always trying to come up with ideas
2 tbsps butter or olive oil
4 red peppers chopped
1 onion chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
20-24 ounces chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream (optional) - or even coconut milk
pinch of ground black pepper - or to taste
Melt butter over medium heat in a saucepan. Add the red bell pepper, onion and garlic in saute for 8 to 10 minutes, or until tender. Pour in the chicken broth, stirring well, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth, return the liquid to the saucepan over medium low heat. Stir in the heavy cream and the ground black pepper and allow to heat through, about 10 minutes.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
stem cells found in breastmilk
it is a beautiful thing to see research being done into the benefits of breastmilk.
but the benefits could extend beyond the nursing relationship between mother and child.
in australia, scientists have found stem cells in breastmilk - STEM CELLS! this could perhaps usher in an age of stem cell research without the ethical questions.
it is time to return to the things our body produce to bring health - that it should be from mothers' milk seems just that sweeter
here is the link to the article
http://www.sciencealert.com.au/news/20081102-16879.html
but the benefits could extend beyond the nursing relationship between mother and child.
in australia, scientists have found stem cells in breastmilk - STEM CELLS! this could perhaps usher in an age of stem cell research without the ethical questions.
it is time to return to the things our body produce to bring health - that it should be from mothers' milk seems just that sweeter
here is the link to the article
http://www.sciencealert.com.au/news/20081102-16879.html
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
passionate about breastfeeding
callum and i had a very rough start with breastfeeding. being in the nicu, and born without a sucking reflex, he was whisked away from me minutes after he was born.
i pumped exclusively for 2.5 months before he learned to latch for good. i never knew something natural could be so difficult. i'd sometimes pump for an hour, take an hour off and pump again 10-12 times a day i was pumping in order to have enough breastmilk for my son. i often cried while pumping. the motor was loud enough to drown out the sounds of my despair. but i wanted him to have breastmilk, and only breastmilk. the fact that nothing about his coming into the world came close to what i would have hoped for, i would at least commit to this. so i did.
i was told i'd lose my supply if i didn't take drugs - WRONG
i was told i'd probably quit because you can't just pump - WRONG
i was told i would need a lactation consultant to get him to latch - WRONG
WRONG WRONG WRONG
no one told me breastfeeding could be so hard
this is just part of why i am so passionate about breastfeeding, and here are a few of the 101 Reasons To Breastfeed Your Baby (from promom.org)
1. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it
5. Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of breast cancer
10. Breast milk contains immunities to diseases and aids in the development of baby's immune system.
14. Nursing helps mom lose weight after baby is born
15. Pre-term milk is specially designed for premature infants
16. The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend it
17. Breastfeeding protects against Crohn's disease
18. Formula feeding increases risk of baby developing type I (juvenile, insulin-dependent) diabetes.
21. Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing ovarian cancer
22. Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing endometrial cancer
23. Formula feeding increases chances of baby developing allergies
24. Breast milk lowers risk of baby developing asthma
27. Breastfeeding protects baby against diarrheal infections
28. Breastfeeding protects baby against bacterial meningitis
29. Breastfeeding protects baby against respiratory infections
30. Formula fed babies have a higher risk of developing certain childhood lymphomas
31. Breastfeeding decreases chances of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
32. Breastfeeding decreases child's chances of contracting Hodgkins disease
33. Breastfeeding protects baby against vision defects
34. Breastfeeding decreases chances of maternal osteoporosis in later life
39. Breastfed babies have less chance of developing ulcerative colitis
40. Breast milk protects against hemophilus b. virus
44. Breastfed babies have less chance of developing necrotizing enterocolitis
52. Breast milk acts like a natural tranquilizer for baby
53. Breastfeeding acts like a natural tranquilizer for mom
59. Fewer waste packaging products
65. Natural pain relief for baby
77. Facilitates proper dental and jaw development
80. Better speech development
86. Contains no synthetic growth hormones
87. Lack of breastfeeding associated with multiple sclerosis
88. Less chance of inguinal hernia
93. Protects mothers against anemia (iron deficiency)
96. Breast milk is good for combatting eye infections
97. Breast milk is a good natural antibiotic for wounds
101. It's what breasts were designed for!
For the medical resources, and all of the 101 reasons to breastfeed your baby... http://www.promom.org/
i pumped exclusively for 2.5 months before he learned to latch for good. i never knew something natural could be so difficult. i'd sometimes pump for an hour, take an hour off and pump again 10-12 times a day i was pumping in order to have enough breastmilk for my son. i often cried while pumping. the motor was loud enough to drown out the sounds of my despair. but i wanted him to have breastmilk, and only breastmilk. the fact that nothing about his coming into the world came close to what i would have hoped for, i would at least commit to this. so i did.
