Leachco


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We have this for K. I freakin love this sucker! We didn't even get a regular boppy for her. There's a little pocket that the 'bikini bottom' tucks into so it doesn't always have to be out. The sides Velcro (with the strongest Velcro I've ever encountered in my life!) underneath, and can be adjusted as LO grows.

This is the exact one that we have (not girly I know), but Leachco makes other fabric ones, but I can't tell if they're exactly the same. We love this. K is actually sitting in it next to me right now. We prop it up on pillows in the middle of our bed and play, and she sleeps in it at night. But, because of the bikini straps, I don't have to worry about her slouching down in it and not breathing well, this keeps her up on top of the pillowed back part!

http://www.babyearth.com/leachco-cuddle-nursing-pillow.html

even if you have a boppy, I recommend this as an additional one for when they start scootin more!

Earthquake Survivals Tips!


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Please share this with your children (especially if they practice earthquake drills at school) and family members!

(IMPORTANT SURVIVAL INFO)
XTRACT FROM DOUG COPP'S ARTICLE ON THE: 'TRIANGLE OF LIFE'

My name is Doug Copp. I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of
the American Rescue Team International (ARTI), the world's most
experienced rescue team. The information in this article will save
lives in an earthquake.

I have crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue
teams from 60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries,
and I am a member of many rescue teams from many countries.

I was the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation for two
years. I have worked at every major disaster in the world since
1985, except for simultaneous disasters.

The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico
City during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under its desk.
Every child was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could
have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It
was obscene, unnecessary and I wondered why the children were not in
the aisles. I didn't at the time know that the children were told to
hide under something. I am amazed that even today schools are still
using the 'Duck and Cover' instructions- telling the children to
squat under their desks with their heads bowed and covered with
their hands. This was the technique used in the Mexico City school.

Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings
falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects,
leaving a space or void next to them. This space is what I call the
'triangle of life'. The larger the object, the stronger, the less it
will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the
greater the probability that the person who is using this void for
safety will not be injured. The next time you watch collapsed
buildings, on television, count the 'triangles' you see formed. They
are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a
collapsed building.

TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY

1) Almost everyone who simply 'ducks and covers' when buildings
collapse ARE* CRUSHED TO DEATH.* People who get under objects, like
desks or cars, are crushed.

2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal
position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural
safety/survival instinct. That position helps you survive in a
smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large
bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.

3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in
during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of
the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival
voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated,
crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks.
Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than
concrete slabs. Concrete slab buildings are the most dangerous
during an earthquake.

4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs,
simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed.
Hotels can achieve a much greater survival rate in earthquakes,
simply by posting a sign on the back of the door of every room
telling occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom of
the bed during an earthquake.

5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting
out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal
position next to a sofa, or large chair.

6) Almost everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse
is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls
forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the
door jam falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In
either case, you will be killed!

7) Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different 'moment of
frequency' (they swing separately from the main part of the
building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously
bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes
place. The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up
by the stair treads horribly mutilated. Even if the building doesn't
collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of
the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by
the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing
people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest
of the building is not damaged.

8) Get Near the Outer Walls Of Buildings Or Outside Of Them If
Possible - It is much better to be near the outside of the building
rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the
outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that
your escape route will be blocked.

9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above
falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly
what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz
Freeway. The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed
inside of their vehicles. They were all killed. They could have
easily survived by getting out and lying in the fetal position next
to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had
been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All
the crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the
cars that had columns fall directly across them.

10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper
offices and other offices with a lot of paper,that paper does not
compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.

In 1996 we made a film, which proved my survival methodology to be
correct. The Turkish Federal Government, City of Istanbul,
University of Istanbul Case Productions and ARTI cooperated to film
this practical, scientific test. We collapsed a school and a home
with 20 mannequins inside. Ten mannequins did 'duck and cover,' and
ten mannequins I used in my 'triangle of life' survival method.
After the simulated earthquake collapse we crawled through the
rubble and entered the building to film and document the results.

The film, in which I practiced my survival techniques under directly
observable, scientific conditions, relevant to building collapse,
showed there would have been zero percent survival for those doing
duck and cover.

There would likely have been 100 percent survivability for people
using my method of the 'triangle of life.' This film has been seen
by millions of viewers on television in Turkey and the rest of
Europe , and it was seen in the USA , Canada and Latin America on
the TV program Real TV.

Spread the word and save someone's life... The entire world is
experiencing natural calamities so be prepared!

Giveaways


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I will begin doing Giveaways as soon as I get 25 followers. I'll do monthly giveaways at first, but if I get a bunch of followers, I'll start doing them more often, and the value of them will increase! If you have something that you'd like to donate to giveaways (on your terms) please let me know! I'd love to network to other great mom sites!

So, put yourself down as a follower, and as soon as we hit 25, I'll post a giveaway post!

**Hint Hint: the first giveaway will be $40.00 in Similac Coupons!

Make your own baby wipes


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So, Kids are expensive. Anyone who's had one can tell you that. Anyone who's had more than one really understands the financial needs for baby-raising. So, any money saving ideas can really come in handy! I found a recipe online to make home made baby wipes. Use high quality products to make them, you'll get the best results but still save money in the long run!

The main 'ingredient' for these is a roll of paper towels. Get some good strong hefty ones. Some say Bounty works best, others say Scott. One mom that I've talked to said that Scott brand tissues work the best, so if you want to try using them instead, it will save you a step. I don't swear by that one though, since I haven't tried it out! Either way, make sure it's soft on baby's bottom... you wouldn't want to wipe with something that feels like sandpaper would you?

Use an electric knife to cut the roll of paper towels in half. Outside may work best, because lets face it, who wants to try to sweep or vacuum up all the little paper shreds that will come off of the edges!

You'll need to put the towels into some sort of air tight container. If you cut the roll once in half, and then down the center of each half of a roll, you'll get smaller towel pieces that should fit fairly well into a standard baby wipe container. You can also store them in Ziplock bags.

Ingredients: (I like to use the lavender scented for the wash and lotion)
1/4 cup baby wash
1/4 cup baby oil
1/4 cup baby lotion
1-1/2 to 2 cups hot tap water

Mix all of the ingredients together. I like to use a pitcher for easier pouring later on. Make sure that you use pretty hot water, to help the lotion mix in better! After everything is mixed well (stir for 2-3 minutes), pour the mix over your stack of paper towels. I like to at least do this part in Ziplock bags, but if you trust that your container is sturdy, use your container. After you pour the mix on, you need to rotate your bag or container, turn it over, shake it a bit etc. to make sure that the mix soaks all the way through your stack.

