Let Love Nourish Is Here

After a month long effort to increase awareness for breastfeeding, the Let Love Nourish giveaway event is here. I have some awesome prizes to offer one lucky winner. Enter for yourself or as a gift to an expecting mom(s). After entering my giveaway, feel free to hop on over to the other participating blogs to enter their giveaways. Good luck!

LLN Spotlight: Motherlove®

Motherlove® is the first company of its kind. Dedicated solely to pregnant women and breastfeeding moms, Motherlove® produces high-quality herbal supplements and personal care products. Founder Kathy Higgins, an expert herbalist, applied a holistic approach in using plants during her first pregnancy; the foundation for Motherlove®. All products are made using certified organic materials and manufactured with the highest quality control to ensure customer protection. Her vision and passion helped create a company that provides outstanding products while committed to better business practice and social responsibility. In addition, Motherlove® donates a portion of sales to organizations dedicated to nurturing life.

Photo courtesy of Motherlove®.

Social Networks

Blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

About Motherlove® breastfeeding products

Nursing moms can choose from 11 different products to help increase supply. Breast milk supplements come in liquid and capsule form, as well as an alcohol free formula alternative. From supplements to increase milk supply to nipple cream to thrush cream, all Motherlove® breastfeeding products are made from certified organic ingredients, manufactured in an FDA registered facility, and regularly tested for safety, purity, and quality. Safe and effective, it's clear to see why lactation specialists, healthcare professionals, and moms trust and recommend these breastfeeding products. Although I have not yet tried their breastfeeding products, I am using the pregnant belly oil. I love it. Like all other Motherlove® products, I love that it's natural. I love the way it smells and that it's actually helping prevent stretch marks - I've tried other products which have failed during my first pregnancy. After having supply issues with my son and based on my experience with the pregnant belly oil, I will definitely purchase Motherlove® products for use with the next baby. 

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. The company is generously sponsoring this giveaway. Information about the company and product were obtained from the sponsor's website. I received permission to post trademarked brand/logo and photos on my blog.

LLN Spotlight: The Harvard Common Press

The Harvard Common Press is a leading publisher of parenting books and cookbooks. This Boston-based publisher is the recipient of several awards for its publication of high-quality products. First to publish a comprehensive handbook on breastfeeding, The Harvard Common Press has printed over 1,000,000 copies of The Nursing Mother's Companion, the standard in its category. Through its various cookbooks ranging from vegetarian to regional American, The Harvard Common Press is highly praised in the US as well as abroad.

Social Networks

Facebook, Twitter

About The Nursing Mother's Companion

This was my breastfeeding bible. I've included it in my breastfeeding must-have list. We all have our personal preference for an author's writing style and tone. This book just resonated with me. Unlike other breastfeeding books,  The Nursing Mother's Companion was free of judgement and presented information in a matter-of-fact way. Now in it's 6th edition, the book includes "Survival Guides," has 2 new sections (breast pump and pumping and new growth chart), and an updated appendix. I learned so much about the breast, nursing process, what challenges to expect and how to overcome them, resources available, and the role of others from this book. As a pregnant woman who was intent on breastfeeding my son, I thought this book was very informative, comprehensive, and easy to read. I highly recommend it to anyone considering breastfeeding. 

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. The company is generously sponsoring this giveaway. Information about the company was obtained from the sponsor's website.

LLN Spotlight: Nursing Bra Express

The Nursing Bra Express is an online retailer providing products for breastfeeding needs as well as transitionwear. They carry brands trusted by moms such as Bravado® Designs, Earth Mama Angel Baby®, and Maya Wrap, among others. In addition, the website provides breastfeeding information and support for parents. For your convenience, The Nursing Bra Express accepts orders online, by email, phone or fax, as well as major credit cards. Expectant moms can also create a wish list to share with family and friends. 

Photos courtesy of Nursing Bra Express.

Social Networks

Facebook, Email list

About The Easy Bra
The Easy Bra is a multi-functional bra that you can wear during and after pregnancy. Whether you wear it to bed for support or for nursing, this bra will fit the bill. It comes in a variety of sizes from XS to 2X. Made in the US from a French terry cloth, The Easy Bra allows pull-aside access during breastfeeding. Its design allows for comfort and support without underwires. 

Photo courtesy of Nursing Bra Express.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. The company is generously sponsoring this giveaway. Information about the company and product were obtained from the sponsor's website. I received permission to post trademarked brand/logo and photos on my blog.

LLN Spotlight: BabyBond™

Missy Reder, a mother of 4 and speech-language pathologist, recognized the opportunity to communicate and interact with baby during breastfeeding. The idea of a nursing cover that covers mom and leaves baby exposed came during a feeding.  BabyBond™ was born to provide an option to breastfeeding mothers to engage their baby while nursing. Since its inception, BabyBond™ has provided an alternative to moms who wanted to discreetly breastfeed in public. BabyBond'™ also supports breastfeeding awareness through its philanthropic efforts.

Social Networks

Facebook, Twitter

About BabyBond™ nursing covers
There are 3 different styles of BabyBond™ nursing covers: Original, Flex, and Couture. Each function similarly with a few differences and comes in a variety of sizes and colors. BabyBond™ nursing covers are worn as a sash over the shoulders but act like a nursing top. Unlike other nursing covers in the market, BabyBond™ nursing covers allow mothers to  breastfeed modestly in public while baby is left uncovered. This provides a more intimate experience for both mom and baby while out-and-about. These award-winning nursing cover are made of 100% cotton, machine washable, and made in the US.

Photo courtesy of BabyBond™.

Photo courtesy of BabyBond™.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. The company is generously sponsoring this giveaway. Information about the company and product were obtained from the sponsor's website. I received permission to post trademarked brand/logo and photos on my blog.

LLN Spotlight: TheraPearl™

TheraPearl™ founders wanted to create products that would provide immediate relief to pain without the mess - essentially, a better version of the frozen peas pack used as a home remedy. Developed by a physician to meet the needs of her patient, Dr. Carol Baltazar partnered with Gina Dubbé to create a company that designs products to support medical healing. Made of water and glycerin, these products are safe for adults and children alike. From back pain to headache, TheraPearl™ can be used both as a cold and hot therapy pack.

Social Networks
Facebook, Twitter

About TheraPearl™ Nursing Buddies
The Nursing Buddies is a Parent Tested Parent Approved winner that provides soothing relief for breastfeeding mothers. It is a safe, non-toxic reusable therapy pack that can be used hot or cold for breast engorgement, mastitis, clogged ducts, and weaning. A great feature of the Nursing Buddies is that unlike other compresses, it won't leak, drip, or sweat during use. It comes in a pack of 2 with soft cloth inserts for a more comfortable application. Although I haven't used the Nursing Buddies yet, I have used the Eye-ssential Pack to relieve headaches associated with pregnancy. I've also used it on my shoulders to relieve tension. I love it.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received products for review purposes. The company is generously sponsoring this giveaway. Information about the company and product were obtained from the sponsor's website. I received permission to post trademarked brand/logo and photos on my blog.

LLN Spotlight: Baby K'tan®

Baby K'tan® is the brainchild of two families raising special needs children. The combined efforts of forging together the best of the wrap and traditional front carrier lead to a product that was comfortable, easy to use, stylish, and most of all, met the needs of their children. In addition to providing a quality product that parents love and trust, Baby K'tan® donates a portion of their sales to the American Heart Association and National Down Syndrom Society. The company also contributes to various other charities and is heavily involved in service to their community.

Social Networks

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

About Baby K'tan® baby carrier
The Baby K'tan® baby carrier is a soft cotton carrier that functions as a wrap but with a unique design that foregoes a complicated wrapping and buckling process. The stylish carrier allows parents to wear their baby close in multiple positions like any standard wrap. It's ergonomic design provides comfort for the wearer and can hold babies up to 35 pounds. The Baby K'tan comes in a variety of sizes, from XS to XL and colors. It is machine washable and dryer safe. Parents rave about this award-winning carrier.

Photo courtesy of Baby K'tan.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. The company is generously sponsoring this giveaway. Information about the company and product were obtained from the sponsor's website. I received permission to post trademarked brand/logo and photos on my blog.

LLN Spotlight: Breast is Best

Breast is Best is an online retailer for all your nursing needs. From breast pumps to nursing bras to nursing accessories, Breast is Best is a one-stop-shop catering to breastfeeding mothers. In addition, they also sell maternity clothes and accessories. To accomodate customers, Breast is Best takes orders online and over the phone, and accepts all major credit cards. Customers can also take advantage of their Learning Center which provides information about different pumps and accessories, choosing the right pump, breastfeeding tips, and milk storage. And best of all, Breast is Best offers low prices and expedient shipping.

About the Mama's Best Nursing Bra
Mama's Best Nursing Bra comes in a variety of colors, white, black, nude, and pink and sizes, from a 32A to a 46F. It is made from bamboo and a cotton/lycra blend, which allows for a soft and comfortable bra. Other features include adjustable straps, 1" elastic support (no constricting wires), and reinforced center support to keep the breasts in place. In addition to being eco-friendly (bamboo fabric), users rate this bra 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. The company is generously sponsoring this giveaway. Information about the company and product were obtained from the sponsor's website. I received permission to post trademarked brand/logo and photos on my blog.

Let Love Nourish Reminder

The Let Love Nourish giveaway event is just a week away. In the next few days, I will be introducing my amazing sponsors and offering opportunities for early entries. Let Love Nourish will run from August 26 to 30. This is the last leg of my breastfeeding awareness month. Make sure you stop by the other participating blogs to read their breastfeeding posts. These amazing bloggers are all advocates of nursing and love sharing their insight.

Pearls of Wisdom from Veteran Nursers

I asked family, friends, and Facebook and Twitter followers to lend a helping hand to moms on the fence about breastfeeding. Below are some words of wisdom that I hope you'll find of use.

• Don't give up - it's hard work but it's worth it once things become routine. And it does get easier!!

• Don't be shy to ask advice from someone who has breastfed!

• My advice would be not to have bottles/formula around and tell family and friends not to buy them for you. This will tempt the mom to use the bottles/formula if she's having latch on problems, nipple pain/soreness, etc. It's so easy to quit so try not to have these things around the house because they will ruin your milk supply.

• Breastfeeding will really hurt in the beginning, but only for 1 week or 2, then it is quite enjoyable, and helps you lose a lot of the baby weight. If you are expecting your second child then it doesn't hurt at all, you just skip right to the enjoyable part. 

• Stick with it, don't give up. It may be painful, but its worth it for your baby to get the antibodies that you produce. Don't worry, the pain goes away with some time...just be patient. Plus, it saves money on having to not buy formula. Make sure the baby's lips resembles that of a fish when he/she latches on. Definitely get a lactation consultant to help before you leave the hospital. They will also help you properly unlatch the baby if he/she's not latched correctly. This will avoid lots of pain. And another note, you will feel cramping while baby is drinking...this is because your uterus is working on getting back to normal size and breastfeeding helps it along.

• If you're milk ducts are plugged, massage the breast, use hot compresses and continue to breastfeed your baby from that breast to try and unplug the duct. It will be painful at some points, but you'll know exactly when it has been unplugged.

• Breastfeeding promotes stronger teeth and bones, and babies tend to be healthier.

• If you are stressed, letdown becomes a challenge. Take time, sit down and relax to nurse or pump. When people describe their nursing challenges to me, it almost always seems to be related to stress, often over not producing enough milk and it's obvious where that will go.

• The message "every mother can breastfeed" is misleading and dangerous (even though for only a few women). It should change to "every healthy mother can breastfeed".

• My one piece of advice is don't feel bad if your breastfeeding experience isn't what you expected! With (my first son), I fully expected to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months, but he had other plans. At 5 days, he had lost more than 10% of his birth weight, so I was sent to a lactation consultant. My supply was good, his latch was good, and he was getting a good amount of breastmilk in him. Still, he couldn't gain weight, so I was told to supplement with formula. It was against everything I had wanted, but if it was to keep my son healthy, I was going to do it! It turns out that he was diagnosed with malabsorption when he was about 18 months old. Fortunately, I was able to exclusively breastfeed my second for 6 months and my 3rd will be 6 months old on Sunday and he was exclusively breastfed until about a week ago. So don't give up! And sometimes, you have to think "do I want to do this for my own reasons, or for my child?"

• Enjoy it. It is a gift you can give your child for only a season in time.

My Breastfeeding Products Must Have

There are so many awesome products out there for breastfeeding mothers. Do you really need all of them? Maybe. Maybe not. However, during the 10 months that I nursed, I found the following products instrumental in the process. There are many brands and manufacturers of these products, my list consist of gifts or recommendations from other moms, as well as my own research. This is not a comprehensive list by any means. In fact, it wasn't until after I breastfed that I found more amazing products in the market. Well, at least I'm aware of them for the next baby.

Breast pump & accessories

We were fortunate to have received the Medela Pump In Style® Advanced Breast Pump with Metro Bag™ as a baby shower gift. I absolutely loved this pump and all the bells and whistles that came with it. I like that you can adjust the suction level. I set mine on low until after my nipple soreness went away. The battery pack was a life saver when I went to a conference. There was nowhere to pump so I had to pump in the car. I never had problems with the pump itself. On occasion, the tubes did get moist and they were hard to clean. Also, the lock for the strap got loose and it sometimes would come undone. Other than these, I am ever so grateful to my brother-in-law and his wife for this gift.

As I started to pump at work, I bought the Medela Quick Clean™ Micro-Steam™ Bags to help me clean pump accessories quickly after pumping. Although there was a kitchenette in the suite, I didn't feel comfortable washing my nursing accessories at work. These bags were perfect. They were usable up to 20 times each, easy to use, and did a good job sterilizing.

Breastfeeding book

I could not have survived nursing without The Nursing Mother's Companion (different edition than shown). As I mentioned before, I browsed through several breastfeeding books before finally settling on this one. I just like the tone the book was written in. I didn't feel like the author was preaching or condescending. I also liked the way it was organized.






Breastfeeding pillow

I was lucky enough to receive the My Brest Friend® Deluxe and a Boppy® pillow as gifts/hand-me-down. These were great. I had one for upstairs and one for downstairs use. Yes, you can use any pillow (or pillows) to help support your baby while nursing. However, these are shaped to contour to your body so you didn't have to fuss so much with pillow arrangements. Did I prefer one over the other? No. They both have their own pluses and minuses. Since My Brest Friend® had a plastic cover, I brought it with me when I traveled. I also liked that it had a pocket for storage for bibs and stuff. Since the size was more adjustable than our Boppy, my husband used it when he was bottle feeding our son. I liked the Boppy® because it was more comfortable for me to position it for the football hold than My Brest Friend. I was also able to use it as a regular pillow instead of just as a nursing pillow.

Lanolin

After days of painful nursing, my husband bought the Lansinoh® HPA® Lanolin cream for me. It helped soothe my nipple soreness. At first I was hesitant to use anything topical on my nipples. After reading how safe it was for the baby, I finally caved in. It healed my cracked dry skin and alleviated the pain after nursing.

Nipple shield

I used a nipple shield to help with nipple soreness while nursing. It worked. I still felt a little bit of stinging, but not like when I didn't use it. My son also seemed to latch on better with it. I stopped using it because I was afraid that my son would always prefer to nurse with it than without it, and I dreaded weaning him from it. I really had nothing to worry about. Anyway, this is certainly worth a try for pain remedy and latching problems. 





