Pregnancy, Parenthood & Playtime

As previously promised, part 3 in the What Do I Really Need series?
Though I wanted Part 3 to be the end, it looks like from this ridiculously long list from Babies R Us, there will be a part 4!

If you would like to check out parts one and two check out the two links below
What Do I Really Need Part 1
What Do I Really Need Part 2

Part 2 left off at a splat mat, which I didn’t even know what it was till I took a look at the Babies R Us “Must Have” quick registry starter. Which has been the guide I have used in the what do I really need series?
So lets get started on Part 3!

Bathtub and Seat – I love the bathtub that we have, which we were able to use until my toddler was old enough to sit up himself in the tub safely, so we completely cut out the baby seat in the tub. The seat that I highly suggest from infant up is, This one. Super easy to use, lasts longer than most, and it folds up small for easy storage, unlike those huge plastic tubs.
Washcloths – You will need a ton of baby washcloths. I swear our dryer eats them. We started out with 3 packs of 8, and I think now that my oldest is 2, we have 3 of them left. Though I have started just using normal washcloths you can get at Walmart for $5.99 for a whole pack of 12. But when they are new babies, I suggest the for baby washcloths.
Hooded Bath Towels – Worth the money completely!! We still use them for our toddler, and of course our youngest. But I have noticed like the washcloths, they seem to disappear. I think our dryer gnomes eat them. But they are completely worth the money, especially for bath time in the colder months!
Bath Robe – Worthless! We got 3 of them for my oldest which we insisted that we would use. Never used one of them. We still have them hanging up in the boys closet, tags on them, expecting to use them with our second child. See how that worked out?  Save the money, because they aren’t cheap!
Shampoo & Body Wash – I highly suggest all natural products such as California Baby. There have been recall’s and many traces of chemicals found in most of the popular everyday shampoo and body washes for babies. I always go with better safe than sorry. This is an item that you clearly need on almost a daily basis, so why not make sure it is something really safe for your children to use. Also one of the benefits of using an all natural soap is if your little one is like my kids, and has sensitive skin, it is very rare for them to have some kind of an allergic reaction to the soap.
Baby Lotion – I stand by what I said about the soaps, stick with something all natural. We don’t use lotion on our kids often, but many people do. My oldest has very sensitive skin, and had a reaction to several different lotions we tried on him before going to the all natural stuff.
Bath Accessories – Now for me, when it came to bath time, I wasn’t about making it a huge project so we skipped on the toys until around a year old. The only real “accessory” I used was the little ducky with the temperature check on the bottom to see if the water was too hot for the baby. I tend to take VERY hot bathes and showers, so I always wanted to make sure it was not too hot for my little guys.
Step Stool – Like most other things, this is not something your little one is going to need for a while. My oldest is 2 now and still not in need of this in the bathroom. Skip it on the baby registry and wait till they actually need it. This will also help to save yourself from having baby stuff take your house over.
Potty Seat – Another thing that you are not going to need for a while. Save yourself the time, space, and wait to buy it till your child really needs it. We bought ours when our son was about 18 months old, and we also purchased two, so they could be in different areas of the house. But if you are a first time parent, don’t worry about this one for a while. Same goes with a travel potty seat.
Baby Grooming Kit – Skip buying all the things individually and buy the all in one kits. Some of the things you will use, some you will not. What I find most handy are the nail clippers, brushes (because my kids have a ton of hair) and the tooth brushes that come with them.
Digital Thermometer – Does anyone really use the old school ones without a digital read out anymore?  We always need a thermometer, because who knows when our little one will get sick, or when we will freak out and think they are sick, when in reality they are fine.
Ear Thermometer – I found that if you have a digital thermometer, you really do not need to think about an ear one until your children are really rounding 2 years old. It seems like a premature buy for a new baby as they say only to use rectal temperatures with them for the time being.

I am going to stop here for the day, before again, the post gets way too long that people don’t read.
What do you think about this list?
As a mother, leave your comments on what items here were helpful and not so useful for you!

Don’t forget to come and follow me on facebook!

If you are anything like me, you find it hard to find time for yourself during the day, and may skip meals or eat way later than you really should because of course the kids come first. Then there are the mothers again like myself, who are striving for healthy snacks because you are looking to lose weight. Whether it is postpartum weight loss, or just wanting to shed a couple extra pounds.

So over the past week or so, I have really started to look for some healthy snacks that not only my toddler would love, but things I would also eat along with him. Not only will your hunger be cured, but you will also show your children that these foods must be good if Mommy is eating them with them!

My Snack list :

• Fresh Fruit
• Fresh Cut Veggies (With some type of dip, hummus, ranch dressing, peanut butter, etc.)
• Cheese
• Muffins (More bran than sugar)
• Yogurt
• Pretzels (Lightly Salted)
• Mini English Muffin Pizza’s
• Homemade apple chips
• Homemade Banana Bread (With real bananas)
• Snack Mix (whole grain cereal, dried fruit, nuts, whole grain crackers or pretzels)
• Wrap Sandwiches
• Homemade taco wraps

Most recipes are available through google, but as you can probably tell, I myself am just starting to take more of a turn to healthy eating.

Please share your recipes!

Blog News : I will be holding my first blog, talk radio show on January 31st, 2010 at 3:00pm EST and have booked my very first special guest! I will be talking with Desirre Andrews, the current President of the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN).  To tune in, click on Meet The Blogger.

Facebook Fan Page : Did you know that Pregnancy, Parenthood & Playtime has a facebook fan page?  Become a fan by clicking here : Pregnancy Parenthood & Playtime

I can’t say I was completely surprised when Yahoo! Health posted an article this past week suggesting that inducing labor leads to c-sections in many cases. In fact 40% of all labor inductions will end in a cesarean section because the baby and body is simply not ready to birth that baby, no matter how much medical intervention, medication, or procedures to help it along.

In the article, it details

“Dr. J. Christopher Glantz at the University of Rochester School of Medicine found that inducing labor introduces a risk of 1 to 2 cesareans per 25 inductions that might have been avoided by waiting for spontaneous labor to begin.

While this risk to individual women is not particularly large, Glantz told Reuters Health that 1 to 2 cesareans per 25 inductions can quickly add up to tens of thousands of unnecessary cesareans over the course of millions of inductions.”

While 1-2 c-sections out of 25 may not be a large number, those are c-sections that could have been prevented, in some cases being unnecessary. Leading to subsequent unnecessary surgeries as well as a laundry list of complications.

But what is even more concerning is the number of women that are being induced today. Not for medical reasons, but for reasons of convenience, which are leading to further complications in their delivery, and the also subjecting their unborn to unnecessary risks. It is estimated that one out of every 3 women has their labor induced, which is an increase of over 15% in the last 10 years alone. If you go back 20 years, we are looking at a induction rate of less than 20%.

Many women, if not all, are completely miserable at the end of pregnancy, it isn’t fun!  I have been there twice, one child which I opted for an induction. I was lead to believe that it was the best thing for myself, and for my baby, though I had not made it to my due date yet, but with the complicated pregnancy I had I was too worried to take anymore risks. The problem is, I didn’t know all the risks associated with the induction itself. My induction ended in the operating room with a cesarean section.

The reality of the situation is, more than half of these inductions are being estimated to be NOT medically necessary, so why take the risk?

Risks of Labor Induction :

• More painful contractions (Pitocin induced contractions are longer, and stronger than natural labor contractions)
• Fetal distress
• Failed Induction
• Cesarean Section
• Headaches
• Fever
• Backaches
• Poor Fetal positioning
• Longer Labor
• Risk of NICU admission for the baby
• Higher risk of vacuum or forcep use
• Longer & Stronger Contractions (which can lead to a compressing of the oxygen & blood supply to the baby)
• Higher risk for postpartum hemorrhage
• Higher risk of infection
• Uterine Rupture
• Placental Abruption

These are all big risks, and while some may not be very common, some can be seriously dangerous. Most do not take these risks into consideration, or even know many of them actually exist.

Risks of a Cesarean Section :

• Infection
• Increased Blood Loss
• Decrease in Bowel Function
• Respiratory Complications in infants
• Respiratory Complications in mom (General anesthesia can sometimes lead to pneumonia)
• Longer Hospital Stay
• Longer Recovery Time
• Increased risk of Placental problems in future pregnancies
• Increased infertility in the future
• Need for other surgeries such as a hysterectomy or bladder repair surgery
• Uterine Rupture in future pregnancies

So moms, why take the risk instead of waiting another week?
We all may be miserable, but you could save yourself and your baby from a lot of risks!

Gestational Diabetes can be a scary thing, believe me I went through it with my second child!
While it only effects around 4% of pregnant women according to the American Diabetes Association, that still comes out to around 135,000 women in The United States annually. But in my time, and through my own personal experience, I learned that there are a lot of common myths and misconceptions about gestational diabetes, so I thought I would take the time and really write about it and what it means when you are impacted by it during your pregnancy.

