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Saturday, September 30, 2017
Friday, September 29, 2017
Nursing Bra Buying Guide -- Consumer Reports
Getting Started
Nursing bras look like regular bras, but the cups open or lower when you pull them aside, or unsnap, unzip, or unhook the closure. It’s convenient, but not essential, that you be able to open the cup for nursing quickly and simply with one hand. You might be holding your hungry baby with the other. If you can close it one-handed, too, that’s even better.
Whichever style you choose, proper fit is the key to comfort. Besides being uncomfortable, a bra that fits poorly may put pressure on your milk ducts, which can cause them to get plugged and lead to inflammation in the breast.
Many women buy the wrong-size nursing bra. A common mistake is to buy a larger band size but the same cup size you wear when you’re not pregnant. In fact, some women can stay with their original band size. The rib cage expands during pregnancy, but usually not enough to require a larger band size, although everyone is different. Some women may want to go up a band size for comfort. That’s fine as long as your bra has plenty of adjustment hooks in the back.
Most women will need a larger cup size during pregnancy. Wear what you find most comfortable and supportive–either a larger regular bra, a maternity bra, or a nursing bra that you buy early. Just as with nursing bras, an expert fitter can help you with maternity bras.
Depending on the manufacturer, cup sizes can range from A through D, then DD, DDD, E, F, G, H, and I. Another mistake, experts say, is that women may not invest in good-quality nursing bras since they don’t think they’ll be using them for long. Since this is a time when you most need extra support, it’s worth the investment to get something that will help you and keep you comfortable.
A professional fitting will ensure a comfortable fit and the correct size. Try on bras for size and feel, and practice with nursing pads in place. After you’ve bought one properly fitting bra, you can order more of the same style and size online or from a catalog. Many websites offer competitive deals.
Best for Breasts
Tempted to use your regular bra for nursing instead of a nursing bra? That’s one cost-saving measure you don’t want to make. Regular bras aren’t designed for nursing and may not give you the extra support you need to be comfortable. And lifting your regular bra up over your breast to nurse can put a lot of pressure on breast tissue.
Recommendations
The best nursing bras are comfortable and offer good support but don’t bind breasts in any way that could interfere with milk flow. For optimum support, the band and the straps should be made of nonstretchy fabric. But cups should have some “give” to accommodate your changing breast size at different phases of nursing.
Look for bras that are 100 percent cotton or a blend of cotton and Lycra or other stretchy synthetic. Since the right bra size is important and can help reduce the risk of breast-feeding complications, such as clogged milk ducts, shop at a maternity store or boutique that has an experienced bra fitter.
Talk to the Experts
Every woman’s body changes at different rates during pregnancy and after childbirth, and experts don’t all agree on when you should get fitted for nursing bras.
Pat Marcus, who founded the online company Decent Exposures after she was unable to find a comfortable bra for her larger bust, said some clients go up two cup sizes after they give birth. But in general, she says, women will find that their breasts get bigger when they first become pregnant, then their rib cage size may increase (or not). Once the baby is born, their breasts will increase again when they are ready to nurse, and then possibly decrease after a few weeks.
Marcus, who nursed her four children, tells clients to get at least one good supportive nursing bra late in their pregnancy but before they give birth, since they may not feel like going out to shop once they are home with the baby, and because their breasts might leak. “You should get one that fits your rib cage now and is a cup size bigger than what you think you need,” she says.
Jan Barger, a Chicago-area lactation consultant and registered nurse who breast-fed her three children, recommends not buying more than one nursing bra before your baby arrives because your size could be bigger once your baby is born and your milk comes in.
Barger says women should focus on getting used to nursing. To establish breast-feeding in the beginning, she says, it’s actually best if you don’t have much in the way. You’ll want your baby to figure out how to properly latch on by himself, which is critical. Meanwhile, you’ll be figuring out the most comfortable way to hold him. “For first time moms, in the first few weeks, you practically need to get naked,” she adds.
But since nursing bras are important, especially to avoid leaks and protect your nipples if they become sore during feedings as they adjust to the process, Barger recommends getting something inexpensive and easy to use at first. “Get some very comfortable sports bras for the first week or so, slightly larger than you’re wearing now, that you can pull down easily,” she says. Other experts suggest getting something similar to a sports bra, such as a “bralet,” which looks like a sports bra but has less support built into it, or a nursing “sleep bra.” You can nurse with any of these by simply pulling them; they don’t have hooks, snaps, or Velcro to worry about.
Once you get the hang of nursing and you’re more comfortable, your size will be easier to determine. That’s a great time to get professionally fitted for a nursing bra, Barger says, adding, “go out and get two or three good nursing bras.”
Your goal should be to find a nursing bra that gives you good support and feels comfortable. With a little experimenting and patience, your nursing bra will become something you don’t think about that often, just like your regular bra.
You can also discuss your choices with a lactation consultant. To find a one in your area, contact the hospital or birth center where you’ll deliver, or go to the International Lactation Consultant Association. Nursing mothers can also get support and advice from La Leche League International, a group that encourages breast-feeding through mother-to-mother support and meet-ups across the country.
Types
Just like regular bras, you’ll find a wide range of styles and prices for nursing bras. Whether you want an underwire design, a sports bra style, or a bra built into a camisole top, you can find it in a nursing bra. One innovation is the breast-pumping bra, which lets you pump milk hands-free. We haven’t tested these or any other nursing bras.
Closure locations vary depending on the bra, and include flaps that attach at the top near the shoulder strap, flaps that open and close between the two cups, and no flaps at all, where the cups just pull down for quick access. Latches vary, too. Squeeze or push-type latches are usually easy to operate with one hand compared with snaps or hooks. Here are some nursing bra types you may find available:
Sleep Nursing Bras
Most manufacturers have several nursing-bra lines, including models that are comfortable for sleeping or lounging in.
Soft-Cup Nursing Bras
You’ll also see traditional, seamless “soft cup” bras, that let you lower the cups from the hook closure near the shoulder strap.
Underwire Nursing Bras
Some women prefer an underwire style, that has clips to open the cups quickly.
Sports Nursing Bras
There are different kinds of sports nursing bras, usually wireless and made of spandex and nylon.
Tank-Top Bras
Nursing bras that are built into tank tops offer discreet nursing clips for quick breast-feeding access. “Some of my moms have had really cute cami-type tops that are made for nursing, and, especially in the summer, you don’t even notice that they are nursing tops,” says Jan Barger, a lactation consultant near Chicago.
Breast-Pumping Bras
Pumping bras can replace a nursing bra or in some cases be worn over one. They allow you to pump “hands free” with almost any brand of electric breast pump, either double or single. You can also try a pumping bustier.
Features
Support
In the world of nursing bras, support is queen. “This is when you are at your fullest,” says Rebecca Aughton, who owns a boutique near Detroit that offers a special “nursing salon.” Aughton says if you’re concerned about maintaining your figure after pregnancy and nursing, the best thing you can do is look for a really supportive nursing bra, whether or not it looks pretty or fashionable.
The best nursing bras fasten in the back but have flaps in the front for access. They also have strong side and under-cup support, and sometimes an extra-wide back for a fit that doesn’t feel tight and helps distribute the weight. Straps should be nonstretch but adjustable. Soft-cup styles usually feature a “no roll” band, which is a plus.
Extra Support
If your breasts are extra-ample, you might be a candidate for bras with extra-wide, padded shoulder straps and fuller cups. But be sure to try them on before you buy to see if they’re comfortable.
Closures
How you open and close the flaps on your nursing bra is important. The front flap on many nursing bras fastens at the top, near the shoulder strap. Other nursing-bra flaps open and close between the cups. Some don’t have a flap at all; the cups just pull down for quick access. Go with whichever type is easier for you to use with one hand without having to put your baby down. Squeeze or push-type latches are easy to operate with one hand compared with snaps, which usually take two hands to close. Practice in the dressing room at the store.
Adjustability
Near the end of your pregnancy and in the early weeks of nursing, your breasts may enlarge, sometimes significantly, and then return to a smaller size once breast-feeding is established. For greatest comfort, you’ll want a nursing bra with adjustable straps and multiple hook positions on the band so you can adjust it for comfort. Don’t be discouraged if the first bra you buy ends up not fitting; you may have to get fitted again once you start nursing, but the experts say it’s worth it.
Color and Style
While white is still common in nursing bras you can find pretty much any color you want now, including hot pink and prints. Some bras will look simple and utilitarian, while others might be lacy and fall more into the lingerie category.
Brands
Bebe au Lait
This Los Gatos, Calif.,-based brand develops products that pair “beautiful prints with luxurious fabrics to meet the needs of modern, active parents.” Established in 2004, Bebe au Lait has since grown into three brands: Hooter Hiders, Bebe au Lait, and most recently, Lille. Its products include burp cloths, hooded towels, luxury blankets, and nursing-cover sets, and are available through its website, specialty retailers, and national retail chains such as Babies “R” Us and Nordstrom.
Bravado!
Based in Toronto, this company started out with a leopard-print bra and two breast-feeding moms, about 20 years ago. Today, the company’s products include nursing bras and nursing tanks. Available at specialty shops and the company’s website.
Decent Exposures
For more than 15 years, this Seattle-based company has been fitting women of virtually every size and shape, from 30AAA to 60J, and every size in between. Its expanded product line includes nursing bras, front closure bras, clothing, and baby accessories, and even men’s undergarments.
Elomi
Begun by its parent company, Eveden, this European company produces lingerie, including nursing bras, for the fuller-figured woman.
Japanese Weekend
All of the company’s designing, sample sewing, and shipping take place in its headquarters in San Francisco, and nearly all of its garments are manufactured in San Francisco and Oakland, Calif. The company has patented several innovative and fashionable designs, which include the Ok support waistband, and Hug line.
La Leche League
Q-T Intimates is the newest licensee to be aligned with La Leche League International. It has created innovative nursing bras, including one that adjusts to a woman’s ever-changing body size. Its easy-to-open cups are mindful of the busy mom on the go. A portion of all LLLI licensed products goes to La Leche League International to support its many programs and services worldwide.
Le Mystere
Built on the premise that the fit of a bra “can truly change the life of a woman,” Le Mystère incorporates its “all about fit” approach to its designs. Products include smooth, T-shirt styles, lacy date-night styles, support-seamed options, nursing bras, and specialty/convertible bras.
Leading Lady
Leading Lady is a nursing and full-figure intimate apparel company. For more than 70 years, Leading Lady has
manufactured nursing and full-figure bras for various brands and retailers across North America. Now, Leading Lady’s comprehensive line of nursing and full-figure intimates can be purchased directly online.
Medela
Founded in 1961 in Zug, Switzerland, by Olle Larsson, the company continues under the ownership of the Larsson family. Medela serves its customers through 15 subsidiaries distributing to more than 90 countries worldwide. Medela’s U.S. subsidiary, Medela Inc., has been serving the American market for nearly 30 years. Products include breast pumps and accessories, breast-feeding devices, intimate apparel, and cleaning and mom-care products. Its website includes information for the expectant and nursing mother, a discussion board, and an “Ask the LC (Lactation Consultant)” section.
Shopping Tips
When you’re a nursing, a properly fitting bra is more important than ever. You’ll want comfortable ones that provide the right support, ones that don’t bind, pinch, hike up in the back or front, or irritate breast tissue. As we’ve said, most women experience changes in breast size during pregnancy and lactation. That’s why Rebecca Aughton, who has 17 years experience in the industry, recommends that women shop for a nursing bra two weeks before their due date.
Certified Bra Fitting
At Aughton’s Bra-vo Intimates shop, which opened 10 years ago in Royal Oak, Michigan, there’s a special “nursing salon” staffed with certified maternity and nursing-bra fitters. Pregnant or not, most women don’t wear the right size bra, Aughton says, but it’s even more important to get fitted when you are pregnant and nursing since that’s when the bust is fullest and needs more support.
Aughton recommends getting fitted for a maternity bra during pregnancy when your regular bras no longer fit. Then, when her clients come in two weeks before their due date, Aughton and her staff fit them for a supportive nursing bra as well as a sleep bra for those early, postdelivery days. Customers often come back and get fitted once again after they’ve established a nursing routine.
“When your milk comes in you just feel huge, and then after week four or five, you settle into the nursing, and you may come down a little bit in size,” Aughton says, “so it is nice to come back in and get fitted again.”
In addition to boutiques, you can also find nursing bras at maternity shops and some department stores, both of which should have staff on hand that can help you. Macy’s, for example, carries the Le Mystere line, while Nordstrom carries Elomi nursing bras (from the United Kingdom company Eveden, which has all sizes but also specializes in D+ sized intimate apparel). The Elomi Soft Cup Nursing Bra (about $56) is made from a “moisture-wicking” microfiber and features a quick-release clasp.
And of course, once you know your correct size, you can hunt for nursing bras in catalogs or online.
The Details
You’ll want some “give” or stretchiness in the bra cup to accommodate not only changes in your breast size, but also normal changes during the course of the day once you begin to nurse (breasts will become firm with milk and softer after nursing). The band on your bra should be comfortable, but that part of the bra also needs to be firm for proper support. Buy a bra with multiple hook positions so you can adjust it if needed. Shoulder straps should also be firm–not stretchy–for additional support and stability.
“The band should be firm,” Aughton says. “The band should be a really strong fabric. You want it to feel firm, bordering on tight,” she continues. “Ninety percent of your support comes from that band; 10 from the strap.”
Shop at a maternity store or boutique and ask if there’s a certified bra fitter on staff. This service is usually free. Aughton says you should try on bras and practice opening and closing the clips with one hand.
If you don’t know of a certified bra fitter or lactation consultant, perhaps someone affiliated with the hospital where you plan to deliver can offer advice and a referral to a certified fitter. Or go to the International Lactation Consultant Association. Many hospitals and birthing centers have lactation consultants on staff, and you should take advantage of their expertise if you can.
Support is the most important thing, so don’t get hung up on having a seamless bra if it doesn’t give you the best fit. “Don’t sacrifice support for fashion,” Aughton says.
Getting the Right Fit
When you’re being fitted, you’ll be measured under your arms. The tape measure will also be wrapped around your torso at the fullest point of the bust. The difference between the two measurements is your cup size. Once you get your official size, you can find a style you like and feel comfortable in. Don’t be put off by the size the fitter recommends, which could be much different from what you normally wear. Keep an open mind and try bras on before you decide whether they’re right for you. Once you realize the difference in support, comfort, and appearance (a properly fitting bra will make you look much better!), you won’t be hung up on letters of the alphabet. You may not end up with the bra size you thought you’d wear, but the bra probably will fit well.
If you decide to buy a nursing bra online or from a catalog, double-check the retailer’s instructions for measuring, since brands might be sized differently. And make sure you can return it in case it doesn’t fit.
If you have a large chest, you might have to search longer for a bra that fits well. One problem, says Pat Marcus, owner of the Decent Exposures lingerie boutique, is that some women with large breasts might need a big cup but still have a small back. Many traditional nursing bras that you’ll find in stores, she says, only go as far as DD or DDD cups, but you can find a wider variety of styles at specialty retailers. Aughton, of Bra-vo Intimates, says her best-selling nursing bra is a G cup, and she also sells bras up to cup size L.
What to Buy
Buy two or more bras; Aughton recommends having three on hand at all times—one to wear, one in the laundry, and a clean one in their drawer.
Plan to buy a sleep/loungewear bra for the early days of nursing when you’ll want to wear your nursing bra and pads 24/7 for leakage control. “Not everybody leaks,” says Pat Marcus, but you’ll want to have nursing pads on hand in case.
Cracked or sore nipples can lead to mastitis, a breast infection caused by bacteria. Aughton recommends changing your nursing pads frequently. You can find disposable ones as well as re-useable ones you throw in the wash. According to La Leche League, sore nipples are usually the result of improperly positioning the baby, so if you run into latching problems, reach out to a lactation consultant or the organization.
It’s fine to wear an underwire nursing bra if that is what you like, but make sure it fits properly. “The underwire should sit against the body; it should be flat,” Aughton says. “If you can fit your finger in the front, between your breasts, it’s the wrong size.”
Nursing-Bra Accessories
In addition to nursing bras, you’ll need disposable or washable cotton pads that you can tuck inside to absorb any leakage. The disposable types are usually made of super-absorbent material that wicks moisture away from the skin. They’re higher-tech than cotton nursing pads, but both types cost about the same. Both kinds prevent clothing stains and skin irritation, and are invisible to the outside world, so it’s just a matter of personal preference. You may also need special bra shells that can protect sore nipples from irritation or help draw out inverted nipples. You can find nursing pads and bra shells at drugstores, specialty maternity shops, and stores that sell baby products.
For instant privacy, many women use a baby blanket to cover their baby when nursing in public. But a nursing cover-up can be more secure because it won’t slip off as easily. Cover-ups have a strap that’s worn around the neck, which prevents them from shifting or allowing a baby to yank it off.
Whatever you choose, make sure there’s sufficient airflow for your baby once you’re covered up.
Nursing Clothes
You can buy special nursing shirts, dresses, and sleep garments that have strategically placed slits and flaps for quick access. While they make breast-feeding convenient, they’re not essential. Many moms make do with large shirts, button-down blouses, and tank tops they can easily lift or lower.
Jan Barger, a lactation consultant, says the one piece of nursing clothing that might really come in handy is a nursing nightgown or pajamas. “It’s something nice to have, so it’s easier for you,” she says.
Some nursing shirts can advertise that you’re nursing because of their front flaps, which consist of two extra pieces of fabric. If you plan to nurse for a while and want to be able to do it in public, a nursing top can make it easier and more comfortable.
With more manufacturers in the nursing-wear marketplace, you can find plenty of chic garments.
The newest generation of nursing wear—clingy tank tops and other shirts—have a built-in nursing bra (usually a shelf-type bra as opposed to one with individual cups) so you don’t have to wear one underneath. They’re something to consider for a change of pace, but make sure they provide the support you’ll need. And keep in mind that, like other “nursing” shirts, they might be more expensive than conventional clothes.
Some clothes are designed to help you move from maternity into nursing, which means you can get more wear out of them. Because maternity and nursing clothes are flexible and accommodating, they can be very comfortable in the first weeks or months of your child’s life. But if you plan to breast-feed for a while, you might eventually reintroduce your pre-pregnancy clothes into the mix and end up breast-feeding in whatever you wear that day.
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Cleaning and Installing the Storm Windows
Early fall chores continue at my Bedford, New York farm. To stay organized during seasonal transitions, we follow a schedule of tasks from one year to the next. [&hellip...
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Thursday, September 28, 2017
What To Know About The Australian Health Blogger Who Lied About Having Cancer And Got Fined $320,000
What To Know About The Australian Health Blogger Who Lied About Having Cancer And Got Fined $320,000
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September 28, 2017 at 05:04PM
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus Reveals She Has Breast Cancer
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Reveals She Has Breast Cancer
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September 28, 2017 at 02:38PM
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Feed those babies vol. 2
Well I tried making another lactation smoothie today, this time without those nasty bananas. Sorry to those of you that love them, but blah I hate them. This time I took a normal smoothie recipe and just added the flaxseeds, and since I need an extra boost to get some stored up for an up and coming date night I put two tbsp in instead of just one! Fingers crossed it works extra this time!
Here’s what I did:
Ingredients
- 1 cup strawberries
- 1 tray of ice cubes
- 1/2 cup of oats
- 1 cup Vanilla Unsweetened Almond Milk
- 2 tbsp seeds
For those of you that want it sweeter you can also add a 1/2 tsp of vanilla and/or splenda sweetener. But for me I’m trying to loose some inches so I held off on that. Maybe next time :)
Directions
- Add all ingredients in blender and blend away. Add ice cubes to get desired consistency.
Mine ended up a little thicker than I anticipated so I added another 1/8 cup of Almond milk to ‘water it down a bit’
I also made more than I needed so I put the extra in a bowl and am gonna freeze it for later to enjoy a yummy lactation ‘ice cream’.
My Review:
YUMM! That’s all I can stay at this point, I was able to finish the entire thing this time! I will update soon on how much it helped my production levels ☺️
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Boston University’s CTE Breakthrough Could Forever Change Football
Boston University’s CTE Breakthrough Could Forever Change Football
The ability to detect brain disease while players are still alive and active will be a massive win for player safety — and a massive problem for the viability of the game
September 28, 2017 at 12:54PM
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Can You Guess If These Strangers On The Street Are Carrying Condoms On Them?
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We were going to make a joke here, but there's nothing funny about STD and pregnancy prevention.
September 28, 2017 at 09:31AM
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Health App Developer Who Faked Her Own Cancer Fined $320,000 Over Hoax
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Belle Gibson, a 25-year-old Australian woman, built a health and wellness empire by not only pretending to have brain cancer, but then claiming to have cured her cancer with what she claimed were all-natural remedies.
September 28, 2017 at 08:32AM
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If I Played Youth Football, Will I Have CTE?
If I Played Youth Football, Will I Have CTE?
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September 28, 2017 at 07:31AM
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Lawn Maintenance at the Farm
Early fall is a great time to start those lawn maintenance chores. Yesterday at my Bedford, New York farm, the outdoor grounds crew tended to the expansive lawn [&hellip...
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Pea starch replacing cereals, pregnancy and lactation
During the pregnancy and lactation period, food for any animal species needs to be richer in energy, proteins and digestible, quality ingredients. It is important that pregnant and lactating animal have available concentrated nutrients to transfer first to the fetus and later to the developing litter.
Picture 1. Sow litter, picture courtesy of Pixabay
Thingnes et al., 2013, replaced cereals with the pea starch in the lactating sow’s diet.
As a result, sows had a higher average daily, weekly, and total feed consumption during lactation. There was a tendency for a higher backfat loss in the pea group during the first three weeks of lactation, but no difference was found in overall backfat loss between treatments. Dietary treatment did not affect litter performance during lactation.
Use of pea starch resulted in an improved body condition at weaning.
This study showed that pea starch meal can be used as an alternative source of starch in diets for lactating sows. The sows offered the pea diet had the highest feed consumption during lactation.
More about this study from reference:
Pea starch meal as a substitute for cereal grain in diets for lactating sows: The effect on sow and litter performance. Thingnes S.L., A., H., Kjos N., P., Hetland H., Framstad T., 2013. Livestock Science, 157: 1, 210-217
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Wednesday, September 27, 2017
The Post-Antibiotic Era Is Here. Now What?
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Now, the question is: How fast is pan-resistance going to spread?
September 27, 2017 at 10:00PM
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When ‘Not Guilty’ Is a Life Sentence
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What happens after a defendant is found not guilty by reason of insanity? Often the answer is involuntary confinement in a state psychiatric hospital — with no end in sight.
September 27, 2017 at 08:57PM
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Why Thousands of People Are Addicted to Examining Mouse Brains | Backchannel
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On a cool September evening, Judy Johanson curled up on her living room sofa with her iPad, carefully examining mouse brains. She's one of thousands of amateur scientists in the search for a cure for Alzheimer's.
