Drawer full of clothes for Caden!

So cute, don't you just love newborn clothes?
I can't wait until he is here so I can hold him in my arms and take care of him and see him.

Newborn clothes

What is in my hospital bag?

Well, for starters it is alot. You will either appreciate this post or get a laugh out of it. I know that the hospital provides some of the things that I packed, but I wanted my own or a more natural alternative.

My full hospital bag (Large Vera Bradley Duffel in Canyon)

Boppy Pillow all ready

For Mama:
Extra copy of my 'birth preference list'
Snacks, Yummy Earth Candies, (to help keep up blood sugar) coconut water, ginger ale, and Ultima  Replinisher (for during and after labor hydration)
Natural Vitality Magnesium (to help keep away constipation after delivery)
Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Stretch Oil
Earth Mama Angel Baby New Mama Bottom Spray
Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm
Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter
Two packs of Seventh Generation Overnight Pads
Hugo Naturals Travel Kit in Sweet Orange and Vanilla
Chapstick
Tooth brush and toothpaste
Shower pouf
Three pairs of cloth nursing pads
Two pairs of nursing bras
Two pairs of panties
One nursing gown
One pair of PJs
Robe
Lightweight sweater
Comfy, stretchy skirt and t-shirt to go home in
Flip-flops (better than ruining nice slippers, and you can wear them in the shower)

Those alcoholic looking bottles are the real brewed Ginger Ale sweetened with honey.

For Baby:
One pack of Seventh Generation Newborn Diapers
One pack of Seventh Generation Baby Wipes
Earth Mama Angel Baby Wash and Lotion
Boppy Nursing Pillow (lifesaver for me)
Hats
Two pairs of socks
Two long sleeve onesies
Four footless sleepers (these work better because of all the tags/alarms they put on the baby)
Two swaddle blankets
One receiving blanket
Four burp cloths
One footed sleeper, onesie, hat, and warm blanket for going home in

Let me know if you think that I forgot anything.
And thanks to Genevieve aka  Mama Natural for introducing me to Ultima Replinisher and Natural Vitality Natural Calm Magnesium

When it takes 3 boxes to recieve your Vitacost order....

It looks like this:

Laundry detergent
DW detergent
Gluten Free crackers and pizza mix
Active dry yeast
7 packs of pads
All purpose jelly
Baby powder
Baby gift/travel set
Lavender gift/travel set
Booby Tubes
2 packs bath herbs
Tea
2 bags of organic candy (this is what Ethan is happy about!)
Ultima Replinisher

Newborn Cloth Diaper Stash for Caden

Finally I got everything together! Good thing since my due date is March 11th! All ready to put some soft fluff on his new baby bottom.

In the basket

In the other basket

12 Newborn ClothEez Prefolds

6 Thirsties Duo Wraps Size 1

6 GroVia Newborn All in Ones

12 Newborn ClothEez Workhorse Fitted Diapers

9 Newborn Simplex All in Ones

Everything is cotton. And every diaper is very soft on the inside. I look forward to reviewing the fit on Caden when he gets here. I really only have the prefolds for back up. I am not a huge fan of them. I also have a pair of pins to use with them instead of the snappi. I felt like the snappi added too much bulk for itty bitty babies. The GroVias are much smaller than the other diapers so they will be outgrown the quickest, but should work from day 1. (or for me as soon as we get home from the hospital) I can also fold down the back of the prefolds for a better fit under the cord if the Simplexes and Workhorses are too high. As far as the amount of diapers, I just kind of follow Karen's (greenmountaindiapers.com) recommendation. She says 3 dozen diapers and 6-8 covers for a newborn. As you can see that is about what I have. I may end up getting 2 more covers if I find that I need them. But I am thinking not since I prefer to use fitteds and all in ones. I will only use the prefolds if I run out of diapers.

