Mom 101

Whether you are a soon to be mom, first time mom, or mom to more then one child this post will help you and provide you with some tips! Most of these are links to my posts but a few are from other great websites I have come across.

Moms-To-Be

Postpartum Recovery Kit

Fighting Morning Sickness

Things to do Before You're Due

Packing Your Hospital Bag

Packing Your Spouse's Bag & Baby's Bag

My Sample Birth Plan

27 Pre-Baby Freezer Meals

For Moms

Recovering From a C-Section

Eating/Drinking While Breastfeeding

Introducing Baby & Dog

Postpartum Recovery Kit

Getting Kids To Sleep...Through The Night.

Introducing Solid Foods

Going From One Child to Two

Tips to Produce More Breast Milk

Recovering From a C-Section

(guest post from Rachelle)

Hey, I'm Rachelle. I had a natural birth with my son in 2010 and a scheduled c-section with my daughter in October 2013. Although it was planned I still went into labor the day before (seems my daughter didn't want to wait another day!), so lucky me I got to experience the joys of labor. My daughters stomach was measuring larger than it should have been which is why I had a scheduled c-section, they didn't want her to get stuck on the way out. So from my experience, here are some tips for recovering from a c-section.

Walking

You won't be able to get up and walk until hours (maybe even the next day). So when you are able to get up, take it slow! A nurse will be there to assist you the first few times. 

Pillow

Bring a pillow from home, maybe even a blanket (I did both). It's comforting to have since you will be in the hospital for about 3-4 days. I also recommend using a pillow to hold against your belly if you have to cough or sneeze within the first week, to help with the pain.

Shower Supplies

This may be a given, but bring your own shower supplies to use. It'll do wonders with how you feel!

Feeding Tip

If you breastfeed (or maybe even bottle feed), it will be more comfortable to hold baby football style so there's no pressure on your incision. 

Rest

Let the nurses take the baby to the nursery at nights, you need your rest. Either way you give birth it is tiring, but speaking from experience having a c-section is a way more painful recovery. If you decided to breastfeed make sure to tell the nurses to bring baby back when he/she gets hungry. 

Clothing

Bring a loose dress, maternity clothing, or big fitted sweatpants to wear home. You want anything that isn't tight around your belly.

Don't Get Upset

Try not to get upset at yourself for not doing anything around the house when you get home. I did because being a SAHM I do everything in the house, so for me not to do anything made me feel unaccomplished, which only drained me more. Don't feel that way! You just made a little human!

Ask for Help

You're going to need help, with basically everything. So ask some family and friends to come over not only to meet your new bundle of joy but to help with the laundry, dishes, cooking, and whatever else needs to be done.  If you have a church family, ask for meals! Our church family was a HUGE blessing.

If you have any thing to add please feel free to do so in the comments below! 

Postpartum Recovery Kit

When I first had my son I had no idea what to expect during and after labor. I especially didn't know what to expect once we arrived home. Was I going to be able to walk?! How bad is it going to hurt?  How long will it take to feel "normal" again? I had everything prepared at home for my son but nothing for myself. I think a kit like this is a must have for any pregnant woman, and what an awesome gift too! 

**NOTE: This is from my experience of two natural vaginal births. I have not experienced a c-section. If you have and have anything to add to the list please comment below and it will be added!**

Granny Panties

Maxi Pads

You will bleed for about 6 weeks (give or take, everyone is different) after giving birth. The bleeding is pretty heavy at first, so save your good underwear for after!

Tucks Pads

These will help the unlucky ones who get hemorrhoids after giving birth. I had them after my son but not my daughter. They are painful and if you aren't sure what is going on scary. 

Dermoplast Pain Relief Spray

Another aid after a vaginal delivery. The hospital provided this for me after my son, but when I had my daughter at a different hospital they did not. Going to the bathroom will hurt as will the area you just pushed a human out of. Use the water bottle to spray yourself off, pat dry, and spray yourself down there with some of this spray. You'll feel instant relief, enough to go "ahhhh!" 

Nipple Cream

Nursing Pads

Breastfeeding will do a number on your nipples at first. The cream will help sooth the pain, excellent for when you go to shower and just the water hurts! The pads will help from leaking through your bra and shirt, it's embarrassing trust me! 

