What do you do if you want to enjoy a glass of wine while breast-feeding?… Basically I just plug Marcus’s nose while he is nursing so he cant get a taste for the wine…. Baaaahahaha I kid, I kid…Wow I had ya there for a minute huh?

Ok but really…I am the type of person who LOVES wine. I enjoy food, I love to eat and be social and enjoy a fabulous night of good food, good people and good WINE! Now this can pose a bit of a problem when breast-feeding.

This seems to be a heated and highly debated subject on-line and when I went to search for the answer’s it was hard to find good information that was accurate…so the best I can do is share with you what I have discovered.

Q. Does Alcohol show up in breast milk?
A. YUP – but it doesn’t just hang out there, Alcohol metabolizes out of breast
milk just as it does the rest of your body. The doc’s and experts seem to agree that ONE glass of wine or ONE beer will not harm your baby.

Q. How long does it take for the alcohol to leave the yummy milky goodness?
A. Well that’s tricky it really depends on how strong the drink was and your body wieght.. A rough guide line is to wait 2-4 hours after your last drink. Check out the table at the end of this post.

Q. How much alcohol is in the milk?
A. Less than 2% of alcohol consumed reaches your breast milk.

Q. Should you Pump and Dump to speed up the process?
A. NOPE – alcohol will remain in your breast milk for as long as it stays in your body as a whole. There for Pump and Dump makes no sense.
“Pumping and dumping” serves no purpose other than relieving fullness for the mother.
*Dinking water or coffee does not speed this process up.

Q. When does the alcohol enter the system?
A. Between 25 and 90 minutes after your first drink (faster if you have an empty belly)
*So drink your ONE glass of wine while breast feeding tee hee! Now wouldn’t that freak out a few people in a resturant….ahhhh!

Q. So what do you do?
A. Just pump a few bottles before you decide to have more then one glass of wine. Simple really ☺

There you have it ladies…hope this helps!

Xo
Kendra and Marcus

Table 1

Mother’s
Weight kg (lbs) No. Of Drinks* (Hours : Minutes)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
40.8 (90) 2:50 5:40 8:30 11:20 14:10 17:00 19:51 22:41
43.1 (95) 2:46 5:32 8:19 11:05 13:52 16:38 19:25 22:11
45.4 (100) 2:42 5:25 8:08 10:51 13:34 16:17 19:00 21:43
47.6 (105) 2:39 5:19 7:58 10:38 13:18 15:57 18:37 21:16 23:56
49.9 (110) 2:36 5:12 7:49 10:25 13:01 15:38 18:14 20:50 23:27
52.2 (115) 2:33 5:06 7:39 10:12 12:46 15:19 17:52 20:25 22:59
54.4 (120) 2:30 5:00 7:30 10:00 12:31 15:01 17:31 20:01 22:32
56.7 (125) 2:27 4:54 7:22 9:49 12:16 14:44 17:11 19:38 22:06
59.0 (130) 2:24 4:49 7:13 9:38 12:03 14:27 16:52 19:16 21:41
61.2 (135) 2:21 4:43 7:05 9:27 11.49 14:11 16:33 18:55 21:17 23.39
63.5 (140) 2:19 4:38 6:58 9:17 11:37 13:56 16:15 18:35 20:54 23:14
65.8 (145) 2:16 4:33 6:50 9:07 11:24 13:41 15:58 18:15 20:32 22:49
68.0 (150) 2:14 4:29 6:43 8:58 11:12 13:27 15:41 17:56 20:10 22:25
70.3 (155) 2:12 4:24 6:36 8:48 11:01 13:13 15:25 17:37 19:49 22:02
72.6 (160) 2:10 4:20 6:30 8:40 10:50 13:00 15:10 17:20 19:30 21:40 23:50
74.8 (165) 2:07 4:15 6:23 8:31 10:39 12:47 14:54 17:02 19:10 21:18 23.50
77.1 (170) 2:05 4:11 6:17 8:23 10:28 12:34 14:40 16:46 18:51 20:57 23:03
79.3 (175) 2:03 4:07 6:11 8:14 10:18 12:22 14:26 16:29 18:33 20:37 22:40
81.6 (180) 2:01 4:03 6:05 8:07 10:08 12:10 14:12 16:14 18:15 20:17 22:19
83.9 (185) 1:59 3:59 5:59 7:59 9:59 11:59 13:59 15:59 17:58 19:58 21:58 23:58
86.2 (190) 1:58 3:56 5:54 7:52 9:50 11:48 13:46 15:44 17:42 19:40 21:38 23:36
88.5 (195) 1:56 3:52 5:48 7:44 9:41 11:37 13:33 15:29 17:26 19:22 21:18 23:14
90.7 (200) 1:54 3:49 5:43 7:38 9:32 11:27 13:21 15:16 17:10 19:05 20:59 22:54
93.0 (205) 1:52 3:45 5:38 7:31 9:24 11:17 13:09 15:02 16:55 18:48 20:41 22:34
95.3 (210) 1:51 3:42 5:33 7:24 9:16 11:07 12:58 14:49 16:41 18:32 20:23 22:14

