Sweet, Sweet Freedom!!

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week starting Aug 1, I wanted to do this update on our bf-ing situation. 

http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/

I have been trying for awhile to get Liam off the nipple shield. I honestly was getting concerned that we would never be free of it. I did some research and came up with some ideas on how to try a natural latch whilst trying to wean off the shield. I'm excited to say that today we have been nursing without it!! I can honestly say that my bond with Liam feels totally different now, and so freaking amazing!! I'm not sure if it is a different hormone that was released or if it's all in my head. But whatever it is, I am so grateful!! Obviously I was already bonded with my little boy, but breastfeeding didnt elicit these amazing "I'm providing for my child" feelings that everyone says. Well, now it does! :) He seems calmer as well. Maybe it was just what I ate that kept him calm for once, but whatever it is, I am thrilled! :)

I found this website with these great ideas and tips. KellyMom
It also describes some of the reasons a person would need a nipple shield and other info about it.

Weaning from a nipple shield

These things can help you start to wean from the shield:

• Ensure good positioning and latch–
  • Make sure that when positioning your baby to nurse you are holding him so that his whole body faces yours. He should not have to turn his head to nurse.
  • Wait for the baby to open very wide – as with a yawn – before you attempt to latch him on.
  • Once he has opened this wide – and it may take patience waiting for him to do so – pull him in real close making sure that he takes as much of the breast into his mouth as possible. His chin and nose should touch your breast. His lips should be flanged out – like a rose petal or a fish’s lips. If they are not, use your finger to flip them out manually.
• Before attempting to feed at all, pump a few minutes. This will elicit let-down so that baby gets a quick reward. It will also elongate the nipple for him.
• Also before feeding, offer him your index or pinky finger nail-side down to suck on for several minutes. This suck-training teaches him to drop his tongue down as he must do with breastfeeding. With the shield (much like a bottle nipple) he may push his tongue to the roof of his mouth to slow the flow of milk.
• Breastfeed frequently – as often as you can. Attempt to feed before he gets too hungry – when he is sucking on his fingers or rooting, but before he cries. If you can catch him early he may be more willing to work with you. You also might try nursing when he is a little drowsy. Some babies are more willing to take the breast when they are semi-asleep than when fully awake.
• Try different nursing positions.
• Nurse while in motion – as you walk, sway, rock, bounce, etc.
• Provide lots of skin-to-skin contact when nursing and at other times as you can. Undress baby to his diaper and remove your blouse if possible. Try nursing while you both enjoy a warm bath.
• Drip expressed breastmilk (or formula, or sugar water if no ebm is available) over your nipple in the corner of the baby’s mouth using an eyedropper or feeding syringe while he is at the breast.
• If baby becomes upset as you are trying, stop and attempt to calm him before trying again.

These last ones pertain more to taking the shield away:

• It may help if you compress your breast and hold it firmly about 1 1/2 inches from the base of your nipple toward the chest wall (usually at the edge of the areola just past where your baby’s lips will be) – like squishing down a big thick sandwich on a roll to take a bite. Holding the breast this way makes your nipple more firm like the shield. Keep holding it like that until it feels like baby is sucking well, and then slowly release the grip.
• Apply ice to your nipple before feeding to harden it.
• Try to notice if there are certain times of the day or positions that he seems more receptive during and build on those.
• Try offering the breast without the nipple shield, particularly when baby is rather sleepy. Sometimes once they take the “bare” breast a couple times, they’ll continue with no problems.
• If baby doesn’t take the breast without the shield relatively easily, give it to him with the shield. DO NOT allow him to become frustrated at the breast, that will only make him more resistant to breastfeeding. Allow baby to build trust that nursing will work and will be ok, even if that means using the shield to make it familiar and easy for him. Once he builds trust, start to remove the shield after he has been on for awhile
• After baby is nursing well and let-down has occurred, attempt to remove the shield quickly and relatch baby. Very gradually, start to remove it earlier and earlier in the feeding until you don’t need it at all.
• Sometimes it works to offer the first breast with the shield and the second one without it, if your baby takes both breasts in one feeding.
• In the beginning, you may not want to take away the shield at every feeding so the baby relaxes and doesn’t look for you to remove it every time.
• You may hear the recommendation to cut away the tip of the nipple shield, a little each day, until it’s gone. This is not recommended for silicon shields, because it will leave sharp edges.

Be sure not to make this a battle with the baby, or he will resist more. Don’t obsess with weaning off the shield to the point that you’re robbed of the joy of breastfeeding. As long as your baby is gaining weight well, then you have some time to play with. Keep trying as often as you can, and give it some time. There are some reports of moms continuing to use the shield for their whole breastfeeding experience, but most moms have taken anywhere from 2 days to about 4-5 weeks to accomplish completely weaning from the shield. Be patient with yourself and your baby while you work through this transition.

Hope this helps others that are trying to wean from the nipple shield! Happy Boobmilk week!! :) 

4 Weeks Old

Today marks Liam's 4th week! I cant believe it!! I feel like the first week doesnt even count--after 4 days in the hospital and 2 days stuck on the bili-blanket at home, we didnt have our baby home and off machines until the 7th day. Anyways, I wanted to write a bit about what my son is doing these days so I can remember.

