Evymama

If you’re pregnant or a new mom and your body is starting to go through some changes and nothing fits right anymore you’ll be glad to know there is “SUPPORT” out there. Today we interviewed Sarah Kaplan, proud owner of Evymama maternity clothing boutique. Evymama specializes in maternity clothing that will make you feel comfortable and stylish in your new body. They are Toronto’s only breastfeeding boutique and have the best selection of nursingwear.





Nursing bras are available in 32A all the way to 50M?! Yes, M!
Pictured here: Rita & Aria, Selin & Sienna, Sarah (owner of Evymama)
holding a K bra, and Karen & Ashley holding the infamous M bra.




From sleep bras, comfort bras, and even your sexiest lace and diamond embellished bras (with matching panties of course) they have it all. The same holds true for maternity clothing. Evymama carries something for everyone whether it be yoga wear, swim wear, blue jeans, dresses or a complete corporate uniform you're sure to find something to suit the needs of your inner-diva.

Once we stepped into Evymama we immediately realized this was not your ordinary maternity store. We were presently surprised by the quality and vast selection of fashionable maternal wear. Most women believe that once their pregnant they must resort to the typical baggy shirt and loose pants ensemble. Evymama is everything but. Don’t be foolish by wasting your time and money in buying clothes that aren’t right for your body, this will leave you with two wardrobes. Sarah suggests sticking to your pre-pregnancy size when buying clothes.

Not only does Evymama speciazlize in maternity clothing but also their employees are trained in lactation management. Come in, stop by have a look around and/or get some helpful advice on breastfeeding. Evymama is a strong supporter of La Leche League whom assist mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support. Karen had contacted them when she was having her own breastfeeding issues and found that they had great advice to offer her. Be sure to speak to an IBCLC (international board certified lacataction consultant) for all your breastfeeding needs in order to ensure the proper advice.

Evymama is located at 266 Jane Street in the lovely Toronto neighbourhood of Bloor West Village. Check out Evymama on the web at www.evymama.ca. There you will be able to browse through their complete inventory of maternal wear. However one bra you just have to see in person is the un-imaginable size “M” over shoulder boulder holder Bra.

We hope that the information we shared with you today about nursing wear will help assist you make the “BREAST” choice!

Mommy-Sentials:

The brand new Cache Coeur "Lisa" nursing bra with underwire pairs beautifully with the new "Lisa" thong, french knicker or bikini. Soft grey vintage and pink satin and french lace.
Cache Coeur breastfeeding and maternity lingerie from France is beautiful, practical, and innovative. Soft, sumptuous French lace, and gorgeous detailing to add beauty to the happiest days of your life! Nighties, bras and camisoles have clever magnetic clips for nursing to make your life easier.

The jet black lace and microfibre of this new HOTmilk bra are decadently lined with a deep purple cotton, giving a richness and depth to the overall colouring. Embellished with a jet satin bow and diamante drop at the centre front, this set is exquisite. This bra provides excellent support without wire, and has easy, one handed nursing clips, and 6 hooks at the back to accommodate changes during pregnancy and after baby is born. Cups are fully lined with soft cotton.

Bella Materna ‘Anytime’ - Evymama's favourite Maternity & Nursing Bra offers the best support available without underwire! Easy pull-aside nursing access. This bralet is great for your last trimester and is a perfect first nursing bra! Wide set adjustable straps & ballet back give you great support and a sexy silhouette. 4-stage hook and eye closure at center back. Crafted in the USA from cool and quick drying Imported Italian Meryl, the fabric won’t fade or pill.

Mother love herbal company – Motherlove's best selling product for safely and effectively increasing breast milk. This product does not contain any milk, dairy, soy, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, or gluten.

Boobs and Bottles: Feeding your Newborn

Is there a right or wrong way to feed your newborn? I've recently read a few articles that weigh in on this topic so I took it to the Mom Posse and we discussed breastfeeding vs. bottle (formula) feeding. Of the 5 moms, I am the only one who has exclusively formula fed my baby. Selin has recently introduced Sienna to formula however she did breastfeed for the first 6-8 months.



