Our natural birthing coach gave me this tip thought I would share and hopefully get some others!
Chammomile ice pack pads.
Take your pads or pantyliners put them on a cookie sheet on wax paper pour fresh chammomile tea on them and let them absorb put in freezer and freeze take out and stack with a small piece of wax paper in between each one. Use after birth as a healing ice pack.
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Hi Mamas! My daughter was born six weeks ago today, and I’ve been exclusively pumping since her second week because she has major latching issues. I’ve thankfully never had a supply problem (I’m getting more than 60 ounces a day! î), have yet to experience a clogged duct, am not on any supplements or medications to boost supply, and haven’t developed mastitis (though I’ve approached it twice). I know I’ve been incredibly lucky with my experience so far. I’d like to share some of the things I’ve learned in these past five weeks. Please add your hints and knowledge!
Get a good pump. I have the Medela Pump in Style Advanced tote bag, and it’s one of my closest friends  Great things about the pump are that it’s super portable, it’s got sufficient storage room for taking it places, and it works really well. I bought my pump at Babies R Us with one of those great 20% off coupons they give out.
Be sure you have a good number of the accessories that go with the pump. I’ve got about thirty bottles for pumping into and feeding my daughter. I have about ten of the Medela 5 ounce bottles (which actually hold about 6.5 ounces). I also bought eighteen First Essential 5 ounce bottles off of Amazon. They’re much cheaper than the Medela bottles (I bought them for $11.90 for 9), they screw into the connectors/elbows, and the Medela nipples work with them just as well. I’ve also got eight of what I call pumping “kitsâ€, that is sets of two shields/trumpets, two connectors/elbows, two valves, and two membranes. I bought plastic shoe boxes ($1 each at Walmart) for each kit and use them for storing my kits by my pump, storing milk in the fridge, storing bags of milk in the freezer, etc.
Be sure you are using the right size shields. My sister gave me a lot of her accessories from when she was pumping, and she used the 24 mm shields. The lactation consultant measured me at my appointment, and I need 30 mm ones! The difference in pain and pump efficiency was AMAZING!
Buy a correctly sized bustier so you can pump hands-free. I got a black one so it’s less likely to stain. I leave it in my bag when not in use.
I used to have problems with my shields not staying in place while I was pumping. I realized it was the flaps from my nursing bra not being completely out of the way and interfering with my shields staying properly suctioned.
I put a receiving blanket up under my breasts and on my lap while I’m pumping and afterwards when I’m cleaning up to catch any leakage. It’s also handy if you need to quickly cover up.
If pumping isn’t working, it could be the membrane isn’t attached to the valve correctly or has a hole in it.
The iPhone app Baby Connect is GREAT! It has a timer for pumping sessions, has an alarm where you can set how long you want to pump and will alert you when time is finished. It also charts tons of data – total volume for each day, number of sessions, average duration of sessions, average volume of sessions, and average interval between sessions. It can also keep track of bottles (with excellent charting and averaging features), diapers, nursing sessions, medications (I keep track of my meds and my daughter’s), baby’s sleeping, baby’s moods, and lots more. Beyond that, multiple people can access all the features from their phone. My husband has the app and can access his at any time to see the information or input his own data. He checks in on us from work pretty often î• When I go back to work, my MIL is going to stay with our daughter. We’ll get her the app as well so she can input data and I can check in on them when I’m at work î‰
Set yourself up with a pumping station. Leave your pump there when you’re not traveling and keep all your clean accessories there. I’ve also got a basket there where I keep all my medications, my daughter’s meds, hand lotion, lip balm, two extra bottles and caps for backup, my nursing pads and lanolin (I like Johnson’s pads because I’ve never had a leakage problem when using them, they’re not individually wrapped so it’s better for the environment, and they have an adhesive strip on them if you need to keep them in place in your bra), a trashcan for used nursing pads and other trash, magazines to help pass the time, and anything else you need in arm’s reach while you're pumping.
Have something to do while pumping. Once I’ve updated my info in BabyConnect, I go on Facebook, Baby Bump (of course), CNN, watch Netflix, read magazines or a book, etc. It really helps time pass! Guess what I’m doing right now! î…
Get a nursing cover. I got mine from uddercovers.com for free (just paid shipping – do a Google search, they often have promotions). I don’t feed from the boob, but the cover is useful for when people are in the room who I’m comfortable pumping in front of but don’t care to flash my boobs at. It’s also REALLY helpful for when I need to pump outside the house. I was actually pumping in my car in the Macy’s parking lot when a CURRENT, MALE student of mine walked by (I’m a high school teacher). My cover paid for itself in that very moment!!
Leave your plug at home when traveling. Instead take a battery pack (mine takes AAs) and have extra batteries in your bag. I’ve also got a car adapter but haven’t used it yet.
