Stop the attitudes about breastfeeding

I still remember, quite vividly, the day when my family doctor handed me literature at my firstborn's 9-month checkup. It was a photocopied group of papers dated in the 70's, and it was about breastfeeding. What is said about breastfeeding, was that if my child was still nursing by the time she was a year, then I was doing her psychological harm. Oh, yes.

I found a new doctor (after pointing out the problems with that literature, supported by today's current research, of course), and then left the facility completely when a different doctor told me that I was not allowed to get any more vaccinations for my children until I started bringing them for well-child visits again. (Oh, ok, sure, Doc, I'll get right on that!)

Then there was my husband at the time. I had to always cover the baby entirely with a blanket or something else while nursing in public. It was terrible. My baby was sweating, I couldn't see what was going on...sometimes, he was so uncomfortable that I had to leave the room while nursing our baby. He wasn't the only one, though. There were times when I would be nursing my beautiful baby in public (well, if you consider a comfortable chair tucked into a semi-private room in a department store "public") and a passerby would "politely" let me know that there was a restroom a little further down the hallway.

And then (oh no!), my daughter kept nursing after she was a year old! The audacity of me, right? You would think that this was a disgusting, abnormal, non-human practice the way that some people spoke to me about it. And you know what? I sometimes adapted the "it's my business, not yours, so don't talk to me about it" attitude. After all, it's not anyone else's business but my own, and it's not worth my time or effort to defend myself to everyone. I can nurse my child until any age I please. I can even do it without a blanket over her head.



But what if, instead of daring people to look our way while breastfeeding in public, we invited it? I'm not saying that we flash the girls at anyone. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be respectful of our bodies and other people's eyes when out in public. I'm not saying that we should force our breastfeeding ways upon anyone.

Woman nursing her child while talking to the president of Venezuala

What I am saying, is that if we want breastfeeding in public to be considered normal, we should treat it like it is normal. We should not go into any separate areas unless that helps us our babies nurse. We should not be so concerned about keeping our nipples from showing that we will cover our babies heads, hold blankets up with our teeth, and make our older children stand in front of us to create a human wall. Who says our breasts can't be both beautiful and functional? And anyone who looks at my breasts and finds them sexual while my baby is latched on has bigger problems than I am causing.

We need to be willing to discuss why we do what we do, and to not feel intimidated by those who "dare" speak to us about it. Greet them with gladness, because you are making a gigantic step in "normalizing" public breastfeeding to that person. Just think of all of the horrible fashions that have come out in the last few years. Interestingly, with enough exposure to them, most of us will start thinking those "horrible" fashions aren't so bad any more, and will often even start liking them! It's a fact of social psychology: when we are exposed to something new and told it's "normal," with time, we will accept it as "normal".

Stop the attitudes about breastfeeding. We don't need to picket, have "nurse-ins", and so on and so forth. We don't need to pass out breastfeeding symbol pins, or have designated breastfeeding areas. We just need to treat it like it's normal, because, well, breastfeeding is normal. And nursing in public is normal, too.

Medela Breastmilk Labeling & Storage System Review & GIVEAWAY!

Medela has a new Breastmilk Labeling & Storage System that is designed to make the whole "what bag do I use?" part of pumping and breastfeeding less complicated. Here's what they have to say about it from http://medela.com:

A new Breastmilk Labeling and Storage System — one that helps parents and caregivers track, label and organize breastmilk bottles in the refrigerator or freezer — is now available from Medela.

The all-in-one system includes one organizer tray, two labeling lids and two 5-ounce breastmilk bottles. The organizer tray provides dedicated space to protect up to six breastmilk bottles or storage bags, and keeps them organized and upright in the refrigerator or freezer. It also features a convenient handle that allows parents and caregivers to easily move the tray around or remove it for cleaning.
To help parents identify the freshest breastmilk and avoid waste, clearly marked “in” and “out” arrows identify which breastmilk bottle is “next in line” for a feeding. Twist-and-lock labeling lids — also available separately in a pack of six — allow parents to select a day of the week and time of day (a.m., p.m. or midday) to track when milk was pumped, or a “feed by” day for other caregivers.

