My Breastfeeding Essentials

21/09/201809/04/2024 Lisa 19 Comments

My Breastfeeding Essentials

My Breastfeeding Essentials – breastfeeding your baby is supposed to be a natural process. It wasn’t for me and many other women so I’ve put together a list of the things that can make your breastfeeding journey easier on both yourself and your baby.

Lanolin Cream

This has to be my number one must have when breastfeeding. It’s a cream that forms a protective barrier for your nipples to help prevent and aid cracked and sore nipples. I personally started using this right from the get go as a preventative measure so would recommend that you pop a tube into your hospital bag. You only need a very small amount but it definitely makes a difference.

Get Online

You don’t have to do anything blindly these days. Look for pregnant and new mums in the online space. You’ll find an expanse of advice with everything from getting your latch right to tips for the best feeding positions.

Breastfeeding pillow

You have to get as comfortable as you can when you breastfeed so a pillow can help with both your comfort and the baby’s position.

Muslin cloths

Great for mopping up baby sick and popping on your shoulder when winding, but also great for leaky boob moments. These are also great for giving you a bit of coverage when feeding out and about.

Snacks

Breastfeeding definitely gives you the munchies so it’s good to have some snacks within reach.

Drinks

You definitely feel the thirst when breastfeeding so it’s a good idea to have a water bottle within reaching distance. There are also loads of breastfeeding teas which can help with your milk supply. I’ve tried Hot Tea Mama and Pukka Motherkind Pregnancy tea which are both lovely (even Luke warm).

Nursing bras

Jeez these are ugly contraptions but essential to make feeding easier. I bought sports bra style ones from H&M which are underwired and made from really stretchy material making them a comfortable option. I also wear soft bra tops at night which makes you more comfortable and easy to pop a breast pad if you need to.

Clothes

This is definitely something you will need to think about. Dresses are pretty much out unless they have buttons down the front. As long as you have easy access you could wear whatever you like. I would highly recommend the Bshirt Breastfeeding Vest (Read my Review Here) and the range of Breastfeeding T-shirts available from the Milky Tee Company both of which look like normal tops but give you easy access to breastfeed.

Nipple shields

These aren’t something everybody uses, but I was recommended these when my nipples were cracked and bleeding as a way to protect them. I had a couple of successful feeds using these but mostly they pinched.

A breast pump

This has been essential to our breastfeeding journey to increase my supply as well as giving my poor nipples a break. There are loads of different types including manual and electric. A manual pump can be good if you need to pump to relieve your full Breasts or the odd session, but if you want to express quickly and often then an electric pump would be the best option. I started out with a single pump that I hired through my Health Visitor before getting a Lansinoh Double pump which is really quick and easy to use.

Milk Storage Bags

If pumping you’ll want something to keep your milk in. Storage bags are great as they can be filled and easily stored in your fridge or freezer without taking up too much space.

Breast Pads

I would pop some of these in your hospital bag but you may not need them at the beginning. You can get disposable ones or washable breast pads which are much nicer and cost effective.

Diet

Not a diet diet, but there are a lot of foods that are recommended for breastfeeding women which can give you the energy you need for feeding and looking after a newborn as well as increasing your milk supply.

Hot/Cold Compress

These are great for blocked ducts. As well as massaging the area, taking a hot shower, a hot or cold compress can help to reduce any redness.

A Latch Assist

Can be used if you have everted or flat nipples to draw the nipple outwards into the perfect shape for feeding.

I’m sure there are far more things that I could add to this list, and if you are a seasoned breastfeeder and think of something that I’ve missed then pop it in the comments as I’m willing to try anything and everything.

Lisa x

*This post may contain affiliate links which means that I receive a small payment should you click on the links and make a purchase at no cost to you.

Relactation – An Update

17/09/201830/06/2020 Lisa 16 Comments

Relactation – An Update

Relactation an update – It’s around six weeks now since we restarted breastfeeding and I was hoping that it was going to be positive news but we haven’t got any further forward than we were when we started.

Confession time

I started off pumping and feeding with formula as well and it was going well. I felt like my breasts could cope with breastfeeding three times a day as well as pumping and I was looking forward to the breast pain/discomfort to stop at some point.

I should confess that the pumping became very intermittent and there were times when I missed it out completely. This was because Freddie only wants to sleep in my arms during the day which rules out pumping during those times. He also breastfeeds for around 40 minutes at a time and then topping him up with formula takes another 20 minutes. I know babies are time consuming but fitting this in around getting dressed, eating, having a wee, the school run etc etc has really been taking its toll.

I’m not going to lie, this is hard. I feel slightly trapped at home with very little support. Leaving the house is getting harder not easier since the time between feeds is so small it doesn’t really give me time to do very much. It feels like all I do is feed Freddie.

I had my arranged phone consultation with the Lactation Consultant on Wednesday last week and explained everything from the time it takes to feed and also the lack of milk produced when pumping. I’ve also been getting sharp pains through the whole breast during and after feeding/pumping which is also a factor in reducing the pumping so that I feel recovered enough to feed him the next time.

I was asked to make an appointment with my GP to be tested for thrush of the breast and also to get a prescription for Domperidone which is used to increase your milk supply.

I don’t like to take tablets but Freddie wants Breastmilk and is refusing formula more and more. I was told to print off the information for both the treatment of thrush and also the guidelines for Domperidone for the GP who aren’t always prescribing the correct dosage.

Ideal situation

In an ideal world I would either be exclusively breastfeeding or at least feeding and pumping enough to replace the formula. I think there is also an element of him using me as a comforter rather than just hunger which we need to knock on the head.

