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In honor of World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Awareness Month kicking off tomorrow, I'm going to be reviewing an app that brings Breastfeeding FAQ's and helpful tips right to your fingertips. Breastfeeding Central guides you through all stages of breastfeeding and is written by Beverley Rae, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Clinical Social Worker, and mother of five breastfed children (you go, girl!!). You can read through it like a book (click on a category and it'll bring you to a list of articles), saving any for easy reference later (the "saved" folder is one of 5 icons at the bottom of your screen). Or you can just look up specific topics when you find yourself faced with difficulties, such as a plugged duct or low milk supply. Each article is short and to the point, which is about all an exhausted new mom can handle, let's face it! Forget fumbling through a 200-page book or turning to Google, which if you're like me, is likely to send you into a major hypochondriac fit! Breastfeeding Central is like having your own personal Lactation Consultant in your pocket! OK, so let's see how it works. We'll say your milk has just come in and you're suffering from engorgement. Yes, that sounds familiar!! You click the main screen, then "Common Difficulties" and finally "Engorgement" which brings you to a helpful 2 paragraph article with a photo. 
Here's a closeup of the image that goes with the engorgement info, since my screen shot didn't quite capture it. There really is nothing quite like cold cabbage on your moobies, whether you're suffering from engorgement or a plugged duct... ahhhhh!! 
"Washed, chilled green cabbage leaves placed over the breast help to reduce engorgement."
So, there are 6 main categories in the Breastfeeding Central app:
Furthermore, the help tab at the bottom brings up a list of websites where you can find a local lactation consultant and mother-to-mother help and support groups! Woohooo!! In a nutshell, this app is extremely helpful and convenient. I wish I'd had such a resource in my early days of breastfeeding just 19 months ago! Wanna get your hands on it? Breastfeeding Central is available for download on iPhone and iPad for $3.99, and you can follow Beverley Rae and Breastfeeding Central on Twitter (@BRaeIBCLC) and Facebook! Sponsored Post Disclosure: Opinions are my own and not swayed by compensation of any kind. This was a sponsored post, but I limit such posts to companies that meet my moral standards and I feel I can really stand behind (hey, I'm not a sell out, but time is money...).
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I know a thing or two about nursing pads. I've done my research online and with my own two (oversupplying) boobies, which have been nourishing my little one for 18 months now! Heck, I even created a nursing pad sampler to help mamas try out some of the top brands to find the one they like best, because if I know anything, it's that no one nursing pad will be the best for every mama. It'll be absorbent and thick enough for one mama, but not for another. One mother will prefer washable whereas another prefers disposable. One prefers contoured and another wants a cute flat heart shape. Yes, there are MANY choices out there for lactating mamas and I'm here to tell you about one of them that was recently included in my Mother of All Giveaways (sorry, contest is now over, but you can still click the link to get info on 25 really unique products for babies, toddlers, and moms!!). Baby Nip™ Molded Seamless Washable Nursing Pads by Nursing Bra Express 
What's so great about these nursing pads? Well, I'll tell ya!
And don't think that you won't need nursing pads just because you aren't planning to breastfeed... many women start leaking DURING PREGNANCY (as early as 16 weeks)! Even if this isn't the case for you, unless you have a rare inability, you'll be producing a great amount of colostrum and breastmilk until you've dried up, which can 7-10 days from birth. Annnnd can I just quickly add: Please please do some research and if struggling, reach out to a Lactation Consultant. Please give breastfeeding your hardest try, for your baby and yourself!! PLEASE! The first few days and weeks can really suck (pun intended, hehe), but it gets better, indeed, it gets pretty darn awesome! So hang in there mamas!!!
*Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge, I was not compensated in any other way to do this product review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased. **UPDATE!! Giveaway has been extended through June 20!!!*** US-Japan Fam has teamed up with hosts My Frugal Savings and Grandma's Wish and co-hosts Mama Pure, To Be Thode, Failing Perfect, My Work At Home World, Not My Circus Not My Monkeys and many other bloggers to bring you this awesome Baby Lovin' Giveaway event! 4 lucky winners will split $1170 in prizes!!  Package #1 ($360 Value):
Package #2 ($329 Value):
Package #3 ($267 value):
Package #4 ($239 Value):
Want to learn more about the prizes? Read the full reviews on each product below (more being added daily throughout the giveaway)! ENTER HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!!! The giveaway is running through June 17th (11:59PM CST) - please be sure to do all "mandatory" actions or your entry will be deleted (whomp whomp). ✰ Good Luck! ✰ Disclaimer: I have not received any compensation (monetary or otherwise) to be part of this giveaway. US-Japan Fam, My Frugal Savings, and all other participating blogs are not responsible for shipment of the prize. If it has been more than 4 weeks and you still have not received your prize , please contact [email protected] so they can follow up. Thank You.
