. For anyone who wants to know what it's like to feed lunch to a dramatic 15 month old, the pictures tell the story.
Ciao!
Well I am sitting here, very tired, thinking about my graduation tomorrow. My lovely cousin had dropped off a bottle of wine and a nice card while we were out, and I drank all the wine. That is how nervous I am. I'd rather just skip the ceremony, but Jason and my mother won't hear of it. They insist I participate. So I am.
Let's see....nothing much happened this week. Again, just more schoolwork. It seems like everything is coming up due and I don't have enough time to get it all done. Thank God there is only two more weeks of classes left!!!
Friday I went to the mall with Brooke to kill time, and she did very good. She has another cold, and she's been miserable lately, but thank God it is pretty much gone now. Jason told me that he was going to go to a Celtic's game, but instead he surprised me with a trip to La Sallete shrine!!! I loved it, it was so pretty! We took lots of pics and I posted them.
Today we all went to my hair dresser's and I got my hair cut, and Brookie got her first hair cut!!! She's so cute, she has bangs now! Then we went to the mall and I got shoes and an outfit to wear tomorrow for my ceremony. Brookie was a monster in the mall, I couldn't believe how terrible she was. I think she might have an earache, because I thought I saw her rubbing her ear, but then she seemed fine and didn't rub it anymore once we got home.
Well, that's pretty much it. Nothing else is going on. I'm dreading the ceremony tomorrow, but at least it marks another step towards the end of school!! Ciao!!
I didn't even know Hudson had a baby, never mind that she was breastfeeding! Good for her, I say! And good for her for overcoming her shyness about bf'ing in public. I think it's awkward for a lot of women with a young baby who are bf'ing for the first time to attempt to do it in public: I know it was awkward for me at first. Now I don't care, I whip it out wherever I am LOL
This article made me angry. For one, the woman presented a birth certificate when asked, and for another, why would you ask a woman to do such a thing? It's incredibly rude!
United Press International - NewsTrack - Mom says border agent made her lactate
Well it's been a while again. I've been pretty busy. Sunday is my graduation, but I am too stressed to be excited LOL.
Our Thanksgiving was good, we were at the IL's. The day after Thanksgiving we drove up to New Hampshire with the IL's to visit DH's grandfather and his wife, Barbara. They are both really really nice.
Friday night my mom watched Brooke while DH and I went out to a bar with some friends. We had a blast! Then we were on our way to another bar when my mom asked us to come home so she could go out, so we invited everyone back to our place and hung out. It was nice to see our friends again, we are def going to do it again in the near future. After classes end, I will be able to go out with my friends a lot more, and I can't wait.
I still haven't heard anything from those nanny jobs, but I am still looking. I really want to get a Nanny job, it would be perfect because I could bring Brooke to work with me.
Saturday I am getting my hair cut and Brooke is getting her first hair cut! She is only getting her bangs trimmed, but that means she is growing up way to fast on me!! I don't even use the boppy pillow anymore, she's just too big for it!!!
Well, that's my update. I'm sure I had more to write about, but my brain is absolutely not functioning right now. All I can think about is how much work I have to get down, this is def the worst semester I've ever had. Ciao!
Here's an article on one family's experience with cloth diapers. After using disposable for 8 months before switching to cloth, I can personally say that I will never go back to disposables. Not only are cloth diapers healthier for Brooke and the environment, they are really cute, less expensive, they don't leak, and they don't smell as nearly as bad as disposables do!
delawareonline ¦ The News Journal ¦ Pin on a fashionable diaper
The News Journal/BOB HERBERT
Cherie Keenan of Wilmington changes her 1-year-old son, Liam, using a cloth diaper from his wardrobe of styles, patterns and fabrics. Keenan's son Gabriel McKenna, 11, watches from a safe distance.
Here's a great article on why CIO is bad!! I could never let Brooke CIO!
Bradenton Herald | 11/24/2005 | Ignoring crying babies a bad practice
When I read this article, all I could think was thank God we didn't have to worry about that! Dumb Nestle, this is why we boycott them, and I suggest other people do it too! Their buisness practices are about as ethical as the tobacco companies!!
domain-B : Indian business : companies : Nestle recalls baby milk in Europe
BBC NEWS | Europe | Baby milk scare widens in Europe
Italian authorities are seizing baby milk cartons across the country
Here's also a link with info on the Nestle boycott.
It's so nice to see that people who devote their time and energy into creating products that truly support breastfeeding are being acknowledged. Kudos to them.
The Udderly Yoursâ„¢ Breast Pillow Wins Second Consecutive Award For Outstanding Product
According to UNICEF in this article, if more mothers would breastfeed to at least 6 months, a total of 1.3 million lives could be saved. That's a lot of precious babies that could be saved just by breastfeeding.
CTV.ca | Breastfeeding saves lives of babies, UN says
Well, despite the ignorance the police man showed, at least this story had a good ending. Good for Kidney for introducing that bill.
United Press International - NewsTrack - Police warning outrages breastfeeding mom
Here's a nice article on the UN and how it has supported breastfeeding for the past 15 years. Since the UN has started its support, global breastfeeding has increased by 15%!
UNICEF and partners celebrate 15th anniversary of breastfeeding declaration
WebWire® | 15 Years After Innocenti Declaration, Breastfeeding Saving Six Million Lives Annually
Cool articles on how bf'ing lowers the risks of diabetes for mothers....among other things.
VOA News - Study: Breastfeeding Lowers Mother's Diabetes Risk
News - Increased Duration of Breastfeeding Associated With Decreased Risk of Diabetes
KELOLAND.COM: News, Weather and Sports for Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa
KELOLAND.COM: News, Weather and Sports for Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Minnesota and IowaKELOLAND.COM: News, Weather and Sports for Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa
The Nuture Center celebrates 5 years of helping moms to breastfeed.
The Nurture Center Celebrates Five Years Helping New Parents - Retail & Franch
Oh my, it's been so long since I've written in here. I've just been sooo busy with school. I'm absolutely swamped with work. I can't believe I only have 4 more weeks left, though. I'm excited and sad at the same time LOL.
