Archive for 2008
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Bristol Palin Gives Birth
Monday, December 29th, 2008There was a very small piece in People magazine this week announcing that Bristol Palin, the 18-year-old daughter of Sarah Palin had given birth to a boy. The Palin’s have expressed that the birth is a private family matter and rightly so. I wouldn’t even talk about it except that peripherally, I became a bit involved.
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A Laughing Kind of Labor
Friday, December 19th, 2008I had such a great day today. I was with a family having their second baby and they were especially excited and happy. Labor, of course isn’t generally a time of laughter but this mom was so astounded that she was in labor (she was a couple of weeks early) and so surprised at how quickly it was happening that between each contraction she laughed and kept saying “I can’t believe it”.
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Morning, Noon and Night Sickness
Friday, December 12th, 2008I couldn’t help thinking about my own experience of it with Alexander. For people who have never experienced motion sickness or “morning” sickness (also called hyperemesis), the ability to understand the misery of it is virtually impossible. I recently read an article written by a Washington Post journalist about her own experience with severe hyperemesis. It can be a rough road. The good news is that for most of us, it passes by the end of the first trimester. Mine stopped abruptly at 14 weeks at which point I ate a huge plate of spaghetti — easily the best meal I’ve ever had.
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December Babies
Friday, December 12th, 2008Winter is naturally a time of staying in for me, both literally and figuratively. I feel like the creature who is happy to hibernate. In our home we make lots of fires and eat hot soup and chili. I gave birth a week early to Alexander and brought him home on Christmas Eve. It was a very different sort of holiday. The earth slowed in an amazing way. Day and night became one and it was all good. Cold, dark, rainy outdoors and warm and magical indoors.
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The Art of Blogging
Monday, December 1st, 2008Funny thing it is to sit down and write. I am now officially a blogger. I actually write all the time but now I also “blog”. And blogging is different than writing. Long before it was popular, I “blogged” weekly on Stork Site only it wasn’t yet called “blogging”. Now that I have an actual “blog” I recently developed “blogger’s block”. Ok—I’ll stop with that…
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Pregnancy Fitness
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008There are so many great reasons to exercise. It helps all of us to feel better and to be healthier whether we are pregnant or not. During pregnancy, however, regular exercise and being fit can help decrease the incidence of gestational diabetes, help you to develop more stamina for labor and experience less post partum depression.
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Childbirth Preparation Classes
Sunday, November 16th, 2008Of all the classes, the most important for first-time parents is a class on preparing for labor and birth. Although it can be helpful to read books and watch a video or two on birth, books and videos don’t provide enough information to help you fully understand labor or learn effective coping skills. Taking a class will help you learn as much as you can about your new adventure (never forget that this is a wonderful adventure!).
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Prenatal Classes
Thursday, November 13th, 2008As school is about to begin for kids all across the country I thought we would spend this week talking about all the possible classes that can prepare you for the new adventure of bringing home a new baby (or two). During your sixth month is a good time to sign up for classes.
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Take A Tour!
Monday, November 10th, 2008If you are taking your prenatal class at the hospital where you will be giving birth, the class may include a tour. Some hospitals offer separate tours. In either case, a tour is an important part of your preparation for birth. It is comforting and helpful to see where you will be having your baby, and to ask questions of the staff.
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Choose the Childbirth Class That’s Right for You
Friday, November 7th, 2008I hear from families all the time asking how they can find a class that is right for them. Here are some questions you might ask before choosing a Childbirth Preparation class.
