Strollerderby : feeding

iPhone Making Parents Everywhere More Helpless?

JeanneSager — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:07:00 GMT

Who knows how mothers managed before the days of the iPhone.

If the Baby Brain iPhone app is any indication, we left them sitting in poopy diapers all day and neglected to nurse!

Designed to help new parents break through the fog of the newborn phase, the app lets you track track feedings, diapers, and sleep. Sent to us by a reader who I'm sure has the best intentions, I'm just not sure how many parents will find this useful.

Maybe I'm the only parent out there who didn't log everything my daughter did as a baby? I had one sitter who gave me a list of every time my daughter had a bowel movement (which she sweetly marked "BM" with a smiley face) and a full description of each. My reaction? Er, OK. Just telling me she had some poopy diapers would have been enough for me.

Nor did I ever find myself writing down how much she ate per feeding or how long she ate for (which, by the way, they say is counterproductive for breastfeeders). And my pediatrician never asked for specifics unless there was something wrong.

I can relate to swimming along in a sleepless fog after my daughter was born, but if multi-tasking diapers and feedings is too much for you, I have a piece of advice: put down the iPhone and give your texting thumbs a rest.

What do you think, parents, will you be downloading this one to get you through the day? It's about to be available on iTunes, so if it's for you, have at!

Image: Baby Brain

Motherless Baby Breastfed By Six Women Each Day

JeanneSager — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:02:00 GMT

A baby without a mom. A bunch of moms still breastfeeding their own babies. It was just meant to be.

You don't hear about death during childbirth much anymore, (and thank goodness for that), but when Susan Goodrich lost her life shortly after giving birth to her son, one of her most important wishes for her child was fulfilled by a band of impromptu wet nurses, moms who heard a baby needed their help.

Charles Moses Martin Goodrich was born on Jan. 11, but when his dad said he wanted the boy to receive breastmilk right off the bat, he was told the hospital didn't have a milkbank. A delivery could come in from elsewhere in Michigan, but it would take several days to ship.

Then Robbie Goodrich got a call of condolence from a friend, a mom who was still nursing her one-year-old daughter. Anything the family needed, she said, anything. . . even her breastmilk. It's when Robbie told his hometown paper that things clicked - he realized other moms might want to help him in his plight, and he called on a family friend to help him round up moms with something to give.

The found twenty total women who set up a schedule - six times a day, Charles has been fed by a different woman (that's one of the volunteers pictured). And by fed, I mean actually suckling at the breast.That is the most incredible part of the story to me - that these women don't just pump their milk and ship it over. With children at home (obviously), they drop everything to drive to the Goodrich home and allow a stranger's baby to nurse. It's the kind of love only a parent could muster for a child - but these aren't his parents!

At night, his father feeds him with bottles of milk pumped by the volunteers, and Charles is a happy, healthy baby despite his rough start to life.

The subject became controversial recently with Salma Hayek's highly publicized feeding of another woman's child, which some called a publicity stunt. There's no way these nameless women could be accused of the same thing. More to the point, what they're doing is life-sustaining while Hayek's one-off feeding was not going to drastically change a child's life.

What do you think of this? Would you do it? Or would you just pump your milk and send it over?

Image/Source: The Mining Journal

Study Launched to Examine Malnourished Breastfed Babies

JeanneSager — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:02:00 GMT

The first-ever study to examine what every breastfeeding mom fears has been kicked off in the United Kingdom: scientists will finally take a look at whether baby is really getting enough.

Although doctors say its rare that babies fall ill from lack of nourishment during breastfeeding, the doctors who have launched this project say there's a tendency not to talk about the very real risks involved - because no one wants to rock the breastfeeding boat.

"People are very cagey about saying anything that might give breastfeeding a bad name," Dr. Sam Richmond, a consultant neonatologist at Sunderland Royal Hospital, told the BBC News. "But it does need to be addressed - and properly studied - because the consequences can be so severe."

Writing an article for Babble that examines a few of the most common hurdles (just a few - to hit every hurdle would have taken me three books!), I found that every mom I talked to went through that phase - usually when they came home from the hospital - when they wondered how the milk they were producing could ever be enough to sustain a hungry baby. The best comment came from a pediatrician quoted in the article who admitted she felt the same way - and she KNOWS better. After all, she's a pediatrician. Kind of makes you feel better, doesn't it?

