That CP Mom Life

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Unconventional Parenting

I never considered myself to be unconventional in the way that I’m choosing to raise my son, but the world has different ideas. I thought it would be fun to list some of the parenting practices I have for my toddler that have made other people do a double-take, or even grasp their non-existent pearls.

Cloth Diapers and Wipes

This one was a no-brainer for me and we decided on these while I was still pregnant. You make a one-time investment of $200-$400 and you are set until potty training. We do buy disposables for when we leave the house. I would be fine using cloth all of the time, but this was a compromise I made with my husband to get him on board. I plan on doing a dedicated post on cloth diapering in the future.

Letting My Child Go Barefoot

I put shoes on my son when we are going to be outside, or if his bare feet would be touching a dirty floor. I would never let him be barefoot at the doctor’s office. Otherwise, I let his tiny feet be free. Something about it worked for him because he was walking and shortly after, running by 10-11 months.

Treats

Sometimes when I make a meal for my toddler I will include some chocolate chips, Cheezits, brownies, and such. I don’t save it until the end for dessert either. I give it to him as a part of the meal. I was brought up in a house where food was used as a reward and It messed with my relationship with food. I choose not to repeat that with my son. He doesn’t earn food by doing, or not doing something. Food is food. When the treat is there from the beginning, he doesn’t feel the need to gobble it up fast, or first. He eats it at the same pace as everything else, and it’s not a big deal.

Music

My toddler listens to an array of different music genres. It is something he has always had in his life because I listen to music every day, including when I was pregnant. He loves Bounce Patrol, Queen, Moana, Billy Joel, Blues Traveler, and his all-time favorite Pentatonix. I don’t limit him to baby and kid’s music because It would feel like I was doing him a disservice. His brain is growing so much in these years and the different types of music are helping him recognize patterns, understand beats and different instruments, acquire language through song, and so much more.

Messes are Fine

This boy gets dirty every single day, and I encourage it wholeheartedly. Leftover lunch? Go ahead and use it to finger paint. Decide to play in yogurt instead of eating it? Rub it in dude! It’s good for your skin. Want to toss dirt in every possible direction? Here is a shovel and bucket, make it rain. Some of the best discovery play comes from getting dirty. Clothes can be washed, children can be bathed, cars and carpets can be vacuumed. Play on little one.

Laugh, Scream, Roar

When we are at home, or outside at a park my son knows he is free to yell, laugh, scream, and roar like a dinosaur. This particular expression is just another extension of play. There are times and places to use a quieter voice, and he naturally knows those places so far, lucky us. At home, the noise level is not constant and usually happens in short bursts throughout the day. It seems like if he just lets it out when he wants to then it doesn’t get the chance to build up and go on and on.

What Box?

These are just a few things that I never thought I was weird for doing, but are apparently considered outside-of-the-box parenting. I think I’m just going to set up shop here outside the box. Feel free to tell me your unconventional parenting practices in the comments below. I’m always excited to talk to you guys.

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My Birth Story

Hey guys! It has been a minute, hasn’t it? My pregnancy got really tough there at the end, and I have been responsible for a human life ever since. Not to mention that I birthed a baby into a pandemic. How is everyone doing by the way? I missed you all! I’m trying my best to get this blog up and running again, so without further ado let’s get into my birth story.

THIS STORY WILL CONTAIN WORDS LIKE VAGINA AND CANDIDLY DEPICT MY C-SECTION. THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY.

Despite my best efforts to have a vaginal birth, I ended up getting a C-section for medical reasons. It was scheduled for a Monday, so I was exactly 39 weeks along. I tried to will my baby out a little ahead of time to no avail. He was definitely taking the sunroof out instead of the waterslide.

I absolutely could not sleep the night before. I was awash with conflicting emotions of fear and excitement. I laid in bed all night anyway trying to convince myself I was getting rest. We got up at 4 AM. My husband got all of our pre-packed things and baby accessories in the car. I sat on the side of my bed in a half-daze, texted my cousin, and looked around the room. I knew it would be the last time I would be there without the baby in my arms.

We live near the hospital, so the drive was over before I even found a comfortable-ish position to sit in. A good friend our ours was working the desk as we checked in. I took it as a very good sign. Every time we had a medical scare, that same friend was working and everything always turned out okay.

My pregnant brain decided it would be a good idea to walk myself over to my wing, which was 4 hallways away. I figured it was going to be a little while before I would walk again with the spinal block and all. It must have taken me 20 minutes to get there. I had to stop every couple of minutes, but I was determined and my husband was patient.

We got set up in a temporary room and I changed into a hospital gown. A very kind nurse came in and explained the timeline and how things would go. Did I mention she prepped me for the C-section with more stinky wipes and by casually shaving the top of my vagina while she talked us through everything? Because that is a thing that happened. She offered my husband something to eat, which he accepted, and we were left to our own devices for a bit. We took the last picture of me pregnant.

The anesthesiologist came in to have a chat with me. He told me what he was going to do and I talked to him about narcotics. They affect me in a way I really don’t like and we came up with a game plan for not being drugged out of my mind for labor. He was great and made a few accommodations for me that made me more mentally comfortable during delivery. Ladies, I cannot stress this enough, please be vocal about what you need, or dislike about the process. Not everything can be fixed, but you may come out at least half-way happy if you are open, kind, and understanding with your medical team.

My OB came in, spoke to us briefly, and then it was time for my husband to suit up. This was pre-virus, so he was allowed in the OR and my room after. The next thing I knew I was being wheeled into the OR. . . and then immediately wheeled back out because there was another woman needing an emergency delivery. I was just getting settled in to wait for my turn when my OB came back in and said we were good to go. The other lady got what she needed I guess.

Now came the part I had been dreading since the word “C-section” came into play: the spinal block. I have scoliosis and had been concerned about the injection for months, so much so that I arranged for an anesthesiologist to check my back weeks beforehand to be as certain as possible the injection had a chance of working. I was worried I would move or have a spasm at the wrong moment of injection. I was worried it wouldn’t work, they would have to put me under, and I would miss the birth of my son.

I sat on the side of the raised operating table, feeling the cold of the iodine, the chill of the freezing spray, and a big pinch that burned. Lightening shot down my right leg and I screamed. That was the weirdest part. I screamed without making the decision to scream. I was just as surprised as everyone else. They asked if I was okay and I said yes. My anesthesiologist was a pro. He kept that needle in through all that and didn’t miss a beat. Heads up, the involuntary screaming is a common reaction to the injection. Who knew?

I laid down and a whirlwind of medical prep happened around me. I couldn’t see anything past my neck once the curtain went up. My legs never went numb the way I expected them to. They felt pleasantly warm, like sitting in a bathtub. I told the anesthesiologist and he told me to try to move them. I couldn’t. It sounded like they were about to start and I gently requested someone go get my husband. They flat out forgot about him. If I hadn’t spoken up, he would have missed the birth of his son. At last, he sat on a stool on my end of the table and we were off to the races.

I don’t know if I can accurately put into words what my C-section felt like. It was not at all what I expected. I felt every single thing they were doing, but it didn’t hurt. I felt every cut, all the moving and shuffling, and I absolutely felt them pulling the baby out, but there was no pain. It was the weirdest sensation and I was intrigued by it and tried to focus on it because it might be the only time in my life I experienced it.

About 4 minutes went by and the doctor said she could see the baby. My heart leaped, and I closed my eyes waiting to hear my baby cry. A small, wet sound reached my ears and no one said anything. They didn’t put the baby on my chest and I knew that meant something was wrong. They rushed the baby to the other side of the room and my husband looked at me. I told him to go. He got to be with the baby for a very long 10 minutes while I was getting operated on and the baby was getting a breathing treatment.

No one would tell me if the baby was okay, so I laid on the table and listened for my husband’s voice. Finally, after what felt like an eternity I heard his chuckle lightly. Now I knew the baby was okay. They brought him to me after his treatment and I looked into his tiny face and knew my life had completely changed.

I held him through recovery and into the hospital room. It was really hard to let my husband hold him. I just wanted him in my arms all the time. Of course, my husband held him just as much as I did and even did skin-to-skin with him. My son weighed 5 pounds 15 ounces and was 20 inches long.

This is where my birth story ends. There is a hospital stay story and my recovery story, but I will only type those up if you guys are interested. Let me know!

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Where the Heck Have I Been?

Man, you guys. It has been a trip, and I mean I tripped so hard I fell off the face of the Earth for almost 10 months. Is anyone still out there? I’m back and surprise, I have a 6-month-old baby. We are all doing well, and geez Louise do I have a lot of stuff to catch you up on. I also need to remember how to blog, so I’m sorry if my relaunch gives you air sickness. I will get back to my old posting schedule after this post, or as best I can manage with the baby. Hang tight, my birthing story is on deck.

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What’s All This Then?

Nice to Meet You

Hi. My name is Katie, and I’m a first-time mom. I also have Cerebral Palsy (CP). What the heck is CP? We will get there. Like many women, once the surprise and the shock of seeing those 2 pink lines pop up began to taper off, I immediately scoured the internet for any information I could find. Spoilers! There is a lot of stuff out there; almost none of it has to do with pregnancy and CP.

Why Am I Here?

I could not believe the lack of resources and information for women like me. “ I should write a book, or start a blog, or something,” I thought to myself. So, here we are, and this is that blog. I want to make 2 things 100% clear:

I am not a medical professional, and you should always check with your doctor if you have questions, or concerns about your pregnancy, yourself, your child, or anything else medically related.

CP covers a spectrum of symptoms, ailments, abilities, and the like. I can only speak to my own experiences, which can be vastly different from yours.

What to Expect

I want to give you an honest take on my experiences so far in this pregnancy. No topics are off-limits. Pregnancy is a beautiful natural process that can get really, really disgusting at times. I want to have conversations with you guys. What questions do you have? Have you found a really good resource somewhere that I missed?

Babies, Babies, Babies!

I will be continuing this blog into motherhood as well. That’s where the learning really starts right? I also have this really strong passion for money-saving stuff, which I have already begun to apply to my impending bundle of joy arriving.

Stuff That Has Nothing to do with CP

Cerebral Palsy is a big part of me; it has shaped me as a person and I embrace it, but it is not something that I feel defines me. All of that said, I can’t wait to get going, so I’m going to get started on the juicy stuff now. See you there.

What I Brought to the Hospital

Once I got into the second trimester, I started scouring the internet for articles and videos on what kind of things to pack in my hospital bag. The short answer is it depends on you and the hospital you will be delivering at. This is not a one-size-fits-all situation, but I like to think of myself as the queen of giving you a jumping-off point so here we go.

