Things you can refuse

A couple of weeks ago, consumer reports released an article titled "What to reject when you're expecting"
Find it here:what-to-reject-when-you-re-expecting

It is lengthy, but worth the read. The points are:
1. A C-section with a low-risk first birth
2. An automatic second C-section
3. An elective early delivery

4.Inducing labor without a medical reason

5. Ultrasounds after 24 weeks

6. Continuous electronic fetal monitoring
7. Early epidurals
8. Routinely rupturing the amniotic membranes
9. Routine episiotomies
10. Sending your newborn to the nursery

I appreciate the statistics and studies they show to back up the points. As Dr. Bradley would say, "research is catching up to the Bradley method" (Husband Coached Childbirth).  The Bradley method has been saying these things since the beginning!

On the same note of things to think twice about (and possibly refuse!) is this article :10-childbirth-norms-parents-can-refuse

This article comes from a natural mom's blog and she is sharing her personal choices for pregnancy and birth.I like this article because it reminds you of things that you need to consider and make decisions about. I agree with most of her points, and encourage you to use informed consent when making your own choices. Consult with your own doctor and your own research.

Remember- you become a parent with choices to make from the time you are pregnant (and hopefully even before conception). Don't be afraid to do what feels right to you, even if that means questioning a doctor.!

For my Bradley Students

I found this cute and simple reminder of what to eat and do while pregnant. A bit prettier than your pink nutrition sheets (but still fill them out!! ;-)

Print out copies for your fridge, desk, car....anywhere you need a reminder to eat well.

To get a clear, printable version find it at

http://epicsoup.com/2012/03/21/bradley-method-diet-free-printout/

One more thing...

I can't help myself, I have to share one more response I came across to the TIME article. Because when I read it I thought to myself "When did I write this?!" This lady sounds a heck of a lot like me- or at least a heck of a lot like me one year ago. One year ago when I was nursing a 17 month old who kicked and squirmed and practically did somersaults while nursing. And as she was nursing almost upside down one day I thought "How did this happen? How did I get from the stress and frustrations and tears during those first 6 weeks of her life (when we dealt with no milk, then too much milk, latch issues,  cup feedings,  nipple shields, cracks, infections...), to this nursing relationship that I don't know when we will end it?" Little did I know, one month later I would find out I was pregnant and was ready to wean her (gasp! Cat's out of the bag- I'm an attachment parent who didn't let my baby self wean.)

So while this next article wasn't written by me, it could have been.

On Nursing a Toddler: Why that TIME Magazine Mom Could Have Been Me

By YourTango.com | Parenting – Thu, May 10, 2012 3:41 PM EDTIf you had showed me this TIME Magazinecover, featuring a mother breastfeeding her toddler who is STANDING UP, one year ago, I would have laughed. 
"Not me! That won't be me! I will breastfeed until she's around one. 10 months maybe?" 

Yet there I was the other day, sitting on the couch in my living room nursing an almost one year old who was...standing up. "Look!" I said to my husband. He thought it was funny and laughed out loud. My daughter, of course, thought nothing of it. 

Long before I became pregnant, I knew I would breastfeed. After tons of reading and education in natural parenting, as well as attachment parenting, I also knew I would want to nurse my baby for up to a year. Those first few weeks were brutal. Oversupply issues, a colicky baby, cracked and bleeding nipples, you name it, I dealt with it. Through daily tears of frustration, I told myself I only had to do it for six months. I counted the weeks and dreamt of the day I wouldn't need to wear easy access bras and tops. 

Then, somewhere around 10 or 12 weeks after my daughter was born, our nursing relationship became enjoyable. I finally experienced those super emotional letdowns and the high that comes from cuddling so close for several hours a day. I knew there was no stopping in our near future. I told myself to prepare to carry on feeding her this way well into her second year. 

My daughter has never taken a bottle or a pacifier, and most solid food still end up on the floor. For nearly one year, I have kept her alive and perfectly content with my boobs. It's amazing and I'm incredibly proud of myself. 

How does everyone else around me feel? They are probably wondering when I will close up shop. They can keep wondering, because I kind of hate the word "wean." Or the question, "How long do you plan on nursing?" I don't "plan" on weaning my daughter. She will let me know when she's no longer interested, I presume. Even if this does include some gentle distractions and redirection as time goes on. I can't imagine flat out denying her something that she loves to do so much. She would cry, and that would probably break my heart in two. 

