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In an ideal world, none of us would ever have to pick up a breast pump or express milk. Babies would always get it straight from the tap. In the real world, due to things like travel, latch issues, jobs and the need for temporary escape...babies often end up drinking expressed and stored breast milk.
Now, any mom who has ever pumped milk knows how much work it is. The last thing we want to have happen to that hard earned milk is to have it go bad, or worse yet, have the breast milk storage bag in the freezer spring a leak.
That's why breast milk storage bags were one of those things I never skimped on. I tried out quite a few and one of my favorites were the ones from Lansinoh. (I'm a fairly big Lansinoh fan anyway, having been won over early on in the hospital with Lansinoh brand lanolin.)
Back in the days when I was exclusively pumping for Elnora and saving milk for the milk bank, I used to go through breast milk storage bags like crazy. I tried a ton of different brands and my favorite by far were the Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags.
They hold six ounces, which is on the high end of the scale space wise and they've got a great bag shape that let's you freeze them flat, even if they're pretty full. (Tip: If you lay your breastmilk bags flat on their side when you put them in the freezer, they free that way and you can stack them more easily.)
Looking for The Lactivist? She's retired. But you CAN still find Jen blogging. These days, she's runs A Flexible Life. Join her for life, recipes, projects and the occasional rant.
Some women obsess about purses or shoes...I obsess about diaper bags. Maybe it's because I've never been a purse person, (or a shoe person for that matter...the only "cool" shoes I own come from my best friend who has great fashion sense, is young, single and gets bored with her shoes while they are still trendy...) but for some reason I've been obsessed with cool diaper bags ever since I had Elnora.
Which is ironic really since my diaper bag for the first year or so of Elnora's life was that black Similac (or was it Enfamil?) bag that every new mother leaves the hospital with. It was insulated, small, had some pockets and served it's purpose. Besides, I'd ripped the brand name tag off it so they weren't getting any advertising out of the deal and I've never used formula, so I sort of felt like it was a "ha!" on them. (You know, sort of a "nya-nya I'm using your diaper bag and you didn't make any money off me!")
But when I found out I was expecting my second and I realized that I'd need to cart around enough stuff for two kids, I became obsessed with finding the perfect diaper bag. I scoured the web drooling over bags that were trendy, yet practical. Of course that meant that they had trendy price tags to go with them.
The Lactivist Says: I LOVE this diaper bag. Love it, love it, LOVE it! (Have I mentioned that I love it?)
Pros: Huge variety of colors (plus the cover is reversible) Super roomy Integrated wipe dispenser Built in clips to attach it to your stroller Messenger style bag is long enough to cross over your chest
Cons: Expensive Body of the bag attract dog hair like mad
Quite honestly, I think this is my absolute favorite product of all the things I've reviewed so far. I'm a total scrooge when it comes to spending money, but I would totally pay the $66 that this bag retails for. When I first received this bag to review I looked it over and decided that I'd load it up and set it aside to use for "all-day" trips. After all, I already had a purse sized bag that held most of what I needed for quick jaunts with two kids and who wants to carry around a larger bag if they don't have to.
Apparently, I do. I took this bag on two day trips and then came home and packed away my other diaper bag. I like this bag enough that it's now my "go-to" diaper bag. (Ok, so I've really just always wanted to say "go-to" in regards to something...humor me folks.) I've been using it on a daily basis for about five or six weeks now and I adore it. In fact, I've had at least a dozen compliments on it since I've started carrying it.
So let's break down the features to see exactly why I'm such a huge fan of this bag.
Roomy!
This is the absolute key to any diaper bag that I'm going to use. It's simply GOT to have space. I don't carry a purse anymore so the diaper bag needs to be able to hold anything that would go in my purse plus the supplies I need for two kids. This one has that issue down pat. in fact, here's a listing of what I've taken with me on an "all day" errand run...
Change of clothes for Elnora Change of clothes for Emmitt 4 diapers + wipes Sippy cup for Elnora Bottle of water for me Snack cup for Elnora 2 bibs for Emmitt plus one bib for Elnora Set of Elnora's silverware Comb A toy for Emmitt My cell phone, wallet, digital camera and keys Two cloth grocery bags from Whole Foods
And there was still room left in the diaper bag! The nice thing is that there are two sectioned pouches inside the bag. I use one for diapers and one for clothes. It also has four or five other zippered sections scattered around the inside and outside, two "pockets" on the front of the bag under the flap and a pocket on each side of the bag that's the perfect size for a cell phone. The large zippered section on the back of the sports bag includes a changing pad. The rest of the stuff just gets tossed in the bag.
Stroller Friendly
One of the challenges I've had is finding a stroller friendly diaper bag. See, my double stroller is wonderful because it's really compact, but it's biggest downside is that it really doesn't have much in the way of a storage basket underneath. That means that I either have to carry the diaper bag or attach it to the handles. Daisy Gear does this up right...with two little built in loops that allow you to fasten it to your stroller.
Since the diaper bag is messenger style, it lays pretty flat against the back of a stroller. That means it's not knocking you in the knees every time you take a step. Since each side attaches to the stroller it also means that it's not bouncing around like it would if you simply hung it from one of the handles. The shot here shows it hooked onto our stroller with the back seat fully reclined. Even still, it doesn't get in my way when I'm pushing the stroller. If I had the seat sitting up, it would be even more out of the way.
Colors and Design
The nice thing about the Daisy Bag is that it comes in more than a dozen colors. In fact, they have a "billboard series" of bags that is partially made from recycled billboard advertisements. These bags are one of a kind and are pretty darn cool looking. The flaps on them are also reversible so that if you want a pink one, and your husband isn't secure in his masculinity (tee hee) he can quickly unzip the Velcro on the flap and reverse it so that the black side is facing out. It takes about 30 seconds to make the switch. (Or, you can go buy the same bag in "manly" colors at Dad Gear.)
Now I will note that one of the few negatives I found with this diaper bag was that the material the bag is made from is the type that gathers dust, hair and dirt like mad. Yes, you can mostly wipe it off, but as we all know, dog hair has amazing magnetic properties and adheres to anything it comes into contact with until you pull it off with a pair of tweezers. Since our dog has tan hair and the bag is black...well...yeah. It's ok though...going out with a little dog hair on the diaper bag is really the least of my problems.
Integrated Wipes Container
Now to the pièce de résistance of the Daisy Gear diaper bag. The "integrated wipes dispenser." Why no one else has thought of this before is beyond me because it's fan-frickin-tastic! Basically, there is a wipes container that snaps into the front of the bag so that you don't have to go digging for your wipes. Apart from the obvious convenience of not having to dig for wipes, let's consider the handiness of that feature in public restrooms.
With the Daisy Gear bag, I never have to take a hand off of Emmitt while changing him. I can open the bag with one hand while still wearing it, pull out a diaper, get it slid under his other diaper, open the dirty diaper, grab a wipe from the wipes dispenser, (again, with one hand because I don't have to dig for it in the bag and then hold it in one hand while getting a wipe with the other) wipe him off, pull the dirty diaper out from under him, fasten the clean one, toss the dirty one in the trash, put his clothes back together, pick him up and bam, we're done.
It's awesome.
I've run across several products here at The Lactivist that I feel comfortable recommending to my readers, but this is honestly the first one I've reviewed that I can suggest without the slightest hesitation, as long as you can handle the price tag. Oh, and if you aren't a fan of the sports bag, Daisy Gear offers a larger messenger diaper bag and a backpack diaper bag as well.
Looking for The Lactivist? She's retired. But you CAN still find Jen blogging. These days, she's runs A Flexible Life. Join her for life, recipes, projects and the occasional rant.
When Colleen Newman over at My Baby and More dropped me an email to ask if I was interested in reviewing her book "Near Mama's Heart" I happily said "send it over!" Since I had exclusively pumped for Elnora, breastfeeding was still a new experience in our house. Elnora had been fascinated by it from the beginning and sadly, hadn't really had the chance to be around many other nursing moms.
I had also just received Mama's Milk from Tricycle Press and she liked it, so it seemed like a great time to move on to a breastfeeding book that had photographs instead of illustrations.
The Lactivist Says: A heartwarming collection of breastfeeding photos
Pros: Real photos of nursing mothers and their children Cute rhymes talk about breastfeeding as a normal part of life Shows nurslings of a variety of ages
Cons: Paperback Images of older toddlers nursing may turn some families off
When the book arrived I flipped through it fairly quickly smiling at the catchy rhymes and interested to see the wide variety of breastfeeding photos. From the touching image of a newborn baby nursing to some cute shots of older toddlers practicing nursing acrobatics, this book does an excellent job of presenting breastfeeding as something normal and natural for both babies and young children.
Proponents of child led weaning will love having the chance to share a book like this with their children. That said, it may not be the best book choice for more conservative breastfeeding families that are uncomfortable with the shots of older nurslings. (Then again, it could be a great way to introduce them to the beauty of the nursing child.)
I do wish that the book was available as a board book though. Elnora loves to take books to bed with her for her nap but she's not quite old enough yet to be trusted with paper books. (They mysteriously seem to end up with tears in them...) That said, we often read the book before nap time and she loves to point out the babies and the moms.
Looking for The Lactivist? She's retired. But you CAN still find Jen blogging. These days, she's runs A Flexible Life. Join her for life, recipes, projects and the occasional rant.
One of the challenges of raising children to see breastfeeding as normal is the number of dolls and books that come with baby bottles. It's almost unheard of to find a children's book where baby nurses rather than getting a bottle. Since Elnora loves to have books read to her, I'd been on the hunt for some good children's books that presented breastfeeding as normal and natural.
That's why I was thrilled to receive a review copy of Mama's Milk by Michael Elsohn Ross and Ashley Wolff. This richly illustrated book teaches children that breastfeeding in a natural way for both humans and animals to feed and bond with their babies.
The Lactivist Says: One of Elnora's favorite books (and that's saying something!)
Pros: Beautiful illustrations Great for kids that love animals Flowing rhymes
Cons: Not available as a board book
Can I just say that this is a book that I will buy for any breastfeeding mom that I know is pregnant with a second, third, fourth, etc... child? It's that good. The book features one line of rhyme per page to tell the story of all the ways that moms love their breastfeeding babies. It shows babies nursing while mom sleeps, babies nursing in the park, a foal nursing in a field, a coyote nursing her young, even a shot of both a dolphin and a whale nursing their offspring while swimming in the ocean.
The pictures are beautifully painted water colors and the back of the book features a great little collection of all the images with interesting facts about the animals. (Kangaroo milk is pink, elephants nurse for 2 to 4 years, etc...) While the pages are paper, it is a hardback book which helps make it a little more sturdy.
Now it's important to note that while I'm a proponent of child led weaning and have no problems with images of older children nursing, the reality is that many moms that are new to breastfeeding still aren't comfortable with those ideas. With that being noted, this is a "safe" book for any mom, even those that are only comfortable with breastfeeding "infants."
Elnora often asks for this book when I'm putting her to bed and she loves to point out the nursing babies, the moms and all of the animals. She especially love the image of the nursing piglets and the nursing foal on the farm and it's been a real joy to be able to share a book with her that shows great images of animals (and babies) nursing in their natural environments.
Mama's Milk is available for sale on March 5th from Tricycle Press. The book costs $12.95 and can be purchased online in a few weeks. (Making it a great Easter or Passover gift.)
Looking for The Lactivist? She's retired. But you CAN still find Jen blogging. These days, she's runs A Flexible Life. Join her for life, recipes, projects and the occasional rant.
Ok, I don't usually post stuff outside the realm of being a mom, but this one just begged to be passed on to your ladies. (yeah, and the few men that read too...I know you're out there.)
A friend of mine is the jewelry designer behind Carrie D. Mader out in San Francisco. High quality stuff, like what you might pick up at the counter at Saks or Neiman Marcus (ha! if I could even afford to walk into those stores...) Anyway, she's running a contest for Valentine's Day that gives bloggers a chance to win their favorite piece.
Her site features stories about women's lives for every one of her pieces. (Think of the J. Peterman catalog on Seinfield...) Her contest is for bloggers to write up their own "story" around their favorite piece. The winner gets the piece they wrote about. So, here's my entry...more details on how to enter follow...
She awoke to the sound of rhythmically squeaking springs in the room above her. It'd had been a long, restless night, and she wanted nothing more than a couple extra minutes of sleep. Unfortunately, the girl on the second floor didn't seem to give much thought to the sleep needs of other people in the building.
She glanced over at her snoring companion and watched his chest heave with a little sigh. He had that amazing ability to sleep through anything...the springs above didn't seem to phase him in the slightest. She heaved a sigh of defeat and rolled out of bed. He'd be awake soon and her few moments to herself would be over, better make the most of it.
As she headed to the bathroom to take a quick shower, she glanced at her dresser. Sitting there in that signature green box was the "Olivia." The beautiful pearl and gemstone lariat that she'd ordered for herself just last week. She looked back at the bed, thinking of how much he'd enjoy fingering the dainty rhodolite garnets and the pink tourmaline stones as he gazed into her eyes that evening.
Still, the sound of "sproing, sproing, sproing, sproing" ran out the refrain from above.
It was enough to snap her out of her trance. She headed to the second floor stairs and bolted up them. Glancing down the hall, she spotted the door and threw it open. There was a scream...of glee. Her two year old daughter shouted "MA!" as she continued to jump up and down while holding on to the side of her crib.
"You never let up, do you Nora?"
A quick diaper change and a set of clean clothes later, they headed back downstairs where she woke the slumbering boy from his dreams.
"It's time to get up little guy, it's a brand new day."
LOL...see? I told you I wasn't good at pulp. ;)
Want to take your own shot at winning a Valentine's Day surprise for yourself? Go to the Carrie D Mader site and pick out your favorite piece from her new Valentine's Day collection. Then, using that piece, write up your own story (maybe a little more romancy that I went for, LOL) and post it on your blog. Make sure you include a picture of the piece and a link back to the product.
Then drop an email to Carrie and include the URL of the post. On Valentine's Day, she'll pick her favorite and the winner gets the piece they wrote about.
Know anyone else that has a great imagination? Tell them about it too...
Looking for The Lactivist? She's retired. But you CAN still find Jen blogging. These days, she's runs A Flexible Life. Join her for life, recipes, projects and the occasional rant.
When I received a package a few weeks ago from Cayden Creations that had a Peek a Boo B nursing cover inside for me to test out and review, my husband laughed.
"YOU'RE going to review a nursing COVER?!?" He asked incredulously...
Yeah...he thought it was a hoot.
I explained to him that while I've always been very vocal about my person belief that nursing covers tend to scream "Hey!! I'm nursing over here!!" I've also always tried to make it clear that I have no problem with a mom using one because she WANTS to.
See, there's a world of difference between someone covering up because they think they have to and someone covering up because it makes THEM feel more comfortable. As such, I felt that it was more than fair to review the Peek a Boo B nursing cover for the moms that DO prefer to cover up while nursing in public.
The Lactivist Says: The least noticeable nursing cover I've seen (yes, that's a GOOD thing)
Pros: Inexpensive Extremely light weight Coverage where YOU want it Put on and take off with one hand
Cons: Material sometimes clings to baby Could be a little bit longer
When I first received my Peek A Boo B nursing cover in the mail I was surprised by how...small it was. I don't mean lacking in coverage, I mean compact as in doesn't take up much space. You can see it here in the picture folded up next to a tin of Altoids to give you some perspective on the size. It would easily tuck into a diaper bag or even a small purse. Heck, if you were wearing a fleece or a jacket, you could likely just tuck it into the pocket.
When you unfold it, you've got a large rectangle with a stitched hole in the middle of it. Basically, it works sort of like a poncho, you just slip it over your head and turn it so that it's covering the areas that you want covered. Apart from the size, my other favorite feature about this nursing cover is how light weight it is. It's a very thin, filmy material that weighs next to nothing. Since one of the complaints that I often hear about nursing covers is how "hot" they are for mom and baby, that's a definite point in the "pro" column for this product.
So how is it in the functionality department? Well, you know me...I love me them YouTube videos...so I filmed myself using the Peek a Boo B nursing cover for the first time so that you could see how it works for a mom that hasn't even bothered to perfect her "nursing cover technique." (Because seriously, does anyone think I'm going to sit around PRACTICING being ultra-discreet? Have you even read my blog?)
