Pregnancy and Postpartum Archives - Page 8 of 9

Belevation Review & Giveaway

September 10, 2012 by Larisha Campbell 12 Comments

When you get pregnant, undergarments are usually the last thing on your list of clothing worries. You are more worried about whether your pants continue to fit and how long you have before your bump starts to show through your tops. However, once you are pregnant, you quickly realize that your immediate, ever expanding thighs leave you with tight fitting underwear rather quickly.

That’s where Belevation comes into your life.

Being pregnant in the summer, I have been obsessed with wearing Maxi dresses. However, as I have gained weight, I HATE when my legs rub together. We were excited to work on a Belevation review to see if we cold solve this problem. I was sent a Mid-Thigh PettiPant to review and was amazed. I wore it out with my dress and after about 5 minutes of wearing I couldn’t even tell I had anything on. It was a pretty hot day out and I was able to get through the entire day, without sweating or my thighs rubbing/sticking together thanks to Belevation’s moisture wicking material. I’m obsessed with wearing my PettiPants now whenever I have a dress on.

I was also able to review their Maternity Belly Band. I already have a BeBand that Target sells and thought that it was amazing until I received Belevation’s Belly Band in the mail. Upon immediately opening the package, I could tell a difference. It was so soft. And let me tell you when pregnant, soft = sexy. It just makes you feel better. I also have to admit that the flowers make me smile. It’s like built in endorphins every time I put it on.

In addition to the material feeling better than the Target brand, I also love that it completely covers your stomach, providing extra support to your expanding belly. I also noticed while wearing it out that it completely stayed in place, unlike the Target brand that occasionally rolled down, the Belevation band never moved.

At 30 weeks pregnant, I love the ability to still wear my pre-pregnancy jeans with the Belevation Maternity Belly Band and it blends perfectly just like I would have another tank top on underneath. At only $1 more than the Target brand and Free Shipping within the US, you simply cannot beat this amazing product. I will absolutely recommend this to anyone that I know that is pregnant. I don’t have any cons about either of the products I reviewed from them.

By visiting Belevation’s website you can view these products, plus the rest of their maternity undergarments and yoga pants that they offer that are completely made in the USA. They also ship for free in the USA and now have plus sizes available.

Glucose Tolerance Test Alternatives

September 5, 2012 by Larisha Campbell 4 Comments

I will preface this post that I didn’t do enough research up front and found out too late my Glucose Tolerance test Alternatives. Like many first time moms, I am somewhat overwhelmed with all the choices there are to make that I never knew before getting pregnant. I already know that *if* I am lucky enough to have another child, there will be many more questions asked up front of my doctors and many other changes that I will consider doing differently.

One of the things I know I will do differently, is my reaction to the Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT). For those of you who don’t know this is the common way to test for gestational diabetes during pregnancy and usually occurs between 24-28 weeks. You are required to drink a highly sugared beverage, wait an hour, get bloodwork done and pray you pass. If you fail, you must then repeat the procedure during a 3 hour testing phase.

This picture came from here.

So why do I say I’ll do things differently? Let me start by saying that gestational diabetes is something to be taken very seriously and can have harmful side effects to mom and baby if not properly treated. With that being said, let me also share what my researching has found and possible help more women know their options.

There are several risks factors that put you at a higher probably of having gestational diabetes. They include:

-Family history of diabetes
-Being overweight prior to pregnancy
-Being a member of a high risk ethnic group (Black, Native American, Hispanic, or Asian)
-Being over 25 years old (especially over 35)
-Given birth to a 9+ lb baby previously
-Have high blood pressure

While there are other factors, these are the majority. For me, I didn’t fall into any of them except that I’m 26. Slightly over the age category. However, I didn’t know that there were alternatives until a few weeks before my test had already been scheduled and the office that I’m currently at will not accept alternative to the sugared beverage.

