Bamboobies Nursing Pads #Review and #Giveaway

Even though the button isn't updated (and I, personally, have NO CLUE how to make a new one), I'm just going to use the same one. My first item for review and giveaway was sent to me by Bamboobies. I received the nursing pads Sample Pack that includes both daytime/regular and nighttime nursing pads.

They each have a leak-proof backing which helps prevent those embarrassing milk spots on your shirt that tend to happen after your baby cries (or any baby for that matter!) and milk lets down. I have a heavy let down and will often soak through nursing pads. I started wearing the regular nursing pads while I was still pregnant for Popeye as I was having enough leakage to spot my bra. During that time, my only complaint about the pads was that they would slip out of my regular bra. LOL. After switching to a nursing bra, however, that problem remedied itself due to the design of the nursing bra.

The first thing you'll notice about these nursing pads is that the regular pads are heart-shaped. Why? It makes them less noticeable than regular rounded pads. They are also pink which helps them to blend in better with flesh tones for when you are wearing a lighter shirt. Plus, these are VERY thin. In my estimation, they are about 1/2 the thickness of a "normal" nursing pad. Even the overnight Bamboobies are a bit thinner than a normal nursing pad.

Compared to a "normal" nursing pad, these are made from a blend of organic cotton and bamboo rayon velour. The inside of the pad is SO soft! They feel great and the design of the fabric inner helps to prevent sticking, which is awesome! The backing is also very pliable and soft unlike a lot of waterproof material.

The regular Bamboobies are approximately the same size as a normal nursing pad in diameter as you can see in the following picture (right). The shape and thickness are the biggest differences here. I found the absorbency to be very good as long as I changed them out about halfway through the day unless I was having a light-for-me leakage day. Like I said before, I leak A LOT and have an overactive let down, so it is very hard to keep up with me.

 The overnights, however, are AMAZING! I actually use them during the day and have great results with prevention of leaks. The overnights are a bit larger than the store-bought reusable nursing pads that I have but the combination of bamboo and cotton really helps these keep you more dry. Obviously, the store-bought ones don't have a waterproof layer to hold anything in either which causes wicking into your bra. That problem doesn't happen with Bamboobies.

I would definitely recommend these nursing pads to my friends and family. These are wonderful for the end of pregnancy leakage that comes along as well as being able to be used throughout the nursing journey and into weaning.

Would you like your very own set of Bamboobies? Keep your eyes on their Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Blog for further opportunities to win and enter below!


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Preterm Labor

I managed to see the new labor & deliver floor in our hospital this evening, but it wasn't the way I was hoping.

After working for 4 hours, I ended up having to make a trip to L&D because I had been having contractions for over 2 hours. By the time I arrived the contractions had settled down a little bit. Instead of every 5-10 minutes they were down to about every 15-20 minutes. I knew I wasn't dehydrated. I have had nearly 100 ounces of water today!

The bright side to sitting in the triage for 2 hours is that I was able to hear baby's heartbeat and listen to him kicking at thw monitors! LOL.  Fuss used to run away from them, so at least her brother didn't do that.

After an hour they gave me Procardia to stop the contractions and officially told me it was preterm labor. Thankfully we had no progression or dilation. The cause? Well, no one really said but they did mention that I most likely have a urinary tract infection and gave me an antibiotic. Oddly, sometimes something as simple as a run-of-the-mill infection can jump start labor.

Why can't pregnancy just be easy!?

Wow! Hello 3rd Trimester!

In some ways this pregnancy has just dragged on. But to think about the fact that as of Saturday (9/7) I will have just 90 days left is mind-blowing! Only 90 days until we see the face of our baby boy. When Fuss is no longer and only child.

I am still back-and-forth on the final decision of VBAC or RCS. On one hand, I really want to try for a VBAC. I feel like I was robbed of the chance with Fuss. The doctors are now starting to push more for a repeat C-section. Reiterating the risks over and over. Telling me that I will have a full staff in the OR and an anesthesiologist the second I go into the hospital until delivery "just in case I need it." I hate feeling forced. So far the docs have been accommodating. Pre-E hasn't even begun to show up! I'm still leery of that, however, odds are that I won't have it again.

I have another ultrasound scheduled at the end of the month because of a low-lying placenta. If it moved up, like it should have, I will be "cleared" to try for a VBAC. If it hasn't, I will be given no option as the likelihood of complication like placenta accreta is a lot higher. I do tend to think, though, that most of what they say is just scare tactics.

Of course, on the other hand, I continue to debate because it WILL be a different experience than Fuss's birth as it would be simply checking in, going to L&D/surgery, and being done. I will be scheduled a week before my due date...most likely during Thanksgiving break which is when Blondie is free from school to watch Fuss. Also, I plan to have a tubal ligation and a hernia repair. Both of those could be done at the time of the section instead of having to go under general anesthesia at a later date.

It is a lot to think about, but I am still pushing for a VBAC despite everything else. I'm also afraid of the epidural and if I do a VBAC I can do Stadol or other IV drugs instead to help with pain management (or Bradley/hypnobirthing/etc). So much left to do and decide and so little time to do it in!

Hormones, Headaches, and Hair

Three things most women avoid talking about if they possibly can. And this week I have had all 3! I suppose it is the extra testosterone I now have flowing around through my veins making me more prone to random hair growth. I swear, I can almost shave my legs one night and then by morning I have a 1/2" of stubble! It is the strangest thing since I have hardly any hair on my legs in the first place!

Then, for the past week I have had headaches nearly every day. Most of them aren't bad, especially when I normally have a couple of migraines a month. However, I had the worst migraine I have had in the past 5.5 months! It started with auras/visual disturbances. Par for the course since I had Fuss. So, I lay down for 10-15 minutes to allow the auras to pass (and the pain to set in). I took Tylenol the minute the auras started and started drinking Mountain Dew. After about 15 minutes, I went back to work. What set this migraine apart from any other one that I have had is that about 30 minutes after that, I started having numbness in my right hand and fingers. That lasted 15 minutes before leaving and then numbness set into my tongue and mouth for 10 minutes. Again, it left but I called my OB after I finished my work. Hubby wasn't too worried, but I decided to check in. They still refused to call in any meds for me, but told me if it happened again with the numbness to go to the ER. Yay. I don't think so. I have been dealing with migraines for over half my life. Pregnancy just brings out the strangest changes in my symptoms.

And that all leads back to the hormones! Higher levels of estrogen, progesterone, and now testosterone have thrown my body into a spin. Unfortunately, the only cure is having the baby...definitely don't want that until at least November! lol. Here's hoping my body adjusts again for a while like it did at 15 weeks and things settle for a while.