Thursday, June 28, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Responding to Your Baby
Thought this was a great article about responding to your baby - and how to respond when someone tries offering "helpful" advice.
Gentle Swimming Programs
This was shared to me on one of my like minded mama groups - I thought this was a great article about how to teach swimming gently - perfect in time for summer!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Crying: The Boob is Magic!
I was having a conversation about babies and crying with my BFF Gaby, who is expecting her first baby in September and I thought I'd share a few thoughts about how I respond when baby cries.
Babies do cry and they fuss... sometimes you don't know what to do! Sometimes it seems like they are crying for no reason - but they are crying because they are trying to tell you something. They don't cry because it's fun to cry! It's because they are unhappy - usually that they are hungry, sleepy, have wet diaper, have burp, have gas, uncomfortable (hot, cold, something hurts, scared) or just want to be picked up and held.
My routine when babies cry is this:
1.) check diaper
2.) put boob in mouth (usually that does the trick... it's comforting, feeds them and helps them sleep so you tackle more than one problem here!)
Sometimes moms don't offer the breast because they think, "Baby isn't hungry; he just ate!" It's hard to remember sometimes that babies don't just nurse because they are hungry - they nurse because they they are thirsty, because they want to cuddle, because they know mom is warm, and they want to smell her and be close - comfort nursing. And that's ok - they need comforting and they don't quite understand this new world they are in. The only thing they do understand is that the boob is awesome. The boob is their best friend. Baby is not going to eat too much. You can't force them to eat more than they want to eat. They know when to stop eating. Sometimes it seems like baby is nursing an "empty" breast - but what they are really doing is stimulating the breast to make more milk - because baby is prepping you for the growth spurt that's coming in a couple of days! Newborns hit growth spurts every 2 weeks until they are 2 months and then it's every two months after that. And as they get older, they need more milk! No wonder it seems like baby is forever on the breast!
Ok, back to my list - if baby is rejecting the boob and is still crying, then:
5.) pick them up and see if they are they too hot, too cold, is something uncomfortable scratching them? is there a hair wrapped around a little toe cutting off circulation? if they are on formula maybe the formula was hard on their stomach and it hurts? if they were circumcised or if recovering from tongue tie surgery, maybe they're sore or in pain? Check to make sure it's healing properly. Check their diaper area - do they have a diaper rash? It can sting. (Sitting in a wet diaper is what causes diaper rash. Make sure baby is changed often.) Is the perfume someone is wearing too strong? Is a light too bright? Babies are very sensory and if there is too much of something, it can agitate them.
6.) sometimes they just want mommy - and you can't fool them! They know who mommy is!!! Cuddle.
7.) If all else fails, check temperature - maybe they are sick and have a sore throat or something! Call the doctor.
Just know that if they are really hungry or really sleepy (if they have been awake for an extended period) they WILL be very fussy and hard to settle. Just being prepared for it makes it easier to deal with. Boob always helps though. After having two kids, I have learned The Boob is the magical answer to everything. If only all of life's problems were solved with a little bit of mommy milk! LOL!
Babies do cry and they fuss... sometimes you don't know what to do! Sometimes it seems like they are crying for no reason - but they are crying because they are trying to tell you something. They don't cry because it's fun to cry! It's because they are unhappy - usually that they are hungry, sleepy, have wet diaper, have burp, have gas, uncomfortable (hot, cold, something hurts, scared) or just want to be picked up and held.
My routine when babies cry is this:
1.) check diaper
2.) put boob in mouth (usually that does the trick... it's comforting, feeds them and helps them sleep so you tackle more than one problem here!)
Sometimes moms don't offer the breast because they think, "Baby isn't hungry; he just ate!" It's hard to remember sometimes that babies don't just nurse because they are hungry - they nurse because they they are thirsty, because they want to cuddle, because they know mom is warm, and they want to smell her and be close - comfort nursing. And that's ok - they need comforting and they don't quite understand this new world they are in. The only thing they do understand is that the boob is awesome. The boob is their best friend. Baby is not going to eat too much. You can't force them to eat more than they want to eat. They know when to stop eating. Sometimes it seems like baby is nursing an "empty" breast - but what they are really doing is stimulating the breast to make more milk - because baby is prepping you for the growth spurt that's coming in a couple of days! Newborns hit growth spurts every 2 weeks until they are 2 months and then it's every two months after that. And as they get older, they need more milk! No wonder it seems like baby is forever on the breast!
