For me, it was “welcome to motherhood”. Ready or not, I was in for a wonderful experience. But my first challenge was to overcome the first few months of literally no sleep. It was my first baby, and I felt the pressure of doing everything “just right”. I wanted to be a perfect mom. But I quickly learned that parenting was going to be a lifelong journey and that I would make plenty of mistakes along the way.
After stumbling out of bed frequently for middle of the night feedings I’d wake up around 6 a.m. to my newborn crying a joyful solo for yet another feeding. After about three weeks of this, and then another month I was completely worn out! Following a cesarean section, I immediately thought I could be Supermom, Grand Interior Decorator, and the House Cleaning Company all at once, and of course I thought I could simultaneously juggle the responsibilities of a baby that I was so certain would sleep through most of the day and night.
After a few restless nights, and having noticed that my sweet infant was rarely sleeping at all, be it night or day, I began to really wonder about her. Was this going to be the norm? Did infants really stay awake for hours at a time demanding a feeding every hour and half? Was I doing something wrong? I couldn’t help but wonder if this pattern would ever end. I’d read all the many parenting articles that tell you when your infant should stop waking up so frequently and begin sleeping peacefully through the night. Well, I dare say that my little one kept waking up again and again for nights on end. After a few months I began to think I was the only mother out there suffering from severe sleep deprivation! Of course, I knew that I wasn’t REALLY the only one, but it sure hits home when it happens to you.
My young one is now an active toddler, and things have definitely improved as far as her sleeping habits go, but I learned quite a few things during those seemingly never ending nights of sleeplessness and days of extreme fatigue. If I had to do it all over again, I definitely wouldn’t have tried to be the Grand Interior Designer and the House Cleaning Company (and following a c-section at that)! Here are some handy tips that I should have used and will keep in mind when I have my next baby:

• Rest, rest, rest! Okay, it sounds trite, and while pregnant you’ve probably heard everyone in the world tell you to rest, but once you’ve given birth it’s even more important that you still adhere to the resting phase the first few days you are home from the hospital. I can’t even begin to explain how much rest is needed after a cesarean section…but in either type of delivery, your body needs time to recuperate, so take it easy. What does resting mean? It could mean using paper plates so there are fewer dishes to wash. It could mean having a friend or relative come sit with you a few hours a day and help you around the house (which is especially helpful if you have other younger children). And if you have older children, it could mean having them help out with more chores around the house. Most of all, it means to just let some things go. The dusting doesn’t have to be done right away…perhaps it can wait a few more days, or weeks even.
• People say to sleep while the baby is sleeping. Well, that didn’t work for me, mostly because I was attempting to get things done around the house that I couldn’t do efficiently when my daughter was awake. So here’s what I say: REST while the baby is sleeping. Sit down, take a break. Schedule that time, and give yourself at least 30 minutes to do absolutely nothing.
• Thicken baby’s milk. I breastfed my daughter for several months. In the beginning nurses were telling me that breastfed babies need to get fed more often because breast milk apparently “goes right through” their systems. After my daughter was a few weeks old they gave me the go-ahead on thickening her breast milk with rice cereal (about a teaspoon full). It did wonders for her nightly waking ritual. Instead of waking up every hour and half she slept about two hours longer than usual. I say that’s good for mom and baby! Of course, check with your pediatrician first, and again, there are differing views on thickening baby’s milk, so do (or don’t do) what you feel is best.
• Breastfeeding mothers take a break. For mothers who nurse, I highly recommend pumping so the baby can be given a bottle by other members of the family while you rest up. Breastfeeding is a demanding job and takes quite a bit of energy reserves. Did you know you burn approximately 500 calories during one nursing session? That’s equivalent to the amount of calories I burned on the treadmill a few days ago. So there’s another reason for you to take a breather.
• Take your prenatal vitamins. Keep taking these. You’ll need them, especially during this time of recovery. Your body needs all the minerals and vitamins necessary to boost your immune system and promote overall health. You’ll be glad you took them daily.
• Continue to eat for two. If you are nursing, this is an especially important concept, since you’ll need to eat enough to keep your milk reserves flowing. It’s very easy for postpartum women to want to begin dieting right after giving birth. However, the healthiest choice is to simply continue the intake of nutritious foods, and to eat enough to keep your energy levels up, because you will definitely need energy in the wee hours of the morning! In addition, doctors recommend that postpartum, nursing women intake anywhere from 2000-2400 calories per day. So eat, and eat healthy.
• Keep others in your life. Don’t ever feel alone or isolated. If you don’t have relatives nearby who can help, seek for help within your community: churches, civic groups and non profit organizations, as well as friends. In addition, there are a host of online communities and discussion groups specifically geared toward pregnancy and parenting issues that are helpful for new moms.

