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Thursday, 14 August 2008

Elimination Communication
Hey this is for those that wanted some info on this. You can also go to:

www.diaperfreebaby.org

It really hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be I just take her when I think about it or she fusses and then she goes most of the time. Has started saving diapers......At first it was just pee, but now she is doing both in the potty.

These are from e-mails I get on natural parenting:

Beyond Diapers
It may seem that there is no end to the choices available in diapering. Cloth or disposable, cotton or hemp, fitted or flat, Velcro or snaps...but did you know that some parents choose to forego diapers altogether? If you're imagining stained carpets and a house that smells like a toilet, try to picture this: parents who are so in tune with their baby that they know when their baby needs to go.

They calmly take him to the potty and there he pees. Sound like a far-fetched idea? In fact, babies were cared for in this way all over the world for centuries, but somewhere along the techniques and skills those parents used were forgotten. Lately though, there has been a surge of interest, as modern parents are catching on to the idea and relearning what used to be common knowledge (and still is in some parts of the world-- see the "quick fact"). Being in tune with baby's elimination needs goes by many names. Here are some terms that have been coined in recent years:
- Elimination Communication (EC for short)
- Natural Infant Hygiene
- Trickle Treat
- Infant Potty Training
QUICK TIP :
In less industrialized countries and nature-based cultures, parents still raise their babies without diapers. They use the techniques of elimination communication to keep their floors and laps baby pee-free.

Elimination Communication

"Elimination communication" is one of many terms used to describe a natural, hygienic, respectful way of meeting an infant's elimination needs--usually without diapers. It involves listening and responding to the infant's signals, so that the infant can eliminate into an appropriate receptacle, rather than into a diaper.

This practice is not new. Rather, it has been used around the world to care for babies for as long as babies have been around. With the advent of more modern lifestyles, the practice virtually vanished in industrialized nations, and diapers became the norm. In other parts of the world though, specifically less industrialized countries and nature-based cultures, elimination communication is alive and well, and gradually making a comeback in the industrialized world.

QUICK TIP :
"Natural Infant Hygiene" and "Elimination Communication" are terms coined by author Ingrid Bauer to describe this ancient practice that has been recently rediscovered by modern parents.

Elimination Communication: Cueing

Using elimination communication with your baby-- meeting your infant's elimination needs without (or with few) diapers-- involves the use of four tools. They are:

1. Timing

Timing refers to maintaining an awareness of your baby's natural elimination patterns. For instance, most babies do not urinate in a deep sleep, but rather pee shortly after waking. Some babies need to pee 15 minutes after nursing, and some have one or two predictable bowel movements a day. Timing will change as a baby gets older, as her bladder increases in size and can hold more. And every baby's elimination patterns are unique, just like their eating styles and temperaments. Being aware of your infant's needs may even help you form a stronger bond with your infant.

2. Signals

Signals refer to the ways a baby communicates the need to eliminate. Squirming, grimacing, fussing, facial expressions, grunting, and gas are some examples of how some babies communicate their needs, but no two babies are exactly alike. As babies get older, they can learn to use a sign for potty, or to say the word as they begin to speak.

3. Cueing

Cueing refers to the use of a specific signal to let the baby know that he is in an appropriate elimination location (like over the potty). To teach the baby this signal, use the timing and signal tools to predict elimination, and then make the cuing signal while baby is eliminating, so that he develops an association. The cue may be a specific sound (like pssss) or a word (pee-pee), or even a hand signal (for older babies). The position in which you consistently hold baby will also be a cue.

4. Intuition

Intuition refers to the feeling you get when you "just know" that your baby has to go. This feeling might be explained as a subconscious awareness of timing or signals sent by your baby. You're picking up those signals without even knowing it. Or perhaps you really do gain a sixth sense when you become a parent, and intuition is some kind of ESP. Regardless of what causes those intuitive feelings, intuition can be a very reliable tool in elimination communication.

Elimination Communication Positions

Elimination Communication, or EC, is a natural and hygienic way of meeting an infant's elimination needs--usually without diapers. The caregiver responds to the infant's signals, enabling the baby to eliminate into an appropriate receptacle, rather than into a diaper.

The recommended time to start EC is before the baby is 6 months old, but at that age, sitting on the giant cold toilet seat is an overwhelming task for even the most brave and coordinated baby. So parents who use EC utilize some basic positions to allow their babies comfortable access to the potty. These can all be modified according to your personal needs and preferences.

1. The front hold: Hold your baby facing outward, in a seated position, their back against your stomach, with your hands firmly around their thighs. Bend with your knees (not your back!) to lower them to the potty or sink.

2. On the seat: You sit on the toilet seat together, you at the back and baby at the front, between your legs. This is great for babies who are unsure of the toilet.

3. The cradle hold: For babies who tend to pee while they nurse, hold a receptacle under their bottom while they breastfeed, and cue them when it is in position.

4. The squat: Older babies sometimes enjoy squatting on the toilet seat, provided you support them so they don't fall in!

Quick Tips:
***To figure out your infant's elimination patterns, dress baby in a cloth diaper with snap or Velcro closures without a cover. This allows you to remove the diaper quickly and easily when you think baby needs to go, and to know immediately when baby has already gone.

***The easiest time to try this is when you hear baby stirring from a nap. Un-diaper baby and hold her over the potty while you cue her. You probably won't have to wait long at all.

***Learning these signals is kind of like learning another language. The best way to do it is immersion. To learn your baby's signals, spend as much time wearing your baby as you can. You'll be more likely to notice the subtle signals that way.

***Sometimes the ability to intuitively know when your baby needs to go does not happen until you've been practicing elimination communication for quite a while. That's why there is more than one tool--they all work together.

***Some babies love to pee in the great outdoors. If your baby goes through a stage of toilet rebellion, try offering the chance to answer the call of nature in the great outdoors.

Wednesday, 13 August 2008

Elimination Communication

Well, I started EC about a week ago and I think it has gone really well. Jillian went pee the first time I help her over the potty! It was so exciting! The rest of the day wasn't as successful, but given I was really sick and on antibiotics, I think it was ok. I went the next day and bought her a little potty that she can sit on herself with a little help. That has worked MUCH better! We still have wet diapers. More than before even, because I am checking them more. But she fusses and lets me know she needs to go. I am getting better at listening to her. Sometimes I just try to settle her and forget she is probably needing to go potty. But then when I take her she either goes, or has just gone in her diaper! It was SO exciting the other day, she hadn't pooped in 2 days and I was starting to get a little worried, then she fussed and I put her off thinking she was just tired. But she KEPT fussing and finally I took her into the potty and she pooped on the potty! I was so happy! So was she! She gets all excited when she goes potty!

So this blog is now going to be about my "natural parenting" methods and attachment parenting and the like. I still have my other weblog (debwash) for all other stuff. I hope to connect with other natural moms and share ideas on raising our children!

Friday, 30 May 2008

New post on debwash

Please check out my regular site for updates and new pictures of Jillian!

www.xanga.com/debwash

Thanks!!!

Wednesday, 21 May 2008

Thank you to my husband!

Hello to all! I just wanted to say Thank you to my wonderful husband for keeping everyone updated! He did an amazing job helping me through the labor process. The last two weeks have been, well, fast! I will update here and then will move back to my site
www.xanga.com/debwash
and will probably only update there.

