Friday marked my last birthday before I’ll officially be a mom. Crazy stuff. I can only imagine how different our lives will be this time next year. I said to Eric that I just wish it was time already because I want to meet her so much. I keep picturing her in my arms and I just can’t wait.
Eric is pretty fascinated with my growing bump and changing body. He rubs it all the time and he likes to play his guitar “for the baby” now and then. I sure love that guy. I like to joke around with the belly a lot. Sometimes I hide behind a wall and just stick out the bump until he looks up and notices it in the doorway. It’s pretty ridiculous. Generally speaking I’m feeling pretty great in my own skin, but I do have moments when I don’t feel the most body confident. It feels a bit like when I was a preteen and going through puberty with so many rapid changes only this time I have the years and experience behind me to trust the process and my body! This week some strangers commented on my pregnancy and I was SO happy and just beaming with pride. hah.
Maternity clothing:
My pregnancy wardrobe up until this point has been all about the stretchy black leggings/crops and fitted tees/tanks. I’ve been amazed by how comfortable my stretchy Lulu crops still are! I had to abandon my “groove pants” long ago though (the waistband just doesn’t have as much stretch to it). I haven’t had much luck shopping for maternity clothes yet. My main purchases so far have been some comfy maternity tees (v-neck and scoop neck) from Old Navy (I seriously bought about 6 of them in various bright colours!), a black Old Navy maternity t-shirt dress (below), and a cropped denim jacket from Garage (not maternity, also below) which I think looks pretty cute with a bright fitted tank/tee and black crops. I think the name of the game this summer will be all about the flowy summer dresses and comfy casual wear!
Latest appointment:
I had an appointment with my OB this week and the anatomy scan results came back normal – whew! I did find out that I have a low lying placenta (the placenta attached low and is partially blocking the cervix right now), but the doctor reassured me that it’s quite common and there’s a good chance it will move up and out of the way in time for my due date. One of my sisters had this with her first pregnancy and she said it moved up by 33/34 weeks. I’m hoping for the same so I have the option of a vaginal delivery. I have a follow-up ultrasound in about 6 weeks.
How I’m Doing:
Comfortable sleeping has been a challenge over the past few weeks. I’m now putting a small pillow between my legs when I’m on my side and this helps a lot. I’m also taking more bathroom breaks than I ever thought possible (and I have a small bladder to begin with). Other symptoms include lower back pain and some pelvic area pain on and off (which I hear is just normal stretching). I feel a bit moody or emotional at times, but I’ve actually been surprised by how level my emotions have been overall. Another thing I’ve noticed lately is that I can’t eat a lot of food at one time – my belly just feels too full and uncomfortable. Small meals are the way to go! On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being amazing), I would say I’m feeling a solid 8 across the board this month. Gotta love the 2nd trimester.
Shower planning begins:
It looks like I’ll be having my baby shower the 3rd weekend in July. I’m so excited that my mom and sister are going to fly out for it and we’ll get to spend some time together! I’m told that I need to get on the ball and create a registry. =) I’ve been working on a document with ideas and registry must-have lists from other bloggers, but that’s about all I’ve done so far. Any tips or suggestions on newborn essentials are greatly appreciated! What did you absolutely need and what did you think you needed that you really didn’t?
Hello!
You look absolutely fantastic, so go out and rock it!
I think this post from another blog will help you out. She is around 36 weeks with her second little one. She just did a post called “Baby Essentials,” that I think will help you decide what is absolutely necessary, versus what you can skip.
Thanks Michelle! :) Do you have a link to the post?
The one part I forgot to add. haha
http://kellyhicksdesign.com/blog/
thanks :)
I’m loving all the baby updates and you look great! The one newborn essential that I loved having and nobody talks about is a small bottle of olive oil for diaper changes. If you put a little on baby’s butt at every change for the first few days it makes clean up so much easier with meconium poop. The one thing that I didn’t need was a crib. My dad made a gorgeous round crib for us and both of my kids have refused to sleep in it. My youngest (16 months old) is still sleeping in bed with us. It makes nursing a lot easier at night so I’m not really bothered that the crib was never used. Waking up to my little man planting a kiss on me is the best. That would never happen with a crib.
I used my baby k’tan carrier as well as ergo a lot the first few months. My husband preferred the Bjorn… Out baby loved beingin all the carriers. Also a good _glider and breastfeeding pillow are essential (if breastfeeding)!
Diaper shirts from Walmart are great! Only $3, and 100% cotton, so if it gets soiled too much you just throw it out!
A must have for nursing is this amazing nipple butter especially early on. It really helped to soothe and heal them between feedings. I kid you not. Saved me from a lot of pain. It’s all natural and safe for baby to ingest.
http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/breastfeeding-support/natural-nipple-butter.html
For your growing belly now, I highly recommend this natural belly butter. I used it all through my pregnancy and didn’t get any stretch marks. I loved it!
http://www.rockymountainsoap.com/productDetails/1008263/1011591/1000144
Hope this helps. Happy pregnancy!
Those cute flannel swaddling blankets…I thought I needed them, but they are pretty much useless, waaaay to small!! I ended up cutting them up into burp cloths instead. Muslin blankets for hot weather and SwaddleMe sleep sacks for cold weather are the way to go…at least I think they are ;)
Angela, you look great!!! Keep it up! And thank you for sharing this special period in your life with us. I am always looking forward for your new posts. I am 23 weeks now & have been working on must-have list as well. Yesterday, I’ve received my first order from Carter. Bodysuits for newborn are so tiny! It says up to 4 pounds only (after is 3 months old size), but what if baby is bigger than that:) LOL So, now I don’t even know how many of those “newborn” I will really need… I’ve heard from many people, that babies are growing very fast. So, I believe just minimum clothes for the first 3 months…
http://www.babycenter.com/0_baby-clothes-for-the-first-six-weeks_519.bc
Hope this will help!
thanks for your tips!
I was the CRAZY lady at garage sales buying newborn and the next size up. They grow so fast. I have just asked people to give me clothes in bigger sizes. I also bought a lot of blankets there as well. I scoured the online sales sites for baby furniture as well. SO spendy. Got bouncy chair for 15.00, bassinet for 35.00. People, when they’re done with baby stuff (and most of it is great condition) just want it gone. Seize their desperation :)
yes that’s so true! I’ve been scouring Kijiji for some finds :)
I think detoxinista.com has some great baby posts on the essentials and stuff like that. Megan’s baby is 8 months old I think so she gives some great tips!
I am 23 weeks now so pretty much in the same boat – as far as maternity clothes go, try ASOS – they have really cute summery dresses. I also found a great pair of skinny jeans from Jessica Simpson’s maternity line (they sell them at Motherhood Maternity, Macy’s…etc). I’ve done sooo much research on baby registries that mine is now like fifteen miles long – I hear that Sophie the Giraffe is pretty important along with a white noise machine and a Snot Sucker…haha. Good luck! =)
As far as maternity wear, you absolutely need Bellaband from Ingrid & Isabel! I didn’t have to buy any maternity jeans, but I could wear my jeans almost up till the delivery. (With last couple of weeks in leggings and dresses.)
For the registry, I recommend that you put two car seats; one that you can put on your stroller with an adapter, and the other that you can use until when your daughter is a toddler :) it’s always good to get big items covered with your registry!!
Good luck!
Im so looking up the Bellaband asap! thanks :)
Go to Rattle and Stroll NOW as I was there today and the Bella Bands are 70% off (store is closing). It’s on Kerr (assuming you’re still in Oakville!). I used mine through my whole pregnancies for things like my expensive jeans (although maternity gear is more comfy)
Thanks for the tip!
Angela,
I’ve been following you for so long now, I can’t believe this is my first comment! And actually I had a question for you as well ~ what are your thoughts about Vitamin K2 during pregnancy and daily in the vegan diet? Do you supplement with it at all? Forgive me if you’ve already answered that in a previous post. I have a 14-month-old baby so my mind is a little all over the place right now. ;)
As far as newborn essentials go, for the first months all I truly needed was my breast pump, burp cloths (I used packs of the plain Gerber cloth diapers, they are wonderful as burp cloths! Stock up on those!), swaddle blankets, baby mittens to keep my little guy from scratching his face, nightgowns with the elastic cinch at the bottom (pants and cute outfits are just not convenient in the beginning, they’re just sleeping and pooping, and you want them to be as comfy as possible), baby pajamas, my little Cloud B Gentle Giraffe noise machine, a baby bathtub, washcloths and towels for baby, and lots of Burt’s Bees diaper cream. Oh, and we did actually use our bottle warmer quite a bit to reheat bottles of breast milk. :)
Things I didn’t find I needed after my baby was born – a wipe warmer (my wipes got dried out, the warm wipes turn cold after just a few seconds once they are out of the warmer, and my baby never minded the cold ones), a diaper bin or diaper genie (we used a small trashcan bought at Target and just emptied daily. Now we do BumGenius cloth diapers), a changing table (I always ended up changing him wherever I was – usually on a soft changing pad on the floor), baby shoes, a crib (our baby slept in the Summer Infant brand co-sleeper in bed with us until he outgrew it, then he slept in his Graco Pack ‘N Play next to our bed until he was just about a year old), or newborn toys (just his surroundings were enough stimulation in the beginning).
I hope that wasn’t too much information! Haha! I am so in love with babies, pregnancy, birth, and everything that goes with it! You make a beautiful mother-to-be and I am so grateful to be sharing this experience with you!
xoxo
Oh! And also a Boppy Pillow! We still use that every day. A must!
Thank you Vanessa! You are so sweet. :) And thanks for your list…I’m taking notes and will look up a bunch of those items for sure. As for K2, I’ve found the info to be very conflicted as well. My doc wasn’t concerned when I mentioned it and I read that the body can convert K1 into K2 as well. I would suggest speaking with your doc about it and hopefully you can find something that works for you.
forgot to mention – fermented foods can be good sources of K2 . A couple vegan sources – Natto (fermented soybeans) and sauerkraut apparently has it as well.
Wow, I agree with every exact item on your list – both the needs and the do not needs! Except for the crib – my kids were in a bedside bassinet until 9 weeks when they both moved to the crib. I still went and nursed them in the middle of the night but everyone slept much better this way.
I also have to recommend the Miracle Blanket (swaddler). My little guy was sleeping 13 hours a night at 6 weeks in that thing. I had to wake him up to make sure he was eating enough. I wish I had it for my first!
now that is a miracle!!!! lol. Definitely will look into it. thanks for your tips!
Second the miracle blanket, or the SwaddleMe for smaller babies. Thing is, I found that babies either love the swaddle (in which case it is truly a miracle), or don’t care for it and it makes no difference. I have had a couple of each, but it’s definitely worth a try.
Also, check out Ask Moxie about “tension increasers” versus “tension decreasers” — very valuable stuff there for babies beyond the brand new:
http://askmoxie.org/blog/2011/01/tension-increasers.html
I can clearly remember all of the “things” that were helpful from the earlier days!
*Swaddles with velcro. You definitely don’t want to deal with remembering how to wrap it the right way, only to have the swaddle come loose. Those are probably your most important material items!!
*Triple Paste diaper ointment. Nothing else we used worked for the diaper rash.
*Black and white books. Newborns see in contrasts so these are great first books.
*BURP CLOTHS. Tons and tons of them.
*A boppy lounger. Newborns are so cozy in them.
