5 things I Learned From Becoming A First Time Mom In A Pandemic

The good, the bad, and the ugly. I’m sharing 5 things I learned from becoming a first time mom during a pandemic.

  1. Family and friends being involved in your child’s life is one of the most precious gifts.

It began with the hospital. Due to restrictions no one else was allowed to be at the hospital. I had always thought I would have my mom there with me while I was laboring. That truthfully was really hard for me to come to terms with. We were blessed enough despite the circumstances to be able to have both sets of our parents around from the day we brought Turner home from the hospital. Having the help was really nice. My mom came everyday for the first few weeks for a couple of hours since Tyler went directly back to work. He has been able to see his grandparents often since we are in the same town. Other family and friends he wasn’t able to meet until months later. Some just met him for the first time this past weekend and some still haven’t met him. I definitely envisioned all my family and friends meeting him within the first few weeks and definitely by two months old. It didn’t happen that way due to COVID but it made me treasure the time I did get with loved ones. I’m so grateful for every moment now and don’t take it for granted.

2. Having an empty calendar is a blessing in disguise.

Due to many things being closed, postponed or capacities limited our social calendar certainly cleared quite a bit. In some ways I wasn’t thrilled with it because I was so excited to get out and about after having a baby for some normalcy. Having a much more free schedule allowed our little family to spend lots of time together. We were forced to slow down and enjoy the small moments with Turner. They pass too quickly not to hold on to them and treasure each one! We have spent more quality time together than we would have if things had been different and I think we will definitely keep it up even as things return to normal.

3. Less is more.

Oh boy, this may also just be a first time mom in general thing but we definitely overdid it on the baby items. Spending all day everyday inside your home makes you analyze what all you have. Babies do not need 5 different options to sit in. They also do not need more than 2-3 holiday related outfits; especially if you have no where to go in order for them to wear them. (Don’t ask me how many Christmas outfits my son had. Far too many.) Additionally, a few toys are more than substantial. Most of the time they would prefer playing with a box, diaper rash cream tube, or your shoe. Trust me, you can always place an order on Amazon for anything you need!

4. Both parents need an outlet outside of being just mom or dad.

This is probably one of the things I struggled with the most. There weren’t as many things to go and do for me earlier on in Turner’s life due to all of things being closed/limited. I definitely had to get creative at times. I got quite a few pedicures and walked around Target. My husband is a little better about this because he actually has concrete hobbies he does. As a couple I think it’s also important to get a break together. We have had date nights and we then day arrived I truly didn’t feel like putting the energy to get ready to go somewhere. Despite that I always found a way to make myself go and we enjoyed the time together every time! It’s so important to put in that effort for your marriage.

5. Modern technology and pick up services are one of the best things to happen to the 21st century.

Call me lazy but being able to roll up to a business and complete my transaction without even getting out of a car is the best thing ever! I’ve done Walmart grocery pick-up since 2019 so I was no stranger to that. I hate grocery shopping and love just going on the app to do it quickly. Due to the pandemic there were many new curbside services taking place. I think I have had a Target pick up order almost every single week. Chick-Fil-A curbside has seen my face more than I care to admit. Not having to get a baby in and out of the car is truly the most convenient thing ever! And, I’ll say what most of you are thinking: driving through to grab Mexican food plus a margarita to go for the house isn’t too shabby either. Don’t get me wrong, I still love to stroll around stores and see things in person or eat a meal in an actual restaurant but; convenience is definitely king when you have a baby. I’m glad these services are here to stay!

If I knew beforehand that I would have my first baby during a global pandemic would I purposefully choose that time period? Maybe not. Now that I have met my son though I can tell you I would do it over a million times just for him! I’m choosing to take the high road and use these lessons I’ve learned going forward. I’ll treasure the memories but I’m ready to move toward normalcy!

My Melasma Journey with Musely

Melasma is something that began showing up on my face in the late spring of 2018. I had never had it before. At this time it was concentrated on my upper lip area – talk about embarrassing! It constantly looked looked like I had a mustache but was literally just a highly pigmented area of skin. It seemed to get worse through the summertime and fade somewhat during the fall and winter months. The next year it came back with a vengeance. I didn’t understand because I wore SPF every single day even when I wasn’t leaving my house! I started wearing a hat every time I was out in the sun. It still didn’t go away or lessen. I tried many products and didn’t see much of a change.

When I got pregnant my melasma got much worse. It migrated from my upper lip only to my cheeks as well. Virtually the entire bottom part of my face was covered. (Pictured above and in the two photos below.) It was a source of stress for me because I was constantly looking for makeup products that could potentially cover it but they never did fully. I knew while I was pregnant I wouldn’t be able to try anything to treat it but I started doing research during this time. I found Musely through a group for people with Melasma. The before and after photos were truly unbelievable!

I started my Musely journey a few weeks after I had my son. I didn’t have high hopes considering nothing had worked for me in the past. (My before photos are pictured above and below.)

To begin my journey with Musely I downloaded the app on my phone and completed the questions and submitted my before photos. Soon, a dermatologist reviewed my skin concerns and prescribed me with a formula specifically for my face! I was given the Spot Cream to use nightly. I loved how easy the diagnosis process was and that I didn’t even have to leave my house. Extremely convenient with a newborn!

(Pictured above after 30 days of treatment with the Musely Spot Cream)

My prescribed Spot Cream came directly from Musely to my front door. I began using it nightly as directly right away. I didn’t change anything else about my skincare routine during my treatment. I washed my face as usual, used the Spot Cream, and moisturized before bed each night.

Personally, I did not experience any irritation on my face during my journey. It is possible though depending on your skin type. I began to see results especially on my cheek area a few weeks after beginning my treatment with Musely.

My results after 50 days are pictured above. All of my melasma on my cheeks is gone and above my upper lip has lightened so much! I am still continuing my treatment with Musely in order to listen the upper lip area even more. I love the ease of using Musely and the results I’ve seen. Don’t have melasma? You can still use Musely for other skin concerns like wrinkles, pores, or texture! Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever tried anything to treat your Melasma and whether it worked or not!

10 Baby Registry Must Haves

I originally was going to write this post last summer. In fact, it’s been saved as a draft since June 2020. I think now that I’ve been a mom for almost 9 months I have a much better idea of what we really used daily and what we didn’t. I’ll be honest, we definitely had way too many baby things. If I had it to do again I would definite minimize the amount. I’m sharing the 10 most essential things we’ve used that you should consider adding to your own baby registry!

  1. Boppy Lounger

This is an absolute must have for me. I cannot believe how much we used and still use it to this day! Essential it’s just a specially designed pillow for babies. They start at about $32 and go up to $44 for some of the special prints on Pottery Barn. We have the grey preferred one and it’s great because it’s neutral and doesn’t show dirt as much. You can throw the entire thing in the washing machine and let it dry. It’s not approved for sleeping but if he dozed off on it while I was next to him I allowed him to continue sleeping since I was supervising. Otherwise it’s just a great safe spot to rest them when you need a hands free moment. Do not ever set it on any elevated surfaces even when baby is brand new. Newborns are stronger than you think!

2. Burp Cloths

I vastly underestimated how many of these you use the first few months. I also tried to use the “cute” ones. I have some from Milkbarn and they don’t absorb hardly anything. Get the plain white old school ones from Amazon. I recommend 2 packs and keeping them everywhere in the house!

3. Pajamas

You will live in pajamas especially the first month or so. Zip pajamas or gowns are my recommendation! We personally loved gowns for nighttime sleep. You just whip it up, change the diaper and back down. We did zipper or magnetic pajamas during the day. Do not ever get the snaps. Just trust me. Some brands I like are: Magnetic Me, Milkbarn, Kissy Kissy, Magnolia Baby, and Little Sleepies. They’re all great quality and last through countless washes. They are definitely more expensive than most but I would rather have fewer pajamas and do more laundry. I’m a do laundry everyday person so it wasn’t an issue. If you don’t like doing laundry as much you probably will want more pajamas. I think 5-7 in their size is a good number. We were probably changing 1-2 times a day depending and then a night pair. For more affordable options on pajamas I like: Cloud Island from Target and Burt Bee’s because they both have cute prints and zip up.

4. A Way to Feed Baby

You’ll have to choose what you want to do whether it’s nursing or formula or a combination. We chose formula only so we made sure to have bottles, nipples, and formula before. I wouldn’t buy any formula though because we ended up switching week one but I was able to donate it. The hospital gives you formula bottles as well to take home. We also have the Baby Breeze Formula Pro which I’ve spoken fondly of and is still a real MVP for us but it’s definitely not a must. You can mix a bottle by hand with water! We also have a sterilizer but it’s not essential either. You can wash bottles by hand but it just adds an extra layer of cleanliness.

