My pregnant and postpartum body brought up deeply ingrained painful body memories of the transitions and awkwardness that accompanied puberty. I was used to feeling confident, empowered, and present in my body. Now I felt weak, confused and detached. Why did this feel like a huge cruel joke that I was supposed...
For most new moms, lacing up their sneakers and hitting the gym are perfectly safe things to do at six weeks postpartum. Your doctor or midwife will give you the green light on exercise when he or she feels you’re ready. While we’re never going to advocate for a new mom shedding...
Congratulations! You made it to the second trimester. Finally, morning sickness is a thing of the past. You've discovered a new found energy. And your baby bump is adorable. The second trimester is a time to be cherished. So enjoy it! Here's how: BE SPONTANEOUS: Catch a matinee movie. Take...
Baby’s hungry and you’re bursting, but no one’s getting fed. Here’s what to do when Mother Nature throws a curve ball at your intentions to breastfeed Choosing to breastfeed is one of the first big decisions you’ll make as a new mom. And despite how natural it is supposed to be, it is actually just...
Prenatal tests—enough already! Choosing the perfect name—that conversation is getting way too old. And finding clothes for that ever-expanding bod? Make the torture end—now! Those are the cries of pre-birth stress, sister, and while they’re completely natural, you don’t have to suffer them willingly. Stress isn’t healthy for anyone, and, while we don’t...
Flying to Bali is literally traveling to the opposite side of the world. The flight is exactly 26 hours, whether you fly east or west around the globe. When we decided to build our dream house in the rice paddies of Ubud, we had no idea I was pregnant with...
A doctor fesses up about what she would do differently You would think that a doctor would get pregnancy and new motherhood right. But even with all the medical knowledge I’ve garnered as an osteopathic physician and urogynecologist, I still found myself stumbling through the postpartum period after each of...
Whoever came up with the saying “I slept like a baby” had no children. Here are Nanny’s rules for getting some rest. By Nanny Stella.
I have to laugh when I think back at the blunders I committed in my sleep-deprived stupor during our oldest son Mason’s first few months. And I often marvel at the fact that my kids are each still in one piece. I’ve never shared these stories with anyone. But I know...
How to survive and thrive in a world where your new baby looms large Your hair is unwashed, you haven’t checked email in a week, and you have no clean underwear. Welcome to the “newborn zone,” a dimension controlled by a tiny dictator who has one priority: “Me. Now.” Of course, your infant is also...