boobie tuesday! kellymom.com - breastfeeding and parenting support

www.kellymom.com

did you know they have breastfeeding classes? until i was pregnant, neither did i. but at 8 months pregnant, i dragged my husband to day one and made him sit in on a breastfeeding class with me. think it's intuitive? i've got news for you: it's not.

when i had questions and couldn't get a hold of the ten million people i called (lactation consultant, obgyn, my son's pedatrician, new mom friends, anyone with a pulse) i would resolve myself to looking up information online. and that's when i found kellymom.com.

kellymom was founded by kelly bonyata, an international board certified lactation consultant and member of the international lactation consultant association. she has been helping mothers and babies breastfeed for over ten years and keeps up-to-date with the latest research and studies so that you have as much information as possible.

website sections cover basics from getting started to common breastfeeding concerns to nursing a preemie to supply and let-down issues. kellymom also touches on everyone's favorite "is this safe when breastfeeding?" so that you can figure out everything from caffeine to alcohol to (finally) dyeing your hair.

there's even additional information on mom & baby nutrition, parenting, postpartum depression, starting solids, fussy babies and finding local breastfeeding support.

kellymom.com is a "must" for new moms who now have help only a click away. there's a reason they've been around for ten years! tell a friend - kellymom will become your new favorite site. make that second favorite.

boobie tuesday! the first years milk storage organizer

www.babiesrus.com

ah, the many joys of breastfeeding: the super-sexy nursing bras, the many easy-access shirts you'll be wearing for the first year or so, the giant boobs. while all these things may sound great to your husband, they sound less awesome to new moms. (sorry, guys - but you'll just have to take my word for it.)

oh, and did i forget to mention your new best friend, the breast pump? you'll be seeing this handsome fellow on a daily basis. if you play your cards right, maybe even multiple times a day. and now you're the lucky lady with a freezerful of milk.

i made the clever but not fascinating discovery that if i put each bag down flat on a box of eggo waffles, they would freeze flat enough to take up less space and be able to stack one on top of the other. and when things started to get out of control, i commandeered the ice cube storage tray to keep track of my supply.

wandering around babies r us, however, i discovered a much better idea. the first years milk storage organizer is specifically designed for this very purpose. made for your freezer, the organizer keeps milk upright in a spring-loaded drawer. all you have to do is put bags in the back of the drawer for an easy first-in/first out. no more guessing which is the newest or rooting around among the lean cuisines to find the freshest milk for your baby!

the first years milk storage organizer comes with a cover to keep milk separate from other frostbitten, foil-wrapped items and is also dishwasher safe. don't like their freezer bags? the organizer works with most brands of milk storage bags (we like lansinoh).

disclaimer: although we have personally tested 99% of the items we post, this is something we haven't owned... but wish we had. any feedback from owners would be great! good luck and happy storage.

boobie tuesday! medela nursing stool

www.target.com

the first few days home from the hospital are a whirlwind. you're overjoyed and amazed that this tiny new little person lives in your house. you cuddle your newborn, leaning over to whisper "i love you"s in his precious little ear. and omfg does your back hurt.

nurses, friends and lactation consultants alike told me i needed a nursing stool. "huh," i thought. "does it really make that much of a difference?"

answer: yes.

medela's nursing stool is angled just right to support nursing (and even pregnant) moms' backs. while nursing, it helps eliminate that back-breaking "lean over" factor by propping up your knees at just the right angle. and especially for people who are on the shorter side - like me! - medela's nursing stool can be a lifesaver. it's the perfect compliment to your glider and is small enough to be carried around from room to room.

the nursing stool comes in white or wood to match your decor and when you're done nursing, your child will have a blast trying to climb it. whether you like it or not.

boobie tuesday! bella materna bras and mommy gear

http://www.bellamaterna.com/shop/

there must be some rule that i'm unaware of that says nursing bras and maternity gear have to be both ugly and uncomfortable.

bella materna is here to break that rule. they offer luxurious intimates for expectant and new moms that will replace your super-foxy current ensemble of target's nursing tanks and your husband's pajama bottoms. (speaking from experience, of course.)

bella materna carries everything from comfy maternity/nursing lounge pants to a sexy french lace nursing bra with matching tanga panties that are low enough for even pregnant mommies to wear.

we particularly love bella materna's wide range of nursing bras. offering both underwire and wire-free styles, bella materna has something for just about everyone. our favorite? the ruched clip nursing bra (shown) with sassy ruching fashion detail in front that disappears under a t-shirt, and has great separation for a bra with no underwire. no uni-boob for you! bella materna bras have an easy, one-handed clasp, and a 4-stage hook-and-eye back closure to take you from pregnant mommy to brand new nursing mom to breastfeeding pro. the italian nylon/lycra material not only feels soft and silky to the touch, but dries fast.... just in case. best of all, if your bella materna bra needs a little shrinking for your changes over time, just toss it in the dryer once in a while and problem solved!as for your husband's pajama bottoms, you can keep them. we won't tell as long as you promise to mix it up every once in a while with something cute from bella materna.

bebe au lait, a.k.a. hooter hiders

www.bebeaulait.com

bebe au lait nursing covers, née "hooter hiders" are a breastfeeding mom's best friend. apparently the sassy original name was met with less-than-enthusiastic customer response, so now it's same product, new marketing. (i'll admit, my mom thought the term "hooter hiders" was gross, but my mom is a genteel southern lady. most of the time.)

this is a great present for your new mom friend who's convinced (like i was) that she's never, ever going to breastfeed in public. i carried this thing around in my diaper bag for weeks without using it, pretending that i'm also a genteel southern lady who would never do such a thing. then i remembered two things: 1) i was raised in northern california and 2) i have no shame.

even if you may secretly love your gigantic new-mom boobs, you probably don't want to share them with the public at large. bebe au lait nursing covers are generously sized aprons that are not only big enough to cover up baby, but will ensure that you won't be flashing your neighbors during brunch at the world's smallest topless revue.

the neck straps are secure and adjustable, there's a small discreet terrycloth pocket for clean-ups and the rigid neckline allows you and only you to see what baby's up to. having the top bow out for eye contact with baby in addition to being machine washable are two of bebe au lait's greatest qualities. they even have a new "simple" line made of organic linen and cotton. no wonder they've won so many awards!

bebe au lait's nursing apron is the easiest way to discreetly breastfeed while you're out and about, and for some reason, dads really push the public breastfeeding. so if your husband won't shut up about how it's "not a big deal," use one of these and discover it really isn't. just don't tell him i told you so.

boobie tuesday! medela pump in style advanced

www.medelabreastfeedingus.com

if i concentrate really hard, i can remember what life was like before i had children. and if i concentrate even harder, i can vaguely recollect what it was like to be single.

in those days, i used to ask my friends' opinions on all sorts of important things, like, "is this shirt too slutty for a first date?" "i called him and he didn't call me back.... should i call him again?" or "which bar should i meet you at at 2am?"

my life these days is decidedly different. before my son was born, i'd heard ugly rumors of needing something called a "breast pump" which, contrary to its name was not sexy at all. worse than that, i had no idea which one to buy. "can't we just rent one?" asked my husband. um, no. no, we can't.

so i polled all my trusted mommy friends to get their opinions and to a one they all said "medela pump in style advanced." what makes this so different from the rest? the medela pump in style advanced was originally developed for hospitals and, in my experience, is the one most recommended by lactation consultants. the pump in style advanced has easy to use controls and uses a two-phase expression for maximum milk flow and, theoretically, less time "at the pump." it's as comfortable as one of these things can be and mimics a baby's natural nursing rhythm.

medela's pump in style advanced comes in a number of different styles, from backpack to shoulder bag to messenger bag, but unless you plan on traveling with your pump often, i'd save your money and pick the least expensive option. and take that saved cash to buy yourself a little something nice that has nothing to do with boobs.

boobie tuesday! BornFree bottles

www.newbornfree.com

if you've heard about the dangers of certain plastics for your baby but the thought of using glass bottles makes you feel like a 1950s housewife, then let me introduce you to BornFree.

