A Mother's Day Raffle with Elin

Mother's Day is coming up and I want to do a raffle for readers of this blog to celebrate.  I've had my Elin affiliate link up for about two months now and I am very thankful to my readers for clicking on it whenever they shop at Elin.

As I shared in my previous post, Elin has been my go to brand for chic casual pieces even when they were not yet carrying maternity clothes.  I was really pleased that they included nursing wear in their catalogue, providing classic and affordable pieces for their clients.

A Nursing Mom's Shopping Guide: ELIN Maternity and Nursing Wear

I am excited to see more and more brands that offer breastfeeding friendly clothing to Filipina mothers.  I had been a fan of Elin when they were still focused on mainstream clothing.  When I found out that one of their partners was going to have a baby, I become more excited because I hoped that a breastfeeding friendly line would follow.  And apparently, I wasn't far off!  They had already expanded into the maternity line because they found out that a lot of their customers were using their clothes as maternity wear because of the comfort and fit.  Naturally, because Martina is breastfeeding (yay!), the nursing line followed.

My favorite Elin top during the launch of
LATCH's Snuggle Wuggle Wee

For Stylish Naima: Pois, Belly and Kids

With a photographer for a husband, the upcoming holidays are a perfect excuse for more family pictorials!  Since we do "themed" pictorials for the kids' monthly shoots, I am looking for a more "classic" look for the holiday family shoots.

A Nursing Mom's Shopping Guide - More clothes!

More than 2 years from my second post on nursing clothes and I've discovered several more nursing clothes available locally.  I now have a second nursling and I'm quite pleased to find that there is now a variety of selection compared to the selection available when I started nursing N.  For this post, I will be focusing on 3 brands - Maternalove, Eden and Latch a Babe.

A Nursing Mom's Shopping Guide - Update on Clothes

I haven't been updating my shopping guide. I was supposed to write a post on breast pumps available locally but I keep postponing it and it's still languishing in my drafts folder. However, my sister is now a new nursing mommy and I've been checking out stuff that is available for her. Since my last post on nursing clothes, I'm quite amazed at the variety of new brands now available in the Philippine market.

Procreation/GlamourMom

Last weekend I went to Procreation at Shangri-la Mall to purchase some things for my sister. I normally don't buy things from Procreation because I don't like the styles of their nursing tops (frumpy) and I find that their items are more expensive than other stores.

For instance, I was looking for a Palmer's Anti-Itch Oil for my sister's tummy. We first checked availability at Rustan's but only a small bottle, packaged with an anti-stretch mark cream was available for about 1K. The large bottle costing about P450.00 was sold out. I found a similar bottle in Procreation selling for P600.00 -- P150 more than Rustan's which was just at the other end of the more.

Aside from an overpriced bottle of anti-itch lotion, this trip to Procreation yielded a great find - Glamourmom nursing tanks at just P1K each. I recently purchased 1 at a baby-centered one-deal-a day site and paid a little over P1k for it. Definitely, Procreation's Glamourmom tanks are great bargains! And while you're there, you may want to check out their other nursing clothes.

My Lovely Closet

This is a Malaysian brand which has been part of my online store for sometime now. This is also from the makers of Fabulous Mom nursing bras. The clothes are very well made and the fabrics are quite soft. Best of all, they are pretty affordable, ranging from P600 to P1000 per item.

Check out the available designs here.

Mia Bella

This is a new brand being developed by 4 moms from Davao City. This line will focus on mom and son/daughter clothes but since 2 of the moms are nursing moms, they convinced their other partners to develop a nursing line as well. The first collection will soon be completed and will be available at Mama.Baby.Love soon.

Mama Au Lait

A brand which is also locally developed by Jane Lim, new owner of the TerraBabies Boutique. Her first collection is a mix of casual and party clothes. I first saw this brand during the Expomom in November 2009.

Au Lait
This is the newest clothing store that is focused on pregnant and nursing mom. Run by Audrey Chua Uy, they are the exclusive distributor of the Mothers En Vogue line from Singapore. Mothers En Vogue is a very popular but pricey line and their designs are very stylish. Au Lait is a free standing store located at 34 Wilson St., Greenhills, San Juan, with store hours from 11 am - 8 pm (Monday - Sunday).

Spoiled

Spoiled is actually a store located at Mezzanine Flr. Goldland Millenia Suites, Escriva Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig. It is run by Funfy Basa (a college batchmate) who also designed her own nursing wear line under the Spoiled label. The store also carries several nursing wear brands such as Plume, Mamaway and Mommy Matters.

Prepimom

Another local brand which is owned by co-N@wie Hannah Ballarta. I think her family owns a fashion house and she branched out to create a nursing line. Her line is displayed at their sotre located at GF Waypoint Building, 4 Bayani Road, Phase 5 AFPOVAI, Fort Bonifacio Taguig City (beside AFPSLAI).

Bleupram
A couple of nursing tanks from the Fresh Mums brand, as well as locally-made maternity delivery gowns are available here. I first saw them during the St. James Bazaar. This store also carries Milk Bands which are nursing bracelets to help you remember which side baby last nursed on, how long the session was and what time.

I already previously covered other brands such as Mamaway, Blissful Babes, Plume, Mommy Matters and Bosom Buddy in my first post. Check it out here. Let me know if I missed out a brand or store!

I think it is a great thing for nursing moms to have a variety of brands available. When I was a new nursing mom and attending classes, I was always on the look-out for other moms wearing the same top as I was (it happened a couple of times) since there was only 1 popular brand then. But now, the influx of various brands allow nursing moms to cater to their fashion whims while still being able to comfortably nurse in public :)

Other posts in this series:
All About Malunggay
Clothes, clothes, clothes!
Cover-ups

Nursing Bras

Purchase for a Cause

Blissfulbabes, a company owned by L.A.T.C.H. President Buding Aquino-Dee is turning 10 years old in 2010. They are celebrating with a bang and recently launched a line of Graphic Novel-Tees. The collection is called "Mother Tongue" because the graphics used feature the word "mother" in various languages.

So why am I promoting this? Not only because Buding is our President but more importantly, she will donate 20% of the sales to L.A.T.C.H.!! Hooraaaay!! This is very important since our upcoming fund-raising activity - the calendar project was pushed back.

October was supposed to be our marketing month for the project but the organization decided to focus our energies and resources to our breastfeeding missions in various evacuation centers housing Ondoy victims. We are supposed to have another fund-raising project but I'm not sure if our holiday photo project will push through since all the members are busy preparing for the holidays themselves.

So, in the meantime, please help us raise funds for L.A.T.C.H. by buying shirts from Blissful Babes “Mother Tongue” Collection. There are styles to suit every personality and age range so there is an appropriate one for your mom of choice. Shirts come in 4 designs with 2 print styles:

Type

Swirl

*photos courtesy of Blissful Babes Design, Inc.

You can check out Made for Mama for more information and pictures about the collection. The collection can be purchased soon from Mama.Baby.Love.

Nursing Bras for Sale

*Stocks updated as of 1 June 2009. New stocks coming mid-June.

As a full time work-out-of-home (WOHM) nursing mom, I'm in constant search of products I can use to help me express milk efficiently at work and be able to nurse in public easily. On top of my shopping list is a good nursing bra. I've amassed various brands of local and imported bras. I finally found a good brand that had a great fit, padded and inexpensive. I decided to share this brand with other nursing moms. So try out "Fabulous Mom" nursing bras.

As a special offer, shipping within Metro Manila is free for the month of May. The bras are all padded and I currently carry 5 styles at introductory prices. For orders, please click the "drop me a line" link at the left side of the page.

Betsy T-Shirt Nursing Bra - 999p (SOLD-OUT!)

A blessing to all our fabulous nursing moms! The much needed padded, seamless t-shirt nursing bra is finally here to compliment your nursing wardrobe. Betsy is padded with soft foam bra cup, and it is seamless so that you can wear your tight stretchy tops without worrying about your nipples or seams on your bra showing. It comes with removable underwire to suit all moms' personal preference. For new moms, remove the underwire for more comfort and for extended nursing moms, you may wear it with the underwire. 2 personal choices in 1 bra, cool yeah? :-)Easy one handed release/put back hook for quick and easy nursing. To nurse, unhook, then fold the bra cup down either inwards or outwards.

Sizes are in 36B, 38B and 38C; Beige ColorJill Padded Nursing Bra - 730p (Sold-out in 34B, 36B, 38B and 38D)

A soft cup padded bra which offers great shape and superb comfort - So there are no worries and embarrassments of your nipples showing after nursing. It has wider sides and back for greater support. It features a convenient one hand operated clip for easy and quick nursing. Fully drop cup for easy nursing and pumping. This also allows skin-to-skin contact with your baby during nursing too. There is still a layer of cloth with elastic side bands for extra support (at the side of your breasts) when the cup is dropped. A little thoughtful something designed by moms who know what nursing moms need.

Sizes are in 34B-D; 36B-D and 38B-D; Nude Color OnlyJoyce Padded Nursing Bra - 870p (Sold-out in 38C, both colors)

Another stylishly designed nursing maternity bra for our fabulous moms – Joyce, which comes in light blue and light green with beautiful embroidery which keep you feeling beautiful. It has cotton lined cups for extra comfort. It offers mom the excellent fit and great shape with its padded soft cups. You can wear it in the normal wearing style or in racer back style for extra support or simply to suit your styles. Features also include adjustable shoulder straps, no underwire and yet still give excellent support, softly padded for great shape, suitable for fuller cups too.

