Ultimate Blog Party 2012

The Ultimate Blog Party is here. For those of you visiting for the party, welcome and for the rest of you join in the fun. Pull up and chair, turn on some party music, and let's get this party started!!!!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hi, I'm Lois, owner of the Cushie Pushie Company, and inventor of the Cushie Pushie Breast Support Pillow for Nursing Moms. I have two boys, 8 and 6 who keep me very, very, and did I mention very busy! If that is not enough, I also work full-time in marketing. I also blog at Goodies for Mom about innovative products, great mom-owned businesses, helpful sites, family related news, and give lots of GOODIES away.

Good luck and do not forget to head over to Ultimate Blog Party at 5 Minutes for Mom to keep on partying and lots more prizes!!!

Cushie Pushie to Participate in Ultimate Blog Party 2010

The Cushie Pushie Company will be participating in the Ultimate Blog Party 2010 hosted by 5minutesformom.com. During the big party being held April 9-16, 2010, we will be giving away a Cushie Pushie Breast Support Pillow to one lucky party goer.

Adoption Awareness Month: Breastfeeding Your Adopted Child

As we contemplate adoption, there is one thing that I would really like to be able to do for our adopted child.  I felt it was very important with both my sons to breastfeed them as long as I could and I would really like to try to do this for our adopted child also. Breast milk is easily digested and contains antibodies that can help protect infants from infections. Not only does breast milk provide a great source of nutrition, but it really is a wonderful bonding time between mother and child. Something that is especially important with an adopted child.

However, breastfeeding an adopted child provides its own unique set of challenges. Here are some tips to help in breastfeeding an adopted child:

1. Relactation, where a mother has previously breastfeed, tends to be more successful than induced lactation for a mother who has never breastfed in the past. It usually provides a greater milk supply. The shorter time since she last breastfed, also helps with a larger production of milk.
   
2. Prior to the baby arriving, regular breast stimulation is needed, preferable using a hospital-grade double electric pump. Pump for 10-15 minutes every 3-4 hours for several weeks to several months before the baby arrives if this is possible. Make sure to freeze it to store up. It may take a week or more to begin producing milk. This can cause a problem if you are placed with a child that is about to be born or already born but it is still possible.
   
3. Once the baby arrives, the baby can be encouraged to suck by using a Supplemental Nursing System. This aid allows a baby to breastfeed while at the same time receiving supplemental formula through a thin tube next to your nipple.
   
4. Many women try to induce lactation by using medications and supplements.  One such supplement, Goat's Rue Capsules, are made from an herb and are reported to help increase breastmilk by stimulating the development of mammary tissue. Some physicians will prescribe short term use of an oral contraceptive containing estrogen and progesterone.
   
5. Often times supplementing with formula is needed. Realistic expections are that most likely enough milk will not be produced and supplementing will be needed. The adopted mother should concentrate on the amount she is able to provide no matter how small, and the bond she is creating with her child.
   
6. If you are unable to produce milk, you can still use the Supplemental Nursing System to fed your child formula and create the skin to skin contact that helps create a feeling of trust and security for a newborn.
   
7. La Leche League International can provide more information, and possibly connect you with other adoptive mothers in your area who are nursing or have nursed. They also have online forums where you can ask questions of leaders and other nursing mothers. 
   
8. Local lacation consultants can also be a great resource in making sure the baby is latching on properly and giving even more tips and advice. Do not hesitate to call them if you have any concerns.

According Jody Wright of Infant Massage USA, "I also found, personally, a profound hormonal benefit to breastfeeding. I might sit down to nurse in a harried state, and a few minutes later realize I could not even remember why I had been upset." [Read Jody Wright's story of breastfeeding her three adopted children.]

Breastfeeding an adopted infant is definitely possible and definitely worth it. The more educated and commited one, the better chance there is of having a positive outcome for both mother and child.

 Sources:

• Journal of the American Dietetic Association
• Alison Dodge of Happy Bambino
• Great Expectations: The Essential Guide to Breastfeeding ©2009 by Marianne Niefert, M.D. Used with permission from Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
• Breastfeeding an adopted baby (Baby Center)

Cushie Pushie Company Named One of Top 200 Leading Moms in Business

For Immediate Release
Contact: marketing@cushiepushie.com

CUSHIE PUSHIE COMPANY NAMED
ONE OF TOP 200 LEADING MOMS IN BUSINESS

The Cushie Pushie Company announced today that it has been recognized as one of the top 200 mom-owned businesses in StartupNation’s 2009 Leading Moms In Business Competition (http://www.startupnation.com/leading-moms-2009). The competition, sponsored by VerticalResponse, recognizes the achievements of mothers across the country who run outstanding businesses.

Lois Whittaker, owner of the Cushie Pushie Company, is one mother who realizes how important it is for mothers to help support each other. To this effort, she has invented the Cushie Pushie Breast Support Pillow for Nursing Moms. The breastfeeding pillow was designed to help support a woman’s breast for easier breastfeeding.

"Moms across America were honored in this year’s ranking, showing that they’re capable of starting and running successful businesses while managing to balance family, career, home and self," said Rich Sloan, co-founder of StartupNation. "Well over 600,000 votes were cast in support of several thousand contestants. What an incredible achievement to be named a winner, and what an inspiration for anyone looking to start their own business.”

“Honors like this one reinforce to me why what we do is so important to our economy, other mothers, their babies, our families, and ourselves,” states Lois. “I am proud to be recognized with such accomplished, intelligent, incredible women who undertook not only the difficult, yet rewarding job of mother, but then took on the equally demanding job of running their own businesses.”

StartupNation (http://www.startupnation.com/) launched the first annual Leading Moms in Business Competition in January with the support of VerticalResponse (http://www.verticalresponse.com/) to recognize the achievements of mom entrepreneurs across the US. Winners were selected and ranked according to public votes accumulated from January through March, 2009. The elite 200 win bragging rights, promotional support, and digital winner’s emblems recognizing their achievements as the Leading Moms in Business.

About Cushie Pushie Company
The Cushie Pushie Company is headquartered in Lawrenceville, NJ. A working mother of two, Lois Whittaker is the owner of the company and inventor of the Cushie PushieTM. With a goal to make breastfeeding easier for new as well as experience moms, the Cushie Pushie Company aims to provide a quality product at a reasonable cost. The Cushie PushieTM Organic version is produced from 100% organic cotton flannel and 100% organic cotton batting. This is the first product of its kind to provide breast support for breastfeeding mothers made from organic materials. Lois also blogs about products, giveaways, and articles for moms and babies at Goodies for Mom (http://www.goodiesformom.com/).

For more information, visit http://www.cushiepushie.com/.
For additional press information, visit http://www.cushiepushie.com/press.htm.

###

Multi-User Green Breastpump Now Available

As an advocate of breastfeeding, and a working mom, a breastpump was a very important part of my life when my boys were babies, especially when my first ended up in the NICU. It always bothered me that the expensive hospital grade pumps could be reused by different users but I was was stuck with the personal model that I bought. My electric model was not a cheap purchase either, I think it was around $250. It is still sitting in my closet upstairs taking up space.

With the birth rate at more than 4 million each year, it is estimated that at least 2 million breastpumps are purchased annually by new parents. The majority of these pumps─those that don't end up in attics, cellars and closets─end up in landfills. This is due to that the fact that the majority of pumps are designed as single-user devices, and with that the FDA states that these type of pumps can be not be shared between mothers.

Well, Hygeia has developed a solution to be able to help keep more breast pumps out of the already overcrowded landfills. They announced the launch of the first Green breastpump. The Hygeia EnJoye™ Breastpump was designed and is registered with the FDA as a multi-user product. When a Hygeia consumer no longer needs her breastpump, it can be re-used if each mother has her own personal accessory set, similar to hospital grade systems.

The breakthrough is Hygeia's adaptation of the hospital technology into a consumer product that's portable, economical, and safe for re-use between mothers. All the parts that touch a mother or her milk are part of her personal accessory set. In addition, the Hygeia Enjoye breastpump features an optional reusable lithium ion battery. Another Green feature, since most breastpumps typically use multiple AA batteries that end up in landfills after use.

The pump retails for $299 and the personal accessory pack is just $35.00.

John Estill, CEO of Hygeia, states that "Hygeia is committed to the environment and making the earth a Greener place for new parents and babies."

[See the new Hygeia EnJoye™ Breastpump.]

About Hygeia - Mother's Milk… The Promise of Health™
At Hygeia, our mission is to support breastfeeding. Hygeia products are made by professionals who have a depth of personal and industry experience in breastfeeding and who share the vision to create a different kind of breastfeeding products company.

Mothering Publisher O'Mara Sets the Record Straight: Breast is Best

Peggy O'Mara, publisher, editor and owner of Mothering magazine for 33 years, is one of the most respected voices in natural parenting. O'Mara is setting the record straight in her latest editorial "Case is Closed: Breast is Best."

The editorial responds to the controversial and much publicized article by Hanna Rosin in the April 2009 issue of the Atlanta Monthly, entitled "The Case Against Breastfeeding." O'Mara's experience and impressive knowledge on breastfeeding are abundantly evident in this thoroughly researched response.

"Hanna Rosin's article exposes the dichotomy between the high value we place on breastfeeding and the low value we place on mothering, but it is cowardly to blame breastfeeding," states O'Mara. "Slandering breastfeeding because our society makes it inconvenient is like vacillating on equal pay for women because it's difficult to achieve. "

[Review the entire article]

About Peggy O'Mara
Peggy O'Mara of http://www.mothering.com/, has been the editor and publisher of Mothering magazine for 33 years. A published author and dynamic speaker, she has lectured and conducted workshops in conjunction with organizations such as the Omega Institute, Esalen, La Leche International, and Bioneers. She has appeared on numerous television and radio programs and has been featured in national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Mother Earth News, and Utne Magazine.

Ultimate Blog Party Winner

The winner of the Cushie Pushie Breast Support Pillow in our Ultimate Blog Party is:

• Commenter #25 - SuzieB

Congratulations!!!!!!