Baby Registry

As you prepare to welcome your little bundle of joy into the world, one of the most fun and practical tasks on your to-do list is creating your baby registry. Let's navigate the sea of baby gear to ensure you’re set up for success!

• A baby registry Worth Sharing

Doulas (Everything Pre, Birth, Post)

A doula can provide invaluable support throughout the entire pregnancy journey, from pre-birth preparation to labor and postpartum care. In this post, we’ll explore the role of a doula at each stage, highlighting how their expertise and emotional support can enhance your birthing experience and aid in your postpartum transition.

• Blog Post: What is a Doula?

• Blog Post: 2018: A Year of Love & Growth 

• Blog Post: Doulas and Cesareans

• Blog Post: Does My Insurance Cover a Doula?

• Blog Post: Doulas Celebrate Labor Every Day

• Blog Post: What the heck is a postpartum Doula?

• Blog Post: Reflections for Mother’s Day 

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a common pregnancy complication that requires careful management to ensure a healthy outcome for both mother and baby. In this post, we'll explore what gestational diabetes is, its risk factors, and effective strategies for managing blood sugar levels and maintaining overall health during pregnancy.

• Blog Post: Testing For Gestational Diabetes

• Blog Post: Diagnosed With Gestational Diabetes… What Now?

High Risk Pregnancy

Navigating a high-risk pregnancy can be challenging, requiring extra care and attention to ensure the best outcomes for both you and your baby. In this post, we'll provide insights and strategies to help manage the complexities of a high-risk pregnancy, offering support and practical advice to guide you through this critical time.

• Urgent Maternal Warning Signs: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) , CDC Precautions

Infertility

Infertility can be a deeply personal and challenging journey, impacting many aspects of life and relationships. Our comprehensive guide on infertility offers support, information, and resources to help you understand your options and navigate this complex experience with clarity and compassion.

• "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler

  • Description: This book provides a detailed guide to understanding fertility and reproductive health, offering practical advice for those trying to conceive.

  • Available At: Amazon

• American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)

  • Description: Offers extensive resources and information on infertility treatments, research, and support networks.

  • Available At: ASRM

• Resolve: The National Infertility Association

  • Description: Provides support and advocacy for individuals and couples facing infertility, including educational materials and local support groups.

  • Available At: Resolve

• FertilityIQ

  • Description: An online resource with reviews, expert advice, and educational content on fertility treatments and clinics.

  • Available At: FertilityIQ

• "Mayo Clinic Guide to Fertility and Conception” by Zara Khan M.B.B.B.S, Samir Babayev M.D., Chandra C. Shenoy M.D.

  • Description: A practical guide covering various aspects of infertility, including factors that contribute to healthy eggs and sperm, steps you can take to get ready or pregnancy, tips for ovulation tracking and timing sex, improving your chances of conception, reproductive assistance, third party reproduction, and fertility preservation.

  • Available At: Amazon

Maternal Immunizations

One of the easiest ways you can protect both yourself and your baby during pregnancy is to be up to date on all of your vaccinations. Some vaccinations are even recommended to be given during pregnancy in order to provide better immunity for your baby after they are born, but unable to get certain vaccines themselves. Sometimes it can be confusing to know what vaccinations are safe to get during pregnancy and which ones are not recommended. Here we will provide a general guide for current maternal immunization recommendations, but remember to always check with your provider to see what is best for you and your baby.

How do vaccines work?

Your immune system produces antibodies when it has been infected with a virus or bacteria. These antibodies help fight off the infection and while this process is occurring, people usually experience the symptoms of the infection. Vaccines are a way to fast track this process. They can either be live, but weakened versions of the virus, or killed versions of parts —or even the whole— germ. The goal of both types of vaccine is to trigger your body to produce antibodies without actually getting sick. Some people experience mild symptoms with vaccines like soreness, fatigue, and a low-grade fever. Severe infection is extremely rare from vaccines.

What vaccines are right for me?

Some of the most common vaccines for women to get while they are pregnant are the Tdap and Flu vaccines. The Tdap vaccine is recommended for women between weeks 27 and 36 of pregnancy. Getting this vaccine during this period allows for not only mom to be protected, but baby is provided with immunity for months after birth. The flu vaccine, on the other hand, is safe to be given at any point during pregnancy. This can help prevent flu-related pregnancy complications in both you and baby.

While some vaccines are safe during pregnancy, live (attenuated) vaccines are NOT recommended during pregnancy. If you receive a live vaccine and then find out you are pregnant, consult with your doctor.

As you can see from the list shown in the image above, many vaccinations are recommended for you to get more than a month before you become pregnant. If you are planning on becoming pregnant, this is a great way to help prepare your body. If you are already pregnant, don’t worry! The most important/beneficial vaccines are still available to you at some point during your pregnancy. Always consult with your doctor if you are at high risk of contracting a certain virus that you may be considering a vaccine for.

Navigating a Miscarriage

Experiencing a miscarriage can be an incredibly difficult and emotional journey, filled with grief and uncertainty. In this post, we'll provide support and guidance to help you navigate this challenging time, offering resources and coping strategies to help you heal and find solace.

• First Candle: 800-221-7437 or https://firstcandle.org/

• March of Dimes: https://www.marchofdimes.org/

• M.E.N.D.: https://www.mend.org/infant-loss-organizations

• Return to Zero: 310-403-3856 or www.rtzhope.org 

• Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support: 800-821-6819 or https://nationalshare.org/

• Star Legacy: 952-715-7731 ext. 1 or https://starlegacyfoundation.org/

• Stillbirthday: https://stillbirthday.com/

Navigating Pregnancy During a Disaster

Pregnancy during a disaster presents unique challenges and uncertainties that can amplify stress and worry. In this post, we’ll offer guidance on how to navigate this unprecedented time, with tips on maintaining your health, managing anxiety, and adapting to changing circumstances.

• Blog Post: Navigating Pregnancy During a Pandemic

• Blog Post: How to Make the Most out of Your Prenatal Visits During COVID-19

Partner Support

Supporting a partner through pregnancy is crucial for both their well-being and the health of your growing family. In this post, we’ll explore practical ways to offer meaningful support and strengthen your relationship as you embark on this transformative journey together.

• Urgent Maternal Warning Signs: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) , CDC Precautions

• 23 Qualities of a Good Father - Jeff Campbell - Parenting Magazine

• Dads and Depression Factsheet - MMHLA - Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance

• But What About Dads?; A Guide to Supporting Dads During the NICU Journey - UCLA Family Development Program

Podcasts

Great prenatal podcasts to checkout!

• The Birth Hour (Bryn-Hunt Palmer)

• Week By Week (Celeste Busa)

  • Overview: “Week By Week is an insider’s view of pregnancy and parenthood. Host Celeste shares personal stories and has candid conversations with experts and parents about all the messy, hard, lonely, joyful, and under-talked aspects of pregnancy and parenthood and by the end of it hopefully we feel a little less alone.”

• Pregnancy Podcast (Vanessa Merten)

  • Overview: “The Pregnancy Podcast provides information that goes way beyond the typical ‘pregnancy instruction manual’ by sharing research-backed, evidence-based information. Vanessa Merten designs every episode to give you all the evidence, research, pros, cons, risks and benefits. You will have all of the knowledge you need to decide the best options for you and feel confident about your decisions during your pregnancy and beyond. This podcast covers everything from trying to conceive, pregnancy, prenatal care, labor, birth, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, newborns, and being a new parent.”

• Is It Normal? The Pregnancy Podcast (Jessie Ware)

  • Overview: “Is it Normal? The Pregnancy Podcast is the new podcast from Jessie Ware in which she speaks to different experts to explore and reassure everybody about what is going on with our bodies and our babies during pregnancy and birth. This podcast follows Jessie’s pregnancy week by week, she is joined by doctors, midwives, sonographers, anesthetists, home birth midwives, doulas, mental health experts, reflexologists the list goes on…And with the help of questions from other pregnant people aims to cover all aspects of pregnancy and giving birth.”

• Pregnancy Confidential (Parents Magazine)

  • Overview: “Pregnancy Confidential is a series of 32 podcasts designed to be accessed weekly by expectant moms. Hosted by editors from Parents and Fit Pregnancy and Baby Magazines, each 10-20 minute podcast walks listeners through the physical, emotional, and/or lifestyle markers of that week of pregnancy. The tone is friendly, fun, and conversational —you can read the medical information about pregnancy elsewhere. This podcast will be your best friend taking you through the real feelings —the joy and the annoyances— of pregnancy so you never have to experience any of it alone. This is real talk/girlfriend-to-girlfriend stuff you might not get elsewhere.“

• For LGBTQ+ parents: If These Ovaries Could Talk (Robin Hopkins and Jaimie Kelton)

  • Overview: “If These Ovaries Could Talk is a podcast where two lesbians chat about non-traditional families. Jaimie Kelton and Robin Hopkins go in-depth with weekly guests about hopes, dreams, fears, and setbacks of bringing a new life into the world with a lot of love and a good amount of science. What happens when these families enter a world designed for straight people?”

• Big Fat Positive (Laura Birek and Shanna Micko)

  • Overview: “Big Fat Positive is a smart and funny podcast about two best friends who found out they were pregnant at the same time. This show follows the moms-to-be on their journey through pregnancy and into new motherhood, week-by-week. With weekly check-ins, special guests and segments such as “OMG I’m Freaking Out,” hosts Shanna Micko & Laura Birek recount the often hilarious and always honest highs and lows of being a pregnant woman and new mom.”

Pregnancy Emotions

Pregnancy brings a whirlwind of emotions, from joy and excitement to anxiety and uncertainty. In this post, we'll explore the emotional journey of pregnancy and offer tips to help you navigate these feelings and find balance during this transformative time.

• Blog Post: Pregnancy Kicking Your Butt? 

• Blog Post: Positive Birth Videos

• Journaling

• Kate’s Youtube Video - So You're Not So Excited about Being Pregnant?

• So You’re Not So Excited about Being Pregnant? - Kate Borosoto

Pregnancy Health Concerns

Pregnancy can bring a range of health concerns that may feel overwhelming, from common symptoms to more serious issues. In this post, we’ll address key health concerns during pregnancy and provide guidance on how to manage them effectively, ensuring you and your baby stay well throughout this crucial time.

• Blog Post: Are Essential Oils Safe During Pregnancy? 

• Blog Post: What’s the deal with GBS?

Pregnancy Following Loss

Pregnancy after experiencing a loss can bring a mix of hope and anxiety for expectant parents. Our guide on navigating pregnancy following a loss provides compassionate insights and practical advice to help you manage your emotions and embrace this new journey with support and confidence.

• "Pregnancy After Loss: A Guide to Pregnancy After Miscarriage, Stillbirth, or Infant Loss" by Carol Cirulli Lanham

  • Description: This book offers support and guidance for navigating pregnancy after experiencing a loss, including practical advice and emotional support.

  • Available At: Amazon

• March of Dimes - Pregnancy After Loss Resources

  • Description: Provides comprehensive information and resources for managing a pregnancy after loss, including coping strategies and emotional support.

  • Available At: March of Dimes

• The Bump - Dealing with Pregnancy After Loss

  • Description: Offers articles and advice on dealing with the emotions and challenges of pregnancy following a loss, with tips for self-care and support.

  • Available At: The Bump

• "Hope After Loss: A Pregnancy After Loss Support Group"

  • Description: A support group specifically for those experiencing pregnancy after loss, providing a space to connect with others in similar situations.

  • Available At: Hope After Loss

• Bereaved Parents of the USA

  • Description: Offers resources and support for grieving parents, including information on coping with pregnancy after loss.

  • Available At: Bereaved Parents of the USA

Prenatal Dental Care

Maintaining good oral health during pregnancy is vital for both your well-being and your baby's development. In this post, we'll discuss essential tips for prenatal dental care, including how to address common concerns and ensure a healthy smile throughout your pregnancy.

• Blog Post: Prenatal Dental Care

Prenatal Fitness

Staying active during pregnancy can enhance your well-being and prepare your body for childbirth. In this post, we’ll explore safe and effective prenatal fitness!

• Blog Post: Prepare Your Body and Mind with Prenatal Yoga 

• Blog Post: Starting a Home Prenatal Yoga Practice

Prenatal Nutrition

Proper nutrition during pregnancy is essential for both your health and your baby’s development. In this post, we'll explore key dietary guidelines and nutritious choices to ensure you’re fueling your body and supporting your baby’s growth every step of the way.

• Blog Post: Boosting Nutrition in Labor 

• Blog Post: Dietary Supplements During Pregnancy 

• Blog Post: Prenatal Health Coaching

Prenatal Testing

First Trimester Tests:

• There is a blood test that goes by a few different names: Verifi, Harmony Prenatal Test, and MaterniT21. These can be performed between 10 and 13 weeks.

  • This test is considered a screening and determines the risk of chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome or trisomy 13. These tests are between 91 and 99% accurate. This test can also tell you the sex of your baby.

• Cell-free fetal DNA Testing can be done as early as 9 weeks.

  • This test checks your blood for your baby’s DNA. It is a screening test that checks for genetic conditions that your baby may be at risk for. The results of this test can allow you to make a more informed decision about whether or not you may want a diagnostic test.

Second Trimester Tests:

• Another blood test that also goes by a few different names: quad screen, triple screen, AFP Plus, and multiple marker screening. These can be performed between 15 and 19 weeks.

  • Determines baby’s risk for chromosomal abnormalities and is NOT a diagnostic tool.

• Glucose screening (done between 24 and 28 weeks)

  • This test screens for gestational diabetes. This test is done by having you drink a liquid containing glucose, then having your blood drawn in different time increments. If you do not pass your first one, you may be asked to do an extended 3-hour long screening to ensure you actually do have pregnancy-related blood sugar issues.

If something concerning came back from one of the previous screening tests, you are pregnant over the age of 35, or you have a family history of genetic disorders, you may opt for a diagnostic test:

• Amniocentesis:

  • This test can be done between 15 and 20 weeks. It is done by inserting a needle into your belly to sample your amniotic fluid, then the chromosomes are analyzed in the lab. This is a diagnostic test and can tell you if your baby actually has any chromosomal abnormalities.

  • Risks:

    • miscarriage (1%)

    • infection (<0.1%)

    • Rhesus disease (only occurs if your baby is RhD positive and you are RhD negative)

• Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS):

  • This test can be done between weeks 10 and 13. It is performed vaginally by taking tissue from the placenta to check for genetic conditions. Much like an amniocentesis, this test can tell you if your baby actually has any chromosomal abnormalities.

  • Risks:

    • miscarriage (0.22%)

    • infection (very rare)

    • Rhesus disease (only occurs if your baby is RhD positive and you are RhD negative)