Night Weaning: Why I Hope It Never Happens

Obviously it will happen at some point in time, but hopefully not until after Baby Bear is at least two years old. Here's why, Lactational Amenorrhea! It isn't fool proof, especially now that BB is 6 months old, but I never go longer than four hours during the day, or six hours at night without feeding him; I don't plan to for as long as I can help it. We have not yet started solids and I'm not going to give him juice or water when I can BF him, or give him BM in a cup.

We bedshare, which really makes the whole night feeding issue a non-issue. BB will start to get a little restless in his sleep, I barely wake up to put a breast in his face, he latches on and I don't really know what happens after that because I am already back to sleep.

Long story short, I'm not in any hurry to night wean because I get plently of sleep. It will happen in it's own non-stressful time.

WTF!? Wednesday. 9/28/11

Wtf Wednesday did not happen today. I was off in SF at the Picasso exhibit. Although, I could say Picasso, WTF?! A few of my favorites are Massacre in Corea, Cat Seizing a Bird, and a drawing of a family of entertainers. The mother was nursing her baby, and the baby was touching her face. Picasso, not always strange.

Off To See Picasso

So yesterday I typed up a post about keeping calm when all you want to do is throw your baby out the window. I went back to add a picture, and tweak some HTML.
I somehow got a whole bunch of extra code in there so I did some ctrl+z action, but I went too far. I tried to ctrl+y but it was too late. Blogger autosaved my long post into nothingness. I was incredibly pissed off, I'm still quite peeved, but all in all it was my own doing. Lesson learned.
I will now type up my posts on my computer and save them. Or in the note app on my phone.
I am presently in a car on my way to SF with my family to pick up an uncle and see the Picasso exhibit. I hope I brought enough diaper shells. Baby Bear massacred one before we even left town. I'm using grovia shells and biosoakers for this trip. I also hope I have enough biosoakers, I'd hate to have to buy disposables.
I'm looking forward to the fresh sea air, and hopefully some yummy food!

Today Has Been Aces

I won one of these awesome pendants from http://www.smartmomjewelry.com/ @teethingbling

Yesterday was a rough day. Baby Bear had vaccines on Wednesday, so he was insanely cranky yesterday (I was going insane, it sucks when you can't help). He cried, and I cried. ¡Que terrible!

On the upswing, today pretty much kicked ass.

Some awesome educational books I ordered from a door to door salesman arrived. My new ERGO arrived, along with a cool book about muscles in yoga. I won a twitter giveaway from @TeethingBling, AND when PB came home he brought Chinese food. PERFECT.

BB has gone on a nursing strike for today and I'm not sure why, maybe he doesn't trust me. He's been burying his face in my shirt and trying to latch onto my face pretty much all day, but when I put a boob in his face he arches his back and gets all fussy. However, I was able to get him to eat by changing his perspective (I flipped him upside down over my shoulder and that worked for a while).

{this moment} 9/23/11

Love My New ERGO Carrier

My family is heading to SF next week to see the Picasso exhibit so I wanted to get a carrier that everyone could/would wear. I've heard a lot of good things about the ERGO* carrier so we decided to get one.

I've had it for less than 30 minutes and I LOVE IT*! It was super easy for me to put on and adjust. I nursed Baby Bear in it and he is now asleep. Fan-fuggin-tastic! Also very easy for me to put him in the back carry position by myself.


*not a review, just my own opinions.

Nature's Perfect Baby Food

This Week’s Topic: Breastfeeding and the Environment

Do you think breastfeeding helps save the environment? Is it the “green” choice for feeding your child?

Breastfeeding isn't the "green" choice for me, it was the only choice. If your boobs can make milk, why wouldn't you use it? Seems like a waste not to.

I don't know that breastfeeding helps save the environment as much as it does not hurt the environment. I know that sounds like the same thing, but it isn't, at least not in my addled brain.

200+ years ago, there was no such thing as formula and breastfeeding was the only way to feed a baby. It isn't as if breastfeeding is some newfangled hippie dippy* idea; It's how you normally feed a baby. 200+ years ago women had each other to lean on and learn from. If someone REALLY** wasn't able to breastfeed (or they were too snobby), someone else could do it for them, a la wet nurse... or the baby would die. Now, we have formula. Formula was developed as a way to feed those babies that would otherwise die without it. It was never intended to replace breastfeeding.

Between a cranky feverish baby and my own decreased brain function I've lost my ability to have a point. I think my point was breastfeeding doesn't help the environment because it is natural and it is what you're supposed to do in the first place.*** It's all this newfangled prepackaged junk that we buy that harms the environment. But that is a tirade for another day.

*I don't think Hippies are dippy, Hippies are awesome.
** 2-5% of women may truly be unable to breastfeed. The rest, with proper education, help, and support could breastfeed if they wanted to. Unfortunately there are so many booby traps, that moms who fully intended to breastfeed and are able to end up formula feeding.
***This is not a poo-poo on FF moms. If FF moms lived over 200 years ago I'm sure they'd BF like champs but, the times they have a changed.

Double You Tea Eff

So, I didn't organize this very well at all but, what the hell, I'm still going to give it a shot.
WTF!? Wednesday is a go. It may run with a limp, but we'll see what happens.

My WTF!? Moment was yesterday. Baby Bear had his half birthday, six months old. Where the hell did the time go? Now all the "experts" say it's time to start solids and I'm just trying to catch my breath. How did this happen? I JUST had him! Wasn't I pregnant like, two weeks ago? Holy crap! This is madness.

I don't want him to start solids! His poo will be stinky! I want him to be my sweet smelling baby forever and ever!

This really snuck up on me. Luckily I still have some time as he can't sit up unassisted yet.

Smiley, Drooly, Baby Bear

Nighty Night, Sleep Tight

Go to sleep little bear...
I've been SUPER lucky that Baby Bear goes to sleep REALLY easily. We bedshare and I think that has pretty much [almost] everything to do with it.

He has [almost] always slept well, I did not. For the first four days home from the hospital I think I got 8 hours of sleep total. He would fall asleep on my chest on the couch and I would let him sleep, but I couldn't sleep because we were on the couch. He wouldn't sleep more than 10-20 minutes in the bassinet, but he would sleep for hours on my chest. At night we'd try to get him to sleep in the bassinet and we'd take turns walking him around the house. My mom would help with this too.

I also had the angelcare monitor all hooked up in the bassinet and that was kind of stressful to deal with as well.

The fourth day I finally hit the wall and I pretty much cried all day long. I was in pain, I was tired, and I didn't know what to do. PB had BB and I needed a sitz bath. While I was sitting in the sitz bath (a MAGICAL invention, I never wanted to get up, but that water doesn't stay warm forever) PB found the section in my Womanly Art of Breastfeeding book on co-sleeping. He made me read it and I agreed to try it that night.

I admit, I was terrified at first, but I eventually fell asleep and I slept for four entire hours. It was amazing, and I haven't looked back since. We returned the monitor later that week.

Today, It takes 45 minutes tops (and that is on a horrible night, which we have few of) to get BB to sleep. Tonight was silly. He nursed for a few seconds, then rolled over to PB, then rolled back to me and nursed, then rolled back to PB. He did this several times. Then he rolled onto him tummy and turned his head a whole bunch of times to get comfy. Then rolled around some more. I got up and put on a shirt so I could get on the computer, and when I turned around he had gotten himself completely sideways on the bed. Little Rascal.

I love bedsharing. I love being able to reach my baby without getting out of bed. I can touch his face to make sure his nose is not covered (which admit, I do frequently, but it is so EASY to do when he is within reach), and I can nurse him so easily. Now I get 8-10 hours of sleep at night. He gets restless a few times a night and I just give him a boob and he settles right back down. I barely wake up myself. It is awesome.

The best part about bedsharing isn't the sleeping, it is the waking up. BB and I wake up about the same time and there is nothing better than waking up to a baby with a huge smile on his face. Best. Thing. Ever.

