Join us for a rare inside peek at a labor-and-delivery room. Have a good look now—chances are you won’t notice much once you’re in labor. By Emily Bloch Photographs by Lisa Franchot Special thanks to Good Samaritan Hospital, Los Angeles Start to finish, here’s what it looks like... The nurses at the registration desk will likely welcome you with warm smiles, no matter how you look when you get off the elevator. Most hospitals will offer a “pre-admission” option, allowing …
Yes, you can alter baby’s DNA for the greater good. Here’s how to start right now By Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D. authors of YOU: Having a Baby: The Owner’s Manual to a Happy and Healthy Pregnancy Illustration by Aaron BihariThere’s nothing quite like the emotional juxtaposition of pregnancy. On one hand, you’re thrilled, elated, and impatient for your baby’s first smile, babble, and hug. On the other hand, you may feel anxious about a million unknowns—about …
Not sure what to expect from labor? Prepare yourself with this birth plan advice and handy questionnaire By Emily Lovely Like Kegel exercises and reading the final chapters in that massive pregnancy manual beside your bed, writing a birth plan is worth the effort pre-delivery—and it can also help ease your anxiety about labor. Of course, you can’t control how your bundle of joy makes his grand entrance, so a birth plan isn’t actually a plan. Instead, think of it as a short list …
Celebrate right up to delivery with these amazing non-alcoholic drink recipes By Kate Geagan, M.S., R.D. For some, saying bye-bye to booze is a cinch. But the prospect of 40 dry weeks can be puzzling—even for the most devoted mom-to-be. Fortunately, with these alcohol-free recipes, you can keep hosting girls’ night in style. Despite what your friends may say about “the women in France,” alcohol when you’re expecting is definitely a no-no; it can cause a range of serious …
Oh, the placenta. Of course you know its functions during pregnancy: supplying the fetus with maternal nutrients and disposing of waste. But you might be surprised to learn what some people are doing with the placenta after delivery! Using placenta extracts for facials is all the rage in some cities (including Hollywood). The claim is that they help rebuild cells, accelerate tissue regeneration, and do even more miraculous feats by replacing the vital nutrients that are lost during …
A little tough love can help you actually enjoy this most wonderful time of the year. Here’s how to be real without being rude. By Bonnie Siegler So Grandma Althea just invited you over for Thanksgiving week and Grandpa Jones wants to visit you—along with Grandma Jones—for Christmas and Santa’s first visit. Oh, and cousin Jen decided she’s coming for Hanukkah to help you get your nursery in order. Yes, it’s the holidays—when your already busy schedule becomes even busier, …
Those faint voices coming from inside are actually your first whispers of mother’s intuition. Here’s how to honor your new role and hear—loud and clear—what you already know By Ziba Kashef, Editor at Large Illustration by John Webster Ask a group of moms if they’ve ever had sixth sense about their child and you’ll be flooded with eerie examples and jaw-dropping anecdotes. Like the newly pregnant mom who had a dream about a co-worker telling her she was having a boy—and nine …
The splurger’s guide to getting those extra 300 calories a day By Kate Geagan, M.S., R.D. We all know the saying, but are you really “eating for two” now that you’re sporting a baby bump? And, if so, do you have license to reach for a daily treat because “the baby loves chocolate cake?” Tempting, for sure—but wrong! Although it’s true your baby’s fully forming in the first trimester, it isn’t until the second that her major growth starts. That’s when your calorie …
Ready or not, here come the holidays! Here are the season’s hottest looks for going out and looking gorgeous—no matter how far along you are Photography by Mark Madeo Styling by Margo Rego Hair and makeup by Meaganne McCandess A Pea in the Pod Sleeveless Ruched Maternity Dress in Silver, $148, apeainthepod.com; Gray Grape Cluster Earrings, $59, Pimlico Place (510.655.7081); Silver Ring With Clear Stone, $135, Pimlico Place; Gray Feather Hat, $89, Pimlico Place Pouch Kicky Versatile …
By Lora Shinn It’s the one time in your life you could really use a beer—and you can’t have one “It’s truly amazing how one phone call can change so many aspects of your life,” says Marsha Martin, a mom in Jacksonville, FL. One Monday morning this summer, just after 8 a.m., Martin’s manager called her and read from a script: “Your position has been eliminated, effective today.” Martin was seven months pregnant. “In one day, we went from planning a trip to Walt Disney …
