I have been breastfeeding my baby from day one.  I know in the initial days, it was very important that the milk came in and gradually increased over time.  Of course, there was no way to actually measure how much was coming in, unless I pumped (not a good indicator).  Even pumping loses accuracy because you can have adequate amounts, when nursing at the breast, but almost nothing when pumped.  Currently, I exclusively nurse at the breast and no bottles have been introduced.  Although, my baby’s pediatrician recommended that we introduce a bottle at this time.  She said if we didn’t introduce one at this time, the baby would be permanently attached to my breast, until we weaned her.  I personally think it depends on the child.  My first child did perfectly fine when we introduced one at 4 months because I had to occasionally leave the house.  I will take my chances on this one too.

When I first started nursing, my boobs felt like they were on the verge of explosion.  I felt like a water fountain.  However, after the 2 month mark, my breasts felt softer and the baby didn’t seem satisfied after she nursed.  For me, I felt like I was not producing enough milk.  I started to panic a little because I did not want to feed my baby formula.  I went on to Yahoo Answers and found that a lot of other moms felt what I was feeling. After reading a bunch of answers (one from the La Leche League), my panic was short lived.  It’s not that I didn’t have enough milk, my body was producing milk just enough for my baby, not for all the babies around the block.  She was growing fine and she had a lot of wet diapers, which indicated that she was getting enough milk.  I guess I just had a mild case of breastfeeding paranoia.

I still didn’t get the fact that I use to be a water fountain and now, my breastmilk came in on demand.  You actually feel the breastmilk coming in with a sharp pain going through your milk ducts.  Like any other mother, from back in the day, I believed more meant better.  So I guess for a moment, I felt like I wasn’t providing my baby with all that she deserved.  What I did notice was that after I stopped eating Miyuk Guk, which is a Korean Seaweed soup given to post-partum mothers for recovery, that I was less of a fountain for breastfeeding.  The Miyuk Guk removes toxins and also helps with bringing in breastmilk.  After I noticed this, I told my husband, and he started to cook a batch for me.  Immediately after I ate this soup, my breastmilk flowed in abundance.  I swear by this soup.  It has never failed me. 

Every culture has a food remedy for bringing in breastmilk.  In India, they swear by garlic, where other countries vow never to consume garlic while breastfeeding.  There are Mother’s Milk Teas, which has Fenugreek as a main ingredient, to bring in the milk.  Also, some people opt to eat a lot of oatmeal, the good ole’ fashioned way.  Whether it’s a cultural thing or an old wives tale, there are so much information on breastfeeding.  If you are a sucker like me, you can try it all and see what works and what doesn’t work.  We are all programmed differently so what works for me, may not work for you, and vice versa.

I wanted to share with you the recipe for Miyuk Guk, which I totally swear by.  If it doesn’t work for you, at least, you will have radiant skin and great bowel movement.  If you are not confident in making it, go to the pre-made section of your local Korean market to buy it.

Miyuk Guk (Seaweed Soup):

4-6 servings

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of soaked miyuk (1 cup of dried seeweed)
• 16 cups of water
• 200 grams of beef brisket (Don’t add if you are Vegan or Vegetarian)
• 1 tbs of minced garlic
• sesame oil

1. Soak 1 cup of dried miyuk in a big bowl for at least 30 minutes.
2. Drain the water from the seaweed and cut it into bite size
3. Place the soaked seaweed(about 4 cups) in a big pot and add 16 cups of water and boil it over high heat for 20 minutes.(later you may have to add more water if the soup is too thick)
4. Cut the beef brisket nto bite size pieces.
5. When the water starts boiling (about 20 minutes later), add the beef and 1 tbs of garlic. Boil it again for another 20 or 25 minutes over medium heat.