GP Appointment

I managed to get an appointment at the doctors on Friday, taking along the info. The GP which wasn’t my usual GP dismissed oral thrush in Freddie with barely a glance in his mouth so was reluctant to treat either of us but I insisted that a swab and sample was taken on the advice of the Lactation Consultant.

I asked regarding the Domperidone and she initially said she would give me a few days worth to take a couple of times a day. The Breastfeeding Network advice is to take 10mg three times a day for seven days, and then a reduced dose under the management of a trained Breastfeeding Advisor.

I felt a bit like ‘teaching your Granny to suck eggs’ when I offered the information I’d been given, but the GP was happy for the information as she said she would have needed to look this up and so I was given a prescription to be managed by the Lactation Consultant which I felt happy with.

Domperidone is given to mums who have a low supply or for Mums if baby’s who are born prematurely to initiate and keep the supply so they can express.

It’s Monday so this is Day 4 of taking the tablets and I have noticed a slight increase in supply. My let down is quite fierce, Freddie struggles a little bit as the milk flows so fast. If he comes off he literally gets sprayed in the face!

I’m pumping and feeding but still not the recommended times a day as I’m still sore. I’m hoping that thrush is found which would give a good explanation for the pain and would hopefully stop after treatment.

Onwards and upwards as they say!

If you’re breastfeeding and experiencing the same problems I’d love to hear your experiences or tips you may have. I need to get this baby into some kind of routine that suits all of us.

Lisa x

How I Re-established Breastfeeding

01/09/201821/10/2022 Lisa 19 Comments

How I Re-established Breastfeeding

How I Re-established Breastfeeding – You many know that I made the decision not to continue breastfeeding after I was re-admitted to hospital and treated for sepsis when Freddie was a couple of weeks old. I was totally gutted and felt that I’d failed my third and final baby. I made this decision based on the fact that my poor nipples felt and looked like they’d been savaged by a dog, and the only thing that was coming out was blood and pus.

I was seen by a Breastfeeding Consultant whilst on the ward who was prepared to get me back to breastfeeding, but the thought of feeding my baby and possibly passing on a nasty infection was enough for me to shut the door on that completely.

I cried a lot! I cried every time I fed him a bottle. Freddie struggled away from the bottle not knowing how to feed from it. He turned his head in towards my breasts searching and crying for all he’d known. My breasts were engorged and sore, showing no signs of recovery but reacting to my little boys cries by leaking milk that he desparately wanted.

I hated giving him formula milk, not because I’m against formula but because it was a constant reminder of what I hadn’t been able to achieve. I was reassured by people telling me that a fed baby is a happy baby when all I wanted to do was scream at them to shut up. Since starting formula, Freddie had become constipated and was suffering with colic after each feed. It was awful watching him strain knowing that it was the change from breast to formula, and winding him after each feed took forever.

The healing process from the infection was slow going and my breasts remained engorged and sore, but the milk kept on coming. I wanted it to stop so that I didn’t have the constant reminder and hopefully Freddie would stop trying to get to my breasts because he could smell it. I had to have a further course of anti-biotics as again I woke up with extremely engorged breasts and a cold shakiness. My attempts to hand pump enough milk away to be comfortable was impossible. It felt sore and uncomfortable to hold Freddie against my chest which is really hard with a newborn.

When Freddie was six weeks old, I’d just got out of the shower and Freddie was awake in his crib. The sound of his cries left me dripping in milk and my instinct was to put him to my breast and feed him which I did. It was uncomfortable to latch him on and he didn’t quite get it at first but then it clicked and he was away suckling and content.

When he’d fed I felt happy and it got me thinking that as my milk hadn’t completely gone, and now I was healed, could I start to feed him again.

No, because once you’ve stopped you’ve stopped. Finished. Finito!

“He’ll have got used to a bottle and you won’t get him to latch” and my discharging Midwife told me just not to even think about it “what’s done is done”. I know she was only trying to make me feel better about my decision to stop, but it was upsetting all the same.

I wasn’t prepared to accept this. Freddie had fed and although my nipples felt sore again, it felt right. So this is where good old google steps in as the fountain of all knowledge (and a load of crap).

Freddie was still searching for the breast. This little guy wasn’t ready to finish our breastfeeding journey, so if Freddie wasn’t going to give up on me then I had to give it a go.

Did you know that it’s possible to re-start breastfeeding? No me neither but I figured that as I was still needing to use breast pads the milk must still be there even if only a little.

Relactation

Relactation is the term used for restarting breastfeeding after a period of either stopping completely or very little. It is even possible for adoptive mums to lactate with the right level of support and guidance.

I feel a bit shortchanged that this isn’t common knowledge. I asked a few friends if they knew that you could re-start breastfeeding and none of them had a clue that you could. Why isn’t this information given by Midwives or Health Visitors so that new mums know it’s an option? I wonder how many mums stop breastfeeding and then later regret it, but are unaware that this is a possibility.

I asked my Health Visitor for support as she knew that I wasn’t happy with my decision to stop and when she visited I’d already done some research and had started my relactation journey. She gave me some details on power pumping which essentially you pump a lot as well as feeding and looking after your baby. To make this easier, a double pump is pretty much essential or it will take double the amount of time. I’m using the Lansinoh Double Electric Breast Pump which can be battery powered or plugged into the mains.

After that first feed, I’d been quite sore so decided that I would try expressing the milk so that at least he was getting the breastmilk even if it had to be from a bottle. I knew that feeding and pumping was going to take a lot of patience but I wanted to give it a shot.

I wasn’t sure how Chris would react since he was worried about me getting a further infection, but I felt that I knew what signs to look out for and would get help if I needed it.