Research Your Hospital

This is like a pre-step to packing your bag, but it is an important one. Reach out to the hospital, or potential hospitals if there is more than one, that you will be delivering at and ask what items are provided to you. This can vary greatly from hospital to hospital and it will absolutely. affect what you need to bring with you. There might also be things that you cannot bring due to hospital policy. Bonus points if you can set up a tour for yourself before the big day.

Don’t Overpack

Keep in mind that you could be in labor, and thus in pain, trying to load the car up. You won’t need your four-piece matching luggage set. I used two average-sized backpacks. One had mine and my husband’s things. This was Pre-COVID, so he was allowed to stay with me. The other backpack had things for the baby for the ride home. I highly recommend backpacks because they are easy to grab in a rush and leave hands free.

What Did I Pack?

Not a lot. This is just me, but I have always traveled light. Part of it is a necessity because dealing with heavy bags is rough on my balance. I packed one change of clothes for myself because I knew there would be blood. Why would I choose to bleed on my own stuff and have to go home and wash it when I can just get some hospital gowns bloody? I don’t wear makeup in my day-to-day life, so I didn’t bring any.

I brought basic toiletries shampoo, body wash, razor, deodorant, toothbrush, all that and I honestly did not shower while I was there. There were two reasons:

I had staples
I was in a lot of pain

You can ask for a shampoo cap and warm wipes to clean off with, and you should, they are fantastic.

Most of our backpack was full of my husband’s clothes, but I also brought a grocery bag full of DVDs. I didn’t want to be at the mercy of whatever happened to be on TV, and we wanted our baby to be able to sleep through background noise, so I brought about ten movies and three TV shows.

The main items I used were my brush, headband, Chapstick, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, and phone charger. Once the baby got there I only cared about basic hygiene and taking care of him.

Things You Might Not Think About

Bring a hairbrush and whatever hair things you use. Pack some Chapstick. Even if you don’t really use it in the real world, trust me. Having a baby sucks all the moisture out of your lips. Bring all the medications you take. DO NOT administer them yourself. All of the meds have to be charted, so give them to your medical team. Pack a warm robe, even if you give birth in the warm and hot months hospital hallways are cold. Bring something that makes you feel comfortable. It could be your favorite lotion, some fuzzy socks, or even a blanket from home. Bring snacks. No one ever thinks of this one, but man, that last thing you want to be with everything else going on is hungry and solely dependent on very busy nurses for food. Don’t get me wrong, they are busting their butts, and they will feed you, but your hunger is not a priority if there is an emergency going on.

The Quick List

If you’re looking for a checklist, here it is. The main items you may want to consider for your hospital bag are:

Clothes for you, partner, and baby
Toiletries
Hairbrush and ties or a headband
Chapstick
A warm wrap-around robe
Phone Chargers
Entertainment, your room might not have a TV
Snacks, snacks, snacks
A breastfeeding pillow, hospital pillows can work too
Diapers, wipes, diaper cream (if not provided by the hospital, or if you have a long ride home)
Carseat They legally cannot let you leave without one

There you have it. I hope you found this helpful. I love sharing my experience with you guys. You can always reach out to me in the comments below or on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. All of my blogs are also available as a podcast on Spotify, Anchor, Breaker, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, and RadioPublic!

What My 17 Month Old Eats in a Day

I remember my moment of sheer panic when I realized my baby wouldn’t be living off breastmilk and formula forever. It was so nice knowing what I was going to feed him every time and that he was getting the nutrition he needed to grow and thrive. Soon it was going to be up to me to provide him a balanced diet and I was all but convinced I was going to fail. Spoilers, I didn’t fail at all. It was actually a lot less stressful than I thought and pretty easy once I got the hang of it.

This is my friendly reminder that I am not a professional nutritionist. This blog is for entertainment purposes only. When in doubt, check with your doctor.

From Bottle to Solids

As he got a little older we started thickening the thinner baby foods up with baby rice, or oatmeal to get him used to chewing and manipulating the food in his mouth more. Side note: this is NOT the same as putting baby cereal in a bottle. PLEASE DO NOT mix baby cereal in a bottle with breastmilk, formula, or anything else. I covered this in an earlier post I will link HERE. It is dangerous and can lead to intestinal problems allergies for your baby, and more.

The first food he had that was not specifically made for babies was Cheerios. He loves these and they dissolve quickly in saliva. In this period of feeling out what he could eat, we also gave him Townhouse club crackers for the same reasons. Puffs were, and still are, another go-to.

To Chew, or Not to Chew?

We ran into a small issue with my son not wanting to chew as much as he should to get things down smoothly. Since 30% of parenting is acting silly and exaggerated for the benefit of your child, I would sit in front of his highchair, eat what he was eating, and make a big, big deal out of chewing. MMM’s included. He, of course, laughed his little baby butt off, but it worked. I kept enforcing it at every meal, painstakingly in some instances, but he does great now.

