One of the more (most) stressful experiences a new mom or parent can go through is flying on a plane for the first time with their baby. Traveling with child can be extremely worrisome and chaotic – there’s so much to think about and prepare for. And, until you actually experience it, there’s no real way to describe what you’ll go through until you do because just about every experience is unique. I know, because I have had two extremely different experiences while Orion was 10 months old and while he was 15 months old. And, speaking with my mom buddies, I’ve heard great experiences and horrific ones. One thing you should absolutely get comfortable with, don’t shy away from, and just resign yourself to accepting – YOU WILL BE THAT FAMILY. Read more…
The Supreemie Life: My experience with a premature baby
He laid there, in his incubator, calm and so angelic. I was about to go through my own experience with a premature baby, and I had NO CLUE what to expect.
I couldn’t believe he was actually here, breathing the same air. Well in Baby Orion’s case – breathing oxygen through the nasal cannula, tubes that pumped air directly into his nose. Luckily, his lungs held strong and we were able to avoid intubation – it’s a tube that is inserted directly into the baby’s air passage and extends out from the mouth, and attached to a machine that breathed for them. As many premature babies born prior to 36 weeks must face, endotracheal intubation is a procedure to assist with immature lungs. Not for the faint of heart. Many of the babies in the NICU were intubated. Read more…
The Aftermath: Post C-Section Experience
Up until this point, everything was flying at me at 100 m.p.h. One moment I was having a routine pre-natal check up at my doc’s office, and the next, I have beeps and buzzers going off and I’m being wheeled into the operating room for an emergency Cesarian section. I wanted to follow that experience up with my recollections of what happened during the aftermath – my post c-section experience, and things I learned along the way that could be helpful for about-to-be-new moms and the new moms already fighting the good fight with me.
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My life was changed.
Tears welled up in my eyes and they just trickled onto the surgical bed as fast and furious as my hands were shaking. Just earlier that day I was cursing the heavens for the pain I was experiencing and praying that we get through this in one piece.
At 5:01pm I became a mother. My premature baby came out early but he did great in the first 5 minutes after delivery despite the umbilical cord being wrapped around his neck and being turned sunny side up (his face was upward towards the sky). They were the two reasons why his heart rate dipped during labor and the main reason I had to have an emergency C-section, also my doc found out my cervix was weak. Another discussion for another blog. Baby Orion did well with his Apgar Score (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration) with flying colors. The Apgar test is typically administered to a baby twice: once at 1 minute after birth, and again at 5 minutes after birth. Here is more info on how the Apgar score is calculated.
A true blessing, I look to sky in reverence for EVERY. single. DAY.
Baby Orion in the incubator
Orion Hayze was immediately placed in the incubator. Read more…
An Emergency C-section and Our First Kiss
My epidural was intact, all the monitors and needles and meds were placed. I was ready for surgery.
My Mom was driven there by my younger cousin. Also, a family friend who worked at Cedars-Sinai was around to keep Mom company. My best friends were each caught unaware – one stuck at the office with deadlines, and the other on her honeymoon. My brother, his wife (Kathy B.) and their son were vacationing in Hawaii. Luckily, my husband was there with the support of my good friend, and brother from another mother (BAM). While BAM prepped hubs on how to use his SLR camera… Outta nowhere my vitals became unstable and things suddenly fell under ’emergency stat’. Read more…
Introducing Eva F. – Delivery Day and a Premature Baby Orion
Side note:
FIRST amateur pre-parent fail. We were in such a rush to get to the doctor and to the emergency room, we forgot to eat. We were starved, excited, exhausted and so scared! I got wheeled up to the labor and delivery suite at Cedars-Sinai (BEAUTIFUL room with a view) and was immediately asked to change into a gown.
SECOND amateur pre-parent/delivery fail. LADIES – get a wax or clean up down there before going in. My nurse literally went down there with a razor. Um, OUCH.