5. Monitor

You can go old school and get a sound only monitor for around $20 or get a video monitor. Technically this isn’t a must have but it does allow you to let your child sleep without you being in the room with them. I really like the Lollipop Camera since it can be used anywhere. It has a grip that you can mold onto anything so you can move it around your home or take it with you anywhere. It also has a user friendly app that can be accessed from your phone or tablet!

6. Diaper bag

You don’t necessarily have to get a diaper bag but you need to set up a bag with baby essentials. Namely, diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, burp cloths, pacifier, swaddle. I love my Freshly Picked backpack so much. You truly can use a bag you already have if you like! You’ll be the one carrying it so do what you want.

7. Sound machine

It’s not something you have to have but having it is very convenient. Especially once they start going to bed before you. We like our Hatch because you can even control it from your phone. There are also sound machines as low as $10 on Amazon. My husband literally was hammering a drawer in the other night and Turner never woke up. Thank you, Hatch!

8. Car seat

You must have one to leave the hospital and they will check it! Make sure if you get a used one that it’s newer than 7 years old because that’s when they expire. The date is often on the bottom. We love our Nuna Pipa Lite but it’s definitely more expensive than a lot of them. $50 is the lowest I have found for newborn car seat. You want them safe though so it’s worth it.

9. Kick ‘n’ Play Piano

It’s probably the ugliest baby item of all time but it’s perfect for tummy time! Babies love all the colors to look at. Turner would lay under the hanging toys in awe! He still uses it now at almost 9 months and the piano comes off for them to play with when they’re older.

10. Somewhere for baby to sleep

This is totally up to you! It can be a bassinet, pack n play, or crib. A lot of parents like to have baby in their own room at first and the AAP actually recommends it. We did it for 5 weeks and if we were to do it over I would’ve moved him to his nursery the first week. I slept so much better when I couldn’t hear his every move. We used the SNOO Bassinet the first 5.5 months but it’s definitely not necessary. As long as baby has a safe place to sleep you are good to go!

What’s the one thing from your registry you couldn’t have lived without? Let me know below in the comments!

Baby Proofing Your Dogs

Baby Proofing Your Dogs

If you know me in real life then you know I absolutely adore my dogs. My black Labrador retriever, Reese, has been a part of our family since my husband and I were dating. We got her together and she was at our engagement and in the photo for our save the date. After getting married we got our Golden Retriever, Maddux, who is the energizer bunny of our dogs. My dogs were actually the first to know I was pregnant since they waited for the results with me because my husband was out of town! They kept me company throughout my pregnancy and months of quarantine once COVID started since my husband still had to go to work daily. They truly are my best friends! I cried a lot leading up to my due date because I was so worried they would be upset with me for bringing a baby home. Everyone would say when I was pregnant: “Just wait until that baby gets here, things will change!” I’m here to tell you that they do but for the better.

Maddux is technically “my dog,” since I was the one that got him and took care of him from being a puppy onward plus he is a male so he naturally gravitates more toward me. Once I got pregnant Reese must have been able to sense what was going on because she got very protective of me. I’ve heard dogs sometimes know people are pregnant before they even know themselves and I could definitely see how that’s true!

I want to share some tips that helped us with transitioning our dogs to their new baby brother. I obviously am not an expert in dog training of any kind but this is what worked for us!

Before we were ever pregnant we let our dogs be around kids as much as possible! We let kids pet them and love them while closely supervising them both. No matter what kids did to either dog they absolutely loved the attention and were so gentle! I know with COVID this may not be as much of a possibility but if you do have kids you see in your life and their parents are comfortable with it then expose your dogs to them! Of course remember some kids are afraid of dogs and in that case it’s better if they are put up. All of our friends that came around our dogs had dogs themselves so they were fine with the kids playing with them.

Play sounds of baby crying, babbling, laughing! Anything baby noise related play it for the dog often leading up to birth. That way they aren’t startled when they hear any of the noises. Our dogs don’t even bat an eye if Turner cries or makes noise of any sort!

Let the dogs be a part of the preparation process for baby when possible! We went in the nursery every single day and would hang out in there. We let them sniff around and even left the door open for them to go in as they wanted to explore.

Once baby was actually here we made sure to send a blanket and hat with his scent on it home for the dogs to investigate. I had my husband go downstairs and send it with a parent to take to our house. In COVID times this might not be possible but if it is not then maybe send someone in for a few minutes before you go inside with an item with the baby’s scent on it.

