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How You Can Prepare For A Summer Baby

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How You Can Prepare For A Summer Baby

This is a sponsored post!

 

How You Can Prepare For A Summer Baby

If you have ever been pregnant over the summer, you know how difficult it can be to get through those hot and humid months not quite feeling like yourself. If your baby is due in the summer, you probably have a lot of planning to go along with trying to stay cool during those months.

Here are a few ways to prepare if you are expecting a summer baby:

1.  Drink your water

You need to be drinking enough water so you stay hydrated during this time. Not only is this good for you as a pregnant woman, but it also helps you prepare for breastfeeding and how you need always to be hydrated when you are feeding your baby in that way.

You don’t want to suffer from dehydration. That can cause you to go into premature labor or cause other issues that you don’t want to be dealing with. Always carry a water bottle around with you and make sure you are drinking enough every day.

2. Stock up on onesies

When your baby comes, the weather is still going to be quite warm if not overly hot. You don’t want your baby to overheat. The best way to do this is to make sure you have a lot of onesies available as well as cotton clothing. That type of clothing is cooler and is perfect for those hot months.

When you are putting your baby to bed, you can still put them in sleepers or swaddle them in blankests, but you want to make sure they are not overheating. While having a baby in the summer means you don’t have to worry about them being too cold, you also don’t want them to get too hot.

3. Make sure your AC works

If you have a working air conditioner, make sure it is in good working order before the baby comes. Have a company come out to double check that it is working the way it should. You want to be able to keep your home at a comfortable level. If you live somewhere that gets very hot and humid, your home might be the only place you can be where you and your new baby will feel comfortable.

If you do not have AC, make sure you have enough working fans for your rooms. A baby who is too hot will have trouble sleeping, and you don’t want that to happen during those early months. It is also not safe for a baby to overheat.

4. Get your breast pump 

You will need to make sure you have all your supplies for baby ready to go, including your breast pump. You can receive a no-cost breast pump through your TRICARE benefit. You will be able to pick the one that will work best for you and your baby and The Breastfeeding Shop will help you do so. They make it easy and you can order from their website, from their amazing app, or even give them a call to do so. You will need to have a prescription from your doctor or allow the Breastfeeding Shop to get that for you.

5. Set up for the new baby

You want to have everything set up for the new baby before they come and you want to do this with summer in mind. What will you be doing each day after the baby is born? Will you be at home or do you plan to go places? Do you have a cool place in your home to breastfeed and use your breast pump?

Think about all of these things as you are getting everything ready. What might be a nice spot in the dead of winter could be too warm for you to sit in the middle of summer. You want to be comfortable and stay cool.

As you are getting ready for your baby, make sure to learn about your TRICARE breast pump benefit and order yours in enough time to be ready for your new family member.

Here is a little bit more about The Breastfeeding Shop and what they can offer you. 

FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through The Breastfeeding Shop

The Breastfeeding Shop Has a New App, and it is Amazing

Which Breast Pump Is Best For You?

Top Five Tips For Increasing Milk Production

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Top Five Tips For Increasing Milk Production

Top Five Tips For Increasing Milk Production

This is a sponsored post by the Breastfeeding Shop. 

Breastfeeding was something I knew I always wanted to do with my babies. However, getting started with breastfeeding wasn’t easy for me, especially with my oldest son. I had a lot of concerns about if he was getting enough of my milk. If only I could go back in time, I would have made things a little easier for myself through the process.

There are things you can do as a new mom to help increase your milk supply. This helps the breastfeeding relationship as well as making sure your baby is getting all the nutrition they need.

1. Nurse your baby often

Make sure you are nursing your baby often. Breast milk is digested quickly and the more you nurse, the more milk you will make. Feeding on-demand vs a rigid schedule is the best way to go. That way you are meeting your baby’s needs as much as you can. If your baby is going through a growth spurt, they will want to nurse even more, and that is okay too.

2. Double check your latch

Sometimes our milk supply issues are due to a bad latch. When your baby is not latching on the breast correctly, they are not getting all of the milk that they should. If you have a question about your latch, you should go and see a lactation consultant. They will be able to check on your latch or help you with other breastfeeding questions.

3. Drink water, eat healthy foods

When you are nursing you want to make sure you are drinking enough water, as well as eating a healthy diet. Doing both of those things will help your milk production if you are struggling. Keep a water bottle within reach when you are nursing or pumping and try to have a lot of healthy snacks available for you as you go about your day.

4. Use your breast pump

Pumping in between feeding sessions can help with your milk supply. While you are pumping, you will be making more milk, and that will increase how much milk you should be making. Make sure that you have taken advantage of your TRICARE benefit regarding breast pumps. You are eligible for one breast pump for every birth event. Head over to The Breastfeeding Shop to find your breast pump and start the process. They make ordering your breast pump pretty easy too.

