Category Archives: Motherhood

Tuesday Tips: MommyCon 411

Collaborative post by Krystyna (writing & photos) & Cassandra (photos – lots of them!!)
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We had such a wonderful time at Mommy Con LA.  It would be nice if everyone who wanted to go could make it there…just in case you were one of the families that did not make it, here is a recap for you…here are all the vendors we visited…I think we saw them all…and even did a little buying!!

Consolation prize…at least you did not have to stand in these lines…

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Map of convention hall:

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Our little disclaimer: just because they are on our list is not an endorsement.  All the info in quotes is directly from info on their marketing materials we picked up on the day of the event, or that the vendor provided for us.  I did add a few comments here and there, just to liven up the post a little 🙂

I included the vendor name, marketing blurbs and contact info if you are interested.  They are not linked because I didn’t want to “break” the page with 80+ links.

Enjoy this “virtual” Mommy Con LA experience…later this week…the Babywearing World Record & Fashion Show photos 🙂

Red Tricycle
Event and life-style magazine for families
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“Red Tricycle focuses on the “lighter side” of parenting, offering ideas for cool things to see, eat, make and do with your kids, in your neighborhood.”
“Our mission is simple: To help parents have more fun with their kids.”
www.redtri.com

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MD Moms
Skin care products for baby + family

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“We’re the MD Moms – Dr. Diane Truong and Dr. JJ Levenstein.  We are nationally recognized, board-certified pediatricians and moms.  We were inspired bt the needs of our patients and our own children to create Baby Silk, the first personal care line for babies developed by pediatrician-moms.”

www.mdmoms.com
sales@mdmoms.com
888.636.6672 (888.MDMOMS2)

MOBY
Showcasing their classic MOBY® and their new MOBY®GO
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www.moby-go.com
info@mobywrap.com
888.629.9727

Motherlove®
Herbal products to support pregnancy and breastfeeding
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“Motherlove is dedicated to helping women with low milk supply provide the best start for their babies.  Our safe and effective herbal formulas, made with certified organic herbs help increase a mother’s milk supply.  Low breast milk can be a result of many factors.  We suggest you confer with a lactation consultant for help determining the cause of your low milk supply.”
Motherlove® also has products to support a mama in pregnancy and the postpartum period, as well as other breastfeeding products.  For a look at their whole product line and to find a store near you, visit their website at www.motherlove.com

Nüroo Pocket & Scarf
Promoting Skin-to-Skin and Breastfeeding
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Daniella from Nüroo was demoing the blouse and the nursing scarf for us.  These are made from super-soft fabric (think: soft yoga pants!) and designed with maximum practicality in mind.

The scarf can be used as an infinity scarf when it is snapped together, or as a shawl with creative snapping, or as a traditional scarf when it is left open.

The pocket is designed for skin-to-skin contact
“Skin-to-skin contact is a holding technique where baby is wearing only a diaper, positioned vertically on mom’s bare chest.
“An uninterrupted 60 minutes creates hormonal cascade that delivers these benefits and more:
Benefits to baby:
Accelerates Brain Development
Less Crying + Colic
Builds Immunity
Improves Sleep + Weight Gain

Benefits to mom:
Increases Milk Production
Reduces Risk of Post Partum Depression
Learn all the benefits of Skin-to-Skin at www.nuroobaby.com”

In8love Chiropractic
Chiropractic care for the whole family – here is Liz:

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“Chiropractic care is more than just making the pain disappear. It is about learning, understanding and taking care of your body to improve your quality of life.” ~Dr. Tanya Reynolds, D.C.

Dr. Tanya Reynolds provides Prenatal Care, Pediatric Care, Pain Managment, Hormonal Imbalance, Low Back Pain, Sciatica, Numbness Tingling, back pain relief, neck pain relief to the following locations: Santa Monica, Brentwood, East Los Angeles, Westwood, Century City.

www.in8lovechiropractic.com
11340 W Olympic Blvd #204
Los Angeles, CA 90064
310.477-3335

Fertility Miracles
Where destinies meet and journeys begin

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They were handing out these yummies as a thanks for stopping by – chocolate covered pretzels – yum!Image

“Through egg donation, as well as both gestational and traditional surrogacy, Fertility Miracles is redefining the possibilities of both modern medicine and the modern family.”

www.FertilityMiracles.com
info@fertility-miracles.com
888.898.8123

The 4th Trimester Bodies Project
“dedicated to embracing the beauty inherent in the changes brought to our bodies by motherhood, childbirth and breastfeeding”
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(L) Laura – photography assistant and hair & makeup artist
(R) Ashlee Wells Jackson – photographer
Their vision is to sell a book of collected images from their photo shoots with clients, and establish a traveling gallery that celebrates women
http://4thtrimesterbodies.com/

INFINITIFOTO
Crisanta is the photographer behind these beautiful images
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www.inifinitifoto.com
infinitifoto@gmail.com
626.475.1415

Arms Reach Co-Sleeper
Providing options for families that want to co-sleep without bedsharing

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“Many parents, aware of reports in the media about babies dying in adult beds, put their infants away from – from the very first day – to a full-sized crib.  Unfortunately, babies put to sleep in distant cribs have a suffocating rate more than double that of babies who are co-sleeping.  Parents are receiving dangerous advice from authorities that have been led to trust.  Both James McKenna, Ph.D., and Dr. William Sears, experts on the sleep habits of babies, endorse the Arm’s Reach® CO-SLEEPER® bassinet as the ideal way in which to keep a baby safe and close for comfort and breastfeeding.  They both state that an infant sleeping “within arm’s reach” of the parents’ bed dramatically reduces the risk of SIDS and leads to healthier babies and happier parents.”