Water Bottles next to bed 

Quick Snacks next to the bed

For those night feedings. I always got thirsty and hungry when I was up with my kids for their night feedings. Keeping a stash will save you (or your spouse) from running to the kitchen 

Phone App/Journal to record dirty/wet diapers and bfing times

After a week home the hospitals (in my area) send a home nurse to check up on you. Their job is to make sure baby is feeding correctly, gaining weight, and is having plenty of dirty/wet diapers. They also answer any questions you may have and will give you tons of awesome papers with tips and tricks on them. I wish I had an app or journal to write down and keep track of everything so I could give her accurate answers.


Added for C-Section Mommas!

"Gas Pills because you WILL get trapped air from when they open you up."

Introducing Baby & Dogs?

Leaving the hospital and getting home can be stressful. The first drive in the car, the first time you are no longer with the help of nurses...I'm not sure about you but on our home with both children I made Peter drive slower then usually because I was so nervous! 

For animal owners it is also a stressful time for the pets. Their beloved owners have been gone for a few days and are now home with a brand new toy human. To make the transition easier for you and your pets you can start training them while you're pregnant. The following are things to focus on before baby arrives, of course the following depends on how well trained your dog already is.

1. Does your dog have an aggression issue?

How does your dog act when you step near his/her food dish, toys, or bed? If they react by snipping, growling, or hovering you may want to seek a professional trainer to help with this problem.  Remember once baby becomes mobile the dogs toys, food bowl, and bed are new territory. They will want to explore. Of course teaching your child that the dog items are "no-no's" is a no brainer but the items are still there tempting them(: 

2. Teaching proper manners.

If your dog jumps up on people when he/she gets excited that is something that should be stopped. Once baby comes home and you have visitors (or even just yourself) hold the baby, you do not want your dog jumping up. It can be a hazard, baby could be knocked out of the person's hand. 

Practice the "drop it" command. Baby items will be left around I'm sure meaning your dog will think he has a new toy! 

3. Pet proofing, not just baby proofing?

If your dog sleeps in bed with you, you may want to start training him to stay on the ground. If you plan to co-sleep with baby or put them in a sleep against the bed the dogs new bed should be on the floor. 

Getting a diaper pail may be a good idea. You don't want your dog spreading unwanted "paint" all over!

4. Introducing baby and dog.

If you have visitors in the hospital after baby is born have one of your guests take an item that baby wore (hat, onesie, etc) back to your house. Have them let your dog inspect the item, smelling or licking, so they know the scent of the baby. Once home let them meet on neutral territory, outside as opposed to inside. Use your commands and keep an eye on your dog, reward him with a treat for listening and being well behaved. 

If you are a dog owner please share what you did to make the transition easier for you and your dog!

Fighting Morning Sickness.

Thankfully with this pregnancy I have not had any morning sickness (knock on wood) but with the previous two I had it horrible in the first trimester. So I looked into ways to help relieve the nausea, the following are things that I have tried (marked with a *) and other things that I heard work wonders!

1. Watermelon

It's high water content and fruit sugars can help alleviate nausea. Bonus, it's delicious and can be used in slushies, smoothies, or just by itself.

2. Ginger *

Fresh ginger is best, peeled and shaved into hot tea. If you can't get a hold of fresh ginger then try to find flavored candies, ginger ale, or ginger gum. 

3. Peppermint *

One drop of essential oil under the tongue and done! You can also try gum, altoids mints, or hot tea...all peppermint flavored.

4. Eat Cold Foods *

Food that is cold, such as pasta salad or fruit stored in the fridge, has less of an odor then food that is hot. 

5. Small Meals

Usually when I started to get nauseous was when I realized I waited too long between meals. Eating small meals throughout the day instead of the normal breakfast, lunch, and dinner helps with keeping your stomach full and gives you a less chance of getting nauseous.

6. Drink Lemon Water

As you know during pregnancy you are suppose to up your water intake. Sometimes the taste of plain water can lead to some women getting sick. By adding lemon to the water and a teaspoon of sugar it will change the taste and help relieve the nausea. 

What did you do to help fight off or calm morning sickness? Feel free to comment!

Pregnancy Must Haves!

When I first found out I was pregnant with twins I went right to Amazon.com to order books and then over to Pinterest.com to start pinning things to help me along this pregnancy. The list below are a few items I came across when pregnancy blog surfing and ended up purchasing or receiving as a gift. This list is not only for mom's to multiples though, all the items are great for a singleton pregnancy too!

1. Pregnancy Pillow!

I have this one, here. It is AMAZING! I usually like to sleep on my stomach, and all momma's know that doing so is a big no, no. This pillow helped me stay on my side and when turned the other way (pillow in the front rather then behind you) really helps support my belly. The only negative thing I have to say about this pillow is that it's huge. We have a king size bed and I feel like I'm taking up 3/4 of the bed when I use to pillow. 

2. Old Navy Maternity Clothing

Old Navy Maternity

They are always having great sales and have the best prices for their clothing. If you shop online their selection is large compared to other sites I came across. The wonderful thing I also came to find out? The maternity clothing still look great while NOT pregnant. (I will try to update the photo as soon as they start a new sale.)

3. A Good Pregnancy Book

   

No matter what every mom has questions regarding pregnancy, birth, and what to do now that baby is here! The books I have above are the ones I really enjoyed reading. The Juggling Twins book for this pregnancy and the Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: A Complete Guide for when I first got pregnant with my son. They both answered the questions that I had and gave me the information needed.

4. Water Bottle

Momma's have to stay hydrated, not only during pregnancy but after labor too. I take my bottle with me everywhere. I also have an extra in my car that I keep filled in case I forget mine or need extra water. 

5. Lotion

Some how I always end up pregnant in the winter, so my skin gets dried out fast. Applying lotion daily helps keep it hydrated and stops the itching. You can use any brand that you want, they even have pregnancy specific kinds. 

So what were some must have items during your pregnancy? Feel free to share and I will add them to the list!

The Difference Between Singleton & Multiple Pregnancies

Before I found out I was going to have twins I knew very, very little about how different the pregnancy is compared to a singleton pregnancy. All I really knew was that moms who carried multiples usually had a bigger belly & the babies typically arrived earlier then singletons. That's it. 

Boy was I clueless! One of the main reason's I freaked out when we found out we were going to have twins was due to the unknown. I have been through two singleton pregnancies before, surely I could do another. Twins? Completely new! It's like being pregnant for the first time all over again. 

Fast forward to now, I've done my research..bought 5 different books focused towards a multiple pregnancy...and have been through half a twin pregnancy. Below are a few differences between carrying a singleton and carrying multiples.

     1. You Are MORE Tired.

The first few months of this pregnancy nearly wore me out. I was going to bed at 8pm, when normally I would be up until 11pm, and taking multiple short naps a day. When I was pregnant with Luke or Madison I was hardly, if ever, tired! I never needed naps and never went to bed before 10pm. Now that I'm in the middle of the pregnancy I'm hitting my energy peak, not looking forward to that crashing towards the end!

    2.  More Prenatal Visits.

I have a doctors appointment every Tuesday until these girls come out! That's about 31 visits, since we found out it was twins until two days before my due date. Every other appointment I see a different doctor. My normal OB will check my weight and blood pressure and the twins heart beats. Every Tuesday in between appointments with her I go see a specialist who does an ultra sound at every appointment to check the twins' growth rate, cords, the placenta, and my cervix. 

  3. Twin Pregnancies Require More Vitamins.

I take my normal prenatal's, a prescription for extra folic acid, vitamin D, and vitamin C. With my other pregnancies I rarely even took my prenatal's, I know bad me.  

   4. Be Prepared WAY In Advance.

Most multiple pregnancies do not make it to 40 weeks. I have read that they typically enjoy coming any time between 35 & 37 weeks. For that reason, I already have my hospital bag packed..birth plan ready and printed...and baby clothing folded and ready. I'm waiting to order the second car seat but feel I should do that soon. 

5. Good Luck Finding Clothing That Fit.

Seriously, good luck. I'm already 24 weeks and my normal jeans no longer fit. In my singleton pregnancies I wore them throughout the entire pregnancy...that is no longer an option. T-Shirts are starting to become a problem. Thank goodness my husband has a lot that I can wear(; 

Things to Do Before You're Due!

1. Set up baby's sleep area.

Whether it's in the nursery or in your master bedroom having the baby's sleeping space set is a must! Everything else can always wait until after you get home. As long as the crib, bassinet, or co sleeper is ready you are good to go! 

2. Install The Car Seat(s).

Take the time to read the manual and understand how the seat installs and how remove it. A local police station or fire station can help and test the installation to make sure the seat is in properly. I would wait until a week before your due date or induction date to install the seat(s). 

3. Have a date night with you significant other.

Before baby arrives take a night and set it aside for just you and your spouse! Trust me, you will want to. You can go out for a nice dinner or stay home and have a movie night. Just make sure you take the time to spend together, once baby comes it will be difficult to find some alone time. 

4. If you already have children- set up a big brother/sister gift.

Take some time to think of the child(ren) you already have. Once baby time comes they older sibling may feel a bit out of the loop. Include them in the special day by presenting them with a gift from their new sister/brother. A coloring book/crayons or maybe a special stuffed animal will help make them feel special and give them the attention they'll need. 

