How did you chose your babies name? We asked our facebook fans and heard a mix of old friends, family members, favorite tv charcters, to heard it in passing!
Having a baby is one of the most wonderful of life events. However, childbirth brings with it many physical and emotional challenges. Here are a list of ways to ease the transition to new motherhood.
Preparing for Childbirth: Before The Baby Arrives
- Postpartum moms, especially if they’re breastfeeding, are hungry! You won’t regret taking time in your final weeks of pregnancy to cook and freeze extra meals. Casseroles, soups and stews and pasta dishes freeze well. Ask friends and relatives to help you stock your freezer.
- Are friends hosting a baby shower for you? Instead of frilly, impractical baby outfits that are uncomfortable for baby and will be outgrown in no time, register for things that will make postpartum life easier, cotton sleepers (with zippers if possible), gowns (trust us, you will appreciate gowns when you’re up for your 2am and 4am diaper changes
!) - Stock up on disposable cups, plates and cutlery to eliminate dishes. Invest in or request gift certificates to local take out restaurants.
- Don’t forget to load up on diapers, wipes, sanitary napkins, and nursing pads.
- A new mom doesn’t need to be fussing about the nest. Treat yourself to a cleaning service in those early weeks. Better yet, ask friends and family to! Some cleaning services offer a registry so that several people can contribute.
Baby’s Here: How To Enjoy Your Babymoon
- Many cultures traditionally expected nothing from a new mom in the first 6 weeks other than that she rest and get to know her newborn. Learn from their wisdom! Even if you’re feeling high on love hormones and had an easier birth, rest as much as possible. This helps ensure a hearty milk supply and reduces risk of infection. Some moms who do too much in the early days postpartum pay for it months down the road with depression, fatigue and health problems such as mastitis.
- Let the tears flow. It’s ok to feel out of sorts during the postpartum period. Don’t worry about being “strong”. Cuddling your baby and loving on him or her will help.
- Limit guests if you need to. Moms differ in their tolerance or need for people after baby’s birth. Don’t be apologetic if you need quiet time or rest. Have a trusted friend or your partner run interference if relatives get meddlesome.
- Keep the phone number of your Lactation Consultant or La Leche League leader handy, and don’t hesitate to call if you need assistance with breastfeeding.
- A “belly band” type of girdle can be very helpful in providing support to your middle and helping your posture (as well as protecting a C-section incision) while your abdominals remember what their job is!
- If you’re recuperating from a Cesarean these tips are even more important. You will have more pain and a longer recuperation time. So give yourself lots of grace! You’ve just brought a brand new human being into the world, it’s ok to feel tired.
Are you thrilled about your pregnancy but miserable in the throes of morning sickness? Here are a few tips and tricks for dealing with pregnancy nausea and vomiting that have worked for many moms.
- Eat a snack before getting out of bed in the morning. Either have your partner bring it to you, or keep something in a cooler next to your bed. Raising your blood sugar and then getting up very slowly can head off morning sickness before it begins. Similarly, eat a high protein snack before bed and every time you wake in the night to go to the bathroom. Cheese, a spoonful of nut butter, nuts and whole grain crackers are good choices.
- Vitamin B6 helps some women. Talk to your health care provider about supplements during pregnancy.
- Small frequent meals keep your blood sugar stable throughout the day and don’t aggravate your sensitive tummy as much. Plan to eat every 2-3 hours.
- Avoid trigger smells & strong odors in general. Have someone else deal with smelly trash cans, pet messes, rotten food on dirty dishes or other stinkies. Have your partner switch to unscented personal care products if fragrance makes you ill.
- Try eating beans. The soluble fiber in beans helps bind with the extra bile (pregnant women have extra bile thanks to the hormone HcG)
- Go with your cravings. It’s better to have a cheeseburger and fries that stays down than a salad that comes back up.
- Ginger in its many forms helps some: ginger ale, ginger tea, ginger capsules, ginger candy.
- Hard candies, lollipops & popsicles help some pregnant ladies plus they are a nice treat.
- Lemon essential oil can quell nausea. Try sniffing a lemon when nausea hits or putting a drop of lemon oil on a cotton ball and taking a whiff when you smell unpleasant odors.
- Similarly, peppermint oil can help. Take a whiff of peppermint oil straight from the bottle when you feel waves of nausea or sucking on a peppermint candy.
- Get enough protein. Eating protein and fewer sugars can help put the brakes on nausea.
- If you’re really having issues keeping anything down be sure to talk to you doctor, prescription anti-nausea medicines may be in order.
And always remember this is only temporary and so worth it in the end.
Love your friends at Haute Mommies and Bella Babies, your source for unique Maternity and Baby clothing, gifts, accessories and gear!!
Holy Hollywood Baby Rush Batman!!
So who’s due in 2013?
Not quite Hollywood but the whole world is excited for the birth of the latest member of the British Royal Family, the royal couple Prince William and Kate Middleton are expecting in 2013. Not long after their 2012 nuptials, came the announcement of the Duchess of Cambridge pregnancy. Kate Middleton is due to deliver the newes member of the Royal Family this coming July 2013.
And of course we have our own brand of Royalty in the US, the Kardashian Family. Kanye West announced during one of his concert on December 30, 2012 that he and girlfriend Kim Kardashian are expecting their first…or is it two? Rumors have been swirling that Kim and Kanye have not one but two little ones on the way. Kim Kardashian is due to deliver their first child (children) this coming July 2013.
