Text here about the 15% for SavvyMom or info to enter contest…
Breastfeeding and Newborn Photo Contest
Congratulations to Abbey for winning the BumbleWee Nursing Wear Breastfeeding & Newborn Photo Contest with the following submission:
Abbey's Winning Picture
Abbey’s prize package includes:
- 2 Maternity & Breastfeeding Tops
- 1 Maternity & Breastfeeding PJ
- 1 Nursing Bra
- 1 Pumpease - Pumping Support
- 1 Breastfeeding Bonnet
- 1 Nursing Cover
- 1 Photo Book
The contest closed Wednesday Sept 21, 2011. Thanks to all who entered and participated in the voting.
You can see all the pictures that were submitted in our our new galleries:
Belly Bandit Sizing
You’ll want to wear your Belly Bandit as soon after your baby is born as possible. That being said, you should get your first Belly Bandit before your baby is born so you have it ready when you need it. But… how do you know what size your belly will be after your baby is born?
Sizing Tips
- Early in your pregnancy: Your belly will likely grow between 1-2 belly bandit sizes from your pre-pregnancy belly size.
- Late in your pregnancy – Your belly will likely be the same size post-pregnancy as it was in your 8th month of pregnancy.
- Just prior to delivery – if you are just about to give birth then measure your belly and subtract 3-5 inches to get your belly bandit size.
Measure the largest part of your belly, usually around the belly button.
- There is no guaranteed way to estimate the size of your post-pregnancy belly, the above are just guidelines since every women is different.
- You will likely need to buy a second belly bandit as your tummy shrinks out of your first one.
Between Sizes
If you are between size you should pick the larger one, if you choose one that is too small then you will not be able to do it up and get the process started.
A better option is to buy 2 belly bandits since you will likely be needing a 2nd one once your belly shrinks out of your first one. If it turns out you ordered wrong size then you can always exchange it with us so long as it is unworn/unused. See our refund/exchange policy.
Original & Bamboo Sizing Chart
B.F.F Sizing Chart
Belly Bandit – Shrink your post-pregnancy belly!
Belly Bandit Original Belly Bandit Bamboo Belly Bandit B.F.F.
Post-pregnancy tummy compression has been used for centuries by women around the world as a method of helping to get their mid-section back into shape. The Belly Bandit is a modern version of the post-pregnancy tummy wrap.
Wear the belly bandit all day every day for 6-8 weeks following the birth of your baby, only taking it off to shower.
How Belly Bandit Works
The stomach, waist and hips have expanded due to pregnancy, this expanding process is assisted by a hormone called relaxin. Relaxin remains in your body for up to 8 weeks after pregnancy to help your body shrink back to it’s original shape. Belly Bandit works by applying a contant medical grade compression to the abdomen and hips which works in conjunction with relaxin to return your body to it’s pre-pregnancy size.
Benefits of Belly Bandit
- Helps return your abdomen and hips to their original size.
- Supports your back, adbomen and hips until your body regains it’s strength
- Reminds you to use your core muscles
Belly Bandit Videos
Breastfeeding is Green
As you are aware, breastfeeding is agreed to be the best possible nutrition for your baby. Additionally, it also provides huge benefits to the mother. These are well documented facts. But did you know that breastfeeding is also green? Not only is it good for you and your baby, but it is the most organic and environmentally friendly way to feed your baby!
Breastfeeding is Good for the Environment
First, think about formula… its production, transport and packaging. The production of formula requires the raising of cows to produce the milk. Raising cows to produce milk usually involves hormones and antibiotics, leads to deforestation and contamination of water due to manure. Once the milk is harvested from the cows it needs to be processed into powder in a production facility. This uses a vast amount of energy, water, and releases harmful gases into our air. Once the formula is ready it is packaged into cans and transported to many locations. As everyone knows, transportation uses fuel and releases yet more pollutants into the air. Once the formula reaches the household and is consumed, the cans holding the formula are discarded producing yet more waste.
Now, let’s think about the production of breast milk. The mother’s breasts produce milk, simple as that. There are no harmful emissions during the production, no transport required, and of course, no discarded or wasted cans.
Back to formula… how do you feed that formula to your baby? You use nipples and bottles. These need to be sanitized each time using energy and water, and eventually these bottles and nipples are discarded as waste. According to an article in Mothering Magazine “Plastic feeding bottles, nipples, and pacifiers take 200 to 450 years to break down when disposed of in landfills sites”.
With breastfeeding there is no need to sanitize (saving energy and water), and again, no waste to be discarded.
Breastfeeding is Organic
Another problem with formula is that there are many ingredients other than the powdered milk that are added to the formula during the production process. Mother’s milk is 100% natural and perfectly fitted to baby. There are no potential contaminates such as pesticides, fertilizers or antibiotics involved in the production of mothers milk. However, all of these contaminates are usually involved in the production of the cow’s milk or soya used in formula.
