Celebrating Thanksgiving With Gratitude: A Special Pregnancy Edition

Celebrating Thanksgiving with Gratitude: A Special Pregnancy Edition

!thanksgiving
As the air turns crisp and the aroma of pumpkin spice fills our homes, we can't help but feel a sense of excitement and gratitude. Thanksgiving is a time where we gather with loved ones, express our appreciation, and indulge in delicious food. And for expecting mothers, it's an opportunity to reflect on the unique blessings and challenges of being pregnant during this festive season.
1. Grateful for the Gift of Life
Pregnancy is truly a miracle, a time when a tiny human grows within you. On Thanksgiving, take a moment to marvel at the intricate process happening in your body. Feel the baby's gentle movements and acknowledge the incredible gift of life. Embrace the changes your body is going through and embrace the beauty of motherhood. Let gratitude fill your heart as you reflect on the journey of creating new life.
2. Appreciating the Support System
Thanksgiving is a perfect occasion to express gratitude for the support system surrounding you during your pregnancy. Whether it's your partner, family, friends, or a healthcare provider, these people have been there for you, offering their love, understanding, and guidance. Take a moment to thank those who have been your pillars of strength, lending a helping hand whenever needed. Their support has made this pregnancy journey a little easier.
3. Indulging in Nourishing Foods
Thanksgiving is known for its scrumptious feast, and while pregnancy may sometimes limit your options, you can still savor the tasty delights (with a few modifications, of course!). Fill your plate with nutrient-rich foods, like roasted turkey, sweet potatoes, and green beans. Don't forget to treat yourself to a slice of pumpkin pie – you deserve it! Cherish the flavors of this special meal, knowing that every bite is nourishing both you and your baby.
4. Embracing the Bonding Opportunities
Thanksgiving is a time when families come together, laughing and reminiscing. It's also a perfect moment to strengthen the bond between you and your unborn baby. Find a quiet corner or snuggle up on the couch, and take some time to connect with your little one. Place your hands on your belly, play soft music, and talk or sing to your baby. This intimate interaction will not only bring you closer but also foster a sense of love and security for your child.
5. Cultivating a Spirit of Gratitude
Lastly, make gratitude a daily practice throughout your pregnancy, not just on Thanksgiving. Keep a gratitude journal, jotting down moments of joy, milestones, and acts of kindness you experience. Reflect on the little things that bring you happiness. As you approach your due date, read through these entries, reminding yourself of the incredible journey you've undertaken. This practice will not only bring a smile to your face but also help you navigate any challenges that come your way.

So, as you gather around the Thanksgiving table this year, remember that there is a lot to be thankful for. Let gratitude fill your heart, appreciating the miracle of pregnancy, the love and support around you, and the joy of bringing a new life into this world. Embrace the holiday season and all the beauty it brings while eagerly anticipating the arrival of your little one. Happy Thanksgiving, mama-to-be!

Do you have any special plans for celebrating Thanksgiving during your pregnancy? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.

Beauty Products: Pregnancy Edition

Beauty Products: Pregnancy Edition

Congratulations, mama-to-be! Pregnancy is a beautiful journey filled with anticipation and joy. As you embark on this nine-month adventure, it is essential to prioritize self-care and indulge in some well-deserved pampering. However, with the unique needs and changes of pregnancy, it is important to choose beauty products that are safe and suitable for this special time. Today, we will explore some pregnancy-friendly beauty products to help you feel radiant and confident throughout your pregnancy.

1. Gentle Cleansers

During pregnancy, hormonal changes can wreak havoc on your complexion, leading to breakouts and sensitivity. Opt for mild, fragrance-free cleansers that will gently remove dirt and impurities without stripping your skin's natural oils. Look for cleansers that are free from harmful ingredients such as retinoids, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide. Instead, choose gentle cleansers formulated with natural ingredients like chamomile or cucumber, which will soothe and calm your skin. If you are struggling to care for your skin you should seek the advice of a Dermatologist as there are many prescription medications that are pregnancy safe for the treatment of acne.

2. Moisturizers and Stretch Mark Creams

As your precious baby grows, your beautiful body will undergo remarkable changes. To keep your skin elastic and hydrated, invest in a rich, nourishing moisturizer. Look for products that are free from harsh chemicals such as parabens and phthalates. Shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut oil as well as Vitamin E containing products are excellent natural ingredients known for their hydrating properties. They can help prevent stretch marks and keep your skin supple and smooth. Celebrate the growing miracle within you by giving your belly a little extra TLC.

3. Sun Protection

While staying out of the sun during peak hours and wearing protective clothing is the best way to shield your skin, sun protection is crucial during pregnancy. Opt for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to safeguard your skin from harmful UV rays. Look for mineral-based sunscreens containing ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are safe and effective during pregnancy. Remember to reapply regularly, especially if you spend extended periods outdoors.

4. Natural Hair Care

During pregnancy, changes in hormones can affect your hair, making it more prone to breakage and loss. Switching to natural and chemical-free hair care products can help maintain hair health and reduce scalp sensitivity. Look for shampoos and conditioners formulated with gentle ingredients like aloe vera, coconut oil, or argan oil. These natural ingredients will moisturize and nourish your locks, promoting shine and vitality.

5. Non-Toxic Nail Polish and Skincare

Pampering yourself with a manicure or pedicure is a great way to elevate your mood during pregnancy. Opt for non-toxic nail polishes that are free from toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP. They will help keep your nails healthy and vibrant without exposing you or your baby to unnecessary harm. Additionally, choose non-toxic skincare products for any facials or other treatments. Be sure to inform your esthetician that you are pregnant to ensure they use safe and suitable products.

Remember, every pregnancy is unique, and it is always a good idea to consult with your healthcare provider before introducing new beauty products into your routine. They can offer personalized guidance and ensure that the products you choose align with your specific needs.

Embrace this incredible journey and treat yourself to pregnancy-friendly beauty products that will enhance your well-being inside and out. As you pamper yourself, cherish the beautiful transformation happening within you!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your pregnancy or health.

The Power of Protein: Essential Sources for a Healthy Pregnancy

The Power of Protein: Essential Sources for a Healthy Pregnancy

!pregnancy-protein
As an expectant mother, you're well aware of the importance of a balanced and nutritious diet during pregnancy. Providing your growing baby with the right nutrients is vital for their healthy development. One key macronutrient that plays a crucial role is protein. Protein is not only important for your baby's growth but also for supporting the various changes your body undergoes during pregnancy. Let's explore some fantastic protein sources that will keep you and your baby thriving!

The Benefits of Protein in Pregnancy

Protein is the building block of life, and during pregnancy, it becomes even more significant. Here are a few reasons why protein should be a vital part of your diet:
1. Supports fetal development: Protein is essential for the growth and development of your baby's cells, tissues, and organs.
2. Promotes maternal tissue growth: During pregnancy, your body undergoes significant changes, such as increased blood volume and breast development. Protein helps support the growth and repair of maternal tissues.
3. Aids in blood production: Adequate protein intake supports red blood cell production, helping prevent anemia, which is common during pregnancy.
4. Provides energy: Protein is a vital source of energy during pregnancy, helping combat fatigue and keeping you active.
5. Maintains proper fluid balance: Protein helps maintain fluid balance in your body and plays a role in preventing edema or excessive swelling.
6. Supports immune function: Protein strengthens your immune system, protecting you and your baby from infections.

Excellent Protein Sources for Pregnancy

Now, let's dive into some nutrient-rich protein sources that will nourish both you and your baby during this incredible journey:

1. Lean Meats and Poultry

Lean cuts of beef, pork, and poultry are excellent sources of high-quality protein. They also provide important nutrients like iron, zinc, and vitamin B12. Opt for grass-fed and organic options whenever possible. Be sure to cook your meats fully to avoid risks of food borne illness.

2. Fish and Seafood

Fish like salmon, sardines, and trout are not only rich in protein but also high in omega-3 fatty acids, which support brain and eye development in your baby. However, avoid high-mercury fish and limit your intake of fish prone to contamination. Check out the PDF from the FDA on mercury content and fish in pregnancy for guidelines to follow for safe amounts and types of fish.

3. Eggs

Eggs are a versatile and affordable protein source. They are packed with essential amino acids, choline, and various vitamins and minerals. Enjoy them boiled, scrambled, or incorporated into recipes like omelets or frittatas.

4. Legumes

Legumes such as beans, lentils, chickpeas, and peas are fantastic sources of plant-based protein. They also provide fiber, iron, and folate. Incorporate them into soups, stews, salads, or side dishes for a nutritious boost.

5. Dairy Products

Milk, cheese, and yogurt offer not only protein but also calcium, essential for the development of your baby's bones and teeth. Opt for low-fat or non-fat options to keep your saturated fat intake in check.

6. Nuts and Seeds

Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, and hemp seeds are excellent protein-rich snacks for pregnant women. They are also loaded with healthy fats that support brain development and nourish your skin.

7. Quinoa

Quinoa is a complete plant-based protein that contains all essential amino acids. It's also rich in fiber, iron, magnesium, and folate. Use it as a side dish, as a base for salads, or in place of rice.

8. Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is not only a great source of protein but also contains probiotics that promote a healthy digestive system. Have it as a snack or add it to smoothies for a creamy boost of nutrition.

Balance is Key

Remember, balance is crucial when it comes to your pregnancy diet. Aim for a variety of protein sources from both animal and plant-based options. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian to ensure you meet your individual protein needs based on your specific circumstances.
By making sure you consume sufficient protein, you are providing your baby with the essentials they need for a healthy start to life. Embrace the power of protein and enjoy this exciting journey!
Disclaimer: This blog post is meant for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet during pregnancy.

Want to learn more? Check out our Nutrition in Pregnancy course!

Formal Maternity Dresses For Your Holiday Party When You Are Pregnant Or Nursing

Formal Maternity Dresses For Your Holiday Party When You Are Pregnant Or Nursing

Formal Maternity Dresses

I am taking a break from the more serious medical blog posts to bring you something a bit more lighthearted. Pretty formal maternity dresses! As the holidays approach you may be looking down at your bump and wondering what you will cover it with for the next event or party. Yes, you likely have something in your closet you could add a fancy necklace to and call it a day but sometimes, if you are able, its nice to have something special or new. I recently came across the brand Seraphine for maternity clothing and they have many great options that I want to share with you.

Seraphine LTD

Seraphine makes clothing for maternity and nursing wear and much more for babies and self care and honestly everything is so pretty. The clothing is also smart which as a pregnant person and especially as a nursing mother is very important. Often we know that while pregnant the clothes we buy will not be worn forever, so a goal of maternity clothes shopping becomes versatility. We want the clothes that we buy to serve multiple purposes and many of these dresses do just that. Many of these dresses can be worn for both maternity and nursing and in a variety of settings. Not the sequins of course, but I could imagine many of these dresses being worn to the office as well as an evening happy hour or holiday party.

Maternity Coats Too!

At the risk of getting off topic, if you need a coat for your pregnancy they have really cute ones as well. They come with a zip in insert for when you are pregnant and/or wearing a baby that can be removed when you do not have a baby on or in your body. Below are two of the coats that I like…

Long Down Khaki 3 in 1 Maternity & Babywearing Coat

6 in 1 Grey Maternity Coat with Fleece Vest

The Challenges of Shopping While Pregnant

There are challenges with getting dressed while pregnant and nursing. While pregnant clothing choices are often about fit and comfort most women are also shopping based on the versatility of their clothes. Many pregnant women are trying to create a capsule collection wardrobe that will last for the entire pregnancy. When you are breastfeeding and or pumping, clothing choices become about access to your breasts in a way that makes sense and feels comfortable to the mother. Women are having to navigate a tricky world of working and pumping breastmilk balancing their duties at work with the demands of their body and family, so figuring out what to wear needs to be simple. Often women are pumping in inadequate conditions so consider how what you wear may either limit or expand your ease of pumping.

If you are wearing a dress and pumping at work you likely will have to lift your entire dress up to pump leaving you sitting naked in your office. Just imagine if you have a shared work space or are pumping in a bathroom/closet etc… awkward, right? Depending on where you work it can be difficult however to take all of your work dresses out of your wardrobe rotation for a year after birth and not feel like you are wearing the same things every day. Many of the below dresses are for nursing as well as maternity so a great option and I can imagine wearing them regularly in a variety of settings. Knowing that a purchase will serve you longer than a few months feels smart financially and for ease of use.

Lastly, in person shopping for maternity clothes is a challenge as in store options are limited. As a result online shopping for maternity clothes is what most women are doing. As a result, I want to share with you some really pretty dress options from Seraphine for a variety of occasions below:

First Up … Fancy

If you are looking for something super formal I love these two sparkly numbers. The short one comes in black as well.

More Than The Office But Less Than New Years Sparkles

If you are looking for something a bit more muted but still elevated this pink/red floral dress is pretty as well. If you are looking for a true red for your next holiday party or Christmas celebration, there is a great red dress below as well.

Sometimes It’s Hard To Get The Formality Level Just Right

It doesn’t have to sparkle to be fancy - sometimes the fabric or details are what make a dress elevated. These next two dresses are a good example of that concept.

A few more dressy but not super formal options I like are below. The pink dress comes in navy as well

Little Black Dress Options

If you don’t have anything like it in your maternity wardrobe you definitely need a classic black dress. Try jazzing it up with accessories. I promise you would get a ton more use out of it than you think.

Daytime Event Dresses

For a daytime event I love these dresses made of a sweater top with a floral skirt combo. I honestly would wear this right now and I am not even pregnant… best part is I could because they all double as nursing dresses as well.

Not A Dress Person

I know many women who are just not dress people. Pants and a top is more comfortable. If so check out this top. With jeans or black pants it would look great. I would also not be scared to treat it as a neutral and pair it with really ANY color pant!

Need a pair of pants to match? Check out these:

Cropped Maternity Pants Black

Plus Sized Maternity

Seraphine also makes any of their dresses in plus sizes too!

When you go into a clothing store there is often no maternity section to browse and if there is it is usually so small that you are not able to find what you need. As a result, online options are becoming more common. Seraphine LTD is just one company but they provide a really festive option. Happy shopping !

Seraphine LTD

5 Top Tips For Finding The Perfect Au Pair For Your Family

The Pros & Cons of the Au Pair Program: My Top 5 Tips For Finding Your Perfect Au Pair

Finding childcare can at times feel like a nightmare. You are paying oodles of money for someone other than yourself to watch your most prized possession knowing that they will never do the job quite as well as you. When child care goes well, however, it is possible to find a solution that brings joy and love to your child. The right kind of caregiver can help your child grow and broaden their community of love and support. Before you register for daycare however I encourage you to consider the Au pair program. The Au pair program is just one child care solution that while not right for every family has been a great solution for my family since 2016. Having used the au pair program for our child care needs for 7 years (at the time of this post) I often get questions from patients and friends about my experience. This post will walk you through both my thoughts about the au pair program as well as my top tips for choosing the perfect au pair for your family. When you are ready to start searching for candidates, check out the agency I use… Cultural Care Au Pair… it’s one of the biggest.

How I Got Started With The Au Pair Program

Some people have an initial gut reaction that the au pair program is not possible for them saying things such as: “I could not have someone living in my home,” or “there is no way we could host an au pair because we dont have the space.” The truth is that sometimes you have to get creative to solve your problems. When I first registered for the au pair program I was living in a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom condo in Washington DC with my husband and our 1 and 3 year old children. We were utilizing a nanny and while very expensive it was going well. My problem was not finding child care, but an entirely different concern. I needed a third bedroom so my 1 year old would finally sleep through the night but I could not afford a larger home. My little guy refused to sleep more than 4 hours at a time when sharing a bedroom. So musical beds became a regular occurrence. After spending 6 months with the one year old alone in a bedroom (sleeping well) and my 3 year old and myself in the master bedroom (also sleeping well), my poor husband who had been sleeping on the couch declared enough was enough! Due to the cost of using a nanny in DC I came to the realization that we could spend more money on housing and less on childcare and our out of pocket costs would not change overall. Crazy, right? I could move to a home that fit our needs physically at night with space for an au pair and lower my childcare costs enough to make it work. So, we moved down the street to a townhome with a tiny 3rd bedroom and a basement that we converted to an au pair bedroom. My husband came back to our bedroom, we all got some sleep, and continued to have reliable child care for our kids. The move even came with a small backyard for the kids to play- a total bonus!

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Our Amazing Au Pairs Over The Years!!

Each au pair has been unique and wonderful.

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Santa, from Italy helped Benji learn to take the bottle when I went back to work and watched our older two when I went to the hospital to give birth. She brought joy and creativity to our home at a time we really needed it.

Yesica, from Columbia was our first au pair and loved our 2 children like they were her own family. Jonah is still her papacito and we are still very close. She was reliable and consistent with the kids while also being fun and creative.

Dani from Brazil, or as Benji would call her Deeee, was the big sister Siena always wanted, Benjis security blanket and so much more. Dani was pure love with the kids and they felt it.

Lucie from France has passed on a love of the French language, culture, and food to my kids. Siena is already asking if one day if she can go to France and be Lucie’s au pair. Lucie makes caring for three busy kids look easy. She is so inspired to learn about American culture and we are happy to share it with her.

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Pros & Cons Of The Au Pair Program

The au pair program has its positive and negative elements but space and or cohabiting is generally lower on the list of concerns then you might imagine. Here are my Positives and Negatives of the Au Pair program.

Positives:

Affordable Option (depending where you live it can be an even bigger positive)

• The price does not change even with additional kids

• Because housing and food are provided by you the annual cost of an au pair is less than daycare and less than many nanny salaries

Childcare that feels like family

• Having someone in your home allows for you to get to know the au pair in a way that it is more challenging to do with a person living outside of your home. Your au pair will come and go but share in moments both small and big that allow for conversations and sharing. Your kids will likely interact with their au pair not just during working hours - even if it's just a few minutes at a time. 

Learning about a new culture and what that inherently teaches your kids

• My kids have not just had the opportunity to taste foods from Columbia, Brazil, Italy, and France but they have learned that there are people outside of their local community that have traditions, cultural differences, and language to share. My kids get to celebrate differences on a daily basis. They become language teachers and simultaneously are excited to share their own traditions with each au pair we have had.

Lifelong friendships for your family

• I always say that one day I am going on a world tour and going to visit all of our au pairs. It was not intentional but I happen to have selected au pairs from wonderful places that I would be incredibly lucky to visit one day. My 10 year old asked our au pair the other day if when she is 21 she could go to France to be her au pair. The exposure to adventure and curiosity that these young women have shared with my kids has been an amazing gift. 

Flexibility & Convenience

• There are restrictions on the amount and use of time you are able to have your au pair work but you can adjust as needed within those rules. Work schedule changes, canceled plans, sick kids, and the need for help at random or odd stretches of hours is no longer a deal breaker. 

Negatives:

Turnover

• Each au pair agrees to come to the United States for 12 months when they sign up for the program and then have the option to extend for either 6 or 9 or 12 months. Consistency in your care provider and the closeness of the bond is one of the benefits of having an au pair so when they leave it can feel tough for both the parents and the kids. Parents know they will have to go through the search process again and kids while resilient at times may struggle with the transitions. Each time we welcomed a new au pair ( we have had 5) there was about 3 months of strange behavior from the kids in our home. Kids don’t tell you how they are feeling, they just wake more at night or wet the bed, or fuss or cling more. Ultimately things would smooth out and my kids simultaneously learned an important lesson that even though the prior au pair was no longer living in our home she was still a part of our family. 

When its bad its bad

• We had one experience in which we had to match very quickly in order to ensure child care coverage for our family and in retrospect it was a big mistake. We brought an excited young woman to our home and we had not taken the suggestions that I will give you below. She was a sweet girl and excited to come to the US but she was not a good fit for our family. She was not able to deal with the challenges of child care in our home (we all have them), and I was ot able to give her the attention she required due to circumstances in our life at that time (I was in my first trimester of my third pregnancy and felt horrible). Her sadness and loneliness and struggles became too much and we mutually decided to rematch. My big takeaway here is that my gut told me when she first arrived that she was likely not a good fit but I was so scared of being without childcare that we tried to make it work longer than we should have. 

A lengthy selection process

• I am grateful that I met my husband in person, as in NOT online, as I now realize how challenging online dating must be. If you found your person online, amazing! But I am sure it was at times frustrating sifting through all of those profiles and wondering “where is s/he already?!” I equate finding an au pair to online dating. You may like her but she doesn't like you. She may like you but not as much as she likes the other family. You may match and talk to her for months and then 2 weeks before she comes to the USA she sends you an email saying she is pregnant and not coming…. Not that that happened to me or anything ; ) 

• The process can feel slow and there will be both rejection and frustration. I joke with my husband that through the au pair search process I have been making friends ALLLL over the world these past 7 years. I have so many girl’s phone numbers saved in my phone/whatsapp and I have no idea what country they are from or when in the last 7 years I met them. The faster I accepted the process however the easier it was for me to move through it. 

Tips For Finding Your Perfect Au Pair

In order to help with some of these search process challenges I am giving you my top tips for finding the perfect au pair for your kids. When sifting through profiles you must be both open minded and targeted in your search. Maybe you didn't imagine hosting an au pair with a tongue ring but she is perfect in every way that is significant to you. She may still be your girl! You are likely a busy person just by virtue of being a parent so you will want to use your time spent reviewing profiles and interviewing candidates wisely.

Top 5 Tips For Finding The Perfect Au Pair For Your Family

1. Decide what you REALLY need each time you select an au pair

• Each au pair search I have done began with me considering the unique needs of my kids and the job outline at that specific time. Each time we have gone through this process our kids' needs have been unique. One year the priority was finding a candidate who could competently handle an unruly three year old, and another time we needed an au pair who could both skillfully and happily provide infant care while watching two other young kids. While driving was always required of our au pairs, it has become a higher priority recently to find someone who not only can safely drive but does not mind doing it all day long as our kids participate in activities and have meetups with friends. Set aside the obvious requirements like safety, and personality fit and be honest about the pain points in your home and who you could bring into the mix to help with those needs. Find the girl who both meets your needs AND is a good personality fit.

2. Learn how to read between the lines of a profile 

• Step 1: When you sift through a profile, consider the priorities you have set up and start there. If there are deal breakers filter those out first! For example, If you have three kids and the girl is only willing to watch 1 or 2 then she is not your girl. If she doesn't know how to drive and you need a driver then block her profile so it does not pop up in your search again. 

• Step 2: Now it's time to dig a little deeper and put on your detective hat. You have some important things to sleuth out before you set up an interview or request a connection. Big themes like: do they really like kids and what is their motivation to be part of the au pair program. Every au pair has their own unique motivations but some reasonable ones that I have seen include: learning english, curiosity in new cultures, stretching your wings while feeling safe in a family centered program, or professional advancement. Some additional motivations I have come across that may be red flags include: wanting to get out of your hometown due to lack of options, having just broken up with a partner and looking for what's next, simply wanting to travel or wanting to go to a specific place to be with a friend or partner. I am not placing judgment on these reasons but it was important to my family to make sure that this was not our au pairs primary motivation. We wanted to know that each girl understood that providing childcare was the main part of the experience and would be ok with that. Travel, independence, freedom, options, maturity are all important parts of what the girls gain in the program but it is primarily a child care job and you have to like kids to be happy doing the work. 

• Step 3: Lastly, if you are getting close to requesting a connection with a candidate then you need to consider what is being said without being said. If a girl has had her license for several years but the car that she drives is her uncle's car and she drives once a week… she may not be as skilled of a driver as the person with their own car. The person living in an urban area may not drive as much as the person who lives in a rural area. Depending on your needs this may be more or less important to you but I would suggest that you direct your questions for the candidate with this in mind. You may have your suspicions based on her profile and then target your questions to better understand her driving abilities. 

• Similarly, if a candidate has only ever cared for babies she may not be comfortable or want to work with older kids and vice versa. I would look for wording in her profile and experiences that suggests her understanding of the needs of your kids' age groups. I think you can also tell a bit about the open mindedness of a person from their responses. It is important to me that our au pairs are open and accepting of all people as this is a concept I teach my kids. So although I am in a male/female relationship I always check the response to the profile question that asked if the candide was willing to be an au pair for a same sex couple. I do realize that it is possible be both open minded and not want to live in a same sex couple home for some unique reason but as a way to maximize my time in interviews I personally used this answer as a screening tool to get to the best match for my family as quickly as possible. 

3. Don't be afraid of rematch

• Rematch happens when an au pair “in country” and a family have decided to go separate ways. This can happen for so many reasons, some more innocent than others. There are lots of great candidates (and some not so great candidates) in the rematch pool. If you need an au pair quickly then a rematch is a great place to look as these au pairs will be available to travel sooner than someone who is abroad. An agency typically completes paperwork regarding the rematch so you can understand what happened. We found our first au pair in rematch (hi Yesica!) and I was even able to speak to the au pairs first host mom. I heard both sides of the situation from the candidate and the family, and determined that what did not work for the first family was actually a positive for the needs of my own family. The first host mom told me that her two older boys did not like the au pair following them around and telling them to be careful. I on the other hand had a 4 and 2 year old and that is EXACTLY what I needed. Read between the lines here as well to determine if the rematch happened because of a family issue, a candidate issue or was it simply a bad match? What works for one family may not work for another - so don't rule out the possibility that your perfect au pair is struggling in a different home waiting to meet you!

4. Present your job honestly and don't try to sugar coat or bribe a girl to take your position

• This can be tough. Inevitably as rejection begins to pile up you start to think less about who is perfect for your family and more about just “getting someone… anyone!” You may be tempted to start highlighting things like your vacation home or the kind of car your au pair will be driving. I would encourage you not to do this. Similar to sussing out a girl's motivation this type of enticement only leads to attracting candidates for the wrong reason. I actually think that while it may make the search process longer, sharing all the warts and challenges of your job can lead to a more successful match. Showing all of your flaws up front lets a girl really understand what she will be walking into… and if she still wants the job then GREAT! I think you should also highlight the positives that your family brings to the program that are non material. Example: My kids will be loud in the morning but I will teach them to respect your space or We have three kids but also a home filled with joy and music and time spent together and we will include you!

5. Consider the candidates priorities and what may be going on on her end. 

• Girls are talking to multiple families and are sorting through profiles so response times can be varied. That being said, in my experience when a candidate is excited about my profile she always responds quickly. When a girl says “sorry I didn't respond faster, i was traveling!” She may have been traveling… ooooooor she was about to match with a family and now the match has fallen through and she is reaching out to you. At the beginning of our au pair journey I used to become incredibly frustrated… and wonder how long to wait for a reply.  Now I know my limits and I just see it for what it is. Similar to dating, you have to decide what you are willing to put up with and what you expect from your candidates and then hold your search process to that standard. My approach is to give each girl a certain number of days (about 3) and then cut them loose and move on to find the person that REALLY wants to come to my house. If I am feeling strung along…. I tend to move on. You may and should have your own approach and style but consider what is going on from the au pair candidates perspective. How she behaves tells you something about her honesty and communication and personality as well. 

Frustration Is Normal

Once you get started searching for an au pair you will likely find yourself frustrated often and that is completely normal. I cannot begin to count the times I have said “I CAN'T DO IT!!” to which my husband responds, “you HAVE to do it.” Similar to dating, you may have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince/ss. There is not just one right person out there for your family but each au pair brings something unique and special to the arrangement. I am currently the beneficiary of a French au pair who makes wonderful crepes and who has inspired my three year old to learn French (Thanks Lucie). These details however were completely unexpected as our match was based on who she is as a person, her ability to fit into our home, and her ability to provide great care! The search process can at times feel like a full time job. The challenges of the process fade quickly when you find the right person to live in your home and care for your kids. When you feel great about your selection it is completely worth it. 

Want to get started? Check out the agency I use HERE, its one of the largest. 

Top Five Money Moves to Get Ready for Your Baby

Guest Post By Trey Holloway

Babies Are Expensive They Say….

But what does that really mean? Let’s talk about how can you prepare yourself not only physically and emotionally but also financially for a new baby.

Is newborn financial planning a thing? As someone who knows very little about personal finance I brought in an expert for this post to share some family finance tips and wisdom with you. I am lucky to be married to Trey for many reasons but one reason is that he happens to know a lot about personal finance and budgeting. Learning about these topics has been both a hobby of his as well as a part of his career for many years and he is currently the Director of Finance and Operations with his current company. When people say to choose your life partner wisely I often reflect on my lack of knowledge around money matters and how very lucky I am to have a partner that compliments my own strengths. I like to consider myself the CEO of our family (think: captain of the ship, setting the course, and making sure everyone stays on track) which would of course make Trey the CFO. I set the vision and he runs the numbers… It works for us. I asked Trey to help me with this post and I was genuinely curious to see what he would say. I realize the importance of preparing for a baby financially now that we are 10 years into parenting and I wanted Trey to share his knowledge with you all as you are just getting started. 

My Question To Trey: How would you tell a first time parent to prepare financially for a new baby?

His Key Points:

• Open a 529 Plan

• Participate in your workplace’s Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA) program 

• Freeze your new baby’s credit

• Hire an accountant

• Spend a little money on yourself

1.     Open a 529 Plan

529 plans are used to save money for your baby for college or private school (grades K-12). You need your baby’s social security number before you can even open a 529 naming them as a beneficiary, so be sure to make that one of your first to-do items. Once that is done, look to open an account with your state-run plan to maximize your state tax deduction for any contributions. Contributions to a state-sponsored 529 plan are often deductible (subject to limits) on your state taxes. For example, T. Rowe Price sponsors the plan for Maryland residents and Maryland residents can deduct contributions to the T. Rowe Price plan up to $5,000 per child if both parents contribute. Calvert Investments sponsors the plan for DC residents and the plan for Virginia residents contains investments from American Funds. There are other state plans, like Nevada’s plan with Vanguard, that may make sense for you if you’re looking for a lower fee structure. Don’t forget to actually select investments for the money once you contribute it.

2.     Opening at 529 is Great, but…

 Participate in your workplace’s Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA) program if one is available. A DCFSA let’s you set aside money on a pre-tax basis that can be used for childcare expenses. You should check the rules for your employer’s particular plan, but these funds can usually be used for daycare, a nanny, an au pair, etc., but cannot be used to pay a family member who provides you with childcare. The 2022 limit is $5,000 for a married couple filing jointly and $2,500 for an individual. If you’re going to spend $5,000 on childcare anyway, you might as well stash that money in a DCFSA and not pay taxes on it and take distributions to pay for childcare. You can then use those tax savings to fund your newly opened 529.

3.     Freeze your new baby’s credit

A new baby has no need for a credit card, but that doesn’t mean that someone won’t try to open one in their once their social security number is out there. Kids are increasingly becoming targets for identify theft and credit fraud, mostly because no one is thinking to check their credit report. How you can prevent your child from becoming the victim of bad credit before they can even spell credit? Call up the three major credit bureaus in the United States and request that their credit be frozen. This can easily be undone when your child actually needs credit.

4.     Hire an Accountant

Your tax situation will change when you have a child. It may change a little bit or it may change a lot, depending on your specific circumstances prior to the baby arriving. You can figure out a lot of this on your own, but when you’re a new parent, you’re super busy trying to figure the day to day out. Its worth bringing an accountant on board to review your situation. Adding a child may make you eligible for new deductions on your taxes and an accountant can help you identify what is relevant for your growing family.

5.     Spend a little money on yourself

You’ll hear lots things about baby moons. “They’re overrated!” “Definitely take the time to get away!” Count me firmly in the camp of those who urge you to plan and take a baby moon with your partner before the baby arrives. We are over ten years in from our first and we still talk about memories from that trip. We took a baby moon before the births of our second and third children as well. A babymoon doesn’t have to involve lots of flights and fancy hotels. Doing something within driving distance, or even locally, can still be a great opportunity for you and your partner to relax and reset before your family grows. We enjoyed spending a little money on ourselves, having great meals together and taking down time doing absolutely nothing (which becomes exceedingly rare as you add children to your family). Take advantage of this time together!

Have questions? Reach out HERE

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Check out my FREE third trimester course to help you choose the right birth class for you!

When Your Newborn Won't Sleep: Crack The Code on Infant Sleep and Attachment Parenting

Infant Sleep Struggles & Strategies is Now Open!: Prevent Postpartum Sadness Through Infant Sleep Education; Gentle sleep training starts here.

Disclaimer: If you have found this blog post as a desperate new parent googling: “my newborn won't sleep” then please know that this one blog post will not get your crying baby to go to sleep. I do however think it’s a great place to start. It is meant to be a jumping off point to help you think about infant sleep differently and a discussion to help you to reevaluate your attachment with your infant. Please involve your pediatrician, and ask for help from your support network if you need a break. 

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What Is The Deal With Infant Sleep?

Most new parents have a variety of questions as they begin the early care of their new baby but often those questions boil down to a few common themes with one main theme being newborn sleep. “When should I stop feeding at night?” When should I start sleep training?”  The list goes on and on. Often pediatricians and other providers are asked these questions as a result of postpartum fatigue from tired parents wondering how to get their child to sleep more. These questions may come from lack of understanding of a normal newborn sleep pattern and even comparisons to peers. The truth is that infants (0-3 months old) wake up. They are developmentally supposed to be stirring every few hours. The reality is that the normal newborn schedule with our current cultural norms and schedules do not match. I remember thinking every 2-3 hours with each night feeding in those early months, “I can do the baby part, it is just the rest of life that I can’t handle right now.”  For some people that means round the clock feedings and care of baby while working, for others, it’s keeping up the home or caring for the needs of their other children that can make it all feel a bit too much. Lack of sleep in the early days is even associated with increased rates of maternal depression postpartum. Parenting in the early months has many highs and lows and new parents are warned about the fatigue of infant care. While no one can fully prepare you for what is to come, why is it that some parents seem to have a harder time than others?  Understanding the dynamics that exist surrounding infant sleep, outside of the basic knowledge of newborn sleep patterns, will better prepare parents for the transition to newborn care.

The Sleep Emotion Connection

There are many individual elements that affect a baby's sleep patterns such as the baby's health and natural temperament as well as factors that affect a parent's abilities to care for their child such as mental health concerns or lack of support.  Every baby and family are unique. In a perfect world though a baby ultimately learns how to self soothe so that they can settle themselves through the repetitive cycles of sleep that are supposed to happen each night we lay down to rest. Some babies are “signalers'' which means that  at the end of each cycle the baby is awake and letting you know. Initially babies signal to alert a parent that it’s time to eat but eventually your baby gets big enough that they no longer need to consume calories at night yet still signal. One critical issue at the crux of the infant sleep conundrum is the way in which the attachment between a parent and infant will affect sleep patterns and sleep patterns then affect a parents response. During the transitional months from 3-6 months of life when your baby cries, how you respond matters. They learn each time from your actions how to behave moving forward. It is important to show a baby in the first few months of life that they are secure and safe and that their needs are being met, and this is where it gets tricky. It’s a “what came first the chicken or the egg” situation. If your baby under 6 months old cries because they don’t know how to emotionally self regulate, and how you respond shapes attachment and attachment shapes baby’s emotional self regulation then where do you begin? How can you show a small baby, when they are developmentally ready, that they are able to soothe themself without damaging the bond between parent and child that sets a child up for emotional self regulation in the future. 

What Is Infant Attachment And Why Does It Matter?

Attachment related to child development is defined by Mary Ainsworth (1963), a developmental psychologist pioneering the research on attachment theory, as a “secure base from which to explore,” and by John Bowlby (1969/1982), her counterpart, as a unique relationship between an infant and his caregiver that is the foundation for further healthy development. When considering the activities of infants and the length of time they spend eating and sleeping in a 24 hour period one can conclude that a significant portion of the parent infant interactions are centered around vital activities such as eating and sleep. Bowlby described attachment theory as an inherent biological response and behavioral system in place to provide satisfaction of basic human needs. (Flaherty, Sadler, 2012). Few activities could be described as more inherent than the infants need to sleep. Attachment Parenting however is the culturally nuanced style of parenting centered around the Attachment Theory created by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth played out in the day to day life of a family. This style of parenting is meant to guide the child toward a secure attachment which will help the child to better self regulate their emotions in the future. The way in which a parent responds to a child surrounding sleep behaviors and challenges affects the infant's response towards the parent and therefore the attachment relationship between the two. 

Practice Makes Perfect

The repeated interactions with parents in emotion-laden contexts allow infants to become increasingly able to autonomously use strategies to regulate their emotional arousal. The organization of behaviors within the attachment relationship thus affects how children organize and regulate their emotions and behaviors towards the environment. (Kim, Stifler, Philbrook, Teti, 2014). The parent child bond is developed initially by face to face contact and a sensitive response to  the child during caregiving measures such as tending to the infant’s basic needs to be held and fed and kept clean. The parent child bond is maintained by continuing to provide “a level of emotional availability and warm sensitive care.” Let’s delve a bit deeper into how this early attachment relates to sleep and how too much and too little “availability” can lead to sleep challenges. 

What It Means To Be “Mom Enough”

Dr. Erickson outlines certain key elements that children need to thrive including 1. A secure base 2. A rich language environment 3. Opportunities for free play and exploration 4. Limits with love and logic 5. Opportunities to contribute (Dr Marti and Erin Erickson, 2016). Check out her write up on being Mom Enough which really sums it all up amazingly. Parents have the opportunity during each interaction with their child to use physical affection, the tone of their voice, and soothing techniques to respond to infant cries in a way that builds attachment. Setting healthy bedtime routines however creates limits with love and logic as described by Dr. Erickson. Using techniques that teach a baby that her mother is both there for him/her but that limits exist and that it is time to go to sleep is the goal. Working to maintain the bond between a parent and child demonstrates a commitment to the importance of early interactions with your child and how they impact and shape your child’s future. 

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The Goal Is Not To Mom Too Little Or Too Much, But “Mom Enough”

As child development research continues to show, from infancy to adulthood, there are certain key elements children need in order to thrive and grow up well. As summarized below, those are the elements of being “mom enough” (and “dad enough” too!).

1. A secure base

2. A rich language environment

3. Opportunities for free play and exploration

4. Limits with love and logic

5. Opportunities to contribute

(Dr Marti and Erin Erickson, 2016)
Read more from Dr. Ericksons here about why attachment matters

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Consider How Sleep Strategies And Sleep Training Affect The Sleep Emotion Cycle

When discussing infant sleep strategies parents are often overwhelmed by the plethora of options and conflicting styles and are often left wondering what is the most effective and right approach for their family. Parents are often presented with a mainstream approach, where parents let the baby “cry it out.” that forces them to choose between responding to their babies cries or getting much needed sleep. The challenge with this approach of leaving your baby to cry until they fall asleep is that this approach is often not sustainable by parents and with inconsistency it can be ineffective or even backfire. Mothers in particular often feel like they are choosing between the wellbeing of their child (responding to their cries) and their own personal wellness and ability to sleep (not responding to the baby’s cries). As parents contemplate their bond with their new baby along with the sleep strategy decision at hand they are left even more confused. Attachment Parenting is often misunderstood as the constant proximity or nearness of a parent to their child or even the constant response to the baby when s/he cries.  Instead it is actually the trust that a child has in their parents that their needs will be met. Parents are best to remember that there is no specific set of tasks that will ensure a secure attachment but yet a framework of action that builds the parent child bond. Your behaviors with your child over time will allow your child to learn how to self regulate their emotions. 

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Infant Sleep Struggles & Strategies

Preventing Postpartum Sadness Through Infant Sleep Education

My Newest Online Course Is Now Enrolling!

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Can We Have Sleep And A Secure Attachment? I say YES!

As parents learn about sleep strategies they must consider the unique factors of their specific mother baby pair and the goal for the whole family in the context of the baby's developmental stage. As a sleep consultant training in a sensitive approach I believe that each family can come up with a plan that both encourages healthy sleep habits for the child’s developmental ability and enhances the attachment between parent and baby. Families are allowed to desire not only a more restful night sleep but to also want a secure bond between the parent and child. The way that you guide your baby to sleep is an opportunity to develop and support a secure bond. Parents are often fearful of damaging this connection when they hear their baby cry and deserve tools that allow them to ease towards a balanced solution. 

If you are thinking about utilizing a consultant for sleep, a great one will work to foster the connection between a parent and child by helping a parent find their own solution to their sleep concern and by supporting the family as they take the steps necessary to achieve an established goal. A consultant can actively listen to the story of that parent and validate the knowledge and awareness s/he has of her own baby. S/he can then reflect back to the parents an impression of the situation and help the family create a plan that makes sense to them so as to ensure a sustainable solution. Supporting a parent as they move towards their own solution allows the parent to feel confident in their innate skills. They will see in practice that they have the ability to be both emotionally available while also consolidating their infant’s sleep. Providing a plan forward and steps towards consolidated sleep that allow parents to remain in touch with the emotional needs of their baby will ultimately be a more sustainable solution. The combination of a thoughtful plan, a consultant's emotional support centered around active listening,  plus education on infant development will ultimately ease a parents mind surrounding their approach to sleep interventions.  

Things To Remember:

• If you have a bad night with your baby you have not ruined your attachment bond. Bonds are created over time. 

• Babies can bond with more than one person so it does not always have to be the same person to tend to the baby and if you have the means to get help at night then that is also not harmful to your relationship with your child. 

• If your baby will not sleep then you should involve your pediatrician to ensure that your baby is healthy before researching sleep strategies. 

• Check in on sleep expectations for your baby’s age. Sleep training should not be started until at least 4 months old (usually closer to 6 months) and when you know your baby is ok without night feedings. Ask your pediatrician if you are not sure.  

• Babies typically are not able to self soothe until 6 months of age, so do not expect your baby to go back to sleep without help. Consider however the 5-6 month age as a training ground for self soothing and some babies will get it sooner than others.

Increase Both Your Sleep And Satisfaction As A Parent

Join me in class to learn more about not only the problem but the solutions as well! Check out more about the new Sweet Pea Prep Infant Sleep course focused on improving maternal (and partner) satisfaction through sleep education.

References:

Ainsworth MD. The development of infant-mother interaction among the Ganda. In: Foss BM, editor. Determinants of infant behavior. New York: Wiley; 1963. pp. 67–112. [Google Scholar]

Bowlby J. Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Attachment. 2. New York: Basic Books; 1969/1982. [Google Scholar]

Erin & Marti Erickson, 2016 Mom enough https://momenough.com/?page_id=63

Flaherty SC, Sadler LS. A review of attachment theory in the context of adolescent parenting. J Pediatr Health Care. 2011 Mar-Apr;25(2):114-21. doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2010.02.005. Epub 2010 May 1. PMID: 21320683; PMCID: PMC3051370.

Kim BR, Stifter CA, Philbrook LE, Teti DM. Infant emotion regulation: relations to bedtime emotional availability, attachment security, and temperament. Infant Behav Dev. 2014 Nov;37(4):480-90. doi: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2014.06.006. Epub 2014 Jul 2. PMID: 24995668; PMCID: PMC4262588.

6 Postpartum Symptoms That Surprise Women

What To Expect After Having A Baby

We have all heard about the giant undies and seen the ice pack Tik Toks but below is a list of common postpartum symptoms that women may find surprising as well as tips for how to prepare for the postpartum period. Many changes happen to your body postpartum related to birth and healing as well as the transformative process of early mothering. Women are educated by providers on warning signs prior to hospital discharge but there are a host of bothersome normal symptoms that you may wonder if they are normal as well. Your body post birth is experiencing a host of massive physical and hormonal changes that lead to new sensations, symptoms and challenges. Understanding what is normal and not normal will hopefully reduce your anxiety and help you know when to ask for help. Be sure to watch out for the concerning signs and symptoms after birth which I have provided information on at the end of this post. Be sure to call your provider if you are ever concerned or unsure. Even if what you are experiencing is normal there may be some tips or medications that may help you be more comfortable. 

6 postpartum symptoms that women ask about after birth:

1. Postpartum Sweats

2. The Timing and Flow of Your First Postpartum Period

3. Postpartum Cramping

4. Swelling Post Birth

5. The Loneliness And Isolation Of Breastfeeding

6. Vaginal Itching After Birth

Lets get one thing out of the way
If you are still pregnant don’t wait until after birth to learn what you need to know to ease the transition. It’s a lot harder that way. Check out my class offerings HERE


Back to your regularly scheduled programming…

Postpartum Hot Flashes or Sweats

Did you think hot flashes were just for menopause? Think again. When your baby is born and the placenta detaches from your uterine wall it sends a signal to your body that you no longer need to support a pregnancy. The estrogen levels fall following birth and similar symptoms to menopause can occur, including hot flashes. One study (1) showed that a third of women experienced this postpartum bothersome symptom. And similar to menopause women had a higher rate of reporting hot flashes if they had a higher BMI, depressive symptoms, or a lower education level. The good news is that as your hormones stabilize you will experience these symptoms less often. In the meantime dress in layers until the hot flash subsides.

(1) Fertil Steril. 2013 Dec; 100(6): 1667–1672. Prospective Evaluation of Hot Flashes during Pregnancy and Postpartum; Published online 2013 Sep 12. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.08.020

Rebecca C. Thurston, PhD,a,b James F. Luther, MA,b Stephen R. Wisniewski, PhD,b Heather Eng, BA,b and Katherine L. Wisner, MD MSc

The Timing and Flow of Your First Postpartum Period 

The timing of your first period after having a baby will be affected by how often you breastfeed your baby. Most women will bleed vaginally postpartum for approximately 6-8 weeks. The postpartum bleeding will taper down over that time transitioning in flow as well as color. Postpartum bleeding, called lochia, will begin as a menses flow and then become light pink and eventually yellow in color before returning to normal. For the mom who is breastfeeding exclusively she will likely not get her first period until 6 months postpartum or after. If breastfeeding frequency becomes irregular or supplemental formula is introduced then a period may return earlier or in a more irregular pattern. When your period does return, the heavy flow of your first period is what shocks most women. The cycles that follow however are typically less intense and a bit lighter in flow than the first. Your uterus has physically changed after carrying a pregnancy so your periods will as well. The first heavy flow is often due to a thickened endometrial lining and a bigger uterus than prior to pregnancy. Track your bleeding and bring any concerns to your provider but if the period is coming at a regular interval you may want to see what the first few are like to know if this is a consistent issue or just the struggle of a first postpartum period.

Postpartum Cramping Of The Uterus

Your uterus is a muscle which has stretched to hold a pregnancy, the muscle contracted during labor, and likely you were aware of your uterus in a whole new way because of the new and uncomfortable sensations of pregnancy and birth. When your baby was born you likely did not consider what your uterus would be doing but surprisingly the contractions continue. That large loose uterus has to cramp and clamp back down to shut off the blood supply that was previously feeding your placenta. The postpartum cramping is also a way to help your uterus return back to normal size. In each subsequent pregnancy your postpartum cramps will be more intense as your uterus is more active and has farther to go to return back to normal size. Your postpartum pain meds like Ibuprofen will help with this type of discomfort. Heads up though, you will likely also feel heightened cramping triggered by activities such as nursing your baby and physical activity. 

Swelling Post Birth

For many women swelling in their ankles and hands is expected in the third trimester of pregnancy but they are surprised that it can worsen or even present for the first time postpartum. This postpartum symptom can be a bit tricky though as some postpartum swelling is concerning for a severe complication called postpartum preeclampsia. For approximately one week after birth the hormonal changes cause women to continue to retain water leading to puffy skin, with more noticeable changes in dependent areas or parts of your body which hang such as your lower extremities. Sudden new swelling accompanied by high blood pressure, headache, or vision changes however can be a sign of postpartum preeclampsia so your provider should be notified if you notice any sudden new symptoms. Your provider will help decide if what you are experiencing is normal and if a work up is warranted.  See the list of worrisome postpartum warning signs below. Women who have had an especially long hospital stay, induction, or have received IV fluids may notice more swelling as they have been given additional fluids on top of what they are already retaining. Outside of severe postpartum concerns such as pre-eclampsia, the normal retained fluids are naturally excreted with time. You will notice increased urinary volume and sweating as your body sheds the excess fluids. Keep your extremities elevated and be sure to continue hydrating orally however as you need the intake to continue to make breastmilk. 

The Loneliness and Isolation Of Breastfeeding

Having a baby is often touted as a joyous time with frequently heard phrases such as “enjoy the snuggles,” and “savor every moment” and “it goes by fast.” While those phrases are not wrong it is often countered by the extreme feelings of sadness and isolation that come with early parenting. Having a new baby makes leaving the house challenging and recovering from your delivery takes longer than most people realize. I often have to remind women who are anxious to get back to their normal routines that they should delay exercise and strenuous activity until 6 weeks postpartum to allow their body to heal. As a result many women feel out of sorts and wonder what they are supposed to be doing and if they are “doing it right.” If you are in a culture without the built in local family support and community you may be left feeling both a bit trapped in your home and alone.

Breastfeeding adds an additional element of isolation as the feeding of a new baby is left to mom alone in the first month especially. Once a breastmilk supply is established and pumping begins around 2 weeks of life, bottles are often introduced at 3-4 weeks old and mom may get a bit more independence. Even when a baby takes bottles though she is beholden to either the baby or the breast pump to maintain her milk supply. For our extroverted friends this can be a hard time! Women who feel modest about exposing their breasts additionally may choose to sit alone in a private room to feed and care for their baby, adding to the loneliness. Some women choose to venture out which is not an easy task. I have a strong memory of finishing my Target “shopping” (aka as me crying amongst the racks and calling my husband who promptly instructed me to “get out of there”) with my first baby and then spending an hour in the parking garage feeding her, changing her before I could leave. I am in DC so parking is not free and I stayed so long I had to pay the parking twice!! Pro tip: Nordstrom has a breastfeeding room. It will feel like an oasis in your adventure out of the house.

A word of encouragement…

One of the biggest lessons I learned after having three kids was that there is no right way to do things so don’t beat yourself up. Babies cry and babies wake up frequently not because you are doing something wrong but because that is what babies do. There is nothing you should be doing in the first few months other than helping your baby transition to the outside world. I encourage you to accept the help offered to you, set small goals, and get some sunshine on a regular basis. When people say enjoy the snuggles I think they mean - you are exactly where you need to be. These phases don't last forever but when its your first you have no context. You did not sign up for a life of isolation… its just for now. I promise you will become more sure of yourself, your parenting choices, and feeding in public over time as the baby gets bigger and stronger. 

Vaginal Itch After Birth

Many women complain of postpartum vaginal itching and assume it is an infection such as yeast. The truth is that you should expect a mild level of itching postpartum for 2 reasons - healing and lack of estrogen. If you have had any stitches due to tearing with a vaginal birth the skin will feel itchy as it begins to heal. One clue that this may be what you are experiencing is that the itch is focal and in the specific location of your tear and or repair. If you are not sure go in for an evaluation by your provider and they can confirm that everything is ok. Pus or worsening redness in the places where tears occurred is not normal but a very mild itch may actually be a positive sign of healing. The second cause of itching is a more generalized itch related to low estrogen post birth causing a thinning of the vaginal tissue and a dry sensation on the skin that is more noticeable or uncomfortable for some. The tools provided for you post birth such as a spray bottle, ice pack and a sitz bath are designed to help these areas heal. 

Tips for postpartum vaginal care: 

• For the first two-5 days ice will help reduce pain and swelling

• The spray bottle with warm water in it will help you keep the vaginal area clean without wiping

• Be sure to pat the vaginal area dry after spraying as moisture can cause skin breakdown

• The sitz bath with warm water will be great for the second week postpartum to bring blood flow to the sutures and promote healing. 

• Sensitivity is normal in the areas of trauma for many months postpartum so be aware that even after the skin visually has healed it may still be sensitive during intercourse for months after. 

• Breastfeeding prolongs the hormonal shift that can cause vaginal itching or dryness so be aware that some symptoms may persist while you are breastfeeding your baby. 

• Use lubricant with intercourse, go slow, and talk to your provider if you are concerned that what you are feeling is not normal. 
  
  

Postpartum Warning Signs & When To Call Your Medical Provider - From The CDC

• Headache that won't go away or gets worse with time

• Dizziness or fainting

• Changes in your vision

• Fever of 100.4F or higher

• Extreme swelling in your face or hands

• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

• Trouble breathing

• Chest pain or a fast beating heart

• Severe nausea or throwing up

• Severe belly pain that does not go away or worsens

• Heavy postpartum bleeding and or clotting

• Foul smelling vaginal discharge

• Severe swelling redness or pain in your leg or arm

• Overwhelming Tiredness

Learn More About How To Prepare For Birth

Check out my suite of classes to better prepare yourself for the realities of birth. I will walk you through what to expect and why.

When To Tell People You Are Pregnant (In A Post Roe V. Wade World)

When Should I Tell People That I Am Pregnant Is A Top 5 Most Commonly Asked Question In My Line Of Work

I hate when blog posts about food make you scroll all the way to the bottom to get the recipe. You search for “pancake recipe” and someone talks for pages about what they love about pancakes and end their post with a recipe. Personally, I just want to make pancakes. I am more of a pancake eater and less of a person who writes about how pancakes make me feel. When it comes to when to tell people about your pregnancy I have both a simple answer for you which I will tell you right now, as well as a more complicated one that takes some explaining. I will cut to the chase and give you the simple answer and then you can keep reading if you want to understand on a deeper level. Fair warning I get pretty deep. : )

You should share your news of your desired pregnancy right away with anyone whom you would share bad news of loss and grief with. Allow your closest family and friends to participate in both the joys and sorrows of your life. 

I hope your pregnancy is filled with joy but we all know that life is not always joyful and not always simple. The reason that people often wait to share the news of their pregnancy is that they do not want to have to later go back and tell people that there was a problem or complication in the pregnancy. So, if you would tell your best friend that you had a miscarriage or are struggling with an abnormal test result then you should also share the news that you are expecting. You may want to wait however for your larger social media reveal. If an unexpected miscarriage happens or you receive bad news in your pregnancy and you have already made a Facebook post about it then it can feel a bit awkward and sad to have to re announce the bad news. Medical challenges could come up at any point in the pregnancy but you have to share the news at some point, so when will you do it?

Most people are sharing their pregnancy news once the odds have increased that their pregnancy will continue, or once a pregnancy has made it out of the first trimester and normal genetic testing results have been received. 

Learn more about the concerns that are most worrisome related to sharing your pregnancy news: 

Did you know that I have a free early pregnancy class? Join “Pregnant, Now What?!” to start your pregnancy off feeling informed.

ACOG (American College Of Obstetrics & Gynecology) Fact Sheet On Miscarriage

Learn More HERE

ACOG Fact Sheet On Genetic Disorders

Learn More HERE

Miscarriage Predictor Calculator

Check out this Miscarriage Predictor Calculator I found.

Rates Of Miscarriage As A Function Of Maternal Age

The chart below depicts the increasing risk of spontaneous miscarriage as women age. Most miscarriages are thought to be due to a genetic concern specific to that pregnancy and older women are more likely to have eggs with abnormal genetics. Remember though, a new pregnancy is a whole new set of genetics with its own set of risks.

https://geneticsandfertility.com/services/general-infertility/maternal-age-reproduction/

Rates of Miscarriage According To Weeks Of Gestation

Most miscarriages happen early in a pregnancy. It is not impossible to have a loss past 12 weeks but significantly less likely. If genetics are the cause for the loss then most times the pregnancy is not able to grow past a certain point meaning less likely to continue past 12 weeks.

https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2007/1101/p1341.html

Risk Of Chromosomal Abnormality According To Maternal Age

As mentioned above, older moms have higher rates of chromosomally abnormal pregnancies. There are certain genetically different pregnancies that do NOT end in miscarriage but continue to grow. The most commonly tested for conditions being Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13, and Trisomy 21.

http://denverholisticmedicine.com/advanced-maternal-age

How Can I Hide My Pregnancy When I Feel So Terrible?

There is an argument to be made however for sharing your news early. The first trimester is laden with symptoms of nausea and fatigue that can be very challenging to disguise. If your boss or employer is understanding then often they can make accommodations to allow you to continue to work. Additionally telling your employer will also help them understand why you are shutting your office door and taking naps at lunch. Depending on the severity of symptoms some women are able to power through and pretend they are not debilitatingly tired and sick while others must go to lengths such as requesting disability and or take temporary leave from work. It does not always work out well though and I have known women who have lost their job as a result of their extreme first trimester symptoms. Waiting to tell your extended network must be balanced with the challenges of first trimester symptom management. 

Who knew it was so confusing? What should women do? Hide their symptoms and let co-workers wonder? Tell their employer and ask to be treated differently in a work environment that often pretends women and pregnancy do not exist? Women are left to worry and wonder what will come of their jobs when they are open and honest about their change in status. Yes, there are laws to protect your employment but the truth is in 2022 in the US women still have to wonder how their employer will respond. Legal action required to defend your job is often not accessible for most women, especially when you are more worried about getting a paycheck, putting food on your table and your day to day expenses than changing the world. 

How Can I Get Support If No One Knows You Are Pregnant?

Some may make the argument that even in the cases of loss and struggle that we should talk about it openly and share our experience so that others don't feel alone and others may better support you. It can be eye opening to see how once you tell someone you had a miscarriage you suddenly learn that many women in your network have experienced the same loss. We do not talk about our grief openly and maybe we should. The truth is that our US culture is not one set up for community support. Some individuals are lucky and were born into a supportive community or others smartly have built one, but our society often celebrates to a fault independence and the strength of doing it on your own which makes being vulnerable and sharing your struggle a shameful and often isolating experience. 

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Disclaimer: This is where my post WOULD have stopped prior to June 2022 strike down of Roe v. Wade however here we are.

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Now That Roe V. Wade Has Been Struck Down It’s Different…. For Some

The Supreme Court ruling in June 2022 that struck down Roe has led to even more uncertainty about our rights and options as women. The decisions of our government are based in a limited understanding of pregnancy and reproduction and display how gravely misunderstood and underappreciated women’s health is in the United States. This new limitation on our own autonomy and control over our bodies and the interference in the ability of medical providers to do their jobs to provide the healthy and right care for each individual adds a wrench to the conversation about when to share your pregnancy news. 

This post is not about whether abortion is right or wrong, but the ability for women to get the medical care they need and the lack of conscience and lack of intellect that the residual state level laws show regarding knowledge of reproduction and women’s health.

Please set aside your feelings on abortion for a moment to consider that many women, depending where they live and economic resources available to them, will now have to hide their pregnancy until they are 100% sure they will be continuing the pregnancy for fear of legal repercussions.  In a country with already poor maternal health outcomes and lack of family support many underserved women are now going to avoid care or seek care in unsafe ways.

Please consider:

1. That the decision to terminate a pregnancy is a choice that even women with a DESIRED pregnancy must at times make depending on the health of the pregnancy, the health of the woman, and the physical ability of that woman to carry the pregnancy. 

2. Can you answer any of these questions for me? How sick does a woman have to be to legally get an abortion? How close to death must she come? How much emotional pain must she suffer before the state will allow her to terminate a pregnancy? Why is someone without a medical degree making these decisions?
   

If you live in a state where you no longer have the option to terminate a pregnancy, or if you legally can not terminate a pregnancy past a set number of weeks then women may be forced to carry a pregnancy to term that is medically not advised to be continued. For example, often genetic testing cannot confirm a genetic abnormality in a pregnancy until approximately 15-20 weeks. Yes, tests may suggest an abnormality earlier but not before 10 weeks and most women are not willing to terminate a desired pregnancy until they are certain of the results and follow up confirmatory testing is complete.  

A woman with a desired pregnancy needs the option to terminate a pregnancy just as much as a woman with an undesired pregnancy. 

Therefore the woman reading this post who is happy to be pregnant but finds out that her pregnancy is not one that can/should/or she wants to continue may now be forced to hide that pregnancy if she wants the option to travel out of state and receive the medical care she needs without fear of serious legal repercussions. 

Consider these examples:

Two common chromosomal abnormality causes of a pregnancy that is abnormal but continues to grow are Trisomy 18 and 13. These many times are picked up with Non Invasive First Trimester testing. Not all genetic concerns can be tested for in the first trimester, but these two we can sometimes uncover. Diagnostic testing is performed to confirm the accuracy of these tests and typically performed in the late first or early second trimester. 

There are also couples at risk for inherited disorders (recessive trait disorders) that have a chance of having a baby with the condition for which is passed down in their genetics. The woman or man conceiving is not affected but if a mother and father carry the same genetic trait, usually unknowingly, they have a 25% chance of having a baby with that particular disorder. We all carry recessive traits but some of us carry more severe types. Some of us then have the random luck of having a baby with a partner who carries the same trait. Often similar traits may run in certain ethnic backgrounds but even conceiving with someone from a different background does not rule out this concern. One example, SMA or spinal muscular atrophy, a disorder that gradually destroys the motor neurons which is required for activities such as walking, talking, swallowing and even breathing. ACOG reports that 1 in 40 to 1 in 60 individuals carry this trait. The children with this disorder often die by 2 years of age. Treatments exist that can extend this child’s life but often the condition is painful. Parents will now be forced to carry these pregnancies to term and watch their babies die. Maybe you think that is right, and that is your choice, but now many couples who disagree with you have NO choice. If a couple has the means to travel to a place where they can request a termination, hopefully legally and safely, they likely will now do so in secret. Many without the means will seek services in a more risky way. This couple may be happy that they waited to share the news of their pregnancy.

“In a 1976 article, researchers from the Center for Disease Control examined national abortion data from the three years surrounding the [Roe v Wade] rulings and estimated that the number of illegal procedures in the country plummeted from around 130,000 to 17,000 between 1972 and 1974. The number of deaths associated with illegal abortion decreased from 39 to five in that same time period; women who died as a result of illegal abortions typically were black, were more than 12 weeks pregnant and had self-induced in their own community. The researchers concluded that abortion services need to be improved and available more widely, especially for women at high risk for seeking illegal abortions, because “any actions which impede their access to legal abortion may increase their risk of death.” More than 40 years later, their words are a potent reminder of the dangers of restricting abortion access.”

