Home Birth Plan

That is, home birth is our birth plan at this time. Jason and I are each in a consensus about the choice, and feel it is safe. I still have somewhat a reservation about it, but when I think of another dozen reservations against another hospital birth. If you recall, I actually did have a relatively good birth experience with Z. However, I was constantly anxious over the strangers coming in and out of my birth room, and I hated the equipment hooked up to me. I know first labors can be very long and tedious--which mine certainly was--but in the back of my mind I still wonder how much more progress I could have made in the comfort of my own home. After all, I arrived at the hospital around 2300 at 8.5 cm dilated and he was born at 1021 the next day... eek!

Many studies have proven it safe. If you feel so inclined and are at all interested in birth issues, please see The Business of Being Born by Ricki Lake. Truly an enlightening documentary about toady's culture and business of childbirth. I found it at my library. It's a very well done film and has been in the press a good deal.

Certainly lots of details to work out... The first of which was choosing a home birth midwife. (I really wish I could hire Z's midwife who was on rotation that night, but alas, as a busy CNM in the hospital setting, I do not see how that could be an option for her.) I was thorough and interviewed all the surrounding licensed CPMs who would see me. I wanted someone I connected with, obviously. But one particular question I asked each one was if she is Christian. I found only one who was both Christian and I felt that connection. After much prayer and discernment, I have chosen Vickie Ligouri of McGaheysville. (Her link may be broken as she is still working out the fun details of getting the site going.) Since we should be keeping God at the center of our lives, I felt it an important question to ask. What better place to begin the Walk than while under prenatal care in the womb? Vickie is experienced but just beginning to get her business off the ground.

I would like to speak with my previous provider (the team of now six CNM's at Rockingham Memorial Hospital) and see if they would see me should we choose to transfer. I would feel most comfortable going to RMH in a non-emergent situation. However, if we are in an emergency, we are only ten minutes from another good hospital, Augusta Health.

Please comment here on the blog (or Facebook, email, etc.) about any feedback you can share or just any info in general. We appreciate all your prayers and good thoughts for our family!

~ Shalom ~

Headaches

Early 2nd trimester... I have been fighting a horrible headache today. This morning at work the meeting I sat in on was difficult to focus. It actually helped to wear my glasses though. I called my midwife and she thought it was most likely I did not have enough protein yesterday. Interesting! I was watching my protein intake well for the first several weeks but have slacked. Headaches were inconsistent and annoying but had stopped for the last couple of weeks until today. I will try to do better and see if I notice a consistent improvement. Aren't our bodies amazing? Usually there is some sort of message they are sending us -- but sometimes the challenge is interpreting that message!

Priming for a New Role - Pregnancy & "Baby Brain"

A friend brought me this article that clearly explains "baby" or "Mommy" brain as we mamas are all too familiar!

Pregnant women and animals experience slight decreases in learning and memory—changes that appear to pave the way for cognitive benefits in motherhood and may even advantage mothers as they age. 

A couple of weeks ago I thought maybe I was totally losing it. Well, not exactly, but I did know well enough to know my memory problems were related to the pregnancy. I couldn't remember to get Z's prescription for days, which was very unlike me, among countless other silly things I did or didn't do which for the life of me now, I cannot remember! 

So have no fear, my fellow preggos. We are normal. We are not crazy after all!

Announcement

Here's our latest family announcement!

Reducing Infant Mortality

An excellent short film on the factors surrounding a big problem our families face in the U.S.

Reducing Infant Mortality from Debby Takikawa on Vimeo.

An OB Collaborating with Midwives

I thought this guy is compelling enough to promote. I sent him a small donation for his legal fight for women's rights to informed consent! Go Doc! http://supportdrfischbein.blogspot.com/2009/08/summary-of-what-is-happening-now.html

Weaning... Another Milestone

Zyler is 19 months old! Can you believe it?

I think I may have nursed Zyler for the last time on Tuesday evening. Or at least the last time for a while... We had gotten down to just a.m. and p.m. sessions when he was cutting the morning one short a few weeks back. But he hung onto the evening session for a few more weeks, even if the sessions were short and sweet. I've always had trouble off and on getting him to not use me as a teething toy when he has teeth coming in, so I have had mixed feelings on weaning anyway... But I think it was this Wednesday when I went into his room when Daddy was reading him books, and he just wanted to go into bed instead of asking for milk. That has never happened before in my presence! I was miffed in a way but fine with it at the same time. Today I was kneeling down with him and he was looking at my nursing tank top at the clasps and said "milk," not in a request way but just observing, and proceeded to look down my shirt at the source. :) I didn't offer and it was fine.... We'll see if he might request any comfort nursing or such.

Update 8/24: He has started asking for milk again at bedtime for the past several nights... Ah, what a journey. I do have to admit that I was enjoying having my body back...! :o) But I certainly enjoy our BF bond we have...

This is Why I'm Walking on May 2

Sponsor my walk! I thank you so much!

Sponsor Me at March for Babies

Please help me reach my goal! It's easy to donate online or mail a check to me. Thanks so much!

Thinking of Topics, & Books

I have wondered what direction to take this blog. Motherhood is certainly not a boring subject, by any means. But, I feel at this point this is "just another parenting blog." I may journal about a few random subjects while I ponder this. Please comment or email me if you have topic suggestions!

My first more "random" post is to share a starting list of books on my hopeful "to read 1 day" list. The first book -- How to Read the Bible -- is recommended by a friend. I look forward to hearing more about it. I would like to delve more into my spiritual growth by studying more about scripture and being a faithful steward of the reading the Word regularly.

I know my worship should take first priority. But realistically, how does a working Mom find time? Please, offer me some suggestions for taking this leap.

Zyler is a Half-Year Old Today

I will take a posting lead from a friend and post my life's briefest highlights.

• I turned 30 on June 16. There were presents. There was red velvet yummy cake. (Thanks, M-I-L!)
• I had my womanly physical last week with the midwife, Ann, who delivered Zyler. She is awesome... All is well. She gave me some other birth control options to consider. I am not considering anything hormonal.
  
• I finally feel like a "Mom."
  
• I love motherhood.
  
• I hate working 40 hours and seeing so little of Zy during the week. Would love to work less, but keep working.
  
• Zyler is doing great. Not an illness to speak of. Still 100% Mommy Milk.
• I still pump while away from Zyler. Pumping still sucks. :) But I can't stop.
• Zyler is awake once or sometimes none at nights. It's wonderful. I'm still tired, but feel human again!
  
• I cannot believe it's been 6 months. I can remember those days of labor and the birth vividly. My just-about-natural birth = totally empowering.
  

Sleep 2

Sleep... it's overrated... right?

I figured out he's not getting enough to eat before Jason and I are in bed. I've tried the "dream feeds" in the past and they didn't seem to help--he would still wake at least twice over night. So, last night I decided it was worth a try again and had Jason give him a full 4 oz bottle of Mommy Milk. He only woke again at 3 AM to eat. Score! Jason gave him another bottle but I was so engorged I had to go downstairs to pump! Doh!

I appreciate the concept and have no basic problem with co-sleeping, but somehow I end up getting even less sleep trying that. Zyler tends to kick and wiggle in the early morning, keeping me awake. I may give it another go during/after that early morning feed, though, and see if it helps me/us get more rest. That way I don't have to use so much energy sitting up to feed him and get him back into bed.

I am certainly open to discussion and comments on the sleep subject!

Sleep?

Well, on second thought... He isn't quite back to 1 waking per night every night. I am still very tired as he is waking at least twice a night most nights. But I just tell myself that it does get better, and I do remember to cherish those night feedings and cuddles as much as possible. After all, they are tiny for such a short time.

Zyler is 4 Months Old!

I can't believe it's been 4 months! We just got our bill from the hospital for each of us! And it's already been 4 MONTHS! Zyler is thriving on exclusive Mommy Milk and doing splendidly. Just this week he started rolling to the left a lot in his crib. We often find him sleeping on his tummy or on his tummy and his side. He has finally gotten back down to 1 waking at night. He was waking 2 and 3 times for several weeks. I think a lot had to do with his trying to figure out the rolling over. I am worn out but starting to feel somewhat normal again! He is taking better naps, and he also plays with his rattles and loves to talk and coo to us. He holds his head up well, and likes to play with his feet. No toe sucking yet though. :o)

I am going to attempt going back to work full time this week. I am tired... and also sad to not be with him as much during the day, but hopefully I will find a groove that I will be able to be happy with. He stays with our cousin and his grandmothers while I'm working. That way, he can't wear out just 1 of them. :o)

Beautiful "Angel Mommy" Video

Yet again, so touching that I couldn't not share! Grab your tissues!

It is hard to imagine life without our Zyler. I know now that he is 1 of the main reasons for my miscarriage. But, you can't help but wonder - what would life be today had we been blessed with that baby? It is hard to believe that he/she would have been around 14 months old already.

He did it! and 12-Week Checkup

God bless our little guy, he slept through the night last night!! And I don't mean just 5- or 6-hour stretches! He slept from about 7:45 PM til 5 AM when I woke him up to nurse! I also kinda "dream" fed him in his sleep around 9:30 PM.

I can't believe he's 3 months old! We started his vaccinations yesterday. (Poor little guy!!) He weighs 13.5 lb! Big guy! Yay for Mommy Milk!

Why Delay Solid Food?

Another great breastfeeding article!

http://www.got-breastmilk.org/Whydelay.shtml

Why Delay Solid Food?
By Jennifer VanLaanen-Smit

Reasons for delaying solids:
Recently the American Academy of Pediatrics advised that the healthy, full-term breastfed baby needs nothing other than mother's milk, including supplemental formula, water, juice, cereal, or other solid food, until he is at least six months old. Breastfeeding experts have long been advocating that solids be delayed until *at least* the middle of the baby's first year. What are the benefits of waiting this long?

Dr. Mendelsohn says, “Breastfed babies do not require solid foods during the first year of life and should not be given any during at least the first six months of life. Until then much of the solid foods he eats passes through his body undigested.”

The younger the baby, the more likely it is that any foods other than human milk will cause food allergies. While solely breastfed, the baby is protected by components in mother's milk that prevent foreign proteins from entering the baby's system and causing an allergic reaction. Between 6 months and 12 months of age, the baby begins producing enough antibodies to prevent such allergic reactions. This benefit is especially important for a baby whose family has a history of allergies. Some doctors may recommend delaying solids for the first year if there is a family history of allergies.

Because a young baby's digestive system is immature, he may not be able to digest other foods as well, perhaps making spitting up, constipation, and diarrhea more common. Waiting until the baby is older lessens the probability that these unpleasant reactions will occur. Recent studies have shown that hydrochloric acid - used to digest most protein - doesn't even appear in the stomach until the end of the seventh month and doesn't reach a peak until the eighteenth month. In addition, ptyalin, the digestive juice for carbohydrates, doesn't appear until the end of the baby's first year.

Although babies continue to receive many immunities from breast milk for as long as they nurse, the greatest immunity occurs while a baby is exclusively breastfed. Breast milk contains 37 known immune mechanisms, and probably many more that are still unknown. However, as soon as the baby is exposed to solid foods or anything other than breast milk - even one bottle of sugar water - 17 of these immune mechanisms are destroyed (by the E. coli bacteria that are introduced) and can never be restored. One study has shown that babies who were exclusively breastfed for 4+ months had 40% fewer ear infections than breastfed babies whose diets were supplemented with other foods.

