This post was written by Kristen, DDL contributor.

I love milk.  I also happen to love ice cream…and cheese.  A LOT.  I typically would drink 2 gallons of milk a week, just myself.

Why am I telling you this?  Because 3 months ago, I was told by my daughter’s pediatrician that in order to keep breastfeeding my 5 day old baby, Suriah, I would need to cut all dairy, eggs, soy, nuts and seafood out of my diet.

I had no idea what was left to eat!!!

It really wasn’t a laughing matter though.  At only 4 days old, I was changing Suriah’s poopy diaper, only to discover that it wasn’t poopy…it was blood. I calmly called the on call doctor, who told me to save the diaper and bring her in the next day.  (How I managed to not rush her to the ER is beyond me!).  Before I was able to bring her in the next day, she had about 5 more blood-filled-diapers.  At the doctor’s office it was confirmed that it was in fact blood (I had been hoping I was wrong of course) and that because Suriah appeared otherwise healthy, it was most likely due to a severe allergy.  Whatever she was allergic to was actually causing her intestines to bleed.

After consulting with a pediatric gastroenterologist, it was decided that if I wanted to continue to breastfeed, I would need to seriously change my diet.  And if I chose to not breastfeed, then Suriah would need to be placed on a very expensive, prescription-only formula that is just amino acids.  Her pediatrician told me that it was healthiest for Suriah to get breastmilk and advised that changing my diet was the best thing for her if I could really stick to it.  Breastfeeding my first child didn’t work out as I had hoped because she needed to be supplemented with formula and other problems led to me drying up at 5 months, so before Suriah was born, I was determined to exclusively breastfeed her.  I had been planning and preparing and mentally working on the idea of breastfeeding in public…and then I was told that I needed to change my diet so drastically that I honestly didn’t even know what I would be able to eat anymore.  Oh…and did I mention that I already had a weird diet?  Yeah, I haven’t eaten red meat in about 20 years and I don’t eat any meat off the bone.  I’m really not a big meat eater.

Image from Babble

Lets sum that all up…

*pretty much no meat

*no soy

*no dairy

*no eggs

*no nuts

*no seafood

What the heck is left?!?!

When I got home, I realized that even my bread had milk in it! Giving up dairy was going to be the hardest sacrifice, especially when I realized that dairy was hidden in a lot of other things as well.  But I was dedicated.  It definitely tested my dedication to breastfeeding.  In fact, I had a few friends tell me that they would just switch over to the formula…that it wasn’t worth it to sacrifice so much just to breastfeed.  Even my own family was not supportive of me breastfeeding at this point.  But I did have some friends who supported me and also helped me figure out some things I could eat.  And the fact that the special formula cost $50 for a 14oz can was also a huge motivator to continue to breastfeed as well.  Plus, I had some serious issues with her latch and went through a tough time getting adjusted to breastfeeding…there was some serious cracking and bleeding nipples going on!  I called La Leche League and visited a lactation consultant…and continued to try to figure out what I could eat.

At 8 weeks, Suriah’s pediatrician allowed me to try to work something back into my diet.  She didn’t want me to choose dairy, so we started with soy, as that gave me many more options of what I could add into my diet.  Over the course of the next few weeks, I had to take soy out of my diet again, but then was able to work it back in.  Now that Suriah is 3.5 months old, I am happily also able to eat nuts and seafood as well.  It seems that her severe reaction was most likely caused by a protein allergy to dairy and eggs.  Right now I am not sure how long I will have to go without dairy or eggs, but it’s possible that she may have the allergy forever because her reaction was so severe.

Having to sacrifice so much in my diet, especially some of the things I love most (I consider myself an ice cream and cheese connoisseur), has definitely made breastfeeding much harder…but it’s also made it more rewarding, and as an added bonus, I feel really proud of myself for being able to exclusively breastfeed my daughter for over 3 months and to watch her thrive and grow because of my milk.  Breastfeeding isn’t easy.  It’s hard in so many ways, especially when it doesn’t go as smoothly as you plan, but it’s worth it.  It’s worth not having a big glass of milk with my oreos, or milk in my cereal, some smoked gouda cheese or some of the Guinness ice cream at the new ice cream shop in town (who wouldn’t want to try that!?!?!)…because I know that I am giving my daughter the best nourishment I can, regardless of the sacrifice I have to make everyday.  I love exclusively breastfeeding more than I ever thought I would…but I also can’t wait to try some of that Guinness ice cream some day!

A few weeks ago I was particularly bored and trapped in the recliner as my 16.5 month old son napped on top of me.  With the clicker in hand I was determined to find something good on TV.  Shockingly, my DVR had nothing to offer.

I hit pay dirt when I saw Roseanne on Oxygen.  I tuned in and was immediately smiling at the reruns I had already seen but still loved.

I happened to be tuning in to season six, the one where Jackie gets knocked up by Fred and has a baby.

So imagine my surprise when I see this:

Hello leaky boobies!

Even better, her boobs activated (or, lactivated, get it *snort*) when her baby began crying.  When have you ever seen leaking breasts on TV?  What a frank and honest look at breastfeeding.  I know some of you out there have had some funny and embarrassing (aren’t those two things usually combined) moments where your breasts leaked at the worst time.  It happens, we all have a chuckle, and we change.  I happen to be one of the lucky ones who only leaked in the very beginning when I was engorged.  But every time my son popped off a little too early and milk went squirting, I couldn’t help but laugh!

I thought it was even better that her milk let down because her baby was crying.  The writers on this show much have been breastfeeders, or married to one.

Towards the end of the episode Jackie is in her wedding gown, about to walk down the aisle.  Downstairs, her son Andy begins crying.  Uh oh.

But you know what the best part of the episode was?

She nursed her son while saying her vows.  Oh yes she did.

But wait….

She had to switch sides right before she said “I do.”

I have always, always loved Roseanne.  This episode made me love it even more.  I was actually crying a little bit when she was nursing her baby in her wedding dress. Not so much because she was wearing a wedding dress, but because she was nursing her baby on a TV show.  She was doing it because it is what you do.  When you have a baby, you breastfeed.  When your baby is hungry, you nurse them.

Want to know something else?  Jackie coslept with her baby too!  Who knew there was such an AP mom on a 90′s sitcom!  Now if only there were breastfeeding mothers on today’s shows.  And ones who are having a positive experience and stick with it.  If you do see a mother nursing, she is cringing and complaining, then grabs a bottle and gives in.

Even on the reality shows like “Bringing Baby Home” the mothers mostly start out nursing their newborn.  They struggle, just like most mothers do.  Then they are shown six weeks later giving their baby a bottle almost every time.  Granted, there are exceptions.  I have seen one episode of a mother who was happily nursing her son months later and who spoke frankly of her trials and tribulations before she had it down pat.  Totally normal.  But those are the women we need to see; the ones who made it past the first 2 weeks, the first 2 months, and even *gasp* 6 months.  I am at 16.5 months and still going strong (while pregnant.)

I am thankful that organizations like Best For Babes are working to expel “Booby Traps” and put the word out that breastfeeding your baby saves lives.  Having positive female role models breastfeeding on TV and in Movies will help! I want to see another Jackie on a modern show, booby leaks and all!

Hotslings, a company known for their stylish and easy to use babywearing products, have recently launched MilkDaze, a stylish and practical nursing camisole.

Make sure to milk it in our nursing apparel! Designed with mom in mind, our collection aims to make nursing anywhere fashion-forward and as easy as possible. We’ve eliminated the need for clips, snaps or hooks and incorporated pull-aside layers that allow for quick nursing without the fuss. All of the pieces in this growing collection are cut to hit lower on the waist, ensuring full coverage and keeping that postpartum figure in check. Sized on a generic sizing scale, moms will wear the same size in MilkDaze as they would in other mainstream brands.

The MilkDaze nursing camisole is a pull over style, meaning you pull one panel over to reveal the opening, still leaving the base panel that supports your breast and keeps you partially covered.  This style has always been hit or miss for me.  I like the convenience of it, but I always get one that doesn’t have enough room in the opening, or the panel slides over slowly and gets in the way.

I was happy to find that none of those issues occurred with the MilkDaze Cami.  It is simple enough to pull the panel and latch my son on.  Then, I push the other panel around his mouth to make sure I am completely covered.  Out of all of the nursing tops I have owned, this is the most discreet.  Since receiving it to review I have made a point to wear it for every flight I take, and if I know I will be out in a large crowd, I wear it as well.

The best thing about the MilkDaze is the support it gives!  Most nursing tank tops I have tried give the dreaded “uniboob,” with the exception of a few notable brands.  But those still don’t lift my breasts as much as the MilkDaze.  I have, if I say so myself, amazing cleavage in this cami.  It gives almost as much support as a regular nursing bra.  I love the sweetheart cut too!  It is so flattering to my bustline.

The MilkDaze comes in two colors: black and white.  I would love to see it come in more neutral tones since I like to wear oranges and browns and deep greens.  But, I also wear a ton of black.  You could get by having either color, or both, and be able to wear it under most tops.  The cami has a generous length to keep your tummy covered too.  It gives a nice layering look under other tops.

If you are wondering why Hotslings would make nursing attire, think of how easy it would be to wear your baby in a Hotslings Pouch or Hotslings AP and nurse them while wearing your MilkDaze!  Since my son is now at a great age for the hip carry, that is how we babywear and nurse when we need to, and it works fabulously.

Wouldn’t you LOVE to add a MilkDaze to your wardrobe?

Hotslings is giving one lucky DDL reader their own MilkDaze Cami.

For your mandatory entry, tell me where you would use your MilkDaze.  Since I have used mine on my travels, I want to know where you would use it! ***no one word answers please, but don’t write a book either, mmk!

For Extra Entries do any or all of the following, remember to leave a separate comment for each entry.

Follow my twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “I want to win a MilkDaze Cami from @hotslings and @KimRosas. http://3dq44.th8.us #bfing” Leave a comment with a link to your status.

You can tweet every day, once a day, for the duration of the contest.

Follow @HotSlings on twitter. Leave a comment.

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Grab my button and post it on your blog. Leave a comment.

Blog about this giveaway. Post a link in the comment.

The MilkDaze is Buy One Get One Half off until January 5th!  Use code MDHalf at check out.  Stock up!

Giveaway ends on January 6. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn.

***Open to US and Canadian Residents!***

I was not paid to perform this review or host the giveaway.  I did receive a sample to review, free of charge, which was kept.  All opinions expressed are my own.

How often do you hear that sentence?  In the past month, I have heard it once and experienced it wordlessly one other time.

While flying back from Charlotte NC I was alone with my son.  I don’t even want to count how many times we have flown by ourselves.  The only way I would consider it is if I am babywearing (godsend for flying, let me tell you) and nursing (godsend for inside of the airplane).  Since I am still able to do both it was no biggie.

On the flight from Charlotte to JFK I sat next to a large, but nice and friendly man who was more than happy to make conversation with Fletcher and I.  Once the plane took flight I knew what I needed to do to make everyone’s experience positive.  Nurse.  It was nap nap time for my son, and time for me to watch TV on Jetblue!  I was wearing a nursing tank, the Hotslings Milk Daze (which I am reviewing and hosting a giveaway for soon!!!) and I pulled over one layer and latched him on.  All the while, the man next to me is chatting us up.  I didn’t want to say anything to him, but I assumed he would figure out what I was doing and pay attention to his screen.

Instead, he continued talking to me.  He even tried peering over to see if my baby was asleep.  He seemed completely oblivious.  Since I am not shy at nursing in public, and I knew my nipples were covered by baby and my breast was mostly covered by my tank, I wasn’t offended.  Maybe, if I had a regular tank top on and my breast was pulled out of the top, I would have made more of an effort to tell him what was actually happening.  ”No sir, my son isn’t asleep yet, but he is breastfeeding.”

Soon, he did go to sleep, and I put on my headphones for the universal sign of “I would like to relax and discontinue conversation, thank you.”  Our conversation ended until landing and he never was the wiser.

Just a few days ago, a similar situation occurred.  I was at the mall with a friend, and she was chatting with someone she knew.  My son was a little hungry, and very grumpy.  After the usual tactics to calm him and save my sanity, I went to the tried and true: milkies.

We sat on a bench while they chatted and I pulled my sweater up and unhooked my nursing bra.  He laid across my lap and had a light snack.  Then, a woman and her 2 year old daughter came to the bench.  She stood her daughter up on the bench to outfit her in the proper winter attire to leave the mall.  That day, it was a full suit because it was freezing!

Next to me I saw the most adorable shoes I have ever seen.  They were Mary Janes with pandas on the tip.  I was dying!  I struck up a conversation with the woman and commented on her daughter’s shoes.  We chatted while they got dressed (the girl also had a matching hat and mittens!).  When they were close to leaving my son finished so I sat him up and pulled my sweater down.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were breastfeeding.”  I let her know it was no trouble, and nothing to be sorry about.  It was a normal thing we were used to doing.  Then she let me know she nursed her daughter til she was 16 months, and only weaned at her daughter’s cues.  That was a wonderful thing to hear!  Not many mothers make it to toddlerhood.  I think we had a little “bonding” moment as we gushed about how much we loved nursing our babies.  Then we said goodbye.

Encounters like this always make me wonder, what is the big deal about nursing in public?  There is always a way to be discreet (unless you simply don’t want to, which is another matter) and nurse with no breast visibility.  Maybe, if you are very large busted it is harder or impossible.  I have never had one of those so I don’t know!