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3 Ways Your Partner Can Help with Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding, whether you are doing it for the first time or are a veteran, can sometimes come with challenges and emotions that can be difficult for you to navigate on your own. While some may be surprised, there are things that your partner can do to help you through the experience, even though they are not physically involved in this process.

 

  • Your partner can be present for you emotionally. Your hormones are already going to be in flux as your body adjusts to your and your baby’s physical needs postpartum, but if you are also having a hard time breastfeeding that can add to your emotional load. Tell your partner that you need support and nurturing. Whether it is simple encouragement, physical touch, or holding the space for you to release, the act of being present with you can be a major balm for your heart.

 

  • Your partner can help you find information. With our first daughter, I did not know how to breastfeed. I wasn’t aware of what a proper latch looked like (or felt like) and for the first two weeks my nipples were very sore because she was only latching onto them. And I developed mastitis to top it off (which I developed with our second child as well). My husband helped me to figure out what a proper latch looked like. He would physically help me adjust our baby’s body and head until it worked. He brought me pillows when he felt it could help. When I developed mastitis he spoke with our doctors/midwives to find out what would help to resolve the issues and how he could help. At one point it hurt so bad that I was afraid to breastfeed, and he talked me through it and encouraged me to push through it because he knew how badly I wanted to breastfeed and he felt that it was what was best for our babies. I am forever grateful that he was there for me in those ways as I was in no mind to do it alone.

 

  • Your partner can advocate on your behalf. It is more common than not to run into at least one unsupportive person who doesn’t understand the benefits of breastfeeding (especially extended breastfeeding) who has no problem letting you know their opinion on the subject. Having someone you love stand up for you and your choices, and even try to educate someone who may otherwise bring you down is empowering and lets you know that you are not alone.

 

Even if you do not have a partner, a good friend or family member can help ease some of the challenges of breastfeeding by supporting you in any way that they can. Please do not be afraid to ask for help when you feel that you need it. This is an important time for you and your baby, and any assistance can make the difference between feeling helpless and feeling nurtured.

Working Out While Pregnant

Working Out While Pregnant

Everyone knows that it’s important to take care of your physical body when you are pregnant, but this goes beyond trying to eat a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water. Getting daily exercise is just as necessary as those things, and can make a huge difference in how you feel during pregnancy as well as the condition your body is in when you go into labor.


But what exercises are best for you? That all depends on what types of exercise you already do. In general, it is said that you can continue to perform activities and exercises that you normally do in your daily life as long as it is comfortable for you.


When I was pregnant with our first child, I had just started taking horseback riding lessons. I was advised to stop because it isn’t something that my body was used to, and there was a risk of placental abruption due to the pelvic motion caused by riding. That was pretty disappointing, but I obviously wanted to keep my body and my baby safe, so I stopped.


I knew that exercising while pregnant was very important, but I will also be the first to admit that I was terrible at it. Setting a goal for myself seemed daunting at first, but finally I settled on trying to walk for at least 30 minutes each day. As it turned out, this became a very real and enjoyable goal that I met just about every day.


If you enjoyed hiking, swimming, cycling, or jogging before you got pregnant, you can usually continue to do these activities while you are pregnant so long as you aren’t experiencing any complications. Prenatal yoga is a wonderfully gentle form of exercise that can help you to relax and increase flexibility, making it great for your mind and body, and can be done safely by most women without complication. More strenuous activities like weight training, cross-fit, etc may be continued into pregnancy if you have an established practice, but it is always a good idea to consult with your doctor just to make sure. It is not recommended that you start any intense exercise training after becoming pregnant as this can significantly increase your risk of complications.


Signs to watch out for:


Whether you are continuing an established exercise practice or starting a new one, it is important to be aware of serious symptoms of possible pregnancy complications. If you notice any of these, stop immediately and contact your doctor:


*Dizziness

*Abdominal Cramping

*Vaginal spotting/bleeding

*Shortness of breath

*Headache

*Heart Palpitations

*Chest Pains

*Fluid leaking from the vagina


In general, do what feels good to your body. Do not push yourself to do more than you feel you are able, and let your doctor know immediately if you have questions or if something doesn’t feel right. Otherwise, enjoy doing something amazing and nourishing for you and your baby!

