Philips Avent Breastfeeding Essentials Review and Giveaway

_{Samples were received for consideration. These are my honest thoughts.}

Being a new mom can be stressful enough, but choosing the perfect pump and accessories shouldn’t be. Thanks to Philips Avent Company, they have created everything you can possibly need to make pumping and storing milk easier for you and your child. I was sent these Breastfeeding Essential Products to test and review.

Philips Avent Natural Bottles
With my previous two children I tried every bottle I could find to try and get my son and daughter to take a bottle. Unfortunately nothing worked! With my children being exclusively breastfed, there weren’t any bottles that seemed to mimic the breast as advertised well enough for my kids to drink from one. This time around with my 4 week old child, I tried Philips  with natural feeding nipples, and guess what? They work!!!

The wide breast shaped nipple with comfort petals inside makes the nipple feel soft and cushion like resembling what babies feel at the breast, and it is also large enough for babies to obtain a full latch like they would while nursing. Other bottles we’ve tried had the common problem that if the nipple was moved side to side, it would indent or get stuck in one position, but Philips Avent’s natural nipples are moveable without these issues which made my daughter feel more comfortable while also resembling the nursing experience she normally has at the breast.

There is also an anti-colic valve to help reduce fussiness while using a bottle. The anti-colic valve is built into the nipple which means there aren’t additional pieces to have to take apart and clean. The bottle is made of only four pieces, the bottle, nipple, ring to hold the nipple, and cap to keep the nipple clean. This is the only bottle that I have ever gotten one of my children to drink from, so I am definitely going to continue to use these bottles!

Philips Avent Breastcare Essentials Kit
Breastfeeding is certainly a journey! It is full of numerous happy moments of bonding with your child and giving your baby the best nourishment possible. But it also comes with its share of embarrassing leak spots and sore nipples. Thankfully the solves many of these problems. The contents of the kit include 6 sets of breast pads to wear during the day, 3 sets of breast pads to wear at night, 2 Soothe and Stimulate Thermogel Pads with sleeves, a breastfeeding journal, a bra clip and a pouch for storage.

Since almost every nursing mom has experienced leaking at some point in their breastfeeding experience, I love the fact that this kit includes not just breast pads to wear during the day, but it also has more absorbent pads to wear while you are sleeping. I didn’t even know there were nursing pads made specifically for wearing at night! These are great because I no longer needed to wake up in the middle of the night and change my breast pads or worse yet, change my shirt.

The kit also includes a necessity for all nursing moms, Soothe and Stimulate Thermogel Pads with terry cloth covers. These can be placed into a bowl of hot water to warm and then placed on your breast to help stimulate milk flow before trying to pump. I have previously used a heating pad to achieve this effect, but these Soothe and Stimulate Pads are more convenient and easier to use than a huge heating pad. They can also be placed in the freezer or refrigerator for 24 hours and then used to soothe sore or engorged breasts.

I like that the essentials kit comes with a little ribbon clip to place on alternate sides of your bra to help you remember which breast you nursed from first last. All of the products fit into the cute little washable pouch included as part of this this kit! This essentials kit is a must have for all breastfeeding mothers!

Philips Avent Breast Milk Storage Bags

When you begin to pump, you become amazed at the many different choices for storing breast milk. There are containers, milk cube trays, and baggies – but which one is the best choice? I really like the Philips . Unlike other milk storage choices, these bags are sterilized with TWO seals to ensure nothing contaminates baby’s milk. You must first rip open the seal at the top of the baggie before being able to open the resealable portion of the bag that holds your milk. I also love the double protection of two seals instead of just one when closing the bag. These bags are also reinforced along all the sides to reduce the risk of leaks. These milk storage bags get a two thumbs up from a mom who has lost too many ounces to count from defrosting milk stored in other milk saving bags that leaked when thawing out.

Philips Avent Single Electric Breast Pump
New moms can easily become overwhelmed by how many different types of breast pumps there are to choose from, so I’m hoping this review makes this choice a little easier. The first thing I noticed about this pump is how easy it is to put together. There aren’t a huge number of confusing parts that need to be put together and Philips Avent even provides a step by step picture diagram to aid in this process. Unlike other pump brands there is no need to have to buy an adaptor to be able to use batteries instead of an outlet because the battery compartment is built right in!

But, that isn’t even the best part of this pump! You are going to love the flange that comes with this pump! Wow! Comfort overload!! Lining the top of the flange is a soft cushion with massaging petals with takes the uncomfortableness of pumping out of the equation allowing you to relax and enjoy pumping more. Out of all the breast pumps I have tried this is definitely the most comfortable pump I have come across.

The is also lightweight and compact making it easy to use at home or on the go. The pump is additionally BPA free which is a must in my household. The most horrible thing to me when pumping is the fact that you need to lean forward to prevent the milk from leaking which causes an achy back, something a mom doesn’t have time for. But, not anymore!

With Philips Avent’s Single Electric Breast pump there is no need to lean forward. It was carefully designed so that mothers can simply relax and sit normally while pumping. While this is a very nice pump, and by far the most comfortable pump I have come across, I was not able to pump as much as I normally do with my hospital grade double electric pump. But, it is perfect for someone who finds that pumping is too painful with her current pump and looking for a more pleasant pumping experience.

Giveaway

One lucky reader will win all of the above products from Philips Avent Company (ARV $180)!