Product Review - Ocean Wonders Take-Along Projector Soother

My husband bought this Ocean Wonders Take-Along Projector Soother at Babies R Us because he thought it would be a great addition to her nursery. It was much cheaper than other soothers, only $20, so he decided to buy it. The suggested age is Birth+. It plays classical music as well as ocean sounds for up to 12 minutes at a time. It projects a lighted image onto any surface. It has two ocean images you can project and one image has more animals and is suppose to be for older children. My 5 month old daughter liked the classical music but the ocean sounds didn't catch her attention. You have to project the image very close to your child's eyes or else they can't see the image. The projected image didn't rotate so when my daughter could see the image she wasn't really interested in it. The projector is suppose to be able to stand on it's side to make projecting on a side wall possible but I could never get the projector to do so. It kept falling down and I eventually gave up. I don't recommend buying this product. It is not worth the money. I am going to return it and get a full refund.

Ocean Wonders Take-Along Projector Soother

Making Time for Yourself

As a mom I know how hard it is to find a moments peace throughout the day. I also know how important it is to make some time for yourself everyday. As moms we expect ourselves to do everything for everyone else and we often neglect ourselves. I found it very hard to make time for myself when my daughter was born. I never could find any free time and when I did I would always make cleaning the house my number one priority. When I couldn't handle the stress anymore I realized how important me time was. It helped me be a better mother and wife. Now I make sure I have at least 15 minutes to myself everyday, even if it's just to sit and drink my tea. I found it easier to make my me time the same everyday so I never missed it. If you find yourself putting yourself last make sure you take a moment to realize how important you are. Your family needs you to be 100% and your me time helps you be just that.

Should I have a C-Section?

I ended up having a c-section with my daughter because she was breech. I never expected that I would have a c-section and I never knew how hard the recovery would be. I was completely unprepared and I wish I had known how hard it would be and how it would affect my future pregnancies. If I had known I would have tried some natural ways to turn the baby before I agreed to have the c-section.

The surgery
In preparation for my surgery I had to wait 8 hours from my last meal before I was taken to the operating room. I couldn't eat or drink, not even water, during this time. My husband was allowed to go in with me but I had to be prepped before he was allowed in which was really hard. I had a spinal tap, since I didn't have an epidural, and it wasn't to bad. The worst part followed. I immediately felt my feet burning and within minutes I no longer could feel anything below my chest. The staff had to move me to the operating table and then my arms were strapped down in a T position. I was warned I might throw up during the operation and I began to get nauseous soon after my arms were strapped down. I was given some medicine by the anesthesiologist which calmed my nausea. My husband was finally alllowed to come in and sat next to me. The doctor began the operation and within 15 minutes my duaghter was born. The next 10 mintues went very quickly. I was able to catch a glimpse of my daughter before she was taken to be weighed, cleaned, and checked out. Since I was strapped to the table I couldn't be there with her. She was brought to me and I was able to kiss her and take pictures with her but I couldn't hold her. She was taken to the nursery while the doctor finished. It took an hour for me to get the feeling back in my legs.

The recovery
The recovery process was very long. It took 8 weeks before I was able to do most things. I was on pain medication for 2 weeks because the pain was so unbearable. The pain medication made me sleepy so it was very hard to take care of my daughter. I wasn't able to carry anything heavier than my daughter. I couldn't drive, go up the stairs in my home, and I could barely walk. The recovery process was so slow and I was very upset that I couldn't really do anything at all, not even take care of my daughter. It has been 5 months since the operation and I still have pain. Some areas by my incision are numb and probably will be that way forever. It takes a full year before the incision heals and if you get pregnant before the year then their are some risks involved.

Tip of the Day

If you can sew and would like to make your own cloth diapers some good patterns are available. Little Comet Tails has patterns for fitted diapers, diaper covers, all-in-one diapers, and training pants. Kayla's Cloth Kits has patterns for one size pocket diapers and sized pocket diapers, fitted diapers, and all-in-one diapers. Both of these sites have videos demonstrating how to use the diapers and how to sew them. They are very eager to help and you can always contact them with questions you might have.

Breastpump Cleaning and Care

When I first started pumping I wasn't sure how to properly care for my pump. I did some research and this is what I found. If your pump uses tubing, any moisture in the tubing can contaminate milk. Moisture can get inside tubing and grow mold. In order to keep this from happening you should either boil or steam clean your tubing, I do it once a week. Always make sure you sterilize your pump before the first use. Put all the pieces that come into contact with your milk in a pot, cover them with water, and boil for 20 minutes before using the pump. After every use, wash the pieces that come in contact with your milk in hot, soapy water (using mild detergent), rinse with hot water. You then need to either, boil, steam, or wipe your pump pieces with disinfecting wipes. They sell quick clean wipes and micro-steam bags making it easier to clean your equipment when you're away from home. If you don’t have time, place the pump parts unwashed in a clean plastic bag, such as a Ziploc, and store them in the refrigerator. Be sure to wash them thoroughly at least once a day when you get home. To clean your pump motor bag, just wipe it with a clean, damp cloth. This is also a good way to clean the outside of your pump tubing if milk drips onto it.