Support

After watching Breastfeeding Uncovered it seems that there are a lot of women who are offered very little or no support to enable them to breastfeed which is shocking. The UK has pretty poor breastfeeding rates compared to other countries. Only 34% of babies are still breastfed at six months, and this is an improvement since 2015.

It’s definitely not my place to judge and I don’t think any less or more of other peoples choices. There are loads of reasons why people make the decisions they do and sometimes the decision is taken away from them. Quite frankly it’s none of mine or your business – I really hate that total strangers (other mums mostly) feel like they can ask about your feeding choices, and I always feel that I have to give my full upsetting story as a justification. Us mums really are the most judgemental bunch.

I feel lucky that my Health Visitor had a lot of information for me, but it was through me seeking and asking for help and support. I know that I needed help to check my latch which I think was the downfall and decline into infection in the first place.

As I had been discharged from the midwife team, I no longer had access to the Breastfeeding Consultant at my local hospital, but the Health Visitors have various support they could offer me.

Latch and Attach – This is a pilot scheme and is a one-off session offered to mums where you go along and essentially check your babies latch is correct. They offered advice on different positions which can work for both you and your baby. I attended this and Freddie behaved beautifully (as he did whenever anyone else was looking) but as I was re-establishing feeding it was felt that I would benefit from one to one sessions which I was booked in for.

Infant Feeding Clinic – This was an hour one to one session and is offered to all mums, breastfed, express fed and bottle fed. Each of these groups of mums are offered support and guidance. We discussed and checked the latch and any issues that I had. I felt that Freddie wasn’t opening his mouth wide enough to get the best latch since he had become used to a teat so we worked out the optimum placement of his bottom lip as a guide. It was nice to air all my concerns which were specific to both Freddie and I, and we are to receive ongoing support whilst we need it.

Local Facebook Groups – These are a godsend since you can access and ask questions around the clock, and theres always another mum there who has been in your shoes willing to offer advice on anything from supply issues, cluster feeding or if you’re just feeling a bit meh. These definitely give you a mental boost in the middle of the night when you feel basically alone.

Breastfeeding Groups – I think these are on the decline due to funding cuts which is a shame. Look for locally run groups which you may find via word of mouth or via locally run Facebook Mum’s Groups. We’re lucky in Exeter that we have an independently funded Baby Room which is run by trained Breast Peer Support Workers where you can gain great advice on all things breastfeeding, washable nappies, slings and everything else baby related.

Online Support Forums – There are numerous forums and online support which can be both helpful and overwhelming. Find a couple that you like and stick with them.

Social Media – As a blogger this is and has been my support network for a lot of things. My relactation journey started in the midst of World Breastfeeding Week so it was a more than a hot topic than usual. There were loads of positive and negative issues. It seems to cause a huge Breast V Bottle divide so lots of controversial debates shall we word it were had.

Increasing my supply

I did some research on increasing my supply and it seems that there are various foods that can help increase your milk supply including oats, fennel, brewers yeast and fenugreek. I’ve started drinking fennel tea which thankfully does taste really nice and am having a predominantly oat based granola and yoghurt every day for breakfast.

There are loads of recipes for lactation flapjacks, cookies and smoothies which I have added to a Breastfeeding Pinterest board which I will continue to add to as I find useful things.

Hydration is also key to making sure you’re producing a good supply of milk. I keep a water bottle filled all the time so that I have no excuse to make sure that I’m drinking enough.

Progress

Having done that first feed since stopping and seeing how content Freddie was, I knew that I had to pursue it further. The first week that I started I attempted to breastfeed him once a day and express and feed for the remainder of the feeds. Pumping started off well, but then the amount that I was getting declined and was barely enough for a feed so I had to persevere with this.

Turning to social media and you tube is pretty much standard these days, and started to follow the progress of a fellow blogger and mum, Through Ami’s Eyes who is documenting her journey of combination feeding her baby boy which also gave me hope during the really hopeless feeling moments. It’s nice to know that you’re not alone even when it feels like you are.

Power Pumping was recommended which is essentially pumping for 20 minutes, rest for 10 minutes, pump for 10 minutes, rest for 10 minutes and then pump for another 10 minutes alongside pumping after every feed.

Massaging the breasts also helps to clear the milk ducts and causes the milk to flow more freely which will help to empty the breasts and trigger higher milk production.

Using hot and cold compresses as and when needed and lots of skin to skin which is no hardship with a new baby.

After the first week I increased it to a couple of breastfeeds a day. This was kind of forced on me by Freddie who would refuse a bottle sometimes and search for the boob until I gave it to him.

At week three he was breastfeeding three times a day with expressed/formula milk for the remainder of the time.

We’re now at week four and I’m offering him the breast before each bottle feed since breastfeeding alone doesn’t seem to satisfy him completely as a top-up.

He also prefers the breast if he is tired or grumpy which I think is part hunger and part comfort.

I’m also pleased to report that he no longers suffers from constipation and the colic has gone completely, he winds perfectly fine these days. So far so good and both Freddie and I are happy with how things are going.

I will keep you updated with how we’re getting on over the coming weeks.

Lisa x

*This post may contain affiliate links which means that I receive a small payment should you choose to click on the links and make a purchase at no cost to yourselves.

What to pack in your Hospital Bag for Labour + Checklist

26/08/201813/11/2023 Lisa 9 Comments

What to pack in your hospital bag for labour

What to pack in your hospital bag for labour – So it’s nearly time for your baby to come out so I thought I would show you what to pack in your hospital bag.

I have had three vaginal births so I’m packing quite a minimal amount based on not being in hospital for very long at all. I’m hoping to be home the same day as I was with Isabelle.

