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My Review: Baby Bond Couture!

I am so very excited to be bringing you this review, because this product was on this hugely important list of mine.

When I was pregnant with Samara, I didn't want to breastfeed. I wasn't breastfed, so formula and bottles were my norm.

Upon learning this, my midwife furrowed her brow and handed me a generic pamphlet listing a few of the ways breastmilk was best and how breastfeeding aided in bonding with my new baby, and postpartum weight loss. 

My opinion was swayed pretty easily. But even then, I supplemented with formula until Samara made a rare, full breastfeeding rebound at around 6-7 months old. And it was THEN that I realized how passionate I was about breastfeeding.

From there my passion grew into something much more than "Yay, baby weight go bye bye!". I found myself infuriated when mothers were thrown off of planes, out of stores, insulted in restaurants and twittered about because they *gasp* fed their babies in public! And now, with social media like Facebook removing not only pictures, but whole pages, of "inappropriate" breastfeeding mothers, I feel like it's even more my job to stand in solidarity with my breastfeeding moms, to help make breastfeeding the norm.

I stopped using a cover once Severus was born, except for very special situations. But, I've learned that even in those special situations, I feel bitter about covering up.

Severus is known as our "Indoor Cat". The wild outside is not his thing, fresh air is not his bag, baby. And with the weather and vehicular issues as of late, we've spent a good amount of time at home, where my son is breastfed on demand and there's never a need to use a nursing cover. 

Now when we're out at the mall with obnoxious teenagers, he whips the blanket off his head. And he won't even nurse in his sling if it's covering him. He just yells and his little fist punchies pound my chest {we're working on the proper expression of feelings *sigh*}, he prefers to nurse uninhibited. And hell, I don't blame him.

I've had the Baby Bond Couture in my possession for some time - about a month, and rest assured, I have dragged it along with me everywhere to attempt to use it in any and all situations I could think of. You want a review? I'm going to do it right because that's what I'd expect.

So here's the skinny:

I chose to review the Couture because it was the most flexible item in the lineup, allowing breastfeeding from the bottom of your shirt as well as the top, it seemed to be the item that would suit my needs. My biggest quandary was that it was a "one size" item and I am not the average sized woman that this "one size" is based on. Both a reason I wanted to try it, and the reason I question my judgement on a regular basis, because as you'll read - size matters.

When I first received my product, I could not, for the life of me, figure out how to use it because the material is so thin I didn't even see the opening to stick the end through.

So, as a forewarning; The only instructions are in the form of small pictures on both box and item.

Looking at the image now, I'm like... duh.

This handy dandy instructional video exists, I'm sure, for people like me. :) 

Even after watching the video and getting the gist, I still couldn't make it work when using it from the top. I would sit down to nurse Severus and the top flap would go limp and loose and fall into his face. 

It's very long, as I imagined it would be, as a "one size" adjustable item. Nursing from the top, the instructions you see in the photos above, are sewn in at the seam that is supposed to go over your shoulder. For me, the instructions need to be mid-back. I can't seem to pull the Couture tight enough around my petite frame to prevent it from coming loose altogether. I also tried not pulling it tightly to see if that was the problem, it wasn't.

In the beginning, it took a few tries to get it properly placed, but I felt like if I moved I'd throw it out of whack.

The problem is, when you pull the sash around your back and through the opening, there's nothing for it to hold on to, no Velcro, no pin, no button - if you don't have enough body to hold it in place, as I don't, it's going to loosen up and fall flat, either way you use it. I had not read about this happening to others {though looking through photos on the Baby Bond site did show some slack at the top} but it was a big deal for me. It made me uncomfortable, like at any moment I'd be walking the mall and bam! Full frontal nudity.

There were times I'd try to use it and simply couldn't get it right. With a fussing baby wanting to nurse immediately, and the pressure on, I felt disheartened that it wasn't easier for me and didn't bother with it, or was more exposed than I would have been had I just nursed as usual.

In this case, it doesn't help that Sev is clutching it, but see how loose it looks?
Though I typically nurse from the bottom of my shirt, it was impossible to keep my tummy covered while walking, rocking the baby or for the marathon nursing sessions where Sevie moves a lot, without constantly pulling it tighter and readjusting the entire thing. It's best suited for quick nips, and still mommy and baby from my experience.

A problem I still have is once the Couture is in place for either experience, I have so much loose end. It's just hanging at my hip and ripe for the pulling as Mercutio showed me.

With all that said; the times I can get it right {not shown in pictures, I apologize}, are fantastic! Severus nurses happily, unobstructed, and there's a lot of this...

Which is a massive benefit in the product's defense. Its biggest offerings; a view of baby, ultimate bonding opportunities and unhindered nursing are given graciously.

I loved how easy it was to store, it fits inside of my purse with no problems and barely takes up any of the valuable space in there. 

Discreetly pulling apart the flaps to prepare for nursing, and closing them once baby is through, are both simple actions, even while on the move. As a side note, it's a good idea to be prepared for interrupted nursing, with baby looking up at you, the opportunities for sudden smiles, giggles and conversation are endless and always result in a great unlatching. 

When Severus did/does allow the cover, he usually nurses quickly and fussily and ends up frustrated, hungry and gassy. I end up nursing in the car so he can nurse properly. 

But he always nurses beautifully when we use the sash, a magnificent bonus!

The bottom line:

I would be lying if I said I wasn't just a tad disappointed. The fact that I've had it in my possession for so long and am still trying to find the perfect fit is a pity, there's nothing I can do except continue to try to work it around my {lack of} body shape, but 7/10 attempts I get it on quickly and with ease and it doesn't go slack immediately. An improvement.

Is it something I'd recommend to others? In a heartbeat, but I'd also share the negatives.

It's an innovative and great idea for moms who are just as passionate about breastfeeding as I am and tend to nurse in public. I should never have gone against my better judgement and asked to review the "one size" item as opposed to something fitted, knowing these are usual problems for a person of my stature.

I don't leave home without my Couture and keep an extra in the car {that I won, coincidentally, three emails after I was accepted to review}. The times I can nurse Severus without having to worry about covering his head make the trials I have with it bearable. But given the fact that I have such minimal success using it from the bottom, I'd more likely suggest the Original or Flex varieties.

In the situations I would have used a cover and dealt with the stresses from that, I'm able to use my sash instead and reap the benefits of nursing discreetly and still sniffing the top of Sevie's big head. 

And for that, I greatly appreciate its existence.

Full Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

All opinions and photographs are my own.

Quick Notes About Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is superfluous, completely unnecessary. You should wear your heart on your sleeve every day, if you need a reminder, you need to slow down.

No one really cares about what you did or didn't get for Valentine's Day. Blatant bragging is for douchenozzles.

To complain about not having a Valentine on Valentine's Day is stupid. Steal a friend! Or, better? Love yourself, be your own Valentine, invest in a good vibrator and a pint of great ice cream.

Roses aren't even very pretty, unless they're dying. I'm not being dark, I'm being serious. Dying roses in different shades of decay = this photographers dream.

Chocolate is just as delicious any other day, and you toss the heart shaped box anyway. Plus, there's always that one surprise, nasty coconut piece. Just get some M&Ms.

Proposals on Valentine's Day are overcooked and cliché. Be original. Propose the day after.

There are better things to do than stand in line for two hours waiting for a booth at a horribly unpopular restaurant. As a matter of fact, I'm certain that's what REALLY started the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre.

I, personally, would rather be beating up some Beezers and Pops with my boys and cuddling up next to my husband to watch a Cosby Show marathon, but I'd be lying if I said that was a deviation from the norm. Maybe the norm is really exceptional!

Just some random food for thought.