So some have requested my take on the birth, so I will run through the events real quick and give you all a little of my side :)
It was a little surreal going in for the induction. You wait so long for the baby to be here and then you have to go in for something like this. I don't think I was that nervous, just there. We went and got something to eat at Culvers and then went in. The first day was very low key. Basically just hung out, watched T.V., ate..... had a few visitors I think... I slept well and had a great jacuzzi. I really wish we had a nice big jacuzzi tub at home!
The next morning they started the Pitocin and I think I started feeling the contractions about 7-7:30 A.M. They were pretty much every 2-3 minutes and were lasting 60-80 seconds a piece. But nothing was opening up to let the baby out. It wasn't that bad most of the day. I just sat and rocked in the rocking chair through the contractions and that helped alot. I watched a little T.V. and worked on the baby book for a bit. I was able to have a liquid diet and had a wonderful nurse that got me all kinds of yummy selections like mash potatoes, (which qualify as liquid!) and ice cream and soup. It really started to get bad about 2PM. I was really getting uncomfortable and my tummy was upset. They had me up really high on the pitocin but I was still only at a 2, because they had helped my get there from a 1!!!
So they lowered it from 22 and 20 to allow the contractions to relax a bit. Then I got to take some pain reliever at 4:30PM and got to stop taking the Pitocin for overnight. I got to sleep and eat KFC and take another jacuzzi. The problem was I made the water too hot and could only get half way in and had to get out too soon! I just get over heated so easy!!
Anyway after they started the Pitocin again the next morning about 5:45AM, I only got to a 6 and was pretty maxed out. I know I pushed it a little hard the day before and knew I wouldn't last as long this day. But I was ready for an Epidiral about 7:30-8 that morning. At first they wanted to make me wait until I was checked again and they tried to break my water. When I heard that I about had a melt down! I got teary and had to go hide in the bathroom for a minute to regain my composure! Thankfully while I was in there the midwife called back and said to go ahead and give it to me now. The Epi lady was in there in about 10-15 minutes and It was fabulous!!! It was a little hard to sit still for it through contractions and my nurse messing with my IV and taking my blood pressure all at the same time. Then Jeffrey saw the Epi ladies bloody hands from my back and almost passed out! Just had to steal some attention!! HA!
Then, what can I say, everything was WONDERFUL! I could still feel the contractions, but they didn't hurt. I was a little tired and snoozed a little, there was just so much going on around me, but I was just chillin' :)
Suddenly they told me it was time to push! Are you sure, I said? Okay, so I just did what they said and Jillian was here! So weird! Again very surreal! Then as you all know, she ate and was great and Daddy stole her and wouldn't give her back! But all was well and we had a pretty good rest of the stay over all. We even got really great fried butterfly shrimp for dinner our last night! We only had one "bad" nurse experience. And that was just because we called and asked for help 2 times and no one ever came.. The rest of the time, we had wonderful nurses.
We had alot of really great visitors too! I enjoyed hearing from everyone on here too! Thank you all so much for all of your love, prayers and comments! We are so glad you were able to share this special time with us!

I better go for now. This is so long a post already. I will write more about how things were after getting home later. I will add pictures later too. I need to go change little one. Thanks for reading, those who made it this far!

Friday, 09 May 2008

Jillian's First Day

Well, it was a very busy day for mother and daughter. Things were very busy for all participants.
Jillian came out of the tunnel of darkness into the light. It is a bright new world out here.
She got all the amniotic fluid cleaned off of her first before she did anything else. Jillian then was able to nurse for a little bit with Mom. Her Dad took her for the next 2.5 hours as he worked on the computer and tried to inform others of her existence in our lives. Meanwhile Mom got to eat some food and take a little nap.
Then lots of church friends came by to welcome her to our family. She will find out that her church family will be the best thing that she has on this earth other than the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ which is in Heaven watching over her.
After a long evening of visiting with friends and family she was poked and prodded by more nurses making sure she was "all there". When all that was done she was able to get her first cleanup and fresh new clothes. She then was privileged to nurse more with Mom. She nursed a lot! Jillian now is sound asleep while Dad is working on the computer and Mom is in the Jacuzzi. Mom and Dad will eventually learn that when Jillian sleeps they need to sleep.
there are pictures to look at below of our precious little angel.