Solids displace breast milk in the baby's diet. The more solid food a baby consumes the less breast milk he consumes, solids do not add to baby's total intake. Early introduction of solids puts the baby at risk for premature weaning. An inferior food has been substituted for a superior one, and partial weaning has begun.

Breastfed babies are rarely obese, but when they are it is most often related to the early addition of solid foods. This may be because a younger baby is less able to communicate when he has had enough, perhaps resulting in overfeeding.

Breastfeeding provides some degree of birth control. It is most effective, however, when the baby is exclusively breastfeeding - no formula or water supplements and no solid foods. The addition of these cuts down on the amount of time the baby spends at the breast, therefore reducing the amount of stimulation necessary to inhibit ovulation in the mother.

A young baby still possesses the tongue-thrust reflex, which causes the food to be pushed out of the mouth rather than swallowed. This coupled with the fact that most young babies are unable to sit up alone results in feeding that is messier and more difficult. There is also a higher incidence of choking because the art of swallowing is still being mastered. Once the tongue-thrust reflex has faded (between 6-12 months) baby can take a more active part in feeding time.

There is a reduction of respiratory illness. The probability of respiratory illness occurring at any time during childhood is significantly reduced if the child is fed exclusively breastmilk for at least 15 weeks and no solid foods are introduced during this time.

A baby who is ready for solids won't spit them back out, and their poop doesn't come out looking like what went in. And they will have some teeth. The coming in of the first teeth signals the ability to digest food; the eyeteeth and stomach teeth indicate that the baby now has gastric juices to handle foods, but some find their babies demand food some time before that.

The ease of feeding is a factor. Babies who start solids late can feed themselves. Why Delay Solids?

I can't figure out why people want to fuss over feeding their baby solids before she/he is ready. Babies only nurse for a short while even if they nurse for years instead of months, why not just follow their lead?

Breastmilk is easy and superior nutrition. Unlike the guessing game with solids, all the nutrients are right there in the perfect amount. Unlike solids, breastmilk offers your baby important immunities just when the immunities you passed on in utero are beginning to wear off. Breastmilk has irreplaceable ingredients for brain growth, which is at it's greatest during this age. Unlike solids, milk cleans up easy. Breastmilk poop smells a lot better than solid food poop, and is easier to clean up, and babies can poop it out much easier. Breastmilk is *free*, and prepackaged baby foods are not only expensive, but filled with preservatives and fillers. I could go on for hours about the advantages of delaying solids, but I can't think of one advantage to starting them early.

My first child was 12 months old before he started eating solid food, and then it was still just for tastes, not a meal. My daughter was 10 months old, and my third child has started 'tasting' solid food at 10 months old too. I do not spend my time grinding my own baby food nor do I buy jars of baby food. My babies taste what we are eating. For example, my 10 month old likes to taste, mash and spit out strawberries. Solid food makes up to 0-5% of his total food intake. He doesn't have 'food' everyday or even every other day. And all of my children have been healthy children, not overweight, but plump and strong. All have weighed around 25# by 12 months of age.

I suggest that parents wait until their infants start showing the obvious cues of readiness that I mentioned before starting solids. How many adults have you seen that still nurse? My point is, they *all* eat solids eventually...I promise!

I feed my babies on my lap or they just standing holding onto our low table (our table is low to the ground, as we eat Japanese style. We sit on the floor at our table. And my children start eating at an older age so I do not feed them myself. I just give them the food, like a whole strawberry, or small bites on their own dish for them to feed themselves. Yes, it does get messy. They have a great time!

I give my children to start with one new food at a time (only that new food that day, no other new foods in the same day), in case of allergic reaction or any adverse reaction. I give avocados, strawberries, tofu bits, natural organic cereal O's, pieces of cooked potato, bananas, mashed cooked yams, sprouted wheat bread in pieces, peaches, star fruit, pears, apples, papaya, poi, brown rice, mashed potatoes, steamed carrots in small pieces, grated soy or rice cheeses, sliced bananas rolled in wheat germ (to make them less slippery), and the like.