September 27, 2017 at 04:22PM
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Feed those babies
Okay pumping moms, production that’s the topic today. I never had any issues with producing milk with my oldest, not once. If anything I produced more than I needed, but we know not to complain about that because we ALWAYS end up needing it. Well that’s not the situation here with my youngest now. I seem to always be producing ‘just enough’ or unfortunately not enough. What makes it suck even more? He REFUSES formula, so if we are out and I’m dry we are SOL till that milk comes in. So I will be trying, and reviewing for all of you, different lactation recipes and ‘pumping tricks’ to get production up.
The first recipe I am trying is a shake I found on Pinterest.
Before starting the shake once a day I monitored my pumping for two days. I mean I monitored it as much as I could, come on we moms are busy! Saturday I pumped 2 times, once in the morning, once in the afternoon, both until I was ‘dry’. The first ‘pump session’ I got a whopping 4 oz :/ and a disappoining 2oz for the afternoon one. Sunday I pumped in the morning, late afternoon, and even fit in a night time pump before the little man woke up for his nightly cuddles. This time I got 3oz, 4oz, and another 3oz. For my little guy being about 9 months old this is a very sad number to see on those bags 😔
Monday I tried the shake.
Remember I am also nursing my baby in between these pumping sessions, I just wanted to get a rough estimate on how much I was producing to see how well these shakes work.
The one I’m reviewing in this post is called The Chocolate Peanut Butter Lactation Shake
Ingredients:
- Frozen Banana
- 1/4 Cup Oats
- 2 tbsp Peanut Butter
- 1 tbsp flax seed
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 3/4 cup milk
- 2 cups ice, (I didn’t use any ice since we have an ‘antique’ fridge that doesn’t make any)
Directions:
Put the Oats in a blender and give it a few good ‘spins’ to break them up followed by adding the remaining ingredients.
If you used ice you may put as many cups in to get it to your desired consistency.
My Review:
If your trying this shake I hope you like bananas because I HATE them, so much even with all the chocolate and yummy stuff in this shake I couldn’t finish it. Only got half of it down.. You can ask my daughter I TRIED so hard to chug it down, I just couldn’t get past the banana taste 🤢. But the good news is even just half must have helped! That same day I was only able to fit one pumping session in during the afternoon and I got 5oz! And by time nighttime came I was engorged (a feeling I hadn’t had since the beginning of this adventure with him). I went to bed hopeful and happy.
Yesterday was another crazy day where I was only able to get one pumping in and this time I got 8oz! WHAT!! I hadn’t filled a bag with one session in a very long time.
To see these results with just drinking half the shake and only 1 tbsp of the seeds was very uplifting. If your a mom wanting to produce more for your little I highly reccomend this, I will be making a different flavor shake tomorrow to try and find one I can finish and enjoy to keep the production level up :)
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Diary of a concussion
Diary of a concussion
It's hard to understand a brain injury until you have one.
September 27, 2017 at 10:45AM
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Jimmy Kimmel Is Overjoyed That The GOP's Latest Health Care Bill Is Officially Dead
Jimmy Kimmel Is Overjoyed That The GOP's Latest Health Care Bill Is Officially Dead
Kimmel has been a vocal opponent of recent GOP healthcare reform efforts, hoping that all children can receive the same care as his infant son Billy, who was born with a heart condition. Kimmel emerged on stage last night happy that the Graham-Cassidy bill is dead in the water.
September 27, 2017 at 09:14AM
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The D&C Food & Wine Experience in Rochester
If you're in or around Los Angeles this weekend, come see me at my next USA Today Network Food & Wine Experience in Ventura, California Sunday, October 1st! [&hellip...
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Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Work and the Loneliness Epidemic
Work and the Loneliness Epidemic
There is good reason to be concerned about social connection in our current world.
September 26, 2017 at 06:20PM
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Man Partly Wakes From 15-Year Vegetative State—What It Means
Man Partly Wakes From 15-Year Vegetative State—What It Means
The 35-year-old was able to turn his head and react to visual cues after doctors put a device in his chest that stimulates the vagus nerve.
September 26, 2017 at 05:25PM
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The Mysterious Disease That Changed The Way We Think About Mercury Poisoning Life After Mercury Poisoning
The Mysterious Disease That Changed The Way We Think About Mercury Poisoning Life After Mercury Poisoning
From 1932 to 1968, tons of mercury seeped into the clear waters of Minamata Bay, Japan, causing health and environmental problems still felt today. As the first global treaty on mercury finally comes into force, what have we really learned from this disaster?
