Trying to Take Back Childbirth

An article about taking childbirth back can be found here. If you're interested in less "medical" and more "natural", you might want to read this.

Eating for Two

When you are pregnant and hear that you are now "eating for two", what does that mean to you? Does it mean to double up what you are eating? From the way some people eat while pregnant, I think many people think that is what it means. It doesn't though (even if we use the excuse that we are pregnant to eat way more than we need for the growing baby). What it will mean is more weight for you to lose after the baby is born, unless you plan on keeping it.

During most of the pregnancy, the recommendation is about 300 extra calories (a little less during the first trimester). When you think of it that way, it doesn't take much for that little extra - perhaps a glass of milk and serving of fruit or veggies at dinner (yum right?).

Maternity Clothes for the Nouveau Mommy

Pregnancy is beautiful. Your body is growing and changing to accommodate another little life. I think that is about as magical as it can get. It's precious.

Maternity clothes have come a long way too from 13 years ago. I wish they'd made maternity clothes like this back then.

We saw my pregnant niece this past week. She had a form-fitting top on and looked beautiful. It's a great time (fashion-wise) to be pregnant...much better than the pregnant clothes I had to choose from.

If you are struggling with how you feel over your changing body, remember that you have created life. eHow has many articles about pregnancy. Look up How to Keep a Positive Self-Image During Your Pregnancy.

To Breastfeed or Not to Breastfeed?

I have four children. Not all of them were breastfed.

• With my first daughter, she couldn't latch on no matter how many doctor visits and appointments I made with the breastfeeding nurse. Come to find out the bone structure in her mouth was messed up, which we know now but didn't know then. She's had her palate broken apart and everything to fix her mouth but that's a different topic.
• I nursed my second child (and he was a constant nurser) for about three months until I went back to work and they didn't have the facilities for me to pump (the President offered me his office to use but that was just weird). Pumping in the bathroom was just "eww" to me - it didn't seem sanitary at all.
• For my third child, I didn't nurse (which I seriously regretted after drying up).
• By the time I had my fourth child, I had my mind made up that I was going to nurse and nurse I did. I never did make enough milk to nurse her around the clock without supplementation (I think that had to do with my thyroid problems). On just breastmilk, she was classified as "failure to thrive" because I could not make enough no matter how much I pumped to increase supply or what supplements I took or how often she nursed. and we had to supplement for her to be healthy. That didn't stop me from nursing her on demand for two years. I would say she got about half her nutrition from me and the other half from formula. She's a very healthy little girl who has never had an ear infection (she's four now).

I found with my fourth child that I loved nursing. I had wished that I could have nursed all of my children (can't change the past though). I'd breastfeed again if we were to have another child. Most definitely. I loved it and even after not nursing for the last two years, I still miss it. It feels very maternal to me.

For more information on breastfeeding, check it out here.

Pregnancy Due Date Calculators

What every expecting mom wants - pregnancy due date calculators!!!

• American Pregnancy Association
  
• Pregnancy on About.com
  
• Baby Center
  
• Calculator at MayoClinic