Enjoying the third trimester of pregnancy can be a bit of a challenge.

I swore this time around it would be different. After I went into preterm labor during my last pregnancy and lost my son, I was going to be grateful for each week as I got closer to a safe gestational age. I wasn’t going to complain AT ALL about third trimester aches and pains and I was going to enjoy every second of this pregnancy.

Fast forward a bit. At 32 weeks pregnant, I’m officially fed up and even though I know this is likely my last pregnancy, I’m having a hard time enjoying it at this point.

While I know there are things that I will miss once this pregnancy is over, I don’t entirely trust my body so I won’t feel completely secure until I have this baby safely in my arms.

In the meantime, I’m looking for ways to try and enjoy the third trimester.

Make Plans

Nothing makes waiting harder than sitting around staring at the clock . . . or the calendar in this case. Plans can always be changed if something comes up with your pregnancy but giving yourself something to look forward to can help pass the time a bit faster. Even if you just make plans to go to the park or see a movie that is coming out before your due date, schedule some things that you want to do.

I have a friend who recommends scheduling something major, like a big get together, right before your due date so you won’t be tempted to wish you were delivering earlier. If you don’t have the energy for arranging something big, think about just putting together a final girls night out before the baby arrives.

Document your Pregnancy

My youngest son’s baby book has little more than his name written in it. While I’d like to recommit to keeping up with the baby books this time around, for this baby and the ones who are already here, I am realistic. I know that this baby’s book will likely get the same treatment as the others.

Take advantage of your last baby-free moments to at least document your pregnancy and write a few thoughts down. It’s easier to continue a project than start a new one after baby is born so if you get a head start, you may be more likely to continue. If not, at least you have something written down.

Let Some Things Slide

I don’t know about you, but most of the things that I’m normally interested in have little or no appeal during pregnancy. I can’t sit through a movie or read a book to save my life at the moment. I’ve had to give myself permission to let a few things slide so I don’t waste all my energy stressing about the things I’m not doing well enough or not doing at all.

One of the things I’ve had to let go of is housework since I’ve been on some degree of bedrest for the last several months. My kids are learning some great housekeeping skills but I have to constantly remind myself that it doesn’t matter if they do it perfectly, it just needs to get done. That means we have streaks on the bathroom mirror and clothes are in the drawers but not necessarily folded. I’m trying to remember that their skills will improve over time and I won’t have to stare at messes I can’t fix forever.

Check a Project Off your To-Do List

If I could feel the nesting instinct when I’m not pregnant, I would be seriously on top of things. Unfortunately, nesting seems to hit full force when I’m too uncomfortable to take advantage of it. Put your family to work on projects that you can’t tackle yourself, like big decluttering jobs, and take the time to get some of the sedentary projects done that you don’t usually have time for.

I have been putting off organizing my digital photos and printing photo albums because I rarely have the time to sit down and focus on it (I’ve actually put them off for so long that the Shutterfly gift cards I had expired. Fortunately, Shutterfly has great customer service and gave me an extension).

I’ve been taking advantage of the times I feel too antsy to work on anything that requires brain power to organize my hard drives and preserve digital photos that I don’t want to lose. While other tasks may go unfinished, I can at least feel like I’m getting something done.

Pamper Yourself

I don’t generally spend a lot of time or money pampering myself but I do make an exception during pregnancy. . . or at least I try to when I can remember to get around to doing it. Despite what everyone says about the “pregnancy glow” there are few times in my life I feel less attractive than during the third trimester and the post-partum period. The situation isn’t helped by the fact that I can’t even bend well enough to trim my own toenails and my split-ends have a mind of their own.

I try and schedule a hair appointment shortly before my due date and with slip-on shoes becoming more of a necessity than a fashion statement, a pedicure is high up on my list.

Is a pedicure not in your budget? Use these tips to give yourself a pedicure at home (or have your more flexible partner do it).

It’s tempting to spend your money on things for the baby, especially if you still have quite a few things you need to buy, but your emotional state will be much better if you take the time to take care of yourself too.

I’m trying to remember that this week so that I’ll finally get around to making that hair appointment.

What tricks do you have for enjoying the third trimester?

photo credit: brennaval via photo pin cc

Related posts:

1. Week by Week Pregnancy Guide
2. Pregnancy Guide – Week 29
3. Pregnancy Guide – Week 33

With my 5th baby due to be born sometime in the next few months, we’re trying to prepare for the shock of having a baby in the house again. We’re going to have a nearly 5 year age gap and I think we’re going to go through some major adjustments as we adapt.

