At long (long) last, time to analyze this survey on Breastfeeding vs. Return of Menstural Cycle that just blew me out of the water with all of the responses it received!

So... what is the relationship between breastfeeding and the post-partum return of fertility?

I thought that the answer would become more clear, but although I feel like there are some definite trends and general aspects of the relationship between the two, overall my answer would have to be "Well, it really depends...". How's that for clear as mud?

I did manage to confirm something that I already thought, which is that I have a pretty crunchy readership- over 75% breastfed for more than 12 months, and over 36% breastfed for 18 months or longer! Mamas, you rock!

Let's dig in and see what the survey said:

I'm going to apologize now that these charts are not as clear as I would like them to be-- I couldn't increase the size any more without cutting off the chart!

This is one of the results that blew me away. Those fuzzy numbers say that over 39% of moms were still nursing at night when their cycle returned! Additionally, less than 40% were feeding baby any sort of solids, only 15% offering a pacifier, and 6% offering supplemental bottles.

What that means is that significantly more than half of breastfeeding moms see the return of their fertility while they are NOT offering bottles, NOT using a pacifier, NOT feeding solids, and CONTINUING to nurse through the night!

The next part of the survey asked moms when their cycle returned, in comparison with how long they breastfed in total. You can see that there is definitely a significant holding-off factor that more extended breastfeeding offers. For those moms who continued to breastfeed past the 6 mth mark, another 7.5% of them managed to stave off the return of their fertility.

BUT, for the great majority (over 80%) that didn't seem to make a difference.

In fact, if you look also at the two charts below, which are for moms who breastfed for 12-18 or 18+ months, most moms still get their cycle back by the time their baby is 6 months old. A whopping 72%, according to my oh-so-scientific survey!

Extended breastfeeding does make a difference, obviously, as a much greater percentage of these moms who breastfed for 12 months or longer saw their cycle hold off for much longer. As many as 10-15% of moms did not regain fertility until after baby was 1 year old.

When I look at these results, I have to extrapolate the fact that perhaps we North American women (brace yourself for the broad, sweeping generalization...) are NOT practicing the kind of ecological breastfeeding that naturally prolongs the return of fertility.

What exactly constitutes "ecological breastfeeding" anyways?

Glad you asked! I did a bit of research and found these 7 basic tenets of ecological breastfeeding, as put forward by Sheila Kippley, author of Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing

7 Standard of Ecological Breastfeeding

From an article on the La Leche League International site, by Sheila Kippley

1. Breastfeed exclusively for the first six months.
2. Pacify Your Baby at Your Breasts
3. Don't Use Bottles and Pacifiers
4. Sleep with Your Baby for Night Feedings
5. Sleep with Your Baby for a Daily-Nap Feeding
6. Breastfeed Frequently Day and Night and Avoid Schedules
7. Avoid Any Practice that Restricts Nursing or Separates You from Your Baby

Anyone want to do a quick run-through of the standards and see how your breastfeeding practices matched up, according to when your cycle returned?

For me personally, with my first I was only practicing #1, 6, and 7 completely when my cycle returned at 12 months (though fertility didn't return until 15 mths). She was in our room for night nursings as well (#4) until she was 6 mths and night-weaned at 11 mths. With my second, I was practiced #1, 2, 3, 6 and 7. He also slept near me until 6 months. He was 18 mths old and still getting one early morning (3-5am) feed when I caught the first egg and conceived my third.

Currently, I'm nursing my 12 mth old frequently, but just night-weaned (naturally- I didn't force it) about a week and a half ago. I've practiced #1, 2, 4 and 6 with her, but have had times when I've had to pump and use bottles for her while I was away. She also slept near us until about 11 mths old, as I continued to night feed. My cycle is just showing signs of returning.

That's just my story, though. As I said earlier in this post, my true answer as to the relationship between fertility and breastfeeding is that there are definitely some practices that seem to have a fairly consistent effect on the return of fertility. And there also seem to be a whole lot of women for whom there isn't a lot of rhyme or reason, but their bodies just seem to work in a particular rhythm of fertility no matter what.

Image by tedsblog

Here are a sampling of the interesting additional comments from moms who took the survey:

• My cycle returned as soon as I started offering my baby solid food--even though it was just rice cereal. Offering food means the weaning process has started, no matter how little you offer or how long you breastfeed at the same time (in my case, 20 months). My body just seemed to know that it wasn't the "one and only" any more, and lo, my period came back.
• I have breast fed all 7 of my kids. With each of them, my cycle returned around 7 months. With each child, they had somewhat different habits.
• Both I and another breastfeeding mom I know found that the return of our cycles took longer with each successive child. So I had the longest break from my cycle after my third child was born.
• For me, my cycle returns withing a month of baby night-weaning.
• I always breastfeed on demand around the clock and my cycle always returns around 3 -4 months postpartum!!
• I was actually tandem nursing my 15 month old and my newborn and my cycle returned at week 5 post-partum. It return the same time with my first baby as well.
• My period returns when I quit nursing.
• My cycle hasn't come back with any of my 5 children until i was down to about 2 nursings a day....just my experience....I'll be interested in your finds.
• I have had three babies and it was different every time. My first nursed until she was four, and my cycle came back when she was 14 months old. With my second, I was tandem nursing a LOT, and was shocked to discover I was pregnant again when he was only seven months old. With my third, I was again tandem nursing and my cycle returned when she was nineteen months old. At that point, I was just two months shy of having gone four entire years with no period.
• My baby is exactly 18 months old (to the day). I'm still breastfeeding - several times during the day and also at night. My menstrual cycle has not yet returned.
• I transitioned my son to a crib when he was almost 1yo. Previously we had been co-sleeping. As a result he nursed less at night - though he was still not STTN. A few weeks later and my cycle returned.
• From my own research and the info I've received from fellow NFPers (from our ministry site www.sweeterthanhoney.org), a HUGE reason for an earlier than expected return to fertility is due to baby sleeping through the night. A woman could be breastfeeding exclusively (no pacifiers, no solids) for an entire year but have a early return to fertility (when baby is 9 mo old, for example) because baby began sleeping through the night at 8 mo. I've advised young moms who want to delay fertility to co-sleep or wake up the baby to nurse in the night.
• I was breastfeeding TWINS full time when my cycle returned after only 3 months. :-)
• I found with all three of my kids that my menstrual cycle returned when I completely cut out nighttime feedings (so baby would go about 8 hours without a feed during the night)- for my first two this was around 6 months, and the third it was around 9 months.
• I have birthed four babies at home. We have nursed on demand (rarely more than two hours apart even as they approached one years old), co-slept, practiced babywearing, etc. Our babies do suck their thumbs, but we've never encouraged it over breastfeeding, and they have all nursed a LOT during the night. With my first three pregnancies, my cycle returned at 2 mo. After my first, I got pregnant when he was six months, then we waited until our second baby was one to conceive. We got pregnant for the fourth time when our third was five months old. Just sharing all of this info, because it is something I'm so greatly interested in. I struggle to come to terms with the fact the my body is allowing me to become pregnant when my babies still need my milk. Couldn't be happier with our four little ones, so a mixed blessing :)

It's a whole lot of food for thought. I've come to the conclusion that perhaps there is no conclusive answer.

