Having a new baby can be overwhelming! There is always some little thing I forget to purchase when I have a new one. When I had my first I had so many questions about what was happening to my body, what labor was going to be like, and did I really have to wear my maternity clothes home.

I came across this site and think it should be the go-to place for any mama on the journey to snuggling with a new little one. It is simply The Cradle. It is very well put together, user friendly, and full of helpful info.

I am one who believes breast is best, however, formula isn’t evil (my second was a formula baby). Then I got a coupon in the mail (for our baby #4) for a new formula. I read it with a “what the hell” expression while mumbling to myself. My hubby was close by and made some crack about me going crazy (at least I didn’t answer myself, right?). We had a discussion about this new formula.

At this point, I’m sure you are wondering what IS it?? It is made by Enfamil (a trusted brand and the makers of Nutramigen we used for #2). It is called Restfull. It claims (a) “a natural way to help keep your baby feeling satisfied”, and (b) “thickens gently in baby’s tummy and digest slowly”.

I am all for a baby getting a good night sleep (and mama too!). The temptation is there with baby #4 who doesn’t sleep well. However, how is this natural Enfamil? Aren’t you trying to trick a baby’s system? It just seems so counterintuitive, and perhaps a little selfish.

What are your thoughts? For and against comments gladly welcomed!

An amazing organization with a fantastic product out to do good in this world.  What could be better?  Please go to their website and see how you can be involved in helping babies around this world grow up instead of being a statistic.

The Embrace incubator

This particular picture disturbed me. I am a Facebook junkie (just ask my hubby). I am a fan of a Doula service in Pennsylvania. She always posts such great articles she comes across. Apparently the doctors who run this joint don’t do much research. I can understand how some doctors are weary of doulas. Some of them can be pushy, however, most are not. HOWEVER, the Bradley Method? Really?! I used this method with my 2 natural births without even knowing it and have done some research on it. Docs should be encouraging it to make their job easier. Here’s the pic, you decide……..

I am a Mad Men lover. I have been catching up online and recently watched the episode where Betty has the new baby. I am reminded what having children used to be like. I hear the stories, however, it never seems real because I wasn’t alive back then. It was a “condition”, they wore huge tents, they only guessed at the sex, and fathers weren’t involved. Now we have 3D ultra sounds, celebrate our womanly curves, and the fathers are right next to us hopefully giving encouragement. I am constantly amazed at technology! This reality wasn’t very long ago,and to see how far pregnancy has come. I watched this episode with a heart of gratitude. It wasn’t long ago NAIT was unknown. My condition wasn’t discovered until the mid 90’s and even then doctors weren’t sure how to treat it. If I had been just 10 years older, I would only have one baby instead of my magnificent 4. Every time I am reminded of this, tears come to my eyes.

If you are pregnant, know someone who is, or just had your baby, ponder this. Have a heart full of gratitude that medicine has come so far, and daddies are now included. Oh, and there are some really hot maternity clothing.

As Dr. John Kennell, a pioneer in the field of perinatal health care said, “If a doula were a drug, it would be malpractice not to use it.” I have personally used one and that experience inspired me to become a birth and postpartum doula myself.

When I say the word doula to most people, all I get back is a blank stare. I then have to explain what exactly I do. Are you one of those? Here is a great explanation I have created.

BIRTH DOULA
The professional birth assistant is a woman who tends to the birthing family from early labor until a little after the baby is born. She is trained to deliver continuity of care from home to hospital, be there through changing hospital shifts and alternating physician schedules; serve as advocate, labor coach, and support partner, and above all, help manage the fears of both parents. If it is a home birth, she is trained to take over tasks so the partner can be 100% present. A doula’s presence does not make a birth partner’s presence unnecessary. To the contrary, her presence frees the partner from certain aspects of concern and allows the partner to interact more closely with the birthing woman. The goal is to give the parents-to-be the freedom to focus inward and increase the intimacy of the experience for both the mother and her partner as they meet the challenges and rewards of their unique birthing experience, thereby leaving her with a sense of empowerment and a beautiful and positive birth memory.

POSTPARTUM DOULA
A postpartum doula is a non-judgmental woman with a quiet presence in the home. Most postpartum doulas are mothers themselves who have their own children and enjoy motherhood. By giving emotional and breastfeeding support along with practical newborn care tips and taking care of necessary household tasks such as: grocery shopping; meal preparation; doing the dishes, laundry or tending to the older children, postpartum Doulas help ease the transition into motherhood.

Unlike a baby nurse who focuses her care solely on the newborn, a postpartum doula encourages and teaches parents how to care for their newborn, to interpret their baby’s cues, and to trust their instincts in responding to their baby’s needs, infusing the parents with the confidence and support they need to develop their own parenting style.

I have found one of the most amazing baby accessory….kind of that one stop shopping. It’s called the Orbit Baby Travel System. Carseats and strollers are probably the most important (well, besides diaper, wipes, and clothes) purchase parents make. We want something that is versatile and easy to use. This travel system is like no other. You have a stroller seat base that completely rotates 360 degrees. Three different types of seats to put on it depending on what age your child is. Best of all, a convient storage compartment that comes off and you can wear. You can even fold it easily with one hand.

It was created by some dads so it’s even cool enough for dads to confidently sport around town.