Symptoms of being Pregnant

You are probably like a million other women out there who have tons of questions about pregnancy.  If I missed my periods, does that mean that I'm pregnant.  Well, I wanted to share with you a few symptoms of ways that you can know if you are pregnant.

• Missed periods
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Unusual or Abnormal Periods
• Soreness of the breast
• Enlargement of the breast
• Fatique
• Strange cravings
• Stretch marks
• Frequent urination

I would recommend you call your OBG-YN as soon as possible to confirm if you are pregnant so that you can proceed with getting the right checkups and prenatal care for you and your new bundle of joy!

Warm Regards,

LaTersa Blakely

http://www.diapercakesbylatersa.com

Baby Care Part 4: Feeding baby with bottle

This is the second option you can choose to feed your baby.  Not every mom will choose to breast feed, so she will opt to feed baby with a bottle.  Below is a great article I found on feeding an infant with a bottle.

Step #1

Get prepared. Have the bottle of breast milk or formula at the exact temperature your baby prefers.  Most of the time, room temperature will work perfectly. Please do not microwave bottles, as this will cause hot spots that can burn your baby.

Step # 2

Get a correct grip. Hold the baby on your lap with baby's head in the middle part of your arm.  Be sure to secure baby's head from falling back. Be sure to switch sides, as you would with breastfeeding to provide them with adequate stimulation of both sides of the brain.  For more tips, you can read the entire article--Click here.

Have fun getting to bond with your baby,

LaTersa Blakely

Need a great supply of diapers--Click here!

Need a great Mother's Day Gift--Click here!

Baby Care Part 3: How to feed a baby

Feeding baby!

Now this one is one of those things where you have to pay close attention to your baby. There are two types of ways to feed a baby, either by breast or by bottle. So, I will just dive right in and let you know how to go about feeding your baby.

Breastfeeding your baby. This one is not for everybody and don't feel bad if you decide that this is not for you. But, I will tell you this, "it will save you a lot of money". On the other side, the cons are you will not be able to let others help you because you're breastfeeding.

Step #1

Choose a position. You have several options as to how you want to nurse your baby. You can choose to sit down or lay down. I would recommend choosing a position that gives you the most comfortable feeling and one that is giving your baby the best supply of milk. Now, you can choose to lay in bed and hold your baby in the football cradle position or you can simply just lay your baby down next you or hold them in your arms. Now, this may vary with each child.

This allows you to hold the baby with one hand and use the other to support or move your breast. I know when I nursed my daughter, I was most comfortable with the cradle position and she seemed to enjoyed that position as well.

Step #2

Get extra support.  It don't matter which position you choose, in most cases, you will need an extra lift.  You can grab an extra pillow and place under your arm while holding the baby.  If you need help with getting set up, just ask for it.  The worst thing you can do is know that you don't quite understand it, but refuse to get help.

Step# 3

Baby placement.  This is one of the most important steps to breastfeeding. You want to make sure that the baby latches on correctly.  All this comes in to play with finding a great position for the baby.  Your baby should be belly to belly with his chin to your breast.  If for some reason your baby is moving his head, you want to position baby's head back to right position. This can make it very difficult for baby to get a good amount of milk flow.  Also, too much of the baby pulling and twisting can make your breast very tender and sore.

Step#4

Latching.  This one is very important as well.  You want to help make sure your baby is getting a great supply of milk by squeezing your breast with one hand. This will allow you to kind of help baby get more milk. You will want to make sure baby's entire mouth covers the areola tissue also known as the darker portion of the breast.

Now, you have just nursed your baby. Have fun bonding with your new bundle of joy!

Warm Wishes,

LaTersa Blakely

Need a Great Baby Shower Gift--Click Here!

Need a Great Mother's Day Gift--Click here!

Need to stock up on diapers--Click here!

Tips to help older children prepare for the new baby's arrival

I must say that as time drew nearer for the birth of my second child, I was really trying to prepare my son for the arrival of his new little sister.  The day that my daughter was born, my son kept saying mommy I want to hold her; can I sleep in the bed with you too mommy.  I want to share with you a few tips that will help the older sibling prepare him/herself so that it won't be too hard once they see the new baby.

Tip#1

Allow the older siblings to help you with the baby.  What I mean by this is, when you get ready to change the baby, let the other child bring the diapers, baby powder, or whatever it is that you need.  I know personally for me, I allowed my son to bring me sarah's clean clothes, her bottle, and diapers.  As time went by, he started to feel like a big boy and being around the new baby didn't get to him as much.  Now, I must say that that still didn't stop him from getting jealous.

