Today’s breastfeeding week fact is: Breastfeeding saves an average of $3,000-$6,000 in one year!

There is a $3,000 discrepancy because more and more babies are developing allergies to shelf brand formulas. Because of this, specialty formulas, by prescription only, are the only option left. These types of formula can average around $45 for ONE can, which is normally only about 7-10 feedings!!!

In honor of breastfeeding week, here is your breastfeeding fact of the day: Mothers who breastfeed increase their baby’s immunity by 73%!!!

A mother gives her baby the most beneficial dose of these immune boosting antibodies within the first 4 days of nursing through colostrum. Never again will her body make this type of milk and never again will her baby be able to get these amazing antibodies!

It’s been a little over a week that my husband has been back at work. Well, back working in an actual office, as in away from me…So, I have had pity parties for myself almost every day and have cried off and on while reminiscing over all the great things I had received from him working from home. I would think of how nice it was to wake up beside him, get up together and drink coffee while both sitting on the couch. He would work on his computer and I would gaze over at him and sigh in contentment. We would run to the store to help each other shop with the kids. It was wonderful to go to lunch either with the kids, as a family, or just the two of us while they were at PDO. The days the kids were gone we would sit together in the living room, cuddling on his lunch break and just be happy. Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating a little, maybe it wasn’t quite that peaceful. Maybe the kids ran wild quite often and it was hard for me to keep them quiet and for him to concentrate. There were times arguments started because I kept asking too many questions while he worked. There were times he wanted to throw all of us outside and lock the doors but come on, IT WAS NICE HIM BEING HOME! He would help me get the kids in and out of the car when I had to go somewhere. There was an extra pair of eyes keeping the kids out of trouble (when he wasn’t in full programming mode), an extra pair of hands to wipe booties or whatever. Bottom line, I enjoyed it!! And just like that, my world was swept out from under me because he got a job offer that was better that the previous…

You can not begin to know what kind of a test it was for me to handle this as the Godly, supportive wife I needed to be. OH, how I wanted to say, “Nope, sorry, that doesn’t work for me.” Not to brag (because I am fully aware I’ve had my pity parties and made it known how awful my life was going to become) but, I think I did an ok job doing the whole “supportive” thing. Now, my husband may have mixed emotions on how I could have handled it better, but, dang-it what stay-at-home mom doesn’t want some company throughout the day? Do you know how hard it’s going to be to go to Target when I have THREE kids 3 years old and younger? OMG, I want to cry just typing that thought! But, not too long ago I read a blog written by a girl I know who said you needed to “adjust to your reality”. I liked it. Those were some wise words! We’ve got to take off our cloth diapers and put our big girl panties on and just deal with things. I am just going to have to figure out a way to live with waking up to my husband gone and sitting on that dumb couch alone. I am going to have to learn to make coffee myself. And, I am just going to have to figure out how I’m going to go to that blessed store to get what I need with three kids. How am I going to fit them all in a buggy? I have no earthly idea but IT IS POSSIBLE! If Michelle Duggar can do it it with 19 kids, I can do it with 3 kids. I have to adjust to the reality of what my life has become. Bottom line!

Breastfeeding fact of the day: When a mother breastfeeds, she decreases her risk of Breast Cancer by 50%, Ovarian Cancer by 80%, Heart Disease by 53%, and Type 2 Diabetes by 72.3%! AND, mothers will pass these benefits to their female children!

August is here and it’s world breastfeeding weak! Breastfeeding is something I am very passionate about. I completed my training in April to become a lactation consultant and can not wait to see where that leads me. I value the importance breastfeeding has on mothers and infants and am excited to share info with others when I can. There are 2 great things going on right now (probably due to breastfeeding week) and I would like to share with any of you interested! First, there is a giveaway on Modern Day Moms’ website and it is awesome! You can enter to win a breast pump and many accessories and let me tell you, it looks great! I entered 😉 We’ll see. Also, there is a great deal on Udder cover’s website. If you enter the code BREASTFEEDING it will make either a nursing cover (valued at $32) or a 10 pk of washable breast pads (valued at $31.95) absolutely FREE, just pay shipping. Great deal!!!

http://moderndaymoms.com/world-breastfeeding-week-mega-giveaway/

www.uddercovers.com

In honor of this joyous week, I am going to try to give an “amazing fact” of the day each day. Today the fact is: If 90% of women would breastfeed their babies, America would save $13 billion in healthcare costs!”

Here’s a funny little picture I can across recently!

I am going on my third baby but for some reason I am starting to get VERY anxious about labor! Now, being a third time mom I feel like I have a good grasp on how it’s going to be but a huge part of me realizes that EVERY labor is different and that freaks me out!!!! I am a planner. I want to know what’s going to happen, when it’s going to happen, how it’s going to happen, who it’s going to happen with, how long it’s going to take to happen….get the picture? This is way beyond my control and that just tears me up! I had two TOTALLY different labors, neither one of them were that bad, but still, they were totally different! Sooooooo, what do I expect? I have NO idea! I have many fears. For example, both my other babies were 5.12 and 5.13 but what if this one is a monster? What if it’s like 18 pounds and none of my newborn clothes fit it?? What if it’s so huge that that I go on the news for a record breaking newborn?!?! Second example, what if he comes tomorrow? I am only 29 wks but it could happen. What if I’m walking through Target and my water breaks? It only took 3 hours to have my daughter after my water broke, what if it breaks and he’s born in the car on the way to the hospital or in the middle of the store??? It could happen! Once again, I could be in the papers with the headline reading “Woman has baby on Target floor”….what is it with my issue with Target??? These are things you can’t predict! I seriously panic when I think about this stuff! For some reason, today this is what’s on my mind. AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so excited about my new adventure with flat diapers! Some will think I’m crazy but I can not wait!!! I have recently started watching videos how to fold a flat and find it pretty easy once you’ve done it a few times (tell that to my husband though, because he’s acting like it’s the end of the world 😉 ) I have put together a picture tutorial on a couple different folds I think may work good for my newborn that will be here in October!

