Baby D Drops Review/Giveaway

If you had a baby sometime since November of 2008, your pediatrician has probably recommended that you supplement your baby with 400 international units (IU) of Vitamin D per day. This new recommendation was published by the American Academy of Pediatrics after there were published reports of breastfed babies with Vitamin D deficiency rickets in the US. Yikes!

I knew very little about the importance of Vitamin D until I went for my yearly well woman exam in 2006 and my OB suggested I get my levels checked. He had begun doing his own research on the importance of Vitamin D and told me that every woman he'd checked so far had been pretty low, but that the black women's D levels had been abysmal. Black folks have more melanin so in the simplest terms it's harder for us to make Vitamin D from the sun because melanin is extra protection from those UV rays.

We talked about all of the ways that your health can suffer if you are deficient in Vitamin D and he told me his belief that Vitamin D deficiency was connected to everything from autism to preeclampsia and several types of cancer. He insisted I go down the hall immediately to Quest Labs and have my blood drawn for a check.

You can imagine I wasn't really expecting to be led into his office after my paper smear to discuss this, right? I left in a daze with the prescription for the blood work in my hand and went down the hall for my test. My results came in a little bit later. My Vitamin D level? 15. At that time, my doctor said he considered 32  "normal", although his personal belief was that it should be more like 50. So pretty bad any way you slice it (and remember I live in South Florida!!!). I began supplements that day and have continued over the years. As the years have gone by and I've done my own research, I increased my intake to about 5000 IU of Vitamin D a day.

For a really fantastic overview of  Vitamin D and how it's made in the body and why it's particularly important for breastfeeding moms and babies, please read Diana Cassar-Uhl's My Thoughts on the Vitamin D Controversy. She wrote La Leche League's tear sheet on the topic and it breaks it down in a way that is easy to read and understand. You can also check out Dr. Carol Wagner's research on the topic.

I know some moms have bristled at the idea that their babies need a Vitamin D supplement, believing that as long as their levels were OK, their babies would be getting what they need through their breastmilk. I really do believe that breastmilk is the perfect food for babies, but after reading up on the topic I think, particularly for women of color, that a supplement is necessary. I really urge you to do your own research on the topic if you haven't already.

My pediatrician recommended supplementing my kids with the multivitamins you can buy at the grocery store that are made by the formula companies. No thanks. I knew that I wanted to give my babies a supplement that was Vitamin D and ONLY Vitamin D, and preferably not made by you-know-who.
One of my super smart Twitter friends recommended I check out a company called Ddrops out of Canada that made just such drops. She raved about them being easy to use as you only needed one drop for 400 IU. I decided to order them on Amazon. For some reason I placed my order I ended up with another brand of drops that were also only Vitamin D. This brand was a thick, oily liquid that came in a tiny vial with a dropper. The dropper had two markings, one that said 200 and one that said, 400 and instructions to use a "dropperful" with no information on what that dose was on the dropper or what it meant in terms of IU.

Needless to say, I was annoyed. I complained on Twitter about not being able to figure out the dose. The drops were expensive and when I finally asked my mom to bring me home a 1cc syringe from her job and saw how much I had to use for one dose, they became even less economical. Fail.

But being awesome, the Ddrops company contacted me on Twitter and asked if I would like to try their drops. Of course I said yes. They not only sent me the Baby DDrops for Aminah (400 IU per drop) but also the regular Ddrops 1000 IU for me.

This product could not be more fantastic. Before nursing, you turn the bottle over and put one drop on your nipple. Then you latch the baby on and voila! Baby gets her Vitamin D for the day. For my drops, I put 5 drops on top of my lunch to get my 5000 IU for the day. These drops are completely odorless and tasteless. No preservatives, no artificial coloring and gluten, soy, wheat, corn and dairy-free, for those of you whose babies have allergies. The dose drops out slowly so you really cannot overdo it. And if you're not breastfeeding, you can simply put the drop on your baby's pacifier (just be sure it's at a time, like naptime, when you can be fairly sure she'll suck for at least 30 seconds.) That's it. Could not be easier. I leave the bottle on my nightstand so I can give it to Aminah as I nurse her to sleep.

