How To: Lose the Baby Fat

Lately I have had women ask me the fastest way to lose the baby weight. I don't know of any lose weight over night tricks but I do know what has been working for me. I waited to start working out after my doctor told me that it was okay. I went in for my 6 week check up and she said that I was ready to go.

But your doctors appointment may not get the same result. I had quicker recovery because I had no tearing, I gave birth with no complications. I pushed maybe for ten minutes and I was done. My labor was sixteen hours long but all in all everything went smoothly for me. Some women aren't as lucky as me. So let me stress to you how important it is for you to wait for the green light from your doctor. If you start doing some intense working out before then without your doctor's approval then down the road it could cause some issues.

Another thing that will play into your after birth weight loss is how you were before you got pregnant. I  was 160 pounds of toned muscles at 5ft and 7in before I became pregnant. By the time I gave birth i was 225 pounds. That's a 65 pound weight gain. With the help of my husband who is a personal trainer, breastfeeding, eating decent, drinking lots of water, exercising and getting a proper amount of sleep I have gone from 225 down to 190 in two months.

My workout regime consists of:

1. Dance videos for no more than an hour 4 days a week.
2. Walking for 30 minutes 6 days a week.
3. Lifting weights 3 days a week for an hour.

My Diet consists of:

1. My daily vitamins
2. 80-100 oz of water (to keep me and baby hydrated)
3. Foods high in protein (i.e chicken or steak)
4. Daily portions of veggies and fruit

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

Until Tomorrow Then!

How To: Find the Best Sleep Position While Pregnant

Around week 22 of my pregnancy it was becoming more challenging to find a comfortable position. Especially since I was a stomach sleeper. I had to go through the frustration of teaching myself how to sleep on my side. Yesterday I had a pregnant friend of mine ask me about the safest and comfortable positions to sleep in. I told her what worked for me and what my doctor told me would be safe for my baby as I slept. I told her sleeping on my right side was more comfortable to me but my doctor told me that my left side would be safer for my growing belly. I also told her that I slept with a pillow between my legs and under my stomach to keep my back in alignment as best I could and to evenly distribute the weight. That worked the best for me.

Here are the suggestions that my doctor told me: Do's and Don'ts

Don'ts-

1. Do not sleep on your back. The reasoning behind this is because your might cause stomach trouble later by putting unwanted pressure on your intestines.
2. Do not sleep on your stomach. It would be unwise to put pressure on your uterus in turn putting pressure on your baby. Another reason is because of your growing breasts causing pain.

Do's-

1. Sleep on your left side. Laying on your left side increases circulation making it easier to get the nutrient filled blood to your baby.
2. Buy a full sized body pillow. Not only will it make you more comfortable but it will be easier for you to stay on your side.
3. Experiencing shortness of breath? Put a pillow underneath your side to raise your chest.
4. Having heartburn? Put some books, planks of wood, or some bricks underneath the head of the bed to raise you up a little. This helps keep the burning sensation down in your stomach rather than having it burning in your throat all night.

Thank you for visiting my blog today. If you have any questions, comments or topics you would like me to write about please leave a message in the comment box below the article or send me an email at ferguson.sabrina15@gmail.com and I'll be happy to get back to you.

Until Tomorrow Then!

How To: Prepare Your Hospital Bag

Preparing for the hospital for me was exciting but nerve-wracking. When I was preparing my bag and baby bag for Elizabeth. I was asking everyone and anyone I could about what they packed in their hospital bag. That was a big mistake. I would have ended up not using over half of it. A week before I had gone to the hospital I had three bags for myself and two bags for my new baby. I may have gone a little overboard. I remember I was talking to my older sister and I told her how many bags I had and she exclaimed "What did you pack in there? Do you plan on moving to the hospital?" I laughed and I rattled off my list. Needless to say by the time I was done talking to my sister she had me down to one bag for each of us. They were really simple lists. She assured me that the hospital would have everything that both the baby and I would need.

The lists contained:

For me- big water bottle to keep hydrated, chapstick, face wash, toothpaste, floss, deodorant, nail clippers, a few magazines or books, a journal to write in, 4 pairs of underwear, 3 pairs of sweats, 3 big shirts, baby book for Lizzy's first hand and feet prints, brush, hair elastics, 5 pairs of socks, picture of Kyle and I, phone, phone charger, iPod, iPod charger, tons of snacks, wallet with cash and cards, a big package of your favorite go-to sanitary pad that is ultra absorbent, and camera. This was exactly everything that I needed. You may get a few funny looks but its okay. My mother always taught me to always be prepared while on the other hand my mother-in-law said that I was too paranoid and I would only be in the hospital for maybe 2 days at the most. We were there for almost five because of Lizzy's need to go to the NICU. The iPod was a HUGE lifesaver, especially during labor. I had books and soft music and it helped me focus less on the pain and helped me focus more on listening to the nurses and pushing. It kept my husband calm too. It was amazing experience. You'll understand when you are in the delivery room.

