Admittedly, Zen Mommy is super mommy as seen in this VIDEO! *wink* But there are a few handy items that make bathing baby easy. The Puj tub is one, which is why I chose it as Practical Mommy pick for NEW MOM gifts on my segment on Great Day St. Louis. That segment is posted here.

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Practical Mommy is Ria Sharon, co-creator of the Yoga Parenting course. Are you ready for parenting to be easier, more fun and less stressful?

I recently met with Dr. Becky Brittain, Ph.D. also known as The Mothering Coach. She is a wealth of information but specifically expert in Perinatal and Prenatal Psychology, the focus of her doctorate. Not only does she have all those fancy letters after her name but she is truly a joy to be with. I’ve seen her in action with kids and the connection that she can create with them is admirable.

Did you know that, moms-to-be? Yes, stress does affect your baby. Mother yourself! Being gentle and loving to yourself is a wonderful way to start parenting!

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Practical Mommy is Ria Sharon, co-creator of the Yoga Parenting course. Are you ready for parenting to be easier, more fun and less stressful?

I didn’t pass out but I almost did! Three times today! I started feeling really lightheaded in the car this morning at 2:30, then it got worse when I got to my desk.

I took off my panty hose because I thought that was the problem…By the way I was laughed at when a girl at work heard I still wear panty hose. Not because I am pregnant but because they are “sooooo out.” Whatever, I wear the black tights under black pants only.

Anyway, that didn’t work, then I unbuttoned my pants…I thought I was cutting off the blood circulation. Nope. Still about to fall over. I managed to get through the show but it was rough.  So at 7 I ran over to my mom to be mentor Afton (KMOV web producer) to ask what the deal was.

DEHYDRATION.

She said she ended up in the hospital because of it when she was pregnant with her first child.  It’s now 10:15, I’ve had three bottles of water and I feel better but still not quite right.

I just read pregnant women are supposed to drink at least 8 ounces of water an hour! Holy Pee Breaks Batman! Seriously???

I will drink more but I’m still wearing panty hose with my black pants! I hate that flash of flesh that breaks up the black flow from the pants to the heels.  Know what I mean?

Here’s Afton and my video blog about the mini crisis this morning.

Click

Virginia Kerr is a morning news anchor on News 4. You can watch her Monday – Friday from 5AM to 7AM.

*You’re invited to a baby shower for Virginia on Wednesday, August 25. More details.

Two more weeks until the third trimester! I’m so excited, I think I may have to celebrate that day with ice cream!

BUT it also makes me worry stretch marks are right around the corner. So far, so good but I’ve been reading women get them as late as three days before they give birth.

I’ve been dedicated to putting lotion on my belly, hips and chest every day. I started with that Tummy Butter but it’s too greasy so I just use my Bath and Body Works lotion. Then, I read this week that you can’t do ANYTHING  to prevent because it’s all genetics.

Well, my mom doesn’t have them but I don’t think she and I look  alike so I don’t know if that counts. Okay, maybe a little.

Here we are visiting our alma mater the University of Alabama ROLL TIDE!

Sorry I got distracted (can’t wait until football season and this baby better not be born on the day of the AL/Tenn game–he’s due three days before one of  the BIGGEST GAMES OF THE SEASON)

Okay, back to stretch marks.  I’m trying something new. Baby Belly Massage. Zen Mommy sent me this link.

Watch her video. It looks very relaxing. Skittles will love it even if it doesn’t keep the stretch marks away.

Back to my Bama Mama.  I have never felt so close to her or missed her as much as I do now. It’s this whole initiation into Club Motherhood. I already appreciate her so much more and I know she is going to teach me so much when she comes back in October to help with Skittles.

She is coming in town Friday for my shower and I am over the top excited! She hasn’t been here in over a year. But I have the guest room looking very Southern for her and look…

Jason finished the nursery just in time for her visit! Yes, Skittles real name starts with an “R”

Stop. Don’t even bother trying to figure out his name. YOU WILL NEVER GUESS. But it is a little Southern sounding

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Virginia Kerr is a morning news anchor on News 4. You can watch her Monday – Friday from 5AM to 7AM.

*You’re invited to a baby shower for Virginia on Wednesday, August 25. More details.

24 weeks and 15 pounds.  I’m actually okay with the weight gain. That’s a big deal coming from me. I have struggled with my weight since 9th grade.  Mainly emotional eating issues.

I tell you this, because it’s part of this positive force that’s taking over me during my pregnancy.  I know I was griping last week about the hubs, my mood swings and the lack of nursery progress but most days I am high on life. And it’s all because of this baby boy I like to call Skittles.

BTW, no, I am not naming my child Skittles.  Someone asked me that this week.  But the name is the only secret I seem to be able to keep so it’s Skittles for now.

I know I have to gain weight for the baby.  Every time I start to feel light headed or have stomach pains, that little boy starts kicking. So I don’t waste anytime getting my hands on some food.

I also started exercising this week. I do it because I seriously think the baby enjoys it.

I know it sounds crazy, but I am so convinced he is just like my husband I do things that I know my husband enjoys. Jason is super athletic and he gets grumpy if he’s hungry,  can’t be outside or doesn’t exercise. He’s also in love with our yellow lab Saban and plays with him several times a day.

So Skittles and I are exercising and we run around outside with Saban at least once a day. I know. Psycho.  But there’s more.

I am also convinced that this little guy is laid back and drama free like my husband. Yes, I was crazy last Tuesday but that is only the second time during my whole pregnancy I have felt like that.

I remember when I met Practical Mommy Ria for the first time I told her I actually think when I’m exhausted from this overnight shift, the baby tells me to go to bed.

She told me some prenatal psychologists say unborn babies and their mothers are so connected they both influence each other’s moods and thoughts.  I believe it!

If this is all true, I am going to have a laid back, fun loving baby!

As for his fun loving father..he is almost finished with the nursery.

Here’s a small sample. Not a great shot. I took it at 2:30 this morning before I left the house.

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Virginia Kerr is a morning news anchor on News 4. You can watch her Monday – Friday from 5AM to 7AM.

*You’re invited to a baby shower for Virginia on Wednesday, August 25. More details.

I told you I couldn’t keep a secret. I all but gave it away on TV yesterday so I got permission from the hubs to tell you Skittles is a boy. A very active little boy who feels like he’s already practicing soccer and basketball every two to three hours. After all, his dad played every sport in school!

Here’s Skittles at 21 weeks

I know I’m just a delusional mom-to-be but don’t you think he has Jason’s cheek bones and nose?

Last night, he started something new. He is now pinching my nerves in my back.  At least, I assume he has something to do with the sharp pain in my back. And I will assume he got that from my husband, too.

I have a wonderful, caring husband but I discovered this week that he has a lot to learn when it comes to dealing with a hormonal weepy pregnant wife.

DON’T ARGUE WITH A CRYING PREGNANT WOMAN.

I’ve been pretty sane for the last five months or so, but man, on Tuesday I was a mess. I had this big, bad ball of a cry swelling in my chest all morning.  EVERYTHING was upsetting me. I almost threw up during the morning show and by the time I made it to the Great Day set for a pregnancy segment I had to warn the host Carol that I was about three minutes away from being a huge bawling mess and it may happen on air. Carol was great, she said I could cry all I wanted since the segment was on pregnant women.  I didn’t. I got through it. I actually made it until my husband got home and then it just all came out. You know the kind of cry that makes no sense because the between the heaving and sniffles you are just spewing out random non sense?

That was the cry. And of course Jason can’t solve any of those “problems” because they sounded so irrational to him so he got frustrated. He tried to calm me down by asking me why I was worried about things that weren’t a problem and eventually just walked out of the room when I stopped talking.  Hello! That doesn’t mean I’m finished sulking..I was just taking a break!

Later, I told him the next time I act like that, don’t try to reason with me. Just tell me I’m right and that I look beautiful (feeling fat was on my whine list) even if it’s a total lie. He said he would.  Low and behold.  I’ve been fine since. At least until the next wave of hormones comes over me.

The lesson I learned…now that I am sane for the time being…is to try and be proactive instead of reactive. I have to sort through all the worries and annoyances while they aren’t bothering me so I can make rational solutions to them now and then remember them during my next rage. And I can’t blow them off.  For instance, I was mad at Gold’s Gym for double charging my account.  So I will continue to call them until the money is refunded but I’m promising only to call them on the days I am not hormonal.  I will say this, pregnancy makes you assertive! I’m usually non confrontational to a fault but now I won’t let anyone get away with crap. As for the feeling fat thing, I am making myself start an exercise routine.  That will make me feel proactive and should reduce the stress. Plus, I think Skittles likes it. I can feel him getting all excited when I’m out playing with the dog. Oh! and he likes Harry Connick Jr. Skittles was dancing up a storm at the concert the other night! At least he got MY taste in music

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Virginia Kerr is a morning news anchor on New 4. You can watch her Monday – Friday from 5AM to 7AM.

*You’re invited to a baby shower for Virginia on Wednesday, August 25. More details.

Like everything baby-related, there seem to be so many choices. Fortunately, with baby bottles we’re not talking about hundreds and hundreds of choices (like strollers or diaper bags). There are a few top brands that I hear moms consistently talking about. We used the Avent system. In my case, I was nursing mostly through 13 months for both my little peeps but Avent bottles were great for the occasional feeding.

Please indulge me by taking our POLL! Your comments (good and bad) about baby bottles are also helpful.

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Practical Mommy is Ria Sharon, co-creator of the Yogi Parenting course. If you are ready for parenting to be easier, more fun and less stressful, sign up for a free Yogi Parenting lesson.

When we think of a mother and her newborn in the first hours after birth, most of us picture an image of a tired mom snuggling what I call her “baby burrito!” I’m sure you all know what I’m referring to: a brand new baby tightly swaddled in a hospital receiving blanket donning a pink or blue hat. While they sure are cute as button when all swaddled up, what a newly-born baby needs most is to be naked up against their mama.

Babies are designed to be in close contact with their mothers. Their neurological wiring is so unique and skin-to-skin contact, immediately after birth and in the early weeks of life, promotes the release of very specific hormones in both mom and baby that is essential for healthy development. Newborns that are in frequent skin-to-skin contact with their mothers are: calmer and more alert, better regulate their body temperature, better organize their sleep/wake cycles and breastfeed better. These are just a few of the astounding benefits! Even more benefits of skin-to-skin contact are discussed here.

Here are a few tips, especially for moms giving birth in a hospital:

• Discuss with your care provider prior to birth your wishes for immediate skin-to-skin contact with your baby. Respectfully request that you would like your baby to be immediately placed on your body, unswaddled, unless there are complications that warrant otherwise. Your partner can help with this by reminding your care providers during your birth. (Doulas are very helpful with this, too.)

• If your baby is doing well, ask that the staff please delay his/her evaluation. Most hospital staff are more than willing to delay this for at least 10-20 minutes and some for as long an hour or two after birth. Alternatively, you can ask if they can perform some the evaluation right at your bedside while you hold your baby.

• If your baby is swaddled before being given to you, it’s very easy to unswaddle your baby and place them right against your chest. Your own body heat is perfectly designed for keeping newborns warm. Place a couple receiving blankets around the back of your baby to keep heat from escaping.

• When a mother has a cesarean delivery, her partner can put the newborn right against his chest until the mother is in recovery and stabilized.

• Spend as much time as possible in the first few days and weeks of life having your baby’s skin directly against yours. Frequent breastfeeding provides the perfect opportunity for this contact!

• Consider the benefits of giving birth outside of a hospital, either at home or at a free-standing birth center. The risk of a mother being separated from her newborn usually is only a concern in the hospital.

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By Expert Mommy, Sarah Baker

Tell Me More – Tell Me More…

MY LITTLE SISTER had her baby at 3:33 a.m. this morning!!! It’s a girl and I am so excited for her and her husband. She called me from her hospital bed just now, 7 hours post birth… and we talked for all of 43 seconds. I got some important details… her JOY, how hard it was, how perfect her new baby is, how she looks alot like her dad, what time she was born and her beautiful new name, Audrey Elizabeth… and then, my blissful download of new baby information was cut short as I could hear the distraction in my sisters voice.

I imagined a helpful hospital person standing there waiting for me to stop gushing and for my sister to hang-up the phone. I was right. In the background I could hear a sweet and chipper lactation consultant introducing herself, “I came to introduce myself and to see how breastfeeding is going!” I wanted to hug this lady right then and there; to tell her to take good care of my baby sister. (I so want nursing to go well for her because SHE so wants it to.) But instead of a phone hug, hard with a complete stranger, I opted to get off the phone quickly. “Call me later! I love you!”" and with that, I let this eager to help lactation consultant have my sister all to herself.

It was not easy to stop the gushing mind you, so early in the game. I still know nothing about how the birth went other than it got an “OMG” when we started to talk. There’s so much my sis and I still need to talk about, but I remember this important first meeting with MY sweet and chipper lactation consultant in the hospital, and it was really helpful.

Virgin Breastfeed-er

In honor of my sister, her hours-old newborn baby girl and her sweet and chipper lactation consultant, I’d like to offer some Breastfeeding DO’s and DON’Ts for new-mamas-to-be:

DO:
Drink water like it’s going out of style. I recommend creating an unwritten policy with your hubby that if in the next month or so he catches you nursing, he will immediately get you a nice tall glass of water (without you even having to ask!). It never failed to happen to me. The second I’d hunker down with boppy and baby to nurse, the most incredible thirst of my life would sweep over me and of course, I’d never have a glass in arms reach!!@! It only took a week or two of me asking my hubby for water every time I sat to nurse, and he began to predict this need for me, getting me a glass without my having to ask; a prince to be sure. It might sound like a small thing, but for me it made a BIG difference. I felt like my husband was supporting OUR choice to breastfeed in this small way. Though I couldn’t just hand the baby over to him and say, “Here, it’s your turn to feed the baby!” I could enjoy a glass of nice fresh water without having to ask. :)

DON’T:
Start things off with a funny latch-on, like baby NOT getting enough of you into that tiny little baby mouth, or else it’s “hell-ooooo sore nipples!!@#!” I’m going to be honest with you, it’s pretty much ”hell-ooooo sore nipples” any way you slice it; just how sore is in question here. That said- breastfeeding has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done and is way worth the temporary discomfort. Just know, a certain amount of discomfort is normal, but get professional help early on and make sure your babies latch on isn’t adding insult to injury!

DO:
Swaddle your little bundle of joy so as to keep little baby fingers and hands from baby’s mouth while you are busy perfecting the perfect your (non-sore-nipple inducing) latch-on together. This takes team work and little hands in mouths just complicate matters. Swaddled, your baby will be all about the boob and get right down to business; exactly how we new nursing moms like it. *wink*

DON’T:
Wait for your baby to cry before nursing. When you start to see the “I’m hungry” body language (i.e. mouthing their hands or turning their head back and forth in search of your nipple; subtle, I know…) bring on the milk mama! You are working to establish your milk supply and your baby’s working on building trust for their very new surroundings (I do this, mommy does this…I like this new world!) It’s a perfect match. Besides, getting a hysterical baby to latch on properly? Not easy.

And finally…I like to end on a positive note:

DO:
Be confident. Breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world. No worries of it makes your grandparents or in-laws a little nervous, they’ll get over it! Make good eye contact with people in the room even if they seem to be uncomfortable with nursing. This lets them know that it’s O.K. to look you in the face when they talk to you, even when you are nursing.

Well, those are my DO’s and DON’Ts anyway. For a more complete listing of breastfeeding tips go here and for a groovy printable breastfeeding log (which I highly recommend keeping for at least the first week) go here.

I wrote this for you, my little sister whom I LOVE so much… and for you, expectant moms out there planning on breastfeeding once your baby is born. It’s an awesome thing.

If you have breastfed or ARE breastfeeding and have a helpful tip or story, please share it with all us moms below. Or if you have any questions about breastfeeding, I’d love to hear those too! Now I’m going to go read-up some more about breastfeeding online and how the heck I’m going to nurse two babies! As thirsty as I was all the time nursing one, I might just have to buy myself a camelbak.

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Baby Watch is published in partnership with Kolcraft

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Suzanne Tucker, aka Zen Mommy
In addition to mommying to two magical girls born in 2000 and 2003, Suzanne co-owns a holistic health center with her husband Shawn in St. Louis, Missouri  where she practices as a physical therapist, Certified Infant Massage Instructor and health education teacher. Certified in a number of healing and life education approaches, Suzanne is a Co-creator of My Mommy Manual and the online parenting course, Yogi Parenting, a positive parenting approach for raising kids of all ages.

A picture says a thousand words. (I wish I had a shot of how “productive” this massage was for little Evan…but you probably don’t want to see that picture!) I am fond of saying “every baby is a gassy baby”… but if you are dealing with colic, I want you to know there IS something you can do to help.

Studies show Infant Massage leads to a 50% decrease crying with just 10-15 minutes a day. And if your baby has colic, it helps by comforting and soothing them, helping their digestion and to cope with stress.

I think there is no worse feeling than hopelessness…and if someone told me there was “nothing” I could do…that is exactly how I would feel – hopeless.

If you are dealing with colic…keep hope. If your baby had or has colic, what are some of the things besides massage that you have found help???

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Suzanne Tucker, aka Zen Mommy
In addition to mommying to two magical girls born in 2000 and 2003, Suzanne owns a holistic health center in St. Louis, Missouri where she practices as a physical therapist, Certified Infant Massage Instructor and health education teacher. Certified in a number of healing and life education approaches, Suzanne offers life coaching as Zen Mommy Coach and is the co-creator of the Yogi Parenting approach to positive parenting.