Let's see....not much has been going on. I've just been doing school work. Brookie is doing wonderful, of course. She's growing up so fast, I can't believe it!! We bought her a toothbrush, and she loves it. She just has to brush her teeth whenever she sees Mommy or Daddy brushing their teeth, LOL. She's so cute! And she gives kisses now!! Whenever I say to her, "I love you" or "Can I have a kiss?" she really leans over and gives me one! I love it! Today she was a kissing machine, she was giving me kisses when I wasn't even asking, it was so cute!! However, Brooke recently has learned the fine art of the tantrum. This past weekend it was really bad. We went to the library, and the book store and both places we had to leave because she threw tantrums. The problem is that she is independent and wants to walk around, but she gets into things, so when we pick her up to carry her she throws a tantrum. But she's been better this week, thankfully. She is getting taller too, she now can reach things that she couldn't reach before, and she can now crawl up on the couch by herself. She also LOVES our new bed, and so do DH and I. It's nice having so much room with Brookie in the bed LOL!!
Hmmm....I think that is pretty much it. With all the school work lately, my life has been pretty boring LOL. Oh, I did apply for three jobs, but haven't heard anything yet. They are all nanny jobs, starting in January. I really want to get a job where I can bring Brooke with me, I'd hate to leave her in a daycare. I really hope I get a good nanny job, send good job vibes my way!!
Well, that's it. I'll try to update more often, but don't be surprised if you don't hear from me that often for the next four weeks. I can't wait to graduate!!!!! Ciao!!
I know I've posted a lot of articles on this topic before, but I think that if you are co sleeping its important to review the safety rules whenever possible.
This is a great way for people to help out the victims of the tsunami. I really respect these people for thinking of the mother's and how the mother's might need slings for carrying their babies.
Cool article on how AP parenting can lead to crunchiness....which I agree with ;o)
Attachment Parenting and Natural Living - Attachment Parenting
Well, babies and sleep seem to be in the news a lot lately. Here are some articles.
This article is especially interesting because it says that Dr. Ferber is changing his statements on CIO. I could never let Brooke cry it out, but I know some parents who do. However, these parents all have children over the age of 6 monhts. I think that letting a baby cry it out is horrible, but letting a young baby cry it out is barbaric and neglect.
Experts offer advice on getting babies to sleep
Here's another article on Dr. Ferber and his efforts to clarify his techniques.
Decades later, sleep doctor clarifies his theory - Nightly News with Brian Wil
And another article on babies and sleep.
ABC News: Desperate to Help Your Baby Fall Asleep?
Last one, LOL.
CTV.ca | Baby sleep experts changing their tune
Just a little article on the basics of AP parenting. It's nice that more and more people are getting to know what AP parenting is.
Very interesting article. I must say, I agree with the courts allowing her time because she is nursing her baby.
Article on how bf'ing can help fight celiac diesease (among other things).
Its nice to see people have more and more places to turn to for support while breastfeeding.
Here's a nice article describing one woman's determination to breastfeed despite it being condoned by family. One important thing for new mothers to know is that she knows what is best for her baby, not anyone else.
Baby Food and Nutrition: Breastfeeding Baby: Fight for your right to breastfee
This article really makes me angry. Especially the title. They should have said, drunk mother kills baby or alcohol leads to baby's death, but no. They had to write the title to cast shadows on breastfeeding @@
Wis. Mom Accused in Breast-Feeding Death - EarthLink - U.S. News
Well its been a while since I've posted, I've been really busy with schoolwork. Hmmm....Friday night we went over the IL's house to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
Saturday was a waste. The IL's came over and helped Jason move in our new queen sized bed, and I took Brooke out shopping and to eat lunch at Applebees so that she wouldn't get in the way. Well it took a lot longer than expected, and the only good thing about that day was that Jason's grandmother came over also, and I love her. We talked a lot about differences in parenting styles. I didn't get to do homework or anything, and we were too tired to do anything Saturday night.
Sunday I spent the whole day doing homework. I had a lot of papers due and got them all done in time, thankfully. Monday, however, I had to miss class in order to go to the library to do research on the paper that was due today.
Today was really boring. Just did homework, went to class, and came home.
Brooke is doing really good, she's so cute! When I came home she ran up to me and gave me a big hug and cuddled with me for half an hour....it was really nice.
Well, I'm actually going to try to get some decent sleep tonight. Ciao!
Excellent opinion piece on the view of the nipple in our society.
Editor's Opinion: Nipple strikes terror in American society - Opinions
I thought this article on co-sleeping was excellent! Very informative and positive!!
Wave bye-bye to the nursery - Monday, 11/07/05
I just thought that this article was very interesting to me because it is something I can totally relate to. I've had fellow classmates tell me how they feel sorry for me because I am tied down in marriage with a child@@. What they don't realize is that I love my life and I've never been happier.
Daily Nebraskan - UNL student now puts family ahead of classes
Neat article on how breastmilk helps prevent allergies.
24 Hours Vancouver - Lifestyle: Breastfeeding helps keep allergies at bay in babies
Cool, man ;o)
I am 59% Hippie.
I am not a child of the 60’s but my heart is true to the cause, man. I realize that being a hippie is not just bell bottoms and tie-dye. It is also about the drugs and smelling bad, too!
Take theMy precious baby fell asleep while I was nursing her and I couldn't help but take pictures. I can't even imagine my life before her, she's the best thing that has ever happened to me and I really do cherish these moments of quiet, relaxing nursing. I found the perfect poem to fit this moment:
Nursing a Toddler
by Janis Chrissikos
Sticky little chubby hands pull my shirt,
clearly it’s time to nurse.
Now I have blue yogurt on my white bra,
I know it could be worse!
She’s too busy for cuddles and kisses,
we nurse to keep us in touch.
She wants to be big like her big sister,
sometimes its just too much.
So up on Mama’s lap she climbs again,
for comfort and a snack.
I hold her close, sweet and soft as she rests,
glad my baby is back.
I watch as she acts so independent,
but nursing reminds me.
Not to hurry her to grow up too fast,
for time will still find me.
Friends try not to act surprised but all say,
“When will she ever wean?”
I smile, “Well, I guess when she has classes,
she can nurse in between!”
Well today was really boring. My witchcraft class last night was really cool, but I did find out that I have to do an extra 20 page paper in order to get the credits I need to graduate. Sigh, only 6 weeks left, and I'm getting excited. I ordered my cap and gown today and I can't wait to graduate.
Today I was bad and skipped class. I needed to work on some papers that are coming up as due and to clean the house. However, I got nothing done, thanks to Brooke being in a VERY needy mood. I have no problem devoting my time to her, but sometimes it does get frustrating when I can get nothing else done.
When Jason got home we went out to eat with my mom and then we went to the mall to buy his parents an anniversary present. Tomorrow is their anniversary, so we have to go over there to celebrate with them, but Jason promised me we would be there two hours max, because I have so much school work to do.
