wellness

Making Room To Give with Sam’s Club

October 5, 2018 by Rachel 19 Comments

This post is sponsored by Depend, Poise, Ensure, and Glucerna but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

It’s hard to believe that in just a couple of short weeks I will be turning 34. It’s weird because if I can nearly be considered ‘middle aged’ then what does that make our parents? As much as I hate to believe it, my parents and my husband’s parents are getting older. And since we are pretty much the only family around, I’m certain that their care will eventually fall to us. Whether or not we care to admit this, this day is coming. That’s why we are preparing now.

Here’s what we’re doing to prepare for when this day comes:

1. Clearing space.

Our home is not big by any means. In fact, I’ve prided myself on the fact that we do not have more space than we need. We are content in our cozy home. I grew up in a home that was ‘cozy’ and so did my husband. But, as our parents’ age, the idea of additional space is a necessity.

So we’ve been literally and figuratively clearing space. Space in our home, space in our lives, and space in our hearts. Having three kids of our own is hard and, eventually taking on the role of adult-caregiver, it will get harder. The best thing we can do is to minimalize — toys, kitchen gadgets, stock-piled goods — it all needs to be less.

2. Using Sam’s Club Caregiver program to understand what we will need.

I am the kind of person who likes to make a plan rather than being blindsided. And with the help of resources, like the Caregiver program at Sam’s Club, I can feel ready for when that day comes. Their focus is on family caregiving and they provide resources and solutions for every situation.

Sam’s Club offers a large variety of products like Depend, Poise, Ensure, and Glucerna with options for discreet purchases (such as club pick-up and shipping) to specifically help caregivers get what they need without making their family members uncomfortable.

We recently did a big haul to make sure we are prepared for when that day comes. We purchased Glucerna shakes, Ensure shakes, Poise liners, and Depend underwear.

Having these items on-hand means we have one less thing to worry about when the day to become caregivers comes.

3. Making legal decisions now.

One of my biggest fears is that something will happen to our loved ones and we won’t have any legal authority to make decisions, whether it be financially or medically. So we took steps to make sure that we would not be in the dark.

Establishing a medical power of attorney is incredibly important. Having this means we have discussed details with our loved ones and will be able to make decisions that are in their best interests based on their desires while lucid. I realize that this can sound insensitive, but we would much rather discuss these issues now and have a plan versus being blindsided by an event.

4. Keep lines of communication open.

This may be the most difficult of all of the important line items. Communication needs to be open between all parties. Do you have siblings to keep in the loop? Discuss important things now, like who will ultimately make decisions and how those decisions will be made.

All of these things will help us to be as prepared as possible for the moment when we become caregivers to our elder generation. In all of the inevitable chaos, it’s heartwarming to know that Sam’s Club is on our side and will be there for every step of the way.

7 Must-Haves for Baby’s First Cold Season

September 18, 2018 by Rachel 18 Comments

I don’t know about you but I, for one, am very excited that Fall is nearly here. I look forward to the crisp air, fallen leaves, and cooler weather. But, as with every changing season, a new set of illnesses is on the horizon. In fact, Mila caught her first bit of something last week, which flooded back all kinds of ‘first cold’ memories from the previous two kids.

But truly, cold season is no joke. What starts as a common cold can easily turn into RSV or croup. It can get ugly fast, that’s for sure. So I’m sharing my trust mommy-must-haves for cold season!

01. The Nose Frida.

I know I’ve talked about this thing over and over again, but the Nose Frida is truly a lifesaver. Let’s cut the bologna though — it’s a snot-sucker. That’s all it is. But you’d be amazed at how important a snot-sucker can be when your teeny, tiny baby is struggling to breathe through congestion.

But the faint at heart must know that you won’t actually be sucking snot from your child’s nose with your mouth. So rest easy, friends. There are an apparatus and a filter to block your mouth from the gunk.

02. A Humidifier.

Nights are the absolute worst when your baby is sick. Before we bought a humidifier we would run the shower for steam constantly, but that was more of a defensive technique. To stay on the offensive with a cold, we use a cool mist humidifier to help them breathe more easily.

Each of our kids actually has this exact humidifier in each of their rooms and we run it from this time of year all the way through the Winter months. Just be sure to use distilled water in it to avoid mineral build up in the humidifier!

03. Infant Probiotics.

We start pumping our babies with these probiotics at the very beginning of cold season. We try to get in a few doses before they are even exposed to boost their immune systems. And they have been super helpful!

Whether or not your baby is breast or formula fed, it’s important to get that extra push of the good gut bacteria in them to help kick the colds as quickly as possible!

It comes with a teeny little syringe which makes it super easy to make sure they’re getting the appropriate amount.

04. Vicks Vaporub for Kids.

Nothing hurts a mama’s heart more than seeing her little one stuffy and struggling to breathe, so this is an absolute must! We apply the Vaporub to the chest and the bottoms of the feet and it really helps them out tremendously — especially at night and during nap time.

05. Boogie Wipes.

Before becoming a mom I would probably laugh if you told me that there are ‘special’ wipes specifically designed for babies noses. I mean, regular tissue will work fine, right? Wrong. So wrong. Boogie Wipes are a genius invention. They are super soft, extra gentle, and help to get even the toughest crusty boogers off of a newborns face.

Traditional baby wipes are not nearly as gentle and soft, so you may laugh at this concept, but I promise you these Boogie Wipes are a must-have for cold season.

06. Have Baby Sleep on an Incline.

For the first few months of our babies lives we’ve had them sleeping in a Rock ‘n Play sleeper next to our bed. But did you know that it can also be helpful for a baby to sleep at that kind of incline when they are congested as well? Whether it be in a rock and play or on a wedge mat, the incline will absolutely help with the drainage.

07. …and, as always, GRACE.

Mama, whether it’s your first baby or your 7th baby, the first cold season can be absolutely brutal on us. Expect long days and even longer nights, so give yourself a healthy dose of grace to get through it. Because you will get through it.

If you’ve been through it before

what tips

do you have

for cold season?

9 Postpartum Must-Haves

August 28, 2018 by Rachel 27 Comments

Bringing a new baby home is a huge adjustment — both for the new mom and the family. But one of the best things that you can do as a mom is to take care of yourself. It’s taken a few years to learn these things, but here is my list of postpartum must-haves for all moms!

1. Motrin.

I’ve been through three very different deliveries and each time I’ve needed help with aches and pains postpartum. Whether you’ve been through a drug-free delivery, a vaginal delivery with an epidural, or a c-section, Motrin will be your new BFF — at least for a few days.

Birth is traumatic, ya’ll. Even when it isn’t, it is. Whichever way you bring a new life into this world, it’s rough on your body. Don’t be a martyr, take the Motrin and take it often. I learned the first time around that it’s not a good idea to wait until you need it; instead just take it when you’re allowed.

2. Meals.

Ready-to-eat frozen meals, restaurant gift cards, a meal train — all of it. Whether you’re adding baby number one or baby number 7 to your family, the last thing a new mom wants to do is prepare food. In fact, you’ll need to eat as soon as you get a free moment.

If anyone asks if they can bring you a meal or a gift card to a restaurant, absolutely accept it. I felt so guilty about doing this the first time around, but I realized long afterward that I could do this for other people and pay it forward. So with baby number two and number three, I accepted every meal gift. Mostly it’s just moms who have been there and know how difficult it can be.

3. Comfortable clothes/pajamas.

The days (and weeks) that follow the birth of a new child will be days (and weeks) of hunkering down at home. If it’s your first child, you may think you need to wear real clothes. I’m here to tell you, just don’t. I mean, sure — shower and try to get yourself together because it will make you feel better. But you also need to feel comfortable. Your body, regardless of what kind of birth you’ve had, has been through trauma. So make sure you have several sets of comfortable clothes whether it be pajamas or sweatpants or whatever.

4. Depends.

Everyone will tell you how much you need the giant pads but I’m here to tell you that I’m not about that life. Did you know that Depends Silhouettes exist?! Because they are glorious! They are not like diapers in any way, shape, or form; in fact, they are (almost) comfortable. So ditch the pads — buy the depends.

5. Stool Softeners.

Whatever experience you’ve had with birth, a child has exited your body. And for 40-weeks a baby has grown inside of you. Your organs have shifted to make room and then shifted back very, very, suddenly. This and hormonal changes wreak havoc on our digestive systems. Whether or not you think you need them, take the stool softeners. They’ll be offered to you in the hospital — take them. And make sure you have a small pack of them at home to get you through the first week or two.

6. Breastpads.

Whether you decide to breastfeed or formula-feed, your breasts will leak — and you should most certainly be prepared. While I so desperately want to be a supporter of reusable breast pads, I have to say that I’ve tried the silicone breast pads and they are massively uncomfortable. Either get yourself the fabric reusables or the disposables.

7. Comfortable Nursing Bras + Tanks.

Comfort is key postpartum! Your tatas will hurt. So make them comfortable by finding bras and tanks that are secure but also not too tight.

8. Air Conditioning.

Hormones do crazy things. One of those things is making us sweat our booty off postpartum! Even after having my January baby, I was sweating like crazy — so much so that my husband had to sleep in the other room because I was freezing him out! So you’ll need air conditioning or, at the very least, a really good fan to circulate the air.

But no worries, because your hormones will even out and you’ll be back at a normal resting temperature before you know it!

9. Grace.

I’ve talked a lot about grace and motherhood. But I promise you it is not to be cliché. It is the one thing that has saved me, often times from myself. After becoming a mom for the first time I realized that I had put way too much pressure on myself, especially in those first few postpartum weeks. I accepted too many visitors and I stressed myself out by trying to ‘keep up’ with housework.

Just don’t. Breathe. Delegate. And give yourself all of the grace.

What are some

of the items

on your postpartum

must-have list?

What I Wish I Knew As a First Time Mom

June 13, 2018 by Rachel 25 Comments

This post is sponsored by Cord Blood Registry ® (CBR ®), but the opinions expressed here are my own.

Here we are… days away from meeting baby number 3. And being this close to her arrival, I just keep thinking about all of the things I wish I knew the first time around.

1. You may not feel an instant connection.

This was something I really struggled with just after our first was born. Sure, I felt protective; but I didn’t get that immediate, overwhelming feeling of pure joy. And the more I talked to others, the more I realized that this wasn’t that unusual. Thanks in part to social media, we would be made to believe that every mother feels an immediate and overwhelming connection with her newborn. But… that just isn’t the case.

And I want all moms to know that. The connection will come — and it may take some time — but it will happen.

2. The incredible benefits of cord blood banking, from birth and beyond.

Before I became a mom I had heard about cord blood banking, but I didn’t give it much thought beyond that. But being a mom changes a person. And a baby’s umbilical cord is made of tissue and contains blood, both of which are rich sources of stem cells that are unique and powerful. Preserving your newborn’s stem cells may give your child or an immediate family member the opportunity to use this resource for current cord blood therapies*!

How amazing is science?! So when we were pregnant with baby number two, I knew what we needed to do — preserve her cord blood with Cord Blood Registry (CBR). That’s because CBR is a resource for expecting parents in so many ways. When you choose to bank with CBR you have access to their team of Certified Genetic Counselors who can discuss your family’s medical history as it relates to newborn stem cells, and educate you on your options to preserve them for your family’s future. CBR believes every family should have the opportunity to preserve their newborn’s stem cells. That’s why they offer affordable payment options to fit almost every family budget and also offer a Gift Registry, where friends and family can contribute towards the cost of banking. Not only that, but their Newborn Possibilities Program® assists families with a qualifying medical need by covering all costs for preserving their child’s newborn stem cells and storing them for 5 years.

The process to get set up is really simple. We enrolled online at cordblood.com and received a collection kit. We’ll be bringing our CBR collection kit with us to the hospital for number 3, and once the cord blood is collected we’ll call the medical courier (phone number is on the kit) and CBR will take care of the rest.

If you’d like to learn more, CLICK HERE and fill out your information to receive a code for $200 OFF initial fees. We’ve already filled out our information and will certainly be taking advantage of the affordable payment plans. I’m so relieved to know that we have a trusted support system with CBR!

3. No phase lasts forever.

This is a really hard one for me. As someone who has struggled with postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety with both of my other children, I know — firsthand — how difficult it can be to see past the fog of sleepless nights and colicky screams. And the last thing any new mother wants to hear is “This won’t last forever,” because, in that moment, you absolutely cannot see that. It just isn’t helpful.

But I’m repeating this phrase over and over again to myself in the coming days — no phase lasts forever — in hopes that I’ll remember and take solace in this during the endless nights and rough patches.

4. Do what you’ve gotta do.

You’ll get a lot of advice before becoming a mom. As a “seasoned” mom, I vow to not be one of those people who asks “Well have you tried ____?” Let’s just all assume that if someone is venting to you about their baby, they are not soliciting your advice, okay?

With that being said, I wish someone would have told me that all parents of a new baby are just surviving; we’re all just doing whatever we have to do to make it to the other side. There is no one ‘right’ way to parent and what works for your friend may not work for you.

Just do what you’ve gotta do and feel no shame about it!

5. You will find your way.

Between the mistakes, the late nights, the tears, the questioning of yourself, and the literal crying over spilled milk, you will find your way. One day you’ll have a toddler and you’ll realize you did it. When you realize that, thank your people — whether that be your family, your spouse, your friends, or your Mama Tribe — just thank them.

You’ll all find solace in the fact that, yeah, that was rough. But we made it.

What information

do you wish you knew

before becoming a mom?

Preparing For Darkness — My Postpartum Reality

May 28, 2018 by Rachel 35 Comments

I would be lying if I said some of the nerves I have regarding the birth of baby number 3 isn’t about my own mental health and well-being, postpartum. As someone who has suffered from varying degrees of postpartum depression and anxiety with both of my other children, it’s hard not to think about what is likely my postpartum reality this time around.

When my son, Ari, was born 5.5 years ago, I knew something was off right away. I felt… distanced from him. I have spoken about this immensely before, but I felt as if I had an overwhelming desire to protect this tiny human I spent so much time creating; but I wouldn’t quite refer to it as love. The love part came much later.

Later on, I recognized that my desire to protect him was instinctual; but postpartum depression distracted me from truly connecting any further. I also realized that I had very few boundaries set up for visitors postpartum — and that was a huge detriment to my mental well-being.

Shortly after his arrival I was put on an antidepressant. It seemed to work a little bit, and has since been tweaked over the years and is now working beautifully. But PPD with him is what initiated my journey with anxiety and depression medications. When I got pregnant with Remy, our daughter, near Ari’s third birthday, I knew to expect a rough road again.

But I felt more prepared. I had a plan. I would restrict visitors until we found our groove. I could handle it, right?

To my surprise, and delight, as soon as she was born I felt that immediate outpouring of love for her!

But my anxiety peaked shortly after returning home. I was a crazy person, fueled by hormones and a severe lack of sleep, and was dealing with an extremely, extremely, fussy baby.

It took us months of no sleep (when I say “no sleep,” I mean that this child slept for an average of 2 – 3 hours in a 24-hour period). Usually during the day when someone else was holding her. And spent every single night screaming in agony.

I felt a rage like I had only read about. Luckily, I was cognizant enough to understand that if I did not step away from her, I would most certainly hurt her. I realized that this was probably the one sign that I was not suffering from postpartum psychosis — my ability to properly think through what was actually going on in my brain.

There were honestly moments in that first year where I considered driving myself to the hospital because I felt like I was going crazy. It’s a humbling thing to think about. Knowing that, had I driven myself there, I almost certainly would have been admitted to the psychiatric floor for evaluation. And I truly thought about doing that — and likely would have — if Remy hadn’t been 100% reliant on me for nourishment (aka – she refused to take a bottle).

I’m lucky to have had an amazing support system, both at home and at work, who truly helped me survive the first year of Remy’s life. Once we realized that she had been having urinary tract infections and was in excruciating pain, we had a plan of action. Rounds of antibiotics and trips to the chiropractor’s office helped her become a normal baby. And, in doing so, helped me get through the fog of that first year.

And now I sit here on the edge of bringing another life into the world, terrified. I realize that, as having a history of postpartum depression and anxiety already, I will likely deal with another round of it. And even though I know what to expect and what to do, I’m afraid that I will, once again, turn into a shell of the person I once was.

I’ve planned accordingly. Again. But this time with a few adjustments…

My husband gets many weeks of paid leave this time (thank god!) which will certainly be helpful in keeping the bigger kids in order while I handle the baby. Lucky for us, he doesn’t have to take it all at once, so I’m going to
My coworkers are expecting my return to work, with my kids (all of them), at 3 weeks. While this may seem like a detriment, I assure you it isn’t. I work in childcare and that means I will literally be able to hand my new baby off, as needed, for breaks. They also were all there for me with Remy and understand that it is less about my return to work and more about my return to sanity and adult conversation.
I am going to take this new baby to the pediatric chiropractor (in addition to her pediatrician) within the first month of her life. Guys. I really didn’t think it would work for Remy — but it did. And these tiny adjustments that the doctor made on my baby changed her. So instead of putting it off this time around, I’m going to bite the bullet (aka the co-pay), and take her right away.
I’ve been talking about postpartum a LOT and with everyone. I need everyone to know what to expect from me — my husband, my friends, my family — so that they know to be prepared to pick up the pieces when and where needed. And I’m so lucky to have this support system ready and willing to help out.

In the meantime, I’m just going to have to expect the worst and roll with the punches. We went into this pregnancy knowing that we may have another awful first year, but that it does get better. And I guess that’s what we’re going to have to make do with for now. But I will 100% be honest about it, that’s for certain — because talking about it is actually helping to alleviate some of the pressure I feel regarding my upcoming postpartum experience.

And perhaps — just perhaps — talking about my own experiences can be helpful to someone else.

Disclaimer: I am not a mental health professional, nor am I advocating for intervention with medications. I’m just stating what worked for me.

6 Tips For An Unmedicated Childbirth

May 7, 2018 by Rachel 24 Comments

Just 5 and a half short weeks separate me from meeting Baby #3. And, though I’ve been in disbelief for most of this pregnancy, it’s all starting to get real. Really real.

See, I know that in order to meet this beautiful new baby, I first have to endure childbirth. Beautiful, terrifying, childbirth.

For those who are new around here, you may not know that I prepared myself for an unmedicated childbirth 6 years ago with our son. I took Bradley Method birthing classes (12 weeks of intensive classes) and readied myself accordingly; but after 24-hours of awful labor, I finally gave in to an epidural.

With our daughter, just 2 years ago, I felt much more prepared — having been through labor before, but also knowing things they just can’t teach in childbirth classes — and I labored without medication and delivered Remy just a few hours later.

But I’m still nervous about the prospect of childbirth. There’s always the fear of the unknown — of not knowing how this labor will progress; when this labor will begin; and what state I’ll be in.

So in an effort to remind myself of WHY and HOW to attempt an unmedicated labor and delivery, I’m sharing my tips below!

1. Educate yourself.

I’m going to be honest — I have a passion for self-education. But what fueled that fire even more? Taking a birthing class. As mentioned above, I chose the Bradley Method birthing course because of its focus on natural, unmedicated, birthing education. It was 12-weeks of classes. Twelve very intensive weeks. I learned so much and it opened up my eyes to so much.

So if you’re planning on an unmedicated delivery, I highly suggest taking a Bradley Method course (there are local teachers all over the US). If you can’t take one of these courses, still get the book Husband-Coached Childbirth and give it a read!

2. Have a plan.

… a birth plan, that is. Know exactly what you will and will not do when it’s go-time. My main points to be noted for my nurses and my doctors is that I would prefer (a) to only have a Hep-Lock (or a Saline Lock), which is basically an IV catheter, and (b) having intermittent monitoring versus constant monitoring.

Basically, to state this at the beginning of admittance is saying “Here, nurses + doctors: The IV is ready if needed and I will monitor as you see fit; but that also means that I can get up and labor out of bed, without restrictions.”

Know what you want your restrictions to be and write them down. Yes, write them down, type them out, or have a list on your phone of things you want done. Whatever you do, be prepared to communicate with your team!

3. Have a support system.

My husband sat through every second of those 12 weeks of childbirth classes. It not only helped us to be on the same page with what we wanted our labor and delivery experience to be; but it helped him to become more comfortable with the fact that he would be seeing me in a tremendous amount of pain.

We communicated that the one thing I would need in those moments was unwavering support. I needed him to be strong in the moments where I could not; and I needed him to have my back for my birth plan, in case someone offered to ‘intervene.’ He did both of those things both times. He never once suggested an epidural and never once wavered from seeing me in pain.

Sure, later, he admitted that it was incredibly difficult to watch me and be unable to make the pain stop; but he did exactly what I needed him to do in those moments.

4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

I cannot say this enough. I think the downfall of my first delivery was that I started laboring while dehydrated (turns out iced coffee doesn’t boast excellent hydration…). And, from there, the dehydration sort of snowballed. And the cramping was excruciating because my body just couldn’t keep up.

When I felt the beginning contractions with baby number 2, I immediately kicked up my water intake. I was already drinking lots and lots of water; but I just started drinking even more of it! And to NOT be battling dehydration while laboring was a HUGE benefit. I swear that this is what helped me make my way through contractions.

5. Be prepared.

Make sure your hospital bag is packed — and packed with the items that will help you. I feel immensely more weak when I am nauseous; knowing this, I packed several essential oils that helped ease my nausea. Between lavender and peppermint oil, I would stick a couple of drops in my hands and just sniff them when I got hit with a wave of nausea.

I also found music that was comforting to me. I didn’t know what that music would be before my contractions started; but once I found a few songs that helped me to focus, I played them on repeat. (Unrelated: To this day, those songs make me incredibly emotional, just bringing back thoughts of those final moments before I met her.)

If you have something — a physical object — that brings you comfort, bring it with you. For some, this could be a pillow. For others, this could be a stuffed animal. Really, it could be anything. But if it brings you any comfort, do not hesitate to bring it along.

6. Know that you are capable.

I still think back on both of my experiences and am so proud for what I accomplished — bringing a new life into this world is no easy feat! I know that if I hadn’t been so sick with my first labor, I could have done it without that epidural; but actually doing it the second time around? Was life-changing. I felt so strong and so powerful.

And, although I am nervous about this upcoming labor and delivery (because, pain), I know that I am capable of absolutely tremendous things.