Saturday, November 30, 2013

Lifefactory glass bottles

I had mentioned in a previous posts that I was thinking about switching to glass bottles. We made the switch to glass a few months ago now, and I have to tell you I love them. I will tell you that our son still only drinks breast milk so my husband uses the bottles the most and he loves them too.

We started off using plastic bottles and I did not really think I would switch but I started to notice how soft the plastic bottles would get when I sterilized them. This started making me nervous, if they are getting that soft, what things are being absorbed into the plastic and what is coming out of it? One of our bottles even turned orange in the dishwasher. I started reading up on different types of bottles and figured I would try a glass one and see if I liked it. I ordered our first glass bottle, a 9 ounce lifefactory bottle. He took to the nipple right away. After washing and sterilizing it looked brand new, unlike the plastic ones that started getting scratches and getting soft. I now have three 4 ounce bottles, and one 9 ounce bottle. I absolutely love these bottles. They all come with a silicone sleeve that makes it easy for your little one to hold on to. The silicone sleeves come in a variety of colors and are very stylish. I bet you are all thinking glass that's going to break easy, I have dropped mine a few times and they have not broke.

The other thing I love about these bottles is you can convert them into a sippy cup for when they get older. No need to buy all new cups. Like other bottle companies they do also sell solid caps, different nipples and the replacement glass bottle for those unfortunate mishaps.

This company also makes water bottles for adults in a few different sizes and for kids. I am going to be getting one soon for me. They have a ton of different colors. They also make teethers for your little one.

Here is the website if you would like to check them out....http://www.lifefactory.com

These bottles give me a little peace of mind that he is using a bottle that is better for him and my husband loves them. 

I am not getting paid, nor did I receive any free product form this company. This opinion is my own and my husbands. 

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Lessons learned

Becoming a new mom I have learned some valuable lessons.

People can be mean. I am talking make you want to curl up and cry mean. As a new mom I seek out advice from other moms, with this being said I have noticed how mean other moms can be. No two moms are the same, nor should they have to be. We are all moms doing the best we can for our kid/kids at that moment, so really we should not be so mean to each other. Nothing makes me angrier when I am on FaceBook page or blog or any where a mom is asking for help, and some person posts something so mean and then the posts turn into why this way is better and people end up arguing over their idea. I don't find it helpful and I am sure the mom who is asking doesn't either. Stop judging her! I wish if people didn't agree with what she is doing they would just not respond or give her their recommendation in a nice constructive way. I wish they would stop tell her she is doing the wrong thing, trying to make her feel like her way is making her the worst mom ever, she isn't she is doing what she thinks is best.

Like most major events in your life, you will find out who your true friends are. Some of them will walk away because your life and theirs just don't match up any more. The friends that stand by you, will be amazing though.






Thursday, October 17, 2013

Aimee's Babies-First Year Milestones & Baby Massage and Developmental Exercises for your Baby

My husband recently won First Year Milestones from a Friends blog. When we spoke to Aimee about receiving it, I asked her to check out my blog as well. She did and asked me to write a review on Baby Massage and Developmental Exercises for your baby. How could I turn it down! I mean someone wanted me to check something out for them.

Tonight I watched both of the DVDs and I was so excited and thought I would share some info on both of them with you.

First Year Milestones has five chapters to it. Introduction, Newborn, Three - four months, Six-nine Months, and Twelve Months. You can watch all five chapters or skip to the chapter/milestone that your baby is at. I did watch all of the chapters tonight even thought my son is already four and a half months old. I found all of the DVD very helpful. I learned things to do to help develop certain milestones. It also tells you things to look for that he should be doing and what to do if he isn't doing certain things. One of the points that stuck out to me in the three to four month was that carrying a baby in your arms or a baby carrier can reduce the baby's crying by 20%. I have heard this before but wasn't sure it was true. This reaffirmed this. Another thing the video talked about was baby massage to help develop the sense of touch, and it can help with tummy troubles. This is something that our doctor told us to do to help our son. (One of the reasons I am very excited for the next DVD.) I loved the baby boot camp at the end of each chapter. This was exercises you can do with them. I am sure I will be watching the six to nine months a few more times when bubba gets to that stage. I found this to be a very helpful DVD.

Baby Massage and Developmental Exercises for your Baby has three chapters to it. Senses, Position and Space, and Baby Massage. You can watch all three chapters at a time or pick which one you would like to watch, just like the other DVD. There was a lot of helpful information. I absolutely loved the baby massage part. She tells you what to do and shows you. I found the pace of it perfect that if you wanted to watch it and do the massage on you baby at the same time. I am very excited to try the I love you part of the massage on my son when he gets gassy the next time. This is one of the most help instructional videos for baby massage that I have found.

You can find both of these DVDs at http://www.aimeesbabies.com along with some other DVDs. She also has a bunch of apps to help with baby development. You can find it on FaceBook too https://www.facebook.com/Aimeesbabies. Check them out I promise you wont be disappointed!

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Foell In Love Creations

Looking for a homemade item, check out Foell in Love Creations. My sister had her do a corn on the cob out fit for her friends baby who is due any day now, and an Elf hat for my son. The other day I was scrolling through her pictures and noticed this Giants baby blanket toy. I sent her a message asking if she could make a Yankees one.


She said she could. This is how it turned out...



I am in love. She has also done a tractor, purse, dog, snake, dish clothes, and many more. Check out her FaceBook page Www.facebook.com/foellinlove and send her a message! I promise you wont be disappointed!

Are you a crunchy parent?

Recently I have been seeing this all over a ton of pages I belong to on FaceBook. I am a crunchy parent, I am not a crunchy, I am more crunchy than not. I would read this and think what the heck are they talking about. Am I a crunchy parent?

After reading lots of things on those pages I learned a few things about "crunchy parenting" and I still wanted to learn more so I started researching. Here is a list of things that I have found that are considered "crunchy"

*Breastfeeding (and extended breastfeeding)
*Baby Wearing
*Cloth diapering
*Attachment Parenting
*Co-Sleeping
*Vegan
*Homeschooling
*All natural products
*Plastic Free
*No circumcision
*Natural, Water, and Home births
*No crying it out
*No spanking
*Midwife care
*Delayed cord clamping
*Organic
*Views vary on Vaccines (delayed, selective and none)
*Homemade

I am sure there are many more things and that these vary. After doing this research I have learned that our family is a little crunchy. There are a few things on this list that we do. Breastfeeding is one. How long we will do it, I am not sure. We baby wear, but we also use a stroller or leave him in his car seat and put that in the cart while shopping. We did and want to try again the cloth diapering. We had a great new born cover but the one size ones he keeps leaking through so we stopped for a while. We will also will always use disposable ones at the sitters and probably when we travel. Our son does use glass and plastic bottles. We are trying to stop using the plastic ones though. Homemade, I am not sure what they mean by this but I do plan on trying to make his baby food. It seems much better for him. Co-sleeping  happens once in a while but is something we try not to do. Not because I don't like it or don't want to but the dangers scare me.

Are you a crunch parent?

Friday, September 27, 2013

Pregnancy

This post would probably be a lot more beneficial if I actually did it while I was pregnant. There are some things that I do remember that I feel might help.

I was nauseous all the time. I didn't get morning sickness for me it was at night. I hated getting sick to the point I honestly I didn't want to eat even though I knew I had to. I ate a ton of peanut butter and jelly. This was what I called a safe food. What I mean is that it didn't thankfully ever make me sick. I did get nauseous but never sick. If I felt super sick I would eat it knowing I had to eat and would tell my husband at least it wont suck as bad as other foods coming back up. I felt bad for him because he would eat a ton of peanut butter and jelly too. The one thing that helped me the most with the nausea was B6. It was like taking a miracle vitamin. I remember taking it as often as the doctor said I could. A few other things that helped me with the nausea was drinking water with lemon, or water downed lemonade.

I had terrible heartburn. Water would give me heartburn. I tried everything somethings did help some. Small meals. Room temperature water, which was very hard for me as I love ice ice cold water. Sleeping almost sitting up. Nothing super hot.

Things I think every pregnant woman should do or know...

  • Take tons of pictures!
  • Show off that baby bump
  • Ask questions and ask more than one person
  • Remember you know what is best for you and your baby
  • Don't be so scared you forget to enjoy being pregnant
  • Don't let anyone convince you that you are doing the wrong thing or let them convince you to do something you don't want to
  • The hardest thing for me was learning that you will never make everyone happy. In fact you will probably make a lot of people upset and some may even be angry with you. Remember it is yours and the fathers pregnancy, and it's your baby!

Monday, September 23, 2013

LuLaRoe Skirts

I few weeks ago I was scrolling through the posts in one of the groups I belong to on Facebook. I noticed that there was a post about LuLaRoe. I was wondering what this was all about...A skirt party? In your home? How does this work? I decided that I would send Lisa a message and find out what it was all about. 

Yes, you can have a skirt party in your home! I had one last Friday. These skirts are amazing. They have a few different styles, a maxi, a pencil, a short flowy and dresses. I am absolutely in love with the maxi skirts! You can wear them to work. You could wear them to the beach. You can wear them post pregnancy. After talking to a few people at the party I realized they would be amazing as a maternity skirt also. They are a little stretch so they baby bump can fit. Seeing they are a maxi and you can fold it over on the top, you could pull that part over the baby bump once it gets bigger or you can fold it over under the bump. They have amazing patterns and different fabric. At the party I had I ended up getting 3 skirts. Two long ones and a short one. I wore one of the long ones to work today and got a ton of compliments. I am kicking myself I did not get more. I am sure I will be getting more in the near future. The sizes run a big and they have up to a 3x. 

Want to learn more or buy one? Check out Lisa's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LuLaRoeByLisaJo 

Have Questions... Feel free to email her at LuLaRoeByLisaJo@gmail.com.

I promise you wont be disappointed! 

Leave a comment if you would like someone to contact you or if you have a party! 

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

An update for my followers

If you have been following along my blog you may have noticed that a few of my older blogs are missing. I originally started a blog about doing 30 new things before I turned 30. I did do the 30 things but I was terrible about remembering to go in and blog about them. I am currently trying very hard to get this blog some exposure, and keep it going. I felt it was time to delete those post and focus this blog on what I am using it for currently. If you read them and are sad that they are gone I am truly sorry.

As far as getting exposure, I sent about 15 different company/bloggers a Facebook message last night asking them to like my Facebook page for my blog and asked them to check out my blog. I also offered to review their products if that was something they were interested in. It took a lot of courage for me to do that but you have to take leap of faith if you want to make it anywhere.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

A few websites to check out

For the following four websites I am listing the current code to get the product for free minus the shipping charge. I am sure they change from time to time but you can always find the current code at www.retailmenot.com and search the web address. 

To get a free nursing pillow, the website is https://www.nursingpillow.com and if you enter code  MINKY7. The shipping is 12.95. 

To get a free nursing cover, the website is  http://www.uddercovers.com with the code PJBABY. The  shipping is 11.90.

For a free baby sling carrier, the website is http://www.sevenslings.com promo code PJBABY. The shipping is 11.95.

