If you are looking for more health information, please check my health and safety page.  Pregnant? Then you need to know about pelvic organ prolapse. I put this at the top because it's such a little-known problem until women have it. It's many times preventable, or at least possible to prevent it getting worse. But doctors don't discuss it and pregnancy books don't mention it. Most pre-menopausal women don't know about it until it happens to them. Women going through menopause often know about it because that's when it hits for the majority of women. But there's a significant number of young women having the problem due to pregnancy and childbirth, especially long second stage labor and/or hard pushing. Know the causes. Know the symptoms. Know what can prevent and/or help. Visit Prolapse Support, a site created by one of my personal friends, for more information and a safe place to discuss this problem. If you are just finding out you are pregnant, please visit Saving Babies, a website a friend and I created to bring awareness to the problem of low progesterone in pregnancy. We encourage all women who are just finding out they are pregnant -- better yet to be aware before getting pregnant -- to have their progesterone levels tested. BabyCenter is one of my favorite sites! And it's free! I've been a member since I was pregnant with our first child, who was lost in a miscarriage. Belonging to a community of parents at BabyCenter during my time of crisis helped me tremendously. There are tons of tools to help you with getting pregnant, if you are considering it. There are groups you can join and talk with others for every stage of life, whether you just lost a baby, you're pregnant with complications, have a newborn, toddler or adolescent, or are considering getting pregnant. You can even join groups for the exact month and year of your child's birth. If you have an older child, then their ParentCenter is where you belong. You can even shop for great products for pregnancy and beyond. See their store: BabyCenter store ClubMom  is a great group (free!) for mothers of all types and ages. Not only are there forums, but it's a place you can voice your opinion as well as get awarded. If you do online shopping at all, ClubMom is a must. You can get points that add up and equal very good prizes. After being a member less than a year, I was eligible for some significant gift certificates to some of my favorite stores, such as Bed, Bath and Beyond, as well as many other great prize choices. It's a club to celelbrate moms, and they do a good job of it. Also, there is always some type of sweepstake(s) going on exclusively for members. You will also get great coupons in the mail from Bed, Bath and Beyond, and homebasics, a magazine absolutely filled with recipes, fun ideas for family and GROCERY store coupons! Best of all, it's all free! Baby Hopes is a site where you can get pregnancy tests, ovulation kits and more fertility resources for a really great price. You'll hate them because they are so ugly, but love them because they are so comfortable. If you're wanting more of those disposable mesh underwear they give you at the hospital when your little one arrives, here's a place to get them: GoGoods. American Baby is a FREE magazine subscription! It's a great one and comes to your mailbox once a month! Baby Talk is another FREE (postal service -- not e-mail -- magazine subscription for you! Just click on the box on the lower left hand corner of their page to sign up! Wendy Bellissimo gave me SO MANY great ideas when I was getting ready for my baby! Check the safety of medication in pregnancy and breastfeeding at Safe Fetus. Great resource for women's health topics can be found here: OBGYN Forum. You can even ask questions and have them answered by doctors! Are your feet swelling? They are practically guaranteed to do so by the end of the day the more pregnant you are -- and swelling is often common after delivery as well! There's finally some relief out there to reduce that swelling -- try MommySox for relief! I can personally say that I've tried them, and they are wonderful! They are definitely the most comfortable socks I've ever worn, and they definitely reduce the swelling, I'd say by as much as 75% by the end of the day! I love them! Shop for colorful baby announcements, photo bibs and more at Snapfish.com! If you love taking pictures of your family, and want to share them but don't know how, then Snapfish is the place for you. It's free to join, upload, store and share your photos! I even use them for my film developing. I've been using them for years, and love them! You can even make gifts out of your pictures and send them to family and friends. It's where we get our holiday photo cards every winter, too! Have you seen ads mentioning something called Upromise but didn't know what it was? It's an organization, free, that helps you save some money