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It's a post-a-thon
I'm feeling just better enough to get up off the floor/couch/bed, but not well enough to actually do anything. Can you tell? I figure I'll finally get around to a few things I've been meaning to post all week.
Breastfeeding Matters by Maureen Minchin review:
This book is for serious mamas and breastfeeding advocates, not for those who just want a pat on the back, don't feel passionately about breastfeeding, or haven't ever had a single problem with nursing. Minchin does a great job explaining, scientifically, all the many facets of breastfeeding and formula, debunking any idea that formula is 'just as good', and offers many tips for various of the problems that can crop up when nursing. For those of you who had problems the first time and want to try again I recommend this book. She also addresses the guilt issue pretty early in the book. I liked this a lot. It wasn't an after thought. Minchin places all 'guilt' squarely on the shoulders of the medical complex. She's angry that so few nurses and doctors are adequately trained in breastfeeding and are too quick to encourage formula supplementation. Minchin says quite clearly that no mother is too be judged for using formula for several reasons, one is that we never know what that mama's been through, but also why would we judge a woman who may not have had the necessary support? My own experience has shown me that support is the most crucial aspect to a successful nursing relationship.
I also learned several things in this book which make me even more pro-breastfeeding. Firstly, formula has never been tested, like other manufactured goods - because testing babies is unethical. Formulae have changed over the years as recipes have been found to be flawed. For example, in the 70s, a couple formula companies took salt out of their recipes because salt was linked to high blood pressure. Babies died because we need salt. Which leads into my second point: formula makers don't really know exactly what amounts of what babies need. Unlike breast milk which is a dynamic food (changing according to baby's age and abilities), formula is static. This is why doctors recommend solids be introduced between 4-6 months. One doctor is on record saying this is actually only for formula fed infants. In fact, ideally a formula fed baby would start on foods as early as 4 months, in order to ensure that micro-nutrients and other unknown nutrients are being consumed as part of a more varied diet. Babies only breastfed should not start solids until 6 months, at the earliest. The infant stomach is not designed for anything else. Many cultures don't introduce solids til as 'late' as 9 or 12 months. But doctors just give the blanket 4-6 months line, because they don't want to discriminate or confuse mothers. This last bit infuriates me! The medical industry thinks women are stupid and also don't want to incur the wrath of big pharma.
Minchin also says that very few babies are exclusively breastfed anymore. Most get at least a bottle or two of formula in their time, so it's very hard to even do less rigorous studies. Bennett was not exclusively breastfed, but I am more determined than ever to make sure subsequent children are. I don't think a bottle of formula here and there is bad or even all that damaging, but formula IS NOT an appropriate substitute. The more I read and the more I meet babies, the more I believe this.
I've been making my own refried beans lately. While they're not as good as the beans I've eaten in San Diego, they are better than the canned stuff I used to buy in the US. And I thought the canned stuff was pretty good. The only thing I really need to tweak is the consistency.
Buy a packet of pinto beans. Put them in a pot, fill with water. The recipe I had said soak for 12 hours, but I think 18-24 is better. Add more water if the beans soak it up. You want them covered. Next, drain the beans and fill pot with fresh water. Bring to boil and the to a lively simmer for about 3 hours. Drain and refill again only with less water than before. Bring to a boil and simmer, this time add cumin, salt and chili powder. Use a potato masher to mush the beans. After an hour (or so, you can tell I'm really precise) you'll add the mushy beans to a hot skillet that has lard and butter and the garlic and diced onion you've softened. Fry the beans! You may want to add a pinch or two of sugar. The butter is vital. I also much prefer real garlic. The original recipe used garlic powder, but it left a sort of chemically taste that I didn't like.
You will get a LOT of refried beans for about 2 dollars. It's a sweet deal. When you reheat you may need to add some water. I don't know about reheating in a microwave since we don't have one.
If you are short on disposable income, have dry skin, like nice bath products and/or don't like lots of chemicals (like me!), then this a great scrub. Are you ready? It's really hard to make: some kind of water tight tub, coarse salt (preferably sea salt), and olive oil. Olive oil can be very rich, but you can 'water it down' with jojoba oil. If you want smells you can add a nice scented oil. This is such amazing result per dollar/pound spent that I encourage you to buy nicer olive oil than you normally would. The bottle will last a while. I use my scrub after I've washed and just rinse. I don't need moisturizer after.
