5 Essentials for the breast feeding Mommy

The Boppy Pillow

This helps hold your baby while you're breastfeeding.  I couldn't use it for the first couple of weeks because my stomach was more of a ski slop, but after that this pillow became my best friend.

 

Tip: Get a pillow that matches your bedroom so you can just put it in with your other pillows on your bed.You can also use your Boppy to help your little one sit.

Breast feeding tank tops
These are SO much easier to wear than regular shirts because of the easy access.  Target has a great selection and I suggest getting basic colors.  I have one in white, black and gray so they match most of my clothes.

Feeding app. for your smart phone


By using this app, you can track what time and how long you feed your baby for.  This was my saving grace at 3 am feedings because I was so tired at first. 

Feed Baby-FREE

Other feeding apps: Baby Feeding Tracker by Sprout $2.99

Tip: If you don't have a smart phone you can put a hair tie on your wrist and switch it to which breast you last fed from.



Electric Breast Pump
I own a Medela Advanced Breastpump Starter Set.  Trust me on this one...HAVE IT READY!  When my milk came in I looked like Pamela Anderson in her Baywatch days (sorry, I'm not posting a pic of this one) and felt like she did the day after she married Kid Rock!  It's painful, and one of the only ways to relieve the pain is to feed your new born baby and to pump.

Through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) most insurance companies will now give you a free breast pump!   Here are the steps you need to take to get one:

1.) Get a prescription from your doctor.

2.) Call the customer service number on the back of your insurance card. 

3.) Tell them that you are (fill in the blank) weeks pregnant and you need to order your breast pump.  I ordered mine a month before I was due.  Also, make sure you know ahead of time how much they are going to cover.  Mine was 100%

4.) My insurance company then provided me with a phone number to a separate company called Edgepark.  Here is a link to their website. Edgepark

5.) Call them and order your pump.  You can look at their website before you call and decide which one you are going to order.  They will not offer any opinion, so do your research.

6.) You will have to email/mail them your doctors signed prescription, and they will send you any further paper work in the mail.

Medela hands free pumping bra
Yep!  Go right ahead and try to convince yourself that you wouldn't be caught DEAD wearing this!  Let me tell you, this bra is a game changer!  You can thank me later ;)  I purchased mine at Target for $34.99 and use it every day.  Medela Hands Free Pumping Bra

I hope this helps you ladies!  If you have any questions please feel free to email us at theeinspiredmommy@gmail.com

XOXO,

Thee Inspired Mommy

Happy Boob Month

October is Breast Cancer Awarness Month:
First of all,  take this time to recognize all the women in your life that are survivors, still fighting, or have lost the battle to breast cancer. These women should all be referred to as "LEGENDS"

Here are some random tips & factoids that may prevent breast cancer from coming your way!

Consider breast-feeding

Women who consistently breast-feed for the first 6 months have a 10% reduced risk of death from cancer, compared with those who don't, found a recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. One reason: Because a woman doesn't menstruate while breast-feeding, it limits the number of cycles she has over a lifetime, which lowers the amount of estrogen to which her body is exposed. Bottom line: There is significant data that suggests that breast-feeding lowers risk. If a mom can do it, it's worth trying. In other words, you've heard experts say that "breast is best" for babies, and now there's extra proof that it's best for moms, too.

Eat the right foods—Every Day

I know this is difficult to do as a mom on the go, however it is a must! Research continues to produce promising evidence that what you eat can affect your risk. For example, Harvard researchers recently found that women who had the highest carotenoid levels in their blood had a 19% lower risk of breast cancer than those with the lowest levels. Carotenoids are found in fruits and vegetables such as leafy greens, carrots, and red peppers. Women who consumed more carotenoids had an even lower risk of developing estrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer (which is often more aggressive). 

Trade your morning Coffee for Green Tea

We love COFFEE as well, but tea drinkers likely have the upper hand—especially when their beverage is green. New findings out of Columbia University's Medical Center suggest that when women with breast cancer take oral green tea extract and their conditions improve. Bonus! It also gives you a slimmer bod. Catechins, the antioxidants present in green tea, are pros at blasting belly fat. And studies suggest that caffeine frees fatty acids so you can burn calories (and fat) more easily.

Keep that Bod in Motion!

Grab your babies and your jogging stroller because research suggests that increased physical activity reduces overall breast-cancer risk by about 10 percent to 30 percent. All it takes is moderate exercise like a 30-minute walk five days a week to get this protective effect.More than two dozen studies have shown that women who exercise have a 30 percent to 40 percent lower risk of breast cancer than their sedentary peers. The female hormone estrogen seems to play a key role. Women with high estrogen levels in their blood have increased risk for breast cancer. Since exercise lowers blood estrogen, it helps lower a woman’s breast-cancer risk.

Trade White For Red Wine
If you already were an avid Red Wine Drinker like we are you are in luck! Regular alcohol consumption raises breast cancer risk, except for red wine, which has the opposite effect when consumed in moderation. Studies show that the chemicals in the seeds and skins of red grapes slightly reduce estrogen levels and raise testosterone among premenopausal females - thus reducing their breast cancer risk.

XOXO,

TheeInspiredMommy