jen24's Blog

Ahem.

 

Well ok...I find this a topic of great interest.  Well to moi at least.

 

A woman taking a 9 hour medical exam requested more breaks so she could express milk for her baby.  Tjhey are only given 1 45 minute break during the entire 9 hour exam. Her request was denied because they are worried about cheating and others asking for special favors in the future. 

 

 (Apparently she has already failed the test once).

 

For starters, I am angry that she was denied the request because as a nursing mom knows, when the tata's get full, the pain can be excruciating (not to mention the major leakage!).  When the tata's get tooooo full, there is a huge risk of engorgement AND infection.

 

I don't feel that asking for a couple extra breaks to express milk for her child was asking to much.  Nursing moms work so hard to build their supply. If they were worried about cheating they could have searcher her beforehand and let no devices such as phones allowed in the room with her.

 

Many people feel she had adequate time to ween her baby.  What gives other people the right to tell her what to feed her child?  In her mind she is only doing what is best for her baby. 

 

Some may even argue that she should have taken the test at a later date.  I agree, if that could be arranged she should have gone that route, but I don't know what the circumstances are surrounding when the test is offered and so on.  The point here is that isn't it her RIGHT to be able to breastfeed her child?  In my opinion expressing milk should warrant the same kind of right.  They go hand in hand.  Again, nursing moms work very hard to build the supply to feed their child and BM has been proven to be healhtier for baby.

 

I know people either agree or don't.  I feel she should have been allowed to express the milk.  And as I am always doing....I have to include a photo that is in no means OFFENSIVE or VULGAR!

 <img src="http://dl7.glitter-graphics.net/pub/273/273257o858
enoneh.jpg">

I don't really know how to begin this blog (I'm outta practice you see).

My dad was living in a nice home in Mequon with 2 caregivers and 3 other residents.  We felt this living situation was ideal for him since being aruond to many people seems to agitate him.  I should mention he has been diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia which bascially means that there is damage to the frontal lobe of his brain which controls impulses.

Things were going well at first.  We were satisfied with the care he was receiving and he seemed happy.  Then one day we noticed a change in my dad.  He seemed withdrawn and didn't really care if we visited him or not.  He was refusing to let the workers shower him and change his depends.  So needless to say I started to visit even more so that I could help with these tasks.  I really didn't mind helping oout as long as the caregivers did the "dirty work" because lord knows I didn't want to be touching my dad in "the region".

During this last month, the workers refused to even try changing his depends and refused him showers and wash-ups.  Basically they just fed him and that was it.  Last week during one of my visits, my dad was soaked with urine through his pants down to his socks.  As soon as I walked in the door the caregiver handed me a washcloth and told me I had better clean him up.

I then reminded her that I was here to HELP them in case he got agitated.  She rolled her eyes and walked away.  Mind you my dad had gotten a pretty nasty yeast infection that required a cream to be applied daily.  This was not being done at all.

So I cleaned up my dad (the worker refused to give me the cream to apply to my dad) and after a brief visit we left without one word from the caregiver.

I called my dads caseworker in tears telling her he needed out ASAP.  He was out that week!

He is now in another place that we do really like and so far my dad seems to love it.  He is more social and even using phrases again.  He is being showered daily and is overall happier.  Granted things aren't PERFECT, and they won't be with frontal lobe damage.

I've written another blog about caregivers and this is yet another example of how people who are caring for our elderly don't give a hoot!  The elderly deserve to be treated with RESPECT!  What happened to my dad angers me in a way people really don't want to anger me.  What scares me the most is that if they were that bad when we were around, what were they like when we WEREN'T around!?!?!?!  I would love to have been a fly on the wall to see what really happened.

We did report this place to Milwaukee County Health Division.  But this kind of care is uncalled for and I feel badly for the elderly who have to fend for themselves against workers such as these.

I feel blessed to have my dad in his new place where the workers actually CARE and are working with us.  They actually have GOALS for my dad.  Its just such a difference!  Like night and day.

 

When I was pregnant with Tre, I did not have plans to stay home.  I wanted to work.  Thats what I did with Sami.  I went back to work within 10 days (which I think was good for ME). 