The Hospital for Sick Children – Motherisk – HIV Treatment in Pregnancy (11 May 2009)
http://www.motherisk.ca/women/updatesDetail.jsp?content_id=347
http://snipurl.com/hti1g

Of course he doesn’t have any idea what this THING is, let alone what its used for, expect that it is there, and it seems to go wherever he goes.

So I get excited and say, “Marcus that is your Penis!”

I think it was a bit of surprise for him! He was laying naked on the change table getting ready for bath time, all four lims flying and kicking about in excitement, then all of a sudden he had a handful and was like….Wooow what’s this?

Now of course everything that he can grab with his hands, must go into his mouth…so needless to say there was a bit of confusion and his penis soon turned into a tug toy.

He seemed delighted about this new discovery, and he wasn’t about to let it go…because my god what if it fell off!

So I take my little naked man to have a bath as he held tight to his new toy…and like any good scientist he need to do a thuro investigation of what this new thang was.

Ok so…day two and I am hoping he has forgoten all about his new discovery for the sake he doesn’t  do any damage…but clearly once you have found something you cant unfind it!

So I say…”well Marcus the world is your playground happy explorations…ummm just don’t pull it off hahahaha!

Xo
Kendra & Marcus

Marcus Laughing from Kendra Voth on Vimeo.

xo
Kendra and Marcus

So Ya…Marcus stopped pooing, yup he went from pooing a zillion and one times a day to what I called a pooing strike…lack of pooing DID NOT mean lack a farting, the kind of farting rocked all of Vancouver and were stinky enough to but Dublin (Kristin’s dog) to shame.

I was like WTH? Where is all the baby Poo? After a few days of zero poo I gave the 24 hour nurse’s hotline a call…yup here in BC when you give birth to a baby you get access to this amazing service….*ring – ring*” ummm…hi…my baby wont poo?”

So we discover that as babies digestive systems mature they can go for over a week without pooing….ewwwww! What happens, you ask when the finally DO have  POO?  Well it’s only what I can describe as poo pudding pie.  When it finally happened, and I wish I had a camera to capture the look of satisfaction on Marcus’s face, it wasn’t just any poo, it was the biggest, stinkiest, stickiest, gooiest gob of poo that squished out the back of Marcus’s diaper, all up his back to the nap of his neck!

He was sooo excited about the whole event that while I was trying to change his diaper his legs were flailing and kicking and his feet was splashing around the poo…ewwww! Grossss! Well…into the bath we go…clothes and all…and then to add a little more to the story as soon as his feet hit the warm bath water…weeee there was peee!

1:05 am Oct 31st: Ohhh! What’s that? I think I am having a contraction! Could this be it? Could Extra Little be on the way? I was excited, I was looking forward to experiencing childbirth, I had no idea what to expect, but knew that this was going to be a monumental day in my life.

1:10 am Oct 31st: OMG another contraction already? Hmmmm I wonder if I should wake Terry? These first contractions weren’t that painful and I wasn’t really sure this was the real deal.

1:15 am Oct 31st: WOW! That was fast, another one? These are already coming at 5 minutes apart! I peek in on Terry sleeping comfortably. Maybe it’s time I wake him?

1:30 am Oct 31st: OUCH! Ok that one kinda hurt!… I waddle down the hall to wake to Terry. “Terry its time, I need you.” Terry jumped up out of bed and looked at me, “Are you sure?” Within seconds we were both sure… here comes another one. Terry started timing each contraction and helped me get comfortable and relaxed. He ran me a warm bath and called our mid wife. From that moment on Terry didn’t leave my side for the next 12 hours.

