Big news: Spectra is making changes to their bottles!
As inventory rolls over, all Spectra products will begin featuring a new bottle to replace the pink and gold ones. The new bottle features an easier to grip and easier to read design as well as a gender neutral ivory colored collar, sealing disc and cap. So if you have a boy, and you are using the bottles for feeding, going from pink to ivory is a bonus!
The wider base is very helpful to prevent tipping and crying over spilled milk, but they will not fit in the bottle holder; if you were unsure, that is what the round hole on the S1 and S2 was for. Since it only held a single bottle, most moms weren't using it anyway. Lactation Connection offers a Dual Dock Double Bottle Holder that is specifically designed to hold all Spectra bottles including the new ivory design!
The bad news is that if you love the Spectra gold logo bottles with the white collar, they are being discontinued which means if you want those, you need to buy them up fast. You can always see what bottles are currently available for breast milk storage and feeding here.
Beware, because unlike Lactation Connection, most companies do not update their product images like we do. When you buy from us, we pride ourselves on keeping our images up to date. And if we have a change that we could not predict, we contact you before we ship! Breastmilk Bandit's Dual Dock Bottle Holder acommodates two Spectra bottles and tames your tubing as well! Unique design will securely hold the new ivory bottles as well as the pink and white gold bottles. The new double bottle holder is available in blue and white. Pink is coming soon!
So far, the Spectra pink bottles can still purchased separately for breastmilk storage and feeding separately. But again, if you are purchasing a premium accessory kit from anyone other than Lactation Connection, you may not receive the bottles you think you are getting in the kit or even if you are purchasing a new Spectra breast pump. View our selection of breast pumps for up to date images.
If you have questions about any of our products, there is a link to click on each product detail page like the one pictured here:
Here's to storing your breast milk your way!
Tanya
When a plugged duct turns into mastitis, it is not something that is not to be taken lightly. How do you know if you have mastitis? Usual symptoms are an area of your breast that is red and painful along with flu like symptoms such as chills or fever.
If you experience these symptoms, use this tactic: Heat, Rest, Empty the Breast
Heat: Apply hot compresses. If you don't have a hot compress on hand, use a disposable baby diaper with hot water in it. This can be re-warmed in the microwave, but test on wrist before applying to breast.
Rest: Sleep when the baby sleeps and get off your feet as much as possible.
Empty the Breast: Point the baby's chin towards the affected area. For example if the clog is more towards your arm, use the football hold. Pump after every feeding for 5-10 minutes to finish emptying anything the baby leaves behind. You may see some information that says to avoid breast pumps, but this is only if you are using them before softening the breast with the hot compresses. Use your pump on a fast speed and only the highest suction level that is comfortable. Do not turn up the suction to an uncomfortable level.
Take ibuprofen such as Advil to relieve pain and reduce swelling. In addition, Sunflower Lecithin capsules are very helpful. This supplement help the fat slide off the sinuses of the breast which can help relieve mastitis sooner. The dosage indicated on thee bottle is one capsule daily. This dosage is only appropriate for maintenance in moms who have a tendency to get clogged milk ducts. During a clogged duct or as a mastitis supplement, it is recommended to take 3-4 of these 1200mg capsules daily such as at breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime.
Do not wear an underwire or tight bra. This can complicate your symptoms.
If symptoms continue for more than 24 hours, see a physician as mastitis can turn to abscess.
If you are reading this and have a tendency for clogged ducts, you may want to keep Sunflower Lecithin and a good hot compress on hand. If you are still pregnant, you may want a hot compress that does both hot and cold applications for postnatal engorgement as well. In this case, we recommend the Legendairy Milk Breast-Ease Gel Packs. You can also use these compresses to relive pain but only after feeding or pumping. Cold can restrict the let-down if you use them before feeding or pumping.
Best wishes for health breasts,
Tanya
Harvesting colostrum both antenatally (before birth) and postnatally (after delivery) is a great way to prepare for the unexpected. Sometimes birth plans do not go to plan and having this liquid gold at your disposal in case of emergency is always a plus especially since colostrum is essential as baby's first immunization, highly concentrated in antibodies and nutrition to boost your baby's immune system. In addition, if feedings are slow to start, colostrum can maintain your baby's blood sugar levels.
A colostrum collection kit makes it easy to have the things you need on hand. While using a breast pump can sometimes cause contractions, a more gentle hand expression is not only safer but more effective in saving every drop. While there are several methods of hand expression found online, research shows that the Marmet Technique is still the most effective so we have included the full instruction sheet below.
Once you have begun hand expression, start by using the smaller 3ml syringe in the colostrum collection kit to draw up the colostrum direction off the nipple and areola. If you use a breast pump, it is harder to get the sticky colostrum off the pump parts and valves. After you have harvested the colostrum, place the syringe(s) into a freezer bag or breast milk storage bag so that you can safely keep them in the freezer. Babies only need a teaspoon of colostrum per feeding initially so the 5ml syringes included are perfect for feeding. Postnatally, more volume of colostrum may be collected so you may want to express into the 50ml container included in the kit as you can also use the syringes to draw from the container for feeding.
The Liquid Gold Colostrum Collection Kit includes:
(6) individually wrapped sterile 3ml syringes with caps
(6) individually wrapped sterile 5ml syringes with caps
(1) 50ml/2oz colostrum container with lid (non-sterile - sterilize before use)
If you have additional transitional milk which is a higher volume of colostrum as the mature milk is coming in, there are 10ml syringes, 50ml minifil bottles and 60ml colostrum containers with lids also available to purchase.
Happy Harvesting!
Tanya
Just like a birth plan, sometimes, breastfeeding does not go to plan and some moms may need to supplement. This does not have to mean the beginning of the end of breastfeeding if caution is used in how you supplement.
Often supplementation is only necessary for a short term while mom is regaining her milk supply or baby is having a frenotomy to release a tethered tongue to facilitate milk transfer. And the best method for supplementing formula is doing so while keeping the baby at the breast. However, Supplemental Nutrition Systems are often expensive and difficult to clean so short-term feeding tubes are the preferred method in these cases. In the case of supplementing a newborn, the best option is a 5FR feeding tube that is 36" long. Don't opt for a shorter tube such as 15" because the shorter the tube, the faster the flow of milk and babies need to latch and use their tongue and jaw just as they would when exclusively breastfeeding. The act of the baby sucking at the breast while being supplemented also increased mom's milk supply.
You can use the feeding tube by placing the large end in a container and taping the other end of the tubing to the breast with the tube slightly past the nipple since the nipple will elongate during the feeding. You can use a 50ml cap as shown above or just a bottle and nipple by enlarging the hole in the nipple for this use only.
Use medical grade tape such as transpore tape or micropore tape. Micropore tape has been found to be slightly more gentle on dry skin. Image above shows tape on the areola, but you may prefer to start the tape the an inch behind the nipple to keep it secure and out of the infant's mouth. Either way it is best to run the tape in the same direction as the feeding tube
Lactation Aid Feeding Tube Sets can be purchased with tubing, containers, caps and syringes for flushing the tube as well. As I mentioned earlier, this is a short term feeding system so discontinue using the tube if it becomes rigid on the end or after two weeks of use, whichever comes first.
Remember that your goal in short-term supplementing formula is to provide any shortage of nutrition to your baby. So don't supplement the full amount of a feed if your body is making milk. Only supplement the difference in formula. This amount should be decreasing as your body begins to increase in milk supply. In addition to keeping the baby at the breast to further hinder your supply, you will want to take a galactagogue lactation supplement to help you increase supply more quickly. This way the time necessary for supplement is shortened.
Best wishes for short-term supplementation and long-term breastfeeding!
Tanya
