Monday, September 13, 2010

Breastfeeding is Best!

I'm a breastfeeding advocate.

That being said, I didn't breastfeed my daughter. I tried to breastfeed her. I agonized over it. I cried and I became depressed about it.

All that anguish and the two of us only made it a 3 weeks breastfeeding.

And yet, it has only amped up my determination to breastfeed number two (who, I am now announcing, is due in APRIL!!)

So I wanted to give new mommies a few tips on breastfeeding, coming from someone who has been through the tough stuff.

#1. This is SOOO important! Talk to the lactation consultant at your hospital! Get to know her before you are in labor. Become comfortable with her (it's easier to be less shy when your girls are hanging out and you're struggling to get your new little one to latch if you aren't concerned about the girls hanging out.) Make sure you'll have support and help as soon as you have delivered your child. You'll want to start breastfeeding as soon as possible after delivery, so you should know the lactation consultant will be there when you need her!

#2. Be ready to try many different positions. Only you and your child will figure out what positions work best for the two of you. Trial and error is terrific, if you know what positions to try! (Cradle, Clutch, Side-lying & different variations.. start researching now, it'll be easier to try later!)

#3. Do your research! Start reading breastfeeding articles, Q&A's and online forums each week. Familiarize yourself with your resources, facts and knowledge now. You'll be more prepared later on!

#4. Remember, latch is everything! If your baby can't latch, he can't eat. It's that important. And latching ties into all above mentioned tips. You'll be more successful with latching if you enlist help (lactation consultant), find the position your infant latches easiest, and you've done your homework and know how to troubleshoot latching should it become an issue!




As for my choice to breastfeed, there are so many great reasons! It's healthiest for baby, benefits Mom and is very cost effective!

My child will benefit! Colostrum (the beginning milk that comes in for the first few days, yellowish in color) helps a newborn digest! It helps move all that sticky meconium out of the little one's digestive tract. The antibodies you pass on to your child help him fight off infection he'd otherwise have no resistance to.

I benefit! I don't waste time fixing a bottle, it's already a good temperature, I don't need to clean bottles and I don't feel nauseous smelling formula (seriously, that stuff smells and tastes toxic!) My uterus shrinks and heals faster (the body reacts quicker when your nipples are stimulated during nursing! Weird but true!) I'll have a head start on returning to my pre-pregnancy weight and build because breastfeeding burns calories! And lastly, I'll get all that bonding time with my new little one!

My family's finances benefit GREATLY!
Breastfeeding is a free food source. Have you done the math if you are thinking about formula feeding? With our daughter, we spent around and over $100 a month on formula! That's an extra $100 we could be paying off debit, saving or spending on other needs!

I invite you to visit The Breastfeeding is Best for All Babies event over at The Baby Store Plus Blog!

the Baby Store PLUS September Breastfeeding Celebration

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Melding new products with ecological and economical alternatives. (wet mops)

Wet Mops.
I flat out refused to buy a Swiffer Wetjet. I used to be in LOVE with my old one. But the solution bottles are made so you cannot reuse them and are forced to buy more Swiffer Solution. And I've grown to dislike Swiffer scents, they trigger migraines if I'm not careful.
What I really want is a Rubbermaid Reveal. Sold as a unit with no pre-packaged solution, a competely refillable solution container and cloth mop pads instead of paper! Eventually. But for now, I've found a decent solution!

The Clorox Ready Mop runs a little cheaper than a Swiffer Wet Jet by $0.50-$1.00. It does come with pre-packaged solution. However, the Ready Mop solution bottles are designed to be sturder, thus lasting longer. The bottle also screws into the mop, instead of clicking, which means I can refill an emptied bottle and refill it with whatever solution I choose. And while the Ready Mop line sells paper mop pads, they aren't necessary. The Ready Mop is designed so you can attach cloth easily (unlike the Swiffer mop pads which attach with very thin, week hook & loop, thus making it difficult for economical/ecological minded individules to find an easy alternative to their wasteful, costly mop pads).


So what did I do? I bought a Clorox Ready Mop Starter Kit for under $15 at the PX. I found scrap cotton linen from an old sewing project and an old terry cloth towel. Then, using the paper mop pads that came with the starter kit as a rough pattern, I cut out and sewed together a few easy, sturdy reusable mop pads! One side is cotton linen, as a sort of liner. The second is the terry. I could double the terry to make it more absorbant so I can use a single mop pad longer if I wanted to as well.


And here is a solution recipe I'd like to share!


50/50% - Water & Vinegar
Add 1-2 tsp Olive Oil for Sheen
Add a few drops Essential Oil for scent if wanted. Tea Tree Oil is great as it's a natural disinfectant. Other great oils for a clean scent include Lavender, Sweet Orange, Lemon and Eucalyptus.


This is completely my sole opinion.

Sonic is Awesome! (Giveaway from Piece of ME)

First off, I need to say it... I LOVE SONIC! I literally plan running errands so I can be in town during 'happy hour' and get my fix. I always always always order a Strawberry Limeade. It's amazing! Hubby's fav is the classic Cherry Limeade (I hate cherry flavoring, but to each their own..)

So now I want to share... Piece of ME is having a terrific giveaway right now!

One lucky reader will win a $50 Gift Card to Sonic and Two runners-up will win SONIC lunch boxes that each come with a "Keep it Real" ice cream t-shirt, a $5 MySonic card and some other fun goodies!


Visit the Celebrate with Sonic Drive-In Post to read the review & enter the awesome giveaway!!



*Quote attributed to Pieces of Me Blog writer.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Cloth Diaper Giveaway Event Alert!



Coupon Mommy of 3 is having a Cloth Diapers Week on her blog!




You can get your early entries in now! See Cloth Diapers OORAH Part 2 Post to get early entries!