As all of you know, I have been a 24 hour milk manufacturing plant since I recently had my baby.  I have been constantly on the lookout for cute, wearable, and chic nursingwear.  I have been fortunate to come across talented designers and companies who have nursing lines that have made my closet go from unbearable to fashionably wearable.  As a nursing mother, all I can say is that “I want to look cute too!” Recently I came across a nursing line called DOTE.  What caught my eye about this line was that all of their clothing looked super comfortable and they were super chic as well.  The dresses and tops did not look like nursingwear and looked like any fashion line you would see currently on the market.

Charlotte Cape Dress

After sifting through their many eye catching dresses, I wanted to try the Charlotte Cape Dress. The first thing I noticed when I received the Charlotte Cape Dress was that it was super soft at first touch.  I checked to see what it was made of and it was 91% rayon and 9% spandex.  I tried it on and it had a “home-sweet-home” type of comfortability, with a lot of stretch to it. The dress had two openings for each breast which was masked by the cape design on top. The elastic waist accentuated the figure and made me feel like a woman, not another mom in some muumuu. It only came in black which I didn’t mind because I would have probably chose that color anyways.

All in all, the dress made me feel like a confident, strong, and modern nursing mom. I loved that I could wear something that was not only chic and modern, but that was really comfortable. I could wear the dress “up” with some heels and I could wear the dress “down” with some flip flops. I love all of their dresses on the website and would love to try those out as well. For more information and where you could purchase these fabulous dresses, please go to: www.dotestudio.com.

(Disclosure: Product was provided free of charge for review purposes and does not affect my views or feedback of the product.  This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)

When Ella was born, she was considered to have almost no jaundice at all.  Of course that was shocking to me because almost all Asian babies have some degree of jaundice.  I had it when I was a newborn and so did my first DD (Dear Daughter).  Before Ella was discharged from the hospital, they checked her bilirubin levels, and they were very low.

At Ella’s 4 day appointment, the pediatrician did not see any jaundice in her.  So I felt that we were clear of that.  When we went in for her following appt. at 4 weeks, the doctor said that she was a little jaundice.  The doctor said that she had breast milk jaundice.  I had no clue what that was.  She said that if the jaundice did not clear up within 2 weeks to come back to her.

I had to find out what breast milk jaundice was so I went searching all over online and came across Dr. Hull’s site at www.drhull.com.  From Dr. Hull’s Parents’ Common Sense Encyclopedia:

jaundice, breast milk

About 2% of healthy breast fed term babies develop significant jaundice (breast milk jaundice) after the 7th day of life. This is believed to be caused by the presence of an enzyme (glucuronidase) in the maternal milk that interferes temporarily with the normal bilirubin elimination pathways of the liver.

The elevation of bilirubin levels in the blood is usually not to a harmful degree (but can very rarely reach levels that are dangerous¹). In the usual situation, even if the mother continues to nurse, the bilirubin levels will fall to normal gradually over a period of 3 to 10 weeks. However, if mother simply stops nursing for one or at most two days (she can pump and store the milk for later use if she so desires), the jaundice rapidly resolves. Nursing at the breast is resumed as if nothing had happened and proceeds uneventfully – the condition does not reappear. There is no reason to totally stop nursing.

Warning: The CDC has recently reemphasized² the danger of assuming that jaundice in nursing newborns is simple breast milk jaundice and failing to check blood levels of bilirubin. Visual estimation of blood bilirubin levels is unreliable and has led to tragic outcomes. While the benefits of nursing are clear, everyone involved – parents and physicians – must understand that careful monitoring of a baby’s progress in establishing effective nursing is critical. This means

• careful attention to the baby’s weight gain by sufficiently frequent weighing on calibrated scales
• careful monitoring of bilirubin levels with actual laboratory determination of the level to confirm clinical estimation whenever there is any uncertainty

Also, it is imperative to remember that true breast milk jaundice is a phenomenon that develops later. In the tragic cases of brain damage detailed in the recent CDC report, jaundice appeared early – sometimes in the first few hours of life, a “dead giveaway” that it was not breast milk jaundice. Early onset jaundice is not breast milk jaundice and has to be investigated and treated appropriately.

