When I Go Into Labor, Start a Stopwatch

The more birth stories I hear that end in c-sections, the more upset I become with the medical community. I feel like women might as well bring a stop watch to the hospital with them and when it goes off, the doctor will walk in and exlaim "time for a c-section!" or "Let's get you started on pitocin!"

Some women go into labor and are immediately put on Pitocin to speed things up, so there is not even a stopwatch there. Every inch of me wants to scream "LEAVE THESE WOMEN ALONE!" Their bodies know how to labor, so let it happen on it's own without intervening before anything is actually wrong! Add Pitocin and the time on the stopwatch shortens. Now you are expected to have the baby quicker because the Pitocin should be making that baby come sooner.

I know it doesn't go exactly like that, but it's damn close at a lot of hospitals. I was watching "One Born Every Minute" not too long ago and was so frustrated at the episode I was watching. This woman had not progressed for four hours, and guess what, the nurse came in and blatantly told her that when you don't progress in four hours they do a c-section. The stop watch was clearly present.

My heart breaks when I hear stories of so many women who've had c-sections because of "failure to progress". I think it should be called "failure to wait". Our bodies do amazing things, and sometimes during labor, they take a break before the big finish. This is not a failure...this is smart. Sometimes mom needs a break in labor and our bodies do what they need to. *note: I do understand there are cases where an emergency occurs and the baby DOES need to be removed quickly

I know I am kind of a natural labor/birth junkie, but I believe that laboring women shouldn't be rushed. Birth is a natural process that our medical community is trying to control. It seems like they prey on the fear of laboring women who just want to have healthy babies, threatening that their child could xyz if they don't have a c-section or if they wait longer.

My question is this: who gets to decide how long is too long when it comes to progressing, and how can you put a single number on all labors when every woman and their labors are different?

Rock 'N Learn Sight Words Review

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this DVD. My toddler will tell you that she loves it just as much. This isn't suggested for two-year-olds, but she loves it and I know she is learning. We own the "Your Baby Can Read" DVDs and this reminds me a lot of those videos, except a lot more colorful and exciting. This is the "fun" or lets say "rock" version of those DVDs.

The premise of the video is that your children will learn what are called "sight words" or words that they will see a lot while reading. The words show up on the screen with the illustration of what they mean while they are being said. They are then usually put into some fun song.

My daughter likes to move along with the DVD and do what the characters are doing. She even talks with the DVD, so I can tell she is learning. Her little brain is growing and changing so fast that I think this is perfect for her age.

Thank you Rock 'N Learn for creating another fabulous DVD! Mommy Headquarters readers can order this DVD and others at rocknlearn.com and use the coupon code JQ7711 25% off!

Increase Breastmilk Supply Cookie Recipe

The feeling that comes with a dropping milk supply is nothing short of devastating. We want to provide nutritious food for our babies and sometimes our bodies just don't cooperate. Here is a great cookie recipe that may help increase your milk supply.

It is based on the idea that brewers yeast and oatmeal help your supply. After I drink a beer (which contains brewers yeast) I find that my supply is always up a little. I have also had women tell me that oatmeal does wonders. I am not a big oatmeal fan myself, but I do like oatmeal cookies, so this recipe is a winner in my book. These cookies also make a great homemade gift for new mommies. Attach the recipe on a cute recipe card, put the cookies in a cute basket or tin and you have a gourmet gift that is beneficial to mom and baby!

* 1 cup butter
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 4 tablespoons water
* 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal
* 2 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 2 cups of flour (can use whole wheat flour)
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups of oats (NOT instant oatmeal)
* 1 cup of nuts, chocolate chips, raisins, peanut butter chips, or anything else you like in your cookies. - I like chocolate chips and walnuts.
* 2-4 tablespoons of brewers yeast

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Mix the flaxseed meal and water. Set aside.
3. Combine and beat butter, sugar, brown sugar and eggs.
4. Add the flaxseed/water mix, and vanilla to the butter and sugar mix.
5. Combine flour, brewers yeast, salt, cinnamon, and baking soda in a separate bowl
6. Slowly add the dry ingredients (flour mix) to the wet ingredients (butter/sugar mix)
7. Add the oats and nuts, chocolate chips, raisins or any other add-ins you'd like. 8. Drop the cookies onto a cookie sheet and bake 12-15 minutes or until light golden brown

Let cool and enjoy!

What variations did you try and like?

Baby Comfy Nose Review

Every mom loves a good snot sucker. There is nothing worse than watching your child suffer because they can't yet blow their nose. I have gone through quite a few nasal aspirators and have disliked most of them. They just don't do the job! My favorite has always been the one I got from the hospital (If you are pregnant, once you have the baby DO NOT throw it away! It's amazing).

Baby Comfy Nose is a nasal aspirator that you suck on one end of in order to pull snot out of your baby's nose at the other end. I have to admit, I used to make fun of these contraptions. The idea of sucking on one end of a tube connected to my baby's nose just seemed disgusting. But, I tried it anyways, and to my surprise, I kind of liked it.

The Baby Comfy nose has a chamber at the end of the tube to catch the snot you suck out of the baby's nose. You put a tissue in this chamber to act as a filter.

What I like about the Baby Comfy Nose

• It did a good job. This aspirator actually pulled a lot of gunk out of my baby's nose.
• I could easily clean it. The chamber comes apart so it is easy to rinse the snot out.
• I could see what came out. The chamber is clear so I could see exactly what I got out, and I could see if I cleaned it well. I hate that I can't see inside my other aspirators...It is a mystery to me whether there is something stuck in there or not....
• My baby tolerated it. I don't know any babies who like to have their nose sucked out. I can't imagine it feels good, but Little S actually layed there while I did it without too much fuss.

What could be improved

• The tissue filter. I am not a germ-o-phobe, but the tissue just didn't seem like enough of a barrier for me. No snot even touched the tissue (that I could see), but I feel like I was openly welcoming germs into my mouth. I could be 100% wrong about this, but that was my perception. I obviously wasn't too concerned since I used it multiple times. I would love if there was some sort of built-in filter in the mouth piece. Regardless, I will use it again because it worked.

Overall, not a bad product. I was really happy with the job it did, and happy that Little S didn't fight it so much. If you are open to it, give it a try!