support@armsreach.com
800.954.9353
www.armsreach.com

Orbit Baby
Modern, practical and green design for car seats and strollers
With snack tray:
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Soft bar – great for teething according to the rep – the fabric also zips off for washing.  Note that this is also their dual-seat frame design:
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Recline to use as a pram (they also have an actual pram option!)
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Genius for hot days – a vented back for air circulation:
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All folded up!  The seat fits nicely on top for compact storage:
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Besides the fact they are beautiful to look at and use, we love that the Orbit products are green.
“We make the world’s first strollers and car seats with fabrics and foams certified clean by Okeo-Tex® Standard 100, which are easier on your baby’s skin.  Our organic dual-layer fabric is made with organic cotton, and is free of harsh chemicals while still providing the safety of flame retardancy.”

www.orbitbaby.com
info@orbitbaby.com
877.672.2229 (877.ORB.BABY)

Sloomb
Sloomb provided the Cloth Diaper Resource Center, as well as offering cloth diaper products and accessories for sale.

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“we care about what goes into our products. we care about what we leave behind for our kids. sustainablebabyish|sloomb♥tm was born out of the need for a better fit, softer diapers and covers, & the desire to bring earth-friendly baby products in great colors to your home. we are committed to offering you a low impact, durable product for you & your children to love and enjoy.”

http://www.sloomb.com/

Rock-A-Bums
The most fun table with a cloth diaper changing contest!
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Cloth Diapers for your Little Rock Star – A 5-in-1cloth diaper your child can ROCK from birth to potty training.

www.rockabums.com
rockabums.ruby@gmail.com

Spray Pal
Cloth diaper cleaning product
Here was another game for attendees to spin the wheel and win prizes!!

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“Frustrated with your cloth diaper sprayer because you’re forced to wipe down the bathroom every time you spray a diaper? Save time and keep your bathroom clean with Spray Pal, the cloth diaper sprayer splatter shield!”

http://spray-pal.com/

Jaq Jaq Bird®
Accessories for the real world

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A machine-washable line of PVC, PBA & phthalate free products that are also CPSC certified.  They offer chalk activity mats (and the chalk!), binky keepers, sippy catchers, toddler bibs, activity aprons, wet pouches, snack pouches, and tote bags.

www.jaqjaqbird.com
sales@jaqjaqbird.com

Clean Bee Baby
Eco-friendly car seat and stroller cleaning

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Jennifer & Karen were there representing cleenbeebaby, the eco-friendly cleaning service for car seats and strollers.  They offer stroller and car seat detailing and disinfection, professional car seat installation, and stroller repairs and tune-ups

www.cleanbeebaby.com
310.895.9983
info@cleanbeebaby.com

Episencial and Dr. Berlin’s Wellness Suite
Offered free massages all day long – pampering!!!

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Info about Episcencial from their PR department:
Babytime! by Episencial is #1 in hospital birthing centers – the bestselling organic brand in hospitals in the US and Canada. They make a 3-step system for baby’s every skin need from basic care to eczema and even severe diaper rash. Available at Whole Foods, Sprouts, Pharmaca and www.Episencial.com.
Here are a couple quick videos to learn more about the brand:

Screen Shot 2013-10-08 at 10.49.06 AMBLOG momyconvendors epi

http://episencial.com
info@episencial.com
800.690.1610 phone/fax

dōTerra
Purveyors of essential oils

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“Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant. If you have ever enjoyed the gift of a rose, a walk by a field of lavender, or the smell of fresh cut mint, you have experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. In addition to giving plants their distinctive smells, essential oils provide plants with protection against predators and disease and play a role in plant pollination.”

http://www.doterra.com/
801.615-7200
productsupport@doterra.com

HUSH Pure Sleep
Organic sleep sacks designed for your baby’s comfort

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These sleep sacks made their debut at MommyCon!  It was an honor to meet the founder and hear the HUSH story.  These sleep sacks have design features that Claudia intentionally made with you in mind.  No tags to scratch or irritate sensitive skin, a zipper that zips from the top down so that you don’t have to take the baby out of the sleep sack to change their diaper, and a cloud logo to inspire sweet dreams imprinted at the base of the neck.  The spring/summer sack is in production and ready for purchase…we also got to see the fall/winter sack that is in prototype…same delicious colors and soft fabrics with a layer of bunting inside to add extra warmth in the cooler seasons.

claudia@hushpuresleep.com
+31 238448061 Tel
+31 646727395 Mob
www.hushpuresleep.com

Belli Vita
Custom Belly Bowls and Artistry from Pregnancy, Breast and Torso Casts.

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todayshow2bluebelly2green blown glass1“BelliVita crafts breathtakingly beautiful pieces of art from body castings, with a focus on the pregnant form.  Our pieces range in style, size, texture and color – from natural rough casts of the human torso, to hand-painted porcelain belly bowls and glass bowls that capture the precious moments of pregnancy.  The result is an exquisite work of sculptural art that you can proudly display and cherish for life.”
Available throughout the US, Canada and Europe.

lauramarie@bellivita.com
855.235.5484 Toll-free
206.841.1891 Local
www.bellivita.com

líllébaby®
The only COMPLETE™ Baby Carrier

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From their website:
“Behind the Scenes” of the líllébaby®COMPLETE™ Baby Carrier
We set out to make the best baby carrier in the world. It took years, lots of research, and old-fashioned hard work.
“COMPLETE” was originally the project name as we were making the next generation of baby carriers. Our mission was to design a baby carrier that was complete in every way; complete in comfort, functionality, safety and style.
We made a vow to not launch until every team member felt it was truly a perfect carrier – and that took a looooong time. After endless hours of studying parents, interviewing and observing, designing and changing it, the baby carrier has evolved to the finest generation yet.”

www.lillebaby.com
303.359.4700
annie@lillebaby.com
facebook.com/lillebaby

Nuna
Smart baby gear inspired by Dutch designers
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HIGH CHAIR:
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THE LEAF:
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“Engineered with extreme endurance testing and real-parent problem solving in mind, our simple products take some work out of being a new parent.”