Introducing WTF Wednesday

If this already exists, my bad, I thought of it earlier today and I thought it would be a cool thing to do. I know there is Wordless Wednesday, but I thought WTF Wednesday could be a lot of fun.

WTF Wednesday is pretty much about anything that made you think, "What. The. Fuck." It can be a funny WTF or an angry WTF. All that matters is that it made you think WTF, or some variation thereof.

9/21/11 is the first WTF Wednesday. Remember, you saw it here first (unless you've seen it somewhere else).

[9/21 Aww, it IS already a thing. sad panda. That's okay, you saw it here at some point in time!]

{this moment} 9/16/11

We Need A Special Doll For This?

The thing that annoys me about this doll is that it has a pacifier. It is a doll and therefore does not need to be pacified. Pacifiers are not always necessary and I believe that when they are used in the first few weeks of baby's life it can actually hurt the breastfeeding relationship. Time spent sucking on a pacifier is time that could be spent getting nutrition and building milk supply.

Back to the doll.

I suppose it is a good doll for someone who wasn't able to (or decided not to) breastfeed to get their child. The kid can't emulate the mother so this doll would do a good job. Besides that scenario I really don't see the point. They cost about a bajillion dollars and then there is the cost of batteries.

When my mom was feeding my little brother, I'd go get a doll, sit beside them, lift up my shirt and feed my baby too.

This doll is also only marketed to little girls. I know of a few little boys who feed stuffed animals and action figures and I think that is really cool and important as well. Little boys need a positive view of breastfeeding so that they will be supportive when they are older and have breastfeeding significant others.

Comments Kablooey

I just added Disqus for comments so older comments went kablooey and I don't know how to fix it. There weren't very many, so it isn't a HUGE deal. I was getting annoyed that I couldn't figure out how to reply to one certain comment instead of just making a new separate comment.

Testing, Testing, OW OW OW

I'm trying to fix my blog with a text cut whilst holding a cranky nuring baby in my lap. So far, not so good. Baby Bear keeps TWISTING my nipple.

Moment of truth, did this silly thing work or not? Please work. I don't want all that nipple twisting to have been for naught.

Poor, Poor, Harriet

How'd you like and angry one of these in your pants? Eh? No?
Photo from We For Aniamls

One day I'll hunker down and do my birth story, but today I'd like to talk to you about Episiotomies.

Episiotomies suck ass
In my birth plan I stated that I'd rather tear than have an episiotomy, but the four people staring at my vagina made an executive decision to do it anyway. My doctor cut me THREE times, PB was watching. It appeared that I was going to tear both ways, so I guess I'm thankful, but we'll never actually know how it would have happened. All we do know is that my vagina looks like it was mauled by a wolverine (a wolverine, not THE Wolverine), and that it may as well have not been stitched up for all the good it did.

I guess I'm just bitter. No one besides my significant other and Drs. are going to see it, right? Correct, but I see it and it looks fucked up. Yes, I look at my lady parts. I have a good relationship with Harriet (good name, right?) and since we're such good friends, I know when she doesn't look quite right. Now she needs reconstructive surgery. There's this hangy bit that gets caught up during coitus (too much Big Bang Theory) and then hurts for days after and a ton of scar tissue that made sex hell the first several times. All in all, I don't recommended episiotomies. DON'T HAVE ONE. Seriously. I can't believe Drs. have become so blasé about them. My mother says it is pure laziness. In Europe if your Dr. gives you an Episiotomy, they are a shitty Dr. Other than the mutilation of my crotchular area, I really liked my Dr. However, since she sliced into my taint, I'm not sure how I feel about her. Good thing I have time to mull it over before my next baby. That won't be for a good long while.

I used to joke that PB and I were going to practice fisting so the baby would just fly out. I now wish that I had been serious. It would have saved me a lot of pain. The nurse tried really hard to massage for me, but at that point there probably wasn't a whole lot that could be done. What I know now will aid me in the future. I'm getting a Doula and I won't let them put me on my back again. Hands and knees for the win!

