...And Then There Were Three, Part II

So there I was, hiding behind a drape, with my arms stretched out and tied down, trying to forget that I was having a c-section.  "Talk to me," I ordered Jon.  "I don't want to think about what's going on."

So he began babbling about something, and I started to feel...tugging.  That's when I realized they had begun and I thankfully hadn't felt the initial incision.  Instead, as I lay there, I felt like something was being yanked around in my abdomen.  Huh, I thought, Now this is some weird stuff.  Then my neck started hurting.  And then I felt some major pressure in my chest, and then I heard my doctor welcoming my baby into the world.

But he wasn't crying.

I looked at Jon, and as I spoke I heard my voice tremble.  "He's not crying.  Why isn't he crying?"

"He's fine," my doctor's voice soothed me from behind the curtain.  "He just needs a little help learning how to breathe."

I would have freaked out at that comment, but the pressure in my chest was building.  I now know that it was air pockets, but it felt very uncomfortable and my pain medicine guru John asked me if I wanted more pain meds.  I heartily said yes.  Then I asked Jon to rub my neck.  Then I begged for my arms to be untied, because I thought that might help with the pressure/pain (turned out I was wrong, but oh well).  Then I called to my doctor, "Hey, so can I get a free tummy tuck?"

She laughed and said that she thought my tummy was just fine.  And I started to hear cries--nothing had ever sounded sweeter.

I was starting to get woozy from the pain meds when they finally brought my sweet angel over.  He just stared at me, and I at him.  "Hello, sweetheart," I crooned drowsily as I rested my cheek against his (Jon held him up for me).  "I love you.  I'm glad you're here."

Unlike my two previous deliveries, after which I immediately got to cuddle my baby and try to nurse, he was taken away from me to the nursery and I was sent to recovery.  I managed to talk to my mom (not too sure how coherent I was, but I somehow got through a conversation with her) and had Jon call my best friend and some other people.  Then he left me in recovery to go get Bug and Cat (we had a friend watching them) and I started to become more alert and took stock of the situation.

First off, I totally couldn't move my legs.  That was something that would have to be remedied.  I focused all of my energy on trying to wiggle my toes--which I managed with some success after an hour of being in the recovery room.  Second, they kept me connected to the epidural machine, which meant that I could push a button and have magical pain medicine delivered.  And I liked that.  I liked that a lot.

Unfortunately, my hair still smelled like vomit. And even though I felt pretty darn crappy, I wanted to be with my baby.  However, his glucose was low (thanks, gestational diabetes) so they had to give him some formula and our reunion was delayed after he fell asleep and they decided not to wake him.  My recovery nurse assured me they would let me see my darling as soon as possible, and in the meantime, I should probably keep hitting that button.

So when I left recovery I could wiggle my left toes and move my whole right foot.  I was becoming much more conversational--when I met my nurse one of the first things I asked her was, "Hey, so from what I understand, you'll let me eat once I start passing gas, right?"  She bit back a chuckle and said yes, if I started farting, I could have food.

I promptly made that my next mission, and I had success, which meant she brought me a breakfast menu so I could order some food.  I continued to wiggle my feet and finally started getting some feeling back in my legs--and then in my abdomen.  That wasn't such a good feeling, so I hit the button for more pain meds.

And then I was finally reunited with my sweet baby.  We tried nursing (not a lot of success--I actually wound up squeezing colostrum out of myself and rubbing it on his tongue).  I had to give him a few more mL of formula to keep his sugars stable, but after that I was able to get him to latch on and eat for me.

In the meantime, I couldn't do anything since I wasn't allowed out of bed, so my nurse basically waited on me hand and foot--and my baby, who seriously pooped every five minutes.  She was phenomenal, constantly checking on me, making sure I had water (which I had demanded immediately after I had arrived in my room).  Oh, and she let me have a popsicle too--which, after not being allowed to eat all day, was heaven.

So my newest baby boy and I got to know each other...and then my other OB showed up.

Stay tuned!

...And Then There Were Three, Part I

So, I haven't written in awhile.  The last third of my pregnancy threw me for a complete loop.  I spent most of it pretty depressed and angsty, and I just didn't really feel like blogging.  But I'll get to that.  Let's focus on the fabulous news:  Our third little man arrived on March 12, at 5:40 pm.  He's healthy and beautiful, and here he is:

I haven't come up with a cute nickname for him yet, although maybe I ought to call him "Stretch" since he was 23 INCHES LONG.  It's no wonder I was so uncomfortable!  He clocked in at 8 lbs, 15 oz.  And his head was huge--much bigger than Bug or Cat's.

So, why did the final leg of my pregnancy suck so bad?  Two words:  Gestational Diabetes.  I was thrown for a total loop with that one.  But I failed the glucose tests and so I got to spend my last 12 weeks of pregnancy checking my blood sugar and following a low-carb diet.  Thankfully my GD wasn't terrible and I was able to control it with diet and I didn't have to do insulin, but it was frustrating and made me pretty darn miserable.

What was the most frustrating about it was I had to do extra doctor's appointments and ultrasounds.  Don't get me wrong, it was nice to see my little one, but it meant getting extra babysitting and spending extra money--which wasn't something I wanted to be doing since we just bought a new house (more on that later!).

What stymied me, though, was as I got toward the end of my pregnancy--36, 37, and then I passed the 38 week mark for the first time--was I was having contractions that didn't seem to be doing anything.  I had both Bug and Cat right around 38 weeks--Bug was 37 weeks 5 days, Cat was 38 weeks and 3 hours--and I had been dilating and progressing and both of their heads were snugly in my pelvis by 36 weeks.

Not so with this one.

And so night after night I endured contractions, many of them quite painful, the sort that I had when I was in hard labor--which would frustratingly stop and I would be angry and frustrated.  I did all sorts of things to bring on labor--going to grocery stores, walking, handwashing the floor--and NOTHING.

So I went to my 38 week appointment and they stripped my membranes.  Because I had the GD, they had planned to induce me at 39 weeks, but they had been hoping it wouldn't come to that (and  they were shocked that I hadn't gone into labor already).  I got angry, cranky, and eventually resigned to having a date with Pitocin.

And then I woke up on the morning of March 12 to some very painful contractions.  Then they stopped, and I got up and went to the bathroom around 6 in the morning (right when Jon was leaving for work).

And what I saw freaked me out.  (And this is where I get graphic.  Sorry folks!)

There was a fair amount of blood on my underwear, and when I wiped even more came out.  It wasn't like bloody show type blood, which I had had with Cat, but rather bright red and kind of frightening.

So, long story short, I wound up in Labor and Delivery.

They monitored me for awhile (sporadic contractions), and then sent me for an ultrasound, because they couldn't determine the cause of the bleeding.  And when they did the ultrasound, the radiologist said, "I would estimate that your baby weighs about ten pounds."

This comment shocked me, because I had only gained 23 pounds this pregnancy (the one thing GD was good for was controlling my weight gain).  I didn't see how that was possible.  And then I threw up--now mind you, I hadn't eaten anything, so it was awful and it got in my hair.  I was starting to freak out and I told Jon that it wasn't fair because I had tried so hard with my diet and how the heck did he weigh ten pounds?  That wasn't the only disturbing piece of information--his head was measuring huge, and they called my doctor, and she came and talked to me.

I love all of my OBs, and I really like the one who came to see me.  She sat down with me and Jon and said that she had some concerns about the size of the baby.  She said that she was happy to do whatever we wanted, but she was concerned about shoulder dystocia based on his size.  She did say that the ultrasound could be off a pound either way, but she wanted me to go into this knowing the risks.  She also said they couldn't determine why I was bleeding but that was troubling as well.  Then I got my options:  I could either wait to go into labor until my induction on Thursday, or I could have a c-section, and if I wanted, she could do it that day.

And with that, I burst into tears and told her that I didn't want to take any sort of risk that he could be hurt, and I said let's go ahead and do the c-section.  At least, I told myself, I was done having children (and we truly are SO done).  However, having a c-section meant I had to confront some of my biggest fears:  I worried about bleeding out (and I told my doctor this), I worried about after-effects of the spinal (my anesthesiologist did a great job talking to me and being honest and straight with me, which I truly appreciated), and I worried about how this would affect my baby.  If it wasn't necessary, he wouldn't get the dose of bacteria from a vaginal delivery--and you only get one shot at that.  But no matter what, I knew getting him out was the best course of action.

Besides, I really needed to not have gestational diabetes anymore, and as far as I could tell, my body was making no progress at getting him out.

So, Jon and I had a couple hours before they did the surgery.  We spent that time watching episodes of Arrested Development and I tried to forget what was about to happen.  Then the nurse came and brought Jon his scrubs, and then she came over to me with a razor ("I just need to see if I need to shave you!" she informed me, wayyyy too cheerily).

And then they wheeled me into the c-section room, where my doctor, the anesthesiologist, and my new best friend John, who managed my pain meds during the procedure, were waiting.  "Um," I managed uneasily, "this kind of looks like one of those rooms where they do those alien autopsies."

Everyone chuckled, and my doctor asked me if I was ready.  I nodded.  "You won't let anything happen to me, right?" I asked in a small voice.

I was given many promises that they would take care of me, and before I knew it, I had a needle in my back and could no longer feel my legs.  Then the drape went up, my husband came in, and they were ready to begin.

Stay tuned for Part II:)

Guest Post: Does My Child Need to See a Nutritionist?

Does My Child Need to See a Nutritionist?

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Everyone wants their child to grow up healthy and strong; but with so many differing opinions available through friends, family, the media and on the Internet, it can be difficult to discern which practices are best for your child. Making sure your child is getting the proper nutrition is key to their physical and mental development and sets the stage for success throughout their life. Turning to an expert for guidance on this important topic can go a long way to finding your way through conflicting advice and setting the best nutritional path for you child.

What is a child nutritionist?

A child nutritionist, also known as a pediatric nutritionist, will focus a child’s health anywhere between birth and 18 years of age. As the dietary needs and obstacles facing children are greatly varied from those of adults, child nutritionists are trained on the specific requirements and issues of children.

From breast-feeding to the many nutritional challenges that come with adolescence, a child nutritionist not only provides support and education through evaluation and direct guidelines, but also is able to refer additional specialists or other treatments as necessary.

A few of the ways certified child nutritionists are qualified to help include:

●     analysis of nutritional health and providing plans to improve wellness

●     creating menus

●     counseling for children and their families

●     tracking dietary history, intake and documenting nutritional needs

●     addressing feeding skills and help overcome feeding problems.

Child dieticians also can help with all of the above; dieticians are often recommended by doctors and are often found in hospitals.

The major difference between nutritionists and dieticians is in training in nutritional supplements, natural remedies, and resources outside of standard medical guidelines. The terms “dietician” and “nutritionist” are frequently used interchangeably, however, so it is worthwhile to do a little research to determine the breadth of their training.

Why your child might need a nutritionist

Because they are trained to recognize symptoms, a nutritionist might be able to help you to identify and eliminate any underlying health problems your child might be facing.  If you have noticed or if your child has been diagnosed with any of the following issues, a nutritionist can help you develop a plan to address those health concerns.

●     Poor food intake in both quality (e.g. eating only white carbs and sugar) or quantity (e.g. refusal to eat, eating small amounts that has led to unhealthy weight loss)

●     Physical growth that is significantly slower or greater than is “normal” for their age

●     Restricted diet due to allergies/intolerances (i.e. Celiac disease, lactose intolerance, peanut or shellfish allergies)

●     Constant, consistent, or frequent gastrointestinal distress like chronic constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, or gas

●     Clinical diagnoses associated with feeding/nutrition/growth concerns (i.e. cystic fibrosis, autism, cerebral palsy, etc.).

Even if your child has not been diagnosed with special nutritional needs, a nutritionist can still help address other health issues related to nutritional intake.

They are resources to answer questions regarding feeding concerns and supplementation. Ask yourself the following questions; if you answer yes to several, perhaps a nutritional consultation can assist in addressing those issues.

●     Does your child have difficulty focusing?

●     Does your child’s immune system seem compromised (e.g. does he/she catch every cold or virus that goes through the school or get frequent ear infections)?

●     Does your child have usual rashes, itchiness, or bumps that cannot be explained by a normal childhood disease, allergy or exposure to an irritant like poison ivy?

●     Are there spots or lines or discoloration (not attributable to regular play or other external sources) on your child’s nails?

●     Does your child have strong or unusual food cravings (for example, pica)?

Image courtesy of photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

How a nutritionist can help your child

Almost every child can benefit from the services of a nutritionist. Developing minds and bodies require fuel for growth. Even mild malnutrition can weakened immune systems, which leads to a greater number of days spent ill. Increased illness in childhood, especially early childhood, puts them at greater risk for developmental delays and exposure to further infections. 

Even more critical are children who have already been diagnosed with nutrition-related health issues.

A nutritionist can address health concerns through a targeted diet plan with appropriate supplements and assure that nutrient requirements are being met via the plan and testing. They can also help measure and monitor your child’s height and weight growth. Nutritionist can also supply resources for specialty food items, supplements and other education to better support a particular diet.

A child’s brain and body need proper fuel for rapid growth; a nutritionist is trained to assist in ensuring that your child is provided all the necessary nutrients for a healthy childhood and adolescence.

Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer in the Los Angeles area. She has written on a variety of topics, including health & wellness, marketing, and technology. She is interested in holistic healing but also knows how important it is to make sure her three kids are getting every nutrient they need. 

Guest Post: Things Pregnant Women Should Know about Coconut Oil

Who doesn't know about the "wonder tree"-- coconut? Every part of this tree has its own use, one of the reasons why many have called coconut tree as a wonder tree. Its leaves sometimes serve as roofing in some homes in Southeast Asia. The coconut shell can be used as scrub and most of all the coco lumber that has endless use. The coconut meat of course is a delicious dessert. The coconut water helps reduce morning sickness to pregnant women. It is also often prescribed as a remedy for malaria, typhoid and other deceases associated with vomiting.

What the coconut oil can do to our body?

For our health, especially for pregnant women, coconut oil has a lot to offer. Coconut oil is rich in saturated fats and it works differently compared to other saturated fats we have in our body. Even though the research done regarding to how these fats work is still starting, one thing that is for sure is it has a moisturizing effect when applied to our skin. Coconut water reduces dizziness as it reduces weird feeling around your tummy like queasiness.

Benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil to Pregnant Women

With countless benefits coconut oil can offer to our body, we are listing a few of the benefits coconut oil, VCO or Virgin Coconut Oil in particular can offer especially to pregnant women.

Controls blood sugar level – it is important that pregnant women  keep their blood sugar level at bay to prevent complications. A balanced sugar level will prevent gestational diabetes, which if left untreated could harm both mom and the baby.

Promotes Smooth Skin – many pregnant women have skin problems during pregnancy. Pregnant women can now kiss goodbye to acne breakouts, skin itchiness and skin dryness with just a small amount of coconut oil.

Strengthen Immune System – virgin coconut oil is rich in lauric acid that helps improve the  immune system. We all know that pregnant women are prone to infections and diseases. With a good intake of coconut oil, pregnant women will enjoy strengthened immune systems and they will have enough protection against diseases.

Promotes Lactation – breastfeeding is best for mom and baby alike. It has many benefits to both the mommy and the baby. Coconut oil promotes lactation. Therefore, a good intake of coconut oil while pregnant will produce healthy breast milk after delivery. Studies show that breast milk from moms that takes coconut oil is rich in lauric acid. In a study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, it shows that a meal of coconut oil can affect the amount of breast milk fatty acid drastically for up to 3 days. Babies can benefit the maximum increase that occurs in the first ten hours.

Improves Immune System of the Baby – it has been known that a good intake of coconut oil while pregnant will help aid the brain of the baby and helps bone development as well.

Different Ways of Using Coconut Oil

Coconut oil can be used in various ways.

Coconut Oil Fertility Smoothie

To make a delicious coconut fertility smoothie, just add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil to your desired smoothie blend.

Stir Fry – instead of using cooking oil or the traditional vegetable oil, use coconut oil when stir-frying and when sautéing your veggies and proteins. Coconut oil has high heat tolerance making it one of the best oils for frying and cooking.

Spread – make your own healthy chocolate spread by adding the oil to a raw chocolate powder.

