My Mom Tribe

Namastè!

I hope you're basking in this lovely autumn weather, and that your namastè be ever strong.

Moms are a funny sect. We all do the same thing, yet differently. Some of us are slacker, some of us be sancti. Some are Pinterest mavens, while others take pride in not owning Mason jars at all.

We all have our special tribe. The group of moms we confide in, share milestones with, and grieve over setbacks alongside.

Finding your mom tribe is a bit tricky. Simply making mom friends is daunting enough on its own. Finding your tribe?! It might be easier to find that paci Baby Namastè tossed from the stroller last week.

The tribe is a tight group. These will be your besties as you navigate the trials and tribulations of parenting. These girls may not share every principle, but they share a common respect and symbiosis. Example: I nurse. I'm also mommy to a couple older kids Namastè. So for nursing or questions about the big kid stages, in the go-to gyal. Inversely, I have not had a tiny baby in the house for ten years. Some of my tribals are a little younger and are hip to the latest baby gear as well as the newest research reports. We all work together to keep the kids alive and happy, and we run like a well-oiled machine. We are like a circle of elephants--we care for and about the tribe children, and we all put our various skills and wisdom toward making sure each child hits and surpasses their potential.

That's not to say we share a mindset. To the contrary, actually. In my tribe, there are tattoo moms. Cheerleader moms. Stay at home moms. Working moms. Student moms. Moms who cook gourmet meals. Moms who can't boil water. Nursing moms. Bottle moms. Cry-it-out moms. Attachment moms. We are not a huge tribe, but our traits and styles overlap and mesh and meld to make us one giant Mom'imus Prime!!!

The mom tribe is not to be confused with mom clique. A mom clique does not better a mom or increase her knowledge base. Cliques are little groups of people who think, talk, and act alike. Cliques don't operate by unity, but usually a mutual dislike for a mom, a mom style, or a choice (breastfeeding vs formula, vax vs non-vax, elephant moms vs tiger moms). They're divisive. Tribes are INCLUSIVE, cliques are EXCLUSIVE. Tribes usually stay on the smaller side, a group of moms who go and grow through the day-to-day, together. The tribe women know each other at a far more personal level than mere friends or associates. Cliques either know you because you are similar, or ostracize you because you are different.

Find your tribe. I promise, you'll breathe a sigh of relief. There's nothing like having someone who legit has your back. You will be mommy forever, but within your tribe you also get to be YOU.

Namastè!

-- Tayè K ♡

Learning To Pump

Namastè!

Happy autumn morning, may your cup of namastè overflow.

I'm sitting here pumping and looking out the window. Casa Namastè has a really nice view.

I remember my first few runs with the pump, in Baby Namastè's first week. I was tired, engorged, and the PISA was, at the time, my sworn enemy. I contend with D-MER, and pumping was my least favorite part of caring for my baby. I have forceful letdowns. I needed to pump because otherwise, Baby Namastè would get sprayed in the face. (It happened.) Then he'd be too upset to eat and I'd be engorged to the point of tears.

Besides all that--It had no idea how to effectively pump. I wasn't taught, so I just hooked the thing up, set it on high, and practically ripped my nipples off. (Hyperbole, yet so legitimate.) The hospital lactation consultant was not interested in teaching me to pump, because she was focused on the baby latching. Please make sure your lactation consultant is on board with how you want your breastfeeding journey to go. If you will nurse exclusively at the breast, make sure they support that. If you will do a combination of nursing at the breast and bottle feeding expressed milkies, let them know that. If you will be exclusively pumping, let them knew that. It's one of those points where we as women have to advocate strongly for our needs. An unsupportive LC can wreck your entire breastfeeding experience.

I decided to take Medela up on their little University course, as well as YouTube and Google every bit of info I could find for pumping successfully. Kellymom proved invaluable, as well as some other blogs and pages. I was like a fanatic.

I learned, first off, that I did not need the highest setting. Very few women need that, actually. I did need to do something about those shredded nipples of mine. I had blisters and cracks from the pump, as well as painful soreness from the sheer amount of suction I was enduring between pump and baby. Answer: Nipple creme.

Armed with a better understanding of the PISA and a crazy supply of nipple cream and my personal favorite, coconut oil, I prepared to tackle it again.

As the days went on, it got easier. (Unfortunately not overnight.) I found a pumping schedule that worked for me--every 3 hours, with a mini session following each of Baby Namastè's nursing sessions. My magic number (the minimal number of pumping sessions needed for my supply) is 5. I no longer pumped for 45 minutes at a clip. Gosh, what a noob I was! Face palm. It generally takes about 20 to 30 minutes to empty the breast. My PISA can do it in 15, and I go 5 minutes more to make sure I've gotten each one fairly empty. I use my PISA at minimal to moderate suction. (I only turn it on the high setting when I'm drying out my tubing.) I found it incredibly helpful to oil up my horns  (flanges) with coconut oil before pumping.

