I remember with my first son when trying to pick it was so difficult to decide! There are so many different baby carriers to decide from I didn't know where to begin. Not to mention all of the safety concerns with carriers. I've seen carriers from 29.99 to 100+. So what makes a carrier more expensive ? Does that mean its better than the cheaper one? I don't necessarilly think that is true. I think its all on the mother and baby's preferences. I think the safety concerns come into play if you are not using the carrier properly. I have three brands of carriers, because I do believe a mama can never have too many carriers! I have the Boba Wrap , an Ergo 360 & Original Ergo, and I recently bought a Neobulle Ring Sling. Which I love each one of them for different reasons.

Boba Wrap

I was intimidated by this wrap initially because it seemed so difficult to use. Once I got it down I instantly fell in love! I personally loved this wrap while traveling when Jay Jay was younger! It is light weight but very supportive. I loved the fact that it was flexible and allowed him to be tight and snug to my chest. He loved it as well, he always fell asleep in it. I loved using it during colder months too because it is so snuggly!

ERGO 360 & Original ERGO

I love my ergo! I don't think I could do without it! From Infancy to toddler stage it works wonders. I always did front carrying but it can go on your back as well, which is good while cooking dinner! It provides a lot of support so I love wearing it while working out! We have done multiple hikes using the ergo. Its light weight and provides better airflow than a wrap or sling, in my opinion, so I prefer to use this while working out or doing activities that are hotter. I recently purchased the 360 to be able to use the forward facing feature. I also love the support that it provides for when your baby turns into a toddler. It is easy to put on and dads love it too! If I had to choose one I would go for the Ergo! You can also purchase an insert for your teeny infant :D

Neobulle Ring Sling

This is my newest addition to my collection. So far so good! Its snuggly and super easy to put on! Its comparable to the wrap in the sense that its flexible and keeps the baby really close and warm. The main difference is that the ring sling is way easier to put on. Once you have it set up you don't need to take it out of the ring to put on, take off, and wash. I love the different options in terms of the look as well. Im not too sure how I will feel about it when Jett gets bigger and closer to one but we shall see! I have many friends who use the slings and love them even into toddler years!

Why Should you baby wear?

First I would point out that babies like to be held. Which means no hands for mommy! When you have a carrier it really helps you free your hands. It also really helps with the weight of the baby, which can get heavy as they grow. With two kids the carriers work wonders in being able to comfort my newborn while being able to entertain my toddler!

According to Dr Sears, In the article Benefits of baby wearing for your baby, he provides 5 reasons why baby wearing is beneficial. These are all based on his studies and studies of others quoted in the article.

Sling babies cry less
- After studying carried and non carried infants, those infants who received the set time of being carried cried less than the noncarried group.
Sling babies learn more
- instead of crying they are learning
- when the baby is in a state of quiet alertness it allows the mother, or carrier a better opportunity to interact.
Sling babies are more organized
- The sling helps the baby organize their systems outside of the womb
- "In order for a baby’s emotional, intellectual, and physiological systems to function optimally, the continued presence of the mother, the most important benefits of babywearing, is a necessary regulatory influence."
The "humanizing" benefits of baby wearing
- the baby is more in tune with the carriers rhythm
- "Proximity increases interaction, and baby can constantly be learning how to be human."
Sling babies are smarter
- "The benefits of babywearing are that it helps the infant’s developing brain make the right connections. Because baby is intimately involved in the mother and father’s world, she is exposed to, and participates in, the environmental stimuli that mother selects and is protected from those stimuli that bombard or overload her developing nervous system."

hope this information helps you make the decision on which carrier to buy! I definitely would say the baby carrier is a MUST have! Plus who doesn't like to snuggle with their baby!

