Urban Mama

Product of the Week: (Edible) LUSH Soap

Sometimes a crawling 11-month-old just can't be stopped. Yesterday while I was in the bathroom, I put baby J on the floor with some toys and left the door open, so he could still see me. Next thing I know, he's crawling into the bathroom to say hello. I chat with him a little bit and then watch him crawl up to the shower stall. Before I could say "Charmin," baby J had a mouthful of soap in his mouth.

LUSH's Porridge soap (left) has tiny little oats that fall off as you lather up, so my shower had a bunch of tiny pieces of soap lining it (I know, yuck, but I hadn't motivated myself to clean the shower and figured the pieces provided a nice little scrub for the soles of our feet). Realizing his little treat wasn't very tasty, baby J began to cry, creating a slobbery, sudsy mush around his mouth. By then, of course, I had washed my hands and was busy wiping his mouth. Thank goodness we use LUSH, which is made of natural ingredients, rather than some harsh, potentially toxic alternative. 

So, if you're like me and have a baby who loves to eat off of the floor, or if you're one of those old-school parents who employs the "Christmas Story" method of discipline, I recommend LUSH soap.

All of my LUSH soaps were paid for by yours truly, and my favorite kind is Honey I Washed the Kids

Product of the Week: MilkBank System by DexBaby

I don't review every product I receive. Lately I haven't even bothered with reviews because I haven't felt up to it. I don't want to waste my time writing about something I feel blah about, so when DexBaby sent me their new breastmilk storage system MilkBank, I was skeptical. Having pumped my milk for all three of my kids, I've tried dozens of bags and bottles and trays (breastmilk popsicles anyone?), and only a couple didn't leak or frustrate me.

What MilkBank provides, however, is actually useful -- a vacuum pump system that not only saves milk for longer than the average 4-6 months but reportedly keeps it fresher than just storing it in a bag or regular bottle. By eliminating the oxygen trapped in the bottle your expressed breastmilk is in (you attach a vacuum pump to a cap, give it a quick few pumps and  you're done -- well, first you detach the pump and put the bottle in the freezer), your milk stays safe for a lot longer. That's important for breastfeeding mothers who have to leave their little ones with caregivers for work.

Pros:

• Vacuum-sealed breastmilk retains the taste and nutrient content of milk
• Milk stays fresher for a longer period of time
• No leaks (at least for me)
• Insulated feeding bottles (sold separately from the storage bottles) keep thawed milk warm, since you can't microwave breastmilk
• All components are lead, phthalate, PVC, and BPA free
• Affordable (starter kit is $24.99, but 3-packs of storage bottles are only $9.99)

Cons:

• You can't pump directly into the bottles
• Vacuum pump adds an extra step before freezing bottle
• Bottles have extra parts (vent straws), but so do other popular bottles like Dr. Brown's
• You must buy MilkBank bottles/caps for the pump to work

Regardless of what breastmilk storage system you use, pumping and saving your milk, while not easy, is the key to a successful breastfeeding relationship when you work part or full time -- or just want a day or date out without your baby in tow. Happy breastfeeding!

Urban Mama Recommends: Earth Mama * Angel Baby Products

A few weeks before I gave birth, I read about the Earth Mama * Angel Baby product line and was excited to try them for myself. The Oregon-based company specializes in organic, phthalate-free labor, postpartum, breastfeeding and baby products. I was especially eager to use the Natural Labor Companion CD and Labor Ease Kit during my homebirth. Unfortunately, because baby J was 18 days early, I received the shipment of goods two days AFTER he was born. As it turned out, my birth was so relaxed and fast I wouldn't have had much use for most of the items, so I called EMAB and was told I could return any unopened products for a merchandise credit. That was good news, since my husband swears this is our last baby.

Although the labor products weren't opened, I knew the postpartum items would still come in handy even a couple of days late. Here is a list of my mama-tested, mama-approved EMAB goods*:

Earth Mama Bottom Balm: I did not have any perineal tears, but any mama who has experienced a vaginal delivery is sore and swollen down there. This herbal salve (no petroleum by-products, no parabens) feels a bit like Vicks on your fingers, but it is so much better. It definitely makes your bruised and sensitive parts feel tingly. It heals and cools, and it's all-around a must-have for any mama after a vaginal birth.

Postpartum Tea: I am a picky tea drinker. Not in a snobby way; I just find most tea too bitter, so I end up putting too much milk and honey in it, which masks the taste. But my husband insisted I try this one straight. It's actually quite good, but I still put a teensy dollop of honey in my cup.

New Mama Bottom Spray: This is my favorite postpartum product. It's a cooling spray made of witch hazel, antibacterial lavender, and peppermint essential oils. I sprayed it all over my sore bits and also on my maxi pads. I am still using it, just for kicks. If I were ever to have another baby (which is unlikely, but since many of you might still have a baby or two in your future), I would pre-treat a bunch of maxi pads and then freeze them before delivery.

Organic Baby Shampoo and Body Wash: We don't give baby J a bath every day but when we do (actually, in our house, the husband bathes the baby and then passes him off to me as I wait with the hooded towel) we use this mild shampoo & body wash. It's got a self-foaming pump, since the castile soap itself has no foaming agents.

Angel Baby Bottom Balm: I use this every day, especially after the baby had his first diaper rash. It's a rich and creamy balm, and you only need a little bit to go a long way. Plus, it can be used with cloth diapers, which is a relief. So far, so good.

*These items were purchased for my birth and postpartum recovery