I didn't plan to bottle feed Ashley. I had all of the best intentions to breastfeeding her for the first 8-10 months however I had a lot of issues. I'll be the first to tell you that breastfeeding is not as natural as you may think. I had a c-section and it was almost 8 days before my milk actually came in - which I thought was a long time, however I have since learned that this is normal. But those 8 days were the most excrutiating of my life - I was blistered, cracked, bruised and bleeding while trying to feed Ashley. I was beyond stressed out and was in tears every time she wanted to feed which is not healthy for you or your baby. So, after 2 and a half weeks, I decided to switch to formula and had a huge weight lifted off my shoulder. My baby was happy, she was gaining weight, and I was much more at ease.


In those first few days, I was also tube feeding Ashley in the hospital since she wasn't gaining enough weight. Erin had a similar experience in the hospital as Emme was born prematurely. Emme had a nose tube and Erin had to save each diaper so that the nurses could check the weight to ensure that Emme was eating enough. However Erin was fortunate that Emme was able to make the switch from nose tubes and finger feeding to being breastfed.


As all of the girls will attest - you need to do what's right for you! A happy mom is a happy baby. The ladies weighed in on some of the benefits and highlights that we've found with both breastfeeding and bottle feeding. In our case, all of the girls are beautiful and healthy and hitting all of their milestones.

Breastfeeding:

• Nutrition - this is the best source of nutrients for your baby however we are not nutritional experts so we can't comment entirely. However, formula has come a long way - the formula that I give Ashley is Nestle Good Start with Omega 3 and 6 (which breastfed babies don't necessarily receive from breast milk)
• Burning Calories - breastfeeding moms burn LOTS of calories while breastfeeding!
• Convenience - a breastfeeding mother will always have a supply of food for their baby no matter where they are
• Bond - there's a very special bond between a mother and baby during the breastfeeding experience
• No cost

Bottle (Formula) Feeding:

• Nutrition - see above. Formula has come a long way.
• Bond - bottle feeding your baby gives others the opportunity to bond with the baby as well. In our case, my husband was able to feed Ashley during the night which allowed me to catch up on some much needed sleep while being able to bond with her.
• Cost Effective - based on Ashley's consumption in the first few months it was approx. $5/day for her formula
• Sleep - babies who are formula fed tend to sleep a bit longer than breastfed babies as formula keeps babies fuller for a longer period of time
• Nipple confusion - there's a lot of talk about nipple confusion but I don't think there's anything official that says it actually exists. In the hospital, the pediatrician told me that the only statement published on that topic is that "there is no concrete evidence for or against the notion of nipple confusion"

Again, you need to do what's right for you. Here is a interesting article from Canadian Family that certainly hit home for me, Sticking Up for Baby Formula: http://www.canadianfamily.ca/articles/article/-side-bottle-feeding/

Some other tips from the moms:

• If you're having difficulty with breastfeeding seek help. It's likely that your local hospital has a lactation consultant who can offer support/resources. If not, La Leche League is a very reputable service.
• At the very least, try to give your baby the colostrum - your liquid gold which is the most nutritious form of breast milk. It's the first stage of breastmilk before your milk actually comes in
• Try to periodically introduce your baby to a bottle with breast milk or formula to assist with the transition from boob to bottle when the time comes

As someone once said to me "There's no special spot in heaven for mothers who breastfeed, so if you're bottle feeding ... it's OK!".

At the end of each segment we are happy to share a "Mommy-Sential" with you:

• Baby Wrappers - www.babywrappers.com - Wash Cloth Mit
• Mally Bibs - http://www.mallybibs.com/ - Leather Bibs with Magnetic Closures
• Baby D Drops
• The Breast Experience, Breastfeeding Clinic in Brampton (if you would like more information on this service, please contact us)
• Breast Pads - there are several brands available to help with leakage, over-active let down etc.
• The Breast Friend Pillow - http://www.mybrestfriend.com/ - an excellent nursing pillow that straps on so that you are not fussing with the position of the pillow when trying to nurse your wee one.

Diaper Drama

The Mommy Posse had the priveledge of interveiwing Susan Tomasewski, co-owner of the Bloor West Village store Diaper-eez. As only Jenny has used cloth diapers, Selin and Erin were full of questions for Susan.

We learned that there are many types of cloth diapers: pre-folds (a folded cotton liner with an exterior pant), all-in-ones (a diaper that takes your baby from birth to toilet training), and even hemp and bamboo diapers. The reasons why many people opt to cloth diaper their baby is environmental and to keep chemicals found in disposable diapers away from their babies' tushies. While the average parent will purchase 5000 diapers for one child, you only need to buy about 30 all-in-one cloth diapers that can then be used for the next one(s).

As Susan pointed out, many parents feel daunted by the extra laundry and care needed in cloth diapering; however, she said it is as easy or as hard as you choose to make it. She recommends buying one or two of a couple of brands to see what works best for your baby. Also, a proper demonstration of how particular cloth diapers work is essential for choosing the right brand and size for your baby.

For a list of cloth diaper brands at Diaper-eez, check out Susan's website at http://www.diaper-eez.com/, and stop by the store at 2309 Bloor Street West in Toronto for a consultation with a member of her knowledgeable staff.

Mommy-Sentials:
This week Karen and Rita were unable to make the podcast due to surgery and sleep deprivation, respectively.

Erin was wowed by Supper Solved. She found the supper assembling experience easy and the food tasted great. Best of all, they clean up after you.
http://www.suppersolved.com/


Jenny really liked the Funny Face Mirror from Skip* Hop. It's a plush farmyard friend with a mirror as the face. It easily velcros to a stroller to keep your little one entertained. Thanks, Susan - the girls' love it!
http://www.skiphop.com/product/30720.html

Selin's Mommy-Sential is Kimberly Dunbar Photography. Kimberly specializes in maternity, baby, child, and family photography. She will be at the Baby Time Show in Toronto from April 30th - May 2nd, so check out her booth.
http://www.kimberlydunbarphotography.com/

Keeping Yourself Sane

The baby arrives, you leave the hospital, your "helpers" leave ... now what? How do you keep yourself sane? Listen to how we did below:

Jenny started getting out of the house by taking the dog, Kuma, for a walk. This forced her to get out of the house and realize that it's not such a big scary world out there.

Selin was fortunate to have Erin as a neighbour. As you know, Erin had Emme a few weeks prior to Sienna's arrival so they leaned on each other for support and motivation to get out of the house.

Alas, we all joined "The New Moms Group" at St. Joseph's Hospital in Toronto. This is where Jenny and I met the rest of the ladies and the "mommy posse" was born. We met at the hospital once a week for 6 weeks to discuss all things baby. It was a great outlet to talk about our new feelings, the highs and lows, new responsibilities and things to expect. At the very least, we knew we were never alone. . Our facilitator brought in guest speakers to share information such as baby massage, nutrition and breastfeeding. And best of all, it was FREE, so we had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Aside from a new moms group, there are tonnes of activities and groups for moms with babies! Some additional mom & baby activities include:

• Movies for Mommies/Stars & Strollers
• Mommy & Baby Yoga
• Baby Salsa
• Stroller Fit Classes
• Ontario Early Years
• Chapters - Reading Time
• Kindermusik/Baby Music Classes
• Swimming - check your City Park & Recreation Dept.

In addition to groups and activities, we all suggest getting some normalcy back into your life by having a friend or family member babysit for a few hours so that you can go for dinner with your hubby, go to the gym, get your hair done or get a manicure (a cheap and cheerful pick-me-up!). In the early days though, don't be too ambitious - don't plan an entire weekend away in the beginning - take "baby steps" and build up to it. As Jenny mentioned, breastfeeding moms also need to think about their feeding schedule. For example, she went to a hair appointment and was very clear that she only had 1 hour when she factored in her travel time etc.

Once you've met some other moms, indoor playdates will become a great outlet for you. You gain adult conversation and the babies learn to interact with each other.

The bottom line is this: you can be as active or inactive with the baby as you want but it's important to do something - anything.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
At the end of each episode, we will share our "MOMMY-SENTIALS" with you.

• Stars & Strollers at Cineplex Odion Theatres. Check them out in your area. - http://www.cineplex.com/Theatres/StarsAndStrollers.aspx
• Baby Yoga/Mom & Baby Exercise
• New Moms Group - check into the Childbirth & Parenting services at your local hospital. If they don't have one, they will probably know of some in the area.
• Ontario Early Years Centre

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Bringing Baby Home

This week we explore the first week or so after we brought our babies home. We discussed visitors, the type of help we received, the type of help that was actually helpful and some tips of what you may expect in the first week. You can listen to the show below or download this and past episodes off iTunes:



First of all, you need to set some boundaries with respect to visitors, both in the hospital and once you've come home. Be firm and clear. We strongly suggest that you ensure you take the time for you, your husband/partner and the baby. You will never get that time back so be sure to the time when you can.

