Hippie Mom in a Preppy World

This post is double the length of my average post because I’ve been running late on getting it finished.  I am tentatively changing the title of the blog and will no longer using week counter so I don’t have to worry about skipping weeks. Don’t know if the title will stick, we’ll see…

It is my intent to continue updating at least weekly but life may happen.

This has been and interesting week and some change.

We got our first Fox family Yule tree, never thought that I would get excited about the little things until becoming a mother, lol

I like the fact that even though Shammy lost most of his hair he didn’t fully lose his fiercehawk, the shedding is starting to slow down and new hair is starting to grow so he never quite reached the bald stage.  In the meantime, I’ve had to adjust the rise in his one size cloth diapers to the medium setting, yay!

Shammy is the only baby that I’ve seen manage to be cute while doing something completely gross.  He spit up milk on his bib and as I was approaching to clean it up he picked up the bib, brought it to his mouth and suck it all up with a yum expression on his face.  I was laughing at the same time that I was saying “ewww!”, this baby doesn’t believe in waste.

On other amusing news, I decided to line dry the cloth diapers outside even though we were under a freeze watch due to a cold front.  Imagine waking up in the morning to find frozen cloth diapers.  I would have taken a picture but you really couldn’t tell.  The covers were fine because the dried before the temperature drop but the inserts were as stiff as cardboard, it was too funny.  Thankfully I didn’t have an urgent need so I was able to let them thaw and dry without resorting to the dryer.

A benefit of having pumped milk in the fridge is that when it look like Shammy was getting congested either from the weather or from the cold I was fighting I squirted a couple drops of breastmilk up his nose, he gave me a “what the hell?!” look, sneezed and all was cleared.  Way better than being unable to sleep worrying about your congested baby being able to sleep, I also use it for rashes and dry skin itch.  I swear breastmilk has outranked WD-40 and duct tape as most versatile fix it all lol.

Last week I attended my first paranormal investigation since I relocated to the Treasure Coast.  This involved me missing Shammy’s bedtime and being gone for most of the night.  My initial plan was to pack the breast pump and pump in the car like I did at Halloween Horror Nights but I misplaced the battery pack so instead I packed a manual breast pump, not the same!

I didn’t have much chance to pump and the manual pump is a pain in the rear so I was only able to express enough to give me some relief until I got home.  When I finally arrived home exhausted I was so engorged that I had to pump immediately, I pumped 13 ounces in one session and my breasts still felt full, wow.

So I haven’t had doubts about my milk supply but this output gives visual confirmation on how much I can produce in just a few hours.

Shammy and I had a horrible Doctors appointment for his 4 month checkup.  I don’t have private insurance so we couldn’t go to Dr. Punger without paying out of pocket which is not feasible since I’m not back in the workforce.

I made an appointment with the doctor that took care of Shammy when he was born since he took Medicaid and I at least had a notion about how he worked.  BAD IDEA!

He’s completely different outside of the hospital.  He’s a vaccination nazi and refuses to continue seeing Shammy if he’s not up to date on his shots.  He is against delaying vaccinations yet the doomsday scenario that he used to try to scare me into a bunch of needles right then and there is for a vaccine that hasn’t been in the CDC’s vaccine recommendations for years and back when it was the shot wasn’t administered until 2 years old. wtf?

He also bashed the WIC program and gave advice against AAP recommendations and is against home made baby food, and the list goes on.

I can deal with a closed minded old fashioned doctor that doesn’t keep up with changes in medical science, what I can not deal with is a doctor that comes in, tells you what to do and walks out without giving the opportunity to ask any questions.  I miss Dr. Punger so bad!  She knows that I always have a list of questions so she covers those first before she even examines Shammy.  She would spend 30 mins with us compared to Dr. Old Fashioned’s 3 mins.

Screw him, I can get the immunizations for free at the health department and I downloaded the CDC’s vaccine scheduler and things have worked out so beautifully that the catch-up schedule recommended by the CDC matches what we had decided to do.

Shammy is above the 90 percentile for head circumference and it’s not empty space, I was thrilled to see him apply his problem solving skills when he wanted a toy that was hooked to a bar on his gym.  He tugged on it once, saw that it didn’t budge so he turned it around to see how it was attached, traced the hook with his other hand to figure out how it works and unhooked it in less than a minute.  Yet he still forgets how to move the bib when it accidentally covers his face, lol.

I was fully set on following the AAP and WHO recommendations to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months but after much deliberation we have decided to slowly start introducing solids at just under 5 months or whenever we finally get a high chair, lol.

