As a new mom, you will soon learn that your whole life has changed--your activities every day, the amount of sleep you get in a given night, to the amount of love felt for another human being. Especially in the first few weeks and months, you are literally spending every moment of every day with your baby, caring and nurturing him and trying to run a household at the same time.
You will definitely need an outlet and support from others, which is why I highly recommend joining a mom's group. I started going to my mom's group after David went back to work, when Alex was about six weeks old. The one which I attend is free (which is a bonus) and is offered by Kaiser Oakland. We meet once per week and the format is quite free-form. There is a lactation consultant who is the moderator and each mom gets a chance to introduce herself and her baby and ask questions or just give updates on what is going on with them.
I am so happy that I tried out the group, because it has provided lots of advice, support and new friends for both myself and for Alex. Make sure you take advantage of the resources in your community. It is always helpful to have others moms to chat with, share experiences with, bounce ideas off of and have adult interaction with. Our group also has a Yahoo! group, so that we can be connected all through the week, regardless of time or place. I have also visited quite a few other mom connecting sites online which have been very useful when I have a question. Inevitably, someone else will have had the experience that you are currently going through and they will be able to give some advice.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Applying for Baby's Passport
In preparation for our trip to Japan and Hong Kong this Fall, we recently applied for a passport for Alex. After hearing about the backlog over the past couple of years, I wanted to make sure that we applied early to ensure that we received the passport with plenty of time to spare prior to our departure.
Surprisingly, things went very smoothly and the whole process was quite efficient. The U.S. Department of State website http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/minors/minors_834.html is easy to use and has all of the information needed to apply for a child's passport. It allows you to fill out the form DS-11 using a "wizard", which is quite handy.
A few things to know, when applying on behalf of a child. You will need to get an official copy of the birth certificate, which can be obtained from the county courthouse. Also, both parents must be present when submitting the application, which basically safeguards against one parent applying for the passport and then taking the child out of the country, without the knowledge of the other parent. It looks like you can have a notarized form which allows just one parent to go and apply, but if you are going to get a form notarized, you might as well go to apply for the passport, right?
The photos have the same specific guidelines which they have for adults and these are outlined on the application and further on the website. Remember, if you are holding the baby, which we had to at the time, as Alex could not sit fully on his own yet, make sure that you have a white sheet covering your body and arms, so that the picture just has the baby and a white background. We took photos of Alex at home (cute ones, I might add) and had to get different ones taken, because a bit of my brown shirt was showing in the picture. Walgreen's did a great job and only charged about $7 for two photos.
So, where do you go to apply for the passport? Not all Post Offices take applications, so click on the link ("Where to apply for a Passport in the US?")at the bottom of the page noted above. If you put in your zip code, it will give a listing of places where you can go to submit the application. We went to a Post Office in Piedmont and they were very organized and helpful. One thing to note is that when I went to pick up the birth certificate at the County Clerk's office at the courthouse, I asked if we could apply there and was told that you cannot apply for the passport at the same location as where the birth certificate was issued. Just something to keep in mind.
So, when you go to apply, make sure that you have 1) application 2) 2 photos which adhere to the strict standards 3) both parents with IDs 4)a check for payment, actually, we needed 2 checks, one for the Post Office, for the processing fee and one for the State Department and 5) official copy of the birth certificate of the child.
All in all, the process went very smoothly and Alex received his passport two weeks later, which was great! Japan and Hong Kong, here we come!!
Surprisingly, things went very smoothly and the whole process was quite efficient. The U.S. Department of State website http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/minors/minors_834.html is easy to use and has all of the information needed to apply for a child's passport. It allows you to fill out the form DS-11 using a "wizard", which is quite handy.
A few things to know, when applying on behalf of a child. You will need to get an official copy of the birth certificate, which can be obtained from the county courthouse. Also, both parents must be present when submitting the application, which basically safeguards against one parent applying for the passport and then taking the child out of the country, without the knowledge of the other parent. It looks like you can have a notarized form which allows just one parent to go and apply, but if you are going to get a form notarized, you might as well go to apply for the passport, right?
The photos have the same specific guidelines which they have for adults and these are outlined on the application and further on the website. Remember, if you are holding the baby, which we had to at the time, as Alex could not sit fully on his own yet, make sure that you have a white sheet covering your body and arms, so that the picture just has the baby and a white background. We took photos of Alex at home (cute ones, I might add) and had to get different ones taken, because a bit of my brown shirt was showing in the picture. Walgreen's did a great job and only charged about $7 for two photos.
So, where do you go to apply for the passport? Not all Post Offices take applications, so click on the link ("Where to apply for a Passport in the US?")at the bottom of the page noted above. If you put in your zip code, it will give a listing of places where you can go to submit the application. We went to a Post Office in Piedmont and they were very organized and helpful. One thing to note is that when I went to pick up the birth certificate at the County Clerk's office at the courthouse, I asked if we could apply there and was told that you cannot apply for the passport at the same location as where the birth certificate was issued. Just something to keep in mind.
So, when you go to apply, make sure that you have 1) application 2) 2 photos which adhere to the strict standards 3) both parents with IDs 4)a check for payment, actually, we needed 2 checks, one for the Post Office, for the processing fee and one for the State Department and 5) official copy of the birth certificate of the child.
