Planning for labor is essential! Think about your birth environment, important paperwork, and the necessities you'll want to bring to help you feel prepared for the big day.
What do you need to bring with you?
• Photo ID
• Insurance card
• Important phone numbers
• Comfy clothing (Personally, I am taking a few pair of leggings with me!)
Who do you want in the delivery room?
• Doula (I've decided to hire a doula for my 1st labor & I'm very excited about it!)
• Friend
• Partner
If you have a vaginal birth, what requests can you make?
• To view the birth using a mirror (I prefer not to see anything I don't have to! haha!)
• To touch your baby's head as it crowns (However, I will not be doing this.)
• For the hospital staff to help you with pushing techniques
• To be able to feel the urge before starting to push
What are your options for dealing with pain while in labor?
• Natural techniques (such as a shower, breathing techniques, massage, peanut ball, squatting bar) (I plan to use all of these natural techniques!!!)
• An epidural and/or spinal block (NO drugs for me!)
• No pain medication unless I specifically request it (Nada for me!)
The idea of something not going as planned is probably the last thing you want to think about. Fortunately, planning ahead and talking to your OB or doula can help you plan for the unexpected and fully understand your options.
In case of interventions such as vacuum, forceps or episiotomy, what requests can you make?
• If you need any of these procedures, please let your OB know to discuss with you beforehand
• You would prefer not to have an episotomy unless medically necessary
• You would prefer not to have forceps used
• You would prefer not to have a vacuum used
What requests can you make for the umbilical cord?
• My partner (or other special person) to cut the cord (This is my personal choice!)
• To have the cord blood collected for banking
What are your options for holding your baby for the first time?
• Immediately after delivery
• After being wiped clean (This is my personal choice!)
• After weighing and initial cleaning
When can you start breastfeeding?
As soon as possible after the delivery (This is my personal choice!)
After discussion with a lactation consultant
When you feel comfortable
Please make sure you consider and understand all of these possibilities so that you can enjoy the delivery of your child to the fullest potential! If I wouldn't have hired a doula, most of this probably would have never crossed my mind. I want to pass on my new knowledge to any other pregnant women out there so that they can benefit from this information and have a very special delivery.
~ J. Lynn
There's Always a Healthy Alternative for Fried Foods!
As an alternative to immersing the food in a puddle of less-than-healthy oil, baking it can produce similarly crunchy results. However, the real secret to imitating the crackly, flavorful crust of a chicken tender, for example, is in the breaded exterior. You can cover the outside of a piece of chicken with a number of different things to get that crispy bite — crushed corn flakes, crackers, or panko breadcrumbs will do the trick. Nonetheless, I recommend trying more health-giving options.
How to Prepare Breaded Fish Fillets with Almond Flour
To duplicate the
bread-crumb effect, whisk two whole eggs together in a dish. In another
dish, mix one cup of almond flour with salt and pepper and any dried herbs you
like. Dip fish fillets into the beaten eggs then into the almond flour
until the fish is completely coated. Bake the fillets in the oven at
400°F for 10 minutes for thin fillets, and up to 15 minutes for thicker ones.
How to Prepare
Breaded Zucchini Fries with Flax Meal
Flax meal is a
gluten-free flour alternative. It is one of the richest sources of the
omega-3 fatty acid ALA, and it contains antioxidant lignans and a good source
of protein, insoluble fiber, and calcium. Since it is high in fiber, it is
best consumed with water, so the high water content of vegetables makes the two
a natural duo.
Mix one cup of
flax meal with salt and pepper, whisk two eggs together, then dip vegetables (such
as zucchini strips) in the egg mixture, then in the breading. Bake until
golden and crunchy at 375°F for 25–30 minutes.
How to Prepare
Battered Chicken Fingers with Brown Rice Flour
Brown rice flour delivers
a high-protein and high-fiber replacement for wheat: One cup contains roughly
11 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber. When pulverized into flour,
brown rice conserves its phenolic compounds, which put forth potent antioxidant
activity.
To make chicken
fingers: Mix half a cup of brown rice flour with one egg, one and a half
teaspoons baking powder, salt and pepper. Add extra zest with either
smoked paprika or cayenne pepper, if preferred. Dip chicken pieces in the
batter, and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes for a mild, crispy meal.
These suggestions
should help trigger your own ideas. Move forward and create whatever
combination of flour alternative plus protein or vegetable that best suits your
needs and tastes. Feel free to share any ideas that you come up with in
the comments.
