Sisters 'n Cloth

Breastfeeding Blog Hop: Week 20 – Fun Times Ahead!

Jeniffer — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:41:25 +0000

This post is part of the weekly breastfeeding blog hop, hosted by us, and co-hosted by Life as Wife, Mummy, and Nurse. This week’s topic is, “Breastfeeding Activities!”

Some babies love nursing. It’s not just for food, it’s truly a time that they enjoy. Abby was not that way. The most I ever did with her was to teach her sign language for “mama’s milk.” (In case you’re wondering, it’s simply the sign for Mama followed by the sign for milk.) By the time that she started enjoying our time together, I was pregnant with Lily and had started weaning her. Coincidence? Probably not.

Lily is another story altogether. After I started cutting dairy and soy out of my diet, she started enjoying our time together more and more. While I have made it a point to teach her “mama’s milk,” I have also made it a point to introduce other activities while she nurses. You know, other than just me playing Candy Crush Saga on my phone.

My all-time favorite activity is singing to her. I made up a simple song for her, and it doubles as a reinforcement for the “mama’s milk” sign! It goes, “Mama’s milk is good. Mama’s milk is yummy. Mama’s milk fills up my Lily’s tummy!” And when I get to “Lily’s tummy,” I tickle her. If she smiles, I know she’s very much awake and wants to party some more. If she doesn’t, I know she’s sleepy and will be out soon.

I also talk to her some and play with her. I’ll tickle her feet at times, too. We are also finding ways to share this time with Abby, who generally is lurking nearby while she nurses. But I still enjoy our song the most.

Do you have any special breastfeeding activities, rituals, or games? Share them with us in the linky or in the comments below!

Be sure to check out what other moms have to say in the linky below! We would love if you would link up your old or current posts on this topic. Please be sure to mention the BF Blog Hop and link to this post or our page. We would love it if you shared the BF Blog Hop with your readers by including the linky code in your post, too. If you’ll leave us your twitter handle in the comments, we’ll be sure to tag you when we tweet your post! If you are new to the Hop, be sure to check out the Breastfeeding Blog Hop page for more information about how it all works.

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Pregnancy Update – 39 Weeks

Melissa — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:28:41 +0000

With our reduced posting schedule., I decided early on in the pregnancy I didn’t want to do a pregnancy post to often, because I didn’t want that to be all I ever talked about. I realized last week that I’ve ended up only doing two pregnancy related posts at all! Since I’m 39 weeks and 4 days, I figured another pregnancy update wouldn’t be overkill.

Physical stuff

Overall I have been so blessed this pregnancy. I’ve been able to manage my heartburn without taking a daily medication, something I’ve needed with all of my other pregnancies. Up until the last few days, I haven’t needed a nap every day either! I have had two challenges. My back started giving me really serious issues a few months ago. By the time I hit the beginning of April, it was getting difficult to walk without a limp. It was impossible to walk without pain. I started seeing a chiropractor twice a week, and it has been a lifesaver. I literally do not know how I would be functioning without going to see him. I’ve missed a day here and there due to sickness or scheduling conflicts, and I can definitely feel the difference. The other challenge I ran into last month was that I became severely anemic after a week long stomach bug. This caused horrible headaches, and made my blood pressure spike up a bit. I started a liquid iron supplement, as well as being very intentional about getting iron into my diet, and my iron level is back up into acceptable ranges. We are still working on it though, as it would be great if it came up a bit more.

37 weeks

Yesterday – 39 weeks, 3 days!

Emotional Stuff

I am starting to feel pretty “ready” for this baby to make his or her appearance. The house is as ready as it will ever be with four kids, the carseat is installed, the pack ‘n play is set up, the birth supplies are stored, baby clothes and newborn diapers and washed and put away…. Now we just need a baby! I’m getting a bit more weepy and hysterical prone to, so that’s always fun, especially for my hubby At the same time, I am trying to relish these last days, and enjoy my baby bump, and each roll and kick. With this being our fifth baby, there’s no guarantee I will get to experience this miracle again, and so part of me is sad to think about it being over.

Home Birth Stuff

Everything is still looking good for our planned home birth, and I couldn’t be more excited! I adore my midwife, and I have two other friends who are supposed to be coming as doula/labor support. I love that my children have gotten to be such an active part of the process during my midwife appointments, and I’m excited that they will get to experience the birth of their sibling! My oldest gets to be the one to make the “It’s a boy!” or “It’s a girl! announcement to the room, and my seven year old is planning on cutting the cord.

