Bed Rest: Addressing the Dragon in the Room

Namastè!

I hope you're experiencing copious amounts thereof. It's almost 3 am in my neck of the woods but I'm awake and my laptop is, too!

Have you ever been ordered to go on bed rest? You know, that mandatory voluntary relinquishment of everything you like (i.e. freedom) for everything you love(health!)?

I have.

I cried. I bargained. I raged.

I tucked all those feelings in (mostly--after taking honest account of them, and admittedly wallowing in them for a bit) and...

I went to bed.

I'll be the first to admit, I nearly went crazy a time or two. See, I am naturally an active person. I bake. I cook. I run the Family Namastè empire. I write. I travel! I squeeze as much as I can out of those 24 hours in a day, because those 24 hours often squeeze as much as they can out of me. But this rest thing? I don't want to sound selfish or ungrateful but IT SUCKS.

Honest account time. When you can't get up to your usual shenanigans and bossery, it can take a huge toll on your spirit. It usually does. In addition to whatever landed you at The Juncture, you likely feel like a burden to whomever is entrusted with your care! It really, really sucks, regardless of how much they assure you it's no problem. It is maddening, saddening, and frustrating.

 

After that honest account, what's next? For me, it was moving forward with the very few things I could still do. But first, I had to address my depression about it. It was not sadness--I feel into an actual depression. I didn't care to eat, drink, or see sunlight. All I could do was sleep, because my heart hurt and I felt lower than low. I was beating myself up, but my poor self had already endured all the beating it could handle.

Note: I didn't just magically "come around." I had to address the depression, and the anxiety that accompanied, in a real way. As that healing took place, I was able to carve out my new niche in this stagnant stretch of life. 

Because I made it, I want to share what helped.

Here we goes-ies!

1. Don't diminish your feelings about it.

Bed rest is a hard pill to swallow, y'all. Whether you are an active person or simply used to doing your personal best, the idea of being confined to bed (often indefinitely to boot!) can be daunting beyond belief. It's healthy to take honest account of your feelings, from sadness to fear, and hopefully right back around to hope. Acknowledge each emotion. Own them. Let them pass without setting up permanent residence.

2. Don't let yourself go.

When the initial wave of NOPE fades, pull yourself together. You don't have to get red carpet ready, but do brush your hair. If you wear makeup every day, keep doing that. If you are able to keep even a lite version of your beauty regimen, do so.

Why?

Because if you look your best, you will feel your best. Taking even a few minutes to wash your face and put on hospital-issue lip gloss is just a tiny thing, but that tiny thing will feel momentous.

3. Acknowledge your feels.

I had many. Anger, sadness, guilt, anxiety--you name it. I was so sure things would go a certain way and when they did not, I was crushed. I had plans of prenatal yoga and outings with my mommy group, but there I was, on mandatory bed rest, unable to go anywhere except the doctor's office and/or hospital to be observed.

At first, I tried to put on the bold happy face. I would smile and say how well I was, despite the fact I was terrified and upset. And angry. Can't forget that one. I felt robbed of my dream pregnancy by hyperemesis gravidarium (HG). While I was thrilled about my baby, the entire pregnancy was essentially stolen by this dragon of an illness. I didn't get to enjoy most mama milestones and was fairly traumatized.

...but I learned to let the days be what they would, with the only expectation being that each day is only 24 hours, plenty of time to turn itself around. Which brings me to my next point...

4. Take it all, one day at a time.

I had planned a lot for those last few weeks. I meant to paint our son's room. Arrange his little outfits. Choose thank you cards for everyone who made the journey more bearable.

But instead my days were filled with kick counts, bolus feeds, and Procardia.

I meditate often, and in time I willed myself to appreciate each day. It was a process of course, but I began to see those interventions not as interruptions of my plans, but necessary support to help me carry those plans to fruition. Every day was only 24 hours. I'd focus on each 24 hours rather than weeks, and it was easier. It's more palatable to count hours than it is to count days. Hours are smaller increments, obviously. Smaller hunks of time are defo more manageable for this mama!

5. It's fine to withdraw.

For me, that meant only entertaining my closest family, friends, and colleagues. I didn't talk about my work or watch the news. I didn't entertain any cold soup--bad news or bad outlooks. I stopped being on my social media accounts--I phased out most of my Instagram, and my personal Facebook has never gotten a ton of love to begin with, so I essentially vanished on social media. I didn't want the "practiced" love. I didn't want all the excessive virtual concern because those people would be able to do only just that.

Note: I greatly appreciate and am forever humbled by those who have and do check in on us! I would never diminish your value to our family. We simply didn't want the excess attention--people looking for a story.

I didn't become cold. Instead I just wanted to be around (literally and via social media relays) people who were more like me: my straightforward, humorous, no holds barred crew would help me stay uplifted but also chop my crap if I began a pity party.

That positivity has meant everything. When I have felt up to talking, my Mompadré has given me LIFE. I'm very appreciative of those few ladies.

6. You have every right to treat yourself.

Everyone's treats are different. Mine happen to be indulgent desserts, horrible reality TV, and the occasional online shopping--spree-let? (I like to buy things as they catch my eye but I'm not compulsive, thank goodness--I'd be screwed.)

When I had a particularly rough day, I'd vow to just get thru till 5 pee em. After that, I'd either watch some horrible TV (the characters' drama does wonders to take my mind off me) or have a smoothie or shake patterned after a decadent dessert (fruits, almond milk, and any number of cookie/cake/pie inspired add-ins). Every couple weeks I would log in and check my social stuff and maybe buy some little trinket from my wish list.

7. Writing will be your sanity, even if you are not necessarily a wordsmith.

While I was fairly lax on the blog scene, I made sure to write down lots of reflections and notes so when I felt ready to share our journey, if I ever did, I could have all those reminders there and fresh. I would have them compiled for either a blog memoir or a sweet memento for the family to look over.


They were not perfectly-edited, grammatically-sound pages. I even scribbled some down on napkins!

The point was, even while I was having those boring, difficult days, I would value the ability to look back on them once I had surmounted them. I even took a few horrible hair day selfies.

8. Get mad, mad, and more mad.. and then get over it. Emotional honesty is golden.

I already talked about emotions...but the anger is something else and deserves its own bullet point.

Nothing will make you more angry than having to relinquish your place at the helm of your household. Who else knows the right laundry detergent, grocery items, and cleaning products to get? Who knows exactly which days trash and dry cleaning go out? More importantly, who is going to take the time to make sure these things are done correctly each time? Or will you end up being released to a house in pandemonium?!

For me, that stuff mattered big. I don't like letting other humans handle my chores. Those things are my tasks, and because I have certain ways to execute them, I was more than a little anxiety-ridden at the prospect of not being at the helm. It wasn't so much a control issue as it was a value issue. What good was I if I couldn't even handle simple housewifery while he worked?!

Feeling worthless made me mad. Being pacified (by way of online shopping and bills being brought to me so I could pay them online) made me mad. Owning up to how petty I was being and how pointless my hissy fits were made me more mad.

...then I got over it.

It took me some time. It took me some tears. It took me some tantrums. I had to get over myself, and at times I still feel too high. (Not conceit--just acknowledging that to go from being a valued, respected, productive member of my family to someone who was being brought her meals and walked to the latrine, was a huge adjustment.) I had to really step outside myself and remember why I was even there, which humbled me quite sharply.

I felt better for being honest and actually acknowledging how I felt, though. I didn't pack it away for it to eat at me indefinitely, which would have been unhealthy.

9. It will make you and your mate crazy--and then it will make you closer.

I was probably a big pain in the butt. Scratch that--I know I was a pain. I was moody and fragile. I didn't even fit the normal routine because I couldn't get up or go out. I was a crying mess more often than I care to admit, and he definitely got tired of it some days. He was always supportive, but supportive didn't mean he attended my pity party. In fact, one of the things that drew us closer was how he would always motivate me to manage what I could and leave what I couldn't to whomever the task was delegated.

We had some days where the like was surely lacking, but the love got stronger. And seriously, coming through a tough time is enough to destroy many relationships, so I am unabashedly proud that ours withstood the tests. We are stronger in love and that like ain't too shabby either.

10. You will miss the rest when you're no longer bedridden.


My bed rest was tied to a pregnancy. I was in bed for roughly 20 weeks to give my little bear the best possible chances for a full-term or at least term delivery.


Did I really miss being on mandatory bed rest, unable to get up unaccompanied?


No.


But once the baby arrived and I was able to do everything again, the reality that I had to do everything again hit. I was overwhelmed. I was going from being a sort of tragic princess to back at the top of an empire. It was scary. I was out of practice and it seemed like so much had changed in those 20 weeks. We got a new invoice system at work. The baby was nursing around the clock, so sleep was fleeting.


...and while they tell you to sleep before baby arrives, they forget that the body does not store up rest.


I no longer looked well-rested.


I also didn't care. I was up and out, baby!


Counting down again...and trying to enjoy all the ups and downs in the meantime.


Namaste!


--Taye K. 

Dear Target... (You fail.)

Namasté.

The holidays are upon us! As such, most of us are buying presents. For my family, this year means lots of online shopping. We have a few things precluding the usual holiday store runs, and online shopping generally gives us the ability to get exactly what we want without needing to leave base.

As you may or may not know—depending on how many personal conversations we have and if you follow my social media—we are an avid Target family. They carry the types of products we need and love, and they are closer to our home when we are able to run in  the actual store. (No shade to our blue buddies; this is purely convenience.)

As such, I didn’t hesitate to take advantage of their cyber Monday sale. My little bear needed t-shirts and such, and Target has some really cute graphic tees for toddlers. He hates onesies, and because he is nearly 2 years old and every bit the big kid, I can’t say I blame him. Target’s selection of graphic tees includes our favorite characters, cute little guy-isms, and quality all in the small size he needs. (They are one of few retailers we have seen who have 12-18 month tees. Add in my princess’s affinity for Target’s gadget selection (she loves their stationery options, as she is a budding writer herself) and they have some of the tween must-haves that other retailers don’t.

I can generally keep both kids happy by getting their stuff from the Red Store. Happy kids equal happy parents. Need I say more?

However…

Included in the holiday price slashes this year? Free shipping on all orders! (Reasonable exceptions apply. They define reasonable.)

This was music to my ears. I like Target enough to pay their shipping anyway, but when it’s free I like them a wee bit more. It’s been a while since I’ve been to the store, but free shipping plus an online shopping day just made this mama much cheerier. (My holiday spirit has been in short supply this year. *sighs*)

Sooo…I placed my order. I ordered 8 items on one invoice, and roughly 20 items on another. (I separate my invoices because I pay with two different cards. The splurge card gets a real workout this time of year, to maximize those cashback benefits. I use our regular card for regular purchases—clothes, food, etc.)  I was content to know I’d be getting the kids their holiday pressies, even if not by traditional method. We won’t be making mall crawls but they will still have their tree and stuff. The holidays aren’t about those things but they are a part of our traditions. Our traditions have been interrupted EVERY. FLIPPING. YEAR. Since like, the inception of the Karunanithy family. *sighs* Yet we press on, and this year is looking as close to on-track as we seem to ever get.

All good, right?

Target processes orders really quickly, which I love.

What don’t I love?

The way they ship things.

Note: Prior to this transaction, I have always ordered my items and picked them up, so this whole shipping fiasco is really this new to me. And yes, I’m really this aggravated. Judge me, but only if your bathroom mirrors are clean and you’ve actually led a perfect life today. Or any day. *wink*

Free is lovely.

Alas…it could not be this simple, right?

Enter the fracas.

Sending an 8-item order in 5 separate packages, not so lovely. Not lovely one bit.

One, I generally have to rely on Hubby Namastè or our neighbors to retrieve said orders from the steps. I’m not able to, because I’m not home. And while my husband is a gem and my neighbors are true peaches, it is unsettling to me to tack one more honey-do on to everything else they are already helping me with these days. They retrieve my mail, sign for supplies at my store, the whole nine—and no one has asked to be paid or even accepted when I offer!

Two, the waste. I am pretty conscious about what I use and where it goes. I eat organic food because pesticides are bad for me, and also bad for the environment. I recycle wrappers and boxes whenever possible. (I make a mean papier-mâché, and I defy you to find a cooler box fort than the ones Kids Namastè enjoy periodically—drawbridges, towers, the works!) I take pride in not being wasteful. I don't like excess packaging. I don't like having tons of boxes lying around that I can't use, or plastic mailer bags that don't biodegrade. (Call me a hippie but I firmly believe in NOT ruining the planet. I do my part to reduce my carbon footprint whenever possible.)

All that packaging and boxing, for such small items?

Target, you fail. So hard. So very hard.

I understand about warehouses and such, as my family runs a couple franchises. I myself own a salon. I definitely understand that warehouses ship what they have, and some orders are fulfilled by a cooperative of multiple warehouses because not every item is stored in the same city or even state. (That should cover it for the emails I’m sure to receive about “giving Target a break” and “not being a poor sport.”)

What I don’t understand, is why a company that goes out of its way to be the “upper crust” big box retailer, priding themselves on providing the organic, carefully-curated items we environmentally-and-health-conscious families gobble right on up along with our kale and free range chicken, is so ignorant of how wasteful their shipping practices are?

Again, free is great.

However, I’d gladly pay to not have to track  22 shipments for 28 items. (Not an exaggeration.) I would also pay to not have to usurp more of my neighbor’s time, because when Hubby Namastè is unable to pinch hit for me, she and her guy step in without hesitation. Given the slight unpredictability of delivery times, she may end up watching their front window anywhere from all morning to all day!

..and let’s not talk about the weather.

I know it seems like a lot of bitching (pardon my German, but we are all adults and as I stated previously, I’m aggravated!) about a small issue, but I’ve already had to get things replaced due to rain, and even once due to heat damage. (Medical supplies don’t fare well when left in the heat, and most delivery people don’t check for labels beyond the address.) You’re welcome to be mad at me for being mad about a small thing. You're also welcome to move around and let me be, Debra, because my aggy-ness doesn't hurt you.

Thing is, it doesn’t feel small to me. It feels like I’m doing what I can do to bring some cheer to my family during a rough time, but Target’s laissez-faire attitude about the issue has left a bad taste in my mouth. I didn’t expect this from a company who generally provides excellent customer care—they don’t even refer to you as a customer! You are a GUEST.

Their shipping policies leave MUCH to be desired, though. I don’t feel much like a guest when I’ve explained exactly what the problem is and it is essentially being disregarded with a pat on the head.

(Y’all know I don’t like my hair touched. Target is touching my hair, darn it!)

I suppose I would be less aggravated if it wasn’t such a stressful time. I can generally take things in stride when I’m not in the throes of a life transition-slash-mild-crisis. Unfortunately, that isn’t now. And because I pride myself on being an honest person, I am honestly sharing how piss-poor this experience has been. I’m honestly mad about it, and I honestly can’t be troubled to care if it’s petty or not. It’s my current truth, and I’m okay sharing it.

For what it’s worth, I’ll keep shopping at Target. Just maybe when I can resume my normal routine and pick the items up, because honestly their crazy shipping is too much hassle. I just want to shop simply and not add to my load, so I can tick off my to-do list without ticking off me.

So this isn’t an attack.

No.

Just a vent about my 28 items and 22 shipments. Shipments I will diligently track and sweetly request my husband and neighbors to watch for and bring into the house, so they aren’t ruined by the weather or shady humans’ ill intentions. By next week’s end everything will have arrived and then I can breathe a little easier.

Target did NOT make my holiday shopping easier, but they did have what I needed in stock, at a pretty sweet set of prices. I can concede that much because I’m the Queen of finding the silver lining.

Don’t get me wrong. In the grand scheme they still suck, and their guest relations (since we aren’t just customers) could use some major tweaking…

…but I’ll tuck this bad experience in with the rest of life’s peaks and valleys fairly soon.

Just not until I receive my 22 shipments for my 28 items, *smirk* Way to go, Red Store.

