How to: Travel with a Newborn

Little Miss Oakley (6.5 weeks as I am writing this) went on 55 flights while she was inside of me and as of this weekend, she went on her first 4 flights while being earth side! I have never claimed to be an expert in parenting, all I can share is my own experience! It was extremely nerve wracking flying with her for the first time- what if she cries the entire time and everyone is angry with us that's on the flight? What if she poops through her outfits? What if she is miserable the entire time? And then what about the hotel- will she sleep, are we going to ruin all of the sleep progress she has made, what is cries thee entire time and everyone at th hotels hates us? All of these, and more, anxious thoughts ran through my head as soon as we booked our trip to go to our manufacturer in Nashville. I researched, asked friends and family, and called TSA and the airlines. I then had a packing list longer than my own for everything she needed! I also put up a Q and A on my instagram today about questions anyone had so I will additionally cover those as well! Luckily- she slept 3 of our 4 flights and the other one she was content to just look around, have a bottle, and giggle at her contrast cards!

Flying and Airport Tips

1. The number one thing anyone will tell you in terms of flying with a baby- make sure they are either on a boob, have a bottle in their mouth, or are sucking on a pacifier for take off and landing to help with their ear pressure
2. If you are formula feeding and need hot water to mix, you can ask any coffee shop and they will give you some for free. You can also ask on board as well
3. Family restrooms are a lifesaver when it comes to changing your baby. All major airpots have family restroom indicators on their website and I highly recommend having a PLAN on where those are as soon as you land so you can change baby in a more comfortable setting
4. Take advantage of pre-boarding. This is something I never thought I would say as I like standing and staying off the plane as long as I can but with a baby, it's best to get situated without a million people waiting in line behind you
5. Utilize gate checking your stroller but I do recommend bringing a cover for it as they aren't the nicest when it comes to handling such precious items
6. Make sure to bring a copy of baby's birth certificate! TSA said you "may" need it to prove your child's age
7. If you feel comfortable, you can rent a car seat from all major car rental companies- just denote it ahead of time on your reservation 

Hotel Tips

1. I was able to call ahead to ask for room at the end of the hallway to mitigate the number of rooms that were around us, just in case she had a rough night. Just exercising some common courtesy to those around us in the hotel
2. Most hotels will offer a crib rental, free of charge
3. Aim for an apartment style hotel or one with a suite if you aren't going to co-sleep. We only co-sleep while traveling and when she gets old, the non-bedroom area is a great place for the crib to go (or even the bathroom to keep it dark and to utilize the fan for the white noise)
4. Keep it as close to home as possible- we packed everything we usually use for her nap time routine and night time routine (which is outlined below)
5. Utilize the hot water feature in the keurig for washing bottles and for mixing formula. If there isn't a coffee machine in the room, ask the front desk for a kettle of hot water to utilize so you don't have to make nine trips a day down to the lobby for hot water
6. Download a white noise app ahead of time and get baby comfortable using that before you travel

Packing List

If you have an iPhone, use the checkmark feature of your notes app. This will allow you to reuse the same list over and over and add to / subtract from with ease for future trips

• Car seat base
• Diaper bag
• Car seat / stroller
• Travel car seat protector
• Pacifiers
• Diapers
• Wipes
• Diaper changing protector (mine came with my diaper bag)
• Bottles
• Formula
• Probiotics
• Gripe Water
• Burp cloths
• Outfits- pack double for blowouts
• DockaTot
• Solly wrap (can wear baby through TSA)
• Carrier (cannot wear baby through TSA)
• Bed sleeper
• Swaddles
• Boogie mist
• Electronic snot sucker
• Boppy
• Noise cancelling headphones (did not use on this trip)
• Contrast cards (for in flight entertainment)
• Tylenol- children's (in case)
• Eczema lotion
• Bottle cleaning brush
• Plastic bags for any blowout clothes 

Questions

• Q: How did she sleep without the SNOO?
• A: She did great! Definitely not as great as with it but I still gave her an A+. We will rent the SNOO for holidays to stay at my mom's house for Thanksgiving and Christmas
• Q: Can you use Owlet while traveling?
• A: You can but you would have to reconnect the base with the hotel's WIFI
• Q: What about diaper changing on a flight?
• A: With a longer flight, we definitely would have had to change her on the airplane but with anything shorter than 90 minutes- just make sure to change baby right before you board
• Q: Did you carry her through the airport or use a stroller?
• A: We did both actually! For our outbound flight, we used the stroller and gate checked before each flight. This was convenient until it took an extra 15 minutes to get the stroller after everyone de-planed. Our inbound flight we carried her and it was very nice to not have to find an elevator every time we needed to go up and down in the airport but it was a little more difficult to carry / wear her through the airport. Pros and cons to each and we decided that any layover longer than an hour, we will keep the stroller with us and not check it
• Q: Is it worth paying for the middle seat to have the row to yourself?
• A: By the time you pay for three seats- you may as well just fly first and have the extra room! Until she is 2, she flies for free in your lap as is
• Q: Did you pack diapers or have them shipped?
• A: We packed them in our checked bag but if we were going for an extended period of time, we would have them shipped

Immune Support vs Greens

We have launched our Immune Support product and have been receiving some questions on how this product is different than the benefits of our Greens supplement

I think it's important to understand the immune system on a very basic level. Your immune system is made up of organs, cells, and chemicals that fight infection. The main components are white blood cells, antibodies, complement system, lymphatic system, spleen, thymus, and bone marrow. The gut is also a pivotal part of the immune system as gut bacteria plays an important role in the development of white blood cells that help the body's immune system fight infection. It's estimated that upwards of 70% of the body's immune system is based on the gut itself.

