tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101248259328992282024-03-14T07:28:38.787-07:00A BoobLogWhere me and my girls let it all hang out.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-79250433396815118082008-04-30T18:18:00.000-07:002008-04-30T13:06:02.399-07:00Haste Makes WasteRegarding my last post about Salma Hayek, I was a bit rushed when posting and truthfully, I think I was wrong. That is what I get for just typing, then hitting "publish". <br /><br />While it was a cinch for me to lose my baby weight, I only gained 20 lbs to begin with and, <span style="font-style: italic;">most importantly</span>, I was already overweight when I got pregnant. I most certainly was not at my ideal weight, like Salma Hayek was. So yes - I have lost all my baby weight, but I am still overweight overall. I do think it would be hard for me to lose any more weight while still breastfeeding and frankly, I am not even going to try too hard until I am done breastfeeding. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">I do not want to mess with my eating habits at the risk of my health or my baby's. </span>And that is where I realized how very wrong I was to criticize Salma Hayek for her very rational statements.<br /><br />Two gals had GREAT comments on that last post that made me realize I needed to reel back in a bit. First, <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://monkeyinasuit.wordpress.com/">Monkey</a> pointed out:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">One thing I do like about Salma Hayek and this comment is that she is being brutally honest about the fact that even her (hot hot hot) body changed post-pregnancy. God bless Gwyneth Paltrow and her second day size 2 pant size, but it just doesn't reflect reality for most people. </span> <span style="font-style: italic;">This comment may also have been aimed at people like Naomi Watts & others who claimed they lost all the weight *simply* through breastfeeding. While some may be telling the truth...well, this is Hollywood and I think Salma is kind of telling it like it is over here, not necessarily the rest of the world. When 9/10 people claim they lost weight by "pilates" or "breastfeeding" in Hollywood what they really mean is "tummy tuck" and "lipo" and "extreme diets".</span></blockquote><br /><br />And <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://andsparksfly.blogspot.com/">Emily</a> added this:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">I also think that Salma Hayek was attempting to counter the mostly unrealistic images of post-baby weight loss coming out of Hollywood. I'm still bf'ing my 10-month-old, and believe me, the pounds did not melt off! And exclusive breastfeeding introduces different demands on a mother's time and energy - whether or not she is pumping. In some ways, those demands can make it tougher to lose weight. In any case, I found Hayek's comments to be refreshing.</span></blockquote><br /><br />In case you are wondering, I would like to have my crow served warm with a side of garlic mashed potatoes, please.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-27152751383091470772008-04-23T12:01:00.000-07:002008-04-23T12:05:06.781-07:00Dear Boobs.Today, Miss Zoot wrote a <a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.misszoot.com/2008/04/23/dear-boobs/">love letter</a> to her girls thanking them for all of their hard work:<br /><br /><blockquote>......But when I’m pregnant? You grow to a size I can be proud of! You give me CLEAVAGE! Which I love sooooo much. Of course, with the cleavage come the boobsweat. But I’ve learned to live with that. Having cleavage is just <i>that awesome</i>. And when the babies come? You provide nourishment as well as can be expected. We’ve had our problems because you don’t like to work <i>too</i> hard. But that has it’s perks too as you don’t leak! Yay for non-leaking boobs!......</blockquote><br /><br />I definitely recommend you head over and read the entire letter.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-53649061067458798382008-04-09T10:57:00.000-07:002008-04-09T10:59:36.158-07:00Lying LiarI get very frustrated with the whole "you cannot lose weight while breastfeeding" comments. Salma Hayek, who I normally love, was quoted as saying on Oprah the other day:<br /><blockquote><p><em>I gained a lot of weight. I had gestational diabetes. The pregnancy was really difficult for me. I thought, 'As soon as this baby's out, I'm just going to lose all the weight superfast because I'm going to breastfeed, and everybody tells you if you breastfeed, [the weight] is going to come off.' </em></p> <p><em>It's a lie; It's not true. I'm going to say something. Except for a couple of exceptions, the only reason people lose weight like that when they're breastfeeding -- it's cause they're not eating <u>and</u> they're breastfeeding. And this is not good for the baby.<br /><br />It takes you nine months to get it, and nine months to lose it. There are shortcuts, but it's not good for the baby. So I'm taking my time. I've lost a lot -- most of -- the weight and I'm very proud of it, because it's been really hard work studying what can I eat that's healthy for me, what's healthy for her. But I'm still losing, even if it's slow. And I've been working out.</em></p> <p><em> I'm proud of what I've lost. And the rest is going to go when it's time to go.</em></p></blockquote><br /><br />She is correct that if you gain a ton of weight, it is not going to just <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">magically </span>melt off simply by breastfeeding. Fortunately for me, the weight did come off quite easily. I gained 20 lbs with both pregnancies and was able to lose the weight within about 4 weeks with both pregnancies. <br /><br />However, I am <span style="font-style: italic;">still </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">overweight </span>and certainly cannot claim to have a rockin' bod. BUT. I was able to lose my baby weight quite easily and I am quite certain that breastfeeding helped with that.<br /><br />The rest of the weight I am carting around on my hips? Sadly, is mine all mine. <span style="font-style: italic;">Sigh</span>.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-41605250526700789512008-03-31T11:16:00.000-07:002008-03-31T18:15:59.098-07:00Many Moons<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypm0uEnrC7oxAE-qQzNjF8QXp3kLn2kRdypo2JGR8F3iv6Jxg5tYRRC7pwB55ofxTZteyDzlOp0vM2eVJjN95ifrIMhHIKyt9peQWeGtzBEqMZ5-Rme7_d1GGRoo6zuylaps6z43o4GI/s1600-h/IMG_4373.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypm0uEnrC7oxAE-qQzNjF8QXp3kLn2kRdypo2JGR8F3iv6Jxg5tYRRC7pwB55ofxTZteyDzlOp0vM2eVJjN95ifrIMhHIKyt9peQWeGtzBEqMZ5-Rme7_d1GGRoo6zuylaps6z43o4GI/s400/IMG_4373.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184079021761399570" /></a><br />I cannot believe it has been what - two months? *Gulp* I <span style="font-style: italic;">swear </span>I had not forgotten this blog.<br /><br />However.<br /><br />I have been verklempt lately. I had been still struggling with the postpartum depression thingie I had going on.<br /><br />However.<br /><br />After the first time I posted about it, my husband was upset. He is a very private person and obviously, postpartum depression is not about one individual - it affects an entire <span style="font-style: italic;">family</span>. I respected his wishes that I not talk about it.<br /><br />However.<br /><br />Then, I felt like such a fraud because I did end up going on Zoloft a few months ago. And it seemed untruthful to post here and not "confess" that fact. But I wanted to respect X's wishes, too.<br /><br />However.<br /><br />I have a <span style="font-style: italic;">daughter</span>. Perhaps, if Anjali had been a <span style="font-style: italic;">boy</span>, I would feel differently and would just continue on as usual. No harm. No foul. Right?<br /><br />However.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOWEVER</span>.<br /><br />I have a very direct, very <span style="font-style: italic;">personal </span>experience with a "child losing a parent" scenario since my own father lost <span style="font-style: italic;">his own</span> father at the tender age of 18 months. Recently, I realized something. If something were to happen to <span style="font-style: italic;">me</span>, my own daughter may not know the <span style="font-style: italic;">truth</span>. She may see this blog some day and think that everything turned out fine. She may some day, have a child of her <span style="font-style: italic;">own</span>. She may some day, struggle with postpartum depression. I would be <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">horrified </span>to think that she might say "well, my own mother dealt with it stoically, therefore I must as well".<br /><br />I have never written a "Dear Son/Daughter Letter". I think they are a bit cheesy but am willing to break with tradition this once. <br /><br />For Anjali.<br /><br />____________________<br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">March 29, 2008</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Dear Anjali,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">When I found out I was having a daughter, I was over the moon and </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >beyond</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">. I think I was all the way out to Saturn - maybe even </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Jupiter</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">. Wait, a second. Which is farther out??? Whatever. I was so excited to have a girl. You get the picture. A </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >daughter</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">. I considered myself the luckiest </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >ever </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">in the history of women giving birth</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" > </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">to have a boy </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >and </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">a girl. I love butterflies <span style="font-style: italic;">and </span><span>dinosaurs</span><span style="font-style: italic;">! </span>I love, </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >love </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">trains! </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >And </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">dolls! </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >And </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">cars! </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >And </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">hair barrettes! (P.S. You love trains, too. I have </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >photos</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">When you were born, I cried. You were my 2nd baby and the experience was less surreal than your brother's birth. With Arun, I was high on excited adrenaline about having a baby and in a bit of a shock about being a mother (something I had dreamed of since I was little girl.) However, with you, I knew exactly, </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >precisely </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">all the joys I was in for with you. Your birth was all about </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >you </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">and nothing whatsoever </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >about me </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >becoming a mother</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">. I was </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >already </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">a mother, I knew what what I was doing at that point and was not scared in the least to be a mother again.<br /><br />After you were born, while I was still on the delivery table , you immediately came to my breast to nurse and we never looked back. I am so grateful that I have only breastfed you and we have never given you formula. You are a healthy, chubby little girl and I totally relish your pudgy thighs and dimpled knuckles. I am hoping you breastfeed until about 18 months or so, but truly - it is up to you. If you want to give it up as 12 months. So be it. Two years? That is fine, too.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">While we were in the hospital, I did not want you to leave the room. I was on edge when you were not with me. With Arun, I was more nervous and sent him to the nursery more often so that I could sleep. With </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >you</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">, I felt more comfortable and did not want you to leave at all - I was very nervous when you were not with me and preferred that you sleep with me in the hospital bed (a queen size, HUGE bed - very safe for co-sleeping.) I slept so peacefully when you were beside me. I could wake up throughout the night and immediately feel your chest to make sure you are breathing (I still do this, nearly nine months later. When will I stop this?)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">When we brought you home, you decided that you would not sleep in the bassinet and that you needed to sleep with your daddy or me. And we did not argue. You are still sleeping with me in our bed and we have no intentions of moving you to another bed until you want to move to another bed. You sleep best with daddy or me. In India, this is the common way to sleep, so we do not care and we all sleep together. Because we are a family. We are confident that you will head off to college wanting to sleep on your own.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Anju</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >kutty</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">, I do not expect us to be friends. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Ever</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">. I want to be your </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >mother</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> - the one to guide you and share life with you. But not as your </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >friend</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">. You will have many, many friends in your life. I might be a sort of friend, on a lesser scale, but I will always, </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >always </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">be your mother </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >first</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">. This means that I may tell you things that you do not want to hear. On the other hand, friends have to a tendency to tell you </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >only </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">the things you </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >want </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">to hear. You can always come </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >to me</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> for an honest opinion, that you may or may not desire. But it will be </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >honest</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> and only with pure intentions for I only have </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >your </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">best interest at heart.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I have so many interests, thoughts and ideas - I am so excited to share those with you. I do hope that we will enjoy doing things together - playing cards, going to antique malls, playing board games, watching sports, reading books, traveling, knitting. But I will always be your mother </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >first</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >. </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Not your </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >friend</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">. Please remember this on those days that you are angry with me for telling you what you did not want to hear.