Something I'll Miss

My daughter is now 2 1/2. I stopped breastfeeding her about a month ago now. The main reason I breastfed her this long is to have something to comfort her during our transatlantic flights back in August.

Those flights were actually uneventful as she never even had so much as a tummy ache or any ear trouble at all. It was still handy nonetheless to have a "snack" on hand. So when we had settled back in the states, I suddenly realized that I did not need to nurse her anymore.

After I tapered her nursings down to three a day, it wasn't long before it was two, then finally once per day. It was actually pretty easy to totally wean her. No trouble when we finally stopped altogether. She had the most tears when we went from three to two times per day, missing the midday one right before her nap. All in all, things went well.

But...I will miss it. I nursed my son (now 10) until he was almost 18 months old. With my daughter, I nursed her until she was about 30 months old. I definitely prefer nursing longer. With my new found nursing tool and experience this time around, I can't wait to have another to care for in the future in the same way.

Support Breastfeeding in Every Country!

A few years ago, I learned about how formula companies can operate. I am just horrified at how third world countries have been affected by these sometimes very unscrupulous activities. My heart goes out to every mother who doesn't feel there is any other solution.

My own experience with breastfeeding has been very positive. I wrote about my first time experience when our first born, a son, was born. Rocky though it was, I missed it once he was weaned at 17 months.

I am currently still nursing my daughter a few times a day. She is now 2 years old (27 months). I knew that I would nurse her longer, because we were moving to Ghana for 2 years, when she was not quite 4 months old. Nursing her longer - meaning that I was willing to nurse her exclusively (no other foods, except water) for up to 12 months. Then at that time introduce foods (she is THE healthiest of all of us in this house - rarely gets sick!). I did give her foods starting at about 10 months old because her teeth looked like she could handle foods well at that point. Each child is different. My birthing doula, Deb, had a child who didn't get her first tooth until she was 19 months old. She also nursed longer.

You can click on the images above or below this post to read about the Nestle boycott. This company has especially been very unethical about its practices. Being vegan would steer you away from their products anyway, but I especially wanted to give everyone (vegan or not) reading this blog, another reason why breastfeeding is so important - the world over.

I intend to post more about breastfeeding in the future. No matter if I am currently nursing a child or not, this is so important to teach all parents. No matter mother or father. Why? Because it takes support from everyone to make it easier to do the right thing, not just the popular trend of the day.
Please click on the images in this post to read why you should join me in the boycott.

My #1 Breastfeeding Aid

A friend called me today to ask me about a breastfeeding aid I once told her about. Turns out she's in need of it and couldn't remember the name of it.

What she wanted to know was about a great little invention called Lilypadz. These are the best aid for breastfeeding I have ever come across and have had wonderful success with them. I only wish I had known about them with my first baby.

(Guys, let your wife read the rest of this post. You've been warned!)

A little background...My first baby had trouble latching on correctly. And I got such terrible pain with cracked nipples and had my share of awful breast infections with him. I also had trouble with leaking. I joked that I could've nursed twins with the amount of milk I was blessed with.

Because of my trouble with leaking, I needed to have some sort of nursing pads to put in my bra so I wouldn't soak my clothes. I was given some disposable nursing pads and I also bought some flannel cloth ones to use. Well, the disposable ones would tear and the cloth ones would stick and be painful for me to take off. Since there was not much for an alternative, I still had to use one or the other all the time. Trying to heal cracked and sore nipples while needing to nurse and still having trouble leaking were leaving me at my wit's end.

And then there's the problem of keeping nursing pads where you want them. Oh, and how to keep them from showing through your clothing, with an "unnatural" silhouette. Somehow eventually things started getting better and I was able to nurse my first baby until he was 17 months old. I had made it through OK.

Before I was pregnant with my second, I was in a store and saw Lilypadz. I couldn't believe it. There it was...another silicone product like the Diva Cup. And I loved that product!!!

I remembered that information for awhile until I was pregnant again (we were blessed again after 7 years - PTL!) with our second baby. It wasn't long before I trekked out to that store to buy my newest breastfeeding friend. I bought it long before that baby was born - I was not going without this time!!!

Let me tell you...it is just as good as the Diva Cup is for your monthly cycle. And the Lilypadz are only necessary for the "elite" few of us who actually leak when we have a new baby in the house until they are about a year old or so, if you are an active breastfeeding "team". But guess what? I hardly had trouble with breast infections - no big fevers or sick in bed anymore. No, not me. Cracked, bleeding, and painful sore nipples were a thing of the past. I was a convert.

A great side benefit of the Lilypadz is that they are reusable and hand washable. No running out of the disposable ones or having to launder cloth ones in the washer or hand wash and dry. These little gems can be washed one minute and applied the next minute. I found that I only needed to wash them about once per day. I found that one pair lasted me at least 6 months. So if you have leakage after this time, you may need to buy another pair. I am still nursing my two year old, but without leakage trouble at all these days.

