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Preparing For Delivery: 6 Things You Must Have & Must Know

The Stork Bag - Preparing For Delivery: 6 Things You Must Have & Must Know

Time For Baby!  It seemed like this day would never come. Almost 1 year of waiting and the time has finally arrived– time for baby to make their debut! But wait, what are the things you need to know that no one really talks about? And what do you absolutely NEED in your hospital bag? We’ve talked to several mommies and complied a list of 6 Things You Must Have & Must Know to prepare for delivery. Here they are:

Why don’t people talk about the pain that comes along with your uterus contracting back to its normal size?  Ok, so not to scare any of you lovely first-time mommies right off the bat, but yes, there is pain that comes even after you’ve delivered your bundle of joy. While this pain seems to vary amongst mothers, it is very real and you should know that it is also completely normal. Most moms opt for some over the counter pain meds to relieve this pain while some moms just “deal with it”. Either way, you should know that postpartum contracting does happen.

BYOP: Bring Your Own Pads!  Unless you want to use the hospital provided feminine pads that are oddly shaped and ill contoured, it feels much better to wear your own pads that are specifically contoured to fit your panties and allows you to feel more comfortable. Our advice: pack your own pads and make sure they are the extra absorbency, overnight pads.

Get Those Bowels Moving!  Childbirth can be a beautiful thing but there is also a less appealing, behind-the-scenes side to it too, and this is one of them. Most doctors require you to have a bowel movement in the hospital before going home. S ome women resort to stool softeners to help the process. Although your delivery environment and doctor or midwife may have different practices, postpartum constipation is a real thing and often occurs as a result of stretched stomach muscles, lack of food intake and can even be as result of fear. Either way, fiber is your friend and this is totally normal.

Don’t Forget The Wipes: Hemorrhoid wipes that is. They come in handy and believe us, while some hospitals provide them to new moms, some do not. So packing your own would be very beneficial post-delivery, and is highly recommended.

A Little Tube of Heaven: While this necessity may seem like more of a want than a need, I think all moms can agree that chap stick is definitely needed! Think about that fact that during labor you can’t eat, some doctors don’t allow you to even drink water… so, your mouth will get dry and lips will become chapped and this could all be very uncomfortable. Having some chap stick nearby might prove to be very helpful.

Take Advantage of Help: You’ve waited so long to meet your new love and those little fingers and toes aren’t going to kiss themselves right? Right, but get some rest! It’s really important that you get as much rest as you can, your body has just been through the workout of a lifetime and you probably haven’t had a good sleep in a long time so we say, take advantage of the help offered to you. It’s sometimes hard to let baby out of your sight, but the importance of mommy getting some much needed rest is paramount. You probably won’t be sleeping peacefully for some time, so don’t pass up any opportunities for rest.

We hope that this blog post has helped you before and after delivery. As with everything relating to your pregnancy and childbirth, we always advise you to speak with your healthcare professional about any concerns or questions you may have regarding your pregnancy and delivery.

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The Stork Bag Mommy Team Picks: Mommy Must-Have Of The Week

The Stork Bag - Handpicked By TSB Mommy Team: Mommy Must-Have Of The Week

What’s your Registry Style? 

If you’re like most modern day expecting mommies, you love the convenience of technology & trust the reviews of fellow mommies and experts, right? Well, we’ve fallen in love with a service that you just have to know about! The Stork Bag mommy team has handpicked the innovative baby registry service that combines convenience with expert matching and mixes in style!

This week’s “Mommy Must-Have” pick of the week is, Gugu Guru:

Gugu Guru is the first baby registry to combine a personalized shopping experience with consumer reviews and industry expert input to deliver free, unbiased “perfect match” product recommendations for expecting & new parents. Moms tell Gugu Guru about their personal style and lifestyle preferences and Gugu Guru makes expert-approved product suggestions that best suit each mom’s needs for a stylish and functional baby registry.

You can find out more about Gugu Guru here:

http://guguguru.com/

https://www.facebook.com/guguguru.registry/

https://www.instagram.com/gugu_guru/

https://www.pinterest.com/guguguru/
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Being Honest About What It’s Really Like To Bring Home Baby

The Stork Bag - Being Honest About What It’s Really Like To Bring Home Baby

Parenting doesn’t come with a handbook — and even if it did, there would inevitably be things left out. This wouldn’t be an oversight or a lack of transparency, because every child — and parent — is different…

Click here to continue reading this article on Chicago Tribune. 

Original Story by Emily Perschbacher –Chicago Tribune

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The Magic Cream: 21 Reasons to Use Shea Butter

The Stork Bag - The Magic Cream 21 reasons to use shea butter

Shea Butter is a fat that is pulled from the nuts of the shea tree also known as the Vitellaria tree. This cream has been used for centuries as a beauty product because it has a high concentration of minerals, vitamins and fattty acids, which make us feel, oh so good!

It is one of the best creams you can use because it natural and works for nearly all skin types. It can be used on faces, bodies and our poor feet.

It is quite honestly, as close to a miracle cream as it comes. The amount of time required for optimumal results, depend on each condition, but geneally you will feel immediately softer skin. Itchiness will also be resolved immediately. Wrinkles, for example, will require 4 to 6 weeks of daily use. We have pulled together a list of 21 conditions that you can use shea butter for.

1. Dry skin
2. Skin rashes
3. Skin peeling, after tanning
4. Blemishes and wrinkles
5. Itching skin
6. Sunburn
7. Shaving cream for a smooth silky shave.
8. Small skin wounds
9. Skin cracks
10. Tough or rough skin (on feet.)
11. Cold weather,
12. Frost bites
13. Stretch mark prevention during pregnancy
14. Insect bites
15. Healthy skin
16. Muscle fatigue, aches and tension
17. For before and after strenuous exercise
18. Skin allergies such as poison ivy or poison oak
19. Eczema
20. Dermatitis
21. Skin damage from heat (hot grease while cooking, radiation treatment for certain medical problems, etc.)

We include belly butters in our second trimester boxes to help keep you feeling and looking good!

WHO SHOULD USE SHEA BUTTER:

Everyone! Every household should have a jar of Shea Butter, either among the beauty supplies for soft smooth better looking skin, or in the medicine cabinet for minor skin injuries around the house. SHEA BUTTER IS THE SKIN’S BEST FRIEND!

The information provided here or elsewhere on this site is not intended to constitute professional medical advice for treatment. We encourage you to consult your personal physician with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.