Shammy has been developmentally ready for solids for over a month now and his interest in food is so strong that I feel bad eating in front of him because he looks at me with puppy eyes begging for scraps.  The plan is to start with organic whole grain brown rice cereal, 1 tablespoon mixed with breastmilk and gradually build from there depending on how he likes it.  Then we’ll introduce vegetables once I get a Magic Bullet or food processor to puree the food.

I’m a strong supporter of Dr. Greene’s White Out movement and that is why I’m using brown rice cereal instead of the usual white.  They are empty calories and that is not the best taste to get used to first.  I credit this with my life long fixation with white flour products which are not the best, I wish I liked whole grains more but I simply don’t.  White bread, etc are comfort food for me.  This is also why I am starting vegetables first, I want Shammy to enjoy veggies before starting fruits.  I had been introduced to fruits first so I rejected vegetables and had to literally teach myself to like veggies as an adult and there’s still many kinds that I don’t eat.  All I want is for healthy eating to come more naturally for him.

Daddy thinks that Shammy is so interested in foods already that he’ll get hooked on solids and wean himself quickly.  I hope not but I do believe in child led weaning so I don’t plan to shove my nipple down his throat.

I’m proud to report that the CBS reported that accepted the 30 day cloth diaper challenge with her baby is a convert!

I have used most of the types of diapers in this video.

In news that make me want to bang my head against a wall.  Similac has decided that they don’t make enough millions on baby formula and now are marketing a formula for pregnant and breastfeeding moms.  Gotta make money out of breastfeeding too I guess.  This would be awesome in developing countries where nutrition is a challenge but I find no place for it in America where a healthy diet is easily available and products like these promote further junk food consumption knowing that baby is getting all the vitamins from the plastic bottle.

Most of the time I feel like the only mom that is able to successfully breastfeed exclusively beyond a couple of weeks.  If it wasn’t for the internet and La Leche League I may not have.  People need to understand that even though breastfeeding is natural it doesn’t always come naturally or easy.

It wasn’t so easy for me at the beginning.  I’m so glad (seriously… soooo glad!) that I kept at it and stuck it out. The reward has been enormous. I remember one time during the beginning where I had nipple pain and was thinking of ways on how to endure another nursing session. it got better. And better. And better. Now, I can’t wait for those moments to connect with my son.

My advice for new moms:  Promise yourself you won’t quit in the middle of the night. Everything is better in the morning. And really, give yourself and your baby at least 4-6 weeks before you quit, if at all possible. Most of the kinks are worked out after 6 weeks and then it truly does become natural and second nature.

I keep hearing from about 10 different moms “I saw a bunch of lactation consultants” upon further probing, none were IBCLC and most were not even certified in anything breastfeeding related!

Check credentials!  Look for IBCLC at the end of their name this stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, this means that this person has gone through extensive training and practice in human lactation.  When asking a doctor for breastfeeding advice look for FABM at the end of their name, this stands for a Fellow of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, and means that this physician has demonstrated advanced knowledge and skills in breastfeeding and lactation management (read between the lines: this doctor is not just giving “breast is best” lip service while handing out formula samples and undermining moms).

Like in every other field, there are some imposters.  If your “lactation specialist” in the hospital is judgmental or dismissive, grabs your boob without permission, hands out nipple shields like candy, or otherwises raises your finely-tuned mom’s instinct antennae, call your La Leche League group, friendly doula/midwife, or local breastfeeding boutique for the name of a good one that can visit you in the hospital.

The most common excuse that I hear for moms quitting or supplementing (which ultimately leads to quitting in most cases) is “I couldn’t make enough milk”.  Here’s the scoop:

4% of women can’t make enough milk
Most women I talk to who don’t breastfeed say that they didn’t have the supply needed to feed their child. I truly believe that is true, but the reason their supply was low was probably based on a bad latch, poor nutrition or bad milk supply management (all of which could be remedied with support, education and better birth policies at hospitals).

Let’s take a closer look:

–  Nutrition:

Did you know that there are certain foods that can lower your milk supply? Sage and peppermint are known for decreasing milk supply.  Love mint tea?  take it easy when nursing.

Do you get enough water? When I struggled briefly establishing my supply at first I discovered that I wasn’t drinking enough water.  I used to force myself to drink more water. I am now a water junkie. I now drink 5 to 6 16oz bottles of water everyday, minimum!  I am on an almost pure water diet (in terms of beverage). Water is amazing. I truly believe it is what gives me my supply. DRINK WATER!