They had to rush to check the status of the baby. All seemed well. Soon after my perinatologist and OB came to make sure he was comfy and safe in my tummy. We were immediately informed of the necessary steps to ensure Baby Orion’s delivery. Dr. B (the perinatologist) seemed extremely confident and suggested the little guy could take a few courses- 1) he could remain comfy inside and I would remain pregnant for ideally another week, 2) which was more likely to occur – he would come out prematurely.
The next 24 hours were life changing. Read more…
Introducing Eva F. and her mommy story
Eva F.’s Mommy Story
I look back, 15 months ago, and can actually exhale now.
I must boast though – my pregnancy was smooth, barf free, and extremely liberating. I never experienced morning sickness, though I do recall one bout of a dry heave-induced fit from inhaling musky body odor at a small hip hop dive bar when I was 8 weeks pregnant.
Eva F. at 16 weeks with Baby Orion.
It was smooth sailing from there. I was no longer obsessed with activating my core, sucking in my tummy or fitting into skinny jeans. I didn’t have to test out any new fad diets or worry about cheat days and maintaining a hot figure. I was pregnant and I owned it. I embraced the changes that were occurring inside and with my ever-changing body. Baby Moon – the name everyone came up with based on the hub’s nickname, began to show fairly early at 16 weeks. I remember taking this picture after a glutenous Joe Shanghai’s meal in NYC during our early “babymoon”. Read more…
California Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
One of the products I really love for my children is California Baby’s Shampoo and Body Wash. I was introduced to the California Baby company from one of the many mommy community sites I read, and wanted to give it a try. Honestly, I first tried it because I really liked the smell. Its scent is light and citrusy, and the soap itself is mild so it shouldn’t irritate your little one’s skin, which means it’s safe for everyday use. The California Baby Shampoo and Body Wash (along with a number of California Baby products) uses calendula as one of its main ingredients. It’s been used for centuries as a calming, therapeutic salve. And, if it really does help calm our kids then more power to it, because I know we need all the help we can get!
We’ve been using it for our two kids, and bathe them with it every day. We’re big fans of all California Baby products, including the lotions and baby cremes. If you want to give it a shot, you can find them at your local market or pharmacy. In Los Angeles, I can usually find it at Target, otherwise check around your favorite local store. If you’re an Amazon Mom shoper, you can pick up California Baby Shampoo and Body Wash online directly here.
A serious conversation between daddy and son…
“Daddy, I have work to do today.”
Oh, you do? What work do you have for today?
“I have pictures to draw. I have to draw trains. Is it Friday yet?”
Plagiocephaly: Looking good, feeling good!
Well, we did it! Four and a half months of helmet-wearing, and Baby Jack is finally cleared to ditch the head piece. Just in time too – for his 1-year birthday. On our final check-up, the technician gave a pretty thorough review of where we started and how we did at the finish line. As they told us at the start, it won’t be perfect, but it’ll be significantly better than before. And, just like they mentioned, Baby Jack didn’t have a perfectly round head. Not to worry because it’s pretty close. I would call it a very mild asymmetry of the back of the head where the left side is slightly rounder than the right. But, all in all – we’re absolutely pleased with the results.
I said all along, this was strictly a cosmetic therapy. Rather, his flat head wasn’t going to affect is development, physically or mentally. And, if it wasn’t for our insurance coverage paying for 80% of the total bill, I don’t think my husband and I would have done it. Now that we have, we’re truly happy we decided to go for it. Read more…
Plagiocephaly: We see the finish line!
It’s been a little while since my last update. Things have gotten more than hectic with juggling the holidays, work, life and an almost 1 year old baby. But, nonetheless, I have great news on Baby Jack’s plagiocephaly treatment. He’s two weeks away from completing his plan!
We visited his technician last Friday, and she mentioned how much progress we have seen over the last 14 weeks. Where his head was once angular and asymmetric has now filled out nicely, and rounded into proper shape. The back of his head has nice curve from top to bottom and from his left ear to his right ear. In other words, Read more…