Sizzlin’ Summer Sweeps #Giveaway Day 17: Ameda Purely Yours Ultra Electric Breast Pump $350 (ends 8/17)

This post is part of the Sizzlin’ Summer Sweeps – 31 Days of Giveaways for July 2010, brought to you by Crazy Coupon Mommy and Sisterly Savings! Make sure you check out all the other awesome giveaways you can enter!

When Whistler was born, we ended up having to stay in the hospital for 2 extra days because he lost more than 13% of his body weight :(  He just wasn’t getting enough to eat and even though I wanted to breastfeed exclusively, we ended up feeding him formula while we got the hang of breastfeeding and my milk came in.  After all, his health was #1 priority and everything else comes second!

For months after we got home, I was so paranoid that I wasn’t producing enough milk, that I was constantly checking my supply and doing everything I could to help increase it.  I tried taking Fenugreek 3 times a day and smelling like pancakes to drinking lots and lots of water and constantly pumping or feeding.   Being off work, I could not afford an electric pump and renting one just grossed me out, so I went with a manual breast pump.

I really liked the manual pump because of the complete control you have over the speed and suction.  I didn’t really like the electric one the nurses hooked me up to at the hospital – it just didn’t seem to have the right combination for me.  It only had a speed knob with the suction set at something really high (and painful!).  But I was *constantly* pumping every chance I got when the baby wasn’t feeding to try to make my body produce more milk.  I think I gave myself carpal tunnel syndrome – no joke!  3 of my fingers on my right (pumping) hand actually went numb semi-permanently for about 5 weeks!  When this happened, I had to cut down on the pumping, and that made me upset.

I had read that you could express more milk more effectively if you pump both breasts at the same time.  Or a variation of this is to pump one breast while the baby suckles at the other.  Um – has anyone ever tried this?!?!?  This is impossible to do.  Using two manual pumps is a little more feasible, but sooooo crazy awkward and it made me feel like some sort of Frankenstein Mommy Freak.

But we somehow made it through and at 7.5 months, we are still happily breastfeeding (although I’m pretty sure he’s using me as a human pacifier at night now…) AND supplementing with formula – not a lot, just a “top off” at night of about 3 ounces to make sure he goes to bed full.  I don’t pump obsessively like I used to, but mostly because 1) it takes too long 2) my hands hurt 3) I hate cleaning all the parts and 4) it takes too long.  I plan on continuing to breast feed for the full first year, but now that Gramma steals him away from me about one night a week, I really should be pumping even more now though while he is away, but I’ve only been doing the bare minimum because I despise it so.  And did I mention it takes too long?

Luckily, the kind folks over at Ameda offered to allow me to try out their new Purely Yours Ultra Double Electric Breast Pump!  I was soooo happy at this opportunity, especially after reading about it online.  It’s the first pump that helps to protect your milk from bacteria, mold and viruses with Proven Airlock Protection!

Everything you need comes in this fantastic complete kit -

• • * Purely Yours Ultra Pump
    Professional performance pump weighs only 1 lb and has TWO dials for custom control – one to control speed and one to control suction!  You can create 32 different combinations to help you get the best milk production.  It can be run on 6 AA batteries (built in compartment) or with included AC/DC adapter.

• • * Dual HygieniKit and 2 Extra Valves
    Unique, double pumping kit with patented diaphragm prevents milk and moisture from entering the hard-to-clean tubing and pump motor. This means you don’t have to clean the tubes and its more sanitary!  I have read so many complaints online during my research about moms having to buy new tubing very often because they just can’t get their clean.  And you don’t want dirty bacteria filled tubes touching your baby’s milk!  The HygieniKit is even dishwasher safe and can convert to a manual pump with the INCLUDED adapter!
  • * Cool ‘N Carry Milk Tote
    Removable insulated case comes with 3 cooler packs to keep the milk cool for up to 10 hours and 4 extra storage bottles (though it can hold up to 6 bottles)
  • * CustomFit Flanges
    Includes 3 custom breast flange sizes (with 4 other sizes available for order, if need).  This is great because it is common for your nipple to change sizes during your breastfeeding journey :)

• • * Ultra Tote
    Upscale and contemporary ultra-suede and faux-leather bag with easy-clean interior plus pockets and dividers to help keep you organized.  This bag is really professional looking and perfect for taking to work!