I hope this would be a good starting point in your own journey!

Namastè!

-- Tayè K ♡

The Daffadoot Changing Mat

Namastè!

I hope you're experiencing copious amounts thereof tonight.

I told you I had a lot to tell you about today!

Our Daffadoot Changing Pad Liner came last week. I was so jazzed to be chosen to receive this new product to review.  There is nothing cooler than being the first to try a product out, and it's even better that the Daffadoot is so darn awesome.) After a few days I can definitely say Baby Namastè's bum is in the truest of soft comfort with this mat.

The Daffadoot is nothing short of amazing; it's like no other liners we've used. It has four layers and it's waterproof. WATERPROOF...and doesn't feel like plastic at all. The patterned side (which is sooooo pretty)is a cotton/polyester blend. The changing surface is microfleece and feels like a cloud. Baby Namastè has blankets that are as soft as this thing!!! The layers that put in the work are the thick polyester microfiber and the waterproof TPU. There are no harsh chemicals involved in the construction of this mat. 

The Daffadoot is also big--it measures 20 by 30 inches. If you have a taller baby, this is perfect. Although it's a big mat, it folds down easily to fit neatly into your diaper bag. 

Baby Namastè absolutely loves his Daffadoot. We received ours directly from the company to try as one of 50 families who would get first edition liners in exchange for honest reviews. The second Daffadoot,  I immediately purchased so Baby Namastè can have it to sit on. When he was under the weather a few days ago, I used one of our Daffadoot liners as a barrier between him and our bedding. Not only did he not have a blowout, he did this cute thing...snuggling under a corner of the Daffadoot like he does with his favorite blankie. 

DISCLAIMER: The Daffadoot is NOT a blanket, nor do we endorse such use. Baby Namastè is a snuggler and this was a candid moment captured with both parents present, as we would not leave him alone on our bed with a cover he can pull over his face. Just putting that out there because "some mommies be sancti."

We received our first Daffadoot as a tester, but we purchased our second one  (for travel and mattress protection *snicker*) here. You can also get it here.

Namastè!

-- Tayè K. ♡

 

Nipple Cream.

Namastè!

I wish you copious amounts thereof on this lovely autumn Sunday. (I'm really jazzed about this crisp, cool weather, y'all.)

As most nursing moms can attest, breastfeeding is about one part breathtaking photos, one part incredible bond, and maybe eight parts mom and baby learning to jig this dance without an empty tummy or hamburger meat nipples.

Baby Namastè and I are no exception. I have been through everything from ill-fitting flanges (my Medela horns) to cracked nipples from improper latch (Baby Namastè's got an adorable but tiny mouth, and it took a week or two for us to master the best position for his latch) to going completely top less because I have great supply but the idea of pumping gave me panic attacks. Add in my D-MER and you get one anxious, struggling mama. Before I threw in the towel, I decided to seek out some learning. Specifically, how could I continue this journey without wrecking my nips. I was serious about sticking it out, but my lactation consultant didn't encourage or endorse pumping, so she was no help. I had to Google it.

By "it" I mean relief. How could I manage nursing and pumping without developing chill bumps and tremors at the thought?! (It hurts when you have cracked nipples or improper equipment [originally my horns were too large] BUT take heart--it absolutely gets better once you find your rhythm.) And your nip cream.

My "it"? NIPPLE CREAM. I read up on the major brands, asked around, and eventually just went to my favorite store sites and just bought whatever looked good. Here are the factual, although at times comical, results of all that testing.

(Credit Medela for image.) My go-to for my breastfeeding journey has been the Medela family of products. My pumps are Medela, I utilized the videos and forums on their website (along with one of their lactation consultants) to correct our latch and learn to pump effectively. It was a no-brainer to snag some of their nipple cream.

The Medela Tender Care lanolin is thick, safe for baby, and does the job. If you keep it at room temperature, it's easy to smooth on. However...I keep my room slightly cool. When my  cracked nips were at their worst, it actually kind of hurt to use this cream. It has a funny scent, but Baby Namastè was not put off by it enough to stop nursing. I felt relief within a few applications and still carry it in my pump bag to this day.

Earth Mama Angel Baby is my company for an organic tea I drink monthly to soothe the troubled me during those dreaded "visits" with nobody's favorite auntie. I like the tea, and I love organic, so when I saw their nipple cream I was immediately interested.  Yay Target for having it in stock and online too!

The cream slides on like butter. It's all natural and certified organic. I didn't really mind the smell. It worked--I saw relief in a day or so. However, Baby Namastè didn't like the taste. I solved that by just dabbing the cream off with a warm washcloth before letting him latch. The cream does get little white specks if it gets cooler than room temp, but that is just the natural plant oils separating. This product is lanolin free, for those who might worry about or have a sensitivity to wool. I like it better for its other use--rashes, dry skin, and it's a killer lip balm!

(Photo credit Honest Company.) The Honest Company is what's hot in the streets for baby products. I received this nipple balm in a gift basket from a friend when Baby Namastè was about a week old. Interestingly, that was probably the hardest period in our nursing journey! I would have chopped my nips off to stop the cracking if I could do so without compromising the ability to feed him. It was rough, y'all. Anyway...

I got quick enough relief from it. It has no scent, and it's organic. It smoothes on easily and didn't aggravate my already-sore nips. However--I didn't like it much. I wasn't really comfortable knowing the baby would be ingesting beeswax. That's not harmful I guess--but I wasn't interested in feeding my baby, wax. It was definitely formidable as a skin balm, though. I love it after a pedicure because it makes my feet so extra soft. After my initial jar ran out and I found a great use for this balm, I got it in-store from Target.

(Photo credit goes to Jet.) Bella B Nipple Nurture butter was a surprise win! I was ambling through Walmart and found this. Had to try it, because while I'd had some success, I still hadn't found the perfect nip cream. 

This stuff is the Dutch, y'all. Almost every ingredient is organic and food-grade. It's 100% safe for mom and baby, and I like the little scent it has. (Not overdone, just a little sweet, clean hint of something that makes this stuff even more pleasant.) Baby Namastè is infamous for rejecting the boob when he doesn't cotton to a product I use, but this one met his approval. The only problem is, because I also use it as a regular moisturizer for my hands, he is always trying to get my fingers. This is a very good option, and it's even vegan!

(Photo credit Walmart.) Unless you're nursing under a rock, you've heard of something Lansinoh. I actually blogged about raved over their breastmilk storage bags in another experiment. The Lansinoh HPA (hypoallergenic) Lanolin is exactly that--pure lanolin. No frills, just good old lanolin to soothe your suffering nips. 

Turns out, I'm not a fan of lanolin. Baby Namastè refuses to nurse unless I wipe it off (no big deal) and by wipe, I mean give my boobs a bath so he doesn't smell the cream. The Lansinoh wasn't terrible to smooth on, but it's thick. When they say pea-sized amount, listen to them. It doesn't take much, and because this stuff is thick, your shirt/bra/nursing pads will be pasted to your nips if you overapply. It does the job, but because it's lanolin, we didn't use it for nips. Hands? Absolutely, I'm typing this blog out as we speak with some soft hands courtesy of good old Lansinoh! The cream is sold in Walmart, Target, Babies R'Us,  and most pharmacies. 

So many creams, so much testing. Which do I, Tayè K, love most of all? THIS ONE! *drumroll*

(Photo credit, Google.) Hubby Namastè is from India. He's vegetarian,health-focused, and always has or knows a good non-pharmaceutical alternative for most ailments. He also has sisters, aunts, and cousins who swear by coconut oil for--well, everything. When I finally told him why there were so many odd little purchases on our account, he laughed. Then he went to our kitchen and came back with this glorious blue bottle. 

Parachute Coconut oil is pure, organic, unrefined, cold-pressed coconut oil. It smells, tastes, and feels amazing. It is food, it is natural, and it is my favorite nipple (and by nipple, I mean head to toe, including hair) butter-balm-cream-lifesaver. Coconut oil is long lauded for its antibacterial, antifungal properties as well as its healthy fats and the fact that it's delicious. I kid you not, within three or four hours, my nips were no longer red. The pain was nonexistent by my third use. I use it to lubricate my horns too. It's vegan approved. For me, of course, the deal-sealer was Baby Namastè's reaction--he was cluster-feeding and not once did he shun the boob. The coconut oil absorbs into your skin, so it doesn't feel sticky. Just keep it at room temp or it'll solidify completely. We purchased ours at Cherian's International (a supermarket in Decatur, GA), but you can order it for yourself here and here. 

I no longer suffer cracked nipples, but I still use my Parachute Oil. Since those initial weeks, I haven't suffered cracks, blisters, or soreness. I like to think it's because I have 50 different kinds of relief available. 

Also, my skin is soft as a baby's butt. Shouts out to my nip cream collection for that. A girl likes to be soft and sweetly scented, amirite?  

