If you’re planning to breastfeed we highly recommend you invest in a good quality breast pump — and we love the Medela Pump In Style (especially if you’re going to be a working mama)! It’s portable, powerful and discrete for your trips to and from work. It also comes with a freezer bag complete with storage bottles that’s perfect for tucking away in the office fridge — a big plus for keeping your breast milk fresh. Watch this video to see more on why this pump is a must-have!

Register for the Medela Pump in Style here, or buy it here.

What is your favorite breast pump?

Plus, more from the Bump:

Top 7 Breast Pumps

Tips for Pumping at Work

Worst Breastfeeding Advice Ever!

I remember feeling like I had a baby permanently attached to my boob for the first three months after giving birth and for much of the time for the nine months that followed. I enjoyed very much gazing at my precious newborn for hours but with so many hours a day with a baby on the breast, at some point restlessness set in. Never one to sit still, I became the master of multitasking. By managing to do something in addition to nourishing my growing baby, l felt stimulated and more productive.

Below are the my five favorite things to do while breastfeeding (after gazing lovingly at my precious newborn for a good long while, of course).

1. Read. Time to read seems like a luxury when you have a baby. Take the opportunity to read parenting books, celebrity gossip magazines, or anything else you might fancy.

2. Manage Lists. I am a list-maker, a list-lover, a believer in the power of lists to organize thoughts, intentions and time. I love to make grocery lists, to do lists, shopping lists for clothes and school supplies for my older children, business idea lists, and lists for about anything else you can imagine. It’s incredible what comes to mind while you are sitting calmly for several minutes and your body is releasing the hormones that provoke relaxation and the strong sense of bonding and love.

3. Catch up on emails. With a new baby, it can be difficult to find time to stay caught up on communications. Using a positioning pillow, once baby is latched on you will have both hands free to crank out several emails in a feeding session.

4. Catch up with a friend. Every new mother thinks of and dreams of calling her best friend from college, her aunt in Colorado, or her grandma to talk about the new journey of motherhood. But who has time for that? The nursing mommy does! With the hormones already flowing, it’s a great time to bond with friends and relatives over the phone. They will appreciate it as much as you do. A few minutes of actual voice conversation is worth a thousand emails.

5. Exercise. You may think you have to be stationary to breastfeed, but I can tell you from experience that you can feed your baby while on the move. If you have a sling-type carrier, you can probably walk around the block with baby on the boob. At the very least you can practice some wide leg squats or other standing exercises with baby in arms or a carrier. While developing an exercise program to do with my baby, I discovered by circumstance that there were several exercises I could continue to do while breast-feeding so that my workout wasn’t interrupted by a feeding session. See the video here. It’s fun and feels good to move while breastfeeding.

How did you juggle multitasking while breastfeeding?

Plus, more from The Bump:

A Smart Start to Breastfeeding

11 Things You Didn’t Know About Breastfeeding

12 Ways to Make Breastfeeding Easier

Do you have twins on the way and the thought of feeding both babies at the same time seems a bit daunting? Fear no more! Our friend, Christopher at Buy Buy Baby recommends the My Brest Friend Twin Nursing Pillow to make feedings easy and comfortable with its spacious base and great back support. And since it’s perfect for breastfeeding or bottle feeding, dad or grandma will be well equipped to feed both little ones at the same time too! Watch this video to see more on why you’ll love this twin size feeding pillow.

Register for the My Breast Friend Twin Nursing Pillow here, or buy it here.

What are your favorite products for feeding baby?

Plus, more from the Bump:

More Products That Make Breastfeeding a Breeze

Parenting Secrets for Moms of Twins

Twins: Fact or Fiction?

Breastfeeding has been one of the most rewarding parts of motherhood for me (and in so many unexpected ways!). It has given me a very plump and healthy baby, helped me lose the baby weight and even given me a bit more in the cleavage department. Not too shabby. However, I am here to tell you that nursing my son at eight months is very different from nursing him during his newborn days.

I look back to his newborn days and remember quiet, calm and peaceful nursing sessions. Sessions where he was easy to hold because he loved being swaddled and was more than content with being near his mom. There were times where I would even fall asleep because of how peaceful it was! Fast forward to the more recent weeks and in some ways breastfeeding has become a whole new experience!

Here are three changes that we have encountered:

1. There is a new word that enters your vocabulary: Niplash.

What is niplash? Let me explain. You are sitting in a quiet room nursing, then your husband walks looking all sorts of good and you turn your head to look at him. Well, guess what? So does baby, while remaining latched on. Niplash.