Well that's pretty much it. Brookie is still up and wanting to nurse now, so ciao!
This article only mentions breastfeeding in passing, but I still found it interesting.
Well, Monday was pretty boring. I just tried to get as much homework done as possible. Brookie was all boogery again, and still is. My cousin came over and then I went to class, which was actually pretty fun, probably because I'm a geek like that.
Today I took a mid-term exam, which I am pretty sure I did good in. I have to do a paper on Lichtenstein, which should be interesting LOL. Class was ok, I got home early and did homework. Brooke was really grumpy, I don't think she was feeling well. She actually fell asleep on the floor, clutching one of my shirts LOL! I took a pic and posted it, along with a pic of her and my cousin.
Well tomorrow is my witchcraft class, yay! I just finished a paper I have due tomorrow, and I have another one due Friday, one due Tuesday, and one due next Tuesday. Whew! Only seven more weeks left! Ciao!
Interesting results from a study done on breastfeeding and the transmission of Hepatitis C.
Studies Clarify Risk Factors For Mother-to-child Transmission Of Hepatitis C Virus
They should do this at my university. I hated having to pump in the bathroom...well, the room right before the bathroom, where the janitor's closet was located. I refused to pump in a stall. :o/
Well, the weekend was pretty good. Yesterday we dressed Brookie up in her costume and took her grocery shopping with us at BJ's. Everyone thought she was so cute!! Then we took her to see Helen (yay! I love Helen) and then the IL's. Thankfully, we didn't stay long. After that it was over to my aunt's, then our neighboors.
Today I just worked on my schoolwork. Jason took Brookie out to run errands so I could get some work done. I cooked fish for lunch and he watched her while I wrote my papers. Brookie was so cute! I was typing my paper at the computer when she walked up to me and looked at me. Then she went across the room, grabbed the boppy pillow, dragged it over to me, place it on my lap, then lifted her arms LOL. I guess she wanted to nurse! It was the cutest thing ever, she is so smart!! Her cold is a little worse, she was very boogery, but I am feeling better and so is Jason.
I finished both my papers and I am not relaxing before I go to bed. I also have to order my cap and gown, I was supossed to do it on Friday :ox! Ciao!!
Good news in Chandler, yay! We have a victory!!!
ick, ick, ick, I'm so sick, sick, sick.
Brookie is fine now. She pretty much slept through the night. I, on the other hand, got no sleep. I got the same cold that Jason and Brookie had, only 10x worse. Go figure.
I pretty much felt miserable all day.
The good thing is that Brooke was really good all day, and was pretty much happy playing on her own with her toys while I crashed on the couch with a box of tissues and some cough drops. When Jason got home he took over and gave her a bath and we watched a movie. Now Jason is in bed and I am getting ready to crash myself with Brooke. We will again sleep in her room, this time because otherwise I would be the one to keep Jason up all night.
Tomorrow there is a chance we might see the IL's. grrrr. I'm sick and the house it totally, and do I mean totally, trashed. I have a paper due monday, a test on tuesday, and another paper on wednesday, plus my regular school work. And at some point I have to dress Brookie up in her Halloween costume and take her somewhere for Halloween, but I have no clue what we're going to do yet. Sigh. What a time for me to get sick.
Brooke was acting very silly today, which kept me laughing despite my misery. I posted some pics I took of her. Yup, that is her walking around with a paper bag on her head, which she kept putting on her head herself. It was the funniest thing. She also kept running up to me and giving me kisses without me even asking for them, which made me feel really good. She even gave a kiss to Grandma and a bunch to Aunty Stacie, who ::gasp:: actually endured them LOL (although I did think I saw her wipe her face afterwards lol).
Tomorrow on top of cleaning, IL's and homework, and me still being sick, we also have to do some major grocery shopping. What a fun weekend I have in front of me @@.
Send me some get well vibes, and some no IL vibes while you are at it. Ciao!
Well Brookie was miserable all morning. I just tried my best to comfort her and make her feel better, which included a lot of cuddling. Thankfully, after Jason got home she was in a much better mood, despite the continued flow of boogers and coughs. I took some pics of her being a trooper, she didn't complain at all once Daddy was home LOL.
I could also tell that her throat was hurting her, so I gave in and let her have a popsicle, her first one. I think she liked it LOL. In the last pic you can see the boogies under her nose, poor baby.
Well she finally fell asleep, Jason is still sick and asleep.....and now I am also sick. I can feel it coming, my nose is a little runny and my throat is feeling a little sore. Oh well, it was bound to happen. Tomorrow the plan is to rent movies and just cuddle on the couch, I'm not going to bring Brooke to the halloween party when she is this sick.
I also emailed my prof about the exam and thankfully he was really cool and understanding and is letting me take it on tuesday. That is the one thing I love about Univ of Hartford, the prof's are really cool and laid back.
Well, off to bed. Brooke and I are sleeping in her room again so Jason can get some much needed sleep. Ciao!
Yet another example of corporate greed @@
Milkdudz vs. Hershey's...Going Beyond the "Sweet Tooth" This Halloween
I love this, it gave me a much needed laugh today!!
Here's the link to the article. Note the difference between the woman who was offended by the display and not ready to "discuss" it with her grandchild, and the open-minded parents who saw it as an oppurtunity to educate their 5 yr old on a natural and loving process.
BostonHerald.com - Local / Regional News: Vermont witch display sparks chest beating
Well, it's been a whole week since I last wrote in here. I've been swamped with work LOL. Hmm....let's see...
Thursday I ended up not going to class...I really can't remember why...I think it was b/c I couldn't find a babysitter? It didn't matter because I didn't miss the review for the mid term....the test was rescheduled for Thursday and the review was today.
Friday night we went to Jason's aunt's birthday party. It was really good to see some people that I haven't seen in a while, and my mom came also, since she is good friends with his aunt (Jason and I met at a family party she threw). Oh, also, on the way to the party, we were driving on the back roads in hick town, when all of a sudden a huge clyesdale (sp?) horse can running out into the road in front of my car!! I came soooo close to hitting him, it was a miracle I didn't! I swerved and we barely missed him, but it was so scary!! I hope his owners found him shortly after!
Saturday we were supossed to go to Jason's grandparent's, but that was cancelled because his grandmother wasn't feeling well. So instead we went to the mall. I bought a pair of shoes and some socks and we ate at TGIF's. It was pretty fun, and nice to get out with just the three of us.
