By Amanda Hammond, IMI/IABPP Graduate and blog contributor

Women love summer.  No secrets there.  We get our sandals out and start baring more skin.  Our hair glistens in the sun.  The warmth is contagious and the sunlight…nourishing.

Pregnant women have often been known to do the same things as their non-pregnant peers during these hot months: going to the salon for pedicures and a great new cut, bleaching body hair, gobbing on deodorant for those sweaty 90 degree days.  In fact, I’d venture to say that pregnant women might even be more prone to indulging in anything to help them feel sexy as their shape changes and changes some more.

Salons, unless they are low in aerosol and dye fumes and using very natural/ organic products, are not the ideal place for a pregnant goddess to be spending her time.  Between the hairspray, dye and nail product fumes it’s a bit of a danger zone.

Even if you are dying your own hair, spraying it to fend off those humidity curls or having your honey paint your tootsies for you, there are still some products that are good to avoid.

Some ways to stay lovely without exposing yourself and baby to dangerous chemicals are as follows:

1. Spend time in the sun with natural sunscreen like Badger All Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30.  The sun will perform a few services for you free of charge.

• Provide you with a lovely dose of vitamin D which lifts mood, renews energy and helps strengthen your bones.
• Give your hair some great highlights minus the chemicals.
• Give your skin a bronze glow

2. Purchase safe piggy polish and remover.  Check out EWG’s Skin Deep cosmetic database and select products lower than a three in toxicity rating.  Nail products are some of the worst to inhale.  There is a reason those polish remover fumes are so prominent.   Some healthy examples are:

• Aquarella nail polish
• Keeki Pure and Simple, LLC Non-Toxic, Gluten Free, Water-based Nail Polish
• Cutex Manicure Correction Nail Polish Remover Pen, Non-Acetone
• Honeybee Gardens Nail Polish Remover

3. Swim in saline pools or natural safe water sources.  Chlorine is an eye, lung and skin irritant and contains byproducts called dioxins that, if taken into the body, are thought to be cancerous.

4. Wear natural deodorant.  Between the aluminum in commercial antiperspirants, petrochemicals, and the artificial fragrances added to give that fresh smell, mainstream deodorants like Dove, Degree and Secret are less than ideal for the growing life inside you.  Aluminum is a heavy metal which is toxic to developing brains.  Artificial fragrances often contain phthalates which are known to disrupt hormones.  So, instead, opt for pure brands like Lafe’s Organic Baby Mother to Be Deodorant Spray or try a deodorant stone.

5. And of course, stay cool by drinking hydrating, safe beverages – most importantly water, but coconut water is a wonderful choice as well and has the potential to alleviate gastro-intestinal discomfort while providing a healthy dose of electrolytes.

Now that you know how to do a safe pregnant summer, go rock that beautiful bump at the beach!  Embrace your curves and know that no matter how awkward you may feel sometimes, it is incredibly beautiful to be growing a life!

Amanda is a graduate of the IABPP Baby Planner Certification program via the IMI and he owner of Ready or Not – A Baby Planning Service. She is in love with her toddler and her husband and derives much of her writing inspiration from her family experiences.  Being a mother of a formerly fussy baby, Amanda is very excited to share her story and contribute the Fussy Baby Site’s blog. To learn more about Amanda and what she does to help pregnant and new parents, please check out her website at www.readyornotbabyplanning.com.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of  the International Maternity Institute.

Introduces Maternity Sleep Consultant ™

The International Maternity Institute (IMI), a leading maternity educational organization, becomes the first accredited organization to offer an online sleep certification for prenatal and postpartum. Strong industry and client demand necessitated the establishment of a course that would extend sleep consulting to include the pre-natal period to support mothers who experience sleep issues during pregnancy. Sleep problems during pregnancy are on the rise and have become very commonplace and thus a clear need and demand has arisen to offer a certification covering the period before and after birth.

Typically infant-family sleep consultants are known to work with parents during postpartum to provide training, tools, resources, and education in order to get their child to sleep. Sleep Training is most commonly introduced when an infant reaches four months of age or shortly thereafter. Occasionally families begin introducing sleep training earlier on, however very little training exists anywhere to certify or educate consultants and maternity practitioners during pregnancy.

“Planning, preparation, and education are essential to supporting a family’s needs and goals. A sleep consultant can play such a viable and empowering role when working with families before the baby is born. During pregnancy about eighty percent of women experience sleep issues, and to have a sleep consultant’s support during this time may be worth it.” says IMI’s founder, and Sleep Consultant Certification co-instructor, Mary Oscategui.

The IMI Sleep Consultant Certification is currently represented in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. The IMI sleep program is offered online with live instruction and covers all aspects of professional sleep consulting during pre and post-partum including: real-life case studies for evaluation, all sleep approaches and methodologies, liability, safety, and continuing education.

Graduates from the IMI Sleep Consultant Certification program are trained:

• to offer an objective approach with families in order to develop healthy sleep habits that are age and developmentally appropriate for their client’s needs, lifestyle, and values
• to support the mother during pregnancy with her sleep
• to educate and raise awareness about health, fitness and nutrition for mother (pre/postnatal) in relation to sleep
• to support parents postpartum with their sleep issues during their time of transition
• to understand the most widely recognized international sleep training methods and practices
• with an in-depth look at sleep products and safety
• with an in-depth look at green and eco-friendly practices
• with a comprehension of their scope of practice, boundaries to practice, and when to refer out.
• to be aware of issues that involve medical attention, abuse, trauma, post-partum depression in order to provide their client’s the proper guidance and referral.

The IMI Sleep Consultant Certification Curriculum also includes:

• a step by step guide on how to start or manage your Sleep Consultant Business (optional add on course)
• support for sleep consultants that wants to work overnight shifts and/or hourly consultations
• includes a specialized sleep advisory board and experienced sleep experts, welcomed as guest speakers throughout the course.
• A comprehensive online distance learning course co-taught by Mary Oscategui and Emily Schaffer. Mary and Emily bring 34 years of combined experience to provide you with the finest, most comprehensive and cutting edge program in the industry.
• live interaction with the instructors on a weekly basis
• unlimited email and phone accessibility to instructors
• a multi-cultural international classroom
• continuous support during and after the course with monthly on-line calls
• a membership to Association of Professional Sleep Consultants (APSC), an organization co-founded my Mary Oscategui (founder of the IMI) and Elizabeth Wasserman (founder of Sleep Parenting Solutions)

For more information on the IMI Sleep Consultant Certification program, please visit http://www.maternityinstitute.com

About the IMI

The International Maternity Institute™ is a leader in birth and maternity professional education providing online cutting edge, evidenced based educational programs, products and services for the maternity professional. We specialize in baby planning, greenproofing, green birth education, sleep consulting, stress management, and maternity product expertise. Our educational continuum is designed to enhance the careers of maternity professionals by supplying them with an integrative approach so that they can empower families to make informed decisions. **(Online Distance Courses available in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese).

• Empower, educate, and change lives of expecting and new parents.
• Earn a rewarding income in a career that you love.
• The flexibility of making your own schedule and working from home.
• The opportunity to constantly learn and grow in many fields such as health and fitness, green living, new parent education, product and service knowledge, coaching, design, event planning, organization, and so much more.

As a Certified Baby Planner, you’ll gain:

• Recognition by a third party
• Credibility
• An enhanced professional reputation
• Personal accomplishment
• Continued professional development
• Continuing Educational Credits
• An outstanding supportive newtork with other baby planners within 21 countries
• A demonstrated a high level commitment to baby planning and to lifelong learning
• A demonstrated  certain level of knowledge and skill
• Increased opportunities for career advancement and/or increased earnings
• Eligibility to apply to be a board certified as a Holistic Health Practitioner through the AADP

On this webinar, you’ll  learn about the baby planning profession, our Baby Planner Certification: why it’s extremely valuable, and get the chance to ask questions.

We’ll discuss:

• the history of baby planning
• the role, scope, and boundaries to practice of a baby planner
• our unique approach as maternity consultants vs  maternity concierge
• why a certification is valuable and necessary
• the difference between individual baby planning training programs and organizational accredited ones.
• what makes our baby planner program the best in our industry
• funding and marketing your business
• learn the benefits, unlimited support, and opportunities you’ll receive from our institution

The IMI- IABPP Baby Planner Certification program covers all aspects professional baby planning including real-life case studies for evaluation, all baby planning approaches and methodologies, liability, safety, and continuing education.

Graduates from the IMI-IABPP Baby Planner Certification program are trained:

• To offer an objective approach with families in order to empower them to make the best educated decisions suitable for their family.
• to educate and raise awareness about all apsects of pregnancy (including pre-conception and postpartum)
• to support parents with time and stress management
• to understand the baby planning training methods, roles and practices
• With an in-depth look at baby products and safety
• With a comprehension of their scope of practice, boundaries to practice, and when to refer out.
• To be aware of issues that involve medical attention, abuse, trauma, post-partum depression in order to provide their client’s the proper guidance and referral.

The IMI-IABPP Baby Planner Certification Curriculum also includes:

• A step by step guide on how to start or manage your Baby Planner Business
• Support for baby planners that want to work in unique settings like hospitals, businesses, retail stores, and more
• Includes a specialized baby planner advisory board
• Access to free online educational webinars via Maternity Prep™
• An online distance learning course providing you with the finest, most comprehensive and cutting edge program in the industry.
• Live interaction with the instructors on a weekly basis
• Unlimited email and phone accessibility to instructors
• A multi-cultural international classroom
• Continuous support during and after the course with monthly on-line calls
• A membership to International Maternity Instititute (IMI) and International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals (IABPP).

Our goal is for you to leave the webinar with a tremendous amount of insight so you can make an informed decision on whether a Baby Planning Career and Baby Planner Certification is good for you.

If you’d like more information, please call us at 415-937-1602.

See you on the webinar!

Warmly,

International Maternity Institute

Founded in September 2009, the International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals (IABPP) is at the forefront of a movement that empowers expecting and new parents to make the best decisions for themselves and their babies by utilizing the support, information, education and resources made available by a certified baby planner.

By introducing a new approach to the baby planning industry that focuses on educating baby planners to provide appropriate, client-centered and directed support and education, the International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals has set the standard of excellence for the baby planning industry.

In December 2010, the International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals expanded to become the International Maternity Institute in order to launch the ultimate online educational portal for maternity and childbirth professionals. The Institute provides personalized training that enables students to develop a practice or utilize the education they receive to expand their current business offerings. The International Maternity Institute also hosts a variety of continuing education programs that are offered through their maternity affiliates.

Here is what they said:

Christine Mah-Chong in Singapore“Being able to assist fellow women in the special journey to parenthood.”

Meg Brown in Canada “Seeing little babies all the time!! ”

Nadia Pawelczyk in Poland “It is one of the most rewording experience in my life to be able to support couples from the beginning of their pregnancy through birth and beyond it, to build the amazing relationships and by part of the miracles which they get to experience.”

Sherri Levinton in Texas “Educating couples on their new arrivals, but even more than that to help infertile couples understand what is going on with them, and giving them new options and education… I hope to really make a difference in this harsh reality of life!”

Sarah Cody in Colorado ”I love being able to offer women choices and an understanding of pregnancy and birth that is so often left unmentioned by medical professionals. I love seeing the relief women feel when they understand that they can make choices that feel right to them, and that I’m there with lots of information so they don’t have to stress about knowing everything!”

Jessica Lane Wilson in Florida “I love educating women about birth options and letting them know they do have a say!”

Annie Mullens in Colorado “Knowing that we are making such a positive impact on lives…not just the expectant parents, but their children, and future generations.”

Tutti Bambini Maternity Concierge in Florida “Helping new and expecting families navigate through such an amazing part of their lives and then meeting their little miracles knowing their parents are fully prepared to be amazing with them!”

Anaïs de BforBaby in France “To see couples blossoms”

Nancy Javier Cavazos in Texas “Giving past, present and future parents the tools to make the right choices for their families!”

Adriana Lozada in New York “Helping women become confident, calm and fearless mothers.”

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL BABY PLANNERS DAY!

My first encounter with a homebirth mama and her 5-month-old son was during an “Options in Childbirth” class at the Mom and Pop Place in Neenah, WI.  Sure, I’ve seen the documentaries like The Business of Being Born and What Babies Want, so I’ve gotten some pretty great images of the process.  But I had yet to see the end result- the relationships of the family- until now.  They were the most bewitching pair I have ever seen and not necessarily because of physical attributes, though they were quite cute.  It was the love they had for each other.  I could see their connection as clear as day.  So in tune with each other, they performed this amazing dance of bonding, breastfeeding, sleeping and playing and I observed this in a span of only 2 hours.

This baby was so very alert and happy, smiling at everyone in the room individually as if to say…. “This is what you can have if you choose natural childbirth.  This is the reward.  A baby like me who has absolutely no doubt that he is wanted and loved and came into this world KNOWING that.”

He was born gently with love into an inviting place… his own home.  His mom held him fresh without cleaning him off first.  He wasn’t whisked away for a vaccine or to get ointment smeared into his eyes.  This mother and child were allowed to do what nature intended them to do… bond, float away on the euphoria of each other’s scents, fall in love, nourish one another.  Nothing else was necessary.

Since then, I’ve met several more homebirth momma/ baby pairs.  Thomasa, a local natural parent, was kind enough to give her comparison of hospital and homebirth experience as she’s done both between her four children.    She felt that while in labor in the hospital, the restrictions were minimal aside from not being allowed to eat.  For her, the big difference between homebirth and hospital birth was more glaring once baby arrived.
“The restrictive part was after I had the baby, this was all new to me.  They kept wanting to take the baby away from me.  When my first 3 were born at home they were immediately placed on my chest and got to relax for quite some time.  They checked the baby out while I was cuddling and bonding.  In the hospital I got a second for a quick hug and then they took her to check her vitals and everything.  This freaked me out and after that I was labeled “difficult” because I wouldn’t let them take her.  They kept coming in and wanting to take her to the nursery so they could bathe her, let me get my rest, and the list went on.  Then before we could leave a pediatrician had to check her out to clear us.  Because we do not vaccinate and I did not allow the Hep B vaccination to be given, he gave me a lecture that would make even a person that had not just given birth and had crazy hormone issues cry.”

When I asked Thomasa what she’s like every mom to know about choosing a childbirth method, this is what she said.

“ I would tell a mom that she just needs to listen to her gut, if having her baby in the comfort of her own home feels right to her then she should go with that.  Society has many women believing that the only safe place to have a baby is in the hospital.  Granted they have their place but we were giving birth long before hospitals ever existed.  When women go into a hospital to deliver without a clear birth plan they can be more easily lead down the path of what is best for the Dr. and the hospital over what is best for the mom and the baby.  Homebirths are totally focused on mom and the baby, the way it should be.”

Our society has come to rely heavily on the hospital and less on the woman who is having the baby.  The fact is- women know how to give birth.  It is instinctual and it is intimate.  If a birth experience ends up being scary or bewildering for either mom or baby, the trauma can indeed remain.  Many women chose homebirth because they’ve had a hospital birth and felt it lacked the love and warmth that should come with childbirth.  Many women feel there is no way they could birth outside the safe harbor of a hospital.  It is your choice to make.  My intent in writing this article is not to convince every pregnant woman to have a homebirth.  Instead I just want to expose women to the idea that they have choices.  “Mothers know best when they know all their options,” is my slogan after all.

Amanda is a graduate of the IABPP Baby Planner Certification program via the IMI and he owner of Ready or Not – A Baby Planning Service. She is in love with her toddler and her husband and derives much of her writing inspiration from her family experiences.  Being a mother of a formerly fussy baby, Amanda is very excited to share her story and contribute the Fussy Baby Site’s blog. To learn more about Amanda and what she does to help pregnant and new parents, please check out her website at www.readyornotbabyplanning.com.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of  the International Maternity Institute.

This year, on Thursday, April 5th 2012 the International Maternity Institute will host a few events in honor of this amazing industry and the baby planner professionals making a difference in families lives. Deborah Flashenberg, founder of the Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC will be presenting a free online educational webinar, “The Benefits of Prenatal Yoga” http://maternityinstitute.com/events/maternity-prep-classes/

This year is also especially momentous, as our founder, Mary Oscategui, is pregnant with her second child!

March 23, 2012 (San Francisco, California) – The Baby Planner Industry has come a long way  since the inception of The International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals ™ (IABPP), in September 2009 and expansion of the International Maternity Institute in December 2010.

By introducing a new approach that focuses on educating baby planners on all aspects of pregnancy to provide appropriate, client-centered and directed support and education, the IABPP has set the standard of excellence for the baby planning industry. The IABPP also developed the first and only accredited baby planner certification program available for the baby planning industry and is also the first professional baby planner organization in the industry to become accredited,  incorporate a board of directors, establish an advisory board, and incorporate a faculty and independent certifying board into its structure. Their advisory board and faculty includes a variety of talented and distinguished leaders in the maternity industry that can be found here: http://maternityinstitute.com/about/advisory-board/

With the expansion of the International Maternity Institute™ (IMI) in December 2010, maternity and childbirth professionals now have access to the ultimate online educational portal providing a wealth of support, education and resources including the Baby Planner Certification™, GreenBirth Educator™ program, Greenproofer Certification™, Sleep Consultant Certification™, Maternity Stress Management Coach Certification™, and Maternity Product Specialist Certification™. Expanding into 21 countries around the world, receiving accreditation from the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, and introducing a variety of new programs such as Maternity Prep™ and Parenting Classes, these are just a few of the accomplishments and contributions from the IMI and IABPP.

In celebration of their success and many accomplishments, The IMI and IABPP announces International Baby Planners Day™ on April 5^th and invites all baby planners around the world to participate. For a directory of baby planners and countries please visit: http://www.babyplannerinstitute.com/members/certified-baby-planners/

About Certified Baby Planners

A Certified Baby Planner Defined

A certified baby planner is a maternity consultant that provides support, information, education and resources to new and expecting parents on all aspects of pregnancy. By evaluating their clients specific needs and providing them with the appropriate information, education and resources, baby planners empower their clients to make the best decisions for their growing family.

Baby planners tailor their services to suit their clients specific needs, lifestyle and preferences and help them to determine the types of resources, services and products that will be essential for them to utilize on their journey towards parenthood and beyond.

Baby planners are also concerned with educating their clients. By introducing their clients to a variety of options on pre-conception, pregnancy, post-partum and parenting topics, baby planners empower their clients to make informed and educated decisions. Baby planners may introduce their clients to various options regarding birthing, feeding, sleeping, health, fitness, nutrition, eco-friendly living, safety, post-partum support, budgeting, baby gear and more.

Additionally baby planners serve as a matchmakers, coordinators, and specialists. As a matchmaker, a baby planner pairs their clients with the most suitable and reputable services and products based on their specific needs and lifestyle. As a coordinator, a baby planner may organize special events such as a baby shower, baby moon, or maternity retreat or may arrange for photo shoots and birth announcement design. As a specialist, a baby planner can offer additional expertise if licensed or accredited in a particular field relating to maternity.

Boundaries to Practice

A baby planner does not diagnose, treat, examine or medically advise their clients. Unless a baby planner has additional training or a specialized certification or license in a specific area of practice, a baby planner does not prescribe or attempt to perform additional services that require advanced training. While some baby planners may have the additional training, certification or licensing needed to offer services like designing exercise programs and plans, recommending diets or nutritional programs, baby proofing, installing or inspecting car seats, providing therapy, giving pre- or postnatal massage  or providing personal training, doula or midwifery services, these practices are outside of a baby planners scope of practice.

About The International Maternity Institute™ and International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals™

Founded in September 2009, the International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals™ (IABPP) is at the forefront of a movement that empowers expecting and new parents to make the best decisions for themselves and their babies by utilizing the support, information, education and resources made available by a certified baby planner.

By introducing a new approach that focuses on educating baby planners to provide appropriate, client-centered and directed support and education, the IABPP has set the standard of excellence for the baby planning industry.

In December 2010, the IABPP expanded to become the International Maternity Institute™ (IMI) in order to launch the ultimate online educational portal for maternity and childbirth professionals. The Institute provides personalized training that enables students to develop a practice or utilize the education they receive to expand their current business offerings. The International Maternity Institute also hosts a variety of continuing education programs that are offered through their maternity affiliates.

For more information visit http://www.maternityinstitute.com

by Annie Mullens, IMI/IABPP Certified Baby Planner & Greenproofer

Having owned my own retail store, working as a manager of a very successful retail baby boutique and having worked in the product industry for the last 20 some-years, I have had the opportunity to learn so much about product safety; regulations, standards, recalls and my responsibility to inform the consumer (my clients) about such. In my opinion, a responsible product expert stays informed, educated, and builds trust with their clients.

I started my journey that led me to becoming a Certified Baby Planner and Greenproofer because of baby products. I must admit that I am a self-professed maternity and child product geek.  I mean, I don’t just like checking out these products…I love it.  Helping parents find the perfect match for their needs makes me giddy…seriously! This is my passion and life’s calling.

Having become a baby planner, I feel it is extremely important to take the role of a product expert very seriously. Many baby planners specialize in various areas such as greenproofing, lactation consulting, childbirth education, child safety, yoga instruction, product expertise, etc….and having the proper training, background, and experience is essential. Not every baby planner chooses to specialize in providing baby product expertise, but with those that do it is important to understand what it is involved, our professional responsibility, and liability.

What makes a credible “expert”?   An expert is someone who has shown proven, considerable knowledge about a topic based on education, certification, accreditation, and/or experience. In essence, though, it is someone who has built trust in their abilities to inform the consumer responsibly, always placing safety and health first. Becoming a product expert takes a considerable amount of work, a drive, and commitment to delivering the appropriate information.

How does a product expert build trust?  In order to build trust, it is our responsibility to not just suggest products in a completely unbiased manner, but teach parents how to choose products themselves.  We should “work our way out of a job” when this is done correctly.  A good example of this is when I instruct parents how to install a car seat.  I don’t do it for them, instead I support and direct them how to do it themselves.  I can’t be there the next time they need to switch their seat to grandma and grandpa’s car, so it is my responsibility to make sure that they can do it on their own. The ultimate goal is to make sure that they feel educated and confident in their ability to install that car seat correctly each and every time without me there.  This is the same concept that should be used as a Maternity Product Professional™.  Not only do we give them a foundation of education, but we EMPOWER parents to trust their abilities.

A Maternity Product Professional excels in their field with the proper training, knowledge, and experience. They stay apprised of the latest updates from the major manufacturers in order to ensure that they are able to educate their clients about the best choice for their individual needs.  They understand what to look for in a product, safety, quality construction, and liability. They must also be able to instruct clients about how a vast number of maternity and children’s products work.  For example, how to safely wear each of the many types of baby carriers, how to use all those enhancements on that fancy highchair and stroller, breast pump basics, and how to properly use a car seat.

Most importantly, maternity product experts provide parents with the latest safety recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Safe Kids USA, International Association for Child Safety, the JPMA, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, etc.  Safety is always of ultimate importance when working with clients.  Cute and trendy means nothing in relation to the health and well-being of a child and family.

If you are in the maternity industry, as a consultant or in a retail capacity, if you enjoy working with products and want to excel in this field, consider becoming a Maternity Product Pro™. For more information visit the International Maternity Institute at http://maternityinstitute.com to learn more. But beware, I can’t promise that you will won’t become a product geek, too.

About Annie

Annie Mullens lives in Denver, Colorado and is a Certified Baby Planner, Greenproofer, Maternity Product Pro™ Instructor for The International Maternity Institute, and CPS Certified Car Seat Technician. She owned her own retail store, worked in finance, and eventually settled into a career as the manager of a very successful retail baby boutique. In this role, Annie had encountered thousands of expectant parents. She heard their fears and shared their joy, but more than anything she saw the stress they were enduring regarding all the decisions they needed to make. As time went on she heard more and more parents asking for someone who could help them make educated choices about their pregnancy and beyond. Many didn’t have the time (or energy) to research all of the baby preparation options out there and when they did attempt to research their options, more often than not, ended up feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and even more confused. Her passion was born! This passion led her to become a Certified Baby Planner and Greenproofer, launch WeePlan Baby Planners, and begin her role as a Maternity Product Pro™ Instructor for the International Maternity Institute. With her unbiased, hands-on experience, and thousands of parents’ feedback, she is able to tailor an individualized plan for each unique parenthood experience. Most importantly she saves her clients time and money as she supports and empowers them in their decisions as an educator and advocate, with a focus on the health and well-being of the whole family. For more information about Annie visit http://www.weeplanbabyplanners.com

By Amanda Hammond, IMI/IABPP Graduate and blog contributor

Mothers are amazing beings.  From the time we see that extra line on our pregnancy test to the miraculous act of giving birth, the sleepless nights of feeding to the daily chasing around of a toddler…. We are tough.  We are strong because we have to be.  Society expects us to do all of this, be the perfect wife and keep a spotless house too.  And man do we try!  But you know what?  Sometimes we need HELP!!!!!

When I was pregnant, things went relatively smoothly.  I knew the basics of being a mom.  I was prepared to cuddle, change diapers, breastfeed and dress him in cute clothes.  My husband Chris and I began our nursery design at about 5 months along and starting filling the dresser with tiny onesies and socks soon after.  Attending natural child birth class was something we did for a few hours each Sunday.  Get this: We even had backpacks prepared for the hospital a month early- “birthing bags,” as our Bradley coach called them.

 The night my water broke, I felt we were ready.  Birth plan and backpacks in hand, we flew out the door.  The labor was long and because I wanted a natural birth (no epidural), it was pretty intense.  I had back labor and it took several hours to get to the pushing process.  My pushes were unproductive due to the placement and size of my little one’s head.  After all that work, I ended up with a C-section.  I would find out in a few weeks why I was in an unusual amount of pain as I began recovering from the surgery.  In the meantime my son and I developed a strong bond through breastfeeding.  Of course, he lost weight as all babies do the first week of nursing so we were told to supplement with formula.  I felt helpless already- like I couldn’t properly nourish my child the way nature intended me to.

Lucky for us, he was good at switching from breast to bottle, avoiding any nipple confusion. 

We went home and were just beginning to get into the rhythm of being a family when my chills started… and the dizziness.  Something was wrong, I told Chris.  After talking to the doctor a few times, I went to the ER where they sampled my blood and got my fever under control. 

