Why Do I Breastfeed

I debated putting this on my personal blog. But, I realized something, and I thought it was something I would share here.

About a week and a half ago, I found that, despite my best efforts, and opposite of what I thought, I had not increased my supply quite enough for Grayson to be nourished by breastfeeding alone. His weight had not gone up in over a week and was starting go down. I was devastated as I learned I would need to add in at least two 2 ounce bottles a day to our feeding schedule. After a good cry, I realized, in the grand scheme of things, two bottles a day is not that much. He will still get mostly breast milk. When he is eating a lot of solids, I will probably be able to stop supplementing at all.

I am a co-owner of a group on babycenter for plus size, breastfeeding moms. The original group owner, someone I greatly admire, had a wonderful idea to do a weekly topic. This week, she chose why we breastfeed, or desire to breastfeed. I thought about it. I thought about my friend, Terrie, who nursed her children and I remember (and she probably doesn't) us going to a baby shower. A mom there stated she doesn't nurse her children. Terrie said to me later "I can't imagine, after having nursed five children, not nursing my child." That always stuck with me. And now, I know what she meant. I can not imagine, if I were capable, choosing to not nurse my child.
So many women give up by now. I got to thinking about that. I always knew I would breastfeed. In our "culture" (LDS) it is almost just assumed that a woman will nurse. I never thought I would do anything different. But, with my supply issues, I know that I am a rare person, who would continue this long, even with having to supplement. I listed a bunch of reasons, cheaper, health benefits for both mom and baby, to encourage others. But- this line that I typed without thinking, stuck with me.
I have to supplement, but this bond, the nourishment that only I can provide, those quiet feeding sessions alone in the dark with just the two of us, maybe this is why I keep going where others would have quit.
That is it. Right there. Nothing more and nothing less. If there was no difference between formula and breast milk, no cost difference, etc...for the reasons in that last statement alone, I would still breastfeed.
I am so grateful that I am able to give my lil man something. But I am more grateful for that bond. I love how he gets excited now when he knows he is about to nurse. Does he get excited for a bottle- yes. But it is different. The bottle is more his independence. He can basically hold it himself now. When he is about to nurse, his eyes light up, he looks up at me and smiles, even gives a little sigh. As he latches on, tugging at my breast, my shirt, or if we are in public, the cover, it is like he has a string attached to my heart that he is holding in his hand.

You Don't Have to CIO

I have some strong opinions, as I have mentioned. One of them involves a certain "technique" that has become quite popular to get babies to go to bed on their own and to sleep through the night. The Ferber Method, also known as Cry-It-Out, involves leaving your baby in a dark room in their crib and letting them cry until they fall asleep, only coming in once in a great while and maybe patting their belly or saying quiet words. This always felt cruel to me.
SO- for the longest time people have said you must either CIO or deal with it. I couldn't CIO so I dealt with it. We were fine. Grayson went to sleep pretty well most nights.
Then he hit four months and sure enough, he was one of the babies who got what is called the 4 Month Sleep Regression. He began fighting sleep more than normal. He woke 3-4 times a night. We wouldn't nap more then a few minutes here and there.
I knew in my heart CIO was not right for us so I set out in search of another way. We had to do something, we were losing our sanity.
I had heard about a book that was all about not having your child cry at all.
The No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley.
This book is excellent. It gives you several "techniques" to try so that you do not have to let you child CIO. She also is a co-sleeping, breastfeeding mom. WHICH I LOVE! We have semi-co-slept with Grayson since he was born. Currently, he starts in his bed and then when he wakes to eat (which is needed 1 time a night, the other times were just for comfort) he comes to bed with us. Mike returns him to his crib when he leaves for work so I do not have to worry about him rolling out of bed (we do not have a co-sleeper), or I will sleep with him on the couch (we have an L shaped sectional and I lay him on on leg of it next to me so he won't fall off).
SO, Day 1 was Saturday and we started by paying attention to if he got tired, etc. We put him down for naps IMMEDIATELY when he started to show he was tired. Then last night, amazingly, he went down to sleep by 8:30 pm with no fuss. He slept soundly until his 2 am feeding, then slept with us until his normal waking time at 7:30 am. He got in 2 extra hours of sleep then normal, only woke once and then today, took 3 naps with no problem. Tonight, he went down at 8:00 as easy as pie.
The only thing that saddens me- he doesn't want us to hold him before he falls asleep. He wants us to lay him down next to us on the couch and pat his tummy until he is almost asleep, then move him to his crib and pat his tummy some more as he drifts to sleep. This is so strange to me because I remember at one month he would only sleep if he was being held. I am a little saddened by this new independence he is showing.
SO- I just wanted to put out there for other moms, I know the pressure to CIO is great. Even pediatricians often tell moms to let their babies cry it out a little. As a mother, I could never leave my child alone in his crib in a dark room, crying, wondering why I was not responding to the only way he can communicate to me.
There are other options. This gal has several different things to try as nothing is "one-size-fits-all"
So- if you are needing a little sleep, or help getting your little one to sleep, I would strongly suggest this book.

