Cold Turkey

August 21, 2012

If my boobies could talk, they’d probably scream “enough already!”  They’ve been working overtime these past couple years and it’s time for them to retire.  That’s right!  They’re finally cutting off their milk supply completely.

The original plan  was to breastfeed for a year.  I wasn’t quite sure if I’d make it that far, but surprising I did.  I’ve managed to overcome many obstacles including, the pain and dip in supply.  I didn’t know who enjoyed it most- me or my daughter.

Since becoming a mom, I’ve struggled to find balance between career and motherhood.  In addition to providing the best nutrients ever, nursing seemed to make up for lost times when I was away.  It was great to have been able to bond with Princess.  Up until her second birthday, she looked forward to “boobies.”  She’d walk me into her TV/play room and tell me to sit down and go at it.  For a while there I thought I’d be breastfeeding until whenever, but I’ve realized that my boobies have served its purpose.  It’s time for my little girl to move on.  The decision to go cold turkey wasn’t easy because when my baby girl wants something, she’s relentless.

I’ve known moms who’ve nursed until preschool age because they had trouble weaning.  I decided that wasn’t the route I wanted to go. Believe me, if it were up to Princess she’d probably nurse until college.  The sight of that alone freaks me out.

Anyway, I’m proud that we’ve made it two years.  She’s cried when I told her “no” these past few days.  Offering her something else she loves has seemed to curb those cravings.  In the meantime, I’ll have fun bonding with her in many other ways.  I’m gonna miss nursing my baby girl.  Who knows, maybe my boobs will do a Jordan and come out of retirement.  Baby number two may be just around the corner.  We’ll see.

Please sure to check out my Nursing Diaries.

Weather Anchor Mama

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Filed Under: breastfeeding, Nursing Diaries 5 Comments

Stop The Presses Beyonce Breastfeeds!

March 6, 2012
Beyonce with hBlue Ivy. Carter Family/Ed Burke for Beyonce.com/AP Photo

Beyonce sparks public breastfeeding debate.  Whoop-ti-do!!  Apparently, the star was seen nursing Blue Ivy at a public restaurant.  I’m baffled that this is making national news.  Some people frown upon mothers choosing to nurse out in the open, and I don’t get it.  I’ve been nursing for 18 months strong and make no excuses for breastfeeding Princess in public.

I’ve nursed just about every where.  Don’t get me wrong, I never completely exposed my boobies.  But if I happened to be eating at a restaurant,  I’ve whipped it out right there.  Why should I have leave the table and go to the bathroom?  That’s just gross.  There’s no reason why Princess can’t eat with us at the table.  I know a lot of folks may disagree.  So what!  At the end of the day, I’m happy and my baby’s happy.  I’m careful and discrete enough to not let patrons get an eye full.  If they do, oh well.

I remember nursing in the middle of a shopping mall.  I really didn’t care who saw.  My baby girl was starving and cranky, so I did what I had to do at the time.  An employee saw me and kindly informed me of a comfy lounge for nursing moms, which I thought was very nice.  But let’s face it, if there are tons of people around and your child is screaming for food then a mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do.

That’s exactly what Beyonce did.  I just don’t understand why it’s such a big deal.  Nursing moms do it all the time.  However when you factor in the statistics reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2010, I can sort of understand why some may feel that it’s a huge deal.  A reported 54 % of black (non-Hispanic) moms breastfeed, in comparison to 74% white, and 80% Hispanic.  One blogger feels that stars like Beyonce will encourage more black women to nurse

While I would love to see the stats for nursing black moms rise, the reality is that it may not be right for everyone.  It doesn’t make them bad moms.  It’s just a personal choice.  Kudos to Beyonce for breastfeeding beautiful Blue Ivy!  But, I don’t feel that we should appoint her as a breastfeeding trailblazer for us.  I just think all women should educate themselves about the benefits of nursing.  Then make a conscious decision as to whether or not it’s right for them.  You shouldn’t do it because a celebrity makes it “cool.”

As for me, I’ll continue to wear my breastfeeding badge with pride.

Would you consider nursing because a celebrity does it?

Weather Anchor Mama

Filed Under: breastfeeding, Nursing Diaries 7 Comments

Nursing Diaries (Part Seven)

February 23, 2012

“Change of Heart”

I used to be one of those people who would get grossed out at the site of mother nursing her toddler.  Now that I’m a mom, I take it back.  Princess is 18 months and I can’t believe we’ve made it this far!  She still loves the boob and has no desire to give it up any time soon.  She’s so hooked, I think I may have to send her to booby rehab.

The original plan was to breastfeed for a year.  Even though nursing was a bit challenging in the beginning, I was able to keep up.  Nursing and pumping came easy after a while.  I never had to substitute with formula.  I felt like I conquered the world!  Princess dined solely on my milk for the first 6 months.  At that point I began adding solids to her diet.  By 9 months she was pretty much eating 3 meals a day.  I thought she’d eventually wean herself because she loved food so much!  Boy was I wrong!
When she turned 12 months, Princess was still attached to the boob.  In fact, she still wakes up for her nightly fix.  There’s no set schedule for our sessions.  But, she randomly undresses me and reaches in for the kill.  So here’s the kicker…the other day she asked, “booby?”  I used to feel that if a kid can ask for breast milk, then it’s time to call it quits. However, now I have a completely different take on the whole thing.

I won’t lie and say breastfeeding is easy breezy.  There have been times when I’ve had to calm her cries by whipping out a boob in a random public place.  It’s been 18 months and we’re still nursing strong, and through it all I’ve learned so much.  The most valuable lesson here is to never say never.  So the next time you see a mom nursing a toddler, don’t react the way I did before.

Oh, as for boob rehab…not a chance!  I’ll be nursing until whenever.

Weather Anchor Mama

Filed Under: breastfeeding, Nursing Diaries 15 Comments

Nursing Diaries (Part Five)

November 29, 2011

Keeping My Milk Supply Up

One of my biggest concerns as a nursing mom has been keeping my milk supply going strong.  I’ve spoken with so many moms who say they were unsuccessful at breastfeeding because they ran out of milk.  I didn’t want that to happen to me, so I consulted my doctor for advice.  Basically, I researched my butt off.  Here’s what I’ve been doing to keep my supply going.

1)   When I told my daughter’s pediatrician that I was going to breastfeed, he told me to drink 4 oz. of water before, during, and after each nursing session. 

As soon as we returned home from the hospital, I sent my hubby out to get several gallons of water.  I kept it close by throughout my maternity leave.  There were times when I felt like I would pop from drinking so much liquid.  But I eventually got used to consuming all that H2O.  The doc also mentioned that I shouldn’t give my baby water for the first 6 months.  So, taking in water myself meant my baby and I both stayed hydrated.

2)   I’ve also maintained a healthy diet by taking in about 500 extra calories a day.  The added bonus is that breastfeeding helps me burn a lot of calories too.  (Every now and again I hit the gym, so eating more is sometimes necessary).

3)   Plus the more I nurse, the more milk I produced.

4)   In addition, I’ve made it a point to pump at work, which also aids in milk production.

5)   There are plenty of cookie recipes that include the ingredient brewer’s yeast that’s believed increase milk supply.  Some women even swear by Fenugreek.  I haven’t got around to trying those sweet treats, and I didn’t notice much of a difference when I took Fenugreek.  But maintaining a healthy diet, nursing and pumping, as much as I can has done the trick for me.  It’s all about dedication baby! 

Following these simple tips has helped me through my breastfeeding experience.  It’s been over a year and I’m still going strong!  How have you increased your milk supply?

P.S.  Shhhh I have one more tip to share.  If you wanna know about it, hit me up at stacyann@stacyanngooden.com
Weather Anchor Mama

Filed Under: Nursing Diaries 7 Comments

Nursing Diaries (Part Four)

October 29, 2011

“Pumping At Work”

As I mentioned in Part One, there isn’t always time to pump at work.  When there’s active weather, my job takes precedence.  Thankfully that’s not always the case.  I have a pretty understanding employer who allows me a place to express milk each day.  Some may feel they don’t have the opportunity to pump at work.  But I firmly believe that you can do it.  It’s just a matter of planning and asking your employer for assistance.

When I made the announcement that my hubby and I were expecting, I immediately told the HR representative that I planned on breastfeeding and began making arrangements, as I drew closer to my due date.  I had heard stories about moms pumping in the bathroom and decided early on that that wasn’t going to be me.  I wanted a nice clean and comfy environment to pump in.

 I can’t say it’s a spa like setting, but it’s sufficient.  It’s neatly tucked away from everyone, and the office came complete with a microwave and refrigerator.   I’ve been able to pump during my lunch hour and store away my milk for the remainder of my shift.  Talk about convenience!!  I also had a key, which was icing on the cake. 



 

My goal was to pump for one year and I’m proud to say that I’ve exceeded that!  I’d sneak away two to three times during my shift, in between shows (for about 15-20 minutes a session).   It can be a bit tedious, carrying all that gear and washing all the parts after each use.  But, it’s worth it!  I’ve spoken with other moms who’ve mentioned that they tried doing the deed for a number of months, but later gave up.  So, I want to share some tips with those of you planning on nursing, and pumping at work that has help me tremendously!

