Extended Nursing!

 Micaiah, 15.5 months, in a moment of nonchalant confidence.

After 15 months of reading about extended nursing from a variety of sources, I came across an article in Mothering Magazine (Sept/Oct. 2007) that beautifully summarized the current state of knowledge on this. Since I can't say it better myself, I'll just give you some word-for-word quotes from the article.  My own thoughts are placed in brackets.  I plan to let my youngest wean himself and have already kicked myself around the block for force-weaning my oldest at 12 months. Anyways, here are the quotes:

1.  "The World Health Organization recommends that children be breastfed for up to two years and beyond, as do UNICEF and the Canadian Pediatric Society." 

2.  "In many parts of the world, it is normal to breastfeed for two or three years or even longer."

3.  "Research shows that the fat and energy content of breastmilk actually increases after the first year.  Breastmilk adapts to a toddler's developing system, providing exactly the right amount of nutrition at exactly the right time".  (Ever wonder if your toddler is not getting enough nutrients at meal times?  You don't have to if you're breastfeeding.)

4.  "According to research, the immunological benefits of breastfeeding actually increases during the second and third years of nursing.  The antibodies in breastmilk that protect a newborn against pathogens, viruses, and bacteria are still present in the milk of mothers nursing their toddlers.  Literally thousands of antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparasitic factors are found in human milk, protecting against hundreds of infections and diseases, including E. coli, pneumonia, strep throat, Salmonella, influenza, rotavirus, rubella, West Nile virus, mumps, measles, diabetes, meningitis, and many childhood cancers such as leukemia.  These immunological factors remain present whether the nursing child is three months or three years old.  This doesn't mean that your child will never become ill, but nursed toddlers contract fewer diseases, and when they do get sick, they heal more quickly... In addition, breastfed toddlers are much less likely to suffer from asthma and allergies."  (Makes it sound like breastfeeding is something like a natural vaccination.)

5.  "Dr. Jack Newman, founder of the Newman Breastfeeding Clinic in Toronto, Canada, and author of The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers, believes that extended breastfeeding actually promotes a child's independence and emotional development.  He says, "The breastfed toddler is more independent in the long run because his independence comes from a deep-seated security that comes from breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is a source not only of nutrition, but also of comfort, support, and security."

6.  "Numerous studies show that breastfeeding promotes a higher IQ, including increased reading comprehension, math skills, and scholastic ability, even into adolescence.  In one study, breastfeeding was associated with a 4.6 higher mean in three-year-old intelligence.  The fine motor and language skills of breastfed toddlers also develop more quickly.  According to Ginger Carney, a clinical nutrition manager and lactation consultant at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee, "The unique coordination of the tongue, lips, and jaw during breastfeeding exercises the muscles used for speech."  In other words, the act of sucking promotes oral development, which enhances language skills."

7.  Nursing soothes the aching of gums, skinned knees, bumped heads, and tantrums that come with toddlerhood.   Toddlers experience a roller-coaster of big, messy emotions from moment to moment, and reconnecting with the close, physical touch of nursing reminds them of your love and support during those difficult times.  While mothering a toddler is an amazing journey, it can also be intense and demanding.  A few moments of calm, quiet nursing throughout the day can reenergize both of you."

Planting Seeds

The boys and I planted Impatiens the other day.  It was a lot of fun, especially since I've never grown my own flowers before.  We're hoping that in the next 10-18 days we'll see some life.  If not, at least Abishai learned how to plant seeds.  He cried when we were done, because he wanted to plant more.

All of our supplies for getting started.

I poured the potting soil into a bowl to make it easier for Abishai to transfer into the egg cartons.

Ready for planting.

Abishai poking holes for the seeds.  The seeds were so small that I had to place them in each hole myself.  Abishai was disappointed that he couldn't do it himself.

Micaiah watching us plant.

Covering the seeds with soil.

Watering.

Isaiah 61:11
For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

15 Things I've Learned About Breastfeeding

The points below are brief, so for further reading and information, Dr. Sears' The Breast Feeding Book will take you deeper.  You can also borrow it from the library.

1. Allowing 6 or more hours between feedings can begin ovulation.  This means that night-nursing is necessary for holding back ovulation.

2. A baby's brain grows particularly during sleep.  To facilitate that growth, a mother’s milk changes at night, while she is also in a resting state. 

3. Babies don’t naturally develop adult sleeping patterns until they are 2-3 years of age.  Until then, their frequent waking is a survival mechanism. (i.e. to alleviate fear, loneliness, cold, hunger, sickness, see also #2)

4. Nursing at night-time releases a hormone that helps the mother cope with less sleep.  Have you ever noticed how a nursing mother copes better than her husband after a difficult night caring for the baby? 

5. The breast actually helps to shape & develop the baby's mouth, lowering chances of later orthodontic work. 

6. A baby nurses more frequently when feeling ill.  When the baby suckles at the breast, he passes on the virus through the nipple.  The mother then produces an antibody for that particular virus and passes it back through the milk.

7. On average, breastfed babies score 8 points higher in IQ tests.

8. The more you breastfeed, the more the bonding or “love” hormone prolactin is released.  A nursing mother has a harder time leaving her baby in the care of another because of this bond.

9. The mother’s physical need is synchronized with her baby’s physical need.  Even if the mother cannot see or hear her baby, the mother knows by the uncomfortable fullness of her breasts that her baby is hungry and returns to him. 

10. Breastfeeding releases a hormone called oxytocin which calms or makes the mother sleepy.  Breast milk also contains a sleep inducer that puts your baby to sleep.  If you co-sleep with your baby, then you will receive the maximum benefit from these hormones.  While you lay next to your baby at night, the suckling will send you and your baby off to dreamland.  Ever had a hard time turning your brain off at night?  Breastfeed your baby and you will soon drift off.

11.  The more you breastfeed, the more weight you will lose.  Nurse around the clock for a year and you will see the pounds come off.

12. The more often you nurse (on cue feeding), the more milk you will produce.  The less you nurse (the further the feedings are apart), the less milk you will produce.

13.  Nursing calms and quiets a fussy baby; when tired, when hurt, when sick, when hungry.  When in doubt nurse your baby. 

14.  Your baby can be exclusively breastfed long after 6 months, even after 10 months.  You can wait until you baby has teeth or is physically able to feed itself to start solids.  Besides, a baby doesn't have the proper digestive juices until they can masticate.

15.  Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer!

Isaiah 66:11-13

    "For you will nurse and be satisfied
       at her comforting breasts;
       you will drink deeply
       and delight in her overflowing abundance."

    For this is what the LORD says:
       "I will extend peace to her like a river,
       and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream;
       you will nurse and be carried on her arm
       and dandled on her knees.

    As a mother comforts her child,
       so will I comfort you;
       and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."

Lov'n cloth diapers

I just started cloth diapering Micaiah at the end of January.  I had toyed with the idea of cloth diapers when I was pregnant with Abishai, but got overwhelmed with "all the work" I thought cloth diapering would add to my life as well as with the start up costs.  But when Micaiah was born, I had several friends that were using cloth diapers so I revisited the idea.  What set me teetering towards the cloth side of the fence was when I got to watch a friend of mine cloth diaper her baby girl.  Being a visual learner, she helped me to see that it's really no big deal.  So, I made the decision to do cloth and began my search for a diaper that would work for Micaiah, our heavy nighttime wetter.  We ended up purchasing Annie Marie Padorie's (AMP) one size pocket duo diapers.  It's been just over a month now, and I've been cloth diapering during the day (even when we're out), and at night time. What can I say? I'm loving it.  Below are some pictures of Micaiah posing for us. Let's just say he was very relaxed with the camera...

 

   

  

  

  

AMP has a wide range of colors to choose from.  I have six in my collection, which usually lasts me 3 days.  I like the one size because they will snap up smaller for those tiny newborn bums.  They also fit on my tall 2 1/2 year old.

  

The travel wet bag is from The Sling Sisters and the SuperDuo (top left) is from Tiny Tree Huggers.

The SuperDuo is for those super jumbo night time wetters.  What also works for me is putting two bamboo inserts (bottom left) wrapped inside of a cotton prefold with another bamboo insert under that.  What I discovered is that even though Bamboo absorbs a lot, it doesn't absorb quickly.  Cotton does, so by placing a prefold around the bamboo we ended up having night time success!   Micaiah is pretty bulky but he doesn't seem to mind.