Breastfeeding in summer - how to stay cool

  

Breastfeeding in summer can be hot work, but mums can stay cool with our multi-purpose nursing top (style 826) made from ultra soft bamboo.

Bamboo is fast drying and has natural anti-bacterial properties, natural UV protection and moisture-wicking capabilities to draw moisture away from the skin, which make these tops brilliant for keeping cool while clutching a warm bundle to your chest.

The tops can be worn as outerwear, layered under clothes, as underwear or sleepwear. They have adjustable shoulder straps, a built-in bra shelf to give support and hold breast pads, and have clips which can be easily opened with one hand for discreet nursing. Each side opens independently for nursing, so when one side is open, the other continues to support.

These fab tops are not just eco-friendly, they're also so comfortable and cool, we think they'll become a nursing mum’s summer essential that is worn daily.

The tops are available in UK 10/12, 14/16 18/20 in black or white. They are made of 95% bamboo and 5% elastane/lycra.

Available from a number of our retailers for approximately £20, depending on outlet. Click here to see our retailers.

This is what mums who have tried to the top have to say about it:

“I bought this in black and for the established breastfeeding lady this is beautiful. I am about to get it in white.”

"These vests are great for wearing to bed, lovely and soft and perfect for night feeding.”

"Fab top, comfy and soft on delicate/sore bits. I would definitely recommend this top."

"This is really handy for nursing mums so you can feed easily and discreetly when out and about."

“The material is so lovely that I'm wearing them to sleep and just love them! They also offer enough support for a 32F bust to wear lounging around the house. I'm sure I will live in these for the first few weeks when the baby arrives in November."

So stock up now! Summer is on its way.

Can you still breastfeed with a baby in SCBU?

When your baby ends up in the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) it can be hugely distressing. Not only is it difficult or impossible to breastfeed your baby if they're hooked up to monitors or in special incubators, but the stress of it could have an effect on your breastmilk supply. Yet poorly babies need the goodness breastmilk gives even more than normal. So how do you do it?

This real mum shared her experience with us.

I am a mum of 4 children and 1 angel. I have breastfed my last 3 babies each of them after a c- section. The 1st 2 were ok although I had all the normal problems of cracked and very sore nipples, odd bouts of mastitis and blocked ducts.

My youngest was rushed to SCBU not long after birth as she had breathing difficulties. She ended up being on CPAP ventillation for 5 days and due to that couldn't breast feed at all. I was given a breast pump when she was about 12 hours old (much earlier than normal but as I was an experienced breast feeder they let me start earlier as I insisted she had no formula) and I pumped from then till she was 5 days old at which point she was able to start to feed from me directly.

My milk came in at 48 hours after birth with no problems and I had lots!! I could fill 4 100ml bottles every 4 hours! Once she was able to feed from me directly she went from totally being tube fed to losing the tube within 12 hours and did really well. I am not sure if the expressing helped or the fact I had been breast feeding my youngest at the time until 5 months pregnant, but I had no sore or cracked nipples this time round and no other problems at all.

Lottie is now 18 months, big for her age and still breast feeding.

Sally xx.

It's great to hear inspirational stories like this. If you have a similar story to tell, please share it with us. We really want to let mums know what other real mums do to help them in their breastfeeding journey. 

Don't forget to check out our range of nursing bras!

The benefits of breastfeeding - what real mums think

There are plenty of experts and reams of medical papers citing the benefits of breastfeeding. But we asked some real mums what they thought the benefits were. Bonding is a big one, but there's much more too. See what these real mums have to say:

Bonding ... and just get up & go!

I have a daughter who is now 18 weeks and I would say that breastfeeding has been a fantastic bonding experience for both of us. I worried at first that it wouldn't be enough as you can't see what is happening, but she has put the right amount of weight on which makes me think "Wow I did that!" I think my biggest worry was breastfeeding in public - getting funny looks from passers by. I have to say this has not been the case and I have felt completely at ease feeding her whenever and wherever I go. I have also found it really easy to just 'get up and go' no bottles to clean, prepare and warm - so easy when you just want to get on with enjoying life with your little one!

Clare Wilkinson

A great start in life, bonding, pregnancy weightloss ...and the chance to catch up on tv!

"I'd never really thought that much about breastfeeding - throughout my pregnancy, with so many things to consider, feelings on how to feed my baby didn't really feature until the last month.  However, coming from a country where the proportion of women breastfeeding their babies is so much higher than the UK (I think it's around 90% of women breastfeed for 6 months), I'd assumed it was the natural way to go.  Coupled with the fact that I'd had chronic asthma and eczema as a child, by the time I approached my due date, I was determined that I would breastfeed my baby for the recommended six months.

Well.....we're nearing six months and I don't intend to stop for at least another six months.  After a quick, natural birth, Joseph latched on within 20 minutes and has fed beautifully ever since.  We've had no problems - no painful engorgement, no cracked nipples, no mastitis, it's just been lovely.  I wouldn't say easy, Joe fed every 1.5 - 2 hours in the beginning and only now at 5.5 months does he sleep through the night without feeds.  He still feeds every 3 hours during the day for at least half an hour at a time, but I see it as a good opportunity to catch up on America's Next Top Model (don't judge me!)

I feel so lucky at having has such a good ride with breastfeeding, especially when so many of my fellow mums have given up because of numerous obstacles.  Breastfeeding offers so many benefits - the knowledge that you're giving your baby the best start in life, a BIG helping hand in pregnancy weight loss, and most of all, the chance to start the lifelong bond with your child."

Sarah Newman

Share your breastfeeding stories with us below! And don't forget that we have a range of nursing bras and tops to help you on your breastfeeding journey.

Breastfeeding after a c-section

Having a C-section makes many things post birth a little bit more tricky as you have a very tender tummy. But is breastfeeding one of them? New mum Hazel Gulley shares her experience of breastfeeding after a c-section:

My daughter was born after an emergency section and sites and people always warn you how much harder it is to feed post-section.  I didn't find this at all.  She was popped inside my gown as soon as they could for skin to skin and travelled with me to recovery.  We were there quite a while and she just did that amazing baby thing they do where they scuttle across, rooting and find their way to the milk.  She just latched on and that was us! 

We had a few feeds in recovery and she was a natural and I wasn't at all hindered by the section.  I rested her on my big belly well away from the scar area and used a pillow to prop me so I didn't have to use any muscles to keep us in the right position.  Absolutely no pain or discomfort. 

Once I was back to the ward and the spinal had worn off it was much the same.  I can't imagine many newborns would be fed in a position where they'd be near your scar and its no problem when you're well propped up.  Feeding lying down is also handy when you can't quite get yourself propped up comfy!  

I love breastfeeding and honestly found no problem at all in feeding after the section.  I don't think it had anything to do with it being my second time either - I'm actually not sure why feeding post section would be tricky.  The hardest bit is reaching over to pick them up and at least you don't have to get up to get a bottle!

Hazel Gulley

If you are breastfeeding, take a look at our range of nursing bras, designed to ensure you're comfortable and well supported.

If you have a positive story about breastfeeding after a c-section, please let us know below!

And the winners are......

Congratulations to the 25 mums who won our nursing bras in our 25th anniversary competition. You should have received an email from us letting you know that you're a winner - and you'll be getting your bra in the post soon. Please do let us have your feedback on the bras - simply post a comment on our Facebook Page.

And we also need to unveil the winner of our retailer competition, who will be getting £250 to spend with us! We asked our online retailers to send us a link to the Emma-Jane products on their websites. We were looking for a stockist that made best use of our free videos, images and content, and most accurately and enthusiastically represented our range. We'd like to thank all the retailers who sent us their links. It's great to see our products so well supported.

It was a tough decision - really tough - choosing a winner, but the retailer we went for in the end was selected because they have shown off our range really well - with an intro page, good use of our videos, a combination or our and their images, 3D images and lots of additional info plus terrific product descriptions. In general, a great looking site.

And the winner is.......

FROM HERE TO MATERNITY!!

However, as it was so hard to choose, we also really wanted to say thank you to two other retailers for the fantastic way they promote our products on their sites and the support you give us. Everyday Maternity - great use of our images and video, plus a consistent supporter of ours on Twitter, Facebook and on this blog - you even wrote a blog post for us, and More 4 Mums, another regular supporter of ours and for going the extra mile and blogging about us - you will both be getting £50 to spend with us.

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate our 25th anniversary.  And to all the mothers out there, happy Mother's Day for Sunday!