5:00 am Oct 31st: Terry and I head to BC Women’s Hospital, looks like we are going to have a Halloween baby ☺. When we arrive the nurse kindly explains, “Head down the hall take a right, you will be in room 13.” “ROOM 13? ON A FRIDAY? ON HALLOWEEN? WHAT?” Seemed fitting, LOL.

There waiting for us was my midwife Liz (amazing woman!) and Jamie Cowel (photo journalist) that has been documenting my birth. Jamie is creating a book about women and their different birth experiences around the world. I was honored that I was chosen as one of the women to be documented. So we get settled into our room and the contractions are fast and furious, within minutes I was climbing into the birthing tub holding on to Terry for dear life. I remember closing my eyes, and listening to Terry’s voice, I zoned into my body, focused and went along for the ride.

Does it hurt? Yes it does! The feeling is the most intense kind of sensation I have ever felt in my life. Was it scary? No, it was more primal. Our bodies have a way of looking after us, we are just there to assist in the process. I tried to relax and let my body take over and do the work. There were times when I didn’t think I could take it, but Terry and Liz where right there to support me and help me find the courage to stay calm and continue through. Little did I know that my entire family was right outside the door experiencing every contraction. They stayed quietly on the sidelines sending me all their love and support.

The wave of surges were coming one right after the other, not giving me a lot of time for rest in between. Terry was amazing, gently coaching me through every moment, he was sensitive and loving. Towards the end I was pleading for something to help with the pain, I was exhausted and didn’t know if I could take much more. This is apparently a sign that you are getting close to birthing the baby, no matter how much I wanted pain assistance it was too late in the birth, it was time for me to bear down and focus on pushing. Terry looked at me and said “You can do this!” and I knew I could.

Now the pushing phase kinda feels like you have to take a BIG poo! I know, I know it sounds gross but its true! I needed gravity on my side at this point, so out of the tub and into what is called a Holland Squatting Chair. The Squatting Chair sits about a foot above the ground, and Terry was sitting behind me supporting my weight.

Ok so the pushing begins – 2 hours later and still no Extra Little, but Extra’s head was an inch away, soooo close! Suddenly the baby’s heart rate dived down and then they had a hard time finding it all! Every time I pushed the baby’s heart rate would dip to dangerously low levels. The baby wasn’t happy and within minutes my midwife had the pediatrician in the room and there was no wasting time, the baby needed help and had to come out right away!

Before I even knew what was going on they were wheeling us down to the O.R. The umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck and every time I pushed the cord would get tighter… there needed to be a C-Section. Terry scrubbed in and was right there by my side and within 10 minutes the baby was born. IT’S A BOY! I hear Terry say, IT’S A BOY! The baby came to us right away and as he was lying on my chest looking at Terry and I, Terry looked at me and said, “He looks like a Marcus.” “Yes he does.” Sweet little Marcus, with 10 little fingers and 10 little toes, 8lbs, 1oz born at 2:23pm on Halloween Day, I was on an amazing high that still has not left me. Wheeling back to our room I had Marcus bundled in my arms and as we round the corner I hear cheers down the hallway, and everyone is there, our whole family, waiting to meet Marcus, the love, smiles and tears were endless.

I love this picture of Marcus and daddy minutes after he was born.

Xo Kendra

Baby Marcus

Born: October 31, 2008

Weight: 8lbs, 1oz

Time: 2:24 pm

Oh did I mention that my hips are being forced apart by a human head getting ready to embark down the birth canal, which I imagine must be something like going head first down a big huge water slide. My legs are like two dead weights, I HAVE NO MUSSCLES to lift them, there seems to be a babies body in the way!

My gal pals warned me that the last few weeks of pregnancy were going to be a wee bit uncomfortable. WEEEEE!??? I say….WEEE?! At this point I am fully possessed by this adorable little imposter that doesn’t seem to want to join us here in the world.

So, me and Extra Little (BIG) had a little discussion yesterday, I was like “Extra, its time to come out, I am evicting you form my womb now, come on out, we want to meet you.”  Extra responded with a swift kick to the ribs, ahhhh but I caught that wee little foot and poked it back in there…first mother-child disagreement.  Feisty little thing in there is always up to something, all hours of the day…must be some sort of going away party happening there.

The suspense is killing me and I honestly cant wait to meet this new little being that is going to be joining our life!  Only days left to go hopefully!  Yippi!  I will keep you all posted!

