Assemble Your Village

Take Care of Yourself! Everybody tells us to do that after having a baby, but who has the time? Babies take a lot of energy, most of our time, and do they ever sleep?? Taking care of yourself during these first few months with a newborn may seem like a low priority, but it’s not. …

Why Smoking During Pregnancy is Not Safe

Question: Do you know what the most commonly used substance during pregnancy is?  Answer: Nicotine.  If you are pregnant and still smoking, here are a few reasons why you should try to quit: Smoking during pregnancy can cause tissue damage in the unborn baby, particularly in the lungs and brain. Some studies suggest a link …

Mom Care: Postpartum Bodies and Emotional Chaos

“Nobody told me there’d be days like these.” That’s a line from a John Lennon song, but it’s also a great way to describe the first few months after having a baby, when your physical and emotional needs are as unpredictable as the weather in Missouri.  A few things you might be experiencing: Body aches: …

New Mom Care: Sleep Deprivation

We don’t realize how much we love sleep until we aren’t getting enough. If you are a new mom, you’re probably experiencing all the feels, both physical and emotional. But one of the biggest problems you may experience is significant sleep loss during the first few months after a baby’s birth. What you are going …

Time to Throw Out that Outdated Baby Advice with the Bath Water

New moms get bombarded with well-meaning advice, almost from the moment they announce their pregnancy. Some of it is great, such as take care of yourself, get prenatal exams, and eat nutritiously. Some of it, however, may be outdated. Science is ever-evolving, and what mothers did 40 years ago may not be the recommendations today. …

Take Care of Yourself After a Cesarean

Whether you planned for a Cesarean delivery (aka C-section) or had one unexpectedly, you may now be dealing with the recovery. A C-section involves surgery, and the post-delivery self-care period may be more difficult than recovery after a vaginal birth. We have compiled a list of suggestions to help you take care of yourself, manage …

What to Look for When Your Newborn Is Sick

It’s the middle of the night, and your baby wakes up screaming. Or it’s the middle of the day, but something just feels off. What do you do? What do you look for?  Red Flags for Newborns: No urinating in the first 24 hours or no bowel movement in the first 48 hours.  Odor, drainage, …

Baby Shower Essentials

As soon as you start telling people about your pregnancy, somebody is going to want to give you a baby shower. That is a wonderful way to support you on this journey. There are a lot of fancy things you can buy or request from friends and family members for your baby, but here are …

Crib Safety for Your Baby

One of the important ABCs of safe sleep is putting your baby to sleep in a crib or on another hard surface. Here are a few tips to keep your crib a safe sleeping space for your precious baby: Make sure there are no gaps larger than two fingers between the sides of the crib …

Maternity Fashion Tips for Your Changing Body

A new pregnancy means a changing body, which may have you wondering what you’re going to wear during the next 9 months. Not to worry! Here are a few suggestions to help you feel comfortable, stylish, and confident: Give yourself time: If this is your first baby, you might not even need maternity clothes until …