Midwife appointment with all my “helpers.”

My youngest wanted to “listen” to the baby too.

Photo by my 4 year old.

Birth Stuff

Hopefully any day now I’ll be able to share a birth announcement! Be looking out on the Sisters ‘N Cloth facebook page, as well as our twitter feed. The planned hashtag is #elephantbaby, since my last was 10 lbs 6 oz, and this little one shows every sign of keeping up with big brother!

I’m off to drink some more Red Raspberry Leaf Tea, and keep bouncing and rotating on my birth ball

Breastfeeding Blog Hop: Week 19 – Walking in My Shoes

Melissa — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:34:24 +0000

This post is part of the weekly breastfeeding blog hop, hosted by us, and co-hosted by Life as Wife, Mummy, and Nurse. This week’s topic is, “Little Mommas.”

There’s a lot to intimidate you about motherhood. And one of the things that intimidates me is the knowledge that so often, my kids are going to walk in my shoes, following the footsteps I’ve modeled for them. That can be encouraging, humbling, and quite honestly, terrifying! I know that I have not always given them the best footsteps to follow.

But one area that all of mine have copied me in that makes me smile and gives me no reservations is the way they nurture their “babies.” It started when my first baby became a big sister right before she turned 2. She absolutely adored her sister, and loved mothering her own babies. My mom made her a sling of her own, and she had at least one baby in it almost constantly.

Babywearing and multitasking!

Soooo happy with her baby!

She also loved to “nurse” her babies, especially if I was nursing her sister. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to many pictures of that. I do have this one, which I love of my daughter and hate of myself So just look at her!

My oldest may have been the first to copy these things, but all of the rest have too. Including my son! I hope that they remember even as they grow how completely normal it is to hold, cuddle, wear, and nurse a baby.

The copying hasn’t quite stopped yet, even now that my oldest is 9. She is great at comforting her 2 year old brother, and quick to scoop him up for a hug, or cuddle him for a nap. She also informed the pediatrician at a recent visit that the nurses said she had a lazy latch when she was born, but it was really that she has a tongue tie. He looked me with a smile and said, “Lactation consultant in training?” I could think of worse things!

Do you have a favorite picture or memory of your little ones copying your mothering?

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Breastfeeding Blog Hop: Week 18 – Peek-a-boo?

Jeniffer — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:59:27 +0000

This post is part of the weekly breastfeeding blog hop, hosted by us, and co-hosted by Life as Wife, Mummy, and Nurse. This week’s topic is, “Breastfeeding Bloopers!”

I’m not sure what it is exactly, but both of my girls think it’s funny when I nurse outside of the home. Abby thought it was hilarious when she threw the blanket off of me that time in the mall. And Lily? Well, she has Abby as an older sister.

A couple of weeks ago, the girls and I went out to eat with a family in our church. Towards the end of the meal, Lily was definitely getting hungry and needed to eat. So I grabbed my handy dandy nursing cover from the diaper bag and helped her get latched. No biggie, right?

Sure…until Abby decides that it’s fun to play peek-a-boo with her baby sister! And by peek-a-boo, I mean, “Let’s yank this silly nursing cover off of Mama so that I can see my sister!” I tried to keep the cover in place, but by that point Lily was getting the hang of the game and didn’t want to be under the cover either. When I tried to hold the cover down, Abby peeped at Lily from the top of the cover instead. The mama with me had breastfed her daughters, so she just laughed at the girls’ antics, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Abby loving on Lily (20 months, 10 weeks)

This experience did show me two things. One, my little Lily isn’t so little anymore! I have a feeling that we’ll be retiring the nursing cover before too long. *tear* Two, my girls are super close and the best of friends. At least some of the time.

Have you experienced any breastfeeding “bloopers?” Share them with us in the linky or in the comments below!

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Breastfeeding Blog Hop: Week 17 – Saying Yes to Now

Melissa — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:00:12 +0000

This post is part of the weekly breastfeeding blog hop, hosted by us, and co-hosted by Life as Wife, Mummy, and Nurse. This week’s topic is, “Weaning (or not)”

I’ve always thought I couldn’t be a tandem nurser.