It was evident throughout our discussion that many of us had help from our own mothers - whether it be cleaning the house, walking the dog, taking care of laundry or cooking meals, we all have a new found appreciation and respect for our mothers. The biggest help we all received was help for us and household chores, not necessarily helping with diapers and such. I know for me personally, my mom gave me the confidence to go out with the baby. I was scared in the first few weeks to take her out in public: what if she cried, what if people are looking at me etc and I knew that I had my mom there to support me which was a huge relief.

Aside from family and friends, there are additional support systems available such as Public Health Nurses as well as your midwife - they provide excellent post-natal care as required.

We all shared some laughs as we discussed our expectations vs our reality. Selin & Jenny planned to acquire certifications for work, be out with friends, have a clean house and dinner on the table every night. Oh, how quickly we learned that this was not the case! Erin had an excellent - and realistic - tip for everyone: set mini goals for yourself each day. These may be as simple as having a shower or making your bed, or being more adventurous and trying to go for a walk or get groceries with your little one in tow.

So, this is our new job 24-7. In the early days of bringing Taylor home, Jenny wanted to go back to work. The workplace was comfortable, familiar and more importantly, it ended at 5pm. And let's not forget that while we were working in the home all day, our hubby's were in the workplace and had a long day too. But yes, there is still a hint of jealousy that they got to leave the house and be at work for the day!

Tip when expecting guests!
If you're expecting company, ask them to call the morning of your visit date to ensure that its still OK. You may have a great day and schedule a visit but things quickly change and you could have a horrible night and not be up for a visit the following day.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
At the end of each episode, we will share our "MOMMY-SENTIALS" with you.

• Baby Time Show - April 30th - May 2nd @ the International Centre, Hall 1 in Toronto. Visit http://www.babytimeshows.ca/ for more information.
• Crockpot - in the first few weeks home, the crock pot can be your best friend. Pop something in and get on with your day. See below for a quick and yummy recipe :)
• Hooded Towels - this cozy towels are perfect for bundling up your little one after their bath
• Bravado Nursing Bra's - Erin swears that these are the best nursing bra's out there!
• Baby Bottom Salve by Earthly Essentials - we all use this on our babies, and love it. It's a purely organic product and a little goes a long way! Check www.earthlyessentials.ca for more information.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

The Registry

In this episode we discuss what type of baby showers we had and what we found necessary for our baby registry. For parents-to-be a registry can be a daunting task on its own, deciding what to put on it, where should we register, should we register at all? Selin, Rita, Erin, Karen and I talk about what we found useful and items that could have waited until after baby came home. You can listen to the episode using the tool below or download it off iTunes by searching for 'Little Baby Steps' under the Podcast category.

Things to add:

• Stroller-Research what type is best suited for you, some good features to look for are cup holder, sun guard, rain cover, good size basket and remember try out the stroller as much as possible.
• Car seat- Check weight limit and make sure it fits with your stroller
• Swing- Some are bigger than others, be mindful of space in your home
• Pack N' Play- Good to have when traveling, this item can be bought new or used
• Crib set- We found this item nice but not necessary especially at the beginning you just need a fitted crib sheet
• Mobile- Can use up until six month's of age, Rita mentioned that baby Aria has one that projects onto the ceiling
• Baby furniture- Crib, bassinet, dresser/change table(Rita and Selin were able to find used dressers on kijiji)
• Mattress- Erin mentioned a plastic cover that encases the mattress, mandatory in New Zealand for the reduction of SIDS
• Rocking chair- Invest in a comfortable one
• Monitor- Many different ones to choose from some are just audio, some have video which Selin has, and others measure the baby's heartbeat
• Diaper bag
• Nursing pillow- test out size and firmness, as Rita discovered the pillow she has was too big!
• Baby D drops- very good idea to have before baby
• Some low cost items to have on your registry: cloths, diapers, creams, hangers, wedges for sleeping, baby care kit, bottles(starter kit level 1), sterilizer kit, brush set, bath tub, sun shade and mirror for the car, change pad cover, diaper genie, nursing pads, play mats(large one)
• Other things that could be optional for your registry- high chair, humidifier, baby carrier, Brest pump, cloth diapers, nursing bras (get fitted), nursing cover

We all would recommend researching and knowing what products are on the market as it can be very overwhelming to choose the right gear for you and your baby.

The Baby Shower...

