Category Archives: Pregnancy

First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test

Kick Suspense To The Curb With First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test

First Response Disclosure

For those of you who aren’t regular readers, I have a little backstory to share with you before going into detail about the First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test.

First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test

I am a 40-year-old mother of two.  My kids are 15 and 9 years old.  My son was conceived without issue and my husband and I doted on him 24/7/365.  When Sebastian was almost two years old, I was in a car accident that left me with physical and emotional injuries.  The injuries included muscle and nerve damage in my right arm and leg and a neck injury.  I was in physical therapy for quite some time. It was devastating to me that Tim and I could no longer go on our morning mountain hikes with Sebastian in a backpack on Tim’s back and that Sebastian and I couldn’t go to storytime or the scrapbook store on a whim.  I couldn’t drive for a long time after the accident and there was no way I could hike a mountain.  The accident left me physically scarred and emotionally worn, with life changing implications I didn’t even realize at the time.

My husband and I knew we wanted to have a second child but for two years after the accident it was near impossible for me to think about carrying and birthing a baby with so much else going on with my body.   When Sebastian was about 4 years old, about 2 years after the accident, things started getting back to normal with my body.  So I thought.   I started a business working from home, we were active outdoors again – albeit not as active as pre-accident, and we started talking more seriously about having the second child.    Thinking about it now, what happens next seems like a slap in the face.   Hot flashes, night sweats, my periods stopped.  Just. Like. That.   My mother didn’t go through early menopause.  My older sister hadn’t gone through menopause.   I visited with my OB/GYN during which she ran a bunch of tests.  A couple weeks later we found out that I was experiencing Premature Ovarian Failure.

WHAT?!  I was 30 years old!

My OB made it clear to my husband and I that if we wanted to have a second child we needed to act fast.  She prescribed a hormone that I would rub on my inner arm twice a day and recommended that we use an ovulation test.  Our first stop was to the drugstore where we bought a First Response Ovulation Test Kit.

For the next few months, my days consisted of applying hormones to my arm, taking ovulation tests and enjoying time with my husband. 😉   Within 3 months and thanks to First Response Ovulation Tests and First Response Pregnancy Tests, I was pregnant with my daughter!

First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test

Pregnancy tests have gotten more accurate and with earlier detection since 9 years ago when I was using one every day for months, and now, First Response takes the mess and suspense out of the equation when you’re trying to get pregnant, with the First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test – with Comfort-Sure Design features.  The FDA approved pregnancy test has a 50% wider tip and is longer, making it easy to use and easy to read and it can detect all relevant forms of urinary hCG throughout pregnancy.   Available at all major drugstores, mass and grocery stores with a retail price of $8.99-$15.99, the test is easy to pick up on a whim or to stock up on.

Whether you’re in a situation like I was where you’re fighting your biological clock or you are just anxious to find out if you’re pregnant, the First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test will let you know if you’re pregnant up to 6 days before the day of your missed period, morning or night.   Easy-to-read results are shown in 3 minutes with over 99% accuracy from the day of the expected period.

Styling Your New-Mom Body + JJ Cole Caprice Diaper Bag Review and Giveaway!

If you are pregnant or have a new baby, I’m sure you’ve asked yourself and your new-mom friends the age-old question..
how will I possibly still look even an inkling stylish after I’ve had the baby?   JJ Cole sent us a Caprice Diaper Bag to review and because we are all out of babies here, one lucky reader will win the bag we received for review!

Win a JJ Cole Caprice Diaper Bag

First, I want to give you a few new-mom fashion tips that I’ve learned over the years:

  1. Buy lots of leggings.  H&M has several colors and they are just $10!
  2. Stock up on tops that will take eyes off of your newly enlarged boobs such as a top that has a narrow v-neck which will bring eyes up to your neck and face not your boobs and flowing blouses.
  3. Avoid blouses with lots of frill.  Those will make your breasts look larger.
  4. Get a statement necklace or two; one that has a large pendant which will make your breasts look smaller.   Steer clear of necklaces that lay at your neckline.
  5. Wear shirts that have a 3/4 length sleeve or long sleeve tops as they are more slimming than short sleeves or tanks.
  6. Make sure you have a cute diaper bag or two!

When it comes to a diaper bag that is fashionable as well as affordable and easy to use, the JJ Cole Caprice Diaper Bag steps up to the plate.

The JJ Cole Caprice Diaper Bag has tons of great features while at the same time being stylish and fitting into your budget.

Here are a few features that I love about this diaper bag:

  • Attaches to your stroller – Taking your little one along in a stroller which requires both arms free to push around?   No problem!  Attach the Caprice diaper bag to your stroller with the included Grips™.
  • It’s lightweight – The Caprice Diaper Bag weighs just over 2 pounds so don’t worry about breaking your back from carrying your baby and diaper bag!
  • Strap and carry options – Adjustable and removable shoulder strap and tote handles

Grips feature for diaper bag on stroller

You won’t have to bring a separate purse either — despite being a diaper bag, it has 10 organizational compartments both inside and outside, allowing you to keep your items safe and easily accessible while looking chic.  You can keep your wallet and cell phone in the external zipper pockets, while keeping your baby’s bottle or sippy cup in its insulated and spacious side pockets, and the diapers inside the internal pouch.

This fabulous JJ Cole Caprice Diaper Bag also comes with a changing pad that matches the bag’s design.

JJ Cole Caprice Diaper Bag

The Caprice diaper bag comes in a variety of colors such as shadow, silver drop, and vintage poppy; and fashionable printed designs that can go with the outfit of your choosing, all for the affordable price of $69.99.

Best of all, it contains no traces of the chemicals PVC or Phthalate, thus making this bag a safe choice as well as being convenient and fashionable. You won’t have to pay a single cent more for anything of such great overall quality in terms of ease, style and safety.


We are giving a lucky reader a JJ Cole Caprice Diaper Bag!

The bag is the very bag reviewed here.  All tags and pieces are intact.

Here are the steps to enter the giveaway:

  1. MANDATORY/MUST DO ENTRY – Leave a comment at the bottom of this blog post, include your name, and use the same email address that you enter in the rafflecopter form!
  2. Use the Rafflecopter App below to submit your entry  – Complete optional entries as shown in the rafflecopter form, for extra entries.

Alicia, The Mommy Insider blog author

Choosing The Best Infant Car Seat For You and Your Baby

best infant car seatsChoosing an infant car seat is one of the most important tasks of expectant and new parents.  Researching infant car seats can be frustrating and overwhelming to some pregnant moms.   With so many car seats on the market, how do parents know which infant car seat is right for their child? Below are some tips for buying a quality infant car seat.

New and expecting parents have asked me how I chose my kids car seats over the years.  My answer.. I consulted Consumer Reports magazine and bought the car seat that was rated highest.   I didn’t care about looks but was most focused on safety.  Britax car seats have been very reliable for us and they have had fabulous safety ratings over the last 12 years that I’ve been buying car seats.  I know that researching via Consumer Reports’ magazine or website might not be ideal for parents who don’t have a subscription though so I am sharing with you a few of my favorite tips and car seat options.

 

Research The Options

Parents shopping for an infant car seat should research the many options on the market. Expectant parents can research car seats on sites like ConsumerReports.org, which provides detailed car seat reviews. These car seat reviews are useful because they offer expectant parents a detailed account of what other consumers liked and hated about each specific infant car seat.

Consider These Infant Car Seat Choices

 

Parents who are up to date with reading car seat reviews will recognize the strong consumer following of these three seats.

Britax B-SAFE infant car seat1. Britax B-SAFE
The Britax B-SAFE is one of the top rated car seats on the market. Sold as a travel system or as just the infant car seat, this product is easy to take in and out of the car, making it a great option for parents on the go. The front harness adjuster allows for easy strap adjustments, and the high weight capacity makes this the perfect car seat for infants up to 30 pounds.

 

Chicco KeyFit 30 infant car seat2. Chicco KeyFit 30
The best rated car seat by ConsumerReports.org, the Chicco KeyFit 30 holds babies from the tiniest to the heaviest weights approved for infant car seat use. Keeping babies safe from 4 pounds to 30 pounds, this car seat has one of the easiest adjustment systems available on the market and is compatible with a variety of strollers.

 

 

Safety 1st onBoard 35 infant car seat3. Safety 1st onBoard 35
The Safety 2st onBoard 35 is one of the most modestly priced car seats on the market with the ability to rear face up to 35 pounds. With front end harness adjustment, this seat makes it easy for parents to give their little ones a snug fit, keeping them safe and secure.

Car Seat Recalls

Parents should be sure to keep up with infant car seat recalls to make sure that their product remains safe even after purchase. Parents are encouraged to check for infant car seat, big kid car seat and booster seat recalls often.  Aside from recalls, it is also important to research the crash protection of an infant car seat, its ease of use, and vehicle fit.

Good luck with your car seat shopping.  Please ask questions or leave comments below!

Disclosure: I was not compensated by any of the brands featured in this article. 

Alicia Hagan, Editor

Moms.. watch a video and take a survey for a chance to win a $1000 gift card!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of BabyDiaperSurvey.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

Do you remember your birth process?  I bet you do and if you’re anything like me, you’re curious to hear what other parents have to say about the birth process and how their birth process was.  Although I have to admit, right after my first birth I got very irritated when I heard other moms talk about how painless and exhilarating the birth process was.  Really?  What planet did you give birth on?

Watch this amazing video featuring live birth snippets and new parents talking about the birth process

This video contains graphic content that you may not want your children to see.   It’s an amazing video for expecting and experienced parents to watch though, so take a moment and enjoy.

One dad in the video says about the birth process “It’s like a dream that you can really remember though”, while another dad says “That was the first time I was scared.. for the rest of my life”.

moms watch this video to win

Take a survey at BabyDiaperSurvey.com for a chance to win a $1000 gift card!

Take this survey for a 1/500 chance at $1000. Those are pretty great odds, and considering that you won’t receive any spam emails, your information will not be used for any marketing activity, and your personal information is 100% confidential, I’d go for it!

Alicia Hagan

Visit Sponsor's Site

Sept. 17 Must-Have: Lullabelly Prenatal Music Belt

Lullabelly is yet another thing I wish I had when I was pregnant 10 and 4 years ago. I literally put a portable speaker on my belly when I was pregnant with Sebastian 10 years ago. Unfortunately, that was about the last time I listened to music (not kids music) and read a book in the same day! As moms know, that just doesn’t happen after the baby arrives.
Lullabelly prenatal music belt

With Lullabelly, you simply plug in your iPod® or iPhone™ and play music to your baby in the womb.
Now your baby can enjoy the many benefits of music — with Lullabelly, the prenatal music belt. Listening to music in the womb encourages learning, language development and memory skills. And playing the same music after birth can help your baby sleep better!

The Lullabelly Prenatal Music Belt is designed for an expectant mother to safely and comfortably play music (lullabies, audio books, or any prerecorded sounds) to her baby in the womb.

Simply plug Lullabelly into an iPod, iPhone, CD or MP3 player. There is a also a dual earphone adapter and earphones…so mom can listen too!

Forget about stretching a headset across your belly. It’s clumsy and nearly impossible to listen along to the same music while playing it for a baby.

It’s perfect for any expectant mother, and makes the perfect baby shower gift.

How much is it? $55
Where can I buy it? Lullabelly.com

Alicia Hagan