third trimester

The longest weeks of my life were the ones right before my due dates. I was convinced with every pregnancy there was no way I'd go full term. I'd contract away for weeks in advance. I ... READ MORE

Sex After Birth

Count to 10

12 Ways To Keep Both Of You Safe

Trimester 11. Enroll your dog in an obedience class so he’ll be on his best behavior when the baby comes home.2. Avoid major renovations if you’re living in an older home with layers of paint ... READ MORE

Labor Lite

The words “easy labor” may seem like an oxymoron, but there are steps you can take, both throughout pregnancy and during labor, to make your experience less stressful and more comfortable, ... READ MORE

Scary Stuff

Six weeks into her second pregnancy, Kim Schuler Heinrichs thought all was lost. After learning she was pregnant, Schuler, now a mother of three in Allentown, Pa., started bleeding and ... READ MORE

Perineal Massage and Episiotomy

Maite emailed and asked: Will perineal massage help me avoid a tear during delivery? Will the doctor do an episiotomy even if I don’t want one? Let me start with reassurance: While ... READ MORE

Pregnancy Fun Facts

They call it “momnesia”: those times you put the milk in the cupboard instead of the refrigerator; or you walk into a room, only to forget why you’re there. But “mommy brain” is more than a ... READ MORE

Learn More About Birth

Books * The Birth That’s Right for You, by Amen Ness, Lisa Gould Rubin and Jackie Frederick Berner (McGraw-Hill, 2005)* Easy Labor, by William Camann and Kathryn Alexander (Ballantine Books, ... READ MORE

Doulas – Pros and Cons

I was e-chatting with Sarah, a colleague of mine who works for CARE. I’m preparing to go the National CARE Convention in Washington DC next week, where I’ll be moderating a panel discussion ... READ MORE