18 months Breastfeeding

We have hit the 18 months breastfeeding mark and it has been a joy.  

When baby boy was born and I was first introduced to my first nursing session with him I would have never thought that he would still be nursing at his age.  I hadn't place a length of time on it, I wanted to open on the thought.  Just if you would had said you are going to breastfeed pass the age of 18 months I would have screamed.  In the thought of that is way too old and why.   


But, at the point I would not have changed a thing.  Breastfeeding has proved so much more for him than just nutrition.  

• I just didn't want to wean him for my convenience.  
• Breastfeeding has proved a sense of security for him.

 Many benefits continue to be provided through breastmilk long after the age of 12 months.  

1.  Breast milk continues to provide substantial amounts of key nutrients well beyond the first year of life, especially protein, fat, and most vitamins.

2.   In the second year (12-23 months), 448 mL of breastmilk provides:

• 29% of energy requirements
• 43% of protein requirements
• 36% of calcium requirements
• 75% of vitamin A requirements
• 76% of folate requirements
• 94% of vitamin B₁₂ requirements
• 60% of vitamin C requirements 

3.  Nursing toddlers between the ages of 16 and 30 months have been found to have fewer illnesses and illnesses of shorter duration than their non-nursing peers .

What about Mommy:

MOTHERS also benefit from breastfeeding past infancy

• Extended nursing delays the return of fertility in some women by suppressing ovulation 

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer . Studies have found a significant inverse association between duration of lactation and breast cancer risk.

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of ovarian cancer .

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of uterine cancer .

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of endometrial cancer .

• Breastfeeding protects against osteoporosis. During lactation a mother may experience decreases of bone mineral. A nursing mom's bone mineral density may be reduced in the whole body by 1 to 2 percent while she is still nursing. This is gained back, and bone mineral density may actually increase, when the baby is weaned from the breast. This is not dependent on additional calcium supplementation in the mother's diet.

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

• Breastfeeding has been shown to decrease insulin requirements in diabetic women.

• Breastfeeding moms tend to lose weight easier .

   
Moms who are breastfeeding at this moment or who are pregnant shouldn't place a time on how long they plan on breastfeeding, unless necessary.  Far to many times moms setup a point to stop nursing before they even begin.  Though uncommon Mothers should explore the ideas and facts of nursing past infancy prior to counting it out. 

For more information please visit http://www.kellymom.com/index.html
References:
http://www.kellymom.com/index.html
http://www.llli.org/

4 of Favorite Diapering items of 2011

Okay yesterday I listed some of my favorite baby products, these are a few of the diapering products I used during this year with our baby boy.  My oldest was strictly a Pamper brand diaper baby and I always felt some kind of way about.  What a waste, waste of money, waste product, and weren't always best for her skin.  Since then we may have switched things up a bit. 
With having a little one now with sensitive skin and more info on how conventional diapers are harmful in many different ways, we made a switch.  A slow start but a switch never less.  We cloth and use disposable when out for extended periods.   Here is my loving review on Earth's best diapers, and wipes, Fisher Price nighttime diaper, and Cutie Potootie cloth diapers. 

 Earth's Best tendercare diapers are one of the best set of diapers for sensitive skin.  Right now little man wears a size 3, and weighs about 20 pounds.  The look is simple and sleek with the logo along the fastener.  From Babies'r us purchased for $11.99 for 35 diapers.  These diapers are great , they do have a squishy feel when wet.  No beads from the diaper breaking down are left behind.  My top pick for disposable diapers.

The joys of germy Shopping.

I love Publix and this is where the Fam decided to go to purchase some of their famous fruit.  The shopping carts are so adorable, they mini race cars in my area.  So I found a shopping cart in the parking lot and hoped for the best.  I know they are full of germs and I am guilty of not cleaning them with the wipes provided by the store.  I have to give it to my Mom she does it every time.  And every time I tell her you grabbed the cart first so what is the point.  But, before we even can get the store baby boy was licking the steering on the cart.

72 % of all shopping carts are contaminated with fecal bacteria.

50% have E. coli bacteria found on them

Okay, my Mom may have been on to something.  We may not be able to kill them all but some are way better than all.  Poor baby if I would have known now this last picture would have never happened.  I will for now on carry sani-wipes in the baby bag. 

here below is a website for more information on germs and shopping carts.   
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41838546/ns/health-childrens_health/t/e-coli-found-percent-shopping-carts/