The DDrops company has offered to give THREE Blacktating readers their own bottle of Baby Ddrops so you can see how fantastic this product is for yourself.

Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. The giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only. Good luck!

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Nurture-Elle Review & Giveaway

Boy, the Canadians seem to really knock it out of the park when it comes to breastfeeding accessories, huh? From the Pump Ease to Bravado to Momzelle, Canadians seem to be creating some of the best products for nursing moms.

Another Candian company, Nurture-Elle, recently sent me one of their nursing tops to review and they are also offering a $25 credit to one Blacktating reader to use at their store.

The top I was sent the Cowl Neck Nursing Top in a gorgeous burgundy shade.

This top is really beautiful and doesn't even look like a nursing top! The great thing about the Nurture-Elle top is that it has a side access opening. Instead of a traditional opening right above the breast, this opening is off to the side in an attached under layer.

This is an excellent top for moms who are at all nervous about breastfeeding in public. When I nurse in this top, absolutely nothing shows and you can even use the layers in the cowl neck for extra coverage.

The fabric is 90% viscose, 10% spandex which means that it's nice and loose and stretchy and very flattering. The color of the top is also super vibrant! I wear this top all the time and have washed it again and again and it still looks as good as the day that I got it.

Price for you? $45
Price for me? Free.

Want to win a $25 gift card to Nurture-Elle? Simply leave me a comment letting me know what your favorite product is on the Nurture-Elle site. For additional entries, please use the Rafflecopter widget below.
Even if you don't win, everyone can get $7 off their puchase with coupon code BLACKTATING.

Momzelle Nursing Top Review & Giveaway

Back when I was pregnant, Blacktating sponsor and all-around wonderful company Momzelle sent me a cute nursing top to review on the blog. This was my first ever piece of nursing clothing, if you can believe it. With Miles I was totally clueless and bought a couple decent nursing bras and just nursed from the top of my shirt whenever I needed to. By the time I realized there was even such a thing as nursing tops and dresses, I was a pro at nursing in public and didn't think I needed any special clothing.

Now of course, this is still true. You really DON'T need to buy special clothing in order to breastfeed in public. But damn if it doesn't make it so much easier! Since getting a few nursing tanks and tops, I don't know how I ever did without them. They just make everything so much easier and convenient and lots of brands like Momzelle make stuff that's so cute you can wear it while pregnant and after your nursing days are long over (yes, I rocked my Momzelle top while pregnant. It was so comfy and stretchy and *still* looks good, 7 months later).

Momzelle sent me their v-neck t-shirt in Dahlia, a beautiful plum.

I'm short so this length was perfect for me, but if you're a tall girl they do come in Xtra long. See how flattering this top is in the tummy area? (And bless you, Momzelle, for using a model who actually looks like she gave birth and is indeed breastfeeding). I am a US size  14 and got a size Large which was perfect for me (and like I said, I wore it throughout my pregnancy as well and only at the very end did the nursing openings begin to show because of my big belly and I had to put it back in the drawer). When I am nursing in my Momzelle top I feel completely covered and find access to the breast is easy with the generous nursing openings.

Momzelle also makes tanks, long-sleeve tops, dresses, nightgowns and bands that can be used to cover up your tummy under any regular shirt to make nursing a breeze. Besides their great products, you can feel good about buying from Momzelle because they really do care about breastfeeding mothers. Christine, the mom behind the brand, regularly donates to support breastfeeding causes, including giving nursing tops to low income teen moms.

Want to treat yourself to something from the Momzelle store? Momzelle is offering one Blacktating reader a $25 gift card to the store. This giveaway is open to all and everyone can take $5 off any Momzelle order with coupon code BLACKTATING.


