Most women think long and hard about what they plan to do after the baby comes.  Some women anticipate the sheer joy of being able to be a stay-at-home mom.  They plan to be the primary care giver, spend their days strolling through the nearest park, joining mommy and me groups, shopping for organic fruits to share during daily snack time and generally ensuring that their baby gets everything a baby could possibly need.

Other women plan to return to their careers as soon as possible.  They, too, think long and hard about the logistics and financial aspects involved long before they ever lay eyes on their child.  They map out their maximum maternity leave, research day care options, interview nannies and plan out schedules with their bosses.

Both sides of the issue, to return to work or stay at home, require much planning and flexibility.  Both sides also typically fail to realize that all of those plans and preparations simply get tossed out of the window when that baby is first placed in mom’s arms.  The old adage, “Life is what happens when you are busy making plans” is never truer than when a baby enters the picture.  You can never predict what you will want to do until you actually bring that baby home.

The decision is as individual as you and your baby are.  So many factors come into play that you may never have anticipated.  If your baby has special needs, your plans definitely change.  Your finances may require you to return part time, or you may find you can adjust your lifestyle to stay home full time easier than you anticipated. The key to making the right decision, the decision that is best for you as an individual, is to be perfectly honest with yourself.

You may accept or disregard the advice or wishes of others, even the most well-meaning notions of your husband, partner or extended family.  If they impress upon you the need to stay home when you truly desire to work outside of the home, you will feel unfulfilled and as if you have no control in your own destiny, if you simply acquiesce.  If you feel as if you must contribute financially and stay on the fast track for job security, guilt will drive you to fail career-wise and also as a parent.

Ultimately, you must be content and happy with the decision you make or feelings of guilt or resentment will permeate into every facet of your life.  Equally important when it comes to the decision to return to work or not is to be able to express your feelings honestly.  You have to be able talk to your loved ones and weigh your options, wants and needs as a unit.

Don’t ever be afraid to turn to other women also.  While each circumstance is unique, the struggle with guilt of either staying home or going back to work is not unique.  Many before you have made the decision.  Rely on their honesty, trust in your own feelings and make the best choice for you.

When you do stay at home or go back to your career, you will be a happier, mentally healthier and more fulfilled mother in the long run.  Remember, a happy mom is the best gift you can give your child.

Before examining the benefits of DHA, what exactly does DHA stand for and what does it contain?  DHA  is Docosahexaenoic Acid.  It is an omega-3 fatty acid.  Omega-3 fatty acid is important for pregnant or breastfeeding women and infants.  But why?

Medical reports have shown that fatty acids may play a significant role in supporting normal brain growth and mental development.  According to MedTv, DHA is helpful in visual acuity.   There may also be cardiovascular benefits of DHA.  According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish like salmon, tuna and halibut.  It can also be found in whole grains, fresh fruits, olive oil and garlic.

Pregnant women must be careful when consuming fish during pregnancy as some fish contains mercury or other toxins which can be harmful to the mother and unborn child.  Pregnant women should consult their doctor before consuming any DHA supplements.

DHA is not only beneficial for women and infants, children and adults should consume foods rich in omega-3 fatty acid as well.   The ongoing nutritional benefits are crucial for one’s health.  According to Babies Online a continual diet rich in DHA has proven to help a child stay focused, displaying more positive moods and behaviors which are crucial for learning.  DHA has also been shown to improve children’s overall cognitive function.  For adults the cardiovascular benefits of  DHA can potentially save a life since it can reduce or even prevent heart disease, high blood pressure and high chololesterol.

For more information regarding DHA, go to Health Castle.

 

You impatiently wait a few moments before reading that exciting word, PREGNANT, on the test.  Your heart races.  Images of walking a carriage on a nice spring day start to play in your mind.  You tell your husband and you’re both thrilled to be starting your family.  But, wait.  Not so fast.  There are nine months to get through before baby arrives.  Your journey between now and then will be long and winding and filled with a ton of surprises.  What kind of surprises you ask?  Well, these are the things that surprised me when I was pregnant!

 

 

 

• Morning Sickness is not confined to the morning hours.  I was sick from dinner until the wee hours of the morning and completely devoid of heartburn and nausea during the day.  Some women are sick 24/7 and others don’t get sick at all.  It’s all individual.
• Your areolas turn into a mood ring.  As the pregnancy progresses, hormones cause a darkening of not only your nipples but your nether areas, stomach and face as well. While chloasma, the brown spots appearing on the skin, cannot be prevented, after child birth it usually fades over time.
• It’s okay to not love being pregnant.  Movies portray pregnant women as thrilled to be in the condition they are, happy and completely content.  However, not every woman wakes up every day loving the journey she’s on.  While we may fall head over heels the moment we see the positive sign on the stick, the changes that occur in our bodies can make us feel out of control and sometimes, depressed.  If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, such as uncommon sleep patterns, loss of appetite, inability to stop eating, exaggerated and uncontrollable mood swings, talk to your doctor immediately.
• It might be 40 degrees outside, but to you it’s 80. Because your blood flow increases to support your body as well as your baby’s, increased sweating is common during pregnancy.  Feeling excessively warm is not out of the ordinary for most pregnant women so dress in layers so that you can remove clothing if you become hot.  Also, having a cold bottle of water handy at all times can help keep the body cool. 
• The glow everyone talks about… might be acne. While some women are relishing the radiance that their pregnancy has given them, others are battling acne the way they did in high school.  Because pregnancy hormones increase oil production, sebaceous glands can become clogged causing cystic acne to occur.  While pregnancy acne cannot be avoided there are ways to help combat it.  Wash your face religiously in the morning and before bed with a mild, detergent-free cleanser.  Make sure your moisturizers are oil-free. Do not squeeze or pop your pimples no matter how tempting it might be.  Before using any pimple creams, talk to your doctor first.  Some ingredients in zit zappers, over the counter and prescription, are not safe for pregnant women to use.

No matter the symptoms you are experiencing, try to enjoy every moment.  Whether you’re jolly and in love with the amazing feat your body is accomplishing or cursing every second, this is the most amazing experience you will ever have.  Even if you’re frustrated, bloated and completely uncomfortable during your pregnancy, the moment the baby arrives safely in your arms, you’ll experience pure joy.

Baby Washcloths- “Extra smooth for baby’s soft skin” they may say, but it’s not like the wash cloths you already have are made with broken glass.  This is one of those items that really is not a must have.

Baby Towels- Yes, they do have the little awesome hood, but much like the wash cloths that you use for yourself, the towels you normally use are quite okay.  They may even be fluffier and bigger, which may be even more comfortable for your baby’s skin.

Wipe Warmer- Your little one will hardly notice if the baby wipes are slightly cool.  It’s not like the baby wipes are packed in ice before you pull them out.

Bouncers and Vibrating Seats- Some babies thoroughly enjoy the bouncers and vibrating seats, others, not so much.  Before you drop $50-$100 on any baby holders that make the baby bounce and move around, perhaps you should try one out at a friend’s house to see how the child reacts.  If it puts the child to sleep, it may be a winner.  Some children cry and feel very uncomfortable in them so see how your little one reacts first.

Matching Furniture Sets- While the temptation may be there, there really is no need to break the bank on a matching crib, dresser and changing table.  Remember, your little one will only be an infant for a relatively short amount of time.  It’s better to wait until the child is at least a toddler before you go buy a furniture set that’s meant to last.

Too Many Extra Small Diapers- You’ll be absolutely amazed how quickly your little angel will grow.  It’s best to have a supply of diapers on hand that will last you about the first month.  If the little one is still in small diapers a month later, buy more a box at a time. Within the first month, the child may have moved up a size.  Buy a small size first, then wait and see.

Dozens of Outfits that Fit Size 0-3 Months- So exactly how long do you expect your little one to be that size?  Not only that, babies vary greatly in size at birth.  If your little one is born at 10lbs., you’ll hardly be in those outfits very long.  Even if the child is born at only 7lbs., they still won’t be in the small outfits very long.  While shopping for clothes, spread out the sizes.

