Monday's Mamas Musts: Menstrual Cups

I know what you are thinking - why is she going to talk about this, I don't want to talk about my period.  But this week is my first cycle since Little Man was born!  It is an odd feeling waiting for the return of your cycle after you give birth especially if you are waiting a long time.  For me it has been two years since I had a regular cycle.  Personally I did not feel like a woman without it.  It was nice for a while not to have it and not to have to worry about when it was coming or having to deal with all the symptoms and extra things I needed for it.  When I didn't have it though I would worry that I'd be caught some where in public without my necessary accouterments.

Disposable pads gave me problems with yeast and I always hated before when choosing a tampon that I either chose something with too much absorbency or too little.  Plus disposing of your tampons or pads had its own list of issues for me.  I hated the smell in my bathroom and when I was a teenager and didn't know better - I cost my parents a tidy chunk of change fixing our septic by flushing them.  I've been cloth diapering with Little Man so I thought maybe I should look into reusable options for myself.
I found that the women I went to for my other parenting and natural solutions had a wealth of information on the topic.

Hobo Mama: Instead vs. Diva Cup for Your Menstrual Cup Needs
The Green Girls: The Diva Cup
The Crunch Chicken: Two Years of Diva Cup

Menstrual cups can save you money, time and the environment!  You have a greater investment up front but you save money over time by not having to buy them month after month.  I will cover the cost of my cup after three and half months and be able to keep using my cup long after that!  Sounds a lot like cloth diapers, huh?  There are many options out there and apparently most women become collectors of cups - another thing they have in common with cloth diapers.

I chose The Diva Cup, which is latex, BPA and dye free and had excellent reviews.  It comes in two sizes: Size 1 for under 35 pre-pregnancy and Size 2 post pregnancy or older then 35.  The cup is sized so it can fit snugly inside.  It works with suction to stay in place and prevent leaks.  Fluid is collected inside the cup and you empty it in the toilet, rinse it and replace it.  You sanitize it before the first time you use it and then again at the end of your cycle.  It gets stored in the breathable bag that it comes in and it is always there for you when you need it.  Oh and neat little fact: Diva Cup was created by a mother-daughter team - Francine and Carinne!

So why is it a Monday's Mamas Must?  Because you only need one and it is very easy to travel with.  Having to remember only one of these handy little things is one less thing you need to think about as a mama.  Depending on your flow, it can be emptied once every 12 hours - time saver!  The contents are flushed down the toilet and it is reinserted - nothing for a toddler to "find" in your garbage!  It can be worn while swimming or exercising.  Reusable menstrual cups are very convenient for busy mamas.

Resources for further information :
Diva Cup
MenstrualCups.org

Are you a Monday's Mama?  Do you have a story to share or a product/service to make a mama's life easier?  Let me know and your article or product could be featured in the next Monday's Mamas.  

Monday's Mamas will be a chance for the working mother who identifies as natural or attached to share her story with the online community.  It can be a personal story or it can be an informational post about just how does an AP mama manage all those tasks we have to do while still caring for our children in the way we have chosen?  This is open any mama who maintains a dual lifestyle: working out of the home, returning to school or the work at home mamas (WAHMs).

To submit an article for consideration, please use the Google Docs web form or email your article to Shannon (artsymama.riley {at} gmail.com) no later then 11:59pm EST on Friday.

Alternative Teething Solutions

Last Thursday the FDA issued a warning about the use of the topical pain medication benzocaine.  Benzocaine is the active ingredient in teething gels and other topical pain medications.  The FDA received reports that have linked this drug with a rare condition methemoglobinemia, which is serious and can result in death.  In the warning the FDA said that OTC or over the counter medications should not be used on children under the age of two without a health professional's advice and supervision.
So what is a mother to do when even if she is advised by her healthcare professional she still has reservations about applying the teething gel?  Here are a few of the options that have worked for us.

Frozen Washcloth
That is always the first thing I reach for when Little Man shows signs of teething.  I take a regular terry washcloth wet it and squeeze out the excess water.  Then I stick it in a freezer bag and place it in my freezer.  I usually keep one in there for quick use.  If you don't have one already you can wet one and stick an ice cube inside.  I secure it with a clean piece of yarn or string.  Little gnaws away on it and is happy with cool, massaged gums.

Oh Plah! Teething Cuff
I use the Oh Plah! when Little Man cannot get soaked because of a wet washcloth or if we are out of the house.  Its shape and texture allow it to get into his mouth and apply pressure to his gums.  If you haven't checked out my review/giveaway yet - you should!  It is great because I don't have to worry about it breaking or leaking water or gel because there is none.  I can freeze it too if I wanted for some added comforting measures.

Nursing
I know what you are thinking - "she's going to put a teething baby to her breast for comfort while he is cutting teeth!? Is she nuts?"  No, I'm not nuts.  Nursing offers yet another comforting sensation to teething infants and no they do not always bite.  I did not even know that Little Man had his first tooth until my mom found it.  Also Little Man and I practice nursing manners.  If he bit me, he was removed.  It did not take him long to learn not to do that.  I wrote about our experience here.  Nursing is very comforting to a breastfed baby.  The closeness and the warmth is familiar and can release a lot of the stress of teething.

Now on to some things that I have yet to try myself but I have heard work wonders from other moms.  These will be acquired for any additional siblings for Little Man.

Amber Teething Necklace
These get a thumbs up from me without having to try it myself because I use an amber pendant for my own pain.  Teething necklaces are small beads of baltic amber that are hand-tied into a short necklace or even a bracelet.  Babies should not be left unattended while wearing the necklace and the necklace should fit well - not too long or too short.  My friend Amanda used one with her son and she wrapped it around his ankle while he slept so he would not choke.  Otherwise he wore it on his neck.  They are not meant to be chewed on.  The baltic amber secretes a healing oils when it is warmed by the skin.  Your baby absorbs this pain relieving oil and it soothes his teething pain.  They have been used for many years in European countries.

Spiral Mama - from USA!

Pure Comfort - from Canada

Baltic Amber Teething Necklaces - from Lithuania

Amber for Sale - from Latvia

Natural Material Teething Necklaces
On etsy there are a few varieties of teething necklaces made from natural materials.  There are unfinished hardwood pendant teething necklaces and knotted wooden bead necklaces in beautiful fabrics.  Here are just a few of the shops I found with some really beautiful products.

Real-Wood Toys- wooden pendant necklaces
Painted Turtle Wooden Toys - wooden pendant necklaces
Taryn Stuff - wooden pendant necklaces
Grits and Giggles - fabric and wooden bead knot necklaces
Little Headbands - fabric and wooden bead knot necklaces
KangarooCare - crocheted and wooden bead necklaces
The Little Things Boutique- Fabric and wooden bead necklaces
Marine Parents [the shop] - Fabric and wooden bead necklaces

All of these options are safe and do not involve your child eating anything or you risking giving them too much of something.  There are also homeopathic teething tablets but I would rather exhaust all of these options first before giving Little Man something to ingest.  What methods do you use?  What works for you and your little ones?

Giveaway: Oh Plah! Teething Cuff $15 {5.3 US, CAN, EU}- CLOSED

This giveaway is now closed.  Please stay tuned for the announcement of the winner.  Thank you all for entering!

This is a joint giveaway with The ArtsyMama and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only. Please find the section marked "Win it!" for the mandatory main entry and optional bonus entries.

Roundhouse Design Collaborative is offering our readers a giveaway of an Oh Plah! Teething Cuff! This latex-free, BPA-free, phthalate-free, recyclable teething bracelet looks perfect on parents, but it's safe and fun for babies and kids to play with, bend, twist, and chew. This giveaway is open to US, Canadian, and EU addresses.

Things to Know Before Buying a Pump from an Unknown Source

The new pump I am excitedly awaiting.

