Latest news with #Elvie
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
I'm an older mother who will be 65 when my baby turns 18 - I don't care what people think, I'm a better parent now than I would've been in my twenties
A mother who had a second child at 47 she's a better parent now than she ever would've been in her younger years and she doesn't care if people call her selfish. Samantha Crammond first gave birth in her early 40s and thought that would be her only experience of changing nappies - until she discovered she was pregnant again on her 46th birthday. Samantha, from Essex, said she 'wasn't expecting' to give birth again despite admitting that she and her partner Andy 'weren't being particularly careful'. 'I went to Tesco with Andy to get breakfast and I had a gut feeling so I got a pregnancy test [and] I did it in the toilet. 'I was standing over the bin ready to drop it in and it came up saying pregnant. I was shaking. I was happy, but at my age, you worry. It was hard to celebrate until tests had been done properly.' Samantha, who works in admin for a finance company, tried not to get her hopes up after previously suffering a miscarriage. Her daughter, Elvie, was born on December 17 last year, weighing a healthy 8.8lbs, and she is also a mother to four-year-old, Zephyr. Despite having initial nerves about the situation, she was never worried about being an older mother and did not want judgement from others to cloud her experience. 'Some mums worry about what other parents at the school gate think - I literally couldn't care less. 'Anyone that knows me probably says that I'm young at heart... I wasn't worried. 'For me personally, I travelled a lot, my life revolved around travel and I've partied hard. I'm completely happy to do this, whereas if I'd been younger it might have been different. 'I'm also much more patient. Mentally, it's much better having a baby when you're older. Physically, not so much. 'I don't mind the night feeds or anything like that, it's just the fact my body hurts. I get a bad back and my knees and my arms hurt from carrying her around all the time.' Samantha - who will be 65 when Elvie turns 18 - said that she decided to go through with having another child because she did not want Zephyr to be on his own. 'We're going to be older parents, that's just a fact - but I didn't want him growing up without someone to share it with,' she said. 'Let [people] judge - I'm not here to live life on anyone else's timeline. I don't really think about [being an older mum], everyone's entitled to their own opinion. 'I do get some of the reasons, but I'm a better mother now than I ever would have been in my 20s. 'It's not about being the youngest mum at soft play - it's about being present, being calm and showing up every single day.' Samantha says that she is more 'chilled' out in her forties than she was when she was younger and 'doesn't sweat the small stuff' anymore, but rather enjoys the experience instead. 'I know who I am now - and that makes me a better mum than I ever could've imagined,' she added. However, her second pregnancy came with a long list of complications, including an underactive thyroid and gestational diabetes. At one point, she was injecting insulin daily and struggling to breathe as fluid build-up pressed on her lungs, but said she remained upbeat and did not allow it to define her experience. When Elvie was born at 37 weeks via a planned C-section, over a litre and a half of fluid came out during delivery. Samantha said: 'The fluid was squashing my lungs. Over a litre and a half of fluid came out. 'I didn't enjoy being pregnant at all, I was considered high-risk. I just wanted to have it over and done with, as terrible as it sounds.' She says that in her younger years, she would often be itching to get out of her house and travel the world, whereas now 'my happiness is at home with them'. 'Being older, I wouldn't have felt like that if I had had them earlier,' Samantha said.
