Pregnancy & Baby

*This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you subscribe or purchase something through the links on this page.*

I became a mom to a biracial baby for the first time in 2011.

I never really thought about how caring for her skin or hair would be different from my own–until I had to.

When she was about six months old, her straight dark hair changed into a head of beautiful brown curls. I had been using Johnson & Johnson’s baby body/hair wash on her hair.

Her hair started to look dull and frizzy, and one day after a bath a terrible rash was all over her body. After a frantic visit to the pediatrician, I discovered that many brands are not safe for infant (or anyone’s) skin.

At that point, I started paying more attention to the ingredients in the products I was using on her hair and skin.

Fast forward to now and I have 3 beautiful biracial children.

Gentle & Natural

After my oldest daughter’s outbreak, I began my search for gentle products for her skin.  Now with three biracial babies, I even pay attention to what I wash their clothes in.

I used the thinkdirty app (FREE!) to scan items in my home to determine if they were safe for my children. I was amazed at how many everyday products contained harmful chemicals. Don’t believe me? Download the app & see for yourself.

Moisturize

All three of my biracial babies were born with very dry skin. It was red and peeled for the first month. The doctors and nurses suggested washing only once a week, because soaps can be drying to an infant’s skin.

However, when you are intentional about choosing products that are made with all natural ingredients, you don’t have to worry about drying out their skin.

My two favorite products to use on my newborn’s skin are castille soap and Young Living Seedlings baby products.

My son loves when I use the baby oil on him. He feels like he is at the baby spa!

Protect

Babies have such delicate skin, so it is an absolute necessity to protect it from the elements (wind, sun, etc). There are so many products on the market now to keep babies protected from the elements.

The rule of thumb for dressing a baby is to dress them to the comfort level of your own. If you are cold, they probably are too. If you are hot, then they are probably sweating too.

If you like to take the baby out for a stroll, use the covers on the stroller to keep the sun out of their eyes and from burning their delicate skin.

Baby wearing is also a helpful way to protect your baby. If you are going to be out in public places, baby wearing keeps people from touching the baby and it limits exposure to the elements.

Keep Hair Routines for Biracial Babies Simple

My girls both have beautiful curls and I’m pretty sure my son will have curls too (right now his hair just curls on the ends).

If you were to ask me a simple routine for my girls hair, it will be difficult to narrow down.

For biracial babies, your routine should be simple. They don’t need a ton of products to define their curls. A simple wash will keep it clean and minimal products are needed.

As your child grows and their hair grows, applying a small amount of leave in conditioner can help moisturize and define their curls. Using products free of parabens, silicones and sulfates ensures that your baby will not come in contact with chemicals that are often found in various products.

 

 

Caring for a newborn baby while recovering from childbirth can be a challenge.

Juggling the constant demands of a new baby (feeding, clothing, bathing, changing diapers, etc) and making sure that your needs are met as well can feel utterly impossible some days.

With my last two children, I made them a priority. I put self care and my marriage last.

That led to (quick) burnout.

Going into this pregnancy, I knew that this would be my last baby. I didn’t want to end my baby years on burnout, so I made a decision to do things differently. Everyone warned me that having another child would mean a little less of me going around.

I understand the demands that parenting places on us, but honestly sometimes the demands that we “fall short of” are unrealistic ones that we put on ourselves. Having children does not mean that we have to run ourselves into the ground.

Here are a few ways that self care can exist….even with a newborn in tow.

Rest

Ya’ll, I’m preaching to the choir. 5 days after giving birth, I was diagnosed with bells palsy. At 3 weeks postpartum, half of my face is still numb. One consistent piece of advice I’ve been getting is to rest.

Simple enough right?

Bells palsy comes from the stress your body goes under in pregnancy and/or childbirth. It’s tough to rest when you have a newborn right?

If you are like me, you see that there is always something that needs to get done. Resting means that you care enough about your body to let those things go. It will get done.

Personal Appearance

I love some pjs and leggings like most moms. I love that leggings are forgiving on my body while I slowly make my way back into pre-pregnancy clothes.

I have no shame throwing on something comfy and running into the store—that is until I run into someone I know and then I’m embarrassed about my appearance.

Now I’m not saying that you have to put on a full face of makeup and dress like you’re going on a dinner date, but taking a few extra minutes to spruce yourself up before leaving the house will do a number for your self-esteem and crashing hormones.

Self Care= Finding Joy

What brings you joy??

Losing sleep for nights on end can turn you into a crazy person (if you let it).

Instead of obsessing over the things you haven’t done, use this time to do things that bring YOU joy.

Finish a book that you’ve been dying to finish.

Get a manicure & pedicure.

Diffuse your favorite essential oils. My favorites are from Young Living: Gentle Baby, Joy & Lavender.

Let Go of Unrealistic Expectations

Before bringing baby #3 into the world, I already struggled. I struggled with balancing the role of a great mom, wife and employee. I struggled with having my home look immaculate at all times.

After bringing home my son, I was faced with a few health challenges. Resting my body meant letting some things go.

I’ll admit it. I’m pretty stubborn.

The one thing I’m not willing to let go of is laundry. It piles up all on its own and you can never seem to catch up. So I do a lot of laundry. I don’t always fold it or put it away, but I try to do a few loads every day (or every other day).

The rest of the household chores come when I have the energy. Or if someone offers to help, I let them.

I finally let go of the guilt. I’m not perfect.

And Super woman does not exist. Realistically, my children will grown up and learn to pick up after themselves. Keeping my home neat is a priority, however running myself into the ground, losing sleep & stressing over every detail is not.

There are so many ways that busy moms can indulge in self care. The important thing is to make time for yourself so that you can be your best you for your family. Let go of the mama guilt and find a way to take care of you today!!

What’s your favorite way to self care?

Having a healthy pregnancy, baby & complication free delivery is a blessing. Sometimes though, complications like bells palsy appear after baby is home from the hospital.

A few weeks ago, I had my third baby.  A beautiful baby boy born on the Monday before Easter.

I had a normal delivery. And recovery seemed to be going well.

Day 4 I was snuggling with my daughters and even did a load or two (or four) of laundry.

 

Bells Palsy Symtoms

Day 5 started a little strange. My right eye felt like something was in it all day, and my lips just wouldn’t align straight when I tried to put on chap stick.

My face felt like it was going numb and I just assumed that it was an allergic reaction to medication. I’m a glass half full kind of girl, so when my family started throwing around the words bells palsy, I refused to look it up for myself.

They had to be wrong.

By the end of day 5, my right eye would not close completely and it watered all night long. At that point, I started to get concerned.

Day 6 was Good Friday and my doctor’s office was closed. They advised me to go the ER. I was devasted. My husband drove me so he could stay outside with the baby. When you have a brand new baby that you are breastfeeding, the baby has to go everywhere you go. Since the ER is filled with germs, our plan was to text if he needed me and I would run out and nurse him.

Doctor’s Office Visit

Thankfully I was in and out of the ER in an hour. I hobbled in with one eye watering and told the intake nurse my story. I had only been discharged two days prior and my eye was watering so profusely that he handed me a tissue and quickly got me to the back.

The doctor on call gave me a quick look over and said it looked like I had bells palsy. He sent a nurse in to do some bloodwork just to rule out other things–and before you know it, I was discharged with several new prescriptions to take.

The following Monday, I met with the PA in my obgyn office and I heard those words again, “bells palsy.” I was so overwhelmed by details that I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. She asked if I was depressed. Then asked my husband to confirm.

Last January I had a miscarriage and was very depressed, so I knew this time that was not what I was faced with.

I was just mourning my face. 

I never knew that I was attached to my image. I had to come to grips with the fact that my face could potentially be stuck like this for another month or two.

I considered telling all of my friends not to visit. 

I was embarrassed and didn’t want anyone seeing me this way. With half of my face temporarily paralyzed, I could feel a lisp when I spoke and frustration when my food and drinks fell out of my mouth.

How I’m Coping

My mom reminded me that people wanted to see me, and check up on me. They would not be concerned about how my face looked.

So on Saturday, I mourned my face. I cried in the bathroom for about 30 minutes. I finally admitted to myself that my face is important to me, and that the situation really sucks.

After I had a good cry, I decided that I was going to move forward.

I decided not to let the temporary situation steal my joy. I had just delivered a beautiful, healthy baby boy. My girls are obsessed with him and want to hold and touch him every chance they get.

I was blessed to have him so close to the end of the school year that I don’t have to return to work until the end of the summer. I can’t waste four months of maternity leave stressing about what I can’t change.

At 3 weeks postpartum, the right side of my face is still temporarily paralyzed. I still drool on myself if I drink without a straw. But, I’ve mastered the art of the half smile. When my four year old asks me if I can smile yet, I say no and change the subject.

The stress that childbirth puts on your body can often affect the speediness of your healing. But it doesn’t have to affect your spirit.

If it happens to you, remember to seek medical attention immediately and that this situation is temporary.

If your eye doesn’t close and continues to water, get a sleep mask or eye patch the reduce the stress of the open eye. Your doctor can also prescribe eye lubrication to keep your eye from drying out while you are using your reserve tears (who know there was such a thing?!)

Drink through a straw and take small bites while eating to minimize your frustration of food and drinks falling out of your mouth due to the paralysis.

Take all the help you can get from family, friends, neighbors and church members. Allow your body time to heal and minimize stress as much as possible.

 

 

This post was sponsored by NursElet, but all opinions are my own.

Just four years ago, I was in the hospital having my 2nd daughter. She was supposed to be born on a Monday, but came on her own on a Friday. Thankfully I had time to swing by my house to get my hospital bag, but this time my hospital bag will be traveling in the truck with me.

My girls are only 2.5 years apart, so I knew exactly what to do to prepare.

Four years doesn’t sound like an incredibly long period of time, but when you are talking about babies, it can feel like the stone age. My kids are both school age and potty trained and can do a significant amount of tasks on their own.

 

They actually can play together long enough without fighting (most days) so that I can nap.

Now that baby #3 is on the way, I’ve felt a little nervous about adding a baby to the mix–and a boy!

My mom tells me it’s just like getting back on a bike, but there’s so much to remember, like what to put in my hospital bag.

I have most of the basics, but believe it or not, I had to check out a few  checklists to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. I’m pretty type A, so I packed my hospital bag a few months ago, but I’m putting the finishing touches on it to make sure I haven’t missed anything.

This time around my house is 2 minutes away from the hospital, but who wants to be inconvenienced when you’re already there? I’m also having a c-section, so I want to be sure I include all the essentials to keep me comfortable.

Hospital bag essentials for me:

Nursing pillow: This is the first time that I’m bringing a nursing pillow to the hospital. When babies are little, they often nurse for long periods of time. It’s so much easier to have a pillow to prop your arm up against, especially in those first few days after birth when you are already worn out.

Pjs: Having pjs that are nursing friendly is extremely important.

Nursing bras/tops: If I don’t feel up to putting on pjs after the surgery, I can just slip a robe over my nursing bra/top & voila! Instant comfort + nursing accessibility!

Slipper Socks: After a c-section, it’s mandatory that you walk around, so slipper socks keep my feet warm (and clean) while I’m walking up and down the hospital halls.

Toiletries: (toothbrush/toothpaste, soap, mouthwash, scarf for my hair): Call me picky, but my husband and I are particular about what products we use on our skin. I’ll have my own handmade soap on hand and all the beauty products I need to feel clean and refreshed after delivery.

Snacks: To me, hospital food is definitely no where near home cooked food. My family will be popping in and out and I’m sure they’ll bring me things to eat, but while I’m waiting, I decided to pack a few of my own favorite snacks this go round.

Diffuser/oils: Why am I putting oils in my hospital bag? Well, I’m the mom that says, “There’s an oil for that.” I’ve been reading the Gentle Baby book and brushing up on the best oils for postpartum and baby. I want to feel relaxed while I am recovering, so you better believe I’ll be diffusing oils in my room, starting with Lavendar, Gently Baby, Patchouli just to name a few. Want to learn more and start your own natural, oil journey? Click here.

NursElet: This little bracelet is a name changer. How many of you have ever nursed, took a nap, then forgot which side you nurse on last? I can’t tell you how many times that happened to me. Those moments of amenesia will now be a thing of the past thanks to NursElet. It also fastens your shirt up to instantly turn it into a hands-free nursing or pumping shirt, even if it wasn’t designed that way.

Hospital Bag Fun for the Kids:

A gift for my girls: To celebrate their transition into being big sisters, I am bringing a gift for each of them. This will help them feel significant in a moment that many kids need reassurance. I am the oldest of 4 kids, and I remember feeling left out after my first baby brother was born.

A dry erase board/markers: They will be in school during the day, but I’m sure they will want to spend a few hours in the hospital room with us. At 6 & 4, I am anticipating that their attention span will wane in the room. The excitement of a new baby brother will wear off, so I’m bringing an activity that will keep them busy (and hopefully out of trouble).