One of America’s sweethearts, Kristen Bell who is recently starring on the House of Lies Series, and Her fiancé Dax Shepard has just recently welcomed the arrival of their daughter March 28, 2013.
Jenna Bush Hager is another celebrity who is expecting this year. At the moment, Jenna Bush Hager is the current editor for the magazine Southern Living. The announcement of her pregnancy was made during an episode of the “Today” show (on which she frequently serves as a contributor.) She is due to deliver the baby this coming spring.
And of course most recently the surprising news that 46 year old Halle Berry and her boyfriend Oliver Martinez are expecting.
Have you heard of any other celebrity pregnancies? When is your baby due?
It’s not everyday you find out you’re expecting a baby. Sharing the news with your loved ones is special. How do you announce your pregnancy? Here are some fun ways we’ve heard.
- Have everyone squeeze in for a photo. Only, instead of having them “say cheese” at the pivotal moment, tell them to say “We’re pregnant!”. The bonus is that you’ll catch everyone’s reaction in the pic!
- Pick up a “Big Brother” or “Big Sister” t-shirt (or one of our adorable tutu t-shirt dresses) for the older sibling to be, or have them hold a posterboard with the message. Email the pic to your family and friends or have the little one sport the shirt at a family gathering.
- Put a picture of the ultrasound next to a jar of Prego spaghetti sauce, take a picture and post it on Facebook or send it in an email to family and friends.
- Post a picture on Facebook with a big pink or blue ribbon tied around Mom’s belly
- Send a card to the prospective Grandparents wishing them “Happy Grandparents Day”. This works best if it’s their first grandchild.
- Replace the fortune in a fortune cookie with your own (remove the old one carefully with tweezers) special baby announcement.
- For real wow factor, order custom quail egg announcements from Little Elephant Crafts (lovingly hand made here in the US.)
What creative ways to announce the big news do you have? Please share below!!
Weaning by definition begins when your baby starts eating solid foods. But of course, it’s not necessary to entirely stop nursing your baby once he or she is eating table food. When should you wean your nursing baby? And how should you go about it if you’ve decided it’s time to wean?
If breastfeeding is going well, there is no reason to place an arbitrary time limit on nursing. In fact, the World Health Organization and The American Academy of Pediatrics recommend a year or even two years of breastfeeding. There are many benefits to nursing an older baby or toddler including: continued protection against illness, comfort to baby, less need for orthodontics as baby gets older, and less risk of breast cancer for mom, among other benefits.
How To Wean
If you have decided that you’re ready to wean, go about it gradually. Eliminate feedings one at a time. Dropping one nursing session each week will help ease the transition for you and your child. If you wean too quickly, you may get plugged ducts or mastitis, and the abrupt cessation of “feel-good” hormones associated with breastfeeding (oxytocin, prolactin) can make you feel depressed or stressed. Baby will also have a difficult time transitioning away from his favorite comfort source if weaning is too fast.
Offer plenty of other foods and liquids to replace the lost calories nursing provides. Be sure to give baby plenty of extra mothering, cuddles and attention during this time. And since baby doesn’t associate him with breastfeeding, Dad can be a huge help during weaning. He can offer a welcome distraction when baby asks to nurse.
If you typically feed in the same place (for instance, a favorite rocking chair), avoid that place as it signals baby that it’s time to nurse. For a toddler, it helps to be a “moving target” and keep your child busy so they don’t think to ask to nurse. Change your routine if you need to.
If your breasts get too full during weaning, it’s a good idea to hand express just enough milk for your comfort. Avoid pumping, since that can signal your breasts to continue making milk.
9 Top Tricks For Soothing Baby
Sling ‘em. Moms everywhere agree that babies who are “worn” cry less than babies who aren’t. Babies love the closeness, the motion, and the interaction with you that wearing in a soft cloth carrier, wrap or structured carrier provide
White noise. The womb is a fairly loud place, and babies enjoy hearing a similar level of soothing noise outside the womb. You can buy a white noise machine or just use a household fan (my baby loved the stove vent fan), vacuum cleaner, running water, hair dryer, clothes dryer… or download a white noise app to your smartphone.
Sucking. Babies love to suck. It’s a pleasure and comfort to them. Try the winning combo of swaddling(we love the little giraffe & jannuzzi muslin swaddling blankets)/shushing (white noise) and sucking (pacifier or breast) – most babies are powerless against this trio!
Lovely Lavender. Try a drop of calming, analgesic and soporific lavender essential oil. Mix one drop with a teaspoon of carrier oil and rub it on baby’s feet or back. Great for teething pain.
Go al fresco. Babies love the great outdoors. It provides fresh air, a change of scenery, and many babies calm right down with a walk outside.
Mother, calm thyself. Babies can sense a parent’s stress. It’s important to take a few deep breaths yourself and exude a quiet, calm confidence. You’re the leader of the pack and baby needs to sense that you’re comfortable being in charge.
Breastfeed on cue. Babies nurse for many reasons other than hunger, and they are all legitimate. It is perfectly ok for a young baby to use mom as a pacifier. Frequent nursing ensures a hearty milk supply and floods baby’s – AND mom’s – body with feel good, bonding and loving hormones.
Aqua therapy. Some babies love their bath. A warm bath, especially with a favorite soothing bubble bath, is just the ticket to distract baby from her fussing, tire her out and ready her for la-la land.
Cuddles and Choruses. Babies need a lot of touch. Try holding baby and rocking him or her, or have Dad cuddle baby and sing. Babies love the deeper tone and vibration of Dad’s voice.