Put Down The Beer & Pick Up The Bottle!

Hey y'all! As we are entering into the month of June, we are entering into Daddyhood.  With Father's Day coming up I have been really thinking about what to do for my husband for his first Father's Day!  Daddy doesn't need another tie.  I think my Dad definitely has enough ties and coffee cups at this point.  There are so many creative things you can do for your partner when you're expecting and as he enters into his first official Father's Day.

For Expecting & New Dads:

A Diaper Bag -

Finding a diaper bag that your partner won’t be embarrassed by is no easy feat.  Here are some great diaper bags that my husband and some of our fathering friends love.

Playbook or Survival Guide -

I recently took the survival guide I made for my husband and turned it into a kindle book.  It is called, Put The Beer Down & Pick Up The Bottle, and can be found on amazon.com.  Survival guides, like this one, add an element of humor to what can be a stressful situation.  If your partner is into sports you can make a Playbook.  Whatever sport your partner chooses, whether soccer, football, basketball, or baseball you can create a playbook geared towards parenthood.  Wisdom for the expecting.

Survival Kit -

Creating a survival gift for an expecting parent is so fun.  You can through in any little inside jokes you may have while also getting things you will actually need for when the baby arrives.  I made my husband a survival kit for his birthday.  He loved it and we actually ended up using most of the stuff in it.

Gift Basket -

Making a gift basket is a super fun way to include things for the new baby and some personal things as well.  Along with the survival kit I made my husband for his birthday I made him a gift basket that had alcohol nips, funny onesies, scratch tickets, the playbook I made him, framed photos of us and the ultra sound.

Engraved Item or Personalized Item -

If you know the gender of the baby and have decided on a name you could engrave something for your partner with your baby's initials.  Whatever they are interested in. You could also engrave a frame and put the baby's first ultrasound picture in it.  For my husband, I made him a personalized Iphone case for pre-birth, birth, and 3 months.  Having our baby boy’s 3D ultrasound or picture on his phone helps him while he is working all day missing us.

Gender Reveal-

If you want there to be a surprise element for your partner, one of you can find out the gender and plan a reveal for the other.  You can do this through framing a maternity photo in pink or blue, baking with pink or blue dye, or you can do a scavenger hunt and leave little clues and riddles. In my next post I will be talking about clever ways to do gender reveals!

Coupon Book-

Coupon books are always fun, thoughtful and inexpensive.  It is so important to let you partner feel loved through this process because they are put on the back burner.  Having a coupon book will allow you to have that time together in a fun way.  You can do just about anything whether you want it to be romantic, spicy, or just a movie night.

Glider -

This is a little bit pricier, but getting a glider for your partner would be beneficial because that time when they spend in the rocker with the baby is so special.  In my own experience, the bond that my husband has while rocking the baby is like my breastfeeding.  He absolutely loves his time at the end of a long work day when he can just sit down and relax with our baby.

Bouquet -

Some men out there do enjoy a bouquet of roses, but for those that don't there are other ways to give a bouquet.  You could do a bouquet of your partner's favorite alcohol nips and cigars, or candy and snacks or coffee doing the bouquet in a nice mug.  

If you have a sports fanatic on your hands...like I do, you can choose a theme depending on the time of year it is.  My husband loves the Baltimore Ravens.  When I made him his bouquet and gift basket I centered it around football and all the accessories were Baltimore Ravens.  I made him a basket filled with nips, cigars, scratch tickets, a bottle opener, the list goes on.  Along with this, I got him a Baltimore Ravens diaper bag, and they sell all teams, of all sports, stuffed with what a daddy might need for his little one!  I find this to be such a great idea for any expecting or new dad.

Registry Checklist

Here's your checklist for your baby registry:




Nursery:

• Crib
• Crib mattress
• Crib mattress sheets
• Glider or rocker
• Ottoman
• Changing table or changing pad
• Changing pad covers

Travel:

• Car seat (infant or convertible)
• Extra car seat base
• Car seat snuggly
• Stroller (travel system or traditional)
• Diaper bag

Bottle & Breastfeeding:

• Breast pump
• Breast milk storage
• Boppy
• Boppy cover
• Bottles
• Bibs
• Burping cloths

Time To Change:

• Diapers (one size Newborn)
• Diapers size 1
• Baby wipes
• Diaper rash cream
• Ointment

Tubby Time:

• Baby tub
• Baby bath towels & wash cloths
• Baby shampoo, body wash & lotion

Health & Safety:

• Thermometer
• Humidifier
• Aspirator
• Baby Motrin or Tylenol
• Monitor
• First aid kit

Time To Play:

• Pack & Play
• Pack & Play crib sheets
• Play mat
• Infant swing or bouncer
• Walker
• Jumper
• Excersaucer

doTERRA Essential Oils For Pregnancy, Labor & Delivery, And Postpartum

During pregnancy there can be so many joys but also much discomfort.  Not only during pregnancy, but also with labor and delivery, even postpartum.  As I wrote about yesterday, there is a wonderful company called doTERRA which has some natural remedies for the discomforts you may experience through the miracle of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and once your beautiful baby arrives.  There are so many essential oils that doTERRA offers and they have a concoction for most pregnancy aches and pains, labor discomfort and postpartum healing.

Pregnancy:

As beautiful as pregnancy is, let’s face it...there can be so many things that cause you to be incredibly uncomfortable, especially towards the end.  There are 8 essential oils from doTERRA that will become your best friends during pregnancy; Bergamot, Geranium, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, Sandalwood, Wild Orange, and Ylang Ylang.  Each oil or a combination of oils help specific discomforts during pregnancy.

• Acid Reflux/Heartburn -- Add 2 drops of Lemon to drinking water.  Apply Frankincense on throat and chest.
• Anxiety -- Diffuse or inhale Wild Orange or Lavender.  Add Lavender, Ylang Ylang, or Geranium to a warm bath.  This will also be great to have in the delivery room to help stay relaxed.
• Breast Tenderness -- Apply Lavender to the top of each breast.
• Cold Sore -- Apply Melissa or Bergamot at the first tingle; repeat hourly.
• Congestion -- Apply Lemon under nose, on chest, or to the bottoms of feet.
• Constipation -- Apply Lemon or Ginger to stomach or add to drinking water.
• Depression -- Use Lavender, Frankincense, Bergamot, Wild Orange, or Geranium.  Diffuse add to bath or massage, or apply to bottoms of feet.
• Edema/Swelling -- Massage diluted Geranium, Ginger, Lemon, or Lavender into legs, starting at the feet.  Work toward the heart, stopping at the thighs.  Cypress may be used in the third trimester.  Drink plenty of water.
• Fatigue -- Inhale Wild Orange.
• Headache -- Apply Lavender to the back of the neck and temples.
• Hemorrhoids -- Apply Geranium or Cypress to affected area or add to sitz bath.
• High Blood Pressure -- Add Lavender or Ylang Ylang to a nightly bath or diffuse.  Avoid Peppermint oil.
• Insomnia -- Use Lavender, Sandalwood or Ylang Ylang.  Before bed diffuse, apply to feet, or add to bath.
• Itchy Skin -- Apply diluted Lavender.  Use Belly Butter Recipe on the back of this sheet.
• Muscle Cramps -- Apply Lavender, Bergamot, or Sandalwood.
• Nausea -- Make a mist with 20 drops Peppermint or Ginger, 10 drops Wild Orange, 15 drops Lemon.  Add to a 4 ounce bottle and top it off with water.  Mist when nausea strikes.  Massage earlobes with Ginger; add to water to drink.
• Perineum Preparation -- Dilute Geranium and apply to perineum.  Massage daily from 37 weeks until delivery.
• Preterm Labor -- To help stop preterm labor; massage 1 to 3 drops of diluted Lavender from ankles to hips.  To prevent preterm labor; add to a relaxing bath each evening.
• Sciatica -- Massage Bergamot into painful area and down leg.
• Stretch Mark Prevention -- Use Belly Butter recipe.
• UTI/Kidney Infection -- Add Lemon to drinking water.  Apply Lemongrass over the bladder.  Apply Cypress over the kidneys.

Labor & Delivery:

The tricky part of labor and delivery is you never know what exactly will happen.  It is great to be prepared for anything.  There are some essential oils which are great to use during birth.

• Back Labor -- Apply 1 to 3 drops of Black Pepper to lower back.  Bilute and massage if that is comforting.
• Prevention of Hemorrhage -- Apply 1 to 3 drops of Helichrysum on lower back during labor to help prevent.
• Labor Progression -- Apply Clary Sage to the lower abdomen.  Massage gently.
• Relaxation -- Spray Mist; 20 drops Lavender, 15 drops Wild Orange, 15 drops Peppermint.  Top off with a bit of water in a 4 ounce bottle.
• Energy -- Spray Mist; 15 drops Wild Orange, 10 drops Bergamot, 10 drops Lavender, 10 drops Clary Sage.  Top off with a bit of water in a 4 ounce bottle.

Postpartum:

After you deliver, whether vaginal or c-section, doTERRA has some oils which are great for helping the healing.

• Cramping -- Massage diluted Lavender onto lower abdomen.  Apply a hot compress or heating pad.
• Anxiety -- Inhale Wild Orange or Lavender.  Diffusing these oils will benefit the whole family.
• C-section Incision Care -- Apply Lavender, Frankincense, and Helichrysum to promote healing.  Add Melaleuca if infection is a concern.
• Postpartum Depression -- Use a combination of Lavender, Patchouli, Frankincense, and Clary Sage in a diffuser, in a bath, or use with carrier oil for a massage.  Apply to the bottoms of feet several times a day.  
• Perineum Care -- There are 3 possible remedies you should prepare in advance.

-- Spray Mist: Add Geranium, Lavender, and Helichrysum to a small spray bottle.  Mist onto the tender area frequently,  Add a little carrier oil to dilute if needed.

-- Soothing Pads: Add 20 to 30 drops of Lavender, Roman Chamomile, or Geranium to a bottle of witch hazel.  Shake mixture well and apply to large maxi pads.  Place pads in the freezer until needed.  Use after vaginal delivery to ease perineum pain.

-- Perineum Rinse:  Combine 5 to 10 drops of Lavender or Geranium to water in a Peri bottle for a soothing rinse.  Use this rinse after using the bathroom.

Breastfeeding:

• Cracked Nipples -- Apply Lavender and olive oil to nipples after each feeding. Myrrh can also be soothing.  Make sure the baby is latching properly.  Pain can be an indication that the baby is not latching proper.
• Fussiness -- Diffuse Lavender and Wild Orange to help keep Mommy and Baby calm.  This is especially great when struggling with breastfeeding to help keep a calm atmosphere.
• Mastitis -- Don’t stop nursing or pumping.  Use Lavender on top of each infected breast throughout the day.  Massage the following blend over the entire breast.  10 drops each Melaleuca, Lavender, Roman Chamomile in 2 tablespoons carrier oil.  Massage from armpits toward the nipple.
• Supply Issues -- To help start production, massage 1 to 2 drops of Clary Sage to top of breasts.

              -- To help increase supply, massage 1 to 2 drops of Basil or Fennel to the top of breasts.

              -- To help decrease supply, massage 1 to 2 drops of Peppermint to the top of breasts.

I have had a friend who is due in the summer use these products during pregnancy and she loves them.  I used the Perineum Care myself.  During delivery I had a 4th degree tear.  Not pretty. It took incredibly long to heal, and still is.  We could not seem to get things healing properly, I started using each method of Perineum Care and I am about 90% back to normal... as normal as one can be after birth.  I am in love with these products and recommend them to anyone struggling with their pregnancy.

I must urge you to speak to your doctor or midwife before using anything during pregnancy.  For the information I have listed, this has come from doTERRA and the rest is my opinion. I was not compensated in any way by doTERRA.

The Dos & Donts of Donts & Dos During Pregnancy

We are all told “do this, do that, don’t do this, don’t do that” when pregnant.  I want to break down some of the dos and don’ts of the don’ts and dos of pregnancy.

Fiction: You can’t fly during your first or last trimester.
False. This comes from the fear that you may go into labor while on the plan and there won’t be the proper medical attention available.  It has little to do with any other medical reason.

Fiction: You can’t pet your cat during pregnancy.
False. Petting your cat is absolutely not the issue.  It is changing you cat’s litter box where the problems lies.  You should not change your kitty’s litter box; however, it is perfectly okay to pet and snuggle with your fuzzy friend during pregnancy.

Fiction: You should not eat fish while pregnant.
False. Salmon is good for mothers-to-be; it’s high in omega-3 fatty acids like DHA.  Salmon is a fresh water fish, so there is there less chance of mercury poisoning.  Tuna is also fine as long as you stay under 12 ounces per week.  The fish you should avoid is mackerel, shark, tilefish and swordfish.  Other than these, you are in the clear.

Fiction: You can not dye your hair during pregnancy.
False. It is said that the chemicals from the hair dye will seep into your system and get to your baby.  I actually believed this and didn’t get my hair done at all through my whole pregnancy.  It is a good thing the ombre was super in style!

Fiction: No sex!
False.  Unless there is a serious reason that your doctor or midwife advises you not to have sex, you are in the clear!  In fact, it is recommended.

Fiction: No coffee while pregnant.
False. A cup a day is A-OK!  Don’t go crazy having extra shots of espresso 3 times a day, but a simple cup of coffee in the morning shouldn’t hurt.

Fiction: Don’t walk, it’ll make you go into labor.
False. Unfortunately, there is nothing that will bring on labor until you and your baby are ready.

The Name Game

When you find out you are pregnant, nowadays, most are incredibly eager to find out the sex of the baby, and of course, once the sex is determined, you can choose a name.  From the time you and your partner find out you are going to be parents, you both start spitting out possible names for boys and girls.  It is never really to early to start the process of choosing a name for your baby.

When you start choosing a name, the possibilities may seem overwhelming. There are so many things to take into consideration like, popular names of the year, family names, how a name flows together, name association and much more.  Maybe you have had a name in mind since you were a child; but, now that everything is so real, perhaps, you have changed your mind.  I urge you to remember how important a name is.  This is the label for your child for the rest of his or her life.

A big reason for choosing a name during pregnancy is to help give your little one an identity.
Choosing a name allows you to start thinking of your baby as a little human being instead of an it.  Even chose a nickname that yo refer to your baby to give an identity to him or her.  When I was pregnant there was conflict about whether the baby was a boy or girl so we started calling the baby, Baby Bop.  It stuck with him and now we call him Bradley Bop.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when naming your baby.

• Be careful of rhyming names, like Paul Haul.  Not nice.
• Is it easy to pronounce?
• Is there a mean nickname that could be associated with the name?
• Does the name flow?
• Try to avoid making your child’s name humorous, like Holly Wood.  I knew a boy in high school, believe it or not, his name was Richard Head.  That poor boy got teased horribly.  Be careful of something like this.
• Decide if you want to have your baby go by his formal name or a nickname.  For example if you name your baby James and do not want Jim or Jimmy, establish that early on with your partner.

• If you are considering naming your child after a celebrity or someone famous, think carefully naming your child with a name that has a lot of positive or negative attention.  The shoes could be too big to fill.
• The most important tip...if you are having trouble thinking of a name, you will know your baby’s name the first time you see him or her.  Truly.  For my mother’s entire pregnancy she had me named Brittany...I am no Brittany.  As soon as I was born my Daddy looked at me and said I was a Trish, and I am.  You will know when you see your darling for the first time.

Postpartum Depression

During pregnancy you are get yourself amped up for the big day and beyond.  There is so much anticipation and excitement leading up to becoming a new mommy and daddy.  I have had some people ask me a few questions about what they can expect for their first few weeks home from the hospital.  One momma sent me an email asking me all about postpartum depression.  She is about 22 weeks pregnant and has a concern that she will have postpartum depression because her mom had it after delivery.  There are a ton of questions about postpartum depression that women are looking into during their pregnancy.  I hope to answer a few!

What is the difference between “the baby blues” and postpartum depression?

“The baby blues” is something more common than mommas think.  You normally begins to see symptoms a few days after giving birth.  “The baby blues” happens because of the hormonal changes in your body happening post birth.  The symptoms include: 

• mood swings
• sadness
• crying spells
• trouble sleeping
• irritability
• changes in appetite
• trouble concentrating

All of the symptoms are perfectly normal post delivery.  They should last from 1 to 2 weeks.  It is when your symptoms last longer than this that you want to discuss it a bit further with your doctor or midwife.  

