Top 10 Lists | Real Tech Mom

The best Sesame Street clips from the 80′s

August 19, 2008 By erincarrasco 1 Comment

While growing up in the 80′s had it’s ups and downs. Children’s programming was fantastic. I used to love sesame street. I find that it’s just not the same anymore but none the less there is some classic sesame street clips that I wanted to share!

1) C is for Cookie

2) Here Fishy Fishy Fishy

3) Do De Duck

4) Rubber Duckie

*how many of you parents try to sing this to your children and forget the words*

5)Grover the waiter

*Now I know why I am always nice to serving staff, the blue man deserves bad service lol*

6) Ernie and Bert Visit a Pyramid

7)Smokie Robinson and the letter U

8)Near and Far

9)Super Grover

10) Elmo’s song

I’m working on Part two of this series because there are just too many good clips for one post! Enjoy!

Filed Under: Top 10 Lists, Videos

Top 10 Wines to bring to a Dinner Party

August 18, 2008 By erincarrasco 4 Comments

So I have had a passion for wine for many years. I’m by far any type of a connoisseur but have been asked many times in a Liquor store to recommend a wine–and no I have never worked in a liquor store. I am a big fan of red wines, and I love sparkling wines and then come the white wines (not a big fan but it’s nice in the summer time to have a cool glass of it). I’m also a big advocate that you don’t have to spend a lot of cash on a bottle of wine for it to be tasty! Most of these wines are under $15 unless noted otherwise. So whether or not you are going to a dinner party or just want to enjoy some nice wine at home, here are my top 10 picks!

Red Wines

1) PKNT(Merlot) 2004 (pronounced Picante) From the Rapel Valley in Chile. Under $15

Impress your friends at your next dinner party or as a gift with PKNT, not only a smart play on words, but a wonderful tasteful wine. (note: I’ve only tried the merlot)

It’s smooth taste is easy to drink
They have 3 award winning wines:
- 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon2004
- Merlot2004 Chardonnay2004
- Carmenere2004 Sauvignon Blanc

2) Ecco Domani (Merlot) 2004 From the Vallagarina Valley in Italy. Under $15

Yes it’s another Merlot, I am a big fan of merlot’s mainly because they are smooth and easy to drink, even for those who aren’t fond of red wine.

Again It’s smooth an easy to drink
Here are some of the wines they feature:
- Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio
- Cabernet/Merlot
- Pinot Grigio
- Merlot
- Chianti

Ecco Domani is not sold at all Government regulated stores (in MB we have something called Liquor Mart, owned and operated by the provincial Government) For you Manitoban’s you must go to somewhere specialized like Fenton’s Wine Store.

3) Lindeman’s Bin 40 (Merlot) 2004 From South Eastern Australia. Under $15

Yes another Merlot, but I think the Shiraz is very good as well.

Smooth and easy to drink
Here are some other’s from the BIN series:
- Bin 50 shiraz
- Bin 99 Pinot Noir
- Bin 40 Merlot
- Bin 45 Cabernet Sauvignon

Lindeman’s has a variety of wonderful wines for all of the wine drinkers at your party. The way I described it to someone at a wine store was this: Merlot=mild, Shiraz=medium, Cabernet= full flavour.

4) Valpollicella Le Poiane Doc Fratelli Bolla From Italy. Under $20

Yes another Merlot, I’ve recently fell in love with this wine. It’s a little pricier then I’m used to but it’s so fantastic it’s worth it! It was an accidental purchase made by my husband while I was pregnant. (we tried to stalk up on our wines while I couldn’t drink) Now that I’m permitted to drink, this has become a favourite of mine!

A Close number 4 is Bolla COLFORTE Merlot delle Venezie (Product from Italy) This one is also under 20$ but both are very smooth and worth purchasing! This is also a close runner up, definitely worth checking out!

White Wines

5) Peller Estates Pinot blanc 2006 from Canada (VQA) under $15

This smooth medium bodied wine has very light citrus flavours and has a light but crisp taste to it. I’m not a huge fan of white wine but this one really is fantastic in the summer time with your chicken or fish dishes! Peller Estates has two vineyards across Canada, one in the Niagara area, one in the Okanagan area. I’m a fan of the Okanagan area, but there are some fine wines that come out of the Ontario region. They also make a variety of dessert wines as well as red wines, but they’re not my cup of tea.

6)Two Oceans Sauvignon blanc 2006 from South Africa, Under $15

This wine was an accidental find. I am constantly buying different white wines to please friends of mine who visit. Because I do not drink the white wines generally, one that sparks my interest usually takes hold of my attention!

Generally the ones that take hold of me are dry white wines, so if you love the sweet variety, you must look elsewhere! This one is quite tasty! It’s very mild and goes down quickly!

7) Voga Pinot Grigio from Italy, Under $15

This one was purchased because of it’s looks originally and I’m proud to say it has lived up well beyond it’s standards! It looks like a bottle of cologne and if you need something to show off in your wine rack or on your shelf this is the wine to display.

I was not expecting too much out of this wine because it looked so different but it really is fantastic. It’s got a wonderfully refreshing taste and is nice and crisp! I haven’t tried the red, but if it’s anything like the white, it would be worth trying!

