My Sleepy, Swaddled Baby
Through trial and error I have found what baby items have worked for me. We have spent tons of money on items that sound perfect, but Sayle didn’t care for them or they were really useless. While there are several other items I recommend, here are my top seven.
1. Kiddopotamus Swaddle Me Blankets: I tried very hard to swaddle Sayle with just a blanket. Unfortunately, I was swaddling-disabled but I found Kiddopotamus to be super easy and Sayle loves to be swaddled. Swaddling actually helps with purple crying and Sayle slept longer swaddled. Swaddling helps babies feel secure like they are still in your …
During the hospital discharge process the nurses had me watch a video about purple crying and shaken baby syndrome. I never heard of purple crying and there was no way I was ever going to shake my baby. While I tried to dismiss this video the nurses were insistent I watch it. The purple crying period can start at around two weeks of age, peaks at two months, and the infant cries for no reason; they are not wet, ill, or hungry. They are difficult to near impossible to soothe and the crying comes unpredictably.
Just as the video stated, Sayle started this phase around three weeks old and he continued until …
The first picture of our new family.
There were no signs the baby was going to make an appearance during those 4 days my mother was with me, which I knew was going to happen. We did spend great quality time together cleaning out my kitchen and I swear I saw every episode of Law and Order twice. Tuesday morning my mom tells me she needs to run home for a few days to complete important tasks like her income taxes and getting her roots touched up but assured me she would return the day before they induced me. I really did not want …
38 Weeks
Pregnancy was a breeze. I didn’t have morning sickness, fatigue, swollen feet, and I proudly wore high heels and cute clothes the entire time I was pregnant. I was the happiest pregnant woman on the planet until about 38 ½ weeks.
I was 3 centimeters dilated, 75% effaced, and 100% done being pregnant.
On my weekly check my midwife stated I could go into labor anytime. That did not mean I was going to, but I could. Upon telling my mother this great news she informed me that she was absolutely not going to miss her grandson’s entrance so she was driving up tomorrow morning.
I begged her, “mom, …
Brooke Browne-Pollard
I am originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia but made North Carolina my home in 1992. I double majored in Sociology and Criminal Justice while in college and upon graduating I moved to Jacksonville and been in this area ever since. I got married in 2003 to Aaron, whom I dated throughout college.
My career has involved working with at-risk youth and assisting them in making their life better. I worked at Eckerd Youth Alternatives as a Family Worker for six years and I currently work as a Therapeutic Foster Care Consultant. I am also finishing up my masters degree in counseling and psychology in December.
While I have various …