Wow.  A lot of great information on Breast Milk Jaundice and the best that I could find online.  I wasn’t too worried and thought it would just pass like my other daughter.  However, 2 weeks came by, and she still had a little yellow but it was hardly noticeable.  Remembering that the doctor told me to bring her in, if it didn’t clear, I took her in that day.  The doctor took a look at her and said that she was still a little yellow and told me that she would send me to the lab to get blood drawn and bilirubin levels checked.  She also proceeded to tell me to take my baby off the breast for 24 hours which would help speed up the process.  I did not want to take her off my breast. 

After taking her to the lab, which was an emotional story of its own, I decided that I would not take her off the breast, until I found out the results.  Today, the doctor called and said that her bilirubin levels were low and that her tests all came back normal. Whew!  She also said that this is more common in Asian babies and sometimes the yellow of the skin can go on until 3 months.  She said that if at 3 months, it was still present, we could try other things.  So I hope it clears up within a month and half period!!!

As many you have read in my previous blogs, I am just not a fan of camisole nursing tops that look like a sports bra add-on.  Going out in public, you want to look put together and not feel like you just got out of bed.  I mean, I have nothing against camisole nursing tops, but I probably wouldn’t wear it in public.  When I was looking for nursing tops, I knew I wanted a nursing top that I could wear out to a nice dinner party, and a top that I could wear out to the park.  I am a huge fan of tank tops and wife beaters.  It’s super convenient, comfortable, and perfect for sunny Southern California weather.  You can wear them with jeans, leggings, and pretty much anything you can think of.  When I was looking for tank tops and wife beaters, I kept coming across the same old looking camisole tops that I did not care for, until I came across Momzelle.

Momzelle Organic Long Tank

Momzelle was a line started by a mother who created her own nursing top to feel comfortable breastfeeding in public settings.  After she made her own, she soon started having a following.  When I saw the line of tops that Momzelle had to offer, I knew we were in business.  The tops mostly consisted of casual tanks and tees, but they were designed to flatter the post partum figure.  I got the organic long tank in a khaki color.  Everything I own, whether its a blouse or a wife beater, is extra long.  I don’t like when shirts rise up and you constantly have to bring it down, it’s such a hassle.  This top is so perfect to wear to the park.  You can sit on the bench and just pull up either side of the top to breastfeed.  It is very discreet and simply comfortable.  It looks and feels good.  Made of 92% Organic Cotton, and 8% Spandex, you know that you’re getting quality and comfort.

If you see me at the park, you will probably see me in my new organic long tank by Momzelle.  For more information on nursing tops by Momzelle, please visit them at www.momzelle.com.

(Disclosure: Product was provided free of charge for review purposes and does not affect my views or feedback of the product.  This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)

I remember when I was breastfeeding my daughter, I purchased 2 nursing bras at a sample sale at Naissance on Melrose.  They were both really nice nursing bras, but the only thing missing was that neither had any support.  They looked like sports bras and were completely flat.  Trying to wear those bras with nicer clothing to go out, just did not make sense.  Whenever I had to go out to an event or dinner with my husband, I switched to my regular bras, and ended up putting Lilypadz in it, so that it prevented any leakage.

I truely believe that you should invest in at least one good bra, whether you are nursing or not.  A bra that fits correctly and looks and feels nice.  Just like everyone should have one pair of really nice jeans.  When I was pregnant for the second time around, I knew that I would invest in one really nice bra which had support.  I gathered all my resources and came across Bella Materna, nursing bras to its finest. I went to their site and looked at all the bras they had to offer.  They had so many bras that caught my eye, but I had to choose one that was practical for me.  I chose the padded nursing bra. I wasn’t sure on size, so I had to measure myself exactly the way is was shown on the Bella Materna sizing chart.  I came out to be a 34C. No way! I am usually a 32B, so it blew me away. So I ordered it in 34C, but I had major doubts that it would fit me.