All in all, the process went very smoothly and Alex received his passport two weeks later, which was great! Japan and Hong Kong, here we come!!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Amazon Baby Registry Promotion
We used Amazon.com as the location for our Baby Gift Registry. We had used them for our Wedding Registry and had a good experience, so we decided to use it again. It actually worked out quite well because they have almost anything you could want on Amazon, and it is available to anyone in the country, regardless of their geographic location. The site is easy to use and often times the items are shipped for free. Recently, I saw a promotion on the site, which I thought moms-to-be may be interested in.
Amazon.com is partnering with the Seventh Generation company on a promotion. If you put together a registry, or already have one, on Amazon.com and make purchases of $750, you will receive six months of Seventh Generation Diapers for free (basically a $250 value--good through June 1, 2009). It states that the purchases can be made by you, your friends or your relatives, anytime between July 1, 2008 and September 30, 2008. As you probably already know, it does not take much time for baby purchases to add up to $750, so you might want to take advantage of it.
I haven't used Seventh Generation diapers, but I do know a few people who have and they like them. They have a four out of five star rating on Amazon with 42 reviews, so most people like them. They are chlorine-free which makes them more green than other disposable choices.
Anyway, just thought I would pass the information along. If you are going to be spending the money anyway, you might as well take advantage of it.
Another Cool Nursing Item
One piece of nursing wear which I think is quite useful is the Glamourmom Nursing Tank. It is basically a tank top with a nursing bra built in, which I think is great! They come in a wide variety of colors and a few different styles, depending on what you are looking for. The tank has straps with clasps which are discreet, so you can wear it alone or under something. It is not obvious at all that it is a nursing tank.
I had tried to order a couple of similar tanks from The Gap Maternity, but I was really disappointed. They did not sell them in stores, so you had to order and then try on. Using their sizing chart, I decided that I needed a medium and when it arrived, it was huge. I decided it was at least a couple of sizes too big, so I then ordered an Extra Small and when it arrived it was still not fitting the way that I wanted it to, so I gave up. They were cheaper than the Glamourmoms, but there was no comparison at all. The Glamourmom quality and construction seemed better and it looks much more clean, with no little lacy detail.
Anyway, these are worth a shot. Their website is located at: http://www.glamourmom.com/. They also sell via retailers. There is a store locator on their site. If you do decide to order, on the order page there is a GM Code box on the left hand side. This helps them to identify who referred you to them and gives that person credit towards a free tank (after three purchases). If you feel like it, my GM code is JACH75.
The bottom line is, this is a good product, and I have met many moms in my weekly mom's group who would wholeheartedly agree. :-)
Monday, August 4, 2008
De Quervain's Tendonitis
Babies bring about many changes in your life. You will find that you will use muscles that just haven't been used much previously in your life. At first they ache, and then they become stronger, which is a good thing.
About three months after Alex was born I started having pain in my left wrist. If I moved my thumb away from my hand it hurt and I would feel a catching or snapping feeling. I did some research online, prior to going in to see a doctor, and it appeared that I had de Quervain's tenosynovitis, which is basically tendonitis of your thumb. The doctor confirmed the diagnosis and told me that it is very common for this to happen to first-time parents. In fact, it is sometimes referred to as "new mother's disease". His solution was a brace to keep my thumb immobile. After wearing the brace for a week or so, I decided that I would just make a conscious effort to keep my thumb next to the rest of the hand, because the brace really interfered with alot of other baby care items. It worked totally fine.
A news article from the Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2007-mchi/4185.html?mc-emref=y) had a very good description of the symptoms: "pain and swelling about a half-inch back from the base of the thumb. Pinching, grasping or other thumb and wrist movement may aggravate the pain. Without treatment, the pain may spread in the thumb, forearm or both. Wrist tendonitis is caused by irritation and swelling of the sheath that surrounds the major tendons connecting the wrist and lower thumb. It can result from overuse of the wrist and thumb together." Their explanation for why it happens so frequently with new parents is because they pick up infants with their thumbs out and wrists bent backwards. In the mothers the fact that the tendons and joints are loose, because of the preparation for birth, adds to the tendency toward this type of problem.
In my case, it happened in the left hand, probably because I am right-handed and previously didn't use my left hand as much as I do now. Anyway, the good news is that if you change the way that you use your hands, it can be helped, and better yet, if you exercise your hands prior to birth, you could probably avoid it altogether. If you used a stress ball or one of those hand exercisers prior to giving birth, your hand would probably just be strong enough. Also, keeping your thumb against your index finger, rather than extended outward really helps. I just do that now and it works just fine. The pain is seldom there now.
About three months after Alex was born I started having pain in my left wrist. If I moved my thumb away from my hand it hurt and I would feel a catching or snapping feeling. I did some research online, prior to going in to see a doctor, and it appeared that I had de Quervain's tenosynovitis, which is basically tendonitis of your thumb. The doctor confirmed the diagnosis and told me that it is very common for this to happen to first-time parents. In fact, it is sometimes referred to as "new mother's disease". His solution was a brace to keep my thumb immobile. After wearing the brace for a week or so, I decided that I would just make a conscious effort to keep my thumb next to the rest of the hand, because the brace really interfered with alot of other baby care items. It worked totally fine.
A news article from the Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2007-mchi/4185.html?mc-emref=y) had a very good description of the symptoms: "pain and swelling about a half-inch back from the base of the thumb. Pinching, grasping or other thumb and wrist movement may aggravate the pain. Without treatment, the pain may spread in the thumb, forearm or both. Wrist tendonitis is caused by irritation and swelling of the sheath that surrounds the major tendons connecting the wrist and lower thumb. It can result from overuse of the wrist and thumb together." Their explanation for why it happens so frequently with new parents is because they pick up infants with their thumbs out and wrists bent backwards. In the mothers the fact that the tendons and joints are loose, because of the preparation for birth, adds to the tendency toward this type of problem.
In my case, it happened in the left hand, probably because I am right-handed and previously didn't use my left hand as much as I do now. Anyway, the good news is that if you change the way that you use your hands, it can be helped, and better yet, if you exercise your hands prior to birth, you could probably avoid it altogether. If you used a stress ball or one of those hand exercisers prior to giving birth, your hand would probably just be strong enough. Also, keeping your thumb against your index finger, rather than extended outward really helps. I just do that now and it works just fine. The pain is seldom there now.
Baby Care Books
Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp (I have heard that the DVD version is great...demonstrates his techniques and is easier to watch it than trying to read it)
The Baby Book by Dr. Sears (Detailed information on the baby's development month by month)
What To Expect During the First Year by Eisenberg, Murkoff and Hathaway (Also arranged by month with information on what to expect in the development of your child)
On Becoming Baby Wise by Gary Ezzo and Dr. Robert Buckman (Strategies on giving your infant the "gift" of nighttime sleep)
Baby Bargains by Denise and Alan Fields (This book is devoted to reviewing baby gear and baby gear manufacturers. It gives detailed information on all different categories of baby gear, with grades as to how they perform.)
The Baby Book by Dr. Sears (Detailed information on the baby's development month by month)
What To Expect During the First Year by Eisenberg, Murkoff and Hathaway (Also arranged by month with information on what to expect in the development of your child)
On Becoming Baby Wise by Gary Ezzo and Dr. Robert Buckman (Strategies on giving your infant the "gift" of nighttime sleep)
Baby Bargains by Denise and Alan Fields (This book is devoted to reviewing baby gear and baby gear manufacturers. It gives detailed information on all different categories of baby gear, with grades as to how they perform.)
Good Books on the Topic of Pregnancy
Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy by Roger Harms, MD (this book had lots of detailed medical information and was a great resource when questions would come up during the pregnancy)
The Pregnancy Book by Dr. Sears (comprehensive book which is arranged by month during the pregnancy--lots of good information)
The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine (funny book)
The Mother of All Pregnancy Books by Ann Douglas (detailed information on all aspects of pregnancy)
For Expectant Dads:
The New Dad's Survival Guide by Scott Mactavish
My Boys Can Swim! by Ian Davis
Father's First Steps by Robert and James Sears
All of the dad's books are super short and rather goofy, but had some pieces of useful advice in them.
The Pregnancy Book by Dr. Sears (comprehensive book which is arranged by month during the pregnancy--lots of good information)
The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine (funny book)
The Mother of All Pregnancy Books by Ann Douglas (detailed information on all aspects of pregnancy)
For Expectant Dads:
The New Dad's Survival Guide by Scott Mactavish
My Boys Can Swim! by Ian Davis
Father's First Steps by Robert and James Sears
All of the dad's books are super short and rather goofy, but had some pieces of useful advice in them.
A Cool Chair for While You Are Pregnant
As you move along in your pregnancy, you will find it more and more difficult to get comfortable when sitting or lying down. When I was about half way through my pregnancy, David bought me this awesome beanbag called the Sumo. This is not an ordinary beanbag chair. It is huge and can be configured into many different positions. I actually slept in my Sumo on multiple occasions, especially in the last trimester. It was so comfortable. The only drawback was getting out of it, but nothing that a little rollover can't accomplish. I would highly recommend it. Now I also use it with Alex. You can lay it flat on the floor as a big mat or make it into a chair that he can be put in. He likes hanging out in it as well. The link to the version which David purchased is here:
http://www.sumolounge.com/omni.shtml
Enjoy!
http://www.sumolounge.com/omni.shtml
Enjoy!
Monday, July 28, 2008
What to Bring to the Hospital
If you are like I was, you have read quite a few books during your pregnancy and everyone seems to have a take on what to bring with you to the hospital. I remember some of the lists were quite long and as an eager and optimistic pregnant woman, I thought that I would bring all of the items which them mentioned, because one would just be camped out at the hospital and need all of these things with you. It was my experience that things moved quite quickly and by the time I was actually admitted to the hospital, most of the items which I had packed in my bag were not needed. Depending on your situation, though, you may be at the hospital for awhile and would need some of the items for entertainment or your laboring process.
Here is what I had in my bag:
*Deck of cards
*Comfortable outfit to wear home
*Lanolin
*Lip balm
*Brush and toiletries/cosmetics
*Nursing bras
*Underwear--bring a few pair. As crazy as it sounds, they have disposable underwear at the hospital. Bring as many pair of these home as you can. Ask for extras. You will be happy you did.
*Eyeglasses
*Fruit
*MP3 Player
*Bathing suit for you and your partner, in case you do some of the laboring in the shower or a tub.
*Camera (fully charged)
*Videocamera (fully charged)
*Cell phones (fully charged)
*Snacks and drinks--these are primarily for your partner...I brought Clif Bars, granola bars, instant noodle bowls, Rice Krispie bars and some fruit, as well as bottled water and Vitamin Water. I think that the only thing consumed was the noodle bowl and a couple of Clif Bars.
*Pen/paper/notebook--I brought a pregnancy planner which had all of my notes in it.
