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By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
Arabella Greatorex, owner of The Natural Nursery, reports on the rapidly rising demand for natural, environmentally friendly and ethically sound parenting products and highlights some of the concerns that have fuelled these demands.
Organic Food
There has been much media debate around the promotion of heavily processed foods to children, part of a long standing concern about the quality of food on offer in the UK. While some say the jury is still out on issues such as pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables, it is worth noting that only 30 additives are allowed in organic food, compared to over 300 in non-organic. Specifically, organic food bans the use of tartrazine (linked to hyperactivity in children) and GM ingredients.
The Soil Association reports that sales in organic food grew by 10% last year overall and purchases from farm shops and box schemes by a whopping 16%. This means that over 75% of households bought some organic food during 2004.
Organic baby and toddler foods now account for nearly half of total baby foods in the UK, with its market share growing rapidly, highlighting the level of concern felt by parents, and is a trend that looks set to continue.
Cloth Nappies
Modern cloth nappies bear no resemblance to the old-fashioned terry squares you probably wore as a child. They are cheaper and more hygienic to use than their disposable counterparts and parents are fast cottoning on to this. Ten years ago, only 2% of parents used cloth nappies; that figure has now grown to over 15% and is rising steadily.
Despite this growth in cloth nappy use, Bristol City Council still spends around £500,000 each year dealing with disposable nappies. Conventional disposable nappies can contain up to 200 chemicals and some estimates say they will take over 200 years to decompose.
The alternative is to use cloth nappies, which are now available in a wide range of shapes and sizes and can be just as easy to use as disposables. You can choose from so soft organic terry or a natural eco-look or funky fleece prints or even retro patterns to really make a statement. They can be flat, shaped or stuffed, depending upon your child’s personal needs and you will find other ‘clothies’ are more than happy to help you decide which nappy is right for you.
They could help you save money as well; the Women’s Environmental Network estimate that savings will be around £500 for the first child and more for subsequent children, even taking into account the cost of home laundering.
Chemical Free Toiletries
Your skin will absorb around 60% of products applied to it and Green People estimates that the average woman will absorb about 2kg of chemicals through toiletries and cosmetics over one year, up to 75,000 different chemicals! We all know how sensitive a baby’s skin is and rates of eczema are rising fast with almost a third of babies now suffering from it.
Many people believe that the chemicals in the lotions and potions that we use are to blame. Even some so called ‘natural’ products contain a range of chemicals that are believed to cause or exacerbate skin conditions or be carcinogenic, even if they are originally plant derived. Worryingly, a product needs to contain only 1% natural ingredients to be legally labelled ‘natural’.
Natural, organic and chemical free toiletries are no longer the preserve of the health food shop but are widely available on the high street or from specialist internet companies. The Soil Association estimate that there will be a 20% increase in the number of licensed organic manufacturers this year, reflecting the huge surge in demand, especially amongst families with young children.
Fair trade
When you are buying clothes or toys for your baby, international trade may seem like a remote issue but by choosing carefully, you could make all the difference to someone else’s life. Farmers in the developing world are ill-equipped to cope with dramatic changes in commodity prices, which are caused by factors outside the control of the individuals most concerned.
Parents are being offered an increasing range of fairly or ethically traded products, including clothes, shoes, toys, toiletries and nappies. Sales of ‘Fairtrade’ marked goods are now well over £100m per year in the UK alone, up 46% on last year and we eat a third of a million fair trade bananas every DAY!
The growth in organic cotton
Most people assume that as cotton is a natural product, it is produced naturally, unfortunately, this is not the case. Around 150 grams of hazardous chemical pesticides will be used to grow enough cotton to make one t-shirt. The cotton farming industry accounts for about 1/4 of the world’s insecticide use as well as huge amounts of fertilisers that can end up in the water system and food chain.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 20,000 people die every year in developing countries as a result of poisoning from pesticides used on non-organic cotton. Worryingly, much of the world’s cotton production comes from genetically modified crops: over 2/3rds of China’s cotton crop is GM.
Luckily, more and more organic textiles are now available and there has been an 80% increase in the worldwide production of organic cotton in the last 2 years, with sales in the UK alone now worth over £20m from almost zero a couple of years ago. You can now buy organic clothes, bedding, towels, sheepskins and nappies from a range of suppliers – even good old Marks and Spencer sell a range of organic cotton yoga clothes.
Katharine Hamnett, fashion designer, says: “This is part of a rapidly growing trend reflecting increasing consumer awareness and concern over global issues to do with the impact of pesticides, herbicides, dioxins and toxic chemicals used in textiles, on the environment and human heath. The good news is that this shows people are actually looking for positive alternatives.”
And for the daddies
The Ecologist Magazine recently studied the contents of a can of shaving gel and found it to contain ‘several skin irritants, four potential carcinogens, three central nervous system poisons and two reproductive toxins’ – and all this before breakfast!
Arabella Greatorex is the owner of www.naturalnursery.co.uk, an online store selling organic and fairly traded products for families including organic clothing and nappies, fairly traded toys and natural toiletries.
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
These make quite alarming reading – if we want to have any kind of planet to pass on to our children and grandchildren, perhaps we need to be a little more aware of our actions.
No one has to save the planet single-handedly but if we each took a few small steps, we can achieve great things together.
- We get through nearly 3 billion disposable nappies each year in the UK alone and around 90% of these end up on landfill sites. Disposable nappies take 500 years to decompose.
- Over 20,000 tonnes of batteries are sent to landfill site in the UK each year. It takes 50 times more energy to make a battery than it gives during its life.
- Each day, we produce enough rubbish to fill Trafalgar Square to the height of Nelson’s Column.
- Each year, one person gets through 90 drink cans, 70 food cans, 107 bottles and jars and 45kg of plastic.
- 55 million 2-litre plastic bottles are thrown away in Bristol each year.
- The UK uses about 12 billion cans each year – that’s enough to stretch to the moon and back!
- On average each person in England and Wales produces nearly 500kg of household waste a year.
- 7 million trees are cut down every year just to make disposable nappies.
- The average British family throws away 6 trees worth of paper in their household bin a year.
- Every tonne of paper recycled saves 17 trees.
- 25% of household waste is packaging and we throw £36 million worth of aluminium into landfill sites.
- Five out of six glass bottles are thrown away.
Arabella Greatorex is the owner of www.naturalnursery.co.uk, an online store selling organic and fairly traded products for families including organic clothing and nappies, fairly traded toys and natural toiletries.
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
When I was pregnant, we knew that we had some fairly fixed ideas about how we wanted to raise our child, including allowing her to share our bed for as long as she wanted to. We have been shocked and sometimes upset at other people’s reaction to what seemed to be a very instinctive decision, to sleep with our daughter. I am often made to justify this decision and made to feel as if we are ‘bad’ parents just because we hadn’t trained her to sleep in a cot in her own room by 8 weeks old.
As it happens, we didn’t even really talk about it, it just seemed the right and natural thing to do and offered some major advantages. Our daughter loved the constant contact and it made it so much easier to breastfeed during the night. By simply rolling over and letting her feed before either of us were fully awake, we were both able to drift back to sleep much quicker than if I had had to get up to feed, so everyone got extra sleep.
Many studies have shown that co-sleeping helps to establish breastfeeding and leads to a more settled and happy baby. Others claim that these benefits can last for years and that children who slept with their parents do better at school, have higher self-esteem, fewer health issues and is more likely to be well adjusted than their peers.
We know this goes against many bestselling books on parenting, such as Gina Ford and Richard Ferber but we are convinced that this was the right decision for us and for our daughter. Personally, I believe that night time should be about nurturing and closeness, not about training for the realities of later life.
Yes, there can be some downsides to co-sleeping, but most can be overcome with a few adjustments, such as buying a bigger bed. There have been many reported studies into the dangers of co-sleeping, the most recent published early this year in the Lancet. La Leche League, amongst others, claim that they are flawed as they do not distinguish between safe (following current guidelines re temperature, soft bedding etc) and unsafe (eg on a sofa or with parents who smoke or drink alcohol) co-sleeping.
Our daughter is very independent already (at 13 months) and I am convinced that this is due to all the extra nurturing and contact that she receives during the nights. At some stage, she will decide that she wants her own bed and she will be welcome to it. But in the meantime all three of us love the extra time we get together and there is nothing more wonderful than being woken by a kiss from your baby and seeing just how happy they are to be so close to you. I know that in this way we have created many special moments that we all treasure.
What ever you personally decide, do make sure you follow the latest advice re safe sleeping for your baby. Much of it is commonsense, but the following guidelines should help:
- Always put your baby to sleep on their back.
- Use a firm mattress and never co-sleep on a waterbed or on a sofa.
- Do not use a pillow for your baby and always make sure that your baby’s head is clear of your pillows and bedding. This will reduce the risk of smothering and overheating.
- Do not sleep with your baby if you smoke, have drunk alcohol or have taken any drugs which make you drowsy.
- Do not give your baby a pillow, and ensure that his head is not covered by the duvet or the sheets. Either of these could smother him.
- Use bedding that tightly fits the mattress and make sure there are no gaps between the bed and the headboard where they could become trapped.
If you are unsure or need further advice, always speak to your GP or Health Visitor.
Arabella Greatorex is the owner of www.naturalnursery.co.uk, an online store selling organic and fairly traded products for families including organic clothing and nappies, fairly traded toys and natural toiletries.
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
 Most parents bond instantly with their babies, an intense feeling that makes you want to hold and love and protect them. For some parents, this can take a little longer, especially if there has been a difficult pregnancy or labour. Research indicates that babies who develop fulfilling relationships with their parents tend to grow into secure, well-adjusted adults and even perform better at school.
Bonding is a natural process but there are many ways to help out, especially if you provide focused, responsive care in a nurturing environment.
Breastfeeding – a breastfed baby will receive regular close contact with its mother, helping an early bond to develop. Unfortunately, this is not always easy, so speak to your health visitor if you need any help or assistance.
Touch – a baby’s first communication is via touch, so hold your baby close, cradle her in your arms or use a sling if you need to get on with chores.
Massage – a more structured method of touching your baby and a way of promoting physical and mental growth as well as the parent/baby bond.
Singing – no matter how tone deaf you may think you are, your baby will love to hear your voice. The rhythmic nature of nursery rhymes is very soothing and is believed to help with language development.
Talk – although she may not understand what you are saying, your baby will love to hear you chatting away about what you are doing, whether it is changing her nappy, peeling the potatoes or folding the washing. She will gain confidence from the fact that you are always near and always focused upon her, even if the household chores need to be done.
Pull a face – even very young babies are fascinated by facial expressions.
Regular activities – such as nappy changing time, are a wonderful time to show your baby just how much you love them. Talk to her, kiss her tummy, tell how what lovely dimples she has, how much you love her smile. This will take your mind off what a messy job it is and show that you love her, no matter what.
Slow down – life is getting faster and faster but slow and steady is best for baby. Stop and spend time with your baby, relax and enjoy yourself, your baby will love you no matter what.
Arabella Greatorex is the owner of www.naturalnursery.co.uk, an online store selling organic and fairly traded products for families including organic clothing and nappies, fairly traded toys and natural toiletries.
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
As published in Issue 2 of The Green Parent
What is Babywearing?
Babywearing is exactly as it sounds – wearing your baby in a sling or baby carrier. These days, most parents own some sort of baby carrier as part of their repertoire of baby equipment, but why is it such a useful thing to have? There are obviously times when a baby carrier can be more convenient than a pushchair but there is also evidence that using a sling has great impact on your baby’s well-being.
Why Wear your Baby?
Babies who are carried cry less
Most babies love to be carried, and babies who spend a lot of time in a sling or carrier tend to cry less than those who don’t. Many new parents can find it overwhelming when their baby demands constant contact and people often worry that they are ‘spoiling them’ or ‘making a rod for their own back’. But a newborn baby is incapable of being manipulative. When they cry at being separated from you they are simply acting in accordance with their instincts for survival.
All newborn animals exhibit a protest-despair response when separated from their primary caregivers. First they cry – to bring their mother back to them. Then if their cries are not heeded they stop crying, in order to conserve the energy needed for their survival. This whole process releases huge amounts of stress hormones into the baby’s body.
If you use a sling around the house this can help you to be mobile and get things done while still meeting your baby’s instinctive need for your touch. This is obviously a good thing for your baby, but is also great for you. A crying baby who can’t settle is extremely stressful for the whole family.
As for spoiling them and building bad habits – as your baby grows and develops they will naturally want to separate and explore their environment. There is plenty of time for them to do this in confidence and security once the bond of trust has been established between you. I don’t know many babies of 9 months who want to be carried all day when they can be crawling!
It’s good for your baby’s development
Research shows that baby-wearing has many benefits for your baby’s health and development. Keeping your baby close to you provides your baby with physical contact, security, stimulation and movement. All of these things provide your baby with the ideal conditions for development. Babies in a sling spend more time in the state known as ‘quiet alertness’ so they are awake but contented. This is the optimal state for learning for a newborn.
As your baby gets older being carried in a sling keeps them closely involved in your life. They are close to your face so can observe your expressions, hear your voice clearly. They are also given more opportunities to interact with other people as they are up high and on the same level as other adults. Whenever I’m carrying my daughter in the sling I always notice how much more other people chat to her and she loves it!
It’s good for your baby’s health
Newborn or premature babies who are carried in a sling against their mother’s body adapt to the environment outside the womb more quickly. The close contact helps to regulate their body temperature, heartbeat and respiration.
Being held in an upright or semi-upright position can help some babies with wind or colic. If you carry your baby in a sling for a while after feeding it can help them to get any wind up and prevent any pain caused by it passing through their system.
Babywearing promotes bonding
Carrying your baby close to you helps them to recognize your unique smell and the sound of your voice. The close contact enables you to learn to recognise your baby’s signals more quickly which helps you to be more responsive to their needs. Babywearing can also be a special way for fathers to bond with their newborn babies. As your baby cuddles up to his Dad in a sling he learns the different sound of his voice and the feel of his body.
Your baby is only going to need you in this way for such a short time. The changes in your child from birth to a year are quite remarkable. Carry your baby close while you can and make the early months calmer and more enjoyable for all of you!
© Little Possums 2004. A family run business based in the UK, selling a huge range of wonderfully comfortable baby slings and baby carriers from around the world!
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
Think about how you will use your baby carrier
Research the various types of slings
Buy from a reputable vendor
Choose a colour you like
Buy from a reputable vendor
Read the instructions carefully
Still unsure?
Rent a sling before you buy
Buying second hand
Meet up with parents in your area
Take your time
1- Think about how you will use your baby carrier
You want your hands free? baby suffers from colic? You have older kids to take care of or drop off at school? You suffer from back pain? You can’t get a buggy on the bus? You would like to breastfeed discreetly on the go? You have a high-need baby?
2- Research the various types of slings.
These articles should help you understand the various types of slings, the strengths and weaknesses of each type. A wraparound baby sling is very versatile sling, offering endless possibilities to carry your child on your front, back and hip, and excellent support for parent and child. They are ideal if you suffer from back pain. A ring sling uses one-shoulder carry, convenient for discreet breastfeeding on the go. A pouch sling is very easy to use and convenient if baby is coming up and down. A mei-tai or chinese-inspired carrier can be a great choice for toddlers, making it easy to pop baby on your back.
3- Buy from a reputable vendor.
You will be carrying your baby in that sling, his or her safety is paramount. The choice of fabric, the way it’s seamed or hemmed, tested by lots of mums in different situations. Buy from a vendor with a proven track record, don’t go for a bargain at the expense of your baby’s safety. Don’t hesitate to ask questions to your vendor, how they choose their fabric, how the slings are tested for comfort. Does it come with their own set of instructions or do they refer you to someone else’s site? Will they be available to help you once you’ve received your sling? Do they comply with the Trading Standard Regulations on distance selling?
4- Choose a colour you like.
It sounds vain but chances are you will be wearing your baby carrier day in and day out for months or years. So choose a baby sling that’s going to make you feel good. You might want to think about your partner’s tastes. Some slings can be worn by parents of different sizes so you might have to share your new sling!
5- Read the instructions carefully.
Even if you’re instruction-challenged as I am, take the time to read the instructions on the vendor’s website. They can help you understand if this baby carrier is right for you. If the instructions aren’t clear, get in touch with the vendor, they will be interested in hearing feedback.
6- Still unsure?
Ask questions to the manufacturer. Tell them how you would like to use your sling, how old and how heavy your child is, if you have older children, if you suffer from back pain… They have been using their slings for years, testing it in all kinds of situations. Most manufacturers have a team of testers of mums of different sizes with children in a wide age range, they should be able to advise you whether their sling is the best suited for you.
7- Rent a sling before you buy
You can rent a sling for a couple of weeks, allowing you to give the sling a try before you buy.
8- Consider buying a sling second hand.
Buying slings second hand can be a very good way to start into the world of baby slings. Well-known brands hold value and are easy to resell. Some baby slings – like German style wraps – are actually easier to use when they’ve been used and the fabric has softened.
9- Meet up with parents in your area.
Use the Sling Meet forum to locate parents in the area. Tell us where you are and what sling you would like to try. If you’re not sure, just tell us how you would like to carry your child. We will help you locate someone locally to help you make a choice.
10-Take your time!
Now, you have your sling and your instructions. Take your time, don’t try to rush through it, you didn’t learn to drive in one day. Learning to carry your child is similar to breastfeeding, so natural and yet we need to re-learn the art of carrying our children. Choose the carry that appeals the most and practice step by step. If you don’t seem to get on with your sling, don’t rush to buy another one, it takes time to get used to. Be patient.
And now it’s your turn!
Tell us what you wished you had known before you bought your first sling. This article has been written by listening to the experiences of several parents. If you have any other advice for a first time baby wearer, just email us, we’ll be happy to add to this list.
Text by By Anne Dhir of Calin Bleu Slings
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
Choose your sling carefully
Take your time
Read the instructions
Choose your moment
Read the instructions
Go step by step
Get some help
Look up Sling Meet
Question the vendor
Take pictures
Keep your baby happy
Choose your sling carefully
The best way to get into years of happy baby wearing is to choose your baby sling carefully.
Take your time
If there is only one thing you should remember from this article, it’s this: take your time. You didn’t learn to care for your baby, change his nappy, or breastfeed in one day. Learning to carry your baby in a sling is a new skill. Some people take to it easily. Others need a bit more time to be comfortable. Be patient, it’s worth it.
Read the instructions
Most slings come with detailed instructions. Read them carefully.
Pay attention to the Safety notes, inspect your baby sling.
Some slings are best washed before you use them, to soften the fabric and make it easier to tie.
CHECK YOUR SLING regularly for wear and tear. If you’re unsure about the instructions, check on line to find more ways of using your baby sling. Check out the resources page.
Most parents find it easier to choose the carrying position that appeals the most and practice until you’re comfortable with it. However, keep in mind that some children have a preference for ONE POSITION or another. Some babies don’t like the hammock carry for example and prefer to be carried upright from birth.
Choose your moment
To try on your new sling, choose a moment when your baby is relaxed, fed, changed and happy. If they get upset, stop and try again later. They might need some time to get used to this new feeling of being held in a sling.
Practice over a soft surface like a bed, or a sofa until you’re comfortable.
Practicing in front of a mirror can also help you see what you’re doing (in addition to keeping the little one entertained!)
Go step by step
Some parents have found it helpful to learn step by step: place the sling and practice with a doll. When you’re comfortable enough, place the baby and take your time adjusting it. If you’re learning back carries, start by placing the baby on your back without the sling.
Get some help
You might want to ask another adult to stand by while you try on your new baby sling, help you support the baby, check that the fabric is spread out and not twisted. It’s particularly important when you learn back carries when you can’t see the baby on your back.
Look up Sling Meet
Log on the Sling Meet forum to find a parent near you. They will be able to help you get a comfortable fit with your sling, adjust the height, spread the fabric, place the baby in the correct position. You’ll be surprised how many parents arrive at a meeting thinking they need to buy a new sling because they can’t get comfortable with theirs … and leave with a happy baby!
Question the vendor
Sling vendors and manufacturers are passionate about baby wearing. Don’t hesitate to contact them with any question you might have about your baby sling. They have been using their products for years, testing them in all kinds of situations. Most manufacturers have a team of testers of parents of different sizes with children in a wide age range, they should be able to advise you on how to adjust the sling to be most comfortable.
Take pictures
Once you’ve placed the baby in the sling and adjusted the fabric, take a few photos (front and back). First, compare them with the photos on the sling manufacturer’s site. This can help you answer a few questions: is the baby at the same height? Does it look tight enough? Are the rings at the same height…
You can also send your photos to the vendor. In our experience, it’s the best way to get the seller to help find the perfect fit with your sling. We’ve had very good results in the past.
Keep your baby happy
Some babies settle immediately in the slings. With others, you just need to take a few steps around the house. But for most babies, the easiest way is to go out as soon as you’ve placed them in the sling. The pace of your walk reminds them of the movement when they were in the womb.
When you’re learning to use your sling as a backpack baby carrier, choose a phrase to repeat every time you wrap, to remind your child to lie still on your back. You will be surprised by the result.
And now get started, enjoy your new sling!
Text by By Anne Dhir
Calin Bleu Baby Sling
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
If anyone knows who wrote this I’d love to credit them!
Would you nurse her in the park?
Would you nurse him in the dark?
Would you nurse him with a Boppy?
And when your boobs are feeling floppy?
I would nurse him in the park,
I would nurse her in the dark.
I’d nurse with or without a Boppy.
Floppy boobs will never stop me.
Can you nurse with your seat belt on?
Can you nurse from dusk till dawn?
Though she may pinch me, bite me, pull,
I will nurse her `till she’s full!
Can you nurse and make some soup?
Can you nurse and feed the group?
It makes her healthy strong and smart,
Mommy’s milk is the best start!
Would you nurse him at the game?
Would you nurse her in the rain?
In front of those who dare complain?
I would nurse him at the game.
I would nurse her in the rain.
As for those who protest lactation,
I have the perfect explanation.
Mommy’s milk is tailor made
It’s the perfect food, you need no aid.
Some may scoff and some may wriggle,
Avert their eyes or even giggle.
To those who can be cruel and rude,
Remind them breast’s the perfect food!
I would never scoff or giggle,
Roll my eyes or even wiggle!
I would not be so crass or crude,
I KNOW that this milk’s the perfect food!
We make the amount we need
The perfect temp for every feed.
There’s no compare to milk from breast-
The perfect food, above the rest.
Those sweet nursing smiles are oh so sweet,
Mommy’s milk is such a treat.
Human milk just can’t be beat.
I will nurse, in any case,
On the street or in your face.
I will not let my baby cry,
I’ll meet her needs, I’ll always try.
It’s not about what’s good for you,
It’s best for babies, through and through.
I will nurse her in my home,
I will nurse her when I roam.
Leave me be lads and ma’am.
I will nurse her, Mom I am
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
On October 15, 2004, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was 43 years old, had no family history of the disease, and no lump or symptoms. I was also tandem nursing my two young children.
The cancer was discovered during my first routine mammogram. Mammograms (a procedure that uses low-dose x-rays to examine the breasts) are recommended annually for women over the age of 40. Although I was over 40, I had delayed this initial mammogram because I was pregnant, and delayed it again because I was breastfeeding, a potentially life-threatening mistake. When the radiologist examined my mammogram, he noted a small cluster of microcalcifications in my left breast, a half-dozen white flecks that looked like grains of salt sprinkled over the image. These microcalcifications were an indicator of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) – a non-invasive breast cancer where the malignant cells in the milk ducts have not yet invaded the surrounding tissue. The next day I had a core biopsy, where a section of breast tissue was removed to determine if the cells were indeed cancerous. Two days later the radiologist called with bad news: the tissue removed confirmed the presence of DCIS. My next step was to see a surgeon.
The first surgeon I saw began by discussing mastectomy, the surgical removal of the breast. Although DCIS is non-invasive, it is considered a risk factor for developing invasive breast cancer and is therefore usually treated aggressively. I sought a second opinion and consulted a breast surgeon at a different hospital. She recommended immediate weaning from both breasts prior to surgery, advising that it would be impossible for me to stop nursing only on the affected side. I knew this to be incorrect: women can (and do) breastfeed on only one side. A third opinion from the surgical oncologist who had supervised my original biopsy recommended a partial mastectomy (essentially a lumpectomy, where only the affected area and a small margin of healthy tissue is removed, except that I had no lump) without weaning, followed by radiation to make sure that all of the cancer cells were destroyed. Removal of lymph nodes and chemotherapy were not necessary as the cancer was not invasive and therefore there was virtually no possibility of its spread to any other part of my body.
In November I had a partial mastectomy of the left breast. As I had after the biopsy, and with my doctors’ blessing, I was able to nurse my 22-month-old son within 12 hours after surgery. Six weeks later I began Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), an advanced mode of high-precision radiation therapy that uses computer-controlled x-ray accelerators to deliver precise radiation doses to specific areas. My treatments were scheduled five days a week for 6-1/2 weeks. Although the IMRT itself was painless, I suffered some common side effects: extreme fatigue and sunburned patches of skin. But with the approval of my radiation oncologist, and the help of friends and family, I continued caring for my children and breastfeeding until radiation burns to my nipple forced me to wean on the treated side. I have continued nursing on my right breast.
I completed radiation therapy around Valentine’s Day, 2005. Since I am now considered at higher risk of developing another breast cancer, I see my surgical oncologist for a breast exam every three months and have a mammogram every six months. I also see a medical oncologist, who will continue to monitor my health for the rest of my life. Because my cancer was ER+ (estrogen receptor positive), after we stop breastfeeding I will take tamoxifen, a medication that blocks the estrogen receptors on the breast cells and deprives the potentially malignant cells of the estrogen they need for growth. Tamoxifen, a pill which is usually taken for 5 years, decreases the incidence of subsequent breast cancer in both breasts, and can be used both before and after menopause.
Although I was aware of breast cancer before my diagnosis, I never thought it would happen to me. I was healthy, active, never smoked, rarely drank, and had breastfed for four years all things I knew reduced the risk of cancer. But breast cancer is mysterious: most women with the disease have no family history and no obvious cause. Yet increasing numbers of women are being diagnosed with breast cancer due to a combination of having children later in life (a known risk factor), reduced rates of breastfeeding, and improved screening techniques (such as digital mammography). Women can protect themselves by having regular breast exams by a healthcare professional and by having mammograms according to the recommended schedule – even while lactating. You can also decrease your chances of developing breast cancer by continuing to breastfeed: although the exact mechanism of protection is unclear, studies have shown that the longer a woman breastfeeds throughout her lifetime, the greater the protective effect.
I am fortunate in that my breast cancer was detected very early and that I have an excellent prognosis. I have continued to breastfeed and sought physicians who were sensitive to my desire to preserve the function, as well as the form, of my breasts. Breastfeeding through this turbulent time brought a sense of normalcy to my life and that of my children, and in doing so I have also served as an example to my healthcare team. They now know that the ability to breastfeed, something with enormous health and psychological benefits for both mother and child, can be preserved and continued for many women with early stage breast cancer.
copyright Carole Baas, Ph.D.
Carole is a medical researcher, writer, and lecturer, specializing in health and parenting issues. An active member of LLLI for five years, Carole is also a breastfeeding mother of two young children. Following her breast cancer diagnosis, she began researching the relationships between pregnancy, breastfeeding and breast cancer. Carole is currently spearheading efforts to write the first book on this subject, Battle for the Breast, a cooperative effort between internationally renowned researchers and clinicians in breast cancer, infertility, and lactation.
For more information on pregnancy, breastfeeding and breast cancer,
visit www.komen.org, www.youngsurvival.org, www.pregnantwithcancer.org and
www.lalecheleague.org.
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
I discovered
Baby Greenhouse after I had suffered two miscarriages. I was 22 and didn’t know much about babies or pregnancy. I had no particular opinion on whether I intended to breastfeed or not, when (and if) I had a successful pregnancy.
One night there was a thread on Baby Greenhouse discussing the
Nestle boycott. I read with interest and someone posted a link to a document containing official World Health Organisation research on breast-feeding and their policy on advertising and marketing of formula milk. It describes in detail the *actual* benefits of breastfeeding and the shocking statistics about the health effects of ‘not’ breastfeeding, according to the WHO research. It explains that due to pressure from American formula companies, some of the ‘scarier’ statistics were removed from a health campaign heightening awareness of the risks of ‘not’ breastfeeding. The reason given was that it “..might make (formula-feeding) mothers feel guilty..”
From the second I read the stats I knew I wanted to breastfeed. Up until that point all I’d really heard was ‘Breast is best’. I’d read all the usual stuff that you read in magazines, NHS leaflets etc. None of it really had that much of an impact. But this did. I was shocked. That this vital information would be down-played for fear of upsetting people…?? I couldn’t get my head around it.
With my third pregnancy I researched online and in books for information on breastfeeding. I read all the breastfeeding posts on BGH that I could find! I felt strongly that I wanted to do this for my baby and for myself.
Finally in December last year my dream came true and my baby girl was born. Unfortunately she was very ill. She had risky but life-saving surgery performed in the womb at 32 weeks gestation, causing me to go into premature labour and she was born by emergency c-section at 34+4. At this point I wasn’t really thinking about how I’d feed her – I was more concerned whether she would live or die .
When it became clear that she was going to recover and come home, I started to think again about the reality of caring for her. I knew that I still wanted to breastfeed, but the odds were against us. We had been separated for the vital first few days of her life (she on a ventilator, me immobilised from the section). We were unable to have skin-to-skin contact because she had a chest drain inserted which meant that she couldn’t leave the incubator. I was able only to hold her head and stroke her skin through the ‘port-holes’. I couldn’t smell her. I couldn’t hear her cries without bending myself at a 45 degree angle (!).
I looked into ways I could *try* and get breastfeeding established. I expressed milk every 3 hours to feed to the baby through her nasal-gastric tube. Beginning to express milk when I had no baby to stimulate me naturally was hard. And painful. I found the act of expressing more painful than the seven hours of contractions I’d had whilst in labour. At points I felt like giving up. But I kept going and eventually got used to the electric pump.
The premature baby charity
Bliss had information about using a dummy to stimulate the baby’s sucking reflex whilst they received their tube feeds. The baby would hopefully begin to associate the ‘sucking’ with the feeling of a full tummy. I spent every day at the hospital, using the dummy with every feed. 12 hours from 9am – 9pm until my feet were sore and my back ached. I was completely exhausted, people kept asking me to take a break, have a morning off. I couldn’t bear to.. Every minute that I was awake and not there I felt ill. I had asked the nurses to use the dummy when they did her tube feeds overnight but I knew from observing them that they are often very busy, and doing this every hour on the hour might not be practical for them.
She spent 2 weeks in Intensive Care with some terrifying moments, including a collapsed lung before she was finally able to move out of an incubator into a cot. On the 21st December at 16 days old she was ‘allowed’ out to try sucking at the breast. I was over the moon when she began rooting around and after a few attempts she latched on. That night at home I cried with relief. The weeks of pain and emotion and uncertainty had been worth it. It is one thing to try breastfeeding and have it not work out: at least you know that you *tried*; it is quite another to not even have the *chance* to do it.
I was allowed to stay over at the hospital for the next two days with the baby in order to get breastfeeding established. Again it was difficult because suddenly I had the responsibility all to myself – DP wasn’t allowed to stay and I felt under incredible pressure. Of course I had put *myself* under this pressure but I knew that my reasons were good. After two days and nights of this, she had gained weight. Clinically she was given the OK to go home and that meant we could have her home with us on Christmas Eve.
Breastfeeding at home was harder than it had been in hospital. As she gained weight she needed to feed for longer. Her sucking became practised and STRONG! I had a cracked nipple on both sides for about two weeks. The pain of feeding through a cracked nipple was almost unbearable. I screamed and shouted and gripped the couch, but somehow we managed it. Through all of this, the only thing that kept me going was my determination. A determination which was brought about not by any health advice I’d received from doctors or nurses or midwives or friends or family, but from reading a post one night on Baby Greenhouse!!
My opinion on breastfeeding now is that more should be done in this country to encourage women to try it. I am sure there are thousands of women / girls who choose to bottle-feed because they investigate the options and bottle-feeding seems the easiest and most practical. The health benefits of breast-feeding *as advertised* by our health authorities are simply not ‘strong’ enough to outweigh the practical benefits of bottle-feeding. Even the midwife simply said “We don’t ask how you’re going to feed your baby, we only say that breast is best. It’s your decision.” This, of course, is true. But my personal opinion is that there is a responsibility on our healthcare providers to properly advise on the pros and cons of both methods. My honest opinion is that bottle-feeding *seems* to be easier because I like the idea of the baby’s Dad and other family members being able to do some (or all!) of the feeds. If I hadn’t read this document I would probably have decided to bottle-feed. And I do *not* blame anyone else who thinks this way. I blame the Government or NHS or whoever it is that doesn’t provide sufficient information for us to make a properly informed choice!
Please please please let me stress that in no way do I think formula is “poison”. I think formula is a perfectly acceptable substitute for breast-milk, when breast-feeding has not happened. Particularly if for medical reasons – HIV, milk doesn’t come in, low pain threshold etc. But I do believe that we should be encouraged to *try* it.
The reason I posted the article was in the hope that I’d reach someone who was like me two years ago.
http://www.ibfan.org/english/pdfs/btr04/btr04intro.pdf
copyright Mhairu Hamilton
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
<p>When I had the first of my four children, I was determined to breastfeed. And I did. It was wonderful, beautiful, and it ended all too soon. She was just three months old when I returned to work and breastfeeding came to a premature end. </p>
<p>Exactly three years on from that point, her baby sister was born. She suffered some injuries at birth and, if it were at all possible, those problems made me even more determined to breastfeed her, and for much longer than I had her sister. What I did not realise at the time, but can appreciate with hindsight, is how much easier life was as a result of that determination. Whilst her elder sister was a gentle and easy child, which obviously helped, my new baby was difficult, demanding and disturbed. Breastfeeding offered me the only means to comfort her when she became distraught, and meant that, without the stress and hassle of having to sterilise and make up bottles, I had more time than I would otherwise have had with her elder sister, to make sure that the older child did not suffer any neglect. </p>
<p>But I still had to return to work, and, when I did, she came to prefer the bottles she was given at nursery and she rebelled against breastfeeding. It then became clear how much breastfeeding had helped maintain the status quo. Having to work and yet still having to get up to make her a bottle at night time was soul-destroyingly exhausting and I went through a really bad patch, during which I felt so overwhelmed and overrun I could barely function. Had I been able to continue breastfeeding, my nights would have been far less disturbed and life could have gone on in a more even manner. </p>
<p>Just 22 months later my third daughter arrived. I then had a five-year-old, a toddler and a new baby. For a while, I doubted my ability to cope, but breastfeeding was still of paramount importance. It had become second nature to me to breastfeed, there was no way I was going to complicate my life with a steriliser, bottles and assorted feeding paraphernalia. I had two babies in nappies and a busy, intelligent and interesting schoolchild; it was mad!! Add to the confusion by bottlefeeding? No way!! I think that this period represented one of the most chaotic of my life. I took a new full-time job when my third daughter was nine months old and I’d never intended to go back to work and, like her sister, she came to prefer her bottles. So breastfeeding finished when she was ten months and wanted no more of me. I was heartbroken, and, although I did not sterilise her bottles at that time, I still used formula milk for her and still found a sharp increase in my stress levels when the convenience of breastfeeding, its soothing capabilities, and the protection it offers against illness were gone. Trying to juggle the two older girls, a demanding job as a teacher, and a baby who came down with every bug the world in general had to offer (and could not, therefore, always go to nursery) was not easy. I’m not sure, even now, that it was actually possible, but we somehow scraped by!! </p>
<p>As the youngest daughter grew up, I found myself longing to do it all once more. I didn’t particularly want a baby boy, but I did want another baby. Badly. Told by my doctors that it was unlikely at best, I continued to hope and to pray, and found myself pregnant for the fourth time in August 2001. But I got rather more than I bargained for. Desperately ill, and with psychological issues regarding my second birth still unresolved, I suffered devastating depression and was almost admitted to the local psychiatric unit. I was in a very, very bad way, but the one thing I held fast to was that I was going to breastfeed my baby. Given the information (which I refused for some time to actually believe) that I was carrying a boy, I feared that the likely connection, between his sex and how ill he made me, would lead me not to love him. At this point, I can hear everyone who knows how I adore my son laughing, but, at the time, I had serious fears and genuine worries about whether or not he and I would do that mystical bonding thing. And so did those caring for me. </p>
<p>There were two things that I needed. I needed to feel that special closeness with my baby, and I needed to keep my life as simple as possible after he arrived. By now, I knew that only breastfeeding was going to work for us. And I held on to that throughout everything, researching the effect of the drugs I needed to take on my breastmilk and building my determination to breastfeed no matter what. </p>
<p>There were, however, bigger blows to come. And, when I say bigger, I mean bigger . His birth was slightly complicated by shoulder dystocia and, though wonderful and triumphant, it was a little shocking and bewildering. And then, when he was weighed, it transpired that he was a whopping 12lbs 2ozs!! </p>
<p>Well, everyone had something to say about that!! No-one believed that such a big baby could be sustained by breastmilk alone, but, of course, he was. He and I share a marvellous bond and he is still breastfed at 23 months of age. With his three older sisters also to contend with, there was no way I was taking the chance that he would come to prefer bottles so I never gave them to him. The only formula he has ever had has been on his breakfast cereal. He is unbelievably healthy, has followed his growth pattern off the charts, eats a variety of foods and has quite adult tastes. </p>
<p>So my philosophy is that breastfeeding a baby when you have older children to occupy you can only make things easier on you. Breastfeeding was simpler and quicker, so I had more time for the other children, whether there was one or whether there were three. Breastfeeding keeps a baby healthy, boosting his or her immunity against the bigs that older children inevitably contract and bring home for you all to share. That can only be an immense boon to any harassed mother. Breastfeeding bonds you closely to your child, and when there are others to consider, that time to generate a close bond with your youngest can go by the board. It’s true that, a first child has it’s parents fitting around it, whereas subsequent children tend to have to fit in with the existing family. So many times I have nursed my son on the sofa with one of my daughters next to me, getting my help with her homework or reading whilst he fed. Breastfeeding makes for easeir nights, especially if you combine it with co-sleeping, which means you can cope better with the demands of your family because you are not so exhausted. Breastfeeding gets your child accustomed to a variety of flavours (as the flavour of the things you eat comes through in your milk) and that means that weaning is far less traumatic for the mother of many, who has little space in her life for complications in the form of fussy eaters. </p>
<p>Oh, and the best thing of all? If you breastfeed, you never get to a stage where a baby can hold the bottle itself. You just have to sit down!!!!! </p>
<p>This article by Kate Pryde is reproduced with permission from <a href=”http://www.breastfeedingsupport.co.uk” target=”_blank”>www.breastfeedingsupport.co.uk</a>a ‘not for profit’ website packed with articles and advice about breastfeeding, written by mums from their own experiences.</p>
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
 Before I was even married, and certainly before I contemplated having children, I had a lecture on infant feeding from a rather brusque midwife at work one day.