Due to budget, my maternity wardrobe was limited to the bare essentials. As for my nursing wardrobe, it pretty much consists of a couple of nursing bras and that's about it! Thanks to products such as nursing covers, Undercover Mama, and The Naked Nursing Tank, you really can get away without tops designed to be breastfeeding or pumping friendly. That said, I went almost a year without being able to wear a dress!! Very frustrating!! Had I known there were amazing nursing-friendly dresses out there (especially ones that will carry you through your pregnancy and nursing days and beyond), like the ones I just came across from Larrivo, I would have purchased these a looooooong time ago!! I guess better late than never! Larrivo has got mom-to-be's and new moms covered in sexy, functional, and fashionable gear - everything from dresses to swim suits to sleep wear! Here I am in Larrivo's Ying Sleeveless Ying Maxi Maternity and Nursing Dress: 
Don't get excited, there's a nude color Bravado bra under there folks, LOL! The star pasties are just for fun!
Made of a 90% rayon and 10% spandex blend, it is about the softest and most comfortable dress you could imagine. It will definitely become a staple in my wardrobe as it's incredibly cool and comfy - equally good for lounging around the house, meeting our mommy and baby friends for a coffee and play date, or even spruced up with some jewelry and heels for a romantic night out with the mister! I love that it looks and feels just like a regular dress, but OH! Wait!! Just lift up the elasticized bust and you're ready to nurse your little one!! WOW! No need seek refuge in a bathroom or to wear leggings all the time so you can hike your entire dress up over your chest. No need to avoid dresses altogether. Larrivo to the rescue!! Here's the Ying Sleeveless Dress in a knee-length cut, made of the same amazingly comfy and flattering material. Use it as sleep wear or for a day at the zoo. The sky's the limit! 
I'm nearing the end of my breastfeeding days with baby number one, but that won't stop me from wearing these dresses after my boobies have closed up shop! No one needs to know they're nursing-friendly, it's my little secret! You can buy one of Larrivo's dresses or any of their awesome maternity and nursing wear, and you can also enter to win one of their Ying dresses in my $1500 value Mother Of Giveaways ending at midnight tonight!!! Enter here to win!
*Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge, I was not compensated in any other way to do this product review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased. I could not have been more informed about my pregnancy and birth. There was no possible way! I read books, went to classes, listened to podcasts, you name it! Unfortunately, it stopped there. I totally forgot to prepare myself for what to do AFTER THE BABY ARRIVES!!! My husband and I were totally clueless. Thank god the learning curve is steep, but let's just say the first few days, weeks, let's face it months, were a blur of exhausted confusion!! I had a hand-me-down copy of What To Expect The First Year, and read through the first chunk of it during middle of the night nursing sessions but eventually gave up on it. From there I pretty much used Doctor Google for random stuff like "Is it possible my baby's belly button didn't close" (haha yes, this was actually a concern of mine I brought to our pediatrician when my baby was 7 months old, you can see my blog about it!!). Unfortunately Doctor Google, while often helpful, can really bring out the paranoid hypochondriac in you and lead you very very astray. I recently discovered Dr. Carey's Baby Care book which is really an amazing resource for new parents (or parents-to-be) to have on hand. It's basically a users guide for your baby's first year, covering the following topics:
 Dr. Carey's Baby Care book is easy to read and concise - only 80 pages - so you get the really important info without all the filler that will put you to sleep or make your foggy new mom brain wander! It's also very very graphic and by this I mean it has 180 full color photos for when you have those "Is this normal??!??!?!!" freak out moments about your baby's rash, poop, or etc. Here's an example of what you'll find:  The photos are also really helpful in showing you how to care for your baby. Here, look, 4 steps to make the perfect baby burrito!!  Dr. Carey, a pediatrician in Ventura, California said, “In a world of information overload, I aimed to keep this book short and to the point. Despite the quick read, if a picture is worth a thousand words, one might say I spoke a lot. The photos that I share in my book depict items that I am asked about every day in my office.” I'm very visual myself, so this book really speaks to me and I think it will to you as well!! Order your copy of Dr. Carey's Baby Care book on Amazon (also available for Kindle), or enter to win one along with a whole slew of cool products for baby, toddler, and mom in my $1500 value Mother Of Giveaways going on through May 26! Enter to win here!