5. Get enough rest

While this is much easier said than done, especially with a newborn, make sure you are getting as much rest as you can. Say no to unnecessary commitments while you are trying to build up your milk supply. See if you can hire a babysitter for your older kids and if your spouse is home, make sure they are helping you with everything that needs to get done. Try to sleep when you can and take the time to rest as much as possible.

Interested in more information about your TRICARE benefit breast pump and The Breastfeeding Shop? Check out these blog posts too:

The Easy Way To Order Your No Cost Breast Pump

How to Decide What Breast Pump is The Best One For You And Your Baby

FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through The Breastfeeding Shop

 

The Easy Way To Order Your No Cost Breast Pump

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The Easy Way To Order Your No Cost Breast Pump

If you don’t already know, you can receive a no cost breast pump through your TRICARE benefit. Any military woman service member or spouse can receive one for each birth event she has. This is a fantastic benefit that makes sure that all of these moms have access to a breast pump to help them with feeding their baby.

The Easy Way To Order Your No Cost Breast Pump

This is a sponsored post by The Breastfeeding Shop!

The Breastfeeding Shop is a company that you can work with to receive your breast pump, and they make ordering your breast pump super easy. They have a new order form and I wanted to walk you through the steps you have to take in order to place your order.

You can do so on their website or on the app. If you don’t want to fill out the order form you can also call them to place your order.

Here is a video of me filling out the order form. As you can see all the information is laid out well and I was able to complete the form in about five minutes.

Here is what you will be asked about:

1. Insurance provider

Find TRICARE or TRICARE Overseas.

2. Select your breast pump

You have a lot of options on what breast pump to pick. Make sure to read Which Breast Pump Is Best For You? You can also talk to friends about breast pumps they have used and loved. If you don’t see what you want, pick “other” and call 866-255-6779.

3. Name, phone number, email, and address

Please put your current information here.

4. Your birthday

They want to know your date of birth.

5. Due Date of your baby

This is your baby’s due date. If your baby is already born, make sure to put their birth date there.

6. Insurance number

This would be your service member’s social security number, or your own if you are the service member.

7. Seconardy insurance

If you happen to have secondary insurance.

8. Physician’s name

Your doctor’s name.

9. Physician’s phone number

Your doctor’s phone number.

10. How you will submit your prescription

There are a few different ways you can submit your prescription to The Breastfeeding Shop. You can upload it, email it, fax it, or have them contact the doctor for you. If you choose for them to do that, know that it will take longer for you to receive your breast pump.

11. Important info

You will check if you agree here.

12. Privacy notice, etc

You just need to acknowledge that you have received this information.

13. Signature

You can use your mouse or your finger to sign.

14. Comments

If you need to leave any comments.

You can also read more about this amazing TRICARE benefit and what you need to know in order to receive yours:

FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through The Breastfeeding Shop

The Breastfeeding Shop Has a New App and it is Amazing

How to Decide What Breast Pump is The Best One For You And Your Baby

 

Let Brave Crate Get You Through A Deployment

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Let Brave Crate Get You Through A Deployment

I was provided a free box for review! 

When you are going through a deployment, you have to take the time to relax and breathe; you have to. If you don’t, you will go crazy. And although this can be hard to do, especially if you are in the midst of solo parenting or a busy schedule, making time for you is important.

There is a brand new box, just for military spouses going through a deployment! I got the chance to review a box, and I have to say, this military spouse monthly box is pretty cool.

Brave Crate is a deployment “care” package for military spouses that is launching this spring! Each month you can receive 4-6 full sized products that have been specifically selected to help you stay productive and positive in the upcoming months of deployment.

Brave Crate includes tools and treats to help motivated military spouses focus on personal development, wellness and growing their marriage. They also like to call Brave Crate a deployment “dare” package- because along with the goodies inside, each Brave Crate includes carefully crafted challenges to help motivated military spouses make the most of every day during deployment.

So not only is this box a wonderful thing to have every month, but this monthly box will also give you something to focus on. This can be so helpful during a deployment when you are feeling a little lost and are unsure of what you can do to refocus.

Here is what I got in my Brave Crate: 

Let Brave Crate Get You Through A Deployment

The whole box! How fun to get this in the mail during a deployment!

 

Let Brave Crate Get You Through A Deployment

Mural of Flavor by Penzeys Spices!

 

Let Brave Crate Get You Through A Deployment

My dare 🙂

 

Let Brave Crate Get You Through A Deployment

How Many Days Can Be Extraordinary? A book by Dan Zadra to help inspire us!

 

Let Brave Crate Get You Through A Deployment

Good Earth: Sweet & Spicy Good Night Tea

 

Let Brave Crate Get You Through A Deployment

Turmeric & Tangerine Face Scrub

 

Let Brave Crate Get You Through A Deployment

Vice Lipstick Limited by Urban Decay

 

Let Brave Crate Get You Through A Deployment

A chocolate treat from chuao chocolate

Please head over to www.bravecrates.com where you can get invited to their launch. This means that you will be the first to know when they open for orders and get the best deal EVER on a Brave Crate. You can also like them on Facebook! 

Costco Military Hour Event and Kirkland Signature™ Products

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Costco Military Hour Event and Kirkland Signature™ Products

This is a sponsored post! 

Costco is the place to go!

This past weekend we got the chance to shop at our closest Costco in Nashville and brought home quite a few of their Kirkland Signature™ Products. If you don’t know, Kirkland Signature™ is the Costco brand and overall can be a bit cheaper than the name brand options.

Costco Military Hour Event and Kirkland Signature™ Products

We have a family of five, with one teenage boy, one pre-teen, and a seven-year-old. They eat a lot of snacks, so we got some chocolate milk, fruit snacks, walnuts, granola bars, and my favorite, peanut butter filled pretzels. We bought hamburgers, chicken, green beans, cheese, bacon, and of course a big jar of coconut oil. We were able to stock up on some items for the home such as paper towels and toilet paper as well as trash bags and dryer sheets.

We couldn’t leave our dog out of the fun and bought her some doggie bones, which she will “ask” you for every time she comes in from playing outside. We bought some vitamins for us and the boys and of course, coffee, we had to get coffee as well as some of their yummy Kirkland Signature™ cookies.

One of the nice things about Costco is that you can find so many different products there, many of them Kirkland Signature™ Products. From dinner items to breakfast. From snacks for your kids to diapers for your baby.

Ready to go shopping???

Costco Military Hour event

If you haven’t already heard about the upcoming Costco Military Hour Event, here is what you need to know:

The event is on March 24th, 2018 from 8 am to 9:30 am at your local Costco, you can check the list here.

The Costco Military Hour is for you and your family to shop together before the doors open to the general public. You will be able to mix and mingle with your local military community, enjoy free samples, exciting product demos, and delicious snacks. The first 100 attendees will also receive swag bags filled with goodies!

If you are not yet a Costco member, you can sign up here…https://hosted-pages.id.me/costcomilitaryhour‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

Please visit https://shophourevent.com/ to RSVP to a location near you.‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

Don’t Miss The Costco Military Hour Event On March 24th

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Don’t Miss The Costco Military Hour Event On March 24th

This is a sponsored post! 

 

Raise your hand if you like Costco? I know I do! Costco was one of the places we had to go when we visited home while living in Germany. You can always find something fun to buy and you gotta love the free samples.

I wanted to let you guys know about the Costco Military Hour event coming up March 24th from 8 am to 9:30 am!

What is Costco Military Hour?

The Military Hour is for you and your family to shop together before the doors open to the general public. You will be able to mix and mingle with your local military community, enjoy free samples, exciting product demos, and delicious snacks. The first 100 attendees will receive swag bags filled with goodies!

Sound like fun?

You will need to be a Costco member to attend but if not, no worries.

You can purchase your Costco Membership Activation Certificate today at this link https://hosted-pages.id.me/costcomilitaryhour‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ Take advantage of an exclusive new membership offer for military members who join Costco as new members.

This event will take place at 117 of the warehouses across the U.S. You will need your military ID or your registration confirmation to show at the door at the selected Costco location.

Please visit https://shophourevent.com/ to RSVP to a location near you.‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through The Breastfeeding Shop

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FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through The Breastfeeding Shop

This is a sponsored post!

An amazing benefit from TRICARE for new moms is the breast pump benefit. This started in 2014 and allows each mom, one pump, for every birth event. This will allow each new mom to have a breast pump whether they need one for everyday use or to have on hand to help their milk supply.

The Breastfeeding Shop is a retailer where you can receive your pump. They offer a wide selection of breast pumps to choose from. There are a lot of questions about how all this works and everything you will receive with this benefit.

FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through the Breastfeeding Shop

Here is a list of FAQs to help you understand more about this and how to get your own breast pump.

1. Where do I go for my breast pump?

Head on over to The Breastfeeding Shop and start the process. They have a form to fill out which makes ordering your breast pump through them easy to do.

2. What type of RX do I need to have and what should it say?

You do not need a specific RX form, but your RX does need to be signed by your doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. You also need to have certain wording on the prescription. Here is an example of an RX form that you can download and take to your doctor. The RX does need to have Double Electric Breast Pump / E0603 and Accessory Kit / Supplies as well as the length of need, Up to 36 Months on the form. You can also have the Breastfeeding Shop contact your doctor for you but getting the RX yourself will make the process go faster.

3. How many pumps can I get? I had my babies close together.

Through TRICARE you are allowed to have one breast pump for every birth event, no matter how close your babies are. A birth event means either giving birth or adopting a baby. You can receive your breast pump before you deliver your baby and up to 36 months after they are born.

4. What breast pumps does the Breastfeeding Shop have?

The Breastfeeding Shop has 10 pumps for you to choose from. You can find the one that will work best for you and your needs. Not every breast pump is the same and will work for every mom.

5. I live overseas in Germany, can I still get a pump? What about if we are stationed in South Korea?

Yes, they can ship your breast pump to anywhere in the world.

6. How long will it take me to get my breast pump?

This might depend on the insurance verification process but you should receive your breast pump within 2- 5 business days. A little longer if the pump is being shipped overseas. If you feel like it has taken too long you can call The Breastfeeding Shop at 866-255-6779 or email at customerservice@thebreastfeedingshop.com

7. What is my flange is the wrong size?

You can re-order the right size with your TRICARE benefit.

8. What do I do if I have an issue with my breast pump after I receive it?

If you are having mechanical issues, you will need to call the customer service line for your breast pump’s brand. Here are the numbers:

Medela customer service 800-435-8316
Spectra customer service 855-446-6622
Ameda customer service 866-992-6332
Ardo customer service 844-411-2736
Lansinoh customer service 800-292-4794
Evenflo customer service 855-334-2229
PJ Bliss customer service 818-566-3060
Bellema customer service 800-385-6819

9. I need more breast pump accessories, how can I order those?

After your baby is born you can receive additional accessories. TRICARE will pay for two additional accessory kits and you can order them through this accessory kit order form.

10. What if I have more questions?

If you need extra help, you can fill out a form on the Breastfeeding Shop’s website and customer service will get back to you shortly.

Receive your no-cost breast pump is an amazing TRICARE benefit. Going to The Breastfeeding Shop is the best idea, they will help you get your pump in a timely manner so you can start using it with your new baby.

Make sure to learn more about the Breastfeeding Shop app and read about how to decide on which breast pump is right for your baby.

The Breastfeeding Shop Has a New App and it is Amazing

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The Breastfeeding Shop Has a New App and it is Amazing!

The Breastfeeding Shop Has a New App and it is Amazing

This is a sponsored post by the Breastfeeding Shop. 

Technology is amazing! There seems to be an app for everything. As of last week, there is now an app made by the Breastfeeding Shop just for moms and those who want to take advantage of the no-cost breast pump you can get with TRICARE.

The Breastfeeding Shop

 

On the home screen of the app, you see what your options are. The layout makes it easy to find what you need, whether you want to track your baby’s feeding patterns or order your breast pump.

Here is everything you can do on the Breastfeeding Shop app:

Order Forms: You have access to the order forms you need to receive your no-cost breast pump or accessory kit right on the app. This will also give you more information on calling to place your order if that is what you want to do.

The Breastfeeding Shop

Rx Form: You can download or email the RX form to your provider so that they can fill the form out for you. Then you or your provider can upload it or fax it to the Breastfeeding Shop.

The Breastfeeding Shop

Flange Sizing Chart: You can easily download this chart to help you figure out what size flange you might need.

The Breastfeeding Shop

Record your baby’s sound: Here you can record your baby’s sound with the recorder.

Pump production log: This part of the app is super handy. You can log your pumping time as well as which side you used and how many ounces you produced. You can then go back to your saved logs to see what you have been doing.

The Breastfeeding Shop

Feeding tracker: This is handy as well. You can log when your baby sleeps and eats whether you are breastfeeding in addition to pumping or only giving breast milk in a bottle.

Find a lactation consultant: This handy tool will help you pull up a lactation consultant in your area in case you are looking for one.

As you can see the Breastfeeding Shop’s app has a lot to offer new moms and makes ordering your breast pump even easier. You can find the free app in the iTunes as well as Google Play stores.

If you are curious about how to receive your pump in the first place or are looking for more information about this benefit and The Breastfeeding Shop, check out these posts to help:

How You Can Get A Breast Pump Through TRICARE for $0

Which Breast Pump Is Best For You?

Can You Really Get A No Cost Breast Pump For Each Baby Through TRICARE?

How to Decide What Breast Pump is The Best One For You And Your Baby

Why You Don’t Have to Buy Bottles For Your Breast Pump