Author Archives: juliebyers

Coddletime Bottles

Posted on October 13, 2009 by juliebyers

My family was surprised when I decided to use glass baby bottles.  Sure, they know I’m down on plastic, BPA, and all that jazz.  But glass?  Didn’t I remember what happened to every single glass given from my wedding registry?  Didn’t I remember:  “Julie, um, you have slippery fingers.” 

So, today (and I’m surprised it has not happened earlier) I dropped a glass bottle from the kitchen counter to the ceramic tile floor.  And…

It didn’t break!  Ha ha!  Hoorah for Coddletime bottles and their snazzy silicone sleeve.   

Here are the specs:

Made of borosilicate glass, the same kind of glass used in laboratories due to its superior strength, durability and ability to resist thermal shock, making it extra safe for your little one. Borosilicate glass is also much lighter than traditional glass that is used for baby bottles.

10-7662-01Features:

  • Extremely resistant to high heat and breakage
  • Lightest glass baby bottle on the market
  • Anti-colic
  • Soft, wide and stretchy nipples mimic breastfeeding action, preventing nipple confusion
  • The semi-transparent food grade silicone bottle wrap protects from scratches and allows for easy viewing of contents inside
  • Non-toxic, BPA, lead, PVC and Phthalate free
  • Microwave and dishwasher safe
  • Winner of iParenting’s 2009 Best Product and 2009 Hottest Product awards
  • World’s first borosilicate glass feeding bottle
  • Packaging is made with eco-friendly materials

 

And they didn’t pay me to say all that.  I didn’t even get a free bottle out of the deal. 

Meanwhile, I hate using the bottle and check the mail daily for my SNS.  But I continue to pump and persuade comfort nursing as much as possible.

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The Continuing Milk Saga

Posted on October 8, 2009 by juliebyers

IMG_c5251 copyWe are at the two month point.  And we’ve hit another blip on the BFAR journey.  First let me catch up.  We realized pretty quickly that I again did not have a full supply.  I wasn’t terribly surprised though I had been really hopeful this time.  By week four, I’d tweaked things enough to guess that I was making about a 2/3 supply.  Not bad.  Of course I still went through an angry grieving period.  My wonderful husband, mother, sister, friends, and strangers on the street listened to me process my feelings.   

Thankfully.  THANKFULLY!  We’ve been able to supplement entirely with donor breastmilk!  Amazing generosity.

I’m still taking a ridiculous number of herbs and the domperidone.

So what is the problem?  My smart girl is noticing that a bottle will follow a feeding.  Her nursing time is ever-so-slightly decreasing.  Her bottle intake is increasing.  And since she won’t comfort nurse except at night, I feel my supply is in danger. 

Two solutions.  1)  I’m going to begin pumping tomorrow.  2)  I’ve ordered an SNS to begin feeding her at the breast when we’re home.  The SNS will make her work harder than the bottle does and it will stimulate my breasts to (hopefully) maintain/increase supply. 

It isn’t easy.  Low supply stinks.  But it is worth it.  For both of us.

 

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Different as night and day

Posted on October 7, 2009 by juliebyers

IMG_8924Night:  Cedar is a dream when it comes to nighttime parenting.  She nurses to sleep around 10pm.  Then she wakes at 3am and nurses lying beside me.  She wakes again at 6am for more food.  And I believe her deepest sleep happens between 6:30am and 9:30am.  She does not have crying fits at night.  She only grumbles a bit for food when she wakes. 

Day:  There are Crying Fits.  She will not nap lying down.  So I wear her in the wrap which wears me out!  My body hurts after wearing a baby for most of the day.  I’ve tried to stealthily lie down and carefully untie the wrap in bed.  She wakes in a Crying Fit.  Our day goes like this:

Eat

10 minutes of smiley time in the bouncy seat

Crying Fit

Wrap while walking/bouncing for 15 minutes

Sleep in wrap for 2-3 hours

10 minutes of smiley time

Diaper change

Crying Fit

Eat

Repeat.

