While I'm waiting...

To get it out of the way: no news on Reagan's test results yet, although I spoke to a nurse who said most likely it will be ready on Monday, and I should hear from the doctor then.

In the mean time, I just have to get some things off my chest.

Since Rea's health issues came to the foreground, I have had many friends, family and even strangers calling, messaging, emailing, and facebooking me to say a variety of things, from encouraging words, requesting updates, to ideas and suggestions on what I could try for her. I understand (and appreciate!) that each and every one of these people have good intentions, and are only trying to help because they care. That's touching.

BUT (there's always a but), sometimes I wish they would hold back on the suggestions/ideas. Sometimes what is said may have good intentions behind it, but is really just frustrating for me.

Yes, I've considered perhaps she's just small. Yes, her diet is rich in protein and iron. Yes, I know it could be really simple or really serious, and no I do NOT want to speculate about what it might be until I have her test results back and a direction to look in. As a mother, that's just too painful to go there. And it's not productive.

And finally: NO, I have NOT considered (and will not consider) switching Reagan to formula instead of breastfeeding her. This is the one that really gets me. Again, I acknowledge that those who have suggested this to me had nothing but good intentions when they said it. I just have heard this from too many people now and I'm started to feel offended, and I don't want to be offended because I like and trust all of the people who have suggested it to me.

Let me defend and explain my choice to breastfeed:

Breastfeeding is always the ideal and best form to feed your child. Formula companies have been long and widely criticized for their misinformation, unethical marketing tactics, and downright lies to mothers everywhere. I want no part in it.

There are legitimate reason's that some mothers cannot breastfeed, and should have no shame in it. There are also situations where formula is the only way a baby can eat, and there is no shame in that. I am NOT attacking or criticizing anyone's decision to formula feed their child. Instead I am defending my decision (and right) to breastfeed mine.

Nutritionally, formula can't even touch breastmilk. It's specifically tailored for human babies to optimize their health, growth, brain development, and nutrition. Formula uses cow's milk as a base, and cow's milk is designed specifically for calves development, not human babies. Even adding extra nutrients, formula still does not scratch the surface of the health benefits provided by human breastmilk for human babies.

Nutrition aside, breastmilk contains human stem cells. HUMAN STEM CELLS. Do you know what this means? Dr Mark Cregan (who discovered this amazing fact) explains:

“It is setting the baby up for the perfect development,” he says. “We already know that babies who are breast fed have an IQ advantage and that there’s a raft of other health benefits. Researchers also believe that the protective effects of being breast fed continue well into adult life.

“The point is that many mothers see milks as identical – formula milk and breast milk look the same so they must be the same. But we know now that they are quite different and a lot of the effects of breast milk versus formula don’t become apparent for decades. Formula companies have focussed on matching breast milk’s nutritional qualities but formula can never provide the developmental guidance.”

Need I say more? I already have enough worries about Reagan's health right now, and the LAST thing I would ever consider is taking away one of the biggest health benefits I could ever give her. It's a gift that will last a lifetime, it literally keeps on giving! Without a doubt, Reagan's health issues are despite of my breastmilk, and definitely not because of it.

I know I sound angry, but I'm not. And if you suggested formula to me and you're reading this, I have no hard feelings towards you. It's not you, it's me! This is an issue that I have researched extremely thoroughly, and have strong feelings about. I don't expect anyone else to know all the facts just because I do, and I don't expect anyone to agree with me. I will still like/love you the same no matter your opinion/decision.

All I ask is that you support me too.

Failure to Thrive

That damn ear infection snuck back up on us.

Reagan's temperature reached 105 under her arm on Monday, so I immediately brought it down with tylenol & a cold cloth and took her to the emergency room. They said her ear infection was very very mild, but the temperature was dangerously high (after 106 children are in danger for seizures), and her wet cough concerned the doctor so they ordered and x-ray of her chest to check for pneumonia. Thank God she was pneumonia-free, but they said her infection was viral, so as long as I kept her temperature at a safe level it should resolve itself.

