High Praise for the Birth Pool in a Box from a Guest Blogger

I had known since the day I found out I was pregnant that I wanted to give birth in water. My aunt had done it twice and said it was an amazing experience and said that if she were to have another baby, the birth pool in a box was the way to go.

I was 13 days overdue with my daughter and found out I was in labor when I was at the hospital having an ultrasound done. I was dilated to 6cms and my contractions were 3.5 minutes apart. By the time I got home from the hospital (5 minutes from my house) I was almost 7.5 cm dilated. We hadn't set up the pool yet, or even looked at it, so I was panicked that we wouldn't get it ready in time! However, within 15 minutes, my husband had everything set up and the birth pool was being filled. (The only problem we ran into was running out of hot water!)

The pool design is great. It fit perfectly into our medium sized bedroom and we still had enough room to walk around. I was in the pool with my husband; my mother, my mother in law, and the 2 midwives were in the bedroom as well and we all had lots of room to move around the bedroom.

The birth pool was very comfortable. It fit myself and my husband easily and I had lots of room to change positions. I ended up giving birth while in the sitting position, with my feet and legs being supported by my husband while he sat on the step in the pool.

We were in the water for about 20 minutes after my daughter was born, and the water stayed nice and warm, which was a concern of mine. I was worried the water would cool quickly, but I was pleasantly surprised that it stayed so warm for that long. In total I was in the birth pool for about 4 hours. (My labor was 5 hours long but I spent the first hour out of the pool.)

Overall the experience with the birth pool in a box was excellent. It was very easy to set up and take down; no mess and no fuss.

It's a must-have on my list for my next baby!

Confession time...

I have an obsession. It may even be bordering on an addiction. No, I’m not talking about cloth diapers, although I am obsessed with those. Nor am I referring to my french fry addiction (I visit our local chip wagon far too often). This time I’m talking about Ju-Ju-Be (and I don’t mean the little candies). I’m referring to the beautifully made, amazingly functional, outstandingly gorgeous diaper bags and accessories made by Ju-Ju-Be. If you haven’t seen any of these bags or, (GASP), even heard of them, let me take you down the rabbit hole.

I blindly got sucked into the Ju-Ju-Be vortex when my hubby bought me a Ju-Ju-Be bag and wallet for Mother’s Day. Neither of us had any idea about the Pandora’s box that had been opened. I quickly fell in love with the superior craftsmanship and organization that is common to all Ju-Ju-Be products. The attention to detail didn’t hurt either. I’m not really a glitzy, “bling” sort of girl, but there’s something charming and appealing about the little Rhine stones embedded in every zipper pull.

What finally pushed me beyond the point of no return, however, was the discovery of The Pink Room, an online forum where Ju-Ju-Be fanatics (or Pink Ladies, as we are affectionately called) unite and enable each others' bag obsessions. Among the many sub forums there are sections for interests such as cloth diapering and baby-wearing, a “family matters” forum where Pink Ladies ask for advice and offer support, and perhaps the favourite forum of most Pink Ladies, the Ju-Ju-Be bag-swap. Here you can find all things Ju-Ju-Be offered for sale or trade (FSOT) as well as specific items Pink Ladies are in search of (ISO).

It was on the FSOT forum that I found my next Ju-Ju-Be addition and added a whole new dimension to my growing obsession. Pink Ladies buy, sell and trade their bags like kids trading cards or marbles on the school yard. Granted the “merchandise” is a little more valuable and shipping costs have to be factored in, but the delight over trading and acquiring new Ju-Ju-Be’s is as pure and all encompassing as that of a child finding a rare marble to complete her collection.

Just so you don’t think I’m completely off my rocker I would like to say that although to the uninitiated my Ju-Ju-Be obsession my seem extreme, I am just a “Pinkadette” or “Pink newbie” compared to the more experienced, long-term Pink Ladies. Some of the more senior obsessed have complete collections of a certain print. They diligently and patiently search for every item ever made in that print. Others have 3 or more of the exact same bag in the exact same print because they want to have a back up in case something happens to one of their bags. My collection and obsession pales in comparison to this level of dedication.

I won’t overwhelm you with the plethora of bags and accessories available, nor will I try to describe the dozens of beautiful prints they come in. I merely want to give you a glimpse of the wonderful world of Ju-Ju-Be. After all, I would hardly be able to call myself a true Pink Lady if I didn’t at least try to spread the Ju-Ju-Be love.

Stay tuned for my review of Ju-Ju-Be’s newest and best selling diaper bag, the BFF. I promise not to be biased…

Jenny

Baby-wearing has been on my mind a lot lately...

