Facts about labor and delivery

Welcome to the birthing process. This is a big time for you. Here are some facts from my experience. All people are different and all labor and delivery are different.

• If you get induced be prepared for a long day. When i got induced it took 12 hrs for that to be over. Also its so much better if you go into labor yourself than being induced. (from what I heard).
• Wear your hair up. Put it in a ponytail or put a head band on. I didnt and my hair was all wet from sweat and it was gross.
• If you get an epidural eat a lot of ice chips. During it you'll be extremely thirsty and stiff. 
• There will be blood. Lots and lots of blood. 
• Just breath; it will hurt but it will all be worth it in the end. Hang in there.
• Watch for labor signs and make sure that they are real.
• Yes the epidural is scary. When I got it I didn't feel a thing and I felt sick during it but it really wasn't that bad. After I got it I felt like I was on a cloud. It was the best thing ever. I would sit there and be like "O look I'm having a contraction and I cant feel it". There are more options for pain relief if you choose not to do the epidural. If you do get one eat and drink a lot before cause you can't have any food or water till that baby is out of you. 
• You can do natural birth. But be prepared to be in extreme pain. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't get pain relief. You'll have pain in your back, stomach and down under. 
• Do the skin on skin if you can. Best thing I ever did was hold my baby right after he came into this world.
• If you need a c-section do it. I didn't get one so I don't know how it feels.
• It will exhaust you. Your body is doing a big thing and trying to help you know when to push.
• It might hurt. I had back labor and horrible hip pain even with the epidural in. 
• Some people push forever and are in labor forever. I was in labor for almost a whole day. I pushed for about 4 hours. Some people push for like 15 minutes. 
• The first baby is gonna be the hardest. Cause your body is trying to figure out how to make it and get it out of your body. But it depends on the person. 
• You'll probably get an episiotomy. An episiotomy is a surgical cut from the vagina to the anus to make the delivery go by faster.I didn't get one cause i tore the crap out of everything and got a lot of stitches. 
• You might have to get forceps or the vacuum assistance. I got the vacuum and it helped a lot. My baby got stuck in the birth canal. 
  
• When the baby comes out its gonna feel really weird. My baby came shooting out and my belly instantly shrunk. I had to catch my breath when he came out. That was the weirdest feeling I have ever had. 
• Before you go to the hospital make sure you have everything packed and ready to go. That includes the baby's coming home outfit and other important things.
• Make friends with the nurses. Trust me its worth it. but I really wish I would have brought some cookies or a treat for them. 
• Your gonna cry....a lot. I have never cried so hard in my life when I saw my baby for the first time. (well maybe from my hip pain too.)
• You might scream. Haha I did. I screamed like they did in the movies. Mainly cause of hip pain and I just wanted the baby out of me. 
• Don't be afraid to ask questions. I asked a ton of questions and my nurses didn't mind at all. 
• Don't have too many people in the delivery room. Its nice to have a couple of nurses, the doctor, and your husband. I had some nurses, the doctor, the anesthesiologist, my mom, and husband. So that wasn't too many people. 
• You are gonna be naked and spread eagle throughout the process so get use to it. You'll be in pain so you won't even care. 

There is more info about this subject on babycenter.com.

Easter egg wreath tutorial

This is so cute and so simple and cheap. Try it out. You can get the eggs for a bag of 40 at wal-mart for 1.97. All i needed was one bag. The wreath wire i got at wal-mart too for 2.47 i think i could be wrong about the price. o and i was doing my oil pulling while i made this.

What you need:

• Any kind of plastic eggs. I chose pastel cause they were cheap.
• Wreath shape
• grass
• glue gun
• anything you want to put in the middle

Now start at any place and start gluing the eggs on the wire.

Keep goin till you meet in the middle. You can do a second layer if you want. 

Do the same with the second layer.

Now add grass be careful not to burn yourself. I would bunch up some and put glue on it and stick it where i want it. Or put glue on the place you want the grass and stick it there....carefully. You can add as much grass as you want.

Trim some of the grass and ta da the finished product. I added the little bunny cause i thought it was cute. 

Hope you try it out..enjoy.

Coconut oil hair mask

With the oil pulling I have also been putting the oil in my hair. I know it sounds weird but I like it.
What I did I got my coconut oil i didn't really need to melt it cause it was already kinda melted. I went from root to tip and massaged it in my scalp while I was putting it in. It actually felt really nice kinda like a spa treatment for your hair. Brush your hair if you can with the oil in it to stimulate the scalp. I left in in for 20-30 min you can leave it in longer if you want. After, I took a shower and did my hair. The only thing i didn't like was that my hair was not soft at all it was just hard to run my fingers through it. When I woke up the next morning my hair was really wavy. I straightened my hair and put straightening gel in it too. I think it was because my hair is getting use to the texture. But like I said I liked it when it was in my hair
Now i heard that you can add essential oils to it. I haven't done that yet I don't really own any, well I do have lavender. Also if you want to deep condition your hair leave in the oil longer and put a shower cap on;)
So what the oil does it helps with growing your hair out, dandruff, dry scalp, keeps your hair clean, removes build up from products and elements, and split ends. So far I haven't noticed anything. Well I've only done it once so far. I'm gonna do it once a week and see what happens.
I keep y'all updated.
*Update*
So I went and got my hair colored and cut and my salon person said that my hair was soft and shiny and was wondering what I have been doing. Hehe I told her about the mask and oil pulling. She said she's gonna try it now. Anyway I heard to blow dry it when the time is up. Just till its a little dry then take a shower like normal. They said that it exfoliated the hair follicles like when you massage it. So I'm gonna try that to see if it works.
*Update*
I found out that the coconut oil makes hair color fade. I got my hair colored like a couple of weeks before I did my treatment and it faded bad just by the one treatment. So this is a warning if you spend a lot of money on your hair don't do the treatment.

Facts about pregnancy

Yep welcome to pregnancy. Here is some info on the whole kit and caboodle from my experience. All people are different, this could happen or it wont at all.
Pregnancy:

• Start buying diapers and wipes that are on sale as soon as you find out. Usually newborn to size 2, don't buy a ton of newborn diapers. Buy more size 1 and 2, they are in those sizes longer. My baby was in newborns for about a month. I bought 2-3 big boxes of them and i was good. I had to go out and buy a bag of 40 one time. But if you need them go get them especially if your baby is a preemie. I prefer Huggies. For size 1 i liked the Pampers Swaddlers they last all night and they absorb really good. I didnt like Pampers baby dry, the pee would ride up my babies back...ewwwww.
• Enjoy spending time with your spouse. You will be so busy taking care of the baby and wont have time for each other. As the baby gets older you have more time.
• Go on one last vacation together. I went to vegas for my b-day. I had fun but I couldn't have that kind of fun. It was worth it though. You will have a hard time going on vacations after the baby is born. 
• Enjoy sleeping in. Ya you will never sleep in again. Your sleep schedule will be all whacked out. From getting up every 3 hours to staying up all night. 
  
• Don't lay on your back when you get 7-9 weeks pregnant. It will make the baby lay on that sciatic nerve and it kills. I did a couple of times and my back killed me. Also dont lay on the side your bladder is on I think its the left side. The baby will be laying on that too so for a couple of months just lay on your right side. 
• The baby will constantly kick you in the bladder and ribs. It will also be laying on your bladder all the time.
• Get a good packing list. I have a lot of ideas on that on my pinterest on pregnancy board. The link to my pinterest is on your right. 
• Watch delivery videos. Epidural, natural and all kind just to see what it looks like. But don't scare yourself.
• GET A BOPPY!!! they are amazing!!!
• Get your hair cut on your last month. Just to freshen up:)
• Maternity pictures??? I did them and im glad i did. I love looking at them and all the memories i had. I didn't take a lot. If you want a good photographer that is good in price i know someone she did my maturitys, bridals, engagements, and newborn and soon to be family pics and 6 month pics. This is her facebook page   https://www.facebook.com/CHBphotos
• Birth plan. personally i think its a waste of time. The birth of your baby will be a surprise (maybe) it depends on the pregnancy and person. My baby was 2 weeks early and i couldn't even function cause he came so fast.
• I heard not to cross your legs. It can clog some kind of vein or something to the fetus. I didn't throughout my pregnancy. I believed it just in case. 
• If you are RH negative ( if your blood type is negative)  you'll be required to get the rhogam shot. They suck but it will keep your baby safe.
•  Yes pregnancy sucks at times just remember there are people who had it worse. I was just grateful that I could get pregnant.
• I hate to say this but do some things yourself. You can't rely on people to do things for you all the time. Well except lifting and pulling don't do that. I mowed the lawn and did some gardening during 1st and 2nd trimester. I also learned to put my shoes and socks on myself my husband wasn't around all the time. When i was 8-9 months pregnant I just did simple things like cook and clean:)
• If you are afraid of needles. GET OVER IT!!! you will be poked and pricked throughout pregnancy. From blood drawn to shots. I was terrified of needles and blood. I would have one look at a needle and pass out instantly. Now since i went through pregnancy and delivery im like ya give it to me. Now i show them where my good vein is and i watch them. 
• C-Section. Umm ya didn't have one. But i was at the point where i wanted one :0 So sorry cant help ya there. 
• Don't be scared to be a parent. I was terrified till I had my son thats when i knew i could do it. So don't worry your gonna be a great mom:) All that motherhood comes naturally. Practice or no practice. I raised a lot of kids (nieces and nephews) so i kinda got the picture. 
• Birthing classes. I didnt take any and i did just fine i had a nurse go through pushing and everything before i started pushing. It was like a mini birthing class:)
•  Invest in a nursing bra if you plan on nursing. Dont buy a bunch cause you'll prob nurse from newborn to 6 months to a year old. I bought 3 and its a good number; i got mine from wal-mart i was lucky they were on sale for $10, and i love them. I also bought bigger bras to make my boobies comfy, i went up 2 sizes. Dont forget the nursing pads, you are gonna need them. 
• Its normal if you cramp a little its just your uterus stretching and getting ready for the little one. 
  
• Stretch marks will appear i didn't get them till after i had my baby. I didn't get any on my belly just on my hips and inner legs. When you get them they will hurt, only for a while. Keep putting lotion on the spots where they appear. I used Cetaphil and it worked amazingly. 
• During your last couple weeks or month get things done. Clean the house,make frozen dinners, get car seat ready, wash all baby clothes and blankies. I was unprepared cause they took my baby early, they decided to induce me when i was at my exam. 
• Dont worry about gaining weight. Its good weight, it'll go away after you have the baby. 
• Yes morning sickness sucks, you could get it some times or always. Your not alone all women get it. Take vitamin B6 helped me a ton and drink herbal tea; do not drink mint or raspberry i heard its not good for the developing baby.
• Don't worry about maturity clothes. I mainly wore stretchy clothing and sweat pants. I did get some pants from my mom and some people and they were nice to have. 
• Wait to buy stuff till after the baby shower. 
• Go for walks. It helped me keep my good pregnancy weight and you get out and stretch. 
• Your back will hurt. That sciatic nerve sucks. Don't sleep on your back when you get to your 3rd trimester. The baby will lay on that nerve and it kills!!. I was down and out a lot because of my back. I could hardly move.
• Cravings are fun...kinda. Its fun to find out what you crave. The weirdest thing i craved was the smell of beer. I wouldn't drink it i would smell it. 
• Write a pregnancy journal. I did and i love looking through it and reading what i craved and what happened that week. Also im writing the first year of my baby in it. All his milestones and the little things like when he took a shower for the first time. 
• Pack in your last month. I did that and i just grabbed the diaper bag and left. But i only packed early for baby not me haha. 
• Look for pregnancy freebies and sign up for stuff. I get free samples from enfamil and coupons from gerber. I also get deals from websites like deals for mommy. Here is the website for free stuff all you pay is shipping http://www.thriftyfamilyfinds.com/2013/04/22/421-pregnancy-freebies-roundup/ they update it every month.
• Sign up for a pregnancy program provided by your insurance. It does depend on your insurance. For mine they had a 24 hr nurse that i could call if something happend and they called me every trimester to get caught up on whats goin on. They also sent me a bunch of free stuff. Books that helped me a lot.
• It will affect your sex life. Yep i typed it SEX!!! During first trimester you'll be way to tired to do it. Second you could get better or stay the same. It depends on the person. 
• Get this app!! its called Im expecting. It tells you how big your baby is per week and sends you notifications on what week you are and what the baby looks like. Also sign up for this website babycenter.com. it tells you anything you need to know about pregnancy and baby. It also tells you what your baby is developing that week and what will happen to you. Also get that app too they have chat rooms so you can ask questions and help other people too. I got both and they are fun. 
• TAKE PRENATALS!!!!
  
• Dont drink water before bed. I got up to pee 3 times during the night. I kept forgetting not too cause i would get so thirsty. 
• I heard that if you crave healthy foods its a girl and junk food its a boy. I craved junk food like fries, soda and candy and wala i had a boy. 
• When you see your baby in your dreams that means your baby is dreaming about you or thinking about you. We'll its what i heard. I saw my baby in my dreams a lot and i imagined/dreamed him like he is now.... weird huh.
• Drink less than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day. It affects the fetus so cut back on coffee and soda..sorry.
• Be careful of raw foods like meat and eggs and cake batter. So don't drink egg nog while pregnant. I was pregnant during Christmas and it sucked i wanted egg nog so bad. 
• Just enjoy your baby kicking and seeing he/she on the ultrasound.
• Do get a pregnancy wedge by boppy. I got one from my sis in law and i loved it. I was 8 months pregnant i would wedge it under my belly and i slept so good. 

  

  This is the pregnancy wedge