5. Wash clothing & bedding.

Wash anything and everything that baby will be wearing or sleeping with (blankets, socks, crib sheets, sleepers, ect). Be sure to use fragrance free/dye free detergent like Seventh Generation. 

6. Pack your hospital bag.

Make sure you have everything packed and ready to go for when you go into labor. Depending on when you choose to pack you may need to use some items you will be taking with you (cell phone charger, shampoo, ect) so make a list and keep it on top of your bag.  

See my post about what to pack in your hospital bag here.

See my post about what to pack in your spouses bag and baby bag here.

What are some things you did to prepare for baby? If you have anything to add please comment or send me an email! 

What's In That Bag? (Baby(s) & Husband)

So I already wrote a post about what I have packed in my hospital bag, see that here. This post will be about what I have packed in the baby(s) bag and my husband's bag. Since I am having twins I packed double of everything, so if you are having a singleton just cut the amounts of each in half.

Twin Hospital Bag

Scratch Mittens (2)

Going home outfit (2)

Blanket (2)

Paci (2)

Vaseline 

(Apply to the babes butt after birth, this makes getting those first couple poops easier to wipe off!)

Car Seat (2)

Baby Book (2)

Diapers & wipes are provided by hospitals so there is no need to pack those. When you leave, be sure to snag the left over diapers (hospitals don't mind)! All in all you do not need to pack a lot for the baby(s). As long as you have a going home outfit and car seat(s) you will be fine! 

Husband's Hospital Bag

Shorts (1)

Sweat Pants (1)

Shirts (2-3)

Socks (3)

Boxers (3)

Travel Size Shampoo & Conditioner

Travel Size Body Soap

Phone & Charger

iPad & Charger

I try to keep his bag pretty simple. As long as he has clothing to change into, things to take a shower with, and his iPad to post photos he is fine(:

What's In That Hospital Bag?

Every time I have packed a hospital bag (this is the third time) I always get so frazzled because I always feel like I'm missing something or taking stuff I won't even need. With the birth of my son I took so much crap that we didn't even use! With my daughter I took different crap and still didn't use it haha. Well this time I feel like I have everything I needed/used between my first two births and nothing that won't be needed. (:  Below is the list of what I packed in my hospital bag, I will do another post about what is in the twins and my husbands bag.  

Edited* See the post for the twins and Peter's bag here.

Samantha's Hospital Bag

Clothing

Sweat/Yoga Pants (2)

Loose Shirts/Stretchy Shirts for breastfeeding (3)

Granny Panties (2)

Nursing Bras (2)

Socks (3)

Toiletries

Toothbrush & Paste

Deodorant

Chap Stick 

Dermaplast 

(Truly a savior after any vaginal birth!)

Very Large Pads 

(I hate the skinny ones they give out at the hospital.)

Pillow 

Breast pads

Tucks Pads

Extras

Cell Phone & Charger

Kindle & Charger

Wallet (ID, Insurance Card, Change for vending machines)

Camera

The hospitals here provide travel size shampoo, conditioner, soap, pads, squirt bottle, & mesh underwear. 

My Birth Plan.

 I've decided to share my birth plan, which really is no different with twins then a singleton birth. I hope that some of you may find this useful in helping you decide your plan, feel free to steal! My plan involves no pain medication so if you would like to request an epidural remember to add that. (:

Samantha ----'s Birth Plan

Due Date: May 29^th, 2014

Patient of: Dr. Kari Wood & Dr. Lawrence Dolkart

Environment

I would like my husband (besides doctors & nurses) to be the only person in the room during the birthing process.

I would like the lights off and curtains open (day birth) or the lights fully on (night birth).

Labor

I would not like to be separated from my husband at any point.

I would like to be able to walk and move freely while in labor.

I would like no pain medicine unless I ask for it...more then once(:

C-Section

I would like to avoid a c-section but understand with twins it may be needed.

I would like my husband to be with me at all times during the operation.

I would like to be conscious.

I would like to have immediate contact with my babies.

Post Birth

I would like to hold my babies immediately after birth.

I would like my husband to be with the babies at all times after delivery.

I would like my husband to cut the cords (if possible).

I plan to breastfeed or bottle feed what I can pump.

We would like to try co-bedding with the twins, if this is not possible that's okay.

**No formula or sugar water supplement for the babies unless absolutely necessary**

**No Heb B Vaccine for either baby**