October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we must make it a point to educate ourselves – both men (yes, even men can get breast cancer) and women – on risk factors, ways to reduce the risk of breast cancer and learn how to give ourselves a breast exam. And remember, if you are over 40 years of age or if breast cancer runs in your family, it is important to schedule an annual mammogram.

Below is a mini guide to help you get started on your breast cancer awareness from the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc:

Risk Factors:

• Family history
• Early puberty (before 12 years old) or Late menopause (after 55 years old)
• Not having children or Having children after 30 years old
• Obesity and high-fat diets
• 2 to 5 alcoholic drinks daily

Reduce the Risk:

• Exercise or Being physically active
• Eat Soy, Broccoli, Red Apples, Red Cabbage or Red Grapes
• Drink green tea
• Regular screening tests
• Avoid hormone replacement therapy if possible

Self Examination:

Breast cancer self-examinations should be done monthly at the same time of the month, and right after your period ends.

• In the Shower: Fingers flat, move gently over every part of each breast. Use your right hand to examine the left breast, left hand for the right breast. Check for any lump, hard knot, or thickening. Carefully observe any changes in your breasts.

• Before a Mirror: Inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead. Look for any changes in the contour of each breast, a swelling, a dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples. Then rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Left and right breasts will not exactly match—few women’s breasts do.

• Lying Down: Place a pillow under your right shoulder and put your right arm behind your head. With the fingers of your left hand flat, press your right breast gently in small circular motions, moving vertically or in a circular pattern covering the entire breast. Use light, medium, and firm pressure. Squeeze the nipple; check for discharge and lumps. Repeat these steps for your left breast.

Fight Breast Cancer:

Donate, fundraise and/or volunteer. You can also shop at selected stores where the proceeds are donated to the fight. Check out these sites for various ways on how you can help them fight breast cancer.

• National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.
• Susan G. Kormen for the Cure
• AVON Walk for Breast Cancer
• save the ta tas
• The National Marathon to finish Breast Cancer
• Sephora’s “Beauty with a Cause”
• Yoplait’s Save Lids to Save Lives
• Clinique’s World Pink
• The Estée Lauder Companies’ “World Pink. World Without Breast Cancer.”

For my toddler son, his security blanket is not a binky, nor a woobie, but a B-O-T-T-L-E. Please, I can’t even say the word out loud in front of him, cause he will want his “fix”.

While he loves drinking water out of a sippy cup, drinking milk from one is a challenge.  His Pediatrician is pretty sterned about me weaning the bottle, but she doesn’t know the tantrums and crying spells that I experience if he doesn’t get his mid afternoon/night bottle feedings. However, over the weekend, I had a “mommy intervention” and learned that I may be causing him harm than good.

On Saturday, I took Lil B to an early speech class just to see how he is progressing for a child his age. Five minutes into the class, Lil B was showing off his fine motor and gross motor skills. With my ego pumped, I asked myself “what am I doing here again?” well, soon after asking that question, my ego was immediately deflated when the instructor asked me if my son was still drinking from a bottle.  Sheepishly, I said yes.  That’s when the intervention began.  She mentioned that any delay of speech and any future speech issues can be caused with the use of drinking from a bottle, sippy cups or the use of a pacifier. The reasoning was because drinking from a bottle/sippy cup fails to engage the lips and tongue in a way to develop more advanced speech patterns. Say no more!!

My hubby and I immediately went out and picked up a few spill proof straw cups, a bottle of wine, and a 12 pack of beer – please this was going to be a loooonnngg day!  Since we kept him busy throughout the day  he was able to fall asleep without asking for a bottle. Yay, issue diverted….however bedtime was readily approaching and that we knew would be a challenge.  We tried a straw cup — that was tossed out of the crib.  Next up was a sippy cup with a nipple-like top – no fooling him with that one.  Finally after nearly 90 minutes we gave him a bottle, but only with one ounce of milk –  he fell asleep soon after.

So after day one we have determined this won’t be a quick process, but it is something that we need to be strong about. Out of sight, out of mind, they say, so hiding a few bottles and throwing away most just might make this process work. I hope! More to come…stay tuned!

Are you going through a similar situation? Did you get a “mommy intervention”? Do you have some tips or suggestion that you feel may work?  Would love to hear from you.