I recently come across stories where moms in labor refuse to get a C-section during a difficult birth, clinging to the belief that their bodies can do it, when in fact sometimes our bodies just refuse to corporate with our strength and willpower.

I for one, am a huge fan of birth affirmations and I used them extensively during my last pregnancy since I knew that my husband would not be able to make it to our third child’s birth. However, I have to warn about relying too much on birth affirmations to take us through natural birth.

Problems with Birth Affirmations

First, birth affirmations can set mothers up for disappointment and feelings of failure if the birth does not go as planned. Many affirmations focus on having a natural birth without interventions, but in reality, many births require medical intervention for the safety of the mother and baby. When things do not go according to the affirmations, it can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and disappointment.

Second, birth affirmations can also create pressure and unrealistic expectations for mothers. They often promote the idea that a woman should be able to control the outcome of her birth and that if she believes strongly enough, she will have a perfect birth. This can lead to disappointment when the birth process is not easy, pain-free, or straightforward, and can contribute to a sense of failure and self-doubt.

Third, birth affirmations can be exclusionary, as they often focus on a one-size-fits-all approach to birth. They do not take into account the diverse experiences and challenges faced by different women, including those with disabilities, chronic health conditions, or previous traumatic births. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and disconnection from the birth experience.

So, while birth affirmations can have positive effects on a woman’s emotional well-being, they can also cause problems. Expectant mothers should be mindful of the limitations and potential downsides of birth affirmations and not put too much pressure on themselves to have the “perfect” birth. It’s important to remember that every birth experience is unique, and there is no right or wrong way to give birth. Seeking support from a trusted provider, doula, or support group can help women feel more confident and empowered during the birth process.

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Nobody wants to spend three hours at a boring baby shower, and can you blame them?  In this day and age, there is absolutely no excuse for hosting a downright boring baby shower. By now, everyone and their mama know that the secret sauce to a baby shower is fun baby shower games.

I ravaged through the internet to find the 10 best baby shower games known to man. These fun baby shower games are bound to have your guests in stitches and don’t worry they are appropriate enough to not have grandma and great-grand rolling their eyes in the back. So here goes.

1. The Animal Gestation Game

The first baby shower game on my list is the animal gestation game. Unless your guests are scientists and vets this one will be so much fun.

What you will need: 
For this fun baby shower game, you will need pens or pencils for your guests and a printout of animals and average gestation time. You can create the printout yourself or purchase one here for $4.

How to play: Ask your guests to match each animal with a length of gestation. Whoever matches the most correctly wins.

2. The Ugly Baby Name Game

This game is bound to conjure up some laughter. It is a bit like a family feud.

What you need: Printable with ugly baby names and points each name carries and a timer

Before the party: Print out the printables

How to play: Get a list of ugly baby names here and ask the guest to guess some ugly baby names. The ugliest names on the printable carry the most points. Whoever gets the most points win.

3. Bottle Chug Race

A drinking game is always fun to watch and participate in so you can’t go wrong in including this in your baby shower. Of course, you can use any beverage you wish but I’ll be honest, boos is the most popular choice.

What you need: A few baby bottles, preferably newborn baby bottles with really tiny nipple holes.  

Before the party: Fill each bottle with the beverage.

How to play: Each guest takes a bottle and drinks as fast as possible. The one who finishes wins.

4. Price is Right

While baby showers have a lot of guests who are already parents, there are a lot of single folks and folks who don’t have children at baby showers. These guests are bound to trip up in this game, which should make it hilarious.

What you need: you can make up your own list or purchase a price is right printable here on Etsy, pencil or pen.

Before the party: no prep is needed

How to play: Each guest will guess the prices of items as you the MC call out the baby item. You can print enough printables for your guests and have the write down the answers.

5. Baby Who

What better way to enjoy your baby shower than to have your guests be the babies?

What you need: baby photo of your guests

Before the party: Ask your guests to send you their baby photos once they have accepted the invite

How to play: printout the baby photos and pin them on a line or string. Have your guest guess who the baby is

6. Diaper Change Relay Race

The diaper change relay race baby shower game is a personal favorite of mine. This more than all the other games bring out the competitive side in the guests.

What you’ll need:

• A pack of newborn diapers
• A tub of baby wipes
• Baby jumpsuit or onesie
• Plush animals or baby dolls
• Blindfolds (optional)

How to play:

The guests will arrange themselves into teams of the same number for instance teams of six. All teams will stand in a line. The first person in line in each team changes the diaper, wipes the toy’s bottom with a baby wipe, puts another diaper on, and dresses it in a jumpsuit. Then, the next team member does it all over again. When everyone on a team has changed the doll’s diaper once, that team has won.

 7. Balloon Baby Twist

This baby shower game is lively and hilarious and will definitely be a hit at the baby shower.

What you’ll need:

• Big Balloons

How to play:

Guests will be required to blow up at least one balloon and put it under their shirt to form a baby bump. Then the MC should give out instructions to the guests such as do ten jumping jacks or yoga poses. The aim is to do the activities without the balloon falling out.

8. Baby Song Game

The word baby will be on everyone’s lips during the shower. Why not let them think about some songs with the word baby in them?

What you need: Paper and pen for each guest.

Before the party: No prep needed.

How to play: Each guest must write down as many songs they can think of with the word “baby” somewhere in the lyrics. Give the guests a time limit—five minutes max—and whoever has the most (real!) songs written down is the winner.

9. Guest The Lullaby

How well do your guests know lullabies?

What you need:  A paper with a line from 10 lullabies. If you can’t be bothered, you can get Guess the Lullaby printable here for $4.

How to play: From the Guest, the Lullaby printable says the lyric (do not sing it) and have the guests guess the name of the lullaby.

I hope you find a game or two on this list suitable for you. Comment and let me know which one you will try and which one is absolutely a no-no for you.

Until next time, take care Polar Bear, xoxo

Monica

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1. 1 Samuel 1:27:

For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

Isaiah 44:22 

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

2 Timothy 4:18  18

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Habakkuk 3:18-19 

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will  make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Psalm 139:13-18 

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’ I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my subsforeveret being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sfulfillhen I awake, I am still with thee

Psalm 127:3-4 

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 

Matthew 6:33-34 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Jeremiah 1:5 

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Isaiah 40:29-31

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint

James 1:2-3 

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 7. Exodus 23:26  There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfill.

Philippians 4:6-7 

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

James 1:17 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning

Jeremiah 29:11

 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Romans 5:3-6

 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly

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What are Birth Affirmations?

Affirmations in general short phrases that are repeated in hopes of improving one’s mindset. The rationale behind affirmations is that by improving one’s mindset, one can improve her outcome. Birth affirmations are short phrases repeated by women in the hope that by repeating the positive statement, it will soothe the anxieties and fears associated with labor and delivery with the hope of achieving an easier birth. Some people repeat affirmations out loud, in their heads and some simply write them down. You can use birth affirmations daily before giving birth or just before or during labor. I recommend repeating them daily so that during birth you can recite them in your mind.

Do Birth Affirmations Work?

Many women all over the world use birth affirmations, but the question is do birth affirmations actually work, or are they just a bunch of mumbo jumbos? Dos repeating something simply makes it true. Well according to science that may very well be the case. An entire theory was developed around affirmation called self-affirmation theory.

According to the self-affirmation theory, we begin to believe something to be true through regular repetition as the brain is programmed through a process called neuroplasticity. Fancy term, but it is essentially our mind’s ability to change or adapt, so the more we affirm the new concept or thought, the stronger the neural pathway becomes that leads to it.

How to Make your birth Affirmation work for you   

Ok now that we have established that birth affirmations are not just a bunch of mumbo jumbos, I will tell you how to make them work for you.

Step 1: You can save our Pinterest list of affirmations or simply download the printable here if you only want a few of the affirmations on the list.

Step 2: Speak the affirmation out loud, do this for at least five minutes 2 times per day in the morning and before going to bed.

Step 3: Write down your birth several times in a notebook. I suggest writing and not typing because there is something about writing that is just more personal than actually typing.

Step 4:  Allow your mind and body to believe what you are saying by placing your hand on your bump

Step 5: As you reprogram your mind to the positive belief, take deep breaths in and out while you are saying and writing your birth affirmations.

The Benefits of Birth Affirmations

It is important to note that affirmations will not work for everyone. In fact, studies have shown that people for instance with low self-esteem are bound to feel worse after repeating affirmations than people with high self-esteem.  But the truth is there is little to no harm that enforcing a positive mindset can do to you and your baby. Birth affirmations are a powerful tool to help you change your mood, and state of mind, and manifest the type of birth experience that you are seeking. Birth affirmations and a strong, positive mind, can help you actually have a less painful birth! There is no disadvantage to trying birth affirmations, so why now?

20 Birth Affirmations

I have compiled a list of 20 birth affirmations to get you through labor and delivery. Hopefully these affirmations will change your mindset.

1. Trust the process
2. I am in control of my body
3.  Fear will not control my birth
4. My body is doing its job
5. Relax, open, and breathe
6. It’s not pain, it’s power
7. My only job is to breathe and allow my baby to be born
8. She believed she could, so she did
9. I trust my body and what it can do
10.  Every contraction is bringing me closer to my baby
11. We are the only species of mammals that can doubt its capacity to give birth
12.  Anxiety will leave my body and mind
13. I am ready for childbirth however it is
14.  I will meet my baby soon
15.  Birth is a miracle and I am part of it
16. The joy is coming
17. Each contraction last only one minute
18. Breathe baby down
19. Birth is a beautiful thing

The post 20 Positive Birth Affirmations to Help You Stay Calm and Confident appeared first on GingerbreadMom.

The secret to a happy postpartum time with your bundle of joy is being prepared and having all the equipment that will make your life as a new mom much easier. There are so many items out there and from my experience, some of them are pure gimmicks and a complete waste of money; others, however, are complete lifesavers, these lifesavers I call the top baby products.

Of course, I won’t bore you with the absolute essentials that you will need for your baby such as a car seat, baby diapers, baby wipes, and baby clothes, I assume you know that you will need these. I will highlight the less obvious top baby products and the best brands within that class to make your life much easier.

When to start shopping for top Baby products

With inflation running like mad, the best time to get your top baby products is as soon as possible is my answer. By week 33, you want to ensure that you have everything that you need. This is because at week 33 baby can come any day now, and even with 2 days shipping on amazon being a thing now if you chose to shop elsewhere, your product may take some time to arrive. So it’s best to complete your shopping list by week 33.

Feeding

When it comes to top baby products, feeding equipment should be at the top of your list. If you plan to breastfeed kudos to you! Its usually advise that moms try to best feed their newborns because of the benefits that come with breastfeeding. If you plan to breastfeed what you will notice during breastfeeding is that the opposite breast will leak while the baby is breastfeeding on one breast. This is stimulated by a baby’s suckle. The breast leaking though can be very annoying and will definitely leave you feeling sticky unless you are wearing a breast pad. But all that precious golden juice is wasted when you use a breast pad.

The best solution in my opinion is to save that milk! Yes, save it! That way breast milk can be available so daddy or anyone else who is helping to take care of the baby can feed her breastmilk. A win-win! So here are the top baby products that can help you to store leaking breastmilk.

The Hakaa

You can save your breast milk by using a manual breast pump, particularly one like  The Hakaa breast pump. You can attach the silicone to the opposite breast while you are breastfeeding to catch the extra milk! Also because it is a manual breast pump you can use it even when you are no breastfeeding to pump breast milk from your breast.