For a free Carseat canopy, the website is  http://www.carseatcanopy.com promo code PJBABY. The shipping is 12.95.

One of my favorite websites for great baby, maternity, and nursing deals is Zulily. I have found great deals on Halo sleep sacks (see post a tear to spare to see why these are so important), the ergo baby carrier, the dairy fairy nursing bra and some adorable maternity clothes! Want to sign up, follow the link and let them know I sent you  http://www.zulily.com/invite/Mommawannaknow

Another website like Zulily is keekoo. If you sign up through this link you can get a $10 credit. http://www.keekoo.com/invite/Mommawannaknow 

If you think you might need to use formula, know you are going to, or just want to be prepared, register at similac.com, gerber.com, and enfamil.com. Similac and Enfamil will get you free samples and coupons. Gerber will send free coupons. I signed up for all of them even though my goal was to breastfeed (which is what we do as of right now), just I case something happened. I have been able to help out several friends with coupons and the sample canisters of formula and some complete strangers. I suggest signing up for them. If you don't need them you can help other people out. Formula is crazy expensive!

Now on to diapers...yes something else that is crazy expensive. Pampers and Huggies both have a rewards program. They have codes on their products that you enter in on their website. You can save them to get things you need or would like. If you are buying either of these brands for diapers or wipes why not enter the codes for points! www.pampers.com and www.huggies.com

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Is that normal?

During one of the classes we took it told us how often your baby should be peeing and pooping for the first few weeks. What did they forget to tell me... That it is 100% normal for a breast fed baby to stop popping!

I was frantic he hadn't pooped in a day and a half.

I text my husband a few million times asking him what I should do within the first 24 hours of him not going. He said we go to the doctor tomorrow we will ask them or if you're that worried call them now. I was trying not to be that mom who calls over every little thing so I waited it out. When we got there I was freaking, we had done this once before in the hospital and he was so miserable and had to have a suppository to help him. The nurse asked us if we had any concerns and I said yes he hasn't pooped in a day and a half. She said it was normal and that not to worry unless he didn't go for the next four days. I'm thinking yeah right lady four more days! I figured I would ask the doctor when she came in. The doctor said the same thing. Breast fed babies can go without pooping for up to a week, the doctor said. I have hear from other people up to two weeks. I wanted to know why, that doesn't seem very normal to me.The reason is, breast fed babies use everything you are giving them to grow. You may notice that you baby stops going everyday when they are entering a growth spurt.

If you think the baby is getting too uncomfortable there are a few things you can do to help them. It won't necessarily help them poop but it can get things moving if they have to. You can rub their bellies (our doctor said clockwise but we were told by another person counter clockwise). You can also take their legs and curl them up towards their tummy. Sorta like crunches only with the legs moving. My little guy loves standing and then squatting, then standing and so on. This is also a great move. These things will also help get any gas that they have moving also.

Friday, August 23, 2013

A tear to spare-in memory of Isaac

This blog post is to help share the memory of Isaac Greenlaw, who was born in New York on January 27, 2006 and passed away on July 25, 2006 when he was just too squirmy and pulled the corner of his fitted crib sheet off the mattress, getting entangled in it, and suffocating some time between 5:45 am and 8:45 am. It takes only 3 minutes for a healthy infant to suffocate according to the medical examiner. His Daddy gave him a bottle around 3am and all was fine, when his Mama got home she went to check on him expecting to find him sleeping, but instead he had gotten tangled in the crib sheet and his Mama saw his little legs, blue and mottled. While Daddy called 911, Mommy, a nurse, did CPR desperately trying to revive him. The GVEMS arrived within 2 minutes and took over CPR, neighbors rushed over to escort Isaac's 6 yr.old big brother out of the house, family and pastors from their church (The Father's House) met them at Strong. The fine doctors and nurses of the Peds ED worked on him and in a short time pronounced him dead.

If you are going to use fitted crib sheets, please make sure you get the Hold On sheet straps at Bed, Bath, and Beyond http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=14808051. If you and I are friends and I have seen you since you had the baby, I may have given you a set of these. This is why. You may also want to check out QuickZip safety sheets at www.cloudsandstars.com or JR "stay put" Safety Crib Sheets.

Crib Sheets are not the only danger, other bedding such as blankets, and bumpers are as well. Worried about the blanket and the baby getting cold try an alternative, a Halo sleep sack https://www.halosleep.com/ or other similar sleep sacks. You can find these in every baby section. I absolutely love these! There are also new breathable bumpers which can also be found in the baby section of almost every store.

Some may call it paranoia, but for the family above these features may have kept their child here with them longer.

Isaac story is very sad and my heart goes out to the family. I am also paranoid about this more than I ever would have been because of this. Not only did Isaac donated the gift of life to 2 other babies at Golisano's Children's Hospital at Strong by sharing his heart valves, but he will hopefully save the lives of hundreds of more babies by sharing his story.

Click here to see how you can be a hero www.shareyourlife.org If Isaac can do it so can you!

You can find more info about Isaac and his family at http://isaac-greenlaw.memory-of.com/About.aspx

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Breast feeding pointers

As you know from my last post this is not something that came easy for me at all. It takes a lot of hard work for some moms and at times can feel like a full time job. For me getting past the first three to four weeks was key. I have heard from other moms the first two weeks are the toughest so he are some things that worked for me.

Ice when they are sore. For me I did this after feedings.

Heat before feedings. I. Not sure why but it helped with milk flow or that's what they say so I did it.

Pump of your having trouble with your milk coming in or you want to increase your supply.

Drink lots of water.

Be sure to use the lanolin.

Talk to your friends/family who did it.