Namastè!

--Tayé K.

Pumpables Milk Genie: My New Best (Portable) Friend

Namastè!


Peeking my little head in to bring you a great review, of a great product, that's been a MAGNIFICENT help to me. I'm currently still under the weather, and for some reason the respiratory bug I have will not leave. It's complicating some other things I have going on, so I'm anxiously awaiting relief.


Let's dive in!


As you know, I am an oversupply mama. I use my regular pump on a good schedule, and it helps me immensely. But because it isn't portable, I still rely on a hand-held pump when I need to pump somewhere besides my recliner. Since I currently pump from bed, I needed a backup.


Enter, the Pumpables Milk Genie!

Note: While the product was provided in exchange for honest review, all opinions and experiences herein are mine and mine alone, and are in no way influenced.


A good friend of mine (two good friends, actually!) referred me to the Milk Genie a few months ago. We were all talking about our pumps, what we love and what we wish was better or different. I am the appointed Queen of the Pumps, because I've tried practically every major one on the market in my quest to relieve my oversupply while still blazing along my breastfeeding journey.


When I partnered with Pumpables, I had a good feeling. I was hoping it would be light enough to sit in my gown pocket without falling or being heavy like my previous handheld. I have recently shied away from using it (the previous handheld) because the vibration is so strong, and the suction actually hurts. Plus, it's pretty loud.


I know, I know...seems like a lot of whine coming from the Queen of Cheese. But I just want sleep, and I don't care much for loud noises. I know pumps aren't silent, but the quieter, the better.


My first impression of the Milk Genie?


Heart eyes.


You see, when it arrived, I wasn't able to assemble it myself. Brother Namastè was Tayè-sitting at the time, and when he took it out of the box for me, he was able to assemble it in no time at all. Like, without even looking at the instructions! He legit just took it out of the packaging, assembled the pump kit, and hooked it up to the pump!


This was a major thing for me because sometimes I cannot assemble the pump myself. I'm either eating, attempting to balance my toddler on the other side, or simply too spent. (Sometimes I pump, and other times I am pumped. There are days when I have no energy at all, weak as water.) One of the main requirements for any pump I use is, it must be easily assembled, fairly quickly, and there's always a chance that the person assembling it will either have limited experience or none a all.

The Milk Genie is a tiny powerful thing.


It is lighter than my previous handheld, and the engine is WHISPER SILENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


That's a lot of exclamations. More than grammar typically allows. But it is valid in this case, because when I tell you this thing is legit silent--!!!


The Milk Genie is a closed-system pump. That means no milk can flow into the tubing or motor. This also keeps the milk free of cross-contamination. Tat's a big deal to me, as I am a milk donor. The pump can be assembled quickly even by a novice! (Read, Hubby Namastè and Brother Namastè can both assemble the pump without breaking, losing, or disabling any part--which is a huge plus!) The pump is lightweight and extremely quiet. My cell phone's vibration is louder than the Milk Genie's motor, which means this pump would never wake a sleeping baby, husband, or toddler.


Don't think you'd be trading power for portability either. I compared my Milk Genie to my hospital-strength pump, and the Milk Genie is right on par with suction and milk expression. (A strong vacuum means nothing if it isn't eliciting milk flow, you know!) This little pump has excellent, fully customizable vacuum patterns, and its small size in no way compromises its power. It holds its own against any of my other pumps. It has the added benefit of full portability--I could very easily pump in the car because not only is the pump lightweight and pocket-comfy, the screen is also easily read and the buttons are in a comfortable position. 

The pump kit on this baby is easy to clean. I just use regular dish soap (I like Seventh Gen) and warm water. I clean my pump kit four times a day and sterilize it every other day. I use a portable sterilizer, but when I am home I use the dishwasher. 

Getting down to the brass tacks of this matter...


My first session with my new milker was a breeze. The pump has a totally customizable experience, with easily-adjusted vacuum settings. There is letdown mode and regular mode. I'm a little more sensitive than normal, so the ability to completely Tayè-fy my pumping experience was greatly appreciated. 

While "successful" sessions are my norm, I was very impressed with the Milk Genie. I got about 11 ounces for my first session. Generally when I swap pumps, I notice a little drop. Per my research, it's normal. It just didn't happen with the Milk Genie! There was actually a small increase with this little pump, and I was pleasantly surprised. I especially love how it accommodates wide necked bottles. My toddler uses a cuppa now, and I can actually pump directly into his cuppa without needing an adapter kit. 

I like everything about this little pump!


I got an opportunity to speak with Kathleen, who runs the Pumpables official blog, and she posed the following questions, which I am beyond chuffed to share.


K: Have you experienced any difficulties pumping while pregnant, e.g. drop in supply? How have you overcome that?


T: Other than an unfortunate increase in oversupply, and feeling more tired after pumping or nursing than ever, it's been smooth sailing. I alleviate the oversupply by pumping to comfort and nursing whenever possible. It's tricky to manage but I'm doing fairly decent. I'm only on my second shirt today!


K: What advice would you give to a mama who becomes pregnant while still feeding breastmilk to an older child?


T: I would tell them to follow their body's cues. In many mamas, a drop in supply is normal. Also, you might begin to feel touched out (tired of all the contact) or fatigued from carrying one baby inside while nourishing the baby outside! It's all a balancing act, and you will probably have a few road bumps as you navigate this new path.


K: Do you plan to continue feeding your older child after your baby is born, and if so, what are your plans on feeding colostrum and increasing supply for two after the birth?


T: Our goal is 2 years, so I'll definitely continue in tandem. My plan for colostrum is to nurse the tiny one exclusively until the regular milk comes in, then tandem feed as normal. I already have a nice stash of milk stored away for my toddler to have via cuppa, so he will not miss a beat with his liquid gold those first few days. I'll let my body do its amazing thing as far as supply increase. I know that I must move milk to make milk, so I'll allow the babies to latch and in a few weeks I'll resume pumping also. I'm actually hoping I won't have over supply as bad this time, so I can wear the cute little tops without soaking through them every hour!


The Milk Genie is definitely a solid little machine. I find it absolutely cute, also.


Do I recommend it for an exclusive pumper? Actually, I do! It's strong enough to withstand some regular use, and as I've put mine to the test, I know I'll be using it even more when the time comes. I'm looking forward to the rest of my journey with this pump.


Namaste!


Tayè K.

Our Mimijumi Story: One Picky Baby's Perfect Bottle

Namaste!

I have not put pen to paper in a long time now. I haven't been physically well, and writing goes from relaxing to taxing when the simple act of holding the laptop drains me to the point of needing sleep.

But, in my typical fashion, I won't speak too much life into the less than happy moments. As I am beyond sure you know, we are a family that believes breast is best! (No debate invited or accepted.) I am so proud and fulfilled to be approaching the 2-year mark with Baby Namaste and our nursing journey, and while I preferred latching him and feeding directly, we did end up using bottles as well.

I pumped from the start. While latching my little bear, I pumped to provide milk for our other little bear, a special little angel.

We latched exclusively until I absolutely needed a bottle for him, so Dad could tend to him while I gradually began working again. A Google search led me to Mimijumi's site. I was impressed, because the bottle actually does look like a breast! It doesn't have a fussy design, but it's still cute. I decided to shoot my shot as a blogger and see if they would partner with me for a review--and they did. (More in-depth details here!)

Note: We have purchased several more since then, because our son loved them so much. They are worth every penny. Always remember: You get what you pay for, tribe!

Much to our amazement, our little bear took to the bottle almost instantly. The Mimijumi is modeled like a real breast, and the bottle's nipple is textured just like a real nipple. If the baby does not latch and suckle as they would at the breast, there is no milk flow. These bottles are designed to mimic breastfeeding as perfectly as possible, and I can attest that they hit their mark!

I was skeptical at first. Mimijumi is accepted by over 90% of babies--but my son has a tendency to be a rarity.

This time he fit the majority. Observe, the picky baby at 8 months old, holding his "Mimis." This was taken a few days before our journey took a pretty drastic turn: I got very sick.

