SAP's Story
I have loved Medela products since day one of nursing, and even before my daughter was born! I was given a Medela double electric pump from WIC to aid in my breastfeeding choice over formula, and this was the sole piece of nursing equipment that made it possible for me to continue to nurse after returning to college and work. So I can rightfully say I love Medela!But now I have even more reason to love Medela!
Back in beginning of June I won a wonderful Mother's Day "Give Your Baby Your Very Best" giveaway from the Eco-Friendly Family blog, and included in that giveaway of nursing gear that made me feel like a pampered mama was the Medela nursing camisole!
The Medela Nursing cami was the first item to arrive in the mail out of all the items that I won from the giveaway, sent directly from the company. I was surprised it had come so quick since I had not heard back from the blog about any specifications for the giveaway I had won except for a shipping address.
It had come about that they had sent a black size Medium cami as that was the most common size for the average nursing mother! However, if any of you know me personally, I am not quite that average! I am a petite female and have kept that body post pregnancy (to my surprise!) and after nursing over a year my breast size shrunk down to a 32 A, my original size before nursing. Little can I say, although I'm still producing milk, I was not a medium size!
I was looking forward to using the Medela Nursing cami so much and did not want to have to wait until I was having my next baby to get a larger chest size and be able to wear the medium, so I emailed the blog I won from, who contacted Medela for me!
Than...surprise in the mail! I was sent a size small black nursing cami! Medela also told Eco-Friendly Family that I may keep the size medium cami! I was stunned, how generous!
Now how can I show my gratitude? I know! With the review of the sized small nursing cami I had received, I decided to giveaway the size Medium nursing cami to one of my followers! Just so you know, the size medium was never taken out of the package and is still in it's original shipping container, ready for one of you to use with your little ones!
About Medela
From the Medela website:
Breastfeeding…the Very Heart of Our Business
Medela’s primary focus is breastfeeding…by helping moms to successfully breastfeed their babies and to do so for as long as they choose. Meeting this goal responsibly is at the heart of everything we do.
Destiny Statement
Medela’s Breastfeeding Division exists to enhance mother and baby health through the life-giving benefits of breastmilk.
I don't know about you, but their pledge and mission really sound good! When I am trying to give my baby the very best through breastfeeding him/her, I want to know the company who's products I am using has the same values as I do!
Info on the Medela Nursing Camisole:
- The Medela Nursing cami is made from eco-friendly bamboo fabric! It is 67% Rayon from Bamboo, 28% cotton, and 5% spandex.
- The bamboo/cotton ensures comfort and breathability with fast moisture absorption! The spandex allows for a little stretch to the fabric!
- This nursing cami can be used hands-free with the Medela Freestyle breastpump!
- The cami is available in 4 sizes, anywhere from a 32B cup to a 42DD!
- The cami is available in colors black and white
- Care instructions include machine wash cold and tumble dry, so it can be washed in your normal laundry without any extra time involved!
- Includes an extra layer of fabric between bra shelf and outer layer. This allows for modesty and elevated support!
- The nursing cami is alittle longer, it's what's called a hip legnth. This makes it more comfortable and so it won't ride up at all!
- The easy to use drop-cup design on the bra cup allows you easy access for breastfeeding!
- No tag design so nothing poking you, nothing but soft fabric for your comfort!
I love the fabric! The fabric is very soft, and very comfortable, yet it is still stretchy. I think the stretchiness is good for those who are nursing while pregnant or still losing the postpartum belly, and defiantly makes it a little more fitting on my body, which I like! I don't like feeling like a tent, I like form fitting tops that show what a mother's body looks like!
The fabric is also a good thickness. Some tops are very thin, especially tops that are made with more natural fabrics like bamboo, and so I worry about durability. However, I do not want too thick of a fabric, which would be uncomfortable on warmer days. This fabric seems to feel like it would be durable yet not make me too warm on hot days, but I will have to wait for a hot day to truly find out!
The legnth of the top was very nice, it covered my belly well but wasn't too long. I do not like my belly showing, yet I do not like shirts that cover my butt, and this was right in the middle ground!
The straps on the top were easy to use. They were not as thin as other straps I've seen, but not overly thick, they are about a half inch thick, which will give nice support to your "milkies" when they're quite full and need it without cutting into your shoulders! The straps are also nice and soft and do not cause any discomfort.
The clips on the straps are similar to those on a nursing bra, you can easily undue the clip with one hand, which is quite handy when you have your hands full with a very hungry baby! You can undue one side, or both.
The cup area in the bra shelf has a nice wide opening around the nipples. This would make it easy to use with a breastpump, but also make it easy to breastfeed. I have had nursing tops where the opening is small, I am guessing so that you "show" less when nursing in public, but the fabric would always get in the way when nursing. This Medela nursing cami has a wide enough opening that the fabric does not get in the way and so I have no worries when beastfeeding! However, even though it has a nice wide opening, it still has enough fabric around the breast to provide support. This bra "shelf" that is built into the top is quite well designed and I am very pleased with it!
The top is not too noticeably a nursing top and would easily go with many outfits, especially since it comes in simple black and white colors.
The lace on the top and bottom of the cami gives it a little bit of feminine touch without being too girly or over the top, I like the lace, and I am not girly at all! It also does not bother me at all, I have had lace be itchy or scratchy and this lace is not.
I have used this cami without any nursing pads, and with and without a bra. With breast pads, depending on the type used, sometimes you can see them sometimes they are not very noticeable. Without, I was comfy using the top, but then again I do not leak milk any more. Those who leak a lot may want to consider finding nursing pads like lily pads that wouldn't show and you can wear without a bra, or maybe some nice full coverage wool nursing pads, or some thin cotton ones. The top looked nice with a bra, but with a bra the special cup feature that makes it easy to breastfeed is not as easy as you have the extra step of the bra to unhook, and the extra material of the bra in the way.
Conclusion
I really can't find much of anything that I don't like about this nursing cami! All in all, I wish I had known about this style cami when I first started nursing SAP, it would have made nursing in public and using my breastpump every few hours at work a much easier time and much less of a hassle!
The Green/Non-Toxic Feature:
- Supports your decision to breastfeed, a wonderful natural process of feeding your child!
- Made from eco-friendly bamboo material!
Find a retailer that carries the Medela Nursing Camisole near you HERE!
Win It!
One lucky SAPsMaMa follower will win a Medela Nursing Camisole in the color black, size medium! Please keep in mind that this is the only size/color available.
The size medium is sized to fit from a 34D to 38A, and if you are not currently nursing, remember that your cup size will increase a few sizes, so even if you are not a 34 D now, you very well could be when you nurse! Also with the stretchy fabric you may be able to wear it when smaller. For example, I wear a size small, I am a 32A, and that is not even listed on the chart! If you are interested in this cami but it is not your size I suggest trying to win it for a friend!
Rules
- You must be a SAPsMaMa Google Friend Connect follower to enter this giveaway!
- You must leave your email in each comment/entry! You may leave your email in the " SAPsMaMa at yahoo dot com " format if you would like to deter spam bots, but your email MUST be included for your entry to count!
- Mandatory entry must be completed before any other entries!
- Leave a separate comment for each entry in order for all entries to be counted (i.e. if something is worth 2 entries, please leave two comments, and please label #1 and #2, etc.)
- If you need clarification on how to complete one of the entries, feel free to contact me and I'll be happy to help!
- I will check each comment entry! So please be fair and only enter for entries you qualify for!
Mandatory Entry
- You must be a Google Follower of SAPsMaMa first. Also, head on over to Medela's website and tell me what you would consider an essential nursing item that they offer that you love or would love to have! You must do both of these things to enter. (2 Entries)
Extra Entries
- If you were one of the two people that correctly guessed what this giveaway was on my Facebook fan page, you get 1 extra entry! You know who you are! :) (1 Entry)
- If your blog is Carbon Neutral, you get an extra entry! Please leave your link to your blog! (1 Entry)
- Join the Medela community! (1 Entry)
- Like Medela on Facebook! Please post on their wall that SAPsMaMa sent you, then click on your time stamp (the area directly under your comment that says "3 minutes ago" etc.) and include this link to your facebook comment in your entry here! (1 Entry)
- Follow Medela on Twitter!http://twitter.com/medela_usInclude your Twitter ID in your entry for it to count! (1 Entry)
- Check out Medela's Tips and Solutions page and tell me one tip/solution that you didn't know that helped you! (1 Entry).
- Please share, which are you: Considering nursing, Nursing beginner, Seasoned Nurser, Weaning, or Post nursing? (1 Entry)
- How long do you plan to nurse, or how long have you nursed your child/children? (1 Entry)
- What is your favorite nursing product? It does not have to be Medela, I just am interested to know! (1 Entry).
- Like SAPsMaMa on Facebook! Please leave your first initial and last name you use on Facebook for a valid entry (2 Entries)
- Change your facebook status to link to this giveaway! Include your time stamp/link to your status in your entry for it to count! (1 Entry per day!)
- Share the link to one of my reviews on your facebook! Please include link to your post in your entry to it to count! (1 Entry per shared review, up to 5 times)
- Follow @SAPsMaMa on Twitter! Please include your Twitter ID in your entry for your entry to count! (1 Entry per day!)
- Tweet about the giveaway! Please use: Nurse in comfort with a Medela nursing cami! #Win one from @SAPsMaMa! 7/23 http://tinyurl.com/33ahd68
- Subscribed to SAPsMaMa by RSS reader! (1 Entry)
- Enter any of my other giveaways! (1 entry per giveaway)
- Blog about the giveaway! You must include the name of the review/giveaway, the date the giveaway ends, links to the giveaway and to Medela website, and at least two sentences describing the giveaway or your opinion on what we are giving away! (3 Entries)
The product was sent to me by Medela as a giveaway win from the Eco-Friendly Family Blog. This Giveaway was not sponsored in any way from Medela or the Eco-Friendly Family Blog. I was not paid to write my review and my opinions are 100% my own.
Giveaway is open to US only. Giveaway will end July 23rd @ 11:59 PM (CST). Winner will be chosen using random.org. Winner will have 48 hours to respond after I contact via email. If winner does not respond, a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck and thank you for supporting SAPsMaMa!
The Baby Leggies were sent out right away in the mail and it took but a few days to receive them at my house, which I was very happy about since we planned on moving within a couple weeks of that point and I was worried about getting any packages in the mail or losing them! But no worries at all! The baby leggies were nicely wrapped in brown tissue paper and tied with a dark brown ribbon, and I'm sorry to say, the ribbon is what won the heart of my little girl! She wanted nothing to do with those baby leggies at first, but dare I try to take away that ribbon, I'd get a screaming baby! lol. All the things she came up with to do with that ribbon, wow did it stay in her toybox for a LONG time! So kudos on the packaging! Not only did it look wonderful coming in the mail but it sure did entertain SAP!
One other thing about the packaging, it came smelling WONDERFUL. I cannot guarantee your baby leggies will smell this way, almost certainly they won't, but evidently Maria, who was running the giveaway on F&P&S Oh My!, had had the baby leggies sitting next to her Little Outlaws Baby Bee Wipe solution stars so had absorbed the smell! Oh how wonderful they smelled, I didn't want to wash them! lol But I did because I always everything before using it. This very much made me want to try the Little Outlaws but Hubby won't let me buy any wipe solution since he likes to make his own solution for SAP's wipes. 
I very much liked the difference in the ends, it was one of the thing I was looking for to be different in the leggies, and they appeared to be just what I wanted! I did get confused however, I wasn't sure which way they were to go on! ribbed side up like a sock? Ribbed side down so it would go around the ankle better, like some baby pants? I really didn't know! So I tried it both ways lol
These baby leggies are a bit longer than the other brands of baby legs I've used, which can be a good or bad thing. Good because it will last you a log longer, your baby can wear them many more years, and with great fabric like is used, I'm sure they'd last that long even with regular use! It could be bad though cause this means they're a lot longer on little babies. Nor really a problem for wigglers, rollers, or crawlers, but for SAP, who runs runs runs around and never stops!, with the wide part down they work their way over her heal. Don't really mind this inside on the carpet since she doesn't usually wear socks anyways, these act as a type of half sock, protecting her foot yet having her toes to grip the floor, and kinds keeps her footies alittle warmer, but in the kitchen or outside, it can cause her to slip or trip, so this might be something to watch out for. When we'd go outside we'd just turn them around the other way with the wide side up and the ribbing down! See, they're versatile like that!