Ok, back to my list - if baby is rejecting the boob and is still crying, then:
3.) burp them
4.) do gas massage to help them pass gas (rub their tummy with open palm, in clockwise motion 3 times and then push babies knees up to their chest. This helps get gas out.)5.) pick them up and see if they are they too hot, too cold, is something uncomfortable scratching them? is there a hair wrapped around a little toe cutting off circulation? if they are on formula maybe the formula was hard on their stomach and it hurts? if they were circumcised or if recovering from tongue tie surgery, maybe they're sore or in pain? Check to make sure it's healing properly. Check their diaper area - do they have a diaper rash? It can sting. (Sitting in a wet diaper is what causes diaper rash. Make sure baby is changed often.) Is the perfume someone is wearing too strong? Is a light too bright? Babies are very sensory and if there is too much of something, it can agitate them.
6.) sometimes they just want mommy - and you can't fool them! They know who mommy is!!! Cuddle.
7.) If all else fails, check temperature - maybe they are sick and have a sore throat or something! Call the doctor.
Just know that if they are really hungry or really sleepy (if they have been awake for an extended period) they WILL be very fussy and hard to settle. Just being prepared for it makes it easier to deal with. Boob always helps though. After having two kids, I have learned The Boob is the magical answer to everything. If only all of life's problems were solved with a little bit of mommy milk! LOL!
Cindy's Natural Birth Story in Photos
I posted this on my website and I had to share this here, as it's birth related!!! My little nephew is here!! I don't typically do birth photography (my specialty is newborn photography) - but I couldn't miss my sister giving birth!!! Cindy and I talked on the phone on Tuesday and she was telling me she was feeling some contractions and even said to me - "I think this baby is going to be born tonight!" and sure enough, she texted me within an hour and said, "My water just broke!" It was already passed dinnertime and we were putting my oldest to bed - I got my things together to meet her at the hospital and thought for sure I would be back before breakfast the next morning... little did I know this little guy had other plans!
A full 34 hours later - on Thursday, May 10th at 5:59am - little Blake Thomas Cooper was born. He is the sweetest little man and I'm just so happy he's part of our lives! He is already so loved! Here are a few shots from the birth... It was such an honor to not just witness her birth, but to be a part of it as well! She was so wonderfully supported by her husband Justin and her doula, Monica. Cindy continues to inspire and impress me - it was such an extremely long labor - yet she delivered naturally, without medication! This is one amazing mama!!! At more than one point in her labor, I got teary-eyed with her determination to do it on her own. My heart just bursts with pride and admiration for her!
A few days after the birth, I of course did Blake's newborn pictures - he was a dream to photograph! You can see more of my sweet little nephew on my photography website. This auntie is just so proud of her sister and her first nephew! Love this little man!!! <3
Monday, June 4, 2012
Vaccines: Then and Now
Despite the fact that I have partially vaccinated my kids, I subscribe to a Facebook page called Proud Parents Of Unvaccinated Children. Very informative group! It's so much more than just autism. I encourage you to read and learn as much as you can about vaccines and weigh the risk of the disease vs. the complications and side effects of the vaccines, as well as the controversial ingredients in each. And if your argument is, "I was vaccinated and I turned out alright" things have changed greatly in the last 30 years!! Be informed and educate before you vaccinate, please don't just do it blindly.
Another great source of info is Dr. Sears book, "The Vaccine Book." It lists each vaccine, all of the ingredients, how each is made, side effects and risks so you can make your own informed decision.
Another great source of info is Dr. Sears book, "The Vaccine Book." It lists each vaccine, all of the ingredients, how each is made, side effects and risks so you can make your own informed decision.
image credit: Proud Parents Of Unvaccinated Children
HepB Vaccine, Autism and Boys
Check out this article from the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health that discusses evidence that newborn boys vaccinated with HepB vaccine at birth were three times more likely to later be identified as autistic, than boys who did not receive the vaccine. And that is just one of the 49 doses of 14 different vaccines that are given to young children and infants. :(
Hepatitis B vaccination of male neonates and autism diagnosis, NHIS 1997-2002
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21058170
Hepatitis B vaccination of male neonates and autism diagnosis, NHIS 1997-2002
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21058170
Why Moms Stop Breastfeeding Earlier than Planned
Just goes to show you that while nurses may have good intentions, they don't realize how topping up with formula can make breastfeeding more difficult. That's why it's so important to read and learn about breastfeeding BEFORE baby is born so you are aware and can communicate your wishes and preferences.
Why Moms Stop Breastfeeding Earlier than Planned
http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/04/12034767-why-many-breast-feeding-moms-quit-earlier-than-planned?lite
Why Moms Stop Breastfeeding Earlier than Planned
http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/04/12034767-why-many-breast-feeding-moms-quit-earlier-than-planned?lite
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