Sunday we did a massive cleaning of the house and also worked on school work.
That is pretty much it for the week. I went to class last night, and then again today. I also went to my meeting to apply for my degree today, which went good. The ceremony is dec 4th, and I can't wait. Only 8 weeks left. It isn't ending soon enough.
Jason was sick and stayed home from work today. Boy, was he a grouch when I got home! He just kept snapping at me all night. I know it was cause he is sick, but it is still frustrating.
Lately I've been suffering from insomnia. I know it's because of my school schedule. I started staying up late to finish work, and now I can't get my body to go to sleep before 2 am. Brooke usually copies my sleep cycle, so now she is also up late with me, which I know it isn't good. Good thing we both sleep in now, till at least 10am, instead of 7 am like before. But I'm still tired alllll the time, so I drink a lot of coffee, and it keeps me up all night....and so the vicious cycle continues. I just keep thinking of how it is all going to end in 8 weeks, and my life will go back to normal.
I posted some random pics of Brooke that I took.
Well, I think I might finally be getting sleepy, so I'm off to try to get some sleep. Ciao!
Here's an article on the benefits of co-sleeping. Its written in the UK, so offers another culture's perspective and some great sources.
The effects of Chandler have spread to other towns in AZ. Here are two articles on Tucson, AZ.
Tucson to address public breastfeeding debate
Council asked to support right to nurse babies in public places | The Arizona
Here's a link to an article that updates the situation.
East Valley Tribune | Daily Arizona news for Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Mesa, S
Here's a link that has the lawyer's contact info in case you want your opinion heard.
Here's a link to a study on crib sleeping. Just click on the crib sleeping link to find the results. It's pretty interesting, and contrasts with the AAP's new recommendations on safe sleeping.
Here's an article that outlines the "disadvantages" of breastfeeding. It's a bunch of crock. I just had to address each reason personally.
If you can't breast feed here are some reasons not to feel guilty
Well I can't really comment on this one since I never bottle fed...but I can say, when I am nursing, I can not imagine anyone getting the same experience with a bottle.
Yes. And plenty of smokers don't develope lung cancer. It doesn't make smoking less dangerous.
This one is especially irritating to me. Jason is in no way excluded from a relationship with Brooke. He bonds with her in other ways. He gives her her dinner solids, and he also gives her her baths. He also has daddy-daughter play time every night. He doesn't feel left out at all. Also, we share equal responsibility in raising Brooke, as shown with him giving baths, etc. He also gets up with her at night and changes the same if not more amount of diapers that I do. I have witnessed many bottle fed babies whose fathers have no relationship with them and they leave the raising up to the mother. It has to do with the family choice in raising the child, not in how the child is fed.@@
Does this mean that a toddler with a bottle fed sibling is never jealous and challenging to the mother? How is the mother to feed the bottle fed infant in this situation? Bottle propping? @@ It's the same challenges for both bf'ing and bottle feeding situations.
I co sleep. I don't get up at all. Jason gets her and brings her to the bed, she latches on, and we all go back to sleep. Meanwhile, the mother of the bottle fed infant has to get up, prepare a bottle, feed the infant while up, and in the morning have to clean up the mess. If a bf'ing mother doesn't co sleep, she can always pump milk for the father to feed at night to share the responsibility. So, in actuality, the bf'ing mother gets more sleep.
Nothing is silly when it comes to providing the best for your infant's health.
I stopped wearing maternity bras a while back. And yes, I wear a bra to bed, like a lot of other women, whether they are bf'ing or not. And besides, the benefits are worth it.
As for the romantic part....my husband has no qualms about removing my bra....he's not lazy enough where me wearing a bra at night is going to deter him from romance, how ridiculous is that @@
With proper preparation, its not hard at all.
Bf'ing mothers candrink. Alcohol leaves the breast milk as soon as it leaves the blood system. If you are ok to drive, then bf'ing shouldn't be a problem. However, if you really are concerned, and still want to drink yourself silly, you can always feed your baby pumped milk. Or better yet, don't drink...it's not good for you anyways.
Of course, lets not mention the other benefits of bf'ing....lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer, lower risk of illness for the infant, etc. This article is ridiculous! @@
Well today is Wednesday...hump day....I couldn't go to school because I couldn't find a babysitter for Brooke. I am worried that tomorrow I might run into the same problem, when I really need to go to class because we are reviewing for a test on Tuesday.
Not much has been going on at all. Just homework and playing with Brooke. I have to work on a paper for a bit tonight and make sure I get it finished by Friday. I only have 9 more weeks of school, so the pressure is on LOL. Hopefully the time will pass quick, I can't wait to be out of school and not have to deal with the stress anymore.
Hmm....I really don't have anything to say LOL. This week has been pretty boring. I guess I better go work on my paper. Ciao!!
In a previous entry I mentioned that I heard the sponsors of the studies that led the AAP to recommend that babies sleep in cribs with pacifiers were companies of crib manufacturers, etc. Turns out I was basically right. Here's a compiled list of the companies, they either manufacture pacifiers and cribs or sell them. In fact, the day after the AAP announced their findings, Wal Mart sold out of pacifiers.
Here's an article that discusses the binky vs breast debate recently sparked by the new AAP guidelines.
Here's an interesting article that presents a different cultural perspective on strollers. I personally only use my stroller when it is absolutely necessary, and even then most of the time I am pushing around an empty stroller and carrying her in my other arm LOL.
African mothers see baby strollers as abhorrent fad / Tradition of carrying ch
Well here are the pics of the museum I promised. I also posted random pics of Brooke sleeping with my mom, in her high chair, getting ready for her bath, and getting into trouble LOL.
Well it rained here for 10 days straight, and the result was flooding. The governor called for a State of Emergency. Everywhere was flooded, we watched on the news people in rowboats in the towns next to us. We are lucky, we live on a hill, so we only got a little flooding in our basement. Because of the flooding we couldn't go to the IL's, and I don't think they were happy about that, but oh well tough.
On Friday Jason and I went to see the movie FlightPlan. It was really good, we both liked it. Saturday we did nothing b/c of the rain and flooding, Sunday was the same thing. Today I just read some schoolwork and then went to class, which was ok.
Brooke is so cute! She now says Hi, and she'll say Hi daddy or hi mommy whenever we say hi to her. When she gets upset she now asks for me too, it's adorable. She watches football with Jason, so now whenever she hears the word touchdown she throws her arms up in the air and makes the sound for touchdown, it is so adorable!! You can also see that she is understanding a lot more of what we say to her, like come here, time for a diaper change, bath time, etc.
