Pregnancy

The Journey Of Parenting The Exceptional Being pregnant with my daughter Magnolia was a breeze. They say girls take all of their mom’s beauty, but I glowed with her. She was my first baby, the long awaited first grandchild for my parents. You see, I was 31 when she was born. Magnolia commands attention wherever she goes so her birth was no different. She decided that Easter Sunday would be the best day for her grand entrance. 27 hours of natural labor, with no progress past 5 1/2 cm, and an emergency c-section later. Little Magnolia Rose finally arrived at 4:13am weighing 8lbs 9oz, and 21in long. I gave the background of her birth, because the next 18 months went smooth...

Disclaimer: While the writer does hold a perinatal mental health certification and is a licensed therapist, this is informational and is not to be taken as medical advice. As always, talk to your health care provider. I’ve heard it more times than I can count, “I don’t have postpartum.” The reasons are varied: Maybe she thinks it's not that bad, or depression and anxiety are not something that is discussed in her family or her culture. Maybe there is a fear that she will be labeled, or that it's just hormones or that she's the only one who feels this way.  It seems we (women/society) have been conditioned to think pregnancy and mothering should always be sunshine and flowers and pure...

Podcasts to Get You Through the Infertility Struggle Infertility can be all-consuming for the person experiencing it. The ups and downs can be isolating. Friends and family, if you've even shared with them, just don't understand. This is when an online community or source of information can be helpful; however, getting, real, factual information online can be hit or miss. Podcasts are a great way to get factual, helpful, and sometimes, funny information related to infertility. The great thing about a podcast is that you can listen anywhere and no one has to know what you're listening to. These podcasts are either about, or that touch on, infertility in different ways. Podcasts usually have something for everyone. When dealing with...

For Mother’s Day this year, I asked for a membership to my local CrossFit. I loved this type of workout during college and grad school, and I needed the push of a coach in a class setting to provide the structure and discipline of working out. You see, after my first two kids, I completely neglected my physical fitness. I ate whatever I felt like, and never exercised, and I don’t think it’s any coincidence that my mental health was at its worst when my physical health was low on my priority list. I tackled my mental health first and when that was improved, I made it my mission to get physically fit. From May to October of this year, I...

Disclosure :: This post is sponsored by Resilient Chiropractic. Dr. Amanda Engels and Dr. Debrah O’Hara at Resilient Chiropractic have made it their life’s mission to create happier, healthier people. They have shared before about why you should consider a chiropractor for your kids but we are excited to learn why you should consider a chiropractor during your pregnancy. 5 Benefits of Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy There are many benefits of being under chiropractic care, especially during pregnancy. However, pregnancy looks different for everyone! For some, pregnancy is a magical and blissful walk in the park. For others, it’s the complete opposite. Some mommas experience an empowering birth, while others find themselves enduring unexpected hurdles. Whether your birth plan is for an...