Crazy Mommy

Yesterday on 20/20 they were going to have a discussion about Extreme Motherhood. One story was about a woman who’d been a surrogate mother eight different times and another was of a woman who was still breastfeeding her four year old. The video I watched they interviewed the four year old and he described the taste of breast milk and how it made him feel when he nursed. He also said that he planned to go until he was six. For some this may seem extreme or a bit ridiculous. When given the facts about breast milk and it’s health benefits it’s hard to understand why someone would have such a problem with the length one mother is willing to go to ensure her child gets a healthy future. The 20/20 episode was bumped for another topic and I am unaware at this time when it may actually air but here is a link to a video about the episode. http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6427971 If this link does not work go to abcnews.go.com/2020 and type in the search on the top right side “extreme breastfeeding” When I find out when the show airs I’ll be sure to post it.

Here are some facts;

• Breastfed babies have fewer ear infections. Because breast milk carries germ-fighting ingredients, when a baby gets sick and he/she is nursing they are less likely to have their stuffy nose or ears turn into an infection. Many mothers have told me that when their child has an ear infection they put one or two drops of breast milk into their ear and it’s supposed to help. Breastfeeding is also supposed to help your baby get fewer colds, which means not as many stuffy noses or ears and a less likely chance for an infection.

• Breast milk also protects against things like pneumonia and meningitis, UTI’s, botulism and even salmonella. (You aren’t supposed to feed your baby under one year honey due to the possibility of botulism.)

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS. (Co-sleeping is supposed to help as well as keeping a fan in the room to help the air move around.)

• Breastfed babies are smarter! They have higher I.Q. scores and get better grades in school.

CANDIDA (THRUSH)
Some signs of thrush are;

• Sore itchy, red, burning or blistery nipples.

• Shooting pains in breast; may happen during or right after a feeding.

If you are taking medication or your baby is taking medication one of you or both of you may have thrush. Thrush can be transferred from you to your baby or visa versa. It’s important to wash your bra’s and change your nursing pads regularly. One way to tell if you’re baby has thrush is if baby has a yeasty diaper rash or cottage-cheese like patches on the inside of their mouth. In the mouth it looks like milk that wont wash away. (Don’t check after a feeding. haha) An over the counter remedy is supposed to be chlorophyll. You can typically find it for about $7. (Don’t get chlorophyll mixed with anything.) Another mother told me that if you put some onto the infected areas for about a week it should clear up right away. Make sure you wash and disinfect pacifiers and bottle nipples before each use so you’re not spreading the infection around.

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