Choosing Your Breast Pump

When I found out I was pregnant I remember telling my mom I was just going to pump because I was too nervous about breastfeeding and thought that was the best choice.  My mom told me that I would love breastfeeding once the baby was here and I would get over feeling uncomfortable and nervous. She was 100% right.  I pump and nurse my 6 month old, I am very lucky he takes both.  If you are anything like myself, you may not feel comfortable or don’t have the patience and that is totally OK.  We are so lucky now because there are so many different kinds of pumps to be sure that your baby can get your milk even if you don’t want to nurse.  I am literally more married to my breast pump than I am my husband right now.  My family is always joking about it because it feels like every time I see them I am pumping. My dad calls it the dairy farm.  Considering that you will be basically in a relationship with your pump if this is the route you chose, it is so important to get a good pump you are comfortable with and all the proper accessories.

Some advice I can give you is to absolutely take advantage of the few days post birth that you are in the hospital.  The nurses are there to help.  Do not be afraid to ask questions, talk to a lactation consultant, really utilize the time you have with the staff.  When I was in the hospital for the few days post birth, I had the most amazing nurse.  I told her my reservations about nursing and that I wanted to just pump.  She was so supportive and set me up with a pump ( I already had received one at my baby shower, but did not have it in the hospital).  She did encourage me to just try nursing because babies are better at getting the milk out of your breast.  I nursed and he latched wonderfully and I also pumped.  She waited with me while I pumped each breast for 20 minutes each and guided me through every step of the way.  If you are feeling nervous or uncomfortable, I urge you to take advantage of the nurses and lactation consultants.

There are 3 specific types of breast pumps you can choose from to use.

Hospital-grade Breast Pump

Hospital-grade breast pumps are the most powerful pumps.  These are the pumps typically used to establish your milk supply.  In some cases where mother and baby are separated because of complications hospital-grade breast pumps are used to be sure your baby will get your milk even though you can not nurse.  Hospital-grade pumps are also available to rent from stores and hospitals.  You will need to get all your own proper accessories for your pump if you do rent.

Electric Breast Pump 

Electric breast pumps are offered as a single-breast model or a double-breast model.  With a single-breast model you can only pump one breast at a time.  A double-breast pump allows you to pump both breasts at the same time and you can also pump one breast at a time if you need to.  

Electric breast pumps are a very efficient way to pump milk. The beauty of the electric pump is it mimics your baby’s natural sucking pattern. You should expect to pump for at least 15 minutes every time you pump, 30 minutes if you pump each breast separately, 15 minutes per breast. 

Most electric pumps come with the necessary accessories you will need for pumping effectively and feeding your baby.

Electric pumps can be expensive, but now, most insurance companies will help pay if not completely pay for your breast pump.  You should absolutely contact your health insurance and inquire about this before you buy a breast pump.

A note for all mommas, do not share your breast pump with anyone. Even if you’re friend is going to use their own accessories, I do not recommend it. Small drops of milk can get inside the pump and pass viruses and bacteria.

Manual Breast Pumps 

Manual breast pumps are exactly as it sounds, you manually have to pump your breasts by squeezing a hand pump.  A manual breast pump is great for on the go if you don’t want to bring your electric pump when you go out and you know you will need to pump.  They are much more discrete than the electric breast pumps.  I always keep my manual breast pump in the diaper bag just in case.  It is small and easy to use if my electric breast pump is unavailable.

There are so many accessories for your breast pump, but it is normally a one time expense.  Most breast pumps come with what you will need, but if you want to get back ups or your pump doesn’t include them, here is a list of all the accessories you will need for pumping.

Breastshield -- They are cups that fit over your nipples and areolas.  They are not one size fits all.  There are different sizes for the breast shields because women have different nipples.  They do sell different size shields and you want to make sure that the breast pump you choose allows for different sizes.  This is something you will want to discuss with the nurses and lactation consultants in the hospital.  You will want to try different sizes to be sure it is comfortable.  A girlfriend of mine used the wrong size and it was very painful and did not efficiently suck the milk.

