With so much focus on pregnancy, we forget our bodies change after delivery, too. Learn 7 postpartum changes you didn't know might happen. Every mom has her labor stories, from contractions they didn't see coming ("I thought I had gas!") to rushing to the delivery room through traffic. But what you don't always hear about are the postpartum changes your body experiences those first few days and weeks. During that time, all the focus is on the baby, from gaining enough weight to latching on correctly. In the middle of pediatric appointments and getting them to sleep, we forget we also … [Read more...]

Expecting a baby and not sure what you should be doing? Check out these pregnancy questions to ask your doctor at your first prenatal visit. Anxious, excited, overwhelmed... I entered the doctor's office as a soon-to-be first time mom, overcome with how new everything would be for me. I figured the basics about pregnancy, but still had many questions. For instance, I'd heard I should avoid certain food, but which ones? How would I know when I'm supposed to go to the hospital? And what were the best ways to avoid the dreaded preterm labor? Doctors are fantastic at providing an overview … [Read more...]

Need a checklist of essential items for your newborn's basic care? Take a look at the top 10 things baby needs, perfect for first time moms. Whether "first time" or "it's been a while," many of us have felt clueless about what we'll actually need for the baby. There comes a time during those 40 weeks when we realize that we'll be buying a few things soon. But with all the shopping checklists, how do we know which ones are true must have items? It doesn't help that "must haves" are subjective. Some truly are must haves for the baby's health and well-being, while others make our lives much … [Read more...]

Do you have second child guilt with your second pregnancy? See why having a baby shouldn't make you feel guilty or sad for your older child. I didn't expect to feel guilty. But every time I saw my three-year-old, the guilt and even sadness swept through, especially when I realized I was, after all, changing his life. I wasn't so much concerned with the logistics of having more than one child, aware about the challenges of balancing a toddler's needs with a baby. I knew our days would get crazy and accepted the fact. No—my worry was about losing my special time with my eldest and … [Read more...]

Looking for pretty vintage girl names for your baby? Check out these top 50 picks for beautiful old fashioned girl names that are still cool! When I found out I was expecting twins, I had hoped one of them would be a girl. Surely ONE of them will be a girl, I thought. I already had a boy, and just as I had selected a classic name for him, I did the same for a possible girl. I wanted pretty vintage names to stand the test of time, but I also didn't want them to be too old that they'd be dated. Except there was a problem... a few months into my pregnancy, I learned that neither of … [Read more...]