Breastfeeding Matters by Maureen Minchin review:
This book is for serious mamas and breastfeeding advocates, not for those who just want a pat on the back, don't feel passionately about breastfeeding, or haven't ever had a single problem with nursing. Minchin does a great job explaining, scientifically, all the many facets of breastfeeding and formula, debunking any idea that formula is 'just as good', and offers many tips for various of the problems that can crop up when nursing. For those of you who had problems the first time and want to try again I recommend this book. She also addresses the guilt issue pretty early in the book. I liked this a lot. It wasn't an after thought. Minchin places all 'guilt' squarely on the shoulders of the medical complex. She's angry that so few nurses and doctors are adequately trained in breastfeeding and are too quick to encourage formula supplementation. Minchin says quite clearly that no mother is too be judged for using formula for several reasons, one is that we never know what that mama's been through, but also why would we judge a woman who may not have had the necessary support? My own experience has shown me that support is the most crucial aspect to a successful nursing relationship.
I also learned several things in this book which make me even more pro-breastfeeding. Firstly, formula has never been tested, like other manufactured goods - because testing babies is unethical. Formulae have changed over the years as recipes have been found to be flawed. For example, in the 70s, a couple formula companies took salt out of their recipes because salt was linked to high blood pressure. Babies died because we need salt. Which leads into my second point: formula makers don't really know exactly what amounts of what babies need. Unlike breast milk which is a dynamic food (changing according to baby's age and abilities), formula is static. This is why doctors recommend solids be introduced between 4-6 months. One doctor is on record saying this is actually only for formula fed infants. In fact, ideally a formula fed baby would start on foods as early as 4 months, in order to ensure that micro-nutrients and other unknown nutrients are being consumed as part of a more varied diet. Babies only breastfed should not start solids until 6 months, at the earliest. The infant stomach is not designed for anything else. Many cultures don't introduce solids til as 'late' as 9 or 12 months. But doctors just give the blanket 4-6 months line, because they don't want to discriminate or confuse mothers. This last bit infuriates me! The medical industry thinks women are stupid and also don't want to incur the wrath of big pharma.
Minchin also says that very few babies are exclusively breastfed anymore. Most get at least a bottle or two of formula in their time, so it's very hard to even do less rigorous studies. Bennett was not exclusively breastfed, but I am more determined than ever to make sure subsequent children are. I don't think a bottle of formula here and there is bad or even all that damaging, but formula IS NOT an appropriate substitute. The more I read and the more I meet babies, the more I believe this.
I've been making my own refried beans lately. While they're not as good as the beans I've eaten in San Diego, they are better than the canned stuff I used to buy in the US. And I thought the canned stuff was pretty good. The only thing I really need to tweak is the consistency.
Buy a packet of pinto beans. Put them in a pot, fill with water. The recipe I had said soak for 12 hours, but I think 18-24 is better. Add more water if the beans soak it up. You want them covered. Next, drain the beans and fill pot with fresh water. Bring to boil and the to a lively simmer for about 3 hours. Drain and refill again only with less water than before. Bring to a boil and simmer, this time add cumin, salt and chili powder. Use a potato masher to mush the beans. After an hour (or so, you can tell I'm really precise) you'll add the mushy beans to a hot skillet that has lard and butter and the garlic and diced onion you've softened. Fry the beans! You may want to add a pinch or two of sugar. The butter is vital. I also much prefer real garlic. The original recipe used garlic powder, but it left a sort of chemically taste that I didn't like.
You will get a LOT of refried beans for about 2 dollars. It's a sweet deal. When you reheat you may need to add some water. I don't know about reheating in a microwave since we don't have one.
If you are short on disposable income, have dry skin, like nice bath products and/or don't like lots of chemicals (like me!), then this a great scrub. Are you ready? It's really hard to make: some kind of water tight tub, coarse salt (preferably sea salt), and olive oil. Olive oil can be very rich, but you can 'water it down' with jojoba oil. If you want smells you can add a nice scented oil. This is such amazing result per dollar/pound spent that I encourage you to buy nicer olive oil than you normally would. The bottle will last a while. I use my scrub after I've washed and just rinse. I don't need moisturizer after.