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One year ago today, I published my pregnancy book, Preggers. It was a long process, took a lot of hard work, and it was 100% worth it.

Since today is the anniversary of my book’s publication (and coincidentally my oldest son‘s SIXTH birthday!), and because March is National Reading Month, I thought it would be fun to write a post featuring the best books to read during pregnancy! 

There are TONS of pregnancy books out there, and lots of them didn’t make my list. I tried to pick a wide variety of books that have great reviews, I’ve loved myself, or I’ve heard recommended several times. They aren’t all for everybody (depending on if you’re planning on a natural birth or a medicated birth), but hopefully, you’ll find a book on this list that speaks to you! 

1. Preggers. Of course I’m kicking it off with my own guide to pregnancy! Preggers is NOT your mother’s guide to pregnancy. It ranges from trying to get pregnant all the way up to labor and delivery. It’s informative without being overwhelming or too medical, and it will make you laugh, cry, and feel like someone else actually understands what you’re going through. It’s bright pink, awesome, and definitely worth checking out! 

2. What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Another classic. It’s great for learning about what’s going on with your body and your baby. I liked following along with it each month with my first pregnancy. It also has answers to a lot of common questions and talks about labor and delivery. 

3. 50 Things to Do Before You Deliver. This book is written by my friend Jill Krause of Baby Rabies, and it’s a great book to help moms prepare for the arrival of their baby. It’s really easy to read and has cute pictures. Jill is a pregnancy genius, so of course, her book is fabulous! Plus it was published around the same time as mine! 

4. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. If you’re worried about the actual birth part, this one is perfect for you. I’ve heard this book recommended over and over again. It’s filled with birth stories and information on the birth process. It’s focused on natural birth, but even if that’s not what you’re planning, it’s still a great way to prepare for childbirth!

5. The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy. A book I haven’t read, but I have heard good things about it. The tagline is “or everything your doctor won’t tell you.” It’s written like it’d be written to a best friend and is filled with things you’re too scared or embarrassed to ask about. A practical and funny book for moms-to-be! 

6. Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. The Mayo Clinic is a very well-known and respected name in medicine, so you know the Mayo Clinic’s pregnancy book is going to be full of helpful information about pregnancy! It has week-by-week updates on baby’s growth and month-by-month changes for mom, a 40-week pregnancy calendar, a symptoms guide, and a review of important pregnancy decisions. A great read if you want a book more on the medical side of things! 

7. The Sh!t No One Tells You About Pregnancy. The fourth book in Dawn Dais’ “The Sh!t No One Tells You” series came out in 2017, and it’s all about what pregnancy is REALLY like. It’s blunt and very honest and doesn’t cover a ton on the medical side, so if you’re looking for a medical book, don’t get this one. It’s a great book for preparing yourself for the realities of parenthood! 

8. Birth Without Fear. This book actually just came out yesterday, but I’ve listened to January Harsche on a few podcasts and I’m sure her books is a great resource for pregnant mamas. It’s described as “an honest, positive, and passionate message of empowerment surrounding everything that involves having a baby. It’s a guide that fills in the considerable cracks in the information available to women and families when they’re preparing to welcome a child–covering care provider choices, medical freedom, birth options, breastfeeding, intimacy, postpartum depression, and much more.” If I have another baby, I’ll definitely be picking up a copy! 

9. The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth. If you’re planning on a very natural pregnancy and childbirth experience, this one is for you! It’s written by Genevieve Howland, writer of the pregnancy and parenting blog Mama Natural. The book “demystifies” natural pregnancy and goes through pregnancy week-by-week, which as a pregnant person I always appreciated. This probably isn’t for everyone, but if you’re on the holisitic side, I’m sure you’ll love it!

Pregnancy is a special, magical, uncomfortable, confusing, crazy time of a woman’s life. Fortunately, there are lots of great pregnancy books to help you through the joys and miseries that come along with growing a baby. Hopefully this list of books to read during pregnancy was helpful and taught you about a few new pregnancy books to read, and if you have any other suggestions, please leave a comment and let me know! 

The post Books to Read During Pregnancy appeared first on Life With My Littles.

Last month my best friend found out what the gender of her third baby is, and she asked me to plan a gender reveal surprise for her family! After I recovered from the initial excitement that I’d get to be the first one to find out what they’re having, I hopped onto Pinterest and searched for cute ways to involve the whole family in a gender reveal! There were tons of adorable ideas that I thought would be fun for older siblings, and after narrowing it down to ones that I thought her kids would like, we decided on a balloon pop! Anyway, I thought it would be fun to put together a roundup for anyone else trying to decide how to involve their whole family in their gender reveal!

And as is usual in roundups, please click the links below the photos and pin from the source, or pin from the image at the end of the post. These ladies worked hard and I want to make sure they get credit! Now here we go!

{Filled Food via Life With My Littles}

{Confetti Balloon Pop via Sam Dobson Writes}

{Paint Squirt via Limelight 31 Photography}

{Paint-Filled Balloon Pop via Sweet Miles}

{Colored Handprints via Evin Photography}

{Box of Balloons via Ashley Hempel Photography}

{Smoke Bombs via Shutter Darling Photography}

{Silly String via Yellownest Photography}

{Piñata via Funny/Beautiful}

{Pillow Fight via Jeanne Mitchum Photography}

{Confetti Popper via Signature Sanchez}

Aren’t those so fun? I loved setting everything up to help make my best friend’s moment special. Hopefully at least one (if not all!) of these ways to involve the whole family in a gender reveal sound like fun to you and your kids! Finding out the gender of your baby is so exciting, and it’s even more fun when you get the whole family involved in the reveal!!

The post Ways to Involve the Whole Family in a Gender Reveal appeared first on Life With My Littles.

This post is sponsored by Pampers. I am a proud member of the Pampers Baby Board.

One of the hardest parts about having a baby is naming them. From the day you announce your pregnancy, people start asking you what you’re going to name your baby. And no pressure, but the name you pick is going to follow them around for their entire lives. Yikes! You want it to be timeless, original, and unique, and you want it to be a name that means something. People are going to call them by their name for their entire life, and you definitely don’t want to give them a name that doesn’t fit!

So now you’re probably wondering how to choose the perfect baby name, right? I’ve definitely felt the pressure each time I’ve been pregnant! I mean it’s a big decision! Fortunately there are a lot of resources and helpful tips to make sure that the name you pick is going to be one you won’t regret choosing! Here are some of my favorite to help you out:

1. Use the Pampers Baby Name Generator. This is an AMAZING resource! The generator allows you to sort names by gender, first letter, origin, name length, and theme (royal, mythology, flowers, etc.). It also provides fun facts and information about each name, plus meanings, pronunciations, and popularity rankings! To access all the features you have to sign up for a free Pampers account (which you should have anyway so you can take advantage of their loyalty program), and it’s so worth trying out! I even had fun looking up my kids’ names! It’s awesome whether you have no ideas for your baby’s name or if you’re trying to narrow it down from a few top choices!

2. Flip through a baby name book. I know it’s sounds old fashioned, but there are seriously so many names in those books! It’s a great place to start if you have no idea. Sometimes baby name books also have lists like popularity by country, lists of famous names, lists of literary names, and lists of historical names, as well as names listed alphabetically, which can be helpful if you want it to be a name from a certain time period or start with a specific letter. If you can’t find a baby name in a baby name book, you might be in trouble!

3. Check popular baby name lists. I remember growing up and only ever meeting one other Chelsea in school. It was amazing. My husband on the other hand has such a common name that I think I had a kid with his same name in almost every class growing up. If you want your child’s name to be unique, make sure you check out popular baby name lists!

4. Check ancestry.com for family names you might like. If you are thinking about using a family name but don’t know where to start, check ancestry.com. You can quickly and easily find genealogical records and learn about ancestors you might not have known. If you want a family name or a more old-fashioned name, this is a great resource!

5. Make sure baby’s initials won’t spell something bad. This might sound kind of silly, but it’s definitely something you’ll want to think about. If your last name is Smith, don’t name your baby Amelia Sue. Just don’t.

6. Don’t tell people what you’re planning on naming your baby unless you’re ready for honest feedback. No matter what, some people just aren’t going to like your baby’s name. If you think that might bother you, just keep it a secret until your baby is born!

7. Think about possible nicknames. If you don’t like nicknames, don’t give your baby a name that people will shorten. My sister is named “Rebecca” but goes by “Becca,” which is what my parents had planned on. You may love the name “Samuel” but not like the nickname “Sam.” Think about what people might shorten your baby’s name to because if you don’t like the nickname, you may want to pick a different name.

8. Narrow your list down to two or three. Of course it’s okay to have a favorite, but it’s good to have a backup name, too. We had planned on a name for Little A before she was born, but when she was born, it took me a day to feel like that was the right name for her. Sometimes you just need to see your baby before you make an official decision!

9. Make sure the first name and middle name sound good together. Some names just don’t go together. When you’re choosing your baby’s middle name, make sure it sounds good with your baby’s first name!

Choosing your baby’s name can be overwhelming at first, but it’s a really fun part of having a baby, too! Luckily you’ve got a few months to narrow it down, and luckily you can use all these tips so you’ll know how to choose the perfect baby name! Make sure you check out the Pampers Baby Name Generator, and good luck, mamas!

The post How to Choose the Perfect Baby Name appeared first on Life With My Littles.

This post is sponsored by Pampers. I am a proud member of the Pampers Baby Board.

When we stepped into the giant baby store to register for our first baby, we were handed a list several pages long of “essentials” that we needed to put on our registry. Being naive, first-time parents, we were overwhelmed and had no idea how much of what was on the list was actually necessary. A lot of what we registered for ended up not getting used, or used once and then donated, simply because those things weren’t practical or helpful. What a bummer!

A recent Pampers survey found that we weren’t the only ones feeling that way (thank goodness!). More than half of moms who created a registry felt it was more overwhelming than they expected, and 62% of moms have regrets about their baby registry. Of those who do, the top regret is that they didn’t register for enough practical items!

Now that I’ve had three babies, I feel like I have a pretty good idea what practical things to put on your baby registry. I know what you’ll actually use, what you’ll wish you registered for more of, and what you won’t regret adding to your registry later!

1. Diapers. Of course the #1 thing on this list is diapers! I’ve registered for all three of my babies, and each time, Pampers diapers are the first thing I’ve put on the registry. You can never have too many diapers, and they are definitely the most practical thing you can put on your registry! And please don’t feel guilty about adding a ton of diapers to your registry! 88% of moms that Pampers surveyed said they wished they had included more diapers on their registry, yet more than 1 in 3 (35%) moms who included diapers on their baby registry felt guilty about registering for them. Please make sure you add diapers to your registry! All sizes, and different kinds. I love Pampers Swaddlers for newborn and size 1, and then Pampers Baby Dry for sizes 2 and up!

2. Baby wipes. If you’re registering for diapers you have to register for wipes, too! You need wipes for every diaper change, so add them to your registry without hesitation!

3. Baby wash and lotion. Babies have extra soft, sensitive skin, and you’re going to want to keep it that way! Register for some baby-specific wash and lotion. Baby wash and lotion are always something you can use!

4. Healthcare and grooming kit. One of the best things we registered for (besides diapers!) was a healthcare and grooming kit. It had a nasal aspirator, a little hair brush, nail clippers, a tiny toothbrush, and other little things like that to help take care of baby. We still have the one we registered for with Little J almost five years ago, and I still use it with Little R!

5. White bodysuits. You can never have too many of these! I love layering them under button-up shirts and pajamas (in the winter), and they work great for monthly baby pictures, too!

6. Portable playard. These are perfect for traveling, keeping your baby in your room before moving them to their crib, naps in other parts of the house, or even as a playpen when you just need to contain your baby!

7. Baby monitor. We’ve tried a ton of different baby monitors (plain audio ones and video ones) and either way, I think they’re great! You can even use them when your baby gets bigger!

8. Car seat. Some people don’t register for big items like this, but I say why not? You’re absolutely going to need a car seat, and putting one on your registry gives people a chance to go in together and get one for you! One less thing you’ll have to buy yourself!

9. Stroller. Again, a big item that you might not think to register for, but you’re going to need one, so why not?

10. Bouncer or swing. I wouldn’t say you need both of these, but having one is nice because it’s a great place to put your baby when you just need a minute! We had a little bouncer that vibrated and all three of my kids would hang out in it while I showered in the mornings. And I know my sister loves her swing for helping her baby fall asleep when he won’t any other way!

11. Bibs and burp rags. Even if your baby doesn’t spit-up much, it’s handy to have at least a few of these for feeding (especially once your baby starts solids!).

12. Baby carrier. Ask some of your mama friends what carriers they liked (maybe even try one out with a friend’s baby!), and register for one! I still get use out of my carrier and my baby just turned one! They are great when you need your hands free but your baby doesn’t want to be put down.

13. Crib pad/ fitted sheet. One of the best tricks I learned as a new mama was to layer a waterproof mattress protector underneath my baby’s crib sheet, and then do it again. That way if your baby gets sick or gets their sheet wet in the middle of the night, it won’t soak through to the mattress and bonus, you can just pull off the top layer of crib sheet and waterproof mattress protector and still have a sheet on the mattress so your baby can go right back to sleep and you don’t have to do laundry in the middle of the night! Genius!

14. Swaddle blanket. Swaddling your newborn may help them sleep longer and prevents them from startling themselves awake. You can use a stretchy muslin swaddle or one that has velcro, but either way, they are definitely a practical thing to include on your registry!

15. A baby book. I know some people aren’t a fan of traditional baby books, and that’s fine. If that’s you, just ignore this one! I personally like having a place to write down milestones and glue baby pictures, so I use baby books. I have one of these for Little R and I love it because I can customize it and add or remove pages.

16. A nursing pillow. Regardless of whether or not you are planning on breastfeeding, these are amazing. I used mine for nursing and bottle feeding my first two babies, and they work great for tummy time and supporting your baby when they are learning to sit. Definitely a great, practical item to have!

Registering for your baby can be a little overwhelming at first, but if you do your research, you’ll quickly realize babies really don’t need that much stuff! Follow this list of practical things to put on your baby registry, try to stay calm, and go in with a plan. You’ll find that registering for your baby can be a lot of fun!

The post Practical Things to Put on Your Baby Registry appeared first on Life With My Littles.

Even before I got pregnant, I knew I wanted to know if I was having a boy or girl. I’m not big into surprises and I like to have everything ready when there’s a big life change coming up. Being surprised just isn’t my jam.

But some people love the anticipation of not finding out their baby’s gender until he or she is actually born, and that’s fabulous! If you’re one of those people, then this post is for you! Here are some helpful tips for keeping your baby’s gender a secret until delivery.

5 Tips for Keeping Your Baby’s Gender a Secret

Let the tech know immediately for any ultrasound

Obviously you want to let the ultrasound tech know right away if you’re planning on keeping your baby’s gender a secret. That way they won’t let tell you what you’re having!

Have the ultrasound tech tell you when she’s going to look at the reproductive organs

You don’t want to be looking at the screen when she heads down south because you might accidentally see what’s up. You’ll want to look away during that part if you’re planning on keeping your baby’s gender a secret!

Look away at the start of the ultrasound

Since you might not know your baby’s position before the ultrasound, your tech might put the probe on your belly and immediately see your baby’s reproductive organs! This happened to us twice with our third baby (there was no doubt he was a boy after that!), so just be aware that if you’re planning on not finding out, look away!

Let the doctors and nurses know

Your doctor will have access to the ultrasound images so make sure he or she knows that you don’t want to know what you’re having. It’s okay to bring it up at every appointment just so they don’t forget. You might sound like a broken record, but that is totally fine!

Ask if you can put a note in your chart so the nurses and doctors don’t let it slip

This might sound excessive, but it could be a good idea to have a little note on your record so that your nurse doesn’t come in and ask you how baby boy is doing before you know you’re even having a boy! Whoops!

Keeping your baby’s gender a secret until delivery can be a lot of fun (I mean I’ve never done it, but I assume it is!). Hopefully these five tips will help you be surprised when your baby is born! And boy or girl, babies are the best!

The post 5 Tips for Keeping Your Baby’s Gender a Secret appeared first on Life With My Littles.

Today I am so, so excited to share with you guys all the details about “Preggers,” MY BOOK!

What is “Preggers” about?

First of all, you’re probably wondering what “Preggers” is about. “Preggers” is a straightforward, informative, candid, relatable, laugh out loud guide to pregnancy, from trying to get pregnant all the way up to labor and delivery. I included some of my popular (updated) blog posts in the book, but most of “Preggers” is new content. There aren’t very many (if any) pregnancy books that are actually fun to read and still informative, and the ones that are informative have way too much information and are too medical (at least in my opinion). I wanted “Preggers” to be funny, helpful, and honest, and I wanted it to cover everything you could possibly think about that is related to pregnancy. I didn’t want it to be overwhelming, and I wanted to make sure that it was actually useful and had good tips in it. I wanted pregnant mamas to read it and be like “that’s exactly how I feel!” I wanted to prepare them for what to expect, and help them know that there are a lot of weird and totally normal things that happen during pregnancy, and they aren’t the only ones who experience them (like vaginal varicosities!). I also wanted it to be helpful whether you’re a first-time mom, or a third-time mom, and there really is something for everyone to enjoy in “Preggers.”

A little history…

In August 2015 my husband was in Texas for the month and I was driving with Little J and Little A from Idaho to Utah to visit my sister. I was listening to my favorite podcast all about pregnancy, Pregnancy Perfect, and the thought came to me that I should write a book. I’d been blogging all about pregnancy and babies for two years, so I knew I would want it to be about pregnancy, but that was about it. I dismissed the idea (because it was crazy) and tried to move on. But I couldn’t get the thought out of my head!

In January 2016 I decided to go for it. I sat down at a little table in our rental house in Rochester, Minnesota and made an outline. I decided how to split the book up, and then got to work on an outline. I wrote the section headings on different pieces of paper and then wrote down different topics for each of those sections. Eventually, I had ten pages of notes and I was all set to go!

Over the next few months I began writing, and I got through the introduction and first two sections. In May 2016 we moved from Idaho to Texas, my husband graduated from medical school, and at the end of the month, we found out I was pregnant with baby #3! I lost all motivation to do anything with that pregnancy, and my book got put on the backburner.

Little R was born in January 2017, and life with three kids under four provided little time to write. We moved again in July 2017 to Minnesota, and I decided that it was time to get moving on my book. My husband’s schedule was a lot less rigorous for a few months, and he took the kids to the park and to the movies several times so that I could have some uninterrupted time to write.

In October 2017 I finished the first draft. I went back through, made some changes and a lot of edits, and then decided it was ready for other people to test-read. I knew I loved my book, but I wanted to make sure it wasn’t just me! My best friend, sister, and two more friends read it, made some edits, and reviewed it for me, and then I went through again and made MORE edits! In December 2017 I sent the book to my editor (one of my college roommates!) and she finished it and sent it back in early January 2018. One more big edit and “Preggers” was officially done!

I should also mention that I knew very early on what the title was going to be, and what I wanted the cover to look like. When I was pregnant with Little R, I painted a big wooden board bright pink and had a good friend come over and take some pictures of my pregnant belly kneeling on the grass in front of it. I used that picture and designed the front and back covers as soon as I knew how many pages my book was going to be (because it determines how big the spine is going to be!).

Since I am self-publishing “Preggers,” there has also been a lot of formatting and designing that I’ve had to do, as well as more businessy (yes, businessy) things like filing a copyright, getting a Library of Congress number, and getting the ISBN numbers. It’s a lot of work to self-publish a book, but I wanted to be 100% in control of all the little details, and it’s paid off!

When and where can I get it?

“Preggers” is available in an ebook and as a paperback book, and it will be published on March 6th, 2018. March 6th is my oldest child’s birthday, and he’s the reason I started my blog, the reason I fell in love with motherhood, and the reason I am where I am today. He has no idea, but I owe him a lot. So he will forever share a birthday with my book!

You can preorder “Preggers” now over at www.PreggersTheBook.com, and if you order before March 6th, you can get the paperback version for 50% off! I wanted to do that as a special thank you to everyone who has supported me and followed this long journey!

I’m also hosting an amazing new mama giveaway with a few friends for a paperback copy and some of the best mom and baby items from my favorite stores (like Sweet N Swag, DockATot, Tubby Todd, and Bamboobies, just to name a few). Make sure you’re following me on Instagram because the giveaway is happening the week of March 6th and you definitely won’t want to miss it!

Thank you!

