Some days you just need to get out and go for a drive with the family! This summer, Dino Safari has the best drive thru adventure for all ages. With two locations in New Jersey, this prehistoric drive thru is packed with a globetrotting expedition and a fun audio story that you and your family can explore all from your car.
Before you begin your journey, I highly recommend downloading the Dino Safari App, which is available for iOS and Android. The journey begins with a passport book and crayons, given to you upon entrance, which takes you all through the world. See all of your favorite dinosaurs like T. Rex, Spinosaurus, Triceratops and more; and learn about their behaviors, diet and how they became extinct.
Don’t be fooled because these dinosaurs are on the move and so are you while you help save a baby dinosaur’s life, watch earthquakes erupt, hear the roar of a mighty dino, and even take part in an excavation site! Its your job to find all the objects and dino’s listed in your passport to help get you to the end and save the baby dinosaur egg!
So buckle up, pack some snacks and head over to this amazing pop up, Dino Safari Drive thru, conveniently located in Freehold and Paramus, New Jersey. Click on the link below to purchase your tickets today! Dino Safari drive thru is now open and extended till September! You don’t to miss this fun event for you and the kiddos! The best part too is that this is a completely Covid – safe event since you remain in your car!
I hope that you guys enjoy this fun little find as much as me and my family did!
I know we are all feeling the excitement this summer after being cooped up for so long due to Covid and all the restrictions. We decided this summer we would start doing some weekend getaways with our little family!
Whether you’re from the Tri-State Area, traveling from out of state or country, I created this series to help take the guess work out of finding family friendly activities, amusements, hotels and dining. Keeping in mind the health and safety of our families as priority, while still finding entertainment for both parents and kids!
Our first weekend getaway took us into Langhorne, Pennsylvania. For us, it was about an hour and fifteen minute drive. Nothing too crazy but a great change in scenery and environment for all of us.
Our first stop of course was the one and only Cracker Barrel. I remember having them when I was younger, taking road trip with my family and enjoying that warm, rich stack of buttermilk pancakes. Let me tell you, they taste just like I remember; maybe even better! There was something to eat for everyone. The confetti pancakes won my little people over as well as the crayons and kids menu that kept them busy while their food came out. Masks were optional and everyone was politely distanced.
Cracker Barrel Langhorne, PA
We drove about 13 minutes more and arrived at Sesame Place!!!! I don’t know who was more excited for this, my husband and I, or our kids!!!! Parking was really simple as the roads are clearly labeled as you arrive. We picked a perfectly mild summer, sunny day to take on the park! For those that don’t know, Sesame Place has a dry park with rides for kids and a water park with slides, a lazy river, splash pads and more! The attractions and rides were endless, and there were definitely things to do with our kids who are two and half years of age and eleven months old. Be sure to have a stroller, or wagon and a comfy pair of walking shoes because you will need it for sure!
The Neighborhood Street Party Parade, is a huge party that you don’t want to miss! From high energy singing and dancing with all of your favorite characters, we all were dancing and partying!
The Sesame Place App helps to make it super easy and convenient with purchasing tickets and parking, to finding your way around the park as well as not missing shows or pictures with your kids favorite characters. It’s available to download on both iPhones and Android and highly recommended to have when visiting and planning your visit. While masks are optional in the park, there are sanitation stations around the park and you are required to reserve a day once you purchase tickets, keeping the capacity controlled for health safety purposes.
Here are a few tips that we were prepared for and some that we learned as we went.
Pack disposable swim diapers for your kiddos as well as extra bathing suits. You know those accidents are bound to happen!
Don’t forget towels for everyone
Bring a light and easy cover up if you don’t want to walk around in your bathing suit or a change of clothes. There are changing stations in the park.
Bring a stroller or wagon that is covered so that the kids are comfy especially when that nap time rolls around
If possible, purchase the battery operated fans that you can place on the strollers and wagons to keep the kids nice and cool on those extra hot days.
Like I said there is a lot of walking so be sure to wear something you and the kids are comfortable walking in
Don’t forget the sunscreen
We brought our mini first aid kit incase anyone fell and scrapped their knees, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes
Outside food is not allowed in the park but you can bring small snacks and closed non-alcoholic beverages.
The water park seems to be a bit more crowded in the morning so you may either want to head there as soon as they open or after lunch.
For those with little babies that don’t walk yet, I suggest bringing a baby carrier! I wish I had remembered mine! It would have helped me with holding him and getting him down for a nap!
For Sure pack light and store it under your stroller but make sure to pack the essentials!
We decided to relax and stay the night, where we were hosted at The Residence Inn by Marriott.
The Residence Inn by Marriott Langhorne, PA
It was a quick seven minute drive from Sesame Place and conveniently located by a bunch of shops and restaurants including my MUST HAVE Starbucks! It felt like home away from home with the amazingly spacious suite we had! We had a two bedroom suite, with a common living room and kitchen. The couch in the living room had a pull out couch for extra guests. We packed our portable crib for our son and set him up in the living room and played white noise on the their TV. Our daughter slept for the FIRST time in a big girl bed and was all cozied up (that was a big milestone for us.) My husband and I slept in the other room comfortably and after the kids were asleep, signed into our Netflix account and watched some movies on their TV! In the morning, we went downstairs to their dining arear and had their buffet breakfast! They had eggs, sausage, muffins, oatmeal, cereal, coffee, juices and much more. What I truly appreciated was that they had high chairs and booster seats (plenty of them too) for our kids to use!
Their amenities included a laundry room available to guests, which was great for us to wash and dry our clothes. The indoor pool and hot tub was a huge hit for us and was opened at 6am-11pm which allowed us to make the most of our short time there! The gym and basketball court is available for those that need to get a quick workout or game in.
What we ended up learning about this particular hotel which made us love them even more is that it’s DOG FRIENDLY! And for having doggy guests, the hotel inside and out was so clean! We will be brining our fur babies the next time we visit! Everything was so clean, spacious and organized. The staff was incredibly nice and helpful with checking in and checking out.
Be sure to check out Sesame Place’s webpage as I believe they offer package deals with some hotels that they partner with for some great deals!
This is just the start of our summer series! I hope you find this blog as a helpful resource for planning your summer family trips and we hope that you join us on our other family adventures! Follow me on Instagram @thebearess to see where else we head to this summer.
Below I have linked Sesame Place, Cracker Barrel and The Residence Inn by Marriott in Langhore, Pa for your convenience!
** Please know that while I was hosted by Sesame Place and The Residence Inn by Marriott, these reviews and opinions are my own. I will ONLY partner and share brands that I personally love and use.
Looking for bold flavor? This recipe is just that!
I cooked up a well seasoned skirt steak and paired it with a fresh three bean salad, garnished with a side of avocado and don’t forget the red wine.
I’m going to jump right into this recipe. Don’t forget to leave me a comment and if you recreate this dish, tag me on Instagram @thebearess. I would love to see your recreation!
Skirt Steak:
Salt and black pepper (to taste)
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 tbsp garlic powder
1/2 tbsp onion powder
1/4 tbsp garlic salt
crushed red pepper to taste
1 tbsp fish oil
drizzle of olive oil
Season the meat and set aside (I like to season a few hours before cooking). Using a cast iron skillet, pour some oil to lightly coat the skillet and heat the pan on medium. Once its hot, place each skirt steak in the pan and allow it to cook. The time will be based on the temperature desired. We typically like our meats medium rare; we cooked our steak about 5 minutes on each side. The cast iron produces a lot of smoke so be ready to open your windows and turn on the stove fan! Once its cooked and you are ready to eat, slice your meat thinly. Enjoy!
3 Bean Salad:
3 Beans of your choice (I chose garbanzo, red kidney beans and black beans
Sweet corn (fresh or can)
Half of red onion
Tomato diced
Cilantro
Yellow, Red and Orange bell peppers sliced
salt and black pepper to taste
Fresh lime juice (I squeezed half of a lime)
1 tbsp honey
crushed red pepper flakes to taste
1 tbsp of red wine vinegar
Put all beans and corn into a bowl. Chop up the onion, tomato, cilantro and peppers; toss in a bowl. Add salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper to taste. Add the red wine vinegar, honey and squeeze the fresh lime on top. Mix and enjoy!
For me it’s the food! I’m always down for a good summer cookout with lots of food, drinks and good company.
This recipe will be a crowd pleaser for sure as it’s definitely one of my families favorites. It’s simple and quick. You can either make the macaroni and cheese from scratch or use your favorite quick to make box Mac and Cheese. For this recipe, I used my favorite Banza Mac and Cheese mix for time sake and man does it taste so good.
I hope you enjoy this recipe and if you decide to make it, don’t forget to leave me a comment letting me know how it turned out and if you added your own flare share that too! I’d love to see your recreation. Share it as well on instagram and be sure to tag me @thebearess
Ingredients:
Banza Classic Cheddar Mac and Cheese
Broccoli Florets (I steamed mine)
Chicken Breast
Salt
Black Pepper
1 Tbsp Onion Powder
1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
BBQ Sauce
Directions:
Place the slow cooker on low with a timer set to three hours.
Put the chicken breast in the with onion powder, garlic powder, salt and black pepper to taste.
Pour 1/4 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce in the slow cooker. Cover and let it sit.
After 3 hours, pull the chicken with a fork and place it back in the slow cooker.
Pour the remaining BBQ sauce in the slow cooker and add an additional 30 minutes.
In the meantime, steam the broccoli florets and begin to prepare your Mac and Cheese. Again, I used Banza and followed the directions on the box. Be sure to not over cook the macaroni; it can become very mushy when you add all the other food ingredients.
Once everything has cooked, chop up your broccoli and be sure your chicken is finely shredded. Mix the Mac and cheese with the broccoli and BBQ chicken and voila! Enjoy
These days cooking doesn’t look or feel the same to me. With two little kids, working from home and limited time, I need quick and easy recipes with easy clean up as well. Learning to work smarter not harder has been my mantra as my family grew along with my work load.
Once upon a time cooking and baking was like a party for me in the kitchen. I absolutely love cooking to feed people and seeing their delight but I also truly enjoyed cooking; it was a stress relief for me and a way to unwind!
Music blasting, snacking and a glass of wine or a homemade, juicy “adult beverage” made by yours truly; that was my cooking setup! Fast forward to life happening; cooking sometimes feels like a daunting chore not to mention the clean up afterwards is tiring.
So, I invested in a crock pot and started experimenting with different recipes. One of my go to recipes that are so versatile is using a crock pot to create pulled chicken, beef or pork with any kind of seasoning or sauce. Making my meats like this allows me to create one main dish for the week and repurpose it in multiple ways. I either put it salads, rice bowls, veggie bowls, wraps, tacos… the list goes on and that’s why I love these recipes!
This week I made a Sesame Ginger Chicken & Rice Bowl that literally took 10 minutes to prepare and 4 hours of cooking on low for some juicy, flavorful, pulled chicken.
Ingredients:
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
Salt (to preference)
Black Pepper (to preference)
1 Tsp White Pepper
1 Tsp Crushed Red Pepper
1.5 Tbs Ground Ginger
2 Tbs Fresh Crushed Garlic
1Tbs Garlic Powder
1Tbs Onion Powder
1Tsp Celery Salt
1/2 Bottle of House of Tsang Sweet Ginger Sesame Sauce
2Tbs Red Boat Fish Sauce
Basmati White Rice (or rice of choice)
Steamable Bag of Veggies (I used broccoli, carrots and cauliflower)
Directions:
Set your crockpot to low heat and time to 4 hours
Rinse the chicken and throw them all into crockpot laid out so they are not on top of each other
Season with salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper, fresh garlic, powder garlic, onion powder, celery salt, white pepper, ginger, Sweet Ginger Sesame Sauce and Fish Sauce into crock pot and mix well.
Cover and carry on with life for 4 hours.
At the end of 4 hours, I use 2 forks and gently pull apart the chicken breast. It should be so soft and juicy that it does the work for you!
Throw it back in the crock pot, put the temperature at “Keep Warm,” and set a timer for 10 minutes.
In the mean time, I use the rice cooker and make my basmati rice which is our personal favorite and steam a bag of vegetables.
In a bowl I first take a heaping spoon of cooked rice, top with a spoon of veggies and complete it with the pulled chicken.
For topping I sprinkled Tuxedo Sesame Seeds
For the remainder of the week, you can catch me repurposing the chicken in salads, wraps or sliders!
I hope that you enjoy this recipe as much as we do! I’ll be sure to share some more amazing crock pot recipes for the busy life! If you do try this out, be sure to leave me a comment or tag me on Instagram! I’d love to see your recreation of this!
