by sugarsunshinelife | Apr 4, 2023 | Lifestyle, Motherhood, Pregnancy
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Getting Ready:
It’s that time again ~ Time to pack for another hospital trip for another baby! I am so excited yet terrified at the same time. Even though I have all of the emotions about giving birth racing through my head, I am comforted knowing that I have my essentials packed and ready for the day baby #2 makes his arrival.
I have once again decided to go un-medicated for this birth. With my first, I also had an un-medicated birth and it was truly magical! You can read all about my experience here. If you would like to hear about my birth story for baby #2, please let me know in the comment section below!
When I was pregnant with my first, I wrote another post on What’s In My Hospital Bag. See that post for some great tips and a quick checklist!
Must-Haves:
One of the first things I immediately stashed into my bag was the MotherLove Nipple Balm. Y’all this saved my life last time I breastfed! I started using it in the hospital and it offered so much comfort. It helped with the soreness and cracked nipples. Truly a must-have!
I made sure to pack some lip balm, extra pads, a long phone charger, and non-slip socks! These are definitely going into my toiletry bag. I also packed some travel shampoo and conditioner for my hubby while we are staying in the hospital.
Some of My Favorites:
I found the cutest Kindred Braverly socks and they have the cutest saying, “Baby you’re worth it.” on the bottom. This pair comes in four different colors. I’m so excited to wear them during our hospital stay! You can use code Madison15 for a discount at checkout!
Another Kindred Braverly item that is in my bag is the Sublime Adjustable Crossover Nursing & Lounge Bra. I have already started wearing it because it is just so comfortable! It’s great for lounging in and definitely a must-have!
Due to wanting an unmedicated birth, I knew I wanted to pack a diffuser along with some of my favorite Essential Oils. I grabbed this diffuser for under $15 a few weeks ago and have used it every day since! An Essential Oil that I plan on diffusing during our hospital stay is Young Living’s Lavender oil. This oil is so effective in my everyday life and I hope it can help me during labor!
Ready for if he needs it is a pack of my favorite brand of pacifiers (I love this color)!
Waiting at Home:
While there will be another sweet boy waiting at home for us, there is something else that I want to mention that isn’t going into my hospital bag, but is ready for when we get home. It’s the Nanobébé Complete Feeding System! They were so kind to send me a sample to try for our newest addition! We have only ever used Nanobébé brand for pacifiers, bottles, etc. I was overjoyed to collaborate with their brand!
The Nanobébé Complete Feeding System includes two Flexy silicone pacifiers, convenient breast pump adapters, a baby bottle warmer, 4 slow flow nipples, and a bottle brush for easy cleaning! It’s perfect for any new parent. I can’t wait to put this feeding system to good use!
I made sure to pack some disposable nursing pads to help during those early days of breastfeeding. My favorite are the Nanobébé Disposable Nursing Pads! I tried many brands when I breastfed my oldest and these are the only ones that would completely catch milk and not leave me wet. I could wear any bra I wanted as long as I had these on! They are so unbelievably helpful!
Having an easy and accessible way to everything postpartum is so helpful! I made sure to have my disposable nursing pads within reach and organized. I stored them in this cute basket that I got from the Dollar Tree! Here are some that are similar to the ones I bought.
One of the best welcome kits that I have gotten is from Nanobébé! It is completely free and has everything you need to sample including nursing pads, breastmilk storage bags, and a 0-3 month Flexy Pacifier! I think this welcome kit is what hooked me on Nanobébé with my oldest. That and the fact that Nanobébé pacifiers were the only ones he would take… ha!
Did you know that you can also donate a bottle or pacifier to a family in need? Here’s how Nanobébé offers an amazing way to give to others at hardly any cost! Donate now!
I love hearing from others! If you can think of anything that I’m missing or something you would add (or have added to your bag), please leave a comment below. Have a blessed day!
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by sugarsunshinelife | Nov 20, 2021 | Lifestyle, Pregnancy
Hey friends!
As the month of November goes on, it only gets closer to when we finally meet our baby boy! That’s why I already have my hospital bag packed and loaded into our car!
It’s crazy to think that come Christmas, we will no longer be a family of two, but a family of three. Honestly, that’s the best Christmas present ever!
After lots of research, and asking family and friends what I should have in my hospital bag, I finally have it completed and packed! I packed all of my items into my handy duffle bag that I got off of Amazon for only $18.99!
Why Is Having A Well Packed Hospital Bag So Important?
It is so, so important to have everything you need during your stay at the hospital. When you’re in labor, you’re going to need things like pain reliever, hair ties, essential oils, snacks, etc. Basically, you’re going to need things that will help you get through the laboring process. Having everything you need right there when you need it is vital.
Not only do you need things during labor, but having what you need those first few days postpartum is really important! You’re not going to want to be stressing about things that you don’t have because you will have a beautiful bundle of joy occupying your whole being and you will be extremely tired.
Here are some items that I have in my bag currently. Everyone is different and needs different things but I hope this helps you navigate what to pack! I made sure to include items that I think I will absolutely need during my hospital stay and for recovery.
IN MY BAG:
–Headbands, in case I get sweaty
–Hair ties
-Chapstick, I always use my handy Burt’s Bees
–Pads
–Bathrobe, this one is by far the softest I’ve ever owned!
-Comfy pj’s & nursing nightgown.
–Slippers
–Fuzzy, non-slip socks
-Long phone charging cord
–Earth Mama Sitz Spray
–Nursing bras
–Facial wipes
–Baby book
-A book for me to read during the stay
-Lotion, I’m bringing my Honest Brand lotion so that both the baby and I can use it. (And maybe dad, too!)
–Essential Oils
-Tylenol, for the pain
-Hospital snacks: chips, crackers, water bottles, beef jerky, etc.
-Birth plan: Printed and memorized by my husband, LOL.
-Hand Sanitizer (new bottle)
-A toiletry bag for toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, etc.
–Postpartum underwear
IN MY BABY’S BAG:
–Newborn hats
–Newborn socks
–Mittens
–Onesies, I’m bringing some I was gifted from Burt’s Bees.
–Diaper balm
-My own baby wipes, the hospital will provide these but I want to use a specific brand.
–Extra Diapers, just in case. I have my Honest Brand diapers packed.
–Coming home outfit. My husband requested that our baby boy come home in a Nike bodysuit that I bought!
–Burp cloths
–Swaddle blankets
–Washcloths
I also made sure that my husband had some clothes ready to go as well. I packed us our basic toiletry necessities like toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo & conditioner, etc.
We also made sure our car seat and stroller were ready to go. Check out my blog post on Our Car Seat and Why We Chose It, here!
by sugarsunshinelife | Sep 7, 2021 | Food, Pregnancy
If you’re a mama out there who is struggling to find some snacks or meals to help with inescapable nausea and food aversions that come with pregnancy, I’m your girl. I was a picky eater before I became pregnant so as soon as the food aversions hit, I became even pickier. Crazy right? I used to not be able to eat a whole bunch of dairy pre-pregnancy due to being lactose intolerant but lately, I have been craving milk. I guess my little one likes calcium!
Below are a few of my favorite snacks and meals throughout my pregnancy so far. I hope you find something new to try!
Snacks:
- Benton’s Cookie Thins.
- Chocolate oatmeal.
Here’s what I put in mine: 1 cup of instant oats, ½ cup of cocoa powder, ¼ cup of your favorite nut butter (I use almond or soy butter), ¼ cup of butter, and ½ cup of sugar.
- Fruit bowl that consists of strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries.
- Mandarin orange slices.
- Toast with butter and strawberry jelly or soy butter.
- Homemade hashbrowns.
- Banana chocolate smoothie.
Here’s how I make mine: 2 banana’s, ½ cup of cocoa powder, ½ cup of your favorite nut butter (I use almond butter), 1 ½ cups of oat milk, ½ cup of sugar, and 1 cup of ice. I add more ice if needed.
- Carrots and ranch.
- Enjoy Life protein bites.
Meals:
- Breakfast burritos.
When I make mine I have to have these ingredients: homemade guacamole, scrambled eggs, ground chicken or turkey, sauteed spinach, and occasionally hashbrowns.
- Chicken Alfredo.
- Caesar salad.
I love adding Ken’s Caesar Dressing on top of mine.
- Chili with a piece of grilled cheese on the side.
I hope this has helped inspire you to make some of these pregnancy snacks and meals!
