Breastfeeding is Bestfeeding!

According to the birth plan, I had my son placed skin to skin to me at birth. Breastfeeding started a couple of hours after Victor was born, and continues today with full strength. For the past few weeks, we have been giving Victor a bottle, as he needs to learn how to use one because the fact is that he will be getting one when I happily return back to work.

I remember Nicolas struggled sucking on the bottle at first, after 6 weeks of breastfeeding at about 11 weeks old, I decided to try to give him a bottle again, and start pumping. At that time I realized that I didn't have enough in the freezer milk to go back to work anyway.

A learning experience it was, I know now what to avoid.

Nicolas had the bottle first, and he had them because the NICU wanted to know, how much he was eating. Nicolas arrived home, and I was still pumping and feeding, I didn't know what over pumping would do to me, or not pumping enough out, and I had mastitis. This is how I became a vegan, when I learn that cows get mastitis as well, yuck. My sister badly advised me that since I had a fever that I would need to stop nursing. My mother corrected my sister and said, no keep breastfeeding that child. I decided to do some searches, and I learned that goat and cows get antibiotics when this happens, and they give us that MILK. I'm drinking antibiotics, pesticides, in that WHITE stuff, the call the perfect food.

What I didn't realize was that it was best to just put Nicolas at the breast. That would avoid all supply issues. However, Nicolas was very sleepy, and he would fall asleep while eating, and get really angry when I put him down. After five weeks of trial and tribulations with Nicolas at the breast, I got in touch with La Leche League. I got some good advice, and breastfed Nicolas for 3 1/2 years.

Victor never fell asleep at the breast like his brother. That makes a huge difference in a full term and pre-term baby. This time around I have a freezer stash of about 60 ozs, and still growing. No experimental formula for this baby, only the best.

I read while breastfeeding Victor, Hirkani's Daughters by J.Hicks, and the Milk Memos by Cate Colburn-Smith and Andrea Serrette. La Leche League has these books at their Library. In addition, I recommend, Nursing Mother, Working Mother by Gail Pryor, I read this one when Nico was three months old, a little too late, but inspirational at best.

Another book!!

I have a little less than 100 days left to the actual guess date!!

I just received a new copy of the book "Back Labor No More" by Janie Mc Coy King. I started reading the book which includes a door hinge...yes, I said it includes a door hinge. The purpose of the door hinge is to illustrate to the mother, another reason why back labor is not good for the mother. The book describes a technique to help you use gravity to your advantage. The technique must be used without drugs that may prevent you to feel every sensation that you need to know that you are doing this right. Another tip, and another way to learn to birth better.

This book is very easy to read. I ordered my book through this website and a great internet offer. http://www.backlabornomore.com/.

Have a great day!!

The halfway mark...is getting close!

I went to Amazon.com for the super savings with the shipping, and I got 3 books.

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth, by Henci Goer
This book is basically about medical stories and I think it basically tries to disect the truth from myth.

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin
From looking at the contents, the first half of the book seems to be birth stories, the other half educational tools for birth. It has excellent reviews.

Journey into Motherhood: Inspirational Stories of Natural Birth, by Sheri L. Minelli
From my personal understanding this book has multiple birth stories, and accounts from birthing mothers, and their partners. I have read about 3 or 4 stories. They give advice, and provide what they used to prepare for birthing at the end of each story. Another way to prepare for a positive birth.

I have only looked at the books briefly, and I can't read them all at once....I think I'm done buying books for now...I'm going to focus on reading them. Finally someone read to me the "Bubble of Peace" However, I have not started the Class #2. I will this weekend...I think Saturday for the first part, and Sunday for the second...and I will start Class #3 next Saturday. I will dwell, and do my birth affirmations for the rest of the week and continue to relax to Class #1.

Anyway, I wanted to let anyone know what I have done to prepare myself for my next birth, hopefully with the intentions that if everything is successful, as I desire, you can use similar tools to help yourself, or better tools...The point is to continue to learn and grow.

Counting towards 18 weeks

I finally received a used copy of the book, "Mind Over Labor" written by Carl Jones, that I purchased from e-bay. The book has awesome information...In the 1st two chapters, it discussed the spacing of pressure waves (contractions), what would be the ideal situation for a mother to birth peacefully, as well as giving practical suggestions to the partner. I know that reading more will definitely continue to educate, and inspire me for the rest of my pregnancy. I also had the opportunity to listen to "Your Body, Your Birth" by Lynn M. Griesemer, from http://www.unassistedhomebirth.com. Which within it's body, quoted Carl Jones.


I haven't been able to do the hypnobabies study course, but I will make an attempt again to start this week. Each day, I get distracted by a multitude of things, and I hope to be able to focus, and get everything done. I can feel the baby move at times, it feels like litte butterflies in my lower belly, and I know the baby is alive and well. I can't wait to be able to hold this baby in my arms.

14 weeks now!

Currently I received my copy of Hypnobabies, and I'm looking forward to doing the homestudy course.

I'm having a hard time with my pants already, they feel really tight around the waist, and I need to start wearing pants that stretch around the waist. I don't look to pregnant yet to the general public, but perhaps like I'm a little heavier that I was. This past weekend I have noticed that the nausea has subsided, and I feel a lot better, thought I still have a bad taste in the mouth, is not as bad, or as excruciating as it had been for most of November, and the beginning of December.

I spent the holidays doing my best at relaxing, althought I need to work on it a whole lot more, and I'm looking forward to my trip to Puerto Rico, so that I may get some sun.

13 weeks are coming

This past weekend I spent it again filled with nauseating feelings and mood swings...I am very emotional.

I began to read a copy of a little script I got from e-bay called, "I CAN DO THIS" by Hygeia Halfmoon-unassisted childbirth. It was definitely a pleasant read, and I plan to keep it around me until I give birth. It was the story of a lady who had 3 births, a hospital birth that ended up in a c-section, and a medically unassited VBAC, and finally the purpose for the book, the unassisted birth in the presence of her other 2 daughters. It was definitely uplifting....

I plan to indulge myself in as many positive birth stories as possible, if you know of any, please share with me...Thanks!