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Anju, this is the serious part of this letter. After you were born, I encountered the saddest, darkest period of my life. The dreaded postpartum depression. Fortunately, you and Arun were not a part of that dark part. Actually, you and Arun have been the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >light </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">of my life and have kept me going. I wake up each morning and try to think of fun things to do for </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >you and Arun - </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">even on the days when I do not want to get out of bed. The two of you keep me going and make me get out of the house. Every single day, you and Arun do <span style="font-style: italic;">something </span>that makes me smile. <br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">I have been taking Zoloft and that has helped. In addition, </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">I am still trying my best to eat healthy, go for walks and keep active while I wait for my body to get back to normal. Reading, writing and knitting have taken on an even greater importance for me as a means for relaxation. Lately, I have felt that I am getting more normal and that my hormones are settling down. I see the light at the end of the tunnel.<br /><br />Anju<em>kutty</em>Although the past few months have been so hard, I would do them all over again in a heartbeat. No questions asked. You have made our family complete in so many ways I never thought possible and we are grateful that you are so healthy.<br /><br />I pray that someday I will give you this letter myself.<br /><br />Love,<br />Mama<br /><br /><br /></span>Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-30608936199963751272008-01-17T11:59:00.000-08:002008-01-23T11:08:22.662-08:00Banks. They're not just for money anymore.<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">UPDATE:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">The Mothers Milk Bank of New England is in the finals! Please consider going out to <a href="http://ideablob.com/ideas/1248-Got-Milk-Help-save-babies-li">vote again</a> for this. Thanks!</span><br /><br />I had an exciting post planned about how Anjali weighs 18.1 lbs. Which means that she has gained exactly 10 lbs since birth. 10 whole lbs that my body provided for her! Then, I received an email from Tanya of <a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://breastfeeding.blog.motherwear.com/">The Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog</a> that made it all the more poignant for me how lucky I am that my body stepped up to the plate for Anjali's benefit.<br /><br />Tanya posted about The Mothers Milk Bank of New England <a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://breastfeeding.blog.motherwear.com/2008/01/please-spend-30.html">needing help with raising money</a>. Currently, the nearest milk banks are in Ohio and North Carolina which Hello! Is a bit far away for folks in the New England area. In short, parents in the NE area with a baby in the NICU are struggling to get breastmilk from such faraway locations. As someone whose friend gave birth to her daughters at 28 weeks gestation, I am intimately aware of how critical breastmilk is for preemies. My friend's daughters are turning 6 years old this year and are perfectly healthy.<br /><br />Tanya writes:<br /><p><blockquotes><span style="font-style: italic;">The Milk Bank needs money for 1) processing and storage equipment, 2) a "Milk Money" fund to help families whose insurance won't cover processing fees, and 3) marketing materials to get the word out about the new bank. </span></blockquotes></p> <p style="font-style: italic;">So, here's our chance to make a big difference today. Here's what to do:</p> <ul style="font-style: italic;"><li>Go to the <a href="http://ideablob.com/ideas/1248-Got-Milk-Help-save-babies-li">Milk Bank page</a> on IdeaBlob, and vote for this project! You have to register first and confirm by email, which doesn't take long.</li><li>Blog or post about this wherever you can to help bring in more votes.</li></ul> <p><span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you for your time today! And cross your fingers...</span></p><p><br /></p>Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-44875355503957277752007-12-18T06:03:00.001-08:002007-12-20T12:26:10.764-08:00Solid Like a Rock<span style="font-style: italic;">Continuing the solids discussion <a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://abooblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/call-me-crazy-because-i-am.html">from the other day</a>.........</span><br /><br />Let me be clear - cereal was a waste of time, effort and money <span style="font-style: italic;">for us</span> simply because my son would not eat it. I know loads of folks who had success with cereal. Just not us.<br /><br />Ironically, this past Monday, I had dinner with a friend at one of my favorite Middle Eastern restaurants (the place leans towards Palestinian in flavor/cuisine). As I was eating my lentil soup, I had a total flashback. When my son was around 8 months, I remembered him slurping down on the soup - he loved it <span style="font-style: italic;">so much</span> (of course, on Monday, the little stinker would have nothing to do with it!) At the time, I was SO relieved and wanted to jump for joy that he was willing to eat something "solid" after having struggled with the cereal and baby food for so long. I also had bought into the whole "iron deficiency" thing and was relieved because lentils are good for iron. He loved that place so much we even took him there to celebrate his 1st birthday, since technically, it was <span style="font-style: italic;">his </span>favorite restaurant. I still have the little #1 candle we stuck in his piece of <span style="font-style: italic;">namoura</span>.<br /><br />With my son, I remember distinctly the doctor saying at his 6 months checkup saying "<span style="font-style: italic;">You can give him cereal now, if you want</span>". At the time, I thought her phrasing was interesting but it made more sense later when I realized that cereal nor solids were critical for my son's health. This time going into the Solids Game, I have decided to not do a specific timeline, per se, but to just wait until 6 months and see how Anjali is doing then. I am certainly not going to stress myself out if she does not catch on right away. Besides, she is not necessarily ready yet - I am still struggling giving her the anti-biotic because her tongue control is just not there. However, she is very, very interested in what we are eating and that is a sign that she is gearing up to sticking food in her mouth. Finally, I am NOT going to invest in an entire box of cereal - I will scrounge around with my mommy friends and borrow a cup or two. Kellymom has some great information on solids and "<a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.kellymom.com/newman/16starting_solid_foods.html">when to introduce</a>" which is in line with what I would like to do this go-around.<br /><br />In the comments, <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);" href="http://www.girl-fiend.com/">Girlfriend</a> makes the point that it was previously thought that breastmilk did not have enough iron and now we know that is not true. Again, with the <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);" href="http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/iron.html">Kellymom to the rescue</a>:<br /><p></p><blockquote>The iron in breastmilk is bound to proteins which make it available to the baby <i>only</i>, thus preventing potentially harmful bacteria (like <i>E.coli, Salmonella, Clostridium, Bacteroides, Escherichia, Staphylococcus</i>) from using it. These two specialized proteins in breastmilk (lactoferrin and transferrin) pick up and bind iron from baby's intestinal tract. By binding this iron, they <p></p><ol><li>stop harmful bacteria from multiplying by depriving them of the iron they need to live and grow, and </li><li> ensure that baby (not the bacteria) gets the available iron. </li></ol> <p>The introduction of iron supplements and iron-fortified foods, particularly during the first six months, reduces the efficiency of baby's iron absorption. As long as your baby is exclusively breastfed (and receiving no iron supplements or iron-fortified foods), the specialized proteins in breastmilk ensure that <i>baby</i> gets the available iron (instead of "bad" bacteria and such). Iron supplements and iron in other foods is available on a first come, first served basis, and there is a regular "free-for-all" in the baby's gut over it. The "bad" bacteria thrive on the free iron in the gut. In addition, iron supplements can overwhelm the iron-binding abilities of the proteins in breastmilk, thus making some of the iron from breastmilk (which was previously available to baby only) available to bacteria, also. The result: baby tends to get a lower percentage of the available iron.</p></blockquote> <p></p><br />With my son, I eventually gave up on cereal- we went to table food at around 9 months with softened bits of fruit and such. When we cook at home, it is primarily South Indian and yes, he ate some spicy stuff in the beginning as we experimented with what he could handle. Sometimes, he would fuss, but he quickly learned to reach for his water. These days, his tolerance is pretty good - when he hits something spicy he emphatically declares it to be "<span style="font-style: italic;">spicy!", </span>reaches for his water, takes a drink, then digs in for more food. Hands down, when we cook at home, he eats like a horse. I also think my husband is secretly proud that one of his son's favorite dishes is a specialty from his state of Kerala - fish with a red sauce made from a sticky tamarind called <span style="font-style: italic;">kodumpuly</span>.<br /><br />And yes, my grandma is properly horrified.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-84163910407298406002007-12-16T19:16:00.000-08:002007-12-16T15:11:02.779-08:00Call Me Crazy Because I AmI have not forgotten this blog. Besides my personal site at Rancid Raves and my odd compulsion to participate in the NaBloPoMo thingie, I have also taking up food blogging in support of my husband's new business venture - <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.blogger.com/www.foodiebytes.com"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Foodie</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Bytes</span></a>. This is the 2nd business I have watched him build, so this not something entirely out of his realm. This is the first time, however, that I have played such an active role. Some of the stuff discussed in this post are really old, but this has been hanging out in my drafts folder, so I will go ahead and get it out anyway......<br /><br />Over the past months, a few things came up breastfeeding-wise that I wanted to post about, but I was so late to the game that I felt I had nothing new to add. <a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://thelactivist.blogspot.com/2007/11/point-that-many-seem-to-be-missing.html">Weanergate</a>? Yeah, those people criticizing Jen were IDIOTS. When they began questioning her use of the article "<span style="font-style: italic;">the</span>" instead of using "<span style="font-style: italic;">a</span>", I quit listening to her detractors. Weaning is a careful dance between a mother and her baby (or babies) - everyone has needs that must be met.<br /><br />I would like to point you over to Jackie at <a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.nursingyourkids.com/">Nursing Your Kids</a> - Jackie has had some great pieces lately. One clarifies <a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.nursingyourkids.com/curriers-breastfeeding-accommodations/">some facts missing from many of the news articles</a> surrounding the Sophie Currier Case. For example, the following accommodations were offered to Currier:<br /><p></p><blockquote>* permission to express milk in a private room at the testing center during the allotted break time;<br />* permission to bring food and drink into the testing room;<br />* permission to pump milk while in her separate testing room;<br />* the option to leave the test center to breastfeed during the allotted time.</blockquote><p></p><p>Jackie has some great insight/thoughts on this and I encourage you to read her post on it. In addition, Jackie has also <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.nursingyourkids.com/eat-well-while-pregnant-and-breastfeeding/">posted about the new study</a> that was released that shows that breastfeeding infants may end up not being such picky eaters after all, from the article she provides the following quote: <em><br /></em></p><p><em><blockquote>"Whether you are breast-feeding or formula-feeding, once you start introducing a food, make sure you offer your baby opportunities to eat fruits and vegetables. They need to taste them to learn to like them."</blockquote></em></p><p>I would say that my experience has been fairly similar. Sure, there are some foods that my 2 year prefers over others, but hell's bells - there are foods that even <span style="font-weight: bold;">I</span> prefer over others. In the White People Food category, my son loves Greek yogurt, rice, fries, pizza, cauliflower, stinky cheeses, tomatoes, avocado, and all fruits. In the Indian Food category, he loves just about anything South Indian and he likes some things North Indian. We mostly cook South Indian at home and he has rarely turned away a veggie cooked South Indian. One of his favorites is a specialty from my husband's state of Kerala. It is a fish with red sauce that is comprised of spices, onions, and a stinky, pulpy fruit similar to tamarind called <span style="font-style: italic;">kodumpuly</span>. It does not matter which sort of fish we cook with, my son will eat it.<br /></p><p>Does my son eat such a variety because we were open to shoving such different things in his mouth? Or is it because he was breastfeed exclusively? Or did we just luck out? I will never know for sure, but as I am on the cusp of starting solid foods with Anjali, I have been thinking back to the lessons I learned with Arun. First and foremost, I am not sure how much I will mess with cereal. What a waste of time, effort and money. And canned jars of baby food? Again with the time, effort, and money. With Arun, I was a New Mom and had it in my thick skull that babies eat cereal and baby food. Now, I am not necessarily wiser, but not foolish enough to have Best Laid Plans. When Anjali turns 6 months old, I will attempt to give her some things, but am not going to stress about it.<br /></p><p>My doctor said it best: "Solids before 12 months is a <span style="font-style: italic;">skill to be learned</span> not a nutritional requirement."<br /></p>Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-15231910218358448182007-11-18T08:12:00.000-08:002007-11-18T08:24:50.196-08:00BlowoutLast Wednesday, Miss Thang clocked in at 16 lbs, 3 oz. I celebrate every ounce because she will need them when she starts crawling. I remember when Arun began crawling and his weight pretty much stalled for the next 3 months, which freaked me out. That was when I really needed the lactation consultant and her constant assurances that Arun was fine, just <span style="font-style: italic;">fine</span>.<br /><br />One thing I feel compelled to discuss are bowel movements. Generally, I avoid these discussions because hello! BORING. However, Anjali's frequency of BM is so radically different than Arun's that I am still having a hard time not worrying. Arun had a stool about every day, often several times a day. He had very few blowouts and occasionally a leak here and there. However, my precious girl? Has a stool about once a week. Truly. No joke. No exaggeration. Once a <span style="font-style: italic;">week</span>. At first, it was a constant source of worry for me. I am finally okay with it and have accepted that this is just her body's way of dealing. I am posting about this specifically to assure other parents in this boat that yes, breastfeeding babies can only have stools once a week. It is perfectly okay as long as the baby is not straining as if constipated and if the consistency/color seem normal.<br /><br />However, it is very frustrating because we are at a point where nearly every single BM is a blowout that leads to a Clothing Catastrophe. Particularly, if she is in the carseat Oh My God...... When we are home, I can usually jump to the rescue and prevent such fashion tragedies. <br /><br />Overall, I am tired of throwing away perfectly good outfits.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-7557389037293885322007-11-08T20:06:00.000-08:002007-11-08T21:00:06.399-08:00Doesn't Miss a MealToday, we had Anjali's 4 month appointment - she weighs 15 lbs, 9 oz and is about 25.5 inches. All of that came from me and my girls. We <span style="font-style: italic;">did </span>that!<br /><br />However, I feel it should be clear that I am not <span style="font-style: italic;">proud </span>that I breastfeed exclusively. I am <span>relieved</span>....... <span>grateful</span>.<span style="font-style: italic;">....</span>a<span style="font-style: italic;">ppreciative</span>. With my life situation as it is, breastfeeding is much more convenient and economic. Formula would be a hardship in many ways for us. So, I do consider it a sort of gift that my body stepped up to the plate and did what biology had figured out in its grand plan. Um, not only that, but that I have no other reasons <span style="font-style: italic;">not </span>to breastfeed. <br /><br />Today, at the doctor's office, I saw the receptionist who is due this Friday with her first baby. Folks, when you have your children a mere 20 months apart, you get to know the kindly sort of people at your doctor's office <span style="font-style: italic;">quite </span><span style="font-style: italic;">well</span>. This receptionist has been a total sweetie to me these past 2 years, and in particular recently with paying special attention to Arun during some difficult appointments when I was pregnant with Anjali. I love this gal, J, and have been excitedly following her own pregnancy. A few weeks back, I dropped off a small gift because I was anxious that she might have the baby before Anjali's appointment this week.<br /><br />So, on Wednesday all was fine with J - she is very tired and very ready for her son to just get here already. That day while in the office, I mentioned that our hospital has a breastfeeding support group and that I do attend it - if she wanted to attend it also, I will be there. She told me that she would only get to breastfeed for the first 2 days because she has multiple sclerosis. As it was, it is a miracle her baby is okay because she got pregnant while on the medication she normally takes for the MS. She will not be able to breastfeed because of that medication.<br /><br />It was a moment that gave me pause because I do take breastfeeding for granted. And J just happened to remind me that it would not hurt me to be a little thankful.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-67202527797788513632007-11-06T05:56:00.001-08:002007-11-06T06:36:17.175-08:00It is YOU?Anju has started this thing the past week where she will pull off while nursing, look around, and then notice me. Her face is a mix of amusement, amazement and fascination. As if she only <span style="font-style: italic;">just </span>realized I have been the Gal Behind the Boobs all this time.<br /><br />In other news, there are articles abounding on the <a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7075511.stm">gene that links Breastfeeding to IQ</a> - apparently, a specific gene can allow for better metabolism of fatty acids in the breastmilk.<br /><blockquote>The gene in question helps break down fatty acids from the diet, which have been linked with brain development. Seven points difference is enough to put the child in the top third of the class, the researchers said.<br /><br />In the past people have had different results about whether breastfeeding improves IQ and this would sort out the reason why. Some 90% of people carry the version of the gene which was associated with better IQ scores in breastfed children.</blockquote><br />I thought this was simply interesting. That is all. Of course, now it is allowing for snarky comments via the <a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3787&edition=2&ttl=20071106141203">comments section of the article</a> - comments such as "<span style="font-style: italic;">More scare tactics! Breastfeeding isn't for every woman and in fact some babies get on better with a bottle.</span>"<br /><br />I am not breastfeeding in the hopes that I get granted a little Baby Einstein. I am breastfeeding to simply feed my baby. It is free, healthy and it is formulated just for her.<br /><br />That is a no-brainer to me. Of course, I was formula-fed. Whatever.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-22861690020578572832007-11-05T07:54:00.001-08:002007-11-05T08:23:48.155-08:00I Suspect There Has Been a CoverupYet again, a nursing mother <a style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.local6.com/news/14498332/detail.html">has been harassed</a> for not covering while breastfeeding.<br /><blockquote>Cheryl Cruz, who as of Friday was still on vacation in Florida, said she took her children, including her 10-month-old daughter, Kalli, to Universal on Wednesday when she was approached by an employee. "We were just in the park sitting down and I was breast-feeding Kalli, and a park employee came over and said to me I have to cover up or I will be escorted out of Universal Studios," Cruz said. Cruz said a group of security guards surrounded her and she felt scared, humiliated and belittled.</blockquote><br />I think long-time readers will remember that I used to be an advocate of covering up. "<span style="font-style: italic;">Cover thyself</span>", I used to preach. Then, I went on to give birth to my 2nd child and ultimately, my brain. Having a baby in July meant that half the time, I forgot to pack a light blanket whenever I left the house. And I also quickly realized that covering with a blanket IN JULY actually brought <span style="font-style: italic;">more </span>attention to me. I also realized that even while whipping out my maternal goods to feed my baby, I was still <span style="font-style: italic;">more </span>covered up than most of the pretty young things prancing around in bikini tops, tank tops and shortie short shorts.<br /><br />Besides, what kind of freak covers up with a blanket in JULY? Not me.<br /><br />Anymore, that is.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-56458995669716620002007-11-02T12:40:00.000-07:002007-11-02T12:52:15.473-07:00Pump and Dump SlumpYesterday, I actually considered doing a Pump n' Dump for a malt. <br /><br />Yes, you read that correctly. A <span style="font-style: italic;">malt</span>. A vanilla malt, preferably.<br /><br />Dairy, Greek <span style="font-style: italic;">gyros</span>, and even my beloved<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>Thai <span style="font-style: italic;">lhad na ga pow</span> simply tears my baby girl up. I sort of feel sorry for her, but I also feel sorry for <span style="font-style: italic;">me</span>. I would love to take advantage of these extra calories I am burning and treat myself to a freakin' malt.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-52699461383449557462007-11-01T07:21:00.000-07:002007-11-01T07:28:43.390-07:00There is No Truth in NumbersAs <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);" href="http://www.emaxhealth.com/84/17524.html">this article</a> suggests, it may be that breastfeeding does not cause your girls to sag, after all. According to a study presented <span class="arttext">at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2007 conference in Baltimore:</span><span class="arttext"><br /><br /><blockquote></span><span class="arttext">"Many women who come in for breast surgery tell us their breasts are sagging, drooping or are less full because they breastfed," said Brian Rinker, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon and study author. "</span><span class="arttext">Although the amount of sagging in the breasts appears to increase with each pregnancy, we've found that breastfeeding does not worsen the effect."<br /><br /></span><span class="arttext">The study examined 93 women who were pregnant one or more times prior to having cosmetic breast surgery. Fifty-eight percent of patients reported breastfeeding one or more of their <a itxtdid="4692242" target="_blank" href="http://www.emaxhealth.com/84/17524.html#" style="border-bottom: 0.075em solid darkgreen; font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; text-decoration: underline; color: darkgreen; background-color: transparent; padding-bottom: 1px;" classname="iAs" class="iAs">children</a>. The duration of breastfeeding ranged from 2 to 25 months, with an average of nine months. Fifty-five percent of respondents reported an adverse change in the shape of their breasts following pregnancy.</span><span class="arttext"><br /><br /></span><span class="arttext">As the first study to examine what impacts breast shape in connection to pregnancy, plastic surgeons found that a history of breastfeeding, the number of children breastfed, the duration of each child's breastfeeding, or the amount of weight gained during pregnancy were not significant predictors for losing breast shape. However, body mass index (BMI), the number of pregnancies, a larger pre-pregnancy bra size, smoking history, and age were significant risk factors for an increased <a itxtdid="4555758" target="_blank" href="http://www.emaxhealth.com/84/17524.html#" style="border-bottom: 0.075em solid darkgreen; font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; text-decoration: underline; color: darkgreen; background-color: transparent; padding-bottom: 1px;" classname="iAs" class="iAs">degree</a> of breast sagging.