*Breastfeeding pillows were take or leave for me… My lactation consultant said she didn’t like them because of the angles. Regular pillows will work fine.
And this isn’t on the registry…. but get a recommendation of a good lactation consultant if you’re planning on nursing…I almost quit after 4 days of pain, but my lactation consultant helped show me better positioning… and also caught the fact that my son was tongue-tied. A year later, and I am breastfeeding. It got so much better!
*Also, find some good books on baby sleep. People will give you all sorts of advice on that topic (and everyone thinks they are right!) but babies are really individuals and it helps to have a toolbox beforehand to reference so you’re prepared ahead of time, and understand more… I learned a lot about sleep in general just from reading those books! (Don’t put these on your registry though, then you’ll get too many unsolicited opinions about sleep philosophies, haha!)
hah wise words, thanks!
Ange…please…please…please…invest in REALLY good and comfortable nursing bras. It was about this time where my boobs were WAY too big and I followed Jenna’s advice and bought the ‘Bravado’ nursing bra. BEST.THING.I.EVER.DID! I promise as the summer heats up your boobs will get sweaty and the bras are the best. THE BEST!!!! :) I wore them throughout my pregnancy and YES they will get bigger as the months pass…scary isn’t it? hahaha Also, nursing tanktops. They’re great for when you just wanna lay around.
I don’t know if there are any essentials… we haven’t had ours yet. Some things we did…again, it’s just what worked for us…
–There was debate about buying a pram/stroller that only fit one as opposed to two (husband is already planning ahead, geeze) so we bought two.
–I’d really stear away from Bjorns, they do not support bubs hips well and A LOT of mom’s say they are really hard on their backs after a certain weight. If you’re looking for little baby stuff look a Caboo, wrap or ring sling. We have a moby wrap and Manducca–like an Ergo, but you don’t need an infant insert. I also really would like to buy a MeiTai or a Lenny Lamb ergo carrier.
–The best thing I did was find like-minded people. I scoured FB and found a baby-wearing group, which led me to other groups. It was SOOOO nice to just sit back and watch and garner advice from ‘the pros’.
–I also found a hypno-birthing lady on I-tunes “Kathryn Clark” which is A LOT cheaper then buying the home-study from amazon…unless you’re gonna do a class with Eric. There’s no way I could get my husband there.
–The book “Be Prepared” — which is a funny ‘how to’ book for dads. I really like it, it’s an easy read with good photos and I would sit and read it with Andrew at night. It wasn’t gimmicky and was good for both of us.
***And best thing we have spent our money on..a Doula. Hands down the best thing we’ve ever done as a couple.***
I 2nd the comment on the doula – we used one with baby #1, and felt it was the best money we spent. She really help my husband to “be his best.” Not everyone feels comfortable with this, but it was terrific for us to have a sounding board, and talk with us about different items before the birth.
Thanks for your list Mish!
We have a doula and love her already. It feels so good knowing she is there for support in the months before, during labour, and after.
Sorry one more thing. I freaked out the first 20 weeks about my body. I have put on more weight then I’ve wanted…but I can tell you something. When I finally embraced that I’m growing a human being, that I’m feeding and breathing life into this beautiful little baby…I have been cleansed. Something switched deep down inside of me and I realised it’s more than more, it’s bigger than me. Of course it means that I’m healthy, but it started to make me look outside of my own transgressions, obsession and thought patterns. It’s a beautiful process. xo
love that…and so true!
Reading your pregnancy posts reminds me so much of being pregnant with my daughter (who will be 5 years old next month – where did the time go?) Such a sweet time to savor. I had some definite body freak-out moments too. What helped a lot for me was reading The Pregnancy Journal. It explains what the baby is doing (getting nail beds today or starting to grow eyebrows) and what your body is doing. Such a science experiment!
Having been through the newborn phase twice I can say that there is not so much that is essential: Your breasts, diapers and something to keep warm in. There is too much marketed to new moms! What I found helpful was the following:
* muslin swaddling blankets. I found some great ones on Etsy so have a look there. My daughter lived for swaddling, my son not so much. If you have a little Houdini then try the Magic Blanket – no getting out of that thing!
* Skip the expensive lap pads and get a couple yards of rubberized cotton from the fabric store. You can cut them to any size you need.
* LOVED this thing from Skip Hop: http://www.skiphop.com/product/prontochangingstation.html
* It was a luxury, but wipes warmer was worth it.
* I wore both my babies. The Moby was my favorite. Lots of criticism about the wrapping, which does take some getting used to. Nevertheless, I LOVED that thing. If the baby is colic-y you can go skin-to-skin without you both freezing. Here’s proof that I wouldn’t have survived baby #2 without wearing him (4th picture down):http://peeperblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/and-exhale.html
* Regular ol’ Gerber cloth diapers. I liked the “light duty” ones. Still use them for EVERYTHING.
http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-Diaper-Burpcloths-4-Count/dp/B00ESWAD80/ref=sr_1_6?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1400501235&sr=1-6&keywords=gerber+cloth+diapers
* These are the best for keeping tiny feet warm. They actually stay on:
http://www.amazon.com/Unisex-Infant-Booties-Striped-Zutano/dp/B00FNX56GW/ref=sr_1_4?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1400501358&sr=1-4&keywords=baby+booties+zutano
I’ll let you know if I think of anything else.
P.S. I’m a vet so if you need to reach out to a third party about Sketchie, please feel free to do so. Seems like your veterinary team is doing a great job with his care though.
love that pic, thanks for sharing and for your list!
Some baby essentials that I used and loved:
(1) 100% Muslin Cotton swaddle blankets – super soft and light and make swaddling a lot easier!