The WORST part is that she hates the carseat.  So I don’t want to go anywhere because my sweet baby will be screaming in the backseat.  And no, she will not take a paci.  So far.  We’re 30 minutes from everywhere.  Any tips for carseat peace?  I’ve tried white noise and rolling the windows down and different music styles.  I even tried Rush Limbaugh.  But then I was screaming.

I look forward to nights.

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The financial cost of our 2nd child

Posted on October 5, 2009 by juliebyers

IMG_c4859This one is for you, Marty Finch.

How much does a baby cost?  Our first baby was expensive!  We bought lots and lots of unnecessary things (and then ended up giving most of it away).  What have I spent money on this time?

Pregnancy:  I skipped most of the expensive medical tests and used the free ultrasound provided by Greenville Tech.  I saw our family doctor for my prenatal care.  I splurged on organic herbs, tea, and vitamins. 

Birth:  The birth was very inexpensive.  We skipped the medical route and had our baby in the dining room.  Honestly, the biggest expense was the remodeling work I forced Scott and my dad to complete on the house during my extended nesting period.  There were some supplies to purchase–the most expensive was a birth tub.  Otherwise, they were small things like tinctures, food, waterproof sheet, etc. 

Diapers:  We have not purchased nor has Cedar used a single disposable diaper.  And I see no reason to use any in the future.  We have not even purchased any cloth diapers.  Cedar wears the one-size bumGenius that Norah used.  And we have been loaned and gifted many newborn diapers as well.  A good cloth diaper should last through several babies!  My only expense has been water and energy for washing.  I bought one container of Charlie’s Soap which is still half-full.  I think I paid 11.99.  I use the sun to bleach any stains out.  Our cloth wipes were sewn by my mother-in-law.  I make my own wipe solution using a few drops of lavender EO mixed into water.   

Food:  Cedar is thriving on human milk which is 100% free.  She hasn’t tasted anything else.  And when we get ready to start solid food, I won’t buy anything special.  I’ll just mash up some of our fresh food with a fork. 

Clothes:  When we’re home, she is mostly in a diaper.  I bought 10 white onesies at a consignment sale when I was pregnant and tie-dyed them.  Add to that all of Norah’s newborn clothes and we’re set.  I’m less susceptible to the “oh-my-gosh-too-cute” syndrome that hit me the first time around regarding baby clothes.  It is hard to buy new baby clothes when there are such amazing steals at consignment sales!  They don’t wear them enough to become worn.   

Gear:  I bought a bouncy seat for 10.00 at a consignment sale.  I borrowed a moses basket which she naps in sometimes.  I paid 2.50 for a jersey knit wrap.  I already had a Maya ring sling, Ellaroo MT, Moby, and my Storch wrap.  We already had a carseat and we don’t use a stroller.  She sleeps with us, bathes with us.  I can’t think of anything else we use.

Products we use often that we were given:  Weleda Calendula lotion/bathwash.  I love anything made by Weleda.  Aura Cacia lavendar oil.     

Do I sound proud?  I am!  I love to be frugal.  And frugal is especially fun when it also benefits my baby’s health and the world in which she will live.  Did I leave anything out?   

So Finch, my friend, what are you waiting for??  Having a baby does not have to cost a fortune!

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Not confined

Posted on October 1, 2009 by juliebyers

mama_smFresh milk is warm, and watery pale. 

Its packaging walks and talks, and runs, and makes love.  It is absent of labeling. 

It has no fixed quantity, or set of loading of nutrients, but ebbs and flows according to the needs of its consumers. 

It is flavored with garlic, or vanilla, or carrots, and sometimes all these things.  It is not confined to fridges and stores, but is everywhere women are. 

                                                                                                                                             –from the book Fresh Milk:  The Secret Life of Breasts by Fiona Giles

 

 

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7 weeks

Posted on October 1, 2009 by juliebyers

When Norah was 7 weeks old, I returned full time to work. 

Whoa. 

How?? 

My brain did snap a little bit when I returned to work.  Ok, it snapped alot.  If I turn inward and dig a little, I can still feel that sadness.  The awful sadness of leaving her.  And I was blessed to be able to leave her with Scott who was a wonderful stay-at-home daddy.  And I had an incredible co-worker who kept me afloat when I had to cry.  Thanks Laura!  But it was still heart-wrenching.

I cannot imagine going back to work right now.  First, Cedar has not been separated from me for more than an hour.  Second, she is not easy to soothe.  She screams when put down.  She prefers to be worn or nursed and that is about it. 

So I’m incredibly thankful to be able to take her with me to teach Hypnobabies.  And I’m thankful to be able to take a break from doula work for a while. 

Speaking of doula work, I am booking clients for 2010.  Please contact me if you are interested.  I’m limiting my client volume and the calendar is already filling up. 

Random Cedar fact:  She almost always has a cow-lick.  Methinks she has crazy hair!

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Our Nature Table

Posted on September 27, 2009 by juliebyers

We have created a nature space on our dining room table.  I wanted to have a stand alone nature table but space is a commodity in our home and the dining room table is the most common spot for our family to gather.  It made sense to combine the two. 

Norah collects bits of nature during the day and when we gather for dinner, Scott joins in to help Norah identify objects she has found and to discuss their place in ecology.  I added a field guide to trees as a “cheat sheet” for us when we get stuck! 

In this picture, she has placed a mushroom, flower, leaf, two nuts, and a snake.  The baby snake was caught in a spider web.  We kept him for identification and then let him go. 

IMG_8908

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The Hypno-goodies

Posted on September 27, 2009 by juliebyers

For couples who take my Hypnobabies class, look at all the fun stuff you get!  IMG_8890

 Hypnobabies really equips couples with a variety of tools and resources for an easy and comfortable birth.

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I want my village

Posted on September 25, 2009 by juliebyers

I had a sneaking suspicion.  Now I know for certain:Women_at_the_Well1892

WE ARE NOT WIRED TO BE ALONE WITH CHILDREN ALL DAY LONG.

Or even half of the day.  A two hour playdate doesn’t cut it for adult support, encouragement, and relief.  A one hour phone conversation with a friend isn’t enough. 

I want my village.  I want my women who go to the well with me every morning.  The isolated nuclear family is a failed experiment.  I want a shared community.  Not a virtual community–though I would waste away without this online connection. 

I want geographic proximity.     

On my street, there are eight houses.  Of the people who are home during the day, I can choose from:  the old man who smokes while pulling his oxygen tank, the 98 year old woman, the Alzheimer woman who never leaves her house and once accused the neighbors of stealing her underwear, the third shift police officer, and the people who shoot guns at fake deer targets in the backyard.

Where are the mamas?

See, I have a 3 year old with unbelievable energy.  I read somewhere that age 3 is the biological peak for energy levels.  And then I have a 6 week old who cries when I put her down.  So I wear her and sleep beside her and nurse her.  And I love it.  I do.  It is amazing to care for this little one.  But I could use some relief arms occasionally.  My back could use some relief arms! 

Who wants to start an intentional community?  It might be a yurt community since houses aren’t selling and money is tight.  I could live in a yurt. 

As long as I have a village.

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The Baby Book

Posted on September 22, 2009 by juliebyers

I’ve been complaining about how much I dislike Baby Books.  I didn’t love Norah’s and really didn’t want to do another.  But as my younger sister always points out:  the first child gets a complete baby book and the younger sibling’s is barely completed if she has one at all.  Do I sense some angst? 

I have dutifully completed the required questions in Cedar’s oh-so-generic baby book.  I even did her footprints (which turned out to be a messy disaster).  But so much of the information is irrelevant.  Such as the two pages dedicated to “coming home from the hospital.”  Really?  Two pages?  What outfit did you wear home from the hospital?  Well, not only did Cedar not leave the house for 7 days, she also didn’t wear anything that first week.  And decorating the nursery?  Cedar’s nursery is our room; her crib is our king-sized bed. 

I muttered something about how someone needed to design baby books for the not-so-generic experience.

Voila:   Artist Adriane Bovine has created baby books that are beautiful, hand-made, and tailored for out-of-the-norm whether it be adoption, non traditional families, homebirths, the family bed, etc.  Check her out!  Put this extraordinary baby book on your wish list.

Well done, Adriane Bovine!

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