Mother’s Day is just around the corner!
We are inviting you to get your CELEBRATION ON with us! Read below for details:)

Your Baby Booty has partnered up with Joyful Motherhood (a Malawan non-profit) under the umbrella of African Mother’s Health Initiatives.

Why? You Ask.

Because….We stand behind the incredible work they are doing to help mamas and babies in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in Africa.

In honor of Mother’s Day, we’re raising $2,000 smackers on behalf of Joyful Motherhood. That’s a good chunk of change. Moms across the ocean, who have little babies, just like us, (and orphaned babies too) need some help. Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing glimpses of the work Joyful Motherhood does in Malawi.
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You Won’t Believe This Birth Story

One mama in Malawi was pregnant. Her labor started, she lived near the main road leading to the hospital but couldn’t afford the $1.00 bus fare to get there.

She went to her neighbors to trade a piece of cloth she owned for $1.00 so she could get to the hospital.

No one took her up on her offer.

She started walking. The hospital was 6 miles away.

She was in labor.

She felt birth was close, so she walked towards some women working in a field.

They helped deliver her triplets on a piece of plastic on the ground. On the side the road.

Can you imagine?

All because she didn’t have $1.00 to take a bus to the hospital.

The Good News?

After several hours of sitting under a tree with her three new babies, someone gave her a ride to the hospital. It was there that Joyful Motherhood found out about her and stepped in to help her.

They provided her with breastfeeding support and supplemental formula. They did follow up care (at her house in the village) to make sure her babies were growing. They taught her and her community members how to wear her three babies (kangaroo care), to improve their chance for survival. They came to her village and taught her (and her community) the importance of good sanitation, mosquito nets and getting vaccinations. If necessary they provided medicine and extra food for the family.

Joyful Motherhood was there.

If you feel compelled, please donate (click here) & spread the word (share this email!). These mamas thank you from the bottom of their hearts…and so do we!

When Pregnant: 20 weeks- ultrasound day!

It’s the long-awaited ultrasound day. Now this day might seem anti-climactic to most of you, since I disclosed that we don’t find out the gender of our babies until they’re born. But gender aside, it always blows my mind that technology can take a glimpse into my womb, and not only see our baby (who is the size of a mango) but see the baby’s heartbeat, kidneys, lungs, brain.

My mom drove up from Cincinnati for the occasion and my sis in law came to the appointment too.  It was snowing like crazy outside and we were all cozy in the ultrasound room checking out bambino #2. Of course I cried. It’s a miracle. Every step along the pregnancy journey is one huge miracle after another. If you don’t believe me, read a website or book that tells you about the entire process of conception. Ah-Mazing.

Our little peanut wasn’t super active, but we did see him/her sucking her finger for a minute. The tech warned us that she was about to head to baby’s nether-regions, so we turned away (just in case we could see something). But baby cooperated beautifully and didn’t bother to uncross his/her legs. If it’s a girl, we hope this trend continues for the next 30 years…. So the mystery and projections continue.

At one point the tech turned on the 3-D feature. I wasn’t really prepared for this and have to say, I’m not a huge fan. I guess I don’t really love seeing every detail of my “alien” looking baby, it’s just strange. Maybe TMI or something. I’m old school like that.

Does anyone else like the 3-D action, or am I alone on this one?

When Pregnant: 16 Weeks

Steve and I don’t find out the gender of our kiddos until they’re born. For some odd reason this decision throws all our friends and family totally off. People genuinely can’t believe that we would have the audacity to make them wait to find out our child’s name AND gender. The nerve.   This time around, my mom has discovered Zulily, and the non-gender disclosure is seriously cramping her shopping style.  I understand. Girls’ clothes are wayyyy cuter than boys. It’s tempting to want to buy, just in case.

But we’re holding our ground.