On their website, you'll find many more testimonials from women like me who love them and can't say enough great things about them. I fully recommend it to any lady that is either pregnant or has a newborn that will be nursing. A pair will cost about $20.00 US or so. I believe it to be the best money paid for such a great invention!

If you know of anyone that could benefit from this product, tell them about this wonderful gem. They will not be disappointed.

...Another great product for easy nursing: stretchy sports bras or these wonderful bras at Decent Exposures. This company does sell bras with a nursing flap, but I found the original "unbra" to be the most helpful that is without this feature. You simply lift up to nurse, no hooks to bother with. They even have organic fabrics and latex-free elastics available! Shipping is included in the prices.

Keep It Simple For Baby

Simple tip...keep it simple. This can apply to many things: hair style, clothing, gadgets, children's toys, directions, schedules, food choices, etc...

After my last post, I thought about something I am glad about...and I thought that I could give you a specific example of something I've done to make my life easier and help my daughter all at the same time.

This...

is a large piece of tie dyed Ghanaian fabric about 51" wide by 68" long (about 130 cm x 174 cm). Its green, yellow, brown, and purple colors just look fun together. See the photo below for the pattern.

It is my "cover." So called because it is my cover for nursing (in public). But it is so much more than that. Actually I should call it my baby sling...or stroller... or blanket...or sun shade...or backpack...or baby swing...or baby nose wiper...or...
Most of the time, it is in use as a baby carrier/sling. Babies everywhere in Ghana (and I suppose in other African countries as well), are seen on their mama's backs sleeping or watching the world go by. Babies are content there too. It's funny, besides being in mama's arms (probably getting nursed), I think this is a baby's next favorite place to be.
It's actually very easy to do. Baby goes on back, piggyback style. Then the fabric is put centered over baby, with the top edge underneath their armpits. In the front, the top edge gets rolled out and tucked (much like a towel wrapped around you, except the roll is outward, not in). Then you put the extra fabric tucked under the baby's "bum" (as we say at our house), like putting them in a "seat." Then the bottom extra fabric is brought to the front and the two corners are gathered separately and twisted together then tucked under. So...wrap, roll, tuck, gather, twist and one more tuck and you are ready to go! =)
I use it everywhere and because we walk a lot (no car)...well, it has really been useful and I love it. You would think that it would not be comfortable, but the first time I put in on I knew I was going to love it.
At the beach...



...at the Bible school's banquet (here with students)...


..at the main mission house (not ours)...

Here is the earliest photo I have of me when I first put my daughter on my back without my friend helping (Ghanaian friend who showed me how to do this)...

I even took a photo of myself one day, when my daughter requested that I put her on my back. She needed to sleep, I guess...

She does look comfy there, doesn't she?

(Sweet dreams, little Missy. I love you.)

Breastfeeding and Baby Food

Unlike when I had my first child, with my second, I have not used commercial baby foods. Mostly because living in Africa makes it difficult to acquire and very expensive. There are many ways to do it yourself at home with the foods you have available to you. One thing I have done before, which seems to be standard, is to use a "baby food grinder." These are very handy and I did use mine often with my son. I brought it to use for my daughter, but didn't use it as often as I thought I would.

One reason for less use is because with this baby I did extended nursing. That is, I nursed exclusively till she was about 9-10 months before introducing other foods. She is still nursing a few times a day and she just turned 2 a month ago. I intend to nurse her until after we move back (less than 3 months from now) for adjustment purposes. I might decide differently given other circumstances.

Moving to Ghana when my daughter was only 3 months old made us decide to do this helping to boost her immunity. She is the healthiest of all of us in this house. She rarely gets sick. Being in a hot climate and in Sub-Saharan Africa where malaria can be all too common, it was important to us to give her the best start possible. Breastfeeding is just plain convenient for me.

Of course, a very good option and something I have done, is to puree in a blender (or baby food grinder) and freeze (in ice cube trays) foods for your baby to eat as needed. You can find many resources for this easily on the internet and in your local library. Often I just used my fork to mash up her foods right in her bowl or plate. With cooked foods, I would just make sure it was cooled and added water if needed.

Being a breastfeeding "advocate" of sorts, I can't say enough how important breastfeeding has been for this simple and frugal household of ours. Being in Africa just affirms my notions about how some formula companies will stop at nothing to get all cultures to stop breastfeeding their precious babies.

A few days ago I took a couple of photos of my daughter's breakfast. Baby bananas, papaya, and avocado. Here is her plate.



Besides this, she wanted two more baby bananas and she nursed as well. Sounds like a great tropical breakfast doesn't it?

Another view...

I welcome your comments and questions.