Thursday, September 2, 2010

I am thankful for....teething?!

My wee one has not been himself these past few days...inconsolable fussiness, waking at night, loss of appetite, and low grade fevers have made up this past week. I speak softly and gently, sing songs, encourage him to feel the soft grass with his little hands...offer frozen rags and chilled carrots to teethe...my poor boy.
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Anthroposophic medicine has always intrigued me, but I haven't delved into it until now. I am constantly wrestling with the poor advice (in my opinion!) given to us by our current pediatrician. As a parent, coming to understand an alternative view of medicine has been a beautiful and cleansing experience for me. Upon reading the most recent volume of LILIPOH magazine (it is so very lovely...check it out if you haven't already!), I discovered a beacon in my journey; a fantastic resource for an anthrosophic view of children's health: The Anthromed Library, a free searchable database with over 500 articles, documents, research papers, and books.
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Teething, although long and painful, is such an amazing process. This is my boy intensively developing his physical body! Before we know it, he will be losing these milk teeth, and ready to move on to the next phase of his life....please, time, wait for me!!!
"And one can ask how it happens that a child, without any doing on his own part, magically manages to rapidly push a tooth loose from its own mooring in the jaw? How can they thrust forth a new tooth from deep in the bone that's fit for many years of service? In Waldorf pedagogy, it is understood that the passage of the changing of the teeth is an event of spiritual importance for the growing child. It signifies that the child has freed up certain forces for developing a life of cognition and thought. One observes this easily in every child. New ideas occur to them and they search out new experiences in the world. No longer do they cling to adults, imitating the things about them. Rather they begin to unfold a life of concepts." -"There is a tooth fairy!" author: Mark J. Eisen, MD

I am working my way through the children's health articles....they are fantastic! I so appreciate the inclusion of articles pertaining to television and overstimulation in a medical light! It is so very important! The articles focused on "not fearing the fever" have been especially helpful during these past few days.

While I am thankful for finding this wonderful resource, there are a few topics I am not happily nodding my head to.... As a nursing mother and La Leche League leader in-training, I 100% disagree with the anthrosophic view of the age for weaning (6 months? Really, spend a day in my house, Mr. Steiner!) Yes, "take what works for you, and leave the rest" is certainly "what works" for us!!
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*Yes, in this photo, my breast is exposed while I nurse baby W. I don't consider this "nudity". In this day and age, especially, breastfeeding desperately needs to be seen in a light of normalcy. I am hoping that I haven't offended anyone...I'm pretty sure I haven't even come close, as this blog is read by beautifully empowered mothers and women alike!

In the meantime, we will be using some of recommended homeopathic remedies for teething and other ailments which we will surely meet along the way...here's to free research databases, trusting our intuition, and our beautiful children! ::clinks droppers of chamomile flower tea in a joyous toast!::
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43 comments:

  1. I too have found several things among almost every child-raising or educational philosophy that we can use, yet at the same time there is often quite a bit we chose to leave behind!

    What a coincidence, I'm an ex LLLleader! (Back when I lived in Guatemala when my boys were babies I had a group... haven't been active since I came back to the USA) And in our home extended breastfeeding and child-led weaning is the norm!
    ~Rachel

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  2. We have used teeny drops of echinacea tincture (homemade with glycerin not alcohol) for teething. Putting it directly on the gums wherever a tooth is erupting seems to help soothe our little ones.

    Also, your nursing photograph is absolutely beautiful. (: As the mother of a nursing toddler, I couldn't imagine weaning at six months.

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  3. It'a amazing what our bodies go though, isn't it? And all of these mainstream dr's who want to ignore it and just see it as 'trouble' *sigh*.
    I'm with you on not agreeing with Steiner on the weaning age (K still nurses once a day at almost 5 and C is still nursing like crazy at almost 2 1/2). But thankfully it's the only theory of his I haven't agreed with yet.
    We love LILIPOH, too!