So this is what I packed:

Hospital Notes – I wouldn’t pack these actually in the bag, just leave them in the top as you may still have appointments to attend between now and then.

Nightie – this is more for afterwards so I’ve gone for one with buttons down the front for breastfeeding.

Dressing Gown – I don’t know about you but I feel exposed walking around the ward without one.

Nursing Bra – for wearing after the baby is born for those first feeds.

A comfort bra – I’m taking this with the intention of wearing it in the birthing pool.

Vest top – Again I may wear this in the pool as I’m not really one for birthing in the nude.

Maternity Pads – I’ve bought Boots Maternity pads which seem to be the recommended ones at the moment but I may switch these to Always Nighttime ones which are a lot thinner.

Breast Pads x 3 sets – I intend to use washable ones but have a few disposable ones to take into hospital as well.

Nipple Cream – for sore and cracked nipples. This probably won’t be a problem to start with or ever if you’re lucky, but I suffered last time so this time I’m embracing breastfeeding with every single tool in my belt!

Flip flops – for walking around in both before, during and after the birth. Much easier than slippers especially if your waters haven’t broken.

Towel – Hospitals do provide towels but it’s always much nicer to take your own. Preferably not a pristine white one.

Knickers x 3 – I bought a pack of three from Primark for £5 which are just basic full brief knickers which will be comfortable afterwards. Definitely go for black or navy.

Face wipes/wash – whichever you find more refreshing. You will want this afterwards to help you feel more human and less hot and sticky.

Deodorant – for afterwards when you’ve showered.

Toothbrush and toothpaste – again an obvious one to take with you so that you can freshen up afterwards.

Hairbrush – my hair looked like I’d been dragged through a bush which kind of sums up how the rest of me felt.

Body wash – you will be thankful for a shower once you’ve had the baby and lots of kisses and cuddles. It’s best to choose a fragrance free one if you intend to breastfeed or even just for skin to skin so I’m taking the Dove Baby head to toe wash that I got in my Emma’s Diary Labour Information Pack. This is also the range that we intend to use on the baby for bath time etc.

Shampoo & Conditioner – for washing my hair when I have my post labour shower which will make me feel refreshed from the head sweat.

Hair bands – unless you’ve got really short hair you may want to tie your hair up so that it’s not in your way or stuck to your face.

Lip Balm – using gas and air last time my lips were so horribly dry and split so this time I’m taking a lip balm to help with this.

Clothes for coming home in – this is something that I forgot last time so had to go home in what I arrived in. I’m taking a pair of leggings, a loose fitting top and a cardigan.

Change for the car park – it’s amazing how people forget that you need to pay for parking at most hospitals and you don’t want to be scrabbling around looking for change. Have a bag of change on the glove compartment ready for when the time comes.

Camera – for taking those precious first pictures.

Phone – I don’t go anywhere without mine, but my hypnobirthing tracks are downloaded onto my phone which I intend to listen to during labour.

Phone charger – what a nightmare it would be if you’re battery ran flat.

Kindle/tablet/magazines – for both you and your birthing partner. It may turn into a long day otherwise.

Snacks – the hospital do provide meals for you but not for your birthing partner. Also if you go into labour in the middle of the night you may find that there isn’t anything available. Pack easy to eat snacks such as fruit, cereal bars, drinks, jelly babies and crackers. I’ve also packed some Dextro Energy sweets to help me get through if it’s going to be a long one again.

Contact Lens stuff – I wear contact lenses to have to pack my lens pot, solution and saline as well as a spare pair of contact lenses. I wear 30 day ones so i will take a new set so I don’t have to worry if one goes astray.

Glasses – I do wear contact lenses but in the mornings before I put my lenses in I wear my glasses whilst i have my morning cuppa etc.

Hair stuff – I have wavy/curly hair so I’ll take some hair mousse just to put a bit through my hair once washed.

Toner & cotton pads – just for my usual post face wash face.

Moisturiser – a light day cream that I wear daily.

Make-up – this is totally a personal preference but I don’t go anywhere without make-up and having a baby is no different. I don’t wear loads but I will be putting it on as soon as I’ve had my shower unless it’s the middle of the night.

Comfy clothes for your partner – as I was induced last time we took in joggers, a t-short and flip flops for Chris so that he would be comfortable in the hospital.

Plastic bag – for putting any wet or worn clothes in.

Dextro Energy Tablets or Jelly Babies – my labour with Isabelle was long and exhausting so a sugar boost can help with your energy levels.

I must have packed and re-packed my bag so many times, just in case I’d missed anything.

If you’re unsure as to what to pack I’ve attached a downloadable Hospital Bag Checklist that you can print off and keep with your bag so that you can tick them off as you add them. I’ve even left a space to add your own.

hospital_bag_checklist

Good luck.

Lisa x

Eco by Naty Review

16/08/201821/10/2022 Lisa 16 Comments

Eco by Naty Review

Eco by Naty Review – during your pregnancy there are lots of things to think about for the arrival of your baby. One of these things are products that you will use that will have contact with your baby’s new fragile skin. This is everything from washing powder to shampoo and wet wipes.

The decision to use washable nappies was made early on, but Chris is not onboard with the decision and so we’ve come to a compromise that we’ll use both which as I’m at home with Freddie will predominantly be washable nappies. I’m also going to give washable Wipes ago which didn’t work out last time.

Isabelle had eczema as a baby which guided our decisions on skincare, making sure that we used gentle and sensitive products. The less chemicals and overall ingredients the better!

We were sent a selection of Eco by Naty products. Eco by Naty is a Swedish brand which makes a selection of baby products including nappies, wet wipes, baby bath and skin care. The brand was developed by Marlene Sandberg a former Corporate Lawyer who saw a gap in the market for environmentally friendly nappies when she became a parent. Eco by Naty is one of the leading brands in eco-friendly nappies and baby products, and as such have received certification by several eco organisations.

