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New mamahood sometimes seems akin to stepping into an amnesic vortex: you feel as if you’re spinning in a whirlwind of chaos and activity, but at the end of the day, you can’t recall how you spent your hours. Or rather, perhaps it’s just that the “little things” you’ve done all day don’t seem as noteworthy as your frantic working girl episodes. Never mind that many of those little things result in keeping another human being alive.
It’s no surprise why babies get showered with goodies, but moms need attention too - particularly postpartum - and that’s why I dig Susan Brown’s Baby. This collection of rich yet gentle, paraben-free body products ensures that mom and baby get their TLC in tandem; the mom products focus on nurturing the belly and feet, while the baby line includes items for bath, diapering, and relaxation. I particularly love the SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion; the composition is creamy yet mild, fragrance-free, and packed with cocoa, shea, and jojoba butters to keep your kid’s skin hydrated. I especially love that it’s gentle and effective enough to be used on Laurel’s face and doesn't feel greasy or sticky.
Want to win a Susan Brown’s Baby gift basket*? Here’s how:
Last week I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Melissa Kotlen Nagin, a certified lactation consultant and About.com’s Breastfeeding Guide. In particular, Melissa and I connected to talk about the dad (or partner) factor when it comes to breastfeeding. We had a fabulous time chatting; read on for highlights from the interview (a Boston Mamas first!), where we cover role shifts, dad/partner involvement, pumping, nighttime feeding, baby nurses, co-sleeping, bottle feeding battles, postpartum depression, the supermom syndrome, and re-lactation:
One challenge for pregnant working women is finding maternity clothing that is stylish and well constructed, but doesn’t break the bank. When I was pregnant with Laurel and hunting for reasonably priced work pieces, I saw a troubling amount of highly flammable polyester construction that was ill reminiscent of the marching band and color guard (yes, color guard) uniforms I wore in high school. Designers are, thankfully, catching on to the need for affordable maternity style, and among the newcomers is the recently launched Ann Taylor LOFT maternity line.
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
Weekend reading: Clever Parents offers stretching exercises to wake you and your kids up. The Nest Baby features a Chinese gender chart – originally found in an ancient royal tomb near Beijing and now in flash and interactive – that is said to be over 90% accurate. Mom’s Buzz highlights an article in which Donald Trump gives parents advice on how to make your children financially responsible, deal with financial setbacks, and manage money.
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
Home, sweet, home: Submit your best nursery decorating tip to The Nest Baby and you could win a crib set of your choice from DwellStudio. Visit Coochicoos to learn more about the perfect playhouse design competition. Clever Parents offers a play list to groove - and get organized - to. MomFinds rounds up their favorite time saving products to use with baby, at home, and on-the-go.
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
Cool goods: Coochicoos showcases a light for little kids who love spaceships. Classy Mommy gives her stamp of approval to Born Free’s BPA-free bottles. Clever Parents finds Fabkins fabulous. Car & Caboodle features the new Maxi Cosi Priori convertible car seat. And Healthy Bump reviews Belly Bars.
In college I saw a film in my cross-cultural developmental psychology class that made childbirth (squatting, under a tree) look, well, natural - far from the environmental or procedural pragmatics of today's norms. And natural or not, wherever your birth experience(s) ranked on the standard - chaotic/invasive scale, consider checking out The Business of Being Born, in which actress Ricki Lake and filmmaker Abby Epstein tackle the notion of birth as a business. The film screens at the Belmont Cinema this Thursday (Feb. 7, 7:30pm; see also other local and national screenings).
Want to win 4 tickets to the Belmont screening of The Business of Being Born? Here’s how:
Our beloved writer Jules is marching (well, not exactly…) her way through the last trimester of her pregnancy with her first child. Today, she shares tips to survive bed rest:
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
Clever Parents invites you to crunch the numbers with their 2008 Smart Spending Grocery Challenge. Healthy Bump charts where the rest of that non-baby baby weight goes. MomFinds features six simple products to babyproof your home. Moms’ Buzz features the seven new wonders of the world for family travel. Modern Mom is hosting a toddler trouble photo contest. And One Chic Mama has raves for the SoRa charm necklace.
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
Books, books, and more books: Healthy Bump has raves for Easy Labor. One Chic Mama finds inspiration in I Love You More and Joy Is the Greatest Gift. And Clever Parents offers a fun idea to get those Christmas classics read and slow down with your family.
Ever since I stopped nursing and gained back 10 unshakeable pounds, I’ve sporadically toyed with different fitness options. The gym proved too expensive and time consuming (transit time, waiting for equipment, etc.), and as much as I love walking, it doesn’t impact the same way a targeted workout does. So when the folks at PUSH offered me an opportunity to test their customized personal training DVDs, I was both intrigued and intimidated. The intimidation passed quickly though; PUSH’s concise yet comprehensive workouts will make novices to gurus alike feel the burn in a friendly, efficient, and economical manner.
Today is a day of activism to help garner support for The MOTHERS Act for postpartum depression. This call to action is sponsored by BlogHer, Postpartum Support International, and Postpartum Progress. To join the cause, blog about this initiative today. Or if you aren’t a blogger, call or email your senator and simply ask them to co-sponsor The MOTHERS Act bill number S. 1375, which will provide funding for postpartum depression research, education, screening, and treatment. Thanks everyone!
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
Good to know: Moms’ Buzz features tips for a healthier Halloween. Healthy Bump shares their must have list for expectant mothers. Clever Parents spotlights Liliputians NYC as their online boutique of the week. One Chic Mama reviews the MomME Weekly Planner from LobotoME.
The transition phase between “Hmm, pregnant?” and “Whoa, definitely pregnant!” (and vice versa) can be challenging in many ways. If you’re looking for a seamless way to hang onto your sense of style (and your pants), check out Jules’s report on an item that will endure use before, during, and after pregnancy - the Bella Band
Whenever I have a tough day with my one kiddo, moms of multiples loom even more impressive in my mind. So I’m thrilled to introduce new guest contributor Heather, a fabulous Boston mama to a 4-year-old daughter and 8-month-old triplets. Among other things, Heather will offer content on parenting multiples; today, she writes on a terrific Massachusetts-based group that supports families of triplets+ across New England:
Every mama’s birth story is unique, sometimes totally off plan (I traded a two page natural childbirth plan for an emergency C-section), and yet utterly connected to one another. And all through September, moms around the world can connect via BOLD (Birth On Labor Day), a global grassroots movement that uses the arts to promote education, dialogue, and action around maternity care issues. Locally, on September 28 & 29, Karen Brody’s play, Birth, will be performed at the Cambridge Family YMCA Theatre, with an open conversation directly to follow. Tickets start at $25 ($12.50 for students); proceeds will benefit maternity care organizations.
Want to win tickets? Email us by midnight tonight and name one of the organizations that BOLD Boston will benefit; we'll draw one winner, who will receive 2 tickets to the Saturday, 9/29 1pm performance.
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
Cool Finds: One Chic Mama features a clever Halloween costume and sling in one (shown). Classy Mommy speaks to the wow factor of the luxurious $2500 Kid Kustoms stroller. MomFinds’s back to school guide includes the best backpacks, coolest lunch boxes, and sharpest pencil cases for your kid.
With the exception of those traipsing the Hollywood fantastic, most mamas don’t have the resources for the personal trainers, nutritionists, and/or (ahem) cosmetic assistance required to flaunt an awe inspiring postpartum tummy at the beach. And while we advocate and celebrate whatever small self care efforts you can make in terms of good food and fitness (be it short walks or intervals of exercise), you probably also could stand (and deserve) to have a little extra help of the non-invasive cosmetic variety.
As often happens with women, I was optimally dedicated to self-care when I was pregnant. I fueled my body with good food, swam laps several times a week up until the day before Laurel was born (the lifeguards always looked terrified when they saw me waddling up to the lanes), and calmed my mind with plenty of stretching and breathing.
Even so, it wasn’t until the last few years – during which I faced the major life stressors of becoming a parent, losing loved ones, and experiencing the mother of all professional upheavals – where I really started thinking about mind-body connection practices, largely thanks to the therapist Jon and I started seeing after Laurel was born, and from what I have learned via Jon’s dedication to mindfulness practices.
During my last trimester with Laurel, I often couldn’t believe that my belly had ever been flat. And I have moments now when I see pregnant women and am amazed that I ever carried that giant, fantastic belly. It makes me wish that I had captured tangible, tactile evidence of my pregnant self.
