Cliff Notes: The Anaheim Majestic is my favorite Hotel with a free shuttle. Keep reading for my full review of it!

Hi, I’m Hilary, the curly head behind this website Pulling Curls. I’m what you call a Disneyland trip planning pro. I’ve been going to the parks for years and I spend a few hours each month researching pricing and options for your best Disneyland experience. I almost like planning trips as much as I like going on them, so I’m a great resource for you as you make this decision.

While I think getting to the parks is a huge part of your plan — check out some of my other posts on Disneyland including: Disneyland Hotel Tips, Disneyland hotels with family suites and the Best Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels. I really am your guide to hotels in the Disneyland area, I have toured a lot of them through my hotel partner Get Away Today (and you’ll see a lot of the links go to them as they have amazing pricing).

But for now, let’s talk bout how to get to the parks!

OH, be sure to grab my Disneyland Trip Calculator to help make sure you stay on budget:

Hotels with Free Shuttle to Disneyland:

There are a few hotels in Anaheim that have a free shuttle service to the Disneyland area, as far as I know at this time…. Keep in mind that many other Anaheim hotels have offered free shuttles in the past, but these are the current ones, I also have one that has a paid dedicated shuttle service (meaning it doesn’t stop anywhere else). We’ll talk more about group shuttles coming up if you want more options.

Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel

This is my personal top pick for a hotel with a free shuttle — why, you might ask?

This hotel is NOT walkable (you have to go over the free way which would not be fun), and has GREAT pricing (in my opinion) but has a hotel-specific shuttle that I think just skyrockets its value.

That means it doesn’t pick up anyone else along the way.

I stayed at this hotel (full disclosure, it was a hosted stay, but I was very clear I’d give my clear and honest opinion of them) in spring 2024. We had an AMAZING visit. Some of the highlights of the hotel:

• The rooms and property are HUGE loved their gardens (and baby ducks)
• The restaurant/deli was reasonably priced. Not regular hotel restaurant pricing which was nice to see
• The shuttle was efficient and easy to use (which was REALLY nice to see).

They have a few different options for their shuttle, some are converted school busses, some are shuttle busses. Either way they all ran well and got us to the parks. They also had availability for scooters to board most of the shuttles.

They start running an hour before the park opens. They go every 30 minutes til’ around noon-4, and then it went to hourly until 4 when they resumed every 30 minute shuttles.

They were on time, they were efficient, and I was SUPER pleased with it.

We took the 7 am shuttle and were to the gates (through security) by 7:18. I think we were dropped off to the park by about 7:10.

The hotel is not fancy, but it’s roomy and clean. While they don’t offer free breakfast they do have a nice on-site restaurant that serves breakfast.

We also ultimately decided we wanted 2 rooms for 4 adults and 1 child (I did book my 2nd room through Get Away Today) and they were able to give us a connecting room which was really nice.

Ultimately I was VERY happy with the shuttle service and it’s a huge perk for staying there! I have also had friends stay there and they had a very good experience with the shuttle as well.

Pro tip: I like to book with Get Away Today, and then keep an eye on the Majestic specials page to see if they offer a price less, and then ask Get Away Today to price match if it goes lower.

Knotts Hotel

Now, I think this a sleeper hit, in my opinion. I think the pricing is great, the hotel is nice (they recently updated it and we’re fans) and they have a FREE SHUTTLE. Now, you have to realize that this isn’t as close as some of the other hotels, and I think the first one is a half hour before park opening but I think it’s a great solution for families looking for a budget alternative.

(Seriously guys — check-out Get Away Today pricing…. it’s great)

And, unless you only have very tiny kids maybe consider adding a day at Knotts to your stay. We have a great time there!

Embassy Suites Orange

People love the free breakfast at Embassy suites (including made to order omelets). However this hotel is a few miles out from Disneyland — just be aware that the 3.5 miles it says will probably translate into a 30 minute drive into the resort.

However, they do have a free shuttle, and free breakfast, which is a nice perk.

Candy Cane Inn

This hotel has almost a cult-like following. Prior to the creation of Disney California Adventure Park this hotel was just across the parking lot from Disneyland. The rooms are dated, but there is free breakfast, and a free shuttle service. It is often sold out. It’s a boutique family-run hotel that people seem to just love.

Some of you may be here hoping to find a hotel with a shuttle that ALSO has breakfast. Click here to go right to those! {this is my favorite with a free shuttle}

Hotels with a Paid, Dedicated Shuttle

The Hyatt Regency Orange has their own shuttle, It comes every 30 minutes, but it costs $6/person. I don’t consider it to be within walking distance — so it’s a good option (if there’s a few of you, an Uber may be cheaper though).

There are a few other hotels that have offered a complimentary shuttle in the past including the Days Inn and suites, and the Delta Hotel… but as far as I can tell (and have talked to my travel agents) they are no longer offering these rewards.

In reality, if it is just free shuttle tickets, maybe that’s not a huge value to ALL of their guests (at a big cost for the hotel), so maybe they decided to lower their rates and let people decide if they wanted to buy their own tickets or not.

The good news, there are other transportation options…

But, before we get to them, you’ll find that a lot of my hotel links go to my favorite partner Get Away Today. I’ve actually used them since 1998. I am consistently shocked by how great their rates are and how much you can save when you use them. While browsing on their website can be helpful, I think their customer service is one of their best benefits. Their agents just know those hotels (and have visited most of them). Whatever way you choose to book use code CURLS10 to get an extra $10 off your vacation hotel/ticket package.

I seriously still use them because of their great customer support. I even booked an upcoming cruise with them too.

Other Disneyland Transportation Options

Walk

Your feet are my favorite transportation to Disneyland, ESPECIALY when the hotel is close!

I actually have a whole post about Disneyland feet and making sure you keep your feet happy (which isn’t a small task when you’re walking so much).

Now, if you haven’t been to the Disneyland resort, you may be thinking that the on-site hotels are probably the closest, but you might be wrong (this is very different from Walt Disney World, if you’re coming from that).

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel is very close to California Adventure. But the hotel is VERY long and depending on where your room is placed you may have a bit of a walk just to get out of the hotel. AND, if you plan to go to Disneyland you have to walk through most of the Downtown Disney District. It’s a great hotel, just don’t book it for being the closest.

The Disneyland Hotel again walks through all of Downtown Disneyland. There is also Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel (soon to be Pixar Place) where you also have to walk quite a ways (although they do have a special entrance into California Adventure, and can get through the Grand Californian decreasing the walk time a bit).

Favorite Walkable Hotels

I have a whole post on my favorite closest hotels to Disneyland, but to save you a little time — here are my top three walkable hotels near Disneyland.

Best Western PLUS Park Place — if you want to stay close, this is hands-down my favorite place to stay because not only is it close, but it also has a decent free breakfast. I have stayed here, and while the accommodations are nothing fancy they are 100% adequate and being able to back on your BED within 5 minutes of the park is a HUGE plus! It has the most easy access of one I’ve found.

Pro Tip: if you want to stay here, but don’t quite have all the cash for your room use trip layway to get it booked early and then pay it off before your visit!

Tropicana Inn & Suites — This is a very basic hotel. No free breakfast, and parking is always a little sketchy (valet only with a fee), but it’s close — and cheaper than the Best Western. All the rooms also have a sleeper chair so they sleep 5 (it’s tight, but it works — I did it last year with 4 adults and a child).

Fairfield Inn & Suites — I think if you’re looking for a room that is a BIT nicer, the Fairfield is a nice option. No free breakfast, although it is close to the McDoanlds and the Panera.

Bonus Splurge Option: If you’re looking for a bit of a splurge, the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance is walkable, AND has a water park on site of the hotel (which you can see from the road and your kids will go just bonkers over). I’m always surprised by how expensive it is, but it truly is a guest-favorite and I see a ton of people booking this one each year. And once again, you can always use layaway to pay it off month by month before your trip.

OTHER SHUTTLES

2026 Update: There USED to be a shuttle called the ART shuttle that serviced all of the Anaheim area hotels, however in March they shut it down and we’re left with a few different options, and I think a lot of hotels are working to get their own options up too.

Here are the shuttle options right now:

HMR is operating a shuttle that will go between the

• Sheraton Park
• Hilton
• Anaheim Marriott
• The Clarion (probably one of the best prices out there, hotel’s not fancy but it’s decent).

As of the published date (as as far as I know):

The shuttle will operate on the following schedule 

• 7:00am-10:00am every 30 minutes
• 10:01am-8:00pm every hour
• 8:01pm-11:30pm every 30 minutes

The last shuttle coming back from Disney will be 30 minutes after the last park closes.
$6 per Adult
$3.50 per Child 3-10
$4 65+
These are all day passes. Guests will utilize QR codes in the lobby to purchase the passes. 

Garden Grove Hotels are offering a shuttle. These include:

• Hampton Inn & Suites Garden Grove
• Embassy Suites Anaheim South
• Hilton Garden Inn Garden Grove
• Residence Inn Anaheim Resort
• Hyatt Regency Orange County
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Anaheim Main Gate
• Marriott Suites
• Delta Hotels by Marriott
• Sheraton Garden Grove Anaheim South

It looks like the pricing for this one is $7/day (for unlimited rides)

Looks like both of those shuttles seem very similar to ART and seem doable. If you have a child in a car seat, I think it’s your best option. However, for me — because I don’t have kids in car seats I tend to use what I’ll talk about next….

If you need a shuttle, I’d 100% call Get Away Today and make sure that the hotel you are booking meets your needs. Honestly, their operators are so helpful and so knowledgeable. That’s why I love them! Be sure to mention you heard about them from Pulling Curls — and use coupon code CURLS10 to get an extra $10 off your hotel package!

And yes, this all feels a little scary…. I get that…. I’ll leave this right here:

Some of you might be wondering if there is shuttle service from the airports. So far, no cheap shuttle service is offered from John Wayne airport, Los Angeles International Airport, or Long Beach Airport — but there are shuttle services you can book directly. The one I’ve heard the most about is Carmel shuttles (but it is not cheap).

Uber/Lyft

This is my preferred method. They pick you up at your hotel and wisk you right to the parks. In general this is about $10/way for anaheim-area hotels.