Once we actually got home the dogs were very curious. Maddux wanted to be close to him right away but Reese took a day or two to warm up. That’s just her personality though! She’s a bit of a diva. We still let our dogs sleep in our room (yes, they sleep in our bed) even when Turner was staying in there. We left the door open because some nights one or both of them would leave the room at first during the night. We let them be near baby as much as possible but we do supervise them very closely and never leave them alone just to be safe.

I try to show them the same amount of attention I always have throughout the day. They hang out with me during nap time and after Turner goes to bed we all cuddle. I’ve heard people say to only give them attention when baby is around and ignore them when baby is gone. We didn’t follow this advice and just give them attention whenever and it has worked fine for us.

Turner is starting to show a lot of interest in the dogs now! He has started to reach for them, turn his head to watch them and sometimes they actually make him laugh! As he gets older we will make it a point to teach him how to treat them kindly but will always supervise them when they are together. We have had zero issues with either of our dogs and interacting with baby. They do both like to lick him quite a bit so we say “Thank you” to them and move them away instead of saying no. A baby fence or play yard is a great idea to keep them separated if you want to! We don’t do it much yet but definitely will once Turner is on the move.

One last thing I worried about before baby was here was barking. Our dogs only bark if they think someone is at our home. That means every delivery truck, neighbor slamming car door, kids riding their bicycle past etc. I guess Turner hears it so much that 99% of the time it doesn’t wake him up when he’s sleeping. I think he just got used to it so it doesn’t bother him! Overall, the transition has been very seamless for us and it melts my heart seeing my original babies with my human baby!

Do you have any questions about bringing a baby home with dogs? Leave them below in the comments and I will be glad to answer!

Love,

Megan

5 products, 5 minutes: everyday makeup routine

There’s just something about getting dressed and putting yourself together that seems to make the whole day more productive even if you’re working from home. I don’t like to spend a lot of extra time doing either since no one other than my son sees me during the day. Honestly, when I was still teaching full time I still didn’t put much effort into my appearance! I’ve made it a goal to always get dressed in real, yet comfortable clothes everyday plus try to do a little makeup. I’m sharing my 5 minute (or less) routine using 5 products all of which can be found at your local drugstore or Ulta. As always all of the items are linked on my liketoknow.it account!

After I get dressed and brush my hair either leaving it down or throwing it up somehow I make sure to start with a clean face and moisturizer. My first step is to apply Tula’s Blurring Primer with my hands. I do have a discount code for you to use: PIGSFLY.

Second step is to wet a sponge, I like RealTechnique’s version. It’s affordable and I replace them monthly for sanitary reasons. I then go in with a small amount of It Cosmetics Illumination Tinted SPF using the damp sponge. I throughly blend that and make sure to apply a little to my undereye area as well.

Third step is to apply a small amount of Physican’s Formula Butter Bronzer with a large face brush. Make sure to get your neck as well so it blends!

Final step is the curl your eyelashes and brush eyebrows. I then apply L’Oreal Voluminous Primer and Mascara in Blackest Black. You can do as many coats as you like! On weekdays I usually just do a quick one on top. Feel free to apply lipblam/gloss of your choice and even use a setting spray if you like.

I love that this whole process doesn’t take long or many products. It gives me just enough coverage to feel confident and put together for the day. I did a short video on my Instagram if you’d like to see the whole process. All of the products I shared today can be shopped in the free liketoknow.it app and you can even save your favorites for shopping at a later time!

What’s one thing that helps you feel motivated for the day? Let me know in the comments below!

Love,

Megan

Most Used Baby Products: Month 3 and 4

Hello, remember me? It’s been awhile. I had much better intentions and plans for writing more posts but life happens. We are currently nearing the end of month 4 with Turner and I am finally sharing my must haves for month 3 and 4.

Our Hatch Rest is used for naps and nighttime sleep. I love it because my husband and I can both control it from the app on our phones. It even has timers and favorites you can set. It easily turns on when you touch the top of it. Our favorite sound to use is the “TV Static” one.

We give these Enfamil Probiotic drops to Turner everyday. I really do think it helps him to have less gas and have more regular bowel movements. We chose this brand because we use the same one for his formula.