Most of all, do the things you like to do most: read, meditate, write, and work on crafts. Do something you truly enjoy every day for as much as you can. With time, your baby will start sleeping through the night, and one day you will realize that you can finally catch your “z’s”.

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Demetria Zinga is a Navy wife and mother of a fun preschooler. The founder of Christian Ladies Connect and Christian Ladies Talk Radio, a ministerial ezine and online radio podcast for Christian women, she has a passion to help other women in thei

A soft sided Moses basket is a great way to keep baby safe and comfortable at home or away. The Moses basket features padded sides and bottom, zippered top that doubles as a changing pad, removable hood, and mobile with sound chip that plays “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” to entertain the little one. Baby will look adorable snuggled in the basket with the pretty pink shawl blanket and booties (two sets included). For the final touch we’ve added an ultra soft pink teddy bear and a powder scented candle. The ensemble is a great addition to any nursery. Boxed gift measures approximately 26″x18″x10″ and weighs 5 lbs.

“Just eat a few saltines and you’ll be ok”.

I don’t know about you, but as someone who suffered with prolonged, severe morning sickness (which I affectionately call morning noon and night sickness), When I hear someone say this, I just want to slug them!

If you’re suffering with nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, you’re not alone. Most women experience it to some degree during their first trimester. If you’re one of the unfortunate few whose symptoms last longer than the typical 6-12 weeks, I empathize. I’ve had the same experience with all 4 of my pregnancies. I have learned a few things that helped however, and I hope you can get some relief from your morning sickness with these tips.

1) Getting your blood sugar regulated is priority #1.

One theory about why morning sickness is worse in the morning (and for some women only occurs then) is because when you wake up from sleep, you have low blood sugar. For some pregnant woman, going 8 hours without food is just a bad idea.

You might find it helpful to eat a high protein snack before bed, and even to eat a bite each time you get up in the night to go to the bathroom. (Which in the beginning may be quite frequent!)

Personally, I found that what I did first thing in the morning was of paramount importance. I had to eat a few bites of food *while still lying down*. So I either put some food on a plate beside my bed or asked my husband bring me a snack first thing in the morning.

Don’t jump out of bed. Eat your snack slowly and lie still for a few minutes afterwards. Then slowly get up and immediately go to the kitchen and eat another bite. Again, emphasize protein.

2) Avoid foods that cause rapid blood sugar shifts.

Fruit juice, sugary snacks, processed cereal (the kind that comes in a box), anything made with white flour, etc…these types of foods cause your blood sugar to rapidly rise then come crashing down, triggering nausea and vomiting. Eat protein foods and whole foods.

Meat, cheese, yogurt (be careful here- try plain yogurt with frozen berries mixed in. Most yogurt has way too much sugar in it.), eggs, nuts, nut butters, veggies, and whole grains should be your staples.

Even if eating doesn’t appeal to you, coaxing yourself to eat a little bit of a protein food every 2 hours will help prevent vomiting. Don’t leave the house without carrying a snack with you.

3) If drinking water makes you sicker, try these alternatives.

