What I’ll be Packing in my Hospital Bag for Baby #2

What do you do first, pack your hospital bag, or prepare a nursery? Get ready to pack your bags mama with these essentials!

Experts recommend to have your bags (one for you, and baby) packed and in your car by 35 weeks. (Taxi-taking moms — stash your bags in the front hall closet.) This list is meant to be helpful, so please don’t think you have to have everything on this list! Since this is our second baby, we’ve got a much better idea this time around of what to bring, and what to leave behind!

Also, a tip for the thrifty: Ask your hospital what they provide for babies and mothers, and take those items off your list.

Must-Haves for Mama:

[ ] Insurance info, hospital forms and birth plan (if you have one)

[ ] A warm robe or sweater (you don’t mind sacrificing to the cause if need be)

[ ] 2 maternity bras — no underwire, with no padding, we love this one

[ ] Toiletries and personal items — hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face wash (remember, travel-sized products are your friends)

[ ] Headband or ponytail holder (avoid clips)

[ ] Cell phone and charger, phone numbers of people to call after birth, prepaid calling card (if your hospital doesn’t allow cell phones)

[ ] Comfortable going-home clothes in six-month maternity size; an open front cardigan, nursing camisole, and / or nursing top and flat shoes

[ ] 2-3 pairs of warm, nonskid socks and slip-on hard sole slippers that can get ruined (for walking the halls indoor before and after labor)

[ ] Eyeglasses and/ or contact lens case and solution (remember, travel-sized products are your friends)

What to Bring For Baby:

[ ] Approved car seat

[ ] Nursing pillow (your lactation consultant can help you position baby if you plan to nurse)

[ ] A coming-home outfit

[ ] Warm blankets (for the ride home)

[ ] Outdoor gear like a snowsuit and hat, as seasonally appropriate (remember, babies are extra sensitive to cold)

Hubby’s List:

[ ] A gym bag packed with a change of clothes and basic hygiene products for your partner

 

Optional Items it for Mama:

[ ] Very light reading (think magazines)

[ ] Your MP3 player (loaded with your favorite tunes, of course)

[ ] Massage oil and tools like rolling pins or tennis balls, and lucky or inspirational objects for labor

[ ] Pen and paper

[ ] Lip balm (hospitals tend to have dry air)

[ ] Camera, film or extra memory card, battery or charger

[ ] A ruin-able nightgown (you can use those lovely hospital gowns, but your own might help you feel more human) how cute is this one?

[ ] Nursing pads (whether or not you plan to nurse, you might appreciate the support and leak-protection)

[ ] Your favorite brand of face wash, shampoo and conditioner (the hospital supplies these things, but bring your own if you’re picky) makeup (as if), lotion

[ ] A few pairs of maternity underwear that can get ruined (the hospital will have disposable pairs that can be worn)

[ ] Protein bar or other favorite snacks

 

Leave at Home:

[ ] Any clothes or nighties you really like (they could get ruined)

[ ] Stopwatch (your nurse or a monitor will take care of timing contractions)

[ ] Heavy flow sanitary pads (the hospital supplies these things, but bring your own if you’re super picky)

[ ] Fluffy Slippers (they will get dirty)

[  ] Extra pillow (unless you’re ok with one that can get ruined, in a pattern distinguishable from hospital white)

[ ] Your own bathing towel (of course the hospital will provide small towels)

[ ] Hairdryer (the hospital will provide, so leave at home unless you absolutely must have your own, this one is really awesome)

[ ] Breast pump, (the hospital should have one you can borrow)

 

Did we miss any of your ‘must haves?’ What would you add? Let us know in the comments below!

 

xo,

Christine

 

 

 

Getting Back on Track

I received these products complimentary for testing purposes.

We all know we should eat a healthy diet and exercise for a healthy life. But let’s face it, as busy professionals, stay at home moms with busy children, working college students, or whatever your day-to-day looks like sometimes we need a little help achieving balance.

Here’s another reality, spring break, summer vacations and fun trips to the pool are right around the corner. I’ve teamed up with my dear friend Jennifer to help you get ready for shedding all those winter clothes and feeling your best!

Drinking my Morning Smoothie

Good Guts

The best place I’ve always found to reset myself after the long holiday eating season (you know, Halloween candy to Super Bowl Sunday foods) is in my gut! I can hear you groaning already, stay with me! Our small intestine is where the magic happens. All the delicious food you’ve eaten, the burgers, curly fries, nachos, your kids veggie sticks, yummy red velvet cake, you get the idea, creates a yummy slug in your gut. And without the proper cleaning, it makes it really hard for your body to digest the good stuff! You know, the green salads you’ve been eating all January. Two things: Probiotics and Cleanse.

I have been faithfully taking probiotics for over six years. My very favorite CCN (Certified Clinical Nutritionist) ‘sold’ me on the idea of them years ago. I love her explanation best, so I’m going to share it with you. Envision a bicycle, now imagine the spokes of the tires are covered in slug- they would move slowly, right? We have got to clean the slug of the spokes of the tires can get them moving again! “Parasites and ‘bad’ bacteria can flourish, leading to gas, bloating, and infection and skin issues like acne.” -Kimberly Snyder, CCN

Wait- I can hear you saying “what about yogurt?” Yes, yogurt does have probiotics, but it is dairy, and if you want to go that rout, Kefir is a much better product to consume for live bacterial yogurt cultures. You could also make your own at home! Not ready to go that route? I can say I’ve tried, and find this probiotic by Genesis to be just as good as my other favorite brand.

Now that we’ve established why gut health is important, let’s go back to this season we’re in, the post- holiday eating season. While we’re building up our good gut health, we can help move those unwanted bacteria out of our system a little faster with a Non-Fasting Cleanse. I used the HealthTrim Cleanse for the shortest recommended time, four days. And lets just say I felt a lot lighter. Yep, I went there. But hey! Good gut health is important. And moms with little ones, you know we’re always inspecting those little ‘presents’ they leave for us. Let’s not make it taboo to talk about our own bowl movement health! (Yes, its an important topic to discuss with your health care professional during your annual physical.)

I’ve you’re still with me, pat on the back for you! Let’s talk about one of my favorite seeds, the Chia seed! Yes, that kind like the chia pet that we all had and loved in the 80’s. I had a sheep, which one did you have? Kidding aside, Chia seeds are actually an amazing little super food. Packed with protein and fiber, 1 table spoon of the stuff is fifteen percent of your daily fiber! While Chia seeds themselves aren’t flavorful, there are tons of recipes and ways to include them in your daily meals. As a busy professional I use to sprinkle them with some nutritional yeast on my salad at lunch time! Now my favorite way to eat them is like a puddling. That’s right, I said puddling. Remember how they use to get sticky and that’s how you added them to your clay ‘pet’ so they could grow hair. I know, you’re laughing- but it’s true! You can make really good puddling if you add them to coconut milk and let them sit. Search it on Pinterest, I promise you’ll find tons of recipes! While you can find them at most health food stores, Mila chia seed pouch is pretty special because they dice the chia seeds up! No embarrassing chia seeds stuck between your teeth to worry about at your after lunch meeting, or during playdate at the park.

Good Vibes

Let’s talk about stress. Our lives are so busy, we’re constantly being pulled in a multitude of different directions. Being a mom is so rewarding, but also comes with it’s own challenges. As does being a successful professional, a busy collage student- let’s be real, everyone has stress in their life. go-yin is a delicious way to help balance yourself. I’ve taken St. John’s Wort before, and found it to have similar effects. My temper seems to be a bit move even, and I have more patients for toddler temper tantrums.

Some of my favorite ways to keep stress levels down include:

• Gentle Yoga Sequences
• Herbal Tea (women’s raspberry or lavender)
• A Soothing Soak in the Bath
• Taking a Deep Breath and Counting to 10 before Jumping into a Situation
• Going for a Walk
• Writing down my Thoughts/ Feelings

What are some of the ways you keep your stress level down? Do you listen to music or maybe a podcast? Please share in the comments below!

So Much to Do, so Little Time

Moms are busy, very busy chasing those little legs. How is it that they’re so fast, but still so little? Staying hydrated is important, keeping up with the kids is important, these energy packets you add to water help you do both! Available in Lemon, Mixed Berry, Island Splash, Watermelon, and Grape flavors.

 

I received the variety pack to try, but my favorite by far was the Lemon and Island Splash. I felt like they did a good job of quenching my thirst and boosting my energy level. Depending on how much caffeine you currently drink daily, I would suggest sipping on these, and use chilled water when you mix in a water bottle or a reusable drinking cup. I was a little jittery if I drank one of these too fast.

My other two favorite drink mixes are the GPS Hydrate and GPS Energize. Both remind me a bit of gatorade, but that’s where the comparison stops. I actually feel so much better after I drink the GPS Hydrate, hydrated, and reenergized. And it tastes good! The GPS Energize is recommended as a pre-workout drink. I find that it works well as a pre-work out drink, especially if that workout includes chasing after a toddler at the playground!

 

This is Part 1 of a Two Part Review. I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the rest of the products I’ve been testing on my next post. I’d love to hear from you if you’ve tried any of these before and what you thought of them!

xo,

Christine