Sparkling Wines

Two out of the three are from Canada. Because they do not come from Champagne France we can’t "legally" call them Champagne. The first one is by far my favourite out of all three especially for the cost. Again, I’m not a fan of sweet wines, even sparkling ones. I also find some of the real Champagne’s to be a little too dry, so most of these are of the rosey variety.

8)Trivento Brut from Argentina under $15

This sparkling wine has a rosey pink colour to it. It uses Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grape varieties to make up the pleasant cherries, apples and pineapple flavour. It has delicate bubbles (very small) and has a little bite to it!

9)Sumac Ridge Stellar’s Jay Brut from Canada Under $25

This sparkling wine is a very close call for first place for me. It’s from BC’s Okanagan region. It also has a warm rosey colour to it. This wine is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir grape varieties. This one is a bit pricier, but it’s a nice treat every once and a while.

While in BC a few years ago, we went to have dinner in their restaurant, what a wonderful meal and experience. I highly suggest visiting the winery if you are in the area.

10) Summerhill Cipes Pinot Noir Brut N/V from Canada under $30

This one is also from the Okanagan region. Summerhill is a wonderful vineyard outside of Kelowna, B.C.Â It’s actually where my husband and I got engaged and married. All of their wines are stored in a pyramid that is aligned with the ones in South America and Egypt. This Brut has a fresh peach, green apple, white floral and mineral aromas to it with a hint of toasted nuts. It is slightly off dry with small delicate bubbles to it.

There are many other wines that Summerhill offers. Summerhill is a Certified Organic Vineyard using no herbicides, pesticides, or chemical fertilizers in the soil.

The Bottom Line

When buying red wine, my "general" rule of thumb is this. Mostly anything from Italy and France are going to be smooth and light in taste. If you want a fuller body, I would then go to Australia or South America for red wines. When buying white many Canadian, American and Italian wines are the lightest. Chardonnay’s have a certain taste to them that I’m not generally fond of so if I drink white wine, most of them are sauvignon blanc’s or Pinot Grigio’s. Again if you like a fuller bodied White, Australia and South America have some fuller bodied wines. For sparkling, generally Canadian ones spark my interest the most, and I opt for the Brut’s of the sparkling’s.

Just remember, you don’t have to pair your wine with your food, if you like a certain wine, drink it with whatever you want. I’m sure all the wine connoisseur’s are cursing me as a babbling idiot right now but I don’t care. I drink what I want with whatever I’m eating. As a general rule of thumb (very general)

White meat/pasta with white sauce/fish = white wine.

Dark meat/pasta with red sauce/cheese = red wine.

Technorati Tags: Wine

Filed Under: Food and Drink, Top 10 Lists

The most useful or useless baby products! 0-3 Months

July 21, 2008 By erincarrasco 10 Comments

If there is anything I’ve learnt in the past 4 and a half months is that no matter how many times people tell you .. you need X, your baby may hate X. Or how many people say, don’t waste your time on buying X, my son really got the use out of X. So here is what I consider my best, the worst, and the swing vote purchases for the first three months.

The Useful Products

1)The Swing

—Yes it needs a pronoun—We were fortunate to have been given a Fisher Price Ocean Wonder’s swing on loan from a friend of mine. I swear it saved our sanity for these first three months. Especially if you are into the Happiest baby method’s you are going to want a swing to help sooth your baby. My baby was one of those who needed constant motion to keep him content, lord knows what I did while I was pregnant to make him that way–it certainly wasn’t aerobics! **Note, try to get one that plugs in or you’ll go through a HUGE amount of D batteries! Keep in mind, a swing will not calm a screaming baby, you must calm them down first before you place them in the swing. Always make sure you follow the guide lines for the swing including the weight restrictions, and if they start leaning forward trying to grab the toys they are too mature for the swing.

2)Bouncy chair

—We have the Sooth N Play Fisher price one, and I have to say it was a love hate relationship. Some nights and days I was so happy I had this bouncy chair, and other’s my son did not care for it. But I found I got more use out of it then not so it is a favourite of mine. The vibration he could have done without I’m sure, and now that he’s 18 lbs it sinks so low to the ground I don’t dare put him in it.

3)Swaddle blanket

We had a few store bought ones given to us, and a few made from my mother in law. I have to say that the ones my MIL (mother in law) made were the best ones for us. If you haven’t had a chance to see my blog on the Happiest baby on the block, you’ll see the swaddle and just how big it is. But to make your own you are going to need 42 square inches of fabric (stretchy thin cotton) and either surge the ends or put ribbing on them. Not only do you need the blanket but you need the small piece of fabric I use in my “real tech mom” swaddle. It saved my husband and I from jumping off a bridge with how little my “little man” slept!

4)The Happiest Baby on the Block

There is a book, but unless you have the time to read it, the DVD does a fantastic job of outlining what to do, and the best thing is that when you are sleep deprived it shows you what to do. Please click here for an indepth review of this product. If you are considering purchasing this book before your baby makes it’s arrival, it is worth the read. It really goes indepth into the reasons behind the magic!

