Five Moms talking about Cloth Diapers, Breastfeeding, Babywearing, Child Rearing, Pregnancy, Money Saving tips, Sewing, Recipes, Mommyhood, Natural Parenting, Natural Cleaning Products, and much More! If you would like one of us to review an item for you, please email themommygoods@gmail.com!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Tuesday Blog Hop!
Come along and have a little fun and meet some new fun people while doing it! It's the Tuesday Blog Hop!!!
http://www.onelittlemister.com/
I WON!!!
I entered a Dibs! giveaway the other day for a free BumGenius 4.0 in sweet (from For the Monster) as well as cloth wipes, wipe bits, and Sweet Clementine detergent (from Ruby Moon). And somehow, I WON!! I am so excited!!!! Thanks Dibs!!! http://katydibs.blogspot.com/
Monday, August 30, 2010
They came!!! Here is my stash...
So the UPS man did not come until almost 6pm!!! Eeek! That was a long time to wait! So now I have my new diapers and I am so excited to get them washed and in rotation. And for those wondering...my mystery diaper was a Kawaii!!! I was so thrilled to see it in there!! I was thinking about getting one with my next order!!! And even better...it is PURPLE!!!! Alexis and I love ANYTHING purple!!!! So here are the pics of my stash as of last week and another pic of the dipes I got today plus my 2 packs of cloth wipes and my baby bum drops!!! So here is my entire stash!
My original stash top to bottom. First stack: Orange Rumparooz, Pink Gingham Cutey Baby, Purple GroVia AI2, Red Flower GroBaby AI2, and Red Stripe GroBaby AI2. Second Stack: Noodle BumGenius 4.0 Snap, Blue BumGenius Organic AIO Snap, Purple Fuzzibunz OS, Yellow Fuzzibunz OS, Pink Fuzzibunz OS, and Chocolate Brown Fuzzibunz OS. Third Stack: Purple Monkey Doodlez AIO, Cow Happy Heinys OS, Pink BumGenius 3.0, Green BumGenius 3.0, and Raspberry Truffle Blueberry Minky OS.
I must say that I am most excited about the Tot Bots...seems like an AMAZING diaper...can't wait to try it!!!
Oh, and did I mention that I got a couple other ones from Jillian's Drawers the other day...can't beat $10 Happy Heinys!!! And my PLUMP diaper still has to come!
I think I am done getting dipes...for now...
I must say that I am most excited about the Tot Bots...seems like an AMAZING diaper...can't wait to try it!!!
Oh, and did I mention that I got a couple other ones from Jillian's Drawers the other day...can't beat $10 Happy Heinys!!! And my PLUMP diaper still has to come!
I think I am done getting dipes...for now...
Diaper Itch.
Where is the UPS man??? My latest installment of diapers is to come by UPS today and I am just on edge waiting for that big brown truck to pull up to my house!!! I never thought that the UPS man would be my favorite person!! But since I have gotten into fluffy cloth diapers, I can't wait to see his face!! Funny how things like that excite you!!!
I am most excited to get using my cloth wipes!!! It just seems silly to use disposable wipes and cloth diapers. You just have one more step. You have to get your cloth dipe into the wet bag or pail (after disposing of possible poops) and then put the wipe into the trash or diaper genie. Then, you have those icky wipes smelling up the trash (something you thought would end when dipes weren't going in the trash). So it just seems silly. I can't wait to get my cloth wipes going and then they can just go into the wet bag with the diaper...and DONE!! Fabulous!!!
I am also excited to try out my new diapers! I am waiting on a Doopsy OS in Smiley blue, Bum Essentials Bumbino in Sunshine yellow, GroVia AIO in Ice Blue, and a Tot Bots Easy Fit OS in Blueberry!! I guess I was feeling "blue" when I ordered...I got three blue dipes!!! But that means they are good for girls and boys...so they will be great when number 2 comes!!! (not sure when that will be, but I have diapers for him/her!!) So excited!!! And even better...I am waiting on the Mystery diaper! Kelly's Closet has MANY free diaper coupons out there...so waiting for the mystery diaper is very exciting!!! Can't wait to see what it is!!
So, Dear Sweet UPS man...where are you?
I am most excited to get using my cloth wipes!!! It just seems silly to use disposable wipes and cloth diapers. You just have one more step. You have to get your cloth dipe into the wet bag or pail (after disposing of possible poops) and then put the wipe into the trash or diaper genie. Then, you have those icky wipes smelling up the trash (something you thought would end when dipes weren't going in the trash). So it just seems silly. I can't wait to get my cloth wipes going and then they can just go into the wet bag with the diaper...and DONE!! Fabulous!!!
I am also excited to try out my new diapers! I am waiting on a Doopsy OS in Smiley blue, Bum Essentials Bumbino in Sunshine yellow, GroVia AIO in Ice Blue, and a Tot Bots Easy Fit OS in Blueberry!! I guess I was feeling "blue" when I ordered...I got three blue dipes!!! But that means they are good for girls and boys...so they will be great when number 2 comes!!! (not sure when that will be, but I have diapers for him/her!!) So excited!!! And even better...I am waiting on the Mystery diaper! Kelly's Closet has MANY free diaper coupons out there...so waiting for the mystery diaper is very exciting!!! Can't wait to see what it is!!
So, Dear Sweet UPS man...where are you?
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sorry I have been MIA --What is your favorite diaper?
So, after being off for two weeks, I had to go back to work this past weekend. It was an odd experience. I love being home with my little one, and being able to spend 100% of my time with her, but I also missed my work as an L&D nurse. Being there as life enters the world is just such an amazing experience. So currently I am working only every other weekend. So basically I work 2 days and then I am off for two weeks. Nice schedule, huh? The only hard part is that I am working night shifts...so I have gotten myself on a pretty regular sleep/wake schedule for the first time in my life, and then I screw it all up by working the two night shifts. It really makes me feel crappy. But it is such a joy to do my job and help new mommas and their new babies!
Anyway. It seems like everyone has been posting pictures of their stashes, and I managed to get one taken the other day too...but I am highly interested in the answers to the following questions.
What is your favorite cloth diaper? Least favorite? Your go to diaper? The diaper you never use? And any other diapers that you would like to mention.
These are hard questions for me to answer, and I know they will change with time. But my go to diapers are my Fuzzibunz. They are so absorbant and I can always count on them to get through a long nap. They are also super comfy for her and they fit her like a glove! On my tall skinny baby, fit can be a problem! My bumGenius diapers are also quite reliable. The fit is great and they have lasted for all night. I have only ever tried bG's as night time diapers...and no leaks! So I trust them!!! My least favorite diaper is my Cutey Baby. It is a very awkward diaper. It is a GREAT thought, but a few things need to be tweaked. The main reason I don't like them, it again my long skinny baby, fit is sometimes hard. So the cutey baby have a snap on the strap that is meant to be snapped to make the strap smaller for skinny babies...the snap will not stay snapped. And when you pull the strap tight to put on the baby, the snap pops. Very frustrating!!
Tell me about your diapers!!
Anyway. It seems like everyone has been posting pictures of their stashes, and I managed to get one taken the other day too...but I am highly interested in the answers to the following questions.
What is your favorite cloth diaper? Least favorite? Your go to diaper? The diaper you never use? And any other diapers that you would like to mention.
These are hard questions for me to answer, and I know they will change with time. But my go to diapers are my Fuzzibunz. They are so absorbant and I can always count on them to get through a long nap. They are also super comfy for her and they fit her like a glove! On my tall skinny baby, fit can be a problem! My bumGenius diapers are also quite reliable. The fit is great and they have lasted for all night. I have only ever tried bG's as night time diapers...and no leaks! So I trust them!!! My least favorite diaper is my Cutey Baby. It is a very awkward diaper. It is a GREAT thought, but a few things need to be tweaked. The main reason I don't like them, it again my long skinny baby, fit is sometimes hard. So the cutey baby have a snap on the strap that is meant to be snapped to make the strap smaller for skinny babies...the snap will not stay snapped. And when you pull the strap tight to put on the baby, the snap pops. Very frustrating!!
Tell me about your diapers!!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Reviews
Looking for more ideas/ suggestions for the diaper reviews. What do you want to know? How long should I use (regularly) a dipe before writing a review? Other points to consider? All feedback is welcome!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Blueberry Minky!
So, today my Blueberry Minky in Raspberry Truffle arrived!!! I was so excited to see it in the mailbox! And I only ordered it a few days ago! But as much as I was excited to see it, apparently, so was Alexis! She had a blast running around the living room with it!!! Now, I just need to get it washed and on her!! So happy!
Giveaway!!!
Fluff Envy is having a great giveaway! If they can reach 1,750 fans, they are going to be giving away an Applecheeks diaper and a Weehuggers Cover! Check it out!! http://fluffenvy.blogspot.com/2010/08/august-promotion.html#comment-form
Exciting Clubs
Within the past 2 weeks, two different establishments have done something exciting...cloth diaper of the month clubs!!! I think this is an AWESOME idea!!! Check them out for more info!
Cutie Poops and Bottoms - Fluff of the month club:
http://www.cutiepoopsandbottoms.com/c_174/Fluff-of-the-Month-Club.htm
Fluff Envy - Diaper of the Month Club:
http://www.fluffenvy.com/item_307/Diaper-of-the-Month-Club.htm
Cutie Poops and Bottoms - Fluff of the month club:
http://www.cutiepoopsandbottoms.com/c_174/Fluff-of-the-Month-Club.htm
Fluff Envy - Diaper of the Month Club:
http://www.fluffenvy.com/item_307/Diaper-of-the-Month-Club.htm
Shhhhh...don't tell my husband!
So, the other day, I asked my husband this. Would he rather I join a cloth diaper of the month club (which I was very VERY excited about) or just buy diapers as I wanted to try them or needed them. He said that he would rather I just buy what I want. SOLD! So this morning, the day finally came...Kelly's Closet restocked the Tot Bots One Size diaper that I have been waiting for!!! I have had stuff in my shopping cart for over a week and didn't click the order button because I promised myself that with my next order would have a Tot Bots. Well, this morning Kelly's restocked...so CHECKOUT!!! I am so excited. Along with my Tot Bots, I got a GroVia All in one, a BumEssentials Bumbino, and a Doopsy one size!!! So excited! As you can see, I am still loving trying different dipes!!! I am also going to enter the wold of cloth wipes...so I ordered some Thirsties Fab Cloth Wipes and some Baby Bum Drops Wipe Solution!!! I am so excited about the cloth wipes!!!
I am thinking that I am going to add wipes and wipe solutions to the reviews as well go along here. I was thinking about also reviewing detergents, but I have not decided on that one yet. I am thinking no for the following reasons. One, when I was researching detergents prior to starting my cloth diaper adventure, there were many review sites on this topic. I found them very useful and that was how I decided on using Tiny Bubbles. And Two, one of the main reasons for using Tiny bubbles is the fact that it really has nothing in it to irritate baby's bum and it is designed for HE washers and meant to rinse clean. My daughter has very sensitive skin, so these points were all very important. And since we have found a detergent that gets the stink out and doesn't irritate her, I think I am just going to stick with it and not "rock the boat" by trialing and reviewing other detergents.
If you would like to visit to Kelly's Closet, please see the button below. Love them!!!
I am thinking that I am going to add wipes and wipe solutions to the reviews as well go along here. I was thinking about also reviewing detergents, but I have not decided on that one yet. I am thinking no for the following reasons. One, when I was researching detergents prior to starting my cloth diaper adventure, there were many review sites on this topic. I found them very useful and that was how I decided on using Tiny Bubbles. And Two, one of the main reasons for using Tiny bubbles is the fact that it really has nothing in it to irritate baby's bum and it is designed for HE washers and meant to rinse clean. My daughter has very sensitive skin, so these points were all very important. And since we have found a detergent that gets the stink out and doesn't irritate her, I think I am just going to stick with it and not "rock the boat" by trialing and reviewing other detergents.
If you would like to visit to Kelly's Closet, please see the button below. Love them!!!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Knickernapies Giveaway!!!
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Giveaway - Rumparooz!
Friday, August 20, 2010
My Stash
As of right now, I have 2 bumGenius 3.0 Aplix, 1 bumGenius 4.0 Snap, 1 bumGenius Organic AIO Snap, 1 Rumparooz G2 snap, 1 Happy Heinys Aplix, 3 GroBaby/GroVias Aplix, 1 Monkey Doodles AIO, 1 Cutey Baby, and 4 Fuzzibunz OS. I have a Minky Blueberry and a PLUMP diaper on the way and I am about to place an order from Kelly's Closet. So who knows! I think I may try a Doopsy and a BumEssentials next. But I also want to add some more Rumparooz and Happy Heinys to my stash! I just love trying new ones, but the hubby is getting overwhelmed!
What is in your stash?
I will probably be reviewing the Fuzzibunz and the bumGenius 3.0 first because I have been using them the longest. I think I am going to have to keep track of when I start using diapers and make a set time frame of how long I have to use a diaper on a regular basis, before I write the review.
What is in your stash?
I will probably be reviewing the Fuzzibunz and the bumGenius 3.0 first because I have been using them the longest. I think I am going to have to keep track of when I start using diapers and make a set time frame of how long I have to use a diaper on a regular basis, before I write the review.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Cloth Diaper Review
BumGenius 4.0 Giveaway!
Why I chose Cloth Diapers.
My entry into cloth diapering has just been recent...as in the past three months! I would not consider myself to be "green" or terribly eco-friendly. I try to do my part. I recycle and I try to avoid waste where I can, but I am not hugely involved in ways to protect the environment. I feel that I am a typical person, concerned but not overly concerned. It pains me to admit this, because it makes me feel like I do not appreciate the environment. Because I do!! By cloth diapering, I do feel that I am doing a better job of being eco-friendly. But this is not a main reason for me switching to cloth.
There are also the money aspects. As you read in earlier posts, I am recently able to be a SAHM to my little girl. Because I am not making the salary that I was, I do feel that in some part I do need to contribute to cost cutting measures in the home. The up front costs of cloth diapering are high, but then they more than pay for themselves over the months or even years of use.
When my daughter was born, we stocked up on Pampers Swaddlers. These are the diapers that we use at work and I really like them. Prior to having my daughter and for the first year of her life, I never considered cloth diapering. I planned to be a disposable diapering mommy and I was happy to be. There is nothing wrong with using disposable diapers. The majority of the world uses them and it is the mainstream choice.
Then, as her first birthday approached, my brain started to think other things. I have a really good friend who uses cloth diapers. (shout out to L.B.) I started asking her questions about cloth diapering and started checking out her little girl's dipes. I was really excited to learn what I did. I think we all have this mental picture in our heads of folded pieces of cloth, pins galore, and plastic covers. Gone are those days!!! Cloth diapers are so much nicer and simpler now!!! You can still do the folded cloth, pins, and covers...but there are such simple and pretty cloth diapers out there now!
After learning more from her, my internet search (aka addiction) started. I researched everything!!! I was on hundreds if not thousands of internet sites reading literature, reviews, charts, graphs, prices, etc! If it was cloth diaper related, I read it!! Then after two weeks of research, I finally placed an order for my first batch of cloth diapers! I was so excited, I could barely wait the week until they finally arrived!!! I don't think that I have EVER been so excited to see the UPS man!!
Placing my order for cloth diapers could not have come at a better time. I am a very very fair skinned mommy. Unfortunately, I gave the genes for fair sensitive skin to my daughter. As I was making the decision to try cloth, she started to break out in terrible excema on her bum from the diapers. On top of that, Pampers had added "dry max" technology to their diapers...and she broke out in a terrible red prickly rash after just one diaper with dry max! Lucky for us, the diapers that we like are the Pampers Baby Dry, and at this point they have not put Dry Max into these diapers.
After a week of waiting, my diapers finally arrived. I immediately got them out of the packages and into the wash! I got them washed and dried and onto her bum as quickly as possible! And from that first moment of being on her bum, I have been completely in love! My love for cloth diapering has only grown since then!!!
I do want to say, that at this point, my husband is still not in love with the cloth diapering. He does it. And it isn't that he doesn't like it, he just doesn't understand why I do like it. He will put her in a cloth diaper and he will change her...but he still prefers the disposables. I am working on him. :) My point is, we still use a fair amount of disposables. I am not a 100% cloth diapering mommy. And I don't think that we will ever be 100%...but with me now being a SAHM, I plan that the ratio of cloth to disposable is going to sway more in cloth diaper favor!
There are also the money aspects. As you read in earlier posts, I am recently able to be a SAHM to my little girl. Because I am not making the salary that I was, I do feel that in some part I do need to contribute to cost cutting measures in the home. The up front costs of cloth diapering are high, but then they more than pay for themselves over the months or even years of use.
When my daughter was born, we stocked up on Pampers Swaddlers. These are the diapers that we use at work and I really like them. Prior to having my daughter and for the first year of her life, I never considered cloth diapering. I planned to be a disposable diapering mommy and I was happy to be. There is nothing wrong with using disposable diapers. The majority of the world uses them and it is the mainstream choice.
Then, as her first birthday approached, my brain started to think other things. I have a really good friend who uses cloth diapers. (shout out to L.B.) I started asking her questions about cloth diapering and started checking out her little girl's dipes. I was really excited to learn what I did. I think we all have this mental picture in our heads of folded pieces of cloth, pins galore, and plastic covers. Gone are those days!!! Cloth diapers are so much nicer and simpler now!!! You can still do the folded cloth, pins, and covers...but there are such simple and pretty cloth diapers out there now!
After learning more from her, my internet search (aka addiction) started. I researched everything!!! I was on hundreds if not thousands of internet sites reading literature, reviews, charts, graphs, prices, etc! If it was cloth diaper related, I read it!! Then after two weeks of research, I finally placed an order for my first batch of cloth diapers! I was so excited, I could barely wait the week until they finally arrived!!! I don't think that I have EVER been so excited to see the UPS man!!
Placing my order for cloth diapers could not have come at a better time. I am a very very fair skinned mommy. Unfortunately, I gave the genes for fair sensitive skin to my daughter. As I was making the decision to try cloth, she started to break out in terrible excema on her bum from the diapers. On top of that, Pampers had added "dry max" technology to their diapers...and she broke out in a terrible red prickly rash after just one diaper with dry max! Lucky for us, the diapers that we like are the Pampers Baby Dry, and at this point they have not put Dry Max into these diapers.
After a week of waiting, my diapers finally arrived. I immediately got them out of the packages and into the wash! I got them washed and dried and onto her bum as quickly as possible! And from that first moment of being on her bum, I have been completely in love! My love for cloth diapering has only grown since then!!!
I do want to say, that at this point, my husband is still not in love with the cloth diapering. He does it. And it isn't that he doesn't like it, he just doesn't understand why I do like it. He will put her in a cloth diaper and he will change her...but he still prefers the disposables. I am working on him. :) My point is, we still use a fair amount of disposables. I am not a 100% cloth diapering mommy. And I don't think that we will ever be 100%...but with me now being a SAHM, I plan that the ratio of cloth to disposable is going to sway more in cloth diaper favor!
Plump Diapers!
I got it!!! Plump diapers had some special minky OS diapers on the Congo this week. I have loved this one of a kind (she only made ONE) mixed minky diaper since I first saw the pics! I loved it from first sight!!! So I decided to bid on it knowing that I would NEVER win...well, I did have to break the bank just a little, but I WON!!! Isn't it adorable!!! I can't wait to get it and get it on her bum!!!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Diaper Giveaway!
Today is the BIG day!
Last night was my final shift as a Full time nurse! From here out, I am working only casual on the weekends! I am so excited! My dream has always been to be a SAHM, and now it has finally happened! I am saddened as well. I really do enjoy my job as a L&D nurse. I love helping expectant mommies through their labor, coaching them through delivery, helping them with that first feeding whether it be breast or bottle, showing them how to care for themselves and their new infant, and ultimately getting them ready for the journey ahead. It is such an amazing job and it is with a heavy heart that I leave that behind. I have met some amazing people. Some will continue to be life long friends and some will be wonderful memories! I am really going to miss it!
But God has better things in store for us. The reason for the change now is this. My husband was offered an amazing job back where I grew up and close to family and friends. It is the kind of opportunity that required not thought or decision. It was just right! And perfect! So now begins a new journey. Him with a new job, me down sizing my job, and us having to move our perfect little family. But I would not change this for the world. It is giving me the opportunity to stay at home with my amazing 14 month old and is moving us closer to family and life long friends. We are truly blessed to be given this great opportunity. And I am so excited. I am also sad, anxious, nervous, stressed, etc about leaving my job and the whole moving thing. But when all is said and done...this will be AMAZING for all of us.
So today begins my journey as a SAHM. My dream has finally come true. I have the best husband in the whole world. He loves his girls more than I ever thought possible. He is a wonderful daddy, so loving and gentle. We have the best little girl in the whole world that is growing at an outrageous rate. If it is possible, she is getting cuter every day and I love her more than I ever thought possible. And I have the best job, to stay home and take care of my precious family. Such blessings. I am so blessed...my cup runeth over!
But God has better things in store for us. The reason for the change now is this. My husband was offered an amazing job back where I grew up and close to family and friends. It is the kind of opportunity that required not thought or decision. It was just right! And perfect! So now begins a new journey. Him with a new job, me down sizing my job, and us having to move our perfect little family. But I would not change this for the world. It is giving me the opportunity to stay at home with my amazing 14 month old and is moving us closer to family and life long friends. We are truly blessed to be given this great opportunity. And I am so excited. I am also sad, anxious, nervous, stressed, etc about leaving my job and the whole moving thing. But when all is said and done...this will be AMAZING for all of us.
So today begins my journey as a SAHM. My dream has finally come true. I have the best husband in the whole world. He loves his girls more than I ever thought possible. He is a wonderful daddy, so loving and gentle. We have the best little girl in the whole world that is growing at an outrageous rate. If it is possible, she is getting cuter every day and I love her more than I ever thought possible. And I have the best job, to stay home and take care of my precious family. Such blessings. I am so blessed...my cup runeth over!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
My Story - Pregnancy and Delivery
As a young child and teenager, I always dreamed of being a wife and a mommy. It was my all consuming thought and dream. I was obsessed with playing make believe, but I pretended real life things like being pregnant, taking my husband and children to church, and breastfeeding. Yes, I pretended to breastfeed! LOL So when the day finally came that my husband and I decided to try for a baby, I was more than ready! Lucky for us, we got pregnant very quickly and very easily. I had been working as an L&D nurse for a few years and had seen so many stories of infertility and difficulty conceiving, so I really thought we would have trouble. Not me. I must be a fertile Myrtle, because we started trying the beginning of September 2008, I got my period September 17, and on October 11th we had a positive pregnancy test!! What an amazing moment!!! I will never forget that day!
My first and second trimesters were wonderful. Absolutely no morning sickness and really no complaints. Yes, I was tired as heck for those first 12 weeks and pretty much just went to work and came home and slept and nothing else. But all in all, no problems! I cruised through my pregnancy and loved every minute!!
Then, at 32 weeks at my routine prenatal check up, my midwife and good friend Jill told me that my Blood pressure was a little high. Being an L&D nurse, I knew what that could mean. High blood pressure can mean a lot of different things, but the main concern is pre-eclampsia. So she drew blood work, had me do a 24 hour urine, and had me check my Blood pressure at home. Everything came back fine which made me very happy because my husband and I had planned a little pre-baby vacation to the beach. So we went to the beach that weekend and had a great time, but while we were there, I noticed my stretch marks on my belly getting MUCH worse. I picked up some Palmer's Belly Butter and didn't think much else of it.
When we came back from vacation, I started noticing itchy bumps on my legs and arms and over the next week, they got progressively worse. I knew what it was, but I hoped it wasn't. At my 34 week check up, my Blood pressure was still up. :( And I pointed my red itchy bumps out to Jill. I hoped she wouldn't confirm what I already knew...but she confirmed...I had PUPPS. PUPPS stands for Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy. Also know as Pregnancy rash. It is pretty rare. In my years of working L&D I had only seen two women with it...and of course, I got it! There are some good things about the rash though. It does not spread to your breasts or your face...but it was EVERYWHERE else. My arms, legs, and belly were the worst. I would stand in the shower, scratch my belly, and just cry. There is nothing that you can do to cure PUPPS other than deliver the baby and there are few things to do to relieve the itching. I tried many different things like oatmeal baths and lotions. I found that Hydrocortisone Cooling Relief gel would give a small window of comfort. But what really worked for me was to take a shower and slowly turn the temperature of the water down to freezing. This would numb my skin and my nerves. When I got out of the shower I would slather myself in Eucerin Anti itch Treatment Lotion. I did this 2-3 times a day and was comfortable for the most part.
At 36 weeks, my Blood pressure was still high so my doctors and midwife officially put me on bed rest. They redrew blood work and did another 24 hour urine, which were fine, so there was not need to deliver yet. I am a get up and go kind of girl. So this was not my ideal situation. Plus, with having a baby on the way, there were things that I needed to do! So I tried to be a good girl, and I rode my couch...for the most part! ;)
It was like I never left work though. I was having three and four Non-Stress Tests a week as well as one to two Ultrasounds a week. So I was constantly visiting L&D, my friends, and my co-workers, I just wasn't getting paid to be there. :( Then I would go home and ride my couch some more.
At 37 weeks, I found myself on a Wednesday morning in severe pain and having difficulty catching my breath. My belly was soft, so I knew I wasn't in labor, and I could feel the baby move, so I knew she was fine. But I could not breathe. I tried to rest and see if it would stop. I laid down, sat down, walked around my kitchen, nothing helped the pain and I was growing more and more short of breath. Finally, I was getting terribly worried. So I called my husband to come home and take me to the hospital and I called L&D to tell the girls I was coming.
When I got to the hospital, I was immediately put on the monitors, baby was fine. Good! Now, what is going on with me? They did an Ultrasound to check for a placental problem and to check her out, everything was fine. They did a chest x-ray to rule out rib fracture, pneumonia, or a PE...everything was fine. In the end, the problem is this... I have a very short torso and she had kicked my diaphram so many times that I was in a constant spasm. Two days in the hospital, and I came home with a prescription for a pain medication and told to ride my couch some more! I was so happy to come home. My biggest fear was that they would either induce me or do a c-section. I knew it wasn't time yet, and I begged to come home.
I was a good girl, and I sat at home for a few more weeks. At 39 weeks and 3 days, I went to the hospital for a NST. Baby looked great on the monitor, but I was contracting every 2-3 minutes! YAY! I was feeling most of them, but not all. And only some were painful...so nothing too exciting! So I went to the office for my appointment. My BP was even higher and the swelling in my hands, feets, and face was terrible. Jill asked me for the 100th time if she could induce me. I gave in and said yes. So I called my hubby, we went to Subway for dinner, and then back to the hospital for my induction.
I was admitted around 6:00 PM on a Monday evening in June 2009. The girls started my IV and got all of the paperwork done. Jill came in around 7:00. My cervix was still closed, so she decided to use a medication called Cervidil to soften my cervix. Cervidil is meant to soften, not necessarily induce labor. It can induce labor, but does not usually. So I was settled in for a night of nothing. She ordered a sleeping pill and I assumed I would just sleep the night through and then get up in the morning, shower, eat, and then start Pitocin. Boy was I wrong. I got my sleeping pill at 11:30 PM, watched Jon and Kate Plus 8 (the episode where they announced their divorce) at Midnight, and then turned out the lights for bed. I quickly woke with the first nasty contraction. So much for sleep...hard labor began!
By 3:00 AM I was begging for something for pain. My friend and nurse for the night, Diana checked me and I was 1 cm. She called and got an order for Stadol (IV pain medicine). After getting that, I was able to get a little bit of sleep. By 5:00 AM, I was TOTALLY ready for the next dose, so she checked me, still 1 cm and gave me another dose of Stadol. I never got any relief from that dose and at 5:30 AM I was hyperstimulating with contractions. Meaning my contractions were lasting 4-5 minutes. Yes, ouch. So I rang the call bell and begged to get my cervidil out. Diana came back, but could not reach the cervidil. So another nurse and friend, Missy came back to try. After a lot of fiddling, she finally got it out and told me that I was 2 cm. TWO! Really!?
Being an L&D nurse, I knew that with the cervidil being out, most likely my contractions would fizzle within an hour, I could get up, eat, shower, and then they would probably start the dreaded Pitocin. So the next contraction came, and it was still strong, and the next one, and the next one, and the next one. My contractions weren't fizzling...they were getting stronger!
At 7:00 AM, I almost rang the call bell for the nurse to come check me, but I knew it was shift change, so I waited. By 7:15, I asked my husband to go find out who my nurse was and ask her to come in. A couple minutes later Tonja came in. She did her morning routine (Vital signs, assessment, etc) and then checked me. 3-4 cm!!! WOOHOO!!! I begged her to please call Jill about an epidural. Knowing full well that she would probably say no, I still wanted to call her and ask. I was so beat after being up all night long.
So Tonja walked out, and as I heard the door shut, I got the most terrible contraction yet!! I rolled onto hands and knees in the bed and I felt a ton of rectal pressure. I honestly thought she was coming right then. I told my husband to go get Tonja because I was not 3-4 cm anymore! He RAN down the hall. I think I scared him.
Tonja came back in and tried to rationalize with me that I could not have changed that quickly. So I had to convince her to check me. He eyes got really wide and she said very quietly, you are 5-6 cm. She threw off her glove and yelled over her shoulder that she was going to call Jill and ran out of the room! I think I scared her too! LOL
Turned out that Jill was in the parking lot and on her way up anyway. When she got there two minutes later, I was 6 cm and she gave the ok to get my epidural. About 15 minutes later, my favorite Anesthesiologist arrived and placed my epidural! Ahhhhhhhh...that was so nice!!! After my epidural, Jill checked me again and I was 7 cm. She broke my water and away we went. I was doing this all on my own!!! No medication...all natural labor! I just needed that cervidil to kick my labor in!
I do believe that my epidural did slow me down a little and that I would have delivered sooner if I had not gotten it. But would I change that, no! It gave me a chance to rest which I desperately needed.
By 12:30 I was 9-10 cm and I sat there for a long long time. We tried different positions to try and get different pressure on the cervix. And by that point I was feeling every contraction in my rectum. I was still pain free in my back and belly, but with every contraction I would have to lean to the side because the pressure was so intense.
At 2:15 PM I was finally complete and began to push. I have coached women through this process for years, but it was nothing like I expected. It was the hardest thing I had ever tried to do! At 3:00 PM the nurses changed shift and in came my BFF's and work buddies Michelle and Carissa. They were so happy that I had waited for them to get there. (because that was what I was thinking....right....LOL) And at 3:36 PM after an hour and 20 minutes of pushing, our tiny precious bundle of joy arrived. She was perfect. Although she made momma work for it! Her head was cocked to the side (asynclitic) and she had both fists on her face. So her head was in a difficult position and then I delivered shoulders, arms, body,and elbows all at the same time. Ouch. Because of all of that, I did wind up with a perineal laceration and a few stitches. But for a first time mother to deliver a baby in that position and that short of pushing time, I think I did fabulously!!! :) If I do say so myself...
She was 7 pounds 6 ounces 20 3/4 inches long and absolutely perfect!!! And so my amazing journey as a mommy began! And loving every minute!
My first and second trimesters were wonderful. Absolutely no morning sickness and really no complaints. Yes, I was tired as heck for those first 12 weeks and pretty much just went to work and came home and slept and nothing else. But all in all, no problems! I cruised through my pregnancy and loved every minute!!
Then, at 32 weeks at my routine prenatal check up, my midwife and good friend Jill told me that my Blood pressure was a little high. Being an L&D nurse, I knew what that could mean. High blood pressure can mean a lot of different things, but the main concern is pre-eclampsia. So she drew blood work, had me do a 24 hour urine, and had me check my Blood pressure at home. Everything came back fine which made me very happy because my husband and I had planned a little pre-baby vacation to the beach. So we went to the beach that weekend and had a great time, but while we were there, I noticed my stretch marks on my belly getting MUCH worse. I picked up some Palmer's Belly Butter and didn't think much else of it.
When we came back from vacation, I started noticing itchy bumps on my legs and arms and over the next week, they got progressively worse. I knew what it was, but I hoped it wasn't. At my 34 week check up, my Blood pressure was still up. :( And I pointed my red itchy bumps out to Jill. I hoped she wouldn't confirm what I already knew...but she confirmed...I had PUPPS. PUPPS stands for Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy. Also know as Pregnancy rash. It is pretty rare. In my years of working L&D I had only seen two women with it...and of course, I got it! There are some good things about the rash though. It does not spread to your breasts or your face...but it was EVERYWHERE else. My arms, legs, and belly were the worst. I would stand in the shower, scratch my belly, and just cry. There is nothing that you can do to cure PUPPS other than deliver the baby and there are few things to do to relieve the itching. I tried many different things like oatmeal baths and lotions. I found that Hydrocortisone Cooling Relief gel would give a small window of comfort. But what really worked for me was to take a shower and slowly turn the temperature of the water down to freezing. This would numb my skin and my nerves. When I got out of the shower I would slather myself in Eucerin Anti itch Treatment Lotion. I did this 2-3 times a day and was comfortable for the most part.
At 36 weeks, my Blood pressure was still high so my doctors and midwife officially put me on bed rest. They redrew blood work and did another 24 hour urine, which were fine, so there was not need to deliver yet. I am a get up and go kind of girl. So this was not my ideal situation. Plus, with having a baby on the way, there were things that I needed to do! So I tried to be a good girl, and I rode my couch...for the most part! ;)
It was like I never left work though. I was having three and four Non-Stress Tests a week as well as one to two Ultrasounds a week. So I was constantly visiting L&D, my friends, and my co-workers, I just wasn't getting paid to be there. :( Then I would go home and ride my couch some more.
At 37 weeks, I found myself on a Wednesday morning in severe pain and having difficulty catching my breath. My belly was soft, so I knew I wasn't in labor, and I could feel the baby move, so I knew she was fine. But I could not breathe. I tried to rest and see if it would stop. I laid down, sat down, walked around my kitchen, nothing helped the pain and I was growing more and more short of breath. Finally, I was getting terribly worried. So I called my husband to come home and take me to the hospital and I called L&D to tell the girls I was coming.
When I got to the hospital, I was immediately put on the monitors, baby was fine. Good! Now, what is going on with me? They did an Ultrasound to check for a placental problem and to check her out, everything was fine. They did a chest x-ray to rule out rib fracture, pneumonia, or a PE...everything was fine. In the end, the problem is this... I have a very short torso and she had kicked my diaphram so many times that I was in a constant spasm. Two days in the hospital, and I came home with a prescription for a pain medication and told to ride my couch some more! I was so happy to come home. My biggest fear was that they would either induce me or do a c-section. I knew it wasn't time yet, and I begged to come home.
I was a good girl, and I sat at home for a few more weeks. At 39 weeks and 3 days, I went to the hospital for a NST. Baby looked great on the monitor, but I was contracting every 2-3 minutes! YAY! I was feeling most of them, but not all. And only some were painful...so nothing too exciting! So I went to the office for my appointment. My BP was even higher and the swelling in my hands, feets, and face was terrible. Jill asked me for the 100th time if she could induce me. I gave in and said yes. So I called my hubby, we went to Subway for dinner, and then back to the hospital for my induction.
I was admitted around 6:00 PM on a Monday evening in June 2009. The girls started my IV and got all of the paperwork done. Jill came in around 7:00. My cervix was still closed, so she decided to use a medication called Cervidil to soften my cervix. Cervidil is meant to soften, not necessarily induce labor. It can induce labor, but does not usually. So I was settled in for a night of nothing. She ordered a sleeping pill and I assumed I would just sleep the night through and then get up in the morning, shower, eat, and then start Pitocin. Boy was I wrong. I got my sleeping pill at 11:30 PM, watched Jon and Kate Plus 8 (the episode where they announced their divorce) at Midnight, and then turned out the lights for bed. I quickly woke with the first nasty contraction. So much for sleep...hard labor began!
By 3:00 AM I was begging for something for pain. My friend and nurse for the night, Diana checked me and I was 1 cm. She called and got an order for Stadol (IV pain medicine). After getting that, I was able to get a little bit of sleep. By 5:00 AM, I was TOTALLY ready for the next dose, so she checked me, still 1 cm and gave me another dose of Stadol. I never got any relief from that dose and at 5:30 AM I was hyperstimulating with contractions. Meaning my contractions were lasting 4-5 minutes. Yes, ouch. So I rang the call bell and begged to get my cervidil out. Diana came back, but could not reach the cervidil. So another nurse and friend, Missy came back to try. After a lot of fiddling, she finally got it out and told me that I was 2 cm. TWO! Really!?
Being an L&D nurse, I knew that with the cervidil being out, most likely my contractions would fizzle within an hour, I could get up, eat, shower, and then they would probably start the dreaded Pitocin. So the next contraction came, and it was still strong, and the next one, and the next one, and the next one. My contractions weren't fizzling...they were getting stronger!
At 7:00 AM, I almost rang the call bell for the nurse to come check me, but I knew it was shift change, so I waited. By 7:15, I asked my husband to go find out who my nurse was and ask her to come in. A couple minutes later Tonja came in. She did her morning routine (Vital signs, assessment, etc) and then checked me. 3-4 cm!!! WOOHOO!!! I begged her to please call Jill about an epidural. Knowing full well that she would probably say no, I still wanted to call her and ask. I was so beat after being up all night long.
So Tonja walked out, and as I heard the door shut, I got the most terrible contraction yet!! I rolled onto hands and knees in the bed and I felt a ton of rectal pressure. I honestly thought she was coming right then. I told my husband to go get Tonja because I was not 3-4 cm anymore! He RAN down the hall. I think I scared him.
Tonja came back in and tried to rationalize with me that I could not have changed that quickly. So I had to convince her to check me. He eyes got really wide and she said very quietly, you are 5-6 cm. She threw off her glove and yelled over her shoulder that she was going to call Jill and ran out of the room! I think I scared her too! LOL
Turned out that Jill was in the parking lot and on her way up anyway. When she got there two minutes later, I was 6 cm and she gave the ok to get my epidural. About 15 minutes later, my favorite Anesthesiologist arrived and placed my epidural! Ahhhhhhhh...that was so nice!!! After my epidural, Jill checked me again and I was 7 cm. She broke my water and away we went. I was doing this all on my own!!! No medication...all natural labor! I just needed that cervidil to kick my labor in!
I do believe that my epidural did slow me down a little and that I would have delivered sooner if I had not gotten it. But would I change that, no! It gave me a chance to rest which I desperately needed.
By 12:30 I was 9-10 cm and I sat there for a long long time. We tried different positions to try and get different pressure on the cervix. And by that point I was feeling every contraction in my rectum. I was still pain free in my back and belly, but with every contraction I would have to lean to the side because the pressure was so intense.
At 2:15 PM I was finally complete and began to push. I have coached women through this process for years, but it was nothing like I expected. It was the hardest thing I had ever tried to do! At 3:00 PM the nurses changed shift and in came my BFF's and work buddies Michelle and Carissa. They were so happy that I had waited for them to get there. (because that was what I was thinking....right....LOL) And at 3:36 PM after an hour and 20 minutes of pushing, our tiny precious bundle of joy arrived. She was perfect. Although she made momma work for it! Her head was cocked to the side (asynclitic) and she had both fists on her face. So her head was in a difficult position and then I delivered shoulders, arms, body,and elbows all at the same time. Ouch. Because of all of that, I did wind up with a perineal laceration and a few stitches. But for a first time mother to deliver a baby in that position and that short of pushing time, I think I did fabulously!!! :) If I do say so myself...
She was 7 pounds 6 ounces 20 3/4 inches long and absolutely perfect!!! And so my amazing journey as a mommy began! And loving every minute!
The Mommy Goods - Let's get started!
I have thought for many months about starting a blog...and today I finally did it. It is because of my experiences with pregnancy, labor, delivery, breastfeeding, dealing with an infant, working mom, working dad, cloth diapering, baby wearing, and more that I decided to share my experiences so that I may help others. I am so excited to get started!
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