Such a fuss

Such a fuss has been made this week about breastfeeding.  Really?  Sigh!  It seems so silly to over think such things.  North America is plagued with obesity and crap chemical ridden, gmo foods that most people don't think twice about eating, yet they freak out about the most natural perfectly healthy food you can consume.  

I became a lactation consultant, after breastfeeding my daughter did not go smoothly and how it consumed me with guilt.  I was shy, and nervous, and didn't ask for help,  and no help was offered.  I was alone with my new husband, and we did not have a lot of support.  I was back to work, as a NICU nurse (who helps moms breastfeed their premies) at 6-7weeks.  I pumped and fed her breastmilk for 10 months.  She nursed a little bit, but not much.  Becoming a LC, was a goal so I could help moms who needed help and encourage them however they needed it.  Motherhood is special and feeling guilty is not helpful.  We do the best we can and make it work.

When my son, B was born, I just so wanted to nurse a baby.  He was a champ.  Nursed like crazy, and was a fat roly poly baby.  We nurse until he was a little over two.  I wasn't shy,  I nursed him on a ottoman in the Seattle Aquarium when he was three days old,  I nursed him anywhere.  I nursed him at his sisters soccer games, in between his running around after soccer balls.  I do not remember the last time we nursed.  It was a natural gradual weaning process.  It worked.

Our surprise third baby, who is 7 months old is nursing as well.  I am thankful that I have the knowledge and strength to get through his rough BFing beginning. If I had been the mom that I was with my first, he would have grown up on formula.  He lost wt., even though I could pump 8-10 oz at a time,  then on day 10, my milk dried up.  Someone turned the faucet OFF!.  I luckily had lots stored up (at 10 days) and I supplemented him that, while still breastfeeding.  I would BF, then supplement at the breast with tube and syringe, then pump.  I was a crazy week.  Did I mention my family was in Dhaka Bangladesh and I was doing this in a one bedroom Oakwood apt, alone.  Thank god for friends who helped me through it!  Carol, Tonya, Valerie and Kim, I will love you forever!  

The milk came back,  but then we had bowel trouble and he wasn't tolerating the breastmilk. Two pediatrician told me to stop breastfeeding and give formula.  Thank god I was not that same first time mom (again).  No, I did my research and found out that he was on lactose overload.  I was consuming too much sugar, and that converts to lactose and he was unable to deal with it.  Also, I didn't have enough fat in my diet. Of course,  my diet consisted of fruit loops and cookies. Did you know, most food labels say, low fat, no fat? I did not have time to make proper meal and eat them.  My friends who were so lovely, again saved me, by setting up a cooking schedule and brought me real meals.  Love you Ricki, for setting this up!  Once diet changed and I added FAT to my diet,  my lovely son, gained wt. and there was no more blood in his stool.

I am thankful, that I have grown as a woman and have the determination to feed my babies.  I haven't any idea when i'll be finished nursing little J but i'm sure it will be a decision we both make at the right time.  I could careless who I offend.  It really is funny what people make a fuss about.  

S.O.S.

So today, R and LJ and I made our way to the embassy.  B decided that school was much more fun than what we had planned so he went to school.  I am very thankful that he went to school.  We walked to the Embassy at 8 in the morning, to see the S.O.S. (Secretary of State) Hillary Clinton.  She has come to Dhaka for a short time to do some speaking and meeting with important people.  The Embassy had a meet and greet, and we were welcome to attend.  The kids were place on risers, positioned for a photo with Madam Secretary.  We milled around and at 9:15 the DCM (Deputy Chief of Mission)  spoke to the crowd.  It was exciting, and he told us how to behave.  Most important, stay behind the blue line.  So we stood, quietly behind the line and waited.  

Lucky for me,  I had a baby, so three other ladies, their babies and me with Little J, got to stand up front in this little area of blue tape.  It was right in front.  And we waited.  The babies, fussed,  we bounced, and sat, and feed babies milk or cheerios.  The big kids played Simon Says, and sang the wheels on the bus... and we waited.  A couple of times we got told to get ready and we all stood up and behind the blue line, we waited. Then we would be told, not yet. Ten o'clock came and went, which was the time she was going to arrive.  So fussy babies slept and bounced on mama's hip. AND then we got the notice,  two mins....  back to our places, behind the blue tape. It was 10:25, not bad.

One baby was an angel, one cried, one squealed and one fussed.  The fancy men in black suits with earphones in their ears never blinked their eyes.  They paced back and forth like a pack of wolves, very alert but eerily calm.  Mrs Clinton came to the podeum and made her speech, it was short, personal, and touch on many important points, I can't remember.  She came over for her picture with the youth on the risers.  R, sat right behind her. Then she made her way around the blue tape to shake hand,  but first stopped at the babies.  Jax  wooed her with his charms, and she played with his legs, while talking with him.  

She made her way around and was shuffled out the door, quickly by the men in black with radios in their ears.  We, of course, stayed behind the blue tape, until the all clear was given, as we had been instructed to do.  We were so well behaved.  Hillary, by the way, looked fabulous!  In person she looks so much better than photographs.