Buying your products at a dollar store will get your the best bargain. But still make sure that you have good strong paper towels.

Yummy Treats


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I don't know what you want to actually call them... but yummy they are! I had a few peanut butter chips that I needed to use up... ok, that's a lie, wanted to use is more like it! I found a recipe that used Peanut Butter Chips, Crisco and Corn Flakes. Well, I didn't have any Corn Flakes, so I decided to make them with Rice Krispies instead. So, I started melting the Crisco and Peanut Butter Chips, but it didn't really make a nice creamy mixture that would coat cereal very well... so then I just started throwing things in.

What ended up in the pot you ask?

The Crisco (half a stick)
1 stick of Butter
1 Bag of Peanut Butter Chips
.5 Bag of Chocolate Chips
10 Mini Reece's Peanut Butter Cups
Rice Krispies (I just poured in enough to use up the melty mixture, but I'd guess it was 3-4 cups, but it could have been 5-6 too!
After it was all mixed together, I added a baker's bag of mini Reece's Pieces.

Scoop and cool! I used an ice cream scooper, so it could pack everything together, but I bet this would be a fun project to do with kiddos too, and let them press them into cookie cutters or roll them into balls.

Baby Constipation


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My LO has been having constipation issues since about 3 weeks of age when we had to switch to formula. Every time she tried to poop she screamed and screamed for a good 5 minutes before she was able to go. It was rough on her and horrible to watch and not be able to do anything.

So, a few tricks of the trade:

  • We've been giving (per our pedi) K either Apple Juice (100% natural) or Gerber Apple-Prune juice since 4 weeks of age. 2oz juice mixed with 2 oz water. Does WONDERS!!! The apple juice gave some weird texture to her poop, so we lean towards the Apple-Prune. You have to get it in the baby food section, not just the juice section. DH's aunt was told by her children's doctor (years ago) any juice that starts with a P: Prune, Pears or Peaches. Once kids start on finger foods, you can give them these fruits and it will work as well.
  • Many people may tell you to use a little Karo Syrup. Our Pedi told us that it's fine for babies a few months old, but for newborns, their immune systems aren't strong, and it can cause infant botulism. Something about a bacteria in the syrup. So, for kids or non-newborn babies, 1 tsp mixed in with a bottle or some water will do the trick!
  • The 'Rainbow' trick. If they are pushing and pushing and crying and just can't get it out. Put the palm of your hand on their belly, a few inches below the belly button. Point your fingers directly to the right and kinda splay out your fingers. Pressing gently, make a rainbow on baby's belly with your fingers, pressing down, then run your fingers down the left side. You'll kinda need to push the palm of your hand down as well, to 'anchor' it. This was shown to me by a nurse. The way the intestinal track works, moving your fingers this way will push things in the right direction.They'll push their belly against your fingers, which helps them push, and your fingers are actually moving the poop for them at the same time. They'll still cry and scream as they go, but it will be over much faster!
  • The 'I Love You' trick. This was also shown to me by a nurse. It's a little more awkward than the Rainbow trick, so I don't do it as much. The nurse recommended putting some lotion or baby oil on the belly before you do this. First, put your thumb to the right (baby's right) of baby's belly button, and just below the diaper line. Pressing down, draw a letter i starting from bottom. Dot the i next to their belly button... this part doesn't do anything but make it more fun! Next,Put your thumb back at the same starting spot and draw an upside down capital L, so that your thumb goes up to an inch or two above their belly button on the right side, then across to the left side. Finally, go back to your starting spot, and draw an upside down letter U, ending just below the diaper line on the left side.

Sweet Bath Product


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Bath Ice Cream gift set! Order $50.00 and get a $28.00 gift set for free! Enter Promo Code: MOM

http://mebath.com/triple-scoop-p-555.html

Colic


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I found this article on Dr. Sears. I myself was never really sure what colic was, only that I hope I never have a baby who has it! So far, I've been lucky (knock on wood). But for the rest of new moms who just aren't sure what it is, I think this is a pretty good article!

It's 6:00 p.m. and the wailing begins. You're holding your two-week-old baby – the model of a thriving infant, apparently without a care in the world. Suddenly and unexpectedly he stiffens his limbs, arches his back, clenches his fists, draws up his flailing limbs against a bloated, tense abdomen, and lets out ear-piercing shrieks. If he could speak, he would yell, "I hurt and I'm mad!" As the intensity of baby's cries mount, your frustration escalates, and you feel helpless in determining the cause of his distress and alleviating your baby's pain. He's inconsolable, and you're both in tears. You hurt together.

You try to cuddle, but baby stiffens in protest. You try to nurse, but baby arches and pulls away. You rock, sing, and ride. The soothing techniques that worked yesterday aren't working today. And inside your head the familiar refrain, "What's wrong with my baby? What's wrong with me?" plays over and over again.

By the time you go through all of Aunt Nancy's herbal teas, the doctor- advised feeding changes, and every conceivable holding pattern, as mysteriously as the fight began, around three to four months of age, it stops, and life goes on. Your baby seems none the worse for wear, and you close one of the most difficult chapters in life with your new baby. That's colic.

What's colic?
Even though no one completely understands colic, let's make two assumptions: First, the baby has pain in the gut. (The term "colic" comes from the Greek kolikos, meaning "suffering in the colon.") Secondly, the whole baby is upset as a result. My perspective on colic changed years ago when a mother brought her baby in and wanted me to find out why he was crying so much. After I diagnosed her baby with colic, she challenged me. "Do pediatricians call it colic when they don't know why a baby is hurting?" she asked bluntly. She was right. A gastroenterologist I often work with once confided to me: "Colic is a five-letter word for 'I don't know'."

When an adult hurts, the doctor and patient do some detective work to track down the cause of the pain, so they can fix it. So, I started approaching my evaluation of colicky babies with this in mind. First, I dropped the term "colic" from my diagnosis list and adopted the term "the hurting baby." Besides being more accurate, this motivated both the parents and myself to keep searching for a cause, and a way to fix it. Labels can be therapeutic. By viewing your baby as "hurting" instead of "crying," you're more likely to be empathetic, like you would a baby who was hurting because of an ear infection, rather than viewing crying as an annoying tool babies use to manipulate their parents into holding them a lot, which tops the list of colic myths.

DR. BILL'S COLIC TIPS:
  1. Don't call it colic. Call it "the hurting baby."
  2. In partnership with your doctor, keep searching for a cause.

DOES YOUR BABY HAVE COLIC? HOW TO TELL

If you wonder whether or not you have a colicky baby – you don't. The agonizing outbursts of inconsolable crying leave no doubt that your baby hurts. While no one knows the cause, or even the exact definition of colic, pediatricians tag an apparently healthy, thriving infant with "colic" if the baby follows what is called the "Rule of Threes." The episodes of inconsolable crying:

  • Begin within the first three weeks of life
  • Last at least three hours a day
  • Occur at least three days a week
  • Continue for at least three weeks
  • Seldom last longer than three months

Sometimes when parents think that they have a colicky baby, I'll send them to visit some members of the "colic club" – parents in our practice who truly do have colicky babies. They often return relieved, saying, "We don't have a colicky baby after all."

The point at which a fussy baby (one who cries a lot) or a "high-need baby" (one who fusses unless he's held a lot) becomes a colicky baby (one who hurts a lot) is often a matter of interpretation. What you call your baby's behavior isn't as important as what you do about it. In my pediatric practice, I've found it helpful to use the term "high-need baby" when I suspect it's the baby's temperament that's causing his behavior, and "hurting baby" when I suspect a medical reason for it. Colicky babies don't just fuss; they hurt. They shriek in agonizing discomfort. Colic calls for a more intensive approach. As one mother in our practice said, "Our daughter, now thirteen months, was the queen of colic. She'd start at three o'clock and cry non-stop until about midnight. When she wasn't colicky, she was just plain high-need. There IS a difference. "High-need" responds to lots of holding and comforting; almost nothing works for colic."

STEP 1: KEEP A COLIC DIARY

A diary is helpful for two reasons: You may uncover clues that help your baby's doctor diagnose a hidden medical cause of colic, and you may be surprised by the correlations you find. As one mother noticed, "On days that I wear my baby in a sling most of the time, he fusses less." Specifically, you want to record:

  • What seems to trigger the outbursts of crying? What turns them off?
  • Do they occur at roughly the same time each day? Does baby awaken in pain at night? How long do these bouts last? How frequently do they occur?
  • Are the crying jags getting better, worse, or staying about the same?
  • Does there seem to be a consistent relationship between the method of feeding—type of formula, type of bottle, type of nipple—duration, or position of feeding? What changes in feeding techniques or formulas have you tried? Does your baby spit up after feeding? How often? How soon after feeding, and with how much force? If you're breastfeeding, do you notice any correlation between what you eat and how much your baby fusses?
  • Is your baby bloated, does he seem to gulp a lot of air or pass a lot of gas?
  • Record your baby's bowel movements: how frequent are they? Are they easy to pass - soft? hard? Do you notice any changes in the frequency or characteristics of the stools in response to a change in feeding?
  • What changes or techniques have you tried in an effort to soothe your baby? What seems to work? What doesn't?
STEP 2: GET A MEDICAL EVALUATION

Don't settle for a five-minute squeeze-in appointment. To thoroughly evaluate a hurting baby and the effects on his exhausted parents, a doctor needs time. Request an extended office visit, preferably when the doctor usually schedules consultations. Prior to your visit, it's a good idea to send the doctor a letter describing your baby's crying episodes. If possible, both mother and father should attend the appointment. While some mothers tend to downplay the magnitude of the problem, dads usually tell it like it is. I didn't fully appreciate the toll a colicky baby was taking on his family until his father volunteered, "I had a vasectomy last week. We'll never go through this again!"

Make a distress tape. To help your doctor appreciate how devastating these bouts of colic are, videotape one of your baby's crying jags and ask her to view it, preferably before your appointment. I've found that watching such a tape helps me appreciate whether baby is just crying or is really hurting. And the type of cry often gives a clue to the root of the problem. Besides being helpful to the doctor, these tapes are therapeutic for parents, who at last have solid evidence of the torture they're subjected to each evening. Frazzled parents of a fussy baby recorded one of their baby's crying jags and mailed it to me before their scheduled appointment. When I viewed the tape, I realized how much pain this baby was in and how frustrated his parents were by not knowing how to help him. Don't hold back about how much your baby's crying bothers you. As one exhausted mother told her doctor, "I'm not leaving this office until you find out why my baby's crying."

STEP 3: KEEP SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS

If your gut feeling tells you that your baby hurts somewhere, don't give up searching for the cause and experimenting with various comforting remedies, as this intuitive and persistent mother in our practice did:

"Amelia is our first child. Although she cried a lot after birth, we chalked it up to novice parenting and thought nothing of it. But life began to unravel and derail when she was two-weeks-old. Amelia's cries took on a distressing tone that we were unable to define. Her crying intensified hours on end and nothing I tried calmed her. Her cry was shrieking, howling, and obviously pain cries. We began to suspect that there must be some sort of internal problem.

Amelia was sleeping less than four hours a night on my chest. My nights were spent rocking and nursing, while my husband laid next to me on the floor for emotional support. It was simply overwhelming and frustrating. She would eat very little at a time, only to cry moments later for more. Her actions fit the colic checklist perfectly: drawn up knees, inch worming on our chests, inconsolable wails up to twelve hours a day. Our pediatrician insisted "all babies cry." Unhappy with that answer, we switched pediatricians.

The new doctor suggested that I quit nursing and that it was perhaps my milk. Yet, when the crying resumed with force, we plodded on searching. Our marriage, family life, and emotional well-being began to suffer.

I began to do research on my own. Combing the library I read every childcare book available. That is when I came across Dr. Sears' books: THE BABY BOOK and PARENTING THE FUSSY BABY AND HIGH NEED CHILD. My husband read aloud the GER (gastroesophageal reflux) symptoms, and we began to feel that we had an answer. I called Dr. Sears and made an appointment. Amelia was in rare form that day and cried the entire visit. Dr. Sears determined that she did have GER and prescribed two medications that have greatly reduced her crying and discomfort.

Amelia is now 6½-months-old. I am beginning to understand why my friends have so enjoyed motherhood. My memories of those first three months are a blur of tears. We were in over our heads and it felt as though the water was rising. If I were to offer encouragement to fellow parents, it would be to trust your instincts. You are your child's only advocate and voice. Make yourself heard."

