The Widgey Support Cushion
Details:£24.99 from Mothercare
We tried this in the shop and it seemed like a good idea....
Pros: It is fairly easy to fit round you one handed
cons: The rounded top means, if baby wiggles as much as Bigfoot does, it isn't very secure though it does support your arm well if you are confident enough to lift the baby one armed ( I wasn't/am not). On the plus side it is easy to pull on one handed and would possibly be useful if you were sat in the middle of a bed so if the baby slipped it wouldn't be the end of the world - as it was I gave up with it once I had left hospital.and I do prefer to feed sat in a chair.
my breast friend
Details : £44.99 from Mothercare or online at
pros: a nice firm support pillow that clips in place with bumps to lift the babys head a little. As a rather well endowed woman it "presents" my breasts at the right height. The version available at their website has 2 fixings an adjustable clip and a useful velcro strap - unfortunately the version available in mothercare only has the clip.It has a built in back rest which I found very comfortable.and a handy pocket on the front - perfect for holding a muslin etc.
Cons: It is a little to clasp the clip one-handed but the velcro version may be easier! I also find it quite hard to position the baby on it without help - but this is mostly because bigfeet has decided he doesn't like breast feeding - I think due to the pressure in hospital making me tense and miserable which i think he picked up onand with lots of different people forcing him to feed instead of letting him get on with it himself so when we position him he squirms and cries and make life generally awkward,
Easy Expression Hands Free Breast Pump Bra - Bustier and Halter
Details : Easy Expression approx £19.99
Pros: Really easy to get on( I have the halter version) it is easy to pull on over my head all the way down to my hips then back up under my duff arm - the halter tie is long enough to hold one end in my teeth to tie it though I leave it done up most of the time as it can then just stretch over my head easily. Putting in the pumps is doable though not easy it took some practice but I am quite good at it now.
I did have mastitis caused by the way I was holding the pump preventing the breast to drain properly but since I used this it has almost completely cleared up.(quick tip from my cousins wife emma - mastitis can be helped by cabbage leaves in your bra - not necessarily the most exotic acessory ever but it works).
Cons: getting the pumps in takes some practice but is doeable without damaging your poor boobs and I am now a dab hand at it!
Medela Mini Electric Plus Breast Plus
Details: £70 from various
Pros: I found this just as good as the hospital medela pumps. It is fairly easy to assemble BUT getting the membrane on the filter is very hard the only way i could do it was to pop the yellow fillter on the cup bit of the pump grip the cup in my teeth then go cross eyed while I put the membrane on- easier said than done but achieveable
Cons: I also found the bottles that came with it were too big - unfortunately being rather well endowed they tounched my thighs tipping the pump backwardswasting valuable milk! I replaced them with the 50ml bottles from the hospital which though strerilisable they just throw awaay and so being a miser a grabbed a bunch of them thinking even if I couldn't use them maube our local school could use them to store paints or similar.The connecting tubes are quite short so I have pulled the whole shebang off the table when shifting to get comfy.This is particuarily annoying as I pop the big bottle in the stand so when the 50 ml bottles fill they don't over flow so I loose my hard won milk!
Tips: you will get a hiogher yield of milk if you don't double pump but you pump fist one breast for 5 mins then the other for 5 mins and then switch back. You need to express roughly the same number of times as your baby feeds - tedious i know but it means you will have enough milk to avoid formula.
Mothercare own nipple sheilds
Detaiils: Motghercare £3.99
Pros:Recommended by te midwife and did help the monster latch on once ,yup just once.
Cons: These don't have a cut out or the babies nose and seemed to seal over his nostrils quite often. They "stick" on using water and as big feet is a wiggler he just immeadiately got his fingers under them and so they peeled off - I am thinking of taking a pair of scissors to them to solve the nose problem and may see how they work then - I am determined to keep trying him and hopefully end up breast feeding as expressing is just so time consuming and frankly boring.
Tommee Tippee bottle and food warmer
Details : Tescos £19.99
Pros: Quick hesting amd takes various sized bottles - by the time nappy is changed and big foot is ready to eat the bottle is warm .If like me you find everything takes longer with only one hand - this is a useful timesaver and having it by the bed takes some of the stress out of night feeds and mean I don't have to freeze in the kitchen at midnight.
cons: There is no on off switchso to turn it off have to unplug it this is awkward and not as easy as it could be as we have it plugged oin by the bed and have to have an extension lead so it can be plugged in but not a major problem we just got an extension lead with each socket individually switched t o solve the prolem.I haven't reviewed it as it isn't really to do with on handed parenting but we also have a small camping fridge which we keep on the bedside table s o we don't have to go down to the kitchen at all - lazy I know but every minute of sleep counts!
