Adventures in Breastfeeding + Altered Shirt Tutorial

Posted on July 12, 2012 by thelifeoflulubelle

Little man is 7 weeks old now; where has the time gone!? Actually, much of it has been spent sitting on the couch watching Netflix and breastfeeding. Not many complaints here, though. My wonderful husband has done a great job with most of the cooking and house upkeep so that I can feed Gabe and keep him happy. Plus, I get to stare at his sweet face on cuddle him. And steal lots of baby kisses, don’t forget about those.

It has been nice, though, that he has started going longer between feeds. It’s nice to have a little break!

Breastfeeding for a new mom can be a bit of a surprise (at least for me and those that I have talked to). Much of the time you expect it to be such a natural thing, but it can be hard work! Between getting that baby to latch correctly, worrying about supply, and having sore and sensitive nipples, it’s no wonder our breastfeeding rate is one of the lowest in the world. Having said that, nowadays there is so many resources available to new moms that can help. Le Leche League and hospital run courses are just the tip of the iceberg – just do a Google search!

Get through some of the tough patches and the benefits of breastfeeding make themselves more clear. Besides the health benefit of the milk itself, the amount of money we save, and the bonding experience, I really think little Gabe would cry much more if it wasn’t for breastfeeding. We are lucky that so far, he has never been inconsolable. If he starts to cry, it is usually because he is hungry. If he is crying for another reason, then breastfeeding automatically fixes the problem. Nothing the boob won’t fix and it’s always a pleasure having a happy baby.

My biggest breastfeeding problem currently? Trying to find clothes I actually want to nurse in (and can afford)! I think I have finally found the solution: altered camis/spaghetti-strap tanks with a nursing bra under a loose or stretchy shirt. This makes nursing easy and discreet and way cheaper than buying specialty nursing clothes. Sometimes nursing tanks don’t offer much support; by altering these tanks it is easy to choose the support you want by wearing it with a nursing bra.

All you need is:

a thin-strapped tank top, preferably without a shelf “bra” (like these for $2.80 at Forever21!)
Scissors
Needle and thread

Easy!

All the tanks I used were fitted, so there was no droop in the back. It is so easy to nurse in any top!

Burp Cloths DIY Instructions and Variations

Posted on April 19, 2012 by thelifeoflulubelle

Last night I got the sewing bug and decided to make some more burp cloths for our little guy that should be here in just a few weeks. There are lots of different ways to make burp cloths, but it mostly boils down to two different variations:

Enhanced cloth diaper (to be used as burp cloth), where fabric is sewn onto the middle of the diaper, like HERE and HERE.

and for lack of a better description, a more “from scratch” or layered burp cloth. These burp cloths are usually shaped to fit around your shoulder, or in a rectangle, and utilizes different fabrics on one side and more absorbent fabric on the other side (or double sided flannel).

I made some of the second variety.

I love using Homemade by Jill’s basic template to get started. I like the curve because it allows the cloth to be up against your neck and over your should comfortably. I too, like to use flannel as my go-to pretty burp cloth fabric; I like how soft it is.

Decorative fabric to use for burp cloths:

Flannel (my favorite)
Fleece
Quilting or non-stretch cotton

Absorbent layer/side:

Another layer of flannel
Cloth diapers (prefolds or the 1-ply, thin layer kind, using 2 layers)
Terry cloth/recycled towel

Different variations:

Flannel on both sides
Flannel on both sides with a thin layer of cloth diaper or batting in the center
Flannel on one side, cloth diaper on the other
Flannel on one side, terry/towel on the other
Fleece on one side, terry/towel, or cloth diaper on the other side
Cotton fabric on one side, terry/towel, or cloth diaper on the other side

Directions:

Prewash all fabric and print out template

Cut out a layer of decorative fabric using template

Cut out the absorbent layer or side, or cheat like I do, and lay the decorative fabric wrong side up against it, and sew around the edges, leaving a spot open to turn right-side out.

Trim the edges and turn right-side out.

Tuck open edge inside and stitch around the whole burp cloth

And you are done!

Fleece and flannel burp rags

Free Printables for the Home!

Posted on February 28, 2012 by thelifeoflulubelle

Since I have a baby on the way and going through the process of buying a house, I have been ~~wasting~~ spending time on the internet looking at home decor and decorating ideas on a budget. I love all the free printables available online! So many cute things that just need to be printed and framed.

Here’s a list I have compiled (and still compiling) on Pinterest. I have a few invites left if you need one, just send me a message or email.

If you already have an account,