Which Breast Pump is the Best Breast Pump?

I have tried 3 different breast pumps with my last pregnancy and I must tell you that no breast pump  is made alike. Some are way more effective than others. So before you buy a breast pump you need to be well informed on what you are getting. One great tip is that you want to save yourself some time and effort by getting a double pump. Pumping is already double the time, because of the clean up of the bottles and pump parts vs. just putting the baby directly on the breast.

Also, there are some places that we allow you to rent hospital grade breast pumps for a monthly or weekly fee.

Hands down the best pump that I have used is the Medela Symphony Hospital grade pump.The retail cost was way out of my range $1,500 to be exact. However.

I was able to rent it for $20/wk. I have heard some ladies say that they were able to rent it for $50 a month. So it really depends on the hospital and your area.


Medela Freestyle Breast Pump

A great affordable pump would have to be the Medela Free Style Breast pump. It is alot more affordable than the hospital grade and it is manufactured by the same company. One thing that you want in a breast pump is good suction. The suction is everything because that is going to help increase your milk supply and empty out your breast when it is time. If you have a breast pump that lacks good suction it is no bueno! You can purchase the Free Style on Amazon.


Nature's Bond

One breast pump that I was absolutely disappointed in was the Nature's Bond Double pump. That is due to the fact that the suction power on the machine was very poor. Maybe I was became to fond of the Medela hospital grade.

However, I purchased Nature's Bond because it had some great reviews. But it did not do me too well.

Crowd Birthing?

There is a new phenomenon going on called crowd birthing. When I first heard the name...I thought that it was a group of pregnant moms to be going into labor. However, it is not as bad as I thought. But, I do not think that I would do it.

Today more and more women are giving birth to children with over 8 people in the delivery room. We live in the new age of sharing everything with the world...from our birthdays to our greatest disappointments on the web for everyone to see.

I want to know if you would crowd birth or not...and let us know why or why not! We would love to hear from you!

Check out more about crowd birthing here.

Learn how to get free diaper samples.

Sex after Pregnancy

After my 1st baby was born I experienced the trauma and I did not know that I experienced the trauma until later....

My son's head was so large that it ruptured my vagina. I tore, I had to get a second degree incision (I got cut open), he had to be vacuumed out, and I had to get stitches. To say the least I was depressed. I thought that I would never be able to enjoy sex again.

That was until I started doing some research. I found out that I could do exercises to strengthen my pelvic floor and tighten back up my vagina. I spent a little over $100 on a Kegel Master device. Now they are not that expensive, and this device works beautifully.

At that point and time, sex was so bad that I was desperate to try it. I must say that it did help tremendously. I used it 2 to 3 times a day for 6 weeks....that was 6 weeks after I had my baby.

My husband and I both notice the difference. But, nowadays you do not have to pay $100 to get your sex life back after having a baby. There are so many affordable alternatives now that give you the same results.

You can do the Kegel exercises without devices or weights but I would highly recommend the weights because they will make your vagina stronger!

Without Devices:

When you are sitting up straight contract your vagina muscles like you are stopping and starting the stream of going to the restroom (#1). And, you just keep doing it over and over again. Then you can do this about 3 times a day for 5 - 10 minutes

Here are some great devices that will help you:

Kegel Master 2000

Intifit Premium Kegel Ball Exercise Training Kit

There are a number of other kits and devices on the market but these work very well. I hope that you fine success in getting your body back the way that you want it!

Learn how to get FREE diaper samples.

How to Get Rid of Baby Eczema

One of the most frustrating things about ezcema is that it is becoming more and more common. However, doctors are unsure of how it develops in babies. Essentially, what we do know about eczema is that it is the excessive drying of skin. This skin will peel excessively. Sometimes the dryness is so bad that their are large amounts of flakes of the baby's skin in the crib where he is.

I speak from experience, all 3 of my boys have had eczema in the beginning. However, I learned quickly how to get rid of a medium case of eczema without a doctor's prescription.

Here are some ways that I have found that really help you to control eczema



Use a Natural Body Wash/Soap

When it comes to getting rid of your baby's eczema you need to know that the regular popular brand body wash/soap will not help your baby. It may actually exacerbate the condition of your baby's eczema.

Using a natural soap/body wash will help with that. Most body wash/soaps have lye and sulfates in them. This is very drying to the skin. However, there is a soap bar that you can buy for your baby that is made out of plantains ash as opposed to lye. And, it is sulfate free. It will not dry out your baby's skin. It is called Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bar.

If you do not like using soap bars then their is a body wash just for babies that Shea Moisture makes. Check it out here.

Use Extra Hydrating Moisturizers

It is very important that you use a moisturize that will actually hydrate the baby's skin and penetrate deep. One product that I found to be helpful is Eucerin. It is absolutely amazing what this product can do for your baby's skin. In fact, if you baby has a severe case of eczema it is a good chance that your doctor will want you to use mix Eucerin with the steroid prescription that they will give you. That has been the case for me and my first 2 boys.

Coconut oil and Shea butter are 2 other great products that will help with the treatment for eczema. My favorite coconut oil is the Spectrum Unrefined brand because the great benefits of the oil are still present in the oil because it did not go through the refining process.

Moisturize Baby Immediately After Baths

It is very important that you moisturize your baby's skin immediately after you bath him. This is due to the fact that after we bathe our skin pores are open and this is the time to apply the best moisturizing lotions and creams.

When you are dealing with eczema, it is vital that you moisturize your baby's skin not only after a bath but 2 more times in a day.

I hope that my tips help your baby's skin eczema. They definitely worked for me!

Why is my Baby so Fussy?

When it comes to baby bottles believe me I have tried quite a few.  With my last son we received Some very fancy Dr. Brown's Natural Flow baby bottles. Out of all the bottles that I received these caught my eye because each bottle had 6 pieces.

I thought that 6 pieces seemed like a lot for a baby bottle. But, I quickly learned that all of the pieces all played a roll in decreasing your baby's gas. This decreasing your baby's fussiness. Normally, if a baby is fussy after you feed them and changed them, they may be experiencing gas pains. Baby's main form of communication is extra wiggling and crying. You can cut down on your baby's pain and irritation by doing the following:

• Make sure they have fully burped after feeding
• If breastfeeding decrease your consumption of dairy
• If breastfeeding decrease your consumption of raw spinach
• Purchase an organic formula that is gentle on their little tummy (a great organic formula is made by the Honest Company)

You should be aware that everything that you eat will be what the baby eats. With that being said some babies have faster liver development than others. This means that their body may not be able to proper digest the dairy in your diet. A good idea may be for you to switch to a non-dairy milk like almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk, or soy milk. Almond Breeze Brand makes some great tasting non-dairy milk varieties.

If you make these changes then you should see an improvement in your baby. He should be more at ease and more comfortable than he was before.

**** I am not a doctor and you should always consult a doctor before changing anything in your diet. I am giving you the alternatives that worked for me.*****

Lactation Cookie Recipe

·         1 tablespoons fenugreek to make 4 T brewed fenugreek tea

·         2 tablespoons flaxseed meal

·         1 cup Kelapo Coconut Oil, melted

·         3/4 cup raw honey

·         2 eggs

·         3 teaspoons vanilla

·         3/4 cup peanut butter or other nut/seed butter (I really like sunflower seed butter in these)

·         1/2 cup coconut flour, sifted OR 2 cups gluten free all-purpose flour

·         4 tablespoons nutritional yeast

·         2 teaspoons aluminum free baking powder

·         1 teaspoon sea salt

·         3 1/2 cups gluten free oats

·         1/2 - 3/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)

·         1/2 – 3/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Directions 

1.      Preheat oven to 325 degrees

2.      Brew fenugreek in 8 ounces of hot water until grains are soft.

3.      Mix flaxseed and 4 tablespoons fenugreek tea and let sit for 3-5 minutes. DO NOT DISCARD THE GRAINS!

4.      Beat coconut oil and honey.

5.      Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.

6.      Fold in the peanut butter/nut or seed butter until well combined.

7.      Add flaxseed mix and fenugreek grains and mix well.

8.      Add flour, nutritional yeast, baking powder, and salt. Mix and if using coconut flour see ingredient notes below.*

9.      Mix in oats until well combined.

10.    If using raisins or cranberries and/or chocolate chips, slowly fold these in.

11.    Round off a large tablespoon of dough and place on cookie sheet. Press it down slightly.

12.    Bake for 15 minutes then check cookies. Continue baking (checking every 3 minutes) until the outside is a bit brown with crispy edges. The inside should still be slightly moist and soft.

13.    Let cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes and transfer to a cooling rack.

Source: http://www.mnn.com/family/babies-pregnancy/blogs/chocolate-chip-gluten-free-lactation-cookies

For more great foods to increase milk supply CLICK HERE!!

Lactation Problems?

Many of us are aware of all of the nutritional and developmental benefits that our baby will get when we breastfeed. However, what if you are breastfeeding but you are not producing enough? Check out this list of things that you can do to boost your milk supply.

Lactation Cookies

One thing that I absolutely love is cookies. When I found out that their are cookies that can help your milk supply I was all for it. A good brand for you to try are Milkmakers Lactation Cookies.

You can also make your own lactation cookies if you would like. Check out the Lactation Boosting Cookie recipe here.


Oatmeal

Moms everywhere are finding that oatmeal helps increase the amount of milk that you produce. I was so determined to produce more milk that I ate oatmeal for breakfast and lunch. I must say that I did see a difference in my milk supply

Greens

Greens give your body the essential nutrients that it needs to make more milk for your baby. In fact, super foods such as kale can give you more then your recommended daily value of nutrients. Including vitamin K, A, and E. Vital to a healthy milk supply.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek is a great supplement that assists in increasing your milk supply. You can take it in capsule form or tea form. You can have fenugreek delivered right to your door from Amazon.


Flax seeds

Another food that you can use to help to increase your milk supply is flax seeds. Many people use flax seeds in place of eggs for baking. You can simply get 3 tbl spoons of water and add 2 tbl spoons of flax seeds. Bring it to a boil. And, you can substitute that for one egg in any of your baking recipes. You can also find flax seeds on Amazon.


Water

It is very important that while you are breast feeding to make sure that you drink enough water. I made that mistake with my first pregnancy and my milk supply dried up. So drink your water.


I hope that you experience an increase in your milk production! Happy nursing.

Breast Feeding vs Formula

I just recently had my 3rd child. This time around I have been more committed then ever to breast feed. My other 2 kids have had asthma and eczema and I really feel like this was due to giving them formula. However, there are sites online that say that their is no link between breastfeeding reducing the risk of your baby getting ezema. However, here are some things that I know for sure about formula vs breastfeeding.

Immune System

Breastfeeding strengthens your babies immune system that your baby needs while they are developing and growing. Many formulas on the market are full of GMOs. Just recently Similac came out and said they have an organic version of formula that does not have GMOs. Wait a minute?! Why would you put GMOs in baby formula?


Weight Loss

One thing that new mothers are unaware of is that breastfeeding helps to contract the uterus. Breastfeeding also burns calories. You can burn upwards of 500 calories when you breastfeed. With formula you only burn as much as it takes to take the bottle out of the fridge, warm it up, and hold it to your baby's mouth

Convenience


Convenience depends on how you look at it. For me formula was more convenient because my baby could not latch to the nipple. This means that in order for  me to give my son breast milk I had to pump out the milk and use bottles anyway because it was so painful. And, it took me double the time to prepare his feedings.

Thus, in my situation formula was way more convenient. However, if you do not have a latching problem breastfeeding may be more convenient for you because you do not have to worry about cleaning and preparing so many bottles.

FREE MILK

When you breastfeed you do not have to worry about buying formula and running out. As long as you continue to eat a nourishing meal and stay hydrated you do not have to worry about increasing the family's budget by having to buy formula.

Options 

All in all you want to make sure that your baby is healthy. If you are going to use formula get the best formula. Use an organic formula. One brand that I like to use is Honest Baby Formula. You do not have to worry about GMOs

Also, if you are like me and your baby has trouble latching or if you are going back to work you and you want to breastfeed get a breast pump. There are some great brands. I have tried 3 different kinds and the Medela breast pump is the best!!

Also, if you feel apprehensive about breastfeeding in public, no worries. There are plenty of sleek and stylish breast feeding scarfs that will give you and your baby the privacy that you want.


I hope this was helpful to you! To a healthy happy baby!

References:

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Breastfeeding-Benefits-Your-Baby's-Immune-System.aspx

http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2015/05/28/abbott-slammed-praised-after-cutting-gmos-from-similac-as-competitors-assess/

5 Tips To Save Money on Your Next Grocery Trip

When I used to go to the grocery store I used to spend about $250 each and every week. I was riding high with a nice salary. That was until I lost my job. I had to quickly learn how to survive off of less money. I want to share with you some tricks that I learned to get what my family of 4 needs each and every week for less than $100 per week. I started out by signing up with to get all the latest coupons and discounts at Savasarus.

Buy What is In Season
I learned this trick early on. One way to really save some money is to buy produce that is in season. So many people complain about produce being too high. This is not the case if you buy what is in season only. Right now it is the beginning of June and pineapples and mangoes are in season.

Last week, I was able to get 2 mangoes for $1. That is .50 cents each. Pineapples are on sale for $1 theses babies normally cost $3.99 USD. Don't believe the hype you can save money and eat healthy.

Buy what is in season. If you do not know what is in season visit this website. http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/whats-in-season-summer There is a list of over 20 fruits and veggies for each and every season.


Plan out Your Meals

Fail to plan, plan to fail. This holds true with grocery shopping and saving money. Plan out your meals for the week. Write down all of the ingredients that each meal requires. Then, place a dollar amount by each item. Add up the total and you have your meals planned and your grocery shopping budget.

Couponing/Sales

One thing that I have learned when it comes to saving money with groceries is to stockup when things are on sale. It is even better when you can do it with coupons. I have learned that sales are cyclical.

Sales happen every 6-8 weeks for the same items. My husband is vegetarian so I stock up on eggs when they go on sale at Kroger 4 dozen for $5. It is like magic every time they are about to run out the sale comes back around.




Minimize Buying Prepackaged Foods

Most of the prepackaged foods make you fat and they are costly. I am absolutely in love with Youtube because I have learned how to make just about everything I wanted from scratch at a fraction of the price, and often times I find that it tastes better!

 I have learned how to make salad dressings, lasagna, cookie, ice cream, brownies, biscuits, sushi, and homemade bread (to name a few) just by watching Youtube. Buy making your own food you know what exactly goes in it and you save money. Another perk is that you will find that you have more servings to go around. Check out my favorite cook on Youtube Laura Vitale.

Eat Vegetarian a Few Nights a Week

One way to keep your waist and spending slim is to eat vegetarian a few dinners per week. I was a huge meat eater. I had to have it for each and every meal. I realized that the meat and prepackaged food was keeping my waist fat and my wallet slim. Try out a couple of vegetarian meals from scratch and you will be surprised at the results.

FREE Makeup Samples

I absolutely love eye makeup and lipglosses! And if you are anything like me makeup is better when it is FREE! You can score FREE samples of makeup easily. You can also score some deeply discounted make up at drugstores like CVS each and every month. You just need to know how to shop there. One website that I like to use is http://www.iheartcvs.com This store has great deals at CVS each week that are already put together for you!

One thing that you need to know about getting the best deals at CVS is that you are going to need to use coupons either from the newspaper or using coupons online and printing them.

GET these FREE MAKEUP SAMPLES NOW:

Bare Minerals

Maybelline mascara

Covergirl Fire

Covergirl Eyeshadow

Covergirl lipstain

Rimmel Lipgloss


I have put together a list of some free samples of makeup that you may want to get. Even if you do not wear certain brands you can get them for your friends as gifts! You simply just click the link and type in your email. It is that simple to get your free makeup!

How to Get Free or Really Cheap Diapers

Courtesy of Money Saving Mom

When it comes to having babies one of the largest expenses that you are going to have is diapers. However, this does not have to be your largest expense. I have learned a few tricks that will help you to get diapers at a deep discount or free. Here is what you can do...


Samples

One way to get diapers for free is to sign up for free samples. There are many places that you can go online to sign up for free samples for diapers for name brands such as Huggies Click here. Simply use your email to sign up. I have 2 kids in diapers so I used my email,, my husband's email, and my mom's email. So I was able to get 3 small packs of diapers!

Coupons

Many people cringe when they think about coupons, and I understand why. However, with technology today many people are able to have deals put together for them. To score deeply discounted diapers here is what you need to do.

• Sign up for a CVS card (online)
• download any and all diaper coupons onto card (online)
• use newspaper coupons/online coupons with  the CVS coupons (be sure to check that the brands match)
• save/earn money

For more information check out this video:

Use cloth diapers

For my second child we decided to use cloth diapers. I spent about $120 to get started with everything and I have saved thousands of dollars. Cloth diapers are awesome be cause you can reuse them. I like them especially when I add flushable liners to them. This makes my job so much easier. You can order your diapers from Amazon.com and get them pretty quickly.

If you are leary about using cloth diapers check out this video to see how easy it is. 

They have all types of beautiful colors and styles: