13Apr 2020 by Sarah Glenn

Parenting in a Pandemic

Health, Infants, Kids, Life, Parenting, Relationships, Teens, Toddlers
Parenting in a pandemic can be overwhelming, even for the most level headed parents. We are called upon to dig down deep into our hearts and souls and find all the good we can to transfer onto the worried children we are trying to protect- much easier said than done! The majority of the universe has never lived through a pandemic such as this. It's not to say that we haven't had horrible things happen in our lifetime- including other pandemics- but the worst-before now-was in 1918 and most of that generation has left this earth. Not to minimize some of these runner ups: Spanish FluTuberculosisSmall PoxPlagueCholera outbreakSwine FluSARS coronavirusRussian FluHong Kong fluSerum run to Nome (diphtheria)MalariaWest Bank fainting epidemicHIV/AIDS I imagine you may have never heard of some of…
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08Apr 2020 by Sarah Glenn

Third Trimester Planning

Breastfeeding, Health, Infants, Life, Parenting, Pregnancy, Relationships
Third-trimester planning takes the pressure off when you are busy learning your new role- MOM! It's not essential for you to do everything on the list before the baby, but it can improve your recovery from birth. You will become an awesome mother whether you're prepared or not; after all, babies don't require much more than diapers, clothes, breasts, and shelter. It'll be ok! To-Do List Employer conversation: Know the federal, state, and office policies on FMLA-pregnancy-maternity leave and the pumping at work laws before you broach the subject with your boss. Be well versed in your rights and start that conversation now about your plans to return even if you're not sure or think you may not go back. Get a tentative return to work date agreed upon and…
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17Mar 2020 by Sarah Glenn

The Ultimate Guide to Keeping a Home Clean for Realtor Showings When You’re Busy with Kids

Kids, Parenting, Relationships
Guest blog by Kris at http://parentingwithkris.com/ The ultimate guide to keeping a home clean for realtor showings when you're busy with kids can be a game-changer. Creating a plan before the chaos ensues will give you peace of mind moving forward. Major life changes are always stressful. Selling your home, buying a new one, and moving is among the most significant stressors we endure. When you add kids into the mix, those stress levels can reach new heights. For tips that will help you to keep your home clean and organized so your home sells fast and stress is minimized, read on! Reduce Your Stuff to Keep your Home Clean To minimize the amount of time you'll spend cleaning between showings with potential buyers, declutter your home and move much of your…
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07Feb 2020 by Sarah Glenn

Middle-School Crisis

Health, Kids, Life, Parenting, Relationships, Teens
This middle-school crisis is a story of corruption, greed, negligence, and power concerning the ramifications on the youth involved. Our school district has been in crisis mode for the past few years (that we are aware of), with the assortment controversies. With the use of free speech, the general public has since learned about dangerous secrets and misrepresentation from past administrations. Forcing the new one to clean up the mayhem. I won't go into all the details involved but think along the lines of the nepotism going on in the most significant administration in the USA-although on a smaller scale. There always seems to be someone with something to gain while others suffer. Our most recent issue has brought about the safety of the people who inhabit a few of…
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07Feb 2020 by Sarah Glenn

Meeting Your “New Mom” Needs

Health, Infants, Life, Pregnancy, Relationships
Integrating your baby in your life while meeting your "new mom" needs can be tricky. Everyone wants to be part of those first few weeks, but quickly lose interest after the first month. Check on your new mom friends after week four, and you'll find some of them chomping at the bit to "feel normal again." Incorporating that balance will take time. Finding something that can help improve your new daily regimen AND keep your baby with you can be challenging. As a new mom, you're always looking for a small window of opportunity to duck out and exercise, meet friends for lunch, groom at the hairdresser, read a book, run to the store or take a bath without 487 interruptions. It becomes especially important when your health could be…
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29Jan 2020 by Sarah Glenn

Milk Coming In

Breastfeeding, Health, Infants, Parenting, Pregnancy
Milk-coming-in is part of the changes you experience after the delivery of your progeny. Your body has been making all the necessary preparations since egg and sperm met. Possibly you've even seen a discharge from the nipple occasionally during pregnancy. Remember you've spent 40 weeks creating life and now you need to sustain that life. At first, women worry whether milk will come in but after a few days, they realize how bountiful their yield is. Engorgement is when the breast tissue overfills with milk, blood, and other fluids. It may cause your breasts to feel very full, to become hard and painful, and your nipples to flatten and tighten. Engorgement is a temporary stage to the milk-coming-in part of breastfeeding. Milk-coming-in is part of the changes you experience after…
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22Jan 2020 by Sarah Glenn

Rock Your Labor in These Positions

Health, Life, Parenting, Pregnancy
To rock your labor in these positions, you will need an open mind, sense of humor and a little flexibility. Don't wait until crunch time to check these out! Let's face it; LABOR is hard work and requires creativity and instinct to help move the process along. Giving birth is not a sedentary sport. Active involvement can lessen your birth time, reduce pain, and decrease the need for medications. Overall, satisfaction with the birthing process comes from freedom of movement and allowing your body to do what comes naturally. Contrary to images you may have seen in movies or books, the lithotomy (laying on your back with feet in stirrups) position is not the ideal choice for women. However, many factors can influence the mother's position decision, including setting, mother's choice &…
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18Jan 2020 by Sarah Glenn

When Life Gives You Lemons

Health, Life, Parenting, Relationships
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. What if the lemons are rotten or too sour to make tasty lemonade? Or if you don't have the stamina to process the instructions to create said lemonade? I entered my 40's feeling young and vibrant, only to have the wind knocked out of my sails due to devastating life events. Follow along with the previous blogs to understand the whole story.  Starting off this decade, I have a 3rd husband, seven children, a dying mother, and my 13-year-old becomes very ill. What appears to be a persistent cold turned into a sinus infection, which seems like no big deal at the time. With the strongest of antibiotics, my son continues to be ill and wakes up one morning with a swollen…
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10Jan 2020 by Sarah Glenn

Quick Tips to Help with Painful Nipples

Breastfeeding, Infants, Parenting, Pregnancy
These quick tips to help with painful nipples can be used in conjunction with or without lactation support. There is no shame in asking for help. Many times we just need someone to tell us we are doing everything right. Please seek the advice of your healthcare practitioner if you are not healing or feeling secure in your feeding. Hopefully, you’ve already asked and answered the questions relevant to understanding pain issues and breastfeeding. You may find you need to get professional help, but in the meantime, you could try a few tips below. The suggestions listed can aid in the healing process of sore nipples. Always check for proper latch first. Change positions.Check for proper fit of your pumping kit/flanges (look on the website of brand you own).Stay topless as much…
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09Jan 2020 by Sarah Glenn
How to Keep Breastfeeding Comfortable

How to Keep Breastfeeding Comfortable

Breastfeeding, Health, Infants
To master how to keep breastfeeding comfortable can take time and patience but feeling pain shouldn't be part of the equation. It's hard to know what breastfeeding should feel like if it's your first time. You've probably heard women tell stories of nipple and or breast pain at one time or another. Maybe you've witnessed someone wincing or crying out while feeding. Or perhaps you have experienced this yourself. Some women think suffering is part of the natural process of being a successful breastfeeding mother. What no one tells you is that breastfeeding should not be painful. Sure, you've never done this, and you may feel "tender" for the first week or two, but that's it. Typically, in the first minute of the feeding. A strong tugging and pulling sensation is appropriate.…
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