Bassinet- Despite how much you attempt to plan things out, sometimes things work out how they want, not how you want (especially with children).  You may find that your little one doesn’t want to be in the bassinet.  Or, you may find that you’re so attached to your little one that you wouldn’t dream of having her in another bed.  Not only that, bassinets are only meant to be used a few months before the little one grows out of it and then on to a crib. Many times, it’s just not worth it.

Burp cloths- Goodness only knows how many women have many of these around her home that are never even eventually used.  Some babies barely spit up when burped.  Other children do and people simply use baby blankets for when that happens.  Some children spit up a lot and a small burp cloth couldn’t possibly catch most of it.  It can also depend on how you burp the child.  Some children burp better when sat up and burped instead of over the shoulder.

Baby Combs and Brushes- They are the cutest little things to look at, but seriously when was the last time you saw a parent use one of these?

Baby Shoes- No matter how cute they are, your little one may just kick them off and/or lose them.  Most children aren’t remotely walking until eight or nine months.  If the only reason you want them is because they’re cute, if you’re on a budget, wait until the child is trying to walk.

Baby Wash and Baby Oil- Ivory soap is just as good as baby wash, and you can use it too, which helps you to save money.  I still don’t know what baby oil is even used for.

Toys- Here’s a little secret for you.  Although we all know that you have a little genius, most children don’t really gravitate to toys until they’re about 9 months old.  Before then, they barely even have the ability to pick up small items such as rattles.   A small teddy bear or two may help to keep the child’s attention, or may be good for play time, but most of the toys that light up and make noise will collect dust until the child becomes more cognitive.

Diaper Genies- They keep the smell of diapers down, awesome.  A trashcan that has a liner and a lid can do the same thing.  Diaper genies also require you to purchase refills.

Changing Table- If you’re in the living room and your little one needs to be changed, why go all the way to the bedroom to change the child, when you can change right where you are?  In all honesty, you’ll more than likely change the child where he or she is.  You can just as easily change the child in the crib or on your own bed.

Walker- I’m on the fence on this one.  If your home is heavily carpeted, the only time this gets usage is in the kitchen or outside.  Dont’ be fooled though, many children can learn how to walk perfectly well without a walker.

Baby Tub- It’s kind of a pain in the butt to have to kneel into the tub.  You have far more control of the child in the sink.  Eventually the child is able to sit up on his own.  Then you can move him into the bathtub by himself (don’t forget to never leave your pumpkin alone during bath time no matter where you bathe him!).

Here are a few items that you will want to purchase, but worry about buying them later. The last thing you need is more clutter (and trust me, babies plus exhausted mommies equals clutter).

High Chair- Yes, you will eventually want one, but if the angel isn’t here yet, there’s no need to buy one now.  This isn’t necessary until the child starts eating baby food, which is around six months.  Unless you find one at a real bargain, hold out on buying one now.  It also isn’t necessary to spend a lot of money on a high chair.  Shop around, you can even find plenty of them at consignment shops and online.

Play Pen- When the little one starts rolling around, your moments of freedom have begun to shift.  Rather than just leaving the little one on the bed or on his or her little blanket, it is time to look for a play pen.  The play pen becomes the most useful when the little one begins to scoot and crawl.  The play pen allows you to take care of things around the home while your little one is secure in their own little space.  Put a few toys in there to keep the little one entertained.  Just make sure to keep the area clear of things that a child could suffocate or choke on.

Jogging Stroller- Yes, we all know that you’ll be super mother and doing five miles around the block six days a week.  But, in all seriousness, unless you were a jogger before the baby, it’ll be hard to amp yourself up just to go and if you don’t go jogging, the stroller will just collect dust. And if you are a regular jogger and plan on continuing after your little one is born, just know that jogging strollers aren’t for newborns and they don’t recline.  It may be worth it just to wait to join a gym that also has an in-house day care center.  That way you can get your work-out on and not worry about traffic or extreme temperatures.

Congrats on your little one (or good luck if you’re trying to conceive!) but, don’t let anyone pressure you into spending money that you don’t need to spend.  Do your homework and take along a girlfriend on your shopping trips who already has a little one or two.

I was thrilled when Samantha finally outgrew the infant stage.  She could now walk on her own and we understood what she was trying to tell us most of the time.  I thought I had licked this parenting thing.  When my husband would tell people we were going to have more kids I would smile thinking this would only happen in his dreams.  Seeing mothers with one on the way and another in the stroller depressed me almost as much as the moms with two under the age of three.

I will be forty in less than two years.  The extra weight from my last pregnancy is still jigging above the waistband of my jeans.  I am in school earning a certificate to become a drug and alcohol counselor.  Samantha is in morning preschool and soon will be going all day.  I’m finally coming up for air.  Why would I want to start over at this stage?

Something happens when your firstborn reaches the toddler years.  It no longer seems like an eternity before your child will walk or talk.  Now you are the proud owner of a tiny person. Perhaps it’s time you gave them a sibling; I mean it wasn’t that hard the first year.  This time you will sleep when the baby sleeps.  This one will be trained to nap.  You won’t co-sleep. Maybe you can finally use that boy name you tucked away.

So, today I think that I might possibly want to be a new mom for the second time.  Sure when I start my career I will be old enough to collect social security.  I may be too fragile to pick up my grandchildren.  My jean size will never be in the single digits.  Self-doubt and lack of sleep will once again rule my life.  But, I will lie and tell myself knowing what I already know will give me an advantage because I think the benefits far outweigh the negatives. And, if I’m unable to conceive, I will exercise and finally lose that extra twenty-five pounds.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements explains that iron is essential for our health.  If you don’t have enough, this can result in fatigue, decreased immunity and inability to perform your work because iron is needed to deliver oxygen to cells, including those in your brain.  Left untreated it can affect the heart.  Teenage girls need the most iron because they have the greatest need.

Women who are at a greater risk for low iron levels are female athletes, pregnant women, women who are of childbearing age, women who have had more than one child, those who use an intrauterine device and women who have heavy menstrual periods according to www.womenshealth.gov.

If you have kidney failure and are undergoing dialysis, keep in mind that this puts you at a higher risk for developing anemia because the kidneys can’t make enough of a hormone called Erythropoietin that is essential in the manufacturing of red blood cells.  Erythropoietin and iron can both be depleted during dialysis.

According to Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences,  the recommended daily iron allowance is 15 mg for non-pregnant 14- to 18-year-olds and 27 mg for a pregnant 14- to 18-year-old; 18 mg for a non-pregnant 19- to 50-year-old and 27 mg for a pregnant 19- to 50-year-old.  A breast-feeding woman needs 9 mg daily.  Women over the age of 51 need 8 mg daily.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that a non-pregnant woman with anemia take 50 mg to 60 mg of oral elemental iron twice daily for three months for the therapeutic treatment of iron deficiency.  Discuss this with your physician and figure out what the optimal amount is for you based on your age and other needs, including whether you are still menstruating and have a heavy flow, are pregnant, if you are a young woman or if you are in menopause. Remember always consult your physician before starting any new dietary supplements!

When I was a little girl, I dreamed of getting married, becoming a mother and being the perfect little June Cleaver to my future Ward.  Never in any of my daydreams or fantasies did I envision a 13 month journey through infertility, recurrent miscarriage and medical testing that no woman should ever be subjected to.

It all started in September of 2006.  My husband of 4 years and I decided that we had the house, the two dogs and that the next logical step was a baby.  Less than two months later, I found out I was pregnant.  Just like that.  For some it’s not that easy, for us, it was.  We were scared, shocked and completely flabbergasted.

I called the doctor and we went to our first appointment together excited to begin our journey as parents.  Sitting in the waiting room looking at the children’s table, we giggled like teenagers.  Once inside, the doctor asked me to strip and lie down on the table with those awful stirrups.  As I leaned back, she took the infamous wand out and searched for the heartbeat.  And searched.  There was a visible sac but not a noticeable heartbeat.

She shrugged it off saying that it could still be early since I was measuring 5 weeks but sent me to another office that had more advanced ultrasound machines – to be safe.