My little trooper did a surprisingly great job in the ER, staying up well past her regular bedtime without becoming a brat. All of the nurses commented how good-natured she was (except during her x-ray and when they checked her temperature rectally!).

When we first arrived they weighed her and I was surprised she was 16lbs and 13oz, and less than a week ago at the pediatrician she was 17lbs 4oz... I mentioned this to the nurse and she said one of the scales must be off (almost half a pound is a big influx for a baby in less than a week). She said they check their scales frequently at the hospital (which I believe, it's a super fancy-pansy hospital), so I'm assuming the pediatrician's scale was off.

So basically Reagan never gained any new weight, she's still at the exact same weight she has been for the past 6 months. I am switching pediatricians, that is ridiculous.

Today she's fever-free and feeling great, but I still have lingering worries about her health... A friend who is a nurse heard about Reagan's other symptoms (not growing at all in the last 6 months) and mentioned a general diagnosis I had not heard of called "Failure to Thrive." I googled it and it unfortunately sounded a lot like her symptoms. It said 3 months or more of not growing for a baby was reason for alarm, and that if the underlying cause goes unidentified and untreated, it can lead to delays in development and important milestones. Thus far, Rea is still ahead of schedule on most of her milestones.

The causes for Failure to Thrive are numerous and could be many things: disease, food allergy, genetic disorder, poor nutrition, neglect, and about a thousand others. Many of which I can cross off the list (like poor nutrition and neglect) but many more can only be determined after a battery of tests.

Thankfully I already have a weight-check scheduled for next Wednesday, and tentatively scheduled blood and urine tests pending what her weight is. I wanted to do the tests at her last check up, but the pediatrician said that with her increase in weight (which I have since discovered never actually happened) that she thought I was being too hasty.

What upsets me more than anything is that I am her mother and spend more time with her than anyone, I am 100% in charge of her diet/nutrition, playtime, diaper brands, babysitters, EVERYTHING, and I have been telling my doctor I had a concern for over 2 months now and they have not listened to me or taken it seriously. Yes I am a young mom and my face looks like I'm 12, but that does not mean I am a bad mother or that I don't know what I'm talking about. I have 6 younger brothers and I know what a healthy growing baby should look like. I practically raised the last 4 of them (I was home schooled and stayed home with them a lot) so it's not like I walked into motherhood completely clueless.

I don't have super-powers or "spidey-sense" BUT I do have a mother's instinct, and it's telling me that I need to get to the bottom of this stat. Now to get a doctor on board with my mission...

I love my chubby, healthy baby!

I was on Twitter this morning and read a very disterbing article about infant-formula posted by @TheNewbornBaby... I chose to breast feed for several reasons, none of which were because I thought formula was dangerous... but now I'm especially glad I did not!

For me it seemed natural to breastfeed; 1) my mom breastfed all 8 of me and my brothers (so did all of my aunts), 2) it's obviously more cost effective than formula, 3) plus I am a hippie at heart and anything natural I almost always assume is healthier.

I am a believer in convienence, but not at the cost of my baby's health. It would be easier on my schedule to formula feed Reagan because I could work and leave her with a qualified care-taker, go out for the day, or go on a vacation even.. That might seem "good" for me, but is that good for my baby? I was never convinced it was.

In defense of mom's who've chosen to formula feed, I'm sure they made the most informed decision they could with the information available. What I think is wrong is that the information moms really need to know is NOT available because the formula industry is a multi-million dollar industry that could collapse if more woman chose to breastfeed instead. And I honestly can't imagine ANY mom wanting to formula feed her baby after reading this...

All mommies, future moms, and even women who know other moms should read this article!!!

Click here to read the full article on the serious and deadly risk factors directly due to infant formula.

p.s. I would have organized this article differently, although all of the info presented was eye opening, the most shocking and damning information came in the second half towards the end of the article... so keep reading!