After my 6 week maternity leave with Tre,  I headed back to work.  I was working in childcare caring for 8 infants.  I absolutely loved my job with all my being.  Caring for kids is definately one of my passions.  I actually found this out my accident.

Let me backtrack for a moment.

I was a sophomore at Marquette and a single mother.  I desperately  wanted to  finish my degree, but obviously I had the responsibility of caring for my child.  So I took a job at the childcare center on campus as a student teacher.  I fell in love with the job IMMEDIATELY!  My plans of working in radio suddenly seemed so insignifcant when I had these kids that I absolutely loved.  I developed a huge passion for the job.

When I graduated Marquette I could have quit at the daycare and found a job and USED my degree.  I didn't.  My heart wasn't in it.  I knew I would not be happy doing anything else.  So I was estatic when my boss offered me a full time position as a regular teacher in the infant room!  (Of course I accepted).

Back to my story now.  After maternity I was actually looking forward to getting back into my classroom and reconnecting with my group of babies.  Tre had to be in another infant room---which was extremely hard because I could hear him cry and yada yada yada.  I knew it would be an adjustment for both Tre and I.  The teacher who was taking care of Tre was someone I would  not have chosen to watch my child.  We would occasionally but heads about what was appropriate care.

One day, after listening to Tre cry in his crib for over an hour (till he lost his voice) I went into the room, picked him up, carried him to my room and just cried as I was holding him.

I was not happy having someone I did not like taking care of my child.  I later learned he hadn't been offered anything to eat in 4-5 hours (which for a 2 month old is a LOOOONG time).

I quit my job the next day.  No two week notice, nothing.  Which is something I never ever thought I would do.  I planned on a LONG career at THAT particular center.  I developed close bonds with many of the parents and children (many of whom I still keep in touch with).

I have to say that it does feel good when I get asked "when I'm coming back".  I felt I was darn good at what I did.

The truth of the matter is that I may never go back.  I left on such bad terms with the boss (she thought I was being irrational when many of the parents and some of my coworkers agreed with my concerns regarding this other teacher).  I personally think my boss didn't know how to deal with this other worker.

It makes me sad because I think of my kids often.  I miss it like crazy and I can't imagine myself doing anything else.  I sit here during the day and cherish every moment I get to spend with Tre (and I am enjoying it immensely), but at the same time, I do feel an emptiness.  Then I get angry that my boss let it end the way it did and did not listen to my concerns and did nothing to diffuse the situation (even thought she knew the other teacher was a problem with not just me, but with other parents as well).

What I learned from this whole experience is that you can be the hardest working, most loyal worker in the world, and to some, it means absolute $h!+.

 

I'm not usually one who looks at bio's and profiles and all that jazz.....but today I stumbled across all of the VIDEO bios for everyone at FOX 6.

I can't say enough how much fun it was to watch!

Has anyone else checked them out????

Hilarious!  Kudos to you all for sharing all that info with us crazy viewers.

I really do feel that! 

 

Prisoners have THE LIFE!  Life is a struggle for many people, but the BEST way to avoid it is to committ a crime and get sent to jail.  Not only will you be getting three balanced meals a day, you can sit back and enjoy cable TV, have access to a gym....and heck, while you're at it, get an education. 

 

What makes these prisoners who have committed a crime so lucky to have things handed to them?  Oh sure, they lose their freedom to go out and do things, but does that REALLY matter when you're already a lazy criminal?

 

I was talking to my brother in law and we feel that we should take the middle eastern way of handling criminals.  Although we know this will NEVER be implemented in the US, but heck, if people knew they would be beheaded, or lose a hand or foot, would they still comitt the crime? One thing I never realized was that when they cut of your hand or foot you are given an anethestic....so its more humane that you might think.  HA!

 

Ok so we know that will never ever happen here, but I still feel we are to lenient with criminals.  They have it to easy.  If lobbing off a hand or foot isn't the answer, then maybe we should make prisons LIKE A PRISON.  A dingy, dreary place with no benefits so it a place people dread going to.  Why should we use tax dollars to care for these people when they kill, rape and steal from those of us who work hard?