I think my favorite concept is that of the leaf baby seat, “inspired by the carefree float of a leaf on a breeze,” here is Cassandra enjoying the oversize display at the end of the day:
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http://nuna.eu/USA/
infousa@nuna.eu

Crane and Rhoost
Humidifiers designed for better living
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“Crane Cool Mist humidifiers provide the necessary moisture to relieve nasal decongestion.  Running a cool mist humidifier in your baby’s room at night will not only thin your baby’s nasal mucus, but will help your baby sleep peacefully at night.”

www.crane-usa.com

Britax
“Thoughtfully Designed to Fit Your Family from Birth to Booster.”

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“At BRITAX, our commitment to improving child safety through research, testing, design and community advocacy is unparalleled.  We design our car seats to exceed safety standards set be the federal government and continually enhance our products with new technologies that distribute crash forces away from your child during a crash.”

888.427.4829
www.BritaxUSA.com
www.WinBRITAX.com

HIP MOMMY
“A Unique Collection of Beautiful Accessories for New Moms”

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“We offer Babywearing classes and consultations by a certified Babywearing Educator.”

805.225.4476
hello@hipmommy.com
www.hipmommy.com

Hippilongstockings
Groovy stylin’ headbands, leg warmers, hats and more!

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“With every purchase you make, Hippilongstockings.com will send a coordinating item to a child in need. Enclosed with your purchase will be a “Giving the Gift of Good!”card with the item that was donated on your behalf, and who will receive that item. Every single purchase you make will be a gift you are giving a child; a headband or hat to boost a child’s self esteem, blankets for long cold nights for kids who don’t have a home, along with jackets, warm hats and toothbrushes. Hopefully you can find something for a child you love and at the same time you will be bringing some love to a child you will never know! Thank you for helping us in “Giving the Gift of Good”!”

www.hippilongstockings.com

clek
WTF: what’s the foonf? the mother of all car seats

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“Foonf was designed to international best practices for extended rear-facing use, which is to accommodate children in a rear-facing position until their 4th birthday.  Foonf features an Anti-Rebound Bar for improved stability and performance in the event of a collision.”

http://www.clekinc.com/

Baby Hawk
“Comfort. Style. Freedom. Custom designed baby carriers.”

BLOG mommycon babyhawk

BabyHawk Mei Tai – newborn to 40 pounds – Front, Back or Hip carry
Oh Snap! Soft Structured Carrier – 15-45 pounds – Front or Back carry

Founded in 2005, BabyHawk Inc. is a certified woman-owned and proud US manufacturer of Baby Carriers.  As a privately held company BabyHawk is proud to be the quality leader in the custom made Baby Carrier industry through innovative product design, merchandising and product quality.  In order to facilitate the company’s ability to develop new accessories and accommodate on time delivery deadlines, BabyHawk manages it’s own sewing and manufacturing facility.

info@babyhawk.com
888.599.4295

Onya Baby
For children 15-45 pounds

BLOG mommycon onya

“Onya Baby carriers are ergonomically designed to provide optimal comfort for both the parent and child.  Onya carriers have unique quality features, such as cutting-edge performance fabrics, large storage pockets and a built-in seat harness.  That’s what makes Onya Baby carriers stand out in a field of similar soft-structured carriers. You know that both your baby and you will be confortable and cool for long walks and, when you’re ready for a rest, you can stop anywhere knowing that, as long as there’s a chair nearby, you’ll have a safe seat for baby.”

www.onyababy.com
877.914.ONYA

Milkin’ Cookies
Delicious Lactation Cookies for Nursing Moms

BLOG mommycon cookies

“Created by two physician moms to support their own breastfeeding goals, Milkin’ Cookies are delicious, award-winning cookies packed with healthy ingredients to boost breast milk production.”
(Good luck keeping every one’s hands out of the cookie jar!! These are yummy!!)

www.milkin-cookies.com

CLUB MOMME
The place for moms + moms-to-be

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“A social and educational community for moms, expectant parents, and families in Los Angeles: Expectant Parent Dinners, Lunch and Learns, MomMepreneurship & Working Moms Events, MomMe’s Night Out, Pre/Post Natal Workouts & Seminars, Holiday socials, picnic, playgroups and more!”

www.clubmomme.com

happy family
Organic Superfoods

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“Happy Family was founded and is operated by moms.  Shazi – our founder and CEO – started Happy Family to craft organic meals and snacks that nourish the most important parts of our lives: our families.  She and the entire Happy Family team have grown the business by caring about healthy, happy children just as much as you do.  That’s why we have moms all over the country to help spread the word about eating organic.”
Find a Happy Mama near you at:
www.happyfamilybrands.com

Bump Club and Beyond
“Where moms and moms-to-be connect”

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“Bump Club and Beyond is the largest social company in the country where moms and moms-to-be connect. Check out BumpClubandBeyond.com and join us for an event including our Beautiful Bellies and Beyond FREE fitness!”
www.bumpclubandbeyond.com
info@bumpclubandbeyond.com

The Pump Station Nursing Lounge

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The Babywearing Lounge hosted by Beco and Ergo
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We hope you enjoyed the tour of Mommy Con LA!! If you have any pictures that we should add to our post, please send them!! We missed pics of the BabyHawks and the Onya carrier, as well as the Clek Car Seat Connection.

What was your favorite stop at MommyCon??

Trying to use humor…

I have been working with Blue Russ to address my health choices and find more time to breathe in my day.  One of my goals is to write affirmations to get the day off to a good start.  I found this one helpful the last time I could tell I was ovulating: the skin breakouts, cervical mucous, and the general feeling that my volume was louder than I like it to be.

