The Real Story of America's Infant Mortality Rate

Alert: I am going to get political in this post! 

I am a huge fan of natural childbirth.  I believe in midwives.  Proponents of natural childbirth often argue that America should follow the European model of childbirth (midwives and homebirth are much more common in Europe), because we have one of the worst infant mortality rates among industrialized nations.  But here's the real story:

[W]hat those who create these damning lists never mention is that America considers a premature delivery a ‘baby’ and tries to save it – and is one of the few countries that keep track of early fetal mortality, defined as the survival rate of infants who are born as early as the 20th week of gestation. Most countries don’t even keep track of newborns who die in the first 24 hours, with many European countries labeling them “fetal deaths” rather than live births. America goes to great lengths to save those newborns – other countries are unwilling to spend the resources to do that. Government funded healthcare makes these decisions for parents by assigning a monetary value to life – and often find they cannot afford to save premature babies. So they write them off. We count them.

I am so thankful I live in America, where life is sacred.  We are a great nation!


You can read the rest of this article here.

Starting Solids with Baby # 2

There is so much information out there on starting your baby on solids that it's easy to be confused!  With my son, I was extremely paranoid about introducing solids too early in case he should develop food allergies.  I delayed solids until he was about 9 months old, (much to my in-laws' dismay).  I never thought that rice cereal was a healthy choice for a first food, so I just skipped that.  I thought that I should start with finger foods (as recommended by proponents of Baby-Led Weaning) and let him sample whatever we happened to be eating.  Putting ideas into practice is how I learn best, and I realized that maybe it's not so bad to feed baby with a spoon.  The problem was, the most convenient finger foods are not usually the healthiest.  Cheerios and yogurt melts were staples of his diet.  Those are full of sugars and refined grains that convert into simple sugars very quickly in the body.  Also, sometimes we eat things that babies really can't handle, such as soup that needs to be eaten with a spoon, or really spicy things. 

When I got pregnant with Baby #2, I decided I would do things differently.  I started reading about Real Food, including Nina Planck's book Real Food for Mother and Baby.  Her food philosophy made sense to me.  She's all about whole foods such as protein (especially salmon roe), good fats, and veggies for the little ones.  She really discourages feeding babies bread and other grains.  I highly recommend her book because it is full of interesting studies and nutrional information that was all new to me.

Since I finished Planck's book I have read quite a bit of material from the Weston A. Price Foundation.  I am using a blend of all this information to guide the food choices I make for my daughter.  The WAPF says you can start solids around 4 months, but I waited until closer to 7.  I'm still not convinced that any food is better than breastmilk, even though WAPF says that the nutritional quality of breastmilk will be affected by the mother's diet.  WAPF recommends starting with lightly cooked egg yolks and then adding raw grated liver.  (Um, yeah, I just can't do the raw liver.)  At first the egg yolks were a hit, but she has not eaten them so enthusiastically in the past few days.  I did give her some hard boiled egg yolk in the airport and she seemed to like it. 

Next in the WAPF plan is mashed bananas introduced after 6 months and meats and vegetables around 10 months.  I am not waiting until 10 months to introduce other vegetables like they recommend, just because I feel like letting her try new things (really well-thought-out reason right?).  She doesn't care much for bananas.  I've introduced her to avocados, which she eats pretty willingly.  

Since it's hard to keep fresh bananas and avocados around I decided to cook some vegetables to freeze in baby-sized portions.  I steamed some carrots, mashed them, and flash-froze them in tablespoon-sized portions.  I've seen some people use ice cube trays but I don't have any!  I did add a little sea salt and butter but they still tasted pretty bland to me. 





Cooked carrots ready for the freezer.

 Once they were frozen I put them all into a freezer-safe ziplock baggie.  I fed her some carrot this morning, and she liked it, but next time I make baby food for the freezer I will puree it.  She had a little trouble with the consistency of the carrots (just mashed). 

She has also tried spaghetti squash, which she liked, and crackers when we're away from home.  I feel more confident about what I'm feeding her than what I fed my son that I am able to relax a little bit about the whole baby food thing and just enjoy watching her try new foods.  It is really funny to see her get so excited about the spoon coming her way, and then to see her make a funny face as she decides whether she likes it or not.  I will probably offer her some flaked fish the next time we have some (which is not often enough at our house).  I believe it's easier for her to handle than even the most tender slow cooked beef.  Once she can handle the flaked fish I'll probably start offering tender chunks of meat.  I'm not sure what to do about the birthdays celebrations that are coming this summer.  I'd really like to get my son an ice cream cake.  Maybe some homemade ice cream sweetened with honey or maple syrup...  I'll let you know when I decide.

