September 2012 archive

How To Continue Breastfeeding After Returning To Work

5 Tips to Keep Breastfeeding After Go Back to Work Coming back to work from your maternity leave is a huge adjustment. While you will not be able to physically nurse your baby as often as you used to, providing her with expressed breast milk is well worth it. If you plan to breastfeed your baby after returning to work, there are many things to think about. When you make your initial plan, it is important to coordinate with your partner, employer and your infant’s caregiver.

Get the right gear – Working moms have to be efficient and it may be difficult if it takes you a half an hour to empty each breast. Consider investing in a dual hospital grade pump that empties both breasts at the same time (Laing, 2009). Make sure you have plenty of milk storage bags, a lunch bag and several ice packs. You will need several baby bottles with slow flow nipples that mimic mom’s breast. This way, your baby is less likely to develop nipple confusion (Ask Dr. Sears, 2011). Purchase extra nursing bras and nursing tops to make pumping more quick and efficient. Determine how often will you nurse your infant yourself – You will have to get ready for work every morning, so you may need to put her on a nursing schedule to streamline your morning routine. Figure out whether you can make it home (or to the daycare) during the lunch hour to nurse you baby and to take time to bond with her. Ask your partner or caregiver to feed your baby in a way that allows you to nurse him when you get home from work. Figure out where you will pump and how often – Ask your employer for a private room that you can use and talk about taking extra breaks to pump. Explain to your supervisor why it is important and communicate to him how you plan on meeting the demands of your job. To keep your milk supply high and to prevent engorgement, you will have to express your breast milk approximately as often as your baby nurses or at least twice during your work day (Ask Dr. Sears, 2011). Find out how you will store your breast milk – It is best to store breast milk in the refrigerator in your break room. You can put the storage bag in a separate container to conceal it. If a refrigerator is not available, you can store the milk in an insulated lunch bag with a few ice packs. Remember that you can only store the milk in a cooler for a few hours, so try to get it home as soon as possible and refrigerate or freeze it (Ask Dr. Sears, 2011). Make sure your partner and caregiver understand how to handle breast milk -Make sure they understand how to thaw, store and transport breast milk, as well as when they should discard it. Explain to them that they cannot microwave breast milk, and that bottles must be washed after each use. Nurse your baby as often as you can when you are home. It will provide him with vital nutrients directly from the source, give you time to bond and stimulate milk production.

References

Ask Dr. Sears. (2011). 20 Tips for Working and Breastfeeding. Retrieved July 11, 2012, from Ask Dr. Sears: http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/breastfeeding/while-working/20-tips-working-and-breastfeeding Ask Dr. Sears. (2011). How To Fit Pumping Onto Your Work Schedule. Retrieved July 11, 2012, from Ask Dr. Sears: http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/breastfeeding/while-working/how-fit-pumping-your-work-schedule Ask Dr. Sears. (2011). Storing and Transporting Breast Milk. Retrieved July 9, 2012, from Ask Dr. Sears: http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/breastfeeding/while-working/storing-transporting-breast-milk Laing, L. (2009, February). Balancing Work & Breastfeeding. Retrieved July 10, 2012, from Parents Magazine: http://www.parents.com/baby/breastfeeding/breast-pumping/balancing-work–breastfeeding/?page=4

Thank You! Thursdays: Rockin Green

 

It’s another Thank You! Thursday mamas!!! And guess what we have today??? Rockin Green Eco friendly cleaning products. You all might be wondering what is “Rockin Green”??

The Rocking Green Logo

Well, let me tell you – Rockin Green is an award-winning manufacturer of eco-friendly cleaning products designed to make cleaning easier and greener. Most well-known for their clean-rinsing laundry detergent formulated for use on all fabrics and especially useful on cloth diapers, Rockin’ Green produces detergents for hard, soft and normal water conditions (known as Hard, Soft and Classic Rock varieties).

Rockin Green was founded by a FABULOUS mompreneur Kim Webb an avid cloth diapering mom who desired a better way to clean cloth diapers and treat her kid’s sensitive skin and we are totally glad she did.

Rockin Green Detergent

One lucky mama will win a $100 gift card for the purchase of any Rockin Green product through their website: http://www.rockingreensoap.com

To enter, use the widget below to “Like” Rockin Green on Facebook, and tell us why you would love to win the $100 gift card in the comment section. Earn more chances to win by “liking” You! Lingerie and much more.

Open to Mama’s in the U.S only. Contest ends September 21, 2012 at 12:01 a.m. EST. Be sure to check back to find out if you are a winner and remember our basic rules apply.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are chosen as a winner, we will send you an email alerting you of your winnings. If we do not hear back from you within 48 hours, we will pick another winner.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank You Thursdays: Bamboobies

Hiya You! mamas. Hope everyone had a wonderful labor day holiday.

It’s September’s first Thank You Thursday giveaway. Today, we are giving away something from our friends at Bamboobies. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Bamboobies, they are the new choice for mothers who want a washable breast pad that does NOT leak or show through clothing. Made with bamboo and organic cotton, Bamboobies are the most re-usable, absorbent, and unbelievably soft nursing pads around.

The company was founded by the beautiful mompreneur, Kerry Gilmartin who confessed that Bamboobies was invented out of necessity after she realized that the traditional breast pads did not stop her from leaking while she was breastfeeding. I am sure you all know how embarrassing leaking can be and can relate, so we are very excited that Bamboobies has created a very stylish and affordable solution; and Bamboobies unique heart shaped pads are just the CUTEST!!!

One lucky mama will win a $30 gift card for the purchase of any Bamboobies product through their website – http://www.buybamboobies.com

To enter, use the widget below to “Like” Bamboobies on Facebook, and tell us why you would love to win the $30 gift card. Earn more chances to win by “liking” You! Lingerie and much more.

Open to Mama’s in the U.S only. Contest ends September 7, 2012 at 12:01 a.m. EST. Be sure to check back to find out if you are a winner and remember our basic rules apply.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are chosen as a winner, we will send you an email alerting you of your winnings. If we do not hear back from you within 48 hours, we will pick another winner.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway