Cloth vs. Disposable Diapers

This week I have been reading about cloth diapers and watching a lot of youtube videos. It is a lot more complicated than I thought it would be as there are so many different types and factors to consider. How is a first time mom suppose to choose? Take a look at this list: Prefolds, Flats, Fitteds, Pocket diapers, all-in-one diapers, all-in-two diapers, not to mention the many different brands that carry the same items. There are pins, snappies, velcro, snaps or hooks; and covers which can be made of various materials.  Then you have to think about clean storage, soiled storage, washing, drying and starting all over again.  With the number of diapers a newborn goes through (estimates I've read include 10-15 diapers every 24 hours!). It's no wonder so many choose disposable diapers and call it a day. But then I think about this statistic from Time Magazine: An estimated 27.4 billion disposable diapers are used each year in the US, resulting in a possible 3.4 million tons of used diapers adding to landfills each year.

Cost: Although it will initially cost more to get set up with a cloth diaper system, it should save a couple thousand dollars in the long run, minus all the labor involved in cleaning and maintaining the stash. Unless, we go with a cloth diaper service, which could cost about $80 a month, but they do all the work and I've read it uses less water for them to wash the diapers than for us to.

Health: I like the idea of putting a piece cloth made from bamboo, hemp or cotton on my babies bottom instead of a bunch of synthetics and chemicals. Some statistics show that cloth causes fewer diaper rashes than disposables too. I like the sound of that. Also, less poop for the landfill and more being properly disposed of and treated at wastewater plants.

Convenience: If we do decide to go with cloth diapers, we will most likely still use disposables initially, or when we're out and about, out of town, or when we're just feeling lazy. It just seems so much more convenient.

I'm also tempted to try and make my own cloth diapers to save some money. There are a bunch of templates online, ranging from very simple to fairly complicated (for a novice like me). I just don't know that I should attempt making any quite yet. I may need to experience a few messy diapers first. Then all my ideas about what I think I want to do, might just go down the toilet.

Baby Movement ? (Week 17)

I was lying in bed this morning with my hands on my belly, concentrating and trying to decipher whether I can feel my baby move yet or whether I'm just feeling the usual belly rumblings. Suddenly I felt what seemed to be the baby doing a somersault! I could feel it internally as well as with my hands. I smiled to myself and thought, "Dave would have been able to feel that". I then drifted back to sleep.

When I awoke some time later, I couldn't figure out whether I had been dreaming or whether I had really felt the baby move. I still remember the sensation, but I believe it was just a dream.

My First Post (a History and a Beginning)

My husband and I were married in July 2010 after having known each other for over 10 years. In April 2011, we decided that we would try for our first baby. I was 36 years old and we felt that the time was right. I stopped taking birth control pills and started taking prenatal vitamins right away. We thought it would be best to wait a few months before trying to conceive since I had been on birth control pills and that is what the doctor had recommended. Even though we had made that decision, every month I anxiously awaited my period to come and was disappointed when it did. Everyone kept telling me that "I would know" when I was pregnant.

I had decided to cut back on alcohol in anticipation of knowing I'd need to be without it throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. I'd say I was a moderate drinker. I liked my glass of wine (or three), especially when hanging out with friends or winding down at the end of the day. It wasn't that hard to do, knowing the reason behind the decision.

In July, Dave and I went camping. My period was to start any day now and I wasn't "feeling pregnant". I even thought I started spotting, put in a tampon and enjoyed a few glasses of wine. We got back from our weekend trip and my period actually had not started. A couple days went by and I thought to myself, "ok, something is going on". Although, last month I thought "something was going on", bought a pregnancy test kit, both of which came back negative. The anticipation was just killing me though, so I called Dave to see if it was ok if I bought a pregnancy test. I don't know why I needed his permission, I just wanted to see what he thought about the idea. After a few minutes on the phone, I was in the isle, trying to decide which one to get. I couldn't decide and called him back. After describing the boxes, he chose one to make the decision for me and I left happy.

When I got home, I went straight to the bathroom to run the test. The directions said it would be best run in the morning with "first pee", but I wasn't about to wait that long. I ran the first test and it appeared to turn up positive right away. I must have read the directions 50 more times to make sure I was doing it right and ran the 2nd test. Both positive!!

When Dave got home I led him to the bathroom where the tests were sitting with their positive results. I think he was a little shocked as he allowed reality to sink in. We were going to have a baby.