Eco by Naty Nappies

Eco by Naty is the first nappy with OK Biobased Certification from one of the world’s most demanding independent non-profit organisations based on natural and compostable materials. The nappies are non-perfumed with a soft cloth like feel which has been certified by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association. There are no nasty harsh chemicals used making them a great choice for newborn and infant skin.

Our thoughts

The nappies look like any other disposable nappy on the market but have a more papery feel to them. In terms of use, they fasten and look like any other nappy. They aren’t any bulkier and fitted well onto Freddie. As Freddie is a newborn he has his nappy changed quite often and is a heavy wetter. The nappies lasted well with no leaks and no odours between changes. The wet nappy felt quite squidgy which is the only noticeable difference. Overall the nappies did exactly what they are intended for with the added knowledge that they aren’t full of chemicals and are environmentally friendly.

Unscented Wet Wipes

The unscented wipes are made from a renewable plant based material which is 100% natural, GM-Free and 100% compostable. They contain 98.5% water as well as soothing chamomile and aloe extract which help to prevent the causes of nappy rash even on sensitive skin.

Our thoughts

I really liked the wet wipes. We had both a large pack and a travel pack ideal for the changing bag. The wipes were a good size and I liked that they were quite wet which made cleaning Freddie up really easy. They were unscented, but there was a lovely fresh water smell to them which I liked.

Nappy Rash Cream

The healing organic rash cream is made from tried and tested natural ingredients that soothes irritated skin and reduces redness often caused by trapped moisture. The cream is hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested and can be used daily. It is also fragrance free and includes NO parabens and NO mineral oils. The balm is an effective recipe infused with organically farmed botanicals such as rich shea butter and cooling aloe. Shea butter on its own is a natural baby-care product renowned for its intense concentration of natural vitamins. The infused aloe vera and sunflower oils are adept at calming dry and itching skin.

Our thoughts

Freddie thankfully hasn’t suffered with nappy rash, but on the occasional day has had a little bit of redness on his bottom so I put on a little bit of cream at each nappy change which cleared up within the day. The cream is really soft and smooth and does exactly as it’s intended.

Baby Shampoo

The Eco by Naty Organic Shampoo is fragrance free, contains No parabens and No mineral oils. It is hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested made from plant based natural and certified organic materials. It gently cleanses delicate hair and skin and can be used daily.

Our thoughts

As with all of our baby skincare products, we choose our baby shampoo with skin sensitivities in mind. The Naty Shampoo worked really well with only a tiny amount. Freddie is just starting to get cradle cap on his scalp so we’re pleased that this, like the rest of the range is dermatologically tested with no nasty chemicals. The shampoo lathered up well and gave Freddie a clean baby smell following his bath. As we only use a tiny amount the bottle is going to go a long way.

Nappy Bags

The nappy bags are made of natural cornstarch film only so are fully biodegradable and can be composted with the nappy inside. They come packaged inside a cardboard box which is recyclable and contains 50 bags.

Our thoughts

The nappy bags are easy to use as they dispense through the cardboard box so don’t all unravel if you’re trying to grab one mid nappy change. They have handles for tying the bag once the nappy is inside. I like that you can pop these straight into the compost bin.

Hand Cream

This organically formulated Eco by Naty organic hand cream so it is naturally rich and deeply moisturising with high doses of aloe vera, shea butter (Butryospermum Parkii), Vitamin B5 and olive oil (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil). Naturally derived hydrolyzed keratin, the same protein that serves as the skin’s building block, is also a key ingredient. It strengthens skin by protecting it from free radicals and softens it. An extra bonus is healthier and stronger nails.

Our thoughts

I thought this was a nice touch since you seem to wash your hands an excessive amount of times during the day when you have a newborn. The cream is really lightweight with only the slightest flowery type smell with no greasiness. I’ve been using this every day as I do get a bit of dry skin if I wash my hands a lot and none of the usual dryness has appeared so far which is always a bonus. I’ve kept this on the changing table so that I remember to do it.

Overall I’m impressed with the Eco by Naty range which is widely available in the big supermarkets and you can also sign up for a Nappy Subscription which is delivered direct to you every 3, 4 or 5 weeks. The nappies are more expensive than other disposable nappies, but you are getting what you pay for with the overall production and quality of the nappies. If you want to try them out you can order a trial box to see what you think.

Since single use plastic is a hot topic at the moment it’s definitely worth considering the switch as the benefits for both your baby and the environment are huge.

Discount Code

Fancy giving Naty Nappies a go? Pop over to the Eco by Naty website and just for you we have a 15% Discount Code. Just add babynotincluded at the checkout (this excludes the subscription service and trial box).

**We were sent a selection of Eco by Naty products for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BabyHub SleepSpace Travel Cot Review

02/08/201821/10/2022 Lisa 3 Comments

SleepSpace Travel Cot Review

SleepSpace Travel Cot Review – Over the past year or so we’ve tried to make the most of our family time. It’s really easy to get caught up in the day to day hustle and bustle of work and school, and if you throw in housework and a dog it can be really time consuming. We’ve decided as a family that the time that we do get together should be spent doing fun stuff, one of these things being taking the opportunity to venture outside of the house with day trips as well as the odd family holiday.

Saying that we haven’t got anything booked as yet since little Freddie was due at any time and we didn’t want to commit ourselves to anything until we’d got into our new family routine. Now that Freddie is very much here and making his presence known we can start thinking about our family adventures.

Previous experience of holidays where some things are provided such as cots, highchairs and prams have not been great so we like to take our own things so that we know they are safe and clean to use.

When we were asked to review the SleepSpace Travel Cot I was very excited. You may wonder why, but the SleepSpace is no ordinary travel cot as it is multifunctional, and doubles up as a play teepee or den if you’re seven.

The SleepSpace Travel cot is lightweight (6kg) and comes in it’s own zippable bag for easy carrying. It comes with its own padded mattress, 67 x 94 x 2cm which all standard travel cot fitted sheets can be fitted.

it has an umbrella style mechanism for folding/unfolding which makes it easy to put up and down with just a few clicks.

it also comes with a mosquito net perfect for our unusually hot weather, and a teepee which fits over the top to transform the cot into a safe play space.

The SleepSpace Travel Cot has fully padded edges to avoid bumps and has breathable mesh sides making it a safe place for your baby to sleep and play.

The SleepSpace Travel Cot is suitable from birth to 3 years and is available in 4 colours (Tangerine, Pebble, Kiwi and Ruby).

Our thoughts

We took a few close up shots on Instagram to see if you guys could work out what we’d had delivered since this is no ordinary ‘run of the mill’ travel cot and quite a few of you savvy mums and dads had it sussed fairly quickly.

Assembling the SleepSpace Travel Cot was extremely easy with just a few clicks. We liked the mosquito net feature since the weather has been unusually hot so there are a lot of flying nasties to contend with. It’s got plenty of padding covering the frame to prevent any bumps.

Most importantly this was deemed ‘cool’ by our seven year old daughter once it was transformed into a teepee den. With a seven year old and a newborn there are few things that are appealing to both age groups but this definitely got the thumbs up from Isabelle who had this in her room for a few night to ‘try out’.

Freddie is obsessed with lights so we turned it into a little sensory light show with the help of Isabelle.

The SleepSpace Travel Cot has also won several awards which in my book always goes a long way since they use Mum and Dad reviewers to help make these decisions.

The test of all tests is whether or not the travel cot would go back in it’s bag. Don’t you just hate it when you buy something, take it out of the box and then it never goes back in there unless you squash it or sit on it. This went down and back in its bag like a dream.

Overall we were really impressed with the SleepSpace travel cot not only for its functionality as a safe place for Freddie to sleep but also the multifunctional use of a cool play space for both Freddie and Isabelle to enjoy.

The SleepSpace Travel Cot is available to buy at the BabyHub Shop for £149. To keep up to date with all the news and special offers sign up to their Newsletter.

Disclosure: We were sent a SleepSpace Travel Cot free of charge for the purpose of this review. All opinions and images are my own.

Baby Days – 8 Week Update

31/07/201827/10/2020 Lisa 2 Comments

Baby Days – 8 Week Update

Baby Days – 8 Week Update – I’ll probably start off by saying this every time, but seriously where has the time gone! Freddie is now eight weeks old and has fitted in like he was always here.

Growth

Boy this boy is growing! We’re packing away too small clothes at a ridiculous rate. He was weighed on Wednesday and now weighs 12lb 8oz and is quite long. He feels more sturdy in my arms now but still needs support for his head which he flings about.

Development

He’s smiling a lot now which is awesome. His little crooked smile makes the night feeds and tiredness all worthwhile.

He’s cooing a lot as he takes in his surroundings and I don’t think it will be long before they turn into little chuckles.

Obviously the TV is an attraction with the colours and sounds but he gets very excited when he hears voices but can’t quite see the person and is looking around to find them.

This morning he was getting very excited, kicking his legs and feet and waving his arms at Daddy’s dressing gown which was hanging on the bedroom door. I think he was waiting for daddy to turn around.

Play

We can now play with toys for around 10 – 15 minutes before he’s had enough.

We have a playmat with dangly toys, lights and sounds but I think his favourite things are bells. We have quite a collection of children’s instruments and shakers from when Isabelle was tiny which all the little ones that visit seem to love including Freddie.

He doesn’t mind tummy time which we do on our bed with his as he can hold his head up but again this is limited to around 10 minutes.

Feeding

Freddie is a hungry boy and likes his milk. He was breastfed and then infection struck so went onto formula, but this little boy never gave up on breastfeeding and so we’re currently restarting (did you know you could do that?) with a combination of expressing milk, formula and breastfeeding. It’s not going to be easy but I really didn’t want to stop breastfeeding and clearly Freddie didn’t either!

I think we’re lucky that we are receiving support to achieve this both from health professionals and local groups. Having watched the Channel 4 documentary on breastfeeding which has raised lots of opinions and highlighted the lack of support across the country was quite sad, but maybe something good will come off the back of it.

We seem to have just fallen into a sort of pattern particularly at night which is a feed at around 8.30-9pm and then he goes down until around 1 – 1.30am and up again around 4am.

Look at that face x

The Bshirt Breastfeeding Top Review + Giveaway

30/07/201821/10/2022 Lisa 55 Comments

The Bshirt Breastfeeding Top Review + Giveaway

The Bshirt Breastfeeding Top Review + Giveaway – My Breastfeeding Journey when Isabelle wasn’t what I’d expected so this time round I did a lot of reading in preparation for our third baby and felt that it would be different. Apart from the pain that I experienced I didn’t feel particular comfortable feeding in front of people and felt that I was in a constant state of undress which left me feeling all hot and sweaty most of the time.

Did you know that stress can hinder your milk production so taking the time to find a comfortable place to feed your baby is advisable. Finding suitable clothes to wear is a big factor when breastfeeding, and I still think that maternity and nursing wear has a long way to go in terms of being both wearable and looking nice.

