Pump Ease

The moment I saw this advertisement for "PumpEase - Hands free pumping supports" I loved it! This is another product that I wished I had known about when I was still a nursing mother! I did have the occasion that I needed to pump milk for my child, so I would pull out my electric pump and get to it. One thing that you learn fairly quickly is if you pump on both sides at once or pump on one side while your feeding your babe on the other you get better results. Pumping this way however can be a little tricky - with both hands in use pressing funnels to your breast or one funnel and a baby, you get uncomfortable and bored quickly. Well this design by husband/wife team Mike and Toni allows for hands free pumping. So not only can you easily pump on both sides while checking out my blog :-) you can also reap the benefits of pumping while nursing (quick and faster let down) and still have your full attention on your beautiful nursing child. As an added bonus they come in really great designs!

Check out the creator of PumpEase for more information
This product is available at Jamtots

If you have tried this product I would love to hear your review!

Bravado Nursing Bra

Despite having a breast reduction in 2000 I am fairly well endowed, add in lactation and I need a really strong bra! I have tried a lot and the only one that I found was able to handle the job, is Bravado. The Bravado nursing bra gives amazing support, is very comfortable, allows for quick access for nursing and comes in many stylish designs! Another thing that I love about the Bravado bra is the creators behind this great design are two moms that use real mothers in there photography, are a green company and make product donations in there community. Aside from a full line of wonderful nursing bras, Bravado also makes a nursing bra tank top which is the ultimate in comfort!

Visit the creator of the Bravado for more information.

Milkies - Milk Saver

This product is one that I have not tried, it was not something that was available when I was nursing but I sure wished it was! The owners of Jamtots found this product on a recent buying trip and just had to add it to there store. I, like most nursing mothers, would leak on my non-nursing side while feeding my baby. Occasionally I would even leak through my pad making a mess of my shirt. This very neat product is designed to slip into your bra on the non-nursing side and collect the breast milk that leaks when your milk lets down. This allows you to save the milk to use for your baby at another time or to donate to your local milk bank!! MilkSaver is a slim design that is easily concealed in your bra, it is quick and easy to wash and is Bisphenol A and Phthalate free.

The average mom will leak 1 to 4 ounces of milk each time she breastfeeds.

Visit the creators of MilkSaver for more information

Since this is a product I have not tried I would love to hear from anyone that has!

Breastfeeding

Carter breastfeeding at 2 months old

This weekend (Saturday October 11, 2008) is the Quintessence Breastfeeding Challenge a world wide event that brings Mom's and Babies together to simultaneously nurse. This fun event is a challenge for which geographic area ( province, state or territory) has the most breastfeeding babies, as a percentage of the birthrate, “latched on.” at 11am local time. This event is to celebrate breastfeeding and demonstrate promotion, protection and support for breastfeeding women and their families. It’s a chance for education and peer support done in a fun social way.

Visit the Quintessence Foundation site to find your local challenge or to learn more about this wonderful event.

In honor of this event, my posts this week will be related to breastfeeding.

This is a topic that I am passionate about. When I think about my breastfeeding experience I am comforted by knowing that I did what is best for my child, I am proud at myself for pushing through the road blocks that I faced, I become nostalgic when I think of the peaceful, sweet moments I spent feeding my boys and I am sad that it is over. I always knew that I would be a mother, it was just something I always felt. I also never had any hesitation about how I would feed my children as infants - breastfeeding is the best. What I didn't know was that I would face many struggles along the way. In the end those struggles and continuing to breastfeed despite them, made my experience even richer.

In 2007 I attended the Victoria Baby Fair, at which a booth called Cafe Au Lait was set up encouraging mothers to share their unique breastfeeding experience with others. Here is my breastfeeding experience with my youngest child.