I'm quite certain that trends in the North American diet, environmental toxins, etc. play a role in our hormones and fertility. I also think that (as a general rule) most of us don't practice true ecological breastfeeding, as it is practiced in many other cultures.

After all this, what do you think about the issue now? How do you think that breastfeeding practices and individual differences between women account for the timing of the return to fertility?

Our Sponsors:

• Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
• Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
• Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
• Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

You might also enjoy:

1. Breastfeeding for Heart Health
2. Two Reviews: Helps for Breastfeeding Mamas
3. Diary of Nursing a Low Milk Supply
4. next pcos post

As a mom who delays solids, nurses for an extended period of time and offers nighttime nursing for most of the first year, my cycle takes its sweet time returning.

However, I know that this isn't the case for every mom. I hear anecdotally from a lot of moms that even frequent nursing or nighttime nursing does not prevent their cycle from coming back, and plenty of moms conceive again when their baby is under a year old (and sometimes even less than 6 months old).

This often surprises me, because what I have read about the nursing hormone prolactin is that it should suppress the other hormones required for a woman's menstrual cycle to return. In theory, this means that during the early months and even the first year when nursing is baby's primary form of nourishment, she shouldn't be able to conceive again. Theoretically speaking.

Wouldn't it be interesting to explore the actual statistics of regular moms, to find out at what point and under what circumstances their own cycle returned? Inquiring minds want to know. Or at least, mine does.

So, I decided to conduct my own very formal and official survey. :)

It would be too complex to add too many more fields to the survey. I kept the survey relatively simplistic, which means that I won't be able to accurately take into account special circumstances, like a mom or baby being sick, going on vacation without baby for a period of time, a season of high stress in the mom's life, etc.

Would you fill out my survey and help to satisfy this curious little brain of mine?

Please take my survey!

I promise, I will share the results of the survey with you all!

Any guesses as to what my survey will discover? What do you think about the breastfeeding/Fertility relationship?

Image by Daquella Manera

Our Sponsors:

• Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
• Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
• Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
• Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

You might also enjoy:

1. Two Reviews: Helps for Breastfeeding Mamas
2. Breastfeeding for Heart Health
3. Diary of Nursing a Low Milk Supply
4. breastfeeding reviews

When I had my first baby, I was strangely eager to feed her "real" food. I couldn't wait to break out those baby spoons, to start grinding up food in my blender and moving in to that next stage of babyhood. I began when she was around 5 1/2 months old, a reasonable age I figured. I even drew up a lovely Type A chart for my fridge, to record her every bite, her reaction to each food, and how many days I waited before the next introduction.

My darling girl, however, had different plans. Her reaction to the food? Yawn... ho, hum. What's all the fuss about solids, mama? More milk, please!

A bit dismayed and confused, I backed off for a while. I continued to hesitantly offer a bit of food over the course of the next several months, and though she took it from time to time, she didn't truly care or seem to need it until she was more like 9 or 10 months.

Fast forward two and a half years. Now I had a little guy who's starting to approach that magical age of six months. I decide to play it a bit more relaxed this time, going far beyond 6 months to ensure that his gut is ready to handle and digest food. At around 7 or 8 months, I began to oh-so-slowly introduce my homemade babyfoods, one at a time. Success! He loves it, he's ready for it, and I didn't stress myself out by trying too early.

Then, while pregnant with my third this past spring, I read something that shook me up just a little bit more: Real Food for Mother and Baby, by Nina Planck.

Being the careful, cautious mother that I am, I had always made my baby's meals with whole, nourishing foods. I slowly introduced them, one by one, working from smooth purees to gradually chunkier combinations. I thought I had it all figured out.

Enter Nina's casual yet common sense approach. So long as it's "real" food (that is, foods that are old, traditional, whole, and were eaten by our great-grandparents), allow baby to eat it without fuss, without comment, without pureeing, without stress. Could it really be so simple?

Bless the babies of experimental moms like me. They get to be the guinea pigs of all our brilliant (and not-so-brilliant) ideas. Thankfully, Johanna is a pretty chill third child, and her mama has gone from being a bit of a basket case to a rather easy-going, relaxed, "sure, why not?" kind of mom.

Image by xlordashx

Here are my oh-so-brilliant and oh-so-precise methods for feeding my darling girl:

1. Wait until she's good and old. I had visions of 8 or 9 months, but this particular child seemed ready at about 7 1/2. I went with the flow. In the meantime, I gave her nothing but lots of warm, delightful, nourishing, always-available breastmilk for as long as I could.

2. Cook regular meals for the rest of the family.

3. Find something in those meals that seems to be safe for baby (ie. soft enough to gum, nothing that might cause a choking hazard, no grains until baby's digestive system is a little more mature around a year old). My first picks? Ground beef and liver, lightly cooked egg yolk, boiled sweet potato, steamed cauliflower or broccoli with butter, ripe banana, soft avocado chunks.

4. Break into small-ish pieces (note the precision) with your fingers. Put baby in a chair or on your lap. A bib is nice.

5. Allow baby to go for it.

6. Sweep floor thoroughly (this is in bold, because yes, it is necessary).

7. Repeat the next day.

Here's what I didn't do:

• Record what I fed her.
• Puree anything. At all. The closest I've come is to use a fork to lightly mash something. And she had some homemade applesauce because my older children were eating some.
• Use a spoon or a bowl.
• Wait several days between each new food introduction.
• Worry about how much she did or didn't eat.

The result? A happy baby who has not rejected a single thing I've offered her, including a myriad of different vegetables and liver. A happy mama who is able to sit and eat her own dinner with both of her hands, and who has saved herself the time and effort of preparing ice cube trays full of baby food.

