Corner Stork Baby Blog

The statistics are in, and more moms-to-be are working through your pregnancy–and into your eighth month–than ever before. Bottom line, you need to listen to your bodies, take breaks and eat right. Here are some more great tips from the Mayo Clinic:

TO EASE NAUSEA AND VOMITING:

• Avoid nausea triggers. Stay away from the cafeteria or the break room to steer clear of smells that trigger your nausea
• Snack often. Keep a stash of healthy snacks in a drawer at work. Include crackers for nausea.
• Drink lots of fluids.  Sip on a water bottle throughout the day.
• Slow down in the morning. Get ready for work a little earlier, because rushing can cause nausea.
• Get plenty of sleep. You’ll feel better and will be less likely to become nauseated.

TO HANDLE FATIGUE:

• Take short, frequent breaks. Get up. Move around. Put your feet up and close your eyes for a few moments. You’ll need your strength for the baby shower your co-workers are throwing for you!
• Reschedule your day if necessary. Pay attention to your energy levels and try to work when you’re not exhausted.
• Scale back on outside activities. Let someone else do the shopping or mow the lawn.
• Keep exercising. Take a walk. Join a prenatal fitness class.
• Hit the sack early. If you’re tired at 7PM, turn out the lights and let your head hit the pillow.

TO STAY COMFORTABLE:

• Sitting. Good lower back support is crucial. An adjustable chair is best, but if you don’t have one, use a pillow for your back and elevate your feet on a footrest.
• Standing. If you must stand for long periods of time (which may lead to pain, dizziness and pressure on your back,) put one of your feet up on a footrest, low stool or box, and switch feet every so often. Take frequent breaks, and wear comfortable shoes. Support hose can help, too.
• Bending and Lifting. Bend at the knees. Keep the load close to your body and lift with your legs–not your back. Ask for help with heavy loads–like all the baby shower gifts you receive from your co-workers!

TO CONTROL STRESS:

• Stay in control. Make a to-do list and delegate, delegate, delegate.
• Stay positive. Laugh at life, and avoid negative people.
• Talk about it. Don’t keep your frustrations inside. Talk to friends, family or your spouse.
• Let it go. If you can’t change a situation, forget about it.
• Relax. Slow breathing. Yoga. Meditation.

TAKE PROPER PRECAUTIONS! Long commutes, excessive heat, prolonged standing, heavy lifting, heavy vibrations and exposure to harmful substances increase your risk of complications during pregnancy. If your job puts you in these situations, talk to your healthcare provider and decide together what, if any, modifications to your work duties might be necessary. Remember, you’re working for two now!

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Baby shower cakes have come a long way! 

 What ever happened to the decorated sheet cake you got from your local grocery store with a baby carriage on top?  Not that there’s anything wrong with those cakes, it’s just that nowadays, Moms-to-be want a cake that really reflects their sense of style and personality.  So the baker’s oven has gotten turned up a notch for sure. 

Take a look at this cake for example.  This “couture” cake really caught my attention and I’m sure it would get plenty of attention if you had one at your baby shower!  Iced to perfection, it’s as cute as can be.  But watch out.  You’ve definitely got to have some skills to pull this off.  There seem to be no limits to the creativity of designs that use fondant icing–made wildly popular on Martha Stewart’s television show.  (Leave it to Martha to be trend-setting as usual!)  The icing can be rolled out and draped over the cake like dough, yielding some very extravagant and whimsical designs.   Impressive to say the least!  This cake even features a pregnant “Mom” made completely of sugar paste perched on top of this polka-dot fantasy cake.  Surrounded by cupcakes, guests can serve themselves with ease.  Just like the mom-to-be, there is surely more than a bun in this baker’s oven! 

Which reminds me of another too-cute idea.  Can you imagine?  A bun-in-the-oven shower favor?  You’ll be tempted, but don’t you dare eat it!  This scented honey-bun candle looks and smells like the real thing!  And the “oven” gift box really brings off the theme.   Whether your “bun” is a boy or a girl, this favor would be the icing on the cake! 

They just keep on coming up with more and more unique baby gifts and favors to give your baby shower that extra personal touch.  Whether it’s cakes or “buns” or cookies, the ideas just keep “baking” right on in.  

But let’s face it.  There are some of us who might prefer something a little more practical to give as a shower gift.  For those who enjoy curling up with a good book or baking cookies in your spare time (that is, if you can find any these days), then don’t think you’ve been left out either.  There are lots of practical and useful gifts that still say “Wow!”  Celebrate with this star-shaped cookie cutter.  As any Mom would agree, it proudly says that your little “twinkling star” is sure to shine the brighest.  You and your guests will be baking up a storm in no time.  Just think…welcoming your little chocolate chip never tasted to delicious!

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Time, once again, for Sue’s TWIST (The Way I See Things!) And I’m here with scientific support of my belief that every baby should have a dog from birth! I’m sure some of you are cringing at the photo of that gorgeous Golden Retriever kissing a newborn. While you’re cringing, there are millions of us out here saying, “Awwwww!”

Yuck, you say! Germs! Unhealthy! Disgusting!

Nay! Nay, I say! And Joachim Heinrich, a research scientist at the Institute of Epidemiology at the Heimholtz Centre in Munich, Germany agrees!

This was in a FOXNews report filed Tuesday, April 29. The researchers announced the findings of their study, during which the health of 3,000 children–from newborn to six years old–was monitored. And, I quote, “Blood tests revealed that children who live with dogs had a lower risk of becoming sensitized to pollens and other inhaled allergens, which trigger asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema,” according to Health4.com.

Heinrich said that the early exposure to dogs stimulates the immune system! So there you go. If you’re looking for a fabulous baby gift that will benefit baby in more ways than you can imagine–present the new mom and dad with a puppy! They may freak out at first, but they’ll thank you later when baby’s immune system keeps doctor visits to a financially favorable minimum.

For those of you who just can’t get on board with this fabulous baby gift idea, you can at least put the idea into mom and dad’s heads with a precious poochy present. The Puppy Hooded Towel baby gift set with the happy hound’s face comes with a bath-friendly, puppy-faced hand puppet to make bath time as much fun for baby as it is for dogs. And the Mommy’s Baby View Car Mirror that gives Mom a comforting look at baby with just a glance in her rear-view mirror is as practical a gift as a real, live puppy. But nowhere near as much fun!

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So maybe we’re a wee bit prejudiced, but Mother’s Day is our absolutely, positively, jump-for-joy, no-doubt-about-it, FAVORITE holiday of the year! We love those Moms–past, present and future! Our mom is the one woman we, literally, can’t live without!

And what a wonderful day for a mom-to-be, waiting with utter excitement to see the little miracle love created and to become the most important person in her baby’s life (with dad a very close second!) It just might be the best day of the year for a baby shower–and it’s less than three weeks away!  

Here are some interesting facts about American mothers as recently as 2007:

• Four-million women have babies each year, and almost 100,000 are age 40 or over.
• 24.8 is the median age of women when they give birth for the first time, meaning one-half are above this age and one-half are below.
• The odds of a woman delivering twins are 1 in 33. Her odds of having triplets or other multiple births is approximately 1 in 539.

And in the “yikes!” category, the record for the number of children born to one woman is 69, and it’s held by a Russian woman. In a total of 27 confinements, the first wife of Feodor Vassilyev (1707-1782) of Shuya, Russia, gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets, and four sets of quadruplets. 67 of them survived infancy. (I wonder if they had trouble finding a baby-sitter…)

So let’s get down to it. If there’s a mom-to-be in your life who’s baby shower can be held on Mother’s Day, you’ll want the perfect baby shower favor (and the perfect baby shower gift–but that’s another blog.) Here are three of my favorite favors, and I’m actually going to have the first one on the tables at the baby shower for my niece, Cari, who’s due in late summer!

The “World’s Gratest Mom” is a cleverly packaged cheese grater. I know the guests will love taking these home, but if they’re like me, they’ll never take them out of the gift box, because the packaging is so darn cute! But eventually, we’ll take those graters out and use them again and again. With three hole sizes, the graters will work for nutmeg, carrots and more.

I’m also a big fan of Corner Stork’s “She’ll Soon See Her Feet Again!” Pedicure Kits. Included in the kit are a nail file, scissors, clippers, and cuticle instrument. And the cute flip-flop is the perfect design for a spring or a summer shower–not to mention the fact that it’s sandal and bare-feet weather. Every woman with feet is going to want her tootsies to look their best!

My final favorite is also tailor-made for a spring or summer baby shower. Everyone loves flowers (allergies aside…) and this Personalized Eco-Friendly Wildflower Baby Shower Favor Bag is the guest gift that keeps on giving. The biodegradable bags, which come in several colorful designs, hold 14 grams of assorted, annual wildflower seeds–plenty for the start of a glorious garden.

I’ll leave you today with the words of Indian philosopher Rajneesh

“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.  She never existed before.  The woman existed, but the mother, never.  A mother is something absolutely new.”

Here’s to all the mothers everywhere who are waiting to be born!

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Earth Day is this Tuesday (April 22,) and if you’re a mom-to-be who’s really serious about going green to save the planet, you might want to buy your nursery furntiture from brands that use wood obtained from Fair Trade-sanctioned, managed forests. 

What is Fair Trade?