See – breastfeeding is green!
Organic and Environmentally Friendly Breastfeeding Products
In addition to the actual act of breastfeeding, there are many organic and environmentally friendly products that can be used to support the breastfeeding mother.
Look for products that are made with organic cotton. “Organic cotton is cotton that is grown without pesticides from plants which are not genetically modified.” [wikipedia] For example, BumbleWee Nursing Wear carry’s a nursing bra made from organically grown cotton, the Organic Easy Bra.
Also, you can look out for clothing and accessories made from bamboo. Bamboo is the fastest growing renewable fabric source in the world. Also, it is generally grown without the use of pesticides and herbicides. And for an added benefit, it is naturally anti bacterial and wicks away body odor! BumbleWee Nursing Wear carry’s the Nursing Button Top which is made from bamboo. Also, they carry Breastfeeding Bonnets for your baby that are made from bamboo.
So, just in case there weren’t enough reasons already, going green is yet one more reason to breastfeed your baby!
Everyday Fabulous While Breastfeeding
I remember when my son was born – being up at night, trying to catch a few hours of sleep during the day, breastfeeding every few hours, learning to cope on little sleep and the demands of suddenly being on call 24/7. New moms are tired! Also, you’re on maternity leave and you’re home all day with your kids. Why bother getting all prettied up, right? I used to spend those days in my PJs… I felt frumpy and rundown.
At one point I decided I needed to get out of the rut I was in. Being a mom is the most fabulous experience of your life and I wanted to feel fabulous about doing it.
First order of business – get off my butt and exercise. During the summer I popped my son in the stroller and went for a walk, during the winter I got a gym membership at a gym that had a daycare.
Second step – get some nice clothes – no more living in my PJs! I went out in search of some fabulous clothes that would allow me to easily breastfeed and still look fabulous doing it. Really, I had a hard time finding anything I liked, so, I started up my own store, BumbleWee Nursing Wear, and ordered all of the nicest breastfeeding clothing I could find!
As new moms, we are so focused on our baby that we sometimes forget to pamper ourselves in the little ways that we deserve. I found that between getting out, exercising and dressing my best, I started to feel human again. Don’t overlook yourself in your daily activities, taking that extra time will help you to feel good about yourself and be the best mom that you can be for your children.
Having a hard time getting that workout in? Try to involve your baby in your workout. Check out a mom and baby yoga or swim class. Go for a walk with baby in the stroller in a mall or outdoors. There’s many ways to include your child in your workout.
Having a hard time finding some fabulous clothes that will allow you to breastfeed? Check out BumbleWee Nursing Wear at http://www.bumbleweenursing.ca
Top 10 Reasons to Breastfeed
As I’m sure you’ve heard, there are many benefits to breastfeeding your child. Here are the Top 10 reasons that sold me on the wonders of breastfeeding.
Note: The following information was taken from the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as the ProMom Organization.
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Benefits to the Child’s Immune System.
Moms make antibodies for the diseases that they are currently being exposed to, and these antibodies can be passed on to the baby through breastfeeding. As a result breasfeeding can decrease the likelihood and/or severity of diseases such as bacterial meningitis, respiratory tract infections and uniary tract infections, ear infections, influenza, and many other diseases.
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Decrease in Infant Death and SIDS
Mortality rates are reduced by 21% for children that are breastfed. Some research also suggests that the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is reduced in children who are breastfed.
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Reduced Risk of Certain Conditions in Older Children and Adults
Risks of developing the following conditions are reduced for breastfed babies:
- Type 1 & Type 2 diabetes
- Obesity
- Asthma
- Lymphoma
- Leukemia
- Hodgkin Disease
- Allergies
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Increased Brain Development
Breastfeeding has also been linked to increased performance on IQ Tests as well as increased performance on other cognitive tests involving thinking, learning and memory.
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Benefits to the Mother
The mother benefits from breastfeeding in the following ways:
- Returning to her pre-pregnancy weight faster
- Reducing her risk of breast and ovarian cancer
- Experiencing decreased postpartum bleeding
- Helping to shrink the mother’s uterus after birth
- Helping to naturally space children since many women do not ovulate for the first 6 months of breastfeeding (Important Note! For some women it is still possible to get pregnant during this time)
- Not having to wash, sterilize and prepare bottles or shop for formula
- Reducing costs – formula costs on average $1,200 for a year
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Better Dental and Jaw Development
Drinking from the breast requires 60 times more energy than bottle feeding. This additionial excercise helps to build healthy jaws and straighter teeth. Also, breastfed babies have less tooth decay.
This increased jaw excercise also helps with speech development.