My hope is that these types of studies - which as Richmond points out are very necessary - will help put better information into the hands of worried mothers. If we could understand the circumstances of malnourished babies in breastfeeding conditions, moms who have nothing to worry about can have one less burden in those crucial early days of breastfeeding. What's more, for those who simply CAN'T breastfeed because of this very real condition, there will be evidence to use to back them up when a breastfeeding nazi comes knocking on her door.

Image: BBC News

Also on Babble:

Your Breastfeeding Timeline

Boy Still Recovering After Grape Nearly Kills Him

Jen Chaney — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:32:00 GMT

We've all heard that certain foods, including grapes, can be potentially hazardous to feed to young children. Sadly, a California family found out the hard way just how unsafe they can be.

This story in the San Jose Mercury-News explores the difficult recovery still facing Judea Farrow, a 22-month-old who was clinically dead for more than 15 minutes after a grape, fed to him by a daycare center employee, got lodged in his throat. An emergency worker eventually was able to pull out the grape, saving the young boy's life. But he has since suffered some brain damage: He is unable to walk, swallow, smile or speak, but his parents remain hopeful that he'll slowly get closer to normal functioning.

It's a sobering reminder that certain foods present particular choking hazards, especially if they aren't served in appropriately small portions. The Mercury News mentions hot dogs, popcorn and bay leaves, in addition to grapes. This 2007 article from Consumer Reports lists others to look out for, as well as guidelines to follow to make sure your kids swallow safely.

We tend to pay close attention every time a toy gets recalled for being a choking hazard, and for good reason. But the truth is that our kids are more likely to choke on a piece of food, something we sometimes tend to forget. Here's hoping we all remember, and that Judea Farrow's story eventually has a happy ending.

Best of FameCrawler: Week of August 29th

Whit Honea — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Holy Crap! Is That an Engagement Ring on Jennifer Aniston's Finger?

Jessica Biel Pregnant!!?

Is Michelle Obama Pregnant?

Julia Roberts Goes To Hawaii

The Obama Text: Barack is My Booty Call

Zuma Zuma Zuma Zoom

Matthew McConaughey: Nanny Ain't Alright, Alright or Little Levi and the Longboard

Ashlee Cries At The Doctor's Office?

Is Dolly Parton Dead?

Minnie Driver - HUGE Bump TINY Bikini - Photos

Guess Which Celebrity Rebecca Romijn is Naming One of Her Twins After?

Best of FameCrawler: Week of August 22nd

Whit Honea — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Suri & Her Doll - Photos and Girl Talk

Gwen Stefani Gave Birth! It's A Boy!!

Like I Needed Any More Reason To Love Johnny Depp

Misty May-Treanor & Kerri Walsh Get The Gold, Now They Want to Get Pregnant

Ricky Martin is a Daddy!

Teenage Boob Jobs? A Tale of Two Lohans

Bernie Mac's Funeral Attended By Thousands (Pictures)

Peek-A-Boo, Guess Who?

Matt Damon Welcomes Second Baby!

Best of FameCrawler: (Sad) Week of August 15th

Whit Honea — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Bernie Mac Memorial and Donations

Romeo Bending It Like Beckham

Jennifer Aniston & John Mayer - IT'S OVER!!!!

Bernie Mac Was Expected To Recover

Did Lil Wayne's Daughter Die?

Lil Wayne's Daughter Dies? Her Mama Says "No"

Not True? Lil Wayne's Daughter Did Not Die

Bernie Mac's Final Moments -Wife & Daughter By His Side

Brad and Maddox Hit The Track

People Disappointed with Brad and Angelina

Best of FameCrawler: Week of August 8th

Whit Honea — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Is Bernie Mac Dead?

John Edwards - Mistress, Love Child & Hush Money

Barbara Walters Wants Sherri Shepherd Off The View

Helena Bonham Confirms Her Baby's Name-Finally

Angelina and Brad's First Picture of the Twins! Meet Knox and Vivienne Jolie-Pitt!

Pictures of Knox and Vivienne Jolie-Pitt Faked?!

Pamela Anderson: Boob Shots Only Please

Alessandra Ambrosio Gives Birth?

Knox & Vivienne Here!! Photo!!!

First Pictures of Vivienne and Knox Jolie-Pitt Mean Goodbye Brangelina

Best of FameCrawler: Week of August 1st

Whit Honea — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Christina Aguilera On A Bed Of Roses

More Beautiful Jolie-Pitt Family Photos!

Tom Cruise Named In Scientology Lawsuit

Federline is SHOCKED at Britney!

Miley Cyrus: Saying Goodbye To Hannah Montana?

What Actor Was Not Nice in Nice?

Formal McCarthyism

Who's Pregnant But Not Admitting It?

Britney's Bikini Photos Leaked!

Sarah Jessica and Matthew Broderick: EX In The City?

Top Five Celebrity Pregnancy Denials

Kate Hudson and Eric Lindros, Already

Best of FameCrawler: Week of July 25th

Whit Honea — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Pregnant Man Shares Baby Photos & Baby Name

Angie and Brad Couldn't Get It Done on Their Own?

Mindy McCready: Miscarriage?

What is Wrong With Katie Holmes?

2008 Emmy Nominations: Five Drama Mamas

Sex Tape: A-Rod and Madonna!

Maggie Gyllenhaal on Letterman- He Wishes

Jennifer Garner's Baby Bump: She's Pregnant Alright

Bob Geldof's Daughter Peaches' Drug Overdose

Brad Pitt Pulls A Britney

Jennifer Aniston, Oh So Gracious

Ashlee Simpson's C-Section

Best of FameCrawler: Week of July 18th

Whit Honea — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Angelina Jolie Twins Photos: SOLD!!!

Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman Wreck One Home Too Many

Exclusive Sketch Of Angelina's Twins!

Pictures Of Nicole Kidman's Sunday Rose-Two Stories

Drea De Matteo Sobbed When She Found Out She Was Pregnant

Jennifer Aniston's Obsession With Baby

Jessica Alba Already Wants Another Baby

Jessica Alba's Honor Marie - Photo!!!

Name Change: The Jolie-Pitt Twins

Miley Cyrus Leaked Shower Pics: Blame Lindsay!

Best of FameCrawler: Week of July 11th

Whit Honea — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Preg-a-licious! Is Fergie Expecting?

Photos Of Maddie Briann, They're Official

Sexy Superhero Parents: The Top 10

Is Michael Jackson Dying?

Nicole Kidman's Dad Reveals Secret of Sunday's Name!!

THESE Two Are The Hottest Celebrity Parents, For Seriously

Photos! Who Is Diana Bianchi?

Wanted: Nanny for the World's Most Famous Family

Angelina's Due Date - Got It!!!!

Angie And Brad's New Baby!

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's Baby Names!

Angelina's Paparazzi Proof Room

Best of FameCrawler: Week of July 4th

Whit Honea — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Jennifer Aniston-Mama To Be?

A-Rod's Wife Cynthia Rodriguez Dating Madonna's Ex Lenny Kravitz

Christina Aguilera Keeps Marriage Alive With Cocktails

Remember When Entertainment Tonight Insisted That The Brangelina Twins Were Already Born...?

Nicole Kidman's Heartbreak

Birth for Angelina Jolie? They Say it Happened!

Cindy Brady Gone Wild!

OMG! Britney Has A Boyfriend - You'll Never Guess!

Gwyneth Paltrow, Without Pants

Guy Ritchie's Mother Is Fuming Over Madonna Divorce Talk

Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber Expecting Baby #2

Maggie Gyllenhaal Makes Choices With Ramona In Mind

Best of FameCrawler: Week of June 27th

Whit Honea — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Billie Piper's Topless Role

The Sexualization of Miley Cyrus

Ben And Jen Together For Better Or Worse

Worst-Dressed Bellies? Top 5 Maternity Wear Mistakes Of Spring/Summer 2008

Tim McGraw and the Wife Beaters

Scott Kalitta Killed In Drag Racing Crash

Robert Downey, Jr., and Son: What's Wrong with This Picture?

Matthew McConaughey Is Ready To Rumble

Guess Who's Moving Across The Pond?

Jamie Lynn's Delivery Room Drama!

Tori Spelling Baby Photos!!

Best of FameCrawler: Week of June 20th

Whit Honea — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Jennifer Aniston Is A Hater

C-Section For Jamie-Lynn Spears Baby

Ray Allen's Son: A Hard Week

OMG!! Baby # 2 On The Way So Soon?!!

Sienna Miller is Selfish

Sara Evans Wedding Photo

FIRST LOOK: Jessica Alba In Genlux Magazine

Angelina Jolie is One Cool Lady

Kate Beckinsale's Nude Shower Scene

Do You Know These Kids?

9 Celebrity Parents When They Were Children

Jamie Lynn's Family Makes First Statement About New Baby

The Best of FameCrawler: Week of June 13th

Whit Honea — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Jude Law Gets It

Jessica Alba Gives Birth!!

A Sad Time in the Marson Family

George Clooney and Sarah Larson: Boobs, Not Babies Blamed For Breakup

READER POLL: Strangest Celebrity Baby Names

Heather Locklear: Drunk, Sloppy and Busting Out The Inner Gangsta

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Are Freakin' Insane

Lionel Richie: I Survived Nicole

Psstt - Angelina Jolie Has A Secret!

Michelle Duggar Should Write a Book on Pregnancy

Fear of plastic + timing = big bucks

Brett Singer — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 14:30:00 GMT

Interesting article over on Forbes.com about the BornFree people. Turns out they not only make the bottles, they help make sure that people know how dangerous the BPA-filled versions are.

Apparently, when BornFree began back in 2006, very few people cared about BPA. So what does a dadpreneur (that's a dad entepreneur – see how dumb it sounds?) do? Make sure that everyone knows how bad plastic is. According to Forbes, BornFree's President Ron Vigdor "sometimes exaggerates when comparing bisphenol A-free bottles to polycarbonate versions. 'One is with arsenic, one without. Which one would you like to buy?'"

So what's wrong with that?

It makes me wonder how many supposedly dangerous things are the result of hype rather than fact. I'm not saying BPA-free bottles are a bad thing, or that Bisphenol-A isn't harmful. I have no idea. I'm not taking a side, and if people would rather use BPA-free bottles, I think it's great that they have the opportunity to do so. But think about it this way: if you have a product that you think meets a need, and nobody seems to care, how far do you go to create that need? Are you doing the world a favor or just making a quick buck? Or both? Does anyone have a problem with that? How many question marks can I use in a single post?

image: Amazon.com

Words Have Many Meanings, Part 2

Lingo-watch: Manimony

BPA-Free? Not So Much

Wee*Go's Soft-Shelled Glass Bottle Defies Toxins, Breakage Alike

A Cheap* Plastic Cup That Won't Kill or Maim You

Best of FameCrawler: Week of June 6th

Whit Honea — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Green Our Vaccines: Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy Get Political

Charlie Sheen & Brooke Mueller Wedding Pictures

Demi Moore - Pregnant Bloat or Bad Dress?

Nicole Richie, Making Babies Appear Older

A Denise Richards F*@king Moment

Angelina's Twins Will Arrive Early

Angelina Vanity Fair Photos Will Leave. You. Breathless.

Sarah Larson's Biological Clock Ticked Too Loudly For George Clooney?

Denise Wants to Play Nice?

Remember Violet and Jennifer?

Best of FameCrawler: Week of May 30th

Whit Honea — Fri, 30 May 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Angelina & Brad Name Their Twins!?

BREAKING NEWS: Angelina Jolie Gives Birth To Twins

BROKEN NEWS: Angelina Jolie, Do We Have Babies or What?

Your Mother Does WHAT?

Christina's At The top Of The List

Clay Aiken Involved in Pregnancy!

Nicole Kidman - Tom Manipulates Our Children

Michelle Malkin Terrorizes Rachael Ray

Cindy Crawford Still Looks Awesome

Gavin Rossdale Says Strange Things About His Family

Best of FameCrawler: Week of May 23rd

Whit Honea — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Christina Aguilera: These Boobs Aren't Made For Buying

Red Hot Chili Peppers Split!

Ben Stiller,Jack Black & Robert Downey Jr Steal The Show - Video

Whoopi Calls Out Denise Richards

Daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman Hit, Killed By Car

Shiloh's Shopping Spree!

Bo Bice Gives His Baby A Normal Name

Usher & Wife Tameka Have Split!

Julia Roberts Eats Baby

They Say: The Five-Second Rule is B.S.

Jen Chaney — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:33:00 GMT

I have based my life on certain principles. That hard work always pays off, in ways sometimes tangible and sometimes intangible. That you should treat others with the same respect you expect from them. And that as long as something has been on the floor for five seconds or less, it's not really dirty.

Now this article in the Sydney Morning Herald -- courtesy of MomLogic -- says that's not true, although in Australia, they call it the three-second rule. Apparently the Aussies don't have the patience (or low hygiene standards) to take things to the five-second level.

Anyhoo, whether you go by three seconds or five, it appears that some serious bacteria can grow on food that's fallen on the floor, even if it's only been there for a nanosecond. If you then proceed to hand that cracker or apple slice to your kid, well, you're just giving him a big 'ol heap of potential food poisoning.

Do you buy this? Or, like me, do you find that it violates every notion you hold dear?

