postpartum Archives - Our Tiny Nest

0 In Baby/ Motherhood

Products for new mom and baby – a Babbleboxx review

Products for new mom and baby - babbleboxx review

This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own

Welcoming a new baby is an exciting time! One of things I looked forward to each time was trying out new products and gadgets for mom and baby. Babbleboxx recently sent me their new mom and baby favorites and I had the opportunity to test out some cool goodies. Read on below to see all of the products and read my review.

Baby Magic Bath and Body Products for Baby

Baby Magic’s Calming Baby Bath, Calming Baby Lotion and Gentle Baby Lotion keep your baby’s skin hydrated and soft. Baby Magic has been a trusted skincare company for little ones for several decades. All of their products are hypoallergenic and free of sulfates, dyes, parabens, and phthalates so you can feel safe using them on your babies. And they smell really good too!

Starting in September, Baby Magic will be donating a portion of proceeds to Baby2Baby. Baby2Baby is an organization that provides children living in poverty with all of their basic necessities, something every child deserves.

To purchase, click the links below.

Calming Bath

Calming Lotion

Gentle Baby Lotion

Disney Lullaby Playlist

One of the greatest gifts you can get as a mama, whether you’re a new mom or a veteran is the gift of sleep. Disney Lullaby is a playlist featuring calming renditions of all of your favorite Disney tunes to help soothe your baby to sleep. Music has been a huge help as far as getting our little guy into a sleep routine. (Read more about my sleep tips here). Download Disney Lullaby on whatever streaming service you use to stream your music.

Download the playlist on your preferred streaming service here

Auto-Dish Detergent Pods from Lemi-Shine

With a new baby around, you’re going to have alot more dishes and bottles to wash. Lemi-Shine dishwasher detergent pods combine citric extracts for extra cleaning power that helps remove hard water stains, stubborn grease and food. I love cleaning products that use less chemicals and these detergent pods are a cleaner version. They’re available at most major retailers like Target, Walmart and Amazon.

Get up and Go B12 supplement

Boost your B12 with these great tasting and quick dissolving B12 supplements by Pink Products. Each tab offers a blend of 5,000mcg of Vitamin B12 and L-Carnitine so 1 tab is all you need! Plus they’re free of gluten, dairy, artificial flavors and preservatives.

Visit pinkproducts.com for a $2.50 off coupon and to find a retailer near you! Valid through 12/31/20

My First Horoscope Book

I love all things that tell me more about people’s personality types, horoscopes, enneagrams you name it. This book is so cute! My First Horoscope would make a cute baby shower gift for expecting moms to learn more about their little one’s personality. Mav is a Cancer like me and Maxwell is a Libra like his dad. It’s so crazy the similarities.

Baby Banana

Baby Banana is a company most well known for their baby toothbrushes and teethers. These are a huge hit in our house right now since Mav is teething. All of their products are 100% non toxic and BPA free. We personally love the Mystical Dragon Toothbrush (also comes in a Unicorn) to help introduce little ones to oral hygiene as well as soothe achy gums (works great in the freezer!). The Lil Squish Jellyfish is also a great sensory toy and teether as well!

Use code FALL50 to get 50% off through 9/30/2020

Breastfeeding Consultation from SimpliFed

Lastly, if you plan on breastfeeding or pumping, this is a great resource for you! SimpliFed is a group of highly trained lactation consultants available online for virtual appointments to help you make decisions and guide you on your journey through feeding your baby. I love their mission which is to help moms through the decision making process of infant nutrition – whether that means exclusively breastfeeding, deciding what pump to buy and/or supplementing with formula.

SimpliFed is offering a 10% discount for all of my followers and subscribers ! Once you book an appointment, you will enter OURTINYNEST-SimpliBox110. This code will get you 10% off a 30- or 60- minute lactation consulting appointment.

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August 27, 2020 By Nicolle

1 In csection/ postpartum/ pregnancy

8 tips for preparing for your c-section and recovery

This post is sponsored by Bio-Oil but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

If you know you are going to be having a c-section or in the event that you may need one, there are some things you can do ahead of time to prepare. I just had my second c-section a few months ago and this one was definitely smoother since I knew what to expect. Knowing how to prepare for your C-section and recovery can help make it less scary and help ease your recovery.

Here are 8 tips on how to prepare for your C-section and recovery.

1.) Have a discussion ahead of time with your OBGYN.

Have them explain the procedure in detail from start to finish. Being familiar with what is going to happen ahead of time can help alleviate any anxiety or fears you may have.

2.) Make your wishes known.

Even when a csection is necessary, it doesn’t have to take away from your birth experience. If there are special things that you want, talk about it with your provider. Many hospitals now have clear drapes or a drape with a window so that you can see when baby is born if you wish. Ask if someone in the operating room can take photos for you so that you can capture those moments. And if skin to skin is important to you, ask if you can do skin to skin in the OR as long as baby is healthy. You can still make the experience as special and memorable as possible.