When I got pregnant with my second child, my oldest was only a year old, and still breastfeeding a ton. I started experiencing a lot of light-headedness, and had several near fainting episodes, in addition to losing over 15 pounds during my first trimester. I could hardly function, so I weaned my first daughter at 15 months, even though neither of us was really ready. When my second daughter reached toddlerhood, I enforced a few nursing restrictions, and she gradually and gently weaned around 2. I got pregnant with my fourth while I was still nursing my third. Thrush also decided to pay me a visit, and my son loved to stay latched on forever. Nursing stopped being something that drew us close to each other, and instead left me wanting to scream with frustration. I weaned him at 2.5, a few months before my fourth was born.

Fast forward a few years. I’m currently expecting my fifth child. From the time I got pregnant, I knew I would “need” to wean Nehemiah, my fourth. I wasn’t sure exactly when, but decided sometime after his second birthday, and before the start of my third trimester would be good. We night-weaned, which took about a week, and was so much less traumatic than when I night-weaned my third! We cut back to one nursing session a day… The bedtime nursing session. But we were both still enjoying our quiet moments at the end of the day. If I needed to be away from the house at bedtime, Nehemiah went to sleep fine for my husband. He even sometimes fell asleep for me without nursing. He might go two or three days without nursing at all, but then nurse again for a few nights. But by the end of February, I just knew it was “time” if we were going to do this thing. He’s two. I’m almost at the end of my pregnancy. I can’t be a tandem nurser. Time to wean. Right?

I snapped pictures of our “last” nursing session. This one is my favorite. I cried every time I looked at it the next day.

And then we went out of town. We were in a different place, and it was just so much easier to go ahead and let him nurse to sleep. Finally, I realized something. Our nursing relationship is working. I don’t feel frustrated when it’s time to nurse him to sleep. If he doesn’t go to sleep within a few minutes, I can tell him, “All done.” and he will peacefully unlatch, and just cuddle to sleep. He’s a lot more verbal than my other children have been, and so we’ve been talking about the fact that there is a baby in mommy’s tummy, that the baby is going to come out, and drink lots of momma’s milk, and that he and the baby will share. Now when it’s bed time he says, “Momma’s milk peease. I share wit da baby!” Melts. me. every. time.

So here I am 37 weeks pregnant and still breastfeeding my two year old. Right now the “plan” is to continue on throughout the pregnancy. When the baby gets here, we will talk about the fact that the baby needs lots of momma’s milk, because babies can’t eat other food, and that Nehemiah still gets momma’s milk at bedtime. And I am actually looking forward to them “sharing”! I don’t know what this will look like in reality. Maybe Nehemiah won’t be able to handle not having unlimited access, and we will have to wean at that point. But for now, I’m just enjoying the present. Saying yes to now. And choosing to believe that it’s okay to do so.

Have you tandem nursed? Was it your plan all along, or did it just happen? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments!

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Breastfeeding Blog Hop: Week 16- For the Struggles

Jeniffer — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:53:03 +0000

This post is part of the weekly breastfeeding blog hop, hosted by us, and co-hosted by Life as Wife, Mummy, and Nurse. This week’s topic is, “Toddler Nursing Struggles.”

Deciding to nurse your baby can be an interesting study in what is considered appropriate in different social settings. When you’re in the hospital with your newborn, it can seem like either a surge of support or a wave of disappointment, depending on how soon you see the lactation consultant and if the hospital even has one. Then come the comments: how long you should nurse, why your baby is crying, what you should do to stop it, and even, “just one session with formula isn’t going to hurt!” Depending on your personal nursing goals, it can seem like an uphill battle, all over this little baby.

Finally, some of the smoke clears. You have set your goals, decided what is reasonable for your family, and most of those close to you have accepted it. That is, until your baby hits that magical age. For some bystanders, it’s 6 months. For others, it’s “when they start asking for it.” And still for others, seeing a toddler nurse is just weird. You’re thankful that you have had several months without comments because, baby, you’re going to need that arsenal.

By this point, your sweet little newborn has grown. Whether you have a crawling explorer or a toddler confident in his surroundings but not his own abilities, the situation arises. Maybe it’s your sweet sitter deciding to bite you. Or your adorable toddler is still nursing despite the comments from others (behind your back or to your face.) Maybe it’s even your own feelings towards your darling gymnast, feelings you may not want to admit. One comment from you about how it’s difficult or how it isn’t what you pictured and someone is bound to tell you that it’s fine to give up now. After all, your sweet little one really doesn’t need it anymore.

Oh, my dear, what do you do? Because, really, you just wanted some reassurance that your feelings are valid and that you still are on the right track. But your vulnerability has made room for an attack, whether it’s meant to be one or not.

