Breastfeeding is Green

April 26, 2011

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

April 26, 2011

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

Mother breast feeding her baby girl

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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

     

  4. 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.

  5. 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

     

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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:

  1. 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
  2. McGill Newsroom
    McGill University
    http://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/news/item/?item_id=100297
  3. 101 Reasons to Breastfeed Your Child
    ProMom
    http://www.promom.org/101/

 

Out and About with a Breastfeeding Baby

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Receiving Blanket – As you already know, babies spit up, so don’t forget that receiving blanket!
  3. 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
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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!

Breastfeeding In Public

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

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.

    • Check out BumbleWee Nursing Wear’s article on the different types of nursing top styles there are. Nursing Top Styles

  • 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!

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.

Nursing Accessories - Mommy Necklaces

Nursing Accesories – Nursing Covers, Pumpease, Breastfeeding Bonnets

BumbleWee’s Favorite Nursing Accessories

Breastfeeding is the most natural way to feed your baby and to ensure that she is getting all the nourishment and antibodies that her young growing body needs to thrive. However, breastfeeding isn’t always easy for Mom. Here’s a list of our favorite nursing accessories that can help make Mom’s experience more comfortable and enjoyable.

All of our nursing accessories are made in Canada by mom’s just like you! 

Nursing Covers

If you are looking for something to provide a little privacy for you and baby during nursing, look no further. Our Small Potatoes Nursing Covers are the perfect accessory to pair with your nursing tops for feeding in public.

Nursing covers offer the following benefits:

- Ample coverage gives you the privacy you need to feed your baby without exposing yourself to the world.
- Stiff upper hem allows you (and you alone) to peek at your baby while feeding.
- Neck straps are easy to adjust with one hand.
-Lightweight fabric doesn’t overheat baby.
- Terry cloth corner helps clean up baby’s little messes.
- Stylish design will make you the envy of all your hip mom friends.

View BumbleWee’s selection of nursing covers at Nursing Accessories – Nursing Covers

Breastfeeding Bonnets

Breastfeeding bonnets are designed specifically to fit little heads and offer some additional privacy for mom while baby is feeding. The over-sized brim is multi-functional: not only does it provide some privacy for mom, but shields baby’s head and neck from being exposed to the sun. It can even also help prevent baby from being distracted by surrounding lights or movements.

Our MoBoleez Breastfeeding Bonnets aren’t only functional however, each one is made from super-soft, all-natural fabrics (70% Bamboo / 30% Cotton) and feature baby-friendly colours, and beautiful, humourous illustrations for the top of the head that are visible while breastfeeding.

View BumbleWee’s selection of breastfeeding bonnets at Nursing Accessories – Breastfeeding Bonnets

PumpEase – Hands-Free Pumping Supports

PumpEase are pumping supports that hold the horns of any single- or double-breast pump in place on your breast so you don’t have to. They are even designed with a unique fashion element because it matters that you look good and feel good even while pumping. PumpEase are easy to use and you don’t even need to remove your nursing bra.

With PumpEase, you are no longer tied down while pumping. You can check email, make phone calls, bank on-line, catch up on reading or tend to your baby – all while pumping!

PumpEase are made from an 88% polyester / 12% spandex high-performance technical fabric which is super soft and comfortable, is easy to care for, is breathable, is durable, has exceptional stretch and memory, and has quick-dry and wicking qualities. PumpEase will hold your pump in place as securely for your 1000th pumping session as it did for your 1st.

View BumbleWee’s selection of Pump Ease at Nursing Accessories – Pumping Support

Maternity and Nursing Evening Gown

What are 2 in 1 Tops?

2 in 1 Maternity & Nursing Look for tops that are 2 in 1! These tops are good for both Maternity & Nursing

Why buy a Maternity wardrobe only to find that you need a completely new wardrobe while you are breastfeeding? Look for Tops, Pajamas, and Dresses that are good for both. At BumbleWee Nursing Wear most of our products are good for both Maternity as well as Nursing.

Our 2-in-1 tops are sized to be worn during your pregnancy and will return to their original shape after the birth of your child. Then, while you are breastfeeding, you can use these tops to nursing discreetly in public. All 2-in-1 items have hidden & discreet openings that give you easy access to each breast for convenient nursing.

Maternity Top Nursing Top

See our entire selection of 2 in 1 Tops, 2 in 1 Pajamas, and 2 in 1 Dresses!

Nursing Top Opening - Pull Down with Underlayer

What Is a Nursing Top?

I love my fabulous nursing tops! They really do help to make breastfeeding more convenient in private as well as in public. With enthusiasm, I often tell people about my nursing tops, but unfortunately, the most common response is “Nursing Top? What is a nursing top exactly?” If you’re breastfeeding and you don’t have a nursing top, you don’t know what you’re missing!

First, what exactly is a nursing top? Good question! 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. If you buy a good nursing top, it should be comfortable, fashionable, and best of all, no one should even be able to tell that it’s a nursing top.

There are many different ways that a nursing top can hide its openings so that they are concealed until you need to use them. Check out our Nursing Top Styles Guide for an overview of the different types of nursing tops and nursing openings you can find at BumbleWee Nursing Wear.

Next, why do you want a nursing top? There are many reasons why a woman would want a nursing top. Here are eight benefits of nursing tops:

  1. Nursing tops are convenient – You don’t have to lift up your entire shirt to expose your breast for nursing.
  2. You don’t have to sacrifice fashion in order to get a top that is easy to nurse in.
  3. You don’t have to expose your entire belly to get to your breast. (I don’t know about you, but exposing my belly was the last thing I wanted to do after my son was born).
  4. You don’t have to expose your entire breast to breastfeed. Many nursing tops have an under-layer to only expose the part of the breast necessary for breastfeeding.
  5. You don’t have to hide – With a nursing top you’re exposing less skin which will help those moms who feel a bit nervous about breastfeeding in public.
  6. Nursing tops help to make those around you feel more comfortable and accepting of you nursing your child. Although it’s not right, many people still feel uncomfortable with nursing in public. By minimizing skin exposure we can help bridge the gap with these people and hopefully teach them to be more accepting of breastfeeding.
  7. More enjoyable nursing experience – with a specialized nursing top, it easier to breastfeed your baby. Also, fashionable nursing tops will make you feel more like your old self and not like a tired lactating mom. Having an enjoyable breastfeeding experience is crucial to successful breastfeeding for both the mom and baby.
  8. Many nursing tops are also sized to be used during pregnancy as well as post-baby. Be sure to look into this option since it will really cut down on the number of clothes you have to buy! Most items at BumbleWee Nursing Wear are good for pregnancy and throughout nursing.

Also, keep in mind that in addition to a nursing top, there are many other types of clothes that really help the nursing experience. There are items such as nursing bras (which are essential if you’re using a nursing top), nursing pajamas, and even fashionable nursing dresses! You can also get nursing covers if you still want some extra privacy beyond what the nursing top provides. For an idea of the types of clothing you might want to start off with take a look at BumbleWee Nursing Wear’s article on Nursing Clothing Essentials.

Breastfeeding In Public Is Legal – Know Your Rights!

In Canada, you are allowed to nurse your baby anywhere you choose to and you should not be discriminated against in any way because of it.  Where you are legally allowed to be, you are allowed to breastfeed your baby, period.   See below for more details on the laws in Canada.

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