The main issue is the drop-off/pickup area can be slow. I wish this was done better by Disneyland, it’s a really poor experience, but there are curbs to sit on while you wait for your Uber.

Keep in mind that even if it shows your Uber as being 1-minute away there is still a long line of Ubers for them to wait in to get into the lot — so it can still be a bit of a wait.

Another thing to think about is that the hotels further out are more likely to have free parking. If you’re bringing your own car that can save a LOT!

Drive & Park

Driving and parking at the park is still a good option.

Daily parking at Disneyland is currently $40/car, with the option for “priority parking” for $60.

The structures are SO efficient. Seriously, we got out with fireworks one night and I was sure we’d be there for hours, but we got right out.

They are a bit of a walk, or you can wait for the tram to get you. There is also the Toy Story lot that uses buses to get you to the parks (it’s not on-property).

They really do try to do it well, it’s just one more thing in my book.

Which is why I try to stay walkable.

Remember that Disneyland has a few walkable areas — see if your hotel lists how far it is from the park in minutes away or miles from Disneyland. Some of them list it as “1-mile from Disneyland park” and that usually means to the property line, not the spot where you can get into the parks. There are several hotels that are walkable via Ketella or Ball as well (just not AS close as the ones I listed).

Favorite Hotels with a Shuttle to Disneyland

Keep in mind that the hotels in the Disneyland® resort area all seem to have the same basic amenities, incluidng:

• fitness center (as if Disneyland was enough of one)
• Outdoor pools (although a few do have indoor pools) & hot tubs
• Free Wi-fi
• Most also have a fridge, and some have a microwave — but check on your particular hotel.
• Enhanced cleaning and safety measures

Some hotels also have full kitchens, tennis courts, a basketball court, Koi Ponds (Majestic has one of those), game rooms and more — so be sure to know what is important to you! Oh, and be sure to check on the bed size. Some only offer double beds vs a queen bed.

Hotels near Disneyland with Shuttle and Free Breakfast

So, the two with a free shuttle and free breakfast are Hyatt Orange and the Candy Cane Inn.

I always caution families about free breakfast at Disneyland. A few thoughts:

• Some of the breakfasts are REALLY bad. Like, very few options, the food tastes pretty bad and while it will be calories, your kids might not eat it (I will 100% muscle some down though as an adult to fuel my Disney day)
• My kids (even teenagers) are often too excited to eat. I’ve ultimately decided to just bring some gogurts, put them in the fridge and then haul snacks to the park. It doesn’t end-up being worth the extra cost a hotel with breakfast adds (although if you can find a good one at a price you can afford it’s nice).

I have a whole post on the best hotels with free breakfast.

Here are a few of my favorites with free breakfast:

1. Anaheim Suites Hotel (formerly Cambria) – they also have a water park included with Get Away Today purchases. I actually really like their breakfast and I think it’s worth it (as of this writing, does not have a shuttle)
2. Residence Inn Resort Area – this can be a great price, and offers LARGE rooms!
3. Embassy Suites South has a great breakfast, as with all Embassy Suites it has an omelet station!
4. Homewood Suites Resort Area – this is also next to the Toy Story Lot and as of this writing you can use those as a free shuttle (it’s just a small walk into the lot). The breakfast is meh — but it’s something. It’s also a hotel near the convention center.

Be sure to check out that post on free breakfasts if you want more info on those!

If you have a few different things you want in a hotel — like bunk beds, a shuttle and breakfast — I think your BEST bet is to Call Get Away Today. There’s no extra cost to speak with their agents. Maybe get a few options, look at pricing and you can always book online too. I always called in with a few things I wanted when I had smaller kids and they are so helpful. Most of the agents have toured the hotels and have a good grasp of what will work for a family’s needs!

Cheapest Hotels with Disneyland Shuttle:

The Clarion consistently has the best rates. It’s definitely an economy hotel, but it does have a shuttle — OR you can cross the road and ride from the Toy Story lot. So many guests find this a GREAT option!

The Cortana has great rates. I haven’t actually stayed there, but it isn’t TOO far to walk (I would probably consider walking there and ubering back — or you could also take the free toy story shuttle and save yourself some steps). It also offers a free breakfast!

Eden Rock has great pricing — and it could be walked up from Katella. I had a friend who stayed there who said it was very adequate.

Nicest Hotels In the Anaheim Resort Area

These are three of the best hotels I know of near Disneyland park

JW Marriot — I have stayed here and walked (but I Uber’d back at night)

The Westin — consensus is, this is the nicest one. (maybe even better than the California Grand)

I love The Viv — I love this hotel, not 100% sure why, but our stay here was quiet and peaceful. I was a fan. Doesn’t currently have a shuttle.

Largest Hotel Rooms with a Shuttle

Anaheim Suites Hotel (formerly The Cambria) has nice spacious rooms, and does have a water park. Bonus is that it has a couple of shuttle stops nearby in case the one closest is taking a while. Plus it has a water park — which is a pretty fantastic amenity (and guests who book with Get Away Today get free access to it). It also offers complimentary breakfast and a huge breakfast room. This is one you’ll need to be OK using Disney parking or an Uber at this time.

The Residence Inn is a favorite of mine. We recently stayed in the 1 king, 2 queen with a sofa bed hotel room and it was SO nice. Comes with two bathrooms! It is also close to the Anaheim Convention Center, and has full kitchens.

Embassy Suites books a LOT of guests. It also has a couple of shuttle stops that can work for it (I think the one for Residence Inn isn’t too far away).

I do have a post about my favorite hotels with bunk beds, in case that interests you too.

Ok, hopefully that gave you some ideas of how to book. That Majestic is probably my favorite as far as taking a shuttle — but be sure to use my calculator to estimate all your costs, and compare room rates– because even adding shuttle tickets to some of these makes them a better value than the walkable ones.

And, be sure to use CURLS10 if you book with Get Away Today (remember you can use it on the phone or online) Whatever you do, check their rates before you book to see if they fit your family’s needs (or, frankly just use them because it’s SO much easier than checking 400 hotel rates).

And, grab my Disneyland day planner to get the most out of your trip to Disneyland:

Don’t miss my list of Best Affordable Disneyland hotels — a list of 30+ of my favorite hotels (plus my own current top 10 hotel list).

The post Hotels with a Disneyland Shuttle appeared first on Pulling Curls.

And this is seeing thousands of couples come through my delivery rooms, talking to millions of you online and also having 3 babies of my own (and a marriage that is headed to it’s 30 year mark). I think these are simple things that they can do that show they care and that can go a long way to make you happier.

Go to Appointments (or chat about them)

Prenatal appointments can be a huge chore. They can also feel useless as you trudge into the office only to find out that “everything is fine” and go on your way (honestly, best-case scenario — but I get that can feel like a waste of time).

Having a buddy come along can make it all a little more tolerable (think: lunch or dinner afterwards?). Plus they can sometimes see the magic of a prenatal appointment that you just can’t.

You’re growing that human inside of you, but they only get to see the after effects and that is on full presentation at those prenatal check ups.

Now, I know not every family can swing schedules where you can both go. So, chatting about them afterwards, about how you felt at it and what you learned — and maybe even some time to vent about what a waste of time they feel like can be a win.

Another one might be going to the glucose test with you. It’s honestly just a miserable affair… a long, boring, often yucky-feeling time. Having a chauffer and buddy at it would feel awfully nice.

Note: Coming to appointments is a great start — but understanding what’s ahead makes an even bigger difference. Preparing together helps both of you feel more confident, less anxious, and ready for what’s coming.

I should also say that my husband maybe came to one or two appointments with me in all the 3 kids. He was a teacher, and we needed to save sick days. It just wasn’t possible, but he was interested, and he did meet my doctor early on at an appointment. That’s why I gave a few ideas, because I know these won’t work for everyone!

Remind You How Amazing You Are

You are literally growing another human being inside of you!

Honestly, when you step back you realize that it is TRULY amazing.

But when you’re the one doing it a lot of times you just see how they’re starting to take over your body as their own. You sometimes need a different perspective that they can give!

I feel like pregnancy can feel lonely — where this job is one you’re basically doing alone. Having them fan-boy’ing over all the work you’re doing can be helpful. They shouldn’t be shy with compliments!

Looking for more ideas for partners? — be sure to check out these posts:

• How to Be a Supportive Husband and Partner During Pregnancy
• What To Do About A Selfish Husband During Pregnancy?
• What to Do If Your Girlfriend is Pregnant
• Dealing with an Unsupportive Husband During Pregnancy: Insensitive partners
• My Boyfriend Says I Feel Different Inside During Pregnancy

Get Prepared With You

Preparing for birth isn’t something you have to figure out alone — and it makes a big difference when you don’t.

This isn’t to say that if your partner isn’t interested in birth prep that they’re not a good one. You may need to let them know that’s what you want. I mean, most often our bodies are our own business but in labor it’s different. You’re bringing this baby home together!

Many couples go into labor feeling unsure of what to expect, which can lead to anxiety, confusion, and second-guessing in the moment. But when you take the time to prepare together, you both start to understand how labor typically unfolds, what your options are, and how to handle the moments that might otherwise catch you off guard.

That shared understanding helps you feel more confident, less overwhelmed, and better able to make informed decisions as things happen.

Being mindful to pick a class that includes them is smart. Many classes leave partners in the dust and only talk to “mamma” — and I just disagree with that fundamentally.

It also changes how you support each other. Most partners want to help, but don’t always know what to do — and that uncertainty can add stress for both of you.

When you’ve learned together ahead of time, you’re on the same page, speaking the same language, and working as a team instead of trying to figure it out in real time. That’s what helps labor feel calmer, more connected, and more manageable.

Real preparation isn’t about knowing everything — it’s about feeling ready, informed, and supported no matter how your birth unfolds.

If you want to feel more prepared, less anxious, and truly confident going into labor, the best thing you can do is learn together. Inside The Online Prenatal Class for Couples, you’ll both understand what to expect, your options, and how to support each other — so you’re not figuring it out in the moment.

Fill Your Water Bottle

This is a little one, but water can make a huge difference in how you feel during pregnancy.

That one habit of filling it every morning can put you on a path to drinking it.

Honestly, if I don’t fill my water cup, I think my intake is about half of what it would be if I did. Which is sad, but true.

Small, simple gestures like this can go a long way. Plus, when they get in a habit like this it can also help your breastfeeding journey. It’s just a simple thing that can truly help.

Looking for more about hydration in pregnancy? — be sure to check out these posts:

• Can Women Drink Gatorade During Pregnancy? Can it prevent dehydration safely?
• Dehydration During Pregnancy: The importance of hydration while growing a human.
• When Should I Start Drinking Raspberry Leaf Tea?
• Drinks for Pregnant Women: What are the best drinks during pregnancy?
• Can You Drink Wine When You’re Pregnant: The studies for pregnant women

Prepare for AFTER Baby is Born

Note: I didn’t say prepare for baby — I’m talking about preparing for postpartum. A good partner will remember that you’re going to need some TLC along with managing a new baby — so they’ll work to prepare a good place to come home to.

Yes, that includes building the crib, but also things like making sure your bathroom is clean, that your pads are easy to grab.

BTW, there’s a few things you’ll want to have on hand — I have a postpartum checklist to help with that:

And, one of my favorites — installing a Bidet (that post is about the Tushy but there’s lots of brands out there anymore — it will give you an idea of how it can help)!

I loved my cold peri bottle after every baby… a bidet would have been SO nice! They’re not very expensive, can be grabbed at your local home improvement store, and are pretty easy to install!

This isn’t to say that they shouldn’t help you in getting all the things you need for baby — I have a no-fluff checklist here:

BUT there’s more to prepare for just baby.

You really will need some TLC when you get home, and it’s easy to think you’re young and you’ll bounce back fast, but often you don’t — so them being aware they’re on “taking care of you” duty too is smart.

Supporting mom after birth is just as important as caring for baby — and knowing what to expect makes all the difference. Inside The Online Prenatal Class for Couples, you’ll both learn how to feel prepared, confident, and ready for those early postpartum days (something, SO many people do — including me before I was The Pregnancy Nurse®).

What did I miss? What is YOUR partner doing to help you have a happier pregnancy? Tell me in the comments!

The post How Your Partner Can Support a Happier Pregnancy appeared first on Pulling Curls.

Find it here on Apple or Spotify Podcasts

Watch the original video:
Check out the full discussion and visuals on our YouTube channel.

Disclaimer:
This podcast provides general information and entertainment only. It’s not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider about any health concerns or questions specific to your pregnancy and personal situation.

About Hilary, The Pregnancy Nurse®
Hilary is a registered nurse with over 20 years of labor and delivery experience. Since 1997, she’s helped thousands of pregnant patients navigate the ups and downs of pregnancy, including common concerns like ligament pain. Her mission is to empower families with clear, expert information for a smoother pregnancy journey.

Timestamps:

00:00 Understanding unexpected pain experiences

03:46 Understanding pregnancy ligament pain

07:08 Identifying pain and when to visit

The post From Sharp Stabs to Relief: Navigating Ligament Pain in Pregnancy with a Pro Nurse – 266 appeared first on Pulling Curls.

And yes, I did watch a TON of those “what to bring on a cruise” videos on Youtube — and they all seem to go over the same stuff. Magnetic hooks, cute dresses, toiletry bags (all with affiliate links). But, today I want to share the things that no one talks about — that you may very well have on hand (I did) that can make your cruise SO much better!

And before we get started, if you’re looking to book a cruise the good people at Get Away Today are my favorites to book with. I have endless questions, and they have endless answers and were willing to price-check my cruise and save us some cash along the way! I book with them every time!

Ok, let’s get to the STUFF (I promise most of this doesn’t even add much to your packing list!)

Hair Mask/Moisture

I don’t know what’s in the water on the ship but my hair hasn’t been so dry in a LONG time. I’d brought good conditioner (and leave in) but the regular amounts didn’t work.

Honestly, at one point on the cruise I looked like Einstein…. my hair was so dry!

As a curly girl who needs a lot of moisture — I took action. I double conditioned my hair (using twice as much as I normally do) and I let it sit in longer. Then, I used twice the amount of leave in.

However, I wish I’d brought a hair mask — don’t worry, you don’t have to spend a lot. I found this one (looks like it’s just under $10 right now). I love it — and I found it when I tried the Abbey Yung Method.

I would also plan for extra leave in conditioner if that’s something you need.

I wished I’d brought a kelating shampoo that compensates for water issues (Abbey talks about that a lot). However, that one is expensive enough I would probably just work on the moisture side.

Let me be clear that my hair looks AMAZING on the California coast normally — super curly with all the humidity. It really had something to do with the water on board, just putting it out there — I didn’t hear about that before hand.

Erasers

I stuck this on a pencil just as I was headed out… and I’m SO glad I did.

We love to do the crosswords, sudoku’s and trivia that the ship offers, but often we make a mistake.

Their pencils are just the little golf ones and don’t have an eraser.

It doesn’t need to be anything fancy — it was just REALLY handy — I wish I’d brought more.

BTW, I do pack a little stationary bag that includes:

• Tape — great to fix stuff or tape something on the wall — this time I brought washi tape
• Post-it — great for notes to each other or for our steward
• Highlighter — in case you want to highlight the activities you want to do.
• Sharpie — just in case you need to mark something

I will say the debarkation tags they give you have an impossible surface to write on — it seems impossible to write with ANYTHING because of how badly it smeared. I wish I’d brought a ball point pen that wouldn’t smear as bad, even my Sharpie S was a mess on it.

All of that is just stuff I have around the house — no purchase needed!

USB Fan

A lot of places recommend having a fan you can place by your bed if you like some air flow, but my fan goes somewhere else just as necessary — and that’s the bathroom.

There is literally NO air flow in the bathrooms. The door shots automatically and it’s just almost impossible to get things to dry on the line in there.

I’m not a fan of clipping our wet stuff on my deck chairs as that’s against the rules (but I will if we’re hanging out there). SO, I bring a fan into the bathroom.

But, Hilary — how do you do that?

You get a mini desk fan that can clip on to the shower grab bar — and then angle it at your suits.

Honestly, they don’t run a long time on high, but it’s better than nothing in there.

I just charge it when it runs out and then re-clip it when I’m in the room next.

It can clearly by used by you at night too – but I like the clip feature to put it in the bathroom.

However, if you’re hot (and awake) nothing beats a….

Hand Fan

I feel like those usb fans are all the rage — everyone says you should get one.

But honestly, nothing beats a foldable hand fan for me when it’s hot.

Now, I know some cruise lines have banned the clickitty-clack ones but I just have a simple one I picked up on vacation somewhere.

It just moves way more than those USB ones.

Pro Tip: There are GIANT fan, and those often don’t fit in my bag — the smaller ones are also great (so make sure you get one that fits the area you can put it).

Clearly, if you’re not awake the USB ones are great, but don’t underestimate a regular fan.

In fact, we had to stand in line to get on our tenders and it was WARM in that hallway. I pulled out that hand fan and was VERY happy.

That being said, my daughter was super overwhelmed in one of the markets between all the people, produce and pig heads and she loved the USB fan she could just close her eyes and get some air flow.

So, both are great, I just prefer how easy the hand fan is, how small it folds up (and I don’t have to keep it charged).

Playing Cards

Now, you used to be able to get cards for free at guest services, but that hasn’t been true on my last few cruises. A pack of playing cards can be so handy!

I actually keep mine in my tiny cruise purse. It’s awesome when we’re waiting for dinner, or a comedian or a show. Just a big fan of a pack of playing cards.

Honestly, we often bring a few games, but the playing cards get the most use since they’re so versitile.

Just don’t plan on the cruise ship having them for you (although I am pretty sure they’re not an expensive purchase on board).

Tea

We love to go to tea on the cruise ship — have some tiny sandwiches and some scones, but we don’t love basic tea — so we brought our own from home (vs their expensive add-on you can purchase there for like $4).

They didn’t bat an eye — and we were very happy to have it.

What else?

This isn’t to say that there aren’t a lot of things other people share that are great.

I LOVE magnetic hooks — I scatter them around the room and are great to hang stuff on.

I love a hanging shoe organizer to contain all the small things including:

• Sun screen
• Ziplocks
• Nail clippers
• Medication
• Games
• Baby Powder
• Ear plugs
• Sea Sick medicine (we love the ear patches and Bonine if it gets bad)
• Waterproof phone holders
• String Backpacks (great if you want to take something to the pool)
• USB fans
• Towel clips
• Laundry Supplies (huge fan of detergent sheets)
• Hand sanitizer extras
• Ponchos/umbrellas

There just isn’t enough room for all of that in the bathroom, and it’s nice to have it out where everyone can see it!

So, those are my things NO ONE talks about, and I wish was mentioned more.

What did I miss? Tell me in the comments!

One other thing no one talks about is how cruises change prices so frequently. Please book with someone who will check the pricing for you and let you know your best options (sometimes a lower price isn’t actually cheaper — because it’s CONFUSING). That’s why I love booking with Get Away Today. My favorite way is to just contact them with the dates I have and see what’s available, and then go from there!

The post 6 Things to Bring on a Cruise that NO. ONE. TALKS ABOUT (not Magnetic Hooks) appeared first on Pulling Curls.

Find it here on Apple or Spotify Podcasts

Disclaimer: This episode is meant for entertainment and general medical information purposes only. It is not medical advice. Please consult your own provider for guidance specific to your pregnancy.

Watch the original video:
Find the original episode on Youtube https://youtu.be/aqHSHhcyrvQ?list=PLtc_SbtL2LYHwTOyMArKTWoxAQD0G2lsq

Why Hilary is an expert:
Hilary Erickson has been a nurse since 1997 and brings over 20 years of labor and delivery expertise to the podcast. Having helped thousands of people push out their babies, she knows firsthand how every birth is different and what really works in the delivery room.

 00:00 Pushing and Parenting: No Rules

05:12 “Pushing Techniques in Childbirth”

06:07 “Flexibility in Birthing Methods”

10:07 Optimal Positions for Pushing Birth

13:38 “Preparing for Pushing at Delivery”

The post How to Push Out Your Baby: Options, Expert Advice, and Personal Choice 265 appeared first on Pulling Curls.

2 Parks Close 1 Park Far (+ Water Park)

The Universal Orlando has 4 parks. Two of them are right next door to each other (think Disneyland and California Adventure):

Universal Orlando — The Original Park. It’s age is showing, and they are working to mix it up a bit, but still a lovely park, and has one of my favorite Harry Potter areas.

Islands of Adventure – This park may have the best coasters of any park, anywhere — between Velocicoaster, Hagrid’s and then Hulk (at a very distant 3rd).

Those two parks are right next door to each other. You can go between them using the Hogwart’s Express (stay tuned for more on that) or easily walking.

There is also Volcano Bay — their water park. I’ve never been, but I’ve heard rave reviews.

Epic Universal — The newest park. This park is amazing, but new — and doesn’t have a ton of rides. But, even with Express pass I’d still have loved to spend another day there. It is pretty far from the other parks — not walkable. It also has it’s own set of hotels around it.

Looking for more Epic Universe Info — be sure to check out these posts:

• Ways to Save at Epic Universe
• 7+ EASY TIPS for the Universal Orlando Resort + 3 JUST For Epic Universe!

Great Transportation

Just like the Disneyland resort, there is great transportation between the different parks and also the Universal hotels and the parks.

Just make sure the bus is going where you want to go. I have heard they’re hoping to set up separate transportation between the 2 main parks and Epic Universe (think: Skyliner, although I think they’re going below ground vs above ground). Currently, it’s just busses.

FYI, it takes about 15 minutes to get between the Epic Universe area and the “main” area. You do go through “regular” Orlando to get there.

Confusing Booking – Free Help!

Much like Disney World there are a LOT of options to stay both on property and off property.

In my best ways to save with Epic Universe I detailed how we switched hotels a few times to save both time and money. Guys, you need an expert on this one.

I used Get Away Today. Their assistance is free (I’m seeing a LOT of people charging for it lately).

• They can check a few different systems to make sure you’re getting the best pricing
• They book both on-site hotels & off-site hotels (we stayed at the Fairfield close by one night, and it was lovely).
• I checked back every 3-4 weeks to make sure the pricing hadn’t changed (several times it went down, and they quickly saved me some cash!) — this would have been a HUGE PAIN to do on my own!
• They’ll happily book you several hotels for your stay and answer questions about both the park, hotel transitions, and each resort!

Use coupon code CURLS10 to save an extra $10 on your trip with them!

I’ve used them for years to book Disneyland, and I will say for a long time their Disney World & Universal booking were confusing — but it’s gotten a LOT better in recent years, and they’re a valued partner now!

You can still my trip calculator as well:

Citiwalk=Downtown Disney

Ok, if you’re familiar with Downtown Disney or Disney Springs, that’s similar to Citiwalk. AND, similar to Downtown Disney at Disneyland — Citiwalk is what you walk through to get to the parks from the transportation hub.

There are a bunch of restaurants in there, and entertainment options.

Frankly, I just usually zoom through it on my way to the parks, but it’s there, and may be an option if you want to get out of the parks for a bit (we’ll talk more about food in a couple of sections).

Pro Tip: Stay at the Hard Rock, Portofino, Sapphire Falls or Royal Pacific and you can take a boat to the parks (or walk — which is usually what we do — about 10 minutes from Royal Pacific or Hard Rock). You get to skip City Walk which is really nice (in my opinion). And yes, I did use Get Away Today to book those.

Universal Express = Lightening Lane

Every park has their own system to pay more and “skip the line” (Knotts oas Front of the Line Passes and Dollywood has Time Saver).

In the Universal sphere they’re called Universal Express. There’s a few options where you can skip each ride just once or in the older parks you can get one that allows you to the skip the line as many times as you’d like.

At Epic Universe these must be purchased separately (or as a combo with the other 2 parks). However, you can get Express Passes if you stay at either the Hard Rock, Royal Pacific or Portofino resorts (but not Sapphire Falls — even though it’s considered “deluxe” as well) you get express passes included for your stay (for everyone named on your reservation).

This is a huge perk and one that Disney does not give with their nicest resorts.

I also give the BIG tip that every night’s stay gets you two days of unlimited express passes — so we most often include one night at those deluxe resorts during our stay. More in that post on how to save on your trip.

Now, if you take a peek at the pricing you’ll see this is not cheap. It’s most often much more than the price of your ticket. Because the cost is so high, there aren’t many people in the Express Pass line, meaning it moves much quicker than it does at Disney. A nice perk. But a pricey one.

A Note on Epic Express Passes:

As I said above, they are not included with any of the deluxe hotels –you must purchase it separately.

However, if you’re not staying at one of those express pass included resorts, I’d encourage you to check out the pricing on the multi-day express pass options.

Personally, we did pay for express pas at Epic Universe. I think we could’ve done the day without it, but we would have missed the Harry Potter Ride — and since that was a “can’t miss” for us, we splurged, but it’s a lot! We sure did enjoy it though!

Food Isn’t a Highlight

When I say this, I mean the original parks — Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure. Their food is just your basic park foods. Even the foods people tell me are “amazing” I think — meh.

However, the food at Epic Universe is probably the best theme park food I’ve ever had. The French Restaurant in the Harry Potter land is amazing (I recommend the Quiche and French Onion soup if it’s not blazing hot).

It shows me that Universal CAN produce winner food — I hope they bring that to their other parks.

I will say that we stayed at the Endless Summer resort and really enjoyed the food options there after a long day at the parks. There was a lot of variety that a family can choose between, and the value was pretty good for what we got. Plus, we boxed it and brought it up to our rooms to enjoy on our beds!

My hope is that Universal will up their food game in the future with their older parks, but as of this writing. It’s not there yet.

Great Shows!

I feel like a lot of the Disney shows cater to smaller kids, but they Universal Shows are so great!

We LOVE the Bourne Identity and Horror Makeup shows. Not only are they will air conditioned with good seats (a must in the hot Orlando sun), they really are fun for adults too.

I haven’t done the animal one for a long time. It’s not air conditioned (insert sad trombone sound) but I’ve heard good things….

Chill Out.

There’s no reservations.

No weird time for park hopping.

Just enjoy the day!

Less For Littles

Universal is more of a park for tweens and teens on up. It has less to do for littles.

That isn’t to say that you can’t take smaller siblings and have a good time, but you need to be aware (these are in comparison with Disneyland):

• Height limits tend to be higher
• Very few rides don’t have a height limit
• Some of the rides are just scarier (think Transformers and Harry Potter)

I definitely scared my youngest on the Forbidden Journey ride, probably taking her too early.

They do have a GREAT family swap program, that allows kids to do the lines (lines are amazing — more on that) and enjoy an air conditioned room while you wait.

They also have some fun areas for little kids including a Dreamworks area that is REALLY sweet. But, it’s just a nice playground…. There is a lot for little kids to enjoy (think Minons, etc) — but you just need to know it’s going to be more experiences, and less rides.

There are a few kid areas, Epic Universe’s Mario Land is more tailored to kids (but can be VERY over stimulating). I think the How to Train Your Dragon land would be fun for kids as well.

Just be mindful Universal doesn’t mind scaring people a bit more. Be thoughtful of rides you take timid riders on, and it may want you to wait a few years before you head to Universal.

Personally, I wouldn’t take kids much under 8 unless they’re younger siblings that just need to come along. For reference, I’d take kids of any age to most Disney parks, but think it doesn’t really get “good” til’ they’re about 3.

Pass Holder Benefits

I honestly had no idea about these until recently when I got.

Universal Passes aren’t much more than a 3-day ticket, but they do have black out dates — especially on the lowest “tier” of tickets — so, be very thoughtful of which tier you purchase. Honestly, if I had a 3-day ticket I’d at least stop by Guest Services to see how much it is to upgrade if there is any possibility of you being in the Orlando area any time soon.

Currently, annual passes are NOT good at Epic Universe (as of this writing). They do give some very mild discounts to Epic Universe, but I wouldn’t buy it just for that.

However, they offer AMAZING discounts at the hotels (no matter the tier you purchase). I think I spent around $40 to upgrade to a pass from a 2-day ticket. I saved well over $300 on hotels on my next trip.

They also offer discounts and some offer Express pass after 4 or free parking, depending on what tier you get.

Just something to consider.

Park to Park = Hopper

Every park system has their own “hopper” type pass — and with Universal it’s called Park to Park. You need to be careful about which parks you can go to — but a Park to Park is required to go on the Hogwarts Express as you are going from Islands of Adventure to Universal Orland (or Vice Versa).

While park to park wasn’t allowed initially with Epic Universe, it is now allowed.

I would have loved an extra half day at Epic. It’s just a great park!

You can upgrade to Park to Park if you decide you want to go on the Hogwarts Express. Just FYI.

Bonine to the Max

The Universal Parks are the first place that I realized I could get motion sick.

Oy. vey.

They have a lot of screen rides. If you’re a Disney fan — think Star Tours or Millenium Falcon type rides (or frankly Mickey and Minnie’s, that sometimes gets me too).

The magic of Bonine fixed me. It’s a single pill, non-drowsy, and magical.

Lately I’ve also added a motion sickness patch with it too — just to be sure.

If you’re a Costco member you can ask for a big bottle of Bonine (generic name Meclezine) behind the counter. Much cheaper than the small viles you get on Amazon (but I love to put those in my park bag).

Honestly, without it I can’t last at parks anymore. It’s spread to Disney parks as well… I’m a big fan of it, and I don’t notice any issues when I take it.

Lines are Rides

Universal’s lines are amazing.

Now, not all of them.

But some of them are just amazing. Ones that come to mind that you really want to walk through even if you don’t ride the ride (think Rise of the Resistance hanger type rooms)

• Escape from Gringot’s (that first room is amazing)
• Forbidden Journey

And, in Epic Universe:

• Frankenstein’s Expirement
• One TINY part in Minecart Maddens (the rest is very boring)
• Ministry of Magic (best line ever — which is good because it’s INSANELY LONG)
• Mario Cart — SO good!!!!!

Disney tends to make the “cool” parts pretty far into the ride, but these are well themed throughout.

Less Time on Your Phone

I feel like I’m on my phone 90% of a Disney day — checking wait times, getting lightening lanes, mobile ordering.

And a lot of those have perks.

But at Universal (especially with an Express Pass) I get to submerse myself a bit more.

Yes, there is mobile ordering (which I love) but you tend to sit down and then do it.

I love this part of Universal — maybe my favorite thing (as a mom of teens/adults).

YOU. GET. WET.

Not kidding there. I’m talking drenched.

Honestly, I hadn’t gotten that wet on Jurassic Park River Adventure, but the last time it threw a BUCKET of water on me. It was crazy.

But, the real wetness (i’m talking wetter than taking a shower with your clothes on) comes from

• Popeye’s
• Dudley Doo Right

So. sO. SO wet! Maybe you thought that you got wet on Kali River Rapids or Grizzly River Run. And sure, you get wet.

But not this wet.

I 100% recommend ponchos, and most important shoe covers like these (we used those exact ones — the one thing I’d recommend is to have your pants go OVER them — don’t tuck them in — my son tucked his in and the water traveled down — mine went over and I didn’t have an issue, my shoes were almost entirely dry)

Or skip them. Those are you two options.

Bags on Rides

And finally, Universal is a lot more strict about bags on rides.

But the GOOD news is, on those rides that they don’t allow bags on, they do give free lockers that are SUPER easy to use.

Some rides allow you to take a small cross body bag on (think just one shoulder or around your waist), and some rides do not allow ANYTHING on beyond your lanyard which you have to tuck into your shirt). You even have to go through a metal detector before you get to the ride. They’re serious about it. These tend to be on coasters — off the top of my head those are Hulk, Velocicoaster, and Stardust Racers.

In Epic Universe the lockers are nicely sized, but in the other 2 parks the lockers are pretty slim. They will not fit a lounge fly with the extra pocket in front. Just FYI.

So, there’s my best tip if your going from Disney to Universal Orlando.

The other tips is smart move. Especially if you have older kids. My kids LOVE Universal, far more than Disney. They love the themed lines, the coasters, the scares and the more “adult” humor.

I think you’re going to have a GREAT trip. Just be sure to check pricing with Get Away Today >> it’ makes it EXTRA special when you come home with extra dollars and great customer service!

The post 10+ Things to Know About the Universal Orlando Resort (coming from Disney World) appeared first on Pulling Curls.

Before we get started — why take this from me? Hello, I’m Hilary, the curly head here at Pulling Curls®. I’m also the curly head behind the website The Pregnancy Nurse®. I’ve been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of labor and delivery experience.

During that time, I’ve seen thousands of moms labor, in many different ways, but I’ve seen what preparation actually prepared them to get a positive birth experience. I’ve also had 3 kids of my own, and know how your hopes and dreams can be really different than what the hospital offers.

I’m super glad you’re here, because this is a really important topic.

What is “Natural” Hospital Birth

This is tricky because we’re clearly not going to be giving birth in a wooded forrest floor, and not even in our own home in our own bed.

If you’re here, you’re likely planning on a hospital birth — which unfortunately doesn’t always look particularly “natural”. That makes me sad. I do know that the hospital hurts a few of our natural insticts, which I don’t love.

Personally, I do believe that it is the safest way to give birth, but I do believe that there are ways to get it to look more like what you’re hoping for.

However, in my 20 years of experience, it’s much beyond breathing and not getting an epidural. There’s more to it — so lets talk about.

Why a Natural Birth?

Honestly, this is up to you. Hopefully you’ve considered a birth plan (grab my free series here):

And in that, you’ve decided what “natural” means to you. Most often I hear it meaning:

• No induction – you go into labor on your own.
• No epidural – you rely on other methods
• No medical pain management – only natural methods

But honestly, everyone has their own ideas about what a “natural” birth will look like. Some mean delivering in a tub, or with zero interference from the hospital staff. There’s a whole spectrum of “natural” (which is why it’s important to use a birth plan to share what you want for your birth!).

Whatever type of birth you’re hoping for, doing a birth plan and discussing it with your doctor or midwife ASAP is smart. Some of the things (for instance, a tub birth) can’t be accommodated by all facilities. So, that’s good to know (and possibly change expectations or facilities).

I once saw a birth educator say you could “tell” your hospital you are bringing in a portable tub but I’m here to say that might not be the case. The hospital may not be able to take the load of the extra water on their floors, not to mention the risk of flooding. Be really mindful about who you’re listening to and if their recommendations are truly realistic. A LOT of people online give unrealistic expectations to get attention (and followers) on social media, but that’s not helping you out long-term.

So, my question for you — why do you want a natural birth, what does it mean to you? What are you hoping for? Tell us down in the comments! I think we could have a good conversation there!

Best Class for a Natural Birth

I agree that preparation is the key to a “natural” hospital birth — no matter what that means to you.

I also agree that the hospital doesn’t do a lot of “natural” things. I mean, that’s one of the best things about it. Natural doesn’t always mean safest. That’s probably why you have chosen a hospital birth team.

Cliff Notes: I recommend this class << I think it’s the best to truly prepare you.

So, what should a birth class include to help you have a natural hospital birth? Let’s talk about it….

Practice Natural Pain Management Techniques

It’s true, you want to learn some natural pain management techniques. It should include:

• Breathing — it is a powerful tool to help your body relax to help your baby descend into your birth canal
• Positioning — movement is a very powerful tool in birth (no matter “how” you hope to birth — even if you have an epidural)
• Other pain management techniques including heat, massage, etc

I really do think these are important, but I think a lot of people have boiled birth class down to just this.

Honestly, I think providers loved that this was the only way people prepared to have their baby. It made their job of “telling” you what to do about the rest of the birth easy on them.

Pain management is important, but is just one of the keys to getting a natural hospital birth (and honestly, probably the easiest one to teach).

Basic Physiology of Birth

I do see a lot of “natural” classes who focus a lot on this. But honestly, what you need to know can be taught very quickly.

I actually share one of the best tips about this in this post on birth stages:

While this can help to know what to expect, you should also be surrounded by experts who can tell you where you are on this path. And, the bad news is that our bodies don’t always listen to the “physiology” or go according to plan.

And then we have to….

Learn about Possible Hospital Interventions

This is where a lot of “natural” birth classes simply tell you to say no to these, “unless it’s an emergency.”

But, I think that you and I can go both agree that we’d prefer not to let things get to an emergency before we’re dealing with them.

If you see a leak in your shower, are you going to wait until it looks like it’s going to collapse into the floor beneath it at your house before you even call a plumber? Probably not….

Same goes for the hospital.

It’s important to learn about what the hospital might offer, what it looks like and how it can be used to help your birth be safer (because yes, these things do truly make things safer).

Things like:

• Breaking your bag of waters
• Using the IV
• An epidural to help labor progress (shocking that a “natural” class should also share how an epidural can help — but it’s true!)
• Inductions (there are SO many inductions lately, and it’s not just because people are “lazy” — I’ll have more of that in the next section)
• Cesarean birth (yup, you should know something about that too).

I think a lot of birth classes tend to take the idea that if you don’t think about it, it won’t happen.

And that head in the sand approach, my friend, causes birth trauma. It doesn’t lead to better birth outcomes. In fact, taking classes that inform you of these less aesthetically pleasing parts of birth really do improve outcomes. I talk about the studies in here.

Don’t get me started on classes that say “get your perfect birth” because no one can sell you that, but it sure gets clicks on Facebook ads. It’s a real red flag for me.

Honestly, I think they ignore a lot of this because most birth classes are taught by people who don’t know much about these things. They took have their head in the sand about it, so they don’t teach it.

Which is why I recommend a birth class taught by a labor nurse. I recommend this one.

At the VERY least they should be very clear to you that these interventions are sometimes very necessary and how to make choices about them…. and we’re going to get more to that. Stay tuned.

I was just thinking about cesarean rates and I gotta say that even my favorite providers who are very patient and allow patients to make their best choice still have a cesarean rate of 15-20%. That’s still 1/5 — something to think about.

Learn About 3rd Trimester Testing

Honestly, I think this is where a lot of birth goes off the rails for people.

Example:

At 37 weeks, baby is measuring small. You do an ultrasound to find out that baby isn’t getting what they need from the umbilical cord, and they recommend you be induced.

You had no plans for induction, you don’t want one but you slowly realize that mother nature hasn’t made this pregnancy perfection, and this may help baby have a better outcome if you’re induced.

I see this happen a million different ways:

• Preeclampisa
• High blood pressure
• Cholestasis
• Baby too big or too small
• Too much or too little amniotic fluid

I actually talk about these very real-life scenarios a bit in my insider tips class:

This is why prenatal appointments are so important. However, when your provider sees something off at those appointments they tend to send you for testing. Most often:

• Preeclampsia labs
• NST (non-stress test)
• BPP (biophysical profile)

And people go into those tests blind, and aren’t sure what will happen or what the results will mean.

And, when the recommendation to induce early comes back, they’re just not sure what to do because they never had this on their radar the whole time.

You may feel like this scenario is rare, but it happens in a good percentage of births anymore. People are older, more stressed out and have pre-existing conditions they didn’t have before. I’d guess in many hospitals the majority of patients giving birth lived-out a similar scenario.

Honestly, I feel so fierce about this part I have a free class that goes over it. I don’t talk about it much but you can join right here. It goes over testing, and anything else that should send you into the hospital in the 3rd trimester.

Most birth classes don’t really start til’ you’re in labor, but that puts you behind before you’ve even started. Good birth class teachers know this. I go over more about what you need to know in this post.

Learn How to Make Choices

And here is where we get to the meat of this issue.

Birth isn’t perfect. Our bodies aren’t always “made” to do this and we often have to pivot and adjust our plans to keep things as safe as possible.

A lot of times we don’t. And that’s awesome, but there’s a decent chance you will have to adjust some parts of your birth hopes to account for safety.

Honestly, that’s part of why hospital births are safer (and frankly, why a lot of home birth midwives send a lot of their patients into the hospital).

You have to learn to:

1. Take the information your provider gives you
2. Understand the option they’re recommending (and ask questions)
3. Make the best choice for you given the information.

For too long providers “told” you that you’re getting induced, but I’m here to remind you that every choice is yours, there is a lot of grey area in pregnancy & birth, and that you can both combine what you want with what your provider is telling you.

I actually have a whole induction checklist to help you get a full picture of what you expect if your provider is recommending that (I wish they were better about doing it, but smart peeps grab this):

A good birth class will help you know options, and how to make those choices.

It’s not going to put their head in the sand that these things “rarely” happen, because they frankly (especially in 2026) do not. These are happening frequently, and often for very good reasons.

I have a video on making choices (and I do think it’s the #1 skill you need):

Appropriate Expectations

Finally a good birth class should give you appropriate expectations for hospital birth.

I agree that you don’t have to follow “policy” — but like I mentioned above, telling someone they can bring their own birth tub to any hospital just isn’t helpful to most people (or, frankly safe for all the other patients in the hospital).

I think this is especially true postpartum (a big part of why I recommend this one).

Personally, I wasn’t prepared at all for postpartum and it made it all pretty miserable. I don’t want that for you. My birth class just acted like baby would come out and everything would come easy after that, and that’s just not true:

So, as you can see a good “natural” birth class includes a lot of things many people don’t talk about.

Anything you learned in this article you hadn’t thought of? Tell me in the comments.

And finally, I am glad you’re even considering a class. Far too many people don’t.. Good preparation makes for good births — and I think you’re on the road to that!

A few notes on a birth class:

• Because most providers are using advertising to sell their birth class the pricing tends to be far too high (advertising adds about $100 to any birth class) — which is why I recommend this one (word of mouth is plenty for that one)
• Be sure to check the credentials of your teacher. It’s important they have helped at a LOT of births.
• Check out if they have any free options where you can see them teach (including Youtube videos) to see if you’re a good fit. Not every teacher is for every student.

Check out this one (you can find some freebies here too) and see if it’s right for you!

Want more information on birth classes check out these posts:

• Why Most Birth Classes Fall Short: Preparing for the Unexpected in Labor
• 14 Best Online Childbirth Classes for Couples
• Free Birth Class with Insurance
• When to Take a Childbirth or Breastfeeding Class?
• Pregnancy & Baby Preparation Classes I Recommend

The post Best Birth Class for a Natural Hospital Birth appeared first on Pulling Curls.

In this post I’m going to talk about what the Curly Girl method did good for me, what it did wrong, and what I’m doing now. And yes, I normally talk about pregnancy, but I wanted to say that even small parts of our day can feel better, even if the world feels heavy.

What is Good About the Curly Girl Method?

There we a LOT of good things I learned from the curly girl method:

I have dry hair. Honestly, it wasn’t addressed when I was growing up. It’s just good to know that curly hair tends to be drier.

Condition & Brush Through in the Shower — this has been a game changer for me. For a long time I was using a wide-toothed comb, but I’ve found better options lately….

The effects of sulfates & silicones — I feel like these were exaggerated, but there are definitely effects from each of them.

What Didn’t Help Me with the Curly Girl Method.

Sulfates Bad: I was walking around with a dirty, itchy scalp because I thought I was NEVER supposed to wash my hair, and if I ever did I should use a sulfate-free conditioner. I itched for YEARS because of this… Unhelpful.

Heavy Conditioners: I thought I needed the heaviest of conditioners for my dry hair. I looked for ones that were super thick and creamy.

The problem is I have very fine, thin hair — maybe I needed something different…

Anti-Drugstore: I felt like curly girl pushed us towards more expensive products that are sold in salons or higher-end shops, but boy oh boy I’ve found some drugstore products I really, really love. That’s been a big benefit to watching Abbey Young. I’d tried Deva Curl, CurlSmith, Tre Luxe and Inahsi<< All of which were more expensive and honestly, aren’t working as well as what I have now. Not to knock them, but I think we just have no idea how little price point really means as far as if something is quality or not.

My Hair

I think it’s really important to know my hair and what issues I’m facing.

• My Curls are probably 3C. They’re pretty coily — especially when I take care of them well. My hair got curlier after I had kids, but I’ve always had curly hair
• I am starting to go grey, but it’s only a few strands (knocking on all the wood). I don’t plan to color them out, go grey gracefully (even if I’m screaming inside)
• My hair is VERY fine — you hardly feel it between your fingers when you just have a strand. This means the actual hairs are very thin.
• My hair is very thin — I’ve never had a lot of hair (people think I do because of the curls) but it is also getting thinner with age {insert me crying quietly in a corner). This means I have less hairs on my head than the average gal.

It’s important that I have a routine that:

• Preserves the # of hairs I have — I’d prefer it to get LESS thin — or, at least stay how it is.
• Is fast — I don’t like to spend a lot of time on it (full disclosure). I also REALLY hate the feeling of hair on my hands, so there’s that.
• Doesn’t break the bank. I feel like there are better things to spend my money on than expensive brands, but I am willing to spend if it will preserve the strands.
• Itches less. Please.

What I Learned from Abbey Yung

In case you have no idea who Abbey Young is…. I found her on Youtube after trying K-18 and wanting tips (more on that, stay tuned). Abbey has hair the complete opposite of mine, it’s bleached, and she straightens it several times a week. My hair is natural, curly and only gets about 5 minutes of heat/week (if that). However, she speaks a lot to scalp & hair care, and that is true no matter what our hair is like. She is a Trichologist, and I have no idea what that is, but I think it has to do with hair/scalp health.

Abbey Taught Me:

1. Good hair care comes at many price points (she often loves drugstore as much as high end and isn’t afraid to share that)
2. Our scalps need to be clean for our hair to grow well & look good — and that often means sulfates
3. There’s lots of conditioners that work well, you can try a few lighter ones to see if you like them!

I will say that after we’ve used a leave-in I tend to diverge from Abbey as I still need products that provide me with hold. She doesn’t talk about that beyond hair spray.

But, now I want to share what I’m using now and I’m a big fan of:

What I’m Using Now

I’d like to mention I’d LOVE to use the images in this post, but I guess companies can get mad at you for posting their images of their product… so, hopefully the brand names and links will be enough for you guys.

Shampoo

This has been the BIG change. First off, I’m washing weekly — where I used to use a very LIGHT wash once a month. Some weeks I even wash twice a week…. a real curly rebel.

First off — I’m a huge fan of Pantene Volumizing shampoo. I was honestly super nervous because this one is FULL of sulfates and lots of foam when you use it — but it was the first time my scalp was finally chilling out and wasn’t itching.

You can find it on Amazon (but I prefer the cheaper bottle you can get at Walmart or your local drugstore/supermarket)

And yes, it is pretty drying — but when I back it up with a good conditioner it helps.

ALSO, because my hair is so fine and thin getting all the gunk off of it that I put on really helps it look better overall. Something I didn’t expect. So, better scalp health & better hair.

I finally just had to jump in a buy a few products, even though I was nervous to try new things. The good news is a lot of these are pretty inexpensive. I’d recommend just buying as small a bottles as you can find of what appeals to you.

I also like the Garnier Pure Clean. It’s not quite as cleansing but still does a good job.

Honestly, I say get a cheap, small bottle (you may be shocked at the low price point) — see what you think of it. It’s also available at Walmart.

Honestly, as I’m typing this I’m thinking I should do a really good cleansing shampoo weekly, and then some other shampoo or Co-Wash (less of a fan of co-washes lately too, which is a change for me) the other day/week.

Which brings me to a system I was SHOCKED I liked so much — and that is Dove. Oh man guys — HUGE fan here.

The Dove Bond Strength Line. Honestly, my hair looks SO good when I wash with this. It’s also available at Walmart. I was just using the shampoo — but stay tuned, I’ve tried some similar conditioner.

I also want to try the Dove Intensive Repair shampoo (cheaper/smaller at Walmart) — I’m just not sure it’s worth it to own both of those (so when bond strength is empty I’ll try that).

I should say I did try the Dove Itch Relief and also the Moisture shampoo — not wild fans of either (and the itch relief didn’t seem to help my itchy scalp).

Common things I’m seeing:

1. My scalp needs CLEANSING which often means a lathery-sulfate (and also using good conditioner aftrewards)
2. I think I need protein — I don’t color, or use much heat but I think my hair is protein thirsty. Who knew? This could come from me brushing out snarls, or just how it snarls in general, plus living in Arizona with our high UV index.

Conditioner

Ok, I started this whole journey out when my stylist recommended some K18 for my hair that was falling out about 6’ish months after my appendix ruptured and I almost died.

It’s wildly expensive. However, both myself and my daughter needed some hair repair, so I thought it would be worth the investment. I mean, how can you brand be Pulling Curls when you have no hair?

I haven’t notice HUGE differences. I do think less is falling out. However, I think it was just a post-septic hair shedding at the time that I started it.

I now use K18 once a month after that Pantene Volumizing shampoo. I like it, my hair often looks great that week! I don’t know that I’ll re-purchase when this container is gone.

Things I’ve learned about K18 — I only use 1.5 pumps of it, and I lather it up in my hands really well before applying it — it’s easily wasted, so be sure to read the directions to help it get in as much of your hair as you can.

However, it’s not an “everyday” conditioner…. Even K18 says that.

For a REALLY long time I’ve used the Kirkland conditioner from Costco. It’s thick and I felt like that’s what I needed for my dry hair. But, K-18 isn’t thick, I wasn’t using another conditioner and my hair looked great. So, I started to wonder if some lighter conditioners might be nice?

I had heard from Abbey that CR100 was great — sort of the poor man’s K18 for protein and strength building. I got some. I like it, I don’t want to marry it — but I think I’ll keep using it monthly. It’s about 1/10 of the price — but you also use a lot more of it.

There are also a few other good protein systems like Epres I may try after my K18 is gone. We’ll see. But for now I’m trying to keep my number of products to a minimum.

I got the Dove Intensive Repair conditioner and I’m a fan (it’s cheaper at Walmart). I use it with the Bond strength shampoo. I like it a lot. I think they’re a good pairing. It’s not super heavy, and you just leave it in for a minute. I like that.

Just got this L’Oreal Elvive Glossing Conditioner — and I’m a fan. Abbey really made me think about my hair, and what it needs. It’s very fine, it’s thin and dry. This one is a lighter conditioner and I really liked it. Was my hair glossier? I have no idea. But I liked it. I feel like I got it cheaper in the store at Walmart, so check there or your grocery store too!

Themes I’m seeing:

1. When I use a sulfate shampoo it’s very important I condition well. It makes up for it — I don’t have to cut out sulfates, I just have to condition (which I was doing anyway)
2. That doesn’t mean the conditioner needs to be thick — mostly just adequte slip to brush through it in the shower
3. Thinner conditioners help my hair not be weighed down.

My hair actually looks “lighter” — I think, because I was using such HEAVY conditioners for so long. Or, it’s because I’m going grey, but let’s not talk about that… {sobs quietly}

Brushes

With this I started to look at the brushes I was using.

I only brush my hair when it is both wet, and has conditioner in it.

Prior to this I was using a wide toothed comb, which is fine — but I was thinking there was something better. I felt like I just had to pull on that to get snarls out….

So I got the tangle teaser, which I really like. For Christmas my husband got me a UnBrush. I like both of them. I think the UnBrush is a bit easier on tangled hair and it’s what I’m using in the shower currently.

Honestly, prior to this I’d just try to brush out the thing from root to tip, but I’ve started ear lobes down, and then tops of ears down, then crown down trying to work through tangles moving up my scalp. It’s lead to a lot less hair loss in the shower.

I also have a Denman brush, It didn’t work for me. It’s just to harsh, too many bristles (even if I remove some). I was trying to use it to clump my curls. I’d rather use the tangle teaser, I think it’s easier on my hair.

I also have one similar to this with the ridges. It does alright — I like it to create clumps when I’ve put product in before I dry, but I can’t use it to distribute product out of the shower. I’ve been using that tangle teaser or Unbrush to do that instead.

Leave-Ins

Abbey reminded me I need to be putting in something for when I do heat style.

Honestly, I haven’t found much that I like for this. I currently have the L’Oreal 21 in one spray. It’s fine. I don’t notice a big difference when I use it. But, if I’m heat styling I use a heat protectant. Just haven’t found one I love (I do like the Trader Joe’s one….)

But, I do want to give a couple of brands that I REALLY like for Curly Products.

Hairitage has been amazing. I love their Leave In Conditioner and Curl Cream. I use those two, plus a heavy gel (sometimes this one from Aussie) and I’ve had good luck. I just don’t think the curl cream has enough hold to just use that, and my hair feels a bit dry if I don’t use a little conditioner too.

Not Your Mother’s is also my new go-to. I like their curl cream (I get it at Walmart) and I also like the #3 gel, but I think the #4 (that refers to how much hold) lets my wash last a bit longer.

Honestly, I’m still on the look out for drugstore gel I really like. I do like this one, but it’s a bit on the pricier side.

A few trends I’m noticing:

1. I’m a drugstore girl — I’ve tried other brands of leave ins and gels and I haven’t been ANY more satisfied (possibly less satisfied).
2. If I do the was and conditioning in the shower right, I have less to worry about outside the shower. Just a little conditioner, maybe some curl cream and DEFINITELY some gel (which I need to brush through my hair to make sure it goes to all of them).

I also blow dry with a diffuser every other wash, as I’d like to keep my hair as healthy as I can.

So, that’s what I’m doing. If you’re a curly girl and you have a product you love — tell me in the comments. Things keep changing which makes it really hard to find something you like and stick with it.

That being said, I think it’s good to not use the same thing every time, but “speak” with your hair to see what it needs. Now that I sound crazy. I guess I’ll it here.

The post Why the Curly Girl Method Did Me Wrong (and how Abbey Yung fixed me) appeared first on Pulling Curls.

I gotta tell you I learned most of these tips from Get Away Today. They are who I booked with. You’ll at least get the same prices you’ll see on the Universal site, but they also have a couple other options they can book through as well to save you even more. I also have a special tip below that has to do with them — so, keep reading for sure!

There really isn’t a reason to NOT book with them — it’s so nice for them to check across hotels easily rather than you having to do it. Use code CURLS10 to save an extra $10 on your next trip!

I should also say that with Epic being such a new park there are things that are changing rapidly, so all the info in this post is as of the date of publication, but I will try to update as I see changes as well. Get Away Today can certainly get you the most up to date info when you book with them!

As a quick reminder/Universal Orlando 101:

• There are 3 theme parks (plus a water park) in this resort.
• Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are right next to each other (you can actually travel between them on the Hogwarts Express)
• The newest park — Epic Universe is about 15 minutes away and all Universal Hotels have shuttles to it (that are really smoothly ran).
• Volcano Bay is the water park and it, again has shuttles that run to it (but I think that a couple of the hotels are close enough to walk) — I have never been there. Sorry (but also not sorry)

Ok, onto the tips!

Hotel Hop

Now, this isn’t for everyone — and I do feel like I have to do some fancy packing when we do it — but switching hotels can both save you a lot, and give you the perks.

Before we get going, there are some important things to know about Epic Hotels:

• The Helios hotel has an entrance directly into Epic — I wish it has been in my budget to stay there a night! (spoiler: it was not)
• Stella Nova has a walking path to Epic so you are not stuck waiting for shuttles (however, to save steps we just happened to match-up with shuttles nicely — that’s an option too. Terra Luna is close, but not particularly walkable.
• ALL Universal-brand hotels will get you early entry to Epic Universe (not just the ones by Epic Universe)

Some important things to know about the other hotels:

• There are a few select hotels that will get you Unlimited Express Pass to the other Universal parks with your stay (but not Epic — you have to pay for an Epic express pass if you want it). Currently they are Hard Rock, Royal Pacific and Portifino Bay
• Those deluxe hotels above, plus Saphire falls has a shuttle boat system to get you to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure — and this can save you a good amount of time vs an Uber or the shuttle bus system.

Unlimited Express is Universal’s “skip the line” system — similar to Lightning Lane (but usually faster because less people use it — becuase it is more expensive). You can have it as “unlimited” (any ride, as much as you want) and also one-time only (one ride/day with express pass).

With all those facts I’ve mentioned:

It’s also important to know:

• When you stay at a hotel, you get their “perks” (aka early entry or an express pass depending on where you’re staying) on both your check-in day and on your check out day. So, you get express pass for TWO days, &/or early entry for two days.

Knowing all of this — we hotel hopped hotels to save us a lot in both time in line and time at the parks:

Our trip looked like this:

• Stayed at Stella Nova to get early entry into Epic Universe and be able to walk there if we wanted. We stayed there the day we landed, and then the night after our Day at Epic.
• Then, we moved to Royal Pacific for one night. This got us Unlimited Express Passes at Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure for two days. We were also able to easily walk to Islands or Studios from there (skipping their transportation center and crowded security area)
• Then we moved to the Surfside hotel for our final night because it was really inexpensive (another option to save even more is to look for an off-site hotel for the night before you flight out).

Yes, this was a lot of re-packing and moving hotels — but the luggage holding departments of each hotel is really good — they’re built for this, and even though that was annoying (and it did add a few Uber trips to our stay — at about $10 each) it was worth it for us.

Now, would that have been worth it if we had small kids? I don’t know — but I was traveling with other adults, so that was fine.

You just have to decide what’s right for you.

In fact, I have heard of people booking “Ghost” rooms at Royal Pacific just to get the perks and then they continue their stay somewhere else, but the night at the hotel was cheaper than buying Express Passes for their group.

Pro Tip: You get the Unlimited Express Passes for anyone who is named on the reservation at those select hotels. Most rooms will sleep up to 5 (I think). Remember that for every person you add to the reservation, the price does increase a bit — so, if you book with only 2 you only get two express passes. Using this perk is best for larger groups (but remember it’s for TWO days of Unlimited Express) which would usually run $500-$600+ for one person.

Keep Price Checking

This is where Get Away Today really shined.

When I told Get Away Today that I wanted to book with the lowest lines, and the cheapest prices they gave me a bunch of the tips in this article and they were were SO willing to book my crazy hotel plans as noted above (I even switched dates a couple of times) they also checked the prices for me every few weeks until we paid for our trip a couple of weeks in advance (at that point they are unable to price match once you pay for the whole trip, but usually the closer you are, the less likely you are to save).

The advice is to book when you’re ready. That way you have your room at your preferred location.

Then, keep having them check the pricing. We saved about $300 between our hotels by price checking a few times. And yes, we put that towards Express Passes at Epic — well worth it!

For me, I just snooze an email from them every couple of weeks and just say “hey — wanted to check in on pricing on our trip” and within the day they came back with how much I’d saved or that we had the best pricing for now.

It was super easy & great!

Looking for more info about the Universal & Other theme parks? — be sure to check out these posts:

• 7+ EASY TIPS for the Universal Orlando Resort + 3 JUST For Epic Universe!
• Questions About Universal Orlando & Disney World Answered
• Knotts Berry Farms vs Disneyland? Which one is right for you?

Be Flexible on Dates

If you have a few dates that you can go — you not only can you save on lines at the parks, but you can also save on hotel.

Just tell Get Away Today the dates you have, and they can give you some great options for each time frame (and possibly give you some pro tips about how busy the parks will be).

That means you’re not having to create an elaborate spreadsheet of the different hotel options, they do that for you!

That being said — a spreadsheet can be very handy. I have a trip calculator here (works for Disney OR Universal):

Want to know how busy the parks will be on your dates? No need to find a crowd calendar. Just find out how much express passes are for your dates of stay. Busier days, it will be more expensive (and more worth it). Less-busy dates it will be cheaper. Get Away Today can also give you this information.

Get an Annual Pass

This seems crazy, I get it. But the annual pass savings on hotel rooms can be significant. Like, shockingly so!

If you’re already purchasing a few days package, it actually isn’t that much more to upgrade (honestly, might be cheaper).

Some things to consider:

• Each pass has their own blackout dates — so you need to be sure that your pass will be valid on the dates you’re hoping for.
• You can purchase the pass online and it won’t be “active” until you scan into the parks, but you can show that you have the pass when you check in for your hotel (although I was never asked to see mine).
• You only need to get it for one person in your party to get the discount — they just have to be traveling with you.
• There are a few levels of park passes, some include discounts and free parking — so pick the one that works best for you.
• As of this writing, annual passes are not available for Epic Universe. As a pass holder you can purchase Epic tickets at a very small discount (but I think your pass has to be activated to do so).

Honestly, I was shocked by how much we saved by getting the annual pass discount on hotel rooms. Between checking pricing, and our annual pass savings, we just about paid for 2 Express Passes for Epic Universe ($500) — or you could pocket the difference. It was great!

Again, you can ask Get Away Today to check for Annual Pass holder pricing for the hotel rooms, and see if it makes sense for you. Yes, they are able to book rooms at annual pass rates!

I can’t stress it enough, but be SURE TO CHECK YOUR DATES — to make sure the annual pass you want is available for those. The cheapest pass has most of the holidays, plus summer mostly blocked out. FYI.

Off-Site

There are a lot of great off-site hotels that you can stay at. I stayed at a Fairfield that had a shuttle to Universal. It was pretty cheap, and pretty nice.

If the on-site hotel perks don’t matter to you, Get Away Today can suggest a few off-site hotels for you.

Buy Express Passes Early!

If you’re considering purchasing Express Passes buy them early.

I just added them to my hotel package. I had layaway, so I didn’t have to pay for the express passes until we got closer (I could have also removed them, if I decided the cost wasn’t worth it).

But, the price for Express Passes goes up the closer your dates get (with it be the most expensive to purchase at the parks). I believe ours were about $250 and were closer to $400 at the gates the day of our visit.

Extended Express Passes?

Here is a new one: Get a Multi-Day Express Pass.

Now, these aren’t unlimited, but you can use them at each of the parks (including Epic Universe).

I just went and checked — 3-day Express Passes were about $450-$575 depending on the days you’re staying.

If you wanted to get an Epic Express Pass — those tend to be around $300 — so it wouldn’t be all that much to add the 3-day and that could be cheaper than getting the Epic Express plus the increased price of those Deluxe Hotels.

Personally, here is how it played out for us:

Our Express passes were about $250 for each of us at Epic, plus $380 for a night at Royal Pacific (which is CRAZY cheap — don’t plan on that price — remember that was at a lower park day, and had an annual passholder benefit plus I price checked multiple times). But, you’d have to minus $100 from the hotel to compensate for staying somewhere else (that’s on the low end) for a grand total of about $780 for 2 people for the 3-days (and that includes unlimited express at Universal and Islands).

I am not sure exactly how much the 3-day express passes would have been, but I’d guess $500 for our dates of stay. So, that would be $1,000 for 2 people and would have only been one-time usage at Universal and Islands.

Clearly, our deal was better, but you’ll want to check:

• Pricing for 1-day Express passes at Epic
• Prices for 3-day (or however many days you need) Express Passes
• Prices for the deluxe hotels that offer Express Pass (remember not ALL deluxe hotels offer it, so be aware)

And yes, Get Away Today can check all of this, and they booked my express passes for me. It was SO nice, and easy!

So, those are my BEST ways to save at the Universal Orlando resort. Honestly, we had SUCH a good time. I hope you have a wonderful vacation as well!

The post Ways to Save at Epic Universe appeared first on Pulling Curls.

And how do I know so much about this? Hi, I’m Hilary — The Pregnancy Nurse®. I’ve been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of Labor & Delivery bedside nursing experience. I’ve been teaching people how to mange their pregnancies and hospital births online since 2014 and I’m glad that you’re here — because I don’t want this to take another worry cell in your brain! No need!

The Facts

The reality is that only about 15% of people’s water breaks while they are outside the hospital.

Most people’s water breaks because they are in labor — so they’ll have some advance notice that their water might be breaking (check out my post for signs your water might break).

I would say that most people’s water breaks:

• While on the toilet
• While in bed (you need a waterproof mattress pad)
• While getting up to go to the toilet

So, they are NOT in public.

While it CAN happen in public that your water breaks, the reality is this happens for very few people. So, that should ease your mind — it’s not like in the movies where everyone’s water seems to break at the most inopportune time.

And while we’re here, there is so much about birth that is not like the movies. Please don’t let media (or frankly, even social media) prepare you for what to expect and how to make choices during birth. I very much recommend this instead.

And, if you’re wondering if you’re gonna flood the whole grocery isle if it were to break, I’m here to say that most people — especially if they’re standing, don’t have a whole ton flood out. I have a whole post on How much Water Comes Out When Your Water Breaks? that you might find helpful!

Many people feel a pop and then head to the restroom and then more comes out there as they relax on the toilet. So, as you can see the chance of it being a lot, in public is really low!!!!

How to Prepare

Ok, but in case you are one of the ones who does have it happen — how do you prepare. Honestly, these are smart moves to use in those last few weeks:

Wear a Pad

In those last few weeks you’re likely to see some changes in discharge. Most people are wearing a pad just because of that. Honestly, all of that makes it sort of hard to know if your water has broken — because “more” is just coming out than normally.

Gross, I know — but I’m here to spread the truth, not just what makes you feel good.

Have Some Towels

I think it’s smart to have some towels (or puppy pads/Chux like these) around in those last few weeks.

I’d keep a few in:

• Your car (if you have one)
• At work

I actually have a whole post about what to do if baby comes fast that outlines more about why towels are helpful — but I just think it’s smart.

I know you’re thinking those Chux are an added expense, but they have honestly saved me so many times as a parent. Great when you have a spitter-upper or a sick kid. I’d honestly put them on my registry and know I was getting something SO HANDY!

I’m not talking about a whole stack of them — maybe just one or two old towels just in case.

I think it builds peace of mind. Kind of like taking a good class.

Looking for more water breaking info — be sure to check out these posts:

• Splash! Everything To Know About Your Water Breaking
• What Does Water Breaking Look Like?
• What Does It Feel Like When Your Water Breaks?
• Can Your Water Break While You’re Peeing?
• What Makes your Water Break During Pregnancy?

Have a Plan!

I actually get this question a lot from school teachers. Which totally makes sense. You’re there, alone with quite a lot of children — what do you do if your water breaks?

I think you need to have a good discussion with your leadership at your work about what you should do if something happens. That way you’re prepared and feel confident about the steps you’ll take to keep the kids and yourself self should something happen!

And yes, I also have a post on when you should go on maternity leave.

And while we’re here talking about plans — have you made your birth plan yet? I’d love to help you out in my freebie series right here:

Honestly, this is smart in any career. As a nurse, I knew what to do if something happened while I was in a room and while we can’t have a plan for every situation most often people around us are willing to help us at such an important time!

What to DO if it Breaks?

Ok, finally we get to what you should actually do if it breaks.

Here are the steps you should take

1- Did anything else come out?

There is a chance that something else comes out when your water breaks. It’s extremely rare and you’ll feel it — but if you feel an arm, or the cord you need to get your bum in the air — think propping your bum up in the air with your head in the ground and call 911. This is an emergency. It is rare but I want you to know that.

Ok, once we’re past that initial question:

2. TACO?

No, it’s not time for lunch — we need to know some basics for this one….

The anacronym COAT works too but you want to know:

• Time (just note the approximate time)
• Amount (was it a lot or a little?)
• Color (this can range from clear, to bloody or brown)
• Odor (does it smell?)

** If the fluid is very bloody I’d head into labor and delivery, and if it’s a lot of blood, call 911 or get yourself to the hospital in the fastest way!

3. Call your provider

While not everyone needs to head to the hospital immediately I think it’s important to touch base with them. They’ll want that info you gathered with the TACO/COAT questions above.

Then, they’ll take that, along with your history and current prenatal situation to make a plan on when you should head into the hospital.

Most providers have someone on 24/7 for them for just such a phone call towards the end of your pregnancy. I’d ask your provider how to get hold of them in an important situation like this at your next appointment.

I know everyone seems to have some “magic formula” for when you should go to the hospital — but the reality is that it really varies and individual circumstances requires individual information. But, taking a good birth class will most definitely make those hours at home more confident vs scary.

4- Watch for Fever

The arch nemesis of a broken bag of water is fever. Now that your uterus and baby is open to “air” there is a chance for bacteria to thrive in that warm, moist environment. You’ll want to check for fever every hour or so. Your doctor or midwife should give their specific instructions when you call them — but that’s important to know (and have a thermometer at home to be able to check it — you’ll want one for baby anyway). You don’t need anything fancy, I think one like this is perfect!

Now, finally, we’re going to answer….

Don’t I Go Straight to the Hospital?

There is no question that if you have any questions you can always go straight into the hospital (or call your provider). Remember L&D is open every day all day! That’s always comforting to me!

However, just because your water has broken, if you’re not having serious contractions, your best bet may be to stay at home for a bit.

The best spot for early labor is actually at home. It can feel scary and confusing — that’s why I recommend the chapter on what to do in early labor in here.

But no — your water breaking doesn’t mean you immediately need to go into labor and delivery. You need to also consider:

• Any other labor symptoms
• Baby still moving? — if not you need to go in ASAP
• How far away your hospital is
• If your fluid is bloody, has an odor or is dark in color

And again — great questions your provider can go over with you so that you know what’s best for you to do!

For most people labor will start within 24-48 hours and as long as things are stable and safe being at home is a lovely, comforting and safe environment to encourage labor to get going!

You might also enjoy this post: What to Do in Early Labor (Before You Go to the Hospital)

The “Bottom” Line

Here’s 3 things you nee to remember:

1. While most people worry about this, it’s not likely. This isn’t worth your worry
2. Make sure nothing else has come out when your water breaks (an arm or a cord) — this is an important question to ask yourself!
3. Most people don’t need to go right in when your water breaks, but you should touch base with your provider

The other thing to know, for a lot of people it’s not really cut and dry.

Yes, some people get a giant gush of fluid that is very obvious, but some people get a trickle. It depends on where on the sac the water breaks and if it’s just a tear or a big opening.

It’s tricky, unfortunately — Like a lot of pregnancy.

But, I’m glad you’re here learning. What did you learn in this post? Tell us down in the comments!

And please consider joining me in The Online Prenatal Class for Couples where we get both of you prepared for this tricky time!

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