"Naturally Nursing" Giveaway Event for World Breastfeeding Week | Ends 8/15

  It's World Breastfeeding Week! Let's Celebrate!

 

Welcome to the

"Naturally Nursing Giveaway Event"

In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, Our Knight Life is giving away a prize pack full of products designed to help support breastfeeding! The Naturally Nursing Giveaway Event Prize Pack is packed full of amazing products from companies you will love! I wish I could enter this giveaway and win these awesome prizes.

Also... will you be attending The Big Latch On in your area? In honor of 2013 World Breastfeeding Week, moms in many cities all around the world with gather to breastfeed their babies all at the same time. Check and see if there is a location near you!

Ready to Win?

 

2013 World Breastfeeding Week | The Big Latch On

2013 World Breastfeeding Week – August 1-7

Failure

On July 27, 1997 I delivered my first baby. I was determined to breastfeed, I read everything I could get my hands on and I thought I was prepared. I assumed it would be easy and come naturally, but little did I know, I would have such a struggle.

I only breastfed my son for a little over two months.

I failed and I didn’t know why. All I knew was I tried and tried and it hurt. I had cracked nipples, I bled. It hurt so bad and I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. So I quit.

My second baby came in late 1998 and I had the exact same experience. I only breastfed her for 6 weeks… and I quit.

My third baby came in 2000 and I was determined to make breastfeeding work. I continued reading over those 3 years and was sure this time I could make it… and I did. I breastfed for an entire year and I loved it, however those first few months were not easy. I wished I could go back and try my breastfeeding experience over with my first two babies.

Breastfeeding just does not come as easy for some people as it does for others and I do not know why.

Success

I successfully breastfed my 3rd, 4th and 5th babies for an entire year. In fact, my Baby Jack is over 13 months now and I am still exclusively breastfeeding him. Was it easy? No. Even though I succeeded with these three, it was still a struggle in the beginning. It takes me almost 3 months to be able to breastfeed with no pain. I have no idea why, but it hurts so bad in the beginning. It takes my nipples that long to finally toughen up. I have figured out through trial and error – if I can just make it to that 3 month mark, it will be a breeze after that and I will love it.

March Madness Day 15 | #WIN a Nursing Essential Gift Set #Giveaway from Bébé au Lait!

March Madness!

Giveaways every single day in March!

-Day 15-

Win a Nursing Essential Gift Set Giveaway from Bébé au Lait!

Your Cover, Your Style

Sophisticated, stylish, modern and fun. With over 30 designer patterns to choose from, Bébé au Lait makes it easy to match your style. Bébé au Lait Nursing Covers and Burp Cloths are practical yet pretty new-baby basics. Bundled together, they are perfect for gift-giving! Delight your expecting friends and family with one Bébé au Lait Nursing Cover and three matching Burps Cloths beautifully presented in a Bébé au Lait Nursing Essentials Gift Set!

 

Bébé au Lait Features:

Patented RigiFlex™ Neckline allows for optimal viewing of baby and ventilation

Neckline Safety Technology promotes product longevity by preventing fabric wear and tear.

100% breathable Cotton – single layered for cool comfort, soft as can be as it delicately shelters baby while nursing. Tuck top corner under arm for full coverage

External Pocket for breast pad or other small item storage

Coordinating Storage Pouch

Adjustable d-ring neck strap with branded hardware for authenticity. Adjust it once and done.

Generously sized 26” X 36” to allow baby to remain focused, not distracted during nursing

Compact covers roll up to take wherever you go.

Multi-use: use as a changing mat, sunshade, and light blanket.

Machine washable

 

Are You Ready to Win?

One lucky reader a chance to win a Nursing Essentials Gift Set from Bébé au Lait!

Enter to win by filling out the form below, it's super easy!

Good Luck!

Breastfeeding at 7 Months: Update

April from Mama on a Green Mission and Courtney from Joy of Momma Joyner host this breastfeeding meme every Tuesday and the topic is always different.

Once a month, the topic is just to post an update on how our breastfeeding journey is going.


The last update I posted at when Baby Jack was 5 months old. He is now over 7 months old and things have not changed much. He has not started solids yet... well not really. We've given him a few things here and there. He ate some strawberries last week in our Munchkin mesh feeder thingy. And Mike gives him bites of things here and there like mashed potatoes. But other than that, he is still exclusively breastfed.

How Do You Feel About Breastfeeding and Drinking Alcohol?

April from Mama on a Green Mission and Courtney from Joy of Momma Joyner host this breastfeeding meme every Tuesday and the topic is always different. I love linking up and reading what others have to say.

This week the topic is Nursing and Drinking Alcohol.

emprc.org 

As soon as I hear the word 'alcohol' I cringe. Weather or not we are considering breastfeeding or not. I am not a drinker and neither is my hubby. I literally have not had a drink in almost 10 years. I guess I can thank my ex for that. I guess when it's all you are around for eleven years... it tends to lose it's appeal. That aside, when I think of the word alcohol when breastfeeding IS involved, I tend to cringe even more.