To cut down on dishwashing, I simply rinse my accessories after a session and store them in the fridge until my next “appointmentâ€. I only use two kits per day now – one for the daytime and one for nighttime – because I refrigerate the parts in between. I do so much less washing and have so much more time now!
Pumping parts are dishwasher safe in the top rack. I bought 2 Munchkin Dishwasher Baskets from Amazon to hold bottle caps, valves and membranes (I actually put the valves & membranes in the wash assembled – I haven’t lost a membrane yet!) Thankfully my dishwasher has a sanitizing rinse feature so everything gets not only clean but sanitized as well. I bought a Boon Grass Drying Rack as well so I can air dry bottles and shields. It’s cute, and I don’t need to worry about bottles falling over or shields touching the countertop.
I use unscented dishwashing detergent because I found that the smell of regular detergent sticks to the plastic î†, especially of the bottles, and I really didn’t like that for my daughter. I use Seventh Generation dye and perfume free.
If you need replacement tubing (I got some milk in mine one time and have not been able to clean the drops out), call Medela customer service at 1-800-435-8316, talk to a customer rep, tell them you have some kind of issue (like milk that won’t wash out î„…), and they will send you tubes for free! î—
Massage your breasts while pumping to help empty your ducts. Especially when there are times I’m engorged, massage helps. Go up as far as your collarbone, as far out as your armpit, and don’t neglect your cleavage. Like I said before, I haven’t yet gotten a clogged duct. There have been two times when I was starting to get mastitis, but I made sure to pump even more often and massage my breasts. The infection never progressed and cleared up by the next day.
To get the most output, pump at least eight times a day for at least 15-20 minutes. Yes, it’s time-consuming, but I’ve never had a supply problem (thankfully!), average over 60 ounces total every dayî, and have more than eight gallons of milk frozen for when I go back to work.
Medela freezer bags are convenient because you can pump right into them, but they’re expensive and only have one zipper. I like the Lanisoh bags because they’re bigger (don’t overfill them though!) and they have a double zipper so you can be certain it’s sealed. Plus, once I freeze them laying flat, they’re the perfect size for storing sideways in all those plastic shoeboxes I have.
Please add on other things you've learned or questions you have!
Get a good pump. I have the Medela Pump in Style Advanced tote bag, and it’s one of my closest friends  Great things about the pump are that it’s super portable, it’s got sufficient storage room for taking it places, and it works really well. I bought my pump at Babies R Us with one of those great 20% off coupons they give out.
Be sure you have a good number of the accessories that go with the pump. I’ve got about thirty bottles for pumping into and feeding my daughter. I have about ten of the Medela 5 ounce bottles (which actually hold about 6.5 ounces). I also bought eighteen First Essential 5 ounce bottles off of Amazon. They’re much cheaper than the Medela bottles (I bought them for $11.90 for 9), they screw into the connectors/elbows, and the Medela nipples work with them just as well. I’ve also got eight of what I call pumping “kitsâ€, that is sets of two shields/trumpets, two connectors/elbows, two valves, and two membranes. I bought plastic shoe boxes ($1 each at Walmart) for each kit and use them for storing my kits by my pump, storing milk in the fridge, storing bags of milk in the freezer, etc.
Be sure you are using the right size shields. My sister gave me a lot of her accessories from when she was pumping, and she used the 24 mm shields. The lactation consultant measured me at my appointment, and I need 30 mm ones! The difference in pain and pump efficiency was AMAZING!
Buy a correctly sized bustier so you can pump hands-free. I got a black one so it’s less likely to stain. I leave it in my bag when not in use.
I used to have problems with my shields not staying in place while I was pumping. I realized it was the flaps from my nursing bra not being completely out of the way and interfering with my shields staying properly suctioned.
I put a receiving blanket up under my breasts and on my lap while I’m pumping and afterwards when I’m cleaning up to catch any leakage. It’s also handy if you need to quickly cover up.
If pumping isn’t working, it could be the membrane isn’t attached to the valve correctly or has a hole in it.
The iPhone app Baby Connect is GREAT! It has a timer for pumping sessions, has an alarm where you can set how long you want to pump and will alert you when time is finished. It also charts tons of data – total volume for each day, number of sessions, average duration of sessions, average volume of sessions, and average interval between sessions. It can also keep track of bottles (with excellent charting and averaging features), diapers, nursing sessions, medications (I keep track of my meds and my daughter’s), baby’s sleeping, baby’s moods, and lots more. Beyond that, multiple people can access all the features from their phone. My husband has the app and can access his at any time to see the information or input his own data. He checks in on us from work pretty often î• When I go back to work, my MIL is going to stay with our daughter. We’ll get her the app as well so she can input data and I can check in on them when I’m at work î‰
Set yourself up with a pumping station. Leave your pump there when you’re not traveling and keep all your clean accessories there. I’ve also got a basket there where I keep all my medications, my daughter’s meds, hand lotion, lip balm, two extra bottles and caps for backup, my nursing pads and lanolin (I like Johnson’s pads because I’ve never had a leakage problem when using them, they’re not individually wrapped so it’s better for the environment, and they have an adhesive strip on them if you need to keep them in place in your bra), a trashcan for used nursing pads and other trash, magazines to help pass the time, and anything else you need in arm’s reach while you're pumping.