Postpartum Depression is a severe depression with some symptoms similar to “the baby blues”.  At first it is hard to decipher postpartum depression from “the baby blues” because of the similarity in the symptoms.  With postpartum depression you can have similar symptoms to “the baby blues” such as:

• mood swings
• crying spells 
• sadness
• difficulty sleeping
• irritability

The difference comes in when the symptoms become destructive to your life as a new momma.  You may find some other symptoms with postpartum depression such as:

• neglectful of your baby
• negative feelings towards your baby
• concern you will hurt your baby
• disregard for yourself
• constant exhaustion
• feelings of worthlessness
• constant guilt
• changes in appetite
• weight loss or weight gain
• recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

Is postpartum depression genetic?  What causes postpartum depression?

There are many factors that put you at a higher risk for postpartum depression.  Just because your mom had it with her children does not necessarily mean you will have it with yours.  Some things that put you at risk are:

• history of depression
• history of severe PMS
• medical complications for you or your baby during pregnancy and/or delivery
• stressful relationships
• lack of support from family and/or friends

A difficult relationship with your baby fathers or difficult family relationships will add a great deal of unnecessary stress to the already stressful new mommyhood.  This can add fuel to the fire if you are already at risk for postpartum depression.  You are also dealing with so many changes to your body after you have delivered your baby.  You may be in severe pain and discomfort and may feel unattractive with your new post baby body which can add to feelings of depression.  One of the biggest causes of postpartum depression is the drop in estrogen and progesterone.  This drop can lead to depression.

Can I prevent postpartum depression from happening to me?  How?

There are some things to do to help you ease into motherhood and keep the stress levels down.

Get sleep.  Rest as much as possible.  When your baby sleeps, you should take advantage of the time and get a little cat nap in.

Set time for you.  Talk to your partner about having some time for yourself, even if it is just to take a shower.  Have a little bit of alone time to just decompress after your long day with your baby.  Get a schedule going with your partner that allows you that time.

Get fresh air.  Taking your baby out for a stroll is the best thing for the both of you.  Some fresh air really makes the difference with helping your post delivery recovery.  There is nothing like fresh air to help a baby sleep.  Of course you can’t bring your baby out in 20 degree weather so if you have a winter baby do your best to have lights on open the shades to let the light in.

Exercise.  It is so important to be active.  It will help keep the endorphins flowing and improve any depression you may be feeling.  Studies have proven that exercise is a wonderful medicine for any depression.

Surround yourself with love and support.  Keep out any negativity!  Whether it is your in-laws or someone down the street...keep yourself surrounded with the people who will love, support and care for you.  There is no need to have any negativity around you or your beautiful family.  Negativity from outsiders will not only add to postpartum depression but it can also cause problems between you and your partner.  It is best to nip it in the bud before it starts and make a healthy choice not to be around it.

Share your feelings.  Set some time for a date night with your partner at least once a week when you and your partner can talk about how you are feeling about the new exciting things happening in your life.

Ask for help.  It is totally okay to ask for help if you are feeling overwhelmed.  Being overwhelmed doesn’t make you a bad mommy.  It is part of motherhood. 

Breastfeed.  Breastfeeding, like exercise, releases endorphins and keeps the sprits up.  it does wonders for your body and your baby.  It is natural and your body's reaction to delivering a baby,

Know Your Birth Rights!

During labor and delivery, even prenatal visits, it can feel very procedure, it can make you feel like just another number.  You will have this, you must wear this, you can only do this.  By no fault of the doctors, it can feel like an object, not a person.  With pregnancy, there is so much to it that there is a procedure and it is followed by doctors and midwives because they must deal with so many women giving birth.  Because of the fact that doctors and midwives see so many women it is difficult for them to make it a personal experience fit to only you.  I stress, it is no fault of the doctor or midwife that this is how the system is, but it is.  With that being said, advocacy is a huge deal to me and being able to advocate for yourself during this special time is so important.  I find so many women just go along with things because they don’t know enough information to question.  It is because of this that I decided to start my blog in the first place.  In order to advocate for yourself you must understand your rights.  This goes for anything, but I am just going to discuss rights for women giving birth.

I want to start off by discussing consent.  Consent is an agreement between the patient and physician during any form of treatment.  You may have had to sign a few forms that allow treatment or something like this.  Women don’t always realize there are different types of consent.

