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Free Breast Pumps – Not Really Free for Everyone

January 19, 2017 by Ashley Leave a Comment

(Edit: Most of this piece was written before the birth of my son, but somehow went unpublished until now.)

As many pregnant women have found out the Affordable Health Care Act made it possible for women to get a free breast pump through their health insurance.  Unfortunately, there are loop holes so that not all women can actually get a free breast pump through their insurance.  Some insurance companies are grandfathered into the Affordable Health Care Act and are not required to actually include this option in their insurance plans.  For someone like me who is on Medicare there is no coverage what so ever.  I tend to blame it on the fact that Medicare was made as an insurance for the elderly versus one for people of all ages, but really I don’t know the official reason as to why it is not covered through Medicare.  In addition to Medicare I do have Medicaid due to my low income from being on disability.

Medicaid does cover my pregnancy though when it comes to getting a breast pump covered by insurance they make you jump through a million hoops.  Based off of everything that I read and have been told it could take months to actually get a breast pump through them because they like to deny them as much as possible.  I assume it is because breast pumps are so very expensive and they are already paying out for all of your other medical expenses which adds up very fast while one is pregnant.  In order to get approval for a breast pump through my insurance I have to prove that my child cannot breast feed and I cannot manually pump milk from my own breast.  Everything is black and white to them.  That is why I was so very thankful when Medela stepped up to the plate and offered me one of their breast pumps to review.  Before I move on to tell you about the breast pump that I received from them I wanted to share with you that you can look up your insurance on Medela’s website to see just what breast pump is actually covered for you.

Medela Freestyle Breast Pumps

As you know breast pump’s are not cheap and the Medela Freestyle Breast pump Deluxe Set is not any different.  To purchase one out of pocket it costs $429.00 according to Medela’s website, but if you scour the internet you can often find it a little bit cheaper.  I personally always check Amazon prices before I make a big purchase because I might be able to save a little bit of money.  This set comes with additional accessories so that you do not have to but them separately.

What’s Included

  • 1 – Freestyle pump
  • 1 – Lithium ion battery – rechargeable
  • 1 – AC adaptor/charger
  • 1 – Double pumping kit – includes: (2) breast shield bodies, membranes and back caps, (1) set of tubing
  • 1 – Set of 24mm and 27mm PersonalFit Breastshields
  • Instructions

Additional contents within the Freestyle Breast pump Deluxe Set

  • 4 – 5oz/150mL breast milk bottles and lids
  • 1 – Portable microfiber carry bag
  • 1 – Medela cooler system including cooling element
  • 1 – Free Easy Expression Bustier voucher (redeemable at medelabreastfeedingus.com)

This kit does come with many accessories though you might still need to purchase some more for you to use.  While the kit comes with both a set of 24mm and 27mm Breastshields you might need a different size depending on the size and shape of your breasts and nipples.  In addition to possibly needing a different size for your breastshields you will need to redeem your Easy Expression Bustier voucher if you want to be able to do some hands free pumping.   The Easy Expression Bustier is similar to a strapless sports bra that wraps around your torso.  The difference is that this one has two holes in front that will hold the breastshields in place while you pump so that you do not need to hold them up to your breasts.  They don’t provide you with one in the box to ensure that you get the right size for you.

I am loving Medela thus far and everyone I know that has used breast pumps has told me that I would want a Medela pump because they are top of the line.  After doing even more research I came across their breastfeeding guidance; if you are like me and this is your first time breastfeeding you will want to do as much research as you can before the baby arrives.  I plan to know as much as I can about breastfeeding as well as pumping to make transitions between the two even easier.

What breast pump do you use?

Filed Under: Family, Featured, Parenting, Review Tagged With: Breastfeeding, Infant, Infant formula, Pregnancy

2016 Top Gifts – Infant Gifts

December 7, 2016 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Find the perfect Infant Gifts!

infant-gifts-hgg-2016

If you are one of the many families that has a baby in it or someone who has a baby that they need to shop for this year then you will want to check this out.  I have been hunting for some awesome gifts to buy for any infant you many know.  I have spent extra time hunting this year because it is my son’s first Christmas and I want it to be extra special for him – even if he won’t remember what it was like.

teach-your-children-about-christmas-early1. Christmas Books

You can never get enough books for your children and you might think it is odd to get books for an infant, but story time is a great way for you to bond with your children as well as a great way to help them to associate words with objects pictured in the books. If you are religious like we are then you will want to get books that help to teach your child about Christmas.  I love children’s books because they may be simple, but they get the meaning across.

meiya-alvin-secret-santa-gift2. Meiya and Alvin Gift Sets

Finding a way to give your kids something educational as well as fun can be difficult when they are really small and that is why I love the Meiya and Alvin gift sets.  They come with a cute little toy as well as a fun book that you can read with them.  They are small and cute gifts that also work great as a secret Santa gift for a young child in your life. The Mini Alvin the Elephant gift set is great because the toy is made of a plush body attached to a rubber head that is perfect for a young teething child.

 

20160410_164922000_ios3. Boppy Pillow

If you have a very young infant in your home then a Boppy pillow or a Boppy Tummy Time pillow would make for the perfect holiday gift!  There are many different uses for the pillows such as for feeding, nursing, propping, sitting, or tummy time.  The Boppy pillows in my home got tons of use out of them because they helped making nursing so much easier and then as he got bigger they were great for tummy time as well as for helping my son to learn to sit.  There are other pillows on the market, but these ones were my personal favorites.

4. Socklings

I think most new parents would agree that they hate diaper changes with babies because there is so much clothing that has to be removed just to change their child’s diapers.  That is why I think Socklings make a great present because these socks aren’t like other socks.  These socks are long and stretch up to your child’s hips.  This means that when the kids are at home  you can easily just put them in a onsie without fear of their little legs getting chilly.

5. Handmade Toys

Sometimes you want to give a gift that isn’t something you find at every store and that is why Pebble Handmade toys for babies are the perfect addition to gifts for the little ones this holiday season.  They have some super cute knit rattles that are holiday themed as well as ones that are not.  I got my son a cute dragon rattle as well as a cute chicken rattle for a friend’s baby shower gift this year.  So, if you are looking for something unique check them out.

 

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2016, Infant

Breastfeeding Isn’t All Rainbows and Sunshine

June 22, 2016 by Ashley Leave a Comment

If you thought that breastfeeding was going to be rainbows and sunshine then you are in for one hell of a surprise.  You are doing what’s best for baby, but that doesn’t make it easy.

I read so many articles about how amazing breastfeeding is and it got me so excited to do it when Raiden was born.  Why shouldn’t I be excited?

Breastfeeding Isn't All Rainbows and Sunshine

I would be providing for my baby; giving him the food he needs to grow strong from my own body.

I would be creating a bond like no other with him from the skin to skin contact.

I would be giving him miracle juice that would help him if he got sick by providing him with the necessary antibodies to fight off the illness.

When Raiden was born I was so lucky that he was an easy latch. He ate his first meal from my breasts an hour after his birth. He wiggled and squirmed his way to my breast finding a home for him there. It was such a happy moment for me. I loved every moment in the hospital. I had constant skin to skin contact with him and I loved feeling him suckle on my breast.

We had our ups and our downs over these past three months, but this past week has been the hardest one yet. I live my little boy, but this week I have wanted to tear my hair out and cry at the same time.

Because it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

This week I suddenly had a drastic decrease in milk for an unknown reason. Nothing really changed. I sleep the same hours. I eat the same foods. I use the same products on my body. None the less my supply has been cut in half.

Raiden is needing 2-3 bottles of extra milk a day. He eats from my breasts and will still be hungry. Instead of pumping when he finishes I have to go prepare a bottle because I’ve been home alone during the day and he still isn’t happy being set down alone. He really won’t be set down without screaming when he is still hungry.

I was thankful for my frozen breastmilk the first day and half, but those five bags of milk quickly were gone. I had to resort to formula.

Finding a supplemental formula is freaking hard!

He is picky. I was thankful for formula samples because this boy was spitting out all of the formulas I was giving him. This made me ball my eyes out.

I felt like I was failing my son.

What I didn’t realize was that I wasn’t failing my son I was doing everything I could for him and when I found a formula that he does like and doesn’t make me extra gassy it was like a weight lifted off of my shoulders.

We are still battling this lack of production, but we are doing it with our heads held high…

Because I am a good mom and my son is showing that to me more and more each day.

Filed Under: Family, Featured, Parenting Tagged With: Breastfeeding, Infant, Infant formula, Mother

The Perfect Holiday Gift for New Moms – Chicco NaturalFit Starter Set

December 12, 2015 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Not too long ago I wrote about the Chicco NaturalFit Feeding and Soothing System and was thankful for getting those bottles from them because my cousin had her son early and being a preemie she needed all of the supplies she could get her hands on.  She appreciated the extra bottles.  So, when Chicco said that they wanted to include their NaturalFit All You Need Starter Set to be included in my Holiday Gift Guide I couldn’t have been any more excited to receive this set as an item to review.

Chicco NaturalFit Starter Set

This Chicco NaturalFit All You Need Starter Set makes for the perfect gift for any new mom out there.  I say this because it comes stocked with four bottles of varying stages, two pacifiers, an extra nipple, bottle brush and nipple brush, as well as a teether, and a microwave sterilizer.  This kit makes it possible for me to do most of my bottle cleaning here in our basement apartment without having to go upstairs to use the dishwasher to help sterilize my bottles.  Instead I can hand wash the bottles in the sink, air dry them, and then sterilize them in the microwave.  It also makes for a great little kit to pack up on the go when I plan on being gone for multiple days.

I like being able to pack all four of the bottles in the sterilizer with the brushes so that it can all be packed up nice and neat.  I am a stickler for neatness when I can get it.  Any new mom will need more bottles, but this is a great way to get her started because she will have one 0+ bottle, (2) stage 2 bottles, and (1) stage 3 bottle.  If you look at the bottles each stage has the nipples at a different angle and to me this is important.  I hate how so many bottles have the standard nipple in the center.  I find with these angled nipples I won’t have to tip the bottles as much to help my child get the drink that he needs.

Chicco NaturalFit

The reason I can see the nipples changing to being in the center by the third stage is because by that age my child will be able to hold his head up and even possibly hold his own bottle so he can choose how much to tilt his head back and how much he wants to tilt the bottle back in order to get to his milk.

If you are still hunting for Holiday presents for friends and family you can snag one of these in store or online on Amazon.  If you have Prime you can even get free two day shipping so you don’t have to worry about it getting here before the holidays.

Do you use Chicco NaturalFit bottles in your home?

Filed Under: Baby, Family, Featured, Review Tagged With: Baby bottle, Breastfeeding, Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, Infant, Nipple

Hospital Bag Packing Guide for a C Section

November 24, 2015 by Ashley Leave a Comment

I have been stressing about what I should pack in my hospital bag knowing that I am going to be having a C Section.  That is why I did a ton of research including asking family and friends who have had C Sections what they would suggest I take in my hospital bag.  After all of this research I felt the need to write my Hospital Bag Packing Guide for after a C Section.  This guide includes everything that I plan on bringing with us to the hospital.  This guide will include my hospital bag, one for my little baby boy, as well as one for my significant other.

If you have any suggestions on items that I should pack or one’s that you feel are unnecessary please let me know.  I find outsiders help to be the best advice out there.  Experienced mothers know what they are doing and I feel like I can trust their advice.  On ward we go.  Have fun reading.  I hope it is helpful!

Mother’s Bag (My Bag)

✓  Identification & Insurance papers – If you have any important medical paperwork you will want to bring it along with your ID and insurance cards.  This could include a patient advocacy form or a DNR form if you have either of these in place.  It is always better to be safe than sorry.

✓  Wallet – You never know what you may need with you so you might as well bring your entire wallet with you.

✓  Electronics – When you do have a little bit of down time you may want your electronics with you.  They would make for a way to get into contact with the outside world.  Your friends and family that are not there with you at the hospital may also be trying to reach out to you through them as well.

✓  Nightgowns – A couple of nightgowns will be nice to have with you so that you have something comfortable to wear in the hospital.  I know I hate the gowns that they provide you with at the hospital and if people will be coming and going I will be wanting to be covered up.  You can bring some comfortable clothes as well, but I think I would prefer just being in a nightgown.

✓  Bathrobe – If you have a bathrobe you might want that as well so that you can have an extra layer to wear when you walk around the hospital if you get a chill.

✓  Nursing bras – Even if you aren’t planning to breast feed you will probably want to invest in a nursing bra or at least a soft stretchy bra to bring a little comfort to your swollen, tender breasts as you start to produce milk.

✓  Nursing Pads – I have been told that these will be a godsend if and when my breasts leak milk.

✓  Slippers – I have been told to invest in slippers without backs that I can slip my feet into without having to bend over, but I know I will not be able to walk in those so instead I will be investing in a pair with backs that I can slip my feet into without bending over and will stay on my feet so that I do not trip and fall.

✓  Depends and Underwear – I was not prepared with my last pregnancy and had no comfortable underwear or pads for after the birth of my daughter.  This time I will be prepared.  I plan on buying Depends to bring with me for the first couple of nights when the incision is the most tender.  This should help and make it so that I do not have to worry about pads before I feel like making multiple trips to the bathroom.  I will also be bringing some c panty’s with me because I have read that they are rather comfortable and helpful for post C Section surgery.

