Summer

Taking a roadtrip when you have young kids can feel like one of the most daunting tasks, especially if you have a long drive and/or a lot of children. We started traveling with our babies almost as soon as they were born – the twins were born at 35 weeks and 4 weeks later we were roadtripping across Texas for my residency interviews. Since then we’ve roadtripped countless times with our young kiddos – including all around the South Island of New Zealand! I definitely don’t claim to be an expert and we’ve had our fair share of grumpy kids (and…parents…definitely parents too) along the away. Despite that, I wanted to share some of our favorite ways to make roadtrip destinations enjoyable for family vacations with young kids.

1 | Segment the Drive – FUN STOPS!

Look at your route before you leave and split it up into 3-4 hour segments. Realistically you’re not going to get more than 3-4 hours of happy road tripping at a time out of toddler-age kids. Find a few places to stop along the way and let the kids get out and be kids – we’ve done splash pads, parks, children’s museums, indoor playscapes, and trampoline parks. Any fun stop-off is always big hit in our caravan.

2 | Be Flexible

Listen, I’m as much a planner as anyone – I like to have a plan and I like to stick to that plan. For the purposes of roadtripping with young kids, though, try not to force the schedule. If there is any time to adopt a “go-with-the-flow” attitude it’s during a roadtrip with young kids.

If you have a planned stop and the whole crew is sleeping, drive on super mom (or dad!). And if you need to stop after only a couple hours because someone needs a potty break or is losing their mind over a dead iPad, so be it. Traveling with a car full of crying or whining children is absolutely zero people’s idea of a good time.

3 | Summer 3DLITE+ as your Compact Stroller

On our last big road trip we forgot to take a stroller. I know if your kids are bigger this doesn’t matter, but we made one of our segment stops a local aquarium, we were missing that stroller for our sleepy 2yo. We ended up buying a crappy umbrella stroller that didn’t recline and only made our life more difficult. Enter – Stroller which takes up the same minimal footprint as that crappy thing, but makes our lives SO MUCH EASIER!

Product Review: Summer sent me their 3DLITE+ stroller to try out and review and I am in love. It is absolutely our new travel stroller, we immediately trashed the one we bought on that failed roadtrip and will use this in it’s place. The price point is excellent (especially given that you about 6 of you told me on IG that you’ve had this for years and it’s still in great shape!), the stroller is sleek and functional. We’ve had a LOT of strollers through the years and as far as travel/daily use goes this one definitely wins in my book. It rolls easily, putting it together was super simple and it even has a place for my phone (because…we all know that’s coming with us). Anyway, can’t recommend them highly enough. I love working with Summer and hope to continue this lovely relationship I’ve formed with their brand. MDJ thumbs up!

4 | Enjoy the Journey

Don’t try to cram everything into one day – plan extra time to stay overnight somewhere if you need to. It doesn’t matter if once-upon-a-lifetime you could have stomped out the whole route in one day with just you, your Red Bull, and Snoop Dog on blast. That’s not going to cut it with littles, so if you want to travel with your kids (which you should!), prepare yourself for it to look a little different than the glory days. It’s still good, just enjoy the process.

5 | Organized Activities & Snacks

Try to keep everything you need organized – this includes snacks, kids activities (we LOVE these reusable sticker books for travel and absolutely fell in love with “paint by sticker” books this past trip), small prizes for rewarding good behavior, etc. I typically put myself in charge of deciding when to get out all the activities, otherwise the kiddos will go through them all before we make it out of town. I make it a point to arrange the car ahead of time and give everything a “home” so we can avoid ending up with markers and sticker books all over the floorboard….but, usually that still happens.

6 | Encourage Rest Times

If you’re driving a full day find some times that are designated rest times for the kids. Turn the sing-alongs, put the crayons away, and consider playing white noise in the backseat. Make sure everyone has a blanket, pillow, and lovey – encourage napping for younger kids and quiet time for the big kids. I usually will give my older kiddos the option of watching an iPad movie during this time if they truly don’t need a nap.

In regards to iPad movies – we use this car mount for the forward-facing kids to be able to watch shared movies on the iPad in the backseat. We have headphones for each big kid and a splitter so they can still share…I refuse to listen to Zootopia on repeat for 42 hours, so headphones are a MUST.

7 | Snacks

We usually stock up on snacks before we leave and arrange them in a box that I can reach and hand out to the kiddos as needed. We’re not super strict on what our kids can or can’t eat at baseline, everything in moderation is a key in our house – but this is especially true when we’re wanting to bribe them into cooperating in the car. So, don’t judge our Fruit Loops and Cheeto fingers, our kids are traveling happy and we’ll eat some carrot sticks and quinoa when we get to our destination.

Alright friends, I hope that was helpful! As you know we absolutely adore traveling with our crazy circus of a crew. We hope that by sharing some of our family’s adventures and tips and tricks to traveling with a big crew we will inspire you to do more of the same!

