My daughter has been on more flights in the first six months of her life than I was on in the first 20 years of mine! How crazy is that!
We live in Baltimore, Maryland, but call Ontario, Canada home. Before Lilah was born, my husband and I would drive the roughly 10 hours back and forth. Lilah was born in Ontario so we drove when we came back to Baltimore when she was just a month old, but at that time she was still sleeping more than she was awake and slept most of the way (we also stayed the night in a hotel and did the drive over two days). Since then, we have yet to brave the trip in the car because Lilah is older and more active and would need more frequent stops making the 10 hour drive significantly longer. Instead, we have been flying back and forth when we travel home.
Lilah and I flew alone for the first trip back when she was about 4.5 months old. I was a little stressed out about travelling alone with an infant. I was worried about whether or not she would sleep, if and when she would eat and where I was going to feed her, if she would have trouble with her ears on the plane, if she would cry on the plane...and the list went on. Looking back, I really didn't need to worry so much (which is the way it usually plays out).
It was an exhausting day...30 minute drive to the airport, 1.5 hours waiting for our flight, 1.5 hour flight, 30 minutes waiting for baggage, 2 hour drive home. Despite the fact that it was a long day for both of us, Lilah was FANTASTIC! She stuck fairly closely to her normal eating and sleeping schedule which was great. On our first flight, I was lucky enough to find a seat between two very nice women who were helpful and accommodating. I wanted to breastfeed as the plane was taking off to make sure Lilah didn't have any problems with her ears. The woman to my left was more than happy to have Lilah's feet dangling over her lap and the woman to my right was great about trying to shield me a little so I didn't expose myself to the other passengers.
I started to feed Lilah a little too early and she was actually finished nursing before the plane took off. Even though she has never had a pacifier before, I gave one to her just as added assurance. She sucked on it a little, but was soon fast asleep. She slept for just over half of the flight and when she woke up, she was perfectly content to play on my lap for the duration. She did start to get a little antsy toward the end of the flight because it is pretty tight quarters when you are travelling with a lap baby (as a side note, make sure you do a diaper change before you board because there is NO space to do it once you are on the plane unless you are travelling with another person that can help).
On the way back, I wasn't as lucky in my seat choice. I ended up sitting beside a rather antisocial man who seemed slightly annoyed that he was seated next to a baby. I attempted to nurse as the plane was taking off, but again, Lilah was finished before lift-off. She took the pacifier a little more eagerly the second time and again didn't seem to have any problems with her ears. She did cry more during this flight because she was a little overtired and was having trouble falling asleep. She did eventually sleep and the rest of the trip was a breeze.
We recently took the same trip as a family which was much more relaxing! Having a second pair of hands was great! I had the same game plan for this trip (to nurse during take-off, then offer a pacifier) which worked about the same as the last time. Lilah slept during both flights, but had a lot of trouble falling asleep during the flight back to Baltimore which was a little stressful for my husband and I. I was trying not to be stressed out and kept telling myself that it didn't matter what anyone else thought, but it was a challenge never the less (I am not sure which was more stressful for my husband...the crying or having to watch Lilah as she stood on my lap with her hands on either side of the window looking like she was going to jump out of the plane. It was really quite amusing to see my husband squirm in his seat as if she could actually fall out of the plane).
Funny story...
As we were sitting on the plane waiting to take off on our way to Detroit, we noticed a beeping noise. We didn't think much of it until other people on the plane started to ask "What is that beeping?" Everyone started checking their phones and other electronic devices. We don't have a cell phone so didn't think it could possibly be us, but my husband picked up his carry on bag just to check. Sure enough, the beeping was coming from our carry on bag! We had packed Lilah's baby monitor in our carry on bag so that it wouldn't get broken in our checked luggage. It is set to sense her movements when she is sleeping and alarm us when there is none. The switch had accidentally been flipped when we boarded the plane and because it was not hooked up to the sensor pad, the alarm was going off. It was quite funny, but a little alarming to the other passengers on the plane, especially because in the midst of the searching for the mysterious beeping noise, my husband blurts out "It sounds like it is coming from the wing!" Nice one dear!
Showing posts with label pacifier. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pacifier. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Pacifier Use vs. Thumb Sucking
There are several very hotly debated parenting issues out there, one of them being the thumb-sucking vs. pacifier use debate. I personally chose to go the thumb-sucking route and, therefore, this post will come across as biased toward thumb-sucking. That being said, if you have decided to go the pacifier route, I don't think that you made the wrong decision and by posting on this topic I am by no means trying to suggest that.
