Posts Tagged ‘breastfeeding’
This Nursing Bra is Sublime – Plus win one for yourself!
Bravado is probably my favorite breastfeeding company. I love that they sell only nursingwear – There is a place for pumps and compatible bottles, but I dig that Bravado focuses on fostering a skin-to-skin breastfeeding relationship above all. Their site includes a good amount of helpful breastfeeding info, and I love that they have a specific section dealing with the first six weeks of breastfeeding, which I found to be hands-down the most difficult period as a new mom.
I recently reviewed the Bravado Sublime Nursing Bra. The Sublime is a sexier bra, with elegant satin and gorgeous lace detailing, but still offers easy, full nursing access. Equally beautiful and functional, the Sublime Nursing Bra would make a fabulous Mother’s Day gift.
The Sublime isn’t as quite supportive as the Body Silk Seamless nursing bra I reviewed before, but it isn’t designed to be. I would choose to wear the Sublime underneath a slinky tank top or blouse, whereas the Silk Seamless would be better under a t-shirt. I’d recommend the Sublime for a mama who has established breastfeeding, doesn’t leak much and is ready to feel sexy again. It would also be a great maternity bra. Honest to blog, I love Bravado bras enough to wear even when not pregnant or nursing. So comfortable!
Sizing for Bravado nursing bras is really easy and customer service will assist you if needed – I’ve reviewed two Bravado nursing bras now and they both fit perfectly. For a new or busy mom especially, being able to simply place an order online confidently is a big deal.
(I reviewed the matching Sublime bikini panties as well, and for those I would recommend sizing down! I am definitely not lacking in the butt department, so given as the options are S/M or L/XL, I assumed the largest size was a no-brainer. Unfortunately I was wrong and they are too big for me. If you’re on the fence for Bravado undies, definitely go smaller.)
Bravado offers a variety of perfect bras for breastfeeding, nursing tanks in a variety of fun colors, and reusable breast pads.
Bravado 20th Anniversary Giveaway
This year, Bravado is celebrating their 20th anniversary of helping moms with breastfeeding tips and superior nursingwear! To celebrate, they are giving away two nursing bras (of your choice!) and a tank – Choose from three super easy entry options and enter here.
Win a Sublime Nursing Bra from Alternative Housewife
Enter here (on this post) to win a Sublime Nursing Bra from Alternative Housewife! Leave a comment for each entry below – Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.
Entry Options:
* Mandatory entry: Either follow Bravado on Twitter or like Bravado on Facebook (You may do both for one entry each.)
* Sign up for the Bravado newsletter
* Follow Alternative Housewife via RSS feed
* Like Alternative Housewife on Facebook
* Tweet about this giveaway (Include a link to this post. You may tweet once per day.)
* Share a link to this post on Google+
* Share a link to this post on Facebook
This giveaway is hosted by Bravado and is only open to CA/US residents (Quebec/Florida excluded, sorry).
Giveaway ends Mother’s Day, May 13th, at midnight PST. Winner will be chosen randomly and contacted by me, so be sure to leave a valid email address with your comments. (Email addresses will not be published.) I have received products from Bravado for the purpose of this review but all opinions here are my own – I genuinely love this brand!
Breastfeeding Update: Nursing my toddler (18 months)
Online, I know a lot of other moms who are breastfeeding their toddlers. A lot of them have nurslings much older than Sebastian. Offline though, I only know TWO other moms who nursed their kids past one year old, and one of those is my mom. I’ve been asked a few times how long I plan to breastfeed Sebastian. The short answer is, as long as he wants. My initial goal was to breastfeed for at least one year. (Sebastian is currently 18 months old.) The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least one year and the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for two years or more (with solid foods added to supplement breastfeeding after six months). At this point, I cannot imagine Sebastian weaning before two years, which (most of the time) is just fine with me.
Breastfeeding a toddler might be weird if a walking, talking kid just started sucking milk from your breast one day. But that isn’t how it happens. Kids grow day by day! You start off nursing a sweet newborn, and it’s a learning process. For me, the first six weeks were very hard, but it was smooth sailing after that and suddenly we were halfway to my goal of a year. He breastfed less as we started introducing solids, and less when he started walking. In the past few months though, his nursing has really skyrocketed. At 18 months, I would say he is now nursing more often than he did at six months.
