As a first time mom anticipating the birth of my son, I packed my hospital bag at 28 weeks. To say I was over prepared is an understatement. I’m going to share a list of the things I really needed (and a few extras I was grateful I had). Not every mom-to-be plans to give birth in a hospital, but if you do, this might be helpful.

1. Needed Paperwork.

First and foremost, you need to make sure you have all the proper documentation. While every hospital is different, making sure you have your ID, insurance cards on hand is important. Also, you need to register with Labor and Delivery well before your due date so you don’t have to sign a bunch of papers while you’re in labor. If you have an advance directive, be sure to provide the hospital with a copy when you register as well.

2. Post-Birth Recovery Items.

My hospital provided an awesome kit with all the essentials. A peri-bottle, DermaPlast, Tucks, mesh undies, and pads the size of a smart car. Most likely, you will not have to bring any of these items with you to the hospital. They are all perfect for an at home recovery kit though. (That’s another blog.) What I did bring, however, was a package of Always Discreet Boutique depend-style underwear. I found these to be more comfortable and efficient than the mesh underwear/pad combo after the first day. I also brought Earth Mama organic nipple butter that was soothing during the initial breastfeeding struggles. I preferred it over the Lansinoh they provided for me. Other than these two items, everything I needed was there for me as far as recovery goes. No need to bring the entire drug store with you, as I did.

3. Clothing.

After spending 36 hours in a hospital gown, my cotton jammies and ten dollar Walmart slippers felt like I was swathed head to toe in Vicuña wool. Definitely pack enough loose fitting pajamas and either socks or slippers for the two to three days you will be spending in the hospital. You will also need clothes to go home in. I chose a maxi skirt and a tee shirt. Definitely skip the jeans. That would be torture.

4. Toiletries.

Unless you like washing your hair with Dial soap, pack some shower supplies. After giving birth, you may not care either way. But if you’re particular, I’d recommend packing your own shampoo, conditioner, body wash and face wash. Travel size is perfect since you’re only going to shower once. After so many hours in the circulated air my lips were dry and chapped so chapstick is a must. I’m the kind of person who feels human only after I’ve applied concealer and blush so I packed a small bag of makeup. Most women don’t care in the least about that so if that’s you, skip it. And then of course, toothbrush and toothpaste.

5. Cell Phone and Charger.

There’s long hours of waiting and about a million people to keep in contact with so make sure your phone is charged and accessible. I put a few games and music on mine to help pass the time during early labor.

6. Essential Oils and a Diffuser

Diffusing oils like lavender or Doterra Balance blend really helped create a calm atmosphere in my room. Relaxing is priority number one while in labor.

7. Snacks.

Especially are snacks important for all the lovely family and friends that are waiting for your little bundle to arrive. The hours can be long and hard for everyone, not just mama. Food and water are essential to keeping everyone’s strength up. Nobody wants their significant other to pass out from lack of nutrition while cutting the cord. Not to mention that you will be hungry after you give birth… for like two months. Best to have something yummy on hand right away.

8. Baby Items.

Most likely your hospital or birthing center will have everything you need for your baby right there. I was even sent home with a little kit that contained a swaddle blanket, hat, shirt and a carrying case. Even so, I brought a cute outfit for him to go home in, a couple diapers just in case there is a lag between times they refill the bassinet, a thick baby blanket and car seat, of course. I didn’t even use all the other items I loaded down his diaper bag with. My suggestion is to travel light in this area.

9. Miscellaneous Items.

There were a few things I brought just for comfort. My own pillow and blanket made me feel more at home. Small, battery operated speakers for calming music. Vitamin water for when I wanted a little something tastier than plain ice water. Really, anything particular to you that makes you feel calm and happy. This time is all about you and your baby. Do whatever it takes to make it the best experience possible.

10. Birth Plan.

While not required, it is really helpful to bring a written copy of any special needs, requests or preferences to put in your file or in your room so that everyone is on the same page and you will have what you want and need. I was really happy I did this because when I was laboring and being poked and prodded, it was hard to think clear and decide what I wanted in each situation. While you can’t anticipate everything that comes up, it’s nice to have an idea ahead of time what you want and don’t want.

All in all, I would say that you won’t actually need every single thing you pack. There was so much already provided for me by the hospital. But these items made my experience a little easier. Whatever you want to bring to make that happen, just bring it! The most important thing is to focus on why you are there and the absolute miracle of having a baby. Enjoy every moment!

As moms, especially new moms, we are always thinking of our child’s safety. We make sure the car seat is installed correctly. Ensure their food is cut into small enough pieces so as to avoid choking. We take their temperature the first sign of fever, and so on.

Sometimes things develop in the home that we may not readily think about being a danger to our families. One such danger that hits close to home *no pun intended* for me this week is mold.

Mold thrives in damp environments. Anytime there is a water leak or poor air circulation, mold will grow. A couple weeks ago, while my husband replaced the floor of our bathroom, he discovered harmful mold spores in the floorboards and three feet up the drywall. He decided to take a closer look at other places in the home and unfortunately discovered the same problem. Mold, mold, mold. Being renters and not homeowners, we had no choice but to vacate. (You can imagine how fun my week has been.)

I decided to take a look at some of the dangers of living in a moldy environment. Here’s a list of some of the milder effects that most people will experience.

• Nasal and sinus congestion

Runny Nose

Wheezing and difficulty breathing

Chest tightness

Cough

Throat irritation

Sneezing

I had every single one! These symptoms my seem mild but with prolonged exposure, they can increase dramatically. Especially is this a concern if you have underlying conditions such as asthma. Depending on the type of mold, it could even produce mycotoxins that can cause more severe, dangerous disorders. Scary business in my opinion!

So while you baby proof the medicine cabinet and put safety locks on your door handles, you might want to check around your home for signs of mold. You never know what potentially harmful outcome you could protect your family from. Better safe than moldy!

Lavender, oh how I love thee!

I have been using lavender essential oil for about 12 years for various things, mainly for diffusing in my home at night to promote better sleep. I LOVE the scent and the calming effect. But recently I have discovered it’s magical benefits for a teething baby.

There have been moments over the past few months that I wondered whether I gave birth to a tiny human, or a rabid honey badger. Teethers, soothing gels and even baby Tylenol in desperate moments can be helpful with managing their pain. I continue to use all of these methods to keep boy from climbing the walls in teething agony.

Adding lavender to this mix has been wonderful. Not for the pain management necessarily, but for helping him come down from that inconsolable state of hyperactivity.

Add a few drops to your baby’s lotion or coconut oil and give them a good rub down. Focus on massaging their back and feet with firm, even motions. When you’ve finished, why not apply a little to yourself? Our babies aren’t the only ones who suffer through the 437 years it takes to grow those little chompers.

Reduce Stress.

If I asked you when the last time you were stressed out, you’d probably laugh. These days, it seems like stress and anxiety are just a way of life. We can’t remove the things in our life that cause stress but there are some things we can do to help. The tip of the day may seem simple, but it can be such a challenge to make a priority. If I asked you when the last time you sat down on your couch or in the tub with your beverage of choice simply to relax and reduce stressful feelings, it might be hard to remember. I find myself getting distracted on social media or or trying to work or pay bills while I’m supposed to be relaxing and it just doesn’t work. While it’s nice to sit and drink my tea or wine at night, kick my feet up and still get things done, this does nothing for resting my thoughts and emotions from the pressures of daily living. Our bodies AND minds need a break to recharge. There are so many tips I can share on this subject and I will probably get to all of them eventually. However, the most simple way to do this is to just log off your electronic devices, find a quiet place, breathe in a deep, cleansing breath and think about the things you are especially grateful for. Even just ten minutes a day has done wonders for shifting my mood and redirecting negative thoughts and feelings. It has been said that gratitude is an antidote to unhappiness. Simple? Yes. Does it work? Definitely.

Boy, what a weekend! First I’ll start with the tip of the day and then explain why.

If you just want to buzz into a store or run a quick errand and your back can’t take one more trip with that loaded down diaper bag, take a small sized makeup bag and tightly roll up a onesie, a diaper and a travel size tube of diaper cream (if necessary) and slip them in the makeup bag. For messier needs, you can take one or two diaper wipes and put them in a sandwich baggie and tightly roll them and put them in the bag as well. Now you have an emergency cleanup kit to throw in your purse or carry alone that doesn’t take up much space (or weigh more than your kid) in case you experience what I did…

So there I was standing in the Old Navy check out line with sweat dripping down the back of my legs (why is it always so hot in there?!) secretly begging for a clerk to stop folding shirts and open one more register for the the love of all that is holy so I can just go home and be done with this day. Mind you, my sweet six month old was also so very, very done and at this point I basically tuned out his low-key whining and hoped he would just go to sleep. As he continued to increase his efforts to get my attention I finally took pity on my poor, sweaty baby boy and decided it wouldn’t be that difficult to just take him out of that detestable stroller and cuddle him while we were waiting. With one swift movement, I proceeded to smear butterscotch ripple straight from his overworked Huggie all over my left arm, my dress, the stroller straps and every inch of his little outfit. It looked like we just took first prize in a mud run sponsored by Frenches Mustard. The poor older woman behind us in line looked equally as desperate to get out of that store and the display she just witnessed about sent her over the proverbial edge. In fact, I think she would have rather eaten her right arm than deal with this stressed out mommie and the smell emanating from our vicinity. But what could I do? You bet your butt I wasn’t losing the place in line I worked so hard for. But I was utterly stuck. No wipes, no diaper bag, nothing. Thank goodness I had my sister Sarah of Sarah’s Library there with me for this epic moment of motherhood. She took home the auntie gold medal for her act of heroism. While she scooped up my bundle of crying, stinky joy and took him to the car for a change, I was able to make it through the line without further incident. But I tell you, there was nothing like the poop covered walk of shame I took over what seemed like six hundred miles between Old Navy and my car.