Breastfeeding applications for iPhone

I am not a scheduler. My son has never, and probably never will be, on a schedule. I know some people need a schedule, though, to maintain a sense of sanity and balance. If this is you and you are also a techy and trendy breastfeeding mom, there is now an iPhone application for breastfeeding that keeps track of what side you last fed the baby on! No more of those tacky rubber bracelets or safety pins hooked to your bra.
Mama to multiples? Try Trixie Tracker, an application optimized for the iPhone and specifically created for moms of twins or more to track feediings, diaper changes, sleep, pumping and other baby-related tasks.

Breastfed babies at risk for Vitamind D deficiency

A recent study has shown that breastfed babies are at risk for Vitamin D decificiency, and that the AAP currently recommends that exclusively breastfed babies receive Vitamind D drops. This is not something that was ever recommended to me by my pediatrician, who felt it was unnecessary. Perhaps it is because I live in Florida and we all get plenty of sunshine. However, according to the article, black and dark-skinned children are at a higher risk for Vitamin D deficiency because people of color do not absorb the vitamin as easily through the skin.
An article that recently appeared in the New York Times states that many pediatricians are nervous about speaking about this issue because they don't want to appear anti-breastfeeding or discourage breastfeeding at a time when the rates are at an all-time high.
According to the author of the study, Dr. Cynthia Gordon, many women now are Vitamin D deficient themselves because, as a society, we drink more soda and juice and less milk. So mom's levels of Vitamin D are low, her breast milk has low levels of Vitamin D and the baby ends up deficient. Of course, breast milk is still perfect nutrition for babies, but if you're concerned, you should talk to your pediatrician about adding in Vitamin D drops.

Giveaway: a copy of The Black Woman's Guide to Breastfeeding

Welcome to the first giveaway on my blog! I am raffling off a copy of The Black Woman's Guide to Breastfeeding. Leave me a comment on this post telling me why you'd like a copy of the book. Do you need some breastfeeding help? Do you know a woman who is pregnant, and you'd like to give it to her as a gift?
You can receive an extra entry into the contest by linking to this give away on your blog (be sure to leave your link in your comment!) The contest ends Saturday, August 30th at midnight.
Happy commenting!

Breastfeeding dolls

Finally, a doll that doesn't come with a bottle! UK company Boobie Buddies has created a breastfeeding mom doll that comes attached with a little nursling. Strategic magnets allow the mom to breastfeed, kiss and cuddle the newborn baby. The doll comes in a Caucasian and an African-American version (although other ethnicities are not represented). This is a great tool for talking to toddlers about breastfeeding and to normalize breastfeeding for young kids.

I was breastfed but remember that all of my baby dolls had bottles. If I have a daughter some day, I'd like her to grow up knowing that breastfeeding is the natural and normal way to feed a baby. I hope she wants and plans to nurse if she decides to have children of her own. I would love for her to have toys and books that depict moms breastfeeding.

Has anyone ever seen a doll like this? Is anything similar available in the U.S.? I have heard moms tell stories of how their little girls will "breastfeed" their dollies, but I've never actually seen a toy before that was designed expressly for this purpose.

via Baby Gadget

Ameda Breast Pump on sale

For those of you who are in the market for a new breast pump, you can take $25 off the purchase of any Ameda pump at HappyMothers.com with the coupon code AMEDA25DOLLARS. This deal on the highly-rated Ameda is good until 9/30!

Breast milk is magic

Two nights ago my son had a nose that would not stop dripping all night! He hates to be suctioned, but I did it anyway and squirted him with saline drops during the night when he would let me. In the morning he was still dripping! I took a gander on Kelly Mom to see if there was anything else I could try and read that she recommends squirting some breast milk into the nose. Hhmm. Well, it couldn't hurt, so I tried it when I got home from work(my son found this to be hilarious, by the way. The milk got everywhere and he laughed and laughed).
After his bath, I squirted him again, nursed him upright and put him down in his crib, slightly elevated on a pillow. I also put the humidifier on for him. This morning there was not one drip! Not one! The last time he caught a slight cold the drip lasted for weeks.

Some other issues that benefit from breast milk's healing properties include:
pink eye (just squirt into the eye)
sore, cracked nipples during those first few weeks of nursing (just express some milk onto nipples and allow to air dry)
itchy ant/mosquito bites
diaper rash
ear infections (squirt into the ear)
acne (apply to a clean face with a cotton ball)
chapped lips
vaginal dryness (use as a lubricant, the same way you would KY Jelly)
ulcerative colitis
sepsis
cancer
crohn's disease

and many, many more! Pretty damn cool.

Sometimes we can make a difference...

I emailed the supervisor of the Trinity County WIC office last week regarding them gifting women who won a breastfeeding promotion contest with a copy of What to Expect the First Year. I voiced my concerns about the book's poor breastfeeding information that could harm or end a new mom's nursing relationship with her child. The supervisor, Eileen Stocum, wrote me back. Her email below.

It was interesting to hear from you and that you read about us in Florida. The internet is amazing, isn't it? I forwarded your comments to the other members of the coalition and have heard back from three.At our previous meeting, we were already considering changing our"prize" to a baby sling. At our next meeting, we will be finalizing that decision. If we decide to go with a book, we will look at your suggestion.I don't think any of us felt you were being critical, just helpful.
Thanks,
Eileen

Sometimes something as simple as writing a letter really can make a difference. I'm glad I could play a (very) small part in them changing the prize and maybe, just maybe, help some mom in Trinity County, California to have a better breastfeeding relationship with her baby.