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Well, it’s a monumental day in my house. I’ve been on bedrest for three weeks due to a pre-term labor scare and I’m now on the homestretch- only one more week! Lauren Greenlee |
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I remember asking my mom to tell me about her “love bump” over and over again when I was a little girl. She would point to a tiny little dot on her right arm (a mole) and tell me about how she was so excited when she was pregnant with me that her body left a little mark to remind her how much she loved me, even after I was born. Lauren Greenlee |
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For the past week, I’ve found myself confound to bedrest, now 34 weeks pregnant and crossing my fingers this baby of mine- along with what nurses have dubbed my “grumpy uterus”- will just chill out until we make it past the pre-term mark. As you can imagine, this poses an interesting challenge when you have two very active pre-school age children in your care and a husband who works on the opposite end of the city. Lauren Greenlee |
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When the big day arrives, whether it’s scheduled or spontaneous, the hospital becomes your “baby spa” retreat for the next few days. Besides getting to see your sweet little angel there for the first time, your body will undergo a major physical feat and you will encounter an emotional (partially hormonal) roller coaster. Amanda Doll |
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Pregnant mothers can sometimes feel overwhelmed with the endless amount of material pertaining to labor and delivery—and at times become targets for unsolicited advice. It’s hard to decipher what is fact or fiction when there is an abundance of information to sift through. Jennifer Duxbury |
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The arrival of a new baby is a special occasion for the entire family and that includes older siblings! By helping them prepare and participate, you can create a positive and smooth transition for your family. Kristina Light |
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Following the birth of my son, I was disappointed that I had to undergo a c-section. Nonetheless, the feeling was fleeting as I held my newborn close, realizing the consequences could have been devastating if the surgery hadn’t been performed. Christa Melnyk Hines |
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Everyone loves a good baby shower! There is no shortage of planning tips and ideas in the expanse of social media, so where does one begin? Brenda Hill |
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Lisa Taranto Butler |
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Throughout all of time, the world has revered and regarded the value of a good father. Research has proven time and time again the positive impact a father’s involvement has on the upbringing of a child. Lauren Greenlee |
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As I write this, I hear the thumping and kerfuffling that comes with a real life version of furniture Tetris. The Hubs has been moving around furniture, measuring and helping me finalize our solitary nesting project- getting a shared-room situation solidified before Baby Boy #3 comes. Lauren Greenlee |
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While nine months of blissful nightly zzzz’s is probably unrealistic, it is possible to improve the quality of your sleep. Here are some common sleep problems in pregnant women, and suggestions on how to alleviate them. Tisha Foley |
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“Do you want to know the gender?” the sonographer’s eyes were cast down at her keyboard, nails rhythmically clicking as she entered information into a required field on the ultrasound. My heart raced as I, along with my husband, two sons, and my mother-in-law all eagerly nodded, leaned in and squinted at the monitor to try to make out what was what before the words were uttered. Lauren Greenlee |
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My apologies to all friends and family out there that had to sift through the chapter book that was my firstborn’s baby registry. Being new to parenthood, I figured it was a better bet to be over-prepared than under for Baby’s arrival. Lauren Greenlee |
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I’ve got a confession to make. When pregnancy cravings didn’t strike, I sort of took the liberty of inventing my own. Lauren Greenlee |