Her First Moments

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The first hour of your child’s life is a blur, yet the world also seems to completely stop in its tracks. I’ll never forget the first moments of my daughter’s life. I remember just being grateful to be done pushing, but also seeing Avalyn for the first time was unreal. I immediately looked and her and then looked at my husband. He was so proud and his eyes were filled with joyful tears. It was the best moment of my life (next to marrying him, of course).

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The hospital I delivered at, Community North in Indianapolis, requires an hour of skin-to-skin time, which was a huge blessing. After holding her, they cleaned her up and weighed her very quickly, then brought her over. Since I decided to nurse, they had be feed her within the first half hour of her life. And, she latched on right away. Never having done it before, I didn’t really know what I was doing, but my little bundle of joy led the way. The doctor and nurses couldn’t get over how quickly she latched on and how alert she was right at birth. I attribute this to BabyPlus. While I missed the last two lessons because Avalyn was 23 days early, I know that BabyPlus helped to make her the wonderful baby she is.

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Not only was she alert and latching right away, the doctor was also impressed with her next control and strength at her one week appointment! She was already hitting milestones much earlier than many babies that are a few weeks older than her. Since she was so early, they told me that she could have a few minor delays, but on the contrary, she was already ahead. I love BabyPlus and would recommend it to all of my friends. She is a great eater, great sleeper, super laid back and a very happy BabyPlus baby!

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She’S Here!

This post is long over due. 11 weeks to be exact. But, I took the last two months off of blogging so I could spend time with my wonderfully, perfectly made daughter! Her arrival was a huge surprise to us all and I’m excited to finally share her birth story with all of you.

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I had gone to my 36 week check-up on Thursday morning on September 4. They did an ultrasound to ensure she was not still breach like she had been at my 20 week appointment. I remember being so excited to go into that ultrasound to get a glimpse of this little peanut that was taking up more and more room in my ever expanding belly. Well, we went in for the ultrasound and the tech told us everything looked great, but she couldn’t get a single picture because she was so tightly squeezed in there. We did see a tiny peak of her huge cheeks, which was satisfying enough. She was healthy and cozy in there, so that’s all we cared about.

Next, I went to see my DR for the 36 week check. We talked about hospital plans and everything that goes along with that. She told me she wasn’t going to check me since I was only 36 weeks along and that I had quite a bit of time (basically, that baby wasn’t going anywhere). So, my husband and I left for work and went about our days like we still had 4 weeks left. I should have known something was up though. There were little signs throughout the entire week that I noticed, but just shrugged off. For instance, I was sick and I never get sick. Also, I had a ton of work that I had to get done before maternity leave and I finished my biggest project way early (or so I thought) so that way I could have 4 weeks to train people on my team to do my job while I was away.

Anyway, we headed home from work that Thursday, hung out with some friends and then got into bed around 12:30 a.m. As usual, I got up around 2:30 a.m. to pee. This had become my typical routine over the past few months. So, I staggered out of bed, went to the bathroom and staggered back into bed. Right as I got into bed, I heard and felt a weird pop that I had never experienced before. Then, water started coming out in large quantities. I knew my water had broken, but I didn’t want to admit it for some reason. I actually contemplated just going back to bed. However, the steady stream of fluid didn’t allow for that. So, I Googled “what to do when water breaks” because I had completely blanked on everything I learned in my birthing class. After 20 minutes of that, and more fluid, I finally decided to wake my husband up. I gently shook him for about 5 minutes until he finally woke up and muttered the words, “Babe, I don’t want to make you panic, but I think my water broke.” He had the exact reaction I thought he would. He shot out of bed and said, “Ok, let’s do this. What do we do? Are you ok? Do you need anything?” I said, “I’m fine, but I don’t remember what we are supposed to do.” After deliberating for a few minutes, we decided to call the DR.

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I then called the hospital to let them know my water broke and they told that they would have my DR call me back, but to also get to the hospital as soon as I could. My favorite part of the story (besides having Avalyn comes in now). My DR called me back within 5 minutes and when her weary, tired voice called, she said, “Are you just testing to see if my number works?” It made me laugh out loud and I gave her kudos for joking when I woke her up out of a dead sleep at 2:30 in the morning. She asked how I was and I filled her in. Then she told me she’d meet me at the hospital in an hour. So, it was time!

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Why Take A Breastfeeding Class

My husband and I recently took a breastfeeding class and I must say that it was extremely helpful. I’ve known so many moms who have tried to jump right in without really knowing much about the process. While this works for some, I’ve seen it prove difficult for others. I’m delivering at Community North in Indianapolis and they have great classes and options for parents-to-be. So, we decided to take the class to see what we could learn and we were pleasantly surprised.

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Here’s why we found it so helpful:

  • Learned from a qualified instructor. We were learning from someone who is around it all day, every day rather than people who have just read about it or tried it a few times.
  • Covered the basics. Our instructor gave us great information on what we really needed to know:
    • How breastfeeding works
    • How to establish a good milk supply
    • How to get your baby to latch
    • How to know if your baby is getting enough milk
    • Positions for breastfeeding
    • When and where to get help should you need it
  • Debunked myths. Again, our instructor did a great job of encouraging us rather than sharing horror stories. She even challenged many of the stories and gave examples and helpful ways to combat those difficulties many moms may face.
  • A support system. We left knowing we had support. So many moms find breastfeeding difficult because they receive all the help they need in the hospital, then leave and feel alone and unsupported. Our instructor gave us real support systems we could use after the baby has arrived.

My recommendation would be to take as many classes as you can. You can never be too prepared when it comes to parenting.

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How To Make A Diaper Cake

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I recently hosted a diaper shower for a friend. While I had never done this, I’ve had other friends host these types of parties and they are such a hit. Second and third time moms tend to love them because they don’t really need more stuff. Rather, they need the essentials like diapers and wipes. So, how do you make a diaper cake? It’s a lot easier than I would have thought. I’ve posted my picture (to the right) and it only took about 20 minutes!

There are two main ways to make a diaper cake:

  • Rolling Method. This is where you roll each individual diaper and attach it with a rubber band. I found this to be a little more difficult and time consuming. Also, moms will have to unroll each diaper as they use it.
    • MAKE SURE YOU GET ALL WHITE DIAPERS OR ONES WITH A FUN PATTERN.
    • FORM THE TOP OF THE DIAPER CAKE. ROLL UP A DIAPER, STARTING AT THE “OPEN” TOP END. WRAP A RUBBER BAND AROUND THE ROLLED DIAPER TO STOP IT FROM UNROLLING. THIS DIAPER WILL FORM THE CENTER OF THE LAYER.
    • ROLL UP AND SECURE SEVEN MORE DIAPERS. PLACE THEM AROUND THE CENTER DIAPER (OR BABY BOTTLE) SO THAT THEY ARE ALL EVENLY SPACED. KEEP THEM TOGETHER BY PLACING A LARGE RUBBER BAND AROUND ALL OF THE DIAPERS.
    • CREATE CENTERPIECE FOR THE MIDDLE LAYER. REPEAT STEPS ABOVE, BUT THIS TIME ROLL UP 15 MORE DIAPERS AND PLACE THEM AROUND THE CENTERPIECE. SECURE THEM WITH A LARGE RUBBER BAND.
    • CREATE BOTTOM PIECE OF THE CAKE BY REPEATING THE STEPS ABOVE, BUT USING 30 DIAPERS THIS TIME. SECURE THEM WITH A LARGE RUBBER BAND.
    • DECORATE THE CAKE WITH RIBBON AND TOYS.
    • GET STEP-BY-STEP DIRECTIONS WITH PICTURES.
  • Pan Method. This method does not require you to roll and rubber band each individual diaper. Plus it looks just as nice as the rolling method and takes a quarter of the time.
    • START WITH THREE DIFFERENT SIZED POTS OR PANS.
    • BEGIN TO MAKE THE BOTTOM LAYER OF YOUR DIAPER CAKE BY TAKING THE LARGEST PAN AND PLACING STACKS OF DIAPERS ONE NEXT TO EACH OTHER. TRY TO PACK THEM CLOSE TOGETHER, AND AT THE END YOU SHOULD HAVE A COMPACT CIRCULAR SHAPE WITH THE DIAPERS FORMING A SPIRAL.
    • SECURE THE DIAPERS TOGETHER WHILE THEY’RE STILL IN THE PAN.
    • REMOVE THE LAYER OF DIAPERS FROM THE PAN.
    • REPEAT TWO MORE TIMES WITH SMALLER PANS.
    • STACK ALL THE LAYERS THAT YOU’VE MADE ACCORDING TO SIZE, STARTING WITH THE LARGEST LAYER ON THE BOTTOM.
    • DECORATE THE CAKE WITH RIBBON AND TOYS.
    •  GET STEP-BY-STEP DIRECTIONS WITH PICTURES.

If mom doesn’t already have a BabyPlus system. This is another great item to bring to a shower. I’ve never met a mom who doesn’t love theirs!

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Finished Lesson #9

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The picture above shows me finishing up lesson #9! I’ve already started on lesson #10 and seem to breezing through that one too. It is just amazing to know how fast time is going by. I have around 2 months left and it seems like she will be here before we know it.

