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Hair, more specifically Maya’s hair, is something I’ve talked about before. I discussed her lack of it for many, many months of her life and how fun it was to finally be at a point where she could wear pretty bows and clips, and even ponytails. I figured at the rate Maya grows hair that she would easily be like 8 or 9 before she needed a haircut. And she probably will be that old before she has a real haircut, but she did get her first “mini” haircut the other day.
For a while now I’ve been thinking about giving Maya some bangs. Her hair is super fine and doesn’t stay in a clip very well, and the natural flow of her hair caused the front section to constantly fall into her eyes. As her hair slowly, very slowly, started to get some length to it the hair being in her eyes was beginning to bother her, and me. Although I’m not a big bangs person myself I do think they look cute on some people and knew that it was really the only solution available.
So, Tuesday morning after I got Maya dressed I sat her down in the bathroom, scissors in hand and cut away. It took about 3 seconds and viola we have a toddler who looks a lot more like a little girl now sporting an adorable set of bangs.
Here’s a close up. I think I did a pretty good job, especially since she had a bit of a meltdown in the middle of her haircut. They are only a little crooked and you can hardly tell unless you look closely.
It was a fun little first for Maya and for me. My little girl is definitely growing up, and way too fast if you ask me.
This past Saturday, April 24th, St. Louisians came out in full force to support the March of Dimes and walked for babies. They walked for babies who were born too early, babies who were lost, babies who survived and thrived, babies not yet born. In that large group of walkers was a small group walking in honor of a very special little girl. In that large group of walkers was a special team, March for Maddie St. Louis.
When I started the March for Maddie St. Louis team a few months ago I figured there would maybe be two or three other people who may join me. I figured we’d raise a couple of hundred dollars if we were lucky. Then something amazing happened. Others found our team through Heather Spohr’s blog and joined our team. Together, the 8 of us (one wasn’t able to walk with us) raised an incredible $2690 for the March of Dimes in the name of Madeline Spohr.
As we met up, got to know each other and share stories it was so amazing to know that each of us had been touched and inspired by Maddie and by Heather and Mike. We were each walking to support a family we had never met but who we felt like we knew and who we wanted to support, love and honor. We were each walking to honor a little girl we had never had the pleasure of meeting but who filled our hearts that day.
The walk was amazing. Like last year I was inspired by all the little kids walking wearing shirts declaring “I was a preemie, Look at me now!!!” Seeing those kids, so big, so healthy, was a true testament to the amazing work that the March of Dimes is doing and the wonder that the money we raise for the cause by participating in events like the March for Babies can really do. My friend Heather was walk with her daughter Claire who was born 6 weeks early. Heather sported an adorable t-shirt with the weeks her two children were born at in hearts, 36 for her son Logan and 34 for her daughter Claire.
Maya had a great time on the walk. And though she doesn’t get why were walking she understood it was for Maddie. She loves Maddie and proudly wore her Friends of Maddie t-shirt. The most amazing thing was that she wanted to bring her Maddie’s Monster (melted my heart). She also brought her Abby doll, not knowing that it was one of Maddie’s favorites too 
Walking for Maddie, walking for all babies, was an honor. I can’t wait to do it again next year.
This is my favorite picture of the day, taken by my friend Heather.
Labor inductions are much more common nowadays than they used to be. Today approximately 1 in 5 births are induced, about double what it was just 20 years ago. While most labor inductions are medically necessary and increasing number are done electively. So what is labor induction?
Labor inductions are done when your body does not naturally go into labor so your doctor decides to artificially start your labor. Sometimes medication like Pitocin is used to fool your body into thinking it is in labor so contractions will begin and your cervix will begin to dilate, other times your doctor will use techniques such as stripping the membranes or rupturing your membranes to trigger labor to start.
There are many reasons that your doctor and you may decide that inducing your labor is necessary, they include:
- When a pregnancy has lasted more than 42 weeks and labor has not started naturally on its own. The placenta usually stops functions after 42 weeks so it is no longer safe for the pregnancy to continue.
- Your pregnancy has resulted in high blood pressure and your blood pressure is getting too high and the doctor feels continuing the pregnancy is no longer safe for you or the baby.
- You have an infection in your uterus.
- Your water has broken but contractions have not begun.
- There is a growth problem with the baby.
- You have a pregnancy complication such as gestational diabetes.
- There is some other risk to the mother or the baby if the pregnancy is continued.
Most labor inductions go smoothly and the baby is delivered complication free through a normal vaginal delivery. However, with induced labor there is an increased risk of a prolonged, difficult labor that can lead to complications and the need for a caesarean delivery. Your risk is highest if this is your first baby and you are not full term yet.
Inducing labor is not without its risks and should be considered only if medically necessary. There are sometimes stories out there about women who request that their labor be induced if they have not delivered by a certain date because of other events they do not want to miss or interrupt. Babies will come on their own time and if there is no medically necessary need for your labor to be induced it is always safer and better to let your body start labor naturally on its own when your baby is ready to be born.
The rise in induced labors is a contributing factor in the continuing rise in c-sections. C-sections account for nearly 30% of all births here in the United States. Induced labors are also contributing to the rise of late pre-term births, babies born between 34-36 weeks. Though these babies are often born healthy there is the risk for breathing problems, added breastfeeding difficulty, digestive issues and more when a baby is born pre-term.
If your doctor is recommending a labor induction be sure to get all facts including why it is necessary, what you can expect, and what you should do before the induction to be prepared.
Our neighbor has a gorgeous golden retriever named Molly. Molly is an amazing dog. She is kind and gentle. Molly is the kind of dog people, especially kids are drawn to. She loves nothing better than sitting out on the front lawn of our building watching people walking by while getting pets from her favorite little person, Maya. Molly is Maya’s best doggy pal by far.
For as long as I can remember Maya has adored seeing Molly. From the days when she was itty bitty her face has always lit up at the site of Molly. One of her early words was Molly’s name, at the time it came out “Molmol” (and sounded an awful lot like mama), then it changed to “Mol”. Now she can pronounce her name fairly well. Always, she has said her name with love. Next to our kitties, Molly is by far Maya’s favorite animal friend. Molly is the dog that all other dogs are measured against.
Recently Molly started having trouble with one of her hind legs and after lots of vet visits, lots of tests it was discovered that Molly had cancer in her leg and that it had pretty much destroyed the leg and it would need to be amputated. So, on Monday Molly successfully underwent the surgery to remove her leg and came home yesterday.
Maya is used to seeing Molly at least once every day, so on Monday when she hadn’t seen Molly she started asking about her. Since Molly’s leg had been bandaged up for the last week or so Maya knew that something was up and affectionately said, over and over again, “Molly hurt a leg, bandaid make feel all better.” I told Maya whenever she asked about Molly the last couple of days that she was at the doctor so they could make her feel all better, so they could fix her. I tried to avoid saying anything about her leg and focused just on Molly as a whole because I knew when she came home the leg would be gone and I wasn’t sure how Maya would react to that.
Last evening, while we were outside playing our neighbor pulled up. She got out and said that Molly was in the back and she wanted to give us a chance to decide if we wanted Maya to see her yet since her hind quarts looked a little gruesome. We thought about it a bit and decided that we would let Maya see her. I knew she had been dying to see her little buddy for days and that she would have to see the spot where the leg was removed eventually. I admit, though, that I was really nervous about how she would react.
We called her over and said that Molly was home from the doctor now and would love a little pet and a kiss from her. She looked at her nervously, mostly because Molly had on one of those cone things, or a “silly hat” as Maya called it. She looked at Molly for a long time and wasn’t sure what to do. We explained to her that the doctor had to take off Molly’s leg because it was making her sick and that she was fine and would be all better soon. She was very hesitant at first, but after a couple of minutes went up to Molly and started petting her and gave her a big kiss. It brought tears to my eyes. You could see they were both so excited to see each other again. I was proud of Maya for handling this tough situation so well.
We’ve seen Molly a few times since then and Maya doesn’t say anything about it. She just treats her like she has always treated her, like the best doggy friend a girl could ask for
We’re glad you’re home Molly and we hope you are feeling all better soon
This Saturday, April 24th, I’ll will done my Friends of Maddie t-shirt and my running shoes. I’ll meet up with the other women, friends and strangers, who make up our March for Maddie St. Louis team. We will walk side by side in honor of a little girl who continues to touch my heart every day. We will walk side by side in solidarity with Heather and Mike Spohr. We will walk side by side in support of an organization doing amazing things to advance maternal and infant medical care so that one day, just maybe, every baby will be born healthy.
Walking in honor of Madeline Spohr in this weekend’s March for Babies is such an honor. I am proud to be contributing to a cause near and dear to my heart.
As I walk I will remember all the people in my life who have been affected by prematurity, including my baby brother. Who will be celebrating his 19th birthday this summer. He has come a long way from the rough start his life had when he was born 8 weeks early.
This Saturday my heart will be filled with love for Maddie. With each step I take I’ll will be thinking about Heather and Mike and their sweet little girl.
I’ve almost reached my fundraising goal. Just $20 to go! Please consider making a donation to help me reach my goal. Every dollar helps. The money to money you donate goes directly to the March of Dimes.