My Favorite Cozy Nursing Bra (Great For Hard to Find Sizes)

I'm an entirely different size currently than I was after having my first baby.
What did that mean for my stockpile of maternity clothes? Well, a lot of it worked because of their style.
BUT
in regards to my nursing bras...I didn't fit into a single one right anymore. They are all too lose.

I was trying to get away with not buying any more right now (because I was thinking I might not stay this size for long), but I finally bit the bullet and got some new ones. There was just no way I was going to keep trying to smash myself into a sports bra -- not comfortable! AND I was pretty sure I was going to cause some kind of problem with clogged ducts or something. I tried going with out a nursing bra (like at bed time) but that was no good, because then I couldn't use nursing pads, and well, yeah, I went through tons of clothes.
I hate spending money when I don't have to, but I finally realized, I had to.

Do I really need an electric breast pump?

{So I'm getting bored waiting for little #2 to show. (Come on out, little girl!!) And with all my spare time, I started thinking about some questions I had before little #1 showed up. One of the biggest bafflements I had was over breast pumps. So just in case anyone has a similar train of thought as I did back two years ago, I thought I'd share my experience. (And at least waste some time on something productive while I wait.)}


What confused me about breast pumps?
Mainly, wondering endlessly whether I needed one or not.

I was entering the world of stay-at-home-mom, so I just didn't see when exactly I would ever use a pump.

The only thing I could think of was if my husband and I wanted to go out on date, I might need to pump. But I couldn't think of a single other reason that I might actually need to. And honestly, I didn't see date night being a regular event in our new-parent lives, what with our limited supply of baby-sitters, money, and time.

So I had been leaning towards only getting a manual pump.

21 Weeks Pregnant

The Belly:
Ok, so I'm a total weirdo and I started to wonder what size my belly actually was 3 days postpartum last time.  They say you come home from the hospital looking 5 months pregnant.  I swear I came home looking like a smooshy 6 1/2 months (there is a rather large difference in my pregnancy photos between 5 and 6 months).  So it dawned on me that I should measure myself this time and have an official ruling on just how pregnant I look when I am no longer pregnant.
Friends, do NOT fear.  This is sincerely a "scientific" investigation.  Not emotionally motivated at all  A purely random thought which occurred one day said that I could perhaps benefit the postpartum clothing line I one day "will" (probably won't) create and be famous for.
So don't worry I will not freak out when I find out I actually am looking 8 months pregnant 3 days postpartum.  I just want to know, for the hope of clothing future!

Anyway, that being said I started measuring my belly at 19.5 weeks.  (I know, dang it, why didn't this occur to me sooner!  It would have been better research!)

So since I started measuring, my belly has stayed the same circumference during these almost 3 weeks. 

(I know I haven't really been consistent with my weekly updates, so the weeks sound off.  I'll be 22 weeks on Tuesday.)

So I can officially say, with full authority, the belly is the same.  

But I feel it getting tighter.  So it feels more pregnant than last time we talked.  

And I fully expect it to have a number jump in circumference soon, when assessing my last pregnancy's photos.  From weeks 20 to 22.5 I looked a lot bigger.  So that has to be on its way right around the corner.  Although who knows, cause I looked bigger faster (at 19 weeks) this time than last.  (Ok yeah there really is no science to this!)

          

                                      2012                                                                    2010
                         

The mirror is dirty from hanging it. My face looks smeared. 

After our Valentine's Date

I wanted a photo with both of us, but Blake had to run back to work afterwards, so I didn't get one.

(This is my favorite maternity dress I've owned yet.  You can't see it in the photo very well, but there is like a rushed half circle around the belly.  Really cute!)

Treating Thrush with Coconut Oil

Thrush is a yeast infection that a baby can get in their mouth and/or nursing mothers can get on their nipples.

I had a terrible time trying to defeat it.

But in the end coconut oil was what got me through.

Easy Peasy Feeding Discreetly

I'm a puller-downer.

That sounds like some kind of dramatic life statement.

But I'm talking Nursing.

My ultimate preference in nursing-wear is anything I can pull down from the neckline, as opposed to pulling up from the waist.  

When I'm holding my baby, while I have a nursing pillow around my waist and I'm am trying to yank my shirt up from underneath that pillow --- it just feels ridiculous.  Not to mention the frustration of trying to keep that shirt from falling back down and getting in our way the whole time baby is feeding.

 So I quickly began to gravitate to any top I could just pull down below my breast.  It is a piece of cake to work with --- so fast and there is nothing getting in our way.

Knit shirts with lots of stretch are perfect for nursing this way.  That's pretty much all I wear; when I'm at the store now-a-days, I can be seen tugging at the neckline of everything on the racks. 

Crossover necklines also work well as they can be pulled to the side.  

Another benefit of this technique is that it keeps your belly covered. 

(That poor thing would like some privacy after months of hard work.)  

But what about your breast?  It's kinda just out there this way.

Here is a super easy way to nurse discreetly in public:

I'm gonna do a 'how to make a homemade nursing top' project

and you don't even have to know how to sew to do this. 

You just need some scissors.  

And a tank top.

How to Make Homemade Contoured Nursing Pads (with free pattern)

Pin It

 Making your own nursing pads can be a great money saver.  

With disposable pads costing about $10 for 60 pads (which is only 30 sets).  That can add up quite a bit, especially when you consider how often you will be changing them.  

Buying reusable pads can help to save a few bucks, and some landfill space, but they are a big initial investment because they are often rather expensive for only a few sets.  

So why not sew up as many as you like, for not-so-much money?  

Besides, then they can be made out of whatever you like --- custom for you.  

And the ability to contour them (most reusable pads sold are not contoured)

 really helps in keeping them discreet.

Let me show you how.

Have Pillow Will Travel (Breastfeeding on the Go)

Breast feeding can have its share of difficulties, one of which can be nursing on the go.

 I just couldn't nurse without a nursing pillow, but there was no way I could keep one of those bulky things on hand at all times.
So I came up with this travel nursing pillow.
It got me through a whole lot.

(P.S.  Clearly this is "Gerby" the doll again.  She's really getting her 15 mins lately! :)