Essentials Every Crunchy Mama Needs In Her Hospital Bag

Birth is an exciting time and you may be overwhelmed with all of the excitement and forget about your essentials.  If you are planning on having a hospital birth, packing for you is important so you can have the things you need.

• Cloth Pads and freezer pads
• An extra copy of your birth plan
• Diffuser
• Essential Oils
• Nursing pads
• Comfortable clothes - yoga pants, soft socks, your own bathrobe, a nursing shirt, etc.
• Calming music
• Rice or bean socks
• Back massager
• Mother's Milk Tea
• Cut up raw and fresh vegetables and fruits to snack on.  This option is so much better than hospital food.
• Filtered water in your own glass bottle

Enjoy your birthing experience as well as after birth.

Making Your Own Padsicles

Most likely the hospital will provide you with the cooling pads you need after birth.  These are nice as you crack them and they provide a cooling sensation that will help bring down the inflammation.  However, these don't have the best ingredients in them and you most likely you will still want them after you leave the hospital as well.

To make your own padsicles you will need a few things:

• Bladder control pads - these are perfect because they are thick and wide enough for all of the blood after birth
• Aloe Vera
• Witch Hazel (alcohol free)
• Lavender and Tea Tree essential oil

The aloe vera will give you the cooling you will need as you will likely feel a burning sensation for up to a week.  Lavender will help reduce the inflammation and tea tree is known for antibacterial purposes.  Witch Hazel is also anti inflammatory.  Mix all of these ingredients together.  You only need a few drops of the essential oils.

Once these are well mixed spoon them onto each individual pad and spread the mixture out.  Place the pads in the freezer and keep them there until after your delivery date.  

Use as needed.  You will really be happy you prepared these padiscles :)

Organic full circle raspberry fruit spread

I'm not a fan of jelly or jam but my daughter loves it.  I bought some of this for her and being organic I didn't have to worry about any pesticides added ingredients in there.  She absolutely loves it and is always asking for more.  

Organic raspberries

If I had to describe these in one word I would use the word "yum"!!! I'm not a fan of frozen fruit at all. I always buy fresh fruit and nothing else but that.  However, these raspberries caught my eye.  I saw that they were organic and I thought I would try them. Let me tell you, they taste just like fresh raspberries! So delicious and bonus that they are organic! 

Organic Penne

I just picked up this penne and we gave it a try last night for dinner.  It was really good!  I was amazed at how different it tasted than the regular store bought noodles.  They are made in Italy, so you know this Italian noodle has to be delicious and made with quality.  It was only a couple bucks for the box.  I was able to get a meal and a half for my family so I didn't think the price was too bad!  Feed your family organic and boost their health!