</span><span class="arttext"></blockquote><br /><br />Frankly, I was not particularly impressed with a study of 93 women. That seems hardly indicative of a population size. </span><span class="arttext">Truthfully, I do not care if I become a bit of a saggy hag after I am done with the breastfeeding business. </span>Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-10664803762301457962007-10-30T08:40:00.000-07:002007-10-30T08:46:20.936-07:00Size MattersMy daughter is 3.5 months old. Last week, she weighed 14 lbs, 15 oz. Whee! I am so excited that she is gaining weight at such a steady pace. It is still amazing to me that my body provided that sustenance for her.<br /><br />However. <br /><br />I am frequently getting comments about her weight, how she looks "bigger" for her age, how she is a "big girl", how she will "slim down" once she starts crawling. Why does this bother me? <br /><br />Because she only weighs one ounce more than my son at the same age. ONE ounce! <br /><br />Yet, I rarely got such comments about my son's weight. Oh no, folks commented on his hair, his big eyes or how healthy and husky he was. Rarely about his weight.<br /><br />Good grief - my poor girl is just over 3 months old and already has to worry about her waistline?? This after I was told by a variety of folks throughout my pregnancy that Anjali would probably weigh less than Arun since girls are "always smaller".<br /><br />I am calling bullshit on this.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-63031206178708068452007-10-24T10:43:00.001-07:002007-10-24T11:02:46.719-07:00Hair. Here, There, Everywhere.<span style="font-family:georgia;">Yessiree, folks. It is that time of the Post-Partum Year. You are innocently taking a shower, minding your own damned business while rinsing conditioner out of your hair when you notice that big, huge, clumps of your lovely locks are also being rinsed. And even though this is my 2nd go around with this, it is still a little horrifying. Oh My God. There is hair EVERYWHERE. Fortunately, this is perfectly normal at around 3-4 months post-partum and it is NOT caused by breastfeeding, either. <a style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/hairloss.html">According to Kellymom</a>, </span><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">Postpartum hair loss is a normal - and temporary - postpartum change that is unrelated to breastfeeding. Most women will return to their usual hair growth cycle between 6 and 12 months after birth.</blockquote><br />In other news, there is a wonderful article about co-sleeping titled <a style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/health/23well.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=ca6e5a149b405479&ex=1193889600&emc=eta1&adxnnlx=1193234450-MD3u%20dUj48mY6RUmcXQG%20w">Shhh...My Child Is Sleeping (in My Bed, Um, With Me)"</a> </span> in the New York Times. As it states, co-sleeping: <blockquote><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">".....is far more common than many people think. Nearly 13 percent of parents in the United States slept with their infants in 2000, up from 5.5 percent in 1993, according to a report last month in the journal Infant and Child Development. Countless children start the night in their own beds, only to wake up a few hours later and pad into their parents’ bedrooms, crawling into the bed or curling up nearby on the floor.</span><p style="font-style: italic;">Ask parents if they sleep with their kids, and most will say no. But there is evidence that the prevalence of bed sharing is far greater than reported. Many parents are “closet co-sleepers,” fearful of disapproval if anyone finds out, notes James J. McKenna, professor of anthropology and director of the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory at the <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/u/university_of_notre_dame/index.html?inline=nyt-org" title="More articles about the University of Notre Dame.">University of Notre Dame</a>."</p></blockquote><p></p><br />This was a pretty standard, catch-all co-sleeping article, but I thought it was still interesting to read. In particular, I LOVE the title and the fact that it addressed the perceived shame/embarrassment parents feel when having to "admit" they co-sleep. I still suffer a bit from this embarrassment, even 2 years later. <br /><br />Also, I would like to clarify something - yes, I am a huge co-sleeping advocate. However, I cannot claim that co-sleeping is always easy. It is not. There are some nights when I wish my kids would just sleep by themselves already. Furthermore, we are having a tremendous amount of trouble getting my son to sleep these days. Let me stress the "getting to sleep" part, once he is asleep, he is doing fine. It is the "getting there" that is pushing us to some dark, dark places. It could be a lot of things - he is hitting a developmental explosion of language. He is cutting some molars. He has a new sister. He just started a Mother's Day Out program a month ago. And he is two. Did I mention that? I am not sure what the solution is, but I will say that co-sleeping has totally saved our sanity. It is hard enough to deal with all of this, I cannot imagine doing it sleep deprived.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-87996980963682115222007-10-18T07:11:00.000-07:002007-10-17T14:28:32.188-07:00Nutrionally DeficientBah Humbug. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);" href="http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2007/10/alison-sweeney.html">This is like the 3rd or 4th time</a> that I have heard Allison Sweeney, the Days of Our Lives star and host of the Biggest Loser, go on and on about infant nutrition and in the same breath mention Gerber. Coincidence? No, she is a <span style="font-style: italic;">spokesperson </span>for Gerber. For example, in the interview, she says:<br /><blockquote><br />He almost never has processed sugar, but we always have fresh fruits around. And I love that the Graduates snacks are his favorites because they are so easy to take with me on the go, because it's also important to have a snack available so that a) he doesn't get moody! And b) we aren't stuck with needing to get fast-food.</blockquote><br />and <blockquote><br />Ben loves peas and corn. Gerber taught me that you have to let them try foods at least 10 times if not more before they might grow to like certain foods, so not to give up too easily. </blockquote><br /><br />I wish I had something profound to say, but I do not. I simply find it sad and false for a celebrity to use what is purported to be a <span style="font-style: italic;">personal </span>interview as a vehicle to pimp a product.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-1547577920411941682007-10-12T16:32:00.000-07:002007-10-12T16:53:55.476-07:00SemanticsIn our house, we have 3 types of milk:<br />Mama's milk<br />Cow's milk<br />Soymilk<br /><br />Part of me feels as if I should just say "milk" for my own milk, but I also do not want to create any confusion when he is out and about.<br /><br />In other news, I was lying on my side on the floor playing with Arun the other night. He ran over my nipple with his car.<br /><br />Oh. My. God. The <span style="font-style: italic;">agony</span>. It is a good thing he is weaned because I suspect Right Girl will be holding a grudge over this.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-64315119122663185272007-10-10T19:34:00.000-07:002007-10-10T19:46:16.269-07:00Feed me!I have my own little <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054033/quotes">Audrey Jr.</a> in the house these days.<br /><br />When one says "experienced" mom, it only means you know <span style="font-style: italic;">slightly </span>more than you did the 1st time around. And not much more. Trust me on this, Grasshopper.<br /><br />My sweet, adorable, easy-going baby morphed into a fussy, demanding little gremlin overnight conveniently as her daddy boarded an airplane for a week-long business trip. Her behaviour had me totally baffled until my friend <a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://haraku.blogspot.com/">Mojavi</a> pointed out that Anjali was probably hitting her 3 month growth spurt. <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lightbulb? It is <span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51); font-weight: bold;">On</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, baby.