If you’d like to breastfeed, here are some great new products and services that Macaroni Kid Stork has found. From answering your questions about breastfeeding to safely storing your milk supply, these items can help moms when they begin and continue to nurse.
UpSpring Lactation/Doctor on Demand
UpSpring has partnered with Doctor On Demand to offer one-on-one video visits with lactation consultants. Breast milk is nature’s most powerful food and prescription, yet many mothers struggle with one or more aspects of breastfeeding.
Many women decide to breastfeed. In fact, nearly 80% of moms begin nursing after having a baby, but only 40% are still nursing by the time their baby is 12 weeks old. Why such a steep drop? There are many challenges, both physical and mental, that moms face while nursing. UpSpring Lactation Consultants are trained to support and manage common breastfeeding concerns via one-on-one video visits so that moms can meet their individual breastfeeding goals. Setting up an appointment is easy and convenient via iPhone, iPad, Android and on the web. Moms just answer a few questions, select a lactation consultant and schedule an appointment. Lactation consultants are available seven days a week from 7 a.m. - 1 a.m. EST. Appointments cost $40 for a 25-minute session or $70 for 50-minute session.
Here's a testimonial from Carly Christopher, a mom who has used the service five times:
"I love the simplicity of Doctor on Demand/Lactation. As a new mother, it was challenging for me to schedule an in-home appointment with a lactation consultant. I was able to schedule at my convenience and spoke to an LC within two hours of scheduling. Not only that, but the LC was able to see me and my baby and give me real-time advice and feedback. Even though we had answered my main questions within the first 10 minutes of our appointment (which centered around preventing mastitis and managing my milk supply), the LC spent the next 15 minutes with me going over any and all breast-feeding related questions I had. I really felt like she was there just for me, which is a unique and comforting feeling.”
Milkflow Fenugreek-Blessed Thistle
Upspring also offers a breastfeeding product that gives nursing moms a new convenient solution to help stimulate breast milk supply: Milkflow Fenugreek-Blessed Thistle. Moms don't have to swallow numerous pills or choke down bad-tasting elixirs or teas any longer. Instead, nursing moms can simply mix one packet into 6 - 8 oz. of water and enjoy it twice a day. This all-natural berry-flavored fenugreek and blessed thistle supplement helps to optimize breast milk production. Milkflow is all natural, gluten-free, non-GMO, and vegan. It retails for $14.99.
Milk Bands
This nursing bracelet is worn on your wrist and allows you to keep track of which side your baby last nursed on. Just turn the bracelet inside out when baby’s done feeding. One side says “right” and the other says “left.” Since one side has indented writing, you can tell, even in the dark, which breast was used for nursing last. The bracelets are made in pastel and neutral colors, so they’ll go with any outfit. They also come with time-measuring sliders that help you to track the time baby last ate or how long he or she nursed. Bands are less than $7 a piece and are also sold in packs.
Milkies Milk Trays
Pumping and storing breast milk can take some time. Milk Trays, a breast milk freezing system from Fairhaven Health, helps to make this chore easier. At first glance, Milk Trays look similar to typical ice cube trays. But, take a closer look, and you'll see that Milk Trays are much, much more. Unlike ice cube trays, Milkies Milk Trays are specifically designed for expressed milk. Made from food-safe PET plastic, these trays freeze your milk in one-ounce sticks. That way, you can remove just the amount of breast milk that's needed for your baby. They also fit into the mouth of all bottles. Milkies Milk Trays retail for $21.95, making them more economical than milk storage bags.
