Birth and Babies

My latest craze these days is a household notebook I’ve created.  This isn’t a new idea by any means, but I am finding the organization exciting and want to tell everyone about it!  If you read my lastest post over in Home Life, you can visit a great link that is an amazing resource for household notebooks.

Anyway - a household notebook can be great for pregnancy and postpartum.  Many women find it hard to remember things during their pregnancy and also during the postpartum period.  Having a notebook where everything important is stored (along with prenatal appointments, belly and baby stats, etc.)

A daily, weekly and monthly to do list helps keep track of regular and routine tasks.  Make a note of all of the things you need to get done, when they need to get done, and their priority so you can take a peek when you’re having an “I don’t know what to do next” moment.  If you have a checklist of your cleaning tasks divided by room and frequency of needing cleaned, this can be VERY helpful during the postpartum period for your partner or other people eager to help.  All of your regular chores will be written down so they can take a look at your list and do something on it.

Keep a running list of items you want to buy before baby.

Make notes of things you’d like to try during your labor and birth, and postpartum if necessary.  Sitting down to write up a birth plan is helpful, but generally you won’t remember all of the details.  It’s great to keep a running list through pregnancy so you can avoid the “Oh, I wanted to try that!” afterwards.

Keep a list of favorite recipes and what cookbooks they can be found in.  Start planning some freezer meals so you don’t need to cook (or rather, your partner or family) after the baby is born.

Keep a list of books and movies you want to read.  After the baby is born if you’re nursing, there will be a lot of downtime.  If you’re not gazing at your baby (and that will be a lot!), you can catch up on some good books!

If you want to keep track of your new baby’s feedings and diaper changing, you can print off some pre-made charts (you can find some at chartjungle.com) and have them ready to go.

Start off on the right foot and print off health record forms to have ready for your baby.  Document important things like birth weight, length, blood type, and more.  If you choose to vaccinate,

Are you a mom of closely spaced children?  Closely spaced is considered three years and younger.  I have created a new resource for moms of closely spaced children, due to a lack of resources I’ve been able to find on my own.  By 2008 I hope to have the website, www.closely-spaced.com a informational resource with not only the newsletter, but a discussion forum and many articles written by those who have been there done that.  What have you found to be the biggest challenges?  How did you handle the early years?  Care to share?

As a mom of three children closely spaced (19 and 23 months apart between the three of them) I’m learning day by day and have come up with many successful ideas I hope to share with everyone.  Please consider adding your thoughts, submitting an article or a question.

As a natural-minded, homesteading mom of three closely spaced children I find each day to be quite exhausting.  But I’ve also found each day leads to new memories, laughter and bonding as I watch my three youngsters intereact with each other.  Yes, interaction also includes fighting!  I guess it’s a part of life. 

One of the biggest suggestions I have found helpful for when things are getting stressful in the house: take the kids outside for playtime or a walk.  The change in scenery, fresh air and new things to do often makes the kids forget what they were fighting about or stressing about inside.  Then when the air has cleared, bring them back inside if it’s time to eat or things have to get done.

Another thing: keep the kids engaged.  This is the exhausting part.  Try to keep plenty of activities out and in the open for the kids to get into and play, so they aren’t left with “nothing to do” and end up getting in trouble.  I have one of those clear plastic 5-drawer organizers and have put all of my kids multiple-parts toys such as puzzles, shape sorters, arts/crafts supplies, threading and beading things, etc. so the kids can see them, request them, and I get them out so they can play with them (I did take the wheels off and turn the organizer around so the drawers can’t be opened (the opening end is against the wall).  This prevents big, big messes :-)  I keep this in my living room, where we spend most of our day, and when one activity is no longer enchanting I can have the kids clean it up and pull something else out.  *I* personally don’t interact with them every second of the day (it’s important for them to play together and also have solo play time), but I do make sure they are engaged in something.  Of course, I do interact with them, just not every second of the day.

Also, activities such as reading keeps all of the kids in one spot for any length of time, and we’re all sitting and comfortable.  I like reading time - no chasing, no cleaning, no moving… Just sitting, reading and cuddling with all of my kids!

Share your tips!  I’d love to hear them!

Great article here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/82550.php

Curious about birth?  Need some encouragment for your upcoming birth?  Check out these video clips and slideshows available online: http://www.themidwife.net/index_files/homebirthmidwifestudentwomanshealthvideos.htm

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this here before, but wanted to throw out a helpful hint for nursing moms who want to stay modest while nursing.

Take an old undershirt and cut out circles where your breasts are.  Wear this shirt under your normal shirt, and when you have to pull up your top shirt to nurse, the undershirt stays down and keeps your tummy and sides covered.