We started using the Magic Merlin Sleep suit at 3 months for naps only. We are still using the SNOO for all nighttime sleep and will be transitioning soon. The suit helps them feel secure and relaxed without swaddling it. I think of it as the next step after swaddling and before a sleep sack. I do think it helped him nap a little better. It looks like it would be hot but it is not at all. I just recently quit using it for naps because I am trying to get him ready for all sleep in the crib in a sleep sack. You can actually use the Merlin until they roll in the suit. Plus, I won’t lie…it’s pretty cute when they have it on!

This baby Einstein Toy is the best $8 I’ve ever spent. We do try not to overstimulate him too much. Only two of his toys have flashing lights and music and this is one of them. He is mesmerized by this thing! We reserve it for emergencies when either he is very upset and we have tried everything to calm him down or for when we need 5 minutes to eat. It plays snippets of classical music and the lights go with it…so it’s educational, right?

This may seem like an odd thing to include but hear me out: you need a space heater. This idea was given to me by a friend who is also a blogger. Turner loves baths but hates being cold afterward no matter how tightly we bundle him in the bowl and hurry to dress him. I plug this small heater in before bath so it can warm the changing area. He rarely makes any fuss now when getting dried off and changed. Obviously, be mindful of safety with a baby and heater. I always unplug mine as soon as we are finished.

Sensory soft books are a must have! We have an Eric Carle one that has crinkle pages and he loves it! He will literally hold and play with it forever.

I mentioned before Turner loves his baths! He would stay in there until the water turned cold if we would let him. We have this Fisher Price tub. It has a sling for the first three or so months then you remove it. He sits one way for a few months and when he gets bigger it switches to the other way. Eventually, the green insert comes out completely. We use this tub in a bathtub but it would work in a larger sink. He also loves the little fish that has holes for water to come out. It’s lightweight, easy to clean and I feel like he is very secure in it.

I started using this Hair Spritz from Rowe Casa on a whim when he was about 2 months old. He had lost a ton of hair as babies do. I apply it nightly with a brush after his bath when his hair is damp. I cannot believe how much his hair has grown since I started using it! You can also use this on your own hair which I need to start doing. Click here to shop it and use code MEGAN20 for a discount. (Code only good through December 18th)

Want to shop the items I mentioned in this post? Click here to shop the exact products. You can always shop them in the free liketoknow.it app as well as many other products I love! Do you have any current baby product favorites? I’d love for you to comment what they are below!

Hope you guys have a great weekend!

Love,

Megan

Beautiful Oops! Book Review

You may or may not know that before staying home with Turner I was a teacher. For 5 of those years of teaching I taught Fine Arts: Art, Music, Drama to Kindergarten through 5th graders. I absolutely loved it and it was something I was passionate about. One thing I always tried to do when teaching an art lesson was pair it with a piece of children’s literature. My mom discovered a Barney Saltzburg book called “Arlo Needs Glasses” quite a few years back and I started using it with one of my art lessons. This led me to purchasing some of his other books like “A Little Bit of Oomph” and “Beautiful Oops!” and incorporating them into my lessons in the classroom. 5th graders usually do not care much for read aloud but they would beg me to reread these books to them because of all the cool elements! I was recently gifted another copy of “Beautiful Oops!” from Workman Publishing (@workmanpub) and have been reading it to Turner. He is just beginning to be able to really see and recognize colors and shapes and he was mesmerized by the illustrations!

A cool feature of the book is that it has pop-outs, flaps to life, overlays and more! It really gets your attention and keeps it on each page. Even though Turner is only two months old literacy is something that is not only important to me as a former teacher but also now as his mom. I love stories that have a positive message and lesson behind them. Beautiful Oops! is all about taking mistakes and making them into something else thats positive. I love the creativity behind each mistake it uses as an example and how it really encourages readers to think outside the box.

I have seen first hand in the art room how hard kids can be on themselves when something does not turn out as they have visualized. I always tried to take those instances as an opportunity to teach about being gentle with ourselves and making their “mistake” into something else! We always also talked about not being perfect because no one is. Today, with social media and our constant need for our self image to look a certain way it is more important than ever to teach children to learn from mistakes and use them to create something positive. Want to get a copy of this book for your own children or classroom? “Beautiful Oops!” is on sale wherever books are sold. #beautifuloops #beautifuloopsbook

Love,

Megan

Month 2: Most Used Baby Products

Turner is two months old today and time has certainly flown! His little personality is really starting to shine through. He’s usually pretty happy unless he wants to eat or has a wet diaper! Today, I am sharing our most used baby products for month two of his life. You can shopping all of these products by screenshooting the above photo and/or visiting my liketoknow.it!

We had a small bout of baby acne and completely banished it in about three days with Tubby Todd’s All Over Ointment! I applied it to his face each night after bath at bedtime and saw improvements in the baby acne immediately. It can be used for a variety of things on babies so it is a great product to keep in your diaper caddy! A little goes a long way so it will last a long time.

I debated not adding this because it is kind of gross but cradle cap is very common in babies. It is basically a flakey scalp. Thankfully Turner had a very mild case of it but we got this Cradle Cap System from Fridababy and used it twice over the course of a few days and it completely went away. We just did it as a part of bath time. It has not come back yet but we will keep this on hand in case it does.

This may truly be my number 1 baby product of all time. No exaggeration. The Boppy Lounger is SO affordable and we use it every single day. It is not for sleeping but rather a place for baby to lounge when you need a hands free moment. The heavier Turner gets the more thankful I am for this! The fabric is easy to wipe down and the pillow itself is machine washable. It comes in several different prints. This would be a great baby gift if you do not know what to get someone because it will definitely get used!

This is one of those little things that actually makes a huge difference! The Baby Bump Brush is an easier and more sanitary way of applying diaper cream. We have not had a diaper rash yet but we do use Aquaphor at night where the diaper meets the skin on either side since it gets red and we want to keep it from getting irritated. We use this brush to apply it and it saves our hands from having to be coated in it. It is super easy to clean as well!

What do you do when you do not want to keep holding your baby or need your hands free? Wear them! The Ergo 360 Omni Carrier is so comfortable for adults and baby. As an infant you have them facing you until their neck control gets better and then they can face out and even ride on your back. It is a little tricky to get into without another person but it is doable since I have done it before. Turner goes right to sleep in this thing 99% of the time! Our friends all have these and love them too!

We have a couple of baby items that are 4 months and up only because they need better neck control. This Huggapod supports your baby so they can begin using things like this sit me up now! We only use it for about 15 minutes a day but Turner loves to sit up and watch us make dinner. It can be used in high chairs and really anything that your baby is not quite strong enough to sit in unsupported yet. The front and back pieces can eventually be used separately when they need less support.

If you have any questions about any products I have listed for this month comment below and let me know! I will be glad to answer.

Love,

Megan

Most Used Baby Items: Month 1

Our sweet Turner was one month old yesterday! We’ve got a month of parenting in the books and I’m not sure we know that much more than when we started but we are certainly trying to figure it out as we go. I wanted to share the main baby items that have made our life a little easier with an infant this first month. My plan is to share products monthly that we found helpful. There are so many “must haves” out there that it is hard to know what you really need. Obviously, nothing I’m sharing is an absolute “must have” but rather things we found helpful during our first month with Turner. You can shop all the items I am sharing on the free liketoknow.it app: www.liketoknow.it/whenpigsflyblog.

Babyshusher – Admittedly, I did not even pick this up the first week or two until I got suggestions from other moms to try it. It makes the “shush” noise over and over in either 15 or 30 minute increments. I started trying it when we wanted to put Turner down to nap or sleep for the night or even after night feedings. It definitely helps along with rocking since the sound mimics the womb. It is also great because it is extremely portable. We use it everyday at different times and the batteries are still going.

4Moms Mamaroo Swing: This is one of those items I had heard mixed things on. Some babies like it and others hate it. It is pretty expensive as well as takes up a lot of space. Luckily, I was able to purchase it secondhand from a friend. Turner absolutely loves it especially the car ride setting! He will often fall asleep in it. It has different ride settings and sounds. This is a must have for me and truthfully I would be fine paying full price for it now since it has worked so well for him.

BabyBrezza Formula Pro: If you are formula feeding this is an absolute must. It is pricey but for the convenience it is worth it. It is basically a Keurig for formula. You add distilled water and powdered formula and it will make the bottle for you with the press of a button. You choose room temperature or warm along with the ounces desired. There is nothing like pressing a button at 3 am and having a bottle in 10 seconds. It also reduces gas and other stomach issues due to air bubbles since the bottle does not have to be shaken. My only complaint and you have to clean the funnel every four bottles and truthfully you need to clean the entire machine a time or two a week to keep it working its best. I would only purchase this if you are exclusively formula feeding!

Fisher Price Kick & Play Piano Mat: I call this the ugly mat. It’s hideous but my son absolutely loves it! It plays music and grows with them as they get older. We do tummy time on this mat as well. If you only buy one play thing for your infant this should be it!

SNOO Bassinet: I really do not think we could survive without this. I will do an in-depth review after we have been using it longer on here but so far it has been amazing. It is a smart bassinet that rocks your baby when they need soothing using movement and sound. It has an app connected to it that monitors sleep habits. The claim as that it will have your child sleeping through the night by the time they are done with it at 6 months which is when you wean and transfer them to a regular crib. The only downside to this bassinet is the price tag. It is very expensive but we were fortunate enough to borrow this from my sister in law. If buying it is not in the budget you can also rent it a month at a time as well as purchase it secondhand at a cheaper price. If you do purchase it the resale value is great and they resell easily. We absolutely love the SNOO and highly recommend it to everyone. It is worth it!

Magnetic Me Pajamas: These are the softest pajamas I have ever felt! The best part is that there are no zippers or snaps to fumble with in the middle of the night. All of the sleepers and gowns use magnets to keep them closed. We especially have loved the gowns for nighttime because they keep his legs and feet warm without socks plus they are so easy for changing him! We like the pajamas for lounging during the day. They have tons of cute prints for boys and girls. They are a little pricer than Carters, Target etc but I would personally rather have less pajamas that were these and just wash them. We find ourselves pretty disappointed when all the Magnetic Me pajamas are dirty. Needless to say I do laundry quite frequently so that does not happen!

What is the one item you could not live without the first month of your little one’s life? Let me know below in the comments! I know there are tons of other amazing products out there I am sure I do not even know about. If you have a question about any of the products I shared today feel free to ask! Remember, you can shop any of these items in the liketoknow.it app and even save them to your favorites for the future!

Love,

Megan

Who else is ready for exercise dress season?! They’re probably my favorite trend of the last few years! Love this @fabletics one that comes in three colors. Wearing a small and it can be worn with or without the shorts of your choice. #fableticspartner #myfabletics #moveinfabletics Bring on the spring prints! 🌸🌷 Jumpsuit & turtleneck are @showmeyourmumu rented from @fashionpass and earrings are also from there. Sneakers are @veja I officially launched When Pigs Fly Creative Agency earlier this month! I offer social media management and copywriting services to brands. I’ve been able to sign my first clients and I’m excited to help even more going forward! Starting a business has certainly been a learning curve. It’s a lot of work and definitely not as easy organizing all the logistics! I’ve already learned a lot in a short period of time. Excited to see where my business goes in 2023! Do you have any advice for me? Please leave it below in the comments! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 From March 13-18 all @tacos4lifegrill locations will be participating in Good Samaritan Day! 🌮🧡 During the week, guests who choose to provide additional meal donations with their Tacos 4 Life order will receive a queso coupon and be entered for a chance to win a complimentary 20-person taco bar. Make sure to visit next week for a good meal + even better cause! #tacos4life Two new pajama sets from @shopmarysquare 🤩 These are the softest pjs I’ve ever owned. They fit so comfortably & the prints are perfect for spring! Use code: WHENPIGSFLYBLOG for 20% off your purchase. Let me know which print is your favorite below 👇🏼 3 reasons you need this @fabletics set for spring! 🤩 #fableticspartner #myfabletics #moveinfabletics Looking for a fun & free kid’s activity near you? @buffcitysoap.texarkanatx will let your child paint a half bath bomb! What a fun + creative way to get your children excited about bath time. 🧼 #smellwonderful #buffcitysoapambassador 💕Save this post for an easy + delicious Galentine’s Day cocktail with @sipwinewater 🍾 I love that their wine is only two ingredients with nothing artificial! Only dry, French wine + pure sparkling water. I added a raspberry fruit popsicle to a wine glass and poured the Rosè over it! Stir & enjoy!! 🥂 Y’all warned me about this but I didn’t believe it until I lived it. Toddlers are just built different 💀

Postpartum Essentials

I’m sharing my must haves for postpartum today. Probably the least “fun” post I’ve written so far but definitely the most practical! I will mention I had a vaginal birth with a 2nd degree tear and some stitches. Depending on your labor and birth your recovery and postpartum period might look different from mine. The things I’m sharing today are obviously just suggestions and things I felt that made my recovery more comfortable. You can shop all of the products I’m sharing by going to the free LIKEtoKNOW.it app: Shop my post

