why I use Mother-ease® cloth diapers February 3, 2007
Posted by guinever in : babies, cloth diapers, pregnancy , 11comments
I’ve been cloth diapering since my oldest chid was born in 1999. For the first five months of my son’s life, I was committed to using cloth diapers, but I had bought a variety of inexpensive diapers, trying to save money. After all, that was my main reason for using them in the first place–so I wouldn’t have the high cost of using disposable diapers. But as he got older and the amount of leaks increased, my commitment wavered. It seemed I was changing his clothes almost as often as I was changing his diaper.
A leak-free system sounded too good to be true
I had visited the Mother-ease® website on several occasions and had seen their advertisements in magazines. They promised a leak-free diaper system. But I thought they were pricey, and I didn’t really believe the claims. Then my son started having blow-outs (large amounts of poop that escaped the confines of his diaper) so I tried disposables, but the name brand diapers didn’t contain his messes either. So I ordered the introductory offer from Motherease® consisting of a diaper, liner, and cover. I figured I would use this diaper for a month to see if I liked it or not.
The Mother-ease® claims proved to be true
The first time my son wore the one size diaper and air-flow cover, he had a huge “blow-out” like the one I described above, except this time it didn’t leak because the diaper was so absorbent. The cover didn’t even get messed up. I didn’t need to try this diaper for a month. I called Motherease® immediately and ordered a dozen diapers. I later added another dozen and then another. As long as the diaper is tucked all the way into the cover, and the diaper is changed before it gets too wet so it won’t hold anymore liquid, Motherease® diapers are truly leak-proof.
Mother-ease® diapers last a long time
I quickly realized that although these diapers were pricier than others, in the long run, they would save money because I wouldn’t have to replace them. My fourth baby wore the same diapers as all her siblings. Not bad for diapers to last 6 years of non-stop use. Now, with my fifth child, I have bought another dozen and have had to slowly toss the older diapers away because they have become thin after years of use. The snaps on these diapers and covers are amazing. Not one has pulled away from the fabric or broken–something I have experienced in every other brand of snap-to-fit diapers I have tried. I have never had to throw away a cover. They’re still waterproof after going through 5 babies. I do not put the covers in the drier. I have used the one-size diapers which fit 8-35 pounds from newborn until potty training.
Pocket diapers.
Since my beginnings in cloth diapering, a new kind of diaper has entered the market. I wondered what all the rage was about over this very popular style of diaper, so I bought 3 to use at night with my toddler. I have to say that after months of using them, I really do prefer Mother-ease®. One of the benefits of the pocket diapers is that the synthetic material next to baby’s skin wicks away moisture so baby strays drier, thus reducing the incidence of diaper rash. Well, Mother-ease® has introduced stay-dry diapers and liners which I love even better than their original diaper. If you order from Mother-ease® , please tell them that Guinever sent you.
What I use and highly recommend
One size dry diapers and snap-in liners
Air flow covers
newborn Sandy’s diapers for use in the first months (but not necessary)
Don’t forget the nursing pads
Read how to wash cloth diapers.
How to wash cloth diapers February 1, 2007
Posted by guinever in : babies, cloth diapers , 4commentsI’ve used cloth diapers on all my children so I’ve been washing cloth diapers continually since 1999. My method of washing diapers is below:
Use only one diaper pail, and do not put water in it. There is 
no need to rinse dirty diapers as long as baby is solely breast-fed. Once baby starts eating solids (or formula), the dirty diapers need to be rinsed in the toilet. Flushable, biodegradable diaper liners also available in a roll can minimize mess on the diaper. You just lay the liner in the center of the diaper and then dump the liner in the toilet when soiled. The liners can be washed with the diapers until you need to flush them away. Using the liners are optional. Sometimes, if the waste is solid enough, it just easily drops in the toilet with no problem without the use of liners.
Wash diapers once the pail gets full which is every 2-3 days with only one baby in diapers. First, set the washer to run a medium sized load and do a cold/cold wash on the shortest possible cycle. If the diapers seem extra dirty or stinky, or if baby is sick, add either washing soda or baking soda to disinfect the diapers.
Next, run a hot/ cold wash with the longest possible time.
The hot water is necessary to get them really clean. A good detergent to use is ALL. (I’ve tried castille soap and a variety of other detergents, but they don’t seem to work as well.) Don’t use “free and clear” detergents because they have added ingredients which leave residues.
Finish with a 2nd rinse with a big splash of white distilled vinegar. The vinegar helps get all the soap out, balances the Ph level, and softens the diapers. Using vinegar is optional.
Hang them outside on the line when it’s not raining or snowing because the sun bleaches out stains and it’s also nice to dry them naturally.
Don’t use bleach because it shortens the life of diapers. Bleach is harsh and corrosive and can make holes in your diapers, so it shouldn’t be used. Using a small amount of a product like oxy-clean when baby is sick kills the germs and bacteria. Don’t use fabric softener or dryer sheets because they leave a coating that is water resistant, thus making the diapers less absorbent. When baby wets, the wetness will bead up on the diapers, causing leaks.
Don’t wash covers with your diapers because they can’t take the hot temperature. (A few covers can tolerate higher temperatures; just follow the manufacturer’s instructions.) You can just wash them with your light colored clothes and then hang them to dry. Most wool diaper covers require hand washing. For best results, use a rinse made especially for wool. Most diaper covers should not be put in the dryer because of the high temperature. If put in the dryer, they won’t be waterproof anymore which is not what you want! The high temperature in the dryer can also destroy Velcro if you have it on your diapers or covers.
Read why I use Mother-ease diapers.
the absurd “P’s” of childbirth January 29, 2007
Posted by guinever in : babies, birth, labor, pregnancy , add a commentHere’s a common labor scenario: you’ve been in active labor for awhile and it seems you’re stuck. You were 5-6 centimeters dilated a few hours ago, and you’re still 5-6 cm dilated even after several hours of hard, active labor. So your doctor or midwife diagnoses you with failure to progress.
Your caregiver starts the 3 p’s talk. Something must be wrong. It’s either the passageway, passenger, or power. Your birth canal seems fine, big enough for the baby, so it’s not the passageway. The baby is handling your labor great, not showing any signs of distress on the EFM (electronic fetal monitor) and doesn’t seem too big, so the problem isn’t the passenger. So it must be the power. Your contractions just aren’t strong enough. Therefore, you need pitocin to make your contractions stronger, more powerful to dilate your cervix to ten. That’s what your OB/GYN tells you.
Passageway? Passenger? Power? Who first came up with this ridiculous way to evaluate labor? Totally absurd. How about patience. The fourth p in labor should not be pitocin, it should be patience. As long as mom and baby are doing fine, patience is called for.
I just described an example of where even with an active labor pattern, dilation seemingly stops. Another example that the 3 p’s of labor is brought up is when labor just stops or slows down. A woman who had been having long, hard, and strong contractions suddenly finds her contractions shorter and not so hard and spaced apart. This isn’t her body shutting down; it’s her body resting.
How marvelous our bodies have been designed to labor in this way. Our bodies have the ability to start and stop labor as needed. Enjoy and savor these resting minutes. You are regaining your strength for more work ahead. But all too often in the hospital, a laboring woman is diagnosed with failure to progress and told her body shut down and just can’t labor and she is given pitocin or worse, wheeled to the OR when all that is needed is just a little time.
Patience, ladies. Patience.Trust your body to birth your baby. You can read the birth story of my third baby where my labor kept on stopping, and with time and patience, the baby finally was born.
how long is it ok to push during labor? January 29, 2007
Posted by guinever in : babies, birth, labor, pregnancy , 4commentsHow long is it ok to push during labor? The answer is as long as both mother and baby are healthy, it’s alright to just keep on pushing until the baby is born. Just be patient. The second stage of labor or pushing phase can take anywhere from just a couple minutes to many hours.
From what I’ve observed, most primiparas (first time moms) take about an hour to push out their baby. But going over one or two hours is normal and acceptable. If labor seems long and the baby isn’t descending, a change of position is usually all that is needed to bring the baby down. Positions to try besides the typical hospital position of lying on back with feet in stirrups include
- squatting either on the floor or bed; a squatting bar can assist in this position
- sitting up, yet leaning back on bed, chair, or partner between contractions
- lying on side, pulling top leg back during contractions
- walking/standing
- hands and knees
- on knees, but in an upright position
- leaning over a birth ball or chair
For more information about the second stage of labor, read this comprehensive article about pushing for first time moms at Midwifery Today.
If mom is overly exhausted or her blood pressure is rising or the baby starts showing signs of distress (the baby’s heart rate is measured with a doppler or fetal monitor), then that is the time to try to shorten the pushing stage and try to get the baby out quicker. This would include pushing a lot harder for a couple contractions, trying vacuum extraction, forceps, and eventually surgery.
Again, it doesn’t matter how long it takes for pushing as long as mom and baby continue to do alright. It’s important for the laboring woman to eat if she’s hungry, drink if she’s thirsty, and change positions if she feels like it.
what does being 2 centimeters dilated mean? January 22, 2007
Posted by guinever in : babies, birth, labor, pregnancy , 139comments
So you’re nearing the end of your pregnancy and your doctor or midwife “checks you” and you find out that you’re 2 centimeters dilated. What does it mean? When will you have your baby?
Well, your labor could start today, tomorrow or not for another month. Cervical dilation is not a good indication of when exactly you will have your baby.
You can be 36, 37, or 38 weeks pregnant, 2 centimeters dilated and not have your baby for several weeks. Or you can be 2 centimeters dilated and be in very early labor or pre-labor having a couple contractions an hour and maybe have a baby within the next couple days. Or you can be 2 centimeters dilated and be having very long, hard contractions that are close together. In this last scenario, you will have your baby very soon. You can actually be in late labor or in transition, but your cervix hasn’t caught up yet and is showing early labor.
I’ve heard a few women say that they got the epidural, but it didn’t take effect until after the baby was born. The contractions were overwhelming and they just couldn’t handle labor anymore especially when they got checked and their cervix was found to only be 2, 3, or 4 centimeters dilated. They ordered the epidural and as they waited for the anesthesiologist to show up, they had the baby.
So remember, you can’t predict when your baby will be born based on the dilation of your cervix. Dilation doesn’t happen in a standard, uniform way.
Feel free to ask a question and then check back later for an answer, but please don’t ask me when I think you are going to have your baby or if your doctor will induce you because I don’t know. (these questions could be deleted and will not be answered)
You will find additional clarification of when your labor may start by reading cervical dilation 101:frequently asked questions and How long does it take the cervix to dilate 5 centimeters?
For more articles about pregnancy and birth, please refer to my welcome page.
If you enjoy reading birth stories, you might like
diary of a primipara
my second birth: a lot quicker than my first
the labor that kept on stopping
born in our living room
