Medela Breastmilk Labeling & Storage System Review and Giveaway

Breastfeeding is best done exclusively for the first 6 months of baby's life and in my opinion is the best option for mothers with the support to do so. I feel there is such a strong need for this support and unfortunately a lot of the women today don't get the support they need to start or keep breastfeeding. Even the Surgeon General has issued a call to action to support breastfeeding.

I personally choose to breastfeed longer than the first 6 months because of the numerous benefits. Especially of continued immune support from sickness. Breastfed babies are healthier babies and I personally have seen this over and over again with my disabled daughter Tatiana after the doctors told me to stop breastfeeding her when she was 3. She was just not as healthy as she would have been if I had continued. Formula has most recently been in the spotlight for causing obesity and being recalled because bugs were found in it. Yuck!

I am so very thankful to be able to breastfeed and to have chosen to breastfeed all of my children when they were babies. My nursling Zari is exclusively breastfed right now and I cherish every moment I have bonding with her and feeding her my "liquid gold". In fact while I am typing this I am also nursing her. Three cheers for multi-tasking :)

I applause Medela for their longstanding commitment to promote what is best for our babies, breastmilk! Medela has just came out with a new wonderful product for breastfeeding mothers. It is a breastmilk labeling & storage system.

This storage system is unique because it has:
* two easy twist-and-lock lids that mark the day of the week the breastmilk was pumped and a.m., p.m., or midday so that you can track effortlessly
* two 5oz Medela polypropylene breastmilk bottles
* one organizer tray that can hold up to 6 Medela polypropylene breastmilk bottles, can also hold Pump & Save breastmilk bags (sold separately), has clearly marked "in" and "out" arrows to tell you which bottle is "next in line", has a handle so you can easily move it, and keeps the bottles organized and upright in the fridge or freezer.

All of this is 100% reusable, dishwasher safe and BPA free! No more searching through the fridge or freezer for your precious breastmilk and having to discard your "liquid gold" because it wasn't used quick enough!

I love Medela's products and am a Medela Mom Maven. As a Medela Mom Maven I love to constantly share information, opinions and ideas on parenting. I also strive to provide my baby with the very best by breastfeeding. You too can join. I am also a stay at home mother and so I find myself pumping very little, but I do pump so that I can have a backup supply so that my precious "liquid gold" is there for my baby in the event when I am not. This wonderful breastmilk labeling & storage system is a lifesaver. It keeps it all in one place easily and neatly and helps me know what is the freshest breastmilk so I can avoid waste. I am so glad to have this and to be prepared if needed!

Here is a handy little chart to help you with breastmilk storage:

BUY IT:
You can purchase this system for around $16 on Amazon.com or on Babies R Us for $16.99. Additional labeling lids can also be purchased separately also if you already have Medela polypropylene breastmilk bottles.

WIN IT:
MomSelect and Medela has generously offered another Medela Breastmilk Labeling & Storage System for one of my readers to win.

Mandatory:
1. Go to the Medela website and tell me by commenting on this post what other product you would like to have and why.

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog by feedburner or by email and let me know which way. (2 extra entries each)

2. Fan/Like me on facebook and write something on my wall. (1 extra entry)

3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and provide me with the link. Make sure you have the link to this post and Medela in your blog entry or it won't count. (2 extra entries)

4. Grab My Button (see sidebar to the left) AND/OR Put My Blog URL in Your Blogroll - Leave Your Link. (1 extra entry)

5. Technorati my blog and let me know your link. (1 extra entry)

6. Fave me on Momfaves. (2 extra entries)

7. List this giveaway on any giveaway listing website or blog giveaway linky and tell me where you listed it. (2 extra entries)

8. Post this on your Facebook wall, Kirtsy, and/or StumbleUpon. (2 extra entries for each)

9. Comment on one of my regular (not giveaway) posts. (1 extra entry per post you comment on)

10. Follow me on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

11. Tweet this: @finamoon: @medela_us WIN Medela Breastmilk Labeling & Storage System #giveaway http://bit.ly/hp7pu4 (Daily Extras are Available)