In general, a medical cause is likely if the so-called colic isn't getting better by four months and your intuition tells you that your baby is in pain. Suspect a medical cause for colic if baby is:

  • Getting worse or not gradually getting better
  • Awakening frequently with painful cries
  • Unable to be consoled
  • Not thriving: poor weight gain, frequent respiratory or intestinal illnesses

Among the possible underlying causes for colic are:

1. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER), a newcomer to the hidden causes of colicky and nightwaking behavior, occurs when the muscular tissue at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach doesn't function like a one-way valve and allows irritating stomach acids to be regurgitated into the esophagus, causing pain similar to what adults call heartburn. Clues that your baby suffers from reflux are many, but not necessarily all, of the following:

  • Wails and shrieks in pain, causing you to feel that he's not just crying but truly hurting
  • Spits up after feedings
  • Experiences painful bursts of nightwaking
  • Most painful cries occur after eating
  • Draws up his legs, knees to his chest, and arches his back as if writhing in pain
  • Has frequent, unexplained colds, wheezing, and chest infections
  • Often seems happier when he's upright rather than lying flat.

Your doctor may suspect GER based on the information from your colic diary and the way you describe baby's crying episodes. GER can be confirmed by placing a tiny tube into the baby's esophagus and leaving it in place for 12 to 24 hours while continuously recording the amount of stomach acids regurgitated into the esophagus. About one-third of infants have some degree of reflux, so simply measuring the stomach acids doesn't prove that GER is why baby is hurting. For this reason, a parent or trained observer records the timing of baby's colicky episodes. If these coincide with the time the baby refluxes, the hidden cause of colic has been found.

If your doctor suspects severe GER, the doctor may suggest an esophagoscopy: placing a thin flexible tube into baby's esophagus under anesthesia to see if there is any damage to the lining of the esophagus from the regurgitation of stomach acids. Your doctor may choose to begin treatment without subjecting baby to these studies and instead do a less invasive test, called an upper G.I. series, where baby swallows some formula- like fluid to be sure there isn't a blockage in the intestines causing the reflux.

Your doctor may prescribe medications that lessen the amount of stomach acid produced and accelerate the emptying of the stomach which, along with the comforting measures listed later, will diminish the reflux and alleviate the baby's discomfort. Holding your baby upright for twenty to thirty minutes after a feeding, in addition to feeding him smaller amounts more frequently, will often reduce reflux as well. (See Treating GER)

2. Food sensitivities. Do gassy foods ingested by a breastfeeding mother cause gassy babies? Nursing mothers have long noticed a correlation between what they eat and how colicky their baby gets, and they have compiled their own fussy foods list. Suspects include: dairy products, caffeine-containing foods and beverages (soft drinks, chocolate, coffee, tea, and certain cold remedies), cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, green peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and onions), spicy foods (such as garlic or curry), wheat, and corn. (See Elimination Diet).

A SAMPLE "FUSS FOOD" DETECTION EXERCISE

POSSIBLE FUSS FOODSFUSSY BEHAVIORS
Dairy products, nuts, corn Frequent painful night-wakings, frequent outbursts of abdominal pain – especially after feeding

FOODS ELIMINATEDBEHAVIOR CHANGES
NutsNo difference detected
Dairy productsSlept better, seemed less colicky

3. The colic-cow's milk connection. New research supports what old wives tales have long suspected: some breastfed babies become colicky if their mothers drink cow's milk. That's because potentially allergenic protein called beta-lactoglobulin in cow's milk is transferred to baby through the breastmilk. This allergen upsets the intestines as if the baby had directly ingested the cow's milk.

4. Formula allergies. Babies fed a cow's-milk-based formula may become colicky if they're allergic to the protein or can't tolerate the lactose in cow's milk. If a formula allergy is suspected, a hypoallergenic formula (Alimentum, Nutramigen, or Pregestamil) or a lactose-free formula may be recommended by your doctor. The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition does not recommend changing to soy formula, since studies have shown that colicky infants do not improve when switching from cow's milk to soy formulas.

Suspect sensitivity to formula or to something in your breastmilk if any of the following ring true:

  • Baby's pain escalates within an hour after feeding.
  • Baby seems gassy or bloated, rather than contented, after feeding.
  • Baby spits up profusely soon after feeding.
  • Baby begins to nurse or bottlefeed, but keeps pulling off, crying as if he's in pain. (The irritated gut starts churning during a feeding, which can make feeding time torturous for the allergic, yet hungry, baby and frustrating for mothers.)
  • Baby has constipation or diarrhea.
  • Baby's bowel movements are extremely watery, mucousy, or explosive.
  • Baby shows the "target-sign": a red, circular rash around the anus, caused by the skin reacting to irritants in his feces.

If you're nursing, make a diary of possible "fuss foods." List the foods you've eaten most frequently in the past week, especially those you tend to eat a lot of. From your diary, see if you can correlate a cause-and-effect relationship between what you eat and how much pain your baby is in. Be objective. In your desperation to comfort your baby, it's easy to pin the wrap on food sensitivity. You're willing to try anything, and your desire for a solution can cloud your objectivity. In my experience, if a food allergy is behind a baby's colic, he'll also show other signs of allergy (for example, rashes, diarrhea, runny nose, or wheezing). Eliminate the most suspicious fuss foods from your diet for at least a week, and then add them back into your diet one by one and see if your baby's symptoms return.

Our daughter-in-law, Diane, shared her experience as a colic detective:"At three weeks of age Lea started to cry all day long. She would awaken in the morning fussing, and by late afternoon it would turn into uncontrollable screaming fits. There was no way to calm her down. After a few sucks at my breast, she would throw her head back, arch her back, and start screaming. Within three days of eliminating all dairy products from my diet, her colic greatly improved. I'm glad we didn't just accept that she was 'colicky' and that 'some babies just cry all the time'."

Other hidden medical causes of colicky behavior that your doctor will look for are: ear infections, urinary tract infections, constipation, and a cause that receives little attention – a tight rectal opening, which prevents easy passage of bowel movements. A clue that this may be the problem is that baby grimaces, gets red in the face, draws her legs up to her distended abdomen before having a bowel movement, cries while moving her bowels, and seems greatly relieved after passing a large stool. Your doctor may perform a finger dilation of baby's rectum, enabling baby to pass stools more easily.