*Money for vending machine
*Stopwatch--for timing contractions
*Cell phone charger
*Birth plan/childbirth class notes and insurance paperwork
*Program all necessary phone numbers into your phones
*Diapers for baby---wasn't really necessary, as the hospital provided them.
*Outfit for baby---also wasn't really necessary, but I used it anyway.
*Receiving blankets
*Laptop or handheld device which you can send e-mail from. This is useful for sending out the birth announcement. Make a distro list ahead of time, so that it can just be typed up and sent out without alot of hassle.
Things move quite quickly once things start and you get quite amped, so it is good to have the bag packed well in advance of the due date. Remember, babies don't always come at their scheduled time, so I would back at least three weeks in advance. I was happy that I did, since Alex came 10 days early.
Here is what I had in my bag:
*Deck of cards
*Comfortable outfit to wear home
*Lanolin
*Lip balm
*Brush and toiletries/cosmetics
*Nursing bras
*Underwear--bring a few pair. As crazy as it sounds, they have disposable underwear at the hospital. Bring as many pair of these home as you can. Ask for extras. You will be happy you did.
*Eyeglasses
*Fruit
*MP3 Player
*Bathing suit for you and your partner, in case you do some of the laboring in the shower or a tub.
*Camera (fully charged)
*Videocamera (fully charged)
*Cell phones (fully charged)
*Snacks and drinks--these are primarily for your partner...I brought Clif Bars, granola bars, instant noodle bowls, Rice Krispie bars and some fruit, as well as bottled water and Vitamin Water. I think that the only thing consumed was the noodle bowl and a couple of Clif Bars.
*Pen/paper/notebook--I brought a pregnancy planner which had all of my notes in it.
*Money for vending machine
*Stopwatch--for timing contractions
*Cell phone charger
*Birth plan/childbirth class notes and insurance paperwork
*Program all necessary phone numbers into your phones
*Diapers for baby---wasn't really necessary, as the hospital provided them.
*Outfit for baby---also wasn't really necessary, but I used it anyway.
*Receiving blankets
*Laptop or handheld device which you can send e-mail from. This is useful for sending out the birth announcement. Make a distro list ahead of time, so that it can just be typed up and sent out without alot of hassle.
Things move quite quickly once things start and you get quite amped, so it is good to have the bag packed well in advance of the due date. Remember, babies don't always come at their scheduled time, so I would back at least three weeks in advance. I was happy that I did, since Alex came 10 days early.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Diapers, Diapers, Diapers!
Diapers will certainly become a very familiar topic for you. One would never think that conversations could revolve around a dirty diaper, but you will catch yourself doing it at some point. Since they are so prevalent in baby life, it is important to get the kind that works for you. You have a choice between two routes, cloth or disposable. Well, actually there are some which are kind of a hybrid of the two--G Diapers. They have a cloth cover, with a disposable insert. We chose disposables for our family, so I only have personal experience with those.
From what I have heard, for a diaper service, Tiny Tots is supposed to be great. They are located in Campbell, but deliver to Oakland. http://www.tinytots.com/. The diaper service is not as expensive as one would think, so you might want to check into it. They take all of the soiled diapers and wash them weekly, so you do not wash your own. Definitely something to consider.
For disposables, I would recommend Pampers Swaddlers. We tried Huggies and the Target brand and found that the Pampers were worth the extra money. The Pampers are softer and the elastic around the legs is more fitted and doesn’t seem to rub as much.
As far as wipes are concerned, we have used the Pampers brand, the Costco Kirkland brand and the Target brand and they are all fine. I have settled on using the Target brand for sensitive skin and have had no issues.
Diaper Champ: If you are using disposables, I recommend the Diaper Champ for a diaper pail. It is easy to use and takes ordinary kitchen trash bags, so you do not need to buy anything special for it. It is about $20 and well worth it.
From what I have heard, for a diaper service, Tiny Tots is supposed to be great. They are located in Campbell, but deliver to Oakland. http://www.tinytots.com/. The diaper service is not as expensive as one would think, so you might want to check into it. They take all of the soiled diapers and wash them weekly, so you do not wash your own. Definitely something to consider.
For disposables, I would recommend Pampers Swaddlers. We tried Huggies and the Target brand and found that the Pampers were worth the extra money. The Pampers are softer and the elastic around the legs is more fitted and doesn’t seem to rub as much.
As far as wipes are concerned, we have used the Pampers brand, the Costco Kirkland brand and the Target brand and they are all fine. I have settled on using the Target brand for sensitive skin and have had no issues.
Diaper Champ: If you are using disposables, I recommend the Diaper Champ for a diaper pail. It is easy to use and takes ordinary kitchen trash bags, so you do not need to buy anything special for it. It is about $20 and well worth it.
Lactation Consultants
If you are planning to breastfeed and you have access to lactation consultants through your health plan, take advantage of this service. During those first few weeks of breastfeeding, we visited the Lactation Consultants at Kaiser almost every other day. I must say, Ms. Nneka was a lifesaver!! She really was patient, had empathy and was very good at empowering you as a new mom. She had you get right in it and feed the baby right there to make sure that you were doing it correctly. She was very good at giving tips and was practical in giving you advice that you could use.
Alex gained his weight back quickly because once we got the hang of nursing, with the help of our Lactation Consultant, it became a breeze! During the first few weeks they really wanted you to keep track of feedings and output, so David made a form which could help me keep track of all of the feedings. I will attach a sample which you can print out and make copies of to use during those first few weeks.
I know that some health plans do not have Lactation Consultants available, but I have heard of independent consultants who will come to your house. La Leche League (http://www.llli.org/) would also be a good resource, if you do not have access through your health plan.
These women are dedicated to their profession and are very, very good at what they do. It definitely helps to have someone like that in your court when you are a new mom.
Alex gained his weight back quickly because once we got the hang of nursing, with the help of our Lactation Consultant, it became a breeze! During the first few weeks they really wanted you to keep track of feedings and output, so David made a form which could help me keep track of all of the feedings. I will attach a sample which you can print out and make copies of to use during those first few weeks.
I know that some health plans do not have Lactation Consultants available, but I have heard of independent consultants who will come to your house. La Leche League (http://www.llli.org/) would also be a good resource, if you do not have access through your health plan.
These women are dedicated to their profession and are very, very good at what they do. It definitely helps to have someone like that in your court when you are a new mom.
Breastfeeding
First, let me say that breastfeeding has been a great experience overall. It definitely is a great way to bond with the baby, and studies have shown great boosts in immunity as a result of breastfeeding. I must say that I did not really read all that much about breastfeeding prior to Alex's birth. I did attend a class and they went over alot of the basics, but I will tell you one thing that they did not tell me....breastfeeding hurts for the first few weeks.
They actually made it a point to say that it does not hurt, but as a beginner, it does, trust me. I have talked to so many new moms who say the same thing and they too had heard that it shouldn't hurt, so I'm just passing along the information, so you can be prepared. It is nothing that you cannot get past, but I think it is a good thing to just expect that it will hurt. Once you and the baby get accustomed to it, after a couple of weeks, it is not bad at all. In fact, it is quite convenient!
That being said, there is something else to keep in mind.... if you ever think that you will want to pump and be away from the baby for a few hours, which I would recommend you do, then make sure that you give the baby a bottle consistently before six weeks of age. It seems that after six weeks some babies get very particular and have a mind of their own and will refuse the bottle. Trust me...it happened to us and you do not want to have that happen. Just introduce a bottle to the baby sometime before they become more aware and accustomed to breastfeeding, before six weeks. The lactation consultants actually had me worried about the opposite problem, so I did not give the bottle after the first few weeks and I wish now that we would have. Often times dads give a bottle right before bedtime, which is a great solution. The baby gets accustomed to the bottle and the dads have a time to bond with the baby too.
So, what do you need to make breastfeeding easier? Here are some of my favorite items that helped me with this process.
My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow: http://www.mybrestfriend.com/. The name is corny, but the product is good. I didn’t like how they looked, so I didn’t get one prior to Alex’s birth. I registered for a Boppy pillow instead. I found out quickly, after trying the My Brest Friend at the Lactation Consultant’s office, that this is the pillow to have. It really helps you out in those first few months. They are about $34.99.
Good Nursing Bras: Prior to Alex being born, I went and was fitted for nursing bras and I am so glad that I went and had someone fit me, rather than just guessing on my own. I went to “Fashion After Passion” at 1205 Lincoln in Alameda. The owner, Jaye, is great---she knows what she is talking about. I bought three Melinda G. bras, which were all comfortable and fit well after birth. They ran about $35 each, which was not bad, considering you are going to be using them a lot in the next year. Style #2115 Tee-Shirt Soft Cup Nursing Bra was my favorite. I liked the closures on this one the best and it is comfy. Style #2100 Tee-Shirt Underwire Nursing Bra was good, but I didn’t like the hook and eye closure. I found it harder to open and close, but that’s just me. I also bought a Style# 2031 Front-Snap Soft-cup Nursing Bra, which was great for sleeping or for at home in general. The snaps aren’t too easy to open and close, if you are out and about.
Lansinoh Lanolin: Let me just say, breastfeeding is great---after the first few weeks. Those first few are tough. Lanolin works great to soothe your sore nipples. You won’t even need it after the first two weeks, but during that time it is helpful.
Breast Pump: Medela Pump In Style was a great breast pump. They encourage you not to buy them used, but if you get new tubing and collection equipment, it is fine. You can get everything you need valves, membranes, breastshields and collection bottles from Babies R Us. The only thing they do not sell is the replacement tubing. That I found only online. Medela does not put it in retail packaging, they only sell it in bulk, so that is why retail stores do not have it. I ordered on Amazon for about $10.00 for a set of tubing.
Hands-free Solution for Pumping: I found that you do not need to go out and buy the hands-free nursing bra. This little tutorial from Kellymom, on using hairbands attached to your bra, as a solution, worked great. http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/hands-free-pumping.html
Born Free Bottles: These are the bottles that we have and I have heard lots of good reviews of them from various mommys. They are bisphenol-A free, which is a plus.
They actually made it a point to say that it does not hurt, but as a beginner, it does, trust me. I have talked to so many new moms who say the same thing and they too had heard that it shouldn't hurt, so I'm just passing along the information, so you can be prepared. It is nothing that you cannot get past, but I think it is a good thing to just expect that it will hurt. Once you and the baby get accustomed to it, after a couple of weeks, it is not bad at all. In fact, it is quite convenient!