Valves and Membranes -- These parts allow the milk to drip into the bottles with the proper suction.  They sell these online or in store.  I get mine on Amazon because I can get them in bulk and for cheap!  I have torn a few membranes so it is good to have these on backup.  They are sold either together or separate, whatever you choose.

Tubing -- The pump uses tubes to either suck or flow the milk through to the bottles.  It is always good to have spare tubing.  My cat decided he was going to play with the tubing and tore it.  I was not a happy camper, thank goodness I had backup!

Bottles and Adaptors -- Your pump should come with the bottles that fit your pump.  Some women use different bottles than the one which come with your pump.  In this case they do sell adapters online and in store.  I also got this on Amazon.  My son uses the Tommee Tippie bottles so I pump both into the bottles that came with the pump and if I know he will be eating within the hour I use the adapter and pump directly into the Tommee Tippie.

Electricity Source -- Some pumps come with the wall unit and a battery pack.  This is great for when you are on the, if you have the battery pack you just plug that directly in and you can pump anywhere, anytime.  My husband and I lost power about a month ago and I was in a panic because I didn’t have my pump! I remember it came with the battery pack and it saved me! We were without power for 5 days and thank goodness for the battery pack!  Also, consider getting a car adapter if you are one for travel.  Having this really benefits me for when my husband and I are on the road.

Insulated Cooler and Ice Packs -- Some pumps come with and insulated cooler which hold 4 bottles of milk and an ice pack which molds the form of the bottle.  It is small and very convenient for on-the-go!  If it does not come with one you can always get the separately and if you are like me and need more than one because you make an obscene amount of milk, you can always get backups.

Cleaning Products -- I am super compulsive about cleaning the breast pump.  For this I use either the bottle soap or special breast milk removal soap and then I use microwavable cleaning bags that steam the products to get all the bacteria off.  I also have wipes that are special for the pump for when we are out or in the car and I can not access a sink.  They have these in store and online and they are wonderful for cleaning the breast pump.

Storage Bags and Storage Bottles -- There are special storage bags and storage bottles for freezing milk.  Most brands have storage bags, some have the bottles.  Storage is great to have for when you produce more than your baby needs and it is good for up to a year. For the first 5 months of my son’s life I had 2 whole freezers filled with breast milk! 

You can also find nursing pads if you find you are leaking and lanolin if you are in pain.  I used lanolin for the first month or so until I was used to it.  The first month was a little painful for me but your nipples will get used to it.  They also have gel pads for added comfort if your breasts are in pain.

MILKY! By NeedBrands

I, as many are, am breastfeeding my baby boy.  He is now just about 5 months old and he is thriving.  He was 3 weeks premature which definitely affected how he nursed.  We had a rough time getting in sync so I was pumping exclusively for the first month.  We eventually got it together and nursed, bottle fed, all of the above.  After being so sick, sleep deprived, and having an enormous amount of stress put on me due to family problems, my milk supply began to decrease.  I was searching and searching for ways to increase my supply because I was absolutely terrified that I would lose my supply and have to stop breastfeeding.  After doing a bit of research, I came across something called fenugreek.  Fenugreek is a plant and the seeds are used to make medicine for many different conditions.  One use of fenugreek is to improve a mother’s milk supply.  I started taking fenugreek and thankfully my supply was back up; however, I started to have this overwhelming maple syrup smell on my body all the time.  So gross and probably too much information, but it was like the fenugreek made me stink.  I am not sure if this is the case for all or most women, but for me it was.  This made me stop taking the fenugreek.  Thankfully, my supply was not terribly low, but I could afford to be making more with the amount my son was eating due to his growth spurts.