3.) Be realistic about pain management

A c-section is major surgery. I will say it again. A c-section is major surgery. The idea that you will be pain free is unrealistic. Depending on the type of anesthesia you receive, usually your pain will be really well controlled for the first 18 or so hours, maybe more. I remember my first day post-op, I had no pain, I felt like a million bucks. I got up, took a shower, walked some laps around the unit. My nurse had offered me some pain medication throughout the day and I declined since I felt great. Later that night, once all of the visitors left and the adrenaline wore off, I was hurting. Don’t wait to take pain medication until your pain is unbearable because then it can be hard to keep up.

It’s normal to feel some burning or a pulling sensation around your incision as well as cramping. This is especially true if you are breastfeeding or pumping. That cramping or “afterpains” as they are called, are due to your uterus shrinking back down to its normal size. If the cramping becomes unmanageable, try a warm pack or some over the counter pain medication.

4.) Bring comfortable clothes to wear postpartum.

I lived in these dresses throughout my recovery and still when I am just around the house . Not only were they loose and looked cute, but they were also great for nursing. You don’t want anything that is going to be binding around your abdomen. Check out my checklist of what to pack in your hospital bag here.

5.) Get moving

It’s important to get up and moving soon after surgery. I remember that first time I get out of bed I felt like all of my organs were going to fall out of me and I was slow, but each time got easier. Light walking and moving around not only helps with healing, but also to get your bowels moving again after surgery and to help prevent blood clots. But with that being said, you just had major surgery. Listen to your body. If you get tired, rest. And use your bleeding as your guide. Sometimes when you get home and you start doing more you may notice that your bleeding picks up. This is your body’s way of telling you to take it easy.

6.) Prepare your home

You may need to make some minor adjustments to your routine when you get back home. First, you will need to limit your use of stairs. I mostly hung out on our first floor in the living room. In there, I created a little changing station with diapers, wipes, and extra clothes for baby in the pack and play.

I also found it difficult to sleep in bed for the first week or so since lying flat really pulled on my incision. Sleeping in a recliner was the only way I could get comfortable. And once I was back in bed, having a co-sleeper that you can pull right up beside you is great that way you can easily tend to baby.

7.) Nourish your body

It’s important to eat a healthy diet. Foods rich in protein, Vitamin A and C are known to help with wound healing and repair. Also increase your dietary intake of fruits, vegetables and fiber. This will help keep your bowels regular. Be sure to drink plenty of water, even more so if you’re nursing.

8.) Accelerate healing

It takes time for your incision to heal. Keeping it clean and dry will help prevent any infection. Once your incision has healed completely, Bio-Oil can also be helpful in reducing the appearance of your scar as well as any stretch marks from the pregnancy. (You can read more about Bio-Oil in a post I previously published here.) I used Bio-Oil throughout my pregnancy to help keep the skin on my growing belly hydrated and to help reduce the appearance of any stretch marks. I have continued to use it twice daily and while it has not taken away my stretch marks, they are definitely less noticeable.

For more posts related to pregnancy and postpartum check out

What to eat to increase your milk supply

What to pack in your hospital bag

My experience with postpartum depression and anxiety

Must haves for your second baby

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September 28, 2019 By Nicolle

5 In breastfeeding/ Motherhood/ postpartum/ Recipes

What to eat to increase your milk supply

This post contains affiliate links meaning I make a small commission.

If you are breastfeeding or pumping, you might be searching for ways to increase your milk supply. I have always struggled with supply issues and it’s something that every nursing mama has experienced at one time or another in their journey. One thing that I learned is that diet plays a huge role in milk production.

I’m sharing what to eat to increase your milk supply plus my favorite recipe for lactation boosting overnight oats.

Galactagogues

If you have been doing research on ways to increase your milk supply, you may have seen the word “Galactagogue”. What is a galactagogue? A galactagogue or latogenic food is any food that can help increase lactation. You may have heard your friends say that eating a lactation cookie or drinking a beer has helped increase in their milk supply. This is because there are certain foods that contain milk boosting ingredients.

Here is a list of some of the more popular galactagogues:

What to eat to increase your supply

Eating a balanced diet is important not only for enhancing your supply, but also for making sure that your baby is getting all those vital nutrients as well. In the beginning of my breastfeeding journey, I was eating healthy, but I found that I was not eating enough to maintain a supply. Once I started adding in more nutrient dense foods and incorporating a galactagogue at each meal, I noticed a boost in my supply.

(It’s important to note that this does not replace the importance of frequent feedings or pumping. Remember when breastfeeding, demand = supply!)

1.) Breakfast

Overnight Oats – I’ve seen those mason jar recipes floating around pinterest but never ventured to make them until I was breastfeeding. Not only is this recipe filled with milk-making goodness, but it’s also super easy to make the night before and keeps me feeling satisfied.

Here’s my easy recipe:

Overnight Oats

Ingredients:

-1 cup of rolled oats

– 3/4 cup of almond milk (I like my oats a little thicker, but if you like yours to be a little thinner, add more)

– 1 banana

– 1 tbsp peanut butter

– 1 tbsp of ground flax seed

– honey

Directions:

1.) In a mason jar add your oats, almond milk, banana and peanut butter. Mix well.

2.) Store in fridge until the next morning.