5)White noise maker

We used a product called a sleep sheep, but the happiest baby comes with a white noise cd—the cd was great because it’s more intense for those babies who need the sound of a hair dryer to fall asleep. The white noise helps them adjust to the silence that is now their world. While in the womb it is louder then a vacuum, so imagine being born into silence after 9 months of sound.. pretty scary and hard to adjust to! Now that my son is over 4 months he still likes the vacuum, but not to fall asleep.. now he’s just amazed by it!

6) Video monitor

What can I say about these. I obsessed about which one to buy. I was considering the Angel care one, because I know I can be paranoid if I want to be. But after reading the reviews on the angel care (some mom’s say it drove them crazy because sometimes it goes off without need—baby is still breathing but has moved off the pad or you forget to turn it off and pick baby up) I think I would lose my mind. So instead I chose to spy on my baby LOL

I chose a video monitor because I can look at him without having to enter his room. We chose the summer version and while it’s $250 in Canada, I got it online from EBay for $104 plus $20 shipping.. great deal in my books. I just love looking at him when he sleeps, they all look like angels! The only thing is it only picks up baby pitches, so if I was in his room talking, my husband could not hear me on the monitor—blessing in disguise?—or awesome, I’ve yet to decide. I have also read how you can “tap”into these video feeds from outside the home (this is a con), but i’m not sure how that works. Either way I’m glad I have it and wouldn’t change it for the world.

7) Medela pump

(manual and mini electric pump) I’m reviewing this one because this is the one I purchased. There are also establishments that rent hospital grade unit’s for around 60$ a month with a deposit and you have to spend 50$ to buy the attachments that you keep. Now because my baby takes a bottle—thank god, it has allowed me to go out with my hubby or friends without worrying that my baby won’t eat. BUT a recent incident has lead me to believe this pump sucks. First of all I was not paying attention one morning one hand pumping at 5 a.m. and it overflowed, since then the suction has been little to non existent, I found out they do not service their pumps, you need to buy a new one. Well after buying a mini electric pump and manual one (all in one-$164) i’m not willing to spend more money on a new one. So while I loved to freedom, id question buying one knowing that you can’t fix them with the company. BUT in terms of the effectiveness this pump is one of the best. I have heard great things about the swing pump should you want to spend the cash!** I’ve since fixed my pump thanks for Kelly’s suggestions (at bottom of this post)

Gerber breastmilk storage bags

Again this only applies if you are breast feeding these bags are fantastic. They are thicker—if you are freezing your milk (these rock), you are less likely to have freezer burnt milk. Now I have heard great things about the medela milk storage bags but have not used them and cannot advocate towards them. These bags have a Ziploc seal, with a date spot to write on.

9) Lansinoh Nursing pads

—again only great if you are breastfeeding, but these things rock. They are thin and absorbent. I wouldn’t recommend any other brands besides the medela ones. I had a hard time finding a lot of medela products so the Lansinoh ones worked well for me. They also aren’t crazy expensive–if you go to walmart. They have a powder in them that turns the milk into a gel, instead of soaking your boob it absorbs the moisture away from you boobs—which is great because the last thing you want to worry about is thrush, or leaking pads.

Oh and another really great product that I would have died without during the beginning of breastfeeding was my Lansinoh nipple cream. Your poor nipples have never felt pain like this, I can assure you. The cream saved my life and my sanity. It’s a bonus that you do not have to wash it off. Again Medela has nipple cream too that is of the same caliber!

10) Formula storage containers

—I’m talking about the ones that divvy up the formula for each feeding in separate compartment. While I heard they are quite pricey, they are apparently worth it! Seriously ladies if you are formula feeding, these things are a must have for you on the go!

11) The Exercise ball!

So for all of you mom’s who bought this birthing ball–how many of you actually used it all that much during your pregnancy or birth? Well it came in handy after baby came home that’s for sure. If you baby likes to bounce but you’re too tired to bounce baby because let’s face it, we don’t all have arms like Arnold Schwarzenegger! This thing allows you to bounce baby while sitting down. (Hold baby close to you, in cradle position or up against your shoulder and bounce away—Thanks Daniela forgot about this one.. how soon we forget)

Top money wasters

1)Most Toys

Generally they’re not interested in them, my son was more interested in me then the toys. Plus stuff that has too many bells and whistles is really too much stimulation for most babies. I’m sure they’ll come in handy for the upcoming stages!

2) Play mat’s

Again my son was not interested in laying down, he constantly wanted to sit up. You just never know with your child as they are all individuals. Namely the 50$ Lamaze tummy toy (a purchase made by my husband), my son hates this thing… well more so doesn’t know what to do with it. See how impressed he is?

2)Baby Bath Tubs

The only bath tub that I’ve heard positive things about is this Tummy Tub. For us we had The Safety First bath tub that my son hated–it was not for lack of trying.. he just did not like bath time! I ended up transitioning him to our big tub as soon as possible. It took me at least a month to feel comfortable to bathe him in our big bath tub. While I tried as much as I could to keep him comfortable he just hated the small tub. We maybe got a little bit of use out of it the first few weeks when we were scared to hold a slippery wet baby, but after that he just screamed when we put him in it. Note: when bathing your baby, make the water warm. The hospitals scare us into making the water luke warm–to cold. And by all means I’m not saying burn your baby, but making the water nice and warm (like you would enjoy) is probably your best bet!

