Breastfeeding tips from a nursing MOM

Breastfeeding can be daunting, especially since no one ever prepares you for the roadblocks that show up from feeding or not feeding.  I've breastfed all my babies (my first well beyond 1 year) and I was sure surprised to see how easy it got as it progressed.  Beware though, I believe the first 3-4 weeks are the hardest, it's a test of your will.  I've read so many articles and tips, talked to multiple lactation consultants, and have had my husband back me up 100%. Here are some tips so you can hang in there while you work things out to provide the very best for your special little angel(s).

FIGURE A

1. It helps to talk to your baby and make eye contact as you nurse, this stimulates your brain and sends your glands a message to produce more milk and make your letdown flow easier.
2. In the beginning, you'll feel like you don't make enough milk. This could be that your baby hasn't learned to productively suck well yet or you're engorged (painfully full). It takes time (about a month) so don't reach for the formula or bottle just yet. If you're engorged, try gently pressing with your finger tips around your nipple for 10-second presses as flower petals (figure A) to soften your nipple to make it easier to feed from.
3. A good latch is when your baby's mouth is open wide, chin gently massaging your breast underneath, and tip of your nipple way past the front of your baby's tongue inside.  THIS is what makes your milk letdown be better and leads to you producing what your baby needs.
4. Breastfeeding your baby is time-consuming, it's part of being a nursing mom. Don't feel that it will tie you down, instead feel the bond you're building that is irreplaceable. 
5. When you start feeling pain (like dozens of paper cuts on your nipples), then soothe with simple things like lanolin, Olive Oil, your own milk rubbed on, and sleeping topless...yes, this works wonders! Just cover your volumptious beauties with small towels and sleep on your back. The towels will air-dry fast while gravity will help your milk not leak out like if you sleep on your side or sleep on your tummy (which can lead to painful infections from the pressure).
6. Don't get into a diet just yet! If you eat a restricted diet to get back into shape or take pills or "diet" smoothies, then you're robbing your baby's milk from good fat he/she needs. Many moms experience disappointment when their babies aren't gaining enough weight as they grow, but they are more focused in what they eat to stay thin. Guess what? YOU eat less, then so will baby. Your milk will have all the minerals and nutrients your baby will ever need, but the quality of it will depend on you eating right, resulting in a fuller baby quicker. Wait until baby starts solids to get on a diet. No one is rushing you, and if they do, what's more important: baby or someone's harsh opinion?
7. Whatever you do, don't supplement with formula to provide "more." If you allow your body to produce for small meals, then it won't magically produce bigger meals in time. In fact, you might end up drying up by 3 months (a very common mistake in moms).
8. Your mind being determined is key! When you start to get fear every time your baby has to latch on because of the pain you may start to feel, then just push through it. I used to chant, "Push through it, it's worth it" and chewed on ice. The ice lowered my upper chest temperature and lessened the pain (it's about the sensory receptors here being kinda numbed.)
9. Try pumping to produce more if your body is lagging in milk production. These foods and herbs help production increase: oatmeal, red and orange veggies, barley in porridge, fenugreek (herb), and fennel seed (herb). If you're like me, a heavy producer, then massaging between meals helps alleviate engorgement and placing cool cabbage leaves (just ONCE a day) in your bra will slow production (3 times a day will dry you up!).
10. Feed ON DEMAND AND ON SCHEDULE...don't get it? This means to feed when baby shows signs of hunger and to never let baby go unfed for more than 3 hours as well. Feeding on demand works perfectly while at home, but when you're out and about, your baby will get too stimulated by his/ her surroundings and may slide on to skipping a meal even. Keep an eye on that because once you start to skip meals or prolong break times, your body will then think it needs to produce less since baby isn't eating like before.
11. It may take up to 2 days for your body to readjust as your baby grows from time to time and feeding demands change. So give it time as baby grows.
12. If your baby sleeps through most of the night, you might be engorged by morning and baby won't eat everything you have in one feeding.  This is the best time to pump, before they wake up, and store in the freezer for future dates with the husband or doctor visits. You'll be surprised at how much milk you'll accumulate.
13. You relaxing and your comfort level helps in your willingness to keep going too so: sit up and use a pillow under baby if feeding upright, lay down and get comfy before feeding, or close your eyes if you're tired. Avoid bad posture and back pain. Avoid feeding baby if you're too emotionally stressed (crying, super angry, etc), it can lead to acid in your milk for baby = more spit up.
14. Baby will never "empty" you.  Our womanly bodies are a beautiful thing, and were made to feed and nurture babies, so even when you feel like your empty when baby seems to be hungry still, just switch sides and feed until he/she is full. THIS is how you make your body produce more. THIS is how you show your determination to be a nursing mom to a healthy breastfed baby.
15. If you do get a breast infection, my advice is to push through the pain, unless your baby has thrush, then go to a doctor.  I've had breast infections with my babies and I freaked out with my first and they gave me antibiotics to help, which still took days. With my second, I simply fed less from that side, and when I was sitting I placed diapers with warm water inside on my breast. The diaper's warmth alleviated my pain and soaked up milk that would run out. Easier than going to the doc's, getting a prescription  and taking pills.
16. Get support. If you live with your significant other, ask them for support and to let you relax while you feed. My husband is an angel during these times, propped up my pillows, brought me water and ice, wakes up to get baby at night crying, and often gets the baby as soon as I'm done feeding and bonding to help me relax. You'll need help since nursing does take energy from you (burns about 500 calories per feeding), you'll maybe feel weak, tired and overwhelmed...it's completely normal, but you still need special attention too ;-).
17. You're still eating for 2 as long as you're breastfeeding, so drink plenty of water and avoid the urges to snack o anything. I've eliminated sweet snacks and salty snacks at home to force my cravings to resort to fruits, small veggies (like baby carrots), and water. This happens because your body is still sharing what you consume with 2 bodies. 