Many of my friends have seen me using BabyPlus and have asked what it is and why I’m using. I let them know that BabyPlusis a series of audio lessons that are specifically tailored to every stage of infant growth in the womb. These lessons consist of natural sounds similar to the comforting rhythm of the mother’s heartbeat. As your child grows during the prenatal development stages, the lessons also change slightly and evolve. Basically, it’s a great way to give your baby a head start. I also let them know about the benefits:

BabyPlus® parents report babies at birth and infancy:

  •     Are more relaxed & alert at birth
  •     More readily nurse
  •     Display increased ability to self-soothe
  •     Are more interactive & responsive

And later in life demonstrate:

  •     Earlier developmental milestones
  •     Longer attention spans
  •     Improved school readiness
  •     Strong learning skills

Have questions? Email us at customerservice@babyplus.com or leave a comment below.

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Lesson #8

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I just finished lesson #8 last week and am already on lesson #9. It is exciting, and nerve-wrecking, to see how fast the time is going by. I feel like the second half of this pregnancy is going much faster than the first half. For anyone out there who has not shared their news yet, it seems like that was the longest part of my pregnancy. After 20 weeks, time has just flown so fasten your seat belts and get ready for time to fly! If you take a look back at some of my past posts, you can see this how this incredible journey has gone for me so far.

I feel great and am so thankful for such a healthy pregnancy. I’m also grateful for all the benefits my baby girl is receiving from BabyPlus including:

  •     Are more relaxed & alert at birth
  •     More readily nurse
  •     Display increased ability to self-soothe
  •     Are more interactive & responsive

If you have questions, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email.

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Lesson #7

Last week, I finished lesson #7 of BabyPlus and am already flying through lesson #8. It’s amazing to see how much bigger I’m getting each week. A few things I’ve noticed while using BabyPlus over the last few weeks:

  • It just gets more soothing with each use. In fact, it almost puts me to sleep each time.
  • My baby girl loves it! Besides walking and consuming cold foods or beverages, this is something that gets her excited and on the move. It’s so fun to feel her move around when wearing BabyPlus!
  • The cat might like it even more than the baby…as you can see from this picture. The second he sees me start to put it on, he’s on my lap ready to begin!

I’ll keep you posted as I approach the half way mark with my lessons! Have questions about my experience or just want to know more? Feel free to leave a comment or email me!

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Sharing Your Pregnancy News

Sharing the news of your pregnancy can be one of the most exciting times! Some people decide to tell right away, while others might want to wait a few weeks. However you decide to do it, let it be unique to you. Need some ideas on how you should share your news? Here’s a few creative ways we’ve seen:

 

  • Take a photo with you and your partner’s shoes with a pair of baby shoes in between
  • Promote your pet or other child(ren) to big brother(s) or big sister(s).
  • Hold up a jar of Prego Pasta Sauce and snap a selfie.
  • Get a cute shot of you and your partner pulling a bun out of the oven.
  • Simply announce that your having a baby and post the ultrasound photo.

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There are so many ways to do it, Looking for more ways? Visit happyhomefairy.com for some ideas.

BabyPlus wants to know how you told your loved ones you were pregnant! Share with us!

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Last Day Of Lesson #4

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I can’t believe it’s my last day of using lesson #4 and that I’ll be moving onto lesson #5 already! I’m just about 26 weeks now (the picture to the right is from about two weeks ago, so I’ve grown a bit since then) and time is flying by. While I’m nervous about what’s to come, changes in schedule, work/life balance, marriage, etc., I’m also excited about this new life and our precious baby girl. I can’t wait to see her face for the first time. Moreover, I can’t wait to see my husband hold our daughter and see him as a dad!

I’m also excited to see all the benefits that BabyPlus has had on our girl. I know that she’ll see the following benefits:

  • More relaxed & alert at birth
  • More readily nurse
  • Display increased ability to self-soothe
  • More interactive & responsive

If you aren’t familiar with BabyPlus, learn more at BabyPlus.com.

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Just Started Lesson #2

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As I close in on the half way point in my pregnancy, I started using the second lesson of BabyPlus. I’ve noticed a few things in the past couple of weeks:

  • I really enjoy my relaxation time using BabyPlus. It gives me an hour to put my feet up and bond with my baby girl.
  • The soothing sounds of BabyPlus not only put me to sleep, but the cat seems to enjoy it too!
  • My husband is a drummer and really loves hearing the steady beat of the BabyPlus system. He’s secretly hoping our girl takes after him and plays the drums.
  • I can’t wait to meet my BabyPlus baby for the first time and see all the wonderful benefits BabyPlus has had on her!

I’d love to hear from you! Post your photos and comments on the blog our BabyPlus social media: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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