Dayton Mama's 2008 - Page 2

[LLLHeather]

La Leche League Special Meetings Notice

At the risk of sounding "lame", what's everyone been doing lately? This thread has been strangely quiet for weeks!

While I'm at it, La Leche League of the Dayton area is holding some special meetings over the coming months. We have been fortunate to get Tracey Merkle, area nutrition expert, to come and do 4 lectures which are always informative. Here's the schedule:

Feb. 26-Dairy and Soy and the problems with them w/Tracey Merkle
March 25- Couples meeting
April 29- Allergy Season w/Tracey Merkle
May 27- Ear infections, colic, and thrush w/Tracey Merkle
June 24- Toddler meeting
August 26- Pre/post natal nutrition and the introduction of solids w/Tracey Merkle

The meetings with Tracey will begin at 7:00pm at Corinth Presbyterian Church. The Couples and Toddlers meetings will begin at 6:00pm and will be a potluck of some kind:; I will post more details about this later. These meetings are open to dads or anyone else that is interested in these topics.

If you would like to attend a meeting that Tracey is lecturing on an RSVP is requested. Please call the Back to Health Center office at 433-3241 to let them know you plan to attend so that enough handouts can be available.

[tenecwalker]

Hi Heather
We haven't been doing very much. The cold weather has been keeping us in. I'm ready for spring! Luke has been battling a cold pretty much since he has been born. He has it for 10-14 days and then it will be gone for a few days and then come back. It is annoying and I feel bad for him. For good news - Luke is completely on the breast now. Mostly with a nipple shield, but he will occasionally latch without it. It has been a little over a week since I've had to pump. I took the pump back today and I have 545 oz of breastmilk in the freezer! I'll see you at the LLL meeting next week

[cognito]

Originally Posted by LLLHeather

At the risk of sounding "lame", what's everyone been doing lately? This thread has been strangely quiet for weeks!

While I'm at it, La Leche League of the Dayton area is holding some special meetings over the coming months. We have been fortunate to get Tracey Merkle, area nutrition expert, to come and do 4 lectures which are always informative. Here's the schedule:

Feb. 26-Dairy and Soy and the problems with them w/Tracey Merkle
March 25- Couples meeting
April 29- Allergy Season w/Tracey Merkle
May 27- Ear infections, colic, and thrush w/Tracey Merkle
June 24- Toddler meeting
August 26- Pre/post natal nutrition and the introduction of solids w/Tracey Merkle

You might be a good person to ask... Why are there so few couples meetings? I was truly interested in LLL after my first was born, but didn't feel comfortable not being able to have my main support person there to learn with me. We had horrible latch problems followed by health problems & I'm nervous about those things in the future. I've thought about it again since I'm due in May, but I would think an organization like LLL would be more family friendly.

[acemama]

Originally Posted by cognito

You might be a good person to ask... Why are there so few couples meetings? I was truly interested in LLL after my first was born, but didn't feel comfortable not being able to have my main support person there to learn with me. We had horrible latch problems followed by health problems & I'm nervous about those things in the future. I've thought about it again since I'm due in May, but I would think an organization like LLL would be more family friendly.

Just jumping in here. I am not sure where you live, but the Troy Chapter of Dar a Luz network (www.daraluznetwork.com) just started in January. For Feb. the speaker is Melissa Stricklin, IBCLC and owner of Babies' n Blessings. She will be speaking about breastfeeding (of courses lol) and pumping, storing etc. with a Q&A session.

Since this chapter just started the group is small, but all are welcome including children and dads The meetings are the last Tuesday of the month at 7PM. Location: YMCA Miami County-Robinson Branch Troy. St. RT 25 A, just off I-75. (It's basically in Tipp City ) more info: [e-mail]

[LLLHeather]

Wow Jamie,

Have you considered being a milk donor? 545 ounces in your freezer? I have info on donating milk to the Human Milk Bank of Ohio especially if you don't think you will be using it. Don't let it go to waste though! It is a simple process requiring a blood test (that the milk bank pays for) and the drop off in Dayton is Children's Hospital. Your milk would go to help saves the lives of babies who desperately need it.


Cognito,

La Leche League offers monthly series meetings for mothers who breastfeed and include the topics: Advantages of Breastfeeding, Baby Arrives, The Art of Breastfeeding and Overcoming Difficulties, and Nutrition and Weaning. We repeat the topics 3 times a year but every meeting is different and we tailor it to suit the mothers that are present. Most fathers do not want to come to the meetings but we try to occasionally include meetings, like couples meetings, for the fathers who do. The Leaders are unpaid volunteers and it's often difficult to find the time to do lots of extra meetings. We find that many mothers are not comfortable nursing their babies openly in front of strangers, especially men, and asking their questions too, so series meetings are usually women and children only to make all mothers comfortable. Plus it is really nice to have a time specifically for mothers to meet other mothers, become friends, form playgroups, talk frankly about things...consider it a GNO (Girls Night Out).