(2) Cool Mist humidifier
(3) Diaper shirts that button from the front – Kushies has some at Babies R Us and George Baby at Walmart (I was always worried about my newborn’s neck trying to squeeze the other diaper shirts over her head, the front buttons make it so much easier).
(4) Diaper Caddy – my nursery is on the top floor and I didn’t want want to have to run upstairs for a chance everytime, so this Diaper Caddy came in handy. http://www.safetysuperstore.ca/product/9052/diapers_wipes_caddy_cocoa/
(5) Swing – this one is super cozy and my daughter loved it, she would calm right down. She even tried to climb in at age two (nostalgia :)) http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=4424051
(6) Super soft and gentle hair brush http://www.thebodyshop.com/bath-body/baby/buriti-baby-bamboo-hair-brush.aspx
(7) Non slippery bathtub – http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=3464700
(8) Glass baby food containers – http://www.rattleandstroll.ca/store/index.php?product=GL425
(9) Sleep Sheep – this helps when you are on the go with baby and she needs help to get to sleep. The mini one allows you to strap it to your stroller. http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=4193589
(10) On the go mobile (attaches to car seat, stroller, change table etc.) http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=12552924
Hope that helps! Have fun registering! :)
Thank you Susan!
Everyone has their “go-to” items. Couple things I found useful:
1. Pack-n-play. I kept both baby 1 and baby 2 in the room with me for awhile, and this worked great. Also, we traveled a lot with baby 1, and it was invaluable.
2. Rocking chair.
3. Good breastfeeding bras. Get measured, and buy some that fit now, and 1 that fits immediately after your milk comes in. You may need different sizes. Pay the money; you’ll wear them a lot.
4. Good walking/jogging stroller. I got my single and double used. Still using the double right now. Fantastic for walks.
5. Car seat/stroller system. Very useful if you travel a lot.
6. Simple notebook for keeping notes the first few weeks.
7. “mini” diaper bag/fold-up (just holds 1-2 diapers and some wipes).
8. Baby bjorn (but try out different kinds of wraps, etc.).
9. A toy or other recording of lullabies for baby. This can be part of establishing a sleep routine – it helped with both my little ones.
10. A letter to baby before she is born – it is fun to capture your sentiments, and put in the baby book.
On maternity clothes. . . I’m on pregnancy #3, and my maternity clothes focused mostly on suits/work clothes – and I wore most of my suits with a stretchy band at the waist into the 3rd trimester with previous pregnancies. But I did find that a decent pair of maternity jeans, some good tees/tops, and colorful scarves worked great for casual items. And I didn’t buy much until the end of the 2nd trimester with previous babies. I also bought a new pair of low wedge shoes with both previous pregnancies.
Take good care of yourself – you are doing great!
love this – thank you so much!
You look great!!! Today is my last day of the second trimester and tomorrow I start the third trimester! I can’t believe how quickly it went by. I’m excited to see the comments on your question because I would definitely like to know the essentials as well. This weekend I made four recipes from your cookbook and they were all AMAZING! I am in love with that nacho dip and my mom even liked it who normally is a bit hesitant about my vegan food. The tomato soup was awesome too. Can’t wait for the leftovers for lunch today!
Congrats on your pregnancy Em :) And so happy to hear you are enjoying the book!!!
You are seriously gorgeous!! Of course you would have a glowing pregnancy as well :)
Top 5 Baby Essentials (IMHO):
1. A backpack diaper bag. I bought one that was cute, wish I had a backpack one instead.
2. Sakura Bloom Ring Sling–such an easy way to have your baby close & be able to get things done once you feel up to it!
3. Aiden & Anaiis blankets–we bought 3 different 3 packs and got a few as gifts. We use them ALL the time. They are the best–for swaddle, for covering the carseat while out (breathable), for nursing, everything!
4. We love our BOB running stroller–even though I’m not back to running more than a couple miles yet.
5. A lifetime supply of coffee? ;) Just kidding. Sleep has been a rough adjustment for me. I was never a coffee drinker before, but now it’s a must.
Hi!
I highly recommend a good sound machine, we bought one for my son and the static is supposed to mimic the sounds they hear in the womb. Very comforting and helps them sleep! They don’t sell ours at bed bath and beyond anymore but amazon has a great selection.
for you bellaband (to wear normal pants and jeans almost to the end), and nipple butter if you are going to breastfeed. ouch, my nipples were super sore first weeks.
for the baby: Frida the snot sucker (idea is kind of gross at first, but it works wonders and is better than anything else, gave my daughter so many night of sleep after cleaning her little nose when runny), ergo baby if you are going to wear your daughter, triple paste for diaper rash (amazing, cured my daughter’s awful diaper rash overnight many times, best diaper rash cream hands down), and nature’s gate baby wash and shampoo (vegan and all natural).
you look lovely! looking at your pictures i am kind of jealous, would like to be pregnant again (i have one daughter so far ;) ). hope I will be soon :)
ps. i had several maternity tops and bottoms from gap maternity, loved them all, good quality. also clothes from gap baby are awesome. more expensive than other brands, but from our experience, quality is amazing.
Love this update! Thank you for, as always, being so raw and honest about how you feel about your changing body-I’m sure most women feel that way but very few are as honest and open about as you are and I appreciate that.
Also love the anecdote about ‘the bump’ and Eric. :)
Thanks Laura :)
Oh my goodness, I don’t want to overwhelm you, but the Puj tub is seriously the greatest way to bathe a newborn. Folds flat and hangs for easy storage and drying, fits in a sink, is anti-microbial, and feels nice and soft for a baby.
Also, skip the breastfeeding pillow and treat yourself now to a Snoogle. I loved it when I was pregnant and now it lives on the bed folded into a U so I can recline on it for nursing.
Never swaddled, but we love sleep sacks. If I could do it again, I’d splurge on a nice stroller with a bassinet attachment. I was given a really wonderful book called The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, and I highly recommend it. Very encouraging and empowering.
And don’t forget the nipple cream and nursing pads! I saw some silicone ones that you just wash nightly, which would have been way better than my cloth ones.
We tried to keep it simple and still ended up with way too much stuff, a lot of it we never used. But everyone is so different and it really depends on individual preferences. You may end up even more confused about what you need after reading all these comments! I sort of despise the industry for making vulnerable moms-to-be think they need so much STUFF.
For me:
DID NOT NEED:
-changing table, changing pad and a bunch of cute covers! Never used it. Our nursery is upstairs though, so that’s probably why. At 19 months, I still change him on a towel on our bed downstairs.
-nursing pillows. I think they are a waste of money (but some women love them!). Regualr pillows are better since they can be shoved and squished where you need them.
-swaddles. Never used them. Though I know some babies NEED to be swaddled. I suggest only registering for the newborn size so you can see if you even use it before getting bigger sizes. Or, it’s nice if people include gift receipts so you can return things you’re not using.
DEFINITELY NEEDED:
-cool mist humidifier
-baby saline drops
-Nose Frida (suction for nose, way more effective than traditional bulb syringe. Can be found at Whole Foods in US, not sure about Canada). Babies get stuffed up and it can be hard for them to feed if they can’t breathe through their noses. These 3 items helped so much)
-size “newborn”. I thought I only needed 0-3 for some reason, and that was way too big at first
-coconut oil for moisturizing and so many other uses I’m sure you’ll read all about
-jammies with zippers, not snaps! Snaps will be yoru arch nemesis in the middle of the night!
-sound machine
-a good swing, like one that plugs in
-if you plan to nurse, I found The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding to be very helpful. Especially the reference section, for trouble shooting.
-also, if you plan to nurse, go to more than one lactation consultant if need be. You get different advise and points of view from each one, in my experience. The 2 in the hospital when I delivered were no help at all.
-4 oz Evenflo glass bottles, Dr. Brown’s premie nipples. This is best for a baby that you want to mostly nurse. The slow flow of the premie nipple helps the baby not to favor botttle over breast. No need for all the special breast shaped nipples.
-Old school style cloth diapers have been way better for us than the expensive Bum Genius ones we started with. Green Mountain Diapers is a wonderful resource
PS – I had a low lying placenta too and it resolved by 28 weeks. I read that it almost always resolves, so do not worry!
I developed a mantra of sorts that I repeated over and over in my head, daily. Like a self fullfilling prophecy. Yogis do this, I can’t remember what it’s called. Never speak it out loud. Hold it close to your heart. Mine was “I will deliver this baby naturally, at full term, healthy and without complications”. It came true :)
great list and tips- thank you so much!
The thing I did not have and needed: a swing. My son had rockin’ reflux and so we reclined it and strapped him in there to sleep (turned off). He slept in there until he was 3 months old and the reflux subsided. In general I was short on places to put him down while I made coffee/peed/scrounged in the fridge. I wore him a lot, but a do-over for me would be to have more safe places to stick the baby for two seconds while attending to life-giving matters like sustenance for me, the milk maker.
The thing I had and did not need: lots of newborn clothes. Next time I will get a week’s worth of sleepers to rotate through and call it a day.
The thing I get my friends: adult diapers (for reals), Medela boob pads.
Loving the baby bump, you look great! :)
Definitely get a good baby carrier (Ergo, Beco, Babyhawk, etc) or a sling/wrap. You can probably find some good deals on craigslist as they can be expensive buying brand new. It’s great to use when baby is fussy & doesn’t want to be put down. Keeps your hands free and you can nurse in them, too! :)
I used cloth diapers with my first son when he was 8 months and my 2nd son from the beginning. Cloth diapers are not like they used to be, so it might be worth looking into.
If you plan to nurse, buy some nursing pads (I leaked like crazy) and some comfortable nursing tops and bras. It would also be useful to read up on breastfeeding (such as The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding book, www.kellymom.com, La Leche League, etc) and find out if a lactation consultant will be at the hospital where you’re delivering.
Luckily, we never bought a crib (the one we borrowed was barely used) because both of my babies woke up way too often, so we ended up co-sleeping.
Buy some onsies (makes for easier diaper changes) and burp cloths
I’m a mom of two little angels…. but before these two little girls came into my life I was vaccine damaged at the age of 36 by a Hep B shot that rendered me unable to walk and talk for 4 months …. until I juice fasted and healed myself with organic veggies and fruit. The doctors (MD’s) said I wouldn’t run or have babies… I completed a triathlon and had two healthy girls naturally conceived….
The reason I’m saying this is PLEASE PLEASE be informed about vaccines before you give birth! A great book is The Vaccine Safety Manuel by Neil Miller. Know what the doctors don’t tell you… I wish you an easy beautiful birth… without your baby getting the Hep B shot on the first day of life. She will not be a drug user or having sex as a newborn… Absolutely no need for a Hep B shot!
Hi, it’s just so different with every baby. We borrowed loads of things from friends who had babies before us, and many of the items they had highly recommended ended up never being used, because our daughter didn’t like them. But the one thing I would recommend is getting a really good baby carrier. I use mine more often than the stroller, simply because it gives me more freedom. Just make sure you choose one that has the baby facing towards you and give good support to the legs and hips. Any carrier that lets the baby’s legs hang straight down is very unhealthy for the hips! I use a brand called emei baby. Takes a bit to adjust it properly but then it works perfectly! All the best for your pregnancy, and enjoy the time!
Whoa! Thank you all so much for your helpful comments! SO helpful. :)
You are the cutest everrrrrr!!!!!!