If we go the baby road again, I plan on molding my form with the Belly Imprint Spa Treatment & Sculpting Kit by Belly Vita. A beautifully packaged go-to gift for expecting moms, this kit offers a multimodal means to indulge the senses, calm the mind, create an extraordinary keepsake, and connect with your partner before the chaos begins. The process takes about 30 minutes and involves massaging soothing oil onto the belly, prepping then wrapping the sculpting fabric on the belly and chest, and relaxing while the sculpting fabric sets. (Note: This is the perfect time to solicit a hand and foot rub.) Once dry, your belly mold can continue to evolve into a work of art with simple paint, pretty paper decoupage accents, and/or ribbon or other embellishments.
Despite the warm weather, sometimes fashion or desire dictates the need for the smoothing effects of hose. Reader Ali from South Hamilton wrote in with praise for Mama Spanx:
“Many women are familiar with Spanx, the undergarment revolution of wearer-friendly body slimmers. For pregnant moms, there are now a variety of maternity Spanx styles that support and smooth your changing body. Mama Spanx come in mid-thigh (a.k.a. power panty), footless (in nude
or black
), and full-length (in nude
or black
) versions. Bands support your belly and thighs without needing to resort to those large, harness-like pregnancy girdles.”
When it comes to medical decision-making I tend to be as anti-treatment as they come (sometimes to the point of forgetting about the benefits of over the counter medication), but I also am fortunate to be a healthy woman, and one who was able to conceive naturally.
Today, in the New York Times article “Prospect of womb transplant raises hopes and red flags,” Roni Rabin reports on a study to appear in the academic journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. The article details a protocol used by doctors at New York Downtown Hospital that resulted in the harvesting of wombs from eight brain-dead human donors. While the medical team asserts that no immediate plans are in the works for a uterine transplant, the mere possibility has created a flurry in the medical community, as well as for women whose medical conditions currently preclude the possibility of bearing a child on their own.
I was both fascinated and troubled by this article. How far are we willing to go to have babies?
A lot of things become more challenging once you have a babe in tow, and fitness often drops on the priority list due to scheduling logistics. Luckily for local mamas, Shannon Nelson, a certified fitness expert and former nanny, has created a space for moms to stay fit while their kids have fun.
Nelson's Mama & Me in Newton offers fitness programming for mothers, with parallel art and gym classes for kids ages 18 months – 7 years (pre-crawlers are welcome to attend all classes with mothers free of charge). All classes are available on a drop in basis and discounted 10-class passes are available. Come January 15th, expanded hours and a new schedule will be available, and Mama & Me currently is offering a January promotion; $20 off a 10-class fitness pass (offer expires 1/31/07).
Mama & Me, 1280 Centre Street, Suite 6, Newton Centre; Tel: 617-372-7448
Back in the day (i.e., my early 20’s) I was really fit; as in, hit the gym at 5:30am on my way to work fit. Not surprisingly, those days are long gone and despite my efforts to keep up my gym membership, our relocation and my new schedule have made the gym less accessible.
Imagine my delight, then, when I learned about the stylish and portable Sane Fitness QuickStart Deck ($24.95). Comprised of 3 workouts (with a suggested plan for a 6-week full-body program) that can be done at home with minimal equipment or at the gym, this series is perfect for busy mamas. You’ll need to start with 20 minutes of cardio (does chasing a toddler around the house count?); otherwise each workout involves a mere 11 moves (6 full body exercises, 2 abdominals, 3 stretches). It can’t get faster than that. In the next 6 months Sane Fitness also will roll out a complete fitness deck with 6 months of workouts, and "Sane Preggers," a workout system designed specifically for expecting mamas.
Use the coupon code “FitMama” to receive a 20% discount at Sane Fitness directly; also available at Amazon.
What a pity that my food poisoning induced “labor” precluded use of our doula (the services of which were available gratis via participation in a doula study at our hospital). As first time parents, my husband and I loved the idea of having a childbirth expert in the room to take the pressure off of Jon, and keep our multi-paged (!) birthing plan on track.
Of course, the birthing plan and doula went out the window when I had my emergency C-section. So while I am unable to provide a personal reference, a dear mama friend from Cambridge – who searched long and hard for her doula – offers high praise for the following resource:
Isn’t it ironic that as a nursing mama you spend so much time nourishing your babe that you barely have time to eat? Angel Milk offers a yummy supplement to the foods and vitamins you do manage to consume via their all-natural nutritional shake. Especially formulated for pregnant and nursing mamas, Angel Milk is fortified with vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K, folic acid, and blended with minerals like calcium, iron and magnesium. It’s also high in protein and low in sugar.