That being said, there is something else to keep in mind.... if you ever think that you will want to pump and be away from the baby for a few hours, which I would recommend you do, then make sure that you give the baby a bottle consistently before six weeks of age. It seems that after six weeks some babies get very particular and have a mind of their own and will refuse the bottle. Trust me...it happened to us and you do not want to have that happen. Just introduce a bottle to the baby sometime before they become more aware and accustomed to breastfeeding, before six weeks. The lactation consultants actually had me worried about the opposite problem, so I did not give the bottle after the first few weeks and I wish now that we would have. Often times dads give a bottle right before bedtime, which is a great solution. The baby gets accustomed to the bottle and the dads have a time to bond with the baby too.
So, what do you need to make breastfeeding easier? Here are some of my favorite items that helped me with this process.
My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow: http://www.mybrestfriend.com/. The name is corny, but the product is good. I didn’t like how they looked, so I didn’t get one prior to Alex’s birth. I registered for a Boppy pillow instead. I found out quickly, after trying the My Brest Friend at the Lactation Consultant’s office, that this is the pillow to have. It really helps you out in those first few months. They are about $34.99.
Good Nursing Bras: Prior to Alex being born, I went and was fitted for nursing bras and I am so glad that I went and had someone fit me, rather than just guessing on my own. I went to “Fashion After Passion” at 1205 Lincoln in Alameda. The owner, Jaye, is great---she knows what she is talking about. I bought three Melinda G. bras, which were all comfortable and fit well after birth. They ran about $35 each, which was not bad, considering you are going to be using them a lot in the next year. Style #2115 Tee-Shirt Soft Cup Nursing Bra was my favorite. I liked the closures on this one the best and it is comfy. Style #2100 Tee-Shirt Underwire Nursing Bra was good, but I didn’t like the hook and eye closure. I found it harder to open and close, but that’s just me. I also bought a Style# 2031 Front-Snap Soft-cup Nursing Bra, which was great for sleeping or for at home in general. The snaps aren’t too easy to open and close, if you are out and about.
Lansinoh Lanolin: Let me just say, breastfeeding is great---after the first few weeks. Those first few are tough. Lanolin works great to soothe your sore nipples. You won’t even need it after the first two weeks, but during that time it is helpful.
Breast Pump: Medela Pump In Style was a great breast pump. They encourage you not to buy them used, but if you get new tubing and collection equipment, it is fine. You can get everything you need valves, membranes, breastshields and collection bottles from Babies R Us. The only thing they do not sell is the replacement tubing. That I found only online. Medela does not put it in retail packaging, they only sell it in bulk, so that is why retail stores do not have it. I ordered on Amazon for about $10.00 for a set of tubing.
Hands-free Solution for Pumping: I found that you do not need to go out and buy the hands-free nursing bra. This little tutorial from Kellymom, on using hairbands attached to your bra, as a solution, worked great. http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/hands-free-pumping.html
Born Free Bottles: These are the bottles that we have and I have heard lots of good reviews of them from various mommys. They are bisphenol-A free, which is a plus.
Items which you will really use, once the baby arrives
Note: So many of these items can be purchased used, either on craigslist.org or from parent group sites, like Berkeley Parents Network (www.parents.berkeley.edu) in the Bay Area, or from friends. It seems so wasteful to buy everything new, when there are so many slightly used items out there. You will realize how much this is true once you see how many times some of the items are used.
The following list includes some of the items which I found most helpful, especially within the first five months following the birth of your baby.
Clothing and Related Items:
Kiddopatumus Swaddler: really helpful in the first few weeks/months depending on your baby. This is an easy way to swaddle. They have Velcro strips to keep the flaps secure around the baby. They come in microfleece or cotton, so you have some choices as far as weight, depending on the time of the year when the baby is born. Get 3-5 of these, since they wear them often there are often times accidents, so it is nice to have a few changes handy. http://www.kiddopotamus.com/p_swad.php
Onesies: onesies are invaluable during the first few months. The baby basically wears sleepers, the swaddlers, and onesies. Get a bunch, maybe 10-15, so you don’t have to wash them constantly.
Sleepers: For nighttime I would buy sleepers that have a zipper. The last thing you want to do in the middle of the night is snap the 20 snaps on a sleeper. Make sure that the zipper has a fabric tab at the top which covers the zipper and prevents it from scratching the babies neck. Surprisingly, I have seen some which don’t have this…one in particular was from The Gap, so just look for that. Many of the sleepers seem to be snapped closed, which is fine as well, just takes more time and babies are wiggly and not usually happy when they are up at night. For the rest of the time and for when they are a few months old, the snaps are fine any time during the day or night.
Bathing/Cleaning:
Hooded Towel: These are really nice for bathtime. They can just be wrapped up in them and have their head covered until you can dry them and change them.
Baby Washcloths: We received about 12 of these and we use them all of the time. They are nice and soft. We use them as part of a “warm towel” routine at bedtime, they work great for bathtime and for “sponge baths” as well. Carter’s makes some nice ones and Mervyn’s has their Sprockets line which was good too.
Birdseye Weave Diapers: We do not use these for diapers, but they are great for all purpose cloths. I have one in the car, and in each room where we spend time with Alex. They are handy and cheap, as well as easy to clean, just throw them in with the rest of the whites and you are good to go. We probably have about 30 of them, all ready to go in the linen closet, so I just change them out as necessary.
Shout: I cannot tell you how much Shout gel I have used in the past months. Get a bunch of it and just have it handy in the bathroom, because you will be putting it on many items. It works very well to get all of the stains out.