Give it a watch:
First let me tell you what I don't like.
You'll note that in the position I'm holding Emmitt in, the cover just barely goes over his head. Now, I know that I nurse in a really funky position (I'll post on that later this week) so I'm not really a fair comparison on this one...but I do think that large chested (or just all around large) women may end up having some length issues with the standard Peek a Boo B sized cover. I'd say 90% of women are going to find it to be the perfect length (because you don't want to go getting it caught or snagged on things, right? that would defeat the whole purpose of having a nursing cover...just imagine the ruckus you'd cause if you snagged the table and knocked yourself on your rear trying to stand up!) but for me...well, just a tad short.
The other negative is mostly related to the length and is sort of a catch twenty-two... The fact that the cover IS so light weight means that it can settle onto the baby more closely than it would if it were one of those circus-tent style cotton nursing covers. For Emmitt, not being used to being covered up, well, he was a little resistant. (you can see his arm waving around a bit in the video.) I think if I'd had him in a better position where the cover could drape more rather than settling right on him, there wouldn't have been an issue. (Stupid giant breasts!)
So on to the positives...
It was SUPER easy to put on. I could easily unfold it and get it over my head with one hand (which is great if your baby is already getting fussy and you're holding him as well.) It was very light weight which made it easy to situate. The neck opening is also wide enough that you could easily pull it back and see your little munchkin. That's handy for things like making sure they're latched or even just making googlie eyes at them.
Another thing that I liked, that I'm not sure the designers even thought of was the fact that you don't really have to use it to cover up your baby while nursing.
See, my biggest issue with nursing in public isn't the fear that someone might *gasp* see my breast or *even bigger gasp* see my nipple. It's that if I'm not wearing a nursing top, chances are pretty good that in order to hike my shirt up enough for Emmitt to nurse, I'm also leaving my post-partum love handles in wide open view. Yeah...not too keen on that idea. With this cover, you could easily turn it so that it was covering up the "side" without really covering up your baby. We all know that babies' heads cover breasts and baby's body covers tummies (and rock covers paper) so for many women, it's that issue of letting their love handles hang out there for the world to see.
The final point added to the positives column was the price. At just $25, it was easily the least expensive nursing cover that I've run across online. (Most of the popular nursing covers run $35-$45 depending on material.)
Overall, while I wouldn't use it (because again, I don't really go for nursing covers) I WILL find a friend to pass it on to and I would highly recommend it to a mom that simply won't nurse in public without a cover. As someone that has long made fun of nursing covers (because seriously, they look like circus tents) I actually had to admit that this one was pretty nice.
Now if you're looking for super trendy designs and crazy-fun patterns, this may not be the nursing cover for you. Since the goal here is muted functionality (getting the job done without letting the world know what the job is) the colors are all pretty neutral and pretty demure. The owner's sense of humor does show through though as the colors have names like "Mothers' Wine" and "Busty Black." You can see Elnora over there on the left in "Barely Beige."
Two last points of interest? First, the creators are both breastfeeding advocates. I've had the pleasure of sharing quite a few emails with one of the owners and I can assure you that she's out there fighting the fight with the rest of us. I love supporting companies that aren't just talking the talk. Second, they have an affiliate program, so if you think your readers might be interested in buying Peek a Boo B nursing covers, go ahead and sign up and promote a way. (and just to note, I am not an affiliate, so I don't earn anything if this review makes you want to go buy it...I think reviews get tainted if there's money involved.)
Looking for The Lactivist? She's retired. But you CAN still find Jen blogging. These days, she's runs A Flexible Life. Join her for life, recipes, projects and the occasional rant.
Had a chance to check out some really cute customized candy tins this week. I know this seems a little "off" from traditional breastfeeding products, but I had a company contact me about reviewing these from the "baby shower favor" and "birth announcement" front. I'm always a little lost about what to do for baby shower favors and I've always liked the idea of cute birth announcement type things but haven't ever done then. (Had friends who named their son Heath and gave out fun size Heath bars...it was cute.)
So I figured why not and told them to go ahead and send me some. The tins are from Plum Drama and come in eleventy-million designs. They aren't cheap, though they're also not insanely expensive. They run $2.50 each with a minimum order of 30 tins. (Perhaps a bit high for most showers, but a nice number if you wanted to use them as birth announcements.)
They sent me three designs, each with a different flavor of candy in them. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the printing. A lot of times when you see a company offering this many "customized" options, they're using fairly cheap labels that are simply printed out and slapped on. These tins are pretty nice though. Smaller than an Altoids tin, but bigger than a credit card, they're a nice size for throwing in your purse or diaper bag. The print quality was excellent and the site notes that you can send in a picture or a design of your own choice to have printed on the tins.
They come in four flavors: peppermint, sugar-free peppermint, cinnamon and fruit punch. They sent me the first three.
The sugar-free peppermints (I don't usually eat sugar-free things, but for you guys, I gave in and tried them) were pretty good. Very "altoidish" in their strength. Nice peppermint flavor. The cinnamon ones were excellent. They reminded me of a "red hot" but they weren't chewy, they were crunchy. One of the better cinnamon candies I've tasted, actually. But the regular peppermint candies were kind of gross. Something about the texture I think...it wasn't so much the flavor as something just seemed "wrong" about them. Greg agreed with me on all three mints. Elnora put her vote in for the cinnamon (she kept trying to sneak them).
Looking for The Lactivist? She's retired. But you CAN still find Jen blogging. These days, she's runs A Flexible Life. Join her for life, recipes, projects and the occasional rant.
It seems appropriate that I've got this product review ready to go just as several moms have delurked to tell us that they're still nursing after returning to work. Any breastfeeding mom knows what that means...it's breast pump time!
But figuring out which breast pump to buy can be challenging. After all, we're not talking about a $20 baby monitor or a $4 toy, we're talking about a major investment that can top a few hundred dollars and that can literally define the success or failure of a breastfeeding relationship. No pressure, right? As a mom that spent nearly 14 months exclusively pumping for her oldest daughter, breast pumps are a topic that I've always been interested in. Especially since good information on pumping is sort of hard to come by. That's why I was excited when the good folks at Lansinoh offered to send me one of their brand new double electric breast pumps to take for a spin.
The Lactivist Says: The most affordable breast pump that you bet your supply on!
Pros: Extremely affordable at under $200 Patented system to product from fluid backup Speed and suction adjust independently Duel power options Small and portable
Cons: Small collection containers Extremely hard to take apart Didn't express as much milk as my PISA
Get ready for a lengthy review because when it comes to breast pumps, there are a million things that you need to consider. Overall, I found the Lansinoh Double Electric Breast Pump to be a good option at an extremely affordable price. At under $200 retail it's nearly $100 cheaper than most comparable breast pumps. While my initial reaction was that I thought it would be a great choice for a mom that pumped occasionally, but maybe not for a mom that pumped exclusively, I've since spoken with another mom that uses it to pump during work hours and she's had a great experience with it. Thus, I think my own testing was sort of tempered by being used to my Medela PISA. I firmly believe that bodies learn how to let-down for pumps the same way that they learn to let down with babies, so I'm 99% confident that a mom that used this pump consistently would get good performance out of it.
With that in mind, let's get to the good stuff.
First let's talk size and portability. As someone who lugged around a hospital grade Medela Lactina for six months, I can assure you that portability is a BIG deal to a mom that pumps frequently. The first thing that impressed me about the Lansinoh Double Electric Breast Pump was the size. It's only a few inches high and doesn't take up as much counter space as a DVD case. It's also incredibly light. Even out of the bag, my PISA pump is pretty heavy to lug around. You could toss the Lansinoh pump in a large purse or tote bag and hardly even know it was in there. (Note: The pump doesn't currently come with a tote bag because Lansinoh wanted to keep the cost of the product down, it's possible that in the future you'll be able to buy a tote bag specifically designed for this pump.) Another big bonus to the Lansinoh pump is that the pump itself has a compartment for six AA batteries. That's a plus to anyone used to carrying around a separate battery pack for their Medela.