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Increased Bonding
Breastfeeding increases the bond between a mother and baby. Babies need to be held and cuddled and breastfeeding satisfies this need. Research has also shown that the hormone released during breastfeeding (oxytocin) helps to develop maternal behaviour in the mother as well as increase her bond to her child.
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Calming Effect
Breastfeeding calms the mother and the baby. Also, breastmilk acts as a natural pain reliever in infants since it contains endorphins that help to supress pain.
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Benefits to the Environment
Less waste from empty formula cans and bottles as well as less energy used and waste created due to the production and transport of formula.
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Many Other Benefits
There are so many benefits to breastfeeding that they can’t all fit into any Top 10. Here are some other benefits to breastfeeding:
- Breastmilk is easier to digest than formula
- Breastfed babies have less chances of developing eczema
- Breastfed babies have better hand-eye coordination – It is not known why, but it has been shown that breastfed babies have better hand-eye coordination at an earlier age compared to formula fed babies.
Sources:
- PEDIATRICS Vol. 115 No. 2 February 2005, pp. 496-506 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2491)
Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/115/2/496 - McGill Newsroom
McGill University
http://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/news/item/?item_id=100297 - 101 Reasons to Breastfeed Your Child
ProMom
http://www.promom.org/101/
First Time Out with Baby and Boob
If this is your first baby you are no doubt a bit leery of venturing out the house for the first time. Even if you already have children, the first time out with new baby can still be a bit daunting. There are so many things that you and your baby might need, how do you prepare? Hopefully these suggestions will help you to plan your first outings with baby and boob.
The good thing about breastfeeding is that you don’t need to pack formula and bottles! You just need the essentials – you, your boob and baby!
In addition to the essentials, here are a few items that might make your time out a bit more manageable:
- Water for mom – Be sure to pack a bottle of water. Nursing moms need more water then the average women. You’ll often feel thirsty while breastfeeding, this is your body’s way of reminding you to drink more water.
- Receiving Blanket – As you already know, babies spit up, so don’t forget that receiving blanket!
- Nursing Bra – A nursing bra provides easy access to the breast without having to remove your entire bra. This is essential for nursing in public!Checkout BumbleWee Nursing Wear’s Nursing Bras
- Nursing Top – A nursing top is just a regular top with “secret” concealed openings in the shirt so that you can pop out a breast and feed you’re baby without having to expose your entire belly or breast. Nursing tops come in an assortment of styles and different openings for accessing the breast. Some tops pull up from underneath the breast, while others might have V-neck that pulls to the side of the breast.Checkout BumbleWee Nursing Wear’s Nursing Tops section for some stylish nursing and maternity clothing.
- Nursing Cover – A nursing cover covers you and your baby during nursing. It attaches around your neck so that baby can not pull the cover off during nursing. Paired with a nursing top, you can feel comfortable nursing your baby anywhere in public!Checkout BumbleWee Nursing Wear’s Nursing Covers section for some stylish nursing and maternity clothing.
- Breast Pads – During the first few weeks and months of breastfeeding your breasts will likely leak some milk at certain times. It is useful to have breast pads at all times to catch these leaks so that they do not show through your shirt. Also, keep a spare few in your diaper bag since you’ll want to freshen them up from time to time.
- Breast Cream – In the first few weeks you’re breast might be tender or dry. It is useful to take specialized breast cream designed to help keep the nipples healthy and moist. You’ll likely want to reapply after each time you feed your baby.
Once you’re packed you’re ready to go! If you’re nervous about breastfeeding in public try to go somewhere that will be supportive of your breastfeeding. Try a friend or family members house. Another good option is a mall, there are usually many moms and babies out and about. Malls usually have designated nursing rooms or family rooms that are there especially for you! Also, some cities are actively encouraging breastfeeding in public. For example, Toronto has a Breastfeeding Friendly campaign where restaurants can sign up as being “Breastfeeding Friendly” For a list of restaurants participating in this program see http://www.toronto.ca/health/breastfeeding/restaurants.htm See if there is a Breastfeeding Friendly program in your city.
And relax! The good news is that if baby does fuss, your boob is always ready to go, no need to scramble around preparing a bottle!
Why should I nurse in public?
I believe that all women should be encouraged to nurse in public. Why? The 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey questioned new mothers who chose not to breastfeed. The top reason for women choosing not to breastfeed was that they found it “unappealing” or “disgusting” (pg25 Breastfeeding Practice Article). Women who nurse in public would act as a role model to these women, and would inspire and encourage new mothers to feel comfortable with the option to nurse.