 

And maybe someone can answer this for me, when a prisoner has a life sentence and dies in prison, who pays for the funeral?  Does the family foot the bill, and if there is no family are we the taxpayers paying for that as well?

 

I just want to know.  I know there is no cookie cutter answer for dealing with criminals, but obviously something isn't working.

 

~jen~

A mom nursing her baby on a plane was kicked off the plane because the flight attendant found it "offensive". Mind you the woman was seated next to the window and her husband seated next to her. So its not like she was in an aisle. According to everything I've read thus far, no part of her breast was even exposed!

In a world where lingerie models are exposed on billboards, scantilly clad females splashed all over our TV's and magazines and a NURSING MOM IS OFFENSIVE!?!?!?!?!?!

What is this world coming to when something that is so natural is offensive!?!?!


According to Vermont Law:

SUMMARY OF ENACTED BREASTFEEDING LEGISLATION
VERMONT
Vermont recently passed a law giving mothers the right to Breastfeed in public but it limits the right to where the mother is authorized to be present with her child. The Act also directed the Human Rights Commission to develop and distribute materials regarding a mother’s legal right to breastfeed in any place of public accommodation; however, that portion of the law was not codified.

Vermont Senate Bill #156, 2001
2002 VT. ALS 117; 2002 VT Laws 117; 2002 VT. Act 117; 2001 VT. SB 156;



According to New York Law:

SUMMARY OF ENACTED BREASTFEEDING LEGISLATION
NEW YORK
New York was the first state in the nation to enact any form of breastfeeding legislation. As far back as 1984, NY exempted breastfeeding of infants from their criminal statute. Then, in 1994 NY led the nation by enacting the most progressive breastfeeding legislation in the United States – amending their civil rights act to grant mothers an absolute right to breastfeed in public. Note that NY also has a law that allows under certain circumstances mothers who give birth in prison, or who are nursing a baby, to have the baby with them in prison while the baby is less than 12 months of age.

NY Penal Laws § 245.01, 245.02

§ 245.01. Exposure of a person

A person is guilty of exposure if he appears in a public place in such a manner that the private or intimate parts of his body are unclothed or exposed. For purposes of this section, the private or intimate parts of a female person shall include that portion of the breast which is below the top of the areola. This section shall not apply to the breastfeeding of infants or to any person entertaining or performing in a play, exhibition, show or entertainment.

§ 245.02. Promoting the exposure of a person

A person is guilty of promoting the exposure of a person when he knowingly conducts, maintains, owns, manages, operates or furnishes any public premise or place where a person in a public place appears in such a manner that the private or intimate parts of his body are unclothed or exposed. For purposes of this section, the private or intimate parts of a female person shall include that portion of the breast which is below the top of the areola. This section shall not apply to the breastfeeding of infants or to any person entertaining or performing in a play, exhibition, show or entertainment.

NY CLS Civ R § 79-e (Article 7 Miscellaneous Provisions).
1994 N.Y. ALS 98; 1994 N.Y. LAWS 98; 1994 N.Y. S.N. 3999

§ 79-E. Right To Breast Feed.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mother may breast feed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether or not the nipple of the mother's breast is covered during or incidental to the breast feeding.

NY CLS Correc § 611 (Article 22, Miscellaneous Provisions)

§ 611. Births to inmates of correctional institutions and care of children of inmates of correctional institutions

