Daily Life with Baby

Kendra from ShoppingForTwo sent this idea to us last year.

She wrote: keep yourself and your baby snuggly warm this wintertime by making your own baby carrier. I learned how to make this just a week before my baby was born and not only is this the most comfortable baby carrier, but it’s also the least expensive. I made two carriers for about $16.

Take a trip down to the fabric store and pick out five yards of either woven cotton (you will need to hem the edges to keep from unraveling) or fleece (no need to sew at all). cut the five yards in half horizontally, so you end up with a 20″ by 5 yards piece of material. then follow the instructions at wearyourbaby.com to learn how to wrap your baby.

Kendra wrote that her baby quickly falls asleep when he’s wrapped up which makes running errands or taking a walk a lot more peaceful. “I wish I had found out about this when my older kid was a baby, it would have made life so much easier!”

Heather secretly made me a wrap just like Kendra’s as a delighted pregnancy present. I wore it proudly when Scarlett was tiny.

A Day Out at the national railway Museum-York

It’s may and it’s raining…again. like many parents out there, we find it a struggle to keep the kids entertained when the weather’s cold and blustery outside. Not another soft play I hear you cry. I’m with you on that, there’s only so many slides and ball pits I can cushion my tush on. Ouch.

One of our favourite ‘go to when it rains’ places in Yorkshire is the national railway museum (and I’m not even a train lover-London living for 11 years saw to that) but this museum is utterly wide eyed fascinating for all the family and it’s FREE.

There are literally hundreds of rail vehicles in the museum along with outdoor open train ride for when the sun finally shines and you arewide-eyedstep on board the futuristic Japanese Bullet Train indoors along with other trains you can walk on. Oliver, ten times on, still asks me why the trains aren’t moving and never fails to make others on board laugh when he pretends to be the ticket collector and asks for their tickets!

What is so enthralling is how you can get close to over 300 years of train history in York’s only national museum by exploring their giant halls full of trains and railway legends including the majestic duchess of Hamilton and the stunning opulence of the royal Trains.

I know that’s how I would have liked to have travelled! We also love the gallery there, showcasing train art and posters along with suitcases, birdcages and confectionery machines of old dotted around the museum.

You can even watch engineers at work in The Workshop, uncover hidden treasures in The warehouse and make tracks to the outdoor area where there is outdoor play along with miniature railway rides.

Every weekend and in the school holidays, kids can enjoy a fun filled programme of events, including science shows, storytelling, steam rides, craft activities and special events so do check out the website to plan your visit. 

The may half Term 2013 is animal themed enabling to discover all things furry, scaly, feathery, and fluffy, and how they relate to our railways. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about working railway animals, the creatures that were transported on the rails, and even the creepy-crawlies who were secret stowaways! I’d strongly recommend the museum to all!

Photographs ©Peter Broadbent.

Buy my bestselling book in paperback or audio

My debut book is my guide to surviving and thriving at work and at home and offers insight into how to create a digital business or return to work with confidence.

Mumboss: The honest Mum’s guide to Surviving and Thriving at work and at home (UK 2nd Edition)

Available on Amazon or Audible

The working Mom: Your guide to Surviving and Thriving at work and at home (US/Canada Edition)

Available September 8th 2020. order now on Amazon

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English Easter was a cheerful affair here (Greek Easter was the following weekend but we celebrated it as one) hot footing it to Manchester lapping up that gorgeously hot but breezy bank holiday weekend decked out in summer clothes (remember that time? Hard, I know, now that it’s not 25 degrees anymore and we’re scrambling for umbrellas). best of all, the long weekend was a chance to see the big Fat Greek family for a marathon feast and even bigger, catch-up.

It was one heck of a nourishing whirlwind that buoyed me up no end. So much so, I returned back to Windsor at midnight but still felt fresh for an early morning wake-up call for GMB, getting my mug on the box, on just 2 hours sleep! I was debating with broadcaster and author Janey Lee Grace, on whether drinking responsibly affects parenting. I say mindful drinking doesn’t! Now, pass the ouzo!

P.S. thanks to Dara Ford for the stunning, bespoke jacket I essentially live in, and Lauren Jobling for styling me as typical (she chose the red shoes below I love too). dress is H&M.

But, back to Easter…

It was so busy, we barely took any photos (always a sign of the best time) but I’ve included the few diamonds below, with my beaut of a family.

My auntie Zafira kindly gave me this floral Zara dress of dreams (I love the billowy sleeves) and the red Dorothy style chunky heels with cute cat faces on the toes, were a gift from Koi Footwear.

My shades are Gucci and my beautiful first cousin Georgia wears a Zara two-piece too with Gucci trainers. (Unknowingly) in sync or what?!

Happy days

…The kids loved seeing their cousins again too, and Oliver,9, is besotted with dogs and babies so divided his time equally between stroking baby Emilios’s feet (aw), and dogs, Milly and Suki’s fur. Emilios is child of my first cousin Stefanos and his partner Yasmin, and stopped crying the minute I held him, bless him, and now, as per my ovaries are in over drive. I would love another baby in the next few years, possibly when I hit 40 if I can (I just need to work on Peter)!

Come on Peter!!!!

When it concerned food, my auntie Loulla who owns award winning Greek taverna Kosmos in Manchester, rustled up a feast for us in no time with lamb for those who eat it (not me as I’m plant-based), and both there and at my aunt Zafira’s, I filled up on naturally vegan bourkouri (Cracked Wheat), Greek salad sans feta, and Cyprus potato chips which were all delicious.

Thanks to Lou, we also left with a tray of conventional Greek custard tart Peter and my kids have slowly eaten (and loved) all week.

I need to try a vegan version!

Love, sun and terrific food-what much more do you need?

…We really love living in Windsor but we miss the family lots. It took 5 hours to get home, but it sure was worth it.

Here I am with my cousin Vasos.

Sunday just gone was Greek Easter (the Greeks follow the Julian calendar, which typically differs from the Gregorian calendar that is used by numerous western countries) and while I expect I fast each day as a vegan, I did break my typical diet on Sunday, not with anything non-vegan but a whole load of dark chocolate (and I imply a load)!

We took it easy, resting at home thanks to the sugar crash, and the young boys decorated porcelain eggs we’d purchased from Sainsbury’s which went well until they both wanted to make the chick egg version on offer, and the pack only included one set of wings, beak etc. Cue bickering and Xander in tears.

My little man emulates everything his big brother Oliver does or has, which I under can be aggravating for my eldest son, but really is sweet when you think about it!…

I soon distracted them with some chocolate but that’s the end of sugar highs for us (for now)!

I’m back on the healthy eating band wagon again, as I’ve packed on 10 pounds over the last few months which should go (I miss my jeans). I’m back to IF (Intermittent Fasting) daily fasting between 9pm and 11 am, and hitting the gym. I’ve also started PT sessions with trainer to the stars (and now, little old me),  James Golden.

Wish me luck, I’ll report back soon!

What have you all been up to?

Buy my bestselling book in paperback or audio

My debut book is my guide to surviving and thriving at work and at home and provides insight into how to create a digital company or return to work with confidence.

Mumboss: The truthful Mum’s guide to Surviving and Thriving at work and at home (UK 2nd Edition)

Available on Amazon or Audible

The working Mom: Your guide to Surviving and Thriving at work and at home (US/Canada Edition)

Available September 8th 2020. purchase now on Amazon

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Never miss A Post!

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My daughter had her 7th birthday party at Pump It Up, a colorful storehouse outfitted with many inflatable jumpy things. This operation is a birthday party machine. parents need not lift a finger during the party; the children’s shoes and the parents purses are even carted along on a shelf with wheels as the party moves through the facility.

While any sane parent would have simply checked the box next to “ice cream cake” when signing up for the party, I have a tradition of making my children’s birthday treats, though I’m beginning to question why. I don’t have a special aptitude for it. I’ve just always thought it’s not that hard. I make cupcakes from a box and use store-bought frosting, and everyone’s delighted and the whole thing costs about $10.

Here are Julian’s birthday cupcakes from a year or so ago.

(Find these charming googly candy eyes on Amazon.)

Scarlett and I saw this tie-dye cake mix on the shelf at the store and gotten it.

After adjusting Scarlett’s expectations that our cake would not resemble the picture on the box because a) I did not get three packages of mix to make three circle cakes that need to be frosted together and b) I am not doing frosting and then fondant and then coloring fondant and then cutting fondant into circles and then poking my eyes out with a frosting knife. I’m just not doing that.

I thought it would be fun to cook it in a Bundt cake pan and then frost it with white and then each slice would be it’s own outstanding little rainbow.

We made the mix, and followed the instructions to separate the batter into six bowls, one for each primary color and one for each secondary color. The package guided us to use the enclosed food coloring to turn each segment of batter to its assigned color on the tie-dye spectrum. To our delight, the color mixing went off without a hitch and we actually made purple from red and blue. Or close enough.

 

Next we poured the batter, one color at a time into the non-stick bundt pan.

Hmm. It filled only a fraction of the pan. I hoped that it would rise or else I only had enough cake to feed about six kids. We were expecting 15, plus siblings who often show up in time for cake.

After the prescribed baking session, I let the cake cool, but maybe not enough. When I attempted to flip the the cake over, it completely fell apart. half the cake was glued to the top of the pan. Oh. Shit.

I had embarked on this project the day before the party for just-in-case reasons, and now I had to consider my plan Bs.

Do this same project over again and hope for better results. I realize that is the definition of insanity, but I suspected that a lot more cooking and a lot more cooling might produce a a lot more strong cake.

Revert to my normal cupcake offering, taking comfort in the reliability of it.

Dig into my creative brain and upcycle this crumbled rainbow cake.

One of the crucial benefits of good Ol’ Cupcakes is that you don’t have to cut and plate cake in front of a crowd of children. no one likes that parent-of-the-party-kid job, do they? After some hand-wringing and swearing and giving myself a pep talk in the kitchen, I came up with a new plan. I sent my husband to the store for whipping cream and clear plastic cups and I shut down operation Rainbow Cake for the day.

In the morning, with a couple hours to go before the party, I made the whipped cream and put it in a tupperware in the fridge so that we could transport it to the party. I scooped a serving of tye-die cake pieces and crumbs into each plastic cup. We packed those in the car and went to the party. A few moments before the pizza was served, I topped each cup with fresh whipped cream. unexpectedly my kitchen fail was a Pinterest-worthy dessert.

Wait, I said Pinterest-worthy, right? here you go.

Bonus: I achieved the easy-to-pass-out dessert status I was terrified I’d miss. No public cake cutting for this party. Each child got a cup handed to him or her.

Next time, I’ll plan for cake cups (like cupcakes but accidental?) from the beginning so I don’t waste time crying over spilled crumbs.

thanks to Oakland mother and non-profit executive Chantal Laurie below for this guest post. We met through our shared babysitter a few years ago. When she sent me this post and I was so thrilled about it, I wrote on Facebook that I love when people send us an outstanding post just because they have something to say and need a place to say it. Some readers thought I was being sarcastic. I was not. I’m really pleased to share your writing. You know, as long as it’s pretty good.

I’m 70% sure having a third child is a good idea. and I’m seven months pregnant. With my third kid.

My husband’s also 70% sure, but 30% uncertainty doesn’t send him into a tailspin. It appeals to his, “We’ll figure it out. What’s the Niner’s score?” mentality that tempers my over-thinking and drives me batty.

With the first and second, it wasn’t a question. I wanted the delight and heartache of raising a little one and wanted our first to have a sibling. getting pregnant wasn’t easy, but it was an unequivocal decision.

With the third, it felt different. I wanted some Myers-Briggs type indicator test with 25 questions to reveal my “type” and tell me what to do:

“You value fun, adventure and challenge and you’ve got much more love to give. opt for it.”

“Your age, need for order, issue over finances, and investment in your profession say two is plenty.”

Without a Magic 8 ball, we did what any responsible, highly-educated adults do: played it fast and loose and left it up to some identified sperm to make the decision for us.

I’m still 30% uncertain it’s a good idea.

Having a third seems impractical. after that additional shoelace is tied and snack is packed, it’ll take 20 extra minutes to get out of the house at any given time. We’ll be perpetually late to everything. And, we live in the San Francisco Bay area which is prohibitively expensive; I’m dubious we can offer for three kids the way we want.

It also seems excessive. Are we the “Duggar family of the West” as we challenge the prevailing ideology of our peer group: two and through? We’ve got two healthy kids and the quaint set up of a young boy and a girl, why tempt fate by depending on my “advanced maternal age” eggs?

A third delays our dreams. goals of traveling abroad in the near future get stifled when imagining a newborn addition. Nap times cramp the style of a hike to Machu Picchu or a habitat For Humanity trip to Honduras. and starting the clock again from the beginning implies paying for much more years of childcare and pre-school, real money that’s never channeled towards that kitchen re-model.

There’s the identity piece. A third seems to imply I’m much more “mom” than “professional.” I think of getting so swallowed up in consent slips and breast milk that I’ll forget how to code switch from the language of “sweet pea” to “what’s the dial-in for the conference line?” And, I worry colleagues will predict that I’ll temper any semblance of ambition I can muster up when not sleep deprived. Do I have the wherewithal to resist succumbing to subtle ”˜opt-out’ expectations?

Will I recognize myself or my spouse after a third? My child and daughter unapologetically transformed me from a C to an A cup. will a third indent my boobs into my chest cavity? With the additional laundry to fold and whining to endure, will I be continuously on the emotional brink? given the complexity of orchestrating the lives of three, I visualize rarely seeing my spouse over the next 15 years except to high five him while I take two to soccer and he takes one to a birthday party. Can our marriage endure the responsibility of another kid?

Then, there’s 70% of me that’s sure.

When I look at family pictures (the two where everyone’s vaguely staring at the camera), I wonder if I’m in that Back to the Future scene when people start slowly disappearing from the photo. It’s like there’s implied to be another kid showing up in that picture, on my lap, bringing much more delight and chaos.

When I’m out in public, I look for families of five. I feel initial relief when I see they’ve left the house fully clothed and seemingly bathed, and then I feel envy. I want the chance to create a romanticized, rowdy, Thanksgiving dinner table where my kids talk over each other and recollect traumatizing family memories with laughter and a hint of gratitude.

I also have this hopeful vision that I can be a mother of three and an ambitious professional. I respect women in my field who leapt (or maybe fell) into the messiness of three and seemingly thrived in their careers. They reassure me that I won’t descend into some Gymboree, Frozen abyss when my spouse and I are outnumbered. “I’ve got this,” I convince myself as I elbow my way onto their elusive team.

And I realize that while my profession matters to me, the “abyss” which I judgingly reference is where I claim remarkable joy. I love a good music together class and take pride in those baseball cupcakes I baked and icedfor my son’s second birthday. I belt out let It Go and revel in the chance to explain, to my four year old, what the lyrics imply as I build her feminist identity. Being involved in the meaningful and mundane gives me purpose.

And I want to multiply the fun and love. When my kids crack each other up at the dinner table for no reason, I want a third to share in the delight. When we initiate a spontaneous family dance party to the Jackson 5, I want another one to show off their moves. and when my child grabs my cheeks and shouts, “I love you, Mama,” I’m ready to procreate until the end of time.

In my darkest moments, I want a third because I worry losing a child. In an irrational way, a third feels like an insurance policy. It’s another layer of protection over my heart. If the unimaginable happens, I’ll have two remaining kids to fill the house with enough noise and love to possibly make life bearable.

The reasons for the 70% seem less rational. They’re much more emotion and gut and, to me, sound at the same time compelling and irresponsible.

That’s why I wince when asked, “Was it planned?” It seems I’m being asked, “Is it wanted?” Confusingly, it was sort of planned and of course wanted. And, when asked, “Are you excited?” I respond, “I think so.”

These nuanced answers feel lacking when referencing my unborn kid. But, they’re honest. In addition to anticipatory delight I also have anxiety and apprehension. I want to feel those issues without thinking I’m a awful mother. And, I want reassurance that when my child arrives, I’ll know that having a third might only be 70% a good idea, it’s 100% worth it.

Thanks, Chantal, for sharing this piece with us.

Related: ought to I have a baby? and ought to I have a second child?

pleased birthday to my big boy, Holden. Your energy, enthusiasm and zest for life keep on growing. There is so much silliness packed into you that your eyes twinkle with it. I like to describe your sense of humor as very age-appropriate. In this picture, your infectious giggle charmed the socks off your older friend, Julian. Now, it’s your knock-knock jokes and goofy puns.

You are smart too: a whiz at chess and a fiend for all things LEGO. You seem naturally talented at sports, which is lucky, because you hate to be bad at stuff. kindergarten really blew your world and your mind broad open. I have been so happy of you this year to see you read bigger and bigger words and eagerly accept much more responsibility at home (“hey, where’s my laundry helper?”).

You love to know the routine of people and places and hate transitions to new situations. That’s fair, I suppose, but your substantial personality and fearlessness in talking to new people seem to kick in best away (making me wonder why you were ever nervous).

We had hoped to find one ideal summer camp to allow you to get into a groove and feel comfortable. Instead, we were swayed by your numerous interests: sports, science, swimming, and art… and signed you up for far too many. Please forgive us.

You chose on a recent roadtrip that your favorite restaurant is subway because you could talk with the adult cashier and purchase everything your way, down to the number of olives. Parenting a child who knows exactly what he wants and when (and how) isn’t easy, but I’m so happy to see you turn into such a confident little dude. just like in years past, you have planned your own birthday party. This time, angry Birds.

And you are so handsome, I could eat you up. (Right, ladies?)

Looking forward to another fantastic year of adventures with you, my sweet!

ParentBloggers as well as Ryka shoes are asking the question, “how do you in shape it in?” as well as I objective to answer. right here are my preferred exercises for getting sweaty post-baby:

Running. “Running late” that is, with a infant strapped to my breast or dangling from my person for an additional 17 pounds resistance to develop my over-developed best arm.

Biking. That’s genuine outside fresh air biking or a spin class. Alec commits to staying in with the young boys on Sunday mornings so I can get my trip on. This coming Sunday, I’m doing the trip d’Organics with a girlfriend. Allegedly. We’ll all drive up in the morning on Sunday as well as Alec will satisfy us at rest stops for fresh organic fruit as well as nursing breaks. We’re doing the short one.

Swimming. Swimming was my sport of option when I just had Holden to contend with as well as I can honestly state I’ve only been in the pool when post-Milo. I did the ocean swim part of an Olympic triathlon while nursing a four-month old in the shift area, so it’s a point of fantastic pride for me… even if it’s in the past.

Chasing young children as well as deep breathing. These are my genuine exercises. The ones I do every day.

Baby Bootcamp. I in shape in the genuine class precisely when as well as liked it (despite my own crying as well as my baby’s crying it was great to have an actual trainers as well as caring peers). The picture right here is me as well as Scarlett as well as Milo making up our own guidelines with lunges, jogging stroller, as well as the Bjorn.

Laughing. Is that a sport? It’s most likely the most essential one to make time for amidst the chaos.

Dr Rachel Reed is a senior lecturer as well as self-control Leader in Midwifery at the university of the Sunshine Coast, Australia. She has provided midwifery care for numerous women in a variety of settings in the united kingdom as well as Australia. Rachel’s PhD explored women’s experience of birth as well as midwifery method during birth. She is a writer as well as presenter, as well as is the author of the MidwifeThinking blog site. Rachel is originally from the North of England however now lives in the forest in Queensland Australia. Her new book Why Induction matters is published by Pinter & Martin in September 2018.

Over to Rachel:

10 decisions you can make about your induction

Having your labour induced can be a positive as well as empowering experience. The induction process includes three stages. The very first two stages, ripening the cervix, as well as breaking the waters, aim to prepare your body for induced contractions. The third stage of induction stimulates uterine contractions utilizing syntocinon (IV medication). Within this process there are a number of decision you can make about exactly how your induction is brought out.

The very first step in the induction process is to ripen the cervix to ensure that it will open in response to contractions. This can be done utilizing medication (prostin) inserted into your vagina, or a balloon gadget put in your cervix. depending upon exactly how close to labour your body already is, this process can take many hours, or sometimes days.

 

How do you want to organise your support person/s?

Do you want a different support person for this phase of the process, or the exact same one as you plan to have with you during labour. If you are staying in hospital overnight will this person be able to stay with you, or will they go home? If they go house when would you like them to return?

 

What are your preferences for comfort measures as well as pain relief?

Most women experience some pain as well as discomfort during this phase. What are your preferences for pain relief, for example, hot-packs, warm shower, pain medications such as paracetamol?

Once your cervix is ripe as well as has opened a little, the next step in the induction process is to break your waters. This removes the fluid from around the infant making induced contractions more effective. Some women will go into labour themselves within hours of this procedure.

 

After your waters are damaged do you want to wait as well as see if you begin contracting spontaneously?

If you want to wait, exactly how long will you wait? What will you do while you wait? walking can assist the baby’s head move down as well as press on the cervix which may begin contractions.

If you don’t go into labour after having your waters broken, contractions will be induced utilizing syntocinon, a medication that is provided via a drip into your vein. before starting this drip an intravenous cannula (IVC)  needs to be put into your vein.

 

Where do you want your IVC placed?

It is finest to have your IVC put into an area that does not inhibit the motion of your hand or catch on things as you move around. You can request that it is put into your least dominant arm. putting the IVC in the top of your forearm, near your wrist (where a watch is worn) enables you to move your hand quickly without discomfort.

 

What is your approach to pain management?

Induced contractions are generally more agonizing than spontaneous contractions. Do you understand about your choices for pain relief? Do you want to begin without any pain relief, or the least strong method, as well as move on to stronger techniques if as well as when you requirement them? An epidural is the only technique that can totally eliminate pain during labour. If you understand you want an epidural, do you want it set up as well as working before the syntocinonis started?

 

What are your preferences for tracking of baby’s heartrate?

Continuous cardiotocograph (CTG) tracking is suggested during an induction since of the prospective dangers of syntocinon induced contractionsfor baby.However, there are choices for you to think about about monitoring. If the hospital has cordless, water resistant CTG, you may be able to utilize it in the shower or bath. If the screen offered needs you to be linked to cords, you will still be able to stand up as well as move around next to the monitor. Also, think about if you want the screen noise turned down to prevent being distracted by it. Or will you be reassured by hearing your baby’s heart rate? Do you want every heart rate pattern modification explained, or do you only want to understand if there is a concern?

 

What are your preferences about vaginal examinations?

Vaginal examinations can verify whether syntocinon is efficient in opening the cervix. However, you can still decline vaginal examinations if you wish. You may choose to only have a vaginal examination if the infant is not born after a specific timeframe. Or, if there are any type of concerns about development or wellbeing. You can likewise make options about exactly how a vaginal examination is brought out, for example, whether you want your care supplier to explain what they discover as they do the examination, or to wait up until they have completed as well as you are comfortable. You may likewise select not to be to be told specifics (eg. centimetres dilated), however rather be told whether you are progressing well, or not.

 

How do you want to be supported while pushing your infant out?

Pushing that is directed by your care supplier boosts the possibility that your infant will ended up being distressed, as well as boosts your possibility of perineal tearing.You can ask you care supplier not to direct pushing as well as support you to comply with your own bodily urges. If you have an epidural you may desire to have it turned down to ensure that you can feel some pushing urges. However, this is not necessary since infants can be born without any type of pushing as the uterus moves the infant down with each contraction. If you do want some direction to help you to push with an epidural, waiting up until the infant is low sufficient in your vagina to be able to see the top of his/her head before pushing reduces the dangers of directed pushing.

 

Choosing a birth position

Consider birth positions that boost the size of your pelvis as well as reduce the pressure as well as stretch in your perineum, for example, kneeling on all fours or lying on your side. prevent a semi-reclined birth setting since it boosts the possibility of tearing.If you have an epidural you may requirement some assistance to get into a great birth position.

After the birth of your infant you will be provided an additional boost of syntocinon to assist the placenta detach, as well as reduce the possibility of you bleeding.

 

When do you want your baby’s umbilical cord to be clamped as well as cut?

The transfer of baby’s blood from the placenta usually takes around three minutes. You can request that the cord is only cut after it has stopped pulsing as well as is totally white (empty). You can likewise request the additional syntocinon to be provided after the cord has stopped pulsing to ensure that it does not transfer with the placenta to the baby.

 

Find out More

Why Induction matters by Rachel Reed is published by Pinter & Martin £7.99. Induction of Labour: balancing dangers as well as Induction of Labour: A step by step guide are both offered from midwifethinking.com.

Website:
Facebook:
Twitter: @MidwifeThinking

 

 

 

Buy my bestselling book in paperback or audio

My debut book is my guide to surviving as well as thriving at work as well as at house as well as offers insight into exactly how to produce a digital business or return to work with confidence.

Mumboss: The honest Mum’s guide to Surviving as well as Thriving at work as well as at house (UK 2nd Edition)

Available on Amazon or Audible

The working Mom: Your guide to Surviving as well as Thriving at work as well as at house (US/Canada Edition)

Available September 8th 2020. order now on Amazon

Like what you’ve read? then why not comply with Vicki on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest as well as Instagram

Never miss A Post!

Subscribe to HonestMum for my regular email newsletter where I share my new blog posts, blogging tips, event invitations, competitions as well as news about my new book. I never share your personal data with third parties.

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new mom, Kristin Helms, has been knocking it out of the park with her adventures around San Diego with baby Blake. When we first introduced Kristin, she had already completed six rookie moms challenges. I’m excited to report that she’s tackled more and she’s become the local ambassador for San Diego Moms’ night Out.

Since she nervously joined her first group of stranger-mommies for lunch (and then realized it was the wrong day and did it all again the next week), we’ve been so excited to watch her progress.

As she heads toward her first Mother’s Day, we’re raising our BPA-free sippy cups high in her honor. Yay, Kristin!

Kristin’s recent baby-and-mama adventures include:

Plan a Moms’ night Out: Kristin bravely invited her different circles of mom friends and put on her heels for a night of wine and tapas. The fuzzy photo shows they must’ve been having a blast.

Go out for just Dessert: You can almost taste the cute at this little cupcake shop! Is that a thing? Well, it is now.

Tackle baby Rhyme Time at the library: The contradiction between quiet library and boisterous babies is alive and well in San Diego.

Paint your baby’s feet onto pottery: A manageable amount of chaos to create a treasured keepsake at A colorful Universe. worth it!

I hope you’re enjoying seeing Kristin take on our #rookiemoms challenges as much as we are. Please let us know if you’re doing them, too! You can tag us on instagram or hashtag us anywhere as #rookiemoms.

[Photos provided by Kristin Helms from mommy project SD all rights reserved]

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Introduction

Ever question why so numerous doctors today have such unfavorable attitudes about their jobs, why so numerous are retiring early, as well as why so numerous wouldn’t want their kids ending up being doctors. I believed ending up being a physician was synonymous with success? So why are these extremely successful people, today’s doctors, not smiling? One word, computers.   Specifically, I am speaking about the introduction of the electronic medical record, likewise called EMR, into their everyday lives.  Say the letters EMR to many doctors today in the US, as well as stand back– you will get a extremely strong emotional response.  Today, a pediatrician’s day practically appears like a computer repairman, I just recently went to reboot computer repair services Brisbane house page, look at their video’s of their personnel working as well as it was similar to my office. many of the day  is spent practically completely with a computer screen as well as keyboard. since of this unfortunate fact, I am going to do something that I have never done before in my six years of blogging, I am going to evaluate in on a few of the options our governmental leaders, our computer scientists, our insurance coverage executives, as well as our pharmaceutical executives have made in shaping today’s healthcare system. I want to pull back the curtain a bit as well as let my listeners get a feel for what today’s pediatricians are up against as they go about their day to day tasks as well as perhaps begin a conversation about improving things.

Music Introduction

 

Out of control Healthcare Records

I want to believe that the architects of electronic medical records were well intentioned.  The present emphasis on documentation, coding, as well as security guidelines however, have drastically altered the focus of outpatient pediatric care. The EMR as well as the computer are actually sucking the life out of today’s doctors. Onerous hours of data entry are not what we subscribed for in med school, particularly when those efforts only marginally enhance healthcare delivery.  Exhibit A of a process that is out of control–just take a look at the EMR of a one year old that was just recently seen in my office who had undergone a major surgical procedure. Granted, surgical treatment is a huge offer however look at the resulting medical records. This stack of papers represents a paper copy of this child‘s electronic medical record!  Of course, the pediatrician who was seeing him for his very first see to our office had 15 minutes to not only evaluation his medical records, however to likewise to total his one year medical see with all the requirements that that entails. I believe you can see that this is impossible to do. Asking doctors repeatedly, to do things that are not possible, will rapidly make them cynical as well as angry. That is, in fact, what we see happening.  I am scared that healthcare administrators, computer engineers, insurance coverage companies, as well as government bureaucrats have produced a system that has lost sight of the genuine reason for healthcare; the deal with to deal with discussion as well as decision making concerning our children’s health and wellness as well as exactly how we, as their healthcare advocates, can enhance their health and wellness as well as supreme well being. producing voluminous medical records is not our mission.

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The data entry Reality

When I began in medicine just a generation ago, 95% of my day was spent on face-to-face healthcare with patients, as well as only 5% was spent with billing as well as producing medical records (what I phone call “process”).  After the introduction of the EMR however, I calculated that I spend better to 66% of my time on client care as well as 34% on process. Some days, I spend as much as 50% of my time with process.   Our main mission, however, ought to not be to produce medical records however to take care of kids as well as families.

I definitely can see the requirement for improving data collection, improving client safety, as well as making healthcare much more accountable as well as efficient. I support these goals, however I don’t believe that achieving them ought to come at the sacrifice of our true mission: offering the care in healthcare. I believe something is out of balance when data entry, generating medical records, as well as insurance coverage coding take as much as 30-50% of a doctor’s day. I believe that system is shortsighted; I believe we will regret these options as we look in the rear view mirror of time. While today’s doctors are hectic producing the biggest medical records the world has ever seen, today’s kids are losing out on what doctors do best, providing care.

Thanks for listening to my complaints about electronic medical records. I guarantee I won’t do it once again soon however I believe it is essential for families to comprehend why their children’s pediatricians may be out of sorts at times. These are talented, dedicated, people who work difficult who have undergone a drastic modification in their task descriptions in the past few years. If you delight in hearing about what is new in the world of pediatrics as well as kid health, take a minute to subscribe to portable useful Pediatrics at www.docsmo.com or on iTunes.  This is Dr. Paul Smolen, you understand Doc Smo, hoping that in spite of your doctors trials, they keep in mind to provide you some smiles. up until next time.

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Music Outro

 

 

 

Link to this post:Computers Taking the care Out of Healthcare? (Pedcast)

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