Adventures In Dysfunctional Breast Feeding Pt.1

So, I posted here about how my baby needed me right now and I haven't had much time to post. Things have settled down a little since then and I am getting a little be more time in my days. Hallelujah. I have been learning a lot about the trials of breast feeding in a formula world (society, actually).

My newest little girl was born the day after Thanksgiving last year. She was early and perfectly on time. I was back home from the hospital 26 hours after checking in. The baby came quick. I knew I was going to try and breast feed.

First some history. My attempt to breast feed my first child was, um, well, excruciating. And the first of many lofty expectations I had about motherhood that got blown to bits. I was working full time when she was five weeks old and barely held it together enough to pump for, what felt like, three long months. The day I gave up I felt completely relieved and defeated at the same time. I feel bad for that new mom that I was. It felt so hard. I ignored all information related to nursing and breast milk after that, since it "didn't relate" to my life anymore. Really, I just didn't want to be reminded of my failure.

When baby number two came along I was working at a new job which was our only income at the time. I knew I'd have to go back to work early. I started back part-time at two weeks and full-time at four weeks. I knew I'd have no time with my dear boy and I knew there was no possibility for pumping on the job so I put him straight on formula and tried to enjoy our first weeks together. It was a joy.

With this history, its a wonder I am here writing about actually breast feeding a child. ME. With my "perfectly fine" formula babies. Why would I dare drag myself through the breast feeding trenches again? So many reasons not to. Only one reason to.  One reason precious enough that I knew I just had to try again. 110%.

To Be Continued....

Stay Tuned, and feel free to ask questions. I want my experience(s) to be of some help to someone somewhere. Someday maybe? ;-)

Free Bag @ Squishy Tushy

I just got this email today from Squishy Tushy: 

~All orders today will receive a free Squishy Tushy reusable shopping bag!


Other Deals include:~GroBaby diapers and packages are all now 5-10% off!!!  GroBaby has announced it will be changing it's name to GroVia in May and some products will be discountinued, more to come later.
~bumGenius AIO diapers have just been restocked and are going fast.  You are welcome to order as many $2.50 AIO/Magazine promotions as you would like as long as you ONLY purchase one $2.50 promotion PER order and you order an additional $10 of qualified products per order.  If you have any questions please let me know.
~FuzziBunz hanging pails have arrived!  I am getting pre-orders out and the rest have been listed on the site!  I have also just stocked more One Size diapers in Blue Daisy, Green Daisy and Red Daisy.
~Happy Heinys Earth Day Sale-most products are 5-12% off!  Happy Heinys hanging pails have arrived, these are a great pail!  All orders through 4/24 are entered to win one!
Current SalesLil Joeys 10%
Rumparooz One Size Diapers 10% plus get 1 Free with a 24 pack
Snap Ez AIO 3T trainers only $94.99 -6 pack (while supplies last)
bumGenius 3.0 24 packs 10%
Bummis Bamboozles 5%
Kissaluvs Contours 5%
Rainforest Babies AI2 only $9.40 or $13.20 with a soaker! 
and much, much more!

Baby Legs for $2

Baby Legs is celebrating Earth Week with $2.00 organic Baby Legs. And they will be donating $1.00 to the Nature Conservancy for each pair sold. Wow. Also $20 off all organics this week, use the code "organic" and you can get a pair of Super Soft Baby Legs FREE with a BOGO deal here.

Cloth Diaper FUN

Happily Domestic is giving away one Smartipants one-size pocket diaper today only. Click the banner to get in on it. 

You Are Invited...

These exclusive shopping sites are all the rage and are making it possible to pick up some very eco chic goods and very affordable prices. Just click on the links and your invitation awaits...


The Mini Social: Tons of organic apparel for kids plus some other goodies, PLUS 10% of all earth week sales goes to TransFair USA.

Baby Earth: Tons of stuff in one place. Old school to new and cool. My referral code (gFRr2M) gets you $5 off your order.

Zulily: Lots of events featuring organic apparel for women, maternity and kids

bTrendie: Get $10 credit just for signing up. Why not??

Hautelook: Planning to have lots of green deals in honor of the day. Mostly for the fashion conscience ladies but also some goodies for the kids every once and a while. 

Earth Day - So Many Deals So Little Time

Here is the official Earth Day 2010 Campaign website.  A great place to start.


Many of the big chains have some promotions going on for the BIG day. Green washing? Perhaps, but still serving the cause so, shop happy!

Target is giving away a FREE reusable bag in stores on earth day and here you can enter to win a Ford Fusion Hybrid Car. 


Walmart has some green options and info going on. They have a bunch of green stuff for babies.. which is a good thing. You can use the Site to Store option if some items aren't offered in your store.


Pottery Barn will be having an event in stores and giving away a surprise! 


Amazon has a guide to "Greening Baby's Room" and links to green products. Lots of deals, as always.


I will try and post more if time allows. I have been working with my five month old with breast feeding issues we've been having and my little humble blog is taking the hit.


If you are in the market for more fluff, the earth day specials abound! Check out these stores, I keep updating this list so check back. Also please let me know if your favorite online retailer is missing. I can fix that.


Cheers!
Yo (Crunchy) Mama

Organic Jammies On Deep Discount

Hautelook is another great site that sometimes has some great deals on organics for babies. Check out this event for New Jammies 100% organic cotton baby pajamas! These are very cute, check it out here.
They also have beanies and bibs that would make great baby shower gifts. 

On Hold

It's every crunchy mama's dream to exclusively breastfeed our babies. It is, after all, the best for baby, mama and planet earth, right? Right! But that doesn't mean it's always easy.

Right now my exclusively breast fed four and a half month old is officially "failing to thrive" and I am basically working full time to get her fed. I have an amazing lactation consultant helping me daily and I feel optimistic that we have turned the corner, but there is a ways to go yet.

I'll update later, but I wanted to let you know that I intend to get back on the blogging bandwagon as soon as I have more "free" time. Hahahaha...... (free time..... sigh...... flash back to before children..... oh to be bored again one day..... ) I digress.

Any ways, I did want you to know that I am not slack, just distracted by an adorable, but terribly skinny little girl ;-). Job #1.