Five Food Groups

When You think about food groups you think about four of them, right? This is still technically true for toddlers too. It’s just that fruits and vegetables each get their own category. Let’s break it down:

Fruits

Vegetables

Whole Grains

Protein

Dairy

These are the groups you want to hit throughout the day, every day, to keep your toddler well-fed and growing like a weed. Keep in mind that your toddler is not going to conform to a balanced meal all of the time. There might be some days when he just wants to shove whole grains in his face all day, drink some milk, eat a banana, and call it a day. I’m here to tell you that is okay. With toddlers, it’s less about what they eat in a day and more about the nutrition they get over the week. Keep offering from other groups and he will eat. Their little bodies are pretty good at knowing what they need.

Breakfast

A typical breakfast for my son consists of whole grain, fruit, and either dairy or protein. A few examples include:

A waffle
Pears
Cottage Cheese

Almond butter on toast (Protein and whole wheat)
A banana

Eggs
Turkey Bacon
Blueberries
Cheerios

Snack

He usually needs a snack before a nap. Sometimes it’s as simple as a cup of milk, but other times it can be string cheese and crackers or amounts to essentially a second breakfast. He has another snack before bed which consists of broken up elements of meal things like:

Puffs
Dried berries, or dried cranberries
Cheerios/Kix
Goldfish
Graham crackers
Apple sauce pouch
Chocolate chips
Carrots/green beans/corn
Raisins

Lunch

This is where I like to hit vegetables and protein hard. I’ll throw another group in there too depending on how breakfast went. Some examples are:

An all-beef hot dog
Peas
Plain greek yogurt

Macaroni and cheese with fresh spinach mixed in
Blackberries
Green beans

Meat paste on toast
Carrots
Raisins

Navy Beans
Wheat tortilla
Corn

Dinner

Dinner is always different sometimes it’s big and sometimes it’s the size of a snack. It varies depending on the other meals of the day. Some things we serve for dinner are:

Chicken Ravioli
Cut-up cucumber
String Cheese

Grilled cheese sandwich
Quarted grape tomatoes
Watermelon

Chicken sticks
Strawberries
Fried potatoes

As far as what he’s drinking, we only give him water at meals. He drinks milk in the morning and evening as a separate thing. That isn’t something we implemented, that is just how he prefers it. We don’t plan on giving him fruit juice until later. He eats plenty of fresh fruit. My toddler drinks about 10-24 ounces of water a day. I keep his cup in the same place so he knows where to go if he wants a drink.

Here we are at the end of the blog. I hope you found this helpful, entertaining, or at least something to put in your parenting arsenal. I’m always open to having a conversation if you want to reach out in the comments, or on the Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram page.

Alternative Momming

Alternative Momming

Guess whose back? Yeah, I know I said this once before, but really now guys here we go! I just want to take a second to thank all of you. You, reading this right now. Thank you. I fell into some major mama wormholes when this was just getting underway and you came back, or are here for the first time to share in my journey again. You legitimately rock my socks.

Guys, what a time it has been, right? How are you doing? A lot has happened in my time voyaging through wormholes, and I can’t wait to fill you in. My son is going to be 17 months in just a few days. It feels like time flew by and slowed to a crawl at the same time. Just a heads up before we get going, I do have affiliate links in here for some things I use. If you buy anything, I will get a kickback. I want to be transparent about it. They are things I bought on my own and actually use.

Things I Did to Make Raising My Son Easier

I’m 17 months into this thing and trust me, I’m still figuring all of this out. Believe me when I say these solutions are not a one-size-fits-all thing. You may have to tweak things to work for you, but these are things I was concerned about as a mom with Cerebral Palsy that I had to figure out as I went.

How did you carry him as a newborn?

I didn’t. It absolutely killed me not to have a more hands-on approach in that way with my son, but my C-section WRECKED me. My strength took a factory reset to zero and point-blank it would not have been safe to carry him. This does not mean I didn’t hold him, it just means I didn’t transport him from place to place. My husband did all of the carrying.

How did you hold him safely?

Boppies and pillows! I was basically a bassinet with boobs. The Boppy also helped cushion my incision which is a very happy bonus. We put pillows under at least one arm if not both so the only thing I had to focus on was his weight. Here is a link if you want to check it out! Boppy Nursing Pillow – Bare Naked | Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding, Propping Baby, Tummy Time, Sitting Support | Pillow Only

How did you bathe him?

In the newborn days, I placed him on his changing station and would wash and dry him one appendage at a time with a bowl of warm, soapy water, a washcloth, and a towel. Once he got a little bigger I used the whale tub from Fisher-Price. It has an attachment to use for newborns that reach a certain weight. I still use that tub with him now and probably will until he is ready for the bathtub. I can’t use the whale tub in the bathroom because it is too low and strains my back. I put a big towel down on the kitchen table and use the tub there. When I stand up it is the perfect height.

How do you carry him around now?

Once he could hold his head up and he was the right weight, I started to wear him around the house in a carrier. The downside was I couldn’t get him in it by myself, and I could only do 15-20 minute sessions. I also bought a $15 folding stroller with no umbrella to use inside. I use the stroller whenever I’m alone with him. I transfer him from his playpen to the stroller, push him to the changing pad, or wherever, get him out and do what we have to do. I still can’t hold him and walk, but I do hold him standing up with a couch, or bed behind me so neither one of us misses out on that.

A note about the stroller is he was about 15 pounds or so before I could push it with his weight counterbalancing me.

This is the closest thing I could find to the one I have. Infantino Flip Advanced 4-in-1 Carrier – Ergonomic, convertible, face-in and face-out front and back carry for newborns and older babies 8-32 lbs

I want to make a note here that I have not ever loaded my son into his car seat. My husband has always been around to do it; However, they do have car seats that pivot so the child is facing toward the open door to make the process easier. Then you just turn it back to the original position to drive. This is hands down what I would have gotten had I known it existed before I bought a different one.

He can outrun you now, how do you keep him safe when you’re alone?

I bought the penthouse of playpens for my son. I’m 5’1 and I can get in there, lay down, and not touch the sides. It’s usually known ahead of time when I’m going to have him by myself, so I just get everything we need set up next to the playpen. Then I get in there with him and we just play. There have been a few occasions when I had him all day by myself and I used a combination of the stroller, his highchair, and the playpen to keep him safe. Luckily he was younger and didn’t mind the playpen as much as he wants freedom (and he gets it) now. This is what I have. Baby Playpen Portable Kids Safety Play Center Yard Home Indoor Fence Anti-Fall Play Pen, Playpens for Babies, Extra Large Playard, Anti-Fall Playpen

We have also started harness training him. I know that makes him sound like a dog, and I hate the name, but he loves his harness. I never thought I would be one of those moms to put their kids on a leash, but here I am telling you loud and proud because it is about keeping him safe while knowing I can’t catch him if he runs. He falls over every time he gets a tug, so it’s a work in progress.

He has a regular stroller for when we go out, but I also bought a Radio Flyer wagon to take him around in. The problem was, once I got it I realized I couldn’t pull it. Luckily they make one you can push with a bar, so now my nephew has the pull wagon and my son will be getting the push one soon. This is the pull wagon. Radio Flyer EZ Folding Wagon with Canopy for Kids and Cargo

Things I Would Do Differently

There are companies out there that make cribs that open up in the front. Think of how you open a gate, but it’s the front of the crib. My son is in the 75 percentile for height, the boy is tall, so we had to drop the mattress down to the lowest setting early. Once we did that. I couldn’t reach to put him to bed anymore. If I had an open-up crib, it wouldn’t be a problem.

A bassinet on wheels! We used one that was portable with a handle. (We never moved it with him inside.) That worked, but if we had one on wheels I could have moved him from room to room, or to the changing pad without assistance. This would have been the one. Graco Dream Suite Bassinet, Mason, One Size

I would have gotten a comfy reclining rocking chair from day one. I went with the classic wooden rocking chair and it was a nightmare. It squeaked, it made breastfeeding even more uncomfortable, it was bad. We traded out chairs a couple of months ago and the difference is like night and day.

As always, I hope I was able to help so of you mamas and daddies out, or at least gave you a jumping-off point. It feels great to be back, and I will catch you on the flip side!

Busting Baby Myths

Everyone Has An Opinion, Not Everyone is Right

As soon as we announced we had a baby on the way, the advice came flooding in. Some of it was great, and some of it was not so great. People have been raising babies since there were babies to raise, and the methods and techniques have changed and evolved as we have learned from our triumphs and mistakes. That being said, old habits die hard, and the internet can sometimes muddy the waters further. I have compiled a few baby myths that are entirely FALSE. It is time to put these puppies to rest once and for all. Some of these myths are quite dangerous. I’m going to take this time to remind you that this blog is for entertainment purposes only, and does not replace talking to your doctor.

Babies Need Quiet to Fall Asleep

When babies are in the womb, they are surrounded by all kinds of sounds: digestion, blood flow, your heartbeat, and eventually voices and sounds from the world outside. They are pretty well trained to tune things out when it is time to sleep. The best example I have of this is my sister, who spent a lot of time during her pregnancy in a bowling alley. When my nephew was born, he had no problem falling asleep in that same bowling alley because he had grown so accustomed to the sound before he was born. Keeping noise to a normal household level might even help your baby in the long run, as it will only strengthen their ability to tune things out for sleep; thus, making it easier for them to sleep just about anywhere.

Newborns Can’t See

Unless your baby is born with a specific eye problem, they can see when they are born. I think the misnomer here comes from the fact that newborns can’t see very far when they are first born, and it is that aspect of their sight that ends up improving. Newborns can see about 8-15 inches in front of them clearly. This is also about as far as a mothers face is away from her baby’s when she is holding them. Babies will spend a lot of time focused on faces, and may even start to mimic your expressions over time. Young babies also prefer to look at toys, and pictures that have a high contrast (like black and white) because it is easier for them to see.

Picking Up A Baby Too Much Will Spoil Them

There is no such thing as spoiling a newborn. Your baby is brand new to life and needs you for a multitude of reasons:

comfort and security- everything is new, and a lot of it is scary. Your baby will need lots of snuggles to feel safe while they learn to cope with literally everything.
body temperature regulation– newborns cannot regulate their own body temperature, but being in skin-to skin contact is a great way to fix that problem. The great part is your body takes care of everything, all you have to do is enjoy baby snuggles.
Helps increase breast milk supply- mother nature strikes again! Being in close contact with your baby can help increase your supply of breast milk, particularly if you are having trouble producing enough.

If you have someone in your life telling you that you are holding your baby too much, coddling them, or raising them to be clingy, just know that you are doing what is best for your baby, and giving them a secure and safe environment to grow and thrive in.

Crib Bumpers Keep Babies Safe

Crib bumpers were used back in the day to pad the hard wood in a crib that a baby could potentially hit their head on. The unintended consequence of these bumpers was a rise in the incidences of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) A baby’s nose and mouth could get easily obstructed by the bumper causing suffocation. They don’t sell crib sets with these included anymore, but there is still the possibility of ending up with some if you inherit an older crib from someone else. Please, please, do NOT use them.

Babies Need Walkers to Help Them Learn to Walk

Utilizing a walker too soon could have adverse effects. Placing a baby who hasn’t learned to walk on their own yet into a walker could cause them to use muscle groups that are not quite ready to be used yet. This could lead to a number of issues. Babies learn to walk by observing those around them and their own bodies to figure out how things work. A walker can obstruct their view of their body, making it harder to learn, and delaying walking by as much as a month.

There Can Be A Lot More Where That Came From

This was just a small sampling of the baby myths that are abound in this world. If you found this helpful, or at least entertaining, there is definitely enough out there to make a part 2, and probably a part 3.

Pregnancy: Expectation VS Reality

Before I Got Pregnant

I had a lot of misconceptions about how pregnancy would be for me. I knew things would be a bit different because of the CP, but I figured it would just be an adjustment period, and I would cope like I always do. HA. Well, it has been less like coping and more like a complete lifestyle change. I have always been fiercely independent, sometimes to a fault, a real I can do whatever I want to do type. Not so much now. At 23 weeks, it would appear that I’m not the boss of me anymore.

That “Pregnant” Felling Won’t Kick In For Awhile

I honestly believed once I got pregnant it would be super easy for at least the first month, or so. With such a tiny baby, there just can’t be that many symptoms, and they certainly can’t be that intense. Cut to me literally the DAY after my baby was conceived: “ Hey babe, I feel really different, we need to google how early to take a pregnancy test.” That different feeling only grew with the passing days. Then the nausea kicked in, oh boy, did it. I was 4 weeks pregnant, and was constantly and consistently sick for the remainder of my first trimester. Also, my boobs went nuclear. As women, we are all used to being tender around period time, but this is another freaking level. It hurt to wear a bra, it hurt to not wear a bra, it hurt to wash and dry them, it hurt to have them touch anything including my mattress and even themselves.

It’s Going To Be Amazing Not Having A Period

It is amazing to be going without my dreaded monthly visitor for awhile, but it’s not just me frolicking in a field of daisies as I whimsically fashion the flowers into a crown, like I thought it would be. We are all pretty familiar with the common symptoms of a period: bloating, fatigue, irritableness, cramps, blah blah blah. Guess what? I have all of that, only it’s times 20, and it doesn’t stop after a week. This pregnancy has been like a mega-period (without the bleeding of course) punctuated with moments of literal screaming frustration. There have been 3 or 4 times where I will be talking about something that miffed me and then I am just screaming about it, without a conscious decision, and taken as aback as everyone else about it. Gotta love those pregnancy hormones!

I Am Going To Have Worry-Free Sex Whenever I Want

Sometimes pregnancy is a surprise, and even as mature adults, getting pregnant in a certain season of life can complicate things. When I say “worry-free,” the worry I’m referring to is that wrong season of life kind of worry. Once there is a bun cooking in that oven that type of worry goes right out the window; however, there are other factors I wasn’t counting on to bring my plans for intimacy to all but a screeching halt.

I was pretty much too nauseous for the first 14 weeks to move, let alone anything else.
My energy at times is beyond nonexistent, and is somewhere closer to a negative number.
As time goes on and my body is changing more and more, it is really difficult to find a comfortable position.

The irony in all this is, I’m fairly certain It is happening way less frequently then when I wasn’t pregnant. Mother nature sure does have a sense of humor.

Relaxin Will Make Me Flexible Like Gumby

Relaxin is a hormone that increases in your body during pregnancy, and helps prepare things for birth. It basically loosens up ligaments and things mostly in the lower half of the body. I was so excited when I first read about this because part of my CP is a general tightness and lack of flexibility in my hips, pelvis, legs, etc. I thought to myself: “ I’m finally going to get a taste of what real flexibility feels like.” Little did I know, yet another reversal of expectation was headed my way. Not only did I not get more flexible, but everything tightened up to the point of constant discomfort, and increased muscle spasms in my legs and back. Stretching actually makes the spasms worse right now, so I’m just over here waiting for relaxin to, I don’t know, relax me maybe?

I Want Twins!

Some of you are laughing already and I totally get that now, but I swear I had sound logic going into this thought process (keeping all the misconceptions in mind). I figured labor was going to be quite the thing, and I wasn’t entirely convinced I would want to do it twice. I’m still not convinced even now if I’m being honest. I grew up with a sister, so I always wanted my child to have at least 1 sibling, but how could I get 2 kids out of 1 birthing experience? Twins. I convinced myself it would work; 2 babies, 2 parents, we would never be outnumbered AND we would get both kids out of diapers at the same time, and never look back. Sounds pretty sweet, right? As much as I hate to admit it now, twins probably would have put me on bed rest. I am already struggling with having to slow down as much as I do now, so I can only imagine the toll (physical and mental) 2 growing babies in this belly would have taken.

I Will Keep Living My Life Mostly Unchanged

I will be the first to admit that my life pre-pregnancy was unhealthy. I hardly ever ate vegetables, I ate fruit about twice a week, and I loved eating fast food. As soon as I found out I was a baby machine all of that turned on a dime. I still eat fast food, but I added a lot more healthy things into my diet. I’m also drinking an impossible amount of water everyday; that wasn’t even a choice, I have decided my baby must be part fish. I have been trying to look into pregnancy workouts that are also CP friendly, and so far I’m thinking of buying some small weights and working my upper body and just stretching my lower body. If anyone has suggestions let me know. Listening to my body has been another big adjustment. I know that sounds weird, but with CP there is always a balance of listening to your body and pushing your body to make progress. Well, there is no pushing your body when there is a baby in there. It’s a case of my brain writing checks my body can’t cash, and my “I can do whatever I want” pride is taking a major hit. I know it is all for the baby though, so I take the hit every time.

Reality At Its Finest

If I had known then what I know now, it wouldn’t change my desire to be a mom, and brave the journey that is pregnancy and birth. If anything, it just would have prepared me better for the road ahead, so if you managed to stumble upon this before getting pregnant, congratulations on your head start. If you are like me, in the midst of pregnancy, I hope it helps you to know you aren’t alone. If you have already been through it and are reading this post-pregnancy, hats off to you mama; you are a freaking amazon warrior.

My Baby Health Scare

This Was Supposed To Be A Different Topic

I had a totally different topic on deck for today, but life happens and I felt like it was important for me to share what happened to us. Let me start off by saying this was not the first time we rushed over to the hospital worried that something very bad was happening to the baby. Our first scare happened at 17 weeks when I went to use the bathroom and clear liquid splashed on the floor and all over me before I got the chance to actually pee.

The 17 Weeks Scare

Off we went thinking my water had broken, and if that were the case there was nothing we could do. We got to the hospital, and I have never been cared for so fast in all my life. Immediately they took me to confirm his heartbeat, then made me lay down on my side until the ultrasound man came. This was a particularly scary time because I had to keep explaining to different people what had happened, and most of them would get that “Oh crap, her water broke” look on their faces. I got the ultrasound and was sent back to lay down some more. They also tested the fluid to see if it was amniotic, but luckily it wasn’t. We never found out was had actually happened there. Baby was good, fluid was good, and all follow-ups have shown no leaking.

The 23 Weeks Scare

This one felt scarier because there were more symptoms that were way more intense, and because of how swiftly it all came on. I was sitting up on my bed, and I started feeling tension and some other weird sensations in my belly. This didn’t alarm me right away because I get the feeling sometimes when the baby is being particularly active; however, it was happening for an extended period of time and it grew in intensity very quickly. I started to feel extremely nauseous and light headed. I told my husband things didn’t feel right, and by the time he had responded I was telling him I was going to pass out. I couldn’t get air very easily, I was shaking, my head felt like it was being squeezed from the front and the back, and I had completely lost my hearing. After a minute or so my hearing started to come back, but my ears were ringing like crazy.

Of course this happened over a holiday weekend, so my doctor was not available, and we couldn’t find the on call number. I called the hospital directly out of desperation, and was told to come in immediately. The car ride there was hell. Somehow I managed to stay conscious, but I almost went down around 6 times in a 10 minute drive. I was taken back even quicker this time, and told to take everything off and pee in a cup. (Which was quite a feat since I was still head-spinningly sick.) I hadn’t felt the baby move at all since the frantic movement earlier, and with how bad I was feeling I feared the worst. The nurse came in and couldn’t find his heartbeat for a long time, and then BOP! He kicked the pad.

My Baby Has A Heartbeat!

It still took some time to find his heartbeat, but we did, and the amount of relief that flowed over me was insane. I still had all my symptoms, but my baby was alive and I could work around anything else. Remember that cup I managed to pee in while it felt like I was riding the Tilt-O-Whirl? Turns out I had a raging UTI (urinary tract infection). There are 2 things you need to know about this fact:

I went to a walk in appointment with a random floater doctor 2WEEKS before this happened because I was pretty sure something was going on then. My test came back positive for white blood cells and she REFUSED to treat me because I’m pregnant. I asked her at the time wouldn’t it be dangerous if the infection got worse, and she told me to just drink cranberry juice because ALL antibiotics were bad for the baby. This is false. There are safe antibiotics. Talk to your doctor.
If a UTI gets bad enough, and mine was approaching this stage, it can send you into preterm labor.

So, I ended up having to get a very strong IV antibiotic. The risk to the baby from the strong antibiotic is slim, but it is there; however, the risk to the baby from the rampant infection would have eventually resulted in preterm labor, which would have been fatal for him.

A Quick Recap and Just One More Thing

Every pregnancy is different for every woman.
I have had 2 scares that turned out okay.
My baby is only okay this time because we caught what was happening in the nick of time.

Please, please, please ladies, if you think there is even a chance something is not right with your body get checked out. If you get a doctor who seems very flippant about your concerns, and you don’t feel right about things, do not be afraid to get that second opinion. It really could make all the difference.

Here is a link to some useful information about UTIs during pregnancy (which does not replace medical treatment or advice from your doctor) https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/urinary-tract-infections-during-pregnancy/

Gender Reveal Ideas

Baby, Oh Baby

Boy or girl? Some women choose not to find out until that baby pops out, and hey, more power to you if that’s you. I can tell you, it wasn’t me. It didn’t matter to me which I was having; I would have been happy either way, but I’m the kind of person who can’t buy Christmas presents too early because I want to give them to the person right away. I was itching to find out from right around the 16 week mark. I got my answer 2 weeks later.