Although I’m neither pregnant nor nursing at the moment, I’m already a fan of Angel Milk. The texture and flavors (chocolate, strawberry, pina colada) are smooth, the subtle sweetness level is spot on, and it's a great, compact way to pack in nutrients.
Angel Milk is sold in 14 oz cans (14 servings, $19.99) or in individual packets (12 for $29.99). The company also offers an inexpensive starter kit ($9.99) that includes one individual packet of each of their flavors + the Angel Milk shaker cup (with liquid measurement markings and a cap for easy blending).
Angel Milk, Tel: 1-800-ANGEL76 or 310-547-1185
Before I officially become a week behind… I have been meaning to mention a feature in last Sunday’s Globe Magazine that struck ire in the heart of the pro-natural childbirth mama who sent me the reference. “The mother lode of pain,” written by Dr. Darshak Sanghavi of U. Mass Medical (July 23, 2006) is decidedly pro-epidural. Dr. Sanghavi notes that “pain [is]…an utterly, primitive thing, a vestige of insect and reptilian brains" and that "reliance on pain to create meaning during childbirth indicates a constricted imagination.” Ouch.
Please feel welcome to comment on your thoughts on, or experience with, natural or assisted childbirth.
Pregnancy obviously is a natural, necessary part of the circle of life, but things can get complicated and confusing when you have to think about pregnancy in the context of the workplace. Click here for an informative Q & A on pregnancy and employment, including topics such as interviewing when pregnant, breaking the news to your boss, maternity benefits, and discrimination.
While I love trundling around little boutiques on foot, sometimes one stop shopping is the way to go. Boston area mama Jeniphir Taylor-McIntire, a sales consultant for Natural Family Boutique, recently pointed me to her online store.
Natural Family Boutique offers eco-friendly products to support families from conception to weaning. The site offers Haba toys (my favorite toy line, period!) and apparel for babes, indulgent jewelry, spa, and home items for mamas, and lots of products for new parents (breastfeeding, baby care, and cloth diapering supplies, pregnancy, birth and postpartum products, books & CDs, slings). The site also offers resource material on breastfeeding, pregnancy and birth, nutrition, parenting, natural living, and activism.
Host a mama’s night out NFB party with Jenipher and get discounts and freebies along the way. Send Jenipher an email to find out more.
UPDATE 8/15/07: Sadly, Natural Family Boutique has closed its virtual doors. Please visit our category links to the left for more fabulous toy, gear, and pregnancy resources.
Tending to a newborn is incredibly hard work; imagine trying to fulfill your loving duties while suffering from postpartum depression.
While awareness about postpartum depression has gained traction in recent years, many moms still suffer without treatment; not surprisingly, kids suffer too, Carey Goldberg of The Boston Globe (July 5, 2006) reports in “Pediatricians urged to focus on moms, too.”
The upside is that recent pediatric research suggests that responses to two simple questions: "Have you lost interest and pleasure in doing things lately?" and "Have you been feeling down?" are useful predictors of postpartum depression. The timeliness of diagnosis is particularly important given other promising research indicating that if a mother’s depression resolves within three months of treatment, her child’s psychiatric symptoms also tend to dissipate.
Just because you’re pregnant or nursing doesn’t mean you have to forego drinks with cute little umbrellas in them. Check out Epicurious’ mama-friendly feature on liquorless libations. Epicurious offers several recipes under each of the following categories: lemon- & limeades, iced teas, tropical coolers, sparkling sips, and summer shakes.
So kick up those swollen dogs, and have your partner get on the blender.
As I was researching the issue of toddler hitting, I came across another interesting resource, “The discipline tool kit: Successful strategies for every age,” on BabyCenter. The article describes ground rules to set the stage for discipline success and follows with implementation tools and useful descriptions of process and application, from birth to 8 years old.
BabyCenter offers substantial topic resources for parents from pre-pregnancy on. Plug in your due date to receive pregnancy bulletins; do the same based on your child’s birth date for age-related development content. BabyCenter’s retail component offers a full range of products (with parent reviews) and an online registry.
Sometimes the best way to cope with the rigors of mamahood is to let out an emphatic “Ohm!” To locate a studio near you, check out Boston Yoga; this resource website is blissfully clean and easy to navigate. The studio directory extends to the Cape, Southern New Hampshire, and beyond.
Even better, Boston Yoga loves mamas! Check out their pre/post natal class recommendations.
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