​Health Benefits:

Kale: 1 Cup of Kale or 2.4 oz (2-3 Leaves) contains Daily Value diet percentages: 206% Vitamin A, 684% Vitamin K, 134% Vitamin C, 9% Vitamin B6, 26% Manganese, 9% Calcium, 10% Copper, 9% Potassium, 6% Magnesium, 3%+/ - Iron, Vitamin B1, B2. & B3. High in antioxidants, anti inflammatory, lowers cholesterol, high in minerals. 

Swiss Chard: 1 Cup of Swiss Chard contains Daily Value diet percentages: 214% Vitamin A, 53% Vitamin C, 17% Vitamin E, 716% Vitamin K, 10% Calcium, 14% Copper, 38% Magnesium, 29% Manganese, 22% Iron, 27% Potassium. High in antioxidants, loaded with fiber. 

Celery: Packed with 12 antioxidants including vitamin C and beta carotene and approximately 25 anti inflammatory compounds this vegetable supports digestion, reduces blood pressure.

Baby Spinach: Excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C and folate as well as being a good source of manganese, magnesium, iron and vitamin B2.  Includes health promoting beta carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Can help lower glucose levels.

Cucumber: Great for hydration this vegetable is 96% water, but also contains Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Manganese, and Potassium. It also contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties and can also reduce blood sugar. 

Apple: Rich in fiber, vitamins C, and potassium and manganese, they also contain antioxidants and small traces of calcium, iron, vitamin A, B, and E . 

Lemon: 1 lemon provides 51% daily intake value of vitamin C and contains soluble fiber. 

Creature Comforts
 
Best Meal Kits for New Parents
 
Streaming Service Gift Guide: What to Give Beyond Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon

6 Top Food Boxes for the Holidays and Beyond
 
Keep Them Warm: Look to Rakuten  to Find Cozy Pajamas or Slippers


5 Self-Care Massage Tools Everybody Should Own

Around-the-House Helpers
 
The Best Robot Vacuums for Every Home and Budget
 
9 Reasons Why the Instant Pot is Perfect for Busy Moms

A Doorbell Camera So Don't Have to Get Up to Check the Door
 
7 Smart Home Gifts that Even Renters Will Love
 
Hire a Housekeeper to Help Keep Clutter Low and Sanity High
 
Partner-to-Partner Gifting

Best Wine Subscription and Boxes for When It’s Time to Wind Down
 
A Hands-Free Pumping Bra So She Can Multi-Task
 
Straight to the Wish List: The Best Smartwatches for Mums

A LeTote Subscription to Boost Their Wardrobe
 
The Best Weighted Blankets for People Who Are Always Cold
 
Other Gifts
 
The Best Things to Do for a New Mom
 
5 Reasons Why Aromatherapy is a New Mom’s Best Friend
 
17 Stress Relief Christmas Gifts for Mom
 
30 Unique Gifts That Both Dogs and Their Humans Will Love

The 13 Best Sleep Gadgets to Help You Fall Asleep Faster
A holiday gift doesn’t have to be expensive to be meaningful, especially when it comes to new parents who want a good nap and a proper meal more than they want anything fancy. Instead of going all-out buying presents for new parents (or presents for baby disguised as gifts for them!) focus this year’s holiday gift giving on simple, affordable presents that make a big difference in the daily lives of exhausted new parents.
 
Image via Unsplash
​

I originally started this post in April 2019 but haven't had time to finish it till now. Life is so busy and its hard to keep up but the time is flying by so quickly that I want to make sure that I post about these months before they are a distant memory. Kenna is growing so fast and learning so quickly I want to make sure I remember these moments and be able to share them with our friends, family, and other moms out there that are following our story.

SLEEPING:
Kenna stayed in her bassinet/co-sleeper in our bedroom till she was 4 months, which is right around the time she started to roll over onto her stomach and was getting too long for the bassinet. I felt this was a good time to move her into the crib which this is also where we transitioned her to the sleep sack instead of swaddling her. Kenna’s nursery was barely used in the first 3 months, it was more for diaper storage and where we stored her clothes. The transition from bassinet to crib overall was very easy, I don’t think the baby even noticed, which I was a bit sad about. Thankfully, we were blessed with a baby that LOVES to sleep, but we have also kept her on a routine that she is familiar with and she would go to sleep at 6pm like it was clockwork. Kenna would only have 2 naps during the day, roughly an hour for each, once around 10am and her second nap around 1pm. Kenna started sleeping 10+ hour stretches at 6 months and it was bliss! 6pm - 6am was her schedule and very rarely would she wake in the middle of the night. However, Kenna didn’t start sleeping through the night (6+ hours or more) without a feeding till she was 6 months. I didn’t try to drop the nightly feeding because my milk supply wasn’t producing as much as I would like to. Our nightly routine started at 5:30pm, we would start with a bath, we would read a book, and then I would put her in the sleep sack. I would turn on lullaby radio on Alexa as well as turn on her white noise machine and I would nurse her on the Boppy and shortly after she would fall asleep and I would transition her to the crib. We have black out film on the windows so even at 5:30pm there is no light that could peek through the windows. I never had to sleep train Kenna, however, it's now biting us in the butt now with month 9. Instead of turning the heat on for our entire house we invested in a Dyson air purifier that has a heating and cooling feature too. I love it because I can set the temperature automatically and it will turn on and off as needed, you are also able to control the unit with the app that also monitors the humidity in the room. We live next to the ocean so we don't have a problem with the air being too dry so I hardly ever used her humidifier. 