It goes without saying the importance I place on making a positive impact on people when they read my blog or visit any of my social platforms. I am a firm believer in paying it forward whenever the opportunity presents itself and helping positivity go viral.
I am beyond excited to partner with RITZ and Walmart as they continue to make “Lunch Go On.” It’s no surprise that due to our current crisis, families are struggling to provide meals for their children across America. Lunches are a crucial meal for children and due to some school closings, many of them will be without a fixed lunch. Unfortunately this may mean that these kids won’t be receiving their only promised meal of the day.
The “Lunch Goes On” initiative is a combined effort by RITZ and Walmart to ensure that children will continue to receive their food. RITZ will donate $0.10 for every RITZ product purchased, up to $1,000,000; throughout the month of March (ending on 3/31) at Walmart stores and Walmart.com. The $1,000,000 will be donated to Feeding America to help feed the children that heavily rely upon their school lunches as their primary meal of the day. $1 will help secure at least 10 meals provided by Feeding America, through local member food banks.
This campaign really resonates with me. As many of you know, my family and I were directly affected by the pandemic, not only by getting the virus but also taking a financial hit. So many families are struggling financially right now and any help would be wonderful! This campaign was a no brainer for me as I not only love RITZ but I was also able to make a food donation to Fulfill Food Bank in Monmouth County, NJ. I dropped off a bulk of RITZ products which were purchased from my near by Walmart. That means, I was able to make a donation with Feed America through my Walmart purchase of RITZ products and by dropping off these goods at a food bank! What a wonderful way to give back and spread positivity during these trying times! Find out more about the program here: bit.ly/2NQI8dR
McDonald’s sure does sell a mean Shamrock Shake that I absolutely LOVE! But it’s definitely not something that I can drink everyday; although I wish!
I love making healthier food options that fill me up and fuel me with nutrition but that doesn’t mean you have to only eat bland foods or “like rabbits.” Healthy does not mean, it can’t taste good or that you can’t satisfy that sweet tooth!
So, while I sit here thinking about McDonald’s Shamrock Shake and the next time I’ll get my hands on one, I’ll share with you a healthy smoothie option that will help curb that sweet craving.
Although this smoothie does not contain mint or ice cream, it’s green, mean and delicious! Packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, healthy monounsaturated fatty acids and omega-3; this will not disappoint your taste buds and is sure to leave you feeling full and satisfied.
Ingredients:
1 cup of Kale
1/2 Avocado
1 Banana (I froze mine)
8 ounces of Vanilla Coconut Milk
2 Tablespoons of Vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 Tablespoon of Chia Seeds
1 Scoop of Vanilla Supplement Powder (Optional; I used Protiva Mom which is my favorite)
Directions:
Throw it all in the blender for 1 minute. Top with whipped cream if you desire or whatever your favorite toppings are and enjoy!
I’ll be posting more of my favorite smoothie recipes! In the mean time, I hope you give this one a try! If you do, leave me a comment and let me know what you think! Also, if there is a fruit, vegetable or any kind of smoothie idea you’d love to see, let me know and I’d be glad to create a yummy recipe!
This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx on behalf of Amazon Prime Video
The term “Pack” was originally used to describe wolves in groups. Later, it was used to describe dogs and their relationship to people living together. The term grew with a sense of endearment as it now gained a notion of family. My dogs are my family. We see them as our loyal companions and our fur babies. As my husband and I grew our fur baby home, we also expanded our family and have been so blessed to watch our pack grow.
Before I had kids, I started with my little Chiweenie, Sparky. He was originally my ex’s dog but when he was unable to care for him properly, he was handed over to me. I was (still am) so in love with him and cared for him as if he was a human baby. Dressed him in matching outfits as me, took him everywhere; including shopping and cuddled all day everyday. He was never a big walker or explorer so snuggles and car rides were pretty much our thing.
About four years late, when my husband and I moved in together, we decided to get another dog. This time, we went big! We knew we wanted a bigger dog to protect us as we knew our family was going to eventually continue to grow. When we saw Aurora, our beautiful, full bred, Siberian Husky, we knew she had to be ours. She was always so affectionate, playful and strong willed. She still is till this day, not to mention energetic. One of my favorite things to do with Aurora was to go running with her through trails. Man is she the best dog to run with! My girl has always made me feel safe when I would run alone with her and I knew that she would always protect me!