Between the five of us we all had different types of baby showers. Selin had the more traditional shower on a Sunday afternoon with the ladies as did Karen and Erin's husband due to Emme's early arrival. Erin also had a co-ed work shower and a BBQ book shower (everyone had to bring a book) after Emme was born. As for myself we had a baby party, lots of yummy food, friends of both genders and no games. Each of us had a different experience but all had the same goal to celebrate the arrival of a new family member.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

At the end of each episode, we will share our "MOMMY-SENTIALS" with you.

Pippalily diaper clutch- So cute they'll think it's a purse! Interior pocket perfect for credit card and lip gloss http://www.pippalily.com/

Hydrasense Nasal Spray- Children under two don’t have the ability yet to blow their nose, which means bacteria, viruses, pollen and dust build up in nasal mucus and stay trapped. This accumulation can cause complications such as sinusitis and problems with breathing.
clinically proven, hydraSense® Ultra-Gentle Mist nasal spray gently cleanses tiny noses blocked by colds and allergies to help your baby breathe more easily. Made with isotonic 100% natural-source seawater, its salinity is perfectly balanced with the body. http://www.hydrasense.ca/

Mommy Hook- is the perfect stroller hanger. Built to last, lightweight and versatile, it fits virtually all stroller handles. The Mommy Hook is made from durable, heavy-duty aluminum—it won’t break like cheap plastic hangers. Its unique rubber grip keeps it from sliding. Use The Mommy Hook on your stroller. Use it on your shopping cart. Just snap it on and you’re ready to roll! http://www.themommyhook.com/

Baby Cubes- is the only product on the market that has a lid attached directly to each cube for a hassle free and convenient way too prepare and store baby food. http://www.babycubes.com/

Canada Goose Bunting Bag-A Down filled hood with removable coyote fur ruff
Center-front YKK® locking zipper
Storm flap behind Center front zipper Front patch pocket with Velcro®.
Child-carrier seat belt pass-through
Recessed elasticized Nylon rib knit cuffs to keep out the cold.
http://www.canada-goose.com/

Stories from the delivery room

In this episode all 5 moms share their experience of labour and delivery and while there are many similarities, each of us had a unique experience. We all delivered beautiful, healthy baby girls ranging from 5 1/2 weeks early (preemie) to being 6 days overdue. Selin, Rita, Erin and Jenny delivered their babies vaginally whereas Karen delivered via c-section.

As you can imagine, this was a lengthy discussion with several laughs and groans so we've tried to summarize them as best we can. For the complete podcast, tune in here:

Going to the hospital:

• Be packed and ready to go (this includes Mom, Dad and Baby!). We suggest packing your bag approx. 2-3 weeks in advance of your due date. And ladies - pack your own bag unless you want 3 nightgowns and no toothbrush (right Erin?!). Don't forget to pack for the men too - they will be at the hospital for an extended period of time as well, so they too will need to be packed (pillows, comfy clothes, phone numbers, toothbrush etc)
• Essentials to pack for Mommy: BIG pads, BIG underwear, chapstick, toiletries (toothbrush, brush etc), comfy pants, slippers and a pen (to fill out forms).
• Make sure that your baby car seat is installed! The hospital will check to ensure that you have put the baby in the car seat and have him/her buckled properly before releasing you. (Note: This applies even if you do not have a car. The baby should be in a car seat regardless of the mode of transportation: cab, streetcar, bus etc).

Epidurals:

• Think about the right time to ask for your epidural. Once you have it, you will be on a catheter and be stuck in bed. As Selin discovered, she had her epidural as soon as she walked in the hospital and was in bed for 27 hours! However, don't ask for it too late because sometimes your body has progressed too far and you cannot have it, or as Erin & Karen discovered, the anesthetist was not available when we asked for the epidural.
• Check with the nurses re: the availability of the anesthetist. When I (Karen) checked into the hospital they told me that there was only 1 anesthetist on-call after 5pm.
• Once you have the epidural it's common to have chills - which is a welcome relief if you're having a summer baby!
• You will not feel anything which may or may not be a good thing. As Erin mentioned, she loved the empowering feeling she got when she was delivering Emme since she was able to feel her moving through her belly and into the birth canal, whereas Selin didn't feel a thing.
• It's recommended to try and forgo an epidural if your baby is premature

Vaginal Delivery:

• If your water breaks at home, you'll need to replace the carpet. Both Erin & Jenny experienced the "gush" at home while the rest of us had our water broken in the hospital. When your water breaks, it is just that - a gush ... over and over again.
• Erin was able to use a hypno birthing technique to keep herself calm however this was not as effective as she hoped at being able to breathe Emme down
• As I'm sure many of you know, it's very likely that you won't have your regular OB delivering your baby. In Erin's case, her midwives were present at the birth but acted more in a coaching capacity since Emme was a preemie.
• If your baby needs vacuum assistance to be delivered, ask the nurse to get you "the good vacuum". As Jenny was beginning to push she heard "oh no, we don't have the good vacuum" which is definitely not something you want to hear!

C-Section Delivery:

• Of course Ashley had to be "special" and was the only baby among the 5 to be delivered via c-section (obviously she just didn't want to get goop in her hair!)
• My c-section was done by choice despite being in labour for only 5 hours and being fully dilated. Ashley wasn't dropping entirely into the birth canal so to avoid extra stress and fatigue, the c-section was scheduled.
• Recovery from the c-section wasn't as bad as I thought. It was very tender and I was very slow when trying to stand up, sit down or walk. Basically anything that required any kind of abdominal strength was tender and difficult but manageable with help from others.
• I was cut horizontally along my pubic bone and now (almost 8 months later) I have a very faint hairline scar which cannot be seen when wearing a bikini or underwear etc.
• Downside of having a c-section: (1) I wasn't able to hold the baby right away - although on the upside it was a great bonding moment for my hubby and (2) in some cases a c-section will slow down the process of your milk coming in. In my case, I had a lot of difficulty breastfeeding as it took 7 days for my milk to fully "come in".

General Info:

• One of the biggest fears after birth was having your first BM. We all agreed that we were worried about ripping our incisions whether it was from an episiotomy or c-section. Thank god for the little red pills (stool softeners). All joking aside, the nurses should ensure that you do have a BM before discharging you from the hospital.
• Rita experienced PUPPS rash all over her belly during the last 2-3 weeks of her pregnancy which put her through a lot of pain and discomfort. This ultimately led to her being induced as the rash was becoming unbearable. Interestingly enough, they say that 70% of women who have PUPPS rash during pregnancy are carrying boys, but in Rita's case she had a girl.
• Rita & Selin both opted to have blood cord samples drawn. If you're going to have this done, order your kit approximately 1 month before your expected delivery.

Tips for the Men:

• do NOT breathe on your wife when she is having contractions
• do NOT text message everyone in your contact list while your wife is in labour
• do NOT take pictures of your wife while her face is beat red and squished so tight she feels like her head is going to explode
• Relax ... we know that you feel helpless, but there really is nothing that you can do for us. Believe us when we say that if there is anything we need - we will tell you.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
During the podcast we touched on a number of things that may require further explanation and/or research. Below are some links to additional resources that you may find helpful:

To learn more about an episiotomy visit http://www.babycenter.ca/pregnancy/labourandbirth/labour/episiotomy/

For a complete review on the difference between pitocin and oxytocin and the circumstances for each use, visit http://pregnancy.about.com/od/induction/a/pitocindiffers.htm

For more information on your baby's apgar score please visit http://kidshealth.org/parent/newborn/first_days/apgar.html

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
At the end of each episode, we will share our "MOMMY-SENTIALS" with you.

• Health Pod - http://www.healthpod.ca/ - Recommended by healthcare professionals and guided by the expertise of doctors, each section of HealthPod Baby guides you to track your child’s most vital health and medical information in a clear and concise format.
  
• Toy Strap by http://www.pippalily.com/ - Attach baby's favourites to the car seat, stroller, shopping cart, wagon etc... to keep them off the ground. Adjustable Velcro strap accommodates literally everything from teethers, sippy cups and our fave - Sophie!
  
• Lunch Bag/Cooler by http://www.soyoungmother.com/ - Why should kids have all the fun? Use it as a bottle bag for baby, pack your child's drinks and snacks in it, or leave the kids at home and take your lunch with you wherever you go. Need an extra hand? These versatile bags can be snapped onto stroller handlebars or worn in either messenger or backpack style.
  
• Hooter Hider by http://www.bebeaulait.com/ - Hooter Hiders are the world's most famous patented nursing covers. Invented in 2004, Hooter Hiders have become one of the top must haves for breastfeeding mothers. Featuring a rigid neckline and our signature prints, Hooter Hider Nursing Covers allow you to breastfeed anytime, anywhere, and in style!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

We recently posted a poll regarding labour and the results are in: 87% had an epidural, 50% had a natural birth, 37% used forceps, 1% used a vacuum, 1% used a mid-wife, 1% had a c-section and 0 people had a water birth.