9 minute read
BABY LOVE
BABY LOVE “
I look in the mirror and I think it’s the reverse body dysmorphia, because I can understand what my shape is, but I see Brooke Shields.”
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—Kristen Bell
Keep your little one’s hands busy with the Tinkle Crinkle Hedgehog Plush. This incredibly soft plush toy promotes soft, safe, and fun tactile play, and it features colorful eye-catching patterns that will keep your baby’s attention. ■ gund.com
Still in need of a crib for your nursery? Add sophisticated flair to your little one’s nursery with the Delta Children Waverly 6-in-1 Crib. The crib converts to a toddler bed, daybed, sofa, full size bed with headboard and footboard, and a full size bed with headboard only. ■ walmart.com
Self-feeding can be messy, but you can do your part to keep some of it cringe-free with the Munchkin Raise Toddler Fork & Spoon Set. These ergonomically designed forks and spoons fit their hands and mouths to a tee, and they come with a base that keeps utensil tips off the table. ■ munchkin.com
Even babies need to protect their little eyes from the sun! Protect your child’s vision with WeeFarers, sunglasses perfectly designed to provide 100 percent UV protection. Includes a protective carrying pouch and easily adjustable strap. ■ weefarers.com
Your babe will be cruising in style with the Chicco Fit4 4-In-1 Convertible Car Seat. Designed to deliver premier child fit and comfort at each unique stage, this car seat makes it easy to correctly secure your child from birth through booster. ■ chiccousa.com
Giving birth isn’t a walk in the park, but with Pudus Slipper Socks, it at least feels like it could be. Toss these into your hospital bag, so you will have something super cozy and warm for your toes while you bring your little one into the world. ■ ilovemypudus.com
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Only Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers on Staff
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Gender Determination starting at 14 weeks
Packages starting at $65.00
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Baton Rouge, LA 70808 225-256-2554 www.4dbabywaves.com 4dbabywaves
WHEN YOU CAN’T BE THERE, WE ARE, BECAUSE
Having an item you can use in a variety of ways is key! Copper Pearl’s 5-in-1 Cover can be used as a car seat cover, nursing cover, shopping cart cover, high chair cover or infinity scarf. It’s made from soft, stretchy fabric in an array of prints. ■ copperpearl.com
THANK YOU BATON ROUGE FOR VOTING FOR US AS YOUR FAMILY FAVORITE CHILD CARE!
A TOTAL CHILDCARE AND DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER
Art, Music, Science, Writing, Math, Pre-Reading, Gymnastics, Spanish, Teddy Tennis, Yoga, Happy Feet
• Class A Licensed • Developmentally Appropriate • 6 Weeks to 5 Years Curriculum • Degreed Pre-School Teachers • Video-Monitored • Staff Certi ed in Infant/Child CPR & Pediatric First Aid • Stimulating Infant • Controlled Access Entry System
Environment • Indoor Play Gym • Self-Contained Classrooms Toni B. Turnley, B.S. Early Childhood Eduction Visit our website www.kidscountinc.com Established in 1986
APP’iness: Apps for Moms to Be
By Morgen Henderson
Growing a new human being inside of you is an amazing experience, but it’s also hard. Especially for first-time mothers, it can be overwhelming at times. Your body is constantly changing and you’re worried about your baby’s growth and development. But now that we have technology at the tips of our fingers, there are apps that make pregnancy much less worrisome and help us keep our sanity (or as much of it as possible). And just like every mom is different, so is every app, and there’s something out there for every mom to be.
Woman’s Pregnancy
The Woman’s Pregnancy app has everything you need from the moment you find out you’re going to be a mom until a few weeks after you’ve given birth. Angela Hammett, BSN, RNC-OB, ICCE, LCCE, recommends the app. “There are various tools and trackers, including a feeding and pumping tracker, a diaper changing log, contraction timer, kick counter, among many others.”