The bra arrived, and it was soft to the touch.  You could definitely tell it was finely made and was pure luxury.  I looked at the bra and still had doubts it would fit me because the cups looked too big for my boobs.  I tried it on and too my surprise, it fit PERFECTLY! The bra is made of quick drying Imported Italian Nylon/Lycra, which keeps moisture from sitting next to the body. Another plus, the fabric will not fade or pill and Okeo-TEx certified to be toxin free.

I love that the bra has an easy one-handed clasp with adjustable straps.  The Special Strap Keep helps support your breast while you nurse.  This is such a great bra, whether you on in your last trimester or when you are nursing.  It is super comfortable and flattering to your curves.  I love that its functionable and fashionable.  I definitely think its worth the investment.  Bella Materna also has a whole line of maternity, transition, and sleepwear.  For more information, please visit them at www.bellamaterna.com.

(Disclosure: Product was provided free of charge for review purposes and does not affect my views or feedback of the product.  This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)

Who would have thought that nursingwear could be so fashion forward?  I didn’t.  Especially going from one retailer to another, only to find bland, boring, clasp tops that had no pizazz.  I only hoped that a designer would come up with a couture line of nursingwear.  While going shopping for nursingwear, I could honestly say, there were less than a handful of brands that I came across, that I would think of putting on.  The perfect nursingwear for me, would be functional, flattering, and fashion forward.  What I do not want is a camisole looking bra top or an offspring of a sports bra to wear around the park.  Everyone has a preference, and mothers who do wear those tops, I have no problems with.  However, for me, I need a little somethin somethin.  Either a pop in color, an added spice, or an extra dimension, something.

One day while out with a friend, I came across Titi Collection, pronounced tee-tee.  I won’t ask where that name came from, but you have to say it’s to the point, unless I’m misinterpreting it.  It’s definitely nursingwear taken to the next level. It’s pure luxury from the second you lay eyes on it, to the moment you put it on.  Made of Italian stretch silk, it does not skimp on fabric.  I tried the Hoodie in Luminous and it was beautiful. Very easy to put on, and even easier to breastfeed.  You just have to unzip the front, unclasp the lace bralette insert and wallah, begin to breastfeed.  You can even use the hood to cover, while you breastfeed your baby.  The hoodie is super functional while making you look fashionably fabulous.

Hoodie in Luminous

I had so many people look at me at the mall. I could tell all the mommies loved it and wanted to know more about it.  It really makes you feel like a goddess.  The only thing I would want more from the collection would be smaller size choices or plus-size choices.  I got the size small, however, I would have probably fit a size XS or XXS small better, since I am a size 0-2.  The size small was more like a size 4 to me. But regardless of it fitting a little bit loose on me, it still looked flattering and beautiful.  For anyone, who wants that option of fine luxury in nursingwear, I would suggest checking the collection out at www.titicollection.com.  The Hoodie retails for $219.  They also have a blouse and accessories line in their collection.

*Just wanted to let you know that they are having a summer sale for 50% off at this time. Head on over to their site and get a great deal on a beautiful piece of fashion.

(Disclosure: Product was provided free of charge for review purposes and does not affect my views or feedback of the product.  This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)

I love body care products that make you feel special and loved. For me, my body is my temple. That being said, I like to nourish, embrace, and baby my body. When I came across, Earth Mama Angel Baby, I had to see what they were about. Especially their trademark, “Gift from the earth for your gift from heaven.” I mean just reading that makes me melt and want to take an extra glance at my belly and smile. A name says a lot about what the company is about and clearly when reading their name, all I felt was warmth, love, and happiness.

When I came across Earth Mama Angel Baby, I had to try out their products. Primarily because they fit my description in what I look for in a skincare. Even if I like the name, if the product is full of toxicity, chemicals, and anything bad, I’ll turn my nose up and look the other way. Sometimes you just have to be stuck up when it comes to you and your body. When you are pregnant, you are making decisions on behalf of your unborn, so there is nothing wrong with being super picky, super paranoid, and super super-mommy. I don’t like to put on lotions, potions, or concoctions that have ingredients on the label where I am like, umm…dictionary please?