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  4. I think the photo of you with your babe is beautiful, I too disagree with Steiner on the age of weaning, I feel with all Waldorf related things to take things that you need in your life and let the rest go. Their is an awful lot of terrific things to take thou. cheers Marie

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  5. I just don't get why so many of the population are so hung up on nursing. How can it be offensive? And for teething? My boy just broke another tooth and what a way to both comfort him and give him nutrition! I agree, 6 months is too early in my view.

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  6. Thanks for the links you shared, I had never heard of that magazine, but now I can't wait to go check it out!

    And your nursing picture is absolutely beautiful. I applaud you for posting such a beautiful and natural picture.

    Stephanie xx

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  7. Aw poor baby W. A little boy in my day care has been miserable from teething all week to, its not fun:( An interesting post, id never realy thought much about how incredible teething realy is

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  8. both lilipoh and breastfeeding mothers are beautiful! thanks for that anthromed link...i can't tell you how excited i am about it!!! ;)

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  9. Lovely images, even the cranky boy. It's all wonderful even if it doesn't feel so at that moment. We'll tell stories of our babes teething, their first illnesses, every bump and bruise - but we do so out of compassion and love. He's a lucky one, that babe of yours!

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  10. What a beautiful post. Oh look at your little babe! I hope he starts feeling like himself again soon. With your help, I am sure he will.
    I never got the 6 mos. weaning thing either. Each mother has to do what she can. I can say I am happy that I am still able to nurse my 19th month old. It's such a shame many women are not able to receive the support they need. Thank you for your post and leadership. Thanks for the links too!

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  11. What I wonder about is what is the babe supposed to eat after they are weaned at 6 months? Are they doing on straight cows milk? Formula?

    I think that we need to look at this in terms of the time that it was written, the culture towards breastfeeding at the time and what we now know to be true and best for babies development. Could they have meat that 6 months for exclusive breastfeeding and then "weaning" in the sense of the child learning to not rely so much on breastfeeding after that? Generally people start solids around that time and that is actually considered the start of the weaning process.

    Your nursing picture is precious. I miss my daughter nursing a lot. We nursed for 3.5 wonderful years and she was given the choice of when to stop. I am glad, as weaning was no trouble at all. Well, it was more trouble for me than her.

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  12. Anthroposophic medicine is something that I would love to learn more about. Thank you for the links. I'm sorry your sweet little guy is feeling so crummy. My son lost his first two teeth just this summer. There really does seem to be a significant change in him.
    Beautiful photos.

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  13. SO glad to have come across your blog, it is gorgeous!! I also totally agree with the normalcy of breastfeeding past 6 months!

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  14. I have always wanted to read more about teething from the anthroposophic view. My youngest did not get her first tooth until she was past one year old. How interesting it was, only once in a while did I feel a strange bit of worry, but really I knew the teeth must be in there somewhere! (She was exclusively breastfed that whole first year too.) I sure will be checking out the anthromed library, thank you!

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  15. Thank you for the link, i am looking forward to reading some of the articles.
    My wee girl got her four 'first' molars all this week so now he has 12 teeth and is 13 months old. She spends quite a bit of time at the breast, giggling and smiling as she nurses - i'm not giving that up!

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  16. I know alot of mothers who swear by an amber necklace for their teething children.

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  17. A lovely photograph, it is great to see. Living in Finland, it can be quite isolating at times, breastfeeding is popular in the baby's early months, so far I have yet to meet anyone who breastfeeds past one year (my Little Bean is 27 months old). Maybe I'm just not meeting the right people! Thank you for giving me some positive vibes!

    As Kylie said, I know many Mothers in England who use amber teething necklaces/bracelets/anklets for their little ones. They all sing praises about them :)

    I have only just begun to explore alternative medicines more, since my Little Bean was born, it is fascinating and I learn something new all the time, I will check out that magazine now! Thank you.

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  18. Wonderful post, and a gorgeous nursing photo. My girls nursed until 5.5 and 5 old, and my baby is still going strong at 2.5. Interestingly, teeth continue to affect our days. Both girls, 9 and 6, are loosing teeth and dealing with soreness and difficultly eating, and the 6yo is getting molars. They are at the big changes ages, and their teeth are showing it. Seems like the little one is the only one having a break right now!

