breast pump

Today, I am really honored to interview an incredible woman, Barb Higgins. I’ve known Barb since I was in 4th grade and ran track and field with the local Parks and Rec community. In high school, she was my cross-country coach, and she led us to win our local Division, then State, and then The New England Championship. I have such incredible memories with this woman.

Barb is now 60 and on the show today because she gave birth to her fourth child at 57.

In today’s episode, Barb shares about her four pregnancies, starting with the miscarriage of baby Gordy at 25 weeks and the surprise milk let-down experience she had afterward.

She also shares what it was like to breastfeed in public with her second, Gracie, and then what it was like to get caught on a day trip without a breast pump while nursing her third, Molly. And having Jack, her  IVF baby after menopause.

Note: If you don’t know Barb’s story, Barb has lost two children. In addition to the miscarriage of baby Gordy, she also lost her daughter Molly at age 13. We don't go into the details of Molly’s death in the podcast, but you can learn more about her at the MollyB Foundation: https://mollybfoundation.org/ or by reading Barb’s book, Motherland: https://amzn.to/3vEIg5N

She also shares:

• 8mins - 25-week miscarriage of baby Gordy
• 13:30 - Gracie’s Birth & Latching
• 15:25 - Breastfeeding Gracie in public
• 17:15 - The Difficulty of Pumping and What Worked
• 17:45 - Co-sleeping & ‘Self-Serve’ Breastfeeding at night
• 19:45 - Natural Weaning - Being Pregnant with Molly, Gracie no longer liked the taste
• 20:05 - Molly’s Birth & Initial Latching
• 22:15 -Forgetting the breast pump on a trip from NH to Connecticut
• 25:20 - Advocate, Advocate, Advocate - Your Boobs, Your Baby!
• 28:10 - Jack’s Story as an IVF Baby after menopause
• 37:00 - Developing Preeclampsia at 35 weeks
• 41:00 - Suction challenges with a 35 wk old
• 42:39 - When a nurse tells Barb she’s too old to breastfeed
• 43:25 - The baby-feeding regime (Breastfeed, Bottle, Then Pump)
• 47:00 - The Ridiculousness of the ‘Failure to Thrive’ label when Jack was slow to gain weight
• 48:00 - Advocating for yourself in the hospital
• 50:00mins - Nurse provides game-changing support on breastfeeding
• 50:30 - Getting donated breastmilk
• 52:30 - Spilt milk story and the frustration
• 54:20 - Still breastfeeding at 2.5yrs old
• 56:00 - A culture that thinks it’s okay to tell women what to do
• 57:30 - Introduction of Book, Motherland
• 60:00 - What Child-loss feels like daily
• 61:15 - Postpartum Anger after Jack
• 64:15 - Always listen to your instincts
• 65:30 - Rapid Fire Round

Recommendations:

• The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: https://amzn.to/3U3qGm0
• Human Milk for Human Babies - FB Group
• NH Breastfeeding Moms - FB Group

You can find Barb on Facebook and Instagram:

• FB: https://www.facebook.com/barb.higgins.96
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barb_444/
• Website: https://athousandtinysteps.com/

Today, I’m interviewing a very dear friend and fellow mama, Andrea Purjue. She was a huge support to me during my pregnancy and first year with my daughter. In fact, Andrea, came down from Seattle to join me on my first cross-country flight with Luna when Luna was only 3 months old. She was and is amazing.

In this Episode, Andrea shares about the joys and challenges of being a single mom while pregnant and during postpartum.

Andrea had to go back to work just six weeks after having her son and she shares what it was like to have to pump in public 15 years ago.

Andrea also shares:

• The struggle with latching she faced at home
• How she set up her pumping station to best support her
• Figuring out slow flow bottles
• The weird sensation of pumping
• How she handled childcare as a single mom goin back to work after just 6 weeks
• Pumping while commuting an back at work
• Her experience exclusively pumping for 7 months
• What it was like to pump in public 15 years ago
• Her continued recommended resources - Boppy, nipple cream, and try different bottles!

