When is a baby full term? Previously, 37 weeks of gestation was considered full-term. Now, get new information on when babies are born their healthiest. Thank you to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for sponsoring this article. All content and opinions expressed are my own. Like any mother who has given birth can attest, the last few weeks of pregnancy can be some of the most challenging. You can't walk without crushing your bones. Sleepless nights are a norm. You're tired, cranky and uncomfortable. My first pregnancy felt like a breeze... until that last month. Where I had once … [Read more...]
How to Cope with Cholestasis of Pregnancy
Suffering from cholestasis or other itch-related complications? Check out these remedies, treatments and tips about coping with cholestasis of pregnancy. If I could have called it quits during my pregnancy with the twins, I would've done it any time around the 32 week mark. A woman carrying twins at 32 weeks is already as large as a woman carrying a singleton at 40 weeks. In short, twin moms are ready to pop but still have to grow for two more months. Not fun. As if I couldn't get more uncomfortable, I got hit with cholestasis of pregnancy. What is cholestasis of pregnancy? Few people … [Read more...]
Must Haves for Twins to Add to Your Registry List
Updated 2019: Are you expecting twins? Check out this comprehensive list of must haves for twins! It includes everything you'll need to care for two babies. I finally wrapped my head around the fact that I was having twins. The emotions were still coming in waves, but I was ready and more than excited for their arrival. Except... I didn't know what I needed to have for twins. I already had a three-year-old when I was pregnant and had gone through the baby registry process. And I even planned to use many of his baby items for the twins. Still, I didn't know what I'd need this time … [Read more...]
How to Deal with Gender Disappointment During Your Pregnancy
Disappointed about your baby's gender—and feeling bad about it? Dealing with gender disappointment during your pregnancy can be a hard. Here's how to cope. A girl. That was what I was hoping this pregnancy would reveal. I already had a boy and thought it'd be awesome for him to have a little sister. I wished so much that the sonogram would reveal that one of the twins would be a girl. And when they were both boys, I ended up dealing with gender disappointment I didn't know I'd feel. Gender disappointment isn't as strange as you might think. I know so many people who really wanted … [Read more...]
Beat the High Cost of Twins Using These Sneaky Ways
Worried about twin expenses? Learn the sneaky ways to beat the cost of twins — a must for moms who want to learn how to save money with twins! I won't lie: Having twins is financially challenging. Sometimes I find myself feeling strapped, especially in this high cost-of-living city. Still, our situation isn't as terrible as when I first learned about my twins. Back then, I worried how we would afford everything and the impact twins would have on our jobs and our savings. Somehow, we're surviving the cost of twins (and a five-year-old). 12 ways to beat the cost of twins We're not saving as … [Read more...]
The Ultimate Mom to Be Guide: Everything I Wish Someone Had Told Me when I Was Pregnant
New moms: here's the ultimate mom to be guide. Everything you need to know about pregnancy, labor, and welcoming your baby home. Many women enter pregnancy having no idea what to expect. Their only experience with labor are the comical or scary portrayals they might see in the movies. Some might feel overwhelmed, leery or worried they might miss something. Others might dread delivery day so much, afraid of the pain and how to cope with caring for a newborn. What does a newborn baby need? Enter Queenie Best (yes, that's her real name!). She's that friend. The one who'll type up a … [Read more...]
Surprising Costs of Raising Twins You Never Knew
How much do twins cost? With twins, the need to cut costs is more important than ever. Don't forget these overlooked costs of twins to better prepare. "So this is what it's like to feed three growing boys!" I told my husband, shuffling through the fridge wondering what to feed the kiddos. I had always known that the costs of raising twins would be higher than one child. (Read about how to beat the high costs of twins.) But it's easy to forget until you realize you're making huge batches of baby food that cover a mere two days and ordering boxes of diapers every month. What else have … [Read more...]
8 Misconceptions about Parenting First Time Moms Make
"All this peeing in the middle of the night is to prepare for sleep deprivation," I had believed. Little did I know that my pregnancy discomfort would bear little resemblance to waking up with a baby. 8 misconceptions about parenting: Such is but one example of the many misconceptions about parenting I made as a first time mom. Consider these other common myths first time moms believe about parenthood. 1. That you won't have kid clutter You know what I'm talking about. The swing, the exersaucer, the bouncy seats. The two strollers and baby gear you swore you wouldn't allow to clutter your … [Read more...]