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Warwickshire farmer, 16, sets out to sell meat weeks after GCSEs
Oscar has just finished his GCSEs, but unlike most other teenagers completing their exams, his summer consists of early starts and developing a business plan. The 16-year-old, whose family farms near Fillongley in Warwickshire, dreams of providing his community with their meat and milk. The budding entrepreneur has already set to work and starts milking his own flock of sheep at 05:00 BST each morning, but is keen to expand. "I want to get my own cattle, rear them and supply some local restaurants with local beef and lamb," the teenager said of his plans to grow his own business. He added that he had found it difficult to get through exam season as he wanted to concentrate on farming. "All I wanted to do was work here [on the farm] but I knew I had to focus too."His father Paul, a first generation farmer, bought the land 12 years ago and the family relocated to Warwickshire from Preston. "This farm came up and its location and layout meant it was ideal for sheep milking which is what we wanted to do." The 16-year-old said he had "come up with a couple of business plans" with the help of his friends and hoped to expand his own flock of sheep soon. Paul added that he was very proud of how Oscar and his sister Elvie, who helped with the family's horses, had adapted to life on the farm. "They both just get stuck in and get involved," he said. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Forbes
11-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
The 8 Best Wearable Breast Pumps, According To Moms And Experts
Pumping can be hard, especially for busy moms juggling childcare, work, meal prep and tending to their baby. The best wearable breast pumps offer a discreet, comfortable and efficient solution, making pumping more convenient while keeping your hands free to do other things. Many parents rely on these pumps in addition to their regular pumps to ensure they have milk for their baby while also working or taking care of other kids. My top pick, the Elvie Pump, is designed with smart features that make it easy to use, has dishwasher-safe parts and, most importantly, is comfortable. 'Having the option of a wearable pump takes convenience to a new level and may increase the likelihood of meeting those pump sessions they otherwise may not have been able to make work,' says Karrie Locher, a certified lactation counselor and postpartum and neonatal nurse. I spoke with lactation experts, used feedback from real mom testers and drew upon my own personal experience as someone who pumped through three kids to curate this list of the top wearable breast pumps, including the affordable Momcozy M5 and the leak-proof Willow 360. Flange sizes: 15mm, 17mm, 19mm, 21mm, 24mm and 28mm | Milk capacity: 5 ounces per cup | Battery life: About 5 to 6 pumping sessions | App: Yes | Dishwasher-safe parts: Yes When I was nursing my twins, the Elvie pump went everywhere with me. It's super quiet and comfortable, with no tubes to get tangled in. The pump connects to an app that monitors milk volume in real time, tracks your pumping session and offers insights on your pumping behavior. Smart features also automatically switch from stimulation to expression mode once it detects a letdown (or after two minutes) and stop the pump when the collection cup is full. As a busy working mom of three, all of these thoughtful details allowed me to pump on the go without much effort. Once I put the pump on, I didn't have to think about it again until I took it off. I did notice that my output was a bit lower than normal when using this pump, but that's common with wearable pumps. 'Elvie changed my life,' says mom of five, Chaunie Brusie. 'I had a NICU baby and had to exclusively pump. I was about to give up because it was so hard caring for her alone and my other four kids. The Elvie was a game changer and I will forever sing its praises.' The pump has seven intensity settings and features smart pumping rhythms, including a rhythm for sensitive breasts and one for heavy let-downs and milk flow. Busy moms will appreciate that you can clean the pump parts in the dishwasher, though there are five parts to clean and assemble, which is more than some of our other top picks. Once you're done with your pumping session, you can put a lid on the collection cups to store them in the refrigerator. Flange sizes: 17mm, 19mm, 21mm and 24mm | Milk capacity: 5.6 ounces per cup | Battery life: 100 to 120 minutes | App: No | Dishwasher-safe parts: No The Momczoy M5 is a popular option thanks to its affordability and ease of use. 'It's easy to use and wash and has a good suction,' says Lauren Scheeler, a mom of four who has been using the pump for her twins. The pump doesn't have any cords or tubes, and it's available in multiple colors. That little pop of color might seem insignificant, but since many moms often have better output when they're relaxed and happy, it's a nice touch. There are four parts that need to be cleaned, but they aren't dishwasher-safe. While it doesn't connect to an app, the controls are on the top of the pump and easy to use. 'I wear mine at work all the time and even pumped in Disney with it and walked around. It's small, so not hard to bring with you places and it comes with a small carrying pack,' says Scheeler. Compared to some larger and heavier pumps on our list, this is definitely a more discreet option. Our tester also found that it had a high yield compared to other wearable pumps, which is helpful for emptying your breasts and making sure you have enough milk for your baby. There are nine suction levels and three modes of operation, and the pump is designed to mimic the angle of a baby's sucking, which may be part of the reason many moms get great output with this pump. Flange sizes: 21mm and 24mm | Milk capacity: 5 ounces per cup | Battery life: Up to 3 pumping sessions | App: Yes | Dishwasher-safe parts: Yes A smart breast pump makes pumping easier (and more discreet) since you don't need to keep reaching into your shirt for adjustments. The app allows you to track your milk volume, control the pump and gain access to expert advice and tips. There are 15 different levels of suction, allowing you to customize the pump to achieve your maximum output. Dishwasher-safe parts mean you're spending less time cleaning and more time with your baby, although there are quite a few of them (six total). As a result, you may need to spend some time getting acquainted with how to assemble your pump before you get the hang of it. Moms who need a wearable pump for work or other places likely want something quiet—which the Willow Go is. There aren't any cords or tubes to get tangled up in either, making it easy to use. Moms who have a high output will appreciate the generous 5-ounce collection cups and the 7-ounce collection cups that are available as an add-on. Flange sizes: 17mm, 19mm, 21mm and 24mm | Milk capacity: 5 ounces per cup | Battery life: Up to 5 days with wireless charging case | App: Yes | Dishwasher-safe parts: Yes The Eufy S1 Pro is an innovative pump that uses heat, which may help with comfort, relaxation and output. It's a personal favorite of Locher, who likes the heated feature and finds that it provides good output and strength. At 300 mmHg (millimeters of mercury, the unit that measures suction power), it's more powerful than many other wearable options. It includes a wireless charging case that provides up to five days of power, making it particularly ideal for moms on the go. In the app, you can customize the rhythm, suction and speed, which includes seven intensities and three cycle speeds. You can also log volume, track your pumping sessions and analyze your pumping patterns. Running at 46 decibels, it's also a pretty quiet pump. There's a double seal to help prevent leaks and the parts are dishwasher-safe. Flange sizes: 24mm | Milk capacity: 6 ounces per cup | Battery life: About 7 to 8 pumping sessions | App: No | Dishwasher-safe parts: No Many wearable breast pumps only hold about four to five ounces of milk, but the Momcozy S12 Pro Wearable Breast Pump holds six ounces per cup. This is ideal for moms who tend to produce a lot of milk or who just prefer a larger collection cup. There aren't any cords to get tangled in, and the pump has a nice long battery life of seven to eight pumping sessions. It's three modes and nine levels of suction, allow the user to customize their ideal pumping setup. The pump comes in several different colors: gray, white or pink, which is a nice bonus. Pumping can be a long and arduous journey for many people, so something that can make it a little more joyful–even just a pop of color–can help. The pump also has a double-sealed silicone flange—which I always found to be more comfortable than hard plastic ones—that's designed to bring it closer to your breast. It's rather large with a control panel that sticks above the cups, so it's probably not the best option for someone trying to pump discreetly at work or out in public. Flange sizes: 21mm and 24mm | Milk capacity: 4 ounces per cup | Battery life: Up to 5 pumping sessions | App: Yes | Dishwasher-safe parts: Yes One of the main perks of a wearable breast pump is the freedome to move while you're pumping. However, if you try to bend over or get too active while using one, the milk can spill out—which very well may be the one time that you cry over spilled milk. The Willow 360 solves this problem with a leak-proof design that uses self-sealing milk bags. 'It was nice to throw those in and keep doing chores throughout the day. I even put them in when work was busy and I didn't get a chance to step away to pump,' says Kendra Gallagher, a mom of three who often pumps at work during long shifts as a nurse. You need to use the bags for the pump to be leak-proof—collection cups alone can leak. 'What I loved about the Willow 360 is that you buy bags that go right into the pump, so you don't have to pour milk from the pump into storage bags,' she says. Several features make this pump easy to use, including app and Apple Watch compatibility, smart letdown detection and built-in sensors to keep track of your milk volume. You can view this data in the app and also access to Willow 360 Care, which provides a virtual onboarding session and sizing support—among other perks—which can be very helpful for first-time pumpers. Clean-up is a breeze, too: there are only two parts and both are dishwasher-safe. Flange sizes: 21mm and 24mm | Milk capacity: 5 ounces per cup | Battery life: Up to 8 pumping sessions | App: Yes | Dishwasher-safe parts: Yes A wearable breast pump should make your life easier, not harder. Our tester found the Medela Freestyle to have an intuitive setup, and overall, very easy to use. There are only three pieces to wash and they're all dishwasher-safe. The collection cups are incredibly lightweight at only 2.7 ounces, thanks in part to being separate from