Vivabox Giveaway

Okay, I am writing this blog post with two concerns in mind: 1) earning an extra entry into an awesome contest, and 2) giving you an opportunity to enter this awesome contest. There are a lot of Mother's Day contests going around on the Internet, but I'm pretty sure that this one outdoes the rest of them that I've seen (save for free homes and trips): a vivabox. What, you ask, is a Vivabox? It is a most unique gift, to say the least.

A Vivabox is an actual box that you receive in the mail from their company, vivaboxusa.com. In it, there are samples of a themed product such as tea, massage, spa, wine, or coffee. You get to try all of the samples, and then pick your favorite and order it for free off of their website! In the case of the massage or spa boxes, a gift certificate is actually included in your box for spa services at a location near you. It's the gift that not only keeps giving, but that you actually want!

Are you interested in winning this amazing Mother's Day gift? Vivabox has generously donated one to Dexter's Super Savvy Mommy and you can enter to win by clicking here. Don't forget to leave me a message letting me know that you went and entered so that I can at least feel some happiness over promoting a contest that I wish to win myself. :-)

Check back to my site often as there are a lot of great things in the works (including give aways and free samples from cloth diapering companies and other things of interest to cloth diapering parents). Start following now and be sure that you won't get left out!

Product Review: FisherPrice Calming Vibrations Rocker

The FisherPrice Calming Vibrations rocker was given to me for Amara at a baby shower. It wasn't something that I had registered for, but I was assured by the giver that my baby would love it. I must admit, she was right.

We were able to begin using the rocker soon after Amara was born as it has a safety buckle that's very adjustable. The position is also adjustable, allowing you two positions: reclining and sitting up. It can be used as either a rocker or set to be stationary by simply moving a bar out at the bottom of the rocker. I've also used it as a children's rocking chair with my 2.5-year-old cousin and she got quite the kick out of it, pulling it around with her and demanding to use it all day.

It runs with a few batteries, and we've not had to replace them through over 6 months of regular use. This is a good thing as batteries can get to be expensive. You can choose to turn the vibrating portion of the rocker off at any time though, as there's a switch on the front for this.

Amara especially enjoys the middle toy that hangs down, since it sings a little tune of "5 little ducks" when pulled. It's the only piece that isn't removable--the other two are held on by velcro and can be replaced by another velcro object if you wish. While this is a nice feature, it would be nice if there were rings or something instead that I could attach things with. The entire toy "bar" can be removed very easily.


The pros of this seat would be the versatility of a child's size that can use it, the weight (light), the sturdiness (my daughter can't tip it over no matter how hard she tries), and the many options it offers (toys, vibrations, positioning). Cons would be the toy removal issue as well as the song, as it can get annoying time and time again, and the fact that there are some plastics and synthetic materials involved in the making of this product. These are small annoyances in comparison to the hours of enjoyment and ease of transferability that the Calming Vibrations rocker offers, though, so I can definitely recommend this to my readers!

Birthing Q&A

Six months ago today, I gave birth to my first child. She is a delight and I often revisit that beautiful day in my mind. I used hypnobirthing as my birthing method and had an all natural-no drugs-minimal medical monitering-water birth. I was able to catch my own baby and bring her up to me, sharing her first moments in this world by kissing her and singing to her of how much I loved her.

Since bearing a child, I have been asked a lot of questions by people. Both men and women have asked questions, a lot of them repeats. In an attempt to educate the public, I am sharing the most popular ones and my responses with you. This may be TMI for some people, so be forewarned.

• What did it feel like? As though my body was trying to turn itself inside out.


• Did it hurt, for real? Yes. I was able to sleep through the first part, and then relax myself through the second part when things started getting intense. During "transition," though, things were crazy. It wasn't the most painful thing I've ever felt, but it was the most intense thing I've ever felt. It just takes over your whole body. The most painful part was actually tearing, but the worst pain was the pressure in my legs during the whole thing because it was the most annoying of all the "pain". I recommend practicing deep relaxation before childbirth. I didn't scream, but I did groan loudly while pushing and I did have tremors from the pain during contractions.


• Would you do it without drugs again? Absolutely. I still wouldn't dream of using drugs during natural childbirth.


• What about tearing? The water helps a lot, and pushing slowly. I only tore a little bit, first degree. It stung, though!


• What does it feel like afterwards? First off, you still look 5 months pregnant after the kid comes out. It feels like all of your guts have no pressure on them and are just bumping around so you have a stomach ache and feel like throwing up. Putting pressure around your mid section helps. Also, the unterine cramping afterwards sucks, especially while nursing. I took Tylonal and Advil for this.


• Bleeding? This was an FYI for me: you bleed for up to 6 weeks after childbirth. After researching, I found out that this is from the area where the placenta was attached. Nursing and not doing strenuous activities helps speed up the healing process.


• Does it hurt to pee afterwards? It didn't for me, but I'm told that it does if you tear in the perinial area (between the vagina and anus) (which I didn't).


• How is sex afterwards? Let's just say that being "too loose" after childbirth is a MYTH. If anything, it's at least as small as ever. Some internal muscle tone is gone so I guess that's looser but that can be "fixed" by kegal exercises. I was woried about this though, so I did some Internet research prior to any attempts at sex and found that some women really have a terrible time with this including internal things becoming external . Yikes. Be encouraged that not all women have problems--don't be worried like I was.


• What about pregnancy side effects afterwards? Well, I haven't thrown up, had heartburn, had leg cramps, or been nearly as tired since giving birth.


• Getting back into shape: I feel like the unlucky one among women with this. I look at other new moms and they looks awesome. Me? I lost about 26 lbs. during the first 3 weeks and have struggled ever since. That whole "you burn 500 extra calories a day by nursing" doesn't help me any. I'm six months post partum and still have 12 pounds to go. *sigh*

Childbirth is something that one would think is a horrendous, abnormal and scary situation that women unfortunately find themselves in--if you watch mainstream television! Let me correct your thinking and assure you that the media is wrong. Childbirth is natural and amazing. Intense, yes. Impossible? No. Be unafraid and instead, embrace the most incredible experience that you will ever have.

What are some other questions that you have about labor, deliver, or post-partum?