I'm having a baby!

Well, my water broke 19 hours ago and aside from some irregular contractions, labour is not really coming on. If things don't get going on their own overnight, I will be induced tomorrow. Either way, get ready to meet Baby #2!

Of course, that means I may be a bit later on getting the winner picked and contacted for the International Delight giveaway! Bear with me! It will be done :)

Surprise!

I've been a little quiet lately, keeping some BIG news to myself. We were waiting and waiting and waiting until our trip home over the holidays to let our family know that....

Mia's going to be a big sister!

I'm 16 weeks pregnant today! Baby's due in June.

The first trimester was really difficult this time. I was much more nauseous than with Mia, and so, so tired - no full night sleeps and first trimester exhaustion really wear on a mama. I'm a little less sleepy now, but I still need an afternoon nap when Mia naps to keep from becoming a cranky monster. 

I'll admit, I've had more than a few "what were we thinking?!" moments, as Mia at 23 months is still (yes, still!)  not sleeping through the night. She did SO well on our trip, with three nights in a row of 8 hours of sleep straight - which makes six nights in her entire life where she has slept 6+ hours in a row.

But, she is back to her old habits now that we are home. Last night she was up four times, at midnight, 3, 3:40 and 5:45am... I will say that I am used to it, but that doesn't really make it any easier.

And she's such a busy toddler, I have no idea how I'm going to manage the constant needs of a newborn with the constant needs of Mia! But I tell myself women have been doing this for thousands of years... I'm sure I'll get by. The hardest part is that I have no support system out here in Calgary. All our family is back in Ontario, and while I have friends here, they are busy with their own kids and won't exactly be able to drop everything to help me out when the baby's born.

Mia's also still breastfeeding about 2-4 times a day, which is actually way down from three months ago, when she was still nursing between 10-15 times a day(!). I don't mind nursing her at all, but I know that she won't be thrilled about sharing Mummy's "milks" with a baby.

Anyway, we'll be finding out what the gender is in early February. Any guesses? I can post a nub shot if anyone's into that, but I warn you, it's the most ambiguous nub shot I've ever seen :) Tricky little one!

Fairhaven Health DreamBelly Butter - Review and Giveaway!

I have worked several times in the past with Fairhaven Health and jumped at the chance to test out and review the new DreamBelly Stretch Mark Butter.

You may recall that while I was pregnant, I used DreamBelly Stretch Mark Cream daily on my ginormous belly. I managed to pack on about 50 lbs while I was pregnant - yowza! Yet I made it through without a single stretch mark from pregnancy. You can read my previous review of DreamBelly Stretch Mark Cream if you want the full story.

Just for fun, here's my enormo belly on one of the last days of pregnancy, while I was in labour. You will have to excuse the nasty pyjama pants, I was scraping the bottom of the dresser for anything I could get on at that point:

Not one stretch mark! Hooray! I'm not posting a belly shot now - oh, how I miss the days of flat pre-preg belly that was not squishy in the least - but I assure you, it's still stretch mark free.

So, I can personally attest to the awesomeness of that product, and although I am not pregnant (no, this review is not an announcement!) DreamBelly Butter was something I needed to try. With our recent move to Calgary from Ontario, I have realized just how much the humidity (or lack thereof) affects my skin. Calgary is dry as a desert bone and I'm headed that way, too. I was in desperate need of moisture.

DreamBelly Butter has natural ingredients, safe for pregnancy - and honestly, why would you want to use anything that is not safe for pregnancy, even when you're not pregnant? DreamBelly Butter:

Combines the healing power of rosehip oil, aloe vera, honeysuckle and grapefruit, to protect and regenerate skin, and provide soothing relief from itchiness

Provides deep moisturizing from natural butters and oils with no greasy, slippery feeling

Has the mild, pleasant fragrance of milk and honey

Contains no petroleum products, parabens, artificial colors or artificial preservatives

I love the very light scent - to me it smells sweet like candy, but not in a sticky, fake way, like so many lotions.  It's just really nice. Feminine without being girly, flowery or powdery.

The best thing about it is the feel. It is thick and absorbs well without leaving a greasy feeling on your skin. You can really feel it moisturizing, but you don't feel slippery or oily at all. I can't stand applying lotion and then feeling like it's going to get all over my sheets or clothing. DreamBelly Butter goes on and soaks right in. Lovely. I just checked out the reviews on their site, and it looks like other women love it just as much as I do - all 5 star reviews.

One of the things I respect about Fairhaven Health - and this goes for all their products - is that they provide a complete ingredient list on their website for each product. Everything I have tried from them has been fantastic quality. Although I write a lot of reviews, I don't always gush - but this company has me gushing. It's good stuff. 

And now I have some excellent news: Fairhaven Health has generously offered to send out DreamBelly Stretch Mark Butter to FIVE of my lucky readers! Get in on this one, you will love this product!

Click "read more" if you don't see the Rafflecopter form to enter!

Daddy Scrubs - Review and Giveaway!

This giveaway is closed
Winner: Crafty

It seems sometimes like pregnant mums and babies get all the attention and dads can get left out in the cold. It is so nice to include dads in the preparations for new babies - they're important, too!

I was so thrilled for my husband to try out a great product for expectant dads - Daddy Scrubs! These are practical scrubs that allow the new dad to not only be comfortable in the long hours spent at the hospital (or home for home-birth families!) but also define his role as the Daddy. To differentiate dad from the hospital staff, and to show his pride, they are printed with "I'm the Daddy". A dad came up with this great idea when he found himself expecting his fifth child - an idea born of experience!

My husband and I spent many hours in the birthing room during my prolonged labour. Being as comfortable as he could be enabled him to sustain me during the most difficult parts. And he has some funny stories about his Daddy Scrubs as well!

At lunchtime on the Saturday, he dashed out to the hospital cafeteria to grab a sandwich. To get to the caf, he headed through the main lobby where some labouring mums who were not yet in active labour were waiting with their husbands. As he walked through in his Daddy Scrubs, he overheard one excited dad-to-be whisper to his wife, "I didn't know they gave us scrubs!" The poor guy must have been so disappointed when he realized that not every dad gets these special scrubs to wear!

The real test came during the delivery. Two and a half hours of pushing and my husband was my coach and support. He even caught our baby when she finally arrived! We had a midwife, and a midwife-in-training as well. The trainee clamped the cord, then added the second clamp so that my husband could cut it. But, she forgot an important step - to milk the blood out of the section to be cut! So the cord between the clamps was full of pressurized blood and when my husband cut it, it squirted far and wide, hitting my husband, the trainee midwife, even the ceiling of the birthing room! It was so dramatic, and super funny - a moment of comedy after an exhausting labour. The point of telling this story is that the Daddy Scrubs saved his regular clothes from this - and (this is the amazing part) the blood ALL came out of them in the wash. I'm not sure if that is due to the nature of scrubs or the laundry detergent I used, but... wow.

Overall I loved seeing him in his Daddy Scrubs and I think he felt pretty cool and comfy in them as well. They looked great on him, were perfect for the delivery, and are comfortable enough to wear as lounge wear or pyjamas now - after all, he is still 100% the Daddy! He got to try the scrubs in khaki; they also come in green and navy, with different font options as well.

If scrubs are not the expectant dad in your life's thing, they also have "I'm the Daddy" t-shirts and hoodies, ball caps, and mugs. What an awesome gift any of these would make for an expecting father.

And guess what? DaddyScrubs has offered a set of scrubs to one of my readers!!!

The giveaway:
One winner will receive their own Daddy Scrubs!

How to enter:
This is the mandatory entry - do this first to qualify for bonus entries!

Visit the Daddy Scrubs website and tell me your favourite product there or something interesting that you learned.

Make sure I've got a way to contact you if you're the winner!

Bonus entries: (please leave an extra comment for each. If you already do any of these things, leave the comment - you do get the entry for it!):

• "Like" the DaddyScrubs Facebook page (leave your first name and initial in your comment)
  
• Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name)
• Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link to your tweet for ONE entry (this is not a daily entry)! You can use this tweet if you like:
  

  #Win a set of Daddy Scrubs for expectant dads at Emily's Latest! Comfort & style for dad! http://bit.ly/eeGc0H @emilyisland US/CAN (3/7)
  

• Follow my blog (publicly) – 2 entries, leave 2 comments
• Add my blog button to your blog– 2 entries, leave 2 comments (please leave a link to your blog)
• Tell me who you would love to win these for!
  

I will be verifying comments so please actually do the things you say you do ☺

Please be sure to include your email address if it’s not public in your blogger profile! Anonymous comments without a way to contact you will be rejected. Canadian or US mailing addresses only, please. Giveaway ends March 7th at 11:59 EST. A winner will be drawn within the next day or two, announced here, in a separate post and emailed!

She's keeping us waiting

Still at home, still lots of intense contractions 4-5 minutes apart. They were at 3 minutes apart for a while but slowed down again. Teasing us!

I am booked for an induction on Monday if she doesn't get herself in gear before then!

update

I had that membrane sweep done yesterday in the late morning. The midwife said the first one rarely works and that if it did, it would work within 24 hours. She was expecting I’d need another on the weekend, and was scheduling me for induction on Monday if nothing had happened. It was pretty unpleasant but not as bad as I’d thought it might be, especially after coming to terms with why I was so freaked out about it. At that time I was at 2cm dilation, 70% effacement and station –1.

Yesterday afternoon I started getting some irregular contractions. By evening they were pretty painful. I took a bath and went to bed, but I woke up pretty much every time one happened, so I was getting sleep in about 10-15 minute stretches. Early this morning DH timed the contractions, and they were between 8-5 minutes apart and lasting about a minute.

This morning I had an appointment for a biophysical profiling ultrasound, which is the one they do post dates to check the amniotic fluid, fetal movement, muscle tone, and fetal “breathing” (irregular practice breathing). This is because I’m pretty much at 41 weeks now. We had spoken to the midwife just before leaving for the appointment to confirm that she still wanted us to go, considering how frequent my contractions had become. It was not fun spending 45 minutes in the waiting room and having contractions every 5-7 minutes! The staff was really freaked out by me being in early labour in their office, and kept asking us if we shouldn’t be going to the hospital (not that they gave me any priority in terms of seeing me at my appointment time!). It was kind of funny. We were pretty calm (aside from me doing some breathing techniques through the contractions) and they were the ones panicking

We got a score of 6/8 for the profile; everything was good, except that the tech wasn’t able to catch her doing breathing movements. The baby is measuring approximately 7 lbs 13 oz (give or take half a pound) and DH got to watch the ultrasound and see her heart beating, and her little fingers wiggling and such. The profile took about 15-20 minutes. I couldn’t see the monitor at all!

Because we didn’t have a perfect score, we had to drive up to the midwife’s office (40 minutes away) to do a non-stress test. Bumpy country roads are really awful for a woman in labour BTW! For the test, I was hooked up to an external fetal monitor with two devices, one measuring the fetal heart rate and one measuring the contractions. Over twenty minutes, it did a graph print-out of the contractions and it was neat to see the way they regularly peaked (though I can certainly feel it already!). What they were looking for is her heart rate accelerating with movement and contractions. That test showed that the baby is just fine. It had to be done to make sure there were no problems. It also showed the midwife pretty clearly that the contractions are quite regular and spaced now at 4.5-5 minutes apart.

We are at home now, waiting for the contractions to become much stronger, which will mean I’m in active labour. At that point we’ll call the midwife and she’ll come to our house until I’m at 7cm dilation, and then we’ll head over to the hospital.

So, we will probably be looking at tonight or tomorrow for the birth (how exciting!). I hope it’s tonight because it would be a cool birthday – 11/02/11 – but I guess we’ll still keep her if she comes tomorrow

We're going to be exhausted after very little sleep last night and probably no sleep tonight!

Green light - red light

Thank you so much for all your support and comments. I actually feel so much better about things for writing it out... Realizing where the fear stemmed from helped me start to get over it.

So here's where we stand today...

Last night at around 8:30 I had a gush of bright red blood. Panic! I've seen that before, and the last time was when I had the miscarriage at 11.5 weeks. I called the midwife immediately and, after a lot of questions about pain, how much blood, any other symptoms, she instructed me to lie down, drink a big glass of orange juice, and count fetal movements. Baby was moving about every 2-4 minutes, in between Braxton Hicks contractions that were happening every 10 minutes. The concern is placental abruption, but because I didn't have pain or a rock-hard abdomen that didn't subside, she said that probably wasn't it.

When I spoke to her again an hour later, she said it sounded like early labour, to take a nice relaxing bath, go to bed and let her know when we're at 5-1-1.

Well, I had two (two!) real, although mild, contractions at around 5 am - and nothing since then.

FALSE ALARM!

Phooey. I spent the day off my feet (as much as I could stand) as per instructions from my midwife. So boring (although my husband rented Little Big Planet 2, which is fun!).

So I am going in tomorrow for my appointment and membrane sweep... Not looking forward to it, but I can handle it. And if it helps get this baby out, sounds good to me. My back is aching, my belly is so full of baby that it feels stretched to the limit and so uncomfortable, my feet are swollen, and I am DONE!

Hopefully that will be the beginning of the end - and the start of a whole new life!

You can't pretend it never happened.

I was 20 years old. It was the fall of my third year in university. We'd just gotten back into the swing of classes after a summer off, and everyone was busy reuniting with classmates and renewing friendships. I'd (amicably) broken up with my first serious university boyfriend over the summer, and felt ready to pursue a new relationship. It was truly a golden time - I was loving school, had a part-time job I enjoyed, had a ridiculous amount of friends, life was full of possibilities.