So, that's it! You'll be happy you breastfed your child once they begin to grow and learn. You'll also not spend of tons of money on baby bottles, formula, proper water for formula, and time in preparing bottles at home or while out and about. Here's some quick facts too about breastfeeding benefits:

Traveling Tips and Etiquette

These are just some few tips for those of you who either travel alone or with family for vacation or while visiting relatives.  This is very helpful to make all parties want your visit over and over again :-)

WHILE TRAVELING:
1.  Make sure you pack light by limiting your wardrobe to clothing that is neutral and interchangeable.  You will most likely be buying souvenirs or more clothing where you are going to anyways.  Take an extra empty, or nearly empty suitcase or duffle bag for those new extras you will bring back.
2.  DO NOT travel with gigantic containers, even when on a road trip...especially if you'll be staying at a relative's place.  They take up weight in cargo, might explode if you've changed elevation, and precious space in a bathroom, that won't allow you to be clean and simple.

3.  Be CLEAN.  Clean after yourself if staying with relatives.  I know some people think that traveling means being careless of how you organize yourself, but that's not ever the case.  Even of you stay in a hotel, it's best to always put EVERYTHING you travel with away to keep everything under control.  If staying with family, wash your own dishes, put your dirty clothes away, and pretty much leave your things in order so you don't make your gracious hosts feel stuffed or overwhelmed.
4.  Take a CAMERA for memories!  So, bring a compact camera even if you have a gigantic one, unless it will be in it's own traveling bag.  The smaller your camera is, the easier it will be to take on outings and will be less likely to break than a large DLSR.
5.  Limit your restaurant splurges and dine-in LOCAL FAVORITES instead.  You'll get a better feel for the location anyway. This is especially important if staying with family because you never know what other people's budgets really are and local favorites and sometimes better than an over-priced meal.
6.  When you plan outings, don't expect your relatives or friends to join in every ocassion.  Afterall, you're the one on vacation, not them, which is why they'll most likely be going to work and taking care of their home so you should be considerate and free to EXPLORE ON YOUR OWN time frame and budget.
7.  Take your own GPS and take advantage of visiting new places and traveling.  Don't limit yourself, your on vacation!

New life in Cali and some projects!

So, I have been super busy here just having fun and mostly settling in and organizing.  It's funny how weather not only effects people emotionally, but time-wise as well.  As for me, I'm in a happier spirit because having constant good weather is cheery and I have less personal time for gadgets because I'm out and about or spending time with my little boy instead of being trapped indoors for months because of the snow.

Enough about that though. Let me get into some details that a lot of people mistakenly make of where I live now, mostly to educate and share:
1)  Most people think Southern California is nice, but there's "too much violence to raise a family in these parts"...well, I grew up here and I turned out anti-violent and mind you I've never tried drugs, nor stealing, nor was I influenced in any negative way while living here.  Truth is, my home is where I learned to be me and while outside and seeing people's lives, I was able to decide for myself through conviction instead of following the general public.  So no matter WHERE your family is raised, it's HOW YOU raise them that matters and will determine how they will be influenced.
2)  A lot of people think it's super expensive to live out here...it depends a lot on location.  Fact is, renting is not cheap, but becoming a homeowner is cheaper.  Yup, you can buy a nice spacious home for (a bigger family) around $250,000 in a nice neighborhood including a pool now-a-days (and not in the dessert), which I know as a fact due to close relatives currently house-shopping.  Not to mention, utility bills are way cheap...I remember paying almost $190 for just our gas bill one winter month in Utah.  Here, most families think paying $80 for ALL their utilities is too much and can easily control due to climate.  Also, produce is much more fresh and affordable in California.  You can buy up to 7lbs of oranges for .99 cents and food is never taxed so you pay what you see.  For sure car fuel is a killer here, running up to $4.10 a gallon on average right now, but when everything is so close to you in distance, your tank can last a while.  Now, buying merchandise is also at lower cost here depending on where you go.  If you're the type that only buys in department stores or malls, then you're paying too much ANYWHERE.  If you like bargains, then there's a whole world at your disposal.  I'm talking about flee markets, discount factories and outlets, and everything within 3-10 miles from your home.  In Utah I had to wait for a trip down to Salt Lake City (20 miles one-way) to get cute clothing and still crossed my fingers to find a bargain I would love, but since everyone shops in the same places then usually the same style, brand, and shoes are strolling out and about...making YOU fit into a mold.  So most times I skipped the $9.99 blouse on clearance or the $29.99 jeans on sale (total $40 plus tax). I recently bought a 7-piece bed set ($25), a car seat ($10), 13lbs of bananas ($1.50), Covergirl Makeup foundation ($2), a cute maternity top ($1), and still spent the remainder on snacks (same $40 without tax) while shopping here in California.  So, between mortgage and bills, you'll be paying the same as in, let's just say, Utah...since it's the only other place I've lived in and payed bills.  BUT between food, discounts, local stores, and cheaper merchandise, anyone can save in California and anyone who argues this needs to crunch in the real numbers to see reality.
3)  Jobs.  Jobs.  Jobs.  Everywhere you go, people are struggling to find or keep their jobs.  It's a sad stand-point for our nation really, but trials come in every size, we just have to be ready for them.  In Utah, jobs don't pay very high unless you sacrifice a lot of yourself (under the radar) to get there or have connections, which is okay, but benefits stink.  In California, jobs pay higher with no relation on who you know or don't know, and benefits are great.  Not many know that, personally, we went through a very sad job situation with my husband in Utah.  The worst was that it all came down to discrimination and gossip...I know silly huh? A lot of people lose jobs in Utah based on gossip and who your connections are in the line of superiors.  Not all jobs are like that, but those exceptions are few.  The answer to our prayers was in an email and phone call letting my husband know that he had a job waiting here in California.  I was ecstatic, my husband was still re-cooperating from the hard blow from a job he really cared about, but in the end he was happy and we left.  Now, he earns about the same, but earns palpable commission with other perks, covered with full benefits at little out-of-pocket expense, and is recognized at work for ALL he does. We were also looking into having our baby and expenses while in Utah and figured it would cost us over $6,200 for me to deliver under my husband's costly insurance at the time.  In California we are going to pay $0.00.  That's right!  We will be worry-free and focus more on our family's outcome than our financial stress for this lil' baby girl!  Sometimes, when it comes down to jobs, we gotta take the open door blessedly provided instead of being stubborn and staying where we will ultimately lose in this money-driven world run by wolves and hungry sharks.
4)  California loves all races! I will not share my personal negative stories here because I've put it all behind me and learned from what I had to go through in Utah for being LATINA.  I will share this though: the select few Caucasians that do like Hispanics (more than just Mexican food) are absolutely good people! Not only on a personal scale is California more accepting, but the laws are more equal and offer opportunities to those desperately needing hope for their dreams.  I'm talking about illegals.  I'm blessed to be a citizen, but I do admire those that aren't because they are the definition of hard work.  I ran into families in Utah living on pure faith, some being torn apart by state laws, and some so alone.  Some young people hated going to school because they would get treated differently, and I'm not gonna lie, I wanted to take their place instead of watching them become broken.  I could only do so little, and yet I was experiencing the same things while in the park with my child or in the library, even the grocery store.  This is a supposed new era, new times, but some people are stuck...covered in modern masks of ignorance...but that's a whole other subject.

