Many Thanks...Mama Lounge Gets Recognition

Thanks to the Intentional Conscious Parenting community for  passing on the lovely blog award.  What an honor to put on a list with other creative and holistic writers and artists.  I write from the heart and love that my work is being read by people of all walks of life. Thanks to you.

Think again when pulling baby's arm: Nursemaids Elbow

Did daddy swing the baby with a bit too much strength while dancing? Did you notice baby couldn't move their arm and started to be fussy? Low and behold...it's probably Nursemaids Elbow.

At first I was really worried and kinda of upset. But thanks to the family docs who recommended performing a reduction, it was an easy cure. We bent Kai's elbow until his hand touched his shoulder and held his arm there for a minute. Then Kai began using the arm immediately. Only try this method if you are sure there is no fracture. If the reduction doesn't work, then head to the doctor's office ASAP.

Ouch...My Baby Bites the Boob

I’ve been nursing for over 10 months now. Way longer than expected. Just as I’m about to hit that one year goal, Kai has grown two more teeth. In total, he has 6 teeth. Lately, he will bite me out of the blue while nursing. I can’t help but to let out a little scream because it hurts like crazy and I never know when it’s coming. I can’t call it quits now…I’m too close to that finish line.

If you’re in the same boat as me, keep nursing til that one year mark. Easier said that done right? Here are some great tips from Valerie Delp on Families.

My favorite excerpt:

React

It is appropriate to yelp, say "Ouch", very loudly and in other ways communicate that you don't like being bitten. Many moms seem to think that this is part of nursing and some moms even just grit their teeth and endure it. You definitely don't need to do that. Pry your baby from the breast and watch for a reaction. Sensitive babies will begin to cry. Continue nursing and repeat the same steps every time she bites.

Likewise, you can make a big deal when your baby is nursing without biting. Saying things like "Nice nursies," or whatever will help reinforce the idea that nursing is not a time to test out chompin. - Valerie Delp

Beat the Sniffles—Cold Cure for Mama and Dada

Everyone seems to be sick now. That nasty cold keeps being passed between child, mom, and dad right? Well if you catch the cold, it doesn’t need to bog you down. Skip the Tylenol and try these simple recipes that will give you energy to beat the sickness.

The most important thing is to stay warm. Not just with socks and a hat, but your body's thermogenesis needs a kick.

Brew Roasted Ginger and Lemon Tea:

-Cut a whole ginger and lemon into thin slices and then place them in the toaster oven to roast for 10 minutes.
- Boil 2 cups of water with 3 tablespoons of raw or rock sugar.
- Add the roasted ginger and lemon
- Simmer on low heat for at least 30 minutes

Drink the tea several times a day and your circulation will be up to speed. Ginger is magic.

Eat Rice Congee. I know it doesn’t sound good but East Asians eat this to retain their strength during sickness. You can easily purchase it at a traditional Chinese restaurant. Or you can cook up this comfort food for cheap:

Basic Congee
serves 6
1 cup long grain white rice
9 cups water or stock (chicken or fish)
Salt to taste

In a heavy pot, bring the rice, liquid and optional salt to a boil, then turn it down to a simmer and cover loosely with a lid. Cook gently, stirring occasionally, until the rice is thoroughly cooked and the porridge has become thick and creamy, about 1 1/2 hours. Serve up hot with the condiments of your choice or plain, just as it is, for a comforting, simple meal.

Recipe from The Kitchn

If you’re not sick, these recipes can cheer up your partner, children, and friends. They’ll love you for it!

Need a Boost? Hug a Baby

Maybe you didn't know the power of babies. Though a young baby can't do things like walk or talk, they have the immense power to heal people in such a profound manner. Since Kai was born, I've watched how he has transformed people around us.

For me, he's healing old wounds and helping me understand how to build a family.

But it's not just me, family members who were in a bit of funk the past few years are transforming into care takers and finding a deep happiness through Kai.

I watch my mother who had to leave my brother when he was barely a year old during the Viet Nam war and didn't reunite with him until he was 28--Kai has healed her. She has been right by our side since the night Kai was born ready to help raise him. Perhaps she's making up for loss time with my brother in a way but certainly she is energized and inspired by him too.

For my grandfather who sits in his Tenderloin studio in San Francisco, he is overjoyed to hold Kai and laughs like never before. It's amazing to see the interaction between an 84 year-old and a 4-month old.

For the older woman who walks around the lake, she peeks into Kai's stroller and is overjoyed by this little person who is discovering the natural world.

Babies open people up in ways they never thought possible. Perhaps it's the new life looking you straight in the eye, their laugh, their scent, or their need to hold on to you. They remind us that we were once fragile and all loving. No matter who you are and what you're going through, spend time with a new baby and see what's happens.

The Cry It Out Culture

I've been reading a lot about the Ferber method of crying it out. On the Berkeley Parents Network many moms write about feeling guilty letting their baby wail in the night as they learn to fall asleep on their own. Ferbizing a baby sounds excruciating and pain staking. But many people I know are all for it.
The main points are to separate your baby to their own room, let them cry it out for gradual periods, and fall asleep on their own. Americans are afraid that babies will become too dependent. What's wrong with an infant being dependent? Don't they have the rest of their lives to become independent? Like when they turn 18?

Last night, we had a pediatrician friend over for dinner. I asked him about his opinion on certain popular theories like the crying it out method. He said it really depends on the family and the baby but many of these popular theories from American authors are culturally and economically biased. I've been a little shocked reading forums where parents put their baby in a different room a week after birth. It seems a little cruel. What if a family doesn't have a second room? Then I guess the crying it out method is not really an option right?