First Trimester To-Do List

First Trimester To-Do List

You’ve just taken a pregnancy test and saw that little “+” or smiley face or “Pregnant” or whatever symbol happens to correspond with your test of choice, and you are likely now thinking about what the first trimester holds for you. Here are some things you should be preparing for, thinking about, or doing right now::


  • Choosing a healthcare provider. There are lots of OBGYNs, Midwives, and PCPs to explore, but ultimately you want to make sure that the caregiver you go with really resonates with your birth plan and beliefs about pregnancy and childbirth. Finding a provider who you really connect with will make all of the difference in your pregnancy and delivery experience since you are not only looking to them for physical care, information and guidance, but for emotional support as well. And since we’re on the subject of choosing a healthcare provider, you will also want to...

  • Figure out how you are going to pay your provider. Most of us have health insurance already, but the amount of coverage that each individual has will vary greatly. If you want a midwife instead of an OBGYN, you’ll want to see if your insurance covers midwifery care. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to figure out how much it will cost you out-of-pocket, and whether or not you can afford it. This is something you are not going to want to deal with later on in your pregnancy, so it’s best to get it out of the way first.

  • Check in on your health and eating habits. If you have been smoking, drinking in excess, getting too little exercise, and/or eating a poor diet, now is the time to really take a look at these habits and make improvements that will benefit your and your baby’s health.  Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can have detrimental effects on your developing baby. Poor diet can lead to pregnancy complications, and may also - in more severe cases - prevent your growing baby from receiving all of the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals needed for healthy brain and organ development. See what you can do to make even a few small changes that can have a big effect on your and your baby’s health.

  • Take an inventory of your regular daily activities to ensure that they are safe for pregnancy. When I got pregnant in 2009 I was working for a commercial cleaning company. Every day I was surrounded by hazardous chemicals that weren’t really safe for pregnant women to work around. I quit within the first trimester due more to extreme fatigue than chemical exposure, but that was definitely a factor in my decision to leave. If need be, check in with your caregiver if you aren’t sure whether or not a specific activity is safe or not.

  • Find ways to relieve early pregnancy symptoms if you are experiencing them. One of the most common complaints is morning sickness. If you are able to build up your magnesium and Vitamin D stores at least 6 months before you get pregnant, your chances of morning sickness will decrease greatly. If you haven’t prepared, however, you may still be able to find relief through the use of various products and/or supplements: Ginger, sea-bands, eating small meals sufficient in protein throughout the day, or - in extreme cases - prescription anti-nausea medication may all help. Be gentle with yourself and if you aren’t feeling well, take time to rest and nurture your body.

  • REST. For many pregnant women, exhaustion comes on hard and fast during the first trimester. If you are able you should make it a point to rest as much as you can so you aren’t dragging all day long. I know this can be challenging for those who work full time or have other children to tend to, but even if you have to take a cat-nap at work, or lay down with your other littles during their nap time, this can make a big difference in how you feel in general from day to day. Go to bed early if you can! Your body is doing incredible things, and it’s only natural to feel some exhaustion because of it.

  • Try to get adequate exercise. This doesn’t mean that you have to do a bunch of cardio or weight training, but you do want to keep your body supple and your blood and oxygen flowing. When it comes time to deliver your baby, you want to make sure that you are able to meet the physical challenges that the experience may require of you. Having hip and leg flexibility and the ability to exert yourself for long periods of time can be most helpful when the time comes. Not only that, but exercising helps to cut down on fatigue and it just feels good!

  • Learn to distinguish between normal pregnancy symptoms and symptoms that may require caregiver notification. Especially if you are pregnant for the first time, it can be hard to tell whether a particular ache, pain, or sensation is normal, or if it requires immediate attention. Talk with your caregiver at your first appointment and do your own research so you’ll be better informed in the event that something doesn’t feel right.

  • Do fun pregnancy stuff! Think about names, track your baby’s growth, start looking at baby clothes and nursery items, begin building a registry, etc etc etc.

During the challenging parts of the First Trimester, it’s always a good idea to throw some relaxing and fun things in there for good measure. Oh, and here’s a tip: use http://babyli.st/ to set up your registry. You can add items from anywhere on the internet, regardless of whether or not a particular store actually has a baby registry tool!