I say talk to your friends/family because they are the ones who helped me the most. I tried what the doctors, nurses, lactation specialist told me and it seemed to be working. Every time I talked to someone new they told me not to do what the last one had said. I didn't know who to listen to which one was telling me the one that would work. What I found out was what worked for me might not be what works for you. You need to do what works best for you and your baby, even if that means you give them formula. There is nothing wrong with that. I just read a blog post by some where else where she writes no matter what you feed your baby out of love.

I said before I was worried about my milk drying up and I still am as that was just a few days ago. I found some foods, cookies, and a drink that are supposed to help increase your supply. Once I try them I will let you know if they work and what I liked the best.


Thursday, August 15, 2013

He eats at moms

Mine and my husbands favorite sign on our sons bassinet in the hospital said "I eat at moms." Yes he does, with a lot of hard work.

I had it in my head that I was going to breast feed my son no matter how hard it was before I even had him. I was told it was going to be hard but I didn't realize how hard.

Why was I so set on it...the benefits to him and the benefits for me. For him it helps with fighting diseases, and it being easier for him to digest. Along with countless other reasons. For me well it burns calories, and they said it helps with postpartum depression (something I was worried about) and then the biggest one the money savings.

As soon as we got into the recovery room. The nurse helped me get him latched on to eat. He ate on both sides for a total of 45 minuets. I was excited that wasn't so bad. He had a good latch. He was sucking good. Once we got to the room we had a paper to fill out for every time he ate, peed, and pooped to help us keep track. The nurses also came in every few hours to make sure he was eating. This is when the that was easy started to go out the window.

If you didn't read any of my previous posts, I was on magnesium sulfate and couldn't get out of bed. It also made me feel awful and all I wanted was to sleep. The first time we had to feed him in our room one of the nurses came in to help us because we couldn't get him to wake up. He only ate for about two minuets on each side. We kept trying every few hours. Not much luck.

Once visitors left and we could get some sleep our nurse told us that they would take him in the middle of the night to check him over and give him a bath and when he came back I needed to feed him. I was so tired and out of it from the medicine I never heard them bring him back and neither did my husband. They didn't wake us up either. In the morning when the nurse came in she woke us up and asked if we fed him when they brought him back. When we said no we didn't realize he had been brought back, she got very upset and was like we need you to feed him now. I felt about one inch tall how could I not have known, was he starving, don't babies cry when they want to eat (we learned later crying was a sign after many others that they are hungry and you shouldn't wait for that), why didn't they wake us up, and well I'm the worst mother ever.

We tried to feed him then with her help but again I couldn't get him to stay on and once we did we couldn't get him to continue to eat for longer than a minuet. Once the nurse left as it was close to shift change I cried. I felt terrible and was so worried I would never get it and it was important to me that I breast fed him. We kept trying. We had every nurse that we had help us. I never thought I would have had my boobs squeezed so much by so many different people. We still were not having much luck so they brought in a pump to have me pump after he got done "eating". I did get some milk from pumping and he was fed that by a syringe with a gloved finger in his mouth to make sure he was sucking. My husband was the one to do that. They wanted me to pump for 5 minuets on each side after I got done feeding him to help bring in my milk.

After day two in the hospital we were told that we might have to supplement feed him as he was losing too much weight. Again the tears came after the nurses left. We kept trying every hour during the day when we didn't have visitors but if he cried sooner we tried to feed him. By day three I hurt so bad. It hurt to have him eat. I wanted to give up. We had been told that babies that young cry when they are hungry, and not really for other reasons. That night I had my first taste of cluster feeding. He cried all night if he wasn't sucking on a boob. I was sitting in the hospital bed crying for hours. It got to the point where my husband wanted to give up and just give him a bottle or let the nurse take him to the nursery. I hung in there although honestly I'm not sure how. I kept crying. In the morning (which was day four so we should be going home) the hospital pediatrician came in and asked how the night went. My husband had gone to get food so it was just me and I started crying I lost it right there in front of the doctor. I told him all he did was cry all night unless he was attached to my boob. That he hadn't pooped and we thought that was why he was crying but the other nurses told us no. The doctor told me they would give him something to help him poop and that they weren't worried because he has already had bowel movements. He did say he was a little worried about his weight lose but that he wasn't that far out of the normal range. I think because I was crying and scared and he could tell over all nervous he wanted to keep us another day. He asked if I objected to that and I said no. I was so scared I was going to starve my baby. It was approved by all the doctors and another day we stayed. Still struggling. They let us go home the next day not too worried about the baby's weight but also with the understanding that we were going to be seeing his pediatrician the following day.

I'm not going to lie, his pediatrician made me cry. She told me not to pump and not to listen to anything the doctors at the hospital told me. She said to feed him every hour based on his start time and to have him eat for ten minuets on each side. I was thinking no way can I do this. She also wanted to see us again in two days to make sure he started gaining weight and told us if not we would have to supplement. I cried the whole way home telling my husband we should just give up clearly I'm not cut out for this and I'm never going to get it if everyone keeps telling me something different. This is when he said did any of your friends breast feed, talk to them. Surprisingly that night I got a text from a friend in Florida asking how the breast feeding was going. I cried texting her. I was ashamed I didn't want people to know how hard it was. That it wasn't it working for me. This is when I learned to talk to my friends and not the doctors. I learned I was not the only one who struggles with breast feeding, that is not as natural as you would think for some women, and that it was a lot harder than most people will let you know at first. She told me to do the every hour thing too and said it's going to suck, you're going to be so tired but if you do it for a bit your milk will come in faster. She also reminded me that I needed to do what was best for us. I did the every hour thing. I pumped I kept feeding him. At night when he wanted to just comfort suck I let him as she said that would help bring it in faster too. By the time we went back to the doctor he was past his birth weigh he had gained weight! I wanted to cry I was so happy. Maybe I can do it. The doctor still wanted to see us back in a week to make sure he stayed on the right track. He did and I thought I finally got this. Little did I know I was going to have more hurdles.