For Lizzy-  2 small 4 oz bottles (for storing breastmilk in after pumping), diapers, wet wipes, diaper rash cream, 5 onesies, 3 pairs of mittens, 5 pairs of socks, 3 burp clothes, 3 blankets, 1 take home outfit, 2 binkies, and 3 hats. This was all able to fit in her diaper bag. She required very little because she was sleeping most of the time and so was I.

Pieces of advice:

1. Remember to let your significant other hold and help care for the baby. It is just as important for them to develop a bond with the baby just as much as it is for you. Remember you are both in this together and as equally as important to the baby.
2. Sleep when your baby sleeps. Your baby will benefit from a rested mommy, especially if you plan on breastfeeding. The rest will help replenish your milk supply.
3. Utilize your significant other, friends and family for getting you water and food. Get food from outside the hospital. It'll help fill your stomach. The hospital food is not all that well prepared.
4. Make sure to swap off shifts watching the baby with your significant other and walk the halls of the hospital. Have a nurse, family member or friend help you move carefully through the hallways. Do not stay in your room the entire time. You WILL go stir crazy.
5. Have fun bonding with your baby and significant other and bonding as a family.

Thank you for visiting my blog today. If you have any questions, comments or have a topic you would like me to write on, leave a message in the comment box or email me at ferguson.sabrina15@gmail.com. I'll be more than happy to reply to you.

Until Tomorrow Then!

How To: Know What Aches and Pains to Administer Infant Tylenol

Good morning everyone. Today I was on my favorite app Smile Mom and I came across a post from a new mother. She was wondering whether she should give her four month old baby Tylenol or Motrin. First off, you NEVER give a baby any adult pain medications such as Motrin. You always want to administer Infant Tylenol. The ailments that this new mother was going to administer the Tylenol for were constipation, upset stomach, gas, and teething. I felt compelled to do a little research on when to administer Infant Tylenol and spoke with my daughters doctor to receive confirmation of my findings.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a licensed pediatrician. Before you try these remedies please consult your baby's pediatrician.

Situations for Administering Infant Tylenol:

1. After Getting Vaccinations. Most doctors and nurses will tell you to give your child Infant Tylenol after your baby receives shots because the area will be incredibly sensitive for at least a day and a half so to ease the sensitivity and the pain, by all means, give your baby Tylenol.

2. Fevers. If your baby has a rectal fever of 100.3 or above call your care provider IMMEDIATELY and follow their instructions.

Those were the situations that my daughters pediatrician suggested using Infant Tylenol for your baby. Then he proceeded to tell me other tricks on how to battle the other symptoms this first time mother was having issues with. They are:

1. Constipation. (Please refer to my other article on this matter here on my blog. The title is 'Baby Has an Upset Stomach?' Great advice from my pediatrician to deal with this common ailment.

2. Gas. You can find a bottle of gas drops or Gripe Water in any grocery or convenience store in the baby isle. I prefer Gripe Water over the gas drops because of how well it works on my daughter but each baby is different. Do not exceed the dosage daily as indicated on the Gripe Water package.

3. Teething. Give your baby teething toys. I am a huge fan of the Chill and Teeth toys that I received as a baby shower gift. You can stick them in the fridge or freezer to keep them cold. My daughter loves these toys because the cold against her gums relieves the pain of her teething. After your baby is done with them. Simply wash them with warm water and soap and put them back in the freezer or fridge and they are ready to go for next time.

Thank you for visiting my blog today. If you have any comments please leave a message for me in the box below this article. Or if you have any questions or a topic that you would like me to write about please email me at ferguson.sabrina15@gmail.com and I'll be more than happy to respond to you.

Until Tomorrow Then!

How To: Find Hobbies for Mommies

Have you ever said to yourself "I wish I could pick up another/new hobby?" I'm sure we have all said that at once point or another in our lives. I know I have. I grew up in a family where exploring, learning and trying new things was not only exciting but encouraged. I come from a family where we are all passionate about a plethora of things. One thing that my family all enjoy doing is reading. Since I have become a stay at home mom my new 2 new passions are blogging and article writing. Writing has always been the "new hobby" that I have always wanted to get serious about. So I subscribed to Writer's Digest this past week and have been listening to webinars to help further my education of writing. Come the 26th of this month I'm going to take a class through Writer's Digest University called Blogging 101. "How does one find a new hobby?"you may ask. Well...

Here are the steps that I went through to make my decision:

1. Brainstorm Ideas and Include Into Your Daily Routine. My mother always taught me to do the bubble diagram. It is where your draw a circle in the middle of the paper with a single word and then branch it out with more ideas. It can be singing, dancing, drawing, painting, or getting involved in a new sport but once you decide it is all down hill from there.
2. Pick Something That is Cost Effective. Talk to your significant other about what you can afford monthly to put toward it. For example I sat down with my husband and gave him a list of supplies I would need for my writing. Pads of paper, pens, pencils, books for classes, cost of classes…etc. Then we shopped around to for the best prices that helped me stay within my budget.
3. Make an Area For Your Passion. It can be the kitchen table, the living room floor or an unused room in the house that you can transform. But ultimately it should be somewhere that you feel comfortable and can have time to yourself. My favorite place to write is on my bed or at the park. I have a lap desk that I bought from Barnes and Nobel for $20 dollars that I can put my laptop and my notebook on.
4. Have Fun Creating. The sky is the limit. Need I say more. Let your creative side take over. If you can involve your baby or kids. Learn and grow with them. Not only is it fun for you but you can show your kids that it is fun to learn and experience new things in life.


Thank you for visiting my blog. Leave comments or email me at ferguson.sabrina15@gmail.com if you have topic ideas or just want me to write something specific that you have interest in. I'll be more than happy to reply to you.

Until Tomorrow Then.

Reader Appreciation Day!

The entry that I chose today is to take this time so say thank you to all my readers. I appreciate all the emails with comments, topic ideas, and questions. I started this blog a week and a half ago. I never would have thought that it would do this well right out of the gate. It has given me more co
nfidence in my ability to write and be helpful to women as they go through this wonderful journey of motherhood. I have enjoyed learning and trying the experiments on a daily basis so that I can provide helpful daily articles.

Thank you to my mother and father who gave me this idea to start a blog and believing in me to do this.

Thank you to my wonderful husband who has been so supportive in my decision to do this. You and Lizzy are everything to me. I love you both.

Thanks again to all my readers.

Until Tomorrow Then!

How To: 5 Simple Ways to Maximizing Your Time with Baby!

Ever since our baby Elizabeth has come into the world, I noticed for the first little while, that all I did was sit and play with her, sleep when she slept, ate and took showers. About a month and a half ago, while Lizzy was sleeping, that I was bored. I looked around my room and wondered what I could do to pass the time. It showed me how lazy I had become. There were mine and my husbands clothes on the floor, books, journals, toys, blankets, and DVDs on the floor. Disgusted with myself, I complained to my mother, and told her how long my room had been dirty. She gave me this challenge to start out with: "Every day spend at least twenty minutes cleaning or doing laundry while Lizzy is sleeping." She said. "I want you to do that for a week and then check back in with me on how things go." Then as time progressed my mother kept adding on challenge after challenge until I started getting into a routine that became second nature to me.

The steps I take to keep my life organized and clean:

1.) Have a Daily Check List. What I did before I came up with a check list I thought about what NEEDED to be done daily (going for a walk, working out, putting Lizzy down for her naps, do dishes…etc.) To things I WANTED to do daily (write for my blog, work on my novel, or do something to keep my mind active). I wrote it all down in list format.
2.) Study Your's and Your Baby's Daily Routine. I spent some time thinking about whether I wanted to do the fun things first or to do the work first. My dad used to always tell me "Clean your room first then you can play." So I applied this simple logic to my routine. I don't know about you but I have a HORRIBLE habit of procrastinating on things that need to be done. Not anymore. I remembered I bought a self help book on time management for my job at Amazon to better improve my skills for work. I read back through the highlighted parts and my notes to give myself a refreshers course. It helped me put things into perspective and prioritize the tasks from most important to least important.
3.) Include Personal Goals and Solidify Your Routine. I play with my baby while she is awake and when she takes her naps I do the important things first in the morning then chip away at my goals when she takes her afternoon nap. I'm working on a novel so I run around with an headset and talk into it with my dragon software. It is a lifesaver. My words appear on my laptop. I will admit that there are days where she doesn't want to sleep so I either put her in her swing with toys or I put her in her kangaroo pouch while I move around, clean or pace back and forth as I read my novel onto my laptop. I tend to use the kangaroo pouch more often because as of late she loves to be able to move while I move.
4.) Don't Forget to Have Fun. Sometimes I get lost in my focus while she is in my kangaroo pouch and I forget to play with her or hold her hand while I work around the house. I make an effort to talk with her. I tell her what I am doing and she laughs at mommy while I clean. It is also beneficial to your baby when you do this with them. They hear your voice and more importantly they start learning words too. If I am dealing with shapes or colors I show her what I am holding and I say the name of the shape and color. It has been so much fun seeing her learn and I'm still bonding with my baby.
5. Have a Back Up Plan. There are days where she doesn't want to be in her swing, or kangaroo pouch or on the bed. So I put her on her tummy in her play pen with some of her favorite toys and a binkie and she falls asleep within twenty to thirty minutes. It is a great fall back plan and, nine times out of ten, very effective.

It has been so much fun figuring this out with her. Don't forget one important resource to finding that happy medium in balancing your life and baby harmoniously. That would be your family. Call your mom, a sister, or aunt and pick their brains. I utilized my mother, mother-in-law, my older sister and my sister-in-law. Together we came up with TONS of ways to feel like I am achieving something and working toward my goals.

Thank you for visiting my blog. If you have comments, questions or want me to write on a subject write in the box below this post or email me at ferguson.sabrina15@gmail.com and I'll be more than happy to respond.

Until Tomorrow Then!

Coping with Separation Anxiety: Beneficial Ways to Solving the Problem

Let me start off by saying not every woman is the same. If you are like my mother-in-law, who was able to flawlessly get back into her old routine, lucky you. If you are like me and suffering from post-partum depression or fighting the anxiety of being away from your new baby, just remember you are not alone. I finally spoke with my baby's pediatrician on how I've been feeling and he suggested that I should speak with a therapist on how best to deal with these issues. Already being predisposed to suffering from anxiety attacks, I went to speak with a family friend, who is also a licensed therapist, I spoke about how I felt when I experienced the these issues and more. He suggested that I start correcting myself by:

1) Allowing myself to feel the anxiety. By doing breathing exercises that I learned from yoga class it kept my mind and body calm while reassuring myself that it is natural to feel the anxiety. Like most uncomfortable experiences it passed.
2) If I start to rush through my time alone I was instructed to add an additional ten minutes onto my time and find something else to occupy my mind. I find that visiting an equestrian park has a great affect on me. I get obsorbed in taking care of the horse and feeling the movement as I ride through the woods.
3) Don't watch the clock or track time. I am meticulous when managing my time. when I leave to do something I pretend that time does not exist and return to my baby when I was ready and relaxed. Plus it also give my husband time to bond with our daughter.

*Note to Readers: I take my breast pump with me just in case I might be gone longer than two hours. It helps me not rush through my fun.

4) If I'm out with my husband on a date I hand my phone to him or leave it at home. Leave the 'checking in' responsibility to your significant other. I found that I was calling my mother-in-law way too much to check on our daughter.
5) When my baby is with someone else I walk away and go write in my journal or read a book for 30 minutes and again return when the anxiety has passed and I am ready.

At first, a lot of these steps are easier said than done, and may be intimidating. But as long as you start small in challenging yourself to walkaway from your baby to regain your confidence the more your baby will be comfortable you leaving as well.

Here is a list of starting small: if you are alone in the house

1. Leaving your baby in their crib for 10 minutes. Make sure you have the monitor with you, but do something relaxing. Whether it is enjoying a cup of tea or cocoa to working on a puzzle.
2. While taking a shower put baby in a swing or carseat on the floor with toys. Again it allows you to enjoy yourself while keeping an eye on the little one as well.

When I started working on my separation anxiety I would hand my daughter to my husband and take a twenty minute shower with calm music playing. I did that for about two weeks then I added thirty minutes on to my time away daily from my baby. I started taking 45 minute to hour long naps without listening for my daughter. But keep in mind people are different and move at your own pace. If you force yourself to take bigger steps than you are ready for it will hurt you and your baby more than help you two. Remember you, your baby and significant other are in this together.

Thank you for visiting my blog. If you have any comments, topic ideas or want to share what works for you, leave a  message in the comment box or email me at ferguson.sabrina15@gmail.com and I will be more than happy to respond to you.

Until Tomorrow Then!

Baby Having Trouble Sleeping?

I have had a few people ask me on writing about sleeping tips for newborns. Here are the steps I have taken so that I can have my little one have a good night's sleep.

1. Put Your Baby on Your Schedule. Consistency for babies is crucial for them to learn. Learn what times your baby sleeps  and eats and include those in your schedule. For example - I am a stay at home mother. My schedule is wake up at 7am - feed and change baby, get a shower, get both of us dressed for the day, and eat my breakfast. That usually takes us an hour and a half. Then we go on a walk at 9am. This is Lizzy's favorite part because she gets to look around outside and when she gets tired she falls asleep while in her kangaroo pouch. I let her have 3 naps throughout the day ending at 5:30pm.
2. Establish a nightly routine. This helps let your baby know that it is time to settle down. Do it in the exact same order every night. Lizzy's night time routine is I feed and change her and give her a bath starting at 8pm so that she can settle down at 9pm. The bath makes her sleepy and makes it easier for her to fall asleep.
3. Turn out all the lights. This helps my daughter fall asleep because it eliminates all the visual stimulation that she gets. We sit in her rocking chair and listen to soft music, like violin or piano sonatas or we listen to books on cd. When she is just about to give way to sleep I put her in her crib with her binkie and leave the book going. She soothes herself the rest of the way to sleep.
4. Feed your baby 30 to 60 minutes before you plan on putting them to sleep. I spoke with my daughters pediatrician and he said that most babies sleep longer if they have a chance to digest a little before they go to sleep.
5. Make sure to burp your baby before putting them down. The gas makes them uncomfortable so they won't sleep very soundly.

Hopefully this helps. Thank you for visiting my blog.

Until Tomorrow Then!

Does Little One Have an Upset Stomach?

A lot of my friends have come to me and asked me if my daughter Elizabeth has had any issues with constipation. My daughter had a bad case. What my pediatrician suggested to me worked after a few days of doing it.

Disclaimer: I am not a pediatrician. These techniques don't happen instantaneously. These will take a day or two to work.

1. Give your baby warm baths- The warm water will calm the stomach and loosen up her bowels.
2. Give two oz of pear juice undiluted. Please consult your pediatrician to make sure that your baby is old enough to have the juice.
3. Rectal Stimulation. Take a cotton swab and put lubrication on one end. Stick just the cotton part in the baby's rectum and move it in a circular motion for about a minute.  Repeat once an hour or as often as you change your baby's diaper.
4. Move your baby's legs in a bicycle movement. It will help the baby push the bowel movements down.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Until Tomorrow Then!

"IT'S A…!"

When I found out that I was having a girl the nurse that was performing the ultrasound thought that I was upset at first. Let me tell you that I could not be happier that I was having a girl. I was just shocked.  The reason for that was because my older sister and my sister-in-law have had nothing but boys the last few years. I was convinced that I was going to have the same. The only granddaughter that my parents had was born 4 years ago. I'm excited that my niece will have a girl to play with. Mixed with her brothers and her cousins from my sister-in-law she was so excited that Aunt Sabrina was going to have a girl. having a break from playing with boys.

Anyway when the time came to pick out colors for my daughters room I was SO excited. At first I pick a really dark burgundy brown and the color pink as you see in the picture. But my mother-in-law thought it wouldn't look that great so we chose a pale green with a cotton candy pink. So my advice to you is this:

1. Pick the colors that YOU want- don't let anyone else pick them for you. This is YOUR child's room.

2. Remember what you enjoyed in your room when you were a kid. Mine was books and music. My daughter has a ton of books in her room. She also has some lullaby cd's and some books on cd, along with some of mommy's books that she enjoyed when she was a kid.

3. Make sure that your child is surrounded by family. I have pictures of my parents, my husbands' parents, my grandmother and my siblings and their kids. 

4. Have lots of toys. I put one of my favorite stuffed animals that I have had for years in my daughters crib. 

4. Just have fun with it. Remember to celebrate your kid. Make them feel welcomed. Make it feel homey. Make their room their safe haven. A place to be alone with you and make memories. 

Thank you for visiting my blog. 

Until Tomorrow Then!

'Tis the Season…For the Flu

Everyone that I know has been fighting off or suffering from the flu. I was on the Smile Mom App yesterday to get an idea for my blog today and the most common topic that was being discussed was the flu. My father-in-law suffered from a really bad case of the flu where he had a 103 degree fever, sore throat, cough and runny nose. My mommy instincts kicked in and my daughter and I came out unscathed.

Here is what I did:

1. I deep cleaned her nursery, mine and my husbands' room and our bathroom - disinfected the door knobs, changed the sheets, pillow cases, dusted, washed all of her bottles and vacuumed.
2. Upped my vitamin C and essential nutrient intake with my breakfast- I'm still breastfeeding so my daughter could benefit from it as well.
3. Ventilated the rooms- Opened the windows to let fresh air flow through
4. Upped our exercise routine- We take 40 minute walks instead of 30 minute walks now to keep our energy levels up.
5. Eat foods that contain a lot of antioxidants.

If you have any questions about the cold and flu I found that webMD has some great preventative measures and curing remedies for this. There are also some natural remedies on there for those of you who are pregnant. Take a look.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Until Tomorrow Then!

Smile Mom!

