Pregnancy After Miscarriage, the Numbers

After the big news and the initial state of joy, it was hard to be happy.  A feeling of helplessness took over as I knew there was not much I could do to "make this work."  Prior to becoming pregnant, my doctor had started me on a medication that was meant to keep my blood sugars in check even though I did not have diabetes.  I was to continue this medication through week 14.  This made me very nervous.  I am not one to take medications especially while pregnant and this being a fairly new drug I was even more nervous about the effects on the fetus.  But when someone tells you they are doing what they think we need to do to maintain this pregnancy, its hard not to follow.  So I did.

Numbers, numbers, numbers...... First the worry about the HCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin) numbers.  With my last miscarriage my HCG numbers did not double the first time around.  They are suppose to double every 48-72 hours.  I remember that phone call vividly and although they didn't double, the numbers increased some and so there was no definite answer.  That  was the beginning of a terrifying roller coaster ride. This time, however,  the numbers more than doubled!!  Yeah!  Time to celebrate?  Absolutely not.  I was not about to let my guard down.  My prior experiences were holding me back from any good feelings this news should have brought.  

At that time my doctor began me on progesterone supplements because of my history.  Again, tons of research on this supplement with no answers.  Some doctors believe it can help, most doctors believe it can't hurt and some doctors believe that it won't help and if a miscarriage is going to happen it is going to happen.  I found almost zero information that it could hurt, so why wouldn't I try?  I even have friends who took it and had beautiful, healthy babies.  I began my supplements.

Another day, another blood test, another phone call with more results.  My HCG more than doubled again.  Yeah! again and this time I experienced a minute of delight.  My progesterone as well was OK, but not great.  

I was scheduled for my first ultrasound.  Laying on the table waiting for it to begin, I couldn't breath.  I was fighting tears and losing.  I just couldn't bear this and remember feeling like I was going to explode.  As she was looking for this tiny little fetus, my heart began to sink as in my mind, the 5 seconds she was taking was too long and could only mean one thing.  But, there it was!  A little tiny heartbeat!!  I was beside myself.  The adrenaline that had been pumping through my body had now exhausted me.  I was elated and completely spent.  Of course, I couldn't let my elation last because I once again thought back to my last miscarriage where I had saw that tiny heartbeat too.

Another day, another blood test, another phone call with results.  My progesterone had gone down.  Sinking.  I was reassured it was still at an OK level, but to increase the supplements.  

Another day, another blood test, ..... this phone call revealed an increase in progesterone level.  I was glad, but so tired of playing the numbers game.  

One more time, another day, another blood test...... again my progesterone was fine.  At this point I was on the highest dose of progesterone and was disinterested in the continued numbers game.  I couldn't keep up with the testing and the waiting game of results, so I just stopped.  I had a feeling things were good, but I never once let that give me any peace.

To be continued........

Nicole

Pregnancy After Miscarriage, The Beginning

As I sat in the waiting office at my OB's, I felt like one lone woman.  Surrounded by pregnant women, my desires to have another only saddened me.  This appointment was to discuss my fertility options.  Its hard having such little control over something and wondering what my wanting was creating in the universe.  If I willed this, would I be punished?  How can a person will it, though?  I worried about trying.  I worried about not trying.  I worried about my age, my marriage and my daughter.

I am scheduled for x-rays and I don't want to take any chances, so I asked my doctor to take a blood pregnancy test. I dared to wonder in the back of my mind if it could be possibly true.  The inclination that I was pregnant was there, but I chose not to pay attention to it because I had been wrong before.  There was no way I would let myself believe it this time.  So I put it out of my mind.

Until, the phone call that next day.  The doctor's office has my cell phone and I had absent mindedly let the battery die that morning.  I soon realized it and plugged it in and noticed a message.  My heart started to pound and for some reason a flash came to me and I knew it was the doctor's office.  Why would they call?  Could it be?  I hadn't thought a thing about the test until now.  Of course the next 5 minutes I spent trying to get my phone to work was agony.  My heart raced as I listened to the message.  "Its your doctor's office, please call us back."  Why else, what else....... work stupid phone!!!

"Well, you're definitely pregnant," stated the woman on the other end.  I couldn't put my head around those words.  Why did she sound so non-nonchalant?  Did she not know what this meant?  She went on some more.  "Wait," I said.  "Did you say I am pregnant?"  "Yes."  The rush of emotion is indescribable.  I felt joy, I felt relief, I felt terrified, I felt old, I felt scared, I felt lonely and finally made it back around to a feeling of happy.  I had achieved my goal, well the first of many goals on this kind of journey.  I had been on this roller coaster ride before and I was not sure I could take another turn.

To be continued.........

Nicole

Finding Safe Sunscreens - Update!

The FDA has released new sunscreen regulations:

• Broad Spectrum designation. Sunscreens that pass FDA's broad spectrum test procedure, which measures a product's UVA protection relative to its UVB protection, may be labeled as "Broad Spectrum SPF [value]" on the front label. Why the change?  Products currently labeled as "broad spectrum" may or may not protect against UVA.
• Use claims. Only Broad Spectrum sunscreens with an SPF value of 15 or higher can claim to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging if used as directed with other sun protection measures. Non-Broad Spectrum sunscreens and Broad Spectrum sunscreens with an SPF value between 2 and 14 can only claim to help prevent sunburn.
• "Waterproof," "sweatproof" or "sunblock" claims. Manufacturers cannot label sunscreens as "waterproof" or "sweatproof," or identify their products as "sunblocks," because these claims overstate their effectiveness. Sunscreens also cannot claim to provide sun protection for more than 2 hours without reapplication or to provide protection immediately after application (for example-- "instant protection") without submitting data to support these claims and obtaining FDA approval.
• Water resistance claims. Water resistance claims on the front label must indicate whether the sunscreen remains effective for 40 minutes or 80 minutes while swimming or sweating, based on standard testing. Sunscreens that are not water resistant must include a direction instructing consumers to use a water resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating.
• Drug Facts. All sunscreens must include standard "Drug Facts" information on the back and/or side of the container.

Please visit the FDA's website for further information:  http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/UnderstandingOver-the-CounterMedicines/ucm258468.htm

Changes will go into effect in December of 2012:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/amywestervelt/2012/05/11/fda-delays-implementation-of-new-sunscreen-regulations-until-after-summer/

Finding Safe Sunscreens

Summer is knocking on the door!  What you don't know about sunscreen can hurt you...

What is UVA and UVB?

Ultraviolet radiation  - Invisible rays that are part of the energy that comes from the sun. UV radiation is made up of three types of rays -- ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and ultraviolet C (UVC). UVC is the most dangerous type of ultraviolet light but cannot penetrate earth's protective ozone layer. Therefore, it poses no threat to us and it's presence will have no further value to this article.  On the other hand, UVA and UVB do penetrate the ozone layer and can cause harm to our bodies.  Please note, the same UVA and UVB rays are produced by the lights used in tanning beds.

UVA consists of shorter, weaker, wavelengths that can penetrate deeper into the skin and cause DNA damage to cells.  In contrast, UVB consists of longer wavelengths that penetrates only the outer skin layer.  UVB is the primary cause of sunburn and non-melanoma skin cancer such as squamous cell carcinoma.  Knowing that both UVA and UVB rays can damage your skin and body it is wise to choose a sunscreen that protects from both types of exposure.

What is SPF?

Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is a measurement of sunburn protection.  For example, when using an SPF 30 sunscreen and applying it thickly, you get the equivalent of 1 minute of UVB rays for each 30 minutes you spend in the sun. So, 1 hour in the sun wearing SPF 30 sunscreen is the same as spending 2 minutes totally unprotected.. This is a rough estimate, however, and your own skin, the type of activity you do in the sun (i.e. one involving water or sweat), and the intensity of sunlight may give you more or less safety.

