Hey ya'll!
We embarked on our family trip to California for a week and to another - surprise - destination the following week. This trip is ultra special because my parents planned to take both my sister and I - and our respective families on a big, BIG family trip. I am SO excited because Lincoln and V will be around family 24/7; it'll also give Ryan and I some time together and just a break from our normal routine. Not to mention, I grew up going to this destination, which makes it all the more special. Lastly,l this is probably one of the first trips I feel like Lincoln will really enjoy. He has been to Cabo twice, actually, but at 6 months and at 1 years old, so it wasn't like he was really in tune with what was going on. Now that he is 2 years old, I feel like he may "appreciate" the trip a little bit more. 
Since departing on this amazing trip, it has got me thinking about traveling with kiddos. I flew out to California a little earlier than the hub, which meant that I traveled with both kids alone. Yes, I did it; four hours with a busy toddler and a nursing 3 month old - by myself. Thus, I wanted to share my findings - some travel tips and tricks for the plane and also planning logistics.
Before I start, let me preface this post by saying this is for traveling with two kids. Traveling with one kid is somewhat of a different story (and mind you, a heck of a lot easier). Anyways, here goes it - my travel tips and tricks.

Bring ID's for the kids. So, if you want to fly anywhere, I suggest you have and bring an ID for your kids or some form of identification. I've had so many situations (especially while traveling alone) that I was asked to show my kids' ID's. Seriously. It got to the point that I told Ryan that they should force all parents to get ID's for their kids when they are born to eliminate the problem of not having proper identification. Thus, I recommend getting a passport for your little one at an early age. You'll have this while flying and if you are ever in a bind to travel internationally, you'll have it taken care of. If you don't have that, you'll want to make sure you have some form of documentation notating your kids' respective ages. The check-in agent will likely ask you for this, especially if you didn't buy a seat for your little one (they like to make sure your kid is really under the age of two). **Also, make sure that you check 'traveling with infant' when you are making your plane reservations. It's not a huge deal if you don't, but they will make you add this detail when you arrive. So if you check-in with the sky cab, they will make you go inside and talk to an attendant about adding him/her.

Have your spouse help your to the airport and check your bags with the sky cab. Get your bags and carseats checked with someone helping you, and also make it easy on yourself and do it without the lines. Thus, the sky cab is always nice, then you can walk into the airport bags free.

Bring double stroller to airport and gate check it prior to boarding plane. When walking through the airport to the gate I thought about letting my two-year old walk and carrying my 3 month old in a carrier, but who am I kidding? My two-year old follows directions for 2.5 seconds and there would be nothing worse than having to chase him though the airport. Thus, carrying the kids in the stroller is the way to go. ****Note that some airlines do not allow you to gate check strollers that weigh over 30 pounds. My double baby jogger weighs over 30 pounds (I think it weighs 32 pounds), but I begged the attendant to make an exception. He did. I would check your airline's rule and regs to make sure you are able to gate check your particular stroller.

Bring a light-weight carrier for baby on the flight. I debated between carrying V in my Chekoh Ring Sling or my Baby Ktan. I didn't consider bringing the Ergo Baby on the plane because it is a bit bulky to take in and out of the diaper bag and also more difficult to put on and off (but I am bringing it on the trip!). I ended up taking a gamble and went with the Chekoh Ring Sling on the plane, and let me tell you, I absolutely chose right! The sling is perfect for carrying your baby short distances and also provides the perfect little cradle for taking naps on the plane. It is super easy to take off, put on and to store. I will absolutely do this again on the next flight.