At this stage, Sebastian nurses in bed upon waking, then again on the couch about an hour later. He nurses several times a day, sometimes before and after meals. He breastfeeds down for his daily nap and at bedtime. Sometimes he nurses once or twice during the night, other times he wants it every 2-3 hours or more.
The Bad – Feeling touched out
For the most part, it’s the daytime nursing that gets under my skin. If I sit down to eat and he wants to nurse, he will attempt to knock the food out of my hand. If I’m on the computer, he slams my laptop shut and signs “all done” before tugging at my shirt. I’ve been (gently!) making it clear that his bossy behavior doesn’t fly with me. I know that he doesn’t realize that what he’s doing is rude. He is just now learning (genuinely) that the world doesn’t revolve around him – That must be a hard revelation!
All nursing mothers feel touched out at some point, and I definitely have moments where I want to cry and crawl into a hole where no one can touch me! Donny does his best to support me but my complaining gets to him sometimes, and things tend to escalate at that point. I’m really working on keeping the bulk of my complaints to myself (or venting on Twitter instead). It’s hard to stay positive when your boobs hurt and your kid wakes from a DEAD SLEEP the second you try to slip your nipple from his mouth. But even on the very worst days, the thought of actually weaning right now makes me choke up.
The lovey-dovey good stuff
- Magic sleepy-calm juice. Lounging at a friend’s house recently, she marveled at how content Sebastian was just to lie on the bed with me, nursing lazily. Breastfeeding is an easy, instant tool that we can use anywhere. I can get Sebastian to sleep anywhere. At 1.5 years old, there is yet to be a meltdown that nursing won’t stop in its tracks. Aside from the routine, the composition of breast milk itself is conducive to sleep. During nighttime feedings, melatonin is released into breast milk. There is a reason that even adults still crave warm milk at bedtime!
- Sleep-aid for mamas. Your body produces the feel-good hormone oxytocin during breastfeeding. Not only does oxytocin provide what feels like a mild buzz, it also makes you sleepy. I try not to nap when Sebastian naps because I fiercely covet that free time, but occasionally we’ll have a nursing nap together and it is the best, most refreshing thing ever. Last week we slept for three straight hours in the early afternoon and it felt like being born again.
- The bonding. While having a kid who wants only you can be very frustrating, there is nothing sweeter than when Sebastian wakes up, pats his chest (“want”) and then signs for milk. Except for maybe the little giggle and relaxed sigh he lets out as I lie down next to him.
- Nursing through sickness. Breastfed kids get sick less but when they do, you’ll be happy that it’s just breast milk being spewed all over you. Honestly, it’s no worse than newborn spit-up.
- Hilarious nursing positions. Sebastian rarely just settles in my arms to nurse. Instead, he pushes his butt into the air, claps his hands and gives his daddy fist-bumps while he eats. Sometimes he kicks his feet up on the back of the couch, nursing completely upside-down in what we’ve dubbed “the keg stand”. The rare times when he does just relax & cuddle up to nurse in my arms, he feels like my baby again and it’s extra special.
- Tig ol’ bitties. I love my breastfeeding boobs — Hello, two new cup sizes! It almost makes up for breastfeeding totally not making the baby weight drop off the way I’d hoped.
Nursing in public
I posted a few times recently about not breastfeeding Sebastian in public anymore — and of course I Twitter-jinxed it! He has been asking to nurse while we are out lately and I’m happy to oblige. I prefer eating one-handed to chasing my toddler around a restaurant any day!
I really like breastfeeding in public. I like to think that I’m helping more people view breastfeeding as normal, and that I’m encouraging other mamas and future-mamas to do the same. I feel like being young and having a certain style, I might influence a set of people that wouldn’t pay much attention to breastfeeding otherwise. I never use a cover and don’t go out of my way to be especially discreet. Most of the time though, I think people assume I’m just snuggling my kiddo.
As I have written here before, there was a time when I found the idea of breastfeeding toddlers off-putting. I’m not proud of it, but I do get it when people have that initial reaction. You can see that post here – Breastfeeding a child who can chew steak. I am happy to be older and wiser, and my husband is equally on board if Sebastian wants to nurse for a couple more years.