As Emma is on the cusp of crawling it makes me realize how quickly she is growing up, how too soon she will want to get from here to there on her own, so the moments when she is in a carrier with me are very precious. Of course I know she’s a long way from driving off with the family car, but crawling is just the first step on the path to independence that every parent both devotedly works towards and simultaneously dreads.

I should probably clarify that baby-wearing is fairly new to me. Kaitlyn was in the stroller more than she was in a carrier, but it’s the reverse with Emma. I think Emma has been in our rather expensive jogging stroller only twice. Maybe it’s because the girls were born in different seasons (Kaitlyn in the summer, Emma in the winter), so it made more sense to wear Emma than push a stroller through snow, ice and slush. Maybe it’s that I’ve had to keep up with Kaitlyn while caring for Emma and the farm. Or maybe I just know that too soon Emma is going to want to walk and run on her own rather than cuddle with me and so I want to have her with me while she still wants to. It’s probably a combination of all of these, but regardless Emma spends a good part of her day strapped to me as we go about our daily activities.

Wearing Emma just felt natural to me. Just like co-sleeping and not letting her cry it out, having her close to me as much as possible just seemed like the right thing for both of us. Emma is a pretty easy-going baby and plays really well by herself, but sometimes she just needs to cuddle and sometimes I just need to cuddle her. Unfortunately, despite my deepest pleas, time does not stand still for these cuddles. This is where a carrier has come in very handy. I can keep working around the farm and the house or play with Kaitlyn without missing out on holding Emma.

Being able to keep Emma close to me has allowed me to carry on with all the responsibilities of being on a farm and taking care of a family and house, without having to miss out on quality time with Emma. Whether it’s hiking with the dogs in the woods, mucking stalls, cleaning the house, helping Kaitlyn ride her bike or cooking dinner, Emma can be with me. She can experience the world around her from a safe and cozy vantage and of course when she needs to eat she can do so easily. If she gets tired she just has to lay her head against me and drift to sleep. And I love that her soft head is easily within kissing reach. My heart melts every time she wraps her arms around my tummy and lays her head on my chest for a cuddle. Having already had one child I know that these precious moments are fleeting and so to be able to have more of them by having Emma with me as much as I can is a treat.

I know that Emma won’t remember our baby wearing days, but I will. I will always hold onto the memories of her little warm body pressed so close against me; how I want to cry every time she looks up into my eyes and smiles. I will cherish these days when it seems like she and I share a private little cocoon together, exploring and living together. When she’s older and yearns for some space, and especially when she asks to borrow the car, I’ll have these memories to hold close.

Since there’s a Rumparooz G2 OS pocket diaper give-away on this week...

...I thought it would be a great time to write a little blog about them. I feel it’s only fair to start off by saying I’m more of a fitteds/AI2’s kind of mama, although I do have a few pockets I keep on hand. I’ve tried my fair share of pockets and found a few I like, but for $25-$30 per diaper I have high expectations. I can honestly say the Rumparooz G2 easily surpasses and meets my high standards.

First off let me say a little about how much I like the “green” factor of the Kanga Care company. Of course the whole concept of cloth diapers is in itself earth-friendly, but Kanga Care takes it a step further by making their diapers completely biodegradable. The outer waterproof layer of their diapers is biodegradable TPU (thermoplastic poly-urethane) as opposed to the PUL (poly-urethane laminate) used in most diapers. The inner fabric is 100% polyester, which is also biodegradable. This combination of earth friendly fabrics mean that when composted the diaper will break down in 4-5 years.
One of the other great features of the Rumparooz G2 is that it’s a OS diaper, but with 4 sizes rather than the common 3 sizes of many OS diapers. In general I really like OS diapers and the Rumparooz G2 is no exception. To me it just makes economical sense to have a diaper that can be adjusted from birth to potty learning. They are designed to fit right from birth (6.5lbs) due to a contoured insert that makes the diaper narrower through the crotch. At 7 months and 19 lbs, with chunky, chunky thighs, Emma fits perfectly on the medium rise setting. I anticipate these diapers will easily last her as long as they’re needed (the large setting fits 35lbs +).

When trying a diaper I figure it’s a “sink or swim” kind of situation. There are so many great diapers on the market that if a diaper can’t stand up to heavy wetness or messy poops it doesn’t get a passing grade. With this is mind I first tried a Rumparooz G2 overnight. Emma is normally in her diaper for 11-12 hours and she sleeps beside me so has access to the all night milk bar. This means her diapers need to have a lot of absorbency and be leak proof (I really, really don’t like rolling over to find wet spots!). The 6r soaker included with the diaper is comprised of two microfiber inserts that snap together and can customize to 6 levels of absorbency and sizing. I used both inserts, with the doubler folded down into the “girl” position, as illustrated on the package. As luck would have it Emma also had a little bit of an upset tummy and ended up having a runnier than normal poop in the middle of the night (Emma NEVER poops in the night!). I was extremely impressed that after 5-6 hours of wetness and a very messy poop there were no leaks, thanks in part to the innovative inner gussets that completely trap even really messy poops. There are currently no other cloth diapers with this feature and it is definitely one of my favourite things about this diaper.

I was worried that because I didn’t take care of the messy diaper the way I should have (who really wants to deal with a super messy diaper in the wee hours of the morning?) I might have stain issues, but with a regular wash and a couple of hours in the sun the inner fabric looked as good as new. I find that in general I am very pleased with the inner fabric. It stands up really well to washing, maintaining its softness and whiteness. I also like that the fabric is made of a hypoallergenic microchamois fleece. Emma is very sensitive and she didn’t have the slightest bit of redness with these diapers, even after wearing them for extended periods of time.

Of course one of the best features of the Rumparooz G2’s is the selection of great colours and prints to choose from. I am a sucker for a cute diaper and these diapers come in some extremely cute patterns and colours. The colours stay vibrant after washing and with so many options to choose from, matching with an outfit is a breeze, (call me obsessive, but often I match Emma’s diapers to her clothes).

Overall I am extremely impressed with the care and thought that clearly went into designing this diaper and am more than pleased with its performance. It stood up to the toughest tests, has many great features, is economical and gets and A+ for cuteness. The Rumparooz G2’s have been awarded a permanent place in my ever-changing diaper stash!

Jenny

In keeping with the breastfeeding theme...

...and since last week was World Breastfeeding Week I thought I'd write a review of one of my favourite breast feeding accessories.

Having successfully breastfed my first daughter for 16 months without the use of any type of special nursing pillow, I was skeptical when my husband gave me one for Christmas right before the birth of our second baby. I knew a lot of women loved them, but I had tried a different nursing pillow with no success and so figured it was just one more gimmicky baby thing to clutter our already cluttered house. Little did I realize the bosom baby nursing pillow was no ordinary nursing pillow! The fabric alone was almost enough to change my mind- a washable, ultra soft, plush, minky fabric cover - but I was soon won over completely by its performance.

I immediately brought the pillow to bed to join the other herd of pillows already established there in an effort to eek out more than a few hours of sleep at a time. My minky green pillow took up the place of honour, supporting my endlessly expanding tummy and aching hips. I loved how the pillow was so plush and soft, yet very supportive at the same time. The form fitting nature of the pillow meant I could maneuver it into whatever position I needed, and yet it retained its shape and softness. It was also great for back support when I was sitting in bed reading, or more likely, eating.

The bosom baby really proved its worth once the baby arrived. After an ultra rapid home delivery in which the pillow got a little caught in the cross fire I was worried it was beyond saving. To say it looked messy would be a severe understatement. But thanks to the removable, washable cover, after one regular wash in the washing machine and a quick spin in the dryer the pillow looked as perfect as ever. It was still as soft and there wasn’t a spot on it.

I stayed in bed for the first few days, getting to know Emma, and the bosom baby never left my side. It was absolutely perfect for nursing in bed. With a couple of regular pillows propped up behind me the bosom baby put Emma at exactly the right height to nurse when I was sitting in bed. It helped align her spine and head so that she was in a correct nursing position. Unlike the other nursing pillow I’d tried, this one fit around me perfectly; I didn’t feel like I was being squished (no mama wants to feel they’re too big for something in that post partum squishy belly phase!). It also provided support for my whole arm and elbow, not just for the baby. She could lie across it comfortably and I felt completely supported as well and never had any back or shoulder ache.

With my first baby, when she woke up to nurse in the night I would sit in the rocking chair with her, and although I intended to go back to bed when she was finished, more often than not I fell asleep with her in the chair. With Emma I knew we were going to co-sleep and having the bosom baby pillow allowed me to sit up and nurse and then slide back down into bed and go back to sleep. Eventually, once Emma was a little older I nursed her lying down and then the bosom baby became my essential back support.

Emma went through a phase where she wouldn’t sleep unless she was cuddled on my chest and again the bosom baby came through with flying colours. It was the perfect support to have behind my upper back and neck so that I was slightly propped up in bed. I never had any neck or back pain and the softness and plushness of the pillow made it extremely comfortable.

