Smart Pumping with Medela

As many of you know, I had twins this Summer. It's been a journey to say the least, as this was my very first pregnancy. I went from having zero babies to two. I had no experience with children, nor did my husband. We jumped into this parenting gig completely blind.

There were a lot of things to consider before the babies arrived. So when it was time to start planning our baby registry, the question of breastfeeding came up. I obviously envisioned myself lovingly nursing two babies in tandem while being served coffee & breakfast in bed. Yeah, not so much. All of those perfect expectations were thrown out the window and reality hit me hard. Because our delivery & discharge went nothing as planned, I immediately thought the same for breastfeeding.

In the beginning, the supply could not keep up with the demand, and that is when I decided to exclusively pump and supplement with formula. I purchased a single & double breast pump and had my challenges with both. Neither of them were hands-free, which annoyed me because I like to multi-task.

A few weeks went by and I discovered the Medela Sonata Smart Breast Pump. Two words: game changer! I used a Medela pump at the hospital and had success with it so I knew the quality and comfort was there. The Sonata immediately took the stress & frustration out of pumping, and helped increase my supply. I used the Easy Expression Bustier to ensure hands-free pumping. Because I'm a freelance Interior Designer, I work at my computer a lot and need to get work done while my babies nap. This bustier has been perfect and has the perfect amount of stretch in it!

Let's talk about this pump's Smart Solution technology. We're all connected to our phones these days, so having an app to monitor your pumping is just so brilliant to me. With the MyMedela app, you can keep track of your baby's growth, your pumping sessions and even read informative articles as you pump. The Sonata connects via Bluetooth and times each one of your pumping sessions.

The Sonata is also extremely quiet. I've pumped in my girls' nursery while they were asleep and they were not disturbed whatsoever. It's also very responsive so if there was ever a time when a tube became detached, the app would notify me right away. The unit itself is lightweight so it's very portable from room to room.

All in all I couldn't be more pleased with this breast pump. If you'd like a chance to win one yourself, click HERE to enter! Good luck!

Thanks for reading!

-L.

While Snugglebugz were kind enough to provide me with the Sonata Breast Pump, all thoughts & opinions are my own.

A Gender-Neutral Nursery for Twins

We are just mere weeks, if not days away from meeting our two little munchkins and could not be more excited! Like most new parents, we chose to not find out the genders of our twins until the day of delivery. Often times it's been agonizing, especially when we're so close to the finish line.

So when it came time to decorate the nursery, I knew it would be difficult to find a good balance between neutral tones and adding interesting details. After weeks of constant self-doubt and many returns, I think I was able to reach that balance. The nursery is still a work in progress, so I will share all of the final details in a separate post (more than likely after the babies arrive!).

But for now, here was my inspiration:

Originally, I thought a subtle animal-themed nursery was a safe bet. You know, baby elephants and giraffes - nothing too out of the ordinary. That idea quickly became such a snoozefest that every time I passed by the nursery, I'd be so uninspired and frustrated as to where this was going. My husband kept encouraging me to add more colour, as it was A LOT of gray even for my liking.

I've always loved adding mustard into my home decor and was so inspired by THIS nursery by Jillian Harris. It was whimsical yet neutral, but not boring. I also really loved the hits of black, a timeless look that I wouldn't get tired of.

I also wanted to take advantage of this opportunity & venture into the world of wall decals. I've used Urban Walls decals for client projects, but never for myself. Here we see an incredibly patient husband placing each decal carefully as per very specific directions by the Project Manager (me). What a trooper!

For those wondering, I chose the 'Classic Irregular Dots' in the Warm Grey shade.

Here's a sneak peek of it starting to come together! There is still lots more to do, so stay tuned for more updates!

Thanks for reading!

xo

L.

Getting Ready for Babies with Matraea

With the babies due any day now, I have been really trying to relax and keep my feet up as much as possible. Relaxing has been a difficult concept for me to grasp, as I'm constantly on the go - but I had to listen to my body this last month of pregnancy.

Self-care is so crucial, especially now as we prepare for the arrival of our twins. A long hot shower, watching your favourite movie you haven't seen in years, even something as basic as making a cup of tea in the afternoon has become a new ritual that I  truly look forward to. Being on bedrest has been very enlightening and has made me realize that it's OK to take care of yourself.

I've recently discovered Matraea and all of the amazing products they offer to mothers both during pregnancy and post birth. All of their teas and creams are made up of organic ingredients with the intention of nourishing a woman's growing body. 

My favourite time of the day has been early afternoon when I could sit back and relax with a cup of the Energizing Iron Mama Tea. I have always loved peppermint flavoured teas and this one was no exception. It has a robust flavour without the added caffeine. I'd bring up a big pot of water and just keep refilling my mug as I kept my poor swollen feet up.

The Blooming Baby Belly Tea has also been great in these last few weeks, as my due date quickly approaches. It's a great way to naturally prepare your body for birth, as raspberry leaf tea is believed to strengthen your pelvic floor & assist in breastmilk supply.

At night, my belly would be so sore & red (ah, the joys of pregnancy!). I would rub Matraea's Radiant Belly Butter all over and immediately feel relief. The texture is different than your average belly butter, and a little bit goes a long way. It also smells delicious, which is something I've struggled with in the past with other products. I also have incredibly sensitive skin but one glance-over the ingredients, I knew this wouldn't aggravate my skin!

Tell me, are you pregnant? Why not prepare for baby (or babies!) with some organic products to help you transition into motherhood! Try these & other Matraea products, available online or at any Snuggle Bugz location near you!

Although Snuggle Bugz were kind enough to send me these products, all opinions & images are my own.

Thanks for reading!

xo

L.