Milk Replacement – instead of using milk, use coconut cream for your butternut squash soup, smoothies, and cream basis and to your favorite beverages like coffee or tea.

Coconut Oil as Beauty Regimen

Pregnant women are advised to slow down with their beauty regimens. However, they need not do that with coconut oil. Below are few of the uses of coconut oil as your beauty regimen.

• Chapstick - this can help aid chapped and dry lips making your lips smooth and free from pain.
• Face Lotion
• Hair Gel or Conditioner
• Baby oil alternative
• Skin moisturizer

Coconut Oil Side Effects

Because coconut oil is high in saturated fats, many think that it might cause weight increase if used in beyond the allowed amount or when used in large amounts. Other concern is the possibility for it to cause an increase in cholesterol level. However, you should note though that these observations and concerns are not yet scientifically proven.

Precautions and Warnings

Even though the safety amount of coconut oil to use is not yet known by medical practitioners, safety precautions must still be practiced.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding – coconut oil is claimed to be safe for pregnant women and breast feeding moms as it helps improves the production of milk especially when used based on daily dietary allowance. There are claims that too much coconut oil can cause nausea and vomiting, it is not yet medically proven. However, it would be better for pregnant women to have moderate intake to reduce nausea during pregnancy. Since, the effect of too much coconut oil intake is not yet medically proven, it would be best to stick on the daily diet allowance.

High Cholesterol – concerns on coconut oil causes an increase in good cholesterol as well bad cholesterol. However, contradictory evidence shows that that coconut oil might help increase good cholesterol level but has no to little effect on bad cholesterol level.

Ann Dillon is a mother of three who loves blogging about pregnancy. She provides tips on how to get pregnant to couples who are trying to conceive. She contributes pregnancy articles to various blogs sharing her experience on pregnancy and health care.

Guest Post: How Many Hours of Sleep Does Your Child Need?

Parenting Tips: How Many Hours Sleep Does Your Child Need?

One of the biggest milestones is considered as becoming a parent in our life. When children call us mom or dad, it is the happiest moment for them. Good parenting means always having a bonding between the child and the parent. Mother always takes care of the kid in health, food and sleep aspects. She keeps them happy in satisfying all the needs. Kids face problem in night times especially during sleep. So, let us know few tips

Ø  Every child is different- Some need less sleep, on the other side some need more. This is because of the general health issues and their routine schedule. The parent must know the child’s well-being and their behaviour.

Ø  Toddlers will be hyperactive and depending on that, the kids sleep. The more they play and interact with people; they get tired and sleep for more time.

Ø  The sleeping hours of a child vary from age group. A new born baby will require more sleep until 4 weeks. Approximately they need 7 hours during the day and 8 hours of sleep during nights.

Ø  As they grow up, the activities increase and the naps are decreased. A 3 months baby needs five hours of daytime and ten hours of night sleep. It will make the child fresh and proper sleep is very much required for them.

Ø  Bedtimes are much important for growing children. If they do not sleep properly, they may fall asleep while playing or any other activity. For overcoming such incidents, set a proper bedtime. A one year kid needs 3 hours of morning nap and 12 hours of night sleep.

Ø  Parents must take care about the bedtime timings. This will create a proper schedule for the tiny tot who can make it a habit. A growing up kid will be usually tired of playing. So the sleep timings will be more in the bedtime. Approximately 11- 12 hours is important.

Ø  So when the child is growing, naps are enough in daytime. Bedtimes will increase. If the health conditions are not proper, then doze off increases. As the age increases the afternoon naps decrease.

Ø  A kid needs 8-10 hours’ sleep. A normal person needs 7-8 per day. So with this we can say the stamina of children is lesser than adults.

Ø  If toddlers sleep frequently or wake up late from bed, take them to a doctor for a check-up. By medication, the naps may gradually diminish. If you are low on cash, take a same day loan

These are the children sleep patterns where eventually they change the timings. Parents teach their children how to walk, talk and many other things. They should also explain about the importance of bedtime and taking naps in the afternoon. This will make the children feel fresh and active. The relationship between the parent and the child should be maintained properly. 

Author Bio: This is Gracie a Guest blogger from UK. I have written many guest posts on different categories like Home-improvement, Beauty, Health, Technology , Business and finance. At present i am doing research on payday loans. You can find more about me @financeport

Guest Post: How to Increase Your Breast Milk Supply Naturally

How to Increase Your Breast Milk Supply Naturally

Maintaining a healthy milk supply is important to having a successful breastfeeding relationship and giving your baby the nourishment you want to provide. However, many women experience problems with low milk supply, which can cause temporary setbacks or could derail breastfeeding goals entirely.

Fortunately, there are many natural ways to increase breast milk supply to ensure that you overcome these setbacks quickly and easily. Here are a few tips for how you can increase your breast milks supply naturally:

Nurse as Often as Possible

There is no better way to tell your body to produce more milk than to let your baby nurse as often as possible. The more your baby nurse and empties your breasts of milk, the more your body will think you need to make. The suckling motion will also stimulate your breasts to make more milk. Nurse on demand as often as your baby wants, and your baby will quickly adjust to making the amount of milk you need.

Sleep with Your Baby

Skin-to-skin contact and sleeping with your baby encourages you and your baby to relax,  your baby to nurse longer and more frequently, and your body to produce more milk. Lay down to nurse your baby for naps and at bedtime. Co-sleep with your body when possible, and remove your baby's shirt when nursing when possible.

Pump More Often

Though pumping will never stimulate your breasts in the same way that nursing will, pumping more often or pumping after nursing sessions can help to stimulate milk production. Either pump between feedings or pump immediately following a feeding. Of course, you should also pump regularly when you are away from your baby and can't nurse. Pumping can help you to increase your milk supply when you do it regularly in addition to nursing.

Eat More Oatmeal

There are some foods that naturally help your body to produce more milk, and oatmeal is one of them. You can eat a bowl of whole oats for breakfast each day, or eat special oatmeal cookies designed to increase milk supply. Other foods that are said to increase milk supply include barley and dark beer.

Take Fenugreek

Fenugreek has long been known as a natural aid for increasing milk supply. You can pick up this herb from a local health food store and take it once or twice a day to help increase your supply. One side note: Though it is effective at increasing milk supply, it is also likely to make you and your milk smell like maple syrup as fenugreek is one of the main ingredients in maple syrup.

There are many more ways that you can try to increase your milk supply naturally if you are having troubles to ensure that you protect your breastfeeding relationship and get your baby the nourishment he needs. If you hit a roadblock meeting your breastfeeding goals, try one of these tips for increasing supply and getting back on the road to success.

What have you done to increase your breast milk supply naturally? Share your tips for success in the comments!

Sarah Clare is a writer and oversees the site projectmanagementsoftware.com, where she has recently been researching project tracking software. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys cooking and scrapbooking.

Skyo and The Thirst Project

So, I have been thinking a lot this year about giving back.  But it's so hard to do anything.  I mean, sure, I can hand a few bucks to the bell-ringer for the Salvation Army, but what with having two little ones, and being as pregnant as I am, I can barely make time to get dressed.  So I have been looking for ways that I can help from home, and I lucked out and found a super easy one:  using social media to help out Skyo and the Thirst Project.

Skyo, an online textbook company (you can check out their website here) , is donating $1, up to $25,000 in December to the Thirst Project for every Twitter Follow and Facebook like.  The Thirst Project is a nonprofit organization that educates students about the global water crisis and builds clean water wells around the world.  Sometimes I am so humbled by what people like this do.  I mean, I'm sitting here wondering if the water from my fridge tastes fresh enough and if I need to change my water filter, and there are so many people right now struggling to find clean, safe water to drink.  The fact is, 1 child dies every 15 seconds in the world due to diseases related to contaminated water.

1 BILLION people in the world--1/7 of the world's entire population--don't have access to clean drinking water.

But the good news is an entire community of people can be saved with fresh, clean drining water for about $5,000--that's how much it costs to build a well.

And you can help by taking two minutes--less, really--of your time by following Skyo on Facebook and Twitter.  You can easily get Skyo to donate $2 with two seconds of your time.  Cool, huh?  You can follow Skyo on Facebook here, and follow them on Twitter here as @GoSkyo.  I also recommend reading their blog post about their goals for giving.