Traditionally, colic has been "treated" by laying a reassuring hand on the tummy of the baby and the shoulders of the parents and temporizing, "Oh, he'll grow out of it!" Most approaches to colic are aimed more at helping parents cope than at relieving baby's pain. By maintaining the mindset "the hurting baby" rather than "the colicky baby" you and your doctor form a partnership to find the cause and the remedy for your baby's pain.

Even though no one completely understands colic, let's make two assumptions: First, baby has pain in the gut. Secondly, the whole baby is upset as a result. Treatment, therefore, is aimed at relaxing the whole baby and particularly the baby's abdomen. While parents need to experiment with comforting measures, most of them come down to motion, untensing tiny tummies, and administering the right touch at the right time. Some strategies to try are:

1. Slower, more frequent feedings. Feeding too much, too fast, can increase intestinal gas from the breakdown of excessive lactose, either in mother's milk or in formula. As a rule of thumb, feed your baby twice as often and half as much. A baby's tummy is around the size of her fist. To appreciate the discrepancy between usual feeding volume and tummy size, place your baby's fist next to a bottle filled with four to six ounces of formula or breastmilk. It's no wonder tiny tummies get tense.

2. Colic Carries. Here are some carrying positions that work particularly well for fathers who call them favorite fuss-busters: Football hold. Place your baby stomach-down along your forearm, with his head near the crook of your elbow and his legs straddling your hand. Press your forearm into baby's tense abdomen. Or, try reversing this position so that his cheek lies in the palm of your hand, his abdomen along your forearm, and his crotch snuggled into the crook of your elbow.

The neck nestle. Snuggle baby's head into the groove between your chin and chest. While swaying back and forth, croon a low, slow, repetitive tune, such as "Old Man River." A father in our practice scheduled his daily exercise routine during baby's evening fussy times. While holding baby in the neck nestle position, he took his daily walk. This took the tension out of baby and pounds off daddy.

3. Colic dances. The choreography that works best to contain colic is movement in all three plains: up and down, side to side, and forward and backward – essentially, the movement that a baby was used to while in the womb. Favorite dance positions are the neck nestle, the football hold, and the colic curl. Our favorite colic-soothing dance is one we called "the elevator step." Spring up and down, heel to toe, as you walk, while holding baby securely in the neck nestle position. Bounce at a rate of 60 to 70 beats per minute (count "1-and-a-2-and-a…"). Interestingly, this rhythm corresponds to the pulse of the blood to the uterus that baby was used to in the womb. Another comforting ritual that worked for us is one we called the "dinner dance." Some babies love to breastfeed in a sling or carrier while you dance. Your movement, plus baby's sucking, is a winning combination for settling even the most upset infant. Babies usually prefer dancing with their mother; she is the dance partner he came to know even before birth. This also explains why some fathers get frustrated when they try to cut in, offering some relief to a worn-out, dancing mom. Yet, many fussy babies like a change in routine and welcome the different holds and steps of a sympathetic sub. (For more dance steps see Dancing with Baby)

4. Baby bends. When your baby is at the peak of an attack, try these abdominal relaxers:

The gas pump. Lay baby face-up on your lap with her legs toward you and her head resting on your knees. Pump her legs up and down in a bicycling motion while making a few attention-getting facial expressions.

The colic curl. Place baby's head and back against your chest and encircle your arms under his bottom, then curl your arms up. Or, try reversing this position by placing baby's feet against your chest as you hold him. This way you can maintain eye contact with your baby and entertain him with funny facial expressions.

5. Tummy rolls. While laying a securing hand on baby's back, drape him tummy-down over a large beach ball and gently roll in a circular motion. Another use for a large beach ball (you can purchase "physio balls" from infant-product catalogs) is the baby bounce. Hold baby securely in your arms and slowly bounce up and down while sitting on the ball. We still have "the big red ball" rolling around our house as a memento of our bouncing past.

6. Tummy tucks. Place a rolled-up cloth diaper or a warm (not hot) water bottle enclosed in a cloth diaper under baby's tummy. To further relax a tense tummy, lay baby stomach-down on a cushion with her legs dangling over the edge while rubbing her back. Turn her head to the side so her breathing isn't obstructed.

7. Tummy touches. Sit baby on your lap and place the palm of your hand over baby's navel, and let your fingers and thumb encircle baby's abdomen. Let baby lean forward, pressing her tense abdomen against your warm hand. Dad's bigger hands provide more coverage. Or, with baby lying on her back, picture an upside down "U" over the surface of your baby's abdomen and using warm massage oil on your hands and kneading baby's abdomen in a circular motion with your flattened fingers, massage from left to right along the lines of the imaginary "U." (See )

8. Warm touches. A warm bath for two often relaxes both you and baby. Or, a famous fuss-preventer I have used with our babies is a technique I call the warm fuzzy: while lying on a bed or the floor, drape baby tummy-to-tummy and skin-to-skin with his ear over dad's heartbeat. The warmth of your body, plus the rise and fall of your chest, is a proven fussbuster.

9. Magic mirror. This technique pulled our babies out of many crying jags. Hold a colicky baby in front of a mirror and let him witness his own drama. Place his hand or bare foot against his image on the mirror surface and watch the intrigued baby grow silent.

10. Babywearing. Anthropologists who have studied infant care practices throughout the world have noted that carried babies tend to fuss less. We use the term "babywearing" because wearing means more than just picking up a baby and putting her in a carrier when she fusses. It means carrying a baby several hours a day, before baby begins to fuss. Carrie, a mother in our practice, had a colicky baby who was content as long as she was in a sling. But Carrie had to return to work when her baby was six-weeks-old. I wrote the following "prescription" to give to her daycare provider: "To keep Tiffany content, wear her in a sling at least three hours a day." One of the theories about colicky behavior is that it's a symptom of disorganized biorhythms. During pregnancy, the womb automatically regulates baby's systems. Birth temporarily disrupts this organization. The more quickly a baby gets outside help with organizing these biorhythms, the more easily she adapts to life outside the womb. By extending the womb experience, the babywearing mother and father provide an external regulating system that helps to organize baby. In comforting colicky babies, it helps to think of the womb experience as lasting eighteen months – nine months inside the mother, and nine months outside. (For additional comforting tips see Fussy Baby)

When will it stop? Colic that has no diagnosed medical cause begins around two weeks of age and reaches its peak around six to eight weeks. Seldom do the outbursts continue longer than four months of age, but fussy behavior may last throughout the first year and mellow between one to two years of age. In one study of fifty colicky babies, the evening colic disappeared by four months in all the infants. What's magic about four months? Around that time, babies develop more internal organization of their sleeping patterns. Other exciting developmental changes also lead babies to the promised land of fuss-free living: They can see clearly across the room. Babies are so delighted by the visual attractions that they forget to fuss. Next, they can play with their hands and engage in self-soothing finger sucking. Babies can enjoy more freedom to wave their limbs free-style and blow off steam. Also, after the first several months, a baby's intestine is more mature and milk allergies may subside. Or, by this time the cause has been found or comforting techniques perfected.

