Monkey see, Monkey do....Please

"If a multinational company developed a product that was a nutritionally balanced and delicious food, a wonder drug that both prevented and treated disease, cost almost nothing to produce and could be delivered in quantities controlled by the consumer's needs, the very announcement of their find would send their shares rocketing to the top of the stock market.  The scientists who developed the product would win prizes and the wealth and influence of everyone involved would increase dramatically.  Women have been producing such a miraculous substance, breastmilk, since the beginning of human existence."

~Gabrielle Palmer

Did you know that human beings are the only species that feeds its young milk from other animals?  Every mammal is intended to produce milk for their young, in order to help him or her to continue growing and developing into a mature adult.  The milk we all produce is specifically designed for each individual and their specific needs.  For example, your first child may have been born right in the middle of flu season.  Therefore, your antibodies to fight flu with be at raised levels  in order to protect her health and build her immune system.  However, baby number two may be born during the spring time and an increase in antibodies to fight the flu would not be that beneficial for her.  This is purposeful.  It gives your infant the sustenance and nutrition they need specifically.  

Yes, even elephants!

     The same is true for cows, goats, horses, sheep, dogs, cats, dolphins and even elephants.  Their babies are born with some growing and developing to do as well.  And mothers milk is the perfect food to help them on their way.  However, most other mammals develop a little faster than we humans do, and may require a little different nutrition.  After all, they are expected to stand up and walk in 24 hours, we just want our little ones to wake up!!  It is far more likely that your baby will need antibodies to fight the flu more than they will need them to fight bovine diarrhea.  Likewise, they need the nutrition in mother's milk to help them grow and develop on their schedule, not that designed for babies of other mammals.

Many formula companies use protein from cows milk to make their product.  Now, I am not slamming formula, I am just bringing attention to some things that seem to have been overlooked.  In all actuality, formula was created with the best of intentions.  There were instances when mother and baby weren't able to breastfeed.  If mother wasn't able to make milk, or sometimes not make it through delivery, families were left holding babies with no food source. Even then people wanted these little ones to have something designed to meet their needs more than that of other animals.  The plan, was to take breast milk to the lab, break it down to its basic parts, and duplicate it to create a formula for these infants.  Scientists were trying to come up with something that would sustain these infants and keep them alive.  They were not trying to provide an alternative to breastfeeding so we could maintain the level of convenience we busy mothers have grown accustomed to.  The pros of this plan is that we now had that thing that would help baby to survive the first year.  The cons, however, were that this nutritional substitute could not then and can not now compare to breast milk.  Some ingredients found in breast milk cannot be duplicated and therefore formula is simply missing a lot of the good stuff that our babies need. In fact, while formulas contain a lot of the same things as breast milk like:

Water 

Hang in there!

Protein

Carbohydrates

DHA/ARA

Fat

Vitamins

Minerals

Some formulas even contain prebiotics and/or probiotics

Breast milk contains ALL of the above plus:

Anti-Parasites

Anti-Allergies

Hormones

Disease fighting stem cells

Enzymes

Growth Factors

Anti-Cancer (HAMLET)

Antibodies

Baby needs all of the above ingredients mixed each day, every hour into a recipe designed to sustain their specific health needs.  And Mama, you were designed to make just that!  So hang in there baby, and know you are giving your baby the best that you could give them, to keep them happy, healthy, and whole.

   

Traci

CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATS! CONGRATULATIONS! 

Congratulations to Gloria Ortega!  She won the drawing for the Octoberr Prize Basket from the Polk County Health Center.  Gloria took home this Boppy and a basket full of goodies and you can too.  Winning is easy.  If you are a pregnant or breastfeeding mom in the area, stop by the Polk County Health Center and fill out a drawing ticket.  If stopping by is too inconvenient, there are other ways to enter too:

- Click on the link at the top of this page.

- Click on the 'contact us' link below.

