Photo: Ree Bob

Every woman likes looking her best—even when she’s pregnant. But with a sluggish economy and growing healthcare costs, many pregnant women can’t afford a stylish new collection of maternity clothes. Despite more designers focusing on this important stage of a woman’s life, the cost of a new maternity dress is still high, especially considering that maternity clothes will only be worn for a few months. How can pregnant moms feel fashionable while also saving money? Thankfully there are several ways for pregnant moms to embrace style in an affordable and conscientious manner.

Purchase items that last longer than nine months

While maternity pants can be a god-send when your waist expands, it’s doubtful you’ll be able to wear them once your body returns to its normal size. So instead of buying a closetful, purchase one or two pairs, and then look for items that can be worn both during and after your pregnancy. Wrap-around sweaters can easily adjust to the size of your waist, and many skirts with elastic waists can be worn beneath a bulging belly. Shoes, hats and other seasonal accessories can add flair to your maternity wardrobe and remain go-to items for longer than nine months. { read more }

About Monet Moutrie

Monet Moutrie is a writer and baker, who lives in Austin, Texas with her three cats and husband. Between government work, graduate school and her own blog, Anecdotes and Apple Cores, nothing sounds better to Monet than an evening of yoga, a cup of Earl Grey tea and a novel. Knock on her front door and you'll find her pulling out a loaf of bread from the oven while brainstorming ideas for her own work of fiction.

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When I was growing up I would hear “horror” stories about labor and the pain associated with childbirth. I remember thinking how wonderful it was to live in a day where drugs are available to dull the pain. I bought into the whole “I’m a wimp” mentality that penetrates in our society, and I thought for sure I would gladly welcome an epidural when it came time to give birth.

Funny how things change.

My desires for a drug-free, home birth first came up when my husband and I talked about starting a family. Thankfully, he was on board. I had lots of reasons why I wanted a drug-free birth. I believe pain is our body’s way of communicating needs — something essential in the birth process. I also try to avoid unnecessary drugs whenever possible. I believe there is a time for them, but in general I think they are abused (and there is plenty of debate on their actual safety for mother and child).

If a drug-free birth is your goal it’s important to have a solid plan. Choosing a midwife instead of a doctor is one of the easiest ways to avoid unnecessary interventions. But with a solid birth-plan, firm mind, and a doctor who understands (and agrees) to your desires you can aim for a drug-free labor.

{ read more }

About Robin Konie

Robin is a dancer, educator, movement therapist, and (most importantly) a nature-lovin'-back-to-basics kind of mom. She has has a passion for play, creativity, and healthy living.

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Photo: Mo Kaiwen 莫楷文, Flickr

While some expectant parents are more than eager to learn their baby’s gender, others may feel there’s no significant advantage to finding out early if you’re having a boy or girl. There are pros and cons to both sides of the issue, and which side of the fence you fall on will depend largely on how important each variable is to you.  Read on to learn which choice is right for you.

Pros of finding out early

After “How far along are you?” and “Is it a boy or a girl?” the most oft-asked question expectant parents will be asked is, “Have you picked a name yet?” To a certain extent, this can be a non-factor when deciding whether or not to find out your baby’s sex ahead of time, as parents can simply agree on one boy’s name, and one girl’s name ahead of time, without the need to know the sex of the baby. On the other hand, naming your unborn baby can help form a stronger bond, and unless you like gender-neutral names, you can’t name your baby until you know the sex. { read more }

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

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Photo: Jeff Jacobson

Full disclosure: my wife and I did not have a home birth when our daughter was born. We planned a home birth, we prepared for a home birth; but when our time finally came, my wife had to have a cesarean section (her second). So, I can’t say from first-hand experience what it’s like to fully experience a home birth.

That said, I do know what it’s like to prepare for a home birth from the perspective of a man who never expected to do so. I’m a very conservative guy who grew up believing that all women gave birth in hospitals, and that all babies were delivered by a doctor. All that changed when I met my wife, and my transformation from ignorant to well-informed just might be able to help you with yours. { read more }

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

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Among the woman who seek to be more closely tied to the birthing process, there is a growing movement of mothers saving the placenta after childbirth.  Some choose to honor their afterbirth with a burial ceremony, while others will consume it after cooking or encapsulating it in pills, as it is believed to aid in milk production, hormonal balancing, and uterine restoration.

Placenta may contain beneficial properties

In the world of mammals, almost every other animal mother instinctively eats the placenta after birth. Though the debate is divided as to whether they are replenishing resources lost at birth or hiding the trail of vulnerability, it begs the question: if a mammal instinctively does something, does that make it normal and healthy? There isn’t a consensus among medical professionals, and the FDA is suspicious of the practice, but more and more moms are convinced that taking their placentas back into their bodies after birth have helped them ease postpartum pains and regulated their moods more quickly. { read more }

About Liz Alfano

I write "Dirty Words," the blog about things you should know, but might not. I'm the mother of two elementary school-aged boys and wife of one adult aged man. When not writing, I can be found reading or staring into space wishing I was either reading or writing. Sometimes I'm seen vacuuming...but not often. www.mydirtywords.com

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Photo Credits: Bornfree!

A few weeks ago I met a woman with her bouncy 5-year-old girl. After a few minutes of light conversation, we turned to her favorite topic—childbirth.

“So how did you deliver your daughter?” I asked.

“On my own.”

“You mean with a midwife?”  I corrected.

She shook her head a few times and smiled.

“When I said ‘on my own’ I meant it. It was me and her.” She pointed to her daughter.

I took a step back. Was this even possible anymore? { read more }

About Monet Moutrie

Monet Moutrie is a writer and baker, who lives in Austin, Texas with her three cats and husband. Between government work, graduate school and her own blog, Anecdotes and Apple Cores, nothing sounds better to Monet than an evening of yoga, a cup of Earl Grey tea and a novel. Knock on her front door and you'll find her pulling out a loaf of bread from the oven while brainstorming ideas for her own work of fiction.

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Photo: Thirteen of Clubs, Flickr

When I read this story a few weeks ago, I was baffled by the headline. Aren’t strokes mostly suffered by the elderly and those with deadly levels of cholesterol? I couldn’t imagine a pregnant woman, glowing with all her maternal glory, suffering from a stroke. It seemed wrong and disturbing.

Unfortunately, it’s a sad fact, backed up by even more sound facts and stats by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Between 1994-95 and 2006-07, the percentage of pregnant women who were hospitalized for stroke rose 47%
• The number of new mothers (who had just given birth) who suffered stroke within three months post-partum increased 83%
• During the 1994-95 to 2006-07 period, hospitalizations due to strokes suffered by pregnant and new mothers increased 54%
• For 2006-07, more than 53% of the women who were hospitalized for strokes during pregnancy were either suffering from high blood pressure or heart disease { read more }

About Martine De Luna

I'm a freelance writer, editor, blogger and former preschool teacher. Married with one kid, I'm a work-at-home mom, but most of all, a mom-in-the-works. I'm a work in progress, and I believe that living intentionally day by day will help me become the best mom for my child.

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