Conversations

No Son of Mine...

Before I broadly bash modern-day childrearing, allow me to point a finger squarely at the mirror. I do not want my son to follow in my flawed footsteps.

Questions Not to Ask a Woman Who Has Passed Her Due Date

If you hope not to piss off a woman who has passed her due date, never ask the following

Peace and Love During Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

It’s 2017 and I have learned to smile again. I have two amazing “rainbow babies.” Still, I do not forget where I came from.

Moms-To-Be, You Should Still Get Flu Vaccines

A clickbait article is spreading like, well, the flu, and is likely to significantly impact pregnant women's behavior at doctors' offices this flu season.

What Happened When I Had the Kind of Birth I Thought I Wanted

I wanted to believe – don’t we all – that there was a perfect birth for me and, if I played my cards right, such an experience was mine for the taking.

Pregnant With Number 3: the Week by Week Narrative

And sister, I gotta be honest: this ain't your first rodeo. So you need a new calendar. A give-it-to-you-straight calendar.

Why You Might Consider Having a Doula in Your Corner

Doulas can offer more than just emotional support and can help new mothers have control over what happens to them in childbirth.

New Research Suggests Treating Anxiety Doesn't Have to Take a Backseat During Pregnancy

A new study about the safety of benzodiazepines during pregnancy might give mothers some peace of mind about treating anxiety during pregnancy.

All the Things You Don't Have to Fret About Finishing Before the Baby Comes

All you need to bring your baby home from the hospital is one outfit, one car seat, and enough diapers to get you through the day. Don't sweat the rest.

I'm Calling it My "Miscourage"

If one in four women have miscarriages, why isn’t it talked about more commonly?

I'm Pregnant With My Third, Is That a Disaster for the Climate?

Every kid adds an additional 20 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions to be produced each year. But does having fewer children help solve global warming?

How You Can Wholly Support Someone Who’s Infertile or Has Experienced Pregnancy Loss

Second to the pain of infertility or pregnancy loss, the most painful part of losing a child or not being able to have one is dealing with people’s comments, questions, and well-intentioned advice....

You'll Never Find the Right Time to Follow Your Dreams, So Don't Bother Waiting

Everything feels worse at 3am, doesn’t it? 3am is always the time your brain will not turn off and anxiety sets in. It feels like something is nibbling on my brain in these small hours. Over the ye...

The World's Tiniest High-Five May Be Just the Thing I Needed

I spent the evening wondering if my son would be okay, whether I’d ever get to hold him, and whether he’d have multiple surgeries and a life of problems.

Learning to Swim: A Thirty Year Pregnancy Tradition

I’m finding myself flabbergasted and moved by how beautifully cyclical life is, as I'm having a similar summer to the one my mom had thirty years ago.

All The Reasons I Shouldn't Have Another Baby in My Forties, Maybe

I have for a long time yearned for a fourth child, but at age 45 and already a mother of three, I had pretty much assumed I was done. But what if I'm not?

"I Might Be Pregnant Again" and All The Emotions That Come After

This would be our fourth child together, and she wants me to be happy so that she can be happy. I want to be happy about this, too. I really do.

Sugar Intake During Pregnancy Could Trigger Kids' Allergies Later On

A new study tells us that eating too much sugar may also trigger allergies and asthma in our kids down the road.

Finding Peace as the Mother of a Rainbow Baby

My experiences, even the painful ones, have brought me exactly to where I want to be in my life. I have a loving husband and three beautiful children.

10 Potentially Damaging But Equally Hilarious Options for Naming Your Twins

Ten ideas for naming twins, all of which will be vetoed by my more-normal-than-I-am wife, who will insist on perfectly normal ones like Derek or Chauncey.

My Husband Won't Be My Birth Coach and We're Both More Than Ok With That

I may have pictured a husband-assisted delivery as my ideal childbirth experience, but to him it was a worst nightmare.

6 Moderately Creepy But Sort of Sweet Things to Do With Your Baby's Umbilical Cord

If you find yourself in the possession of an umbilical cord stump you can’t seem to part with, consider the following uses, courtesy of the moms in my town.

Having a Baby Changes Everything, or So They Say

There's no denying it, our kids slow us down. Which is exactly why we should take them with us.