So in the past two weeks I have lost 8 lbs. I really think it is because of the decrease in nursing, so now my body isn't hanging onto fat from food anymore to make as much milk as I was. I'm really excited, I'm winning the bet I have going with my mom on who could lose the most weight before November.
Well, that's pretty much it. I better go wake up Jason, both he and Brooke fell asleep on the couch LOL. Ciao!!
In this article, Dr. Sears speaks out against the new AAP recommendations for co sleeping (or not co sleeping, in this case).
"What we do disagree with is that the AAP continues to recommend against co-sleeping with a baby in the parents’ bed. In our experience and review of worldwide research, sleeping with a baby in the parents’ bed dramatically reduces the risk of SIDS. While the AAP policy doesn’t say co-sleeping causes SIDS, it says the risk of accidental suffocation of approximately 65 babies each year in a parent’s (which isn’t SIDS – it’s accidental death) warrants avoiding co-sleeping. What the AAP continues to ignore, however, is the fact that virtually all of the 2500 cases of SIDS each year in the U.S. occur in cribs..."
The AAP recently released a statement saying that babies should sleep by themselves in the crib, and they should sleep with pacifiers @@. Here's an article that disputes their research. BTW, I heard, but have not confirmed, that the "studies" performed that proved cribs were safer were funded by crib manufacturers. I don't know if this is true or not though.
"Contrary to even the recommendations of its own Section on Breastfeeding, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released an ill-advised and ill-informed statement from its Task Force on SIDS (1) (sudden infant death syndrome). Recommendations that advise against parent-infant bed-sharing and support the generic use of pacifiers imply a "truly astounding triumph of ethnocentric assumptions over common sense and medical research," according to Nancy Wight, M.D., president of The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. These controversies, and many more, will be addressed in the upcoming, new peer-reviewed journal Breastfeeding Medicine (www.liebertpub.com/bfm), the Official Journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine..."
This article is an interview of the woman whose baby appeared breastfeeding on a magazine cover, for which the editor was fired and the magazine pulled.
"The nursing mother whose photo was pulled from the cover of an Irving-owned newspaper says outdated attitudes prevent many moms from giving their babies the healthiest start possible...."
OMG what a weekend. Since Friday night, I was unable to get online until todaoy, due to our phones not working cause of the storms we got. I think I had internet withdrawals LOL.
So on Saturday we went to Boston. We visited Quincy Market and took Brooke to the Children's Museum. I did take pics, and will post them later. I'm just too tired to do it now.
Sunday we went to my cousin's house warming party. It was really fun, and I love what she did to her house. I can't wait till we get ours! I took pics of the party too, and will also post those later.
Because I couldn't get online I couldn't do most of my homework. Luckily I got an extention on the paper that was due yesterday. Monday night I went to class, which was interesting. We had a huge debate on wether stay at home moms should get paid to raise their children. I bet you can guess which side I was on. Tuesday I played hooky to work on my paper, and today class was cancelled because of the holiday. Tomorrow I go to one class, then its the weekend again, thank God. The house is trashed and I have a ton of homework to do LOL. ugh.
Well that's all for now. I'm falling asleep, it's bed time. Ciao!
The most ridiculous reason I've ever heard for a mother not to breastfeed is because she doesn't want her breasts to sag@@. First of all, pregnancy makes your breasts sag, not nursing. And second of all, even IF bf'ing made your breasts sag, so what? It's not about you anymore, it's about your child, isn't it? My breasts are working breasts, and if they were to sag because of nursing, which this article says isn't the case, then at least they would go out with a bang!!!
OOOO This makes me so mad!!! This is insane, nobody should have been upset over this cover, and the editor definatly should not have been fired! Lots of mags had covers that revealed much more of a woman's body than this cover! I would def write this magazine and tell them how outrageous this is!!
CBC New Brunswick - Irving news pulls breastfeeding cover, fires editor
Hmmm...this study makes me angry because it goes against every other study done that shows co-sleeping is safer as long as you follow certain precautions. I still believe in that. There is no reason to fear co sleeping, as long as you follow the guidelines, it is safer than crib sleeping.
I did hear that the study was conducted by crib manufacturers....
Newsday.com: Study: Cribs cut SIDS risk
Finally! The world makes sense once again! :o)
local6.com - Family - Harassing Breast-Feeding Mothers Could Lead To Fines
Interesting article about solid food myths. I especially like that they point out that cereal isn't as nutritious as once thought, and that table foods are fine. Brooke didn't start on solids until she was 6 months old, and didn't really become interested in them until recently.
article about how bf'ing can prevent SIDS
USATODAY.com - Breast-feeding, smoking prevention can stop SIDS
Well today was pretty much a boring day. Brooke was really cranky, so after her nap we brought a blanket and some toys outside and she played quietly in the yard while I got some homework done. When Stacie got home we went to Target, where I bought some groceries and a housewarming present for my cousin, whose party is on Sunday. When I got home I played with Brooke and she went to bed, and now I am thinking about doing more homework.
I've been really lazy with the housework lately, and boy does it show LOL. Oh well, there are more important things than have a spotless house. I'm sure I'll do some cleaning this weekend sometimes.
Well, I've got homework and laundry to do. Ciao!
Article and summary I found in the mothering magazine website...
The First Cut is the Deepest
Parents, child advocates and activists have rallied for years against circumcision, deeming it both unnecessary and unkind. A new article in the current issue of the Journal of Medical Ethics states that additionally, circumcision is ethically inappropriate and unlawful. According to authors M. Fox and M. Thomson, from the School of Law, Keele University, UK, "We conclude that it is ethically inappropriate to subject children—male or female—to the acknowledged risks of circumcision and contend that there is no compelling legal authority for the common view that male circumcision is lawful."
The article "A covenant with the status quo..." exposes circumcision proponents as "evangelists" and their continued commitment to mass circumcision "problematic in a number of
respects."
Increasingly, attention is being paid to the ethics surrounding routine circumcision—and to a child's human rights including that of self-determination. As a result, longstanding medical and cultural arguments favoring routine circumcision are being evidenced as moot or insignificant in comparison.
This is an Excellent article written about the political history of the battle between disposables and cloth diapers. It generally outlines what steps have been taking to reduce the use of disposables, and what dangers are inherent in their use.