“For moms who are separated from baby and pump frequently, it can be difficult to properly store and keep track of breastmilk bottles to make sure baby is getting the freshest breastmilk,” said Brian Warren, new business development manager at Medela. “The Breastmilk Labeling and Storage System helps mom, dad or a caregiver keep breastmilk bottles in one place, with clear indicators of when breastmilk was pumped for more organized feedings later.”

The organizer tray and labeling lids are compatible with all Medela polypropylene breastmilk bottles (not for use with glass bottles). Like all Medela products that come into contact with breastmilk, the bottles and the tray are Bisphenol A-free. The organizer tray is also compatible with Medela’s Pump & Save breastmilk bags (sold separately). It is 100 percent reusable and dishwasher safe.

The Breastmilk Labeling and Storage System will be available in independent and mass retailers starting in January 2011 at a retail price of $15.99. Breastmilk labeling lids (a pack of six) are also available separately at a retail price of $9.49. To find Medela retail stores visit http://medela.findlocation.com/. 

My Thoughts...
I was pretty excited about this concept when I first heard about it. I always have the problem of my family not knowing which bag of frozen or fresh milk to start with, and something always ends up going bad before it gets used. :( Even if you date bags, people don't always have the time to read them before pulling one. The tray that Medela designed has an "in" and "out" section so that you will in theory just move the bottles around the ring from "in" to "out" as they get used and you put more in. This will always keep the oldest milk moving forward.

It would be a better system if the "in" section was raised slightly so that the milk actually slid down towards the "out" section and you didn't have to physically push the bottles around. Medela says you can also use this with the bags instead of bottles, but when I put frozen bags of my milk into the organizer tray (I use the Lansinoh brand, but they are the same size as the Medela pumping bags), it didn't actually function so well because the bags didn't fit too well. I thought about solving this problem by letting the milk freeze in the bag as it sits IN the tray instead of it laying flat in the freezer before I move it, but then you may still have a problem moving it around and taking it out since the shape would remain the same as when you first put the milk bag into the tray. So plan on using bottles. :)

The bottles themselves are pretty cool. I don't like that they're a soft plastic, but the lids are great in that you can snap up the top part and spin it around to designate which day of the week and what time of day you pumped that particular milk. No sharpies needed, and the bottles should screw on to any standard pump so you can pump right into them. They're also big enough to express into by hand, which is what I did last night since I was too lazy to hook my pump all up.

Overall, I think it's a good concept but still needs a little more work to make it worth the money. Maybe I should contact Medela about being an inventor for them...

Win it!
Medela and BSM Media are giving away one of these Breastmilk Labeling & Storage Systems to a reader. Here's how we're going to do it...the first person to comment here and email me her name and mailing address (lifemoresimply at yahoo.com) wins! Don't forget to do both steps: comment, email. If someone has already left a comment below, feel free to also do the same because you never know if that person really did complete the second step. Good luck!

Nursing Mamas Can Be Sexy, Too!

One of the biggest things new mothers have to combat after giving birth is their new body image. For 9 months, your body changed and developed into something entirely different than it was before. Beautifully encasing a growing baby, your body is (for most) easy to cherish during that time. Then the baby comes and it's as though your body morphed into something not-so-desirable in the snap of a finger. All of the sudden, you realize that you're overweight, have a very flabby belly, your thighs and butt are larger than they were before, and your boobs aren't nearly as perky.

While I am the first to say that mother's bodies are beautiful and the media has it totally wrong to consider the only form of beauty to be unhealthily thin models with large curves in very defined places (and forget stretch marks, or puffy eyes, right?), I am also the first to understand how hard it is to accept our new bodies once we become mothers. It's pretty tough to be sleep deprived, give of yourself so much in every way to those around you 24-hours a day, and somehow still feel beautiful.

