busy bodies

Life has taken over these last few months, what with school kicking into high gear and a new job for me. Oy! But we are all here, still kicking, and I am hoping for more up-to-date posts soon as the season gets cooler. One thing is for sure--Esme has been a ham for the camera lately. Here are some pics of her with my coonhound, Minnie.

 

creations

I knit this scarf for my Oma for Christmas. The pattern is Drop Stitch Scarf by Christine Vogel, and can be purchased from Frazzled Knits. I used an wool-acrylic blend and cast on almost twice as many stitches in order to make the scarf wider.

This round cloth was knit for a swap using cotton and is from 1870 Pearl's Pinwheel pattern.

For the same swap, I also knit another cloth, also with cotton, using one of my favorite patterns, Chinese Waves from Maggie's Rags.

This little scrubbie, also knit for the swap, is another of 1870's pattern's--Tribbles. It was easy and fun, really only took an hour or so to finish.

I made this pair of shoes for my cousin's newborn little girl. They are lined with extra soft fleece to keep her toes warm this fall.

This bag has taken me forever to finish. It has been knit up for ages, I just never quite got around to the felting. Over four years later, it is finally done--and may be my longest knitting project! I’m really pleased with how the colors turned out. The pattern is Fulled Lopi Tote from Adrian Bizila.

I knit this pair of Sartjee's Bootees for a friend’s gender neutral layette. I used scrap wool-blend yarn for this excellent, fast-knit project! Finished one bootie in June in just one brief sitting, but didn’t get around to the second bootie until September.

I sewed up this little drawstring project bag for a swap this past spring. I loved the alternating patterns of the fabric. It is the perfect size for a small project, like socks or a hat.

beetle juice?

After reading about the voluntary recall by Abbott Laboratories for the 5 million units of Similac baby formula contaminated with beetle parts and larvae, I was not surprised in the least. Formula recalls are a constant and regular occurrence, with 17 major baby formula recalls since 2000, and countless more in the two decades before that, according to NABA. However, the recall is voluntary, as the FDA determined that the presence of the beetles poses "no immediate health risks," aside from"symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort and refusal to eat."

Nor I am not surprised in the FDA's stand on this issue. Actually, many of the processed foods that are regularly consumed in the United States contain more than only traces of bacteria and microscopic insects and are considered by the FDA to be safe for human consumption. Bacteria and small insects are regularly present in all forms of baby formula sold in the US, especially as there is no way to produce a perfectly sterilized product, which, according to the FDA, there is an expected allowance, and the number of beetles in the Similac formula recall falls into that allowance.

Then I read this article, Similac Recall Outrages Parents: Are Beetles Bad? from Time Magazine. I have some knee-jerk reactions, not to the formula recall, but to the article itself.

One particular aspect of the article, the statement, "It may be extremely difficult to determine whether beetles are responsible for a baby's symptoms. Inconsolable crying might simply be, well, inconsolable crying, which is sometimes just what babies do," was a jaw-dropper for me. Inconsolable crying is not normal. It is a sign that something is wrong. I know my babies. If they ever cried inconsolably (which was very, very seldom, as their needs were met directly, and in most cases, before it came to crying), then I knew that there was something seriously wrong. Inconsolable crying is a very direct cue for the mother or father to find out what is wrong and fix it promptly.

Another statement that then floored me was the closing of the article:

Not surprisingly, news of the recall rekindled bottle vs. breast animosities, if only online. One woman predicted breastfeeding advocates would wax triumphant. "Very upsetting, and here comes the ‘breast is best!' brigade to add to the anxiety by telling us all we asked for it." Sure enough, another poster wrote, "Yea, breastfeeding is the best. My breastmilk has never ha(d) beetle parts in it." [...] As millions of parents are reeling from the thought that their babies have chowed on bugs, it's a time for support, not gloating.