Happy Friday,

Jord

9/4/2015

I knew this weekend would be it! In light of the pre labor signs: dilated to 2cm, my mucus plug slowly coming out, and braxton hicks I just knew it was going to happen that weekend! Sure enough it did! Even though Skyler was tired from work and wanted to relax on that Friday night I insisted he get the car seat out of the box and set it up! We ate dinner and stayed up until about midnight watching TV. At about 1:30ish I woke up feeling like I had to poop which wasn't anything out of the ordinary, especially since I had Carne Asada fries for dinner -_-. Lol Anyways, I finished and laid back down. Yet my stomach didn't stop hurting. Which when I began labor with Jay Jay I kept feeling like I had to poop! The pain came and left, but it wasn't really what I had remembered before. It was a subtle cramping but no belly tightening which I had with my first baby. Nonetheless, I started timing the pain. It ranged from 3-5 minutes apart. As I sat on my birthing ball to relieve pressure, I felt nervous, excited, and ready for what was to come! My Baby Jett was on his or her way! So I called my mom and said "I think its time do you think I should go to the doctors" and she, knowing I had to drive 45 minutes away said "OHHH yes you should go don't wait." I text my sister & Dusty that it was time because I had told them to come during the labor for extra support, and called my aunt Jonna to come over because she was watching Jay Jay man for us. I woke up Skyler to gather his things and put our stuff in the car. I hopped in the shower because I wanted to at least have decent looking hair lol! While in the shower the contractions intensified. So much so I got out and whipped my soaking wet hair in a bun and put on a headband! Jonna arrived shortly after and we were off! I live in San Dimas and delivered at Hoag which is about 40 miles away! Thank God it was 2am and No traffic.

During these phases of contractions I remained calm. Focused on my breathing and made sure I wasn't tensing. All things I had learned in preparation for my natural birth. Skyler was driving as fast as he possibly could and every bump on the freeway was horrible! The car ride seems like a blur now when I think back. I vaguely remember looking up and we were in Anaheim, next thing I knew he dropped me off in the front of the empty Maternity ward and went to park the car. I remember seeing a wheel chair sitting outside thinking where are the people to wheel me upstairs. I walked in not knowing exactly where I was going. Bending over from the pain I asked the security guard, while trying to remain calm in between contractions where I was to go. I went up to the third floor and told the people at the front desk I was in labor. The pain hurt but it didn't hurt like I remembered with my first pregnancy. They checked me in and lead me to the room, gave me my gown and said they would be right back. In pain I quickly became very frustrated with the hospital gown that seemed to be the worlds most complicated gown. It wasn't just the open back tie kind it had some weird snappy arm that I couldn't figure out. It was freezing and I was in pain! I remember skyler walking in and I was so frustrated and he helped me figure the stupid gown out. I started to feel hot and felt like I wanted to lay on the cold bathroom floor. At this point I had put on my headphones and was listening to my hypnosis birth cd. Which did help me to remember to not tense and breath, envision my cervix opening and preparing for birth. Not too long did I take the cd player off because it kept falling and stopping so it became more of a distraction. The nurse came in and had to check me, put the monitor on for the babies heart beat, and give me an IV. She had asked if I wanted the epidural or any meds and I responded No, none. After the fact my mom had expressed how nervous she was for me in light of my first birth where I was screaming in pain only at 1cm. I felt a feeling of relief when the nurse told me I was at 5cm!!! I was half way there. The pain was increasing but I had made it further than last time. My mom had tried to take a picture of me and the flash went off I was so mad haha! But I wanted to have some footage of the delivery so I couldn't be too mad. At this point anyone who talked to me annoyed me. I didn't like the fact that I had to keep the monitors on for 20 minutes because I just wanted to be free. This whole time I laid in the bed with the lights low, and my eyes shut almost falling asleep in between each contraction because I knew this was important to rest in order to conserve my energy for the duration of the labor. I over heard my mom say that the contractions were coming quick about 3 minutes in between and she should get the nurse. Those 3 minutes had felt almost like ten which I was thankful for because it allowed me to rest more comfortably. In the preparation of this birth I knew I wanted to be up and walking around to help relieve the pain. However not everything goes as planned. All I wanted to do was lay on my side! And on my side I laid. As each contraction rolled in I began to take deep breaths, while remembering to keep my mouth open and not purse my lips because according to Ina Mays, a Guide to child birth, the keeping of my mouth open helped me not tense other places. I kept repeating in my head to remain calm, you got this Jordan. There were times of mental weakness and I thought about the drugs but I quickly snapped out of that! I was thankful that the nurses didn't continue to ask me if I wanted the meds after I said no unlike they did during my first birth. It made it easier for me to stay on course. The nurses came in to finish registering me and check my progress. However couldn't even finish registering me because it was urgent they got me to the delivery floor.