All moms should smile but I am talking about an app I saw on the play store for android. It is called smile mom. I thought I would give it a try and my free account on there ended up soaring. I even added some attention to my blog.  This app has all kinds of moms. First time mothers-to-be, first time moms and moms that have 2 or more kids. On this app you can talk with other mothers in your area or nationwide. You can make play dates with other moms. They swap remedies for constipation for their babies to weight loss ideas during pregnancy and after having your baby. I didn't realize that I would find so much success in this app. Take a look moms. I think you'll really like it.

Until Tomorrow Then!

For Mothers-to-Be and New Mothers:

For the pregnant mothers-to-be:

Today as I read through some of the books that I bought for my pregnancy I find myself trying to pick something that would be helpful for all of those who are pregnant that visit my blog. As I re-read some of the chapters in "The Pregnant Body Book: The Complete Illustrated Guide From Conception to Birth." I remembered the parts of the book that REALLY helped me week to week bond with my unborn baby in a way. I am a very visual person and love pictures to bond with something that I can't hold. This provides me with a sense of comfort that lets me know that my baby is growing they way she was supposed to be. Though it made me feel like I was in biology class again. But this time I ABSOLUTELY loved learning it.  This book showed me pictures of what my baby looked like as the weeks past but the chapters that I found to be really helpful, as time drew closer to my due date, were "Labor and Birth." It showed me different positions that I could deliver in, what to expect during labor, how to differentiate between Braxton Hicks Contractions for the real contractions lessened the fear of delivery. It also provided some great talking points for my weekly appointments that I went to. I even brought the book once so she could see what I was reading. My doctor approved of the book selection that I bought and said that she was impressed with me for going the extra mile to educate myself. So my piece of advice for the day is educate, educate, EDUCATE! Especially if you are like me and find yourself stressing about every little detail educating yourself combined with talking with your doctor helps with controlling that fear that hits in your third trimester.

To all of my delivered mothers:

The topic that I picked for you today are common concerns of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding came naturally to Lizzy and I. She latched on almost immediately. But that did not mean that I had my bouts of anxiety while I was learning to breastfeed. My breastfeeding has been a little rocky. My concerns that I had were:

1. Is Elizabeth (my daughter) getting enough?
2. Am I producing enough?
3. When do I know when she is done feeding?

Having an older sister and a sister-in-law that had given birth before me I constantly talked to them about some tricks that I could try with my body to know that I was producing enough. For the first concern my sisters told me that if she was not eating enough she would only eat for about 5 minutes and then start to fuss if my body was not keeping up with my daughters demand for my milk supply. Then they proceeded to tell me 5 tricks to MAKE SURE my body was producing enough.

1. Water, water, WATER: Drink lots and lots of water. Now that your baby is no longer inside you you can drink all the water you want until your little heart's content. But if you are breastfeeding like me I'm sure that your thirst is not always quenched.
2. Eat lots of good calories and protein: After consulting my husband, who is into personal training and nutrition, suggested eating almonds, fish, chicken, steaks, and drinking protein shakes. My sister suggested good green salads but told me to stay away from spinach and broccoli because it will gives Lizzy really bad stomach aches due to gas. Get 3 meals in a day. If that is not possible for you eat small snacks that have a source of protein, good carbs and some natural fibers.
3. Take prenatals that assist in helping lactating women: I know you thought you were done with your prenatals. Nope. Hehehe.
4. Get a good 8 hours of sleep: If you have your baby on a schedule in about the second month after giving birth that will be possible but if you just delivered sleep when your baby sleeps. It really does help. It allows your body to rejuvenate and replenish your milk supply. If you suffer from sleep deprivation your milk supply and your baby will suffer as well. Let's try to avoid that.
5. Pump often: I found the perfect time to pump is while Elizabeth is sleeping. I pump for a half an hour  every two hours. Doing this also makes sure to have your body get on a schedule for producing. Once you are on a schedule try to stick with it and DON'T MISS A FEEDING. Its not bad if you do. The worst thing that could happen is you leak inside your bra but that's about it.

Thank you for visiting for my daily advice. I really appreciate the support and enjoy doing this. If you have any questions, comments or would like me to give advice on a subject leave a message for me in the comment box below or email me at ferguson.sabrina15@gmail.com. Thanks again.

Until Tomorrow Then!

Hey Everyone! Welcome Back!

To My First Trimester Mommies: Be Happy! You're a Mommy-to-be!

This is going to be one of the most rewarding and wonderful journeys of your life. I was so excited after Kyle and I visited the doctor for the first time. My doctor was amazing and walked me through everything could happen as my pregnancy progressed and, most importantly, was very calming and reassuring that everything was going to be okay. I promise that if you listen to your doctors and adhere to their directions they will not lead you astray, but I can guarantee that it won't be easy.