*Disclaimer: Although I did receive these products free of charge, I was not compensated in any other way to do this product review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased. I'm a strong promoter of breastfeeding your baby for as long as you can, and love products that help make it easier for moms to do so! Items such as Boppy and My Breast Friend nursing pillows, Miny Moe's 6-Brand Nursing Pad Sampler, Nurse Purse, Bravado nursing bras, Bebe Au Lait nursing covers, and Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter to name a few! I recently came across one more to add to my list: The Naked Nursing Tank! It's basically a tank top you wear under your shirt. The bra-area is cut out, so wear it with a nursing bra and you can pull your regular non-nursing shirt up to nurse your baby (or pump) without exposing your tummy and back. Here's a photo from their website demonstrating how it looks and showing the Naked Nursing Tank in action:  I got the Luxury Bamboo in Midnight Black (it also comes in white), which is really soft and stretchy, made of 67% rayon from bamboo, 27% cotton, and 6% spandex. They also make a Classic Cotton version in light grey and charcoal grey. Here's a photo of me modeling my Naked Nursing Tank over a shirt, because, sorry ya'll I'm not about to bust out a photo of me in my bra on here!! The design does make you feel a bit silly, like a German girl in a bustless dirndl! haha! But it's functionality definitely outweighs the silly-factor.  It's an awesome product that allows you to forgo purchasing an expensive nursing wardrobe - just wear this over a nursing bra and under any shirt! It's great for the more modest moms who don't want to show skin when nursing. I mean, even when you wear a nursing cover your back is exposed, something that's always peeved me as an avid cover user, but the Naked Nursing Tank has got your back, literally!
You can buy a Naked Nursing Tank here, or win one in my $1500 value Mother Of Giveaways running through May 26!! Enter to win now! *Disclaimer: Although I did receive these products free of charge, I was not compensated in any other way to do this product review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased. I feel so incredibly lucky that I could stay home with my son, nursing him on demand and never have to deal with the drama of pumping. I did pump here and there, and we went through a very shortlived period where we thought I would pump and let my husband feed our baby once a day, for the bonding experience. You can see how that went here, but long story short baby wouldn't take the bottle and daddy thought it was "boring" LOL!! Apparently baby refusing a bottle can stem from a few different issues. Of course the nipple of the bottle is not the same as mommy's nipple - the shape, the feeling, the flow. Baby also has a keen sense of smell and boy oh boy, baby knows what mama smells like pretty much from birth. Of course you've got all those pheromones flowing as well! I'm pretty fascinated with a new product I came across that is trying to help with the issue of babies refusing the bottle: Mamascent. In a nutshell, Mamascent is a fabric that you place in your bra to absorb your scent and then it attaches to baby's bottle so baby smells you and picks up your comforting pheromones when bottle feeding. So simple yet brilliant!! Here's a graphic and a video on how to use Mamascent: 
Of course my 16-monther is way beyond the need for Mamascent, so I didn't have a way of testing it out, but I played around with the kit and it's very easy to use! The petal material is almost like a thicker sturdier gauze, and it's perforated so each petal tears off easily. 
You can order a pack of Mamascent here, or you can test your luck - one pack of Mamascent is included in my $1500 value Mother Of Giveaways running through May 26! Enter to win!
*Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge, I was not compensated in any other way to do this product review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased. I love jewelry but have not been able to wear much since my son was born 16 months ago. Of course I'm terrified of him ripping out an earring (OUCH!!). On top of that you have the worry of him yanking off a necklace and breaking it (which he has done, my favorite one no less!!). So when I came across the baby friendly necklace idea I was all over it!! There are several brands out there, all offering very similar designs and colors of silicone necklaces and bracelets which are safe for baby to chew on and have an easy break-away clasp that won't actually break when baby yanks it (and he will, I promise!!). But I recently came across La Stella Della Mamma at The Mamas Expo and saw a design I had not seen before, and really love!! It's the same bpa free food-grade silicone material we all know and love (same kind that's used in pacifiers and bottle nipples), but this one comes in a double chain design - awesome!! 