Fair Trade is an organized, global, social movement dedicated to creating a market that values the people who make the food we eat and the goods we use. The Fair Trade system benefits over 800,000 farmers organized into cooperatives and unions in 48 countries. As consumers, we can help improve and even save the lives of millions worldwide. Fair Trade:

Keep this in mind when you’re searching for baby gifts, baby toys and the perfect baby furniture. I’ve located several beautiful examples of baby furniture manufactured from fair trade-certified, managed forests in New Zealand and Malaysia. Check out the Jenny Lind Changing Table, the DaVinci “Chloe” Cradle and the Jenny Lind Crib:

Look for the fair-trade mark when you’re shopping for baby furniture. And why stop there? Coffee, tea, chocolate, diamonds and so much more are now being produced by Fair Trade-certified, managed co-operatives and unions. We can all make a difference if we take a moment to look for the label…

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When a party guest told new college graduate Benjamin Braddock (aka Dustin Hoffman) that “plastic” was the wave of the future in the classic 1967 movie “The Graduate,” he had no clue what that wave would bring to our shores. Plastics have made many products cheaper, longer lasting and lighter. It’s hard to find anything these days that hasn’t made the leap from glass, metal or ceramic to plastic in some form or fashion. That includes the bottles we use to feed our precious infants.

On Tuesday, the Associated Press reported that members of the National Toxicology Program, part of the US National Institutes of Health, and several senior members of Congress told the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that recent studies show the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) found in plastic is cause for concern, particularly because the chemical is found in our convenient, plastic water bottles, as well as many baby bottles and the plastic lining of cans of infant formula. The National Toxicology Program went further than previous US government statements on possible health risks from BPA. Their research on rats found precancerous tumors, urinary tract problems and early puberty. According to the CDC, more than 90 percent of us are exposed to trace amounts of bisphenol, a chemical many environmentalists believe causes cancer and other health problems.

As recently as last November, the FDA said there is “no reason at this time to ban or otherwise restrict [the chemical’s] use.” The American Chemistry Council, representing manufacturers, claims that there are “no serious or high-level concerns for adverse affects” of this chemical on human reproduction and development.

All this means is that the jury is still out and animal research will continue. For now, you’ll have to make your own decision whether to continue using plastic baby bottles and water bottles. You may decide that glass, though it may be inconvenient and breakable, is your baby’s new best friend.

Corner Stork Baby Gifts has a couple of baby-bottle choices that are not only safe, but just may be the the hit of the baby shower! The Chocolate Baby Bottle is not only safe enough to EAT, it’s FDA (Fabulously Delicious Amusement)-approved ! And “Baby’s First Bottle” Filled-Glass Candle with Baby Bib Tag simply shines like the glow of impending motherhood. Stay tuned to the Corner Stork Baby Blog, because we’ll bring you any new developments about the plastic baby bottle issue as soon as they happen–and Corner Stork Baby Gifts will bring you the very best in baby shower favors!

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It’s that time of year in the USA again! Spring–when life is renewed, nature’s glorious colors and fragrances delight our senses, and we acknowledge the gifts and our stewardship of this planet with the rest of the world.

You’re outside, breathing fresh air, enjoying walks in the park, baseball games, feeling the warmth of the sun on your face! You know you LOVE it!

Though that ever-soaring stork delivers bundles of pure joy to proud moms and dads all year, there’s something special about spring,  its connection to new life and to the future. Why not take this opportunity to celebrate Earth and the new baby in your life with all-natural baby gifts and baby gift baskets? Both planet and parents will thank you. Here are five organic options:

Meet our eco-friendly Chubby Bear, who has a shining sun embroidered on that plush, cuddly tummy! Just the right size for baby’s tiny hands, Chubby Bear is part of the popular Kaloo collection. Chubby is created from 100% natural fibers, and even the signature hatbox gift box is made from 100% recycled material. Safe for baby and great for the planet!                                     

Bunnies frolic all day long at Corner Stork Baby Gifts, including “Baby Girl’s Best Bunny” Organic Baby Gift Set in pretty pink. Naturally there’s a similar gift set in blue for baby boys called “Baby Boy’s Togs and Toy,” with everything except the bunny. Baby boy get a friendly lion to play with! Inside the soft gift pouch is a bodysuit, a matching cap and a snuggly security blankie–bouncy bunny for baby girl and friendly lion for baby boy. Made from an bamboo/cotton blend, everything is naturally hypo-allergenic and keeps moisture away.

Also for baby boy is “Bath Time’s A Ball!” Organic Bath Gift Set. The highlight of this blue baby gift set is the colorful, plush, big bath ball made to keep the little wet one occupied while Mom or Dad scrub-a-dub-dubs with one of the two washcloths that come in the set. When baby is squeaky clean, there’s a hooded towel waiting to dry every precious part off, and like the other items in the set, it’s 100% organic cotton. And of course, baby girl can have a ball at bath time, too!

As long as we’re in the bath, you can make a big splash with this Natural Deluxe Bath Gift Basket, full of 100% unbleached-cotton essentials for baby’s tub time. This baby gift basket contains multiple washcloths, towels, bibs, burp cloths and blankets–all presented in a reusable, white basket tied together with a white-satin ribbon and bow.

That little newborn is probably already the prince or princess of the family. You can make it official with this absolutely adorable RoyalTees Crown & Booties Baby Gift Set. The set comes with matching booties, complete with pom poms on the toes, and a crown-like hat with pom poms on every point! Everything is 100% cotton and arrives in a lovely gift box. Don’t forget to bow and curtsey when you present this present!

You can rest assured all these wonderful, organic baby gifts are exactly what Mother Nature herself would choose for her offSPRING!

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Mr. Christopher once again tuning in. In Canfield, Ohio there was a baby shower unlike any other. The guests weren’t asked to bring any baby gifts and the hosts didn’t offer any baby shower favors to their guests. Matter of fact, the hosts never spoke one word to the guests during the entire visit. The best part is that the hosts got to act like complete animals. And that’s because they were animals.

Once a year for the past 16 years, Mill Creeks Metroparks Farms holds it annual Animal Baby Shower where adults and children can gather to meet the newborn animals and spend up close and personal time with a variety of animals from baby ducks to calves and even baby goats. About 5000 people showed up for the opening day this year for the event that usually takes plave the first week in April.

For those that really love animals and are trying to plan your next baby shower, be sure to visit Corner Stork Baby Gifts for literally dozens and dozens of baby shower party favors with animal motifs ranging from the Five Little Monkeys Gift set to the Mother Goose Gift Set. Gift sets like this Pig in a Blanket gift set can be personalized for the special occasion and is a great choice if you’re planning to attend a baby shower and want to make sure that your baby gift will be a cherished and treasured keepsake. Corner Stork offers hundreds of unique baby gifts and baby shower party favors including baby blankets, stylish diaper bags, baby gift baskets, onesies and much more.

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Women that got pregnant outside of wedlock used to be treated disrespectfully as if they had dishonored themselves.  Pregnant brides were definitely frowned upon.  To make matters worse, finding a wedding dress that would fit good on the Big Day just as well as when they got fitted for it was impossible.  Luckily, Tracy Wilkinson saved the day by opening the doors to her shop in Chiswick, west London called Expectant Bride.

Expectant Bride focuses on dresses that grow right along with the bride’s belly. The dresses are made longer up front so that they don’t ride up across the top of her belly as she gets larger and the dress fitters are specially trained to properly estimate how large the bride will be on her wedding day.

Mrs. Wilkinson herself was a pregnant bride and had a difficult time finding a dress to fit her properly.  “You can’t just wear a large sized normal dress as you look like you’re wearing a tent. The dresses I sell look like a normal bridal gown but they are discreetly made to fit a bump,” Tracy adds, “The brides tend to come in about three months before the wedding. Times have definitely changed and it is no longer frowned upon to get married while pregnant. The business is doing really well.”

Their online shops also offer brides around the world to browse through their collection at http://www.expectantbride.com. Those that are located in the United States and Canada can also visit Corner Stork Baby Gifts at http://www.cornerstorkbabygifts.com to view a collection of hundreds of baby shower favors, personalized baby gift ideas and helpful article on pregnancy, babies and parenting.  For a looser slant on pregnancy, people can also visit the Corner Stork Baby Blog at http://blog.cornerstorkbabygifts.com.  It just goes to show that brides have a lot more alternatives available to them than what existed even 5 years ago.

Mr. Christopher once again with a new finding that caught my eye today. There’s an old wives tale that pregnant women should not wear seat belts because it could kill their unborn babies. Apparently, the University of Michigan just published the results of their study in the April issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. The study results appearing in US News and World Report showed that pregnant women could save the lives of up to 200 fetuses a year if they did wear seatbelts. Of the unborn infant deaths that occurred, over 65% of the mothers were not wearing seat belts and a good number were wearing the seat belts improperly.

The proper way for pregnant women to wear their seat belts is shown here in this diagram.

1. Wear the diagonal strap between your breasts, moving the strap around the side of your bump.
2. Make sure the lap strap sits comfortably under your bump. If it is over your belly button then it is too high. It should go from hip bone to hip bone, as low as possible.

“For pregnant women, the lap-belt portion needs to be worn low over the pelvis as stated in the article, so if there is a crash, basically, the bony pelvis is what the seat belt is restraining rather than [having the force] transmitted to the uterus or the abdomen,” Jones explained. “The shoulder belt should simply come up from the side, go between the woman’s breasts, and over the shoulder.”

Another surprising finding is that airbags deployed in the crashes they studied did not increase or decrease the resulting injuries of the women who were properly wearing seat belts. More in depth research data and statistics can be found on the US News and World Report website.