Arbonne Baby Care: We received a whole set of Arbonne Baby Care (http://www.arbonne.com/), from my friend who is a pediatrician. The Hair and Body Wash and the Baby Oil are botanically based, work well, and smell nice.
Receiving Blankets:
I personally liked the thicker two ply cotton interlock type receiving blankets, like Carter’s has, rather than the flannel receiving blankets. The thicker ones are great for putting on the sofa or on the bed when the little one is there, so that you can prevent having to clean up messes. I also bring them in the diaper bag so that you can use them at playgroups when you put the baby on the floor.
Health/Wellness:
Baby’s Bliss Gripe Water: They sell this at Long’s. It is a natural remedy for tummy troubles. It has fennel and ginger in it to help ease gas and settle the stomach. We used this quite a bit for Alex. Sometimes I think it was just a distraction, but in any case, it worked. I prefer to give this, rather than giving Mylicon all of the time. It is about $12.00 for a 4 oz bottle, which lasts for at least a month if you are using it often.
Mylicon: We did use the Mylicon drops, which did seem to work for gas. They have a version which is white and does not contain any dyes.
Diaper Rash Cream: A friend gave us some Arbonne Herbal Diaper Rash Cream and it works great. I use it primarily at night when the diaper will be on for a longer period of time.
Toys:
Plastic rings for attaching toys: These are really handy for attaching toys to car seats, toy bars in playpens, on playmats etc.
Tiny Love Gymini: This is a great little mat with playbars over it, where the baby can lie down and play. They love to bat at toys hanging from the bars. There are many versions of this type of mat. We had the one which is red, black and white with a circus theme. Great for tummy time too.
Lullaby Gloworm: We received more than one gloworm as gifts for Alex when he was born. These are made by Playskool and although it looks a little strange, he loved the lullabies that it played, especially when he was fussy in the evening.
Lamaze has a great line of toys. We have the Clutch Cube, which has a great variety of textures, bright contrasting colors, rings and bells. Alex likes this, as well as the Firefly, which has similar textures, a squeaker, plenty of things for the baby to teethe on, and lots of great color.
Manhattan Toys has Mr. Whoozit, which has been a favorite, for Alex. Again, lots of contrasting colors, squeakers, mirror and things to chew on.
Carrier/Carseats/Strollers:
We had a sling at the very beginning. It was a New Native and I liked it. http://www.newnativebaby.com/ It didn't last much more than two months though, so just be aware of that. After that point, Alex was bigger and he also was more alert, so he wanted to see things, rather than just be stuck in the sling. I have had friends who liked their Moby wraps as well. http://www.mobywrap.com/ These are just a bit more cumbersome to put on, so it depends on your personal preference. Some stores, like Rockridge Kids or The Tulip Grove in Montclair Village, have samples of various carriers, which you can try on and even put the baby in, before buying.
The Baby Bjorn is the carrier which I have used the most so far. We have the version with the lumbar support--The Baby Bjorn Active Carrier, which I would highly recommend. They also have some new versions made with mesh, which would be great for summertime or hot climates. I use the Bjorn almost exclusively, when I take Alex out. I do not use a stroller for errands or outings at all, just because I find it easier to carry him, even at 17 pounds.
We did a lot of research on carseats and found that the Graco SnugRide was very highly rated in terms of safety. There are a variety of options as far as fabrics for this carseat. We chose one which was called "Metropolitan" because I liked the silver and black fabric. It was sporty looking and a nylon-type fabric. It was my experience that this was a bad choice, because Alex got so hot in it. I have heard from many mothers since, that babies do get hot in these infant car seats, quite typically. It just seems to be one of those things, I guess. The versions with the cotton covers might stay cooler.
If you want an easy, light stroller option to pair with the infant carseat, I would recommend getting a Baby Trend Snap n' Go stroller. This is basically a frame that the infant car seat snaps into. It is so light and easy to fold. You can keep it in the car trunk and then you always have an option, because you always will have the infant car seat with you. We got one second-hand and used it during the first month or so, when he was really little.
The following list includes some of the items which I found most helpful, especially within the first five months following the birth of your baby.
Clothing and Related Items:
Kiddopatumus Swaddler: really helpful in the first few weeks/months depending on your baby. This is an easy way to swaddle. They have Velcro strips to keep the flaps secure around the baby. They come in microfleece or cotton, so you have some choices as far as weight, depending on the time of the year when the baby is born. Get 3-5 of these, since they wear them often there are often times accidents, so it is nice to have a few changes handy. http://www.kiddopotamus.com/p_swad.php
Onesies: onesies are invaluable during the first few months. The baby basically wears sleepers, the swaddlers, and onesies. Get a bunch, maybe 10-15, so you don’t have to wash them constantly.
Sleepers: For nighttime I would buy sleepers that have a zipper. The last thing you want to do in the middle of the night is snap the 20 snaps on a sleeper. Make sure that the zipper has a fabric tab at the top which covers the zipper and prevents it from scratching the babies neck. Surprisingly, I have seen some which don’t have this…one in particular was from The Gap, so just look for that. Many of the sleepers seem to be snapped closed, which is fine as well, just takes more time and babies are wiggly and not usually happy when they are up at night. For the rest of the time and for when they are a few months old, the snaps are fine any time during the day or night.
Bathing/Cleaning:
Hooded Towel: These are really nice for bathtime. They can just be wrapped up in them and have their head covered until you can dry them and change them.