i was told i'd lose my supply if i didn't take drugs - WRONG
i was told i'd probably quit because you can't just pump - WRONG
i was told i would need a lactation consultant to get him to latch - WRONG
WRONG WRONG WRONG
no one told me breastfeeding could be so hard
this is just part of why i am so passionate about breastfeeding, and here are a few of the 101 Reasons To Breastfeed Your Baby (from promom.org)
1. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it
5. Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of breast cancer
10. Breast milk contains immunities to diseases and aids in the development of baby's immune system.
14. Nursing helps mom lose weight after baby is born
15. Pre-term milk is specially designed for premature infants
16. The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend it
17. Breastfeeding protects against Crohn's disease
18. Formula feeding increases risk of baby developing type I (juvenile, insulin-dependent) diabetes.
21. Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing ovarian cancer
22. Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing endometrial cancer
23. Formula feeding increases chances of baby developing allergies
24. Breast milk lowers risk of baby developing asthma
27. Breastfeeding protects baby against diarrheal infections
28. Breastfeeding protects baby against bacterial meningitis
29. Breastfeeding protects baby against respiratory infections
30. Formula fed babies have a higher risk of developing certain childhood lymphomas
31. Breastfeeding decreases chances of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
32. Breastfeeding decreases child's chances of contracting Hodgkins disease
33. Breastfeeding protects baby against vision defects
34. Breastfeeding decreases chances of maternal osteoporosis in later life
39. Breastfed babies have less chance of developing ulcerative colitis
40. Breast milk protects against hemophilus b. virus
44. Breastfed babies have less chance of developing necrotizing enterocolitis
52. Breast milk acts like a natural tranquilizer for baby
53. Breastfeeding acts like a natural tranquilizer for mom
59. Fewer waste packaging products
65. Natural pain relief for baby
77. Facilitates proper dental and jaw development
80. Better speech development
86. Contains no synthetic growth hormones
87. Lack of breastfeeding associated with multiple sclerosis
88. Less chance of inguinal hernia
93. Protects mothers against anemia (iron deficiency)
96. Breast milk is good for combatting eye infections
97. Breast milk is a good natural antibiotic for wounds
101. It's what breasts were designed for!
For the medical resources, and all of the 101 reasons to breastfeed your baby... http://www.promom.org/
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
the importance of rear-facing seats
luckily callum has only had to be in a car just over a dozen times in his 11mths of life.
but, he will be rear-facing as long as possible.
in a few countries, rear-facing is common until 3 or 4 years of age.
unfortunately, in canada, the maximum weight for a rear-facing seat is currently 30lbs. that is what we have for him. hopefully this will change
but am thankful he is such a lightweight as we should get close to the 2yr mark if he gains as he is.
in this province - current recommendations are 20lbs and or 1yr. you are not compelled to put an 18lb 1yr old rear-facing. this is not in the best interest of safety. as a registered massage therapist, i have seen my share of mva - motor vehicle accident victims - and the muscles most affected are along the course of the cervical spine. anything superior to a c5 injury is frankly deadly. and our youngest people are especially vulnerable.
a brilliant youtube video says it best...
but, he will be rear-facing as long as possible.
in a few countries, rear-facing is common until 3 or 4 years of age.
unfortunately, in canada, the maximum weight for a rear-facing seat is currently 30lbs. that is what we have for him. hopefully this will change
but am thankful he is such a lightweight as we should get close to the 2yr mark if he gains as he is.
in this province - current recommendations are 20lbs and or 1yr. you are not compelled to put an 18lb 1yr old rear-facing. this is not in the best interest of safety. as a registered massage therapist, i have seen my share of mva - motor vehicle accident victims - and the muscles most affected are along the course of the cervical spine. anything superior to a c5 injury is frankly deadly. and our youngest people are especially vulnerable.
a brilliant youtube video says it best...