Trust me on this, it is way easier to drink a glass of water at home than have to go to the store to buy formula.

What do you eat during the day? Protein, calories and nutrition are important. What you eat goes into your breastmilk. If you’re not eating enough to properly care for your own body, your milk will suffer. I admit that my diet is not always the best but I do make an effort to add nutritional content for Shammy’s benefit.

– Hormones:

Did you go straight onto hormonal birth control? Did you know that it can decrease your milk supply?  There are ways to be on birth control without compromising your supply.  Plus if you breastfeed exclusively during the first 6 months the chances of becoming pregnant during that period are less than 3%, comparable to most birth control pills.

– Your baby’s latch:

Most LD Nurses and I hate to say it, Lactation Consultants aren’t very helpful when it comes to breastfeeding. That being said, some are great! If you get a good one, you will learn to properly get your baby to latch at the hospital. Some women leave the hospital with sore nipples, a starving baby and stress. I highly recommend all new mothers read as many breastfeeding books as possible before birth, talk to friends, mothers, sisters, aunts, etc. Once the baby is born, go to a breastfeeding support group, LLL meeting, have friends come over and pick up the phone. Breastfeeding is not always natural. I cried and cried while my nipples hurt. I used my first few weeks with baby to learn how to breastfeed. It took work, courage, late nights and lots of patience. By the end of 6 weeks, I was well on my way to success. Now at almost 5 months old, I’ll whip it out in public and nurse that baby…. though you’re not likely to see any boob, I’m pretty inconspicuous.

I leave you with some holiday cheer:

On the first day of Christmas
There stood before me,
A mother wanting to breastfeed!

On the second day of Christmas
There stood before me,
Two doula/midwives,
And a mother wanting to breastfeed!

On the third day of Christmas,
There stood before me,
Three support groups,
Two doula/midwives,
And a mother wanting to breastfeed!

On the fourth day of Christmas,
There stood before me,
Four (FABM) MDs,
Three support groups,
Two doula/midwives,
And a mother wanting to breastfeed!

On the fifth day of Christmas
There stood before me,
Five Baby-Friendly Hospitals,
Four (FABM) MDs,
Three support groups,
Two doula/midwives,
And a mother wanting to breastfeed!

On the sixth day of Christmas,
There stood before me,
Six great IBCLCs,
Five Baby-Friendly Hospitals,
Four (FABM) MDs,
Three support groups,
Two doula/midwives,
And a mother wanting to breastfeed!

On the seventh day of Christmas
There stood before me,
Seven partners protecting,
Six great IBCLCs,
Five Baby-Friendly Hospitals,
Four (FABM) MDs,
Three support groups,
Two doula/midwives,
And a mother wanting to breastfeed!

On the eighth day of Christmas
There stood before me,
Eight friends a-helping,
Seven partners protecting,
Six great IBCLCs,
Five Baby-Friendly Hospitals,
Four (FABM) MDs,
Three support groups,  
Continued

Two doula/midwives,
And a mother wanting to breastfeed!

On the ninth day of Christmas
There stood before me,
Nine celebs a-nursing,
Eight friends a-helping,
Seven partners protecting,
Six great IBCLCs,
Five Baby-Friendly Hospitals,
Four (FABM) MDs,
Three support groups,
Two doula/midwives,
And a mother wanting to breastfeed!

On the tenth day of Christmas,
There stood before me,
Ten nursing nooks,
Nine celebs a-nursing,
Eight friends a-helping,
Seven partners protecting,
Six great IBCLCs,
Five Baby-Friendly Hospitals,
Four (FABM) MDs,
Three support groups,
Two doula/midwives,
And a mother wanting to breastfeed!

On the eleventh day of Christmas
There stood before me,
Eleven strangers cheering,
Ten nursing nooks,
Nine celebs a-nursing,
Eight friends a-helping,
Seven partners protecting,
Six great IBCLCs,
Five Baby-Friendly Hospitals,
Four FABM MDs,
Three support groups,
Two doula/midwives,
And a mother wanting to breastfeed!

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
There stood before me,
Twelve supportive employers,
Eleven strangers cheering,
Ten nursing nooks,
Nine celebs a-nursing,
Eight friends a-helping,
Seven partners protecting,
Six great IBCLCs,
Five Baby-Friendly Hospitals,
Four (FABM) MDs,
Three support groups,
Two doula/midwives,
And a mother wanting to breastfeed!