To Party, Or Not To Party

Gender reveal parties are turning into a big thing, some of them are even starting to rival baby showers; so, the first question you have to ask yourself is: to party, or not to party? Here are a few factors to consider:

Is a party in my budget?
Do I have the time and resources (including the physical energy) to plan a party?
Is this going to stress me out?
Am I doing this because I want to, or because I feel pressured, or obligated to?

Budget is perhaps the most important consideration. There is going to be a baby coming, and babies are expensive. If you are on a tight budget, maybe skip the full-blown party and try out a photo or video announcement.

Time and resources are important to take stock of. You are a busy mama these days with a lot on your plate doctors appointments, ultrasounds, work, and your social life. It all takes a bigger toll on you because your body is growing a human being. There are also tangible resources to consider. Is there a usable space to throw this party that is big enough for all your friends? How will you decorate? Will people be willing and available to help you? Where are the snacks coming from?

Is this going to stress me out? The short answer is yes, probably. Unless you are the world’s most joyous party planner, there is bound to be at least some level of stress involved. It is up to you to decide what that level is for you, if the fun of the party outweighs the stress, and to make sure that it isn’t the straw that breaks the camels back.

Am I doing this because I WANT to? If the answer to this question is no, then don’t do it. Too many times have I seen friends and loved ones get pushed into something they genuinely did not want to do because it was what was expected of them, or because OTHER people in their lives were pushy. As a mom (and yes, you are already a mom with that baby snug inside you) you, your body, and your baby are preparing for some serious business. If you are not up to doing extra filler stuff, then save your energy for the important stuff. (like birthing your child.)

Pink and Blue

Now you know whether you are partying down, or just yelling from the rooftops. Time to start to put your spin on things and really make this reveal your own. Pink and blue are those standby classic gender reveal colors, but what about green and purple? Polka dots and stripes? Hamburgers and hot dogs? Maybe you are like me and have names picked out; you could go with Jared or Robin. (or whichever names you picked) No names picked out yet? Pick 2 of your favorite characters Harry or Hermione? Luke or Leia? Jack or Sally?

Now That’s using The Old Noodle

Maternity photo surprise! This one is a great way to kill 2 birds with 1 stone, particularly if you want to wait a little longer before spilling the beans. Posting your maternity photos always garners a lot of ooo’s and aww’s and a lot of traffic on social media. Slipping in the unexpected gender reveal picture is a fun way to catch everyone off guard.

Confetti poppers are a quick and easy way to make your gender reveal interactive. You can give everyone a popper, which is fun, but could get pricey depending on the number of people you invite, or you could just have mom and dad pop them off and have everyone place their bets beforehand. https://amzn.to/2HtvLy4

While we are riding the confetti train, there is always the big balloon full of confetti. Get a big balloon, fill it full of confetti, glitter, or anything else your heart desires. When the time comes for your reveal, you just pop that sucker and make it rain. A slight alteration on this method would be to hand out smaller birthday-sized balloons to your guests and let them get a piece of that sweet balloon popping action.

Cut the cake! All you need is a box of white cake mix, the other ingredients called for on the back of the box, some food coloring, frosting, and you are in business. Follow the recipe as normal to make the batter, but before transferring to the pan, make sure to add the food coloring as this is the reveal part of your gender reveal. Bake the cake according to the recipe and let it cool before frosting. Make sure to frost the cake well. We don’t want to go ruining any surprises.

Pinatas are a great way to get a little versatile with your reveal. For one thing, you can use any kind of pinata you wish. They do sell ones that are shaped like baby bottles and things, and if you are the crafty sort you can always make your own, but really the sky is the limit. Second, you can put a lot of different things in your pinata: candy, toys, balls, glitter, baby clothes, bottles, pacifiers, the list goes on. It is also another good way to get your guest involved.

Getting slimed! This one is for all the 90’s kids who grew up watching Nickelodeon. Before my husband and I decided to go the route we went for our reveal, we were very VERY close to getting slimed as our reveal. We had most of it planned out. For anyone reading this who doesn’t want to know what Nick slime is made of, skip down to the next one now. We were going to buy one of those small kiddy pools, make up 2 pitchers of slime, and literally let 2 friends pour it over our heads. All you need to make the slime is vanilla pudding and food coloring of your choice. We were going to go with classic green, just to fulfill that childhood dream to its fullest extent. Sadly, we got into a time crunch and couldn’t make it happen, but I would love to see someone do this.

Since we are already talking about getting messy, lets take it a step further and throw around some paint balls. Dig that old plain white t-shirt and get ready to get splatted. I have a family member who did this and got the whole family involved. They then took pictures of the aftermath and posted them to social media.

Use your fandom! This is by far my favorite idea, which is probably why I chose it for my own reveal. My husband and I are self-proclaimed nerds and found a way to merge 2 of our favorite things together to make a very unique gender reveal. Here is the video.

It was an easy concept to come up with, but was very difficult to explain to someone who hadn’t seen it yet. Basically what I’m saying is, don’t be afraid to be yourself and embrace your weird. Just do you, and let the magic happen.