When my baby was about 8 months old, I developed pneumonia. The fevers were giving me tremors, y'all. I was too weak to eat, let alone nurse my little bud. I had a hands-free pump, so I could at least express milk for him. I didn't want to hold him because I was burning up. That fever plus the body aches and constant barking cough were more than enough to make me thank my lucky stars for my pump and our Mimi.

During those two weeks, I was entirely miserable. I was on the bare minimum of medication so I could continue to nurse my little bear. Even if he wasn't latching, I was determined to give him my milk only.

Fast forward: we made it! I credit this bottle with saving my nursing journey, because when I was laying there with a temp of 103, the last thing I wanted was to latch my baby and risk him getting sick. I know they get immunity from mother's milk, but I was too weak to even hold him. I could pump, though, and Hubby Namaste was able to give him the wonderful liquid gold.

Our Mimijumi saved us in another aspect too: Our son never developed a nipple preference. (Nipple preference is often called nipple confusion--which is inaccurate. The baby is not "confused" about the nipple! They simply want the easier route to their milk. Breastfeeding requires more than just suckling. Most bottles, however, do not--that's why they drip so badly if you leave them uncapped! I unabashedly do cry over spilled (breast) milk, so I promptly eschew any container that does not keep that milk safe.) The Mimijumi is a zero-flow nipple, which means the milk does not flow unless baby is latched and suckling. If baby is not correctly latched, nothing comes out. Also, the holes in the nipple more closely resemble those on an actual mother's nipple--there are not very many. (We used the slow flow, and it has one tiny hole.)

A few months after that amazing collab, and the amazing comfort my family garnered from having a bottle the baby would actually take, my coordinator Lauren emailed me again to ask about testing out a new Mimi product.

You know I was on board!

The Mimijumi nipple is flesh-colored. It's a simple beige, nothing fussy. Lauren had a cool surprise for me, though...

The Mimijumi geniuses had decided it was time to create a dark nipple for the already-popular bottle, and because I've been pretty vocal about it (the Mimi is still my cover photo on my blog's FB), she wanted to invite me personally to try it with my baby!

We were honored. Interestingly enough, the only skepticism he seemed to have was that while this bottle did something close to his Moms, but while that nipple did have his noms, it did not look like his Moms! When I gave him the dark nipple....well, a picture is worth a thousand words.

...the dude abideth, times ten-eth.

To be a part of the dark launch is incredible. Not only are the geniuses behind the Mimi taking care to ensure all Moms can provide their bottled noms without structurally OR visually disturbing their nursing routines.

Prior to the Mimi, I hadn't seen a bottle so carefully created to replicate the nursing experience for baby. More importantly, I had never gotten the kind of customer service they provided. We got an email full of tips and recommendations. The team was always available!

...but when they contacted me about the launching of the dark nipple, my heart swelled. As I have said, Black and Brown moms are not as well-represented as we need to be. I felt really proud to be at the proverbial helm of this product launch and test run because here we have a company that sells millions, without changing a thing--her they saw a need to make their product even more inclusive. 

Also, when a product launches an ethnic variation, its not generally "in tone" for us more deeply-browned cookies. 

When I opened my Mimi dark and held it next to my skin, I couldn't help but get misty eyed. The dark is a shade or two beyond me, but I was just so full of joy to see myself represented by this company. I couldn't show anyone the launch product, but I have never ached so bad to show someone a bottle! It was the toughest wonderful secret to keep. 

This has been just another wonderful benefit of working with such a conscientious, caring, involved company. No other bottle comes with a dark nipple, y'all. And from personal experience, I know that in the Black community the lack of breastfeeding information, guidance, and/or products that feel inclusive to us c an and often are the last nails in the coffin. Mimijumi has taken a step to include us that, while millions of baby bottles have nourished millions of babies, no other company has been present enough to consider providing more than just a standard beige nipple.

I cannot WAIT to use these with our next baby. We will absolutely 100% be breastfeeding again, and we will have our Mimis for the moments when we need the option of a bottle.

How do I feel about it?

Beyond chuffed!!!

Namastè!

-- Tayè K. ❤