International Babywearing Week Part 2

Did you think I would forget? Motherhood has kept me very busy this week as I have a son who is starting to teeth. YEP- 4 teeth that we can tell are starting to SLOWLY make their way up on the bottom of his mouth! Poor lil guy!

SO- as promised- some of the BENEFITS of wearing your baby!

1. Baby Cries Less- this is a proven fact that babies who are worn, cry less. Research shows they cry 43% less!!!!! Crying less makes them happier babies and also helps them grow! WOW!
2. BWing is good for Babies Mental Developement- WHAT????? How can such a small thing make a difference? Well- Babies spend more time in a "quiet, alert state" when carried/worn - the ideal state for learning. Their senses are stimulated while being carried (yet there is a place to retreat too). When carried, your baby sees the world from where you do, instead of the ceiling above his crib or people's knees from a stroller. And the extra stimulation benefits brain development.
3. Helps Baby's Emotional And Trust Developement- Babies who are worn are quickly able to develope a sense of security when needed. They learn to trust their care givers.
4. Makes Baby More Independent- Seems kind of ironic? I agree. But studies hae shown that babies who are worn become independent earlier. I need no more proof then the child mentioned in my first BWing post who is practically running at 11 months!
5. BWing Has Many Other benefits-I probably could have made a list every day on this- but here are a few of my favorites- help mom and baby bond when mom suffers from PPD, Help a mother increase her milk supply, help a baby develope faster (BWing is great for premies after they are old enough), teaches a baby about social interaction, promotes peace in cultures where BWing is common, and so much more. For more benefits you can visit THIS SITE. It is also a great place to find carriers.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL BABYWEARING WEEK!

If you are new to Babywearing, it can be overwhelming. There is more out there then those crotch dangling Bjorns and Un-safe Pouch slings.

CLICK HERE to go to a site that can list the best and most popular carriers, help you pick ones that will work for you and will let you know what to stay away from.

International Babywearing Week Part 1

I have found I have two real passions on my short journey (to date) of motherhood. Breastfeeding and BABYWEARING.
What is babywearing? Babywearing is an alternate way of carrying your baby then in a stroller or in their infant car seat (see my post about carriers below).
I love wearing my baby! And, since it is International Babywearing Week, I thought we could clear up some babywearing myths.

1. Babywearing is Expensive- not so! There are plenty of work from home moms who have reputable products. My personal favorite is Sleeping Baby Productions. Jan is a wonderful working from home mom who provides quality Ring Slings.
2. Babywearing is too complicated- UM- can be but can not be. A ring sling is VERY simple. You just throw it over your shoulder and put your baby in. The hardest part is the first 1-2 times when you have to get it adjusted to the right spot. Other carriers, such as Mei Tais are pretty simple once you do it a few times. The most complicated for me is the wrap- such as the Moby and Sleepy Wrap. I will be honest, I barely used the moby because of all the wrapping. That and it is HOT!
3. Babywearing is Dangerous- With the recent recall of the infantino pouch slings, and a rumor amongst Babywearers of another recall, it is understandable why people thing Babywearing would be dangerous. BUT IT IS NOT! As long as you have a SAFE carrier and are knowledgeable and aware it is COMPLETELY SAFE! The biggest one people worry about are slings. First- you need a sling that encourages the baby to be VERTICAL. The problem with the pouch slings is it encourages the baby to ride low and in a c-shape. Your baby's head should always be kissable when being worn. Also, you should always be aware of your baby's breathing. Make sure your carrier is safe for the age and ability of your baby. Also, people worry about the baby falling out. Most Mei Tais and SSCs are EXTREMELY SECURE. Slings are very secure as long as you are careful when turning and always hold your baby when you bend AT ALL!
4. Baby will never learn to walk if he is always carried- Mommy does not wear baby 24 hours a day. A babywearing mommy still does plenty of floor time, etc with their baby. I hope she doesn't mind me using her as an example but a babywearing mommy friend that often comments on my blog has a VERY active, walking, nearly running 11 month old. I have seen the videos on the blog.
5. Babywearing is IMPOSSIBLE if someone has a bad back- Both true and false. Someone with a bad back would not be able to wear something like a sling. HOWEVER, SSCs are great options for those with bad backs as it puts most of the baby's weight on your hips. Ergos and Becos are both great options. Both are having giveaways this week as well.
6. It is not possible with twins- There are several baby carriers that are made for twins. Moby Wraps are one that let you carry infants 2 at a time. Granted, as they get older, it will be less likely that one parent can wear both, but this is where taking turns or both parents wearing a baby comes in.
7. Babies who are worn have less social contact- While babywearing is something that helps moms control who has contact with their little ones (especially during flu season), it also puts baby at the same level as the mom. Rather than people looking down on the baby, many are at eye level- or close. The baby gets to interact with the mom, instead of people just talking over a stroller as the baby watches from below.

