Honoring Nurses & Memories of Giving Birth

This review was made possible by iConnect and Pampers. I was provided compensation to facilitate this post, but all opinions stated are 100% mine.

Both of my daughters have Summer birthdays, and every year, as we get closer to their birthdays, I always look back on their births with so many fond memories. I can’t believe my little one will be 3 and my older one will be 5 in a few months! Where has the time gone? I remember their births so vividly and I wanted to share with you all some baby care tips I learned from my favorite Labor & Delivery Nurse, Brenda. After all, nurses are essential in making those first few moments between baby and parent as special as possible: from helping moms learn to breastfeed to teaching about the proper care of newborns. To honor nurses that work so hard all over the country, Pampers Swaddlers is announcing its first annual #ThankYouNurses campaign!

Nurses play such an essential role during the first moments between precious newborns and new parents! This Thank You Nurses campaign is held in partnership with the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). The campaign is designed to recognize nurses across three different: Labor & delivery, NICU and Postpartum. Three nominated finalists were selected and are being honored with short documentary videos showcasing their unique stories. I love that Pampers Swaddlers is honoring nurses that work so hard every day to help new moms connect with their newborn babies!

During National Nurse Appreciation Week in May, Pampers Swaddlers announced a grand prize nurse honoree that has worked hard to make life better for babies & their parents! Labor & Delivery nurse, Anne Gallagher, was chosen as the Pampers Swaddlers #ThankYouNurses Award Grand Prize honoree! She is a nurse at University of Illinois Hospital & she will be featured in an upcoming Pampers advertisement! You can learn more about the Grand Prize #ThankYouNurses Award winner by clicking here.

Becoming a new parent can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time. There’s so much to learn along the way. That’s where nurses come in! They’re vital in teaching new parents how to change a diaper, how to swaddle a baby, how to breastfeed correctly, how to bathe baby, and so much more. They provide excellent care for mom & baby, creating a life-long bond of trust that extends past the hospital stay. They also give mom all the information and confidence she needs to care for baby when it’s time to go home.

Looking back over the last few years of my daughters’ lives, I can vividly remember their first cry, first smile, first diaper, first words, and so much more. I also vividly remember a few nurses from my hospital stay. These nurses went above & beyond to really make the experience as pleasant and stress-free as possible. One such nurse was Brenda! Here are a few things she taught me about caring for a baby (and about life, in general):

• When breastfeeding, make sure baby’s mouth opens wide enough to create a good, comfortable latch.
• Bathing baby every day is unnecessary. Their sensitive skin can get dry very easily. Only a 10 minute soak in lukewarm water every few days is required.
• Don’t rush baby to start solid foods. Let baby dictate when she is ready to explore different textures.
• Never wake a sleeping baby. Try to always let baby sleep according to her own schedule, especially during the first few months when sleep is so important to her developing brain.
• White noise can help muffle random everyday noise in the house and provide a nice background for baby to sleep to.
• Cuddle baby as often as possible. It’s impossible to spoil a baby and she will grow up all too quickly. Savor these precious early moments and hug her every day.
• Take pictures of baby every week. Use these pictures to document her growth & development over time.
• Don’t compare your baby to those of your friends & relatives. Every baby develops at her own rate. It’s important to celebrate her successes independent of others’.

Did you know that Pampers Swaddlers are the #1 choice for hospitals in the United States and the first diaper worn by millions of babies? It’s for a good reason! Pampers Swaddlers gives babies the best start in life, by surrounding her with comfort, protection and softness.

Love prizes? Don’t forget to join the upcoming Pampers #ThankYouNurses Twitter Party! It will be hosted by iConnect & will take place on Wednesday May 11th from 8-9pm CST. Be sure to RSVP here! The following prizes will be awarded:
Prize 1: Thermometer ($25), Safety 1st Baby Kit ($25), Pampers diapers
Prize 2: Humidifier ($50), $50 AMEX, Pampers diapers
Prize 3: Steam Sterilizer ($120), Pampers diapers
Grand Prize: Video Baby Monitor ($230), Pampers diapers
Be sure to join the party and you just might win a prize! Good luck!

Now, I’d love to hear from you! What are the tips you’ve learned from a labor & delivery nurses? Do you agree that nurses do an amazing job every day and need to be recognized?

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