Which now leads us to the question- what is the difference in the greens supplement and our new immune supplement and would someone need both? The short answer is YES- it's best to supplement with both especially knowing we are about to enter flu season. 

Our greens are the ONLY certified USDA organic greens product on the market where EVERY single ingredient is certified USDA organic. Taking our greens product will help you get in more micronutrients throughout the day which will help with any gut issues as well as assist all of your body's functions in operating at their highest capacity. The problem with greens (vegetables), is that very few have high does of Vitamin C, and those that do- you would need to consume them by the cups to even come close to what is offered in our new immune product. 

Vitamin C is the most important vitamin for immunity. It's an essential micronutrient for all humans- it's a potent antioxidant and a cofactor for many enzymes in our body. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free radicals and promotes healthy aging. In a recent study, 1g of Vitamin C was given to a group of adults per day for 42 days. The researches found that at the end of the study, they had better functioning white blood cells which are more capable of fighting invading microorganisms. The white blood cells could also live longer and perform better. 

Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin which means it cannot be stored inside your body so you need to take a daily dosage to maintain an optimum concentration inside your body. "Superdosing" Vitamin C is not recommended as you can only absorb so much in one day. Which is why our immune support product is dosed perfectly- we aren't over dosing the product with an unnecessary dosage of Vitamin C that you would ultimately excrete through urine. We do recommend taking 2 packs per day if you are a smoker or suffering from the cold or flu or are traveling. 

Additionally, the immune product contains an adequate amount of Zinc to further improve the functionality of the immune system by fighting off invading bacteria and viruses. 

Hopefully this helps better explain our newest product! You can absolutely combine the greens and immune product and drink them together! 

BABY FAVORITES

As promised, I told y'all I would be sharing and reviewing items off my registry and other items we have purchased for baby once we used them! Oakley was born on August 6 so we have been getting some good use out of a ton of items that I can't wait to review for you guys!

If my review is helpful, I would truly appreciate the support by using the referral links in the descriptions below if you choose to purchase! 

DOONA CAR SEAT / STROLLER

We have been loving this car seat and stroller combination. The installation of the car seat dock into the vehicle is extremely easy and the dock system allows for multiple cars to use the same car seat with ease. The YouTube video on installation is less than a minute and it takes only a few minutes to actually install the dock itself. The car seat then simply latches into the dock and away you go! It's extremely easy to convert to a stroller and back again. The only downfall to this system is that the stroller does not have any storage (but you can purchase that on Amazon). The stroller also does not have a cover that covers baby completely but you can purchase those add ons through Doona and they are actually very affordable. My recommendation is to practice the stroller to cart seat conversion BEFORE you have baby as the first few times with baby in it can be a little stressful given how tiny they are. The other great benefit to this product is travel (airports). You would simply need to pack the dock and then you don't have to check a car seat as the car seat is your stroller! So you could wheel baby to the gate and then check the car seat plane side. I would recommend still bringing a car seat travel protector! 

OWLET SOCK AND CAMERA

Easily my favorite product we have purchased. This product gives us such peace of mind at night. If you're unfamiliar, the Owlet is a sock (comes in three sizes for growth), that goes on baby's foot at night and monitors heart rate and oxygen output. It then sends those numbers to an app on your phone and alerts you at any time if the numbers drop to an unsafe level. I know there are several reviews online about a false alarm but to be completely honest, I would rather have a few false alarms but nothing is wrong than have no alarm at all when something is wrong. We haven't experienced anything like that and we have been using it for almost a month. There is also a camera that comes with the sock that monitors the room's temperature as well. The body stats and camera function in one app so you don't have to check multiple apps to see or check in on baby. The camera is HD as well and does have two way functionality if you want to turn it on to hear baby or talk back. There's also a function in the app to track baby's sleep patterns at night: light sleep, deep sleep, and awake periods along with a graph of their heart rate the entire night and their oxygen outputs. If you are going to splurge on one item- it should be this one. Hands down, without a question. 

DOCKATOT

We absolutely love our little Dockatot! It's great for midway naps when we don't want to put her in her bassinet and also allows us to carry her around the house to move her to where we are to monitor her while she sleeps. It's very easy to wash if a mess is made and they have beautiful prints. The end of the dock also expands so it grows with baby. This would be a great option too to bring while traveling to a hotel for baby to sleep in if you feel comfortable doing so! I do know some parents that co-sleep with the dockatot in their bed (we do not but there is no judgement from us on how people choose to parent or sleep). 

ELVIE HANDS FREE PUMPS

I have personally had my own battles with breast feeding but that doesn't take away from my experience with the hands free pumps. During my time pumping, I needed to rent the hospital's pump to see if it made a difference (as all pumps suck in different ways). The hospital pump is NOT a hand's free pump and I also wasn't going to buy a specific bra to hold the suctions to my boob without knowing if I was going to continue to use it. Having the experience for a few weeks of being immobilized while pumping made me appreciate the Elvie that much more. The Elvie is very user friendly and easy to clean. The app is also very helpful as it will track the amount produced each session. It also has a timer built in which is extremely handy when timing pumps. I do recommend a high quality nursing bra to hold them in place but the fact that you can walk, drive, eat, etc while pumping is a life saver. I can't tell you how many times I pumped in public or in the car with the Elvie because let's be honest- life doesn't work around the whole "pump every 3 hours" rule, especially with a newborn. You do have to spend some time getting used to the settings as there are 7 settings on the Elvie and more is not always better. I found myself producing the most on levels 4 and 5. If you are going to pump and you don't want to be a slave to the manual pump and the couch- this product should be on your list. 

SLEEPEA SWADDLE

Oakley loved this swaddle the first few weeks of her life! She is very strong so trying to swaddle her with other swaddles was just not happening. The velcro on this makes it very easy to swaddle their arms to their sides. If your baby like being swaddled in this way- you need this product! We found out she slept best with her hands by her face so we did switch swaddles (as you will see below), but this is a great option for so many! Plus, the prints are very, very cute. 

BOPPY

Breastfeeding can be a real pain! Even holding an 8lb baby while bottle feeding or falling asleep can be a pain. The boppy makes it super comfortable to hold your baby in those weird positions while they are comfortable. Josh and I can both use it too which is great- plus, it's very very easy to wash. 

HATCH SOUND MACHINE

One of two products we attribute Oakley's amazing sleep habits to. Over the first new nights, we learned what sound, level, and night light color she enjoyed. This product is super easy to pack and travel with and I am very excited to see how she does while traveling with it. Again, controlled with an app on your phone and so many different combinations to choose from to determine what works best for your baby. There's also a timer feature on it if you want it to turn on and off at certain points throughout the night. We really enjoy the product as well and I think it also helps us sleep better over the noise of a fan. 

SNOO BASSINET 

The #1 product everyone asks me about- I assume due to the price and the fact that all new parents want to sleep better. The first week of bringing Oakley home, we did not turn the SNOO on and just used it as a bassinet to see how she would do. We then used it the second week she was home and she slept so much better at night. Now, on week 4 of her life- she only wakes up 1-2 times during the night and the SNOO does an amazing job at rocking her back to sleep if she wakes up in between feedings and gets a little fussy. If you are unfamiliar, the SNOO was created by Dr. Karp who conducted 20 years of research and is a renowned pediatrician. It has been proven to emulate the womb and will adjust as your baby cries more. It will shut off if the SNOO cannot calm your baby, letting the parent know they need to either feed, change, or hold the baby. We have yet to experience this as the SNOO can put her to sleep in about 5 minutes by going through the different sound and rocking features that it has. I will say that I do follow some on social media that said the SNOO did not work for their first baby but did for their second or vice versa. Their customer service is very helpful as well if you have questions! This would be a great product to have on your registry to suggest people pool their gift money towards! The system built into the SNOO is also great piece of mind for parents as it would be almost impossible for baby to turn over and lose the ability to breathe. The sides of the SNOO are also breathable if something were ever to happen where baby had their face against the side of the bassinet. 

SOLLY BABY WRAP

This wrap is great! It does take a few times to get used to how you wrap it but once you get the hang of it, it takes less than 30 seconds to do. It would be great to wear through the airport as you can wear baby right through security as there is no metal in it. Very easy to wash and pack in a diaper bag. This is also great at restaurants if you want to wear baby but still have the ability to remain comfortable and eat. The only downfall is there is no neck support so unless baby is old enough to hold their head up or laying right against your chest, you do have to support their neck with one hand. 

BABY BJORN CARRIER

My favorite carrier for active moms. This is the carrier I wear when we go on walks and when I absolutely need two hands doing things around the house. It's pricey but worth it as you can use it from birth to 36 months. It's very comfortable and provides a ton of back and hip support for mom. Not one I would wear through the airport as you would have to have the item checked through security and have to take baby out of their wrap. 

MAMO ROO

Oakley really enjoys this little swing as it has different settings to choose from compared to your traditional back and forth swing. It also adjusts as baby grows to be used for years. The dangling toys are also a great stimulation as baby is swinging. 

SWADDLE UP SWADDLE

Oakley's favorite swaddle, hands down. It allows her to have her hands by her face which is her absolute favorite sleeping position. Theres also a 3 part system with this company for babies that start to roll and the ability to unzip the sleeves on the swaddles made their older babies. The dual part zipper makes changing here diaper in the middle of the night super easy as we don't have to completely take her out of the swaddle to do so. 

SNUGGLE ME ORGANIC

An alternative to the Dockatot above. It's a little less rigid and a little softer, super easy to wash. I wouldn't feel as safe moving baby around in it as it doesn't have as supportive of a base as the Dockatot. This would be much easier to pack if you are looking for a solution to pack in a suitcase for overnight travel (if you choose). 

HUMIDIFER / DIFFUSER

The last week Oakley has been fairly stuffy during the day so we decided to start using her humidifier at night and it is AMAZING! No more stuffy nose during the day and I also think she has been sleeping better as well. It's very quiet, you can add oils to it to diffuse, lasts about 2 nights on the highest setting, the nightlight is a perfect tone, and the design is very sleek and aesthetic. 

BABY BATH TUB

Little miss absolutely loves her bath time, we call it her spa day. She lounges around in this tub like it's the most comfortable thing in the entire world. It fits on the countertop next to her bathroom sink and the drain is perfectly situated over the sink for rinsing out. 

BOOGIE MIST

No one ever told me how difficult it would be to suck boogers out of my kids nose but here we are! The saline solution mist makes it so nice to loosen up any boogers and makes getting them out even easier! 

BOTTLES

All babies like different bottle nipples and these are Oakley's favorite! I also really like the mint color, that seems to be her theme with a lot of her apparel and sheets! Nothing too fancy about these but people have been asking so I wanted to link them if you are in the market for bottles. 

BOTTLE WARMER

If you make bottles ahead of time to keep in the fridge, this is a must to warm them back up. The water gets warm in a few minutes and there are a few different settings depending on how much liquid you are trying to warm up in the bottle. So much better than warming up in the microwave too! 

STERILIZER

Again, no one ever tells you how much work goes into formula! This is an absolute must for parents who are bottle feeding children. Bottles need to be sterilized after each use to ensure no germs or bacteria live inside the bottles or nipples. Again, it also is much safer than trying to sterilize them in the microwave. Just be sure to not overfill the bottom container with water as it will leak. Fits up to six bottles and six nipples at a time so you shouldn't have to run it more than once per day.

FORMULA

I am sure I will hear something about the formula we are using from the professional parents out there but this formula is the same one that her chiropractor and doctor both recommended as she does seem to have a sensitive stomach. Since switching to it- we have noticed much less gas and fussiness. I really don't need the opinion of anyone on the formula we have decided for our daughter, thank you in advance. 

BABY BREZZA

This little wonder has been one of my favorite purchases thus far. It gets the formula container off the counter and mixes your formula and water for you at a perfect temperature. The box claims to save you 30 minutes a day and I can 100% attest to that. It's also very nice that you can use it with one hand as majority of the time, I am carrying Oakley around by the time I am making her a bottle. You can use any bottles that you have on hand and any formula as well. This is one of my top baby products! 

ELECTRONIC SNOT SUCKER

Let's be honest, there's nothing wrong with the suction things the hospital gives you but this just makes snot sucking that much more fun. There are three different suction settings on this and the batteries last forever! 

Gifts for New Moms

There's a lot of stress as a new mom- your world completely changes in the blink of an eye. Josh has been the best dad in the world (I hate using the world help because he isn't helping, he is a parent too, he just can't do a lot of the things that baby needs right now but he does as much as he can). Even with having him, there are still a lot of stressors for a new mom that make great gift ideas if a friend, sister, or family member has recently given birth and you want to show them that you care!

Obviously flowers are always beautiful and a lovely gesture, here are some additional ideas that I have been either gifted or gifted myself (typical me) that I think would really show a new mom in your life that you are thinking of her. Personally, we are not allowing guests to see Oakley for 2 weeks to establish a routine for ourselves and I know many are doing that as well at this time- so the days of bringing a casserole over are somewhat a thing of the past (at least they aren't a thing of the present). 

Gift ideas:

• Gift card for meal delivery: door dash, uber eats, postmates, etc
• Grocery delivery gift card
• Candle
• Postpartum bath salts
• Coffee scrub mask
• Custom name necklace with baby's name
• Fuzzy slippers
• Coffee sampler kit
• Fuzzy blanket
• Lactation cookie mix
• Solly baby wrap

Also- it's important to ask how MOM is doing and not just about baby. This is something I never realized until becoming a mother myself! It shows you care about HER and how she is doing- it makes a world of difference! 

A No BS Hospital Bag List

You've seen the overwhelming infographics on Pinterest for what ShOuLd be in your hospital bag. I am here to tell you, six days post delivery, you do NOT need that much stuff. There are 3 bags you need to bring: yours, babies, and your significant other's (that they are responsible for packing)

As I gave birth during COVID, we did not get to tour the hospital so I had no idea what would be provided so I could have even packed less had I known how much stuff they would provide! I will denote what I could have left at home below! You may be able to contact the maternity center at the hospital you will be delivering at too to see what they provide and/or if they have a recommended list of what to bring on their website

Mom:

I personally lived in the hospital gown until the day we left because why wouldn't I? I was recovering from a vaginal delivery, passing blood clots the size of whole eggs, and learning to breast feed. I was in no mood to put on "real" clothes until I had to. We were in the hospital from Wednesday evening to Saturday morning. I personally packed a suitcase with the following for me:

• Silk robe (for an IG photo, let's be honest)
• Leggings, cami, and tennis shoes to go home in
• Fuzzy slippers (super comfy to walk around the hospital room in)
• Brush
• Makeup (again, for pictures, you won't regret taking 10 min to get yourself ready before any pictures are taken)
• Skin care products
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Long charging cord for phone
• Laptop
• Cord blood banking kit
• Pump for the lactation specialists to show you how to use (if you think you are going to want to pump at all during your baby's journey)
• Nipple cream

It's super weird to not need underwear as they will provide you with super flattering hospital mesh underwear and the largest pads you have ever seen. I personally wish I had brought my adult diapers to the hospital that I ordered to use at home. The hospital also provided witch hazel pads. Additionally, they provided the numbing spray but you could also bring your own if you choose

Baby:

The hospital should have virtually anything you need (diaper cream, they will give baby a bath so no need to bring those types of supplies, cream for baby's dry skin if they have any, etc)

• Diaper bag
• 1-2 outfits (we only used 1 outfit when we left the hospital, between all the checkups that occur from what seems like 9200 nurses, it's much easier to just leave them in a swaddle)
• 1-2 swaddles or blankets (the hospital should provide swaddle blankets)
• Name plaque (again, for pictures)
• Wipes (could have left at home)
• Newborn diapers (could have left at home)

Significant other:

• 3 days worth of "regular" clothes, Josh brought 2 pairs of workout pants, 3 t-shirts, and 1 pair of jeans
• Toiletries 
• Nice camera (again, not necessary for everyone)
• Gopro to film (again, not necessary for everyone)
• Underwear
• Socks
• Shoes
• Charger
• Laptop

It's also important to note that if you are giving birth any time soon, you will more than likely be required to be tested for COVID. We were required to wear masks everywhere except our room so I recommend bringing extra for your SO if they plan to pick up food from door dash or uber eats as they will have to go down to get it unless a nurse volunteers to do it for you. 

