With my first child, I had a manual breast pump, but 12 months after buying it, the pump broke. We did not have the funds to buy a replacement breast pump with our second child. Thankfully, I was given an Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pump as a gift. Top 4 reasons I recommend the Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pump: It is a closed system. A closed system is designed so that breast milk never touches the pump tubing or motor. In open systems, there is risk of mold contamination, since breast milk can get inside the tubing. Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pump has an airlock barrier, using a silicone diaphraghm, which protects breast milk from mold and … [Read more...]
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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.
Why Does My Breast Milk Taste Bad?
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My breastfeeding story took a turn that I never expected and had never heard of before. It all started the moment that I tasted a drop of my breast milk from a bottle that my daughter had refused to drink. Something was not right, and I was asking myself, "Why does my breast milk taste bad?" Immediately, I started searching for answers online. My mind was racing. Was there something wrong with my freezer? Did all of the milk in my freezer taste like this? What is wrong with my breast milk??? Then I found the answer: I had excess lipase activity in my breast milk, which caused my expressed breast milk to develop a bad taste … [Read more...]
Is Cold Medicine Breastfeeding Safe?
It's about the time of the year when we all start to stock up on tissues, cough drops, and other remedies for the common cold. Colds are typically harmless, and many moms will forgo a trip to the doctor and grab an over-the-counter cold medication instead. But if a woman has a baby, she may wonder: is cold medicine breastfeeding safe? Caffeine, alcohol, and yes, medications typically pass through breast milk. Depending on the substance, it might pass through in larger quantities than others. Since we can expect any medication to pass on to our babies through breast milk, it really is important to know if we can safely take a particular … [Read more...]
Calories Burned: Breastfeeding, Baby, and You
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Breastfeeding has a lengthy list of benefits for both mother and child ranging from antibody protection to cancer prevention, but one not soon to be forgotten by new moms is the extra calories burned breastfeeding. Many women have asked, exactly how many calories are burned breastfeeding? Well, every woman who has nursed a baby knows that it is a physically demanding task, and all that extra energy expelled isn't going to waste. Each calorie-laden ounce of breast milk made to nourish your baby is burning extra calories for mom. While there are many reasons to breastfeed your baby, one that many moms find to be an added bonus is the extra … [Read more...]
Beer and Breastfeeding – Does Drinking Beer Increase Breast Milk Supply?
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When my friend Andrea was breastfeeding her littlest, I remember the struggle she had to keep up her milk supply. She tried breastfeeding tea, and tripled her water consumption. She rested more and added brewer's yeast to her oatmeal. She also tried something I'd never heard of as a mama of five: she tried drinking a glass of beer. What is the deal with beer and breastfeeding? Now in my friend's case, as it has any time she's tried to drink it, drinking beer gave her nothing more than an upset tummy. She's not a fan of the malty brew, and that didn't change as she sipped, then gulped once or twice, then sipped again. In her case, she … [Read more...]
All About Breast Milk Lactose
Breast milk is made up of many different components, all of which have varying benefits for baby. Lactose is an important part of a mother's milk, but what is breast milk lactose, and how is it different than cow's milk lactose? What is Breast Milk Lactose? Lactose is the main carbohydrate in breast milk. It comprises approximately 40% of the calories in your milk. Lactose is useful because it decreases the total unhealthy bacteria in baby's tummy, helping improve the absorption of important minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, and phosphate. It also helps the good bacteria to grow, and it's great for energy and brain … [Read more...]
The Great Mama’s Milk Giveaway – $1,400+ in Prizes
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Welcome to the Great Mama's Milk Giveaway coordinated by Measuring Flower! This is a HUGE giveaway event that will be awarding two lucky winners some amazing breastfeeding and pumping supplies with a total value of more than $1,400! Read on below to discover what these incredible prizes are and enter towards the bottom of this post. The Grand Prize Pack This prize pack, consisting of $1,130 in prizes, will be awarded to ONE super lucky winner. Below is a list of each of the prizes. Spectra S1 Double Breast Pump--$319.99 Value Dairy Fairy Arden All-in-One Hands Free Nursing and Pumping Bra--$68 Value Pumpin' Pal Set of Three … [Read more...]
Can You Buy Breast Milk?
Yes, you most certainly can buy breast milk. Should you require someone else's milk other than your own (or should you find yourself unable to breastfeed), you can get breast milk from a number of different resources. There are free options, government funded options, and options that can range from manageable to expensive over time. How to Get Breast Milk for Free If you find yourself struggling with supply as a nursing mother, consider adapting your lifestyle to allow for a healthy boost in supply. You can even make a batch of delicious lactation cookies to make the process less tedious. If you feel like you've dried up too much, you … [Read more...]
Breastfeeding Jaundice: Keeping Your Nursing Relationship Intact
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When a woman has a baby, it’s both a miraculous and overwhelming event. Suddenly you have a precious little bundle of joy that is completely dependent upon you for survival. They are so precious, tiny, and vulnerable. Breastfeeding Jaundice: Keeping Your Nursing Relationship Intact A new mother has a seemingly endless list of concerns upon her baby’s arrival, especially if it is her first child. She can easily become inundated with the information available when an issue arises. Some women get so overwhelmed that they begin to tune out their own instincts and blindly follow any advice offered to them, even when their gut tells them that … [Read more...]
Ways to Increase Breast Milk Supply
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When it comes to breastfeeding, one of the biggest fears that a mother can have is whether or not she will make enough milk to nourish her baby. Sometimes it is hard to know whether or not we are making enough, especially if there is no pumping involved in the breastfeeding relationship. Chances are, you're making just what your little one needs. However, there are some instances and scenarios where you may feel the need to increase breast milk supply. Aside from low milk production in general, mothers can run into unforeseen problems that can cause a dip in milk supply. Anything from catching a bad cold or the flu to taking certain … [Read more...]