After doing more and more research, I came across a product called MILKY!  This product is a lactation enhancement drink that you take twice a day.  It contains:

Fenugreek to increase breast milk supplyFennel to promote faster let-down to alleviate baby’s colic symptomsGinger help relieve upset stomachChamomile to help relax mommaRooibos which deliver natural anti-oxidants

MILKY! was started by Tia and Tamera Mowry.  They were both starting their own families and had a concern, as most moms do, about producing enough milk for their little ones.  They met with many to produce MILKY!

I have had the privilege of giving MILKY! a try.  I must say, I am happy to report, it works wonderfully!  Within the first day of drinking it I noticed a difference in my milk supply.  I went from making 4 ounces each breast to 7 ounces each breast.  I had a strawberry flavored package and I must say, it tasted pretty good.  I did not find any weird body odor from taking this as I did with the fenugreek.  There seem to be so many things at play with MILKY!  and the combination is dynamite.  I would recommend this product to any momma who is having a difficult time feeding their baby.

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doTERRA Essential Oils For Pregnancy, Labor & Delivery, And Postpartum

During pregnancy there can be so many joys but also much discomfort.  Not only during pregnancy, but also with labor and delivery, even postpartum.  As I wrote about yesterday, there is a wonderful company called doTERRA which has some natural remedies for the discomforts you may experience through the miracle of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and once your beautiful baby arrives.  There are so many essential oils that doTERRA offers and they have a concoction for most pregnancy aches and pains, labor discomfort and postpartum healing.

Pregnancy:

As beautiful as pregnancy is, let’s face it...there can be so many things that cause you to be incredibly uncomfortable, especially towards the end.  There are 8 essential oils from doTERRA that will become your best friends during pregnancy; Bergamot, Geranium, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, Sandalwood, Wild Orange, and Ylang Ylang.  Each oil or a combination of oils help specific discomforts during pregnancy.

• Acid Reflux/Heartburn -- Add 2 drops of Lemon to drinking water.  Apply Frankincense on throat and chest.
• Anxiety -- Diffuse or inhale Wild Orange or Lavender.  Add Lavender, Ylang Ylang, or Geranium to a warm bath.  This will also be great to have in the delivery room to help stay relaxed.
• Breast Tenderness -- Apply Lavender to the top of each breast.
• Cold Sore -- Apply Melissa or Bergamot at the first tingle; repeat hourly.
• Congestion -- Apply Lemon under nose, on chest, or to the bottoms of feet.
• Constipation -- Apply Lemon or Ginger to stomach or add to drinking water.
• Depression -- Use Lavender, Frankincense, Bergamot, Wild Orange, or Geranium.  Diffuse add to bath or massage, or apply to bottoms of feet.
• Edema/Swelling -- Massage diluted Geranium, Ginger, Lemon, or Lavender into legs, starting at the feet.  Work toward the heart, stopping at the thighs.  Cypress may be used in the third trimester.  Drink plenty of water.
• Fatigue -- Inhale Wild Orange.
• Headache -- Apply Lavender to the back of the neck and temples.
• Hemorrhoids -- Apply Geranium or Cypress to affected area or add to sitz bath.
• High Blood Pressure -- Add Lavender or Ylang Ylang to a nightly bath or diffuse.  Avoid Peppermint oil.
• Insomnia -- Use Lavender, Sandalwood or Ylang Ylang.  Before bed diffuse, apply to feet, or add to bath.
• Itchy Skin -- Apply diluted Lavender.  Use Belly Butter Recipe on the back of this sheet.
• Muscle Cramps -- Apply Lavender, Bergamot, or Sandalwood.
• Nausea -- Make a mist with 20 drops Peppermint or Ginger, 10 drops Wild Orange, 15 drops Lemon.  Add to a 4 ounce bottle and top it off with water.  Mist when nausea strikes.  Massage earlobes with Ginger; add to water to drink.
• Perineum Preparation -- Dilute Geranium and apply to perineum.  Massage daily from 37 weeks until delivery.
• Preterm Labor -- To help stop preterm labor; massage 1 to 3 drops of diluted Lavender from ankles to hips.  To prevent preterm labor; add to a relaxing bath each evening.
• Sciatica -- Massage Bergamot into painful area and down leg.
• Stretch Mark Prevention -- Use Belly Butter recipe.
• UTI/Kidney Infection -- Add Lemon to drinking water.  Apply Lemongrass over the bladder.  Apply Cypress over the kidneys.

