The Right Stuff: Your Baby Registry Guide

Registering for all that you’ll need when your bundle-of-joy finally arrives is a daunting task—to say the least. Will one stroller be sufficient? Is a bouncy chair really necessary? How many crib sets should I get? Oh, the list of questions goes on and on and on. We’re big fans of soliciting such advice (not to mentioned gently-used hand-me-downs) from family and friends, but if you find yourself sans reliable feedback, our guide to all the things you really need may be in order.

Without further ado, here’s our list of the top 12 baby registry must-haves:

1. An Infant Car Seat

There are lots of available options, at multiple price points, when it comes to infant car seats. A good rule of thumb to guide you in choosing the right one for you is to check the latest Consumer Reports ratings and select one from the top of the list. For the latest on car seat safety, from choosing the right one to installing it to trading up, check out Healthy Children’s 2011 piece on car safety seats.

2. A Stroller

Strollers, much like cars, vary in style, number of features, maneuverability and, of course, price. Because of these factors, in many ways the right stroller depends largely on your personal preferences and needs. If you’re a city family, you’ll need something that can handle being wheeled around city streets, and might not necessarily need to be put in the back of a car. If you’re a more suburban or rural family, you’ll likely want something easily foldable or one that can handle long walks or mall trips. Other factors to consider: If this is your second child, you might want to register for a stroller that will accommodate both an infant and a toddler; Expecting twins? There’s a large variety of strollers for multiples on the market; Are you the sporty type? Consider registering for a jogging stroller instead of—or in addition to—a regular one.

3. A Play Yard/Portable Crib

An essential for travel or an impromptu nap at a friend’s house, a portable crib is something you’ll definitely need. Many come with all sorts of bells and whistles, but it’s doubtful that you’ll really utilize them. Therefore, we advise selecting one that is lightweight but sturdy, and simple to assemble.

4. Baby Furniture

Much like a stroller, baby furniture is largely a matter of personal preference, taste, lifestyle and available space. From modern to classic to funky to fabulous, nursery furniture is aplenty so rest assured that you’ll find what you’re looking for. If you’ve got the space, consider getting a crib, a dresser/changing table combo unit, a glider and some sort of book/toy case. Be sure to go for the all-natural or organic brands when you can—for nursery furniture and just about anything and everything else on your baby registry.

5. Crib Linens

Crib linens, like all room décor, are largely a matter of personal taste. Most sites offering crib linens feature registry options. Our tip: register for two or three extra (organic cotton, naturally) crib sheet sets, as you’ll need to change them often.

6. A Bouncy Chair

A bouncy chair will come in very handy when you need to set your babe down or need a short break. He’ll sit upright in it, and ideally, it will keep him entertained and soothed—well, you know, long enough to return an email or brush your teeth.

7. Bathtime Essentials

Pretty soon after you bring her home, she’ll need her first bath. Make sure you register for all of the essentials: a tub, some organic cotton baby washcloths (they’re much gentler than regular ones) and organic baby bath products.

8. Bibs

You’ll need lots of these to start—more than you think! For newborns, stick to the fabric bibs—you won’t need plastic ones until baby begins eating solid foods.

9. Burp Cloths

Along the same lines as bibs, you’ll need a bunch of burp cloths (unless you plan on doing laundry all the time).

10. Onesies

Your baby will most likely go through a few each day so having extra is a good idea. Don’t rely on others to buy them for you; stock up on six or so before baby arrives. The ones that snap or zip up the front are the easiest to take off and put on.

11. Breastfeeding Essentials

A quality, comfortable breast pump that travels well, along with BPA-free bottles for storage, are definite must-haves. Other helpful breastfeeding gear include a breastfeeding pillow, several cute nursing tanks/tops, a few good (and sexy!) nursing bras, nipple cream and nursing pads.

12. A Diaper Bags

You’ll need a diaper bag to hold all sort of stuff: changing essentials, feeding essentials, a change of clothes, some toys and your personal items. Most diaper bags offer plenty of room for all of these essentials, so ultimately, your choice may come down to style and price. When it comes to style, choosing a diaper bag is much like picking a purse—and there are nearly as many varieties.

Four Foods to Eat When You’re Expecting (and Four to Skip)

“Once on the lips, forever on the hips” is bad enough, but “once on the lips, forever affecting your developing child” is much more serious. When you’re pregnant, set your little one up for success by watching what you eat, favoring whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, and legumes. Need some specific suggestions? Here are four foods to put on your grocery list, and four to steer clear of.

Eat this:

1. Broccoli. A dietary superstar no matter your stage in life, broccoli is helpful in pregnancy because of its calcium, folic acid (crucial for your baby’s evolving nervous system, brain development and red blood cell formation), and vitamins A and C.