Tip#2

Make time just for the older sibling.  During the first couple of months, there will be a lot of attention paid to the newborn, so you have to be creative with this one.  With my two little ones, when Sarah would go down for her nap, I would watch a movie with Ishmael, or play his favorite game with him.  Sometimes, that didn't work, because how about little missy, didn't want to stop eating (I was still nursing her), so I would play with ishmael in between playing little games with Sarah while she ate.

Tip#3

Let the older sibling know that he/she is loved.  This may seem like a given, but little children still tend to get jealous of the new baby.  Even before the baby is born, keep remind them of how much mommy and daddy love them and that the new baby is not going to take their place.  I know with mines, I consistently allowed ishmael to feel my stomach when Sarah would be kicking, and I would tell him that "she was kicking trying to come out so she could play with him".  "Another thing I used to tell him is that he's going to be a BIG brother and little sisters love their big brother because he has to be the one to protect her.  

I really hope this get you on the right path as to preparing your older siblings for the new baby!

Best wishes,

LaTersa Blakely

Need a Great baby shower gift--Click here!

Still need some help about preparing for motherhood the second time around--Click here!

Should I be alarmed about mood swings during pregnancy

Mood swings are a normal part of pregnancy.  A lot of women experience mood swings at some point during their pregnancy.  Sometimes, you will be heavenly in love with the ideal of having your little bundle of joy, but as fast as you can blink your eyes, your mood swing can change. Just a few tips to help you get through your body and its changes. Pregnancy within itself can be stressful enough whether the baby is planned or if it was a surprise.  It seems that getting close to the due date, your body can have about 10 to 20 extra pounds that can be a lot to swallow.  This amount of weight can make it hard for you to get a good night's rest.  You are probably wondering how can I find a comfortable position to sleep.

Tip#1

Take a deep breath and relax. I have to admit that my mood swings went up and down especially when it got closer to my delivery date.  I would be so frustrated because I could hardly get around without feeling tired.

Tip#2

If you are finding yourself getting depressed a lot, you should consult with your doctor or OBG-YN.

Tip#3

Remember the little bundle of joy that is inside of you, and think about how hard it might be for them to move around once they reach their big day.

Best wishes to you,

LaTersa Blakely

Need a great baby shower gift--Click here!

Stay tuned for more pregnancy tips--Click here!

Foods to avoid when pregnant!

Calling all my expectant mothers!!!!!!!!!!

I wanted to share with you some foods that you should avoid when you are pregnant.  I know you are probably saying, here we go again.  I shouldn't do this or I shouldn't eat this or that.  I want to save you a few headaches that I had during my pregnancy.  I was a little hard headed at the beginning.  I still wanted to try to slip in a soda every now and again.  "Bad mistake".  My baby had me up all night long.  It felt as if I had given him a one way past to my bladder and my chest.  I had heartburn on top of heartburn. He was so active, that he literally thought he was the next Michael Jordan.  He's was playing alley hoop on my bladder.  But, enough of my stories, here are a list of foods you should avoid:

1) Deli meats
2) Fish with mercury
3) Smoked seafoods
4) Raw eggs
5) Raw shellfish
6) Unpasterized milk
7) Soft cheeses

For a completed list of more foods to avoid, click here!

Best wishes on your bundle of joy!
LaTersa Blakely

Cute Facts about April Babies!

Well, your baby is almost here and you are very excited. I just wanted to share with you some cute and fun facts about babies born in the month of April. April is one of my favorite months because one, it's official spring time, and two, there is no more snow (unless you live in Pittsburgh)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's true what they say that "April showers bring May flowers".

April was the second month in an early Roman calendar, but became the fourth when the ancient Romans started using January as the first month. The Romans called the month Aprilis. It may come from a word meanting 'to open', or it may come from Aphrodite, the Greek name for the goddess of love.

1)Zodiac signs is Aries
2)Birth stone: Diamond (Innocence)
3)Birth flower: Daisy or Sweet Pea

A New Baby, A New Job: How do I juggle all this?

Are you a new mom?  Are you a new mom entrepreneur?  You are probably wondering to yourself, how in the world will I be able to juggle all of this.  This is a lot harder than I expected it to be!  Like me and so many other moms, we have decided to come home and take care of our little people.  I can recall as a little girl, how I use to say, when I get older, I want to get married and have 5 kids!  (notice I said when I was little).  Well, when you are young everything looks easy to you!  Well, low and behold, when you get older, things are not as easy as it appeared to be when you are older.

As a little girl, I recall my mother being one of those Madea's in the neighborhood!  She was a thin and petite woman but if you were in her presence, you showed her respect and she was everybody's mommy!  She not only support her own kids when they were involved in something, but she encouraged every child that came her way.  The point of the story, is that like me and my mom, we found a system that worked for us and this is exactly what you are going to have to figure out.  Now, I will share with you a few tips on how you can juggle motherhood and mom entrepreneur!

1) Make a to-do-list for each day!  When you have something to aim for and complete by a certain time frame, it helps you to stay focused!  I can not live without my to-do-list, this is something that I have to do every night before going to bed.  See if you do this before you go to bed, you will be more than likely not to forget the most important things that you have to accomplish to following day.

2) Be flexible.  You have to be able to work saving room for surprises, emergencies.  I had an experience of this very thing a few weeks ago, and it was not pretty.  My son had a really bad nose bleed, and his teachers could not stop his nose from bleeding! I had to pick him up from school and rush him to the nearest emergency room!  Now, on the flip side of this, if I was still in the corporate world, I would have had to answer to my boss, about why I was leaving and probably get written up.  This is one of perks of being a WAHM! 

So, with finding your own system, it's easy to get frustrated and second guess yourself about the decision you made to raise your kids and to work from home.  But, I can assure you that if you stick with it and don't faint, that you will begin to see your self as a pro in this category.  For more in depth details about how to transition from motherhood to mom entrepreneur, I have created a e-book guide to help you step by step with motherhood and mom entrepreneur, Get Your Copy Today!

Best Wishes,

LaTersa Blakely

The Ultimate Guide to Motherhood & Mom Entrepreneur!--Get Your Copy Today!

Need a Great Baby Shower Gift?--Click here!

Need diapers at a discount rate?--Click here!

The Ultimate Guide to Motherhood and Mom Entrepreneur!



(Get Your Copy Today!)--Click here!

The Ultimate Guide To Motherhood and Mom Entrepreneur was birthed to help all the new moms and possibly older moms to help them transition themselves between the two.  In this e-guide, you will find steps on what you should do when you find out that you are pregnant,  how to juggle all of that which comes with motherhood to becoming a mom entrepreneur.

Benefits of purchasing this book

• Tips on how to deliver a healthy baby
• Give you tips on  how to baby proof your home
• Give you step by step instructions on how to become a mom entrepreneur
• Saves you money and time

So, for all of you who have questions about starting a business to stay home with your children, this books give you tips and simple instructions on how to get started.  But, I don't stop there, I also give you real life examples on how I juggle motherhood and mom entrepreneurship.  This is a book that you will definitely want to add to your collection. Are you ready to become a mom entrepreneur?

Warm Regards,
LaTersa Blakely

Need more diapers---Click here

Cute Facts about March Babies!

Spring is right around the corner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The month of march has some really cool stuff going on. If you had a bad winter like Pittsburgh, then of course you are tired of the snow.  So for those mothers who are getting ready to deliver, this month can be really fun.  March 20th will be the first official day of spring and don't forget to set your clocks forward one hour.  You get one less hour of sleep, but a whole lot more of daylight. 

1) March babies will have a Aquarmarine and Bloodstone birth stone.

2) Birth flowers are Daffodil and Jonquil 

3) Zodiac sign: Aries: Some of their positive traits are:

• Loves adventure,
• very energetic
•  Inventive with lots of courage 
• Confident and Enthusiastic
• Sharp and quick-minded
• Fiery and warm, passionate and expressive.
• Possessing a strong sense of urgency.

4) Celebration of St. Patrick's Day

These are just some fun facts for the mom-to-be to embrace about her new bundle of joy who will be arriving soon.

Warm Regards,

LaTersa Blakely

Planning a baby shower soon?--Need help!

Need a great baby shower centerpiece?--Click here!

Are You having A Baby Soon? What To Bring To The Hospital!

You are ready to have your little bundle of joy!  One thing you want to absolutely be sure to do is bring everything that you and baby will need in the hospital. This is not a very long article; just wanted to give you a little reminder.

Before delivery
1)Insurance cards
2) Registration forms
3) Lip Gloss (for those dry lips)
4) hair band or hair clip (the last thing you want to deal with is your hair)
5) house shoes or flip flops

After delivery
1) camera (capture baby's first moments)
2)nursing bras (for those breastfeeding moms)
3)cash (for those cravings from the vending machines)

For your stay in the hospital
1) comfortable pajamas (or loose fitting clothes)
2) as stated earlier, comfy shoes or flip flops
3) toiletries (soap, deodorant, under garments)
4) socks
5) a outfit for mommy and baby to wear home

I hope this serves as a reminder for all the soon to be moms out there.  Best wishes to you and your families.  I want to know what was your favorite nurse while you were in the hospital?  Let's stay connected on Facebook, and Twitter.

Best wishes,
LaTersa Blakely

Planning a baby shower soon?--Click here!

Need a great baby shower centerpiece?--Click here!

Rachael Zoe is having a boy!

Rachel Zoe and her husband are expecting a little boy!  We were very excited to read about Rachael and Rodger Zoe's new baby.  I wish them a very healthy little boy and many blessings to their added addition to their family.

Rachel also shared a few wardrobe tips for the expectant mothers:

1) Shift your focus to the footwear!

2) Use lots of accessories

3) Explore all forms of bottoms.

To read more about these great tips, click here.

Best wishes,
LaTersa Blakely
http://www.diapercakesbylatersa.com

Need a Great Web Design?--Click here

What's the best sleeping position during the last trimester of pregnancy?

Hello everyone,

If you are in those last few months of your pregnancy, than finding a comfortable sleeping position is probably hard to find right now. For the most part, around the 7th or 8th month, you are probably saying things like: "I be glad when my due date is here or how about this one: "Will this baby ever come out, I'm so so tired". Does any of this sounds familiar? Well, I wanted to give you a few pointers, to help make your last month or so a little more comfortable.

1) Consult with your doctor if you are having serious problems with your sleep habits. Don't take it upon yourself to assume that everything is o.k.. I know when I was pregnant with my first child, It was so uncomfortable for me to sleep on my back. It made me feel like I couldn't breathe and I just felt like I was going to die.

2) According to doctors, the best position to sleep in is on your side.  It is safe for you and baby. Some doctors recommend sleeping on your left side as oppose to your right side. "Mainly because the vena cava is located on your right side and it helps the circulation of the blood flow to your baby".  If you are having trouble sleeping on either sides, try placing a pillow between your legs and under your stomach. If for some reason, you should wake up in the middle of the night on your back, please don't freak out, just position yourself on your side again.

I really and truly hope this helps you to maintain your comfort zone until your new bundle of joy arrives.  

Best wishes,

LaTersa Blakely

http://www.diapercakesbylatersa.com 

Breastfeeding and its benefits!

(baby nursing from mommy's breast)

Did you know that breastfeeding your baby is on the rise now a days!  Well, I wanted to share with you some benefits of breastfeeding for you and baby.  Now, I have a confession to make: I did not breast feed my first child because I just could not get the hang of it for nothing in this world.  I bought a breast pump and it hurt like crazy, not to mention my son pulling my breast in every direction but the right one.  I nursed my son for about two weeks and I threw in my towel!   Now, looking back on it, I wish I had stuck with it because there came my second child, and Boy, breastfeeding her was second nature.  She came into this world trying to eat every and anything that got close to her mouth.  I mean, the nurse came in and put Sarah up against my breast and she was the happiest little baby girl in the world.  It was so much joy and fun nursing her! We would do little songs while feeding her and we really did bond.  I enjoyed it so much that I nursed her for approximately 10 months....  I guess you're wondering when is she going to give me the benefits of breastfeeding:

1) Its healthier for you and baby.  Breast milk has more nutrition in it that only the mother can provide.  Now, again the mother has to eat right because everything she eat is making up in the milk.

2) You and baby can bond.  This will be a chance for you to learn your baby character and how he/she responds to your voice.  I mean I could go on and on about the joys my daughter and I had while I was nursing her.

3) It saves you money.  While other mothers will have to spend money on buying formula and bottles, you won't have that problem.  You can feed your baby without having to go fix a bottle or open a can of formula. Now that's heaven when your baby starts to cry or get hungry and all you have to do is turn over and give him/her your own milk.

I hope this helps you keep the stress level down when deciding to breast feed your bundle of joy.  Let me know if I can be of more assistance to you. Best wishes to you and your family this year!

Warm Regards,
LaTersa Blakely
http://www.diapercakesbylatersa.com
256-603-5353