A few weeks later he was entering a growth spurt and wanted to cluster feed. It was hard. He cried all the time when I wasn't feeding him. I was sore. I didn't understand why it was happening. This time I reached out to my friend and another friend who had been giving me pointers. I was told their tricks and really to let him do it as that's how my body would know he needed more milk. They also told me to hang in there because it only lasts a short while. I got lucky it only lasted about two days and I made it through it.

Now my biggest fear is that I have gone back to work and my milk is going to dry up, even though I am pumping. I had two great chats with two wonderful ladies about this tonight and they both have me some pointers and told me not to worry to stick with it and keep feeding him and pumping. I am going to increase my water intake, make sure I continue to improve my diet, and try not to stress too much. I also have a ton of other plans if it seems to be slowing down. I have many more people to reach out to for advice also.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Pretty pushers

Don't want to wear that ugly hospital gown? Reading this and not had your baby yet, you need to check out Pretty Pushers labor and delivery gowns. I wish I would have known about these before I had the baby for sure. They have five different ones. There are black, green, pink, 'I dream of cosmos' (black with Cosmo glasses on it), and my favorite one 'I dream of sushi' (blue with pink ties). The three solid color ones are $29 and the other two are $34. Not a bad price at all!

They also sell postpartum underwear. Which has a pouch for an ice pack and no elastic! A two pack will cost $26.

Find their products at http://prettypushers.com/#oid=1013_2 use code mylabor to save 10%!

I recently posted this saying that I didn't receive commission from them and I just wanted to spread the word. At that time that was true, however I have recently signed up to be a brand ambassador with them. I am extremely excited about this venture. I am hoping I can save other women from having to wear that terrible hospital gown.

If we have another baby I will be getting one of these.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Back In time

A few weeks after I had the baby I missed being pregnant. Like hard core missed it. I'm not sure what exactly I missed but I think it was a combination of the baby classes, feeling him kick, the connection with the baby, and we didn't get the surprise.

The baby classes you ask, well for me the 6 weeks of birthing classes for me meant that one night a week I was guaranteed dinner and about four hours of time with my husband. It was like a date night but learning about all the things we should know for the birth of our baby. We did take other classes too and I actually enjoyed everyone of them and the time I got to spend with my husband. I still miss those nights at times. Now I mostly miss the time spent with the husband and the talks on our way to and from the hospital as it was a 40 minuet drive for us.

The feeling him kick and the connection to the baby I think that is more common for moms to feel. I am not really sure though. Any moms out there feel that way too?

As for the surprise part, we never got the I think this might be it. No, honey my water just broke. Well, we did get this but I was in a hospital bed with him asleep next to me not at a random place at a random moment. I don't know what a strong Braxton hicks contraction feels like, no false labor, no wishing for it to be over and for him to be here. Don't get me wrong there were times when I was pregnant that I wanted him to be out but the next day I was feeling better and enjoying the pregnancy. I don't know what it is like to labor and I think a part of me felt cheated and sad about that.

I also wish I would have done some more research while I was pregnant about a few things. Two thing in particular are cloth diapers and different types of bottles. I have recently started learning about cloth diapers and have found some great resources. Mostly friend who are doing cloth, or plan on doing it. I was also told about a wonderful store we have in the city that I recently visited. I have also been doing a lot of research lately on glass, stainless steal and plastic bottles.

I have not switched completely to cloth diapers yet but the plan is to switch over soon. We currently only have one diaper cover and two inserts. I was not sure I would be a fan on cloth inserts so I went with a cover so I could still use disposable inserts. After learning that there are liners you can use to flush the poop down the toilet and I tried a cloth insert I was almost completely sold. Now was convincing the husband which really was just explaining all my new knowledge to him so he understood. I am going to try some all in ones and pocket diapers also. Once I get those to try I will let you know what we go with and what worked best for us.

For the bottles, I have noticed that a few of the bottles we use of the occasional breast milk bottle are starting to scratch. I also started to worry about them getting so hot to sterilize them seeing as they have all these warnings about plastic bottles getting hot. Because of these things I started to look I to different types if bottles. I found that there are glass and stainless steal. I have decided to try a glass bottle. I just ordered it tonight so I can not tell you if I love it or hate it. The reason I went with glass and not stainless steal is because from what I have read stainless steal is harder to heat up with out the  bottle getting too hot. I may try one out depending on how the glass one works out for us.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

The hospital bag

Well now that you have read all about the birth of my son maybe I should move on to some of the things I really wanted to use this blog for. Although to be honest I'm sure I will blog about random things now and again. 

For the hospital bag I was so worried I would not bring something I should or too much stuff. I talked to people and read things online. I brought everything they said to bring. Clothes to wear in the hospital after I had the baby, shampoo, conditioner, a razor and so on. To be honest most we didn't use. I say an outfit for you to come home in and slippers while your there. I brought clothes to wear after I had the baby but to be honest and gross I was bleeding so bad I didn't want to ruin them so I wore the hospital gown. 

One thing I was told to make sure I brought was a nursing bra, as I did plan to nurse. I bought a nursing bra which doesn't fit any more cause after I had him and started nursing my boobs got even bigger. I didn't wear one or anything under the hospital gown but I didn't mind not wearing one. If you want something bring a sports bra or a tank that has the bra thing built in. As far as nursing someone also told us to bring the nursing pillow. I tried to use it once while I was there but really did not need to bring it at all. 