Photo Credit: The Times and Democrat

Meet 'The Breast Whisperer'

Jen Chaney — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:33:00 GMT

The Washington Post runs an article today about a D.C. lactaction consultant so effective, she is known as "The Breast Whisperer." Yes, the woman literally speaks to the breasts of new mothers: "Psst. Hey, boob. No, not you, the other one. I've got a secret to tell you: If you don't start making some milk, I'm going to get medieval on your ass."

Just you watch: The Breast Whisperer will wind up with her own show on the National Geographic Channel. And every week, she'll tell women they need to let their nipples be the pack leaders.

Okay, (most) jokes aside: What does Pat Shelly, Lactaction Consultant Extraordinaire, have that other nursing nurturers don't? In addition to possessing a flair for finding the root cause of breast-feeding issues, right down to problems with baby's tongue ligaments, she also refuses to be judgmental. If a mother needs to supplement with formula while working out the feeding situation, Shelly doesn't have a problem with that. Now, I went to a lactation consultant -- coincidentally, also in D.C. -- who also had the same approach, so I wonder if those "La Leche Nazis" we often hear so much about are becoming a thing of the past. Perhaps you can tell me in your comments.

The thing that intrigued me most about this story -- besides the fact that, at $150 per hour, Shelly is making some serious booby booty -- is her next idea. In the last line of the story, our Breast Whisperer says she'd like to open a hotel where nursing mothers could stay overnight while they focus on making sure baby latches on correctly. Naturally, it would be called a "breast and breakfast." And naturally, it would be another way for Shelly to make some cash. But if she's as good as everyone says she is -- and it would be a vacation from the house during those difficult first postpartum weeks -- I'd be booking a room.

Image: rcrh.org

Breastfeeding: Stick to 10 Minutes Per Boob

Jen Chaney — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:03:00 GMT

At least, that's what a recent British study suggests. After tracking 63 mums, researchers concluded that babies who spent 10 minutes at each breast during every feeding gained more weight and were breastfed for a greater number of months. Mothers who let their babies "lead," i.e. suck at the teat until they got full, wound up with kids who didn't put on the pounds they needed during those first six to eight weeks of life. In addition, the mothers -- presumably frustrated by the lack of weight gain -- were more likely to ditch breastfeeding during the first three months post-partum.

As with all things related to boobs and the milk that leaks out of them, someone disagrees. Indeed, a breastfeeding adviser is quoted in the BBC article as saying the 10-minute theory is just wrong, wrong, wrong. She insists letting the baby lead is the superior approach since the child will let Mama know when he/she is full.

Personally, I like the 10-minute theory, if only because it limits the time spent feeding. I say this as someone who had a terrible time breastfeeding and was advised to feed my son every two hours, then pump any remaining milk and feed him again. This advice, when broken down to its most basic level, translated to: "Stop living."

That said, the research seems a little questionable in that it appears to assume every feeding goes smoothly every single time. As any suckle-source knows, that's not the case. Sometimes baby latches on and drains the liquid from its mammary dispenser with no problem. Other times, the kid may be fussy, not sucking correctly, cranky or pissed because the milk coming out of that thing still doesn't come in a variety of flavors. In those cases, 10 minutes might give the child absolutely no nourishment.

In those situations, it seems like the mom kind of has to let the baby lead. No one wants to feed for hours on end if the baby isn't getting what he/she needs. But if you cut off the child after 20 minutes regardless of the quality of feeding or signs that he/she might still be hungry, that doesn't seem like the right move either.

Maybe, as I suggested earlier today, we should just let the statues do the work.

Photo Credit: BBC.com

Pregcellent: Babies Do Come With (Hilarious) Instructions!

Kelly Mills — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:31:00 GMT

As a new parent, the whole baby thing can be overwhelming, to say the least. There's this idea we should just know how to do stuff naturally, like breastfeeding or interpreting the baby's cries correctly with little or no instruction. But of course, it isn't that instinctive. The lucky moms and dads have good relatives and friends to share parenting pearls with, and of course there's tons of books on the subject as well. But other people can get annoying with the constant advice, and the books are by and large dull as bleaugh.

That's why I think nothing is quite as good at breaking down what to do and what not to do as this site, in simple "yes" and "no" terms. I laughed for a loooong time at this. The helpful photos instantly tell you how to do so many of the essential infant things. My favorite is probably the one on bonding, but they are all pretty damn good. Like the diaper change one...Chortle snicker.