— https://www.guttmacher.org/perspectives50/abortion-and-after-legalization ce

(Link to the 1976 article referenced above)

The New Reality For Some

I am not trying to scare you but this is our new reality. I find so often couples having their first baby are blissfully naïve and I hope that it is always so for you. I hope that this article educates you and that you never have to learn through experience. Sharing the news of your pregnancy has always been a question of timing and, now the timing is just more complicated. Some couples share the news too early or too late and look back and think, why did I do that? For others it all goes smoothly and what time they shared the news is never given a second thought. With less safe abortion access and women potentially having to travel out of state to receive the care they need as well as the risk of legal repercussions for the choices they make I believe we will see more women waiting to share their “happy” news. If women usually share the news of pregnancy at 12 weeks they may choose to delay sharing the news until 20 weeks. This means more women struggling in silence day to day and suffering the consequences of their employers not understanding what is going on in the life of their workers. Whether it’s lack of paid leave, or lack of time for women to pump breast milk the US work culture seems to pretend women do not exist.

With no support for working parents, limited paid leave options, the cost of healthcare, the cost of childcare, the additional isolation and struggle imposed on women simply seems cruel. As a women’s health care provider it feels completely ignorant of the reality of reproduction.

I hope that your pregnancy is the norm…. One in which you share the news and you watch as the amazing life inside of you grows. I wish for you a supportive employer who is understanding and flexible as your needs change. I have seen many larger companies shift in this positive direction. But what about all of the women who do not have a job and or a partner to financially support her during this time or do not work for those progressive companies that provide support?  I hope that you have a genetically normal pregnancy and do not have to make hard decisions about carrying a pregnancy to term that will not live. I hope that you dont have to face the physical risks and financial challenges of delivering that baby that may never come home with you. Most women will be fine. It is those women who really need medical care - the women with medical complications, the women with abnormal test results, black women in the south who are already threatened by elevated maternal mortality rates and racism, the women who are late to care because they are poor and underserved who are the most vulnerable that will suffer. 

This brings me back to my main point which is you need a community around you when you are pregnant and as a new parent. A community to educate you, share information, support you in access to care and decision making and hug you when it’s hard to deal. So build your community that you trust and love and, come what may, they can support you through your pregnancy no matter how long it lasts. Your broader community can wait until you are ready.

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Do you want to join the Sweet Pea Prep community and learn how to start your pregnancy off safely and thoughtfully? Take my free first trimester course Pregnant, Now What?!?!

As seen in The DC Post

Beach Time With A Baby: Safe Sunscreen Practices And How To Have (some) Fun!

Leaving the house with a baby can feel daunting let alone taking your baby on a trip to the beach. New parents will get to their first summer with a new baby and wonder “can I take my baby to the beach?” Once you decide you are going to the beach the next question is, “what type of sunscreen is ok to use on my infant? As a new parent you often have so many supplies that you feel are required to get through a day with your baby and for many it seems like more effort than it's worth to plan a beach trip with a little one in tow. You’ve got the diapers, the wipes, the breastfeeding or bottle feeding supplies, the change of clothes, the sun hat, the umbrella, the chairs, the toys…and then there is the issue of the sand and if the baby will actually sleep on the beach. If you are planning a beach nap, where and how will that happen and does that mean you will need to bring even more supplies? After all of that effort, if it goes poorly and you can not make it work, are you going to pack up and go home? Phew… it all makes me tired to think about. Having a successful beach trip with a child under 1 is possible but you have to be thoughtful. Below are my tips for a (mostly) hassle free beach trip with a baby. 

The American Academy Of Pediatrics Says To Keep Babies 6 months & Younger Out Of The Sun But Consider This…

The American Academy Of Pediatrics recommends keeping babies 6 months old or younger out of the sun. Some may interpret this as not going to places such as the beach/ocean/lake but really it just means being extra careful when bringing baby outdoors to both protect their skin, maintain their appropriate temperature and hydration. Truthfully, if you can keep a baby 3 months old or younger home I would encourage it. As you start to come out of those first three months however you will need to transition to living the life you want to live as a family and your baby is now a part of that. Spending time outdoors with your baby means shading from the sun, breathable fabrics for ventilation, ensuring proper storage and preparation of baby fluids/food, and shorter intervals spent outdoors. If you are venturing out into the world please check out my 4 tips below to consider as you prepare. 

Tips For New Parents Headed To The Beach With Baby

1. Pack Light But Smart

2. Set Expectations

3. Educate Yourself (On sunscreen rules and risks)

4. Have Fun (Keep the stress level low)

4 month old Benji site seeing in Puerto Rico in his stroller. Dont forget the fan!!

The activity you are planning and the terrain may affect what supplies you use. For example, if you are going onto the sand I would NOT bring your stroller. While carrying a baby the whole time sounds tough, I promise rolling your stroller on the sand WHILE still carrying your baby the whole time is harder.

If you are site seeing however you may find that a stroller with a shade cover is perfect. Just don’t forget to keep the air moving as it can get hot under the shade covers. Try to plan your route so you can be prepared. Will there be steps? How long is the walk? Does the location have shade already or will you need to make it yourself?

First Tip: Pack Light But Smart

What I would bring in my beach backpack

1. Yes, I said backpack 

2. Sun hat for mom/and baby

3. Carrier - to be worn. Mine is a Beco

4. Chair & Towel x 2 (and maybe an umbrella)

5. Baby Safe Sunscreen (see suggestions below)

6. Clean Water (for you to drink as well as sandy hands/eye emergencies)

7. A muslin swaddle blanket

8. Extra baby clothes

9. Diapers & Wipes

Backpack

I recommend that you pack all of your supplies for the beach in a backpack and NOT a tote bag or purse. A backpack keeps you balanced and hands free where a tote bag requires a shift in your weight to keep it on your shoulder or the use of your arms and hands. Stick with a backpack and remain comfortable and hands free. 

Step One: Put your baby carrier on first

I like the Beco Carrier. I had other carriers but used this one the most. Its soft for the wearer and baby but structured. Truthfully it fits a woman’s hips/curves really well at the waist band. Its also sturdy. The Beco in this picture was literally 7 years old when I brought it on this trip.

Sign up now to receive 10% off your first order! Free Shipping for All Orders!

Step Two: Put your backpack on second. 

Putting on the backpack second will allow you to remove and access your backpack without disturbing your baby. Need to get your keys out or a sip of water? No problem, slide off your backpack and simply use your hands while carrying the baby on your front side. 

Step Three: Wear a wide brimmed hat

A wide brimmed hat provides you with shade but will shade your baby as well. Limiting your small baby's sun exposure is important but hard to do. Instead of forcing your baby to stay under an umbrella, bring the shade to your baby so you can stay on the move. Your wide brimmed hat will shade your baby in your front wear carrier. 

Step Four: Consider baby’s clothing and use your muslin swaddle in new ways

You will want to dress your baby appropriately. You can use clothes to shield your baby from the sun but if you do be sure to pick breathable fabrics. If it is very hot outside you could put your baby in a onesie and use your muslin swaddle blanket as a shade. Muslin is a breathable cotton that serves so many purposes, one of which being a sun shade.  While your baby is in your carrier try tucking one corner of the swaddle blanket under each shoulder strap of your carrier. Leave the blanket open on the sides/bottom and let it hang down over your baby’s body and legs. You can also use your muslin as a sun shield in a variety of other settings such as over a car seat or stroller, just be sure that there is proper ventilation and air flow to your baby. Leave your breastfeeding cover at home… just use the muslin blanket if you want to cover up.

Step Five: Take A Seat

Once you get where you are going you will need somewhere to sit which may be a beach chair or a towel depending on your location and abilities. You will also need a towel that you can keep sand free for a diaper change or to lay your baby down as needed. Pick thinner towels that fit more easily in your backpack. Since your hands are free with baby on the front and a backpack on your back now you can carry a small chair in one arm! Viola! 

I love sitting under an umbrella but this often feels like a luxury unless you have some extra help or a kind friend who can help. It is possible however to find a small beach umbrella that could provide shade over a smaller area and also be light enough to carry. Look for something light weight as well.

Second Tip: Set Expectations

Benji literally napping on my legs. Not exactly footloose and fancy free… but I was having a nice time regardless.

Maybe you are a beach lover or maybe you just go to the beach occasionally. Either way if this is your first beach trip with a baby it will be different than your trips of the past. Expectations do not necessarily have to be lower, just different.

I suggest that you plan to be out for a shorter time at the beach than you might normally if you were flying solo. Don’t be shy and also be sure to take that friend offering to hold the baby up on that offer. While the above tips will help you feel more capable and successful you are never really free while at the beach with a baby so do not let it get you down.

You may be spending a bit more time than you are used to in the shade or with a human strapped to your body but that does not mean you can't enjoy your favorite beverage while sitting there, your favorite tunes or podcast while baby sleeps on your chest, or the company of your beach companions. . 

Third Tip: Sunscreen Safety

Sunscreen safety for the littlest beach goers is a common question. You do not want them to get too much sun but it is also advised not to use sunscreen on babies under 6 months old. So what are you supposed to do? The truth is that babies younger than 6 months old run the risk of absorbing too much of the chemicals in sunscreen. The goal then becomes doing what you can to avoid sun and using a minimal amount of safe sunscreen as needed. 

Here is what the FDA recommends:

Here are some things to keep in mind this summer when outside with infants younger than 6 months:

• Keep your baby in the shade as much as possible.

• Talk to your pediatrician before using any sunscreen on your baby.

• Make sure your child wears clothing that covers and protects his or her sensitive skin. If you hold the fabric against your hand and it’s sheer enough to see through it, it probably doesn’t offer enough protection.

• Make sure your baby wears a hat that provides shade to the face, neck, and ears.

• Watch your baby carefully for warning signs of sunburn or dehydration. These signs include fussiness, redness, and excessive crying.

• If your baby is becoming sunburned, get out of the sun right away and apply cold compresses to the affected areas. Call your baby’s pediatrician right away.

• Hydrate! Give your child formula or breast milk if you’re out in the sun for more than a few minutes. 

• Remember to pack a cooler to store the liquids.

Below are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

• Clothes and hats can protect skin – whenever possible, dress yourself and your children in cool, comfortable clothing that covers the body, such as lightweight cotton pants, long-sleeved shirts, and hats.

• Select clothes made with a tight weave; they protect better than clothes with a looser weave. If you’re not sure how tight a fabric’s weave is, hold it up to see how much light shines through. The less light, the better. Or you can look for protective clothing labeled with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF).

• Wear a hat with an all-around 3-inch brim to shield the face, ears, and back of the neck.

• Try to limit your sun exposure between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm when UV rays are strongest.

• Wear sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection. Look for youth-sized sunglasses with UV protection for your child.

• Seek shade for your activities whenever you can.

• Use sunscreen. Choose a sunscreen that says “broad-spectrum” on the label; that means it will screen out both UVB and UVA rays.

• If possible, choose a sunscreen with the mineral ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. If you can’t find a product with these ingredients, remember that using any sunscreen is better than using none. We don’t want anyone to sunburn since sunburning raises the risk of developing skin cancer later in life.

• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 (up to SPF 50). An SPF of 15 or 30 should be fine for most people. Research studies are underway to test if sunscreen with more than an SPF of 50 offers any extra protection.

• Apply sunscreen to parts of your child’s skin that may be exposed to the sun, even on cloudy days because the sun’s rays can penetrate through clouds. Make sure to use enough sunscreen. Reapply every 2 hours when outside, and after swimming and sweating.

• Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Find shade under a tree, an umbrella, or the stroller canopy. If it’s not possible to find shade, sunscreen may be applied to babies younger than 6 months to small areas of skin that are not covered by clothing and hats – this is because we don’t want babies to sunburn.

• Make sure everyone in your family knows how to protect their skin and eyes. Remember to set a good example by practicing sun safety yourself.

Sunscreens To Try:

Beautycounter

When you want to put a bit of sunscreen on your baby or you are breastfeeding and wondering what to use on your skin that is safe check out the Beauty Counter options HERE. They have a lengthy list of chemicals they avoid.

WhatToExpect.Com’s take on the top Type of Baby Sunscreens

What To Expect Online chose favorites based on “the recommendations from the doctors above [in their article], as well as those listed by AAP, to help choose sunscreens that are safe for babies. We also took into account sunscreen that members of the What to Expect community, as well as our editors, have tried and used for their own babies.”

Here Are Their Faves:

Best Overall: Think Baby SPF 50

Best Water-Resistant Baby Sunscreen: California Baby Super Sensitive Broad Spectrum SPF 30

And a few more highlighted for ease of application.

A sunscreen stick for the face and a lightweight or more easily absorbed option always is nice as it means less rubbing on your baby’s new skin.

Fourth Tip: Have Fun- Babies Feed Off Your Energy

It is easy to feel overwhelmed and wonder why you did this to yourself but its also important to be proud of the work you put in. My trip to Puerto Rico with a 4 month old or my first time bringing three children to the pool alone were some of my most bad ass mom moments. I have a neighborhood mom who still talks about seeing me for the first time at the pool with a baby strapped to my body and thinking “Wow!” And my point is not that I am a superhero… its that all moms are super heroes! I was lucky to have someone coach me up and now I am passing on the knowledge. 

Your baby is watching and learning. If you are worked up and flustered, they will be as well. So take a deep breath and try to celebrate the small wins. That being said I still mourn the loss of my summer life without children. Closing my eyes and listening to the waves is not an option for fear of one of my kids thinking they are Michael Phelps and not the bowling ball they are (I borrowed that dad joke from my husband… thanks Trey). Watching my kids enjoying my favorite summer activities however is a new kind of joy. 

The Next Big Thing In Child Birth Classes Is Staying Online - The Benefit Of Online Birth Class

So many elements of our lives changed when the COVID-19 pandemic started and birth classes were no different. The question now is how will we move forward? The answer to “what is the best type of birth class” now includes a longer list of options. I am suggesting that there is a benefit to online birth classes that we should not forget.

When COVID hit we were inspired to find new ways to accomplish our goals, we used both our creativity and technology to come up with solutions to our challenges. We found out that we could accomplish more with less and what it means to be together while being apart. We also put new emphasis on certain aspects of our lives that had previously fallen by the wayside. Many began to place a higher value on short commutes or working from home and time spent with the ones we love. Many women (and men) made decisions to work less and stay home with children more. While others moved back in with parents after spending time living on their own.

Birth classes changed as well. I scrambled like many to put my classes online in March 2020 and found both many challenges and benefits in that process. The graph below from Coursera shows the incredible rise in online learning, and the learning online online only increased in 2021. As time went on , like many, I improved upon my virtual offerings. And now, in May 2022 I feel that we are at another transformation where we have to decide what our next steps will look like. Will we revert back to the way it had been before or will we take what we have learned and continue to grow? I make the argument below to learn and grow when it comes to birth classes. Below are my 7 reasons you should consider an online birth class and vs an in person offering.

Prefer to WATCH me talk about the benefits of online birth classes, in particular pre recorded online birth classes? Check out my Instagram Live Video at the above link. Follow me @sweetpeaprep for ongoing info and updates in the world of birth education.

What I Know That Couples Don’t Know

Couples attending birth classes are doing everything for the first time. They are learning about a whole new world of birth and early parenting and navigating options in classes in a field of study that they previously had never given thought to. Long story short… this is not my first rodeo. I have educated likely hundreds if not thousands of couples over the years and in a variety of settings. I know the questions you will ask before you ask them. I know what media you are consuming and how it can stir up fear and doubt and I can relate to your quest for the best birth possible.

I also know that there are many people out there promising things, selling things, and there are more books to read than there is time. My recommendations for an online class vs in person is based in years of experience and in wanting what is best for the couples I encounter. I also selfishly want what is best for the obstetrics and gynecology community in totality… a group of providers (midwives, doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners) that care deeply about their patients and respects both your body and the process of birth. So often, classes can create divisiveness and mistrust between the medical community and the delivering patients. Whether you are cared for by a midwife or doctor you are CARED for and the trust between you and your provider is essential for a great birth.

So lets jump in…..

With all of this in mind regarding what you know and what you don’t know as well as where the COVID pandemic has taken us as a community let’s talk about why you should still be taking your birth classes online.

7 Reasons Why An Online Class For Birth Prep Is Beneficial

1. Self paced:

Pre recorded online classes such as what Sweet Pea Prep offers allow you to stop and start your content whenever you want. I remember teaching full day classes to couples on Saturdays. They would wake up early and sit all day listening to me talk. And yes, we would break the content up…. but it was a long day. I can still see the partner who fell asleep, and the shifting in chairs of the uncomfortable pregnant person. At hope you can take breaks, stretch, get a snack or just do a little bit at a time. In person classes require you to decide between multiple sessions which is inconvenient and an all day session that is exhausting and limits your retention of knowledge.

2. Easily digestible sections:

You are a lot more likely to remember info when you have a chance to absorb it. Think of it like reading an entire textbook in one day vs reading a chapter and then taking a test on that information. When you are preparing for birth you are learning a totally new subject matter and then trying to understand how it applies to you and how you feel about it. This information is a vital part of you having the best birth possible.

3. Re-watch if you need to:

in person you just get what you get. Zoom sessions are often awkward - I think we can all agree on that. My pre recorded classes were a conscious choice. Many people don’t realize this but pre pandemic I was already researching online platforms for my classes. I knew that online pre recorded sessions were a more beneficial option for my patients. The pandemic simply pushed me to get it done. I want you to be able to watch and re-watch content and that is exactly what couples in my classes have told me that they have done. They report pausing the class, talking about a topic, and then restarting. I have also had couples report watching a session multiple times to better understand a concept.

4. Comfort of being home vs stuffy group class:

Being pregnant is uncomfortable and sitting in a classroom whether its in a chair, on the floor, even with cushions is challenging. I will never forget one patients negative review of my in person class. It stood out to me so strongly because it had NOTHING to do with my class and was ONLY about the discomfort she experienced in the chair she was sitting in. I dont want to discredit her complaint… because clearly she felt strong enough to write it up but REALLY?!?! I digress…. The point is that she could not even focus on the great content she was getting because her butt was sore. HAHA. Just stay home… on your couch…. in your jammies… with your loved one…. and your big water bottle and put those fee up while you learn your little heart out. : )

5. Consistent teacher and style as well as Consistent content:

Signing up for an in person class is kind of a risky move when you think about it. You may be sold on the website, the class description, the resources used, but who is the teacher showing up that day? Will she be engaging, knowledgeable and leave you feeling that your time and money was well spent? Maybe…. maybe not. Taking a pre- recorded class there is no risk of a substitute teacher or even your teacher having a bad day. I always did my best as a teacher but I taught classes not feeling my best at times, or immediately post the birth of my third child when I needed to pump and was exhausted. Its very possible that you are going to have a more comprehensive course and consistent course when pre recorded as your teacher (me) has been able to ensure every important nugget of info was included. There are also less time restrictions so I can make sure you get what you need and not just what fits into the time allotted.

6. Same access to your teacher for questions:

I have taught my class so many times to so many people that I often answer the questions before you ask them. When I taught in person I would get questions but the answer was always…. that is coming up in the new few slides. You can also always reach out with questions!

7. Class was never about community:

So many couples sign up for a birth class imagining that they will meet other couples having babies and honestly that is just not what it is about. You can join a support group, a baby and me exercise class, you can do a meet up in your neighborhood but your birth class is about learning how to safely and positively get your baby out of your body. When classes went virtual I would hear comments like “we would have liked to do it in person,” or “we really missed out on meeting other couples.” Guys…. you missed nothing. What you need to ensure before having a baby is that you have the knowledge and the support you need to make one of the most important transitions in your life. Community is important but learning how to breastfeed and community does not have to happen at the same time. I would argue that it should NOT happen at the same time. There is a lot to learn and most couples are woefully underprepared not even realizing the things they do not know.

In Conclusion:

A patient once gave me feedback saying “its not often that you learn something completely new as an adult, and your class taught me something totally new.” And I believe this brings up a great point that there is much to learn, and you will never know it all. So learn the facts as best you can and in the best way possible that gives you the opportunity to ask questions and build trust with your care providers.

Check out my free class: How To Choose A Birth Class

This class was designed as an introduction to online birth education.

As always please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Lisa

What To Do When Your "Baby Hates To Be Swaddled" - The Best Infant Swaddle Is Not What You Think

Swaddling helps your baby to feel like he or she is back in the womb, and a snug swaddle can not only soothe a crying baby but also help keep your baby asleep for longer. Swaddling is both a blanket for warmth as well as a technique for soothing. Every so often however I meet a parent who says that their baby does not like to be swaddled and I have a few thoughts I would like to share with you that might explain what is going on. I also want to share a few of my favorite products for soothing your baby and swaddling as well as my instructional video on how to safely swaddle a baby with a traditional swaddle blanket. d

Why does my baby act like s/he does not like the swaddle?

I would like to remind you that while babies are very smart, and smarter than we often give them credit, they are still just babies who have so much to learn. They have a voice and can tell you what they do not like with their cries but they do not understand yet what is best for them. Simply put, some babies fight the swaddle because they are overtired and grumpy, while some babies are simply showing their personality.

Swaddle they told you…

Your baby may act like they hate the swaddle but I suspect they are simply trying to tell you something.

When your baby fights the swaddle consider these things:

Is your baby overheated?

Overheating is a general concern for your baby’s comfort but can also increase your baby’s risk of SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome. Read about risk factors for SIDS and how to reduce those risks HERE. Check the temperature of the room where your baby is sleeping and ask yourself if you would be comfortable in the room in what the baby is wearing and consider that the swaddle blanket is an extra layer. I recommend having swaddles in a variety of fabrics/thickness to help provide a range of temperature options. Is it hot? maybe your baby will wear a onesie and a muslin swaddle to bed. Is it cold? Put him in a zip up footed sleeper with a fleece swaddle.

Is your baby sick?

Figuring out why your baby is crying can be a challenge but is especially tough in the first three months as a new parent. During these early months you must constantly asses why your baby is crying and how you can help them but do not yet have a handle on the cues your baby is showing you. If your baby feels hot check their temperature. Is your baby eating and voiding as expected? Does something seem to be bothering your baby? Your baby may be fighting the swaddle because something is wrong. If so please be sure to involve your pediatric provider.

Does your baby need to sleep?

I remember with my first child feeling like I was constantly sweating. I as working so hard to soothe her because I could not tell what she wanted. With every cry I would feed her, change her diaper, and try to put her to sleep. I wish someone would have told me to chill out. Consider your baby’s sleeping patterns and how long she has been awake. If your newborn has been awake for 2 hours and is now fussy I would feed her and then actively put her to sleep. If she fusses when you swaddle her but you know that she really should be asleep then your swaddle will serve as a teaching tool for your baby. She may fight it initially but most babies eventually will give in and go to sleep. Eventually your baby will start to understand when it is time to sleep and even associate the swaddle with sleep. Babies do not often follow a schedule but as you gain the basic knowledge of infant development related sleep patterns and expectations you can help encourage your baby to sleep in the amounts and times expected. Babies often act like they don’t want to go to sleep even when they are tired. Babies need help learning how to go to sleep. As a parent its your job to teach them.

Book Recommendation

I love the book Baby 411 by Denise Fields and Ari Brown as it provides quick answers for parents who want to know things like, “my baby is 3 months old, how much should they be sleeping?” While your baby is crying in the bed next to you, you do not need a textbook. You need answers. Your goal is not to become a sleep expert but to be the expert when it comes to your baby.

How long has your baby been in the swaddle (during the day and over the months)?

You will want to be sure that your baby has time out of their swaddle to stretch and use their arms, head and neck. If you are actively napping your baby then swaddle them and when your baby is awake then allow them to move freely. It is ok to swaddle your baby overnight as the swaddle serves to limit the newborn startle reflex which often wakes a sleeping baby. Think of swaddling as an active part of your sleep routine for baby. Not allowing your baby to startle and wake up will help baby stay asleep until the newborn startle reflex begins to fade around 2-4 months. Swaddles are snug around the arms for this purpose. This 2-4 month time frame is also when babies may start to roll. At this point you should stop swaddling to ensure your baby has their arms available to help them support their head and roll on to their back.

Babies Need Soothing

Babies do more than just eat, poop, and sleep…. they CRY too! In all seriousness babies need soothing. So when your baby freaks out when first put into the swaddle consider that he may just need some calming. Some babies will calm easier than others just like some adults calm easier than others. Parents can learn some really helpful tricks though to provide an infant with soothing that makes sense to a baby. Pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp has taught his technique of soothing babies for years through his Happiest Baby On The Block program which teaches the 5 S’s: swaddle, side-stomach position, shush, swing, and suck. I encourage you to learn all of these techniques to help learn how to soothe a baby, but as you can see swaddling is one of the tools that can be helpful. Have you all seen the Snoo? This device is pretty great. It was designed to replicate the womb as taught by Dr. Harvey Karp and his 5 S technique. The Snoo was Dr. Karps way of helping out a parent by creating a machine that could do a bit of the swinging, shushing, and swaddling for you. This bassinet does not take away all of the work of course but it will give your arms a break every now and again.

These bassinets are great for those early months primarily but can be pricey to purchase. Now you can also RENT the Snoo!

Rent Your SNOO for a Few Dollars a Day

Check out the Happiest Baby Blog for lots of amazing tips and info on soothing your baby.