You can find Andrea on LinkedIn at:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-purjue-2694b67/

Resources:

• Boppy - https://amzn.to/3NYauyB
• Badger Balm - https://amzn.to/3SefLVv
• Glass Bottles - https://amzn.to/3TY8Fpu

Thank you so much for listening. If you enjoyed today's episode, it would mean the world to me if you'd be willing to take 30 seconds to rate and review the podcast.

And, if you're interested in coming on to share your own baby-feeding story, head to mollyrider.com and click on "Share Your Story."

In today's episode, I interviewed one of my best friends and fellow mamas, Cora Poage. She and I have known each other since we worked together at a summer job in college, and we’ve been really fortunate that our growth trajectory has mirrored each other's in many ways. So much so that we both had our first babies in 2022, almost twenty years after we initially met. My daughter is seven months older than Cora’s son, Nico.

Today, Cora shares how she went from hoping to have an unmedicated homebirth in a tub with a midwife to a hospital birth with pitocin and an epidural thanks to high blood pressure and stalled labor.  She was so grateful to her friends who told her to have a birth plan but to be prepared to throw it out. This allowed her to stay strong and advocate for herself and her baby.

We Also Hear:

• How a Nurse Hand Expressed Cora's Breast To Get Her Colostrum to Flow 
• The breastfeeding, pumping, and bottle feeding regimen was around the clock for the first few weeks. 
• How Cora kept her sanity and fed her baby without having to get up every two hours in the middle of the night.
• How Cora released her pre-mama self and found surprising joys in motherhood.
• Gender role challenges
• What happened one night when her pump broke? 
• Breastmilk supply food recommendations like oatmeal, quinoa, and post-natal vitamins
• How to be gentle with yourself when you lose your shit!

And so much more!

You can find Cora at: https://www.instagram.com/coachcoco/ or CoraPoage.com.

Thank you so much for listening. If you enjoyed today's episode, it would mean the world to me if you'd be willing to take 30 seconds to rate and review the podcast.

And, if you're interested in coming on to share your own baby-feeding story, head to mollyrider.com and click on "Share Your Story."

TRIGGER WARNING: In this episode, Chloe shares how a resident assaulted her during her first birth. Fortunately, Chloe. later sought help and reported it to both the police and the hospital. The resident was thankfully dismissed from her residency. 

I am so excited to share the episode with you. Midland Doula, Chloe Adams, has an incredible story of knowing nothing before the birth of her first to becoming a certified doula by the time she had her second. 

Chloe shares great tips around:

• Using the Spectra 1 Breast pump
• The Haakaa
• The Power of Using a Hand pump
• Why not to use Dr. Brown Bottles
• Post Partum Depression, which she had after her first
• Tongue Ties
• The Body Ready Method

And so much more! 

You can find Chloe at: https://www.instagram.com/midlanddoula/

Thank you so much for listening. If you enjoyed today's episode, it would mean the world to me if you'd be willing to take 30 seconds to rate and review the podcast.

And, if you're interested in coming on to share your own baby-feeding story, head to mollyrider.com and click on "Share Your Story."

This first episode will be a little different, as I’m kicking things off by sharing my own baby-feeding story. Why? If I’m asking moms+ to come on and share some of their most vulnerable and honest moments, it’s only fair that I go first and give you the dirt on my baby-feeding experience.

So, in this episode, you will hear how my daughter was born with a tongue tie that left bruises on my areola. This caused me to have to use a breast pump right away, supplement with formula, and even experiment with syringe feeding. This was not the breastfeeding experience I dreamed of having. 

Additionally, I share my struggles with being an under-producer, getting carpal tunnel and Mommy's thumb, and that time I thought I had spoiled breastmilk. And so much more! 

Links:

• My Breast Friend Pillow - https://amzn.to/46ST65L
• Renting the Medela Hospital Grade Pump: https://www.mybreastpumprental.com/
• Pumping Bra (hands free): https://amzn.to/3tV3hbI
• Sunflower Lecithin - https://amzn.to/46XMKCu
• Generic Motilium Prices (Domperidone) https://www.pharmacychecker.com/domperidone/#prices
• Flange Sizing Measurement Tool - https://amzn.to/3FISLaa
• Quinoa - https://amzn.to/3QotarI

If you live in the United States, you likely get a free breastpump from your insurance but which should you choose? The portable one? The quiet one? The one with better suction? Let's find the right pump for you!

