B.I.B.

Posted in Isla, Life, Mom Talk by Kara

Time Magazine, May 2012

This magazine cover sparked a lot of controversy over breastfeeding and where mom’s should “draw the line” when it comes to nursing your child …

They (medical professionals, health organizations, people in general) say that “breast is best” (B.I.B.) when it comes to feeding your baby. As soon as possible, after your baby is born you’re encouraged to breastfeed your baby. Lactation consultants are brought in to make sure your baby is “latching on” correctly and getting the nutrients it needs.

It’s recommended that you breastfeed for a minimum of six months. After that, I’m guessing you can do what you want – Transition to formula, switch to milk, whatever.

I’ve noticed recently that there has been some discussion on how long you should breastfeed your child for. I’m no nutritionist, so I have no idea how long is “long enough,” but I wonder if there’s a certain age where you should draw the line. I’ve heard of 3-year-olds still being breastfed, which I find a little strange, but if that’s what the mother wants to do, then that’s fine.

Breastfeeding Isla until she’s old enough to tell me she’s hungry (and not just in the “crying because she’s hungry” way) isn’t something that I plan to do. To be honest, I don’t know when I’m going to ween her off of the boob, but I don’t think I’ll keep doing it once she’s a year old. At her doctor appointment the other day, the doctor asked if I was still nursing her and if I had given her any solid food yet. I told him I was and that I hadn’t given her any solids yet. (I’m afraid of the diapers, to be completely honest, and how it will affect her tummy.) Because she’s gaining weight wonderfully, he told me to just keep giving her breast milk, so I will. I digress …

Quite a few mom’s I know have breastfed for a year or longer. Like I said, I don’t know if I want to do it for more than a year. Yes, I’m aware of all the “goodness” that’s in breast milk, but I was only breastfed for about 3 months and I turned out just fine, as do babies who are given formula from Day 1. I personally don’t think I’m going to depriving my daughter of anything if I choose to ween her after a year. I’m sure other mom’s will be all judgey if I stop breastfeeding earlier than a year, but I never claimed to be some kind of Super Mom with magical powers to breast feed forever. I’d like to get a little bit of my freedom back and not have to rely on my boobs to feed Isla every 3-4 hours. Yeah, I could pump, but I do enjoy the bonding time we have while I’m nursing her. Plus – pumps are CRAZY expensive and I’m not willing to dish out the dough just yet.

I miss eating spicy food and strawberries. I miss having the occasional boozy drink and not having to worry about whether or not the alcohol has passed through my system before nursing Isla. But – I won’t stop nursing her just because I want a spicy burrito or Caesar at the pub. I know that “breast is best” and that Isla needs the goodness from breast milk, but I know I can’t – and won’t – breast feed her forever.

I apologize for the disorganization of this post, but it’s something that’s it’s been on my mind and I just needed to do a “brain dump.”

What are your thoughts on “prolonged” breast feeding? How long do you think is “long enough?”

29Oct2012

Four Months

Posted in Growing Up Isla, Isla by Kara

At four months …

She:
– Weighs 16.2lbs! Her little baby rolls are delicious and adorable and she’s a healthy, growing girl. She’s also 26″ long.

– “Grabs” for things. She grabs onto stuff she wants and gives them big hugs before going to put them in her mouth. This includes her stuffed animals, her feet, her blankets, and her rubber ducky:

– Has her baths in the “big girl tub” now. (AKA, the bath tub) She got too big for her infant bath tub at about 2 1/2 months, so we “upgraded” her to the bath tub when she was 3 months. She loves the amount of space she has now to kick and splash, and I don’t have to worry about the counters getting soaked.

– Sucks her thumb to console herself if she’s popped her soother out of her mouth! I’m not too sure what I think of her thumb sucking habits, but at least she can calm herself down. My brother and I were both BAD thumb suckers, to the point where our knuckles cracked and bled, so I’m hoping she doesn’t get that bad.

– Can roll over!! Last week she rolled over for the first time – While I wasn’t watching! I turned for two seconds to dry my hands and poof – there she was on her tummy after teetering on her side for the longest time. Kyle saw it all happen, which makes me happy. Then, later in the evening, she did it again and I managed to catch it on video:

I:
– Am sad that it’s cold outside because the opportunities to go out walking with Isla are now few and far between.

