Astin’s Mama

Mama to a warrior . The Unexpected when Expecting. Maternal Health Awareness . Single Mom Life. Self Care Pusher .

7 Products You Need When Exclusively Pumping

After giving birth at 27 weeks, I was shocked that I could produce milk and I had not done any research on breastfeeding in the NICU. I  literally had no idea what pumping or breastfeeding was supposed to look like. I worked closely with the lactation specialist in the labor and delivery unit and the NICU. The best milk, with all the vitamins and ‘good stuff is found in the first few days of production. The good stuff, the liquid gold, is called colostrum, it is boosted with immunity-boosting compounds for our newborns. Since Astin was born with almost no lung capacity, he had to be intubated with a breathing tube and therefore, could not take milk by mouth.  This meant he also had to be fed by “Nasogastric Tube (NG) A flexible tube that goes through the baby’s nose into the stomach. Used to keep the stomach empty at first and can also be used to feed a baby when appropriate. It is taped in place on the cheek. Sometimes it is placed through the mouth instead of the nose.” This meant if I wanted to give my child breast milk, I needed to pump consistently, ( every 3 to 4 hours ), freeze, refrigerate or give the bottles to the nurses to be mixed with more nutrients for preemies; then the nurses would push the milk through in syringe. Pumping by no means was easy, it was often mentally and physically exhausting. And my entire life was centered around pumping because it was the one thing I could control in the NICU. I wanted to share with others, the products I used to help me exclusively pump for four months.

Sterilizing Bags 

A true lifesaver. These bags are awesome for moms on the go or while you have to pump in the NICU/PICU.
Wash your equipment in dish soap and warm water. Then place the suggested water in this bag, place your equipment in the bag, close it, and pop it in the microwave, and then boom, sterilized equipment, no germs for mommy or baby.

Breast Pump Cleaning Wipes 

I love Medela wipes and these Dapple wipes while I was pumping. I would keep them in my NICU bag, work bag, and next to my bed for the late-night pumps when I didn’t feel like getting up to wash equipment. You should always wash before

 

Extra Pump Parts 

This was essential to my pumping journey. I kept extra parts with me both next to my bed, in my bag, and in the closest in the NICU room.

You will thank me later for these, especially for the 4 am pumps or when you rushed to the NICU to do care and left your equipment at home.

 

Large Water Bottle 

The more hydrated I was and the better my milk supply would be. I tried to always stay hydrated as much as possible, and I strongly recommend a motivational water bottle.

Lactation Supply Cookies

These were great for helping me with increasing and sustaining milk supplies when I was rushing to the NICU or on the go.

Hands-Free Pumping Bralette

LOVEEEED this bra because it is hands-free, super comfortable, and easy to just pump and go.

Portable Charger

Portable chargers and car chargers are perfect when you are on go! I loved this! I would pump on the way to work or in the car after hanging out with friends. THIS was a true hack to exclusively pumping.

 

6 Ways to Support the Infertility Warriors in Your Life

Words from an infertility warrior .

1.Relaxing doesn’t work 🤣. Stop telling women that relaxing makes babies when we also know babies can be born through rape, incest, trauma and more. We also know if mind worked over matter, everyone would have perfect vision and cancer would be eradicated. Be a good supportive friend and know that infertile friends are receiving a lot of stupid advice that are wives tales and hurtful. Ask how you can help and what type of I’m advice they’d like that day.

2. Saying “I can’t imagine what you’re going through” hurts. No, most people can’t imagine and never will. Empathy, not sympathy is needed. If you’re not willing to move with empathy, just don’t contact the friend.

3. Help men around you understand that not all babies are made from sex. Most micro aggressions come from men. Teach your partners, husbands, boyfriends, brothers, and sons, that there are many other ways to make babies – and it’s never their place to ask why or when a baby is coming into someone else’s lives.

4.Stop saying, “it’s just not your time.” Incredibly hurtful when it’s all your heart wants. Again, we don’t tell a 15-year-old rape victim that it’s their time. Conception science is jus that, science. No one is the authority on timing and it shouldn’t be considered when discussing someone’s desires.

5.Get your egg count checked, TODAY. Go to the doctor and ask for bloodwork to check your levels and help you plan for the near or distant future. For many infertile women, their prime time for kids was probably adolescence. Just because your having regular periods doesn’t mean you’ll always have eggs until typical menopause years.

 

Last one , but certainly not least

– 6. Stack hands with infertile women and advocate for more insurance to cover these needs. Every woman should have the fight to pursue healthcare for reproductive organs just as others do for digestive, respiratory, skeletal, and other systems. It’s already a burden for women to carry the trauma and emotional burden or infertility. Adding a financial burden only makes a difficult time more stressful and less attainable.

4 Easy Steps to Make Your Perfect Summer Drink

Sparkling Watermelon Mint Lemonade

A few years ago Chil-fil-a introduced its customers to watermelon lemonade. And when I tell you, I went twice a day to buy this drink, I did just that!

And it has become my staple summer drink every year since. So I wanted to share a recipe, that  I made after finding a few recipes on Pinterest and combining them for a tasty sparkling drink.  I based my drink on a recipe from www.diycandy.com and made changes for my taste buds.

Here is a recipe for a serving size for 4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

6 cups of seedless watermelon chunks

2 handfuls of fresh mint leaves

1 cup of brown sugar

2 lemons quartered 

4 cups of ginger ale

First

Slice the two lemons into 4 quarters and squeeze the lemon quarters into a glass pitcher. I recommend using a glass pitcher to preserve the life of the lemonade and it’s really just me drinking this. 

Next

 I added 1 cup of brown sugar and mint leaves into the pitcher, then mash the ingredients inside the pitcher with a spoon or spatula until it mint is bruised and the sugar is dissolved.

 

Then 

I sliced my watermelon into 4 quarters ( my son’s favorite fruit ), and I scooped 1 entire quarter into my Vitamix Blender. Then I turned my blender on high with a speed 5, and made a perfect watermelon puree.

Last

I poured 3/4 of a cup of ginger ale into a chilled glass, added my lemon and mint on the straw, then poured the puree into the glass to mix with the ginger ale.

Then boom, sparkling and fun summer drink. ( add some prosecco during mom time for fun !)

 

 

Check out more summer drinks from my friends below :

Spiked Lime Lemonade
No Drama Bahama Mama
Strawberry Cucumber Limeade
Easy To Make Summer Drinks
 

FOLLOW @astinsmama