The Huffmaster Family

As some of you know August of each year is Breastfeeding Awareness Month!

Please take the time this month to thank the nursing mothers you know for giving the gift of their own milk to their babies, or to encourage pregnant mothers to breastfeed their little one!

As the mother of 6 children, I bottle fed the first 3, and breastfed the next 3, so I’ve been on both sides, and since our 4th child I always encourage mothers to at least try breastfeeding, even if they feel they “failed” before, or even many times before as I felt I had! I intend on nursing our 7th child due any day now as well!

For breastfeeding to succeed mothers need support first and foremost! I didn’t have that support with our first three babies, and honestly knew no one who breastfed. For me it would have made a world of difference to have had that in my life. With our fourth child I took a breastfeeding class and there were many nursing mothers there who came together to teach this class, so I was able to surround myself with supportive people and was able to nurse her past a year old, and continued to do so with subsequent children.

Mothers also need information! I had no idea what wonderful benefits breastfeeding had for both myself and our babies, or I wouldn’t have given up so easily the first few times.  As breastfeeding mothers we have a responsibility to actively advocate those benefits to others in a meaningful way, provide the example, and offer support and encouragement to those who need it! Also, you don’t have to scare people off to advocate and encourage! I’ve seen the scary people. Remember to season everything with the grace, mercy, and love of Jesus!

Some mothers due to modesty concerns, being very private type people, or what have you, may feel strange letting others know when they might need help, so be sure and ask the new mothers you know that are trying to breastfeed if everything is going well, and if not, ask how you can help them.  Let them know they can ask you questions, and be informed about how to get them more information if there is an issue that you aren’t familiar with.

If you would like to know more about breastfeeding, please visit the following website, for some great tips, tricks, and information!

Ask Dr. Sears

Having lost my grandfather to a sudden cardiac arrest in late 1988, this topic has always been near and dear to my heart, and I’ve always tried to learn as much about it as I can for the health of myself and my family. The following site has some great general information, as well as some interesting information about something called a ICD implant.

Did you know that SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) usually occurs without any warning?

Did you know that, If an individual is not treated within 4 to 6 minutes from the onset of SCA, the results can be fatal?

Inside Cardiac Arrest, presented by St. Jude Medical, provides information about the risk factors, warning signs, and treatment of Sudden Cardiac Arrest. The site offers two videos: Sudden Cardiac Arrest and The Human Heart. In the videos, a real doctor explains SCA and heart anatomy in simple, easy to understand language.

Are you at risk for SCA? Find out more at:

Inside Cardiac Arrest - Risk Factors