Remembering this did help me last month – it was awesome.  Too bad I forgot to use it that day.  Turns out it was a couple of days before my moon time – I should have known and remembered to use humor…chalk up another tally mark next to “lessons I must remember”!!

Thoughtful Thursday: On Being “That” Mom

me taking the 1,456th pictures of my son & I, can't get enough of him!

me taking the 1,456th pictures of my son & I – can’t get enough of him!

 

 

Happy Thursday! Today I thought I would share some random thoughts about mama-hood that are always bouncing around my head. Specifically about stereotypes and being “that” mom.

The mom that always gets funny looks & sideways glances, at the park, at toddler classes, at the museum, at restaurants. I am definitely “that” mom.

“That” Mom whose child always has snot/drool/etc. on his face

T gets a runny nose with every set of teeth that come in, it has happened every single time since his first set at 5 ½ months. I know it is due to his teeth and sometimes even progresses to a cough. Read more about that here. I know he isn’t “sick” and I follow his cues on if we need to stay home, take it easy, or go about with our normal activities. In addition to that, I try really hard every day to respect my son’s body and space. I allow him to wipe his own face and recently his dad taught him to blow his nose, yes it is not as efficient as me holding him and doing a rough swoop to get everything but when/if it bothers him, he knows how to take care of it himself.

“That” Mom who is always super late

Living on a toddler‘s timetable is a foolproof way to never get anywhere even remotely on time. T likes to take his time: waking up, getting dressed, eating, going to the bathroom, going to sleep, walking, pretty much everything. He needs natural, organic transitions from one activity to the next and we have a much more harmonious relationship when I provide that. Both of us are happier and working together and it makes for much smoother, calmer days. Do I sometimes feel like my entire life is dictated by what a very small human feels or wants right then? Yes. Is it hard to deal with sometimes? Yes. But in reality, that is my life. Right now, my entire days revolve around facilitating my son’s journey; it is a very short period in what I hope to be a very long life for him, so yes, he most often decides when.

“That” Mom who always has stuff on her clothes

Yes, I am a mess everyday. I walk and bike where we need to go and am often sweaty. I always sit on the ground with my son and inevitably get grass, dirt, dew, you name it, on my clothes. My son is also a “nibbler”. He has food out all day long (and snacks when we are out and about) and alternates between playing and eating and checking in with me for a hug, kiss, pick up, nursing and whatever is on his hands always ends up on my shirt, pants, or in my hair. If it’s not that, it’s one of the above that is now a permanent stain. At a point in the future, parenting will be much more hands off, and maybe then I will manage to keep myself clean. I parallel it with the quote by Mary Randolph Carter that “A perfectly kept house is the sign of a misspent life”. My clothes are definitely representative of all the “living” we have done that day.

‘”That” Mom who treats her toddler “like a baby”

I wear my son in a front carry most places we go. I am almost always hugging him, cuddling him, kissing him, or just rubbing his back while he sits in my lap. He sleeps in our family bed for naps and nighttime. I nurse him whenever he wants and if he wants my attention or me close by, I give it to him. He amazes me almost daily with how much he knows, understands, comprehends, and observes for someone so young. He is definitely a little person of his own, and far from having the dependant nature of an infant that only knows being close to mama, breastfeeding, and touch, but he still enjoys those things, and in my opinion, at this point they are nothing but beneficial. He will grow up and be his own, independent being, but as of now he has only been on this earth for 17 months of what will hopefully be 100+ years. In the grand scheme of things, he is still a baby.

“That” Mom who is always talking about her child

Being a mama is my job right now, and I take it very seriously. So yes, I pretty much only talk about my work. And yes, I can tell you are not that interested but it’s my life and it is pretty all consuming for me. I also am just so obsessed with my son; he is the best.

“That” Mom who never tells her child no

I was explaining “gentle hands” to T after he was hitting me the other week and another parent I was talking with commented, “Gentle hands? Does that actually work? Doesn’t he know what ‘no’ means?”

I choose to always explain why or how we do things with T. Regardless of whether or not it is most effective immediately, I believe it is the right way to interact with him and will yield the most positive behavioral results in the long run.

It has been a crazy journey thus far, but as of now I have really embraced what kind of mama I am. I find myself being less and less self conscious about all of the things above as time passes too. Mostly, it has been a lesson for me in not judging, not labeling, and not isolating myself because some people choose to do things differently. No matter what kind of mom I am, I am trying my hardest everyday and that is all that matters. Funny looks, comments, and my own insecurities aside, I try to remind myself of that as often as I can.

There is also no greater feeling than being surrounding by other mamas who support, uplift, and laugh with you no matter *what* kind of mom you are that day. Finding our tribe in Arizona was invaluable to me that first year, we are still working on finding our perfect place here in California <3

Share your thoughts with us! How do you see yourself in your role as mom? How do other people see you? Has being a mom made you less prone to judging others?? I love hearing other mamas stories and perspectives!

Explaining Breastfeeding to Children

As we continue with Breastfeeding Awareness Month posts, it made sense to write about children and breastfeeding on our family blog.  Pictured above is an image from the Alpha Parent’s blog listing children’s book that show and/or talk about breastfeeding.  I think that picture pretty much sums up how older siblings feel about new babies and nursing!

So, continuing on with yesterday’s Thoughtful Thursday topic,  “Normalize Breastfeeding” over at Sweet Pea Births, how do you explain breastfeeding to children?  Here are the things that worked for us.

Siblings:
If you breastfed your older child(ren), it is helpful to share pictures of you breastfeeding them.  It is natural for children to feel jealous of all the time the new baby will be spending with Mommy.  Showing them how they were fed and close to you until they became more independent may help.

