O Bambino Catalog

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O Bambino Catalog

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Breast Milk from Milk Bank Coming to D Town

I'm a mother of a teen & toddler, both were breastfed. For me it wasn't a decision it was more of an instinct, something I thought you just did. With my first I was young & viewed it as the next process after birth. Didn't think about it. Never had that "moment" that women talk about. I just did it for the benefits, the cost, & convenience. I didn't love it & didn't hate it, I knew it was the best thing for my daughter so I did it. Thankfully it worked out, looking back I truly believe ignorance is bliss!
Thirteen years later with my second child it was a no brainer that I would breastfeed. I was shocked when it didn't come as easy as I remembered. I couldn't understand why, being older, more prepared mentally & actually ready to embrace the experience. I wanted my "moment" damn it! We battled with latching, a weak supply & a hungry, hungry baby. It caused for a stressful situation. Stressful - oh no, cant have stress this doesn't help your milk come in! We ended up getting through all our issues & enjoying the experience & I got many great moments!
I am happy to share from a survey of women who had a baby at Doylestown Hospital in the past year. They found that 93% of respondents solely breastfed while at the hospital. At 6 months, 70% of new DH moms responding to the survey were still breastfeeding. Compare that to the U.S. national average of 43% and the state average of 36%. At 12 months, 40% of those DH moms continued to breastfeed. Nationally the rate is about 21% and statewide the rate is just 16%. So basically we have a very high rate of Moms continuing to breastfeed.
Some of you may be aware that Doylestown Hospital released news that they will be taking part in a donated milk program. Money donated by a patient will be used to help purchase 46 bottles of pasteurized frozen human breast milk from a milk bank in Ohio. The breast milk will be available to new moms of preemies or moms who for whatever reason can't produce enough milk of their own, but still want their baby to receive the benefits of breast milk during their earliest hours. Doylestown is one of a growing number of hospitals in this country and around the world that offer their patients a donated breast milk program. Policies and procedures are being finalized and the program should launch soon.
I know many women who couldn't breastfeed for what ever reason. Would you consider this program? I try to imagine if I couldn't produce milk, would I give my baby another women's milk? I think of all the wonderful reasons to participate in the program. We all know breast milk is easy to digest and contains antibodies that can protect infants from bacterial and viral infections. But, something still doesn't feel right. Although if my baby needed blood I would sign for a transfusion, right? Well I guess there is the argument that the baby wouldn't survive with out blood. So would I give them synthetic blood (if available) over human blood. I will consider myself one of the lucky ones who isn't faced with having to make this important decision & leave it to you Moms & soon-to Be's to weigh in & share your thoughts on this donated milk program.

First Friday June

Although the weather was rainy & cold Friday night it didn't stop our special guest from creating art in the store! Bucks county artist, Ray Pulli designed a customers belly cast as on lookers watched. Many people didn't know what the actual canvas was until we explained. For those of you who are unfamiliar with belly casting let me explain. A belly cast is a plaster cast made of an expecting mom's beautiful pregnant form. You buy the kit (at O Bambino) & make the pregnancy belly cast with a loved one in the privacy of your home. Its an easy project that is made in as little as 30 minutes. No mixing of messy materials is required and the end result is a perfect 3D memento of an expecting mom's belly or torso. We have invited local artists to design the casts on First Fridays for some special customers. The customer gives the artist an idea of what they would like on the cast & as you can see its truly a work of art! Many women shy away from the idea, but from what I'm hearing its really fun & its pretty cool to see yourself from everyone else's view. This is something very special that you can hang in the nursery or keep in a private place. This is the only true way to remember your belly & show your little one what you looked like together. Stay tuned for July's belly!
To contact Ray Pulli please call the store or email info@obambino.net

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10 Great Places to Start a Family

Want a family-friendly place to live? Check out these picks for communities that offer good schools, pediatric care, safe neighborhoods, and decent work and housing opportunities. You may find one a great place to call home!

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The "Must Have" Nursing Gown

Can anyone name one of the best things about nursing (besides the wonderful health advantages)? Most of us experience the "girls" being full & lookin' good! So why not take advantage of this flattering design that makes the most out of anyones cleavage it also makes room for your bump. This gown drapes like a dream & is super soft!
Nursing gowns are a moms best friend, especially at 3 am! This innovative nursing gown is sleek and sexy while offering breastfeeding support in more ways than one. It's sleep bra is built right in. Flattering empire waist for your changing figure and comes in three colors for your mood. Comes in the little black dress nursing gown, the sexy red dress, & the hot chocolate.

Sexy red dress nursing gown was featured as a reader favorite in Pregnancy Magazine!

We just got a new shipment in so be sure to stop by & pick one up!

A beautiful alternative or addition to a baby shower

Have you heard the buzz lately about birth blessings? If not, not to worry....cause I have the scoop & its pretty cool.