I also felt that I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on clothes that I wouldn’t get much use out of which looking back seems silly since a lot of people breastfeed for 6 – 12 months or longer so you would get quite a lot of wear out of them.

The Bshirt

The Bshirt has definitely been a key piece since Freddie was born as it’s a simple black top that will go with anything from jeans, leggings, shorts and skirts.

Unlike other nursing clothes the Bshirt looks like a normal top with no hooks or clasps to fiddle about with. It has a built in layer which you just pull up for access to your bra. As you don’t have to lift the entire top up your tummy remains covered which can be an area that many of us are self-conscious about.

The Bshirt is made from 95% Organic cotton 5% lycra to make it stretchy. Its lightweight which is great for layering and also drying once washed.

You will be pleased to know that the Bshirt is available in several different colours in sizes from 6 – 20.

About the Bshirt

The Bshirt Breastfeeding Vest was developed by two fellow Devon mums, Lisa and Philippa who understand the difficulties that mothers face when breastfeeding in public. Essentially the Bshirt was designed to allow women to wear their pre-pregnancy clothes whilst having easy access to breastfeed. They are keen to encourage breastfeeding within the UK where current rates are pretty poor by supporting charities that promote and support women through this journey.

You can also find out about the Breastfeed with Confidence campaign and find out which local retailers, cafes, restaurants and attractions local to you are in support of this.

Our thoughts

I’m not a fan of a lot of maternity or nursing clothes because as a size 8 most of them drown me or are generally quite frumpy but the Bshirt ticks all the boxes in terms of look and fit. Most maternity vest tops that I’ve tried have been baggy rather than fitted which I don’t like.

This exceptionally hot weather we’ve had recently has made breastfeeding that little bit harder in terms of feeling hot and sweaty so it’s great that it’s lightweight and can be easily dried.

I’ve worn the Bshirt underneath clothing and also on it’s own as a vest top as it looks like a normal black top. It gave Chris and I had a bit of a giggle as when you lift the flap it is a bit ‘peek-a-boo’ but that might just be our childish sense of humour.

I would definitely recommend the Bshirt to other Mums and feel that I’m going to get a lot of use out of mine.

Competition

You can get your own Bshirt Breastfeeding Top by popping over to the website or try your luck at winning a Bshirt by filling in the rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*We were gifted a Bshirt for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.

The Secret Meaning of your Pregnancy Cravings

20/07/201825/01/2024 Lisa 8 Comments

The secret meaning of your pregnancy cravings

The secret meaning of your pregnancy cravings – Many women experience cravings during pregnancy, which can range from normal, everyday combinations to weird concoctions that would normally sound disgusting! The pregnancy vitamin experts at Vitabiotics Pregnacare have researched some of the most common pregnancy cravings to discover what they really mean for you and your body. Check out what they found below!

Sweet treats

Sweet treats, such as cake, fruit and ice cream are common cravings during pregnancy. Hormonal and physical changes during pregnancy can lead to blood sugar drops, leaving you feeling tired and groggy. Your cravings for sweet and sugary foods will give you a sugar boost, which help to perk you up, although only temporarily! Choose foods that will release energy slowly, such as a banana on whole grain toast, so you don’t suffer from a mid-afternoon slump!

Pickles

While pregnant, you may find yourself reaching for pickles and other salty foods more than you would normally. Although this is fine in moderation, be careful not to overindulge as this may lead to high blood pressure and other health problems.

During the first two trimesters of pregnancy, many women suffer from low blood pressure which can leave them feeling tired and dizzy, so craving salty foods is our body’s way of helping to get our blood pressure back to normal.

Chilli

Lots of women find that during pregnancy, they reach for spicier foods more often than usual. Pregnancy helps us to tolerate spice better, and luckily doesn’t induce labour (no matter what the old wives’ tales say!). Spicy foods may worsen symptoms of heartburn or nausea, so only indulge in moderation if you experience these symptoms.

Ice

It’s unclear why so many women find the crunch of ice so tempting during pregnancy. Many experts think that it is simply an effective way to stay hydrated, whereas others believe it may be a symptom of nutritional deficiency. Although the definitive meaning of this craving hasn’t been found, many women find that it disappears after they begin taking an iron supplement, so it’s worth checking in with your GP if you think an iron deficiency may be the issue.

Non-edible foods

If you find yourself craving weird, non-edible foods such as sponges or washing liquid, you may be suffering from a condition called pica. Although this is generally harmless, and just a side effect of your changing hormones, it’s suggested that you let your GP know about your cravings so they can advise you if they are a sign of anything which requires action.

Have you experienced any weird or wonderful cravings? Let me know!

Being treated for Sepsis Postpartum

16/07/201829/01/2024 Lisa 4 Comments

Being treated for Sepsis Postpartum

Being treated for Sepsis Postpartum – I thought that the struggles that I was having with the breastfeeding was as bad as it would get. I had cracked nipples, feeling permanently sweaty from the elongated time spent feeding and two slit like wounds on either nipple which were from his top lip.

I needed help and was receiving this from the midwife team and was due to be seen by a Lactation Consultant.

I spent two whole days doing nothing but pumping, feeding and crying alongside poor Freddie who essentially just wanted to feed.

Every time he cried my boobs reacted like beacons which gave me further pain.

The expressing was going well but was totally impractical unless that was all I had to do in life.

It wasn’t an ideal situation but I just needed to rest my poor nipples from Freddie’s Dyson like suction.

AND THEN……..

The expressing took a nosedive. After an hour sat like Daisy the cow hooked up to the pump I only managed to express the smallest amount of milk.

This also happened at about 10.30 at night so no help available. It wasn’t a hard decision to make to send Chris to Tesco’s for some formula. Freddie needed to be fed and if it had to be formula for a temporary period of time then so be it.

