Congrats to Cara Kent who won last week's featured product–a Chic Tots Bib.
Top stories this week
The new mom's survival guide
Giving birth is tough on both you and your baby. Here’s what you need to care for both of you in those first few weeks post-partum.
by: Alison Dunn
New mom's survival guide
- Add Epsom salts to a sitz bath to promote healing of hemorrhoids and stitches from an episiotomy or tearing.
- Use a little baby teething gel on your bum before your first post-partum bowel movement to relieve any discomfort.
- Buy a safe, non-toxic lanolin cream to ease sore nipples during the first few days of breastfeeding.
- Soak cotton pads in witch hazel for a soothing, cheap alternative to medicated hemorrhoid pads.
- Keep a journal to track your baby's feedings and diaper activity to make sure he is breastfeeding properly.
iving birth is one of the most physically challenging experiences a woman can go through. And, with the excitement of preparing for the baby’s arrival, new moms sometimes forget that they’re going to need a little TLC too. While most childbirth instructors give you a list of what to get for the baby, they often overlook a few items that mom might need for herself, says Joyce Mackay-Perry, a registered nurse from Ottawa, Ontario. Here’s her list of what a new mom needs to survive once the baby arrives: To view the full story click here.
How to get more sleep as a mom
Getting some shut-eye isn't easy when you're a mom, but sleep can boost your mood, help you cope–and even make it easier to drop a few of those post-pregnancy pounds. Here's how to get more zzz's.
by: Terry Carson
Sleep for mom
- Not getting enough sleep can affect your ability to cope and have a domino effect on the rest of your family.
- A recent study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found moms who slept fewer than five hours a night when their babies were six months old were more likely to retain pregnancy weight than moms who got more rest.
- The best way to get the sleep you need is to ask for help from friends, family or neighbors.
- Whenever possible, enforce naptime–for your baby, toddler and for you.
- If your kids aren't sleeping, chances are you aren't either. Invest in a good book on sleep solutions to get everyone on schedule.
oms with young children are often short on sleep, but have a hard time balancing their needs with keeping track of their kids, house, work and husband. And it's hard enough getting one child on a sleep schedule, but when baby number two (or three, or four) arrives, it can be overwhelming and affect your sleep too. What many women don't realize is that, in order to cope, a mom must take care of her own needs first, then she can better see to everyone else's. To view the full story click here.