“You’ll HAVE to breastfeed of course” she said.”Huh?”"Well you’re a doctor, you’ve got to do the right thing haven’t you?”
Not surprisingly, this didn’t really convince me of the benefits of breastfeeding, and I was annoyed by her attitude. My sister was a successful breastfeeder already, but as someone who had never really thought that having children would be important, I’d not really taken any interest.
Years later, on discovering that I was pregnant for the first time, that conversation came back to haunt me, as after reading more about the health benefits of breastfeeding I concluded that yes, I would have to “do the right thing”. It didn’t hold any appeal for me though. I resolved to feed for 3-6 months, until I went back to work. It would be a chore, but I ‘ought’ to. I certainly would never be able to feed in public, and would stop as soon as it was reasonable to do so.
Things didn’t quite end up like that though: as it turns out I fed my daughter ’til she self weaned at around 3.5 years, and I’ve fed her pretty much anywhere you can think of. I’m now feeding my son, and am a passionate advocate of the benefits of breastfeeding. My old friends still find this amazing, and not a little amusing!
So how did this change of heart come about?
Well for a start I had a hideous pregnancy. I had envisaged myself carrying on heroically, as if nothing was happening, probably working until labour was established. In fact I had horrendous hyperemesis (sickness), necessitating repeated hospital admissions and no work after about 16weeks. I then developed pre-eclampsia and Isabel was delivered, just over 2 weeks early, by caesarean section. How on earth did that help me breastfeed, I hear you ask. Well, I’m pretty stubborn at the best of times, but all this disappointment made me even more determined that I was going to get something to work!
Breastfeeding did not come easily either: the pain from my nipples overshadowed the post-section pain in a major way. Despite numerous visits from midwives, health visitors and breastfeeding counsellors, no one could find why I was in so much pain. I cried in pain everyday for 3 months or so. (I’m not encouraging you here am I?) So why did I persist? Well partly that stubborn streak again, partly the encouragement from my b/f support group and especially my sister, and mostly because of my beautiful little girl. She was so obviously thriving on it, and the closeness of the feeding times was marvellous. The look of contentment on her face as she fell asleep at the end of a feed made it all worthwhile. I had never imagined I would feel that way, and if breastfeeding was what she needed, I would carry on. I also loved the convenience; ‘Have baby, will travel’! No need to worry about warming bottles or running out of milk. I love the outdoors and was soon back to sailing and walking with no worries. If she got hungry, I just fed her, wherever I happened to be.
I stayed off work longer than I had anticipated, returning when she was about 8 months old. I had expected to stop feeding her then, but we were both so happy with the arrangement that I carried on. Although leaving her was very hard, the joy of the ‘reunion feed’ at the end of the day made it a little easier. My husband was an absolute star, bringing her over to work in the evenings when I couldn’t get home, so that she could still have her bedtime feed. Breastfeeding had become such an integral part of all our lives, it seemed daft to try and stop.
I didn’t ever consciously make the decision to breastfeed for as long as I did, it just kind of happened. My sister fed her 3 children til they were over 2yrs and my sister in law fed her 4 for between 18months and 3 years, so I didn’t really see myself as that unusual. Of course with time her feeds got less, but a breastfeed continued to make a lovely end to the day, and it was a godsend on the few occasions when she was ill.
Likewise I never made a conscious decision to stop. She began to ask less often, and I stopped offering. It ended naturally. I don’t remember her last feed, or even exactly how old she was. Despite the numerous dire warnings I received, she did stop of her own free will, and she is now as happy and self confident a 6 year old as you will meet, not for ever tied to my apron strings as I was told!
For me, breastfeeding is the healthiest option for a baby, but it’s also hugely convenient and a great source of pleasure. With my son, I found the whole business a lot easier and I intend to let him choose the time to wean too. I am not everybody’s idea of a ‘typical’ extended breastfeeder (if there is such a thing) so if you don’t think it’s for you – give it a go. Like me, you might just be surprised!
This article reproduced with permission from www.breastfeedingsupport.co.uka ‘not for profit’ website packed with articles and advice about breastfeeding, written by mums from their own experiences.
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
A is for:
Antibodies….which are passed from mum to baby through breastmilk.
Allergies, and also for asthma – their incidence is less in breastfed babies.
Alcohol – which you shouldn;t drink when pregnant, but can have (in moderation!) while breastfeeding.
“Awwww”….that lovely snuggly feeling you get…
B is for:
Beautiful smiles I get when she sees the boob coming
Big Bouncing Bazoongas that I have when Breastfeeding (I won’t say what they’re like when I’m Not lol!)
C is for:
Colostrum – babies perfect first milk
Convenience – breastmilk is ready to serve, any time, anyplace, right temperature, no preparation and no clearing up.
Closeness – that special bond between mum and baby
Counsellors – people who can help if you’re finding it hard
Calories – the extra ones you use up whilst feeding
Chocolate – you know every new mum needs it!!
D is for:
Don’t give up, during the Difficult times, which we all have in one way or another,
or
Dental Development
E is for:
Excitement from baby when they know they are about to be fed delicious mummy milk! Extra benefits that bf gives, and
Extending those benefits into toddlerhood
F is for:
Feeding frenzy – what a bf baby does when you need to increase your supply to support a growth spurt – and don’t we wish we’d been warned, rather than (F is also for) fretting that there’s something wrong with us or our supply!
Formula manufacturers – they take every chance to pretend that their product is just as good, for instance pushing (F is for) follow-on milk – implying that bf babies might be deficient in iron! www.ibfan.org/english/news/press/press13may04.html
Flora – the good kind in our babies intestines www.drjaygordon.com/bf/supplement.htm
G is for:
Goodness – all those extra special ingredients in breastmilk.
Gastroenteritis, which is less common in breastfed babies.
Groups – support groups are a great help, especially if you’re finding it hard in the early days.
H is for:
Happiness, the feelings you get when you feed your baby, mmmm, endorphins, fabulous!
High blood pressure and cholesterol, something those who are breastfed are less likely to have.
Healthy, healthy baby, healthy mummy, what more could you ask for?
Help, we all need a little, at some point, and it is always here on iVillage if nowhere else.
Health Visitors, often not experts in breastfeeding, and sadly often far to quick to suggest formula, grrrrrrr!
I is for:
ivillage Breastfeeding support board it’s fab!
Immunity, which breastfed babies get a boost to via the milk.
IQ, breastfed babies have higher IQs, and the longer they are breastfed for the greater the IQ advantage.
Illness – breastfeeding is a fantastic gift when your baby is ill, it comforts and soothes, and when they can’t digest anything else breastmilk can often keep them going.
J is for:
Just the right temperature
Joy to both mummy and baby
Boobie JUICE
Job satisfaction
K is for:
Knowledge…which along with support is the Key to success
Keeping going, through those tough early times – it does get better!
Kip – get it whenever you can!
L is for:
LOVE from mother to infant: breastfeeding increases the bonding feeling
LOVELY LEISURELY feeds
Little cute smiles, when your baby is feeding and you look at them and they have let go of your nipple and are smiling up at you (aww so cute)
Lactation obviously!
Lazy – when you can just put baby to nipple and don’t need to bother with the bottles and the mixing and the
washing and the sterilising!
Lactational Amenhorrea breastfeeding as contraception in the first 6 months
M is for:
Mammories!!
Milk: Mummy milk of course!
Medications – some of which you cannot take when pregnant but are ok when breastfeeding – see the BFN drugline site or www.motherisk.org
Mmmmm Mmmmmm Mmmmmm, the cutest sound in the whole world as your baby guzzles away!
Money: the stash of cash you save by not buying formula
Marvellous and Magical: the way a booby can instantly soothe a fractious child, not to mention the healing powers of breastmilk: put it on a small cut or sty and see how fast it heals!
N is for:
Natural thing to do
No Need to sterilise
Nipple cream, most needed at least in those first days
O is for:
Ooops my milk is squirting everywhere!!!
Other peoples problem if they dont like you feeding in public
Our boobs were made for feeding just like our feet were made for walking!!!
Open mind, Open heart
Q is for:
QUALITY milk
QUANTITY – as much as baby needs
QUICKLY available
QUIET baby who doesn’t have to wait for a bottle to be made!
P is for:
Pumps, so baby can still get your milk when you’re apart
Pads – might need lots at the beginning
Public – you CAN feed whilst out and about, even if it seems daunting
Positioning – take time to get it right, right from the start
Problems – there can be lots, but most can be overcome
Practice – it makes Perfect!
R is for:
Rest – get as much as you can
Restful – all those lovely hormones helping you to get back to sleep in the middle of the night and having a great excuse to get everyone running after you whilst you’re sitting feeding!
Rubber – you don’t need any (teats or condoms!) whilst your feeding (at least to begin with) (see ‘lactational amenhorrea’)
Rosy glow of satisfaction knowing you’re doing the best for your baby
S is for:
Snuggling up with your baby So close to you.
Saving money – it all comes for free.
Selfish because I get to have my babes all to myself.
Support, without which we might not have coped.
Size of boobs no object: breastfeeders can be AA or H cup!
T is for:
Time, none of it wasted washing, sterilising, mixing, warming……
Terrific, yet another word to describe how good breastfeeding is
Toddlers, and all of us Weirdos who still feed them! In public!!! http://community.webshots.com/photo/180981338/180982424hJkyuC
Tandem feeding, double the fun!
Truth, what the formula manufacturers try to bend
Teeth, careful now, but it doesn’t mean it has to be the end
Tasty, sweet, light, delicious, no wonder your baby can’t seem to get enough of it!
and – dare I say it? -T is for T*ts: get ‘em out for the babies!
U is for:
Unique: your breastmilk is made just for your baby
V is for:
Vitamins and minerals that breastmilk is full of, and the Vitality they give our babies
W is for:
Weight gain: it tends to be slower and steadier in bf babies leading to heathier adults with lower blood pressure, lower cholestorol (sp?) etc. (it’s just a shame not all medical professionals seem to realise this!)
W is for how wonderful bf is.
Weight loss for mum through bf: an extra 500 calories a day are consumed by BF
X is for:
Xenogeny, which means production, as in milk production!
Xerophagy, which means fasting or dieting, which most breastfeeding mums don’t have to do
Xerox, which actually means to copy or imitate, which is what formula manufacturers try to do to breastmilk, but don’t really manage!
X-ray, avoid it whilst pregnant, but it’s perfectly safe for a breastfeeding mum
Y is for:
YUMMY
Yes please Mummy, I’ll have some more breast milk
Yellow breastmilk poo – and no constipation or smell
Y not?
Z is for:
Zealous breastfeeding and breastfeeding zealots!
Zero formula needed
Z is for breastfeeding being the Zest of having a baby
This article reproduced with permission from www.breastfeedingsupport.co.uka ‘not for profit’ website packed with articles and advice about breastfeeding, written by mums from their own experiences.
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
If you had told me this time last year that I would find nappies and poo fascinating, I would have peered at you over my huge bloated pregnant stomach and snorted in disdain. Now I have a child who is just about to learn to crawl into things he shouldn’t, I am almost nostalgic for his breastmilk-only poos. They came in a variety of colours, from orange through to brown with the occasional green thrown in for good measure. They rarely smelled bad and in my maddest, sleep deprived moments I entertained notions of Dulux colour-matching some of the prettier shades. I was used to the occasional leaking wrap and it was easy to wipe his bum with a bit of damp cotton wool.
Then came solids.
I started on his 6-month birthday and for the next two months tried to get him interested in lovingly prepared organic veg, steamed and squished through a sieve, mixed with breastmilk that I hated expressing, only to have it rejected with clamped lips and windmilling arms after the first spoonful. Occasionally though, he’d mangle a bit of rice cake into his mouth. For the first few weeks I watched his nappies avidly. When was his first solid poo going to arrive? How stinky was it going to be? Could I deal with it? There was a brief real poo celebration in the third week but that turned out to be page 237 of his dad’s Maplins catalogue. I no longer got excited about it but kept up the daily routine of offering him tasty morsels.
I stopped the whole ‘Where’s the duck? Has he got a spoon? Gosh, how did that get into your mouth?’ charade for a few days after a tummy bug and the next time I tried he grabbed the spoon and shovelled the banana in. At last! But the poos were still squishy, maybe one spoonful of food just wasn’t enough. He liked banana so I mixed it with other things, sweet potatoes, carrots, apples and pears. This did the trick and soon he was eating two tiny meals a day. And the poos? Well, for the first couple of weeks they were a mixed bag. Some dark wholegrain mustard type ones, some a slimy orange wallpaper paste variety, some just the same as before. Gently dabbing his bum with cotton wool was a complete waste of time so I used wet flannels or J-cloths instead. To change the nappy of a wriggly child at this stage you need a large tarpaulin, a change of clothes for the baby, protective clothing for yourself, 3 or 4 trained helpers ideally including a professional children’s entertainer and a non squeamish disposition.
But it didn’t last long. After a month of eating 3 dinky meals a day he produces a very neat little lump of poo first thing in the morning and maybe one in the afternoon if he is in the mood. Lumps are actually easier to deal with. The nappy liner collects it all, the clean edges of the liner are a handy wipe, you can flush the lump away and compost or bin the liner. If I have my bad mother hat on and leave him for a while the lump is easy to remove but anything he has sat and squished in sets quickly so I try to change him soon, it saves bum scrubbing and arguments. My cotton wool days are over and the dirty J-Cloths just get thrown in the wash with everything else.
And the smell? Well, put it this way; you can tell when he needs changing!
copyright Lisa Cole www.lactivist.co.uk 2005
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
There is a school of thought in this country that when babies reach a certain age, they develop a craving for mushed up vegetables. From this point on you feel you must strive to provide interesting flavours and exotic fruit and vegetable combinations.
In reality, most parents will tell you that weaning can be stressful and messy with you wearing more lovingly pureed butternut squash than your little one can consume in a week! Said little one will sit in the high chair with lips firmly clamped, occasionally letting the spoon in only to spray the veggies back out and then stick a chubby baby hand in the bowl you were sure you’d put out of reach!
So why do we do it? Why don’t we follow the example of other cultures and let babies decide for themselves when they want to start eating solid food? The idea of baby-led weaning is as old as the hills but has been overlooked in recent years as new mothers have increasingly been told what they ‘should’ be doing by magazines and marketing companies.
The idea of BLW is to have appropriate food available to your baby, but not to force or even spoonfeed them. It’s a bit scary at first, especially if you are used to shovelling in mush, but your baby will soon show you what is needed!
