Frances McInnes is the owner of Breastmates Maternity Store. Breastmates have gorgeous maternity products as well as tips and advice for parents.
http://www.breastmates.co.nz
December 14, 2009
Firstly well done on wanting to continue breastfeeding your baby while you are returning to work.
Expressing milk is a bit of extra work that’s for sure, but once you get into the routine it will just be normal.
The thing with expressing is that you have to continue doing it as if you were breastfeeding. So on the days and weekends before you start work, you should breastfeed your daughter and note down the times that you do it. (you probably can tell anyway!).
Then when you are at work, you will need to try and express at those same times, which will keep your milk supply up.
It’s a great idea to continue to feed at breast in morning and night, and then you still get special cuddles.
As for a recommendation, I would more highly recommend the Medela Swing Breast Pump or theAvent Uno. These are both comparable pumps (well Avent has a few extras like the storage bag etc) but the key for me comes down to the service and availabilty of spare parts.
Medela have a full technical team in Auckland, so if something did go wrong with your pump, it would be covered under warranty. The Avent pumps are under warranty too, but they don’t have a service department. And spare parts (like tube, or valves etc) are quick to get. Not that that happens very often, but just something to think about.
The Swing is also a bit quieter than the Uno, which is something to be aware of if you are pumping at work. You’ll have to find somewhere with a closed door.
You can store your breast pump in a normal backpack, or one of those chilly bags that guys carry their beer in is really good. With some icepacks to keep your milk if you don’t put it in the fridge at work.
I would also recommend that in preparation, you start your baby off on a bottle with the Chu Chu teat. This works the SAME as a nipple, baby has to push down and suck to get the milk out.
I know a lot of babies get really fussy and wont drink from a teat when you are starting out, and that adds to all the stress. So do try the Chu Chu first, - I love it and I had the worlds fussiest baby but as soon I got these ones he took it.!!
These ones fit narrow neck bottles, and are compatible with Medela.
You will also need some bottles to store the milk in, when you express it.
Medela have the 150ml or 250ml size, but the 250 ml is actually better value for money. As you can still use this when your baby is older and drinking larger volumes. The 150ml only has a limted span due to the smaller size.
You will also need a brush to clean the bottles.
And a steriliser for the parts, bottles, and teats. You can boil them in a saucepan, or use those sterilisation tablets too (but I tend to think the tablets leave a heavy chemical taste).
Breastmates are happy to help you so please let us know if you have any more questions.
Filed under Blog by Baby
December 12, 2009
If a breast pump of hospital standard and something that is customizable is what you want, just zero in on the Medela Pump in Style Advanced. Devised with the breakthrough hi-technology that is known as ‘Twin Phase Expression®’, it has the ability to extract the most milk in a short span by imitating the rhythmic way a baby sucks. A huge research was undertaken by Professor Peter Hartman from the University of Western Australia, on the recommendations of Medela to find and suggest how the baby sucks milk in a spontaneously rhythmic way.
During his close study, Dr. Hartman has noticed that the baby’s suckling process involves two successive stages. In the first phase, the baby sucks the milk at a faster rate signaling the mother’s natural reflex to increase the milk flow, and in the second phase the baby changes the pulling out force from faster to deeper so that more milk oozes out in each suckle. The Twin-Phase Expression® technique built-in Medela pumps actually puts this fundamental into practice.
(i) Simulation Phase closely imitates the way in which the baby at first sucks milk with pace, initiating mother’s milk ejection process that begins the flow of milk
(ii) Expression Phase mimics the baby’s slower but deeper suckling by reducing the pumping pitch
Aided by the AC adapter and battery pack, the Medela Pump in Style Advanced can work both with the single and the double pump, and its SoftFit Breast pad can make the breastfeeding mom feel at ease. To ascertain that the gathered breast milk remains proper for the baby’s consumption at regular intervals, a freezing unit along with cooling bags and milk container are provided in the unit. For the extensively traveling moms, the very chic Backpack or the fashionable double colored Metro Bag are just perfect.
The swanky and useful shoulder bag that comes with the Advanced is a great item that the moms love. It looks so good that the mom can easily go out with it even when the baby has grown up and she is not breast feeding anymore.
The Medela Pump in Style Advanced is what every new mom needs, particularly when she is breast feeding the baby. Finally the mom can collect the milk and store it and any caregiver (perhaps the dad or someone else) can also feed the baby. And thus, there is no need to depend on formula milk anymore - the mom can go to work, and the baby can keep getting the milk anytime it is needed. While the mom can get sometime for herself, it is also an opportunity for the caregiver to bond better with the baby.
To know more about Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breast Pump, visit http://www.breastpumpdeals.com/medela-pump-in-style-advanced.html
Filed under Blog by Baby
December 9, 2009
Even if you want to breastfeed, the very fact that you have a full time job, with professional commitments and the absence of enough privacy, might make the job of providing breast milk to the baby difficult - using the Ameda Purely Yours appears to be the only solution. You can operate the Ameda Purely Yours both on electricity or manually as well.
The Ameda Purely Yours has been extremely handy for more than the last 50 years for moms who insist on providing breast milk to their baby. Indeed, there cannot be a better alternative to breast milk.
It is ideal for everyday use and comes with a dual action pump and a backpack. At home, you can charge the Ameda Purely Yours batteries by plugging in the system to a main outlet, while in a moving vehicle, you can recharge it by using a 12V electrical adapter, that is supplied with the pack of the pump.
This system does away with all risks of possible contamination, by not letting the breast milk enter inside the pump.
For providing breast milk to babies, young and employed moms keep the babies at day care centers or with care givers, and follow the given steps as described below:
§ The Ameda Purely Yours comes with the HYGIENIKIT milk collection mechanism and that should be used to pump out milk in the morning and store it.
