So last night I had my rescheduled breast feeding class. It started at 6pm and was scheduled to last until 8:30pm - TWO AND A HALF HOURS! Luckily we were out by 8pm! Let me say, everyone is entitled to their OWN opinions on this topic and I know there are several of you who feel very strongly that breast feeding is the only way to go, so if I offend you, I apologize.
So I went to this class with an open mind, knowing I am going to do/try everything I can to breast feed Ryan. The main reason, if I am going to be honest is the cost savings. Well that and I think this will be my only shot at being able to hold my child. LOL Anyways back to my point . . . the first 10 minutes into the class I could tell that the instructor was very PRO breast feeding and NOTHING else. She went on and on about the benefits for baby and how its "proven" that babies have higher IQ's than formula fed babies, etc etc.
Well this struck a nerve with me. When I had Breanna I was 22 years old, I was returning to work 6 weeks after she was born and she was strictly a formula only baby. Well, 12 years later my formula fed baby is now an honors student in 8th grade who is taking a sophomore level math class. Does this mean that had I breast fed her she would be a GENIUS and already in college at the age of 12??? Doubtful.
For some reason it just really bothers me when people push things on others and make them almost feel guilty for decisions they make in life. Some people just can not and are not meant to breast feed.
Does breast milk have the antibodies that formula doesn't, yes, according to all of the studies, apparently it does. But again, breast feeding is not for everyone. There is a reason that formula has been out for MANY MANY YEARS. If it is so "bad" or "not good" for baby then why is it on the market?
I chose to not speak up, mainly in fear of being jumped in the parking log after the class. I sat their quietly knowing that what I chose for my daughter at that time was fine and that I was 100% OK with my decision.
Now, 12, almost 13 years later, I am in another place and I will attempt to breast feed this baby. Hopefully it works. However, if I can not do it, for whatever reason, then I will attempt to pump. If that doesn't work, then possibly supplement. And if all else fails, Ryan will just have to be another formula fed baby and I will be FINE with that decision.
I'm just wondering . . . is too much to ask to not only be a lactation consultant that encourages you to breast feed your baby, but one that also empathizes and understands and supports you IF for some reason you are not able to do so?
Thursday, August 27, 2009
32 Weeks . . .
How your baby's growing:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.
Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:
To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.
You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.
Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.
==================
Heartburn - Check! Since week 6! Thank you Pepcid AC for being my friend!
Lower back pain - Check! I'm sure this has NOTHING to do with my sitting job and the 50+ one way commute I do daily. Thank goodness for Tylenol and "warm" baths . . . can't wait to take a HOT bath again.
15 days left until I go out for maternity leave . . . which means only 10 WORK DAYS . . . but who's counting right?? WOOHOO!!!
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.
Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:
To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.
You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.
Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.
==================
Heartburn - Check! Since week 6! Thank you Pepcid AC for being my friend!
Lower back pain - Check! I'm sure this has NOTHING to do with my sitting job and the 50+ one way commute I do daily. Thank goodness for Tylenol and "warm" baths . . . can't wait to take a HOT bath again.
15 days left until I go out for maternity leave . . . which means only 10 WORK DAYS . . . but who's counting right?? WOOHOO!!!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Showers of emotions
This past Sunday, August 23, I had my "big" shower. We had the shower in Morgan Hill at a little Italian Restaurant, Mamma Mia's. I have been to several showers here and they were always phenomenal so when thinking about mine, I knew immediately where I wanted it!
The morning of my shower, Steve and Geoff were off to play golf. Geoff and his wife Kellie had come up from Porterville so Kellie could come to my shower. It is always nice to see them, and always too short of a visit! The boys had a T time for 7:50, which gave us a nice quiet house to get ready in since the shower was not until 1pm. Well as I was getting ready, reality hit me. A few tears came. This was it, we are in the final stretch, we will be meeting our little boy very soon. Finally, after 4 years of trying for our little baby we were almost there! Anyways, we finished getting ready and Kellie and I were off to get our toes pampered to look pretty for the shower. While Breanna, Mom and Gayle left to go meet the other helpers to setup at the restaurant.