the motor. However, this means that they're connected to the motor via tubing and you'll need to put the motor in your pocket and be careful not to get the tubes tangled. Once you have the pump in place, you don't need to fidget with it to change any settings. Our tester appreciated that it automatically goes from stimulation to normal expression after two minutes, and you can adjust anything you need to via the control panel on the motor. While there is a compatible app that keeps track of your sessions, you can't control the pump through it. Flange sizes: 15mm, 17mm, 19mm, 21mm, 24mm and 28mm | Milk capacity: 5 ounces per cup | Battery life: Up to 3 hours | App: Yes | Dishwasher-safe parts: Yes A good pump should be comfortable enough to encourage everyday use. Our tester found the Elvie Stride 2 incredibly comfortable. It has silicone flanges, which tend to be more comfortable than hard plastic ones. Plus, with six flange sizes, it ensures a comfortable and secure fit. Ten intensity settings allow for customized suction while pumping, and dishwasher-safe parts makes cleaning a breeze. You can control the pump with an app or the control panel located on the motor that's connected to the cups via tubing. This does mean you'll need to contend with tubes, but the pump comes with a waist clip and a neck strap to help you place the motor in an easy-to-access spot. The baby and kids team at Forbes Vetted is dedicated to helping parents and caregivers find the products that work best for them, whether that's the best stroller or the best baby swimsuit. We spend countless hours testing and researching products to make it easier for you to choose what best suits your needs and lifestyle. We combined market research, testing and insight from parents in our networks to curate our list of the best wearable breast pumps. Here are some more insight into our selection process. Before you consider various features and specs of wearable breast pumps, think about why you want to use one. Locher explained that moms using a pump for busy work days in meetings might want a more quiet and discreet pump while a stay-at-home mom might need something that won't leak and will keep strong suction while they're running after their kids. 'I have noted that mothers with very large or pendulous breasts have a difficult time keeping the wearable pumps in place,' says Blatz. Before choosing a pump, consider whether it has correctly-sized flanges for your nipple size. "Fit is very important and we're all different sizes,' says Locher. Also consider how big the collection cups are. Some are pretty discreet, fitting well inside your bra. Others are larger and may stick up past your bra. Most wearable breast pumps hold around four or five ounces of milk per collection cup, while some go up to six or seven ounces. Because wearable pumps are designed as more of an extra tool in addition to a full-size pump, most moms do well with smaller collection cups. However, if you have an oversupply or will be wearing the pumps for extended periods of time, you may want to opt for one with larger cups. Battery life can vary, with some wearable pumps only lasting for around three pumping sessions and others lasting for eight or more. If you're relying on your wearable pump a lot, you probably want something with a longer battery life. 'In general, I think it's helpful when pumps are easy to assemble and clean,' says Locher. Some pumps only have two parts to clean and assemble while others have five or more. While most offer dishwasher-safe parts, not all do. If that's important to you, confirm that the parts are dishwasher-safe before purchasing. 'Many pump companies rave about being 'hospital grade,' but this is not an FDA-regulated term, and truly is more of a marketing tactic,' says Locher. Maximum suction is often somewhere between 200 mmHg and 300 mmHg. Consider how strong you want your suction to be as well as how customizable you want it to be. Some pumps offer more ways to customize the suction and modes than others. What Is The Best Rated Wearable Breast Pump? The Momcozy S12 Pro wearable breast pump has the best rating on Amazon of all the pumps on our list with 4.5 out of 5 stars. Parents like it because each cup holds six ounces, it has comfortable silicone flanges and it has good battery life. Is It Worth It To Get A Wearable Breast Pump? A wearable breast pump is a great secondary option for parents on the go. 'There is a wide range of how effective wearable pumps perform for different individuals. A pump-dependent mother who has a hospitalized infant may not find the wearable pump as a good option to establish and maintain her milk supply whereas a parent that has healthy infant that nurses well throughout the day and just needs to pump a few times during the day when she is away from the baby may find a wearable pump to be a good pump for this family,' says Blatz. Do Wearable Pumps Decrease Milk Supply? If you're consistently using a wearable pump and not fully emptying your breasts, it's possible that your supply could decrease. 'As with any pump, different things work for different people. However, in the majority of cases, wearable pumps should be used as an 'on the go' or 'as needed' option alongside their regular pump,' says Locher. 'Many women find that wearables don't fully empty the breast, leaving behind some milk when finished pumping. When this happens consistently and frequently, that can end up telling our body to make less milk, not more.'
7NEWS
21-05-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
Queensland girl Elvie Luik, 13, faces leukaemia fight
For most youngsters, turning 13 marks a new and exciting chapter in their lives — the start of the teenage years and the transition from childhood to becoming an adult, and all that goes with it. When Elvie Luik turned 13 last month, she celebrated the milestone at Movie World and Wet'n'Wild with her family. But over the Easter weekend the Queensland teenager began to feel sick with headaches, vomiting and lethargy. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Doctors diagnosed Elvie with a mild infection, telling her mother Rosie the illness should resolve itself in about a week with some rest. But Elvie did not get better and Rosie had a gut feeling something more serious was wrong. Her intuition was confirmed when another emergency hospital visit revealed the young girl had leukaemia. Doctors had never seen a white cell count so high. The mother and daughter have already been through a lot. Rosie fell seriously ill after giving birth to Elvie, developing an infection that almost killed her and put her in hospital for three months. Now Elvie faces her own fight for life. Rosie Luik, 40, and her daughter Elvie, 13. Credit: Supplied Rosie, 40, originally thought her daughter had picked up a simple, common illness from someone at one of the theme parks. 'She didn't really have a very high temperature or anything like that so we thought maybe we'll just keep her home for a few days and just see how she goes,' she told For a few days Elvie's health was up and down. Some days she felt alright but others she wasn't well at all, her mother said. When Elvie felt well enough to go back to school, Rosie soon received a call from the nurse saying Elvie needed to be picked up. 'I went and picked her up and then she threw up in the back of the car and then said she was feeling a lot better,' Rosie said. But the teenager continued to vomit and complain of a bad headache, prompting Rosie to take her to emergency a few days later. Doctors said Elvie likely had viral meningitis, an infection that is usually not very serious and goes away on its own. '(They said) just go home and rest for seven to 10 days and she'll hopefully get better,' Rosie said. 'So I took her home and she just, she just wasn't getting better.' Elvie's symptoms continued and, the day after Mother's Day, Rosie decided enough was enough. 'There's something else going on here,' she recalled thinking. Rosie drove her daughter back to the emergency department where the young girl underwent a blood test and an MRI. The results worried doctors. 'By the time we got back from the MRI, the doctor came in and said 'I need to do another blood test. Her white cell count is impossible, that's impossible to have that high of a white cell count. So, I'm just doing another test',' Rosie said. Elvie was diagnosed with leukaemia the day after Mother's Day this year. Credit: Supplied Soon after, the oncology team came to visit. With Rosie's husband listening on the phone, the family were told Elvie had leukaemia. She was declared a medical emergency and was whisked away to the paediatric ICU. Rosie said receiving her daughter's shocking diagnosis was completely overwhelming and numbing. Explaining what having leukaemia meant to Elvie was just as bad. 'It was the most heartbreaking experience I've ever had in my life, and to just hear the words that came out of her mouth were just awful,' she said. 'She was just like 'I want to live, you need me here, my brothers and sisters need me here'. 'She was just beside herself.' But as soon as Elvie was taken to the ICU, Rosie said something in her switched. She wasn't going anywhere. She was going to live. '(Elvie) just had this positive attitude. She's like 'It's OK mum, its' OK dad, I'm doing to beat this. I'm going to be here. I'm not going to leave you',' Rosie said. Elvie has three older siblings, all of whom have stepped up to help in the face of the life-changing news. Elvie and Rosie Luik. Credit: Supplied A traumatic postpartum Bringing Elvie into the world 13 years ago was no easy feat for Rosie. A year earlier, in 2011, Rosie had become Queensland's first altruistic surrogate when she gave birth to twins for her friend Lauren Lichtnauer. Lichtnauer had undergone 21 failed IVF treatments and four miscarriages, and was resigned to the fact she could not have children of her own. At this point, Rosie had already given birth three times. In 2016 the surrogacy story made headlines when 60 Minutes revealed Lichtnauer had — against all odds — become pregnant just weeks before Rosie was due to give birth to the twins. That same year, it was also revealed Rosie had almost died after giving birth to Elvie. After the twins were born, Rosie developed a severe infection. She eventually recovered and quickly fell pregnant with her own child — Elvie. But just weeks after Elvie was born in 2012, Rosie fell sick again and had to have an emergency hysterectomy. She then developed peritonitis, a life-threatening infection that causes inflammation of the abdomen and pelvic lining. Rosie spent the next three months in hospital fighting for her life before eventually making a full recovery, again. Elvie with her three older siblings. Credit: Supplied 'The most beautiful soul' Elvie is currently undergoing chemotherapy, with her prognosis at this stage unclear. Despite this she has remained as positive as ever. 'I think she's trying to be strong for everyone and she's just the most beautiful soul,' Rosie said. 'That's really shining through in this, like she's just trying to take it one step at a time and just be as positive and see the joy and when (the doctors) say 'Great job, Elvie, you've done really well' she's really proud of herself.' A GoFundMe has been set up to help Elvie and the family, with Rosie and her husband both cutting back on work to help look after their daughter. Rosie said she's been overwhelmed by the response and all the love and support the family has received. 'We're just so grateful and we can't thank people enough,' she said. 'I mean (with) the surrogacy, being in the media with that was a little bit hard but our whole family unit ... everything we're about is helping people and being there for other people and this is just showing how much of a special person Elvie is, and how she's touched so many people.'
Miami Herald
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Katherine Schwarzenegger jokes her household is ‘thriving' as kids fall sick
Katherine Schwarzenegger is having quite an eventful start to her 2025. The 35-year-old daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver took to her Instagram Stories March 18 to provide an update on life with three kids — and the wins and losses that come with it. 'I'd like to know what's going on with 2025,' she began in the clip. 'We have all the kids with viruses in the house. And my daughter Eloise just broke her wrist.' 'So, we're thriving over here,' she jokes. Schwarzenegger shares three children — daughters Lyla Maria, 4, and Eloise Christina, 2, and son Ford Fitzgerald, 4 months — with husband Chris Pratt, whom she has been married to since 2019. She's also the stepmother of Pratt's older son Jack, 12, whom the actor shares with ex-wife Anna Faris. Despite the recent illnesses and broken wrist, Schwarzenegger has a silver lining to appreciate. 'Luckily, I have the calmest 3-month-old ever,' she says in a separate Instagram Story. 'So, that's a huge win.' As far as her breastfeeding journey goes, Schwarzenegger admits that 'life has been kind of back to a little bit of a normal' her third time around. And part of that 'normal' includes being away from her newborn and pumping on-the-go. 'So, I went away from my baby for the first time to go to Chris' premiere earlier this week,' she said, referring to Pratt's new Sci-Fi movie 'The Electric State,' released March 14. 'Used my pump on-the-go that I had bought in my first postpartum with Lyla,' she continued. Her update comes three weeks after she shared a series of photos and videos from Pratt's premiere, which included a look at what she described as the 'glamorous part of motherhood.' 'Got all dressed up for a date night out and got headed out just in time to pump on the way home!' she wrote in the Feb. 25 Instagram caption. In one of the selfies, Schwarzenegger and her husband are smiling as she uses her on-the-go pump made by Elvie. Schwarzenegger also showed off cuddle pillows and a security blanket personalized with her kids' names — both made by Comfort Silkie. 'What a cute newborn gift,' she said of the blanket. On March 18, she posted an Instagram carousel showing off how she celebrated St. Patrick's Day with her little ones. In the video, she follows a trail of small, green, Leprechaun-like footprints, gold coins and Lucky Charms through her house — which led to a secret Leprechaun stash filled with goodies. 'Luck of the Irish,' she wrote in the caption.