for your kids' college, or pay off your own student loans. We don't make a lot of money at it, but we so far we do get about $50 a year in an account. Multiply that times 18 years and that's a significant chunk of change to pay for books! It works by registering your debit and/or credit cards and whenever you shop with a Upromise merchant partner, that merchant gives a percentage of your purchase to your Upromise account. You can even have it emptied into a 529 college savings plan. I tend to be a cynic, and somewhat of a conspiracy theorist (I prefer the term realist!) and was uncomfortable with joining for a while, so we didn't. I was thinking it's just another way for the government and whoever else to know what we are purchasing. But once I started realizing that unless you pay cash for EVERYTHING, they already know. Checks aren't even safe as far as that's concerned. So then I figured, we may as well benefit since they know anyway! If you join and do any online shopping, then you should install their RemindU onto your computer. It doesn't really take any space, takes just a second or two to download, and it automatically registers your purchase with Upromise if you are on a partner site, so you don't have to worry about remember to shop through the Upromise links first. Below are some great sites to find products, other than the popular Target, Walmart and BabiesRUs. (Don't forget about eBay! Whenever I'm looking for baby or toddler-related products, I go to these stores, as well as the ones listed below, and compare selection, prices and coupon codes (see my shopping page) before making a purchase. BabyUniverse.com is a great store, and the best in my opinion to buy the Britax line of carseats (also the best, in my opinion, once baby has graduated from the infant carseat/carrier) -- they usually have some kind of sale on them, free shipping and a great selection. Baby Age ($5.95 Flat Rate Shipping On Any Size Order) is another wonderful site with a great selection of products, and great all-around shipping prices. One Step Ahead is definitely one of my favorites! They have so many neat items, especially for safety, and I've had good experience with returns. You can also find Maternity Apparel here, as well as create a Registry. Maternity Mall is a great place to find maternity clothes and other things for you!   Save Money! If you are expecting or have a baby, toddler or young child, join these company clubs and get coupons and free samples for their products: Earth's Best Gerber Huggies LUVS Pampers   BIRTH PLAN? It's an excellent idea! Mine was about 3 1/2 pages long, and my doctor was pleased to see that I had one because she knew that I knew, in detail, what was going to happen. I went over with her a couple of months before having our baby, and after agreeing to make a few changes on my part, she okayed it and sent it on to the hospital to have the labor nurses review it and put it in my file there. I was doing hypnobirthing and was going for an all-natural, completely medication-free childbirth in the hospital (did I make it? YES!!!). I had a VERY detailed plan and had very specific instructions like: "Please don't ask me if I'm in pain or use any reference to pain. Please don't offer me medication or discuss it with me. I know what medications are available, and will request them if I need them." And "If the baby's health allows it, immediately after birth, before the cord is cut, I would like the baby placed on my stomach." And "My husband will be with the baby at all times immediately after the birth and before the baby is given back to me." Oh, I had so many details!!! I even spent six hours of my labor in the shower in my birthing room. And yes, my water had already broken. I didn't go to the hospital until it had. And I had complications throughout my pregnancy, but I was still able to have my birth the way I wanted it as long as it wasn't a detriment to my baby's or my health. And you can too! The links below will give you a place to start. You're free to personalize it as much as you want. I had one friend who had it in her birth plan that the nurses weren't to refer to her baby as "baby" while she was in labor, but to use the baby's name. I really liked that and think I'll use it next time, too. BabyCenter create your own birth plan Birthplan.com Interactive Birth Plan Your Birth Plan KidsHealth Birth Plan Information   Wondering what in the world you should buy to prepare for baby? My list is below! *Boppy nursing pillow *What to Expect the First Year (see my store) *The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (see my store) *Secrets of the Baby Whisperer *The First 2 Years (or you can just get the Complete Book of Baby and Child Care, which has all of the First Two Years in it, with great photos and more -- see my store) *Avent nurser bottles (the kind with liners and the 4 oz. – you get two 4 oz. with