Nanny to Mommy

I received complimentary products from Undercover Mama to provide this review and giveaway. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions are my own.

 

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Keeping Cool in the Sun Giveaway Hop hosted by the Blogging Mamas Network. The temperatures are hot, but we're keeping things cool with some great Summer-themed giveaways! Check out all the bloggers and their fabulously cool giveaways in the linky below and don't forget to enter to win a pair of Long Sleeve Performance Crews from Montauk Tackle Company in the Grand Prize!

I am excited to be offering one lucky Nanny to Mommy reader a nursing tank (color of their choice) from Undercover Mama, RV $25!

Yes I am an affiliate, but I ONLY share deals that I think are good ones or useful ones. And since I am breastfeeding, I am taking advantage of this deal and thought others might like this deal as well. :)   Just click on the banner above to take advantage of this deal and enter code MYSAVINGS at check-out once you have added 10 pairs (your choice) of breast pads to your cart.

Disclosure: I received this product as part of an advertorial complimentary from #Hotmilk. All opinions are 100% my own.

 

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest  I am nursing my son and I'm not having any issues like I did with SweetPea. In fact, I am having the opposite problems! He latched on and had a SUPER strong latch. I also have an abundance of milk, which means all of my old nursing bras will not fit! Plus, I have never owned a cute nursing bra. So, when the opportunity to review a nursing bra through Hotmilk came my way, I definitely jumped all over it. These bras are absolutely gorgeous! Nothing like my plain jane bras I had with my daughter.  

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?

Since it's World Breastfeeding Week. The Big Latch-On is tomorrow! Who's all attending? I'm sure you can find one in your are. Here is the details for my local one:

"Please join us as we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week and participate in the Big Latch On event to promote breastfeeding awareness.

On Saturday 6th August 2011 at 10:30am local time, in locations across the USA and beyond, nursing mothers will gather to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week and try to break the record for the most women breastfeeding simultaneously!

PLEASE ARRIVE AT 10am so you can be sure to be registered before the count begins.

Saturday, August 6 · 10:00am - 11:00am

Historic Downtown Fayetteville, in the square"

Please come if you are available!

My PERSONAL Favorites have been asterisked. :)

"Are you still nursing?"
This question actually doesn't bother me personally but I guess it does bother some. Of course I have only been breastfeeding for 6 months. So that may be why.

"Everyone asks that, it must be because he's so incredibly healthy."
"Yes, he deserves only the very best. "
"Of course, I am glad you keep asking. It shows you want the best for him."


"When are you planning on weaning?"

***"When are you planning on minding your own business?"

"I hope not for a while. We're both enjoying our time together."

"I don't know. He seems to still enjoy it and I enjoy those extra 500 calories I burn."


"Breastfeeding is gross!"

***"So is changing diapers, yet people do it all the time."

"Hello? Did you not realize that humans are mammals?"

"Seems to me that you have some issues you need to work out."


"Why would you want to nurse when you can just get formula?"

"Gee, I don’t know. It must have something to do it with being free, always the right temperature, portable, what nature intended, and the best way I can nourish my baby."

***"Have you checked out the price of formula lately?"


"You should go feed her in the bathroom."

"Do YOU eat in the bathroom?"

***"If my breastfeeding offends you, I will be happy to ask your waiter to bring you your food in the restroom."


"Don’t you want your husband to be able to bond with the baby?"

"You’re right, holding the baby, talking to the baby, changing the baby, bathing the baby, and spending time just being with the baby sure won’t be enough for him to bond with the baby."


"You want to get up in the middle of the night to nurse?"

"I’d rather nurse in my sleep than schlep to the kitchen and try to mix, heat up, and feed my baby formula in my sleep because I sure do love sleeping."

***"We co-sleep. I just roll over, give her the breast, and go back to snoozing!" - I say this one all the time! :)


"Isn't he a little old for that?"

"What?! He's not even out of diapers!"

***"Aren't you a little old to be randomly coming up to strangers and asking impolite questions?"


"He doesn't NEED to nurse at this age!"

(laugh) "Where did you hear that?"

***And you don't NEED to eat that doughnut, but you still are."


Miscellaneous Responses

***"If you are offended by me doing this, then you are looking too closely."

"Do you often look this closely at women's breasts?"

***MY ABSOLUTE FAVE!!!!***"Michael Jordan was breastfed to age THREE. Same with Albert Einstein. Jesus Christ, even LONGER. The day YOU have six NBA Championship rings, a Nobel Prize in Physics and the ability to walk on water, we'll talk. Till then, the subject is CLOSED."

"Get your nose out of my bra."

Breastfeeding is a right the same as the right to choose to formula feed. I don't judge others on their parenting choices and I expect others not to judge me. I am doing nothing wrong. I am feeding my baby. Get over it.

And BTW, I am NOT a Breastfeeding Nazi or whatever rude people choose to call people who are passionate about their decisions. I do however have issues with ANYONE out right saying someone's decision is wrong from either side just because it wasn't the way they chose to do things. My daughter is healthy and her pediatrician is happy. I am not hurting my baby or STARVING her. If I was, then you would have a right to interfere. If you feel the need to judge my parenting style, write it all down in a letter, so I can wad it up and use it as toilet paper.
If you feel this post was directed to you, then maybe that means you should think about your actions and focus on more important things.

In Forest Park, GA, they passed a public indecency ordinance to prevent public nudity. In this a women is not allowed to breastfeed a child over two years of age in public.

First of all, this is completely ridiculous. Breastfeeding is a natural thing that can NOT be taken away by a law. No other mammals feed their babies another animals milk. Second of all, extended breastfeeders (as they are called) usually do not breastfeed in public. They only do in the morning or at night. And how are they going to monitor this law? Is a police officer going to go up to a women and say, "Um ma'am can I see that child's birth certificate?"

I personally will MOST likely not breastfeed past two at the most. But the government can NOT tell me whether I can or not. Boobs are meant to be bottles for babies. They were made to make milk. All mammals do it. I know I say that all the time. But it is normal to breastfeed. There is nothing wrong with it and should not be shameful!