BornFree makes bottles, cups and accessories for your little one that are free of Bisphenol-A (BPA), Phthalates and PVC - all the things that the news tells you to be worried about. they were one of the first companies to do so.

not only are BornFree's products BPA-free, they also have a new innovative air vent that helps prevent ear infections and (supposedly) eliminate colic symptoms - although i have to be honest with you, having had a colicky baby, i don't think a bottle is going to be your cure. (try some valium instead. i kid! i kid! please don't write me angry letters.)

BornFree makes bottles, training cups and drinking cups so that your little one can be safe and BPA-free well past their first birthday. still not good enough for you? how about this: BornFree is giving away a year's supply of BornFree bottles to babies born on father's day - june 15, 2008! the offer is limited to the first 1000 entrants, so hurry up and get your free bottles, you lucky babies!

boobie tuesday! medela sleep nursing bra

www.amazon.com

hey, ladies. you're looking good. real good. you know what would be even sexier? medela's sleep nursing bra.

okay. maybe it's not hottest thing since la perla, but medela's sleep nursing bra is a necessity for nursing moms during those early months.

you're barely sleeping and the little sleep you have is interrupted by your tiny hungry baby. time to stumble out of bed, feed baby, fall asleep while feeding baby and then stumble back to bed. hopefully you remembered to put baby back in his crib at some point. can anything make it a little easier?

medela's sleep nursing bra is super comfy and lightweight with no annoying tags to bother you while you sleep. it's machine washable and pretty durable and you can pull it on right over your head. the smart pull-back design allows for easy feeding and also holds nursing pads in place while you sleep. the 95% cotton 5% spandex material is breathable and stretchy and perfect now that we're entering the warm summer nights. i'd buy three to rotate in your lounge-wear repertoire.

medela's sleep nursing bra is so comfortable that at least your bra won't keep you from sleeping at night... although your baby may.

boobie tuesday! pillow wars: boppy vs. my brest friend

www.boppy.com/
www.mybrestfriend.com/

when i was registering for my baby shower, one of the big debates i had was whether to get a boppy or a my brest friend. i never imagined the concern i would have trying to decide between two products that i'd never heard of before and had no idea what to do with.

after polling my friends, i registered for a boppy (which i got - thanks, jen!) and was all prepared to use it. until i got home from the hospital. two days later, my husband ran out and bought the my brest friend.

the boppy and the my brest friend are both breastfeeding support pillows. why do you need one of these, you may ask? try balancing a baby on your knee and keeping him at just the right height for nursing. for an hour. maybe more, if you're feeling dangerous. then try it again in the dark at 3:30 in the morning on two hours of sleep. now you understand.

the boppy (shown above) is a "c" shaped firm but puffy pillow that you can wrap around your waist or side for breastfeeding. it has a stretchy middle allowing it to conform to different body sizes and is soft enough for baby's head to rest on comfortably. it comes in a number of different fabrics and can even morph into its second life as support for your baby learning how to sit up. it's comfortable for mom to rest her arms on and lives on my sofa to this day.

the my brest friend nursing pillow (pictured right) is a flat, foam pillow that you can literally velcro or buckle around your waist to support baby while feeding. it's firm surface helps keep baby where you want him and it fits snugly so the pillow - and baby - don't slide around. a little pocket on the side can keep pacifiers or other necessities close at hand. it also comes in a number of fabrics as well as in an inflatable "travel" version to take with you wherever you may nurse.

long story short? i ended up using both of them. i thought the boppy was much easier when leaning back against a couch but the my brest friend was more helpful during feeds in the glider and especially in the middle of the night when, yes, i would fall asleep while feeding the baby.

got a vote one way or the other? please share in the comments!

boobie tuesday! the nursing mother's companion

http://www.amazon.com/

another boobie tuesday = more nursing help for you!

