The Movie “Machine Gun Preacher” made in 2011, based on true story & real events! Shows What really is going on in Africa Due to Criminal, Joseph Kony & the Poor Children Suffering! A guy in America turns his life around & discovers that his purpose is to help the children! (Action, Drama)
The Perfectly Packed Hospital Bag!
This is a helpful Checklist of all the helpful basics you’ll, for sure, need when you go to the hospital! Lists usually vary, but this is the essentials! Also, note that for vaginal birth, your hospital stay is usually only 24-48 hours long, and women who have C-Sections will usually have a hospital stay lasting around 3-5 days!So when packing your hospital bag, keep those time frames in mind. Another thing to remember is that some women prefer to pack 2 bags instead of just one large bag. (one for baby & one for adult) This is a personal preference. However, I find it a lot easier to just pack one large bag. No sense in complicating things or over doing it!
Checklist:
- Toothbrush & Small Travel Size Tube of Toothpaste
- Hair Brush & 2 reliable Ponytails
- Travel Size Deodorant
- Small Travel Size Bottle of each Shampoo & Conditioner
- Disposable Razor
- About 5 or 6 Q-Tips
- Chapstick
- Cotton Underwear
- Disposable Facial Cleansing wipes/pads
- Slippers & One Pair of Comfortable Clothes
- Puzzle Book & Magazine
- Some Money for Drink & Snack Machines
- Camera
- Nursing pads (For Leaking)
- 2 Comfortable Bras or Nursing Bras
- Baby Blanket
- Baby Nail Clippers
- Baby Hair Brush
- Baby Lotion (you and baby can both use this)
- Baby Outfit
- 2 Diapers
- Small Portable Pack of Baby Wipes
Now some women think it’s important to look perfect or glamorous for pictures and guests. So they pack all kinds of makeup and hair products! But this list gives you exactly what you need to stay fresh, clean, & decent. The fact that you had a baby should be the focus, not looks! Since you just had a baby, in my opinion, there is no shame in being natural and looking like you just went through hard work! Own it & be proud. If anything, that is being REAL and way more beautiful, to go the natural just-had-a-baby route!
If you are wondering why I did not include the Thick pads for the Bleeding, that is because no store-bought pad will be thicker, longer, or better than the hospital’s pads your hospital will give you to use!Trust me, when you go home, you’ll miss how well those hospital pads worked compared to the ones you bought! (lol)
As far as the listed one pair of comfortable clothes goes… Remember that you will not be back to your Pre-Pregnancy Self just yet! Get what would fit, as if you were still pregnant! Also, do not wear pants of any kind if you had a C-Section. The waist-band of pants can cause irritation & pain around the still-fresh incision scar! Buying a sleeping gown or maternity gown would be best. And I went home in the same gown I bought to wear in the hospital. We were going straight home anyway! So whatever you bring to wear in the hospital, can be worn home too, but that choice is up to you. I also made sure my gown/outfit was in a dark color, like black. So incase blood got on it, it would not show up.
Now as far as baby stuff goes. If you have a preemie, then 2 outfits will be needed. A Preemie size & newborn size, so you have on hand whatever may fit best! Same concept if you are likely to have a big baby; bring an extra outfit in Size 0-3 months. Only 2 diapers because you should only be going straight home with your baby, and the need to change him/her should be zero; but you have them on hand for just incase! Same reasoning with feeding. The baby has to stay in the car seat and your ride should be straight home; so there’s no need in bottles or breastfeeding during the ride home.
You can bring a pillow if you want as well, but it’ll be just another thing to carry & keep up with. The hospital can provide you with as many as you need to get comfortable. It’s also important to remember, DO NOT BRING ANY JEWELRY with you! Keep that stuff at home. It’s safer.
So there you have it ladies, a good list of The Essential Basics. Enjoy!
Knowing your Infant’s & Toddler’s Vitamins
Now while I am well aware of the many brands out there, I am 100% committed to using the Emfamil brand, when it comes to vitamins. I have many of my own personal reasons, as to why I am devoted to only using Emfamil brand of vitamins; but please let me refrain from writing a novel on all this, & just keep it short & sweet for you! (lol)
Even when using just one brand, there are still a variety of choices to pick from within that one brand. Some are just for infants, while others are for both toddlers & infants. Then you got one made especially for the exclusively breastfed baby, and another packed with iron for those in need of extra iron! So let me break it down for you, to help out, and make things less confusing!
I will post a picture, what it is specialized for, and the link to buy it online if you want to! (Note: I took the time to find a great & trustworthy website with low prices, free tax, and free standard shipping! I have even bought my own vitamins from this site!)
*** Exclusively for Infants! ***
(And these are especially beneficial to Breastfed Infants, even though all infants may use this kind!)
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=54008&catid=182977
*** Made For Breastfed Babies ***
(Since many adults lack sufficient levels of vitamin D, this helps supply both exclusively breastfed & partially breastfed babies with the vitamin D they need. It can be used as for as long as the mother is breastfeeding her child.)
http://www.drugstore.com/enfamil-d-vi-sol-vitamin-d-supplement-drops/qxp220207?catid=182977
*** For Infants & Toddlers ***
(A daily multivitamin for children up to the age of 4! It includes iron. I use this for my toddler. It gives him everything he might be lacking in his diet, since he is going through a phase where he hardly wants to eat anything. I highly recommend this for Toddlers. I began using it right before my child turned 2 years old. I want to say he was 22 months to be exact. Trust me when I say this helps, & you’ll see the beneficial difference it makes in your child health-wise! Every growing toddler should use it.)
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=17425&catid=182977
*** For Infants & Toddlers ***
(Made for children who are suffering from iron deficiency & anemia! I would consult a your child’s pediatrician before using, because this is for infants & children in actual need of extra iron.)
http://www.drugstore.com/enfamil-fer-in-sol-supplement-drops-iron-for-infants-and-toddlers/qxp150803
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So there you have it! Those are the different type of Enfamil brand vitamins. Always read the labels & boxes to ensure you know what kind you are using. Because just as Enfamil has many different kinds within it’s own brand… Other brands can be the same way! You want to make sure you are using the right kind made specifically for your child. And as I said before, I love the Enfamil Brand!
Red Raspberry Leaf During Pregnancy
Note: Be sure to discuss this with your medical care provider before taking any herbs during pregnancy or lactation.
So here I am toward the end of my own pregnancy, and as I was looking up new ways, that I had not heard of before, to induce labor at home naturally, I came across this awesome herbal method!
Red Raspberry Leaves, while not proven to induce labor, are said to be very beneficial! Ofcourse, some still swear it induces labor as well; but even if it doesn’t, the other health benefits alone make this a MUST HAVE! Even certified Midwives & well experienced doctors have recommended this for Decades. So here is the scoop on Red Raspberry Leaves….
Benefits:
It Is Proven to Strengthen the Uterus and prepare the uterus for a more efficient labor. It does this by (1.) producing better contractions when labor starts, (2.) Reducing pain during labor, and (3.) Shortening the length of time labor takes.
Red raspberry contains vitamins A, C, D, E, and B complex. It is rich in iron, zinc and calcium; and it also contains phosphorus and manganese.
It can also relieve nausea & prevent hemorrhaging that might occur during or after labor!
Even after childbirth, women still continue to use red raspberry leaves because it helps with the following… (1.) It helps enrich the colostrum found in your breast milk. (2.) It can relieve painful menstruation, and aid the blood flow. If your flow is too heavy, red raspberry leaf will help it decrease uterine swelling and cut down on the bleeding! (3.) Helps all the female organs recover easier & faster after childbirth.
You do not even have to be a woman. Red Raspberry Leaves have been shown to help children too. It helps relieve children’s fevers, diarrhea, & mild colds!
Risks:
Due to the lack of research on red raspberry leaves, during early pregnancy, it is NOT recommended until you are at least 34 weeks pregnant! This is mainly because of the rumors that it might can induce labor; as well as the fact that no one knows if there is any effect on the fetus, if taken during the earlier stages, when most all of his or her developments occur! And it makes sense that we lack this information, because if there was even the SLIGHTEST risk, who in their right mind would want to take that chance with their unborn child, to find out!?!
Dosage:
Red Raspberry Leaves come in two different forms. Both are equally effective!
TEA!
and…
CAPSULES/PILLS!
~ If you choose the tea route, begin when you are at least 34 weeks along in Pregnancy. No earlier! Start with One Full Glass a Day. It can be sweetened with honey, if you like. When you reach 36 weeks, drink two full glasses of it a day. Once in the morning & once in the afternoon. When you reach 38 weeks, Drink this tea Three times a day. Most likely with each meal, or in between each meal. Do not exceed Three daily glasses.
