High Maintenance Mom

While it is still fresh in my mind (well 9 months old anyway) I wanted to write about the things that helped me through the labor & delivery of my two children. I also have 3 friends and HMM readers who are about to deliver. A plan: first and foremost. I didn’t write ours down but rather discussed it with my husband...

If you or your children need surgery or you are going to be giving birth, it's helpful to think about and find the comfort items that will make you feel better. My list includes "chick-flick" movies/tv shows, comfy clothes, food, and ice packs. My favorite items that I brought to my recent gum surgery were bought for a long flight, the Bucky Fuzzy Wuzzy neck pillow and the Bucky Eye Shades with Earplugs. I was allowed to use the neck pillow, eye pillow, and ear plugs during my surgery. They really made me feel comfortable. I also had my iPod with music but due to the sedation, I really didn't care for it...

During pregnancy, moms are accustomed to a variety of screening tests for conditions such as Down syndrome and diabetes. The rationale for these tests is not to make moms anxious about their pregnancy but to identify potential pregnancy problems to allow for timely intervention.

What is kick counting?
Kick counting, a daily systematic record of moms’ perception of their baby’s movement during the third trimester, is a reliable, harmless, simple and effective screening for the baby’s well-being. Kick counting can document changes in the fetal movement pattern and can help moms-to-be alert their healthcare provider of potential problems. A timely evaluation can allow intervention and prevention of potential problems, including stillbirth.

The recent recall of Veggie Booty an all natural, vegetarian snack made of puffed rice and corn (this one with spinach and kale) made me furious. Yes, furious! I am pregnant and have a 20 month old and do everything I can to eat right for my unborn child and buy foods that are good and fun for my toddler and my husband. So, I go out and buy organic this, all natural that and sleep a little better at night.

Childish Clothing, the brainchild of Skye Hoppus (wife of Mark Hoppus of Blink 182) carries hip maternity and children's clothing. I think we can all feel Skye's pain as she gained weight during her pregnancy while watching hundreds of teenage girls scream for her hip husband...

Back pain is very common in pregnancy due to the weight your pregnant belly exerts on your lower back, especially in the last trimester. Many pregnant women experience a forward swaying posture as their bellies get bigger and abdominal muscles lengthen, while the lower back muscles tighten and contract, or shorten. Both your abdominal muscles and lower back muscles are trying to keep you balanced, but often due to a weakness in abdominal muscles the lower back has to compensate by working even harder - causing low back strain and muscle fatigue. Improving your posture, so that you maintain a neutral spine, can alleviate some if not most prenatal back pain, so be mindful to make it your daily prenatal practice!

I was so excited to be pregnant the first time that I was asking for advice from complete strangers well before I had to move out of my "skinny" jeans. Throughout the pregnancy I read the GirlFriends Guide and What to Expect but I didn't realize that I wouldn't have as much free time to read after the baby was born. Here is my list of books that helped us through the first year. All can be found on Amazon.com and most likely at your local bookstore...