Archive for July, 2009

Low Breast Milk Supply

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

Low breast milk supply is a nursing or breast pumping mother’s greatest fear. Mothers, especially first time Moms, feel uncertainty at times. Fear or uncertainty has been felt by women throughout the ages. Unfortunately, the stress that is caused by the fear and uncertainty can be one of the causes of low milk supply.

Okay, so what can a nursing or breast pumping Mom do if she feels concerned about milk supply?

  • Relax; find the easiest way to just chill out for a few minutes every day.
  • Nurse or pump often, especially in a calm, restful place. This will increase milk production. Also, play soft music or do relaxation exercises before you nurse or pump.
  • Be good to yourself! Eat well, walk or exercise each day, rest any time you can, give yourself positive feedback, and ask for help when you need it.
  • Drink lots and lots of fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol. Try some of our Milkmaid Tea. Drink a beverage whenever you sit down to nurse or pump.
  • Be careful about birth control pills, due to hormones that might cause milk supply problems.
  • Try our More Milk Plus Vegetarian Capsule with herbs known to encourage increased breast milk production.
  • Play soft music or do relaxation exercises before you nurse or pump.
  • Gently massage your breasts before you nurse or pump.

Consider, that feeding is as much a social activity as a nutritional one. Your baby’s growth and development are based partly on the strong bond that grows during feedings. Cuddle your baby close during each feeding. Gaze into your baby’s eyes. Talk or sing to your baby with a tender voice. Enjoy the occasion to create your baby’s sense of well-being, trust and comfort.

Once you gain confidence and overcome concerns, you and your precious baby will enjoy this brief period of unique bonding that lasts a lifetime.

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Is That a Breast Pump In Your Pants or Are You Just Happy To See Me?

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

According to The Ledge, a man was arrested for attempting to steal a breast pump by sticking in down in pants.  A Wal-mart security officer noticed the man stuffing the breast pump pieces down in pants, followed him through the garden section and gave chase as the man was leaving the store.

Seriously, what was he thinking?  Was he so determined that some baby in his life needed to get breast milk that he felt the need to steal one – so odd.

Well, this is the perfect time to remind everyone that GotBreastPump donates used breast pumps to families in need.  If you know someone who needs a breast pump and cannot afford those expensive $300 breast pumps, then we are here to help.  Thanks to our generous moms, we have plenty to donate.

I certainly hope that they burn that breast pump that he stuffed down in pants.  That is just not right!

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Moms Can Find Towels Everywhere!

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Enough is enough.  Having 4 people use towels on a daily basis is just pushing me to my breaking point.  Robert and I re-use our towels for a few days, by placing our wet towels over the shower to let them dry over night.  I attempted to get the kids to the same, but they didn’t have a good place to put their towels and daily towels ended up all over the house wherever they decided to drop it.  Instead of finding the towels, bringing them into the bathroom myself, and finding a place for them to dry, I decided they needed a place.

After doing some research, I decided to use an over the door coat hanger and write our names on the hook for each towel.  This is working WONDERFUL.  Now the kids know exactly where the towels go and mom doesn’t have to run around the house searching for them.  Although I do have to take the towels down every few days and put clean ones up; they would use the same one for a few months.  Ewwww!

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Babies R Us Has Completely Lost My Respect!

Friday, July 24th, 2009

If you are a mommy or know someone who will be soon, then you may want to reconsider that trip to Babies R Us.  As a breast pumping mom, I was very happy with the breast pump that I purchased years ago, the Medela Pump in Style.  However, as an internet retailer of pumping products, I became aware very quickly that Medela was not looking out for moms and their wallets, but for their own.  Medela was extremely strict on allowing retailers to lower the price of their breast pumps, which infuriated me because having a newborn is the time when parents need a break.

Well, it turns out that Medela was not the problem after all.  Thanks to everyone’s big box baby store, Babies R Us, they were requiring manufacturers of breast pumps, strollers and many other products from allowing other retailers to lower their prices.  Are you kidding me?  They weren’t trying to help moms out, but not allowing other retailers to lower prices and they might be the only retailers with a good low price, but instead wanted to make sure that moms would pay the high price only at their store.  How lousy is that?

A class-action lawsuit has been brought against the big box chain and is expected to go to trial in 2010. This article at Time.com gives great details about the dirty little secrets of Babies R Us.  So, as the Time article states “all you moms who splurged on that $300 breast pump a few years ago: start looking for the receipt.”  This mom will no longer be giving any more of her hard earned money to this company any more.

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Get Rid of the Guilt!

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

How many moms feel guilty?  Go ahead raise those hands – I think every mom has at some time or another; especially if you are a working mom or a mom that does not breastfeed.  I had immense guilt about not breastfeeding my babies.  I tried so hard to do it, but my depression was so bad that there was no way.  Luckily with Gabrielle, I really found breast pumping and knew that I could provide my breast milk to my sweet baby.

Even though I didn’t breastfeed either baby, I did learn how to bond with them and become extremely close with both.  My favorite way to bond with my sweet babies was to take 30 minutes or so just to get into a nice, warm tub with my new babies.  Spending those few moments together just cooing and kissing was such a wonderful way to get close with my babies and make them feel secure and loved.

I just read a wonderful article that I really enjoyed from The Globe and Mail.  It relayed a great message that working moms really do give just as many hugs and kisses as moms that stay at home with their babies.  As a working mom, I feel terribly guilty that I could not be there 24/7 with my babies and felt that they were missing so much.  Even though I knew that I gave everything that I could when I was with them, I still felt that I wasn’t doing as good as I could if I were able to stay home.

Well, studies prove it.  Those of who feel the guilty can rejoice and realize that we do a great job with our babies and they are truly loved.

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Rhinehart Reunion 2009

Monday, July 20th, 2009

Wow!  The Rhinehart Reunion was HOT last week but everyone had a great time in the water.  The kids had an especially great time riding in boats, fishing and tubing.

Caney Lake is huge and beautiful.  Even the babies got to feel the wind in their hair as they sped along the lake in boats.  We brought the kids out to the little beach there on the lake and they had the best time burying one another in the sand.

I have to admit, I enjoyed the wonderful air conditioner in the camps and the yummy food.  This was the first summer that I did not get a sunburn.


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Pumping Your Breast Milk for Other Babies

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

Recently, we have been receiving emails from moms stating that their babies had to go on formula and wanted to know what they can do with their already frozen breast milk.  Like any mom that has pumped their precious breast milk, it is almost impossible to physically force yourself to just throw into a garbage can.

Though I do not believe that Breast Milk Banks can take breast milk that has been pumped before the application process, the wonderful people at the Mother’s Milk Bank at Austin may be able to help you.  But most importantly, if you are still pumping for your baby and getting plenty of milk, you may want to look into helping by donating some of your extra breast milk to this wonderful bank.

Being a mom that has had a baby in NICU, I know how important it is that these babies get this important milk that is donated from other moms.  Just imagine how desperate you if you did have to see your baby in a terrifying place, like a NICU, how grateful you would be for the help from some selfless mom.  This article by keyetv.com will give your great insight into how moms feel while their babies are in NICU.

You don’t even have to live close to a milk bank, just contact your nearest bank and they will set you up to have your breast milk shipped to their location.

image via keyetv.com

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New Ameda Purely Yours Ultra

Monday, July 13th, 2009

Ameda breast pumps have been a favorite among many moms because of the lower price as compared to companies like Medela.  Now, Ameda has created their new breast pump, Ameda Purely Yours Ultra.

This breast pump has some of the same features as the Medela Pump in Style Advanced and the Avent ISIS Duo, such as the customizable speed and suction dials.  However, the Ultra’s biggest feature is the addition of various flanges included with the breast pump, 3 different sizes that can be changes throughout your post-pregnancy experience.

It comes with a large, black carrying case, and unlike the Medela Pump in Style, it can be taken out and carried separately.  With a price tag of $299, it may give the Pump in Style a run for the money.

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WNBA Star Breast Pumps at Work

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

Okay, I have to admit that I feel a little guilty admitting that I complained about having to breast pump at work after reading this article about WNBA star Candace Parker.  The article from Newsday states that this incredible mom practices with her teammates, stretches, then heads to the locker room to breast pump for her daughter.

Now, that takes some commitment.  Parker states that she would rather pump her breast milk rather than have to give her daughter formula.  Great role model for young girls out there!

image via WNBA

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10 Tips for Making Pumping Work – At Work

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

Okay, let’s get back to our discussion of returning to work.

 3. Before you return to work, get support from your boss or supervisor. Tell your boss about the benefits of lower health care costs and increased time on the job for breast milk moms. You may even want to print this info from the Center for Disease Control, to support your effort. Seek out and request a space for pumping so you are ready when you arrive your first day.

4. Have a solid schedule set and try to stick to it. Changes in schedules for moms returning to work is one of the big reasons that these moms can develop milk supply problems. Also, keep your night pumping up. You will be more tired when you return to work, so go to bed earlier but do not skip your night feedings or pumping. This is also another reason for milk supply issues. It is important to get the rest you need and to take care of your health.

Next week, we’ll continue our journey back to work. Have a safe and healthy 4th of July and be good to yourself, sweet mommas.

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