Welcome to Spring!

It's finally spring (well for all us Southern Hemispherians) and something that's got me really excited is that I'll be able to leave my dryer alone and get all my nappies out on the line. I've been washing nappies almost non-stop since 2005 and I can sometimes take the amazing properties of the sun and UV light (all in the context of nappy washing) for granted but at this time of year I can't help but be excited by them!

Perhaps the best thing about getting my nappies outside in the sun, or even just into the light, is that i know when they come back in a few hours later they'll be santized and germ-free. Just 2 hrs of UV light, not necessarily direct sunlight, will sanitize your nappies, and anything else that happens to be onthe line aswell.

The way the sunlight - or even moonlight - can get rid of stains is another thing that always amazes me. My nappies can come out of the wash with yellow stains that look like they'll never shift, even after multiple washes, but just 10mins in the sun or 20 under the moon and those stain disappear. It's magic and it happens so fast if you have the time you could watch them fade and shrink and disappear.

Finally I love how clean my nappies feel and even smell when I take them off the line. You just can't get that same feeling in a tumble dryer. As for smells, they can sometimes hang around a bit - usually when baby is teething and their urine is incredibly potent - but spending a sunny day on the line, or even better in the sun with a nice breeze, and there isn't a smell to be found.

And there's no need to remind you that using the washing lines saves power, so is kinder on your wallet and to the earth.

Happy nappy-drying spring!

World Breastfeeding Week is Over

World Breastfeeding Week has finished and once again it looks like it has been successful in raising awareness about the importance of breastfeeding. However what do you do if you can't breastfeed?

When my son was born we had a few small issues with him not putting on enough weight, and as a result I needed to pump and take a herbal supplement to increase my milk supply. My midwife gave me the support I needed and stayed on an additional week or two just to ensure we were feeding well and gaining a good amount of weight every few days.

Despite being able to feed successfully for a short time at 3 months my son's sucking began to change and he lost weight. Distraught I took him to his Dr, who told me "all women worry about breastfeeding" and sent me on my way without checking my son, how he fed or his weight. Fortunately Health Line were more helpful, sorting us out with a Karitane Nurse.

When we first met with the Nurse she advised me to give my son a bottle after each feed for the first day, and arranged a time to fit me with a lact-aide or SNS (supplemental nursing system) the following day. I was distraught, until then my son had been exclusively breastfed and like all new mothers in New Zealand I had read about the benefits of breastfeeding and the dangers of bottlefeeding and felt like I was in some way harming my son.

Breastfeeding your baby is certainly best, and it is worth giving it your very best and working hard at it if you experience difficulties. However, sometimes breastfeeding isn't possible and it is simply better for baby if they are supplemented or formula fed. If you have given it your best shot, and if you have the support of a health professional then you need to feel good and guilt free that you have done the best by your baby.

At Mum & Bubs we have plenty of products to help with breastfeeding and breastfeeding difficulties. We'd love to help answer questions, recommend products or refer you to the appropriate professionals.

World Breastfeeding Week

This year World Breastfeeding Week is focusing on the life-saving capacity of breastfeeding both everyday and in emergency situations. They want to ensure in an emergency situation, like flooding, earthquakes or even a pandemic that mothers have first priorty access to food, water and shelter and that they are provided with a safe place to breastfeed.

In an emergency situation breastfeeding your baby is even more beneficial, breastmilk can be one of the only safe sources of food and liquid for your baby and it will keep them fed and hydrated whenever they require. Breastfeeding also helps prevent post-partum haemorrhaging in new mothers, a leading cause of maternal mortality, and once again in an emergency situation when medical help can be stretched to it's limits or even unavailable breastfeeding shortly after brith becomes even more important.

Of course breastfeeding is not straightfoward. Many mothers find it incredibly difficult and most mothers will experience some problems or difficulties at some stage. So at Mum & Bubs we have a range of products which can help mothers overcome both common and not-so-common breastfeeding difficulties. We understand what it's like to both succeed and fail at breastfeeding, and we're committed to ensuring mothers can breastfeed their babies whenever it is possible.