Mombo, Boppy and My Breast Friend- What nursing support is right for you?

One of the top items you will use after having a baby is your nursing support pillow. For many years Woman have used their standard bed or couch pillows or even nothing at all. But the last decade have been a blessing to new moms and we have other options.

The Boppy

My personal Favorite is the Boppy pillow.

It is versatile soft and last! There is nothing super special about the basic U shape pillow. However, it does offer the best support. Boppy pillows are nice and plump giving mom the best support to have baby at breast level. I love the U shape. I turn it side ways, in on my hip, when I need extra back support. I have found this simple design to be most comfortable for me in terms of nursing.

In addition to being a great nursing pillow it can double as a baby item. The pillow offers great support for a tummy time support or as sitting support. Although Boppy does not recommend sleeping in the boppy when not properly accessorized Both My older children do use their boppy every night. Our oldest is 5 years old! 

The mombo

With little Miss E I bought a mombo. Although she too has a Boppy now. I used it for awhile as a traveling nursing pillow. For at the grandparents. It is the same idea as the  Boppy, but there are a few differences. The mombo is not as bulky, it has a more slim and contoured design. For me this did not get baby boosted as high as I personally needed. Th cushion is fabulously soft but this does make baby sink in. The pillow will still function as a nursing pillow and tummy time pillow but does not offer enough support to use as a sitting support. My favorite feature was the vibration. I would support my back with it while side laying and the vibration did wonders on my sore sciatic. 

My Breast Friend

This pillow has a few unique features. First it has a buckle. That means you get a custom fit! You can even use it while standing. The back support also supports a little higher the the front of the pillow. The pillow itself however is about as think as the mombo which again for me is a little slim. The pillow is consistent in padding. It also features a pocket which is great for many uses. Sadly this really cant be used for just baby it is only for a nursing support. 

There really is no best pillow. What is most important is finding a pillow that is right for you. So shop around a bit and try out each.  You may want to wait for baby to come, or go shopping with a large doll to give you a good idea how each feels. 

Good Luck and Happy Nursing!

Talking to your boss about lactation breaks and maternity leave.

So your about to take your leave and before you go you need to have one of the most important conversations of your life.

I want to help take some of the stress out of the conversation.

Thanks to the new healthcare reform this conversation should go easy. Here are a few steps to take. 

Know your stuff. Google both your state laws and Federal laws. Starting the conversation by saying "I know that...."  Will get the conversation going in a good direction. Your employer will have a hard time cheating you if you already know the law.

Have a plan. Come up with a simple plan and present it to your employer. Leave room for compromise and work the deal together. Try to work in a line that says that as your needs change your break times do as well.

Write an email. After you strike your deal recapping what you discussed so there is documentation.



If you are worried about talking about leave here is the deal.

Most Managers are being taught to be very careful because pregnancy is a protected status. Just as no one can fire you for being a woman, You can not be fired simply because you are pregnant. 9 of 10 employers are going to help accommodate you in the work place. What that will look like in each work place will vary. The good news here is that  having a conversation about leave is usually easy. And most managers are happy for you.

If you are having trouble the best place to turn is the department of labor.

Most important thing is to do your research and know your rights, and do what is best for you and baby.

Insurance and the Breast Pumps.

Okay so lets see if we can't break this down into easy steps. It might seem a bit overwhelming but I promise it is worth the effort. 

1. Start with a phone call. Yes you can probably find what you qualify for by looking at your insurance's manual on line. They however are hard to read, understand and are generally hard to navigate. So look at your insurance car and find the Medical  number. 
2. Follow the prompts and be ready to ask questions and take notes. 

• Explain how far you are in your pregnancy and that you would like to know what you are covered for.
• Write down and note who you spoke with and what the outlined for you.

 3. The two most common options are 

• They will tell you an amount you are covered for. You will have to purchase and be reimbursed. 
• They will give you a list of suppliers that you work with to get a pump. This may mean you are limited to certain pumps. 

4. Follow through. Keep all you notes together and remember to write down who you talked to and when. It is a process. After each step you take your a step closer to a pump! So although its covered its not really free you have to do a bit of foot work. 

I know this seems like a lot but each company is different so it is best to allow them to guide you. They have the information there on their computer system. I am happy to answer questions and help guide anyone who would like a little help. Leave comments here or on Facebook. 

My insurance gives me a price that's covered and then will reimburse me for my pump. We are not through the whole process yet but when we are I will blog that as well. 

We did however already receive our pump and we did an unboxing video check it out below!