Please use the Rafflecopter widget to enter and leave your comments below!

The Children's Place Holiday Collection & Giveaway

It's no secret how much I love shopping at The Children's Place. They produce quality clothing for kids that is cute and stylish and, best of all, really lasts. I have been lucky enough to get invited to shop their new collections every season, and a few weeks ago I headed to one of their stores in Miami to check out the holiday duds.

Now, as you may recall, I went two weeks past my due date and in the final days before I went into labor, I spent a lot of time walking in the mall. I ducked into The Children's Place and fell in love with the little girl holiday party dresses. I wished I had a bigger girl to shop for because not only were the dresses beautiful but reasonably priced (they have been killing it with the sales lately!)

I finally got to take my time and look through all of the new fashions during their media shopping event. It was my first outing after Aminah was born and as I was only two weeks postpartum I had my husband tag along. It was definitely a bit tricky getting out of the house with such a tiny baby. We ended up having to stop twice during the long ride to Miami so I could nurse her and change her diaper. She fell asleep right as we arrived so I was able to concentrate on the shopping at hand!

I ended up picking out matching outfits for Miles and Aminah to wear to services at the holidays. Although I loved the "Fur, fun and fabulous" collection

and the florals

I decided to dress the kids in perfect plaids.

                                          

The entire holiday collection is so cute and fun, and filled with lots of sparkly shoes, leggings and headbands for the girls. The boys collection has classic pieces like blazers, vests, plaid shirts and striped sweaters. You can't go wrong at The Children's Place, whether you're shopping for your own kids or picking up gifts.

The Children's Place was nice enough to offer a $25 gift card to a Blacktating reader. Enter the giveaway below with Rafflecopter. If you're new to Rafflecopter, watch a video here on how to use it to enter giveaways.

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Miki House Clothing (and a giveaway!)

Head over to my review page to enter to win a $20 gift card to Bloomingdale's and learn more about Japanese children's clothing line Miki House.

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Mother's Day Giveaway!

Are you looking for a new scent? I have a bottle of Escada's latest perfume, Marine Groove, to give away, just in time for Mother's Day! Head over to my review blog for the details on how to enter.

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Simplisse Breast Pump Review & Giveaway

I've got a fabulous giveaway for a Simplisse manual breast pump and breastfeeding accessories over at Blacktating Reviews. The total prize is worth over $100! Go enter now. 


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See's Candies Giveaway

I have a sweet giveaway, just in time for Valentine's Day over on Blacktating Reviews: a two-pound box of See's Candies chocolates. Enter now, the contest ends on Friday!




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Review & Giveaway: Simply Breastfeeding & Breast Pumps & Briefcases

Check out my updated review of Shari Criso's Simply Breastfeeding DVD and Breast Pumps & Briefcases CD. One of my readers will win a copy of each! Enter at Blacktating Reviews. 

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Baby Star Nursing Blanket Review & Giveaway

I've got a review and giveaway for the Baby Star Nursing Blanket over at Blacktating Reviews. Enter by Friday, December 11th for your chance to win!




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Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat?

I have a review and giveaway of a copy of the new book Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? by Claire Mysko and Magali Amadei up at Blacktating Reviews. Claire, a beauty activist, and Magali, a former model and ED sufferer, interviewed over 400 women and men about the effects of pregnancy and motherhood on a woman's body and self-esteem. The book aims to show:

- How you can learn to trust your changing body, appreciate it, and yes…even work it!
- Why you should be wary of the Hollywood "bump watch" and post-baby weight loss stories– and how to take the focus off the scale
- How to deal with your raging hormones—in the bedroom and beyond
- How to recognize when your body issues get extreme—and how to get help



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$100 Yummie Tummie Giveaway!

My review of Yummie Tummie Shapewear is up at Blacktating Reviews and I've got a $100 gift card to give away to one lucky reader. Go enter now!

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$25 Gift card to Tiny Prints

Head over to Blacktating Reviews to enter to win a $25 gift card to Tiny Prints!


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Giveaway: Baby's Bliss Nipple Cream for Mommies

**CLOSED**
I was recently contacted by Mom Enterprises to review & giveaway their new nipple cream, Baby's Bliss Nipple Cream for Mommies. The name of the product sounded very familiar to me, so I did some Googling and realized I had blogged about this company before. In June 2008, the FDA recalled the company's Mommy's Bliss nipple cream due to precautionary concerns over two of the ingredients, phenoxyethanol and chlorophenesin. A lot of moms were disappointed to hear about the recall because the nipple cream was one of the few that was free of lanolin, which causes an allergic reaction in a small percentage of the population.

For those of you who were fans of the old formula, I'm pleased to let you know that Mom Enterprises went back to the drawing board and created a new product, Baby's Bliss Nipple Cream for Mommies.

The new product is an entirely new nipple cream that is all food grade, petroleum and paraben free and has received the Whole Foods Premium Body Care approval. Although I am way past the days of nipple soreness, I remember the cream I used was very greasy. This nipple cream is not at all greasy, and contains soothing ingredients like shea butter and avocado, which make it thick and rich and creamy.

The nipple cream is available for purchase online for $12 and can also be found at your local drug store or health & wellness store.

The company is very excited about this new product and has offered a tube of the cream to one Blacktating reader. Bonus? The packaging contains a coupon for $1 off your next tube. Want to win? Just leave me a comment telling me who's going to get the nipple cream if you win!

Contest opened to residents of the US & Canada only, please. Contest will run until midnight EST on Wednesday, September 16th. Winner will be selected via Random.org and notified via email & on this post. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, at which point another winner will be selected.

Congratulations to ZealandsMom! Please check your email and send me your address so I can get your gift out to you ASAP.

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Review & Giveaway: Cushie Pushie

CLOSED
I was looking at an old picture of myself in a bikini the other day. I couldn't believe how tiny my waist was and how firm and high my boobs were. My boobs! The boobs that used to fit in a 36B that have grown and stretched and are currently at DD status. Of course I knew my breasts would get bigger after having a baby, but I never thought I'd have DDs. I couldn't imagine then how heavy and annoying big boobs can be. I am the rare woman who never wanted big breasts and was just fine with my teeny tiny bras (no underwire necessary). Now? Well, now, those same bras look like doll clothes and when I take my bra off, I'm practically unrolling my breasts and thankfully my man likes me and tries to pretend he didn't hear the thud when they hit the ground.

I'm exaggerating (slightly), but I can only imagine how my sister-friends who had big jugs to begin with feel about their breasts after pregnancy and breastfeeding. When you start with Ds or DDs, what do your boobs look like after your milk comes in? And how can a teeny tiny baby get latched on properly to those huge things? I know women whose boobs were bigger than their whole baby! I can only assume this was the inspiration for the Cushie Pushie, a support pillow for your huge new boobs.

The Cushie Pushie works by keeping your breast pushed up, making it easier to get your baby latched on and nurse hands-free. All of you big-boobed gals out there know you sometimes have to hold your boob up to keep it from suffocating your new bundle of joy.

I was actually amazed at how well it worked. At first I was a bit confused as to how to use it, but the instructions are simple: place the longest side of the pillow under your breast and the shortest side will be touching your arm. That's it! (Illustrated instructions can be found here). Your boob is now propped up and ready for nursing. You can now nurse hands-free. The Cushie Pushie also works well with a regular breastfeeding pillow, like the Boppy. Even if you don't have huge boobs, this is a great way to help position your baby on the breast, especially in the early days. At $15, you can't go wrong with this handy little pillow.

Want one of your own? Cushie Pushie is offering one of my readers a Cushie Pushie of her own. Simply tell me in a comment what pattern you'd like to win (non-organic only, please). Choose wisely, because if you win, this is the pattern you're getting! Happy breastfeeding!

Contest opened to U.S. residents only, please. Contest will run until midnight EST on Wednesday, August 26th. Winner will be selected via Random.org and notified via email & on this post. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, at which point another winner will be selected.

Congratulations to Melanie! You've won a Cushie Pushie. Please contact me with your mailing address within 48 hours or another winner will be selected.

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Giveaway at Motherwear: Spanish for Breastfeeding Support

Head on over to the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog and enter to win a copy of Tanya Lieberman's new book, Spanish for Breastfeeding Support. The book was written for anyone who works in breastfeeding support and Lactation Consultants can earn over 12 CERPs for completing the exercises in the book.

If you don't win a copy, you can purchase the book through Hale Publishing, or through Amazon.


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Blogiversary Winners & Discount Codes!

Thank you to everyone who entered my huge giveaway to help me celebrate my Blogiversary! Thanks also to my sponsors for the wonderful gifts! Here are the winners for the fabulous prizes.


WHOZAT won The Complete Book of Breastfeeding

Talina won 25 Things Every Nursing Mother Needs to Know

Sweeps Mommy won The MilkBank breast milk storage system by Dex Baby

Mama Seoul won the $50 Gift Certificate to One Hot Mama

Xenia won The Wonders of Mother's Milk

Execumama won The Black Woman's Guide to Breastfeeding

Paula H won the 2-pack of organic velour diapers from sloom

Congratulations, everyone! Look out for an email from me with further instructions.

And because my sponsors are so generous and wonderful, they want to offer some special discounts to my readers. Mishawn Purnell-O'Neal is offering FREE shipping & handling on any purchase of The Wonders of Mother's Milk. Simply email your order to mishawnpurnell@msn.com and you'll receive the book for $14.99. Buying the book directly from Mishawn allows you to support a mom who is a lactation consultant working hard to increase breastfeeding rates in the black community.

Roxanne from One Hot Mama has also offered a discount code for my readers. Receive 10% off ANY order at Onehotmama.com by entering "blogmom " in the box that says customer code during check out.

You can also get 10% off any order at sustainablebabyish/sloomb with coupon code BLACKTATING.

Pass along these discount offers to as many friends & family as you'd like!


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Do You Know What Today Is? It's My Blogiversary!

*CLOSED*

Happy Birthday, Blacktating! My blog is now 1 year old! I started this blog a year ago, never thinking anyone besides me and a few friends would ever even read it, and now I am totally part of a wonderful community of breastfeeding moms online. Smart, wonderful moms who I respect read my little ol' blog and it's a wonderful feeling. I couldn't let today pass without doing something big!

OK, actually my blog's birthday was on April 28th, but I've been working for the last few weeks to put together a great blogiversary party and giveaway for you guys, so I'm running a little late (you know black folks, always on "CP time"!)

Anyway, I am thrilled to offer you the following fantastic prizes from some amazing sponsors!

- The Black Woman's Guide to Breastfeeding, the only breastfeeding book written specifically for African-American women, by Kathi Barber.

-A 2-Pack of Organic Velour Flat diapers and pins courtesy of sustainablebabyishSloomb. Bamboo velour is ridiculously soft...perfect for baby's skin!

-A $50 gift certificate to One Hot Mama. You can get yourself a nursing tank, bra, Mama Spanx, maternity gear...the options are endless! One Hot Mama has stylish options for every mom or mama-to-be.

-A MilkBank breast milk storage system. I reviewed this product and thought it was great. And don't tell anyone, but sometimes I still let my son have his milk in a MilkBank bottle.

-A copy of the 3rd edition of The Complete Book of Breastfeeding by Sally Wendkos Olds, a classic breastfeeding book.

