Baby Bag Lust

After 2 years of trying to get pregnant, when we finally saw the positive HPT, DH and I were thrilled.  And when the sparkly dust settled DH said he wanted to give me something to celebrate: Any baby bag I want!  But it turns out, there's a lot of bags out there and now, most of the way into the 2nd trimester, I've narrowed it down to 6 contenders.

Burberry Carolina Pebble Grain Leather Diaper Bag. This massive bag is made easy to clean yes gorgeous leather.  Form and function in a pretty, pretty package. $1595.

Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM.  This is the go-to baby bag for purse lovers.  The open tote seems to hold more than Mary Poppin's carpet bag in style.  It's not an actual baby bag so it lacks a lot of the compartments and bottles but it'll hold everything!  An added plus?  It's timeless.  $940.

Kate Spade Nylon Stripe Stevie Baby Bag.  Pregnancy has given me an affinity for stripes.  I used to wonder why so many maternity clothes come in horizontal stripes, especially given the expanding round bellies but it turns out stripes are quite a posh pattern to add to a pregnant wardrobe. $418.

Rebecca Minkoff Knocked Up Baby Bag. I love that Minkoff went from making the Morning After Bag to the next logical step -- a Knocked Up Baby Bag.  Minkoff's edgy yet classic style makes this a great pick for the rocker chic mommy.  $550.

3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli Shark Embossed Large Satchel.  Ok, truth be told, I wanted this bag regardless of having a baby!  Look at the lush exterior and the seemingly endless interior.  It'll go from day to night, baby feedings to board rooms.  My only concern is that motherhood might be too messy for a bag not made for diapers. $895.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Preppy Nylon Eliz-A-Baby Bag. My current everyday bag is a Marc Jacobs Preppy in brown leather and it's reliable, goes with everything and holds a ton.  This Nylon version seems baby friendly and just as easily coordinated into my post baby wardrobe. $348.

Unisex Nursery Decor

My anatomy scan won't be for another 2 days so I thought I'd mock up a nursery idea before finding out the baby's gender.  I have considered just going in a unisex direction, regardless of the results of the gender, so that we can reuse a lot of the nursery decor for the next baby and to avoid those pesky gender roles.

DH and I have tossed around the idea of a nerdy nursery theme like Super Mario Bros (Mario/Luigi skewed if a boy or Princess Peach skewed if a girl) but I don't know that I want to sit in a video game set in the middle of the night while breastfeeding and sleep deprived.  We also considered a Dr. Who theme, complete with a Tardis and a crack in the wall but we all know that would just take too much timey wimey.

Here is my Unisex Nursery Decor detail:

1. Land of Nod Letter Garland:  This adorably customizable letter garland can spell out anything from "Welcome Home Little Bean" or you know, the baby's actual name.  Unless the baby's name is Little Bean, then my original wording recommendation stands. $17.

2. Pottery Barn Kids Numbered Pulls. I found them online and they might be discontinued but I love these number pulls.  I'd like to add them to the Malm Dresser from IKEA to make it a little more nursery friendly.

3. IKEA Malm Dresser. This seems to be the modern nursery's staple.  It's clean lines, easily customizable face (see the PBK Numbered Pulls above) and low price makes it a go to choice for a lot of families. $139.

4. Grey and White Chevron Rug.  I'm on the fence about putting a rug on the carpet but this chevron pattern would add a much needed pop to the otherwise design neglected floor. Plus, it's easier to wash and sanitize a carpet than constantly shampoo the carpet in the Little One's room right?  $140.

5. CB2 Knit Poufs. I'm going to let you in on a little secret.  I was thinking about knitting my own poufs so I can get them in the colors I wanted until I found out that to buy the yarn and stuffing, invest the time in learning how to properly tension my knitting and build the loom would far out-price the cost of me just heading over to my local CB2 and buying them.  And turns out CB2 does make them in the colors I want. Lucky day. $90.

6.babyletto Hudson 3-in-1 Convertible Crib. Don't think it's all about looks with this mid century crib.  No, it's also lead and phthalate safe and has a non-toxic finish.  Ok, you got me, the modern grey color with the whimsical design doesn't hurt either.  $399. 

7. Klaussner Tufted Rocking Recliner. I'm not 100% in love with this recliner but I do want a rocker recliner in cream or white for the nursery.  It seems like a pretty tough category to fill since so many recliners are butt ugly.  This one makes me want to vomit the least.  $420.

8. Frandsen Pendant Lights. Pairing 3 of these lights over the a recliner that doesn't make me vomit would be the cat's pajamas. Forget chandeliers in the nursery, ball pendant lights in bright poppy colors add the perfect punch for baby's bedroom. $91 each or $273 as displayed.

9. Children's Book Covers in Album Frames. I debated myself over and over again about the wall decor of the nursery.  Wall stencils?  Wallpaper? Paint effects?  Wall decals?  The options are endless.  But what would be just perfect?  A wall filled with album covers first filled with covers of our favorite children's books. As the baby grows, the contents of the frames can change.  $16 each or $192 as displayed.
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Class Review: Preventing Preterm Labor

The perpetual student that I am cannot pass up any class offered on my topic of obsession.  Currently, that's pregnancy.  So when Kaiser gave me a list of classes I could take to prepare for pregnancy and childbirth, I signed up for every single one of them.  DH, lucky man that he is, also gets to come.

Last night we went to a Preventing Preterm Labor Class.  Here's what I learned:

Preterm Labor is any labor that begins before 37 weeks of pregnancy.  Not all Preterm Labor ends in Preterm Birth as there are many drugs that can be administered to delay birth even after labor occurs.  Preterm birth is particularly dangerous as it accounts for 35% of infant deaths since premature babies often have underdeveloped organs and are unable to stabilize their own temperatures.

Risk Factors:
- Alcohol, Tobacco or Drug use during pregnancy.
- Previous preterm births.  If a mother's first child was a preterm birth, her second child has a 30% chance of going into preterm labor.  If her first two children were preterm births, there is a 70% chance that she will go into preterm labor with her 3rd.
-Twins and triplets pregnancies.  This is more a matter of not having enough space for multiples for a full 40 week term.
-Lack of prenatal care.  Anything from abnormally shaped uterus, vaginal infection, excess fluid in the uterus and shortened cervix that can be detected during the course of adequate prenatal care and addressed to prevent issues may cause preterm labor if left untreated.
-Placental Issues.
-Mothers age under 17 or over 35.


Keep in mind that some women have no risk factors and go into preterm labor while others have many risk factors and don't go into Preterm Labor.  There is no way to know for sure which mothers will go into Preterm Labor.

What to Look For: (Contact a doctor if experiencing any two of the following)
-Contractions.  As a FTM, I don't know what these feel like but it's been described to me as pressure building from the pelvis, coming up in waves to the top of the abdomen and then back down.  The pressure causes the stomach to go from the squishiness of the tip of a nose to the hardness of a forehead and can last anywhere between 10 to 60 seconds. It feels like the abdomen is tightening like a fist.
-Change in vaginal discharge.  An unusual change in quantity, texture or both may be a sign of preterm labor.
-Pelvic pressure. Again, any unusual change in pressure on the cervix or pelvis, as though the baby's head is bearing down, is a sign to look out for.
-Lower uterine cramps that feel similar to menstrual cramps.  By the second trimester, anything that feels similar to period cramps are a cause for concern.
-Low, Dull and constant backache.  This is different from the normal back pain experienced during pregnancy.  Again, this symptom should feel unfamiliar and as a result, a cause for concern.
-Upper abdomen cramps, specifically in the stomach area, that feels abnormal like food poisoning, pain or pressure.
-If experiencing any spotting in pink or red, go to the doctor or hospital immediately.  Do not wait for other symptoms, red means go.

How to Address Contractions:
-Stop whatever activity is being performed when the contractions began.
-Go to the bathroom and empty the bladder.
-Drink 2-3 glasses of water or juice.  Nothing caffeinated.
-Go lay down on the left side of the body for 1 hour.
-If contractions have subsided and are not accompanied by other symptoms, there is no need to go to the doctor or hospital.  Spend the rest of the day in low stress activities.  Do not return to the original activity at the time the contractions began.

-If the contractions occur more than once in an hour, after emptying the bladder, drinking the fluids and laying down, immediately call the doctor or go to a hospital.
-If another contraction occurs after the hour of rest, immediately call the doctor or go to a hospital.


Tip: If going to the hospital at less than 32 weeks, make sure the admitting hospital has a NICU unit that can accommodate babies under 32 weeks.  Some hospitals, if unequipped, will transfer the baby to the closest hospital capable of treating and under 32 week baby while the mother has to stay put in the hospital originally check into.  This results in the mother being unable to see her baby until fully recovered in separate hospitals.

What to Expect If Admitted:
-Mothers in preterm labor may be admitted anywhere between a few hours to a few days depending on cervix dilation.  Not all preterm labor will result in preterm birth
-The mother and baby may be put under monitoring.  The baby's heartbeat will be tracked as well as the mother's contractions.  The monitoring device is unable to tell the difference between weak and strong contractions and the doctors will depend on the mother to detail the strength of the contraction. 
-There are a number of different drugs that can be administered based on the individual situation to prevent preterm labor if the baby cannot survive outside of the womb.

For more information, visit the WebMD, March of Dimes or Babycenter.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional.  This is not medical advice.

Nausea, Morning Sickness, Vomiting

Nausea is that terrible feeling in your stomach when you're pregnant letting you know that everything is ok with your little bean.

Morning Sickness is a misnomer since it's more like All-Day Sickness or After-and-Between-Every-Meal Sickness, a friendly reminder that your body is changing into an incubator.

And vomiting, well that's baby's way of letting you know that he/she doesn't want you eating that. Or the other thing.  Or whatever else you're thinking about putting in your craw.

I have been battling these three symptoms for what feels like two months.  I've lost 10 lbs and gone through almost every natural remedy and here are my reviews of commonly suggested natural nausea cures.

Preggie Pop Lollipops and Drops. I opted for the Preggie Pop Drops because walking around with a lollipop sticking out of my mouth just wasn't going to communicate the level of professionalism needed in my workplace. The Preggie Pop Drops worked more often than not but I quickly got bored with the flavors.  It tastes a lot like an extra sour apple jolly rancher which is not very pleasant in your mouth for over a few hours a day.

I've read that people ate other sour candies like War Heads, Jolly Ranchers, Sour Jelly Bellies, etc.  I tried all of these and stand by the fact that Preggie Pops are superior for 2 reasons. One, the sour and sweet combination stay constant in the Preggie Pops which is actually what staves away the nausea when they work.  Warheads are only sour up front (and the extreme level of acid in the beginning does more harm than good.)  Jolly Ranchers simply aren't sour enough.  The same with Sour Jelly Bellies. Two, Preggie Pop Drops melt in your mouth much slower than any other candy out there which reduces the amount of sugar intake while attempting to keep nausea at bay.

I bought one of the organic boxes ($7.99 for 12 drops at my local Babies R Us) and then just bought 2 packages of the non organic ($7.99 for 21 drops).  When they ran out, I didn't buy more.

Lemonade. This seemed to be the only beverage that took the edge of the nausea while I was eating.  It didn't work all the time but when it did, I was grateful.  I hosted a Cricut Party during my first trimester and made a couple of gallons of Country Time Lemonade from a mix and added fresh lemons.  It kept my nausea at bay for hours.  My only issue is that a large intake of lemonade everyday is not great for tooth enamel. And I would cross a fine line where the acid from the lemons just became too much.

Lemonade is not pleasant to throw up.

Ginger Tea. Instead of using ginger tea bags, DH would just slice fresh ginger and steep in hot water for me.  This worked a total of two times and had to be at the perfect temperature.  Too hot and I couldn't drink it fast enough to make a difference.  Too cold and it upset my stomach more than helped.

Sea-Band. I'm not sure how these work at all for other women but all they did for me is irritate my wrists. I understand the concept is pressure points but they just didn't work for me and I'm a big believer in acupuncture and acupressure.


Vitamin B-6. I've read over and over again the Vitamin B6 or the combination of Vitamin B6 and Unisom can beat morning sickness.  Well, I'm not about to start taking Unisom (trying to stay all natural) so I opted to try just the Vitamin B6.  It is somewhat effective taking the edge off the nausea but not getting rid of it entirely.  I am continuing to use the B6, however, because it's supposed to work better over time.

Ice Chips. This has been my savior.  I read about it on my friend's blog and had DH immediately break me off some ice chips.  I ate 3 bowls of them keeping me both hydrated and virtually nausea free.  The combination of constantly having something in my mouth, a slow drip of water into my system and not adding any unwanted flavors or calories to my body seems to do the trick. A must try.

Ginger Mints. These work a lot like Preggie Pops for me except depending on the day the flavor may or may not be pleasant.  They are much cheaper than Preggie Pops and less of a tip off that you're expecting.  I prefer Trader Joe's brand in the tin but couldn't find the picture so you can see Newman's Own in the picture.

What worked for your nausea and morning sickness?
 

Our Announcement!

We decided we would not be posting an announcement on Facebook and just opt to tell people individually as it became relevant.  After considering multiple ways of announcing to our grandparents, we decided on this: