We wish all of our readers a Happy and Healthy New Year and all the best for 2014. Stay tuned for an exciting year ahead at Success Through Play Magazine.
Love Milk Autumn/Winter 2013
LOVE MILK Nursingwear was founded in 2010 by Helena Henning in Sweden.
The idea of the original Love Milk nursing top (now called Emma) came to Helena while expecting her third child. At the time she had given away all her old nursing clothes, and struggled to find nice enough new tops and dresses that she felt would be worth the money. She also wanted to nurse in comfort and style and feel confident to do so just about anywhere. So Helena set about developing a top that works as an addition to your existing wardrobe, making less impact on your wallet and the environment, and letting you stick to your pre-baby style. She was also determined that it is made from eco-friendly materials and affordably priced.
Helena soon discovered the real need for new mums to dress as stylishly as they used to before they had babies. Most breastfeeding garments she found were either frumpy or just aimed at lounging at home, and very rarely did she come across a beautiful dress designed for nursing that was also flattering and trendy. So the business took off with the aim of creating a fashionable breastfeeding collection, with dresses and tops featuring a clever and hidden nursing access, and also being nice enough to wear at weddings, parties, dinners or just when you want to feel pretty. All the garments are still eco-friendly and affordably priced.
“Love Milk focuses on sustainable, easy and colourful living. But, most importantly, we want to help making nursing easier and let all mothers feel beautiful.”
Helena Henning, founder of Love Milk
The Love Milk Collection proves that nursing moms don’t need to sacrifice their style and can nurse their babies with confidence and ease all while wearing these chic designs. Love Milk is changing the shape of nursing wear around the globe. The Autumn 2013 collection from Love Milk has been inspired by the very hot nautical and stripes trend and as well as the rich and earthy colours of Autumn. Here are some versatile and stylish pieces from the Love Milk Autumn Collection which have caught our attention:
GRACE nursing top, cream/stripe
EMMA nursing vest top, olive green
ESME Nursing Top, Black/Gold Stripe
The ESME nursing top immediately caught our attention with its flattering design which is sure to compliment every new mum’s post partum figure. This gorgeous top is available in a variety of colours and prints. We love the on trend black and gold stripes and paired with some black trousers or jeans, you can create a stylish and chic look effortlessly. When it is time to nurse baby, simply pull the sleeve inwards (click on product link above) for nursing access. The ESME top is made from a bamboo/elastane fabric and feels beautiful against the skin. The bamboo fabric flows beautifully and the addition of the elastane ensures that your garment retains its shape as well as providing a slimming effect. Available in cream/navy stripe, olive with gold print and black/gold stripe.
The pretty MATILDA night dress exudes femininity and charm and is the perfect pick for warmer nights. The beautiful design of this night dress lends well to both maternity and nursing, making it a terrific deal! The deep V neck and A line cut are very flattering to all figures. This lovely night dress will make any new mom feel beautiful. This night dress is especially suited to the mum who is new to nursing because the nursing access is so straightforward: simply untie the bow when it is time to feed baby. We love the organic cotton jersey fabric and applaud LOVE MILK for committing to eco-friendly fabrics which are kind to the environment, mom and baby. Available in midnight, white and taupe.
For cooler nights, the GISELE pyjama set is the ideal choice of sleep wear and is superbly designed for both the pregnancy and nursing period. The beautiful organic cotton jersey fabric is luxurious and will keep you comfortable all night long. The satin panel on the V neck of the top and the hem of the pants are a lovely touch and make this set a good choice for both sleep wear and or lounge wear. To nurse, simply pull the crossover neckline to the side. This stylish pyjama set is wonderful choice for the upcoming cooler months. Available in taupe or midnight.
PURCHASING
Purchase they beautiful styles directly from the Love Milk Shop or find a retailer in your area.
View the latest collection from Love Milk here.
All images copyrighted Love Milk.
Melinda G™ Nursing Bras Favorite Picks 2013
What are the advantages of a Nursing Bra?
Breastfeeding is natural but not necessarily easy. There are several products on the market which can help make nursing your baby less challenging and more comfortable, especially when you are in public. Nursing bras are designed with cups that open to allow easy access to the breast. They are comprised of material designed to expand and contract to accommodate changing breast size. High quality nursing bras are engineered to support heavy breasts, thereby helping to protect delicate breast tissue and preventing neck and back aches. In addition, they usually feature several rows of hooks at the back to allow for changes in the rib cage, allowing you an extended period of wear.
What to look for when shopping for a Nursing Bra
A good nursing bra will allow you to open and close the cups with one hand. This is important because your other hand will be holding your baby. The bra should support the breast even when the cup is open. The bra should fit you comfortably; if it is too tight, you may be vulnerable to plugged ducts and infection. Try to avoid underwires in the initial few weeks. When purchasing a nursing bra with underwires, take extra care to ensure that you have a perfect fit.
When to buy, what size to buy
One of the first signs of pregnancy for many women is the increase in breast size, often before the pregnancy has been confirmed. During the final weeks of your pregnancy (from 36 weeks), you can get measured for a nursing bra. Keep in mind when shopping for your initial nursing bras that your ribcage will decrease after the baby is born and your cup size will increase. A good rule of thumb is to purchase 3 nursing bras, one to wear, one to wash and the third as an extra. If you prefer washing less, consider purchasing a few more. You can wear these bras during the initial post partum weeks. Once your breast size settles down (usually after the 2nd week) you can shop for additional bras. If you have the opportunity to be professionally fitted for a nursing bra, take advantage of the service. Don’t forget to allow room for your breast pads which become a necessity for any nursing mom.
Introducing Melinda G™ Nursing Bras
Melinda G™ nursing apparel is specially designed for you. Melinda G™ use beautiful fabrics similar to your regular bras, only their bras open for nursing access. All Melinda G™ nursing bras feature seamless cups so there are no seams to chafe delicate breast tissue. In addition, comfort straps to eliminate bounce, and back hooks and eyes adjust to your changing figure. Select soft cup styles feature under-the-breast channeling for the support of an underwire without one.
While there are several nursing apparel brands on the market, many are overpriced, and do not deliver when it comes to quality, function and comfort. We are very excited to discover the Melinda G™ line of high quality, feminine nursing apparel, which nursing moms will greatly appreciate. The line is made in Costa Rica of soft American and Canadian fabrics, and you can be assured that you purchasing a quality product, made under fair labor conditions. Melinda G™ supports some very worthy organizations and we commend them for giving back to the community.
Melinda G™ hasn’t forgotten the more endowed nursing mom and offers extended sizing for many of their styles with positive and empowering names such as “fab! curvy™ voluptuous” and “cool! curvy™ va-va-va-voom.”
Introduced in January 2013, the Melinda G™ Smoothly Divine™ Tee-Shirt Soft-Cup Nursing Bra with Removable Pads #2175 has a beautiful sweetheart criss-cross neckline. The cups are made of a wonderful spacer fabric and are double-ply (the liner cup – and the rest of the bra – is supportive 82% nylon/18% lycra) with removable pads. Mom wears the bra with the pads for discretion against show-through and added OOOOMPH! or she wears the bra without the pads for natural contours. Either way, she looks great! This bra features one-handed clips on the cups and comfyCurves™ under-the-breast channeling for extra support, along with non-stretch straps and 4-across back hooks & eyes.
New Sizing Ranges coming this summer
Moms with smaller cup sizes can now rejoice because this bra is now available in smaller cup sizes!
Melinda G™:
“New sizes this summer are x-small (fits 30D-32B-32C) and fab! curvy x-small (fits 30E-30F) and we are already hearing how wonderful this bra is for the smaller nursing mom! Available in nude or black”
Why we love the Smoothly Divine™ Tee-Shirt Soft-Cup Nursing Bra with Removable Pads #2175 (pictured above)
This bra checks all the boxes when it comes to comfort, support, style, function and versatility. We love the low cut design which allows moms to wear this bra with all styles of tees without the fear of her bra showing. The seamless cups protect against chafing of the delicate breast tissue. The comfyCurves™ under-the-bust channeling ensures that your breasts are well supported without the addition of an underwire. The one handed clips are the easiest clips to operate that we have ever tried and will enable mom to feed baby instantly without any fuss. The removable pads allow your breasts to be fully concealed. Overall a great pick!
The Melinda G™ tee-shirt nursing bra #2115 is a full-coverage bra made with one fabric, a very supportive 82% nylon/18% lycra fabric. It is a very lightweight, very supportive bra with a high center front. It is available to G-H cups. Available in nude or black
This tee shirt nursing bra has the comfort of a sports bra but without the squished uni boob effect! The brilliant comfyCurves™ under-the-breast channeling supporst the weight of the breasts without the need for an underwire. The soft fabric is super comfortable and feels beautiful next to the skin. The seamless cups protect against chafing of the delicate breast tissue. The one-handed clips on the cups make nursing your baby very simple. Our experienced tester has named this bra “The most comfortable nursing bra that she has ever tested”. Highly recommended.
PURCHASING
To find a retailer in your area, please click here. Alternatively, shop online from the comfort of your home.
To see the full collection from Melinda G™, please visit www.MelindaG.com
Celebrating World Breastfeeding Week 2013 with Bravado! Designs
Bravado! Designs was founded over 20 years ago by two young nursing mothers who recognized the gap in the market for stylish and comfortable nursing bras. Bravado understands the needs of a nursing mom and test all of their bras on real pregnant and nursing moms. The company has built an excellent reputation amongst healthcare professionals such as doctors, lactation consultants and midwives for their high quality, innovative line of products. The Bravado website is very well designed and is packed with educational resources for nursing moms.
In April of 2011, Medela acquired Bravado Designs.
Medela provides the most technologically advanced, superior-quality breastpumps and breastfeeding accessories to nursing mothers around the world. A longtime champion of breastfeeding, Medela is the only company to develop products based on research by the world’s leading lactation experts. As a result, Medela’s breastpumps are the number one choice of healthcare professionals and healthcare facilities worldwide. Medela has developed an extensive line of products to meet the diverse needs of nursing mothers. These products include hospital-grade, double and single electric and manual breastpumps; breastfeeding accessories such as pump cleaning products, breast care products and specialty feeding devices; and maternity and nursing intimate apparel. Founded in 1961 by Olle Larsson in Zug, Switzerland, Medela continues to grow under the ownership of the Larsson family. Medela serves customers through a worldwide network of distribution partners in more than 90 countries and through its 15 subsidiaries in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany (and Austria), Italy, Japan, Netherlands (and Belgium), Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden (Denmark & Norway), Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
www.medela.com
This dynamic duo compliment each other perfectly and we are excited to see what the future has in store.
Today we will be highlighting our favorite bras from Bravado Designs in honor of World Breastfeeding Week. Both Bravado Designs and Medela have been supporting breastfeeding moms the world over for many decades now. Several styles from the Bravado Designs collection are made from Oeko-Tex certified materials. We applaud Bravado Designs for choosing safe materials and hope to see the expansion of the Oeko-Tex line in the future.
ESSENTIAL EMBRACE NURSING BRA – NEW
The Essential Embrace Nursing Bra is the most comfortable, supportive, yet lightweight bra that you will ever wear while pregnant or nursing.
The Essential Embrace Nursing Bra – What You’ll Love:
- Revolutionary patent pending Bravado Dynatex™ fabric – combines premium cotton & luxurious microfiber all in one
- Breathable & seamless fabric – provides added comfort
- Four-way stretch – fabric molds to your changing breast shape
- Slimming back panels – Bravado Dynatex™ fabric gives you a smooth look
- Lightweight and wire-free, yet strong & supportive – even to a L/M cup
- Smooth and wrinkle free – great to wear under your favorite shirt
- Full drop away bra cup – important for skin to skin contact
- Proprietary easy open and close clips
- Complimentary bra extender included
Bravado Designs has recently released a brand new style of nursing bra, the Essential Embrace Nursing Bra. The unique Dynatex fabric is designed for ultra comfort, breathability and stretch, while supporting you at the same time. The fabric is lightweight and the ideal choice for the warmer months. This pretty bra has a fresh and modern feel to it and is sure to become your favorite everyday bra and the first one that you reach for.
The straps are both functional and pretty; we love the diamond pattern on the straps which is a lovely change from the regular plain straps. The user friendly signature nursing clips are well designed, allowing you to operate them using just one hand. The full drop away cup is the perfect design for moms who are new to nursing and will maximize skin to skin contact with baby.
The back of the bra is designed to slim and smooth your back and creates a very flattering effect.
The Essential Embrace Nursing Bra is sized according to the chart below:
We love that this bra is available in a full range of band and cup sizes up to a size L/M (band 34/36).
BLISS NURSING BRA
The bliss nursing bra is an award winning bra and we are not surprised.
What you’ll love about the Bliss Nursing Bra:
- Seamless Molded Foam Cups: seamless foam cups that hide nipples and breast pads, while giving you a beautiful shape. Your staple t-shirt nursing bra.
- Flexi-Fit Support Channel: a flexible under-breast support channel that offers remarkable shape and lift while maintaining comfort and good breast health.
- Comfortable and Fashionable: beautiful satiny fabric, a delicate center front detail and embroidered straps that make you feel stunning.
- Wear as a maternity bra or as a nursing bra: gentle stretch features in the cups that grow and contract with your changing shape while maintaining support.
- Full Access: cups unclip at the shoulder and drop down and away from your body to give baby full access to your breast, providing you and your baby with skin-to-skin contact which is essential, especially when establishing a breastfeeding rhythm.
- Nursing clips that stay closed: proprietary clips lie flat under close-fitting clothing and easily open and close with one hand.
- A proprietary Bra Conversion Kit (BCK), is now attached to your Bravado Nursing Bra and can be used to convert it to a “regular bra” once your nursing journey is complete.
- Award Winning: The Bliss Nursing Bra has received the Parent Tested, Parent Approved seal of approval for quality and comfort.
The Bliss Nursing Bra is a fine example of a beautiful bra which just happens to be a nursing bra. No-one would ever guess that this gorgeous bra is a nursing bra!
The user friendly signature nursing clips are well designed, allowing you to operate them using just one hand. The full drop away cup is the perfect design for moms who are new to nursing and will maximize skin to skin contact with baby.
The beautiful lace detail in the center of the bra adds a touch of glamor and femininity, making mom feel extra special. The Bliss Nursing Bra is superbly designed to offer mom the support of an under-wire without an under-wire; even for those with larger cup sizes. The deep V design will allow mom to wear a full variety of tops and dresses without the fear of the bra showing. The molded foam cups and the silky smooth fabric are designed to create a smooth silhouette under your clothing. The versatile Bliss Bra will make any new mom feel gorgeous and pampered and is sure to boost her confidence.
PURCHASING
Shop from the comfort of your own home and order online through the Bravado Designs online boutique.
Alternatively, find a retailer in your area.
All images copyrighted Bravado Designs.
World Breastfeeding Week 2013
1-7 August, 2013
This year’s World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) theme, ‘BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT: CLOSE TO MOTHERS’, highlights Breastfeeding Peer Counselling. Even when mothers are able to get off to a good start, all too often in the weeks or months after delivery there is a sharp decline in breastfeeding rates, and practices, particularly exclusive breastfeeding. The period when mothers do not visit a healthcare facility is the time when a community support system for mothers is essential. Continued support to sustain breastfeeding can be provided in a variety of ways. Traditionally, support is provided by the family. As societies change, however, in particular with urbanization, support for mothers from a wider circle is needed, whether it is provided by trained health workers, lactation consultants, community leaders, or from friends who are also mothers, and/or from fathers/partners.
The Peer Counselling Program is a cost effective and highly productive way to reach a larger number of mothers more frequently. Peer Counsellors can be anyone from the community who is trained to learn to support mothers. Trained Peer Counsellors, readily available in the community become the lifeline for mothers with breastfeeding questions and issues. “The key to best breastfeeding practices is continued day-to-day support for the breastfeeding mother within her home and community.”
Throughout World Breastfeeding Week, we will be highlighting some of our favorite breastfeeding products which help supports mamas on their breastfeeding journeys. Stay tuned!
JoJo Maman Bébé Summer 2013 Maternity & Nursing Range
JoJo Maman Bébé, Newport, UK based company, was founded in 1993 by Laura Tenison who recognised the gap in the market for stylish maternity fashion. Laura, who was living at the time in Brittany, Western France, was inspired by the Nautical Breton Style which still remains a prominent feature in the current collection. Laura, a mother of two, started JoJo with just a single sewing machine, and today, JoJo is regarded as the UK’s foremost niche market specialist in pregnancy, baby, children and nursery market. JoJo prides itself on the treatment of its staff and third party workers and has links to Africa charity Nema – which aims to reduce infant mortality in Mozambique.
Here are our top picks for Summer 2013:
Navy Breton Striped Feeding Dress– £29.00
Navy Stripe Maternity & Nursing Maxi Dress– £39.00
Poppy Floral Print maternity Dress– £39.00
Secret Support Feeding Tops– £18.00
Blue Floral Print maternity Dress– £39.00
Fuchsia Floral Print Maternity Dress– £39.00
Available from- www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk
Telephone- 0871 423 56 56
Sexy Mama Nursing Bra by Le Mystère
Built on the premise that the fit of a bra can truly change the life of a woman, Le Mystère has become a leader and innovator in the intimate apparel industry.
“By incorporating our ‘all about fit’ approach to our design technique, Le Mystère proves that we understand a woman’s need for both fashion and function.”
Known for their seamless, supportive, sculpting t-shirt bras, their brand awareness has grown in recent years, showcasing not only their functional products, but the plethora of feminine, fashion styles that they offer, which never cease to serve a specific purpose in the bra wardrobe of any woman.
Although they are renowned for servicing the needs of the full fit customer, they truly cater to women of all shapes and sizes- from average/shallow busted to those who are full fit and firm. Le Mystere understands that no two women are alike.
If you are looking for smooth, t-shirt styles, lacy date night styles, supportive seamed options, specialty/convertible bras, or even the perfect panty, Le Mystere is able to accommodate you in all of these genres and more!
Remember, Fit, Function and Fashion are the keys to a highly confident, well-dressed woman!
The Sexy Mama Nursing Bra is a gorgeous nursing bra from Le Mystère. The Sexy Mama Nursing Bra is designed to both lift and support the breasts (underwire design) without sacrificing on comfort. The low cut design of the bra doesn’t show under your T-shirts enabling you to wear a full range of T-shirts with this bra. The molded foam cups create a smooth look under the clothing as well as discretion. When it is time to nurse, simply pull down the cup (one handed clip design) and you are ready to go!
This stunning bra is wrapped in exclusively designed lace from Desseilles made in Calais, France. This bra is available in Black/Natural and Ivory/Natural in sizes 34-40 C-G. The sizing chart for this brand can be found here.
The Sexy Mama Nursing Bra really does live up to its name and is sure to make any nursing mom feel very sexy. We challenge you to find a sexier nursing bra on the market! Highly recommended.
PURCHASING
To find a retailer or an e-tailer, please click here.
Earth Day 2013
The theme of Earth Day 2013 (April 22) is The Face of Climate Change.
As Earth Day 2013 approaches, we ask ourselves what can we do to fight climate change?
From driving less to recycling and re-using, you can make a difference. Check out the resources below:
Here at Success Through Play Magazine, we support Green Products that are designed with the environment in mind and help to reduce our carbon footprint.
For Earth Day 2013, we are honor and applaud the following companies who have made it their mission to produce eco-friendly and earth kind products:
Delightful, non toxic toys for babies, toddlers and children made from recycled milk jugs. View the full collection here.
Award winning wraps, soft structured carriers and accessories which make babywearing easy, stylish and functional. The Boba Carriers are available in an organic cotton option. View their full range here.
Top quality strollers which are designed and engineered to perfection. Hands down our favorite stroller company, Bumbleride is committed to making their products cleaner for baby and for the environment. Their polyester fabrics are now made with 50% recycled PET (exterior) and 50% bamboo charcoal (interior). See their full range of strollers and accessories here.
Trendy designer Maternity & Nursing Wear for the stylish mom with select styles available in organic cotton. View the full collection here.
Modern Cloth Diapers and accessories which are a superb alternative to disposable diapers which are clogging our landfills. Gro-Via offers a full line of highly innovative cloth diapers and accessories which make cloth diapering simple and just as easy as using disposables. View the full range here.
BabyBjörn offers a full range of baby products which are Oeko-Tex certified. View their latest baby carriers (organic cotton option), bouncers (organic cotton option), sleep, kitchen and baby products here.
Giveaway: Virgin Mobile HTC Evo V
We are please to introduce the HTC Evo V from Virgin Mobile.
3G/4G Network
Live fast on 4G WiMAX with network power that will set your hair on fire.
Wi-Fi Capable
Link to local networks to get super-fast performance over the air.
Android™ 4.0
Ice Cream Sandwich offers easy multitasking, customizable screens, resizable widgets and deep interactivity.
4.3″ Touchscreen
Puts your fingers fully in control of web surfing, picture viewing and more.
5.0MP Camera & Camcorder
3D HD imaging and 1.3MP front-facing camera.
Google Play™
Choose from over 500,000 apps and much more including music, movies, books and apps, available from your Android™ device.
Android™ Web Browser
See the web the way it was meant to be seen, including Flash animation.
Mobile Hotspot Enabled
Share your connection with up to five other people or devices.
Environmental Certification
Certified by the independent UL Environment, this phone contains environmentally preferable materials with a minimal environmental impact.
SPECS
PLATFORM
Android™ 4.0 Learn More
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
Height: 4.8″
Depth: 0.46″
Width: 2.4″
Weight: 5.11 oz.
Screen Size: 4.3″ Touchscreen
BATTERY
Talk time: 6 hours
Standby Time: 12.5 days
PROCESSOR
1.2 GHz Dual Core Processor
MEMORY
8GB Card Included, Expandable Memory to 32GB (Not Included)
CONNECTIVITY
HDMI™ Output
Wi-Fi
3G/4G
Bluetooth® 3.0
BEYOND TALK PLAN
The Beyond Talk Plan offers 3 different options, depending on your specific needs. It is by far the best prepaid phone option on the market today and now everyone can enjoy the full benefits of a Smart Phone while still staying on a budget.
Beyond Talk Messaging/ Anytime
Rate/Month Data Minutes
$35 Unlimited 300
$45 Unlimited 1200
$55 Unlimited Unlimited
We think that the $35 monthly plan provides the greatest value for an Android plan in the marketplace. Simply purchase a VM phone, select your plan and you are ready to go. No contract required.
Learn more about the Beyond Talk and Messaging Plan here
The HTC Evo V stands out to us in some big ways:
1. The larger high resolution screen. It has a larger screen than most other
smartphones, with high resolution so its easy to read websites, use Google Maps
while driving, or even take notes in a meeting.
2. Its fast. The Evo V runs android applications quickly, with little to no screen
delay. Even when loading large Word documents, Excel spreadsheets or even rendering
a CAD image, the HTC Evo V keeps up with our demands for performance.
3. Unique 3D picture taking. Taking pictures using the dual camera 3D system is
quite unique and results in some very interesting photos like we have never seen
before.
4. The HTC Evo V is ergonomically designed. It is sized just right for the adult hand so that you can maintain your hand in a neutral position. This will help to reduce cramping over longer periods of time. The phone is well designed to be held in both the vertical and horizontal positions, thanks to the flat design and ample width which make it easy to hold.
5. Its solid with a no slip silicon coating. Other phones are hard, slippery plastic which can fall from your hand. The HTC Evo V is what we want to see in all handheld devices, ergonomics with coatings to prevent slip so we dont drop our Androids. Add-on guards often block the screen or camera, but when its designed right in, the silicon coating is the best way to make the phone more comfortable and slip resistant.
To learn more about this phone and to see the full range of phones on offer from Virgin Mobile, please visit www.VirginMobileUSA.com
Congratulations to Marc L. who wins his very own HTC Evo V.