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Healthy Pregnancy Tips to Own Your Pregnancy

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Congratulations! If you are reading this, you are likely expecting (or know someone who is!). We are going to be discussing healthy pregnancy tips to own your pregnancy. 

*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Inspira Health.  Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. 

From the moment you find out that you are expecting, tons of thoughts flood your brain.  The goal that we have here is to quiet those thoughts a little and help you come up with a creative plan of healthy pregnancy with tips that are specialized to fit your lifestyle. You really need to have a plan for all three trimesters of your pregnancy (we’ll get into owning your birth experience in another post!).

What do I mean by own your pregnancy?  Well, it’s quite simple. You should be in charge of all aspects of your pregnancy and this experience should be joyful for you from start to finish.  We are going to share with you 10 tips for having a pregnancy experience that you dream of having. 

Now, we know that if this is at the beginning of your pregnancy, maybe only one or two people know, so it’s really your own thoughts that are all over the place.  Once you get further along and tell more people, lots of people start having opinions and ideas with what you should or should not be doing with your own body and pregnancy. 

We don’t want this to be overwhelming for you, especially when it comes to others, so the best thing to know is to tell yourself from the start and often throughout that this is your pregnancy and you are going to do what you see is best fit for both you and your child. 

10 Healthy Pregnancy Tips

1- Find a practice that is onboard with the lifestyle that you live. 

As soon as you get a positive pregnancy test, you should make sure that you find a practice that will suite the pregnancy that you wish to have.  For example, if you know you want a natural birth without an epidural, a midwife may be something you consider.  

It’s important to try to get prenatal care as early as you can.  You will be checked for a variety of things like blood pressure, weight, lab work, and urine sample, all to make sure you have a safe and healthy pregnancy. As well as an ultrasound to get close to an accurate due date for you. 

The sooner you are able to build a trusting relationship with your care provider, the better you will feel about this aspect of your pregnancy. 

2- Make sure that doctor or midwife is able to assist in delivering at the hospital of your choice 

In addition to the first tip, you want to make sure that the hospital that your care provider has rights to assist in delivery with, is on board with your pregnancy and birth plan. Check into their c-section rates, rooming in policies and rates of breastfeeding success and more if those things are important to you. 

At hospital maternity centers, like the three Inspira Health offers in southern New Jersey, they believe that you should have it all. From high-end amenities to award-winning nurses, they want to provide the best experience for expecting mothers.  

3- Ask questions and then ask some more

Part of owning your pregnancy and making healthy pregnancy choices, is to ask all the questions.  And if you don’t remember an answer, don’t be afraid to ask again.  Remember that this is supposed to be a joyous occasion for you and if you aren’t sure of an answer or not sure why the answer would be what your practitioner says is the answer, ask follow up questions.  You are paying someone to fully understand you.

This also goes back to the first healthy pregnancy tips idea above.  If you feel like your concerns or questions are being dismissed or not answered to your liking, never feel like you have to stay.  Find another care provider that is going to allow you to own your pregnancy your way. 

4- Eating for Two 

I know. I know. You get pregnant and then the joke is always, “it’s okay, you’re eating for two.”  While you are actually eating to feed two, you want to make sure you are fully nourishing your own body and your growing baby with the right nutrients.  This doesn’t mean that you should have a half dozen tacos every night because you used to eat three and now you double it. 

You want to make sure that you are making healthy choices like plenty of water,  as well as enough fruits and vegetables.  Fully cook food, limit caffeine and avoid a lot of sugar. Your care provider can come up with a plan for you for the right tip of diet, especially if you have food allergies or preferences, like a vegan or pescatarian diet. 

5- Exercise

If you didn’t exercise before, you are probably already rolling your eyes at me when you read that.  But unless there is a concern, you should try to get regular exercise during your pregnancy.  This can actually help ease some discomfort of pregnancy.  30 minutes of exercise a day is perfect and it can be anything from taking a walk or swimming safely.

Never overdo exercise, especially if you weren’t active before pregnancy and avoid contact sports and activities that may make you fall. Talk with your provider about a plan that works for you. 

6- Take the Nap. Go to bed early!

As a mom of two, I can’t recommend this enough.  Bank those sleep hours while you can; however, sleep is extremely important while pregnant.  Pregnancy is demanding and it’s normal to feel more tired than usual.  Take the nap when you can if you are feeling tired and try to make a habit of going to bed around the same time every night (not 2am though!). 

7- Take Your Vitamins

If you didn’t take vitamins before getting pregnant, it make be hard to remember now. The best way to remember is to set a reminder in your phone to go off at a time when you know you’ll always be able to take it.  

Ask you care provider what prenatal vitamins they recommend and take it regularly to ensure that you are getting all the nutrients that your growing baby needs. 

8- Avoid the Big No-Nos

There are definitely a few things that you want to avoid while pregnant.  No smoking, illicit drugs, or alcohol. 

Depending on your dietary preferences, you also want to avoid listeria that can come from eating the following foods: 

  • deli meat and hot dogs
  • raw or undercooked meats (like sushi)
  • raw eggs or recipes that call for raw eggs
  • soft cheeses like feta, Brie, and bleu cheese

Ask your care provider for a full list of foods and other products to avoid during your pregnancy. 