2. There are teeth involved.

Remember when people tell you that most babies do not get their first tooth until around six months or so? My son got TWO teeth at exactly four months. Here we sit at eight months and he is cutting his seventh tooth. Now luckily, we do not have excessive biting, but there have been a few times where I was pretty sure he bit my nipple clear off (he did not). I have learned to pay close attention when he is getting tired or cutting a new tooth to get my finger in there and unlatch him quickly when necessary! I must add, it hasn’t been that bad though, I mean, I am still doing it — right?

3. He knows where the “ladies” live.

This hasn’t become a huge problem yet, but I see it on our horizon. My little guy knows that under mom’s shirt lies his favorite meal. So why not pull on my V-neck to see if they are available? Why not try to unbutton my shirt when I am not paying attention? It makes sense because he is telling me is hungry and ready to eat but you just have to make sure you are ready because they don’t care whether you are in the middle of the grocery store or Easter dinner!

Overall, I have the outlook now as I had at day one: breastfeeding is an adventure. Each age brings along its own quirks and trials but all are manageable. You adapt, you laugh and you just keep going! I am hoping to continue breastfeeding to a year and beyond so I am sure this list will only continue to grow!

What challenges or funny things have happened to you while breastfeeding?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Worst Breastfeeding Advice — Ever!

Craziest Breastfeeding Fiascos

Top 10 Reasons to Breastfeed

On a super hot day, have you ever thought to yourself, “I really wish I could give baby a breast milk flavored lollipop to cool him down?” If you have, you’re in luck! (And if you haven’t, well, congrats! Now you’ll never have to think of it again.) A company in Austin, Texas, called Lollyphile has whipped together and is now selling Breast Milk Lollipops.

The pops are intended to mimic the flavor of a mother’s milk and according to the company, they’ve done their research when it comes to making the flavors sync up. Numerous moms, the Lollyphile’s said, came forward to share their breast milk with the company’s flavor experts to make sure that the pops came as close to the real deal as possible, until they were able to turn the breast milk flavor into a candy. Modern marvels, I’ll tell ya!

Here’s the description on the Lollyphile website about the flavor:

“So, what’s happening is that suddenly it seems as though a lot of our friends are having babies. And since some of us are confectioners, we felt it was our responsibility to find out just what this flavor was that could turn a screaming, furious infant into a placid, contented one. Surely the flavor must be heavenly, yes? We are endlessly grateful to all the mothers who kept sharing their breast milk with our flavor specialists until we were able to candify it. These lollipops won’t bring back childhood memory; they’ll bring up animal instinct. Quite possibly the most inherently satisfying flavor of all time.”

The best part? You can use the discount code MAMMALS at checkout for a bonus discount!

Now, for the burning question on everybody’s mind: just why would a lolli company ever come up with the idea to make a breast milk flavored pop? Aside from the sheer genius of the idea (who else in the industry is asking moms to come forward with a share of the breast milk?), the owner of Lollyphile, Jason Darling, said, “I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older, but it seems like all of my friends are having babies these days… Sure, the kids are all crazy cute, but what slowly dawned on me was that my friends were actually producing milk so delicious it could turn a screaming, furious child into a docile, contented one. I knew I had to capture that flavor.” And there you have it, folks! I actually love that the creators and Lolly-team has such a sense of humor about the pops they’re making (especially these breast milk flavored ones) — regardless of whether or not they’re actually tasty, kudos for the team for keeping it light and fun!

While the actual pops don’t contain any actual breast milk, they do stand by the statement that they’re as close to real breast milk as it gets. The company even maintains its own sense of humor, joking that in order to mass produce enough breast milk to make their creamy, delicious treats, they’d have to have “armies of pumping women” and when it comes to pumping, no offense — but baby takes first priority!

But that’s not all! Breast milk isn’t the only flavor available at the quirky pop store. They’re classic flavors resume includes: Absinthe, amaretto, bourbon, Chai tea, green tea, Irish cream, lavender, maple-bacon, pomegranate tangerine, salty dog (um.. what?), sriracha, wasabi-ginger and White Russian lollipops. For a limited time only, the store is offering: Habanero Tequila, Chocolate bacon, dreamsicle, horchata, party girl and more!

When asked about the breast milk flavor (and the other funky flavors) they sell, Darling said, “Any company can make up nostalgic flavors. We’d like to think that we’re tapping into a flavor our customers loved before they even knew how to think.”

Moms, would you ever try a breast milk flavored lollipop? Would you give it to baby?

Plus, more from The Bump:

How Breastfeeding Changes as Baby Gets Older

4 Creative Ways to Use Your Breastmilk

How to Store Your Breastmilk

New mama, Shakira, may be head over heels for her little man, but the doting mama recently sat down with Us Weekly and dished on just how much she loves bonding with her growing guy. The singer and current judge on The Voice told Us that breastfeeding her 4-month-old son, Milan, has been “one of the best experiences” of her life, adding, “I love it! I can’t stop. I think I’m going to breastfeed him until he goes to college!”