When I was pregnant with my first baby, my two fur babies were apparently the first to know. Strange and unusual behaviors started taking place; peeing on the floor and on me, super clingy to me and always right by my side but more than usual. Once we had found out we were expecting, my Vet had informed me that dogs are capable of knowing this based on our hormones. I mean come on, these guys just continue to impress me! The night I went into labor, Aurora would follow me around and lay near me as if she knew the baby was coming. At the time I had no idea I was in labor, as I had only felt sick. When I brought home my daughter, Aurora automatically took to her, she would lay next to her and guard her. Every cry from my baby was followed by a loyal friends howl. While Sparky never bothered much with my daughter, he would on occasions kiss her but still made sure I knew he was my first baby.
Fast forward now to having two kids, our pack grew and the love between our dogs and kids did too. I watch my oldest light up with joy as she chases them around and brings them toys to play. I see how they watch their every move, the endless wet kisses, and the attention my dogs give to my kids. To see this relationship between our dogs and kids grow as we continue to expand our family is priceless.
I love to see how people grow their families and how their dogs evolve in their relationships as well. Amazon Prime Video, will be premiering a show called, The Pack, on Friday, November 20th, as a three day, Packed weekend event. The Pack, is a series the celebrates the relationships between humans and their dogs and is Hosted by Olympic Gold medalist Lindsay Vann, along with her loyal companion, Lucy. Twelve teams of dogs and their owners will embark on a journey across multiple continents, facing fun and exciting challenges, that will display the bond and understanding between each human and dog duo. The winning duo will receive $500,000 along with $250,000 to donate to the charity of their choosing to support our canine friends. The Pack was also designed by a team of accredited Veterinarians and certified dog experts, The Pack amazon, is sure to deliver a positive experience for all dog lovers .
Yup! That’s right! I said it! THE – POST – PARTUM -DAD!
Shocking right?!? I’m sure that most moms are rolling their eyes right now and saying,
“You got to be kidding me, right…?”
“I pushed this kid out not him…”
“I was cut open and stitched up. Where are his scars and pain…?”
“For nine months I suffered, my body morphed, I don’t even know who I am anymore and he’s complaining…?”
As a mom myself (twice) this can be a hard pill to swallow, especially if you, yourself are going through postpartum depression. The truth is that we have endured so much that they won’t and would not understand unless they were us feeling every change that has taken place. But they can’t. So your wondering than, what is this postpartum in male form? Is it a hormonal shift? Did they miss their periods too? Well here’s the truth, brace yourselves!!!!
Paternal Postnatal Depression (PPND) is common, unspoken and happens to about 1 in 4 new dads. Research proves that men do go through a hormonal shift as well. As a dads brain is forced into dad mode, morphed and reshaped, they begin to show similar patterns of cognitive and emotional developments and interactions as moms do. There is a common parenting brain that is activated upon becoming a parent that is similar in both sexes. Not only do hormones cause Postpartum in Dads but relationship issues with spouse or partner, financial stressors, poor social functioning, lack of support, family stress and feeling excluded from the connection between mom and baby, can be a cause as well.
With all the new emotions and experiences that yield having a new baby (whether it is the first or fifth) men do in fact experience an increase in estrogen, oxytocin, prolactin and glucocorticoids. There is also an unclear amount of testosterone that is elevated in some dads which leads to the “protective dad” and even sometimes the “rotten apple” of dads.
Oxytocin is usually increased within the presence of the child and nurturing mother. We all know that oxytocin is that “feel good” hormone that brings out the cuddly loving part of us. But what happens when the father is not around during those first three weeks or aren’t around in general? Studies are still being performed to show if those testosterone levels elevate we would more than likely see the less favorable dad and partner.
So aside from all this science, what else causes the Post-Partum Dad?
Dads get stretch marks too. The extra ten pounds dad just put on with the muffin top is referred to as the “Dad Bod.” Why is that? The quick version of the science route covers the above… in short, testosterone levels drop, oxytocin rises and the “Daddy Brain” phenomenon takes place. Yet there are so many other reasons why the “Dad Bod” takes place. Newborns require so much attention that it leaves little time for ourselves. Now add in caring for the mother who is recovering from labor (C-Section or Vaginal) on top of the hormonal changes they are readily faced with and feeding issues (breast or formula fed – FED IS BEST.) The dad’s hands are full leaving little time for sleep and an increase in snacking, fast foods and other unhealthy treats that momentarily fuel their bodies to continue their fatherly marathon. Hence, the “Dad Bod” is born.
When your home foundation is not strong, and the relationship is rocky; depression, resentment and anger starts to kick in. Not to mention how expectations of partners change along with love languages when a baby is a new part of the equation. This can start to form a wedge in the marriage leaving dads to feel neglected, unheard and feeling unloved. There is also a relationship and role change that takes place with friends and family that can become another form of outside stress. With the grandparents around or other strong family members, there is an unsaid fight for authority and respect as a parent; this alone can cause more issues between partners and in general another issue for dads.
If a dad is the primary financial provider, these stressors become a very heavy burden. Depending on their job, they may have more abilities of being home or they may be away more than often. In my personal experience, my husbands job causes him to work insane hours AND he is sent away for days, weeks or months on end, creating a gap and a disconnection to his family. That alone can create guilt for them. Lets not forget that if all the financial burden is on dad, he has more stress about messing up at work, being fired and not being able to support his family by keeping food on the table, roof over their heads and healthcare at bay.
Dads are born and their identities struggle; sound familiar moms? With round the clock care for new babies, while supporting their partner (even if they are not together), dads too are left with little time for themselves or for social life, forcing them to re establish their identity and social activities. No it doesn’t mean the pre baby self doesn’t exist, it means that they too had to become selfless, leaving them to feel a sense of emptiness in themselves. Dad life, just like mom life, tends to look very different from pre baby life and their social life can feel threatened as well. Not only have they changed physically but their world around them have shifted too. If dads do not have other dad friends, there is no one for them to relate to or share stories with, ask for help, or feel some kind of fatherhood community around him.
Currently, my husband has expressed many signs of PPND. While we are always meeting with our therapist, it is really important to notice changes and symptoms of your partner. Some of these come in the loss of motivation or interest in things, lethargic, sad, unable to sympathize with baby or partner, irritability to many things including baby, loss of appetite, nightmares, thoughts of hurting partner, baby or self, drinking or recreational drug usage.
There is help! Unfortunately, our society does not teach men to ask for help and so it is important that you let your partner know that there are other men that go through this and there is help. Below I will link resources including professionals that treat PPND and Daddy Blues. In the meantime, be patient as the transition into fatherhood can feel like the longest journey and in fact it is; have patience and give dad compassion. Have a team of people to support dad through this time period and even after. As the quote goes “It takes a village to raise a baby,” the community of help that you need will aid in running errands, allowing rest, cooking, etc. Parenthood was never meant to be a solo job and if it is a solo job for the mom or dad, I take my hat off to you, as this is by far the hardest, yet most rewarding job we will ever know!
My hope is that by shedding light on this topic, perhaps we can become more sympathetic to men as they cross over to fatherhood. The greatest damage done to men is training them that mental health and vulnerability equates to weakness, in turn emasculating them.
I would like to share with you, that I am writing this as my husband is going through a very rough patch which I believe in part is PPND. This can be very trying on our marriage, as I myself am struggling too through PPD. Luckily, we have been working with a therapist who has known us well for years and is guiding us through this transition phase. PHASE: meaning that this is temporary and there is light at the end of the tunnel. My husband has expressed many of those symptoms and at times it was hard for me to find compassion as I myself was going through all the changes that motherhood brought around for the second time, WHILE we face a pandemic. Imagine the chaos in our home. Through therapy, I have learned that if your partner is being transparent and vulnerable, it means they want help and to fix themselves and so even the smallest efforts should be reason enough for you to aid in their journey and stand by them. After all, this was a union. Your family does not need to live in this hard silence alone. Remember that feeling depressed and going through postpartum (mom or dad) after having a baby, does NOT make you a bad parent or that you do not love your kids or partner. In fact it proves the opposite! By seeking help, you are able to care for your baby, your partner and yourself. All children and parents deserve the chance to have a healthy family and enjoy their lives.
Let me start out by saying, I whole heartedly apologize to the woman that gave birth to her baby on the toilet bowl but had no clue she was in labor and or that she was pregnant…
By week 33, I was feeling it; nauseous, pains in my hips, my baby boy was dropping low, the round ligament pain was in full effect AND massive amounts of pooping. I will warn you that the rest of this birth story talks a whole lot of poop so if you’re feeling triggered, look away!
At first my doctors thought that I had picked up a stomach bug from somewhere, somehow; although that seemed hard to believe because I barely left my house or was in contact with people since we’re in a pandemic. My meetings with the toilet were nonstop and felt never ending, painful and so depleting. By week 35, I had seen my OB and was checked. To my surprise, I was 3 CM and 50% effaced. I had no idea that I had made some kind of progress and it was this whole stomach/bathroom episode to thank for it. At this point, my doctor believed that my stomach and bathroom issue was thanks to the final surge of hormones that our bodies go through during the last part of pregnancy, before labor kicks in.
With weeks still ahead of me for a full term baby, I would still experience these erratic episodes. I started to see a licensed prenatal chiropractor whom my doulas had recommended. I was so desperate to get rid of some of this pain and discomfort and so adjustments it was for me. To my surprise, when going for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), a chiropractor can greatly help increase the rate of a successful of VBAC. Lord knows I was desperate and willing to do and try any and everything to have a vaginal birth this time around.
While I continued to go for adjustments from the chiropractor, I also continued my bathroom occurrences. I was getting overwhelmed with frustration as I could feel my body becoming weaker and weaker with everyday and every week. My wonderful doulas would check in on me constantly and I felt like such a nuisance, constantly complaining about the same thing; going to the bathroom, not keeping food in and wanting the end to be near.
By week 38, our OB had scheduled us to be induced on July 25 if our baby had not made an appearance yet. I was hoping by now he did since I was in so much discomfort. By Friday, I was starting to feel so defeated. My body was really saying no more and I found myself breaking down emotionally. I had scheduled a massage with this “miracle” man that is know to naturally induce women through massage techniques. When I said I was desperate, I meant it! It wasn’t that I didn’t believe this could work, but I had never heard of this. Upon meeting him, he had explained that the biggest take away from this service was to ensure that my body and soul became relaxed because that was the most important thing for me and the baby. He also explained that every woman he had tried this with had went into labor within a 5-48 hour time frame; I was down with that! While he was massaging me, he kept telling me that this baby was on his was and I was hoping he was right. I had felt this instant release and this readiness after my massage was over but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. So, I continued that evening by eating some incredibly hot Indian food, in hopes that it would aid in me going into labor. If that induction massage and spicy food did not help, than I knew I was going to just have to let this baby boy come when he felt good and ready or on the 25th when the OB would force his little butt out.
That night I woke up like usual, needing to constantly pee but I also noticed that my reflux was really bad. I didn’t think that much of it, as I had eaten that spicy food, I figured it was really getting to me. Well, one burp led to two rounds of puking in the bathroom. I knew this was different but I figured it was just this wonky hormone surge or the Indian food was a terrible idea. By 3 am, I started making rounds to the bathroom. I felt like there was no end in sight.
That morning I decided to call my OB who was on call and let her know how I was feeling. Pepto Bismol and no food for the day was her orders and I would hopefully get some kind of relief. Well, that wasn’t happening. After countless rounds to the bathroom, the pain was greatly intensifying. The pain was pure pooping cramps followed by a round of diarrhea. Each time, my husband had to hold me up on the toilet as I started to pass out on him from exhaustion and pain. I cried and kept breaking down, telling him that I couldn’t do this anymore. I just wanted the baby out. My body truly felt as if it was suffering.
My husbands concerns grew since I NEVER cry from pain and he could see I was going downhill. He kept asking me if I was in labor and all that I could say was, “I don’t know.” I mean to be perfectly honest, I was having massive pooping cramps followed by a lot of poop. The pain was so intense that I couldn’t feel anything else. My husband however started to realize that these bathroom episodes were becoming more frequent. He decided to contact our doulas whom than told us we needed to call our doctors right away to make sure the baby and I were ok and that I was not becoming dehydrated which would cause further issues. While my husband spoke to the doctor, I became more emotional. I felt mixed emotions of wanting this pregnancy to be over to not being ready to give up my baby bump.
Off to the hospital we went at 4PM, packed as if we were going to have a baby but in my head I just thought they would send me back home, saying it was just a weird hormonal thing I had to deal with till the baby came like all the other times.
As we arrived at the hospital, our concerns grew in a different way as we were having a baby during a pandemic. For those of you who don’t know what this would look like, let me first tell you that laboring through a mask is NO walk in the park. Every single person in the hospital had a mask on and proper PPE, security limited the number of people coming in through the hospital along with keeping a six foot distance between people. To boot, my husband was not allowed with me in the Triage section of Labor and Maternity, while I was getting examined.
After a very quick and uncomfortable check to see if I was dilated, she immediately asked, “So do you want to have this baby right now? You’re at the start of labor; at 5cm and 75% effaced.” She continued to explain that some women experience labor and contractions through bowl movements and well, that was exactly how my body decided to take on this delivery. Thanks body!
She quickly got my husband and my doula whom had to be tested right away at the hospital for COVID, in order to come with me. At about 6PM, my doctor came in to see if my labor had progressed. I was no longer running to the bathroom but was experiencing some minor contractions. She had recommended breaking my water or administering Pitocin to help move things along. After a terrible experience with Pitocin, we opted for a more natural route and had my water broken. I was not only determined to have a VBAC but also to have a natural, drug free delivery.
Around 8 or 9PM, the contraction were starting to regulate and intensify. I was managing them pretty well, giving deep breathes into each contraction (with a mask on), changing positions and moving around in the room.
As the contraction were starting to pile up, the pain became excruciating and I felt as if I was no longer in control of my breaths. My doula kept using natural pain reduction techniques which truly helped but there was a horrific pain on my pelvic bone that was becoming unbearable. Around midnight, I started asking for an Epidural, literally begging for one. I couldn’t see myself managing any more pain that I already was and the thought of more pain did not seem do able. How would I push? I knew that this was the best decision for myself. My doula and my husband kept asking if I was sure I wanted it as I was progressing and almost at the end. I was so thankful that they were there to encourage me and to help see my labor through the way I wanted it but it needed to look a little different now.
It took over an hour and a half for the Anesthesiologist to finally make his way to my room and give me my epidural. At that point, I was right there, just about 9CM dilated. The instant relief was amazing and it was time to rest up as I knew pushing was not too far away.
I don’t remember the times at this point but I was woken up by the monitor going off and my nurse and doula turning me saying that the baby’s heart rate was dropping. As they helped to move me around, his heart rate would stabilize. My doctor came in and that was the final check, I had made it! 10cm and 100% effaced, we were in the green to push. After a few pushes, the doctor and nurses were getting worried since baby’s heart rate would not stabilize.
Here was my warning: I had one last chance to push and have him make come down, or I was being taken in for a C Section. My sweet boy was making his way but he was taking too long to come down and with his heart rate not stabilizing, my doctor did not want to keep this going on for long. She knew how determined I was for this VBAC and also knew that another C Section may cause me to not be able to carry another child (years of reproductive issues and previous surgeries,) she prompted the nurse to remove my catheter, told me we were having this baby vaginally and that a vacuum was going to be used to help him move down faster.
I was on board with my doctors plan and was not going in for a C section. My husband grabbed my hand and pep talked me, telling me that we needed just ONE very strong push to help him come down and that he knew I was strong enough to do it. My doula helped me to visualize bearing down and pushing my baby to help move him. With all efforts combined, my doctor and the nurses started cheering me on and screaming, “Oh my God you’re doing it! He’s coming! Don’t stop pushing! Keep going.” I remember feeling like my head was going to explode from how hard I was pushing.
The minute my doctor said “here he is,” I put my hands down there, felt my baby boy and grabbed for him.
I DID IT!!!!!!! After the most abnormal and painful labor and delivery, it was all so worth it! My son was born at 6:04AM, healthy and perfect.
I was overwhelmed with joy, disbelief, empowered and most of all exhausted. I had no idea what my recovery ahead was going to look like, but I will leave you with this much. BOTH, a C Section and vaginal birth are NO joke. Neither one is easier and both recovery is just as hard. Like anything else, there are pro’s and con’s.
I am till this day, amazed and so proud of what my body was able to accomplish. I couldn’t be more thankful for my VBAC experience and my incredible labor support team I had throughout as well as my absolutely, amazing Doctor who was just as determined as I was!
