When I had my older girls , hubby and I rented a breast pump from the hospital for about $80/month. What were we thinking?  With my oldest I bought the cheapest hand held manual pump I could find and I think I got carpel tunnel after a week! This time around I had to get a pump and a good one even though I am a SAHM. My son was nursing fine, but after having guest after guest several days in a row,we ended up feeding him the sample formula that we got from the hospital and thus I  missed nursing a few times.  Skip nursing a couple of times and you will FEEL it! I had to sneak out and get a pump. I headed to Target to look for something not so high priced but that worked well and was comparable to a hospital grade pump. I know that my hospital rental was a Medela so that is what I was looking for. There was a double pump with case and all the works for over $300 which was a little much for me, I saw 2 different travel size pumps, one double with some bells and whistles and a single one for just over $100. I ended up purchasing the Medela Swing for $149.99 and I LOVE it.  It came with 2 bottles, a carrying bag, electrical cord, extra valves and great instructions. It is a single pump but is great for those that need to pump occasionally. It makes a quiet purring sound when turned on and has a 2 step pumping process. I HIGHLY recommend this pump. Visit Medela’s site for info on all of their  products! www.medela.com

I decided to nurse my son, just as I did my daughters. Although I nurse most of the time there are still times when I need to pump. I will write another post about which Pump I purchased last week and am in LOVE with! Anyway, a while back I won a giveaway on a website www.hisboyscanswim.com from Snugabell , which was a wonderful contraption called a PumpEase. I just tried it out today and can’t believe how much easier it made pumping! It basically looks like a tube top from way back that has 2 slits in the front that hold the breast shields. Why didn’t I think of that? Literally you don’t have to hold the bottles while you pump! You are completely hands free!

Why do you need a PumpEase™ hands-free pumping support?
you would like to multi-task (do other things while pumping)
you are returning to work
you want to donate to a Milk Bank
you are adopting and want to induce lactation
you need relief from frequent painful engorgement
your baby has a medical condition, such as a cleft palate or tongue-tie
your baby was born premature and is still in the hospital
you have mastitis, milk stasis, a blocked duct or thrush
you need to maintain your milk supply during a lapse in breastfeeding (e.g. travel, medication, hospitalization)
your baby does not completely empty your breasts (tongue-tie, ineffective suck, latching problems)
you want the freedom to be able to leave your baby with your partner or caregiver for a feeding
your partner wants to feed, and therefore bond with, your baby
you need to boost your milk production
you have flat or inverted nipples (pumping can be helpful at drawing out the nipple)
you gave birth to multiples

Check out www.pumpease.com

So with 2 girls and a 2 week old I had to find a way to free up my hands a little. You know, so that I could, cook, clean and do a little laundry I remembered that I had a baby carrier tucked away in the basement and searched high and low until I found it. My carrier is a MAYA WRAP adjustable pouch which has now been continued. I do have to say that I LOVE this carrier. I got it when my youngest daughter came home from the hospital and wouldn’t stop crying, she was diagnosed with Gerd and the only way I could quiet her was to carry her…yes All day, every day…and to this day she is pretty touchy feely. My 2 week old didn’t take to the carrier at first but now he loves it! The great thing is that you can multi-task, nurse the baby, walk around, fold laundry etc….

Here is a little info from their site which explains the benefits of their carriers(Maya Wraps)…

www.mayawrap.com
Maya Wrap Product Features

Cool: All of our baby carriers are 100% cotton and are comfortable in hot weather. Our fabrics look the same on both sides, eliminating the need for sewing two fabrics together to hide the wrong side of a fabric. One layer of fabric is cooler than two layers and allows for better air flow to help keep your baby from becoming over-heated.

No Bulk: Our carriers (except the Lightly Padded Sling) have no padding. The Lightly Padded Sling has a small amount of padding in the shoulder. This means all of our carriers are not bulky. They fit easily into your diaper bag or purse when you are on the go. The Maya Tie uses slightly more fabric but will still fit nicely into a larger diaper bag or backpack.

Comfortable: Our Slings distribute baby’s weight across your back for a comfortable, secure fit. Wearing two MamaBaby slings allows you to distribute baby’s weight over both shoulders for extra comfort. The Maya Tie distributes baby’s weight over both shoulders and your hips for ultimate comfort. It is excellent for heavier children or babywearing for long periods of time. Unlike other woven cottons, our hand-loomed fabrics “give” for a more comfortable fit while still being supportive.

Versatile: All of our baby carriers are usable in a variety of positions for newborns and toddlers. Our slings grow with your baby over time. Wearing two MamaBaby slings makes it possible to wear your newborn in a high “burp” position. The Maya Tie can also be used for a very comfortable and secure back carry.

Adjustable: All of our products come in a range of sizes and are fully-adjustable, ensuring a perfect and secure fit every time! Our carriers can be tightened over a wide range. Frequently both parents can share one carrier even if they are different sizes.

Discreet: You can breastfeed in all of our baby carriers. For those who prefer to breastfeed discreetly, the tails of our slings can be used as a cover up. When selecting a sling, if nursing coverage is not important to you, you may prefer to select a size smaller. The smaller size will have a shorter fabric tail past the rings.