Dads are very important to have as primary support people. What La Leche League provides is practical experience from trained Leaders who are/were breastfeeding mothers with the most up to date breastfeeding information available. We are always available by phone and at meetings to give help and support as well. We definitely promote the role of fathers but also recognize that they don't face the same things with breastfeeding and birth as women do. They can be great coaches and cheerleaders but sometimes it is important to have women to talk with and learn from that have gone down the road you are on. The benefits in coming to La Leche League Meetings are endless. You have a place to go and enjoy mothers you have things in common with but also welcome babies. It is also a consistent group where the topic is always related to breastfeeding without a sales pitch. We have no agenda other than to help mothers breastfeed their babies.

I hope you will check one of the meetings out. I'm sure you would find it very enriching.

Heather

[diobolic_derbygirl]

ok, i'm jumping in here. fellow dayton mama here of two wonderful boys....9 and almost 6. I'm currently pregnant with a little girl who is due around the middle of May.

It was a very rough start at the beginning and I had a lot to battle through and for awhile, I was scared I'd lose her, but with bed rest, meds, and the caring of my wonderful partner....she's thriving and we will be making our 7 month mark next week! YAY!

I went to Jeanna's Dar a Luz meeting at the Greene a couple of Tuesdays ago and plan on going again next month as well.

The doula in me was able to use some connections to get into Dr. Guy's office (i'd worked with them before as a doula and Lisa seems to remember me well enough) and into Family Beginnings. Why so hard??? Because after my divorce, I was left with no ins. and finally got onto Care Source. As it turned out though....NO office would take "new" care source patients and I kept being turned down. (I got three turn downs from Dr. Guy's front desk before I finally asked to speak with Lisa herself)

So...it just goes to show that with a little persistence, things CAN happen for you in wonderous ways.

I look forward to getting to know you all.

[cognito]

Thanks Heather. It just doesn't sound like LLL would be the place for me. GNO really isn't something I desire at all. I work 9-5 & we spend evenings together as a family. My 13mo currently goes to bed at 7 too. I'm hoping at some point he will at least stay up to 8 so we can do more stuff. I might see if the WIC meetings will allow dads. DF goes with me to all the appts there. I got a call about a possible group getting together through there from Maria.

[miss_nikki]

Originally Posted by diobolic_derbygirl

ok, i'm jumping in here. fellow dayton mama here of two wonderful boys....9 and almost 6. I'm currently pregnant with a little girl who is due around the middle of May.

It was a very rough start at the beginning and I had a lot to battle through and for awhile, I was scared I'd lose her, but with bed rest, meds, and the caring of my wonderful partner....she's thriving and we will be making our 7 month mark next week! YAY!

I went to Jeanna's Dar a Luz meeting at the Greene a couple of Tuesdays ago and plan on going again next month as well.

The doula in me was able to use some connections to get into Dr. Guy's office (i'd worked with them before as a doula and Lisa seems to remember me well enough) and into Family Beginnings. Why so hard??? Because after my divorce, I was left with no ins. and finally got onto Care Source. As it turned out though....NO office would take "new" care source patients and I kept being turned down. (I got three turn downs from Dr. Guy's front desk before I finally asked to speak with Lisa herself)

So...it just goes to show that with a little persistence, things CAN happen for you in wonderous ways.

I look forward to getting to know you all.

Wow! 7mos already?! I can't believe it!!! Yay!!

[calipigeon]

Birth is most definitely a money making venture. Well, not if you have a UC. The price of a HB midwife in Dayton was $900 before Dar a Luz. Now it something like $1800.

[calipigeon]

Heather--I think the thread fell silent partly because nobody likes being called lame.

[calipigeon]

I should say that there are HB midwives in Dayton that do not charge $1800, but you won't find them at Dar a Luz.

[PancakeGoddess]

I seriously don't get this discussion and I'm clearly not working with enough information, so I'm going to stop participating.

[Mrs_Hos]

Thanks Cali for the book info...always good to have a librarian in our midst.

This is me today---------------->:

I used to go to Dar A Luz as well...now I go to a friends house and have informal meetings where we get to watch birth videos and talk about how wonderful natural, drug free birth is. We have moms-to-be over and try to fill them full of positive birth stories and try to eliminate their fears. Its a supportive environment without anyone trying to convince or sell anyone on anything.
I found Dar A Luz to be interesting. Honestly I have not appreciated how they've handled their business, so I bowed out...but I do still mention the meetings to many moms to be.
I was around during the situation you mentioned Pinky--I won't go into any details since it wasn't my business. However, it was very suspicious and vindictive--two descriptors that make my skin crawl...so I bowed out.
For those involved with any groups or meetings--I hope they serve you well. We all need to find the right fit for ourselves.

[2boyzmama]

Wow, hi Dayton ladies!!

I haven't visited this thread in a long time, looks like I've missed a bit!! LOL!

First off, for those of you who don't know, Connor FINALLY has a diagnosis...see my siggy for a link. He has a chromosomal deletion that is causing all of his problems. It's SO NICE to finally know WHY my baby has been so sick and we've struggled so much!!! Read my blog if you want details of how we finally got the diagnosis.

I want to quickly throw out a *huge* THANK YOU to the local LLL leaders and friends who helped me keep Connor on the breast and as healthy as possible. This syndrome has the potential to make him VERY sick, yet we've managed to avoid anything major and I owe it ALL to my LLL friends

I wish I could join in on the birthing discussion, but both my kiddos were hospital births, and Connor having this diagnosis of a genetic syndrome pretty much risks me out of any future home birth. Our future children likely have a 50% chance of also having this syndrome (assuming myself or my husband carry the defective gene, we're waiting on genetic tests on both of us right now) I've heard of Dar A Luz, some people seem to like it, some don't. I guess it depends on the person. I definitely don't like cattiness in a group of professional women, no matter who they are. But since I didn't directly witness any of it, I guess I'd give them a try at least if I got pregnant again. I didn't know there was another birthing group around here...I'm interested in learning more I guess. Someone will be getting a PM from me if I'm ever pregnant again! Sometimes I think that a more relaxed setting can be better...

And on a side note... I'm LOVING this snow!!! I know you guys think I'm crazy, but I love snow!!! Yay! It finally looks like winter outside!

Connor has more surgery on Friday in Cinci. Wish us luck!! Then he sees the infectious disease specialist on March 4th, and the pulmonologist the week after. But then we have a bit of a respite from medical things for a while (except for his weekly therapies of course...speech, physical, and now we've added ASL classes)

Anyone here familiar with immune disorders? Connor has low t-cell lymphocytes which is common in his syndrome...hence the visit to the infectious disease doc.

Stay warm everyone!!!

[miss_nikki]

I don't have much to say, except I'm totally with you on loving the snow!!! I was soooo happy when I woke up today and DH told me DD#1 didn't have to be at school!

[sweetfeet]

Oh and while I'm serial posting because I'm stuck under a sleeping baby...whoever said this group was slow moving just got their wish.

[sillynika]

I am from Oklahoma but my parents live in Centerville/Washington Township. My 20 month old son Benjamin and I are visiting right now, and haven't been out much because of the weather, but I was wondering if there were any special things to do in the area? I am hoping to visit Trader Joe's because we don't have those in OKC and I have heard good things about them, but what else is around here? We will be here for another week or so.

[sweetfeet]

My kids love http://www.boonshoftmuseum.org/index...task=view&id=1
There are also loads of awesome museums in Cincy and Indy if you wanted to take a day trip. Really I hate the cold, and we sort of hibernate in the winter so I'm not too sure what else there is to do this time of year. Hope you enjoy your stay.

[miss_nikki]

Originally Posted by sillynika

I am from Oklahoma but my parents live in Centerville/Washington Township. My 20 month old son Benjamin and I are visiting right now, and haven't been out much because of the weather, but I was wondering if there were any special things to do in the area? I am hoping to visit Trader Joe's because we don't have those in OKC and I have heard good things about them, but what else is around here? We will be here for another week or so.

http://www.metroparks.org/_home/eventResultsParent.aspx

You might check into one of these events. The Infant one of course is for babies up til age 2. The stroller one is up til age 3.

The Dayton Art Institute is also a fun place.

Hope that helps at least a little!

[LLLHeather]

Sweet Feet,

I co-lead three groups, East Dayton-Kettering (2nd Tues of month 7:00), Greene County (1st Wed. at 10:30), and Huber Heights (3rd Tues at 10:00). You should come to the meeting next Tuesday night at Corinth Church (where we have the EDK meetings) that Tracey Merkle is guest speaking at. She is really terrific! I posted info about it on page two of this thread. Let me know which one you are interested in and I will send you the directions and stuff.