I think the most important thing to keep in mind when feeding a baby solid foods is that they will have plenty of opportunities in their lifetime to consume nutritionally void, worthless, downright harmful, junk food.  There is no good reason for us to give them Fruit Loops, ice cream, or soda pop.  Some people interpret a baby's reaching for junk food as a sign we should give it to them.  I disagree.  We are in charge of their health at this point, and we will never have as much control over the foods they eat as we do now.  We must use our power wisely! 

Maintaining a Good Breastmilk Supply

In this post I wrote about establishing your milk supply.  But what about maintenance?  How do you keep the breastfeeding relationship going as long as you want?

There is one simple thing you can do.  It doesn't cost any money.  You can do it in your sleep. 


You ready?


Here it is:


Nurse your baby in your bed at night.


That's all! 

That is how millions of women around the world from the beginning of time have raised their babies.  Out of the breastfeeding moms that I know, the ones who kept baby in bed with them (and nursed throughout the night) were able to nurse as long as they wanted- a year at the shortest, 5 years at the longest.  Mom was able to decide how long to nurse, instead of running out of milk and finding the decision had already been made!  Some of these women went back to work a few weeks after birth.  Even if Mom (or baby) is too busy to nurse during the day, nursing throughout the night will keep up the supply of breastmilk, providing baby with all the wonderful benefits of breastfeeding. 

On the other hand, I know a few moms who encouraged their babies to sleep all night without nursing and they could not keep up with baby's demand.  Not nursing at night AND trying to pump instead of nurse during the day?  That's really a recipe to lose your milk supply.  Now, this does not happen to every mom, but why risk it?

But isn't cosleeping dangerous?  Actually, there are some studies that show cosleeping is beneficial to baby.  They say Mom's breathing helps regulate Baby's breathing and that intentional cosleeping reduces the risk of SIDS  You can find more information on  Dr. Sears' website about cosleeping.  To make your bed as safe as possible for your little one, use common sense.  Cosleeping should be intentional (that means don't fall asleep with baby accidentally).  There is little risk of you (the non-smoking Mom) rolling over onto your baby unless you have been drinking, using drugs, are overtired, or are severly obese.  However, I don't recommed putting baby between mom and dad (or a sibling).   I'm not convinced Dad or a sibling wouldn't accidentally roll onto the baby.  You should have a rail or a net to keep baby from rolling out of bed.  Keep the floor clear so that if baby does happen to roll out she won't become trapped or suffocate (piles of clothing, trash cans, etc).  Never put your baby on the side of bed next to the wall as she could become trapped between the bed and the wall.  The safest option is to sleep on a mattress on the floor.


Two excellent breastfeeding/cosleeping resources:

Kellymom- a website devoted to breastfeeding and natural parenting

La Leche League- Their book, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, includes practical tips for cosleeping.  Even if you choose not to cosleep, this book is essential for the breastfeeding mother!

What about you?  How did you maintain your breastmilk supply? 

Disclaimer:  I am not a medical professional, just a mom who has nursed two babies.  Please consult your physician for advice on safe cosleeping.  I assume no responsibility for any outcome, good or bad, that results from this advice.

Linked to WFMW and Real Food Wednesday.

Establishing a Good Breastmilk Supply

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, just a mother who has nursed 2 children.  Please consult your doctor before trying anything new with your baby.  I assume no responsibility or liability for any advice herein.

Once again I'm inspired by my friend, a brand-new momma, to write about babies.  I talked to her husband a few days after the birth.  Very casually, he said, "Yeah, her milk ran out today.  She just stopped producing."  Huh?  I could not wrap my head around the idea of a brand-new mother running out of milk so soon after giving birth. My memories of the immediate post-partum period include leaking, wet shirts, lots of towels.  I kind of stuttered, "Um, well uh, what does the doctor say?"  As he told me they had not asked the doctor, I listened to the background noise.  I could hear other people talking.  Her family was at their house. 


After we hung up, I thought about how my friend has been spending her first few days as a new momma.  She lives very close to her tight-knit family.  I could picture them coming in and out all day long, while she sat on the couch.  I looked at some of her pictures on Facebook.  There were about 20 family members and friends at the hospital when she gave birth, and they all wanted a turn holding the baby.  Suddenly my vision grew crystal clear.  Everyone wanted to help her by holding the baby so she could 'rest' on the couch and chitchat.  Her family thought they were helping her out, but really they were helping her out of a successful breastfeeding relationship!  Grandma (or Aunt, or Cousin, or Friend or Neighbor) likes to be able to connect with the baby, which is understandable.  But from a health standpoint, it is more important that Mom connect with baby in those first few days.


