Breastfeeding comes with more gear than you ever imagined! Our checklist narrows down what you really need. Essentials Breast Pump and Bottles Pumping your milk helps ensure there’s food for your baby when you’re not around (plus Dad can take on some of those late night feedings!). Disposable Freezer Bags You’ll need a supply of … Read more about Breastfeeding Checklist
Breastfeeding can cause some soreness and discomfort to women, especially if it is their first time nursing. Here are some ways to soothe discomfort. I knew all about epidurals and breathing techniques before I went into labor with my first child, but I was unprepared for what came once she arrived—breastfeeding. While I had no firsthand experience, I figured my daughter … Read more about Breastfeeding Soreness: 5 Ways to Soothe It
Although Miss Manners never got around to writing about childbirth, there still are a few rules for polite delivery room behavior. Once upon a time, before the first birth plan was drafted or parents learned their unborn children’s gender, laboring women were attended by nurses and delivered by doctors while nervous dads paced the hospital’s halls. The rooms were … Read more about Delivery Room Etiquette
For a dad-to-be, labor and delivery are unfamiliar territory; yet there are many opportunities for a man to become an important part of his family’s birth experience by coaching the laboring mom and offering support. A few decades ago, the role of the father during childbirth often amounted to smoking a couple of packs of cigarettes and … Read more about Stepping Up: A Man’s Guide to Birth Coaching
If you’re dreading the onset of labor, your best bet is to be prepared. Try these great tips and tricks for making labor easier. As long as your doctor says it’s OK, anything goes when it comes to making mom comfortable. The life-changing news of your pregnancy may have you bouncing off the walls with … Read more about Secrets to a Comfortable Labor and Delivery
During pregnancy you have a lot to talk about, from how you’ll manage delivery room visitors to what characteristics you hope to find in a pediatrician. Don’t neglect these important conversations you’ll need to have before the baby arrives. You might have the layette planned, the diaper bag already packed, and your car seat installed in anticipation of your new … Read more about 10 Talks You’ll Want to Have before Baby Arrives
According to Depression after Delivery, a national Postpartum Depression support organization, baby blues are a biological response to a woman’s rapidly changing hormone levels after pregnancy. Yet sometimes the blues turn into postpartum depression. Learn the difference and where to find support if you’re struggling with a postpartum mood disorder. Sarah recalls crying uncontrollably for … Read more about Baby Blues vs. Postpartum Depression
What new mom isn’t overwhelmed by lack of sleep? Get tips on how to combat these early, hazy days. Sleep deprivation is no joke. Although veteran moms regale their peers with stories of falling asleep at dinner or groggily loading dirty clothes into the dishwasher, many new moms bravely assume they can tough it out … Read more about The Real Mom’s Guide to Fighting Sleep Deprivation
Longing to be a work-at-home mom? Here’s guidance to help you match your abilities with real, money-making possibilties. When the kids are sick, the weather outside is frightful, or your boss is just plain getting on your nerves, the idea of having your own home-based business can sound like the answer to your prayers. And … Read more about 10 Great Ideas for Moms Who Want to Work at Home
Witnessing the miracle of birth can be an amazing and joyous occasion, and being invited to share in that experience should be considered a privilege. For a mom-to-be, choosing who attends her labor and delivery is a very personal and important decision. There was a time when a man was not expected or even allowed … Read more about Who’s in Your Delivery Room?