Besides comforting your baby, it's important to comfort yourself. Here are some time-tested ways of surviving and thriving with your colicky baby:

1. Realize it's not your fault. Oftentimes the cause of your baby's cries cannot be found. You need not feel that it's your fault if your baby cries a lot, nor is it your job to make your baby stop crying. Colicky cries not only pierce tender hearts; they may also push anger buttons. If baby's escalating cries are getting to you, hand baby over to another person or put baby safely down and walk out of the room until your scary feelings subside. Don't take your baby's cries personally. Your job is to create a supportive environment that lessens your baby's need to cry, to offer a set of caring and relaxing arms so that your baby does not need to cry alone, and to do as much detective work as you can to figure out why your baby is crying and how you can help. The rest is up to your baby.

2. If you resent it, change it. If you are beginning to resent your style of parenting and your constant babytending and are feeling at the mercy of your baby's cries, take this as a signal that you need to make some changes. The key to surviving and thriving with the colicky baby is to keep working until you find a parenting style that meets the needs of your infant, but at the same time meets your needs and does not exceed your ability to give. Yes, you will have to stretch yourself, but not until you snap. Get help with household chores that drain your energy. Also, oftentimes it's necessary to hand baby over to a caring and experienced pair of substitute arms and go out and do something just for yourself.

PARENTING TIP

In the exam room that I do most of my colic counseling, hangs a sign that reads: "Each day remind yourself what your baby needs most is a happy, rested mother."

A mother in our practice shared this story with me: "One day when my baby was one-month-old, I was talking to my mother on the phone and I said, 'Mom, I've been crying for two days, I can't stop, and I'm getting scared.' Mom came right over. We had a talk and she said, 'Donna, it's okay to feel resentful that your life has been turned upside down by this precious little baby girl.' I said, 'That's exactly how I feel. I don't resent her, but I resent the fact that I have no life anymore. I feel isolated and depressed.' Mom said, 'I'll take Lauren tonight and you and Michael go out for dinner.'

In our pediatric office we collect pictures of cute T-shirt sayings. One of our favorites, worn by a two-year-old, is: Mom's having a bad day. Call 1-800- GRANDMA.

3. Job share. The person who shared in the conception must also share in the care of the colicky baby. Hand the well-fed baby over to dad and go take a SOAK.

4. Plan ahead. Mornings are usually an easier time for colicky babies and their rested parents, yet evenings take their toll.

HAPPY HOUR

For unknown reasons, some colicky babies seem to go to pieces in the late afternoon or early evening and, by a quirk of injustice, just when your parental reserves are already drained. If your baby is a "P.M. fusser," plan ahead for "happy hour" before baby's colic rears its ugly head. Prepare the evening meal in advance, so that you can devote one hundred percent of your attention to her during this time. Frozen, precooked casseroles and colicky babies mix well. Treat baby and yourself to a late afternoon nap. Upon awakening, go immediately into a relaxing ritual, such as a 20-minute massage, followed by a 40-minute walk carrying the baby in a sling or carrier (a good way for you to work in some post-baby exercise, too). With this before-colic ritual, baby is conditioned to expect an hour of pleasure rather than an hour of pain.

5. Take the long view. There is life after colic. The time in your arms is a very short period in the total life of your child, but the memories of love and availability last a lifetime.

FEATURES FUSSY BABY (high-need baby) COLICKY BABY (hurting baby)Intensity of cryingSettles when held, consolableShrieks inconsolablyBehavior patternNo consistent patternPainful outbursts interspersed with periods of calmness, usually occurs in late afternoon and evening, alternating periods of contentment and violent outbursts: "He seemed perfectly happy and content just a minute ago, now he's a wreck, and so are we."Body language and facial featuresUpset, a fretful look, tense muscles, often relaxes when held"Ouch" signs: facial grimaces, furrowed forehead, crying with wide-open mouth, clenched fists, hard tummy, flailing arms and legs, arms clenched tightly closed to chest and knees drawn up against a bloated abdomen; back arching; brief post-colicky snooze as if "spent."Parents' intuition"It's her temperament.""I know he hurts somewhere."

"At three weeks of age Leah became very fussy and cried all day long. She would awaken in the morning fussing and by late afternoon it would turn into an unreachable screaming and crying fit. Unreachable because there was no way to calm her down and she seemed totally unaware of her surroundings. Her eyes were opened but she did not "see." Her crying was very loud and her whole face would turn red, and I often thought she was going to stop breathing. During the day, she nursed very infrequently and only for a few minutes if she did at all. She would latch on to the breast and after a few sucks throw her head back, arch her back, and start screaming. It was nearly impossible to get her to sleep during the day, and transitioning from wakefulness to sleep was very difficult for her. I do believe that in some ways it made me become more "attached" to my daughter because of all we've been through, and I think I will be a more sensitive and responsive parent because of it. I never let her "cry it out" and I never stopped looking for answers, and I probably never will."

Thank a Soldier


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So, Xerox is doing a really great thing. You can go to the website: Thank a Soldier and choose from a ton of different designs of cards. You can add one of their pre-written notes, or write your own. Xerox will Print and Mail your card to a soldier, Free! No, you don't get to pick the soldier, but let's face it, they are all working hard for us!

Even if you can only do this once, it's worth it, and it only takes 2 minutes! So please, Thank a Soldier today!

Man Tai


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So, I haven't tried this yet, but I plan to. I have yet to sling or wear my baby, mostly because I didn't know how difficult it would be to get things done with her wanting to be held so much! So, I'll probably make one of these for DH, and one for myself in more girly colors!

I want to give credit where credit is due, so here's a linky to the site. It has some great photo instructions!

http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/man-tai.shtml


Good Luck and enjoy! If anyone makes one, please leave a comment on how things went and if you have any other tips for the readers!

Blankie


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One of the things that I'm so thankful that I took to the hospital with me was my own throw blanket. It's not really a real blanket even, just a long piece of purple fleece that I use as a couch blanket or something to wrap around my shoulders sometimes. I used it during Labor to make me feel more at home. It made me feel 'safe' to wrap myself up in while I was waiting to be able to go to the NICU to see my baby. I stayed at the hospital for a full 8 days with my baby while she was in the NICU, and this blanket made my room just a little more cozy for those 8 days. Since it was nice and long, it was also great to throw around my shoulders, so that I could visit with people while I pumped without embarrassing myself.

You can see my 'blankie' here in this pic. Nothing fancy, just comfy!

Post Delivery Blushers...


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Yes, I must blush slightly as I write this one out. But again, these were things that I never really asked anyone else about, because, well, it's embarrassing! So, for those of you too embarrassed to ask anyone else about this stuff, here is my experience... *Blush*

Everyone always talks about pooping on the table during labor. I was a little nervous about it, but as everyone I've ever talked to about it says "once you get to that point, you just don't care"... well, they were right! I honestly have no idea if I did or not! I asked DH about it, and he said he didn't know either, he wasn't looking!

Aside from labor bathroom issues though, is the daunting task of the first post delivery pee and poop. I was really scared to do both I must say! I ended up waiting quite a while after delivery to go to the bathroom. Our LO was in the NICU and they wouldn't let me go and see her until I'd peed, but they wouldn't let me get up to do that until my epidural wore off completely. So, about 6 hours after delivery, I was able to lift both of my legs (the 'sign' that I was epi free enough to walk), and called a nurse to help me to the bathroom. I was so scared to pee, I was sure it was going to burn like crazy, especially since I had a tear and had been cut during delivery. The peeing wasn't exactly comfortable, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I'd worked it up to be in my mind! The little squirt bottle that the nurse used to clean my lady bits was awesome. Warm water was just the thing to make me feel oh so much cleaner than I'd been feeling since delivery. She also used a warm wash cloth to pat me so I wasn't dripping water.

I'd have never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would ever in my lifetime, sit on a toilet and let another woman clean my lady bits! But, at that point, I didn't care, I was pretty much 'unshameable'. I know that's not really a word, but that's where I was at!

Then there is the post delivery pooping. They gave me a Colace (stool softener) 3 times a day for the 2 days I was in the hospital, the first pill was probably 30 minutes after delivery. I'd had a huge baby, a vacuum birth and some pretty intense damage 'down there', the thought of pushing anything else out was something I could definitely do without for a while! So, literally, don't push it! I finally pooped for the first time 3 days after delivery. It took forever, but I just let the build up of 'need to go' pressure do MOST of the work for me! I was so scared to go that I'd put it off till I was actually getting uncomfortable. That maybe wasn't the smartest idea, but it wasn't like I was holding it in, it just didn't NEED to come out yet! When it did, since I didn't really have to push, it wasn't very painful at all. Definitely take the stool softeners that they give you, or take your own!

Then, there's the final 'blusher' topic: Gas... you will not believe the gas that you will have after delivery! Especially the first 2 days. If you're modest or don't want everyone in the world to hear you, ahem, pass wind, wait to use the bathroom until there isn't anyone else in your room. Bathrooms Echo! You can probably let it go in front of people if your just sitting down, it doesn't smell, it's just air, and your diaper sized pad will muffle it if it even makes a sound, which mine only have in the bathroom! I have no idea how a body can hold that much air, but, i guess there's room for it since there's no longer a baby in there!

So, those are my post delivery blushers. I hope it gives some of the readers, who'd be to embarrassed to ask anyone else, some perspective!

Crafty!


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Feel free to snag this and post it on your blog, facebook or myspace page etc!

Get Help During Labor


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So, no one ever said that Labor and Delivery was fun or a piece of cake! It's long... except in the case of my good friend Amanda or my Niece Anna, both of whom seem to have nice short labors! It's painful, you are pushing out a baby after all! And, it's tiring!

For my labor, I'd had all these plans of toughing it out quietly, going without an epidural and having a spectacularly supportive husband to get me through it all... the only part of that that didn't fall through was the supportive husband part!

After almost 41 weeks of pregnancy and no sign of natural labor in sight, I was induced. After a few rounds of Cytotec, I asked for IV pain meds. After my water broke and soaking in a bathtub did nothing for the misery I was in, I asked for the epidural. But, throughout it all, my husband was great!

So, here's a few tips on what I found to help with pain and comfort... it didn't erase it of course, but it helped some!

  • Cool or Warm washcloth on your forehead or neck. It's a personal thing. For me, I wanted warm. I was cold, and when I get cold I tense up my body. This did NOT make the contractions any less painful! With a warm washcloth on my head, I was able to relax a bit. I also used one of those scented rice 'neck roll' things. http://www.livingiseasy.co.uk/images/AROMATHERAPY_NECK_WARMER_CONTOURED_NECK_ROLL_Moulds_and_caresses_the_neck_beautifully_Simply_heat_in_a_microwave_for_hours_of_soothing_warmth_Choose_from_2_aromatherapies_b.jpg This isn't me, but this is what I'm talking about! It helped to relax me, and also gave me a little more comfort when I was trying to sleep in more of an upright position.
  • Extra pillows for under your knees etc. You can assume that you may be able to sleep at some point during your labor or induction, especially if you get some pain relief. If you needed some extra cushioning to help you sleep during your pregnancy up to this point, it's a good assumption that you'll need it now too!
  • Have someone help support you physically during pushing. They had me lean up and grab some handle bars on the sides of my bed. They kept telling me to stick my elbows out while pushing and keep my chin down. I was using SO much energy and strength to hold my head there that I was getting woozy. I asked my husband to help hold my head forward for each push, and had much more energy to put towards the pushing then!
  • Epidural... I'm putting this last because I know that there are many women who want to go epi free. I was one of them, and really think (hope maybe?) that if I hadn't had an induction, I'd have been more successful. I had a great nurse, who basically told me flat out: "I can help you do this without an epidural if you want, but you need to make a commitment pretty soon as to how you want to do this." She was right. I was in major pain, and if I was going to go without and epi, I needed to figure out how to work through the rest of the labor. If I was going to get the epi, there was no reason to put it off and go through the pain if I didn't have to. Whether you choose the epi or not is your call, but, it will help with your comfort!

MY BFing Do's and Don'ts!


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Because of issues beyond my control, I was only able to BF exclusively for 2 weeks. These are some of the things I found out during those 2 weeks that helped me out... and a few things that I would have done differently that may have let me go the full year that I'd wanted to BF.

  • Make SURE that if you have someone helping you pump from a hospital pump that they aren't just a nurse, but an actual LC. Even go to a LC before you deliver and ask them to measure your nipples and look at the flanges (cups) on your breast pump to make sure you have the right size you need. I needed to start pumping the first morning after birth, so very late in the night, one of the NICU nurses (granted she was a newbie) set us up with a hospital pump. She gave me Small Size flanges... the LC saw me the next day with my bleeding nipples and skinless areola and realized that I needed an Extra Large size cups... makes a big difference! The nurse had also set my pump on the highest suction pressure there is... she had it on level 5 and LC said no more than level 3 until I have a full milk supply. BFing and Pumping was incredibly painful because of these 2 bits of 'mistraining'.
  • Snacking on something while pumping helps increase your production!
  • Talking to someone, even on the phone, keeps your mind off of pumping and makes the time go faster. Working or playing on a computer, reading a book or magazine, or playing a game (by yourself or with someone) helps the time go by as well.
  • Water Water Water! Just have a few big bottles of water in every room. Refill them out of your tap if you don't want to keep buying them. But, you can let them sit in a basket next to the couch, on a bedside table or in the nursery for a few days before it gets stale tasting. This way, you don't ever have to sit and nurse thirsty because you finally got situated and don't want to get up to get a glass of water.
  • Drinking something warm helps with let down.
  • Ice packs on your sore nipples or engorged breasts really does the trick for pain reduction!
  • So many LCs will tell you that if your LO has a good latch, it won't hurt... that's true after a while, but for the first few weeks, for the first few minutes of every nursing or pumping session, it DOES hurt. You're breasts and nipples are going through a totally new 'workout'. Your skin will be sensitive and having a baby or a pump pulling on them isn't comfortable!

Things to take to the Hospital


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You'll find so many lists of what to take to the hospital, but this is a list of things that I did or didn't take, that I used or could have used... and you won't find them on most lists!


  • A PADDED bra to wear in the shower after you start BFing (if you are) those nipples hurt in the shower... and hospital showers tend to be really high pressure tiny streams!
  • Buy some witch hazel and some of those round cotton facial cleaners. SOAK the facial cleaners and put a strip of 3 or 4 on your pad before you put the pad on. My hospital gave me a container of Tucks, which I used. But using my own creation made me SO much less sore down there! Take them stored in a small container or something. They felt the best when they were cool! Most hospitals stay pretty cold, so I didn't have to put them on ice or anything for them to feel comfortable!
  • Create an extra emergency bag (leave it in your car) if you have a bit of a drive from your house to the hospital in case you have an extended stay! We didn't know we'd be in the hospital for a week, so we only brought 2-3 days of clothes for DH, I only brought 1 pair of panties and only had 'work out' clothes. We had to go buy things because we were an hour from our house!
  • Take flip flops or some other VERY loose shoes to wear after delivery. My feet were at least if not more than twice the size they were on my swollen days during pregnancy! I couldn't even bend my toes they were so swollen.
  • Take GUM! They may want you to not have sugar, so take sugarless, but it helps get you through contractions... plus, it makes you feel not quite so gross! Before I started chewing it, I was worried about my breath while I was blowing through contractions! I know... perfect thing to be thinking about at that time!
  • Take the chap stick... and put it on before you start pushing like I did! In between pushes, I made my husband go dig it out of our bag ... because I didn't want my baby to feel my lips be all scratchy for my first kiss to her!
  • Take pen and paper... I know people say to take a journal to write down your feelings etc... but I'm talking about a plain old notepad. I realized that I'd gotten a LOT of extra instructions because we're NICU parents. However, writing down little things like times you're supposed to nurse, numbers to call if you need something are what would go in here. Also, a 'go get' list; you will forget something no matter what and send someone to a store, but you'll forget one of the things that you thought you wanted and a second trip will be needed.
  • A blow up donut to sit on. The hospital may have them for you, but I didn't get one until 2 days post delivery, and it went everywhere with me! It's amazing! Even if you get a toddler swimming toy, get this thing!!!
  • Layers layers layers. You thought you had a wacky body temp fluctuation while pg? Think again! In one day, I went from a nursing tank top with yoga pants to the nursing tank, with a long sleeve t-shirt, and a zip up hoodie with my yoga pants... and then I put on running pants OVER my yoga pants! By the end of the night, I'd taken off the running pants and the hoodie, but still needed the rest!
  • A Boppy or other BFing pillow, even if you don't plan to BF, it's a great place to let baby lay if you happen to be alone in your room and need to put her down so you can talk on the phone, write something down, talk to her etc.

Baked Kale


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So, I know it sounds weird, actually, maybe a little gross. But, my sister, Becky, is a nutrition major at school and is on a ‘find everything healthy’ kick. She found this recipe for baked kale… yes kale as in the nasty green leaf that comes on your plate at restaurants. Not so nasty tasting if you make it right I guess!


  1. Heat oven to 350
  2. Tear the Kale into pieces, about 2-3 inches each… not really a big deal here.
  3. Wash them in a colander and spread them out on a towel. Pat the pieces dry with another towel.
  4. Spray with a butter flavored spray
  5. Sprinkle seasoning on, I like Salt and Pepper, with or without Garlic, but this is an open book here!
  6. Sprinkle with shredded Parmesan Cheese, not too much (use sesame seeds or another topping for variety)
  7. Bake until the pieces have a dry brittle feel to them, 5-10 minutes

  • These are good plain or dipped in ketchup, ranch, or any other dip you’d like to try!
  • A full bag of Kale will feed 2-3 people… it looks like a huge pile, but really isn’t that much once you start eating!
  • The one downfall to this recipe… the odor that will be left in your kitchen isn’t awful, but doesn’t exactly smell great. I suggest candles or an open window.
  • She could tell you all the benefits of this stuff, apparently it’s really great for you… I just know it tastes YUMMY!!!

Welcome!


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Welcome to my Need to Know Mom Guide! While I'm still new at the mom business, I feel that I'm definitely finding things out that would have really been great to know before hand. Some things REALLY would have been good to know ahead of time.

The info I'll be posting will not all be medically proven or anything unless I state where I found the info. It will mostly be from my experiences on what did, or didn't, work for my baby or myself. Ya know 'real mom' stuff. Not the things that books tell you makes you a real mom! I'll also be posting other 'helpers' that I gather from my family and friends!