'Teen Mom' Star's Breastfeeding Experience Brings Her to Tears

vrijdag 16 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota

Teen Mom may be a show aimed at scaring teenagers away from parenthood, but the show has been attracting older moms to MTV pretty much from the beginning. And if you're a mom who ascribes to natural parenting methods, you're going to love Teen Mom 3, especially star Katie Yeager.

Katie is a natural birthing, extended breastfeeding mama! And she sat down with The Stir this week to talk about breastfeeding on TV, donating her breast milk, and why sometimes breastfeeding would move her to tears!

On breastfeeding her now almost 2-year-old daughter:

I went 16 months breastfeeding Molli. Sometimes I wish I could still breastfeed her! It's one thing that I've always said: at least try. I sometimes would cry because I was so happy. That's one thing that I gave my daughter.

It felt so good whenever anyone said congratulations on your breastfeeding success; I know a lot of moms have trouble with it.

On donating milk:

I donated milk for eight months, I think, to Primary Children's [Medical Center], which is out of Salt Lake City. I would pump and send it out because I was in Wyoming still. I was grateful to be able to do that, and once Molli weaned, up until I lost my supply, I donated there.

I'm very proud that I was able to share that bond with my child.

On why she chose to breastfeed:

I was researching it when I was pregnant. I did the natural birth too, and I felt like this was the next step. I felt like I wanted to at least try it and I wanted to get that colostrum out, make sure she gets those benefits. And, definitely, I was hooked!

After I got through the first month, which was like the worst ever, I would cry and cry and cry -- and once I got over that rough patch, I was like, I love this. I want to breastfeed forever!

More From The Stir: 'Teen Mom 3' Stars Rock Matching Necklaces & Share How to Get Your Own!

I tell everyone, if you're not happy, if your baby can tell that this is pain for you and you're crying and you're upset about it, then don't feel bad! It just was something that worked for me and that I loved, and if I were to have another baby, I'd definitely not get the epidural and definitely breastfeed because that's just what I know. 

I don't know how to make a bottle. I don't know how to mix formula. I would be lost! I'd be crying because I don't know how to make formula!

It's just something that I felt was the best for me, and anytime I meet another woman that is in the same situation, I geek out and bond with them, of course, just like any mother does.

On being able to share her breastfeeding with the whole world on MTV:

I'm proud of being able to do it at such a young age, and it's definitely something ... if somebody needs help, I'll be the first one to say it'll be okay, you can make it through it, this is what I did, this is how you can do it if you really want it.

I'm definitely a big breastfeeding supporter.

***

Katie isn't the only mom from the show to breastfeed -- Kailyn Lowry from Teen Mom 2 has spoken in the past about her own breastfeeding, and both Briana DeJesus and Alex Sekella told The Stir they did as well (albeit not for 16 months) -- but she is definitely the first to do so extensively on camera. The Stir got a sneak peek at the first episode of Teen Mom 3, and Katie is often seen with a blanket over her as little Molli eats.

Are you excited to see a crunchy mama on Teen Mom?

Image by Jeanne Sager

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10 Unexpected Tips for an Awesome Amusement Park Experience

vrijdag 19 juli 2013

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AppId is over the quota

We just returned from our annual pilgrimage to Holiday World, an amusement park in Santa Claus, Indiana. And yes. It was every bit as weird and wonderful as it sounds.

Each time we go, we learn something new about how to make our experience better the next time around. And you know I'm not going to keep that information to myself. I went to a true expert to learn 10 secrets that will make your next family amusement park trip even better.

Paula Werne has been the Director of Communications at Holiday World for 21 years and I'm pretty sure she has seen it ALL. She shared with me some of the best lessons she's learned from her time spent in the amusement park trenches:

1. DON’T tell your kids about the visit ahead of time. This can be tough, but Paula makes a good point. If the kids are in the know, rest assured that no one will get any sleep the night before. Yuck. Instead, try surprising them with the news the morning of your visit.

2. Don't forget to put sunscreen on the scalps of your children with super-short or thin hair. "Really," Paula says. "Sunburn hurts and is unhealthy. And it hurts."

3. A good rule of thumb to stay hydrated in the heat, according to Paula, "Drink until you pee." She adds, "Pay attention to how often your children usually need to go potty. If that schedule isn’t kept during a day in the park, you’ve got dehydrated kids."

4. Don't let your children jam their knees in the vertical railings in the queues and by the rides at many amusement parks. Why? Here's what Paula says will happen:

  a. They get stuck.

  b. ... and it hurts.

  c. It usually takes something oily to slide the knee back out.

  d. Now you’ve lost your place in line.

If they manage to get their knee stuck in there anyway, here's another tip: Sunscreen works well to help grease up their leg and ease it back through the railing.

5. Bring swim shoes for the water park. "Yes, they’re hideous," admits Paula, "but your feet won’t burn on the hot walkways and you’ll feel cleaner walking into restrooms." Good point.

6. Come up with some fun games ahead of time to help pass the time in the ride lines. "They could be word games, counting games, or even this old chestnut, 'A my name is Anna and my husband’s name is Andrew and we live in Anderson and we sell apples,'" Paula says.

7. Don’t forget the live shows. Paula says they’re especially good for some stomach-settling time between eating and hitting the rides again. And if they're indoors, they're a great way for your child to rest for a bit and cool off.

8. This tip might be my favorite. Before you start your day, take a photo of each parent and child from the phone you’ll carry with you all day. "If you get separated, it’ll refresh your memory what each person is wearing," says Paula, "plus, you can show the photo to park staff who are helping you in the search." Brilliant advice.

9. Consider going to the park even if the forecast is iffy. Here are the pluses, according to Paula:

  a. Many will cancel, which means smaller crowds.

  b. No sun means less chance of sunburn.

  c. Many will cancel, which means shorter lines.

  d. Did I mention that many will cancel?

10. This tip is from me. It's the big lesson I learned during our latest amusement park visit. If you're going to a park that has a connecting water park, wear a swim/beach cover-up dress over your bathing suit for the amusement park portion of your visit. Most amusement parks feature rides that get you wet, and those will inevitably be your kids' favorite ones on a hot day. A swim dress is designed to dry quickly. You'll be much more comfortable in it than I was in my soaking-wet denim cutoffs. Even if you're not going to a water park the same day, remember to wear clothing that dries quickly and isn't see-through when wet!

Those are our tips. Now I want to hear yours. What have you learned from your family amusement park experiences?

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