In my dreams, all parents have access to a flexible work environment and high quality childcare. The moms take a leisurely maternity leave to bond and establish a good breastfeeding relationship. They go back on their own terms and are more productive for having flexible hours, telecommuting options, on-site childcare, and luxurious pumping rooms.

And then I wake up…

It takes an Internet Village.

Baby Jaeli, has a rare genetic condition and will not tolerate formula. Her mom is breastfeeding and pumping but it is not enough. What baby Jaeli needs is time and calories and that is what donated breastmilk will give her.

But her mom’s state Medicaid will not cover the banked breastmilk and Jaeli’s mom was faced with the heartbreaking possibility that her baby might starve…

When I had my baby, I knew I planned to breastfeed and tried to refuse the “free diaper bag” from the formula company. “Take it,” they said, “It has free samples and coupons.” Too exhausted to argue, I accepted the bag. Beyond the formula, there was one newborn-sized diaper and a lot of advertisements.

Now there is an alternative for moms who plan to breastfeed: the Healthy Baby Bounty Bag…

When Boob sent me some of their latest nursing wear, my daughter asked, “But aren’t all of mommy’s tops breastfeeding tops?” That’s my girl! While, it is true you can breastfeed in almost any top, Boob makes nursing stylish and comfortable. Even better–with Boob I can start wearing dresses again…

On Wednesday, I’ll board a plane for the first time since my son’s birth in April 2008 to attend the BlogHer conference in Chicago. I would like to thank Medela for sponsoring my trip to BlogHer and WebmasterRadio.fm for their support.

There are so many slings on the market, yet our friend Jen at NursingMotherSupplies.com sells only the New Native Baby Carrier. Jen’s a breastfeeding expert who recommends only the best products for nursing moms.

Nurtured Family is offering great discounts on two of our favorite brands:

• $10 dollars off of any ZoloWear sling. Simply enter coupon code: ZW10964. Coupon cannot be combined with any other discount or coupon and may not be applied to prior purchases. Offer Expires: 06/19/09
• Use coupon code BB10964 to get 10% off of your purchase of any Boob Design maternity and nursing clothes. Offer Expires: 06/19/09

There are so many different breast pump models on the market, and deciding between them can seem confusing. So many factors influence breast pump purchases. In my opinion, the biggest factors are budget and frequency of use. Every mother needs to weigh those factors before picking the pump that fits her lifestyle. Someone who rarely pumps may be content with a manual option or a single-pump. More frequent users generally want automatic, dual breastpumps. While hospital-grade breastpumps can cost hundreds of dollars, you can find high-quality occasional-use models for well-under $100.

It’s tough to find replacement values, membranes, tubing, personal fit breastshields in various sizes, replacement AC adaptors, cleaning supplies and other parts for Medela and Ameda breastpumps. Nursing Mother Supplies has great prices on hard-to-find parts, and shipping is an affordable flat rate ($4.95) no matter how much you buy.
Shop for Medela Breastpump Parts and Accessories at Nursing Mother Supplies.