Nanny to Mommy

I breastfed my daughter for a year. And it was hard. I struggled with supply issues and the pain in the beginning was almost unbearable (she had trouble latching on). The lactation consultant wanted me to use a nipple shield which only confused me. But I worked through it and we actually made it to fourteen months. And I'm not gonna lie, yes she self weaned but I encouraged it because I wanted my body back. And saying all that, I can't wait to do it with my next baby. It was such a wonderful experience. The snuggling, the bond, the empowerment! It's amazing what a woman's body is capable of doing. Not only can you give birth but you can make food! It's wonderful and even through the hard parts I loved every minute of it.




It's World Breastfeeding Week, and in honor of it, I decided I would tell you the best advice ever given to me.

1. It's hard but you can do it. - There are so many things that can happen, low supply issues, thrush, mastitis, poor latching. But with each one you can work through it. My daughter had poor latching in the beginning due to an undiagnosed lip tie and my body conformed to her, we just had to keep working at it. We also had low supply issues, I nursed frequently, pumped, took fenugreek, and ate breastfeeding cookies. The cookies were the best part. ;)

2. Use nipple cream after EVERY time you nurse. - Your nipples get chapped and that sucks. I suggest Lansinoh.

3. Wake that baby up and nurse every two hours. - Once your colostrum is gone, your milk needs to come in and this is the only to make sure it does. My daughter was jaundice so I received this advice from her pediatrician, FIVE days after she was born. I have a very PRO-breastfeeding pediatrician and without this advice my milk may never have come in. Also feed on demand. Nursing should be your go to thing when your baby cries. And nurse when you feel like you need to. This will help your milk come in, keep your supply up, and help you from getting engorged. If you can't nurse when you feel the need to, then pump.

I miss this.

4. It's really not as exhausting as you think. - You are exhausted in the beginning just by having a newborn. Breastfeeding won't change that. Don't give up just because you think it's exhausting. What's more exhausting? Turning over and nursing your little one or going to make a bottle and then feeding a screaming baby?

5. Push through it. - My husband said this. He wasn't quite on board with breastfeeding and I think that had to do with the fact, he had never known someone to breastfeed and we were new parents. He said this to me after a long night and I was crying from exhaustion. He said remember you wanted this and you know it's best for her, so push through it. I think this goes along with, 'You can do it'. But it really does needs to be emphasized.

So what was the best breastfeeding advice you heard? And for you pregnant-first time moms, why are you looking forward to nursing?

I am so glad I don't have to worry about back to school shopping yet, although I am noticing some great deals. Still no car which is coming to a point where I might pull my hair out. Just kidding. But it has been giving me time to get my trips together and getting everything at once so I save money on gas.

So this is what I got:


***NOTE: My Publix does not do true BOGOs, so I don't have to buy two to get the deal. My store accepts Kroger, Target, and Ingles as competitors.***

2 Smucker's Uncrustables - BOGO $2.95
  2 $1/1 IPs (NLA) = $0.95 for two or $0.48 each
3 Bird's Eye Steamfresh - 50% off priced at $1.99
  $1/3 IP = $1.99 or $0.66 each
3 Bird's Eye Steamfresh - 50% off priced at $2.45
 $1/3 IP = $2.68 or $0.89 each
4 Yoplait Yogurts - 20/$10
  2 $0.50/2 IP (NLA?) = FREE
2 Mott's For Tots Juice - 3/$6
  2 $1/1 IPs = $2 or $1 each
Bananas - 1.67 lb @ $0.69/lb
  $0.50 of produce (doubled) wyb 2 Kettle Cooked Chips tear pad = $0.15
2 Lay's Kettle Cooked Chips - 2/$6
  $1/2 Manu and $2/2 Publix = $3 or $1.50 each
2 Mott's applesauce 6 pk - 3/$5
  $1.10/2 IP (NLA) = $2.23 or $1.12 each
4 Skinny Cow candies - BOGO $4.26
  $1.50/2 from 7/29 RP = $2.76 or $1.38 each
Mott's Snack & Go - $2.79
  FREE wyb 2 6 pk Publix IP coupon (NLA)
8 Progressive Soup - 4/$6
  8 $1 off Publix tear pad = $4 or $0.50 each
8 Wishbone Salad Dressings - BOGO $2.65
  $0.40/2 7/29 RP = $7.40 or $0.92 each
8 Ragu Sauces - BOGO $2.19
  $0.25/2 7/29 RP = $1.69 or $0.85 each
4 Kraft Velveeta - BOGO $2.35
  = $4.70
2 Beechnut Fruities - $0.99 (reg price)
  2 $0.75/1 IPs = $0.48 or $0.24 each

Used $5 off $50 Kroger and $5 off $30 Publix coupons.

Total Spent = $33.92, Total Saved = $95.75, Total Savings = 74%!

So let's hear how you did:
(You can post your shopping trips from ANYWHERE not just Publix, I would love to know where the hot deals are. :] )

I am sorry to have been gone for a while and then come back and be all business BUT we have been without internet. And it has been a PAIN to get fixed. Hubby got a new phone and since we no longer have unlimited data, we wanted to make sure wi-fi was working at our house. Somehow the whole network got messed up and we had no x-box live (hubby was going through withdrawals lol) and I had no laptop... :(



Anywho. I went to Kroger and Publix this week. No picture because I forgot. But I still have my weekly totals and this time I have included links to the printables and/or insert dates so you can make sure to score the deals too.

Make sure to input a link to your totals in the widget below! :D

Kroger:
(We had to buy hotdog buns and chips for dinner at my in-laws tonight, they are paying us back so I didn't include that in my totals.)
5 Stayfree @ 2/$4 = FREE (used 5 $2 off from 722 ss)
2 Tennessee Pride Sausage Biscuits at $6.99 = $11.98 (used 2 $1 off IPs)
9 Beechnut Fruities @ $0.99 = $3.16 (used 4 $1/2 from mail in rebate and 1 $0.75/1 IP)
2 Fresh Selections Garden Salad Blends @ $1.79 = $3.22
Kroger Bread @ $1 = $0.90
Yoplait Go-Gurts @ $1.99 = $1.99

Total before coupons and em discount = $39.46
Total without Tax after coupons = $21.25
(Recipe says 46% Savings - in the future I will remember to do separate orders for other people's groceries)

Publix:

2 Lay's Kettle Cooked Chips @ 2/$6 = $3 (Used $1/2 from Pepsico 7/22 and $2/2 Publix Stocking Spree home mailer)
2 Juicy Juice Fruitifuls @ BOGO $3.25 = $1.25 or $0.63 each (Used 2 $1/1 Fruitifuls IP)
Bananas 1.59/lb @ .69/lb = $0.10 (Used $0.50 produce WYB 1 Lay's Kettle Cooked Chips tear pad)
2 Papermate Pro Pen @ 2/$1 = -$1 (Used 2 $1 off Papermate from Target.com)
3 Kellogg's poptarts @ 3/$5 = $3 or $1 each (Used $1/3 TQ from Target.com and $1/3 7/29 RP)
2 Eggo Waffle @ BOGO $2.37 = $2.37
Publix Whole Milk @ $3.29 = $0.54 (Used $2 off dairy WYB 3 poptarts from in-store flyer and $0.75 off milk WYB 2 eggo waffles from same flyer - coupons did not state can not be used with any other offers)

Total before coupons = $22.01
Total after Coupons and tax = $9.81

Total Savings =$23.48 (71% Savings!)

I'm sorry I was behind on this totals post. Life has been busy and chaotic lately and I will update more on that later. Anyways. I am still without a car so I am still relying on my husband for transportation. And like I have said before, shopping with him is a NIGHTMARE! LOL. He did do better this time than he has done in the past.

I am a HUGE fan of the Comforts for Baby line by The Kroger Co. I had the pleasure of recently doing a review of The Comforts for Baby line. The diapers are soft like Pampers but absorbent like Huggies and they come at a better price than both! The small pack of wipes in the picture below are only $1 and you can get ones that feel like Pampers (soft and very moist) or Huggies (thicker). I perfer the thicker variety. The small pack is also very convenient for the diaper bag and my MIL uses them to remove her make-up! We are also a big fan of the sippy cups and puffs. When I was a nanny, this was the only brand formula that would help with the little girl's colic. So over the last few weeks I have acquired a few extra coupons, so much that I have a surplus! None of these are connected to a store card and Kroger did not ask me to do this give away. All views are expressly my own.

Comforts for Baby is sold at all Kroger Company family stores. Also don't forget to load your card with coupons before you shop! :)



All you have to do is fill out the rafflecopter below and it will pick a winner automatically!

Here is what is up for grabs:
Save $2/1 Comforts Formula 12.5 oz - 25.7 oz size, any variety exp 8/5/12
Save $1.50/1 Comforts Diapers 23-144 ct size, any variety exp 8/5/12
$0.75/1 Comforts Baby Wipes 64-360 ct size, any variety exp 8/5/12
2 $2/1 Comforts for Baby formula, any size/variety and no exp

Also adding 2 20% off any 1 Kroger Frozen Pizza, Tortilla Cupz, Vitamin Water (12 pk), or Frozen Fruit Bars that i received from being a Bzz Agent.

The Kroger Co. also started doing Comforts for Baby gift cards! A GREAT gift for a new mom or mom-to-be.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***All entries are verified.***