So, I've mentioned how I've been really drawn to the whole attachment parenting philosophy.  Attachment parenting isn't something new; women (and men) have been practicing attachment parenting for thousands of years.
The basics of attachment parenting consists of the 7 Bs:

Birth Bonding:
This occurs immediately after birth.  Babies have spent the last 10 months in your uterus, protected, warm, and comfortable (maybe not so comfortable in the end). Right after birth, which can certainly be a crazy and even traumatic experience for both mother and baby, the baby immediately needs what has been its main source of food, warmth, and comfort for its entire life: its mother.  Have you ever seen videos of births (probably many of you haven't :)) where the baby comes out, takes a gulp of air, turns pink and, instead of crying like you expected, opens its eyes as its placed on it's mother's abdomen and looks at her.  It's really quite amazing!  They're alert and taking everything in and looking around...Those special first few moments of skin-to-skin and eye-to-eye contact are when mothers and babies fall hopelessly in love with each other.  Plus, the skin-to-skin contact helps to regulate baby body temperature and helps neurodevelopment

This is why it's super important to me to try and have an unmedicated, intervention-free birth (scary, I know!  but I'll tell you right now...If I need anything done to me: epidural, pitocin, whatever, for any medical reason, I will do it) with the help of my doula, April, and Billy.  I really want to be as medication-free (and I want Nacho to be as medication-free) so our first moment together isn't obstructed by any fog-inducing substance.

Breastfeeding: 
Right after birth, if the baby is on its mother's abdomen, it will start crawling up towards the areola (which it can see) and start rooting around for its mother's nipple.  Breastfeeding should be "on demand," meaning that whenever the baby wants to breastfeed, you do so.  Breastfeeding frequently helps to develop a deeper connection to your baby where you can start to anticipate the baby's cues.  As babies get older, they may not just breastfeed strictly for hunger or thirst; they may breastfeed because it's something that comforts them and this, in turn, comforts you.  Breastfeeding will help me bond with Little Nacho and will help him (or her) develop a deeper a connection to me and a deeper level of trust.  Not to mention, breastfeeding releases all those good hormones into your bloodstream...it's like being legally high.  Pretty neat.

On another note, next week is the International Breastfeeding Week!  We just put up the La Leche League Symbol (correction: the symbol is the International Breastfeeding Logo) at Higher Ground Learning, meaning that HGL is a baby-friendly place!  Mommas, come on in, drop your older kid off for some great tutoring, take a seat on one of our comfy couches, and feed your babies while you wait!

Babywearing:
Women all over the world have been wearing their babies ever since we could walk upright. 

Carrying your baby is one of the easiest things to do.  When you carry your baby, they are constantly up at (or near) face level and can take in all of the interactions between you and others around you.  Many babies who are carried are in a state of "quiet alertness."  Furthermore, the increased body contact between you and baby helps to further strengthen that birth bond and makes you more attuned to their "cues," whether it's squirming or the whimpers right before a cry.  Finally, carrying your baby is practical: you don't have to stash a stroller in your trunk and pull it out every time you have to go somewhere with baby or you don't have to lug around the (sometimes really heavy) car seat and deposit your kid on the floor while you go about your business (if the baby stays too long in the car seat or anywhere where it's lying down a lot, it can get a case of "flat head" and may have to be fitted with a special helmet).  

Getting ready to practice carrying Nacho around using Pirate as a guinea pug (ha!)

This is a maya wrap, a sling-style ring.  Usually, they're about $60 retail, but we found this like-new one at kid-to-kid for $15.99!!!

Pirate was very comfortable in the sling. 

Bedding close to your baby:
There are a lot of opinions going around about co-sleeping with a baby.  Many studies have shown that there is an increased chance of the baby dying when it's co-sleeping with its parents because of suffocation, the chance of being rolled on, and the chance of it slipping into tiny spaces, like the space between a bed and a wall.  However, co-sleeping has incredible amount of benefits.  For example, (and I think this is one of the most important benefits) a mother who co-sleeps with her infant does NOT have to get up in the middle of the night to pick baby up from the crib in the other room, thereby getting better sleep.   Also, several cultures around the world co-sleep or co-room with their babies and have done so for several thousand years.  Babies of breastfeeding mothers usually sleep at the level of the mother's breast (whereas babies of formula-feeding mothers sleep at face level).  The carbon dioxide output of the mother also helps to regulate the baby's breathing patterns, reducing the risk of SIDS.


Although many people will think I'm doing the "wrong" thing, I think this is the best for me, Billy, and Little Nacho.  Just like anybody would take precautions with a crib (making sure the sheets are fitted nice and tight, that there are no blankets or pillows or stuffed animals that could suffocate baby, and that the crib has no faulty parts or spaces where the baby could fall through), we are going to take precautions with our bed.  Neither of us are heavy sleepers and we aren't drug users and we don't drink any alcohol (well, I don't.  Billy has a beer every so often or a gin and tonic every once in a while :)).  We do plan to rig a crib up to the side of the bed with one of the sides removed (one of those convertible beds) so that the baby could be within arms reach in his own little area.

Belief in baby's cry:
Babies do not cry to manipulate.  They cry because it is their only means of communication to their caregivers.  Parents should respond quickly to their babies' cries so that they could foster a sense of trust.  As the baby gets older, you can take more and more time to respond to their cries, thereby allowing your baby, who trusts you, to explore different ways to soothe themselves.  

Beware of baby training:
Beware of the advice that tells you to just let your baby "cry it out" or to time your feedings so that you and baby are on a schedule.  This creates a distance between you and baby.

Balance: 
This is all about making time for yourself as a woman, wife, girlfriend, friend, etc.  You are not JUST a mother.  You have to say no every once in a while and hang up the "mommy" hat for a short time.  Attachment parenting helps you to reconnect with your baby after time taken apart from them.  By co-sleeping, breastfeeding, and wearing your baby, you're able to achieve that bonding again and maximize the time spent together.  


So, that's it in a nutshell.  Hopefully, this would provide you guys with enough background and information so that you could understand where we are coming from with our parenting choices.  If you want to learn more about attachment parenting, please go to Dr. Sears's website and the website for Attachment Parenting International.