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  19. thank you for the lovely comments and suggestions....yes, we have been using an amber necklace....not sure if it is making a huge difference, but we will keep using it never the less:) I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend:):)

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  20. Thank you for the wonderful link.

    My daughter is at the first stages of loosing her milk teeth and we are heading into a new stage.... I nursed my daughter until she was 16 months old, I did try to wean her around six months but she enjoyed feeding so much I couldn't! I am so very glade that I continued until she was ready to be weaned which became a very natural and easy progression.

    Have a wonderful weekend :)

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  21. Ah teething. . .! It always feels so cruel for such tiny little beings to go through such pain! My babies always have gotten teeth early (four and five months) and they've all had such a difficult time with this transition- with difficulty sleeping and eating and so out of sorts! You know it's essential but yet you want to take it all away. I so appreciate this post!
    My 6 year old son is currently losing his teeth, at this point he's the only one teething in our home until my tiny boys starts in a few months. The quote you gave resonates with me a whole lot.
    Beautiful nursing picture- so peaceful and lovely! Thanks for sharing, and thanks for all you share here.
    <3 Melanie

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  22. Oh and quadruple yes on what you say on nursing- all my babies have nursed well into toddler hood, with my third nursing until age three.

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  23. I think people often think I'm crazy for my views on fevers. I think of them as important, and healthy. I keep an eye on dehydration, or viability, but I have no fear of fevers!

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  24. I love this post - thank you for these links, which I shall bookmark to come back to. Still nursing here at almost 4 a couple of times a day, so with you there. I hope your son soon feels better - his wee face in that photograph... and your nursing picture is so lovely.

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  25. Rock on with your beautiful breast feeding self and son!!!!! So natural and healthful. Its the people that don't nurse that should be embarrassed.

    Wonderful post.

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  26. Love the nursing shot.
    Sorry bout the teething though. You're doing your best to just "help him get through it", so I recommend de-stress and chamomile for you too!
    xo

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  27. what a sweet and tender post.
    It feels like such a long time since went through that, but I do remember a grate relief was cloth soaked in water or camomile tea then frozen.
    Love the photo of you and your boy..
    Indeed so much to be grateful for!
    :) Christina

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  28. What a beautiful post.
    Wonderful the maternal lactancia,a blessing for mother-son.
    Hugs

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  29. rebecca, this is a wonderful and beautiful post! i totally agree with you re: steiner/breastfeeding. i am so pleased you are able to take what resonates and leave the rest! (a challenge for me!) we're going through some molar teething right now so this was a great read for me too!

    to add to the above suggestions for teething relief, we use a tea of equal parts lemon balm, chamomile, and catnip. all the herbal constituents will be passed through your breastmilk, so have some yourself too! i've also been rubbing castor oil with drops of clove, myrrh, and chamomile (1 drop each for a whole 2 oz. bottle) along the jaw, and back of the neck. externally. one more that seems to help with especially sleepless times - skullcap glycerin tincture. my boy is now of an age that i can offer these things and he can say yes to one, or no to another, which is lovely. i can't wait to see what changes arise on the other side of these teeth!

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  30. Ive a glorious 11 month old who has worn an Amber Teehting necklace since he was a newborn. He is placid in nature and has had no troubles teething whatsoever.
    However, we also have an amazing herbalist/homeopath who has helped us through every stage of this journey.
    Best of luck. xo

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  31. What a sweet and tender post. It has been many tears since my children were nurslings. My youngest is shedding his milk teeth at seven and a half.
    About Steiner, he said and wrote nothing about weaning. Supposedly those who wrote about weaning based it on a statement that Steiner made when his mother died, that maybe he was too close to his mother.
    Steiner nursed until he was four years old.
    Rise Smythe Freed, ananthroposophical nurse wrote a great piece on weaning some ten or so years ago in which she states that weaning is a process that begins with the introduction of food, maybe at six months and the rest in entirely up to the mother.
    I'll try to find it.
    Blessings.
    For the discomfort, we nursed, used cloths that were wet and frozen and used the homeopathic teething tablets and laid low at home and in the yard.

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  32. lavender too, in the tub, in cloths, in jaw massage in sweet almond oil or olive oil if no sweet almond available

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  33. I know I am a little late in the game here but I adore your breastfeeding picture. I breastfed for 12 years and 2 months of the last 22. I pumped for 14 months with three different pumps to provide my little Lydia with milk. It was worth every lost minute of sleep!
    I used Hyland's Teething Tablets for all five of my kids and they worked.

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  34. I just wrote a lengthy response & cyberspace sucked it up, so the shorter version...

    Steiner was a very spiritual man. It is thus unlikely that he was judgmental. The two just don't go together.

    Also from here http://www.waldorfwithoutwalls.com/articles/breastfeeding this:
    Question: I heard that Steiner was breastfed. Is there anywhere where this is written?

    RSF: Yes! Rudolf Steiner writes that he was breastfed by his mother for four years. Steiner did say in his autobiography, "The Course of My Life," that he wondered if the reason he had such a difficult time letting go and grieving when his mother died might have been because he nursed for 4 years. I wonder if he had such a difficult grief process because he was a loving, decent and moral man and formed attachments appropriately out of his own dignity, concern and caring for other human beings.

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  35. People often take Steiner's words out of context, out of the times. People don't go back and read the real resources & then spin something together that has no foundation in truth.

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  36. A beautiful post! Your nursing picture is lovely. My twins are 3 1/2 and I try to cherish these last nurslings. Everything that I have run into with Waldorf supports child-led weaning.

    We also do not fear fevers here, and embrace them. This is even after one of my twins had a febrile seizure a couple months ago when she suddenly spiked a fever, going from normal to quite hot within minutes. Even going through that, I still trust her body. :)

    Amber necklaces made an enormous difference for my teething toddlers - a periodic bath helped them to stay free of residue that would block the porous beads. Other friends had huge success with homeopathic camilia. I also would take doses of elderberry, which readily passes through breastmilk.

    Good luck through this tender time.
    ~carrie~

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  37. That is possibly one of the most beautiful photographs I think I have ever seen. Thank you for sharing with us.x

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  38. Im glad that more and more mothers are more open now to breastfeeding. There's nothing embarrassing about it. Its normal, its nature. Great picture!

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  39. I just discovered your blog through another blog. I haven't read through all the comments, so maybe this was mentioned, but many mothers swear by amber for their teething babies. You can google teething necklaces and they should come up. I haven't tried them myself, as my children don't seem to struggle too much with teething. But I thought I would throw it out there for you as it may help your little guy.

    As for breastfeeding, unfortunately we live in a very "me" society, and many mothers find nursing takes up too much of their time and energy. And don't get me started on those who think you need to buy a ton of stuff to breastfeed. I remember reading one blog where a new mother was telling other new mothers about the trials of breastfeeding and how much it cost to do it(according to her, well over a $1,000). I guess I must be doing something wrong, having nursed my 7 children with only my breasts, which cost nothing.

    Sorry to ramble. The picture of you nursing your baby is beautiful, btw.

    Tiff

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  40. I nursed both my babes until they weaned themselves. One was a year old and the other one 6 months. I loved nursing and the bond it forms between mother and child. Our breasts aren't sex objects (although my husband might argue with me on that LOL) they are there to nourish our children.

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  41. What a beautiful picture of you and your son. The notion that anyone could find the image offensive is simply ludicrous. I love your expression. It's the epitome of maternal instinct I think, that gentle and yet fierce pride in our little ones.
    Thanks for sharing a small slice of your intimate life with your readers.

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  42. Great post!! Yay for Breastfeeding and doing what feels right for you! My Munchkin is 3 1/2 and old enough to tell me why she will be continuing her night feeds for as long as possible "thankyou very much Mummy!" ha ha. We are members of the Australian Breastfeeding Association and proud of it! :)

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  43. Lovely post on parenting!

    My article on breastfeeding and weaning can be found at Waldorf Without Walls as well as http://rsmythefreed.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/anthroposophical-medicine-breastfeeding-and-weaning/

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