I carried on with the pumping but only managed to express a minimal amount each time so we had lots of crying both Freddie and I.

The following day I woke up with hot mega swollen engorged breasts which were only producing blood and pus. I was at my wits end and poor Freddie was getting angrier by the second at the lack of milk.

I was shaking uncontrollably and so cold and really had no idea what I was supposed to do. This was my second episode of this which I’d just put down to being tired and not having eaten properly. When the midwife phoned I was in a bit of a state and she suggested ringing the triage ward at the hospital.

The advice was to go up to the hospital to be assessed for mastitis. I just thought it would be a case of being seen and coming home with some antibiotics and feeding advice.

But no I was pretty quickly hooked up to IV fluids, swabbed from various bits of my body, blood pressure taken, temperature, heart rate etc. I was then given two lots of antibiotics through the IV and seen by various people.

I wasn’t going home – I was being treated for Sepsis as a precaution.

Freddie was to stay with me and was checked over by one of the neo-natal doctors in case he started to show any signs of infection.

My bloods came back showing raised inflammatory markers but the chest x-ray came back clear. I had a raised heart rate and my obs weren’t quite within the normal range.

I was moved to the post-natal ward and put in a side room where Freddie could stay with me. There was a possibility that Freddie could develop the infection so they put him under observation as well as me.

I don’t think I realised how serious things were until they mentioned Freddie being cannulated and hooked up to IV tubes. I hadn’t cried or done anything but was running on autopilot until that point, but the thought of my little boy having to have tubes and needles poked into him really upset me.

Being attached to an IV line wasn’t much fun. You have to remember to pull the trolly thing along with you or you risk pulling it out of your hand – a painful reminder when you forget each time.

At this point it was still a possibility that I could return to feeding but I just couldn’t see it at all. When all you see when you look at your nipples is open wounds oozing green pus and blood how can you put a baby on to feed? How would you feed without it being excruciatingly painful?

No. I’d made my decision not to attempt feeding again and I felt happy in my decision even though I desperately wanted to feed him.

Chris stayed with us as much as he could and Isabelle came to see us on the second day. She found the chair on wheels that you use to sit on in the shower which she thought was quite amusing so spent most of the time wheeling herself around on that.

On day three I was really keen to go home. The swabs had grown Strep B and Staph so they knew what they were dealing with and I was changed to Flucloxacillin orally. Freddie was still at risk of having this and would need IV antibiotics if he showed any signs. It’s quite hard to swallow knowing that you might have passed on something to your baby which could be potentially very serious for him.

It’s hot in the hospital and quite hard to sleep when they have to change drips and take obs on either me or Freddie throughout the day and night.

Poor Freddie was also constipated as a result of changing him from breast to formula milk.

We were quite relieved when we were finally given the all clear to go home on the Friday.

This comes at the same time that Sepsis is being highlighted greatly through the media. Coronation Street are currently running a storyline in which Jack is diagnosed with Sepsis following a graze on his leg. Sepsis can of course be life threatening so early diagnosis is crucial.

In my case, the staff at my local hospital weren’t taking any chances with Freddie and I, and we were given the works in terms of tests and treatment which we were so thankful for.

What is Sepsis?

Sepsis is a rare but serious complication of an infection which can lead to multiple organ failure and death.

How to spot the signs of Sepsis in under 5’s – Ring 999 or go straight to A&E if:

looks mottled, bluish or pale
is very lethargic or difficult to wake
feels abnormally cold to touch
is breathing very fast
has a rash that does not fade when you press it
has a fit or convulsion

Other symptoms to look out for are:

Temperature

temperature over 38C in babies under three months
temperature over 39C in babies aged three to six months
any high temperature in a child who cannot be encouraged to show interest in anything
low temperature (below 36C – check three times in a 10-minute period)

Breathing

finding it much harder to breathe than normal – looks like hard work
making “grunting” noises with every breath
can’t say more than a few words at once (for older children who normally talk)
breathing that obviously “pauses”

Toilet/nappies

not had a wee or wet nappy for 12 hours

Eating and drinking

new baby under one month old with no interest in feeding
not drinking for more than eight hours (when awake)
bile-stained (green), bloody or black vomit/sick

Activity and body

soft spot on a baby’s head is bulging
eyes look “sunken”
child cannot be encouraged to show interest in anything
baby is floppy
weak, “whining” or continuous crying in a younger child
older child who’s confused
not responding or very irritable
stiff neck, especially when trying to look up and down

If your child has any of these symptoms, is getting worse or is sicker than you’d expect (even if their temperature falls), trust your instincts and seek medical advice urgently from NHS 111.

For older children and adults:

a high temperature (fever) or low body temperature
chills and shivering
a fast heartbeat
fast breathing

In some cases, symptoms of more severe sepsis or septic shock (when your blood pressure drops to a dangerously low level) develop soon after.

These can include:

feeling dizzy or faint
a change in mental state – such as confusion or disorientation
diarrhoea
nausea and vomiting
slurred speech
severe muscle pain
severe breathlessness
less urine production than normal – for example, not urinating for a day
cold, clammy and pale or mottled skin
loss of consciousness

This information about the signs and symptoms of Sepsis was taken from the NHS website and many of the symptoms are quite non-specific but it’s always best to get things checked out. You know your baby, child or yourself so don’t ignore your instincts or early warning signs.

Sepsis is treatable if identified and treated as early as possible.

The Sepsis Trust have campaigns running to raise awareness and urge people to ask the question – ‘Could it be Sepsis?’. Head on over to the Sepsis Trust to find out about events local to you or make a direct donation.