- Call me

- Text me

- Email me 

Traci Volcko, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

Polk County Health Center

417-326-7250

417-315-2135 24hr Breastfeeding helpline

volckt@lpha.mopublic.org

There is another Boppy basket, just waiting for you!  Good Luck!

Tips for Traveling With A Baby

Between the lines, expensive hotels, and even getting lost, traveling can be stressful. As most parents know, adding a baby to the mix definitely does not make anything easier. Fortunately, by following a few tips and tricks, your whole family may be able to relax and have a great time, even with a baby in tow!

1. Pack Strategically

If you just had your first child, gone are the days when you could throw a change of clothes into a small backpack and take off for the weekend. However, just because you need to bring along diapers, snacks and other kiddie supplies doesn’t mean you can’t continue packing light. In fact, since you’ll often be pushing around a stroller or carrying a baby and diaper bag it becomes even more important.

By bringing multi-use items, you can get a lot of bang for your buck out of even a small suit case. For example, a kid’s bath robe can be used as a spare towel, to wrap fragile objects, or even as a blanket on a plane or car ride. Instead of bringing an umbrella, a poncho or rain jacket can be used to wrap bottles that could leak, as a make shift changing station, or of course, as protection in the rain. Each multi-use item you pack replaces a variety of other things you may need. This can free up space for souvenirs and help keep you under the weight limits.

2. Consider Investing in a Baby Travel System

Baby travel systems can combine a car seat and stroller into one. While sometimes more expensive than the individual pieces brought separately, they can be life savers when traveling. Many US airlines allow families to check a stroller and car seat free of charge, so you can often bring the entire system with you for free, and then have your stroller and ready for when you get off the plane. In addition to being far less of a hassle than carrying all the devices separately, if your child falls asleep, you may be able to transfer them from the car seat to the stroller and back without them even waking up.

3. Child Proofing Your Hotel

If there is one thing babies and toddlers like to do, it is explore. While many parents child proof their home, hotel rooms are rarely set up for small children and you may need to take some steps to make it more kid safe.

The first thing to do is simply ask the front desk if they have any childproofing supplies. Some hotels offer electric outlet covers and more, but many do not. For this reason, it is always advisable to bring a roll of duct tape with you when you travel. This can be used to cover electrical outlets, secure buffers to sharp corners on furniture (taping a wash cloth or towel can work) and to secure electrical cords out of reach. Another thing to do is make sure that the doors and windows are secure. If you have a balcony, make sure it is locked, and by using the deadbolt and chain on the hotel door, you can add extra barriers to make an accidental escape harder for your child.

After you have taken care of those issues, you may want to try crawling around the room so you will get a kids’-eye-view of it all. You may notice new things that you missed during your initial sweep, but that your child will quickly find while crawling around.

4. Take a Photo of Your Kid Each Day Before Heading Out

Traveling is full of distractions. From figuring out public transportation systems, to crowded museums, there is often a lot going on. It is many parents’ worst nightmare for their attention to slip for a second and for the child to have disappeared when they look back. However, you can be prepared for the worst by snapping a photo of your kid each day before you head out. This way, if they do get lost, not only will you have an up to date picture, but it will also show the clothes they are wearing that day. This can make it easier to show people what your child looks like at that moment, and if you have it on your phone, you can quickly send it around to friends, family, and authorities in the area.

5. Don’t Get Over Ambitious

When traveling to a new place, there may be dozens of things you want to do, and you may only have a few days to do them. But no matter how well you prepare, a baby may still slow you down with naps, diaper changes, and more. To counter act this, if your child is on a regular nap time, you can try to schedule flights and drives around that time period. Another thing that may help is splurging on accommodations that are right next to where you want to be. For example, if you are having a beach vacation, getting a beach front hotel may allow you to take your kid down to play in the sand without also taking a stroller, diaper bag, etc. If you are visiting a city, a downtown hotel may let you see the sites you want to see, without bring your baby onto crowded rush hour subways. Logistics are often one of the most difficult parts of traveling. If you are going to do it with a baby, try to keep them simple.



Traveling with a baby can certainly be a challenge, but it can also be a fun way to bond with your new family member and expose them to the world. By packing carefully, taking steps to childproof your room, and keeping your plans and expectations in check, your whole family can have a fun and rewarding trip!

Guest Post provided by Ryan 

It's not too late.....

Signing up for the monthly prize drawing or registering for the Infant feeding classes just got a little easier.  If you look to the side bar, you will notice two "Contact Us" buttons.  Clicking on them makes it easy to sign up for the next Infant Feeding support group or entering in the monthly prize drawing.  Come join us on August 8th at 9:00 am and learn the difference between real breastfeeding barriers and perceived ones.  You will take away valuable information about how to continue breastfeeding when you might otherwise have given up.  



Also, take advantage of the many opportunities to sign up for our monthly prize drawings.  This month expect another Boppy to be offered as a prize, with goodies for Mom and baby as well.  Please enter as often as you like.  Good Luck!  I look forward to hearing from you all soon.

Breastfeeding Barriers

      Breastfeeding barriers are those things that can stand in the way of successful breastfeeding.  Many times there are real issues that can prevent a mom from breastfeeding such as substance abuse, certain prescribed medications, cancer treatments, and certain illnesses such as herpes simplex virus, Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis or Varicella if left untreated.  However, there are times when we think that breastfeeding may not be possible when it actually is perfectly within reach.  Have you ever wondered about those times when breastfeeding doesn't seem like a possibility?  Some mothers who smoke, like to have an occasional drink, or simply cannot give up their caffeine, feel that it would just be too difficult to adjust their lifestyle to be successful at breastfeeding.  



Well girls, it is simply not so!  Many of our perceived barriers are not barriers at all, and in fact sometimes breastfeeding is necessary if your baby is going to be in those environments.     
     

Moms who go back to school are happy to breastfeed! 

Caffeinated Moms are
happy to breastfeed

Moms who return to work are happy to breastfeed.

Join us at the next Infant Feeding Class at the Polk County Health Center as we discuss Breastfeeding Barriers.  Come with questions for our group discussion.  
If you are an old pro at this breastfeeding gig, come with answers, there are many moms in our community who are looking for mentors like you.

Classes on this topic will be held Thursdays:
     August 8th from 9:00 -10:00 am OR
     August 22nd from 1:30 - 2:30 pm

Just click on the Contact us button below to register for the next class by the Wednesday before class so that I can make arrangements for refreshments.  Or you can email, call the help line, call the Polk County Health Center or comment on the blog.

Traci Volcko
Breastfeeding Consultant
417-326-7250
417-315-2135
volckt@lpha.mopublic.org
www.polkcountymilkweeds.blogspot.com

Independence Day - Celebrate Your Freedom to Breastfeed

     

 Oh the wonderful sunny days of Summer are upon us.  Laying out at the beach, baseball games, and family reunions.  Summer involves lots of outings and family gatherings. 

     For those of you breastfeeding new little ones, enjoying Summertime can require a little planning.   We know that baby is going to eat throughout these gatherings and arrangements will have to be made to provide comfort and discretion for both Mom and baby.

     How can you provide nourishment and share these private moments when you are in public?  Certainly pumping a bottle of breast milk is an option.  However, the heat and the “extra luggage” may throw a kink in your plans.  Breast milk is only good for about 5 hours before it needs refrigerated, but on hot Summer days it can spoil more quickly.  So, without carrying a cooler around, you may have trouble feeding baby good milk. 

     We know that a receiving blanket or a Hooter Hider can conceal breastfeeding from wandering eyes when you are in public places.  But sitting in the sun (or shade, when it’s 90 degrees outside) with a cover up over his head can be very uncomfortable and distracting for baby.  He may get too hot and want to pull the blanket off of his sweaty little head.  When the blanket comes off then Mom becomes uncomfortable.  You may feel exposed to the peepers all around you.  

