If you have a baby and you've encountered any unexpected challenges with feeding (raises hand) I have a post for you. Join me over at Pacific Northwest Doulas where I wrote about 6 Alternative Ways to Feed Your Baby.
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Those last few weeks of pregnancy. They're tough. You are SO ready to meet your precious baby, but your baby seem to be in no hurry to enter the world. Plus, it's spring. In McCall. Which means mud, rain, slush and some teases of warm beautiful days tossed in the mix. To help you pass the time we have put together a list:
9 Things to do in McCall When You're 9 Months Pregnant - Spring Edition 1. Treat yourself to some Stacey Cakes (because, well, it's Stacey Cakes and therefore amazing) 2. Stock up on some easy to grab snacks for those early postpartum days. You will be ravenous. You will be exhausted. And you will be constantly attached to a newborn. Granola bars, fresh fruit, cheese sticks, Stock up on things that are easy to eat one handed and will nourish you. 3. Take a stroll along Legacy Beach. The tourist haven't flocked in yet, so take advantage of a sunny spring day to breath in some fresh mountain air and get your heart pumping. 4. Create a list of ways to people can help you when they stop by. New babies often mean lots of visitors. It also often means many people eager to help you out in anyway they can so take a few minutes to write up a list of things that would really help you out as you recover and adjust to life with a newborn. Tossing in a load of laundry, grabbing some milk at the store or walking the dog are some ideas that most people are more than happy to assist with and can really feel like a big relief to you. 5. If you already have kids, try to have some special one-on-one time with them before baby. Life will be busy for a while after baby is born so take advantage of the semi quiet now to plan a special date with your kids at home. It could be as simple as a park play date, building a fort together or going out for ice cream. 6. Call a girlfriend. Sometimes a good chat with an old friend is just the thing to brighten our day. 7. Book a Postpartum Placenta Specialist to encapsulate your placenta. Not sure what that is? You can learn more about it HERE. 8. Take 30 minutes to sit down and do some coloring. Put on some music, pull out your colored pencils, crayons or markers. Sound childish? Maybe, but it's also an incredibly relaxing way to unplug and put everything else aside for a while. 9. Make sure your hospital bag is packed and ready to go. If you're looking for idea of what to pack and what you don't really need you can check out our Hospital Packing List for the Minimalist So there you have it. And when you just can't take one more person asking if you've had the baby yet, you can always start sending them to www.haveyouhadthatbabyyet.com! That’s right folks. Placenta consumption isn’t just for the carnivores out there. In fact, almost every type of mammal on earth consumes their placenta. Crazy right? Deer, elk, zebras, lions, pandas, you name it, from ravenous meat eaters to grazers who have never consumed anything but plants. Science can’t yet pin down why they do it but what they are certain of is that it’s a biological norm in mammals. Something inside signals to them that there is value in doing this. It makes no difference if you’re talking about carnivores, herbivores or omnivores, placenta consumption is seen across the board. But you’re not a giraffe. You’re a human being. And perhaps also a vegetarian. And you aren’t sure if you should encapsulate your placenta as a vegetarian. While only you can make that decision, what we can tell you is that many vegetarians feel that it is acceptable for them and their values. The placenta was produced by their own body and after birth serves no additional purpose. It is consumed for a limited amount of time and for a specific reason. And, they know exactly where it came from and how it was treated (especially with in-home encapsulation). .If you are a vegetarian and you don’t feel that you should have your placenta encapsulated we support you 100%. It is a personal decision. If you’re a vegetarian and you do wish to consume your placenta, however, you can rest assured that what you are doing is something seen in herbivores throughout nature. Or if you're really not sure why you would even WANT to consume your placenta you can check on more info on that HERE. Oh, that elusive treat called sleep. Every new parents wants to know, "when will my baby sleep through the night?!" (i.e. when will I be able to sleep more than 2 hours at a time and stop feeling like a zombie?) It doesn't help that it seems to be everyone's go-to question for small talk. "How is your baby sleeping? They're sleeping through the night at only 2 months old? That's amazing, YOU"RE amazing!" Or we get on the opposite end "OH, they're 8 months old and STILL not sleeping through the night? Wow..." (insert feelings of guilt, failure and wishing you could curl up under a rock). I wish I had a magic formula I could share to guarantee sweet sleep for all involved. Sadly, I don't. But what I can share is this. Every baby is different. Every family is unique. Is sleep important? Absolutely! But is sleeping through the night a measure of your success as a parent or the "good-ness" of your baby? Absolutely not! Some babies take to sleep naturally, some babies take to sleep training easily and some babies are just not ready to sleep when or where society dictates in the time frame that society expects. And that's ok. Bedtime routines and consistency are fantastic tools but they are not silver bullets. Trust me, I know! Use them to your advantage but let go of the guilt that says you MUST do this or do THAT. You know your child the best and you know your family the best. Maybe you want to co-sleep for now because it works for your family. Maybe gentle cry-it-out is the right method for you. Maybe your baby already sleeps through the night and you're not sure why you're even reading this post... Where ever you are at on the spectrum, you're good. You've got this. Trust your gut, let go of the guilt and do what YOU decide is best for YOUR family. The day is fast approaching. Maybe you’re 32 weeks along in your pregnancy, maybe you’re 39 weeks and 6 days but either way you’ve decided it’s time to pack the hospital bag and be prepared for “the big day.” Great! But...what do you pack? We’re so glad you asked! The standard lists can be overwhelming for some of us due to the sheer amount of “basics” that are recommended. If you’re more of a minimalist at heart we’ve got you covered. Our list is broke down into the "essentials" and the "extras." We want you to be confident you've got what you NEED and suggest a few extra perks that some people like to have but aren't necessarily crucial. As you select what goes in your hospital bag here are a couple things to keep in mind. What’s going to make you comfortable? What’s going to make you feel at home and at ease? It could be a cozy pair of socks, your favorite pillow or a certain scent. Pack the basics, throw in a few cozy touches if that’s your thing and get ready to meet your precious new baby. Download our free printable minimalist packing list HERE Reading books aloud is such a great way to bond with your new baby. On top of that it has so many benefits for their rapidly developing brain. But, for the sake of YOUR brain, it's alway a plus to have books that are fun for you the parent to read too! We've put together a list of some of our favorite children's books that we've enjoyed reading. Some are funny, some are sweet and sentimental but all are books we are happy to read over and over (and over).
1. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. A lovely story about a sparkly fish who learns it's more beautiful to share your gifts with those around you than to keep them to yourself. 2. Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin. A humorous tale about a cat who looses his buttons one at a time but is always able to look on the bright side of each situation. One of our all time favorites. 3. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. This book follows the life cycle of a cute green caterpillar as he munches his way into a butterfly. Colorful, interesting pages keep the littles ones attention with every turn. 4. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. The bold, single image pages in this book makes it perfect for your baby's developing eyesight. An added bonus is your toddler will be recognizing their colors before you know it. 5. I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak. This sweet story helps instill the idea in your child that they are loved just because they are themselves. Good days, bad days, tears and smiles, nothing affects a parents' love. Any books that you love that should be added to our list? |