Like the typical American family, we were busy from Friday of last week, all the way till yesterday. From the Southern Connecticut State University graduation on Friday, to the Memorial Day Parade yesterday, which my husband participated in.
Being the amateur photographer I am, I had to take a million pictures over the course of the weekend. I wanted to share some from the Shelton Memorial Day Parade yesterday!
Shelton Police Department
Connecticut Army National Guard
American Legion Post #16
The most heartwarming scene in the Parade. An older Veteran was determined to walk, assisted, and with a cane. We all cried.
Echo Hose Hook & Ladder Company #1 Color Guard. My husband is the one carrying the American Flag.
I have a ton more pictures, but can’t put them all up of course. I will work on getting them all into an album by the end of the day to share with the readers, and those who are interested.
For those of you who do not know, before we got married, my husband served 5 years in the United States Marine Corps, something I am very proud of. He was stationed all over the world from Japan to right here in the states, and served his country proud. Heck, if we never got together, he may have still been serving today.
One thing I noticed about the Memorial Day holiday weekend is we often forget about the true meaning behind the holiday and parades. It isn’t just to kick off the summer or showcase the talent of your local high school band in the parade. It is about remembering, and appreciating our Veterans, and the sacrifices they have made for our country, us, and our personal freedoms.
I think this is something that many people in our country take for granted frequently. Especially at a time where we are still actively fighting in a combat situation in the middle east.
While all of us may not agree with the war in the middle east, or even conflicts of the past like Vietnam, we should still show our appreciation for those who have served, or lost their lives serving. They made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and our day to day lives. Mind you, I am 100% against the war in the middle east, and have been since the get go. At this point I have lost a number of friends, had family members seriously injured, and watched close loved ones come back with long term issues from the things taking place in the current war.
I try not to get all preachy, because it certainly is not me by any means, but just remember this weekend while you are picnicking with your friends and family where Memorial Day originated, and why we celebrate it!
If you children are anything like mine, they love a good parade! This year will be the second year that we are going to be able to watch my husband march with our local Volunteer Fire Department here in Shelton. I thought I would put together a little list of some of the local parades that will be taking place in local areas for all out there that want to go out and have a good time, and celebrate Memorial Day by paying your respect to local Vets.
Bridgewater : Bridgewater will start their parade around 8:20am and go from their fire house, down 133, to the town green.
Danbury : The parade in Danbury will be starting at 9:30am at the corner of Rose and Main streets to Rogers Park and will be followed by ceremonies in the park.
Ridgefield : The parade in Ridgefield will start at 11:30am from the Jesse Lee Church.
Seymour : Seymour’s parade will take place on Sunday May 30th at 11:00am starting at French park, and will continue to the Pine Street community center.
Shelton-Derby : This year the Shelton-Derby Memorial day parade will start in Shelton at 9:00am. Parade will start on Howe Ave starting at the Route 8 overpass, going down Howe Ave to Kneen Street, then right onto Coram Ave. The parade continues down Coram Avenue past Center Street, to make a right turn on White Street, then a right turn on Howe Avenue, and then a left turn onto the Derby-Shelton Bridge.
In recent years, especially with the amount of cribs being recalled, and the number of deaths resulting from these recalls, many parents have started to co-sleep. But co-sleeping when not done properly can cause a devastating outcome also.
Co-sleeping has been shown in recent studies to slower the risk for SIDS in babies, when done properly. But how exactly do you co-sleep safely, and what are the rules of safely co-sleeping.
There are different kinds of co-sleeping.
Sleeping in the same room, example, the baby is in a co-sleeper next to the parents bed, or somewhere in the room, while the parents sleep in the bed. Or, the baby shares the bed with the parents.
With bed sharing there is a list of safety guidelines people should follow :
Parents should never co-sleep on a couch.
NEVER co-sleep if you are under the influence of any kind of substance. This goes for prescription medications, alcohol, or any illegal drug. The majority of co-sleeping deaths when sharing beds were with parents or adults under the influence of something that caused the accident or death.
Do not co-sleep if you are extremely overweight, because of the risk for sleep apnea in the mother, it increases the risk of smothering by accident.
If you are over tired, or exhausted, do not share your bed.
Baby sitters should never share a bed with a baby, because their sense of safety, and response to the baby is not as acute as the mothers.
NEVER co-sleep on an overly cushy surface such as a water bed.
Do not allow siblings to sleep with a baby that is less than 9 months old.
Take precautions to prevent the baby from rolling out of the bed, or being able to fall out of the bed.
Place baby adjacent to mother, rather than between mother and father.
ALWAYS put a baby on their back to sleep!
Do not co-sleep in a bed that is smaller than a Queen size bed.
The guidelines are amazingly simple, and can help you to prevent SIDS!
Today, childbirth has become more of a medical procedure than a natural function of our bodies. Many women who do have a desire for a natural birth are often looking for resources and information on how to achieve that experience. A great resource I have come across several times in my journey to becoming a childbirth educator in recent months is a website called Mother’s Advocate. They offer a wonderful plethora of videos aimed to help in the teaching process.
Realistically, if you truly want to avoid the common hospital interventions, the best place for you to give birth is either at home, or a child birth center. In my experience personally, it can be an uncomfortable or stressful fight with hospital staff to avoid simple things like an IV line. But it all goes back to birthing where you feel comfortable.
What are some of the common medical interventions during birth?
Constant electronic fetal monitoring is also overkill in low risk women, in recent years The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has shown that in the 40 years electronic fetal monitoring has been the norm, there has been no improved outcomes in mothers or babies. Of course like anything, there are some situations when necessary, but mostly in high risk cases.
Epidurals for those who choose to use them for labor can be the right fit, but they are not risk free. Epidurals can slow labor, or pose other risks to mothers and babies. There are various ways to help relieve the pain of labor.
Pitocin can cause contractions, but it can also cause contractions that are too strong resulting in fetal distress, or the cascade of interventions.
It is no secret that I am upfront about not being some kind of domestic goddess. I rarely enjoy cooking, and if I can avoid it, I do. We are a family that enjoys to dine out, and our children are pretty well behaved when we are out in public. Of course any child, especially at 1 and 2 is going to have the occasional meltdown which we always promptly deal with, but we are not going to become agoraphobic recluse’s because we have children.
Better Homes & Gardens ran an article they called The 10 commandments of dining with children. The mothering, breastfeeding, and most parenting circles I know are all now in an uproar. Instead of grinning and baring that there are children out there who are also human beings, they made the effort to include child friendly recipes with each commandment in attempt to keep kids home. Not going to work with me!
The 10 commandments include :
THOU SHALT NOT BLOCK TRAFFIC WITH BULKY STROLLERS
THOU SHALT NOT ORDER A 10-COURSE TASTING MENU WITH KIDS UNDER 10
THOU SHALT NOT TREAT YOUR SERVER LIKE A SITTER
THOU SHALT NOT BREAST FEED AT THE TABLE
THOU SHALL FEEL FREE TO ORDER “KID FOOD” OFF THE MENU
THOU SHALL NOT TURN DINNER INTO A PHOTOSHOOT
THOU SHALT NOT BRING NOISY TOYS
THOU SHALL TRY TO QUELL HIGH-PITCHED SCREAMING
THOU SHALT NOT ALLOW FREE-RANGE KIDS
THOU SHALL CALMLY DISCOURAGE FOOD FIGHTS
Now, I am sure you can see why I am pretty ticked off. Not breastfeed at the table? Seriously? How about you go eat in the bathroom if a breastfeeding mother is offensive to you. I know I certainly wouldn’t want to eat in a public restroom, and I would never suggest a mother breastfeed her infant in the bathroom.
Order a 10 course meal? I will order what I please, and no one will tell me otherwise, and if I want desert, I will have that too! We should be teaching our children to sit through a full meal, instead of retreating. I am sure if most parents took the time to teach that, there wouldn’t be children flying off the handle before the appetizer is even at the table. But for us, if we are paying for a meal, we certainly are going to enjoy it.
The whole article is simply offensive to parents and children. Do not treat kids like they should be locked away in a closet and subjected to never leaving the house because there are idiots out there who do not care for children. I don’t care for a lot of people out there but I tolerate them because they have the RIGHT to leave the house and go out into public. Just like my children do.
Get over yourselves!
You are not more important than the two year old in the booth next to you that may be upset.
Its life.
This coming Wednesday, May 26th is Drinking and Driving Awareness Day. With all the alcohol related car accidents that take place annually, or the local teenagers being killed as the result of drinking and driving, it is very important to take this seriously.
With the summer months coming, and the amount of drinking and driving that takes place on holidays like Memorial Day, or The 4th of July, take some time to think about what could happen if you do not take a moment to find yourself a designated driver.
The person you kill could be someones child, an entire family, or even yourself! No amount of fun, or drinks is worth a human life!
Parents, take the time to talk to your children about this, and do not be afraid of showing them graphic images, if you have to scare them straight, that may be the best way to save their life!
Lets face it! The last couple weeks of pregnancy are miserable, uncomfortable, and downright painful for some women. One thing women do not take into consideration in most cases in the end of pregnancy are the risks of labor induction, and the benefits of allowing labor to start on its own without medical intervention to jump start it.
With nearly half of all American women having their labors started, and 60% of women having their labor augmented or sped up in the hospital through medications, this information is increasingly important.
But why should women let labor start on its own?
There are a variety of different reasons :
Pitocin contractions are much stronger than contractions of a normal labor. I can attest to this as I have had pitocin with one labor, and a natural labor with my second child. Pitocin causes much stronger contractions which can have an impact on mom and baby.
Induction normally requires some kind of an IV line, which can make getting comfortable, changing positions, or moving around much more difficult.
Because induction drugs such as pitocin cause longer, and stronger contractions, this can sometimes set the baby into fetal distress, which is typically seen with heart rate issues.
When your labor starts on its own, in the majority of cases, you can know that your baby is truly ready to be born.
A 2007 research study showed an increased risk for complications in inducted labor which included :
Increased use of vacuum extraction, or forcep-assisted delivery.
Cesarean Section (40% of all inductions will end in a cesarean delivery)
Increased use or need for an epidural, or medication based pain relief methods.
Babies born with low birth weights.
An increase in late pre-term deliveries. (33-36 weeks gestation)
Longer hospital stays
Increased NICU stays for the newborns
But how do you know when labor induction is necessary, and when it is not?
In some cases, and conditions during pregnancy, a labor induction may be medically necessary, and it is important you speak with a trusted provider about these situations to discuss the risks and benefits, and weigh out your own situation.
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) formally known as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has set guidelines for labor induction, and in some cases their own members are not following these guidelines and suggestions. The six situations that ACOG has identified, and recommended induction for are :
Ruptured membranes for longer than 12-24 hours. Meaning, if your water has broken, and your labor has not started within 12-24 hours, augmenting of labor may be medically necessary. This does not mean that the baby must be delivered within 12-24 hours of the water breaking!
You have an increase in your blood pressure caused by the pregnancy, or a condition we know called preeclampsia.
Your pregnancy is post term, or overdue. This means over 42 weeks gestation. Not because you have met your due date.
You have other health issues such as diabetes, or gestational diabetes that could have an impact on the health of your baby.
Your baby is growing too slowly, or may be suffering from a form of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
An infection in the uterus.
These are the cases that ACOG suggests inducting labor for.
When is induction not necessary?
Induction is not medically necessary, or necessary in several cases or situations we see many inductions taking place for today. Some of these reasons include :
A suspected “big baby“ If mom and baby are healthy, and fine, induction for fetal macrosomia (a baby bigger than 8 pounds 12 ounces) is not a reason for an induction.
You are uncomfortable…
Your amniotic fluid is low, but you and your baby are otherwise healthy.
We are all uncomfortable towards the end of our pregnancies! We have a bowling ball sitting on our bladder and grinding into our pelvic bone, it is just preparation of the uncomfortable situations motherhood is going to bring too! Hahah!
What kind of questions should you ask your provider if induction is suggested?
Being a critical thinker, investigator, and overall looking into your care is almost always a smart idea, and can help you out in the long run. I learned this through my first pregnancy, and it make my second pregnancy and birth much more pleasant. Some sample questions include :
Why are you recommending labor induction?
What are the risks to me, and my baby if I wait for labor to begin naturally?
Can we try more natural methods of induction before using drugs?
What kind of natural methods of induction do you recommend?
Are there any research studies that show decreased risk, and decreased likelihood of a unhealthy outcome in my situation?
Is my induction likely to be successful?
What is my Bishop Score and how does that impact my success rate?
Is my cervix ripe? (Your provider can tell you if your cervix is ripe. Women who are induced before their cervix is ripe are much more likely to have cesareans, even if cervical ripening drugs are used.)
Just to close my post up today… A due date is not a deadline! In most cases, studies show that estimated due dates, can and still are up to two full weeks incorrect in either direction today. With the advances in ultrasound technology, and other methods of dating a pregnancy, there is still room for error.
This coming Wednesday, May 26th is Drinking and Driving Awareness Day. With all the alcohol related car accidents that take place annually, or the local teenagers being killed as the result of drinking and driving, it is very important to take this seriously.