Things to keep in basket in the restroom for easy access:

  • Mesh underwear – the hospital will provide these but I liked the FridaMom brand much better. I will say I felt like I only needed these the first week or so.
  • Pads – I liked the large hospital ones for the beginning of my time at home and then transitioned to regular pads.
  • Always Discreet Disposable Underwear – you technically don’t need both the mesh underwear and these but I found that the Always ones were so much more convenient especially when you are getting up all night with a newborn. They are kind of pricey so I would suggest just getting one package to see if you like them. I ended up getting a second package because they were so easy to use.
  • Flushable wipes – you will want these instead of using toilet paper at first. Do not flush them though because they will eventually mess up your plumbing!
  • FridaMom peri bottle – the one the hospital gives you is nothing compared to this one. It’s amazing. If you only get one thing for postpartum and decide to use the hospital stuff for the rest then make it this! I promise you need it.
  • FridaMom pad liners – I liked these so much better than the round Tucks Pads. They are actually shaped like a pad so they fit perfectly. I rotated these and the next product for the first week or two.
  • Dermoplast Spray – they will give you this at the hospital but I ordered extra. I probably went through a can and a half total. Rotating the spray and witch hazel liners listed above helps speed your healing process and keeps you comfortable!
  • FridaMom ice pads – this was my other favorite product. I loved these so much I ordered another box of them. I used these twice a day. Once in the morning and evening. This is a more expensive alternative to padsicles. I just wanted something convenient that would help with swelling and recovery!

Many of the items I mentioned come as part of the FridaMoms Kit which I was gifted from my sister in law. It also had some perineal cooling foam but I personally didn’t use it much. I found the other items I listed more convenient. If you don’t want to purchase the whole kit all the items listed above can be bought via Amazon separately.

Other items to have on hand:

  • A pillow to sit on at all times at least the first week. Trust me – you will want it. I used my pregnancy pillow most of the time.
  • Nightgowns or other easy access clothing. It was so much easier to take care of myself when I didn’t have to worry about getting off pants or shorts. I love the Star’s Above line from Target and rotated my long sleeve and shortsleeved ones.
  • Ibuprofen or other pain reliever. I was given pain pills but I only took them for 3 days once we returned home because they made me feel too groggy and I truthfully wasn’t in enough pain to need them after that. I switched to over the counter pain reliever after that for the first week and then didn’t take anything after that. Listen to your body though and take whatever medications as long as you feel like you need them!

Supplements to take:

  • Colace – they will give you this in the hospital but you need to continue taking it at home. It is a stool softener. Regardless of the type of birth you have you will want this to make sure you don’t have to strain when the time comes. You can take up to 3 times a day which I suggest and then taper down to one time per day once the first week goes by. I also suggest drinking tons of water!
  • Garden of Life Probiotic – I took their prenatal one during pregnancy and then switched to the Women’s Daily after giving birth. This will help with your digestive system!
  • Pink Stork Postpartum Mood Support – this has vitamins to help your body transition as it gets rid of any lingering hormones.

Other bits of advice:

  • Make sure you are getting a shower once or even twice a day. I know it’s hard with a newborn and you’re tired but I truly feeling like keeping good hygiene will help prevent infection and speed your recovery process. I’m a clean freak though and love showers so this was easy for me. If that’s not your thing still make sure your partner watches your baby so you can make sure you get clean daily!
  • Walk as much as possible! Even if it’s just around your house. This truly will help you so much.
  • You might still be swollen from fluids after. My legs and feet were extremely swollen and somewhat painful. This took a week to subside. I tried to drink tons of water and keep them elevate. Moving around also helps!

Things I didn’t use:

  • Postpartum wrap – I bought one from Amazon and used it once. These are supposed to help your stomach and everything go back but they gave me really painful stomach cramps so I never put it on again.
  • Sitz bath salts – I was told I couldn’t take a bath by my OB until after my 6 week check up.

Overall, postpartum recovery has not been as difficult as I thought. I had a fairly easy pregnancy, quick induction, labor and routine vaginal birth which I know helps. Once you get through the first few days you will feel so much better! Let anyone who offers to help you do so. Don’t feel like you have to have it all together and get it all done. Feel free to ask me any questions about post part recovery! I’ll be glad to answer.

Love,

Megan