Thrupenny Bits is Joining BoobieMilk at the Bluewater Baby Show in October 2013

I'm so excited that I will be returning to the Baby and Toddler Show at Glow, Bluewater in a couple of weeks.  It might just be my favourite time of year, and it happens twice a year so it's even better than a Birthday.

Baby and Toddler Show at Glow, Bluewater October 11-13th, 2013

This time I'm being joined by the lovely Melissa from Thrupenny Bits so I might even get to take a squash break this time!  If you haven't heard about Thrupenny Bits then you are in for a real treat.  Breastfeeding pillows that are beautiful, portable and are made from gorgeous and sumptuous fabrics. 
Take a look at these lovelies -

The Ultimate Breastfeeding Pillow

The Ultimate Feeding Pillow is a little bit larger than the regular pillow so will last a little longer especially with a bigger baby.  Inside you'll find a fire retardant and hypoallergenic removable cushion so that you can wash the cover whenever you need to.  The outer cover makes the ideal toddler bag too both because of its size and the fact that it has inner pockets for your essentials.  I do love a product with multiple uses, making the Ultimate breastfeeding pillow a great value.

I hope you'll come and pay us a visit at the show.  As usual I will be fitting and selling nursing bras all weekend and I will be bringing styles from Hotmilk, Emma-Jane and Carriwell up to a size 42H.  I will also have nursing vests, washable nursing pads, nursing swimsuits and belly supports.

Why not schedule an appointment with me and save 15% on your purchase.  If you are looking for something in particular do let me know karen.mccully@gmail.com.

Here is a code to save on show entry, but keep an eye out for your chance to win free tickets over the next few weeks as I announce new products and introduce you to Melissa from Thrupenny Bits.

Save £10 by booking 2 tickets for £20 or 2 VIP tickets for £40 by using code BBW26 here

Why Has My Nipple Gone White?

When I was first breastfeeding William I had a lot of breast and nipple pain after feeding.  One lactation consultant thought thrush, another thought vasospasm.  After meeting a lot of women in similar situations and reading on the subject it seems that vasospasm is often diagnosed as thrush.  Thrush has become more popular over the last few years and I meet a lot of women who have been diagnosed but haven't received any relief from the typical treatments.  I guess it's a case of looking for zebra's when you should be looking for horses.  There are two main reasons for nipple blanching or vasospasm, and I imagine that the first reason (compression) could be a cause of discomfort in quite a number of cases.

Nipple blanching due to compression will happen when the nipple becomes squished during nursing stopping the blood from circulating and leaving the nipple white.  As the blood rushes back in you can feel pain similar to pins and needles which usually starts after the feed and can last quite a long time between feeds.  The pain can be tingly, shooting.  I felt like I wanted to hold my breast and couldn't easily ignore the pain.  There are a number of causes of nipple blanching due to compression -

• A poor or shallow latch when the nipple doesn't reach the soft palate during feeds.
• Baby clamping down on the nipple/breast due to a fast flow or fast let-down to slow the flow.
• A high or bubble palate which can cause the nipple to not reach the soft palate during feeds.
• A tongue-tie which prevents the tongue from having a typical range of motion.

Improvement of the latch through working with a breastfeeding specialist or a referral to a tongue-tie specialist can reduce and indeed remove all symptoms.

Nipple blanching due to Raynaud's phenomenon can occur with anyone that suffers from this condition which causes sudden vasospasm in the extremities (hands, feet, nipples).  The nipple turns white and then often blue and red before returning to its normal colour as the blood rushes back in.  Coldness can often set off the symptoms, so women often report feeling pain when they step out of the shower or when they walk down the freezer aisle at the supermarket.

There are a number of ways to reduce or treat symptoms -

• Keeping the breast/nipples warm and avoiding cold (Breast Aid Breast Warming Pads are perfect as they cover the nipple and use body heat to keep the area warm)
• Avoiding caffeine and nicotine (vasosconstrictors)
• Nifedipine has been found to help in some cases at low dosage.

I think it is important to look at the entire picture when working through breastfeeding problems.  Quite often thrush or mastitis are the only conditions associated with breast/nipple pain and I think that treatements are often issued without looking for a cause.  Treatment that doesn't work can lead to an early end to breastfeeding.  I'm not diagnosing anyone, just giving you a little bit of information so that you can go away and really think about your symptoms and what they really mean.  Sadly, Doctors who write prescriptions don't usually work with mothers on position and latch which in many cases I'm sure could be the solution.

Carriwell GelWire(T) Seamless Nursing Bra Review - NEW

I've just received shipment for the revolutionary Carriwell GelWire(T) Seamless Nursing Bra!!

Carriwell GelWire(T) Seamless Nursing Bra £32

It's hard to see from this image but the wonderful people at Carriwell have developed a wired nursing bra without a wire.  Instead of the usual metal, they have used a flexible gel which provides all the advantages of a great supporting wire and the comfort of the seamless bra which is flexible up to 2 cup sizes.  This new bra fits sizes 32A-42G-H range (table below) using sizes S/M/L/XL and comes in black or white.

I put mine straight on making sure that the entire breast was inside the cup.  I found that the GelWire(T) came in a lot closer to my breast plate and when I ran back down the stairs I could really feel the additional support.  I don't usually wear a wire, even when I'm not nursing because I have always found them constrictive and uncomfortable.  The Carriwell GelWire(T) Seamless Nursing Bra felt so comfortable I hardly knew I had it on.

This Carriwell nursing bra comes with all the usual benefits of buying from Carriwell.  The wide underband is soft and comfortable and great for pregnancy when your ribcage expands.  When your ribcage does expand this nursing bra comes with a band extender so you don't need to buy a new size, it will grow with you throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding.  I love the wide band with three rows of hooks at the back and the straps are wide enough to feel comfortable even with larger cup sizes.

The reason this nursing bra is such great value for money is that you can wear it throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding.  In many cases I meet clients when they are coming to the end of their pregnancy and they are thinking about how they are going to nurse their baby.  They have been fitted a couple of times during pregnancy and each time bought a couple of new maternity bras that will not be used once baby arrives because they have no access for breastfeeding.  If I'm lucky enough to get a call from a lady early on in pregnancy, there is a great chance that she can wear something throughout pregnancy and then open the clips once baby has arrived and continue to be comfortable until baby weans.  So, although this bra is at the higher end when it comes to price at £32 each, it wears and washes well and the flexibility allows you to wear it for a long time.

I'm a pretty typical cup size so here are some initial comments from new Carriwell GelWire(T) Seamless Nursing Bra owners -

"I am wearing mine right now and it is the most comfortable bra i've ever worn. Loving the gel wire, it really does give the boys a boost!"  Rebecca (36FF/XL) 14/09/13

"Really comfy and NO wire marks left at the end of the day! Thanks Karen!"  Carla (34GG/XL) 15/09/13

"I wore mine yesterday and agree that it is really comfy! I liked the fact that it was (or seemed to me to be) slightly lower cut at the front meaning that it didn't show under my bf wrap dress like my other seamless Carriwell does, but comparing the two I would say that the band size definitely seems smaller on the gel wired bra - I don't know what others have found but I usually wear my other one on the the 2nd or 3rd (from largest) row of clasps but the gel one I had to wear on the largest row and it was very snug - still really comfy though!"  Julie (36C/M)15/09/13

"Been wearing mine today and I love it so far! It feels like it gives more support than the non-wired Carriwell bra I have. Also I think it gives a better shape as well. Very pleased Thank you Karen."  Jess (38F/XL)15/09/13

Of course, having only 4 sizes there will be some of you that may not find the perfect fit, probably those with a small band and a larger cup size and those with G/H cups may find that you still don't get the support that you get from a metal wire, but I think you'll still benefit from the support of teh GelWire along with the flexibility in the cup which is priceless in those first few weeks when your milk volume fluctuates on an hourly basis.

"Initial feedback not fantastic I'm afraid. It is very comfortable, but as I worried the compromise on fit due to having non-bra sizing means it doesn't really fit quite as well as I'd like. I *am* an awkward size (32F) but that means the band is a little too big while the cups are a little too small. I'd not buy a non-sized bra again unless it was just for sleep I'm afraid."  

then went on to say....

"Well, now I've worn it half a day I can say that the imperfect sizing doesn't actually seem to matter! It *looks* like a poor fit, but doesn't feel like it! It's very comfortable! I will wear it the rest of today and at night too to see how it goes." Laura 15/09/13

Sizing Guide - 

32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 A S S M M L L XL B S S M M L L XL C S M M L L L XL XL D M M M L L XL XL XL DD M M L L XL XL XL F M L L XL XL XL G L L XL XL XL H L XL XL XL
Have you tried the Carriwell GelWire Nursing Bra yet?  What did you think?  What do you ask for in a seamless nursing bra?