Baby model cuteness!!! Just thought I’d share pictures of some of my favorite baby models! Shirts are for purchase at http://etsy.com/shop/westmama
Born at Home Bodysuit- $15
Owl Shirt- $15
Bird and Tree (organic)-- $18
Bird and Tree-- $15
Tis the season to give a HOOT! December 16, 2009
More from Westmama’s Etsy Shop
Adorable Owl Shirt and limited edition Owl pants– $15 each or 2 for $25
Tis the Season– look what you can buy! November 30, 2009
I’d like to introduce my blog readers to my new online store: Westmama.
My shop features screen printed infant and toddler clothes, as well as some of my sewing creations (though they are still in the works). I am doing a line of home/water birth onesies. Welcoming a new baby to world is wonderful no matter how or where it happens, but birthing at home or in the water is a unique experience that I celebrate with these onesies. They feature animals that either birth at their home or in the water, a rather obvious statement, but it makes it all the cuter.
I am also working on a line of nursing animal t-shirts. As I breastfeeding activist I hope to promote images of breastfeeding as normal natural thing. I understand that breastfeeding isn’t the choice for everyone but for mamas who make that choice I think they should be able to do so without the judgment and enforced “discretion” that society often places on us. These t-shirts are my subtle way of promoting the normalcy of feeding your baby/toddler.
Prices are reasonable, most shirts/infant bodysuits are $15 or under. I also try to buy organic when possible. In the works are toddler size aprons, girly-girl skirts for babies and whatever else inspires me.
Special promotion, Buy 1 get the 2nd half off– just tell me you saw this blog post in the “comments” section when making the purchase. http://www.etsy.com/shop/westmama
Reviews–Finally– Postpartum Belly Binding November 29, 2009
My sweet baby girl is now 8 weeks old. I am now at a place where I can provide some feedback regarding my postpartum belly binding products.
I purchased two belly binding products and the Hipslimmer
The first product I tried was the Flex-Support Postpartum Binder 8 inch size. I used it for the first time right after my baby was born. I honestly don’t think I could have made it up the stairs of my house without it. My first complaint at that time was that I didn’t order the right size, 8 inches barely covered my belly. Also because of this when wearing it under clothing my stomach looked really bad, pooching out on top or on bottom. However, I really needed the support and it provided that. As my tummy got smaller the 8 inch size seemed fine, but I did notice it would roll and slide up. I started wearing it primarily in bed because I started having back pain when I slept, it really helped with that. I was a bit self-conscious wearing it in public because you see it under your clothes, so I wore/wear it a lot when I go on walks with the baby in the Ergo or ring sling. The website shows a picture of someone’s “actual results”… I honestly find that picture truly hard to believe, though it is what convinced me to get the product. My results were not that. I still look like I’m about 5 months pregnant, however I did birth a 10 lb baby and I understand it may take awhile to get my stomach back to a more reasonable size. Also one more positive for me was that I can easily breast feed while wearing it which was a one of my concerns prior to buying any of the products.
Over all I give this product a B-, I’d recommend to friends but only because I don’t think there is much better on the market. It is way more comfortable than the other product I bought, it accommodates a large array of sizes, and it is priced nicely at $35.
Okay so here is the review most people come looking for. The Belly Bandit. In a word, NO. At least not for me, especially compared to the soft and stretchy feeling of the “Flex Support” discussed above. The Original Belly Bandit was stiff. Maybe it is worth the upgrade to the bamboo one, I just don’t know. Plus I had sizing issues, could have been my error. I measured my waist and bought the bandit size that worked with my waist size. Well it fit around my belly, but if I wanted to wear it lower around my lower abdomen where my pooch is the biggest right now it barely reaches and because the band is really inflexible I could not get it comfortable. For that reason I only wore it a few times (even when my belly got smaller and the fit was better) and could only wear it standing up. I cannot comment on the other complaints people have about it (that it rolls and that you have to buy multiple sizes). I could see that there is a very small amount of velcro for adjustment and postpartum belly’s change so much that I could see it barely fitting one week and too big the next week.
My overall review is a C-, because I do take ownership for the fact that the fit issues could have been user error vs. the products fault, however I wasn’t impressed enough with the other downfalls that I didn’t send it back for a bigger size (and after about two weeks I would have needed the smaller size again).
Awww the Hipslimmer. I had so much promise for this one. I can’t tell how badly I wanted the product to be completely awesome. To be honest I can see how this can work. The claims the website makes seem totally legit. The problem it is so uncomfortable to wear. I could not sit down with it on, let alone sleep in it, especially when I am getting up frequently to nurse a baby. I loved cinching it up around my hips, it was so empowering to be able to tie it tighter and tighter each time I used it, but unless I wore it while cooking it couldn’t really wear it. Where it lays on the upper thighs make it hard to bend over and when you sit down with it on it digs into your legs. And there was no way I would wear it in public, not even to walk the dog. It is much bulkier than the picture makes it look.
My overall review of this is a D. It has so much potential but not in least user friendly. Hipslimmer you break my heart.
***For a good overview of why these products may or may not work for you check out Alpha Mom… she brings up issues and points that I hadn’t thought of.
C is for Cookie November 10, 2009
West made cookies with mama and Grandma. The whole process went really well, I half expected him to either flip out and not want to do it, or to get his germie hands all over the flour, sugar and dough… neither of those happened. He enjoyed the process and is quite a good cookie decorator.
Here are the highlights of cookie-fest 2009:
Beauty!! October 19, 2009
Mabel Kelly was born on October 2, 2009
8:02 pm
2o in long, 10lbs,
Born at home in a wonderful waterbirth.
The Birth of Mabel Kelly Mathews:
Mid-morning on Oct 2nd I called my midwives to ask about labor inducing herbs they have. I was huge and very tired of being pregnant. One of my midwives reassured me that this was indeed coming “soon” and that she thought we should hold off on the “big guns” until the following week. She advised me to get some acupuncture and maybe go on a date with John.
My friend Tele agreed to watch West while I got acupunture that afternoon and my friend Amy agreed to come over in the evening for a couple hours to hang with West while John and grabbed a bite to eat. It was wonderful of both my friends to help us like that.
I was having very irregular, very mild contractions on and off that day and was hoping acupuncture would kick things into gear. Alas after my session they stopped. I was very upset and thought that acupuncture was actually stalling my progress. I vowed to never to acupuncture again. However by the time John came home from work (around 4 pm) I started having some again. They were very mild but more regular and around 5 mins apart. 15-20 later Amy showed up to watch West. I told her that maybe we’d be having the baby tonight, but it wouldn’t be for a while and that we still were going to eat.
On our way to the restaurant I called the midwives to tell them that tonight was probably the night, but that we wouldn’t need them for awhile. However after I got off the phone I was noticing that the contractions were closer together and although they weren’t painful I did have to focus during them. I decided it wouldn’t be a fun dinner and I wanted to go home and listen to my Hypnobabies. I just wanted to be in a good place so when labor really did kick in I’d be ready. On the drive home I did get overwhelmed with emotion and started crying. I was so happy that this long journey was going to end. I called the midwives back and told them that maybe they should come over sooner. Heather told me she was on her way.
So we get home around 5:30 and I just zone out in the basement listening to my Hypnobabies “Easy First Stage of Labor” tract. We asked Amy to stay until West went to bed and she very nicely agreed. Around 6pm Heather comes in and just sets stuff up while I lay in bed listening to my relaxation tracts. After about a half an hour I ask when I can get in the birth tub, she tells me I can now. Sweet. I wasn’t in any pain or discomfort, but the contractions were getting stronger. However as soon as I got in the water I thought I ruined things. It felt sooooo good and so much more relaxing. I thought for sure I got in to soon and my contractions were much more comfortable. The other midwives show up by this point.
Around 7pm I started moaning through the contractions, there was so much power surging through me I just had to moan. I also started feeling emotional again at the peak of each contraction. After a few of them I finally let go and just sobbed. It felt so good to release that energy. John tells me he’s going to put West down for bed around 7:40 and since it seemed like we still had a ways to go it seemed like a good time for him to go. He gets back at 7:50 (with Amy upstairs with West, John didn’t need to make sure West was asleep yet). When John got back I had a HUGE INTENSE contraction, the midwives told me that the amniotic sac was “right there” (an inch or two from my opening). Then next GIANT contraction my water broke. The next MONSTER of a contraction her head came out. I was beyond shocked. I had no idea that I was about to push her head out. I just couldn’t believe were there yet. Both John and I were like “what just happened. You have to be kidding me”. The next BIG WAVE came and her body came out. I just kept saying “what just happened?” over and over again. I just couldn’t believe it was over. How could I have just done that?
After I birthed the placenta there was much discussion on her size. The midwives thought she was 9lbs or more… but she looked so little to me. They got one scale out and it said 10lbs 5 oz. I didn’t believe it. Luckily they also had their digital scale to so they weighed her there. 10lbs even. I was again floored. How could I deliver a 10 lb baby with 2 pushes. Impossible.
Thus far– the only one using our birthing tub September 28, 2009
We covered our birth tub with a blanket so the cats wouldn’t scratch up the lining. Apparently that didn’t work. But at least the blanket helps to somewhat protect it. But it also makes a desirable kitty bed.
At least some on is getting use out of the tub!
36 week appointment September 2, 2009
I am 36 weeks 5 days pregnant… all is well in baby land. I have my midwife home visit on Monday. For me it was a milestone in my pregnancy because it means I made it to the golden week to have a home birth. We also got our birth tub, which is fun. It is a big horse troff looking thing. We it is lined with egg carton foam and pillows. When West saw it he thought it looked like a big crib and wanted to take a nap in it.
Also at that visit the midwives and I discussed some issues I had with my birth with West. Mostly about my cervix prolapsing and whether or not it did or didn’t tear and whether or not I had scar tissue (I am using different midwives this time). One of them asked to see my cervix, to assess the scar tissue and then to decide whether or not I should Evening Primrose Oil to help ripen it. We got a nice shock. I was already 4-5 cm dilated (“very stretchy”), 80% effaced and the babies head was in station 0. This was all very exciting news. I had some contractions late last week and over the weekend. Some of them felt VERY real… but they didn’t lead to anything. Now I know they were in fact prepping my body.
All that is fine news, except I’m a little early. Not too early. A 36 week baby can be born at home and can totally healthy. And quite often women can stay at that dilation for weeks. So it makes it a bit un-nerving on when things will start. I had a false alarm yesterday, really thinking we’d have a baby by this morning, but everything slowed down by bed time and then stopped completely for most of the morning. Just sporadic activity here and there. I just wish that everything would stay calm and I’d have no contractions until it’s time for the big event, or just have the baby and get it over with. But this false labor stuff is hard. Emotionally and physically. And I’ve told that most likely thing will happen really fast once they do start, so when I get the steady regular contractions I worry that if I don’t call my midwives soon enough that they will miss the birth and that John won’t make and that West and I will be here alone together. I know it won’t be THAT fast, but still it is my fear and I’m just putting it out there so I can then let it go.
Plus for false contraction they really make my body work. I get a slight fever, just about a degree higher, I start to feel a bit nauseous and get sort of shaky. Often just needing to lay down. And once they stop I feel totally normal. Like nothing ever happened. Oy!
In other news we have our baby shower this Sunday. It will be nice to hang out with friends. And I’m looking forward to the 3 day weekend. More John time!!
West has moved into a new house! August 20, 2009
John built West a new home, it was time for West to branch out on his own, have his own pad to entertain the ladies.
The house has since moved into our basement and is mostly used as a potty place.
Preschool Pics!! August 14, 2009
We had a big week this week. West started nursery school this week. He is only going two days a week. We were going to start him once his sister arrived, partly so I could have a little time with the baby and more postpartum recovery time, and partly because he is at the age where he really wants to play with other kids and we just don’t it as often as I’d like. We decided to send him pre-baby so he could have a longer adjustment time and so I could get some much needed rest during my last few weeks of this pregnancy.
I think this week was harder on me. First of all it was hard for me not be with him all day. And I was sick this week but had so many errands to run (errands that are much easier without a toddler) so I didn’t really get a chanch to relax and recover. Next week I have more errands I want to run without him, but hopefully I can manage to rest too. It did make my week fly by though, which is good because weekends mean more time with John and that is always good.
I am in my 34th week of pregnancy, aside from having a flu-like illness this week things are going well. Baby is doing great!