So hearts in hands, off we went.  Again I stripped.  Again I laid down feet in stirrups.  And again that wand was inserted to search for this elusive heartbeat.  Again it eluded us.  The technician was very sweet and thought she saw a faint flutter.  She assured us everything was going to be okay in a week when we were asked to come back.

The slowest week of my life went by.  When it was time to go back, my husband couldn’t get off work to come with me, so my mother came along.  And yet again with the stripping and the stirrups.  Another technician came in and behold – the heartbeat.  We were elated but the technician gave a look of concern and said she wanted to talk with my doctor before we left.

She exited the room leaving my mother and me there having silent nervous breakdowns, each of us trying to hide the panic to be strong for the other.

The 5 minutes she was gone felt like years.  When she returned she simply looked at each of us and said, “Your doctor said you can leave.”  That was it.  She left the room answering not one of our 20,000 questions since she was technically not supposed to.

I called my doctor and she congratulated me on a great heart rate of 125 BPM (beats per minute).  Immediately, I calmed, as did my mother.

It was early December, almost Christmas and I was nearly 7 weeks pregnant, due July 22^nd.  So we went to Babies R Us and daydreamed of little girl dresses and mini-man clothes for whichever I would have the following summer.

Daydreaming was the best part.  It prevented me from over-analyzing the concern in the technician’s eyes, the nagging question of why she needed to speak with the doctor before we left.

A few weeks later, the day before Christmas Eve, I was driving down a busy street in the cold, misty rain not far from my house.  I was stopped behind a car making a left when I noticed an SUV in my rear view mirror speeding toward me.  I braced for impact and when it hit, I heard the crash before I realized what happened.  When I saw her airbags had gone off and the car that was in front of me out in the intersection, I started to shake and cry.  I touched my belly as if to make sure all was right inside.

A young man  from the car in front of me got out and asked if I was okay, I said, “Yes, I think so.”

He then ran to his damaged car.  I called my husband who panicked immediately.  The ambulance and police showed up first and checked to make sure I was okay.  They marveled at how my Nissan Pathfinder was hardly touched while the other car was totaled, this in an effort to help me get my mind off of how alone I felt at that moment. When my husband showed up 10 minutes later, I was relieved.  I wanted to go home.

But both my husband and the EMT worker thought it would be better for me to go to the ER, get an ultrasound and make sure that the life inside was okay.

So I did.

We didn’t wait long before we were called into the office where the machine was.  The doctor put the gel on my stomach and there my baby was.  It looked like a baby.  We marveled at how it had doubled, tripled in size.  We laughed and giggled in our innocence.

I looked at Andrew and told him to go ahead and get the car stuff worked out.  We needed a renter for Christmas Eve.  We needed to get my mechanic to pick up our truck.  So he left.  At my urging.  We thought for sure, he’d be back in 30 minutes and I’d be able to get checked out with a clean bill of health.

The ER doctor excused himself, asked me to get dressed and wait outside.  I did.

And I waited.  And as I waited, I grew nervous.

When another doctor asked me to follow her down the hall to a more advanced ultrasound machine, I became unbearably upset. Again, the gel on my stomach.  Again the marvel until I tilted my head and noticed no blinking light.  Not a flutter.  Nothing.

When I asked why I couldn’t see the heartbeat the doctor coldly replied, “Fetal demise.  Your baby died.”

The rest of that day is a blur.  There were tears.  Phone calls.  Shaking.  Lots of shaking.  My doctor couldn’t do anything till after Christmas.  Poor timing is what she called it.  I often wonder if there ever was good timing to have a miscarriage.

Christmas was depressing.  Full of fear, sadness and the feeling that somehow my world had been a sham up until then.

After Christmas, I went in to see my doctor and it was confirmed.  My baby died a week prior to the accident.  A D&C was scheduled for the next morning.  I hung the phone up and felt like a failure.  My body failed to do the very thing it was made for.

I became depressed.  Then determined.  So the next year was spent finding a new doctor and harassing him into letting me see a Reproductive Endocrinologist. While obstetricians deliver your baby, they do not help you get pregnant.  An RE does.  And although many were telling me that I was jumping the gun, I knew inside of me that I needed to see an RE.  When I had a second miscarriage a year to the day after my first, my new doctor finally agreed that something might be wrong.

At my first meeting with the RE, I went through my story; he reviewed my files and stuck to the script. “Miscarriage is unfortunate and you’ve been unlucky.  We don’t normally see women till they’ve had 3 miscarriages” blah blah blah.  When he saw my eyes fill with tears, he agreed to take me on as a client and ordered a slew of tests on myself and my husband.

17 vials of blood later and it turned out I had a genetic blood clotting disorder called MTHFR, an acronym for a really long word.  Basically, those who carry the MTHFR gene are unable to metabolize folic acid.  This inability leads to a thickening of the blood and can cause heart attacks, strokes and recurrent miscarriage.

A week after that test result, I found out I was pregnant.  Terrified, I was prescribed a prescription of folic acid that I was told would help counter the MTHFR.

My little boy was born 3 weeks early on October 7^th, 2008.  And from the very moment I looked at him, I felt overwhelmed.  By love, by wonder, by the notion that I was his protector and guide.  I spent many hours in the hospital thanking the Lord for giving me this gift and questioning if he was really mine.

Over the past few years, I’ve lost some of my innocence and naiveté.  The wide eyed wonder of youth has been replaced by strength and knowledge.  And while my journey to become his mother was bumpy and filled with sharp turns and wrong directions, I’m eternally grateful for the entire ride.  I wouldn’t be the grown up I am without the experience I’ve had.  And I wouldn’t change it.  Not even to regain my innocence.

Having a baby is a very exciting and emotional time in your life. Bringing another person into this world can be one of the most memorable experiences that one can have. This can also be a time when you don’t feel as beautiful as you did before you were pregnant. This can be caused by those raging hormones, stretch marks and the extra weight that you packed on during your pregnancy.

I remember when I first came home from the hospital with my new baby. I was so excited to finally have him home. I was still very much sore and could hardly walk after my C-Section. So my mother decided to stay with me for a while. I was so emotional that I broke down crying to my mother. I remember looking in the mirror naked and could not hold back the tears. So I turned to my mother for comfort and said “What has happened to my body”. My mother quickly responded without any hesitation that “You have just had major surgery and brought another life into this world. Your body needs time to heal.” Although I see now that she was correct, at the time I really didn’t see my body getting back to the way it was before pregnancy. Even now it is not 100% like it was before. I have just learned to accept and embrace my new body. There are several things that I did to help my body to recover close to what it was before.

Getting Your Body Back After Pregnancy:

Exercise, exercise, exercise. Once the doctor gives you the okay to exercise get to it! Exercise will help to clear your mind and improve your body. It also helps to stay active during pregnancy so that your body will snap back quicker. This will also help to maintain a healthy pregnancy weight.

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. This will not only be good for you, but if you are breastfeeding it will provide nutrients your baby needs also.

Moisturize your skin during and after pregnancy. Cocoa butter worked wonders for me during and after pregnancy. There are also many creams that you can try. It is not proven that they prevent stretch marks but moisturized skin feels so much better.

After pregnancy wear a tummy band to help the stomach get back to its original size.

Surround yourself with positive people and be positive yourself. Being around happy people will lift your spirit and your mood.

Breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding provides vitamins and minerals your baby needs and it will also help you to burn extra calories. In addition it will work those stomach muscles to help it snapback in no time!

Continue to take your prenatal vitamins if you are breastfeeding. This will also help to make sure your baby gets the nutrients that they need.

Drink plenty of water. It is important to stay hydrated during and after pregnancy especially if you are breastfeeding.

If you are depressed after the baby or having thoughts of hurting your child call your doctor immediately.

Remember it took 40 weeks for your body to get that way. So give it that much time to get back to normal.

Make time for yourself. After the baby it is very important to have “Me time”. Use this time to go shopping, pamper yourself, or have lunch with your friends.

Above all understand that having a baby is a major change in your life and for your body. Even if your body is not exactly how it was before the baby embrace the way it is now. Every woman is beautiful, so just work with what you have and love the new you. Your baby will love you regardless of how your body looks; just think of the sacrifice that you have already made for your child.