today's help comes from kathleen huggins, registered nurse, certified lactation consultant and early childhood care specialist. "the nursing mother's companion" is a great resource for the new mom since, as kathleen huggins says, "breastfeeding may be natural, but it's not always instinctive."

truer words were never spoken!

since not everyone has a lactation consultant they can keep on call, "the nursing mother's companion" provides indispensable help for new moms who need a little advice on nursing. huggins provides tips at every stage of the game to help you out, for example, "what do i do when my child starts teething?" ouch.

one of the most useful parts is the unique drug index in the back of the book, helping advise you as to what drugs are safe to take while you're nursing. (here's a hint: tylenol is okay. crack cocaine is not.)

overall, "the nursing mother's companion" is a great gift for new moms and a good refresher for moms nursing the second time around.

boobie tuesday: lilypadz

www.lilypadz.com

my best friend got married 8 weeks after my baby boy was born and my first thought was, "holy crap, how am i going to get my giant boobs into my matron-of-honor gown?"

my second thought was, "how am i going to handle not feeding my son for 6+ hours of picture taking, ceremony participating and reception dancing without springing a leak and totally embarrassing myself?"

answer: lilypadz. lilypadz call themselves "the alternative to traditional nursing pads" and that they are. lilypadz are made of silicone and have a unique, tacky lining so they adhere directly to your skin. they literally stop leakage by applying gentle pressure so you don't have to worry about unsightly leak marks all over your bridesmaid dress or other article of clothing.

lilypadz are safe to use overnight - you can even go swimming with them. with proper use and care, one pair of lilypadz can last you up to two months. so you have no excuse for not springing for a pair.

* thanks to rachel for the lilypadz reminder!

boobie tuesday! motherlove nipple cream

www.motherlove.com

things i never thought i'd say, especially with any frequency:
1. poopy diapies
2. breast pump
3. boobie tuesday
4. nipple cream

how one's life changes after having a baby....... things will never be the same.

in the meantime, you still need some extra tlc while you're breastfeeding, especially if you're having a hard time. a difficult latch often leads to tender, sore nipples and that lansinoh cream, while effective, feels like rubber cement.

motherlove makes organic, natural herbal products that support breastfeeding. motherlove was founded in 1990 to provide new moms with herbal personal care and supplements specifically designed for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

the motherlove nipple cream is formulated especially for sore, cracked nursing nipples and unlike lanolin, has a smooth, creamy feel. its all natural ingredients, including olive oil and shea butter, mean it's safe for ingestion and doesn't have to be washed off prior to breastfeeding.

added bonus: when you no longer need to use the nipple cream for its intended purpose, i've discovered that it makes an excellent cuticle cream! no need for leftovers to go to waste and definitely earns our little dictators seal of approval.

boobie tuesday! lansinoh breastmilk storage bags

www.lansinoh.com

what's in your freezer? ice cubes? vodka? lean cuisine mac n'cheese? how about breastmilk?

odds are these days it's the latter, with a high possibility of the second-to-latter. (i'll say a 50/50 chance for the ice cubes and 3% chance for the vodka, unless it's been in there for 1+ years.)

if you got the medela pump-in-style like me (which i recommend), you probably also gravitated towards the medela milk storage bags..... at first. but after a few tries, i discovered that the bag shape was weird and they didn't work for me the way i wanted them to. i got a sample of lansinoh's breastmilk storage bags for free when i bought their nursing pads, so i figured what the hell, i'd try them out.

the lansinoh storage bags are far superior to other brands. they're 100% Bisphenol-A (BPA) free, have a double zipper enclosure (think sturdy ziploc bags), they have an easy write-on tab for the date. they can be laid flat in your freezer for optimal storage and subsequent thawing.

in fact, we like lansinoh's breastmilk storage bags so much that we're awarding them with our little dictators seal of approval - something we reserve for products we feel stand out in their field. woo hoo!

lansinoh bags can be found at target, among other places, so store away!