The Hakaa

Mommyz love 2 in 1 Boob Shell

These are just great, how I wished I has them after my first pregnancy. These cups serve the same purpose as the Hakaa, the only difference is that it does not function as a breast pump, but the upside is that you can insert the shell inside your bra either during breastfeeding or even when you are nor breast feeding because trust me the breast leaks even when you are not breastfeeding and using breast pads can be icky and sticky and a waste of breastmilk. The shells are made of silicone which makes them soft and comfortable, they are also very discreet and can be sterilized with baby bottles and other baby feeding equipment.

Mommyz love 2 in 1 Boob Shell

Breast Pump

With most mons working these days, we cannot talk about top baby products without mentioning breast pumps. Swollen and full breasts are no fun! If you are a working mom or a mom student, you may be away from your baby for extended periods. And what happens when you are away? Your breast gets full and painful.  Even moms who stay at home with their newborns experience breast pain due to full breasts. The answer to this is pumping, assuming of course that baby’s tummy is full.

When it comes to pumping, there are many ways to do this. You can do this by literally squeezing your breast and allowing the milk to squirt out in a clean container. But this is a lot of work and can be tremendously messy. That’s why we have breast pumps now. You can literally sit in your sofa watch tv or read your favorite book while a breast pump suction the milk from your breast.

Manual or Handsfree

Of course, by now you must know that I prefer a hands-free breast pump any day over a manual breast pump. But to be fair you have some really solid manual breast pump out there like the Madela breast pump if you are interested in a manual breast pump. This pump was very solid, I just didn’t appreciate the amount of work that I had to do to get the milk out, but it does get the job done.

Medela breast pump

Bellababy Double Electric Breast Feeding Pumps

I love a hands-free and automatic breast pump and the Bellababy double electric breast-feeding pump was a good choice for me. Its easy to use and can be used plugged on or wireless. It is quiet compared to some other electric breastfeeding pumps such as Medela electric and Spectra pumps. The pump is also portable which is so convenient for moms on the go.

Goldeep Wearable Breast Pump Breastfeeding– 

This is another hands-free automatic pump. The cup is made from silicone which makes it very comfortable to use. It is also very discreet you can literally put it on, turn it on and walk around in your house. It’s perfect for the busy mom and the mom on the go.

Goldeep wearable breast pump

Postpartum  Clothes

Of the many lessons, I have learned from my first pregnancy the one that stands out the most is to never underestimate the importance of comfortable postpartum clothes. Certainly, you don’t want to be choking yourself every time you take out your boobs to breastfeed your baby.  This can be avoided, not that you will literally choke, but you get the gist, by investing in proper post-partum clothes such as nursing tanks, nursing bras, and nursing nightgowns. See below for some of my favorite picks.

Nursing Tanks

A nursing tank as the name suggest is designed to accommodate breast or pump conveniently and discreetly.  If you are one of those mamas who are looking for a comfortable and stylish and practical addition to your maternity wardrobe a few nursing tanks is it. To the average Ann, a nursing tank looks just like any ordinary tank and there is a wide range of styles you can choose from.

My Top Picks for the Best Nursing Tanks

My picks are:  

1. Bearsland Women’s Maternity Nursing Tank Tops Sleeveless Breastfeeding Clothes

These tanks are very comfortable and fairly easy to feed the baby in, ,and even helps hide your postpartum tummy, for those of us who are a bit self-conscious.

2. Women Nursing Tank Tops Built in Bra for Breastfeeding Maternity Camisole Brassieres

These tanks are perfect for wearing around the house. They are very comfortable and stretchy and long enough to provide tummy coverage.  

Baby Carrier

There is no such thing as spoiling a baby. I absolutely love caring my babies around with me tied to my body. I felt like this was so soothing for both me and the baby and it’s also very convenient. When I take her for small walks or solo grocery store runs, I like to use a baby carrier rather than taking a stroller or a car seat to the supermarket.

My biggest concern when buying a baby carrier was safety, of course strapping an infant to your body you want to make sure that she doesn’t fall out. The one baby carrier I have ever used is Ergo. It is very sturdy, very comfortable for baby and very versatile.

