Isn't it funny how our plans can change once our little one(s) is here? I know mamas who had absolutely no desire to breastfeed, but decided to breastfeed once their baby was born. Or mothers who were adamant about breastfeeding but, because of a collision of circumstances, found joy in giving a bottle. Others plan to pump for "just a little while" but soon find themselves flying right past original goals and wanting to pump long-term. If you're a mama who's chosen to pump long-term for whatever reason, you'll find many helpful tips for getting started with pumping n my post, 20 Tips for Pumping Breast Milk. Once you've gotten your body … [Read more...]
Please Note: This post may contain sponsor, affiliate, and/or referral links. Read my full disclosure statement.
Disclaimer: The information in this post is for educational purposes only. I am not a doctor. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. None of the opinions are meant to diagnose or treat any disease or illness. You should always consult your healthcare provider.
16 Ways to Romance Your Husband, Even When Breastfeeding a Little One
By 2 Comments
Let's face it. Sometimes we can get a little caught up with breastfeeding and forget about our hubby from time to time, right? These poor guys end up being our "gophers" - going for this snack, that diaper change, this burp cloth, etc. And when those little ones eat 'round the clock, it can be challenging to actually make time for a little romance (let alone a simple conversation). Coming up with ways to romance your husband might not be top of your priority list - like fixing a poor latch or just getting dinner on the table is. But with just a little extra effort, we can bless these men who are so supportive, helpful, and encouraging. … [Read more...]
5 Tips for Breastfeeding Twins
By 5 Comments
Is breastfeeding twins even possible? Yep - it absolutely is! And we're here to help you navigate these sometimes muddy waters. (Don't have twins but know someone who does? Share this with her - she'll be so encouraged!) Congratulations, It's Twins! I'd love to do a survey to find out how many parents hit the floor when finding out there is more than one baby growing inside the womb! I lost all feeling when the doctor announced, "Well, the good news is - it's triplets!" My hubby doesn't even remember sitting down! Then the questions start bubbling out, one on top of the other. You may be thinking: Will I have preemies? Will I … [Read more...]
Easy Tips for Freezing Breast Milk
By 1 Comment
You've proudly watched that milk pour (or drip!) into those bottles. You take them into the kitchen and...now what? You've heard of freezing breast milk, but how? Storage Guidelines It is recommended that breast milk be refrigerated within five hours of pumping, used within five days of being refrigerated and thawed and used within five months of being frozen. And it is preferred to store breast milk in the refrigerator, instead of the freezer, if possible. However, just using fresh breast milk is certainly not always possible so freezing it is perfectly fine. If you are occasionally pumping for the random bottle for when you're away, pump … [Read more...]
Breastfeeding Toddlers — When They Won’t Settle Down!
By 2 Comments
Breastfeeding toddlers is a whole other ball game. Most likely the days of latch and supply issues, falling asleep during a feeding, and weight gain concerns are things of the past. Now, your only goal in life is to keep your nipple attached to your body! So how can an extended season of breastfeeding be enjoyable for mom, too? Curiosity Curiosity kills the cat...or the nipples. As babies grow older, their desire for independence and their curiosity for the world around them grows, too. The smallest sound causes them to "pop off" and sometimes forget to open their mouths. Ouch! Babies who are used to a particular environment (such as … [Read more...]
20 Tips for Pumping Breast Milk
By 11 Comments
Expressing breast milk can often seem like an impassible mountain. Once you get the hang of it, though, you'll be able to pump in your sleep! Here are some tips for pumping breast milk. Keep in mind you can usually spend less time pumping with a hospital-grade pump but may end up pumping for longer periods of time with a consumer-grade pump. Also, it's highly recommended to use a new consumer-grade pump if you end up going that route (I recommend this one). It's tempting to borrow from a friend, but most consumer-grade pumps have internal parts that cannot be sterilized. This can contaminate your breast milk! Ew! Additionally, most … [Read more...]
Pink Blush Maternity {Giveaway}
By 3 Comments
Pink Blush Maternity just sounds cute, right? That's what I thought, too! Pink Blush Maternity is really the only place you're gonna need to look for clothing for maternity and nursing! Cute and Trendy Maternity Clothes Think back to when you first found out you were pregnant. You thinking? Ok, good. Now, do you remember how you started dreading saying "goodbye" to your cute clothes and having to say "hello" to maternity clothing? Remember our mothers' generation and what they wore while they were pregnant? Over-sized jewel-tone shirts with puffy paint? Stirrup-pants? Big bows drawing attention to where attention should not be … [Read more...]
The Advantages of a Double Breast Pump
By 5 Comments
If I asked for a show of hands for how many of us looked forward to the day we would say "goodbye" to our friend, The Double Breast Pump, I think there would be a sea of hands popping up! But if I followed this up with the question, "How many of us were incredibly grateful for our double breast pump?" I think just as many hands would go up. Mine certainly would! Some Advantages of a Double Breast Pump Let's face it. Pumping can be tedious and annoying (I pumped at 4 am for nine months - long after my trio were sleeping through the night). But the resulting liquid gold is well worth it! Certainly one can hand-express or pump one breast at a … [Read more...]
Breastfeeding Triplets: Second Year Battles and Joys
By 2 Comments
Breastfeeding Battle #1: Teething Somewhere around that darn one-year mark, I realized I really enjoyed feeding sleeping babies while I was still awake to enjoy them. My hubby was so supportive and took advantage of these times to also get some too-quickly-growing-up baby snuggles. But it was around then that we noticed we were waking them up to nurse—a couple of times we forgot and went to bed and they slept 12 hours. So I began contemplating what it would look like to drop that feeding. And then...the molars arrived. Yes, those molars sent us into wakeful nights that rivaled those of the newborn days. We got eight molars from two … [Read more...]
Breastfeeding Triplets: Beyond the First Year
By 10 Comments
If you missed the first part of my journey of breastfeeding triplets, you can read it here: Breastfeeding Triplets: A Battle of Love. There was much rejoicing when the babies turned a year old—but much sadness, too. My babies were getting big (that was really sad). The year had flown by and so much of it was a blur. However, we made it through the first year with three newborns (that was cause for celebration)! And all three babies were still nursing (also cause for celebration)! I could hardly believe that I had breastfed triplets for a year. When I was pregnant, my loftiest goal was to breastfeed two and hopefully have enough … [Read more...]