Sizes are in 34B-D; 36B-D and 38B-D; Light blue and light green colors availableRosie Padded and Lace Trim Nursing Bra - 730p (Sold-out in 34B, 34D, 36D and 38C)

Rosie is padded for extra comfort and to provide great shape under clothing. The padding will help prevent nipples from showing after nursing too. The sexy lace trim which creates the underbust band makes the bra looks so pretty and gorgeous. Available in romantic dusty rose which goes well with both light and dark color clothing, The fancy shoulder strap is something you won't mind showing when you're in your tank or wide neck top.

Sizes are in 34B-C; 36B-D and 38B-D; Dusty Rose color Kelly Padded Nursing Bra - 600p (Sold-out in 34B, 36B and 38C)
Kelly is padded for better comfort, better protection, better fit and better value for money! Kelly has a convenient hook for quick and easy nursing access. It features adjustable shoulder straps for better support, comfort and fit. It also has a more discreet 'window' opening, for that extra bit of privacy when breastfeeding in public. Made from high quality completely breathable cotton spandex material.

Sizes are in 34B-D; 36B-D and 38B-D; White floral print

A Nursing Mom's Shopping Guide - Clothes, clothes, clothes!

*This is the 2nd of a series.

Purchasing breast feeding clothes isn't really necessary in a nursing relationship. It does make your life easier and if you love shopping like me, this will be another chance, rather excuse to shop for new clothes. I used to purchase my nursing clothes from the US and have them shipped here. I bought tops from Motherhood Maternity, Motherwear and tanks from Target. Happily, I've found several locally available nursing-friendly clothing and was quite surprised with the selection.

One of my very first nursing wear purchases came from Mommy Matters. This company is run by Janice Villaneuva. They have a wide selection but I found that the bamboo collection did not hold up well. Although really soft and comfy, my bamboo nursing nightie ended up with a couple of holes in the seams after about 6 months of use. What I like best about them is that they do fit-at-home service. You call them, they bring a suitcase-full of tops in your preferred size and leave it for a day or 2. You fit the different tops in the comfort of your own home and call/text them if you've decided on your purchases. You can also visit their stockroom in Pasig City. Mommy Matters can be contacted at 0918-9300313 or 7809898 or email.

I was also able to purchase nursing tops from Buding Dee (L.A.T.C.H. President) of Blissful Babes. I love her corsierre, an all-in-one stylish tank which provides good support and easy access - no bra needed! However, there is no store and you have to go to their stockroom in Green Valley Townhouses, Valle Verde 1, Pasig City to purchase. You also need an appointment to fit and they are closed on Sundays. Contact Joy at 671-5826 OR 0922- 4416032.

A recent discovery is Plume by Cher Anonas who sells very stylish nursing dresses. Cher was my classmate during the recent L.A.T.C.H. training. She just released her 1st collection, which I believe was well-received. I purchased a Talitha dress and really like it. It is my first nursing dress - I usually just purchased nursing tops. I wear the Talitha during those occasions when I'm out with always hungry Naima but want to dress up a bit. I've been texting Cher when she'll release her new collection - hopefully will see Plume in ExpoMom.

Pam Yap-Magallon of Bosom Buddy also sells nursing wear. She has tops, dresses and loungewear. However, I haven't tried purchasing clothes from her. I keep postponing because unlike the other vendors, I have not seen her actual products and I don't want to go all the way to Rizal to check them out. They are currently on sale. Contact Pam at 6564993 or 0916-6363593.

Meanwhile, I purchased a very comfortable bamboo tank at Egg Maternity. It was marked down to P800! Egg Maternity only has very few nursing pieces in stock. But since they are currently on sale (I think they are closing down), it's worth checking if the stock they have is your style and in your size. Egg Maternity is in 2/L Glorietta 4 (752-8203 to 04) and in the 2/L Main Mall (Grocery side), SM Mall of Asia (556-0115).

Earlier today I went to Rockwell's Urban Mom Bazaar to check out Mamaway Philippines. Mamaway is run by Jonie Cheng and her sister. It is a UK brand that is also being distributed in the UK. I've been wanting to purchase their tops but wanted to check the right size. However, Jonie is based in faraway QC. Luckily, they were able to get a slot at Urban Mom. I'm currently in the market for red and going-out tops. They had a good selection and I ended up purchasing 6 tops :)
Update: Mamaway now has a store in New Manila.  Read about it here. 

An established mall store selling nursing clothes is Procreation (6354410 loc. 25) in Crossings, Shangri-la Plaza. They also have a wide line of nursing tops. But I haven't yet purchased anything there -- I don't like the designs. But it's been more than 6 months since I checked out Procreation so they may have new designs. They also sell Bravado nursing tanks (which are quite expensive!).

Lastly, if you're already at Shangri-La Plaza, drop by Mothercare at the 4th Floor. They also have sleepwear that doubles as maternity/nursing wear. Choices are quite limited though. Contact Mothercare Shangri-la at 6311896. They also have a shop in Trinoma.

Other posts in this series:
All About Malunggay
Cover-ups

Nursing Bras