I wanted to try out the Earth Mama Body Butter because it looked like a good overall pregnancy lotion. The label says, “Herbal Shea Butter Lotion for Expectant Bellies, Breasts, and Way Beyond.” The body butter combines organic calendula and organic chamomile with essential oils in a shea butter body lotion. It works with your growing belly and encourages the belly’s natural elasticity. I love that it will not aggravate morning sickness and it’s the purest lotion for your pregnancy stretch marks, made with 95% organic ingredients. On top of that, it’s completely vegan, cruelty-free, and toxin free. Can you top that?

At first, when I saw the words “Body Butter,” I was a little afraid because for some reason my brain associates body butter with greasy, thick, oily, slab of lotion. Don’t ask me why. After my shower, I pumped the Earth Mama Body Butter on to the palm of my hands and started to rub it on my belly. Let me tell you, the Body Butter was creamy, non-oily, and went on like smooth butta! I thought it would be super thick, but it was more creamy than thick, and had such a airy consistency on top of it. My belly did not feel greasy or stuffy. It felt more refreshed and enlivened. I read the ingredients on the label, and there was nothing in it where I had to refer to a medical dictionary. It’s just heaven in a bottle and you can quote me on that. I loved it so much, I went to Whole Foods and bought 2 more bottles.

I also wanted to try something else in their line, which happened to be the Breastfeeding Support Kit. Since I am going to breastfeed this would be super essential to my breastfeeding ritual. The Breastfeeding Support Kit has four of their best all-natural necessities for the breastfeeding mother. The Milkmaid Tea is USDA certified, 100% organic, Certified Kosher, and helps support healthy breast milk production. The Natural Nipple Cream is lanolin-free and helps prevent sore, cracked nipples. The Booby Tubes are gel-free breast packs that help ease sore breasts, and the Bosom Buddies, an herbal breast compress to help ease with engorgement or mastitis. Now that’s taking caring of me, so that I can take care of my baby! You just have to constantly refer back to their name, Earth Mama Angel Baby. Their products really stand by their name.

For more information on Earth Mama Angel Baby please visit them at: http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/

(Disclosure: Products were provided free of charge for review purposes and does not affect my views or feedback of the products.  This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)

There is a lot of controversy behind whether or not you should co-sleep with your baby. There are experts who believe that it’s very natural and good for mom and baby, while others believe that there are so many dangers involved with co-sleeping. When it comes to child-rearing, everyone has an opinion of their own. As a parent, we have to make conscious choices, that best suits our needs and beliefs. When we brought my now, 3 year old daughter, home from the hospital, I decided to have her near me, and chose to co-sleep with her. Of course much thought and consideration went into my decision, but I ultimately did what felt natural to me.

For me, it was a lot easier to breastfeed her because I could just roll over and feed her instantly. Moreover, I was able to bond with her, and really take in the fact that I was a mother. Being a first time mom and being extremely exhausted, we tried the crib thing. But I thought I was going to lose it when I had so much traveling to do between my bed and the crib. It was physically draining. Just having her close to me was easier on me and the baby, and she slept really comfortably next to me.

Honestly speaking, I can also see the dangers of co-sleeping as well. We had our daughter next to me and there were a couple close calls where I almost rolled over her, but caught myself in mid-movement. I am grateful that we did not have to experience anything dangerous, but I can see how it happens. When I found out I was pregnant for the second time around, I wanted to co-sleep again, but I wanted something that would create a simple barrier between me and the baby, that would make the co-sleeping experience more safer. I went online and was able to find a great product called Co-Zee by Hisense. The Co-Zee speaks for itself, “Sleep close. Sleep Safe. Sleep tight.” It’s a great co-sleeping solution that let’s you enjoy the benefits of co-sleeping while having the peace of mind, that your baby is safe and secure.

The Co-Zee gives total sleep protection for the baby and fits comfortably between the parents. So now your husband can also enjoy the benefits of co-sleeping. I know my husband felt a little left out the first time around because he did not have that much access to the baby, but now he can also participate. I can breastfeed the baby easily without getting out of the bed and my husband can cradle the baby throughout the night, without having to travel to the crib. I also love that it has an adjustable nighlight at the head of the co-sleeper and a tray to hold the bottle and pacifier. Plus, it is so comfortable and plush. The Co-Zee and its features really make it easier on the parents and the baby, so that more quality time is spent and making it an experience to remember rather than a tedious task at hand.

Hisense also offers many other quality baby products, but one other product that really caught my eyes were the Flow bottles. The idea behind the Flow bottles are, “A safe and simple bottle that works.” The Flow is an anti-colic bottle that leaves the baby comfortable and contented. It prevents Vacuums by drawing air through the bottom of the bottle and it has a unique valve that you can test. It’s easy to use, clean, and economical. More importantly, the bottles are made from high quality FDA food-grade PES plastic, and they are free of Bisphenol-A, and come with silicon nipples.

For me, I am going to try to breastfeed exclusively. However, I will have to use bottles when I have my husband, family members, and friends take care of the baby, when I am not present. At least, I will have the peace of mind that these bottles are safe and simple to use for anyone that caretakes my child.

For more information on the Co-Zee and the Flow, as well as other great products, please visit: http://www.babysafeus.com/.

(Disclosure: Products were provided free of charge for review purposes and does not affect my views or feedback of the products.  This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)

I am very particular in what sort of things go on my skin. Especially since our bodies largest organ is our skin, and everything that is penetrated into the skin, has an overall affect on our bodies. I don’t think many people realize what sort of things are put into our skincare products and how it affects our overall health. For one, I started to be more conscious of what I put on, with my first pregnancy because it not only affected me, it affected my baby. With that being said, there are things that are being put into our lotions, our cleansers, our toothpastes, that actually cause birth defects. Now, how is that possible and legal? Well, it’s happening everyday, and that is why we must be conscious consumers, for our own livelihoods.

With my daughter, I use only the best skincare out there because I know the short term and long term affects it has on her. When I say, “best” skincare, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is super expensive, and that I am looking to put gold or caviar on my daughter. The prices are very reasonable and the quality is exceptional, without the use of all the bad stuff! With another baby on the way, I am continually looking for products, that meet the high level of quality, without the high price tag. Which brings me to, Aleva Naturals.

Aleva Naturals, carry a whole line of baby products, that meets my particular needs without the added nasties. All their products are free of alcohol, petrolatum, phthalates, SLS & SLES, perfume, mineral oil, paraben, lanoline, and is hypoallergenic. So they pretty much covers their basis when it comes to most sensitivities and allergies. As well as leaving out, all the unnecessary chemicals, preservatives, and fillers that cause harm to our bodies.

The Bamboo Baby Wipes were so soft and were ever-so gentle on the face. The Baby 2-1 Hair & Body Wash, was a perfect addition to my daughter’s bathing regimen. It was very convenient that we could wash her hair and her body, at the same time. It was also nice that it did not have any strong odor to it. After her wash, we put on the Baby Moisturizing Emulsion, and it was such a nice ending touch. It went on smooth, and absorbed really quickly. She was left with soft, supple, and buttery skin. They also carry the Baby Breathe Easy Cream, which helps ease nasal congestion and relaxes the baby to get a good night’s sleep. For the mommas out there, they carry a Maternity-Nursing Balm, which helps soothe and protect sore, dry, and cracked nipples. So they pretty much have everything for you and your baby.

For more information, please visit them at: http://www.alevanaturals.com/. Be a conscious mother, for you and your child. Everything that goes on your skin, goes into your body, and in the end, has an overall affect on you and your baby’s health. Make sure that the ingredients you read on the label, are something that you know, and not some chemistry question, that you are unsure of.

(Disclosure: Products were provided free of charge for review purposes and does not affect my views or feedback of the products.  This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)