So I have been on the hunt for a new pump for myself.  I am continuing to pump for Little Man as we have a new goal of breastfeeding for two years.  So being that I own a Medela and all the icky things that could be building up in that pump and their continued non-compliance with WHO code I decided to upgrade to a different manufacturer.  You can check out this article from Amy at Just West of Crunchy for more info on The Problems with Medela.
I of course like so many other pumping moms have an emotional attachment to my breastpump.  It was the only way I was able to feed Little Man for the first two months and the only way I have been able to feed him while I returned to work. So I am not going to chastise you for choosing or defending your Medela pump - it just isn't for my family anymore.  What I feel is important is that we are able to feed our babies how we choose and be comfortable, safe and informed with our choices and options available to us.
I started some research - that I should have done more of before Little Man -  and found information on two other breastpump manufacturers, Ameda and Hygeia.  I felt that either of these two companies would be a good choice because they both sell consumer grade closed system pumps.  I myself liked Hygeia just a little bit more because it is also a green pump and can be recycled when I am finished. Once I made my decision it was now time to buy my pump.
Even though the IRS has now made breastpumps a tax deductible item they are still a very large investment.  Quality pumps can last through multiple breastfeeding children which is another way to justify the cost but it isn't like I have all the money in the world to go buying pumps.  I then decided to check out two resources for after market goods - EBay and Craigslist.  Craigslist I am a bit leery of because there is no guarantee that you or your investment will be protected.  EBay I felt was a better option for this purchase because the seller has to disclose certain information about the goods.  Another benefit to EBay is their Buyer Protection program and you pay through PayPal which has its own buyer protection plan.  The down-side to buying on EBay is going through the auction style purchase.  Setting your price and then losing a pump that you desire can be emotionally draining, especially with long listings.  But that hunt can be fun as well.
When buying through after market sellers there are a few options: Used, New in Open Box and New in Sealed Box. Depending on what manufacturer you are purchasing from and the type of pump you can find quality, safe pumps in any of these categories.  However, the same can be said about any of these pumps being low-quality and unsafe.  It is best to do your research and ask the seller questions before you purchase a pump.

Used Pump
I thought about buying used with both of these pumps and while they are closed systems and if I purchase my own collection kit from either manufacturer I could have purchased these used.  This price point is typically very good but you have to factor in the purchase of a new collection kit which can cost anywhere from $35 to $50 depending on manufacturer.  That being said it does not mean that the motor will be of factory quality.  Terms like lightly or gently used are very subjective because my lightly used is 2-3 times a day for 5 days a week as compared to what I started at 12-15 times a day 7 days a week.  For most people they would not consider daily use as "lightly used" and they are right.  So I moved on from a search for a used pump. With these pumps the manufacturer warrantee has either run out or is non-transferable in most cases.

New in Open Box: Two Types


Type A- Authorized Reseller
I asked a seller why the pump box was opened and they explained that they are a reseller and sometimes receive pumps from the manufacturer in "open boxes" that have never been used by a pumping mother.  They may be a demonstration or display model.  I felt this was a good option because no one had used this pump before and the person I would be purchasing from was authorized by the manufacturer to resell the products.  The price points on these pumps are typically at a good discount but usually still pretty close to regular price.  The manufacturer warrantee is usually still in effect with these pumps but ask the seller first before purchasing.

Type B- Consumer That Changed Their Mind For "_________"
This is the seller that got a breast-pump for a shower gift, got excited and opened the box and then for whatever reason changed their mind about breastfeeding.  This is a 'hit or miss' sale.  They will either want all of their money back from this purchase or they will sell it at a bargain price.  If you are like me you will still factor in the new collection kit - just to be safe.  This is not an authorized reseller and there is no warrantee in place either.  I regrettably purchased a Hygeia Enjoye from a seller in this category*


New in Sealed Box: Two Types


Type A- Authorized Reseller
This is the dealer who likes to make a quick sale of the stock they already carry as an authorized reseller for a particular manufacturer.  There may be some discount at a Buy It Now price point and the manufacturer's warrantee will be effect.  You do not need to factor in a new collection kit because this has never been opened.  It is as close to ordering direct from the manufacturer that EBay has to offer.  After my first fiasco I purchased my Hygeia Enjoye this way**

Type B- Consumer That Changed Their Mind For "________"
This seller was a bit more patient or at least already knew that they were not going to breastfeed their child but thought instead of returning said gift or purchase I am going to sell it.  This will be discounted but not much and they may make up for some of it in the shipping charges as well.  You will not need to purchase a new collection kit but the manufacturer warrantee is most likely not going to transfer.

So my advice is to do your homework when buying a pump for you or someone else.  You should be educated on the type of pump as well as who you are buying it from.  Most of the manufacturers allow you to buy directly from them and you can also purchase online from most of the big baby stores as well.  EBay is a good way to save a few dollars but it comes with risks as well.  Another source to check out when purchasing breast-pumps is Breast Pumps Direct, they are an authorized reseller who can sell to you at a discount.

*I purchased from a seller who never sent me my pump or responded to my communications through EBay.  I made several attempts to work things out with the seller but ended up having EBay refund my money after nearly a month.  It was an exhausting as well as an emotional decision to give-up on that sale and move on.  Please note that EBay and PayPal Buyer Protection only protects you if you open a case within 45 days after the payment is sent.  Had I let this go on I would have lost my money and the pump.  They will only honor the claim if you escalate it within 20 days after the initial case is opened.  I escalated mine after 8 days and three phone calls the last resulting in the seller hanging up on me.