Now, I'm just happy to be back home :-).  We were living with a relative for just a bit and just recently moved into our new place about 2 weeks ago.  I'm exited because I get to decorate and we're only 11 weeks away from meeting out new baby too!  Here are some things I've been working on and want to keep making for our home:  (click on the images to see the tutorials)

...and once I have my rooms fully finished I will post up pictures to share what I've made.  I try to work at a bearable pace since I was put on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy and my little one is quite the little "helper"...when the mood strikes ;-)

Canning

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2005-08-01/Learn-to-Can-for-Homegrown-Flavor.aspxWell, as you all may know, it's always a good thing to be prepared.  This post is one that I'm going to schedule since I'm trying to take a vacation this week so here it goes, people!

As you may know, or not, I was raised in a home where my mother would daily remind us that "Actions speak louder than words." Til this day, I repeat it as well, and when she would tell us, I would almost cringe!  Funny how life is.  Well, she also taught us to be self reliant and independent.  As one of the many things that she taught is is the art of canning.  Yes, it is an art, I believe, because only those that have patience for it will do it.  As such, I've been collecting empty glass containers since we moved to our new home and I'm getting ready to start canning in the next few weeks or so so that I can be done by the time snow hits. I know the general rules for this and I'm happy to share it with you all, once I start.  As a family, we;ve compiled a home storage for emergencies and continue to grow it despite the financial hardships that come.  It is so important to be prepared.  I know this because it can help in times when even no one in the house has a job to buy food, to get supplies, and I've witnessed cases in which catastrophes strike and leave food far from reach and being prepared is a blessing which we have to work hard to maintain.

Here are some general ideas for building a home storage: (all from LDS.ORG)
1. Gradually build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet until it is sufficient for three months.
2. Store drinking water.
3. Establish a financial reserve by setting aside a little money each week, and gradually increase it to a reasonable amount.
4. Once families have achieved the first three objectives, they are counseled to expand their efforts, as circumstances allow, into a supply of long-term basic foods such as grains, legumes, and other staples.

For now, I've compiled a few websites that will help you along the way and I will share with you great articles about keeping a home storage as well.

Why should you start?:
Home storage for Newly Weds
Home storage for families

How-to:
Learn to Can
Homegrown Canning
One step at a time

Until next time.  I'll be online shortly and hopefully ready to hit the ground running!  Also, my family might visit the weekend of my boy's birthday!!!!! That's the best news I've had in weeks!!!!