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Medela Disposable Bra Pads
by katyj10
This is a review of Medela disposable bra pads which I have been using since breast feeding our newest daughter. The pads are disposable and are used inside your bra to protect against leaky boobs. The back of the box promises 'comfort in breastfeeding' which is certainly welcome as whilst breast feeding is unarguably best for baby, it ... does come with a wealth of discomforts for the mother from sore to leaky ness at a time when you are busy and trying to do your best for your baby.
Description
The box contains 30 pads which is really only 15 uses as you will need one for each side. Each pad comes individually wrapped and has a sticky patch on the rear so you can affix it to your bra.
Price and availability
The box of 30 cost me £2.99 when they were on sale at Mothercare. The normal price is £4.19 which I think is a bit expensive for something you throw away at the end of the day. Tesco charge £4.59 for the same quantity so they are obviously just an expensive brand.
In use
I would use one of these pads on each side during the day and then a new one at night time so a box of 30 is really only a week's supply. I found they were great in absorbing milk but they did not stay in place in my bra and ended up scrunched up under the bust so I was forever having to adjust them. I have had this problem with every brand so it may just be the fact that I have a big bust that causes this frustrating problem. If the pads shift and you don't realise, you can end up with leak marks on your top which is what you are trying to avoid! For this reason I tend to wear black tops to hide it.
My thoughts
I think the packaging is rather wasteful on this product and I am seriously considering buying the washable pads to use instead. Medela also make the washable pads so I will be looking in to this. In the meantime I will use up the other box I bought prior to the baby being born. The price of these are quite costly for a disposable product and so I don't really think they are worth the money, particularly at full price.
Final word
I will not be buying any more of these branded bra pads as I don't think they are good enough to justify the price.
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Birth & Exercise Ball with Pump
by rosaliecullen
==Overview==
I was a bit sceptical when someone suggested using a birthing ball towards the end of pregnancy. Apparently it can help to get the baby into the right position and help to make you feel a bit more comfortable when sitting down due to improving your posture (rather than slouching on a couch). Birthing Balls come in ... a variety of sizes, if you are under 5ft5 it is suggested that you get a 55cm ball, if you are over, it is suggested you get a 65cm ball. You can buy birthing balls or exercise balls from a variety of retailers and as long as you make sure it is a non-burst ball in my opinion they are all fairly similar. I didn't want to spend too much so bought one from Amazon for around £14. It also came with a pump which was useful (and saved my husband huffing and puffing!).
== My Opinion==
I was initially worried that the ball wouldn't take my weight and would burst so I felt nervous about sitting on it. I have since heard that the balls are pressure tested and take weights up to 50stone so I have quite a way to go before I get there! The non-burst technology in the ball means that if it punctures, it will release the air slowly rather than just bang and end up ditching you onto the floor. Once I'd read those things I felt a bit more confident about sitting on the ball. As I mentioned I was very sceptical about the ball because let's face it - they don't look comfortable to sit on do they?! However, I find it difficult to sit/slouch on the couch and get comfortable, particularly if the baby is lodged in my ribs somewhere. Sitting on the balls makes me sit up straight and forces you to sit with your legs apart in a very unladylike manner, however this then gives you much better posture. I'm still not convinced that the ball helps to get the baby into the right position but one thing I am sure of is that it is a damn sight comfier than sitting on the couch or the floor or any of the other weird positions I've been sitting in the last few weeks. The bounce within the ball seems to relieve pressure on my back and on my hips which is a huge benefit for me. If it helps to get the baby into the right position then that is great too but I'm primarily reviewing it here for comfort purposes. You are also advised to rock on the ball gently to exercise your hips, back and pelvis and I've done some of that whilst watching the TV and it feels quite nice to give those muscles a stretch.
Finally, the birthing ball can be used during the first stage of labour and I plan to use mine (or at least one at the hospital) to try and get into some comfortable positions (also apparently if you bounce on it it can induce labour - I'm yet to try this!!!!). However, this is not the primary reason for purchasing the ball, I purchased it for comfort whilst at home and it certainly provides that as a welcome relief from a slouchy couch. All the rest of the benefits (baby in right position, using it in labour) are all added bonuses as far as I'm concerned. I feel like I've got my money's worth out of this product already.
==Overall==
In summary, I highly recommend the birthing balls, make sure you get the right size for you and make sure you get non-burst material (I'm sure most of them are). If you are in the latter weeks of pregnancy I really recommend the birthing ball to provide a nice bit of comfort for you.
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Jumper Medical Angelsound Fetal Doppler
by xjemloux
As I am expecting my third child, I already have 4 year old twins I decided to treat myself to a doppler.
When having midwife appointments they tend to listen to the babies heartbeat with a doppler - providing your baby isn't hiding deep in your pelvis and they can find it. This sound though is an extremely comforting sound - ... especially when you can't feel your baby moving 24/7.
You can now though by these dopplers to use in the comfort of your own home - to listen to your babies heartbeat at your own leisure. Obviously this is a personal choice to buy one, and although it can be a very comforting and reassuring sound to hear it can also worry us mothers a bit when we can't find the heartbeat due to the position of the baby etc therefore some people may choose not to buy one.
If of course though you can't help yourself, like me, then I would definitely recomend the Jumper Angel Sounds Fetal Doppler. A very basic doppler as it doesn't have a heart rate monitor to look at, but a very pleasing doppler at the same time as you can - when baby is playing nice, listen to your babies heartbeats and sometimes hear the swooshing sounds of their movements - which to me is just as comforting to hear.
I actually purchased my doppler on ebay for just £19.99 brand new in a box with directions of use, headphones and gel. The gel provided allows the doppler to move with ease across your belly when finding your babies beating heart - but water of baby oil can be used just as effectively.
The doppler is a handheld device nothing to fancy which has a battery compartment which has a clip on plastic cover to it. The headphones slot into their hole neatly and sit comfortably ready for us to use to.
There is a flat circle on the bottom of the doppler which is where the gel, water etc needs to be placed for it to glide across your skin with ease. The doppler does work without using these but if you have to search all over the place for your babies heartbeat just gliding the doppler along your belly rather than lifting it up and putting it back onto another spot, proves a lot easier when it comes to actually finding your babies heartbeat, especially in the early stages when you are unsure of babies position in your belly as you can't feel movements etc yet.
More so at the beginning I found I really struggled to find my babies heartbeat, luckily I'd read up quite a bit on the use of dopplers and prepared myself for this but continued using the doppler as I could hear the swishing and swooshing of my baby flitting about within me - which to me was just as heart warming and reassuring as hearing little one's heartbeat. Now I have just 9 weeks to go until my due date and I am at the moment aware of my babies position I find my babies heartbeat a lot easier. When I found it I simply hear the fast beating of my babies heartbeat through the headphones which is such a soothing and comforting sound to hear.
For me the doppler has been a pleasure to use as I have found it reassuring and comforting to say the least. If you are a total worrier though maybe using one of these is not the best idea when pregnant as it can be a nervous time as it is, but it can be a real joy to use.
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