Xo
Kendra and Extra BIG

OK…so…here is goes…Terry and I are driving in a car (not sure what kind of car, seemed comfortable), ALL OF A SUDDEN my big belly starts to flatted out…there was NO PAIN or PANIC, it just kinda felt weird. It actually felt very peaceful and calm.

Then I felt a tingling above my public bone and watched my belly bump move down, down, down…then within a matter of minutes I saw the babies head, there was no pain, but a cute little baby head sticking out, looking back at me.  Then came the shoulders and within minutes I was holding the baby in my arms.   The baby came out with ease, I took off my shirt and placed the baby on my chest and the baby started to nurse all by itself.

I look over at Terry, who was calm driving the car.  Then….I look back to the baby and the baby is now a black and white baby goat, in my dream this was not odd or shocking or anything, it was simply just a baby goat nursing.  Then I woke up….CRAZY right?!!!

I wonder if this means the baby is on the way???

Xo
Kendra and Extra Little

But the great news is we have about 3-4 more weeks to go and Extra Little is Extra Big weighing in at somewhere over 7lbs at this point is my guess   My dear friend Kristin threw me a HUGE baby shower at her fabulous BIG Yellow House and so many amazing women in my life were there to spoil me and Extra Big, we are so blessed to have so many people that are excited about his/her arrival.

While being spoiled at the shower Terry painted the Nursery and started to set up all the furniture, Kernie has deceided that that the babies room is his now and he has moved in all his dogs toys and loves to nap there during the day…such a funny little guy.

Jackson has taken a short vacation to the World Refuge Parrot Sanctuary, to check things out and decied if he would like to move in there full time.  This was not an easy thing for me to do, as crazy as he is, I love and miss him and just want to bring him home

Sooo many life changes to adjust too…I wonder what it will be like when the baby arrives?

Xo
Kendra and Extra Big

I am not sure if through this whole pregnancy I have REALLY, REALLY connected with the whole experience of being a human incubator and being a NEW PARENT. Imagine having on your TO DO LIST: incubate baby, learn to be a parent. Don’t laugh at me! Yes, these things appear on my internal TO DO LIST…I am nutty that way.

But here’s what I think brought on the tears, besides just hormones. I am learning to let go of control, and slowly realizing that I am vulnerable. Vulnerable, meaning, open to any possibility or situation and being open and able to accept help when I need it. Being vulnerable is a VERY SCARY thing for me. You can’t put, incubate a baby and learn to be a parent, on a TO DO LIST! It’s one of those things that you learn and experience along the way. You can’t control it. I can’t control it. CAN SOME TELL THAT TO MY SUBCONSCIOUS! Ok, look, if my brain and my subconscious can’t get along one of them is going to be sent to their room until they can play fair…hahahaha!

Now I know all this anti-control stuff intellectually, but I think the concept is integrating itself fully into my body and I am on the verge of having a major AHA! Moment, hence all the tears. The tears seem to reflect me working through the scary part of that.

My brain says, “I can’t control the world or even predict what might happen, I could go into labor at any moment. Ready or not, Extra Little could come flying out and that’s ok.”

My Subconscious says, ‘OMG I can’t control the world or even predict what might happen? I could go into labor at any moment. Ready or not, Extra Little could come flying out and, and, and…its NOT ok!

“Why is THAT sooo scary?” Asks Brain

Subconscious replies…because the Nursery isn’t done, I haven’t tied up loose ends, I haven’t completed all my goals, everything isn’t in “perfect” order, I haven’t planned every single little detail of my life, I haven’t read every book and, and, and….!

Then my dad calls at the perfect time and says, (what my brain would say) “Kendra, what’s the worst thing that could happen?” I laughed, I say this to people all the time…and here my Dad is saying it to me. It’s a great question, one of my favorites!

Then I sat with all these thoughts and wondered if my fear is really not about NOT BEING ABLE, but instead is about BEING ABLE, able to handle anything that comes my way no matter how hard it is. Does that make sense? Then I woke up this morning and read an email from SUPERSMITTE a GBD member who shared this quote. I know and love this quote as well and wanted to share it with you.

A quote by Marianne Williamson:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that
we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most
frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of
God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing
enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around
you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make
manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us;
it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give
other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own
fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Xo
Kendra and Extra Little