Review: Freida's Pantry Feeding Food bars

I remember those first few weeks of L's life when I have tried everything I could to up my milk supply. To say the truth I don't think any of the teas, pumping, expressing, having more drinks or dairy helped me at all. I felt lots of pressure from midwives and health visitors and of course I wanted it to work. It's such a shame that only now I came across Freida's pantry as I would love to see how it would have worked for me back then.

"We make the UK's healthiest food bars for pregnant and nursing mums - and tired dads too! We believe in natural nutrition and will do all we can to support your new family naturally".

I have received 2 pre-pregnancy/during pregnancy bars and 2 breastfeeding food bars.

Both types of bars can be purchased here or via Ocado website in packs of 3, 5, 7 and 14 bars, with individual bars priced at £1.20 which seems quite reasonable. 

"Healthy And Nutrient Packed Pre-Pregnancy / During Pregnancy Bars. Freida’s Feeding Food is a tasty and nutritious food bar full of healthy oats, nuts and seeds:
- a convenient and portable snack for busy mums on the go
- helps with additional calories through healthy fats
- high in fibre and a source of omega 3 and 6

                                  
Freida’s Feeding Food is a tasty and nutritious food bar full of healthy oats, nuts and seeds:
- a convenient and portable snack for busy mums on the go
- helps with additional calories through healthy fats
- high in fibre and a source of omega 3 and 6".

When I had a first bite of the Freida's feeding food bar I noticed an overpowering sweet fennel taste which put me off a little bit, but if I had a chance to try it earlier when the supply was low I wouldn't care about it and just kept going. 

The pre- preganncy/ during pregnancy bar on the other hand tastes very sweet, but  dry. 

Tip: once I have tried it with a yogurt or dairy drink it tasted so much better! So I would certainly recommend it to have it with a drink and not by itself!

It is quite feeling and gives you that boost which most of us mums need for the day to get on with our duties. 

I have read about parents batch cooking and freezing their meals for the first few weeks when new baby arrives but have never considered doing it myself! Now I know it was a big mistake and Freida's pantry bars could have been a great, handy and helpful snack for those hungry, hands full/busy moments. 

Overall, I didn't feel any difference in my supply as I have tried the bars when my supply was established, but I'm happy that I have discovered the brand as I would certainly recommend it to my expecting mum friends and would love to see if it actually works.

Disclaimer: I was sent the item mentioned above for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My breastfeeding journey..how it started

When I was pregnant I have read different books about first few days with a new baby and breastfeeding a newborn, how little did I know, that breastfeeding wouldn't be as easy as I thought.

When L was born we had a skin to skin and I tried to latch her onto my breast, but she didn't seem interested. I was reassured that it's normal, that we should try again sometime later and if not then she will definitely be hungry in 12 hours. First day we spent having lots of skin to skin, attempts to feed but nothing worked. Once midwives realised that it's been over 12 hours and L didn't latch they tried to call breastfeeding counselor to see if she can assess the situation ans suggest what to do, but in the meantime midwives offered to hand express colostrum in a small syringe. I was shown how to hand express which seemed easy, but once I started expressing I realised that it is a hard work!

My sister was helping me with expressing during visiting hours and at night a student midwife was helping every 2 hours. As I had a privilege of staying in my own room it felt less stressful as I didn't have to think about other mums or babies but nonetheless it was a very difficult time. L was constantly crying from hunger, because of that she refused to sleep and I felt embarrassed to press the bell every time I needed help expressing. I crumbled once when my little helper-student midwife finished her shift and instead I had a middle-aged midwife who didn't give a monkeys about me being upset and not knowing how to handle crying baby and hand expressing tiny amounts into a tiny syringe. Her stern face and an attitude were like a slap on my chick telling me to get on with it. I couldn't wait till the next day, I hoped for a better day, more colostrum and of course my husband next to me. The next day I had 2 lovely meals at the hospital and lots of different midwives trying to help us. This time they showed us how to use electric pump and tried cup feeding, once they saw that I'm comfortable with it they discharged me.

When we arrived home it was time to feed L and as I have learnt how to use hospital electric pump I was confident in using the one I have prepared to use at home. I have read all instructions, put it all up and started expressing or trying to. I sat their listening to a loud noise of he electric pump and watching the only drop of milk being stuck in one of the tubes. We have check the pump together, tried again and still no milk. I tried hand expressing-nothing came out again, and then in the moment of despair I put L to latch on my breast, I couldn't believe my eyes for the first time L latched and was drinking! 

Our second night we have spent trying to express milk with electric pump, hand express and constantly called midwife's emergency numbers for advice and support. 

The next few days we had different midwives shaking their heads in disappointment that L didn't put enough weight (it is the reason why 16 months later I still stress about L's weight), had different breastfeeding support workers talking to us, showing us techniques, health visitor giving us completely different advice from what breastfeeding workers told us with regards to breastfeeding. 
For the first 6 weeks L was slowly but putting weight on and since then she stayed on 9th centile line going up and down.
But once I was confident in breastfeeding, knew what is right for me and L I relaxed and enjoyed every single minute of breastfeeding. 

The first few weeks were hard, confusing and overwhelming, but I stayed strong and stubborn because I wanted to do this for my daughter, to proof to others that I can do it, to show that only those who believe and persevere can do this as well. 

No matter how hard it was it is an incredible experience and 17 months later I don't want it to stop.