My favorite Breastfeeding things...

Ok so I was listening to the Diana Ross version of "My Favorite Things" and I started thinking about my favorite "breastfeeding" things.  Here is my list, not in any order:

1. Medela's Ice Pack--I have used others but this ice pack keeps my milk fresh for the longest period of time.
2. Motherlove's Nipple Cream--Soft and smooth, and full of good organic ingredients.
3. Medela's bottle caps (the one's with dates)--Oh yes!  I was so thorough with that masking tape, these things are so much more convenient! I LOVE them, for reals........for relas for reals!
4. Simple Wishes Hands Free Pumping Bra--OMG, this is one of those things like once you go hands free, you just DONT go back!  Why didn't my lactation consultant tell me about this?  Thank you internet.  If you don't know you betta ask somebody.
5. Boppy--I love this pillow, the best thing to nurse with.
6. Earth Mama Booby Tubes--When I can't take a hot shower, I love putting these things in my bra to help the flow while pumping.
7. Mother's Milk Tea--Oh yea, I drink a pot of this at night with 7 bags brewing, add some honey, and go to sleep.  In the morning......MILK time!  Pumping on 1 boob, nursing on the other :-) 
8. Nursing Sleepy Bra--T-shirt comfort, I love it!

Motherlove Nipple Cream

I though that I would be all done with nipple cream after a few months.  I used it initially when my baby was a few weeks old after each feeding to sooth my sore nipples but eventually I didn't need it.  However when I returned to work when my baby was almost 6 months, I began to find another use for nipple cream: the pump!  

Since I pump 3-5 times a day at work and at home M-F, the nipple cream comes in handy.  Some pumping mothers grase the breast shields and that works.  However I like to use the nipple cream to grease my nipples and give a light massage to my breast right before pumping.  I also use the nipple cream to pull out my nipples so I can properly position them in the breast shield. 

I have used a couple of different brands but one that I want to recommend here is Motherlove's nipple cream.

It glides on very smoothly and feels great on the nipples.  It is ORGANIC!  Isn't that great since it's touching the skin, that touches your milk, that goes into your child's body?  This nipple cream works very well to keep my nipples from feeling the tugging of the pump and it is also safe for babies to nurse right after applying.  

Reading the ingredients reminds me of a Bryer's ice cream commercial, you know just milk, cream, and sugar :-)  Well there are no fancy chemicals that you don't understand here.  The ingredients in this nipple cream are simply: extra virgin olive oil, beeswax, shea butter, marshmallow root and calendula.  Try out Motherlove's nipple cream, I love it and I am sure you will too.

In the Beginning...

Growing up I always knew my breast were different.  Looking at my mothers breast and other women in the locker room told me that my girls marched to a different tune.  However, I never talked about it to anyone and never really thought it was a big deal.  I just figured, hey my boobs are unique.  

It was 3 days after the birth of my first child, when I walked into the office of my Lactation Consultant.  I lifted my shirt as my husband held our baby, then the Lactation Consultant looked at my breast and said, “You got, FLAT NIPPLES and you’re engorged.”  My heart dropped as if I had been diagnosed with some terrible disease.  

She then went on to get the Medela Symphony pump, hooked me up to it  and watched as my liqid gold droped into each bottle.  “Wow,” my husband said as  he was impressed as the milk came in.  She then went on to bottle fed my baby 2oz of my breastmilk, and told me to take the other 2oz home.  

At the time I felt like it was a positive meeting: I was feeding my daughter breastmilk as opposed to formula.  But later on I realized that she wasn’t helping me all that much.  She never actually taught me how to BreastFEED my child with my flat nipples.  She handed me some nipple shields, that she didn’t show me how to use, and sent me home with several pump part accessories and a manual Medela Lactina pump which was too much manual for me to use.  I eventually figured it out with lots of trial and error and online research, thanks youtube!

This is my story and the beginning of my journey as I progress along as a mommy with FLAT NIPPLES.