I love reading about your pregnancy Angela! You are honestly GLOWING! I have never had a baby so can’t help much in that department but LOVE whenever I see a mom or dad carrying their baby in the ‘scarf/fabric’ style baby carrier (haha, if you know what I mean by that!) :)
I loved wearing my “comfort” pants from various stores during my pregnancy vs maternity Totally recommend them ! When I have to try them on before returning to work – I’ll find out if they were stretched out :) you look fantastic !
Love! You look so fabulous! I just had a little boy this past January and I gobbled up so many of your recipes while pregnant. So looking forward to lots more recipes & maybe some awesome baby food/kid recipes in the future : )
Thanks Nicole :) Glad to hear you are enjoying the recipes so much!
Hi Angela!
We have a 8 month old son and though we did not make a registry during my shower, most of the guests got clothes and lots of gift cards. Both were super helpful. We did not find out the sex of the baby before, and got a lot of cute pink and blue clothes :D. The first 3 months were survived solely on the clothes gifted to us without us having to buy anything, which was a big relief. Among the stuff that I have purchased and really loved using: Ergo carrier with infant insert (the best money I spent!) and a good stroller. Apart from that, the crib was a hand me down from a friend and I am glad we didnt buy it because in the 8 months, the baby has slept a total of only 1 week in the crib (he still sleeps with us in our bed). The baby swing (also a hand me down) was not much of use. We did end up using a lot of baby-related stuff in the form of hand me downs from work colleagues and friends simply because baby items have such short use and they just end up cluttering the apartment (and may I add generating plastic waste).
Other essentials include a car seat (You would need that to get the baby home from the hospital!) and diapers!
Congratulations and wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy! btw, I purchased your book last month and we loved it! My husband who is not a big fan of salads and smoothies has been devouring them after I whipped up some from your book (and blog).
Thank you Neha! So happy you are enjoying the cookbook and thanks so much for your tips! That’s so great you had items handed down for you to use…even better!
You look awesome!! Here is my list (I’ve had 3 babes):
1) hypnobabies package – after an emergency c-section with my first I wanted to go natural and was able to deliver drug free using self hypnosis.
2) bravado nursing bras and undercover mama tank tops that attach to bras to make them nursing tanks. That way I could still wear all my shirts overtop of the tanks and breastfeed without wearing a tarp!
3) ergo carrier and moby wrap. Later I moved into various slings (Sakura blooms are gorgeous and comfy) and woven wraps.
4) I didn’t do a car seat “system”. I got a Graco car seat and just use that with my BOB stroller. The seat pops in easily and the stroller has a narrow profile and glides around like a dream. The Bob stroller rocks, even if you aren’t planning on using it for running.
5) any really soft oversized soft muslin swaddling blankets – Aden & Anais is by far most popular. I’ve always wanted their miracle blanket – I hear it’s amazing.
6) bouncy chair – somewhere for them to hang out and watch you or sleep when you’re not wearing them (I.e. Cooking in kitchen)
7) lansinoh lanolin for sore nipples. I’ve tried others such as Earth Mama Angel Baby, but nothing else worked as well. Also amazing for chapped lips.
Enjoy this time – I loved the second trimesters!!
I agree with Cindy above. I had a baby in December and I agree with all the items on her list, especially 2) the bra-less tank tops (http://www.thenakedtank.com/), especially if you don’t fit regular store size bras. The ERGO carrier, BOB stroller with baby seat and Aden Anais blankets are all amazing.
I used this blog’s gear guides to help me, and so far, she has not steered us wrong. She has them for newborn up to toddler. http://www.youaremylicorice.com/2011/08/newborn-must-haves-according-to-carys.html
You look so radiant, I wish you a healthy and happy pregnancy :)
I was scanning through the comments to see if anyone mentioned a BOB stroller. They are expensive, so it’s a great item to put on your baby registry. As Cindy mentions, you can use it with the Graco Carseat. I have two daughters, and bought each of them a single BOB for the first baby, then a double BOB when each had a second child. The little kids ages now are 6 and 3 for one daughter, 5 and 3 for the other daughter. Both of the girls still use have and use both the single and the double BOB. All the four little kids are riding strider bikes (tiny two wheel bikes without pedals) or two wheel bikes, and the BOB can be used for loading up a tired little bike rider, with the bike hanging from the stroller handle (the Mommy Hook works great for this), or laying on top. Great for walking on dirt or gravel, as well as paved, and great for Baby Boot Camp. Both girls have said many times that it’s the one thing that they could not live without! You look beautiful Angela! Can’t wait to see your baby girl!
Angela,
As a mother of boy/girl twins (now in elementary school), here are my lists:
Loved:
*Snap-bottom pants and overalls (guess that’s less of an issue for girls, such a timesaver with my son when changing)
*Diaper bag, of course
*Diaper caddy (if using disposable) – for containing the odor
*Changing table – I liked having a central location where I knew all ‘supplies’ were at hand, plus the baby is raised up enough that you can have wonderful interaction and eye contact
as you’re changing her – my son used to giggle like mad during diaper changes.
*Portable fold-up changing table (really, a cushion) – Sorry, but most public changing areas are, well, gross
*White noise machine (my two particularly liked the “gentle rainstorm”); we also had some classical music we’d listen to (low background volume) while changing for bed
*Wipe warmer – Though not a necessity by any means, I did like it for making particularly nighttime diaper changes less jarring
*Extractor – or as someone else referred to it, a “snot sucker” – I actually FINALLY got rid of my kids’ but they were hard to let go of, believe it or not!
*Frozen animal/fish-shaped “ice packs” – still use them to this day for every boo-boo, real or imagined, the kids head straight to the freezer for their goldfish and frog
*Friends and family with older kids – as I believe someone else mentioned, people *need* to get rid of clothes and baby furniture and they *love* to give these items to someone they know who needs them; often all you need to do is spread the word that you’re open to it. My kids actually love receiving clothes from older cousins to this day, it’s got “cachet” when it’s from the bigger kids. Of course, I couldn’t resist the occasional purchase of something cute, but for the most part resisted.
*Baby socks that look like shoes (I had cute Mary Jane ones for my daughter) or socks with moccasin bottoms – so comfy!
*One special teddy bear
*Baby monitor
*Crib that converts to a toddler bed (which I suppose most do now)
Could have done without:
*About 99% of the toys, DVDs, and stuffed animals
*Pacifiers (barely used them – and therefore the issue of getting them to stop using them never arose!)
*Small bassinet
*Baby shoes
P.S. I just “discovered” you a few months back and want to thank you so much for all the changes you’ve inspired me to make as far as eating habits (which translates into life changes)!
Hi Angela!
Congratulations! Your bump is adorable. You’re going to love motherhood; it’s a lot of work but it’s incredibly rewarding. In terms of your shower registry, you might want to check out Lucie’s List (American mommy blogger, but lists the definite essentials!) and Pregnant Chicken is a Canadian mommy blogger who is hilarious and also has some wonderful tips about registries, babies, and the like.
I’m new to Oh She Glows and loving it so far! I’m planning on buying the cookbook soon. I’ve had 4 attempts at vegetarianism and finished a 10 year bout with bulimia about 6 years ago. My last veggie attempt ended when I was pregnant and absolutely craved meat. My little guy is 15 months old now and Im finally getting back on the veggie train again. Your recipes are amazing. Thank you for this. I really appreciate all this hard work!!
Register for children’s books! Nobody ever registers for books, and I love buying them for new babies. Even newborns love to be read to!
I had a little girl at the end of Sept 2013, it’s such a nice time of year to have a baby! Congrats! :) Here’s my list of must-haves: a pump or a list of places you can rent one from on short notice (my daughter had an undiagnosed tongue-tie that prevented her from breastfeeding effectively, so I had to quickly use a pump to get my milk to come in) – Ameda products are great, list of lactation consultants (some cities have a breastfeeding buddy system that’s great for extra support since breastfeeding can be a difficult new skill to learn for Mommy and baby), a baby swing or bouncy chair (what a lifesaver our swing was! It was great for getting her to fall asleep and as a place to set her down so we could have a break for a bit…we found a really nice one at Once Upon a Child (excellent store)), a really good diaper bag and an insurance policy for it (Babies r us sells insurance and it’s worth it, the zippers break so easily), lots and lots of bibs and receiving blankets for all that baby spit up, a bulb syringe or something to help baby’s stuffed nose (apparently lots of newborns have nose issues, my daughter was no exception, and using the bulb helped her so much), breast pads and a comfy sleep bra to hold pads in place (motherhood maternity sells cute ones), and if you decide to use a pacifier Natursutten makes a good one with natural rubber.
Things I didn’t need: a rocking chair (the couch and lots of pillows was way more comfy), swaddling pouches (they outgrow them so fast and don’t get used much…Grobags are way better), nail clippers (a file is easier), toys (people are baby’s toys at first, lol), baby lotions/oils other than diaper cream (baby’s new skin isn’t dry), and lots of outfits (sleepers and onesies are much easier to change in the beginning and there’ll be lots of changes, lol!). Good luck and have fun shopping!
Two boobs and a blanket. That’s all you REALLY need! Technically you only need one boob (Shout out to an awesome momma friend who has nursed two kids now post-breast cancer). Take in all that great information/advice people give you, and then put it aside & go take a prenatal yoga class.
So much this! But I’d say a baby sling too.
I’ve had 4 babies and EVERY time I’ve bought cute things I thought if need. Even for number. 4 I bought swaddling blankets and change mats. Seriously, never got used. I’ve been pregnant or breastfeeding for eleven years ( oh my lord!) and it all comes down to- Boobs and a sling.
But that said, everyone is different and it’s all about love and trusting your instincts, just listen to yourself and your baby and you’ll be great <3
I didn’t read through all the comments, and things have changed a lot since my boys were born 22 and 18 years ago, but one thing I remember is buying extra lingerie bags to put all the little stuff in so it wouldn’t get “lost” in the laundry! (Especially those teeny little socks!). You look great! It’s an exciting time for you and Eric.
great idea!
Wow Angela, you look amazing and I am very ecstatic that your satisfied with your test results.I prefer to be anonymous today but I bet you “know” who I am when you posted about sketchie diagnosis I mentioned I was working on my lymphoma/ leukemia diagnosis. I finally passed those test, Ive been doing Cancer testing for 2 months and maybe when you need emotional support or even a hug from your daughter she’ll be just as kick ass awesome as my 8 year old daughter who as been my support while getting bone marrow biopsys and other evasive test done, she’s been to every appointment with me an
d helped me during this very troubling time. Unfortunately now I have to narrow out
ulcers , stomach cancer and tumors so another month or two more with no medicine.My father was suppose to pass 2 months ago from his leukemia we lived in a town where the water gives people cancer( Fallon, Nevada) . Don’t worry about me once Im pass this “setback” all survive and have a healthy mobile beautiful life again. I wish you the best in all you do Angela and I really love your granola bars your turning into a “hippy”;;)…
Wow, you’ve already gotten so many comments…I don’t want to overwhelm you with more. I think the number one thing you need after the baby is born is support, from friends and family and other moms. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. I’m by no means an expert…my daughter is 6 months and I’m still learning…but I’d be happy to try to help!
As far as “stuff” is concerned, every baby is so different! We live in a very small Parisian apartment and had to stick to the bare essentials. Here’s my list:
For baby:
– a regular crib (no bassinet). We took the bars on one side off and pushed it up next to our bed. Her mattress is only an inch or two lower than ours. For nighttime nursing, I just lean over into her crib and lean away when she’s done (I tried bringing her into our bed at times, but that didn’t work well for me for various reasons. This is the best solution I’ve found to let us both sleep as well as possible).