Now that said, I'm not a huge fan of the pump parts themselves and the space that they take up. I'm used to being able to detach the flange from the rest of the pump body so that I have several small pieces to pack. The Lansinoh system allows you to unscrew the bottle from the flange and to remove the valve, but that's it. It's sort of like packing a blow dryer that doesn't fold...it's just an odd shape and it seemed kind of awkward to pack.
Next, let's consider cleaning. The biggest hassle when it comes to pumping (at least in my mind) is the clean up. (I'm the mom that bought the Playtex drop-in system simply because I didn't feel like washing bottles) Originally, the design of the Lansinoh system kind of irked me. Once again, I was used to my PISA and I wanted to be able to break it down into all it's tiny pump pieces. I kept thinking to myself that I couldn't possibly be getting the pump properly cleaned if I wasn't able to detach the flange from the rest of the system. After all, it's not uncommon to get "ring around the flange" from the suction on your nipples. That needs to be scrubbed out.
Once I thought about a bit more, I realized that Lansinoh was actually on to something. You see, the PISA has to separate because the suction system runs through the back of the pump. That leaves all sorts of little holes that have to be cleaned out. Since the Lansinoh system uses a whole other method of suction (more on this later) their parts don't have the same issue. In other words, there's far less crevices that you've got to work to get the milk out of. That's NEVER a bad thing. Finally, the valve that's used in the Lansinoh pump is just pure brilliance. (that's it on the left) When I first opened the package I looked at it and went "what the..." Then I realized that the pointed end is flexible and opens slightly to let the milk pour through. It works the same way as any other "membrane" or "flange" system, but it's sturdy enough and big enough that I didn't have to worry about accidentally losing it or throwing it away. (The pump also came with three extras, just in case.)
Now, on to functionality. After all, who cares how portable or easy to clean something is if it doesn't get the job done. Design and functionality are an area where Lansinoh has really scored some points. It's pretty clear that they put a lot of thought into the design of this product. Right off the top, two features stood out to me.
1.) The patented design that keeps milk or fluids from backing up into the tubing. One of the biggest issues I have with my PISA is that unless my pump parts have air dried to the point that there's not a molecule of water on them, I start seeing little bits of fluid and condensation working their way through the tubing as I pump. (And once that water gets in there, it is NEVER coming out.) Lansinoh addresses this issue in a way that's pure brilliance. What they've done is create an air chamber above the flange that's designed to create the suction. You can see from the slightly blurry picture over there on the right that there's a little rubber membrane that slides in there and a small tube that connects into it. The pump works by sucking the air out of the INSIDE of the rubber membrane which collapses and creates a suction effect for the pump. It works extremely well and in the dozen times I used the pump, I never saw a single drop of fluid in the tubes.
2.) The next feature that really caught my eye was the ability to individually set the suction and speed levels. When I moved from a hospital grade Lactina Select to my PISA I was dismayed to find that the only way to go full speed was to go full suction (ouch!). Having this level of control is unheard of on a pump that costs so little. I found that I was able to start on medium suction and full speed and then to slowly work my way up to higher suction levels as I went. This is probably the single most impressive feature (to me) of this pump.
So how did the pump perform? Well, the first time I put it all together and sat down to use it (while on a business trip in Chicago...see how much faith I have in the folks at Lansinoh?) I pumped about 8 ounces in 5 minutes. (Now remember, my milkshake DOES feed all the kids in the yard...) I was all ready to head home and write a raving review of the product. The problem was that the next time I used it, I got about 2 ounces in 5 minutes. In fact, for the next week, I found that anytime I used the Lansinoh pump I got about half the amount that I'd get at the same time of day if I used my PISA. Now I was ready to write a review slamming the product. (See why you take your time before writing reviews?)
Then I started to pay a little more attention. Apparently what had happened was that I wasn't getting that thin little membrane properly dried. Unless it air dries completely, it didn't tend to get the right suction going on in it's little vacuum chamber. Once I gave it another go while paying attention to that little trick I saw the amount that I could pump increase back to more reasonable levels.
Overall, I still find that I can pump a few ounces more with my PISA than I can with the Lansinoh pump, but as I mentioned earlier, I think a big part of it is what your body is used to. I'm pretty confident that if I used the Lansinoh pump exclusively for awhile that I'd start to see an increase in output that would match what I'm used to getting. If I was starting from scratch, I wouldn't hesitate to give the Lansinoh Double Electric Breast Pump a try.
Now, what were my issues with the pump? Well apart from the few I mentioned already, here they are...
1.) The white plastic cap that snaps onto the top of that vacuum chamber is darn near impossible to get off. I mean darn near IMPOSSIBLE. I'm used to unplugging the hoses (a no-no on this system) and taking the entire collection kit to the kitchen when I'm done pumping. With this system, you pretty much have to unscrew the bottles and take them in separately. Otherwise, you risk spilling or sloshing the milk while you try to pry those caps from their comfy little homes.
2.) The bottles that come by default are a little on the small side. They're basically four ounce bottles, though you could likely squeeze closer to five if you were careful not to spill. As someone with a pretty good pumping output I found that annoying. I can pump 12 ounces in a sitting (please don't hate me) and stopping to empty out the bottles is kind of a pain. That said, the pump will screw on to quite a few standard size bottles so I imagine you could remedy that by simply pumping into something other than the bottles that come with it.
For pumping moms (like me) that find themselves losing parts fairly often...no need to worry. Lansinoh's web site has an online store that sells replacement parts. (They're pretty affordable too!) It also sells larger sized flanges for women that need a little more space around the nipple.
Overall, I'm pretty impressed with Lansinoh's first foray into the world of breast pumps. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised...any company that creates a product as heavenly and salvationy (is that a word?) as Lansinoh's Lanolin Cream SHOULD know a little something about how to treat breasts.
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Ok, one of the fun things about having kids is looking online at all of the absolutely adorable things that you can buy. For some reason, I get a real kick out of picking out all the "cool" things that I would buy for baby showers (and my own kids) if I didn't feel so guilty shelling out so much cash for something that will be used for such a short amount of time.
The latest thing I've stumbled across that I find to be absolutely adorable, but so totally not worth the money? Pedoodles shoes for kids. The shoes are soft and pliable...no hard soles on these ones. That appealed to me as I firmly believe in not putting kids in hard soled shoes until they've learned to walk. Thus, my kids survive with socks alone for about the first year of their lives.
With that in mind, these shoes are absolutely adorable. Unfortunately they also cost anywhere from $20 to $45. There is NO way I'm going to spend that kind of money on a shoe that my kid will wear for a couple of months. Maybe if I was going to have 6 or 7 kids and I knew I could pass them down...but not for two kids.
That said, in the imaginary world of things don't cost anything, here's what I'd be buying.
Elnora would get a pair of "The Outback" boots. I call them "monkey boots" though they actually have a gecko on them. I can just picture her running around in these with her little jeans or corduroys tucked in. Cute. ;)
I'd also snag her a pair of "Ruby Janes". They likely wouldn't match more than one or two outfits, but again, we're talking about the imaginary world here and besides, they're adorable.
As for Emmitt, well...frogs are cute. So, I'd snag him a pair of "Fred Froggy shoes. They've got elastic across the back so they look like they'd go on pretty easy. I'd also get him a Frank Fish Hat. Elnora has progressed through several adorable winter hats (cookie monster, jester hat, etc...) so it would only be fair for Emmitt to have something beyond the typical beanie.
So how about you? What trendy little gifts do you wish one of your friends would have splurged on for your baby shower?
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As regular Lactivist readers know, I've been hunting down the perfect nursing pad since I had my son three months ago. I've tried quite a few disposable pads and have mentioned that Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads are by far my favorite. The problem is that I can't use Lansinoh pads at night when I'm not wearing a bra to hold them in place. With that in mind, I kept hearing about LilyPadz. After checking out their web site, I found myself intrigued. After all, who wouldn't love a nursing pad that lasted up to two months and that required no bra to hold it in place?