Gate check carseats. I thought about bringing Lincoln's carseat on the flight for the sole purpose of corralling him, but since he is two years old and gets his own seat I figured logistically it might be hard to get his carseat on the plane (it doesn't click into our Baby Jogger Double Stroller). I talked to other moms about bringing the carseat onto the plane for a two-year old and they said it's not necessary. We'll see.
*For those traveling with one child under the age of 2 (and ESPECIALLY while traveling with a child alone), I would highly recommend trying to bring the carseat on the plane if possible. If your carseat easily clicks into your stroller and it is easy to get it on the plane and gate check the stroller base, I highly recommend bringing the carseat onto the plane. This will give you free hands and an enjoyable flight, while also corralling your little one. My best flights with Lincoln were those in which we were able to bring the carseat on. I simply strapped him into the carseat as I would a car and I was free to do whatever I desired the entire plane ride; rather than hold a baby.
To take your carseat on the plane, start by asking the attendant at check-in how full the flight is. If the flight has open seats, I always asked if they could put me next to an open seat and if I could bring my carseat on - either that or purchase an extra seat for your little one --- it is SO worth it, ESPECIALLY on long flights - but I understand it is expensive. That said, you'll never know if there would have been open seats to begin with. If there are open seats, sometimes the attendant would allow me to bring the carseat on and put it in the open seat, other times they would give me a hard time about not having purchased a seat. It's really a 50/50. BUT if you get an attendant who is sweet and you are able to bring on your carseat, it will make the WORLD of a difference to keep baby in one spot and to have your arms free. If your partner/hub or another family member is traveling with you, it is fine to fly without the extra seat/carseat -- but even so, I would always ask the attendant in check-in how full the flight is an inquire to try taking it on in case of an open seat. 

Get to the airport EARLY. There is nothing worse than being late for a flight with kids. BUT don't get there too early so that you have too much time to kill prior to boarding the flight. Try to leave a little room for error, but not TOO much.

Burn some energy prior to boarding the plane. At first I thought of the importance of being near the gate prior to boarding, so we waited close. Then I thought, what am I thinking? Lincoln needs to run run run run run to burn as much energy as possible before sitting still for four hours. Thus, before boarding, I let him go full throttle through the airport. I let him out of the stroller and had V in the carrier. He ran ahead of me and I told him to go as fast as he could while we chased him through the airport! I set a timer on my phone to ensure that we were back to the gate a few minutes prior to boarding.

I'll start by saying this:  I know, we all try to limit our kids' screen time but let's be honest, when you are on a plane it may behoove you to throw this rule out the window. When flying, I found that the best way to keep my busy toddler in his seat and CALM in his seat was to show him movies or shows. I remember when I first had Lincoln and flew with him a few times, Ryan and I promised each other we'd be the parents that encouraged their kids to read or to color or to do something productive (aka anything other than iPhones/tablets/movies/etc.) because we thought that's what "good" parents and "good" kids did. HA. I laugh in my own face now. Apps are okay, but my child tires of them quickly. Thus, come prepared with some of their favorites and a few new shows. It will keep you nice and relaxed, ESPECIALLY if you are traveling alone. And let me end by saying, YOU ARE NOT A BAD MOM FOR DOING THIS. We support you! Do it.

Download the airline app. So I didn't do this lol, and I SURELY regretted it. The reason being is that when you have the airline app you are able to stream their entertainment/movies/shows for FREE. Because I didn't have the app prior to taking off, I had to download it on the flight. This took FOREVER, and with a baby in my arms and a busy toddler in the seat beside me it was painful to wait and wait and wait for like thirty minutes for the app to download, then once it was almost done it tells me that it cannot download the app at this time. Thus, I had to purchase the Wifi for $20 and then download to app. Anyways, just make sure you download the airline's app, and I suggest downloading the GoGo Inflight Entertainment app too - you can also use this for entertainment streaming.

Download apps. I'm sure ya'll have tons of cute, entertaining AND educational apps on your iPhone - a few that I like are Baa Baa and the Fisher Price apps. Please let me know what other apps you like! A word to the wise, be sure that you choose apps that don't require WiFi or if they do, just be prepared to purchase Wifi on the flight. I recommend downloading a ton of different apps, and even better, downloading new apps that your kids haven't seen. I'd also recommend saving the apps and the movies until your kid needs them, if you know what I mean.... starting with a movie and then switching to toys may not be the best route.