Side note:  My friend Rachel Davis made a photo book for her children showing their progression through pregnancy, labor, birth and their first year.  Depending on how old they are, it may help the older sibling understand that the newborn phase is not forever and that soon, they will not feel like all your time is consumed by the baby.  She does caution to be mindful of which pictures you put in there…your child will be proud of this book and show it to anyone and everyone that will read it with them.

We have also taken the time to point out all the things we will still be able to do with them while nursing the younger sibling(s):

      • we can snuggle together and read a book
      • we can sit on the floor and do a puzzle
      • we can sit next to each other and play quietly or color
      • they can let the baby fall asleep so we can get our own together time without the baby

We have found that including them in the nursing sessions helps them feel like they are still part of the “inner circle”.  We try to be mindful that although they may have weaned, they still crave our time and our touch.

I also take the time to show them the mechanics of nursing.  How does the baby latch?  How can we tell if the baby is actually feeding for nutrition, or might they be comfort nursing?  Does it hurt?  I want them to not just accept it, but to learn about how to nurse.  If they have more questions, we talk about them.

Talking to children outside your family:
I have nursed our children wherever and whenever they have been hungry.  Sometimes that is at a family gathering, at a playdate, at a park.  When I nursed with a nursing cover, children would be curious and want to know what was going on under the cover.  I would ask the parents permission first, and if it was okay with them, I’d let them look under the cover to see the baby nurse.  If parents were not okay with it, they would simply tell their children that it was not okay and to leave us alone.

Either way, I would take a second to tell the children that I was feeding our baby my milk. I made sure to say it was one of the ways to feed children, being mindful that maybe they were fed differently.  Again, if they had more questions, I would answer them.  Some questions I got:

  • How long did the baby eat?
  • When would they start eating food?
  • Did I ever give them a bottle?

Now that I nurse with a loose blouse instead of a cover, the nursing is not under or hidden.  Curiously, I get less questions about breastfeeding – isn’t that interesting?  Nothing to hide, nothing to explain.

Have you talked to children within or outside your immediate family about breastfeeding?  What did you share with them?

Want to read more about normalizing breastfeeding with the younger generation?  Try THIS piece about breastfeeding on a children’s program, published January 2012.

Tuesday Tip: Breastfeeding and Grandmas

I was visiting with a student yesterday and she mentioned that once again her mother is questioning her decisions with her formerly exclusively breastfed baby…now that he is six months old they have started baby-led weaning.

It is hot here in Arizona – grandparents are concerned about their grandchildren for good reason – they want to make sure their grandbabies are staying hydrated as our temperatures stay in the 100’s.  I know she is not the first mama to from a well-meaning adult that, “It was good enough for you” or, “I did it with you and you turned out fine.”

As a mama, speak kindly to them; remember that their words are for their benefit, not yours.  You have done your research and you know you are doing the right thing by exclusively breastfeeding your healthy baby.  A quote I love to bear in mind in these situations is from my friend Cherise Sant, “We are creating the future, not living in the past.”

Here are some breastfeeding facts to share with your mom, or anyone else from the generation of parents who were told that formula was better than breastmilk:

  • Breastmilk is 88% water
  • Introducing other liquids carries the risk of introducing allergens and other contaminants
  • A breastfed baby who is fed on-cue is going to stay hydrated
  • Research has shown that breastmilk is a live fluid: it is pure, fresh and perfectly combined with the vitamins, minerals, nutrients, fats, antibodies and hormones your baby needs at every feed, delivered with the 88% water content.

Read more about water and other liquid supplementation at KellyMom

 

My Boss Said Yes

Welcome to The Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival!

This post was written as part of the Breastfeeding Cafe’s Carnival. For more info on the Breastfeeding Cafe, go to www.breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com. For more info on the Carnival or if you want to participate, contact Claire at clindstrom2 {at} gmail {dot} com. Today’s post is about your most unlikely support. Please read the other blogs in today’s carnival listed below and check back for more posts July 22nd through August 4th!

I have often said that I am one of the luckiest mamas in the world: I got to work and feed my baby as she needed to be fed because my boss said, “Yes.”

I was a ballroom dance instructor before I got married.  We got married, got pregnant, and I kept teaching until I was put on bedrest…once that confinement was over, I worked part time at the dance studio.  The understanding was that I would help out until our child was born, and then I was going to retire because I wanted to stay at home with her.  At the time, I couldn’t imagine doing it any other way.

Here we are goofing around after an event at the studio – dancers – always good for a pose!

Baby arrived, we are blissfully on our way as a family.  I miss dancing, and I miss teaching, however, being home with this incredible miracle of life is so amazing.  My husband is traveling a lot for his company.  Puma and I are finding our way as a MotherBaby.

Around the time when Puma turned four months old, I get a call from my former employer.  He asks how we are, how are things going, and what would it take for me to come back to work for him.  Mostly because I think he will never go for it, I say, “I would need to bring Puma with me.”

“Yes. Ok.  When do you want to start?”

My jaw hit the floor, and then the realization that my boss was serious.  He was saying yes to me doing what I loved all day long – dancing, teaching, and being a mommy.

He was true to his word.  He let me set-up a make shift nursery in what became “our” office.  I put a changing table in the women’s room.  I got to wear her in my sling as I taught.  She got to nurse when she needed to nurse, no questions asked.

I did bring a bottle of pumped milk to work with me on the days I knew I might not be able to nurse her right on cue – maybe I would be in the middle of a management duty, or she would wake up from a nap when it wasn’t immediately convenient to nurse.

I have been eternally grateful for the opportunity to keep working and still achieve my first priority – nurture and raise our child.  I know I was so blessed with a boss who valued me enough as an employee that he was willing to try something that is pretty unheard of in the USA.  It breaks my heart every time I hear about or see our Bradley™ students agonize over finding childcare before their maternity leave is over.

