About Jennifer Deibel

Jennifer is your typical American wife and mother living life, raising kids, and working, only she's doing it in Ireland. She has been married to the love of her life, Seth, for 12 years and is extremely blessed to be mom to two delightful girls, and one hilarious little boy. She has a deep interest in creative family worship, marriage enrichment, and pregnancy/birth education and support. Jennifer passionately loves the Lord, her family, music, dance, writing and chocolate. She writes at This Gal's Journey. You can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.

Comfy Pregnancy Series – Baby’s First Days

May 5, 2013 By Jennifer Deibel

Welcome back to our Comfy Pregnancy Series!

So, you’ve made it through those nausea-laden early days, done your best to get comfy sleep, and prepared your body – baby – for labor and delivery. In today’s post – our final one of the series – we’ll look at how to have the comfiest first days/weeks at home after baby is born.

Whether you’ve had a “natural” delivery or c-section, your body is coursing with adrenaline mixed with all kinds of other hormones that will help you forget the delivery, bond with baby, and recover. I’ve had three children: one natural, vaginal delivery and two c-sections. One for fetal distress and one for failure to progress; both were emergency in nature. So you could say I’ve seen it all, been through it all. And I’ve seen other mama’s go through it all and then some; and I’ve seen some take less than stellar care of themselves afterwards (myself included!).

So, how do you have the comfiest first days/weeks possible? Here are my top, tried and true picks for having the comfiest days after:

1. Frozen Peas and Refrigerated Witch Hazel Pads – If you’ve had a vaginal delivery, they are likely going to suggest you ice yourself a few times a day for the first few days. Might I introduce my best friend: a bag of frozen peas. Yep. Wrap them in a thin kitchen towel and use that instead of ice or frozen pack. It molds nicely to your body without any pesky sharp edges. I keep a bag in my freezer labeled “MEDICAL” (so we don’t cook them after they’ve been out several times to ice someone). We use them for head bonks, banged knees, etc as well. Then, take a tub of medicated pads; either witch hazel or hemorrhoid pads and put them in the fridge. As your layer up your pad each time you go to the bathroom, line these on the top of your pad where they will come in contact with your body. They soothe and help reduce pain and swelling. Seriously, sent from heaven!

2. Water – chug it, chug it, then chug some more. Whether or not you are breastfeeding, you need more water than you might think. I carry a handled jug with a lid and straw; keep it next to my bed at night so as baby is feeding, I am hydrating. Drink it up!!

3. Gentle Walking – this one is especially helpful if you’ve had a c-section. The last thing you want to do is walk, but try to do it a few times a day. Nothing major – just down the hall and back once or twice. Getting your body moving will help all your other systems moving and will speed the healing process. Just don’t overdo it like I did. The day after I got home from my first c-section I took a 20 minute walk around the block. I was feeling good, and going a bit cabin crazy, so I got out. By the time I got back I was wrecked and it took a couple of days to rebound. So try to find the balance.

4. Stool Softeners – Ask for them in the hospital/birth center if they are not offered to you. They really will work wonders. If you don’t want to take a medicinal stool softener, try drinking a cocktail of warmed prune juice mixed with apple juice once a day. You might also try yogurts that help the digestive process. But believe me, the last thing you want to do after pushing a baby out, or having a c-section, is worry about the dreaded first poo – and I’m not talking about baby’s!

5. REST – I saved this for last because I think it is the most important. Rest, rest, rest. More than you think you need to, more than you think you should. Sleep when the baby sleeps. Accept help from friends and family to bring meals, wash dishes, or even watch the baby an hour so you can sleep. Don’t go grocery shopping the day you come home from the hospital. Don’t try to be Susie Homemaker so your house is sparkling for guests coming to gush over baby. Don’t feel you have to entertain – or even accept – said guests! Better to rest too much (as if there is such a thing) now, than to do too much and burn out and end up in the hospital with heavy bleeding, a torn incision, or severe sleep deprivation. Your only priorities these first few days and weeks is taking care of yourself, and that sweet baby – yes, in that order.

I could go on and on, but these are my top 5 most favorite ways to make those first days and weeks home with baby the comfiest possible. How about you? What things helped you be the comfiest after baby came along?

Blessings,

Jen

2 Comments | Filed Under: Babies, Parenting Tagged With: Baby's First Days, Comfy Pregnancy, Labor/Delivery, Pregnancy

Comfy Pregnancy Series – Preparing for the Big Day & Better Mom Monday’s Link-up!

March 31, 2013 By Jennifer Deibel

Welcome back to our Comfy Pregnancy Series!

So, you’ve made it through the Early Days, and you’ve done your best to make sure you get the Best Sleep possible during your pregnancy. Now, you’re in the third trimester and nearing that all-important ~~best guess~~ due date.

If you’re like me, you want to do all you can to be as prepared as possible for when that fateful day comes – and I promise you, it will come even though it doesn’t feel like it now.

I’ve had three babies. My first was a better-than-I-could-have-hoped-for natural labor and delivery. My other two were take-you-by-complete-surprise emergency c-sections – one for fetal distress, the other for failure to progress.

However, with all three pregnancies there were certain things I did during the last trimester that helped my body be as strong as possible and ready to endure the rigors of both natural labor, and cesarean delivery. I’d like to share with you today my favorite, most effective, tips for preparing your body – and your baby – for birth.

1. Walking. You have to find a balance here. You want to walk often enough that it does the job, but not so often that you tire yourself out. I’m not talking walking to bring on/progress labor. I just mean walking for exercise. Check with your doctor before doing any exercise. Once you have your doctor/midwife’s go-ahead, you want to walk briskly enough to get your heart pumping and so that you’re a little bit short of breath, but still able to easily carry on a conversation. Walking gives you great cardiovascular benefits, and helps tone and strengthen your legs, core and pelvic floor – all of which are important for delivering a baby. And the fitter you are at the end of your pregnancy, the faster you will bounce back afterwards.

2. Toddler Squats. I start doing these squats in the third trimester and do several each day. The closer the due date gets, the more often I do them. Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width, toes pointed forward. Holding onto a sturdy rail or counter top, lower your rump down towards the floor while keeping your heels down. Imagine a toddler squatting down to examine a bug on the floor (aka, this is not a plie squat where your knees are out wide). Hold, breathing deeply, for 10-20 seconds. Finally, inhale deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth as you carefully rise back up to a standing position. This squat opens the hips and pelvis and helps the baby move down into the “engaged” position. Note: if you know your baby is in the breech position (bottom first), avoid this move. This is also a great move to do during labor. You can even round your back (like the cat stretch) while squatting during a contraction to help baby move even further down!

3. The Ab Zipper. I love this move because it gets your tummy muscles nice and strong for either pushing that baby out, or aiding in a faster recovery after a c-section. You can either stand with feet hip-width apart and tuck your pelvis in; or you can sit on the floor, criss-cross-applesauce, with a pillow or towel rolled up and behind the small of your back for support. Lean back slightly and tuck your pelvis under. Inhale deeply and let your tummy expand. Exhale three times, out your mouth (think the hoo-hoo-hoo phase of Lamaze breathing). With each breath out, imagine a zipper attached to your belly button, zipping up towards your chest. Repeat 8-10 times.

So there you have it! My favorite ways to get your body – and your baby – labor and delivery ready! Join us next time for our final installment of the series as we discuss how to get the best comfort in the first few days/weeks after baby arrives!

What are your favorite ways to prepare for labor/delivery?

Note: I am not a medical professional. These tips/tricks are simply things that worked for me. If you have any worries or concerns, please ask your health care provider.

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18 Comments | Filed Under: Babies, Fitness and Health, Parenting Tagged With: Comfy Pregnancy, Labor Prep, Preparing for Labor/Delivery

Comfy Pregnancy Series – Comfy Sleep & Better Mom Monday’s Link-up!!

March 3, 2013 By Jennifer Deibel

Welcome back to our Comfy Pregnancy Series!

Last time we talked about finding comfort in the early days.

Today, we’re talking about how to help get the comfiest sleep possible!

It’s hard work growing a person, and your body needs plenty of rest while it is doing so. Ironically, despite mind-numbing fatigue many women have a hard time getting good, quality sleep during pregnancy. In the beginning, nausea, breast tenderness, and even anxiety about all the changes a pregnancy/baby brings can all interfere with some good shut eye. Later on in pregnancy the bulging belly, blossoming bosom, leg cramps and aching back all contribute to difficulty sleeping well.

As one who absolutely adores sleep, this was simply unacceptable to me. So, I was willing to try just about anything and everything to help increase the quantity and quality of my sleep! Some things that worked in one pregnancy were absolute failures in the others.

However, I found some things that were helpful in facilitating comfy sleep throughout all three of my pregnancies. It’s those things I’m going to share with you today.

1. Stretch Before Bed. The nights I would forget to stretch before bed I always ended up sleeping more poorly than the nights I would stretch. There were three stretches that seemed to provide the most relief and promote the best sleep:

* The Chair Stretch: Stand facing a counter top, stair rail or door jamb (something that is sturdy enough to support your weight). Hold onto the counter/rail/etc and place the left ankle across the right knee. Push your tush back and down, as if you’re going to sit in a chair. Breathe deeply and hold for 10-30 seconds. Repeat on the other side. This stretch helps with sciatic pain, low back pain, and restless legs.

* The Standing Calf Stretch: Stand inside a door way facing the door jamb. For balance, hold onto the jamb or wall and place the heel of one foot on the ground with toes up onto the jam. Lean into it until you feel a slight stretch. Breathe deeply in through your nose, out through your mouth and hold the stretch 10-30 seconds. Repeat on the other leg. This helps stave off calf cramps.

* The Cat Stretch: Get onto your hands and knees (you may want to put a towel or mat under your knees for comfort). Inhale and arch your back, letting your belly sink towards the floor. Exhale through your mouth and round your back, tucking your belly in, as though you’re connecting your belly button to your spine. Gently repeat a few times. You can rock back and forth while your back is rounded to deepen the stretch. **NOTE: Don’t sink your belly too low, especially if you have an abdominal separation (diastasis recti). Just a gentle stretch will do.**

2. Pillows, pillows, pillows. Support your back and belly using pillows. One between the knees, and one wedged under the belly slightly did the trick for me (one body pillow can do both at once!). Occasionally I would also wedge one behind my back. (one wedged under my belly as I laid on my side worked wonders for comfort after each of my c-sections as well!!)

3. Water. Inevitably I would wake up needing to run to the loo. Whenever I did, I found I was also parched with thirst. Keeping a glass or bottle of water on the night stand was a huge help.

4. Light, Cotton Jammies. Even in the middle of winter, I found that light jammies made from fabric that allows air flow helped when the hot flashes would hit in the middle of the night.

So, there you have it! My top tips for getting Comfy Sleep in pregnancy. Next time we’ll talk about getting our bodies (and babies!) ready for labor/delivery (even if you have a c-section).

What are your favorite tried and true tips to help get good sleep in pregnancy?

Note: I am not a medical professional. These tips/tricks are simply things that worked for me. If you have any worries or concerns, please ask your health care provider.

Blessings,
Jen

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27 Comments | Filed Under: Babies, Fitness and Health Tagged With: Comfy Pregnancy, motherhood, Sleep in Pregnancy

Comfy Pregnancy Series – The Early Days & Better Mom Mondays Link-up!

February 3, 2013 By Jennifer Deibel

If having three kids has taught me anything, its that you can control ~~very little~~ next to nothing when it comes to conception, pregnancy, and labor/delivery!

All three of our kiddos were surprises in some form or fashion, the biggest surprise being our son who came along after we thought it was physically impossible for us to have any more!

Two of our three were born via emergency c-section; one of those two times I ended up back in the hospital with an infection two weeks later.

I have several friends who are just entering this amazing journey of pregnancy/motherhood, some who are going to give birth any day now, and some who just have given birth. When we talk, things always circle around to our pregnancies and babies. How did you sleep towards the end? How did you function through morning sickness? What about those first days at home: what do I do to take care of myself?

So I’d like to welcome you to our four-part series, Comfy Pregnancy: Your Guide to Comfort from The Plus Sign to Baby’s First Days! Here I will share my most favorite tips and tricks that worked wonders for me in all my pregnancies! I’d love for you to share your’s too! We’re all in this together, right?

Today I’ll be talking about The Early Days. When you feel like you’ve been hit by a train while on a boat in the stormy seas.

So without further ado, here are my top tips for comfort in the early days of pregnancy:

1. Eat What You Can, When You Can. We worry a lot about making sure we get the right nutrition during pregnancy. But it can be hard to eat a balanced diet in the early days when nausea and fatigue rule the day. So, don’t worry if you can’t fit it all in. Just eat when you can, and eat what sounds/tastes good. I’ve found eating small snacks throughout the day helps keep the nausea at bay better than eating fewer, larger meals.

2. Starchy Carbs and Strong Mint. During the early days of pregnancy I’m never without a stash of crackers or some other kind of starchy carb. I also keep a stash of strong mints and/or gum. Those two things helped the nausea the most during all three of my pregnancies.

3. Motion Sickness Bands. I’m prone to motion sickness anyway, so I had a set of motion sickness wrist bands already when a friend suggested I try them to help stave off the ~~morning~~ all-day sickness. I was shocked, and delighted, at how well they worked! They work by placing light pressure on specific pressure points. I don’t understand the science behind it, but I know they certainly helped me!

4. Water. Staying hydrated is a must. I keep a sports bottle full of water with me at all times and take small sips throughout the day. Small sips are easier to stomach in the throes of morning sickness than trying to gulp down a whole glass.

5. Rest. This is easier said than done if you’re working full time and/or have other kiddos you’re looking after. But taking any chance you can to lay down and rest your eyes for even a few minutes works wonders! While we’re talking about rest, try to get to bed early and if you find that your prenatal vitamins and/or iron tablets upset your stomach, take them right before bed with a small snack and small glass of OJ.

So there you have it! My top 5 tips for a Comfy Pregnancy in the Early Days! Join us next time as we discuss how to help get some comfy sleep!

What are your favorite tips/tricks for comfort in the early days of pregnancy? Share in the comments below!

Note: I am not a medical professional. These tips/tricks are simply things that worked for me. If you have any worries or concerns, please ask your health care provider.

Blessings,

Jen

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