FEEDING:
My goal is to breastfeed for 1 year and I honestly didn’t know how rewarding as well as demanding it was going to be. My supply isn't consistent, but Kenna is happy and healthy and that is all that really matters but I constantly worry about my supply of milk and if she is getting enough. The maximum I can pump in the evenings is 4.5 oz. but that was only on a good day, and before bed I usually pumped 3-4oz. I didn't pump in the middle of the night which is why I probably struggled with my breast milk supply but thankfully I never felt the need to supplement. When Kenna turned 10 months I had to switch her to formula, I just wasn't making enough milk and started to mix breast milk in with the formula to get her used to the taste. Kenna started with eating rice cereal with pumped breast milk and purees around 4.5 months. With the rice cereal I would mix in the Ready Set Foods powder that consists of Milk, Egg, and Peanut to reduce the allergies. For purees I started off with veggies such as spinach, baby kale, sweet potato, butternut squash, and artichoke that I would steam and puree for her. After a few weeks of veggies I then introduced fruits like banana, apples, and pears. Feeding Kenna with the spoon was very messy, after some research I then discovered the sippy tops with the twist pouches I use for breast milk which was genius because Kenna started to feed herself. If I didn't use homemade purees I really like the brand HappyBaby, EarthsBest, and Once Upon A Farm for food pouches. 

PLAYING:
I signed up for LoveEvery, they have such wonderful kits based on Montessori methods of child development on what they should be learning and focusing on. Each kit is based on 1-2 months of development. The Jolly Jumper was gifted to us and it kept everyone entertained for at least 10-15 minutes.  Overall Kenna is a happy baby and its been a joy watching her grow. 

​

Happy Holidays!!!! 2018 flew by! So did Kenna's 4th Trimester! This week Kenna turns 4 months and she is no longer a new born! She is learning and growing which makes me excited about all the milestones she has been hitting and a bit sad because she is no longer a newborn. This is Kenna's FIRST Christmas, so I have been making a list and checking it twice! Here is my First Time Mom Holiday Checklist!

DISCLOSURE: The affiliated links that are listed in this blog post means at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if clicked on and purchased.

​​Baby Gifts (0-12 Months)
This year I started Christmas shopping early, but toys for babies in general are hard to come by because babies don’t need a lot to be entertained when they are little. Quite honestly, I would rather invest money into her 529 education account.  You can get great deals on Prime Day/Black Friday/Cyber Monday, but here are some great ideas to gift your little one or someone else's little one! 

Christmas Decor & Tree
I am slowly building up my Christmas decor around the house. This is the 2nd Poe Family Christmas and Kenna's First Christmas, although artificial trees are easy to put up every year, growing up in my family we always had a REAL tree! This year, Amazon sold LIVE TREES from Hallmark to be delivered straight to your door, this required a preorder in November. I paid $110, the last few years I had used a local service in San Diego called Pinery Christmas Trees that charged me about $160, so I saved $50 this year. The pictures below show the Hallmark tree in the box, the tree undecorated out of the box, the tree decorated in the day light, and the tree light up at night time. My tree decor is a mixture of items purchased from Michaels, CB2, Pier 1, Amazon, and Pottery Barn. ​Below is the image of large cork board of a "P" I made with A LOT of corks I saved up through the years, it's where I post all our holiday cards we get in the mail from friends and family and where I hang our stockings from Pottery Barn.

Family Holiday Pictures and Santa!!!!
2018 was the first year we got to take family pictures for our holiday card and also pictures with Santa! I am very fortunate to personally know two amazing photographers in San Diego that I will use EVERY year. Walter Wilson Studios who also did our wedding photography did an amazing job capturing our first family photo and Michelle Mattox Photography who took the adorable Santa photos with Kenna as well as took Kenna's Fresh48, Newborn, and Milestone pictures.

Holiday Cards & Newsletter
Over the last three years I have been using Shutterfly for all my announcements and holiday cards. We used one of the family pictures above for our Christmas card this year and another NEW tradition is our family holiday newsletter which you can download underneath the picture. 

*Use the link in the post for 25% OFF your order with Code: 25OFF2018

Christmas Parties
Now that Kyle and I are parents, we need to schedule our Christmas Parties way ahead of time with a babysitter. Thankfully we have our family that live in San Diego and Orange County. We also have a great part time nanny we can rely on as a backup. Be prepared for themed holiday parties whether its ugly sweater, cocktail attire, grinch theme, or holiday disco!

Lastly, Holiday Cookies!!!!
My favorite food blogger that also just so happens to be based in San Diego is Whitney Bond!!! Not only is she a great friend of mine but she has the most AMAZING recipes! Tis the season to bake! My ultimate favorite cookie recipe is from Whitney, just head over to her blog to print or view these delicious cookies!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups with Nutella® Hazelnut Spread

Photo Credits: Michelle Mattox Photography & Design

Wanted to give some of friends, family, and readers a sneak peak of Kenna's nursery. The theme is neutral (grays and creams), calm, and cozy! Its literally my favorite room in the house and I enjoy spending time using the rocking chair even when she hasn't even arrived yet! Her room is ready to go and now we are just waiting for her arrival! I thought I would share some of my favorite items and how I organized her dresser. 

Glider / Recliner: Best Chair Storytime Bilana in Granite ($499) 
Throw Blanket on Glider: Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw ($147)
Hampers: Sedona Grey Hamper and Hamper Liner Crate and Barrel ($129 Each)
Storage Cubbies: Better Homes and Gardens 6 Cube Organizer Rustic Gray ($85) 
Storage Bins: Crate & Barrel Kids Alphanumeric Cube Bins ($15 Each)
​Dresser: Ikea Hemnes 8 Drawer Dresser in Dark Gray ($279)
​Changing Pad: Hatch Baby Grow Smart Changing Pad & Scale ($129.99)
Wipe Warmer: Hiccapop Wipe Warmer and Baby Wet Wipes Dispenser with Changing Light ($35)
Diaper Pail: Ubbi Diaper Pail in White ($69.99)
Essential Oils Diffuser and Humidifier: Pilgrim Collection Teo Aroma ($80)
Baby Monitor/Camera: Arlo Baby Monitor ($199)
Infant Oxygen and Heart Rate Monitor: Owlet Sock 2 ($299)
Wall Decor: WallPops Silver Confetti Dot Decals ($34)
Dresser Storage Organizers: mDesign Soft Fabric Organizer Set of 6 ($27.99 Each)
Co Sleeper: Arms Reach Clear Vue ($149.99)
Crib (Not Pictured): Babyletto Hudson 3 to 1 Convertible Crib with Toddler Conversion Kit ($379)

The primary regulator of newborn sleep is frequent nourishment. Infant Sleep Cycles: Lots of light sleep & wake easily between cycles. In the few weeks of life baby will sleep 15-18 Hours per Day. Baby sleeps in utero 20 out of 24 hours. Babies who typically have long stretches of awake time during the day (3+ hours consecutive) appear to have more disjointed sleep and short  sleep stretches. Babies who sleep beside their breastfeeding mothers wake up more often through the night but mothers get more overall sleep. 

Professional Views on Bed Sharing:

• http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/119/1/e200
• https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/t0112-safe-sleep-babies.html
• https://cosleeping.nd.edu/
• http://www.attachmentparenting.org/infantsleepsafety/

These are my favorite go to items for newborn sleep based on this book and sleep training philosophy:

Arms Reach Clear Vue Co Sleeper sits next to my bed side so baby has a designated area to sleep in. Plus it has tons of storage to store diapers, burp cloths, breast pump and other items that make it easy to access next to me keeping baby in that sleepy state for middle of the night feedings and diaper changes.

Sound Bub White Noise Machine provides a handful of relaxing white noise sounds such as ocean waves, and rainfall, and also acts as a bluetooth speaker to play music such as Nuryl  a high information music app that promotes brain development.

Night Nursing Light is a dim soft glow night light that clips to your nursing bra for nighttime feedings. Also has a vibration timer for 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes that will keep you alert so you don't fall asleep during late night feedings and keeps track of how long you were nursing. 

Owlet Smart Sock 2  tracks your baby's heart rate and oxygen levels while they sleep using clinically-proven pulse oximetry, and be notified if something appears to be wrong. The Smart Sock connects to a base station that glows green letting you know everything is okay, but uses lights, sounds and app notifications if heart rate or oxygen levels are too high or too low. Parents can sleep better and have less anxiety knowing they’ll be made aware if levels go outside of preset zones.

Coconut Water is great for hydrating and for breastfeeding. Keep some in a water bottle on your nightstand to keep hydrated and is packed with potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, vitamin B, and phosphorus. It’s known for its soothing effect on the digestive system and its active support of a well-functioning immune system. 

Lactation Cookie Bites this recipe from The Baker Mama are no-bake and are perfect for a nursing mom or anyone who needs a healthy, hearty, handy boost of energy. Making a batch of these cookies and keeping a couple next to the nightstand for night time feedings are a good idea too. 

Tranquilo Mat  soothes baby in the crib, stroller, or on the go by vibrations.  The large mat provides hands-free soothing when placed under a baby on top of a mattress, hard surface, or activity gym. 

Swaddle Blankets that are adjustable for girls or boys to create a womb-like feeling for newborns and prevents startle reflex. 
These adjustable sleep sacks have soft fabric wings that fasten securely with hook and loop attachments to create perfect fit for summer or winter. 100% Premium cotton that are lightweight and breathable. 
​

 I LOVE Technology!!!! When it comes to birth and pregnancy, technology is advancing faster than ever. No more do you have to wait for your 20 week ultrasound to confirm the sex of your baby. You can find out the sex of the baby with a urine test at 10 weeks in the comfort of your home! Based on independent research, GenderSense® has an accuracy between 80-92%* If you feel like knowing your baby's sex is important and going to cause too much emotional stress if the prediction is wrong, then this test may not be for you. 

I've teamed up with GenderSense to offer one of my readers a free Gender Prediction self test kit. A value of $49.87!!! Go to my Instagram Account: @JenRaePoe for details on how to win! Entry Deadline is Monday July 2nd 2018 at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be announced Tuesday July 3rd 2018. 

Created By: BabyPics App

I am in full blown nesting mode and want to prepare a family menu before baby comes so I don't have to worry about cooking for a while. We are Amazon Prime Members and live in an area where they have 2 hour grocery delivery which is extremely helpful. We also have an annual subscription to Postmates Unlimited, but eating out all the time is expensive and I want to prepare some healthy meals that will be easy to pop into the convection oven or microwave. I am picky with my food, I like a variety of chicken & beef, I spent hours trying to find recipes that look appetizing for both my husband and I and that I wouldn't get bored of eating. Below are some of the recipes I had researched on the internet. 

Here are some items I purchased for food prep:
(9) Silicone Freezer Bags or Plastic Freezer Bags
(30) Plastic Containers
Foil
Crockpot Liners
​Parchment Paper

Recipes: 

Slow Cooker Chicken Chili & Corn Bread by SallysBakingAddiction
8 Plastic Containers, 1 Freezer Bag, Crockpot & Liner, & 8 Inch Square Baking Dish 
- Reheat in Microwave 

No Bake Lactation Bites by BakerMama.com  
1 Freezer Bag (2 Dozen) &  Parchment Paper 

Freezer Crockpot Beef Stew by DiaryofaFitMommy.com
​1 Freezer Bag (Serves 6), Crockpot & Liner, 6 Plastic Containers
- Reheat in Convection Oven 

​Homemade Chicken & Pepper Jack Cheese Taquitos by HappyMoneySaver.com
3 Freezer Bags (Makes about 30), Parchment Paper, & Foil
- Reheat in Convection Oven 425 Degrees for 15-20 min.

Freezer Meatballs Recipe & Freezer Mashed Potatoes by HappyMoneySaver.com
6 Plastic Containers 
- Reheat in Microwave

Slow Cooker Carnitas by OnceAMonthMeals.com & Mexican Rice by SpicySouthernKitchen.com
8 Plastic Containers 
​- Reheat in Microwave  

Chicken Piccata Freezer Meal by HappyMoneySaver.com
1 Freezer Bag (Serves 6)
- Cook on Stove & Oven 
​

I personally wanted to get a better understanding of infant development. This audible book is 18 hours long. Below are my notes and cliff notes version of the book if you don't have time to sit in on the full 18 hours. Click "Read More" at the bottom of this post to read the notes. 

Working in corporate, I needed to find some work clothes that I could wear to the office. I love the Isabella Oliver  brand, they make great quality clothes, plus they are stylish and classy and will never go out of style. Here are some essentials that I picked out from their line. 

I purchased some Isabella Oliver clothes through ThredUp (Link provides $10 OFF Your First Order) the largest online consignment store. If you want to get money and credit toward clothes you don't wear anymore, order a Clean Out Bag, you can choose just to donate for a tax reciept or sell your items, and they will ship you the bag with a prepaid label. 

I came across the Nuryl App, a baby brain training app that plays prenatal music to the baby starting at 16 weeks (4 months). Read the white paper by Julia LeCher, PhD. The music can be played all the way up to 2 years of age. There hasn't been too many studies or research to prove that this has any positive effects. The founder Rick Beato, a music producer, created specific playlists on High Information Music after watching a TedTalk from Patricia Kuhl (Video Below). Music is a language, and there is a critical window of opportunity where children's brains can learn languages, one of them is from 0 - 2 years of age, and after age 7 their ability to learn a language is heavily declined. There are a lot of firsts in a babies first year of age. This peaked my interest and I started to read Whats Going On In There, By Lise Eliot, PhD. Below are some screen shots of what Nuryl looks like when playing songs and the Stats it tracks of how long you play the music for. It is recommended that music is played during prenatal for at least an hour everyday, you can see on average I do much more than the 100%. 

Read my blog post: What's Going On In There, By Lise Eliot, PhD Summary 

If you are interested in learning more about brain development during pregnancy I complied some TedTalks that I found interesting. As I am 27 weeks pregnant, I not only play Nuryl every evening for 2+ hours each night, I also plan to read some of the baby books out loud so the baby can hear my voice. 

Study done in 2013:Prenatal Music Exposure Induces Long-Term Neural Effects

Documentary 2015
Written, Produced, Directed, Filmed, and Edited by: Toni Harman & Alex Wakeford

Rodney R Dietert, Professor of Immunotoxicology at Cornell University theorizes "The Completed Self" (2012) in which he believes humans are 90% microbial and 10% mammalian. Which means that humans are actually made up mostly of organisms such as bacteria and viruses. Over the last century modern medicine and antibiotics have killed off these microbes and unfortunately kills the good bacteria along with the bad. As humans evolve with today medicine, less bacteria transfers from mother to baby. Key bacteria is created in the mothers breasts and vagina and during vaginal birth is the babies first introduction to microbes and bacteria.  This microscopic process is important for future health in babies and what sets up a child for immunity of diseases in the future. This is why babies should not be bathed right away, in fact the substance called vernix is present on the skin of newborn babies, leaving this substance to absorb into your baby's skin will protect against dryness and bacterial infections.
Immediate skin to skin after birth transfers skin bacteria from mother to baby. Breast feeding and breast milk gives the baby its need to anti-inflammatories, antibodies, microbes, and sugars called oligosaccharides. Studies have shown the babies are not able to digest the sugar but the sugar was for the good bacteria in the baby's gut. Interrupting the breast feeding process can compromise the immune system where the baby's body can determine which bacteria is good and which bacteria is harmful that the body should attack. 
Although probiotics can be taken to correct the process later in life, the initial microbes exposed to a newborn sets a foundation that is crucial for life and fighting diseases. Cesarean section rates are going up around the world, Brazil is nearly a 90% c-section rate, China 50%, US 33%, and UK 25%. Women are requesting cesareans at a higher rather than 20-30 years ago because the risks are lower as they are safer today than ever before. C- sections are essential in certain circumstances and can save lives but babies born through cesarean have short term health risks: respiratory problems, difficulty establishing breast feeding, low blood sugar levels, sleepier and drowsier (anesthesia). Research is looking into the long term implications of cesareans. 
It is to be believed by science that the healthy microbes gained from vaginal delivery are not only for the gut but also for the brain. Diverse bacteria is needed for overall health development. Scientists are reaching ways to figure out how to improve microbes for baby if C-Section is necessary, some of this includes: skin to skin, breast feeding minimum 6 months, and vaginal swabs. Asthma, type 1 diabetes, obesity, Crohn's, and Celiac disease are all linked to the immune system and the changes in metabolism which contribute to an association with cesarean. 

Dietert, Rodney & Dietert, Janice. (2012). The Completed Self: An Immunological View of the Human-Microbiome Superorganism and Risk of Chronic Diseases. Entropy. 14. 2036-2065. 10.3390/e14112036. 

Jenness, R. (1979, July). The composition of human milk. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/392766

After watching this documentary and talking with my pediatrician I started taking probiotics for women and I also added newborn probiotics to my baby registry. My pediatrician states I can safely give to baby at 3-4 weeks of age, its best to get probiotics that have multiple strains. 

Disclosure: This post contains Affiliated Links which means at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if clicked on and purchased.

For More Information & $100 OFF CBR Pricing ($1550) CLICK HERE

I've known about Cord Blood Banking for a long time, and knew this was something I wanted to do for our child. Kyle, my husband, was diagnosed with a cancerous Desmoid tumor in his abdomen in 2010, he has had surgery and radiation treatment, and currently there is no cure. We were thinking that may be one day in the future, we could use the stem cells for treatment, or god forbid the possibility that our child will ever be diagnosed with cancer in the future she would be able to use stem cell treatment as well. 

We are raising money for Cord Blood Banking, Click here to place a $20 Bet on the Due Date, Weight, and Length and if you WIN you can win $100! 

I am a big believer in science, and I am sure there are so many mothers that skip cord blood banking because its expensive or don't know much about it. If you are pregnant and aren't going to bank, I highly recommend at least donating the cord blood and tissue to science. The three main cord blood banking companies are CBR, Viacord, & Cryo-cell, below is a comparison chart that covers some important aspects when considering a cord blood company to bank with. My husband and I choose to go with CBR, we used a referral code from a friend that gave us $100 off on the standard pricing, making our first year service $1550. 

The Umbilical Cord blood stem cells is emerging as a non-invasive, efficacious alternative source of hematopoietic stem cells ( (An immature cell that can develop into all types of blood cells, including white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Hematopoietic stem cells are found in the peripheral blood and the bone marrow.) to treat a variety of blood and bone marrow diseases, blood cancers, metabolic disorders and immune deficiencies. The collection procedure is easy and without any risk to the donor.

"Cord blood stem cell transplants are now an approved therapy for over 80 medical conditions.  There are many clinical trials underway investigating the benefit of hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells for neurological and autoimmune disorders such as Cerebral Palsy, Autism and Type 1 Diabetes" (Peberdy et al. 2016, p.2).

References
Nelson, B. (2017). The life-saving treatment that's being thrown away. Biologist, 64(3), 14-17.

Peberdy, L., Young, J., & Kearney, L. (2016). Health care professionals' knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to umbilical cord blood banking and donation: an integrative review. BMC Pregnancy & Childbirth, 161-19. doi:10.1186/s12884-016-0863-6

​Disclosure: This post contains Affiliated Links which means at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if clicked on and purchased.

I felt it was important for me to have a birth plan after researching and reading several articles and books. Even though I have a plan, I am completely okay with throwing it out the window if $h!t hits the fan. First and foremost, get baby out is the best plan regardless of method. But if I were to have it 100% my way with zero complications and in the perfect world, here is my birth plan:

Birth Center Plan / Hospital: UCSD Jacobs Center (619)299-6667
Estimate Due Date: 8/19/18
Midwife: Rebecca Garrett-Brown
Pediatric Care: Point Loma Pediatrics / Jennifer Davis

Request: Volunteer Doula
Request: Lactation Consultant Meeting within the first hour of delivery
Send Doctor Note for Recovery Time / Disability & Proof of Birth to Work
Call CBR Courier: 1.888.588.1292
Call Sean at Aqua Regenerative Therapies

Medical Information:

• Sulfa Med Allergy
• QUAD Screen: Inhibin A Hormone

During Labor:
No guests in labor room / family lounge until 1 hour after birth (Husband ONLY)
Vaginal birth with little to no intervention unless medically necessary
NO membrane sweep
NO pitocin
Free movement
Use of laboring tub during first stage
Wear my own clothes
Water and light snacks if approved by midwife/doctor
Natural water rupture
Lights dim / Soft music playlist (we will provide)
Pain Relief: Breathing, Massage, Nitrous Oxide Gas, Pudendal block before delivery.
NO Episiotomy
Few interruptions and vaginal exams as possible.
Fetal monitoring with Doppler when midwife deems necessary.

Delivery:
Positions: Squat, Kneeling, Hand & Knees
Husband to catch baby and/or cord cut if he chooses to.
Cord Blood Collection: CBR
Cord Tissue Collection: Aqua Regenerative Therapies
No Eye Ointment / Erythromycin
No Hep B Shot (Pediatrician will administer)
Yes Vitamin K - Delay 1 hour after delivery

After Delivery:
Immediate skin to skin contact
Delay exams for bonding
Ice Packs for Soreness
Lactation Consultant
Newborn Photographer: (Michelle Mattox)

I decided this route for many reasons, I know having a natural with no intervention birth sounds crazy, but after so much research, I went this route in hopes of a shorter labor and what I feel will be best for myself and baby. I am also not an anti vaccinator, but I will chose to forgo the erythromycin eye ointment and Hep B shot right after birth and here is why:

Erythromycin ophthalmic preparations are used to treat infections of the eye. They also may be used to prevent certain eye infections of newborn babies, such as neonatal conjunctivitis and ophthalmia neonatorum. They may be used with other medicines for some eye infections. (Mayo Clinic 2017) The CDC website states the most common neonatal conjunctivitis is from chlamydia and gonorrhea and "other bacteria" but I have not been able to find evidence that supports the "other bacteria" claim. Since I was tested negative for any STDs I found that this eye ointment isn't necessary. In Canada, doctors have said the ointment doesn't work on certain strains of gonorrhea anymore anyway. In fact, a lot of countries in Europe have stopped recommending this process. (UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, and Australia).

The Hep B shot is something I will eventually will vaccinate my child with, but not immediately after birth but when she is at least 3 - 6 months of age. Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). According to the CDC, there were 3,050 cases of acute infection reported in the United States in 2013, which comes out to roughly 1 case per 100,000 people. It is contacted through blood and other bodily fluids. My husband and I have already been vaccinated with Hep B and A and we don't plan for our child to go to daycare. The birth experience is already traumatic enough, delaying this for 3-6 months makes me feel comfortable as a parent.

Neonatal intramuscular vitamin K is an important preventive service offered to newborns in the United States for the prevention of potentially devastating bleeding. The duration of risk for infants extends to 6 months of age, this bleeding could be severe and life-threatening, or that this risk is increased among children who are exclusively breastfed (Marcewicz, et al. 2017). For this reason, I said yes to the vitamin K shot.

Read my post for more information on Cord Blood Banking.

References

Jones, C., M.D. (2017, January 07). Separating Fact from Fiction in the Newborn Nursery: Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns. Retrieved from https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/separating-fact-from-fiction-in-the-newborn-nursery-hepatitis-b-vaccine-for-newborns/

Marcewicz, L., Clayton, J., Maenner, M., Odom, E., Okoroh, E., Christensen, D., & ... Grant, A. (2017). Parental Refusal of Vitamin K and Neonatal Preventive Services: A Need for Surveillance. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 21(5), 1079-1084. doi:10.1007/s10995-016-2205-8

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/is-erythromycin-eye-ointment-always-necessary-for-newborns/

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When it comes to diapers, there are A LOT of options... the first major decision needs to be Cloth or Disposable. This is my first child and my husband I like to travel so we decided to go the disposable route, mainly because its easy. Both options have pros and cons, what every parent mainly tries  to avoid is Diaper Dermatitis (Diaper Rash) that is caused by over hydration of the skin, urine and feces irritants, friction against the skin, and high skin PH levels. Odio & Thaman (2014) state that disposable diapers give better PH levels than cloth diapers because of the absorbency. Diaper dermatitis is more common in infants 6 -12mo. that are weaning off of breast milk and begin to consume solid foods. I plan to also use disposable wipes and cloth wipes. I have a two story home, 4 stories if you count our garage and rooftop patio, so we will use the disposable wipes when we are traveling, out and about, and upstairs in the nursery and the cloth wipes when we are downstairs in the living room/kitchen.  

Cloth Diapering

Cloth diapering and laundering is a lot of work, and there are companies in major cities that can take care of that for you. Here are some companies in Southern California that will help get you on track for cloth diapering, be sure to check out their yelp reviews and google reviews:

Pish Posh Diaper Co. (San Diego, CA)
Simple Diaper Service (San Diego, CA)
Pannolino OC Diaper Service (Orange County, CA)
Blessed Bums (Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, CA)

If you aren't wanting to go the service route and would rather launder your cloth diapers yourself, this is what you will need:

1. Minimum 24 Diaper Changes (Laundry 2-3 Days) - Many styles to choose from
2. Wet Bags (For Dirty Diapers)
3. Diaper Pail & Diaper Pail Liner
4. Cloth Wipes (24) & Solution 
5. Non Toxic Washing Detergent (Stay away from Bleach and Chemicals)
6. Cloth Diaper Sprayer &/or Disposable Liners

Purchase Cloth Diapers and Covers Here:
TGN: The Green Nursery - Risk Free Cloth Diaper Trial Program, Earn Rewards, Great Videos

Disposable Diapering

When it comes to the environment, I know I am adding on to the waste... so when I decided to go disposable, I started searching for a brand that was eco friendly and wouldn't have harmful chemicals. I decided to purchase a mixture of Bambo & Pampers Pure. I will try both, as every baby is different. 
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Bambo Nature is a company from Denmark. Randomly, my husband and I just visited Denmark  and the country is very ECO friendly; everything is recycled, water is usually filled from tap and the city is very bike friendly and clean! Pampers Pure is a PG company, obviously a very well known brand in the U.S.; be sure to sign up for the Pampers rewards program. 

BAMBO : ​Super soft and highly absorbent, perfect for both day and nighttime use. Our diapers are produced with sustainable manufacturing processes, while ensuring they are free of harmful chemicals and perfumes to minimize the risk of allergies and diaper rash. Bambo Nature diapers have earned the Danish Asthma/Allergy certification, the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, are Dermatologically-tested and FSC-certified. Our diapers are certified free of all known allergens or substances classified as locally irritating, sensitizing, carcinogenic, or mutagenic. Bambo Nature has been called the “best buy for disposable diapers” by ethicalconsumer.org

PAMPERS PURE : Pampers Pure Protection diapers help protect your baby’s skin with 0% chlorine bleaching and 100% Pampers protection. They are made without chlorine bleaching, fragrance parabens, latex*, and EU 26 allergens. Crafted with premium cotton, soft plant-based fibers, and other thoughtfully selected materials–they’re clinically proven hypoallergenic for your baby’s delicate skin. Pampers Pure Protection diapers are made with 100% certified renewable electricity and sustainably sourced wood pulp. ​​

Stock piling on Disposable Diapers

​A baby will roughly go through an average of 8 diapers a day, which equates to 2920 diapers!!! Baby diaper sizes are usually determined by baby's weight. There are many factors that can contribute to babies weight: Bottle Fed, Breast Fed, Genetics, Gender, and Activity Level. Lets break down the average baby, the World Health Organization (WHO) released an international growth standard statistical distribution in 2006, which describes the growth of children ages 0 to 59 months living in environments believed to support what WHO researchers view as optimal growth of children in six countries throughout the world, including the U.S. The distribution shows how infants and young children grow under these conditions, rather than how they grow in environments that may not support optimal growth. I'll break down the 2, 50, 98 percentile Ranges for Boys & Girls based on the two charts. 

I am having a girl, and I am going to stock pile and register for diapers based on the 50% percentile range using Bambo & Pampers Pure Sizes. I also want to make sure I never run out of diapers and will probably change my baby more often as I am a first time mom. I estimate I will use 3,420 diapers my first year!!! WOW! Below is the chart I used to estimate how many diapers I will need each month. For the first year diapers are going to cost an estimate of $1250. 

Cloth Wipes

​For Cloth Wipes, I decided to purchase the BabyGoal Reusable Wipes which are made from 100% bamboo that fit perfectly in the Prince Lionheart Warmies Wipe Warmer, you can use plain water or use the homemade solution I plan to use that I put in the Medline 8oz. Bottles. 

PH Balanced Cloth Wipe Solution (Skin PH Level 5.5):

• 6 oz Boiled Water / 2 Camomile Tea Bags (6 - 7 PH)
• 1 Tbsp. Sweet Almond Oil (4.5 - 5 PH)
• 1 Tbsp. Puracy Baby Wash (5.5 - 6 PH)
• 1.5 oz of Aloe Vera Juice (5.5 PH)

In the Medline bottle, add aloe vera juice, baby wash, and almond oil, and top off with cooled camomile tea use the solution to wet the cloth wipes in the wipe warmer. 

Disposable Wipes 

Along with many options for disposable diapers are the wipes... I first chose the wipe warmer,  then did some research as to what wipe with least amount of chemicals, the popular Water Wipes are great but I didn't like how rough they were. I chose to go with Bloom Baby Wipes because they are thick, soft, and hypoallergenic. The ingredients in the baby wipes are:  Purified Water, Olus Oil, Glycerin, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2-Dipolyhydroxysterate, Glyceryl Oleate, Dicaprylyl Cabonate, Sympytum Officinale(Comfrey) Extract, Olea Euopea Fruit(Olive) Oil, Phenoxyethanol, and Potassium Sorbate.

Diaper Pail 

The Ubbi Diaper Pail will go in the nursery, no special bags are needed, so we plan on using Glad 8 gallon scented trash bags to mask the smell as well as use biodegradable scented poop bags we can also use for our French Bulldog Jack. . The pail can hold up to 50 newborn diapers and locks in the smell as its made of steel so the odor cannot be absorbed. For the downstairs changing area next to the pack n' play quick connect in our living room, I went with a smaller diaper pail, Tommee Tippee Diaper Pail Starter Set it holds up to 18 diapers and is small and compact. 

Diaper Rash Cream / Ointment

As every baby is different I went with two kinds of ointment, Burts Bees Baby Bee Rash Ointment for when a rash occurs, it contains 40% Zinc Oxide that blocks moisture. For the everyday preventative ointment, I went with an all natural ointment from Earth Mama Diaper Balm. I don't want to touch the sticky ointment, so investing in a Baby Bum Diaper Cream Brush will be helpful as well. Baby powder has been linked to cancer and can be harmful if breathed in, so it is recommended that baby power isn't used. 

Changing Pad

There are lots of changing pads and covers, I work in technology and have a smart home that I decided to splurge and go high tech with the Hatch Baby Grow Smart Changing Pad & Scale. The pad is made with foam and is easy to clean. You can track your babies weight in between doctor visits which is helpful for breast feeding to know if the baby is getting enough since its hard to know how much breast milk you are developing and it works with Alexa! 
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References:

Odio, M., & Thaman, L. (2014, November 17). Diapering, Diaper Technology, and Diaper Area Skin Health. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/pde.12501

Disclosure: This post contains Affiliated Links which means at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if clicked on and purchased.