Decluttering is a great way to prepare for having a new baby in the house. I’m dealing with full-blown pregnancy induced ADD* so focusing is not a strong point for me right now. I may not be able to get through a book or sit through a movie, but thanks to that fabulous nesting instinct, few things feel better than decluttering.

Here are my top 10 reasons why you should declutter before having a baby:

Easier to Maintain

With a new baby coming home, simplifying your life is essential. A clutter-free home is easier to maintain so you can spend less time on housework and more time kissing little baby toes. Tackle high traffic areas first, since you’ll see the biggest difference there.

If you have surface areas that tend to collect clutter, find homes for what is already there and create a system for limiting clutter in the future. This may involve finding a storage container for odds and ends, like car keys and mail, to be dropped in so they have a dedicated place to go. Once you have a system in place and a home for everything, daily maintenance won’t take long at all.

Save Money on Baby Basics

There are few things more irritating than buying something and then discovering that you already owned something that would have done the job immediately afterwards.

We all tend to spend more money than we need to when we don’t realize what we already own. Decluttering will help you rediscover lost items, like that hidden stash of onsies you forgot you kept from you last baby.

Earn Extra Money for Baby Gear

If you are having your first baby (or in our case, having a different gender for the first time), chances are you have a lot you need to buy. Baby gear and clothing can add up quickly and may not be in your budget. You can find the money to buy what you need by decluttering and selling things that you no longer need.

As the weather warms up, it’s the perfect time for a spring garage sale. I usually find that garage sales are too much work, especially while pregnant though so I prefer to list items on local classifieds or Ebay if the item is easily shipped.

Take Advantage of Nesting

During pregnancy, few things feel as satisfying as checking long procrastinated tasks off your to-do list. You may as well take advantage of that nesting instinct while you can and get some decluttering out of the way because once the baby arrives finding time for a shower and a nap will beat out most other things on your to-do list.

I often wish the drive to clean and declutter was as strong when I’m not pregnant because my progress is definitely slower and I’m much more limited in what I’m able to do. I’ll take what I can get though, even if that means putting my kids to work.

Take Advantage of Willing Helpers

Get a head start on baby proofing

Tiny toys and other odds and ends need to be well out of the way by the time your new baby masters the art of crawling. You may as well get a head start by decluttering toys your kids have outgrown (or packing them away) and finding homes for all of the toys that have tiny parts.

Legos are currently the bane of my existence because I know if I don’t get a system for keeping them under control now, it’s going to be a nightmare when this baby starts crawling. Since it takes a while to form a habit, I’m training my older kids now so they can learn to keep their tiny toys off the floor before we end up with a baby choking on something.

It’s a Great Way to Pass the Time

Pregnancy drags a bit for me, especially this time since I’m pregnant after a second trimester loss. I’m sure I won’t feel safe until I have a healthy baby in my arms. Because of that, I’ve been looking for ways to stay occupied — which is a bit tricky when you combine my current short attention span and the bedrest. Seeing progress made on small decluttering projects is a great way to pass the time and it makes me feel like we’re really getting somewhere. With about 6-7 weeks still to go, I will probably be getting a lot of decluttering done.

photo credit: jhiner via photo pin cc

*Excuse any spelling/grammatical mistakes. Pregnancy brain is very, very real.

What are your top reasons to declutter during pregnancy?

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After my last pregnancy, I wasn’t expecting to be pregnant again. At the end of a rough pregnancy, we went home empty handed and planning a funeral rather than looking forward to future milestones. I wanted to avoiding going through that particular experience again at all cost.

This pregnancy has left me a bit stunned and even though I’ll be 22 weeks on Monday, I’m still at least partially convinced that I’m probably faking it. The only thing convincing me otherwise is the fact that i still have 24 hour a day morning sickness and my jeans no longer fit, which is problematic considering I seem to have gotten rid of most of my maternity clothes.

The moral of the story . . . don’t get rid of any maternity clothes until you are well past menopause (and even then think twice about it). Life doesn’t generally go according to plan and nothing will guarantee another pregnancy like getting rid of maternity clothes.

So that leaves me with a dilemma. I have no interest in spending loads of money on maternity clothes that don’t have as long of a shelf life on my 5th pregnancy as they did for my first.

So how do you save money on maternity clothes?

Say Yes to Hand-Me-Downs

Good quality hand-me-downs are nothing to turn your nose up at. Maternity clothes, especially if they’ve only been through a single pregnancy and clothes bought towards the end of a pregnancy get put into storage before they get much wear. If you have any friends who are firmly done having kids, send out some feelers to see if they’d be willing to give away or sell you any of their old maternity clothes.

A word of advice — unless it’s a really close friend or family member, I’d avoid borrowing maternity clothes. A pregnant belly is a magnet for spilled food and the last thing you want to worry about during your pregnancy is whether or not your friend is going to be offended when you go to return her clothes.

Shop Local Consignment Shops

Local consignment shops and thrifts stores can be great for some frugal finds. Keep an eye out for higher end baby consignment shops because many of them have a maternity section and they typically screen the clothes they sell for quality. When buying second hand, look for well known brands because they tend to hold up better over the long run.

Shop Ebay

Ebay can be a great source for finding some great deals on maternity clothing. You have to be careful to pay attention to shipping costs though because on individual items you can end up paying more than you would for brand new clothes if you aren’t careful. I’ve found the best deals by shopping for “lots” of clothes. Be sure to look carefully at photos and sizes to make sure you are getting something you can use.

Online Clearance

Many larger stores like Target , Gap and Old Navy offer maternity clothes, however the selection in the stores can be a bit sparse. I’ve had great luck shopping in the online clearance section of some of my favorite stores, especially at the end of the season. You can often find offers for free shipping or in store pick up to save even more money. Before you check out, do a quick search for any coupon codes that you can use on your order.

Discount Retailers

There are some great places to get high quality clothes at a discount if you keep your eyes out. One of my favorites is Baby Steals. They generally feature baby items but from time to time they have some great maternity offerings. Totsy is another great site, that again, generally offers baby items but if you keep your eyes open you can find some great deals on maternity wear.

What tips do you have for saving money on maternity clothes?

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One of the very unfair things about pregnancy is that your immune system may not be as strong as it usually is. I never catch a cold . . . unless I’m pregnant, and then I come down with everything that goes around. We’re going on our second full week dealing with colds around our house and being pregnant, I’m limited in my treatment options.

While there are some cold medicines that are safe during pregnancy, I’m allergic to all of them, and it’s generally a good idea to limit the number of medications you take during pregnancy. The one exception to this, is treating a fever. Fever’s can be dangerous for your baby so if you develop a fever you’ll want to take acetaminophen to lower the fever and call your doctor if your fever goes too high or won’t go away.

That doesn’t mean you are out of options if you come down with a cold while pregnant. You still have quite a few natural (and mostly natural) options for treating colds during pregnancy.

Sinus Rinse

I have to preface this one by saying that I am the biggest chicken in the world. I hate having water in my nose and I put off trying a sinus rinse for years, even though I keep hearing how great they are for clearing out sinus congestions. Even after coming home from BlogHer 2011 with a Waterpik SinuSense Water Pulsator, I still put off using it until I came down with this most recent cold. My son, who suffers from asthma and is prone to catching every respiratory infection that comes near us, was brave enough to try it out and told me it wasn’t that bad, but even then I put it off.

This time, I was just out of options so I gave in and gave it a try. I have to say, it is nearly as bad as I thought it was, but, after not being able to breath through my nose for over a week I could suddenly breath clearly. I’m told this gets easier to use with practice and I may have to keep practicing because it’s the only thing that’s giving me any relief from this horrible cold.

Treat Colds with Steam

Warm, moist air can do wonders when you are sick and congested. We frequently steam up the bathroom by turning the shower as hot as it goes then sit in there with the doors shut until we can breath again. This will probably not get rid of your symptoms for too long but it can loosen up enough mucous to allow you to really blow your nose and get that stuff out of there to get some relief.

Sleeping with a humidifier in your bedroom can give you similar results that will last through the night. We have a Crane Humidifier in a cute animal design that my kids love and it works great when one of us comes down with a cold, especially during pregnancy when cold treatment options are limited.

Treat with Food

When I’m sick, my appetite is usually the first thing to suffer, which is unfortunate because food can play a great role in helping you feel better. Chicken noodle soup is always a classic standby and is super easy to make from scratch in your crockpot even when you don’t feel like cooking. Many solid foods may not sound good if you have a sore throat and you may be limited in your food choices if you are suffering from morning sickness on top of your cold. Try vegetable puree soups or fruit smoothies

Drinking orange juice and grape fruit juice can do wonders for a sore throat and is a great source of vitamin C, which will ultimately help you fight off your cold. Hot liquids are especially helpful when you aren’t feeling well (which is why soup is always a popular choice). My family often makes Hot Russian Tea when we aren’t feeling well. It is another great source of vitamin C and it really helps to sooth your throat. My only complaint is it has a lot of sugar in the recipe we use. I’m need to test it out using honey as an alternative since honey can be very soothing for a sore throat.

If you want something fast, plain old hot water with some lemon juice and honey can be a great natural cold remedy during pregnancy.

You have to be careful with supplements during pregnancy. I’m a bit fan of the Emergen-C vitamin drinks when I’m coming down with a cold and was given the okay by my obgyn, but as with any supplement, you’ll want to check with your own doctor before trying something new.

Vicks VapoRub

As a general rule, when I’m sick during pregnancy I turn to the remedies I use when my kids are sick. Vicks VapoRub is usually the first thing we go for when a cold hits our house because as a topical ointment, you aren’t getting as much of the medicine into your body as you would be taking a cough syrup.

While I hate the way I feel when I’m slathered in VapoRub, there are few things that can beat it when it comes to helping treat cough and congestion. I’ll often use VapoRub before sitting in a steamed up bathroom to really clean out some of that congestion.

Cold Prevention

The best way to deal with a cold during pregnancy is to avoid getting one in the first place. Practice religious hand washing habits and encourage everyone in your home to do the same. Be especially vigilant about washing your hands before eating and after coming home from a public place. Avoid anyone who looks like they may be sick and try and keep your hands away from your face after touching high traffic items like door knobs or shopping carts. Don’t share a tube of toothpaste with anyone else, especially if anyone in your home has been sick and keep fresh air flowing in your home by opening windows whenever the weather allows for it.

What is your favorite way to treat a cold during pregnancy?

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1. Pushing through a Cold . . . Naturally
2. Week by Week Pregnancy Guide
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I’m 18 weeks pregnant this week and, if I’m being totally honest with myself, I didn’t think this day would come. My last baby was born at 18 weeks and passed away in my arms 10 minutes after birth. With my previous pregnancies, despite the complications I’ve had, I was never really a nervous mom. I knew this time things would be a bit different but I wasn’t prepared for how emotionally draining this pregnancy would be and how much each tiny milestone would mean to me.

Weekly appointments with the Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor have kept most of my panic at bay, although my visits seem to alternate between being reassuring and discovering new potential complications. I’ve realized that the best I can do is take things one day at a time and celebrate each day I’m still pregnant.

I’m fighting the tendency to avoid getting attached to this pregnancy and celebrating each milestone as a small victory. These are the milestones that have meant the most:

A Positive Pregnancy Test

After a loss, the possibility of another pregnancy often seems so far off in the distant future that it’s a bit of a shock when you realize you have come full circle. For me, denial hit big time. I took 2 home pregnancies tests and requested 3 blood tests. Even after all of those came back positive, I wasn’t convinced until I’d seen the baby on several ultrasounds. Early pregnancy is when many miscarriages happen so it’s normal to feel cautious after a loss. If you’ve announced your previous pregnancies right away, you may be more hesitant to do so now. I decided that I felt okay about spreading the news only to friends and family members that I would tell if I did experience a loss.

Doubling HCG Levels

After a loss, your OBGYN will likely order a 48 hour HCG test. This is a simple blood test but it can give you a good initial idea of how strong the pregnancy is. Your HCG levels should double every 48 hours. If they do, it’s a good indication that the pregnancy is progressing the way it should. My HCG levels quadrupled at the beginning of this pregnancy and it was a huge relief to know that we were at least starting off smoothly.

Finding a Heartbeat

Once you see a heartbeat on an ultrasound (or hear it on a doppler if you are further along in your pregnancy) the risk of miscarriage goes down drastically. This can be very reassuring, as is seeing real proof of your little bean. For me, this milestone was less reassuring than it could have been since I experienced a loss later on in my previous pregnancy, but it was still comforting. I’ve never had a desire to rent or buy a doppler in any of my previous pregnancies, but I have to admit, I was very tempted this time. If my perinatologist hadn’t started bringing me in for weekly appointments, I probably would have caved.

If you do buy a doppler, be sure you avoid anything that says “listening device”. A listening device is much cheaper than a doppler but it’s is only useful in the second and third trimesters when the baby is larger.

Hitting Double Digits

This pregnancy milestone has absolutely no medical significance but for some reason I felt better when I moved into the double digits. Making the transition from 9 weeks to 10 just felt huge to me because those early weeks of pregnancy seemed to be dragging by so slowly that I just felt stuck. There was also the added perk that 10 weeks was just a bit closer to that magic 2nd trimester point when miscarriage rates go down and supposedly morning sickness goes away. I would have been very discouraged at that point if you had told me I’d still be dealing with morning sickness at 18 weeks. Some things are definitely better if we’re kept in the dark.

Moving into the Second Trimester

Depending on who you talk to, the second trimester of pregnancy starts sometime between the 12th-14th weeks of pregnancy. Once you hit that point your risk of early miscarriage goes down and in theory you start to feel a bit better. I’m still waiting for all that extra energy that the pregnancy books promise but it does feel better to see those weeks adding up.

Passing the Point of your Previous Loss

The most comforting milestone many expectant moms hit in a pregnancy after a loss is passing the point where you lost your last baby. This obviously varies depending on your last experience (and if you went full term before experiencing a loss you’ll likely be nervous until that baby is in your arms). For me, 18 weeks was that key week and until I got this far, I was absolutely convinced that I was waiting to repeat history.

20 Weeks

20 weeks is not much different than 19 weeks except that anything before 20 weeks is technically considered a miscarriage. I delivered an 18 week baby who was born alive and fought for 10 minutes to try and breath and I can tell you that nothing about that felt like a miscarriage. My son died in my arms with his tiny hand wrapped around one of my fingers. If you have a loss at 20 weeks or beyond, you don’t have to deal with insensitive family members trying to convince you that you only had a miscarriage.

Hospital policy varies but at many hospitals, 20 weeks is also the point where you can go straight to labor and delivery verses stopping by in the ER if you have any problems. I’ve found most ER staff to be clueless when it comes to pregnancy so I’m anxiously counting down the days until I hit 20 weeks this time.

Anatomy Ultrasound

Typically you’ll have an anatomy ultrasound between 18-20 weeks of pregnancy. This ultrasound can give you a good idea if your baby is developing properly and has any markers for chromosomal problems. If you want to know the gender, you should be able to determine that at this point too. I’ve found that knowing the gender helps you bond a bit more with the baby before birth.

Until I found out this baby was a girl, I had trouble separating her in my mind from the previous baby that I lost. I know that doesn’t make much logical sense but it was a trick that my brain played on me. Apparently I wasn’t the only one. My 6 year old son asked me several times if this baby was his lost brother coming back to our family.

The Point of Viability

A baby is viable between 23 and 24 weeks. Before that point, no measures will be taken to save the baby’s life if she is born prematurely. Survival rates go up drastically at 24 weeks and even though it’s best to keep babies cooking much longer than that, it is a huge comfort once you hit the point where you know your baby has a shot. I may have a party when I hit 24 weeks. Seriously.

Every Week Counts

Once the baby is viable, each week is something to celebrate. Survival rates go up each week and the chance of serious complications and lifelong health issue go down. The good news is, the days go by slowly but the weeks often go by quickly. . . or at least that’s what we tell ourselves after the fact.

37 Weeks

37 weeks is considered full term and the likelihood of the baby needing to spend time in the NICU is much lower. This is also my official pregnancy deadline because I’m not allowed to get further than 37 weeks since I have a history of abruptions and growth restriction.

Due Date

I may be a total dork, but I get really excited when I buy food with an expiration date past my due date. In previous pregnancies I would get all excited when yogurt expired after my due date and then when milk expired after my due date. I’m a long way off from that still but I’m already smiling at the dates on my milk carton.

What milestones meant something to you in a pregnancy after a loss?

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I’ve been keeping a secret from all of you. I’m not particularly good at keeping secrets, but in this case, I’ve been too afraid to make our news public, knowing what I do about how many things can go wrong. I found out about a month ago that we are expecting our 5th baby. This is good news. It is.

Except it terrifies me.

You see, our last baby was born at only 18 weeks. He passed away after 10 minutes. Before that, I have a long history of severe preeclampsia, placental abruption, and preterm labor. That makes this road we are on a scary one.

The odds I’ve been given aren’t good. After losing our baby last time, I would have been terrified anyway. Hearing that it isn’t likely I’ll go to term doesn’t help things.

I had high hopes for this pregnancy. I was originally told that a cerclage and the p17 shots would give me a good shot at a normal pregnancy. Once a subchorionic hematoma (essentially an early abruption) was found on my first ultrasound the plan changed. I’m not a good candidate for a cerclage because the risk of infection is too high and l went into labor last time at least partially because the subchorionic bleed caused a uterine infection.

It’s a balancing act and the only treatment option my doctor is really giving me is “take it easy” and we’ll “wait and see”, which is not overly comforting when you are pregnant after an infant loss.

The trick is, overcoming the fear is essential. If I let fear get the best of me, my blood pressure rises and the risk of an abruption goes up.

For now, I’m taking things day by day. I’m taking lots of breaks and walking away from things that cause me stress. Beyond that though, I’m flying blind.

I know that we’re generally the ones providing the tips around here but this time, I need some tips from you. How do you stay calm when you are feeling fearful?

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There are several different types of Anemia but the most common kind is Iron Deficiency. Small children and women of a child bearing age are the most common sufferers of a decreased Iron level. Iron is a mineral that can be found in EVERY SINGLE cell of our body. It supports numerous tasks but the most important of these is to carry oxygen from our blood to our lungs are part of hemoglobin. If our body is deficient in iron levels, other minor processes of our daily function will be ignored so that all that is available will be used to transfer the oxygen to our organs and muscles. This can result in a whole plethora of signs and symptoms that often go unnoticed.

Signs of Iron Deficiency

1. Bruising Easily. As moms we all get bumps and bruises, its in the job description, but if you are noticing that you are getting more and more frequent bruises and – worse – don’t recall being injured hard enough to leave that much of a mark, you are likely iron deficient. This is sort of a vicious cycle because the loss of the red blood cells – which cause the bruise – actually further decreases your iron levels. In most people it’s hard to say if the bruising or the deficiency came first but if it persists, it will become damaging to your health.
2. Constantly tired and feeling “weak”. If you have a few days were you just feel out of it, nothing big to worry about – especially if it’s the few days following your period, as blood loss decreases your iron levels. However, if you cannot bounce back in a few days, you really need to use some sort of supplementation – dietary pills, increased red meat and vegetables high in iron.
3. Hair loss. This is the one that often goes unreported. Women will start to loss something more than the average daily hair loss but less than real “clumps” and worry that they are just thinning with age. If it is a sudden onset and enough for you to really take note, you should talk to your doctor. A full blood work-up will be able to determine your problem.

Treating Iron Deficiency

The most common treatment of Iron Deficiency is through dietary supplementation. However, this has a fair amount of unpleasant side effects, namely bouts of constipation followed by diarrhea. In minor cases the addition of red meat to your diet can help as well as consuming vegetables that are high in iron like dark leafy greens. Another great source, though not very tasty, is to take a tablespoon of black strap molasses each day. For more severe cases, your doctor may opt for iron infusions – a weekly or biweekly injection of a fluid rich in iron pushed directly to your veins. This is done for people who struggle with absorption of vitamins and minerals within their digestive system.

Whatever method you choose for treatment, the most important thing is to get treatment. While this is a minor issue that many women go through – especially before, during and after pregnancy – the lasting effects can become irreparable.

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Have you ever had a doctor off-handedly mention to you that you have “dense breast tissue”? It was previously believed that having dense tissue – as apposed to fatty tissue – was simply an inconvenience when detecting tumors on a mammogram. Fatty tissue shows up as very dark on the image produced and tumors show up as very light in contrast– unfortunately dense tissue also shows up as light on the image, sometimes masking the tumors. However, a new study has found that not only does having dense breast tissue make it more difficult to see tumors, it is actually a risk factor for breast cancer. This study, which took place in Canadian Cancer centers in 2007, found that women with dense breast tissue were FIVE times more likely to have breast cancer.

What is Dense Breast Tissue?

For most women, the breast tissue is very soft – almost squishy – and fatty. However some women have more solid breasts. While dense breast tissue is not something that can be identified via a physical examine, a mammogram, ultrasound and/or MRI can see it. The main reason that a breast may be dense is a larger amount of mammary glands (milk producing glands), as well as connective tissue – when compared to the fatty tissue. It has nothing to do with cup size at all, just a ratio between fatty and non-fatty tissue within the breast.

Why is it ignored?

As mentioned above, it’s a widely held belief that dense tissue is merely an inconvenience and not a red flag when it comes to breast tissue and mammograms. Some might infer that the rate of “false positives” is what causes doctors to not investigate further. However, since breast cancer is one of those things that can be treated very effectively if detected early – wouldn’t you want to go for that second screening rather than ignore the issue?

Don’t wait till you can “feel” it

Many women think that their breasts are just fine if they can’t “feel” a lump. And while regular breast examination is important – you should try to do it once a week if you can remember – you still are not catching it as early as a mammogram can. You have to imagine that the cells of a tumor grow much like a fetus does – it starts out microscopic and takes months – even years – to grow to a size that you can actually detect with your hands on the outside of your skin. Getting a regular mammogram starting at age 40, 35 if you have certain risk factors – like heredity.

What does this mean for you?

If you are told – in passing – that “you have dense breast tissue” after getting your mammogram with no directions to get an ultrasound and/or MRI as follow-up – ask for one! It’s your health and it’s important to be proactive. If it’s an issue of insurance coverage – some companies will not cover an “elective screening”, which is one not requested by your doctor – check in with your local American Cancer Society office to see what they offer in terms of screenings. You may have to wait a few days or weeks for their next event, but usually they have some sort of option available.

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2. Giveaway: Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breast Pump
3. Giveaway: Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump

Having all the right equipment when you breastfeeding is very important for success. This becomes especially true when you are pumping your milk for storage. If you have to pump milk so that you can return to work, you will have to pump at regular intervals throughout the day to insure that you keep you milk supply up. This can be a time consuming process, so you really want to be sure that you have a streamlined method to make the most of it. One of the best ways to do that is to utilize a hands-free bustier so that you can multitask while you pump.  Medela has the complete line of breastfeeding needs – from pumps to nursing bras. Check out their Easy Expression Bustier.

Easy Expression™ Bustier
Model: EE Bustier

Features and Benefits

• Gives you the freedom to do other things while pumping.
• Easy to wear, use and wash.
• Cotton/Spandex blend is comfortable on its own or over a nursing bra or camisole.
• Machine wash, tumble dry.
• Available in white or black.
• Halter style also available.

Here’s What I Think

I was very happy to find that the sizing was spot on. Often times you can run into sizing issues when you are nursing because you have no way of knowing just how much you will grow. You can use the Medela Bra Size Calculator and the Bustier Size Chart to find your best size. I wore the bustier on its own and found it to be very comfortable soft fabric that did not bind or dig into my skin. I really liked being about to relieve my engorgement and still comfortably hold my baby, or read my book or do a number of other tasks. It is great to not feel tied down to one spot while pumping. I was also pleased with how well it washed. It did not shrink or distort in shape at all with a normal washing.

Enter to Win

One Busy Mommy Media reader will receive a Medela Easy Expression™ Bustier.

To enter, comment on this post and give us your best breastfeeding advice.

This giveaway is open to the U.S. only and will end on  July 20, 2011

In compliance with the FTC Guidelines, please note that this is a sponsored post, however all opinions are my own. Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions for a complete list of our contest and giveaway rules.

Additional Giveaway Entries

Earn additional giveaway entries for each of the following. Comment on this post to let us know each time you earn an additional entry.

• Follow Busy Mommy Media on Twitter
• Become a Fan of Busy Mommy Media on Facebook
• Tweet this giveaway:

• Get updates from Busy Mommy Media by signing up for the  Busy Mommy Media Newsletter, subscribing to the Busy Mommy Media RSS feed, or  Signing up to receive updates from Busy Mommy Media.
• Start or respond to a conversation in our Blog Frog Community.
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to the giveaway post.
• Stumble this post.

Want to be notified when we draw a winner? We’re happy to send out one (1) reminder email when we draw a winner. We promise not to put you on our mailing list (unless you want us to). Add your email address here to receive notification of the winner.

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Study after study shows that there is not a single product made in a lab that comes close to incredible value of nursing your baby. One really important aspect of breastmilk that you will never find in a can of formula is the presence of antibodies. When a woman is around a virus or germ, she develops the antibodies that stay in her system. If that same virus later affects the baby, your milk will provide the baby with the antibodies to fight the infection and help them to fight the bug right from the start.

As with everything pregnancy and newborn related, there are some mild drawbacks – mostly centered on discomfort and embarrassment. One of those drawbacks is leakage. For many nursing moms, leakage is something that happens while they are actively nursing their child. This is how it works: You start nursing baby on the left side and get the “let down” of milk, but lo and behold both breasts let down and now you have a wet circle on the right breast. Not only is this inconvenient, uncomfortable and embarrassing, it’s also a waste when you really think about it. That’s where the Milkies Milk Saver comes into play!

About the Milkies Milk Saver:

“Our patented design allows you to breastfeed anywhere without worrying about embarrassing leaks or uncomfortable nursing pads. Slim and portable, no one will even know you are wearing it. Best of all — it collects your leaking breast milk when you nurse, allowing you to store extra breast milk effortlessly.

The milk-saver is easy to use; simply slip into your bra-cup on the non-nursing side before you breastfeed. The milk-saver collects the breast milk that is leaked out when your milk lets down. You can store this milk and save it for any time its needed.

Breastfeeding is something to be proud of. The milk-saver makes it easy. The patented slim design makes the milk-saver nearly imperceptible when worn. A stylish and durable case keeps your milk-saver safe and clean when you’re on the go.
At Milkies, we care about the safety of the materials that make up our products. The Milk-Saver has been rigorously tested to ensure zero chemical leaching and contains no BPA or phthalates.

As an environmentally conscious company, we give breastfeeding moms an alternative to disposable products. The Milk-Saver has exceeded all expectations for functionality and simplicity. It has received accolades from lactation specialists, pediatricians, and breastfeeding moms the world over.

The Milk-Saver makes the perfect baby shower/new mom gift. Or get one for yourself.

Also the Milkies Milk Saver is a USDA allowable cost at WIC clinic. Email helen@mymilkies.com for more information.

Here’s What I think about it:

My very first thought about this product was whether or not it would be noticeable to those around me and would it be comfortable. I was very pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to slip into my nursing bra and how I didn’t even notice it once it was in place.

Early on in the process of breastfeeding, you experience this stage of leakage that is uncontrollable. While your body is trying to figure out just how much milk is needed, it tends to overproduce, which results in what is called engorgement. The Milkies allow you save that leakage or at least collect it, so that it doesn’t run down the front of your shirt. This product really comes in handy when you get to the “rice cereal stage” because one feeding can produce enough milk to mix in with the rice cereal – which is just perfect!

Enter to Win

One Busy Mommy Media reader will win a Milkies Milk Saver.

To enter, comment on this post and tells us your best advice for a new mother.

This giveaway is open to the U.S. only and will end on  June 21, 2011

In compliance with the FTC Guidelines, please note that this is a sponsored post. Glide Bikes sent me a Go Glider for review purposes and is providing the giveaway prize, however all opinions are my own. Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions for a complete list of our contest and giveaway rules.

Additional Giveaway Entries

Earn additional giveaway entries for each of the following. Comment on this post to let us know each time you earn an additional entry.

• Follow Busy Mommy Media on Twitter
• Become a Fan of Busy Mommy Media on Facebook
• Tweet this giveaway by clicking on the box in the upper right hand side of this post or copying and pasting the following into twitter:

I entered to #win a @MyMilkies Milk Saver  from @BusyMommyMedia! http://bit.ly/klCLHp

• Get updates from Busy Mommy Media by signing up for the  Busy Mommy Media Newsletter, subscribing to the Busy Mommy Media RSS feed, or  Signing up to receive updates from Busy Mommy Media.
• Start or respond to a conversation in our Blog Frog Community.
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to the giveaway post.
• Stumble this post.

Want to be notified when we draw a winner? We’re happy to send out one (1) reminder email when we draw a winner. We promise not to put you on our mailing list (unless you want us to). Add your email address here to receive notification of the winner.

Related posts:

1. Giveaway: Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breast Pump
2. Is Organic Milk Worth the Moolah?
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