Among the multiple uses for the bosom baby nursing pillow is as an aid for baby tummy time. Emma loved being propped up with the pillow so that her body was supported and she could see everything around her. And of course the luxurious fabric made it an appealing place to rest her head and then snuggle into it.

The bosom baby nursing pillow is described as the cadillac of nursing pillows, and with its versatility, incredible softness and comfort I can see why. It is extremely well designed, easily cleaned, has endless uses and comes in a variety of appealing prints and colours. This is no ordinary nursing pillow and I can say, without reservation, this should be on every mama’s (new or not) must-have list.

I'll take that breast to go, please!

Of course when I was pregnant with my first baby I was told about all the great health benefits of breastfeeding. There was never a doubt in my mind I would breastfeed and I was lucky to have a fairly easy time of it with both of my kids. I don’t think I realized, though, how incredibly convenient breastfeeding is. With my first baby, more often than not, I took the time to get comfortable in a chair, propped up with pillows, to nurse. With my second baby I seem to be so much busier (go figure!). Being able to nurse on the go has been immensely useful.

When Emma was little I could nurse her in one arm while doing something else with the other,- cooking, reading to my other daughter, changing the laundry. Sometimes I would nurse her in the moby wrap, but usually I just held her in my arms. When Emma started packing on the pounds and her thighs became too big to hold easily in one hand I knew I needed some assistance.

I bought an ergo baby carrier after reading rave reviews about it. I particularly liked how supposedly easy it was to nurse in. When I first brought it home I looked at the instructions quickly, but didn’t see anything about how to nurse while wearing it. I thought it wouldn’t be too hard to figure out when I needed to. After all I had managed to figure out how to nurse in the moby wrap fairly easily.

Our first occasion to try nursing in the ergo occurred in Chapters, maybe the second or third time I wore the ergo. I was in the children’s section with my older daughter, looking at books, when Emma started that telltale snuffling whimper and tried burying her face as low down into my shirt as she could. Great! A chance to put the ergo to the test. I immediately realized I had absolutely no idea what to do. When Emma had needed to nurse while she was in the moby wrap I put her sideways across my body, so I tried that with the ergo. That was definitely not what I was supposed to do. Emma ended up with her chubby little legs hanging out of the side and her head completely wedged against my chest. Being so close to my breast without being able to nurse made her frantic and she started flopping like a fish in the bottom of a boat. At this point she was basically stuck in all the straps and I had to call for backup (Grandpa was fortunately nearby) to undo the buckles of the ergo. Freed from the tangle Emma could finally have her snack uninterrupted, but I received more than a few questioning, concerned glances from other parents.

I have since watched videos on utube showing how to nurse in the ergo. It’s quite easy when you simply loosen the arm straps to lower baby to nipple height. With a little practice I think we’ve mastered the art of nursing in the ergo. Emma can even nurse while I’m mucking stalls!

I don’t think a single day has gone by since Emma’s birth that I don’t mention how convenient it is to be able to pop out a breast anywhere, anytime, whenever Emma is hungry. On a plane, on vacation, on a hike, in the shower, in the pool, while shopping, at a wedding, at the market-you name it we’ve probably nursed there. No preparation required, always the right temperature, no delay (unless you’re trying to figure out the ergo). In my opinion, the convenience of nursing is one of the greatest reasons why breast is best!

Let me introduce myself...

As Casey mentioned, my name is Jenny (Stewart). I live on a small horse farm just outside Perth with my husband Steve, our two girls, Kaitlyn (5) and Emma (7 mths), and my parents. I grew up in the suburbs of Ottawa, but always spent a good part of the summer at our cottage on a lake near Perth. 6 years ago my mother was in a bakery in Richmond and was casually browsing a real estate brochure when she came across an ad for a farm for sale in Perth. She phoned me and asked if I wanted to move to Perth. Without a second thought I said "Yes!" and then went about convincing my boyfriend of a year, Steve, that he wanted to move to Perth too. Within a month we were moved into the farm. 10 months later we welcomed Kaitlyn (good country air and well water do magical things!) and 4 1/2 years later Emma joined our family.

I have a degree in psychology, but right now my focus is on my family and the farm. I love living in the country and all the adventures that go along with it. Of course having 4 adults, 2 children, 3 dogs and 4 cats all living under one roof brings it share of adventures as well. I have a passion (my husband might call it an addiction) for baby and children's "stuff", particularly cloth diapers.

I hope to be able to share some of my experiences, adventures, funny moments, successes and struggles with you in this blog. I'm excited to share my knowledge and learn new things along the way. Let the journey begin!