I am ready to find a way to normalize the MotherBabys in the workplace.  Surely, if I could manage in a setting that had me moving constantly, training staff and teaching students, someone who has a more sedentary job could do the same.  I still have to work out the piece about teachers being allowed to bring their babies to work – I know that the idea of breastfeeding in front of children of any age will cause problems for most people.  The irony is, that especially among the younger set, they are the most curious and accepting of nature’s way.

So here it is – an official thank you, in front of the whole world, to my amazing boss and dance partner, Harrison Powers, who made it possible for me to keep my love for dance alive while I got to do what is nearest and dearest to my heart: be with our baby.

She went on to nurse for 22 months, due in large part because we got off to a good start at home, and I was able to work without being away from her when she was an infant.  If and when I find them, I will post a picture of her first birthday party at the studio.  It was a beautiful tribute to this little gal who reminded us all of the joys of childhood as we got to watch her learn to crawl, dance and walk…in that order.  Most of all, it is a testimony to the big heart and open mind of one man, who knew that a MotherBaby should not be separated and did everything he could to make it so.

Ysabella still remembers being carried up high like this - Harrison was trying to teach her to "fly"

Ysabella still remembers being carried up high like this – Harrison was trying to teach her to “fly”

 

Puma learning to walk at the studio

Puma learning to walk at the studio

P.S. How the story went on: I kept on teaching and managing the studio until Puma was 18 months old. At that point, it was clear that we all needed more space.  Harrison was kind enough to let me run a management training course once a week – it served us both.  I am now a SAHM working mama to four kiddos, and he has moved on to being a vacation rental concierge and selling homes in the Phoenix area (visit him HERE ).

 

Here are more post by the Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival participants! Check back because more will be added throughout the day.

Thoughtful Thursday: Nursing in Public

We are giving a new blog feature a try.  Here is our first “Thoughtful Thursday”: Reflections on things that have worked for our family

breastfeedingcafecarnivalWelcome to The Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival!

This post was written as part of the Breastfeeding Cafe’s Carnival. For more info on the Breastfeeding Cafe, go to www.breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com. For more info on the Carnival or if you want to participate, contact Claire at clindstrom2 {at} gmail {dot} com. Today’s post is breastfeeding in public. Please read the other blogs in today’s carnival listed below and check back for more posts July 22nd through August 4th!

Thanks to the efforts of groups like the Breastfeeding Café, more mothers who breastfeed know it is okay to feed their hungry babies wherever and whenever they are.  I have been the beneficiary of all the groundwork laid by groups that are hard at work to normalize breastfeeding.

Here are the tips that helped me gain confidence as a breastfeeding mother who fed her baby outside of the home, as well as some that I have seen our Bradley Method® students use successfully:

  • Attend a La Leche League or other support group meeting so you can see what nursing looks like.  You will see people nursing lots of different ways, and maybe you will see a style of nursing that looks like it will work for you.  There are nursing covers, nursing shawls, nursing ponchos, nursing wear that lifts up, tank tops with easy access, the list goes on.  You will see mamas ditching it all and simply lifting their breast out of their shirt and offering it to their nursling…seeing it in action may help you decide what you want to try first.
  • Go out with your partner or a friend the first few times you nurse in public.  Especially as a new mom, it’s very stressful to have your baby crying, feeling like you can’t move fast enough, and you are all slippery-fingered from sweat and “flusteration” (flustered and frustrated at the same time!).  Your support person can help you get organized while providing moral and physical support, reminding you that you are not alone.
  • Find out where other nursing moms go because they have found them to be baby/breastfeeding friendly.  Your local mamas will know who has a nice lounge in the women’s room (Nordstrom’s near us has one), or where to go where there are changing tables and comfy chairs (i.e., IKEA family restrooms have a room separate from the commode, Babies R’Us nursing rooms).  Check in with the mamas at the support group and they can probably rattle off a list of shops, restaurants and other businesses that you can go without feeling intimidated.
  • Travel as a pack with your mama tribe.  One MotherBaby pair is easy to pick on.  Two women will give someone who is thinking of saying something pause.  Three or more MotherBabys in a group and I am guessing you will be left alone, especially if one or more of you are nursing your baby as needed.  You also have a trusted companion to keep an eye on you (nothing showing that you don’t want showing as you NIP) or your baby (maybe you need to use the ladies’ room) as needed.
  • Know your rights as a breastfeeding mama under the law (click HERE for a state by state look).  Forty-five states* in the US have laws on the books that protect your right to breastfeed wherever you are lawfully present.  Some states take it even further and put fines in place so that anyone who harasses a breastfeeding MotherBaby is held accountable.  If you are approached, kindly inform the messenger that you and your baby are lawfully present as you are.  Would they like to be reassigned to a different section (i.e., if you are at a restaurant), or would the complaining party like to be relocated?
Do you have a business card to hand someone who questions your right to breastfeed? If not, contact me and I will send you one.

There is no such thing as “lawfully breastfeeding”. The question is, “Does this state protect my right to breastfeed with law(s)?”

When I look at what is most important about this topic is for mamas, I believe it is to be liberated from nursing in their car or the public bathroom just so that they don’t offend anyone.  Especially new mamas who are already worried enough about what they are and aren’t doing right…a basic necessity like meeting hunger needs should be easy and carefree for them.  As a society, we need to grow up and just let them nurse already, without having it become a major news story!

Closing thought:
You do not need permission to breastfeed somewhere.  It is a human right for a MotherBaby to feed and receive nourishment in accordance with Nature’s design.

What is your tip that has helped you with breastfeeding more confidently in public?

* Idaho, Michigan, South Dakota, Virginia have protection from indecency laws, but there is nothing that specifically allows a mother’s right to breastfeed at any public or private location.  West Virginia has nothing on the books in regards to nursing in public.

 

Here are more post by the Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival participants! Check back because more will be added throughout the day.

