The Nizo Wear Nursing Bra, A Review

Nursing is a wonderful time of bonding with your newborn baby.

And most of your experience nursing should be positive. I remember, before giving birth to my first, gearing up for the pains of labor and all of the physical and emotional stress. I got through it knowing I would be okay. 

But NO ONE warned me about the pains of first-time breastfeeding! I had hoped that after giving birth my body could relax and repair. Nursing my oldest was one of the hardest physical experiences of my being a new mom. My nipples hurt, were bleeding, I was engorged, and I had mastitis. How I wish I had this bra then!

The Solace Nizo Wear Nursing Bra is the most unique nursing bra I’ve ever seen. It is a traditional nursing bra, but with an extra “pocket” inside, a thin layer of comfortable, breathable fabric that allows for you to place a hot or cold pack as the situation demands.

I like that it has the extra thin layer of fabric or “pocket” as it keeps your compress from moving around and it keeps the hot/cold from making direct contact your skin. It’s much more comfortable and safe that way.

The Solace bra is made of a cotton micro-fiber, with a drop cup, which allows for stretch and changing shape. Be sure to check their sizing guidelines so you get the right size for you! Some bras you can get away with being a little off, but this bra you need to be sure you get the right size or you’ll end up with it either too tight or too baggy. (It’s not a shaped bra.)  It is currently available in nude with pretty pink swirls, and I really like that the straps are not too skinny and not huge thick. They are proportioned to the bra and make you feel pretty and not like you have shoulder pads on. 

I also received a pair of Nizo Wear underwear in pink, which I really like. They are made of  90% cotton and 10% spandex. The bikini cut bottoms are supportive, and super comfy. They don’t ride up in the back, which is important.

Another perk to Nizo wear is that it is affordable! The Solace bra runs for $26.99 and the underwear, if paired with a bra is $9.

To purchase the Solace Nizo Wear Nursing Bra go HERE.

To purchase other Nizo Wear go HERE.

*I was not paid but did recieve Nizo Wear in order to facilitate this review. Any and all opinions here are my own.

Motherlove Breastmilk Supplements: A Review

I wish I were a superhero.

Specifically “Cowman” Otis (from “Back at the Barnyard”), except maybe minus the cow part.  All he had to do was shout “Super-Lacto powers, LACTIVATE!” and out would come a generous flow of milk, which he could use as he saw fit, you know, to put out a fire or whatever. (I know, a male cow with udders? Really?)

When you’ve just had a baby, are a million hours behind in sleep and you don’t know what day it is, you find these things hilarious.  Anyway, being that I am NOT a superhero (or a cow for that matter), and my milk doesn’t come in with a simple command to lactate, this time around, I’m taking supplements.  Motherlove Breastmilk Supplements to be exact.

I always get to a point after my milk comes in when it starts to wane.  I’m chasing 5 kids, and many times I’m too tired or too stressed and my milk decreases. In order to keep my milk flow, I have to eat like a horse (or a cow... as it would seem).  I also hate taking anything while I am pregnant or nursing because I know that whatever I eat or take, goes into my breastmilk.  However, Motherlove Supplements are 100% vegetarian, all organic herbal supplements that I feel comfortable taking.

I was recommended and sent More Milk Plus to try, and I have been very pleased with the results. I take one capsule up to 4 times a day, and it really has helped my milk stay in strong. More Milk Plus contains fenugreek seed, blessed thistle, nettle, and fennel seed, all known to help with the production of breastmilk.

Motherlove has over 10 different organic herbal supplement formulas to meet the needs of all kinds of nursing moms.

I am also very impressed with the fact that they work incredibly hard to be sure that each bottle they manufacture can be tracked, and that all of the ingredients inside are certified organic, tested for bacteria, and all herbs are checked for color, smell, and strength before they are approved for use. All product package and office materials are made from recycled materials.

Over 10% of all Motherlove profits are donated to organizations like The Maternal Wellness Center, Realities for Children, and The Mountain Park Environmental Center. They are also certified by unbiased third party organizations such as USDA, OTCO, Kof-K (certified Kosher), PETA (cruelty-free), among others.  Their goal is to be a better business example in being green, and they are filling the role well!

To purchase Motherlove products, including breastmilk supplements, oils, salves, sitz baths, nipple cream, etc. go HERE.

*I was not paid to write this review, but I was given a bottle of Motherlove More Milk Plus supplements so I could take them and be all that much closer to being a nursing superhero.

Pambra's Nursing Pads: A Review

Nursing a baby is the one time in my life where my very small B size cups graduate up to full D’s.

It’s a proud moment…

Until I look down and realize that they are highlighted by patches of breast milk that has haphazardly escaped and formed big round splotches on the front of my shirt.  All it takes is a baby crying in the grocery store from 6 aisles over, and BAM.  Then I wish they would shrink down to size A’s, and I could run and hide.

Enter: nursing pads. A necessity for most any nursing mom, and there are so, so many choices.  I have used reusable nursing pads before, but none like Pambra’s.  Pambra’s Reusable Nursing Pads are made of cotton and are a full 6” in diameter. They are comfortable, don’t have lint that sometimes can cause the pad to stick to tender breasts, and because of the size, they don’t move around! (Hallelujah!)

As with any liner, I suggest wearing them with a shaped bra like THIS ONE, and if your milk flow is like mine this time around (thanks to THESE), you may need to double them up.

Pambra's reusable nursing pads are great! I love that they are green (you aren’t producing any waste), and you don’t have to fumble with packaging to get a clean one. You simply throw them in the wash with your next load of laundry, and they are small enough; it’s not going to change the amount of water and soap you use. Talk about saving in more ways than one!

Pambra's is also a proud sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure/Ozark, and with every purchase, they give back.  Pambra’s Nursing Pads are sold in sets of 5 and can be found HERE.

*I was not paid to write this review, but was provided with Pambra’s Nursing Pads to try so I could review them and save you from the afore mentioned scenario in the grocery store.

Bravo for Bravado! A Nursing Bra Review

This is definitely not your grandma’s nursing bra!

The first thing I noticed when I opened the Bravado! box was how pretty and stylish the nursing bra was. The Bravado! Bliss Nursing Bra has a silky satin finish, with small embellishments (nothing over the top) in the center front and on the straps, and it was low cut.

I seriously felt like I needed to shower before putting on such a nice bra! (And I did!)

I received it a few weeks before giving birth and started wearing it immediately. It was perfect for my changing shape during my last trimester of pregnancy, and also now that I’m breastfeeding.

The next thing I noticed was the under-breast support. It is called the Flexi-Fit support channel, and gives you the support and shape of an under-wire without the wire! (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve lost a good bra to a runaway under-wire that pokes through the fabric!) You don’t have to worry about that with this bra.

The bra is super comfy and it is the only bra I have that gives me proper support and comfort, especially at night when I’m sleeping and getting up all hours to nurse.

I also loved that it came with a bra extender so as I gained weight before giving birth, and now that I’m losing weight post-partum, the bra always fits!  (Sure beats buying 3-4 bras just to get through all the transitions!) The clips hold securely, and I can open them with one hand. The foam cups are seamless, have a little stretch to allow for changing shape, and hide nipples and nursing pads.

Finally, someone invented a nursing bra that works during all the changes our bodies go through!

This bra is absolutely wonderful and I would definitely recommend it!

So, there you go.

Bravo for Bravado!

To purchase Bravado! Nursing Bras, Tanks, Undies, and Accessories go HERE.  Click HERE to find out more about the twitter party Bravado is hosting on 2/24. Chat with the Bravado! bloggers, make new friends and win prizes!

I was not paid to write this review, but was provided with a Bliss Nursing Bra so I could review Bravado! My opinion here is definitely my own.