Healing Hearts - Baby Loss Comfort

I think it's really hard to know what to say when you know that someones baby may not make it, or if the baby does pass away. Emotions are running high anyhow. A loss is devastating!

I felt this way over the summer when I knew my sister's baby was going to have problems. He stopped breathing many times. Somehow my nephew that has many odds against him, is now over 4 months old.

At the time, I didn't know what to say. She is my sister, and I didn't know how to comfort her. Nothing can prepare you for those days ahead.

If someone losses a baby, it is a major loss. I'm not sure all people can understand this. Some, especially people that have never carried a baby see it like this, "They can try again." Like it's no big deal. It's a huge deal! The parents worry that the same scenario could happen again.

A woman carries a baby in her for 9 months. There is a bond established. Daddy and Mommy had a chance to feel the baby move. Both parents got to see the ultrasound and get pictures.

Talking about the baby helps. Many wonder, "How do I talk about a life I never knew?"

Healing Hearts - Baby Loss Comfort is a great resource to go for baby loss.

What to say:

• Many parents have a hard time knowing what to do, they are lacking on sleep and their minds are all over the place during a situation like this. You can offer to call people for them.
• Let them know it's ok to cry.
• Let them know that their child was unique, special and irreplaceable.
• Talk to them about what their baby was like, even if they only knew the baby when they were inside the womb.
• Offer to help them sort through the baby's clothes, toys and furniture when they are ready. Do not push them to do this.
• If they have other kids, offer to take them out. This is one thing I did a lot of with my nephews.
• Offer to run errands for them.
• Tell them to be patient with themselves and give themselves time to heal. Let them know that there are no rules about grieving.
• Offer to take care of the siblings during the funeral.
• Talk about their  pregnancy and baby.
• Don't forget. They may not be ready to talk right away. Talk later on. Take them out to lunch.
• Give them a list of support groups for when they are ready.

What not to say:

• Don't make it sound like it was meant to be, or God's will.
• Don't mention that their baby is in a better place. To the Mom, the best place is with her!
• Don't rush the experience. Death is not something that can be rushed. Let them hold their baby if they pass, take photos. Time does not heal all wounds.
• Don't talk about how you know how they feel. (Unless you have personally experienced the loss of a baby.)
• Don't talk about their other children being all that they need. Each child is different.
• Don't mention how it could have been worse. Each death experience is hard in it's own way.

Sources: 
Grieving Resources
Remembering Baby

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Growth Spurts

I remember when my oldest child had his first growth spurt. I was breastfeeding him. He ate so much! I thought for sure there was no way my breasts could produce enough milk for him!

Babies on average triple their birth weight in the first year. *Your Child's Growth

Usually when a baby gets sick they do one of two things: They don't want very much milk at all, or they breastfeed out of comfort. My boys did both. The times where they didn't want to breastfeed, my supply got really low. When they were on their upswings, they went through a growth spurt. Again I felt like I didn't have enough milk for them. Somehow a woman's body seems to compensate for their baby in need. It's so common to worry about not being able to produce enough milk.

After the first year I was expecting my children to still grow rapidly. They still grew, but their growth slowed way down.  It seemed like small growth spurts with a big one thrown in every now and then.

Now my children are older. Isaak is now 3 and Mica is 6. My 3 year old is going through a growth spurt. He is eating everything we give him and then some! One thing my husband noticed is that Isaak wets the bed when he is in the midst of a growth spurt. Our other son did this to. They consume so much throughout the day and go to the bathroom like normal. The fluids in their food have to come out of their bodies somehow. We go from many dry nights to accidents like crazy, then back to being dry again. It's a cycle that a child can not help.

A few things you can do to help: 

• Limit liquids in the evening or at night.
• Take your child potty right before you go to bed. We take Isaak potty around 10 pm.
• Don't go back to diapers. Keep your child in underwear or panties. If you are not wanting to change the sheets; put a diaper on the outside. Gerber sells plastic training pants that we put on the outside of underwear. You want them to feel that they are wet. We also have padded blankets that we put on his bed; this way we don't have to wash all the bedding if he does happen to leak. 

Snacks for Kids

One snack I think that would be great to try is Giddy Dip 'Ems! Life in the Lost World is giving 2 winners a chance to win this snack!

“What makes eating fun for kids? Playing with their food! Based in San Francisco, giddy is an all-natural snack company that proves wholesome snacking doesn’t have to be boring or bland through its all natural snacktivities – interactive snacks that are dipped, peeled, spread or created. Time constrained moms love that giddy is a convenient on the go snack option free of high fructose corn syrup, preservatives and artificial ingredients, and kids love the great taste and fun formats!"

Other Fast Snack Ideas:

• Cut up carrot sticks
• Snap peas
• Grapes
• Bunny Cracker
• Pretzel Crisps

Lactation Cookies

These are great because they are healthy, will help everyone in the house, not just baby and mom!

Want to make some on your own?

Here's a great recipe! 

Milk Trays

I feel like Milk Trays are the way to go with freezing breastmilk.

I happened to use Orka Ice Cube Trays when I froze my milk. They to have lids and were BPA free. I liked that they had silicone bottoms and were different colors. The variety of colors helped me to see which one I pumped first and last. The negatives were that they were not as thin as the Milk Trays. Thin = less time to thaw out when baby is hungry. If you pump a lot, you may have more milk then will fit into the trays. If I were a new mom today, I'd get both Orka Ice Cube Trays and Milk Trays. Orka Ice Cube Trays were really nice for baby food! The color really helped me to the differences between foods that I made. Sometimes foods look exactly alike when in cube form. I think Milk Trays would be better for milk!

Source

Source

I've tried multiple ways of freezing milk. The bags take longer to thaw out. Then the seems leak milk.

With this system you can drop the frozen milk into drop in liners, or stainless steel bottles. They thaw quicker, with little to no mess.

Just Some Features:

• BPA and Phthalate free.
• Made from a medical-grade plastic.
• Designed by working and breastfeeding moms. 
• 16 (8 in each try) cavities that each equal one ounce. I like this because you know how much you are getting out before you thaw the milk.  
• You buy 1 unit that has 2 trays and 2 lids for $21.95 at Mom4Life. No tax or shipping costs. 
• The 2 trays stack easily. 
• Fits through all bottle openings.  
• Made in the USA

Right now Mom4Life is giving away a set of Milk Trays. Go there to enter!

EZ Sox Review

One thing I have found difficult with both my children is teaching them how to dress themselves. I felt really good last year because my youngest Isaak knew how to put on his socks. Since summer came, he hardly wore socks. Isaak forgot how to put socks on. I found myself reteaching him this task. Ez Sox really helps out!

They sent Isaak a pair of their bear socks to try out. 

You can see that Isaak hasn't totally mastered putting his socks on. He is super close to getting the hang of it!

I love that these socks have handles! It makes putting them on so much easier.

Ez Sox encourages imaginative play with their animal socks. Isaak saw that his socks had bears on them and wanted to pretend to be a bear.

Ez Sox has a lot of other animal socks to choose from. If you are not an animal lover, they have solid socks as well.

Right now if you buy a pair of their socks, they will donate socks to Clothes 4 Souls. Every purchase online will help a child out.

From now until November 30 Ez Sox is giving my readers a discount. That means you will get 50% off your order by liking them on Twitter and Facebook. You will see your coupon code on their Facebook page.

These socks could make excellent stocking stuffers for Christmas time!!!

Disclaimer: 

The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. EZ Soxs provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustrationAThotmailDOTcom  

Earth Mama Angel Baby Booby Tubes Review and Giveaway

I'm so happy to bring this giveaway to my readers!!! Booby Tubes by Earth Mama Angel Baby is a new product to me. They are an amazing set of tubes that help ease the symptoms mastitis, engorgement and clogged milk ducts.

The product is natural, gel-fee, microwavable and freezable breast packs in organic cotton shells, filled with all-natural flax seed.

My sister tried Booby Tubes out. She's struggled a lot with nursing Emerson. He's a special needs baby. Much of the time he won't nurse, so she pumps a lot! Then he's fed Mommy Milk through a NG tube. That takes a lot of time. She said that Booby Tubes are super soft. When I looked at her, I didn't even know she had them in her bra. If you are a full time working Mom with a sit down job, no one will even see you wearing booby tubes.

How to use your Booby Tubes:

Cool: Store in the freezer and wear inside your bra between feedings. Use for engorgement tenderness and during weaning.

Warm: Microwave for 20 to 40 seconds and apply to breasts five minutes before feeding or pumping. Microwave settings vary, so keep testing the temperature. Or preheat the oven to the lowest setting and place in an oven-safe dish (away from the heating element) for 10-15 minutes. Use to encourage let-down and milk flow, help prevent clogged milk ducts and comfort mastitis.

How to Clean Your Booby Tubes:

Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Mama Says:

Engorgement is often confused with mastits (both are uncomfortable!). Symptoms of mastits include malaise, fever, chills, and/or hardness or redness of the breasts, and can become serious quickly. If symptoms of mastitis are present consult your health care provider immediately. Continue nursing as usual.

Now for the giveaway. One US or Canadian winner is going to win a set of Booby Tubes from Earth Mama Angel Baby!

1. For your first mandatory entry, check out Earth Mama Angel Baby and tell me what product you'd love to have or give as a gift! {Leave your email with this first entry}

All other entries are optional. You do not need to leave your email with additional entries.
 
2. Google Friend this blog. {Leave one comment}
3. Add my Milking the Issue button to your site. Leave me your site link. {Leave one comment}
4. Become an email subscriber. You do need to verify. {Leave three comments} 

5. {Like} Earth Mama Angel Baby on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in your entry. {Leave one comment}
6. {Like} Apel Mom on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in your entry. {Leave one comment}
7. {Connect up} with Earth Mama on Twitter. Leave your Twitter name in your entry. {Leave one comment}

8. {Connect up} with Me on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway. Leave your Twitter name in your entry. {Leave one comment}
9. Leave a comment on a non giveaway post. Let me know the title of the post you comment on. You are free to leave many comments, but only one entry for this giveaway. {Leave one comment}
10. Blog about this giveaway. Link back to Milking the Issue and Earth Mama Angel Baby. {Leave a link. Leave five separate comments}

This contest closes in 2 weeks, October 30 at 10 pm. This is open to US and Canadian Readers. The winner has 48 hours to claim their prize. Winners are chosen using random.org.