What is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational Diabetes is a pregnancy induced form of diabetes that takes place in women who have never been diagnosed with diabetes before, but are effected by high blood sugar levels during pregnancy itself. There is no current known cause of gestational diabetes per the American Diabetes Association, but they do have slight clues through research.

“The placenta supports the baby as it grows. Hormones from the placenta help the baby develop. But these hormones also block the action of the mother’s insulin in her body. This problem is called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance makes it hard for the mother’s body to use insulin. She may need up to three times as much insulin.

Gestational diabetes starts when your body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to energy. Glucose builds up in the blood to high levels. This is called hyperglycemia.”

How is Gestational Diabetes Tested for?
Around 28 weeks of pregnancy your health care provider will order something called Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. Some providers do it in their office, and some will order it for a place like Quest Diagnostics. You will drink a VERY sugary drink, and then have your blood drawn exactly 1 hour after the drink was finished. If your test results from this come back elevated, then the 3 hour test will be ordered.
The 3 hour test is a little more complicated, as well as time consuming.
First you will have your blood drawn, then drink another sugary drink.  You will have your blood drawn at 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours after drinking that. If you then fail this test also, that is a confirmation of Gestational Diabetes in most women.

How does Gestational Diabetes affect the baby?
Because Gestational Diabetes only really impacts the mother towards the end of pregnancy once the baby is already fully formed, it impacts the growth of the baby. Gestational Diabetes does not cause any kind of birth defects, like is seen in mothers who have had diabetes before becoming pregnant.  But if you do not treat or control your Gestational Diabetes, you can harm your baby and not know it.  According to the American Diabetes Association :

“When you have gestational diabetes, your pancreas works overtime to produce insulin, but the insulin does not lower your blood glucose levels. Although insulin does not cross the placenta, glucose and other nutrients do. So extra blood glucose goes through the placenta, giving the baby high blood glucose levels. This causes the baby’s pancreas to make extra insulin to get rid of the blood glucose. Since the baby is getting more energy than it needs to grow and develop, the extra energy is stored as fat.

This can lead to macrosomia, or a “fat” baby. Babies with macrosomia face health problems of their own, including damage to their shoulders during birth. Because of the extra insulin made by the baby’s pancreas, newborns may have very low blood glucose levels at birth and are also at higher risk for breathing problems. Babies with excess insulin become children who are at risk for obesity and adults who are at risk for type 2 diabetes.”

How is Gestational Diabetes Treated?
There are several ways that Gestational Diabetes can be controlled. From special meal plans to medication. Because Gestational Diabetes can harm yourself, and your baby it is important that treatment starts immediately. In most cases your pregnancy care provider will refer you to an endocrinologist, someone who specializes in the care of diabetics. Most endocrinologists also have nutritionist in their office, as was the case with mine during my second pregnancy. Depending on what your blood sugar numbers are reading, they will attempt to control your Gestational Diabetes by diet, and if that becomes unsuccessful, they will discuss using diet as well as medication.

Will my future pregnancies be affected?
Your chances of getting Gestational Diabetes in future pregnancies after having it are 2 out of 3. So there is a good chance you will, but it does not always happen.

Something to also add is once you have been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes in pregnancy, there is a good chance that you can develop type 2 diabetes later on in life. So you can take Gestational Diabetes as a warning side to help get yourself healthy and avoid a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes later on in life!

If you would like more information on Gestational Diabetes you can check out the American Diabetes Association website or talk to your health care provider!

Pregnancy, Parenthood,& Playtime has been nominated as one of the top mom blogs!

By clicking this link, you can take a second and vote for the blog in hopes of us making it into the top 50!

Help and show your support!

-Danielle

I know many people often battle of what to bring with them when having your baby some place other than in your own home, so I thought I would come up with a helpful list of things to bring with you so when you do decide it is time to start packing that hospital bag, you will have a helpful little guide to go by. I can tell you I wish I had something like this when I had my first child because I just threw some stuff in a bag and on my way I went. By the time I was in the hospital, and recovering, I realized how many things I forgot. Good thing that time around we lived close enough so my husband could go back and forth.

I decided to divide this list into smaller sections to help break up the different type of things you may or may not need to bring with you.