I'd noticed this guy before, a serious kind of guy, passionate about his studies, cute but not the kind of guy women were falling over. He was respected for what he was doing in school - he had talent - and while he was fairly introverted, we had some friends in common. I had a little crush on him, I'll admit it. There was something that intrigued me about his reticence, and his school work impressed me. I'd chatted with him briefly, but didn't really know him.

One Friday night, a bunch of us from school got together at the local pub. There must have been 20 of us, a really good group of people - lots of laughing, and lots of drinking. I have always been pretty good about knowing just how much it takes to keep a good buzz on without losing control, but that night I made a mistake in judgment. I had too much.

Slowly, as the night ended, people started leaving. Without cars, generally too drunk to drive anyway, and too frugal for cab fare, most of us walked the 1/2 hour or so to our various student houses. The guy lived on the way to my place and so we walked together. We chatted and laughed as we walked. His place came first - there was another 10 minute walk for me - and I was a little fearful of walking the rest of the way alone, well after midnight. He invited me in. Looking at the options - one one hand, the dark street, on the other his smiling face in the light of the doorway - I accepted. It felt like a safe harbour.

We were both drunk. We kissed. It went further than I wanted. He was stronger than I was. I said no. He ignored it. He didn't use a weapon, other than his body; he didn't leave a mark, other than internally/emotionally. He got laid. I got raped.

I never thought of myself as a victim. I was a smart young woman. I knew about rape, theoretically. I knew about making safe choices. I knew that what had happened to me was wrong. I didn't report it. I felt so stupid for getting myself into that situation. I blamed myself for "allowing" that to happen. I could hardly believe it had - I kept running over the sequence and doubting whether I'd really made it clear that I didn't want to have sex with him. It was like a choose your own adventure in reverse - if only I hadn't gone that night, hadn't had so many drinks, found a cab, hadn't trusted a stranger. If only I'd fought harder, screamed and shouted, woken the neighbours, run away, been able to defend myself.

I decided I wasn't going to give that incident any power. That I could get over it, learn from it, move on. And for a solid 15 years I have been able to say to myself, "I was date raped. I am over it."

The truth is, you don't really get over it. I don't think there's closure for that. I still blame myself for making bad choices that led to putting myself in that kind of danger (logically, I do know that's not entirely fair to myself).

This is not a story I've shared much. My husband knows it happened, my midwife, of course the guy who did it... that might be it. I didn't tell anyone at the time.

Before this happened to me, I didn't understand why women would keep silent about rape. I couldn't fathom letting someone get away with that. Before, I was a more judgmental person - now, I realize that there is an awful lot of grey in this world. A woman can see the black and white, but her choices are all grey.

It ended up being more about the consequences for me. In a completely typical, cliched response that I was, even as it happened, perfectly aware of - I felt like it must have been my fault. It was me, after all, who drank so much she wasn't thinking straight. It was me who agreed to go in to a drunk guy's place without knowing him very well. I questioned my actions rather than his. I could step back and look at it as though it happened to someone else and say very rationally, that was rape, that should have been reported to the police. But it happened to me and that's different. I doubted myself, I felt like I would be blamed and marked, it would ruin the rest of my studies, I'd always be That Girl. Some people might stand by me, but most would wonder if it were really true or, worse, back up the guy. I'd have to talk about it, relive it, it would go on and on. I wasn't beaten. I had no marks. It would be my word against his.

I honestly don't know that I would handle it differently if I were to go back and relive my reaction to the rape. Would I report it? It's not right that it happened, it's not right at all that he got away with doing that to me, it's not right that I felt too ashamed and scared of the consequences to come forward, and it is SO not right that the whole scenario is, I bet, way more common than anyone guesses.

So why am I thinking about this now? It's been so many years. It isn't something I make a habit of dwelling on at all. The first recent reminder was when I was filling out the forms for the midwife. A question asked - were you ever the victim of sexual assault? I hated checking off 'yes'. I hated that this one incident changed my history and changed the way I would be treated. The midwife asked me about it on reviewing the form and I said I was over it, it was a long time ago. I didn't want to discuss it, I didn't want to be treated differently or even reminded that it had happened. (Doesn't that reaction kind of scream, "Not over it!")

And now I'm 40+ weeks pregnant - a very much wanted baby, a loving and safe relationship with my husband - and suddenly the rape has come right back to haunt me. Not because of the birth - I'm not afraid of that, or of the pain of labour. Apprehensive, okay, nobody likes pain - but there's no fear there. I actually can't wait.

It's the induction procedures that terrify me. The concept of lying there while someone does things to me that I don't want to happen, that I know are going to hurt, that will undoubtedly make me feel bad physically - it's a big problem for me. Invading my body with membrane sweeps or hormone gel. It's a violation. I know it's meant to help and it's not malicious, it's about the baby and not about me. I know it's medical, and not about power or sex. I know these things. Logically, it's perfectly clear and not a big deal. Emotionally, it is something else entirely - it's huge and horrible and makes me want to run and hide. Despite the purpose of it, all for the good, it's the process that troubles me.

I feel like time is running out. I have until Thursday to try to change my attitude about this, to overcome the fear - or just accept that I'll be gritting my teeth, spreading my legs, and putting up with a bad thing happening to me again, a stranger doing things to me that I don't want. Of course, I could go into spontaneous labour naturally in the next 50 hours, but I am not feeling like that will happen.

A week from now, this part will be over. The induction will have or will not have happened. We'll have a new baby and so much more to think about than the past.

Meanwhile... well, after a major breakdown this morning about it, I'm writing this to get it out... hopefully it helps me deal with it, and who knows, maybe it will help someone else somehow.

Packing the Hospital Bag

Edit: I've updated this with what I actually needed (marked in red).
The rest... well, just excess baggage!

I have totally been putting this off. Here are my silly, procrastinatory reasons (I know they're no good):

1. If the labour bag is packed, that means I will actually have to go through labour. (Yes, I know that makes no sense at all.)
2. Half the stuff I need to pack is stuff I use every day. So I can't pack it. Right?
3. I have about 5 different lists (from the web, from birth books, from my midwife, from my hospital, from friends) telling me I need about a zillion things. Really. A zillion. I don't want to move IN to the hospital. In fact, I plan (as if I get to plan this) to be in there for about 6 hours total. Yes, I know that plans go awry, and maybe (hope not) I'll end up with a complication or two that could require a longer stay.
4. My suitcase is too small to contain the zillion things.

I have, actually, packed the baby's bag - she doesn't need much, after all. Yay for progress!

Okay. So. I have decided - since I'm on maternity leave now (aka, I'm self-employed and I've decided to stop working - not like I'm getting any pay while I'm off) -

TODAY IS THE DAY.

Here's my final list, and if you think I'm missing anything crucial, you absolutely must let me know!

For me:

• My chart (my midwife gives me a copy of my medical chart) & birth plan definitely needed
  
• robe
• pyjama pants and tank top
  
• flip flops Yes! my feet were so swollen after, I went home in these.
  
• 3 pairs of underwear I don't care about definitely needed
• overnight maxi pads definitely needed
• puppy training pads (this is from the midwife's list. I got them at the dollar store, way cheaper than the pet store or WalMart, if you're in the market! They're just waterproof pads for the car/bed/whatever).
  
• tissues. Maybe my own soft toilet paper? I've heard that's a good idea... thoughts?
• olive oil (for perineal massage and for baby's bum) definitely needed
• 2 washcloths definitely needed
• arnica gel definitely needed
• nipple butter/lanolin cream definitely needed
• nursing pads definitely needed
• gravol definitely needed
• ibuprofen definitely needed
• towel
• toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, cleanser, facial moisturizer, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush & hair elastic, deodorant Only used what's marked in blue
  
• makeup. There will be pictures, right?
  
• lip balm definitely needed
• hair dryer (do hospitals have these? I forgot to ask at the tour. I hate having wet hair!)
• 2 pillows definitely needed
• sleep mask
  
• barf bucket. Yes, apparently I need to bring my own barf bucket. definitely needed! Ugh!
• after outfit: a transition top (nursing/maternity) and probably my Moody Mamas lounge pants. Comfy and forgiving for a still-swollen belly. Socks, undies, comfy nursing bra. definitely needed
• heat pad
  
• blackberry, loaded with an audio book and music, and earphones
  

For hubby:

• Daddy Scrubs (these are cool - hang in for a review/giveaway of these after the birth!) definitely needed
• the book The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin. definitely needed - DH referred to this throughout to learn more about what was happening
  
• toothbrush definitely needed
• Camera and charger definitely needed
• Cell phone and charger definitely needed
• Laptop - in case of boredom, and to keep family in the loop
• Change of clothes (thanks for the tip, Chari!) definitely needed

For baby:

• car seat. It's already installed. definitely needed
• car seat cover (it's winter here), also already on there definitely needed
• two outfits, a teeny one and a slightly bigger one, with feet teeny one was too small! definitely needed
• sweater-suit - not quite a snow suit, but warm.
  
• two hats, a cotton one and a soft toque
  
• mittens: cotton no-scratch and warm wool ones
• nursing pillow
• package of newborn diapers. We're going to cloth diaper, but the first few days will use disposables. definitely needed
• baby wipes. Again, we're going to use cloth wipes but have some disposables for the first few days. definitely needed
• diaper cream
  
• baby wash
• receiving blanket
• brush
• digital thermometer
• Vaseline (thanks Nelly!)
  

Food:
I have gathered some stuff to take to eat, since I keep hearing how awful hospital food is. My midwife actually included "Food and juice for midwives" on the list of things for me to bring - is that weird? I thought it was. I'm expected to feed them??? Anyway.

• juice boxes definitely needed
• Crispy Minis
• trail mix
• muffins from the freezer definitely needed
• honey for energy
• fruit salad bowls
• puddings
• plastic cup for ice/water definitely needed
• spoons

Lots of sweet stuff, but I've had a sweet tooth the entire time so I imagine that will be fine. For me. And really... if anyone starts complaining about the menu to me while I'm in labour, they are really asking for it.

See what I mean? A freakin' zillion things. I'm not moving in, I'll be there for a very short time, I hope!

I'm gonna do it. Really. Just as soon as I'm done writing this post. Which is taking a long time. And I could write all day... Okay, okay!

Ready?

I'm full term. 37 weeks (and a couple days). Wow. I can hardly believe we made it this far after what we've been through in the last couple of years.

And now the waiting game begins... To think that she could "arrive" any time within the next 5 weeks is kind of disconcerting. Five weeks is a BIG window.

I am, and am not ready. We have the stuff we need (okay, I still need to pick up some arnica or witch hazel), and we've taken a prenatal class together. I've read a dozen books and have attended a breastfeeding class. I've watched countless birth videos and read birth stories that have brought me to tears. I'm starting to really feel uncomfortable, not only for sleeping, but walking and - well, just existing in general. The weight of the belly (and the lack of decent sleep) are taking a toll. I'm slowing down. I want my body back, though I'll surely miss the belly and the movement! In these ways, I'm ready.
But can anything really prepare you? Not only for the work and pain of labour and delivery, but for parenthood? And, can someone please pack my hospital bag, because I've been putting it off!

I have a pretty good idea of the kind of parent I want to be. I realize that there are lots of things that it's easy to say "never" to when you're not a parent, and then when reality hits and it's a question of your sanity or upholding the "never"... I know what I'll be tossing, and it's not my mental health (I hope). It is so easy to pass judgment on parents when you're not one... I've tried not to be that person but at the same time have caught myself thinking, "Wow, I don't think that's the way I would handle (whatever)." Hopefully I can take those lessons and apply them to my own parenting skills. Not that I'll be the perfect parent. I'm just as fallible as the next person.

I suspect that the main thing is to be flexible. I guess that applies to most of life - you need to adapt when things aren't quite what you expected.

For now, the not knowing is the hardest part.

WHEN will it happen?
Will I be able to handle it, or will I give in and beg for pain meds?
Will she and I make it through okay?
Will I ever sleep again?
What if, when we meet her, the name we've picked just doesn't fit her?
What if we get a major surprise and she is a he??!!!

So my questions for you are:

Any guesses as to baby's arrival date? My due date is February 2nd (according to ultrasound dating), or February 4th (according to ovulation). She's 2/5 engaged (that's not the station, just how far down her head is by palpation). I'm having more frequent and intense Braxton Hicks contractions, but no other signs of labour yet. I haven't had any internal exams, so no idea on effacement or dilation. It's my first baby.

Any sage advice you want to share?

The Bump at 36 1/2 weeks

I haven't shared a bump photo in ages, so here it is. I'm 36 weeks plus 3 days (or 5 days, depending who you ask!). Pretty close to full term. My husband is convinced she can come any time now. Me, I'm getting a little more apprehensive about the birth.

This morning I was trying to visualize what I would feel like if the contractions started today - and I got pretty excited about the prospect of finally meeting our baby girl.

I am afraid of the pain, afraid of having to get a c-section, and afraid of losing the baby still, but I'm also confident that I can get through it, whatever happens.

She could come any time between now and February 16th... what a window! I think the suspense is the worst part!

You! Lingerie - Review and Giveaway!!!

***This giveaway is closed.***
Winners: Amanda & Luvin My Lil Monkeys!

You! Lingerie is pretty much brand spankin' new on the nursing lingerie scene. They launched their beautiful line just a few weeks ago and are already seeing an amazing response, with retailers lining up to sell and customers lining up to buy!

Here's why - these are quality products at a reasonable price. What's that?! A reasonable price for nursing bras? It's practically unheard of. And they're really nice, too - not your boring beige, black or white, but vivid colours and prints, with lace and bows - not overly frilly, but with some real pizazz. I love seeing products that make being a mama sexy and these definitely fall into that category.

I got to try out the Isis Blue nursing bra. The bra came packaged in an air-filled bag, which protected it from crushing but is still quite minimal packaging. You may recall that I take issue with a lot of maternity & nursing bras. Part of the problem is the sizing, part is the underwires, part is the uglies and part is the insane pricing of nice-looking bras. You! Lingerie addresses all of these issues. Their sizing chart and measuring instructions are quite easy to follow. The bras are supportive, but underwire free - which makes sense, as underwires can lead to clogged milk ducts and infection! They're pretty and affordable.

Not only that, they are functional. The signature hot pink clips (love) are easy to open one-handed. The lightly lined cups provide modesty without bulk. The straps are wide for comfort, and there is a triple hook at the back with four size settings, meaning a comfortable band (no digging in at the sides) and adjustability for fluctuating sizes during pregnancy and nursing. I found mine to be very supportive - now, I'm not super-sized in the boob department, but I am used to wearing underwires and I totally didn't miss the wire at all.

Here's the bra itself - gorgeous colour, love the hot pink lining, clips and bows! I also appreciate that while there is lace on there for style (at the sides it is backed by hot pink, it looks so pretty), it is situated so that it does not create a lumpy profile. The seamless cups are great, too. I really hate that lumpy look that some bras have under a t-shirt! You can see in the picture that the left side is a little crumpled from being packed with one cup inside out (this is fresh out of the bag). Not to worry - the cup reverted to a perfectly smooth shape very quickly!When you see the pretty lingerie models on the website, you might wonder how the bra looks on a real person. I know I always do - they're so perfectly proportioned and I always wonder about Photoshop hiding the flaws of a product. (Skeptical much?!) So here are a couple of photos of the bra in 'action' on a real person. Bear in mind I'm seven months pregnant, and definitely no professional lingerie model! Be easy on me :) I wanted to show the great fit, how supportive the cups are (there's lift going on here!) and how the bra is smooth under a knit top.
Each of the bras has a matching panty as well. There are currently seven designs available, and you can buy them online at You! Lingerie as well as at select retailers. If you are in the market for a new maternity or nursing bra, or if you want to jazz up your lingerie selection, without breaking the bank, I can happily recommend You! Lingerie. You can also pick up a gift certificate on their site if you are looking to impress a mama or mama-to-be for Christmas!

Here's the best part for you:

You! Lingerie has very generously offered TWO of my readers the chance to try a nursing bra and panty set for free! Who's ready to get lucky!?

The giveaway:
Two winners will each receive a You! Lingerie bra and panty set of their choice (subject to availability).

How to enter: This is a two step entry, so make sure you follow the steps to qualify! Put both of these in ONE COMMENT. This is the mandatory entry - do this first to qualify for bonus entries! Head over to You! Lingerie and
(1) select your favourite product (paste the link in your comment) and tell me why you chose it
(2) suggest a new product or fabric that you would love to see added to the You! Lingerie line (examples - new colour/pattern, other types of lingerie).
Make sure I've got a way to contact you if you're the winner!

Bonus entries (please leave an extra comment for each. If you already do any of these things, leave the comment - you do get the entry for it!):

• Sign up for the You! Lingerie newsletter
• "Like" the You! Lingerie Facebook page (leave your first name and initial for verification)
• Make a purchase from the You! Lingerie online shop, and tell me what you bought! (2 entries)
• Follow @YouLingerie on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
• Write a unique tweet about this giveaway for ONE entry, this is not a daily! Include @emilyisland, @YouLingerie and #bfcafe. Leave me the link to your tweet!
  
• Follow my blog (publicly) – 2 entries, leave 2 comments
• Add my blog button to your blog– 2 entries, leave 2 comments (please leave a link to your blog)

I will be verifying comments so please actually do the things you say you do ☺

Please be sure to include your email address if it’s not public in your blogger profile! Anonymous comments without a way to contact you will be rejected. Canadian or US mailing addresses only, please. Giveaway ends December 16th at 11:59 EST. A winner will be drawn the next day, announced here, in a separate post and emailed!

Prize will be shipped by sponsor. Note for Canadian entrants: You! Lingerie is not responsible for customs or duties that Canada may charge if you decide to participate in this You! Lingerie sponsored blog giveaway. (FYI - it's unlikely to have a charge, being under the $60 that incurs duty charges. There was no extra charge on my shipment, which came to Canada quickly and packaged well.)

Disclosure: You! Lingerie provided me with a bra to review, but I was not paid or otherwise compensated for this review.

Ellia C. Naturals - Review & Holiday Gift Ideas!

I took advantage of that great BOGO deal I was telling you about a couple of weeks ago and picked up some of Ellia C. Naturals' Autumn Harvest soap, and got the bonus of a bar of Festive soap as well. Both of these are limited edition seasonal soaps, so if you want to try them out, now's the time!

Jen was kind enough to send along with my order a few extras for me to try out and review for you! I am just going to come right out and say I love these products. Everything I have tried from her shop has been really great. I confess that when the box arrived in our mailbox, a tiny hole had been poked in it during shipping (not to worry, everything inside was well protected with bubble wrap and peanuts!) and my husband and I took turns sniffing at the hole on the walk home because it smelled so good. Yes, I'm sure we looked crazy.

I also love that it is indicated right on each product page if it contains ingredients that aren't safe for use during pregnancy. This is thoughtful (and timely, for me) and something that I really haven't seen on other product sites. I'm not talking about chemicals here, because all the ingredients are natural and often organic, but some essential oils are not recommended for use during pregnancy and if the soaps contain them, there's a warning. Love that.

Here are some of the goodies I got to try:

The Autumn Harvest soap. It's so pretty, and perfect for this time of year. A spice-coloured soap bar (generously sized!) with shavings of white soap on top - it looks good enough to eat! I pulled it out of the packaging so you could see how pretty it looks (and I love the simple packaging, wrapped with a ribbon). It is just about the same colour as our countertop in the bathroom so I put it on a towel so you can see it properly. It smells like fall. It's made with freshly ground spices, shea butter, coconut milk and pumpkin... doesn't that sound decadent? I'm busting this one out as soon as I'm finished my current soap... if I can wait that long.

The Festive Soap - again a very pretty double-layer bar with an adorable coordinating ribbon on the paper wrap. What's in it? "Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom pair nicely with sweet orange, tangerine, and lemon... with a splash of cranberry juice" Um, yum. This one I've been sniffing every time I pass anywhere near it. It smells like all the best things about Christmas and the holidays, without being overpowering. It has a very natural, spicy and fresh scent - hard to describe but it's SO good. I'm saving it for December (yes, I coordinate my soap smell with the season)!

This is an adorable soap pop - cute or what? I think this would be a great gift for kids (or the sweet-toothed adult)! This one is a Whipped Pumpkin Soap Pop, again perfect for the season. They also come in Peppermint Stick, Rainbow Splash (citrus) and Sassy Pants (bergamot and grapefruit). Yum. Cutest packaging ever! The Ellia C. Naturals line also has lollipop soaps (Lather Lollies) in the same fragrances, AND coming soon are cupcake soaps! These products are great for littles, because they contain only natural ingredients, get the cleaning job done, and also provide natural moisture for sensitive skin. Stocking stuffers, maybe? (Speaking of, you've also got to check out the Gingerbread Man soaps...)

Now it's clear that these are brand spankin' new products in the photos - so you may wonder, how can I review them if they're not used yet? Well, I have used Ellia C. Naturals soaps in the past (I've had the pleasure of trying many different bars) and have been 100% happy with them. They smell amazing through and through, last a long time (especially with the Natural Pine Soap Deck which I also have), have a lovely texture, and leave my skin feeling soft and lightly moisturized (but never greasy!). My husband even uses them. So I am full out confident that these will be the same quality (and I can definitely vouch for how awesome they smell!).

One product that I am saving for the (eeks!) near future is the Back in the Saddle Postpartum Sitz Tea. This sample is like a giant tea bag of organic, fair trade herbs and botanicals that are soothing to give a new mama a little relief. The full-size product comes loose in a jar with a reuseable muslin bag and holds enough for 4-5 baths. Awesome, thoughtful gift for an expecting mama, folks!

Here's another that would be a great mama gift - the Mama Meringue body whip. It comes in four different varieties (three scents and unscented), and I got to try out the Lemon Lavender version. Again, it smells amazing - fresh, clean and natural, but not chemically or overwhelming. The scent IS strong but it is not the heavy kind of smell that will give you a headache or anything (I've got it on now and I can smell it where I applied it on my arm if I sniff it, but it's not a constant smell surrounding me, if you know what I mean. This can be used as a belly balm (you know I love me some belly balm) or as a general moisturizer. It's a shea butter lotion made from natural oils and contains Vitamin E as well, great for the skin! The consistency is kind of stiff in the jar, but softens up easily with the warmth of your hands to scoop out a little and glides on. Love.

I'm going to put it out there that you should seriously consider these products for holiday gifts for your favourite person. The individual cold processed soaps are really pretty and luxurious for anyone; check out the holiday gift sets as well. If you don't find exactly what you want there, they also do custom gift sets and even party favours.

While you are looking at the Ellia C. Naturals line, you might notice that there's a lot more to the site than just natural bath and body care. Jennifer is the owner and founder of not just Ellia C. Naturals but also the Bullfrogs & Butterflies Boutique, which has loads of beautiful gifts for little ones and mamas, too.

And here's a tip for you: if you sign up for their newsletter, you will find that there is a great big Black Friday deal just for newsletter subscribers about to be announced! You can also like Ellia C. Naturals on Facebook and follow on Twitter for product updates and specials!

A big thank you to Jenn from Ellia C. Naturals for providing me with some of her gorgeous products to try out. I did receive samples for review, but was not paid for this post.

27+ 4

Belly shot! 27 weeks and 4 days today.

my bump maternity - Review and Giveaway!

I had the pleasure of reviewing a great top I received from my bump maternity, which is a maternity (and more!) store not too far away from me in Toronto. They stock loads of maternity fashions: tops, dresses, skirts, pants and outerwear (like the M coat that I have a crush on... pregnant in a Canadian winter means a suitable coat is a must), as well as skin care products, everything you need for breastfeeding, and stylish diaper bags. Also check out the sale section - discounts of 50% and more! You can do your shopping in store or online.

And, if you are in or near Toronto, they're having a customer appreciation event in store this weekend (October 21-24) - 25% off all maternity and breastfeeding!

If you have done any looking at all at maternity products, you will recognize some of the biggest names among the brands they carry. I left it up to Cheryl, the owner, to select a top and I could not have been more thrilled with what she chose for me.

The top I got to try is a transitional maternity and nursing top by the Swedish line boob. I am a big fan of boob designs - they are always so flattering and practical. I have a few boob pieces already in heavy rotation in my wardrobe! It's great to be able to pick up fashions from this line at a Canadian retailer! Plus, I love the colour. Forgive the photos - with my husband working in Calgary, I'm my own photographer these days!

The top is super comfy and flattering as well. It is roomy enough for my belly (getting bigger every day, it seems), and I can tell that the flowy design will be flattering to my post-natal figure as well - with the fitted smocking over the empire waist emphasizing that I still have a figure! The layering of the top gives it very easy and discreet access for nursing as well. I love that this is something I will be able to wear not just for the next few months but for much longer.

Another product I have tried from my bump is the Belly Jelly. I have told you about my morning belly cream that I'm using. This is the one I use for a nightly application. I'm sure you experienced mamas know that a good belly cream is such a relief for tight growing skin. I've been using it every single night for probably 2-3 months now (I picked it up a while back).

You know I'm a stickler for checking what's in the products that I use, and the ingredients list is as follows: Lavender Flowers, oats, soya bean oil, wheatgerm oil, coconut oil, shea butter, evening primrose oil, beeswax, tocopherol (vitamin E), lavender and palma rosa essential oils. All natural, all safe, and it smells so yummy - an herbal scent. You can see that it lasts ages - this is mine after using it for months! I do find that because it's an oil-based product that it's more perfect for night than day. I like a quick-absorbing water-based product for day. But for night, a soothing belly massage with this is just what a mama-to-be needs. And between this and the one I use in the morning, so far so good... no stretch marks (yet)!

my bump maternity has offered a giveaway for one of my readers!

The giveaway: a $25 gift certificate!

How to enter: Visit my bump maternity, and tell me what you love from the store! Please be sure to include your email if it’s not public in your blogger profile! This is the mandatory entry - do this first!

Extra entries: Bonus time! Leave a comment for each extra entry.

• Become a fan of/"like" my bump on Facebook (mention your first name and last initial in your comment). Already do? That counts!
• Follow @mybump on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!). Already do? That counts!
• sign up for the my bump newsletter (on the left sidebar of the my bump website). A great way to find out first about upcoming sales!
  
• Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!). Already do? That counts!
• Tweet about this giveaway (once - this is not a daily!) and leave me the permalink. You can use this for your tweet, if you like:
  

  "#Win a $25 Gift Certificate to My Bump at Emily's Latest @emilyisland. #maternity & more! @mybump http://bit.ly/afof90 US/CAN ends 11/7"

• Follow my blog (publicly) – 2 entries, leave 2 comments. Already do? That counts!
  
• Add my blog button to your blog - leave the URL. Already have it? That counts!
• Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post and to my bump – 2 entries, leave 2 comments and please include a link to your post
• Tell me your favourite maternity or nursing brand. Do you love boob like me, or have you got another one to recommend?
  

Please be sure to include your email if it’s not public in your blogger profile! Anonymous comments without a way to contact you will be rejected. Canadian or US mailing addresses only, please. Giveaway ends November 7th at 11:59 pm EST. A winner will be drawn within a day or two of the giveaway's end, announced here, in a separate post and emailed!

A big thank you to my bump for this review opportunity! I received a top to review, but was not paid for this post and the opinions are my own.

Dream Belly Stretch Mark Cream - Review and Giveaway!

You may recall my recent review of Fairhaven Health's Natural Deodorant and last year's review of FertilAid for Women. I've got another great product from Fairhaven Health to share with you today!

***This giveaway is closed***
Winner: Karla

I'm about 24 weeks pregnant and it really shows! I love the belly. It is starting to get a little tight and uncomfortable, though! The tight and itchy skin is one thing, but the pregnancy feature I'm not looking forward to is stretch marks. So far, so good - none have appeared - but I do have another three-and-a-half-ish months to go!

I know it's genetic, and considering that I got some when I gained the "Freshman 15" back in the day (boo!), I'm kind of expecting to gain a few battle scars from the pregnancy. I've read that between 75-90% of women get stretch marks during pregnancy. It's probably just a matter of time for me. Meanwhile, there's no harm in doing what I can to try to prevent them! Moisturizing is key to help with the itch from the tightness and hopefully it will help prevent some of those pesky striae gravidarum (the technical term).

I've been using a couple of belly creams (more on that later), but my go-to cream for morning use is Fairhaven Health's Dream Belly Stretch Mark Cream. I'm not kidding - I use this every day. The reason I love it for my morning cream is that it is water-based, so it absorbs very quickly and doesn't leave any oily marks on my clothes. It doesn't leave my hands feeling greasy, either (I really don't like that feeling and usually feel I have to wash my hands immediately after applying lotions. Not with this!). It has a very light citrus scent from natural orange extract - nothing too perfumey or strong, which is nice.

This cream, like the other products from Fairhaven Health that I have tried, is formulated with natural ingredients. I love that each ingredient has a purpose (not just fillers or chemicals to improve feel or whatever) and that I can research them and learn why they have been included. I usually do a breakdown of the ingredients in products like this, but Fairhaven Health has done a great job of this on the product page - just click the 'Ingredients' tab to read straightforward information about what's in it, and why.

The verdict isn't in whether I will get stretch marks or not, but for the time being, I find that I have very minor itching from the tight skin on my belly, and if I do start to notice it later in the day, a light application of the Dream Belly cream soothes that right away.

The little massage in applying the cream is pretty nice, too. It sometimes starts off a little dance party in my belly! And for the record, stretch marks can occur on bellies, bums, boobs and thighs - anywhere we grow during pregnancy - so my tactic is to use the cream as a general moisturizer wherever I may need it!

Dream Belly Stretch Mark Cream sells for $19.95 and remember, Fairhaven Health offers free shipping to the US and Canada! (And with the Canadian dollar hitting parity, now's a great time for your cross-border online shopping!)

Fairhaven Health has offered a giveaway for one of my readers!

The giveaway: a full-size Dream Belly Stretch Mark Cream!

How to enter: Visit Fairhaven Health, and tell me something that piques your interest, OR something you learned from the website. Please be sure to include your email if it’s not public in your blogger profile! This is the mandatory entry - do this first!

Extra entries: Bonus time! Leave a comment for each extra entry.

• Become a fan of/"like" FertilAid on Facebook (mention your first name and last initial in your comment). Already do? That counts!
• Follow @FertilAidAmy on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!). Already do? That counts!
• Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!). Already do? That counts!
• Tweet about this giveaway (once - this is not a daily!) and leave me the permalink. You can use this for your tweet, if you like:
  

  "#Win Dream Belly Stretch Mark Cream at Emily's Latest. @emilyisland's go-to belly cream! @FertilAidAmy http://bit.ly/aVPUM6 US/CAN ends 11/1"

• Follow my blog (publicly) – 2 entries, leave 2 comments. Already do? That counts!
  
• Add my blog button to your blog - leave the URL. Already have it? That counts!
• Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post and to Fairhaven Health – 2 entries, leave 2 comments and please include a link to your post
• Let me know if you've tried a belly cream meant for stretch mark prevention - and did it work for you? If you haven't tried one yet, do you plan to?
  

Please be sure to include your email if it’s not public in your blogger profile! Anonymous comments without a way to contact you will be rejected. Canadian or US mailing addresses only, please. Giveaway ends November 1st at 11:59 pm EST. A winner will be drawn within a day or two of the giveaway's end, announced here, in a separate post and emailed!

4 months

According to my due date, four months from today we will welcome a new member of our family. Someone we've waited and wished for for years. Someone who's had a name since we first started dating. Someone who's already loved.

I can't wait to meet her and find out who she is.

Random thoughts about the belly, apples, & the nursery.

Oh, the belly! I love it. Baby is kicking often now - my husband got to feel her the last time he was home. Some days it seems like it's all day long.

This is at 21 weeks (last Saturday). Still not huge, I guess, but sometimes I feel huge already! Things are getting harder, like putting socks on, sleeping comfortably, getting up from lying down, and getting my pants to stay up (!). I have one of those Bella Bands, which helps, but the maternity jeans just don't want to stay put, and neither do leggings. I'm the wrong shape for pants now that I have no waist! I saw a really hideous pair of maternity overalls at the mall the other day... ha! No, I won't be that mama! I can't really imagine much that is less flattering than giant overalls with a giant belly underneath. (Sorry if I have any overall-wearing readers. It's just not that attractive to me.) But hey, at least they'd stay up...

I splurged on a couple of maternity bras, but I find they're not that comfortable. Not only that, they aren't even pretty, so I'm not suffering for fashion's sake. Now I wish I had gone somewhere other than the only maternity store within a 40-minute drive to get properly fitted. The employees at Thyme probably felt like they were being helpful, but convincing me that the band was really not too tight and the bra would stretch ended up being a bad move. I was right all along, it's too tight and it's not stretching out. I'm on the last hooks and I don't want to have to buy a bra extender when I just dumped $60 on new bras. And now I am bitter about it, and mad at myself for backing down about the sizing. Sigh.

So with all these wardrobe malfunctions - I definitely am not in the mood to go buy a bunch more maternity clothes. I've borrowed a few pieces from friends - but I might have to pick up another pair of pants just so I'm not wearing the same jeans every day. Luckily for me, working at home means that I don't have to dress up (ever), so jeans and my Moody Mamas lounge pants are pretty much my standard now. I have a few tops that I like (I wear that one from Bumblewee all the time, and a couple of Boob tops that are great).

I bought a bushel of apples on the weekend at the market. A bushel looks small in the open air, but that is a LOT of apples. I've made applesauce, two apple crisps, apple cookies, apple muffins, and have a plan for apple bread tomorrow in the bread machine. There are still more apples. I've been eating them, too... I may just bake the rest into batches of muffins and stash them in the freezer.

