Sometimes all you need as a mom, or a mom-to-be, is a little TLC.
But let’s be honest: We women are kinda crap at taking care of ourselves, since 99.9% of the time we are focused on making sure the other people in our lives (ahem, partners and kids) are comfortable, happy, fed and otherwise not applying tacky and irremovable goop-type concoctions to their hair.But self-care and preparation are critical in pregnancy and early motherhood. That’s why I’m super excited to partner up with Orlando Health for today’s post, which is all about keeping mamas informed and prepared for some of the biggest days of their lives—pregnancy, delivery and that first (crazy, awesome) year of being a mom.With the Hello Baby! app from Orlando Health and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies, it’s easy to organize all the big To-Do’s from those crazy days that follow the moment you find out you’re expecting.From tracking your baby from his peanut-sized days in your belly all the way through his first year, here are some other features you can take advantage of with Hello Baby!And because there’s no way you’re not already super busy taking care of everything (everyone) else, I’ve broken it all down for you. Easy, right?
For Pregnancy
Keep track of baby’s size!
Is he an apple seed, sweet pea, mango or watermelon this week? Hello Baby! has a size guide so you know what stage your little peanut is in at this very moment. (Cute fruit- and vegetable-related comparison pics included. ?)
Drink up!
It’s so important to stay hydrated while pregnant—especially in these crazy hot Florida summers! Hello Baby! reminds you to take down your H2O to keep baby—and you!—in tiptop shape.
Find a doctor
This goes for both you and baby. Hello Baby! helps you to find information on obstetricians and pediatricians. That means both you and baby are well taken care of from the moment you find out your family is growing.
Check out the digs
See what that delivery room is going to look like! You can book a tour of Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies right through your Hello Baby! app. No need to make separate arrangements!
“Is this normal?”
Hello Baby! will also send you well-timed tips about things that should—and shouldn’t—be happening during your pregnancy.
Let’s plan this out!
What’s your style? …Softly-playing music, walking epidural, no one in the delivery room except your partner? … Or rock ‘n roll, epidural ASAP and the whole family allowed to stop in? Your call! Put your detailed birth plan into the Hello Baby! app and start planning!Get your preferences down while you’re pregnant, but remember, you can change it up until the last minute.
Get bumpin’!
Hello Baby! even has a feature for Bumpies. Yep, selfies of your bump. Trust me, you’ll love having the pictures to remember the days when your sweet little peanut used to fit so snugly in your belly but is now three years old and beating you with a light saber while you try to put on your makeup in the morning. (Just saying.)
For Delivery
Time it out!
Let’s be honest: Early labor can be kinda overwhelming, what with the whole human-trying-to-exit-you thing. So sometimes the last thing you want to do as you’re gripping a chair and hoo-hoo-hoo breathing through your contractions is to whip open the App store and find a contraction timer so you can figure out when to check into the hospital.No worries if you have Hello Baby! though. Just use the built-in contraction timer in Hello Baby! to keep track of things–or even have your partner step in to track it–and you’ll have all that info stored when you do finally get to labor and delivery. (My advice? Consider the epidural.)
Get right in.
Since Hello Baby! allows you to pre-register, you can glide right in when the moment arrives. And trust me, you’re going to want to get in that room, oh, like yesterday, when those contractions are picking up.
After Baby Arrives
Nursing help
I’ve said this before, but the first few days and weeks of breastfeeding can be challenging. With Hello Baby! you can request help from lactation consultants right in the palm of your hand. Get advice, book a consult and browse information on tips to get your breastfeeding journey started off right.
Milestone Guidance
Hello Baby! also lets you track milestones through your baby’s first year. When’s a good time for solids? At what age might he start crawling? Just check it out on the app!
What’s going on here?
Get tips for your postpartum life: What changes can you expect to experience in your body? What’s normal and what’s not? Hello Baby! has you covered!
Want more info? Are you an expectant mom who’s set to deliver in the Central Florida area? Click hereto find out more! And download the Hello Baby! app right here!