Tandem Nursing…Extended

breastfeedingcafecarnivalWelcome to The Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival!

This post was written as part of the Breastfeeding Cafe’s Carnival. For more info on the Breastfeeding Cafe, go to www.breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com. For more info on the Carnival or if you want to participate, contact Claire at clindstrom2 {at} gmail {dot} com. Today’s post is about breastfeeding multiple children. Please read the other blogs in today’s carnival listed below and check back for more posts July 22nd through August 4th!

I got pregnant with our third child much sooner than we expected, and because I was having contractions every time we breastfed, my doctor recommended that I stop breastfeeding.  She told me that my body was responding appropriately to the oxytocin that is produced every time I nursed, and that my body could spontaneously abort the pregnancy if I didn’t stop.

I was heartbroken because of all our children, our second child really needed the benefits of extended breastfeeding.  He has had food allergies since birth, and on top of that, he had an episode of RSV as an infant that left him with symptoms of asthma.  He definitely could have used the extra immunity and nutrition of toddler feeding.  However, since we had already had one miscarriage, I knew I would regret another one.   We weaned within a week of deciding to preserve the pregnancy.

After our third child was born, I began the process to become a childbirth educator.  As part of my training, I had to attend two La Leche League meetings.  At one of the meetings, I met a mom who was in her third trimester and still nursing her toddler.  After the initial shock and heartbreak, I pulled myself together and started asking her questions.  Did she have contractions when she nursed?  Was it uncomfortable?  What had her doctor said?  I learned that nursing through the pregnancy had been possible for her, so that was one sliver of hope that maybe I wouldn’t have to do an emergency weaning if I got pregnant again.

As a childbirth educator, I also got more involved with our local birth community.  Thanks to the different events around birth and breastfeeding, I kept running into a mama who nursed through her pregnancies and was nursing a toddler as well as her infant!  Not just one nursling, but two at a time!!  Wow!  This really opened my eyes to the possibility of nursing past the second birthday.  Here was living proof that tandem nursing was not just for twins.  Tandem nursing could also apply to siblings of different ages.

Empowered by these examples, I was determined to at least try to nurse through a pregnancy.  I was hoping I would get to be a tandem-nursing mama, however a safe pregnancy was first and foremost in my mind.  My original goal was to allow our child and I to determine the end of our breastfeeding relationship together. From the anecdotal stories I had heard about pregnancy and breastfeeding, I figured one of two things would happen.  Either our third child would stop nursing if and when the milk changed flavor after the pregnancy was established, or that he would lose interest once the milk dried up or changed to colostrum.

We got pregnant again when our third was 18 months old.  Just as before, I would start feeling contractions when he nursed.  Instead of worrying this time, I reminded myself that I knew two women who had nursed through pregnancies.  I held onto the idea that if they could do it, so could I.  When I felt contractions as I nursed, I started doing self-talk with my body and our baby.  I would repeat this mantra:  “Everything is okay.  Baby, you are safe.  These contractions are making milk.  Stay safe inside. I love you.” It know it might sound a little crazy, and am in no way suggesting that this will work for everyone.   However, it did work for me. I was grateful the relaxation and the calm frame of mind let me accomplish our goal.

Well, much to my surprise, I neared the end of my pregnancy and I still had a nursling.  Now he was two years old.  I could see that I had colostrum – and I could smell that it was salty.  I asked our child, “Are you sure you still want to nurse,” to which he emphatically shook his head, “yes,” and continued on.

Besides the mama examples, I credit my success in tandem nursing to the support from my local La Leche League chapter.  One of the leaders had nursed an infant and a toddler and she told me what to expect.  She also told me how to handle inquiries about the amount of nutrients for each child.  Here is what I learned:

  1. Once my milk came in, it was going to be like sweet cream for my toddler and to expect a new surge of interest.
  2. Set firm expectations with our toddler – when we would be breastfeeding, and how was that time going to work: feed the children together, feed them independently, would there be specific places that would be our nursing locations?  Once I set those parameters, try to stick to them since consistency works well with toddlers.
  3. Feed the baby first – she suggested making that a non-negotiable.  She also suggested to get my partner’s buy-in on that.  With both of us reminding our toddler that the baby nursed first, and my partner helping him wait patiently, we could be sure that the baby was going to get the nourishment she needed and that her needs were met before we traded the kiddos.
  4. I read and sent these two resources to a family member, who was very concerned about tandem nursing and the baby getting enough of the milk that she needed.  It came up in almost every conversation as the due date approached.  HERE is an article from the La Leche League website (they have since added THIS collection of links to their site), and HERE is another great link list from the trusted KellyMom page.

By educating myself on the possibility of nursing through a pregnancy, and preparing myself for tandem breastfeeding, I was able to accomplish my goal…I was allowing our child to determine his weaning schedule.  I was honoring his need to breastfeed, and I was not feeling any remorse about the choices I made.  We welcomed a healthy daughter in October of 2011, and I have been breastfeeding both children since then.

Yes, both.  As it turns out, I did more than accomplish my goal of simply nursing through a pregnancy.  I did get to be a tandem-nursing mama, and for a lot longer than I expected.  He is going to turn four tomorrow.  I can now say I am an extended breastfeeding mama.

I stopped nursing in public with our toddler as my pregnancy progressed.  I found it very hard to get comfortable as my belly grew, besides the fact I had two other children to keep track of.  Other than making the decision to nurse at home, I didn’t think anything of nursing a two-year old.

Then his third birthday came and went.  He was only nursing in the morning or at night, sometimes for a nap.  I started to wonder what house guests would think, and at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter.  The relationship has still been beneficial to both of us.