The SPF number indicates protection against UVB rays only. Sunscreen products labeled "broad-spectrum" provide some protection against both UVA and UVB rays, but at this time there is no standard system for measuring protection from UVA rays. Products that contain avobenzone, Mexoryl SX, zinc oxide, or titanium dioxide can provide some protection from UVB and most UVA rays.

How high of an SPF should I use?

Many groups, including the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society, recommend products with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.  People often do not apply a thick enough layer of sunscreen, so the actual protection they get is less.  Sunscreens labeled with SPFs as high as 100+ are now available. Higher numbers do mean more protection, but many people mistakenly think that a sunscreen with an SPF 45 rating would give 3 times as much protection as one with an SPF of 15. This is not true. SPF 15 sunscreens filter out about 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 sunscreens filter out about 97%, SPF 50 sunscreens about 98%, and SPF 100 about 99%. The higher you go, the smaller the difference becomes. No sunscreen protects you completely. Regardless of the SPF, sunscreen should be reapplied often for maximal protection.

What should I look for in a sunscreen?

AVOID:

• Sprays and Powders
• Added Insect Repellants
• SPF 50+
• Oxybenzone**
• Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate)**
• PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) and Padimate O**
• Synthetic Fragrance**

**Remember, most make-up, lipsticks, and lip balm contain these harmful sunscreen ingredients.  Check your products and see if they need to be replaced.

BETTER ALTERNATIVES: 

• Hat and shirt
• "Mineral" sunscreens that contain Zinc Oxide and/or Titanium dioxide - these offer the best Broad-Spectrum protection
• Avobenzone or Mexoryl SX 
• Water-resistant for beach, pool & exercise
• SPF 30+ for beach & pool 

EVEN BETTER:

• Cruelty-free
• Vegan
• Natural
• Organic
• Fair Trade
• Biodegradable
• Coral Reef Safe

Two of our favorite products are Badger and California Baby.

Check out where your current sunscreen rates in the Environmental Working Group's (EWG)Sunscreen Database (http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/).  The EWG also has a handy phone app so that all of this information is at your fingertips when you go to purchase this year's sunscreen (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ewg-sunscreen-buyers-guide/id378866183?mt=8). 

EWG's Cleaning Product Database - Sneak Peak

I think the Environmental Working Group (EWG) read my mind!  I LOVE the cosmetics database and access it a couple of times a week to check out beauty/bath/sunscreen products.  I always wished they had a cleaning product database to round off my toxin reseach.  My life would be complete!  (Okay, I admit it, I'm a nerd....)

Well, guess what?  The EWG has announced that a Cleaning Product Database is in the works!!  (I wonder if I should make a cake to celebrate the occasion....).

EWG writes: 
"The first edition of the EWG Cleaners Database is due for release in fall 2012. Already, our research has turned up products loaded with extremely toxic compounds banned in some countries. Some of their ingredients are known to cause cancer, blindness, asthma and other serious conditions. Others are greenwashed, meaning that they are not, as their ad hype claims, environmentally benign. Still more hide the facts about their formulations behind vague terms like "fragrance.""

Click here for a sneak peak at the site.

Want more?  Here's a snipet from their famous "Hall of Shame" - some of the worst offenders in the cleaning product industry.

In the meantime, I'll be planning a personal launch party.  What do you think?  Potluck or catering?  

Hatch in the News!!!!

Jennifer Borget from YNN, Time Warner's 24 hour news station is interested in doing a story on baby planners for her segment "Growing Up Texas." What? Pitter patter my heart!  Being on TV is not my idea of fun, but an experience I don't want to miss.

The two weeks leading up to the interview were torture.  What will I say?  Will we be able to get our message across?  What do I wear?  Two weeks of worry.  Two weeks of planning.