The Research
Both the World Health Organization and the United Nation's Children's Fund are but two organizations that strongly discourage the use of pacifiers because it is perceived that their use leads to early weaning in breastfed babies. There are numerous studies that support this perception which suggest that pacifier use is associated with fewer and shorter feeds and a shorter duration of breastfeeding, but that the same correlations are not found for thumb-sucking.
More recently, research has begun to suggest that rather than pacifier use being the cause of early weaning, it is a marker for breastfeeding problems or a reduced motivation to breastfeed. Generally speaking, mothers who introduce pacifiers tended to be those that breastfeed less often and experienced breastfeeding problems rather than pacifier use being the cause.
Although research now suggests that pacifier use does not cause early weaning, there are a number of other factors to consider when making the decision of which to use.
Which is easier to give up?
There are those that believe getting rid of the pacifier is easier because you are in control and can simply throw the pacifier away whereas the same can not be done with a thumb which is in the baby's control.
There are others (like myself) that believe giving up the thumb will naturally occur as long as a baby's sucking needs are appropriately met during early infancy.
Being a new mom, I have no experience with either situation. It will be interesting to see if and when my daughter naturally gives up her thumb.
The Pros and Cons (Okay, so there are only cons for the pacifier...LOL!)
Pacifiers
Pacifiers can be beneficial for getting through the period of time when babies experience an intense need to suck. Around the 2 month mark, my daughter had a week where she seemed to want to suck around the clock. I tried to nurse her as often as she wanted, but I started to feel like a human pacifier. It was pretty intense and my husband and I debated giving her a pacifier at this time. It was tough to get though the week without it, but when the week was over, the intense need to suck seemed to disappear.
Pacifiers can also be a sanity saver with very colicky babies when you need a break from the crying or when flying to help baby's ears to pop.
But...
Pacifiers used at bedtime to put baby to sleep can interfere with baby learning to fall asleep on his/her own. In addition, sleep could be interrupted if the pacifier falls out in the night and baby can't fall back asleep without it (unless you are planning on getting up to put it back in).
It has been found that infants that use a pacifier long-term (into toddler hood) are more likely to have ear infections and develop misaligned teeth than those that are not given one.
I also personally dislike the way a pacifier looks in a baby's mouth. When we do give my daughter a pacifier when we fly, she doesn't even look like my baby.
The Thumb
The thumb is always there when baby needs it and can easily be taken out when baby wants to communicate. Enough said, I honestly can't think of any disadvantages.
I don't think using a pacifier occasionally is a bad thing. If you do go the pacifier route, make sure you use it in moderation, only when baby really seems to need it and don't offer it past the 6 month mark to prevent dependence. Please don't become one of those parents that puts in the pacifier at the slightest hint of fussiness rather than consoling and trying to figure out what is actually wrong with baby and don't use it to put baby to sleep instead of cuddling. Your baby needs you, not a substitute.
The Research
Both the World Health Organization and the United Nation's Children's Fund are but two organizations that strongly discourage the use of pacifiers because it is perceived that their use leads to early weaning in breastfed babies. There are numerous studies that support this perception which suggest that pacifier use is associated with fewer and shorter feeds and a shorter duration of breastfeeding, but that the same correlations are not found for thumb-sucking.
More recently, research has begun to suggest that rather than pacifier use being the cause of early weaning, it is a marker for breastfeeding problems or a reduced motivation to breastfeed. Generally speaking, mothers who introduce pacifiers tended to be those that breastfeed less often and experienced breastfeeding problems rather than pacifier use being the cause.
Although research now suggests that pacifier use does not cause early weaning, there are a number of other factors to consider when making the decision of which to use.
Which is easier to give up?
There are those that believe getting rid of the pacifier is easier because you are in control and can simply throw the pacifier away whereas the same can not be done with a thumb which is in the baby's control.
There are others (like myself) that believe giving up the thumb will naturally occur as long as a baby's sucking needs are appropriately met during early infancy.
Being a new mom, I have no experience with either situation. It will be interesting to see if and when my daughter naturally gives up her thumb.
The Pros and Cons (Okay, so there are only cons for the pacifier...LOL!)
Pacifiers
Pacifiers can be beneficial for getting through the period of time when babies experience an intense need to suck. Around the 2 month mark, my daughter had a week where she seemed to want to suck around the clock. I tried to nurse her as often as she wanted, but I started to feel like a human pacifier. It was pretty intense and my husband and I debated giving her a pacifier at this time. It was tough to get though the week without it, but when the week was over, the intense need to suck seemed to disappear.
Pacifiers can also be a sanity saver with very colicky babies when you need a break from the crying or when flying to help baby's ears to pop.
But...
Pacifiers used at bedtime to put baby to sleep can interfere with baby learning to fall asleep on his/her own. In addition, sleep could be interrupted if the pacifier falls out in the night and baby can't fall back asleep without it (unless you are planning on getting up to put it back in).
It has been found that infants that use a pacifier long-term (into toddler hood) are more likely to have ear infections and develop misaligned teeth than those that are not given one.
I also personally dislike the way a pacifier looks in a baby's mouth. When we do give my daughter a pacifier when we fly, she doesn't even look like my baby.
The Thumb
The thumb is always there when baby needs it and can easily be taken out when baby wants to communicate. Enough said, I honestly can't think of any disadvantages.
I don't think using a pacifier occasionally is a bad thing. If you do go the pacifier route, make sure you use it in moderation, only when baby really seems to need it and don't offer it past the 6 month mark to prevent dependence. Please don't become one of those parents that puts in the pacifier at the slightest hint of fussiness rather than consoling and trying to figure out what is actually wrong with baby and don't use it to put baby to sleep instead of cuddling. Your baby needs you, not a substitute.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The Early Days of Breastfeeding
There a several myths out there regarding things you can do to get your nipples ready for breastfeeding. Myths are exactly what they are. There is nothing you can or need to do to get your nipples ready for breastfeeding. The only recommended steps are:
1) Wear a supportive bra (nursing or otherwise) without underwire. Bras with underwire have been known to lead to plugged milk ducts and breast infections. I personally found any bra with underwire to be very uncomfortable in the last months of pregnancy anyway and could not imagine having worn one in the early weeks of breastfeeding. I found cotton nursing bras without any bells and whistles to be the most comfortable. As I mentioned in an earlier post, you may want to buy at least one nursing bra ahead of time. It is generally safe to buy one towards the end of your pregnancy because your breast size will not significantly change any more. You will eventually need more than one, but you can hold off buying more until you decided which ones you like.
2) Avoid washing your nipples with soap when you are in the shower as this can dry them out.
That's it! There isn't anything else you can/should do.
One of the most important things you can do to get ready for breastfeeding is educate yourself about what to expect and what is normal and abnormal. The more educated you are, the more enjoyable your breastfeeding experience will be. I highly recommend the book The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins.
It is also a good idea to attend a prenatal breastfeeding class. I did a lot of reading beforehand so I didn't really learn anything new from the class, but they provide you will a ton of resources in your community that you can access of you have any questions or problems.
Breastfeeding can be one the most amazing experiences of your life. The bond that it creates between you and your baby is incredibly rewarding. I have had a wonderful experience and absolutely love it. That being said, breastfeeding is by no means easy and it requires a huge commitment on your part.
The first few days are particularly hard. Initially, just getting baby to latch on properly is a big challenge. Although babies are born with the rooting reflex, both you and your baby have to learn how to breastfeed. The nurses in the hospital should help you with this because it is really difficult to manage holding your newborn baby and getting him or her to latch on to your nipple all at the same time (I would recommend a Boppy pillow). Don't get frustrated because after only a few nursing, things start to get easier.
As a side note, make sure you let the nurses know that you want to breastfeed for the first time as soon as possible after giving birth. Infants are usually incredibly eager to suck within the first two hours after birth and this is a perfect time to get the learning ball rolling. Studies have shown that the longer you wait, the less successful breastfeeding will be. Also be sure to avoid giving your baby a pacifier in the early days of nursing. This can lead to all kinds of nursing problems such as latching problems and early weaning and ear infections down the road (more on pacifier use later).
Until your milk comes in (generally 3-4 days postpartum), your baby will be drinking colostrum. This is thick and yellow and it is the most important substance you will ever feed your baby. It provides your newborn with all kinds of antibodies, prevents bacteria from entering baby's intestines, stimulates baby's bowels and can reduce jaundice just to name a few of the benefits. It may not seem like your newborn is eating very much, but know that a newborn's stomach is very small and they are getting what they need.
Newborn babies need anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes to complete a feeding. There is a lot of misinformation out there about this topic. Do not restrict your nursing time. Many people believe this helps to reduce nipple soreness, but that is not the case. Sore nipples are caused by improper positioning. There is no truth to the myth that it takes the a certain amount of time for the breast to empty either. You should let your baby nurse for as long as he/she wants. Not doing so will frustrate your baby and can lead to more engorgement down the road. When your baby is finished, he or she will let you know by letting go of your nipple. This is the absolute best way to end a feeding. If you do need to break the suction for some reason, make sure you do it properly by sliding your baby finger into the corner of your baby's mouth until you hear the release. You will be amazed at how strong the latch can be and if you don't break suction properly it will hurt!