9- Track Your Mood Levels

It’s normal to feel swings in your moods as your hormones are drastically changing during the 9 months; however, it’s not uncommon for anxiety and postpartum depression to happen during the prenatal time and not only after giving birth.  Talk with your care provider about any concerns you have often and never be afraid to ask for help. 

If you have thoughts of suicide, please contact your care provider right away or call 1-800-273-8255 24 hours a day. 

10- Indulge in Self-Care

Once baby comes, your time is going to be even more limited.  Take the time now to get your hair done, get a prenatal massage, go on a last (or few last) vacations with your significant others and just enjoy the time you have before baby makes their arrival.

We hope you found this healthy pregnancy tips to own your pregnancy helpful!  Leave a comment below and let us know what your favorite tip is or if you have another helpful tip, we’d love to hear that as well! 

Thanks to Inspira Health for sponsoring this series of posts about owning your pregnancy your way.  We will be sharing more with and from them over the next few month, including the opening of their brand new facility in Mullica Hill, New Jersey. Stay tuned for the fun!

100+ Protein Packed Postpartum Snacks

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All new moms need healthy and delicious snacks after having a baby! Grab our list of more than 100 protein packed postpartum snacks to keep moms energized and fueled. 

Congratulations!!!! If you are reading this list of 100+ postpartum snacks, you likely just had a baby. You are now going to be hungry non-stop. Think you were hungry when you were pregnant!? Wrong.

via GIPHY

Before you continue reading this, I want you to learn from my experience. While I only have two kids and some would say that’s not a ton of experience, I do know how I felt during postpartum days.  No one can understand that unless they have kids.  And no matter what happened the first time around and how much your brain has pushed out of your memory, the second time around doesn’t make postpartum any easier.  So I want you to follow these few simple steps no matter if this is your first baby or your 9th.

  1. Scroll down through the list and pick your Top 5 choices
  2. Send the ideas to your partner or family member helping you
  3. Ask them to make it for you

Part of becoming a new mom is learning to ask for help. Especially if you have other kids, you need all the help you can get.  One of the most important things that you can during postpartum time, is making sure you keep yourself hydrated and fueled to take care of baby.

Now, back to the hunger….

There is nothing like newly postpartum mom hunger. I understand why some mother mammals eat their young. THEY’RE FREAKING HUNGRY. Give them a bit more to eat!

As a new mom, you also don’t feel like cooking anything. This means you need quick, simple, healthy, delicious. We’ve complied a list of great postpartum snacks for anyone.

If you happen to be here and you are not a new mom, you are likely looking for something that you can put together for them.  Kuddos! You’ll definitely want to save this list and over the next 6 months to a year, any time you see this mama, take her a snack.

Why Does a New Mom Need Healthy snacks?

Umm, she just gave birth to a whole human being. That took a lot of energy! In all seriousness, birthing a baby vaginally or by Cesarean is a lot of work.  For the last nine months, mama has had all her organs pushed and shoved, grown new organs, and then expelled all of them for the sake of a tiny little being that is now going to keep her up for hours and hours every night.

It’s exhausting giving birth AND having a newborn. Her body is going to expend a lot of energy getting her body’s organs back into place and realigning other bodily functions. This takes a minimum of six to eight weeks to happen, but often even longer.

Now, if the mama is breastfeeding, she’s going to need even more. She’s physically producing milk which is burning a ton of calories.  In order to continue to make milk, she needs breastfeeding snacks that are healthy for her.

How Many Healthy Snacks Does a New Mom Need?

Overall, a new mom needs between 1800 and 2200 calories a day.  Because moms are always on the go, some of these could be in snack form, like the protein energy bites or avocado toast listed below. If a new mom is breastfeeding, she’ll need to increase her calories by another 500-800 a day. Also, if cleared for working out or tandem nursing (either twins or an older children), she’ll need even more. It’s best to talk to a lactation specialist if breastfeeding or other care physician, like a dietician to get a correct number of caloric intake for each specific person.

What are the best healthy snacks for a new mom? 

We’ve rounded up 100+ Protein Packed Postpartum Snacks that are amazing and just what you need as you transition into this new time in your life. Whether this is baby #1 or #6, you still have to eat. Most of these recipes are easy to make or no bake, but there are a few that requires baking. Make sure you have someone else make those ones for you!

Side note: whether you are breastfeeding or not, these are all great snacks for postpartum mothers. Your body needs fuel to recover and heal and you need to make sure you are getting proper nutrition so you have the energy to keep going.

100+ Delicious Postpartum Snacks for New Moms


Best of luck on this amazing journey of motherhood!

Some things that may help you through the transition:


Other Posts You Might Be Interested In

breastfeeding myths

lactation boosting foods

This post was originally publish on 3/21/2017. Updated on 10/10/2018 and reupdated on 3/25/2019.

Best Pregnancy Halloween Costumes

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Coming up with the most awesome pregnant halloween costumes can be intimidating. Get some inspirations with some of the best pregnancy halloween costumes you’ll ever see! 

Affiliate Links Contained in this post.

Halloween is right around the corner.  I admit that even though I was pregnant during Halloween with both of our girls, I never dressed up. Not even one of those pregnant halloween shirts!  With our first I was super big, just a few weeks from our due date. Then, with the second, I only knew for like 3 weeks and we weren’t ready to announce.

Either way, if you are here, you are likely in the opposite boat and you are looking for the best pregnancy halloween costumes inspiration.  Have no fear. We are going to break it down and give you some really amazing ideas!

Halloween Pregnancy Announcement Costumes

Doing a halloween pregnancy announcement is such a fun way to tell your family and friends about your new bundle of joy! There’s so many ways that you can announce but costumes giving a subtle hint are a great way to get a big reaction.

 

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If you want to remain comfortable, you can stick with this super easy baby skeleton t-shirt and pair is with skeleton leggings. Have dad dress up too if you want to do a pregnant halloween couples costume theme (more on that below).

 



 

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A few years ago Jessica Simpson dressed up like a mummy to announce her pregnancy.  Grab a mummy inspired costume to do the same!


Pregnant Couples Halloween Costumes

It’s so fun to include both you and your partner in your halloween costume no matter if you are announcing or just dressing up.

Bun in the oven halloween costume ideas are hysterical and this particular DIY costume idea takes the cake out of all the ones I saw.   You can purchase an actual bun in the oven costume on Amazon if you don’t have the energy to DIY.



If you don’t feel like wearing an actual costume…Let’s be honest, sometimes pregnancy just does a number on us…you can wear couples skeleton tshirts or just cute halloween shirts.


 

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How about breakfast? You could go as avocado and toast or bacon and egg breakfast combo! If your belly is more round for the egg option, you could get out the yolk part from the costume and wear a yellow shirt underneath to give yourself more room. If you had a bigger family, other suggestions could be a carton of milk (or juice), hashbrowns, pancakes, etc!

Cute Pregnant Halloween Costumes

Sometimes you just want to be cute.  Here’s some ideas we found.

The Kool-Aid Jug!  Seriously how creative!

 

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How about a gumball machine? You’d just need a shirt and a whole lot of pom poms.

 

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How about a Pumpkin Farmer?  This is so cute, especially for the fall!

 

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Funny Pregnant Halloween Costumes

Lastly, funny pregnant halloween costumes.  Okay, some of these may be a bit more along the creepy pregnancy halloween costumes, but hey!

Old t-shirt, cheap dollar store baby doll and some fake blood will freak everyone out.

 

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Again, this could be under the couples Halloween Pregnancy costume idea, but the idea of the milk man and mom are hilarious.

 

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Which ones do you think are the best pregnancy halloween costumes? Let us know! 

This post was originally published on 10/8/2012.

12 Procedures to Decline During Pregnancy

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This post about 12 Procedures to Decline During Pregnancy will walk you through routine procedures you can decline. 

Procedures to Decline During Pregnancy

Congratulations! If you are reading this, you are likely pregnant. It’s supposed to be this extremely joyous moment in your life, yet you may often be surprised how many procedures are done during a short period of time in your life. For most women, pregnancy is not a serious medical condition. For those women, it’s important that they know they have a right to decline many unnecessary procedures.

Let’s Discuss WHY you would want to decline procedures during pregnancy

If you have a normal pregnancy – that means no at-risk signs, no prior complications in other pregnancies, no significant risk factors – then there are many things that you are subjected too simply because maternal care is treated as a one-size fits all method.  Especially in the United States, if you choose obstetric care, you are being molded into cookie cutter pregnancy care, with many procedures being absolutely unnecessary. Do you really feel like being poked and prodded for 40+ consecutive weeks? I know I didn’t. For most pregnancies, there are no risk factors, meaning you can decline procedures.

are procedures during pregnancy necessary

What Procedures to Decline During Pregnancy 

1- Nuchal Translucency Screening (Genetic Testing)

This is an ultrasound performed during weeks 11 and 13. It tells you the likelihood your baby may have certain medical conditions, such as Down’s syndrome.   Why Decline? This test is typically only 70-75% accurate. Additionally, ultrasounds heat tissue and it’s advised to be avoided during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy.  Also, if you feel like having a baby with a condition such as Down’s syndrome would not affect your decision to continue your pregnancy, then it’s even more unnecessary.

2- Glucose Testing

Let me start by prefacing that you aren’t all out declining to take a glucose test. Looking at your glucose levels during pregnancy is actually very important.  What you would be declining is the bottled drink they offer to all pregnancies.  Why Decline? There are many other healthier alternatives to the bottled drink. The bottled glucola drink has a high amount of chemicals and an unrealistic amount of sugar that the normal human body would consume. Because of that, many women have false positives during the one hour test, and have to repeat, adding more chemical and more sugar. Learn about your glucose alternatives here. 

3- Third Trimester Ultrasounds

A late-term ultrasound refers to any ultrasounds after week 24. The excitement of wanting to see your baby before birth is why most women will accept this type of ultrasound. Why Decline? Studies show that late term ultrasounds have been linked to an increase in caesarean section. Additionally, when used to determine size or dating of baby. Late term ultrasounds are highly likely to be off in dating up to 2 weeks and as much as 2 pounds. Studies have shown that late term ultrasounds are off as much as 20-30%.

4- Internal Exams

This is one of the most common procedures done during the third trimester, especially in the last 4 weeks; however, it’s also one of the most unnecessary. It’s also done throughout labor if you labor in a hospital, but you can decline all of these. Why Decline? For one, they can be extremely painful. They also increase the risk for infection. But more importantly, the information obtained during an external exam can change so rapidly, it makes the results obtained void. Also, if done during the last 6 weeks, it is linked to a higher increase in caesarean section. Simply put – Doctors are typically trying to see how effaced and dilated you are; however, you can go from 1cm to 10cm in 60 minutes or it may take 4 weeks, so there’s no need to have any of these done.

5- Early Induction

Also known as an elective birth.  This is where you decide to speed up the birth of the child, typically before or around 38 weeks.  Why Decline? For starters, babies truly need to be born on their own schedule.  Some babies come “early”; however, most births happen at 40 weeks or later, especially during a first pregnancy. When babies are forced to come earlier, they can suffer from a variety of medical conditions, such as breathing problems and jaundice, as well as being more likely to end up in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit).

6- Unnecessary Induction

You’ve made it to 40 weeks! YAY! That doesn’t mean that you automatically need to schedule an induction. In fact, you should wait. One case where you shouldn’t wait is pre-eclampsia. However, many women are induced for convenience, to either the parents or doctor. This type of induction is unnecessary and even dangerous. Why Decline? In fact, up to 60% of mothers who induce unnecessarily end up having an emergency caesarean. Inductions speed up a more painful labor, leading to an epidural which slows down pregnancy and the downward spiral continues. One study found babies born from an induction were almost 65% more likely to end up in neonatal intensive care unit.

things I have to do during pregnancy

7- Epidurals

An epidural during labor is a needle that places anesthesia into a women’s spinal canal. It allows a mother to be awake but feel little to no pain below the point it’s placed. Why Decline? For starters, epidurals slow down labor. The longer you are in labor in a hospital, the higher your risk of caesarean. Also, depending on the length of your labor, an epidural placed early on in your labor may deliver too much medication and hinder your ability to push. An alternative is learning breathing techniques and considering a water birth.

8- Continuous Fetal Monitoring

Ever been sick and forced to lay in bed all day? IT SUCKS! Now, imagine having painful contractions and not being able to move around. During continuous fetal monitoring and electronic band is hooked around your stomach and records your baby’s heartbeat. Why Decline? Being restricted in your movement has an increased risk of caesarean.  Additionally, it’s best for a mother to be able to move around, listen to her own body, and get into a labor position that is ideal for her body and baby.  Ask if your hospital has wireless monitoring or can do intermittent monitoring (monitoring for 10 minutes on, 50 minutes off).

9- Routine IV Hook-up

For many women, continuous monitoring and IV-hook up go hand in hand.  But the truth is that it doesn’t have too. Why Decline? Once you are hooked up to a monitor, you are tethered to a pole, reducing the ability to really move in the desired position your body wants too. Instead, ask for the option of a saline lock (or Hep-Lock). It’s a IV catheter put into your vain. Then it is flushed with saline and capped off. This allows you to move freely while also allowing medical teams to quickly hook up an IV if it’s truly necessary.

10- Breaking Your Water

Sometimes an obstetrician will tel you this is routine or can shorten labor time.  Why Decline? Studies, however, have shown that this can strengthen contractions leading to breathing complications and reduced heart rate for babies. Once a baby’s heart rate drops, your risk for caesarean section greatly increases. For many mothers, their water will break naturally during labor and in some cases, babies will be born in caul. Neither of these warrant medical intervention.

11- Episiotomy 

An episiotomy is when a cut is made to the opening of the vagina to enlarge the space for the baby’s head to come out. In very, very rare cases this may be needed. Specifically, to use forceps in order to quickly get a baby out and avoid a caesarean. Why Decline? However, if your doctor wants to just do an episiotomy because they see you may tear, it’s unnecessary. They actually take longer to heal than a natural tear, the risk for infection is increases, and complications from sewing the cut afterwards are likely. This is something you should ask your care provider about before labor.

12-Automatic Repeat Caesarean

A Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC) is highly, highly possible for most women. More than 75% of women who go for a VBAC are successful. Some doctors will try to say a VBAC is not an option, but there are always options for different care providers. Why Decline? Caesareans are major surgery and the more often a caesarean is preformed, the great the risks are to the mother. Recovery time is also reduced for vaginal deliveries.  Check out ICANN for more information on VBACs.

risks during pregnancy

Final Thoughts on Procedures to Decline During Pregnancy

The overall idea is to decline unnecessary procedures that force you into a cookie cutter mold of pregnancy. With the rising rates of American maternal and infant mortality, it’s important to look at why this is happening. One reason is that with normal pregnancies that don’t need these procedures, the risk of caesarean rises. If we can continue to speak for our rights as women, we will hopefully start to see those numbers decline.

These resources may help you delve deeper into this topic:


One Less Worry – Introducing BINTO

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Binto. Thoughts and opinions 100% my own.

Shortly after finding out I was pregnant with our first child, Andrew and I decided that I would be a stay-at-home mom.  It was my dream to be able to stay at home with my kids when we had them. Fast forward, 5 years and this roller coaster of parenthood has been nothing like I imagined it would be. As much as I knew I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, I also wanted to run my own business. However, what I didn’t realize at the time is how insanely busy both of those things are every single day. Running a business is all consuming, yet so are children. You want to give both of your “babies” your full undivided attention all the time.

There’s simply not enough hours. 

There’s really not enough hours in the day for me to give my attention to everything. Naturally, I’ve worked hard to divide and conquer.  Working hard to figure out how I can maximize my time most effectively. Sometimes it’s easier to figure out and sometimes not. Being able to order as much online as possible is one of the things that immensely helps save me time.  However, it’s not always easy.  Working hard to live a healthier lifestyle means that I have to get creative with our budget sometimes. Luckily, there’s companies that understand that and work to ensure I can have the best of everything.

Enter BINTO. 

BINTO is a subscription-based box service, created by women’s health professionals, that delivers a box of curated products related to fertility and reproductive health to your home each month. Don’t let the name fool you, you don’t have to be pregnant. Whether you are still waiting for your first child, or you’ve already had children, the BINTO can be tailored to your needs. Their goal – to make your life simple and less stressful. Furthermore, they want to provide woman with safe and effective products that are designed to support fertility and reproductive health.

Currently, inside each period support box, contains:

  • Organic cotton tampons
  • Probiotics
  • Prenatal and regular multivitamins with built-in DHA
  • and feminine wipes

The purpose of this is to send you personalized monthly products that cost less than if you purchased them individually.  Additionally, by setting up a subscription service, you no longer have to worry about forgetting to order more or running out.

The BINTO team is also currently working on a box for menopausal support and curating additional products to be included in each box. At this time, BINTO currently costs $35/month for a period support box and $60/month for a fertility support box. All products inside are made free from harmful chemicals like parabens, phthalates, and preservatives and are made sustainably.  Additionally, you have constant access to the FREE  online knowledge center which includes a streamlined library of reliable online information on topics ranging from ovulation tracking to endometriosis.

You can learn more about and purchase your own BINTO here.

 

3 Tips to Save Money on Car Seats

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You’ve found out that you’re pregnant. YAY!!!

Fast forward to going into the store to register and you’re all “Oh, crap!”. One, there’s a bajillion items in the store.  How do you know what the heck to get.  I remember registering with our first daughter and we were just happily walking through the aisles, scanning everything. It took me a few weeks after registering to realize that half the stuff we put on there, we didn’t even need. Then, I realized that some of the things, I really needed to think about. Fast forward to now having two children and I’m a little more versed on things.

Car seats were one of the hardest selections. So. Many. Options. Seriously, why are there so many car seat options? Do we want an infant seat with a stroller? An infant seat without a stroller? Do we need an extra base? How about a convertible car seat? Do it matter which one we get?  Is the $100 option as good as the $500 car seat? So. Many. Questions.

Luckily, I’m here to save the day.

First, it’s important to realize that every single seat on the market has been tested and approved for the current safety standards.  This means that they all meet crash safety protocols.  Typically, when looking at higher priced car seats, you are paying for more cushion in the seats, higher quality fabrics, or longer ability to rearface and/or use multi-mode (rearfacing, forward facing, belt positioning booster all in one).

Here’s our 3 Tips to Save Money on Car Seats 

  1. Get a coupon if not purchased from your registry
    • Many registries, like Target and Amazon, will give you coupons for completing your registry about a month before you put your due date.
    • For us, we got a 15% off Target coupon to use for anything that was on our registry that someone didn’t buy.
  2. Trade in Events
    • Target and Babies-R-Us both have trade-in events.  They will give you a % off coupon to bring in an old seat and upgrade to a new one. The coupon usually ranges in the 20-25% off range.
    • If this is your first child, try to locate a used car seat somewhere like your local FreeCycle
      • PLEASE NOTE: You NEVER want to personally use a used car seat. If you don’t 100% know the history of the car seat, then you shouldn’t be using it. 
  3. Buy a convertible car seat
    • For us, this was the greatest savings ever. We didn’t realize this was an option with our first, but it’s what we did with our second. (We have a Diono Radian for one and Rainier for the other)
    • Convertible car seats cost more up front typically; however, depending on your child, it could be the only seat that they ever needed.
    • For our first, we switched to a convertible around 6 months.  With our first, she was in a convertible car seat from the day we left the hospital. We used a Boba baby carrier to get her back and forth.

What are your Tips to Save Money on Car Seats?  Leave a comment and let us know!

BONUS!  Check out our 4 car seats for under $100 post!

 

What do you REALLY need for breastfeeding?

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If you’re pregnant and plan to breastfeed, you’ve likely asked yourself this question.

What do you REALLY need for breastfeeding?

It’s really quite simple.

  1. A baby
  2. A boob

That’s actually it. You don’t even need two boobs (though it helps). Just one will do.

However, I know you really want to know what will help your transition go more smoothly. I’m not going to lie, the first 4-6 weeks is tough as you adjust and anything that you can do to make your life easier, I highly recommend. I’m not going to sit here and say that those first few weeks are sunshine and rainbows, and that breastfeeding isn’t going to hurt.  Who actually ever said that never breastfed before. While I’m being honest in that it isn’t an easy transition, I will say that it’s 100% worth the tough days.  I nursed our firstborn until just over 4 years old and I’m currently nursing our 23 month old.  Those strenuous days are well behind me and most of the time, I can barely recall those moments.

4 Things I Highly Recommend to Everyone 

  1. Nipple Cream.
    • I personally tried half a dozen or more brands over the two children. My #1 preference is Motherlove, however, for money saving I typically just buy the 3 pack of Earth Mama Angel Baby Brand.
    • Looking for a cheaper option?  You can use coconut oil or even just expressed milk on your nipples after every feeding.
  2. Reusable Nursing Pads
    • Don’t waste your time on buying disposable ones.  Not only are reusable better for the environment, they are so much softer and stay in place better.
  3. Boppy/Nursing Pillow
    • Tip: Buy this early on in your third trimester and use to support your growing belly throughout the last trimester. The shape really helps support your belly and baby once here.
    • Need a cheaper option? Just use the pillows you have in your home.
  4. Breastmilk Storage Bags
      • You will likely need to hand express in those first few weeks just enough to relieve the engorgement. Having breastmilk storage milks handy, will allow you to save the milk in those early days.


4 Things I Think Able Helpful but not Necessary

  1. Breast Shells
    • I had never even heard of breast shells before I was about to leave the hospital after having our first. Our nurse gave them to us and they saved me. They stop your nipples from rubbing on your clothes. During those first few days of adjusting, especially with your first, it allows you to be comfortable.
    • Need a cheaper option?  Just stay topless as often as possible.
  2. Milk Savers
    • This is the one product I regret not getting for either pregnancy.  I didn’t know about it with my first, but did with my second. Milk Savers collects milk from one side while you nurse of the other side.  Typically, this milk would just be lost in your nursing pad, but with Milk Savers it’s saved inside. Then, you can transfer to a storage bag and save. I have friend’s who use them and swear by them.
  3. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding Book
    • The holy grail of breastfeeding books.  If you really want to read everything about breastfeeding this is the book for you.
    • Need a cheaper option? Almost all libraries carry this book.
    • Also check out KellyMom.com for a ton of breastfeeding information if you can’t afford the book
  4. Baby Carrier
      • I think every parent needs a baby carrier. It’s so much better for getting around, but it also makes breastfeeding a breeze.  I personally never used breastfeeding covers because our first daughter freaked out. However, using a carrier, allows me to nurse discretely and still keep going.


3 Things I Think Able Necessary Depending on Life

These last two things are either absolutely necessary or not depending on your life. If you are a mom who works in the home, then you don’t necessarily need a a breastpump or bottles. I personally never left for me than a few hours for the first 6 months of our girls life, and in those cases had a better outcome hand expressing; however, I know that’s not a realistic expectation for many.

  1. Manual Pump
    • I highly recommend if you are a working mom outside the home, you keep a manual pump inside your car.  You never know when you will forget a piece to an electric pump, but having a manual back up will always come in handy.
    • Standard Manual Pump like Medela is highly recommend.
    • New silicone pumps are taking over for easy use and storage purposes.
  2. Electric Pump
    • There’s so many options to have. We personally used a Lansinoh Double Electric.
    • Many moms love Freemies because you can discretely use them and keep working
  3. Bottles
      • Some kids are picky so you may have to try a few options.  We love the Kiinde system for storage and bottle usage.


Working Mom?

Check out our 25 Tips for Working Moms Who Want to Make Breastfeeding Work.

I personally never used nursing bras, tanks, or other clothes.  Instead, I opted for soft bras, regular tank tops, and regular shirts like v-necks that allowed for easy access. You can definitely grab all those if you like them more, but I chose to save money and not use them.

Here’s everything we mentioned in this post:


The New Moms Morning Routine

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This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Weave Made Media® and Hyperbiotics, but all my opinions are my own. #weavemade #HealthiestDaysAhead   http://my-disclosur.es/RgFrEH.”

I remember sitting at my baby shower with our first.  My sister made me up this awesome gift basket basket for things I would need postpartum.  Most of it, I understood.  There were pads and snacks, a notebook, chapstick, and so much more.  But there were a few things, like tucks pads and a peri bottle, that I looked in confusion as all the moms in the room busted out laughing.  They were all in on this secret that I had no clue about. But soon I would learn.

My sister, to the best of her ability, would guide me those 41+ weeks through my pregnancy.  Teaching me about what to expect both during pregnancy and postpartum.  Still, there was so much that she could never teach that I would just have to experience on my own. So much of parenting is learning as you go, however, you can also learn so much from others’ experiences.

Today, I want to share with you our New Moms Morning Routine.  Whether this is your first baby or your fifth, each time you have a new and unique adjustment period.  One of the best things that you can do for your mental health is to establish a morning routine as quickly as you can. Getting into a groove will leaving you feeling refreshed and ready to tackle every day with energy.

Here’s our New Moms Morning Routine in 5 simple steps.  

I promise if you do each of these things, you will feel much better every day. Not going to lie, not everyday will be sunshine and rainbows, but overall, much better! 

       1. Wash Your Face. 

  • Okay, if we are being honest here, you likely aren’t going to have time to shower every morning. While many other sites recommend meditating, exercising, or journaling, the truth is we don’t always have time for that.  We think those are great ideas, but simply washing your face in the morning will have you feeling like a new person.

      2. Make Yourself Breakfast. 

  • This doesn’t have to be something outrageous.  I’m not asking you to make yourself poached eggs with crepes and berry compote every morning (although that does sound delish). Make yourself a smoothie.  Hard boil eggs once a week and eat two throughout the week. Or even avocado toast. Breastfeeding?  Check out our lactation recipes. 

      3. Take a probiotic.

  • I honestly wish someone told me about probiotics when I was a young adult, even before having kids, but it wasn’t until I had given birth with my first that I learned about them. Probiotics have multiple functions, but in this scenario they provide temporary relief for anxiety, depression, and overall mental health. Hyperbiotics, a probiotic brand found at your local Target, encourages healthy, regular bowl movements (which if you’ve given birth know just how important help in that department is!).  The Pro-Moms blend is prefect for both pregnant and nursing moms because it encourages full nutrient absorption which aids in a healthier immune system. Pro-Moms also helps produce essential B vitamins and contains natural folate. It also doesn’t have to be refrigerated, so you can keep it by your bedside and always remember to take it.

      4. Take a postnatal vitamin (or continue your prenatal vitamins). 

  • You just had a baby! You body needs all those vitamins and nutrients replenished as quickly as possible.  It’s really important to continue taking your vitamins every day, but especially a quality postnatal or prenatal for the first 6 weeks after childbirth.

      5. Fill up a water bottle. 

  • I know some of you are going to hate me for this, but you need water. Put down the juice and soda, and pick up a bottle. Fill it with water as often as you need.  You should continuously feel hydrated and not parched. Drink until you feel quenched. Don’t care for water?  Try flavoring it (Pinterest has a bajillion different ideas) or try coconut water.  If you are a breastfeeding mama, I try to aim for 64oz a day.

A bit more

Everyone has heard to do the things above, except maybe the probiotics. Let me give you a bit more information about them. Hyperbiotics, a premium probiotic blend, is now available at Target. Their blends help by:

  • supporting your immune system response
  • optimizing your best digestive health.
  • promoting improved immunity
  • leading to more energy and clarity

Specifically speaking about Hyperbiotics formulas – they are vegetarian, non-GMO, free of lactose, gluten, and sugar. There’s also no soy, nuts, iron, artificial flavors or colors, and no preservatives. Also, unlikely many other probiotic companies, Hyperbiotics blends don’t have to be refrigerated, which means you can take them with you anywhere.  They use a patented manufacturing process called LiveBac® that guarantees their blends for 18 months after manufacturing with no refrigeration.

Hyperbiotics isn’t just for MOMS!  There’s a blend specifically for women and one for kids, as well as two additional blends for I encourage you to live healthier days by taking Hyperbiotics blend daily. #FollowYourGut to Target and purchase them today! To learn more about Hyperbiotics, visit www.hyperbiotics.com.

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Weave Made Media® and Hyperbiotics, but all my opinions are my own. #weavemade #HealthiestDaysAhead   http://my-disclosur.es/RgFrEH.”

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Probiotics support many facets of overall health when taken regularly as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

7 Things Moms Can Learn From April the Giraffe

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Congrats to April the Giraffe!

I hear it all the time,

  • “she was in labor for 4 days”,
  • “the baby got stuck”,
  • “my sister was confined to the bed”,
  • “I wasn’t allowed to eat”

Since when did giving birth become so medicalized.  Reading the comments as April the Giraffe was giving birth over the last few weeks, has made it clear that many think this is all normal. It’s sad really at the mundaneness that birth has become, especially in the United States.  Home births and midwives are seen as cooky, but drugging moms and strapping them to the bed is seen as perfectly normal.

Now, before there’s a witch hunt, I do know that there are plenty of medical reasons that a birth does need to be medicalized, but let’s not forget that out of developed nations, the United States is the only one increasing in maternal mortality rate, up 136% in the last 20 years, according to the World Health Organization. 

Here’s 7 Things Moms Can Learn From April the Giraffe:

  1. Don’t rush a baby
    • Babies know when their due date should be. Even if you know your exact conception date, you don’t know if your baby needs a few extra days or weeks to finish fully developing inside the womb. Just because you hit 40 weeks, doesn’t mean that is the end all be all. (Coming from a mom who carried her babies to 40+4 and 41 weeks)
  2. Walking helps get the baby out faster
    • Laying down on a bed is typically the worst thing a mom can do to deliver her baby faster and easier on the body.  Squatting, moving, walking, dancing, all help to get that baby in a proper position allowing your body to expel the baby easier.
  3. Your body knows what to do
    • One of the most amazing things to see happen while watching April the Giraffe give birth is that her body knew exactly what to do.  Hooves out, wait a few hours.  Head out, wait. Push a bit. Wait.  Push some more. Wait.  Birthing a baby takes time.
  4. Breach births can happen
    • Very few doctors are even trained to deliver breach births in this medical climate, but the fact of the matter is that mammals can and do give breach births.
  5. Interventions aren’t necessary
    • No one was in that room and that mama knew exactly what to do. Our bodies, for thousands of years, did not have all these interventions. While they are great in the extremest of situations, most births don’t warrant any interventions.
  6. It’s completely normal for mammals to eat parts of their birth
    • I’m sure I’m going to get flake for this one, but let’s not judge a mom who decides that placenta encapsulation is what’s best for her family. April the Giraffe was eating the sac around her baby, which just goes to show that what you may think is gross, isn’t naturally all that gross after all.
  7. Shit Happens
    • Literally.  My 4 year old was so grossed out that poop was falling onto the baby, but can we stop making this such a taboo thing.  Everyone poops. Now carry on.

I’m sure there’s more lessons we can learn, but there’s are just the ones that popped into my head immediately! Congrats to April the Giraffe on the birth of her adorable little one!  Now the hard part begins…naming that baby!

10 Ways to Help New Moms

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Learn more about the Wing Woman campaign on Twitter @mywingwoman or read more helpful tips at www.mywingwoman.com. I received compensation for this blog post from Teva Women’s Health.

flying

It takes a village to raise a family. We’ve all heard the phrase.  However, as our society becomes more and more online based, less personal, we frequently forget what things we can actually be doing to help our close friends and those that truly need support in their moment of need.  One of those moments are right after someone has a baby.

Three and a half years ago, when I first had our daughter Skibbles, I had no idea what I was in store for when I brought her home. I had babysat kids since I was 11 or 12 years old. I had “helped raise” my best friend’s son and my nieces. Yet, here I was with this insanely small human and found myself at a loss on how to get everything completed. How did I get dinner on the table? How did I shower? How did I get laundry and grocery shopping and simple errands done? All I knew is that this little human just wanted me to hold her and hated the car.  Fast forward to baby #2 and I found myself asking many of the same questions and then some.  How did I keep the toddler occupied while I breastfed?  How did I keep up with dishes for now four people? How did I even function with two kids now?

ways to help a new mom

Luckily, I had an incredible team of amazing wing women in my life that made those first few days at home easier as we adjusted to life as a family of four.

Here’s 10 things that an amazing wing woman in my life has done or I have done for others.

meals to bring a new mom

  • Bring A Meal (or 3)
    • As much as we say we are going to freezer prep 6 months worth of dinners, most of us are lucky if we do seven meals.  Help us out and bring a meal, preferably one that can be frozen in case someone else already brought dinner over. Better yet, bring something like muffins or grab and go snacks for us to have throughout the day.
  • Take the older children outside (or away for a day if we are close friends/family)
    • New moms want to rest. Older kids tend to be needy.  Help!
  • Clean the dishes
    • No one ever feels like doing this. Ever. Let alone someone that just pushed an entire being out of their body. The last thing we want to do is stand at the sink and clean the dishes
  • Do the Laundry
    • It piles up fast, especially with a newborn. A new mom doesn’t care if you didn’t do it perfectly or folded towels in the opposite direction she normally does. Just don’t wash 5 loads and leave them all for her to fold.
  • Grab things off their grocery list
    • At the store? Text or call and see if she needs anything.  Drop it off at her doorstep without having to come inside.
  • Clean up the house
    • See toys everywhere?  Put them all in one pile.  Dirty counter?  Wipe it down.  Toilet needs scrubbed?  Do it.  Any little thing you can see, just help.
  • Run any errands needed
    • Maybe something needs to go to the post office, the dog needs to go to the vet, or she needs to pick up a prescription — whatever you can see she needs help with, do.   
  • Take pictures
    • Moms always take pictures of their baby with someone else, but most people don’t think of taking pictures of the mom in the moment. Do this favor for her so she has something to treasure forever. Bonus points: Print out and give her the pictures you’ve taken.
  • Leave
  • I know this may sound harsh, but help out and then leave.  No one wants to entertain right after having a baby.  Rest is key.  Don’t ask to hold the baby if she doesn’t offer, don’t sit around and ask what’s for dinner, don’t ask her to get you anything.
  • Stop by after the first two weeks
    • Everyone always wants to stop by and see a new squishy baby, but after the first two weeks, no one calls to come by anymore.  The first 6 weeks are the hardest, come by after the first two weeks.

And two things not to do.  Don’t ask to hold the baby.  If mom is okay with you holding the baby, she will offer the baby to hold.  Also, don’t say “let me know if I can do anything”, just do it.  Most people don’t want to be an inconvenience. A wing woman is someone that helps you with all your needs. Be the wing woman you hoped that someone was to you!

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

 

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