My doctor told me no citrus, coffee, sausage, spinach, certain herbal teas, stay away from spicy foods, refrain from eating fast food and so on and so forth. While I was listening to her telling me what NOT eat I thought to myself. "Okay...so what can I eat?" After she finished her list I asked her my question and she said "Eat as healthy as possible. Just stay away from the foods that I told you to stay away from." "Okay. Done deal." I replied.

Tips and Tricks: Have a Good Support System of friends, family and books.

On our way home I started thinking about what I needed to do to prepare. I was told by my older sister and my sister-in-law to get the book called "What to Expect When You're Expecting." They told me to buy the most recent edition of the book. I also coupled that with www.parents.com and it was a deadly combination of knowledge. It answered all sorts of questions that I had. I called my doctor a few times if I still had a few questions following that but it kept my mind at ease and kept me calm. Pick up a copy of the book and ask your doctor questions. That's what they are there for.

To My Second Trimester Mommies: "UGH! My favorite shirt is too small! My favorite jeans don't fit!!

I know, for me it was INCREDIBLY frustrating. Considering that I had just gone to the mall and revamped my ENTIRE wardrobe 6 weeks previous. Let's just say it was not cheap and most of all not fair. My mother kept reassuring me "It will all be worth it in the end." At that point I didn't quite see it. I had just gotten back down to my high school weight of 150 pounds, was toned and muscular, and had the flat stomach that I always wanted. But as I read it is good to be in shape when you are pregnant. Means you can stay active to a degree to keep from having the baby fat pile on. If you are like me and love to stay active- discuss a workout plan with your ob/gyn. They will be able to give some great pointers.

Tips and Tricks:

Anyway, needless to say I had to revamp my closet again at this point. While I was looking for a great place to get clothes that were still stylish and also work appropriate I went to the Outlet Mall in North Bend and came across Motherhood Maternity. Best selection of clothes, body pillows, dresses, bathing suites and nursing bras ever. If you are a shopper add this store to your arsenal of stores to go to. There are tons of Motherhood Maternity across the nation. They are decently priced and the staff will dedicate their time to you so you understand what and why you need to buy certain items and still help you maintain your confidence with your ever growing belly.


To My Third Trimester Mommies: "Sleeping is a Witch!"

One of the biggest things that I had issues with in my third trimester was finding a comfortable position while sitting, standing and laying. The biggest issue was getting to sleep. I asked my doctor about some remedies and this is what she suggested:

1. Chamomile Tea- to calm the mind and make me sleepy
2. Walk a couple laps until you start feeling slight contractions.
3. Or taking a sleep aid - she suggested Tylenol PM to be the safest. But please consult your doctor first before you try this one please.
4. Listen to calm music or a book.
5. Have your significant other rub the middle of your back in slow circles while you close your eyes and lay on your side with a pillow between your knees and one to support your belly.

I found the combination of numbers 2, 4 and 5 to be affective. Walk until you feel tired and slight contractions, push play on your radio, ipod or any other listening device of your choice, get comfortable in bed with your pillows and have your partner rub your back. Soon after you'll fall asleep.


To My Delivered Mommies: Bilirubin Blues

When Elizabeth Denise was born Kyle and I found out that our daughter had a count of 11.9 of bilirubin. Bilirubin causes jaundice (Where the baby looks orange or yellow on the skin and whites of the eyes) She was what the doctors called an intermediate high risk case. They also told me that it may take Lizzy a few weeks longer to get back to normal due to a blood incompatibility. Her white blood cells were devouring the red blood cells in an effort to purge her body of my blood type. She had inherited her daddy's A positive while I was an O positive. Also called and ABO incompatibility.

The pediatrician came in and told us that they were going to use a phototherapy method to treat her but she would be just fine and not to worry. She was in the NICU for two and a half days, hooked up to a heart monitor with a little mask on to protect her eyes from the UV treatment she was receiving and I had very little bonding time with her. It was tough on me. Being in the hospital for four days, worried about my daughter. I wasn't sleeping very well and my hormones were WAY out of wack. Mix that all together and you get a husband and wife with high emotions and very sensitive to what is said to the other. Needless to say we had a few tiffs. But that is to be expected with new parents.

Tips and Tricks:

1. SLEEP! While you are in the hospital it will help you emotionally and keep your claws retracted.
2. Eat. Either order something from the hospital cafeteria or have family and friends bring you something to eat when they come and see you at the hospital.
3. Remember your partner loves you and is just as equally worried about you and the baby and just want to make sure your okay and happy.
4. Walk the halls of the hospital. DO NOT stay in the hospital room. Don't make yourself go stir crazy.


Thank you for revisiting. If you have any questions or comments that you would like to share please post it or shoot me an email at ferguson.sabrina15@gmail.com and I will be more than happy to respond. Thanks again. Until tomorrow.

From the Top...

Kyle and I met in high school. We both went to Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie WA. I had transferred schools from Eastlake High School, which is in Sammamish WA, halfway through my junior year. Kyle and I had a weight training class together and we bonded as he taught me how to properly lift weights. It was almost instantaneous feelings. At that point in my life I was really into being healthy and working out not only for myself but because my body was getting to the point where the exercises in my dance class were too easy for me and I barely broke a sweat.

Anyway, just soon after we met we started dating and like any high school relationship it was over two weeks later. We started having less and less interaction between us as graduation approached. We graduated in 2006. He went off to Central Washington University and I stayed in Washington and contact was minimal through the years. In the summer of 2013 I contacted him via Facebook. He was back from Central Washington University and we started spending time together. It was like we were never apart.

In late February of 2014 I started to notice changes....



Let the Games Begin...

After a long day of work I came home at 2 o'clock in the morning. I took a dip in the hot tub to wind down from my day and work out the stress knots in my upper back. Keep in mind I usually spent about 40 minutes in the hot tub. Except this night it was a little different.

I got comfortable in my usual spot in the hot tub when almost instantly I felt dizzy and light headed. I tried to shake it off and stay in the hot tub but I was unable to stay in longer than 5 minutes. I started saying "well I haven't had a whole lot of food or water today so that is probably what it is." But I remembered the big 36 oz water bottle that I carried with me at work. I ran through my check list.

Did I take my multivitamins for the day? ...Yes...
Have I eaten in the last 3-4 hours? ...Yes...
Have I had any water in the last hour? ...Yes...

Finally chalking it up to just being tired I decided to go upstairs take a shower to get all the chlorine off my skin before I went to bed. As I walked upstairs I tired to remember when my last period was. I calculated and I realized I was almost 4 weeks late. Frantically, I rummaged through my bathroom for a pregnancy test. I took it and while waiting the LONG 2 minutes I decided to climb into the shower. I finished my shower 10 minutes later, climbed out and looked at the results. All sorts of emotions went through me....




I'm WHAT?!


Feeling faint I sat down on the closed toilet took a few minutes to calm myself and called Kyle. I showed him the results and he reacted the same way but he recovered emotionally quicker than I did, knelt down in front of me, looked me in the eye and said "I'm not going anywhere. I promise." I went to the doctor later that week and the doctor said that I was about five weeks pregnant. Dealing with morning sickness, as most of you know, is difficult to handle and cope with.




Remedies and Advice:
DISCLAIMER: I am not a licensed physician. These are methods that I have tried after consulting my doctor and talking to the women in my life to find some relief. These are just my suggested remedies that worked for me for my first two months of pregnancy.


I struggled with morning sickness up until my 15th week of pregnancy. Here is a list of things I tried:

1. Keep a Pack of Saltine Crackers Next to Your Bed: I found that doing this is it keeps me from running to the bathroom every morning and keeps the need to vomit to a manageable level.

2. TAKE YOUR PRENATALS WITH FOOD: I  stress this because there were a few mornings where I didn't eat anything and took my prenatals as I was running out the door to work. I always ended up getting sick.

3. Buy acupressure wrist bands: You can find them at Bartells, Target, Walmart and Safeway. They are only $5 and they were a god send to me while I was at work. They helped manage my morning sickness so that I could still focus on work.

4. WATER, WATER, WATER: Drink your water but don't drink TOO much water is harmful to your baby.

5: Have Healthy Snacks with You at ALL TIMES: I found that carrying a pack of saltines, carrots, celery, string cheese, fruit and protein bars restricted my morning sickness to just the morning hours. Through out my day I still hand waves of nausea but no vomiting. Make sure to eat a little every hour. Keeping food IN the stomach is key.

Thank you for visiting my blog. If you have any other questions on tips and tricks or just have a response to today's blog please email me at ferguson.sabrina15@gmail.com and I'll be more than happy to help and respond to the feedback.

Thanks again and Until Tomorrow.

Welcome First Time Moms and Friends,

My name is Sabrina Ferguson. I am 27 years old and I am married. I am a first time mom and I absolutely LOVING IT! The inspiration of my post comes from my passion of helping and informing people of my experiences with my first baby. It has been fun but there have definitely been some wrenches thrown my way and  I have come up with great solutions to those problems that I feel other first time mothers will benefit from. Come back tomorrow and I'll share them with you.

Thank you for visiting.