If you have any questions, you know where to find me – Instagram and YouTube, MamaDoctorJones at your service!

I value you as my community here and your time is important to me.
Thank you for giving me a portion of your day & supporting me endlessly.

As you all know, when I do sponsored posts or ads I always request the product to try first and only continue with the deal if I feel I can genuinely recommend the product to you as my friends. Rest assured Summer nails it for affordability, functionality, and versatility. I am thoroughly impressed. I have enjoyed working with them on two separate product campaigns now and truly love them.

New Zealand South Island Trip with Kids!

While trying to find resources and plan a New Zealand South Island roadtrip with kids we felt a little lost. Information and advice seemed lacking for specifics on how to travel New Zealand as a family. We managed to figure it out and enjoyed a wonderful trip. So, we wanted to share some of our planning process here & help others make their NZ travel dreams a reality.

This blog covers some of the initial questions you need to answer before you can jump into the planning process. Where to sleep, what campervan company to use, how long to stay, and itinerary details are included.

Start by grabbing an adventure map (literally our first step every time we plan a trip like this). You might also consider this book, which our RV company gave to us and we found so incredibly useful during the trip. Seriously, it’s really good.

Where Should We Sleep on a New Zealand Trip with Kids?

Your basic options for housing include traditional travel options like hotels and Air BnB, but this can be challenging in many of the rural parts of the country. There are also campgrounds, hostels, and, of course, a campervan of some sort.

For this trip we decided on a Campervan vacation. After reading about how convenient RV-life could be for traveling as a family, we made the leap – this turned out to be an excellent choice. 

The first time we went to New Zealand was without kids in 2011. For that New Zealand couples’ trip we rented a car and spent 10 days making our way around the North Island, mostly staying in Bed & Breakfasts. That trip had some neat perks, like staying with really wonderful locals, but for convenience/flexibility/low-stress goals – RV life wins by far.

We firmly believe New Zealand is best traveled by motorhome, especially if you have young children.

You absolutely need to pack everything in packing cubes – they transfer easily in RV shelves and make transitioning from suitcase to campervan so easy.

What Company Should We Use to Book a New Zealand Campervan?

Wilderness Campervan is the site we used and can highly recommend them – their customer service, vehicle quality, and pick-up/drop-off ease was exceptional. There are many reputable companies, we saw a lot of New Zealand campervan fanatics using all the major companies – Maui, Britz, Jucy, Wicked, etc.

Is RV/Campervan Travel Good for Young Kids in New Zealand?

We loved the campervan for traveling with the kids. Having a “driving house,” as the kids would say, allowed for daily consistency in our environment for sleeping which really helped keep everyone stress-free. We never stressed about finding a bathroom while driving and we could access all the snacks, diapers, and extra clothes anytime we needed to (perfect when the baby decided to take yet another unplanned dip into whatever body of water was closest).

I can’t imagine if we had been moving all of us + our stuff every day. Not to mention the fact that even the thought of staying in someone’s home with our wild, jet-lagged children makes my crazy-mom-eyes want to cry. I think it would’ve limited our mobility enough that the roadtrip mapped out below would not have been possible with only 10 nights in the country.

How Long Should We Stay with Kids in New Zealand?

We knew if we spent the money for flights (x5) and took time away from work, that we wanted to stay for a decent period of time. That being said, we were also under typical constraints and did not want to completely over-do it for our kids. A total of 10 nights in the country ended up being a good timeframe for us.


What New Zealand Campervan Itinerary Route Should We Choose?

This will depend on what key things you don’t want to miss. We marked out a list of cities/attractions/hikes on our map and categorized into places we definitely wanted to see, would like to see, and that were optional. After having specific categories laid out, we decided how much driving we wanted to do each day and made a rough plan. We kept it flexible and ended up adjusting a few nights along the way due to weather and interests.

Here is a map of our final South Island New Zealand campervan itinerary with each number being an overnight stay.

We opted for a counter-clockwise trek and ended up being happy we were on the inside lane for driving alongside the no-shoulder cliffs of the West Coast. We frequently ventured off the outlined course in order to find hikes, attractions, etc. – this is just the general route and where we camped each night. This budget hiking backpack for our 18mo old was really great – we’d definitely recommend it.

The Cameron Flat Campsite views along Haast Pass were absolutely incredible. I wish it had been sunny the day we were there, because it was breathtaking in the fog and I’d imagine on a clear day it’s stunning. Freedom camping on the road between Queenstown and Glenorchy and then at Lake Pukaki were by far our favorite nights. The views were beautiful and they were quiet, fun stops for us and for the kids.

Our Stops Along the Way 

Overnight stays designated by * and campground link..

• Christchurch
• Arthur’s Pass
  • * Jackson’s Retreat
• Hokitika
• Okarito
  • * Okarito Campground
• Franz Josef Glacier
• Haast Pass
  • * Cameron Flat Campground
• Hawea
• Lake Wanaka
  • * Kiwi Holiday Park
• Glenorchy
  • Freedom Camping (between Queenstown and Glenorchy – Mount Creighton Area)
• Queenstown
  • * Lakeview Holiday Park
• Milford Sound (daytrip via helicopter)
• Omarama
• Lake Pukaki
  • * Freedom Camping (INCREDIBLE!)
• Mt. Cook/Aoraki National Park
• Lake Tekapo
  • * Lake Tekapo Holiday Park
• Lake Ellesmere
  • * Freedom Camping
• Lyttleton
• Sumner Beach
• Christchurch
  • Christchurch Top 10 Holiday Park

Overall, this trip was pure bliss. We traveled at our own pace, stopped when we wanted, and tried to be flexible with our itinerary. This made for happy parents and happy kiddos.

Although there were certainly places we really would’ve liked to visit (Nelson, Kaikoura), we knew we couldn’t hit everything and this circle ended up being just the right amount of movement for us. Plus, now we have places saved for our next New Zealand trip with kids!

Hope this helps someone!!

Milo & I have been a touch sick this week and it’s reminded me how very important it is to slow down, take care of ourselves, and focus on what matters.

So, as we close this week let’s all try to Slow Down For Self-Care

• Keep dry erase markers in the bathroom to write to-do lists or notes on the mirror when genius ideas strike in the mornings.
• KITCHEN. SCISSORS. – If you’re still using a knife to cut your kids food, let me introduce to my best freaking friend. Especially for all the stupid grapes we have to cut in half.

• Ken Jeong (of The Hangover) Answers Medical Questions
• Healthy Baby Welcomed After Successful Fetal Surgery in the UK
• Snapchat Helps Save Mom & Daughter After Accident

Brooke (@brook.froelich) inspiring me to GET OFF MY BOOTY and get outside with my babies!

Anita (@yoga_doc_md) detailing her fertility journey & egg retrieval!

Amber (@masseya) with the cutest ever fam dinner – making the best out of a cancelled baby sitter!

Michelle (@mmaneevese) inspiring me to make the world more beautiful with yoga and haiku.

Do something offline this weekend.

This baby bed time routine post is sponsored by Summer.

Over the past 6+ years of baby bed time routines for these 4 crazy children I have come to learn and value the benefit of easy steps in a routine has for busy moms and our babies. Unfortunately, my job and the chaos of having several little kiddos has made it very hard to consistently maintain a “TIMED” routine that followed the clock.

I had always thought a baby bedtime routine was about time on a clock, but I’ve learned timing is actually more important for a bed time routine that works when you’re a busy mom. Paying attention to babies cues (more on this in STEP 1) and allows more flexibility into the bedtime routine which, if you’re a busy mom and can’t always rely on your evenings to happen by some external time clock, is extremely valuable.

I hope this helps someone, I wish someone would have told me early on in this parenting thing that the baby’s STAGE of day and cues are so much more important than time on a clock. 

Here are our 5 steps for baby bed time routines along with some tips on maintaining flexibility as a busy mom – this is basically what we do before putting Paxton to bed and it seems to help get him calm and ready for snoozing. 

STEP 1: Use Activity-Based Timing

Babies tend to maintain an activity-based schedule for the first 4-6 months of life. It’s made up of 3 things: Eating, Sleeping, Playing. The order that they arrange those is dependent on the baby, but for Pax his is always Sleep —> Eat —> Play —> Sleep —> Eat —> Play.

So, if at 7:15pm Pax woke up from a nap and I fed him, then based on his activity schedule he’s done Sleep —> Eat and now he’s ready to be awake for a while and Play…that’s our cue to start the bedtime proceedings.

STEP 2: Bathtime feat Summer Bath

Many people swear by baby bedtime routines always including an actual bath. For us this is an optional step some days, as babies don’t need to be bathed every single day. That being said, even on nights he doesn’t need an actual bath, the flexibility of Summer’s baby bath seat is still a very beneficial part of the routine.

He can sit in the seat while I bathe Milo, they can be in the tub together (even though Pax is still small), and the adjustable height lets me elevate his head enough to give Milo a good amount of water in the tub. For kitchen baths like in the picture it’s SUPER nice that the water just runs right off the seat and into the sink. When baby is really tiny and you can’t submerge them this makes a huge difference. Please check them out if you’re looking for a great baby bath seat!

STEP 3: Lotions and Jammies

We try to get some lotion on at least the little kiddos, get jammies and then herd the big kids upstairs.

They all sleep in the same room (by choice…on a mattress on the floor…don’t judge) and usually my husband is in charge of getting them to bed.

If we’re solo-parenting for some reason (like if one of us is hiding in the closet eating ice cream with the door locked) then whoever is doing bedtime will shuffle the big kids upstairs to entertain each other while getting the baby to sleep and then join them for books and stories after he’s in bed.

STEP 4: Swaddle & Rock or Hold

Usually by this point Pax is sleepy-eyed and I will swaddle him and we’ll rock or hang out for a bit. There’s a lot of great swaddles on Amazon.

I don’t usually nurse him to sleep, but there’s nothing wrong with that if you want to. I just find that we’re usually not hungry – probably because of the order he has his little stages in.

STEP 5: In Bed Almost (Not Fully) Asleep

By this point he’s usually circled back around to his natural sleep stage. I will rock him until those eyes are heavy and try to put him down (on his BACK!) in his bed when he’s groggy, but not asleep.

If he’s completely awake he fusses and if he’s totally asleep he wakes up in an hour. Putting him down very sleepy, but still awake, really seems to help with that transition and extend the first sleep stretch.

As you can see this routine plays on his cues – he was awake and ready to play, so we “played.” We took a bath, we sang songs, we got ready for bed, and now he’s ready to sleep again. It’s way harder to coax a baby to sleep then it is to wait until they’re ready for that on their own. 

Honestly, none of my babies have been excellent sleepers. However, Pax is the first one I’ve really understood these concepts with and I’d say he’s the best out of all of them by an order of magnitude of at least 634x. I attribute a good portion of that to my understanding this baby activity cycle and crafting this baby bedtime routine with 5 flexible steps that works so well for us (despite unpredictable timing).

I value you as my audience and your time is important to me. Thank you for giving me a portion of your day & supporting me endlessly.

As you guys know, when I do sponsored posts or use affiliate I always request the product to try first and only continue with the deal if I feel I can genuinely recommend the product to you. Rest assured Summer nails it for affordability, functionality, and versatility. I am thoroughly impressed. Thank you so much to Summer for sponsoring this post. They have a wonderful team that I have enjoyed working with and hope to continue working with in the future!

The calm, deep navy hues and warm textures of this cozy boy’s nursery are balanced so nicely with the angles and sharpness that bring in a midcentury feel. His nursery has swiftly become our favorite room in the house, mostly because it’s the only one in the house that’s actually decorated, but also because it’s terribly dreamy.

photography by Shelby Schiller Photography

The grey on the walls is revere pewter by Benjamin Moore – it’s the color the builder chose and it’s all throughout our house. We have loved it and found it goes so well with any decor we choose that we haven’t felt the need to paint anything since we moved in. Side Note: On their website it looks very tan, but in our home it’s definitely looks grey, not tan.

The accent wall really makes this room complete. It was a gift from Anewall – we chose Blue Ombre Roke Mural in traditional paper – it is perfect. I’m absolute, positively in love with this wall. It’s a nice shade of navy (though it appears a bit more teal in these photos than in real life) and it is simply gorgeous. It’s traditional wall-paper, which was an adventure to hang because, as it turns out, literally nobody knows how to do that these days (high – we’re living in the 80’s). We actually had to call in an SOS to family friend & wallpaper hanging expert who lives out of town (thanks Bettie! We owe you) to get it hung after failing to find anyone in town who knew what they were doing. It ships in panels and was very easy to put up once we had someone who knew what they were doing.

Since Patpat didn’t have a name until after birth the nursery photos were taken prior to his name plate arriving. The next photo is a simple iPhone pic, not the marvelous work of Shelby, but I felt like I needed to include at least one pic of the finished product. The name plate is from Etsy.

As you guys know, we love New Zealand. There are two subtle touches from the country we love included in Pax’s nursery – one of them being this gorgeous map and frame from Mapiful. “Wahi Hari” is Maori for “happy place.” Paxton was a wee embryo on our last visit to the South Island, I didn’t even know I was pregnant yet and found out he accompanied us for the adventures a couple days after we returned.

The mobile is the other subtle New Zealand detail. At the time I found it and fell in love I had no idea, but upon ordering I realized that the gorgeous felt mobile had been sent from Hamilton, New Zealand. So, although it was no on purpose, it felt very fitting. The creator is Tik Tak Design Co. and she was wonderful to work with – excellent quality and SUPER quick shipping (seriously it came from across the world in less than a week)!

D E T A I L S

paint color: revere pewter – benjamin moore / accent wallpaper mural gifted from anewall / mid century modern crib: west elm / crib mattress / crib sheets: west elm / felt mobile / name plate / long pillow: world market / area rug: rugs usa / end table / modern rocker: wayfair / modern ottoman / floor lamp / graphite blue changing table / changing pad / changing pad cover / prism shelf: world market / wood animal figures: hobby lobby / triple leaf print / round mirror: kohl’s / map print: mapiful / starburst set / blue velvet curtains: west elm / mid century modern curtain rod: restoration hardware / macrame swing: adelisa & co. / ceiling mount for swing / swing rope diy macrame w surgeons’ knot skills / quilted tapestry / rope basket / knit toy: gifted from cuddle & kind / navy swaddle / coat rack: wayfair

The internet is full of hospital bag packing lists and checklists and while I was perusing Pinterest a while back I noticed a “Minimalist Hospital Packing List” which included crazy things you definitely do not need to bring to the hospital (and which certainly were not “minimalistic”). So, I thought it might be helpful to know what will be in my bag when I head to the hospital for Patpat’s birth day.