Why wouldn’t I want to just drink it? The drink is loaded with chemicals, a ridiculous amount of sugar, and is simply unrealistic to the normal sugars that the human body consumes which unnecessarily causes many women to have false positives during the one hour test, have to go back for the 3 hour test, only to pass that one after having to consume even more of the chemical-laden drink (Luckily, I did pass my 1hour test).

What are the side effects? For some women, extreme nausea occurs, including vomiting. You are not allowed to eat or drink anything during this hour (including water) and if you vomit, you will have to re-drink. Additionally, some babies do not respond well to the fast increase in sugars and premature contractions can occur forcing the mother (and baby) to undergo more testing.

What are the alternatives? Midwives and/or smaller practices are much more reasonable in allowing alternatives from what I’ve read. Alternatives include:
-eating a high carb breakfast (usually pancakes or waffles with syrup and orange juice).
-tracking blood sugar at home over the period of usually one week
-eating candy that consists of the same number of grams as the Glucola (typically 50g and usually jelly beans are recommended)

The main point is that we, as women, have choices about everything in our pregnancy and it’s up to us to ask all the questions. I also really don’t like that all women are tested, when there is little to no research that says all women need to be tested.

Disclaimer: These are simply my opinions. I am not a medical professional and all choices made during your pregnancy should be discussed with your medical professional.

L’ovedbaby Nursing Cover Review & Giveaway

August 28, 2012 by Larisha Campbell 12 Comments

*Disclaimer: I received this product from the company in order to review. The opinions expressed above are 100% my own and I was in no way compensated for this review. Affiliates links contained within this post. We receive a small commission if you make a purchase.

When it comes to nursing covers, people seem to either love them or hate them. Waiting on my first loved one to arrive, I’m not sure which side I’m on yet, but I know that my expectation is that I will use them all the time.

I recently had the opportunity to review L’ovedbaby’s 4-in-1 Nursing Shawl and I can tell you I immediately fell head over heals as soon as I opened the package that they sent to me. It comes in the most adorable drawstring pouch that can actually be used itself for storing one diaper (cloth or disposable) and to-go wipes when your out and don’t want to carry the entire diaper bag.

I wanted the option to nurse in public “privately” but everything I find seems so similar to aprons, until now. Since there’s still a great neckline, I will still be able to have eye contact with my baby. Unlike many other covers, this one has a front and back (hence the “shawl”) so it’s stylish and completely blends in with any outfit you would wear. It can be used as a pregnancy poncho, canopy for stroller or carseat, and/or a lightweight blankie, in addition to being a nursing cover.

Photo Credit: L’ovedbaby

I decided to wear this out with a pair of leggings one day and loved how you couldn’t even tell it was supposed to be a nursing cover and the lightweight feel it had when I tried to see if I would get hot under it while holding my loved one.

Final thoughts: I can’t rave about this nursing shawl enough. The material is so super soft that it makes me want to use it as a blanket myself. I love that unlike a different nursing cover I received from my baby shower, this one completely covers me and since there are no clasps or hooks, I don’t have to worry about my baby pulling it down and exposing myself. It’s also machine washable and dryer friendly. Did I mention how soft it was??

The only con I can come up with (which in my opinion, after receiving, I threw out the window) was that priced at $32.95 it was more expensive than I’ve seen other ones go for retail. However, after seeing the versatility of the shawl and the quality, I would pay this price over and over again and plan on it to buy it in other colors. It’s the ultimate gift for any new or expectant mom.

In addition to these amazing 4-in-1 nursing shawls, L’ovedbaby also has burp clothes, swaddlers, baby clothes, and gift baskets.

BUY IT: You can purchase the shawl in one of seven colors on Amazon.com.

WIN IT:

ONE Lucky winner will receive their own 4-in-1 Nursing Shawl in the Grand Sand color. Complete the Rafflecopter form below to be entered to win!!

This giveaway is over.

*Disclaimer: I received this product from the company in order to review. The opinions expressed above are 100% my own and I was in no way compensated for this review.

Eye Ointment for Newborns

August 24, 2012 by Larisha Campbell 5 Comments

We’ve realized with our first pregnancy that there are so many decisions. More than we ever realized we were going to have to make. We are trying our best to make informed, educated decisions and share that with our readers in hopes that it educates someone else as well. I have learned to question EVERYTHING and not just accept the norm. **Disclaimer: With that being said, the below is my own opinion. I am not a medical professional and all decisions you make about care of your newborn should be researched and discussed with your medical personnel.

So what exactly is the eye ointment for newborns? Before being pregnant the first time, I would always see pictures of this eye goop in people’s newborn baby’s eyes. But I had no idea what is was or why this eye ointment for newborns was being used.

In most places it is required that the hospital give it to your newborn, however you can sign a waiver declining. I have heard horror stories where the baby still gets it and has a reaction, so make sure everyone is on board and knows your desires.

What is it? An antibiotic. Usually erythromycin or tetracycline is used; however, there are still places where silver nitrate is used.

Why it’s used? In order to protect a newborn’s eyes from syphilis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia. If one of these diseases comes in contact with your babies eyes, they can develop pink eye.

Why decline? What the drops protect from are all diseases you should have been tested for during your pregnancy. The antibiotic makes the baby’s eyes sore, swollen, and red and can also cause blurry vision. It can cause bonding issues in the beginning, which can in turn affect breastfeeding. According to the CDC, the eye drops are also one of the four causes of pink eye in newborns.

Summing it up. Essentially a newborn receives the drops to protect against STDs a mother may have (but has already been tested for), so the baby does not develop pink eye at birth from coming in contact with the STDs. However, the drops themselves can cause pink eye.

So why are we giving babies drops to prevent an infection that itself can cause the infection? Andrew and I have opted to decline this procedure at birth.

Thoughts? Concerns? Did you decline the drops?

Surprise Baby Shower!

August 22, 2012 by Larisha Campbell Leave a Comment

I’m the type of person that LOVES surprises, but HATES knowing that there’s a secret being kept from me. Andrew gets so frustrated because if I know he’s trying to surprise me, I ask a ba-zillion and one questions! On Sunday, he told me I needed to wear a nice dress because we were going out. I immediately knew something was up because when I went to get dressed he was putting on khakis and a white t-shirt. I immediately asked him why he wasn’t dressing up and he said we had to stop by his parents house because he found some clothes there when he was helping them move stuff last weekend. I knew something was up but I just went with it.

When we pulled up to his parents his brother’s best friend was getting out of his car and I immediately thought I knew what was going on. I was still shocked when I walked into the house and everyone said surprise.

Andrew’s family is quite small and we haven’t really been in New Jersey long enough for us to have a lot of friends, so I was not expecting a baby shower here at all.

I hate being the center of attention for anything. Luckily, the only embarrassing thing that happened was them making me put this hat on for a few minutes.

We got so many great things that we still needed.

A beautiful cake (with our nicknames—everyone in his family has a nickname).

I cut the cake and we all simply had a great time.

I’m truly blessed to have Andrew & his family. I can’t believe he kept a secret from me!!

What is the most surprising thing your significant other has done for you during your pregnancy??

Pregnancy Update 8/13/2012

August 13, 2012 by Larisha Campbell 8 Comments

My second trimester will be coming to an end on Friday. It’s hard to believe that I am already two-thirds of the way through my first pregnancy.

My mid-section is steadily growing. At my last appointment 2 weeks ago, I had gained 19lbs total, which is normal according to my doctor’s office and right on track to gain or stay under the 35lb total goal for my pregnancy.

26 weeks

Everyday our little girls kicks are getting stronger. After watching the Olympics, I’m pretty sure she is going to be gymnast or swimmer because she’s just constantly moving all the time. I have woken up a few times during the night from her kicking so hard.

Andrew still has his moments where he jokes after me saying his baby girl and says, “you mean my son?” It’s cute though. He tries to hide it but he has little moments where he is just absolutely adorable, like kissing my belly and whispering to her. When I ask what he says, he always states, “That’s between me and my baby.”

I do still have to go to the bathroom A LOT, and typically get heartburn almost everyday, but honestly my only real complaint is that I have been having back trouble, which I am planning on going to see a chiropractor for soon. Other than that, I feel amazing. Andrew’s one complaint would probably be my mood swings 😉

Entering our third trimester “the home stretch”, we are coming to the critical time where a lot of decisions are having to be made. I guess I never really considered how many decisions/considerations would have to be made before she arrived, but between hospital tours, birthing classes, and making decisions about our birth plan, we have been super busy preparing for the arrival of our little miracle!!

Summer Infant Fairfield 3pc Nursery Furniture Set Review

August 2, 2012 by Larisha Campbell 15 Comments

I have to admit that I was slightly disappointed when I didn’t get one single piece of nursery furniture at my baby shower. I had the most gorgeous set picked out and on my registry. When we got home we had a long discussion and we knew that we couldn’t afford the $1000+ that it would cost us to buy everything that we wanted. So we had to do some searching…

I was completely shocked when I found this beautiful nursery furniture set by Summer’s Infant at Walmart. I admit I had to read the description about 5 times to make sure that I was understanding correctly that all 3 pieces, the crib, dresser, and changing table, were all only $250.

I asked Andrew if he liked it and he said yes. We were both skeptical about the quality, but figured we had nothing to loose by trying it.

I’m happy to say that we are beyond thrilled with our purchase.

Photo credit

Summer’s Infant prides themselves on providing “The safest and most reliable products on the market.” They have been in business for the last 26 years and the company is named after the founder’s daughter. They are dedicated to building the “safest and most innovative products that stand the test of time”.

All three pieces came in 2 boxes. After Andrew took everything out of the boxes he began to look over the instructions. (I’m happy to say that he is one of the few men that will read instructions!!) He commented on how well written they were and that it seemed like everything was going to be pretty easy to put together.

He started with the crib and then worked on the changing table and dresser. He said the dresser was the hardest thing to put together. And his only complaint the entire time was that while putting the back on the dresser if you over screw the back on, the wood bows a little.

After a few hours, everything was nicely put together and we couldn’t be happier. We don’t have our bedding yet, so I can’t show a completed picture, but the furniture itself looks just like the one we saw on-line, if not better. We can’t wait to use it all once our little one arrives!

Painting nails while Pregnant…Yikes!

August 1, 2012 by Larisha Campbell Leave a Comment

In advance, I’ll say please excuse my feet!! But let’s talk about painting nails while pregnant…

I was actually happy when I found out I was going to be pregnant in the summer. While yes it’s hot, it’s much easier, in my opinion, to dress. I get to wear flowing maxi dresses, shorts and tank tops, and longer shirts with leggings. This has saved me a ton of money since I haven’t had to buy a lot of “maternity clothes”. Check out my money saving maternity clothing tips here.

The problem with it being summer, is I feel the need to keep my toes painted. While, yes, I could easily go get a pedicure and have someone do it for me, but trying to save money, that’s not really an option for me. Luckily polish tends to stay on my toenails for a long time, so I don’t have to do it often.

Last week, I got some super cute new purple polish and was dying to try it out. I’m only 24 weeks, so I wasn’t thinking I’d have to much of a problem. Boy, was I wrong.

First, I tried to bend my knee to my chest, like I normally do. Not only was that uncomfortable to me, the baby must not have liked it because she started kicking me. What I found worked best was I brought out the ironing board and bent my knee to the side of my belly. Having the ironing board (you could also use a table) allowed me to not have to bend down at all and seemed to work.

I’m pretty sure the next time I decide to change the color, Andrew will be painting my toes. (Shhhh….he doesn’t know this yet!!).

When did you start having difficulty reaching your toes? Did/Does your significant other help you paint your toes?

Saving Money on Maternity Clothes

July 28, 2012 by Larisha Campbell 9 Comments

When I found out I was pregnant I was ecstatic. However, I quickly realized that my regular clothes were not going to fit for long. By just week 6 I couldn’t fit my thighs into a few pairs of my jeans or shorts. I was devastated. I didn’t think I could have gained weight that quickly and even more worried that if I was already outgrowing my clothes how much was I going to have to spend on a maternity budget.

Determined to not go broke, I had to come up with some smart solutions.

#1…Set a budget and stick to it. Before you buy it, ask yourself if you really need it (you should do this all the time, not just when shopping for maternity clothes).
Determine what in your closet you can continue to use. You would be surprised how many dresses or longer shirts can be paired with some leggings and continued to be used your entire pregnancy.
Buy a Be Band. I did a review on this product a few weeks ago and I’m happy to say, it’s probably the best investment I’ve made so far. I am still, at 24 weeks, able to use this product regularly. I never tried it, but you could always go an even cheaper route and do the rubberband trick.

Wearing my Be Band with a tank top and shorts that were already in my closet

Don’t limit yourself to just “maternity” clothes simply because you are pregnant. Since being pregnant, I have only bought the Be Band new. I have bought 6 other dresses from the regular clothing sections of stores. The price on maternity dresses seems to be raised just because they are “maternity”. I found a maternity dress I liked in Target for $40, but went over to the regular dresses and found an even nicer one for just $25. The great thing is that I will continue to be able to wear this post-baby and feel better that it’s just a “regular” dress and I’m not still wearing maternity clothes.

Just a regular dress I got at Target.

Ebay, craigslist, and facebook yardsale groups can be lifesavers. I got an entire box of maternity clothes for $40 off facebook, picked out a few pieces that I could use and turned around and resold the remaining pieces for almost what I paid for the entire box.
Shop clearance racks at stores that have maternity sections or look at discount stores like Burlington Coat Factory. I was able to find jeans there for just $9.99. I even found a nursing bra on clearance for $3 and most other nursing bras were just $9.99.

How did you save money on clothes while prego??

Going to POP…Deciding on a Baby Shower Theme

July 26, 2012 by Larisha Campbell 2 Comments

My sister and I decided to have a joint baby shower for two reasons
1. It would save our parents a ton of money and
2. with both of us living so far from “home” and only 4 weeks apart in pregnancy, it didn’t make sense to have two separate ones.

That was the easy part.

The most difficult part was choosing a theme and then coordinating everything to go along. We eventually narrowed it down to “Mommy to BEE” (a bumblebee theme) and “Ready to POP”, both of which we found a ton of stuff on Pinterest. We ended up going with the POP theme because my sister is already a mom, so it worked better for us. We changed the wording to “Going to POP” because I would only be 23 weeks and she would be 27 weeks at the shower (we aren’t quite “ready” yet).

Unfortunately, running around, I didn’t get to take pictures of everything, but I will try my best over the next few weeks to get some more pictures and also recipes for all of the wonderful dishes we had.

We had customized stickers made from Vistaprint that went on our LolliPOP tree, as well as tied around our favors. We used Bubbles as our favor (one of the thing I don’t have a picture of).

We tried to think of as many things with the word POP in it for found, but essentially around round you can convert into something “POPable”. Our main food consisted of: Ham & Cheese POPable sandwiches, POPcorn chicken, POPable meatballs, and Pizza POPS. Additionally, we had some amazing desserts… One of my favorites was a watermelon cradle that we found on Pinterest and Andrew actually carved out. He added blueberries for hair as his own personal touch (I loved it). We said this was POPable fruit.

We also made homemade POPtarts. These were simply amazing. We filled them with cherry or apple filling and they were just so cute.

We also made a LolliPOP tree using tootsie pops and blow pops.

We also had Oreo Dipped Chocolate POPs that I wasn’t able to get a picture of yet.Lastly, we had a small popcorn bar. I blogged about making these adorable scrapbook popcorn cones a few weeks ago and it was a success with the kids!

We did our entire shower for about $300 and it was a huge success!! Be on the look out for upcoming recipes and money saving baby shower tips soon!