This is a great aricle written by the editor of Mothering magazine, my favorite magazine. It's a really good article support breastfeeding in public.
Mothering Magazine Peggy O'Mara's Editorials on Natural Family Living
Check out what's going to be on Dr. Phil tomorrow. This ought to be interesting.....
Friday - October 7, 2005
Dr. Phil and his guests strike up heated conversations as they debate the latest hot topics. Should women give up their right to breast-feed their babies in public so other people don't feel uncomfortable? Will passing out condoms in schools prevent unwanted pregnancies or just send the message to kids that it's OK to have sex? And, is it acceptable for others to discipline your kids if they see them acting out in public, or should they just mind their own business? Dr. Phil weighs in on these controversial subjects.
Well, Brooke is now officially on cow's milk while I am in school. No more pumping for me, yay! I have noticed that she nurses more often when I'm around though, which is perfectly fine with me. She's getting so big! Today she was so cute, just walking around and laughing randomly. My mom was on the phone and she picked up on the other line and was babbling into the phone, it was so cute. Luckily my mom was talking to a friend and not a client LOL.
Well today I took a quiz and I don't think I did too hot. I hate this class, this professor goes on and on about nothing and then quizzes us on things we never discussed, grrrrr!!
When I got home we went out for Chinese food. Brooke is already in bed, and I am just doing homework.
Next week I am going to be going to the gym on the days that I go to school. Now that I don't have to worry about pumping, I'm going to go to school an hour early and use the gym there, which is free for me since I am a student. Hopefully I can then lose the last of this baby weight!
Well, time to get back to homework. Ciao!!
This site is really cool and very addictive. I've done the crimson room and the blue room, but can't figure out the viridian room. Enjoy!
Here's an article with links to some cloth diapering resources. My only regret with cloth diapering is that I didn't do it sooner, I waited until she was 8 months old.
Cloth diapering resources on the web - Blogging Baby - www.bloggingbaby.com _
Well, at least they wrote that it isn't a reason to stop bf'ing. @@
Breastfeeding difficulties may lead to dehydration in infants
Well on Sunday we didn't even leave the house, we just hung out all day. It was nice. I got a lot of homework and cleaning done, and we changed Brooke's crib over to a toddler bed. I took some pics, she absolutely loved it. She's a little young for it, but that point is moot since she sleep with us LOL. I just got sick of using the crib for storage and wanted to make it look nice. When she's around 15 months I will start to put her in it for naps.
Yesterday Brooke had her one year checkup. She now weighs 19.5 lbs, a full two pounds heavier from July. She is 29 inches tall. Doctor said she looks perfect, and to keep doing what I am doing. I love her new Ped, she bf'ed both her babies until at least 18 months, so she is very supportive of my bf'ing. Brooke also got two shot, poor baby. She def was not happy about that and was a little cranky for the rest of the day.
When I got back from school I found out that Brooke had drank 1.5 bags of ebm. So I guess my days of pumping aren't over yet. I think though that it might have been just that she wasn't feeling well because of the shots, so I still didn't pump. There are 1.5 bags in the freezer for today, but I'm going to tell my mom to try to avoid giving them to her. I really want her weaned off the ebm, especially since she is going so well with solids now.
Well, I have a quiz today and I have to study. Ciao!
::sigh:: I just love how they didn't think it was relevant to test formula. When I nurse Brooke to sleep, I always make sure she swallows when she pops off.
Here's an article discussing the importance of husband support when breastfeeding. I was lucky, Jason is extremely supportive, and definalty helped me get through the tought spots in nursing. I've heard horrible stories from women who aren't as lucky. :o(
Well this weekend has been great so far. Yesterday Jason went to a wake, and I stayed home with Brooke. We went to Target, where I picked Brooke up some new winter pajamas. We also window shopped at other stores that were in the same plaza. Then we went to Blockbuster where I rented The Rainmaker. I had just finished the book and wanted to see the movie. As usual, the book was 100 times better than the movie.
This morning we woke up early and went out to eat for breakfast, then we went to the Big E fair. I posted pics. We had such a blast! It was nice to get out again as a family, and Brooke definately had lots of fun. We just walked around, looking at the stores, and watched the horse shows for a while too.
When we got home Brooke was a little monster, running around and laughing. It was so cute. She got a kick out of me chasing her, and was laughing at everything LOL. Then I did some homework, and Jason fed her dinner and gave her a bath, then talked on the phone with his friend about football. When she saw she wasn't going to be getting any attention from him, she came crying to me LOL. I picked her up, held her, and sang "the ants go marching." By the time I finished the song, she was fast asleep.
This makes the fourth night in a row that she went to sleep without nursing.
It's such a bittersweet moment. Jason keeps telling me that this was expected, but I didn't expect it so soon. I still can't really tell if she is slowly weaning or just slowing down. She obviously doesn't nurse at night anymore, but she still nurses to nap and at least three times during the day, so I don't know. I guess we will just have to wait and see. I'm so happy that I don't have to pump anymore though, and so proud that she is able to take the lead on this one. She's growing up so fast!! :*)
Well that is pretty much it. Tomorrow I have a TON of cleaning and laundry to do, and also homework. I decided that by next week I will start working on my store again, that I should be able to handle it by then. However, if I start to get too stressed again, I will put it off for a little longer. I'm actually looking forward to sewing though, so that is a good sign.
Well, off to do more homework! Ciao!
This is a great article discussing toddler nursing. Although the article was written in Australia, many of the obstacles to toddler nursing described in Australia are also occuring here. It also compares the US to other countries in terms of breastfeeding rates.
The Australian: Price of premature weaning [October 01, 2005]
This article disscusses attachment parenting and the advantages it offers to both parents and children.
Here's a neat article discussing the growing popularity of cloth diapers and the advantages of using them. :o)
Baby Parenting: Hello cloth, good-bye disposables at Pregnancy & Baby
This article disusses the free formula gift bags that women receive at hospitals. These bags are unethical and can influence a mother to formula feed rather than breast feed.
For some reason, I am utterly exhausted. Class was so boring today, it was unbelievable.
When I got home, I found out that Brooke didn't have any expressed breast milk at all while I was gone! I am finally free from the pump!!!!! I still have three bags in the freezer that I will keep in there in case she changes her mind, but I am excited about not having to pump. When I got home, the first thing she did was nurse for a long time, which suited me fine. My little girl is growing up!!!
Jason's second cousin's father died on Tuesday, and the wake is tomorrow, the funeral on Saturday. We are going to the wake, but not the funeral. His second cousin is pregnant, which makes her father's death even more trajic. I hope the stress and grief that she is going through right now doesn't hurt the baby :o(.
Not much else is going on. Saturday we are going to the Big E fair, and then relaxing for the rest of the weekend. Well, I'm off to play with Brooke. Ciao!
This article interview an LC who teaches BF'ing classes. It also briefly mentions attachment parenting.
Short article on how the USBC is encouraging more women to breastfeed in the aftermath of hurricanes.
US Breastfeeding Committee Urges Support of Breastfeeding in Aftermath of Hurricanes
Brookie was in such a good mood today, but during the day she was back at her old nursing schedule. Actually, she nursed even more often then before. But I am pretty sure it is because she has her first cold, so she was nursing more out of comfort. By the time I left for class, she felt better. When I got home I learned that she had drank only one bottle of ebm, when she usually has three, so that shows that she might actually might be really slowing down with the breastmilk. I hope so, I hate pumping, and I'll be glad to be done with it.
My little girl is growing up so fast!! I can't believe how big she is getting! Jason keeps reminding me to stop calling her my baby, that she is a toddler now, but I always forget LOL. This morning she was an absolute chatter box, constantly babbling the whole time. It was really hard to leave her to go to class, especially when she started crying at the gate as I was leaving :o(.
She's up right now, playing with her Daddy. Her sleeping pattern has changed, instead of going to bed around 9, she takes a nap around 7 then stays up till 11 until we all go to bed. I'm not sure how I feel about this yet, sometimes I worry that she isn't getting enough sleep.
Well, Jason now needs the computer to do his homework. Gotta love it when both parents are in school LOL. Ciao!
Another article discussing the importance of breastfeeding.
Here's an article about the rise if optional c sections. Britney Spears opted for a C section because she didn't want to deal with labor pain@@. A lot of woman are uninformed and don't realize the risks that are involved with c sections, for both the mother and baby. C sections can also make the breastfeeding process start out with difficulty. Some women also aren't aware that the recovery period for c sections is more difficult than for a vaginal delivery.
'Optional' C-sections increasingly common - The Clarion-Ledger
This article makes me mad and is an example of injustice. However, I do feel that there must have been more to the story, as it was primarily written from the Mother's point of view.
:sigh: Yet another idiot writes another stupid article.
East Valley Tribune | Daily Arizona news for Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale
Well Brooke really didn't nurse often today, and she played again after dinner instead of nursing, but then nursed later on, so who knows.
Today we went to visit Jason's grandmother, whom I love dearly. I've never met a more down to earth person, I love talking to her. She's so open about my parenting style, even though it is the opposite of what she did as a parent. She always tells me to ignore any criticism, and that I'm doing a great job, and even though she doesn't understand everything I do as a mother, she knows that it must work because Brooke is so happy, healthy, etc.
We also ate at Friendly's, where Brooke made her very first scribble with a crayon. It was adorable! All day she has been in such a great mood, and right now she is happily running around like a maniac, playing with her father.
I finally feel like my life is starting to get back under control. Even though I am sick and have a runny nose and sore throat, I've never felt happier.
Well, I've still got a LOT of homework to do, so I best get started. Ciao!
Since I use cloth diapers on Brooke, I thought this article was interesting. Although it mostly focuses on the business aspect, it does go into the advantages of cloth diapers and how cloth diapers are being used more in the USA
This article is long but offers a different perspective on breastfeeding from a different culture. I found it interesting.
Well, it's happening. This morning, when Brooke woke up, she only nursed for 3 minutes for her morning nursing. Then, after breakfast, instead of wanting to nurse like usual, she played with Daddy instead. My little girl is growing up!! She still nurses frequently, but it is tapering off pretty quickly. I have a feeling within the next two weeks she will only be nursing at bedtime and nap times.
It's such a bittersweet moment. I'm happy because I will no longer be a slave to the pump, and that I will have my body back to myself, etc. But she's just growing up too fast on me LOL. I do, however, have a trememdous sense of pride knowing that she is taking the lead on this one, and I am not forcing her to wean. Child-led weaning is a wonderful thing.
Well, that's all. Brookie wants to play with her Mommy, and so that is what we are going to do.
Ciao!
I received this through email...it's crazy!! Please, write letters letting them know how wrong this is!!
copy of email:
Anne Veneman recently took over the post of the Executive
Director of the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF), but
has already made some startling changes to the organization. Veneman, who
was picked by President Bush for the position, has announced that UNICEF
will no longer provide legal assistance for governments in order to enact
the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes into national
legislation. Since the International Code was passed in 1981, UNICEF has
helped 64 countries legistlate some form of the Code, and 23 additional
countries now have similar laws pending. The withdrawl of UNICEF’s support
in this process seriously damages the ability of any further nations to pass
the International Code into law.
A lack of strong legal measures controlling the marketing of
breastmilk substitues puts infants and young children at risk and will
surely impede the achievement of the United Nations’ Millenium Development
Goal of reducing global infant mortality by two thirds by 2015. This
decision by Veneman clearly runs counter to UNICEF’s mandate of protecting
the health of infants and young children the world over.
Veneman’s action is all the more disheartening because of her
links to major food companies. Before becoming Seceratary of Agriculture
under George W. Bush, she served on the International Policy Council on
Agriculture, Food and Trade, a group funded in part by Nestle, the world’s
largest baby food manufacturer and the greatest single violator of the
International Code.
While many doubt that Veneman’s experience as a corporate lawyer
for major food companies qualified her to head UNICEF, unfortunately she has
already been appointed and the international community will have to do its
best to cooperate. This is a drastically important issue and urgent action
is needed. Please inform Veneman that cutting support for the International
Code is an absolutely unacceptable decision that will cost young lives.
Send your letters to:
aveneman@unicef.org
Well today was a really great day! We ended up going to Davis' Farmland Mega Maze, which is the largest maze in New England. It took us about 2.5 to 3 hours to get through the maze, and we took our time. Brooke had a lot of fun, she loved being in her wrap on my back the whole time. We also stopped a couple times to let her run around, which she liked. It was a really good maze, very challenging, and boy did we walk a lot! I posted pics.
After the maze we went out to eat and then we went to Target for a couple of food items. While we were there we decided to buy Brooke her own little chair, since we noticed that whenever her car seat is inside she uses it as a lounge chair LOL. She seems to like it, I posted pics of her in it. We also bought her a winter hat and gloves, and we bought Trina, Jason's cousin, a gift for her newborn baby, whom we are going to try to visit tomorrow. Then we just came home and hung out.
