Breast vs Bottle (Warning: post about breastfeeding)

As a new mom there is so much information on how breastfeeding is the best for your baby. Even formula cans state at the top of the label "Important Notice: Breastmilk is best for babies". I knew when I was pregnant that I was going to breastfeed and wanted to breastfeed for at least 6 months. So, when I had to make the tough decision to stop breastfeeding at 6 weeks and put Holden on formula, I felt really guilty. For new moms today there is a lot of pressure to breastfeed and not enough education for new moms that not everyone is going to be able to breastfeed for as long as they want or at all. There is this feeling that you aren't as good of a mom because you can't provide nourishment for your newborn and new moms are constantly told that formula isn't as good for baby. Here is my story and how I am coming to terms with my ultimate decision to bottle feed.

As you know, Holden was premature. So in the hospital the nurses gave him a pacifier almost immediately and he couldn't leave the hospital until he drank an ounce of milk from a bottle. In addition, the doctors required him to be on 2 bottles of formula a day for weight gain since he was a preemie. We had some nipple confusion but things were improving over the next 3 weeks. When we got the all clear from Holden's doctor to exclusively breastfeed, I was all about it. Everything went downhill from there. I got thrush and Holden was a "lazy nurser" the combination of the two made my milk supply tank and Holden was nursing every 45 minutes. This was making my sleep-deprived life very stressful. So I went to see my lactation consultant and she helped me ultimately make the decision between continuing to breastfeed or bottle feed. I was really disappointed that I was ultimately going to have to ween Holden before I wanted to but knew deep down that it was going to be the best for everyone. My lactation consultant asked a very poignant question that really stuck and helped me come to terms with weening at 6 weeks. She asked "are you enjoying your time with your baby?" And I wasn't at that time. I was so stressed out and tired and Holden was constantly fussy because he was hungry all the time and not getting enough sleep himself.

So, with the support of hubs we switched Holden to formula. And even though I still feel some guilt and disappointment, it was the best for everyone. Holden almost immediately was that happy baby again because he wasn't hungry all the time and started sleeping 5-6 hours a night within a couple weeks. And I got my sanity back because I wasn't as sleep deprived.

I started thinking that there isn't enough support out there for mothers that have made the decision to bottle feed today. I know "breast is best" but there needs to be more support to let new moms know that breastfeeding isn't easy and that its OK if you choose to bottle feed because it is "best" for you and your baby. I never felt any judgement from friends and family for my decisions but was disappointed in myself. I will get over my personal disappointment and will still try to breastfeed with our next baby. I hope that as time goes on the pressure for moms to breastfeed isn't so overbearing and that the pendulum swings back to a happy medium that includes the information that bottle feeding is sometimes best. Bottle feeding is "best" for this family at this time.

Support your Local Brewer-Day 2

Its Day 2 of the American Craft Brew Week. Please support your local brewers. Now for review number 2.

Jeremy and Amanda's Beer Review: New Holland Brewing Full Circle

Full Circle is a kolsch style ale, a simple ale single malt, single hopped beer from New Holland Brewery in Holland, Michigan. My first impression: I kind of like much better than yesterdays IPA but most likely personal preference for a kolsch style over an IPA. Jeremy's first impression: Lacks flavor single dimension. Full Circle has a slight floral aroma, light in color and has some nice spice to the taste. Ratebeer.com only gave Full Circle a 43%.

A little about the brewery: New Holland Brewery

New Holland Brewery was founded in 1996 in Holland, MI. New Holland brewery has won three medals at the Great American Beer Fest.

Till tomorrow, enjoy a craft brew.

Support your Local Brewer

Its day 1 of American Craft Beer Week (May 11-17th). Please support your local brewers. In the spirit of Craft Beer Week, hubs and I will be reviewing a different craft brew each day.
To find out more information go to:
http://www.beertown.org/events/acbw/index.html


Even Colbert is supporting:
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/168493/may-15-2008/american-craft-beer-week

Till tomorrow, enjoy a craft brew.

Amanda and Jeremy's Beer Review: Starr Hill Northern Lights IPA
Northern Lights is an extra special india pale ale from Starr Hill brewery in Charlottesville, VA. My first impression, not my favorite too bitter for me. I enjoy a few IPAs but this won't be at the top of my list. Jeremy's first impression: He liked it a bit more than I did. It has a slight floral aroma, amber color and a hoppy bitterness lingers a little too long for our taste. If you like IPAs give this one a try. Ratebeer.com has rated Northern Lights at an 84% and 3.5 stars.

A little about the brewery: Starr Hill Brewery

Starr Hill Brewery was started in 1999 in the original location of the first brewery in Charlottesville, VA. The brewery is named after a local neighborhood and the master brewery has won 14 awards for his craft brews.

How Much?

How much pet hair do we think Holden will ingest by the age of 1? I knew that it was an uphill battle to control the pet hair in our home with 2 cats and a dog. However, now that it is starting to get hot out and with a new baby I see so much more pet hair! It seems like as soon as I vacuum or sweep, it looks like I didn't even touch the place. Maybe its my new mommy eyes but there definitely needs to be a better solution. Its never ending. I need a maid or someone to shave my pets.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there. It is my first mother's day and unfortunately Jeremy is out of town, but he is celebrating the wedding of his older brother and gets to celebrate mother's day with his grandma and mom today. He left me to really special cards, one from him and one from Holden before he went to Omaha. Holden and I went to peruse the garden departments at our favorite big box stores and picked out some flowers, veggies and herbs for the garden. Jeremy is in the process of making us a raised flower bed so we can grow our own yummy veggies. I will post some photos when we are all finished. We are going to enjoy the beautiful day we have today in Charlotte and take a nice afternoon stroll around the neighborhood.

2 Months in the life of Holden

Some of you might not know, but Holden was born 4 weeks early and spent a week in the NICU when he was born. The doctors weren't sure if he was going to have to be admitted to the NICU, but when I was in the hospital with preterm labor I was told that little white boys are the wimpiest. So, when we found out we had a boy, we weren't too surprised that he had to go to the NICU for a few days. At least it wasn't a few weeks like we had prepared ourselves back when I went into preterm labor at 32 weeks.

So, even though he is 10 weeks old on Monday, his gestational age is 6 weeks. But, he is catching up developmentally very quickly. He has basically doubled his birth weight, 10 lb 5 oz at his 2 month check-up. He is smiling now, has found his thumb to suck on (I'm not sure if I like that but it is sure cute right now), recognizes mom and dad and is looking around all the time. He can hold his head up quite a bit and is starting to push up with his legs.

Playing at 3 weeks

Playing at 8 weeks

Holden was christened in the Nazarene church this month, we joined a mommy group which has been great, and started daycare (more on that later). Holden met his grandmothers and his papa also.

Grandma Hassler's Visit

Grandma and Papa Farrell's VisitBaptism-April 24th, 2009

We now have a regular play group and there are more working moms in our group so we are meeting on Saturday mornings which is great because most of the playgroups are during the week when I'm at work. I have already made some good friends through the mommy group and its nice to have other new moms to swap stories with. This way I don't bore all of my non-parent friends with mommy things.

Playgroup

In honor of earth day, we switched Holden to cloth wipes and diapers. There are so many more options out there than when I was a baby. Jeremy isn't 100% on board yet but I'm sure he will come around (when the disposables run out). I have a childhood friend that has a 4 month old son and she was a big help in deciphering the options, how to properly wash them, etc. We are also lucky because my mother-in-law is awesome with a sewing machine and is going to make us a bunch of wipes and a handful of fitted diapers for daycare. I use my washing machine a lot more but figure we will be saving a ton of money by the time he is potty trained, saving 6000 disposable diapers from the landfill and they look so dare cute!
I think that is it for a recap of our last 2 months in a nut shell. Now enjoy some video.

Tummy Time

Hanging out with Mom

An Attempt at Blogging

I have a few friends that are masters at the art of blogging and I love reading their daily dose of insight into their lives. So I thought, maybe I could do this. As you may have noticed I made an attempt back in January and then life happened. So this is attempt number 2. I thought it would be a good way to collect my thoughts and let our family into the daily insanity of our life with our new addition, Holden. Of course, it might just be an excuse for a distraction during work. Jeremy (the husband) and I live miles away from our families we don't get to share the joys and trials of raising our first child, Holden. Holden is 2 months old and precious. I didn't really expect to feel the way I do about him, not sure what I expected. But I know I love him unconditionally and would jump in front of a bus for him.

I'm a working mom and learning to juggle motherhood, marriage and a career. Millions of women do it, my mom did it and hopefully I can too. So, this will be my attempt to keep my sanity by documenting daily randomness and maybe a few stellar moments in the life of the Taylor family.