And that's pretty much it! Pretty simply and very minimal "stuff". The idea that you are going to want to dress your baby in 9 different outfits a day adorned with accessories just isn't realistic unless it's something you absolutely want to do for photos. Totally up to you! 

Bowmar Nutrition Pre Workout 2.0

The day is finally here for us to talk about the new preworkout formula that we have been working on since late last summer!

The new pre workout launches IS NOW AVAILABLE. I wanted to touch on some high level points about what sets this formula apart from our current formula as well as answer some FAQs that we have been seeing over the last few days

FAQS:
1: This formula is an improvement on our current formula, there is nothing wrong with what we have now and we will continue to sell it until our inventory runs out. Our original formula is amazing and we have had tens of thousands of happy customers use it and love it
2: We will be offering our new formula in all of our current flavors this year (not right at launch)
3: We will be launching 2 stimulant based flavors today (watermelon and blackberry) and a non stimulant based flavor (lemonade). The non stimulant formula is caffeine and stimulant free
4: You can pair the current formula with the new formula (1 scoop stim mixed with 1 scoop non stim in any combination)
5: This is simply an improvement- this is an ever changing and ever evolving industry with new research and new ingredients. We love improving our products if and when we feel they can be and we know everyone will absolutely love this new formula
6: The tub size is also different and the price will be reflective of that
7: We will have samples of all flavors in the coming months

High level ingredient notes:
I won't be covering every single ingredient because this blog post would go on forever but I wanted to note some differences if you have tried our current formula versus the changes in the new formula
1: Removal of beta alanine- no more itchiness or tingles
2: Reduced the caffeine per scoop so now using 2 scoops will give you the same caffeine intake as 1 scoop of the current formula but with double the other active ingredients (in the stimulant version)
3: Addition of citrapeak- this is an exclusive ingredient that only we have access to for the next 90 days. Of all the ingredients and formulas of pre workout we have tried over the last decade- we can confidently say you will not get pumps like this from anywhere else; to read more, click here
4: Removal of citrulline malate and replaced with l-citrulline  in order to improve performance, reduce fatigue, and reduce muscle soreness

As always, our labels are open labels which means no blends (without letting you know exactly how much of ingredient is in the blend). We list all ingredients with all dosages unlike many competitors. We also use clinical dosages of all ingredients

SHARP: BOWMAR NUTRITION NOOTROPIC

This last week, we announced our newest product line: SHARP
This launches on March 27th at noon eastern!

It is a powerful nootropic (powder) designed to improve mental clarity, improve mental focus, enhance concentration, and help support healthy brain function- think of SHARP as brain food!

I wanted to break down our ingredients and then compare SHARP to 2 other products that have been highly requested to compare it to (all in the effort to educate our consumers in making the most appropriate decision on what product is right for them and why, if they are using one of the competitor's, they should switch)

SHARP ingredients- 1 scoop (10.1g):
L-Citrulline 2000mg
Betaine Anhydrous 1500mg
L-Tyrosine 1250mg
Acetyl L-Carnitine HCI 1000mg
Taurine 1000mg
Alpha GPC 250mg
KSM-66 Ashwagandha Root Extract 150mg
Caffeine 75mg

L-Citrulline

Citrulline may increase nitric oxide levels according to recent research. Nitric oxide is a molecular compound that is primarily involved in helping cells transmit signals, allowing for intercellular communication. Nitric oxide also plays a role in supporting circulation, further contributing to citrulline’s other potential effects on blood flow. Nitric oxide may help to promote cardiovascular health and support your immune system

Betaine Anhydrous

A form of betaine called betaine anhydrous helps in the metabolism of homocysteine, a chemical involved in the normal function of many different parts of the body, including blood, bones, eyes, heart, nerves, and the brain

L-Tyrosine

Tyrosine is used to improve alertness, attention, and focus on top of improving brain chemicals that help nerve cells communicate and may regulate mood

Acetyl L-Carnitine HCI

Improves physical function and may improvement function in people with poor brain function due to liver failure

Taurine

Taurine stimulates new brain cell formation, providing a potential source for replacement of aging, damaged brain cells. Taurine supplementation may slow or prevent Alzheimer's disease by effects on toxic beta amyloid proteins, and also by improving blood sugar control

Alpha GPC

Supports a role for enhancing cognitive function, increasing strength and stimulating the release of growth hormone

KSM-66 Ashwagandha Root Extract

An adaptogen that is proven to help reduce body stress on top of boosting brain function and relieving anxiety and depression

Caffeine

Caffeine promotes central nervous system stimulation, making you feel alert. Bottom Line: Caffeine is the key reason why coffee boosts brain function. This stimulant blocks adenosine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain that makes you sleepy

Competitors:
Alpha Brain 2 pills (1.7g total)

As you can see from the above- "blends" are listed which means there is no true way to tell how much L-Tyrosine (for example) is even in the product. Nonetheless, even if 100% of the blend was L-Tyrosine, SHARP has 1250mg compared to the "blend" above as 650mg of 4 ingredients total. The same goes for GPC- SHARP has 260mg and the "blend" with the above GPC has 240mg of 4 ingredients. The ingredients are similar but the quantity is completely and utterly under-dosed

Spark 1 stick pack (7g)

Essentially, this is an Airborne packet with 120mg of caffeine, 0 benefits for cognitive function other than L-Tyrosine at 500mg compared to SHARP 1250mg. It's vitamins with some caffeine that you could get from a $0.50 packet of Airborne

PRICE COMPARISON:
SHARP ($44.99) - 10G X 30 SERVINGS = 300G PRODUCT = $1.49 PER 10G SCOOP
ALPHA BRAIN ($79.95) - 1.7G PILLS X 45 SERVINGS 76.5G PRODUCT = $1.77 PER 1.7G CAPSULES (2)
SPARK ($29.95)- 7g x 14 SERVINGS= 98G PRODUCT = $2.13 PER 7G PACKET

As you can clearly see from the above, SHARP is the largest serving size, the highest dosed, high quality, and the least expensive per serving. This product will change your life and we can't wait for you to try it!

SHARP is best taken daily for long term benefits but not necessary to take daily for short term benefits.

I am PREGNANT!

You heard that right- we are expecting our little one on July 29 2020! We are so overjoyed and I am so excited to be able to share this interactive blog post with you

My plan is to update every few weeks with how I am feeling + products I am loving

There is so much information out there and the most important thing to remember is that all pregnancies and experiences are different. Your doctor should be only a phone call away for emergency questions!

Ok, on to the details!

Josh and I always said we wanted to wait 5 years before having kids and wouldn't you know it- our five year anniversary was January 17, 2020! We tried for only one month (Josh was super bummed) and we found out on November 20 that we were expecting! We found out together and filmed the entire thing! Yes- we will be finding out the gender at our week 20 appointment which is on March 10.  We will be announcing once our friends and family know first

Conception month
A lot of woman underestimate how important nutrients and your diet are during the conception month. I completely cut out all caffeine the minute I stopped my last period before we started trying. I also highly recommend using a basal thermometer and app if you are trying to conceive- it will take virtually all the guess workout of ovulation timing. I was tracking my temperate and ovulation for over a year before we started trying- it's a great way for natural family planning. The thermometer and app I used can be found here. Additionally- you should be taking your prenatal the entire time you are trying to conceive as well. Think of conception as early pregnancy- no drinking, no smoking, etc as you do not know the exact day you will conceive. It's better to be safe than sorry

Starting weight: 135lbs

Weeks 1-8: 
The only differences included slight bloating, fatigue for a few hours in the afternoon, some hormonal mood swings, mild cramps in the first few weeks, and the highest urge to tell the entire world while also knowing we had to wait. I felt nauseous a few days and have some slight food aversions, no real cravings yet! I also have been very blessed to not have any morning sickness except for one day and turns out it was food poisoning or COVID. Nonetheless- I freaked out and went on an Amazon shopping spree and enlisted the help of my pregnant friends and my sister who has 3 kids for their tips- I have linked all the products I ordered below to combat the sickness in case it happens again (update: it didn't)! My workouts struggled slightly due to fatigue during the first two months but I still went to the gym 4-5 times a week

Appointment 1: 
We had the first appointment on December 20- right before we left the same day to be in Indiana and Ohio for the holidays for six days. Everything from the heart beat to the ultra sound to the blood work all came back normal and on pace! The heart rate was ranging from 150-162 bpm. Appointment 1 weight: 137lbs

Weeks 9-12:
What a whirlwind month 3 was- between the holidays and telling family and trade show season starting- this was definitely the quickest month by far. The only few symptoms I am currently experiencing is fatigue and random headaches. I also feel myself thirsty often which is crazy because I already drink at least a gallon of water per day. I have also been getting weekly chiropractic appointments to realign my hips to assure that my labor and delivery will go as smoothly as possible. I also have been practicing a ton of diaphragmatic breathing and core exercises as well as pelvic floor exercises to further ensure the safest delivery of baby. Workout energy is luckily back to where it was before I got pregnant. I have not had to modify any workouts in any way. I have been filming the entire time so if you need workout ideas, please reference: http://instagram.com/sarah_bowmar
Additionally, I have been walking 5 miles every single day at home! It has helped so much with getting blood flowing and getting all my steps in!

Appointment 2: 
This appointment was only about 20 minutes- but the doctor told us "boring is good" when it comes to pregnancies. Baby's heart beat was 172, blood work all looked great, and I have went up a few pounds in weight- which is right on track for my body. It's also an old wives tale that the gender of the baby determines their heart rate. Some appointments they may be very active and others they may be resting. It makes me very uncomfortable when people guess the gender so please, keep your guesses to yourself! Appointment 2 weight: 139lbs

Appointment 3:
At week 13 we went in for our genetic screening, an ultra sound, and more blood work. Baby was very active and the skin test showed a very low probability of any genetic abnormalities. We also got to see baby for about 30 minutes while everything was being measured. Heart rate for baby was 162bpm during this appointment. Appointment 3 weight: 139lbs

Week 14:
We had an event in Nashville for a gym opening in which they employee a prenatal chiropractor and pelvic floor specialist. I went in for an appointment and had an incredible experience. Between the hip and muscle adjustments, she also discovered I have poor circulation so I am now using cinnamon bark extract oils on my wrists several times a day. I also will be working on some tips on overall pelvic floor health and breathing techniques!

Week 15 - 16 and 4 month appointment:
Weeks 15 and 16 I traveled a ton between an event in Nashville, a retreat in Denver, and celebrating our birthdays in Las Vegas. Luckily all my fatigue has went away completely and my stomach is finally starting to look like I am pregnant and not like I enjoyed too many donuts over the weekend. Today (Valentine's Day), we had our 4 month appointment. We heard baby's heartbeat which was 148bpm today. All vitals looked amazing for me and we also had the spina bifida blood screening and will know results from that in about 2 weeks
Appointment 4 weight: 143lbs

Week 17 - 18
What a crazy 2 weeks it has been! I flew to Indiana for my cousins bridal shower, we planned my baby shower, and have been working like crazy on getting for the Arnold which is next weekend! I have been feeling absolutely amazing and almost feel bad saying that because I know how many women struggle with pregnancy. I am counting my lucky stars that I honestly haven't missed a beat when it comes to my workouts, cardio, or work! I started adding in pomegranate juice into my daily diet after reading about all the amazing benefits and it's ability to prevent preeclampsia in some women. I know I am not high risk but the juice tastes amazing and the benefits are just icing on the cake. I have also started using an oil diffuser at night with lavender in it and have noticed a huge difference in my ability to stay asleep. I also *think*  I felt the baby last night but am not 100% sure. We find out the gender at our next appointment in 2 weeks and yes, once our family all finds out, we will be announcing on social media!

Appointment 5: 
This was a big appointment- I am 20 weeks tomorrow and today's appointment consisted of our last ultrasound. We were able to see the baby for about 30 minutes while the technician took photos of all extremities and did all kinds of measurements. I also was told I have an anterior placenta (which means it is sitting between my uterus and stomach) so flutters at this stage probably won't be felt and I also won't feel the baby for another few weeks, especially given that it is my first. Baby is measuring right on track as well at 11oz. We also found out the gender which we will announce in the coming weeks- just enjoying this moment with our friends and family and rejoicing that the baby is healthy. Baby's heart rate was 145bpm.
Appointment 5 weight: 147lbs

MARCH 12, 2020: WE FOUND OUT WE ARE HAVING A BABY GIRL AND WE ARE OVER THE MOON EXCITED!

Weeks 20-22:
The last few weeks have been... strange. The entire world is experiencing a worldwide pandemic and if I thought everyone knew everything about my own pregnancy before- wow was I wrong. We have been in New Zealand for almost two weeks (before the European travel restrictions were in place, for reference) and before anyone was self isolating. We are currently self isolating in New Zealand and cut our trip short by almost a week to ensure we are able to get back safely. When we arrive back in the country, we will be screened at customs- which I am grateful that border patrol is doing! We will then enter self isolation for 14 days as we have been traveling internationally. I also am expecting a phone call that my next appointment will be cancelled. Other than that- I am feeling amazing. We are eating a ton of wild game and fish here in NZ and baby girl is absolutely loving it. On top of that- I was finally able to feel her kick and move and Josh was able to as well! Crazy to think that the next time we come to this beautiful country, baby will be on the outside and not on the inside of me!

I also have been utilizing these leg compression sleeves for 30 minutes 3-4 times per week to help offset swelling and dark veins!

Weeks 22-24:
We have been in self isolation since the day we got back from New Zealand two weeks ago. Nothing has really changed from our day to day life except for not being able to go to the gym. We have started to buy some pieces for our home gym which will really come in handy once baby is here and I may not want to leave the house to get a workout in. Unfortunately, my 24 week appointment for this week was cancelled because "I am low risk and healthy" so it is pushed back another 5 weeks. Josh also will not be able to attend that appointment either. It will be a long appointment as it is the rest for gestational diabetes. Hoping everything is smooth until then as it will be nine weeks since I have seen a doctor at that point.

I also started to add in salmon roe this week as I am nearing the end of my second trimester. I will continue to eat 1 TBSP each day of salmon roe until baby is here! It is most beneficial for overall brain health and development. If you would like to read up more on salmon roe, I highly recommend this content from Dr. Rhonda Patrick

My recipe:
1 medium avocado- smashed
1 TBSP salmon roe
Splash of lime juice
Pink himalayan salt
Eat as is or enjoy with crackers!


Weeks 25-28:
The last few weeks in quarantine have been fairly routine. I have been feeling the exact same day to day, no pains, no headaches, etc. I am still seeing my chiropractor once a week which has been amazing for my hips and back. I also am still compressing 3-4 times a week for 30 minutes each time.

Appointment 6
Today (week 28 + 1 day), I had my first appointment in almost 9 weeks. I had to check in from the car, Josh was not allowed to go, and I had to wear a mask the entire time. I did get a lot of my questions answered (I highly recommend taking notes of questions you have as you think of them because chances are, you will forget). I also had my gestational diabetes test today- the fruit punch drink was god awful. All vitals look good for both mom and baby. Her heart beat was at 141 and they actually let me record it for the first time ever- which was a blessing in disguise. I also had my TDAP vaccine today as well as being checked for hemoglobins in my blood. UDPATE: both hemoglobin and glucose tests were passed with flying colors. My next appointment will be at week 32!
Appointment 6 Weight: 152lbs

Appointment 7:
Long time no update! The last two weeks have been wildly stressful and emotional with the passing of a family member on Josh's side of the family. We also had my second baby shower in Ohio so we spent 9 days with family between the funeral and my baby shower. Luckily today, June 8, I had my 32 week appointment even though I will be 33 weeks in two days. Baby is kicking and moving like crazy. Today she was head down which is perfect and the doctor estimated her to be about 4lbs. Josh was luckily able to attend this appointment with me and we got to hear her heartbeat at 134bpm! My blood pressure was someone surprisingly normal given the stress the last few weeks at 98/70. The doctor wants me to gain about 1lb per week until I deliver at the end of July.
Appointment 7 weight: 155lbs

Appointment 8: 
I am 35 weeks today and we leave for our last trip this afternoon (a work trip and then my sister's bridal shower). Baby will have been on a total of 55 flights before she graces the world with her presence! Everything is looking good- head is still down and her back is on my left side, feet up in my ribs except when she decided to do the happy baby yoga pose (which she does A LOT). Heart rate was 130bpm when we started at 154bpm when we left (she was sleeping when we got there and kicking when we left). The doctor also said there is no such thing as TOO active of a baby which is great!
Appointment 8 weight: 158lbs

Ultrasound Week 36: We decided to do a 4D scan today and I am so happy we did! This was a non medical ultrasound and baby is measuring at 6lbs and the ultrasound went perfect! She has a ton of hair and eyelashes, her feet look huge (I am sure from Josh), and she is looking like she will be born at around 20inches and maybe around 8lbs! We got to watch her for about an hour and have so many more pictures and a DVD of everything we saw.

Appointment 9:
37 weeks tomorrow and just left my first weekly appointment! Fairly uneventful: 0cm dilated, measured at 36, blood pressure was 108/56, baby's heart rate was 146bpm, and also had the B strep test done- results take a few days! Overall, feeling very anxious to meet baby but also am taking a ton of classes that are helping ease my anxiousness as I am such a planner. The nursery is as complete as it can be but a lot of things still aren't delivered unfortunately. I will be sharing the classes I am taking once I am done with them all as I like to put my stamp of approval on them. I also ordered all of my postpartum items that I have linked below
Appointment 9 weight: 160lbs

Appointment 10:
I am going to be 38 weeks on Wednesday and just had my 38 week appointment today (Monday). Fairly boring appointment, my blood pressure was 116/62, baby's heart rate was 140bmp, and the doctor took all of my measurements and everything is still right on track. Her head is still down and very low which is great news. Overall, feeling amazing still- she's very, very active at night which is to be expected given how active I am during the day so she basically sleeps all day until I slow down at night.
Appointment 10 weight: 161lbs

Appointment 11:
Almost 39 weeks! Honestly, this appointment was fairly boring. Blood pressure was 106/62, baby's heart rate was 143bpm, I am 0cm dilated, and I go back next week! This past week we have all of our bags packed for the hospital, the nursery is about 95% finished! We also told all family that we are not having anyone come over for at least 2 weeks after we bring the baby home to allow us to get into our routine and allow us to be parents before we start hosting a ton of guests (nothing COVID related).
Appointment 11 weight: 161lbs

Appointment 12 and 13: 

I realized I didn't give an update last week but the weekly appointments are starting to get very ground-hog like. Appointment 12 at 40 weeks showed 0 dilation so we scheduled my induction for Wednesday August 5. Appointment 13, today at 41 weeks, confirmed again I was at 0 dilation so the decision for a medical induction was 100% inline with everything the ACOG recommends as past 41 weeks, the chance of a "natural" labor is about 5%. Tomorrow I will be induced in the evening with labor hopefully beginning on it's own overnight and a baby being born on Thursday. I also had my nasal COVID test yesterday to prevent me from needing it done at the hospital and it came back negative.

Appointment 12 weight: 163lbs

Appointment 13 weight: 164lbs

BABY ITEMS:
NURSERY DETAILS
POSTPARTUM
BABY'S CORNER IN OUR ROOM


Apps
The Bump (free)
Flo ($50/year)
Baby Tracker- once baby arrives
Pregnancy tracker (free) to track fetal movement and weight

Books- Audible From Amazon
What to Expect When You're Expecting
Expecting Better
The Happiest Baby on the Block
What to Expect the First Year
Dude You're Gonna be A Dad  (Josh)
The Expectant Father (Josh)

CLASSES
Parent Prerequisite- use code BOWMAR15 for 15% off


Products*
Prenatal
Vitamin D3
Calcium
Magnesium Lotion (to help fight insomnia)
DripDrops (if you do get sick often, your loss of liquids can result in dehydration)
Preggie Pops
Sea Band
Coconut Oil
Belly Butter
Hatch Belly Oil
Pure Organic Belly Butter
Pregnancy Pillow
Elderberry Syrup
Vitamin C Gummies
Iron


BOWMAR NUTRITION PRODUCTS:
Protein- whey and vegan
Collagen
Fish Oil
Probiotics
Stimulant free PREworkout 1-2 times per week as needed
EAAs
Fiber
Protein Bars
Protein Butter
Greens
*as with any pregnant or breastfeeding female- we all have different needs and different experiences during this journey. PLEASE consult with your doctor before adding supplements in. What is safe and approved for one pregnancy may not be for another