I’ve worked so hard to get to this point, and while my hard work isn’t over yet, it has already 100% been worth it! I am so grateful to everyone who has helped me, who has read my blog over the years, and who has supported me as I’ve worked to achieve this goal! I have had some serious blessings along the way and lots of answered prayers to make this dream a reality. My ultimate goal is to get my book into a national bookstore, so here’s to that (I’m coming for you, Barnes and Noble). But for real, every copy I sell means so much to me! I am so, so excited, so grateful for everyone who has already ordered their copy, and I can’t wait for everyone to read my book! Thank you!

The post “Preggers” by Chelsea Johnson appeared first on Life With My Littles.

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Morning sickness: two words guaranteed to make any pregnant woman groan. Even if you’re lucky and you never actually throw up during pregnancy, chances are you’ve at least felt nauseous during the first trimester, or even during the second.

Morning sickness makes it hard to function normally, and if you don’t know how to manage it, you’re going to struggle! Today I put together a helpful morning sickness survival kit for a friend of mine, and I wanted to share it with you! It makes a great gift, or if you’re the one suffering from morning sickness, just add everything to your grocery list!

1. Gatorade. I don’t know if color matters a ton, but I’ve heard not to try red Gatorade, and I’ve also heard that the blue Gatorade is like magic (my mom swears it helps her migraines). Gatorade will help replenish electrolytes and keep you hydrated. Taking small sips of it really helps when you can’t keep anything else down!

2. An ice cube tray. Another thing I tried when I was pregnant was making Gatorade ice cubes. I’ve also heard you can try making ice cubes with lemon juice!

3. Lemon drops. Sucking on lemons can help soothe your stomach, and lemon drops always worked for me!

4. Ginger ale. Ginger is another food that can help soothe your stomach, so try drinking small sips of ginger ale! I always had some on hand with my third pregnancy!

5. Ginger or peppermint tea. Again, ginger helps soothe your stomach, and so does peppermint. If you’re having a hard time keeping anything in your stomach you want to make sure you don’t get dehydrated, so drinking these flavors as tea can help!

6. Crackers. I always kept crackers on my nightstand and would have a few bites before going to bed at night, and then a few bites before getting out of bed in the morning. That way my stomach had a little something in it and it helped me not get nauseous immediately after waking up.

7. Mints. Another easy way to soothe a queasy stomach.

8. IZZE Sparkling Clementine. Since citrus can help ease your stomach, drink some citrus-flavored sparkling juice. I love Izze Sparkling Clementine flavor! Again, small sips!

9. Hair ties. As much as you hope that you’re not going to throw up, sometimes you will, and you don’t want your hair getting in the way!

Having the right things on hand to help you treat morning sickness is super important in the beginning of pregnancy. Hopefully this post was helpful if you’re the one dealing with morning sickness, and if not, hopefully it will help you put together a thoughtful gift for a mama-to-be!

The post Morning Sickness Survival Kit appeared first on Life With My Littles.

Before our first baby was born my husband and I took a maternity hospital tour to see where we would be staying and where our baby would be born. It was really helpful in preparing me for our son’s birth.

Our second son was born in a different hospital in a different state, so even though he was our third baby and I had a pretty good idea about what to expect, I still went and did another hospital tour.

Taking a hospital tour gives you a chance to ask any questions you might have about what the hospital offers, what they allow, and what childbirth there is like. It’s a good idea for any mother who will be delivering there for the first time.

If you’re not sure what kinds of questions to ask on your hospital tour, here are some that you might want to know. Keep in mind that a lot of these will be answered by your tour guide (usually a L&D nurse), and some of them may not apply to you.

Questions to Ask on Your Hospital Tour

Can I wear my own hospital gown?

Can I have a photographer take photos during the birth?

Can I have a photographer take photos after the birth?

Can I have a photographer take photos if I have to have a C-section?

What kind of pain management options do you have available (epidural, spinal block, tub, IV, local anesthesia)?

Can my doula attend the birth?

Does the hospital support natural births?

What kind of birthing tools are available (tub, shower, birth ball, squat bar, birthing stool)?

How many rooms are on the labor and delivery floor?

Where is the best place to park when I arrive?

Where do I go when I arrive?

What do I need to bring?

Can I preregister?

Are the delivery rooms private or are they shared?

Are the recovery rooms private or are they shared?

Are the rooms all the same size and have the same features?

What happens if the labor and delivery floor is full and I am in active labor?

Is this a teaching hospital?

Will students or residents attend the birth?

Are meals provided for me after birth?

Are meals provided for the father after the birth?

Can the father sleep at the hospital?

Is there a nursery for the baby to go to at night?

Where is the nursery?

Do you have a NICU?

Where is the NICU?

What kind of fetal and maternal monitoring is used?

How often do you do pelvic exams during labor?

Can I have music?

Is there a speaker in the room or do I need to bring my own?

How many people are allowed in the delivery room?

What positions to do you allow mothers to give birth in (stirrups on back, in tub, on all fours, sitting up, squatting)?

Can we do skin-to-skin right after the baby is born and delay procedures and weighing?

Can I breastfeed immediately after delivery?

What kind of breastfeeding support is available?

Do you give pacifiers to babies in the nursery?

Do you give formula to babies in the nursery?

What kind of security measures do you have in place?

When are visiting hours?

Can children come visit?

How long do moms typically stay after birth?

Where will I be initially examined upon arriving (own room or triage)?

Can I walk around during labor?

Can I labor in the shower or tub?

Will I be moved to a room postpartum or stay in the same room?

Are there televisions?

Are there DVD players?

Is there wi-fi?

Can my husband (or baby’s father) cut the cord?

Is there a private shower in the recovery room?

What is the hospital’s C-section rate?

What happens if I need an emergency C-section?

Is there a hospital cafeteria? Is it open 24 hours?

Can I eat or drink during labor?

I know that’s a lot of questions, but your tour guide will answer a lot of them before you even ask them, and some questions might not apply to you. Taking a hospital tour when you’re pregnant is incredibly helpful, and will make you feel so much more comfortable when it’s go time. And preparing questions to ask on your hospital tour before you go will help you get the most out of your tour! Good luck!

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When I was pregnant with my first baby, my husband and I registered for all the things. We had so much fun picking out clothes, pacifiers, bottles, a bassinet, a bouncer, and all of the cute little things you need for a baby. Once our little guy was born and started growing out of things, we saved them, and when the time came for baby #2, we had a lot of what we already needed. But there were still lots of things we needed to buy for our second baby!

People might tell you that it’s not worth it to create a baby registry for your second baby, but it absolutely is! There are lots of benefits to registering, especially if you do it with Amazon Baby Registry. Today I’m going to share a helpful list of things to register for with your second baby, and why it’s worth it to register for your second baby.

1. A double stroller. If you’ve got kids within a few years of age, you’re definitely going to want a double stroller. And since they can be a little on the expensive side, adding one to your registry is the way to go. I don’t like my double stroller, so I’m recommending the City Select stroller with the second seat. I’ve tried it out and it’s ah-mazing. Plus I have like 10 friends who love theirs. It’s like the Cadillac of strollers.

2. Diapers. One obvious thing you can’t reuse with your second thing are diapers, so adding them to your registry is a must! Babies go through so many diapers (it’s RIDICULOUS), so getting other people to buy them for you is very helpful! We personally really love Pampers and have used them with all three babies.

3. Wipes. Going right along with the diapers, you’re going to need wipes, and a lot of them! Make sure you add wipes to your registry, too! Babies are messy!

4. Baby wash and lotion. I have always made sure to add baby wash and lotion to my baby registries (even with my third baby), and I am so glad I did, because it’s something that we can always use at our house!

5. A second baby monitor camera. When our second baby was born, our son was just 18-months-old, so we still wanted a baby monitor in his room, too. Amazon has lots of baby monitors to choose from, and a lot of them have extra cameras you can add so you can have cameras in two rooms and still only use one parent monitor. And if the extra camera for your monitor isn’t available on Amazon, their baby registry allows you to add it from another site with their universal registry feature. Which is great, because you can make just one registry and have it all in one place! And even now that we have three, we still find all kinds of ways to use our baby monitor! They’re awesome!

6. White bodysuits. Even with my amazing secret for removing blowout stains, I still had a few white bodysuits that got trashed with our first baby. And since those are kind of a staple when you’ve got a baby, it’s nice to have a few on hand. So if you are in the same boat as me and need some crisp, new, white bodysuits, add them to your registry! They make for great outfits for monthly photos!

7. Diaper pail bags. If you have a diaper pail, register for some refill bags. I didn’t get a diaper pail until our third baby, but it has been revolutionary. And since these are another thing you can’t reuse, adding them to your registry is a great way to get more!

8. Diaper rash cream. Diaper rash cream is one of those things that you don’t think about buying until it’s too late and your baby already has a rash. And since I don’t think you can ever have too many tubes of diaper rash cream, adding a few tubes to your registry is a great idea!

Now why should you create a registry for your second baby? Hopefully I’ve already convinced you, but there are also a few benefits even if you don’t have a baby shower. Besides the fact that registering is super fun, it’s also a great way to keep track of what you need to get for your second baby (like the stuff on the list above!). Another reason to register for your second baby is that when you register is that when you register with Amazon Baby Registry (and you’re a Prime member), you get a free welcome box with full, travel and sample size products for parents-to-be and baby! Who doesn’t want free samples!? Amazon Baby Registry also offers a completion discount. Sixty days before your due date, Amazon gives you a 10% off discount (or 15% off if you are a Prime member) for select items that are left on your registry. So again, even if you don’t have a baby shower, it’s a great way to get a discount on the things that you need for your second baby. It’s so worth it to register!

Registering for your second baby is completely worth it, and now you know what things to register for with your second baby! Not to brag or anything, but I feel pretty confident in my list since I’ve had three babies and have reused a lot of stuff. There are just some things you can’t reuse, and registering for them is a great way to make sure you get everything you need before your baby is born! Having a second baby is crazy at first, but it really is amazing, so good luck, mamas!

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A few weeks ago I had the chance to throw a baby shower for one of my best friends here in Texas. Marianne was the very first person I met after we moved in, and she has kids just a few months apart from mine. She is due with her third baby, a boy, in just a few weeks, and I was so thrilled to be able to host a little get-together and help her celebrate! Since we live in Texas, I thought it would be fun to have a fiesta-themed baby shower!

I hung up some cute decorations from Witty Bash above our fabulous food table that was filled with fiesta-inspired foods. I loved how bright and colorful the fans were and the cactus and fiesta banners really made the theme pop!

For food I set up a nacho bar complete with taco meat, white queso cheese sauce, and refried beans, along with traditional nacho toppings like salsa, jalapenos, guacamole, and sour cream.

The dessert was my favorite part, though. We had churros and tres leches cake balls along with a Mexican chocolate cake with cinnamon frosting. I loved the way the cake turned out, even if decorating it did make my hand cramp up something fierce! And the “It’s a Boy” cake topper from Lula Flora was perfect!

I served it all with some teal plates, green forks, and these adorable cactus napkins and cups from Cranky Cakes Shop.

When all of our lovely guests arrived, we ended up sitting around the table, eating, and talking the whole time. It was so much fun celebrating Marianne and getting to have a moms’ night out away from the kiddos!

I also was able to give Marianne a new VTech VM342 Video Monitor with Wide-Angle Lens and Standard Lens. When you’re on your third baby, a lot of things you use have been used a few times already, so a new monitor was exactly what she needed! And since every family approaches parenting differently, VTech has an assortment of baby monitors that allow parents to choose the best unit for their style. Whether they want a simple audio monitor or would prefer an option with audio, video and soothing lullabies, VTech offers the product versatility they need.

We’ve used VTech monitors since Little A was little, and I have always been impressed. The VTech VM342 video baby monitor has a standard lens and an attachable wide-angle lens so you can switch back and forth between regular and panoramic view to see the whole nursery at once. The 4.3-inch LCD video screen is full-color and has automatic night vision, so parents always have the most vivid image of their little one, day or night.

The VTech VM342 monitor also has a two-way, talk-back intercom, a temperature sensor, built-in lullabies and soothing sounds, and has up to 1,000 feet of range. You can even add up to four cameras (only one is included) if you want to keep an eye on children in different rooms! And digital transmission ensures all videos are private and secure, while cutting down on background noise. I was so happy to give Marianne a VTech VM342 video baby monitor. I think having a good baby monitor is a must!

Marianne’s fiesta-themed baby shower was a hit, and I loved being able to throw it for her and help her celebrate her new little boy. We all had so much fun getting together, and I definitely enjoyed the leftover food we had at our house the next day! If you’re looking for a unique, easy baby shower theme, definitely try this one out. It was a big hit!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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