Preparing For Baby

Posted by Jane Highley on February 14, 2012

Top 10: Newborn Must-Haves

I love lists, especially if it’s not a terribly long one.  And 10 is manageable.  Inspired by a certain late-night show’s regular segment, I decided to launch a short TOP TEN series (emphasis on “short”) on anything relevant to getting ready for a new baby.

Before reading any further, however, here are a few qualifications about this list (and others forthcoming).

Qualification #1:  I am expecting my third child (a boy), so I am compiling this list with some experience behind me, not as a first-time mommy.  I’ve had hits and misses with lots of baby products, so my past experiences with babies 1 and 2 (both girls) will largely inform my picks listed below.

Qualification #2:  I plan to breastfeed and pump, but I don’t plan on using any bottles until at least 2-3 weeks after the delivery.

Qualification #3:  I deliberately omitted the obvious items (e.g., diapers/wipes, crib, stroller, car seat) because I didn’t want to insult your intelligence.

Qualification #4:  This is a list specifically for the care of newborns, not necessarily for Mom (or parents), which is why you won’t find a baby carrier or nursing pads listed below.  I hope to address that in a separate list.

Qualification #5:  This list is a means to an end – I’m sharing mine with hopes that you will share yours.  If you have a “must-have” product that I didn’t mention, please comment below!  There is nothing like the honesty of other mommies who’ve put products to the real, raw test of newborn-care. (more…)

Posted by Liz Hodes on February 8, 2012

Pregnant Again: Different This Time Around

This isn’t my first rodeo, as they say, but this pregnancy sure does feel different in a lot of ways.  And it began right from the start, with a different kind of morning sickness.  With my first pregnancy, I had first trimester nausea, but it was mostly limited to first thing in the morning and late afternoon – both times when my blood sugar was probably lowest.  If I ate breakfast right away and had a mid-afternoon snack that included some protein, I could generally make it through just fine, and by week 10 or 11, I was pretty much over my morning sickness.  This time, I was queasy practically from the time I got my positive pregnancy test through week 14 or 15, all day and all night.  Not fun, especially because with a nearly three-year-old to keep up with, I didn’t have the option of crashing on the couch for an entire weekend or going to bed as soon as I got home from work like I did when I was pregnant with that bundle of energy!

At 17 weeks, I’m feeling much better, but I still don’t have much of an appetite, which is another big difference I’m noticing between these two pregnancies.  In my second trimester when I was pregnant with my son, I was hungry all day and had the appetite of a teenage boy.  This time, my toddler is eating more dinner than I do every night and I have to force myself to eat lunch some days.  I haven’t gained any weight yet, and in fact I haven’t even made up what I lost during my nauseous first trimester.  Something to talk about with my doctor at my next appointment, for sure! (more…)

Posted by Sunny Gault on February 1, 2010

A Case For Cord Blood Banking

Most of us think we’re invincible. But we’re not, and neither are our children.

As a parent, we try to raise our kids the best we can. We make sure they eat right, look both ways before crossing the street and never speak to strangers. But there are some things beyond our control, like the prevention of cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Imagine sitting with your child as the doctor makes his diagnosis. A million thoughts race through your mind as you wonder what you could have done differently. Now, imagine some good news. The doctor tells you of a cure that saves your child’s life.

This is possible through a process known as cord blood banking. It’s a relatively new concept we previously featured on PregTASTIC. Click here to listen to the episode.

In its simplest terms, cord blood banking is the collection and storage of the stem cells found in your newborn’s umbilical cord. Today, cord blood stem cells have been used to successfully treat nearly 80 life-threatening diseases.

My brother David was 25-years-old when we was diagnosed with leukemia, also known as cancer of the blood. He fought bravely battling every type of radiation and chemotherapy, but his remissions were short-lived. He desperately needed a bone marrow transplant to save his life. But first, he needed a matching donor.

Being a sibling, I had the highest chance of being a match for my brother. But I wasn’t. My parents tested negative as well. We could only hope a matching donor magically appeared on the National Bone Marrow Registry. Our prayers were answered, we eventually found a matching donor. But it was too late. David was too weak to have the procedure.

I still remember sitting in the hospital room, watching my brother cry as doctors told him there was nothing else they could do for him. David died a few months later.

Leukemia is one of many diseases that can be treated through cord blood banking. Doctors can use your child’s own stem cells to treat the disease, eliminating the need for an additional donor. This process saves time, which saves lives. If cord blood banking was available when my brother was born, he may still be alive today.

Banking our future child’s cord blood, was one the first decisions my husband and I made when we learned we were going to be parents. It’s not cheap, but it’s a purchase that’s far more valuable than anything you could put on a baby registry.

In fact, some cord blood banks will create an online gift registry so your friends and family can donate and help make your payments more manageable.

If you or anyone you love is pregnant, I encourage you to consider this life-changing opportunity. There’s tons of information online, just google cord blood banking and find a program that’s right for you.

It may be the most important decision you ever make.