Good Nite Lite

http://www.goodnitelite.com/

This handy device comes highly recommended by parents around the web.

Bottle Feeding and Pacifiers

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/feeding-eating/breastfeeding/common-problems/nipple-confusion

Nipple Confusion

There are some basic mechanical differences between how a baby gets milk from a bottle and how a baby gets milk out of the breast. Giving bottles or pacifiers to young, breastfeeding babies often leads to nipple confusion. Baby tries to use the bottle-feeding technique on the breast and has difficulty latching-on and sucking. Baby gets very frustrated, and so does mother. Nipple confusion can even lead to baby refusing the breast. Here’s an explanation.

To get milk from the breast, baby must coordinate tongue and jaw movements in a sucking motion that’s unique to breastfeeding.

• When baby latches onto the breast, he opens his mouth wide and draws the very stretchable nipple and areolar tissue far back into his mouth.
• The tongue holds the breast tissue against the roof of baby’s mouth while forming a trough beneath the nipple and areola.
• The gums compress the milk sinuses underneath the areola (the pigmented area around the nipple) while the tongue rhythmically “milks” the breast with a wave-like motion from front to back, drawing the milk from the areola and the nipple.
• Since the nipple is far back in baby’s mouth, it’s not compressed by the gums, so it’s less likely to get sore.

Babies suck from a bottle entirely differently. Thanks to gravity, milk flows from a bottle so easily that baby does not have to suck “correctly” to get milk.

• He doesn’t have to open his mouth as wide or correctly turn out the lips to form a tight seal.
• The bottle nipple does not need to be far back into the mouth, nor is the milking action of the tongue necessary.
• Baby can lazily gum the nubbin of the rubber and suck with only his lips.
• When the milk comes out too fast, baby may thrust his tongue forward and upward, to stop the flow from the nipple.
• Milk keeps on coming during feedings from bottles–whether or not baby sucks–so there are no pauses to rest during bottle-feedings.

Problems occur when babies apply the lessons learned from bottle-feeding to nursing at the breast. When you compare the illustration of sucking at an artificial nipple with the illustration of sucking at the breast, you will see that if baby sucks from the breast the same way he does the bottle, the tongue and the gums will traumatize mother’s nipple.

• Babies who get bottles soon after birth may thrust their tongue upward during sucking and push the breast nipple out of their mouth.
• They don’t open their mouths wide enough when latching-on, so they suck only the tip of the nipple. They don’t get enough milk, and mother’s nipples get sore.
• Baby becomes accustomed to the immediate flow of milk that comes from the bottle; at the breast, babies have to suck for a minute or two to stimulate mother’s milk ejection reflex and get the milk flowing.

Does this mean that bottle-feeding is easier than breastfeeding? Yes, and no. Bottles require less sucking finesse and less effort. However, studies comparing premature infants during bottle-feedings and during breastfeedings have shown that breastfeeding is actually less stressful.

• Babies’ breathing and heart rate are more stable during feedings at the breast.
• Babies have more control over the milk flow and can establish a more regular rhythm of sucking, swallowing, and pausing.
• Feeding at the breast also requires less energy.

PREVENTING NIPPLE CONFUSION

It is easier to prevent nipple confusion than to fix it–though it is a problem that can be solved, should it occur (see below). Breastfed babies should not be given artificial nipples during the first three to four weeks when they are learning and perfecting their breastfeeding skills. Avoiding artificial nipples means avoiding pacifiers as well as bottles. Supplements, if medically necessary, can be given in ways that don’t involve artificial nipples. (See Alternatives to Bottles.)

Will it be more difficult to introduce the bottle later? Many mothers, because they are going back to work or because they eventually plan to get out for a few hours by themselves, want their breastfed babies to accept feedings from bottles. They have heard stories of babies who adamantly refused anything but the breast. Getting baby to accept a bottle at age two or three months may take some patience, but most babies will catch on after a few tries. (Babies can also be fed with alternatives to bottles when mother is gone.) While introducing the bottle at one or two weeks of age may insure that baby accepts the bottle later, you’re taking a risk. Some babies easily go back and forth between breast and bottle, but many others do not. Don’t jeopardize your breastfeeding relationship when it has barely begun.

UN-CONFUSING THE NIPPLE-CONFUSED BABY

When a baby who is getting bottles begins to balk at taking the breast, nipple confusion is probably at the heart of the problem. Here’s how to re-teach a baby what to do at the breast:

• Banish bottles and pacifiers. Even if your baby will eventually have to learn to use the bottle because you are returning to work, don’t ask him to learn both skills at the same time.
• If supplements are needed, they can be given in ways that don’t use artificial nipples.(See Alternatives to bottles.)
• Reacquaint baby with the pleasures of breastfeeding. Give her lots of skin-to-skin contact. Carry her in a sling near the breast between feedings.
• Breastfeed when baby is calm, usually in the morning or upon awakening from a nap. Don’t wait until baby is ravenously hungry–she’ll be in no mood to try something new.
• Review the latch-on basics. Be sure that baby is positioned properly in your arms. Wait until her mouth is wide open and her tongue is down before latching her on to the breast.
• Show and tell. Open your mouth as you say “open” to baby during latch-on. Even newborns can imitate adult facial expressions.
• Provide baby with instant gratification at the breast. Use a breast pump or manual expression to stimulate your milk ejection reflex and get the milk flowing before latching baby on. She’ll be rewarded with a hearty flow of milk after the first few sucks.
• Use an eyedropper or feeding syringe to drip milk into baby’s mouth as she latches on to the breast. (Get some help with this one.) This may encourage baby to stay latched-on and to continue sucking.
• For more suggestions and support, get help from a La Leche League Leader or a lactation consultant.

Babies often act puzzled or uncertain when they are re-introduced to the breast. Be patient. Praise your baby for every tiny step she takes back to breastfeeding. It may take a few days to woo baby back to the breast, but you can do it.

DONT TAKE TOO MANY ANTI-ACIDS

I am glad that I read about gallstones after I made the post called "AHHHHHH". 

So gallstones are common in pregnancy, and they are caused by LOW STOMACH ACID. 

You know what else is common in pregnancy? HEART BURN. 

So it is fair to conclude that take too many ACID REDUCERS, can cause gallstones if taken excessively.

My doctor says it is perfectly safe to take Zantec which has been a life saver. But because I am weary of medications to begin with I try to wait until I am in total agony to take anything. And I am glad that I do. I got checked out and no gallstones, and if it weren't for that scare, I might have been popping anti-acids like candy like my dad does. 

I still have no idea what had caused that pain below my ribs. The only other thing I found based on my research that could have caused it is muscular separation, also normal, but no clear signs of it.  Who knows. If you had that problem once upon a time, I would love to know what it was! 

Anyway, I hope this advice can help someone else. 

Meat Aversions: Averted (and other notes to M2B'S out there)

Funny story, we were going to the grocery two days after Christmas, and it seemed that the grocery store had been emptied as if an apocalypse were coming. Because it is Kentucky, there could have been a 10% chance of a light snow or slush, and people will empty the store.

So as we were going from isle to isle we were amazed at the things left on the shelves. At first we thought that Kroger switched providers or something and got a new variety of stock. But when we asked about it at the check out line, they said that they had not.

Because the shelves had been emptied of everyone's go-to items, we noticed all of the things we usually never paid any attention to. It was awesome. When we found something called Lintels, quinoa, and barley, Kyle said "Didn't your doctor say to eat lintels?" I said "I don't know, what are lintels?"

So we got the barley, lintels, and some cool fruits we had never heard of, which is always fun, and I am eating one part granola, and one part dried oats for breakfast. The recipes that I have made with barley and lintels are awesome, and we ended up saving a ton on groceries.  It's been great too for my current meat aversions, because lintels pack a ton of protein.

On day one I made  Barley and Lintel veggie skillet, and I accidentally made waaaaay too much, which worked out great. It was surprisingly easy, I was scared it would be as daunting as making your own beans.

For the rest of the week I used the leftovers to top my salad for lunches, and at the end of the week when I still had a lot of leftover, I added them to water with some beef bouillon cubes and made a wonderful beef barley lintel soup, that Kyle loved despite his annoyance with how often I make soup. I had a lot of leftover soup, and split it into multiple containers and froze them for lunches, either for me, or for when we run out of bread or something for Kyle's daily lunch sandwiches that I make.

So the rest of the food that I bought for that week is still there for this week, and we barely needed anything at the grocery, we were able to make our budget a masterpiece this week.

It's not just like eating beans and rice, it is more flavorful and fits into so many recipes, it is classier and super healthy with tons of fiber which has definitely helped me feel better, and we both like it a lot, and its easier and cheaper than beans and rice considering the work that it takes to cook beans raw, and the barley stores much longer than rice, and it gets better by the time you throw it into that soup, the barley is so soft and as it should be. I can't wait to find more recipes.

On tonight's menu, Kyle's favorite, Kentucky Stuffed peppers, from our Home living magazine cook book.

So bottom line, I realized that I was not really exposed to that many foods growing up. We basically made the same things every week, and there are so many other options out there that are cheap, and that are delicious and healthy. Getting something cheaper as your staple like barley and lintels, freed up our grocery budget to get those more expensive things that you always wanted to try, or cant afford very often.

I am sooooo happy the holidays are over, because there are so many sweets everywhere calling my name.

Still having trouble sleeping, and I hurt all over, but eating healthier, and not being afraid of whats in the fridge is a big help. The doctor said that my meat aversions might have been that I wasn't getting enough calcium, so by having cereal in the morning, I am eating fine now, still not a big fan of meat at the moment but it doesn't make me so sick.   So if you found this because you are having horrible meat aversions, eat cereal with milk in the morning, drink the milk if you aren't a fan of milk like me, add a sweetener packet or sugar, or get some yogurt. See if that helps, and in the mean time, get your protein from something like lintels.

And if you know someone who has gestational diabetes, and cannot have sweets, be considerate, and don't give it to them as a Christmas gift, and surround them with sweets. Especially if it is someone who has a bit of sweet tooth.  Fruit is a great thing to tempt a pregnant woman with. I went a little overboard at Christmas and ate a huge bowl of fruit. A little embarrassing to say the least but its better than chowing down on cake.

And for those of you out there unsure if it is safe to sleep on your back while pregnant, because though you read that it is not, everyone says they laid on their back and their baby was fine, I checked with my OBGYN. and she confirmed that you cannot lay on your back. Don't do it, its dangerous. I naturally roll on to my back at night, but I always wake up in terror and notice it, because I am having trouble sleeping anyway, and I switch positions. Maybe little sleep is natures way of keeping you off your back?

Cloth VS Disposable diapers

I keep finding blogs where moms talk about this cloth diaper trial system, which allows you to compare the different cloth diapers.

http://www.jilliansdrawers.com/products/clothdiapers/tryclothfor10/tryclothfor10

then I found this:

http://www.babygearlab.com/Cloth-Diaper-Reviews

I asked everyone on facebook for their opinion on cloth vs disposable, and everyone says disposable because the cloth ones are uncomfortable for the baby because they leak.

But this has also come from older people...

It turns out that diaper technology has advanced quite a bit, at a cost, but in the long run because they are one size fits all, you can reuse them in the long run and save a ton of money.

Many moms say it is best to do both, there are times when it is better to have disposables on hand which I understand, and would probably do, if I choose cloth.

There are still many aspects of the new cloth diapers that I think I would have to see to understand, they seem to have multiple components, some have inserts. The two winners I read much about were the pocket vs. pre-folded, pre-folded will last over night but are bulkier more like a disposable diaper. And the pre-folded have covers to wear over the diaper itself that soaks the leaks.

The nice ones that don't leak however are very pricey, and have to be line dried, which I do not like. So I would definitely need to take them for a test drive before I commit to them.

But honestly disposable diapers seem like a waste, and unnatural to me, comparable to eating fast food for every meal instead of cooking yourself.


Because we are doing so well with our Dave Ramsey Budget, we are considering, based on reading about the many high praises, investing in Rumparooz G2, and washable liners. 

This comprehensive review of them, compared to the rest currently on the market, has nearly convinced me it is worth it.

However they are the most expensive. But you get what you pay for.

http://www.babygearlab.com/Cloth-Diaper-Reviews/Rumparooz-G2

Though if we do this, we will keep some disposables on hand for travel, and new born.