Monday, March 17, 2008
the loss of a normal, natural childbirth
time has made space for a great deal of joy in my life
but it would be dishonest to say that the first few weeks, hell months, after callum was born were normal.i grieved the loss of a normal birth when i had a preemie, everything about it was unnatural. part of processing it and moving to a place of gratitude was in recognizing my feelings, and seeking out other women online who had preemies as well.
the following list was taken from a website discussion among mothers of preemies. it made all the difference to me.
-Don’t tell me about how lucky I am to not have to go thru the last month or two of pregnancy.
-Don’t tell me how a cesarean-section is so much easier and I’m lucky I had to have one.
-Don’t tell me how it’s ‘no big deal’ and everything will be fine because people have preemies all the time and they are just fine.
-I’ve been through something traumatic. My body has failed me at a very primal level to have a preemie.
-Research is great. Educating yourself is awesome. Please do not act like you are an expert on the subject because you read something on the internet or know a friend of a friend. Each baby is unique and different, and as such my baby may not fit into what you have read. Please do not attempt to teach me about my baby.
-Please don't ask when my child is finally going to "catch up" with other children. I DON'T KNOW! Try to focus on what my child can do, not what they can't.
-I appreciate that you had a close friend or family member with a baby in the NICU and you have seen a NICU baby before. I hate to sound harsh, but if it wasn't your baby you really cannot completely understand how I feel.
-Don’t compare my child and her development to other preemies. It may give them hope but there will be other things that can happen to that baby that didn’t happen to my baby.
- Don’t expect me to answer your call or return it within the first 4 weeks of my preemie's arrival.
- Don’t ask about doll clothes.
- PLEASE, PLEASE don't tell me that my baby is so big, and already caught up that couldn't possibly have been in the NICU.
- Don't then ask me why my baby isn't doing such-and-so yet, so-and-so's baby is doing it who was born within days...
- Don't tell me how "lucky" I am to have a small baby...I didn't WANT a small baby...
- Never compare my baby to a runt
-Ask me questions! There's a lot about preemie care and NICU life that people don't understand, not to mention questions about my baby's condition. Don't be afraid to ask me...most of the time I am willing to answer and explain because talking about it helps me understand it too, and if you understand more then you can be more supportive.
- Also if I am crying it isn't Post Partum Depression, it's because all my hopes and dreams for a healthy pregnancy, vaginal delivery and healthy baby have blown up. I don't need medication, I need support!
-That said, mommies of Preemies/Nicu babies are at high risk for Post Partum Depression. Please keep an eye on me, without smothering me, and help me get needed support and treatment if PPD does hit me.
-Ignore the tubes and wires and tell me he is beautiful. Because he is.
-Please don't preach to me. If you have not been here as the mother of a sick baby, you don't know anything about this.
-I'm still a new mom. I'm hormonal. Please be kind to me, and give me lots of breaks for any bad behavior.
-I'm tired. Please don't say "be glad your baby is in the hospital" or anything like that. I am not sleeping well; I'm either up pumping or worried for my baby.
-Please don’t ask what I did to cause this.
- Please don't ask questions I can’t answer, like will my baby ever be "normal".
- Please ask how I am, I may need a shoulder.
-PLEASE don't try to tell me that you understand, because unless your child/baby is sick, you truly, honestly DON'T.
-Please don't tell me about another smaller, younger baby who is 'just fine' because every baby is different, has had different circumstances in utero, and frankly, isn't my baby.
- Please don't say clichéd phrases like, "if it was meant to be...", no baby is meant to be born early and sick.
- Thank you for the congratulations but please don't pretend that everything is wonderful right now and I should be a glowing new mother.
- Waking up every three hours to pump is not restful, and it is much, much harder than waking up next to your sweet newborn baby.
- I'm not "over it" and I might not ever be. Try not to be awkward, change the subject, or roll your eyes if I still get emotional about my daughter's birth and NICU experience 2 years later.
- Don't ask when I'm having more children, or if I will try for a boy, or nod knowingly and say 'It is probably for the best" if I say we are done having children.
- Don't disappear off the face of the planet after my baby is born. If you are scared of the hospital, tell me. If you don't know how to deal with me in a fragile state, let me know it is tough for you. But walking away completely...makes me feel that you were never my friend, especially if you try to come back into my life after 6 months of not talking to me.
- Don’t give me a hard time because I didn’t tell you details about whatever was happening. It was hard enough for me to understand and discuss w my dh.
-I don’t have the time or emotional energy to deal with your drama. Please keep it to yourself.
- Do drop off a care package of tabloid magazines, anything you know I like to read or something I like to do to pass time. Pumping rooms are so lonely and need something to read. Besides, the nurses also like tabloids and it takes the edge off sometimes.
- Please don't judge me if nursing is not going well. I'm trying. It is very hard to pump. My time is so tight, and pumping is just one more time and emotional demand on me. If I ask for help, please give it. It is emotionally draining. I'm tired.
- If I ask for help with pumping/nursing and you know the answer, please help me. If you don't than say so. Please don't guess and give me bad advice.
- Please don't talk about how easy it was for you to breastfeed and pump.
- Don't ask me how I intend to feed that teeny baby with my chest
...and 11 months later many of these points still ring true, even though i am so grateful and blessed to have a healthy, happy child.
but it is simply not a normal experience. it was incredibly lonely, and isolating. becoming a mother of a preemie, even though he is doing well, is just a different experience. the sadness comes from being separated from your child at the moment of his birth - when you both need each other the most.
and there is joy that he doesn't seem to carry any ill effects of being born early, but the sadness needs to be acknowledged too.
but it would be dishonest to say that the first few weeks, hell months, after callum was born were normal.i grieved the loss of a normal birth when i had a preemie, everything about it was unnatural. part of processing it and moving to a place of gratitude was in recognizing my feelings, and seeking out other women online who had preemies as well.
the following list was taken from a website discussion among mothers of preemies. it made all the difference to me.
-Don’t tell me about how lucky I am to not have to go thru the last month or two of pregnancy.
-Don’t tell me how a cesarean-section is so much easier and I’m lucky I had to have one.
-Don’t tell me how it’s ‘no big deal’ and everything will be fine because people have preemies all the time and they are just fine.
-I’ve been through something traumatic. My body has failed me at a very primal level to have a preemie.
-Research is great. Educating yourself is awesome. Please do not act like you are an expert on the subject because you read something on the internet or know a friend of a friend. Each baby is unique and different, and as such my baby may not fit into what you have read. Please do not attempt to teach me about my baby.
-Please don't ask when my child is finally going to "catch up" with other children. I DON'T KNOW! Try to focus on what my child can do, not what they can't.
-I appreciate that you had a close friend or family member with a baby in the NICU and you have seen a NICU baby before. I hate to sound harsh, but if it wasn't your baby you really cannot completely understand how I feel.
-Don’t compare my child and her development to other preemies. It may give them hope but there will be other things that can happen to that baby that didn’t happen to my baby.
- Don’t expect me to answer your call or return it within the first 4 weeks of my preemie's arrival.
- Don’t ask about doll clothes.
- PLEASE, PLEASE don't tell me that my baby is so big, and already caught up that couldn't possibly have been in the NICU.
- Don't then ask me why my baby isn't doing such-and-so yet, so-and-so's baby is doing it who was born within days...
- Don't tell me how "lucky" I am to have a small baby...I didn't WANT a small baby...
- Never compare my baby to a runt
-Ask me questions! There's a lot about preemie care and NICU life that people don't understand, not to mention questions about my baby's condition. Don't be afraid to ask me...most of the time I am willing to answer and explain because talking about it helps me understand it too, and if you understand more then you can be more supportive.
- Also if I am crying it isn't Post Partum Depression, it's because all my hopes and dreams for a healthy pregnancy, vaginal delivery and healthy baby have blown up. I don't need medication, I need support!
