“But….why?” That’s the answer I get when I tell people I chose to have two babies without an epidural. We live in an amazing medical world that allows women to not feel a thing when they push a human from their lady parts. So why would I choose to feel every ounce of excruciating pain? […]
“I’m sorry, but your pregnancy won’t last.” The doctor’s words echoed in my ears after I put down the phone. The pain hit hard this time. This was my third miscarriage, and I was exhausted on every level. My body had been through a lot. My emotions were a roller coaster. And my thoughts were […]
When I was 40 plus weeks pregnant with my first child and staring down the face of an imminent induction, I did what most women (ill advisedly) do. I Googled. Wide-eyed and terrified, I read horror story after horror story about labor inductions. The night before I was scheduled to be induced, I could barely […]
I loathe the term cluster feed. Ever heard of it? My second night postpartum, I asked my nurse to take my son to the nursery so that I could sleep. She shook her head and said that Baby-Friendly hospitals encourage rooming in so that babies can cluster feed. Come again? By this time, I’d been awake for nearly […]
Dear Beyoncé, I have always known the time would come when you’d need my advice. You didn’t feel the need to consult me when you decided to break away from the other Destiny’s Children? Totally Fine. My soothing Lady-Vandross contralto wasn’t “right” for the “B’Day” sessions? No hard feelings. (But we both know it’s because […]
So, ladies? If I told you a funny joke while we were out for a drink, would you wet your pants a little? Do you feel a sneeze coming on—and you cross your legs? What if I told you that it wasn’t normal? Yes. I know. It’s part of what we have all come to […]
There are so many reasons that I love my friends with young kids. Chief among them, the ability to text them at 9 pm with whatever absurd parenting experience I’ve had that day and they know just how I feel. We share similar parenting styles. We all have kids that are pre-elementary school. All of […]
“And what do you plan to use for birth control?” I sit in the exam room for my post-partum visit. My left boob is leaking, I’m sitting on a rubber hemorrhoid pillow, and I’m actively hot flashing so badly that I’m sweating through my jeans. The doctor smiles warmly at me as he tries to navigate his new […]
A few weeks ago at the park, I overheard a mom ask a friend what she thought of using the word “vagina” with her kids. My (somewhat judgmental, I admit) ears perked up as they discussed this. I was truly shocked. Here were these two educated-seeming women who were genuinely afraid of using the correct term […]
When my third child was born, a friend gave me a gift certificate for a pedicure. She happened to be a nail tech and would be doing the pedicure, but, wow—what a great idea for helping a new mom! I certainly wish someone would have thought of that with my other two babies! Doing my […]
