Pass The .... Placenta? Yum!

Sorry, but this is one all natural treatment for depression that this Mom will be passing on. I do happen to have 3 placentas hanging around in my freezer, and I'm a bit undecided as to what to do with them. But eating them for dinner? The crunchy stops here, sister.

Natural Products - Going out of Business Sale

Did you hear that Natural Family Boutique is going out of business? NFB was the only direct sales company that offered natural products for families. Sadly, they're going out of business. But they're having a huge clearance sale to get rid of all their inventory, so if you're in need of:

• cloth diapers
• baby slings
• wooden non toxic toys
• cloth menstrual products for Mom
• books on natural parenting
• natural health products
• aromatherapy
• soft leather shoes for baby
• organic cotton clothing
• handmade jewelry
• natural cleaning products and candles
• and tons of other essentials

Check out their clearance sale. Everything is 50% off! Go here to shop the Natural Family Boutique clearance sale now.

Breastfeeding and Obesity

I just read an article which talked about a study done by Harvard Medical School researchers. Apparently their study showed that breastfeeding is unlikely to be a factor in reducing obesity. They did say that exclusive nursing for 6 months is associated with a slimmer body at age 5, but they also say that association doesn't carry through to adolescents or adulthood.

Hmmm....my first thought is "that's probably because of society not necessarily because breastfeeding doesn't or can't help in that area."

Anyway - the lead author on the study said that previous studies, who's findings contradict the findings in this recent study, failed to properly account for socioeconomic factors that may also have had an influence.

What do you think?

You can read the short article here.

Breastfeeding - Cover Up, or Au Naturel?

You know I always have to talk about breastfeeding around here. :-)

Today on my other blog I wrote about nursing cover ups, and talked about some of the instances in which I thought they were valuable. This may shock some of you who know me as a staunch lactivist, but I am all about women doing what they're most comfortable doing. If a nursing cover up means the difference between breastfeeding or not breastfeeding, then I'm all for a Mom using one.

Personally, I didn't use them. I think they're *less* discreet than practicing modest breastfeeding in public techniques. I used my sling to accomplish the same thing.

What about you? Was it a big blanket over your shoulder, a quick artful pulling up of your blouse too quick for anyone to notice, or (I hope not!) the ladies' room for you?

Things I Didn't Know About Breastfeeding

While I nursed all four of my children and know that breastfeeding is good for my babies, there are a few things mentioned in this breastfeeding article that I didn't know. Here they are:

1. Mother's milk contains more than 100 ingredients not found in formula
2. The World Health Organization's recommends breastfeeding babies for a minimum of two years
3. Babies are never allergic to their mother's milk
4. While there's nothing wrong with formula, even the companies that make it concede that breastfeeding is best.

Then there are a few things that I already knew but found worth repeating

1. Breastfed babies are less likely to be overweight or anemic
2. Current research from the Centers for Disease Control links breastfeeding with lower rates of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
3. Mom's body responds to whatever disease is present in the environment by making antibodies that are then passed in the milk to her baby

Of course, those are just a few of the many benefits that are associated with breastfeeding.

Dr. Phil Joins List of Stupid Celebs Who Bash Breastfeeding

Oh, brother. This is just what I needed to start my morning off. Dr Phil has joined the ranks of Rosie O'Donnell and other stupid celebrities who run their mouth and show their total ignorance about breastfeeding. He's apparently said that he's glad he wasn't breastfed.

I'll let you read the transcript over at the Lactivist's blog. And I'll share my little 'wet nursing' story. I can't say that I wouldn't be a little uncomfortable nursing someone else's child. But if I had a friend who ended up in some emergency and her baby was hungry and I could do it, I would willingly nurse that baby for her if she asked me to.

When I was 5 days old my Mom had to go back to the hospital and I wouldn't take the bottles of breastmilk the local LLL moms dropped off. I ended up sucking on my Dad's pinky finger all night long. I bet Dr Phil would say I have "issues".

Anyway, my mom's friend whose daughter was around my age nursed me a few times... which probably saved my life or at least kept me comforted and hydrated during what was probably the longest two days of my entire life. And I am SO thankful. What was I as a newborn infant feeling when suddenly my Mommy disappeared? My rejection of the "just as good" formula says a lot. I wanted and needed that familiar comfort of nursing.

I don't think it's a coincidence that I grew up to be a La Leche League leader, and mom of 4 who let her babies them decide when to wean. I guess I'm some kind of freak according to these "educated" people. Sigh.

Pork People Upset With The Lactivist

Oh for Pete's sake, this just beats all.

One of my favorite blogs belongs to Jennifer aka The Lactivist, who as a hobby (her "real" job other than being Mom of 2 is that of search engine marketer) publishes a blog on breastfeeding, and who has donated impressive amounts of money to a local milk bank.

Apparently Jennifer has stepped on the pig people's toes with her "The Other White Milk" breastfeeding advocacy tshirt. Read the whole story here: Pork people want to sue Lactivist

A Breastfeeding Strike - WTH?

Have you ever heard of a baby who is nursing happily one moment, then suddenly refuses? It's called a breastfeeding strike, and I just got through this experience with my youngest.

Commonly, babies are weaned when they strike because Mom doesn't understand that it's a temporary thing. It's not easy physically (I got a wicked case of mastitis) for baby or Mom, and even more difficult emotionally since Mom's hormones are all over the place, and baby's favorite means of comfort is suddenly the thing that causes him pain. It would be like your husband coming to you one day and saying, "I love you, but I can't hug you anymore because it hurts."

Anyway, if you're a nursing Mom, you might want to read my story in case you ever experience a breastfeeding strike.