First, let’s run over really quick what a flat is in case you’ve forgotten (because it’s not like there’s a million different types out there right?!) A flat is a large piece of fabric, normally cotton in the shape of a square. To me it resembles a large cloth napkin. You will need either diaper pins (which no one seems to use anymore) or a snappi (which is a lot like an ace bandage) and a waterproof cover. I suggest a brand called Bummis. They are one of the cheapest and I like them a lot.

Origami Fold

Step 1: Lay your flat out on the floor or changing table.

Step 2: Take the bottom and bring it to the top, folding it in half.

Step 3: Take the left side, bring it the right, folding it in half again.

Step 4: There will multiple layers because you’ve folded it twice, take the top layer on the right, top corner and pull it over. It will create a triangle shape.

Step 5: Flip the ENTIRE flat over.

Step 6: You are now going to create a type of fold in the middle that will soak up moisture. You will fold the left, square side over three times. When you are finished, you will have a triangle with a padded rectangle in the middle. 

Step 7: Now you’re going to place this diaper on your little one. If you have a very small one you will need to do a few extra folds. These include folding the top over a little once or twice to make the diaper shorter.

You will want to place your baby over the diaper.

Step 8: Bring the folded middle to the top of your baby’s belly. If it is too long, you can fold it once to shorten it. (Some chose to not fold the top back part over at all, and instead fold the front over to create even more layers of absorbancy.

Tip: While practicing doing this, I have found that it will probably be necessary to fold the edge along the legs in once to make sure there is a tight seal around baby’s legs.

Step 9: Take the edges of each tail of the diaper and fold them once.

Step 10: Bring each tail to the middle of the diaper. Then using a snappi or pins, fasten it together.

You are now done! Simply put a waterproof cover over this and you’re set to go. 🙂

Kite Fold

Step 1: Fold your diaper twice like the previous origami fold.

Step 2: Turn the square until it makes a diamond.

Step 3: Bring the left corner to the middle of diamond. Then do the same, with the other side, making it into the shape of a kite.

Step 4: Bring the top down to make a flat line.

Step 5: It is now ready for baby. Place baby on top of the diaper and bring the bottom to the top of baby’s belly. You will probably need to fold it in once.

Tip: Once again, make sure you fold the sides around the legs in tight to make a seal.

Step 6: Bring the tails over and fasten them with a snappi or pins.

This fold is now complete! Place a waterproof cover over the diaper and viola!

This method is just like it sounds. Every single thing you need is made into one diaper ready to go. There truly is not much difference between this and a disposable (besides the cloth part). IT IS MY FAVORITE WAY TO CLOTH DIAPER!!!

Advantages of All-in-ones:

• As previously stated, this is the EASIEST way to CD and is everything you need rolled into a diaper all ready.
• Child care workers should be comfortable using these.

Disadvantages of All-in-ones:

• Most costly. Ranges between $12-$22.
• Can be hard to get clean if you do not properly take care of the diaper.

Below is a picture of 2 All-in-one diapers. The one on the left is a Bumgenius and actually has an opening that allows you to add another insert for night time or heavy wetters. The one on the right is a Rumparooz and has special gussets that aids in leakage. Both are AWESOME!

Pocket diaper are among my favorites in the cloth diaper world. They are just so easy and I’ve used them for so long I’m very comfortable with them. I would suggest any with velcro tabs. They also make them with snaps, which are fine, but less convenient for some who are unfamiliar with CDs. The velcro mimics a disposable diaper and makes you hardly know the difference!

Advantages of Pocket Diapers:

• Easy and convienent. You can have diapers stuffed and ready to go for under a changing table, in the car, or in the diaper bag.
• Child care workers will hardly know the difference because it’s so much like a disposable.
• The insert comes out of the diaper allowing you to wash it multiply times if needed without wearing out the PUL in the cover part.
• Most are lined with fleece to wick away moisture and is VERY soft for baby!

Disadvantages of Pocket Diapers:

• More costly than prefolds or fitteds.
• They can be harder to clean because of the thickness of the insert (I, however, have never really dealt with this problem).

Below is a picture of a newborn size FuzziBunz. If you look closely, you can see where I’ve folding down the top layer of fleece to reveal the “pocket part”, you can see the insert and behind it is the waterproof barrier. I LOVE THEM!!!

This method is a lot like the method talked about before with the prefolds, flats, or inserts but is a tad easier. You still will need some sort of waterproof cover.

Advantages of Fitteds:

• Still very cheap way to CD.  A lot of people make their own by cutting and sewing prefolds and adding velcro or snaps.
• Already diaper shaped so you will not have to do any folding or use any snappis or pins.
• The waterproof cover is separate so won’t need to be washed as much.

Disadvantages of Fitteds:

• Not quite as convenient as some of the other methods out there.
• Not quite as cheap as the prefold/flat method.

Below is a picture of a fitted diaper:

Below is a picture of a waterproof cover. The one on the right has a insert already tucked inside of it: