Proper Nutrition for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women

**affiliate links are in this post**

Did you know that proper nutrition is important not only while pregnant but also while breastfeeding?

I know this seems like a no brainer to most people but you'd be surprised the number of people who don't have proper nutrition while pregnant let alone breastfeeding!  My key to making sure I'm getting proper nutrition to keep myself and baby healthy and happy is to taking a good prenatal.  I've tried several over the years and have finally found the one that I adore and am never without.

I have been pregnant or breastfeeding or both for over 9 years now.  With my first pregnancy I tried so many different prenatals and regular vitamins that just didn't seem to work.  They'd make me sick, give me heartburn, or the pills were so big I couldn't swallow them!  I felt so run down by the time I was pregnant with my second while still breastfeeding my first and going to college!  I didn't know what I was going to do but knew I needed a new prenatal.  That's when I found it!

Rainbow Light Prenatal Organic Multivitamin is my go to for proper nutrition for me!  It has so much stuff packed into those pills that even if you don't eat completely healthy that day you're still covered.  Of course, eating healthy should always be a part of your diet so don't think you can quit eating while taking these!

Reasons why these are my favorites:

no nasty aftertaste and no burping!  (yes I've had that problem with others before)

energy!  There is an energy complex in these vitamins and I can attest that they do really help give you more energy!

antioxidants
enzymes/probiotics

liver and digestive support
allergen free: contains no shellfish, fish, nuts, eggs, milk, yeast, soy or gluten
free of artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, and additives

These vitamins are made solely of organic all natural whole foods.  This to me is key in the development of our sweet little babies.  Would you really want to feed your little one things that could have toxic pesticides on them?  I know I wouldn't!  Yes I am a bit radical.  I have been called a freak for the stand I take on all natural and organic for my family, but it is what I believe.  I am not a vegan or a vegetarian, but I'm not going to make fun of them or be mean to them for how they want to eat.  If you want to eat GMO's and pesticide laden things then I'm not going to browbeat you either, but since this is my blog and my post I am going to say what I believe so please don't take offense.  If you don't agree you don't have to read this, I'm simply stating my beliefs and what I like.

Now that that is all out of the way(sorry but I had to say that to hopefully avoid nasty comments).  Let's talk some more about these great vitamins. Liver support is very important for us whether we're pregnant, breastfeeding, or just simply being a person on your own!  It is something that we truly don't think about and don't incorporate in our diet on purpose.  It's not until we have a problem that we start to look into what we can do to help our liver. I prefer to help my liver before it needs help!

Not only do these vitamins provide the much needed folic acid, they also contain red raspberry leaf to tone the uterus and help make childbirth easier and help you bounce back faster.  It also has enzymes which are essential for us in breaking down our foods and maintaining a healthy happy body.  I know that when I forget to take my vitamins I feel it.  In these you also find some probiotics , but I recommend taking additional probiotics as well.  I'll talk about my favorite probiotics as well in a separate post.

Oh and did I mention they contain ginger which helps to control nausea and vommitting in early pregnancy?  These to me are worth their weight in gold and then some!  It is recommended that you take 2-4 capsules daily and I always take 4 in the morning with a large glass of water when I get up before eating breakfast.

Shared:  Modest Mondays,

**This post does contain affiliate links.  If you click on those links and purchase something I will get a small commission.  This will be a blessing for our family and I would thank you; however, that is not the intent of this post.  I have written this post to hopefully help someone find better nutrition or the proper nutrition for them** Pin It Now!

Cake Lingerie Maternity/Nursing Bra Review

I had been searching frantically for a new bra that would fit with this pregnancy.  I didn't have a lot of money to spend but wanted to make sure it was good quality.  I am so glad I stumbled upon Cake Lingerie!  They have a wonderful line of nursing/maternity bras and panty sets so that there is something for everyone!  I have been blessed to review their Mint Toffee Convertible Bra.  I also received the matching panties but unfortunately they did not fit me.

I love that this bra is dual purpose.  It's soft and comfortable enough(plus so darn cute) that you can wear it through your pregnancy and also then use it as a nursing bra!  Sizes B, C, and D come wire free.  I received the 36C size as my normal 34B bras were getting too snug for me this pregnancy.  I think I would prefer it to have an underwire as it would roll on itself at the bottom a bit probably because of all the bending over I do with everyday life as mommy of 8 kiddos!  It was very comfortable though.

The box and ribbon.  So cute and a great creative way to package and keep it all safe.

And yet again more cute packaging with tissue paper.  They really know how to make a girl feel special!

My first glimpse of my new bra.  Loving the colors.  The mint toffee hides well under clothes.

And the gorgeous floral lining makes me feel so beautiful while wearing it, but shh that's our secret.

I love this bra!  Really I do.  I got so tired of the flimsy see through nursing bras.  I refused to wear those while pregnant because if you don't put the nursing pads in them you're not wearing anything it feels like!  I'm not one for going braless in public at all and that is how I feel when I wear a thin bra.  I like having support as well.  I get all of that from this bra plus feel cute!

I love that the bra straps are convertible and you can wear it in different ways.  There have been so many times that I couldn't wear a cute top because my bra straps would show.  Now even if you are breastfeeding you can still wear cute clothes and fix the straps so they don't show.

If you check out the Cake Lingerie website you will see that they classify this as a "t shirt bra" that converts to be "the closest you'll get to a good supportive strapless nursing bra".  I'm not a strapless bra kind of person because I think I lose out on some of the support I need.  I have not tried this bra strapless yet, but I have used some of the convertible strap options to wear it under some of my pretty maternity clothes!

Cake Lingerie was created by Tracey in 2008 out of her own need for comfortable but stylish maternity and nursing lingerie.  I can certainly agree with her that in that time frame there was nothing pretty about nursing bras and definitely nothing fashionable!  I got pregnant with my first little one in 2004 and have to say that my mom had saved her nursing bras from my little brother(born in 1990) and there was NO difference in the ones she had and the ones that I was buying brand new.  I definitely think that she has achieved her goal of stylish, fashionable, but yet comfortable maternity and nursing lingerie for moms.

Make sure to check out the rest of the wonderful items on the Cake Lingerie website and find one that would work perfectly for you.  There is something for everyone!

Disclaimer: I was provided with this product for free in exchange for a review. I was not coerced or forced to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are mine alone and not influenced in anyway. I am disclosing this to be in accordance with FTC regulations. I was not compensated in any other way for this review except for the product described. Pin It Now!

Undercover Mama Nursing Tank Review

Have you ever felt that you couldn't breastfeed in public because you hate showing off your stomach?  I know I have.  Even if you use a nursing cover up you still are exposing part of your back or stomach.  Well I now have the solution!  Undercover Mama offers a variety of wonderful nursing tanks that hook onto your nursing bra so that you can just unhook the bra like you normally would and feed your baby without showing off your skin.  Keep in mind that you will also be wearing a shirt of some kind over the top that you can lift up so you're not exposing your top half either!

I am in love!  I received the white tank with lace to review.  This tank is $26.99 for purchase on their website.  I love the lace at the end of the tank.  I normally wear my tanks under shirts anyway to have a wonderful modest topline if the normal shirt is too low.  Keeps the modest factor on top too.  Right now they only offer the lace on the white and black tanks.  But they have a large variety of colors that are awesome!  Make sure to go check them out!  I know that when I find a bit of extra money laying around(or for a treat for my birthday) I will have to get the black with lace.  With the white and black I should be set!

Gorgeous and plenty long enough for me.

Loved that the tag shows you how to use the tank!

There are two ways to hook the tank to your nursing bra.

Lace detail.

As far as sizing goes, I was told to go down a size from what you normally wear to get a good fit.  These tops are really stretchy!  I love the stretchyness of them.  I received the xsmall size and normally wear a small.  Even though I am pregnant I can still wear this top as it stretches over my belly!  Love love love the stretch.  I very recently finally fully weaned my youngest(she's 2) so I was even able to use the nursing aspect of the tank.  I loved how easy it was to use.  You can still unhook your bra with one hand so you don't have to put the baby down and arrange everything first.  Very easy and discreet to use in public.

The two lace tanks are $26.99 while the other tanks are $24.99.  Very reasonable price considering the quality and the ease of mind this will provide you.  These have definitely become a must have for my nursing closet.  With this tank any shirt can be a nursing shirt!

Make sure to go enter the Mama Madness Giveaway to enter to win an Undercover Mama Tank of your own.  Winner will receive one free tank excluding the colors Blueberry, Emerald, and Orange.


Disclaimer:  I was provided with this product for free in exchange for a review.  I was not coerced or forced to write a positive review.  All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are mine alone and not influenced in anyway.  I am disclosing this to be in accordance with FTC regulations.  I was not compensated in any other way for this review except for the product described. 

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Everyday Family- It's Breastfeeding Week!

If you haven't been seeing all the posts and don't know yet. . . it's breastfeeding week!  If you also haven't paid attention to my posts here, I am a breastfeeding mommy.  My youngest is 21 months and still nursing.  People ask me a lot if they would have troubles getting pregnant while breastfeeding.  I personally have gotten pregnant while breastfeeding twice.  It happens.  Just because you are breastfeeding does not mean you can't get pregnant.

Having said that I think I should clarify here that I am NOT pregnant while I'm writing this.  Just sharing some knowledge with everyone.  If you have any breastfeeding questions don't hesitate to send them my way.  I have breastfed four babies  and have also pumped and donated breastmilk to three little ones born from another mother.  It doesn't matter to me if I gave birth to that child, I believe that they all should have a chance for some good for you mother's milk.  Just my two cents to add to breastfeeding week!

Oh and I should also clarify that this is a sponsored post and that I am being paid for this post.  However, I also need to clarify that this content is all my own, thought up in my little brain and typed down by my not so little fingers!  Yeap I'm in a clarification mode, sorry. 

That is all! Pin It Now!

Bamboobies! --a Review

All I can say is LOVE!  Have you heard of Bamboobies?  Chances are if you're not a nursing mother you have not.  So let me explain myself.

I received a set of the pale pink regular breast pads.  These are #1 cute!  I mean really, come on, they're shaped like a heart!  This is not just to make mommies feel sexy(though I think it accomplishes that too) but practical as it allows for the fabric to cup the breast instead of bunching up and causing wrinkles so people know you're wearing them.  These are so cute and comfortable and nobody knows you're wearing them!!

I did not try out the oovernights, but reading the reviews, they sound like they would be a life saver during the early stages of breastfeeding or anytime you're going to be away from the little one and not pumping for extended periods of time.

Not only do they make these super comfy and virtually invisible breastpads, they also have nursing covers that look like they just stepped off the runway!  Talk about looking like a fashion plate.  I think I'd wear mine even after I was done nursing. . . . but I'm not really sure I remember what that is since I've been pregnant or nursing for almost 8 years now.  Yikes! 

Bamboobies was started by a young mother in Colorado who decided she didn't want to keep spending the money on disposables but also didn't like the bullseyes that the normal cloth breast pads gave her.  I can agree with her on that.  I used to make my own cloth nursing pads out of old soft cotton sweatshirts.  I'd use a cup base to cut out a circle and sew two of them together.  They worked well, but they'd get to losing their softness and always showed through!  These wondeful little gems do not show through.

My only question is where have these been for the past 8 years!  I wish I'd known about htem sooner!  Now on to the even better news.  Bamboobies has agreed to do a giveaway with me where they will give you a store credit and you can choose which set you get.  How nice is that?!  And they're being even nicer by giving out a discount to all my wonderful readers!  This will give you 20% off your order!  Simply put code FORHIM20 into your checkout and watch the savings!  I think I'm going to have to place an order for a few more of these little gems myself!  Go HERE to place your order.  They are also offering free shipping on orders of $49 or more!

Make sure to come back after midnight to check out the giveaway!!

One more thing to mention:  Make sure to "like" Bamboobies Facebook page to get in on their 12 days of Mothering Giveaways going from May 1st-May12th in honor of Mother's Day!!! Pin It Now!