What would you add to the list??

Want a NursElet for yourself or for a friend? It makes the perfect shower gift! Use my code: ARETHOSEYOURKIDS10 for 10% off your entire order until March 31st on www.NursElet.com

 

 

*This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you subscribe or purchase something through the links on this page.*

This is my last pregnancy, so I decided to go out with a bang.

I am determined to look good, feel good, and enjoy every single minute.

This seems like a fairly easy task, but after having a miscarriage, pregnancy is daunting. It can be tough to shake the fears and anxieties of your past experience while enjoying your current blessing.

Here are a few ways I’ve pushed forward and rocking my pregnancy:

Get Moving

There’s a myth that too much physical activity can be bad for a pregnant woman. That’s just not so! I wouldn’t recommend training for a marathon if you weren’t previously a runner, but a good bit of physical activity is great for you and the baby.

Keeping your body in shape will help you bounce back after the baby, and make your nine months easier.

If you can’t seem to find the energy to walk, run or do regular exercise, try doing a few stretches at home. I love that YouTube has so many workouts to choose from–even some designed specifically for you at all stages of your pregnancy!

Wear Cute & Comfortable Clothes

I get it. You don’t want to indulge in maternity clothes because they can be pricey.

I hear you girl.

The great thing about being pregnant now is that you have options! This is my last pregnancy, so I didn’t want to spend a ton of money on clothes I know I will never wear again. I invested in maternity leggings, a few pairs of maternity skinny pants, and the bulk of my tops and tunics came from Jane.com.

 

I love shopping there because I don’t have to sacrafice style for comfort. I just order a size up, check out reviews for fit, and my clothes are delivered straight to my doorstep! It doesn’t get easier than that.

Get Dressed and Get Out

On December 31st, my husband and I will celebrate 8 years of marriage. This year, we decided to take a babymoon. I am currently 6 months pregnant and due on April 1st.

After we have 3 kids, we know that our days of long weekends will be minimal, so we decided to have dinner and time out in Savannah, Georgia, my old stomping ground.

As we walked around downtown, I glanced over and saw a restaurant that we ate at last year. All of a sudden, the tears fell. I remembered that this time last year, I was enjoying the beginning stages of my pregnancy.

Even though I am pregnant now, it didn’t erase the pain of the lost baby. I instantly had the thought that I could never eat at that restaurant again because I didn’t want to relive those awful feelings. My hubby squeezed my hand a little tighter and reminded me how much we’ve grown since the miscarriage, and that we should enjoy the time we have together out on the town.

I was thankful for his reminder.

Mamas who have suffered a miscarriage, what did you do to bounce back and enjoy your next pregnancy?

 

*This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NatureMadePrenatalDHA  #CollectiveBias*

Everyone told me that the orange stuff they give you to drink tastes like orange soda. To me it was more like a knock off of orange koolaid.

Drinking the stuff wasn’t bad. Fasting was the hard part. So many of my friends and colleagues brushed the test off like it was no big deal, so I thought I had no worries. Well, until the doctor’s office called me back because my glucose levels were off.

Whatever they told me in the office was a blur. They scheduled me for a meeting with a nutritionist and told me they wanted me to start checking my blood sugar.

Mind you, this was my first pregnancy. And I bet you can’t get what my cravings were? Sweet stuff!! Icecream, blueberry cake donuts, anything my pregnant fingers could get.

I was somewhat  optimistic when I met with the nutritionist, but after she gave me her 30 minute spiel  about gestational diabetes, what it looked like, and how to eat healthy,  she asked what I thought and I immediately burst into tears. She asked me what was wrong, and I told her that everything she explained sounded like it was taking the fun out of my pregnancy.

Seriously, a pregnant woman is supposed to practice portion control and choose 1 meal to have heavy carbs??

Carbs are in everything…including milk?? I literally thought my world was ending.

Yes, I know this sounds dramatic, but trust me, pregnancy hormones were in full effect.

Fast forward 6 years, and I am pregnant with my 3rd child. I have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes in every pregnancy. This time around, I’m a veteran, and I know what to do. I now know to properly care for my body and enjoy my pregnancy!