First of all the Breast is Best 'brigade' (or campaign) exists primarily to promote awareness of the true dangers of formula feeding. Breast IS the best provider of nutrition and immunity for baby, and formula is inferior in that babies who are fed formula as their sole source of nutrition tend to, on average, have lower IQs, suffer from more ailments and infections, and cry more than their breastfed counterparts. When a mother chooses formula, as with anything processed, she takes a risk with the health and nutrition of her baby.

However, for the Breast is Best campaign to be considered successful, facts and information must be available and presented to ALL mothers up front in order for a mother to make an informed decision on how she chooses to feed her infant. Furthermore, informed consent is only valid if the mother who tried (and failed) to breastfeed received TRUE assistance and diagnoses in regards to the problems she faced. How many women do I know who state they "could not" breastfeed for reasons that I, as a birth and postpartum professional, realize are fairly easy fixes had the mother actually had true, trained and knowledgeable assistance? The number is countless. And growing at a steady rate. Many times, it is hard for a mother to know which advice is sound and informed, and which advice is unintentionally misinformed or just plain ignorant.

As a mother who once was faced with the option of breastmilk or formula, I would rather have the facts--the other course is to sugar-coat everything and leave out what is legitimately important information to a major decision of parenting. That this article yet again plays the "guilt" card, comparing any pro-breastfeeding statements to "gloating," irks me. After hearing about this recall, I am thankful that I breastfeed. I am glad I had the foresight, resources and ability to seek out true, factual information regarding the risks of formula when I was pregnant with my first child. And I consider it a true disservice not to pass on my knowledge and the facts to other mothers. Every mother deserves truth and knowledge to lead her to an informed decision. I am glad I did not have to face any of the severe gastrointestional problems many babies are currently recovering from. My heart goes out, yet I continue to remain thankful.

another batch for baby

Like I have said before, apparently everyone in my life is having a baby. And I have been busy knitting little baby things for these teeny arrivals. One of my projects has been sitting in my knitting basket since April, and with all the crazy things happening around here in the last week, I have had the opportunity to do some mindless knitting and get it done. Take a look:

The pattern is Organic Heirloom Blanket, which can be found in Hadley Fierlinger's book Vintage Knits for Modern Babies. I used some miscellaneous nylon blend yarn from Plymouth Yarn. It is very soft and nice and fine. Please note that there is an errata in the pattern as published. Cast on 124 sts (instead of 125, as published).

wrapping up World Breastfeeding Week by nursing with confidence

Painting by Katie M. Berggren.


Today brings an end to World Breastfeeding Week 2010. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to talk with one new nursing mother, congratulate her on the arrival of a beautiful baby girl and give her some information and suggestions for breastfeeding in public, something she was very nervous about.

Many new mothers fear nursing in public more than anything else about motherhood. I know I did. I was afraid of flashing someone, of showing too much skin or breast or tummy, of making others uncomfortable, of someone confronting me. I could never get the hang of using a nursing cover. I could not see what I was doing, could not check position and latch. Plus, the cover constantly slipped down or bunched up. It was more distracting to those around me when I used the cover than when I nursed without one. Instead, I opted to dress in layers or wear nursing tops that strategically covered my breasts and stomach. By a few months, I was a pro at nursing in public.

I have been breastfeeding for seven years now. I have nursed everywhere, from airplanes to buses, from the beach to amusement parks, from restaurants to museums. Not once has anyone told me to cover up while I was nursing in public. In my seven years of breastfeeding, I have never been hassled for nursing in public. I got an eye roll then narrow from an older woman once in a mall food court, but that has been the extent of negative experience, though I was always prepared with some witty comeback if someone asked me to put a blanket over my baby's head or feed my baby in the bathroom.

There are articles everywhere of women being harassed for nursing in public, of those mothers who are told they cannot nurse here or there, who are forced out of restaurants and out of parks. You read all of the time about women asked to leave restaurants and public buildings because they were nursing. But why didn't anyone say anything about nursing in public to me?

What is my key to success? Confidence. I learned how to latch and position my baby quickly and smoothly without revealing much skin to nearby onlookers. I did not appear nervous or intentionally attempt to hide what I was doing. I instead, I looked like I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing. I was feeding my child the way Mother Nature intended. I made eye contact with those around me. I smiled and looked at my nursing child. I continued in conversation with my family and friends.

One thing that helped my confidence, almost above all else, was that the law in the United States is on the side of breastfeeding mothers. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures website, 44 states have laws with language specifically allowing women to breastfeed in any public or private location. On their Breastfeeding Laws page, they have a running list of state and federal laws in regards to breastfeeding. Another wonderful resource, from Mothering Magazine, is the map, Breastfeeding In Public: Are You Protected? I urge all breastfeeding mothers to know the law and educate themselves on their right to breastfeed. In a confrontation, many problems may be avoided if the mother is knowledgeable on legislation for the protection of breastfeeding in her state. With the government behind her, those who criticize will be more likely to lay off.

And I leave you with this wonderful story of a nursing in public escapade as told by The Poor Husband, I Used to Hate Camping on his blog Life with Rachael.

this moment

{this moment} - from SouleMama - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

the normal newborn and why breastmilk is not just food

What is a normal, term human infant supposed to do?

First of all, a human baby is supposed to be born vaginally. Yes, I know that doesn't always happen, but we're just going to talk ideal, normal for now. We are supposed to be born vaginally because we need good bacteria. Human babies are sterile, without bacteria, at birth. It's no accident that we are born near the anus, an area that has lots of bacteria, most of which are good and necessary for normal gut health and development of the immune system. And the bacteria that are there are mom's bacteria, bacteria that she can provide antibodies against if the bacteria there aren't nice.

Then the baby is born and is supposed to go to mom. Right to her chest. The chest, right in between the breasts is the natural habitat of the newborn baby. (Fun factoid: our cardiac output, how much blood we circulate in a given minute, is distributed to places that are important. Lots goes to the kidney every minute, like 10% or so, and 20% goes to your brain. In a new mom, 23% goes to her chest- more than her brain. The body thinks that place is important!)

That chest area gives heat. The baby has been using mom's body for temperature regulation for ages. Why would they stop? With all that blood flow, it's going to be warm. The baby can use mom to get warm. When I was in my residency, we would put a cold baby "under the warmer" which meant a heater thingy next to mom. Now, as I have matured, if a baby is "under the warmer," the kid is under mom. I wouldn't like that. I like the kids on top of mom, snuggled.

Now we have a brand new baby on the warmer. That child is not hungry. Bringing a hungry baby into the world is a bad plan. And really, if they were hungry, can you please explain to me why my kids sucked the life force out of me in those last few weeks of pregnancy? They better have been getting food, or well, that would have been annoying and painful for nothing.

Every species has instinctual behaviors that allow the little ones to grow up to be big ones and keep the species going. Our kids are born into the world needing protection. Protection from disease and from predators. Yes, predators. Our kids don't know they've been born into a loving family in the 21st century- for all they know it's the 2nd century and they are in a cave surrounded by tigers. Our instinctive behaviors as baby humans need to help us stay protected. Babies get both disease protection and tiger protection from being on mom's chest. Presumably, we gave the baby some good bacteria when they arrived through the birth canal. That's the first step in disease protection. The next step is getting colostrum.

A newborn baby on mom's chest will pick their head up, lick their hands, maybe nuzzle mom, lick their hands and start to slide towards the breast. The kids have a preference for contrasts between light and dark, and for circles over other shapes. Think about that...there's a dark circle not too far away.

Mom's sweat smells like amniotic fluid, and that smell is on the child's hands (because there's been no bath yet!) and the baby uses that taste on their hand to follow mom's smell. The secretions coming from the glands on the areola (that dark circle) smell familiar too and help the baby get to the breast to get the colostrum which is going to feed the good bacteria and keep them protected from infection. The kids can attach by themselves. Watch for yourself! And if you just need colostrum to feed bacteria and not yourself, well, there doesn't have to be much. And there isn't because the kids aren't hungry and because Breastmilk is not food!

We're talking normal babies. Breastfeeding is normal. It's what babies are hardwired to do. 2009 or 209, the kids would all do the same thing: try to find the breast. Breastfeeding isn't special sauce, a leg up or a magic potion. It's not "best. " It's normal. Just normal. Designed for the needs of a vulnerable human infant. And nothing else designed to replace it is normal.

Colostrum also activates things in the baby's gut that then goes on to make the thymus grow. The thymus is part of the immune system. Growing your thymus is important. Breastmilk= big thymus, good immune system. Colostrum also has a bunch of something called Secretory Immunoglobulin A (SIgA). SIgA is made in the first few days of life and is infection protection specifically from mom. Cells in mom's gut watch what's coming through and if there's an infectious cell, a special cell in mom's gut called a plasma cell heads to the breast and helps the breast make SIgA in the milk to protect the baby. If mom and baby are together, like on mom's chest, then the baby is protected from what the two of them may be exposed to. Babies should be with mom.

And the tigers. What about them? Define "tiger" however you want. But if you are baby with no skills in self-protection, staying with mom, having a grasp reflex, and a startle reflex that helps you grab onto your mom, especially if she's hairy, makes sense. Babies know the difference between a bassinette and a human chest. When infants are separated from their mothers, they have a "despair- withdrawal" response. The despair part comes when they alone, separated. The kids are vocally expressing their desire not to be tiger food. When they are picked up, they stop crying. They are protected, warm and safe. If that despair cry is not answered, they withdraw. They get cold, have massive amounts of stress hormones released, drop their heart rate and get quiet. That's not a good baby. That's one who, well, is beyond despair. Normal babies want to be held, all the time.

And when do tigers hunt? At night. It makes no sense at all for our kids to sleep at night. They may be eaten. There's nothing really all that great about kids sleeping through the night. They should wake up and find their body guard. Daytime, well, not so many threats. They sleep better during the day. (Think about our response to our tigers-- sleep problems are a huge part of stress, depression, anxiety).

And sleep... My guess is everybody sleeps with their kids- whether they choose to or not and whether they admit to it or not. It's silly of us as healthcare providers to say "don't sleep with your baby" because we all do it. Sometimes accidentally. Sometimes intentionally. The kids are snuggly, it feels right and you are tired. So, normal babies breastfeed, stay at the breast, want to be held and sleep better when they are with their parents. Seems normal to me. But there is a difference between a normal baby and one that isn't. Safe sleep means that we are sober, in bed and not a couch or a recliner, breastfeeding, not smoking...being normal. If the circumstances are not normal, then sleeping with the baby is not safe.

That chest -to -chest contact is also brain development. Our kids had as many brain cells as they were ever going to have at 28 weeks of gestation. It's a jungle of waiting -to-be- connected cells. What we do as humans is create too much and then get rid of what we aren't using. We have like 8 nipples, a tail and webbed hands in the womb. If all goes well, we don't have those at birth. Create too much- get rid of what you aren't using. So, as you are snuggling, your child is hooking up happy brain cells and hopefully getting rid of the "eeeek" brain cells. Breastfeeding, skin-to-skin, is brain wiring. Not food.

Why go on and on about this? Because more and more mothers are choosing to breastfeed. But most women don't believe that the body that created that beautiful baby is capable of feeding that same child and we are supplementing more and more with infant formulas designed to be food. Why don't we trust our bodies post-partum? I don't know. But I hear over and over that the formula is because "I am just not satisfying him." Of course you are. Babies don't need to "eat" all the time- they need to be with you all the time- that's the ultimate satisfaction.

A baby at the breast is getting their immune system developed, activating their thymus, staying warm, feeling safe from predators, having normal sleep patterns and wiring their brain, and (oh by the way) getting some food in the process. They are not "hungry" --they are obeying instinct. The instinct that allows us to survive and make more of us.

Dr. Jennifer Thomas