Choosing a Breast Pump

I think that picking a pump was one of the most stressful decisions to make because I felt like there was so much riding on making the right choice. I wanted to breastfeed so badly; I wanted to stack the deck in my favor by having everything I might need.

After blisters, blocked ducts, and an emergency trip to a lactation consultant when a blocked duct made it so that I couldn't put my arm down... breastfeeding finally got a little easier.  8 months later, I'm a pro (it does get easier!!!). Looking back, I'm so glad I researched the heck out of pumps because my pump ended up saving this over-producer from a constant battle with blocked ducts! 

As I looked in to pumps, I couldn't get over the price of the Medelas or the fact that they're single-user (unless a pro model) because they aren't made with a simple and inexpensive membrane that would reliably prevent milk from ever entering the motor unit... Well, don't get me started on the rip-off factor, the sheer waste of throwing all these perfectly good pumps into our landfills, or the idea that scores of women are feeding their babies milk pumped with what could be a contaminated, moldy motor (google that if you're brave and over the morning sickness stage).  Anyhow, I crossed Medela off my list.  I looked into the Avent Isis, but the sticker was also very high.

I read a snippet somewhere about the Ameda Purely Yours, so I started doing research.
It has

• a membrane, making it safe for multiple users
• two horns for simultaneous pumping
• separate adjustments for speed and suction
• BPA-free components
• can be used hands-free with a simple pumping bandeau
• and the price was about half the Medela!

Even better, I found my Ameda on Craigslist for a song.  I was instantly impressed by its quietness and small size.  Once I started using it, I found it to be quick at expressing and really comfortable to use.

What more can you ask for? Well, my previously-loved pump started making what seemed like a funny sound.  I called up Ameda to see if there was anything I was doing wrong.  Instead, the rep I spoke with suggested we just replace the unit to save me the hassle of investigating it on top of taking care of my new baby.  I read her the serial number and we discovered it was an oooold unit.  Well outside of warranty.  But because Ameda is awesome, they stood behind their product and the lovely rep arranged to ship me a replacement unit anyway!  I can't say enough about the pump, but the company is even better than their product!  A rare thing today.

If you're in the market for a pump, the Ameda is a FANTASTIC choice.  There's no need to drop a small fortune on a pump in order to get a quality product.  And if you have questions or need encouragement with breastfeeding, feel free to contact me. I have.been.there.  :)

The Uppa Baby Vista is a Winner

There are approximately eleventy-thousand stroller options out there.  Umbrella, Snap N Go, travel systems, luxury...

I became obsessed with strollers as this purchase would mark my official First Large Baby Investment and hitting that milestone meant I really was having a baby.  I looked at every stroller going by, I did internet research, and I finally started chasing down people pushing strollers I was considering in order to grill them on their strollers and to see if they were happy with their purchases.


I finally decided that my needs were as follows:

• Relatively light (but not so light as to compromise durability)
• Turns easily and can be steered with one hand
• Does not require a PhD in structural engineering in order to fold
• Can grow with me as I hope to have another baby before this one graduates from the stroller
• Has a nice pattern that doesn't scream boy or girl so that I can keep it should the next baby be a boy

Points 1, 2, and 4 eliminated travel systems for me, the Snap N Go was too bare bones and did not meet Point 4.

As I ticked options off my list, I started looking at the "luxury" lines.  They really met my criteria - although they also made my inner cheapskate die a little.  I eliminated the Orbit for its non-traditional looks and proprietary (and expensive) car seats.  The Stokke Xplory was too futuristic for my baby dreams.  The Bugaboo Bee didn't have a carrycot (at the time).

I was down to the Bugaboo Cameleon and the Uppababy Vista.  Two things really sold me on the Vista over the Cameleon: being able to fold the frame up with the seat attached and the price point.  Also, every person I spoke to that had a Vista RAVED about how great it is.


I proudly hauled home my new Vista and regaled my husband with stories of its greatness.  He was only marginally sold and not entirely convinced that we really needed all of this.  But oh boy was I happy and I knew it would just be a matter of time before he loved it too.

Fast forward to having my daughter and proudly pushing all 6 adorable pounds of her around the block in the bassinet attachment (it was exactly like the image I had in my head).  My husband joined us for a walk and, half way down the block, stopped to proclaim "This is the most awesome stroller of all time!  No really, this thing is great."  Aha!  Convert!  I knew he'd see the light.

The Vista is everything I expected it to be and I can confidently recommend it now that I've used all three attachments with it.  My only complaint about the stroller is how much room the frame takes up in my trunk.  I have a Prius and it takes up virtually the entire footprint of the trunk (it's too wide to stash it on its side).  That being said, this is not reason enough to tarnish its image in my eyes - a smaller stroller just wouldn't get the job done in the same way.

Also, if you have to fly with your Vista, the travel bag is really the only way to go.  The double stroller gate check bags only fit the frame if you also remove the wheels - which is a real pain when you gate check.  Order the travel bag when you can find it - it tends to go on backorder often!

The Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper - Because You Need SLEEP

The great debate: will the baby sleep in the nursery or in the master bedroom?  This always seems to be a lively topic of discussion, with everyone having a different opinion of the pros and cons of each decision.  Every first time mom has her vision of how things will play out when she comes home from the hospital.  But the fact of the matter is, all of your plans go out the window when you return from the hospital as a very tired and sore lady.  No matter how Type A you are, you end up going with "what works".

What works for us is the Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper.  This genius bassinet has one side that drops down, so when you park it next to your bed, you have easy access to the baby.  This is SO much more convenient than getting your exhausted and sore self up to walk even two feet to a normal bassinet to get your baby up/soothe her/make sure she's still really in there.  If you have a baby that nurses every hour for the first 6 weeks of her life (like mine), this convenience is the only thing that keeps you from completely losing your mind.

It's also wonderful:

• when you need to just flop a hand down next to them for soothing
• for parking that pacifier that refuses to stay put right back in their mouth before a Stage 4 Melt Down occurs 
• checking to ensure the blanket is still on when it's a cold night

I love my co-sleeper so much that I not only own the Angelica from the "Little Palace Collection", I also own an Original in cream.

The Angelica is beautiful and made my Mommy Heart go pitter-pat when I first saw it and envisioned bringing my little girl home to it.  It is also solidly constructed of high quality metal framing and well-finished fabric.  The Angelica is the same size as the Mini, so it will only hold your baby up to 23lbs.  It also does not break down easily - this is a design to leave at home.

 

The Original is not as fabulously girly, but it is much larger, it can convert to a playpen, and can be folded down into its travel bag for transport.  It's a bit heavy, but the ability to take my co-sleeper with me when I travel means that I don't care how small or light a play yard option might be.  My baby doesn't wake up fewer times at night just because I'm traveling, so my need to have her next to me at bed level doesn't diminish either.  It was a bit tricky to break down the first few times, but after a few dry runs I was a champion at getting the Original up and down in no time flat.

Do yourself a favor and get an Arm's Reach Co-sleeper.  You will love it just like I do!

Welcome to The Mama Loves...

As a first time mom, I was faced with the daunting task of deciding which products my little bundle of joy would require. There was so much information out there! There were so many baby products out there! Where to start? Stores sent me "Must Have" lists, the countless websites I'd signed up for to track my pregnancy's progress sent tips, my mom had suggestions, and just about everyone had heard from someone that such-and-such was an absolute necessity. But did I really need umpteen onesies? Was a travel system stroller a big mistake? If I wasn't already overwhelmed, I also had to decide which brands of this myriad of items would best serve our needs. And I thought baking and delivering a baby would be the hard parts!

I spent just over 5 weeks on bedrest, so I had plenty of time to research everything and compile my lists from the vast reaches of the internet. Even with all of this preparation, I still made some errors in purchases and found out that I really did want other items. I've been sharing my finds with my girlfriends and, in an attempt to simplify your life as well, I'm starting this blog to showcase the products that have surpassed my expectations and earned "The Mama Loves" title.

Enjoy!