The Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog

Send Motherwear your favorite nursing tip or story, and be entered to win a $100 gift certificate.

I love these contests.  You guys send in some of the best nursing stories ever.  From the last few contests, here are the funniest ones (these, too) and the most moving ones, in my opinion.

Last round's winner, from Ginger Carney, cracked me up: 

When I was nursing my first child, Caroline, I had an encounter with my young nephew, just 3 years old at the time. I had sat down to relax and breastfeed her when my nephew wandered over to me and looked curiously at his little cousin at the breast. Since I don't believe he had ever seen a baby nursing (he was not breastfed), he asked "WHAT is she doing??!!" Quietly and matter-of-factly I said, "She's eating."  Immediately his eyes became wide with surprise as he replied loudly, "She eats PEOPLE??!!"

So, to enter, just send your favorite nursing tip or story to customer service (customerservice at motherwear dot com).  One lucky entrant will win a $100 gift certificate!  Contest ends 3/31/2010.  Mothewear reserves the right to publish some or all of the content of the emails/stories.

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Join the next carnival of breastfeeding: The joys of breastfeeding

Last month's carnival theme was 'overcoming challenges,' so to balance things out a bit, we thought we'd invite you to submit posts on the theme 'the joys of breastfeeding.'  Tell us what you love about breastfeeding!

Please send your submissions by March 15th.  The Carnival will be on March 22nd.  As usual, we'll be looking for posts that are:

- Well-written and grammatically correct
- Thoughtful and directly on point for the carnival subject
- Submitted by blogs that pertain to subjects of interest to our readers (breastfeeding, parenting, etc.)

If your post is selected for inclusion, you will be asked on the day of the carnival to edit your post to link back to each of the other participants in the carnival. Examples of past carnivals can be found here.

Want to get email updates from the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog?  Subscribe here.  Want an RSS feed? Subscribe here.  Want to subscribe to our breastfeeding podcasts on iTunes?  Click here.

Give away week: Past review products

For the final give away of the week, I thought I'd contribute a bunch of books and CDs I've reviewed.*  I can part with them now, and would love them to be put to better use than sitting on my bookshelf.  They're all in great condition.

So, here's what's up for offer (to one winner).  Click on the links to see my reviews of each product:

Pumping Secrets CD
Breastfeeding with Comfort and Joy
Ameda's Latch-on DVD
Nursing Mother, Working Mother
Breastfeeding: Keep it Simple
Breastfeeding Meditation CD

In addition, I'll add a t-shirt from our local breastfeeding coalition's store (size XL)!

To enter, leave a comment below by midnight EST on February 26th, 2010.  One entry per person.  U.S. addresses only, please.  Winner will be chosen using random.org and announced in the comments section of this post.  Please note:  I will contact the winner by email.  If the winner does not respond within three days she forfeits prize, and new a winner will be selected. 

*These items were received as complimentary copies, with the exception of the Breastfeeding Meditations CD and the t-shirt.

Want to get email updates from the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog?  Subscribe here.  Want an RSS feed? Subscribe here.  Want to subscribe to our breastfeeding podcasts on iTunes?  Click here.

Give away week: Honeysuckle nursing pillow

When I run breastfeeding groups and meet with moms individually, I bring along a Honeysuckle nursing pillow.  Once they try it, moms inevitably ask me where they can get one.  Now our town is full of moms toting green pillows!  (For my friends who live locally, you can now buy them at Cradle!)

Today I'm very pleased to be able to offer three Honeysuckle nursing pillows, courtesy of the mother who invented it, Verity Freebern.*  The Honeysuckle pillow was invented by Verity when her youngest son was in the neo-natal unit. 

I love this pillow because 1) it's thick enough that gets babies to a very comfortable height, especially for those of us who are long-waisted, 2) it's firm and lies flush against your tummy so babies don't sink down into it during the course of a feeding, 3) it's slanted at an angle that I think is comfortable for babies, and 4) it actually fits in a glider, rocking chair, or even an office chair, 5) it fits a broader range of body sizes than some pillows.  It has a soft, removable, washable cover, and a water-resistant inner liner.

To enter, leave a comment below by midnight EST on February 24th, 2010.  One entry per person.  U.S. addresses only, please.  Winners will be chosen using random.org and announced in the comments section of this post. 

*I have not received any free products in association with this contest.

Want to get email updates from the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog?  Subscribe here.  Want an RSS feed? Subscribe here.  Want to subscribe to our breastfeeding podcasts on iTunes?  Click here.

Give away week: Ricki Lake's "Your Best Birth"

Last year I gave a glowing review to Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein's book Your Best Birth. 

This book is due out in a paperback edition this spring, and I'm very pleased to be able to give away ten copies, thanks to the publisher, Hachette Book Group.*

To enter, leave a comment below by midnight EST on February 23rd, 2010.  One entry per person.  U.S. addresses only, please.  Winners will be chosen using random.org and announced in the comments section of this post.  Addresses will be provided to the publisher, who will mail the books directly.  Please allow at least six weeks to receive book.

*I have not received any free products from the publisher in connection with this give away.

Want to get email updates from the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog?  Subscribe here.  Want an RSS feed? Subscribe here.  Want to subscribe to our breastfeeding podcasts on iTunes?  Click here.

Give away week: Motherwear gift certificates

Welcome to the first day of a week of give-aways on the Motherwear blog!  I've timed it to coincide with the doldrums of winter (at least around here).

It's also timed with a huge clearance sale, held in preparation for the release of Motherwear's spring line this week!  Check out nursing tops as low as $4.99.  The beaded empire tunic modeled here by Natasha is marked down from $35.00 to $5.99.

To kick off the week we have two $25 gift certificates from Motherwear (one per winner).  Use them to buy anything on the Motherwear site - a sale item or a new spring item. 

To enter, leave a comment below by midnight EST on February 22nd, 2010.  One entry per person.  U.S. addresses only, please.  Winners will be chosen using random.org and announced in the comments section of this post. 

Want to get email updates from the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog?  Subscribe here.  Want an RSS feed? Subscribe here.  Want to subscribe to our breastfeeding podcasts on iTunes?  Click here.

Join the next carnival of breastfeeding: Overcoming challenges

We've done this theme before, but we'd still like to hear more of your stories about overcoming breastfeeding challenges!

Tell us your stories about having a baby in the NICU, nursing through mastitis, or a difficult return to work.  Share your stories of overcoming challenges, big or small.

Please send your submissions by February 15th.  The Carnival will be on February 22nd.  As usual, we'll be looking for posts that are:

- Well-written and grammatically correct
- Thoughtful and directly on point for the carnival subject
- Submitted by blogs that pertain to subjects of interest to our readers (breastfeeding, parenting, etc.)

If your post is selected for inclusion, you will be asked on the day of the carnival to edit your post to link back to each of the other participants in the carnival. Examples of past carnivals can be found here.

Want to get email updates from the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog?  Subscribe here.  Want an RSS feed? Subscribe here.  Want to subscribe to our breastfeeding podcasts on iTunes?  Click here.

Give away: Ameda "Beauty of Breastfeeding" Calendars

I'm happy to be able to give away five "Beauty of Breastfeeding" calendars, created by Ameda.*

They're full of great breastfeeding images which you'll want to put up everywhere!  These are 2009/2010 calendars.

And pssst...I'll be doing a full week of give-aways next week.  Stay tuned.

To enter to win a calendar, leave a comment below by February 12, 2010.  One entry per person.  U.S. addresses only, please.  Winners will be chosen using random.org and announced in the comments section of this post.  *I have not received any free products from Ameda in association with this contest.

Want to get email updates from the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog?  Subscribe here.  Want an RSS feed? Subscribe here.  Want to subscribe to our breastfeeding podcasts on iTunes?  Click here.

Take Motherwear's survey to be entered to win a $50 gift certificate.

Want a chance to win a $50 Motherwear gift certificate?

You'll be entered into a contest to win one if you fill out Motherwear's monthly survey. Don't forget to add your comments and suggestions!

And check out Motherwear's end of season sale, with discounts of up to 75%.

Want to get email updates from the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog?  Subscribe here.  Want an RSS feed? Subscribe here.  Want to subscribe to our breastfeeding podcasts on iTunes?  Click here.

Join the next carnival of breastfeeding: Your favorite blog posts and website pages

For our next carnival of breastfeeding we're asking you to tell us about your favorite website pages and blog posts that deal with breastfeeding.  Tell us where you go for information, support, and inspiration on breastfeeding, and share some of your favorite posts.

Please send your submissions by January 18th.  The Carnival will be on January 25th.  As usual, we'll be looking for posts that are:

- Well-written and grammatically correct
- Thoughtful and directly on point for the carnival subject
- Submitted by blogs that pertain to subjects of interest to our readers (breastfeeding, parenting, etc.)

If your post is selected for inclusion, you will be asked on the day of the carnival to edit your post to link back to each of the other participants in the carnival. Examples of past carnivals can be found here.

Want to get email updates from the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog?  Subscribe here.  Want an RSS feed? Subscribe here.  Want to subscribe to our breastfeeding podcasts on iTunes?  Click here.