New Products To Shop On Fuzzibunz.com

New Products To Shop On Fuzzibunz.com

We all at some point in our lives have dreams. Dreams that have propelled us into exciting and passionate moments. Dreams that have taken us to new
heights. And dreams that have shaped and formed our lives in more ways than
we could have ever imagined.


My dream started when my youngest son was born and we needed an
alternative to disposable diapers. FuzziBunz grew and so did my desire to
provide products to families that would be healthier for their little ones. I took a
huge leap of faith when I went on SharkTank and asked the Sharks to invest in
my company. I learned so much in that moment and was blessed to quickly find
investors that have given me the opportunity to continue to provide each and
every one of you with cloth diapers for your little ones.

Last year, we announced that Infant C Trading company (which I have a stake in) acquired FuzziBunz and has been a driving force behind making this, a brand that provides quality cloth diapers at an affordable rate, a reality.

But, we don’t want to stop there.

I have always been dedicated to helping other entrepreneurs who are looking to
introduce baby products into the industry. And the broad reach of FuzziBunz has given me an even stronger platform to effectively introduce new products that are now a part of our family!

Throughout the next couple of weeks, our team will be sharing each and every
one of these new brands with you! Our reach is large and our families are dedicated to providing you with products that are best for your children. All of the brands we represent are unique and sure to peak your interest so make sure to check back periodically to see what items we have to offer!

All of the brands that are part of the INFANTC Brands family will be available on
our FuzziBunz.com site! To learn more about our brands and to see what amazing items will be launched on our website next, check out or social media sites and visit https://fuzzibunz.com/collections/brands-we-love to shop new products!

Cheers to making new dreams come true!

Sincerely,

Tereson Dupuy, CEO
FuzziBunz.com
INFANTC Brands, LLC

Does One Size Really Fit All? Your Guide to the FuzziBunz Adjustable Cloth Diaper Sizing System

Does One Size Really Fit All? Your Guide to the FuzziBunz Adjustable Cloth Diaper Sizing System

There are a lot of cloth diaper brands on the market today that offer One Size diapers. The majority of them are designed to fit children from the time they are born, up until the time they learn to use the toilet. This sounds great, right? I mean, think of how much money you’re going to save if you only have to buy one set of diapers to last your child’s entire diapering career?


But there are downsides to this design. To begin, in order to create a diaper that fits such a wide weight, size, and age range, the diaper’s fabric content has to be such that it will comfortably fit the largest end of the aforementioned spectrum. What does that mean for newborns? BULK.


Many One Size diaper users find that the bulkiness of the diapers is bothersome, not only aesthetically, but practically. A tiny newborn baby wearing a diaper that potentially fits a 40 pound child is not likely going to be able to keep his/her legs together. The excess fabric will create a ‘balloon” effect that could distort the position of the baby’s hips and waist when lying down (which will be much of the time). These factors put together could potentially create a misalignment of the baby’s growing body as well as general discomfort.


Additionally, other One Size diapers are designed with rows of snaps down the front of the diaper which you use to adjust the rise. While this design works, it also creates “folds” that many CD users find to be unattractive.


What is the solution? FuzziBunz First Year and One Size Adjustable diapering system. Two different styles, each designed to fit a specific weight/age range that offers a great fit while still saving you money.


Our Adjustable diapers are the only product with a fully-adjustable, fully-replaceable elastic system. By simply buttoning the waist and leg elastics to the recommended setting provided by our sizing guide, your child will receive a snug, secure fit with minimal bulk.


Our First Year Adjustable diapers are designed to fit children from approximately 6 - 24 pounds, or newborn - 18 months old. These diapers have a narrow crotch and a lower rise to ensure that newborns receive optimal comfort and security, and are great for children who are starting to move and groove!


Our One Size Adjustable diapers are designed to fit children from approximately 10 - 40 pounds, or 3 - 36 months. With a wider crotch and higher rise, children receive more coverage where they need it most, and a great fit that will last them until potty training.


While the idea of only having to buy one set of diapers for life is great in theory, the reality is that if you want a truly secure, comfortable fit for your child as a newborn, a babe, and a toddler, a “one size fits all” diaper is not likely to get the job done.


Check out our First Year and One Size Adjustable bundles for big savings and adorable styles!