Whatchemebob Wednesday–Saving Whatchemebobs

There are certain things most people want new for their babies… you know, new diapers, stuff like that. Maybe a changing pad. But there are lots of things you can get used. After my shower, I took matters into my own hands and went on Craigslist. I have gotten to date: a Bjorn, an organic sling in my size (had no ideas those came in “mom” sizes… a little confusing… thought it was baby sizes), a pack n’ play new in the box, and a Graco snap in stroller base for the car seat. All these items have come to me at half price or less (except the pack n’ play, which was still less than $100 when most retail for $150). So today I’m suggesting both buying and selling gently used whatchemebobs on Craigslist. I would stay away from car seats, as you just never know… but otherwise let’s go re-use crazy.

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The Yoga Method

So, I know lots of people who swear by the uber-pricey Bradley Method, or they think it’s 1970 and are taking Lamaze, but none of that stuff appeals to me. Financially, or otherwise. I suppose I feel that women have been giving birth (successfully or not) for hundreds (thousands?) of years, and they didn’t have Bradley to massage them through it.

But here’s what I do think is worthwhile: yoga! I love yoga anyhow, both for the famed yoga butt as well as for calming myself down so I don’t go ballistic on any of my students. But, they have some really good ideas about birthing, too.

At the Yoga Tree in San Francisco, they teach a workshop called Prenatal Partners, which “prepares the mind, body and spirit for the many transitions of pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood.” They also advertize that you will learn “breath awareness, partner poses and massage, which can help strengthen and relax your body and sooth your mind during the birth process.” That’s more my style. Click on the photo above for all their prenatal classes.

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Ode to My Neti Pot

Neti pot, you keep me free of snot.

Neti pot, I love you a lot.

Well, that’s all I’ve got so far. But, I will add that for pregnant women who are leaking out of all orifices (it’s truly disgusting… and why? What is all this fluid for?) the Netti Pot is an essenital item. In seven-plus months of pregnancy, I have not yet gotten a cold, sinus infection, or even the sniffles. I give the credit to my Neti Pot. I am actually healthier this year than I have been for a long time. Probably because of my Himalayan Institute Original Neti Pot. As I said, it keeps me free of snot. Can be bought. On Amazon.

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Trick or Workout

I have figured out how to make myself workout even when I really don’t feel like it. I just have to tell myself that I get to go to Starbucks on the way. At the Starbucks, I tell myself, I’ll get a hot chocolate. I can take the hot chocolate on a walk. Half the time I forget to go to Starbucks at all until the walk is almost over, and I figure, eh, I have hot choco at home. A Very Good Trick.

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My Ego and Me

I have spent my whole life being very active. Before going to college, I danced with a ballet company. In college, I danced and began running. Now, I have completed five half-marathons, two triathlons and many other shorter races and rides. I have tried to keep up with some of this exercise… but when I get home from work, all I want to do is take a nap.

I realize that my body is busy making a baby and all, and I let myself rest when my body needs to. But, it’s really hard to explain the whole thing to my ego. My ego keeps telling me I’m using this pregnancy thing as an excuse to get fat and lazy. And man, is that ego hard to ignore!

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Whatchemebob Wednesday–Rockers/Swings

Baby Brentwood from Fisher Price

After an exhaustive search of these rather pricey items, I found a few that were highly rated and not hideous in person. There are two issues: one is space. The other is function.

Cradle Swing from Fisher Price

If you have plenty of space, the best automatic swing/rocker is the Fisher Price Papasan Cradle Swing. But man, this thing is really big. Some other complaints about it have been that it swings a little too aggressively, and that the batteries run out quickly. There are models that can plug-in (but not all of them do). And, several mothers swear their children would only sleep in one of these for the first few months, or more. The words “life” and “saver” have been mentioned in conjunction with this swing.

If you have no space, but still want a rocker that makes some noises, the Fisher Price Baby Brentwood (at top) is not only a space saver, but it is also quit stylish. And, it has a vibrator. Hey-hey. You do have to rock it yourself, but you can do it with one foot. Did I mention the vibrator?

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Elective Cesarian

The elective c-section our first lady of San Francisco has just had made me think…

Here are some reported awful things that occur due to vaginal birth:

tearing and stitching up

not being able to hold your pee (for like, years after or forever)

having a huge stretched out va-jay-jay (no one talks about this. No one.)

less sensation during sex

less enjoyment during sex

feeling (as one friend said) like there’s been a blender “up there”

infection

And we wonder why women want to have elective c-sections?

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Register This

Wry Baby Clothes Pile

The whole point of these registry things is so that people buy you baby stuff you need and want, right? So how come people ignore them? My mother’s friends have given me a ton of cute clothing… great! (I already had about five boxes of hand-me-downs, but it’s really nice to have new things). But… barely anyone looked at the registry, or brought something helpful like, I don’t know–diapers?! Is it the older generation, or do people just not like to be told what to buy?

Maybe a bit of both…

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Nursery Decor-Odds and Ends

There are tons of little items you can get for your nursery, and a few are even functional. These below are cute and do a job well. I hope we can say the same of our husbands.

Knob Notes from Etsy Seller Lil B Design can be used to leave messages for the babysitter or your husband. They go over the doorknob or on a hook on the back of a door (self-reminders are good, too!)

Chalkboards can also accomplish a lot in a baby’s room, and someday he or she can use them for constructive (read: not on your walls) creativity. You can find these in lots of places, but some of the most interesting ones are on Etsy, like the ones bellow from seller Flat Bird and Reclaim Frame.

Bookends are another fun item that are also functional… bookends can be paper weights as well. You know, in case you had forgotten that. These are from Pillow Happy, Dede Etsy Shop and The Wood Worx.

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A New Kind of Cramps

For nine (ten) months, pregnant women don’t have to worry about menstrual cramps. Instead, we get leg cramps. I had read about this and thought, “man, I’m a runner. I can handle leg cramps. How bad could it be?”

Bad. Really bad. Wake up screaming in the middle of the night sure someone is amputating your leg without anesthesia bad.

And, it gets worse as pregnancy progresses. Last night, I woke up with a calf cramp so severe, when I began massaging my calf, it felt like a brick.

I have no solution for this problem, but I’m trying two things. First, increased potassium in the form of bananas. It helps with running cramps. And, rolling on the foam roller. If you don’t have one of these, it’s worth the $25 to get one. Simply flop your legs over it, and shake them back and forth so the roller massages your calves. Roll it back and forth. It’s awkward, but it should feel like its loosening your calves.

And, you know, pray.

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