Healthy Moms - parenting, pregnancy, health, and women's issues

I had the honor of interviewing, Jennifer Borget from Baby Making Machine. She has a very unique way of relating to Mommies, even though she is not yet a mom herself. Her blog is both humorous and informative. Scroll down to read my exclusive interview with Jennifer.




HM: Where are you from?
Jennifer: Atlanta, GA, lived in Utah for the past 5 years and recently moved to Austin, TX.

HM: When did you start blogging?
Jennifer: About a year ago I started a personal and family blog but I blogged on Myspace and Facebook before that, but my first REAL consistent blog?... That would be November 2008 :)

HM: Why do you blog?
Jennifer: I am a journalist, I love to write and share interesting stories with people. This way I get to share a lot of stories, personal or other people's and hopefully make people smile in the process.

HM: What is your blog about?
Jennifer: My blog is about my journey toward motherhood. I've been married 4 years and am contemplating motherhood. I like to be prepared before getting into things and as I find interesting stories, news articles, people, or other blogs I feature them then write my opinions on it.

It's basically all about preparing to become a mother and my thoughts along the way (while hopefully getting tips form other women).

HM: What are your ultimate goals for your blog?
Jennifer: I know I'll never be "really ready" to become a mother but I want to think that I did everything I possibly could to prepare. I love learning from others as well as sharing personal experiences that can hopefully help others.

I hope that not only I gain tips and advice through my blog, but others who read my blog either learn something they didn't know, feel good for having helped me, or just walk away smiling because of one of my crazy ideas.

HM: What do you want your readers to get out of your blog?
Jennifer: I hope readers either 1. Get a good laugh or 2. Learn something they didn't know.

HM: What do you do to get your readers to keep coming back?
Jennifer: I post just about every day. I'm consistent and somehow always find something interesting to blog about relating to motherhood... but with a twist. Since a lot of "mom bloggers" are already moms I'm a little different. I think I can appeal not only to mothers who want to add their two-cents, but to women who are also contemplating motherhood.

I also hope my sense of humor and crazy findings will keep people at least a little entertained.

HM: Do you have any favorite blogs or any blogs that you read regularly?
Jennifer: I love Creole Wisdom, and Motherhood Uncensored. Two totally different blogs that I'm addicted to. Oh, and I also really like Don't-be-a-Slut, also very unique.

HM: Do you have any advice for other bloggers?
Jennifer: Ha! No! I'm new to blogging myself. But I think most of all is to remember to have fun! That's what it's all about. Not fame, but really for personal enjoyment.

HM: What is one thing that I did not cover in these set of questions?
Jennifer: I'm very open to hearing about other mom blogs because that's what mine is all about! I'd love to get links to other mom stories that I can feature for my "mommy moment of the month" :o)

Visit Jennifer at Baby Making Machine.

I invite all Mommy and Health blogger to be in the spotlight. Click here for more information on how your blog can be in the spotlight on Healthy Moms.

This was taken at my parent's house over Thanksgiving. I can't find my cord for my camera to download new photos so I had to use an older one. I hope it shows up soon! I guess this is fitting because my dad's birthday is tomorrow.

The birth of your baby is tiring, exciting and a very busy time. When your due date gets closer you should make sure you are prepared. Use this list to get organized and ready for your hospital stay when your baby is born.

Healthy Moms 25 Things You Should Pack for the Hospital When Having a Baby

1. Your health insurance card, ID, and hospital registration forms
2. Lotion or oil for labor massage
3. A photo or object to use as a focal point during contractions
4. Comfortable clothing such as sweatpants (if the weather is cold) or a nightgown to change into after your baby is born.
5. Slippers
6. Socks
7. A barrette or band to tie your hair back
8. Glasses (if you wear them you may not be allowed to wear contacts during labor)
9. Preggie Pops
10. CD player or MP3 Player and soothing music
11. A camera with fully charged batteries and new memory card if you are planning on taking pictures
12. Two or three nursing bras and a dozen or so nursing pads
13. Sanitary pads
14. Shampoo
15. Lotion, deodorant, make-up and other toiletries
16. Your toothbrush and toothpaste
17. Contact lenses if you wear them
18. A notepad and a pencil
19. Video Camera if the hospital allows one.
20. Change for the vending machine.
21. Your cell phone (if the hospital allows you to use it)
22. Phone numbers of people you want to call after the birth
23. Magazines or other reading material
24. A receiving blanket, diapers and clothes for your baby
25. A car seat

1.6 million women each year get breast biopsies. A recent study showed that nearly 600,000 of those women received unnecessary surgical procedures. Dr. Johnathan LaPook from CBS Evening News explained in detail what these women are going through.





Study: 600,000 Women Get Unneeded Biopsies

NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2008 | by Jonathan LaPook

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A few years ago a school nurse in San Francisco made sure every child who entered the school washed their hands thoroughly due to another child’s severe allergy to peanuts. In another school district a bus full of ten-year-olds was evacuated and sanitized because a peanut was found on the floor. More and more schools in the US are becoming "peanut free" by not allowing parents to send with their kids items containing peanuts in lunches, snacks or birthday treats.

Schools are doing this because allergic reactions to peanuts are becoming more and more common. And although it is rare, a reaction to peanuts can lead to death. Peanut free schools also argue that the oils found on nuts are difficult to wash off of tables, chairs and desks with common household cleansers. According to the Food and Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network only 100 people in the US die from an adverse reaction to peanuts every year. Studies have shown, however that nut allergies are increasing in western societies. Although, only 1% of children are affected by peanut allergies. Compare that to twice as many who are allergic to seafood. Nut allergies begin at an early age and 25% of children outgrow it.

On December 13, 2008 Harvard Professor Dr. Nicholas Christakis wrote an article in the British Medical Journal on this issue. His children attend school in the school district where the bus was evacuated. Christakis believes that schools are overreacting which is leading this to become a bigger problem than it should be. In his article, “This allergies hysteria is just nuts,” he states:

“The wholesale avoidance of nuts contributes to the problem by resulting in children who, lacking exposure to nuts, are actually sensitized to them.. One recent UK study of more than 10,000 children documented that early exposure to peanuts reduces, not increases, the risk of allergy. (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2008; 112:984)” (British Medical Journal, Dec. 13, 2008 volume 337)

Christakis argues that the increased anxiety and worry over nut allergies in our schools is causing more parents to get their children tested. The results of most nut allergy tests are mild. This however, does not prevent parents from avoiding nuts all together. Eliminating nuts in children’s’ diets can lead to even more sensitization.

Based on the low statistics of children’s reactions to peanut allergies I agree with the professor. When I was in school if you were allergic to something it was your responsibility to stay away from it. Schools did not have to keep things that the students were allergic to, such as peanuts, away from the school. I understand that today’s schools just want a safe environment for their children but this has gone to the extreme. If a child has been living with a peanut allergy for a number of years he or she should know how to stay away from them. It should be the child’s and parents’ responsibility to stay away from anything that could cause an allergic reaction not the schools.

More people die of gunshot wounds than a reaction to peanuts. Why can’t schools work harder to keep guns away? More people die in car accidents each year. Maybe schools should make every child walk so they don’t get hurt in a car accident on the way to school.

I applaud Christakis for publishing that article which is helping the public become more aware of this issue. Let your children enjoy a peanut and butter jelly sandwich when they are one. Early exposure to peanuts has proved to prevent the allergy. If your child’s school is peanut free just laugh. By becoming “peanut free” they are blowing this whole food allergy thing way out of proportion.

Preeclampsia is when a pregnant woman in her third trimester experiences a sharp rise in blood pressure. This rise in blood pressure may also lead to swollen ankles, irritability and kidney problems due to protein in the urine.

Preeclampsia is a common occurrence. Five percent of pregnant women experience preeclampsia and is more frequent among first pregnancies.

A diagnosis of preeclampsia could also indicate that the placenta is detaching from the uterus. Left untreated preeclampsia can lead to eclampsia, a life-threatening situation for both mother and baby.

Treatment options for preeclampsia include medication and bed rest. If that doesn't help your doctor may request a c-section or induce labor.

Eclampsia can occur if preeclampsia gets out of control. Eclampsia is when a pregnant mother with preeclampsia has seizures. Eclampsia is the most common form of death of pregnant women in underdeveloped countries. This can also be a serious problem in developed countries. Doctors treat eclampsia with antispasmodic medication such as magnesium sulfate.