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Past breastfeeding posts that you may also find helpful:
How-to: Comfy Mama Style An easy guide to breastfeeding-friendly fashion
Breastfeed Lying Down Tips & information about my favorite breastfeeding position
My breastfeeding product reviews:
Bravado Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra review Hands-down the best bra I’ve ever owned
Glamourmom Nursing Tank review (The striped tank I’m wearing in the third pic in this post)
Danish Wool Breast Pads review I don’t need breast pads anymore but these are the best
My New Mom Must-Haves Includes my favorite certified non-toxic breastfeeding pillow
Quick links to my favorite breastfeeding products:
Bravado Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra
Bravado Sublime Nursing Bra
Gilligan & O’Malley nursing tanks Comfortable and affordable for everyday wear
Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter
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I’d love to hear about your breastfeeding experiences, and am happy to answer any questions in the comments!
Please vote for me :) – Breastfeeding Photo Contest
I entered this photo in BumbleWee Nursing Wear’s Breastfeeding and Newborn Photo Contest and I really want to win.
It is really easy to vote – You don’t have to sign up for anything – and I’d really appreciate it! I entered the photo above, a fave that my husband snapped on the beach this summer. We were trying to get some photos of Sebastian playing in the sand but he had other plans and only wanted his milkies!
Please take a moment to Vote for my photo!
How-to: COMFY Mama Style (Staples + 3 looks)
Having great style as a mom can be tricky enough once you’ve returned to your pre-baby size and adjusted to a new routine. It’s even tougher when you are still carrying baby weight. I am still 20 pounds from my goal weight and my baby is almost one – barely even a baby anymore! Dressing and going out in the beginning is definitely the hardest. Add to that a new breastfeeding relationship and possible c-section recovery and you may be temped to just throw on yoga pants everyday. But for the love of you, DON’T! This is my quick post-baby style guide, made up from a few basic items that can be rotated and thrown on quickly.
Post-partum Style Must-Haves:
- Oversize v-neck tops (Various sizes for different looks + as you shrink)
- Several nursing tank tops or tops
- Boyfriend cardigan or poncho
- Leggings
- Maxi dress
- Pretty sandals (Not rubber flip-flops)
- Baby-friendly statement jewelry (One durable necklace, bangle bracelets)
Outfit #1: Cute v-neck t-shirt, leggings, embellished sandals or ballet flats, nursing necklace. A v-neck top draws the line to your bust, likely a great asset right now! Bonus: It allows easy access for breastfeeding. Choose a top that is 2x too big so that it covers your whole butt. Slide into some comfortable leggings and slip your feet into some sexy sandals (I know it’s hard but get yourself a pedicure, even if you do it yourself while your baby is napping). If it isn’t warm where you are, opt for bejeweled flats instead. If you are breastfeeding (which I hope you are), add on a stylish nursing necklace (or any other necklace that is safe enough for Baby to tug on with supervision).
Outfit #2: Cute v-neck, belt, stretch denim jeans, embellished sandals or ballet flats, bracelets. I recommend buying a cute but cheap pair of jeans a couple of weeks after giving birth. Either shop secondhand or hit up Target or F21. (You may also be able to get away with your maternity jeans for awhile.) Pair with a low-cut top (Again, show off your best feature) or a basic tank top if the weather is warm. A stretchy rope belt adds a pop of color while keeping jeans in place on your changing body. Chunky bracelets and rings are fun for your baby to look at and give your look instant polish.
$7.80 - forever21.com
Outfit #3: Maxi dress, embellished sandals or ballet flats, nursing necklace, cardigan, belt. A maxi dress will work for most seasons and is so comfortable! Wear it alone or belted in summer, or wrap the belt around a cardigan in the cooler months. Perfect for lounging around with your newly-expanded family, running errands or even going out to dinner. There are many cotton maxi dresses stretchy enough for nursing, or you can invest in a nursing dress especially made to discreetly breastfeed in.
$28 - oldnavy.gap.com
Hopefully these ideas give you some inspiration to look great even post-partum. I was a hot mess after delivering my baby and wish I had put more effort into my looks those first few months. It is hard to find the time to ‘dress up’, but a handful of staples you can mix and match makes it a whole lot easier. There is no reason you can’t look great even with a new baby.
© 2012