There were many things I liked about it — it fit snugly ( it’s adjustable with velcro panels). You can wear it without or with straps – which can be configured in a halter, tank or racerback style. It zipped from the top to the bottom- which at first I thought it was odd, but worked really well. Especially with taking off the breast pump shields (attached to full bottles of milk.). Not a drop of precious milk spilled out of the breast shield openings on the bustier while pumping – the seal was tight (the opening is layered 4 ways with fabric). The only thing I didn’t like was that I kept  putting it on upside down and confusing myself, so to make sure I got it right, I attached a black hair band to the right strap on the bustier and my problem was solved!

Thank you to Simples Wishes for the product sample.

With my previous two children, I almost exclusively used Lanisohn’s disposable nursing pads. I think I received my first box as a gift or as a recommendation from another mom and stuck with them because I loved everything about them. Everything that is, except the waste. Yes, they were discrete, absorbent, and convenient, but I’d go through at least two, sometimes three sets of pads a day and with each individually packaged, it felt like a lot going into the landfill. So this go around, I started to look into washable, reusable breast pads and after finding Milk Diapers nursing pads I can’t believe I waited so long.

My biggest concern was that the pads were indeed going to be absorbent. Landfill or not, if the pads leaked through, they weren’t worth it to me. I was most intrigued with Milk Diapers’ waterproof Moisture Guard pads, but the company also generously sent along samples of their  4-Layer and  4-Layer Lace Front pads. I’ve had a chance to try out all three styles and have been completely satisfied with all of them. The pads are absorbent (one pad lasts me all day without a problem), discrete (though thin, unlined bras may show edges and the 5-layer Moisture Guard pads are of course thicker) have held up well in the wash, are affordable and come in a variety of set sizes and colors.

Lanisohn disposables – I still love you, but will be sticking with Milk Diapers for Mother Earth’s sake.

The other breastfeeding product I’ve upgraded is my breast pump. For my last two, I relied on a hand-me-down manual pump that was noisy, uncomfortable and not very effective. But since baby #3 arrived, I’ve had the chance to try out Medela’s Pump In Style Advanced Shoulder Bag.

Wow. To go from a single, manual pump to a double, electric has been life-changing. The Medela Pump In Style Advanced is relatively quiet, convenient to use and very effective. Unlike other pumps that have lots of different buttons and knobs, the Pump In Style has one adjustable speed/vacuum dial to let me find the best suction. Turning this knob begins the Pump In Style’s 2-part expression technology that mimics a baby’s normal nursing patterns.  It starts off with a quicker, stimulation phase and after two minutes, switches to an expression phases. If you don’t need the full two minute stimulation phase, there is a single button to push to automatically switch to expression (this same button also lets you switch back to stimulation phase if needed).

The pump comes with the following pieces – and all of of those that are in contact with milk are BPA-free:

• Shoulder bag
• Battery pack (8AA batteries not included)
• Removable cooler carrier
• 4 – 5 oz breastmilk bottles, lids & travel cap
• Wide base slow-flow nipple
• 2 – 24 mm PersonalFit™ breastshields
• 2 valves
• 4 membranes
• Ice pack

I especially like this shoulder bag version (you can also buy the Pump In Style as a backpack or a metro bag) – it’s discrete enough to keep out in out living room when company is over and easy to bring along when I have to work out of the house (the battery pack also makes this easier).

Whether you’re expecting your first child or your adding more to your nest, check out Milk Diapers and Medela to see if they are a good fit for you.

Filled with nursing essentials, the gift set is a cute and compact solution to many early breastfeeding troubles.  The set contains 12 disposable bra pads, a 2oz tube of Tender Care Lanolin Advanced Nipple Therapy, 2 Tender Care Hydrogel pads, a Mother’s Minder bracelet, and an info/breastfeeding log.  Having all of these products together in one little bag made traveling super easy – especially since we went out of town for a wedding just 3 short weeks after Gianna arrived.

The breast care set would make an excellent gift for a baby shower or when visiting a new mommy.  Every nursing mother experiences some discomfort and frustration.  Share some relief and a little support with these tools.  The Medela Breast Care Gift Set can be purchased at Motherhood Maternity and Amazon.com from $24.

A sample of the Medela Breast Care Gift Set was provided for review on MWS.

Until I purchased an electric breastpump by Ameda. What a difference the electric breast pump made. Suddenly I could pump quickly, adjusting the strength and speed. With a little practice, I could type while pumping. It was so easy to adjust for comfort and speed. I was filling bottles in minutes.

From personal experience, pumping takes practice. And it takes dedication. You have to realize that you’re adding a breastfeeding session to your regular schedule–which you will have enough milk produced to do as long as you’re consistent in it to build up your supply.

Happy to already have a valuable pump, I didn’t even consider the need for a new one. Until I was reminded that my old Ameda, the Purely Yours, was created before this whole BPA thing broke out and since I warm up the milk in the bottles before feeding, I realized I would need all new bottles and, probably, a pump. I didn’t consider the other brands because I was so in love with my Ameda from the past. The great news is that Ameda responded to the BPA crisis and reintroduced the Purely Yours to be BPA free. Of course, needing a new one, I’m sampling the Purely Yours Ultra which comes with Custom Fit Flanges.

That’s a new word for a new-to-pumping mama, I’m sure. Flanges are the part of the pump that grasps the breast. Its also the part that can hurt or can leak if its too tight or loose. Which is why the custom fit is so so helpful. Each kit comes with 3 different sizes  so you can use the one that’s best for you (and your breast size will change throughout your pumping career, so be don’t toss the 2 you’re not using).  The Ultra also includes adjustable suction and speed for each pump (there are 2 so you can quickly pump both breasts at the same time.) And, when ordering the full kit, you’ll receive a chic carry bag, cold case, car adapter (you will SO use this on vacation!) and more. Its an investment… but if you’re set on pumping its totally worth it.

Buy it at Ameda Baby and receive free shipping on orders over $39.

To read some breastfeeding tips for working Moms from Ameda, continue reading.

Working Moms and Breastfeeding:
A recent study indicates that only 36 percent of U.S. babies are breastfed through six months. One major reason why moms stop breastfeeding early is a return to the workforce. Following are some tips and advice from Ameda to help moms have a successful breast pumping experience in the office.

• Start pumping once a day, three to four weeks before you return to work. Not only will this allow you to build up a reserve of milk in your freezer, it gives you plenty of time to practice and feel comfortable with your pump

• Talk to your boss about in-office pumping. Having a discussion about where and how often you’ll be pumping, as well as where you plan to store your milk, will eliminate confusion and uncertainty on both ends. If your company doesn’t have a lactation room, ask to use a private office, empty conference room or lounge.

• Invest in the best breast pump you can afford. A good pump does a better job expressing milk, while ineffective pumps leave breasts more full, which can slow milk supply. For moms working full time, the best choice is usually an automatic double pump like the Ameda Purely Yours Ultra. The Ultra uses hospital-grade technology, is lightweight and offers custom features that allow working moms to pump efficiently and effectively

• Keep in mind that the situation is temporary. Breast pumping at work isn’t always easy, but just remember that most moms stop sometime between their baby’s ninth and twelfth months, and that your baby is benefitting from your extra effort

Source: Ameda Breastfeeding Products. For more tips and information about breastfeeding and breast pumping, visit http://www.ameda.com/.

Breastfeeding, while a natural and beautiful thing, is not always easy. There’s the discomfort of engorgement, the pins and needles of let down (the term alone is a clue), and the leaking and extreme “don’t touch me!” tenderness of the first few weeks. Even if you are lucky enough to avoid mastitis or the more common problems of sore nipples, you may worry that you are making too much milk or worse… not enough. The road to breastfeeding your infant is rarely bump free.
And so Medela made the pump. The pump is your friend, helping you regulate your milk production, helping you deal with and heal from a wide range of breast feeding snafus. Helping you bank your own stash in the hopes of an occasional date night or margarita night with the girls. It is your savior in the long dark night that your partner is assigned to feed the baby your bottled milk while you sleep. It lets you get back to work. The pump, my friends, is sanity!
But up until recently, most quality pumps were large, loud and cumbersome devices that required three hands, and ton of spare time. Aftermarket solutions promised a hands free pumping experience. And resulted in spilt milk that was worth crying over. Perhaps I am just a spazz, but I had yet to experience anything that worked and was mostly resigned to the literal timesuck that pumping demanded. I also often ended sessions stressed out that I was not “producing” enough. My stress about being interrupted by the phone or a needy child while pumping only made it more difficult to achieve letdown.
Medela, the leader in breastpumps has changed all that for me with their new Freestyle pump. It’s no surprise that this pump has won a prestigious JPMA Innovation Award. They have put their patented two phase technology in a small, portable, lightweight, battery equipped unit that can be used any time, anywhere… but wait there’s more…completely hands free. Medela consulted with over a thousand breastfeeding moms to make this the very best pump ever. And they have succeeded. Some of the fab features include:
* Personal memory settings let you personalize the pump for the amount of time it takes to achieve let down and your personal suction preferences.
* The unit is lightweight enough to wear while walking around
* A rechargeable battery means you are truly free to move about your cabin and pump unplugged. Need to pump in the car, in a restroom, or while camping in the woods? No problem!
With this much freedom, there are a ton of things you could do while pumping… if you dare! Most importantly, you can relax a little about both breastfeeding and pumping, which is bound to lead to a better experience.
To watch a demo, learn more about this award winning product and read some more mom testimonials, or to purchase a Freestyle pump, visit the Medela website.
And please take a moment to leave us a comment sharing what sorts of things you wish you could do while pumping!