. . . love, laughs and motherhood

The big “first” birthday – I can’t believe how quickly it came!  I love to plan a good party so this was way too much fun for me.   I had some great help from my amazing sister (Angelica) and was able to put some of my craft skills to the test during nap times.  The results = a fabulous “Pretty in Pink” First Birthday Bash!

What we did? Well, we found a great park shelter with more than enough tables and LOTS of room to run around. We put out some hula hoops, pink balls and bubbles for the kids to play out on the grass. We rented an inflatable bouncy and my niece brought her pet bunny. Since it was close to Easter we also put together a little Easter egg hunt. Party was held during lunch time so we grilled out with some burgers and hot dogs. Cake and a variety of fun treats were available for dessert.

“Do it myself” projects:

• Fabric pennants – added a nice personal touch and can be used over (my first attempt on a sewing machine and I was pleasantly surprised at my sense of accomplishment with this device)
• Hanging tissue paper poms (in different shades of pink)
• Favor bags – created personal thank you tags, printed on mailing labels and affixed to pink bags
• Center pieces – tulips or carnations in mason jars
• “Happy 1st Birthday” Sign made out of scrapbook cardstock, printed letters and ribbon
• Fun treats – decorated sugar cookies, chocolate covered pretzel sticks, marshmallows dipped in chocolate and pink sprinkles

Great finds:

• “1″ cake topper from Monkey Moo Moo
• Pink “1″ Birthday Bib from Lillybelle Designs
• Cutest Invitation ever by Tiny Prints – love them

On April 30th (2010) McNeil Consumer Healthcare announced a voluntary recall on certain OTC (over the counter) infants’ and children’s products.  Products include Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl.  This recall was not mandated by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and no adverse medical events have been reported.  The voluntary recall was initiated due to quality concerns.  MeNeil reports in their press release that some products “may contain a higher concentration of active ingredient than is specified; others may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements; and others may contain tiny particles.”

Consumers are advised to discontinue use of the recalled products. Talk to your doctor regarding alternative options for your child.

To obtain additional information regarding this recall and the products that are effected go to www.mcneilproductsrecall.com. Coupons and refunds are being issued. Go to this website where you will be asked to input your name, address, product and products NDC #, LOT # and expiration date – found directly on the container.

(by the way…I did submit a refund request and did receive a check in the mail from McNeil)

As a mother who occasionally uses Tylenol, this is definitely of concern to me. Although I believe that the quality measures should have been in place for this to not have occurred in the first place, I’m glad that McNeil took the initiative to consult with the FDA and issue this voluntary recall.  It’s a good reminder that we all need to be careful with the medications we give to our children.  It’s easy to rely on Tylenol during teething, the first signs of fever, fussiness or a cold.  But when not used properly medication is just a temporarily bandage instead of taking care of the real problem.   It’s easy to improperly overuse.  Be cautious and explore the natural remedies that are available.  Please discontinue using any of the products effected by this recall. Once again go to www.mcneilproductrecall.com for additional information or call 888.222.6036 with questions.

Should You BreastFeed? By Kasia Labocki, MPH

Breastfeeding is a mother’s unique ability to provide nutrition and nourishment to their infant. This process begins after birth and continues for as long as a mother decides. Within the first hour of arriving into this world infants are capable of latching on to a mother’s breast to obtain superior nutrition and optimal heat from their mother. Simply said, a child was born to be breast fed. It’s recommended by the nations top medical institutions, including but not limited to: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Nurse-Midwives, American Dietetic Association and American Public Health Association that most infants breastfeed for at least 12 months and exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months.  Despite these recommendations, exclusively breastfed infants are not common. Less than one-third of infants are exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months of age and almost 80% of infants in the United States stop breastfeeding before the recommended minimum of one year.  Many mothers utilize the alternatives available to breastfeeding with artificial breastmilk, known as baby formula, due to the misconception that it is equivalent to human breastmilk.   Although great advances have been made and many options of baby formula exist, they do not and cannot replicate breast milk.  A mother’s milk has a specifically designed, species specific, unique chemical composition that meets ALL of a child’s biological needs and is very different than artificial breast milk.  Know the facts . . .

Baby formula has gone through advances in chemical composition and chemical manipulation in efforts to imitate breast milk.  In 1980, Congress passed the Infant Formula Act requiring minimum amounts of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals to be included in all baby formula compositions.  Babies may now receive adequate nutrition from these compositions, but the quantities and quality of proteins, carbohydrates and fats differ from formula to formula. The substrate, bovine milk, that formula primarily utilizes is used to support a less intelligent herbivore – cows.  Formula is digested differently than breast milk and takes up to twice as long. It’s also important to realize that the baby formula industry is a business.  They have provided society with a conception that bottle feeding is the norm.  Manufactures are quick to distribute free products and coupons to hospitals, doctors offices and new mothers.  Marketing strategies are cleverly implemented to make the product desirable to the consumer.  Due to the human thought that richer milk is better, baby formula may even contain palm or coconut oil purely for the purpose of providing a creamy appearance.  So yes, baby formula and breastmilk are compositionally different.  The purpose of this article is not to minimize the effectiveness of baby formula.  Children successfully grow, thrive and receive more than adequate nutrition from this product.  Baby formula by no means is “bad” for children.  It’s important to recognize however that although it is a great substitution, it does not replace breastfeeding. Researchers consider breastmilk to be the “gold standard” and optimal form of infant feeding over formula because formula does not provide the same benefits.

The benefits of nursing are abundant, and to be more specific include health, nutritional, immunologic, developmental, psychological, social, economical and environmental benefits (as stated by the American Academy of Pediatrics).  Research does not replicate all the benefits of breastmilk with baby formula. When infants are brought into this world they have a underdeveloped and not fully functioning immune system.  Breastmilk aids in the full development of the immune system and brain development.  When a mother is at risk for infection the same organism is likely to effect the infant.  The mother’s infectious agent sets off a series of events that migrate into the breast milk to fight the specific infectious agent challenging the mother, therefore enhancing the infant’s resistance to infection.  Infants benefit from this unique host recognition system available through the breastmilk.  Breastfeeding has been linked to decreased rates of infectious diseases including but not limited to bacterial meningitis, diarrhea and urinary tract infections. Research also indicates that breastfeeding is linked to decreased rates of overweight and obesity, asthma, ear infections, stomach viruses, type 1 and type 2 diabetes and certain cancers such as lymphoma, leukemia and Hodgkin’s disease.  Mother’s benefit from breastfeeding as well.  Research has found mother’s to be linked to lower rates of diabetes, breast and ovarian cancer, decreased postpartum bleeding, earlier return to pre-pregnancy weight and decreased risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis in post menopausal period.  Infant mortality rates are also reduced by 21% (in the United States) in breastfed infants.  Additional research continues and as time progresses other benefits are added to this list daily.

Research based evidence clearly demonstrates that breastfeeding is good for both mother and child baby.  So why is it that 80% of infants stop breastfeeding before the recommended time of one year? Breastfeeding doesn’t come without its challenges and obstacles.  Although it’s a natural process a mother’s body was made to do, it may not come naturally to everyone.  Breastfeeding can be difficult, painful and frustrating.  A child may have a difficult time latching on causing great discomfort to the mother.  Breasts become engorged and swollen and nipples can be raw and even bleeding.  There are also conditions by either the mother or child where breastfeeding is not in the best interest for the child.  In this situation breastfeeding should not be continued. The work place and society often provide insufficient support. Legislation does allow a mother to breastfeed their children in public in almost every state. But this can still be a very awkward and uncomfortable scenario for a new mother. Even hospitals and health care professionals are often under trained and lack the answers, guidance and support a mother needs.  This included with the commercial promotion of formula and the belief that bottle feeding is normative all works against instead of for a mother to nurse.  But things are improving as society is recognizing more and more the full benefits of breastfeeding a child. Nursing covers have advanced in convenience and breast pumps are ingenious.  Employers are recognizing that support to a nursing mother is good for their overall business.  Children’s stores and malls are implementing nursing rooms.  Pediatricians and hospitals are hiring lactation consultants.  Medical organizations are calling all health care professionals and leaders to enthusiastically promote and support breastfeeding mothers and babies.  There are also community organizations, such as La Leche League, that are readily available and to answer any questions and provide hands on support to mothers.

New and expected mothers need to educate themselves and make informed decisions on how to feed their newborns.  Just because formula is received in the hospital or in the mailbox does not mean it has to be used.  Mothers often give up on breastfeeding because they lack the confidence and knowledge to continue.  Common misconceptions include that a child prefers the bottle, enough milk is not being produced by the mother and formula supplementation is necessary.   This is often not the case.  Breastfeeding is not easy. But if a mother can overcome all the obstacles and receive support from friends, family, health care professionals and society – not only will mother and child benefit – but society overall.  Efforts to promote breastfeeding supports “a public health movement that not only provides optimal nutrition to infants, but also lessens the occurrence of infectious and chronic diseases, thereby improving the health of our nation,” states former Acting Surgeon General, Dr. Steven Galson.

Sources:

American Academy of Pediatrics: Policy Statement (2005).  Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk.  Pediatrics, 115(2), 496-506.

Galson, S.K. (2009). Surgeon General’s Perspectives. The 25^th Anniversary of the Surgeon General’s Workshop on Breastfeeding and Human Lactation: The Status of Breastfeeding Today.  Public Health Reports, 124, 356-258.

La Leche League International. (2004).  The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, Seventh Revised Edition. New York: Plume.

Moore, M.L. (2001).  Research Update:  Current Research Continues to Support Breastfeeding Benefits. The Journal of Perinatal Education 10(3), 38-41.

Newton, E. R. (2004). Breastmilk: The Gold Standard.  Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 47(3), 632-642.

Shealy, K.R., Scanlon, K.S., Labiner-Wolfe, J., Fein, S.B., Grummer-Strawn, L.M. (2008). Characteristics of Breastfeeding Practices Among US Mothers. Pediatrics, 122, 550-555. Retrieved from http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/122/Supplement_2/S50

Some of my favorite baby products during the first 6 months . . .

• BestView™ Handheld Color Video Monitor – Monitors are extremely helpful in determining when your baby has fallen asleep and woken up.   Now we have the luxury to not only listen in, but see as well due to advanced audio & video monitors. The BestView by Summer is not perfect, but overall is a great monitor.  When I hear my daughter fussing in her crib there is nothing like being able to observe whether  something is wrong or she’s just complaining about nap time.  And those morning moments watching her play in her crib are priceless!

• Itzbeen™ - A baby timer where you can keep track of when your baby last ate, napped or had a diaper change.  For those of us that don’t function well without sleep or are just plain absent minded to begin with..this is a life saver!  I found this especially great since I wasbreastfeeding and started a “schedule” with my daughter.  I only used it for the first few months but it provided me with some order during those first few hazy months. www.itzbeen.com (note – my husband doesn’t like this item)

• Pacifier - Adeline loves her binky.  There is nothing like soothing a miserable baby with a device that allows him/her to suck.   If your child is waking up in the middle of the night every time their pacifier falls out and is beyond addicted to this little device…there may be room for concern.  But using it as an aid to calm and soothe your baby makes for a happy baby AND mommy Our favorite – Gerber NUK pacifiers.

• A Favorite Blanket & Baby Music – there is nothing like cuddling your baby in their favorite, soft and comfy blanketwhile singing them to sleep (or humming…).  Adeline received a beautiful pink/brown plush blanket with her name embroidered on it as a gift from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child.  It’s soft, easily washable and doesn’t look worn.  Best blanket ever.  Her favorite music is Praise Baby Collection (Praises & Smiles). We played this from day one in the hospital.  It created such a peaceful environment for us during such a surreal and exciting time!  It’s also Adeline’s favorite music to listen to during bedtime and is a constant reminder of who graced us with such an amazing blessing!

• Baby Seat – I quickly learned that for the first few months babies really don’t do anything at all and when they are not sleeping or eating – you’re holding them.  So when I’m in the kitchen trying to make dinner and the baby is up, I need aplace to put her.  My two favorite seats are 1) My Little Lamb™ Infant Seat by Fisher Price 2) BABYBJÖRN Babysitter Balance.  Both are great.  My Little Lamb seat was very plush and had options to play music/vibrate.  It was a comfy, adorable little place for my little one to take a nap and snuggle.  I did get much more long term use from the Babysitter Balance.  It has 3 different positions and folds flat (convenient when storing or throwing in the car for grandmas).  Adeline loved to bounce herself in this chair as she got older and I used it for the majority of her first year.

• Boppy™ Pillow – I love to nurse Adeline on her Boppy Pillow.  It provides great support and comes in a variety of cute covers for options.  I also used the Boppy to help support Adeline when she was learning how to sit!