Have something to do while pumping. Once I’ve updated my info in BabyConnect, I go on Facebook, Baby Bump (of course), CNN, watch Netflix, read magazines or a book, etc. It really helps time pass! Guess what I’m doing right now! î…
Get a nursing cover. I got mine from uddercovers.com for free (just paid shipping – do a Google search, they often have promotions). I don’t feed from the boob, but the cover is useful for when people are in the room who I’m comfortable pumping in front of but don’t care to flash my boobs at. It’s also REALLY helpful for when I need to pump outside the house. I was actually pumping in my car in the Macy’s parking lot when a CURRENT, MALE student of mine walked by (I’m a high school teacher). My cover paid for itself in that very moment!!
Leave your plug at home when traveling. Instead take a battery pack (mine takes AAs) and have extra batteries in your bag. I’ve also got a car adapter but haven’t used it yet.
To cut down on dishwashing, I simply rinse my accessories after a session and store them in the fridge until my next “appointmentâ€. I only use two kits per day now – one for the daytime and one for nighttime – because I refrigerate the parts in between. I do so much less washing and have so much more time now!
Pumping parts are dishwasher safe in the top rack. I bought 2 Munchkin Dishwasher Baskets from Amazon to hold bottle caps, valves and membranes (I actually put the valves & membranes in the wash assembled – I haven’t lost a membrane yet!) Thankfully my dishwasher has a sanitizing rinse feature so everything gets not only clean but sanitized as well. I bought a Boon Grass Drying Rack as well so I can air dry bottles and shields. It’s cute, and I don’t need to worry about bottles falling over or shields touching the countertop.
I use unscented dishwashing detergent because I found that the smell of regular detergent sticks to the plastic î†, especially of the bottles, and I really didn’t like that for my daughter. I use Seventh Generation dye and perfume free.
If you need replacement tubing (I got some milk in mine one time and have not been able to clean the drops out), call Medela customer service at 1-800-435-8316, talk to a customer rep, tell them you have some kind of issue (like milk that won’t wash out î„…), and they will send you tubes for free! î—
Massage your breasts while pumping to help empty your ducts. Especially when there are times I’m engorged, massage helps. Go up as far as your collarbone, as far out as your armpit, and don’t neglect your cleavage. Like I said before, I haven’t yet gotten a clogged duct. There have been two times when I was starting to get mastitis, but I made sure to pump even more often and massage my breasts. The infection never progressed and cleared up by the next day.
To get the most output, pump at least eight times a day for at least 15-20 minutes. Yes, it’s time-consuming, but I’ve never had a supply problem (thankfully!), average over 60 ounces total every dayî, and have more than eight gallons of milk frozen for when I go back to work.
Medela freezer bags are convenient because you can pump right into them, but they’re expensive and only have one zipper. I like the Lanisoh bags because they’re bigger (don’t overfill them though!) and they have a double zipper so you can be certain it’s sealed. Plus, once I freeze them laying flat, they’re the perfect size for storing sideways in all those plastic shoeboxes I have.
Please add on other things you've learned or questions you have!
by botticellilady on Nov 25, 2011
If everyone with a Facebook could PRETTY PLEASE go to Just Simply Baby on Facebook and Like the page and then just leave a comment saying Megan Hendricks sent you I would really appreciate it! Would LOVE to get 75 referrals and win the awesome package to help finish our stash!
by MH2012 on Oct 26, 2012
Matthew is 4 month old today. Oh how I miss that hair!
by Lannie on Oct 21, 2012
My little girl has big ears. I love them, I think they make her look so cute. Point to this post is, don't let people make fun of your precious babies. They are all unique and precious in their own way :)
by beccakay72 on Oct 18, 2012
They have to do surgery and cut the plates in her head, and then my poor baby will have to wear a helmet for a year to help reshape her head she's only 13 weeks
by xkc_morrisx on Aug 27, 2012
They have to do surgery and cut the plates in her head, and then my poor baby will have to wear a helmet for a year to help reshape her head she's only 13 weeks
by xkc_morrisx on Aug 27, 2012
So my little guy had his 4 month checkup today. He did so good with his shots, only cried a little. I'm also proud to say that I did not cry this time :). He's a big boy. He's 16 lbs 6 oz and is 26.75 inches long! He's in the 75th percentile for weight and 95th percentile for height!
by Pjsmomma on Sep 28, 2012
