DAY IN THE LIFE WITH PHILIPS AVENT COMFORT DOUBLE ELECTRIC BREAST PUMP

I’ve been pumping from almost the very beginning of Luke’s life. I was insanely engorged day 4 of his life & with having such a big chest it was hard to breastfeed from the beginning. I wasn’t taught I should delay pumping to regulate my supply or even upon reading articles & blog posts about breastfeeding I never once read to delay. However, even with an oversupply I’ve been in really lucky to be able to donate to another baby in need of breast milk. I had a deep freeze already so why not?! I knew I wouldn’t be able to freeze milk every month for Luke because I wouldn’t have room in my freezer! 
Please note that I am creating this blog post as a paid ambassador with Philips Avent & PTPA. All opinions are my own & I only work with companies I genuinely love or have used prior to being contacted. 

Using the Philips AVENT Philips Avent Comfort Double Electric Breast Pump lives up to it's name. It has made pumping a lot more comfortable for me. I really appreciate the soft massage cushion attachments that come with the bump that gently stimulate let down & milk flow. It also is a lot more comfortable since it isn't hard plastic like other competitors. It has also won the PTPA Seal of Approval to further advocate & build trust among the parental community. It rightfully won! 

Since switching from my previous pump to the Philips Avent Comfort Double Electric I no longer have to lean forward & can sit more comfortably. I also really like that the settings on the machine are different from the other pump I had previously used. When turning the pump on it automatically starts to stimulate then you can choose out of 3 pump settings to what best suits your pumping session. I feel like my body reacts better while using the comfort double electric because it's gentle! I would highly recommend in this pump vs competitors because it's not loud, it's very easy to clean thankfully due to less parts & it compatible with other Philips Avent bottles. 

My pumping schedule normally would have my stuck at home but thankfully it can be pretty flexible where I can get out for the afternoon with Lucas for a couple of hours & not feel too uncomfortable. My day's normally beginning with getting up & pumping as soon as possible because sleeping for 6-8 hours makes me uncomfortably engorged when I wake up around 8am. I then go get Lucas & feed him. He goes down for a nap 1.5 hours after waking so I then take the opportunity to eat breakfast & work a bit. Once he's up from his nap we play, eat some solids & do a learning activity. Once he goes down for his 2nd nap I pump while he's asleep & make lunch! When he wakes we either go out for a bit or hang out on his mat & play with his toys. On his 3rd & final nap I like to prep dinner and pump again. My last pumping session is 10/11pm at night! I pump 3-4 times a day depending on if we go out or not.

When receiving the pump I couldn't get over the sleek storage bag design! I love how structured it is and easy to bring around & fit into small spaces when packing it on the go. I also liked that it wasn't "loud" as for colors or specifically saying on the bag what it is. I'm by no means ashamed I have to pump on the go but I also don't like to wave it around! Everything fits inside. The breast pumping machine, the charger, the bottles/flanges & even some room for extras! The compact lightweight design really gets my seal of approval.

Having the opportunity to test out these Philips Avent products over the last three months has been such a pleasure! I had previously already used the video monitor & another design of Philips Avent Bottles you can see my previous reviews here for the Philips Avent DigitalVideo Baby Monitor & here for the Anti-ColicBottles with AirFree Vent 

Giveaway time! 

1 Philips Anti-Colic Bottle with AirFree Vent Essentials Gift Set! 

Philips Avent June Giveaway

Disclosure: I am part of the PTPA Media Brand Ambassador Program with Philips Avent and I received Compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

#2 Postpartum Update: 6 months.

I am 6 months postpartum,

Mentally: I am in a very good place. I 100% believe being on the verge of postpartum depression was because of the weather. It effects me a lot & being cooped inside didn't help. Once I started getting out & meeting with other moms for coffee etc my mental health went from me thinking "how am I going to get out of this.." to no depression, no anxiety. However, 5 months postpartum I had a terrible bout of health anxiety for about 2.5 weeks. It was debilitating. I only have "flare ups" once a year now of health anxiety where I drive myself coocoo and thinking I'm going to die. I hate that the brain is so powerful sometimes! It all kind of started when I lost weight past 160lbs. I was so use to being at that weight that being less scared me. I guess you could say it was a type of body dysmorphia? I am now 145lbs & currently embracing it. I eat a lot during the day because going under 145lbs would rock me a little mentally. I like being 145 & I rather gain muscle back than lose any more weight. I fit into jeans I bought 5 years ago because I said to myself I would one day wear them.. I remember specifically!

I have lots of energy & look forward to going out in the sun every day! Sometimes if it's mid day and I haven't been outside, I will just get going after Lucas's 2nd nap and we will go for a stroll so I get that fresh air & kind of like a breather. We are currently living in a basement suite and with the warmth, being crowded because we have grown out of our space it gets me stressed out pretty quickly! I am a organized person, I love everything somewhat having a place. My husband really needs his own office for all his computer stuff.. It drives me bonkers!

All in all I am doing a lot better since my last update.  You can read that here. If you read my last update you will know that I was in the middle of dealing with doctors over my tear from birth. I can thankfully say after waiting a couple of more months my body has healed its self. It just need a little more time! So I no longer need surgery to have a revision of my tear! Thank goodness! I am also still exclusively pumping & the dreaded period has returned. Although who know's if it's consistently back! My supply took a small dip but it's fine. I went from pumping every 5-6 hours now pumping every 4 hours again to just have my supply still "up there" so I can still donate some to baby Henry.

Now on to Lucas! 

Lucas: My little (Big) Lucas has been on a roll! He is now rolling from front to back, back to front. It actually happened on the day he turned 6 months! He's also started puree's. He absolutely hates textured foods and will gag until he throws up.. I've come to the conclusion that he needs to be fed in the bath tub if we try new foods and he doesn't like it.. That way it is a much easier clean up! (Totally will not happen, don't worry). At 5 months Luke got his first cold and was a champ! He ended up getting into the habit of waking up around 3-4am but thankfully it was a phase and now he is sleeping from 8pm - 8am again! HALLELUJAH. I had a small bout of remember what it was like when he was a newborn... I was barley functioning myself!
Lucas smiles, laughs, screeches, makes all sorts of silly noises and self soothes with his thumb. He's at the point of putting everything in his mouth & babbling. When you tell him "no" he smiles and thinks it's funny. Yay (sarcasm)
He weighs 23lbs & loves to stand assisted. He gets upset if he doesn't sometimes so that's an indication that he is strong enough to do so.