At this time I still had to be moved up to the delivery floor. I overheard the nurse say "ok we are going to have to walk up to the fifth floor." Well after she checked me I was Complete and still intact, my water hadn't broken yet!!!! What a sense of relief!!! I don't know exactly what time that was but I know we hadn't been there that long. I was in the home stretch. As she was checking I felt A LOT of pressure. So they kept me in the bed to wheel me up jic I had to push and the baby came. When we got to the fifth floor I had to move beds. In that moment i was just thinking what the F* you want me to lift myself up and move over. Somehow I managed to get into the other bed. Now I had a huge urge to PUSH! I was in pain but I was so excited! I wanted to meet my baby Jett!!! At this time my sister finally walks in who barely made it in time!

PUSHING

The physician on call came in and just like that I began to push. My doctor didn't even make it in time. A HUGE gush of water came and just like that my water had broken. At this moment the pain overcame my mental calm state of being! I gave out a loud scream and uncontrollably twisted my body while my legs were in the stirups. The nurses and physician all insisted I COULD NOT do that again because I would hurt myself. I felt defeated in that moment but regained my mental control. I knew it would be hard to be pushing for hours. I took a rest, I laid calm, closing my eyes, preparing for the next push. I told myself and my baby "this was it". Another contraction rolled in and I began to push. Pushing with everything in me I hear "Keep going Jord, your almost there we see the head" in that moment it was like the adrenaline took over because I was ready. My sister came to my side and grabbed my hand and reassured me I was almost there. That gave me the extra boost I had needed to get through it. I grabbed onto her hand tight as the final contraction rolled in and I pushed, pushing with all my might and squeeing her hand. There was a burning sensation and then the head was out and the shoulders were coming. I kept pushing, I think the shoulders were the most painful part of the process. And suddenly it was like a sense of relief! Jett was out! I was so excited to meet my baby and I took a peek as they were cutting the cord it was a baby BOY! He was so precious his little cry. Jett James was born at 5:16am. He was 6lbs 9oz and 18inches long.

After Birth

They plopped Jett right on my chest and we got skin to skin for an hour! I was shivering due to my hormones, I was hungry, but I felt so alive! I wasn't tired. I was so excited to have my baby. It was such a different feeling than when I had Jay Jay. Not that I wasn't so excited and happy to meet Jay Jay but due to the epidural and the harsh labor I was exhausted and numb! I was so high off the experience that just happened. It was so amazing. I could have not asked for a better birth. In light of how quickly everything happened I was for SURE that I tore. Not at all! I was able to get up and walk to the bathroom. I just can't explain the cloud 9 I was on. I knew I needed to rest but I couldn't. It was like a kid waiting for christmas morning.

As the nurses came in and doctors to check up on us each one of them complimented me on how well I looked. How well my recovery was already going. My body was made to do this! My uterus was shrinking quickly and I wasn't swollen.

Preparation

When I had Jay Jay I went in at 1cm and my water broke shortly after. Wanting to go natural I tried but after a couple hours and no progression I got the epidural. The pain I experienced was unbearable !! I had exhausted so much energy within those first few hours I had gone without the meds that the 5 or six hours later when I had to push I literally couldn't even hold my legs. I panicked after getting the epidural because I couldn't feel my legs. After the birth I was numb for like 4 hours, I was exhausted, and I was all puffy!

When I found out I was pregnant again my lifestyle choices had already changed, things like exercise and eating healthier plus Juice plus, I was prepared to take on a natural birth. I knew I needed to remain active and continue eating healthy. I learned so much after my good friend Jenny gifted me The Gentle Birth by Gowri Motha and Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn (4th Edition): The Complete Guide. I highly recommend these both! It opened up my journey into much needed mental and physical preparation for what would be an amazing birth!

I continued exercising and began taking a prenatal yoga class at Granola Babies with an amazing instructor Colleen Heiber. It was there she recommended Ina Mays a Guide to Childbirth and to watch The Business of being born, which is on Netflix! These two I HIGHLY recommend. Both of these I read and watched multiple times to prepare. I also took my prenatal, Iron supplement doctor recommended, and my juice plus faithfully everyday!

Mentally and physically I was prepared for this birth. During my pregnancy I experienced bed rest at about 32 weeks due to a dynamic cervix. So I had to stop exercising and take it easy towards the end of my pregnancy but this didn't stop me from mentally preparing myself as well as maintaining somewhat of a good diet. As good physical shape I was, I strongly believe the mental preparation was the most important change in this pregnancy and my diet. I purchased Gowri Motha's meditation CD set which I listened to prior and during my labor. Between the reading and watching the movie I realized that birth is all about the mind. It is often portrayed as a horrifying experience so people go into it believing its going to be horrifying. I had to quickly change my mind set! I was prepared to take on what my body was made to do! I was ready to meet my baby and I did not want to go through the epidural again. The after effect was enough to make me choose otherwise, on top of what I learned there was no way I wanted to do it again unless I HAD to.

During the labor I maintained my mental focus. Praying and repeating to myself encouraging words to get me through the pain. Envisioning the baby coming through with ease and my cervix opening. Sure enough it helped. I am the most baby of them all, crying on the floor, staying at home because of period cramps. I must say I questioned myself once but never looked back. When it was time for the birth I was ready! I was excited and ready to meet my baby and see if I was having a baby boy or girl!

After labor I was on a high! I was so surprised at how I great I felt given I had just had a baby. I was able to walk to the bathroom and pee with ease. I was for sure that I was going to tear due to how quick he came but nothing. With Jay Jay I had to be carried basically to pee and I had to use dermoplast spray and tucks to soothe the burning from the stitches. After I was on such a high that I couldn't fall asleep. I wasn't tired and I was enjoying my baby! After my first birth I was so groggy and tired that I just wanted to sleep!

When the nurses and doctor came in to check on me they were all surprised by how well I looked and was recovering already. I was doubling up on my juice plus and a nurse came in and was like "cool you take that too, I learned about that stuff from Dr. Sears. My kids and I take it." Another doctor came in to do my final check out the next day and complimented on how well I looked so Skyler asked what the difference was between this pregnancy and my first because it was clear this one went so much better. She said " well you took care of yourself... I see you take juice plus for one, I take it everyday. Continuing a healthy diet and exercise will really make a difference on top of not doing the medicine. Your body was made to do this." It felt good. Because I had worked so hard to do everything right this time. I took my juice plus, I drank my complete shakes, I exercised, I mentally prepared, I believed in myself and It Paid off.

Im sure I can talk on and on about the experience. In the end I took care of my body and it took care of me when I needed it. This experience has influenced me and drove me to further pursue my passion with women and pregnancy and all that comes with it. It is a beautiful thing and should be treated that way and not looked at as something horrible we go through. Our bodies were made for this!! We have the power!!

If you would like to hear more check out my events page with info on a call I am doing with my sister who has 3 beautiful kids all of which she did naturally! We will be sharing some tips and things that helped us during our pregnancy, labor, and balancing life with kids!

I would love to hear some of your birth stories! Leave in my comments or if you would like to have your birthing experience featured email me at Jordansjuice@gmail.com!

With Love & Joy

Jord

Epidural --> Natural

The never ending question...

Mommy Must Have: Baby Carrier

From Epidural To Natural: My Birthing Experience