Breastfeeding, Pitocin and Babies oh my!!!

So as you've guessed it from the title of this post its about Breastfeeding, Pitocin and other medicines and Babies!!! So I'd probably say if you are not pregnant, you don't have any interest in these topics or if your not a mother then this post MIGHT just bore you!  This is the first time I've ever shared my blog with the large land of facebook (eek) however I know numerous people that are pregnant/nursing/mothers that this information just might be of some use to! This is my experience and I figured I'd share!  Normally I post randomly about my baby boy, my life, recipes I like and a few other tidbits but today its all about babies!

*Disclaimer* This is the way I do things for my family...this is not to pass judgement on anyone on the way that they do things for their family!!! 

Breastfeeding is probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my entire life!  I personally would much definitely rather give birth again than have all these issues of breastfeeding! It has been insanely difficult for me and has posed its long long long list of complications including but not limited toooo mastitis, plugged ducts, blibs, Raynauds, thrush, torticollis and bad latch problems (insert sound of small violin playing for my personal pity party....ok moving on)!!! Granted most of these things haven't happened all at one time but none the less they have been painful and difficult to move past! I am happy to say that I am still nursing despite the numerous issues I've had!  I feel like I am a very persistent person and because I am so adamant on nursing its the only reason I am continuing to do so!  NOW most people do NOT have the insane amount of problems that I have however if you're one of the few that do then there are some things that I've learned from this experience!

1. Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter is amazing! Not only did I find it to be 10x better than lanolin but its also all natural as it says in the title and its NOT made of the yellow waxy stuff secreted by sheep that lanolin is actually made of! Yeah that just kind grosses me out to think about that lanolin is a yellow waxy substance secreted by sheep!  
2. All Purpose Nipple Ointment is even more amazing than the Earth Mama Angel Baby stuff! It's composed of 3-4 different medications that are so helpful when experiencing pain while nursing! Next time I'm asking for this BEFORE I even go to the hospital!
3. Don't sleep on your stomach! You may be so excited by the fact that you aren't sporting a super huge belly anymore but trust me don't sleep on your stomach! EVERY time I sleep on my stomach I get plugged ducts and trust me they are so painful!!!

*There are so many other things I could say about breastfeeding but I'm just tired of typing about it right now! So if you want to know more information on my experience or have questions for me I'd love to hear them*

Pitocin- If you don't know what Pitocin is....its the drug that is given during an induction to help get labor going and to start your contractions! BE AWARE of pitocin and the complications it can cause and the risks it poses to the health of you and your baby!!! Now I know there are instances where Pitocin is completely necessary however just be aware of what you are putting in your body! Do your research!!! There are numerous articles out there regarding the side effects and risks of pitocin This Article is very informative on the risks of pitocin and even questions why it is so frequently used!  Also there is a link to pitocin and ADHD.  This Article goes over the link found between pitocin and ADHD and according to the article those children whose mothers were exposed to pitocin are twice as likely to have ADHD as opposed to mothers who were not exposed to pitocin! I know that labor can be a scary thing and when you are in the moment its hard to make rash decisions so just know what your going to be up against before you go in!  I would also recommend looking at the other medications and drugs administered in the hospital so that you are aware of whats going to happen when you give birth!

Babies- I know that just because I have been a mother for a whole 6 months that it does not make me any expert of the whole motherhood thing but I feel that SO FAR it seems to have come very naturally for me.  I am thankful for that innate ability that's just come out in me and I am so very grateful for the insight of all the other wonderful mothers in my life who have shared their experiences and given support! Experience and support are so crucial when raising a child and I am so blessed to have so many good examples of mothers in my life! If you don't have someone you can turn to for advice there are plenty of books/articles/forums out there to help new mothers but always tailor things to meet your needs and to fit your lifestyle!  Just because someone says to do it this way doesn't mean its wrong to do it another way!  I've been given plenty of advice that I don't care to use right now but it doesn't mean that that advice was wrong, its just not right for me!

NOW for some super cute pictures of my favorite little boy!!!  Pictures were taken curtsey of my best friend Di over at the Super Tiger Goose blog!  She's an awesome photographer and she will take wonderful pictures for you!!! She's just starting out so shes really reasonable too!!!