September 26, 2017 at 07:41AM
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Planting in My Vegetable Greenhouse
Fresh, organic produce will soon be growing in my vegetable greenhouse. After yesterday's post on preparing my vegetable greenhouse for planting, some of you asked how long it [&hellip...
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It's Okay To Politicize Your Child When Politics Are Threatening His Life
It's Okay To Politicize Your Child When Politics Are Threatening His Life
If our insurance company were allowed to impose a lifetime cap of $1 million, my son, who has cystic fibrosis, would hit it around the time he starts kindergarten.
September 26, 2017 at 01:45AM
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Monday, September 25, 2017
Watch A Quick-Acting Officer Prevent A Woman From Jumping Off A Bridge
Watch A Quick-Acting Officer Prevent A Woman From Jumping Off A Bridge
The Sacramento Police Department shared this video of one of their own to demonstrate the scenario-based training officers receive to verbally de-escalate crisis situations.
September 25, 2017 at 12:46PM
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Preparing My Vegetable Greenhouse for Planting
The vegetable greenhouse is ready for the next season of indoor growing! Now that fall has officially arrived, attention is directed toward preparing my vegetable greenhouse for planting [&hellip...
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Sunday, September 24, 2017
Week 10
My baby is in the double digits and I only have a week left at home with her! It’s been a doozy of a week for me personally, but Iris has been rather chill. If anything she’s become a professional raspberrier, and she still despises tummy time.
Naturally, I am worried about her lack of tummy time because I feel like she won’t crawl because she never wants to be in this position. Thankfully it feels like today I had some progress with her. I’ve gotten a few ten minute stretches in a row where she was pretty entertained by the mirror. I feel like a terrible mother saying this, but I feel like there will be a lot more progress with this once she goes to daycare. It breaks my heart to hear her cry and I think part of her learning is letting her struggle a bit. Maybe I’m wrong, but either way I’ll keep trying and hope she starts to enjoy it.
Thankfully her interest in toys has grown quite a bit. She is now able to grab toys and feel them. She hasn’t been shaking her rattle or anything, but she holds onto it. This kind of helps getting her places because she will look at her feet/hands for entertainment, or a toy. It’s also super fun because I feel like I can officially play with her! Before she was a slug now she’s like a caterpillar.
She had her two month appointment this week and I was surprised to hear that she is only 12lbs 5oz and 24 inches. She’s very tall there’s no denying that, but I could of sworn she was heavier she certainly feels like it. Her doctor said she’s “beautifully healthy” which is cool. She also got her shots which she handled fairly well. Even afterwards there was no signs of her being sick though we gave her a bit of children’s Tylenol just in case. The doctor recommended just 1.25 mL right after the shots. Either way I am proud of her for being a champ.
So, the biggest part of my week involved my mental health. My stress levels have been sky high and I found myself super down about the breast milk issue. I discussed this with her pediatrician and she recommended I go see my OB. My OB is honestly not the kindest dude so I didn’t feel comfortable discussing my feelings with him so the office paired me with a nurse practitioner. I’ve also never gotten an appointment so fast as I did when I mentioned being worried about postpartum depression. I discussed with her the fact that my supply dropped and I’ve been working hard to bring back a semblance of a supply, but mentioned I felt sad as a result.
The other thing lingering on my mind that is bringing me down is returning to work. I just don’t feel mentally ready for it yet, but I know I need to. She said she was glad I came in when I did because if I didn’t and I continued feeling like this when I returned to work it may have been worse. I was prescribed 25mg of Zoloft and Reglan. Reglan is for the breastmilk production it’s a muscle relaxer that increases prolactin which helps with production. It was also recommended I try Fenugreek as a supplement to the Reglan to help boost as much as possible.
I take both Reglan and Fenugreek four times daily, drink a shit ton of water/coconut water, and drink oatmeal stoudt as well as eat oatmeal. My production looked like this:
Now at the end of the week it looks like this:
It’s nothing compared to what I pumped before, but it’s progress. I’d be happy to feed her 3-4oz per day with her bedtime bottle. It’s been a rough week, but I am so happy to see progress! We’ll see if it increases anymore, but I’m not getting my hopes up because once I return to work it’ll probably dip to where it is now anyways.
As for the Zoloft I feel like I don’t feel as terrible, but that could be the result of a bunch of things. Time will tell. I will say I am a bit worried about potentially being pregnant with #2. I have some dark brown bleeding that started on Friday and symptoms that identical to when I found out I was pregnant before. As happy as I would be to have another I am in no way prepared for that. So, to say it’s been a “heavy” week would be an understatement.
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Don’t overthink your exercise: just 2.5 hours per week of any kind could help you live longer
Don’t overthink your exercise: just 2.5 hours per week of any kind could help you live longer
Just 2.5 hours per week of any kind could help you live longer
September 24, 2017 at 05:31PM
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Saturday, September 23, 2017
Photo
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The Tricky Path to Employment Is Trickier When You’re Autistic
The Tricky Path to Employment Is Trickier When You’re Autistic
Autistic children grow up to be autistic adults. Our society doesn’t give them the support they need.
September 23, 2017 at 06:03PM
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Taking a Break From Dieting Could Actually Help You Lose Weight
Taking a Break From Dieting Could Actually Help You Lose Weight
One problem with dieting is that when you give your body less energy to operate, it adapts to use less energy, which can slow weight loss.
September 23, 2017 at 11:42AM
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Launching My New Garden Collection on QVC
Be sure to tune Monday, September 25th, at 6pm ET when I launch my new Fashion Collection on QVC! Earlier this week, I launched the first items from [&hellip...
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Friday, September 22, 2017
A Tender Conversation Between A Father And His Autistic Son
A Tender Conversation Between A Father And His Autistic Son
Chase desperately wanted to go play Nerf guns with a group of kids he met over a year ago. His dad has to gently let him know it's not in the cards today.
September 22, 2017 at 02:57PM
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Jimmy Kimmel Hits Back Against GOP Critics, Sticks To His Guns That The New Healthcare Bill Is Bogus
Jimmy Kimmel Hits Back Against GOP Critics, Sticks To His Guns That The New Healthcare Bill Is Bogus
"Their argument is that it's better to put these decisions in the hands of states... if Florida could make their own decisions it would be legal to bring an alligator to a strip club."
September 22, 2017 at 09:25AM
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Touring My Gardens with the Bedford Farmers Club
Today is the first day of fall - a wonderful time of year to walk through the gardens of my Bedford, New York farm. As you all know, [&hellip...
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Thursday, September 21, 2017
Tom Brady doesn’t want to talk about CTE
Tom Brady doesn’t want to talk about CTE
The five-time Super Bowl champion's new book fails to acknowledge the disease.
September 21, 2017 at 06:47PM
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This Graph Showing Fertility Rates In Flint Before And After The Water Crisis Is Legitimately Shocking
This Graph Showing Fertility Rates In Flint Before And After The Water Crisis Is Legitimately Shocking
The authors of a new working paper estimate that the lead poisoning resulted in enough fetal deaths and miscarriages to decrease Flint's fertility rate by 12 percent.
September 21, 2017 at 02:11PM
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What Would Happen If You Never Stopped Doing Push-Ups?
What Would Happen If You Never Stopped Doing Push-Ups?
Why can’t you do, like, a million push-ups? It’s not because your muscles are small.
September 21, 2017 at 07:30AM
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A Garden Tour for the Pacific Horticulture Society
There's always something new to see during tours of my Bedford, New York farm. Yesterday, I opened my gardens to the Pacific Horticulture Society, a non-profit resource for west [&hellip...
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Wednesday, September 20, 2017
The American fix
The American fix
Getting small towns to accept their presence is now one of Groups' biggest challenges. "I think what we battle now, in these small towns, is that they have to identify as addicts, and realize they have a problem."
September 20, 2017 at 08:45PM
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How Blue Jeans Endangered the Lives of Six Children in 1963
How Blue Jeans Endangered the Lives of Six Children in 1963
The year was 1961 and the setting no more mythic than Fresno County, California. An eight-year-old boy sat pale and glassy-eyed in his classroom.
September 20, 2017 at 02:04PM
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This Little Girl Was Born With Her Heart Outside Of Her Chest. Watching Her Laugh Is Surreal.
This Little Girl Was Born With Her Heart Outside Of Her Chest. Watching Her Laugh Is Surreal.
Virsaviya has an extraordinarily rare condition called Pentalogy of Cantrell, which caused her heart to form outside her chest protected only by a layer of skin.
September 20, 2017 at 12:14PM
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Blind People Poignantly Describe Racism
Blind People Poignantly Describe Racism
Just because you're blind doesn't mean you can't be racist.
September 20, 2017 at 12:14PM
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Jimmy Kimmel Absolutely Roasts Senator Bill Cassidy For His Crappy Healthcare Bill
Jimmy Kimmel Absolutely Roasts Senator Bill Cassidy For His Crappy Healthcare Bill
It's nice to hear Kimmel weigh in on the GOP's Graham-Cassidy bill since he has such a personal connection to it.
September 20, 2017 at 10:24AM
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Manafort, Rocket Man and the New GOP Health Care Bill: A Closer Look
Manafort, Rocket Man and the New GOP Health Care Bill: A Closer Look
"The GOP is like your friend who knows only one song on the guitar and he's drunk and no one wants to hear it but he's tuning it up again."
September 20, 2017 at 09:21AM
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