-The Wonders of Mother's Milk, a gorgeous hardcover multicultural children's book about breastfeeding, by Mishawn Purnell O'Neal.

- 25 Things Every Nursing Mother Needs to Know. A compact, beautifully illustrated breastfeeding book. A perfect shower gift!

As you can see, there will be seven winners! To enter, leave me a comment telling me which prize(s) you’d like to win and why. I can't guarantee you'll get your first choice, but I'll try to accommodate as many of you as I can.

To get extra entries, do any of the following:

- follow my blog (see Google Friend Connect widget on sidebar, where it says "Boobaholics")
- Tweet the giveaway, and post the tweet URL (to do this, right click below your tweet on “5 seconds ago” or whatever the time is, and copy that url)
- blog about this giveaway (please add post URL)
- become a fan of the Blacktating Blog on Facebook

Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry. 5 entries possible per person! The giveaway will end on Wednesday, June 3 at 11:59 PM and the winners will be notified via email and posted here. US ADDRESSES ONLY PLEASE. Good luck and thanks for rockin with me the past year!

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Winner: Black Woman's Guide to Breastfeeding

Congratulations to gina! You've won a copy of The Black Woman's Guide to Breastfeeding. Check your email (including your spam folder) and look for an email from me. You have until Wednesday, March 4th to respond or another winner will be selected.

Thanks to everyone who entered. There are more great goodies to come!


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The Black Woman's Guide to Breastfeeding: Review & Giveaway

Looking for a book on breastfeeding that directly speaks to the specific concerns of African-American moms? Well, there is exactly ONE currently on the market. Sad, I know. Luckily, it's a great resource on breastfeeding that offers a ton of information, great advice and pictures in an easy to read format. That book is Kathi Barber's The Black Woman's Guide to Breastfeeding: The Definitive Guide to Nursing for African American Mothers.

What I love about this book is that it clearly explains why breastfeeding is best for both mom and baby and doesn't assume the reader has already planned to nurse. Unfortunately, many moms of color need an extra push to even attempt breastfeeding and this books clearly spells out the benefits of breast milk and breastfeeding to both mom and baby. Ms. Barber understands the special circumstances that African-American moms often face, so she includes chapters on why fathers are so important for a successful breastfeeding relationship and why dad should be supporting of nursing; the heritage of breastfeeding in the black community and why we need to reembrace nursing; and the barriers that black moms face and how we can overcome them.

This tiny book packs a ton of information! Everything from breastfeeding basics to solutions to the most common problems during breastfeeding and how to manage nursing when you return to work or school. Advice on pumping and milk storage, pictures and drawings of the various nursing positions and good latch, as well as stories from real moms interspered throughout. It even includes breastfeeding laws by state (which is a bit out of date since the book was published in 2005) and resources for more information.

The only con, in my opinion, is that Ms. Barber doesn't urge African-American moms to delay solids until the age of 6 months. I know that many people believe you should "watch the baby, not the calendar," but black people have a tradition of starting solids entirely too early. Although the book cautions that if you start solids at 3 months you should go slowly, I would have liked her to advise against it completely. Although I disagree with her, perhaps Ms. Barber thought she would lose her readers if she was too insistent on ONLY breast milk for the first 6 months, fearing people would disregard the other good advice in the book because waiting so long to start solids is almost unthinkable in the black community.

Overall, I really love this book and I have given it as a gift to friends and now I have a copy to give to one of my readers! Just leave me a comment telling me if you'd keep the book for yourself or gift it to a friend.

This giveaway ends next Sunday, March 1 at 11:59 pm (eastern time). US mail addresses only, please. And please make sure your profile is public or add your email address to your comment so I have a way of contacting you if you win. Winners will be announced on Blacktating and via email.

If you'd like to learn more about Kathi Barber, please go listen to the wonderful interview she gave to Tanya at the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog.

You can also check out her organization, the African American Breastfeeding Alliance, or her advice column on Mothering Magazine's website.

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