Join Us as a Guest Blogger!

January 14, 2022 | by: Cara Terreri

Giving Birth with Confidence by Lamaze is visited and shared by thousands of expectant and new parents and families, as well as childbirth educators, doulas, and other childbirth and maternal health professionals. Our readers are eager to soak up new and relevant information on prepregnancy health, pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, breastfeeding, and early parenthood. Won't you join us and share your knowledge and unique voice?

How to Make Movement a Priority During & After Pregnancy

January 10, 2022 | by: Lamaze International

New to making physical movement a priority in your life? Make pregnancy the time for you to start incorporating movement into your daily routine, much like adding your daily vitamins. Find an activity that feels enjoyable (instead of feeling like a dreaded chore or "work") and you'll be more likely to not only keep it up throughout pregnancy but continue the activity once baby arrives and beyond. The purpose of a regular movement routine is to increase mental and physical health, not for any number on the scale or to achieve a prepregnancy shape -- the idea that your body can "go back" is a damaging lie.

Buy Better Baby Gear (A Series): Information on Infant Blankets

January 07, 2022 | by: Cara Terreri

Welcome to a new series called "Buy Better Baby Gear" (BBBG) where we share tips on what to look for when purchasing essential (or at least, very helpful) infant/newborn/baby products. Today we're looking at baby blankets. This is one of those items that nearly everyone receives too many of as gifts. But most people soon find in the first few months of baby's life that not all blankets are created equal as the favorites emerge. Wouldn't it be great to be able to purchase or register for blankets you know you'll likely* love? *Likely, because you never truly know until you're in the thick of it.

Tips for Choosing Baby Blankets

Facts You Need to Know About Folic Acid for Your Pregnancy

January 05, 2022 | by: Cara Terreri

This week is Folic Acid Awareness Week, an annual informational event hosted and promoted by the International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (IF). Folic acid is a critical supplement required prior to and during pregnancy in order to prevent neural tube defects (NTD). The neural tube is the part of the embryo from which the brain and spinal cord are formed. Defects during this stage of growth, like spina bifida and hydrocephalus, develop during pregnancy and are present at birth (called "congenital"). While there are successful treatments for individuals with these congenital conditions, the best treatment is prevention. Folic acid, an essential component required for the proper closing of the embryo's neural tube 28 days after conception, can prevent most NTDs when taken as a supplement to a person's diet before and after pregnancy. Folic acid also is found in many "fortified foods," which are foods enriched with with micronutrients beneficial to human health and development.

Ring in the New Year with Care Practices that Support a Healthy Birth

January 03, 2022 | by: Cara Terreri

New year is when many of us take stock of our accomplishments and habits, and review goals and intentions moving forward. If you're expecting a birth in 2022, consider what kinds of things you can do in this new year to set yourself up for a thoughtful and prepared birth experience. A great place to start is by learning the Lamaze Healthy Birth Practices.