As far as your own shower stuff the hospitals isn't great but really your probably only going to take one shower at the hospital. It might not really be worth it to take your own for one shower. At least I wish I wouldn't have wasted my money on travel stuff for the one shower when I could have just used theirs. 

My husband is a diabetic so we brought food for him but snacks for dad would be ideal in case it's long and he's starving, he wont have to leave the room.  My room was freezing so a blanket and warm clothes for the hubby would be a good idea. Side note if the room is too cold ask them if you can turn the temp up we learned the last day that we could have adjusted the temperature.

If you have an iPad or laptop I would bring it. I was in the hospital for four days after I had the baby and I couldn't always sleep when he was. Babies sleep a lot and we did not always have a lot of visitors so it helped us pass the time. 

These are things that I wish I would have known and realized. Everyone has to take and do what is best for them. I'm sure I am forgetting some stuff to so if you have a question and would like to ask please leave a comment and I will let you know. 

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Delivery day

I should let you know by sleep I mean I was able to close my eyes and rest. My husband did get some sleep but it wasn't good sleep. I was walking up having contractions every few minuets. I text my mom and my sister in the am asking them to come up so my husband could get some good sleep. He was so tired at this point I was squeezing his hand during contractions and he was sleeping through them. No no there is no reason to bad mouth him or be mad. It was understandable be had been up on and off for two days with no good sleep.

Finally they got to the point that I was crying again and saying I couldn't do it. The shift change of the nurses had happened and it was time for them to check me again. When they did I wanted to crawl off the bed. It hurt so bad. The nurse asked me if it really hurt that bad. I told her yes and she said that's not suppose to hurt that bad with the epidural. She called the anesthesiologist and said that I might need a new one put it.

After the nurse talked to the anesthesiologist he came in to talk to me and my husband. It was agreed that the best thing at this point would be to put in a new epidural. I was still only at 9 centimeters. Once the new epidural was in I was finally understanding why people said they were wonderful. I was so thankful to the new anesthesiologist. I remember saying "honey I'm sorry but today Dr Frank is my hero."

I can't remember if my mom showed up before or after the new epidural was in but I remember she was there so my husband could go get some food and she kept telling me it was okay to sleep. I finally got some good sleep. I could no longer feel any of the contractions. My husband and mom told me that the nurse kept coming in to check on me but I was asleep.

Around the same time my magnesium sulfate levels had gotten too high so they had to stop it for now. I was told I would have to be put back on it for 24 hours after delivery.

Around 12:45 they came back in to check on me. The resident told us that I was still at 9 centimeters and that he still had not dropped down any farther. A few minuets later one of the doctors came in to check me also. I told her they just checked and I was still only at 9 centimeters. She told me she wanted to check also. I couldn't feel anything when they checked me now because of the new epidural so I didn't mind as much. She said I had gotten to just rim but wanted me to push because the baby was not dropping. I pushed and she said the baby was not going to come out naturally that they were going to have to do a c section. My husband asked how long. We were told we would have a baby by 2pm.

After waiting for a little bit they got my husband his scrubs and he got changed. We had to wait a little longer than expected because another lady went into active labor and the doctor had to deliver her baby. We were wheeled back to the o.r. My husband had to wait outside as they got me ready. I
remember I kept asking them where he was. At this point I really was fighting very hard to stay awake. They had give me some stronger pain meds in the epidural for the c section and it was making me sleepy.

Finally husband was in the room and the next thing I knew I could hear our son crying and them showing him to me. My husband went over to cut the umbilical cord and then came back. I felt terrible I just wanted to sleep. I was so tired I fought it though and didn't give in. I did rest while they were closing me up. Before I left the o.r. I was asked if I could move my legs and I could. They were a little shocked and said I wouldn't be in recovery for very long. I basically was only in there long enough for them to start the magnesium sulfate back up and for the baby to eat.

He was born at 2:08pm, seven pounds three ounces and 21.5 inches long on May 30th.

When we got back to our room, (a different one from the start) my mom was there waiting for us. She was so excited. Shortly after my sister showed up. At some point after my sister and mom left, my husbands family came up. I am not really sure when or how long anyone was there. I was exhausted and the magnesium sulfate was making me hot and not feel good.

What they don't tell you is that the magnesium sulfate is awful. The worst. I was in a room set at about 60 with a fan blowing on me and I was still so hot. They would put wash cloths on me that had been in ice water and they would instantly be hot. Although I haven't gotten to the day after his delivery I will keep telling you about the magnesium sulfate. The next morning after his delivery I started to have blurry vision, and thought I was going crazy. I was itchy and I felt like I was freaking out. I wanted to cry, scream, flip out it was not fun. After begging them to take me off of it they did reduce the dose and all the crazy side affects started to go away minus the being super hot.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Epidural are you there

About three hours later a friend had stopped in to see me and my husband went out to talk to her boyfriend for a little while. During the time she was there the pain started again. She had to text my husband to come back in the room. When he got back they called the nurse and she came in and then called the doctor to come check me. I'm not sure why but once again this set off the pain even more. It's a pain that really can not be described. I kept telling my husband and the nurse that I couldn't do it. I could feel the contractions and my left hip hurt so bad I could not get comfy at all. I tried moving very which way nothing seemed to make it go away. The nurse called the anesthesiologist and they came to check me. Mean while there was a lot of me crying and telling them that I couldn't do it. Thankfully the nurse and my husband were great and helped me get through the minuets until doctor could come check the epidural.