He is one of our healthiest children – any cold he does get passes quickly and without incidence.  Last winter, his younger sister went on a nursing strike.  With his help, I was able to keep my supply up between his nursing and some hand expression.  He got a nasty stomach bug this spring – while it lasted 24-48 hours in the rest of us, he and his little sister only had it for a few hours.  Recently, he caught a cough that was going around.  As an experiment, I increased his breastfeeding – it seemed to help!

It has been a quandary.  While it has been great to increase the amount he nurses under beneficial circumstances, in the back of my mind I worry about sending him the wrong message.  While I treasure being a source of nourishment and antibodies, I feel like it is important for him to start finding other coping mechanisms as he turns four.  While I can never replace the health benefits of nursing, I have to trust that he has a well-developed immune system that can cope well enough without breastmilk.

In the last two weeks, I have definitely started to see a decrease in his interest to nurse.  Part of it has been the message my husband and I have been relaying to him.  We remind him he is going to be four, and we wanted him to start finding other ways to self-soothe when he was tired or upset.  We agreed that it was important to expand his repertoire of coping techniques.  I also think part of it is the natural weaning – although he still asks, he nurses for literally 60 seconds, and then he is off and running in a different direction.

I am finally going public with our extended breastfeeding story because it may help another mama look at her choices with more confidence, or maybe even consider extended nursing as a possibility.  I want other mamas to know they are not alone if they want to breastfeed through a pregnancy.  I want to lend courage to another mama who may feel pressure to wean a toddler although she and her nursling might not be ready.  My favorite idea that has guided me through this extended breastfeeding relationship is from our La Leche League group: Breastfeeding is a dance.  Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow.

My extension to that thought:  You continue the dance as long as it is mutually beneficial.  When one of you is ready to stop dancing, you honor each other with a mutually peaceful and loving transition.

Wishing you breastfeeding mamas a beautiful dance with your nurslings!  Enjoy the dance in the moment.  When the music ends and it’s time to clear the floor, I hope you leave the floor with happy memories.  Go forward with the knowledge that you and your child will continue to be a great team as you move onto the next chapter of your relationship.

 

 

 
Here are more post by the Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival participants! Check back because more will be added throughout the day.

Exploring Attachment Parenting

Great news!!  There is a new support group in the Phoenix, Arizona area for parents who want to learn more about and practice Attachment Parenting.

I had the pleasure of attending the first meeting yesterday.  It was so great to be in a room with 6 other families who are seeking to nurture their families the AP way.  Dr. Sears is credited for coining the term “Attachment Parenting” and with bringing awareness to it in his book, The Attachment Parenting Book.  Here is his explanation of what it is from his website, www.askdrsears.com:

Attachment parenting is a style of caring for your infant that brings out the best in the baby and the best in the parents.  Attachment parenting implies first opening your mind and heart to the individual needs of your baby, and eventually you will develop the wisdom on how to make on-the-spot decisions on what works best for both you and your baby.

A close attachment after birth and beyond allows the natural, biological attachment-promoting behaviors of the infant and the intuitive, biological, caregiving qualities of the mother to come together. Both members of this biological pair get off to the right start at a time when the infant is most needy and the mother is most ready to nurture. Bonding is a series of steps in your lifelong growing together with your child.
http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/attachment-parenting

Amanda Santana is the facilitator for the Phoenix group.  She is certified through Attachment Parenting International.  Her goal is to start a support group to educate and empower other parents, and to find people who are interested in becoming certified so that there can be co-leaders in place to start more groups throughout the Phoenix area.

The topic of yesterday’s meeting was, “What is Attachment Parenting?”  The next few meetings will be devoted to exploring each of the eight principles of AP in more depth.  The group will also talk about how to incorporate them into your family life if you think that the principle will work for you.

One of the takeaways from yesterday’s meeting:
4 P’s to help you identify child(ren)’s needs

  • Proximity – babywearing and co-sleeping for maximum comfort children 
  • Protection – practicing safe sleeping and babywearing
  • Predictability – responding to baby’s cues as they are demonstrating their needs
  • Play – provide a safe environment for discovery, and as the child grows, facilitating interactions that empower and teach children about peaceful social interaction

The other take-away from yesterday that I want to share with you:
The Eight Principles are guidelines.
Amanda emphasized that Attachment Parenting provides guidelines.  The Eight Principles are not Hard and Fast Rules.  They are ideas that have worked for other families to facilitate peaceful parenting.  Your attendance does not mean that you have to accept all eight principles.  A family does not have to practice or own any of the principles that do not “fit”, they just have to honor that other families may choose differently.

Amanda also stated that while the goal was to work through the eight principles in the next few meetings, she is open to being flexible.  The support group addresses topics as they arise as per the needs of the group.  If she is a cluster of getting emails along the same topics, she will bring them up to the group for discussion so that meetings are useful and relevant to those they are attending.

The group will be meeting on the third Thursday of every month at 10:00 am.  It is held at the Moxie Midwifery office, 5505 W Chandler Blvd Ste #5, Chandler, AZ 85226.  For any questions about Attachment Parenting or the Phoenix support group, you can reach Amanda via email at AZNB.Amanda@gmail.com

HERE are some questions to discuss with your partner whether you are expecting, living with a newborn, or rethinking your parenting style with older children.  We worked through these to help clarify what our goals were for our family.  As it turns out, a lot of what Attachment Parenting believes are choices that fit for our clan of six.  Even if these answers don’t lead you down the path to attachment parenting, having some clarity about your goals as a family may be helpful in guiding you to the choices that are right for your family.

What do you think – have you explored Attachment Parenting?  Has it worked for you? Please leave us a comment – it will be moderated and posted.

More about Attachment Parenting:
From Dr. Sears

From Attachment Parenting International:

Disclaimer:
The material included on this site is for informational purposes only.
It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation.  Krystyna and Bruss Bowman, Bowman House, LLC and Cassandra Okamoto accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.