4 Weeks today!!

Dear Liam,
Today you are 4 weeks old! Everyday with you is so amazing! Breastfeeding is going pretty well. You love to eat! We are still using the nipple shield, which bums Momma out. We are trying to nurse without it, but you only latch for a few sucks, then get frustrated. You currently like to nurse for about 10 minutes and fall deep asleep before you've had your fill. And of course, you wake up within an hour and want more. At night before Mom and Dad go to bed (around 11:30), you get a 4-5 ounce bottle of breast milk, your nighttime cloth diaper (lotus bumz pocket with hemp soaker), and you get rocked to sleep by Momma. You usually wake again to eat around 4am, and again at 7. Lately, Daddy has been getting up with you around 8 when you fuss, and rocks you back to sleep. Dad goes to work, and you and I wake up for the day around 9:30.

Proud Daddy :)

You love the swing! Anything with constant motion you are digging right now. Many times while Momma is cooking, you  hang out in your swing in the kitchen. You also love your rocker chair to sleep in when you are gassy at night. Momma can reach you from her bed to sooth you if needed. You also enjoy your play mat. You love looking at the patterns and colors! You unintentionally hit the toys which surprises you  and makes Momma laugh.

SMILES!!

You smile when we play with you and even laugh in your sleep. You are so expressive it's unreal! Daddy says you get his looks, but Mama's expressions! Momma's favorite is when you purse your lips together as if to whistle. You can melt Mama's heart in a second when you push out your bottom lip as if to pout. Hopefully you don't realize the effect this has on Mama, or you will probably get your way an awful lot! You love to snuggle and fall asleep on Momma. You especially love being tummy to tummy with her! You even lift your head to look around and look at the windows or other light sources.

I just cant handle this lip!! Agh! So precious!

You are growing so fast! You already are out of all newborn clothing, and with your cloth diapers, some 0-3 month are hard to snap. You seem to have a long torso, and short legs--maybe the diapers make it look that way? We haven't been to the doctor yet to know your stats, but Daddy weighed you at home, and you are a whoppin' 11 lbs 4 oz! That's up almost 2lbs from birth! You are beginning to lose your baby hair, and Momma hopes it grows back quick. She was didn't have hair for along time! Everyone comments on how adorable you are! And Daddy's family thinks you are the spitting image of him! We cant wait to see what the next few weeks bring!

Love,
Momma

Crunchy Momma

 Here's to all the Crunchy Momma's out there...

 1. Cloth Diapers! While the photos here shows BumGenius, there are so many different kinds that your head could explode! Nothing screams natural crunchy momma than cloth diapers!! Here's the link to the ones shown.

2. Cloth Wipes! Again, the photo shows the BumGenius brand, and I will be making mine from flannel scraps, and the receiving blanket overload I'm sure I'll get. At first it didn't occur to me to do cloth wipes, but the more I thought about changing my child's diaper. I'd have to have a cloth diaper pail and a regular diaper pail for the wipes?! Wait...no way, it's way to easy to just have one and throw them in the wash with the rest of the diapers.

3. Reusable Cloth Nursing Pads. well...duh! why wouldn't I use these? Breast milk is water soluble so it's not like these little guys wouldn't get clean. The ones shown are some organic kind, but you can find them all over etsy and other sites from WAHMs. I will more than likely make my own. (sensing a trend here?)

4. Nursing Cover. Clearly I plan on breastfeeding, and while in public, I really don't want/need gawkers, so these little covers will definitely help. They have a wire in the upper hem that you can bend outward to see your beautiful baby. Here's the one shown.

5. Boppy or any other breastfeeding helper. I used to work in a daycare in the infant room. I know how hard it is to keep that sweet little baby up to give him/her their bottles. I always propped a pillow under my arm. I love this cover from Boppy.

6. Breast pump. Again with the breast feeding. I definitely want to go BPA free, and I've heard nothing but great things about Medela. This model seems pretty mid-range. It's a scary thing to spend so much money on something your not even sure you will be able to use. If that is your main concern, there are smaller hand pump models as well. It wouldn't be a bad idea to start off with a hand pump, and then move up to a larger model if needed.

7. Beaba Babycook or any type of food processor really. I will most definitely be making my child's baby food. There really is no reason not to. You will be aware of what is going in to your child as well as saving you TONS of money! The Beaba freezer containers are amazing! They have a soft silicone bottom so you can easily pop one out.

8. Think Baby BPA free dishes. These are amazing! Nuff said.

9. Ergo Carrier. This is the sport version. Out of all the carriers I've heard about, the Ergo is the most talked about, and the most raved about. This would be nice to be fitted for my husband, and I could have the wrap that I talk about in #10.

10. Baby K'tan. I really love the two shoulder sling wraps. This one can be worn so many ways, and can also be used for breastfeeding covertly in public. Sneaky sneaky!

Plans for the future...

Good Afternoon! 

I just figured I would write up my tentative plan for my pregnancy/delivery/postpartum.

Pregnancy: I want to see a OB/G, as well as a midwife. Obviously be as healthy as possible. Maybe use the Brewer Pregnancy Diet http://drbrewerpregnancydiet.com/ Exercise, and work as up to a month before my due date.

Labor: I want to have my husband, doula Rachel, my midwife, and my best friend Billie there to help me. I want to be able to walk around and move my hips to help baby get into position.

Delivery: I want to birth at home in a birthing pool. Candles and music, lights low. I'm thinking about using hypnobirthing. I definitely feel labor and birth is rite of passage from maiden to mother. I'm thinking about mother directed pushing. No episiotomy. No cord cutting until it has stopped pulsating.

Postpartum: Cloth diapering of course! Breastfeeding! Baby Wearing! Co-sleeping! (I'm on the fence about vaccines currently-more research on my part must be done) Stay at Home Mom! Meal Planning! Make my own Baby Food! the list goes on and on :)

So that's my plan as of right now. I'm so very excited to get this underway!! The 2WW is already killing me!