Sore throats are the worst!  Especially in kids. Their heads are so small that EVERYTHING just hurts, their eyes, their throat, their ears.  It’s all connected and they’re so miserable (although, frankly as an adult I felt pretty miserable as well).

I just did a podcast on strep throat that you might enjoy:

How do you know if it’s just your basic sore throat (which is usually just a viral infection) or strep — where you need to see a doctor?  How is a mom ever to know all of this?  Also, how do you get rid of it?  Take a deep breath, I’m going to go over all of that!

Hi, I’m Hilary, a lot of people know me as The Pregnancy Nurse®, but I used to work for a pediatrician right out of nursing school so I did a lot of phone triage and learned a LOT about strep throat (and did a LOT of strep tests).

I moved around a few times and landed in labor and delivery. I now have 20 years of L&D experience and am the creator of The Online Prenatal Class for Couples.

Normal Sore Throat vs Strep Throat:

My daughter woke up sick this morning.  It all hurt and her throat was awfully red, with some possible white patches ( a tell-tale sign of strep).  It was hard to tell because she’s so miserable, she’s unwilling to open up much (I am guessing this is sounding familiar if you’re reading this article)

So, we took her into the office (offices USED to provide strep tests as a walk-in, but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore) to test for strep.

FYI, Actual Strep throat is something that truly needs to be seen by a physician (or healthcare provider).  They will need antibiotics and people often died of it before antibiotics because it can attack your heart causing serious issues.

Pro Tip: Viral infections do NOT respond to antibiotics, ONLY bacterial infections will do that. There are also risks to taking an antibiotic, so you want to be sure which you have going on (which is why you see a doctor).

Strep Throat – Symptoms

Sometimes the symptoms of it, especially in children can be masked.  In adults, it’s just the usual REALLY painful sore throat (and tonsils, and glands and often ears — as they’re all connected).

Get out a flashlight, open wide, say ahh and check down that throat of yours (or have your spouse do it — although I can do mine in a mirror pretty well).

Instead of looking just red, it will also look white (and, likely also red).  That’s because there is pus in your throat, on your tonsils.

** Keep in mind, you’re looking at the THROAT, not the TONGUE — many people’s tongue is white, and that is not it!** You are looking at the back of the throat, there are two small blobs of tissue on the left and right — those are your tonsils.

You may have to have them tilt their head back and forward to really get a good view of the throat. Tell them to touch you with their tongue (or try — don’t be close enough they can). That way the tongue gets out of the way.

You could also try this in a cooperative child (sometimes it’s good to do this when you’re healthy also, just to have a good idea on what regularly lurks down there).

Symptoms of Strep Throat in Children

1.  Nausea and vomiting (fun, I know)
2.  Headaches
3.  Sometimes rashes, but if that’s the case you need to be seen by a doctor ASAP.

It may or may not include a fever (this thermometer is good for all ages!).

Signs of Strep throat in Adults:

In adults it is usually seen as a sore throat with no other major symptoms, besides extreme (often radiating to the ears and glands) pain in their throat.

I am talking a REALLY sore throat, not like just a mildly scratchy throat.

Pro Tip: Glands are also called lymph nodes, and may feel like swollen balls underneath your chin and the sides of your neck.

You will still see white patches on the tonsils/throat though.

I have a whole post on a sore throat in pregnancy also if that is you!

Symptoms that are likely not strep:

Do you/your child have a cough?  It is likely not it.  Strep doesn’t feel like a cold, it feels like a VERY sore throat, and possibly the other symptoms.

If you/your kid has common symptoms of a cold (a runny nose, cough, etc.) it is likely not strep.  Most of those are viral sore throats.

Unless, they have strep AND a cold — then double whammy. Which can totally happen, kids are incubators.

Most often, we don’t see it in kids under 2. Although it’s possible, it’s not as likely (probably from immunity from the mom/womb).

Sore Throat and a Rash

This could possibly be Scarlet Fever (or rheumatic fever), which is when the strep goes through your whole body. It must be seen by a doctor ASAP so you can be placed on antibiotics for treatment. Scarlet Fever normally looks like a “sandpaper” rash (the skin looks red and rough)…

My Great Grandma actually died from this because it can attack your heart and cause life-long issues. Hence, strep is really serious.

Strep throat without a fever?

Strep throat doesn’t always have a fever, especially if it’s early (btw, this is my favorite kind of thermometer).

Pro Tip: Fevers themselves aren’t bad — they’re just your immune system revving up to FIGHT — and we WANT that. But, if kids are feeling miserable, talk to your provider about what medication to give. High fevers can be scary though, so be sure to contact your provider if you have questions.

The main symptom is the sore throat, and it must be confirmed by a rapid strep test or throat culture.

Sore throat with NO other symptoms?

This could be strep. Often, the sore throat is the main symptom (although it can extend to ear and gland pain because the throat is so sore).

But, it could also be allergies, or poor air quality.

How to diagnose strep throat:

In order to know for SURE that you or your child doesn’t just have tonsillitis (and not use antibiotics unnecessarily), you’ll need a strep test.

**Strep throat can NOT be diagnosed just by looking at it.

Strep Test Types

• Rapid Strep test — which results can be told within 5 minutes
• Overnight Strep culture where you have to wait til’ the next day.

Both of those tests are looking for Group A Streptococcus (also called Strep A — which is the strep which causes step throat (vs Beta strep, which is what they culture for in Pregnancy).

On the day our daughter was sick, we took her to the doctor and they did a rapid test.

The visit ended up costing around 100 dollars — just to find out it was viral.  Then, you just treat the symptoms with plenty of fluids and maybe some Lolleez

Viral sore throat is called tonsilitis — or an infection of the tonsils.  It should NOT be treated with antibiotics, as that can only help a sore throat that is bacterial (vs viral).

Tonsillitis can be due to a variety of issues — allergies, yelling too much, viral infections like colds.

It seems like doctors no longer offer strep tests without seeing a provider (we saw a very nice nurse practitioner), which is a shame (and a waste of our health care dollar, but I digress…).

Diagnosis of Strep Throat at Home

I really wasn’t a fan of paying so much, just find out the sore throat was viral.

BUT, then I googled it, and guess what I found:

That’s right, my very own tests

They go in and out of stock (and often can only be bought by a small business), so I have a few other places you can find them (which also go in and out of stock).

• Walmart

I’m not afraid to culture a kid.  It sounds like everything’s in the box (mostly a giant Q-tip, the solutions, and a vial to mix it all in).  SO, if you’re willing to swab your own family I think this could save you some serious dough.

** Keep in mind these tests are only accurate if you do/read them correctly, so take them at your own risk and if you have ANY concerns, call your healthcare provider!

On the few occasions that I get a positive, I do need to go see a doctor.  However, when I have hauled in my positive test they have always taken my word and not had to re-swab me (saving me about $20 dollars). You could also try an online consult.

Personally, I have a DPC with a Healthshare and you can easily either see him or do a virtual visit.

Of course, you might be wondering how to swab your child — and YouTube (as always) has some helpful tips!

I should also say that these rapid tests sometimes give a false negative.  So, if the tonsils have a white or pussy spots and it was still negative I think I’d have no choice but to take them in and shell out the cash.

You can also swab too early or not well enough, and that can lead to other false negatives — if your child is really miserable, it would be worth it to take them to a doctor.

**A note, if you plan to get these for your family you need to be willing to get back to their tonsils and really give it a good swab with the q-tip thing.  Maybe have a nurse friend show you the first time.  It isn’t hard, but it does need to be done right.  Swabbing their cheek won’t get you the info you need!

The true standard of a strep test is a culture on the ol’ petrie dishes

Strep Throat Remedies

Natural Sore Throat Remedies

There is nothing natural that can cure strep throat. However, there are some natural ways to help with the throat/gland pain.

Essential Oils for Strep Throat

While it HAS to be treated with antibiotics (and I can’t say that any more strongly) you can use some essential oils to mitigate symptoms.  I really like using some diluted lemon oil on my neck to help my glands process their swelling and go back down.

Natural Throat Remedies for Kids:

Momeez Choice reached out to me about their Lolleez product line and I thought it was the perfect addition to this conversation!  Let’s talk about sore throats and how this organic remedy on a stick can help ease sick days for kids and moms (sponsored by Momeez Choice).

Lolleez are organic throat soothing lollipops for kids and my secret weapon on sick days. I can very much relate to the founder’s story, as she didn’t feel comfortable giving her kids a throat lozenge because of the risk of choking and artificial ingredients they are usually made with, so she invented Lolleez!  Go mom! They are flattened suckers, which make them less of a choking hazard than a round ball.

Note on how I’d use them:  If your kid has a sore throat, of course, I’d see if it was strep FIRST (as that needs an antibiotic).  But, once it’s negative — you just need to treat the symptoms. These are a GREAT option for that! Especially because sometimes sore throats are from environmental things drying their throat, so these effective suckers really help!

Strep Throat Treatment

Strep has to be treated by antiobiotics.  I have seen some people mentioning that they will treat it at home, but my own great-grandmother died from a strep infection, so it really does need treatment.

It is also really important that strep be positively identified with a test or culture — BUT, once those are positive, you really need treatment via penicillin (that is the recommended treatment — there is no reason to get a really broad-spectrum antibiotic).

It’s just my “culture.” {wah-wah}

What antibiotics treat strep throat?

The gold standard is a routine dosage of penicillin to treat strep bacteria.  It’s best to just get that vs a broader-spectrum Z-pack.

You MUST take the entire course of antibiotics that you are given.  It helps it not come back even worse!  Make sure to set a reminder in your phone for the duration!

How do you get strep throat?

It is passed by

• Anything that was in your mouth — utensils, cups and then someone uses those items
• Coughing
• Improper/infrequent hand washing

It is SUPER contagious.  Often if one family member gets it — I’d ask your doctor if you can call to get a prescription for the rest if others get a sore throat.

Pro tip: Many people recommend changing out your toothbrush once you’re no longer contagious as you could re-infect yourself (they recommend this with all sore throats, actually).

How Long is Strep Throat Contagious?

It is super contagious, so be sure to watch your other children if one of them gets it.  It is contagious until you have been on antibiotics for 24 hours. Tonsilitis is contagious while you have throat pain.

Is strep throat contagious?

YES, very much so. If one child has it make sure to quarantine them as MUCH as possible, but also talk with your provider about what to do if your other kids get it (or if YOU get it).

Strep Throat FAQ’s

This post was originally written in Sept 2012 and has been updated.

The post Sore Throat vs STREP throat: How to tell the difference appeared first on Pulling Curls.

And a lot of people seem to think that a hospital room is the same as a hotel. Yes, we change your sheets on your hospital beds but no. We are not a hotel.

How do I know all of this?

Hi, I’m Hilary — many people know me as The Pregnancy Nurse . I have been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of OB nursing experience, I am also the curly head behind this website Pulling Curls and The Online Prenatal Class for Couples. ​ I’ve seen a lot of patients thinking we run the hospital just like a regular retail store, but it’s not true.

Here’s some ways we’re different (especially for labor and delivery), and why….

You need to pick the same hospital as your doctor.  Unlike a hotel where you have a huge variety to pick from.  Once you pick a doctor, you should be locked into the hospitals that they go to.  

Yes, you CAN go to another hospital but you will NOT see your doctor, they can’t easily find out your medical history.  It is a lot safer to go to the hospital your doctor practices at.  

Also, FYI — doctors have to jump through a lot of hoops to be able to go to a certain hospital which is why they usually don’t do more than 2 or 3 (many only do one).

We’ll wake you up. Now, I’m hesitant to wake up any mom who just had a baby, but I will. My job is to keep you safe, not always well-rested. We’ll take your blood pressure, we’ll tell you to feed your baby we’ll tell you to get up, even if you’d rather nap. We care about your patient experience but we care more about your medical treatment and hospital care.

The food doesn’t shine. I think this one speaks for itself. Yes, some hospitals have great food, but many don’t. While technically you do get room service, it’s not gourmet food. Maybe plan on your partner getting you some takeout if you’re ready for some tasty grub.

Your insurance will choose your hospital too! Just because you have insurance doesn’t mean you can go to any hospital or medical center. They lock you into a certain set of facilities as well. 

Make sure that the hospital you plan to go to is both one your doctor goes to and your insurance plan takes.

We will limit visitors. A lot of family members and other people come to the hospital to visit and are turned away because our patient needs to rest or not be stressed out. Those people get upset with us. Did I mention we’re not a hotel? 

We may also limit children under a certain age who aren’t direct siblings. They are safety measures for you, your baby and all the other hospital patients on our floor.

There’s no such thing as a reservation. People get a nurse/room based on their priority. Just because you have an induction scheduled, doesn’t mean we hold you a room and deny people who are actually in labor. Don’t be surprised if you get bumped. You’ll get in at some point (or, go into labor on your own).

I am not your waitress. Nurses go to a lot of school, a lot of training and put in long days to keep you and your family safe. Because we forget to grab you a juice, or we show you where to grab your own isn’t our way of being rude. It’s being efficient with our highly valuable time. 

That being said, your nurse should be kind and communicate well with you as to what she’s doing and how she CAN help you — and I talk all about that in here.

Honestly, if I have time I will grab you a juice, because I do like my families to feel well cared for. But if I have two patients and other stuff is going on, I may direct you to get off your chair and grab your own.

A few words of advice:

 Make sure your family/friends know it’s not a hotel. It’s not a time to bring all their kids in and throw you a party. Yes, a few visitors might feel nice , but you are mainly there to recoup.

** I think we all found-out during Covid that families LOVED that time alone in the hospital — so consider having NO visitors, and maybe you’ll love that even more (you can always call a mom/friend if you’re bored in the hospital to come say hello too).

If you want a hotel, go to a hotel. Yes, you might bleed all over the bed and it’s certainly not as safe, but I’ve heard of a lot of moms who leave the hospital early and then just get a hotel room to rest away from their other kids, etc. It’s certainly a lot cheaper than the hospital (especially if you are a self-pay patient). For some new moms, this might be the only way to get a private room!

You might want to decide your hospital before you decide your doctor. If you one one particular hospital, that may well change what physician you pick. Of course, I’d pick a good physician over the looks or perks of a hospital any day. You’re there to save a life, not bask in the glow of granite countertops and hotel-like amenities.

The golden rule comes into play. I have had patients get upset with me over our policies, or the fact that their nurse couldn’t come when we were in the middle of an emergency. Sometimes healthcare workers are actually saving lives and your patience helps us do that. Thank you.

If you’d like to understand more about the hospital works and the different policies and procedures you can expect be sure to join me in The Online Prenatal Class for couples where we get you prepared from bump to bassinet!

Not sure we’re a good fit check out my free class — It’s your first step towards being your own birth boss.

The post The Hospital is Not a Hotel appeared first on Pulling Curls.

Ew. The flu. I’m talking about the stomach kind (which isn’t the influenza virus at all, actually, that’s just a stomach virus — but that’s a blog for another day). Although, often over quickly (especially if you follow these tips) it’s miserable.  The throwing up and stomach pain, there is nothing worse – am I right? I learned these tips while working pediatric phone triage in a busy pediatrician’s office, we handled many cases of stomach flu. They rarely fail us in this house. Let’s find out what to do when you have the stomach flu!

I also have a podcast with this information that you might prefer to listen to.

I can also send the tips to your inbox:

Stomach Flu vs Food Poisoning

For all intents and purposes, it doesn’t really matter since you treat them the same way. However, if it’s food poisoning, I might not eat at that same restaurant again.

Fever and/or body aches are stomach flu symptoms, but food poisoning does have similar symptoms.

Both can be treated at home unless you end up with severe dehydration (if you follow my plan you will likely do alright).

And while you’re here — don’t miss these other SUPER helpful posts too:

• Ear infections
• Fevers
• Strep Throat
• PinWorms

How to Stop Throwing Up:

How to lay when you have the stomach flu?

I just make my young children a nice home in the bathroom. I bring in their favorite blanket, a book, and a pillow. I just want them to lay still.  With older children, I have a few barf buckets they can take to their room and LAY DOWN. Sometimes you feel great after you puke, but that’s the time to just lay still and let the healing commence. It really is a good idea to lay still, if that means movies on the iPad on the bathroom floor, so be it.

As for the BEST position — left side (so they say) is the best way, I usually find this to be true. It can also help with heartburn (because of how your stomach is tilted)

Stop Eating:

I don’t let my kids have ANYTHING for an hour after they throw up.  The most important thing is to let the stomach really settle down. That stomach is irritated, that’s why it let you see dinner for the 2nd time. It needs time to simmer down now, stomach cramps are so painful, your stomach needs to rest. If your child needs something for their fever you can get a suppository at the drugstore to keep their stomach clear.

I just saw this product call the Vommat that I totally recommend for parents with puking kids — it can protect your textiles from needing a serious clean up! Sometimes those go out of stock — I love these too.

What to eat with the stomach flu?

Clear Liquids

After the hour, I let them have small sips of clear liquids. A clear liquid is anything you can see through including sports drinks. Breast milk does count if your child is breastfed, You want something that won’t hurt like the dickens if you see it again (like grape juice, ouch!).

I usually do-uncarbonated sprite (you can take out a lot of the bubbles by pouring it from one cup to the other for a few minutes, sometimes the carbonation bugs me at that point), or ginger ale (which really can help with nausea).  

Small sips here, a tablespoon’ish at a time. Don’t go crazy. I also don’t recommend ice chips or straight water. For some reason water seems to be really hard on empty stomachs, this includes room-temperature bottled water. Try:

• Gatorade
• Sprite
• Ginger ale (I would decarbonate the soda as mentioned above)
• Kool-Aid, something like that.
• Sometimes apple juice, but often fruit juice is more acidic…

If your child is under 1 you might want to try Pedialyte (although that stuff sometimes doesn’t taste the best…). If they’re over 6 months I have watered down Gatorade 1/2 with water.

I’d ask your pediatrician what they recommend for the little babes – ours usually recommended clear Pedialyte (which tastes horrible – so good luck with that). If you have a baby under 4 months throwing up you should get seen by your healthcare provider, they can dehydrate very quickly. I’d maybe keep a pack of the powder on hand if I had a little one — just in case.

Or, try a fancy water bottle they get to use when they’re sick (and won’t spill on their beds while they rest).

Does Sprite help with stomach flu?

It can, but no more than any other clear liquid. Ginger Ale CAN help with nausea (but only if it’s made with actual ginger, which many are not).

No real food for at least 12 hours after vomiting with the stomach flu

That’s right. I REALLY try to stick with clear liquids for 12 hours. If they puke in the morning and seem to be OK by dinner time I may advance them to…

Proceed with Caution on the BRAT diet

• Bananas
• Rice
• Applesauce
• Toast

It’s really anything white and non-fatty (avoid dairy products). Pasta, saltines, pears, or anything of that variety will also work. You still want that stomach to heal. Often I give my kids a small bowl of rice chex to see if they can keep that down.

By breaking my cardinal rules you run the risk of extending the vomiting even longer. Stick with these, tell your kids/husband/yourself that it is helping your stomach heal, (if needed, remind them of how bad the abdominal cramps were), and stick to the plan. Encourage plenty of rest, you can’t really think about food if you’re sleeping.

What to watch for with the stomach flu:

Signs of dehydration to watch for that are worrisome are a lack of tears or wetness in their mouth. Extreme lethargy. Sometimes I try just a medicine dropper to drop in a tablespoon of fluids every hour into them. That seems to be enough to sneak in some fluids without buggin’ the tum-tum.

I push plenty of fluids as the most important thing to prevent symptoms of dehydration, this doesn’t mean a sick person should drink a gallon of water. I think it’s very important to get fluids in and keep them down, this can mean just a tablespoon at a time while the stomach is settling down.

If you go to the hospital, the main thing they’ll try is an IV and I’d like to hold that off for my kids as long as possible. Again, really tiny kids will need to be seen sooner.

Now, vomiting isn’t ALWAYS the stomach flu. Sometimes kids vomit when they have too much mucus in their tummy, cry too much (Princess P is famous for that!), or just want to make your day miserable. So make sure that it’s really their stomach before you start all this.

Either way, after a puke (unless it’s obviously from a cold and a lot of mucus in their tummy, as liquids will help that) I give NO fluids for 1 hour. I make them rest and calm down.

Your washing machine will thank you.

Looking for more family health tips — be sure to check out these posts:

• Stronger Bones, Stronger Women: The Benefits of Strength Training
• 3 Medications for Baby to Have On Hand
• Zion Healthshare Reviews & Why Left Liberty Healthshare
• Apple Cider Vinegar for Itchy Scalp: Also includes Essential Oils & More
• Put Menthol on Feet

Stomach Flu/Food Poisoning FAQ’s

How long does the stomach flu last?

Usually less than 24 hours. The beauty is that you can feel SO sick, and within a day feel almost back to normal (vs a cold, where you can feel miserable for quite a while.

Apple cider Vinegar for the Stomach Flu

I guess this gets googled a lot. It would be like giving a probiotic as it is a fermented food. I certainly wouldn’t take it until I was DONE throwing up. It would not feel good to come up a 2nd time.

How does the stomach flu spread?

It spreads by the products of the stomach flu — so vomit particles and diarrhea. It is quite contagious, the infected person should be very cautious when being around others. When possible avoid close contact with infected people (this can be difficult with a small family member but should be easier with older adults). People of all ages need good hand hygiene. Wash your hands, avoid touching your face, etc. Alcohol hand gels can be a good thing to have on hand and in cars, etc.

Probiotics for the stomach flu

Probiotics would be good to take AFTER you’re done with the stomach flu. It will fill your gut with “good” bacteria!

What to take for the stomach flu?

I don’t recommend any specific medication. You can treat the symptoms, or talk with your doctor.

How contagious is the stomach flu?

It’s pretty darn contagious, so wash your hands well!

How long is the stomach flu contagious?

As long as you have symptoms. That time frame will vary.

If you liked this post, be sure to grab my best family health tips:

The post How to Stop Throwing Up: Proven protocol for the Stomach Flu appeared first on Pulling Curls.

First off, how do I know so much about pediatric coughs? Hello! I’m Hilary — many people know me as The Pregnancy Nurse . I have been a nurse since 1997 and I have but before working labor and delivery, I worked for a busy pediatric office, I am also the curly head behind this website Pulling Curls and The Online Prenatal Class for Couples. ​

It can be painful when your young children start showing cold symptoms like a sore throat, runny nose, and persistent cough. If you are trying to stay away from cough suppressants like over the counter cough medicine and cough drops, this is one of those home remedies that has worked for our family several times on older children and small children.

Wait, you want me to put it where?

And by it — I mean a menthol rub. I also like that this one is a bit more “natural”.

Yes, put it on your feet.  Slather it on, like you wish you could butter your toast.  That’s right, nice and goopy.  Now put a pair of socks on over it.  These should probably not be your favorite socks, but in my history I’ve been able to wash them just fine. With younger children, this is a great way to use those unmatched socks that you haven’t gotten rid of yet.

Then, go to sleep.

Sure, hydrate, turn on a hot shower and sit in a steamy bathroom, grab a cool-mist humidifier but somehow the thing that fixes my cough the quickest is this one.

Most providers do NOT recommend cough suppressants for young children (and often sometimes even adults), so this is a nice thing that you can “do” without getting all that medicine in thei little bodies.

There are different types of coughs. Now, I’m talking a hacking, dry cough that keeps you awake in the middle of the night for no good reason. If you have a productive, wet cough (aka, you’re coughing stuff up) this may not work as well as your body is trying to keep itself from drowning.

I’ve tried it on my kids many times, and on myself.  I’m not going to say that it works 100% of the time for a nighttime cough, but enough that I still try it with fairly good success of a better night’s sleep.

It’s a good idea to make sure you are keeping an eye on your child’s symptoms. If you are noticing they have a high fever that won’t come down with over the counter medications or difficulty breathing you will want to contact your child’s doctor to make sure it isn’t something more serious like upper respiratory tract infections or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Both will need medical attention.

Child Cough FAQ’s

Q: Other than menthol, what is a good home remedy a cough?

A: You can always try a warm shower for the moist air to help with a dry throat. You can also try things like warm liquids and chicken soup. These might bring more comfort than actually curing the cough.

Q: Are cough syrups safe for children?

A: Make sure that you are reading the label of the cough medicine that you are purchasing to ensure that you are getting the right kind of the age of your child. If you have any questions at all, make sure you contact your healthcare provider.

Q: How do I know if the type of cough my child has needs medical care?

A: I wouldn’t suggest immediately going to the emergency department if your child has a cough, but you can contact your doctor to see if you should bring them in to be seen.

Have you tried this?  Don’t miss out my ear infection, fever, or strep throat posts also. It’s tough being a mom with sick kids, get all the information you can!

The post Put Menthol on Feet appeared first on Pulling Curls.

, podiatrical isn’t a word.

Because feet are SO important this is one of my favorite Disneyland Tips posts (be sure to check in there for ideas on saving money, what to do when it’s busy, even matching Disney shirts).

Of course, the best tip for happy feet is to wait in line less — which you can do with my Disney day planner:

Hi, I’m Hilary — I’m a Disneyland pro, I’m also overweight, have plantar fasciitis and my feet hurt (to quote napoleon Dynamite’s Lips “real, real bad” when I’m at Disneyland — so, I want to give you my BEST tips to happy feet at the happiest place on earth.

First — let’s talk about the #1 question:

How Do I Stop My Feet Hurting at Disneyland?

I think it’s a combination of the right footwear, stretching both in advance and during your visit, and appropriately timed breaks.

But, there’s a WHOLE lot to it besides that (including this new tape I found) so, let’s jump into this — we’re going to cover footwear, chaffing, socks, stretching, and even something new I’m just trying (and my experience is similar to the studies I’ve seen on it).

Best tip: I LOVE staying at a walkable hotel, and talking through what we want with Get Away Today is one of my favorite tips. Remember you can save an extra $10 (online or on the phone) with CURLS10. And yes, I have used them since 1998.

I also just did a post on the best hotels with shuttle service.

Foot Care for a Good Disney Trip!

When you’re walking tens of thousands of steps over varied terrain, along with LONG waits in line (be sure to pick the best time to go)– let’s keep your feet happy with my top 5 top tips for top toes!

BTW, a lot of this stuff is items I pack for Disneyland, or items I bring into the park! Make SURE you have a good bag so you can keep good alignment as well!

Use Great Shoes!

Shoes are the absolute foundation of happy Disney feet.

I wore these for a few years and really liked them.  However, after a LOT of trial and error (I’ve bought a LOT of shoes) — I recommend 3 shoes (these are all sneakers):

• Vionics — like these (I have a few different pair, including some dress shoes and I’ve done well with them every time).
• Hookas like these – I love how lightweight they are. The price is dumb, but it is what it is.
• I have recently REALLY started loving my Sketchers Go Walks — I prefer to get them in a wide (my feet swell at the parks) and they’re SUPER comfy, have a lot of padding – and look nicer than the other two, in my opinion.

GO TO A RUNNING STORE, and try stuff on, it made ALL the difference!

Pro Tip: If your feet are CLOSE to wise, consider getting wide (it may be harder to get, but it’s worth it).

A few tips on shoes at Disneyland:

• Be sure to “wear” them in at home!  Don’t take brand new shoes to Disneyland!
• Don’t take shoes you’re not SURE of to Disneyland — make sure you’ve worn them a LOT before going to the park!
• If you love a pair, but you’re not sure they have enough support — grab an insole to wear with them (Wiiv’s also makes custom insoles made JUST for you!) — but again, try the insole before you take it! NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO TRY SOMETHING NEW!
• I like to alternate footwear so my feet don’t have the same shoes every day — it seems to help!

Shoes are so important, I think they should even be worked in your Disneyland budget!

I REPEAT — DO NOT WEAR NEW SHOES TO DISNEYLAND. ALWAYS make sure to wear the for a few days at home in advance to know if they “work” and to break them in!

Should you wear flip flops at Disneyland?

I know a lot of people love wearing flip flops at amusement parks.

I found a great brand called Wiiv’s that makes custom flip flops with tons of support and quality.  I love mine (and I hate all other flip flop brands) — so, they might be worth checking-out!

However, open-toed shoes do have the issue of strollers running over toes or gettings stepped on, so something to think about.

If you love the freedom of flip flops (especially on hot days with water rides) people sure do love their crocs (but I bought these).

Remove Friction

Glide is a brand name for an anti-chaffing stick.  It  is the most well-known, but there are a few other brands out there as well.

You’d apply this in areas that your shoe or sock is rubbing wrong.

I actually put this between my toes so that there isn’t any painful “fights” between toes. I also put it on the bottom of my socks just to eliminate any extra problems.

I put glide on in the hotel room, but I carry this stuff with me. FYI, I Loooove this stuff if you’ve had friction, really helps it heal fast! I keep some of that in a small contact lens case in my Disney park bag.

It prevents blisters, and just generalized pain due to friction.

It can also be used in any other area — like I talk about a bit in my Overweight at Disneyland post.

** I also found that there is a Disneyworld rash…. true story?

Carry moleskin for happy Disney feet

I carry a strip of moleskin and a small pair of scissors in my Disneyland bag (btw Knotts was unamused by my child safety scissors and wanted me to take them back to my car — so something to be aware of at theme parks).

It is a more substantial way to stop any rubbing on your feet.

It has come in handy a few times, and isn’t very large, so I love having it in there.

You can also carry the pre-formed kind (but they don’t work as well with kids, in my estimations). I have also used duct tape to cover any areas that are starting to rub with good luck. It doesn’t come off as fast (and it’s easier to rip off).

Rest Frequently for happy Disney feet

Don’t feel like you have to go, go, go.  That makes the Disney magic leave really quick.  Sit down.  Have a snack, people watch.  Consider what you’d like to do the rest of the day.

I love to get a raspberry macaroon and people watch at the Jolly Holiday, there are almost ALWAYS tables available there or at the plaza inn, and it’s a great spot! Pick a place with great food!

I find that the Genie+ helps me to spend less time walking/standing in line — it’s one of my favorite perks of it!

BUT my favorite tip is to have a sit-down restaurant one time during the day (aka, a reservation restaurant). You tend to just sit there longer and enjoy the food (and them bringing you water) for longer at these restaurants. If you’re having a hard time finding one at Disneyland — check out Riverbelle Terrace. I actually really like the food and it’s a little less chaotic than the busy ones, I find.

Stretching & Mobility Training for Happy Disney Feet

Guys, I saw some tik-tockers talking about mobility training, so I looked at some youtube videos on it — especially HIP mobility videos. They’ve been a GAME changer. No more back pain, no more foot pain. Yes, a day at Disney still puts me to my max, but it’s HUGE. I can’t recommend enough to start NOW to change your hips to get you ready!

I often stretch while I am in line, and I don’t care what other people think, because I get so miserable if I don’t.

Doing some quick mobility training and stretching in the morning at your hotel can also be really helpful!

Here’s a quick mobility training video to start with:

Use Drugs

Sometimes we say it’s our “feet” when in reality it is all the muscles of our feet/legs. Some people swear by Magnesium, or tonic water. Might be worth trying it if it super miserable.

I have also tried some essential oils for my sore muscles and found some good luck with it.

I talk a bit about all these kinds of things in my restless legs post.

But, I try to take an ibuprofen or an alieve with my lunch. It doesn’t seem like it will do a lot, but it can help a LOT. I’m always glad when I remember.

You also soak your feet in epsom salts at night!

Pro tip: Always take that with some food in your stomach, don’t forget I’m a nurse too!

Let’s Talk Socks

I think that socks are underrated in the footwear game. First off, I always have an extra pain.

I like to throw a pair of thin socks in my bag. They don’t take up much room. That way if my other socks get wet or are somehow rubbing wrong I can try some new socks without much ordeal. It’s also come in luck to share these sucks with a friend or kid at the park.

But, a new thing I’ve tried are:

Compression Socks for Disneyland:

I had worn compression socks as a nurse and knew they’d help — but how annoying would they be at Disneyland? Well — I’m here to tell you that they are a GAME CHANGER.

I sometimes wear full leg ones like the ones I linked to above.

But I also really like to wear cushier (is that a word?) regular socks (love these) and then some compression sleeves to help my calves!

Bonus: These socks actually have compression in your foot area and you can pear them with sleeves if you like the idea of having them separate.

What to Do If It’s Raining

It was POURING last time I was at Disneyland, and I REALLY didn’t want wet feet & shoes, so I bought a pair of these and just LOVED THEM.

I mean, LOVED. THEM.

Are they crazy sturdy? no. But I needed to wear my good supporting shoes, and also keep them dry — and that type of thing worked great. Honestly, if I had gotten a lower silicon shoe cover, I think rain would’ve gotten into our shoes and it woudn’t have been as helpful. I did get my son a pair that were too big (he wouldn’t answer my text about his shoe size), which was annoying — so definitely go by your shoe size.

They were easy to fit in our bags & luggage, and easy to put on/take off when it rained.

If it’s warm and you don’t mind the wetness but don’t want sopping shoes grab these. They’ll protect your foot well, while also being quick to dry when the rain is over.

Pro tip: Don’t forget about the lockers. They’re not too pricey and you can always store your “good shoes” in them while it’s raining, and then stash rain gear in it once it’s done.

Kinesiology Tape for Happy Feet

Ok, I am skeptical of this stuff — when I first tried it I had NO idea how it would work (but I’d seen it in my work in pregnancy and the studies are legit). So, I tried some on my last visit. GUYS — 100% game changer and I literally have NO IDEA WHY. But it stayed on for all 3 days in the park (there was a bit of rolling, but it wasn’t bothersome, and the rest of the tape stayed put.

I know you can buy the tape alone, but I really liked this kind (they sent it to me, full disclosure — but I am buying my own for my next trip).

Again, no idea how it works — but it did!

How do you recover your feet after Disney?

After a long day at the parks make sure to elevate your feet (aka, lay on your bed) and some light massage may help. I also recommend doing some stretching and mobility training every night after the parks. It will make your morning a lot better!

If you have any chaffed spots I like to put this on it.

Why do feet swell at Disney?

Beyond the simple matter of gravity where the fluids in your body have a hard time returning to your upper body when you’re upright all day, you’re also consuming more salty foods and possibly not hydrating as well during your visit. Fixes for this include compression stockings, increased hydration, and elevating feet when possible.

Ok, so let’s review my whole:

Disney Foot Care Routine:

1. Wake-up and stretch (I am not kidding about mobility training guys, start it today)
2. Apply Kinesiology tape (if not previously on). Make sure your leg is dry and you don’t have lotion on before putting it on.
3. Apply anti-chafing stuff between toes, and on sides of feet (or wherever you have issues)
4. Put on your compression sock(s)
5. Wear great shoes
6. Stretch while I’m in line when possible (fun if you get your whole group to do it too)
7. If you have an opportunity to sit down, take it (don’t stand around chatting or eating… find somewhere to sit — bonus points if you can prop your legs up).
8. Stay hydrated, everyone’s more unhappy when they’re not drinking enough
9. Take an ibuprofen at lunch
10. Try to have a longer sit-down meal mid-day to rest your legs

That’s it!

Tips for Standing in Line at Theme Parks that Save Your Back and Feet During Your Park Day

Honestly, this is the worst part for me. LOTS of standing in tight spaces like a line where you’re not flexing your feet or calves much.

My best tip is to grab onto the bars, stick your bum out and then lean back — that can really help stretch your back and arms out — like child pose in yoga.

You can also use the bar to help you get into a good squat (and then pull yourself up easily). This can help flex those feet and calves in a way that gives them relief.

I find that compression socks helps this quite a lot too — as it helps push that fluid that collects in your legs as you stand still, back up to towards your heart.

If you liked this post, be sure to grab my Disney packing list — and check out my other Disney posts below that!

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 Disney Feet: 7 Tips for The Happiest Feet on Earth appeared first on Pulling Curls.

You’ve spent your whole life using your boobs to look good in tight t-shirts, lure men, and feed babies. Then, 40 comes along. What the heck — someone wants to squish them and take some ugly black and whites of them? Getting your first mammogram can be a little scary. My baseline was an abnormal mammogram and I really wanted to write up a post about my journey and how it all went.

First off, you should be getting your lady parts checked up each year. This includes annual mammograms.

Even if you don’t need a pap smear (they keep changing the rules for those in a monogamous relationship), you still need to check your uterus and ovaries. Ovarian cancer is a silent killer. Yes, the exam is uncomfortable (that’s the one where their hand is inside and they press on your belly) — which is when they’re feeling your ovaries. But worth it.

Side note: My exam, this time, was done by a newbie resident. She came into the room for my check-up and I told her I’d be happy to have her do my pap and exam. I got the sense she hadn’t used a speculum much. But, always be open to having a resident perform exams on you! They have to learn some way. Sadly, I could tell her exactly how she was using the speculum wrong. Somehow I’ve turned into that woman.

Anyway, at that same check-up, my doctor ordered a baseline screening mammogram. Be sure that your health care provider writes “screening” on it so that your insurance is likely to cover it. Obamacare in the United States (as it stands now — in September of 2016) requires coverage of SCREENING mammograms, but not diagnostic mammography. That will come into play later on.

After our forever-long summer trip, I scheduled my first screening mammogram with the radiology clinic. I was set to go after a 4-hour computer training at work — which, I think is actually against the Geneva Convention, but I digress. The place is right next to my work and I really love to consolidate my time.

I went in, and checked in. They had nice gowns and a place to store your valuables while you get it done. They did let me take my phone back with me.

Hence, the sweet Instagram shots. #pullingcurlsgetsamammogram

{side note : There was LITERALLY A haboob (dust storm) at the time I walked in. Is that a good or a bad sign:?}

You put your boob as noted in this fine photo:

The mammography technologist places your breast, as well as your arms just how they need them, then they tell you not to breathe and take the breast images. I would guess that each picture takes less than 30 seconds of total squishing time.

Frankly, it did not hurt at all.

Uncomfortable, yes. Painful. Not at all.

My kids have done WAY worse things to my breasts than a routine breast cancer screening. Not to mention the sag they created.

** I will say that if you’re at the wrong point in your menstrual cycle where your breasts are exceptionally tender, I would re-schedule. I tend to only have 1-2 days of that, and otherwise, I think I’d be fine.

But, I also know women who say it is the most painful thing they’ve ever experienced. I would, personally, put a pap smear as WAY more painful.

Anyway, they take shots of each side. They also put a little marker on my right breast so the radiologist can tell which is the right and which is the left breast.

Then, you’re done.

At my clinic, I was able to get my results if I was willing to wait a few minutes.

Sadly, I got the results that they didn’t like my pictures and they wanted me to come back for additional testing.

In a week.

Abnormal Mammogram: 2nd Shots

Of course, this time, it would be a DIAGNOSTIC mammogram. Aka, my insurance isn’t going to waive my giant deductible for that one. After calling around to about 800 people, I finally decided to let it run through my insurance as I was only going to pay a few dollars less as a cash patient and I would not be able to apply it to my deductible if I did that (and since I was facing possible breast cancer I decided that was best).

Anyway, a week later (after trying to shove all my nerves down) I went back in.

The second process was similar to regular mammograms, but they tilted the table a few different ways (both vertical and horizontal). This mammogram did apply a bit more pressure than my previous mammogram. I found it to be slightly more uncomfortable (but again, not painful). I think they did 3 shots of each boob and these often included more of my armpit than the initial one — likely to check the nodes.

My sweet mammogram tech did show me what they were looking for. While my initial mailed results said I had dense breasts tissue, I actually had possible calcifications (or possibly the beginnings of cancer — which is why I had to get the second one). They are SUPER small white dots, and mine were on both sides, right behind my nipple. You can read up a lot on calcifications and how they decide if they’re OK.

They initially said I would likely need an ultrasound after the 2nd mammogram, but the tech said that they don’t do ultrasounds for calcifications. The 2nd mammogram would show if it was benign or the next step would be a biopsy {heart drop}.

The good news is that mine came out fine. I’m supposed to get a follow-up in 6 months instead of the regular yearly mammograms. Yay.

The other good news is that this is my baseline mammographic screening. In future mammograms they’ll already have the diagnostic one to show if they are increasing in number/size, etc. Since I had never had one before this, it was important that I have the baseline mammography.

Mammogram Tips:

1.  Wear a two piece outfit. You’re able to keep your pants/skirt, etc — but I was sort of surprised by all the women wearing a dress, I bet it makes it more awkward for the tech as they have to really adjust your body to get in the right position.
2. Check your family history. I knew that my mom had issues with calcifications before, so when mine came back with it, I was less concerned (but I won’t lie that I didn’t have SOME concern). If you have a strong family history of breast cancer you may need to have mammograms at an earlier age.
3. Talk to friends, find out their experience. My friend, Dani, also had the exact same thing happen to her a few months earlier so it was really nice to have already heard her story.
4. Again, make sure your healthcare provider bills it as a SCREENING mammography instead of diagnostic imaging. Of course, if your provider has found a lump or you have odd breast pain then it would be a diagnostic one. But a routine mammogram should be billed as a screening one.
5. Baseline screening at 40. If you don’t have a family history of younger women with a breast cancer diagnosis,and you’re in good health you shouldn’t need an earlier screening. Typically annual screening mammograms begin at the age of 40. Just go get it done, your family will thank you for it!

Anyway, now it’s done and off my plate for a few months. It feels so good to get something like this done!

Annual screenings don’t replace breast self-exams. Self-exams are one of the best early detection of breast cancer.

Know that needing further testing is common. It’s hard to stay calm but try to and make sure you get back in as soon as possible to reduce the stress.

If you have breast implants make sure you let them know when you schedule your appointment.

If you liked this post, be sure to sign up for all my TMI posts to come straight to your email.

And check out all my health posts right here:

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The post Abnormal Mammogram: My Baseline Screening at 40. appeared first on Pulling Curls.

If you’re looking for more posts like this — check out my post on talking to kids about sex.

As always, this content is just for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice.

Can You Pee With a Tampon In?

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer, let’s talk about what tampons are and why it’s ok/possible to pee with them in.

Definition of a Tampon

A tampon is an absorbent material compressed.  You insert it into the opening of your vagina where it soaks up any blood that comes out from your period.

How do you put in a tampon?

Tampons are placed in your vagina.  But first, let’s talk about your 3 holes — some basic anatomy.  And yes, I have had this talk with women in labor — so I’d certainly have it with any new tampon user.

So, going from front to back in medical terms — you have a:

• Urethra — where you pee out of (this is just back from your pubic bone)
• Vagina — where the baby comes out, or blood when you’re on your period
• Rectum — where poop comes out

A tampon will go in the middle hole.  While the drawing above isn’t true to size, the vagina is much larger and more flexible than the urethra or the rectum.  If you were to try to place it in either of those holes it would be quite painful as they are too small for such an item.

I think it’s helpful to have seen your anatomy before you put it in.  Feel free to use a mirror to see where each of the holes is and where you need to aim.

Can I still pee if I have a tampon in?

Yes, as you note above, pee comes out of a separate hole from where you place the tampon.

You MAY get wet strings (you can pull them to the side as you pee), and many women change their tampon when they pee (as you don’t want to leave it in too long — see below where I talk about how long you can leave it in), which is also safe.

My Tampon Gets Filled with Urine

My GUESS, and only as an OB nurse who deals with that area of the body a lot — you aren’t pushing the tampon up high enough. If you push it all the way in, it shouldn’t be in the way of urine.

Also, your string may be hanging into the flow of urine (it’s fine to bundle that up and push it up into your vagina as well). It could wick-up some moisture, but it shouldn’t be filling the tampon with urine.

You may also want to talk to your lady-parts doctor next time you see him/her.

As you can tell from that photo, the vagina is sort of in line with your leg (in that extends backwards rather than straight up).  So, you want to point the tampon towards your lower back as you insert.

Two unlikely problems:

If you’ve had a baby or other vaginal surgeries there is a chance that your urethra has somehow sprung a leak into your vagina. I believe that this is called a urogenital Sinus (where the vaginal wall has some trauma and opens up to the urethra. Again, VERY rare. Very unlikely to be the cause.

Some people say that they have difficulties holding their urine when a tampon is in. This could be due to weak pelvic floor muscles that allow the bladder or uterus to fall into the vaginal canal. This would be due to how a tampon would support those organs and keep those organs “up” and out of the way when it’s in — which may change how you prevent the flow or urine. You would want to talk with your provider if you’re having this type of incontinence (and likely get a pelvic floor physical therapist consult).

Tampon Insertion

Some tampons come with an applicator (some do not, but most girls find the tampon applicator helpful the first few times, in order to get it in far enough to be comfortable).

1.  Place the tip of the tampon in your vagina using your thumb and pointer fingers holding the end of the tampon (before the plunger part).
2.  Once the tampon portion is in up to your fingers — use your pointer finger to push the plunger part of the applicator.  That will push the tampon part up in your vagina.
3. It will hurt more as you have it in if you don’t push it up all the way, so don’t be timid as you push it up (but also, be gentle and slow if it’s your first time)
4. It will have little strings hanging out from the bottom that you will pull to remove (you just pull down on those strings to get the tampon out)
5. Throw the applicator in the trash (it cannot be flushed) — that includes both the plunger part (that moves in and out) AND the covering of the tampon itself.  Only the compressed cotton/absorbent stuff should stay inside.

This process may be uncomfortable and a bit “scratchy” — but should not be extremely painful (unless you have very little pain tolerance)

It will fill up a large portion of your vagina up to the cervix, which is the bottom of your uterus.

It will catch blood and hang out there until you take it out.

Tips for beginner tampon users

1.  Use an applicator — use one that talks about “smooth glide” as those really are easier to put in.  They may be more expensive but are worthwhile when you’re learning to use it.  Later you can try the cheaper kind or even ones without an applicator (which take up less room in your bag). FYI without an applicator, you just use your middle finger to push it up there.
2. Some people find it helpful to use one hand to spread your labia minora/majora to widen the vaginal opening.
3. Tampons can be placed with one foot on the toilet, or sitting on the toilet, whichever seems easier to you is fine
4.  Buy the smallest tampon in the beginning.  You may need to replace it more frequently, but it will be easier to put in. See the ones I recommend below.
5. As you’re learning how to get it in correctly, still wear a pad, pantyliner or period underwear as you may have some leaking from improper placement
6. Well-used tampons are much easier to take out than a dry one.  I would recommend trying a tampon on a day that you have a larger blood flow as the blood will sort of lubricate the area and make it less painful.

Best Tampons to Buy:

• First-time users I would recommend a plastic applicator
• Want something easy to tuck in your purse — a lot of people love the OB brand.

**If you’re looking for help broaching other sensitive topics — check out my post on talking to kids about sex.

Can you poop with a tampon in?

You can.  It’s a little bit different as the rectum is right along your vagina.  If you have a big bowel movement it is possible it may dislodge your tampon and you need to put a new one in.  Bearing down when you’re constipated can also move tampons.  However, a tampon will not stop you from pooping.

How long can I leave a tampon in for?

The maximum time you should have a tampon in is eight hours.

I usually recommend trying to remove it at 6.  For high school girls, think a tampon before school, change it at lunch and again after school.  That way you are safe.

Every time you place a tampon, you need to remove it within 8 hours. Most people tend to have the tampon fill with period blood before the 8 hours when they’re up and moving around.

Leaving a tampon in too long can cause toxic shock syndrome where staph can create toxins that can make you very sick.

Tips to prevent TSS from ToxicShock.com

• Always use a tampon with the lowest absorbency suitable for your period flow — the higher absorbency ones have a higher risk
• Use a sanitary towel or panty liner from time to time during your period — often, a night it’s better to just wear a pad or period underwear
• Wash your hands before and after inserting a tampon — that way you’re not shoving other bacteria and you’re keeping the process as clean as possible.
• Change tampon regularly, (you can read more about it on the pack) — usually by 8 hours (but I recommend 6)
• If you use a tampon at night, put it in right before you go to sleep, and remove it when you wake up
• Make sure you remove the tampon at the end of your period.

In all reality, TSS isn’t all that common, not really a big problem — but something to be aware of. TSS cases are actually pretty small for all the information they give you in a box of tampons!

If you happen to have a bacterial vaginosis or other infection of your vagina — do not use a tampon until you are healed.

Is it OK to sleep with a tampon in?

Yes, most people sleep 8 hours, so it fits in that window.

BUT, night time is a good time to give your vagina a rest and use a maxi pad or period underwear.

What do I do if I left a tampon in too long?

Just watch for flu-like symptoms.

Like I said, TSS isn’t all that common, but it is certainly something to watch for.  If you get a fever you need to call your healthcare provider ASAP.

Tampon Faq’s

Are tampons flushable?

The actual TAMPON part is usually flush-able depending on the septic system you’re using.  Check the packaging for more info on each brand.

The applicator (if using one) should be placed in the garbage (you can put it back in the wrapper to cover it)

Do Tampons hurt?

A)  Tampons can be uncomfortable to put in, but it shouldn’t be extremely painful.

B)  If you have placed your tampon and it is still quite painful you likely haven’t gotten it high enough.  You can either use your finger to push it higher or remove it and try again.

I can feel my tampon

You might feel it in there but if it’s uncomfortable, it is likely that it isn’t high enough — you can use your finger to push it higher or take it out and try a new one. Sometimes you’ll feel it when you stand, and that may mean it’s full and you need to replace it with a new product.

Yeast infection with a tampon?

I wouldn’t recommend using a tampon if you have a yeast infection.

Bladder Infections with a Tampon?

Tampons should not cause bladder infections, but they can make your urethra extra sensitive. The risk of infection would be in your vagina, not where your pee comes from.

Tampon saturated with urine

Tampons aren’t placed in your urethra, so they aren’t getting the flow of urine on them when you pee unless they are sticking out of your vagina.

If that is the case, try to get it higher when you push it up.

Also, some women think it’s a good idea to keep the tampon string tucked up just inside the vagina so you don’t get a wet string when you pee or wipe with toilet paper.  That is OK, just make sure you don’t tuck it high enough that you can’t get it out.

Can a tampon easily fall out?

If you use a tampon that is far too small for your vagina, it could possibly.  That is likely only going to happen if you have had children though.

Women who have had many children may not be able to use tampons anymore (due to an enlarged vagina, or possible uterine or bladder prolapse) and may prefer an alternative listed below. FYI any pelvic organ prolapse is when they drop down and fall into your vagina due to weak pelvic floor muscles.

When were Tampons invented?

While women have used things through the ages similarly.

The tampon was patented in 1931 — you can read the history of tampons here.  #fascinating

Alternatives to tampons

• Period pads — I bet you’ve heard of these before. 
• Period Panties — these super absorbent panties can keep your bed clean by absorbing tons of period blod.  You just rinse them out and toss them in the wash.  These get great reviews.
• Menstrual Cups — while these have been around for a while, they seem to have just come into vogue lately.  Make sure you get one that is sized appropriately.  This one seems to be the most popular, but this one guarantees being leak free.  This kind is different, and might be more comfortable for first time users. My friend Katie has a great article on menstrual cups.

Can you pee with a menstrual cup in?

YES.  THREE DIFFERENT HOLES.  Remember!  Your menstrual cup will go in your vagina.  Not your urethra.

Are Tampons Dangerous?

They can be if you don’t use them correctly and make sure you remove them.

But otherwise, no.

Which tampons expand widthways?

That would be the OB kind, most other tampons keep their shape (but absorb fluid, so they do grow a bit).

If you have a heavy menstrual flow the OB kind might hold more (or you may just have to change more frequently).

Which tampons are good for swimming?

All of them are a great option for swimming, and is often the reason why girls want to try them out in the first place.

Just make sure you get them high enough so they aren’t taking on fluid hanging out of your vagina

Where tampons go

Tampons go in your vagina — that’s the middle hole (see picture above).

Where do tampons get stuck

Your tampon goes in your vaginal canal.  The walls of the vagina keep your tampon in through friction.

Tampons should not get stuck, and make sure you remove each tampon and especially at the end of your period!

What are tampons made out of?

This is an important question, and only recently have they started disclosing more on the topic. Check the brand you’re using to see if they tell you (they’re all different).

Will tampons leak

Tampons can leak, they come in many different absorbencies, so pick the one that works for you.  I recommend buying a few brands to see what works best for you.

You should not use two tampons at once.  I would recommend wearing a tampon, and possibly some period panties for extra protection if you have a problem leaking.

Also, change your tampon frequently if you leak.

Will tampons break your hymen

I honestly know very little about the hymen — but this article was helpful.  yes, a tampon may break your hymen, but you will still be a virgin.

Breaking your hymen doesn’t mean you’re not a virgin.  Not having sexual intercourse makes you a virgin (btw, you might like my article about talking to your kids about sex).

Will tampons leak in the pool

Like all other times, tampons can leak.

I would recommend putting a fresh tampon as soon as you get to the pool, and switching it out when you’re done.

Will tampons make cramps worse

I think they do, but honestly that makes no sense.  Cramps are your uterus contracting to get the blood out.

Possibly, by your tampon next to your cervix (the exit of your uterus) it may make it move in a way that is more painful?  I have no idea, but I feel like mine are worse when I have a tampon in.

Will tampons stop bladder leakage

You have 3 holes (as we talked about above).  Tampons go in your vagina — your urethra is where pee comes out.

Some women wear something to help keep your uterus up and that can help with bladder leakage, so I suppose it’s possible, but I wouldn’t use a tampon — and I’d certainly talk to your doctor. Some women may find stress incontinence worse when a tampon is it (because it is irritating their urethra).

Tampons themselves do not cause urinary incontinence though.

Can tampons cause a Urinary Tract Infection?

If you left a tampon in a long time, I suppose it’s possible… BUT again — your tampon doesn’t go into the hole you pee from (your urethra) it goes in your vagina. Learn more about bladder infections in this post.

Why tampons hurt to take out?

I think they often hurt when you’re just at the beginning of your time of the month — when you just have a light flow, or the end of your period when your flow isn’t as heavy.  If it’s quite painful, I would recommend only using a tampon mid-period when it’s absorbing more and it will be easier to take out.

Are tampons meant to feel uncomfortable?

Nope, they shouldn’t be.

Reasons tampons might be uncomfortable:

• You have one that is too large, try a smaller size/absorbancy — or a different brand
• You haven’t pushed it up enough
• You’ve had the tampon in too long and it’s absorbed it’s limit

The good news is that if your tampon is uncomfortable, there are other options.

Are tampons better than pads?

Depends on what you like.  Most girls like tampons because they fear leakage less when wearing a tampon.

Are tampons sterile?

Nope, they should be clean but not sterile.  Your vagina isn’t sterile either.

Tampons while pregnant

You should not wear a tampon while you are pregnant.  If you are spotting, you should just wear a pad.

Tampons when you’re a virgin

Totally fine.  Again, wearing a tampon doesn’t stop you from being a virgin.  Having sex does that.

Tampons will likely be easier to put in when you have sex frequently as your vagina will stretch out a bit.

And, as you have children, your vagina will stretch more — and you may need a different size/brand.

Tampons when trying to conceive

It shouldn’t be problematic, as you’d only wear your tampon when you were on your period, and that isn’t a time to conceive anyway.

Some people are very concerned about the ingredients in tampons, so — that might be something worth exploring

If you liked this post, sign up for my family health tips:

The post Does your tampon fill with urine? Tips for new users. appeared first on Pulling Curls.

You know it, it’s the middle of the night, no one is getting sleep.
Everyone is crying
{screaming baby}….
Oh crap… is it an ear infection, or something else?
{Sigh}
That was a good part of my life with baby #1.  Have you ever lived this situation out in your own home?  Here are some ear infection symptoms to look for!

Ear infections can be SO miserable.  Let’s give you a few things to watch for to know if that might be the problem, especially in non-verbal babies/early toddlers (it’s petty easy to know it’s an ear infection if they can say “my ears hurt” — it’s always so nice once kids can tell you their symptoms!).

Ear infections are caused by fluid collecting behind the ear drum (often from a cold or allergies)  and then bacteria/viruses growing in there.  It causes the ear drum to bulge and that’s painful.

Ok, how do I know all this?

Well, long before I worked labor and delivery, I worked phone triage for a huge pediatric office.  I also worked their late night emergency clinic.  It was a GREAT job for a person to learn a lot about children’s health.  I feel really blessed to have been able to learn all that I did, and now I can share those lessons with you!

What does an ear infection feel like?

1. Ear Pain — like down your ear, your tympanic membrane bulging making the area around it hurt
2. Throat pain — a lot of times it hurts in your throat.  Your throat and ears are SO close together, it can feel like it hurts all over
3. Gland pain — your glands are located on both sides of your neck, and they can bulge and hurt as well

Even though we all feel our ear, throat, and neck as distinct places — our body doesn’t always distinguish where the pain is — so all/some of those places can hurt with an ear infection.

Kids may say their neck hurts, when it’s an ear infection as well — beacuse in reality it’s all very close together.

Ear Infection Symptoms in Babies:

Pulling at their ears is an ear infection symptom

This one SEEMS like it makes sense, but a lot of kids pull their ears when they’re tired or their throat hurts or sometimes even when they find a lot of joy in pulling at their ears.  This isn’t a tell-tale, but often when done WHILE whining or doing it out of character along with the other two can be a sign…

Cry when you lay them down is an ear infection symptom

This isn’t when you lay them down in their crib.  This is when they lay down on your lap or on the couch by you.  The fluid behind their eardrum is especially painful when they lay down — that’s what causes this.

Cry when they’re eating is an ear infection symptom

Babies often cry when they’re eating, but when they have an ear infection, they’ll take a few hungry sucks and then start to cry.

This was usually the more tell-tale sign for me.  If they only have an irritated throat they’ll cry on the first suck.  Again, this is because the fluid behind their ears (you have to remember that ears and throat are REALLY close in a baby) moves in a way that irritates them after those first couple of sucks.

It will also hurt more to eat laying down (see above) than if you sit them up and have them eat.

Ear infection cures:

Studies seem to show that ear infections are frequently viral.  That means that antibiotics aren’t helpful for them.  BUT, in kids under 2-3, most of the time your provider will recommend an antibiotic.  However, after age 3, or so, you might want to consider holding off.

I’m a huge proponent of not using antibiotics unless you REALLY need to!

Personally, I will ask my provider to give me a script, and then watch them for a couple of days.  If the ear pain gets considerably worse or they’re just not getting better, then we can start it at my discretion.

NOTE:  I’m talking about an inner ear infection.  That means infection behind your eardrum.  You can also have an outer-ear infection (often you talk about that as “swimmer’s ear”) that is treated with topical drop.

There are drops you can use to help make the eardrum less painful.  I have yet to find one that works well for us, but I have friends that rave about them.

El Presidente got tubes after an ear infection that was taking months to get rid of.  They usually recommend tubes after either repetitive ear infections or ones that won’t go away.  Just one or two isn’t an indication that tubes are worthwhile — be sure to ask your doctor any questions you have, though!

Home Remedies for Ear Infections:

The main home remedy is to help them feel better.

The main thing I’ve ever had luck with is some mild heat on that side.  So, take a warm microwaveable heat pack and just lay on it.  That helps quite a lot.

Clearly, Tylenol or Ibuprofen can help as well (check with your doctor to make sure they’re safe to take).

If you’ve ever used something else to treat an ear infection, I’d love to know in the comments!

Essential Oils for Ear Infections:

Personally, the only thing I’ve ever had luck with is some lemon oil below my ear area and down onto my neck.  I would guess, because it smells lemon-y you could also try Pain Ease.

Note:  I would dilute both of those into a roller bottle with some type of carrier oil (I usually use fractionated coconut oil).

To make a roller bottle, you decide how concentrated you want the oil to be (I usually eyeball about 1/3 essential oil to 2/3 carrier oil in the roller bottle).  BUT, it depends on how “hot” the oil feels so you might want to consult where you purchased the oil.

Roller bottles save you MONEY, but using less of the more-expensive essential oil, AND they make it easier to use the oil as it spreads better over your body.

How can you know if your child has an ear infection?

The #1 best thing to know if your child has an ear infection is buying an otoscope and using it frequently to know what a normal eardrum looks like, vs an infected one.

I wish I had bought this otoscope when my first was little.  It would’ve saved a lot of co-pays.

PRO TIP with Otoscopes:  The key is looking in their ears frequently (especially when they’re feeling fine) to figure out how to do it and what their normal eardrum looks like.  The beauty about that otoscope is that it comes with a guide of what to look for.  Super handy!

The reason I write these types of articles is to prevent unnecessary visits to your pediatrician.  Any more, whenever I call I feel like they tell me to just come in.

The reality is that there are a LOT of childhood illnesses that do NOT need to be seen by a doctor.  It just isn’t a good use of your health care dollar.  That’s my perspective, but there’s nothing wrong — if you’re concerned, to have your doctor take a peek at your child.  An ear infection can easily turn into an eye infection as well.

As always NEVER take any advice given here over the advice of your doctor and if you are concerned you should always seek help from a healthcare professional.

Related Post:  How to cure the stomach flu.

If your child has a fever be sure to check out children’s fever — that post is super informational!

If you’re looking for more tips on keeping your family health, be sure to sign up for my family health newsletter — and check out my other tips below:

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The post What does an ear infection feel like? Symptoms, in babies, adults and cures! appeared first on Pulling Curls.

There are special kinds of pain that make you want to crawl out of your body and find a new place to live.  A raging bladder infection or UTI is one of those.  It is just such an uncomfortable spot and nothing makes it better.  Let’s talk UTI’s today.

UTI stands for Urinary Tract Infection — usually a bladder infection, but can also be a kidney infection (or both).

Hi, I’m Hilary — many people know me as The Pregnancy Nurse . I have been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of OB nursing experience, I am also the curly head behind this website Pulling Curls and The Online Prenatal Class for Couples. ​ I also worked for a pediatrician (where we saw a lot of little girls with UTI’s). Between that and OB, it’s a LOT of UTI’s — so it’s a specialty of mine.  That’s why you know this is info you can trust.  You can see all my family health posts here.

Go ahead and listen to my podcast on bladder leakage if you’re wondering what’s normal:

How do I know if I have a bladder infection?

UTI’s come for a variety of reasons and the majority have nothing to do with things you’re doing.

Things can make you get a UTI:

Bubble baths — they can increase your chance of getting a UTI, usually in younger children especially little girls (which is why mine has never experienced a bubble bath)

Being pregnant — pregnant women have increased chances of getting a UTI, and if you have one you do need to get it treated right away as it can cause your uterus to contract.  It’s one of the things I talk about in my Free Beginning Prenatal Class.

If you’re sexually active.  Virgin girls tend to frequently get UTI’s on their Honeymoon (because they have gone their whole life celibate and then have large amounts of sexual intercourse in a small time period).  Peeing after sexual activity helps, as the flow of urine helps clear that area out of any bacteria introduced. Also, certain types of in-vagina birth control (condoms, diaphragms and some spermicides) are risk factors that make you more likely to get a UTI.

Not emptying your bladder frequently.  I have a lot of pride in my ability to hold my pee for long periods of time, but it’s not smart.  It can make your bladder less likely to fully empty (another cause of UTI’s) and that urine sitting in there for long time periods has a larger chance for bacterial growth.

Not drinking enough water.  This is HUGE.  Getting plenty of fluids just helps flush out your bladder and kidneys.  Super important!

Being a woman — ladies have an increased risk of getting UTI’s much more frequently. Especially before the prostate ends up being an issue. The woman’s anatomy just has a shorter urethra, so it’s a shorter distance for bacteria to head on up to your bladder vs a man’s urethra (which is longer)

Being a man with prostate issues.  Mainly because the bladder doesn’t empty fully with each urination.  Sometimes you can empty your bladder more if you bear down (like you’re having a BM) at the end of your urination.

Diabetes: Since you’re likely to have some sugar in your urine it’s a festival for a bacterial infection to grow and thrive.  #bacteriakegger

Catheters:  Having urinary catheters with your epidural at delivery, or for any other reason — you’re more likely to get a UTI.

Urinary Anatomy — since the urinary system is just a bunch of holding areas, filtering areas and tubes, it’s easy for some part of the urinary tract to get out of wack — twist and be problematic.

Looking for more family health tips — be sure to check out these posts:

• The Headache Remedy That Works
• Stronger Bones, Stronger Women: The Benefits of Strength Training
• Appendicitis Tales: Inside the Mind of a Nurse Turned Patient
• 3 Medications for Baby to Have On Hand
• Semaglutide and Strength Training: Wins, Struggles, and Surprises

Signs of a UTI

1. Burning when you pee — right as soon as the urine is done coming out you feel a burning sensation (this can be mild, especially at first, and then get worse).  Usually felt in your bladder area.  You may also frequently feel achy in that area.
2. Frequency — that means you feel like you need to pee ALL the time (hard to detect in pregnancy, but all of the sudden needing to pee a whole lot more than you used to, with no change in your water intake can be a sign of a UTI)
3. Blood in your urine — Unless it’s that time of the month, then it’s harder to tell.
4. Back pain around your kidney area — your flank and lower back area
5. Fever — usually only when a high fever starts to get really bad, or heads to your kidneys.  This can be super miserable.  Don’t miss my full post all about fever.

**All of these UTI symptoms can also be signs of a kidney stone.  However, they are treated differently.  Kidney stones are not an infection and are treated differently.

BTW, if “urgency” is the issue — like once you have to pee, you have to pee BAD — I did a podcast with a PT that talks a bit about that:

Looking for more family health tips? — be sure to check out these posts:

• Zion Healthshare Reviews & Why Left Liberty Healthshare
• Sore Throat vs STREP throat: How to tell the difference
• Apple Cider Vinegar for Itchy Scalp: Also includes Essential Oils & More
• How to Stop Throwing Up: Proven protocol for the Stomach Flu
• Put Menthol on Feet

What to do about a UTI

**Never take anything you’ve read on Pulling Curls over the medical advice of your health care provider. Please seek medical attention if you have any of these common symptoms and think you have a urinary infection.**

 Call your doctor – see if you can just bring in a urine sample for them for a urine test. A lot of doctors are going to probably want to see you for a physical exam, so you can also buy urine testing strips on Amazon if you get recurrent UTIS (they are the same strips we use in the office, and it’s easy to tell the results).   Unfortunately most actual CURES of a UTI do need to be prescribed by your provider.

Drink more water.  It doesn’t make sense.  Sometimes it burns so bad when you pee — but the more you DON’T drink plenty of water the WORSE it is.  You want to keep flushing out the kidneys and bladder to keep everything healthy.

Prescription pain relief, you can ask your doctor to also prescribe a medication called Pyridium that really helps.  It’s like Tylenol for your bladder.  Note: It turns your urine BRIGHT orange.  So, be sure to clean your toilet when it’s done.

Over the counter relief is available.  I haven’t tried it, so I am not sure if it works as well as Pyridium, but I have heard good things about this one.  That’s what my doctor recommends.  Either way, you shouldn’t let a festering UTI go.  You really do need to see a doctor and get on something.  If it goes to your kidneys it can be really bad and make you really sick (possibly with long-term consequences and health conditions, your kidneys are very important).

Either way, if you have any symptoms of a bladder infection and think you have a UTI I am sorry. They are miserable.  A few final thoughts:

Don’t take some leftover antibiotics for a UTI.  It gets different antibiotics and needs a long enough time-frame to totally get rid of it — otherwise, it will come back with vengeance (not good).

IF you only have burning on your skin when you pee — it could just be irritation around your urethra (that’s the hole where the urine comes out).  Ask your provider if there is anything he can recommend for that.

One final reminder that you REALLY need to see a healthcare provider for any type of UTI.  It’s not something to mess around with.  Can I say that enough?

I hope you found this post helpful — be sure to grab my #1 essential oil mix that cures a lot of our family’s ailments:

The post How do I Know if I Have a Bladder Infection: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment appeared first on Pulling Curls.

He is like a boil on the butt of humanity…..

A favorite from Steel Magnolias.  Because, I love rashes.

Ok, I don’t.  I just think it’s funny. J

But I do want to talk about skin rashes today.  I get a lot of email from people asking me what I think a rash is.

First off, thank goodness for Google.  I think it’s pretty easy to get on the ol’ Dr Google and try to match your rash with other’s.

Rashes, quite frequently, aren’t something that we want in the doctor’s office.   When we thought it might be something less-savory the doctor would even go out to see it in the person’s car.

 FYI, I worked for a pediatrician doing phone triage for a few years, so that is where the majority of this info comes from.

BTW a lot of times giving information on things like this can feel like mom shaming — I have a favorite podcast on that:

Chicken Pox:

Although rarely seen anymore (thanks to the Varicella immunization) Chicken Pox itches like crazy.  It looks like a red mark about the size of a tip of a pencil eraser, with a  little pimple (or pustule) on the top of it.  It is not usually just in one area, tends to be all over the body, but starts on the trunk (your abdomen/chest/back area).

Roseola and other Viral Rashes

Most viral rashes start as a fever for a day or two (usually pretty high) and then you’ll see the rash break out a few days after that.  Often I’ll have friends who call me concerned about a high fever with no other symptoms and then a few days later I get a text that they have a red rash all over.  They are usually contagious when they have the fever, and no longer contagious once they break out, but most parents don’t love to see a kid with a weird rash at playgroup — so I tend to keep them home until they are looking more normal.

Allergic Rash

These can look many different ways.  Sometimes it’s just redness (with or without a roughness to the skin), sometimes it’s many hives.  They usually itch and I recommend some Benadryl to help with the itching and start to quiet the allergy.

Allergic rashes are most often caused by a change in detergent, something in their sheets, something outside that they rolled in or something that bit them or even something they ate.  All of them are treated the same way (although, if you think it’s the detergent, you might want to change back for a bit to see if helps).

It can also be caused by antibiotics (or any other medicine), so if your child breaks out at the same time they’re on antibiotics, stop giving the medication and call your doctor.

A note on allergic rashes:  My kids tend to get an allergic-type rash more easily when they have a cold or another virus.  Don’t eliminate some particular detergent for good if they are just extra sensitive as their body fights off the virus.  I often try it again once they’re well with no issues.

Also, the majority of rashes are allergic rash.  When I initially see a rash (unless there are other symptoms) I give the kid some Benadryl.  It usually goes away.  If it’s really itchy, I use a little hydro-cortisone cream.

Scarlet Fever

This is a rash caused by strep (the same one that causes strep throat).  It sort of looks like burns all over the child’s body.  This is pretty serious and needs to be treated with antibiotics asap.  It can end-up causing heart issues.  You’d see it with other symptoms of strep like fever, headache, nausea and sore throat.

There are a BUNCH of different rashes, but hopefully this gives you an overview of what to watch for.

Obviously, Measles has been an issue in the US lately.  If you think your child has that, call your doctor immediately.  You can read more about that from the CDC here.

Now, things like Eczema would need to be seen by your doctor, although my friend Kristina at Mother’s Niche has a great post on Eczema how she’s healing it at her house.

Please don’t take the advice of anything here at Pulling Curls, or anywhere else on the internet over the advice of your doctor.  And certainly, if you have a question about a rash, especially if Benadryl isn’t helping – call your doctor!

If you liked informative posts like this, be sure to sign up for my family health newsletter

The post Skin Rashes 101 appeared first on Pulling Curls.