Breastfeeding Beauties

>This Breastfeeding Beauty, Linda & Kayla are Bella Sophia models, and after our shoot, Kayla decided it was time for a snack. We took the opportunity to get a few beautiful shots

Linda & Kayla (12 mo)



Synchronized Breastfeeding for World Breastfeeding Week

>http://breastfeedingworld.net/

August 8, 2007 at 10:00 your local time.

Have a happy period

>Should those two words even be used in the same sentence?


I have yet to meet a woman who looks forward to her monthly gift and relish in it once auntie pays her visit. I personally hate that week (yes, a whole week, sigh) out of the month when white is the last thing I'd wear, and I walk around checking out my behind for leaks like a paranoid crack head looking for the police.

What I hate most about this thing called menses, are the pads, tampons, bulky diaper looking butts and frequent trips to the bathroom. Not to mention how expensive female hygiene products are. So, I started looking around. After seeing an ad in Mothering magazine about cloth pads, my curiosity about environmentally friendly menstrual products sparked. I found some interesting ones and wrote a post about the cloth pads, P.I.M.P (Party in my pants). Then some friends of mine on Facebook started telling me that they use a Diva Cup. A Diva cup is a menstrual cup that catches the flow which is then emptied, washed and re-inserted. I must say, the thought of such a device freaked me out at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I really liked the idea. I always preferred tampons over pads because of the bulky diaper look but still ended up using a liner even with the tampon because tampons just suck that way.

I figured that for just 25$, if it didn't work out, me and the diva cup that is, I'd just toss it. I bought it, and I tried it out. I'd read many reviews about it that said it was amazing but that it did take some practice and many cycles for them to really get accustomed to it. Well, you know what, the FIRST time I tried it out, I had the first menstrual epiphany ever of my young life.





Then it came time to wait on dear auntie to come round to actually use it. 6 days late, she showed as usual and for the first time ever, I was psyched. Ladies, it's awesome. I recommend it. It is more than worth the effort and initial anxiety. You can sleep with it, swim with it, everything, and because of the seal that it creates, there's no leaking, no back-up pads.





Finally a happy period...

What about you? Have you ever used a menstrual cup?

For more info on the Diva Cup and its use

Billboard in Unknown Location

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Breastfeeding On Sesame Street

>A beautiful video! I wish they would show more nursing mothers in childrens' programming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoI07Mjt3b4

Baby nutrition food

>Each baby is wants nutrition food: some may need food other than breast milk or infant formula sooner than others, and as there is no Baby Food Pyramid, it is hard to tell the nutritional requirements of any given baby.
Babies typically move to consuming baby food once nursing or formula is not sufficient for the child's appetite. Babies do not need to have teeth to transition to eating solid foods.
Teeth, however, normally do being to show up at this age.

UNICEF Breastfeeding Public Service Anouncement in Spanish

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The Sydney Morning Herald

>http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/breast-ban-incurs-lactivists-wrath/2007/09/07/1188783470779.html

Here is a link to the article in a Sydney newspaper that spawned all the comments on the previous post from August 27, 2007.

Baby care and food ,Baby massage

>six-teaspoon petroleum jelly, two-teaspoon glycerin and two-teaspoon lemon juice. Apply this moisturizing lotion at least twice a week if you have dry and flaky, arms and legs

and grate a cucumber. Squeeze the juice to this, mix half-a-teaspoon glycerin and half-a-teaspoon rose water. Apply this on sunburns, leave it for some time.
If you have cracked heels, melt paraffin wax; mix it with little mustard oil and apply on the affected area. Leave it overnight. After 10 or 15 days, your heels will become smooth.

Massage your body with a mixture of coconut oil and any of your favourite scented oils like lavender or rosemary.

For rough palms, use a mixture of glycerin and limejuice in equal proportion.

Welcome one and all To Aruban Breastfeeding Mamas

>Small Introduction :


I am a young wife and mother with a passion for birth, breastfeeding and parenting. I live on the small island of Aruba. I am in progress of becoming a Certified Childbirth Educator and Lactation Consultant. I am a board member of a non profit breastfeeding organization here in Aruba called, Fundashon Pro Lechi Mama Aruba

Read and be informed as I navigate through pregnancy, breastfeeding and parenting issues, those especially common here in Aruba

Enjoy

Alberta Moms Unformulated

>Alberta moms unformulated
Expectant parents lack breastfeeding strategies: data

By JENNA MCMURRAY, SUN MEDIA

Last Updated: 17th August 2009, 2:18am

StoryCommentsEmail Story Print Size A A A Report Typo Share with:
Facebook Digg Del.icio.us Google Stumble Upon Newsvine Reddit Technorati Feed Me Yahoo Simpy Squidoo Spurl Blogmarks Netvouz Scuttle Sitejot + What are these? CALGARY -- Expectant moms in Alberta are less worried about how to feed their newborns than any other mothers in Canada, according to new numbers released this week.

Data collected by Leger Marketing showed only 20% of Alberta moms think about their breastfeeding strategy and create a formula feeding contingency plan before their babies are born.

"In Alberta, moms are more likely to think about which clothes to buy their babies than how to feed their babies," said Dr. Peter Nieman, a Calgary pediatrician.

NEED A PLAN

"We'd like to change that -- we'd like moms to be proactive and have a plan and clearly they don't.

"If nine out of 10 moms thought about their baby's nutrition, that'd be ideal."

The percentage of mothers in Alberta who said they expected breastfeeding to be difficult was just 7%, the lowest in Canada.

But up to 40% of mothers end up needing a formula for their children, said Nieman, meaning that planning ahead is important so mothers are not caught off-guard should they fall into that category.

"It's best to be prepared and have a Plan B, like having a spare tire in your trunk," he said.

Melissa Parsons is a Calgary mom who gave birth to her first child, Maiya, two months ago and said her main concerns during her pregnancy were her own diet as well as labour preparation, diapering, and buying a crib and changing table.

"It's kind of funny now, looking back, I thought I would just breastfeed and things would be fine," said Parsons, who quickly found out Maiya could not breastfeed and required formula instead.

STRESSFUL SITUATION

"It was kind of stressful, I didn't know what to do," said Parsons.

"It's hard to deal with when you're a new mom and you're tired. It's really important to know what could happen -- it's not talked about as much and we need to be honest about it."

Nieman said it's important for moms to breastfeed whenever possible, as it is considered most nutritional for the baby, but said for the women who use a formula, it's important to ensure the mixture is probiotic and includes protein, Omega 3 and iron.

JENNA.MCMURRAY@SUNMEDIA.CA

Pictures from the 2007 Edmonton Breastfeeding Challenge

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pregnancy post

>Make A Successful Weight Loss Just By Drinking Water - Maybe The Easiest Weight Loss Method
Well, you may have heard it before - you can lose weight just by drinking pure plain water. Do you think it is like that? Yes, it is, you can lose weight just by drinking water. I will explain why it is so.
There are studies that show that just by drinking water your metabolism will increase with up to 30 percentages. That is quite impressive, isn't it? To make your weight loss possible you need to drink eight glasses of water every day, and if you have lots of overweight you need to drink a few glasses more. If you live in a warm climate or if you exercise very intensive you need to drink more than the eight glasses. You maybe think that eight glasses is much water to drink, but you shouldn't drink it at the same time; instead you need to spread it out throughout the day.

