Brand New Parents Guide to Co-Parenting In the Age of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Posted on April 1, 2020

Photo by Anastasiya Gepp from Pexels

When you have a baby, you not only have to learn how to care for your infant, you also have to learn how to work as a team with your parenting partner.

With the current COVID-19 pandemic, new moms and dads are in even closer proximity postpartum. They’re getting a crash course in navigating their relationships and in creating equity when it comes to sharing parenting responsibilities.

Dr. Whitney Casares, author of the book “The New Baby Blueprint: Caring for You and Your Little“ has tips on how you can successfully share the load with your partner.

Designate a soother in chief if you’re the breastfeeder in chief

If you are breastfeeding, you have a full-time job that requires rest, fluids, and patience to learn and perfect. You are the feeder in chief. You’ll do your fair share of soothing as a function of that job. But your partner should take the lead on soothing so that you can accomplish your main mission: feeding your baby.

You’re not a magician

Accept that you are not a magician and cannot develop a mom’s intuition overnight. You need your partner’s help, and (sometimes, believe it or not) partners have valid ideas! Two problem-solvers are better than one. When I learned to ask for help—especially when I was at my weakest physically and emotionally—I found others around me stepped up and, ultimately, that we became a powerful team. Never be afraid to reach out if you are struggling. There is help and hope, even if it doesn’t always feel like it.

Recognize strengths and weaknesses

Parenting is a balance of tasks and responsibilities, and one partner may have more skills or patience for some of them. Instead of evaluating or comparing contributions, figure out your partner’s parenting superpowers. All of us bring amazing things to our parenting partnerships. I see all kinds of parents in clinic—analytical types asking tons of specific questions, the research-focused contingent searching for the evidence behind pediatric recommendations, and laid-back parents letting the stresses of early parenting easily roll off their backs. We all have something we bring to the table.

Get educated together

How does one become an expert in their field? They study. If you are the only one in your family studying up on babies and parenting before or after your newborn arrives, you may feel as if you are the only one who knows anything, and you may be the only one who feels confident enough to take charge.

Everyone learns in different ways. If you learn best by reading, your partner may learn best by attending a class online or in person. Or, your partner may learn best by talking with otherswho have been through it. It probably won’t work to force your partner to learn the exact same way you do, but expect that both of you have a working knowledge of common baby issues, newborn care basics, and proven calming techniques so that you can problem-solve from the same educated perspective.

Take a giant step back

When someone doesn’t trust us or tries to manage us, it can make us feel resentful and irritated. We sometimes even lose our organic interest in the topic and stop putting our best effort into it.

That’s what happens when we don’t allow our partners to play an equal role in taking care of our children. We sabotage our hope of true co-parenting. Instead, be conscious about how to empower your other half to be the parenting boss more often. That might mean leaving the house so that your partner has the space to parent without your eagle eye. It definitely will mean holding your tongue (or sighs, or eye rolls, or judgment) if your partner is not doing things exactly how you would do them. If you both get educated together, you can be equal “experts” and this won’t be so hard.

Above all, learn to say, “I’m sorry”

You are going through one of the most significant changes in your life. So is your partner. There will be times you will implode or explode from the stress of that transition and of our current events. When you lose it, figure out whether there is something to be learned or the pot of water just got a little too hot and boiled over. Learn to say, “I’m sorry” and to consider how to make it better next time. When you and your partner act.

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Luxe Substitutes for Pampered Housewives on Quarantine

Posted on March 30, 2020

Listen, in these stressful and uncertain times, we should all have one collective goal: Stay indoors and flatten the curve so there will be no more cases of the novel coronavirus and certainly, no more deaths around the globe.

Now the “stay home” part has been hard for some of who keep going out and unfortunately are helping to accelerate the spread of the deadly COVID-19 . One part of this spread has to do with how pampered and spoiled us Americans and other so-called “First World” dwellers are.

I admit, I miss some stuff.

After having to endure my husband’s weak coffee today, I am realizing that there are certain pampered wife luxuries that I am used to and I am among those struggling with having to do without certain simple luxuries.

But we know this is temporary and there are alternative solutions available to us. Here are my picks of luxe substitutes:

ESPRESSO MACHINE

Today, with all my fave local Starbucks stores closed and our state being issued a Stay-At-Home Directive, I realized I need to invest in an espresso machine to brew my own lattes, Americans and Dopios.