People are embracing a new Mom ritual called Birth Blessing, Mother Blessing or Blessingway...what ever you call it, its a celebration that is tailored to your personal liking. its centered more on the Mom to be. Its more then opening gifts & focusing on the "must haves" its really about the transition into motherhood. A Birth Blessing is a wonderful opportunity to honor the changes & surround an expecting mother with blessings of love and empowerment that she'll carry with her through birth & into motherhood.

The Blessingway originated from Navajo tradition. The idea is to ensure good luck, good health and blessings. Many people now use this term to mean a celebration of motherhood & pregnancy. Out of respect for the Native American culture, the modern Blessingway does not try to duplicate the Navajo ceremony; rather it appropriates the idea of giving strength to the new mother by building a spiritual community around her. Beyond that, it helps the woman find her own strength and abilities by connecting her with the tradition of motherhood. However, you don't have to consider yourself spiritual or religious to get a powerful, emotional benefit from a Blessingway.

Foods are important to a Blessingway, as is the creation of a birth necklace, bracelet or anklet. This is usually done by asking each attendee to bring a bead. The beads are strung together and the finished product placed on the mother-to-be to give her a concrete symbol of the collective strength of the gathering. Although simple, its influence can be powerful. Mother Blessing is a celebration for a new life. It can be used by anyone, expecting a baby, adopting a baby, or just in need of a celebration of life in general.

Without the silly games, the ooos and ahhs over presents, what do you do?

There are many things that can be done for a Mother Blessing. It can be designed by the mother herself, or whomever chooses to host the "party." Here are some typical activities that you might include at a Mother Blessing: presenting a candle (not any candle), made of natural beeswax. Using Beeswax is an ancient tradition, with bees being a symbol for fertility and love! The candle can be lit while Mom is in labor to help sooth her & think of her friends and family who are supporting & praying for her from a far. Blessing cards are used by friends and family to write personal notes about friendship and love or a random quote to make Mom smile. Usually the cards are strung on a ribbon (garland) & presented to the Mom to be. Many women have fun and share the experience by using henna art to decorate her bump or do a belly cast.

Yes, there are co-ed mother blessings (parent blessings/family blessings). As you would honor and respect the mother, the father is treated the same way.
No matter how you choose to celebrate the birth of a new baby, it is a special occasion. A Birth Blessing is but one way to have this recognition. It is a time to celebrate and rejoice in new life.

O Bambino will be carrying Birth Blessing beads, cards, invitations, and candles to help make your celebration as unique & special as you & your baby. We currently carry belly art & casting kits.

As always if there is something special you cant find - ask us & we are happy to help!

Dress up your Delivery!

When I look back at the hospital pictures from when I had my kids I wish I would have had this product. Its called Pretty Pushers. Its a hospital gown or as they call it "delivery dress".

I never thought to come equipped with my own gown until my last delivery. I was handed a gown & as I was slipping into it (that sounds to graceful..it was more like pouring into it), I noticed blood stains. I still cringe thinking about it. I know they get sanitized but its still gross! Away with someone elses stains...hello Pretty Pusher!

This product comes packaged in an adorable pregnancy belly box.

The box includes:

*a designer cotton delivery gown (with front monitor access and back epidural access!)
*matching headband
*lip gloss w/mirror
*lemon-water towelette
*cayenne pepper-infused massage oil

It makes the perfect baby shower gift and is affordable,environmentally conscious, and 100% made in the USA. PVC free & no animal testing.

I think we have a winner!

Pick one up for your big day, or stop in for that perfect shower gift!

We are moving!

We are so happy to announce that O Bambino will be moving to 45 E State Street here in Doylestown as of May 1st. Many of you who are local to the area know the building as the bakery. We have been busy transforming into our new crib. Not only do we have a new location but we have awesome new products to fill it with. We are excited to feature products & services from a few local mothers, from personalized onesies to taggie blankets. We will also have an expanded selection of infant gifts & even more unique accessories for both Mom & baby. Check back soon as we will be featuring our new products here on our blog!
In an effort to liquidate stock we are having a "moving day" sale. From now till the end of the month all maternity dresses and pants are 10% off & selected infant sets are 50% off. Dont miss this sale, it's our biggest of the season!

Flower Headbands

Spring is here..so they say. I can see my flowers starting to peek through the dirt. I cant wait for color again! Till then check out these super sweet flower headbands. I couldnt help myslef from sticking some on Gianna & taking some pictures! We brought them in this past week & the response has been amazing - so come in & get yours today! We have all colors available!

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Put down that pink stuff! This is amazing!

I have to share my wonderful news with everyone. My daughter Gianna (20 mths) has been suffering with ear infections this winter. A couple months ago the Dr prescribed amoxicillin. Many parents know this pink liquid all too well. So, we decided to try it because she had a fever & we wanted to help her. She was on it 3X's a day for 12 days (the standard). Two weeks later were back to the Dr (for something unrelated). When her ears were checked she said they were red again & probably infected. Again Amox. was prescribed. I was upset & surprised that her ears were still red, after almost two weeks of of an antibiotic. She didn't have a fever she wasn't tugging on her ears & they want to put her back on meds. I spoke to a relative who told me that her child had chronic ear infections until she started bringing him to the chiropractor to avoid tubes. After thinking about it for awhile it made total sense. The spine being in proper alignment would result in normal nerve supply & ultimately normal function.
Okay, so you want my 20 mnth old who has ants in her pants to sit still and have her back adjusted? I forgot to mention the trips to our Dr always are very tearful & unpleasant and usually end with her sobbing into my chest. To my surprise it was a breeze at the chiro's. The Dr who treats my daughter is excellent with her. My husband & I were amazed. She showed her around the office (which has a total spa feel), let her play in the therapy room with the huge therapy balls all while adjusting her. After her 3rd treatment she lays on the "big girl table" & gets a "big girl adjustment" She loves every minute of it and just smiles away. "This is not my child", I say to myself, she doesn't let anyone touch her & can never stay still. When her treatment is finished she tries to get back on the table. It proves that it is making her feel good. We have also noticed an improvement with sleeping...that was an added bonus!
Yesterday we had the greatly anticipated "well baby" visit to the medical Dr. Keep in mind we didn't fill the drug prescription that was given to us 3 weeks prior but instead visited the chiropractor twice a week for a total of 6 visits. After the Dr looked in both her ears I asked how they looked and the answer was -perfect! I let her know at that point that I didn't give her the medicine & that she has been seeing a chiropractor.
I felt so good that she had healthy little ears without giving her another 12 days of that pink stuff. Don't get me wrong it has a place, although I think it's an easy out to stick them on meds for every little thing when there are clearly alternatives.
If anyone has a child suffering with ear infections I would highly recommend visiting Dr Heidi Bencsik at Pennridge Wellness Center. Her passion for helping others is genuine. Dr Heidi has shared with me her desire to work w/ babies & pregnant women, I definitely see why. The office is new & gorgeous the staff is helpful & pleasant. If this office can calm & relax my little one it will relax anyone & the best is that it has been effective & helped our baby. Thank you Dr Heidi for helping our little girl:)

Make sure to follow Dr Heidi's blog & visit her on 3/31 for the Cleanse Workshop!

http://www.drleahgarlan.com/

In like a lion...

Hopefully the last snow of the season fell on us today. Kids were off school & the shovel came back out. Although snow is not a favorite of mine I didnt mind this storm. The fact that the store is closed Mondays (so technically I didnt HAVE to be anywhere) made it that much sweeter.

All the orders for nursing tanks are coming in & the spring & summer maternity wear is close behind this is getting me pumped for milder temps!

I have met so many customers in the past month who are between 3-5 months pregnant & delivering in D Town Hospital. Most of you are local ladies who will probably be seeing eachother through the years at soccer games or winter concerts at school. Who knows some of you may even be sharing a room in the hospital this year or have sat next to eachother in the OB's office already! I urge you all to leave an entry about you, the pregnancy, some tips or anything you may want to share or ask. I wish you all a peaceful & painless journey.

BTW...we have the absolute cutest headbands & hats with oversized flowers coming in! A couple other new items include; tattoo inspired maternity tanks/tops, non toxic nail polish, the coolest pacifier ever...it cleans itself!

My Resolution

I always find myself working until my eyes start to close & I look at the clock & begin to panic, then I do the count down "oh no 5 hrs of sleep!". Then I always say that same line," I wish there were more hours in a day". But do I really? Come on...think about it. Most of us wake up way to early, I personally hate mornings so that doesnt help. Once we are up it all starts...all Mothers know what I mean.

I have a school age child which can I tell you ..savor your elementary years, my daughters bus arrives at 6:32am. So we are up by 5:45, unfortunatly for me my 14 year old is also not a morning person that = a horrible start to the day. She is fed, looked over for any inappropriate dressing and/or over applying of make up & gives a quick mandatory kiss goodbye usually with her eyes rolling. Now its on to my 1 year old. Getting her up, fed, cleaned, dressed, packed up for the day ahead. Did I forget in between this all (I was starting to sound like a well oiled machine for a minute) Im unloading/loading dishwasher, disinfecting counters, picking up shoes, papers, toys and disbursing them to there proper places, thinking about dinner, fitting in a shower for myself, finding Elmo on TV, changing a stinky diaper, opening yesterdays mail. This is all before my "work day" begins.

There is really no reason to continue because most of you are in the same boat. I share this story of non stop running like a mommy maniac with so many women each day, its scary. Most of us are staying up into the wee hours to fit all our activities in. Is it really not enough hours in a day? Is it over scheduling? Is it mismanaging our time? I dont know? All I know is that in 2009 I will make sure my family time takes priority. I tend to take advantage of those moments where the kids are content & Daddy is home to jump on line check my email & pay some bills. Ya know what, the emails will be there in the morning & unfortunatly so will the bills. I am pretty sure I will still be up working when everyone else in the house is fast asleep although I will feel better knowing that through our busy day we took the time to come together.
I would love to hear others stories & resolutions for 2009 or of you ditched resolution making.
I included one of my all time favorite videos because it sums it up like no other! ENJOY!