Avery (age 9) has been swimming a lot lately. Both her best friends have pools, and we visit our community pools all the time, too. So she’s been in the water quite a bit this summer. And the other day, she came to me complaining that her ear hurt. I didn’t think too much of it at the time, and since she didn’t complain about it again that day, I kind of forgot about it. (you know how it is…you get busy with all the other children, and let’s face it — the squeaky wheel gets the oil, and Avery wasn’t squeaking much.) So the next day, she came to me again about her ear…but this time in obvious pain. It hurt just when I touched the outside of her ear. She was in tears. She got my attention.
Now, in our family, we don’t visit the doctor’s office much at all. My kids are really never that sick. Just the occassional stuffy nose, maybe a cough, or even a 24 hour flu is all that we see around here. We are pretty much a healthy bunch. But I have had an earache before, and I know how painful they can be. I sure didn’t want Avery’s to get to the point where she was in that much pain, but yet I knew if I took her in to see the doctor, he would more than likely give her an antibiotic to clear it up. And I do my best to steer clear of antibiotics.
Since I was pretty sure what she had was “swimmer’s ear”, I chose to treat it myself. With breastmilk. Yes, you read that correctly. Breastmilk. Oh, that stuff works wonders, let me tell you. Not only does it nourish our babies, but it can be used to aide in the healing of many things. I have put a few drops of breastmilk in my children’s eyes when they had eye infections. Clears it right up in a day. I have put a few drops on cuts to ward off infection. Works like a charm. But I had yet to use if for an ear infection. This was new to me, so I wasn’t too sure if it would work. I gave myself ONE day for her to feel an improvement. If she didn’t feel significantly better in one day after treating her with my special sauce, then I told myself I’d take her to the doctor’s office. We were scheduled to be in Palm Springs in just 3 days, and I didn’t want her ear to be hurting while we were on vacation.
Now, the thing with Avery is this: she is extremely stubborn. If she knew that what I was putting into her ear was breastmilk, she would FREAK OUT and refuse to let me do it. So…I had to fib a little bit. Hey, I’m not one to advocate lying to your kids, but sometimes you just have to. When she asked what it was that I was putting into her ear, I told her, “It’s medicine.” I’m wondering, though…is that a lie? If I’m using breastmilk as a medicine, then is that really too far from the truth? Then she asked me, “Where did you get it?” and I simply said, “Oh…I already had it.” Again, technically not a lie, right? She didn’t ask anymore questions after that, thank goodness.
Here is what I did: every 4 hours I dropped a few drops into her ear and made her lie on her side, ear facing up, for about 5 minutes so that it would get in there really good. Then after 5 minutes, I would tell her to turn over to her other side to let it drain out. That way, it wouldn’t pool too long in her ear…but yet it would be in there long enough to let the white blood cells in the breastmilk do their job. We did this about 5 times that day, and then one final time right before she went to bed.
The next morning she came running into my room and was very excited to tell me that her ear felt completely fine. It didn’t hurt inside, and it didn’t hurt to press on it, either. She was 100% better. So that day, we just did it a few more times for good measure. And that was that.
If you Google “breastmilk cures” you will learn of the many ways that breastmilk can be used. It’s wonderful stuff! And if you’re wondering where I got the breastmilk…well, Aria still nurses at night to fall asleep. Yes, I’m one of those mothers who does the extended nursing-thing.
wow, i wish i still had breast milk! i had no idea! great pics, i love the yearly picture of your kiddos.
I love coming over here. The chaos feels like HOME!
Yes, One of the many reasons why I love breastfeeding! I nursed my son for 14 months, and am currently breastfeeding my 4 month old daughter.
I think it is awesome that your little one still nurses, way to go momma!!
Good thing the natural medicine worked 😉 I always heard of the eye infection cure but not ear ache. cool! And you know I was wondering where you were getting the milk…but then assumed that you were probably still nursing Aria. Good for you if you still can. My babies had to be weaned early. The longest I nursed with was 14 months. I would have gone longer..I dried up.
Loved all the pics. You sure look like you enjoyed the vacation. Fun!!
Hi Katrina!
Oh that vacation looks like the best! I LOVE Palm Springs! I’m with you – 80 degrees and sunny in the morning is the best! It took me a long time to adjust to cloudy mornings when we moved to San Diego. I grew up in sunny St. George, UT – it’s hot like Vegas there and I like the heat. Especially if there’s a pool around.
That picture of all of your kids lined up is DARLING! You are amazing. I don’t know how you have time to even blog with all those kids! And they’re all beautiful. BEAUTIFUL family.
Wow!!!!!!!! I’ve never heard of breastmilk curing ear infections. That is awesome! I have got to tell my sis, who loves natural remedies and hates antibiotics.
What a wonderful vacation it looks like you had. I love the pictures of the kids in a row!
Thank you for your comment on my blog about Building Children’s Character. I am trying hard to implement this list, but fail every day. God is good and will fill in the gaps of my imperfecting parenting. Our job is to try and try I will. I want children who are Kingdom Laborers, not just warming up pews if they happen to go to church when they grow up.
We have such a short window of time with them even though it seems like forever sometimes. I want make the most of every oppurtunity so that if they do rebel or screw up they will know the way “home”. Home would be Jesus. I hope it never comes to that, but if it did, they must know where to turn.
I’ll be praying for you, Katrina. I feel in your comments that there is a burden on your heart for this, too.