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.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
it really is true
Well, tonight is the second night in a row that Brooke fell asleep without nursing. My little girl is just growing up way to fast. I don't know whether to laugh or cry :o(
school week finally over.
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!
article: LC and classes
This article interview an LC who teaches BF'ing classes. It also briefly mentions attachment parenting.
article: bf'ing in aftermath of hurricane
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
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Friday yet?
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!
article: babies were born to be breastfed
Another article discussing the importance of breastfeeding.
article: optional c sections
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
children taken away from bf'ing mother.
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.
another idiot
:sigh: Yet another idiot writes another stupid article.
East Valley Tribune | Daily Arizona news for Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale
Sunday, September 25, 2005
OK day
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!
article: return of cloth diapers
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
BF'ing as a cultural experience
This article is long but offers a different perspective on breastfeeding from a different culture. I found it interesting.
well, it's happening....
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!
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Action alert!! THIS IS NUTS!!
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
Day at Davis' Mega Maze
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!
Friday, September 23, 2005
update and pics
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!
article: formula costs a burden on economy.
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!
article: breastfeeding protects against death
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
article written by a very IGNORANT woman
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?
article: NIP, what's the big deal?
Very cool article on nursing in public.
OnMilwaukee.com Kids & Family: Motherfest: Public breastfeeding, what's the big deal?
Latest news from Chandler, AZ
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
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
ugh update
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.
breastmilk of prolonged nursing
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.
dangers of formula
It's a little old, but it outlines nicely the dangers of infant formula.
Breastfeeding vs Bottlefeeding Journal Articles - Breast Feed
Thursday, September 8, 2005
Tuesday, September 6, 2005
update
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.
embergency baby wearing
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.
it was foretold...
This article was printed in the National Geographic magazine in 2004. Nobody can't say that they weren't warned....
Sunday, September 4, 2005
brooke's second party
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!!
Saturday, September 3, 2005
very cool
If you go to this site you can watch an ultrasound of a baby breastfeeding. Very cool.
Ultrasound Research - Health Professionals - Women's and Children's Health Service Western Australia
catch up/brooke's bday
Well today was Brooke's first birthday party. It was a success, at least in my opinion. I posted pics of it. She got a lot of toys and clothes, some books and some shoes. We also picked up the new car seat today, I can't wait to see it installed. I just hope my car is big enough.
The carrot cake I made Brooke came out really good. Brooke looked so cute in the dress that I made her, and she was so well behaved!!
Not much else has been going on. Just school and getting ready for the party. I also helped, or tried to help, my cousin move into her new condo. It's such a nice home, I'm so jealous LOL ;oP! I've learned that I have to worker harder on my business before I open it up, but I've been thinking about selling natural soaps through wholesale. I have to talk to Jason about it more.
Well, it's late and I have a lot of cleaning up to do. Ciao!
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