After our lovely pedicures we were off to the restaurant. I walked in and was immediately overwhelmed. There were people everywhere! I think we counted about 37 people there which touched me more than words. Of course Breanna had to point out the gift table, which I'm not sure how I didn't notice that immediately when I walked in because there were a LOT of presents. I made my rounds saying Hi to everyone and thanking them for coming then it was time to eat! YUMMY!
We had Salad, Bread, Chicken Jerusalem, Cheese Tortellini Pomodoro, Fresh Vegetable Primavera . . . all of it was wonderful! Then of course it was followed by a fabulous cake that my friend Courtney brought from Icing on the Cake! Chocolate cake, fresh bananas in the middle with whipped cream frosting . . . need I say more than "MMMMMMMMMMMMM!"
Janin made a beautiful speech that once again brought on tears, we are blaming hormones for this. Then it was on to the mound of presents that I mentioned before probably took about 2 hours to get through. We are so very set and ready for this little boy to make his entrance, luckily we had 2 cars with us to bring the gifts home from the shower or I think I would still be sitting there wondering how to get everything home.
It was a BEAUTIFUL shower and I can not thank both moms, Breanna, Janin, Janet and Kimmie for their hard work in planning it! I also can't thank Dee enough for the beautiful flowers, and searching high and low for Gerber Daisies for me! Courtney, the cake was as always FABULOUS, thank you thank you thank you! Paige, thank you for being my "paparazzi" and taking such GREAT pictures! Everyone else that was able to attend, I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being there and supporting us, Ryan is one lucky baby already. I am truly one lucky person to have each and every one of you in my/our life/lives!!
If you would like to take a look at some of the pictures, there are 2 links. Be warned however, there are MANY pictures, you may have to copy and paste the link into your browser to view them:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AauHLRi2ZMmLK
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZN2TFi4atmlm
The morning of my shower, Steve and Geoff were off to play golf. Geoff and his wife Kellie had come up from Porterville so Kellie could come to my shower. It is always nice to see them, and always too short of a visit! The boys had a T time for 7:50, which gave us a nice quiet house to get ready in since the shower was not until 1pm. Well as I was getting ready, reality hit me. A few tears came. This was it, we are in the final stretch, we will be meeting our little boy very soon. Finally, after 4 years of trying for our little baby we were almost there! Anyways, we finished getting ready and Kellie and I were off to get our toes pampered to look pretty for the shower. While Breanna, Mom and Gayle left to go meet the other helpers to setup at the restaurant.
After our lovely pedicures we were off to the restaurant. I walked in and was immediately overwhelmed. There were people everywhere! I think we counted about 37 people there which touched me more than words. Of course Breanna had to point out the gift table, which I'm not sure how I didn't notice that immediately when I walked in because there were a LOT of presents. I made my rounds saying Hi to everyone and thanking them for coming then it was time to eat! YUMMY!
We had Salad, Bread, Chicken Jerusalem, Cheese Tortellini Pomodoro, Fresh Vegetable Primavera . . . all of it was wonderful! Then of course it was followed by a fabulous cake that my friend Courtney brought from Icing on the Cake! Chocolate cake, fresh bananas in the middle with whipped cream frosting . . . need I say more than "MMMMMMMMMMMMM!"
Janin made a beautiful speech that once again brought on tears, we are blaming hormones for this. Then it was on to the mound of presents that I mentioned before probably took about 2 hours to get through. We are so very set and ready for this little boy to make his entrance, luckily we had 2 cars with us to bring the gifts home from the shower or I think I would still be sitting there wondering how to get everything home.
It was a BEAUTIFUL shower and I can not thank both moms, Breanna, Janin, Janet and Kimmie for their hard work in planning it! I also can't thank Dee enough for the beautiful flowers, and searching high and low for Gerber Daisies for me! Courtney, the cake was as always FABULOUS, thank you thank you thank you! Paige, thank you for being my "paparazzi" and taking such GREAT pictures! Everyone else that was able to attend, I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being there and supporting us, Ryan is one lucky baby already. I am truly one lucky person to have each and every one of you in my/our life/lives!!
If you would like to take a look at some of the pictures, there are 2 links. Be warned however, there are MANY pictures, you may have to copy and paste the link into your browser to view them:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AauHLRi2ZMmLK
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZN2TFi4atmlm
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