Would you want to eat your lunch on the toilet?

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/02/11/133663903/breastfeeding-gets-a-boost-amid-the-health-policy-wars?sc=17&f=1001

Breast-Feeding Gets A Boost Amid The Health Policy Wars
by Julie Rovner

- February 11, 2011

With the House expected to vote to defund last year's health overhaul law and frequent battles in the Senate over repealing the law all together, things have been pretty ugly here in Washington.

But this week brought a small win for moms. A group of lawmakers are celebrating a decision by the Internal Revenue Service to allow women to deduct the cost of breast pumps and other breast-feeding supplies.

The policy change means that from now on, taxpayers will be able to get back the money shelled out for breast-feeding supplies, which can cost hundreds of dollars.

It's not super easy (is anything dealing with the IRS easy?) But women in the know can now get reimbursed if they use money from their Health Savings Accounts or Flexible Spending Accounts. Or, they can deduct the costs from their income taxes — if they have other medical expenses that make up more than 7.5 percent of their income.

"This is good news for nursing moms, and a welcome recognition of scientific fact by the IRS: breast-feeding has significant health benefits," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), who has led the charge for over a decade. Previously, breastfeeding supplies weren't deductible because the IRS considered them a nutritional expense, rather than a medical one.

The change was also lauded by the American Academy of Pediatrics. "For years, the AAP has been urging the IRS to recognize that breast milk is not just the best and most natural food for infants; it confers well-documented health benefits on both baby and mother that cannot be obtained any other way," AAP President Dr. O. Marion Burton said in a statement.

Rep. Maloney was the lead sponsor of a 1999 law that expressly permits breast-feeding on federal property.

But apparently not everyone got the message. The Washington Post reported earlier this week that a woman attempting to breast-feed her baby on a bench at the Hirshhorn Art Museum (part of the federal Smithsonian complex) was asked by a security guard to do it in the ladies' restroom instead. When she said there was no place to sit in the restroom, the guard "told her to try sitting on the toilet."

In response, a number of breast-feeding mothers are planning a "nurse-in" at the museum this weekend. And it's now tax deductible. [Copyright 2011 National Public Radio]

Shame we cant take a trip to Washington this week!

Where have I been?

Where have I been for the past three weeks? Good question!

We took a road trip to Gulf Shores, AL with my sister and her BF, Joe. Three days later we flew to Vancouver, Canada. One day later we drove to Little Rock, AR. Henry is most definitely a well travelled baby!

Henry flies like a champ. His behaviour there and back was very different, but nonetheless he behaved very well both times. On the way out he was full of energy and giggles. On the way back he slept through every flight. Feeding him for take off and landing went well, so he didnt have any ear problems.

Vancouver was fun. It was nice to be a part of the 'real' world again. The people were very relaxed and didnt mind at all when I walked back to the hotel room to feed Henry every three hours. He mostly behaved for his Daddy but he has discovered true screaming, and boy is it loud. We didnt eat out much, since Henry was on Central time and a little grumpy. Even so, we were not overly impressed with the food in Vancouver. About 95% of the restaurants were sushi or Japanese, and whilst we like that style of food as much as the next person, we didnt want it more than once in a week. We did have a fantastic curry though.

I believe Henry's temporary grumpiness was in part because he missed home, but mostly a growth spurt. He can sit up now while holding your finger and go from sitting to his tummy. He rolls over with pure grace and likes most of all to stand up while you keep him balanced.

We drove to Little Rock to keep Danny company. He had a GIS class Thursday, so we drove Wednesday night. We stayed with the Schneider's and got to meet Cooper, their new arrival. Cooper is seven weeks old but was born four weeks early. He is tiny! We did take a picture of the two lads lying beside each other, so I just have to get organised and start uploading pictures.

It is so nice to be home. Today was fantastic! I dont know if its sheer chance, but we seem to have landed into a nice schedule easily, but we shall see if it lasts. I really had a wonderful day! Henry fell asleep in the Babybjorn carrier while we walked the dogs this morning. When we got home, I cleaned the fridge while he continued to sleep in his bed. We played a bunch, did the grocery shopping, had a bath, but most importantly, we christened our trailer today! It was great to get out and ride and Henry slept really well. We cycled to the park, jogged the outer loop and cycled home. Most people gave us a wide girth, but not everybody, which is shocking. I really enjoyed cycling with Henry, but do need a wing mirror for my bike, I think.

Last night Henry woke up earlier than usual for his night time feed, because he hit his head on the end of the bassinet. So tonight is his first full night in his own bed, in his own bedroom - at 3 months old! I thought it was going to be hard on me, but Ive been putting him in there after his 3am feed for the rest of the night, so Im doing well! Its actually nice to have our bedroom back!

Bottle me up

Well the first two attempted bottle feedings have been a complete disaster and mummy is starting to panic about the first week back at work, which is just over a week away. Oh dear.

Parental lessons learned the hard way so far... If you ever want to feed your baby from a bottle, make sure and start at least the odd bottle from the beginning because starting it at 11 weeks old ain't gonna happen!

We have no choice but to keep trying, but it is excruciating. Henry is such a happy young man, rarely ever crying - mostly just when you stick him in a car seat for more than 30 minutes - but the hour and a half of trying to get him to eat from a bottle to date, has brought nothing but all out screams and tears. I have purchased a new bottle that looks like the real thing but it is a week away, so until then, we try with the three different ones we have and just try to ignore the screams of our sweet baby.

Tomorrow we drive to Gulf Shores to take Henry on his first beach vacation. If you read the last paragraph, you will remember that he HATES being in a car seat for extended periods of time, so the 7 hour journey to the coast is going to be interesting tomorrow. Im hoping that going to the Grove to party all day has worn him out and that he will sleep most of tomorrow, making the journey bearable. Otherwise we will all be sporting headphones!

Getting going!

So my new Kicks arrived to aid the post-baby weight loss. Though I have to say, 10 lbs over weight never felt so good! I feel like I look the same as I did pre-baby, so who cares about the weight, right!

Anyways, we have been jogging/walking 4.5 miles most days and getting sore feet. But my new running shoes came the other day, so Henry can start sitting in the stroller, rather than pushing me!

Check out the difference between the new and old ones!

But more importantly, here is Master Henry in his Chariot!

More Firsts

Yesterday was our first day alone, Henry and I. I was somewhat anxious after his insanely fussy Sunday, it has to be said. He fought taking a nap all day Sunday, so inevitably was in a foul mood. But thankfully, Monday was a completely different story; he was a perfectly behaved child!

We had our own little adventure in the afternoon... we took our Chariot into town, went to the bank, then did a 50 minute walk, ending up at Hollie's for Milkshake Monday where Danny and I shared a milkshake and Henry slept soundly in his Chariot. Bath time was a hoot, as ever, with Henry laughing the entire time. He went soundly to sleep at 730pm, waking only at 2am and 530am. Definitely manageable!

He was fighting nap time again today until I put his Led Zeppelin lullabies on, now he is fast asleep in my arms! Cutie pie!

More firsts

Today a letter arrived addressed to Henry Parker Klimetz! It was his social security card, but it was really funny to see something addressed to a baby one month old.

Went through his wardrobe today and Im sure he is only going to wear each outfit in the 3-6 month range once, there are so many!

First successful cloth nappy adventure

After the size 1 nappy disaster I was forced to buy Huggies as I said. I ordered the seventh generation, but they wont arrive until Tuesday. As luck may have it, Alison had some newborn nappy covers, so we gave pre-fold cloth nappies a try. Its gone well, thankfully! I have the Snappi fastners which makes securing the nappy a whiz and I dont worry about hurting the baby. They are bulky and the covers stick out under his onsies, so I wouldn't use them to take him out in public, they also rustle every time he moves. I wouldn't use them at night because he 'creates' (I love that phrase!) pretty much as soon as he pees in the pre-folds, where as in the disposables he can wait 'til he wakes up for his next feed. I threw them into a bucket of baking soda water (1 cup baking soda, two gallons water) and washed them on a hot wash with an extra rinse cycle. They are now stain free and drying in the sun. What a snap. Because I only have 12 pre-folds we are back on disposables until these dry. I never intended to use pre-folds but was given them as a shower gift... I have to say they have turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I actually recommend them, for breastfed babies at least; I have no experience of formula fed.

Pre-fold pros:

Much more pleasant for a pooy nappy. In a disposable nappy the liquid gold just pools up, sticks to his bum and sometimes oozes out the sides. ick. It is soaked up by the pre-fold cloth so no oozing or sticking to baby.

Not throwing a ton of stuff away. Major plus in my book!

Pre-fold cons:

He usually kicks up a fuss to get changed asap after peeing, so I felt like I was changing him more frequently than in the disposables.

With a little chicken-leg man like Henry, the cover doesn't fit snuggly, so he managed to leak pee out of one leg opening onto my mum (who took it remarkably well!). But he only leaked one out of 12 times.

You have to wash them; though since you always have a ton of baby laundry anyway, this is a minor con, in my opinion.

A bit premature

It seems our decision to go up to big boy nappies was a little premature. Oh dear. Last night every time I picked the little man up to feed him he was soaking wet where his nappies had been leaking. He went through several outfits and blankets. So, we have gone back to Newborn size. Though of course, they don't sell the Newborn size Seventh Generation nappies in this backward town, so I had to buy Huggies, and they have girly Winnie the Poohs on them. Ugh. But I've ordered some more Seventh Generations that should be here Tuesday, now I just have to make this little pack of Huggies last 'til then. Yeah, right.

Some things I have learnt recently... a 16 oz tub of Butt Paste is twice the price of a 2 oz tube. Mylicon is great if your little one is prone to tummy aches, as the little chicken man is (Henry has little tiny skinny legs, like a chicken!).

I leave you with this thought...

Do VW think a guy is going to buy the new Beetle when it comes with a flower on the dash and flower shaped headlights? Do many guys buy the new Beetle?

And I leave you with these pictures...

Adorable!

We call this the 'choke hold' and Henry seems to love it! Especially when his Daddy does it, sends him into a sort of trance. Great for burping! Something Henry needs lots of!

Dolly!

He sleeps just like his father!

Big Boy!

Big news in the world of Lauren and Henry today... well, not exactly big news, but when all you do all day is stick a suckling mouth on your chest and change dirty nappies, any news is big news! Henry has moved up to Big Boy nappies today! Probably not big boy nappies, but Size 1 anyways! The thought process that prompted this decision was not exactly pleasant though! I was doing some house job or other and my mum was sweeping the floor when Henry started wailing from his bed. In an effort to get me ready for life without my wonderful helper, my mum told me to let him cry for 5 minutes, since we were both busy. I managed 2 minutes before going to see what was up with him. The poor soul was wet all the way up his back. So I stripped him down and plonked his little butt in the sink to get washed off. Put him in a clean outfit and held him whilst wandering round the house. Not very much time had past before I realised that he was soaking wet up his side again. hmmmm. The nappies were not containing the ridiculous volume of pee that young man produces, so we went to Size 1s!

My little baby is growing up! He no longer wears newborn nappies!

For all those new mums out there, we went through almost 5 packets of Seventh Generation Newborn size (there are 6 left!). Just incase you are wondering how many you will need, though of course, he was born at 6lb 13 oz, so that will make a difference to the number of newborn size you need too.

Also, I would like to just say, how much I like using cloth wipes over disposables. Yes, there is slightly more work involved, but they are lovely and warm when you need to clean a little botty and they seem to clean up so much better and more efficiently. We have the Prince Lionheart Wipes Warmer, which is working just fine for us, though I have only been using it for a week or so. The extra work is that you have to pre-soak them before putting them in your wipes warmer, then we store dirty ones in a baking soda solution, then you have to wash them. However it seems like very little effort for a happier botty and far less waste.