Drinking water is not only great for your weight loss. Just by drinking lots of water you will look better because and your skin will become more glowing. Your muscles will work more effective when you exercise which will lead to a better shaped body.
A few tips about how you should act when you decide to lose weight just by drinking water:

Start every morning with a glass of water.
Drink a glass of water before every meal.
Drink lukewarm water, it may be easier to drink lots of water when it isn't cold.
Add a slice of lemon if you don't like the taste of the water.
Avoid drinking just before you go to bed.
Drinking water is a cheap and very effective way to lose weight, but often you need to add some diet and exercise to make your weight loss effective.

A footballer Who Thinks Outside the Box

>http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/body_and_soul/article2645153.ece

Please take a minute to submit a comment in the feedback section of this article.....this man is amazing!

"Thank you so very much"

>





Volunteer work holds a near and dear place to my heart. I believe that humans have the greatest capacity to love and do good for their fellow man through kind and sincere acts motivated by unselfish concern. From a young age I made it a point in my life to help others. There's no greater satisfaction than knowing someone else was helped, that you could've made their day a little bit better. 

When I was 19 I gave birth to a daughter. Her birth would open the doors to a world I've never known of before. I breastfed my daughter for a bit over a year and fell in love with my new life as a mother. When my daughter was 4 months old, I decided to further my education and become a certified childbirth educator. This brought me in line to receive an invitation to be on the board of Aruba's only non-profit breastfeeding organization, namely, Pro Lechi Mama. After about a year, and much more education later, I started going on breastfeeding consults. This organization runs solely on volunteers, not even being reimbursed for the long hours they put in. So why do we do it? Well, one of the reasons is because if we don't, who will? Who will attend to these mothers that call 1 o'clock in the morning (it has happened before) desperate for someone to quell their fears and allay their anxieties? We will. 

We also do it because we have been there. All of us at one point has been the anxious mother, with cracked bleeding nipples, begging for help to continue breastfeeding. We know what it means, and we yearn to help other mothers and families succeed. This love is what drives us to leave our jobs at 6 in the evening and come over by you until 11 o'clock at night until the baby overcomes his nipple preference and latches on. This same love is what makes us fight for your rights to nurse in public, to combine breastfeeding and work, to not fall victim to this bottle-ridden society. 

I gain much satisfaction from helping my mamas and babies. This comes at great cost, but is worth my while. You know when I have to fight back tears? When my mamas look at me with a glimmer in their eyes and thank  me. 

Today, on a breastfeeding, turned babywearing consult, turned sling rental, the mom and dad handed me a card. I opened it and nearly broke out in tears. They thanked me for the love and help I gave them with babywearing and breastfeeding and that if there was anything they could help me with to promote these two things, just call them. These tokens of affection are what pumps more energy into us. We ARE making a difference! People DO appreciate our work! 

I may have drastically altered my life when I became a young mother, but I can't help but be grateful to rectify the situation and that it has helped me put my own problems aside and just help someone else. 









Baby care food Baby

>Baby food recipes
Fruit baby food recipes - Delicious Baked Apples

Choose a nice sweet apple (those listed in the applesauce recipe above are ideal).
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, 180 deg C.
Wash the apple and then remove the core (a melon baller is useful for this).
Sprinkle a little nutmeg or cinnamon over the apple, then fill the apple with raisins. You may like to add a drop of maple syrup, as the raisins may be quite tart.
Wrap the apple in aluminium foil and seal tightly.
Bake the apple for around 45 mins, until it feels nice and tender.
Remove from the oven and cool slightly, then remove the skin.
Mash or puree thoroughly and serve!

Breastfeeding Humor

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Blackberry Breastfeeding Support Groups

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The Blackberry has been called many things ranging from "pure bliss" to the ever infamous "Crackberry". Recently though, a new trend has emerged that has brought the two loves of many women together, the Blackberry chat group and breastfeeding. Fundacion Pro Lechi Mama Aruba has started their own "Breastfeeding Mamas" BB group. Spurred on by the success of their monthly breastfeeding support groups or "moedergroepen" they decided to bring peer counseling and encouragement to a whole new plateau. 

Moms in the group had this to say about this new concept:

"It's very good. You get to hear about what others go through and you don't feel so alone."
 
"Yes! Brilliant idea. I like the way we support one another and like A said, you don't feel alone plus you learn a lot from others."
 
"Especially with certain people around you, in my case that is, they see breastfeeding as something s strange. They're amazed when they hear that I'm still breastfeeding as if I should've stopped a long time ago. Thus, this group is good support!"
 
"I find it the best! Especially when you're in doubt and you don't know what else to do, you all are ready to help each other, it's something very great! "
 
 
Moms in this group enjoy forming new friendships with other local breastfeeding moms and also enjoy having their doubts or fears relieaved by the experience of the moms combined with the expertise and knowledge of the board members of Pro Lechi Mama. Are you pregnant and interested in learning more about breastfeeding? Are you a breastfeeding mom who wants to forms new friendships with other like minded moms? Then add 216BCAE8 and specify that you'd like to be added to the "Breastfeeding Mamas" group! If you're already in the group, why not add your friends? 


Note: Group is open to any and all seeking support and information with regards to breastfeeding. All group members are expected to behave in a kind, respectful manner even when opinions differ. Wrong information is subject to correction. Group membership is free and all are welcome!


Baby care-Travel with children

>Today's family vacations are necessary in today's hurry-up world. It's a time for families to reconnect and some of the most memorable moments are not spent standing in line at a crowded theme park attraction, they are spent enjoying a Simple unhurried dinner together or taking early-evening walks to nowhere.
After all, kids treasure moments, not places Many savvy traveling parents never eat breakfast in a restaurant, and some don't eat lunch in one either. Do they skip these meals? Absolutely not! But, they do plan ahead by packing a few familiar items – cereal, fresh fruit, juices, peanut butter, bread and crackers, and plenty of snacks. It's not only less expensive, but it makes sense; and, modern hotel rooms that are now commonly outfitted with refrigerators and microwaves make it possible.

M, school-age children are ready to go have fun – they are not ready to set in a ho-hum restaurant waiting for food that they probably will not eat.
Instead, a quick bowl of cereal or a piece of fresh fruit with milk or juice that they can enjoy while watching their favorite cartoon on television makes sense. # Lunch. If everyone is hot and tired after a busy morning at your favorite theme park or the beach, taking a break at your hotel is the perfect solution – it is cool, comfortable, and the perfect place to have lunch.
You'll be surprised just how good a peanut butter sandwich, a piece of fresh fruit, and a tall glass of juice tastes... particularly when it's followed by a nap! Children on vacation are excited, are frequently tired, and typically don't eat much at one meal. Many restaurants gladly comply with requests for additional plates so children can share meals. Don't be afraid to ask. Utilize Coupons. You may find them in hotel lobbies, in your hotel room, in newspapers, and in coupon books.
Using them will save you money.
Along Snacks. Despite signs that warn
"No Food or Drink Allowed," I do pack small snacks and drinks in my purse for my children. Not only are we saving money.

supernanny Jo Frost is NOT breastfeeding-informed!