Thank God for a warm October or I would have been quite cold in my $3 Old Navy flip flops on the ride home from the hospital.  While I did have pre-hypertension that caused severe swelling during my pregnancy, my experience is not all that uncommon.  And while swelling is a part of the reason that your feet expand during pregnancy, there is something else going on.

The pregnancy hormone relaxin loosens the joints in your pelvis so that your baby can make its way into the birth canal.   Relaxin also loosens the ligaments in your feet causing them to spread.  So while my feet may now need a size 9, they didn’t actually grow, but they did expand a full half size.   The bones aren’t as tight as they once were.  Swelling caused by pregnancy will go away after childbirth but feet spreading is permanent.

During the latter months of pregnancy, a nice comfortable pair of shoes is a necessity, especially if you are experiencing swelling (also called edema).  Here were my staples:

• Flip Flops:  Flip Flops with a sturdier sole.  They weren’t as confining as a sneaker but had the support of one.

• Uggs:  When the weather became chillier, I lived in my Uggs.  Fashionable or not, they were comfortable, warm, supportive and easy to slip on and off.  Besides, did you see the new cable knit Uggs?  Adorable and so versatile!

• Open-Toe Pump Slides:  For a dressier occasion, I always chose my 2″ open toe pumps.  They didn’t have the pressure of a stiletto and looked dressy enough to wear with a nice outfit.

After pregnancy, it’s recommended that you wait six weeks before you start buying any new footwear.  Allow for any swelling to reduce before you re-size your feet.  In fact,  you just might want to wait till you’re finished having children before you spring for that pair of Louboutin’s!

You have been feeling the pregnancy symptoms for a few days and you are 2-weeks late for your period. All types of emotions are running through your mind, whether you had been planning a pregnancy or not. Your next step is to take the actual pregnacy test. So you rush to your local pharmacy to pickup a test. You may even get a few tests just to be certain.

Once you get home you rush to the bathroom to take your pregnancy test. Some women do this alone; some may tell the expecting father to be there with them and some may even tell their best friend to be there with them for support. The test is positive! Now what? You may go from being numb to excited,  happy to sad or just may not be able to explain how you feel. Understand that all these emotions are normal when it comes to pregnancy. Now, you just have to break the news to the baby’s father (if he doesn’t know), your family and friends.

For some people it may be easy to break the news to others. It all depends on where you are in your life as far as age, career, family religion, or relationship status. Whatever category you’re in just understand that your life will change forever! Most women decide to break the news to the baby’s father first, while others may choose a different route. There are several ways you can go about breaking the news.

Breaking the news that you’re pregnant:

If you have been planning to have a baby send a gift to the baby’s father, i.e., baby shoes, a baby’s outfit, hair brush and comb, etc.

Another way to break the news, if you have been planning to get pregnant, is to leave the positive test on the counter. Tell him you have a surprise for him in the bathroom. Have the camera ready to capture his reaction.

Many women live a great distance from family and friends. If you will not be around your friends or family anytime soon just pickup the phone and tell them over the phone. Years ago this would be a no no, but it is more acceptable today.

Have a party.  Invite your family and friends. Halfway through the party you and your baby’s father can make an announcement.

You can send out announcement cards to let your family and friends know that you are expecting a new addition to the family.

You can also send out announcements over the internet.

Plan a visit to break the news in person.

If you are sad, upset or scared about your pregnancy tell your close friend first. Very often just having someone else being there with you for that extra support will make you feel better.

It is a great idea to wait to break the news to your boss and coworkers after the 1^st trimester. When you do decide to break the news tell your boss first. You don’t want your boss to hear it from someone else in the office. Waiting until after the first trimester will give you a chance to get comfortable with the idea that you are expecting. It will also give you a chance to visit the doctor to make sure everything is going smoothly.

Whether you are excited or not about this pregnancy just take it one day at a time. Talk to a friend or family member about your emotions. Go to the library or bookstore and pickup books on pregnancy. This will help you to understand the changes that your body is going through, in turn helping you feel better about your pregnancy.