With kiddo #1 everyone told us we were having a boy- even the guy selling Gelato at Whole Foods told me I was having one. My mom knew it would be a boy before we were even pregnant- I chalk that up to that strange “mama always knows” intuition -which hasn’t necessarily made its appearance in my life yet, but I’m looking forward to that “eyes in the back of my head- when I ask you a question, I already know an answer” phenomenon.

Now with kiddo#2 everyone is convinced it’s a girl. I barely have a baby bump and yet everyone is convinced.  This time around I am pretty convinced as well. The reason?  My skin.

I have battled adult acne/break outs. Nothing helped so I chalked it up to hormones. When I got pregnant with Jackson, my skin cleared up and was glowing. I was pretty stoked.

I told my mama the other day, this baby is a girl, only a girl would make her mama break out this bad. First I was vomitous for a good 15 weeks and NOW I have constant pimples to contend with. It’s gotta be a girl- I don’t think boys do stuff like that to their mamas. Other stuff of course, but not this stuff.

Do you guys have any wivestales to share about telling the gender of your baby (without ultrasound?)

I interviewed a midwife, Pat Burkhardt,  the other day, mama of two kiddos, Ph.D. in Public Health and midwife for 45+ years. She answered some of your Holistic Health questions from Facebook and I recap them for you here in this short video.

Interviews with amazing experts such as Pat Burkhardt is just the tip of the iceberg for our new project launching in the next couple months.  If you want to be among the FIRST to know when we’re live, put your email below.

We’re starting a new series of posts called “Thoughts from a husband about pregnancy & childbirth.” Steve, a.k.a. “Mr. Baby Booty” will be sharing various thoughts and info along his journey to the fatherland. 

by Steve Blight C0-Founder Your Baby Booty

Foolish. Short-sighted. Stupid. And straight-up Negligent. For so many reasons.

Having sired a beating heart in my wife’s fertile loins, she now wants to deliver this baby without a doctor? WTH. What is she thinking? Is she serious or is it another crazy emotional tangent she’s running down?

I don’t get it.

It’s not easy getting pregnant. We haven’t struggled, but we’ve had many friends who have. It’s a freaking’ miracle all that has to happen to get pregnant, to grow a baby and to birth a baby. During go time, she wants to run the offense without the quarterback (like Tom Brady) we need running the show?

I really don’t get it.

What I do get is that my wife is smart. She’s wicked smart. She says she wants a midwife instead of an OB/GYN. Didn’t most midwives live in the 1800’s, wear long dresses and run around delivering babies village-to-village with sweaty rosey cheeks? I know midwives still exist in Europe and other cultures, but why a midwife when we can have a real doctor? Did I mention, I don’t get it.

What if something goes wrong? What if the baby needs help, what can a midwife do? What if the baby turns around in the womb and can’t get out, what can a midwife do? What if Sarah needs help, what is a midwife gonna be able to do? A midwife is just some woman who delivers lots of babies, they aren’t trained to handle medical needs like doctors right? Why does she want a midwife over an OB?

I need to find out.

I need to do some research.

As the dad-to-be, don’t think I’m comfortable using a midwife. This is our decision, not her decision for our family. This decision affects everyone.  I am always open to learning more, but I just don’t get this one??

Anyone with experience on this have thoughts?  Please share. If you don’t but know someone who does, please ask them to share.

I need to learn why anyone would want to use a midwife over an OB. Thanks- Steve

by Sarah Blight Author of Going to the MotherLand, Founder of YourBabyBooty.com

When Pregnant: 15 Weeks

Time is marching on and thankfully I am now in my second trimester. I feel like I’m starting to even out a bit (hormonally speaking) and hope that copious amounts of energy will follow. It’s a lot harder working full time and chasing a 2 year old than it was the first time around!

My belly is kinda like looking at a solar eclipse- no one wants to look directly at it, but they’re trying to figure out what’s going on. Sort of like “did she eat tooo many Christmas cookies or is she pregs?” dilemma. Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes telling people you’re pregnant is kinda awkward- especially socially- anyone else with me on that?  It’s funny how some people react, some of them ask “was it a surprise?” Like that makes any difference to us or should make any difference to anyone else. But for some reason, people want to know.

We had our midwife appointment and heard the baby’s heartbeat.  It never ceases to amaze me what an incredible miracle it is to hear that little life inside the womb. I don’t think I can ever listen and not be in awe of it all.

By Elizabeth Lyons, author, blogger, jewelry maker and all around superwoman.

Advent: trying not to screw this up

Most Advent calendars have a cute little window you can open each day. When I was growing up, opening this window revealed a picture. It was super exciting.

But nowadays, all the kids know that an Advent calendar isn’t cool unless each window reveals a piece of chocolate. Or an iPad2.

Two of my kids can’t have chocolate, and even if they could, dividing it between all 5 of them would be asinine (not that I’m above asinine. I’m not), I had to come up with an alternative. Which I did. 3 years ago.

I strung 24 envelopes, each for one day in December, from the mantle. We alternated who got to open one each day, and each announced a surprise activity. The kids would learn that we were going to get our Christmas tree that day, or fill boxes for Operation Christmas Child, or clean the leaves out of our neighbor’s front yard, or play a new game hidden somewhere in the house that they had to find by solving a series of riddles.

It was awesome.

And by awesome, I mean completely and utterly exhausting.

To proactively take responsibility for my 3% of the problem, I did make one critical error of note: in my haste to come up with 24 cool things to do, I forgot to do two things: 1) write them down for my personal reference and 2) consider the day of the week on which each activity fell.

The Wednesday that I woke up having slept for about 7 minutes the night before, and the kids opened the envelope to reveal that we were going bowling that night? Yeah. I almost killed myself.

Or the day the card said, “Look under the thing you constantly clog with toothpaste to find a new game,” and I was like, “OH MY GOD I DIDN’T PUT THE GAME UNDER THE SINK. ALSO, I FORGOT TO BUY THE GAME!” Yeah. That didn’t go well either.

So this year, after I was, in effect, told that Christmas isn’t Christmas without Mom’s Advent Calendar of Giving and Receiving, I reluctantly went to JoAnn’s and bought this:

Because I know that the kids will peek, I put only the current and next day’s cards in their respective pockets. This approach also allows me to strategically decide what makes sense to do on a given day, and prevents the aforementioned bowling debacle.

Tonight’s card says, “Go buy Mom a new car.”

Any Christmas/holiday traditions you want to start with your family?
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Elizabeth Lyons is the author of 3 best-selling parenting books, most recently You Cannot Be Serious: and 32 Other Rules that Sustain a (Mostly) Balanced Mom. You can visit her website at www.ElizabethLyons.com.

Can I do THIS while pregnant?

So you’ve just found out you’re pregs and the hormones are coursing through your veins like it’s in the Indy 500. You sit down to eat your favorite deli sandwich when your friend, mama of 6 kids gives you a strange looks and says “you’re not really going to eat that when you’re pregnant are you?”  You panic. “What? This is news to me!” You frantically start looking stuff up on the internet but it’s not so easy to find. Then you start wondering what else you’re “not supposed to do when pregnant.” Well mamas, we’ve put together a list of items that are commonly brought to a preggo mama’s attention, by friends, family and strangers alike- but we tell you the whole scoop- so you can make your own, very educated decision before you stuff your face with a plate full of sushi

1.       Can I Eat lunch meat and soft cheese while pregnant?

Here’s the skinny on lunch meat and soft cheeses…it’s comes down to Listeria, a really gnarly bacteria that can contaminate foods. Listeria is found in water and soil- with some animals becoming carriers.  The lowdown is that it can be found in veggies and uncooked meats and unpasteurized cheeses. Because there is a chance that contamination can occur after packaging, there is a chance that hot dogs and deli meats can contain it. Are you gagging yet?  According to the Center for Disease control, preggos are more susceptible to becoming infected than non-preggos (mostly because preggo’s immune systems are suppressed during pregnancy).