Labor & Delivery:

The tricky part of labor and delivery is you never know what exactly will happen.  It is great to be prepared for anything.  There are some essential oils which are great to use during birth.

• Back Labor -- Apply 1 to 3 drops of Black Pepper to lower back.  Bilute and massage if that is comforting.
• Prevention of Hemorrhage -- Apply 1 to 3 drops of Helichrysum on lower back during labor to help prevent.
• Labor Progression -- Apply Clary Sage to the lower abdomen.  Massage gently.
• Relaxation -- Spray Mist; 20 drops Lavender, 15 drops Wild Orange, 15 drops Peppermint.  Top off with a bit of water in a 4 ounce bottle.
• Energy -- Spray Mist; 15 drops Wild Orange, 10 drops Bergamot, 10 drops Lavender, 10 drops Clary Sage.  Top off with a bit of water in a 4 ounce bottle.

Postpartum:

After you deliver, whether vaginal or c-section, doTERRA has some oils which are great for helping the healing.

• Cramping -- Massage diluted Lavender onto lower abdomen.  Apply a hot compress or heating pad.
• Anxiety -- Inhale Wild Orange or Lavender.  Diffusing these oils will benefit the whole family.
• C-section Incision Care -- Apply Lavender, Frankincense, and Helichrysum to promote healing.  Add Melaleuca if infection is a concern.
• Postpartum Depression -- Use a combination of Lavender, Patchouli, Frankincense, and Clary Sage in a diffuser, in a bath, or use with carrier oil for a massage.  Apply to the bottoms of feet several times a day.  
• Perineum Care -- There are 3 possible remedies you should prepare in advance.

-- Spray Mist: Add Geranium, Lavender, and Helichrysum to a small spray bottle.  Mist onto the tender area frequently,  Add a little carrier oil to dilute if needed.

-- Soothing Pads: Add 20 to 30 drops of Lavender, Roman Chamomile, or Geranium to a bottle of witch hazel.  Shake mixture well and apply to large maxi pads.  Place pads in the freezer until needed.  Use after vaginal delivery to ease perineum pain.

-- Perineum Rinse:  Combine 5 to 10 drops of Lavender or Geranium to water in a Peri bottle for a soothing rinse.  Use this rinse after using the bathroom.

Breastfeeding:

• Cracked Nipples -- Apply Lavender and olive oil to nipples after each feeding. Myrrh can also be soothing.  Make sure the baby is latching properly.  Pain can be an indication that the baby is not latching proper.
• Fussiness -- Diffuse Lavender and Wild Orange to help keep Mommy and Baby calm.  This is especially great when struggling with breastfeeding to help keep a calm atmosphere.
• Mastitis -- Don’t stop nursing or pumping.  Use Lavender on top of each infected breast throughout the day.  Massage the following blend over the entire breast.  10 drops each Melaleuca, Lavender, Roman Chamomile in 2 tablespoons carrier oil.  Massage from armpits toward the nipple.
• Supply Issues -- To help start production, massage 1 to 2 drops of Clary Sage to top of breasts.

              -- To help increase supply, massage 1 to 2 drops of Basil or Fennel to the top of breasts.

              -- To help decrease supply, massage 1 to 2 drops of Peppermint to the top of breasts.

I have had a friend who is due in the summer use these products during pregnancy and she loves them.  I used the Perineum Care myself.  During delivery I had a 4th degree tear.  Not pretty. It took incredibly long to heal, and still is.  We could not seem to get things healing properly, I started using each method of Perineum Care and I am about 90% back to normal... as normal as one can be after birth.  I am in love with these products and recommend them to anyone struggling with their pregnancy.

I must urge you to speak to your doctor or midwife before using anything during pregnancy.  For the information I have listed, this has come from doTERRA and the rest is my opinion. I was not compensated in any way by doTERRA.

Postpartum Depression

During pregnancy you are get yourself amped up for the big day and beyond.  There is so much anticipation and excitement leading up to becoming a new mommy and daddy.  I have had some people ask me a few questions about what they can expect for their first few weeks home from the hospital.  One momma sent me an email asking me all about postpartum depression.  She is about 22 weeks pregnant and has a concern that she will have postpartum depression because her mom had it after delivery.  There are a ton of questions about postpartum depression that women are looking into during their pregnancy.  I hope to answer a few!

What is the difference between “the baby blues” and postpartum depression?

“The baby blues” is something more common than mommas think.  You normally begins to see symptoms a few days after giving birth.  “The baby blues” happens because of the hormonal changes in your body happening post birth.  The symptoms include: 

• mood swings
• sadness
• crying spells
• trouble sleeping
• irritability
• changes in appetite
• trouble concentrating

All of the symptoms are perfectly normal post delivery.  They should last from 1 to 2 weeks.  It is when your symptoms last longer than this that you want to discuss it a bit further with your doctor or midwife.  

Postpartum Depression is a severe depression with some symptoms similar to “the baby blues”.  At first it is hard to decipher postpartum depression from “the baby blues” because of the similarity in the symptoms.  With postpartum depression you can have similar symptoms to “the baby blues” such as:

• mood swings
• crying spells 
• sadness
• difficulty sleeping
• irritability

The difference comes in when the symptoms become destructive to your life as a new momma.  You may find some other symptoms with postpartum depression such as:

• neglectful of your baby
• negative feelings towards your baby
• concern you will hurt your baby
• disregard for yourself
• constant exhaustion
• feelings of worthlessness
• constant guilt
• changes in appetite
• weight loss or weight gain
• recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

Is postpartum depression genetic?  What causes postpartum depression?

There are many factors that put you at a higher risk for postpartum depression.  Just because your mom had it with her children does not necessarily mean you will have it with yours.  Some things that put you at risk are:

• history of depression
• history of severe PMS
• medical complications for you or your baby during pregnancy and/or delivery
• stressful relationships
• lack of support from family and/or friends

A difficult relationship with your baby fathers or difficult family relationships will add a great deal of unnecessary stress to the already stressful new mommyhood.  This can add fuel to the fire if you are already at risk for postpartum depression.  You are also dealing with so many changes to your body after you have delivered your baby.  You may be in severe pain and discomfort and may feel unattractive with your new post baby body which can add to feelings of depression.  One of the biggest causes of postpartum depression is the drop in estrogen and progesterone.  This drop can lead to depression.

Can I prevent postpartum depression from happening to me?  How?

There are some things to do to help you ease into motherhood and keep the stress levels down.

Get sleep.  Rest as much as possible.  When your baby sleeps, you should take advantage of the time and get a little cat nap in.

Set time for you.  Talk to your partner about having some time for yourself, even if it is just to take a shower.  Have a little bit of alone time to just decompress after your long day with your baby.  Get a schedule going with your partner that allows you that time.

Get fresh air.  Taking your baby out for a stroll is the best thing for the both of you.  Some fresh air really makes the difference with helping your post delivery recovery.  There is nothing like fresh air to help a baby sleep.  Of course you can’t bring your baby out in 20 degree weather so if you have a winter baby do your best to have lights on open the shades to let the light in.

Exercise.  It is so important to be active.  It will help keep the endorphins flowing and improve any depression you may be feeling.  Studies have proven that exercise is a wonderful medicine for any depression.

Surround yourself with love and support.  Keep out any negativity!  Whether it is your in-laws or someone down the street...keep yourself surrounded with the people who will love, support and care for you.  There is no need to have any negativity around you or your beautiful family.  Negativity from outsiders will not only add to postpartum depression but it can also cause problems between you and your partner.  It is best to nip it in the bud before it starts and make a healthy choice not to be around it.

