Woah. How in the world did we get here so quickly? I think I blinked and 14 weeks just passed by.

Oy.

The last time I was 37 weeks, this was what happened.  So needless to say we’re on high alert over here.

All I need is for my husband to return from out of town and we’re good to go {minor detail}.

For those of you who are in your last trimester and nearing the end, are you having all kinds of paranoid thoughts about your water breaking in public?

I was sitting in church yesterday, breaking out in a cold sweat thinking about my water breaking during the service.  Then last night as I was grocery shopping, I had more thoughts of my water breaking while in the produce aisle.  My hubby reminded me that I had these same {paranoid} thoughts the first time and my water DID end up breaking but did so in the dead of night. Thankyouverrrymuch.

I’m thinking that maybe I’ll pack a diaper bag for myself, full of maxi pads the size of small countries, clean granny panties, and stretchy pants and keep it in my car…. just in case.

I’d hate to be caught undawears  unprepared.

Anyone else with me on this?  Anyone had their water break in public? Do share!

We thought you might want to “meet” our friends at Joyful Motherhood who got this party started in the first place. This is a short video explaining (in their words) what they do.  Enjoy!

It’s not too late to DONATE to Joyful Motherhood. Click here!

And please help us spread the word. Share this email with your mama friends. The more. The merrier!

Mother’s Day is just around the corner!
We are inviting you to get your CELEBRATION ON with us! Read below for details:)

Your Baby Booty has partnered up with Joyful Motherhood (a Malawan non-profit) under the umbrella of African Mother’s Health Initiatives.

Why? You Ask.

Because….We stand behind the incredible work they are doing to help mamas and babies in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in Africa.

In honor of Mother’s Day, we’re raising $2,000 smackers on behalf of Joyful Motherhood. That’s a good chunk of change. Moms across the ocean, who have little babies, just like us, (and orphaned babies too) need some help. Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing glimpses of the work Joyful Motherhood does in Malawi.
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You Won’t Believe This Birth Story

One mama in Malawi was pregnant. Her labor started, she lived near the main road leading to the hospital but couldn’t afford the $1.00 bus fare to get there.

She went to her neighbors to trade a piece of cloth she owned for $1.00 so she could get to the hospital.

No one took her up on her offer.

She started walking. The hospital was 6 miles away.

She was in labor.

She felt birth was close, so she walked towards some women working in a field.

They helped deliver her triplets on a piece of plastic on the ground. On the side the road.

Can you imagine?

All because she didn’t have $1.00 to take a bus to the hospital.

The Good News?

After several hours of sitting under a tree with her three new babies, someone gave her a ride to the hospital. It was there that Joyful Motherhood found out about her and stepped in to help her.

They provided her with breastfeeding support and supplemental formula. They did follow up care (at her house in the village) to make sure her babies were growing. They taught her and her community members how to wear her three babies (kangaroo care), to improve their chance for survival. They came to her village and taught her (and her community) the importance of good sanitation, mosquito nets and getting vaccinations. If necessary they provided medicine and extra food for the family.

Joyful Motherhood was there.

If you feel compelled, please donate (click here) & spread the word (share this email!). These mamas thank you from the bottom of their hearts…and so do we!

When Pregnant: 23 Weeks

During my first pregnancy, I didn’t sleep too well, but mainly it was at the end of my pregnancy when I had to pee every five seconds.

This time around I am having some major sleep issues.

My poor hubs. He has resorted to sleeping in the guest bedroom a few times-mainly because sleeping with a body pillow and the subsequent tossing and turning is akin to body slamming a third person in our bed constantly throughout the night. Not fun for a spouse trying desperately to sleep.

The whacked out dreams are still kickin- I remember them vividly. One night I was a back up dancer for Cher. Another night I was a lesbian (talk about Freudian psychology). And last night I was in a 40 story building with my mom and sister in Dubai during a tsunami. No wonder I’m exhausted when I wake up.