     How do we solve these dilemmas and still breastfeed?   I always wanted to feel discrete when breastfeeding so that I did not offend anyone around me or embarrass myself.  I did take comfort in the fact that most of the time I was surrounded by my family and friends.  And they were great breastfeeding supporters.  
     Generally, people accept breastfeeding for what it is….taking great care of your baby.  And honestly, when my babies were nursing I was mostly hidden behind baby.  Sure people new I was feeding her, but her head was blocking the most important part.  Plus, her little hands were usually resting on my chest holding her “bottle” hiding even more of me from sight. Next time you are nursing at home, go stand in front of a mirror and you will see that most people can’t see as much as you thought they could. Realizing these things helped to calm my anxiety, and gave me more confidence about nursing in public. 

     But there is more!!  The law is on your side as well.  In September 1999, President Clinton signed into law the "Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act," which included legislative language by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) to make breastfeeding legal anywhere on federal property.

"The last thing a mom needs is someone giving her a hard time about her decision to breastfeed her child or accusing her of violating arcane 'indecent exposure' laws," Maloney says. "The only thing indecent about breastfeeding is that some women have been harassed about it."  

  According to the National Conference of State Legislature website, Forty-three states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands have laws with language specifically allowing women to breastfeed in any public or private location

     Twenty-eight states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands exempt breastfeeding from public indecency laws

     Twenty-four states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have laws related to breastfeeding in the workplace

     Twelve states and Puerto Rico exempt breastfeeding mothers from jury duty

     Five states and Puerto Rico have implemented or encouraged the development of a breastfeeding awareness education campaign.

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 191.915 (1999) Missouri Law requires hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to provide new mothers with a breastfeeding consultation or information on breastfeeding, the benefits to the child and information on local breastfeeding support groups. The law requires physicians who provide obstetrical or gynecological consultation to inform patients about the postnatal benefits of breastfeeding. The law requires the Department of Health to provide and distribute written information on breastfeeding and the health benefits to the child. (SB 8)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 191.918 (1999) 
Allows a mother, with as much discretion as possible, to breastfeed her child in any public or private location.  Medical experts agree that breastfeeding is superior to formula feeding and recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding to 12 months of age and longer thereafter as the mother and baby so desire.
     
     So celebrate your Independence Day and feel free to breastfeed your baby without being harassed or feeling embarrassed.  After all you have the right to "bare arms" and shoulders and even breasts while breastfeeding your baby.

Jump in and breastfeed with
confidence. The law is on your
side. 

If someone asks you to stop breastfeeding in public give them this card to educate them regarding Missouri State Law and Breastfeeding.

License to Breastfeed

Missouri Law:  “A mother may, with as much discretion as possible, breastfeed her child in any public or private location where the mother is otherwise authorized to be.” R.S. Mo. 191.918

Our Baby is Home!!!!

Introducing John Jr., the latest Volcko to join the ranks of our family.  This is my nephew, who apparently likes to live on the edge and keep us on our toes.  John arrived May 28, 2013 but soon gave us a scare and had to spend a few days in NICU.  After lots of prayer he is breathing better, nursing well, finally home and has effectively initiated his parents into the strong, determined, worry inducing, tearful, prayerful life of boys. 


 I think he was just giving us a little taste of the exciting life he is about to lead us through, but we have already forgiven him because he is just so beautiful (ahem, handsome).  So take a deep breath John and Missy and enjoy the ride. 

June Prize Basket

 

Hannah

 When I was thirty, I found myself sitting in a recliner with a newborn at the breast, a three year old on my lap and a five year old sitting on the arm of the chair beside me.  One arm wrapped around baby with her head in my hand and the other hand holding a story book.  At that time, when Hannah said it was time to eat, my other little girls knew it was story time for them.
     Hannah was (and still is) a cuddley girl.  She wanted to eat at least every two hours, and could see no reason why she couldn't sleep in my arms or at least be held until the next feeding time.  I am not going to say she was needy, but she was over a year old before she walked and I don't believe anyone else was allowed to pick her up or hold her until she was well over 18 months old.  I was a frazzled, tired mess for the next few years after Hannah arrived.
     When you have little kids in the home, you don't stop moving all day long.  From the time your feet hit the floor in the morning, until you finally have them all down for the night, you are in constant motion feeding, bathing, cleaning house, doing laundry, planning meals....the list goes on and on.  And though, I was thankful for the times Hannah required me to sit down and nurse her, it always seemed like there was something I needed that I had forgotten to pick up before I sat down.  Now don't get me wrong, the little girls sitting in the chair with me, loved to be "big helpers" and grab blankets, wipes, diapers, etc. but once the story book was opened they no longer volunteered to help.  It was at this time in my life that I came up with the Breastfeeding Survival Basket.  I cannot tell you how many steps or how much time this basket saved me, but save me it did!  I filled a basket full of diapers, wipes, diaper cream, nursing pads and Lansinoh cream and sat it beside my chair.  Each time Hannah wanted to eat, I grabbed a glass of ice water and my girls grabbed their book of choice.  By the time my fourth baby arrived, the survival basket was a permanent fixture on the side table.  This was probably a good thing, since Hayden didn't mind if we sat in the recliner all day long nursing and rocking.  In those days I think the only time I got out of my chair was to go to the bathroom and feed kids.  
     So, thinking back to those days, gave me an awesome idea for you all.  I have put together a Breastfeeding Survival Basket for this month's prize.  It will help bring a little peace if not organization to the chaos of having a newborn.

Breastfeeding Survival Basket

As always, if you would like to enter the drawing, just let me know.  I just need name, address, phone, email, and due date.

24 hour Breast Feeding Helpline: 417-315-2135

Email: volckt@lpha.mopublic.org

Or stop by the Polk County Health Center.  I would love to talk with you!

Good luck !!

Breastfeeding Vegans and Vegetarians

http://topnews.net.nz

     Recently I was asked if it is safe for moms following a vegan diet to breastfeed.  Apparently there was a couple in France who lived a vegan life and lost their 11 month old to bronchitis.  Many people were angered and ranting blaming the mothers diet for the child's death.  While vegan diets can be low of certain vitamins, which allows higher risks of infection, other factors played into this terrible ordeal.  

     So to take the worry away from my veggie friendly friends I will say this: Of course!  Anyone can breastfeed.  But what we need to remember is that every mother will have to make some adjustments to her diet in order to keep herself and her baby healthy. 

      It is pretty common to be told to eat lots of whole grains, fruits and vegetables while you are pregnant.  So, if you continue making good food choices, then the only adjustment that will need to be made when baby arrives, is adding an extra 500 calories to your diet.  Anyone, who is following a vegetarian or vegan diet probably already knows that they have to find alternative ways to meet their protein and vitamin needs. Likewise, they probably realize adjustments will have to be made for baby and can get great advice from their doctor.   But I don't want you to just take my word for it, so I did a little research and this is what I came up with.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics:

"A special diet is often a healthy diet—in fact, you may maintain a particular diet for health reasons—but it still may not provide all the nutrients you and your baby need while breastfeeding.

If your consumption of any major food group is limited, consider how you will replace the missing elements in your diet, and discuss your plans with your doctor or nutritionist. Breastfeeding women who do not eat meat, for example, must figure out how they will get sufficient protein for their babies and themselves.

As a vegetarian, you may already be familiar with ways to combine plant foods to meet your needs. You may get protein from rice, beans, eggs, nuts and nut butters, and meat substitutes. If you do not know all the healthy ways to compensate for lack of meat in your diet, consult a registered dietitian.

Ask your pediatrician whether you should take a daily vitamin/mineral supplement containing such elements as iron, zinc, and vitamin B12. It is essential that strict vegans (who avoid all animal products in their diet) take a vitamin B12 supplement, since this nutrient comes only from animal sources. Keep in mind that you will also need to make sure you consume enough calories to maintain your health—usually between 2,200 and 2,500 per day if you are of average build.

If you have any special concerns about your diet, your pediatrician may suggest you consult with a registered dietitian."

According to the Le Leche League:

Can I eat a vegetarian diet while I am breastfeeding?

"A vegetarian diet that contains some animal derived food, such as milk, milk derivatives, or eggs is usually complete. Women who don’t eat meat, but consume dairy or eggs usually do not have problems breastfeeding. When a diet does not contain any of these foods (such as in the case of vegan and some macrobiotic diets), a mother needs to sure to include vitamin B12 into her diet in some way. Many vegetarians use a supplement for their vitamin B12 intake.

Research has shown that milk produced by vegetarian women has lower levels of environmental contaminants (such as PCBs) than that of other women. These substances are stored principally in the fatty tissues of the body, and vegetarian diets tend to contain less fats than diets with more animal products."

     So when I think of the attacks on the parents of that little girl that passed I hate to see breastfeeding take a bad rap.  I guess the moral of the story is guns don’t kill people, people kill people.  In other words, the choices we make lead to the reward or consequences that life hands us. The vegan diet is lacking, but the mother should have adapted her diet/supplements to meet babies needs.  This should have been discussed with her doctor and I am sure as a vegan who is careful with her diet, she surely researched the effects it can have while nursing.  So did her diet kill the baby?  Don’t know, but it seems like even a vegan diet with the added calories needed to breastfeed and a b12 supplement everyone should have been okay. 

Plenty of babies survive in the homes of chain smoking, alcoholics who’s diet consists of snickers bars and big gulp sodas so if people need someone to attack and complain about, I’d prefer they didn’t go after the mother who’s whole world just came crashing down because she lost her baby.

Just my take on things,

Traci

They've got an app for that!

     In this day and age, everywhere you look people have phones in their hands.  Phones have replaced cameras, watches and clocks, calendars and planners, even gaming systems and you can text and talk on them too!! Some of us still use the basic cell phone, and it surely serves the purpose for which it was intended. But more and more of the time, I see smart phones in the hands of old and young alike.  These tiny computers are amazing tools and I for one, love that I can use it for work, playing games when I am bored and waiting for kids after school, keeping my appointments and remembering important holidays like Mother's day and the kids birthdays! 
     You may be wondering,"What does any of this have to do with pregnancy and breastfeeding?"  Well, I will tell you!  I found some awesome apps that do everything from sends texts during pregnancy to ease a mother's worries to keeping track of diapers in those foggy days of "newbornhood".  Check them out.




 Sign up for the text4baby program and receive free text messages throughout your pregnancy and for baby's first year.  These tips and tricks will make being a new parent simpler and help put your mind at ease on some issues that you may have questions about.

I'm Expecting app is kind of amazing.  It will help you keep track of everything that is going on with you and baby. Get prepared for your baby’s birth. Get weekly updates of your baby's growth, track your symptoms and compare them to other pregnant moms to see how common they are, share info with your doctor, add doctor appointments, get answers to your questions and more! Simply enter your baby’s due date and get started for free today with this pregnancy tracker from Google play.

My Pregnancy Today app.  Simply enter your baby’s due date and My Pregnancy Today turns your Android into an expert guide for your exact day of pregnancy. Free from Google play.
My Pregnancy Today features: 
✔ Your pregnancy day by day: Learn how your body’s changing, what’s ahead, and how to cope
✔ Fetal development images: See what your baby looks like each week
✔ Pregnancy checklist: Reminders to keep you on track with decisions, appointments, and more
✔ Award-winning videos: Watch your baby grow in the womb, and witness moms giving birth
✔ Birth clubs: Connect with other women due at the same time
✔ Due date calculator: Quickly find your due date 
✔ Nutrition guide: Manage your weight gain with tips and recipes to help you eat well 
✔ Track your progress: Countdown to your big day with weekly notifications
Baby Time is an app to help you keep track of baby's last feeding, diaper change and sleep as well as a left right toggle to help you remember the breast baby last fed on.  This is a free app for your windows phone.

EatSleep is an app that tracks when baby eats, sleeps and has a diaper change. It is available for free on itunes.

The Breast Feeding Tabulator is another app designed to help you keep track of baby's feeding frequency and amount of time spent at the breast.  This one is for Android and is free from Google play.

Another one for Android.  Baby Care Plus tracks baby's feeds, sleep, and diapers and is $1.99 on Google play.

These are just a few apps that I found, but I have to admit, if I were expecting again, I would certainly have several of them on my phone.  Check them out or do some research and see what you can find that suits your needs.  Let me know if you find some great ones, I would love the input and I always love hearing from you.

Happy Birthday Hayden!!!!

At our house, April is a very busy birthday month, so once again I am giving a shout out to one of my baby's.

At almost 8 months old, he had the look of a cherub and
his mother was convinced that he was an angel.

Happy 7th Birthday Hayden!!! 

 To the child who taught me all about frogs and snails and puppy dog tails, you are certainly what little boys are made of!

It took him less than 4 years to disprove my "angel theory".
 (I know this picture looks pretty scary and the first time I saw it, it took my breath away,
 but I promise it is staged.)

Too bad this wasn't the same day as the
chicken coop experience!  My cherub has
turned into an energetic bean pole.

I wish I could tell you that this
was just mud, but the truth is
 Grandma let him play in the chicken
coop with the water hose.
I will leave you to your own
conclusions...... 

He does clean up pretty good though.  I don't know about you,
but I am a little crazy about this sharp dressed man.

Luvs - Breastfeeding

I LOVE this Luvs commercial!!!!

Have you seen this one?  I don't have TV at my house so I miss out on a lot of the really funny commercials ( I also miss a lot of the crazy, sad, inappropriate stuff that seems to overwhelm the air ways - thus the no TV.  I am not a weirdo, I just choose to raise my kids in a world with as few bad examples as possible).  Anyway, someone shared this commercial with me the other day and it made me giggle.  Hopefully, you will get a kick out of it too.  Enjoy!

March Prize Basket Winner

Congratulations!  Congratulations! Congratulations!

Abby Inglis is our March Prize Winner!!

Abby and Denny Inglis

It is not too late to enter the prize drawings.  I will be putting a new basket together every month.  The April basket is still underway, but watch the blog to get the first glimpse of the latest goodies.  As always, if you would like to enter the drawing, just let me know.  I just need name, address, phone, email, and due date.

24 hour Breast Feeding Helpline: 417-315-2135

Email: volckt@lpha.mopublic.org

Or stop by the Polk County Health Center.  I would love to talk with you!

Good luck and again congratulations go out to Abby.

Bosom Beanies

Check out her Facebook page Bosom Beanies

Local Mom, Laura Reynolds has been hard at work making the cutest little hats for baby.  After all you wouldn't want their little heads to get cold.

Laura sells the hats for $15.00 and can make them in sizes ranging from newborn to toddler.  So they are not only adorable but also affordable.

Look for one of these to "Spring" up in the prize basket for April. 

Let me know what ya think.  Would you put one of these hats on your baby?  In a baby shower gift?

Pumping isn't the same as breastfeeding. Really?

 I don't own a citrus orchard.  If I need an orange, I cannot just go out to the back yard and pick one off of the tree.  So what is a girl to do when that craving hits?  When my body needs sweet, juicy, fiber rich, vitamin C, what can I possibly do?  You are probably thinking, "Go to the grocery store and buy some oranges, idiot!"  And you would be right.  But how appalled would you be if the produce manager at the store told me I didn't need oranges and instead sold me orange flavored gelatin and a vitamin C supplement?  You had better be pretty darn mad!