• Baby Playmat – Great toy for infants.  Provides lots of amusement for the little ones especially when they start reaching.  Also a great item for tummy time! I have the “Skip Hop Outer Space Activity Playmat” and loved it.  It’s a great colorful and fun playmat.  It came with a little pillow and a great variety of hanging toys, including different sounds and a mirror.

• Baby Carrier -  BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Air.  Love this because it was great for my myself and my husband! We used it when traveling, walking the dog, going to the market and the beach.

• Rainforest™ Jumperoo™ by Fisher-Price.  What a fun jumping seat!  This item provided our little one with such great entertainment.  In the beginning she would just look and reach for the colorful objects – including the parrot and frog hanging above her head.  Slowly she began to move in it and eventually discovered how to bounce – it was awesome to watch her learn and discover items in this toy.  Now that she is older and crawling we can still get away with placing her in this item when we need her to stay in one place – but only for short periods of time =)

• Infant Car Seat - we initially didn’t get a infant car seat and just used a convertible car seat.  We borrowed an infant car seat from a family member while out of town and realized how convenient it can be at times.  Carrying the baby in when visiting someones home, to take grocery shopping, being able to bundle a child inside before taking outside and especially for traveling! A consequence of infant car seats however is that infants often fall asleep and parents allow their child to spend extended periods of time in the seat due to the convenience.  Studies have shown that this is a health risk for infants and sleeping flat is the ideal method.  I preferred to keep Adeline in a bassinet attachment for our stroller when taking extended walks/trips but definitely used the infant car seat often due to the convenience!  We used the Graco SnugRide® 32 Infant Car Seat.  Definitely wished I had done a bit more researchin this area because I believe there are better infant car seats out there.  This worked, it was roomy and appeared to very comfy for my little one – but I wasn’t crazy about its appearance, bulkiness and what a pain to carry (especially with a BIG baby!)

Would love to hear about your favorite baby product during those first few months!!

I know you can’t fully prepare yourself for motherhood (especially those first few weeks!) until you experience it on your own, but I do believe you can try to be “educated” on what to expect.  I’ve been around children my entire life; I love kids and have been a babysitter and nanny for years.  For some reason though, when I was expecting my own, a bit of apprehension and anxiety set in along with the excitement.  I knew I was about to take on the biggest change and responsibility of my life so I felt like I needed to try and at least be somewhat prepared.   Despite a few laughs from my dear sister Jola, read I did and I will say that I found it helpful.  I learned a lot and when I had Adeline, I felt that I understood the content better and often used the books as a reference.  I even found my husband frequently referring to certain subjects when we had questions about feedings, gassiness, ect.  Here are three books I purchased from the start:

• Heading Home with Your Newborn – From Birth to Reality. By Laura A. Jana and Jennfier Shu.  This book is written by two female doctors and is filled with practical and very useful information.  It includes information on feeding, sleeping, health issues and much much more.  It is well organized, an easy read and filled with answers to everyday, basic questions.  This is probably the book that my husband and I most referred back to during Adeline’s infancy.  Great book!
• On Becoming Baby Wise – Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep. By Gary Ezzo and Dr. Robert Bucknam.  This book focuses on Parent Directed Feeding (PDF) to assist parents and children in achieving sleep through the night.  There is some debate with this book and the general concept of feeding on demand vs. PDF vs. hyperscheduling.  My philosophy is take from it what I find useful.  I may not have agreed with everything but I definitely gained some great information in this book and it did help me establish Adeline on a great feeding and sleeping schedule.
• The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (7^th Edition) by La Leche League^® International. I was planning on nursing Adeline so I did want a book I could refer to with any questions.  This book is filled with useful information regarding breastfeeding and other mommy related subjects.  However, it is also probably the book I used the least.  It is quite long and is big on feeding on demand and shared sleeping – something I personally was trying to stay away from.
• Cesarean Recovery by Chrissie Gallagher-Mundy. This book I actually purchased after delivery but I wish I had it sooner.  This is a great book for anyone that has to experience a C-Section.  I ended up with an emergency cesarean so I really didn’t know what was going on or what to expect with recovery.  This book is filled with useful, basic information on what to expect, how to cope and recover from a cesarean delivery.