~ If you decide you’d rather take it in capsule form, do as follows:
34 & 35 weeks = One pill a day
36 weeks = 2 pills a day (one morning & one night)
37 weeks = 3 pills a day (one with each meal or around those main meal times)
38+ weeks = 4 pills a day (2 in the morning & 2 at night)
Do Not Exceed 4 Pills daily!
Conclusion:
As long as you are far enough along in your pregnancy, or no longer pregnant, there is no harm in trying this! I believe after plenty of research, that red raspberry leaves are healthy & beneficial! And as I said before, even if it does not induce your labor, it will still help you when labor does happen! It’ll even help you afterwards too! So go for it!
Link to buy the best & most affordable capsules of Red Raspberry Leaf:
https://www.puritan.com/herbal-supplements-005/red-raspberry-leaf-capsules-039344
(via jantiennn)
Hope all you mommas & Moms-to-be had a special & great valentines day <3
jackskellingtonisking-deactivat asked: Glad I found your blog, great for when my boyfriend and I decide to have kids. If things go as planned we will be married by then, but of course we all know things don't always go as planned. Now, I saw in one of your posts that you had a C-Section with your first child, and here is a rumor that I've heard and I'm wondering if you know anything about. I've had several friends say that they can't elect for natural child birth because their first was by C-Section. Any truth to this, that you know?
Well, yes & no! There is some truth to it. It depends on a handful of things. They may not have been allowed due to those things. Examples: What was the reason one had to have the C-Section in the first place. If it was due to a health issue or complication that is likely to be a problem again, then for your best interests & the baby’s sake, you’ll need to go to an OB/GYN instead of the more natural route…(like using a midwife for home birth!) And the other thing would be whether or not that OB/GYN would approve of what’s called a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean)!
So basically, it is possible to have a natural or vaginal birth after a previous C-Section… but if your pregnancy will be considered high risk or complicated, then midwives and home/water births are out of the question. And then you still can try, but it will have to be with a VBAC approving OB/GYN in a hospital setting.
In order for a doctor who supports VBACs to approve of your individual situation, a few factors come into play. Such as: Did your body have at least 18 months to heal before getting pregnant again? The longer the heal time, the better! Will the hospital in which you go to be able to readily preform an emergency C-Section incase its needed? Does this approving OB/GYN have experience in assisting VBACs? How many Previous Scares are on your Uterus? The fewer the better!
At any rate, if you have an average size baby who is head down; a good OB/GYN; one scare on the uterus; and labor was not started with inducing medication… then your success rate for vaginal birth will be extremely high & safe! So it’s worth fighting for your right to push if this ever becomes your situation. (^_^)
Baby Gear: Must Read!
Okay Ladies… We all like our little ones to have the cutest looking equipment/gear! And I have a few that I believe will become the most popular, if they are not already. Set at decent prices & looking cool… I’ll list matching equipment that should include the playard, travel system, bouncer/swing, & high chair! Some even have matching diaper bags; So be sure to look that up too! On the following Girl/Boy lists, I will type them based on their average price “High to Low”!
Girls: (Brand/company - design name)
(1.) Evenflo - Alhambra
(2.) Safety 1st - Eiffel Rose
(3.) Graco - Carina
(4.) Graco - Adaline
(5.) Graco - Whitney
(6.) Safety 1st/Disney - Branchin’ Out
(7.) Baby Trend - Victoria
Boys: (Brand/company - Design name)
(1.) Safety 1st - Facet
(2.) Graco - Forecaster
(3.) Graco - Roman
(4.) Evenflo - Crayon Scribbles
(5.) Graco - Mickey Mouse in the House
(6.) Evenflo - Blue Georgia Stripe
(7.) Baby Trend - Jungle friends
Now ofcourse there are other brands and other designs out there to choose from. But these are design collections that have all the matching gear… they were the ones I found to be a decent price/affordable… And they were what I deemed as super cute & likely to become popular!
Also Note: I based my list off of equipment/gear collections that can be found on Ebay, Amazon, walmart, & toysRus websites.
This is the Mickey Mouse Collection (Above) and it also has a Diaper bag that matches this very set! This was my favorite, HANDS DOWN, for the boy’s gear collections! And The Most Complete collection as well! If the baby I am pregnant with right now had been a boy, this is the collection I would have gotten!
This is the Safety 1st/Disney - Branchin’ Out collection! There is also a matching High chair & diaper bag to this girl’s gear collection! This was ONE OF my favorites for the girl’s stuff, the most complete collection, and the most affordable!!!
