Emma is seven months old, and still breastfeeds like an absolute champ! I'm very lucky in that all four of my babies have fed well (even through some initial hiccups like premature births and tongue ties!) - I've been at this nursing gig for some time now. I wonder how many hours I've been feeding over the last decade - I think it would be a pretty impressive figure! 

I was so pleased when the lovely team at Cake Maternity reached out to see if I'd be interested in trying and reviewing some of their favourite nursing bras. I've followed their brand for some time now, but hadn't had the chance to purchase - so this opportunity was perfect. Before we start, here's a little about the brand: Cake Maternity are nursing bra specialists who are passionate about breastfeeding and the many benefits it offers to both mum, bub and the environment. Breastfeeding, whilst natural, doesn’t always come naturally and they understand that every woman’s experience is different and at times challenging. Their mission is to empower women as they mindfully navigate the world of motherhood and help make breastfeeding easier, through experience-driven innovation.

When you're breastfeeding, it's important to choose bras that are not only supportive, but also comfortable - if there's one time in your life you're going to be up close & personal with your breasts, it's now! After confirming my measurements and using the fit guide, we narrowed down the selection to three styles:

Do your kids love to draw? If you've got a Creative Kid like Georgia, you need to check out the Wacom Intous - it's the perfect tool to get those imaginations running! We've been playing with it this past week, and it's been an absolute breeze to use.  

All you need to do is connect your Intuos pen tablet to your PC or Mac, get your kiddos all set up, and you're good to go! It's a great, visual way for your kiddos to create, draw and explore, and really encourages creativity. 

You can start simple with younger kids, and take it to the next levels when your children are older - the options are endless! Georgia decided to draw up her own pamphlet on looking after the ocean... completely of her own accord. It was a great conversation starter too! 

Did you know you can use your $100 Creative Kids Voucher on a Wacom Intuos of your own? 

Now's the perfect time to redeem it before the year runs out. Make sure you visit Wacom Australia and snap one up today - what will your tiny humans create on theirs?

We are thrilled to have been one of the first families in Australia to use the brand new CONNECT™ PLUS Baby Carrier recently released by Redsbaby.

This collection has been thoughtfully crafted to nurture a connection between parent and child, and is so comfy to wear. It has a versatile tri-layer system that keeps it at an ideal comfort level for both warm and cooler weather, the only carrier to seamlessly convert between three layers within moments and it's lovely and breathable. The padding is perforated to provide airflow and comfort, and it stops you from getting sweaty under the straps while baby-wearing. And... did I mention it has POCKETS? You can slip your hands in to cradle baby skin-to-skin and provide soothing/comfort as you're wearing them.

Having a baby with hip dysplasia has had its challenges - especially as our journey hasn't been a short one. Finding baby products that are hip-harness friendly has been a huge learning curve for us. Amelia has always worn a Rhino Brace, which keeps her hips abducted by splaying them widely in the correct position - which means that she doesn't necessarily fit into the things the way a regular baby of her age does.

That rang true for her bassinet (which she could not fit comfortably in with the harness on) as well as most regular sleeping bags, and even certain high chairs and prams. 

We were recently sent a Redsbaby Skip Stroller to test drive, especially for those times when Amelia is out and about in her harness. Her current regime is to wear it for all sleeps, including day naps. If we are headed out for the day, it's important that she can still wear it while she is sleeping, to ensure she has the maximum amount of harnessed time as she can. The great news? She fits SO well in this little stroller!

The stroller itself is pretty nifty. It folds and unfolds so easily, and it can literally be carried over your shoulder - it's compact, lightweight and user friendly. This is the perfect travel companion, great for when you don't want your full-sized pram taking up loads of space. And when I say lightweight, I mean lightweight: it only weighs 6.5kg! 

If you're after a lightweight option, or a second pram, I highly recommend the Skip. It ticked all of our boxes, and it's the perfect throw-in-the-boot option for all new parents!

EXCITING NEWS: Redsbaby are having a MASSIVE sale on prams and selected items as part of the Spring Frenzy, with 20% off until the 12th November. Grab a bargain while you can! 

A few weeks ago, we revisited the Children's Hospital for Amelia's ultrasound, which was pretty uneventful. Instead of going straight in to see the Professor afterwards though, we had to go home and wait for a telehealth appointment a few days later. I was really nervous, as the ultrasound technician had indicated that there were still issues present - so in my head, I was mentally preparing to have to be wearing her Rhino Brace in the day as well as the night.

Thankfully, it wasn't as scary as I had thought. The ultrasound showed that her hips have shown some improvement, but there is still work to be done. It's positive, because it means the hours she's spending in the brace at night time are helping - but it's also showing she still has some immaturity in the bone and cartilage around her hip joints. The plan was to keep the brace on for another few months, before we get an x-ray to see how they are progressing.

We also need to have Claire come along for the next appointment, as both are now going to be ortho patients. The doctor was concerned that nobody had ever scanned or x-rayed Claire's hips after all of her gross motor milestones, so just to be safe, he's planning to have her checked as well. Apparently hip dysplasia can run in families, so we need to make sure nothing was missed in her early years.

It means that our sleep will remain broken for the next little while, but we're getting used to it now. And correcting her hips right now is the most important thing! That appointment is coming up in a few weeks, so I'm really, really hoping for some positive news. It's been a very long few months!

Breathe Gently was provided with a complimentary lounger from Cushii - all reviews are my own. If you are interested in a product review appearing on Breathe Gently, please email me.  You can also get in touch with me via my @mamajags Instagram page.

Three babies in and I've FINALLY figured out my must-haves for the new baby/infant stage. Times have changed so rapidly between my girls, and products have changed too - but I'm fairly confident that after having Amelia, I've narrowed it down to my all-time favourite goodies. I'm positive I've missed some, so I may just have to add to this list in the future as Amelia grows.

Lactation Cookies & Milk Saver Breast Pump

Breastfeeding is something I've been very lucky to experience with all of my girls, but it certainly doesn't come easily for all of us. Each of my girls has had their own issues - poor latch for Georgia, tongue tie for Claire, and Amelia had to deal with my engorgement and super fast let-down in the beginning stages.

I discovered lactation cookies when I was pregnant with #2 and my amazing SIL baked me a batch in the hospital, but I didn't use them religiously. This time around, I was more prepared! I had my stash of Milky Goodness cookies ready while I was still pregnant, and I've been a fan ever since. Full of natural ingredients and milk-making galactagogues, these babies are delicious and addictive.. be warned.

To go with them, you NEED a milk saver. This thing is worth its weight in gold. It attaches to your breast through simple suction and is really easy to use - I started with it from those first early days with Amelia. While bub is nursing on one breast, just pop it on the other - it catches precious drops from each letdown, instead of it disappearing into a breast pad/your bra. Swap sides and boom - milk! I haven't used an electric pump in the last 11 weeks and I have a freezer drawer full of expressed milk. I wish I had discovered this three babies ago! :)

Aly recommends: Milky Goodness 
Website: https://milkygoodness.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milkygoodness_/

Use MAMAJAGS10 for a discount, excluding bundle & custom packs. Free standard shipping is available over $60.

Snuggle Me Organic Lounger

I researched these for months, way before we were even lucky enough to get pregnant with Amelia! They looked so comfortable for little ones to lounge around in, like they were getting a hug from all sides. There are plenty out there on the market, so finding the right one was important to me. I ultimately chose the Snuggle Me because it had excellent reviews, and didn't require any sort of assembly - plus being organic, I felt it was that little bit special against soft baby skin.

Amelia really likes it! I put her in it while we're doing shoots, but also while I'm busy with the other kids. She is currently 12 weeks old and we're also advancing to using it for tummy time too. As newborns, they fit snugly inside it, and as they get taller, their little leggies can prop over the edges - so it grows along with them. Do keep in mind, it is designed for supervised naps.

Handy hint? You can use a regular bassinet sized fitted sheet on these babies, so no need for expensive covers - just use what you already have! The one I've used in the picture here is a jersey stretch bassinet cover over the top of the Infant Lounger.

BIBS Dummies

We are pro-pacifier in this household, but Amelia wasn't having it in the early days. Once we'd established breastfeeding, I was determined to get her comfortable using it. Thankfully with some perseverance, she has taken to them like a champ!

We use BIBS dummies in the size 1, the old school round teat is great for little ones, and you can easily size up when you need them. They come in a wide variety of colours too.

I'd advise getting at least 4 of them - you never want to be without one, especially when you're out and about.

Aly recommends: Oakie Baby 
Website: https://www.oakiebaby.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oakie.baby/

Use MAMAJAGS15 for a discount - this excludes the Snuggle Me Loungers unfortunately, but works on nearly everything else on the website! Free standard shipping is available over $100.

Wraps + Swaddles

You'd think that after three babies, I would have already been well versed in using wraps... ha! I have developed a complete obsession with them this time around. We use them for everything. Swaddling, shade covers, wraps, liners for pram bassinets, breastfeeding covers, bedtime blankets, you name it, we've used it.

I'm a huge fan of the Snugglehunny Kids wraps with their gorgeous vibrant prints, but honestly, I've never met a swaddle I didn't love. Whether it's lightweight muslin wraps for the summer, or stretchy jersey wraps for the winter, you're sure to find something you love.

How many wraps is too many wraps? Asking for a friend, of course.

Aly recommends: Little Wellington Co 
Website: https://littlewellingtonco.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/little_wellington.co/

Use MAMAJAGS for a discount store wide! Free standard shipping is available over $100.

Handmade Playmats + Pram Blankets

When it comes to items that are handmade, I'm a huge supporter - but my favourite handmade clothing stores deserve a post all of their own; I could go on allllll day. What I'd love to share with you though, is a store that not only sells stunning girls' clothing, but also unique handmade playmats and bespoke pram blankets.

I had been looking for a statement piece to put in Amelia's nursery, but also wanted something that could be used around the house and on the go. This floral playmat ticked all the boxes - gorgeous, lightly padded, lightweight and reversible. Did I mention it was handmade? Because OH MY GOSH. It's divine.

This beautiful business is all about slow fashion, so you won't find huge quantities or mass produced pieces - instead, you'll find more unique styles and in limited runs, so don't wait too long if you see something you love.

Aly recommends: Nurture the Nest
Website: https://www.nurturethenest.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurturethenest/

Use FIRST for a discount on your first order.

See anything you love? Be sure to pop over and give these small businesses a follow - in these trying times, every little bit of love and support helps. What were YOUR baby essentials?

The last couple of days have been a whirlwind of emotions. We've continued with the sleep training, and Georgia is trying so, so hard to sleep. I'm learning so much as I go along, and I'm a LOT calmer - so I'm thrilled that things are progressing. It's hard, and draining, but I'm finding the better she sleeps in the day, the calmer she sleeps at night.

Win win!

I realised a few days ago that I had quite a few new followers in the online world - I've been pretty open with sharing pictures of my wee girl, but after a few odd faces and comments, I decided to make a switch. The blog here will stay as it is, where I can monitor what I put up & how often. But I have removed my previous accounts on Twitter & Instagram and have started over privately on both of those mediums. I could have blocked and removed accounts on both, but I tried that out and it was far too tedious. Easier just to start over.

I know many people don't like to share photos of their little ones, or at least keep more control over their online presence. I've always been fairly open, although I'd like to think sensible, about what I share. The support I received through blogging and other social mediums while I was going through infertility, IVF & then pregnancy was nothing short of amazing, so sharing my ventures into parenthood seems only natural. Besides, I love the advice I get here & reading other people's stories makes me feel that little bit less lonely on the tough days.

If you haven't discovered my new Twitter & Instagram accounts, or want to be added since they're private, please do get in touch. I'd hate for friends and longtime blog readers to miss out, if you're so inclined. Drop me an email. :)

We had Georgia's newborn shoot done the day after we got out of hospital and returned home - she was 10 days old at the time. I was always unsure if I wanted to get maternity photos done {and good thing I didn't book anything, since she made her early appearance!} but I was positive I wanted newborn photos. She is such a long awaited little miracle and may just be our only wee one, so of course I wanted to capture those chubby cheeks and tiny features - how could I not? If I'd had it my way, I would have had them taken even earlier, but we worked with what we had.

Day 30: Self-portrait: I made it all the way through - we started with a self-portrait & ended with a self-portrait, how fitting. Unfortunately I was much more 'well' at the beginning of the month; I've come down with a rotten head cold and feel disgusting at the moment. But the important thing is... it's done!

I've learnt a lot this month. I took my camera off 'auto' mode more & enjoyed fiddling around with the settings. I thought outside the box, and took pictures of things I wouldn't normally take pictures of. And most importantly, I've blogged all the way through - it was a great way to get my mojo back. I'm certainly no pro photog, but I've had fun.

Unfortunately, you're stuck with my sick head for today's picture, but that's me right now: pj's, tissues & a sad face. Thanks for visiting this month & your lovely comments - it's been great sharing them with you this October!
 For more information & to check out the other participants, click on the image below, or follow the Flickr stream.