Doing a bit of checking around, I know that I’m not alone.

There are quite a few scholarly publications that mention this phenomenon for preggos.  They site hormonal, mechanical and physiological factors, even mentioning respiratory changes during pregnancy which could affect sleep. But somehow this doesn’t seem to make me feel any better when I’m in the throws of it.

All I know is- this too shall pass. One day, maybe in like 2-3 years, I’ll be able to sleep again (fingers crossed for having a baby who sleeps as well as our first child). I’m reminding myself too that 2-3 years does fly by in a blink.

So I’m choosing thankfulness and caffeine to get me by in the meantime. In case thankfulness and caffeine are in short supply at your house, we compiled this list of things you can do to get through the rough, sleepless, patches.

Anyone else floating down pregnancy river in the insomnia boat?

 by Valentina Pollard of Just Breathe…

My baby girls garner quite a bit of attention when we are out and about. There is definitely something about a double stroller, or one baby on each hip, that draws people to you. Often, along with sweet ohhs and ahhs, we also receive comments like “I bet you have your hands full!” and “You’re so lucky – 2 in 1 and you’re done!”

My hands are incredibly full.

And, I am extremely lucky.

But.

Am I done?

Part of me (err: ALL of me) wants more.

B.A.B.I.E.S.

Just one…

…or two…more.

I vacillate between feeling incredibly guilty for being so greedy as to want more babies (when I was so blessed to have two perfectly healthy ones) and picking out names for our as-of-yet-unborn additional babies.

And the names are gorgeous.

If we never have another child, I will continue to be the happiest mother in the world. But, I (not so secretly) hope we do. I look at Daphne and Poppy and know that they would be such wonderful big sisters to a little girl (could I be so lucky as to have 3 beautiful blooms?) or to an adorable little boy (oh goodness, a little mud covered, mischievous boy…how divine!).

When we were trying to get pregnant, I promised (in my countless, pleading prayers) that I’d never beg for another baby if I could just have one healthy pregnancy and a baby (or two!). Yet here I am, less than a year into motherhood, wanting more. I am not begging (and not trying, either, for those of you wondering)…but I am definitely wanting.

This longing leaves me thinking: Instead of a pre-baby vacation, I think babymoon should be a term used to describe the honeymoon period of parenthood when you feel like you finally have a handle on your day – when your babies are healthy and growing, and you find yourself humming along merrily-merrily-merrily-life-is-but-a-dream…Because, after all, this might just be a phase.

Although I hope not!

I’m curious: Were you bitten by the baby bug again soon after having your first (or first pair)? Do you think I am crazy (and it is okay to say yes…just this once) for daydreaming about being even more outnumbered than I am already? And, for those of you who have felt the same way I do, any tips on brainwashing your husband into thinking it is a great, fabulous and wonderful idea??? Anyone?

How could I not want more?

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Valentina Vassallo Pollard started …just breathe… in May 2010 when, after many months, she found herself still holding her breath in hopes of a positive pregnancy test. After a year and a half long journey through the trenches of infertility, she is now living her very own happy ending beginning – a successful first round of IVF resulting in a healthy pregnancy with twin girls. Valentina is busy adjusting to the wonderful world of mommyhood with the arrival of her girls. She is passionate about spreading the word about infertility treatments and the options available to families. She writes about her experiences, hopes, dreams and shopping binges (now mostly baby related) on her blog – www.just-breathe-blog.blogspot.com. Valentina lives in Austin, Texas with her very handsome (and patient) husband, Blake and her twin girls.

When Pregnant: 20 weeks- ultrasound day!

It’s the long-awaited ultrasound day. Now this day might seem anti-climactic to most of you, since I disclosed that we don’t find out the gender of our babies until they’re born. But gender aside, it always blows my mind that technology can take a glimpse into my womb, and not only see our baby (who is the size of a mango) but see the baby’s heartbeat, kidneys, lungs, brain.