Your baby will fare best if you prepare his food yourself. Avoid commercially prepared baby foods, not only because they are more expensive, but also because they are less nutritious after being processed to death.

Please be aware that many children (12 months of age and younger) have adverse reactions to honey, eggs, cows milk and nuts. Observe your child closely to be sure that there is no allergic physical or behavioral reaction, such as excessive crying or fussiness. Also many children choke on grapes (unless you cut them in half, hot dog round slices (slice then the long way- thinly), and popcorn. And always keep an eye on them as they eat. Learn infant CPR. It can save your child's life.

The size of a child’s appetite will vary from day to day and year to year for a variety of reasons. It can be affected by his level of activity, by his fondness for the food he is served, and by the intake he requires if he is in the midst of a spurt in growth. The child, whether he is in a baby or in his teens, will eat what he needs.

MYTHS CONCERNING THE ADDITION OF OTHER FOODS
"Babies who live in very warm climates need extra water, especially during summertime, to quench their thirst and avoid dehydration." Breastmilk is about 80% water. As long as a baby is allowed unlimited and unrestricted access to his mother's breast, he does not need additional water. Giving a baby water may cause him to feel full, thereby resulting in him demanding to nurse less often and thus getting less of the milk that he requires for proper nutrition and growth. Furthermore, some recent studies have indicated that the kidneys of babies, especially very young ones, are not mature enough to handle large amounts of water and giving water may actually result in health risks for the baby. Additionally the mother receives less stimulation when the baby is given water supplements which may have an adverse effect on her milk supply. "Adding solid food to a baby's diet will help him go longer between breastfeedings and perhaps sleep through the night."

There is absolutely no correlation between the presence of solids in a baby's diet - or the lack of it - and the baby beginning to sleep through the night. If adding solid food to a young baby's diet results in him going longer between feedings, it is probably because his digestive system is having to work overtime due to the strain placed on it by foods he is not physically mature enough to digest.

"Introducing solids ensures that a baby is not deprived of necessary iron in his diet."
Anemia is uncommon in the breastfed baby due to the following reasons: 1) a healthy, full-term infant has ample iron stores at birth to last him at least for the first twelve months of life, 2) although the amount of iron in breastmilk is small, it is readily absorbed at a rate of 49% compared to 4% of the iron in formula. This is due to the high levels of lactose and vitamin C in human milk, which aid in the absorption of iron, and 3) breastfed babies do not lose iron through their bowels as do formula-fed infants, whose intestines develop fissures from damage caused by cow's milk.

Inspiration

I had followed this gal's blog that I stumbled across. Her son had a birth defect that took his life at 9 weeks and 4 days. He was born a day after Zyler on January 7. Doctors did not expect him to survive much longer after birth. These videos tell his story. Thanks be to God for the gifts of joy he shared with his parents and big sister in the time they had with him. His mother's faith and courage are awe inspiring to me. I just couldn't not share Joshua's story. Be sure to watch to the end if you're able. They've shared some beautiful stats and stories in text about him.

Bisphenol A-free Plastics

Another mom has done the research already. Check out her great article and link to a handout here. Basically, we should try to avoid eating from all plastics numbered 3, 6, & 7. Check your baby bottles and sippy cups!

Zyler is 7 Weeks Old!

He had his checkup on Monday and weighs 11 lb 12 oz with his clothes on. :) So, yet again, all is well with the little guy. We will probably start selective vaccinations around 12 weeks.

Breastfeeding is going somewhat better, and I am still pumping and storing milk. I started back to work Wednesday on a mostly MWF schedule. I'm glad I'm going back part time for now, as I still am not getting much sleep! I found a great room in the building with a lock where I can express milk, probably 3 times a day once I am there a full day. Pumping is hard work! So many details and things to coordinate. Breastmilk feeding--whether from the breast or pumped for a bottle--provides such a sense of accomplishment, though.