I HATE

Mastitis.

I'll leave it at that.
Ouch. Double friggin ouch.

Top 10 Attachment Parenting Challenges

This put a smile on my face. :)
Here's to all you fellow AP moms & dads.
Enjoy!

By Caity McCardell

Being a parent who labels herself an Attachment Parent (AP), I follow Dr. Sears' prescription: Wear your baby, sleep with your baby, nurse your baby, and tend to your baby - for as long as they want you to. This parenting style goes against modern Western tradition, which includes letting a baby "cry it out," weaning from nursing or not nursing at all, having baby sleep in a crib, and leaving baby alone in a playpen. I love my choice to parent with intuition and connection, but it comes with its trials. Following are ten AP challenges I've encountered so far… 10. Trying to explain how a baby carried in a sling will, indeed, learn how to crawl, walk, dance just like babies in strollers. 9. Feeling something's wrong when there's no one attached to my boob. 8. The Questions. On top of vegan-related questions ("is it really healthy to raise her vegan?"), people just naturally have questions about AP practices. "When are you going to wean her?" "When will you put her in her own bed?" "When are you going to put her down?" I should design a t-shirt that simply says, "When the baby wants to." 7. Public Displays of Boob (PDB). Nursing while grocery shopping, baby gets distracted, resulting in PDB. 6. Waking up shivering with half my body off the bed, next to baby and husband both splayed out with arms and legs outstretched, like sleeping jumping jacks. 5. AP Competition. "I've been wearing John for five days straight, nursing the equivalent of 20 gallons of milk and have mastered the art of changing his diaper in the sling!" "Ha! That's nothing! I just hiked Mount Shasta with Suzie in the sling, nursing her the whole way while dictating my book about the pros and cons of co-sleeping." 4. AP terminology. I'm not really "attached" to by baby; she nurses before she needs to "demand" it; and "co-sleeping" just sounds so academic. 3. Those fleeting feelings of doubt about this parenting style. Could she really crush me in my sleep? What if she doesn't wean until she leaves for college? Can I still call her vegan even though she drinks milk? What if after all this work she hates me? 2. Trying to convince my husband that I do really need a blue sling to match my blue dress… and a slick black sling to go to that wedding… and a white sling for summer… 1. And the Number 1 Challenge About Attachment Parenting. Those times when I feel so… well… detached.

NOT America's Favorite Neighbor

The neighborhood Bar & Grill hasn't been so neighborly.


If companies want to market for families to come & eat at their restaurants, provide children's menus, etc, then they better stop bugging mothers to STOP feeding their babies.

Applebee’s Cooking Up Breastfeeding Trouble

Sheesh. GET OVER IT, people.

And NO, keeping blankets on hand for nursing mothers is not a solution. Letting them nurse discretely without being badgered is the solution.

*Cringe* ....."Kids who are a little too attached."

As much as I support & even encourage breastfeeding, this makes me cringe.

I know there are health benefits and all, but this girl is going on EIGHT. EIGHT!

Am I just warped to think this is ridiculous?

Maybe it's not. Maybe it's as wonderful as the mother says in the clip. Maybe I'm speaking from the societal view.

Or maybe that is a bit strange and too old...

Don't Mess with Momma!

They say don't mess with Texas, I say Don't Mess with Momma!
The momma being me. Grrr........(hear me growl?)

Sunday was a rainy day so we went to the mall to get out of the house. Aidan loves the play area there, and near the play area is a wonderful family lounge. The family lounge has a family bathroom in it, 3 perfect nursing stations (w/ comfy chairs, magazines, etc), built in diaper changing stations, a bottle warmer, multiple sinks, a TV, and toys for kids. It's a great place. Several times now I've taken advantage, going into one of the nursing rooms with Brennan. There's a curtain to close for privacy, and it's very cosy. I've never had any problems.

Until Sunday.

