Premama Review and Giveaway

Are you pregnant or nursing?  Are you taking your prenatal vitamins like you are suppose to?  Do you hate horse pills or pills at all? 

When I was pregnant with my son over 15 years all there was for me to take were horse pills.  Now with my daughter Gia, a little older and wiser, the pills got smaller and I was able to take them.  But my sister in laws who were pregnant at the same time could not pass the regular size pills.  They do not like pills at all and even though they are good for the baby had a hard time swalling the pills, even going so far to cutting them in half.  So what if I told you there is a new way to drink prenatals?

Premama Vitamin Drink Mix-
-100% Natural
-6 calories
-Easy to digest
-Flavorless
-includes DHA, Folic Acid, Iron
-also Ginger, Vitamin B6, and Magnesium to help with nausea and digestive relief

My thoughts-best idea ever.  This mix can be added to your water, juice, or smoothie.  I have been into juicing lately, adding my mix everyday. 

Want to give Premama a try?  Win a 30 day supply...



How to enter:

1)  Must be a follower. (1 entry)
2)  Facebook share. (1 entry/per share/per day)
3)  Tweet. (1 entry/per tweet/per day)

Enter to #win 30-day supply of Premama Prenatal Vitamin Drink Mix! @drinkpremama #giveaway ends 3/8 http://tinyurl.com/d2b7aoo

This giveaway ends 3/8/13 at 8 am.  1 winner will be randomly selected to win.  The winner will have 24 hours to claim their prize.  You must leave your email in the comment.  US only.  Good luck.

Breastfeeding and Solid Foods Do's and Don'ts

August is National Breastfeeding Month. 

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, birthing instructor, Registered Herbalist and Classical Homeopath, Sara Chana, is the perfect expert to give you, my readers amazing tips.

Why Sara?

Sara Chana, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, birthing instructor, classical homeopath and Registered Herbalist guides women from adolescence, through pregnancy and childbirth on to menopause. With over 2500 clinical hours in lactation and 500 clinical hours in classic homeopathy, Sara has strengthened women by educating them on how to treat and heal their children naturally as well as how to work with their doctors to work in tandem in decision making.
Breastfeeding Do’s and Don’ts:
·         Don’t believe that breastfeeding is supposed to hurt and that sore nipples are the norm, or perhaps even a badge of courage for toughing-it-out.  If the baby is latched on properly and draining the breast, it shouldn't hurt!
·         Do teach your baby to “breastfeed” and not “nipple feed: To do so, start by holding your breast steady and compress it into a pointy shape with your hand.
·         Don’t stuff your breast into the baby’s mouth. Instead, bring your baby “to you”. To accomplish this, support the baby well, holding him along his spine and at the base of his head. 
·         Do use RAM (rapid arm movement), and bring your baby (or RAM him) onto the breast in a quick-swift motion, allowing the baby to take the breast as deeply into his throat as he can. 
·         Don’t get discouraged. With practice, a mom will be able to nurse pain free, when she and her baby share the experience of being on the breast deeply.   

Introducing Solid Foods Do’ and Don’ts “
·         Don’t rush the introduction of solid foods. Babies don’t need to eat solids until they have from four to eight teeth, or until they can sit up and support themselves in a high chair, and manage to get more food into their mouths, by themselves, than they do in their hair or on the floor
·         Don’t confuse the need for oral discovery, with hunger.  Babies become very orally excited from between five to nine months.
·         Do let your infant explore the world of taste and texture by letting her smell, play and mush all kinds of foods.  Give her different colors and textures to play with.  Rather than push quantities of food into their little tummies that most babies don’t require, allow their inquisitive scientific minds develop.
·         Do be aware that breast milk changes as the child grows, keeping up with the nutritional needs of the baby, so why the rush into solid foods?  Your breast milk is as nutritious for a ten month old as it was for a two week old.

Sara Chana is a mother of 7 and was introduced to homeopathy as a result of her 2nd son’s severe eczema, reflux and asthma. As she went from specialist to specialist seeking a cure, each one told her that her son would need to be on medication for the rest of his life, Sara decided to look into alternative medicine. By educating herself and using homeopathic remedies, she was able to cure her son and now specializes in helping moms all over the country with natural remedies for their children.

***Disclosure-No compensation was received.  Informational post only.

Join the Boob-olution

Did you know August is National Breastfeeding Month?

Mark your calendar. August 15 is now officially Public Display of Breastfeeding (PDB) day! Nurse your baby out in the open. Let everyone see that you're proud to be a breastfeeding mama! Moms everywhere will be doing it!

I just took the challenge.  I breastfeed my Lil Bit.  I normally find a Nursing Room or place I can hide from the "people".  Sometimes my Lil Bit has to wait to eat because I feel weird about pulling out my booby in public.  But I just took the challenge, will you join me.

August 15, I pledge to pull out my booby and breastfeed my Lil Bit in public....erkkkk...If I can do it, so can you!!  Let's do it together.

I think I'm being Sexually Harrassed

So I have been working in a very small company for over 8 years now.  They were great with my pregnancy.  Allowing me the time I needed for my appointments and giving me 3 months off work. 

With my son Matt I was unable to breastfeed him for the entire year.  He was a lazy eater and since he really didn't latch on, it dried up.  So with my daughter I was on a mission to try again.  It was rough trying to nurse my baby in the NICU but with the help of her nurse I was able to get her to latch on eventually.  And by the time we left the hospital my milk was coming in.

Because of my Placenta Previa the doctor decided to do an early c-section delivery.  So I really wanted her to get all the benefits from the breastmilk.  When I was home I followed the same feeding schedule she had in the hospital, every 3 hours. 

Fast Forward....I returned to work when she was 3 months.  I bring my pump with me everyday to work and try to pump at 9:30 am, noon, and at 3:30 pm.  It is hard to pump at work.  Not only do I have to deal with working around my work schedule, meetings, and unexpectedness, but Sexual Harrassment?  Tell me what you think.

I carry my pump in a black bag.  I pump in a conference room that no one really uses.  It is the only place with a lock that I would be able to use.  When it is time for me to pump I inform my assistant that I am going up and she knows why.  In case anyone is looking for me, they all know what I am doing.  I store the milk in our community refrigerator in our mini breakroom.  And at the end of the day, I collect my bottles, stick them in my bag, and leave.

But here is where the SEXUAL HARRASSMENT or some kind of HARRASSMENT comes to place.  When I go to pump there is one co-worker who always has jokes.  And lately I had either ignored it, laughed it off, or just played along but let me tell you what broke the camel's back.  Please keep in mind I have been doing this for 3 months already. 

Yesterday, I had just finished pumping.  I went to store my milk in the refrigerator, and guess who was in the breakroom.  He was grabbing at his boob acting as if he was squeezing milk out into a container he had on the table.  I laughed it off like usual.  Put my milk in the refrigerator and when to wash my pump.  As I was in the restroom, I wondered enough is enough.  Should I be offended, would someone else be offended.  Would you like to be called a cow?  Would you like jokes being told about you every time you go pump?  Would you say something?  Do you think this is harrassment?  What if one of the owners is in on the jokes too?  Who do you go to then? 

Breastfeeding my baby is very important to me.  That is why I pump everyday, drink Mother's milk tea to keep producing milk, and even take pills so keep the milk flowing.  I face those kinds challenges everyday, why should I have to put up with this too.  I have 6 more months of this, what to do?  What would you do?

Bamboobies Review and Giveaway***CLOSED

Are you nursing?  Have you found a nursing pad that is comfortable, that doesn't show, and is leak proof?  Are you spending more and more money on the disposables, and are they doing their job?

Bamboobies are the makers of washable nursing pads and nursing covers.  They have regular and overnight nursing pads.  The regulars are their best-selling product.  Their regular pads come in pale pink, hot pink, and black.

I have been trying every disposable out there, thinking this was the best option for me, until I tried Bamboobies.  I like the feeling of Bamboobies.  It is so comfortable.  And of course more cost effective.  And I think one of the nursing pad even gave me a rash.  Below are 2 that I have tried and my Bamboobies.

Wanna try them?  Use coupon code INMA20 for 20% off at checkout at http://www.buybamboobies.com/ or win them here.



I have a giveaway for you.  1 Lucky winner will get $16.99 credit which is enough to buy a 2 pair pack of either the Regular or Overnight Bamboobies or the winner can put it towards any other Bamboobies products on their site.

How to enter:

1)  Visit Bamboobies, tell me what you will use your credit to purchase? (1 entry-mandatory)
2)  Like Bamboobies on facebook. (1 entry)
3)  Follow @buyBamboobies. (1 entry)
4)  Enter the UPrinting giveaway. (1 entry)
5)  Tweet. (1 entry/per tweet/per day)

Enter to #win @buyBamboobies #breastfeeding #nursing @independentmami #giveaway ends 6/27 http://tinyurl.com/d4yqr52
This giveaway ends 6/27/2012 at 8 am.  1 winner will be randomly selected.  US only.  Please leave your email in the comment.  The winner will have 24 hours to claim their prize. 

***Disclosure-Sample provided to review.  These are my honest opinions.