Brooke is getting so big! She can walk really fast now! And she is slowing down on nursing, too. Last night, after she ate her dinner, I went and sat on the couch and waited for her to come over to nurse, because she always nurses after dinner. But she didn't-she wanted to play with her Daddy instead. My little girl is growing up!! It was a bitter sweet moment. I'll be sad when she weans herself fully, but happy to have my body back to myself LOL.
Well that's pretty much it. I'm going to get some homework done before I go to bed, I have a busy day tomorrow. (nothing fun, just errands-yuck!). Ciao!
I know, I know, I've been MIA. I've just been so busy with school work, it's so frustrating.
Not much has been going on. Just school work. Here are some random pics of Brooke that I took.
Well I took Brooke last Friday to the Boston Children's Museum. She had so much fun!!! I can't believe how happy she was walking around and exploring. Jason and I also took her recently to Purgatory Chasm. She had a blast, I carried her on my back with the Ellaroo Wrap. After a while we let her down to explore and she had so much fun!
Not much else has been going on. The Big E is open and we are going to go soon, probably next weekend. Well I have a lot of homework to do, so ciao!
This is an interesting article about the burden on an economy caused by the high costs of infant formula....and just think, the perfect food for your baby, breastmilk, is FREE!
Cool article on how breastfeeding protects against infant mortality.
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2004/112-10/forum.html?section=children
Enduring benefits of breastfeeding. New research shows that breastfed babies enjoy greater protection against early death.
image credit: Photodisc
Here's an article on NIP written by a very ignorant woman.
Philadelphia Daily News | 09/19/2005 | Christine M. Flowers | LACTOSE-INTOLERANT
::bangs. head. against. wall.::
Obviously NIP bothers her. But instead of being mature about it, she chooses to not inform her client that the situation made her feel uncomfortable, and instead chose to bash her client in a news article. How lovely.
Maybe I should invite her into the bathroom during her lunch hour to talk it over....if she considers the bathroom sanitary enough for a baby to eat his or her food, it should be sanitary enough for her to eat her food, right?
Very cool article on nursing in public.
OnMilwaukee.com Kids & Family: Motherfest: Public breastfeeding, what's the big deal?
Here is the latest news from Chandler, AZ, the town that made public breastfeeding illegal.
East Valley Tribune | Daily Arizona news for Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale
Well I haven't written in almost a week. I am so swamped with school work, it is unbelievable. I also am dealing with a lot of things in my life right now, which is also taking up a lot of my time. Hopefully when I get my life back together I'll be able to post more again. I'm just going through a lot right now.
Brooke is wonderful. She now waves bye bye and points to DH when I ask her where Daddy is. I posted some random pics of her playing outside, being a sports fan, and getting hold of the toilet paper roll in the bathroom.
This is all I can post right now. I'll try to update more later in the week. Ciao.
Health News Article | Reuters.com
Mom's milk richer in fat, energy after one year Wed Sep 14, 2005 3:02 PM ET
By Anne Harding
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A new study shows that milk from mothers who have been breastfeeding their infants for more than a year is richer in fat and energy than milk from moms who have been breastfeeding for just a few months.
The study is the first to look at the nutritional value of breast milk after prolonged breastfeeding, Dr. Dror Mandel of Tel Aviv University in Israel told Reuters Health.
"It might be that because the infant is breastfed less times a day, the milk is more concentrated," he noted in an e-mail interview.
Mandel and colleagues compared milk from 27 women who had been nursing for two to six months and 34 mothers who had been nursing for 12 to 39 months.
They report, in the journal Pediatrics, that the average fat content of milk from the shorter-duration breastfeeding group was just over 7 percent, compared to about 11 percent from the longer-duration group. A liter of milk from the women breastfeeding for a shorter period of time contained about 740 calories, compared to 880 for the women who had been breastfeeding for a year or longer.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers exclusively breastfeed their infants up to six months of age, and that nursing for a year or more will give a baby the "full benefits of breastfeeding," which include cutting rates of illnesses such as ear infections and diarrhea and reducing the risk of childhood obesity.
However, Mandel and his colleagues note in their report that "the optimal duration of breastfeeding is unknown."
While one study suggested a link between extended breastfeeding and increased heart disease risk, "many objections have been raised against this accusation," the authors point out. It would be necessary to evaluate the types of fats contained in breast milk after a year of lactation before such a possibility can be raised, they add.
They also point out that, "at the present time, the officialpolicy of the American Academy of Pediatrics is not to put any limit on the duration of lactation."
"The results showed that the caloric contribution of breast milk to the infant diet is not negligible," Mandel added in comments to Reuters Health. "Hence, we can tell mothers that continue to breastfeed their infants that, from a caloric standpoint, their milk is of nutritional value."
SOURCE: Pediatrics, September 2005.
It's a little old, but it outlines nicely the dangers of infant formula.
Breastfeeding vs Bottlefeeding Journal Articles - Breast Feed
Well not much is going on. Monday we went to a cookout at the IL's, then I came home to do some school work. Today I couldn't find a sitter for Brooke, so Jason came home early from work so I could go to class. Class was ok. When I got home, Jason showed me that he cleaned the entire house, including our bedroom! He's such a sweetie!
Everytime I turn on the news I am saddened by all the lives disrupted by Katrina. So many people lost everything they have, and so many horrible things are happening down there. I heard that soon they are going to be moving survivors up here in MA, and I hope that I will be able to help out some how.
Well tomorrow I have class. I'm so stressed right now due to some things that are going on with my life. Hopefully I will be able to work them out soon, because if I can't, I'm going to go nuts.
Ciao.
If you are ever in an emergency with your baby, this site is helpful in that it teaches you to wear your baby using unconventional slings, such as a pair of jeans, a sweater, etc.
This article was printed in the National Geographic magazine in 2004. Nobody can't say that they weren't warned....
Well today was Brooke's second 1st birthday party. It was def a success!! She got soooo much stuff! All her toys/books/clothes were really cute and nice. And she was sooooo adorable in her outfit and bow! I posted the pics.
Afterwards we played poker and I lost.
Right now the house is a mess, Jason and I are exhausted, and Brooke is wide awake LOL. Tomorrow is the cookout at the IL's, but I'm not going. I have waaaayyy too much schoolwork to do, and I have to work on my business. Well, off to bed. Ciao!!