3)Travel system (car seat and stroller)

This was one of my favourite buys at first, however once my son decided he needed to see what was going on around him, he was NOT content to sit in the car seat at all. He was great in it while he was still small he didn’t do much but sleep (0-2 months). But now he won’t even go in the stroller/car seat combo, and can’t stand the car seat. I certainly don’t regret buying a good brand (Peg Perego) I’m waiting to see what happens when he actually can sit up in the stroller. For now we’re using a baby carrier that he likes much more, although he hated that for the first 3 months as well, hence his nick name: Mr. Fussypants.

4)New born sizes of clothes

Bottom line: they grow out of them so quickly, I think we used them to bring him home and for the first few days, but mostly you alternate a few outfits at first, because you’re so darn tired, you can’t possibly find what you want when you want it and then bother to co-ordinate it or put it away (after it’s been washed). Simplify those first few weeks!

5)Baby Towels

Sure they’re cute, but really… just use bigger ones, most of the baby towels are of poor quality and fell apart in the wash.

6)Crib Bedding

It’s for show (as I was told not to put anything but baby and a crib sheet in bed), and most places want at least $150 + for a set, which is ridiculous when you think that you can’t actually use more then the sheet for the first year or so.

7) Bottle warmer

Again a purchase made by my husband. We found it burnt the milk more often then heated it properly. He was just rewarming breastmilk so maybe that was the problem but in my opinion, warm tap water works better. Save your $40.

8)Bravado nursing bra

Ok, so I know these are supposed to be the cream of the crop for nursing bra’s and maybe the one my sister lent me was not one that was meant for me, but it was not a cheap one ($75.00) and let me tell you, I’ve never hung so low in my life. While it had no underwire (which is not recommended when your milk is coming in–because it increases the risk of plugged ducts) I desperately needed something more supportive. They do have other bra’s on their website, but I just was not willing to spend that kind of cash hoping it would work out.

Mentionable’s:

The following can be construed either way (positive or negative). But the following are some that I find are either a yay or a nay purchase.

1)Change table

I won’t bother to tell you the horror story I had with the storkcraft brand of change table I purchased at walmart over a month and a half before my due date. BUT I love my change table. It allows me to change him and store stuff all at the same time. It’s wide enough and long enough that I don’t have to worry about him hitting his legs on the sides—Tip: purchase a thick change pad from toys R Us or babies R us, instead of the cheap thing that comes with it.

But some of the change tables out there are not wide enough. Make sure it is as wide as it possibly can be so your baby does not bonk it’s legs and arms on sharp edges. Also depending on how many levels your house has, it may not be practical for you to run upstairs every time to change a diaper. Practicality is key!

2)Bibs and Facecloth’s

I had milk flying every which way, my poor son tried to keep up but there is only so much one little boy can take. These things saved us countless times, and I think from 0-2 months the facecloth’s did the trick, but after that when the drool came in, the bibs—you can never have enough, saved my poor son being totally drenched. When my son starts solids, I’ll probably curse certain bibs, but for now they all do the same job, I do like the thicker material ones.

But some women have expressed that these things just added to their laundry list, I think they’re a good addition but it depends on your needs, keep in mind formula stains, breastmilk does not!

3)Baby clothes

Depending on your family and friends situation, don’t buy too much clothing. What drove me nuts the first month was the button up sleepers. I hated those things, with how often you change diapers at 1,2, and 3 a.m. they drove me nuts. Try to buy ones zippers if you can find them. You will receive a lot of clothes from people that you’ll struggle to get use out of. Tip: if buying for a new mom, keep in mind the season and age of child you buy for. While it may be summer now, winter is fast approaching and baby will be months bigger then he/she is now. Buy according to season/size.

4)Bumbo

So while it is neat and so cool to see them sit up so early, we didn’t get much use out of it for the amount it costs. Thank goodness it was a gift. I mean by the time I realized I could put him in it, maybe 2 months, he wouldn’t tolerate it for long and then i’d have to take him out right away. I did get some cute pictures out of it, but now he get’s stuck in it and freaks out because it doesn’t move. I think it’s a neat novelty for an in between stage.

5)Cribs

My son slept in his crib as soon as I got the crib mattress (a week after he was born), but some parents have the best intentions of crib sleeping only to have their babes in bed with them. I think it’s personal preference, but I’ve had people tell me it’s a waste of money, their child never slept in their crib… well mine does and I’m so happy about that!

6)Co-Sleeper

If you plan to have your baby in bed with you, you can buy something called a Co-Sleeper. While the concept is neat, it depends on how big your bed is. If you have anything smaller then a King Size bed, it may take up quite a bit of room on your bed. Not only that, but if your baby is born long and/or large, your babe may grow out of it before you get much use out of it.

The Bottom Line

All the usefulness of these products will depend on your baby. Some of the top ones that worked for us may not work for your baby. Keep in mind that at each stage of the game, the product’s usefulness changes, and what you love one month, you may hate another. Try to get a number of things second hand. All of these items can be quite pricey, so if you know friends who’ve had children see if you can borrow some of these items to test them out. And believe it or not, the good, the bad and the mentionable can be interchangeable, depending on who you talk to.

If you are in doubt, I found that the reviews on Toys R Us’s website to be quite useful.

Happy Shopping! Oh and if you are looking to gift some of these items to your expectant friends, please, please, please include a gift receipt!

Filed Under: Advice, Babies, Books, Humor, Product Reviews, Top 10 Lists

So you’ve peed on a stick, it’s positive… now what? Part 3

July 14, 2008 By erincarrasco Leave a Comment

So I’m officially pregnant, what can I eat?

Ok, there is bound to controversy about what you can and can’t eat. So if you disagree with me, that’s your choice. These are just some recommendations to some women who choose to listen.

10 Don’t's

1) Sushi

Some types of sushi, such as California rolls (which contain steamed crab) and cooked eel, are fine to eat while you’re pregnant. But it’s best to avoid eating the kinds that contain raw seafood, such as tuna. Fresh, raw seafood is potentially risky because it can contain parasites such as tapeworm, which, if they grow large enough, could rob your body of nutrients needed for your growing baby. If the restaurant serves frozen fish before it’s thawed your risks for parasites are lessened, but there is no rule that restaurants have to follow to serve frozen fish versus fresh fish.

Unfortunately, one concern about seafood, raw or cooked, is PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls), a persistent and potentially hazardous industrial chemical that has become nearly ubiquitous in our environment which pollutes what we eat.

2) Lunch meat and Hot dogs

It’s not safe to eat deli meats (or hot dogs) when you’re pregnant unless they’re heated until steaming hot. Pregnant women are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis, and newborns — not moms — suffer the most serious effects of infection during pregnancy. Listeria can cross the placental barrier, or more commonly, be transmitted in the birth canal, which can be devastating for the baby.

3) Honey

This was a new one to me, I couldn’t figure out what could possibly be wrong with Honey. In short it’s the botulism that “could” be in the honey. It has been linked to something called infant botulism. This is Dr. Greene’s response to the safety of Honey:

“Botulism spores are found throughout nature, in soil, in dust, and on the unwashed surfaces of unpeeled fruits and vegetables. The spores are present in about 10 percent of the samples of honey tested. These spores are tough to kill. They are quite heat-resistant; some can survive boiling for several hours. Honey is naturally resistant to many bacteria. Sometimes, honey is pasteurized – usually it is not. Pasteurizing does not reliably destroy botulism spores. Some honey is filtered; some is not. Filtering does not reliably remove botulism spores. There are advantages and disadvantages to pasteurizing and filtering. I don’t feel strongly either way, but this is one food I prefer un-pasteurized. No honey, though, is best for infants.”

4) Caffeine

Let’s see there are so many things that contain Caffeine in them these days, it’s not just limited to Coffee. Tea’s, pop and chocolate all contain caffeine. While most experts agree that small amounts of Caffeine is ok, large amounts of it (more then 3 cups of coffee) increase your risk of miscarriage. It also has an effect on birth weight of your unborn child. For the first trimester, I would try to stick to decaf products or limit your caffeine intake to one pop/coffee a day.

5) Artificial sweeteners: namely aspartame

This is such a touchy subject for many women. Especially pregnant women. So in order to be politically correct I’ve consulted the Government of Canada’s website on this issue. Personally I don’t drink stuff with aspartame when I’m not expecting, and did not touch the stuff when I was pregnant. The body does not break down aspartame very well and it’s just being linked (inconclusively) to too many things for my comfort level.

Check out Wiki’s page on the Controversy of Aspartame

Government of Canada’s thoughts on Artificial Sweeteners:

Artificial Sweeteners

Aspartame is a dipeptide containing the amino acids phenylalanine and aspartic acid. The acceptable daily intake of aspartame is 40 mg/kg body weight/day, which is equivalent to a person weighing 60 kg drinking approximately sixteen 355 mL (10 oz.) cans of diet soft drink daily. Individuals needing to control phenylalanine intake (I.e., phenylketonuria), should limit their aspartame intake”

Evidence suggests that consumption of aspartame by pregnant women is safe and does not pose a health hazard. However pregnant women should be cautioned against excessive consumption of products containing aspartame and other artificial sweeteners since such foods could be replacing nutrient-dense, energy-yielding foods.

Neither saccharin nor cyclamates are currently permitted to be added to foods sold in Canada due to health-related concerns that have been raised in the past. However, they may be sold as table-top sweeteners with some restrictions as to point of sale and labelling. Pregnant women should be advised to carefully read all precautionary statements on the labels of these sweeteners and to only use them on the advice of a physician.

“Caution pregnant women consuming excessive amounts of products containing artificial sweeteners which are low in nutrient value, for example, diet soft drinks, because such foods could be replacing nutrient-dense foods.
Encourage women who are consuming large amounts of products containing artificial sweeteners to read food labels and to ensure that they do not exceed acceptable daily intakes.”

6) Soft cheeses (that are unpasteurized)

In Canada the cheeses that are sold at your chain grocery stores should say on the packaging if they are pasteurized or not, if they are then eat away. Yes ladies even Feta cheese is ok as long as it’s pasteurized. BUT anything not pasteurized is a big no no because of the unknown bacteria in the food could cross the placental barrier and affect baby.

7) Alcohol

Bottom line, there is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy. That’s a good enough reason to stay away from it during pregnancy.

Herbal Tea’s

Herbal tea’s in small amounts are usually deemed safe. The ones they caution you about are the ones that contain nutritional supplements (like St. John’s Wort or ginseng). It’s not so much that supplements are bad for the baby, but that “they” don’t know that they are necessarily good for baby. Keep in mind that being called “herbal” does not mean a product is safe. Some teas contain dissolved substances which have a drug-like effect on the body – and that would include an unborn baby. Herbal teas do not fall under Canadian drug regulations.

Certain herbs can produce negative side effects, ranging from allergies, dizziness, headache or nausea to toxic reactions or stimulation of the uterus. Here are some of the no no’s for herbal teas: calamus root, chicory root, coltsfoot comfrey,dong quai, elder flowers, feverfew, ginseng, goldenseal, groundsel, hawthorne berries, kombucha tea, juniper berries, licorice, life root (rag wort), lobelia, mistletoe, pennyroyal, pokeroot sassafras, St. John’s wort, uva ursi (bearberry).

Ladies often the tea’s that are “blends” of other tea’s contain one or more of these ingredients, so please read the label and make an informed decision.

9) Raw Eggs

Again bacteria that lives in our egg’s is usually killed off by pasteurization but you can’t be sure that your local restaurant’s Caesar salad dressing doesn’t have unpasteurized raw eggs in it. Best bet is to stay away from real Caesar salad dressing. The stuff that comes in a bottle should be fine because of all the preservatives. I would also caution you to not eat your eggs runny, but to make sure they’re cooked well.

10) Limit your Fish intake

Seafood can be an excellent source of nutrients, but it can contain contaminants These chemicals include methyl mercury and, to a lesser extent, dioxins, PCBs, and pesticides. When eaten in amounts higher than those found in most commercially sold seafood, these contaminants have been linked to developmental delays in children who were exposed to them before birth.

But because nearly all seafood–and food for that matter, contains trace levels of contaminants, it’s best to vary the types of fish you eat during the course of a week so that you have only one serving of any particular kind, and no more than three servings total. Removing the skin (where many of the contaminants are stored) and cooking fish thoroughly will also reduce some of the harmful chemicals it contains. So in short, yes you can eat tuna, but limit your intake of it!

The Bottom Line

There are so many, don’t do this and don’t do that when you are pregnant. The above list is a guide line, and some of the reasoning about why you should and shouldn’t eat and/or drink certain things. But you are the master of your own body. My concern during pregnancy was for my little baby, so no matter how much I wanted X I most often didn’t have X.

The problem stems from how over indulgent our lives are! Our portion sizes are massive compared to European standards (who actually saying that having a glass of wine once in a while relaxes the mom). I think it’s more to err on the side of caution.

Women have been living for centuries with unpasteurized foods, alcohol etc. But infant mortality rates were higher, mother’s died more often in child birth etc. So you have to look at where science has brought us today, there may be some “oh come on, you mean I can’t do anything any more?”moments, but there are ways around things. Such as non-alcoholic bevies and small amounts of coffee (latte’s-I rationalized that they have less caffeine then coffee (the darker the roast of bean the less caffeine) plus they mostly contain milk!) While you can still live your life and eat what you want during pregnancy, making an informed decision is always better then walking into a situation blindly.

Filed Under: Advice, Babies, New Mom, Top 10 Lists

So you’ve peed on a stick, it’s positive…now what? Part 2

July 12, 2008 By erincarrasco 1 Comment

Could you be pregnant? Some top symptoms of Pregnancy!

The signs of pregnancy are so closely linked together and sometimes are not so easily separated from PMS symptoms. But here are a few of the “signs” that may be telling you that baby is on the way! So I’ll just put the premise one on here as: you’ve missed period. Now some women still get a “period” but it’s nowhere near as heavy. And for those of you who have irregular periods, that might not be the first sign. So here are a few below that might help you clue in.

1) Your boobs

For many women the early sign of pregnancy is sensitive, sore breasts–and nipples (this is caused by increasing levels of hormones.) Remember what your boobs felt like when you were growing up? Well welcome back to adolescence! I had to wear two bras and limit motion, even laying down hurt. You will also notice that your girls become ~~huge~~ bigger to accompany the soreness. Some sites compare this to an amplified feeling of tenderness (I’m not going to call it tenderness, cause they bloody well hurt) that is similar to when you are about to get your period.

Another side effect of pregnancy is the darkening of the areolas, they also get huge! This is your body’s way to prepare your breasts to make milk. The reason your body does this is so that your little babe can see where to suck after your give birth. It’s almost like a bull’s eye target for them.

Tip: Wear a sports bra or two, and don’t take the stairs quickly.

2) What is that smell?

You’ll turn into a bloodhound. I remember my husband had eaten garlic for lunch one day and when he came to pick me up I had to roll the window down it was so strong. Not just food bugged me, he bought this ~~horrible~~ wonderful cologne that would make me want to vomit every time he put it on. I’d be in the other end of the house and smell the one sprits he sprayed on himself in the morning.

This new found olfactory wonder is not officially linked to increasing hormone (estrogen) levels but it does wonders for controlling your new nonexistent appetite. You may find the smell of something you love turn into something you can’t even have in the house. These feelings are so real they can actually bring you close to or make you vomit. Leading into my next point.

Tip: be aware of where the nearest window and or bathroom are so that you can either breathe fresh air, or puke in private.

3) You’ll notice that your toilet is not as clean as you thought it was…

While it’s called Morning sickness, it should be called all the freaking time sickness. It can happen; morning/noon/night there is no rule when talking about nausea. Now there are a few things to mention. It happens mostly likely in the am because that is when your blood sugar is lowest. For me it happened at night. And ladies, it often happens without warning. One time, I didn’t make it to the bathroom, but found a sink—not my proudest moment.

While some women don’t notice this lovely side effect until after their first month, some women notice it right away and some women never notice it at all–bastards! Now there is no rule that you will actually vomit, you may just be nauseous all day, or you may get bouts of it. It is “supposed” to subside once the placenta takes over for hormone production (around 12 weeks), but some unlucky women have it throughout their whole pregnancy. If it does happen to disappear after your first trimester, it may return in your third.

Tip: Carry some crackers in your purse, or by the nightstand and eat before you get up. Often eating something will help you not want to vomit. If it is really bad ask your doctor. They have a drug called Dilectin (prescription) that helps with morning sickness–it may be the only way you can function.

4) What could be mistaken for your period…? Cramps.

Ok the funniest book I read during pregnancy was Jenny McCarthy’s “Belly laughs.” I never suspected pregnancy because I had period cramps from hell. I had no spotting but cramps must surely be a sign my period was on its way. Well, little did I know that an expanding uterus hurts! Jenny described it like this, “I went to the bathroom expecting to find the remnants of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre in my underwear” only to find none. I couldn’t have agreed more! Not only that, but your vaginal discharge also increases, which she dubs the “snail trail.”

While cramping is normal, it can be stressing once you find out you are pregnant. I still experienced cramping from time to time during those first 12 weeks, but never any blood. There was a bit of pinkish discharge but nothing too noticeable. But Implantation bleeding is very common as the egg attaches itself to its uterine wall. The bleeding is very light (appearing as red spotting or pink or reddish-brown staining) and lasts only a day or two. (Let your doctor know if you notice any bleeding or spotting, particularly if it’s accompanied by pain, since this can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy.)

If a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, it’s called an ectopic pregnancy. One in 50 pregnancies ends this way.
Here’s how it happens: After conception, the fertilized egg travels down your fallopian tube on its way to your uterus. If the tube is damaged or blocked and fails to propel the egg toward your womb, the egg may become implanted in the tube and continue to develop there. Because almost all ectopic pregnancies occur in one of the fallopian tubes, they’re often called “tubal” pregnancies.

Much less often, an egg implants in an ovary, in the cervix, directly in the abdomen, or even in a c-section scar. In rare cases, a woman has a normal pregnancy in her uterus and an ectopic pregnancy at the same time. This is called a heterotopic pregnancy and it’s more likely to happen if you’ve had fertility treatments, such as in-vitro fertilization.
There’s no way to transplant an ectopic (literally, “out of place”) pregnancy into your uterus, sadly ending the pregnancy is the only option.

Tip: But if you are ever unsure head to the hospital, it’s better to be safe. I would be cautious of using anything really hot on your stomach but as long as you don’t use it for lengthy amounts of time, a hot water bottle can help some of the soreness.

5) I have to go Peeeeeeeeee (no not the Robert Munsch book)

Frequent urination is a huge “side effect” of pregnancy. Mostly because during pregnancy the amount of blood and other fluids in your body increases, which leads to extra fluid being processed by your kidneys and ending up in your bladder.
This symptom may start as early as six weeks into your first trimester and continue or worsen as your pregnancy progresses and your growing baby exerts more pressure on your bladder. Ain’t life grand!

Tip: find a close path to the bathroom!Oh and if you don’t know who Robert Munsch is, go look him up, I guarantee you’ll be reading him later to your child to be!

6) So now I’m fat!

Well not really fat, I mean I lost 10 lbs and gained 2 inches on my waist. This is because hormonal changes in early pregnancy may leave you feeling bloated, similar to the feeling some women have just before their period arrives. That’s why your clothes may feel snugger than usual at the waistline, even early on when your uterus is still quite small. Still made me feel fat! I think I was in maternity clothes at 9 weeks!

Tip: most clothes these days do not look like maternity clothes, but if you are forced to buy some buy it bigger, knowing that medium fits great now, it won’t in 4 months!

7) Huh what’d you say? Sorry I was just resting my eyes… fatigue set’s in.

Often the first sign of pregnancy, it’s not always the most obvious. Working women or women with other children may not notice being extra tired. No one knows for sure what causes early pregnancy fatigue, but it’s possible that rapidly increasing levels of the hormone progesterone are contributing to your sleepiness.

Tip: Sleep when you can, it won’t always be this easy to take a nap

Heartburn… yes I sound like a man with my belches!

What can I say about this…? I had so much heartburn it was horrible. I had to pretty much sleep sitting up as well as have my own designated bottle of gaviscon. Hormones created during pregnancy may relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which opens the valve to allow stomach acids to flow up into the esophagus causing a burning sensation. Though this symptom got worse in my third trimester. I mean even Iced Tea gave me heartburn.

Tip: take Tums or another form of antacid recommended by doctors, but read the recommended dosage, certain ones are not pregnancy friendly. Herbal teas are also “cautioned” against but for me I drank in moderation peppermint tea and chamomile.

9) OH my head is pounding (headaches)

If you have never experienced regular headaches before pregnancy, be prepared for some throbbing pain in your head and neck during pregnancy. Not only the pain, but you’re not supposed to take anything for them. Changes in your body’s hormonal patterns is the primary cause of headaches during pregnancy. Other conditions like lack of sleep, poor posture, stress, dehydration and low blood sugar levels may also worsen of cause headaches.

Tip: drink lots of water, if it’s really bad take acetaminophen.

10)Constipation: I never thought it could be so hard.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy slows down the movement of food through your digestive system which results in constipation. This could be a sign of pregnancy if you do not experience constipation frequently–and trust me, it’s not fun!

Tip: Eat lots of fruits and drink lots of water!

11) Who’s that crazy woman who used to be my: Wife, girlfriend, companion?…Mood swings

Yes, that rational woman you once were, goes out the window with her thong. With your hormones raging, it is common for women to feel moody during their pregnancy. All women have to go through a period of adjustment to settle into their new roles as a pregnant women and that takes time. But it’s a roller coaster that is unpredictable! Even the slightest thing can make this woman burst into tears or tear your head off

Tip: tread lightly

12) Whoa, I don’t feel so great: fainting spells

Dizziness and fainting spells: Due to the lowered blood pressure in your body during pregnancy, blood flow to the brain may cause dizziness and fainting spells in serious cases.–Some women actually find out they’re pregnant this way.

Tip: try to recognize a warning sign and don’t push yourself, sit and stand slowly.

13)Ummm what’s that? I want some of it–and I WANT it now! Food cravings.

Cravings for food that you normally would not eat could be a sign that you are pregnant. Normally, women report cravings for salty and sweet food during pregnancy while others report an uncommon desire for spicy or starchy food. All I can say is that I wanted potatoes. I wanted potato everything and gravy. I was one of those women who never liked sweets before pregnancy and all of a sudden I loved cake! You also can have food aversion, so that if you loved cake, you may hate it during pregnancy. The cravings may stay with you after the baby comes or it may disappear with the fierceness it came.

Tip: Try to balance your cravings as much as possible; while it’s good to give into your cravings, it’s not great to get off the extra weight.

14) Is it hot in here or is it just me?

High Basal Body Temperature (BBT): If you’ve been charting your basal body temperature and you see that your temperature has stayed elevated for 18 days in a row, you’re probably pregnant. If your BTT stays in the high temperature range for 18 days or more, you have a good chance of being pregnant.

Tip: Wear layers just in case you need to feel cooler quickly, know where your closest exits are.

15) Positive home pregnancy tests

Well folks this pretty much means it’s a baby that’s making you sick and tired.

Pregnancy tests measure a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). The placenta produces this hormone during pregnancy. The embryo begins to produce this hormone as soon as it attaches to the wall of the uterus – often as soon as eight to 10 days after conception. Although each woman is different, the HCG level usually doubles every 48 to 72 hours. How soon a pregnancy can be detected depends on:

how much HCG is being produced
the type of pregnancy test used (blood or urine)
the amount of HCG the test measures (each test is more or less sensitive)

Tip: It’s very rare for you to get a positive test and not be pregnant. It is however very common to get a negative test and still be pregnant, if you are past due for your period and still get a negative result go see your doctor or a clinic.

The Bottom Line:

SO if you’ve taken a home pregnancy test (there are some at Dollarama–if you don’t want to shell out the 15-20$ that people have tested with) and has come back positive, then you most likely are. Remember that even if you get a negative result on a test before or even around when your period is due, you could still be pregnant. The advice given on those boxes is to wait a week and try again. If you can stand waiting a week, then you’re amazing. I would just go out and get 7 pregnancy tests from Dollarama and test every day to make sure, oh and I’d probably make an appointment to see my doctor! But knowing me I would probably spend the moola on a pricey test just to be sure. They all measure the same HCG some are mor sensitive then others.

Most of the symptoms masquerade like pre-menstrual syndromes so you may have no clue at all. If you are taking birth control, stop using it if you suspect you are pregnant. I would also stop drinking, smoking or using any other type of recreational drug. Which leads me to my next post…

So I’m officially pregnant, what can I eat? Is it still safe to have sex? How do I tell my loved ones, should I wait until the magic 12 mark? Until next time! Happy testing!

Filed Under: Advice, Mom, New Mom, Top 10 Lists