Jennifer arrives at Alisa's house alone.  She is camera person and interviewer.  She is super sweet and makes us feel comfortable.  Thoughts race through my head.  First and foremost, stop sweating!!  Jennifer is ready and I am first!  Yikes!  I run to the bathroom for a powder check.  Stop sweating.  Don't ramble!  I know I ramble!

Camera on, camera ready.  The questions begin and I talk and talk and talk and talk.  My passion for this business came overflowing out of my brain, out of my mouth, out of my heart and out of my sweat glands.  Done! Finite!  That was easy.  Alisa's turn.  What a pro!  So poised.  I want a re-do!

Then more waiting.  We would be on the air in two weeks.  Another two weeks of waiting and worrying.  What's done is done I suppose and I trusted that Jennifer would do us up good!

Viola!  The finished product.  Go Hatch Baby Planners!  Bring on the mommies!

Growing Up Texas: Planning for your newest addition

By: Jennifer Borget

You may have heard of wedding planning or financial planning, but now, expectant parents can hire a planner.

It’s a growing trend, helping new parents through the trials and changes of having a baby. Those in the baby planning industry say it's quite different from any other type of planning.

"Baby planners help expecting parents get ready for their baby," Hatch Baby Planners Co-Founder Nicole Rinaldo said. "It's completely different than having a baby, preparing you for your whole life. It's an amazing experience, something that's going to completely change your life."

From helping parents find specific doctors or midwives to home baby-proofing and sending out baby announcements, planners can take care of some of the things you don't want to, so you have more time to for the things you enjoy.

"You do not have to spend every weekend up at the baby store examining everything then still coming out frustrated. We can go in and say 'Ok, you need this kind of stroller? Here's four, take a look at those and let us know what you think,'" Hatch Baby Planners Co-Founder Alisa Copeland said.

Gear is constantly changing, along with national standards and regulations, and it’s a baby planner's job to know the difference and tell you about it.

"There are a lot of parents out there who work up until the baby is born and they do not do anything. We're for the people who really just don't have the time to invest," Copeland said. "We're not for everybody, but for the ones who need us, we're there from beginning to end."

From the clueless to the carefree, it's a service that could help relieve some of the new pressures of parenthood.

A baby planner can also help a mom who is on bed rest during her pregnancy. They can cost anywhere from $50-$150 an hour depending on the service. In many cases, the planning can continue to the child's first birthday party or beyond.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO!!
http://austin.ynn.com/content/living/growing_up_texas/283713/growing-up-texas--planning-for-your-newest-addition

Milk and Honey Wash

Did you know that 70% of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body?  I've decided to take a step-by-step approach to replacing all of my toxic beauty products.  The most recent change was with my facial products.  I replaced my face soap with a milk & honey wash, and my face lotion with 100% jojoba oil.  My skin feels so soft and looks so healthy! 

Jojoba oil can be purchased at Natural Grocers, Whole Foods, or Central Market.  To reduce the chance of contaminating the oil and having it spoil, it’s best to purchase a separate glass container to use for dispensing.  Get a bottle that has a medicine dropper.  Sterilize the bottle in boiling water prior to using.  You can then squeeze out a few drops at a time.  A little goes a long way!  It also works fabulously for removing eye make-up.

Milk and honey wash:

1 tsp. honey (organic is best)

1 tbsp. milk

Mix together and you’re set to go!  Prepare fresh for each use.

Your nursery may be cute and sweet, but is it healthy?

Your nursery may be cute and sweet, but is it healthy?

Ready to build that beautiful new nursery for your baby?  There’s a little more to it these days than which motif to choose.  Over the last several years, there has been a growing awareness of toxins in our environment.  This applies to your new nursery as well.  You want to think everything is safe when you buy it from your favorite baby store, but just because it is on the shelf, does not mean it’s safe.  The government does not regulate many of the toxins that manufacturers use.  So it is up to the consumer to be aware and beware!

“As long as your not eating off it, it should be fine.”  I’ve heard this statement and this is far from the truth.  Did you know that the air in our homes is often far more polluted than the air outside?  The products we buy contribute to the air quality in our homes.  Some items actually emit the toxins they are made from into our air and sometimes you can actually smell it.  Think of fresh paint, something plastic you just opened or a  new piece of furniture.  Sometimes its not so easy to smell but it’s there.

Good Morning America recently did an investigation where they tested the air of a newly painted, furnished nursery.  What did they find?  Are you sitting down?  The air in the nursery contained 300 different chemicals.  Outside of that same home they found only 2 chemicals.  The crib mattress itself contained more than 100 chemicals.  Can you imagine putting your baby down on that?  You can read about the study here: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/01/19/the-indoor-pollution-threat-you-may-not-have-known-existed/

The laws are not there yet to protect us, to protect our children.  There are some wonderful groups who are working to change that, but for now its about information and action.  This may seem overwhelming, especially when all you want to do is get ready for that new little life.
There are many steps you can take and many products out there to consider.  Thankfully the word is getting out and manufacturers are responding.  

California has responded to this crisis with new regulations. One way to shop is by checking to see if the item meets the California standards.  There are great new paints that emit low to no volatile chemicals.  There are now flooring options that are safer.  In furniture look for real woods and make sure you check how it stained or painted.  At the very least, you must air out that room before baby comes home.  

Please take the time to learn about every item you put in your new nursery or call us.  I will do that for you.  A cute and sweet nursery - a plus, but a healthy nursery - a necessity!!

Win Baby Planning Services!!

Win Baby Planning Services!  We are taking nominations for any first time parent one who wants the assistance of a Baby Planner during their pregnancy.  Consulting services will be provided free of charge, minus the cost of any supplies.  The winner will receive a customized package based upon their needs.   See our website for list of consulting services.  Nominations will be accepted until midnight, February 12, 2012 and a winner will be announced Valentine's day, February 14, 2012.  Nominate a friend, a loved one, or yourself!  Just send us an email at hatchbabyplanners@gmail.com with your name, your nominee's name and due date, with an explanation of why they could benefit from our assistance.

Gender reveal party!!

Oh how I wish I had known about this when I was pregnant.  A party to reveal the gender of your baby, how fun is that?  Not only do your guests not know the gender of your baby, but neither do you.  This secret information comes from your doctor to us.  Then we get to planning!

Your party gets underway.  Your guests are arriving.  The women are ooing and cooing over the bump.  The men are giving their congratulatory handshakes and pats on the back.  Everyone is snacking on baby sized portions of food.  All the moms in the group are sure they know the gender of your baby by the way you are carrying that bundle in your tummy.  All the fathers are telling the dad-to-be how his life is about to change.  The old pro parents are dramatically sharing war stories and triumphs.  "Five days straight with no sleep? Ah that's nothing.  I had been up 10 days straight, when...."  And then, just as everyone is relaxing and enjoying the time with your friends and family, an announcement is made. "Everyone come hither!  For now tis the time for the big celebratory climax."  Everyone gathers around the cake table.  Whispers and giggles flutter about the room. Grandma Jane gives a knowing nod as Grampa Joe's chuckle fills the room.  Aunt Sally smiles widely.  Your best friends Carry and Mark hold each other lovingly.  Your mom gives you a hug. You take your knife in your hand and your spouse places his hand lovingly on top.  Slowly it slips into the white, creamy, frosting and through the letter "B" on downward into the cake.  The sugary smell of decadence fills the air.  Out comes the knife with tiny crumbles of cake clinging to its blade.  What do you see?  Is it pretty, perfect pink?  Or is it beautiful, bold blue?  Wait..... do I see a crumble of pink and a crumble of blue?  Twins?......... who knew?
We did!!!!!  And now so do you!