boobie tuesday! lansinoh disposable nursing pads

www.lansinoh.com

hey there, husbands who happen to be reading this blog... go away. no, seriously. you don't want to hear this.

are they gone? good.

so you know by now that one of the many blessings of being a new mother is the miracle of being able to breastfeed your baby. and as an added bonus to this amazing, life-sustaining gift is the ability to leak and spray all over the place. woo! super powers!

out in public and your baby starts crying? leak. finally got a babysitter and out at a romantic dinner at your husband but start thinking about the baby? leak! arm yourself with nursing pads, but not any brand will do. we recommend lansinoh disposable nursing pads. other brands can be itchy, or too thick, or bend funny and are visible to everyone within a ten mile radius.

we found lansinoh disposable nursing pads to be the best on the market. they come individually wrapped in their own packages so you can stow a few in your diaper bag without fear of diaper cream cross-contamination. they come in boxes of 36 or 60, meaning you'll be covered for at least 3-4 days.

boobie tuesday! soothies gel pads

www.soothies.com

if you're not a mom, i have a secret for you: breastfeeding is hard. i know - it seems easy, doesn't it? and it is.... eventually. but at first it is tough. it's not as intuitive as you think it'll be, the lactation consultants in the hospital are all totally humorless and it hurts like, well, like a mother.

enter soothies gel pads. soothies are cooling gel pads you can slap directly on your poor, sore breasts for instant relief. cooling gel on one side and fabric on the other, soothies are totally safe for brand new and nursing moms. you can find them in most local drugstores and use them for up to three weeks of soothing support.

i'm about to give away one of my tricks of the trade and tell you about my New Mom Survival Kit. when one of my good friends has a baby, i take her a bag of things i really needed during my first few days at home. in that bag? a dozen bagels, a package of newborn sized pampers swaddlers and a set of soothies gel pads.

boobie tuesday! i hate my breastpump: medela quick clean micro-steam bags

http://store.babycenter.com

another entry from the files of "i hate my breastpump." so you're finally done using the damn thing, but are you really finished? no! because now you have to disassemble it, clean it, put the milk away, and be irrationally mad that your husband can't for once just breastfeed the baby for you.

if your husband were really fantastic, he'd offer to clean everything for you. but i'll still give him 3 gold stars (out of five, not ten - don't worry) if he gets you the medela quick clean micro-steam bags.

these great little plastic bags help save you from having to scrub all the parts when you're done. just give 'em a quick rinse and pop 'em in the bag with a little water. then stick the whole thing in the microwave for as little as 2 minutes and..... done! breastpump parts are clean and sterilized and you barely had to do a thing.

each box has 5 bags good for 20 uses each and can also be used to sterilize the bottle that you accidentally dropped on the floor and your dog may have licked. i'm just saying.

boobie tuesday! i hate my breastpump: hands-free bustier

www.easyexpressionproducts.com/

i'll admit it: before i had my son, breastfeeding kind of gave me the heebie jeebies. i know, i know, it's natural and wonderful and fantastic and i'm of course now one of the remaining moms that i know who's still doing it, so obviously things worked out.

one of my main qualms, however, had less to do with the feeding and more to do with the pump. ugh. i don't know a single nursing mom who actually likes that thing. it's like a really bad date where you get felt up - but he never buys you dinner. or calls. and is a breast pump.

the worst part is being stuck to this thing for 15 minutes every time you pump. after my husband asked me if i'd ever seen that star trek episode where people get attacked by borgs and started chanting "you will be assimilated" at me, i knew it was time to do something.

the easy expressions "bustier" (and that term is used very, very, very loosely) will at least save you from having to hold the f-ing things every time you pump. think of it as an ugly tube top that zips up the front and has super-easy access. aside from the hilarious illustration on the package (see above), since i doubt you're conducting important office work in your breastpump and denim button down, it at least will allow you to check your e-mail or use the remote while you're captive.

ugly? hell yes. necessary? oh my goodness, yes. as my friend jen said, "this thing is nasty, but it will save your life."