– Decided that it’s time to let my bangs grow out. I never get around to making appointments to have them trimmed because I never have enough time. We had a good run.

– Was pretty happy to get some retail therapy done! It’s really helped me feel less like a frumpy house slob. Look great, feel great, right?

– Got the flu last Sunday. I spend Sunday morning heaving my guts out and the rest of the day sleeping on the couch. Lucky for me, my mom came and took Isla to her house to let me rest, only bringing her back over to nurse when it was time. Yay for moms who are a 5 minute walk away!

– Am dreading the thought of Christmas shopping. I have no idea what to get anyone and the thought of shopping just makes me shudder. Yuck. Not that I’m not looking forward to Isla’s first Christmas.

Photo:

One month
Two months
Three months

29Sep2012

Three Months

Posted in Growing Up Isla, Isla by Kara

At three months:

She:
– Weighs 15.1lbs! I have no idea what that is percentile-wise, and I don’t care. That just means she’s getting bigger and eating like a hungry, hungry hippo :)

– Is a tummy time champ! She loves being on her tummy and her neck is getting so strong! I love seeing her be upright and looking around on her own; she’s becoming more and more aware of her surroundings! The only downside of tummy time is that it put pressure on her tummy and she usually barfs all over the place as a result.

– Also loves to work out her legs by standing (assisted, of course). She’ll eventually get tired and her legs will give out, but it’s amazing to feel how strong her little legs are getting! She also kicks them like crazy when she’s laying on her back just chilling out.

– Can roll from her tummy to her back! She is trying SOOO hard to roll over from her back to her tummy, but she’ll get “stuck” on her side and get frustrated with herself, then whine. It’s so cute and amazing to watch. How is she this big already??

– Has found her “voice!” She now just babbles away when anyone holds her in their lap and it’s ridiculously cute! I’m now the crazy person who “talks” with their baby as if she understands what I’m saying.

– Hates napping during the day. She’ll usually nap for a half-hour or so after she finishes eating and then maybe for 45 or so before it’s time to eat again. This makes for one cranky baby by the end of the night, BUT she …

– Now sleeps in her crib at night, and sleeps SOO much better as a result! I’ll put her down for bed anytime between 9:30 – 11:30 (depending on what time she eats her last meal of the day at) and she’ll sleep for at least 6 hours, sometimes longer! I really appreciate the longer periods of sleep at night, that’s for sure.

– Has quite the collection of books already! My mom has bought her three books, including her very first Dr. Suess and Berenstain Bears book, my brother gave her his Hungry, Hungry Caterpillar book, and she has a Lilo & Stitch book as well. I’m going to have to find a bookshelf for her room eventually, or at least something to display things on.

I:
– Found my first grey hair. Ugggggggh! The strand was weirdly half brown and half grey/white. I’m hoping it was just a fluke and that I don’t find any more any time soon. I’m too young for greys!

– Also am losing my “pregnancy” hair. See, when you start taking prenatal vitamins, your hair becomes fabulously healthy from the special vitamin blend. Now that I’m taking my regular vitamins again, my hair is falling out again and my leg hair seems to be growing faster. I’m almost tempted to keep taking the prenatal vitamins just for my hair! It’s gross pulling out handfuls of hair in the shower and Kyle certainly doesn’t like the hair dolls everywhere.

– Am so close to my pre-pregnancy weight. I only have a couple pounds to go, and I’m pretty sure it’s the extra skin that’s accumulated in my tummy area. I’m hoping it will eventually go away. Exercising would probably help.

– Am starting to find “myself” again – as in my pre-pregnancy self. They said in prenatal class that it may take a little while, but neither Kyle or I knew how long that would be for us. I think it’s taken a little longer for me than the average person, but I’m getting there.

– Take waaaaay too many photos of Isla, me thinks. Okay, probably not, but it feels like it! I try to limit my Facebook photo updates to once a week, but it’s hard. I’m thinking I’m going to have to start ordering prints of my favourite photos and putting them in albums for Isla to have when she’s all grown up. I know I love the baby album that my mom made of my photos.

– Still don’t have the guts to nurse in public or in front of anyone. I don’t think I ever will, and I’m okay with that. Apparently for some that changes once you have your second child, but I’m not down with whipping the girls out anywhere. I don’t care if other women do, but it’s just not for me.

Photo: