breastfeeding

Shop Pink Blush

Lately I have been all about finding new online boutiques. Maybe it’s because I don’t have as much time to go shopping now with the little one, or because I love finding chic items that are not readily available at every corner. Whatever the reason, it has been my current obsession. Instagram and Pintrest are great places to find these boutiques.

My eyes were opened during my pregnancy. It was difficult to find maternity clothes in stores, and online shopping became my go to. I came across Pinkblush Maternity/ Shop Pinkblush and was so excited. Its an online company that has regular clothing, maternity clothing, and nursing friendly items.

I love this dress because it can be used for all the above. Its loose enough to fit a growing belly, easy to use while nursing and does not look like a maternity dress. This dress is perfect for a day out shopping with the girls or a beach day with the family. I think it will be on repeat a lot this summer.

Dress: PinkBlush Maternity (Similar here, and here)

Breast Friend tea

All throughout my pregnancy the one thing I was most stressed about was breastfeeding. I did know, however, that I wanted to breastfeed Carlota for as long as I could. I knew of the many health benefits that it provides for the baby and for myself and I knew this was something I wanted to do. But, I was worried about baby girl not latching properly, about the pain, about not being able to stick to it, and the list goes on. The hubby and I went to a breastfeeding class which was very helpful and informative, so I felt like I was better prepared and less anxious.

Initially Colostrum is produced. It functions to protect the newborn from infection by coating the baby’s intestinal tract and acting as a barrier against harmful bacteria. It protects your baby from illness and also provides important nutrients. After a few days when the milk comes in, it still provides the baby with antibodies from the mother. Breast milk can help minimize chances of allergies and helps prevent many childhood illnesses.

Unfortunately I had to go back to work after only 2 months home with my baby. That’s when the stress started. Having to pump while at work is not easy. For some reason, when I pump, very little milk gets released. I knew I needed to try something. I read about milk production teas and was excited to try Breast Friend Tea from Your Tea. Breast Friend Tea is made from ingredients that increase the quality of breast milk, energy levels, and support digestion. It contains Chinese Angelica; a well known herb that is included for its very powerful ability to nourish blood. Nourishing the blood directly supplements the quality and quantity of breast milk.

I have been using the tea daily and haven’t looked back. So far I have been able to maintain exclusively breastfeeding Carlota even though I’m back to work. I’m constantly worried about loosing my milk supply and am drinking tea and trying to up my water intake. So far so good. I don’t know how long I will breastfeed for, but right now it seems like the right thing for the both of us.

Cover me Poncho Giveaway

I knew from the beginning that I wanted to breastfeed Carlota. Throughout my pregnancy I kept hearing how much of a challenge it can be, especially for first time moms. I read about problems getting the baby to latch correctly, not enough milk supply, nipple pain etc.. I even took a class in my third trimester to get myself prepared. When I started nursing Carlota we quickly fell into our rhythm and routine, until we started venturing out into the real world. No one mentions the challenges of feeding when you are out of the confines of your home. Newborns feed ALL THE TIME!! In my classes they mentioned nursing your baby 6-8 times daily….that was an understatement for us. Carlota feeds every 1.5-2 hrs. I needed to get comfortable nursing in public and quickly. Initially this was something that would stress me out or make me feel nervous. I am so thankful for products such as Cover me Ponchos which have helped make breastfeeding in public simple and convenient.

I keep my poncho with me at all times. This way I don’t have to worry if my outfit of the day is breastfeeding friendly. I just plop on my poncho and I’m always good to go. The best part about it, is that it’s very versatile. It can be worn as a maternity/postpartum cover, scarf, used as a blanket for the baby and my other favorite use is as a car seat cover.

Most of the time when Carlota’s in the stroller, she’s in her car seat. The poncho acts like the perfect cover. I prefer it to a blanket or swaddle because it doesn’t fly off when you hit a gust of wind, and with the opening on the top, you have easy access to keep an eye on your little one.

I am so excited to announce that I have teamed up with Mariah from Cover me Ponchos to give one lucky reader a poncho of their choice. For those of you that don’t win we will give you 10% off your purchase with code: Andrea

To enter into this giveaway all you need to do is :

1) Comment below and let me know which color you would like to win.

2) For an additional entry you can follow my blog by email or on bloglovin etc.. let me know in your comment that you have done that

3) For a 3rd entry follow me @withloveandrea and @covermeponcho on Instagram and follow the instructions posted there.

Your chance to enter starts today June 15th and will close Friday June 19th at midnight PST.

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE

The winner was randomly selected and is Kristen. Please email me to claim your prize. Thank you to all who entered!!

The challenges of postpartum dressing

The struggle is real….dressing post baby is almost as hard as dressing the bump. I think I lived in my fantasy world when I assumed I would be able to jump right back into my wardrobe a few weeks postpartum. You look at magazines and the internet and you see all the celebs and models doing it, so isn’t that the norm?? Boy was I wrong. I’m at 5 weeks postpartum and I’m still not even close to fitting into my jeans. Breastfeeding does not magically shed the pounds like everyone makes you believe. This will definitely take a few more months. In the meantime I’m thankful for those comfy maternity jeans that are still a wardrobe staple.

Another challenge to dressing is breastfeeding. Little miss sunshine loves to eat. Hence all my pregnancy weight gain!!! hehe Depending on the day or even time of day this little munchkin can eat every hour. When I get a 2-3 hour break I’m lucky. So when I get the chance to be out and about I need to wear something that will allow me to feed her. This means dresses (other than button downs), tight shirts, and multiple layers are out of the question. The easier the access, the better. This was something that never occurred to me prior to baby girls’ arrival. Nursing bras and tanks are my best friends and are definite necessities.

The final challenge is finding the time to shower, select that perfect outfit with accessories, and put on makeup. Days that I’m home alone with baby girl I’m lucky if I even get to shower before the hubby returns from work. This baby girl loves to be in my arms and I’m soaking up every second of it.

This denim dress was purchased at the early stages of my pregnancy. It’s that perfect piece that you can easily throw on and still look chic. I paired it with my beloved Anine Bing ankle boots.