Misty Zaugg's Blog - Posts Tagged "birthing"
First Grandbaby on the way!! Help me pick a Grandma name. :)
Hi friends,
I'm in the airport jotting down this newsletter while I enjoy all the people watching . . . I'm adding a few interesting characters to my notes for the future.
My exciting news is that my oldest son and his wife are having a baby soon!
I've heard people complain about feeling too young to be a grandparent, but from the moment I heard they were pregnant, I've been super excited . . . and can't wait to see and hold the little one.
Suddenly all the new babies at church or at friends' houses were a chance to practice for my grandaughter on the way. Yes, it's a girl! :)
I'm thinking this grandmother thing is going to be perfect! All the fun of holding and spoiling a baby with hardly any of the work.
My daughter-in-law is hoping for a successful birth without too many interventions, so hopefully my experience using hypnosis and other techniques will be helpful.
I even found out about a cool new tool that has helped a lot of women during labor. It's called a "peanut ball". Basically, similar to a yoga ball, but pinched in the middle to form the shape of a peanut. A laboring mom can lay one leg over it and it helps keep the pelvis open so the birthing can progress much more easily.
I got her one, so I'll let you know how well it works.
So, while I wait for the baby to come, I need help deciding on my grandma name. Any advice for me?
Traditionally it would be Grandma Zaugg, but of course, that brings my husband's mother to mind, who is still alive and an awesome lady.
Another choice would be Grandma Misty.
Or there are a variety of other names like Oma, Memaw, Baba, Granny, Gram, etc.
What's your vote?
1. Grandma Misty
2. Grandma Zaugg
3. another alternative?
Oh, and thanks again to the latest reviewers of Deadly Lockdown:
Debra says, "Really captivating story: It is building up to a great pressure as a pandemic returns more powerful than the previous. I can't wait to begin the next book."
And JoAnn, "Action Packed! Thank for an awesome read. I know it's fiction, but, so much of what can & does happen in real life!"
We're at 93 reviews and would love to hit the benchmark of 100 - if anyone else would like to hop over to Amazon and give Deadly Lockdown some love.
You're the best - and I'll keep you updated on the grandbaby!
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
I just passed 23k words in my latest book and am really enjoying it. It's fun to write in a new genre and let my post-apoc creative muscles take a break for a bit.
I'm hoping to get a chunk of writing done in the downtime of my trip for the grandbaby's birth, but we'll see how crazy it gets.
I might catch up on some reading, too. It'll be nice to enjoy a new adventure.
Enjoy reading this week!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
I'm in the airport jotting down this newsletter while I enjoy all the people watching . . . I'm adding a few interesting characters to my notes for the future.
My exciting news is that my oldest son and his wife are having a baby soon!
I've heard people complain about feeling too young to be a grandparent, but from the moment I heard they were pregnant, I've been super excited . . . and can't wait to see and hold the little one.
Suddenly all the new babies at church or at friends' houses were a chance to practice for my grandaughter on the way. Yes, it's a girl! :)
I'm thinking this grandmother thing is going to be perfect! All the fun of holding and spoiling a baby with hardly any of the work.
My daughter-in-law is hoping for a successful birth without too many interventions, so hopefully my experience using hypnosis and other techniques will be helpful.
I even found out about a cool new tool that has helped a lot of women during labor. It's called a "peanut ball". Basically, similar to a yoga ball, but pinched in the middle to form the shape of a peanut. A laboring mom can lay one leg over it and it helps keep the pelvis open so the birthing can progress much more easily.
I got her one, so I'll let you know how well it works.
So, while I wait for the baby to come, I need help deciding on my grandma name. Any advice for me?
Traditionally it would be Grandma Zaugg, but of course, that brings my husband's mother to mind, who is still alive and an awesome lady.
Another choice would be Grandma Misty.
Or there are a variety of other names like Oma, Memaw, Baba, Granny, Gram, etc.
What's your vote?
1. Grandma Misty
2. Grandma Zaugg
3. another alternative?
Oh, and thanks again to the latest reviewers of Deadly Lockdown:
Debra says, "Really captivating story: It is building up to a great pressure as a pandemic returns more powerful than the previous. I can't wait to begin the next book."
