Tag: babycenter

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News

Pushing the Breast

Breast feeding, Image by FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Breast feeding, Image by FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Michael Bloomberg the mayor of New York is demanding that hospitals in the area stop giving away free baby formula. Bloomberg and the hospitals want to promote breastfeeding with new mothers.  I do believe that breast is best but some people due to medical reasons and non-medical reasons have issues with breast feeding.

In the article, “Call to hide formula to force more mums to breastfeed!” on Kidspot.com.au, states that mothers who want formula need to have a medical reason and will get a lecture from staff on the benefits of breastfeeding.

I do agree with the Kidspot article as not everyone can or does breastfeed, this pressure to do so, can cause more PND (Post Natal Depression) and the mother feeling like a failure. I for one had issues as my babies were so small they could not latch on correctly. I had to get a nipple thingy that goes over my nipple so the babies could suck correctly.

As I had twins, I never managed to do the dual breastfeed correctly and at home I expressed my breast milk till both girls were five months, and during that time I added formula for the night feeds. This break that formula gave me was great as it allowed me to make more milk. I expressed after each formula feed in the evening to show my body that I still needed to make more milk and also drank a pint of water after each feed. This helped me a great deal.

I don’t believe that you can dictate what a mother does, breast milk or formula. It should be up to the mother and her family. The initiative according to the article will start on the 3rd of September and 27 out of 40 hospitals will partake. It will be interesting to see what the outcome of this is.

Many comments from readers on the Kidspot article say that it is not much different to Australian hospitals and I tend to agree, I was told that I was not allowed to leave until my twins were gaining weight and were all on breast milk feeds, via actual breastfeeding. As I said before, I did not dual breastfeed and that left doing it one at a time. As a new mum you are already not getting any sleep, why make it less by feeding kids one at a time, feeding the babies together maximised the time I had to do things and for them and me sleeping. It also fostered a great routine for us, pity that routine has flown out the window, but as the twins are nearly four that is probably to be expected.

I would say that the hospitals here have a negative opinion of formula but when the twins were first born they went straight into intensive care, the nurses were ringing me to ask for breast milk, but I had no idea how to get breast milk, and I only just had them. I felt harassed and just upset about the whole situation. I eventually got colostrum but that was less than 5mls, it did get better each day but I was not making much in the early days.

The NICU (Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit) fed them formula as they needed to be fed, but they did not like it, I had no other option, although one of my twins decided she hated formula and was nil by mouth. All breast milk went to her and if extra was over it went to the other baby. You work with what you are faced with, as a new mother you have no idea if you can or can’t breast feed. This is something you think you can do until you find out you have issues. Why make things worse for new mums, give them options not hurdles.

In a post called “Breast v’s Bottle” I discuss how I felt in the early days about breast feeding with twins. It is very similar to this story but more about a father using bottle feeding to help out. This week is breast feeding week a time to increase awareness and celebrate, maybe this is why we are hearing more of these pro breast feeding stories. I do think breast is best, but it is up to the individual what ends up happening. You can plan to breast feed and not be able to. What are your thoughts? Were you able to breast feed? Did you supplement with formula at some stage or was it all breast milk? Send in your comments.

 

Categories
3 years and beyond

Daredevils

Don’t know about you, most people assume that due to having girls that they nice, quiet and easy to control. I would have to say this is very wrong, most times this is true; my girls have always been energetic, and full of beans. Both girls are into everything, and are just so lively.

My girls seem to be very athletic, competitive, and want to do things that other boys do as well as girls. They love cars, trains, and building blocks, and also they are now obsessed with pink, dolls, playing with their toy prams and pretty things.  As a parent I have tried to expose my girls to everything not just the standard stereotypical things for girls (I know this is a stereotypical gift, I have purchased a dolls house for their fourth birthday, they really wanted one. But at the same time they are also getting a train set – Don’t tell them as it is a surprise).  I think if the child is interested or shows a skill in something this should be explored, and if you have the money sign up for a course for the child.

Currently Lillian has wanted to climb the living room walls; I did put a stop to this, but her feet and hands were the same as the rock climbers. It got me thinking, would she like to do some rock climbing? – Not actual rock climbing but in an indoor centre. We have one local and would love to see if she and her sister might be interested.

Both girls jump and are very into wrestling each other and especially daddy when he is home, not sure if this is a bonding exercise or just a bit of fun, maybe both.  At playgroup the other day, they climbed up on a table and proceeded to jump off it. They were high when jumping, the coordinator and I moved the pillows so that they had a nice soft landing. When we go to the pool, the girls jump into the pool and as they are small everyone looks on in amazement, most comments after this is that they are risk takers and brave little girls. The girls come out with giggles and laughter and just have a ball.

Some interesting links about this issue:

My girls have been talking from an early age, and also to walking, however a lot of other kids do the same. I believe it is up to the individual child at what age they do something and what skills or interests that child might have. As stated, my girls are very active, so I try and give them activities that will help with this need to be active, going to the park, playing with their bikes, running, swimming and so on. I am would like to try the indoor climbing centre, not sure if they will like it, but keen to give both girls the experience.

I am not sure why this is so amazing to see girls behave this way, and parents of boys that I have spoken with show that my girls are doing the same things their boys are doing. As a parent to girls, and never having boys, I don’t see where the difference lies (maybe with the pretty things, obsession about pink and dolls). Do you have girls? Are they daredevils? Do they get comments from other parents about their fun, energetic behaviour?  Do you have a boy and is the boy doing the same as the girl, or vice versa? Send in your comments.

Categories
3 years and beyond

Cloning me would fix everything

One of the downsides to having two kids at once is the fact that you are one person. There are times that both children want to be on your lap and don’t want the other child to be there.  This then causes fights, pushing, scratching and you guessed it a full melt down with tears and screaming. I must admit that this is hard and upsetting as you want to cuddle both, but also spend some quality time with each child.

So how do you handle moments like this? Well I personally end up with both kids on my lap, and then it ends up changing between one and the other. This is due to the fact that one might come and go, so this gives me the ability to just have one sitting with me.  Although there are moments when I have had to say, “I am sorry, mummy is one person and she can cuddle both of you, or you can take turns”, this was not understood early on, but I think it might be know the girls are older.

Today is a prime example of the girls not wanting to share me, I had Julia on my lap and then Lillian wanted to have a cuddle as well. They were both jostling for position, and pushing the other out of the way. It is nice to feel so loved, however it makes me sad that I cannot have more quality time with each child.

When my husband is around, in the evenings and weekends, the girls are able to have more one on one time with each of us. I don’t think they want for this kind of attention, but there are times when they are both extra cuddly and demand it. There are also moments when one child is more inclined to be with me while the other is off doing other things, this is good as you can spend that time with one child, and not have the fights for your attention.  I suppose this is one of the perils of having twins and being a mother to them. It is a hard balance.

The girls have done some different things with mummy and daddy lately and I feel that this is helping them.  Here are some suggestions for dealing with being each child for one on one time:

  • When one of you pops out to run errands take one child and the other stays with the other parent/carer
  • Day care for one child so you can have time with the other child and then vice versa for the other child. My girls like to be together and separating them would be devastating for them, so we have not done this. They are extremely close.  We are hoping that with school and different interests this might change.
  • Have an interest that you and the child share, a sport/hobby.
  • If you have friends/relatives that lend a helping hand this is great, this way you can see if you can have some time with one child and switch next time.
  • Giving your child a break from their sibling is a good idea, as this helps them develop.   It is also good ideas as my girls are always together, I am sure that this causes arguments. You want a break from people so why not your children as well.
  • The time alone or away from the other child creates privacy and allows the child to be unique. As my girls are identical this is very important for me.  We are trying to foster more time like this. Although it is hard when I am on my own all week, and only have help in the evening and on the weekends.

Some websites that might be of help:

How do you manage to get one on one time with your twins? It does not need to be just twins; maybe you had kids close together and have the same issue? Send in your tips and tricks so we can all learn.

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