no experience but keep the ideas and questions flowing @wildtot because every time you post something new I look it up and add it to my registry. My only concern about the silicone pads is would they be sticky with boob sweat and heat in July/August? I don't really know I've never seen a silicone nursing pad!
@SmashJam i was thinking the heat/sweat will make it harder to use. I’ve used those silicone bras before and it gets frustrating to clean all the time so I’m wondering how these work. They make it sound like you take off to fed and just reapply. Gotcha keep doing my research. I’m really trying to see how to make breastfeeding work better this time.
My must haves: Lansinoh disposable nursing pads, the reusable were never absorbemt enough for me, the Lansinoh soothies for those first painful weeks, lanolin or coconut oil, kept on nipples at all times from the start to prevent soreness/cracked/bleeding nipples, 2 nursing bras, I love the Motherhood maternity seamless, 2 nursing tanks, I had target last time and didn't love them, just bought 2 Jessica Simpson ones for this time, a poncho style nursing cover, and a water bottle to keep up hydration.
And I'm using the Lilypadz right now cause I'm leaking colostrum and hate wearing a bra at home. It's good for that, but they're only gonna last about a month with this Alabama heat and humidity. But I love them for keeping the leaking at bay at home and at night so far!
I clean mine once a day now, and probably won't be able to use them once little man is actually here cause I leak a ton the first weeks, but may be able to use them again once my supply regulates and I don't want to wear a bra at night, they make wipes to do a quick clean, or I just use my gentle face wash
I used the Milkie Milk Saver with my first because I had a lot of leakage that I wanted to save to start a freezer stash. One really crappy thing about them is that you have to be careful not to spill. For example, baby is nursing on right and it's on the left. Baby falls asleep nursing. You carefully walk baby over the crib and lean over to set her down......and the milk saver that you forgot to take out first spills milk all over you, the baby and the crib. Joy! This time I went ahead and bought a Haaka (or a knock off) and I plan to try to use it instead - I'm not actually going to pump it, just suction it on and let it catch what leaks.
I have 2 of those Bearsland tanks and I do not love them. I thought I would, but I personally found it awkward to try and get baby latched through the hole, it was a weird overlap between pushing the nursing bra down and pulling that up, I dunno. Maybe I'll try them again this time and like them more, but I wasn't a fan the first time around. I found that I much preferred either the 2 shirt method, or just a normal push down nursing tank with a Covered Goods nursing cover.
@wildtot I looooved my LilyPadz once my supply had regulated! They stayed on super well and we're way more comfortable than the disposables I'd been using. I only washed them with soap (I used silicone sex toy cleaner because I had it, rather than their wash) once a day, otherwise I just gave them a quick rinse if they needed it).
I also second the recommendation of the gel soothie pads for those first few sore weeks, they are amazing if you keep them in the fridge! Same with the Medela shells if you're having nipple pain, it's so nice to let them have some air drying time without being topless if you don't want to be.
@wildtot I feel the same way about being more prepared for the challenges that come with breastfeeding. I'm looking forward to trying again, though to be honest I can also see myself giving up easily again. I breastfed DD for 2-3 months and never exclusively. She turned out so healthy and smart so it's going to be hard to stick with it if I'm struggling because I feel like DD wasn't BF much and turned out great so why torture myself. Ugh, I'm all over the place but I really do want to try. Good luck to us both!
@comealongponds those gel soothie pads are the best!!! I also kept mine in the fridge, amazing product.
@comealongponds did you notice the gel smoothie packs affected your supply at all? With my son I successfully breastfed him 13 months but never used anything like that out of fear it would affect my supply. It would be reassuring going in knowing that's not the case since those first feedings can be pretty painful
@kbernal2021 no negative impacts that I noticed. I had a huge oversupply thanks to exclusively pumping (my boys were terrible at transferring milk from the boob and triple feeding was making me nuts) and I made it to 14m no problems. I had a lot of issues with milk blebs in the beginning and I don't think I'd have survived without those soothie pads. I already put two packs on my Amazon Subscription for next month!
Oh! And another amazing thing for sore nipples is APNO ointment! I'm not crazy about Jack Newman on principle but that ointment is ah-freaking-mazing if your nipples get all torn up.
ok - this must be pregnancy brain - but someone said they tried the online breast pump insurance thing the bump was advertising and for the life of me I can't find the name, link, or post >_< I guess i could just get the form from OB and go through mckessen again....
@gingerbride26 my insurance directed me through an online processing company. Once i registered they told me what info i needed to get from my doctor. Once provided (prescription for pump) they dealt with all the insurance stuff.
@wildtot and @And846 my insurance (BCBS) doesn't have anything in the portal for preferring processing company. When i go to Medela and plug in my insurance info I get a list of companies...last time i went through the one my OB prefers but they don't ship it until baby is born and it was a lot of work to have to notify them from the hospital...I'd rather go through somewhere that I can just get it done ahead of time.