Download their favorite movies and/or shows. Duh. I'd download a few of their favorites and a few that they haven't seen. You can gamble that the inflight entertainment will include movies that they like, but if they don't like them, you are screwed. Lincoln liked one (and a half) of the movies (they only had three). I wish I would have had more movies for him to watch or to choose from to keep him occupied.

Go to the Dollar Store and pick out random toys. Even better, wrap the toys in wrapping paper and tell your kids that they get more presents if the are good on the flight. This was one of the best pieces of advice I got from a fellow mama! I can't believe I hadn't thought of something so brilliant. I am surely making a trip to the Dollar Store and picking up random toys that my kids will take interest in - then, I'm going to wrap them up and allow Linc to open them up along the flight so long as he's being good. Brilliant idea.

Bring a sticker or coloring book. This is always a good idea, although this never entertains my little guy for a long time.

Bring a few light-weight books. Good idea, but books can be heavy and if you are traveling with a baby it will be nearly impossible to hold a book and read to your toddler while also holding your baby. If you do bring books, I always opt for the lightweight books. If you do bring books, your kid might also tire of it on the plane/trip quickly. This one really is age dependent, however, for my two year old toddler boy, I opt not to bring books. 

Bring snacks. Always necessary on a flight. Just avoid sugar for obvious reasons. We sat in first class on the way there and they brought out ice cream for dessert. I thought this would be a good distraction and that Lincoln deserved it, plus I wanted some bites so I figured we'd share it. Bad idea. Lincoln started talking really loudly/yelling right after, after having been so good on the initial portion.

​Tell the kids about the 'Airplane Police' or the 'Cloud Angels' (or something similar). The Cloud Angels can be the actual clouds in the sky, and you tell your kids that they watch to make sure that little boys and girls are sitting nicely in their seats with their seatbelt on. You can even tell your kids that the presents are from the Cloud Angels :)

Teach your kids how to use an airplane voice prior to being on the airplane. My mom had started telling Lincoln about the airplane voice a few weeks before our trip. We practice in the house every now and again. We practice whispering and I tell him that is also a good airplane voice.

As your baby grows into a toddler, you'll often look back and realize how easy it was to travel with a baby lol. The only challenging part is holding them, but if you took my initial advice and got them their own seat and bring on the carseat, this will take away that. Aside from bringing a light weight carrier for the baby, I suggest only a few things:

Bring an outfit change. For whatever reason my boys never really spit up much, but when they go on an airplane this is when all of the blowouts and throw ups transpire. Not sure if it is the change in cabin pressure or what, but I remember specifically Lincoln full on throwing up on our decent to Colorado (good thing Ryan was holding him and not me :)! ) - like throwing up everywhere (he's never ever thrown up other than that). So anyways, I've been on enough plane rides with Lincoln to know that it is WISE to bring extra clothing not only for them but also for you! Another time, Linc spit up all over me and I had forgotten to bring an extra top. BIG MISTAKE. It was in the beginning of the flight and we even had another connecting flight and I had to sit in my shirt with throw up the entire way. Ugh. So nasty. I recommend wearing a comfy long sleeve shirt then packing a nursing tank or visa versa.

Bring a baby toy or interesting book. Unlike toddlers who tire of toys within seconds, babies are quite the opposite and enjoy toys/books for hours. You only need one or two. I find the more that you bring, the more cluttered your mind is! Keep it simple.

Ok, all…Ila and I are super excited to be sharing all the goodness of Pink Stork.
 
First of all, we adore and admire Pink Stork creator Amy Upchurch. She is a hard working mom of four babes and is a military wife. She was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy, which gave her constant nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Read more here on HYPERMESIS GRAVIDARUM.
 
After three very difficult pregnancies, she realized she wanted her fourth pregnancy to be different and to achieve this she adapted to various practices that involved healing her body from the inside out.
 
“All disease begins in the gut – Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine"Our approach is multi-modal. We attack your sickness and improve your prenatal health from all directions in a safe, responsible, and healthy manner. We’ve partnered with incredible companies and professionals that are committed to providing the best treatment to women suffering from morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum.

Our products are a “total-body” approach. We treat the causes of morning sickness, not the symptoms, and provide complete prenatal nutrition. We give you the tools to fix your gastrointestinal tract and fortify your body with essential nutrients for you and your baby.”

Ila and I believe this to be so very true and love that Amy is making a HUGE difference in the lives of many women- pregnant or not.

If you're a tea drinker like me, you will fall in love with these little tea babies. I'm always on the lookout for something specific to my pregnancy stages, and Pink Stork makes it so easy for me to get all the organic herbs and delicious taste. And they are made with biodegradable sachets- you gotta love that!

​DID YOU KNOW...
A damaged gut can also make absorbing magnesium and other minerals through the digestive system more difficult, so topical magnesium oil or magnesium baths are a great solution.

We cannot say enough about Pink Stork and this amazing brand. Give it a try and explore Amy's full line of PRE and POST pregnancy products.

Happy bath soaking, mamas!

LOTS OF LOVE,

​Cate

32 WEEK CHECKUP:
Weight: 147.8 pounds- Yes, I always remove my shoes before getting on the scale. LOL.
 
I declined the Doppler (fetal heart monitor). Based off Baby B’s frequent and rapid movements, I didn’t see the need to impose yet another intrusion. But that’s me! And frankly, it was quite hilarious to see the nurse’s reaction when I told her I wanted to opt out of hearing the baby’s heart beat. She paused and chuckled, “Really? I’ve never had anyone say that or opt out.” Whelp, there’s a first for everything! I personally chose to decline it based off peace of knowing my baby is healthy and all is well. Do what is best for YOU and YOUR BABY.
 
 
34 WEEK CHECKUP:
Weight: 152 pounds-  I’m a little surprised at my 28 pound weight gain only because I gained a mere 17 pounds with Kai. However, it doesn’t bother me too much as long as I have a healthy baby, and I know with nursing and a healthy diet the weight will just fall off.
 
I almost opted out of this week’s growth scan (see why from my previous pregnancy blog Week 29-Week 32 about Fetal Heart Monitors). I personally didn’t find it “necessary” to have the growth scan ultrasound but decided to say yes to it frankly because I was so excited to see him move on that screen! However, during the ultrasound, I was sort of regretting my decision. The nurse doing the ultrasound felt the need to tell me, in an exaggerated tone, that the baby’s head was really big and that it was measuring two weeks ahead. Ok, so, in my humble opinion, that is NOT something you say to a woman who is choosing to have a natural birth- just sayin’! I mean, she could have worded it differently or put it more lightly. Well, to each his own, and she didn’t. Frankly, I haven’t ever really loved the way she does ultrasounds but that’s a different subject! In all humor, it was pretty funny (if you saw our IG story) and the best news is the baby is growing (big) and strong (not to mention his “big feet” and “big lips”). Big head, big brain, right?! Maybe my intuition from a couple months ago that baby was coming early will be true- or not! Haha It’s a waiting game from here on out. : ) Baby is a healthy 5 pounds and a couple ounces and about the size of a melon. Happy, healthy, strong Baby B!

Asian noodles at times. Strange but true. However, I've only had Vietnamese food once. Go figure. Other than that, I'm eating the same things as before- protein smoothies, organic pasture-raised eggs, salads, oatmeal, peanut butter on sourdough, soups, veggies, fruits and berries (especially peaches- I'm obsessed!), wild salmon with rice and veggies, and the occasional Haagen-Dazs, Cest' Si Bon palmier cookie (NOT gluten-free...you win some, you lose some!), a pressed juice from Pressed Juicery, or organic dark chocolate. : )

WATER!!!!!! WATER, WATER, WATER! I can't get enough of it. I leave a 32 ounce bottle by my bedside and by morning almost all of it is gone. I wake up with an incredible thirst sometimes up to 3 and 4 times per night. Yes, this means I am getting up to pee at least 2 times usually. During the day, I stick to filtered water, NO PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES, and sparkling mineral water. My favorite is Gerolsteiner with over 2,500 minerals. Drink up, mamas and get those much needed minerals!