Image by chimothy27

But What About...

Food allergies and sensitivities

A main reason that babies have reactions to foods is because they are fed too early. Babies that are given solids before six months (and many are fed as early as 3-5 months) do not have digestive systems that are capable of completely breaking down foods. Instead they have a "open gut" which means that particles of food (usually food proteins that their systems are not able to fully digest) make it through microscopic holes in the gut lining and into the blood stream. There, these particles create an allergic reaction, as the body treats them like foreign invaders.

By putting off solids until at least 6 months and longer if possible, the risk of food sensitivities greatly decreases. At this point baby is creating more of their own digestive enzymes and the "open gut" has matured and closed up.

Of course, if you already have severe allergies in the families (dairy, gluten, peanuts, etc.) then it would be wise and prudent to avoid these foods for as long as possible, and then only offer them in a very controlled and careful way the first few times to be able to observe any reaction to them.

Getting enough food

One of the things that I love most about this method of feeding is that it keeps breastfeeding as a priority and the main focus of baby's diet. So long as mom is offering the breast often and ensuring that her own diet/beverages are sufficient to keep up an ample milk supply for a larger baby, this solves the problem of whether the baby gets enough to eat. Baby will gradually begin to eat more and more of what they are offered (and begin to request more as well) as their needs and appetite grow.

Until my babies are around a year old, I offer breastmilk before I offer food. I don't make this an absolute firm rule, nor do I decide to not let them have food at lunch because I haven't been able to sit down and nurse them yet. It's simply a mindset of breastmilk being their primary food, and solids being secondary. This gradually shifts as baby grows bigger and becomes more and more interested in and capable of eating solids. The shift occurs naturally, I've found, if I let it happen that way.

But my baby is hungry before six months old...

I hate to say this, because it sounds insensitive or judgmental, and that is absolutely not how I want it to come across. But, when moms tell me this my first thought is that they may simply may not be making breastfeeding the priority.

(And I KNOW that there are absolutely exceptions to this and the occasional mom who just really, really struggles with her milk supply no matter what she tries, so please know that there is no criticism at all if you are one of those moms. I applaud your efforts to breastfeed in spite of difficulties!)

It takes a LOT to feed a growing baby. A lot. I eat and drink non-stop all day long, in order to continue to breastfeed my 8 1/2 mth old daughter (who is a bit of a roly-poly, chunky monkey, which equals a healthy baby). I feed her usually 1-3 times between 7pm-7am, and then another 4-6 times throughout the day. That's a lot of milk and I would be lying to say that it's effortless on a mama's part to keep making enough milk to satisfy a hungry, growing baby.

In my experience with my three babies, it takes commitment on my part. 100% commitment to maintaining as much milk as my little one needs means that I nurse more often, I don't try to force them to sleep through the night if they still need the milk, I add extra nursing sessions if my supply wanes, and I snack and sip continually. Yes, it's a bit more effort, but it's well, well worth it.

Can baby handle foods that aren't pureed?

From my experience and what I've read, yes, most babies can. There will be the odd baby that struggles with some of the chunkier textures or has a stronger gag reflex. In those cases, just calmly observe and make a decision that only you as the parent can make. If it doesn't work for your baby, then do something different. It's as simple as that.

I've linked to some excellent posts below, both of which address the choking and texture issues, which I think you will find helpful. They also get into many more of the specific details and reasoning behind this method of feeding babies. It is referred to in many different ways, including Baby-Led Solids or Baby-Led Weaning (referring to the entire process of weaning a baby from exclusive breastfeeding to solids to weaning from the breast). Both posts link to some other useful articles and books as well.

Feeding Baby Naturally: What, When & How

Baby Essentials That Aren't, Part 7: Baby Food

Real Food for Mother and Baby: The Fertility Diet, Eating for Two, and Baby's First Foods(the book that started it all, for me at least)

Has anyone tried this approach to feeding their baby? What has your experience been like?

Image by Charlotte Speaks

Our Sponsors:

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• Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
• Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
• Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

You might also enjoy:

1. Natural Living- A Beginner’s Approach
2. Herbs for the Fussy Baby

Struggling with a low milk supply can be tough. It's disheartening to know that you're not making enough milk to satisfy your baby and it takes real work to bring that milk supply back up to where it needs to be. The encouraging thing is that it can be done!

Since this is exactly where I've been at the past two weeks, I decided to journal my efforts and the results of those efforts. After 8 days of supplementing 2 month old Johanna while being on a round of very strong antibiotics, this is my diary of how we've gotten back to full time nursing:

Wednesday, October 21

I just took my very last dose of antibiotics. It feels good to be a free woman again, lol! I'm so grateful that Johanna has made it through all of the formula/donated breastmilk as well as she has. Praise God. I'm so eager to nurse my sweet babe but won't start again until tomorrow. This last dose should be fully out of my body within about 8-10 hours and I could feed her safely at that point, though I aim to wait more like 15 hours, which is pretty conservative but I just want to be cautious. We'll see how it goes.

I've been pumping to the best of my ability during these 8 days. It's a whole lot of extra work, pumping over an hour a day when I'm already spending more than twice as long to prepare her bottles and feed them to her. I've had the odd day where I just haven't pumped as much as I wanted, and I know that my supply is definitely down. Praying that it will return quickly to get my little girl off of this formula and back onto the best milk ever. :)

Thursday, October 22

So much for my ideal of 15 hours. We were out at the doctor's office at the 13 hour mark with a very hungry baby and a mommy who needed to pump. My husband made the official decision that we'd let Johanna do the pumping, right into her hungry little tummy! It felt soooo relieving to be able to nurse her again. I'd missed it so much, and I think she did, too.

No medication this morning (whohoo!), only a heaping dose of probiotics to start replacing all that lost good bacteria. I'm also taking extra doses of the nursing herbal tea that I usually take, in hopes that it will boost my supply more quickly.

We've been a happy nursing pair all afternoon and evening, but I know that my supply is pretty low. I've let her nurse completely on demand all day. Not much of a let-down at all, so I know the milk is minimal, but she's still getting something. I was grateful to receive one last batch of donated breastmilk from a friend and gave it to her this evening before bed, to ensure her tummy was truly full for the nighttime. Hopefully things pick up a bit tomorrow.

Friday, October 23

Our first full day back at it. No need to supplement so far, as Johanna seems satisfied (as I write this in the mid-afternoon). I'm feeding on both sides, rather than only one as I usually do. I'm hoping that this will ensure that she gets enough, and that the extra stimulation will help my supply to pick up again that much more quickly. Trying to make sure that I drink plenty of fluids as well. Actually had a small let-down this afternoon, which was so encouraging! Praying things continue on this trend...

Had to give a bottle in the evening. That's not too bad for first full day. Hopeful that things will improve. We'll try again tomorrow.

Saturday, October 24

Seem to have enough milk for most of the day, but by the late afternoon, I knew things were really low again. Going to have more to drink, have some nursing tea, and I'll put her to the breast again in an hour or so. Hoping to not have to supplement again tonight. We'll see...

Later in the evening- By about 7 pm, she was really hungry so I gave her a bottle again. I could be discouraged, but I'm not allowing myself to be. After 8 days of not nursing, to only have to supplement once a day is pretty minimal. Soon, the evening bottle won't be necessary. We'll just keep at it!

Sunday, October 25

Started off the day with oatmeal, a good food for increasing milk supply. Still needing to feed on both sides at most feeds, but my let-down is increasing so I know that my milk is coming back little by little. We got through the evening tonight without a bottle (whohoo!) and instead I will give her a nice big feed when I go to bed (which I don't usually do but I think she'll need it in lieu of being supplemented). The more often I feed, the more my milk supply will increase so extra feeds aren't a big deal. We'll get back on our regular schedule soon enough. :)

Monday, October 26

Started the day off with oats again. Tried to be conscientious of keeping well hydrated all day. Was sad that by 4pm, my supply was waning again. Gave little girl a bottle around dinner time.

It's important to keep nursing like crazy, even when you know it's a dry well. Despite the fact that I had barely any milk, I still nursed Johanna 4 times between 4-8pm. Sure, I didn't have much at each of those feeds, but my body will start to pick up on those stimulation cues, "Must... make... more... milk." Knowing this, I just keep putting her to the breast as often as I can, whether there's anything there or not.

Tuesday, October 27

Felt like my supply was great this morning. Let's hope it continues all day!

Later: Made it through the evening without a bottle!!! Gave an extra feed or two, but was just so glad that I actually had some milk in the evening.

Wednesday, October 28

She didn't sleep through the night (woke at 4 am to eat), but I expected this as she didn't have as much as usual in the evening. At least she made it through that long! Yet again, oatmeal for breakfast (as I have had every morning this past week!). Drinking tea, taking nursing herbs, etc. Still doing all that good stuff! Another day without a bottle!

Thursday, October 29

Didn't get nearly enough sleep last night, due to being out on a very late double date. I know that it affected my supply. Getting adequate rest is big for ensuring a good milk supply. With it already being somewhat low, the lack of rest was just too much. By mid-afternoon I had to supplement with a bottle to let my milk build up a bit more. Fortunately, with some extra fluids, calories, protein and rest, we finished off the night well.

Friday, October 30

Another bottle-free day! We're starting to have more good days than bad days, a very good sign that things are looking up!

The last three days have been very hectic around our home, and I haven't been eating quite as sufficiently as I should be. I can tell whenever I postpone eating or don't eat enough that my milk is a little lower. When I have a good meal, it picks back up again. Consuming enough calories really does make a difference. No skimping on food for nursing mamas, ok?

Hectic days or not, with some determination on my part to keep forcing myself to drink and eat more and to just keep nursing really frequently, we made it through all day. She might wake for a night feed, but that's just fine with me. :)

Saturday, October 31

Bottle-free again! It took some extra nursing and really guzzling water around dinner time and in the early evening to make sure she had enough for the night, but we made it through. Giving her an extra late-night feed helped to ensure that she slept through the night.

Sunday, November 1

As of today, I would say that we are officially back to nursing full-time. :) Yes, I'm still struggling with a bit of a low supply in the late afternoons and evenings. I still need to be conscientious of what I eat and drink, of how much I nurse, of getting enough rest. I'm still taking supplements to encourage a healthy milk supply. It's gratifying, though, to have made it through these last 3 weeks and know that my baby girl is getting what she needs!

For those struggling with low milk supply, here are a few resources:

Herbs for the New Mama (my own recent post, which includes info on which herbs to use for milk supply, as well as links to the specific nursing tea that I am using)

Increasing Milk Supply: Homemade Mother's Milk Tea

Building Milk Supply (a current topic in the new forum here at Keeper of the Home- this topic has some great replies and advice in it! Have you checked out the forum yet??? )

Are you struggling with a low-milk supply yourself? What are some of the ways that you have found helpful to increase your supply?

Our Sponsors:

• Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
• Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
• Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
• Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

You might also enjoy:

1. Two Reviews: Helps for Breastfeeding Mamas
2. Don’t Cry Over Sour Milk (Using Your Raw Milk Gone “Bad”)
3. Raw milk controversy rages on
4. Raw Milk Substitute for Cultured Dairy Products

One of the things about living in a polluted world, full of toxic chemicals in the water, air, food supply, etc. is that they don't just stay on the outside but many of them end up on the inside, too. Our bodies can become burdened by these toxins over time, and this can affect a whole host of bodily functions, sometimes seen through illness and symptoms and sometimes just silently wearing our bodies down and causing gradual and subtle effects.

Either way, they are a hindrance to living in good health. Of course, we seek to eat clean foods and keep our homes as toxin free as possible, but it just isn't possible to avoid toxins completely. Over time, we all need to do a bit of "housecleaning" and help to rid our bodies of these built up chemicals and foreign substances.

I mentioned recently that I was going to do a little bit of detoxifying while taking a short break from nursing my baby (due to being on medications that I didn't feel were safe for her to receive through breastfeeding). Many of you asked how I was going to do this cleansing, and so I thought I'd share just a few ideas and ways that I chose to detoxify my body.

I'll let you know straight up that this is not an area of expertise for me. Though I have studied some about detoxifying and different methods of doing so, my knowledge in this area is not as strong as some other areas. I present this as the ways that I haven chosen to aid my body in cleaning itself out, not as the ultimate guide for how you ought to choose to do your own detoxing regime. I am still learning much in this area! :)

Perfect Cleanse Kit

This kit is through Garden of Life (you can read more about the product through this link) , a supplement company whose products I believe are of a very high quality. This is Dr. Jordan Rubin's company and he is the author of The Maker's Diet, an excellent book that I highly recommend (very much in line with a traditional, whole foods diet like Nourishing Traditions, and includes much other useful information for health especially in regards to having a healthy digestive system). I like this kit because it does not require a special diet or fasting, although of course it is always best to be eating well if you expect to get the most benefits out of any cleanse (ie. no junk while you're doing it!).

Knowing that I only had about one week that I would not be breastfeeding, I had little time to prepare myself to do anything more elaborate, and even less time and energy to actually think about preparing special foods, juices, etc. I had previously bought this kit, intending to do it the day I actually found out I was pregnant (so there went that idea!). I wasn't able to do it for the full 10 days, but did do it for 6 days which is certainly better than nothing. I appreciated that I could use it while eating normally, because I did not want to restrict my calories while trying to maintain my milk supply. I found the cleanse very easy to use, gentle on my system, but it still felt as though it was being effective and making a difference.

Chlorella

Chlorella is a type of green algae. Aside from boasting many nutrients, including powerful antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, DNA and RNA (for cell growth and repair), it is also widely known as an powerful detoxifier. Most particularly, chlorella is known for binding to heavy metals, removing them from the body and purifying the blood.

It's important to use a high quality source of chlorella for the best results. I used ChlorEssence by Sequel, a local Canadian company. Dr. Mercola also carries a chlorella tablet that looks to be superior in quality, and this page on his site includes a bit more information about the benefits of using chlorella. I was taking between 4-6 tablets a day, in addition to using the above kit.

Flora Diulaxa Tea

This is an herbal tea that combines many herbs known to have detoxifying and blood purifying properties. I couldn't find many websites with a good description of it, but here is what one said about it: "Effectively cleans the blood and helps remove body wastes by stimulating excretion through bowels, kidneys and skin."

This tea can be taken 1-3 cups a day, and is recommended for a 6 week period. I didn't have that kind of time, but just decided to add a cup of it every day to what I was already doing. Using a prepared tea like this isn't necessary, as there are plenty of herbs out there that aid the body in detoxification, but this is an easier and safer way to do it if you aren't knowledgeable about herbs or don't care to source out the individual ingredients yourself. Most health food stores will carry either this tea or something similar.

Why not just cleanse by fasting or using a specific diet?

Great question! You can definitely do a cleanse or detoxification through diet alone. In fact, fasting is a very effective way of cleaning out the body, whether it is a brief water fast, or a longer juice fast or mono-diet (only one food is consumed- for instance, brown rice or apples).

I personally chose not to do a fast of this sort for two main reasons: 1) I was still overcoming a sickness and felt that I needed the nutrients from eating a wholesome diet, since I had been struggling to take in enough food and fluids during the previous week of being ill. 2) I was pumping to maintain my milk supply for my young baby and was worried that restricting my calories would compromise that milk supply.

For those who are certain they are not pregnant, and are not breastfeeding, using some type of fasting to clean out the body is definitely a worthwhile option to consider. I would suggest consulting with an experienced practitioner (like a Naturopath) who is skilled in leading people through this type of cleansing as it should be done carefully in order to reap the most benefits from it and to avoid doing anything that may actually cause your body more harm than good. At the very least, read up on the subject very thoroughly before attempting to do any fasting yourself to ensure that you know how to do it safely.

Another way to use diet to clean out the body is to go on a more restrictive diet (only eating certain foods), but without restricting caloric intake. One of the best diets of this sort that I know of and have personally used is The Maker's Diet. Here are a few of my own thoughts on doing this diet.

Note that if you are in a season of breastfeeding or pregnancy, the Maker's Diet could be used in a more modified way, starting with Stage 2 or 3 only, to avoid letting the body do any heavy detoxing. It's fine to cut out harmful things from your diet during breastfeeding and pregnancy, but it's not fine to alter the diet to such an extreme that your body begins to rapidly release toxins, as these will make their way to your baby through the placenta or through breastmilk. I'm sorry to say that those who are already in these seasons of life (as I have been for most of the past 5 years, so I understand!) will have to wait it out before choosing to do any sort of heavier detox.

Have you ever done any sort of a cleanse or detox? How did you do it? Did you notice the positive effects of having done it?

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Johanna at about 1 month old, during the worst of her colic and baby acne

Colic and fussiness in young babies just isn't fun for anyone. Not for the baby. Certainly not for the parents. It can be downright exhausting, and it's difficult to see your baby in such pain and discomfort and to feel that you can't do anything about it.

There are a lot of products out on the market for colic in babies. Unfortunately, most of them use substances that only treat the symptoms, such as sodium bicarbonate which is used in antacid relief (like Tums or Rolaids), or gas suppressing medications such as Simethicone which are used in over-the-counter remedies like Ovol (basically a child's version of Maalox or Mylanta), not to mention the alcohol that is so often used in commercial infant Gripe Water.

Personally, I chose to go with herbal remedies that I felt would
support and improve my baby girl's digestion, which was where her fussiness
seemed to be originating. She was also dealing with a lot of baby acne,
which I noticed was very related to her digestion. When she had a less
fussy day and less stomach pain, the acne decreased, and on her worst
days, the acne flared up badly.

By using herbs that promote
better digestion we have seen a remarkable difference in our sweet
girl. In the course of a week of me taking a herbal tea that I put
together we saw her colic decrease immensely, to the point where she
would happily sit in an infant seat for up to 20 minutes at a time
(whereas before she constantly needed to be held, bounced, patted,
rocked, etc.). We've also seen her acne completely clear up. The change has really been amazing!

How Should Herbs Be Used With Babies?

I am still bit torn on whether to try giving something to baby directly, such as small amounts of diluted herbal tea. My basic concern is that a newborn or young baby's digestive system is just so incredibly sensitive and immature (hence the reason that they are fussy and colicky to begin with!), and the risk of introducing something to them that their systems cannot handle or may react to is very real.

In my experience with Johanna, I did try giving her some very small amounts of weak tea. I tried both a yarrow tea and a fennel tea. With the yarrow, I didn't specifically notice any difference, though I might not have tried it for long enough to really see it. With the fennel, I definitely did notice a difference. It was the first breakthrough we had in bringing some level of calm to our distraught baby.

However, I continued to feel a little bit unsettled about giving it to her, even though I know that many practitioners (such as midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, even doctors) would consider it safe. I'm not convinced that it isn't either, and I will be the first to admit that it can be very effective.

After my experience these past couple of weeks, however, my personal preference is taking stronger herbal teas myself. This way the soothing and digestion-easing properties of the herbs can be present in my milk, but have gone through the filter of my body first, rather than going into hers directly. I have found this to be equally as effective in helping my little girl, if not more effective, than giving her the herbal teas orally.

That said, if you would like to try giving them to your baby as a weak tea, here are some guidelines:

Simple vs. Combination

In my recent studies, I've learned that herbs are used both as "simples", meaning on their own, and also in combination with other herbs (and most herbs can be used in either way). When giving herbs to any infant or young child, it is always best to introduce each herb first as a simple, before giving it in combination. As with new foods, it is always possible (though not highly likely) that a baby could react to what they are being given, and if this happens you would want to know exactly what they reacted to in order to avoid giving it to them again. Once you know that baby does not react to several simple herbs, it would be fine to try them in combination.

Dosage

It is important to remember how much smaller an infant's body is than ours. At 7 weeks old, my 10 lb baby is a mere 1/13 of my body weight, and as a 7 lb newborn she was even that much smaller. Anything you give an infant needs to be in a much weaker, diluted form than what you would take yourself. In The Complete Medicinal Herbal
by Penelope Ody, she recommends giving any child under 1 year a dose that is one twentieth (1/20) of what would be a full adult dose. With something like fennel tea, if I were to make myself a tea I would probably use 1 Tbsp of fennel seas to 8 oz. of hot water. To make it for an infant (for example only- not all herbs use the same dose), I might use only 1 tsp. per  8 oz. to make a weaker brew, and then only give a 1/2 an ounce to 1 ounce at a time.

When the nursing mom is taking the herb instead, she simply needs to stick to what would be a reasonable amount of any herb (ensuring that the herb is safe for baby, of course). With the tea that I am currently drinking for post-partum health, I consume about 3-4 cups of full strength tea (1 Tbsp to 8 oz. water) throughout the course of the day. Usually 1-2 cups before noon, and another 2 cups in the evening. With this amount, we have seen nothing but excellent results in Johanna (and myself) and not a speck of a negative reaction.

Do Your Research

As I am only beginning my personal study in herbology, I would not dare tell you exactly which herbs you ought to take and in which dosage. I am learning from many different sources and am continually looking for new information and using things cautiously as I proceed.

One excellent resource that I have just come across in my studies is on kellymom.com (a fantastic resource for breastfeeding moms in general). Here you will find an alphabetized list of herbs and remedies, and whether they are safe for the nursing mother, as well as some dosage suggestions and possible uses. I would suggest that in your own research it is best to be more on the cautious side than to quickly accept ideas and suggestions from any old source. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Our sweet girl with her skin cleared up, and feeling so much happier!

Specific Herbs That are Helpful for the Fussy Baby

• Fennel seed
• Dill seed
• Catnip
• Chamomile
• Caraway
• Anise or Aniseed (not to be confused with Star Anise, which should not be given to babies)

As well, for more information on herbs that may be harmful for baby or for nursing mothers, here is more info on the topic from kellymom.

As with most natural remedies, what works for one person doesn't always work for someone else, and vice versa. Sometimes it's necessary to try a few different things before you find what works for you. Though they can be very effective in some situations, herbs may not always solve a baby's fussiness or digestive struggles. Many babies simply need more time to grow and mature and their issues will work themselves out with time. So hang in there, mama! You are doing an incredible job nurturing and caring for your little one and remember that this too shall pass! :)

Have you successfully used herbs to help a fussy or colicky baby? Tell us about your experience, or any other tips you have for helping a fussy baby!

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Though I am eager to begin to study about individual herbs and their specific uses, my formal study of herbs has begun in a much more practical manner... finding and learning to use herbs that are helpful for both mother and baby in the early weeks and months after birth!

I've mentioned a couple of times that life has been particularly busy and stressful over the last month or so, just with some current circumstances, recovering from giving birth, and adjusting to life with a new (and fussy) baby in general and I have been feeling quite worn out as a result. In the midst of all this I was beginning to really struggle with my emotions-- sad and weepy one minute, angry and very irritable the next. I felt perpetually overwhelmed and like I was breaking a bit under the pressure of it all. In speaking with my husband and midwife, I recognized that what I was experiencing was the beginnings of post-partum depression.

I am so grateful to have realized this before things got any worse. My midwife encouraged me to discuss with my husband how I could find more times for rest and just ways to feel more like myself again and remove some of the stress I was feeling (which we did, and he was so supportive and loving to allow me to do that). She also gave me the go-ahead to do some research into herbs that I could try, that might assist my body in coping with the stress, bringing my hormones and emotions more under control, and just continuing to strengthen and rejuvenate my body so that I could better handle the demands that were on me.

I borrowed a book from the library called Natural Health after Birth by Aviva Jill Romm, a practicing midwife and herbalist. The focus of the book is on the post-partum period, a season of life that is often overlooked by most people, including new moms (and yes, especially me!). A wonderful aspect of the book is the use of herbal remedies to aid the mother's body in recovering physically and emotionally, as well as for increasing milk supply, helping fussy and colicky babies and more (though I can't recommend the book in it's entirety, as she is not a believer and there are some new age aspects of the book in some chapters). 

With the blessing of my midwife, I decided last week to put together one of the herbal tea mixes in the book, intended for helping with the symptoms of post-partum depression. Here is what I put together, partly from one of the book's specific recipes, and with some of my own substitutions (due to not being able to easily purchase all of the exact suggested herbs).

Keeping-Your-Balance Blend (slightly altered)

2 parts chamomile flowers (for relaxation)

2 parts nettle (for nutritive purposes, includes trace minerals and vitamins, to treat anemia, weakness and stabilize blood sugar. Also helpful for those feeling stressed and physically or emotionally drained)

2 parts peppermint (to energize and also soothe the nerves at the same time)

2 parts red raspberry leaves (rich in minerals, tonifying to the uterus, aids in balancing hormones, as well as adding a nice flavor to the tea)

1 part dandelion leaves (highly nutritive with trace minerals and iron)

I also added in:

2 parts catnip (a nervine herb, meant to relax and de-stress)

1 part yarrow (for reproductive organs and hormone balancing, immune boosting and digestion)

I mixed all of the dry herbs together in a glass jar and keep it on the counter with a measuring spoon. Whenever I want to make some, I boil some water and place 1 Tbsp of tea per cup of water into a french press. I let the kettle sit for a moment after turning it off so that it is no longer at a rolling boil (because this can damage the volatile oils in many herbs and reduce their effectiveness), then pour it over the herbs. With the lid on (but not pressed down), I let it sit and steep for 10-20 minutes before pressing it and pouring myself a mug. I aim to drink 2-4 cups of this tea a day.

**The original recipe did not include the catnip or yarrow, and also includes 2 parts of chrysanthemum flowers (for anger, stress and related emotions), oatstraw (nutritive, provides vigor and energy) and strawberry leaves (as a tonic and for nerves), and 1 part of both gingerroot (improves and stimulates circulation) and rose petals (relaxation, taste and possibly hormonal balancing). One substitute for oatstraw is to simply eat more oats, as they also contain most of the same qualities.

I am amazed at how much better I am feeling after only a week! Of course, it is not just the herbs. I have really been crying out to the Lord in prayer, playing worship music and meditating on Scripture truths, talking about how I'm doing with my husband and several friends, as well as just trying to take little breaks whenever I feel my emotions starting to rise up and become out of control.

I do feel, though, that the herbs I've been taking this past week have contributed to feeling much more calm and emotionally steady and more physically well than I did before. There have been many trying moments, but in general, I don't feel as overwhelmed as I did before and am more able to use self-control in how I respond to difficult situations.

As I've been reading and studying more about herbs lately, I've also been coming across some others that may be particularly useful for new mamas:

Nutritive (herbs with nourishing qualities, including protein, vitamins, minerals, etc.): Alfalfa, Ashwaganda, Gotu Kola, Hawthorn berries (and leaves and flowers), Milky oats (and oats in general), Nettle, , Red Raspberry leaf, Rose hips.

Nervines (herbs which support the nervous system, have a calming effect and help to relieve stress and tension): Ashwaganda, Catnip, Chamomile, Hops, Lavender, Lemon balm, Milky oats, Motherwort, Skullcap, Vervain

Galactagogues (herbs which support the nursing mother, particularly with maintaing an ample milk supply): Blessed thistle, Dandelion leaf, Fennel, Fenugreek, Nettle, Saw palmetto, Vervain, Vitex (this one is a little more controversial)

Herbs to AVOID while nursing:

Alkanet, Aloe Vera (externally is fine, but not internally), Aloes, Basil (as a food seasoning it's fine), Black Cohosh, Bladderwrack, Borage**, Bugleweed, Cascara sagrada (again, externally is fine), Chinese rhubarb, Coltsfoot, Comfrey**, Elecampane, Ephedra, Garlic (as with basil, fine for use as a food seasoning or ingredient), Joe Pye, Licorice, Male fern, Pugring buckthorn, Senna, Stillingia, Wormwood.

**I have seen conflicting information about comfrey and borage. Some books say they are fine, and even recommended for use as galactagogues. However, Romm suggests in Natural Health after Birth that they should not be used, though no specific reasons are given and I cannot seem to find any in my own research. I will have to continue to study, and so I can't really recommend them to you, one way or the other. Use your discernment in choosing whether to use them or not. 

I am currently also taking a herbal nursing tea, made by Rhea's Herbals Extractions (the products are great, but the site doesn't offer much information). I began taking it right after Johanna was born, to help establish a really solid milk supply, something which I struggled with a bit after Caden's birth for various reasons. It includes:

Red Raspberry, Chamomile, Lemon Grass, Borage Leaf, Fenugreek Seed, Star Anise, Marshmallow, Coriander, Fennel Seed, Galega. 

I have found that, despite feeling quite stressed and busy (usually not helpful for maintaining a good milk supply), I haven't really had any problems with having enough milk. There have been only a few days (and really, only one or two feeds on those days) where I felt it was a bit lacking, and I usually felt that was in response to me being too on-the-go, and not having had enough to eat and drink. 

For more great information on maintaining a good milk supply and a wonderful recipe for homemade mother's milk tea, check out this post. 

My next herb post will focus on some things that I have been learning about herbs for soothing the fussy, colicky or restless baby!

Has anyone else found herbs to be helpful in recovering after giving birth, for post-partum depression or for increasing milk supply? 

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Image by khrawlings

Most of us are already aware that breastfeeding has many benefits, just a few of which include:

• Better digestive health for baby
• Higher immunity in baby
• Perfect, complete nutrition, that is always available, always sterile, always frugal
• Less chance of osteoporosis for moms
• Protection for nursing moms from breast cancer

I was so happy to recently come across yet another reason why breastfeeding is not only the best food for babies, but also beneficial to their mamas!

Here's a little clip from an article I read the other day:

            Read Moms Who Breastfeed Gain Healthier Hearts

Want a healthier heart and cardiovascular system? Go ahead and give that sweet baby of yours all the milkies they want, and you'll both benefit!

Want to know more of the benefits of breastfeeding? Check out 101 Reason to Breastfeed Your Child!

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If you've been around my blog for long, you'll know that I am a huge advocate of breastfeeding, and so I was thrilled when I was offered to try out and review a couple of products intended to help breastfeeding moms. What I specifically loved about these two products is they are aides for times when breast doesn't feel best, or when a mom needs a little extra help.

The Shower Hug

This creative idea was conceived by (you guessed it) a mom, who understands some of the discomforts that can go along with pregnancy and nursing. Anyone ever had incredibly tender breasts during pregnancy, so tender that you winced if you accidentally brushed up against something, or when you tried to take a shower? How about when you're post-partum, your milk has come in, and your sweet new baby wants to nurse approximately 13 times a day? Ouch... talk about tender!

The Shower Hug is made out of very, very soft knit terry velour, and is intended for helping to shield and cushion that tenderness, obviously for when you're in the shower (hence the terry fabric and the name) but it can have other purposes as well. One I thought of in particular was as a nursing bra during the night, in the early weeks of nursing, to avoid having to wear a constrictive bra and to catch heavy leaking in the soft, thick, absorbent fabric.

I tried wearing it in the shower one day, and it was sooo comfortable! I could totally see how one of these would be soothing and would make showering very bearable during periods of tenderness or soreness. I liked mine so much that even though it was too big for me, I decided to keep it and sew it to make it fit me.

If you know of a mama who is struggling with a lot of tenderness, this just might make a very thoughtful pregnancy or post-partum gift!  To find out more about The Shower Hug, check out their website, www.showerhug.com.

PumpEase

Ask me just how much I admire moms who struggle to breastfeed, but continue to pump: enormously!!! 

In fact, one of the most inspirational breastfeeding stories I know of is a friend of mine who was badly burned on her chest as a young child, and had extreme pain and difficulty nursing her first baby due to her burns and scar tissue. She turned to a professional pump in order to give him the much-needed milk that he just could not get at the breast, and although it was continually painful, even agonizing, and very time-consuming, she persevered and gave her little boy 6 entire months of every ounce of breastmilk she could pump out, until she finally had to give in to her body's limits. How's that for a mother's sacrificial love?

Though I personally have not had to do much in the way of pumping, I
know of many moms who have needed to, for one reason or another.
Obviously, breastfeeding is simpler when it can happen sans pump and
bottle, but I applaud those moms who are struggling with it or have
some reason that they cannot, and yet desire to keep giving their baby
the very best milk they can give!

That's why I loved PumpEase! I can only imagine how helpful it would have been for my friend to have had a tool like this, to make two-sided pumping a hands-free experience and allow her to redeem some of the precious hours she had to spend doing it.

The big idea behind PumpEase is that you wear it around your chest, over your nursing bra, and proceed to hook up either your single or double breast pump. Start pumping, and pull out your book, computer keyboard, or even a sandwich or a cup of tea. Depending on how you feel about nursing in front of other children, you could even snuggle up your toddler beside you and read to them while you pump. What a great invention for helping moms to redeem some of the time that goes into all that pumping!

PumpEase comes in several different fabrics and their new spring patterns look cute. You can purchase directly through their website, at www.pumpease.com. Did I mention that they're Canadian-made? (Go Canada!)

Has anyone ever used either of these great products? Do you know of any other helpful products for encouraging moms in their efforts to breastfeed?

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1. breastfeeding reviews

If there is one thing that I just love about being a mama (and there isn't just one thing- there's a gazillion, but this is one thing in particular that I love), it's the sweet simplicity of nourishing my darling babes through breastfeeding.

Last week, Caden and I celebrated 13 months of being a happy little nursing couple, and I anticipate many more "anniversaries" to come.

I was blessed to be able to nurse Abbie until she was 20 months, at which time I sadly weaned her (of my own choosing, not hers- she would have continued on for quite some time, I think). Naturally, the first question that statement usually stirs up is "How long is it appropriate to keep breastfeeding? Isn't it weird (wrong, strange, adjective of your choice) to nurse a toddler?"

The answer, of course, is no, not at all!

By the time I weaned Abbie, she was speaking in full sentences, could lift up my shirt, tell me exactly what she wanted and which side she preferred. Did it feel strange? Nope!

When I was first pregnant with her, my original goal was 1 year. Although I had romantic and idealistic notions that went far beyond that, I also knew that I knew nothing about being a mom, and didn't want to arrogantly presume anything (though I suppose even presuming a year suggests that I thought that much would be easy).

When we hit a year, I hadn't even introduced her to any form of milk yet, she still loved her milkies 4-5 times a day, and I saw absolutely no reason to cut her off from something that gave us both so much enjoyment. And so we went on... in fact, the only reason that I finally weaned at 20 months was simply because it appears that I am one of those moms that just cannot get pregnant while nursing.

(To be a bit vulnerable, this breaks my heart just a little and really forces me to trust and rely on my sovereign and fully trustworthy Savior. As we are hoping to have many children, as many as the Lord gives us, it is a struggle for me to continue on with extended nursing, knowing that it is preventing more babies from joining our family anytime soon. On the other hand, I feel a strong desire and compulsion to continue on with nursing and to give my children the absolute best for as long as I feel that they need it. Can you understand the tension? I'm sure I'm not alone in this struggle!)

So what makes me love nursing so dearly and believe in it so strongly that I am willing to allow a greater age gap between my children, and have walking, talking toddlers pulling at my shirt? Here are just a few reasons:

• Convenience- Unless I had to, I absolutely cannot imagine that hassle of buying formula, mixing it up and heating it, sterilizing bottles and nipples, etc. Breastmilk is always the perfect temperature, the perfect consistency, and perfectly available. I have breastfed pretty much anywhere you can imagine (in the car at the border line up, in a Home Depot aisle, on the bus, while answering the front door, in a bathroom stall) - you name it, I've nursed there! And if we end up out somewhere long than we anticipate and don't have baby food with us, at least we've always got milk!
• Nutrition- It doesn't get any more natural and perfectly nourishing than breastmilk. Of course, good milk is made by a good diet, and our own nutrition really does affect our milk. So as long as I keep eating well, I know that my baby is getting the healthiest milk possible, full of all the right fats and protein and cholesterol and vitamins.
• That lovin' feeling- Don't you just love nursing hormones? I can be a totally frustrated, angry mom one minute, practically losing it with the kids and ready to pull my hair out, and then I sit down to nurse my sweet baby and within moments, I'm crooning softly and gently stroking his forehead. Seriously, it's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde!
• Avoidance of allergies and sickness- I have often been amazed at how I can be sick with a horrible cold or flu, and my babies seem to escape it. I learned early on in nursing Abbie that a mother's milk has natural antibodies to whatever the mother is fighting, which increases the baby's resilience and helps to prevent them from getting sick. As well, breastmilk boosts a baby's immune system (especially through healthy bacteria in the early days and weeks after birth), and reduces the chances of severe allergies developing.
• An excuse to stop and enjoy- One of the things that I think is so helpful for me as a really busy, go-go-go kind of person is that I have to actually stop and sit down and just snuggle my baby several times a day (or 9 times a day when they're newborn!). Even now, Caden and I have our special times in the morning when he wakes, in the afternoon after his nap, and in the evening before bed, with the occasional other feed mixed in here and there. It is so good to have an excuse to just stop and enjoy him, or sit on the couch and read to both kids as I nurse.

If you need a few more reasons, here's a fabulous list I found of 101 Reasons to Breastfeed Your Child- the most thorough one I have ever found!

And so, I celebrate the 13 months we've shared so far, and look forward to continuing down this beautiful path. I'm not phased by the strange looks I receive, or the charming "Will you still be nursing when she goes to kindergarten?" kind of questions I received with Abbie.

I am in good company with much of the rest of the world, as I practice this gentle art of motherhood. In third world countries, it is not uncommon to nurse a child to 2 or 3 years old! In fact, the World Health Organization recommends that babies be breastfed up to 2 years and beyond.

Perhaps I should go buy myself a shirt I just saw recently... "Why yes, I am still breastfeeding!"

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• Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
• Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
• Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
• Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

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