Who doesn’t want to capture the first precious moments with their little one? Priscilla Baierlein – a Central Kentucky photographer  shares some tips with us that can help make your first family photo session a stress-free success!

Itty bitty tiny toes, cute little puckered lips, cuddly, cozy, snuggly, and oh so perfect…there’s nothing more precious than a newborn. It may sound cliché, but they grow so fast and are only this small once. It can go by in a flash. What’s a better time to celebrate your new family and capture all those little details with a photo session? As a photographer who focuses on little ones and families, I know that, although this is a beautiful time, it can also be a stressful time.  Here are some tips to help ensure you have a successful and enjoyable newborn session that will produce images your family will truly enjoy for many years to come:

1. Do your research and pick the perfect photographer for YOU. Be sure to find someone who has a photography style that matches what you are looking for, whether it be more lifestyle or more posed. Don’t overlook personality. Picking the right photographer can be the key to a relaxed session.
2. Plan ahead. Once you find the perfect photographer, find out when they suggest doing the session. This can vary based on the photographer’s style, but most will suggest doing them within the baby’s first 10 days of life.  Sessions that early will need to be booked before you’ve ever delivered. Remember that most photographers schedule sessions a month or more in advance – so make sure that newborn sessions are scheduled during the eighth month, at the latest. If you deliver early, let the photographer know as soon as possible and adjust your session date as needed.
3. Relax! That’s the number one rule on the day of the session. Always…relax. Not only will you feel better, but the session will go smoother, and baby (and photographer) will be more relaxed as well. Above all else, this is the key to a successful session. This is much more important than what you wear or anything else that may cause stress.
4. Be sure baby has a full belly. Do a feeding just before, but don’t be surprised if baby seems a little more hungry than usual and you need to take breaks during the session.
5. When it comes to clothing for baby, think minimal. At this age everything seems so big, not to mention with minimal clothing you can truly capture all the little details. Consider no clothing (don’t worry, photographers can hide all the bits you don’t want exposed), a diaper cover, or just a solid white onesie. Gather all your favorite blankets and hats to add a little color. If you do opt for no clothing, loosen the diaper ahead of time so there aren’t any marks left on the skin. Don’t be surprised if baby soils blankets or the photographers’ props. No need to apologize, all newborn photographers should be prepared for such an eventuality, as it is a fact of the job.
6. Crank up the heat! If the session is in your home, be sure you are warm or even hot, this means baby will be comfortable when all the blankets and clothing are removed. Remember, cold and hungry baby, equals a cranky baby.
7. Remember the whole relax, don’t worry philosophy? Don’t worry about cleaning! This should be the last thing on your mind. If something is in the photographer’s shot, they will move it.
8. Now…sit back and enjoy. Take this time to not worry about the camera in your face, but the baby in front of you. These images will be works of art you will enjoy for generations to come.

We are so excited to announce that Priscilla’s work will be featured in the 2010-2011 Edition of Baby in the Bluegrass! Copies will be delivered this August! But if you can’t wait to get a peak at some more of her fantastic work, please visit here.

]]> http://www.babyinthebluegrass.com/blog/2010/06/28/these-are-the-moments-dont-let-them-pass-you-by/feed/ 0 http://www.babyinthebluegrass.com/blog/2010/04/16/let-us-help-you-give-a-mom-to-be-a-wonderful-first-mothers-day/ http://www.babyinthebluegrass.com/blog/2010/04/16/let-us-help-you-give-a-mom-to-be-a-wonderful-first-mothers-day/#comments Sat, 17 Apr 2010 02:13:08 +0000 admin http://www.babyinthebluegrass.com/blog/?p=307

Mother’s Day is MAY 9th! Just a few short weeks away! Do you know a mom-to-be that you’d like to honor this Mother’s Day? Nominate her to win a free 3D Ultrasound courtesy of Lexington Women’s Health!

What better way to celebrate being a new mom than to get a 3D preview!

Please send us your favorite mom-to-be’s name and email address by MAY 8th! Tell us why she is so important to you, and let us help you give her a wonderful Mother’s Day!

Please send your submissions to ads@babyinthebluegrass.com!

Do you like free stuff? How does a $50 Visa gift card sound? Or what about adorable outfits from local boutiques? We will be giving away lots of awesome things from our local sponsors in the months to come! Make sure you stay in the know by signing up for our e-newsletter, The Pregnant Pause. It’s easy and takes about 10 seconds, just head on over to www.babyinthebluegrass.com and sign up!

Stay tuned for our upcoming guest-blogger Sharon Tessandori, owner of Barefootworks Yoga Studio!

Happy Spring!!!

Baby in the Bluegrass Guest Blogger Sue-Minton shares her experiences as a mother of a child with special needs, and discusses resources she found to be valuable.