I really love this design and the fact that the beads go all the way up and very close to the clasp, so you don't have a bunch of string just hanging out around your neck. Also, the length of each chain is set, it's not one long strand that you wrap yourself and have to keep adjusting. Baby and mommy tested and approved!! 
Stella Mamma also carries a number of other really unique and beautiful designs, which you can see on her website and order from Amazon. 
Stella Mamma is having a really great promotion - if you buy one of her 2014 designs from Amazon and leave a review, she'll send you a pendant of your choice for FREE (you just have to contact her on Facebook, Twitter, or email to let her know and choose your color).
Annnnnnnd Stella Mamma's double chain chewable teething necklace (winner's choice of black & gray, black & clear white, or white & turquoise) is part of my $1500 value Mother Of Giveaways running through May 26 - enter to win here!! *Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge, I was not compensated in any other way to do this product review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased. Now, I'm not a fashionista or one to try to style everything up all matchy matchy and fabulous looking. Partly because I'm bad at it, partly because I'm lazy, and partly because I'm cheap. But that said, my son's stroller is BORING!!! Snoooooooooze! It's all black, and being a New Yorker I should be cool with that. And I was. Until I came across Tivoli Couture's amazing and luxurious lineup of accouterments for all things baby travel!! From baby carrier covers to fleece-lined car seat jackets to blankets, Tivoli Couture will have you and your little one traveling in style!! I recently got my hands on one of their memory foam stroller liners and was SO EXCITED to snazz up our stroller. With 22 patterns to choose from, it was really really hard to decide but I eventually went with this rockin' guitars design. Cute right!?? 
But not just cute - apparently these liners are chiropractor approved for helping to absorb stroller shock, offering better support and neck and spinal alignment, and helping to relieve pressure from the child sitting for extended periods of time. Wow! Annnnnnd super comfy!! You can see how thick it is, and it has a soft minky back (it's reversible actually). Maybe Kenzo will stop throwing a fit when it's time to get in the stroller now? Maybe... Unfortunately it's too late in the game for Kenzo, but Tivoli Couture just came out with a great lineup of canopy covers for your carrier, stroller, car seat, or even as a nursing cover! From ruffles to roses, how gorgeous are these!! They even have ties so they won't blow away. They also make fabulous photo backdrops... 
One Tivoli Couture canopy cover is part of my $1500 value "Mother Of All Giveaways" running through May 26. ENTER TO WIN HERE TODAY!!
*Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge, I was not compensated in any other way to do this product review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased. Full disclosure, I've pumped a handful of times, but thanks to working from home I've been able to nurse on demand these past 16 months (and going strong!). That said, I have heard horror stories from many a working moms - woes of being walked in on in the pumping room at work, of having to put their breast milk in the fridge next to colleagues' lunches, of toting ugly frumpy pump/milk bag in addition to regular work bag to and from the office every day... it sounds, well, pretty horrible. So when I came across the Nurse Purse, though I have no real need for it myself, I instantly and truly fell in love with the concept, the design, and the mom behind it all!! 
If you saw this woman walking down the street or sitting next to you on the subway, you wouldn't think anything of it, right? I mean, you might think, oh cute bag! You certainly wouldn't think anything out of the ordinary was inside, would you? Think again... 
The Nurse Purse is a pumping mom's dream come true!!! It holds the breast pump and accessories, your cooler for milk, and still has room for all the regulars, even your laptop! WHAAAAAAT!??!! Need more convincing? It comes in 4 fabulous designs, it's water and stain resistant, and it's free of PVC, BPA, phthalates, and lead! After you graduate from pumping, the bag is still great to use as a regular work bag, a diaper bag, you name it!
The Nurse Purse in Wildflower design is one of the fabulous prizes in my $1500 value "Mother Of All Giveaways" running through May 26. ENTER TO WIN HERE TODAY!! **Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation, monetary or otherwise, to do this product review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and completely unbiased. |
 
About ME:I'm a NYC metro area mom blogger living in NJ with my Japanese husband & our 3 kids (twins + 1), focusing on fun and honest product and travel reviews, helping busy parents find the best for their families! Find what you need in the menu bar or search section above! 
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