I had been nursing Brennan for some time, and he was almost asleep. I overheard a group of teeny-boppers come into the room (loudly). They were messing with some of the toys, making a few wisecracks, etc. I rolled my eyes, thinking to myself "thank God I'm well past puberty and not a teenager any more!". Those kids were too old to be in there (as they had no reason to be in there), but I knew they'd be out soon.
Then I heard a ton of giggling and one girl say "are those shower stalls?!", and her friend replied, "no, they're for breastfeeding!". Followed by a lot of [immature] giggling. Then a big hush came over the room. I thought the nimrods moved on about their teeny-bopper trip to the mall, you know, until their parents had to pick them back up.

So I'm nursing Brennan and his eyes are closed, almost fully asleep. I was planning to put him in the sling and go meet up with hubby and Aidan. Suddenly one of those teeny-boppers runs and thrashes open my nursing curtain, then runs off for dear life.

I was pissed. Totally pissed.

The rudeness of the youth today...and yes, I know I sound like some AARP senior citizen, but it's true. I am so sick of seeing this aged-person tramping around in public wearing clothes with foul expressions and thinking that the world owes them everything. (and where are their parents?!)

Fortunately this little missy wore bright pink leggings. You couldn't miss them. And I didn't.

I latched Brennan off and got myself together and stormed out of there.
Here I was trying to be discreet and respectful of others by not nursing in the open. I came into a specific place designated for breastfeeding. I belonged there without interruption.

So I found the moronic girl who thought she was so cool. I first handed hubby the baby, then said I'd be back. I found the girl with her friends, and asked her if she was in the family lounge. She stared blankly and said a weak "yes".

I asked, "were you the one who YANKED on the curtain while I was nursing my baby?!"

Girl "yea..."

Me: "well, I was in there nursing my BABY, my 4 month old tiny baby whom I could've dropped being startled by you YANKING on the curtain like that! A BABY. I was breastfeeding him in there and he could've gotten hurt!"

Girl "I'm sorry...my friend said he'd be in there" (total lie)

Me: " oh really?! Is your friend BREASTFEEDING?!"

Girl: "no..."

ME: "didn't think so. Maybe you should come to the mall with your PARENTS if you can't handle being mature enough to come on your own! UNSUPERVISED!"

I went on to add, "Look, I'm not a bitch, but you had no business doing that".

Girl: "I'm really sorry..."

I thanked her for her apology, her laughing friends went off giggling, and I headed to fill hubby in on why I lost my cool.

Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. Before being a mom, I don't think I would have. But I am a mom. I was taking care of my baby.

It felt good to give her a piece of my mind. I felt slightly bad, but I not that bad. (lol) Think I was wrong?

That's a LOT of Breastmilk!

3,608 mothers breast-feed at same time

101 Reasons to Breastfeed Your Child

Recognizing articles of note here... (possibly more for my own sake at the moment than yours)

101 Reasons to Breastfeed Your Child

Gripe Water-Quick!

I am determined to help my littlest man with those gas pains. I don't say he's colicky-my first was, and I know the difference. But Brennan definitely has some gas pains, and you can see the pain in his face. :( Poor baby.

Parents have suggested Gripe Water. There are a few brands out there. Anyone have personal experience with Gripe Water?
I can purchase the Baby Bliss brand close to our home. The ColicEase one I'd have to order online, which means waiting on the shipping. HOWEVER, ColicEase is a slightly different formula.
Anyone care to give me some feedback? Opinions? Please? :)

Since it's on my mind...

I thought I'd post some cool breastfeeding facts. :)

In the beginning it's hard not to get discouraged with breastfeeding. It's not easy, that's for sure.
So I am trying to keep myself motivated & encouraged. Reading facts like the ones following seem to help. :)

Feel free to leave me a comment if you have anything else to add!

Did you know....
1.Human milk has over 300 ingredients, including interferon, white blood cells, antibacterial and antiviral agents, while formula has only 40 ingredients.

2.Human milk has been shown to kill cancer cells in a laboratory dish and has been used in oncology.

3. The human breast "custom-makes" antibodies to fight whatever pathogen the infant is exposed to in the environment.

4. Breast milk has been used to treat eye infections, ear infections, pimples, cold sores, and nail fungus and prevent infection in scrapes and scratches.

5. In some parts of the world, donated organs are bathed in breast milk for the protective factors.

6. There were 22 "significant" recalls of formula for potentially life-threatening situations.

7. Human milk lactoferrin is patented for use in killing E. Coli in the meat packing industry.

8. Donor milk is being used to treat malabsorption and short-gut syndromes, renal failure, inborn errors of metabolism, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, immunodeficiency diseases, burn cases, cardiac problems, and infectious diseases such as intractable diarrhea, gastroenteritis, infantile botulism, sepsis, pneumonia, and hemorrhagic conjuctivitis in both children and adults.

9. Adoptive moms, grandmothers, and yes, even men (!) have been able to lactate for an infant.
Source

Another Reason Breast is Best

UPDATED: What perfect timing! I was reading my new issue of Faith & Family magazine today. They had a baby product guide, and lo' & behold there was mention of the problems with plastic baby bottles. They recommend bottles by Born Free. They offer both plastic and glass, both being made without Bisphenol-A.
Great news, right?

So even though I plan, as many of you do, to nurse as exclusively as possible, I wanted to share with you what I just learned. I'm sure there are instances we rely on baby bottles, even if we'd rather not. (you know, kidney stones and such...lol) So check out their site-they also offer cups and other products. Supposedly they're available at Whole Foods and Babies R Us. I have yet to see them, but I'll be looking.

I was just so excited to read something of an entirely different source on this in a separate material, on the same day. Coincidental.
I was reading our newspaper this morning when the article about plastic baby bottles containing toxic chemicals caught my eye:

Independent tests done for The Chronicle and
reported in November found bisphenol A, a chemical that mimics estrogen, in a
baby bottle...Then, in late February, Environment California, an advocacy group,
released a report titled "Toxic Baby Bottles" that drew intense national media
coverage.

When heated, five of the most popular brands of polycarbonate --
the clear, shatterproof plastic used in baby bottles -- leached bisphenol A at
levels that have been found to cause harm in laboratory animals, Environment
California found.

Even at low levels, bisphenol A has been linked to
abnormalities in the mammary and prostate glands and the eggs of
laboratory animals, scientists say. Animal tests also show bisphenol A can speed
up puberty and add to weight gain, and may cause changes that can lead to breast and prostate cancer.

Scary facts. Not surprising, I suppose. Definite encouragement to breastfeed as exclusively as possible (which many don't realize means not pumping and feeding the baby breastmilk from a bottle). I hope nursing this new baby will go well and that I can remain patient enough to last through it for at least a year.
Another sacrifice us moms make for the best interest of our babies. Such a good, worthwhile sacrifice with endless benefits.

I don't buy it

No Link Between Breastfeeding and Baby's Intelligence

Breast-feeding reduces anxiety into childhood

Years after being weaned, breast-fed children cope better with stressful
situations like their parents' divorce than their bottle-fed peers, researchers
said on Thursday.
Research has shown breast-feeding reduces infections, respiratory illness
and diarrhea in the child and cuts the risk of after-birth bleeding in the
mother.
In an observation study published in the journal Archives of Disease in
Childhood, Montgomery and his team studied how breast- and bottle-fed
10-year-olds coped with the stress of their parents' marital problems.
"The more we look at breast-feeding, the more benefits we see. As this is
something that is, in evolutionary terms, normal it is likely to be important in
normal human development," Montgomery said.

This especially made an impact on me, "As this is something that is, in evolutionary terms, normal it is likely to be important in normal human development".
I know this sounds judgmental, but I'm writing it anyway. Given all the positive facts about breastfeeding, I can't understand why a mother wouldn't at least TRY it. Parents want what's best for their babies. We try to do what's best. Then why wouldn't we at least TRY breastfeeding? For the sake of our babies?
To read the article in full, click here.

Nursing May Lower Mom's Diabetes Risk

Another great reason to breastfeed! (for both mom and baby)
Read the article here.

Breastfeeding Witch

While I do like to advocate breastfeeding, I admit I think this is a bit of a stretch for a Halloween decoration!

Click here to see the breastfeeding witch.