Thanks to all of you who entered Milk Nursingwear’s Mother’s Day Drawing. We were so moved by your responses, and by the overwhelming joy and life perspective that you get from your child(ren). Thanks for sharing your pictures as well – you all look so gorgeous and happy! We are sharing a selection of entries with you here, enjoy reading them and we hope that they inspire you as much as they have inspired us.

Tune in tomorrow when we announce the winners of our Mother’s Day drawing!

I love being a mother because…

…nothing is more special then seeing the happiness on my childrens face when they see me every morning! -Katie
…I have never known a love like this before in my life. –Carrie
…it’s amazing to see the world and all its wonder through new eyes. -Katie
…this little person has given me perspective, balance, focus and joy beyond what I ever knew was possible, and I now know a depth of love that I never thought was possible. –Jessica
…it’s my calling! -Jessica
…my children have healed my soul and given me a purpose. -Sarah
…every day brings something new and exciting. – Crystal
…my son finds the simplest things amusing and it reminds me to slow down and appreciate them too! -Sarah
…,with my daughter, everything is magical. –Helen
…I get to wake up to a sweet little smiling face every morning and every night I get the biggest hugs imaginable before going to sleep. –Staci
…I enjoy being with my sweet son all day, and teaching him. -Katy
…I can relive my childhood through the eyes of my child.
…I love being a mother because you are the baby’s world and the baby is your world. -Christine
…of how rewarding it is, how my children have given me their whole hearts unconditionally and how they make me a better person. – Tressa
…I am a lifelong learner and my child teaches me daily as he discovers the world. –Julia
…it is the most rewarding job anyone could ever have.  I call it job cause sometimes it is hard work being a SAHM but I feel like my paychecks of smiles, giggles and kisses from my 10 month old are better than money paychecks! -Jamie
…I get to know this tiny little person who is part of me and my husband. –Melanie
…of the overwhelming joy received from hugging my child, making her giggle, and turning her frowns upside down. -Christina
…I get to be amazed by him every day for the rest of my life. –Kelly
…it gives me a great reason to go shopping! -Melanie
…my kids have made me more loving, stronger, selfless and an all around better person.
…I love the view of the world through my children’s eyes. –Steffani
…the challenges are tougher and the rewards so much sweeter than anything else! -Maureen
…every time I see by baby smile or reach another stepping stone their life, I am blessed with such a feeling of joy that it wipes away my many worries and bad days. –Michelle
…I get to re-discover the joy of life through my child’s eyes. –T.P.
…it feels good to know that I am raising two handsome little gentlemen. –Dana
…of all the unlimited hugs and kisses I get!! -Rachel

It’s simple:
Complete this sentence: “I love being a mother because…” and email it to us. (We’ll count this line as one entry.) For two additional chances to win, send us a photo of you together with your child(ren), and we’ll mark you down for *two* more entries.

Please submit your entry and photo via email to customercare{at}milknursingwear{dot}com with the subject line “Mother’s Day 2012.” Deadline for entering is Sunday, May 13 at noon (ET). Three winners will be drawn randomly and notified Monday, May 14.

Not sure how to narrow it down because you love so many aspects of motherhood? Read on for a few responses from our Milk staff:

• “I love being a mother because…my children make me laugh and I love to laugh!”

• “I love being a mother because… through our children, my husband and I are helping to shape the next generation. ”
• “I love being a mother because… my kids are so much fun to be with – they light up my world!”

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing your family photos! To all of YOU Mamas out there, enjoy your special day, and remember to send in your submissions by Sunday, May 13.

Disclaimers:

• Each entrant can earn up to 3 entries in the contest, one for their one-line submission and two additional entries for their picture.
• Entries should be emailed to us at customercare{at}milknursingwear{dot}com by May 13, 2012 at 12pm ET.
• Three winners will be drawn at random on May 14, and will be notified via email and announced on our blog.
• By entering this drawing you agree to let us use your submission and photo on Milk Nursingwear’s website, blog and/or Facebook page (first name only).

We can imagine how excited you must be to leave the house with your little one, and introduce her to the spring air that is so fresh.

We have compiled a fun list of entertaining and stimulating activities for you and your baby to enjoy together.

*Balls ~ Babies love playing with balls. Let her roll it, or you can bounce it and let her watch in amazement.

*Bubbles ~ Bubbles evoke springtime, and they fascinate babies. Blow a bunch and watch baby try to catch them.

*Nature ~ Collect an assortment of pine cones, leaves, grass, and sticks, and allow baby to explore the different textures with her hands and feet. (No mouths!) Or lie very little ones on their belly for outdoor tummy time.

*Water play ~ Splish! Splash! Babies love to play in the water. With just a few inches and a bunch of toys (think boats, cups, sponges, and funnels from the Dollar Store), you’re set with an activity that may even last more than 3 minutes.

*Baby swings ~ Take your baby to the park and push them in the swing! It’s a great way for them to explore movement and feel the fresh breeze on their bodies.

*Sandbox play ~ It’s a “love it or leave it” kind of activity, but for those mamas that can handle sand all over and for babies that can sit up, allow him/her to explore in a sandbox. Again, with a range of toys (bucket, shovel, funnel, cups), it’s a great sensory destination.

*Finger paints ~ If you’re Type A and worry about giving your baby non-toxic fingerpaints in the house, it’s a great time of year to let them explore outdoors. Get a big sheet of craft paper, let her make a “masterpiece” and hose her off afterwards. Clean-up is a breeze.

*Animals ~ Visit a local pond and feed the fish and ducks. Or, if you have a petting zoo in your area, your baby may enjoy strolling around and touching a few animals. Or, of course, it’s a great time for the zoo.

It’s a time to enliven your child’s senses and encourage her development by presenting her with a variety of new outdoor activities. All of these activities will help promote language acquisition and allow her to use her senses in a novel way: smelling the flowers, hearing birds chirp, seeing the sights that surround, and feeling the grass (outdoor tasting not suggested).

As you know, we love receiving photos of you and your family. So once you’ve had some time to explore the activities above, send us your family favorites!

The scoop-neck empire top makes breastfeeding convenient and easy, while the yoga-style pants are great when worn as a set and when paired with other nursing tops. The wide waistband offers comfort under the belly during pregnancy and won’t cause irritation following a c-section.

Moms, treat yourself to that go-to summer set: for sitting in the car during your older child’s camp carpool; for your favorite exercise class; for lunch with your best pal; or for that rare moment when you are able to relax on the couch with your sweet little one.

Don’t need it for yourself? Buy it as a new-mom gift for a friend!

Offered at $62 ~ Shop today!

Here are the results of our comparison shopping analysis and some of the trends you’ll want to capture in your own wardrobe.

*Side Shirring ~ This simple detail adorns the sides of many spring basics offering a classic and flattering look. From Milk’s Side-shirred nursing top to others found at Target, Old Navy and Garnet Hill, this top is an essential.

*Tiered Ruffles ~ Tiered ruffles have reappeared this season as a feminine and soft look that can be dressed up or down. Milk’s Tiered ruffle nursing dress is a hot style that we’ll be restocking in mid-April! Email us to be added to the waiting list…

*Knot-front Tops ~ Knot-front tops have made a grand entrance into collections across the retail markets. We’ve seen it at countless major retailers in a range of hot hues. Milk’s Contemporary knot top is an easy fit for nursing moms with front access offered in two jewel tones (red and blue).

*Cowl-neck Tops ~ They are hot! Found in sleeveless, short-sleeve and long-sleeve varieties, cowl-necks are making big waves this spring. So much so that Milk is offering two versions: Cowl-neck nursing top with ¾ sleeves and a short-sleeve version.

Find these trends and more at Milk Nursingwear, where you don’t have to compromise your sense of style to nurse your little one.

At Milk, we are featuring a fabulous assortment of spring nursing dresses for the upcoming holidays. Whether you celebrate Easter or Passover – or just have a special occasion to look forward to – we hope one of these looks will suit your wardrobing needs.

From trendy bright hues to classic red, black and white, we have covered the range of hot styles for the season. Pair our dresses with fun espadrilles or wedges, or your favorite comfy flats; these versatile looks will certainly keep you springtime fresh.

With our highly automated and efficient fulfillment process, we’ll ship your orders within one business day*. So, it’s not too late:  Shop these nursing dresses - and more – today!

Note: Orders ship within one business day when styles are in-stock.

You asked to see our looks on live models, and we listened. And – thanks to your great feedback and suggestions – our collection really blossomed this season with the launch of our new model photography of our nursing dresses and nursing sleepwear. Milk’s spring dresses, in particular, are really flirty and sweet, and are available in a variety of punchy colors (like fuschia and midnight blue) as well basic black (to suit your every occasion).

Here’s a preview of what’s new (and hot!) at Milk:

Visit us online to shop more garden-ready nursingwear for the season!

We know that you expect no less from the freshest nursingwear on the planet!

These NEW FEATURES make it even more convenient for nursing moms to shop for chic nursing fashions at Milk:

• Your Shopping Cart Contents Will be Saved – even if you are not able to complete your shopping in one visit.  If you start shopping, add items to your cart,  and get interrupted for a nursing session, for children who need your attention, or for any other reason, simply come back another time and your cart will still contain your items. Then you can add or delete items, or simply head to checkout. Whew!

• We Reward You for Writing Customer Reviews – We love your reviews, and other customers do too! They provide honest feedback for customers shopping at our store, and help them to make their selections. SO… we will now reward you with 25 Milk Money Rewards points for each review that you write.  Not a bad way to earn points – start writing!

• We have Simplified the Checkout Process – We have redesigned the checkout process into a one-page-checkout (which is really two!) that is quicker to complete. We know that time is of the essence for we Mamas.

• Product Review Ratings now Display on Category Pages – so before you even click on an item you can see the average number of stars (from 1 to 5) it received from customers who reviewed it.  The number of stars now shows up on the pages with the thumbnail pictures.  Simply click on each style to read the review details.

And if that’s not enough…. You have been asking to see our styles on real live models and we’re delighted to share that we will be adding the first round of those images in the coming weeks! For now, check out the new photography on our home page.

As always, we love to hear your feedback, so email us at customercare{at}milknursingwear{dot}com. We’re in the business of making your life easier so that you can spend more joyful moments with your little one(s)!

I chose to have my baby, Eleanor, breastfeed right after she was born. She nursed for over an hour!  I thought she was a pro.  I thought we wouldn’t have to work at all.  I thought we were so lucky!

I thought.


Until the second night we were in the hospital.  Exhausted and anxious to sleep, we were introduced to our upcoming nurse who claimed to be a lactation consultant.  She asked how my breastfeeding was going.  I looked down at Eleanor as she was going to town, and replied, “She’s a pro!”

Then the nurse said something that shattered my dreams.  “Umm, I don’t think she’s latching right.  I don’t even think she’s getting any milk!”   She unlatched Eleanor, without permission, and immediately brought our breastfeeding to a halt.  She grabbed all of these tubes, syringes, and my pump, and told me I’d have to choose between feeding Eleanor through a syringe or giving up.   “Take your pick!” She said.

By the end of an overwhelming 2-hour lesson of how to feed with a syringe and tube, I began to cry uncontrollably.  I told everyone I just wanted to go to bed.  I apologized to Eleanor as they wheeled her to the nursery.

The next nurse that came on duty brought Eleanor to me to eat.  I shook my head and said, “Ok, I guess I’ll try.”  I placed her at my breast, and she nursed as she had since she was born.  I pointed out all of the things we were doing wrong to my current nurse, a mother of 5 breastfed babies.  “That nurse told you what?!”  She took another look and told me that Eleanor was doing just fine.  She said she saw milk dribbling from Eleanor’s cheek, so she was obviously getting milk.

I was confused, but I chose to go with the positive.  I mean, how could I not?  It was either go with the flow, or give up.

One week after Eleanor was born, she had gained an entire pound over her birth weight with being breastfed exclusively.  The home nurse called my breast milk, “White Gold.”


The moral of my story is to let your baby tell you how things are going.  If he or she is gaining weight, and you both are feeling happy and healthy, that is all that matters. Be confident and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!

Abigayle is a proud Minnesotan, a creative mother of two beautiful girls, and wife to a wonderful scientist.

Would you like to be featured on FreshMilk as a guest blogger? We would love to hear your story! Email us at customercare{at}milknursingwear{dot}com for submission guidelines.

Here’s an excerpt from her story:

“After a c-section delivery, I was a groggy, stitched up jumble when the nurse first handed Thomas to me. But he looked beautiful. He was round and warm with sapphire pools for eyes and wispy little fingers that grasped for mine.  Yes, he was beautiful. And hungry.  I was lying in bed with my husband, Tom, standing on one side of me, and a gaggle of nurses flocking around the room when one nurse placed my new baby Thomas in my arms and said so casually “You can try nursing him if you want to.” I looked up at Tom first for help, who stared back at me—blank. I scanned the room at all of the nurses while I waited for someone to catch wind of my awkward uncertainty. Surely someone was going to intervene. Surely someone would offer some instructions. I felt so uncomfortable, clumsily holding this hungry baby like I had never held an infant before. I cleared my throat and finally whispered lightly “I’ve never nursed before…”

To read more of Jessica’s inspiring story, visit her blog here. Her brief recollection of her struggles and triumphs may just give you the confidence that you need – or the warm feeling that you’re not alone.