Surviving Your Third Trimester... in the Summer

June 19, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri

If you live in warmer climates, being pregnant and in your third trimester during the summer months can feel extra challenging . On the one hand, you're at the tail-end of pregnancy, which means you get to meet baby soon (yay!). On the other hand, the extra heat during a time that already feels like it will stretch on forever does not make for a pleasant time, unless your summer job involves floating in water most of your waking hours (in which case, lucky you!).  

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Reframing Your Thoughts About the Final Weeks of Pregnancy

June 17, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri

The funny and frustrating thing about the last few weeks of pregnancy is that you never truly know you're at the end until after you give birth. Why does this (seemingly obvious) thing matter? Because the difference between one, two, or three weeks when you're oh-so-pregnant can be the difference between feeling mildly tortured and feeling like you're stranded on a deserted island infested with mosquitos in 100 degree weather with no rescue in sight. Truth. 

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11 Ways Dads Can Bond with Baby Right Away

June 14, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri

With Father's Day right around the corner, now is a great time to think about all the different ways that fathers can connect and bond with their babies. In the early days and weeks after birth, mothers spend a lot of time with their newborns, getting breastfeeding well established and recovering from childbirth with their babies by their side. And this is as it should be. Fathers often can feel left out or excluded because of frequent nursing sessions and the comfort that babies get from being close to their mothers. The following tips provide many ways in which dads can also establish a bond with their babies.

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Dads Answer: What Do You Wish You Would Have Known About Pregnancy and Birth?

June 10, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri

As a mom to 3 children, I look back on my pregnancies and the early days of parenting and think, "If I knew then what I know now..." I might have prepared for birth differently, enjoyed pregnancy more, worried less about babies "sleeping through the night," taken more pictures of breastfeeding (my favorite time), and relished more of the day-to-day instead of anxiously anticipating the next milestone.

In honor of Father's Day this month, we wanted to find out what dads wished they would have known about pregnancy and birth. Here's what they had to say:

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Summer Reading List: Pregnancy & Birth Edition

June 05, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri

Summer is a great time to catch up on books from your must-read list. If you're pregnant this summer, your must-read list probably includes a collection of books about pregnancy, birth, parenting, and breastfeeding. Thankfully and unfortunately, there's no shortage of books in this reading genre, which means that choosing just a few good books can be overwhelming. 

Below is a compiled list of the best-of-the-best pregnancy and birth books -- what's hot, what's "classic" and the reviews that accompany them. 

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What Are You Wearing? Fabrics that Beat the Heat in Pregnancy

June 03, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri

I don't know where you live, but here in the Southeastern United States, it's H-O-T. Like, face-of-the-sun kind of hot. When you're pregnant during the summer months, you'll do almost anything to stay cool (as a three-time survivor of summer pregnancies, I know this firsthand). Blast the air conditioning? Yep. Cold showers? Yep. Sleep nude? Yep. Stand in front of the freezer/fridge? Yep and yep. One thing I didn't consider at the time was the kind of clothing fabrics I wore. It turns out, there is a difference in fabrics when it comes to keeping you cool and wicking away moisture. Let's take a look. 

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Depression During Pregnancy and Postpartum - What to Expect with Treatment

May 31, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri

Perinatal depression (around the time of pregnancy) and postpartum depression (after birth), also referred to as PD, PPD, or PPMAD, are very common -- around the world, it affects 2 out of 10 people during pregnancy or in the first year after birth. The good news is that perinatal and postpartum depression (as well as associated mental health disorders like anxiety, OCD, and psychosis) are treatable, and in fact, often must be treated to see improvement or cure.

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Why You Pee in a Cup Every Visit During Pregnancy

May 29, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri

Well into your pregnancy, you become a pro at prenatal appointments: check in, pee in a cup, and wait. As it turns out, urine is a pretty good indicator of health. Like reading the tea leaves or asking the Magic 8 ball, except way more scientific, you urine can tell your care provider about the presence of an infection, diabetes, dehydration, and/or preeclampsia.

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All the Doula Interview Questions You Need to Ask (and Then Some...)

May 24, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri

To wrap up our series of doula content this month in celebration of International Doula Month, we're sharing all of the possible doula interview questions you ever needed (and some you may not). Keep in mind that everyone's priorities are different when it comes to hiring a doula, and so some of the following questions may not be applicable or important. 

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I Know I Want a Doula; Now What?

May 22, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri

You've decided you want to hire a doula for your birth. What all do you need to do to make that happen and have the best experience possible? As part of our celebration of International Doula Month, we've provided helpful information to use when finding and hiring a doula. 

Hiring a doula isn't rocket science, but there are tips and tricks that will help you find someone who is skilled and a good match for your personality and needs. 

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