>http://www.stuff.co.nz/4229087a19716.html

Oh, where do I begin?

I know.....let's start with this complete and total rubish:

(Frost's new book) "Confident Baby Care" recommends breastfeeding mothers consider introducing a formula feed between six weeks and three months - against the Plunket ideal of exclusive breastfeeding at this age - as formula will fill babies up more so they sleep longer.

WTF? Are you kidding me? Why is it that someone who has never raised a child, let alone BREASTFED one, feels knowledgeable enough to hand out this kind of advice?

PLEASE, if anyone can compose a letter addressing this issue, forward it to me to post here!

Baby Carrier Review : Infantino Wrap & Tie

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I'm starting a series of posts reviewing all the carriers I have in stock and those I'll receive in the future. This is to aid Aruban parents in choosing the right carrier for them, allowing them open access to the negative and positive points of a carrier while simultaneously giving them the opportunity to rent these same carriers out.

Today's review will look at the Infantino Wrap & Tie. 


Because of the introduction and subsequent recall of the Infantino Sling Riders, I was very cautious about this brand. Especially since they also mass manufacture The Comfort Rider, Cozy Rider and Easy Rider (all Crotch-Dangling carriers, as my dear friend on Twitter calls them), I was weary about the efficacy, and ease of this mei tai style carrier.

This carrier is named a wrap and tie, but it adheres to the genre of soft structured carriers named Mei Tais. Mei - to carry on the shoulders/ tai - belt; band/bring.  Traditionally, the Chinese mei tai was a square or nearly square piece of cloth with parallel unpadded straps emerging from the sides of each corner. 


Mei tais can be used from birth ( most manufacturers recommend 8 .lbs)  onward, up to 35 lbs. The versatility and relative ease of a Mei Tai is what makes this a carrier that many love. It's more supportive than a one shoulder carrier, but not as difficult to learn to tie as a wrap. It distributes the weight across both shoulders and the waist, which makes for carrying a heavier child, more comfortable. 


What I liked/disliked about Infantino's Wrap and Tie


Positive Points

  • Very good material, soft and very sturdy straps and body. 
  • Little loops in the body to secure straps from moving
  • Padding not just in the straps but also in the outer edge of the body
  • Wide enough even for a bigger child's bum to be covered
  • When I wore my 3-year-old daughter on my back, I didn't feel the straps cutting into any of my jiggly belly (MAJOR PLUS POINT for those of us who hate looking like a sausage) 
  • I could wear my 3-year-old a lot longer than with the Ergo before getting back pain
  • My daughter says it feels good 
  • Beautiful design overall, and beautiful color coordination, perfect for a boy or girl. 
  • Since the strap material is so thick and sturdy, knots are easy to secure and just as easy to untie. With inferior fabric that's thinner, knots are tied smaller and get smaller as the weight of the baby puts pressure on it, and these are nearly a headache to untie. 






Negative Points

  • Maybe if the waist strap had padding just where touches your stomach, it would have been nicer, without it is just fine
  • The wrap and tie has a little velcro-detachable-string that allows you to cinch the crotch area so the baby can be worn face-out. I don't know what's up with Infantino and their vehemence that babies MUST face out or else it's not a fit carrier. I personally do not recommend the crotch-dangling, outward-facing carry for many reasons.
  • Straps were a little wide for my shoulders. I can imagine they would be much wider for a very petite person. The straps stuck out a little on the edge of my shoulder
  • I'm thinking that for a much bigger circumferenced person than myself (I'm not petite either) maybe the straps would not be long enough for comfort. I like a certain amount of straps to dangle down.


All in all, I am very pleased with the purchase of this carrier and I can feel comfortable to say that CariBirth is officially renting Infantino's Wrap and Tie out to those interested. 


For more information on babywearing, or sling rentals feel free to email me at info [AT] caribirth [DOT] com




HELP LITTLE JACK STRIKE BACK

>In the UK, formula advertising is illegal. There are several action groups working to enforce this, and here is their latest effort:

http://www.nct.org.uk/microsites/littlejack/

New mother father and new baby

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Your have just married! You have friends who had married recently?

Are they planning for pregnancy? Child care is a memorable one. More information please read this article

You have entered into the9th month of pregnancy! This is the time to expect your little one may come to this world at any movement.

Child needs food especially breast feed is very important to grow; A child can digest mothers milk. When mother takes notorious food then mother can get enough milk to feed the baby.

Child massage is important activity in daily life child need a smooth and regular massage and bath to keep the child healthy and active.

A child is around 3-12 months need special child food apart from breast feeding.

Mother and child can enjoy when both are healthy.

The author is working forbaby care, baby health diet and nutrition,

Baby care, baby massage ,baby food ,best baby care ,

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Baby massage

>best baby massage

Choose a moment in which you and your child are relaxed and calm. A half hour after the baby has eaten is recommended.

Be sure that the room temperature is warm (78 degrees Fahrenheit). Undress the baby completely, if the weather is cold or humid cover the areas of the baby's body that are not being massaged.

Put the baby on a soft surface so your baby will feel comfortable and secure. Keep some little pillows handy.

It is a good idea to put some cream on your hands and rub them together so they will be soft and warm.

Basically the massage flows from the head to the toes. With soft and gentle touches you will work on the head, face, shoulders, arms, chest, stomach and legs.

While you massage your baby look tenderly at him/her. Doing this you stimulate all the senses of the baby and establish a more intense visual and tactile communication. Feel free to speak to your baby, do not inhibit yourself.

Remember that your touches should be tender do not make mechanic motions. Try to be flexible by not keeping a rigid routine.

Baby head massage
Touch the forehead, temples and the base of the cranium
Eyebrows and eyelids
Nose
Cheeks
The area around the mouth
Ears and surrounding area

Breast is Best For Both Mom and Baby

>http://www.vancouversun.com/Health/Breast%20best%20both%20baby/1517609/story.html


Breast is best for both mom and baby

Women who nurse are less likely to get host of diseases later in life

By Sharon Kirkey, Canwest News ServiceApril 21, 2009

Breast isn't just best for baby: mothers who don't breastfeed their babies may increase their risk of heart attacks and strokes decades later, new research suggests.
The evidence comes from the massive Women's Health Initiative trial and involved nearly 140,000 women. Researchers found women who breastfed were less likely when they were older to have developed high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in Canadian women.
"The longer a woman breastfed her baby, the better it was for both of them," says lead author Dr. Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, of the University of Pittsburgh.
"We know that women who don't breastfeed their babies are at a higher risk of getting breast cancer and ovarian cancer," Schwarz says.
Recent studies show women who don't breastfeed also have higher risks of diabetes and high blood pressure.
"Ours is the first study that shows that there really is a strong effect in terms of preventing heart attacks and stroke for women who nursed for more than six months," says Schwarz, an assistant professor of medicine, epidemiology and obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences.
The study appears in the latest issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Health Canada recommends breast milk should be the only food or drink for the first six months of life, and that breastfeeding continue, along with the gradual introduction of solid food, for two years or more.
But a national survey released last month found only 14 per cent of new moms in Canada were exclusively feeding their newborns breast milk by age six months.
Breastfeeding helps protect babies against infections and disease, benefits that are thought to last a lifetime.
"We now know that it's important for mothers' health as well," Schwarz says.
Her team analyzed data from 139,681 post-menopausal women, average age 63, enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative study, known best for its research on hormone replacement therapy.
Researchers looked at the women's lifetime history of breastfeeding, meaning how many months in total they had breastfed their babies.
Women who breastfed for one to six months had less diabetes, less high blood pressure and less high cholesterol, all known risk factors for heart disease.
Those who breastfed for seven months or more were significantly less likely to have actually developed cardiovascular disease compared to women who had never breastfed.
Women who breastfed for a lifetime total of at least 12 months were 10 per cent less likely to have had a heart attack or stroke or developed heart disease when they were older.
The finding held after researchers took age, income, body mass index, diet, physical activity, family history of heart disease and other factors into account.
For Schwarz, the study was personal. "As a new mom who went back to work, I found pumping a bit challenging," Schwarz says. "Everybody kept telling me it was good for my baby. I wondered what effect it had on my own health."
The study doesn't prove cause and effect, just an association, and there may be other issues at play, cautions Dr. Beth Abramson, a Toronto cardiologist and spokeswoman for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

Party in my pants

>No... this post has no sexual connotations or innuendos. I'm talking about menstrual pads. Not the throw away kind. Yeah, you got it, I'm talking re-usable style! Now before you cringe in horror, imagine these funky, chic looking things in your underwear....


I don't know about you, but every month, I throw away a fortune in pads, tampons and the like. I dread each period for the leaks, stains and cash I flush down the toilet (you're allowed to flush the stick ones right?)
I haven't tried them yet, but I will very soon. Concerned for my wallet, our earth, and the embarrassing trip you make each month to the grocery store ( 'cause you know the teenage packing boy is diggin' on your maxi over sized, triple extra large wings while he's putting it in your re-usable tote). 

Of course, you could always make your own re-usable cloth pads, but for those out there like me that are as crafty as american cheese, there are major brands out there offering quite a variety of sizes, colors and designs( some patterns so beautiful, I feel ashamed to use it for my period!)

One such brand is Part in your pants or PIMP. Yes. After you take a look at all the stunning cloth pads they have, you will rightly conclude and agree that, when in use, you got a party in your pants...

They also sell cloth nursing pads! 

They have a vast selection of kits of different sizes. They have organic, flannelette, and cotton ones. They even  have postpartum pads! 


Here are some common concerns about cloth pads, and what PIMP pads have to offer

Party In My Pants have a waterproof bottom shield that protects against leaks. We use a specially designed high-tech nylon – not PUL (Polyurethane Laminate). This nylon is a breathable fabric with a special hydrophilic layer that allows your body to breath while stopping your period from leaking through.
What's more, PIMP cloth pads are more absorbent than the disposable menstrual products you´re used to. It's virtually impossible to leak through a pad. However if you wear a pad too long, you may leak off the sides. When you first start using PIMPs it´s best to be a little more vigilant about checking your pad. After a few times you´ll be an absorbency pro and will know when to change a pad based on its size.

 I have a super heavy flow. Will PIMPs work for me?
Absolutely! You´ll probably need our Overnight or Queen pads on your heaviest days. PIMP cloth pads are so much more absorbent than disposables; they may even make things easier. More awesome: You'll spend less time changing your pads or tampons and worrying that they'll leak. All women using cloth pads for the first time should be a wee bit more vigilant about checking their PIMP. After a cycle or 2, you´ll be familiar with the absorbency of a particular size and will know when to change it.
In some extreme cases, PIMPs might not be enough. If you have tidal flooding because of menopause or fibroids then you might need to pair your pad with a menstrual cup or sea sponge. No menstrual product – cloth, cup, sponge or disposable – is designed to hold such an amount of fluid by itself.
You bet. Many women wear PIMP pads with thong underwear. Our narrow pads work best, such as the Mini Liner & Small. If you´re a thong lover with a very heavy flow, you may need to change your pad more frequently since these PIMPs are less absorbent than our larger sizes.


Unless you are wearing skin tight or semi-translucent clothing, it's unlikely that anyone will be able to see your pad. PIMP cloth pads aren't bulky like lots of conventional pads or even other reusables, so you don't have to worry about extra bulge in your pants, skirts, or shorts.

Yes. We recommend our Queen and Overnight pad for postpartum bleeding. New moms report that they change their pads more frequently than during a menstrual period. It's possible that you´ll have to change your pad every few hours during your most heavy postpartum bleeding. Check out the Mama-rama Kit and snag a deal designed just for new moms.


How do I wash & dry my pads?

Washing your pads is as easy as washing any other piece of clothing. Just pop ‘em in the washing machine and toss ‘em the dryer. You can also wash your pads by hand. Some women soak or rinse their cloth pads beforehand, but with Party In My Pants it's really not necessary.
To wash your pads you can use most any detergent, as long as it doesn't contain bleach. We recommend a product called Oxo Brite, an environmentally friendly detergent and stain remover. It works by dissolving proteins so it won't fade your pad’s styling pattern. You'll find Oxo Brite at most health food stores, co-ops, and Trader Joe's. Some women make their own detergent that contains Borax as a cleaning booster. While these homemade types of detergents may be perfectly safe, we don't know the long term effects of Borax on the pad's nylon shield. For that reason, we recommend sticking with a commercial detergent.
There are only two big rules for washing your pads: don’t use super hot water or bleach. Both will damage the waterproof shield and bring about your PIMP’s untimely demise. Stick with warm water and if you want an extra fresh pad, try adding a little plain white vinegar to your wash water.
Drying your pads in the dryer is ideal – just make sure it isn't set on high. High heat can sometimes melt the nylon shield and ruin your pad. Use low or medium heat instead. If you choose to air-dry your pads, know that they won't come out nearly as soft. When fiber is moistened, it relaxes. If it's air-dried in one position, it holds the shape and becomes fixed in that position to some degree. That's why you get that stiff feeling with air-dried clothing: all the fibers are locked in position, whatever position they were dried in. If cloth is agitated as it dries (such as being flopped around in a dryer), it doesn't dry in any one position and is more flexible.
A PIMP typically lives for 5-7 years under normal use – using a particular pad once per cycle. If you don't typically wash and reuse any pads mid-cycle, your collection will last for years and years. You'll probably be lusting after some new, fabulous pattern long before any of your PIMPs bite the dust. However, a pad's longevity can be shortened if you usually wear and wash a pad more than once during a cycle. Like anything, the more you use it the faster it wears out. But having fewer pads and washing and reusing them more frequently doesn't mean you don't get your $'s worth since your initial investment was smaller. Think about it this way: A pad will last for about 75 washings or 5-7 years – whichever comes first.

 
How much $ will I save by switching to cloth pads?
Click here and get an estimate of how much you will save with cloth pads. From menarche to menopause, women typically bleed for 35 years and disposable menstrual products can cost a woman nearly $3,000 dollars over her menstruating years. If you buy organic disposables, you're probably spending twice as much. That's a trip to Greece! That's a fancy-schmancy bike! Maybe that's money you didn't have in the first place. By switching to Party In My Pants pads, you'll spend a fraction of that amount. Every woman and cycle is different, so click here and get an estimate of how much you will save with cloth pads. Maybe you'll be able to afford a few more student loan payments or keep yourself in a lifetime supply of chocolate.

 I don't think I can handle washing my pads. Isn't that a lot of extra work?
Washing your PIMPs might seem like a drag if you've never tried it, but it's really simple. PIMP pads don't need any special treatment. The best way to wash your pads is to pop 'em in the washer and toss 'em in the dryer.
Don't get around to doing laundry as often as you’d like? No problem. You don't have to wash your pad the moment you’ve finished using it. Just snap 'em up and throw 'em in the hamper. Wash your PIMPs whenever you happen to do laundry next. Now with all the anxiety that’s floating around about menstrual blood, it might seem a little odd at first. But this routine is tried, true, and the ladies of Party In My Pants swear by it.

Do you use cloth pads? Are they home made or bought online? Which brands do you recommend?


 

"Aruban Breastfeeding Mamas: Why Breastfeed In Public

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rel="nofollow" http://arubanbreastfeedingmamas.blogspot.com/2010/01/why-breastfeed-in-public.html

The following article is from the wonderful blog "Aruban Breastfeeding Mamas" (link above)

Why breastfeed in public
A friend of mine had glossed over a study she had read about primates not knowing how to suckle their young if they had never been around other primate mothers suckling their young before they gave birth. I went on a search for that study because, quite frankly, I think its truth extends into the human family too.

It says in part ;



Primates are, generally speaking, an exception to the general rule of easy nursing. A study of infant-mother long-tailed macaque monkeys showed that they use the same oral nursing motions as other mammals (i.e., suction - German et al., 1992). Yet most primates appear to require a period of leaning in order to successfully nurse their offspring as compared to other mammals (Smith, 2005). Hrdy (1999) has proposed that this learning may be a trade-off between the reliability of innate behaviors and the flexible power of a learning brain. Data from isolated primates provide evidence that without observing or experience nursing, monkeys face a strong likelyhood of failing to nurse succesfully (Abello & Fernandez, 2003 ; Harlow & Harlow, 1962)




This could well explain why today women just don't 'know' anymore about breastfeeding. The reason for the majority of doubt amidst new mothers' ability to nurse their young is partly to blame on never having been 'exposed' to it when they were young, growing up, or on a daily basis. You know how when you hear a story, and over some years of not having heard it anymore, you tend to forget bits if not, whole chunks of the story. Although breastfeeding is natural, and instinctual, because of it fading into the minority, it has become 'instructional'. We need books, workshops, seminars, classes, and not to mention support groups.



So what should breastfeeding mothers do? Just what a lot of people object to. Nurse in Public. Anywhere, anytime. You'll be doing other young women, children, mothers to be, a big favor

Applebees Nurse-In, September 8, 2007

>http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=39aa544697ecf461a31642&skin_id=701&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

A slideshow of the Nurse-In, from Texas.

Breastfeeding TV Interview

>On Tuesday, March 6, 2007, I was interviewed on the Edmonton morning news about breastfeeding and the Mom, Pop and Tot Fair. Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EuSwnaFp5I

Who would have thought...

>An article published in Midwifery Today in 2003 made my eyes get very big. My attention was drawn to it on their website Midwiferytoday.com where you can see the full article.




Garlic. Garlic tastes real good. Smells awesome, and can rid you of an oncoming yeast infection or even a fully blown one. Wow. I wish someone had told me this in my first pregnancy. I wouldn't have had to go up and down to the doctor and pharmacy for those recurrent yeast infections, wondering if the cream they gave me really wouldn't do anything to my jelly bean (a.k.a. fetus)





Here's the directions on how, when and where to put the garlic from Midwifery today



If a woman can pay attention to the first tickling of the yeast infection, she can use the following treatment. Take a clove of fresh garlic and peel off the natural white paper shell that covers it, leaving the clove intact. At bedtime, put the clove into the vagina. In the morning, remove the garlic clove and throw it in the toilet. The garlic often causes the vagina to have a watery discharge. One night's treatment may be enough to kill the infection, or it might have to be repeated the next night. Continue one or two days until all itchiness is gone. The reason that the treatment is done at bedtime is that there is a connection between the mouth and the vagina. The moment the garlic is placed in the vagina, the taste of the garlic travels up to the mouth. Most people will find this strong flavor annoying during the day, so the treatment is recommended for nighttime.

If the infection has advanced to the point that a woman has large quantities of white discharge and red sore labia, it can still be treated by garlic but with a higher dose. Use a dry tissue to remove some of the discharge, then take a clove of garlic and cut it in half. Put it in the vagina at bedtime and repeat this for a few nights. If there is no improvement, she might consider a conventional over-the-counter treatment because it is a shame to suffer for many days. Remember that a woman should never douche during a vaginal infection. Yeast loves water and any water will make it grow faster.

Any cut in the clove makes the activity of the garlic stronger. Thus, the more of the inside of the clove that is exposed, the higher the dose. Each woman should learn the dose that works best for her, from the lowest dose, an uncut clove, to a clove with one or more small fingernail slits, to a clove cut in half.

If a high dose of garlic, a cut-open garlic clove, is inserted in a healthy vagina, it will often "burn" the healthy skin. When the woman is suffering from an advanced yeast infection, the skin is already red and "burned" and the garlic cures the infection by killing the yeast. Then the skin repairs itself. By the way, veterinarians have been using garlic to heal infections in livestock for many years. If drug companies could patent garlic and make money off of it, they would be advertising it everywhere!

Did you know that garlic can also help with GBS? Follow the below instructions for a yeast infection as well as Group B Strep (in same article on MT)


Garlic protocol:

  • Break a clove off of a bulb of garlic and peel off the paper-like cover. Cut in half. Sew a string thru it for easy retrieval.
  • Put a fresh half in your vagina in the evening before you go to sleep. Most women taste garlic in their mouths as soon as it is in their vagina, so it is less pleasant to treat while awake.
  • In the morning, the garlic may come out when you poop. If not, many women find it is easiest to take it out on the toilet. Circle the vagina with a finger, till you find it. It cannot enter the uterus through the cervix. It cannot get lost, but it can get pushed into the pocket between the cervix and the vaginal wall.
  • Most people will taste the garlic as long as it is in there. So if you still taste it, it is probably still in there. Most women have trouble getting it out the first time.
  • For easy retrieval, sew a string through the middle of the clove before you put it in. You don't want to get irritated. Be gentle. Don't scratch yourself with long nails.

Hey, if it doesn't work, at least you went and tried the natural way first...

Cut the Crude Commentary About Breastfeeding Moms

>Column: Cut the crude commentary about breast feeding moms
By Ruth Butler | The Grand Rapids Press
December 13, 2009, 5:14AM
Seriously?

A proposed bill to help mothers feed their babies is giving people fits?

I guess folks would prefer mothers with babies stay home - drapes closed, if possible - until the child is old enough to scarf burgers at Mickey Ds the way God intended. Isn’t that, after all, why he created formula via his humble servant Justus von Liebig in 1867? (Thanks, Wiki.)

Whether the bill protecting a mother’s right to breastfeed in public passes through the state House has become secondary. What’s appalling is the reaction of those who are a) offended and/or b) driven to crude commentaries at the prospect of moms offering nutrition to children - the ones who are America’s future and the crux of every really important protest. Cue the “What About the Children?” chorus.

Everyone needs to calm down and accept breasts make people crazy. They are sexual, they are signs of womanhood (ask any 12-year-old girl - or boy.)

They are - insert giggle here - titillating.

Yet, I’ve never met a nursing mother who viewed feeding time with her child as an equivalent to foreplay or exhibitionism.

Sure, those who think mothers caught with a hungry child in public should do it in private - ever eaten your lunch in a bathroom stall? - also claim to have seen examples of flashing during the meal. But having been one, and seen many more nursing mothers, I testify most women are discreet. They cover themselves and focus on the wonderful task at hand, rather than take feeding time as a chance to put it out there for evaluation.

Where are the howls of protest for women who do just that? Why do you think they call it Hooters? Because only wise old owls eat there? Isn’t more being offered than what’s on the menu, in a look-don’t-touch sort of way?

Seriously. Strut your stuff at the beach, on the dance floor, in situations where cleavage is expected. But feeding time? It’s among the least sexual moments of a human’s life.

The only sexual thing going on at nursing time is in the minds of others. Making it their, not the mother’s, problem. Unless, of course, she’s kicked out of a building or the police are called (Google Target, breastfeeding.)

Of course, we could follow the example of other countries that see this and other ways women weave their seductive webs as way too provocative.

Burkas all around! Cover the hair, the lips, the body. Save the weak from themselves.

Seriously.

"Ask an IBCLC"

>Our International Board Certified Lactation Consultant is Marlene Giel, a RN here in Aruba at The Horacio Oduber Hospital. She's been a L&D Nurse since 1995 and did her specialization in Obstetrics&Gynecology. She Graduated in 2002 from the Erasmus Medische Centrum Rotterdam. Always having had a passion for breastfeeding, she took on a new title that of Certified Lactation Consultant since beginning her studies in 2006. She is in the course of completing absolute certification for IBCLC.  



Question : My baby is almost two weeks old, and yesterday, he wanted to nurse all the time! He was practically attached to my breast ALL day! Anytime I finished nursing him on both sides, and I put him down, he began to cry again, it was every hour on the hour! Is my supply too low? Do I still have enough milk?

Answer: When this is happening, we talk about a growth spurt.
Most babies go through several growth spurts during the first twelve months.
During a growth spurt, breastfed babies nurse more often than usual, sometimes every hour and often they are fussier than usual. The increase in baby's milk intake during growth spurts is temporary.

Physical growths is not the only reason that babies may have a temporary need for increased nursing. When the baby develops advances such as rolling over, crawling, walking or talking they need more of mom's milk for growing the brain as well as the body.

Common times for growth spurts are during the first few days at home and around 7-10 days, 2-3 weeks, 4-6 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months and 9 months.
Growth spurts usually last 2-3- days, but sometimes a week.

How to handle a growth spurt?
Follow your child's lead. Baby will automatically get more milk by nursing more frequently and your milk supply will increase due to the increased nursing. It is not necessary to supplement your baby with formula or expressed milk during a growth spurt. Supplementing interferes with the natural supply and demand of milk production and will prevent your body from getting the message to make more milk during the growth spurt. Listen to your body, you may need to eat or drink more during the time that baby is nursing more often.


All Images Courtesy : Google Images

Breastfeeding May Lower Risk of MS Relapse

>Breastfeeding may lower risk of MS relapse
Updated Mon. Jun. 8 2009 4:19 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Women who have multiple sclerosis may be less likely to have a relapse of the disease within a year after their baby's birth if they breastfeed exclusively for at least two months, report researchers on the website of the Archives of Neurology.

It is well known that women with MS have fewer relapses during pregnancy, the study authors wrote in background information in the article. But these mothers also have a high risk of relapse in the postpartum period.

Dr. Annette Langer-Gould, then of Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif., decided to investigate and led a small study that looked at 32 pregnant women with MS and 29 pregnant women of similar ages without MS.

The women were interviewed about their MS symptoms during each trimester of their pregnancies and then about their breastfeeding and menstruation history every few months in the 12 months after they gave birth.

The women with MS were more likely not to breastfeed and to begin supplemental formula feeding during their baby's first two months of life compared to the healthy women, the researchers found.

Of the 52 per cent of women with MS who did not breastfeed or who began regular supplemental feedings, 87 per cent had a relapse within a year of their babies' births. That compared to just 36 per cent of the women with MS who breastfed exclusively for at least two months.

The researchers note that the mothers who breastfed exclusively had significantly prolonged "lactational amenorrhea" (absence of a period), which seemed to be linked to a decreased risk of relapse in MS.

When the researchers asked the mothers with MS why some chose not to breastfeed exclusively, the women reported that their primary reason was so that they could begin taking their MS medications again. The medications, including interferon beta and natalizumab, work by modifying the immune system and are not recommended for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

The results of this study suggest that women with MS should be encouraged to breastfeed exclusively for at least the first two months instead of resuming medications, the authors conclude.

"Our findings call into question the benefit of foregoing breastfeeding to start MS therapies," they write, adding that larger studies are needed to confirm the findings.

The researchers say they aren't sure why breastfeeding might be beneficial to women with autoimmune diseases such as MS.

"Studies of immunity and breastfeeding, while plentiful, are predominantly focused on breast milk content and health benefits to the infant. Little is known about maternal immunity during breastfeeding."

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090608/ms_breastfeeding_090608/20090608/?hub=Health

The birthing experience - Does it affect who you are as a mother?

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Courtesy: Google Images

I was perusing through the different blogs I follow when I noted a kind of back-and-forth topic going on. I think this topic could be similar to the one about Breastfeeding and guilt and then some. Thank you Hannah Rosin and Fearless Formula Feeder. (I'm not even going to post all the links to those discussions because I'd be here all night) This topic however, centered on birth. On Jan Tritten's blog ,the following impacting statement can be found:

"This is what I want to say to every young woman in the world: your birth is the most important event in shaping your life as a mother. It is imperative that you be properly cared for, nurtured and, in this culture, educated. You need a loving midwife, because the effects of the birth year—positive or negative—will affect your whole life, your baby’s whole life, and indeed society, as your decisions reverberate through her story."


The above mentioned illicited a response from  Sweet Salty which says in part :


"Sometimes, motherhood is destined, and yet the experience of birth is not. Are those women lesser mothers?


Are women who are indifferent to method lesser mothers? Lesser feminists? Or just unenlightened and pitiable, even if they’re content with their experience? ..  Birth is absolutely not the most important event that shapes my life as a mother. It’s just not."


I must say, I do agree with  Stand and Deliver. While I do think that a birth can be a very positive and influencing factor in a woman's life that can build her up or traumatize her (in either subsequent births or other facets of life), I do think that who we are as mothers is constantly being re-defined by our current mentality, actions, standards and many other factors. Even though we may plan our birth to the tee and do our homework and search out all our options, time and unforeseen occurence does befall us and can make all our diligent efforts and planning go awry.

Does settling for an elective c/section make us lesser mothers? Does not looking up alternatives or standing up to our health care providers when our interests conflict make us bad mothers? Does accepting what comes without asking, who, why or how doom as as incompetent moms? I don't think these questions nor their answers are as simple as a "yes" or "no". I consider myself a breastfeeding advocate, but how could I dare tell a mother that she's a bad mother because her doctor said she had to have that c/section and the mom nodded and practically raised her hands saying "I surrender, take me". How can I tell a mother who after having 4 kids with highly unnecessary interventive births that she is incompetent and ignorant for never learning even after having 4 kids! 


Did the highly interventive birth of my daughter make me less of a mother and impact my life as that mom? Not completely. While I wish I had the proverbial "Undo" button, I recognize that, the birth has happened, it has shaped who I am in the sense that it woke me up to get it "right" next time. To do things the polar opposite way. My daughter's birth made me question my "I'll trust you, you're a doctor" mentality and made me see things in a stark contrast. This doesn't always occur. How many women go through childbirth in less than ideal ways and yet see nothing wrong with the way things worked out. How many women see absolutely no problem with social induction or elective c/section. What is the difference between that mother and myself? Is it ignorance? Is it a difference in personality? Is it carelessness? Or maybe a calm acceptance of what was? What role do I personally play in determining the actions of others? None. Personally, I do not feel that it is my place to tell you what sort of mother you are

I like to be in between, I like balance. I recognize that when us advocates start pushing our "ideals" on others who really don't want to ever learn, rather than focusing our attention on those who do want to see things differently, it creates friction. Lots of friction. People start feeling guilty, people start feeling offended and defensive and backed into a corner, on both sides of the "issue". This is not my purpose. I am a childbirth and breastfeeding advocate. Not a hate monger pushing my opinions down someone elses throat. I would much rather spend my time with a mother or mother-to-be , informing, guiding, and explaining to them how they can respectfully stand up for what they want and believe in.

Back to the topic on hand



As we can see, all these things, birth, breastfeeding, bottle feeding, parenting choices and so forth occupy a big place in our mind, and let's face it , who wants to be told that they're a bad mother for letting that doctor induce you when you well knew your body was not ready... Come on... Has it come to the point that we have to belittle others for the informed/uninformed/wise/unwise choices they've made? Does it make us better parents? What line to we draw when our activism becomes detractivism? Although not related the the topic of birth, the principle behind it surely counts. In her article When activism becomes detractivism, Dani Arnold-Mckenny states in part:

Courtesy: Google Images

Everyone has something that they are passionate about. Everyone has a cause that owns a special corner of their heart. Whether its saving the rain forests, freeing Tibet, going "green", equal rights for women, pro abortion, anti abortion, pro capital punishment, anti capital punishment, etc , ........Everyone has at least one thing that they are willing to stand up for, that they will jump into the fray with both (metaphorical) fists swinging, debating their passion till the wee hours of the morning.
Passion burns brightest in the middle of a heated debate. And it can be beautiful in its eloquence, or scarred and ugly in its words of condemnation and accusation. Is the message getting lost because the flame is blinding? Is the message getting lost because the fire it possesses is burning everyone it comes in contact with?
Should I play the part of the Black Knight and tell her that she is wrong, that her decisions were wrong, that her doctors were wrong, that the formula she is using is poisoning her baby and killing our environment?
Or shall I play the part of the Enlightened One. Listening attentively, offering sympathy for the hard road and rocky journey that she has travelled?

It has been my experience that accosting a new mother with facts and figures and recriminations, and railing against the society that has caused the ultimate downfall of civilization through the production of infant formulas, will do nothing more than add to the woman’s justifications and worse, turn her away. It creates the stereotype of the hardcore Lactivist, who preaches damnation to all that succumb to the idolatry of the golden baby bottle.

But by offering my quiet support and sympathy, I create a bond of trust with a new mother. As that bond grows I may yet have the opportunity to explain to her about the misinformation she was fed. and maybe even have the opportunity to explain to her about re-lactation, milk banks, or even prepare her for the birth of her next child .Thus a new mother suffering misery, self-doubt and guilt, becomes assured that failure is not hers to shoulder alone, that there is support and help available to her, whatever the outcome is. Advocacy doesn't have to be spoken words or printed pages. Advocacy can also just mean setting an example. Sitting quietly and nursing your happy healthy baby can be the biggest show of support. Bonds of friendship and trust can grow through quiet acceptance.....which later leads to open conversation. Who knows where those conversations will lead?

Is our activism crossing over into detractivism and actually stifling those who are willing and ready to listen and be enlightened to make better choices the next time around?  I sure hope not... or else.. what good is this blog.....................?

 

Pouch slings, ring slings, wraps and everything in between

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One other facet I just love about our breastfeeding support groups is that I often have the privilege to introduce an already mother or expectant mother to the world of baby wearing. Even if the topic for that night has absolutely nothing to do with baby wearing,you bet I'm gonna bring my ring sling and pouch slings. I enjoy seeing the astonished looks on the women's and men's faces when they see something so simple yet something they never considered. In Aruba, we see mostly Chinese people carrying their children in this fashion. We look at them with sort of an odd look, giggle and discard that though... at least, that's what I thought of it.Then I had my daughter, and a horrible experience with those backpack type carriers from Baby Bjorn. Yes, they look super classy and sophisticated, they come in all colors too, but handy? No.. comfortable? No..Good for the baby's posture? Absolutely not! For more information on different types of baby carriers including the criticism of the Bbay Bjorn carrier go to my prior post on baby wearing.

Let's talk about some more benefits of wearing your baby and why you should encourage others, mothers and fathers alike, to wear their baby/toddler.