With the twins I did not plan ahead. I went in for a routine visit at 35 weeks and got home a week later with my babies in tow. With Milo I packed a bag and went in for a planned induction. I cannot even pull into my brain what was in that bag. This time I’ve tried to organize a little more. I bought a new bag I love (super inexpensive on Amazon and has a nifty zipper shoe-pouch on the bottom).

You’ll notice that almost all of this is focused around postpartum comforts. And, bonus, if you’re strapped for time or money – I packed nearly my entire bag with low-cost Amazon Prime purchases.

DEFINITELY GOING WITH ME:

1. 1. Nursing Bras and/or Tanks
      For Patpat’s birth I bought several low-cost bras off Amazon for the immediate postpartum period and will get some nicer ones later on.
      – Buy everything slightly bigger than you think you need. Postpartum breast changes will be a whole experience.
      -Affordable, good coverage, lounge/sleep-style nursing bras (no clips)
      – Affordable, supportive, daily-wear nursing bras (w/clips)
   2. High Rise Granny Panties
      Throw fashion on the window, guys. Find yourself some high-rise, waist-supportive granny panties to support the (very normal) dough-belly we all have afterwords and to fit those giant postpartum pads into.
      – Affordable, high-rise postpartum panties that you won’t have to mourn if they get ruined and go in the trash.
   3. Supportive Yoga Pants & Tanks/T-Shirts
      This is what I’ve preferred after my last c-sections for clothes. Usually the first day is PJs and then I want something with a little more belly support and switch to yoga pants and a nursing tank with a t-shirt over it. Just bring something loose that won’t make you feel uncomfortable right after delivery.
      – Favorite affordable, high-rise,  waist-support yoga pants.
   4. Comfy, Loose PJs
      Currently *loving* these Kindred Bravely PJs my Aunt so nicely sent to me. They’re super soft and loose enough they’ll still fit with some giant mesh panties nestled therein.
   5. Slippers
      Unless you want to squeeze swollen feet into sneakers, just find some comfy, hard-soled slippers to bring.
   6. MotherLove Nipple Cream!!!!
      Buy some MotherLove nipple cream off Amazon. Buy like 15 of them. Keep them in your hospital bag, your bathroom, your pump bag, by the baby’s bed, by the rocker, in your car, everywhere your plan to frequent in the postpartum period. The hospital will probably give you Lanolin. Throw it away or give it back.
   7. Nursing Pads
      Your milk likely will NOT come in to the extent that you are leaking while your’e in the hospital, these are more for protecting your bra and/or clothes from whatever nipple cream you’re using.
      – Favorite Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads
      – Favorite Kindred Bravely Reusable Nursing Pads (my go-to throughout breastfeeding)
   8. Abdominal Binder
      This time I’m trying something new and taking an abdominal binder that “BellyBands” sent me to try out. I’ve never used one before, but postpartum use of belly binders is an evidence-based way to decrease abdominal pain after cesarean delivery. So, I’m giving it a shot. Feeling supported after a c-section is really nice.
      – This brand has a nice added feature over hospital binders of being able to put it on without help and still achieve excellent (and adjustable) compression, which I love.
      – However, L&D units typically have binders on hand, so don’t feel like you must purchase or bring one. Talk to your doctor about it.
   9. Baby Outfits/Blankets/Swaddles
      All of our babies have gone home from the hospital in the same thing – a Texas A&M onesie or t-shirt. If you feel the need to get fancy, go ahead, but don’t bring 15 outfits and blankets. Just pick one or two things you love. We will take a Copper Pearl swaddle blanket that we like a lot, but chose to leave most other stuff at home.
   10. Toiletries + Personal Items
       After both of my previous c-sections I did not feel anywhere close to “normal” until I took a shower with something that didn’t smell like a hospital. Also, I’ve been on-call and used the hospital toothpaste enough to know I want nothing to do with that.
       – Shampoo/Conditioner/Body Wash
       – Contacts + Glasses
       – Deodorant
       – Toothbrush + Toothpaste
       – HelloBody Body Cream (gifted) <— Smells INCREDIBLE and is super moisturizing (use “mamajones25” to get 25% your order!)
       – HelloBody Coco Rich Lip Balm (gifted)
       – HelloBody Face Wash (gifted)
       – Face Moisturizer
       – Phone Charger
       – Hair Bands + Brush
       – Makeup (Necessities Only)

OPTIONAL FOR ME, BUT MAY BE BENEFICIAL:

1. 1. Nursing Pillow
      Nice for nursing and holding baby, but they’re a pain to haul around. I chose to just stuff pillows where I needed them, but would never fault anyone for bringing their nursing pillow with them.
   2. Snacks
   3. Carseat
      You will obviously need this before you leave, but have someone bring it up after delivery and save yourself the hassle of moving it between rooms and finding a place to keep it.
   4. Robes
      I’m not a big robe person at baseline, I do have some patients who look adorable postpartum in their floral robes.
   5. Gowns
      I’m torn on this. I never fault patients for wanting to bring a hospital gown rather than wearing the ones we have. That being said, 90% of the time these end up wet/dirty/bloody before you even get a cute picture in them. So, if you want to bring one then throw it in, but make sure you’re not so attached that it can’t be sacrificed for the cause. Or consider saving it to put on after delivery if you want photos.
   6. Bed Pillows
      This is L&D superstition. You’re free to bring a comfy pillow…but know it’s like crossing paths with a black cat in the eyes of labor and delivery nurses and doctors everywhere. I don’t know why, but this has been the case at every hospital I’ve worked at. If you want your own pillow, which you very well may (and I certainly did), maybe just leave it in the car until after you deliver and send your support person out to get it.
   7. Blow Dryer/Hair Straightener
      As you wish. For me, nobody can make me care that much about my hair in those first couple days. Air dry and messy bun FTW.
   8. Books
      Nope. I’ll be sleeping if I have that much free-time.
   9. Diapers
      We got you covered, boo. Even if you’re going to cloth-diaper (which we did with our twins), I’d suggest waiting until you’re home. Fresh newborn poop is pretty sticky and gross and all you do is set yourself up to have more laundry on the day you get home. Go disposable for until that tar-poop stage is over.
   10. Diffuser
       My mom packed one of these and brought it with her, it was actually very lovely to have in our PP room. I’ve had patients diffuse oils in the delivery room as well and it was a nice touch. So, if you’re into that and want to throw in a small diffuser, you might find it helpful/comforting.

THINGS TO DEFINITELY LEAVE AT HOME:

• Breast Pump
  If you end up needing to pump, we will let you use a hospital pump and all the gear. Don’t worry about this.
• Jewelry
  You don’t want to keep up with this while you’re laboring or moving from room-to-room.
• Big Blankets/Comforters/Etc.
  Don’t try to pack your whole room, you’ll hopefully only be there a couple of days and I hate seeing people’s favorite linens and stuff get ruined by the messy-ness that happens in L&D and Postpartum.

The reason for this is two-fold. On one hand I truly enjoy doing things for them and want to let this phase linger as long as it can. On the other hand, I am goal-oriented and thrive on efficiency, so I sometimes struggle with letting the kids work longer to achieve something I could do for them in half the time (especially when we’re running late!).
A few months ago we started having the twins (who are 5yo) use an alarm clock to get up and get ready on their own. They loved it, but I felt like I spent my whole morning coordinating their to-do list and reminding them what else to do (teeth brushed? lovey in backpack? shoes & socks?). Since this inevitably interfered with my own ability to get the morning going efficiently, it seemed their move towards independence would just end in chaos or yelling.

We tried chore charts, reminder pictures, and traditional methods as well…everything just kinda fell flat or got forgotten quickly.

The post below contains affiliate links and an honest review of an item we were gifted, but not paid to discuss.

Then we found Octopus watches by JOY FAMILYTECH which have, quite literally, revolutionized our morning routine.

This watch gives them independence and makes morning routines so much less stressful.

They offered to send the girls a couple of watches in exchange for sharing our experiences, which I had planned to do just briefly on Instagram. However, they’re helping our mornings run so much smoother that I decided I needed to write an actual post here where it would stay searchable for internet-land and linkable for me.

Use “MamaDoctorJones” for 20% off.

Why do we love JOY Octopus watches?

1.  No reading required.
   The icon-feature with no reading was a big hit!
2.  We set our own routine.
   You program a routine on the app and can schedule things in a variety of ways. Then you sync the plans to the watches. Routines can be on/off by day-of-the week and it’s really nice to have them repeat for each weekday.
3.  It’s not distracting.
   This watch doesn’t have games, frills, or extras and we truly love it BECAUSE of this.
4.  We’re frustrated so much less.
   The watch reminding the girls to do things is not only more effective than me, but it’s way less frustrating for all of us.
5.  The kids LOVE them and their new independence!
   I think they love the fact that they have expectations and a routine to follow each morning. Or maybe they love the new independence it’s providing, but they’ve been using them every weekday for a few weeks now and still get excited when they finish everything in their morning routine.

We had tried traditional reward calendars, magnetic reward calendars (which we loved, but just didn’t use regularly enough), yelling, begging, and had finally just gotten to where we seemed to be doing everything for them. This wasn’t cutting it, especially with a 2yo to get ready and another brother on the way. I can’t say enough good things about how much easier our mornings are now.

There are a few features we’d like to see added, so in the name of full disclosure I want to include a couple of those here.