the pump.You’ll need the 9 oz. later but by then the baby might accept a different kind. Of course you can start out with a diff. kind but I like these because they are so versatile and if you use the pump you can pump directly into bottle or disposable/reusable, etc.) These are the only kind my daughter would take but some babies choke on them at first and then another like the original Playtex nurser is probably the best. *Nurser bottle liners *Avent Isis manual breast pump (unless you go electric. I find this is a great one and I also had a Medela manual and hated it. I borrowed an Ameda purely yours double electric, which is nice if you want to go electric, but the Isis is the best by far for comfort. If you decide to go electric sometimes, you may be able to find a good price on a brand new one on ebay. But you really need a manual too – it’s great for pumping in the car and stuff if you need to and this one is the most comfortable.) *Microwave steam sterilizer *Contoured changing pad (Rumble Tuff is good – unless your changing table has a pad. This one, and probably some other brands, you can attach directly to the top of the dresser so you don’t need a changing table. Changing pad covers are a waste of money until the baby is older. I recommend getting them for later, but in the first several months, just keep the plastic on the pad and put baby towels or flannel receiving blankets or something under the baby. The covers will get stained very quickly until they are older!) Also, take home all the extra stuff you don’t use at the hospital – everything! The blue plastic “sheets” with the absorbent padding on them are excellent for this kind of thing – bring them all home with you! They’ll just throw out what you don’t use and you’re already paying for it. *Organizer (unless you get a changing table with one attached). I got mine at the Family Dollar Store for $10 and it’s still holding up! It’s as tall as the dresser (very tall dresser) and sits right next to it. *Hamper (we use a cute natural color wicker basket next to the dresser/changing pad that I got at the dollar store) *Blankets (you’ll need a lot of receiving blankets) *Crib and crib bedding – several sheets and at least two mattress protectors, plus a waterproof vinyl cover that zips around the entire mattress. * Diapers (tons). If you buy the newborn size at all, only buy one small package unless you’ve got a premie like my daughter was. You can always buy some when the baby is born if you need them. Size 1 doesn’t last long and size 2 lasts a few months. Size 3 is probably the size they are in the longest unless you’ve got a really big baby. I like Pampers swaddlers for the first few weeks, then Huggies Ultratrim (because they are sold in bulk at Sam’s) for the next few months, then switch to Luvs. They are the best! I may even go with Luvs when I’m ready to make the switch from swaddlers with the next one. *Burp cloths * Diaper Genie or Diaper Champ or pail of some sort. If you get Diaper Genie you have to get refills for it. Diaper Champ uses any plastic bag and works really well.) *Wipes (lots) The best kind are the store/generic brand from Sam’s. They are unscented for the sensitive baby skin, and thicker and more cloth-like, plus they are so much cheaper! You may want to go with something ultra-gentle for the first month or so though. *Rash ointment (I think Boudreaux’s Butt Paste is the best for every day prevention and treatment of diaper rash and other skin ailments, Balmex or Triple Paste is the best for severe diaper rash. Aquaphor is EXCELLENT for just after a change when everything is fine. Have some on hand. *Cetaphil lotion. This will come in handy when the infant acne starts. My daughter's was really bad for a little while and they say not to use any soap or anything, but the dr. told me I could use some extra virgin olive oil, which didn’t help, and try cetaphil if it didn’t. The cetaphil worked wonders, and I still use it on her to this day since she has sensitive skin. *Baby brush and comb (at least two – take the comb home from the hospital too – it’s the one I use the most to this day!!) *Onesies *T-shirts *Clothing (sleepers and gowns mostly in the beginning) *Booties *Socks (a baby doesn’t need shoes until they are at least beginning to walk, and then a soft shoe like Bobux -- that's what my daughter wore till she was about 20 months! or Robeez is best – even for grass and dirt – until they are walking on concrete and rocks, glass, etc.) *Hats *Bibs *Carrier/infant car seat/stroller combo and an extra base for the infant seat if you have two vehicles. We have the Graco Breeze travel system and it’s great but not made anymore but the Graco line is really good. *Carrier cover for cold and rainy weather *Head/neck supporter for carrier *Car seat saver (protects the upholstery) *Fun links (for toys in carrier or stroller, so they don’t fall out completely!) *Floor activity gym *Baby hugger/holder (I like the Snugli that you can use in three diff. positions and detach from the sides. This is an absolute must – I tried using one that I had to put and take my daughter out of from the top and it’s a real pain.) I think I’m going to get a sling for the next one to use in the first few months. A sling is really nice, too, like the ones from New Native and others. New Native is a brand some friends have used and really like. *Towels, hooded and other (about 4 hooded) *Baby washcloths *Nursing pads (Lansinoh disposable is the best. Avent disposable and Medela are good, too, but not as good. I’ve tried EVERY brand of disposable and have three diff. brands of washable. Lansinoh is the only one that prevents leaks completely.) *Nursing bras and nursing clothes (motherwear.com and motherhoodnursing.com – nursing clothes are a must! I started out with two nursing shirts and now I’ve got a whole wardrobe. 100 percent cotton with no underwire is the best to avoid plugged ducts.) *Lansinoh lanolin ointment *Baby shampoo, soap, lotion, oil, powder (cornstarch kind only – you’ll only need a small bottle), etc. *Diaper bag with changing pad AND WATERPROOF LINER! You’ll probably get a smaller one at the hospital and/or doctor’s office that is great for quick runs somewhere but I think a big one is good too. *Ear thermometer and a digital thermometer for under the arm and/or rectal (I’ve never been able to do that!) *Baby bathtub AND a baby sponge bath to put inside it for when they are really little. One with a thermometer is really good. Ideal bath temp is about 99 to 100 degrees once they are taking baths in the water at a young age (test with your elbow). *Monitor (we have a Graco one with lights that go up and down and it came with a base and two receivers, it’s very good) *Pacifiers (Avent are the only ones my daughter would take in the beginning but then loved the Gerber gentleflex and the Nuk but never really used any of them that often). *Pacifier holder/keeper these are a must! *Bright, soft noisy toys (this quiets them sometimes) *Playpen/portacrib *Fingernail clippers or safety tip scissors (I used a soft nail file the first 10 months because I was terrified of cutting her but now I use clippers that have a thick, longer easy grip handle made by Safety 1st). *Nasal aspirator (at least three – one for bathroom, one for nursery and one in diaper bag) *Infant nasal saline drops or gel – Little Noses is great. *Cool mist humidifier *Infant pain/fever reducer (ask dr. which is best) *Mylicon drops *Vibrating bouncy seat *Wipe warmer *Moses basket (we’re using this in combination with the portacrib in place of a bassinet the next time around -- when my daughter was just a few weeks old, we put the Moses basket between us in the bed and she slept in it in our bed for months. We used it for so much!) *Bassinet (see Moses basket above above) *Swing (make sure you get one that’s battery operated, adjustable speed and can fully recline) *Avent breast shells (you only wear them for 30 or 45 min. max, but it really is a lifesaver to collect the leaking milk. Avent is the only brand that sells them to where you can collect the milk to use later.) *Breast soothers (several brands make them), filled with gel for warm or cold. Really helps with breast engorgement and if you get a plugged duct, which is very painful. *Side positioner. We got one after my daughter started getting a flat head in the back. The one we have has a mat under it made of that memory foam to help reduce the pressure on her head. *Baby Einstein videos (see my store). Talk about something that will stop the crying for LITTLE while! *Something to strap to the crib that plays music, white noise and a light and can be set to go off when they cry if you want it to. *A mobile for when they are a couple of months and up. When the baby is older: *High chair (Fisher Price Healthy Care is the best in my opinion. It's not real expensive and it's a great one -- removable tray, easy care wipeable seat) *Bouncy swing for doorway (Graco is nice because it has a little tray around it) *Exersaucer (Evenflo is a good brand. Walkers can be a health hazard because the baby can get to things they aren't supposed to -- not  a good idea for anyone with stairs in their house.) *Larger car seat. I did tons of research on safety and parent reviews on convenience, etc. and the Britax Marathon is what we ended up getting. It is rear-facing to 33 lbs. and forward facing to 65 pounds. *Tubsider – this great seat thing for parents to sit on when bathing the child. Takes stress off knees and back – I can’t bathe my daughter without it with my bad back! I didn’t have a bad back until she was 9 months old, then I herniated a disk when I was putting her down! I wish I had this sooner. Maybe I would have prevented it!!

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