Natural ideas to help with postpartum discomfort and pain

Earth Mama Angel Baby New Mama Bottom Spray 
    The idea with this is to use after you use your peri bottle to give some cooling, healing, refreshing relief.
Earth Mama Angel Baby New Mama Bottom Balm
     This is to use with healing and any possible hemorrhoids. (I can already testify that it works great for the latter.)
Earth Mama Angel Baby Booby Tubes
     You can either freeze these for cool relief or warm them to help ease engorgement and clogged ducts or to encourage milk flow. They are very soft and squishy too.
Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter
     This is to heal and relieve the pain of sore and cracked nipples- hopefully to prevent the cracked part. It has cocoa butter in it so it smells like chocolate. It is very smooth and soft, so it goes on very easily and you don't have to wipe it off between feedings since it is all edible ingredients and organic.
Earth Mama Angel Baby Postpartum Bath Herbs
    You steep these in boiling water like you would hot tea. Then gently drain them and place the "tea bag" directly onto your pad for herbal relief and healing. Use the leftover "tea" to put into your peri bottle or use as in a sitz bath. You can also freeze the "tea bags" or put the extra "tea" onto some pads and freeze them to help with swelling. The last way to use this is to put a couple of bags into a nice warm bath and just sit and relax. Someone suggested getting one of those $1 ring floats from like W-M and blowing it up and then sitting on it for some cushion. I thought that was a great idea.
Earth Mama Angel Baby Monthly Comfort Tea
     This is supposed to help ease the discomfort/pain of postpartum cramps. They can be pretty bad directly after birth. Although, it may be difficult to get some hot water to make tea in if you are having a hospital birth. 
Electric Heating Pad 
   This is obvious for any aches or pains. Abdomen or possibly lower back.
7th Generation Pads- 6pks overnights w/ wings -2pks maxi -2pks ultra thin w/ wings
     I stocked up on these because I had to order them and didn't want to run out. I am showing what they look like open because that is difficult to find. I only wish that the overnights flared in the back and that the maxis had wings as well. But hopefully they will do the job. I know that they will be much more gentle on my skin than standard pads. I do have 12 cloth pads for back up if I need them.

L to R- Overnight, Maxi, Ultra Thin Seventh Generation Pads

I purchased the majority of these products from vitacost.com
They have great prices.                          

Breastfeeding must haves

      I love to breastfeed my babies. And I do for a full 18 months. (hubby won't let me do it longer- he says they are getting too big and it is weird) But, it is not easy in the beginning. But the few weeks of pain and discomfort are so worth it. I do not tend to make too little or too much milk, just exactly what is needed. I also have not had any major problems with breast feeding. My heart goes out to you who have! These are my favorites to help things be more comfortable. Obviously, all you really need to breast feed is you and your baby!
Nipple Butter/Salve
    I find this to be the most important of everything. I would have died with my 2nd without it. I highly recommend either the Motherlove brand or Earth Mama Angel Baby brand. I used Motherlove last time and am trying EMAB this time. Lanolin is a complete joke for me. I almost think it made things worse with my first. Thank goodness I know better know!
 Boppy Nursing Pillow
    I love this, especially in the beginning. It helps so much when you are exhausted. I couldn't make it through the first night without it. You know it is coming with me to the hospital!
Bebe au Lait Nursing Cover
    A nursing cover just makes being modest or discreet so much easier. Having young boys this is important to me. As well as nursing around extended family or other ladies or at the doctors office.
Nursing Bras and Pads
     Again, just makes everything go smoother and more comfortable. Although I have found it can be difficult to find a good padded nursing bra.
Burp Cloths
    Have them ready. You will want them to keep you and baby dry. Try to find some soft and absorbent ones. Some of the 'cuter' ones didn't absorb well for me. But I have to say that real cotton prefolds/flats work fabulous.
Water
    Hydration is super important. Drink, drink, and drink. Especially in the beginning. It helps so much. I felt like I was drinking so much, but I was barely loosing any of it. You need the water.
Rocker/Glider
    I have a Dutailer glider and I love this, especially in the beginning, for nursing. It is nicely cushioned and gives good support to your back and you can rock your precious baby too. Obviously this is a blessing to have- not a necessity.

37 weeks tomorrow...

At the home stretch of this pregnancy and salad and fresh fruit are the main things that I want to eat. And granola over yogurt or milk. I just don't want anything heavy very often.

It has been very dreary here in southwest Georgia. Finally some sunshine. I have to say that I am ready for spring, sunshine, fresh produce, and taking the boys out to the golfcourse to run around again.