</span></span></span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spurt.html">Kellymom</a> has some great info on this and yes, it appears that Anjali is probably in the throes of her 3 month growth spurt. The site also mentions this can happen when a baby is hitting a new developmental milestone. Can you say "rolling over", kiddies? She has been able to get to her side quite easily for awhile now, but is working on the stomach. I feel like telling her to not bother because that would just only serve to piss her off. Particularly considering how she loathes tummy time anyway.....<br /><br />However, babies these days? Do not listen to their mothers.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-81404325670553171912007-10-03T22:16:00.000-07:002007-10-03T22:27:49.175-07:00Taking SidesWhich side do you prefer to nurse on? <br /><br />Personally, I prefer my Right Girl. For whatever reason, when I am nursing Anjali while galavanting around the house, this leaves my left hand free to do things like surfing the web, opening doors for cats, stirring cooking pots, answering phones, handling remote controls, sending text messages, turning pages on open books, and feeding ravenous toddlers. I also like nursing on my Right Girl while sleeping. I will even "schedule" nursing on my Left Girl to ensure that we will be ready for the Right Girl to pony up the nighttime nursing so that I can snooze for that 5am feeding. Because Sleep? She is Sacred.<br /><br />However, I am a right handed. It seems sort of weird that I would prefer my left hand to be free while my Right Girl is busy. Odd.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-84675982787119862022007-10-01T06:58:00.000-07:002007-10-01T07:12:52.771-07:00Got Milk?Holy crap, Batman. I was pumping on Saturday while reading a book. I looked down and had well over 5 ounces. I do not pump very often, so I was a little shocked.<br /><br />So, we gave Anjali her first bottle that evening. It actually went okay. Our son only took a bottle under extreme duress or from my cousin the babysitter. So, we have been scarred from that experience and dreaded giving Anjali a bottle. However, Anjali is quickly earning her title as The Easy Baby and took well to the bottle as well. She sucked down 2 ounces like nobody's business.<br /><br />It may seem odd that we waited 12 weeks to give Anju her first bottle, but really, we had no reason to hassle with it otherwise. However, in a few weeks I have a social event coming up that I would really prefer to go to sans progeny, so it is best to start with the bottle now.<br /><br />Here are some tips for giving your baby a bottle. These are my tips, nothing "expert". If you have any to offer, I am most certainly open to ideas.<br /><ol><li>Do not wait until the baby is ravenous, begin with the bottle about the time the baby is just getting hungry.<br /></li><li>It is best if someone other than the nursing mother give the bottle. Trust me on this. It is even better if the nursing mother can leave the room.</li><li>When inserting the nipple of the bottle, point it towards the baby's palate to urge/stimulate the baby to suck.</li><li>Try feeding the baby while the baby is sitting in a bouncy chair or highchair. This is the one that will drive grandmothers NUTS because they want to HOLD the baby. However, if a baby is being held while eating, he/she may expect her mother. My husband always had the best luck while our son was in the bouncy chair.<br /></li><li>If possible, borrow nipples/bottles from friends, then you will have a wide selection to test to figure out which your baby takes best rather than investing a chunk of change in one kind.</li></ol><br />Here are some other great links for bottle feeding.<br /><a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.breastfeeding.com/helpme/helpme_asklc_ans58.html">Breastfeeding.com</a><br /><a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T025000.asp">Dr. Sears</a><br /><a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/formula/howbottlefeedexpert/">BabyCentre UK</a> (Yes, this is the UK site, which I have always preferred to the US site, quite frankly. It is in the "formula" section, but still has good tips for breastfeeders. Particularly someone like me who little experience giving babies bottles)Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-24291010300134285652007-09-28T17:37:00.000-07:002007-09-28T18:49:02.123-07:00The Littlest Foodie of AllI have been neglectful of this space, but I thought I would just check in with this:<br /><br />One memory that I will always treasure from my days of breastfeeding is that of a little hairy noggin totally scoping my breasts with his/her nose while snorting and snuffing until he/she gets latched on and that relief of my milk letting down. Then, oh <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">then</span>.....the little noises of contentment and soft noises of swallowing and sucking. Those sweet, lovely, precious noises. <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">That </span>is what I will treasure most from these breastfeeding days. Always.<br /><br />I love that this early on, my babies can totally enjoy their food source and that it can also be a source of <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">comfort </span></span>without worrying for potential need for therapy or Weight Watchers in the future. My son was a total Foodie when it came to Mama's Milk and nursed to 15 months....but now? He is a perfectly independent toddler who loves his food on a plate and thinks a fork is fucking COOL, yo.<br /><br />Do not ever let anyone act like your child can become too "attached" to your breast. Instead, cherish it for what is is.<br /><br />Nature at its very brightest.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-53938527376474918062007-09-20T14:06:00.000-07:002007-09-20T14:33:54.660-07:00Not ForgottenI have not forgotten this place. In short, Arun is cutting 2 year molars and I am working on a project for my husband's new business he is building. I was very disappointed that I could not submit something for the Breastfeeding Carnival on Sleep. I had a draft I was working on, but ironically, two straight nights of Twin Terrors fighting the entire subject of sleep left me with no time to finish it. Again, the irony is killing me softly. Sigh.<br /><br />Regarding "not posting", the other quandary I have is this: I am not sure what the crossover is in the readership here in relation with the power bloggers. I am assuming that if you read this site, you are <a style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-weight: bold;" href="http://breastfeeding.blog.motherwear.com/">reading</a> <a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://thelactivist.blogspot.com/">other</a> <a style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.nursingyourkids.com/">breastfeeding </a><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;" href="http://mamaknowsbreast.com/">bloggers </a>as well. I try my best to not post the same material and it is frustrating sometimes. Last Friday, as I went to bed, I had grandiose plans to post about Bill Maher and his <a style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/09/19/bill-mahers-breastfeeding-brouhaha-do-whats-right-for-the-pla/">breastfeeding diatribe</a> that I had just watched live, but The Lactivist had <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;" href="http://thelactivist.blogspot.com/2007/09/bill-maher-on-breastfeeding-in-public.html">already posted</a> about it by Saturday. No, it is not a competition, but rather my desire to not send duplicate topics to everyone's feed readers.<br /><br />Anyway, in other news...........<br />Sophie Currier <a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/blog/2007/09/judge_rules_aga.html?p1=MEWell_Pos4">lost her case</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> </span>- the Brookline MA medical student had sued to be allowed extra time to pump breast milk while taking the medical board exam. She must take and pass the exam before she can graduate and begin a residency program.