Pregnancy Gave Me The Chance To Be a Maternity Model for a Day & a Role Model for a Lifetime
It feels
good to know others still find me beautiful while I'm pregnant. I have really been struggling with self-image
issues lately. I recently got asked to
be a maternity model by a talented Pittsburgh photographer for a photo shoot at
North Park. Through this modeling
experience, I have gained more confidence in myself physically. However, through the experience of being
single and pregnant, I have reached a high level of confidence mentally.
I hear it a
lot, "Wow, You're so beautiful" which is flattering and of course
it's nice, but I want to be known for more because I am more! I deserve to be known for my intelligence and
all I’m doing to further my future and my son’s future. I want people to know who I am as a person
because I have worked hard to become the great young woman I am.
I want
people to know the real me. I want
everyone to know how strong I am, how much I have overcome in my life to get
where I am today. I want women to know
they don't need to be validated by how they look but by who they are on the
inside. I want women to know they don't
need a man's opinion on how they look to matter. I want to
show the world that beauty is how you treat others and what you do, not how you
look. If you are
pretty on the inside, then that just makes your outside appearance that much
more beautiful. Life is so much more
than being "pretty".
Some of the
best stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about
making the best of each moment because we really don’t know what will happen
next. Maybe I didn’t get my perfect ending, but I will get something so much
better. Mistakes are inevitable in a life
worth living. As long as I learn from them, mistakes are very important. They have
taught me exactly what I want and who I want to be. There are some days, I feel miserable. Those days end up leaving me stronger, more
appreciative, more compassionate, and wiser. Beautiful people do not just transpire - life
is all about experience.
I am constantly
wondering and questioning my decisions but that is a sign of intelligence. I am aware when I am not content with
something and I never want to settle. So
many people stay where they are - emotionally or physically - because it takes bravery
to withstand the severe pains of self-discovery.
I don’t want
anyone to feel sorry for me. Sure, being
a single mom isn't always ideal, and it can be hard raising a child on your
own. Nonetheless, the ones "winging"
it usually are quite happy. I’m the one making
the decisions for my son now and when he arrives. The up-side is I won’t have to answer to
anyone. While struggling and hustling, I’ve managed to find a balance between enjoying
my life and also preparing for my son’s arrival.
To those who
judge me, look down on me, or don't support me -- GOODBYE!! To the outside world, sometimes it seem like
my journey has been a walk in the park, but it certainly hasn’t. Behind the scenes, I've cried myself to sleep and called my friends in the middle of the night because my heart kept breaking over and over again. Because of my son’s father, I have had to step up to the plate and hustle harder than ever. I have had to go outside of my comfort zone and do a million things I never thought I’d be able to do. It was his job to teach me that people don’t leave when things get hard --that people fight for what’s worth fighting for -- but he didn't. It was his job to be the one man in the world who would never hurt me, but he failed. He thought that his circumstances were an excuse to stop being there for me. He let his past, pride, demons and selfishness be a validation to stop fighting for me. I will forgive him, but I'll never forget his lack
of commitment to myself or to our son. However I thank him, because I’m now a mother and
I’ll get to experience the best thing in the entire world. I may struggle, but I have learned how to let
toxic things go and carry on that much stronger.
If you are going through a trial in your life, keep your head to the sky. When it gets hard to stand, kneel down and pray. You are an OVERCOMER. Just like my tattoo says, "Faith Will Conquer".
~ J. Lynn
If you are going through a trial in your life, keep your head to the sky. When it gets hard to stand, kneel down and pray. You are an OVERCOMER. Just like my tattoo says, "Faith Will Conquer".
~ J. Lynn
Showered With Love
And So... The Adventure Begins...
Since I am a control freak, I planned my own baby shower. Of course, my parents hosted it for me though. I wanted the theme to be travel/vintage to match the theme of my nursery. Below are some photos of the venue and decorations. The venue was a quaint restaurant in Pittsburgh. My centerpieces were hot air balloons that my girlfriend, mother & I created with the help of Pinterest. My cake was navy and included a world map. My favors were map gift boxes filled with chocolate candy and an airplane cookie cutter.
I wanted an intimate and small shower because I am not big on being the center of attention. I'll let my son take care of that soon enough (haha)! I invited about 30 people, including family and close friends. The gifts I received were so thoughtful, and I am very appreciative of everyone's generosity.
The food that was provided by the Willow was absolutely delicious. I chose to have a buffet style luncheon with herb grilled chicken, pasta primavera and red skin potatoes. The cookies were made by Lincoln Bakery (same place that made the cake).
To all the beautiful mamas to be out there -- I wish you as much love and support as I have received throughout my pregnancy. It's not what we have in life that counts, it's WHO WE HAVE!
~ J. Lynn
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