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It is a state of mind, ladies. Says the 20 week pregnant woman. Finding out gender on Friday! Where was I when I was this pregnant with SweetPea–(oh, wait, that was 33 weeks)? And it wasn’t until my recent trip to ny to help my sister Molly with her new baby girl (LOVE HER!!!) that I realized this. It’s a state of mind. Walking the Brooklyn streets to run errands for my sister, or up to the doctor’s office with her, I marveled. The women in Brooklyn look chic. In their snowcoats. With their boots and hats on. Pushing a stroller, dragging a doggie, or sipping a latte. They looked like they either cared about their appearance, or they thought they were hot stuff despite it.…
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Where have you been, Nell, for the last electronic week? I know you all missed me as dearly as I did you–but put your tissues aside, for I’m here! Having abandoned my brood and packed my bags for New York last week, tah-dah me + my newest love: my sister’s second baby girl! Our mama was amazing enough to have been out here the month leading up to the birth, and then for the first week (almost) of baby girl’s life. Then she returned to the land of the below zero temps to take over my kiddos, and I flew out here to love up these ladies. Nota bene: flying almost 20 weeks pregnant means you should check your heavy “carry-on” bag that you have…
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Or so says SuperBoy when talking about Advent. We’ve begun a new season, we Catholics. It’s Advent, the four weeks before Christmas where we try to prepare our hearts for the birth of our Savior. It also is a frantic time for everyone, right? Holiday gifts, parties, baking, a quick scurry to thank everyone in your life, Do Good Diapers, the postman, the vendors who stock my goods in their sweet stores (Teeny Bee Boutique, Peapods, Brooklyn Herborium, Creative Kidstuff, Green Mom Guide), my Godfather, my kids’ Godparents, everyone. My girlfriend Laura wrote a great post about the how advent is a frenzy, but instead of freaking out, we can embrace the chaos. I’m all about that. My sister had another girl yesterday! Another sweet…
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On facebook the other day, a friend linked to an article in Cosmo, of all places, about a woman’s experience with her abortion and subsequent testimony before the hearings in Texas on limiting abortions on a number of fronts, including no abortions after 20 weeks unless the life of the mother was in grave harm. The author described her difficult road of infertility and after treatments, voila! A baby girl on the way! Much rejoicing. Until at 19 weeks she learned her daughter had spinal bifida, a serious medical condition needing multiple surgeries, and probably a slew of other health conditions related to it. She wouldn’t have a healthy baby. Her daughter wouldn’t have a normal life. She opted to abort her daughter, citing the…
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You see those maternity clothing ads: svelte woman who happens to have a tiny bump looking glamorously out the window, and you think: that should be me pregnant. Then you are pregnant. Maybe it’s your first or your seventh. So maybe these inroads have already been carved, and maybe they haven’t. Each pregnancy is different, you gain and carry weight differently, you feel sick at different intervals, and thusly, my thoughts apply to first & seventh pregnancies, right? I have a whole section on pregnancy. See it all here. I’m in my third pregnancy and watching my body change before my very eyes. In some ways I’m rejoicing because finally, at 15 weeks, you can really tell I’m pregnant. But in other ways, I’m freaked…
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You know I love doulas. Big big big fan over here. Doesn’t matter if you’re planning meds, being with your whole family, homebirth, hospital, whatever. You and your partner will greatly benefit from the help and attention of a doula. I’ve had one with all three and this is with a very involved and supportive husband! Dads for Doulas post here, Why You Need a Doula post here. You’re Pregnant, Now What here. SuperBoy’s birth story, SweetPea’s, and BabyLove’s. If you like birth stories . . . Here’s my list of questions to ask when you’re interviewing a doula. Some may sound abrupt, so you fill in the nice parts. Others may not apply for your circumstances. The biggest key is chemistry between you &…
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