2. Nuts. Small in stature but large in mineral content, nuts pack a powerful punch of DHA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid that boosts baby’s brainpower. Walnuts are an especially good source; throw them into a salad or take a handful on the go for a good snack.

3. Eggs. Whether scrambled, hard-boiled or over easy, eggs contain more than a dozen vitamins and minerals helpful for a healthy pregnancy—and each one typically touts less than 100 calories. They’re also rich in protein, which fetuses need for cell growth, and are integral in brain and vision development.

4. Oatmeal. Looking for a breakfast of pregnant champions? Start your day right with oatmeal, which delivers on the fiber, B vitamins, phytonutrients and iron you need. Be sure to keep getting whole grains throughout the day—try whole-grain bread, barley, quinoa and popcorn.

Skip this:

1. Hot dogs and luncheon meats. These foods are prone to listeria, a type of bacteria that can lead to miscarriage or health problems. It’s best to avoid any deli ham, deli turkey, bologna, salami, refrigerated smoked seafood and hot dogs until after your baby is born.

2. Unpasteurized dairy products. For the same reason you want to say hasta la vista to hot dogs, you’ll want to say ciao to some cheeses. Those made with unpasteurized milk—like Brie, Camembert, Roquefort (also known as blue cheese), feta and others—are at risk for listeria.

3. Large fish. Some fish contain high levels of mercury, which is a problem for pregnant women because of mercury’s negative effects on brain and nervous system development. You’ll want to limit your fish intake to 12 ounces a week and consume only low-mercury options (salmon, canned tuna and tilapia, for example). Avoid altogether king mackerel, swordfish, shark and tilefish.

4. Alcohol. It may be tempting to sip the occasional glass of wine, but research has found that there are no safe levels of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Alcohol can impair fetal development, affecting the physical growth and intellectual development of your baby—and that’s not a risk you want to take.

 

Belly Be Gone!: How to Say Bye-Bye To Your Postpartum Pooch

Whether you’ve recently given birth or your child is in preschool, chances are your stomach isn’t what it used to be: flat. It’s a hot topic amongst many moms who say that despite a healthy diet their bellies continue to be jelly.

During pregnancy the uterus stretches like a balloon and, thus, it takes time for it to deflate back to its normal size. This naturally slow progression, coupled with the many new responsibilities in your life (and lack of free time, sleep and, some days, sanity), oftentimes cut into a regular workout routine (or nix it altogether), which makes it difficult to sculpt and tone your way back to a flat tummy.

The good news is that all you need is patience, dedication, determination, focus and mommy-fitness guru Lori Sawyer’s six, serious gut-kicking exercises for you to reclaim your once and former slim, sexy mid-section.

How to Get Started

Before you begin to exercise postpartum, you must be given the green light from your doctor. This all-clear usually takes place six weeks after you’ve given birth. Your starting level of postpartum exercise depends on how much you worked out throughout your pregnancy and the shape you were in prior to it. Walking is a great way to ease into your new routine. Be prepared to walk every day—just pop that baby into the stroller and go. Walking will jump start your metabolism and rejuvenate your muscles. Also, remember to drink enough water and eat healthfully (fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats), especially if you wan to expedite your return to slender.

Six Gut Busters

Core Contraction
Lay on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Push your lower back into the ground by contracting your ab muscles. (Think of pulling your belly button down towards the floor.) Keep your abs flat and pretend to push out the sides of your core.  Hold this for 10 seconds and relax. This exercise targets the transverse abdominus, which is the main deep core muscle that gets stretched out during pregnancy. You must strengthen these muscles in order to see results. Begin by doing this 10 times. When those 10 repetitions get easy, progress to the exercises below.

Bridge
Lay on your back with knees bent, contract your abs, butt and pelvic floor muscles (you can contract your pelvic floor muscles by doing a Keigel exercise and tightening your abs by flattening your tummy) and raise your hips up off the floor. Hold for five seconds and relax down slowly.

 

Bridge with Extended Leg
Start by doing a regular bridge, however straighten one knee so that your toe is pointed out in front of you. Do not let your hips drop down at all. Bend knee and put foot back on the floor. Repeat with the other leg.

 

 

Planks
Hold yourself in a plank position with your back straight and your elbows on the mat. Stay in this position for as long as you can while maintaining the proper form (don’t let your butt dip down). If you are able, hold this exercise for 30 seconds, but if you can’t hold the pose for 30 seconds, then you can build up to it.

 

Curl Ups
Lay on your back, place your arms over your head and pull your belly button down toward the floor. Slowly reach your hands toward your knees. Roll up until your shoulder blades have lifted off the floor then slowly lower yourself back down for three seconds.

 

 

Dead Bug
Lay on your back with knees bent and push your lower back into the floor by drawing in your belly button. Bring both legs to a 90-degree angle (bent at the knee). Straighten out one leg, maintaining a pelvic tilt for the entire time. Repeat with the other leg, just like a bicycle motion. Remember to keep your lower back pressed into the floor.

A quick note of caution: If you have diastisis recti (spreading of the midline of the abdominal wall), these exercises might be too much for you. Be sure to check with your doctor before beginning this or any exercise program.

For more information on Lori Sawyer’s Mommy-Moves stroller classes, pregnancy and/or postpartum fitness, go to www.mommy-moves.com.

A Great Start!

We had a fantastic first week we had with Dr. Slava!

She’s warm, caring and has a great positive attitude—and the patients love her!

The entire Healthy Woman team is so excited to have her on board.

Want to know more about Healthy Woman’s newest doctor? Read more about her here.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Slava, call 732.431.1616 or email us.

The Latest Birth Control Options

From the good old-fashioned family-planning method to introduction of “the Pill” in 1962 to now, the evolution of birth control follows the zeitgeist of the times. Nowadays, women have a plethora of choices when it comes to controlling when—and if—they get pregnant. Schedule an appointment to discuss the options with your doctor, who can thoroughly explain the benefits and drawbacks of each. And don’t be afraid to try something different if what you first choose doesn’t work for you. With this many options, something’s bound to be a good fit.

Essure: When you’re ready to make a permanent change, Essure is an option that prevents unplanned pregnancies forever once the tiny coils that a doctor inserts take hold to form a barrier to the fallopian tubes (this takes about three to six months). Although it’s a cutting-edge procedure, there’s no cutting involved—nor is there any anesthesia, hormones, or downtime to recover. Learn more about Essure here.

Implanon: A single flexible rod is implanted into the upper arm, where it releases progestin, a hormone that prevents contraception. (You may remember Norplant from several years ago, which used the same concept but involved six rods that often left a scar when removed. It was eventually taken off the market.) Implanon can be left in for three years and is extremely effective. However, it may come with side effects; the most common is irregular bleeding.

NuvaRing: A flexible ring that a woman inserts into her vagina, Nuva-Ring works the same way birth control pills do to prevent pregnancy. Each ring stays in for three weeks, and then you’ll get your period. Because the hormones aren’t absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, if you experience nausea while on the pill, this could be a good alternative.

Depo-Provera: This shot, administered by a doctor every three months, is 99 percent effective in pregnancy prevention, but it does carry drawbacks: About half of women stop getting their period within a year of starting Depo-Provera (delivered either to the arm or buttocks), and it may increase your risk of osteoporosis if taken for more than two years.

Ortho Evra Patch: This small patch is applied to the skin once a week for three weeks, followed by a patch-free week. It delivers estrogen and progestin and is about 99 percent effective with perfect use; 91 percent with typical use (it probably doesn’t work as well for women over 200 pounds). Because it releases in the neighborhood of 60 percent more estrogen than the average pill, it may pose more risks for blood clots.

And don’t forget these old standbys…

Birth Control Pills: More than 50 years after the pill debuted, it’s still the No. 1 choice in contraceptives—a whopping 82 percent of women have used the pill at some point in their lives, according to the CDC. Today, there are more options than ever, with newer versions stretching menstrual cycles out so that women only have a handful of periods a year, or none at all. They’re more than 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy when taken as directed—that’s every day at the same time, so adhering to a schedule is important. Each pill is different; if one causes unpleasant side effects like bloating or spotting, ask your doctor to try another.

Condoms: This oldie-but-goodie is still the best way you protect yourself against STDs, so if that’s a concern for you, combine condoms with another form of pregnancy prevention for maximum effectiveness (condoms have a failure rate of about 15 percent, but that’s mostly due to incorrect use). Latex condoms are still the best choice, but if you or your partner has a latex allergy, polyurethane and polyisoprene versions are available.

What to Expect Before You’re Expecting

Good golly! There is a lot to know when you are expecting.  A lot.

And guess what? There’s also a lot to know before you get pregnant.

So, if you’re thinking about getting pregnant or newly pregnant, please join the Healthy Woman doctors on Tuesday, June 21 from 7 to 8 pm at CentraState Medical Center (Star and Barry Tobias Ambulatory Campus Conference Center, Room C, 901 West Main Street, Freehold) for the inside scoop on what you need to know to prepare for pregnancy.

The evening’s hot topics include:

  • What to expect at your preconception visit with your OB
  • Exercise, immunizations, and lifestyle changes before pregnancy
  • Nutrition, prenatal vitamins and supplements
  • Understanding fertility, ovulation and conception
  • Identifying and managing risk factors
  • CentraState’s childbirth and parenting classes, including CPR

Baby-on-the-brain bonus: It’s free!

Register here.

What’s the Boy Scouts’ motto? Be prepared? Yeah, that sounds about right. Be prepared—we think they’re on to something.

We are looking forward to seeing you on the 21st!

 

 

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