Me: 36 H: 40 Married 2015. Together since 2010. TTC: Sept 2016-Oct 2017 BFP Oct 2017. DD born July 2018. TTC: March 2020. BFP March 2020 Due date was Nov 2020 DS born Sept 2020. DS passed away Nov 2020 due to prematurity and birth trauma. TTC: March 2021 IUI #1 Nov 2021, BFN IUI #2 Dec 2021 BFP. MC Jan 2022 IUI #3 Aug 2022 BFN IUI #4 Sept 2022 BFN AMH test came back at .081. Was going to move on to IVF with DE, but have decided not to. Will be leaving it up to the universe now.
@gingerbride26 I ordered my breast pump from Edgepark Medical Supplies, I clicked on a link on the bump to find them. I figured it's worth a shot, not a lot to fill out, they deal with my insurance and they have a lot of choices. My pump is due to ship this week.
@gingerbride26 I know someone else used aeroflow with BCBS but they said they did not work with my insurance (BCBS of ND). I got my pump through a local medical supply company and just got to take it home the day I picked it out which was really nice. Is that an option for you? My PA just sent the prescription to the store and then I just stopped by.
Me: 31 DH: 34 Married: April 2016 TTC December 2016 BFP 2/28/17 // CP 3/1/17 MFI Diagnosis: Aug 2017 BFP 11/1/17 // DS born 6/18 TTC January 2019 BFP 3/21/19 // D&C (MMC) 5/8/19
@gingerbride26 I have anthem blue cross and Aeroflow worked for me! Super easy. My pump was delivered months ago.
TTC History:
Me: 36 H: 40 Married 2015. Together since 2010. TTC: Sept 2016-Oct 2017 BFP Oct 2017. DD born July 2018. TTC: March 2020. BFP March 2020 Due date was Nov 2020 DS born Sept 2020. DS passed away Nov 2020 due to prematurity and birth trauma. TTC: March 2021 IUI #1 Nov 2021, BFN IUI #2 Dec 2021 BFP. MC Jan 2022 IUI #3 Aug 2022 BFN IUI #4 Sept 2022 BFN AMH test came back at .081. Was going to move on to IVF with DE, but have decided not to. Will be leaving it up to the universe now.
@MrsMiller8588 I have BCBS of ND too and did the same! It was pretty nice being able to walk out with the pump right away. (I did the preliminary paperwork and prescription stuff in advance)
I am curious for those who ordered the pump through insurance directly or third party--what did your insurance cover? With DS mine covered a double electric in full, but NOW they only cover a single electric in full, or give me $178 towards a double. I am very annoyed with myself for donating my old double. I got the same model from a friend, but yesterday my OB said that even with new tubing sets there could still be contaminants in the pump itself. I am not worried about this particular friend, but still... Does Aeroflow help cover the difference for a double electric or did u already know your insurance would cover one?
@flockofmoosen3 with DS i got the double medela. This time i went with Spectra 2. I was surprised to find out it was only a single but it’s ok i can deal. I’ll just stick the haakaa on the other. I just heard better things about the spectra. I wasn’t told about an allowance. When i went through the website and put in my info it told me what i qualified for. I got a huge kit with the pump.
So I just had to quickly share. I did not want to shell out the money for a pumping bra because the prices are absurd. I found a pumping attachment that clips onto any top/ bra that has that standard nursing clip. Well, it came in yesterday and IT WORKS so I absolutely had to share. I was super impressed.
@wildtot I was just looking at the spectra s1, and it says, "double/single," as does the s2 on amazon. can you somehow make it a double? Even the description on the s1 calls it a "double electric." The s2 description says it has the ability to be used as a double pump. That is the one I am looking at but I can't figure out the whole double/single thing.
ETA: The q&a on amazon for the s2 says there is a hole covered with plastic on the bottom of the pump that allows for a second tube to be plugged in. That being said @flockofmoosen3 the s1 which has the batteries I'm seeing for $200 so your insurance would cover a lot. THe s2 which has to be plugged in is like, $186 on amazon so thats still pretty close to what insurance would cover.
I have Cigna and i called them directly. They provided me the 800 number for Medela insurance provided pumps and it was so easy to order through them. They did require an Rx for Doctor that you upload to an email address for them. What was covered was the Pump in Style double pump. No snazzy purse/extra pumping bottles/etc...
@wildtot I'm so glad you posted a pic because in my head I thought it was on the bottom of the pump and I was like, how is that gonna work?? That looks much better!
@wildtot and it’s so much cheaper to get some extra pumping accessories at target. No need to get the silly expensive packages when you can go ala cart style in the target bottle aisle.
I have blue shield and got a Spectra s2. It is a double! We have a customer service company that basically acts as middle man between us and blue shield and they are AMAZING they just solve all the issues and I never actually have to deal with blue shield.
So I called them in February, they gave me a few websoweb to choose from to order the pump. They had different choices but I knew I wanted the Spectra s2 and luckily it was covered. Got it in less than a week and it's been sitting in the box since then...not sure when would be a good time to open it and clean it??
I've been wondering when I should clean mine too @kissableviv ! It's sitting in the box but I didn't know if it makes sense to get it all prepped and ready now or just do that later when I'm closer to being ready to use it since I'm hoping to EBF for a while first.
Agreed! I would like to introduce bottles after a few weeks for DH to take on some feedings but if I remember correctly I should wait until at least 4 weeks of EBF. Again, need to check my notes...also got a BF book at the library that I want to go through if I have time.
Re: Product Spotlight 3/19: Nursing Clothes/Bras/Gear
(Sorry going through a internet window shopping spree right now lol)
I’m really trying to see how to make breastfeeding work better this time.
And I'm using the Lilypadz right now cause I'm leaking colostrum and hate wearing a bra at home. It's good for that, but they're only gonna last about a month with this Alabama heat and humidity. But I love them for keeping the leaking at bay at home and at night so far!
Bearsland Women's Maternity Nursing Tank Tops Sleeveless Breastfeeding Clothes https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BGX74LW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_0y-jBbZR77GWZ
@runsomewhere
I have 2 of those Bearsland tanks and I do not love them. I thought I would, but I personally found it awkward to try and get baby latched through the hole, it was a weird overlap between pushing the nursing bra down and pulling that up, I dunno. Maybe I'll try them again this time and like them more, but I wasn't a fan the first time around. I found that I much preferred either the 2 shirt method, or just a normal push down nursing tank with a Covered Goods nursing cover.
I also second the recommendation of the gel soothie pads for those first few sore weeks, they are amazing if you keep them in the fridge! Same with the Medela shells if you're having nipple pain, it's so nice to let them have some air drying time without being topless if you don't want to be.
Oh! And another amazing thing for sore nipples is APNO ointment! I'm not crazy about Jack Newman on principle but that ointment is ah-freaking-mazing if your nipples get all torn up.
said. It took mine about a week to arrive!
TTC: Sept 2016-Oct 2017
BFP Oct 2017. DD born July 2018.
TTC: March 2020. BFP March 2020
Due date was Nov 2020
DS born Sept 2020. DS passed away Nov 2020 due to prematurity and birth trauma.
TTC: March 2021
IUI #1 Nov 2021, BFN
IUI #2 Dec 2021 BFP. MC Jan 2022
IUI #3 Aug 2022 BFN
IUI #4 Sept 2022 BFN
AMH test came back at .081. Was going to move on to IVF with DE, but have decided not to. Will be leaving it up to the universe now.
TTC December 2016
BFP 2/28/17 // CP 3/1/17
MFI Diagnosis: Aug 2017
BFP 11/1/17 // DS born 6/18
TTC January 2019
BFP 3/21/19 // D&C (MMC) 5/8/19
TTC: Sept 2016-Oct 2017
BFP Oct 2017. DD born July 2018.
TTC: March 2020. BFP March 2020
Due date was Nov 2020
DS born Sept 2020. DS passed away Nov 2020 due to prematurity and birth trauma.
TTC: March 2021
IUI #1 Nov 2021, BFN
IUI #2 Dec 2021 BFP. MC Jan 2022
IUI #3 Aug 2022 BFN
IUI #4 Sept 2022 BFN
AMH test came back at .081. Was going to move on to IVF with DE, but have decided not to. Will be leaving it up to the universe now.
TTC December 2016
BFP 2/28/17 // CP 3/1/17
MFI Diagnosis: Aug 2017
BFP 11/1/17 // DS born 6/18
TTC January 2019
BFP 3/21/19 // D&C (MMC) 5/8/19
Does Aeroflow help cover the difference for a double electric or did u already know your insurance would cover one?
ETA: The q&a on amazon for the s2 says there is a hole covered with plastic on the bottom of the pump that allows for a second tube to be plugged in. That being said @flockofmoosen3 the s1 which has the batteries I'm seeing for $200 so your insurance would cover a lot. THe s2 which has to be plugged in is like, $186 on amazon so thats still pretty close to what insurance would cover.
Eta that i was ok with a regular backpack there really was no need for the fancy bag
So I called them in February, they gave me a few websoweb to choose from to order the pump. They had different choices but I knew I wanted the Spectra s2 and luckily it was covered. Got it in less than a week and it's been sitting in the box since then...not sure when would be a good time to open it and clean it??