PackYour Bag!

By 35 to 36 weeks, you should pack your bag for the hospital. Week 37 is considered full term, so you could have the baby any time after that! Don't worry about packing diapers and wipes for your newborn. The hospital will provide these for you. I suggest bringing a set of "newborn" clothes and size 0-3 months. You don't know for sure how big your baby will be, even if you have had an ultrasound predict the birth weight. If you have pets at home, you should pack a blanket to wrap your baby in. After a day in the hospital, bring the blanket home for your pet to sniff. He will get to know your baby by smell before you bring the new person home!



Plan to pack for yourself for 3 to 5 days. Typically, you will be in the hospital for 2 nights for a vaginal birth and 4 nights for a cesearan. I found it comforting to have my own night gowns to change in to. If you plan to nurse, pick up some nursing bras and nursing gowns/shirts. You will need a nursing bra one size bigger than you are now!



If you have had a tour of your hospital room and know about the available equipment, you may want to bring DVD's or an iPod. You will have some downtown without friends or family visiting where a comforting romantic comedy will come in handy. To this day, watching the Sex and the City movie reminds me of being in the hospital with my newborn daughter. You may have time to finish writing those "thank you" notes from your shower, but don't stress out about it! The main goal is to bond with your newborn! Take full advantage of the hospital staff. The nurses are so helpful and can give advice on everything from nursing to swaddling.



Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!
Gina

Drop Side Crib Ban

As of June 28, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's ban on drop side cribs took effect. If you have a drop side crib at home or if your family is using one, please go to the manufacturer's website to see if they are offering a kit to stabilize the drop side. The Parents.com website has a good article on the new crib regulatations and offers guidance to other websites for additional information.

It's never a good idea to buy used baby equipment such as strollers, car seats, and cribs at garage sales or from friends. You do not know how this equipment has been treated over the years and may not have recall information on products. Due to the safety issues associated with these products, it always best to buy new. The 4th of July holiday is a great time to pick these products up at a discount! Many stores are running big sales this time of year.

Have a safe and happy 4th!
Gina

34 weeks

By this time in your pregnancy, you should be starting to think about what its going to be like once your little one gets here in 6 weeks. Prepping for your baby means packing the bag for the hospital, washing all of the baby's clothes in a gentle detergent (I personally love the smell of Dreft), and ensuring the baby's room is ready to go. I also recommend picking up some of the books you may want to read about what to do during those first few weeks. I highly recommend Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp. It was basically my baby Bible the first few month's of my daughter's life. I plan to re-read the book this week to brush up on my newborn skills.

If you are planning on going back to work and breast feeding your baby, you will need to pump at work. I recommend taking some time now to research the topic and pick up a book or two that will help you navigate through this time. No matter how supportive your work situation may be, you will want to ensure you understand your rights. Working women who are also nursing need a lot of support. If you know of any nursing mother's at work now, try starting a small club or support group with them. If nothing else, get to know them better! The tips they can give you when you are just returning to work will be invaluable. I loved the camaraderie of the IBM women who wrote Milk Memos (authored by Cate Colburn-Smith and Andrea Serrette). It is a publication of a journal kept by women sharing a pumping room.

If you have any other books that you recommend to friends and family, please feel free to leave a note in the comments section of the blog!

31 Weeks

My dear friend and business partner, Wallis, is showering my family with a brunch next weekend to celebrate the pending arrival of our second daughter. This incredibly generous offer reminds me that moms-to-be these days need to buck tradition! Sure, this is my second baby and generally it isn't convention to throw me another shower. However, aren't all children meant to be celebrated?!

I started thinking about all of the new traditions and ideas that are available to moms. Instead of registering at department stores, think about setting up an account to have family and friends contribute to your child's college fund. There are several websites out there that can get you started. Having a girl? Why can't you paint the nursery blue or another gender-bending color? The nursery should reflect your personal style. Not a fan of toting around large totes? Instead of a diaper bag, think about buying a small clutch that holds only diapers and wipes. You will have the essentials for a quick trip to the store or when you take a walk down the lake front. 1154 Lill carries a "Jack" design that can be customized with the fabric of your choice!

Good luck keeping cool in this early summer heat wave!
Gina

29 Weeks

I am finally in my third trimester! Her kicks are very strong these days. You might notice that instead of a quick fluttering in your stomach, you feel strong jabs and may even identify a hand or foot! But, along with the elation of knowing I only have a little over 10 weeks until I meet my second daughter, the final trimester brings more aches and pains. My hips hurt, my lower back hurts (that might be due to the heels I refuse to give up!), and my feet ache each night. All the research that I've done tells me that exercise helps prepare the body for the final push of the third trimester. I know I've preached the benefits of exercise during pregnancy before, but Wallis and I discovered a great class when we were pregnant with our first children. Fit4Baby, offered by Stroller Strides, is an excellent class to get your body ready for the stress of carrying a baby and is offered throughout the Chicago city and surrounding suburbs. According to the website, "Fit4Baby® is a program designed to strengthen the body for all the changes it will experience during pregnancy. The class includes cardio, strength, flexibility and balance training. Fit4Baby is designed to accommodate all stages of pregnancy and various fitness levels." If you are interested, act fast! Classes fill up quickly.

Check out www.strollerstrides.com for all of the details on class times and a location near you. While you are there, be sure to look into the post baby classes like Body Back and Stroller Strides. They are a great way to get in shape after your baby arrives, but most importantly, they help you develop of network of new and experienced moms in your area. You'll love swapping swaddle secrets while you tighten your core!

Good Luck!

Gina

27 Weeks

I hope all of you had a wonderful Mother's Day! I had an amazing day just relaxing with my husband and daughter. Thinking about all my husband does for me and his family, it reminded me of how focused all of the attention is on me during pregnancy. In reality, this pregnancy affects my husband just as much as me. Besides dealing with my mood swings, lack of energy, and ice cream cravings, he is also coping with how his life will change once our second daughter gets here. He is far from alone. Many soon-to-be fathers are left to cope with their fears and worries internally.

Some fears that many men have:

1. Will I be a good father?

2. Will I be able to provide adequately for my family?

3. Will she love the baby more than me?

4. Will I be able to be strong during labor and delivery?

5. Will I ever get my old life back?

What helped us get through the first pregnancy? I suggest getting daddy-centered books. While your partner could peruse the same books you are reading, the ones written for a man/by a man will speak "his language". Many of them are filled with humor and don't go into the nitty gritty details of every stage of labor. Does your partner need to know about passing the mucus plug? Maybe not.

Also try to spend some time talking about his fears of pregnancy and raising a baby. Listen without judgement and try to be supportive. If your partner isn't the type to bring the topic up, try broaching it when you two are alone and able to talk freely.

This is a great time to grow stronger as a couple and start focusing on the new family you are forming!

All the best,

Gina

Happy Mother's Day!

We just wanted to send a sincere Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers and soon-to-be mothers from Baby Blueprint! Hope you have a chance to celebrate this Sunday in a way that makes you feel happy and loved.

All our best, Wallis and Gina