Nursing In Public – A Guide For Nursing Mothers
You and your new baby decide to go on your first outing since he was born. You change him, dress him and nurse him before you leave the house. He falls asleep in his car seat on the way there. Perfect! He’s fed, changed and sleeping peacefully.You’re all set to shop and you’re sure you have at least an hour and a half to get your shopping done before he wakes up and is hungry again. A half hour into your shopping he wakes up and you know he’ll be hungry soon. What do you do? Do you rush home to feed him? Should you go out to your car and feed him there? Maybe you should use the bathroom stall? Unfortunately, this is often how nursing mothers are made to feel when they choose to nurse. So often nursing is seen as offensive or somehow shameful and should be done in private. Any mother who has nursed a baby knows that hiding out is certainly not a practical option.
So, you need to feed your baby in public, but how can you go about it in a discreet and comfortable way for yourself and those around you? Here are some tips that can help you:
1. Know Your Rights!
B.C. and Ontario specifically outline the rights of breastfeeding mothers.
Ontario’s Human Rights Commission states that:
You have rights as a nursing mother. For example, you have the right to breastfeed a child in a public area. No one should prevent you from nursing your child simply because you are in a public area. They should not ask you to “cover up”, disturb you, or ask you to move to another area that is more “discreet”. http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/issues/pregnancy
B.C.’s Human Rights Commission states that:
Mothers are allowed “to breastfeed / express milk on public benches such as may be found in shopping malls, museums, hospitals, public parks, restaurants, etc.;” and mothers are allowed “to breastfeed their babies while walking in stores, etc.” http://www.infactcanada.ca/B.C._HR_Policy_Procedure_Manual.htm
For the rest of Canada women are protected against sex discrimination by each province’s Human Rights Code. See the Infant Feeding Action Coalition’s website http://www.infactcanada.ca/Breastfeeding_Rights.htm
What it boils down to is that you are allowed to nurse your baby anywhere you choose to and you should not be discriminated against in any way because of it.
2. Get Nursing Clothing.
Technically, you dont need any special clothing to nurse your baby; however, there are many items you can use that will make the experience more comfortable, discreet, and enjoyable for you! If you feel comfortable nursing with regular clothing, great! But if you feel uncomfortable with exposing your belly or your breast, then nursing clothing would be a great option for you.
Here are some items that would help you to nurse discreetly in public.
- Nursing Tops – Nursing tops come in an assortment of styles and different openings for accessing the breast. Many come with a discreet under layer that keeps breast and tummy covered, exposing only the area required for nursing.
- Nursing Bras – A nursing bra provides easy access to the breast without having to remove your entire bra.
- Nursing Cover – A nursing cover covers you and your baby during nursing. Paired with a nursing top, you can feel comfortable nursing your baby anywhere in public!
Check out BumbleWee Nursing Wear’s article on the different types of nursing top styles there are. Nursing Top Styles
See BumbleWee Nursing Wear’s great article for more details on essential nursing clothing: Article – Nursing Clothing Essentials
Check out BumbleWee Nursing Wear for a great selection of nursing clothing available in Canada!
3. Practice, Practice, Practice. – Practice makes perfect! In the beginning, you and your baby are both learning how to breastfeed. To help yourself feel the most comfortable, practice at home before you try it in public. Once your baby is latched you can fix up your clothing to cover the majority of your breast so that almost nothing is left exposed. Ask a friend or your man how you look or check yourself out in a mirror.
4. Dont Wait for the Sirens! – Feed your baby before he is starving, screaming and drawing attention. By now you probably know your baby’s schedule and hunger signs so use them!
5. Get Ready. – Get yourself ready before you pick up your baby to nurse. Undo your nursing bra and get your nursing cover and burp cloth ready. Then you can easily pick up your baby, get him latched, and arrange your clothing to cover yourself where you feel necessary. Now, you’re good to go!
6. Be Confident. – You are feeding your baby the best nourishment available. Don’t draw attention by acting nervous or trying to hide. Act like you normally would – chat, read, whatever makes you feel comfortable.
7. Be Considerate. – Be considerate to the people around you who may feel uncomfortable by your nursing. That doesn’t mean you should leave the room or feel the need to hide, and it doesn’t mean that they are allowed to ask you to leave or cover yourself, it just means to be aware. For example, if you’re in a room with a few people, you can just let those around you know that you will be nursing. This way, if they are uncomfortable with your nursing then they have the chance to leave the area.
Why Should I Nurse in Public?
I believe that all women should be encouraged to nurse in public. Why? The 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey questioned new mothers who chose not to breastfeed. The top reason for women choosing not to breastfeed was that they found it “unappealing” or “disgusting” (pg25 Breastfeeding Practice Article). Women who nurse in public would act as a role model to these women, and would inspire and encourage new mothers to feel comfortable with the option to nurse.
Breastfeeding truly is a beautiful and amazing experience for you and your baby. Hopefully these tips have helped you have the strength to feel confident with your choice to breastfeed and with nursing in public. It would be a shame for a women to choose not to breastfeed or to prematurly wean her baby because she felt self-conscious nursing in public.