You see, nursing isn't just about nutrition. It's comfort. It's quiet time. It's stealing snuggles from a child who is otherwise always on the go. It's a special bond that no one in the world can match. It's enjoying every single minute of this precious period of her life, because one day very soon, she will begging me for independence, a cell phone, and the keys to my car. But for now, all she wants is for me to hold her close to my breast. And how can I rush it along or wish that away? 

Of course, there is another person in our relationship, my husband. He has always been supportive of me breastfeeding. His only response when I ask him how he feels about the fact that I am still nursing is "just don't get too crazy." Although he was amused to see Elena at my breast while she was standing, I'm thinking this cover photo of Jamie Lynne Grumet nursing her 3-year-old son is his idea of too crazy. He probably shouldn't worry. I have hopes of having another child before our daughter is three and I don't see her remaining interested in nursing through a pregnancy and sharing me with a new baby. Though it could be me. After a year of parenting, I know better than to say never. 

I also know that I am not looking forward to the negative backlash this photo will receive. Men and women who aren't yet parents, as well as guilty mothers who never breastfed, were encouraged to wean early, or never had any interest in it at all are always good for bashing extended nursing. 

For those readers, I'd like to remind them of the reasoning behind this photo, As photographer Martin Schoeller explains, he "liked the idea of having the kids standing up to underline the point that this was an uncommon situation." It is uncommon to see a woman nurse her toddler. But that doesn't mean it's an uncommon occurrence. Or that it's wrong. We often see mothers nursing their tiny babes, all bundled close and covered up. I think it's very important to see that in many homes, nursing looks more like this and that's normal too. 

HuffPost predicts it will "turn heads and draw gasps from readers." And to that I say fine, just as long as there are a few readers who walk away with a completely different attitude on nursing beyond babyhood. 

Written by Brooke Dowd Sacco for YourTango.com. 

TIME Controversy

WOW! What a week it has been in the media! There has been so much already said, by people who can say it better than me, so I'll keep it short.

Basically it started with this TIME article about attachment parenting:Time Magazine Cover
While I support extended breastfeeding for those who want to (personally weaned my daughter at 18 months) the cover is shocking and a bit disturbing- and admittedly the extreme of attachment parenting. Still I applaud the guts this lady has, and thank her for making it that much easier for me to nurse discreetly.

I think this article is the best response from Mothering Magazine president. time-is-on-our-side
I agree with everything she has to say.

But for good measure, here is one more article on extended breastfeeding from an anthropological point of view: breastfeeding-rates and another article on what attachment is in it's truest, simplest form scienceandsensibility

I personally consider myself to follow attachment parenting principles, but use it as "tools not rules." I co-sleep in the sense that my newborn's bassinet is set up in my room, but don't set out to "bed-share" ( though more often than not I fall asleep during night time nursings!). I don't wear my babies  out of obligation, but out of convenience - how much easier is it to have hands free when my babies want to be carried!? And I exclusively breast-feed because it is known that breast milk is the best nutrition I can provide for my child, not to mention all the other bonding/attachment aspects proven by science.

Have fun reading the articles! And would you be so kind as to drop me a comment letting me know you were here?

Welcome

Welcome to my new little blog venture! As a Bradley Childbirth teacher, I'm constantly looking for articles and research supporting natural childbirth and attachment parenting. I try to incorporated what I find into my classes, but can't always cover everything. A student recently requested I start a blog that they could follow with more of my findings. So here it is. Basically this blog will be a place to post interesting birth or parenting articles that I find, my thoughts on them, and share my own experiences

Why the title? Well with two small kids of my own, I know the challenges, frustrations, and oh-so-much joy being a mom can bring.  I'll never forget the time I was going through nursing troubles (much more on that later!) and had managed to eek out a small amount of milk while pumping.  As I prepared to freeze it, I knocked over the bottle spilling its contents across the counter. I remember thinking (or maybe my husband said to me)  "Don't cry over spilled milk." HA! I guarantee whoever came up with that saying had never spent any time with a breast pump! I've come to realize it is ok to let myself cry over spilled milk- especially when it is pumped. 

Follow along- and share your comments!- as we look at the ups and downs of pregnancy, birth and parenting.