Important Paperwork :

• Birth Plan
• Admission Paperwork
• Insurance Card
• Form of Identification for Mom & Dad

General :

• Batteries
• Camera
• Phone Chargers
• Cell Phones

For Labor :

• Birth Ball (Check if your hospital supplies them because some do!)
• Focal Point (For during your labor)
• Cd player with music
• Hot Water Bottle (Though most hospitals will supply them)
• Hard candy to help prevent dry mouth
• Lotions or powders (for massage)
• Oils  for massage

Comforts of Home :

• Your Pillow! (there is nothing like sleeping on your own pillow!)
• Books or Magazines
• Drinks & Snacks
• Laptop (Some hospitals allow them, and some do not, check before hand!)
• Shampoo & Conditioner
• Soap (Though the hospital provides this, as well as shampoo, most prefer their own)
• Chapstick
• Glasses (if you wear them)
• Tooth Brush

For Your Partner :

• Change of clothing
• Shower stuff (if your partner will not be going home for this)
• Pillow
• Snacks
• Reading Materials

After Birth :

• Address & Phone Number Book (for the calls you will need to make)
• Baby Book
• Large Bag to bring all of your things home from the hospital

Clothing :

• Comfortable Pajamas (If you are anything like me, you will have no desire living in hospital gowns for the time you are there.)
• Going Home Outfit (For baby)
• Clothing for you to wear home
• Bathrobe
• Nursing Brag (if breastfeeding)
• Nursing Pads
• Slippers
• Socks
• Underwear

For Baby :

• Approved Infant Carseat (Most hospitals will not discharge you without one!)

Most of the other things you probably will think of will be supplied by the hospital such as diapers, receiving blankets, and something for your little one to wear for the duration of your hospital stay.

Check ahead of time with the facility you will be birthing at to see what kind of accommodations they have, and what kind of things they do provide, such as towels and facecloths, as well as post partum pads.

If you have anything you would like to add, just go ahead and leave a comment below!

Whether we want to admit it or not, no one LIKES morning sickness. In fact I had “morning sickness” my entire pregnancy with my first child, and sometimes I look back and think, “Wow, that was a miserable 9 months”. While it was exciting to be bringing my first child into the world, being in and out of the hospital with dehydration from throwing up so much was no walk in the park. I dreaded getting pregnant with my second child because I assumed it would be like that all over again, and this is when I learned how different pregnancies can be in the same woman. I flew threw my pregnancy, and never even threw up once!  (Which I am SO proud of) LOL!

So in light of my two experiences, I decided I would put together a little survival guide for morning sickness…

• Ginger Ale – Or anything really with ginger in it that doesn’t have a lot of sugar. I know that I started living on ginger ale in the mornings until I could actually get a glass of water down and keep it down.
• Stay away from products, foods, or drinks with a lot of  sugar will increase your nausea in most cases, not only that but everything you are eating or taking in, your baby is also!
• Mint – For some women, mints help. I know that wintergreen life saver mints worked wonders for me with both of my children when I would feel a little… under the weather, but others have said that peppermint, and other mints including mint teas have worked well. With the tea, you are also helping to stay hydrated.
• Saltine Crackers – The typical saltine crackers. If you do not eat something, even if you have no desire to eat, as your day goes on you will feel even sicker. Pick something bland and snack on it.
• Foods that are not very acidic are also very helpful. Like I already said… bland foods.

I know you may want to pig out, or even have a really good appetite, but believe me, be safe, the first couple weeks of pregnancy can really throw you off. One minute you are just fine, the next minute you are hugging the toilet. Ick!

Then there are sometimes you just have to throw up and get it out…

• Bring a plastic bag with you in your purse – Sometimes you are going to have to throw up and there won’t be a bathroom readily available to you. You may be in the car, or out in public. We know this is completely embarrassing, but it can be a lifesaver.
• Bring a towel in the car with you – I learned this with my first pregnancy. Sometimes if you are driving down the road, you may have to throw up, and pulling over, getting your plastic bag out, and making it into the bag simply won’t happen. The towel on the seat became a great substitute for the plastic bag without ruining my car seat.
• Just stay home! – If you can of course.

Nothing is worse than getting sick in public, but sometimes it happens. Once people know you are pregnant, it is definitely excusable without any question. A couple weeks ago, actually it was black Friday to be exact, and my husband and I were walking into babies r us, and we were behind a young woman. All of a sudden she ran to the garbage can at the entrance of the store and started throwing up. I looked at my husband and just said… “Poor thing, I know how that goes”.

It gets better in most women, I promise.
If you are getting sick more than the average women, or longer than your first trimester be sure to discuss it with your health care provider. There are some medical conditions that can cause this in pregnant women, and can require medical attention.

Good Luck!

When I left you the other day, I was about a quarter of the way through the “necessary items” Babies R Us feels you need in order to raise a baby, or start out as a parent, I will continue with my list today, starting with…

Breastfeeding Cover – This list includes a breastfeeding wrap, or cover which again, I never had any use for. Throw a blanket over your shoulder and be on your way. Lord knows you will get more than enough blankets from family, friends, baby showers, and whoever else. You will have enough for eternity!
Breastmilk Storage bags/containers – Unless you are planning on going back to work, or leaving your baby for an extended period of time, there really is no need to pump and store. I started doing that with my oldest child, and so much milk went to waste. But if you are going back to work, or have an occasion you know you will be leaving for baby for a while they are probably a good idea.
Nursing Pillow – YES!  If you are planning on nursing, spend the money and get yourself a boppy!  It is a life saver, especially if you have a c-section!! I have used it with both of my children, and will use it with any child after, and they are also useful as your baby grows. Currently we are using ours for play time on the floor to help our almost 8 month old sit up and he loves it. I suggest getting a naked boppy, with a cover or two that you can remove and wash. Sometimes you get spit up, or breast milk on the pillow and if it is the type that the cover doesn’t come off, over time the pillow may start to smell. Icky!
Bottles - If you are breast feeding, skip on them for a while, you could cause nipple confusion, or nipple preference and it could lead to either baby not wanting to go back onto the breast, or refusing to take a bottle. If you are not planning to breastfeed, you should invest in 6-8 bottles. Our personal preference in our house in Born Free bottles. We have never had a leak or issue with them, and they are great at cutting down on air and gas in babies.
The below specifically relates to those who have chosen to bottle feed.
Bottle Brush – Even if you are planning on using a dish washer for washing your bottles, I still suggest a bottle brush. You never know when you will get stuck and need to wash one by hand, and also, if you are half as worried as I am, you will pre-wash the bottles before actually putting them into the dish washer.
Bottle Drying Rack – If you are choosing to wash bottles by hand, or do not have a dish washer this may be a good buy for you, but if you have a dish washer, it is pretty much useless!
Dishwasher Caddy – Yes Yes Yes!!!  We love ours!  It basically allows you to put the pieces of your bottles, nipples, and other small baby toys or pacifiers into it so they do not fly all over your dish washer when it comes time to wash!  We absolutely love ours!
Insulated Tote – Honestly, I have never used one and I have done both breast and bottle fed. We would always just use the diaper bag, and simply not fill the bottle with water till we got where we were going. If you are into hiking or going places where that is not an option, it may be a good investment, but for most, it is just useless because of the amount of bottled water and other options.
Now onto solid feeding, which you really don’t have to worry about until your baby is at least 6 months old, because that is the current suggestion from the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) for starting solid foods.
Feeding Seat – This could vary from an actual high chair, to a small booster type seat that goes on a kitchen chair, or a bumbo seat. First off I will say we started using our bumbo seat with both children around 4 months of age, and we absolutely LOVE it!  Though there have been warnings, and recalls, all were from improper use on the part of the supervising adult. NEVER USE A BUMBO ON A HIGH SURFACE AND TURN YOUR BACK ON YOUR BABY!! We really keep ours for floor use ONLY! But it has become our feeding seat for both of our children while they were small. It also helps them to learn how to sit up. It is great!
As for a regular high chair, with our oldest, we didn’t use one until he was nearly a year old. We had no need for one with the bumbo seat.
Training Cups - Of course they are a must have, but they aren’t really a “must have” until your baby is 9+ months old. Putting them down on something like a baby registry would be premature. We were fully switched over from a bottle to a sippy cup by 1 year old, but not all kids are as easy to wean off of the bottle if they have got one.
Spoons – Of course again it is something you will need, but you will not need it until your baby is 6+ months old.
Splat Mat – Honestly, we never used one, and I didn’t even know what they were until I just read it about it while writing this. We would always just clean up the area around our high chair after eating, if there was a need for it. I am sure some people have a need for it, but cleaning without it takes a whole 5 seconds for me.

I am going to stop here for the day, I guess this is going to turn into a 3 part post!
I do not want to get into all the baby bathing stuff and cut it off half way through a post because it has got too long.
See you guys tomorrow!