After LoveBug's birth, it wasn't an option for me to do anything but breastfeed. I was so committed to it that I practically lived with my breast pump at all times since I had to work full time +. With breastfeeding also came the nursing bras...and boy, are they ugly! What is it with frumpy looking old-lady-beige colored nursing bras? Why didn't it occur to someone that us nursing moms need an extra boost of self confidence? I once heard a male coworker state "why would you need to wear a sexy bra after you're married? No one will see it..." I rolled my eyes.

It took me a very, very long time to find sexy nursing bras on the market that fit me (size 32huge--how would it make YOU feel if even Victoria's Secret didn't even carry your size?). Most of them are very expensive (at least to the cheapskate that I am), but I think they are totally worth it. So ladies, throw out your frumpy beige bolder holders, and stock your drawers full of these:

Hot Milk Lingerie

http://www.hotmilklingerie.com

From New Zealand, they sell matching bra and panty sets, include 3/4 cup size for pregnant and nursing mamas. Not only this, but they also have a few lingerie "nightie" selections, some pj's, and a camisole.  Bras average around $60.00 and sport dramatic names like "Her Midnight Charm Was Striking" and "Tamed By Her Sensuality." Oh, yes. I snagged an "Awakened By Her Desire" bra over Black Friday and am happy to report that the fit is pretty good, and it's a very sturdy bra. I thought the lace overlay was cheesier in real life than in the photo, but it's still 100x better than the beige. The nursing enclosure, like most nursing bras, leaves a strap in place where the cup would be when you open the nursing flap.

Cake Lingerie

http://www.cakelingerie.com

From their website: "Cake was born in 2008 when its founder; Tracey Montford yearned for beautiful lingerie during her pregnancy. All she could find was matronly, high cupped, uninspiring and unflattering product which did nothing for her self esteem and pride, during this period of vulnerability" ...Can it be said any better than this? This company is one that really gets it. In fact, they began a "Real Mums, Real Fit" campaign, using NO models and doing NO touch ups for stock photos. How much closer to awesome can a company get?! Their bras also retail for around $60 and matching panties are also available with 2 styles to choose from per bra. One exciting thing is that they're just about to launch a new line, and it looks pretty delicious (yes, pun intended).

My husband got me their "Plum Pudding" bra for Christmas and I have to say that it is the BEST fit in a bra that I have EVER had. I only wish that I had gotten a larger band size, but the cups are awesome! They're actually round and hold their shape which I can't say for most other bras (it seems that most are oblong one way or another). I also love that when you drop the nursing flap/cup, there is no strap that crosses your breast. It's just like a regular bra that will drop the cup on your command. Super comfy, very well made, and cute as all get out. I am hoping for another one come Valentine's Day and our anniversary. ;-)

Making Milk At A Meth Lab

Working mamas push the limits of where, when, and how to pump milk for their babies every day. A few months ago, I began to think of all the crazy places I've had to express milk for my children. Here was the list I could remember:

1. Public restrooms EVERYWHERE, including while sitting on the floor of stalls because my pump-outlet cord wasn't long enough for me to at least sit on the edge of the toilet seat.
2. In the car while traveling.
3. On the floor of a car in a mall's parking lot with a coat over my head. The mall's restroom was closed, the stores not open yet, and I had no batteries for my pump so I had to sit there and express by hand with a coat over my head, hoping that people walking by wouldn't notice me and call Security.
4. In the "on track" ambulance at the busiest location during a NASCAR race.
5. In the back of an ambulance going to and from calls.
6. Into public restroom sinks because I had no other option (you know, the bathrooms that have everything in one room so you can lock the door!).
7. In an office cubicle.
8. While discussing EMS related things with 5 male coworkers. In person. Thank God for nursing covers--they work great for pump covers, too!
9. And also the "normal" places like my living room couch.

 While some of these places seem appalling and shocking to some, I'm sure, it all comes down to this: you do what you have to do. I thought I had reached the climax of best, worst, and most ridiculous places to have to pump at. And then there was last Tuesday.

My partner and I were attempting to grab a quick lunch when our tones went off and dispatch requested that "the on duty crew call the control center." This generally means a suicide attempt, domestic dispute, or drug bust. I called and was told that we needed to move to standby at a meth lab take down about half an hour from our station. With no time to call in another crew, I grabbed my backpack and we jumped in our ambulance.

We arrived at a nice home with a well manicured lawn that also now included 15 state trooper SUV's, a handful of expensive other "private" law enforcement related cars, and a few fire trucks, a decontamination trailer, and dozens of people in suits, turnout gear, space like suits (decon), uniforms, and camouflage (apparently the Special Op's team from a few hours away). Not knowing what to really expect at such a shin-dig, my partner and I were surprised to learn that this would be an all day event. So, I threw my nursing cover on, plugged in my pump, and made milk for my baby while watching the take down of a meth lab.

No one got shot, no booby traps hurt anyone, and I eventually left unscathed to call in a different crew to cover the remaining hours of standby. And with all that said, I'm pretty sure I have now pumped everywhere possible.

How to pump milk in the back of an ambulance

How to pump milk in the back of your ambulance when you have no electricity:

Step #1: Secure sheets in any way possible so as to cover all windows. This may include tying, wedging, and taping the sheets in place. Be sure to lock the doors before hanging your drapery.

Step #2: Avoiding the flies that are buzzing around (thanks to the windows that have been open all day since your air conditioning is broken), sit on the jump seat and lean forward.

Step #3: Envisioning flowing fountains, crying babies, and bottles of milk, try to get your milk to "let down" by doing short sqeeze-release motions.

Step #4: Be careful not to spill any milk as you hand express and swat at flies, grab a sheet as it falls down, and answer your radio all at the same time.

Step #5: Tilt your head backwards for a minute to relieve the cramp that has built up since you've been staring straight down for 7 minutes.

Step #6: Switch sides and start again.

Step #7: Carefully put away milk (20 minutes later) as your ambulance starts to move and shake out your hands that are now completely cramped up from the repetitive milking motion. Be glad you finished in time for the call.

Step #8: Make sure you are fully covered, then quickly take down the sheets, fold them back up, unlock the doors, put the pump away, plug back in the cardiac monitor that you had unplugged in an attempt to find an electricity source for your electric pump that you didn't get to use, and wipe away your sweat from the heat and tears from the back spasms (you have been leaning over for quite some time now). Do this all within one minute's time so you can climb between the seats to jump up front and tell your driver how to get where you're going.

Step #9: Smile and laugh as you realize how ridiculous but important of a task you just completed.

Step #10: Wait 2.5 hours and start again.

My first day back at work

Here’s a riddle for you: what do Christmas trees, “Free Mamograms Today—no appointment necessary” signs, alien yard decorations, and beer all have in common? Answer: NASCAR.

NASCAR is a culture all of its own. For three days a year, four distinct groups of people come together for an event that gets crazier by the day. I call these groups The Paid People, The Whackers, The Spectators, and The Drivers. It is an event that reminds me to count intelligence as a blessing and that not everyone can make smart choices. It is an event that my children will never attend.

Day One: I sit in the pits all day, counting the various ways in which I can arrange my body in an ambulance seat. It’s my first day working and I miss my babies, but I’m grateful for the money and the chance to nap. I almost get run over while crossing the lot to go to the restroom by a few NASCAR drivers who apparently think it’s more important to go from the garage to the track at 40 mph than it is to preserve the life of the paramedic who might be saving their butt later in the day.