**I just purchased the pump from the seller today but I am hopeful that this will turn out better then my previous purchase.


Photo Credit: www.hygeiababy.com

Changing My Footprint: Laundry

This isn't going to be a long one.  I really wanted to share this with you all because this is such a time saver and so worth the money it costs (very little by the way).  A few of my fellow bloggers got me thinking about things I'm not doing that I should be. Joella over at Fine and Fair wrote about making Better World Resolutions and I got to thinking about what I could do to make my footprint just a little smaller. 
So I started with my biggest footprint in the home: LAUNDRY.  I looked into eco-friendly laundry and came away with a few things to consider.

Squishy Tushy Review and Giveaway!!! Extended {2/18 US}CLOSED

After all that research I did and when I finally had decided to jump in and buy cloth diapers I needed to choose a store.  I decided on Squishy Tushy for a few reason.  First off how cute is that name?  I couldn't say it without smiling.  Secondly, they run really great sales and deals on cloth diapers.  Finally they have a wide selection of cloth diaper brands and styles.  Because of the service and help I have received from this store I have decided to recommend it to you if you are looking to buy cloth.

Eco-Friendly Diapering Part 2: Cloth Diapering

Little Man in his Flips

When I think about my choices in how I handle the day to day with Little Man and what these choices mean in the present and in the future, this is probably one of my favorite choices I've made.  Due to his latex allergy these diapers really help because most manufacturers don't use it in their construction and if they do it is covered by other water-proof material.  Cloth diapering has come a long way since my grandparents diapered.  When I told my mom that I wanted to cloth diaper Little Man she told me that I would have made my grandmother very happy.  Apparently my grandmother wanted my mom to cloth diaper us but my mom said disposables were going to be her one luxury.

Eco-Friendly Diapering Part 1: Disposables

We didn't start using cloth diapers with Little Man until he was around four months old. We had issues with his diapers from day one, as soon as he made a little mess he was screaming to be changed. Without fail this would happen. It never occurred to me that maybe there was something in the diaper making him upset, I mean who actually gives diapers any more thought then does it contain the mess? Let me back track, I have a latex allergy. Did I think my son might have this allergy, bot at the time. Did that occur to his doctor, who is also my doctor, nope.

Nursing Indulgences: What I couldn't/can't live without while nursing

As I had mentioned in my first post I had a difficult time when I first started nursing.  I started thinking about that when I was reading some posts on Baby 411 on my iPhone today (Shout out to my Ladies).  It also got me thinking about what are some things I would never do without while nursing and what are good products that I would recommend to first time nursing mothers.  Let's face it the nursing of today isn't what it used to be for our mothers or grandmothers if they did in fact choose or were able to breastfeed in the first place. (Note while I have mentioned specific product names I am not being compensated for my endorsement and OPINION, similar products may work just as well for you)
My MVP of nursing supplies would have to be my Boppy, I own two in fact.  Why is it my "most valuable possession" because I have found more uses for it then even the manufacturer intended.  By the way I love how the photograph they chose for feeding was a father bottle feeding his baby so as not to exclude the market of formula fed or pumped milk babies. The Boppy was my new favorite thing in the hospital.  I actually used it as a pillow because I had grown very uncomfortable laying on my side for 2 months prior to my son's birth and my neck and back killed.  The Boppy made it better plus I knew where that pillow was the minute my little guy was hungry! Since then the pillow was my main assistant during nursing for 5 months.  I needed more then just my own two hands to help hold my son and get everything positioned properly and most of the day I'm on my own.
Which brings me to my second must have "Mission Control" as my husband calls it.  My glider and two tv dinner trays.  When I was pumping exclusively I had my pump on one tray and the other held my water, iPhone, house phone, food of the moment, tissues and remote control. Mission control always spread further and was less neat then my husband likes (he's neat and orderly, I am decidedly less neat at home) and he would patiently tidy up after me when he came home from work each night. I have since learned to keep my much smaller mission control more orderly and require less picking up after.
The next item I plan to use again though I no longer require it for this nursling is my Utterly Yours Breastfeeding Pillow This little item I wish I had known about sooner because it was a life saver and my much needed third hand.  As I said I was alone for much of the day and I have a mom who loves to call and a brother who loves to text and I was totally dependent on the aforementioned Baby 411.  All of which requires you use your hand. Well nursing a baby requires you use your hands as well. For me though it required three: two to hold my son and one to hold me in proper position. So the Boppy held my son high enough, one hand supported him to prevent rolling off and then the Utter Pillow held me in place thus freeing my hand to answer phones, texts and posts.
The next would be my bebe au lait nursing cover.  I own three different covers but this is by far my favorite.  This is the most generous in size and has added features that I love like pockets made of terry cloth that can be used as a burp cloth.  It also felt the nicest out of the three.  The cotton is light, soft and breathable.  The size matters to me because I needed the coverage and my son hates the cover and will pull and kick it off if I don't tuck it under his back and my arm.  I've used this cover everywhere.  I even used it on an airplane while sitting next to a stranger and they could not see anything.  I keep one of the others in my diaper bag as back up just in case but I always reach for this one first.
Gerber prefold cloth diapers. But not as diapers because they are basically useless as that but as burp cloths.  They are excellent burp cloths that are softer and more absorbent then the products sold as burp cloths. I'm glad I let my mom get these because my crazy hormonal pregnant self started to argue with her that I wasn't going to cloth diaper my baby so why was that in the cart.  Haha little did I know then that I would be nuts about cloth diapering and would never put another baby in disposables again.
Next is Lanolin cream and Lansinoh nursing pads.  It was a life saver during the beginning of nursing. I would  squeeze huge dollops on the pad and then stick them in my bra, ahh relief.
This next one isn't a product it is a person, a Lactation Consultant.  She was my life saver.  She showed me that my little one was able to pull enough milk from me to sustain himself and I didn't need to worry about pumping to feed him because he got more from me then I ever pumped.  She showed me the correct position and got my doctor to prescribe the correct medicine to clear up my thrush.  She was the first one to finally set my mind at ease and allow me to see that I was being a good mommy which for the three months prior to our appointment I had felt like the worst mom ever and basically cried and could not look at my husband without feeling like a failure because my son looks like a mini version of my husband.  So I would say do not wait to contact an LC if you are having trouble run there because you shouldn't have to do this alone.
Lastly would be my Medela Pump-in-Style double electric pump.  I really don't understand why they make single pumps. It is wasting time and money. The Medela double pumps can be used as single pumps and if you are expression to build up a supply you are going to want to use your precious time to do something else rather then sit for two sessions each time you pump.  Yes it is expensive but it is so worth it for women in my situation. In the beginning when I was pumping to feed him I really only had time to pump, feed, clean my bottle and parts, lay down for 15 minutes and then repeat the process.  I was a walking zombie so the less time I spent pumping, the more time I had to hold my baby and to try to catch a little sleep. Now that I am returning to work I only have a limited amount of time in the day to pump and I need the maximum amount of milk I can get so anything less then a double pump does not make sense to me.  I am splurging and upgrading myself to the Freestyle because my pump is showing its age here and I need a really quick turn over plus it would be nice to have use of my hands to get a little work done or drive to and from work while I pump.  UPDATE: I have since revoked my endorsement of Medela products. See here as to what changed my mind.
I know I said lastly before but just one more thing I should mention because I'm not certain if it was something I couldn't live without or will have to use again but I did use it and it deserves mentioning as it is a product some may benefit from, nipple shields.  I am hesitant with this product because it can be used for the wrong reason and can hurt your supply and your body's natural response to nursing (I am getting that statement from my private lactation consultant) The lactation nurses at the hospital gave me a shield because I had flat nipples. I've always had short nipples that never really cared to do much and to think they were going to do what I wanted them to do after almost 12 hours of labor was more then I could expect so they gave this to me.  As a new mom I thought okay the nurse said this is good then I will use it.  Well in hindsight in my case I shouldn't have.  It is probably why my little guy had his weight gain issues in the beginning and why he screamed bloody murder every time I tried to nurse him. After I had supply issues while expressing I reattempted breastfeeding without the use of the shield and I finally experienced success. If you have flat or inverted nipples which the product is recommended for use with then by all means try it just read the instructions carefully. I was not given instructions on how to properly use it at the hospital and the nurses just gave me the shield without the packaging.  Used properly I think it is a good product.  I do not think however, that it should be used to block some of that early pain that is experienced during establishing a nursing relationship.  Those first few weeks are critical to growing connections between the chemicals and receptors used to produce milk to maintain an adequate supply and being able to nurse a baby successfully to 6 months and beyond if you choose.  If you have pain use lanolin and see a lactation consultant.
So I would like to hear your thoughts on this and to share some of the products you just can't live without as well.