Healthcare.gov

This episode appeared first on the Breezy Babies website.

Summary

• How to choose the right breast pump? 0:00
  • Welcome to the breezy babies podcast.
• How to choose the right breast pump? 1:20
  • Lactation consultants notice which breast pumps are easy-pleasers and which are hit-and-miss.
• Breezy Babies expanding the team. 3:32
  • The breezy babies team is expanding.
  • Working in private practice has been a game changer.
  • Get the free breast pump, but make it count.
  • Meet with clients prenatally.
• Why I’ve been served a cease-and-desist letter. 7:25
  • Cease and desist letter from IBCLC lactation consultant.
  • Lactation friend threatened with legal action.
• Bri’s thoughts on breast pumps and insurance. 9:03
  • How to get more information about breast pumps.
  • Breastfeeding benefits on healthcare.gov
  • How to get a free breast pump through insurance.
  • How insurance covers breastpumps.
• The importance of having insurance. 13:19
  • Returning to work with a breast pump.
  • Your insurance should also cover breastfeeding help.
• Tips for choosing a breast pump. 15:12
  • Consider your lifestyle.
  • Consider suction power, size and weight when choosing a breast pump.
• How to choose the right breast pump? 17:33
  • Consider having a manual option when choosing a breast pump.
  • Don't have a used breast pump on hand.
  • Portable pumps are key to a successful lactation journey.
  • The pros and cons of portable pumps.
• Tip 3: Make pumping convenient. 21:30
  • Make pumping convenient.
  • Invest in tweaking your pump to fit you.
• How to choose the right breast pump?

Follow along @breezy__babies on Insta for more tips and tricks.

Check to see if your insurance will cover FREE consults with Breezy Babies

Join Bri's crew so we can stay in touch.

Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts here.

This podcast is not "medical advice". Please consult with your Healthcare Provider about your specific situation.

Podcast song credit: Stock Media provided by juqboxmusic / Pond5

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https://babies-and-bumps.com/

Choosing a breast pump can feel very confusing.  What should you look for in a pump?  Are they all the same?  And what does “hospital grade” mean, anyway?  Tune in today to get all your pump questions answered.

If you are a new listener, we would love to hear from you.  Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or sending us an email with your suggestions and comments to badassbreastfeedingpodcast@gmail.com.  You can also add your email to our list and have episodes sent right to your inbox!

Things we talked about:

The cool article this episode is based off of [8:39]

3 types of pumps [9:17]

Hospital grape pump vs regular pumps [12:31]

Benefits and risks to pumping [19:42]

Choosing a pump [25:33]

Cleaning [29:18]

FAQ’s [35:00]

Today’s episode is brought to you by Rumble Tuff! The Rumble Tuff Breeze is a breast pump that allows you to record your most effective pump session. Use code BADASS for 20% off at www.rumbletuff.com!

Links to information we discussed or episodes you should check out!

https://badassbreastfeedingpodcast.com/episode/pumping-myths/

https://badassbreastfeedingpodcast.com/episode/102-pumping-and-traveling-with-breast-milk/

https://healthnews.com/family-health/pregnancy/tips-for-choosing-and-using-breast-pumps/

 Set up your consultation with Dianne

https://badassbreastfeedingpodcast.com/consultations/     

Check out Dianne’s blog here~

https://diannecassidyconsulting.com/milklytheblog/

Follow our Podcast~

• https://badassbreastfeedingpodcast.com

Here is how you can connect with Dianne and Abby~

• Abby Theuring  https://www.thebadassbreastfeeder.com
• Dianne Cassidy http://www.diannecassidyconsulting.com

Music we use~

Music: "Levels of Greatness" from "We Used to Paint Stars in the Sky (2012)" courtesy of Scott Holmes at freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott Holmes