Alex at birth

As I was in labor with my 2nd child, a daughter, the doctors informed me that the baby had Spina Bifida.  My reaction was “Spina what?”  I had never heard of Spina Bifida, and had no clue that at the time research had shown 1 in every 500 KY births had been affected by some level of Spina Bifida; 1 in every 1000 births nationally!  Wow, why did KY have so many more than the National statistic and why had I never heard of this birth defect?  Now we are at the National average.  Then to learn that taking a certain amount of Folic Acid daily before I became pregnant could have cut the chances of my daughter being affected with this by 70%!  No one ever informed me about the importance of Folic Acid and pregnancy planning.  I am sure you are asking yourself what in the world is Spina Bifida. Well, there are several different types of Spina Bifida, and I will explain the one I know best called Myelomeningocele. In my terms it is where the covering of the spinal chord fails to close causing damage to the baby’s nerves.   This leads to many other complications and the amount of complications can depend on the level on the back where the chord failed to close.

The first time Alex stood at Cardinal Hill Hospital

Lets move on to talk about my daughter.  She is now soon to be 14 going on 20!  I look back over the last 14 years and can’t believe everything she has endured mentally & physically.  We have had 12 surgeries to date and many hospital and doctor visits.  Her level of Spina Bifida is L-4 on her spine (which is lower down the back).  The lower the level – the lower her paralysis is on her body.  Along with her partial paralysis from the knees down, her bowel and bladder will not function properly, she has water on her brain and has a shunt placed to maintain this level, plus she has behavioral, social and learning deficits!  We were told at birth that she would most likely be confined to a wheel chair and lack independence, along with other textbook information.  The one thing I can say I know about Spina Bifida is that each case is not textbook.  It affects everyone differently in one way or another.  We became very proactive starting her in outpatient therapy at Cardinal Hill at 6 months.  She stayed there until age 5 where she learned how to talk, walk, write and even ride a bike!  Wow, what an amazing job her angels at Cardinal Hill Preschool did for her.  During her stint there we had many hospitalizations and surgeries, and most of the time my husband and I worked full-time.  We have been VERY fortunate to work with employers who were very flexible and understanding with us throughout her entire life.

Alex in her first tiny wheelchair.

We have many struggles that can change over night.  They can be physical and they can be mental.  We have had struggles with schools/teachers not allowing us to be an active part of her education, and not understanding that she is not just physically disabled; she also has learning, behavioral and social challenges.  Our family deals with struggles because of the care our daughter requires.  On top of all of it she is a teenager!  That in itself comes with a totally different set of issues.

Alex participating in the win-o-lympics

Things that I have found helpful is finding support with other parents of children with special needs or groups/organizations.  When your child is in school take an advocate (which can be anyone) with you when it is time to discuss your child’s Educational Plan.  If you are going to a doctor that you are not comfortable with, find another one.  There are many specialist in Louisville, Lexington and Cincinnati – all within an easy drive.  Prayer helps ease your mind and keeps hope present in your heart.  Laughter and not taking life too serious is a major plus. We try to find humor in everything.  There have been times when there was no laughter available, however it does return.  Therapy for the parents can be very beneficial.  Healthy children can be a strain on a marriage, and children with special needs can triple that strain.  We are so lucky to have the great resources in Lexington such as Shriners Hospital and Cardinal Hill.

I continue to ask myself how God could trust me to properly take care for such an amazing child with so many needs.   I then tell myself that God’s humorous response to me is “you ain’t seen nothing yet; there is still so much more to come!”  Again, my sense of humor has been my salvation.

Alex today at summer camp.

Special thanks to Sue-Minton and her family for sharing their experiences with us. For more information on Spina Bifida, please visit www.sbaa.org.

We are so excited to announce that the 2010 edition of Baby in the Bluegrass will be delivered this August!

From the beginning, it has been our goal to be the primary resource in Central Kentucky for pregnancy and newborn-related information. You requested less narrative and more resources from our next endeavor and that is exactly what you’re going to get! The 2010 edition will feature an updated, more extensive listing of mom-related resources in Central Kentucky, “Been there, done that” Mom & Dad-stories, as well as other parenting tips and information.

Online, please continue to visit www.babyinthebluegrass.com and connect directly with other local parents-to-be through our community boards. Also, don’t forget to check out our calendar with listings of all local classes, and sign up for our e-newsletter “Pregnant Pause” – which will feature lots of prizes in the coming months!

If you are a business owner, we invite you to participate by advertising with us! Download a copy of our rate card by 2010_rate card_web. Or email ads@babyinthebluegrass.com so someone from our team can contact you and discuss further this exciting and unique opportunity! Our last edition featured Nursery Time, Baby’s Room, St. Joe East, Baby Belly, Lexington Aesthetics, Portrait Shoppe, Pediatric & Adolescent Associates, P.S.C., and Essence Images just to name a few.  Do you want to get your business directly in front of EVERY mom in Central Kentucky who will have a baby this year? Contact us today!

Stay warm and be safe everyone!

The Baby in the Bluegrass Team

“Everyone has a breastfeeding story. At parties when I mention what I do as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, women and men will tell me their experiences as parents or grandparents, as bystanders, as breastfed children. Some are still grieving or angry that their experience did not meet their expectations, that the medical profession had let them down.  Others apologize that they ‘only breastfed’ for a few short days or weeks. Some tell the heroic stories of their wives and partners who breastfed or pumped in the face of health difficulties, public disparagement, and work site harassment. A few express their disgust with the entire idea of breastfeeding and the rudeness or crudeness they see modeled by breastfeeding mothers and babies…”

“…I’m astonished at the pediatrician who counsels a motivated mother to start formula rather than referring her for help. I’m shocked at the business that forces employees to pump milk in their parked cars. I’m saddened at the childcare provider who won’t allow the mother to breastfeed her child on-site but will allow her to feed with a bottle. I’m angry at the restaurant who forces the paying customer to leave without eating rather than soothe the hungry baby by breastfeeding. I’m upset with the husband who does not want the baby to be breastfed because his wife’s breasts “belong to him.” I’m mortified at the congregation that views breastfeeding as sexually deviant rather than the moral behavior promoted in the Old Testament.” – Doraine Bailey.

Full Article – click here

Caring for the Community

Free Monthly Breastfeeding Classes

]]> http://www.babyinthebluegrass.com/blog/2009/04/24/breastfeeding-doraine-baileys-article/feed/ 0 http://www.babyinthebluegrass.com/blog/2009/02/16/what-eight-years-of-motherhood-teaches-you/ http://www.babyinthebluegrass.com/blog/2009/02/16/what-eight-years-of-motherhood-teaches-you/#comments Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:39:13 +0000 Jackie Powell http://www.babyinthebluegrass.com/blog/?p=148

This photo was taken before I left the hospital with baby #2 in 2004. I was 4 years older and wiser than the first time, and I'm still learning every day.

I’ve collected a few of the most important things I’ve learned since becoming a mom eight years ago.

Don’t sweat what you can’t control, fix the things you can

1. Breastfeeding will be much easier and more enjoyable if you prepare in advance. Read a book, take a class or both. Since many of our own mothers are from a non-nursing generation, it’s hard for us to find free help after the baby is born.
2. My accountant (and friend) is a new mom and we concurred it should be common knowledge that it feels like the baby is born from your bottom after childbirth. She had to ask the nurse to make sure that was normal.
3. Your family life will be much richer if you understand sleep patterns. I recommend “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.”
4. Child-care options will occasionally fail and leave you feeling helpless. Sickness, laziness, natural disasters—don’t freak out when it happens, know it happens and work with it.
5. Make no firm declarations about how you’ll parent before you are one. I always knew my kids would go to public school. Now the tuition is automatically withdrawn monthly so I don’t have to think about it.
6. Boys may try to aim, but often fail. Make sure every toilet in your house is well-caulked around the base.
7. Children will hurt themselves. Don’t be too hard on yourself about scars or chipped teeth.
8. When your child stumbles, react to their reaction—not your own. They’re more resilient than we give them credit for and fragility can be a learned trait.

Anything else you would like to add?

Local dad and BBG reader, Daniel Sparks, recently wrote this op-ed piece on midwifery. In layman’s terms, that’s midwives—or a person trained to assist women in childbirth. Check out his take on the benefits a midwife can offer. I also learned yesterday that Lexington Women’s Health now has three midwives on staff. Good news for Central Kentucky women seeking options in childbirthing.

Well, it appears that the mother of the brand new 8 babies is a SINGLE mom who lives with her mother, and she already has 6 other kids at home.  Now totaling 14 babies - we can skip Jon & Kate Plus 8 – she is making her way towards competing with The Duggar Family! 

According to an article (see link below to read the full story), the grandmother is claiming that her daughter is obsessed with having babies.  At 33-years-old, she has a Bachelor’s degree and is currently working on a Master’s degree.  She also doesn’t appear to be receiving any public assistance.  So, how does she do it?  Also, it seems as if she was paid for the fertility treatment…I am intrigued by this situation.  Ethical questions are also being tossed around with her situation.  How in-depth should the screening process be for the use of fertility treatment?  What are your thoughts?

READ FULL STORY

A Californian couple yesterday gave birth to eight babies! WOW! Our hats off to them! It took 46 doctors, nurses and assistants to deliver all eight babies in 5 minutes! They are the second live octuplets born in U.S history.

Watch out Jon & Kate Plus 8 – there’s another family on the rise!

“The mother, who was not identified, gave birth Monday to the six boys and two girls weighing between 1 pound, 8 ounces, and 3 pounds, 4 ounces. The eighth baby was a surprise to the parents and doctors who had been expecting only seven children.” (USA TODAY) read more