1.  Don’t be afraid to plan early!  Once you make the announcement to your boss, ask about a pumping room.  I know there may be some exceptions, but most businesses provide a pumping room (not the bathroom).

2.  Research different pumps.  I swear by Madela.  I’ve heard that hospital pumps are the best.  But, I feel that Madela is right up there!  It’s pretty expensive.  So, be sure to add it to your registry.  If no one buys it, you get a percentage off after your new arrival!  My little one also enjoys drinking from the Madela bottles.  Maybe your baby will too!


3.  Also, get some storage bags and containers.  I tried a few, but I like Lansinoh bags because it stores and pours easily and it’s affordable.


4.  If you do decide to pump at work, don’t forget to pump and/or nurse at home.  Your boobies and baby will thank you later for keeping that supply going!  I’ll talk more about how I was able to rebuild my milk supply in Part 5.

5.  If you’re not comfortable with your pumping conditions at work like the location or conditions, then speak up!  You want your pumping experience to be as confortable as possible.

I hope you find these tips helpful.  For more info on pumping and breastfeeding laws, visit http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14389

Happy pumping!

Filed Under: Nursing, Nursing Diaries 3 Comments

Nursing Diaries (Part Three)

September 19, 2011

“Introducing the Bottle”

As the saying goes: ”You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you get your prince.”  Well my Princess had to drink from many bottles, before finding the right one.

Within the first couple weeks of having my daughter nursing became second nature.  Getting up for nighttime feedings were tough, as you parents already know.  But, I knew what I was getting into and complaining about it was out of the question.  Nonetheless, my little Princess and I were doing just fine.  That was until we had our first doctor visit.  I told the pediatrician that I planned on returning to work, and asked about the best time to introduce the bottle.  He told my hubby and I that we basically should start right away.  He then said, “If you don’t, she may never take the bottle!”  The thought of not being able to go back to work because my daughter wouldn’t take the bottle was absolutely terrifying.  That actually happened to a close friend of mine.  After a few weeks of exclusively breastfeeding, her daughter refused to drink from the bottle.  So she had no choice, but to quit her job in order to nurse.  I applaud her for doing that because if it came down to it, I’d do the same thing.  But, I also made a commitment to return to work after my twelve-week maternity leave.  It wouldn’t have been an easy decision to become a stay at mom.  So on that note, my hubby and I took the doctor’s advice and got the baby bottle introduction rollin’.

I didn’t realize that it would be so difficult.  We had tons of bottles that were gifted to us at our baby shower.  We first went with the Tommee Tippee newborn starter set.  I read good reviews and figured it would be the right choice for my baby girl.

I also read that the bottle was designed with a woman’s nipple in mind. It has a wide nipple base, it’s flexes and stretches like the breast, and produces less air build-up.  Princess had already been dealing with a lot of gas, so I thought that this would definitely help.  Not!!! Milk leaked everywhere, and it was clear that Princess didn’t like drinking from this bottle. It was a complete mess! I ended up having to return the set. I knew that introducing the bottle would take some time, but I never really thought we would have to go through a bunch of different ones.  

My sis had also given me left over unused bottles from our baby shower. We tried those and Princess wouldn’t drink from it either. There were a bunch of others that also didn’t work out.  I was beginning to lose hope when I remembered the bottles that came with my Madela Pump.  I filled one with breast milk and my hubby gave it to her. She loved it! 

  Who knew that babies had a bottle preference? It was like auditioning for a role! Finally, everything was working out. My hubby and I even develop a system where we would give her one bottle every other day, and he’d be the one who fed her. Since I was nursing, it was only right that he experience feeding time.  It also further strengthened their daddy daughter bond.

Nursing was still my top priority and I didn’t want to overdue the bottle-feeding in the beginning. I heard that some babies end up losing interest in nursing completely, if that happens. That’s when nursing and pumping became my routine. I began expressing milk and storing it in the freezer.  

I am a planner who likes to keep things in order, call me crazy. But, you never know what can happen. I could be sick and need to take medication (which could affect milk supply and/or my baby), or I could have to work late.  I believe it’s great to have extra breast milk handy.  Besides, pumping and nursing kept my milk supply up. 

Princess still prefers drinking from Madela bottles, and I am still nursing.  Of course, every baby is different and I am in no way endorsing any of the products mentioned above.  But whether you’re a stay at home mom or work outside of the home, I think it’s so important to let your baby be the judge.  Some nursing moms may choose to introduce the bottle with formula, while others pump their own milk.  Either way, you may have to go through a few bottles before finding that right one.

Filed Under: breastfeeding, Nursing Diaries 3 Comments
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