<br /><blockquote><br /><p>In a three-page opinion, <strong>Norfolk Superior Court Judge Patrick Brady</strong> said Currier could still find a way to expel her milk during the test or on regularly scheduled breaks. </p> <p>"The plaintiff may take the test and pass, notwithstanding what she considers to be unfavorable conditions," Brady wrote. "The plaintiff may delay the test, which is offered numerous times during the year, until she has finished her breast-feeding and the need to express milk."</p> <p>Currier�s lawyer, <strong>Christine Smith Collins,</strong> said she will appeal the decision to a state court of appeals judge, who could still issue a ruling before Currier takes the exam next Monday.</p></blockquote><p></p><br />I am a licensed CPA and have taken the CPA exam -- therefore, I feel for Currier. To face a grueling test and to have to worry about pumping and not disrupting my milk supply? I cannot imagine. I find it difficult to believe that the exam board could not find a way to accommodate her in a way that would have served as a disadvantage to others taking the exam.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-79618221271206624192007-09-16T14:31:00.000-07:002007-09-16T14:39:15.627-07:00AAP Approved Medicines for Nursing MothersI have had an upset stomach all day and for the first time in years, Pepto-Bismol appeared to be in order. <br /><br />Or not.<br /><br />According to Kelly Mom via the <a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/aap-approved-meds.html">Selected List of Medications approved by the AAP</a> for use in breastfeeding mothers, Pepto-Bismol is NOT approved for breastfeeding mothers. Crap. Of course, I bothered to look this up AFTER I had already taken 2 doses. Timed with the nursing sessions and the doses (which were spaced far apart), Anjali will be fine. However, this is an excellent reminder for all breastfeeding mothers to reconsider consuming even the most innocuous of medicines.<br /><br />In other words, be not an idiot such as me. Cripes.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-6408695868079108712007-09-13T13:21:00.000-07:002007-09-13T12:34:57.799-07:00It is not only your girls that need support.<span style="font-weight: bold;">Week 9</span><br />You may need support, too! All too often, new mothers spend scads of time hunting for the perfect nursing bra or post-partum clothing, but neglect to find support for the task of new motherhood, including breastfeeding.<br /><br />So, I went to my hospital's breastfeeding support group yesterday. This is the same group that I attended for the first 13 months after Arun was born - in fact, I made a really, really good friend through the group. In attending that group, I realized how important it was for experienced moms to keep going even after they had breastfeeding down pat in order to support the new moms coming down the pike. I have only been once before with Anjali thus far - it is a little stressful to take Arun. He is so in love with his own "<span style="font-style: italic;">da bay-BEE" </span>that to see even more "<span style="font-style: italic;">da bay-BEEs" </span>is just too much temptation for his grubby fingers. Anyway, attending the group yesterday was awesome. There were a few other mothers there like me from the "Two Under Two" crowd. It was such a relief to hear I am not the only one whose patience is not her virtue. Also, there was another mother there whose baby is a Grazer like Anjali. It has been frustrating because Arun was such a quick eater, I am still not used to the lackadaisical effort Anjali puts into her meals. It takes longer to feed her and I have really fouled up scheduling more than once by not allowing enough time to take care of her nursing needs. Anyway, I am definitely going to be attending the group regularly and it will be easier once Arun begins his nursery school. I specifically put him in Wednesday mornings so I could attend the breastfeeding support group.<br /><br />Overall, things are going well. Anjali weighs a whopping 12 lbs, 10 oz. It is absolutely awe-inspiring to think that my body magically produced the nutrition for her like that. All I had to do was eat healthily and make the commitment to feed her regularly. I am very grateful for my body in that respect when I see so many other mothers struggle with their milk supply. I try not to take it for granted.<br /><br />Mood wise, I am doing okay. The past week, I have seen glimpses of my Old Self. The same gal who before this most recent pregnancy was very excited to take on Life. I am still planning on not taking the Zoloft because I feel this is a very mild/moderate depression anyway. I wish I could go into details, but the short version is that some of the side effects coupled with my personal and family history had me concerned. I would rather deal with the demon I can see, rather than one who may or may not show his face.<br /><br />I want to be clear, <span style="font-style: italic;">very clear</span>, that I am not against Zoloft or any other anti-depressant. If I were to give advice on the topic of post-partum depression, I would only urge you to take it seriously, push back any shame you may feel and to discuss it carefully with your doctor, your partner and yourself. What are your risk factors? How severe is your depression? Do you feel you are at risk for harming yourself or others? And finally, what are you comfortable with facing? I was simply more comfortable facing what I could already see. That's all.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210124825932899228.post-26963195723569082362007-09-08T14:07:00.000-07:002007-09-03T07:25:29.710-07:00Dandelion Whine.Formula companies strike again.<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/30/AR2007083002198.html">This Washington Post article</a> details how the Human and Health Services department toned down a series of ads that promoted breastfeeding after the powerful formula company lobby pressured them to do so.<br /><em></em><blockquote><em>In an attempt to raise the nation's historically low rate of breast-feeding, federal health officials commissioned an attention-grabbing advertising campaign a few years ago to convince mothers that their babies faced real health risks if they did not breast-feed. It featured striking photos of insulin syringes and asthma inhalers topped with rubber nipples.</em><p><em> Plans to run these blunt ads infuriated the politically powerful infant formula industry, which hired a former chairman of the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Republican+National+Committee?tid=informline" target="">Republican National Committee</a> and a former top regulatory official to lobby the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/U.S.+Department+of+Health+and+Human+Services?tid=informline" target="">Health and Human Services Department</a>. Not long afterward, department political appointees toned down the campaign.</em></p><p><em>The ads ran instead with more friendly images of dandelions and cherry-topped ice cream scoops, to dramatize how breast-feeding could help avert respiratory problems and obesity. In a <a href="http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/health/documents/yeutterletters.pdf" target="">February 2004 letter (pdf)</a>, the lobbyists told then-HHS Secretary <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Tommy+G.+Thompson?tid=informline" target="">Tommy G. Thompson</a> they were "grateful" for his staff's intervention to stop health officials from "scaring expectant mothers into breast-feeding," and asked for help in scaling back more of the ads.</em></p></blockquote><p></p>Again, I don't judge mothers that use formula, but I DO judge formula companies and their nefarious corporate practices.<br /><br />I also came across this OpEd piece that had some fun snarky commentary on our society talking about breastfeeding titled <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_jim_free_070901_talking_about__28blush.htm"></a><a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_jim_free_070901_talking_about__28blush.htm">Talking About (Blush) Breastfeeding</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote>Meanwhile the nation’s mothers spend nearly $3 billion on breast milk substitutes. Not needing breasts any longer to protect kids’ health, they merrily spend another $1 billion on enhancing them, so they look great.<br /><br />All with the encouragement of your friendly Bush administration and their consumer-friendly motto:<br /><br /> “<span style="font-weight: bold;">Better Things for Better Living Through Dissembling.</span>”</blockquote>Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.com8