Any amount of alcohol that enters mom's system and bloodstream, also enters the baby through the breast milk. This being known, I would only be comfortable consuming a drink or two and waiting a couple of hours before feeding the baby. I think I would possibly pump and dump the first bottle also. Just so that **I** could feel comfortable.

I do know that there are ingredients in beer (barley, hop) that do help the milk production, but those ingredients are also in non-alcoholic beer, so that isn't a good enough reason for me to be okay with drinking alcohol while nursing.

Baby Center says, that even if you have one drink, your baby has an immature liver which means she or he can't process the alcohol as well as you can. This makes sense to me and makes me sad that someone might need to drink without realizing this. Baby Center goes on to say that there are studies that show that alcohol can affect babies' eating and sleeping. During the four hours after a breastfeeding mother consumes an alcoholic beverage such as 4 ounces of wine, one mixed drink, or one can of beer – babies who nurse consume about 20 percent less milk. And while breastfed babies may become drowsy and fall asleep more quickly after their mother drinks alcohol, they also sleep for a shorter amount of time. Alcohol in breast milk may also hinder babies' development. In a landmark study of 400 breastfed babies, gross motor development at 1 year of age lagged in infants whose mothers drank at least one drink daily during the babies' first three months of life.

Le Leche League says alcohol passes freely into mother's milk and has been found to peak about 30 to 60 minutes after consumption, 60 to 90 minutes when taken with food. Alcohol also freely passes out of a mother's milk and her system. It takes a 120 pound woman about two to three hours to eliminate from her body the alcohol in one serving of beer or wine...the more alcohol that is consumed, the longer it takes for it to be eliminated. It takes up to 13 hours for a 120 pound woman to eliminate the alcohol from one high-alcohol drink. The effects of alcohol on the breastfeeding baby are directly related to the amount the mother consumes.

A recent article stirred up some chaos. A Half Moon Bay restaurant refused to serve a nursing mother alcohol. I'm not really sure how I feel about that. I am not sure if I would be able to serve a nursing mother alcohol without feeling really horrible about it. I guess we are to assume she would be responsible about her next feeding. But what if she wasn't? I am not sure if I would want that on my conscience.

I just can not feel comfortable consuming alcohol myself while breastfeeding. I just can't. This is how I feel, and you may feel just fine consuming a glass of wine while nursing and that is fine. I am just stating how I feel.

I couldn't do it.

What about you?

What's your opinion about consuming alcohol while nursing?

Breastfeeding Doll and My Breastfeeding Journey at 5 Months

April from Mama on a Green Mission and Courtney from Joy of Momma Joyner host this breastfeeding meme every Tuesday and the topic is always different.

Last weeks topic was on the breastfeeding doll, would you buy one? And this weeks topic is just to post an update on how your nursing journey is going.

So...

Yes, I would totally buy a breastfeeding doll for sure! I see no issues with why this would be a bad thing. I mean they sell the dolls with bottles, right? So what's the difference?

This makes me think of one time last year at the beginning of my pregnancy. I started doing reviews for baby things that knew I would be needing. I used all of the baby items on my daycare baby to either get the hang of using the item or just to "use" the item so that I could then write the review on it. Anyway, Gracie got hold of one of my baby slings and was able to figure out how to put it on and put her baby doll in it. It was so cute watching her mimic me. I would love to think that my girls (and even my son) grow up and assume they will breastfeed because that is all they saw. Same with my son. I hope he gets married and assumes his wife will breastfeed their babies.

Anyway... on to this week's topic of how my breastfeeding journey is going.

Breastfeeding and Co-Sleeping Affects the Welfare of Mom and Baby

April from Mama on a Green Mission and Courtney from Joy of Momma Joyner host this breastfeeding meme every Tuesday and the topic is always different.

This weeks topic is about how breast feeding affects your welfare as a mom.

 

The article that brought this topic on was Breastfeeding and Co-Sleeping with Baby Affects Mom's Welfare. At first I thought, it sure does! I feel so complete and so comfortable and relaxed and so happy breastfeeding and co-sleeping! But then I read the article and it says the opposite about co-sleeping. Supposedly a new study shows that breastfeeding and sharing a bed with the baby also affects the welfare the infant (the bed sharing in a bad way).

 

Can I call BS on this?

 

(I can, can't I? I mean it is MY blog, right?!?)

 

Okay...

 

BullHonkey! BullSnot!

Mastitis: Oooh that's a Horrible Word!

April from Mama on a Green Mission and Courtney from Joy of Momma Joyner host this breastfeeding meme every Tuesday and the topic is always different.

This weeks topic is Mastitis.

 

 

Ooooh that's a horrible word!

Are You a Breastfeeding Mom? Link Up to this Fun Meme!

April from Mama on a Green Mission and Courtney from Joy of Momma Joyner host this breastfeeding meme every Tuesday and the topic is always different.

This weeks topic is just to post a photo or comic or anything related to breastfeeding.

I don't have a comic but I do have some photos... here is one:

Are You a Breastfeeding Mom? Join this Fun Meme Every Tuesday!

April from Mama on a Green Mission and Courtney from Joy of Momma Joyner host this breastfeeding meme every Tuesday and the topic is always different.

This weeks topic is just to post an update on how your nursing journey is going.

Win Nursing Bra Express Giveaway

If you are in the market for nursing bra’s – Nursing Bra Express is your one-stop-shop for all your needs! Not only does Nursing Bra Express carry all kinds of nursing wear, but they also offer tons of breastfeeding support. I love all of the information they have to offer weather you are new at breastfeeding or a veteran… there are lots of categories to browse.

As for the selection of nursing wear at Nursing Bra Express, they carry nursing bras, nursing tanks, tops and PJ’s too.

I’m always in need of nursing wear since I will be exclusively breastfeeding for such a long time so I was really excited when the folks at Nursing Bra Express agreed to partner with me on a review. I chose the Copacabana Nursing Bra by Belabumbum in Lilac.

Copacabana Nursing Bra by Belabumbum Features:

Scheduled vs. On Demand Nursing

April from Mama on a Green Mission and Courtney from Joy of Momma Joyner host this breastfeeding meme every Tuesday and the topic is always different.

This weeks topic is nursing on demand vs. scheduled.

Wet Nursing: Is It For You?

April from Mama on a Green Mission and Courtney from Joy of Momma Joyner host this breastfeeding meme every Tuesday and the topic is always different. I joined this meme a couple of times. Once the topic was on extended breastfeeding, and last week it was on my breastfeeding journey. I’d love to keep at it and post every week.

This weeks topic is wet nursing.

Well, lets see here… I never actually have given this topic any thought other than what I have read about the old biblical times.

Tuesday’s Tastes on Second Base: My Breastfeeding Journey

April from Mama on a Green Mission and Courtney from Joy of Momma Joyner host this breastfeeding meme every Tuesday and the topic is always different. I joined this meme only one other time when the topic was on extended breastfeeding, but I’d love to keep at it and post every week.

This weeks topic is just basically a little update on how it’s going for all of us. This is perfect for me because my Baby Jack is only 9 weeks old so I am still kind of new to breastfeeding this time around.

Well, lets see here…

Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Newborn Starter Kit Giveaway

When I found out I was pregnant last October, I immediately knew I was going to breastfeed our little guy, but we were told he would need surgeries and would stay in the NICU a few times. This led me to start looking for breast pumps so that I could be more prepared and keep our baby on breast milk only, regardless of what was to come. I contacted Tommee Tippee and they provided me with their the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Single Electric Breast Pump for review. I ended up loving it (and Tommee Tippee in general) so I knew they would be my ‘go to’ if I needed more related products.

I realized that I was going to need bottles and considering I already had a Tommee Tippee Breast Pump, I figured it would be smartest to have Tommee Tippee Bottles. That way I could also use them with the pump.

Tommee Tippee generously sent me their Closer to Nature Newborn Starter Kit bottles.

Lactation Cookie Giveaway from Making Mama's Milk & More

“Low supply? Give us a try! Increasing your supply one cookie at a time.”

Before I get started telling you about Making Mama’s Milk & More, can I just say…

LOVE!
LOVE!
LOVE!

I wish I could eat a bunch of these every day! They taste so good!

Ok, now that I got that out of the way… let me tell you about Making Mama’s Milk & More.


Making Mama’s Milk is a small, fairly new business that makes lactation cookies by hand. These delicious cookies are organic, dairy free (and vegan upon request) and used to increase your milk supply.

Debate with the Danielle’s: Donated Breast Milk

Welcome to Week 42
of
Friendly Debates With The Danielle’s!

 <a border="0" href="http://wedonthaveitall.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx280/mbishop62604/DebateButton1.jpg"width="150" height="150" /> </a> Wanna Play? 

Tuesday’s Tastes: Extended Breastfeeding

Every Tuesday Courtney from Joy of Momma Joyner and April from Mama on a Green Mission do a weekly breastfeeding meme with a linky.

This week they are discussing extended breastfeeding.

My views on the topic:

Co-Sleeping: Debate with the Danielle’s

Welcome to Week 16
of
Friendly Debates With The Danielle’s!

 

  <a border="0" href="http://wedonthaveitall.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx280/mbishop62604/DebateButton1.jpg"width="150" height="150" /> </a>   Wanna Play?  

#Breastfeeding in Public? Yay or Nay: Debate with the Danielle’s

Welcome to Week 11
of
Friendly Debates With The Danielle’s!

 <a border="0" href="http://wedonthaveitall.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx280/mbishop62604/DebateButton1.jpg"width="150" height="150" /> </a> Wanna Play?