There are many examples of co-sleeping families where the child turns out loving and independent. Co-sleeping is natural in many parts of the world. Several years ago, Harvard researchers concluded crying it out can lead to more fears and tears. My conclusion is that like many other parenting decisions, it's really no one else's business.

For us, we've been co-sleeping since day one. More often co-sleeping with a crib next to our bed. We enjoy the whole family sleeping together in the same room including our cat, Choco. I let Kai sleep with us for a bit in the mornings. When he hits six months, we may consider moving him to the next room. When that happens, I'll let you know how it goes.

Non-Dairy Blues

After a ban of sushi, alcohol, and soft cheeses during pregnancy, I was looking forward to food freedom. Unfortunately, I soon realized that baby Kai is sensitive towards cow's milk. Oh boy, I have to give up dairy during nursing now? I'm a dairy queen with a big love for pizza and ice cream. Any little bit though makes the baby gassy and he gives me this look like "you ate dairy again?" and I feel guilty.

If you're nursing and notice the baby is farting like an adult or producing quarantine diapers...you might want to lay off the dairy too. But here are a few things that have helped me cope with the never ending food restrictions:

- Trader Joe's Yogurt Cheese-- this type of cheese is very hard to find anywhere else. Soy cheese is very easy to find but I'm not too keen on the taste. Yogurt cheese is the best so far. Plus you can make a pretty good pizza with it.

- Purely Decadent Soy Ice Cream--easy to find at Whole Foods or Berkeley Bowl. My pick of flavors: Coconut Craze or Peanut Butter Zig Zag.

- Vegan Chocolate Cake for $2.75 per slice at Golden Lotus Restaurant in Oakland.

I guarantee these substitute treats will pull you through.

Cradle Cap Cure is in your Kitchen Cabinet

As cute as babies can be, little ones can also develop not so cute ailments. The other day I looked down at Kai's hair and saw some jumbo flakes. With a close examination, I discovered dry scaly spots on his scalp. Though it looks terrible, he doesn't seem too bothered by it. Cradle cap or Milk Crust are the baby names for seborrhoeic dermatitis. No reason to fret...it's very common.

For the past week, I've been applying diluted tea tree oil and olive oil with a cotton ball in the dry area. Letting the oils soak for awhile, then washing with Aveeno baby shampoo. I rinse with lukewarm water to prevent additional dryness that can be caused by hot water. So far, it seems that the milk crust is healing. Every other day, I've applied a bit of calendula cream to moisturize too.

Hint: Tea tree oil can be bought at Trader Joe's for cheap!

The Wonders of Wheat Germ Oil

For those who experienced a C-Section, there is a magic cure that will help heal the scar and the nerves impacted by the surgery. Your smiley face incision isn't as bad as the long vertical incision that surgeons use to give moms in the 70's but hey it's still a scar.

I remember the anathesiologist said to me "Ahh, the incision is below the bikini line". Even though no one really can see it, most women still want the line to fade.

Wheat germ oil is recommended by homeopaths. It is essentially rich in Vitamin E but also has other minerals that will soothe the nerves below. Your body has been tramautized in a way, so this is a solid method of nursing the area back to health. With the leftover oil, it can heal eczema and sunburns too.



It's best to buy gel pills, poke a hole, and then spread the oil on your incision daily. You'll see a difference quickly.

Nursing Bra 101 + Cabbage Cures Sore Breasts

As I'm coming very close to giving birth, the thought of breastfeeding becomes a bit daunting. Yeah sure it seems that this process should be intuitive, but everyone I've spoken with has described it as sometimes painful and bittersweet. But once the baby and mama find a rhythm...it's a bonding experience.


Well..my first question to readers is related to nursing bras. Do you have a favorite brand? Favorite store? Boost recommends being fitted for a high quality bra by Claudette at the Cotton & Company store on College Ave. One brand that was thrown out is Japanese Weekend. Another mama recommends simply going to Target and avoid paying too much for one. My other question was about nursing pads--it seems to be a 50/50 split between washable and disposable ones. I'm open to more suggestions.

While still searching for answers, I took a walk with a dear friend (Lake Merritt Latina Mama- LMLM). She turns to me and says "I have a remedy for sore breasts but it might sound weird, but I'll tell you anyways."




Cold cabbage leaves...place the leaves on your breasts and they will feel better. I giggled but she swears by it. We're still trying to figure out whether the color of cabbage matters. Other women swear by it too as I found many other testimonials through google! In Greek Mythology, green cabbage was fed to expectant moms to even increase their milk production. Thanks the gods for a cheap home remedy!

Baby Powder--What...I can't use it?

We went to a newborn care class over the weekend, and I was shocked to see in our handout the line, "DON'T USE BABY POWDER"in bold. I raised my hand to ask why? Our instructor stated that the studies show that it has caused asthma and respiratory problems in infants. It was the first time I heard that this soothing and soft scented of powder is a big no-no?

Fascinated by this new discovery, I asked around.

When I asked cousins who grew up in the Philippines, they didn't really agree. Everyone uses baby powder in hot, tropical countries. They said "it's not like parents just throw it around and little babies inhale it." They just do a little dash in the diaper area. Sounds reasonable.

Maybe then it is okay?

By nature as Americans, we tend to over worry and sometimes pediatric study results often change right?

But when I did further research, I found that the ingredient TALC which is found in major brands of baby powder is actually the one with the bad rep.

powder may be linked to several diseases/disorders

a cancer organization's view

However there are alternatives like diaper lotion or talc free dusting powders like this:

buy it here

A reader also suggested using corn starch which is much cheaper and can also be used in cooking.

Good thing for alternatives, everyone loves that baby smell.