I tried contacting the LilyPadz team last month to see if they ever send out review products, but never did hear back from them. I would have ordered a pair online, but I hate adding 25% to the cost of a product in shipping. As it turned out, I spotted a box of LilyPadz in Motherhood a week later while picking up some nursing gear for a friend. For $20 and the potential of not having to buy nursing pads for two months, and of course, ;) for research purposes...I figured it was worth buying a set. After all, many of my regular readers have raved about LilyPadz in the comment section of my blog.
The Lactivist Says: Fantastic Concept, Didn't Work for Me
Pros: No need for a nursing bra to hold the pads in place Reusable = less landfill waste Invisible under even the thinnest shirt
Cons: If they fail, they fail horribly Silicone isn't biodegradable Didn't deliver as promised
Now, I'll start off by saying that LilyPadz are an example of why I never review a product the day I get it, or even a few days after I get it. Just like the shirt that looks perfect when you bring it home from the store, but that shrinks up as soon as it goes through the wash, some products go from "woo-hoo" to "ewww" in a matter of days. While LilyPadz didn't quite move to "eww" it did quickly move to "awww man!"
Here's the deal. I brought them home, got them out of the package and tried them out. They were fantastic. They're very easy to put on...picture a giant contact lens. You hold them flipped inside out (just like a contact) and then press the center to the tip of your nipple and sort of push in to flip them right side out (again, like putting on a contact.) They work by compressing the nipple so that no leakage occurs. In other words, instead of catching the leak, they prevent the leak. It's a pretty nifty concept and I found it to be highly effective. While I'd originally planned on getting them to use at night (and WOW are they handy at night when you don't want to wear a sleep bra) I found myself wearing them during the day as well.
Cleaning was also a breeze. You simply rinse them off with water and a mild soap and let them air dry. As soon as they're dry, the tacky comes back and they're ready to be used again. I found that they usually dried in about an hour, so it was easy enough to wear them every day.
The biggest benefit I could find to wearing them during the day was how inconspicuous they were. Even the thinnest nursing pad will sometimes show through a really fitted shirt. That wasn't a problem with LilyPadz though, they literally fit like a second skin. I also discovered how handy they were when it came time to nurse in public. Usually, as I'm unhooking everything, I have to find someplace to sit my nursing pad. Sometimes it's feasible to shove them into a pocket, but often times they end up sitting next to me and that just kinda icks me out. With LilyPadz, I found that I could peel them off and simply stick them on my stomach or on my chest between my breasts. It was pretty darn handy.
Thus, a week after buying LilyPadz I started talking them up to everyone I met. They were quickly securing their place on my mental list of "items to put in breastfeeding starter kits."
Then we hit week two.
Arg. As I said, I've found that sometimes what starts off great ends up...well...not so great. LilyPadz claim to last "up to two months" as long as you are washing them with mild soap and water. The problem was that that didn't seem to be the case with my set of LilyPadz. By day 9, I found that the tacky/stickiness of my LilyPadz was sorely compromised. I often noticed small air pockets when I tried to put them on. I even found myself wondering if maybe Motherhood was selling old boxes and that's what the problem was. I kept thinking that maybe it was the natural progression of "loss of stick" but to have this happen on day 9 for a product that should last up to 60 days?
That night, while nursing Emmitt at about 3am and relying on my LilyPadz to keep me from spraying out the other breast, I experienced my first "catastrophic failure" of the product. Apparently, that little air pocket (which appeared under the nipple, not overtop of it) filled up with some milk which then worked it's way past the rest of the tacky. Off popped the LilyPadz and I found myself with a nice half ounce of milk on my nightgown. *sigh* I got up and changed the nightgown, went to the bathroom to clean the LilyPadz off and went back to sleep sans Padz.
The next day I noticed that they really didn't seem to be sticking well at all. I washed them once more, but it seemed like the spot that had gotten milk on it simply would NOT clean. It's like the milk killed the tacky and it was never coming back. So, I retired the LilyPadz and went back to my Lansinoh disposables.
Until about five days later when I decided to give them one last shot. I'd washed them a few more times and it seemed like the tacky was coming back a bit. So I put them on, put on a nursing bra, got dressed and headed down to visit with the family. (At this point, I was at my parents for Christmas.) Enter catastrophic failure number two. :(
I was nursing Emmitt in my parent's living room while chatting with friends that were staying the night as well. They have a one year old son and he and Nora were having fun playing. All of a sudden my shirt felt REALLY warm. You guessed it, the LilyPadz quit on me again. I laughed (the friends have a one year old, she nursed for awhile, so thankfully, they get it) and asked mom to get me a towel. I finished nursing Emmitt with a towel under my shirt to keep myself from leaking through. Then I went upstairs to change. With the failure of the LilyPadz I had soaked through my nursing bra and the first layer of my shirt. If I hadn't snagged the towel I would have had a nice milk spot visible from the outside. I would NOT have been happy if I'd been out in public and had that happen.
So where does that leave things? Well...I still really liked LilyPadz. I think they're a great idea and if folks have had them last two months, then I'd say they are well worth the cost. Unfortunately, I can't justify spending $20 for a product that only lasted me 9 days and that twice caused me to "wet myself." I certainly don't think I'd trust them in public unless I first tried another pair that managed to work for at least a month or two before running into "loss of sticky" problems. That said, I'd still consider buying a pair JUST to use at night. I'd be easy enough to just use one at a time and slap them on the side that I wasn't nursing from. I could see them lasting two months that way and it would be a nice problem solver for moms that leak a lot.
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Back in October I wrote a post about the concept of nursing bracelets when I discovered that it actually WASN'T easy to remember what side I had last nursed Emmitt on. Well apparently the good folks over at Milk Bands pay attention when people talk because they contacted me pretty quickly and offered to send me some of their product to try out. Never one to turn down free stuff (or the opportunity to get some more great content on the site) I gave them my address and waited for my package to arrive. I've been wearing my Milk Bands nursing bracelet now for about a month and I think it's time to share my thoughts with Lactivist readers.
The Lactivist Says: Fabulous concept, but room for improvement
Pros: Inexpensive Looks good Gets the job done
Cons: Marker pegs are a choking hazard Hard to manipulate pegs
Milk Bands are one of the few options available when it comes to nursing bracelets, but there's no doubt in my mind that they are one of the best. Having used one now for more than a month, I can pretty much say without a doubt that it will stay on my wrist for at least the next year. In fact, I've already given one away to a friend as part of a "breastfeeding starter kit" that I made up for her baby shower. I've also been asked by at least a dozen people what it is and when I've explained it to them they've all commented on what a great idea it is or how much they would have liked to have had one when they were nursing. Add in the fact that they're less than $6 and you've got a handy item for any breastfeeder. (Note to any of you last minute Christmas shoppers...Milk Bands would be a great stocking stuffer for the nursing mom on your list.)
So the concept goes something like this...Milk Bands are a silicone bracelet in the style of all those other popular silicone bracelets that have flooded the market in the last few years. The main difference is that they've got a slew of holes in them designed to let you mark the time of your last feeding session. Milk Bands are also imprinted with the word "Left" on one side and the word "Right on the other side. Thus, you slide it on your wrist of choice and simply flip it inside out every time you nurse your babe. (Though the bracelets obviously aren't idiot proof...I spent a full day switching it from one hand to the other before I realized that I could simply flip it inside out...DUH!)
I was a little skeptical on the "keep track of your last feeding" idea as I'm a firm supporter of nursing on demand. There is no feeding schedule in my house, so I couldn't see taking the time to mark off the last feeding. (Though now that I have a friend with a baby that you literally have to wake for feedings, I guess I can see the point.) Since I had no use for marking off the time of the last feeding, I took to simply marking the number of feedings per day. This was more out of curiosity than anything, but it's been kind of neat to watch Emmitt's progression from nursing a zillion times a day (ok, ok, not a zillion, but when I first got my Milk Bands he was eating 12+ times in 24 hours) to nursing 8 or 9 times in 24 hours. It makes for an easy way to detect a growth spurt as well since instead of thinking to myself "gee, he seems to be nursing more often today" I can actually say "wow, he nursed 12 times today, he hasn't done that in awhile.)