You weigh your decision carefully, considering your baby’s feelings as well as your own. Biting isn’t an acceptable way to end a breastfeeding session, no matter how adorable a look your baby gives you afterwards, so you plan how you will act the next time you are bitten. Maybe you aren’t ready to wean your toddler and neither is he, so you keep nursing despite the comments. And if you are ready to wean, you plan out how you will work with your baby to do just that. And those feelings of angst? Are they really telling you something about your breastfeeding relationship or are they truly fleeting?

And let me tell you, you are doing a wonderful job. No matter what your ultimate decision is, no matter how many times something negative is said or how many people you have to ignore. When your decision is based on the relationship you two have, it’s going to be the best one.

If you’re looking for encouragement in your breastfeeding decisions, check out The Leaky Boob on Facebook, #bfcafe on Twitter, and @latchthebabes or #latchthebabes on Instagram. You can also email us at sistersncloth at gmail dot com or tweet us @sistersncloth. <3!!

What has been your biggest struggle with nursing an older baby or a toddler? What do you wish you would have known when dealing with it?

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A Friday in the Nitty Gritty

Jeniffer — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:00:12 +0000

It’s easy to hide behind the computer screen. Sometimes it’s easier to write what I think about than what I’m actually doing because, really, how often can I say that I’m a mom with two clingy kids two and under?

Really, it’s not all bad. At least that’s what I tell myself.

For example, this morning, just as I was drifting back off to sleep once Lily finally finished eating/nuzzling/comforting herself, Abby shot up. At 6 AM. My husband had just started the coffee pot, which meant that it would be at least 10 minutes before my liquid energy was ready. Thankfully, Lily was still asleep. Because she hasn’t slept well since she started teething this week. Unless she’s on Mama. Then she’s out.

I digress. I start cuddling with Abby in *my* chair. I’m cuddling her, loving on her, and also playing Candy Crush Saga on my phone. That game is addictive! Oh, I’m also busy commenting and liking pictures on Instagram. Because seeing what everyone else is up to makes me feel a bit better. My kids aren’t sick this week, that’s a win. Okay, I can’t eat that doughnut…dairy and soy…ooh! Green smoothie! Maybe I should make one of those in a bit… I’m just trying to avoid the “I’m so tired, Mama!!” whines. Because I can only handle so much of that.

Abby gets down and starts playing with blocks that have been out since, um, last week? Our floor is covered. Abby even took her books off of the shelves. At least she hasn’t ripped out another page…so far. I finally get up and grab coffee. My first cup. There will be at least 2 more. I try to drink all the coffee that my husband leaves these days. I know water is better, but coffee tastes so good…

I also grab a no-bake cookie from the fridge. There were 2 cups of sugar in the batter. But it’s SO good…natural peanut butter (soy free), cocoa powder…oatmeal, olive oil…mmm… I have already convinced myself that it’s totally an okay breakfast cookie. Right up there with my green smoothie. [lies...]

I hear Lily after a while and go get her from our room. At least she’s smiling. Seeing her smile puts me in a better mood. I even crack a smile!

But she’s hungry. (Duh, Mom!) And once Baby Sister is in my arms, Abby wants in on the cuddles too. So she climbs over the arm of the chair and squirms into my lap, kneeing me and Lily in the process. Lily is mostly content. Or was. Somehow, both girls end up on me. Again. Poor Lily can barely reach the goods. Abby is still squirming, trying to get comfortable because Lily’s legs are in her way. I put her down on the floor, hoping that she will calm down and play some of this out. And maybe Lily can finish eating.

And then just maybe I can drink my coffee?

Do your mornings look anything like mine? Maybe?

Breastfeeding Blog Hop: Week 15- Fiddlesticks and Gymnastics

Jeniffer — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:45:46 +0000

This post is part of the weekly breastfeeding blog hop, hosted by us, and co-hosted by Life as Wife, Mummy, and Nurse. This week’s topic is, “Raising the Future Gymnast.”

If you have been able to breastfeed beyond six months, whether it’s exclusively or not, you probably know what I’m talking about already. Something happens around this time that greatly changes the breastfeeding relationship. At first, you may notice that your baby is becoming easily distracted. Maybe they like playing with your hair, necklace, the other breast, the nipple, your hair…or all of them at once.