I have two children, the first, Alexander, was weaned like most babies in this country and my second, Ruby, was weaned with BLW techniques. I can assure you that the second was much easier!! I used to give Ruby boiled carrot batons, broccoli (her favourite!) or chunks of boiled potato which she would eat at the table as we had our extended version! She didn’t eat much at all until she was about 10 months but she was still drinking a lot of milk and her chubby thighs were testament to the fact that she was not fading away!!! There was always plenty food available to her, she just took what she wanted.
I am so glad to have discovered the BLW techniques, we have never had any battles over food with Ruby, mealtimes with her are very relaxed and she will eat ANYTHING (chilli and curry are the favourites!) which is more than can be said for her brother!!
BLW Food Suggestions
- - Sliced banana
- - Grated cheese
- - Rice cakes
- - Small sandwiches
- - Peeled, sliced apple
- - Cheese on toast
- - Sliced peaches/nectarines
- - Strips of cooked meat
- - Sliced mango
- - Oatcakes with houmous
- - Halved grapes
- - Boiled carrot batons
- - Boiled potato chunks
- - Boiled butternut squash chunks
- - Boiled broccoli florets
- - Boiled cauliflower florets
Written by Laura Park, devoted mummy to Alexander 3 and Ruby 21 months.
Laura is also the owner of Brightspark Slings, home of the Coorie Fleece Pouch Sling – it’s how your baby would choose to travel!
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
Some babies go for solids in a big way right from the start, but others are more reluctant. A baby’s first taste of solid food should be exactly that, just a taste, so don’t be concerned that your little one isn’t chomping through three bowls of baby food a day at the beginning. First foods should be in addition to the milk the baby normally has, not a replacement.
The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months to avoid potential allergies, excema and asthma. All babies are different though and there are a few signs that a baby is ready for solids.
- The tongue stops thrusting everything out of the mouth
- The baby grabs food off your plate
- The baby copies you when you eat
- The baby can sit up unaided
- The baby opens its mouth for the food
If your baby isn’t interested in solids at 6 months there is some argument for trying them with a spoonful of something each day as this is supposed to be the best time for them to learn about new tastes. Some people say that if you miss this ‘tasting window’ the baby will be a fussy eater in the future.
Starting solid foods links
www.askdrsears.com/html/3/T032000.asp
www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/ready-solids-links.html
http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/eating/start-solids.html
First foods
If you are worried about allergies there is a sequence of introducing solids for the allergic child developed by Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre. It lists foods and the age at which they should be introduced. The main things to avoid at first are nuts, wheat, unpasteurised cheeses and eggs.. Organix Baby Food have removed gluten from their stage 1 and 2 baby foods and clearly label those that are gluten and lactose free.
So, how do you make baby food? Choose a nice looking vegetable, a carrot or a potato and steam it to within an inch of its life. Squish this through a sieve and add the milk the baby normally has until it looks like thin mush. You can steam, squish and sludge food to freeze for the future, ice cube trays are a good way to do this, just freeze and decant into plastic bags when they are solid. Banana is a great first food, just mush some up with a fork, place that bowl in another with some hot water and stir ’til it gets brown and mushy, no need to sieve.
www.hallpublications.com/title2_sample2.html
Organix Baby Food
Expressing milk
The most popular expressing pump is the Avent Isis. The easiest way to express is to do it first thing when you have the most milk. Start the baby off on one boob and when the baby activates the let down reflex unlatch it and put it on the other side. The milk should then pump quite easily but be careful not to overdo it at first or you risk sore nipples. The baby is used to and probably likes the taste of your milk so mixing it with steamed veg will make the solid food more palatable for them.
Second Stage Solids
When the baby is used to the slushy stuff you can start to introduce a bit more texture to the food, either by whizzing it to a less slushy consistency, mashing it roughly with a fork or adding flaked rice (from health food shops). Finger foods such as rice cakes or chips of steamed veg may go down well though you have to watch the baby in case it chokes. If it does choke, turn the baby upside down over your lap and give a sharpish tap to the centre of the back. This should dislodge the food. Never try to fish anything out of a babies mouth unless you are sure you can grab it as you may shove it further down the throat.
Bibs. Bowls and spoons
My 8 month old gets too distracted with bibs so I either feed him naked (him not me!), in already dirty clothes or I tie a dishcloth round his neck. Tommee Tippee sell a range of useful bowls. They have small containers with snap on lids that fit into a larger storage container with a small gap. I heat food by putting a defrosted ice cube of it into the smaller container and hot water in to the second. Stand the smaller in the larger and mix until the food is piping hot to kill off any lurking nasties then let it cool down again. You can get soft tipped heat sensitive spoons that show when the food is too hot for the baby, or you can test it on the inside of your wrist. It is handy to have 3 spoons when the baby starts to grab them. The baby grabs the first spoon, you use the second, the baby grabs the second, you use the third, the baby grabs the third, drops the first, you use the first…… this saves loads of arguments and tug of war games and I have been told it works with toast, rice cakes and slices of fruit.
copyright Lisa Cole www.lactivist.co.uk 2005
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
The first rule of Breast Club is that you don’t talk about Breast Club. Books, midwives, health visitors, friends, relatives and people you meet in the street cannot prepare you for the nightmare that can be breastfeeding. I have been lucky, no mastitis, no cracked nipples and loads of milk but it’s still been a far cry from the pictures of contented mother and baby that grace breastfeeding literature. It wasn’t the pain so much as the feeling that I was a milk machine, a slave to a small screaming thing who would be obeyed by my leaking breasts if not willingly by the rest of my body. Small thing feeds on demand, and he is very demanding.
When he was 6 weeks old he had a growth spurt that had me feeding every hour, day and night for a week. I just wanted to hide far away from him at the time. But now he is nearly 3 months old and the bleakness of it all seems very distant. Yes he still feeds when he wants, sometimes for a minute, sometimes for an hour. But now my let down reflex is in good working order. It no longer hurts and there is nothing quite like the surge of pure love I feel for him when he breaks his latch to beam a big milky dribbly grin at me. So my advice to others in the same situation is to give up on trying to do anything for yourself and just pretend that you want to be a milk slave, it is your pleasure to drop everything for a feed. This mental switch is what saved my mental health. It’s worth the effort to give your child the best start in life and the difficult bit is not for ever, although it may seem like it at the time.
copyright Lisa Cole www.lactivist.co.uk 2005
By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008
 I was so nervous when I breastfed in public for the first time. I quietly asked the manager of the café if it would be ok, and settled down into a dingy corner with my tiny baby, mums milk for him and tea and cake for me. At least a month before I got this brave I was casing places for breastfeeding suitability. Looking round I started to see something I never had before, loads of women breastfeed in public and no one notices. When I started to look for them I saw women breastfeeding in cafes, on park benches, at bus stops, in the back of parked cars and even on an escalator. Feeling like I had hundreds of kindred spirits out there I was able to breastfeed when ever my baby wanted it without worrying about hiding. I must have been subtle because someone once kissed my son when he was latched on!
I have been lucky though, no one has ever commented or asked me to move but I have heard many stories of people breastfeeding in toilets which I find very sad. Why is it ok to give your baby synthetic food in a bottle wherever you like but unacceptable to do something that is naturally perfect for the baby? And who wants to eat in the loo? Unfortunately, there is no law to protect breastfeeding mothers unless you live in Scotland where the new Breastfeeding Act makes it an offence to deliberately stop or prevent a child up to the age of 2 from being breastfed in a public place or licensed premises. Embarrassment and fear of comments is said to be a common reason for choosing not to breastfeed or for giving up early.
Safe and comfortable places to breastfeed include M&S who will find you somewhere to sit and offer you a changing cubicle if you are shy. The nastiest place to breastfeed is the baby changing room in IKEA, it’s a tiny room with a large stinky nappy bin in it.
I believe that the way to make public breastfeeding acceptable is to breastfeed in public, it should be the norm, not a taboo.
copyright Lisa Cole www.lactivist.co.uk 2005
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