-That said, mommies of Preemies/Nicu babies are at high risk for Post Partum Depression. Please keep an eye on me, without smothering me, and help me get needed support and treatment if PPD does hit me.
-Ignore the tubes and wires and tell me he is beautiful. Because he is.
-Please don't preach to me. If you have not been here as the mother of a sick baby, you don't know anything about this.
-I'm still a new mom. I'm hormonal. Please be kind to me, and give me lots of breaks for any bad behavior.
-I'm tired. Please don't say "be glad your baby is in the hospital" or anything like that. I am not sleeping well; I'm either up pumping or worried for my baby.
-Please don’t ask what I did to cause this.
- Please don't ask questions I can’t answer, like will my baby ever be "normal".
- Please ask how I am, I may need a shoulder.
-PLEASE don't try to tell me that you understand, because unless your child/baby is sick, you truly, honestly DON'T.
-Please don't tell me about another smaller, younger baby who is 'just fine' because every baby is different, has had different circumstances in utero, and frankly, isn't my baby.
- Please don't say clichéd phrases like, "if it was meant to be...", no baby is meant to be born early and sick.
- Thank you for the congratulations but please don't pretend that everything is wonderful right now and I should be a glowing new mother.
- Waking up every three hours to pump is not restful, and it is much, much harder than waking up next to your sweet newborn baby.
- I'm not "over it" and I might not ever be. Try not to be awkward, change the subject, or roll your eyes if I still get emotional about my daughter's birth and NICU experience 2 years later.
- Don't ask when I'm having more children, or if I will try for a boy, or nod knowingly and say 'It is probably for the best" if I say we are done having children.
- Don't disappear off the face of the planet after my baby is born. If you are scared of the hospital, tell me. If you don't know how to deal with me in a fragile state, let me know it is tough for you. But walking away completely...makes me feel that you were never my friend, especially if you try to come back into my life after 6 months of not talking to me.
- Don’t give me a hard time because I didn’t tell you details about whatever was happening. It was hard enough for me to understand and discuss w my dh.
-I don’t have the time or emotional energy to deal with your drama. Please keep it to yourself.
- Do drop off a care package of tabloid magazines, anything you know I like to read or something I like to do to pass time. Pumping rooms are so lonely and need something to read. Besides, the nurses also like tabloids and it takes the edge off sometimes.
- Please don't judge me if nursing is not going well. I'm trying. It is very hard to pump. My time is so tight, and pumping is just one more time and emotional demand on me. If I ask for help, please give it. It is emotionally draining. I'm tired.
- If I ask for help with pumping/nursing and you know the answer, please help me. If you don't than say so. Please don't guess and give me bad advice.
- Please don't talk about how easy it was for you to breastfeed and pump.
- Don't ask me how I intend to feed that teeny baby with my chest
...and 11 months later many of these points still ring true, even though i am so grateful and blessed to have a healthy, happy child.
but it is simply not a normal experience. it was incredibly lonely, and isolating. becoming a mother of a preemie, even though he is doing well, is just a different experience. the sadness comes from being separated from your child at the moment of his birth - when you both need each other the most.
and there is joy that he doesn't seem to carry any ill effects of being born early, but the sadness needs to be acknowledged too.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
travel tip - albania
albania is not an easy country to travel
it's difficult enough to get to
what i found is that you really need to rely on the kindness of strangers due to albania's lack of tourist infrastructure
there are NO bus terminals, bus stops change all the time
travelling south from montenegro means being dropped at the southernmost bus terminal in montenegro and hopefully finding a minibus to take you over the border
so the tip -
make friends with people on the bus in montenegro
we did and thankfully so as there was no minibus for albania, and one of the albanians called and got one, and then helped arrange a minibus to tirana after crossing the border at albanian prices
tirana is chaotic and the same new-found friends walked us to one of the inns we had marked down and negotiated a decent rate for the night
tirana is not worth spending much time in - most of the buildings are communist blocks, and there are few historical remnants. but the pizza is good!
i found the everyday albanian to be wonderfully hospitable even though we didn't share a language to communicate easily in
and the most useful word to learn in albanian is thank you - and i used that a lot
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