When the doctor finally arrived (I say finally because to me if felt like a life time) they checked and I could feel the cold again. What I mean by this as I don't think I explained before, is they take an ice cube and put it on your legs and belly. With the epidural you should be able to tell they are touching you but not that it is cold. Again they bolised me and I was able to calm down and relax some. The pain in my hip went away.

Around three a.m. I told my husband I was starting to feel a lot of pressure and that it was starting to hurt again. He called the nurse to have her come in to check on me. (I'm not really sure how those nurses do it as I felt like we called her into our room all the time that night) She came into ask if it was like pressure like I felt like I had to push. I thought it did and she called the resident. He came in with a girl who had been following him around to learn.

The resident then checked to see where I was at. Only 9 centimeters...ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! He asked if it felt better if I tried to push as the pain was coming back a lot now. It did sorta so he was having me fake push. I was really not pushing but going though the hold my breath sorta push motions. After he left the pain came back ten fold and my hip started hurting again. Again a lot of honey I can't do this. I think something is wrong. I thought the epidural was suppose to help with the pain. Make it stop. Why is this happening again. I can't do this again please just make them take him out. After a few minuets he called the nurse again and she called for the anesthesiologist. Once the anesthesiologist came in they did the cold test and once again I could feel the cold. By now I'm sure you guessed it but yes they bolised me again and this time gave me something extra to help with the pressure. I felt a lot better right away.

Here is where I will have to tell you what I remember and what I have been told. I remember laying back and just wanting to go to sleep and the hearing the wonderful nurse say, Kim something we are doing the baby is not liking I need you to roll over to your left side, now your back, now your right side. Then asking my husbands to hit the call button and ask them to send in the doctor. She then asked me to get on all fours. I remember it being very hard to do and asking in I could lean on my arms as the IV was hurting in my hand and her saying yes. I put my head down on the pillow also. I also remember that every time I closed my eyes all I saw was darkness and a little light at the end of it.

What I didn't know at the time was that the baby's heart rate had gone from 150 to 40 and that my blood pressure had gone from around 170/96 to 102/60.

I remember the resident coming into the room and asking me to roll back over and telling me that they were going to insert an internal heart monitor on the baby to find his heartbeat. By this time there was the anesthesiologist, the resident, the lady who had been following him around, my nurse, a few other nurses and the doctor. I wasn't scared at the time I really just wanted to close my eyes and sleep but when ever I did the darkness with the little light would come back. I remember wondering if I was going to see my dad who had passed away the year before in August. I also remember that every time I closed my eyes my husband and the nurse would start yelling my name and shaking my shoulder. I kept hearing Kim we need you to stay with us. Kim we need you to stay awake. This felt like it went on forever and I am sure even longer for my husband but after a few short scary minuets everything came back to the way it should be. The doctor was there and ready to do a c section but the baby's heart rate came back up to normal and my blood pressure went back up. I was able to get some sleep but not good sleep.

As far as seeing the light at the end of the dark tunnel I'm not really sure if it was or was not anything. This is how I remember it and I remember waiting to see my dad. I haven't told a lot of people this. My mom and husband are the only people and I told them a few weeks after it happened. My husband cried and said he was scared he was going to lose me. Apparently he was scared I would be leaving the room on a crash cart. My mom was calmer and said dad and god were looking out. It wasn't your time. She then mentioned getting a picture of my dad for my son and that although he will never meet him at least he will know him. I wonder if my dad visited him instead of me that morning. Something we will never know.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Induction starts


A little before midnight on the 29th we were taken back to a labor and delivery room where the magnesium sulfate was started. The doctors then came in to insert the first pill. Then the nurse put in the catheter. They tell you that feels like a little pinch, they lie. It hurts! My husband and I tried to get some sleep while we could knowing that we could have a long night ahead of us. I was going to have to get my blood taken every four hours (at least that is what I think it was but it might have been six) and we could have a long night a head of us.

After about five hours the doctors came in to recheck my cervix and see how I was doing. Yes five hours because there were a lot of women there having babies that night. There was still no change so another pill was inserted.

Back to sleep, resting for the hubby and I.

After another four or so hours I was checked again and there was still no to very little change. Yep you guessed it another pill. At this point we told that they normally only do three to four doses of the pill. The actual doctor came in to tell us that the baby will becoming today, Wednesday the 29th no matter what. It was up to the baby weather he came by choice or was going to be evicted. They were worried about my blood pressure.

They thought it best seeing as there was really no change to go ahead with one last dose of the pill. The last pill was put in and back to resting we went. Around 5pm I woke up from a good nap thinking I peed myself. Thoughts going through my head...omg! I just peed myself, wait I have a catheter in I can't pee myself, maybe the catheter came out, holy --it I think my water broke! Then there was a very loud "honey honey I think my water broke!!!" My husband woke up and looked to see if thats what happened. He said yes your water broke and we called the nurse. 

No, this stuff does not bother my husband at all. He used to be an EMT and is a volunteer fire fighter. He has seen some very terrible things. 

The nurse came in and also checked and verified that my water had broke. She then changed all the bedding pads I was laying on and explained that I was now in "active labor". She called the doctor and they decided not to start the pitocin to see if now that I was in labor that my body would do its thing on its own.

After about an hour I asked to see if I could get the epidural. I could not get out of bed because of the magnesium sulfate so there was nothing I could do to help with the contractions. The nurse came in and said yes it was okay to get the epidural and called for the anesthesiologist.