Day Two: I am stationed with a group of firefighters in the camp ground next to a food vendor who wants $7.00 for a cheese steak. I explain to my cohorts that I just had a baby and will need to pump milk every few hours, but that I’ll be fully covered so no one should feel awkward if they need to enter the camper. One of the female firefighters (missing a few teeth and still wearing her pajamas) says to me in an appalling tone “you’re baby is only 5-weeks-old and you left him to come up here?!” I want to tell her that, believe me, I’m still the better mother because she’s sitting there with a cigarette, swearing up and down in front of her 11-year-old scantily dressed daughter, and without having brushed her hair today…but instead, I shrug and tell her my family needs the money. I also mention that I want to be with my baby, would be if I could, miss him, and that he’s with his grandmother. I think about sticking out my tongue and saying “bet YOU wouldn’t bother to pump milk for your baby while working!”, but I just close the camper door behind me instead.

My only call of the day involves a 30-year-old who had a heart attack last year (needing two stents) and who is now having chest pain. He tells me he was “just smoking a cigarette” when the chest pain came on, and I ask him if he wants to die. He sheepishly replies “no,” and I inform him that he is now an ex-smoker then.

Day Three: I am stationed with a different fire department in a different area of the camping sections. From 6am-9am, things are pretty decent. I’m able to pump, eat breakfast, and even take a 30-minute nap. Then things start to roll and I find myself 2.5 hours late pumping. So instead of ensuring the future feeding of my son, I am transporting people who are in their 30’s but who don’t know that shouldn’t drink 12 beers, no water, and still expect to not get dehydrated after standing around in the sun for 5 hours. I remind myself to teach my son to be smarter than that.

So the working-pumping-motherhood adventures have begun again. Thankfully, God has worked miracles in my life and I will not be a full time working mom any more. *BIG happy smile* I resigned from my regular job and will instead be a paramedic two days a week, a music teacher (from my home) one day a week, and an online entrepreneur the rest of the time (just what that will be, I have yet to determine). Do I want to be with my babies all of the time? Absolutely! Am I glad, though, that I have the opportunity to make ends meet and help other people during their times of need (or stupidity, as today would have it) while I’m at it? Yes! Returning to work is never easy, but this time, I didn’t cry as I pumped my baby’s first bottle of milk. For all of these things, I am grateful.

When Your Birth Doesn't Go According to Plan

When I found out my husband and I were going to have a baby, I got ready! I sought what I felt would be the best prenatal care with an excellent midwife, read a small library of books, prepared the nursery, took amazing care of myself, ate well, rested, did yoga, practiced hypnobirthing… I was prepared for my baby, so prepared. I was not prepared, however, for the way I would feel after the birth. The way I would feel when everything went “wrong”. I believed to the very core of my being that everything I worked for would happen just the way I envisioned it simply because I believed it. It didn’t.

I did not expect to reach 43 weeks of pregnancy and have a hospital induction. I did not expect the have a scarred cervix that would refuse to dilate for the better part of three days. Even after 43 weeks of pregnancy I did not expect a 9 lb, 6 oz baby or cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD)(http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/cephalopelvicdisproportion.html) or a c-section. I was so convinced I would be having a med-free natural water birth that I only skimmed those other sections in my pregnancy books. I did not expect my perfect pregnancy to have such a dramatic climax. I believed wholeheartedly that all the things I worked so hard for would come to fruition. I mean, I had a plan, a birth plan!

As it turns out, it's hard to plan nature. My cervix did eventually dilate to a full 10 cm and I pushed. I pushed for hours. I pushed until I lost consciousness, only to wake up with the next contraction and push again. When the decision for a c-section was finally made, I knew in my heart, it was time. The doctor that performed our surgical birth informed me that I had a true case of CPD, and I never would have birthed my son naturally. Yet, through all this, my boy never faltered. His heart rate remained steady, his breathing was excellent, and his apgar score was perfect.

And then, we amended our "plan". I was immediately allowed to touch and kiss my baby. He went directly to my husband who cared for him while I was being stitched up. Our baby was never without one of his parents. My husband brought him to me as soon as I was out of the operating room, before I even made it to our hospital room, where we continued with rooming-in as planned.