It's looking pretty darn funky at this point and is out. You can see it thru my shirt. Oh the changes are bodies go thru! : )

As I've said before, Baby B is a mover! I feel all his rolls and twist and turns. He is head down now, so I feel his bum or or feet under my ribs. It doesn't hurt- I just have to sit more upright or adjust my position. three days ago, I was feeling tons of pressure down below and then after about two hours it subsided. One day last week I forgot to drink a lot of water and my body became super achey and I felt pretty awful. I realized later it was directly related to my lack of water intake. Once I figured it how and drank 3 glasses of water, within 10 minutes I was feeling so much better. Crazy, right!? Remember, if your hips are aching or if you have lower back pain and almost feel like you are in pre labor, try drinking some water and hydrate as best you can. See if it helps! I haven't felt like that since. 

LIGHTNING CROTCH: Yup. Still happening and slightly more frequent. It's usually when I'm walking or standing and will go away within seconds. 

Because of my busy schedule, it has been more difficult to stay consistent the last two weeks. I only made it to my cardio boxing class maybe two times and one pilates reformer class. I have been doing some squats, leg raises, and donkey kicks at home to keep my booty lifted and firm. Oh, and of course, I've been doing my kegels. Woo hoo! 

• I'm still thoroughly enjoying being pregnant, aside from the lack of sleep from getting up to pee and having shortness of breath every now and then.
• The nursery is coming together...slowly but surely!
• We MIGHT have a name as of this past weekend...
• No bags have been packed
• No birth classes have been taken. You could say we are winging it...or at least Duke is ; )
• Anxious, excited feelings about my natural birth- totally normal. On the flip side, I'm confident in my body, Duke, my doula/dear friend Ashley, and my doctor
• Feeling a little overwhelmed here and there about things I want to do to prepare for baby. With my work schedule, Kai being out of school, etc...life is busy!

Baby B, we can't wait to meet you and snuggle you! 

I hope all you mamas are at peace with your pregnancy journey and all is well with baby!

Hugs,

Cate

​Happy Saturday everyone! I hope you are all enjoying the start to your weekend. : ) Here’s a quick overview of my pregnancy from 29 weeks to 32 weeks (current). I can’t believe how far along I am!
 
BABY’S NAME: We STILL can’t decide on a name. Any suggestions! We will choose a couple and decide when we see Baby B in person!
 
NESTING: I am DEFINITELY nesting more. For me this means, consolidating and organizing the house. I haven’t had much time, but the little I have done helps me feel prepared. Why is this?! Haha
 
NURSERY: I’ve been bargain shopping a little since we are on tight budget. I got some goodies at a designer sale that were a GREAT FIND! I also ordered the crib and found a cool rug online over Memorial Day Weekend for 68% OFF. Heck yes! I’ve been looking for sales like this and continue to do so to find other little goodies for Baby B’s room. I also found a NEW Ikea dresser, side table, and lamp for under $300 at a garage sale in a nearby neighborhood. It’s all about the deals! I’ll use the dresser for Baby B’s changing table- it’s perfect!
 
PHYSICAL:

1. MY ANEMIA- It is under control and being “monitored” by my OBGYN and my naturopath. I am still feeling energetic but definitely have moments of feeling tired and sluggish. I find this is directly related to when I’m not feeding my body the appropriate nutrition and sufficient protein and iron rich foods.
   1. Here’s some great info on amemia from Mama Natural

There are several indicators that your body is anemic. You may have just a few symptoms, or you may have all of them. Keep in mind that these symptoms can also be caused by other pregnancy issues, like blood pooling in the feet, hormonal changes, or lower blood sugar and blood pressure levels (source).

• Light headedness and dizziness
• Rapid or irregular heart rate
• Shortness of breath
• Dark circles under the eyes
• Excessive fatigue
• Trouble concentrating or brain fog
• Pale skin, lips and nails
• Cold hands and feet
• Weakness

 

1. SICKNESS- You guys, I got hit pretty hard with a pretty major cough for the last 2.5 weeks. Kai came home with a cough one day and then a few days later I had swollen glands which shortly turned into a cough. Boo! I just know that while pregnant, our immune systems are weaker so it helps me not be discouraged even though it’s still tough when I RARELY get sick!
   1. MY REMEDIES-
      1. I have been taking the following 1-2x DAILY:
         1. 2 tbsp Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar 2x daily (I gargled when I had a sore throat for 10 seconds 2-3x a day to kill the bacteria)
         2. 6 drops oregano oil 2x daily
         3. Roughly 20 drops of Kyolic Liquid Garlic drops 2x daily
         4. 4-5 drops of Pure Encapsulations liquid D3 1x daily (in addition to my Vitamin D3 tablet)
         5. 2-3 droppers full of Wish Garden Cold Seasons Symptoms (for pregnancy) 2x daily
      2. I have been taking the following DAILY:
         1. Shaklee Alfalfa Complex tablets- 10 3x (yes, this is a lot but I swear by it)
            1. Contains alfalfa and spearmint
         2. Shaklee Garlic Complex tablets- 3 3x
            1. contains garlic, spearmint, and rosemary
         3. An extra 1-2 probiotics (in addition to my regular regimen)

This has helped clear up what I’ve been dealing with in my chest and nasal. I think the sleep factor didn’t help with my healing because I was going to bed late a few nights and still getting up in the middle of the night 1-2 times to pee. So fun! : )

1. WATER- Oh my goodness... give me water! My body has been craving more and more water, especially at night. I am working on drinking even more water than before.
2. BRAXTON HICKS- I’ve been having more contractions increasingly. They are smooth and a reminder that we are getting close to meeting Baby B!
3. LIGHTNING CROTCH- THIS IS REAL. HAHA! Do you ever have sharp pains by your groin or nether regions? This is happens when nerves in this area are being triggered if the baby hits or kicks your cervix. It is random when I feel this quick sharp feeling, but it has only happened a handful of times that started at about week 29. I find I get them when I am standing or walking. Usually a quick little stretch feels good.

 
FOOD: I’ve been eating pretty clean- no gluten, corn, or processed sugar for the most part. I have my cheat days but don’t overdo it. I also do my best to stay away from dairy but allow myself sheep yogurt or goat cheese sometimes. Here is a brief overview of what I eat:

1. Breakfast:
   1. Oatmeal w/ cinnamon, berries, almond milk, and nuts
   2. Sourdough toast (w/ sourdough “starter”) and sheep yogurt w/ berries, nuts/gluten free granola- granola has NO commercial oil- canola oil- (must be expeller pressed sunflower, etc) or sugar- sometimes sweetened w/ maple syrup)
   3. Protein smoothie
      1.  organic greens, low glycemic fruit (berries, apple, etc.), ½ avocado/coconut oil, ice, coconut milk/almond milk + protein powder
      2. organic peanut butter/nut butter, cinnamon, maca, cacao powder, ½ banana (sometimes), coconut milk/almond milk + protein powder
2. Lunch:
   1. Lentil soup
   2. Salad w/ protein, avocado, and nuts
   3. Organic/Pasture Raised Egg salad on sourdough toast w/ ½ avocado
   4. Protein smoothie
3. Dinner:
   1. Protein (wild salmon, organic/grassfed chicken or beef), a green veggie, sweet potato, and maybe a side green salad with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sea salt, lemon, avocado
   2. Chicken vegetable soup
   3. OCCASIONAL- Gluten free pasta, w/ meat sauce, veggies, and salad

 
Do I drink coffee?- Occasionally, yes. Sometimes we buy organic coffee to brew at our house which it’s nice to have in the mornings. For a couple weeks I was making iced coffee with a little nondairy coconut and almond creamer and sweetening with a dash of organic maple syrup. I found that I was starting to crave it and sometimes felt like I needed a pick me up in the mid-afternoon. Other times in the recent weeks, I’ve gone to a coffee shop and bough regular coffee or iced coffee, but I personally don’t recommend overdoing it in the coffee department while pregnant. Again, if you can buy organic- then that is best. If not, and you need your coffee, I think 4oz a day is a good amount. I have since stopped drinking coffee because I want to alkalize my body and reduce my acidity levels.
 
FITNESS: Being that I was sick for about 2 weeks and wanted to let my body heal, I missed my workouts. I was able to go to my cardio boxing class this last Wednesday and have done some exercises at home since then. I’m still feeling strong overall and have a strong core. I’m working on strengthening my pelvic floor and doing my kegels.
***Check out some amazing Prenatal Sculpt Workouts HERE from Knocked-Up Fitness 
 
EMOTIONAL/SPIRITUAL: I’m still feeling positive and getting more and more excited! We continue to pray specifically for my labor and delivery and for Baby B’s overall health and his future. As a family, we believe in the power of prayer and continue to trust God with all he has for our son (this goes for Kai as well). On an emotional level, I feel even keeled and relaxed. When I encounter stressful situations, I am continuing to work on my deep breathing and learning to smile and stay positive. I definitely give in to the anxiety sometimes, but I notice a major difference in my health and overall well-being when I remain calm.

I’ve been doing a lot of reading and love what Mama Natural has to say about fetal heart rate monitors. This is my personal opinion. I have never used one but I think this is good information for all mamas. We all want the best for our babies so make this a personal decision based off of your OWN research and gut or opinion. : ) 
The below info is from Mama Natural- a great source for all things pregnancy, baby, and parenting.

What is a fetal heart monitor?
Just like it sounds, these at-home monitors are used by mamas—and sometimes family members—to listen to baby’s heartbeat.
There are two basic kinds of at-home fetal heart rate monitors:
·       Dopplers, also known as doptones or Doppler probes, and
·       Fetoscopes, which closely resemble stethoscopes.
If you have a midwife, she likely uses a fetoscope at appointments.

What do fetal heart monitors do?
The Doppler uses high-frequency sound waves and is a handheld ultrasound device, while fetoscopes work by amplifying sound. The ultrasound waves of a Doppler pass through your skin and tissue into the baby, where they bounce back after encountering movement. The Doppler then translates that movement into amplified sound.

Why do mamas use them?
Companies that sell fetal heart monitors advertise them as a way to have peace of mind by making sure your baby’s heart is beating strong. It is reassuring to hear your little one’s heart, and it can be fun to share that experience with your family. Some moms have reported listening to the baby as part of their nightly routine, or using it to show the other kids what it means that mama’s pregnant. (source) (source)

How soon can I hear my baby?
Professional Doppler equipment can pick up a baby’s heartbeat somewhere between 10 and 14 weeks of pregnancy.
At-home models, however, can’t detect a heartbeat until after the 5th month, or 20 weeks.
A fetoscope can sometimes detect a heartbeat as early as 14 weeks, although 20 weeks is more common.

Top 10 risks of fetal heart rate monitors
What these companies fail to mention is that at-home fetal heart monitors can carry some serious risks. 
Even the FDA says to avoid them!
Risk #1: You’re not trained to use a fetal heart monitor
Without proper training as a sonographer, it can be difficult to pick up the baby’s heartbeat. Maybe baby’s in a bad position, or maybe what you think is their heartbeat is actually your stomach digesting the salsa you had with lunch. Any internal sound picked up on unsophisticated equipment by someone who isn’t trained in the device can sound like a heartbeat.

Risk #2 You don’t know how to recognize a dangerous change
Again, without the proper training, it’s not a reliable method to read a baby’s heartbeat. You could be falsely reassured by finding your baby’s heartbeat, when in reality, you’re not likely to recognize a problem even if you do find the heartbeat. Unless you’re trained in sonography, how will you know how to detect a change in heart rate or rhythm that may indicate a potential issue?

Risk #3 Delaying medical treatment
There have been cases where mothers felt that something was wrong but delayed medical care after they supposedly found their baby’s heartbeat on the fetal heart monitor. This false reassurance literally cost this mama her baby’s life in this case reported in the British Medical Journal.

Risk #4 Unable to hear a heartbeat
On the other hand, it can be hard to hear a heartbeat sometimes, and it’s all too easy to convince yourself that something is wrong. Maybe baby is in the wrong position, is not big enough to hear yet, or there’s some other reason the fetal heart monitor isn’t picking anything up. But that doesn’t mean anything is wrong, as mama may assume in a worried state. (source)

Risk #5 Don’t stress out
Not being able to hear your baby for whatever reason can cause a lot of stress for Mama, which results in stress for the baby. The resulting flood of hormones causes physical changes for mama, and can have harmful effects on your developing baby. (source)

Risk #6 Damaging ultrasound waves
Doppler fetal heart monitors carry even more risk, as they expose the baby to ultrasound waves. Websites that sell at-home fetal monitors insist they’re safe and that the FDA has found no adverse effects. This business reassures moms that even the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine says they’re safe. However, these statements were issued back in 1993. Ultrasound machines are now 7 times more intense than they were 23 year ago when that statement was issued.
An FDA biomedical engineer and Ph.D. says:
“Ultrasound can heat tissues slightly, and in some cases, it can also produce very small bubbles (cavitation) in some tissues.” (source)
Animal studies have revealed that ultrasound waves can heat the brain, and result in brain hemorrhages and damaged intestines after exposure. While an at-home fetal monitor isn’t likely to be as strong as the machine at your local hospital, the ultrasound waves are still present. And the risk increases the more often you use the device. (source)

Risk #7 Baby’s instinct
Babies instinctively move away from Doppler radar waves, which can make it hard to hear their heartbeat in the first place. These sound waves are so distressing to them that they instinctively know to move away—that whatever this thing is, they don’t like it.
“We should respect this behavior, assuming that it occurs for good reason, and make responsible decisions on the recreational use of such devices, taking the baby’s development into account.” (source)

Risk #8 Bad equipment
Since these at-home devices aren’t sophisticated pieces of equipment, they don’t give very accurate results.  You could get a higher-powered device, but that will only increase the potential for damaging ultrasound waves. The better machines also cost a few hundred dollars, making it an expensive and dangerous hobby.

Risk #9 Just get an ultrasound if neededRoutine ultrasounds aren’t a good idea, but if one is medically indicated, then be sure to have it done by an experienced sonographer. They’ll be able to get in and out of there quickly to limit your baby’s exposure to ultrasound waves. Don’t rely on a home baby heartbeat monitor to do the job of professional equipment and a trained sonographer. (source)

Risk #10 An unethical sale
Doppler fetal heart monitors are actually prescription medical devices, even though some websites are unethically selling them over the counter. They’re in the same category as the ultrasound machine found at your doctor’s office. 
According to the FDA, both Doppler fetal heart monitors and ultrasound machines are:
“Prescription devices designed to be used by trained health care professionals. They are not intended for over-the-counter sale or use.” (source)
 
I hope this was helpful information, mamas. Again, this is only my (Cate) personal opinion and choice not to use a fetal heart monitor. Do what is BEST for YOUR family. 

Thank you for all of your support to Ila and me- we are incredibly grateful and love to know we are not alone in our journeys of motherhood.

Blessings to all of you and please let me know if you have any questions!

All My Love,

Cate