When I was pregnant the first time around, I was not happy with my body. I could not believe the changes that were happening without my permission. My stomach was growing and my boobs exploded, I had no say in the matter.
This time around, I love it! Continue Reading

It's difficult to know what you can and cannot control in terms of your child. How can you protect your child from everything - even the things you can't anticipate? Continue Reading

Two nights ago I spent an hour and a half with Shelley Rahim (http://www.prenatalyogawithshelley.com/bsm.html) working through my birth trauma. I left her house in awe of the clarity I had experienced. Although I have talked and thought about my birth experience for over two years I never realized the root of my anxiety. When Shelley asked me to replay the birth in my mind and to tell her about the moment that stood out the most for me, I laughed and told her how ridiculous my moment would sound. The worst part of my birth was when I got my epidural. Continue Reading

Tomorrow is the big ultrasound.
We find out the sex. We find out where the placenta has decided to take root. We find out if everything looks good with the baby.  Continue Reading

At almost 20 weeks I am starting to feel the pressure to find a doula. There was a doula I had in mind for over a year; however, when I connected with her, there was a difference in opinion regarding some important stuff so we decided to part ways. Continue Reading

I saw my OB today. I tortured him for an hour with questions from a list I wrote this morning. He patiently and kindly answered all my questions. He reminded me several times to think positively and look at pregnancy/birth as a wonderful miracle that is special and beautiful. He is absolutely right - I don't know when I became such a "cup half-empty" person. Continue Reading

I have started reading "Birthing From Within" by Pam England. As this is a birth preparation book largely based on working through your feelings, I am assuming I will be working through some of my birth stuff on my blog. Continue Reading

A short and sweet list on how to increase your chances of having a VBAC. Hell, this list will help you in avoiding a C-Section the first time around! (SHEKNOWS)

Are the pesticides in our food affecting the fetus in our womb? (CNN)

Hmm... they seem to think that pesticides in our food are definitely affecting mothers and their babies. (INHABITOTS)

When I was pregnant with Sadie I refused to do any research about labor and birth. I was petrified at the idea of experiencing all the pain I knew to expect.  Continue Reading

Spanking is a funny topic. There are a LOT of opinions regarding this act. I grew up in a house where we were spanked. Not over everything and not all the time, but spanking was done on occasion. When Sadie was born I wasn't sure where I sat on the "spanking fence." Continue Reading

I can't believe it's been two months since I've written on this blog. My life has felt on pause for these past few months. I have fluctuated between throwing up in the bathtub, moaning in bed, sipping on Gatorade and swearing to everyone I know that I will NEVER get pregnant again. Continue Reading

As I sit down to write out my birth story, I feel like I’m embarking on the task of writing the never-ending story, as many times during my birth I wondered if there would ever be an end. It has been a little over 3 weeks, and I’m finally sitting down to write this out because I am already forgetting the details. I think this is Mother Nature’s way of ensuring that our species proliferates…only by forgetting the nitty gritty details of challenging labors can women ever think about birthing again. In fact, in the midst of labor I told Phil we would never have another child; yet within days of Olive’s birth, I decided that I would definitely do this again. After all, it would have to be easier and shorter next time, right? Continue Reading

On Friday 12/8, I went to the hospital for a routine fetal non-stress test. This is done on mothers past their due dates (I was 4 days past at this point). They want to make sure the placenta (a temporary organ) is still doing its job providing oxygen and nutrients to the baby. Sometimes placentas deteriorate and stop functioning at full capacity. So, the test showed the baby's heart rate was decelerating slightly with minor contractions I was having. The nurse was concerned that my placenta was not doing well and asked a doctor to study my results. The doctor said he was concerned about the baby's heart rate, and wanted to admit me right away and start inducing labor. Continue Reading

I knew I was pregnant before I ever missed a period. I was a small girl and my stomach practically started showing before my pregnancy test showed me the positive sign! By the time I was three months, people were asking how much time I had left. In my seventh month, my husband was getting a lot of twin comments. People were wise enough to not say it to me directly! Continue Reading

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, attracts the biggest crowd at our synagogue. For some reason, people we have not seen all year will make their appearance in the fall, for the High Holidays. I imagine they come to “rejewvenate” and start the year on the right foot. My wonderful husband leads the services. As a trained Rabbi and cantor, this is the highlight of the year for him. Continue Reading 

Nursing. Milk coming out of my breasts. Milk. Fluids. Out of my breasts. 
I was not okay with this when it first happened and I still struggle with the idea. 
I love the fact that I produce a magic-like substance that feeds my daughter and has all the nutrients she needs throughout the first year of her life. It’s a gift and I cherish it. Doesn’t mean I don’t get a little grossed out if I have to pump and see it sitting in a bottle knowing that fatty substance came out of me. Continue Reading

I was due December 31, 2008 with my second son. I had made it clear that I intended to do a trial of labor and hoped for a VBAC (vaginal
birth after cesarean), but by early December, I was having problems with high blood pressure. On December 16, a Tuesday, not only was my
blood pressure once again stubbornly high, but there was +1 protein in my urine. Figurative alarm bells went off. I was sent to have labs
drawn and go down to the hospital to be monitored. The hospital was about 45 minutes away, and I had been there about a week and a half
before for the same reason and had been sent home within 90 minutes of arriving. I figured surely everything would be fine again this time. Continue Reading

My son was due October 20, 2006, which was a Friday. That night, just after midnight, I entered the early stages of labor. I lost my mucus
plug and started having contractions. We waited about two hours, called the OB on call, and were told to come on in. I spent four hours on the L&D floor, walking around, trying to move things along, only to find, at 6:00 A.M., that I hadn’t dilated at all. Continue Reading

To moms across the world I say
You bring us sunshine every day
The love you give brightens our life
You are the mother, daughter, wife

Through smiles and tears
Through diapers and fears
Through homework and toys
Through dates and boys

You're always there
To love and care
To hold our hand
When we no longer play in the sand

Your shoulder is strong
Your heart in kind
Even when we are wrong
We can count on your sharp mind

And as we see the wrinkles on your face
We watch and learn from you and see life's neverending trace
But you remain with us forever through the years
Even when you can no longer dry our tears

We look to you for comfort and advice
And as we age we learn to respect your replies
Your unconditional love always shows
Our love for you just grows and grows

We want you know you are special to us
We want you to know you sometimes it's ok to make a fuss
We are here for you mom each day of our life
Because you're a gift from above, a grandma, a mom and a wife!

copyright@2011 Ahuva Gershtein. All rights reserved.

More from this amazing author: http://mblissparsha.blogspot.com/

This was a beautiful pregnancy. I felt better, wasn't riddled with hyperemisis, gained less weight, etc. But the end of the pregnancy was filled with the stress of a long, long, stalled labor.

All morning yesterday (starting from the night before, actually, oh and the day before. Did I mention I have long and unpredictable pre-labors? ), I was having very painful contractions, but not close enough together. I texted my friend Lisa about to just give up because if they were that strong, that far apart, how in the world was I going to make it naturally?? I had spent my new years being released from the birth center, and had actually reversed in dilation because I was in such despair. I longed for a natural birth, and had even read books on pain-free birthing, but that night as I walked back to the car, I said, "Pain-free birth, my a__." Continue Reading

I told myself not to get too excited. The other three times this month had all ended up in a disappointed drive home with an empty car seat. It was a bit different this time. It wasn’t the first night that I had been up with contractions, but this time I had lost my “show,” which was encouraging. At that point, I was four days overdue, and ready to have this baby in my arms and out of my belly. Continue Reading