When we returned home, I struggled with a lot of negative feelings about our birth and the disappointment I felt at having "failed". We also had breastfeeding complications that only compounded the feeling of failure. Then, I started reaching out. I sought support and began to heal, but simply being with my son and keeping him close has had the most healing effect of all.

If your birth does not go according to "plan", do not despair, be kind to yourself. Treat yourself with compassion. Natural parenting is not an "all or nothing" concept. The "plan" can be amended.

A big thanks to Carrie L McClain from Oh, Baby O! for writing this guest blog! Have an article you think would be interesting to Life More Simply's readers? Email it to lifemoresimply @ yahoo.com with the subject of "Guest Blog".

Check out Carrie's Blog to read more about her mothering, crafting, baking, and homemaking pursuits: http://ohbabyo.wordpress.com/

You Might Be A Paramedic Mama If...

You Might Be A Paramedic Mama If...

1) You catch yourself angerly wondering why the car in front of you isn't pulling over...and then it hits you: you're driving your personal vehicle.

2) When accused by your mother-in-law of being a safety freak about your own child, you respond with "better alive than dead" with no sign of humor attached.

3) Topics such as decapitations and hemorrhaging bowels isn't a strange topic at the dinner table.

4) When teaching your 16-year-old how to drive, your first lesson consists of having him drive to every spot in the county where a teenager died because of driving accidents (and yes, you pull over and share the story). Then you have him drive to the cemetery to view the graves of those teenagers before letting him go home and tell his friends that he just got his driver's permit.

5) Instead of pulling the "my baby's at home crying" stunt when a cop pulls you over for speeding, you first remind him that a) you're coming home from a 24-hour paramedic shift and just happened to still be in ambulance-speed mode, and b) that your milk is leaking.


6) You have ever pumped by hand into a zip-lock baggie while traveling 75mph in the back of a moving vehicle.

7) You have ever strewn sheets all around a vehicle so that you could pump in "private."

8) You have ever had a co-worker ask if you need "any help pumping" and didn't turn him in for sexual harassment.

9) You can recognize the difference in sound between an electric pump and an electric suction unit.

(did you notice the pumping theme?)

and, 10) You snuggle your babies extra close at night because you know that in the tick of a second, lives change. Babies are hurt, children are gone, and mama's didn't kiss them goodbye. So you always, always, always kiss your babies goodbye and hold them a little longer after they've fallen asleep at night.

America's Next Top Model Contestant Drinks Her Own Breast Milk

Everyone who works in my department (and some who don't) know that I pump milk for my breastfeeding daughter. I have a screen that sits in front of my cubicle while I "exercise" two or three times a day while I'm at my office in an organization that provides day programming for adults with developmental disabilities.The "exercise" explanation came out of a consumer asking about what I was doing behind the curtain. Ha.

At first, coworkers don't really know what to say when they find out. Soon after though, one is bound to start finding cow and milk paraphernalia posted around work spaces. I have a collection of "Got Milk?" ads, cow magnets, and other incidentals that have been used to decorate the door of bathrooms I've pumped in (thank God for my privacy screen now!). Another interesting think about breast pumping culture is the stories and questions (not to mention the sign language and occasional offers to "help"--oh wait, that'd be my ambulance job) that arise.

Recently, some of my fellow employees were telling me about an America's Next Top Model episode they watched that included a contestant who admittedly drank her own breast milk. Shocked at first, I quickly cleared the air that no, I do not sit behind my screen and drink my own milk. My next move? YouTube the video!

24-year-old Cover Girl of the week Claire Unabia explained to judges during Cycle 10, Episode 1 that she was finding it terribly difficult to be apart from her baby girl who was still breastfeeding. She went on to explain that she was pumping her breast milk during the competition so that she could continue to nurse her daughter when they were reunited. The judges asked her if she was mailing her milk back home but her response shocked them all: Claire was drinking her expressed milk. "It tastes kind of like light soy milk," Claire shared. "I drank my breast milk only during audition week because I did not want to waste it after putting all my effort into making and extracting it. Dumping milk just seems wrong. A mother's milk is like liquid gold, so I also wanted the nutritional value back and to keep my immunity up."

The judges then went on to make a joke about it and are seen drinking glasses of milk (while one judge shouts "thanks, Claire!") before the scene changes. Wild? Crazy? Normal compared to the fact that we drink milk from cows?

What do you think?

Go to 7:33 to see the part about Claire and her milk.
Blessings,

Circles & Points

I have been struggling the last few days with the following dilemma:

wear a sweater over my polo shirt and sweat to death (amidst answering the question of "why are you wearing a sweater when it's 88f degrees out?!")

or

don't wear the sweater and show the world round circles over wear my baby-feeders are with nip-ons in the middle of that. (Woah, did I really just say that on a public blog?)

I don't know how pumping-mama's do it. I mean, seriously, it's embarrassing to glance in the mirror and see 4" circular indentations in my shirt from the nursing pads I put in my bra. Take the pads out, and you can only see the pointiness that a pump creates even better. Even with the pads, though, the points remain. If you've never experienced this, just grab a breast pump and give it a whirl. Your husband will be grateful. The rest of the world may stare.

Here is my Top Ten idea list of what to do, since the above isn't working:

1. Duct tape the points down after each pumping session.

2. Stuff socks into my bra instead of nursing pads.

3. Wear a coat. Oh wait, that's the same problem of the sweater.

4. Just push them back down. All of the time.

5. Strongly padded bra. Like a 12-layer bra.

6. Ace bandage around my torso.

7. Pump by hand and carry a cloth around to soak up any leaks.

8. Potato-sack dresses.

9. Find clay that sticks to skin, and sculpt up and over the issue after each pumping. This will both contain any leakage and smooth any points.

10. Scream at anyone who dares look below my neck.

Please, add your ideas below. Mine don't seem to be working...

Help! I can't make milk!

For working mamas, there are only a few things worse than not being able to pump enough breast milk for your baby. I mean, really, not only do we have to entrust someone else with our children each day (my mother-in-law actually took my almost-9-month-old daughter SWIMMING in an in-ground pool with no adult in the pool (she was held by other children) last week. This was after we had already asked her to not do such a thing. So I missed my daughter's first pool experience, she wasn't wearing the special UV-protective swimming clothes that I have from her (from UV Skinz--I'll be doing a giveaway from them here shortly!), and I'm left worrying about her safety because I really think it's not unreasonable to want an adult in the pool with a non-swimming baby!), but we also have to swallow the fact that we don't really know what goes on in our precious baby's life, don't get to make all of the decisions, and that other people get to spend more waking hours with our babies than we do! On top of all of these every day realities, if that milk supply is down, so is my mental stability.

I had a mental breakdown last week after the swimming incident. It took me all of Friday, Saturday, and half of Sunday to recover. Here we are on Monday now, and I only got three hard earned ounces out when pumping. My daughter will probably drink 6-8oz in a feeding, but for about a week now I've been really low in supply. I'm lucky to get 4 ounces out at one time! For any mom who doesn't pump (working or stay-at-home), you may not understand the mental importance of producing enough milk for your baby. If I can't be with my daughter, I at least want to be able to provide nourishment for her. I feel like if I can't even do that, then what good am I as a mother? *sigh* So I will spend today in my windowless cubicle chugging water and drinking "Mother's Milk" tea, praying that I can make enough milk for my beautiful baby to drink tomorrow.

Research on how to produce more milk come later if I have time (I know about resting and nursing a lot--we did that all weekend!), but can anyone help me in the mean time? Please leave me any tips that you have on how to make more milk!

Much love and blessings.

Social Appropriateness While Pumping

The unbelievable just happened to me not ten minutes ago... When I first came back to work after having my daughter, Amara, I would sit in a restroom to pump breastmilk for her twice a day. Sometimes I would have a chair to sit on, sometimes I'd have to stand or sit on the floor (hygienic, I know). There was no lock on the door, and the bathroom was commonly used by both staff members and the people we serve who have developmental disabilities. I would tape an "occupied" sign on the door, but there would always be someone who didn't look and would start to open the door. Met with complete embarrassment when they heard a voice shout "I'm in here!", the door would immediately close before the person even got his or her head in the door. I would be met with an apology later, even though the person knew I was pumping and probably not all that exposed.

After a while, the three coworkers in my office (2 males, 1 female) suggested that I just put a privacy screen up in front of my cubicle and pump here instead of in the bathroom. I was elated to know that they wouldn't be uncomfortable hearing the "whish-whoosh" of the pump and spray of the milk! Since that time, I've been pumping in my cubicle with no problem. Until today, that is.

Prior to today, people have just spoken to me through the screen or handed papers over it if they need to give me something while I'm busy. Today, though, I actually just had a woman enter my cubicle while I was pumping. She said my name when she came into the office, and I thought we'd have a conversation between the screen as usual. Then I notice that she's moving the screen while talking. I immediately say "I'm pumping in here," just in case she didn't understand the concept of a privacy screen (she already knows that I pump at work and that's what I'm doing when I have the screen up, but I thought I'd remind her in case she really was just naive). She continued to enter while I frantically tried to cover my completely exposed top, replying "oh, I'm not going to let the screen fall down. I just thought if you had the list of names that I need then you could give it to me." Dumbfounded and concerned that my coworkers could now see in too (I don't think they could, though), I replied that I wasn't sure where it was and wasn't going to look for it right now, so I would print it for her. Then she stayed in my cubicle while I brought up the document on my computer and hit print! (All the while trying to hold my jacket closed, balance an open bottle of milk, and prevent myself from leaking everywhere with my other hand). After leaving, she placed the screen back but managed to leave a gap that would have allowed someone to see in without even trying should he or she be standing in the right location.

Come on, isn't it obvious that a privacy screen is there for a reason, like that you want to be private? Should I be any less outraged at this than if it had been a man? I don't mind breastfeeding in public, but pumping is a completely different thing to me. Where does the line cross from cluelessness about social norms and appropriateness to sexual harassment? I'm a big advocate that nursing breasts should not be considered sexual, but what about in the environment of pumping at work?

Oh, what to do. *sigh*

How Much Milk?!

I think every breastfeeding-working mama experiences a little anxiety before going back to work for the first time. Questions abought the practicality of pumping run through our minds: will I be able to keep my milk supply up? What if pumping doesn't work out? And the big one... How much milk do I need in my freezer stash?!

Being women who want the best for our babies, we're determined to stay up late at night to get an extra pumping in before bed because we just aren't sure there will be enough milk back at home for when that fateful back-to-work day arrives. Some women aim for two extra bottle's worth (about six ounces in the beginning) while other women are still concerned that they'll run out at 8o ounces. What is the answer, then, and how does one prepare?

The answer is simple: you probably don't need as much stocked up as you think. With that said, it is still important to have something on hand in case of emergencies. When your baby is about 4 weeks old, pump once after you're done nursing. When you're not in sight, have someone else feed that milk in a bottle to your baby at the next feeding. You will need to pump since you're not nursing during that feeding (to keep your milk supply up). Store that milk in the fridge (or freezer) and go back to nursing the next time. Gradually increase the bottle/pumpings, sometimes doing an extra one after the baby nurses, until you start having some "extra" to stash in the freezer.

Aim to have two day's worth of feedings in the freezer. Too many more than that and you'll risk it all going bad before you can use it. Honestly, you may never even need to use the two day's worth! The day before you go back to work, make sure that there's enough milk in the fridge for the next day and no more. Each day when you come back, pop the milk that you pumped that day into the fridge so it can be used the next day. With this method, you will only need the freezer stash for emergencies. Seeing as how you'll probably throw it out every three months (unless you have a deep freezer that's separate), you don't want a whole lot stocked up.

Learn more about breastmilk storage here.

Now that was a lot easier than you thought, right?