I have been thinking the last couple weeks that I need to get some sort of pregnancy pillow. I am 23 weeks pregnant and am not getting good sleep because of being uncomfortable. I did a search online and found one that looks pretty neat. It is called “Baby Delight Hug N Rest Pregnancy Pillow for Maternity Support & Comfort (formerly The Big V Pillow)”.

For those that like to shop online, I have started a brand new blog. This blog is on product reviews on things for babies, children and of course mommies. I am hoping to review a different product each day. I am also hoping for moms who sell products to submit their products for review as well. So far I have some pretty cute things listed on the site. Here is the link:

http://www.ReviewsByMommy.com

Enjoy
Stefani Partin

When your baby has stopped breast feeding and gets all of his nutrition from other sources than the breast, he’s actually considered weaned. Even though babies are also weaned from the bottle as well, the term weaning often refers to when a baby is stopped from breast feeding.

When weaning is a mother’s idea, it normally requires a lot of patience and can take time,
depending on the age of your baby or toddler, and also how well your child adjusts. The
overall experience is different for everyone.

Weaning is a long goodbye, sometimes emotional and sometimes painful. It doesn’t however, signal of the end to the intimacy you and your child have developed during the nursing stage. What it means, is that you have to replace breast feeding with other types of nourishment.

Starting weaning
Your the best judge as to when it’s the right time to wean, and you don’t really have a
deadline unless you and your child are actually ready to wean. The recommended time for weaning is one year. No matter what relatives, friends, or even complete strangers tell you, there is no right or wrong time for weaning.

How to wean
You should proceed slowly, regardless of what the age of your child may be. Experts say
that you shouldn’t abruptly withhold your breast, as they results can be traumatic. You should however, try these methods instead:
1. Skip a feeding - Skip a feeding and see what happens, offering a cup of milk to your
baby instead. As a substitue, you can use a bottle of your own pumped milk, formula, or a cow’s milk. If you reduce feedings one at a time, your child will eventually adjust to the
changes.
2. Shorten feeding time - You can start by cutting the length of time your child is
actually at the breast. If the normal feeding time is 5 minuts, try 3. Depending on the age, follow the feeding with a healthy snack. Bed time feedings are usually the hardest to wean, as they are normally the last to go.
3. Postpone and distract - You can postpone feedings if you are only feeding a couple
of times per day. This method works great if you have an older child you can actually reason with. If your child wants the breast, say that you’ll feed later then distract him.

If you’ve tried everything and weaning doesn’t seem to be working at all, maybe the time just isn’t right. You can wait just a bit longer to see what happens, as your child and you have to determine the right time to wean together.

Technorati Tags: breast feeding

Breast milk is the best food you can give to your baby.  Breast milk is a complete food source, containing all the nutrients your baby need - at least 400 of them to be exact, including hormones and disease fighting compounds that aren’t found
in formula.

The nutritional makeup in breast milk will adjust to your baby’s needs as he or she grows and develops.  Aside from the brain building, infection fighting benefits of breast milk, which no formula can match, nursing will also help to build a special bond between you and your baby.  When nursing, your child thrives on the contact, cuddling, and
holding - which you will as well.

Since breast feedings can take up to 40 minutes or more, you should pick a cozy spot for nursing.  The atmosphere is very important, even more so in the early days of breast feeding when you’re still trying to get the hang of it.  If you get easily distracted by noise, go somewhere quiet.

You should always hold your baby in a position that won’t leave your arms or back sore.  It works the best to support the back of your baby’s head with your hand, although which position you choose depends on what’s more comfortable to you.

When supporting your baby, a nursing pillow can sometimes be a big help.  You should never feed until both you and your baby are comfortable.  Pay attention to how your breasts feel when your baby latches on, as his mouth should cover most of the areola below the nipple, and the nipple should be far back into your baby’s mouth.

While some women adjust to breast feeding easily, other moms find it hard to learn.  If you feel discouraged, always know that you aren’t the only one.  Everyone feels different when starting, it all depends on the mother and the situation.

Breast feeding will take practice.  Therefore, you should give yourself as much time as you need to get it down to second nature.  Always take it one feeding at a time.  If you are having a bad day, tell yourself that it’ll get better.  Keep in mind that any problems are temporary, as you’ll be nursing like a pro by your six week postpartum checkup.

The first six weeks will be both an adventure and training.  You can’t expect to know everything when you begin, which is where training and practice will really help you excel.  The more you breast feed, the more you’ll learn.  You’ll also build a bond with your baby - which is something you’ll always have for the rest of your lives.

Sometimes, a baby that is breast fed may suddenly decide to refuse breast feeding.  The baby will pull away from the breast, then toss his head from side to side.  This can happen at anytime, so there really is no way to predict it happening.

Reasons why
Refusal to feed from the breast could occur when the baby is in pain. Normally, this can be due to an ear infection, sore head from vacuum delivery, thrush in the baby’s mouth, or teething.

The use of dummies, teats or nipple shields may also contribute to refusal.  Some babies actually find  it difficult to feed from the breast and bottle as the sucking action is very different.  Some become confused, therefore it’s always best to avoid using any type of teats or dummies.

Sometimes, the milk just takes bitter.  This can be due to antibiotics, if you starting or in the middle of your period, or nipple creams.  If the milk tastes bitter, your baby will normally not want to feed.

Solving the problems
First, you should always try to identify what may have caused the breast refusal then begin to treat the cause.  Always remain patient and gentle with your baby.  Be sure to hold your baby next to you, skin to skin, so that he can take the breast when
he wants to, so that he begins to realize that breast feeding is both enjoyable and comfortable.

Older babies may suddenly take shorter and fewer breast feeds, although this can be normal with some babies.  Therefore, it’s always best not to try and make the baby feed longer, but instead let the baby decide how often and also how long each
individual feeding will last.