Sometimes a good Science lesson just seems to fall into your lap or neighbor’s yard. I hear mom’s complain about the mess of Science experiments. I know some are worried if they are studying enough or the right stuff. Well, today we got to view two very special species of insects: cicada and praying mantis.
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My biggest parenting issue right now is when mommy wakes up most days so does the baby. Yes, we bed share and this is for my sleep and sanity. So much easier to nurse at night with baby right next to me. Daddy and big siblings get more sleep since baby usually does not cry at night. Teething or having a cold brings on some fussing but a much more manageable amount.
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I recently joined Instagram and am amazed how little time it takes to share images with the world. I dug my feet in for a long while trying NOT to join but once I found the Instagram app on my hubby’s phone that did it! I joined Instagram and the rest is history.
I love how I can dual post to Facebook as well and save me time sharing some fun stuff. Now for all of you who aren’t on Instagram or Facebook here are some pics that I could have shared there but chose to share with my loyal readers instead! Here’s a recap of the first half of August. So these pics are all in Instagram style (square 600×600) from August 1 -15. Hope you enjoy seeing what we have been up to IRL (in real life!)
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I was a formula fed baby, not even a single drop of breast milk was put into my system. I grew up giving my dolls bottles filled with baby powder and water to look like formula. All the babies that I was ever around were formula fed, except my two youngest nieces. My sister in law nursed each of them for about 6 weeks, but it was never spoken about and always done in private. Breastfeeding might as well have been a different language to me considering how “normal” formula was for my family. I always figured when I was to become pregnant I would buy the cutest print bottles I could possibly find and likely use soy formula with my own children like I was given as an infant. But when I found out I was pregnant in 2012 something from within me decided my child would be fed differently than I was.
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Today we are going to discuss breastfeeding and some ways to increase your milk supply. I had someone recently contact me and share her story. It was heart wrenching- NOT enough milk to feed her child. She is not a newbie she just had her 7th child and is trying everything she can think of. She said she drinks lots of water and eats healthy fat. She has had to resort to formula feeding and supplementing with breastmilk due to extremely slow weight gain of her infant. I mean dangerously slow weight gain. Let’s rally around this mama and think of things for her to try!
I am so sad for her because I have never struggled to have enough milk to feed any of my four children. With Eldest, my first baby, I could probably have fed 2-3 other babies. I tandem fed Eldest and Princess for a couple of months. Then completely was done breastfeeding for almost 3 years before Big Red was born. I had just weaned him and 2 months later found out I was pregnant with Lil’ Red.
Now I am on a mission, a quest. I hate to hear of a mom struggling so hard to do something she feels is right for her child. I spent most of a day researching and reading ways to increase your milk supply and thought I should share them in case others need ideas as well.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, midwife, doula, herbalist or a lactation consultant. I have not taken any formal training past a 30 minute class after I was pregnant with Big Red. I have consulted once with a lactation consultant after Eldest was born and in the NICU. I am just a mom breastfeeding her 4th nursling trying to give support and ideas to other breastfeeding moms.
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