Namastè!

-- Tayè K ♡

Takeoff!

Namastè!

I hope you're all experiencing copious amounts thereof.

I have been one busy mama the past few days! We had our first prize winner (which I was almost as excited as she was about), new promo packages arrived, and the weather here in Georgia has stabilized. Our little piece of the atmosphere finally got the memo that it's past time for ninety-degree days and officially time for hay rides, apple cider, and all that feel-good autumn food.

Speaking of food--I'll be letting you guys in on some of our favorite recipes too, from my new shrimp masala chili (a spicy fusion of a classic American autumn dish with an exotic Sri Lankan mainstay) to my absolutely decadent red velvet cheesecake. I have tons of things to share and thanks to some wonderful sponsors, our giveaways will continue getting bigger and better!

As you know, this blog is NOT corporate and I am NOT a professional writer. (Just a good one, tee hee.) I personally reply to each email, each message to the Facebook page, and each snapchat (@NamasTAYEK) or Instagram (@NamasteWithTayeK) inquiry myself. That will not change, and I appreciate your patience as this little corner of blogdom grows!

I am just overwhelmingly excited and incredibly thankful for all the support, shares, likes, doubletaps, and SnapChat stories I've received. I'm the new kid on the block, but I am so happy you've allowed me to sit with you. I love and appreciate you and your support means the world. "Thank you" isn't big enough, but aside from giving you my word that I'll continue writing as long as you continue reading and engaging, it's what I have!

Namastè

-- Tayè K ♡

FIRST PRIZE, AWARDED!

Namastè!

I'm bubbling over like a shaken soda this morning. We have our first prize winner!

Alicia Smith followed a giveaway trail on our Facebook and won an Amazon gift card!

This is a big deal for me, being new to giveaways and the burgeoning social media load that comes with this kind of blog. I am quite literally the new kid on the block, and the new kid always has to prove herself before joining the ranks.

I cannot wait to complete the Mommy Comforts, which will be my next prize pack. Keep your eyes peeled for your chance.

...with Tayè K!

Namastè!

Have you been experiencing copious amounts thereof?

I was going over my posts and realized I did not give much insight as to who I am. I did not even notice it, because this was about stepping out of my comfort zone to do something new. I started this blog to kinda vent out my journey with Baby Namastè. Leading up to his birth and 4th trimester, I had this insane year--a seemingly neverending loop of setbacks, downfalls, breakdowns, losses, and steps backwards. I didn't want to write about those things tbough, because I don't like to seem ungrateful. Baby Namastè's name means Rising Sun, so that's the direction I chose to take. A new day, a new era.

I spent our 4th trimester holed up in our home, loving on the little one and adjusting to our new normal. I truly enjoyed that crazy time frame.

When I came back to social media, I felt like a different person. I'm a nice girl anyway but I gained so much peace by disconnecting. It wasn't entirely by choice, as we relocated for Hubby's work, and our phones got zero reception. Wifi was poopy also, so there I was--reconnecting with life minus the selfie crowd. (I like selfies, by the way. I have many!) I would log in and actually have something to say, versus logging in and having to say something. It's gonna sound hilarious and cliché,  but being in the middle of nowhere helped me reconnect with me. I got back to my roots. My yoga, my namastè, my energy--all that hippie peaceful stuff I so adore.

So who am I?

Well, I'm Tayè. Tay-tay. Lover of animals. BIG BELIEVER IN KARMA. Namastè queen.

I suppose who I am is not as important as what I'm trying to do here. I exist in this blogsphere to entertain and inform. Which is comforting to me, because I'm not extraordinary. I'm not one of those girls who needs to stand out, and I'm absolutely not a lover of controversy. I'm a little shy, so I prefer to work behind the scenes and watch things blossom versus being front and center. I'm a straight shooter. I tell it like it is. I don't sugarcoat and I don't go along to get along. I do my own thing and it's worked for me.

I guess when I began this blog I wanted to share my life but preserve some small amount of anonymity for myself. Hence the scarf on SnapChat and YouTube, and only showing the back or top of my family's heads or watermarks cleverly placed to obscure their faces a bit. I didn't want to be another blog full of snapshots. My WORDS are my snapshots. I panicked a bit when I realized that becoming a serious blogger meant I had to trade some of that behind the scenes work for actual visibility.

I'm becoming ok with the visibility, actually, because I'm so regular. I was told a few days ago that my blog entries are like conversations with a dear friend. That's been my favorite compliment so far.

Who am I?

I'm Tayè. Your new old friend.

Namastè!

- Tayè K.