Lets Swaddle

Watch my video on how to swaddle and try it out. Be sure to keep the blanket away from the face and snug around the arms to ensure that your baby really feels soothed and does not come out of the swaddle. A baby may fuss and break free from the swaddle simply because it is not tight enough around their upper body. Be sure however to give them room to kick and stretch their legs.

Learn How to Swaddle Your Baby - Watch me and then try it out! Swaddle a doll or even a pillow if your baby has not yet arrived.

Lets Talk Personality

Some babies just fuss. Some babies cry a lot. If this is your baby then I am sorry but please know it will continue to change and improve with time. My middle child is sensitive…. he has a wide range of emotions and feels the good and bad of life strongly. When he is mad the whole house knows, and when he is happy you have never seen a bigger smile. When he was a baby he cried a ton. Colic was one explanation, but as you read more you start to realize that the term colic is simply a fancy way of saying “sensitive.” Check out Johns Hopkins page on Colic and you will understand the significance of a “sensitive” infant. When I look back on the early days with my middle child I remember thinking “whoa, why is he so upset?” I worked so hard every day to soothe him and it didn’t always work. He was having a hard time adjusting to the world around him and it was not because I was failing as a parent or because he hated swaddles… its just who he is. I have a new perspective on “colic” now as my beautiful boy is 7 and a very happy guy but a person who still at times has trouble adjusting to the world around him. I now realize his crying as an infant was him telling me how BIG his feelings were.

So Now What?

Your baby is crying and still acting like s/he does not like the swaddle so what are you suppose to do?

1. Make sure your baby is not crying for another reason - illness, hunger, dirty diaper, too hot/cold, positioning

2. Decide if it is really time for your baby to sleep

3. If it is definitely sleep time then swaddle your baby (assuming they are in the age appropriate range for swaddling)

4. Learn how to soothe your baby - I suggest the Happiest Baby techniques

5. If your baby has he-man strength or you simply are just not a very good swaddler then check out all of the swaddling options. Borrow from friends before investing or just open one pack and return the extras if they are not helpful for your baby.

6. Try a variety a styles to find the ones you like and consider not only size but material for the time of year in which your baby will be wearing the swaddle. For example - if your baby is born in the summer then there is likely not a point in having a fleece swaddle in a newborn size. Consider however the temperature of where the baby will be sleeping.

Check out some of my favorite swaddle blankets below!

HALO Sleep Sacks -

They come in a variety of colors, materials, and sizes, they are easy to use and wash. As your baby grows out of the swaddle they make options without the tight wrap that are wearable blankets. When purchasing stick with swaddles under 6 month size and sleep sacks only for over 6 months.

Find Great Gift Ideas at HALO Sleep That Is Sure to Make Every Parent Happy.

Here is a great fleece option for colder rooms and months: A unisex option in cotton: And a sweet one in rainbows!! Guys I cant deal with how cute these are!!

Check out the NEW exciting The Harry Potter Collection at HALO Sleep

Aiden And Anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets -

Aiden and Anais makes beautiful muslin swaddle blankets and sleep sacks and swaddles. I love muslin because it is breathable and the blankets are so multipurpose. Not only does a muslin blanket serve as a swaddle but you can use it as a burp cloth, sun shade, breastfeeding cover and more. Not to mention they are so pretty!

Aden & Anais Spring Sales Event: 20% Off Sitewide. Use Code SPRING20

Take advantage of this spring time offer by purchasing directly from Aiden & Anais through 4/1/22!! A few of my faves are listed below.

cotton muslin swaddle 4 pk trail blooms

I love the creative prints like this wonder woman print, the essentials cotton muslin swaddle wonder woman power pop . Dont get me wrong, I am a sucker for a baby girl in bows and pinks like the essentials cotton muslin swaddle 4 pk briar rose but as a feminist I support having a few of these in your drawer as well. I love the Superman™ essentials cotton muslin swaddle 2 pk as well! They offer the boys a classic option like, essentials cotton muslin swaddle 4 pk dapper but they also offer creative patterns like Harry Potter™ iconic cotton muslin swaddle 4 pk and this one... the silky soft muslin swaddle 3 pk indigo shibori . Lastly, check out this essentials easy swaddle™ wrap 3 pk dino-rama, 0-3 months for additional swaddling option from Aiden & Anais.

Magic Merlin Sleepsuit -

This suit is not for the newborn but for the 3-6 month baby who is still needing that soothing snuggle. It looks a little crazy I know but it can be great for some babies.

Hang in there. If you are desperately reading this post because your baby wont sleep be sure to talk with your pediatrician, and utilize your support network. New parents need help and they need a break! Have a friend watch your baby while you take a nap because I know you need it. Well rested parents are happier parents and more patient parents. Happy Swaddling!!

A FREE Checklist To Prepare Your Home For Baby

Wondering where to begin as you get your home ready for a new baby? This checklist should get you off to a good start.

It’s hard to imagine what life will look like once your baby is born. I hope this Preparing For Baby Checklist is a helpful tool as you get your home ready for your little one! This list is intended to set you on your way to a more confident start. Transitioning to the role of parent is hard, so let’s make the rest as simple as possible.  The truth is that babies do not need much…. Diapers, a safe place to sleep, and a car seat are the real must haves… so don't overthink it. Let the list guide you but think of these recommendations as guidance and understand that different families and babies will need different things. 

Consider your choices under the umbrella of aiming to make life easier whenever you can. When you have a new baby convenience translates to more time with your family and a more gentle relationship with your partner and support network. When you have to choose between spending time with your child and errands, sending emails, scrolling through Instagram…. ALWAYS choose your child. Lastly, thank goodness for Amazon prime… don’t forget you can always order what you need later. : )

Free Checklist - 10 Essential Tips To Prepare Your Home

Signup now and I will send you a PDF checklist of my 10 Essential Tips To Prepare Your Home For Baby. 

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Want more help on how to choose a birth class? Check out this blog post!

40 Weeks Pregnant & Wondering What The Deal Is With Birth Stories? - Here Is One Way to Document Your Own

A birth story is the telling of a birth experience, and a way for many women to document the birth of their baby. A birth story means putting pen to paper or fingers to keys to tell the story of how the baby got out of your body. You may think that telling your birth story is gimmicky, cheesy, or even odd but there is a solid reason so many women discuss, and document their births. Women tell/share/write their birth stories as a part of the healing process in the postpartum stage.

So, why is your birth worth writing about? What is all the fuss about and why would you care to read someone else’s story? Birth is a transformative physical and mental experience and often women come out on the other side with both amazement and questions. Amazement for what they were able to physically do with their body and questions about how it unfolded. Writing the story of your birth can help you to not only remember the experience but process what happened to you. There is a reason people say “if we did not forget our birth we may not have a second child.” Biology is no joke. Working through your sadness, joy and your memories and details helps you process the events and focus on the beauty of the experience. Some things you quickly forget after birth might be words said, positions you were in, decisions made, who was in the room and more! As you hold your baby it all feels worth it and you know you would do it all over again to have your little person with you. Maybe you had the birth you expected, maybe it was completely different than your plan. The experience, either way, made you a mother and you are now changed forever because of it. Writing your birth story may help you figure out if the process could have been different or simply help you remember the joy forever.

Speaking of working through your birth experience…

So often I find that depression and sadness come from a place of unmet expectations. Some of my patients who have the lowest expectations (ex: “I am going to hate breastfeeding and probably wont last,” “being a mom sounds really hard,” or “I don’t care so much about how the baby comes out”) are the ones that often find extreme joy in their new transformation. Most new moms, even if they intellectually understand that breastfeeding will be a learning process, beat themselves up when it doesn’t work asking themselves, why couldn’t I do it? Some women tell themselves things like, “if I had not been induced” or “only waited to get my epidural I wouldn’t have had a cesarean.” Don’t get me wrong, its great to have a plan and set goals so you can work towards those goals proactively, but being flexible and open minded when bringing your baby into the world allows you to focus on the simple joys of meeting your baby and realizing the amazing strength within you.  

Back to our regularly scheduled program….

Do you ever wonder why women share very detailed sometimes scary facts about their own birth experience with expectant women? Its because women are eager to share their experience and revel in the awe filled intensity. The message is not always delivered in the best way (in my opinion) as they themselves may not fully understand why they share the information. The truth is that with each gritty detail they are trying to say: birth is both intense and beautiful, it is tear evoking and joyful AND I am a bad ass who is way tougher than I could have ever imagined!

You are about to go through your own transition and there is no way to predict the future or to fully explain the depth of the childbirth experience so women share their own stories. Think of birth stories as a written version of that birth video you are too scared to watch. I encourage you to read the stories of other women as you prepare for your own birth. I distinctly remember holding my baby for the first time and thinking, “ohhh this is what they are talking about.” You will soon be one of the many who have gone through this life changing process. Reading birth stories will give you context for your own experience and a connectedness to a broader community of women who have chosen to become birthing mothers.

For those just getting started on a pregnancy journey, below is one idea for how to document your experience in pregnancy and birth in book format. When I first created a book for my first child I imagined my daughter reading it one day but as I look back on each book created I find it is more for myself… at least for now.

This is how I made my birth books:

1.       Create a private blog through your google account. I didn’t want anyone else stumbling across my inner most thoughts. The blog allows you to keep your entries online and all in one place.

2.       Write each entry as its own separate blog post. I chose to write an entry approximately every month in my pregnancy and then documented my birth story a few weeks after each birth. I uploaded my bump pics and any relevant photos to the appropriate posts. You could do a post for your baby shower, pictures of the baby blanket you are making, and things like photos of a dear friend coming over to help you get ready for baby or a babymoon trip. You could even take a photo of yourselves watching your Sweet Pea Prep birth classes! ; )

3.       When all the entries are done you will want to go back and edit them for spacing and appearance and put the titles in that you like. These titles will become the titles of each section of your book.

4.       I then used a service that turns your blog into a book. The platforms will allow you to directly upload the content and edit to make your book just the way you like it.

5. Then you purchase the book and it is mailed to you house!

Maybe you don’t want to create a book….there are so many creative ways to tell your birth story. Maybe you would rather write a letter to your baby or you could create a framed print to remember the experience. You also don’t have to be creative at all… you could simply send yourself an email that you can look back at when you feel like it. I simply encourage you to process the experience, both the highs and the lows. Remember how brave you were, how beautiful your baby was, how supportive your partner was (or something silly they did), and how surprised and amazed you were by your strength as a new mom!

Want to create a pregnancy journal? Check out my Journal Templates

Online Classes Begin As Group Classes Pause Due to COVID-19

COVID-19 is disrupting all of our daily schedules and social norms. Anxiety around health and wellness has never been higher in my lifetime. Women are afraid and need birth education more than ever to reduce their fear and anxiety but with social distancing being part of our foreseeable future how will couples get the answers to the questions that they need? I have been planning to put my courses online for several years but the timing never seemed quite right, until now. 

I had my third baby 1 year ago and life has been flying by at a rapid pace and most days I am just trying to keep up. Maybe it is the start or spring or simply that life shifts when your baby turns one but I am ready to come up for air. I am finally able to look around and assess my life and the world around me. What I see unfortunately are all in person gatherings such as birth classes being cancelled due to the coronavirus and so many unknowns regarding this virus for  pregnant women. Most information from the CDC suggests there are no increased concerns for pregnant women/babies but they also describe in depth how much they do NOT know. As a provider the only advice I can give women is to avoid illness as much as possible with social distancing and hand washing. 

Traditionally couples will attend birth classes in an office or hospital group setting but social distancing makes this impossible. You could search for answers to your questions on the internet but we all know how that goes. The internet is a strange and scary place for pregnant women. At Sweet Pea Prep we do not know when group classes will resume and when classes resume will couples even feel comfortable in a group class setting. If you find yourself in this category I encourage you to check out our online classes at sweetpeaprep.teachable.com as I have recently created online versions of my Birthing Basics and Breastfeeding classes (stay tuned for more).

I am excited to reach and help more women during this uncertain time through this online format and am looking forward to what the future of online classes will bring for my community. As a way to say thank you to my early online class adopters and alleviate some of the financial stress that has come with the coronavirus pandemic I am offering a $20 off discount code (LAUNCHDAY) to be used towards my online classes.

Use LAUNCHDAY for the next 48 hours to get $20 off (expires 3/24/20 at midnight)

Already attended classes with us, please tell your expectant friends about this new offering. I hope you like the classes! 

Sincerely, 

Lisa Holloway RN, MSN, WHNP

Founder of Sweet Pea Prep

P.S. I would love to hear your ideas for a women’s health related online class that you would be interested in taking. Please comment below with your class ideas!!

Check out my newer post on the benefits of online birth classes! HERE