Evymama

If you’re pregnant or a new mom and your body is starting to go through some changes and nothing fits right anymore you’ll be glad to know there is “SUPPORT” out there. Today we interviewed Sarah Kaplan, proud owner of Evymama maternity clothing boutique. Evymama specializes in maternity clothing that will make you feel comfortable and stylish in your new body. They are Toronto’s only breastfeeding boutique and have the best selection of nursingwear.





Nursing bras are available in 32A all the way to 50M?! Yes, M!
Pictured here: Rita & Aria, Selin & Sienna, Sarah (owner of Evymama)
holding a K bra, and Karen & Ashley holding the infamous M bra.




From sleep bras, comfort bras, and even your sexiest lace and diamond embellished bras (with matching panties of course) they have it all. The same holds true for maternity clothing. Evymama carries something for everyone whether it be yoga wear, swim wear, blue jeans, dresses or a complete corporate uniform you're sure to find something to suit the needs of your inner-diva.

Once we stepped into Evymama we immediately realized this was not your ordinary maternity store. We were presently surprised by the quality and vast selection of fashionable maternal wear. Most women believe that once their pregnant they must resort to the typical baggy shirt and loose pants ensemble. Evymama is everything but. Don’t be foolish by wasting your time and money in buying clothes that aren’t right for your body, this will leave you with two wardrobes. Sarah suggests sticking to your pre-pregnancy size when buying clothes.

Not only does Evymama speciazlize in maternity clothing but also their employees are trained in lactation management. Come in, stop by have a look around and/or get some helpful advice on breastfeeding. Evymama is a strong supporter of La Leche League whom assist mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support. Karen had contacted them when she was having her own breastfeeding issues and found that they had great advice to offer her. Be sure to speak to an IBCLC (international board certified lacataction consultant) for all your breastfeeding needs in order to ensure the proper advice.

Evymama is located at 266 Jane Street in the lovely Toronto neighbourhood of Bloor West Village. Check out Evymama on the web at www.evymama.ca. There you will be able to browse through their complete inventory of maternal wear. However one bra you just have to see in person is the un-imaginable size “M” over shoulder boulder holder Bra.

We hope that the information we shared with you today about nursing wear will help assist you make the “BREAST” choice!

Mommy-Sentials:

The brand new Cache Coeur "Lisa" nursing bra with underwire pairs beautifully with the new "Lisa" thong, french knicker or bikini. Soft grey vintage and pink satin and french lace.
Cache Coeur breastfeeding and maternity lingerie from France is beautiful, practical, and innovative. Soft, sumptuous French lace, and gorgeous detailing to add beauty to the happiest days of your life! Nighties, bras and camisoles have clever magnetic clips for nursing to make your life easier.

The jet black lace and microfibre of this new HOTmilk bra are decadently lined with a deep purple cotton, giving a richness and depth to the overall colouring. Embellished with a jet satin bow and diamante drop at the centre front, this set is exquisite. This bra provides excellent support without wire, and has easy, one handed nursing clips, and 6 hooks at the back to accommodate changes during pregnancy and after baby is born. Cups are fully lined with soft cotton.

Bella Materna ‘Anytime’ - Evymama's favourite Maternity & Nursing Bra offers the best support available without underwire! Easy pull-aside nursing access. This bralet is great for your last trimester and is a perfect first nursing bra! Wide set adjustable straps & ballet back give you great support and a sexy silhouette. 4-stage hook and eye closure at center back. Crafted in the USA from cool and quick drying Imported Italian Meryl, the fabric won’t fade or pill.

Mother love herbal company – Motherlove's best selling product for safely and effectively increasing breast milk. This product does not contain any milk, dairy, soy, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, or gluten.

Boobs and Bottles: Feeding your Newborn

Is there a right or wrong way to feed your newborn? I've recently read a few articles that weigh in on this topic so I took it to the Mom Posse and we discussed breastfeeding vs. bottle (formula) feeding. Of the 5 moms, I am the only one who has exclusively formula fed my baby. Selin has recently introduced Sienna to formula however she did breastfeed for the first 6-8 months.



I didn't plan to bottle feed Ashley. I had all of the best intentions to breastfeeding her for the first 8-10 months however I had a lot of issues. I'll be the first to tell you that breastfeeding is not as natural as you may think. I had a c-section and it was almost 8 days before my milk actually came in - which I thought was a long time, however I have since learned that this is normal. But those 8 days were the most excrutiating of my life - I was blistered, cracked, bruised and bleeding while trying to feed Ashley. I was beyond stressed out and was in tears every time she wanted to feed which is not healthy for you or your baby. So, after 2 and a half weeks, I decided to switch to formula and had a huge weight lifted off my shoulder. My baby was happy, she was gaining weight, and I was much more at ease.


In those first few days, I was also tube feeding Ashley in the hospital since she wasn't gaining enough weight. Erin had a similar experience in the hospital as Emme was born prematurely. Emme had a nose tube and Erin had to save each diaper so that the nurses could check the weight to ensure that Emme was eating enough. However Erin was fortunate that Emme was able to make the switch from nose tubes and finger feeding to being breastfed.


As all of the girls will attest - you need to do what's right for you! A happy mom is a happy baby. The ladies weighed in on some of the benefits and highlights that we've found with both breastfeeding and bottle feeding. In our case, all of the girls are beautiful and healthy and hitting all of their milestones.

Breastfeeding:

• Nutrition - this is the best source of nutrients for your baby however we are not nutritional experts so we can't comment entirely. However, formula has come a long way - the formula that I give Ashley is Nestle Good Start with Omega 3 and 6 (which breastfed babies don't necessarily receive from breast milk)
• Burning Calories - breastfeeding moms burn LOTS of calories while breastfeeding!
• Convenience - a breastfeeding mother will always have a supply of food for their baby no matter where they are
• Bond - there's a very special bond between a mother and baby during the breastfeeding experience
• No cost

Bottle (Formula) Feeding:

• Nutrition - see above. Formula has come a long way.
• Bond - bottle feeding your baby gives others the opportunity to bond with the baby as well. In our case, my husband was able to feed Ashley during the night which allowed me to catch up on some much needed sleep while being able to bond with her.
• Cost Effective - based on Ashley's consumption in the first few months it was approx. $5/day for her formula
• Sleep - babies who are formula fed tend to sleep a bit longer than breastfed babies as formula keeps babies fuller for a longer period of time
• Nipple confusion - there's a lot of talk about nipple confusion but I don't think there's anything official that says it actually exists. In the hospital, the pediatrician told me that the only statement published on that topic is that "there is no concrete evidence for or against the notion of nipple confusion"

Again, you need to do what's right for you. Here is a interesting article from Canadian Family that certainly hit home for me, Sticking Up for Baby Formula: http://www.canadianfamily.ca/articles/article/-side-bottle-feeding/

Some other tips from the moms:

• If you're having difficulty with breastfeeding seek help. It's likely that your local hospital has a lactation consultant who can offer support/resources. If not, La Leche League is a very reputable service.
• At the very least, try to give your baby the colostrum - your liquid gold which is the most nutritious form of breast milk. It's the first stage of breastmilk before your milk actually comes in
• Try to periodically introduce your baby to a bottle with breast milk or formula to assist with the transition from boob to bottle when the time comes

As someone once said to me "There's no special spot in heaven for mothers who breastfeed, so if you're bottle feeding ... it's OK!".

At the end of each segment we are happy to share a "Mommy-Sential" with you:

• Baby Wrappers - www.babywrappers.com - Wash Cloth Mit
• Mally Bibs - http://www.mallybibs.com/ - Leather Bibs with Magnetic Closures
• Baby D Drops
• The Breast Experience, Breastfeeding Clinic in Brampton (if you would like more information on this service, please contact us)
• Breast Pads - there are several brands available to help with leakage, over-active let down etc.
• The Breast Friend Pillow - http://www.mybrestfriend.com/ - an excellent nursing pillow that straps on so that you are not fussing with the position of the pillow when trying to nurse your wee one.