Whoa, mama! While I’m sure Milan loves breastfeeding just as much as you do, college is a little extreme (even though she’s only kidding! Still — could you imagine?). I think all moms (whether they bottle feed or breastfeed can relate to what Shakira is feeling. Those quiet moments with baby are like nothing else in this world — and it’s only natural to want them to continue forever. And it’s so sweet that she’s so in love with her little guy that she wants the world to know she never wants those moments to end.

Shakira also credits her feedings with baby boy for helping her drop the baby weight faster than she’d originally imagined. She said, “I think it helps a lot. I haven’t weight myself… I think I’m close but I can’t sing victory yet.”

I love that Shakira isn’t stepping on the scale every day and counting down the ticks until she’s back to her prebaby weight. Good for her that she’s enjoying the process naturally (she also admits she does Zumba to help keep active), but for now, it sounds like she knows exactly where her priorities lie — and just who they lie with.

She said of spending time with at home with Milan, “I thought I was going to be super-controlling because I am like that with my songs, my career and everything I do professionally — I like to be in charge. But with him, I’m so relaxed,” she shared with the magazine. “It’s so surprising because everybody thought I was going to be one of those hysterical mothers, like smothering mothers, and I feel that I’m not as nervous. I’m relaxed.”

And even though the gushing first-time mother isn’t headed back into the studio quite yet, her passion for song was with her right up until baby’s arrival.

She said, “I did write a song for [Milan] the day I was going to deliver him. But that’s just for us!”

Did you love breastfeeding immediately?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Top 10 Reasons to Breastfeed

How to Bond Over the Bottle

How Breastfeeding Changes as Baby Gets Older

New to breastfeeding? There are so many rumors, tips and tricks about breastfeeding these days – so we went to our breastfeeding Bumpies on the Breastfeeding board!

“Take time for yourself. If you have hit the wall, it is okay to hand the baby off and take a shower or eat or refill your own water. Relax and don’t doubt yourself.” -Crash Into Me

“Growth spurts happen frequently. Dont think you’re not producing enough. Just keep nursing and you will get through it.” -EmpireMomof3

“Do what works for you. If your baby is growing and you are okay with the process that its taking to get baby the food it needs – then don’t let anyone guilt you into another process.  Find time each day for YOU – if thats a shower, a bath, 30 minutes TV show.  Find a way to hand the baby over (or lay down the baby to sleep in a safe spot) and take the time for you.” -opaque1997

“Don’t be surprised if you are engorged and in pain when your milk comes in after a few days (or it may take up to a week). To help get the milk flowing, apply hot compresses (like hot face cloths) before nursing, nurse baby on demand, and you can also use cold compresses (like cold gel packs or frozen peas) for 10 minutes every hour for 24 hours between nursing sessions to relieve swelling. The best advice I ever received was “‘don’t quit on a bad day!’” -MomIn2013

“ALWAYS go to the bathroom before you start a feeding even if you don’t have to because 5 mins in and you’ll have to go!  It’s ok if baby cries while you take 45 seconds to go to the bathroom.” -cltk12

“Your breasts are two separate entities – one may be faster, bigger, fuller, easier to latch, harder to latch, different size/shape/color nipples, etc.  Unless it’s extreme, in which case see a doctor,  it’s totally normal!  Baby might like one side more, or one position more, just keep offering both and different positions.” -EMO-mamma

“Know that if you have to supplement or baby does get a bottle in the hospital, IT ISNT THE END OF BFing.  Prior to having my LO, it was drilled into me how horrible bottles were and when she needed one at 24 hours old (jaundice and refusal of the tube at my breast), part of me thought it was the end of our BF relationship forever.  Thankfully I was stubborn/determined and we worked through it.” -theresat858

“Soothies gel pads are amazing especially when LO is cluster feeding.” -Meggy T.

“Check out if your insurance will cover a lactation consultant, and if so which ones, prior to delivery. Having the number on hand prior is really helpful.” -shell041783

“Don’t start pumping too early! It is tempting to pump when you are engorged, but you could create an oversupply problem. Try to let your body adjust to what baby is actually eating, and if you really need some relief, express some milk by hand.” -mandy522

“Learn how to nurse side lying! When newborns are up to eat every 1-2 hours those first 2 weeks this was an amazing position.” -PennyLane26

“If it hurts, you’re doing it wrong doesn’t count for the first six weeks. Don’t get down on yourself thinking you aren’t doing it right. See a LC, or several, until you feel comfortable that you are doing it right.” -Ordzbby

“Drink up. Water, lemonade, Gatorade, just do it!” -Brendamndz

“You call the shots when it comes to feeding.  Get your husband on board and have a plan ready- be prepared to adjust your plan as needed.” -ClaryPax

“You can’t overfeed a breastfed baby.  If they want to nurse every hour, for 45 minutes, let them.  That might be what your body needs to get the signal to make more milk.” -TJ1979

“Breastfeeding is hard.  Like really, really hard.  You will probably underestimate how tough it is going to be.  You will have days where you sob wondering how is this ever going to get better.  You will have nights that never seem to end.  And then one day the fog clears and BAM!  You and your baby are breastfeeding, happily and pain free!” -hpoff33

You Tell Us: What are your tips for breastfeeding baby?

More from The Bump:

LaNisa Allen was a new mom, trying to juggle nursing (and likely sleep deprivation, and postpartum recovery) with her job at Totes/Isotoner Corporation in Ohio. Her four-month-old son, Travian, ate every three hours, which meant that in order to keep her supply up, she needed to take frequent pumping breaks from her manual labor position. Unfortunately, her employer was only willing to offer her a single pumping break, five hours into her shift. By that point, she was engorged, leaking and in pain. When LaNisa began taking extra breaks, to pump for 15 minutes here and there in the bathroom, she was fired.

Plenty of pregnant women plan on breastfeeding their child throughout their first year of life. Why not? It’s free, it’s portable, it helps you drop the baby weight and there’s no bottle warmer required.

According to a recent Michigan State University study, half of affluent women who plan to nurse for a year are successful in meeting their goal. Now compare that with the 1.8 percent of low-income women like LaNisa who are able to say the same. The reason? Mostly, it’s a case of a lack of resources to help these new moms tackle the breastfeeding obstacles that come their way. When money is tight, dialing up a lactation consultant might not feel like a feasible option; it’s hard to pump at a job where you are earning $8 an hour… or when a $300 pump is out of the question altogether.

That’s why I was so excited to hear about this new Get One, Give One partnership between theBoppy Company and the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), a national nonprofit organization that helps improve the lives of low-income, first-time moms — many of whom are teen moms – and their babies. I am absolutely in love with this idea. A nursing pillow is more than just some cotton filled with stuffing — it’s comfort, encouragement, intimacy, nourishment and dedication. Formula babies get all of these from their moms too, of course, but formula costs between $1400 and $2800 per year; for a low-income mother, breastfeeding a child could be the difference between being able to comfortably shop for groceries one week versus needing to scrape by. Breastfed kids are also less likely to be obese as adults, be diagnosed with allergies, leukemia or diabetes, or die from SIDS, leading to further health savings.

Our daughter nursed for 13 months — I would have loved to go longer but some personal medical issues got in the way — and it was one of the most meaningful and enjoyable experiences of my life. (Yup, I was that mom.) My husband and I are fortunate to be in a position where we could have afforded formula if we needed it, but were lucky enough that my milk came in, our baby latched well and my job as a freelance writer offered me the flexibility needed to make it work. In my opinion, anything that helps remove roadblocks to nursing is a winnerand this program qualifies.

We finally gave my twins their first solid food: avocado. They were 26 weeks and three days old — at the time it felt like my sweet little babies are growing up so fast. Since then, we’ve progressed and have been giving them some vegetables and fruit or meat once or twice a day. At first, we gave them the vegetables lightly boiled, no salt added and cut into long strips or “finger” shapes, giving them a good handle for the babies to grip.

My twins are now nearly eight months old and have never eaten a puree, or anything off a spoon. Instead, they enjoy feeding themselves a variety of foods that I make for my husband and myself, including green beans, eggplant, butternut squash, bananas, roasted chicken. Baby-led weaning describes the process of letting babies self-feed from the very beginning.

There is a whole range of methods, but the main steps each method has in common are that:

1. Baby decides the pace — no force feeding!

2. Baby gets to eat “real” food, as long as it is cooked healthfully with little (or no) salt added.

The main reason our family subscribes to the BLW method is because it made sense for us. We were on an exclusively breast-fed, nursing on-demand schedule — as natural and as baby lead as it gets. Every time I would have any down time, I tried to read about introducing solids — the purees, the timetables, and making sure that the babies would eat correct amount of teaspoons then increasing the amount over time… but I was just so overwhelmed by the process of it all.

Additionally, I wasn’t trying to wean my babies off breastfeeding completely. Instead, my goal was to simply introduce a new experience for them and let them play with the new textures and flavors. Sure, it gets a bit messy and they are still playing more than actually eating, but we are slowly getting a routine down.

It is a little bittersweet, since the days of exclusive breastfeeding are done. But, so far so good — even if it is a little sad for me. I will let my twins set the pace for their eating as long as they continue to thrive and judging by their chunky thighs and chubby cheeks, they are doing just fine!

How did you start introducing solids into baby’s diet?

Plus, more from The Bump:

When to Start Baby on Solids?

New Study Says Your Baby Is Starting on Solids Too Soon

Safest Solids for Baby?