Cons/Features We’d Like To See Added:

• Cost may be prohibitive for some.
• It’s splash proof, but not waterproof.
  We had a near-miss with Amelia’s and the backyard sprinklers.
• Creating the routines was a little cumbersome.
  POST EDIT —> This can be easier and I just didn’t discover the feature. Here’s a video link explaining how to VERY easily transfer routines from kid-to-kid. Thanks, Octopus!
• No wireless syncing.
  I would really like to be able to add “Dinner!” 10 minutes before dinner is actually ready and sync it to the watch they’re already wearing. Unfortunately, you have to set times preemptively and sync connected to an outlet. This is also the reason these have been way more useful for us in the mornings, when routines are constant, than in the evenings when we are less scheduled.

They sleep in them at night and the watches vibrate to wake them in the morning, then they get up and get their day going. It’s truly been a joy to watch them blossom and be excited about everything they’re doing without having to be told. We charge them while they’re at school and they put them back on (some) evenings for bedtime routines.

Use “MamaDoctorJones” for 20% off if you decide to try them out.

You were born on a Friday morning, but the story of us meeting you starts the day before. I had been scheduled for induction on Thursday night, because my blood pressure was high. I was very nervous, but even more excited. I worked all day seeing patients in clinic and spent the day worrying your sisters would be sad without me that night.

When I got home from work Ouma was there, she’d spent the day with Amelia and Reese and was planning to stay the night with them so we could go to the hospital. The girls were SO excited that we were finally going to get “the baby” out of mommy’s belly. We had dinner together, finished packing a bag, and got your sisters to bed. Around 9:40pm we headed to the hospital knowing the next time we walked through those doors we’d be a family of five!

We got to the hospital and checked in. Our room was adorned with sweet decorations and beautiful flowers thanks to the nursing team and my co-residents. We got settled in and the doctors started giving me medicine to help you come out. It was a long night for me! Your dad stayed up with me and held my hand and we talked about you and decided for sure that your name would be Milo. We still could not decide on a middle name – we talked about all the ones on our list and still none of those would up being your name! Daddy tried to watch a movie while we waited on you, he wanted to pass the time, but it was hard to concentrate with everything going on.

The next morning my doctor came in and told me I should get an epidural before she broke my water. This turned out to be the only reason I got to be awake when you were born, I am so thankful she encouraged me to do it. Our nurse called the anesthesia team and one of the chief residents came and placed an epidural. It was the strangest feeling!! My legs felt like jello and I couldn’t tell what they were doing, I was so numb! I asked them to turn it down a little bit, because I wanted to be able to move my legs a little better. It was just so strange to me when I couldn’t feel them at all. They told me to give it a little time before we turned it down…this also turned out to play a big part in why I was able to be awake when you were born.

Sometime after 8am our doctor came back and broke your bag of water. She said you were swimming in lots of water. A little bit later your heart rate started having some dips. Knowing this could be normal, I wasn’t worried at first and wasn’t paying much attention to the monitors. Then I started to notice a bit more activity in our room – people coming in and out, asking questions, checking on you. It turns out your heart rate was dropping more often and staying a little bit too low for a little bit too long. Our doctors and nurses – all the wonderful people I work with every day – gathered in the room to turn me on each side and see if we could make your heart rate stay normal. This is when I started worrying about you and if you were okay in there. They turned me left and right and left and right and still your heart rate wouldn’t improve. I didn’t know at the time that your placenta was bleeding quite a bit, since I couldn’t see or feel anything, but our nurse told me later she was really worried about you.

At some point your heart rate was so low they wanted me to take all the pressure off of you by rolling all the way over on my hands and knees. Remember when I said I couldn’t feel my legs at all? This made staying on my hands and knees so hard!! I was really embarrassed since everyone was having to help me so much – I couldn’t feel anything, they just kept moving me around like a heavy piece of jello. Our team was watching you so closely and I was starting to get really nervous. I was crying and shaking, I was worried you were going to be sick (or worse) when you were born. Your heart rate dropped even lower and wouldn’t come up despite all the medicine and maneuvering, so the doctors decided they needed to get you out emergently.

Your poor Dad was so confused, there were people everywhere and nobody was really telling him what was going on (rightfully so, they were focused on taking care of you and me, but he later told me not knowing what was happening made him feel nervous and helpless and he wasn’t sure what to do). He texted your Ouma, trying to keep her updated, but wasn’t really sure what to tell her – I think he was mostly just trying to stay out of the way so our team could take care of you.

We all left my labor room and RAN to the operating room for a c-section. The anesthesiologist said he might have to put me to sleep since everything needed to move very fast. I was so sad and I begged him to try my epidural since I was so numb already (he probably would’ve done that anyway, but at the time I felt like I needed to ask). I guess it worked perfectly, I don’t remember feeling anything painful during the surgery. 

My best friend in residency and one of my most kind and patient physician teachers were the surgeons getting you out. You heart rate was 60, which is way too low, and it stayed that way even after we got to the OR. They unplugged our monitors in the labor room at 10:13am and you were born 8 minutes later at 10:21am (that is very, very fast to move to the operating room, prepare everything, and do a c-section – I’m really thankful they moved so quickly).