Two days later I got a call from the on-call OB-Gyn.  “Amanda, you have a pretty severe infection in your blood.  You need to come to the hospital right away. “ 

And I remained there for 5 days, each day asking if this were the day I could go home.  My son and husband were there most of the time which helped.  But being hospitalized was such a strain on our new family.  With my little one spending a large amount of time in a sterile hospital bassinet at my bedside and my husband sick to death of being in the hospital, we weren’t exactly thriving. When I was finally able to go home, I brought an IV pole with me.  Two weeks of “infusion therapy” ensued.  I was attached to an IV for 6 hours a day.  I can vividly recall the night I was throwing up into a bowl in one arm while trying to take care of my son with the other. 

Thankfully our birth doula called the church we had been attending for about a month prior to our birth.  The church community arranged to drop off a meal a day for two weeks.  That was a tremendous help.  It was both touching and humbling to have strangers helping and praying for us, but it was SO necessary! 

If I had enlisted the services of a baby planner, this is a plan of service she might have tailored for my situation.

-Create a “mommy plan” which is a detailed self-care plan for mom.  This would have included rotating shifts of “help” for the first two weeks of bringing the baby home.  By “help” I mean newborn care, cleaning and meal preparation done by family members or hired professionals.   It is very important for moms to stay relaxed in order to nurse and to have reserved energy for newborn crying jags.  In my case, I would have needed a more extensive plan.  This would have also included an at home visit from a massage therapist here and there and a plan to ensure that my daily self care was given priority.

-Provide referral to the right lactation consultant.  I struggled with feeding my son and couldn’t at many points because of medications and his digestive troubles.  By the time I could have reestablished this wonderful method of feeding and bonding with my baby, I was just too wiped out to try any nursing tips.  My confidence that I could nurse effectively had smoldered as well.  A lactation consultant could have been just the ticket in my situation but I didn’t know anything about them or where to find one.

-Provide referral to a postpartum doula for help with house work, baby care, mommy care and new family dynamics. Seriously- I could have reaped the benefits of a postpartum doula.  You should have seen the laundry piles and our kitchen for the first month of parenthood.  Yikes.

-Educate on baby wearing (baby wraps and carriers).  By the time I tried to introduce this to Dominic, he was already a few months old and hated it.  If I would have done it right away, I think he would have loved the comfort of a Moby wrap.

-Education on home safety beyond simple childproofing.  I could have used education and guidance on selecting safe cleaning and skin care products.  Turns out many big manufacturers make baby lotions that are quite toxic and up until recently I owned some. 

- Happiest Baby on the Block training.  My son was colicky.  This was just an extra strain on our newly developing family.  It added a lot of stress and he was miserable.  By the time I discovered this method of baby soothing, we’d all been suffering for about 3 months.

-Education on signs of postpartum depression, colic and possible referral to a family counselor.  I was too busy to have time to address it, much less acknowledge it.  I know I felt helpless, confused and trapped on several occasions.  The love and duty I felt overpowered the negative emotions and am thankful for that but my husband and I felt desperate at many points during the first six months of our son’s life. 

When I step back and read my story from a neutral perspective it is very clear what I needed but at the time I couldn’t tell you if I’d showered that day.   Enter the baby planner.  It is our job to make sure you do not feel like my husband and I did as new parents.  Become a new family is a process that should be relished.  Though it is a rollercoaster ride at the beginning, it is important that this not be a traumatic experience.   You and your baby deserve to see the best of each other.  Baby planners help make that happen.  A well known saying comes to mind here.  “It takes a village to raise a child.”

Amanda is ta graudate of the IABPP Baby Planner Certification program via the IMI and he owner of Ready or Not – A Baby Planning Service. She is in love with her toddler and her husband and derives much of her writing inspiration from her family experiences.  Being a mother of a formerly fussy baby, Amanda is very excited to share her story and contribute the Fussy Baby Site’s blog. To learn more about Amanda and what she does to help pregnant and new parents, please check out her website at www.readyornotbabyplanning.com.