Sprout
It's really easy to get caught up in your thoughts while you’re expecting your little one, as you think about what lies ahead. Sprout has a pregnancy journal where you can record your personal thoughts and add pictures to see the progress your belly has made. But besides the documenting features, you’ll also have access to a growth and development timeline, a kick tracker, and a contraction timer. 14 PINKBLUE | SPRING 2020
BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker
BabyCenter’s app is an all-in-one tracker, which sends you news and development videos, along with offering physical health guidance and exercise help. One mom even likened it to social media. Shelby Hunt loves the app, saying, “It’s like a baby Facebook for moms! You can track baby’s growth and get tips throughout the entire pregnancy, as well as talk to other moms throughout the pregnancy—and even after.”
Laura Page already had her baby and she still uses the app. “It’s really great for anyone who actually wants to be well educated about the changes occurring in their bodies during each stage of pregnancy and wants tips and tricks about all sorts of things,” says Page.
The Bump
With this app, you can interact with lifelike graphics of your baby’s development and growth. It sends pregnancy-related articles to read each day and even includes healthy recipes. It’ll also help you get ready for doctor’s visits and gives you an idea of what to expect based on how far along you are. Plus, there’s a photo album where you can keep pics of your bump as it grows!
Ovia
Along with articles, health advice, milestone tracking, and other personalized features, Ovia offers a community of mothers that you can join for a little extra support. But on this platform, you’re anonymous.
First-time mom Libby Howell used Ovia during her pregnancy. She especially loved the chat sections of the app where you can ask a question and other moms can answer. “It really is so nice to get another perspective from someone else who has gone through what you have or is currently going through it,” says Howell. “I especially love that it’s all anonymous. It makes me feel less dumb about asking questions because no one knows who I am.” So, you’re still getting the support you need, but it’s a little less intimidating.
WebMD Pregnancy
WebMD gets kind of a bad rap, but its pregnancy app is surprisingly helpful. You’ve got everything you need to know within the app, plus there’s an appointment calendar, so you don’t need to toggle between a calendar app and your pregnancy tracking. There’s even a place for your notes and questions you have for your doctor so they don’t slip your mind.
Baby2Body
When your belly is growing and you’re unfamiliar with what your body is going through during your pregnancy, it can be a little scary to keep up with workouts and know everything you can do to stay healthy for yourself and your little one. Baby2Body is health and fitness focused, and the app can help you transition your workouts through different stages of pregnancy. It has workouts that are safe for you to do while pregnant, and it guides you through health and nutrition aspects of pregnancy through recipes, breathing exercises, and mental wellbeing tips, so you can maintain a healthy mind, body, and baby.
What to Expect
You’ll probably want to know how big your baby is at each development milestone, and this app helps you get an idea of that by comparing it to fruit. Just set your baby’s due date within the app and it will track its growth from wherever you are. It’s also got articles, parenting news, and expert advice to go along with growth stages, so you’ll know “what to expect” at all times.
Pregnancy+
This app helps you learn about your baby while also tracking your own development throughout each trimester. Mom-of-four Jenna Shakespear likes that even the free version of Pregnancy+ has lots of great features, including weekly development summaries and baby milestones. “It also allowed
me to track my weight changes and had helpful hints of things I could do to stay healthy and manage my pregnancy symptoms such as nausea,” explains Shakespear. You can also use the app to track kicks and see what your baby looks like at each stage of growth.
I’m Expecting
While other apps offer weekly updates, I’m Expecting gives you daily updates on how your baby is growing, all with the help of articles, videos, and in-depth resources to help you get through your pregnancy. With this app, you can find out more about your pregnancy symptoms, what they mean, and how your body and baby are both changing over time. There are also places for you to keep track of your bump and weight, and there’s even a section for reminders and your to-dos—which you’ll need since “pregnancy brain” is very much a real thing.
Glow Nurture
Glow Nurture prepares you for any situation during (and after) pregnancy. There's pregnancy symptom tracking and insights based on real data, so you’ll get accurate information and tips. There’s an option to receive daily updates and archives of informational articles to help you understand the facts of becoming a mom. There’s also postpartum information and miscarriage help.
No matter which app you decide to use throughout your journey of pregnancy, and even beyond, make sure that you’re always listening to your doctor's advice first. Each pregnancy is different, so your experience may not always line up to what an app is telling you it should be. “Apps are a great tool to augment the health information given to you by your OB,” says Hammett. Although apps are helpful and fun, the information your doctor gives you is crucial and should always be trusted. ■
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