Keeping baby entertained can become interesting, but it’s doable. There are necklaces specifically made for breastfeeding babies in mind, like these by KangaCare or the lovely Jellystone necklaces, which are not only cute for mom but also safe for baby. Or, if the baby is like my older daughter, she will figure out how to grab your hair and twirl it. (This drove me crazy, by the way, and it still does. Thankfully her hair is long enough now that she is grabbing mine less these days!)

Once you feel that you’ve gotten passed this stage, the real fun begins: baby begins gymnurstics! Lily is still in the early stages, which is not much more than grabbing her foot and stretching it out. However, soon enough I know that she will begin turning around, obviously trying to see how elastic my breast really is. One day, she will try standing, kneeling, bending, sitting up, and all sorts of really fun moves! She has already started trying to type on the keyboard when I’m on the computer, too. I can tell that she’s going to be a very interesting nursling!

In all fairness, Abby was more laid back when she nursed. She often nursed to sleep (or close to it) even as a toddler. Lily, on the other hand, seems to gain energy from nursing. I love how very different my girls are, even in this regard. So what’s in store for my future gymnast? I have no idea, but I’ll be thankful if she decides to leave my collarbone alone!

Does your baby seem to have a future career as a gymnast? Share your stories on gymnastic training sessions or “fiddling” in the comments!

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Cloth Diapering vs. 4.0?

Faith — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:01:46 +0000

At our house cloth diapering has been something that has changed throughout the different seasons of parenting. What works for us has changed, many times.

When we were awaiting sweet Aiden’s adoption we made the decision to start with cloth as soon as we could. We wanted something that would grow with him, and my husband was adamant that there only be one brand or style of diaper. Hey, if he was willing to jump in I was okay with his “conditions.”

I honestly wanted to go old school with flats, pins, and covers. My husband laid down a nightmare scenario of him changing a diaper of that “difficulty” complete with him loosing the diaper pin he just removed. I laughed at the absurdity and began my research.

We settled on an all in two diaper that met all of the requirements we had set forth. We were both happy with our choice and we began the great adventure of cloth diapering shortly after returning home with our sweet son.

That’s merely where the adventure started however. It’s been 3.5 years and 2 kids since we began, we now have everything from prefolds and covers to all in ones, plus lots of variety in between! I have discovered that our diapering needs have changed for each kid in varying seasons of their lives. I have also discovered that its a very personal choice, in that what some Mommas love others can’t stand! I highly recommend a cloth diaper trial as you start using cloth, you can find several companies that make them available with a quick google search. We did one right before our second was born and discovered a few things along the way!

If I was starting all over I would buy flats, newborn doublers, and double gusseted covers for all the time use. I would also buy a few one sized all in one diapers for nights and running errands since they are just easier when time or location is limited. A diaper pail for at home, and a wet bag for on the go, oh and don’t forget the diaper sprayer!

That’s just one Mommas opinion

Breastfeeding Blog Hop: Week 14 – Why? How about why not?

Melissa — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:57:12 +0000

This post is part of the weekly breastfeeding blog hop, hosted by us, and co-hosted by Life as Wife, Mummy, and Nurse. This week’s topic is, “Reasons/Benefits of Nursing Children Past One.”

Some people totally get breastfeeding…. until a certain point. After 12 months, they just don’t see the benefit. I used to be in that camp, but have gone on to nurse my children to 15 months, 2 years, 2.5 years, and my youngest turned 2 in January and is still nursing. What happened?

It started out as a gradual thing. There wasn’t some magic switch that flipped between when my baby was 11 months and 12 months. All of mine have still seemed remarkably the same before and after that piece of birthday cake! From there, I came to realize that many of the reasons I nursed my child in the first place still applied to them after their first birthday.

Great antibodies? Check.

Bonding? Check.

Perfect nutrition? Check, check, especially with a picky toddler!

Many people don’t realize that the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least two years, not one. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends, “exclusive breastfeeding for about the first six months of a baby’s life, followed by breastfeeding in combination with the introduction of complementary foods until at least 12 months of age, and continuation of breastfeeding for as long as mutually desired by mother and baby.” Again, as long as it is working for mom and baby, there’s no need to stop at 12 months.

For me the question has become, “Why would I stop nursing at 12 months?” not “Why would I continue breastfeeding after 12 months?” I shared a bit more about my feelings on continuing with my current nursling past his first birthday here.

How do you feel about breastfeeding after 12 months? If you continued past 12 months, what led you to that decision?