      Now you may be thinking, "Why on Earth is the Lactation Liaison talking about oranges on the breast feeding blog?"  Simply because I wanted to make a clear comparison to help folks better understand my views on formula vs breast milk.  (You see, you are the citrus orchard, the baby is the consumer, and the breast pump is the store). Breast milk is designed specifically to meet the nutritional and developmental needs of your baby.  The milk you produce varies from hour to hour, month to month, and even child to child.  It is not the same all of the time but it is exactly right.  There are over 200 things found in breast milk that cannot be duplicated.  So when your produce manager, (ahem, Doctor,nurse, friend, etc.) tells you formula is just as good as breast milk, you may want to do a little research. 

     So, what if I can't breast feed? I do understand that putting baby to the breast is not always an option. Babies are sometimes born with cleft palette. Milk supply can be affected by thyroid disorders, diabetes, smoking, etc.  Sometimes getting the latch-on just right, just doesn't happen.  Well girls, if you can't walk to the orchard, let's find another way to get the wholesomeness of oranges to you.  

Pumping is a great way to get breast milk to your baby.  I have heard the comment, "pumping isn't really breast feeding".  Really?  Well, I don't know what their goal in breast feeding was, but mine was to give my babies the best nutrition, vitamins, minerals that I could.  Pumping allows Mom to feed her baby a substance designed to meet the developmental needs of baby, even if it comes from a bottle.  If milk supply isn't enough to fill baby's tummy, you can always add breast milk to formula.  This will allow baby to get antibodies and the calories he needs.  Pumping can even help increase milk supply to a satisfying level for baby.  Remember, exclusively breast feeding baby is defined as baby receiving no other foods but breast milk.  Pumping is a great way to exclusively breast feed and is much less stressful than dealing with all the side effects of formula feeding.

What do Milkweeds have to do with breastfeeding?

Milkweeds belong to the family Asclepiadaceae, derived from Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine and healing.  Monarch butterflies are attracted to the plants and lay their eggs there.  The larvae  feed exclusively on milkweeds although it is poisonous to most other insects and animals.  As they grow, the plump, zebra striped caterpillars gorge themselves on the milkweed sap which, in turn, makes them poisonous to birds.  It was designed this way on purpose.

Breast feeding is designed to help baby grow and develop, in a protected safe environment.  Much like the milkweed, breast milk provides nourishment that baby couldn't get from any better source.  The antibodies in breast milk are similar to the protective properties the milkweeds sap offers caterpillars against being eaten by birds.  They help fight against colds, flu, ear infections, etc and many times Mom will not even know baby was about to be attacked by some kind of sickness because her antibodies have passed through the breast milk keeping baby happy healthy and whole. It was designed that way on purpose.

All this talk about caterpillars reminds me of a funny story that happened when my oldest daughter was about two years old. I hope you will get a kick out of it as well.

My Caterpillar

       It had been a long cold winter that year as a stay at home mom, I had begun to develop a serious case of cabin fever.  I was busy, but hadn't had the opportunity to get out and exercise like normal.  I always took a walk everyday and had really started to miss it.  I decided that Miss Abigail and I could go for a walk inside the local Wal-Mart store.  I bundled up my baby girl, jumped in the car and headed to the store.  

My Beautiful Butterfly

      I placed Abbi in the shopping cart and began walking a steady path around the perimeter of the store.  It wasn't long until she began complaining about sitting in the cart and begging to get down and walk too.  I tried distraction, bribery, and reasoning but nothing satisfied her. "Please Mama, let me walk.  I will go real fast.  I want to get down and walk too!!!"  Finally, I stopped the cart, took a deep breath and explained that she was just too little to get down and walk with Mama.  I explained that I was much bigger than she, and I would be walking too fast for her to keep up.  I ended the conversation by saying, " You are are going to have to grow a couple of feet before you can get down and walk beside Mama."  My darling girl looked up at me wide-eyed and a little afraid and said, "Am I going to be a caterpillar?"

Check out my Pinterest Board also named Milk Weeds.