Share your feelings.  Set some time for a date night with your partner at least once a week when you and your partner can talk about how you are feeling about the new exciting things happening in your life.

Ask for help.  It is totally okay to ask for help if you are feeling overwhelmed.  Being overwhelmed doesn’t make you a bad mommy.  It is part of motherhood. 

Breastfeed.  Breastfeeding, like exercise, releases endorphins and keeps the sprits up.  it does wonders for your body and your baby.  It is natural and your body's reaction to delivering a baby,

Planning To Breastfeed

There are so many topics that you discuss with your doctor or midwife during pregnancy  to prepare for when your baby gets here.  One of those topics is breastfeeding.  I want to start off by saying if you chose not to, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that!  It is a mother’s choice  and we are so lucky to have such advanced formulas that can provide for our babies!  That being said, if you are considering breastfeeding or know that you want to there are a few things I want to educate you on.

Benefits of breastfeeding for Momma:

Breastfeeding benefits not only your baby but you.  Women don’t necessarily see it this way, but it truly does.  It can lower your risk of certain diseases such as, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, diabetes and postpartum depression.  I personally feel it is especially important for mother’s because it does help reduce your risk of postpartum depression.  Oxytocin is a hormone that is released while breastfeeding.  This hormone is a dynamite natural antidepressant.  Breastfeeding also forces you to take time to relax during your day, which I, myself, have a hard time with.  At first I must admit, I didn’t enjoy breastfeeding because I didn’t have the patience to take the time and sit there until my little guy was done.  For the first 2 months I mostly pumped.  Now, he will take bottle of breast.  I realized that this time is precious and once it is gone I can’t get it back.  So taking that time to relax during the day is not the worst thing.  Breastfeeding also helps lose that baby weight.  When you breastfeed you are burning about 20 calories per ounce of milk.  Do that math?  For most women that’s anywhere from 300-600 calories per day!  When you can burn calories by bonding with your baby, who needs the gym!?  Another positive to breastfeeding is the amount of money saved.  Even if you are pumping, most of what is bought is a one time expense.

Benefits of breastfeeding for Baby:

There are so many benefits for your baby if you decide to breastfeed.  Breast milk has antibodies, cell, and hormones made specific to your baby.  Your breast milk changes to fit your baby.  It grows as your baby grows giving him or her the exact nutrients and antibodies necessary for your baby.  It protects your baby from sickness and lowers the risks of developing problems later in life.  Breast milk is also easy on the tummy for babies.

You have options!

If you are considering breastfeeding, but like myself, have some reservations, you have options to make sure your baby gets your breast milk!  Pumping is a wonderful fit if you are feeling uncomfortable with direct feeding or you are finding that your baby is not latching efficiently.  Pumping is just as economical as direct feeding.  There are a few one time expenses, such as, your pump, (which is now covered by insurance), bottles and bottle accessories.  With pumping, it is quick and easy and keeps your baby having all the benefits of your breast milk.  Something I must tell you, pumping is not as efficient in producing the milk as your baby is direct.  If you are finding you are having some difficultly with the amount your are producing, you should talk to your doctor or midwife about a lactation enhancement.  There is one in particular called MILKY! which I have had the pleasure of trying recently and will be reviewing after a full week of my use.  

Cons about breastfeeding:

I don’t want to deceive you and tell you everything is wonderful and you may not have problems. As stated above, you may have difficulty in your supply.  If that is the case, talk to your doctor or midwife about a lactation enhancement.  On the flip side, if you have an abundance and can’t quite keep up, you are at risk for mastitis, clogged milk ducts and engorgement.  Also, breast milk is deficient in Vitamin D, so it is best to give your baby added Vitamin D.  Vitamin D supplements made for breastfed babies are sold in your local drug store.  None of the cons can’t be fixed very easily.  The pros outweigh the cons in breastfeeding your baby. 

This is just some food for thought to consider during your pregnancy.  It is important when making any decision you make an informed decision.