If you’ve felt like gestational diabetes has been a death sentence, I have some tips to make it more tolerable:

Choose 1 Carb Heavy Meal

Did you know that even with gestational diabetes you can basically eat as much meat and veggies that you want?? All of a sudden my cravings changed from ice cream and donuts to hot wings and celery. And guess what? When I checked my sugar afterwards, it was right where my doctor wanted it.

I still enjoy my bread, I just choose 1 meal where I pig out on carbs, and lay low the rest of the day.

Drink Lots of Water

This is important all the time, but especially when you are pregnant. We are often prone to retaining water and can easily become dehydrated. This past week I’ve been sick with a nasty viral infection. I haven’t felt like eating or drinking much. When I went to the doctor, I got scolded for being dehydrating and losing 8 lbs.

I’ve always known how important drinking water is, but this week, it really hit home as I’ve been extremely sluggish without my extra H2O.

I’ve even enlisted the help of my family to help remind me to drink more. The little ones love reminding mommy.

Take Your Vitamins

I grew up taking vitamins and have always known how important they are, but I can’t say that I’ve always taken them religiously while pregnant. After my miscarriage, I don’t take ANYTHING for granted, and I’m following the pregnancy rules like this is my first time. I started taking prenatals right after the miscarriage.

Nature Made® Prenatal Multi + DHA vitamins are conveniently located at Sam’s Club just for you! Sometimes prenatal vitamins can be difficult to swallow, but the great thing about these vitamins is they are easy-to-swallow softgels!

They are also easier to digest if taken with food. They provides essential vitamins and minerals (before and during pregnancy) including Folic Acid, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Iodine, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D3†. They also provide 200 mg DHA which may help support fetal brain and eye development†.

 

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

 

Excitement

Euphoria

Gratefulness

Followed by……

Fear

Doubt

Anxiety

This what is feels like to be pregnant after a miscarriage.

I feel like a first time mom that needs to follow all “the rules.” As soon as I found out I was pregnant I wanted to shout from the mountain top, but then fear set in. My mind raced in a million directions.

What if it happens again? I just can’t take the fear and embarrassment.

9 months ago, I announced my pregnancy, and the next day at my checkup, I had a miscarriage. I thought that this time around, all the pregnancy euphoria would eliminate the past feelings, but I actually have to work harder to push those negative thoughts to the side. It definitely feels different  than the first two healthy pregnancies–in more ways than one.

Every Week is a Milestone

Every week that goes by, I can breathe a little easier.

have two baby apps and am glued to them weekly. I’m dying to feel the baby kick so I can feel him/her move inside.

Now that I am 13 weeks pregnant, every week that goes by is a celebration!

Pregnancy Woes Let You Know You are Still Pregnant

Every day that is filled with heartburn, nausea, crazy dreams & feeling lethargic is a blessing. It lets me know that I’m still pregnant.

The things that I would normally complain about secretly make me smile.

Announcing Pregnancy Never Seems Like a Good Time

This was tough for me. I was scare to go to the doctor for the first time.

I was scared to tell people.

But the fourth time around, your body remembers what to do. It’s pretty difficult to keep a big secret like that for long. I finally decided to share my pregnancy at 10 weeks. I decided that the more people to cheer me along and encourage me would be best than silently dealing with anxiety and fear.

Joy is Sometimes Masked by Fear

In my last pregnancy, I found out the baby had no heartbeat at my 10 week appointment and that the baby was only measuring at 7 weeks.

Fast forward to this pregnancy.

When I went for my initial appointment, I was 8 weeks and 2 days. The ultrasound technician and doctor were more excited than I was. I held the ultrasound picture and cried in the secondary waiting room.

My husband asked what was wrong, and I couldn’t help but think that I was still in the high risk period. I struggled to enjoy my new blessing by looking back.

There is also fear about how people will look at me.

Honestly, I haven’t lost all the baby weight from the last pregnancy, so my baby bump isn’t cute. It’s lumpy. And the number I see on the scale now is scary. I worry about losing it all after this baby. And I wonder when my bump will look “normal”

Being pregnant doesn’t eliminate fear. Especially in the doctor’s office–the place I found out I had a miscarriage.

Honestly my faith is the one thing that has kept me grounded and focused on the positive.

And talking about my feelings with others who get it. Loss is a funny thing. If you haven’t been there, it can be difficult to empathize. I know it was difficult for me to understand the depth of a miscarriage loss before I had one. I hope that the more we talk about it, the more women can break those chains of shame, guilty & feeling alone.

 

                                                                                                  

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