When you came out you weren’t crying. All I remember is being terrified that you were dead and I was about to hear them “call a code.” Everything happened so quickly that I don’t even think I noticed your dad wasn’t there until I saw him walk in. Then I heard you for the first time – a faint, tiny little squeal. I realized you were crying and immediately felt a sense of relief wash over me. Although I knew there could still be problems, you were alive and at least breathing. I hadn’t even had time to process all of this when I saw the nurses walking over to me with a little bundle of blankets. I looked at your face and realized suddenly just how scared I had been that you would be taken from us before I could even see you. My fear turned to overwhelming joy and thanks when I met you. There you were, a pink, squishy-faced little boy blinking at me with such beautiful eyes – my little Milo.

I see babies born into this world every day. I’ve been a part of deliveries far more terrifying (and certianly more heartbreaking) than yours, but nothing I’ve experienced in my life quite compares to the day you were born. The unusualness of being in a completely familiar environment, but in an unspeakably new circumstance on “the other side of the scalpel,” is hard to explain. Maybe because I know how differently things could have turned out or maybe just because you’re my sweet, squishy babe and I love you, but I am so incredibly thankful for the team we had the day you were born…and even more thankful that you’re so happy and healthy today.

Welcome to the Jones family, Milo Caden – there’s a lot of love and adventure in your future.

I love you with all my heart,
Mama

I originally wrote this in the weeks following his birth, mostly just to have it documented. After several requests on Instagram I decided I would share it here. It is purposefully written with only a limited amount of medical information, as I wrote it more as a letter to my son than a blog post for you guys. Either way, hopefully someone will find it helpful.

For this week’s #AskMamaDoc we’re talking libido! So, can yoga help improve your low libido?

Yes, yoga really can improve your sex drive!

Libido is such an incredibly complicated subject, but there is no debate that both physical and psychological factors (stress, relationship issues, body-image, depression, etc.) contribute to sex drive.

A 2010 study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that regularly incorporating a yoga practice improved sexual function in a variety of ways, including positive effects on desire, arousal, lubrication, and orgasm. And, wait for it…nearly 75%(!) of the women in the study rated an improvement in their libido after incorporating a regular yoga practice.

These results used the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), a validated measure of female sexual function (which is available online if you’re interested). The impressive results were present across all age groups included in the study, but were most pronounced in women over 45 years of age.

This is *EXCELLENT* news, as libido is something that can be exceedingly difficult to treat. If your’e a physician, therapist, or counselor let this be one more tool in your low-libido improvement kit. If you’re a lady struggling with low libido, consider giving yoga a try!

I suspect that this contribution to sexual function revolves around yoga’s well-documented ability to decrease stress, improve blood flow, strengthen muscles, and encourage breathing and flexibility.

This is one of my favorite studies on yoga, looking at the benefits from a stem cell recruitment and mobilization standpoint. It’s so interesting to me. As a novice yogi, these health benefits as a whole are inspiring me to commit more time and energy to my practice.

So, go ahead and share this article with your partner (and all your friends who might find it interesting), then find somewhere to get into a regular practice!

The old adage that caffeine and pregnancy don’t mix is based on historically flawed studies. Modern data fails to give us clear cutoffs, but does support the safety of ~200mg of caffeine per day (with some sources citing up to 300mg).

There are no clear, evidence-based links between moderate caffeine-consumption and miscarriage, malformations, or poor obstetric outcomes.

Despite that, this is one of the most common questions I’m asked as an ObGyn. The myth that coffee will lead to problems with a pregnancy is rooted in data from the 70s that associated coffee consumption with miscarriage. In review of that data, you’ll find the following:

1. 1. Confounding Tobacco Use

      • Many study participants were also smoking cigarettes, a confounding variable we now know is undeniably associated with poor obstetric outcomes.

   2. Excessive Caffeine Consumption

      • A disproportionate number of those studied were consuming far more than moderate or typical amounts of caffeine (6-10 cups of coffee or more per day in some cases).

   3. Follow-Up Data Supporting Safety

      • In the time since those studies were published a multitude of data, almost universally with better research methods and controls, has emerged supporting the safety of moderate caffeine consumption in pregnancy.

So, the bottom line is, I will not be taking away your coffee purely because you’re pregnant. Fatigue was my #1 pregnancy symptom, far worse than nausea or cravings. At times it truly interfered with my ability to function and do my job and there were seriously days where I relied on that cup of coffee to get me out the door.

That being said, some women tend to react more strongly to the side effects of coffee while they are pregnant, so you may want to give it up or cut back if you find that cuppa worsens your nausea or makes you jittery.

Avoiding excessive consumption of caffeine is still important. We aren’t absolutely sure that more than 200-300mg of caffeine is overtly harmful to mom or baby, but we don’t have good data to support it’s safety.

So, ask for that Starbucks latte with the good stuff, no judgement from this ObGyn…and caffeinate away mama, so long as your morning sickness can tolerate it.