✓  Toiletries – I know that I will want to feel clean and be clean while I am at the hospital.  Hygiene is important so I will be packing toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, face wash, and shampoo/conditioner to use when I get the chance to take a shower.  The soap that they offer at the hospital is not as nice as the stuff I have at home.

✓  Pillow, pillow case, and blanket (optional) – I still haven’t decided if I will be bringing these, but I was told that it can be nice to have a few of my own possessions with me.

✓  Nursing Pillow – I have been told this will be my savior because it will keep the baby from resting against the incision or anywhere tender.  Everyone seems to agree that the Boppy is the must have nursing pillow so I plan on getting one of these for me to use.

✓  Abdominal Binder (optional) – This is optional, but probably a good idea to have because coughing and sneezing can be painful.  I plan on getting one, but I do not know if I will use it as much as I think I will.

✓  Wipes – I always bring wipes with me places because sometimes a shower is not feasible.  Being disabled some days a shower is just too hard so I like to be able to quickly clean up myself so that I don’t smell and feel clean.

✓  Outfit – If you feel like you will want to get fully dressed at the hospital you can bring more than one outfit, but I know I won’t want to so I just plan on packing an outfit for myself to leave the hospital in.

✓  Breast Pump – Regardless of whether or not you are breast feeding you will probably want a breast pump with you.  When your breasts fill up with milk they can become quite painful and getting your baby to latch sometimes takes a little bit of time.

Baby’s Bag

 

✓  Socks – You will want your baby’s feet to be warm and these will be good if you have your little one dressed in gowns or if you leave him in the hospitals provided clothes you may want these.

✓  Mittens – These will help protect your little one from scratching himself with his sharp little nails.  It can be too difficult to get them clipped real short when they are newborns.

✓  Cap – Your little one might not have much or any hair so a cap will help keep his head warm as well as keep in his body heat.  This is especially important if your baby is due in the colder months.

✓  Diapers – The hospital will provide you with diapers, but you may want to bring your own especially if you already have a specific brand or style of diaper that you intend to use you might want to bring them with you.  Free is always nice, but that doesn’t mean it is always the best for you or your little one.

✓  Talcum powder or Coconut oil – Your baby is going to have some dry skin and their first bowel movements will not be much fun for him.  Due to this you may want some talcum powder or coconut oil for his tender skin.

✓  Cute Outfit – You will want a cute outfit for newborn pictures if you plan to have someone come in and take them.  Even if you don’t plan on having someone take pictures it is fun to have a cute outfit to dress him in on his way home.  You will be wanting to take pictures of him leaving the hospital as well as arriving home for the first time.  Seeing as how I am planning a pirate themed nursery I plan on getting my little one a very cute pirate themed outfit to go home in.

✓  Baby Blanket – This isn’t a necessity as you will be given a receiving blanket at the hospital, but it may be nice to bring your own newborn blanket or swaddles to wrap your little one in.

✓  Feeding bottle – The hospital will have newborn bottles for you to use, but feel free to bring your own if you have certain ones that you want to use.  This will make it so that you do not have to transition from one nipple to another.  I plan on bringing some with me in case he does not latch on right away and needs to be fed with a bottle.

✓  Car seat – You will want your car to be equipped with a car seat for your little one to ride home in.  You will not be allowed to go home without one.

Daddy’s Bag

 

✓  Wallet & identification papers – These will be needed if daddy goes in and out of the hospital at all so that he can get back into the maternity ward to be with mom and baby.

✓  Phone, charger, & headphones – These will be important devices to have just in case family and friends are trying to get in touch with him or the mom.  They will also help keep him entertained during any down time when he isn’t sleeping.

✓  Toothbrush & toothpaste – Hygiene is always important and if daddy doesn’t have to get back to work then he will want to be able to clean up as well.

✓  Comfortable Shoes – Daddy might be pacing some of the time so he will want comfortable shoes or slippers to wear.

✓  Extra Clothes – If daddy is able to stay at the hospital with mommy then he will want to bring some extra clothes to change into.  They will help him to feel clean while staying in this room for days on end.

✓  Pajamas – Pajamas are nice for when mom and dad get to get a little shut eye.  They also happen to be a lot more comfortable to wear.

✓  Blanket – The hospital provides blankets, but you never know how warm or cold you may get so it can be nice to bring your own blanket as something comfortable to use while sleeping.

✓  Pillow – A pillow is a must.  This will help daddy to sleep as well because it will bring some extra comfort for him when the pull out bed is getting to him.

Filed Under: Baby, Family, Featured, Parenting Tagged With: Caesarean section, Infant, Pregnancy

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