If you do get sick with Listeria-

You’ll have mild flu like symptoms

You’re at an increased risk for miscarriage, premature labor, or infecting your newborn baby.

You’ll probably be put on antibiotics to nip it in the bud.

Bottom Line-

The American Pregnancy Association recommends pregnant women stay away from lunch meat unless you are reheating it yourself (to kill those buggers) or eating it in a casserole or some other concoction that’s been in the oven. Restaurants like Subway have pregger alternatives like Meatball Subs or Roasted Chicken sandwiches.

As far as soft cheeses are concerned. Check the packaging- most, if not all soft cheeses in the U.S. are pasteurized which means you should be a-okay. But again, eating hard cheese is always a good option as well.

2.       Can I drink caffeine and/or wine while pregnant?

Most newly pregnant women drink one or both of the above and may feel that it’s cruel to be cut off from them simultaneously. Preggos, do not lose heart.

The research is actually very conflicting in regards to consuming caffeine while pregnant. The March of Dimes, a non-profit that researches the problems that babies encounter, recommends that you consume no more than 200 mg of caffeine per day while pregnant, that’s basically a 12 oz cup of coffee. That doesn’t sound soooo bad.

One thing to keep in mind is that caffeine is found in lots of stuff other than coffee- caffeine is also found in tea, chocolate, some over the counter medications, some plants even produce caffeine naturally.

How about beer or wine?

There are studies out there that show that moms who drank as little as one glass of wine a week while preggers, gave birth to children who were smaller, leaner and had a smaller head circumference (smaller brain) than those who didn’t drink at all. There are also studies that show the children of mamas who drank as little as one drink a week were more aggressive and had some behavior problems. 

As with anything you consume, the alcohol passes through your organs and you have a new organ now- the placenta- which is supplying your baby with food, nutrients, vitamins and also acts as a sewer system too. Your developing baby doesn’t have the ability to process the alcohol as quickly and efficiently as you do, so the elevated alcohol level will stay there longer and be much higher than yours.

 Bottom Line-

Drinking wine when pregnant is considered taboo here in the U.S. If you do decide to go out in public and have a drink, be prepared to be refused by bartenders and get some raised eyebrows and possibly some snarky comments.

Caffeine, for the same reasons as alcohol, isn’t awesome to consume when pregnant either. Especially since it is addictive and when you breastfeed after baby is born, you won’t want to be drinking the fully leaded coffee/tea or you and baby will never sleep. Yawn.

3.       Can I Eat sushi while I’m pregnant?

I’m a sushi lover and was always forlorn when people reminded me I couldn’t eat sushi when pregs. I always wondered “well what do people in Japan do when they’re pregnant? Just eat rice?”

The concerns about consuming sushi when pregnant stem from high mercury levels and bacteria that can loom in uncooked fish. (see what we had to say about Listeria in our lunch meat, soft cheese break down).

The National Resource Defense Council compiled a list of the fish that’s high in mercury that you should stay away from, and the stuff that’s lower in Mercury and therefore safe for preggo consumption.

LOWER MERCURY- Safe for Preggo
Akagai (ark shell)
Anago (conger eel)
Aoyagi (round clam)
Awabi (abalone)
Ayu (sweetfish)
Ebi (shrimp)
Hamaguri (clam)
Hamo (pike conger; sea eel)
Hatahata (sandfish)
Himo (ark shell)
Hokkigai (surf clam) A surf clam just sound cool, eh
Hotategai (scallop)
Ika (squid)
Ikura (salmon roe)
Kaibashira (shellfish)
Kani (crab)
Karei (flatfish)
Kohada (gizzard shad) OMG, that sounds good!
Masago (smelt egg)
Masu (trout)
Mirugai (surf clam)
Sake (salmon)
Sayori (halfbeak)
Shako (mantis shrimp)
Tai (sea bream)
Tairagai (razor-shell clam)
Tako (octopus)
Tobikko (flying fish egg)- what the H is that anyways?
Torigai (cockle)
Tsubugai (shellfish)
Unagi (freshwater eel) 1
Uni (sea urchin roe)

HIGH MERCURY- Stay Away From
Ahi (yellowfin tuna)
Aji (horse mackerel)
Buri (adult yellowtail)
Hamachi (young yellowtail)
Inada (very young yellowtail) Is that like eating Bambi of the sea??
Kanpachi (very young yellowtail)
Katsuo (bonito)
Kajiki (swordfish)
Maguro (bigeye, Bluefin  or yellowfin tuna)
Makjiki (blue marlin)
Meji (young bigeye, Bluefin  or yellowfin tuna)
Saba (mackerel)
Sawara (Spanish mackerel)
Seigo (young sea bass)
Shiro (albacore tuna)
Suzuki (sea bass)
Toro (bigeye, Bluefin  or yellowfin tuna)

Bottom Line-

Most fish contains nutrients and vitamins that are good for you and your growing bundle of joy- and not all sushi is uncooked.

Itadakimasu!

4.       Can I Go running or ride a bike while pregnant?

Exercising during pregnancy is like salt n’ peppa (chocolate & peanut butter is a way better example says my husband). The two just go together. While it may feel like you have to be super careful so as not to jostle your little bean about in your womb- you do not, in fact, have to worry. Early on in your pregnancy your sweet pea is safely enclosed by the bones of your pelvis, so activities such as riding a bike or even riding horses are safe (as long as you don’t fall off) during pregnancy.

Bottom Line-

As you progress in your pregnancy and your belly grows, you’ll find that you may have to adjust your stride, or your exercise routine in general as shortness of breath is common and your center of gravity has changed. Make sure to listen to your body- if you feel tired or winded or tightness in your belly, STOP.

Otherwise, carry-on mama.

PS We chat about swimming here.

5.       Can I take hot baths while pregnant?

Hot baths? Yes.

Hot Tubs? Maybe not.

Physicians caution pregnant mamas about getting overheated when using hot tubs. Since most hot tubs are 104 degrees, it can only take 10 minutes to raise your core body temp to 102- which is dangerous territory for a preggo.

Why shouldn’t my body temp be over 102?  Studies show that the risk of birth defects increases when a preggo is HOT (as in temp).

Bottom Line-

If you want to relax, use your bath tub.

6.       Can I use antibiotics while pregnant?

The simple (and short) answer on this is to ask your health care provider. They’ll need to prescribe the drugs anyway. There are  plenty of options of antibiotics that are deemed “okay” for preggo mama and baby.

Bottom Line-

Chat with your doc and decide if you really really NEED them. Then make the call.

7.       Can I go on roller coasters when pregnant?

While I, personally, can’t even imagine wanting to hop on a roller coaster when pregs, there may be some thrill enthusiasts out there who are all about it ‘bout it.

I have a feeling if you ask your health care provider they will tell you a rousing “hell to the no” mama- this stems from concerns of abrupt starts and stops, and the jarring which can actually result in the placenta separating from the wall of your uterus (placental abruption) which means baby isn’t getting oxygen. Not good.

Bottom Line-

If you feel sad about missing out on roller coasters for the next 10 months or so, do not fear: pregnancy is the ultimate thrill ride. You’ll be on a roller coaster of hormones that makes the Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens look like child’s play. You might even barf.

8.       Can I change the cat litter while pregnant?

Those of you who have kitty cats, pass the kitty litter changing duty baton to your partner for the next year or so (or milk it and make it forever).

There’s a long, scientific-y word called “toxoplasmosis” involved. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii- are you gagging yet? This parasite is found in cat poop.

Bottom Line-

If you’re the Lone Ranger on poopy-scoopy duty, the CDC recommends you wear gloves when changing the litter and make sure to wash your hands thoroughly when done.

And please, for the love, don’t handle stray cats.

9.    Can I take cold/sleeping meds when pregnant?

When you have your first appointment with your health care provider, you should get a list of over-the-counter meds that your Doctor/Midwife deems safe. If you haven’t found your “soul mate” yet and need some suggestions pronto, let me know, I’ll share the list I received from my health care provider.

There are over the counter and herbal remedies for all of the following:

Allergies, Headache/Sinus, Upset Stomach, Constipation, Diarrhea, Nausea, Sore Throat, Cough, Sleeplessness, Heartburn

 Bottom Line-

Consult with your health care provider to  make sure you’re getting the right stuff. Preggo friendly meds do exist. Help is on the way!

10. Can I dye my hair while pregnant?

by Cindy Crosby of Birth-Smart

Natural Birth : what is it?

I was interviewed not too long ago by a graduate student for a project in a women’s health class.  She was very bright and asked a lot of great questions; some I responded to quickly and some I am still pondering.  One of these questions was, “what does it mean to have a ‘natural’ birth”?

What is “natural birth”?

I am inclined to respond-  that it means different things to different people.  A basic definition would be to say that if a woman gives birth with no pain medications, she has had a natural birth.

It’s possible to have a drug free birth while hooked up to continuous fetal monitoring, IV fluids, artificial breaking of the waters, and even episiotomy.  It’s even possible (though very difficult) to experience a birth with no pain medication that begins with a medical induction. . . but some would argue that these examples are not very natural.

I like the term “physiologically normal birth” better than the more commonly used “natural”.  To me, it suggests not only avoiding pain medication, but permitting the woman’s body to perform the functions it was intended to without interference.  Interrupting this natural process results in many issues that require further interventions and can contribute to the cycle of complications we consistently see in the U.S. maternity system today.

Is a “natural” birth the goal?

As a childbirth educator, the question of defining a natural birth led me to ask myself if my goal is for women I teach to have a “natural” birth.  Of course I consider myself a strong advocate for physiologically normal birth, but my ultimate goal is for women to be able to weigh benefits and risks and make their own informed choices.  It is not my job to judge women for their choices.  I had one student who told me guiltily that she had “wussed out and got the epidural”.  I felt that she thought I was disappointed in her, which made me sad.  My intention was to support her to achieve the best birth experience possible.  I have no idea what she was dealing with in terms of her coping skills, emotional state, available support, whether she had slept all week, etc.  It was her choice to make and I think she was well-informed and did not take the decision lightly.

The current U.S. c-section rate is 33%, yet research indicates that when birth is approached from a preventative care/expectant management perspective (where interventions are performed as needed, rather than routinely on each woman), cesarean birth occurs less than 5% of the time.  That says to me that there are a lot of women experiencing major surgery unnecessarily (in fact, the majority of those who have cesareans).  Unnecessary may not be the best term, since a woman who has labored many hours, had her water broken, is immobile, and “not making progress” may “need” a cesarean.  A better term would be “preventable”.  Had several of the interventions not occurred, a vaginal birth would very likely have been possible.

Some of these women come to realize that their birth outcome was a result of decisions made during their care by them or their providers.  Some are very angry.  Many don’t realize this and believe that their bodies were simply unable to give birth.  Knowing what I know, I seek to help women overcome the emotional and physical barriers leading to these unnecessary (or preventable) complications and learn to advocate for themselves.

Is “natural birth” for everyone?

Do I advocate for natural birth in every situation?  Certainly not.  Just because interventions are widely abused does not mean that they do not have legitimate uses.  There are situations where an IV or epidural can help a dehydrated or exhausted mother.  For the few women who require surgery, a c-section can be life-saving and essential.  To retrospectively determine which cesareans were necessary and which could have been prevented is impossible, but it is easy to speculate when a first time mom experiences a failed induction prior to cesarean at 39 weeks.

A recent study revealed that first time mothers who were induced increased their odds of having a c-section by 2.67 times.  Mothers were induced in 43.6% of cases, 39.9% of which were elective.  That means that only 3.7% of the mothers had medically necessary inductions and the remainder were placing themselves and their babies at increased risk for other reasons, most likely without even realizing it.  Given this information, I’m sure that some would have made a different choice.  Others may have felt that the emotional or other benefits outweighed that increased risk of cesarean and still chosen the elective induction, but it is my feeling that most if not all of these women did not understand the risks of induction.  This example illustrates how difficult it is to achieve true informed consent when making health care decisions.  It is vital that women are diligent in researching risks and benefits as they make their choices.

One of my childbirth trainers taught that I was not responsible for the outcomes of my students’ births.  I have come to embrace this sentiment.  These women are responsible.  These are their choices.  They are the ones who live with them.  I am here to teach, support, and encourage them to do their best, not to make decisions for them or judge them for their choices.  Along those lines, I cannot take credit for the accomplishments of my clients.  I have been thanked profusely by clients who had difficult and wonderful ‘natural’ births.  I can only say that it is their achievement.  I stand amazed at THEIR choices and THEIR strength . . . but I KNEW they could do it.

So the question “what is a natural birth?” is not so important (except that it sparked this discussion!)  Whether they choose no intervention, taking an IV, an epidural, or a cesarean, the question is whether women embrace these choices and make them wisely.  As a “side effect”, I have seen that this approach results in much higher rates of physiologically normal or “natural” birth, and certainly higher rates of maternal satisfaction as women learn to take an active role in their care.

*post originally appeared here.

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Sources:

Ehrenthal, Deborah B. MD; Jiang, Xiaozhang MD, MS; Strobino, Donna M. PhD.  “Labor Induction and the Risk of a Cesarean Delivery Among Nulliparous Women at Term.” Obstetrics & Gynecology: July 2010 – Volume 116 – Issue 1 – pp 35-42

Gaskin, I. M. (2003).  Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth.  Bantam.

Johnson, K. C. & Daviss, B.  “Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America”  BMJ 2005; 330: 1416.

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Cindy Crosby is a certified birth doula and certified childbirth educator. She is committed to helping mamas have a better, smarter birth. To read more of Cindy’s posts and get super awesome info, go here.  Cindy also has a blog devoted to essential oils.

By Valentina Pollard of Just Breathe

My Top 10 Must-Haves: The First 3 Months

Daphne and Poppy are now 3 months old! I cannot believe it. They have been home from the NICU for longer than they were there…and the days are flying by (although some more smoothly than others). During this time there have been some items that have made our lives much, much easier. I have listed my very favorite must-haves below. Please note that this list is made with twins in mind. Of course, it applies to all babies (just don’t buy as much if you have one baby instead of two…or buy more if you have three or four)!

 10. Baby Trend Double Snap N Go Stroller. Confession: We have three double strollers. Two parents. Two babies. Three double strollers. I am a bit stroller obsessed. We have the Bob Duallie (haven’t used just yet since the girls are not big enough to run with yet). And we have the Bumbleride Indie Twin (Love it for neighborhood walks and leisurely strolls, but not the most practical for everyday errands and such). At the advice of another twin mom, I bought the Snap N Go…I didn’t want to – after all it is plastic and pretty ugly. But wow this thing is so easy to use when I am out alone with the girls and easy to maneuver with one hand (leaving the other to shop with…). Ugly or not, the easy and cheap Double Snap N Go is an absolute must have.

 9. Chicco Keyfit 30 car seats. These car seats are approved for preemies 4 pounds and bigger. We first bought Graco carseats with a pattern that I loved. The NICU had us return them to buy the Chicco. The girls both passed their car seat tests, they are lightweight and easy to carry two at a time…love them. We lost one of the seat pad inserts (still a mystery where it ended up!), so I called Chicco to order another one. For $12 they sent me a replacement and it arrived in 2 days! Great customer service. Buy them!

 8. Fisher-Price Newborn Rock & Play Sleeper. Two of them in your bedroom…critically necessary for the first three months (and counting!). We each have one sleeper next to each of us and the girls are now sleeping in them up to 8 hours each night. These keep them on an incline, reduce reflux and are easy to move around the house for impromptu napping. Must have. Period. Must. Best money you will spend.

 7. Fisher-Price Papasan Cradle Swing – My Little Lamb. The big one. The girls rotate using this when one is feeding and the other is fussy. They are HUGE and expensive, so we only bought one, but baby is it worth it. They love it. Immediately calms whichever one is in it, which is great because if you are feeding the other one or changing one, etc. you cannot attend to both at the same time. If we had tons of room we would probably buy a second one, but our house is small!

 6. The Miracle Blanket. Get one for each baby you have. They will not want to share and you will greatly benefit from having two sleeping babies! It is the best swaddle. As bragged about above, both girls are sleeping up to 8 hours at night…but only when we swaddle them with this particular swaddle. A good swaddle is huge for a preemie (which most twins are) because it mimics the womb. I like my babies swaddled. And I like them swaddled tight.

 5. Medela Symphony breast pump. I rented mine from a local store. Many hospitals rent them as well. If you are pumping for twins, don’t mess around with the pumps you can buy at a store – they are no where near powerful enough for how much milk you will need to produce and how quickly you will need to produce it!

4. Moby wrap. I am wrap obsessed. Chances are, if you stop by my house I am wearing one if not two babies. All. The. Time. I have bought three other wraps, but I keep coming back to the Moby. People say it is hard to use or that there is too much fabric. Bull. It is fabulous. I can now tie it without using a mirror and the girls love it. In fact, Daphne is asleep in it now while I am writing this!

 3. Graco Sweet Slumber Sound Machine. Small, portable and plays multiple sounds. We moved ours to the master bedroom and keep it on all the time. I prefer the rain and bird sounds. Puts the girls to sleep and I really believe it helps them relax at night. On a whim, I put this on our registry and am so glad I did. It was an awesome gift to receive and one of the most useful so far.

 2. Diaper Genie II Elite Diaper Disposal System. I’ll admit: I have talked a lot of trash about diaper genies in the past (pun totally intended). But with two babies (or for that matter any amount of baby(ies)!) and all the dirty diapers they produce (sorry, but I only use disposable diapers…much praise to those of you who are more eco-conscious than I am, but over my dead body am I scrapping poo into a toilet…yack)…must. have. Our house smells great at all times.

 1. California Baby Calendula Cream.  Nature’s First-Aid! As the description states, California Baby Calendula Cream is excellent for use on general diaper area, cradle cap, on cuts and scrapes, and may be used on face and body for extra-dry or sensitive skin. Botanically based, our light and fluffy Calendula Cream contains the active ingredient of Calendula, which has been used to heal the skin for centuries. California Baby Calendula Cream offers deep hydration, absorbs completely, and leaves skin feeling satiny smooth. I’ve been using it on both girls’ sweet faces at night (and mine too!) as part of our bedtime routine and on any little scratches (from those pesky finger nails that grow like weeds), etc. If I notice a scratch on one of the girl’s faces I immediately apply some cream and – ta da! – the scratch literally disappears by the next morning. It smells like heaven, is lightweight and the girls and I love it. You will too.

What am I missing out on? Any suggestions of must-haves for the next 3 months?

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More about our Booty Blogger:

Valentina Vassallo Pollard started …just breathe… in May 2010 when, after many months, she found herself still holding her breath in hopes of a positive pregnancy test. After a year and a half long journey through the trenches of infertility, she is now living her very own happy ending beginning – a successful first round of IVF resulting in a healthy pregnancy with twin girls. Valentina is busy adjusting to the wonderful world of mommyhood with the arrival of her girls, now three months old. She is passionate about spreading the word about infertility treatments and the options available to families. She writes about her experiences, hopes, dreams and shopping binges (now mostly baby related) on her blog – www.just-breathe-blog.blogspot.com. Valentina lives in Austin, Texas with her very handsome (and patient) husband, Blake.