Homemade Coconut Milk Infant Formula

First off I would like to say that I am sharing with you my experience with two daughters that struggle with dairy allergies.  I have no background in nutrition or medicine.  So, please check with a holistic nutritionist or naturopath before starting a new diet with your infant.

I feel like I want to share this with everyone because it has changed our life so much!  When my second daughter was born I was sure that breastfeeding was going to go well.  I had difficulty with my first daughter and was only able to breastfeed 1/2 time for 7.5 months.  This time I was determined to do everything to make it work!  I fed on demand, even though she was screaming for food a mere 20 minutes after breastfeeding, I pumped in between feeds, I took Blessed Thistle, Fenugreek and Domperidone. I was told over and over again by moms and professionals, the more you take the more you make.

However, in my case, that was not true.  I have  condition called Mammary Hypoplasia.  In a nutshell, I do not have sufficient glandular tissue to hold enough milk to give my baby a full feed.  Therefore, my body is producing as much milk as it can hold.  But that storage is not big enough to satisfy my 9.5lb babies.  If you have struggled with breastfeeding and would like information on this condition please refer to the below link for information:

http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/lv/lviss2-3-2009p4.html

So, I had to supplement my daughter within her first days after birth and was not able to breastfeed full time.  I had come to terms with that when around 4.5 months old I noticed an intestinal bleed.  She had also struggled with eczema from birth and was a terribly fussy baby, often waking 3-4 times a night.  The family doctor told us that it was a dairy allergy.  The proteins in the milk were causing damage to the intestines.  I did not want to put my daughter on soy formula due to the phytoestrogens and she would not take the hypoallergenic formula (due to the sour taste).  So the family doctor told me I would have to keep her on the dairy formula.

It was then that I was determined to find a better answer.  My daughters intestines were bleeding and I should just keep on doing what I am doing???  I made an appointment with a local naturopath and described my plight to him.  I also explained to him that I did not want to go on soy formula.  It was then that his receptionist found a rice milk based infant formula recipe from this blog:

http://jennpike.wordpress.com/2010/01/09/home-made-rice-milk-based-infant-formula/

There is a ton of information posted in the comments section of the blog.  So the naturopath sent us on our way to make our own formula.  I chose to use coconut milk.  I feel it has a pleasanter taste than rice milk.  It also has some healthy fats.  Here is what we do as adapted from Jenn Pike's Blog:

4 cups Coconut Milk (So Delishious)

2 tbsp Brown Rice Protien (Heartland Organics)
1 tbsp Molasses (Wholesome Foods)

2 tsp Pediatrivite (Genestra)
4 Scoops Infant Probiotic (Genestra)
2 tbsp Flax seed oil
400 Iu Vitamin D

Within 2 days my 5 month old was able to sit happily playing on the floor for 45 minutes instead of her usual 5 minutes.  She also began waking once a night and eventually slept through the night.  My daughter did a complete 180.  She went from pooping once every 3 days to pooping 3 times a day.  She is now 1 year old and growing like a bad weed.  I am so thankful for this recipe.  It made the latter half of our first year one to enjoy.  Instead of sleep deprived and completely frazzled I have fond memories of our first year together.  I cannot express what a difference this made in our life.

I love that this formula has whole foods in it.  There are no ingredients in it that I cannot pronounce. If I knew about this the first time around my older daughter would have been on it as well.  If we have any future children they will also be on this formula, allergies or not.

If you are in the Waterloo Region of Ontario you can consult with Dr. Dronyk ND of the Dronyk Clinic: http://www.dronykclinic.com/en/

Introducing My Partner in Crime

Tonight I would like to introduce to you my partner in crime.  Her and I have taken on many, many, many projects together.  She spends many hours helping me wrangle children while we try and accomplish DIY Projects, Homemade Body Products, Canning, Up-cycling,  Cooking and Sewing, just to name a few.  I have known her all my life.  She has always been brutally honest with me and many times borders on being bossy.  It must be because she is the first born and my older sister.  Crystal has many talents and excels in cooking, canning, tablescaping and making beauty products.

We do so much together that my husband Dale often refers to Crystal as wife #2.  Most days off Crystal goes home, only to sleep.  We often take on projects for the thrill of the end result.  Only to realized hours later that that simple project was a little more complex than originally anticipated.  However, it is always worth it.

You can look forward to blog posts by crystal that include:

Cold Chaser Thai Soup
Sweet Potato Salad
Coffee Bar (The Original Inspiration)
Kitchen Shelves
Shoo Spray (Homemade Bug Spray)
Bath Fizzies
Tablescapes

I feel so blessed to have my big sister in my life.  She has been a bright spot in my life over the past few years of adjusting to being a stay at home mom.  I am so happy to be sharing my blog with her.  I hope you enjoy all our shenanigans. 

Mothers Day 2013

I feel so blessed to be a mom!  I have two beautiful daughters, one is 2.5 years old and the other is 10 months.  I feel that it is a real privilege to be a parent and I take my job very seriously.  I stay at home, but feel this is the most important and meaningful work I will ever have.

There are difficult times and it can be trying to stay home.  It can also be quite isolating and lonely.  If anyone who is reading this blog has also chosen to stay home, I can guarantee you have experienced these feelings as well.  I often feel frazzled, trying to run around after my active 10 month old and trying to program my two year old.  I pray daily that I am using my time wisely and teaching my children all that they need to know.

I have always been inspired by Samuels Mother, Hannah in the Bible.  I believe that she makes the most selfless sacrifice I can think of.  She prays for years and years to have a child.  She makes a vow to God, "Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life..." 1 Samuel 1:11.  When Samuel was born, this is exactly what she did; once he was weaned, she took him to Eli the priest and Samuel served the Lord at the temple.  He no longer lived with his mom and dad but lived at the temple serving there.

I do believe this is what I am eventually called to do. I have been commissioned by God to raise my children to love the Lord and then send them out into the world to show the love of Christ to others.  However, Samuels mother did this as soon as he was weaned!  I cannot fathom that sacrifice.  But I pray that I am able to commit my children to the Lords work throughout their lives in whatever capacity He calls them too. 

First I must raise them to be respectful, kind, generous and God loving, so that they may find their own way in God's kingdom.  Whether you stay home with your children, work full time or part time.  Remember that your children are always watching you.  You are their hero and they will emulate you in all things.  You are their lifeline!  They look to you in everything they do.  What an important Job being a mom is!