Ergo baby carrier

Bassinet

If you are a first-time mom, you are probably tired of people telling you that you will literally have no sleep during the first few months after giving birth especially if you plan on breastfeeding. This is true to some extent, but we are no longer living in the 90s, there are ways that breastfeeding mamas can get their breastfeeding on and still enjoy a couple of hours of good sleep. Having an infant sleeping on the bed is highly discouraged so the next best thing is a bedside bassinet. These can save you a few hours of zees.

My pick for Bassinet is the Mika Micky Baby Bassinet

It is fairly affordable as bassinet prices go and it can be attached or removed from your bed using two fastening straps that come with the product. The sides are also breathable which puts my mind at ease. This bad boy is useful for babies up to 33lbs and because it is so sturdy if you plan to have more babies you can always reuse it.

Mika Micky Baby Bassinet

Diaper Bag

Whether you like it or not, your diaper bag will become your new purse, so depending on your personality you may want something both stylish and practical, don’t worry I got you

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At the time I thought acupuncture was just another unnecessarily painful beauty regimen that had no scientifically proven benefits. Plus, being poked and prodded at 30 plus weeks in my pregnancy was not something I was going to volunteer to do. But since I have given birth, I can’t help but wonder how different my birth would have been had I tried it. This has led me to do some research on acupuncture during pregnancy, how safe is it, what are the benefits of acupuncture during pregnancy and what are the risks involved in acupuncture during pregnancy.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a Chinese traditional medicine that involves thin needles being placed at specific points in the body with the goal of relieving pain, but it is also used to treat other conditions. The whole purpose of inserting the needle in a specific point in the body is to stimulate those points  to balance the yin (cold, slow) and yang (hot, excited) forces in the body and to allow a flow of qi (life force).

Acupuncture is not as rare as people may think, although still a bit exotic, more than three million Americans per year use acupuncture, but this is a small number compared to some European countries like France where one in five French people has tried some form of acupuncture. Likewise in Germany, acupuncture is the most prominent heterodox mode of treatment in the German healthcare system which may be why it was offered to me as an option during my hospital registration.  While it is hard to estimate the number of patients who are resorting to acupuncture, studies have also shown that around a third of all German medical doctors use it in their own practice.

How Does Acupuncture Works

According to an article posted on John Hopkins University, acupuncture points are believed to stimulate the central nervous system. Acupuncture seeks to release the flow of the body’s vital energy or “chi” by stimulating points along 14 energy pathways. According to Chinese medical theory, blockages of qi (translated as “vital life force energy”) and/or blood can occur along these meridians and can disrupt how the body parts and organs communicate with one another.  The acupuncture needles will unblock areas of stagnation and mend these blocked or broken lines of communication. It is believed that acupuncture works by simply reminding the body how to heal itself and bringing the body back into homeostasis. 

Some scientists even believe that the needles cause the body to release endorphins.  Endorphins are natural painkillers that may boost blood flow and change brain activity. The result of this is that acupuncture releases chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These biochemical changes may stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.

However, skeptics believe acupuncture only has a placebo effect meaning that it works only because people believe it will.

Benefits of Acupuncture During Pregnancy

As I have pointed out earlier, acupuncture was referred to me by a doctor. A lot of people believe that acupuncture during  pregnancy is beneficial in so many ways. It is said to be able to ease some pregnancy symptoms such as that terrible heartburn we get during the first and the third trimester, edema or swelling in the limbs, particularly the feet, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, other back pain, headaches and morning sickness.

Acupuncture During Pregnancy and Morning Sickness Morning sickness

Most women struggle with nausea and morning sickness during their pregnancy and since the amount of medication an expectant mom can take during pregnancy is limited, acupuncture is a good alternative. There are various studies on acupuncture and its ability to help with nausea and vomiting, both for pregnant and nonpregnant people. Scientific studies have shown that the P6 acupressure point, is also referred to as the spleen channel. influences the digestive system.

Likewise, a review from 2021, concluded that acupuncture is effective for severe nausea in pregnancy.

Why More Women These Days are Opting for Acupuncture During Pregnancy

Some women seek out acupuncture during pregnancy not because they struggle with any of these symptoms but because they just want a healthy baby, and by increasing their overall health through acupuncture this will help to increase the health of the baby. Some women use acupuncture with the hope that it will to induce labor. This type of birth acupuncture begins at 37 weeks and continues up until birth . The acupuncture helps to soften the cervix to facilitate a smooth birth. Women who wish to have a natural birth may look into this option.

Acupuncture during pregnancy can also reduce nausea and vomiting associated with morning sickness and since the medications that can be taken during pregnancy is very limited, having acupuncture during pregnancy may be a good way to solve some of these unbearable pregnancy symptoms.

The 2013 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) review found that acupuncture was effective for relieving nausea associated with analgesia from c-sections, so it is also beneficial after pregnancy.

Does Acupuncture during pregnancy Hurt?

The reason I avoided acupuncture during pregnancy was that I thought that it would hurt, I mean there is no way needles can penetrate the skin without some sort of pain, right? Well wrong! Acupuncture is  not a painful procedure. The needles are very thin, so insertion usually causes little discomfort.  You may often don’t feel them inserted at all. A typical acupuncture procedure uses 5 to 20 needles. You may feel a mild aching sensation when a needle reaches the correct depth.

Side Effects of Acupuncture During Pregnancy

Acupuncture when done by a trained professional is largely considered to be safe with very few risks. Most risks associated with acupuncture are minor and include soreness, redness, or infection at the insertion sites and injury from needles placed too deeply.

 All in all acupuncture may be something that you would like to try during your pregnancy or after. I can’t say for certain if it works but the reviews for the most part appears to be positive.

If you have tried it let me know where you had it done and whether it worked or you.

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If you’re anything like me, one of your first pregnancy gifts from mother nature is those pregnancy pimples. I get them throughout all three pregnancies and my biggest concern was how do I treat them with products that will not harm my unborn baby. I have done the research and I am more than happy to share them with you.

Pregnancy Pimples Safe Treatments

Because a whole new person is developing inside your womb, most oral medications will be off the table for you. Topical products during this precious time are your friend. Even though topical products are typically safer, there are some ingredients that are just no-goes for pregnant women.

Ingredients to Absolutely Avoid (Unsafe Pregnancy Acne Treatment Ingredient)

Salicylic Acids

Like aspirin salicylic acid can cause birth defects to your unborn child. The risk is reduced if the product contains less than 2% salicylic acid but why take the chance?

Tetracycline

This is an antibiotic that is sometimes prescribed for acne treatment. However, this is very unsafe during pregnancy and should be avoided completely.

Perfumes

Acne treatments containing perfumes should also be avoided because some potent perfumes contain phthalates which can disrupt hormones and thereby resulting in developmental issues for the fetus

Phthalates

This ingredient is found in a lot of beauty products as some form of preservative to increase their shelf lives but they can disrupt hormones and can be harmful to the developing baby

Retin A or Tretinoin

Studies have found that the sister drug of Retin A or Tretinoin called Isotretinoin also called Accutane contains substances that can be harmful to an unborn, it is advisable that pregnant moms avoid acne products containing Retin A or Tretinoin.

Pregnancy Safe Acne Treatment Products

 Thankfully, due to decades of research, we now know what products are safe to use during pregnancy to treat pregnancy pimples. According to The American Academy of Dermatologists (AAD) there are some treatments that are considered safer than other when it comes to treating acne during pregnancy, so it’s always best to consult with your dermatologist and your doctor if you are in doubt.

When it comes to treating acne during pregnancy topical products including those you can buy over the counter are your best bets. Here are some of my favorite products that have helped me in all three of my pregnancies all of which are safe to use during pregnancy.

BELLI MATERNAL ANTI-BLEMISH FACE WASH

Designed specifically for pregnant women, the manufacturers have excluded the harmful chemicals that affect mothers and unborn children. This product is not only safe for pregnant women but it is also safe to use for people with sensitive skin and acne-prone skin. It’s also a plus that it is cruelty-free and plant-based.

BELLI ACNE CONTROL SPOT TREATMENT

Since Belli manufactures skincare specifically with pregnant women in mind, I have to include them on my list twice! The brand Belli is known to be the manufacturer of some of the best acne skin care products for pregnant women. This brand will help you with your pregnancy pimples. Its main ingredients are lemon peel, green tea, olive oil, cucumber, camelia, and lactic acid. There are no artificial dyes in the product and no perfumes. This product has been approved by OBGYNs and dermatologists as safe for pregnant women. It is also not tested on animals and is gluten-free.

NEUTROGENA CLEAR PORE CLEANSER/MASK

Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask is a very affordable pregnancy-safe acne product to use. It does not contain harmful chemicals and it’s great for pregnancy pimples, especially for those who of us (myself included) who have oily skin. You can use it as a cleanser, or you can leave it on longer and use it as a mask. It contains benzoyl peroxide at 3.5% which is very effective for fighting acne and less irritating than some of its counterparts.

LA ROUCH-PROSAY EFFCLAR DUO

This product is good for pregnancy pimples. It contains 5.5% benzoyl peroxide; it also contains a more gentle form of beta hydroxy acid. While this is perfectly safe, it is recommended for spot treatment because it can cause some irritation.

TULA PURIFYING FACE CLEANSER WITH PROBIOTIC TECHNOLOGY

This facial cleanser is safe for pregnant women struggling with pregnancy pimples. It is on the more expensive side but it is worth it, if you can afford it. It is gentle on the skin but goes deep into the pores to get rid of all the dirt that contributes to pimples and acne.

Of course, there are tons of other products that haven’t made it to my list that you can try. You can use my guide for the list of ingredients you want to avoid. The website  https://www.15minutebeauty.com is also a very good source when it comes to pregnancy-safe acne products. She has compiled a list of pregnancy-safe acne products from various brands such as The Ordinary, Drunk Elephant, Bioderma and so much more. I hope this helps. Until next time, stay safe!

XOXO Monica

The post 5 Pregnancy Safe Acne Products appeared first on GingerbreadMom.

After I gave birth to my baby girl in what I honestly can say, was fairly quick labor, I realized I had so much stuff in my bag and some essentials were missing which was really annoying and frustrating, to say the least. I was wiser the second time around and so I am sharing my list with you with the hope that it will be of some help when you are deciding what to pack and what not to pack in your hospital bag.

What is in your hospital bag will vary slightly if you are having a vaginal birth or a c-section. If you have a c-section your hospital stay is likely to be a bit longer so naturally, your bag will be a bit bigger. You can also categorize the items that you need in terms of importance. There are some things you will only need for comfort and other things you will definitely need and some things that are simply nice to have.

ID and Health Card

Of course, these should already be in your wallet, so this may not be something that you pack in your hospital bag in advance. In fact, since you may travel with a health card and Id every day this may be the last item you drop in your hospital bag before you leave to give birth. Nevertheless, it is important to stress its significance.

Three Night Gown or PJ

During my first pregnancy, I packed 2 nightgowns in my hospital bag and boy did I regret not packing an additional one. My baby had jaundice and the hospital decided to keep me in for an extra day. I had to ask my husband to take an additional nightgown in for me. Of course, this was not a big inconvenience but it would have been nice if I had already had an extra nightgown.

The right nightgown or Pj is just as important. Stay away from colors close too close to white. I made the mistake of buying a light pink and a sky blue nightgown during my first pregnancy and boy did I regret it. First of all, you bleed like crazy after birth and having a little accident is quite common. Stick to navy blues, black and dark color nightgowns just so you don’t have t deal with badly stained clothes afterward.

The second time around, I learned my lesson. I purchased three nightgowns, that were breastfeeding-friendly, meaning that during the pregnancy I was so much smarter, I purchased these nightgowns from amazon to pack in my hospital bag and I never regrated it. They were soft and comfortable and made breastfeeding so easy.

Nursing Bra

Nursing bras are very convenient to have after giving birth, obviously, if you plan to breastfeed which is highly recommended if you are able to. These bras come in all different shapes and sizes and they are so many to choose from. I would recommend packing three in your hospital bag, but I would buy more to use when I come home. After all, breastfeeding doesn’t stop after leaving the hospital.

Robe

I love a good robe, and if you lucky enough to have a natural vaginal birth, you will be on your feet a few hours after birth. Having a little robe to throw around yourself is always a handy piece of garment to have at the hospital.

Maternity Pads

Some hospitals may provide these but why chance it? still pack a few just in case! In fact, you may not even like the ones at the hospital and since you will need maternity pads after leaving the hospital, it can’t hurt to pack a few in your hospital bag

Slippers

You should pack at least 2 slippers. One to wear while you are in the hospital. If you’re anything like me, the one you wear in the hospital will be cozy with faux fur, but the style is completely up to you. The second slipper will be rubber slippers for you to shower in. Nobody wants to go barefoot in a public shower.

Cardigan

Some hospitals allow you to control the temperature in the room and some don’t. To be on the safe side always back a nice cozy cardigan just in case it gets a bit nippy in your hospital room.

Cotton underwear’s

I cannot stress the importance of these. You will need at least 7 of these. Again stick to dark colors, nobody and I mean nobody wants to have to deal with a whole bunch of stained underwear after giving birth, so do yourself a favor and buy dark-colored cotton panties. You want full-coverage panties that can neatly fit huge maternity pads.

Electronics (Phone, phone charger and maybe a camera)

If you are reading this, chances are your phone is with you everywhere you go, but just ensure that you have your phone and a long phone and enough phone charger. The charging sockets in the hospitals tend to be a little distant from the bed, for safety reasons, so ensure your charging cable is long enough. Don’t forget some earbuds, so you can engage in your guilty pleasures without being judged by nosey nurses and doctors who will occasionally walk into your room to check on you and your bundle of joy.

Toiletries

Or my toiletries, I packed them in a nice solid ziplocked bag before throwing them in my hospital bag. The essential toiletires are as follows:

• Shower gel
• Dry shampoo or shampoo and conditioner
• Lotion
• Deodorant
• Shower cap
• Basic makeup (if you care)
• Lipbalm
• Hairbrush
• Nipple cream

Stationaries

I know you’re going to deliver a baby, but you will need some stationaries as the hospital also involves a lot of paperwork. Include the following n your hospital bag checklist:

• Two pens
• A waterproof folder to store any receipt, copy of contracts or any important paperwork you may get form the nurses, doctors, and administrative staff

Snacks

Closer to your due date, you may want to drop a few of your favorite snacks in your hospital bag. You don’t want to pack snacks too early for obvious reasons, I mean no one wants to be eating stale Doritos!

One Outfit to leave

This one is pretty obvious. You will need an outfit to leave the hospital so ensure to pack one comfortable suit of clothing to leave the hospital in. Go for dark-colored bottom again and lose fitting clothes.

For baby

Thank heavens babies are less demanding than we are and so their list is less complicated. You will need the following for your baby:

• At least four to five sleepers of newborn PJS
•  Baby hats
• Baby mittens
• Baby socks
• One outfit for baby to come home in
• Baby car seat and car seat cover
• Pacifier for newborn baby
• At least 2 receiving blankets
• Baby wipes

To simplify this list I have created a free printable list that you can use. You can download the pdf version here for free.

‘I hope you find this list useful, I wish you a safe delivery.

XOXO

Monica .

The post The Hospital Bag Checklist I Wish I Had appeared first on GingerbreadMom.