A short time later the anesthesiologist came in to put in the epidural. This was a challenge as I had been laying in bed for almost 19 hours at this point and needed to sit of the side of the bed, while having contractions and feeling out of it because of the mag sulfate. I did it with a lot of help from my husband and the nurse. The epidural was put in and I felt a lot better right away. With how quickly I felt it working the doctor was worried that it had gone in too far and that it was actually a spinal. Another person was sent in to start the medicine into the epidural so that it would continue to work. Because they thought it was in too far and a spinal the dose of the medicine had to be lower because other wise I would stop breathing. Okay... And the fun begins. 

After about 3 hours they came into check me again to see if there was any change. I was about 3 centimeters at this point and they said no pitocin but then changed their mind and decided to start it. I could start to feel the contractions again and could feel when they were checking my cervix and it was very painful. The nurse called to have the anesthesiologist come in and check me. I could feel the cold and pain sensation again so they realized that it was not a spinal but an epidural and uped the dose of medicine and bolised me. That helped a lot. 

Side note. Taking my blood was not an easy task as the if was in my right hand so they could only use the left and I was so swollen it was hard for them to find a vein. I have learned that getting your blood taken from the vein between you knuckles hurts the worst. 

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

The start at the hospital

On our way to the hospital I kept asking my husband if he was ready. He said we were as ready as we were going to be and if we had him that night we would be fine. I knew he was right.

We arrived at the hospital and went to the labor and delivery check in. I was very nervous which I knew was going to make my blood pressure higher or stay high so I was trying very hard to calm down. I was sent to the triage area where they connected me to the non stress test machine and a blood pressure cuff. My blood pressure would go up and down and at one point got to 170/96. The nurse joked that I was trying to stay and have a baby that night. I really wasn't I was trying to relax but I think at this point I was way too anxious, scared, excited, and nervous to calm down.

The hospital was very busy with women who were in active labor. I think this is why they kept me on the monitor from around 5pm until about 11:30 pm when they came in to tell us they plan. It was a resident who came in as the doctor was busy delivering babies. She said that she had spoken to the doctor and at this point they felt the best thing for me and the baby was to start inducing me. I was 38 weeks and 4 days. She then started to explain that they would be giving me magnesium sulfate to stop me from seizing due to my blood pressure being so high and that by being on this I would have to have a catheter put in right a way. It did not really set it until my husband asked if this meant I couldn't get out of bed. She explained that while on the magnesium sulfate that I would be stuck in bed. This had me in tears. I held the down right balling until she left but I had tears in my eyes the moment I understood.  I had a plan of having no plan other than I wanted to go into the tub or the shower while I was in labor, not lay in a bed and then go from there on all the other stuff like pain meds. This changed that. I was thinking before all of this if I could make it to 9 centimeters I would try to do it without pain meds, however I was not apposed to getting them.

I was going to have a pill (sorry I don't remember what it was called) put up near my cervix to soften the cervix. The pill can take several doses before it starts to work. They insert the pill every four hours and you can get up to four doses. The meds were started at 12am Wednesday morning.

Every woman is different when it comes to labour and how their body changes. I think my son would have gone late if it where not for the induction but we will never know. I had not changed at all when we had gotten to the hospital that night. I was completely closed.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

The beginning

Where to even start...I started blogging a few years ago. My goal was to blog about trying to do 30 new things before I turned 30. I did do the 30 new things but I was not very good about blogging about them. This time I really want to stick with it and share some things I have learned along the way about becoming a mom. Yes I know there are a ton of websites, other blogs, books and your friends but if one person can learn something from me that I wish I would have know it will be worth it. Plus it might help me get some advice back.

I took all the classes the recommended us to take but what I learned after going through it is that there is still a lot of stuff they don't tell you. My blood pressure was very high towards the end of my pregnancy and I was taken out of work 5 weeks before my son was due. Every Tuesday my after noon consisted of going to the doctors office for a non stress test and every Friday my morning was spent having an ultra sound, non stress test and seeing a doctor. For those of you who do not know what a non stress is, they strap two straps with monitors on them to your belly. One tells them the baby's heart beat and the other tells them if there is any uterin activity or contractions

On Tuesday May 28th I woke up and let my 3 dogs outside. My little seven pound dogs leash had broken and I didn't realize it. When I did, she had taken off out of my yard. Thankfully a nice lady had stopped her car and was chasing her back into my neighbor's yard when I stated running to the front to go try to find her. Yes I was running at 38 weeks and 4 days pregnant. I was freaking out beyond belief. Those pregnancy hormones will get you every time. Even more so when your dog runs away when you think of her as more of a child. After getting her back inside and calming down it was time to eat some lunch and head to the doctors office.

When I arrived at the doctor's office, the elevator was broken and I had to walk up the stairs to their second floor office. The first thing they always did was check my blood pressure. It was very high. We figured it was because I had to climb the stairs so they were going to have the nurse check it after I had been sitting for a while during the non stress test. The nurse came in to set up the test, while doing that she did tell me if my blood pressure stayed that high they would most likely be sending me to the hospital to be monitored and possibly to have the baby. I sat there trying very hard to relax and texting my husband to let him know what was going on. At the end of the test it was still very high so the doctors told me to go to the hospital after and that the on call doctor would be expecting us. I was told I could go home and get my husband and my bags just in case. When I got home I took a shower (thankfully) and shaved. I kept asking my husband what does one wear to the hospital when they could be having a baby tonight. He laughed and said I don't think it matters. I finally found some comfy clothes and we were off.

I had called my sister and my mom to let them know what was going on. My husband called his family shortly after we arrived at the hospital.

I was terrified and a little sad. I was not ready for him to come yet. I had not reached that point that most people do where they can't wait to have the baby. I even cried a little on the way to the hospital. I was excited to meet him but I was not ready.