Until your milk comes, your newborn will be nursing very frequently. At a minimum you should make sure you are nursing at least 8 times in a 24 hour period. The general rule of thumb is don't let your baby go more than 3 hours between feedings during the day and more than 4 hours during the night. This means you may have to wake your baby if he or she is very sleepy which newborns tend to be in the early days. When your milk comes in it is very important to make sure you are nursing every couple of hours to ensure a good milk supply. When your milk comes in, be prepared. This can be an rough 24-48 hour period. More on that in my next post!
1) Wear a supportive bra (nursing or otherwise) without underwire. Bras with underwire have been known to lead to plugged milk ducts and breast infections. I personally found any bra with underwire to be very uncomfortable in the last months of pregnancy anyway and could not imagine having worn one in the early weeks of breastfeeding. I found cotton nursing bras without any bells and whistles to be the most comfortable. As I mentioned in an earlier post, you may want to buy at least one nursing bra ahead of time. It is generally safe to buy one towards the end of your pregnancy because your breast size will not significantly change any more. You will eventually need more than one, but you can hold off buying more until you decided which ones you like.
2) Avoid washing your nipples with soap when you are in the shower as this can dry them out.
That's it! There isn't anything else you can/should do.
One of the most important things you can do to get ready for breastfeeding is educate yourself about what to expect and what is normal and abnormal. The more educated you are, the more enjoyable your breastfeeding experience will be. I highly recommend the book The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins.
It is also a good idea to attend a prenatal breastfeeding class. I did a lot of reading beforehand so I didn't really learn anything new from the class, but they provide you will a ton of resources in your community that you can access of you have any questions or problems.
Breastfeeding can be one the most amazing experiences of your life. The bond that it creates between you and your baby is incredibly rewarding. I have had a wonderful experience and absolutely love it. That being said, breastfeeding is by no means easy and it requires a huge commitment on your part.
The first few days are particularly hard. Initially, just getting baby to latch on properly is a big challenge. Although babies are born with the rooting reflex, both you and your baby have to learn how to breastfeed. The nurses in the hospital should help you with this because it is really difficult to manage holding your newborn baby and getting him or her to latch on to your nipple all at the same time (I would recommend a Boppy pillow). Don't get frustrated because after only a few nursing, things start to get easier.
As a side note, make sure you let the nurses know that you want to breastfeed for the first time as soon as possible after giving birth. Infants are usually incredibly eager to suck within the first two hours after birth and this is a perfect time to get the learning ball rolling. Studies have shown that the longer you wait, the less successful breastfeeding will be. Also be sure to avoid giving your baby a pacifier in the early days of nursing. This can lead to all kinds of nursing problems such as latching problems and early weaning and ear infections down the road (more on pacifier use later).
Until your milk comes in (generally 3-4 days postpartum), your baby will be drinking colostrum. This is thick and yellow and it is the most important substance you will ever feed your baby. It provides your newborn with all kinds of antibodies, prevents bacteria from entering baby's intestines, stimulates baby's bowels and can reduce jaundice just to name a few of the benefits. It may not seem like your newborn is eating very much, but know that a newborn's stomach is very small and they are getting what they need.
Newborn babies need anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes to complete a feeding. There is a lot of misinformation out there about this topic. Do not restrict your nursing time. Many people believe this helps to reduce nipple soreness, but that is not the case. Sore nipples are caused by improper positioning. There is no truth to the myth that it takes the a certain amount of time for the breast to empty either. You should let your baby nurse for as long as he/she wants. Not doing so will frustrate your baby and can lead to more engorgement down the road. When your baby is finished, he or she will let you know by letting go of your nipple. This is the absolute best way to end a feeding. If you do need to break the suction for some reason, make sure you do it properly by sliding your baby finger into the corner of your baby's mouth until you hear the release. You will be amazed at how strong the latch can be and if you don't break suction properly it will hurt!
Until your milk comes, your newborn will be nursing very frequently. At a minimum you should make sure you are nursing at least 8 times in a 24 hour period. The general rule of thumb is don't let your baby go more than 3 hours between feedings during the day and more than 4 hours during the night. This means you may have to wake your baby if he or she is very sleepy which newborns tend to be in the early days. When your milk comes in it is very important to make sure you are nursing every couple of hours to ensure a good milk supply. When your milk comes in, be prepared. This can be an rough 24-48 hour period. More on that in my next post!
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