Disclaimer: The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustrationAThotmailDOTcom

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cute or prevent any disease.

News

Such a cool way to introduce a baby!

News from Don Rob on Vimeo.

I'm Sorry

To me it's very important to apologize to my children when I'm in the wrong. I think a lot of parents out there are too stubborn to admit that they too make mistakes. It's also hard to calm yourself down in the heat of a moment. We are focused on our anger more then how to be better person.

Kids learn from their parents. Many behavior traits that you have, they mimic.

Here are a few things to consider: 

1. Think about how you could have handled a situation in a different way.
2. Replay what happened in your mind.
3. Think about it from your child's perspective.
4. Imagine how your child feels. Ex: Are they scared of you? Did you hurt them? 
5. This is when it's time to communicate steps 1-4 to your child. Follow through. You will in the long run have an understanding of your child and yourself.
6. Now that you both are on talking terms, this is the time to tell your child, "I'm sorry." If they did something wrong, explain that they need to apologize to you as well.

Now that you know how your child feels and they know how you feel, you both can grow into being better people. They will be better about apologizing. They will look up to you for apologizing to them.

In the end you need to forgive yourself. Mistakes happen. We're all human. Know that you are not a horrible mother; just a better one for admitting that you were in the wrong.

Personal Example: My Three year old was really testing me. He was not getting in the car. The boy dawdles a lot. It seems to be common place for him to move slow and insist that he gets himself in his car seat. Instead of understanding that time means very little to him, I was irritated with him. I picked him up and harshly put him in his car seat. When I did that, I bumped his head. Did I mean to bump his head? No! Did I feel bad? Yes and no. At the moment I was thinking, "That's what you get for moving so slow!" I didn't say that by the way! I felt that way until I started thinking about his perspective and replayed the situation in my head. Once he calmed down we had a talk. I apologized. Then he apologized.

It doesn't matter what age your child is. Apologizing is a lot like learning the words, "Thank you" and "Please." You have to start somewhere.

Dressing Up is Fun

Even for babies:



Baby Loving Mama is giving away one of these sweet outfits from Corner Stork Baby Gifts and More. I love that these outfits are fun, yet not bulky or make it difficult to put them in a car seat!

Want to Win a $25 GC to My Baby Clothes Boutique?

Enter here to win on my other site!

My Baby Clothes Boutique sent me FORE Braid Two Tone Fedora to review. It's so cute!

This is such a classic hat. It makes my little boy stylish! Fedoras are back! This hat is made to last. The material inside is so soft. 

I have to admit that I had a hard time deciding what to buy at My Baby Clothes Boutique. I love all their baby hats! I had to go through 10 of them with Daddy before we decided what to get.

My Baby Clothes Boutique has such cute baby head bands, baby clothes and if I had a little girl I'd be first in line to get one of their adorable tutus!

Enter to win a $25 GC to My Baby Clothes Boutique at Planet of the Apels.

Green Earth Bamboo

I love the feeling bamoo! My youngest son has a crib sheet made out of bamboo.  It's so soft to the touch!

My Organized Chaos is giving away a $50 coupon to Green Earth Bamboo.

Check out some of these cute little finds:

KidzMed VeraTemp Non-Contact Thermometer Review and a Giveaway on My Other Blog!

I am hosting a giveaway for one of my Planet of the Apels readers to win a KidzMed VeraTemp Non-Contact Thermometer! Just click here to enter.

American Scientific Resources sent me KidzMed VeraTemp™ Non-Contact Thermometer to review and giveaway.

Fever:

I took my babies temperatures a few times a day at different stages just to know what their normal temp was. When something seemed off I knew what their temp should be. They have no way of telling you that they are not feeling good other then to be fussy. If you are ever concerned, call your doctor right away! Many offices have an on-call nurse for in the middle of the night concerns.
  
If I knew something like KidzMed VeraTemp™ Non-Contact Thermometer existed when my kids were babies, I would have gotten one! I'm so glad to review and give one away!

Reading Body Temperature:

1. Choose Centigrade or Fahrenheit.
2. Press MODE until the word Body appears in the display.
3. This is the cool part! With the thermometer positioned about 2 to 3 inches, or about 3 fingers width away from the forehead, press the SCAN button. The temperature is displayed instantly.

What we like about KidzMed VeraTemp™ Non-Contact Thermometer:

• My son likes that he doesn't have to put it in his mouth for it to read his temperature. You can take their temp without waking them up from a deep sleep.
• This is super cool: It has multiple uses. Sure it takes your child's temp. It also takes the nursery, formula, breastmilk, bath and food temps as well!
• It is pediatrician recommended.
• It has automatic shut off. 
• The package comes with instructions, batteries and a small bag to put your thermometer in!

Go here to win one!

Disclaimer: 

The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. American Scientific Resources provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustrationAThotmailDOTcom