On paper • Insurance card and hospital or birthing center admission paperwork • Photo ID • Several copies of your birth plan (both a detailed and a condensed version, just in case the staff is skimming it in a hurry) Go … Continue reading
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Pregnancy
Smart snacks
You’ve heard it before: Eating small amounts of healthy foods throughout the day rather than indulging in three whopping meals is the way to go. It keeps your belly full, which provides your wee one with a steady flow of nutrients—and … Continue reading
Not your grandmama’s pregnancy
The [arguably] good old days If you found yourself expecting a baby in the 19th century, you might view your condition with limited enthusiasm. Of course, you would hope for a healthy child and a happy future, but precedent would … Continue reading
Dermatological drama
Pregnancy is a beautiful experience, but as your body changes inside and out to accommodate baby, your skin may bear the ugly brunt of it. There are all kinds of epidermal issues affecting the expectant crowd, but with these tips, … Continue reading
Crunch time
If pregnancy exhaustion has taken its toll on your dinner routine (read: You’re eating takeout more often than not because you can’t muster the energy to make a meal) you’ll be relieved to hear a proper supper need not require … Continue reading
The postdelivery party favor
The ultimate multitasker The placenta is a pancake-shaped organ that grows alongside your developing baby from the moment of conception. Connected by the umbilical cord, this complex piece of biological equipment is filled with small blood vessels that act as … Continue reading
Babe’s anatomy
My husband always said that when it came time for babies, he’d want to save the big son vs. daughter surprise for delivery day. A planner by nature and a romantic at heart, I could’ve swayed either way. But by … Continue reading
Getting stronger
You use the drive-thru pharmacy to pick up your prenatal vitamins. You rely on an app to organize your weekly grocery list. You stream movies from the comfort of your sofa. Making things easy and convenient is your M.O., and … Continue reading
Why we nest
“All new mothers have a nesting instinct, even human mothers who haven’t any idea how to build a nest. While human mothers are waiting for their babies to be born, their nesting instinct causes them to do the silliest things, … Continue reading
Hit me with your best shot
For many moms-to-be, pregnancy is one of the most memorable and exciting times in their lives, but for others it can be a period of great confusion and fear. A significant part of that worry can stem from the fact … Continue reading
Pot o’ good
Looking to boost your prenatal diet but haven’t a clue where to start? You’re not alone. When my doctor asked at my first prenatal appointment how my diet was going, I didn’t want to reveal the truth—doughnut for breakfast, burger … Continue reading
Natural high
When Kavita Daswani, mom of two in Los Angeles, went into labor with her first child, she thought she was prepared for natural birth. She wanted a home birth, attended by a midwife, a doula and her acupuncturist. She had … Continue reading
So many questions, so little time
Am I too old to have another baby? Do I have the patience to do it all over again?How will a baby change the dynamic of my blended family? Will I regret nothaving another child in a few years when … Continue reading
Knockin’ boots
Bringing a bump into the boudoir can bring a slew of unexpected concerns to the minds of even the most seasoned vixens. If you’re feeling jittery about jumping in the sack, it’s time to calm your worries, find your hot … Continue reading
Healthy mentality
If you find yourself consuming an extra side of anxiety with that tasty pickle-and-peanut-butter sandwich (did we say balanced diet?), take note: Pregnancy is a prime time to begin meditating. Habitual meditation can ward off any worry you may have … Continue reading
All the single mommies
Just as pop stars take their own unique paths to stardom, moms-to-be often travel varied roads on their journey toward solo parenthood. For some, loudly ticking biological clocks lead to sperm donor catalogs and fertility clinics. For others, spur-of-the-moment one-night … Continue reading
The check-up rundown
For roughly nine months, you will plan your life around prenatal visits. Fifteen-plus trips to the OB’s office might sound kind of overwhelming, but you can exhale: You will not have your feet in stirrups every time. Here’s what to … Continue reading
Oh baby, yes!
I’ve decided on my birth plan,” I told my best friend. I was seven months pregnant, and I’d just finished reading a collection of positive birth stories. While reading, I’d made up my mind. “I’m going to have an orgasmic … Continue reading
Pen your plan
Prebaby to-do lists can be mighty long. There are doctor visits to remember, prenatal vitamins to take, names to consider, gear to purchase, maternity leave to negotiate—oh, and one more tiny thing: There’s a birth plan to write. When I … Continue reading
The super supplement
One of the very first pieces of advice you’re sure to hear once you get that positive pregnancy test (or well before, if you’ve been planning to conceive) is to start popping those prenatals. And there’s a good reason for … Continue reading
In need of a staycation
Book your tripTake time off. Turn on your auto-reply and turn off your ringer! Just like you would for a normal vacation, request a few days off work. If you’re saving up your precious vacay days to tack on to … Continue reading
The great fridge swap
Finding a medical professional or nutritionist who won’t extol the virtues of healthy eating during pregnancy is about as rare as finding a snowflake in the Sahara. And the choices you make for what to stock in your refrigerator can … Continue reading
Mama mettle
For first-time moms, pregnancy is a brand-new frontier. All symptoms and sensations are an education into a novel experience, an induction into a club whose members have existed as long as human beings themselves. As a new recruit into the … Continue reading
Positively pregnant
Your entire world is about to switch directions: You’re going to be a mom. Here’s what you need to do to get ready for the next nine months and beyond. Out with the old There are a few habits that … Continue reading
Get it right
Every expectant mom tries to do what’s best for the growing baby inside her, but with all the different guidelines and opinions floating around the webosphere, knowing what’s right can be confusing. The best rule of thumb: Talk to your … Continue reading
Full disclosure
A lot of unpleasant things can happen on the day baby decides to make her entrance, and many of them are events people don’t discuss in civilized conversation. But in an effort to give you the full uncensored scoop, we’re … Continue reading
Choosing your baby’s gender
When my husband and I were trying to get pregnant, he really wanted a boy. Girls frightened him. A girl meant short skirts and makeup and eager teenage boys picking her up for dates while he looked on in horror. … Continue reading
Mom-to-be inquiries
Dialogue with your healthcare provider forges a valuable relationship. But after vital signs and basic measurements, you may have little time to talk. Under pressure, you’re likely to freeze and forget about many of the things you’ve been meaning to … Continue reading
Bonding from the inside out
According to Diana Lynn Barnes, PsyD, of The Center for Postpartum Health in Sherman Oaks, California, “What the child in utero feels and perceives even before birth begins to shape later expectations and attitudes about himself.” No pressure, right?! While … Continue reading
Blame it on the hormones
Every craving, “mommy brain” moment, unsteady wobble, mountaintop high and abysmal low can be traced back to a gang of microscopic culprits—your hormones. With the exception of producing a few hormones unique to pregnancy, your body shifts into mama-mode by … Continue reading
Season’s eatings
The holiday season is traditionally a time of indulgence, meaning balanced diets typically fly right out the window when faced with a dizzying array of fatty meats, gooey dips, greasy chips and tempting sweets. When it comes to festive spreads, … Continue reading
The truth about pregnancy brain
Mental hiccups commonly known as “pregnancy brain” have become an accepted side effect of human gestation, much like swollen feet or heartburn are expected to be par for the course. Ask any current or formerly pregnant woman if she’s had … Continue reading
Just in case
A slew of thoughts ran through my mind when I found out I was expecting my first little bundle. Is it a boy or a girl? What color should I paint the nursery? Will he or she look like me? … Continue reading
Speak easy
I loved every second of being pregnant. For my entire blissful gestation, I lived and breathed all things baby. I read every book ever published on the topic (or at least every volume I could get my hands on) and … Continue reading
In your dreams
Before I even knew I was pregnant, I began having vivid, full color dreams. When my pregnancy was confirmed, I realized that intense dreams were one of my very first symptoms. I immediately became interested in finding out why our … Continue reading
Mamaste
Most moms-to-be are aware that continuing a moderate exercise routine during pregnancy can be beneficial to both mom and baby, so it should be no surprise that prenatal yoga in particular is steadily increasing in popularity among the baby bump … Continue reading
Mommy mojo
When couples decide they want to have a baby, the months of “trying” can result in a record number of hours logged between the sheets. But when the high of learning you’re pregnant transitions into physical symptoms (like bloating, nausea … Continue reading
A long-distance affair
When my husband and I were a young couple striking out on our own, the distance from our hometowns seemed temporary—an adventure, an experiment, a story about our wayfaring youth we would tell someday when we had made it back … Continue reading
10 ways pregnancy changes your life
Becoming a first-time expectant mom—of twins, no less—has certainly been an eye-opener for me. The realities of pregnancy have regularly caught me by surprise as my amount of responsibility skyrockets and level of energy plummets. The life I had lived … Continue reading
Heads up
The ups and downs of pregnancy can at times correspond quite literally to the position of your baby. During development, a fetus will naturally rotate multiple times while there is an abundance of room in the uterus. As the baby … Continue reading
Ew, gross
To put it simply, pregnancy is packed with opportunities for embarrassment. Here’s how to deal when the blush-inducing moments strike. Scenario 1 – You’re in a staff meeting when the urge to purge strikes … and you only make it … Continue reading
Bonding with baby in utero
Did you know you can begin the bonding process with your little bundle of joy as early as the second trimester? Here are a few ways to kick-start your connection with the baby in your belly. While you’re decorating the … Continue reading
Dietary roadblocks
Remembering which foods are forbidden and which ones to force down is enough to make any expectant mama’s head spin. But what if your food restrictions go beyond the usual pregnancy blacklist? For moms-to-be with special dietary needs and preferences, … Continue reading
The aftermath
The baby’s here, and your pregnancy complaints are over—but the post-delivery aftershocks are only just beginning… [Note:] These are typical after effects of a vaginal birth. If you experienced complications during or following delivery, you may face additional challenges. Cramping … Continue reading
Lift your booty
Erica Ziel, certified personal trainer, pilates instructor, nutritionist, founder of Core Athletica Inc., creator of Knocked Up Fitness, and mom of three (whew!), shares can-do exercises to help you stay fit during pregnancy and beyond. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Exercising and keeping your … Continue reading
Snacking to snooze
There’s no getting around the fact that pregnancy is exhausting, and unfortunately, there’s no rest for the weary. Just when increased demands on your body have you craving hours of uninterrupted slumber, biology plays a cruel trick by making sleep … Continue reading
All in the family
Becoming a mom is a life-changing event, but adding an additional child to the family can be even more stressful. Why? Because you’re not only changing your own life—you’re also changing the life of the little person you already have … Continue reading
Expecting the unexpected
You’ve loaded a playlist onto your iPod, cemented your stance on pain medication, and practiced your squat in the mirror. But when you’re in the throes of labor, your “givens” may require a little give-and-take. From insisting on silence in … Continue reading
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