Benefits of babywearing 

Go to any of the numerous sites of baby wearing and you're sure to find at least one good reason to wear your baby. Here are a few;

  • Happy Babies. It’s true … carried babies cry less! In a study published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found that babywearing for three hours a day reduced infant crying by 43 percent overall and 54 percent during evening hours. (1)
  •  Healthy Babies. Premature babies and babies with special needs often enter the world with fragile nervous systems. When a baby rides in a sling attached to his mother, he is in tune with the rhythm of her breathing, the sound of her heartbeat, and the movements his mother makes—walking, bending, and reaching. This stimulation helps him to regulate his own physical responses. Research has even shown that premature babies who are touched and held gain weight faster and are healthier than babies who are not. (2)
  • Confident Parents. A large part of feeling confident as a parent is the ability to read our babies’ cues successfully. Holding our babies close in a sling allows us to become finely attuned to their movements, gestures, and facial expressions. Every time a baby is able to let us know that she is hungry, bored, or wet without having to cry, her trust in us is increased, her learning is enhanced, and our own confidence is reinforced. This cycle of positive interaction deepens the mutual attachment between parent and child, and is especially beneficial for mothers who are at risk for or suffering from postpartum depression. (3) (4)
  • Loving Caregivers. Baby carriers are a great bonding tool for fathers, grandparents, adoptive parents, babysitters, and other caregivers. Imagine a new father going for a walk with his baby in a sling. The baby isbecoming used to his voice, heartbeat, movements, and facial expressions, and the two are forging a strong attachment of their own. Baby carriers are beneficial for every adult in a baby’s life. Cuddling up close in the sling is a wonderful way to get to know the baby in your life, and for the baby to get to know you!

  • Comfort and Convenience. With the help of a good carrier, you can take care of older children or do chores without frequent interruptions from an anxious or distressed infant—which helps to reduce sibling rivalry. Baby carriers are also wonderful to use with older babies and toddlers; you can save those arms and go where strollers can’t. Climbing stairs, hiking, and navigating crowded airports all can be done with ease when you use a well-designed baby carrier!

  • Wearing the premature infant
    A premature baby, especially one with medical problems needing weeks or months of intensive care, is deprived of those final weeks or months in the womb. Instead, baby must grow in an outside womb. The problem is that outside wombs are static. They don't move. Research has shown that a premature baby whose "womb" moves gains weight faster and has fewer stop-breathing (apnea) episodes. Specialists in newborn care have fabricated a variety of moving wombs, such as oscillating waterbeds.
    A group of newborn-care specialists in South America made an ingenious discovery. Some hospitals could not afford incubators and all the technology needed to care for prematures. They were forced to use the mother. These preemies were wrapped around their mothers in a sling like wrap, a custom called "packing." To everyone's amazement, the babies thrived as well as, or even better than, the technologically cared-for babies.
    The researchers concluded that the close proximity to mother helped the babies thrive. Being close to mother entices baby to feed more frequently. Mother's warmth kept the baby warm; mother's movement calmed the baby, enabling the baby to divert energy from crying to growing. Mother's breathing movements stimulated baby's breathing, so that these babies had fewer stop-breathing episodes. Mother acted as sort of a respiratory pacemaker for baby's breathing.
    As soon as a premature baby no longer needs oxygen and intravenous therapy and enters the growing phase, we encourage mothers to wear their babies as much as possible, a practice called "kangaroo care" .
     
  • Wearing the special-needs baby  Parents often spend more time and money on infant stimulation techniques and better-baby classes when the best stimulation available at the lowest possible cost is right in front of them—babywearing. The handicapped baby especially profits from being worn. Picture the stimulation baby gets: He hears what you hear, sees what you see, moves like you move, because he is near your eyes, ears, and mouth. Baby is in constant touch. Babies with cerebral palsy who arch and stiffen are greatly helped by babywearing. The contoured, bent position of the cradle hold and kangaroo carry competes with baby's tendency to arch backward, and lessens this annoying back- diving posturing.

  • Wearing your baby when travelingWearing your baby in a sling provides a safe, protective environment for baby when you are shopping or traveling in crowds. Walking through an airport with a toddler in toe is nerve-racking when you consider what could happen if you let go of his hand even for a moment (or take your hand off his stroller and get distracted). Between the ages of one and two, when the infant begins to walk, dart out from your protective arms, and explore the environment, babywearing keeps the toddler close to your side in any situation where a free-roaming toddler may not be safe. Have you ever noticed that a walking toddler's face is at the exact level that people hold their lit cigarette? Busy shoppers or travelers often don't watch out for little people. Bring your baby or toddler up to a safe level and relax—he won't go anywhere without you. With babywearing, transitioning (changing environments or going from wakefulness to sleep) is easier. While you are standing in line at the airport, a worn baby is safe, secure, and happy. If your baby fusses a bit on an airplane, wear her and walk around the plane so that she is attracted by the visual stimulation of the environment. When baby is ready to go off to sleep in a hotel room, wear her down in the sling until she falls asleep and then slip out of the sling and put the baby on the bed. Home to a baby is where mother and father are, and the sling is a constant reminder of baby's "home." It makes adaptation to new environments easier and travel more pleasant for the whole family


A friend of mine was recently introduced to baby wearing and loves it! She has an older child and an infant of a few months and enjoys wearing her baby very much. She has a problem though, her husband is against it. Like many parents and older ones in Aruba will tell you "No hisa e mucha cada biaha e yora y no wante muchu hopi paso bo ta bai malcri'e!" . Parents are discouraged from holding their babies, from wearing their babies, for fear that this may spoil them. I always rhetorically ask the parents, "when has a child ever been spoiled by being loved?". Is our society so heart hearted and cold that we worry about spoiling our children to the extent that we rather let them lay in their cribs and sob and cry their eyes out? Have we become so stoic to a baby's plea for attention that we refuse to hold them lest they "get accustomed to the arms"?. I feel repulsed at this thought.... Back to my friend's dilemma. Her husband also tells her, wear your baby? Ha! Wait you see, when the baby goes to day care, we'll see how much he'll be worn!. It's true, you're not gonna find any day care in Aruba that will wear any babies. That's a real shame but it's a fact. Does this mean that this mom's efforts to wear her baby whenever she can at home are futile because the baby will 'expect' to be held all day at day care? I don't think so! Saying that is like saying that you shouldn't bother changing a baby's poopie diaper right away because they won't change it right away in day care anyway! Does this reasoning make sense to you? It doesn't to me either..



When I go grocery shopping with my daughter in her sling, I feel good when people admire how beautiful the sling is, but especially when the Chinese women who own and work in the supermarket commend me for wearing my daughter, and then turn around to tell the other women working there how they too wore their children on their backs while they worked! They tell me "What you're doing is very good very good". It makes me feel good, not because I stand out but because these people have been wearing their children forever, and I bet it makes them happy to see the 'western' world finally catching up...

Here's a video on how to wear a baby in a sling, a wrap and how to nurse discreetly. Remember, baby wearing is a skill that is easily perfected with practice!








For more information go to these trustworthy sites

Ask Dr. Sears about baby wearing
The baby wearer
Baby wearing.com

Some images courtesy: Google Images
Videos Courtesy : Youtube