Nursing/sleeping  bra
A nursing bra is a definite must have while breastfeeding. I wore mine all the time, even to bed. During sleep, it helped contain "the girls" and keep them in place, which helped with tenderness issues. I got mine from Target™. These were soft cups without wires, just what I was looking for. For the next baby, I will invest in other types of nursing bras as well, ones with more padding and support.

Nursing cover

After trying to use a swaddling blanket and a pashmina/wrap to cover me as I nursed in public, I finally decided to go with a real nursing cover; one made specifically for breastfeeding. What a difference! My mom gave me the Peanut Shell® nursing cover. It was so much easier to drape on the nursing cover around my neck right before breastfeeding than trying to manipulate and adjust the blanket or pashmina before and during nursing. I felt totally covered and secure while I was feeding my son in public. I loved that the boning allowed me to see my son while nursing, especially since we had latching issues. The fabric was lightweight and breathable. My son was never uncomfortable under it.

Nursing pads

I was given a sample of disposable nursing pads by someone and found them quite useful. I believe they were Lansinoh®. After I ran out of the disposable pads, I purchased reusable ones. I actually liked the disposable ones better than the reusable ones, but I wanted to be more "green." The reusable ones were thicker and smaller. I sometimes had to adjust them several times since they were so obvious when wearing a t-shirt. Nevertheless, nursing pads definitely made me feel more confident that my bra wasn't going to get wet or soaked when out in public. I might buy a different brand of reusable pads for next time. Although I liked the convenience and overall feel of the disposable pads, the environmentalist in me may win this battle.


Nursing tea
To help me with my supply issues, I drank tea. I bought two different kinds, Mother's Milk® and Women's Nursing Support™. I wanted to try anything to help me with increasing my supply. These are not the best tasting tea, if I remember correctly. I think it has something to do with the ingredients. All I can say is, you do what you have to do. These products both received high ratings from nursing moms and that was good enough for me. Did they work? I would like to think so.

Soothing gel pads

During my hospital stay, I was given soothing gel pads to help with nipple soreness. They really helped. The coolness of the gel pads were so soothing and brought instant relief. I should have bought more after I was discharged, I don't know why I didn't.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. The opinions expressed in this post are solely mine. All products mentioned on this post were given as a gift or purchased by my family.

My Breastfeeding Experience

Upon finding out that I was pregnant with my son, I did what most new expectant moms do, research, research, and research. I read books, watched videos, and talked with veteran moms. I tried to prepare myself as much as I could, and then later realized that no matter how much you prepare, something will happen that throws you off your game. Breastfeeding was no exception. I spoke with family, friends, and colleagues about whether or not they nursed and why, and asked about their experience. I went to the library and browsed through several breastfeeding books and read a couple. I knew that I wanted to nurse my son, after all, they say that breast milk is best for infants and will save so much money, not to mention the bonding experience. However, I did not anticipate that it would take 7 weeks for my son and me to adjust to it.

No amount of reading and research prepared me for the physical, mental, and emotional roller coaster that I endured trying to nurse my son. In retrospect, I was probably over dramatizing things, but at the time, my struggles were real. Not to minimize what I went through, or any moms having difficulty for that matter, but looking back it wasn't all that bad and things could have been worse. 

According to health professionals and lactation specialists, breast milk is supposed to come in a few days after delivery and that the colostrum mothers express should be enough to nourish and satiate the newborn. So I listened. Unfortunately for me, my milk did not come in after a couple of days but almost after a week. A few days after my son was born, he had lost over 10% of his weight and his pediatrician told me to supplement. I soon saw how hungry my son was as he drank formula ravishingly. I began to worry that I was not going to have enough milk to support him. My husband bought me Mother's Milk tea and my mom made me soups and foods all in an effort to increase my supply. This was not just a one time thing. I continuously drank the tea and ate the foods throughout nursing. In the end, I had enough milk for him, however, we did occasionally supplement. I never had enough milk to store and freeze for future use. I was only able to breastfeed for 10 months after which my supply ran out. I was devastated, of course, given all the benefits of nursing, but I felt good that I was able to provide my son with the best nutrition for at least 10 months.

I knew that breastfeeding would take time to get used to and that some amount of pain was inescapable. Unfortunately, I felt pain for 7 straight weeks. I saw 2 lactation specialist to try and figure out what was going on and to ensure that my son was latching on properly (latching incorrectly is a very common cause of pain during nursing). I tried different nursing positions and re-latching my son with no success in alleviating pain. In addition to nipple soreness, I also experienced blocked ducts and mild mastitis. The blocked ducts and mastitis were painful, but I knew just how to remedy them. I followed instructions on my breastfeeding bible and then all was well. The nipple soreness was a completely different thing. I used lanolin and cooling gels. Of course they worked to some degree, but not when I was breastfeeding. I also used a silicone nipple shiled used by moms to help with inverted nipples and that helped a little. Eventually, I just stopped trying and bore the pain. I occasionally cringed when my son started to cry because I knew he was hungry and I had to nurse. I took a deep breath and latched him on. Then one day, one glorious day, the pain stopped. I latched my son and there was no pain while feeding. I waited a few days of pain-free nursing before celebrating since it could have been temporary, but it wasn't. After 7 long weeks, I was finally able to nurse without pain.

My story is not unique. I'm sure there are moms out there with worse stories and experiences and moms who did not have any problems at all (lucky them). I'm just glad that no matter how hard things got, I persisted. All the pain was definitely worth it. Despite what I went through, I highly recommend breastfeeding and will breastfeed the next baby. Different moms will experience nursing differently. There are so many resources available to help with nursing issues on the web, in the library, from experts, and of course fellow moms.

For information on breastfeeding, here are a few websites to start with:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NIH)

Women's Health

Or you can call the National Breastfeeding Helpline at 800-994-9662 (TDD 888-220-5446).

National Breastfeeding Awareness Week

August is a month to celebrate breastfeeding. Over 170 countries are celebrating World Breastfeeding Week from now until August 7.1 To celebrate this wonderful event, I will publish several posts all about breastfeeding, from personal testimony, to advice from veteran moms, to product must haves and more. In addition, I've also teamed up with some great bloggers to spotlight breastfeeding awareness through Let Love Nourish. Each participating blogger will publish her own breastfeeding post and host a giveaway for a breastfeeding related product. We hope that this will not only spotlight the importance of breastfeeding for future moms, but provide encouragement for moms struggling with nursing.

I know that each (current or expectant) mom has a choice to make about her infant's nutrition. I know moms who exclusively breastfed, supplemented with formula while breastfeeding, only pumped and fed breastmilk with a bottle, and opted out of breastfeeding completely. My goal is to highlight breastfeeding and hopefully encourage more people to choose it, not to judge -- I know all too well how hard new parents are on themselves. I hope you can join me this month as we celebrate Let Love Nourish in support of World Breastfeeding Week.

1. http://www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org/

Let Love Nourish Breastfeeding Awareness Event

In support of World Breastfeeding Awareness Week, I am hosting my first blog event, Let Love Nourish. My goal for Let Love Nourish is to increase awareness of breastfeeding, the resources available for parents, breastfeeding products, and provide support for current and expectant moms. In addition, each participating blog will be giving away breastfeeding-related products.

I am honored to be working with women who are passionate about this topic and are advocates of breastfeeding.

If you would like to sponsor me in support of this campaign, please email me at justanotherhat at gmail dot com.



Let Love Nourish PostsMy Breastfeeding Experience
My Breastfeeding Must Have
Pearls of Wisdom from Veteran Nursers
Motherlove®
Breast is Best
Baby K'tan®
TheraPearl™
BabyBond™
Nursing Bra Express
The Nursing Mother's Companion