Search Results for: blog top tips for creating a birth plan

Top Tips for Creating a Birth Plan

Today’s blog topic comes from Elizabeth Stein, a women’s health expert and certified nurse midwife of 25 years. She is also a patient advocate of patient empowerment, so she has put together a list of tips on how to create a birth plan to ensure a positive emotional experience for the mother-to-be, and to give her as much control over her birthing experience as possible. When Ms. Stein’s publicist contacted me to share this list, I just knew I had to share it with you. A birth plan can be a very valuable tool. To learn more about Elizabeth Stein, … Continue reading →

Four Ways to Save Money on Birthday Cake

This week we are in the middle of trying to finalize plans for an upcoming birthday party for our two sons. Two boys with birthdays only a month apart means one party to save the relatives from traveling, but two separate cakes with different themes. All of that cake can add up in expense. Here are four different ways to save money on birthday cake. With these various options, you should be able to find your own great way to shave off some of the cost of the birthday cake. Buy a regular birthday cake but skip the special decorating. … Continue reading →

The Pregnancy Blog Review Feb 10 – 23

A wide range of topics related to infertility, pregnancy and birth have been covered recently in the pregnancy blog. Wherever you are on the road to parenthood, you will find something relevant in this review and the pregnancy blog archives. A big hurdle for many couples is the cost of the medications used with infertility treatments. Insurance often does not cover the cost, which can be as high as over $2000 for one cycle. Read more in Affording Fertility Medications. A relatively rare, but sometimes serious, complication of injectable fertility medications is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. These medications work by stimulating … Continue reading →

The Pregnancy Blog Week in Review for Jan 27 – Feb 2

Time flies when you are pregnant. With the pressures of work, other children and family responsibilities, it’s easy to get busy and miss some of the articles posted in the Pregnancy Blog. This weekly review is an easy and fast way to get caught up on your reading. Saturday, January 27 Let’s Talk About Water Birth: Fluid Pain Relief Sara Denomme talks about the magical experience of her daughter’s home water birth. Sunday, January 28 If you are planning to breastfeed your new baby, you will need a good book as a resource. Check out Great Breastfeeding Books for some … Continue reading →

Our Eighth Prenatal Visit

Three weeks have come and gone once again. This is our last appointment with a three week interval. From now onward we will meet with our midwife in two weeks and then every week until the baby is born. This particular day is a busy one for us so we awoke earlier than normal. After a quick breakfast of Greek yogurt, I exercised right away while our son slept and my husband worked on his dissertation. I wanted to get my workout done before the appointment because I wanted to avoid not being able to squeeze it in after the … Continue reading →

Mommy Beach Party

Mother Nature decided to gift your daughter with torrential rains and hurricane-strength winds on her birthday–the day you planned to celebrate her special occasion at the beach. Now what? Instead of drowning your sorrows in pounds of pasta salad and soggy streamers, encourage your daughter turn off the indoor waterworks, and help you transform your home into Mommy Beach. The party can go on as planned with these simple projects: INDOOR SAND CASTLES Ingredients: 1 cup of cornstarch 2 cups of sand 11/2 cups of cold water 1 old pan (Use one that you can sacrifice for this project as … Continue reading →

Completing Home Improvement Projects with Children

One of the reasons that I think our house isn’t getting improved as fast as we would like it is the fact that we have three young children. Projects are constantly interrupted by the needs of the kids, and it is usually hard to find a long enough block of time for larger, more time consuming projects. But believe it or not, things can get done. Just yesterday, we were able to build a new fence, apply teak oil to some outdoor furniture, clean out a couple of boxes of clutter from the basement, build a log holder from a … Continue reading →

All About Stork Bites and Blue Veins on the Nose

Whether you call them stork bites or angel kisses, the reddish-pink or blue marks that show up on your baby can be a little disconcerting. What are these marks really, and how should you treat them? Stork bites Most newborns have a stork bite somewhere. They often show up on the eyelids, the back of the neck or the middle of the forehead. The little nips or patches of red are not rashes, but can be considered birthmarks. What is really going on with stork bites is pretty normal. The thin skin of an infant allows an area that contains … Continue reading →

Are You Doing All You Can to Stay Fit and Healthy?

What happens to your fitness routine when you get sick? Do you take a few days off to recuperate, or do you push yourself and fight through the pain? Doctors recommend the former to give your body a chance to rest and heal. Health experts also suggest that you drink plenty of fluids and wash your hands frequently. Following those tips will also help you avoid getting sick in the future. The following are other ways you can prevent illness and subsequent disruptions to your regular workout routine: Bad Bathrooms A recent study found that when it comes to cleaning, … Continue reading →

How to Take Advantage of After Easter Bargains

As soon as Easter Sunday rolls around, you’ll find all sorts of Easter-related products that are on deep discounts. Snap up the following items when they hit 75 percent off and use them in some creative ways. You’ll save money and get points for resourcefulness. Easter Baskets Baskets can be used for all sorts of things around the home, from gathering clothespins to holding houseplants. Some of my favorite ways to use easter baskets include corralling baby board books, holding diapers, as gift baskets for birthdays and baby showers, for desk supplies and even as stair catch-alls (for items that … Continue reading →