I wrote her a quick email and advised her to tell her family to let her rest with the baby.  Family members can do all kinds of other things to help Mom- bring a home cooked meal over, do the dishes, do the laundry, answer the phone, go grocery shopping, bring water and fresh cut up fruit to Mom, vaccuum, clean the toilets, dust, sweep, mop, take out the trash, clean out the car, bake bread, take care of older kids, answer the phone, make breakfast- you get the idea!   

 To paraphrase Dr. Bradley, author of Husband Coached Childbirth,

Mom and baby need to snuggle together in bed, nurse alot, and just rest for 3 days.  It's not because you are sick, but it's to help you bond with your baby. 

For the sake of establishing a good milk supply, mom and baby should rest together.  Sleep as much as possible with your baby.  Try to figure out how to nurse laying down.  If you have trouble nursing laying down, then sit up and nurse.  But stay in bed for the most part.  When you do get up, put your baby in your baby carrier and take a walk outside for some fresh air. 

My son and me

Another thing you can do to build up a good milk supply is to delay using a pacifier and bottle.  There will be plenty of time for these a few weeks down the road!  Don't rush into using these just so that other people can hold the baby.  If other people need to bond with baby, they can bathe the baby, change diapers, get baby dressed or hold the baby while Mom showers.  The only one feeding the baby immediately after the birth should be Mom.  (Ya'll, I'm talking about normal births where Mom is able and desires to breastfeed.  I know there are special situations where this isn't possible).


By focusing all your energy on establishing a good milk supply, you are laying the foundation for a long and successful breastfeeding relationship


Do you have any tips for establishing (and maintaining) your milk supply?

Linked to WFMW.

Preparing for Baby When You Don't Know the Gender

We did not find out the genders of our children until they were born.  With our first child, our midwife insisted it be a surprise.  It was fun to be surprised, so we decided to do that again with our second.  But that made preparing for baby a little more difficult.  If you or someone you know has decided not to learn the baby's gender, here are some tips on how to prepare for baby.

Think White.  This is really the only color I can stand to see both of my children wear (although I guess technically white is not a color).  Yellow looked decidedly unfeminine on my girl, and my boy didn't look very good in it either.  White onesies, short and long-sleeved, as well as white t-shirts are all useful.  Also, white towels, crib sheets, and blankets all look very fresh and can go with pretty much any color scheme.

Stock up on diapers and other practical items.  There are lots of lists out there that tell you what to buy.  Stuff like medicines, baby wipes, shampoo, etc.  I know there is a list in Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn (and it's also a great book anyway!) 

Find a diaper bag that doesn't look like a diaper bag.  Just because you are a mom doesn't mean you have to lose all sense of style!  I use a cheetah print diaper bag.  It does have a pink lining, but nobody sees that.  My cousin carried a large purse that was white with black handles, and it looked very chic.  She was able to stuff a couple of diapers in there for her toddler along with her wallet, sunglasses, etc.

Baby Carriers.  There are plenty of beautiful ones out there that don't scream "boy" or "girl".  Check out the Ergo website.   

When it comes to baby gear, alot of what's out there is suitable for both boys and girls.  As I've done my shopping, I've kept in mind that it needs to work for both genders.  This is practical even if you do find out the sex of the baby, since you never know what the next one will be!  I've used the same infant car seat for two kids now.  It's brown and green, but it's a pretty pattern that works for either sex.  I chose gray for our convertible car seat.  Our playpen is black.  Our high chair is animal print.  Our jogging stroller is bright red.  You get the picture. 

If you end up buying a blue stroller and you have a girl, that's okay too.  You don't have to have all pink for your girls and all blue for your boys (although my little girl wears pink every day).  Just please don't dress your baby boy in pink.  That's one color that is really not gender neutral for babies!

Did you find out the sex of your baby?

Linked to WFMW.

Happy Baby

My baby used to be soooo cranky!  In between naps, she was Ms. Grumpy Pants.  Didn't want to be held, didn't want to be put down, didn't want to nurse, just couldn't get comfortable.  Now she is a completely different baby.  Why?

I quit the caffeine!

I can't believe it took me two kids to believe that caffeine in breast milk really does irritate babies.  But I'm glad I finally figured it out!  My Happy Baby is a Finer Thing for me!

This post is linked to Amy's Finer Things: Finer Things Friday