I do not want to spend a lot of money on this machine because I am hopeful and prayerful that we will beat this fast spreading disease this year so I only need a machine to last about a year

The Brentwood GA-12 Espresso and Capuccino maker is an Amazon Choice and has mainly great reviews, and a few really credible bad ones, but at a low $39.99, you cannot beat the price for the level of sustained alertness that I will be getting by not having to settle with plain old coffee. Fellow strong coffee and espresso addicts, get one too and let’s compare.

That got me thinking of other things we took for granted but will quickly need to learn how to do ourselves. For example, because I do occassional YouTube videos, IG Story, Snap and guest appearances, I need to have my nails and hair looking decent. I have wigs and hats and other options I can use for my head but for my nails, I’m finding I have to resort to my old pre-manicured press on nails.

PRE-MANICURED ACRYLIC NAILS

These days, they are glue on and my fave and reliable brand is Kiss. You can get a pack of French Manicure with enough nails to last you over a month in case you lose one here and there. They look very professional on screen. Order yours from Amazon for just $7.99. Check out how they look on my nails here:

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I'm Done with Dishwashing for a week! Just got my nails done at Salon D.I.Y which specializes in French manicure Lee Press Ons?? #nothingisopen #nailsarentessential? #sayswho #Frenchmanicure #pressonnails #totherescue #diynails #nailsathome #athomenails #athomemanicure
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ZOOM

I’ve seen all the professionals who have regular offices and work lives meeting up on Zoom and then I saw some of them convert those Zoom accounts to virtual happy hours! I want to host one with my girls! Hmmm. I guess I would first have to sign up for a FREE Zoom account or…. I could try to figure out how the new Google Hangouts work and hook it up that way.

To host a virtual happy hour: (1) pick invitees; (2) decide on dress code (3) select a theme of drinks, like are we having wine, beer or cocktails (4) pick the mode of meet up and set it all up to grid so everyone can see everyone; and finally, (5) appoint someone to provide the music or playlist

People can also log on to the recently launched Viral Happy Hour website, www.viralhappyhour.com, which was started by 50-year-old Atlanta native Keith Greenstein and a couple of his friends.

Noticing how many people were going online to hang out with friends he decided to make it easy to schedule a virtual party. The website offers a simple click-by-click way to create a virtual happy hour, just pick the day, (the time is set for 5:19 p.m. to acknowledge COVID-19), and it sends out a Google Hangout invite to your friends.

Facial Steamer

Now that the spas and cosmetic centers that do Botox are closed, those pesky laugh lines and wrinkles are coming back. It’s time to steam those stuckers out stat and hasten the work of anti wrinkle and regenerate salves and balms we’ve been lathering on our faces to fight the effects of aging.

I’m waiting for The Pure Daily Care’s Nano-Ionic Facial Steamer and Humidifier which is also an Amazon Choice because it’s supposed to be good on black heads. That is a big problem I have. I am that person who loves to see the black heads removed on the pore strips so yeah…I’m missing the facial appointents and hoping this almost $40 steamer will really do the trick! We’ll see!

NANO-IONIC FACIAL STEAMER & HUMIDIFIER

Massager

Since I added two other non-essential luxe service, I figure I might as well recommend once again the Naipo Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager with heat and deep kneading massage for the neck, back, shoulder, foot and legs. I have had it for two years and enjoy tremendously with no complaints.

See my review here. This massager is great for after work out, for sitting in an uncomfortable home office chair for extended periods of time or just general aches and pains.

Get one for just $50 on Amazon!

Stay healthy and pampered!

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Children’s Author’s 10 Tips For Managing Quarantine Life with Kids

Posted on March 29, 2020

Photo by Elly Fairytale from Pexels

We are heading into yet another week of being on lock down in the states and many nations around the world as we all try desperately to try to flatten the curve and growth of the deadly coronavirus.

Dan Pegram, children’s author of Pop-Pop Airplane, How Do You Fly?, has developed a great list of activities that will bring the whole family together and keep everyone sane at the same time.

Here are Dan’s top 10 ways to keep the kids from driving you insane during quarantine:

1. Schoolwork: Continue your children’s assigned schoolwork. Most schools are providing guidance and lessons via the Internet. Just like the classroom environment, make this time structured and devoted to accomplishing their daily assignments. Also, create a workspace for the school age kids equipped with a chair, lamp, pencil holder, crayons, etc.

2. Engage Without Electronics: Limit their time in front of the television, video games, computers and iPad type devices. This may prove difficult at first but if you’re creative this could turn into a blessing in disguise. Assign them simple chores to do so they can earn time on these devices. We have all become increasing addicted to our cell phones and computers. Spending more time engaged with your children during this uncertain period is comforting and lets them know how much you care.

3. Go Outside: Plan activities outside and show your children how we used to entertain ourselves before the Internet and social media. Go for hikes in your neighborhood or on local trails and look for birds and other wildlife. Look up bird species in your area and then see how many you can spot. This could turn into a lifelong hobby. It did for me.

4. Arts and Crafts: Arts and crafts are perfect for promoting creativity and learning new skills. My granddaughters and I try to build something out of balsa wood every time we visit. I do the cutting and they do the building. There are numerous sites online for arts and crafts projects. YouTube art classes are great and age appropriate. Pick a few and get started. It’s a great way to spend time together and be creative. Our grandson and his friends are coloring pictures for each other and putting them in each other’s mailboxes to keep busy and stay in touch with their nearby friends. I recently built three birdhouses and mailed two to our granddaughters. I kept one and we’re decorating them as a project and plan to share our finished products. Putting puzzles together is also a great way to pass the time.

5. Cook Something Together: There’s no better way to teach your kids a valuable skill than by cooking. Dust off your cookbooks, pick a couple of simple recipes and let the magic begin. Your children will learn about ingredients and through measuring will learn a little about fractions. Plan your meals together and let them do some of the simple things like measuring the ingredients, greasing a pan or setting the table. Spending time together at the dinner table talking about the days events, discussing this quarantine situation at their level and planning for tomorrow can’t be over-emphasized. This may be new to some but you will find this time very enriching.

6. Read Books: Reading is a skill that opens the world to youngsters. It’s also a perishable skill that needs continuous practice. During this time away from school would be a great time to introduce your children to some of your old favorite books and discovering some new titles. My new book entitled Pop-Pop Airplane, How Do You Fly? teaches children, ages 3 -7, how airplanes fly and is a great book for stimulating inquisitive young minds. For the more advanced readers, chapter books like Elephant & Piggie by Mo Willems are quite popular. There are also a couple of apps used by schools called EPIC! and Raz-Kids that offer unlimited access to 35,000 of the best children’s books and learning videos so your child can read and learn anytime.

7. Write: As an author I’ve been asked many times, “How do you start writing a book?” My answer is simple – “It’s just like having a conversation with someone and you’re telling them a story or relating some event in your life.” If your children aren’t familiar with journaling, this might be a great time to introduce them to this wonderful writing exercise. Journals don’t have to be formal. Any small notebook is a great place to start. Google search “journaling” for some useful ideas and benefits. Another wonderful app is Teachers Pay Teachers. This app contains printables and worksheets to help youngsters with simple writing projects.

8. Look at Old Photos: One of our children’s, and now grandchildren’s, favorite things to do is drag out the old photo albums and have us tell about each photo. Children are very interested in what life was like back when we were children. They also enjoy learning about grandparents, aunts and uncles and places we have visited. It is so much fun laughing at the old photos, the retro clothing and hairstyles and reliving fun times in our lives.

9. Make Some Noise: If you play a musical instrument or sing, this would be a great time to explore your children’s interest in music. I dabble at playing the guitar and love to sing. The jury is still out on the quality of the noise coming from my office from time to time! Impromptu singing with a wooden spoon or microphone to Lights by Journey with my audio amplifier entertains our granddaughters for hours. YouTube has an endless assortment of lessons for any instrument including vocals. Again, casting inhibition aside, jump in and have some family fun.

10. Stay Calm: This is an unprecedented time for all of us. Remain calm, stay informed and educate your children as to why we are practicing social distancing and staying at home. Emphasize to them how important good hygiene habits are and why most everything we used to do has been curtailed (including play dates). Ensure your children these life-changing times will be over soon and things will go back to near normal. With the exception of being quarantined, try to make each day routine and spend as much quality time together as possible. I hope the above tips and ideas will help you and your children get through the next few weeks and come together as stronger families. By following the guidance given by national health officials and local authorities we all will be smarter individually and as a nation in regard to combating unexpected and dangerous health hazards and pandemics.

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SkyZone Is Hosting FREE Virtual Birthday Parties For Your Child and Friends

Posted on March 28, 2020

National trampoline indoor play park Sky Zone will help you out if you have a child whose birthday takes place during the global coronavirus by hosting a Virtual Birthday Party for 10 friends FREE!

That’s right!

The Los Angeles, California-based company issued a press release on Friday offering the free service to parents in the US and Canada and inviting them to book a “cost-free” and “stress-free” birthday party!

Not only will Sky Zone will handle creating birthday invites and setting up virtual links for families to share, but a Sky Zone Party Pro will lead the Guest of Honor and their friends through 20 minutes of active-play games and fun to celebrate from the comfort of their own homes.

Fun!

“We’re thrilled to offer Sky Zone‘s virtual birthday party experience as a safe and undeniably fun way to engage in active play at home,” said Jeff Platt, President of Sky Zone Franchise Group. “By bringing the popular Sky Zone birthday party experience online, we can continue helping families celebrate these special occasions while staying safe at home.”

Kids can take part in their virtual birthday parties from Tuesday to Saturday 3-9pm EST and celebrate with a maximum of 10 friends. To request a virtual party, parents can email Birthdays@SkyZone.com with their names, child’s name, email address & phone number. A Sky Zone representative will follow up with confirmation details and next steps.

The company says that “while Sky Zone parks in the U.S. and Canada remain temporarily closed due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, they want to ensure kids can still celebrate their birthdays and make fun memories online alongside friends and family.”

Nice — Ordinarily, guests at the park’s over 200+ locations worldwide experience an active play experience including a multitude of gravity-defying, wall-to-wall aerial attractions that include SkySlam, Ultimate Dodgeball, Challenge Zones, Ninja Warrior Courses, and many others.

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COVID-19 Tips for TTC, Expecting and Brand New Moms

Posted on March 27, 2020

Photo by Shvets Anna from Pexels

During the global COVID-19 crisis, pregnant, trying to conceive couples and those within weeks/months of giving birth are questioning the safety of going to the hospital, doctor’s office, labs and clinics.

Yale University Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology Mary Jane Minkin ffers tips and tells women to stay calm but be prepared.

“As we experience unprecedented times with many unknowns, the most important thing to remember is that health care providers are prepared to handle all health-related concerns. And, they are taking all steps necessary to be available to their patients,” says Dr. Minkin, who is also the founder of MadameOvary.com . “However, women must take personal responsibility for their health and wellbeing and utilize telehealth appointments if available.”

Here are Dr. Minkin’s Facts and Tips:

Get your flu shot: Pregnant women have altered immune systems; therefore, they are at an increased risk for respiratory infections.
Don’t hesitate to call the doctor’s office. Even if you’re not experiencing serious symptoms, doctors and nurse practitioners are available via phone to answer all your questions and concerns. This is the safest first step, rather than going directly into the office. Doctors will do their best to evaluate symptoms, prescribe medicine or make proper arrangements based on symptoms for you to go to a lab for testing or the hospital. Your healthcare provider should make sure you do not spend time in the waiting room, and you will be escorted directly to specially designed isolation rooms for fetal monitoring, or labor.
Pregnant women should revisit doctor schedules with their OB/GYN. OB/GYN offices will still be seeing their pregnant patients, but visits will be deliberately spaced apart to avoid spending time in the waiting room. It is also wise not to allow friends or family members to accompany you to your appointment, or ultrasound, at this time.
Stock up onPre-Natal gummy vitamins like Vitafusion which should be taken when trying to conceive through breastfeeding.
If you suspect you might be pregnant, and showing signs and symptoms like morning sickness, food cravings, mood swings, and fatigue, etc., have First Response Early Result Pregnancy tests at home, so you don’t need to leave the house until Covid-19 settles down. Women can take a test up to six days before a missed period. Be sure to call your doctor right away if the test is positive to put a proper plan of action in place.
Mothers infected with the coronavirus should follow their pediatrician’s guidelines for breastfeeding and precautions to take (wearing a mask and gloves, hand washing, etc.) while spending time with baby.

Stay healthy moms, moms-to-be and soon-to-be new moms!!!

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9 Sibling Newborn Baby Photography From Around the States

Posted on March 27, 2020

Derksen Photography – Fresno, CA

This downtime has been a great time for us to review our 10-year blog archives and uncover some of the best and most loved content shared over the years. Among them is this post that shared 9 very adorable and creative newborn sibling photos that parents had professional photographers take.

The super cute sibling portraits come from talented photography specialists from all across America and feature a new baby with their older sibling(s), including this one above from Derksen Photography in Fresno, California.

It with these others below combine to a curated list of 9!

Which is your favorite? If you’re expecting baby #2, or 3 or 4, which one would you replicate for your family living room?

Angela Weedon – Dallas, TX

Katie Bower Photography – Georgia

Ema Photography – New York

Kayla Paler Photography – Minnesota

Disney Photography

Carrie Sandoval – California

Melissa Rodriguez – Texas

Carrie Sandoval – California

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Try American Ninja Warrior Junior Host’s Quick Circuit Workout for the Family

Posted on March 26, 2020

American Ninja Warrior Junior Akbar Gbajabiamila and family

Looking for ideas for a fun, kid-friendly workout while social distancing?

American Ninja Warrior Junior host Akbar Gbajabiamila uses a quick circuit work out with his family. The former athlete and father utilizes just four simple moves with his own kids and helps create an effective family workout session with no equipment required.

1. Start with a body weight cardio sequence:

3 Minutes:

30 second Jumping Jacks

30 second High knees

30 second Butt kickers

30 second Body Squats

30 second Jumping Jacks

30 second Mountain climbers

Photo by Elly Fairytale from Pexels

2. Planks- we love timers in our house. So I get my kids doing one minute circuits with different planks!

– High plank

– Forearm plank

– “Up-Downs” (this is where you go from high plank to forearm plank and alternate which arm you lead with)

3. Animal walks… keeping it fun and educational, I always integrate different animal movements into the exercises with my kids. It keeps them distracted and moving around. Two top favorites:

– Crab walks

– Bear crawls

4. Wrap with relay races. Similar to something done in football called “suicide drills”, now the whole family gets involved.

One kid starts and runs to the end of the driveway, comes back, tags the next, and so forth. We make it a fun competition to see as a team how quickly they can complete the drill.

Nice! Thanks Akbar! Catch American Ninja Warrior Junior airing on Universal Kids!

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What To Call the Quarantine Babies {Non Obvious Names}

Posted on March 23, 2020

No doubt, we may be welcoming some new Coronavirus Quarantine kids in 9 months or so. Now, these kids cannot be given names too obvious about the world circumstances that surrounded their conception.

Therefore, we’ve got to be creative when it comes to giving them names to not be too obvious. Despite that funny meme out there, you certainly cannot call your baby Quarantine! Nope that will not do, but we can get creative with it.

Tina

Consider Tina for a girl. Tina is a female given name. It originates from Old English Tyne/Tyna/Tina, meaning river. It is also a diminutive for names such as Albertina, Bettina, Christina, Christine, Kristina, Martina, Valentina.

No one would ever thing it was a derivative of Quarantine.

Rhona

This is a girl’s name of Scottish origin and means “might” and it will take the will of the might to defeat this disease. The name was coined in Scotland in the late nineteenth century, according to the website Nameberry.

And because the spelling “Rona” would be too obvious that it was a take off Corona, adding that “h” is smart.

Corey

Similarly, Corey is a masculine version of the name Cora and means Chosen, per SheKnows. The name has Irish, Scottish, American, Gaelic and English heritage and origins. It’s a perfect all around name for a virus that affected us all around the world.

And no, we cannot go with Cora. It’s too obvious and frankly, could be embarrassing.

Quinn

Derived from the Irish surname O’ Quinn which is from the Gaelic O’ Cuinn (descendant of Conn), the name means wisdom, reason, or intelligence.

When you think of the names that start with the letter Q as in Quarantine, certainly Quinn is high on that list right? It’s a name that is unisex and can apply to a girl or boy.

Then, we have the names of the governors, here in the US anyway, who have lead their constituents very well to get them thru these times:

Gavin

California’s governor Gavin Newsom stayed in front of the viral spread a bit when he recently ordered a complete lockdown of the Bay Area in which residents must stay home unless they need to go out to purchase essentials.

Andrew

New York’s Mayor Andrew Cuomo has also been an active face on TV given his state has had the most cases of the virus to date: over 10,000.

Larry

My state’s Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland has remained ahead of the feds with his active approach. Each of his press conferences has been reassuring and he held a press conference when we had our first and second deaths.

Jay

Governor Jay Inslee, the governor of the state that saw the very first case, Washington. He set the example for other states to follow.

Gina

Rhode Island’s Governor Gina Raimondo was aggressive in ordering a shut down as well.

Ned

Connecticut’s Governor Ned Lamont similarly signed a recent executive order as part of a new campaign called “Stay Safe, Stay at Home” that will require non-essential businesses to close.

Finally, if one is looking to give a kid a name after the times, an obvious pick would be the scientists, health officials delivering us all solid news on how to stay healthy.

Anthony

As summarized by The Guradian, “[t]ested by Donald Trump, who demands loyalty over facts, Dr. Anthony Fauci has earned praise from the US public for telling the truth about coronavirus, even when it means contradicting the president.”

There are others around the world as highlighted in this recent piece on The Guardian you can read here!

No matter what parents select, any baby born out of love (and forced seclusion) is a blessing.

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Reminder: Do’s and Don’ts to Survive the Coronavirus Pandemic

Posted on March 22, 2020

It’s not like you haven’t been inundated with advice and news lately but it never hurts to be OVERINFORMED and that’s why I’m sharing some Do’s and Don’ts for surviving the coronavirus pandemic from University of Arizona doctor Dr.

Jane M. Orient:

Don’t panic. That is always good advice. If you, like the world’s economy, operate on just-in-time inventories, and did not take advice to stock up 3 weeks ago, do not join a mob at a big-box store. Somebody there is no doubt infected. Plus, there’s the risk of getting trampled or injured in a fist fight over the last roll of toilet paper. Most of the world survives without that luxury good. If you have no rice or beans or pasta in the pantry, that is more serious, but you should still avoid mobs if at all possible. Take-out and drive-through places are booming.

Don’t treat fever without a doctor’s advice. Fever is not a disease. It is an important defense mechanism. Very high fevers (say 105 degrees) can cause brain damage, and children can have seizures. But don’t pop Tylenol or ibuprofen at the first sign of fever. Many of the casualties in the 1918 pandemic might have been caused by heavy use of aspirin. Like aspirin, popular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) such ibuprofen also have detrimental effects on blood clotting. Try lukewarm sponge baths for comfort.

Don’t rush out and get a flu shot. I know, a lot of doctors and public health authorities urge everybody to do this. Influenza can kill you, and the flu shot decreases that risk by 30% to 60%—but there is evidence that it can make COVID-19 worse, both from the earlier SARS epidemic and lab research. Like with so many things in medicine, we have to play the odds.

Don’t go to the emergency room or urgent care unless you are severely ill. There will be sick people there, and you might catch something. You also might end up with a big bill, say for a CT scan you didn’t really need. And if you have the flu or a cold or COVID-19, and don’t need IV fluids or oxygen, they can’t do anything for you. Telephone advice lines could help greatly.

Don’t go to events that are crowded, especially indoors in poorly ventilated rooms. Staying home is good.

Don’t demand to be tested and rely on the results. The tests are still in short supply and not very accurate. If you are at low risk, a positive test is likely to be a false positive. And if you are infected, the test may be negative at first. We need much more testing—mainly for public health monitoring.

Don’t waste. Expired medications are probably still good. Most drugs or essential ingredients are made in China, and supplies are running out. Masks (also mostly made in China) are meant to be disposable, but likely can’t be replaced (see below).

Don’t touch your face or your eyes. That is very hard—preventing that is one function of a mask and eye protection.

Don’t fall for internet scams, or malware. Hucksters will always be around to try to profit from panics. A new type of malicious virus is embedded malware in sites that come up on a search for information. (If you want to find the Johns Hopkins University dashboard of cases and deaths, go to the university’s website, don’t Google “coronavirus map.”)

Now for some dos:

Do prepare to take care of yourself and your family. Be sure you have a fever thermometer, disposable gloves, plastic garbage bags, and cleaning supplies. A pulse oximeter, available in many places for around $40, is good to have to check oxygen levels.

Do clean and disinfect surfaces such as doorknobs, telephones, computer keyboards, toilets, and countertops often. Virus can persist there for days.

Do remember that sunlight is the best disinfectant. If you don’t have a pocket ultraviolet lamp (they are or were available on amazon), try putting things like masks or paper currency out in the sun. The idea should be rigorously tested, but in times of need, you may have to guess.

Do wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer. With SARS-CoV-2, most disinfectants work, including 70-percent-alcohol-based sanitizers.

Do put a mask on sick people if you can. For protecting yourself you need a minimum of an N95 mask and eye protection.

Do take your vitamins. Most people may be vitamin D deficient. Your need for vitamin C escalates with infection. Some 50 tons of vitamin C was shipped to Wuhan, and studies of effectiveness are underway.

Do get your essential prescriptions refilled for 90 days—the supply chain depends on China. If your managed-care plan won’t pay, consider paying cash. You may be able to get a good price with a coupon from goodrx.com.

Do protect your immune system, with adequate sleep, exercise, fresh air, and diet, especially avoiding sugar if you feel ill.

Do help your neighbors, and be responsible about protecting others as well as yourself from contagion.

###

Jane M. Orient, M.D. obtained her undergraduate degrees in chemistry and mathematics from the University of Arizona in Tucson, and her M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1974. She completed an internal medicine residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital and University of Arizona Affiliated Hospitals and then became an Instructor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and a staff physician at the Tucson Veterans Administration Hospital. She has been in solo private practice since 1981 and has served as Executive Director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) since 1989. She is currently president of Doctors for Disaster Preparedness. She is the author of YOUR Doctor Is Not In: Healthy Skepticism about National Healthcare, and the second through fifth editions of Sapira’s Art and Science of Bedside Diagnosis published by Wolters Kluwer. She authored books for schoolchildren, Professor Klugimkopf’s Old-Fashioned English Grammar and Professor Klugimkopf’s Spelling Method, published by Robinson Books, and coauthored two novels published as Kindle books, Neomorts and Moonshine. More than 100 of her papers have been published in the scientific and popular literature on a variety of subjects including risk assessment, natural and technological hazards and nonhazards, and medical economics and ethics. She is the editor of AAPS News, the Doctors for Disaster Preparedness Newsletter, and Civil Defense Perspectives, and is the managing editor of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons.

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5 Must Have Spring Maternity Clothes

Posted on March 22, 2020

If you will find yourself pregnant in the Spring, you can certainly look forward to looking chic in some cute warm weather outfits. After the long, harsh winter, a lot of fashionistas and preginistas a like look forward to sprucing up their wardrobe and adding color to their life.

Even in these difficult times, these days, you can always experiment with new clothes and ways to accentuate your growing bump.

Here is a list of Spring Staples that you might want to add to your Maternity Spring wardrobe:

Jumpsuit

It is unconventional and different and something that you wouldn’t think to wear while pregnant given how hard it is to put on and take off, but a jumpsuit may be the fresh element to make your maternity look pop. Opt for one with side snaps or fixtures for ease of taking on and putting on during bathroom breaks. You can also repurpose a jumpsuit for the unofficial fourth trimester.

Accessories

When it comes to accessorizing during pregnancy, it’s easy to get carried away by the numerous choices in stores. However, you can stick to the essential items that lift your mood. Consider also selecting a scarf in a soft and romantic or bold and geometric print. The beauty of investing in a quality scarf or shawls is that they are quite a great way to layer up and still look fashionable. Also, think about a bright belt to punctuate a solid-colored dress. Instead of fastening it on the waist, you can do so just above the baby bump for an empire waist look.

Maternity leggings

When you are shopping for maternity clothes, you mustn’t forget about maternity leggings. These pieces serve a dual purpose of putting your look together and as support for your aching legs and are a valuable addition to your wardrobe. Not only are they cozy, but they also offer a continuous fit throughout the pregnancy and into postpartum. If you get thick leggings, you can also easily wear them under layered tees or tops for a casual look.

Spring jacket

While you’re pregnant, you know that you’ll get hot and cold as you experience rises and drops in your body temperature. For this reason, every maternity collection should include a nice light jacket. Get a jacket that can be dressed up or down, and worn at work, or at play, at a corporate meeting or while going for an evening walk on the weekend. Consider one in a breathable material like cotton so you don’t get overheated and risk having to take it off and add it to your load of stuff you need to lug around.

Maternity tops & t-shirts

As your bump starts to grow, you will need to swap out your smaller tops for larger sizes. You can start to invest some few maternity tops, t-shirts as well as tanks at this time. Get them in standard solid colors like pink, grey, white and black so you can easily mix and match and pair them with your maternity leggings, jeans, breathable yoga pants or shorts when you are at home or out and about running for errands. They also come in handy when you want to engage in some light bodywork exercise.

If you stick with these staples, you’ll find that they can carry you through your entire pregnancy, into the other seasons and during your post-partum days as well.

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