The how and when to stop breastfeeding

Through my experience this subject is extremely personal. However at this point in time I'm trying to stop breastfeeding. I've been working at this process for a about a month now and I'm down to pumping only once a day. That's it. This decision was the hardest I've had to make in a while. I have struggled with feeling like a failure or selfish because I'm tired of doing it. Breastfeeding has protected my son from day one against illness and given him nutrition that formula could never provide. I've always had a large supply of milk and even donated the extra I had. Lately I had noticed a significant decrease in the milk and decided it was my bodies way of saying enough. I was happy to have my body back after I finally stop. I still feel Like I'm not caring enough about my son by stopping. I struggle with this thought everyday. I want to give him the best chance at health and life. He's doing fine drinking formula now that he's almost one now. I don't feel so bad that he doesn't mind the taste difference. It hasn't upset his stomach either. I can't stand the smell of formula it stinks. The way I slowly decreased to pumping once a day was a slow process. I went from breastfeeding only to pumping only in about a weeks time without upsetting my son. I slowly introduced a bottle over a weeks time and he did just fine. After going from pumping about ten times a day down to eight and six and so on....this went on for months. Now I'm at once in the morning. So my son gets one eight ounce bottle every morning of breastmilk and the rest formula during the day time. Make sure that if you decide to stop you stick with it so you don't mess up your milk production so bad if you decide to breast feed again. It's not impossible to start up again but regaining a low supply is hard to do. It's easier to stop I think than start up again.

If your dog won't walk on a leash be creative.

Leash training on a new puppy can test your patience. I enjoy a nice walk to show my baby the world around him. We are trying to incorporate our new addition to our walks but she is like dragging an anvil when she gets on a leash. I decided to put her in the bottom of my stroller to show her it's ok to be outside and believe it or not she loves it! Until she gets better acquainted with walking on a leash this is how we will get around or until she gets too big for the stroller.

Para guard IUD

As a breastfeeding mom I found myself left with few choices for BC after my son was born. Estrogen hormone BC are a big no no for BF moms. I was uninterested in progesterone only or mini pill as an alternative method. An IUD sounded strange and uncomfortable but I decided to do more research. The mirena IUD still used hormones along with having a plastic piece inside of your body so that option was out. I was left with the Para guard IUD. It uses no hormones. The IUD itself has a small strand of copper wire wrapped around itself. The copper wire is a natural sperm destroyer. The IUD by itself also causes as inflammatory response to the lining of the uterine wall causing female eggs to never be able to adhere causing a pregnancy. There is only a less than one percent chance of becoming pregnant while this IUD is inside your body. I can honestly say right now that I should of had this IUD sooner. I was scared that I would get sick from having a foreign object permanently inside me but no such thing happened. However you do need to have this IUD placed by your GYN doctor. You cannot go out and buy this or pick it up at the pharmacy. Insertion took about 5 minutes and it was uncomfortable. I felt pain for a second then it went away immediately afterwards. Once the IUD is in place it works to prevent pregnancy instantly. There is no waiting period until it takes effect. After having an IUD placed you will have to go to the GYN doctor a month after then three months then five months after that to make sure it hasn't moved. They check the placement by an external ultrasound which takes a few minutes you don't need to get undressed or have a full exam. It's been months since I had mine inserted and I feel absolutely nothing or discomfort. I had slight bleeding for a week after with a little cramping but now it's completely gone. Like I said before it was such a good idea and I wish I did it sooner. Also if you have health insurance and you have already had one child, it's almost always is covered completely by the insurance company so no need to pay out of pocket.

baby planning?

http://www.modmomma.com/

Preconception planning means different things to different parents. Having a perfectly laid out plan prior to conception is a great idea but remember you must be aware that pregnancy can be just as unpredictable as the weather. Talking to your OB/GYN should be apart of any parents preconception planning list. The words preconception planning can make any unexpected pregnancy feel a bit unorganized. Being pregnant for nine months can make the fairy tail miracle of birth seem more like a nightmare. Whether your baby was right on time or ten years late preconception planning can be used as a guide at anytime to help sort out the “what ifs,” of your pregnancy.  Becoming pregnant is a very personal experience for every mother. Rule number one is don’t become discouraged when your pregnancy is not like the celebrities in magazines. The miracle of birth can be glamorized with an air brush and high priced pregnancy diet plans or an expensive camera. A wonderful resource at any stage of pregnancy is a maternity concierge or baby planner. These individuals have certificates or degrees in maternal care and counseling. For a small fee these baby planners can help you with everything from registry planning to the actual miracle of birth. Take the stress off of you and your partner by letting the baby planner sort through all of your thoughts about being pregnant and delivery. Throughout your pregnancy or after giving birth you may be riddled with questions that you originally didn’t come up with until now. Add a baby planner to your preconception planning to always make someone available to you. Also green proofing your home by eliminating harmful chemicals and parabens from your everyday use can be an option in preconception planning. Exposure to harmful chemicals can make conception difficult or pregnancy problems may arise from such exposure. Consider green proofing your home as lifestyles change that could benefit you and your growing family. Seeking medical advice from a physician regarding your current health and chances of conception are a good place to start. Preconception planning begins with you and your partner taking the life changing step towards the ultimate goal of having a healthy pregnancy and child.  Take the scary out of pregnancy by planning ahead researching your options and don’t be afraid to ask questions. You are your own healthcare advocate so be proactive. The miracle of birth is truly amazing no matter what happens enjoy every moment.

Best convertible car seat

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