We set up the crib on the weekend - now the nursery has an empty crib (no mattress yet) and an empty dresser. It's pretty barren in there. We're looking for a bookcase (something like the Cameron ones from Pottery Barn would be ideal, if we could only find them for 1/3 the price), and a glider yet. It seems like there is a lot of time to do these things, but when I think about it, there isn't... With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, and my husband only being home every other weekend, we don't have too many days that we can go hunting together for baby stuff.

Otherwise things are pretty quiet.

Btw, have you entered the latest giveaway yet? You can win natural deodorant from Fairhaven Health. If you think about the nasty ingredients in your standard deodorant, you might want to consider trying something that is a lot less harmful. Why not try it for free by winning it here? Low entries so far, so odds are in your favour! The link's up at the top left.

Natural (Pregnancy) Deodorant - Review & Giveaway!

***This giveaway is closed***
Winner: Tirza!

You may recall my previous review for FairHaven Health - this is the company that makes the FertilAid preconception supplements that my husband and I were taking when we conceived!

Besides fertility products, FairHaven Health also has products for pregnancy and nursing. I have been lucky enough to get to try out a couple of the pregnancy products.

The product for today's review and giveaway is the Natural Pregnancy Deodorant.
***Before I get too far, I want to say that although this is marketed towards the pregnant, you don't have to be up the duff to use it. Anyone interested in natural products or concerned about nasty chemicals in standard deodorants should try it!

If you've done any reading about deodorants and anti-perspirants, you may have learned some scary things. Regular deodorants (the big brands you'll see at the drugstore) contain not only parabens but also aluminum. Parabens, in case you forgot, are those pesky chemicals used to deliver scents which also are xenoestrogens (they mimic the hormone estrogen) and are associated with breast cancer. Aluminum, as we all know, is a neurotoxin and its cumulative absorption increases the risk of Alzheimers. Um, no thanks!

FairHaven Health's Natural Pregnancy Deodorant is paraben- and aluminum- free. Phew. It contains a whole pile of recognizable ingredients and some I didn't recognize. So I'm going to go through them and see just what they are (my comments in blue):

Water, Saccharomyces Ferment (a yeast extract that improves the barrier function of the skin, stimulates elastin production, and defends against ozone and free radicals), Potassium Sorbate (a preservative that is non-toxic and inhibits the development of microorganisms), Hydroxyethylcellulose (a plant-derived gelling agent), Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract (anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory), Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract (anti-inflammatory and astringent), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil (anti-bacterial), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil (acts as a binder, increases viscosity, and is a skin conditioner), Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Benzyl Alcohol (a plant extract which prevents bacterial growth - often used in IV solutions), Sodium Benzoate (this is a preservative which has concentration restrictions in cosmetic products because it does have negative effects at high doses), Sodium Gluconate (a binder made from glucose; non-toxic and biodegradable), Citric Acid (a natural preservative).

Now that we know what's in it, I'll tell you about my experience. I have been using deodorants and anti-perspirants interchangeably for, oh, let's say just over 20 years. I've tried the gels and the sticks, although I haven't tried sprays (I don't really want to inhale aerosols). I usually find one I like the scent of and use that for a while until I tire of it and move on. With all the information I've been accumulating lately about harmful ingredients in skin care products (again I'm recommending everyone go watch CBC's documentary The Disappearing Male), it has occurred to me that I might want to re-evaluate my thinking on stink sticks.

I've been tempted to make my own deodorant but never seem to find the inclination, even though I do have the ingredients (apparently all you need is coconut oil, corn starch & baking soda, with essential oils for scent if desired). I've searched the store shelves for an alternative without success - granted, I do live in a fairly small town. I've tried that crystal deodorant a couple of times over the years and it simply doesn't work for me. So I approached this with a little skepticism.

My result: it does work - with some exceptions. On regular days, it works just great. On super hot days like we had here a couple weeks ago (37C and up plus humidex), it didn't work for me.

One thing I did notice was that switching from an anti-perspirant to a deodorant recalled to me the difference between the two. A deodorant, of course, is a stink fighter (best case) but does not prevent perspiration. An anti-perspirant stops the sweating (best case) and uses scents to mask any odour that does occur. So this being a deodorant, I remembered what it's like to sweat. But if your sweat doesn't smell because of the deodorant, and you're not a heavy sweater (I'm not, unless it's crazy hot), no biggie.

This product is a liquid in a roller-ball applicator. You give it a quick shake and then apply. It's clear (YAY, no more white marks on clothing... I hate that!) and smells like nothing, really. And at the end of the day, I smell like nothing, really. Which is just about perfect to me. It dries fairly quickly - you're not immediately dry like a stick applicator, but it's dry long before I finish applying makeup and drying my hair. Also, it doesn't cake up like the pasty kinds sometimes do... I mean how embarrassing is it to lift your arm and see white chunks in there? Ickkkk.

Overall, I really like the Natural Pregnancy Deodorant. I don't have that guilty feeling in the morning that I got when I knew I was applying something harmful but hadn't sought out an appropriate alternative. I like that I don't smell like some industry nose's version of "Fiji" or synthetic vanilla or whatever; I just smell clean and like myself.

You can buy it for $6.95 at Fairhaven Health (and get free shipping!). That's about a buck more than the drugstore brand I used to buy, and so far from my experience, it looks like it will last quite a while (ie months). I'd say going guilt-, aluminum- and paraben-free is worth an extra buck.

Fairhaven Health has also offered a giveaway for one of my readers!

The giveaway: a full-size Natural Pregnancy Deodorant!

How to enter: Visit Fairhaven Health, and tell me something that piques your interest, OR something you learned from the website. Please be sure to include your email if it’s not public in your blogger profile! This is the mandatory entry - do this first!

Extra entries: Bonus time! Leave a comment for each extra entry.

• Become a fan of/"like" FertilAid on Facebook (mention your first name and last initial in your comment)
• Follow @FertilAidAmy on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
• Tweet about this giveaway (once - this is not a daily!) and leave me the permalink. You can use this for your tweet, if you like:
  

  "#Win Natural Pregnancy Deodorant (aluminum and paraben free!) at Emily's Latest @emilyisland @FertilAidAmy http://bit.ly/aSaC2c ends 10/6"

• Follow my blog (publicly) – 2 entries, leave 2 comments
• Add my blog button to your blog - leave the URL
• Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post and to Fairhaven Health – 2 entries, leave 2 comments and please include a link to your post
• Let me know if you've tried any natural deodorants, or tried making your own - and did it work for you? I'm just being curious here.
  

Please be sure to include your email if it’s not public in your blogger profile! Anonymous comments without a way to contact you will be rejected. Canadian or US mailing addresses only, please. Giveaway ends October 6th at 11:59 pm EST. A winner will be drawn within a day or two of the giveaway's end, announced here, in a separate post and emailed!