I hope this helped clear up some babywearing myths. My next post will be about the benefits of babywearing.

ERGO GIVEAWAY

SO- after my babywearing post I found that THIS SITE is giving away an ERGO!!!!
Go check it out! This is one of the most highly recommended carriers by babywearers.

Edited to add- the link is hit and miss so here is the site
www.breastfeedbabywearclothdiaper.com

My New Blog

So- I have found that I have become more and more opinionated and that I am not afraid to share these opinions. I have a hard time biting my tongue when I have something I just really want to say. SOOOOOO- because of this, I created a new blog that is specifically for me to share my opinions, ideas, etc. Some are whimsical and some are serious. If you would like to check it out you can HERE
I also did this so that I would not have to invade this blog- keeping it more "reader friendly."
Finally, I may use the new blog to share crafts, etc that I do. Although, I am not sure if that will happen yet.
Check it out if you would like, but I make no apologies for the opinions I express on it. It is a blog for me.

Babywearing Suggestions

I am not sure how many of you are familiar with baby wearing. Basically, it is an alternate way to carry your baby then in their infant car seat or in a stroller. The more in-depth explanation is it keeps the baby close to the parents, bonding them, and helping them grow in more of an "Attachment" Parenting environment. (I prefer the term Natural Parenting as my son is extremely independent even though I am more on the AP side of parenting then I ever thought possible.)
SO- YES, I wear my baby. We have a SBP ring sling. I LOVE this for shorter periods of time. I also have a (knock-off-brand) Mei Tai. I love the MT because it really helps spread the weight of my son and not just use one part of my back, etc. HOWEVER, I find that with the MT I feel it loosens up too much as I wear my son for longer periods of time. SO- I have started looking at SSCs (Soft-Structured-Carriers). The easiest way to describe them is MT with buckles instead of just ties. I am debating on an ERGO or a BECO. Has anybody tried either?
Also- I know a few of you use MTs often...any suggestions on using it.
I will say, the other issue we have is that G is short. Poor little guy. Almost all the carriers still hit him mid-face and he doesn't like that too much. He likes to see out. So, if anybody knows of carrier with a shorter body, please let me know.
(Some people may ask why I do not use a Baby Bjorn. First, I believe the best baby carriers promote the parent to wear their baby close- often times facing inward. Second, in the baby-wearing-world these types of carriers are known as crotch-danglers. They place a lot of pressure on your childs crotch and can interfere with hip growth. Are they better then nothing...sure, but they are not the right option for us.)
SO- tell me, what is your favorite carrier and what ones have you tried and what are the pros and cons.

This Just In...

Grayson has just learned he can roll from his back to his tummy. But he hates his tummy. OH- and he can't roll from his tummy to back yet. SO, it pretty much goes back to tummy, play for a few moments, scream and cry until I put him back on his back, back to tummy, play for a few moments, and so forth.


OH and I realized I didn't post his 4 month picture with the post, so here it is now.

If Daddy was Possessed G would...

Sorry it is sideways. I always forget I can not rotate a video from my camera.

Grayson- 4 months

On Monday- Grayson turned 4 months old!
Here are some stats:
My lil slow growing man weighed in at 12 lbs 5 oz on Monday.

Grayson is no where near interested in rolling all the way over. He rolls from side to side but mostly he scoots on his back. I can lay him down in one place and come back to him being 3 or 4 feet away from that spot. He can turn in circles on his back too. He will never do this in front of us though. We call him a shy scooter.
He is super talkative! He is pretty loud too. He has also has started singing along to the hymns at church (think Vigo Bolander as a baby).
He loves when Mike plays a little rough with him.
He laughs...but it is a pretty quiet laugh.
He loves watching us eat. Wondering if we are going to make it to 6 months before starting solids. I almost feel rude eating in front of him.
He is starting to sit a little. Problem is, he gets distracted by his feet right away and when he reaches for them, he topples over.
He is starting to recognize his name.
He loves having books read to him.
He is changing so fast. He is very willing to let me know he wants some time to play by himself. He doesn't hesitate to let us know when he is unhappy with the current activity we are trying to do with him either.
I wish he would SLOW DOWN a little bit. I just want to cherish this time.

A Day In the Life of Grayson!

I wake up at 7 am and eat. I get my diaper changed and then I go back to sleep.

I wake up around 9 am. If Mom is lucky- she comes in to me looking like this:

Mommy and I cuddle for a few minutes. She changes my diapey. Then she feeds me again! She wants me to grow big and strong!

OOPS- HAHA! Guess what mom- I need another new diapey! What have you been eating Mommy?

Mom still has not eaten so I either do this:

(tummy/floor time)

Or sometimes mommy lets me do this:

(watch Baby Einstein or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse)

while she eats.

Then Mommy plays with me some more. My favorite game is SUPER BABY!!!:

Boy, all that playing has tired me out so I take a nap.

I don't know what Mommy does when I am sleeping but when I wake up she is there. She comes and gets me from wherever I decided I would nap this time. I give her a big smile because I know what comes next!

FOOD!!!!! Mommy feeds me some more. Changes my diaper again.

Then Mommy reads to me. My favorite book right now is Dr Seuss's Fox In Socks

It is SOOOO FUNNY to hear Mommy try to say all those tongue twisters. The pictures in the books are so bright. I sometimes try and help Mommy turn pages.

YAY! It is time to play again! I LOVE play time. Then Mommy takes me for a walk. I LOVE to see the outdoors. I usually fall asleep before we get home but that is okay.

So, I nap, then wake and eat. I get my diaper changed again. Then usually Mommy has errands to run. So I get in the car seat. I used to hate my car seat but now I like it okay.

After we get home and I take a nap (which I probably started in the car), eat and get my diaper changed again, something wonderful happens....

DADDY COMES HOME!!!!!

I love playing with Daddy!

(Sometimes Daddy is so silly even I roll my eyes)

Daddy and I play and play! I stop every once in a while for Mommy to feed me.

Then we play some more.

After I play and eat and play some more, it is time for my bath! I LOVE bath time.

After my bath Daddy dries me off and gets me in my jammies.

Then Mommy and Daddy plays with me a little more and then we cuddle.

While I am falling asleep Mommy sings me "I Am A Child of God"

I am barely awake when they lay me down. It has been a long day! Tomorrow I will do it all again!

50 Years

It is hard to believe but my parents have been married for 50 years!
September 2nd was their 50th Wedding Anniversary. My sisters and I threw them an open house on the 3rd. It was simple but nice. A lot of people from the old 9th Ward came.
My sister Carma did up a quilt for them. It had a quote from each of us on what we have learned from mom and dad. It also had a few scriptures about family on it.
It was a wonderful evening.
I am so grateful for my parents. They are such good examples of a loving marriage. I am grateful for parents who have lived worthy lives that they may have an eternal marriage and family.

Sienna Visits

Each year, we try and either have Mike's niece, Sienna, here for a week or two or take her on a vacation. This year we stayed home with her since we are now a one income family.
After the family reunion we went up to Lewiston to pick up Sienna. We brought her down and enjoyed some time with her.
While Sienna was here we went to the park several days. It rained mid-week and then on Thursday we went to the zoo. It was a lot of fun. I did feel kind of bad for Sienna as she had to wait on two seperate occasions while I nursed Grayson...but she didn't complain at all.
On Friday, Mike was off work. The local Discovery Center was having FREE FRIDAYS! We knew it would be crazy busy but how can you pass on FREE? So we went. It was a lot of fun to learn about so many different things. After that we went across the River and ate lunch in the park. Mike and Sienna then did the paddle boats.
We went back on Saturday so that Mike's family could all get to see Grayson. It was a lot of fun having Sienna here.
I have pictures but seeing as I am playing some major catch up...I will have to add them later. Maybe in a slide show or something.

Just a Quick Update

So, for the record, I am working on posts regarding the following:
The Farrar Family Reunion
Sienna Visits
My Parents 50th Wedding Anniversary

BUT I wanted to give a quick update.

I have been able to go with out supplementation for the last week! WOOHOO! And, Grayson gained EXACTLY the 4 oz he needed to this last week to be "acceptable" weight gain. I started taking Shatavari (an herb mostly containing asparagus) and it probably DOUBLED my supply! The pediatrician has asked that I continue weighing Grayson once a week and if his weight gain gets to slow, that I add back in 2 oz of supplementation a day.
Grayson had his 4 month appt today- a little before 4 months but that is okay. He weighed in at 12 pounds even. He is in the 7th percentile for weight but only in the 5th for height. According to WIC he is in the 70th percentile for weight compared to other babies his height. (I liked that they did that when I was there last week because it made me feel better about his slow gain) The pediatrician said "He isn't the biggest guy on the block but he isn't the smallest either and that is okay."
He also got his second set of shots. He has been either sleeping, nursing, or cranky all day.

I will try and get my other posts done. We have been pretty busy with errands and miscellaneous stuff but hoping it will calm down for the fall.