1. If a woman confined in any institution under the control of the state department of correction, or in any penitentiary or jail be pregnant and about to give birth to a child, the officer in charge of such institution, a reasonable time before the anticipated birth of such child, shall cause such woman to be removed from such institution and provided with comfortable accommodations, maintenance and medical care elsewhere, under such supervision and safeguards to prevent her escape from custody as he may determine, and subject to her return to such institution as soon after the birth of her child as the state of her health will permit...
2. A child so born may be returned with its mother to the correctional institution in which the mother is confined unless the chief medical officer of the correctional institution shall certify that the mother is physically unfit to care for the child, in which case the statement of the said medical officer shall be final. A child may remain in the correctional institution with its mother for such period as seems desirable for the welfare of such child, but not after it is one year of age, provided, however, if the mother is in a state reformatory and is to be paroled shortly after the child becomes one year of age, such child may remain at the state reformatory until its mother is paroled, but in no case after the child is eighteen months old. The officer in charge of such institution may cause a child cared for therein with its mother to be removed from the institution at any time before the child is one year of age...
3. If any woman, committed to any such correctional institution at the time of such commitment is the mother of a nursing child in her care under one year of age, such child may accompany her to such institution if she is physically fit to have the care of such child, subject to the provisions of subdivision two of this section. If any woman committed to any such institution at the time of such commitment is the mother of and has under her exclusive care a child more than one year of age the justice or magistrate committing such woman shall refer such child to the commissioner of public welfare or other officer or board exercising in relation to children the power of a commissioner of public welfare of the county from which the woman is committed to be cared for as provided by law in the case of a child becoming dependent upon the county.



I challenge anyone to tell me why this woman was kicked off the plane!

~jen~

You just assume that as you age you will be taken care of with the utmost respect and COMPASSION.

My dad, who is 65 has been diagnosed as a diabetic and dementia. He is still very physcially able to do things on his own. Since he requires care that I cannot provide on my own we figured a nice home would better suit his needs. Not a nursing home, but more of an independant living that can offer assisted living and more care as he needs it. My dad has always been very active (and still is!!!). His blood sugar level fluctuates now and then which usually results in him acting irrational and often times makes him violent. He has been kicked out of places because of this. The sad thing is that he doesn't understand (because of the dementia) and often doesn't remember what he did. Finding a place for him to live has become even harder.

Just recently he was admitted to Mental Health Complex so they could observe him and make changes to his medication. Being his POA, they were to notify me after their analysis. After 2 1/2 days and not hearing anything, I called and was told the doctor hadn't made his "observations" yet and that I would be notified when he did.

Everytime I have gone to see my dad in THIS PLACE he has been sedated so heavily he can't carry on a conversation or even WALK without stumbling. Mind you my dad is still very active and conversational. I was then told the doctor found nothing wrong with him and is making no adjustments to his medication. How can you observe someones NATURAL behavior when they are sedated?!?!?!?! Not to mention the fact that my dad has not been cleaned, he is unbelievable SAD at this place and there is just NO compassion whatsoever for the patients that are there.

My way of thinking is this: Why, in this day and age can we NOT have adequate care for the aging? Its almost as if many facilites cannot deal with an elder who has dementia. Many times in the hospital the doctors would be very firm with my dad saying "WHATS YOUR NAME? WHENS YOUR BIRTHDAY?" Well, these are all questions he may not be able to answer on a GOOD day. But then they mock him and say "What do you mean you don't know your name!?!?!?". It really angers me!

All I know is this: the elderly in general deserve better than what is out there now. I feel terrible for the things I have seen in many of the facilities in this area. This really should be a priority and not just because of my dad, but for all the elderly that are experiencing the effects of aging!

~jen~

As a mom of two kids the topic of breastfeeding ALWAYS comes up. First off, I wasn't able to BF my daughter, whom is now 7. Now with my second child, who is a very fabulous 3 months, I have been very successful at BF'ing. I haven't had to offer formula yet.

Here's the dilema. When I go out in public, I feel it is MY right to feed my child from the breast if I so choose. Mind you, I am ALWAYS very discreet while doing so. Heck some people don't even realize what I'm doing. BUT! WHen I talk to other moms, I learn that NIP is something not all people are ok with. And not just with the general public, but from family! If you don't agree with NIP, then don't look. No one is FORCING you to look. I also think BF'ing gets a bad rap because some people think its "disgusting" and have no shame telling the nursing mom how gross it is and that formula is so much better. Dude, then YOU go drink a bottle.

To each his own. I would never tell someone that cherry jello is gross if that is what they loved. (I personally prefer lime).

But anyways, thats my rant for the week. Let nursing moms nurse without being made to feel horrible about it.