Have you got an episiotomy horror story? Do tell!

Dear Baby Bear,

I love you Baby Bear.

I'm watching you now, trying to crawl. You've almost got the hang of it. You are very good at tipping over and getting right back into position. I hope you keep that attitude for the rest of your life.

You already set goals for yourself, and achieve them. Even if your goal is to somehow Jedi yourself to my tennis shoes so you can chew on the laces. You're pretty good at that one, keep it up kiddo.

I just want you to know, that no matter what I will love and accept you for who you are. I want you to grow up happy with who you are and know that your father and I will support you and your dreams.

The world isn't always a nice place. We will do our best to prepare you for that so you can handle it on your own. Just remember that you don't have to do it alone if you don't want to. As long as we're around, we will be here for you.

I'm holding you now, you got tired of being on the floor. How do those fingers taste? Now you're yelling at me. I think you're teething. This is all I'm going to be able to write isn't it?

Good Ole Fashioned Nip-Slip

Seriously, onion rings and cocktail sauce.

You should try it. Sooo yummy!

Image: fotographic1980
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

PB essentially got a promotion closer to home which is awesome. We went out to Red Robin for a celebratory meal (Man, I love onion rings and cocktail sauce). [I can hear my dad talking on Skype right now, I'm pretty sure he needs a hearing aid of some kind. I can hear both sides of the very loud conversation.]

So, after my mom finishes eating she wants me to hand over Baby Bear. After 20 minutes of playtime with the grandparents I get BB back so I decide it is time to nurse. I had the great idea to try to use my Baby K'tan like a Baby Bond Sash. Good idea in theory, but it needs some practice. It was too loose so BB pretty much just swiped it all aside and I flashed at least 7 people, though I don't think any of them actually noticed. Also, BB wasn't even really hungry, and the booths at Red Robin are entirely too small to nurse in, or I'm too short, it really wasn't working.

After the meal, I just went to the car ahead of everyone else and gave BB a snack before we all drove home. That worked out just fine. So, as a backup nursing spot, I use the car. I had thought about sitting in the waiting area at the front of the restaurant, but it was cold in there, so to the car I went. [Now my dad is trying to explain to the technologically challenged person on the other end of the line why their call keeps abruptly ending. It would be funny if it weren't so irritating, and if it didn't happen so often.]

Leading By Example

We live in a world where it is perfectly normal and okay to use breasts to sell just about everything under the sun. However, as soon as we use those breasts the way nature designed and intended people throw up their arms in disgust and have something to say about it. I for one don't give a rat's ass about anything they have to say. If it makes them uncomfortable, that is their problem. You don't want to see me breastfeeding my baby, turn your head in a different direction. It really is that simple.

Luckily I have not run into or noticed any opposition to my breastfeeding in public. I got a few weird looks once in the grocery store, when I was readjusting myself after finishing feeding Baby Bear, but to be fair I would have given myself a few second glances as well. The clip on my nursing tank got stuck and I was muttering to myself with my hand in my shirt. I'm sure it looked silly.

Out in the world I really don't have a favorite place to nurse. I just nurse wherever I feel comfortable, which is pretty much everywhere. And if I don't feel all that comfortable, I just do it anyway and pretend that I am. I want people to see that it is normal and doesn't really deserve a second glance. I want other breastfeeding moms that may have reservations to see me out there doing it and hopefully gain some confidence in themselves to do it where ever they may be.

I really can't think of anyplace that nursing a baby would be inappropriate. I can think of a lot of places where I'd rather nurse than have a pissed off and hungry baby. Funeral, wedding, restaurant, pretty much anywhere. I'd much rather be around a content nursing baby or small child than a screaming one. That would be part of my evil plan if anyone ever said anything to me in a restaurant or similar small place where they are stuck in the same space as me. I'd just unlatch BB and let the unhappy protests of a hungry baby do the talking for me for a minute.

I'm leading by example, and I encourage all nursing moms, veterans and newbies alike to do the same. Not feeling confident? Try it anyway, you might surprise yourself and you could inspire another mom to do the same.