It’s very important that you stay hydrated. You’re going to need extra fluids to support the pregnancy, but many women find that drinking water makes them more nauseated. Some things to try:

Smoothies made with fruit, ice and plain yogurt or kefir. The tangy flavor of these two dairy products really hit the spot for me. They also sneak in some extra protein.
Water served VERY cold with a squeeze of lemon or lime.
Carbonated water with a small amount of fruit juice for flavor.
Weakly brewed iced or hot tea with lemon. The small bit of caffeine won’t harm your baby. Something about the bitter tannins in tea may help ease nausea.
Citrus fruits and melons.
4) Avoid nausea triggers as much as possible.

Your nose is on hyperdrive during early pregnancy!

Stinky smells like poopy diapers, kitchen trash, even morning breath may be impossible to totally avoid, but try your best to avoid smelly situations.

Have someone else take out the trash. Have hubby change your toddler when he’s home. It’s the least he can do!

And don’t be shy about telling someone who has bad breath, noxious perfume or cigarette smells on them that you’re in a delicate condition and need some fresh air. During my pregnancies, my husband had to switch to unscented deodorant and soap, otherwise I couldn’t hug him!

If cooking smells make you ill, take a break from your usual garlic and onion specialties. Don’t be a martyr. Hubby will understand that you can’t make his favorite sausage and peppers for a while.

Prepare meals that won’t stink up the kitchen. Green main dish salads with cold, cut up chicken, steak or hard boiled eggs. Sandwiches are good too.

5) Try Aromatherapy for Morning Sickness Relief

Put a couple of drops of lavender, mint or lemon essential oil (these oils are generally regarded as safe to use during pregnancy) on cotton balls and keep these in various locations… the kitchen, bathroom, your purse and in the car. Take a whiff when you feel sick. Put a few drops on your pillow.

6) Take it easy- but don’t forget exercise

I know, I know… exercise is the last thing you want to do when you can hardly get your face out of the toilet! But if you force yourself to take even a ten minute walk outside every day, it WILL help.

But do try to take it easy, avoid stress as much as possible, and rest as much as you can. You’re doing the very important job of growing a baby. Explain to your other children why you’re feeling poorly and that it won’t last forever. Call in favors and ask friends to come over to play with your 2 year old for an hour so you can sleep, or ask them to cook extra when they make dinner tonight and bring you a dish.

When you feel a bout of nausea coming on, try to lay down for a few minutes in a dark room with your eyes closed. Sometimes if you do this the episode will pass.

7) Focus on the positive

Sometimes when you’re so miserable it’s easy to forget what’s making you so sick! Remember that statistically, women who experience nausea and vomiting of pregnancy are more likely to carry the pregnancy to term.

One of my midwives told me that she always worries when a Mom comes in for her first prenatal feeling wonderful…the chances of her miscarrying are higher.

So rejoice in your strong hormones! Read pregnancy magazines, birth stories on the Internet, look through maternity clothing catalogs, do whatever you need to do to cheer yourself up and get yourself in the mood for a new baby.

More Misc. Morning Sickness Relief Tips

Try eating candied ginger or sipping ginger tea. I found ginger in capsules to be too harsh and they hurt terribly if they did come back up.

Brewer’s yeast capsules work for some Moms.

Try sucking on lemon slices when you’re feeling a wave of nausea.

Sip mint tea or chew mint gum to help dry up excessive salivating that may trigger nausea.

If you have trouble brushing your teeth due to an overactive gag reflex, switch to using baking soda for awhile. The foaming of regular toothpaste may be too much. And brush your teeth in shifts if you need to… first the top teeth, then a few minutes later the bottom teeth, then your tongue, etc.

Avoid getting overheated or chilled. Extremes in temperature can trigger vomiting.

Try Sea-Bands, available at large drug stores. They’re designed for motion sickness but helps some pregnant women.

Go with your cravings, within reason. For some reason, pizza and Taco Bell always hit the spot during my pregnancies.

Clean the toilet daily, even if it’s the only household chore you can do right now. Better yet, have someone else do it.

Wear your hair up for awhile. If you’re going to be throwing up, at least you will have your hair out of the way and a clean bowl to hug!

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Are you a Mom who likes doing things the natural way? Come visit www.natural-moms.com for articles, resources and products that complement your natural mothering style.

The word is spreading. Sign language is a great way to communicate with pre-verbal babies and toddler. New moms everywhere are grabbing American Sign Language books and absorbing them feverishly. Pregnancy classes are full of moms teaching each other basic sign language and day care centers across the country are training their teachers in sign language.

Why would you do such a thing?

Some of the benefits of signing are:

Less frustration for baby – Imagine how it feels to grunt and point and not be able to ask for what you want. Put yourself in your baby’s shoes.
You’re a baby. You’ve been playing and squealing and laughing and now your mouth is dry and you’re really thirsty for milk. You grunt and point and whine for milk — and your mother misunderstands and gives you a dry cracker instead, thinking you’re hungry for a snack. You feel very frustrated and possibly angry. You might even throw the cracker back at your mother or hit her out of frustration. What if, instead, you could simply sign milk and get milk? Pure bliss!

Bonding with Parents – Babies who sign are able to interact and be acknowledged at a younger age. Picture you and your baby looking at a book about elephants. She can show you that she understands the story by signing “elephant” to you well before she could say the three syllable word “elephant”. You know that your baby understands and is benefiting from the story and you can respond “yes, it is a big elephant”, thereby rewarding her for her efforts.

Sibling bonding – Older siblings are given the tools to bond with their new brother or sister sooner, because the baby can sign, well before speech is possible. Not only is there a bond, but I’ve witnessed a sense of camaraderie because the older sibling can act as an interpreter for the baby in situations with non-signing adults.

How to start Signing

You may, at this point, feel overwhelmed. After all, you are learning a second language — with no one to teach you. Please don’t worry. First of all, you only need to learn a few words to being signing with your baby.

Begin with 4-6 words — choose a few words that are of importance to you (words that will make your life easier, like eat, milk, more, etc.) and also choose some that are of interest to your baby (for instance, airplane, ball, book, dog, cat, baby, etc.). This ensures that both of you are rewarded for your efforts.

Once you choose a few words, you can begin signing whenever you say those words. When your baby cries, you say “Do you want milk?” Then, sign milk at the baby’s eye level so she will begin to associate the cause and effect and realize hands MEAN something!

What age should you start?
You can start from birth on. The earlier you start, the more time you, as the parent, will have to get comfortable signing. Babies 6 months and older will begin to watch your hand movements. Babies 8 months old may begin to make very rudimentary attempts to sign back to you. By one year, your baby will likely be signing regularly.

If you have an older baby or toddler who is having frustration issues or is a late talker, begin signing. Start today. Toddlers pick up signing very quickly.

Don’t think you have to learn an entire language for this to work. Just learn one sign today and get started. Enjoy the gift of communicating with your baby!

Article by:

Nicole Dean is the owner of www.showkidsthefun.com , a fun resource for parents to spend time with their children. Nicole also owns www.showmomthemoney.com – a fun and informative site for Work at Home Moms. Copyright 2005 – Nicole Dean

Potty training does not come easy with every toddler. Some toddlers need little incentives to make them finally go on the potty. Start out easy then progress each week until the potty training is official.

Moms, first you need to make a chart with each day of the month. Let the toddler help you design the chart so you can begin the talking process about the potty. Then you will need to buy some special stickers the toddler likes or cartoon characters they are into.

The very first week, you can start them by sitting on the potty. Just taking different time slots throughout the day and having them explore by sitting on the potty. If they do this just fine, then allow them to place a sticker on that day of the week. Each time they sit on the potty let them put one sticker on the chart.

The second week of training can involve actually trying to use the potty. If they actually sit on the potty and use it, then allow them to place two stickers on the chart.

The next few weeks can just be focusing on using the potty and slipping away totally from diapers.

Now moms you can make the rule to however many stickers allows a reward. I think 25 stickers is a pretty fair number to allow a new toy or whatever reward you would like to treat them with.

There you go moms, a great potty training reward system. Hopefully this will make potty training a little easier and give incentive for the little boy or girl to potty train faster.

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Jennifer Houck is the owner of www.ilovebeingamom.com, the Free Parenting Resource for busy moms. Sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date on the latest mommy buzz!