And JoAnn, "Action Packed! Thank for an awesome read. I know it's fiction, but, so much of what can & does happen in real life!"
We're at 93 reviews and would love to hit the benchmark of 100 - if anyone else would like to hop over to Amazon and give Deadly Lockdown some love.
You're the best - and I'll keep you updated on the grandbaby!
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
I just passed 23k words in my latest book and am really enjoying it. It's fun to write in a new genre and let my post-apoc creative muscles take a break for a bit.
I'm hoping to get a chunk of writing done in the downtime of my trip for the grandbaby's birth, but we'll see how crazy it gets.
I might catch up on some reading, too. It'll be nice to enjoy a new adventure.
Enjoy reading this week!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
Do you know what an irrigation syringe is? Health Tip #2
Hi friends,
No, no baby yet, as I'm writing this on Monday - the due date!
. . . we are just the teensiest bit impatient, but happy to wait for labor to start naturally, so baby has the best chance.
I'll add a little note here if the baby comes before this newsletter goes out on Friday . . .
And thanks for the awesome grandma name suggestions!! It was so fun to hear from all of you and read some very interesting and fun family stories about grandmothers and their names!
The name with the most votes was . . .
. . . Grandma Misty!
However, followed very closely by a version of Nanna or Nana Misty, too, since it's easy for young grandchildren to say.
I may just see what my granddaughter calls me, because there were a lot of stories of fun names given by the kids themselves including Big Mama, Gee, and even Banana! LOL.
Whatever she calls me, I'm just going to be happy to hold her!
And here's a quick tip for your first aid supplies:
***
Health Tip #2
An irrigation syringe:
A simple, useful addition to your first aid kit!
Speaking of babies, you know the syringes you use to give them liquid medicine?
Or the plastic syringes with a small curved tip you might get to keep a tooth extraction site rinsed out?
Don't throw those away.
Add them to your first aid kit, and they will come in very handy next time you try to rinse out a bleeding cut or dirty wound, especially ones full of dirt or road gravel.
Fill the syringe with clean water (or DIY saline solution by adding a bit of salt - it doesn't sting like plain water) and then repeatedly spray the wound with a gently stream to remove any foreign matter before gooping it up with some antibiotic and/or herbal ointment and applying a bandage.
If you don't have one lying around, a dosing syringe can be found in drug stores, usually near the thermometer and pill boxes. Or go online and search for "irrigation syringe".
They shouldn't cost more than a few dollars and have multiple handy uses in a first aid kit. (I even use a curved tip one while traveling as a manual water pic to keep hard-to-reach crowns clean)
Simple and handy!
***
Well, I'm off for another check that we have everything needed in the baby bag . . . thanks again for all the wonderful Grandma suggestions! I'll keep you updated on the grandbaby!
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
With all this baby-waiting, you would think I could just kick out the words. LOL.
Somehow there seems to always be something to do even being away from home. But when my daughter-in-law takes a nap, then I pound out a handful of story words.
I got two chapters done this week, so we'll see how the next week goes.
And shhh . . . don't say anything, but I may have stayed up late a few nights in a row, just reading and reading and . . . :D
I hope you find some fun reading to enjoy this week!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
No, no baby yet, as I'm writing this on Monday - the due date!
. . . we are just the teensiest bit impatient, but happy to wait for labor to start naturally, so baby has the best chance.
I'll add a little note here if the baby comes before this newsletter goes out on Friday . . .
And thanks for the awesome grandma name suggestions!! It was so fun to hear from all of you and read some very interesting and fun family stories about grandmothers and their names!
The name with the most votes was . . .
. . . Grandma Misty!
However, followed very closely by a version of Nanna or Nana Misty, too, since it's easy for young grandchildren to say.
I may just see what my granddaughter calls me, because there were a lot of stories of fun names given by the kids themselves including Big Mama, Gee, and even Banana! LOL.
Whatever she calls me, I'm just going to be happy to hold her!
And here's a quick tip for your first aid supplies:
***
Health Tip #2
An irrigation syringe:
A simple, useful addition to your first aid kit!
Speaking of babies, you know the syringes you use to give them liquid medicine?
Or the plastic syringes with a small curved tip you might get to keep a tooth extraction site rinsed out?
Don't throw those away.
Add them to your first aid kit, and they will come in very handy next time you try to rinse out a bleeding cut or dirty wound, especially ones full of dirt or road gravel.
Fill the syringe with clean water (or DIY saline solution by adding a bit of salt - it doesn't sting like plain water) and then repeatedly spray the wound with a gently stream to remove any foreign matter before gooping it up with some antibiotic and/or herbal ointment and applying a bandage.
If you don't have one lying around, a dosing syringe can be found in drug stores, usually near the thermometer and pill boxes. Or go online and search for "irrigation syringe".
They shouldn't cost more than a few dollars and have multiple handy uses in a first aid kit. (I even use a curved tip one while traveling as a manual water pic to keep hard-to-reach crowns clean)
Simple and handy!
***
Well, I'm off for another check that we have everything needed in the baby bag . . . thanks again for all the wonderful Grandma suggestions! I'll keep you updated on the grandbaby!
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
With all this baby-waiting, you would think I could just kick out the words. LOL.
Somehow there seems to always be something to do even being away from home. But when my daughter-in-law takes a nap, then I pound out a handful of story words.
I got two chapters done this week, so we'll see how the next week goes.
And shhh . . . don't say anything, but I may have stayed up late a few nights in a row, just reading and reading and . . . :D
I hope you find some fun reading to enjoy this week!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
Electricity Zaps Pain? Try a TENS unit: Health Tip #3
Hi friends,
Pain is a touchy subject. Kidney stone pain and labor pain are two I'm very familiar with.
And just this week I had this 5mm sucker followed by a bunch of baby stones stuck inside me:
As many of you know, I always try alternative health ideas before going the medication and/or surgery route.
Let me introduce the awesome TENS unit! I love mine!
Basically, you attach little gel pads to either side of the painful area, click some buttons, and then electrical impulses get sent between the pads. These impulses help interfere with the pain signals, kind of like rubbing an area or putting a hot pad on it . . . only better.
To me, it feels like a pleasant buzzing sensation that drowns out a significant chunk of the pain - though results vary by person.
What does it help with? From personal experience . . .
1. Kidney stones!!!
Kidney stone pain is brutally intense and even on ibuprofen, acetaminophen and/or the strong codeine stuff, it can still hurt like crazy during an attack.
During an episode, I place one or two pairs of pads on either side of the area(s) that is hurting and turn the buzzing up high. It drowns out a few notches of the pain, which helps me stay in control and stop shaking.
2. Labor!
Just last month, I helped my daughter-in-law during the birth of my first grandbaby. She used hypnosis to relax, but at times found the contractions too intense.
I had my TENS unit with me, just in case of a kidney stone episode and suddenly wondered if it would help her. I quickly looked it up and found that in Europe, they often use TENS as a safe and non-invasive labor aid.
I quickly affixed the pads to her lower back in two sets about six inches apart from each other and on either side of her spine. We fiddled with the controls until we found a level you liked.
Within a minute, she relaxed and gave me this surprised look that it actually worked. LOL. Me and my crazy ideas. :)
3. Preparedness and first aid supply?
Yes, it requires electricity, but one charge will keep it going for days (I still haven't charged it from the 22-hour labor and using it a bunch this week for kidney stones)
So, I'm thinking a solar charger and the TENS unit might be a godsend to help with injuries during a natural disaster or when pain medications are not available.
What do you think?
Have any of you used a TENS unit successfully? I'd love to hear what you've used it for.
As for the future, I've got another kidney stone surgery coming up the beginning of December, so I plan on pulling it out again during what I hope is a speedy recovery.
I hope you and your families are all doing well!
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
I am back from Vegas and desperately trying to catch up on the NaNoWriMo challenge.
Have you heard of it?
It's a fun challenge a bunch of people do every November: write a 50k word novel in a single month.
When I first started a participating a few years ago, it was a big deal for me to write fast and complete a big project like that. With a bunch of books under my belt now, I still enjoy the challenge of staying focused on writing words when the business aspects of being an author seem to distract me a lot more.
So, I'm just shy of 40k words on my new mage academy book and enjoying how well it's flowing.
I also took some time today to write a post-apoc Christmas-themed short story for this fun joint venture with a few other amazing authors.
We're all adding a bio about ourselves, a short story or article, some freebies prizes and a bunch of other fun ideas.
And the entire project will be free to download - a gift to our amazing readers this Christmas season.
Want to find out how a simple Christmas carol can defuse a post-apoc standoff? I hope you'll enjoy reading my short story when the project is done! I'm thinking of including an informative prepper article, too. We'll see how much time I have.
I hope you're all enjoying the holiday season and able to spend time with friends and family.
Stay safe!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
Pain is a touchy subject. Kidney stone pain and labor pain are two I'm very familiar with.
And just this week I had this 5mm sucker followed by a bunch of baby stones stuck inside me:
As many of you know, I always try alternative health ideas before going the medication and/or surgery route.
Let me introduce the awesome TENS unit! I love mine!
Basically, you attach little gel pads to either side of the painful area, click some buttons, and then electrical impulses get sent between the pads. These impulses help interfere with the pain signals, kind of like rubbing an area or putting a hot pad on it . . . only better.
To me, it feels like a pleasant buzzing sensation that drowns out a significant chunk of the pain - though results vary by person.
What does it help with? From personal experience . . .
1. Kidney stones!!!
Kidney stone pain is brutally intense and even on ibuprofen, acetaminophen and/or the strong codeine stuff, it can still hurt like crazy during an attack.
During an episode, I place one or two pairs of pads on either side of the area(s) that is hurting and turn the buzzing up high. It drowns out a few notches of the pain, which helps me stay in control and stop shaking.
2. Labor!
Just last month, I helped my daughter-in-law during the birth of my first grandbaby. She used hypnosis to relax, but at times found the contractions too intense.
I had my TENS unit with me, just in case of a kidney stone episode and suddenly wondered if it would help her. I quickly looked it up and found that in Europe, they often use TENS as a safe and non-invasive labor aid.
I quickly affixed the pads to her lower back in two sets about six inches apart from each other and on either side of her spine. We fiddled with the controls until we found a level you liked.
Within a minute, she relaxed and gave me this surprised look that it actually worked. LOL. Me and my crazy ideas. :)
3. Preparedness and first aid supply?
Yes, it requires electricity, but one charge will keep it going for days (I still haven't charged it from the 22-hour labor and using it a bunch this week for kidney stones)
So, I'm thinking a solar charger and the TENS unit might be a godsend to help with injuries during a natural disaster or when pain medications are not available.
What do you think?
Have any of you used a TENS unit successfully? I'd love to hear what you've used it for.
As for the future, I've got another kidney stone surgery coming up the beginning of December, so I plan on pulling it out again during what I hope is a speedy recovery.
I hope you and your families are all doing well!
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
I am back from Vegas and desperately trying to catch up on the NaNoWriMo challenge.
Have you heard of it?
It's a fun challenge a bunch of people do every November: write a 50k word novel in a single month.
When I first started a participating a few years ago, it was a big deal for me to write fast and complete a big project like that. With a bunch of books under my belt now, I still enjoy the challenge of staying focused on writing words when the business aspects of being an author seem to distract me a lot more.
So, I'm just shy of 40k words on my new mage academy book and enjoying how well it's flowing.
I also took some time today to write a post-apoc Christmas-themed short story for this fun joint venture with a few other amazing authors.
We're all adding a bio about ourselves, a short story or article, some freebies prizes and a bunch of other fun ideas.
And the entire project will be free to download - a gift to our amazing readers this Christmas season.
Want to find out how a simple Christmas carol can defuse a post-apoc standoff? I hope you'll enjoy reading my short story when the project is done! I'm thinking of including an informative prepper article, too. We'll see how much time I have.
I hope you're all enjoying the holiday season and able to spend time with friends and family.
Stay safe!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
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