Informed Consent-  This is probably one of the simplest concepts in medicine.  It means that the patient has the right to know what your are going to do before it is done, giving you the option to agree.  Everything must be explained and any questions you ask must be answered.  I have a girlfriend who just delivered her beautiful baby girl and when she went to the hospital they immediately started an IV, “just in case”.  They didn’t explain anything to her, why the IV was started or the benefits of it.  She didn’t know enough to question anything about it; but she didn’t end up needing the IV at all.  She has a huge fear of needles and was stuck for no reason.  As I said before, it is no fault of the doctor or midwife because it is simply procedure, but had she known all the details she could have refused.

Consent Forms- A consent form is usually given to you to sign at the time you check in at the hospital.  When they take your insurance information, you usually sign some paperwork, in this bunch of papers is the consent form.  Some don’t realize that you can do some creative editing to your consent form.  You have the right to read through and cross things out that you do not agree to and write in things that you would prefer to happen.

Emergency Consent- When you or your baby are in danger the doctor or midwife has the write to perform whatever medical procedure necessary without informing you.  Let’s not forget that it is the duty of the doctors and midwives to get the baby out safely.  For example, an emergency c-section.  If the reason you need an emergency c-section is fatal, there is no time for explanation and you have to trust that your physician knows what they are doing.

Along with agreeing to treatment, you have the right to disagree.

The Right To Refuse-  You reserve the right to refuse treatment if you feel the doctor or midwife is not doing you justice.  If you feel this way finding a second opinion is the best bet.  When I was 30 weeks pregnant, I had failed my gestational diabetes screening by 1 point, which was silly because in most states the cut off is 140, but where I am it is 130.  Because I was in a practice which had 15 doctors, it was impossible to meet everyone before my due date, the schedule just didn’t allow it, believe me, I tried.  At this prenatal appointment I ended up seeing someone who knew nothing about my history or the fact that I vomited my way through the 1 hour screening, which turned into 5 hours because I wasn’t able to hold it down and had to repeat it until I could hold it.  He was forcing me to get the 3 hour test done and fought with me about it.  I refused because I knew that I couldn’t keep the diet up even if I had GD because I had hyperemesis.  This is just one example of refusal.  Had I not had more knowledge about GD I would have tortured myself and literally made myself more sick by doing the test, when in my situations the risk outweighed the benefit.  Also something I don’t think most women realize is that you have the right to refuse certain doctors, midwives, or nurses.  If you are getting an IV done and you are not comfortable with the person doing it, you have the right to ask for someone else.

The Right To Change Your Mind- Some women have birth plans or decide early on they want the delivery to go a certain way.  You can absolutely change your mind.  If you think you may want to go all natural, no pain medication and then when you are in labor decide you can’t handle it you have the right to go against your birth plan or previous decision.  You can also change your mind if you consented to treatment that a doctor or midwife prescribes.  Nothing is set in stone, especially with labor and delivery.  There is no way to know what will happen.

It is so important to inform yourself so you know what is going on and why certain treatments are offered.  Being an advocate for yourself is the biggest part of a good experience.  Never be afraid to respectfully question something that is going on. You are in control of your experience.  This is just some general information and is in no way legal advice.  Stay informed to make your experience the best one possible.

Tips To Remember When Choosing A Car Seat

One of the most important things for you and your baby that you will register for or purchase is the car seat.  They will not let you leave the hospital unless the car seat has been properly installed by the hospital or local fire department.  When choosing your car seat there is a lot to remember, though all car seats on the market are “safe” because they meet the government requirements to be sold.  I say “safe” because even if the car seats meets all requirements there can still be some problems if installed wrong.  There are some things you want to look at and keep in mind as you’re choosing the car seat for the baby.

When choosing the car seat for your baby, you will be looking at two different types of car seats.

• Infant Car Seat- This car seat will always face the rear and holds up to 35 pounds.  When the baby has exceeded the limits for this car seat you will need to get another car seat that will face forward.

• Convertible Car Seat- This car seat is used for infants and toddlers.  Rear-facing it can hold up to 40 pounds and forward-facing holds up to 70 pounds.

This is the first choice about the car seat you will make, which type.  For me and my son, we have a Convertible Car Seat because it avoids a later purchase and grows with baby.  I found this to be the best choice for us.  Some women like the infant car seats to start more than the convertible.  Something else to consider is getting a car seat and stroller combo.  It definitely has it’s pros and cons!  It is so convenient when you want to take the baby for a walk.  When I take my son out for a walk I have to take him out of the car seat and into the stroller.  With the combo, you just pop him in and out without having to take him out of the seat at all; however, you will need to purchase another eat later because the weight limit is about 35 pounds.

Some things to look for when choosing the car seat are:

Will it be easy to use?

When you are looking through the bunch of car seats give the seat a test run.  It is totally fine to take the car in and out of the base.  You should test and be sure it will be easy to release to get the seat out of your car.  You don’t want a car seat that is difficult to release because your baby will fall asleep in the seat and taking the baby in and out while asleep needs to be a smooth transition.  Don’t be afraid to fiddle with the harness of the seat as well.  You need to make sure it is easy to adjust.

Is is a comfortable car seat?

It is so important that the car seat is not only comfortable for your baby, but is also comfortable for you.  While testing the car seats at the store, take a look at the handle because you will be carrying the car seat around a bunch!  If you do find a car seat you love but the handle is a bit uncomfortable, don’t worry, they make cuffs that give the handle some padding so your arm doesn’t take too much of a beating.  For your baby’s comfort check out the fabric, how much padding, and ow breathable the fabric is.

Will the car seat fit in my car?

Be aware of the space in your car when choosing the car seat.  You don’t want to be sitting in the front with your knees scrunched up to your face because there is no room for the seat in the back.  There are different dimensions so try and measure before shopping.

Keep these tips in mind when you are on the look out for the car seat you choose for baby! Happy Shopping!!

Prepare Your Pet During Pregnancy

So many couples decide to get pets before they decide to have children.  Once you have a pet, it becomes your baby.  You spoil them, love them, and give them all the attention in the world, because of course, you can; but, when you want to take your relationship to the next level and start a family...then what?  Having a baby is not only an adjustment for you and your partner, but your pets too.  I have a cat and a dog, who both during my entire pregnancy, laid on either side of my belly snuggling with me and the baby.  They were such loves during the whole pregnancy, but for some their pets can cause a problem.  There are some things you need to know about handling your pets during pregnancy and to help them adjust to the change of becoming an older sibling.

Having a cat can be difficult through pregnancy because cats carry a parasite in their feces called, toxoplasmosis.  Toxoplasmosis can be very harmful to your and your baby during pregnancy.  Normally, it will cause symptoms of the flu, but due to your immune system becoming weak during pregnancy it has a greater effect on you and your baby.  If you have a cat, chances are you have already been exposed to toxoplasmosis and are immune to it.  There are some things to do to lower your exposure to toxoplasmosis:

• Have someone else clean your cat’s litter box
• Wash your hands often
• Carry a bottle of hand sanitizer with you
• Avoid doing yard work or gardening (toxoplasmosis can also be picked up from soil

There are also some ways during your pregnancy to prepare your cat for your new baby’s arrival.

• Start limiting any extra attention
• Keep the door closed to the baby’s room at all times to help your cat get used to the room being off limits
• If you are not keeping kitty out, put foil in the baby’s crib and on the glider to keep the cat off
• If you don’t already have one, get your cat on a very consistent feeding schedule
• Youtube baby cries and start playing the sound around your cat to get him used to the sound of a baby crying
• Whenever your cat does the right thing, reward him! A nice neck rub and a treat will go a long way
• Put areas around the house that are designated to your cat, maybe near a window, put a post for him to have as his own space
• Invest in a nail clipper or nail grinder and get on a schedule to clip your cat’s nails to lessen any possible scratching to the baby

Adjusting your dog may be a more difficult feat.  Dogs are far more clingy than cats.  You will be doing a lot of the same things you do to prepare your cat, along with some others.

• Start to alter your pup’s routine for the baby’s arrival
• Use a baby doll and start to train your dog how to handle the doll so having a baby will not be a foreign sight for your dog
• Start teaching any new skills or demands you may want your dog to know for when the baby is here
• Start limiting any extra attention
• Keep the door closed to the baby’s room at all times to help your dog get used to the room being off limits
• If you are not keeping the dog out, put foil in the baby’s crib and on the glider to keep the dog off
• If you don’t already have one, get your dog on a very consistent feeding schedule
• Youtube baby cries and start playing the sound around your dog to get him used to the sound of a baby crying
• Whenever your cat does the right thing, reward him! A nice neck rub and a treat will go a long way
• Put areas around the house that are designated to your dog

A rue of thumb to remember is to never leave your baby alone with your pets.