January Chit Chat - Page 12 « Back to Group Discussions

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by MrsKatie 

It's officially winter here in Oregon!  Abra, J, anyone else... any suggestions for how to go out in the rain while wearing baby?  I'm trying to think of creative ways to cover her up that don't involve an umbrella or buying a raincoat that's 5 sizes too big so it'll cover her.  When I walk with her she's always in the Moby or her sling (usually the moby), with a hat on, but that's hardly waterproof.  Any creative ideas?

I also don't go out in the pouring rain- not fun for anyone.  As for a coat, though, I also wear dh's coat over the baby carrier, like Abra said.  If you really want to go out, though, I think an umbrella is your best choice.  Otherwise, perhaps you could fashion something out of one of those super cheap ponchos you can buy at the drugstore?  You could cut ventilation for baby somehow, maybe?  Only problem then is the nasty plastic... maybe let it air out for a few days before using it.  Alternatively, if you have a stroller that baby can go in, you probably can buy a rain cover for it.  I have one for my BOB jogging stroller that we call "the bubble." 
 

[jbk21]

No creative ideas here either.  I cover with a blanket if it will be rainy, or we use the Boba which has a sleeping hood.  

I just got a new project at work (I work at home online, only about 3 hours a week).  I was concerned that she wasn't going to have anything for me as I came out of maternity leave but thank goodness, she does!  I'm excited.  I get paid really well so it's nice spending money.

Mal have you tried increasing your supply? Oatmeal?  Beer?   Fenugreek?

[birdhappy85]

For those of you who drink coffee, do you drink regular (caffeinated) and do you notice it affect your breastfed babies? In what way does it affect them? Do they get a little hyper or agitated? I drink decaf to avoid the baby getting a caffeine rush but that's mostly because I don't know how caffeine would affect her and have been too nervous to try it for even one day. I'm imagining a crying/screaming wide awake baby, enough to send me out of my mind.  I don't want to drink decaf forever, though, because I know that the process of removing the caffeine often is very unhealthy in itself so I hate ingesting those toxins.

[IwannaBanRN]

Don't know if I've mentioned it here before, but the gals and I on Bring Breastfeeding Back to Sesame Street are one step closer to our goal! Good Morning America called our main media spokesperson last night! It's so exciting to be a part of something like this!

[birdhappy85]

That's awesome, Becky! 

[TalkToMeNow]

Originally Posted by birdhappy85 

For those of you who drink coffee, do you drink regular (caffeinated) and do you notice it affect your breastfed babies? In what way does it affect them? Do they get a little hyper or agitated? I drink decaf to avoid the baby getting a caffeine rush but that's mostly because I don't know how caffeine would affect her and have been too nervous to try it for even one day. I'm imagining a crying/screaming wide awake baby, enough to send me out of my mind.  I don't want to drink decaf forever, though, because I know that the process of removing the caffeine often is very unhealthy in itself so I hate ingesting those toxins.

I drink 1-2 cups a day of coffee, and J sleeps like a crazy man. He is the best baby sleeper I have ever known of. And I don't drink pansy coffee- I brew extra bold Starbucks in my French press.

Of course, you may want other opinions. I think I'm the least crunchy MDC mom around!

[dashley111]

Originally Posted by birdhappy85 

For those of you who drink coffee, do you drink regular (caffeinated) and do you notice it affect your breastfed babies? In what way does it affect them? Do they get a little hyper or agitated? I drink decaf to avoid the baby getting a caffeine rush but that's mostly because I don't know how caffeine would affect her and have been too nervous to try it for even one day. I'm imagining a crying/screaming wide awake baby, enough to send me out of my mind.  I don't want to drink decaf forever, though, because I know that the process of removing the caffeine often is very unhealthy in itself so I hate ingesting those toxins.

Im with Amanda!  I have started brewing my coffee weaker just so I can drink more    But I usually have 3 cups before noon.  The only time I noticed that it affected the baby was one night when I had a latte a few hours before bed.  She slept, just not as soundly as usual.

[jbk21]

Originally Posted by TalkToMeNow 


I drink 1-2 cups a day of coffee, and J sleeps like a crazy man. He is the best baby sleeper I have ever known of. And I don't drink pansy coffee- I brew extra bold Starbucks in my French press.
Of course, you may want other opinions. I think I'm the least crunchy MDC mom around!

Amanda you crack me up. 

I too drink Starbucks.  LIke, a huge bowl of it in the morning. Granted, I drink it over a couple of hours (yes, it's cold by the end) because my toddler won't let me just sit and enjoy it.     But from what I have read about it, the caffeine levels in your milk would be negligible, but highest one hour after drinking the coffee.  So I'd either sip it slowly (like I do, unintentionally, lol) or just drink it as you are nursing or right after, then once she is ready to eat again (a couple hours later?) you won't have to worry about it.  

Either way, I've never noticed an effect from it.  

I don't like drinking decaf either because of the chemicals.  Starbucks has one decaf coffee that is naturally processed with the swiss water method.  Caribou (that's by you, right?) has ONLY naturally processed decafs.  So those are good options as well :-)

[TalkToMeNow]

Good idea, Ash! I wish I could weaken mine to drink more, but I would hate it. I've gotten so used to my extra strong coffee that everything else tastes bad. Bummer. Especially since Starbucks coffee has a lot more caffeine.

[TalkToMeNow]

J, I take forever to drink my coffee, too. Hours. It's silly. I've actually gotten used to cold coffee! I'm the same way with alcohol, which always makes me wonder how much is actually in my breast milk. I mean, if I drink 2 beers but it takes me 5 hours, is there really that much alcohol?

[Abraisme]

There really isn't that much alcohol in your breastmilk if you drink 2 beers quickly, let alone really slow.
 

Originally Posted by TalkToMeNow 

J, I take forever to drink my coffee, too. Hours. It's silly. I've actually gotten used to cold coffee! I'm the same way with alcohol, which always makes me wonder how much is actually in my breast milk. I mean, if I drink 2 beers but it takes me 5 hours, is there really that much alcohol?

I drink about 2 cups worth of coffee every morning (in one large cup).  I've never noticed any effects from it either.  My sister's friend drinks 2-3 POTS a day while breastfeeding her 8 week old and that baby is as chill as can be..  Unless there's some high sensitivity, I doubt you'll notice any effects from a bit of caffeine, especially if your body is used to drinking it.

[dashley111]

Originally Posted by TalkToMeNow 

J, I take forever to drink my coffee, too. Hours. It's silly. I've actually gotten used to cold coffee! I'm the same way with alcohol, which always makes me wonder how much is actually in my breast milk. I mean, if I drink 2 beers but it takes me 5 hours, is there really that much alcohol?

I sipped some Bailey's over a few hours the other day and did not feel bad about it at all.  I really cant imagine there is much of anything in your breast milk if your slowly sipping something over a few hours. 

[mamabelle]

I am pretty sensitive to caffeine and just started a daily coffee habit with baby #2's arrival. Unfortunately, she does seem to notice so here I sit with a mug of black tea. I would drink about 6oz of strong coffee (sipped slowly thanks to toddler) and that was ok, but the one day I drank more (~12 oz) and the two days DH made me coffee (ridiculously strong!), baby was up until 10pm when she usually goes down by 8pm. She wasn't fussy, just wide awake and not sleeping until later than usual. Since every other night she's been asleep by 8pm, I'm thinking it's the coffee, BUT, since she's not irritable I'm wondering if I'm just making a correlation where it's really just coincidence? Any thoughts? 

I bought a bag of decaf and am thinking of going half-caff for a few weeks, but am also thinking that maybe I'm just not cut out to be a coffee person :)

[jbk21]

I'm not sure that there is more caffeine in Starbucks coffee, especially if you're using a darker roast and measuring with a scoop (not by weight).  It's not a clearcut issue....  I think it has more to do with how strong it's brewed.   Starbucks brews coffee at the right proportion, while some other places and people brewing at home don't brew it correctly and thus it's more watered down, of course.  

I drink a beer or cocktail over a few hours as well.  I have heard not to nurse if you feel tipsy, so that's the benchmark I use.  
 

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by jbk21 
I drink a beer or cocktail over a few hours as well.  I have heard not to nurse if you feel tipsy, so that's the benchmark I use.  

LOL, that would be about three sips for me!  I haven't had a real drink for 6 years!
 

[jbk21]

LOL why do you think I take 5 hours to finish a drink?  If I just sat down and drank a beer I'd be passed out on the couch in no time.  

[TalkToMeNow]

Originally Posted by jbk21 

I'm not sure that there is more caffeine in Starbucks coffee, especially if you're using a darker roast and measuring with a scoop (not by weight).  It's not a clearcut issue....  I think it has more to do with how strong it's brewed.   Starbucks brews coffee at the right proportion, while some other places and people brewing at home don't brew it correctly and thus it's more watered down, of course.  

I drink a beer or cocktail over a few hours as well.  I have heard not to nurse if you feel tipsy, so that's the benchmark I use.  
 

Hmmm... I know I've read that it does when brewed in store. That's probably what it is. I do measure with a scoop, but I measure 6 tbsp of whole beans for half a french press, which is a lot. You kind of have to chew my coffee. So I assumed it was pretty strong. Maybe not... then I can have more!  :)

[jbk21]

How big is your press?  That is a lot!  It probably is pretty darn strong.  It's just difficult to make general statements about the caffeine content because it depends on how it's brewed- and if it's scooped or weighed, if it's light or dark roast, etc.  They weigh, and brew 2 TBS per 6 oz water in the store.  But even then their light roast has a bit more caffeine than their darker roasts (what blend do you drink?)  I'm not trying to correct you, I know it probably seems that way.  I'm just a big coffee nerd.  LOL.  

Originally Posted by TalkToMeNow 

Hmmm... I know I've read that it does when brewed in store. That's probably what it is. I do measure with a scoop, but I measure 6 tbsp of whole beans for half a french press, which is a lot. You kind of have to chew my coffee. So I assumed it was pretty strong. Maybe not... then I can have more!  :)

[TalkToMeNow]

Originally Posted by jbk21 

How big is your press?  That is a lot!  It probably is pretty darn strong.  It's just difficult to make general statements about the caffeine content because it depends on how it's brewed- and if it's scooped or weighed, if it's light or dark roast, etc.  They weigh, and brew 2 TBS per 6 oz water in the store.  But even then their light roast has a bit more caffeine than their darker roasts (what blend do you drink?)  I'm not trying to correct you, I know it probably seems that way.  I'm just a big coffee nerd.  LOL.  

Originally Posted by TalkToMeNow 

Hmmm... I know I've read that it does when brewed in store. That's probably what it is. I do measure with a scoop, but I measure 6 tbsp of whole beans for half a french press, which is a lot. You kind of have to chew my coffee. So I assumed it was pretty strong. Maybe not... then I can have more!  :)

Oh, I know! I'm the same way. Right now I'm finishing up the last of our Christmas blend, but usually I drink Italian roast, Sumatra, or Verona. My press is the normal size. I measured it out in ounces a long time ago so I was putting the correct tbsp measure in. Somewhere a long the way I started adding a tbsp or two extra. Lol. Now I'm just used to it. I put in 10.5 tbsp for a full press. Sometimes we'll make two on the weekend mornings. We go through coffee way too fast. Maybe I should try gradually reducing the amount!

[jbk21]

Haha it's probably 34 ounces then, so your proportion is almost exactly right, I think.  I don't know what I'd do if DH didn't work for S*bucks.  We'd go broke trying to buy coffee.  LOL!  You should try the new blonde roast.  Willow blend is my absolute favorite.  It *should* have more caffeine than dark roasts, actually.  The roast process reduces the caffeine content....