Baby Washcloths: We received about 12 of these and we use them all of the time. They are nice and soft. We use them as part of a “warm towel” routine at bedtime, they work great for bathtime and for “sponge baths” as well. Carter’s makes some nice ones and Mervyn’s has their Sprockets line which was good too.
Birdseye Weave Diapers: We do not use these for diapers, but they are great for all purpose cloths. I have one in the car, and in each room where we spend time with Alex. They are handy and cheap, as well as easy to clean, just throw them in with the rest of the whites and you are good to go. We probably have about 30 of them, all ready to go in the linen closet, so I just change them out as necessary.
Shout: I cannot tell you how much Shout gel I have used in the past months. Get a bunch of it and just have it handy in the bathroom, because you will be putting it on many items. It works very well to get all of the stains out.
Arbonne Baby Care: We received a whole set of Arbonne Baby Care (http://www.arbonne.com/), from my friend who is a pediatrician. The Hair and Body Wash and the Baby Oil are botanically based, work well, and smell nice.
Receiving Blankets:
I personally liked the thicker two ply cotton interlock type receiving blankets, like Carter’s has, rather than the flannel receiving blankets. The thicker ones are great for putting on the sofa or on the bed when the little one is there, so that you can prevent having to clean up messes. I also bring them in the diaper bag so that you can use them at playgroups when you put the baby on the floor.
Health/Wellness:
Baby’s Bliss Gripe Water: They sell this at Long’s. It is a natural remedy for tummy troubles. It has fennel and ginger in it to help ease gas and settle the stomach. We used this quite a bit for Alex. Sometimes I think it was just a distraction, but in any case, it worked. I prefer to give this, rather than giving Mylicon all of the time. It is about $12.00 for a 4 oz bottle, which lasts for at least a month if you are using it often.
Mylicon: We did use the Mylicon drops, which did seem to work for gas. They have a version which is white and does not contain any dyes.
Diaper Rash Cream: A friend gave us some Arbonne Herbal Diaper Rash Cream and it works great. I use it primarily at night when the diaper will be on for a longer period of time.
Toys:
Plastic rings for attaching toys: These are really handy for attaching toys to car seats, toy bars in playpens, on playmats etc.
Tiny Love Gymini: This is a great little mat with playbars over it, where the baby can lie down and play. They love to bat at toys hanging from the bars. There are many versions of this type of mat. We had the one which is red, black and white with a circus theme. Great for tummy time too.
Lullaby Gloworm: We received more than one gloworm as gifts for Alex when he was born. These are made by Playskool and although it looks a little strange, he loved the lullabies that it played, especially when he was fussy in the evening.
Lamaze has a great line of toys. We have the Clutch Cube, which has a great variety of textures, bright contrasting colors, rings and bells. Alex likes this, as well as the Firefly, which has similar textures, a squeaker, plenty of things for the baby to teethe on, and lots of great color.
Manhattan Toys has Mr. Whoozit, which has been a favorite, for Alex. Again, lots of contrasting colors, squeakers, mirror and things to chew on.
Carrier/Carseats/Strollers:
We had a sling at the very beginning. It was a New Native and I liked it. http://www.newnativebaby.com/ It didn't last much more than two months though, so just be aware of that. After that point, Alex was bigger and he also was more alert, so he wanted to see things, rather than just be stuck in the sling. I have had friends who liked their Moby wraps as well. http://www.mobywrap.com/ These are just a bit more cumbersome to put on, so it depends on your personal preference. Some stores, like Rockridge Kids or The Tulip Grove in Montclair Village, have samples of various carriers, which you can try on and even put the baby in, before buying.
The Baby Bjorn is the carrier which I have used the most so far. We have the version with the lumbar support--The Baby Bjorn Active Carrier, which I would highly recommend. They also have some new versions made with mesh, which would be great for summertime or hot climates. I use the Bjorn almost exclusively, when I take Alex out. I do not use a stroller for errands or outings at all, just because I find it easier to carry him, even at 17 pounds.
We did a lot of research on carseats and found that the Graco SnugRide was very highly rated in terms of safety. There are a variety of options as far as fabrics for this carseat. We chose one which was called "Metropolitan" because I liked the silver and black fabric. It was sporty looking and a nylon-type fabric. It was my experience that this was a bad choice, because Alex got so hot in it. I have heard from many mothers since, that babies do get hot in these infant car seats, quite typically. It just seems to be one of those things, I guess. The versions with the cotton covers might stay cooler.
If you want an easy, light stroller option to pair with the infant carseat, I would recommend getting a Baby Trend Snap n' Go stroller. This is basically a frame that the infant car seat snaps into. It is so light and easy to fold. You can keep it in the car trunk and then you always have an option, because you always will have the infant car seat with you. We got one second-hand and used it during the first month or so, when he was really little.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Welcome!
Well, now that I am five months into this whole mommyhood phase, I thought it would be useful to share some of the knowledge which I have gained regarding both pregnancy and being a mommy. Why let all of it go to waste, right? If I can help someone out, like many people helped me out, I will be quite happy.
If you have questions or subjects you would like me to address in this forum, please let me know and I'll do my best.
Enjoy! and welcome to Mommyhood! It is a fun ride....sometimes scary, sometimes exhilarating, but always fun in the end.
Janelle
If you have questions or subjects you would like me to address in this forum, please let me know and I'll do my best.
Enjoy! and welcome to Mommyhood! It is a fun ride....sometimes scary, sometimes exhilarating, but always fun in the end.
Janelle
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