§ Take out the milk storage bottles from the backpack, fill the bottles and put them back in the backpack, using the cooling elements to keep the milk fresh.
§ An AC power adaptor is to be used for recharging the batteries of the system.
§ The care giver or the person in charge at the day care center has to be given the backpack, with specific directives as to how to feed the baby at regular intervals of time.
§ Return at the time of lunch, and perform the entire procedure again.
§ Once the working hours are over, moms can return home with their babies and the backpack.
There are several separate items that you will find with the Ameda Purely Yours like the Cool-N-Carry tote, the two cotton Breast Pads, HYGIENIKIT milk collection system (with dual action), the three cooling units and the six milk storing bottles (each of 4 oz.), the guiding magnet for storing milk, the AC electric adaptor with the highly stylised black backpack of the pump, which has enough room to carry all these components.
While there are plenty of other breast pumps available, none come even close to rivaling the Ameda Purely Yours. While the Ameda Purely Yours would undoubtedly be of great help to the busy working mother, the other moms would also derive great benefits from it.
Here’s the ultimate guide to the Ameda Purely Yours. This is a truly wonderful breast pump - learn it all.
Filed under Blog by Baby
November 25, 2009
If you browse the Internet, you are sure to come across many options in breast pumps, but in reality, very rarely will you come across something that us so unique in style, and is so efficient and functional as the In Style Backpack. And that’s precisely why most nursing mothers go for it. Over and above, its low price, easy usability, portability and the use of modern technology as also the backpack design have made moms love them, particularly those who have to go out for working.
Young mothers trying this out to breastfeed their babies will gain an amazing experience. It is really fabulous how the single or twin pumping system operates automatically through the storage battery that remains embedded in the backpack. The batteries in the unit are rechargeable - all you have to do is simply insert in any wall socket. For her convenience, the micro fiber backpack keeps all the devices so that she can milk out, cool it in an ice-pack and then keep it in a hygienic vessel. It contains an intelligent micro-computer system that can adjust the rate and frequency of suction as per the time set. To feed the baby with the milk, one has to just turn on the pumping unit. Besides, it is absolutely hands-free, allowing her to run the computer or do anything else while the pumps would be doing their duty!
In Style Backpack has hit bull’s eye due to its adjustability that meets the demands of first timer mothers or moms of several kids who breastfeed. For the moms of twins, it can become quite difficult to feed both of them together, and this is when it becomes even more useful. Extracting the breast milk beforehand and then feeding the babies at a fixed time is definitely a great solution.
The advantages of using this product are multiple and so they are discussed here for better comprehension.
? The customized single and/or double pumping with hand-free adaptability is ideal for working mothers.
? The adjustable fitting enable the steady pumping out of milk at a specified speed.
? The twin phase system of pumps draws out milk in no time.
? The ice-packed cooler bag makes storage and feeding at desirable time possible.
? It can be set up anywhere because of its cordless electrical unit with a battery pack.
? The battery charging unit can be plugged into any wall socket for quick charging.
? 9 volt AC adapter and the battery pack can easily be taken out so that the backpack load is downsized.
? The backpack can hold extra bottles with lids.
Working mothers who have faith in breastfeeding their babies, have actually found a worthy breast pumping equipment in the In Style Backpack.
To know more about Medela Pump In Style Advanced Backpack, visit http://www.breastpumpdeals.com/medela-pump-in-style-advanced-backpack.html
Filed under Blog by Baby
November 24, 2009
One of the dilemmas that the breast feeding moms who use pumps face, is the complicated pumping technique and the accessories, which are unmanageable to carry while traveling. With the Purely Yours Backpack you do not have to get worried anymore as they are easily cartable and really easy to use as well. This device has a backpack with car fitters, AC adapter and loose batteries, which actually has resolved much of the issues.
This backpack having the breast pump package is actually easy to travel with, extremely flexible and its styling has been great too. But the greatest advantage is that, even if you are absent from home or are busy traveling, you can be sure that your baby will never miss a feeding again. Finally, all the working moms who want to breast feed instead of having to depend on formula feeding can find something that can help them in this.
This efficient device with great functional value, has eight flexible suction and four suction variants that works comfortably and softly without troubling the mother. A number of other adjustable adaptations come with the Purely Yours Backpack is provided with multiple fitters and adaptations, which enacts the way a baby weans the milk. Just think, the total unit can jolly well fit in the smart backpack that it comes with, and it does not weigh much as well - just about a pound or so! And a booklet is available with it as well so that the mom can know all about the pumping techniques. In the zipped pockets that are present in the backpack, you can safely keep your key, purse and the cell phone too.
The backpack also has a detachable ‘Cool-n-Carry’ tote for holding the cooling elements and six collection bottles. The pack is so well protected that the gathered milk can be stored safely for about ten hours so that the baby can be fed anytime.
Here are some of the outstanding features of the backpack…
? Purely Yours Electric Breast Pump
? Double Hygienikit Milk Gathering Device
? AC Power Adapter & Car Adapter with a turned-on cigarette lighter socket as well
? 2 Breast pads that are made of cotton
? Milk storage Guide Magnet
? Hand Breast Pump Adapter
? You will also find a Cool-n-Carry tote pack & as many as 3 cooling elements in this
? Bottles (6) with tops
? Microfiber Backpack
Therefore, the working moms who can barely squeeze out time to nurse and feed their babies (since they are always on the move) will find a friend in this Purely Yours Backpack. And that is why the backpack has become such a big favorite. It contains every single appliance that can make the life of the working mother a lot easier.
To know more about Ameda Purely Yours Backpack, please visit http://www.breastpumpdeals.com/ameda-bpa-free-purely-yours-breast-pump-with-backpack.html
Filed under Blog by Baby