I have to say, I really wish I had gotten this months ago!  I’d have so much more milk stored up in the freezer and I would have been able to give Whistler more breast milk to “top” him off, rather than formula.  It usually takes me about 20 minutes to express 3-4 ounces from each side with a manual pump.  With the Ameda Purely Yours, I can get the same amount in half the time!  (that means I have more time to find deals for you guys – hahah!)

I also really really love that I don’t have to inspect and clean the tubes after each use and that I can trust that the milk is clean and uncontaminated.  The Ameda Purely Yours is so easy and convenient to use that I don’t mind pumping every 3-4 hours while Whistler is gone, like I should.  I like this since it helps to ensure that I will be able to continue breastfeeding for as long as we want ;)

Thank you so much Ameda for making such an invaluable product!

The Ameda PurelyYours Double Electric Breast Pump is currently available to order online at BabiesRUs.com and will be available to purchase at your local Babies R Us store starting in August!

Ameda also offers informative breast feeding resources to help you and your little one get the most out of breastfeeding!  You can check out their videos here.

Wanna win it?
The folks over at Ameda have generously offered a giveaway for one lucky Crazy Coupon Mommy/Sisterly Savings reader to win!

One Ameda Purely Yours Ultra Double Electric Breast Pump Tote Package($350 value!)

How do I enter?

PLEASE follow directions!! Entering the giveaway is not hard – but if you do not complete the MANDATORY entry FIRST, your comments/entries will be deleted. If you have any questions about how to enter, please contact me…or just look at the comments above you and you will get the idea!

Just complete each of the following tasks and leave a comment for your entry(s)! Please leave one comment per task completed. (ie, if you do three of the following, you should leave three SEPARATE comments) Must be over 18 to enter. US residents only.

MANDATORY ENTRY – You MUST do this FIRST. If you do not do this, none of the other entries below will count and they WILL BE DELETED.

1. “Like” Ameda on Facebook AND be sure to let them know CrazyCouponMommy.com sent you and thank them for sponsoring this giveaway by leaving a post on their wall!

If you don’t use Facebook, thats ok.  Just let me know in a comment and complete 1 AND 2 below instead as your mandatory entry – thanks!

LOTS OF WAYS TO GET BONUS ENTRIES!! Once you have completed the above mandatory entry, you can do as many of the below as you like for extra entries Good luck!

(If you already are a subscriber, follow on Twitter or like on Facebook, that counts as one entry, so be sure to leave a comment saying you already do so!)

1. Subscribe to Crazy Coupon Mommy via RSS Reader or email
2. Subscribe to SisterlySavings via RSS Reader or email
3. Follow Ameda on Twitter
4. Please join the Ameda Moms’ community
5. Become a public follower of Crazy Coupon Mommy (Scroll all the way down to bottom of this page and look for this button
6. Follow CCM on Twitter
7. Follow SS on Twitter
8. Tweet about this giveaway (just click on the retweet button at the very bottom of this post just above the comment form. You can do this daily for extra entries! Just leave a comment each day you complete this task)
9. “Like” SS on Facebook
10. “Like” CCM on Facebook
11. Share this giveaway on Facebook by clicking on the Share button below in the comment form!
12. Share this giveaway on Google by clicking on the Buzz button below in the comment form!
13. Vote for me on TopMommyBlogs (Be sure to click on words that say “Click here to vote”. You can do this daily for extra entries! Just leave a comment each date you vote.)
14. Vote for Whistler here (You can do this daily for extra entries! Just leave a comment each date you vote.)
15. Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your blog post (this earns you 3 entries! Be sure to leave a separate comment for each!)
16. Got a blog or webpage? Place my link button on your site and leave the URL of where I can see it.

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***IMPORTANT*** You need to leave a separate comment for each of the above that you complete. Each comment acts as one entry, so if you only leave one comment saying “I did 1-3 above” then you’ll only get ONE entry instead of the 3 you deserve!

Contest will end 8/17/ 2010 at 11:59pm PST. The winner will be chosen randomly via computer using “And the Winner is…” WordPress Plugin or Random.org. Winner will be notified by a blog post (so be sure to subscribe to my newsletter so that you don’t miss the winner announcement!). Winner must respond within 48 hours or another random winner will be chosen.

Many thanks to Ameda who provided me with a sample for the purpose of this review, as well as one to giveaway to a randomly selected winner. I was not required to write a positive review and no other type of compensation was received. My reviews are always 100% honest and 100% my own.

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