12. Fan/Like Medela on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

13. Follow Medela on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

Make sure you leave me your email in all posts so that I can contact you. If you subscribed, blogged about this, listed it, commented on another post, or faved me on Momfaves leave 2 entries saying you did. This contest ends on Friday February 25, 2011 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). This Giveaway is open to all 18 years and over in the U.S. Only!!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to MomSelect, BSM Media and Medela for providing me the breastmilk labeling & storage system to test and review and another to giveaway for free. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Mimijumi Review

I admit that I am usually not a bottle fan at all. I dislike that most bottles out there are a breastfeeding Mama's worst nightmare when it comes to nipple confusion. Usually after a baby is given an ordinary bottle and then goes back to the breast the baby tries to use the bottle-feeding technique on the breast and has difficulty latching-on and sucking. Baby gets very frustrated, and so does mother. Nipple confusion can sometimes even lead to baby refusing the breast. This only pushes the mother even further to give up breastfeeding her baby and go to the unnatural act of formula feeding.

The Mimijumi Very Hungry Baby Bottle is so different from all others I have seen. I think it is the best yet. The Mimijumi company is made up of a team of designers, mothers, nurses, physicians and lactation specialists. The Mimijumi Very Hungry Baby Bottle is designed to mimic the look and feel of a mother's breast. The one-piece nipple screws on easily and is slightly angled on the bottle to make feeding easier and less formation of air bubbles. It also has a venting system to prevent colic. The snap-off cap it comes with protects the nipple from germs and dirt and leakage. The no-skid bottom helps make it possible to prepare the bottle with just one hand. The wide mouth makes it easy to fill...so less spillage of your precious "liquid gold". The nipple is made with the safest food and medical grade silicone and plastic. Both bottle and nipple are bisphenol-a (bpa) and latex free. They can be cleaned easily and sterilized using any traditional sterilizing method. You can sterilize by boiling them, using microwave sterilizing devices or alternatively they can be put on the top rack of the dishwasher.

I love that this bottle helps the baby to not have nipple confusion and when I do pump and use my Medela Breastmilk Labeling & Storage System to give my girls a break, this bottle filled with my breastmilk is the next best thing. However; this boob imposter will not take the place of my breasts anytime soon because I have the luxury of being a stay at home mom. Breastfeeding is best for my baby anyway!

Very Hungry Baby Bottle Set includes:
* 8 oz. (240 ml) bottle
* 1 cap - 1 nipple (slow flow rate, stage 1 for 0-3 months)
* 1 bottle care and use guide (instructions)
* 1 no-skid bottom

BUY IT:
Purchase one today for $18 plus S&H at Uncommongoods. You can find other places to buy this product here... http://mimijumi.com/storelocator
Additional nipple refill sets of two slow, two medium and two fast flow nipples sold separately.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to ChicExecs, a company which was created to promote small business campaigns, I was able to let you know about this product. Mimijumi provided me with the Very Hungry Baby Bottle Set for free to try and review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

BabyBond Review and Giveaway

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

I have tried a whole lot of things to stay modest while breastfeeding...from just a standard blanket to an actual nursing cover. I agree with most moms I've talked with that it is frustrating to nurse a baby that is covered up. The baby doesn't like it or thinks you are playing peek-a-boo and pulls it off. The mom has trouble latching the baby on to her breast because she is unable to see the baby properly. I have had this problem many times when trying to breastfeed in public modestly.

I love my new nursing sash! It is so much better than anything I have tried! Slurp & Burp, LLC makes the BabyBond nursing accessories that cover me, not my baby. These nursing sashes are ideal to maintain modesty. Baby is never covered and can make eye contact, interact, and bond with their mom more.

I received the BabyBond Couture which can be adjusted so it is great for when baby has just arrived and your body is still changing. It is a cross between a nursing top and belly band. It can be worn to nurse from the top or the bottom of your shirt so it works with your entire clothing ensemble. Worn as a belly band it is dual purpose as I have found it not only covers the bottom half of you while you breastfeed, but is also great for support under the belly while pregnant (see my picture above) and can be used as a stylish belly band that covers unbuttoned jeans that might not fit when starting out on your pregnancy journey or used postpartum with too big maternity and tight pre-pregnancy pants. Worn as a sash it is easily positioned over one breast and the layers of fabric separated to have achieve proper latch on and stay covered too. It also rolls up into a self-storing pouch to easily tuck into any diaper bag. It is 100% cotton and machine washable. One size fits all. Made in USA.

BabyBond also has nursing sashes that have built in burp cloths. The BabyBond Original has a 9" x 12″ double layer terry velour burp cloth that cannot be detached and the BabyBond Flex has a 9" x 12″ double layer terry velour burp cloth that can be detached. These other two sashes come in 4 sizes.

See how to use the BabyBond Couture:


BUY IT:
BabyBond is offering a 75% discount on their site for any reader who orders a BabyBond on babiesrus.com. Now you will be able to buy 2 BabyBonds for less than $46!!! All you need to do is email a copy of your receipt from Babies R Us to missy@babybondnursing.com, and she will reply with a 75% off discount code to order another BabyBond on their site with 75% off.

WIN IT:
Vivian from BabyBond PR has generously offered a BabyBond Original Turquoise size 2 to one of my readers to win.

Mandatory:
1. Go to the BabyBond website and tell me by commenting on this post what other product you would love to try.

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog by feedburner or by email and let me know which way. (2 extra entries each)

2. Fan/Like me on facebook and write something on my wall. (1 extra entry)

3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and provide me with the link. Make sure you have the link to this post and BabyBond in your blog entry or it won't count. (2 extra entries)

4. Grab My Button (see sidebar to the left) AND/OR Put My Blog URL in Your Blogroll - Leave Your Link. (1 extra entry)

5. Technorati my blog and let me know your link. (1 extra entry)

6. Fave me on Momfaves. (2 extra entries)

7. List this giveaway on any giveaway listing website or blog giveaway linky and tell me where you listed it. (2 extra entries)

8. Post this on your Facebook wall, Kirtsy, and/or StumbleUpon. (2 extra entries for each)

9. Comment on one of my regular (not giveaway) posts. (1 extra entry per post you comment on)

10. Follow me on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

11. Tweet this: @finamoon: @babybond WIN A BabyBond Original Turquoise size 2 Nursing Sash #giveaway http://bit.ly/cW87Tg (Daily Extras are Available)

12. Fan/Like BabyBond on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

13. Follow BabyBond on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

Make sure you leave me your email in all posts so that I can contact you. If you subscribed, blogged about this, listed it, commented on another post, or faved me on Momfaves leave 2 entries saying you did. This contest ends on Friday November 12, 2010 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). This Giveaway is open to all 18 years and over Worldwide!!

Product review & giveaway disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Mommy Cover Review

The Mommy Cover is a wonderful invention that is unique to any breastfeeding / nursing cover I have seen because it has a retractable reel system that attaches around your back so that it is more secure and won't flip up and embarrass you while your little one is moving around under it. It also has a rigid, but flexible neckline so that it makes a kind of half circle around the baby. You can peek in on your little one while they are nursing without disturbing them. Even with the rigid neck line it easily rolls or folds up to be put away after use. The soft silky neck strap is very comfortable and can be adjusted to the right cover height with the buckle. The tail of the neck strap can be tucked into the cover so that baby can play with it. I found this better than Teela playing with my hair. It is extremely fashionable and comes in all kinds of stylish patterns which are reversible and 100% cotton. At 35" wide by 21" long The Mommy Cover will help you keep modest when nursing in public. They are very easy to put on and stay on to keep you and baby covered. You can wear it two different ways too...under both arms or over just one shoulder. HERE are the instructions of how to wear it. Made in the USA.

I received a Camou Girly with the reverse in Hot Dot Pink and Black from Joia Products and Mommy PR for free to try out and review and I love it so much better than the receiving blanket I was using. Now instead of always having to constantly fix the cover because of a fidgety little one and be frustrated, I can relax and enjoy the time I have breastfeeding and bonding with my youngest.

I also love the Mommy Cover in Salsa Stripe with Posh Paisley Teal reverse. The pattern reminds me of a cabana on the beach.

DISCLAIMER: I received this product free from Joia Products and Mommy PR to try out and review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

My Pregnancy and the Use of Herbs

I have always loved drinking herbal tea. But I always look up the herbs involved in making the tea while I am pregnant or breastfeeding as a precautionary measure. I don't want to cause any harm to my baby. I have found a pretty good website that sums up what I was looking for and want to share my findings here. Here is the website... http://www.selfessentials.net/essentialoilsafety.html