– swaddling blankets (though my daughter is a little houdini and wiggles her way out of muslin and Swaddle me blankets…maybe for the next one I’ll have to try the Miracle blanket!)
– white noise (no need for a machine though, there are great apps for free out there if you have a tablet or phone you can leave with her…just remember to cut off the wifi!)
– no fancy clothes…just comfy pyjamas
– a bath seat, to support Baby in the tub.
– a comfy changing mattress (mine is a Sofalange…highly recommend it), which we put on top of the machine machine (no room for a table!). It’s actually the perfect height though for my back.
– a stroller (which I actually didn’t think I’d need in the beginning, as I was planning on just wearing her all the time, but I hadn’t planned on how much my back would ache from breastfeeding and carrying her so the stroller was a lifesaver), and a baby carrier (go for a “physiological” carrier – manduca or scarf – better for baby than Baby bjorn).
– a swing. We initially just bought a baby lounger to save space, but we should have just gotten the swing from the start.
– pacifiers.
For you:
– totally agree with everyone, bravado bras are the way to go. I have 2 and could use a 3rd.
– a good breast pump, right from the beginning. It can be a big relief for engorged breasts. Plus it lets you get out of the house and breathe from time to time….
– nursing pads, but NOT plain cotton…you’ll soak through them, and your shirts. I have some that have a fleecy side that has a stay-dry effect. Oh, and as a side note, the best piece of advice I have for breastfeeding in the first couple of weeks is to walk around topless if you’re having issues with cracks. Seriously. No cream heals better than the air. It’ll feel odd, but it will heal sooo much faster. Plus Eric will have fun. :-)
– a maternity pillow. I used it throughout my pregnancy to sleep, and it’s been great for nursing, serving as a cozy lounger for baby, and now a barrier as she rolls around.
– Energy snacks! In my case, the 15 or so boxes of chocolate friends gave us, but I’m sure you’ll figure out healthier options. ;-)
Happy shopping!
I literally busted out laughing when you described sticking your belly out behind a wall until Eric notices you. That is definitely something my husband and I would do. Love reading your pre-baby stories. You are truly glowing!
You look fantastic, and I’m so glad you’re feeling better! I’ll be 16 weeks tomorrow, and I just have to laugh at how cute your belly is. Here on pregnancy #4, I think I was your size by the end of week 2. :)
Not much to add that hasn’t already been mentioned–but I think the best advice I can give is that you’ll figure out what works for you, what you need and what you don’t, and it’s going to be different for everybody. I made the mistake with baby #1 of buying cheap nursing bras that didn’t fit and wound up with mastitis three times, so if you can splurge, go get yourself fitted and buy the best ones you can. SO worth it.
Baby clothes, diapers, LOTS of burp cloths, a safe place to sleep, and a comfy place to nurse–and you’re all set. :)
Hi Angela,
I’ve found the following as essentials to have – mostly all for breastfeeding:
1. Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple cream and Lasinoh Gel Soothies (use both to heal quicker during those first couple weeks)
2. Brest Friend (I find this much better than the bobby nursing pillow)
3. Medela Freestyle Pump (you can walk around and get stuff done while pumping! It’s more expensive but totally worth it)
4. Simple Wishes brand double pump bra
5. Majama Sleep Bra (buy 2! so comfy – i lived in this the first 3 months) http://www.diapers.com/p/majamas-the-easy-bra-8337?utm_source=Diapers_SG&utm_medium=PDP_SG&utm_campaign=di-sg-to-mobile&noappbanner=true
6. Halo Swaddle sleepsacks
7. Lasinoh milk storage bags – the Medela brand is not good!
Hope this helps!
Get the Snoogle pillow and comfort will be yours again at least for a while. I got it half way through my 2nd pregnancy and it was heaven sent. They sell them at Babies R’Us. I promise you will not be disappointed.
I miiiiiight have to go to Garage and copy you with that denim jacket because it’s absolutely adorable!
Essential baby item? The chair I have in this post:
http://chareatsgreens.com/2013/02/20/the-baby-routine/
Luckily, my SIL handed it down to me, but it was a lifesaver in the early months! I would prop her up on the kitchen counter while I diced veggies and cooked away. Purely amazing!
you should get it…it’s super comfy!
Hi Angela,
Love your baby blog posts! You look awesome too, I am just coming up on 26 weeks and am starting to feel a lot bigger! I agree with the Bravado bras THEY ARE AWESOME. As for maternity clothes I’ve picked up a few things from Thyme, Motherhood and Old Navy. I’ve also just ordered a couple things from LOFT and Pink Blush but I’ve yet to receive them. I plan on living in skirts and dresses this summer, also just picked up a couple cute non-maternity maxi skirts from Target.
As for baby registry items (although I can’t say they are must haves on personal experience but think they will be) are baby books, meals or a meal service or take-out gift cards, and many of the other items previously mentioned by others. I’m using BabyList (http://babyli.st/) for my registry, it’s great, lets you add items from any store and you can also add ‘coupons’ for services (baby sitting, cleaning, snow removal, etc.).
Looking forward to following your journey and I am looking forward to more baby friendly meals on the blog!
I bought this organic baby food puree book for a friend’s baby and she really liked it.
http://www.adamsmediastore.com/201-organic-baby-purees?r=googleshopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&cid=1200&mr:trackingCode=C2E76082-7410-E111-973E-001517384908&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=pla&gclid=CjkKEQjwhoGcBRDlu9S3mo7-udIBEiQASEw7QmT2yJyXdSL_VfwZs6nF9ozgoseDT-qSZSoNJbgvDCjw_wcB