The thing that keeps me from absolutely adoring Milk Bands is the "hole and marker" concept. For some reason all those little holes remind me of a hospital bracelet and I can't stand hospitals. Beyond that though, and a more legitimate concern is that manipulating those little plastic sticks into the holes is kinda tough. Doing it in the dark when you're nursing in the middle of the night is almost impossible. Add in the fact that if you lose one, you're leaving a nice little choking hazard around for any other toddlers that happen to be in the house. I've never lost one, but I have had visions of sling shotting them across the room if I accidentally let go of the band while I had it stretched out to put the marker in place. (click on the recommended techniques link on the Milk Bands site and you'll see what I mean...)
So overall, a fantastic product. I'll keep using mine and I'd recommend them to anyone else that can't remember their right boob from their left. I just look forward to the time when Milk Bands decides to offer up a little design update that won't require a one-handed stretch and plug act to move those pegs around.
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Most breastfeeding moms have heard of Lansinoh, though for the most part, we tend to associate them with their lanolin ointment. That said, it's well worth taking the time to try out some of their other products. I made good use of their breastmilk freezer bags when I was pumping for Nora (review of them coming up down the road) but since Emmitt was born, I've also become a big fan of their disposable nursing pads. The Lansinoh disposable nursing pads run about $8 for a box of 60 and are touted as being "super-thin" and of having some magical "special polymer" that helps draw the moisture away from your body. So, let's get on with the review...
The Lactivist Says: Love it!
Pros: Super thin Highly absorbent Individually wrapped
Cons: More expensive Individually wrapped (yes I know I said that under pros too...)
If you recall, the primary issue that I had with the Gerber Nursing Pads was that they were not very absorbent and that what they did absorb still managed to stay wet enough to create a nice little moisture-fest for yeast and bacteria to flourish in. That's really the number one reason that Lansinoh pads are on my "must-have" list for new nursing mothers. These pads hold a TON of liquid and still manage to keep you dry. They remind me of that Luvs commercial where they put the water balloon in the diaper and let the whole thing drain. I've been tempted to measure out some fluid just to see how much they'll hold, but based on sheer weight of the pad when I throw it away, I know that it's at least a couple of ounces.
If you're a leaker like I am (not really what I aspired to be when I grew up...but there you have it) then these are the pads that you need. What makes it even better is that these pads are among the thinnest disposable pads I've seen. They're also much larger in diameter than some of the other disposable pads, which means that even if they shift a little in your bra (I never bother to peel off the sticky that holds them in place) you still aren't going to end up with big old wet spots on your shirt.
Granted, the downside of these pads is that they cost a few dollars more than most of the other ones on the shelf. That said, you've got to consider the whole package. Sure I spend an extra $2 on a box of Lansinoh than I would on a box of Gerber, but I have to use 4-6 sets of Gerber pads a day whereas I can get away just fine with a single set of Lansinoh pads. A good example of getting what you pay for.
So that leaves me with one last issue...the whole "individually wrapped" bit. You'll notice that I listed that under both the pros and the cons. That's mostly because it depends on the situation I'm using them in. I'll fully admit that on a normal day when I'm getting dressed at home, I'm pretty annoyed at having to pull them out of that little plastic wrapper (which means a trip to the nearest trash can) before sliding them in to my nursing bra. That's a definite con simply on the convenience side of things. However...when I'm traveling it's awfully nice to know that my nursing pads are protected from whatever might be lurking in my purse, suitcase or the diaper bag. So it would be nice to have the option of buying them either way...but hey, you can't be too picky, right?
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I'm back from Thanksgiving and will be up and posting again later today. (Down with a cold right now though, so we'll see how I'm feeling.)
Lots of content coming up this week...a roundup of news on the Delta Nurse-in, two product reviews and some insight on how important it is to normalize breastfeeding in your own little niches...
For now, just had to stop for a quick post with a link to a shirt that I just bought for Emmitt on CafePress.
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I've decided I'm going to start doing product reviews on the Lactivist. After all, promoting breastfeeding isn't just about organizing lactivist events and sharing stories and advice...it's also about helping moms arms themselves with the best products out there to make life easier. To that end, I'll be reviewing the products that I use or try on my own, but I'll also be doing some reviews of products that have been sent to me for the express purpose of being reviewed. If you'd like to see your product reviewed, feel free to drop me an email to chat about it.
So, my first review is for Gerber's disposable nursing pads. These run about $6.00 for a package of 60 pads and are advertised as being "breathable" and as "drawing moisture away from the skin." I picked up a box a few weeks ago at my local CVS and thought I'd give them a try.
The Lactivist Says: No thanks!
Pros: Inexpensive Disposable Thin (they don't show through a bra/shirt)
Cons: Too small Does not stay dry
I've gotta tell you, for a company that's synonymous with babies, Gerber needs a few lessons about how to build a nursing pad. My first complaint is that they're simply too small. They're probably about 2/3 the diameter of most other nursing pads that I've tried and since they don't have the peel-off "stick" on the back, they can move around in your bra. Put those two issues together and it's not uncommon to end up leaking into your bra rather than into the nursing pad.
My next complaint is that the pads not only fail to stay dry, but they also fail to hold any amount of fluid what-so-ever. I was using these at about week four of breastfeeding and I found that I would soak completely through a pad every single time I nursed Emmitt. In other words, just the amount that leaked out of one side while nursing on the other was enough to render the pad unusable. Even worse, the pads weren't simply full, they were soaking wet on BOTH sides. That meant that milk often made its way to my bra AND that my nipples were spending their time surrounded by warm, wet pads. NOT a good thing since yeasts just loooooooove warm, wet places.
I worked my way through the entire box simply because I hated to throw them away, but that usually meant that every time I nursed Emmitt I had to run back to the box to get a replacement pad. (On the plus side, that also meant I used them up in a matter of days.)
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My mother-in-law always makes me send her a Christmas list super early in the season because this is when she does her shopping. That got me to thinking about what I needed and I realized that nursing tops are at the top of the list. I've got a couple now and I find them AMAZING for nursing in public. I've never worried about showing a little breast, but I do not like the idea of letting my post-partum stomach hang out for all the world to see. Thus, nursing tops rock.
The problem is Motherhood Maternity seems to be the only place around here that actually sells nursing tops. Seeing as how I've bought all three (yeah, I know, that's sad) nursing tops that they sell that I actually like...I'm kinda tapped out for options now.
Then I found the Motherwear site. This stuff is NICE! I mean like actual stylish shirts, even some dress shirts. I ordered a catalog a few weeks back and have been to their site to browe a couple of times. It's not cheap, but it's also not outlandishly expensive like some of the nursing shirts I've looked at online. Now if only I could convince some family members to either buy me some stuff or to get me some gift certificates.
There are tons of other great tops there and if you sign up for their newsletter they occasionally send coupon codes for free shipping. Incidentally, they also have a survey up on the site right now...if you fill it out, you're entered for a chance to win a "$135 Nursing Kit." Now I have absolutely no idea what's in that kit, but who wouldn't want $135 worth of stuff related to nursing? ;)
Now that said, I've also realized that the whole "layered" fashion of shirts really gives budget-minded moms some nice options. Think of how many people are wearing a long sleeve shirt under a short sleeve shirt, or layering a tank over a tee or whatever... Totally easy to buy a few shirts, cut the side holes yourself and then wear them underneath some other shirts. Bam! You're in fashion, plus you've got a functional nursing top.
I also noticed these tube tops for sale at Target for about $9. I'd think it would be easy enough to pull the top down when you opened your bra and to rely on the bottom part for the same type of "coverage" that you'd get from a typical nursing tee.
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Ok, so I always kinda thought nursing bracelets were hokey...I mean who can't remember when the last time they nursed their kid was?
Umm...apparently me. ;)
I have NO problem remembering when he eats at night...mostly because when he wakes up I look at the clock and think "oh holy crap, I only got 45 minutes of sleep since the LAST TIME he ate!!" But during the day...nope, I never remember. :)
Now that's not such a big deal, but I DO find myself having a really hard time remembering what the last side he nursed on was. Since I don't nurse him on both sides at each feeding (and why would I when he can get 8-10 ounces from one side of my industrial capacity dairy tanks?), I often have to sit and think for a minute or two to figure out where to put him.
So I went hunting for nursing bracelets to see what I could find...
I found this crystal one that's pretty cool...you can mark the time of the last feeding and can easily switch it from side to side. It's also kind of nice looking, but fairly expensive for a nursing bracelet...
I spotted Milk Bands, which are cute and fashionable in that silicon bracelet kinda way, but I look at them and think "I'd lose those little white pins in no time and one of the kids would eat them!"
Oddly enough, that's the only two that seem to really exist, at least on the first four pages of Google. Now if only they'd send me a complimentary one for me to review and write about here. ;)
Or I could just find a regular cheapo bracelet somewhere and put it on I guess, but someone that seems...well...less fun.
So what'd you do? How did you remember which side you last fed on?
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Although I'm a little bummed that the Motherhood stores near me seem to be pretty skimpy on the nursing tops that they keep in stock, they do have a nice web site. I ordered three more nursing tops off the site this morning. One new shirt, and then different colors of the two shirts that I bought last week.
Then I went to get dressed, putting one of my current shirts on and realized that I was wearing a large, but had ordered an extra large.
Doh!
Came back in hoping that there was a way to fix the problem. I had an email with my order confirmation and right smack in plain view was an 800# for customer service. I called them up and within about two minutes, they'd made the change to my order with no problem.
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Went shopping yesterday to pick up some new nursing bras and discovered (and bought) some pretty cool nursing tops as well. Whole new experience for me, since I certainly didn't need such things for pumping.
I had two nursing bras left over that I'd bought before my last pregnancy and since I was worried that nursing wouldn't work this time around, I hadn't bought any more. A week into things, I'm confident enough that I'll be nursing for the next year or so that I figured it was time to go spend some cash.
Since the Target around here seems to have stopped carrying much in the way of nursing bras (or at least in the way of nursing bras for those of us that have *ahem* "large capacity storage tanks") I headed to the mall to check out Motherhood. Turns out that this was a pretty good call as Motherhood has quite the impressive collection of nursing bras ALL of which are VERY reasonably priced. (Ranging from $11-$20 as compared to the $40-$50 that I see online.)
Turns out they only had one underwire nursing bra in my size in the whole store, but thankfully it was a great fit (and just $16) so I bought it with plans to order more from their web site. Then I noticed the nursing tops.
I was intrigued.
Originally, I hadn't really seen the sense in nursing tops. After all, you just pull up the corner of your shirt and go to town, right?
Not really. I tend to wear fairly fitted clothing. The problem with that is that when you pull up the corner of an article of fitted clothing, the rest of it comes up too. That means that if I were to nurse in public wearing one of my "normal" shirts, I would really be flashing breast, but I would be flashing a LOT of stomach. Now, I'm not 16 anymore and I'm also just a week out from birthing a 9.5 pound baby. (In other words, I'm not real keen on having my gut hanging out there for the world to see.)
So, I checked out the nursing tops and found a few styles that I really liked. Since I work at home, I figure I could likely snag half a dozen or so over time and simply wear them on days that I know I'll be out and about and having to NIP several times. Unfortunately, the selections in the store are fairly limited, so I was only able to find two that I liked and that fit, but here they are if you want to check them out.
And I plan on ordering this polo shirt and this baseball tee. (Or maybe putting them on my Christmas list...)
Anyway, I love the idea behind these...cute shirts, but they have a nice second layer of shirt underneath that gives you stomach (and back) coverage while allowing you easy access to nurse. That said, with the style being to layer shirts right now, I can't help but think that you could EASILY just buy a few plain t-shirts, cut out holes for your breasts and wear them underneath another layered shirt, thus creating your own nursing tops, but without spending the cash that people seem to think it's ok to charge for "real" nursing tops.
Now I just know that some of you are wondering "so she went to the mall with the baby...did the baby have to eat? What happened? Did she NIP during her first week of breastfeeding?" The answer is yes, I'll tell ya later and yes.
Look for a post over the weekend about the Lactivist earning her stripes when it comes to NIP. ;)
Looking for The Lactivist? She's retired. But you CAN still find Jen blogging. These days, she's runs A Flexible Life. Join her for life, recipes, projects and the occasional rant.
Ran across an article today that talked about a popular breastfeeding pillow that is being pulled from the market by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The Boston Billow breastfeeding cushion has not been linked to any deaths or injuries, but the CPSC claims that it too closely resembles an infant pillow that was pulled from the market more than a decade ago after being linked to some infant deaths.
The Boston Billow company is petitioning the government to allow the pillow to be sold again and both lactation consultants and parents are squaring off against safety advocates in a tug-of-war over whether or not the breastfeeding aid can be sold under certain circumstances.
What distinguished the Boston Billow, a niche product sold mostly in birthing centers and specialty shops, is that it is soft and filled with beads, like a bean bag, that allow it to be molded to fit moms and kids of all sizes.
Because of those features, the hospitals that carried them often recommended the Boston Billow to moms who can't tolerate a firm pillow because they have had Caesarean sections.
The pillows also are used by women who have carpal tunnel syndrome, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy or rheumatoid arthritis, said Karin Cadwell, executive director and lead faculty member at the Healthy Children Project in Massachusetts, which runs a breastfeeding center that trains health care providers.
The article went on to explain that the reason for the ban was more because of potential risk than actual risk...
It shares some indisputable characteristics with banned "infant pillows" - it has a flexible fabric covering and is loosely filled with beads and can easily be flattened.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission also said the Boston Billow meets the two other criteria that make it synonymous with an infant pillow from a regulatory standpoint - it is capable of conforming to the body or face of an infant, and "intended for use by infants under 1 year old."
S. Erik Skoug, the president of Boston Pillows explained to the media that there was little chance that the nursing pillow could be confused with the banned pillow from the 80's, explaining that the banned pillow was designed for sleeping infants while his product is made for use by a mother as she nurses her child.
On the other hand, safety advocates claim that since the product is designed for use with infants, that there's a chance that it will be used improperly and that "the risk of suffocation outweighs any convenience factor that the cushion might bring to a nursing mother."
Infant pillows and cushions are banned under federal law. Infant pillows have a flexible fabric covering, are loosely filled with plastic beads, easily flattened, intended for use by infants under 1 year old, and capable of conforming to the body or face of an infant.
While I fully understand the concerns that some people have over these types of products, I can't help but think that we're taking away a potentially good thing because of the risk that a few people might misuse them. It's like the argument that many make over co-sleeping or swimming pools or trampolines. Yes, accidents can happen with misuse, but that doesn't mean that they should be banned completely.
The period for public comment closed on December 12th, but individuals that are interested in supporting Boston Billows can do so by visiting the company at their web site: http://www.bostonbillows.com/.
Looking for The Lactivist? She's retired. But you CAN still find Jen blogging. These days, she's runs A Flexible Life. Join her for life, recipes, projects and the occasional rant.
For about three months now, I've been eyeing a book on Amazon called Fresh Milk: The Secret Life of Breasts. I stumbled across it one day while searching for information on breast milk banks and it intrigued me. Part of me wonders if it might to breasts what Naomi Wolf's Misconceptions was to birth.
The other part thinks that it might just tick me off by going further down the road of simply sexualizing breasts and overshadowing their utilitarian purpose.
This line from Amazon's editorial review is what scares me:
Giles impressively argues that our culture's mixed message to women-breastfeed for the health of the child, but don't practice that disgusting act in public-reveals a squeamishness about the pure animality of breastfeeding, as well as an unwillingness to come to terms with its inherent sexuality.
The information on milk banks, on the success of a mother who tandem nursed twins and issues facing mothers that want to breastfeeding in public makes me want to order it, but the stories about the adult film producer that filmed "The Battle of the Ultra Milkmaids and Lactation Nation" makes me cringe a bit.
The reviews on Amazon are mixed and as I read through them I go back and forth from "I should get this" to "Umm...no thanks" and I end up still being undecided.
Anyone out there read it? Thoughts? Is it worth order? I'm planning on ordering Dr. Hale's Medications and Mother's Milk as a reference guide for writing content for The Lactivist, so it would be easy enough to add this one to the order...
Now, any mom who has ever pumped milk knows how much work it is. The last thing we want to have happen to that hard earned milk is to have it go bad, or worse yet, have the breast milk storage bag in the freezer spring a leak. 
. 
Which is ironic really since my diaper bag for the first year or so of Elnora's life was that black Similac (or was it Enfamil?) bag that every new mother leaves the hospital with. It was insulated, small, had some pockets and served it's purpose. Besides, I'd ripped the brand name tag off it so they weren't getting any advertising out of the deal and I've never used formula, so I sort of felt like it was a "ha!" on them. (You know, sort of a "nya-nya I'm using your diaper bag and you didn't make any money off me!")
Pros:
This is the absolute key to any diaper bag that I'm going to use. It's simply GOT to have space. I don't carry a purse anymore so the diaper bag needs to be able to hold anything that would go in my purse plus the supplies I need for two kids. This one has that issue down pat. in fact, here's a listing of what I've taken with me on an "all day" errand run...
One of the challenges I've had is finding a stroller friendly diaper bag. See, my double stroller is wonderful because it's really compact, but it's biggest downside is that it really doesn't have much in the way of a storage basket underneath. That means that I either have to carry the diaper bag or attach it to the handles. Daisy Gear does this up right...with two little built in loops that allow you to fasten it to your stroller. 
Since the diaper bag is messenger style, it lays pretty flat against the back of a stroller. That means it's not knocking you in the knees every time you take a step. Since each side attaches to the stroller it also means that it's not bouncing around like it would if you simply hung it from one of the handles. The shot here shows it hooked onto our stroller with the back seat fully reclined. Even still, it doesn't get in my way when I'm pushing the stroller. If I had the seat sitting up, it would be even more out of the way.
Now I will note that one of the few negatives I found with this diaper bag was that the material the bag is made from is the type that gathers dust, hair and dirt like mad. Yes, you can mostly wipe it off, but as we all know, dog hair has amazing magnetic properties and adheres to anything it comes into contact with until you pull it off with a pair of tweezers. Since our dog has tan hair and the bag is black...well...yeah. It's ok though...going out with a little dog hair on the diaper bag is really the least of my problems. 
Now to the pièce de résistance of the Daisy Gear diaper bag. The "integrated wipes dispenser." Why no one else has thought of this before is beyond me because it's fan-frickin-tastic! Basically, there is a wipes container that snaps into the front of the bag so that you don't have to go digging for your wipes. Apart from the obvious convenience of not having to dig for wipes, let's consider the handiness of that feature in public restrooms. 
When Colleen Newman over at 
Can I just say that this is a book that I will buy for any breastfeeding mom that I know is pregnant with a second, third, fourth, etc... child? It's that good. The book features one line of rhyme per page to tell the story of all the ways that moms love their breastfeeding babies. It shows babies nursing while mom sleeps, babies nursing in the park, a foal nursing in a field, a coyote nursing her young, even a shot of both a dolphin and a whale nursing their offspring while swimming in the ocean.
When I first received my 
Now if you're looking for super trendy designs and crazy-fun patterns, this may not be the nursing cover for you. Since the goal here is muted functionality (getting the job done without letting the world know what the job is) the colors are all pretty neutral and pretty demure. The owner's sense of humor does show through though as the colors have names like "Mothers' Wine" and "Busty Black." You can see Elnora over there on the left in "Barely Beige."
Had a chance to check out some really cute customized candy tins this week. I know this seems a little "off" from traditional breastfeeding products, but I had a company contact me about reviewing these from the "baby shower favor" and "birth announcement" front. I'm always a little lost about what to do for baby shower favors and I've always liked the idea of cute birth announcement type things but haven't ever done then. (Had friends who named their son Heath and gave out fun size Heath bars...it was cute.)
So I figured why not and told them to go ahead and send me some. The tins are from 
They sent me three designs, each with a different flavor of candy in them. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the printing. A lot of times when you see a company offering this many "customized" options, they're using fairly cheap labels that are simply printed out and slapped on. These tins are pretty nice though. Smaller than an Altoids tin, but bigger than a credit card, they're a nice size for throwing in your purse or diaper bag. The print quality was excellent and the site notes that you can send in a picture or a design of your own choice to have printed on the tins. 
The sugar-free peppermints (I don't usually eat sugar-free things, but for you guys, I gave in and tried them) were pretty good. Very "altoidish" in their strength. Nice peppermint flavor. The cinnamon ones were excellent. They reminded me of a "red hot" but they weren't chewy, they were crunchy. One of the better cinnamon candies I've tasted, actually. But the regular peppermint candies were kind of gross. Something about the texture I think...it wasn't so much the flavor as something just seemed "wrong" about them. Greg agreed with me on all three mints. Elnora put her vote in for the cinnamon (she kept trying to sneak them). 
It seems appropriate that I've got this product review ready to go just as several moms have delurked to tell us that they're still nursing after returning to work. Any breastfeeding mom knows what that means...it's breast pump time! 
Once I thought about a bit more, I realized that Lansinoh was actually on to something. You see, the PISA has to separate because the suction system runs through the back of the pump. That leaves all sorts of little holes that have to be cleaned out. Since the Lansinoh system uses a whole other method of suction (more on this later) their parts don't have the same issue. In other words, there's far less crevices that you've got to work to get the milk out of. That's NEVER a bad thing. Finally, the valve that's used in the Lansinoh pump is just pure brilliance. (that's it on the left) When I first opened the package I looked at it and went "what the..." Then I realized that the pointed end is flexible and opens slightly to let the milk pour through. It works the same way as any other "membrane" or "flange" system, but it's sturdy enough and big enough that I didn't have to worry about accidentally losing it or throwing it away. (The pump also came with three extras, just in case.)
1.) The patented design that keeps milk or fluids from backing up into the tubing. One of the biggest issues I have with my PISA is that unless my pump parts have air dried to the point that there's not a molecule of water on them, I start seeing little bits of fluid and condensation working their way through the tubing as I pump. (And once that water gets in there, it is NEVER coming out.) Lansinoh addresses this issue in a way that's pure brilliance. What they've done is create an air chamber above the flange that's designed to create the suction. You can see from the slightly blurry picture over there on the right that there's a little rubber membrane that slides in there and a small tube that connects into it. The pump works by sucking the air out of the INSIDE of the rubber membrane which collapses and creates a suction effect for the pump. It works extremely well and in the dozen times I used the pump, I never saw a single drop of fluid in the tubes.
2.) The next feature that really caught my eye was the ability to individually set the suction and speed levels. When I moved from a hospital grade Lactina Select to my PISA I was dismayed to find that the only way to go full speed was to go full suction (ouch!). Having this level of control is unheard of on a pump that costs so little. I found that I was able to start on medium suction and full speed and then to slowly work my way up to higher suction levels as I went. This is probably the single most impressive feature (to me) of this pump. 
Elnora would get a pair of "
I'd also snag her a pair of "
As for Emmitt, well...frogs are cute. So, I'd snag him a pair of "
Back in October I wrote a post about the concept of 
Milk Bands are one of the few options available when it comes to nursing bracelets, but there's no doubt in my mind that they are one of the best. Having used one now for more than a month, I can pretty much say without a doubt that it will stay on my wrist for at least the next year. In fact, I've already given one away to a friend as part of a "breastfeeding starter kit" that I made up for her baby shower. I've also been asked by at least a dozen people what it is and when I've explained it to them they've all commented on what a great idea it is or how much they would have liked to have had one when they were nursing. Add in the fact that they're less than $6 and you've got a handy item for any breastfeeder. (Note to any of you last minute Christmas shoppers...Milk Bands would be a great stocking stuffer for the nursing mom on your list.)
The thing that keeps me from absolutely adoring Milk Bands is the "hole and marker" concept. For some reason all those little holes remind me of a hospital bracelet and I can't stand hospitals. Beyond that though, and a more legitimate concern is that manipulating those little plastic sticks into the holes is kinda tough. Doing it in the dark when you're nursing in the middle of the night is almost impossible. Add in the fact that if you lose one, you're leaving a nice little choking hazard around for any other toddlers that happen to be in the house. I've never lost one, but I have had visions of sling shotting them across the room if I accidentally let go of the band while I had it stretched out to put the marker in place. (click on the 
. I stumbled across it one day while searching for information on breast milk banks and it intrigued me. Part of me wonders if it might to breasts what Naomi Wolf's