My mom drove up from Cincinnati for the occasion and my sis in law came to the appointment too.  It was snowing like crazy outside and we were all cozy in the ultrasound room checking out bambino #2. Of course I cried. It’s a miracle. Every step along the pregnancy journey is one huge miracle after another. If you don’t believe me, read a website or book that tells you about the entire process of conception. Ah-Mazing.

Our little peanut wasn’t super active, but we did see him/her sucking her finger for a minute. The tech warned us that she was about to head to baby’s nether-regions, so we turned away (just in case we could see something). But baby cooperated beautifully and didn’t bother to uncross his/her legs. If it’s a girl, we hope this trend continues for the next 30 years…. So the mystery and projections continue.

At one point the tech turned on the 3-D feature. I wasn’t really prepared for this and have to say, I’m not a huge fan. I guess I don’t really love seeing every detail of my “alien” looking baby, it’s just strange. Maybe TMI or something. I’m old school like that.

Does anyone else like the 3-D action, or am I alone on this one?

by Sarah Blight, Founder of YourBabyBooty and author of this book.

Lessons We Can Learn from Kendall Delivering a Nearly 14 Pound Baby…Naturally

Did you guys read about the mama who gave birth to a 13 pound 13 oz baby NATURALLY (as in without an epidural or any medication)?

Now if you’re like me, your first thought was “thank God my child has a less than 1% chance of being that big” and your second thought being “I hope she had at least a Motrin afterwards” and if we’re all honest here “Oh. My. God.” (as you cross legs).

Here’s a couple takeaways from this story and this mother from Iowa who gave birth to a nearly 14 pound baby:

1. Our bodies were created to give birth. Sure sometimes it doesn’t go as we plan, but no matter how things play out, each time a baby comes out of a woman’s body (whether it’s via c-section or out the va-jay-jay),  it’s a freaking MIRACLE.

2. Childbearing women everywhere are superheros. Period. It takes months of a good diet, drinking lots of water, maybe not splurging on every single desire for a doughnut or glass of wine, getting exercise, peeing every 2 seconds, restless/sleepless nights, prenatal appointments, preparing our homes, our cars, our lives and preparing our minds to give birth to this baby. That’s a huge commitment, it’s life-changing. In the process we are changed into mothers- a process that will continue for the rest of our lives. That is kick ass and so are you. Period.

3. Education is KEY. Did you notice in this article how Kendall Stewardson (mama who delivered this behemoth baby) said:

 “We had decided to research all of our options before we had Judah just to see what would happen to me,” Stewardson said.  “We started to research doing it naturally.  There are a lot of options for women out there, but this seemed like the best thing for me and Judah, and then Asher.”

She didn’t say that you should birth your baby the same way she did. She simply educated herself about her options, I’m guessing found a provider who was down with her goal of not having a c-section with a ginormous baby and they worked together to make it happen. This was clearly the right decision for her and her babies and it worked. I don’t want to put words into Kendall’s mouth, but I’m guessing that if things did not work out as she hoped that she would probably be able to look back with no regrets since she went into it armed with info and education. That’s pretty powerful.

4. Birth Support is Critical.  I love the honesty of her husband in saying that he had moments during the birth where he couldn’t pull it together- birth is emotional! I also love that Kendall and her hubby worked together. Having birth support, whether it’s your husband, sister, mama, BFF or a doula that you’ve hired, is ESSENTIAL to helping you during birth. You’ll have moments where you wonder if you can do this, or times when you need encouragement and reminders that you’re not alone. Birth support rocks. So do you Kendall’s hubby.

What do you guys think about this story?

When Pregnant: 16 Weeks

Steve and I don’t find out the gender of our kiddos until they’re born. For some odd reason this decision throws all our friends and family totally off. People genuinely can’t believe that we would have the audacity to make them wait to find out our child’s name AND gender. The nerve.   This time around, my mom has discovered Zulily, and the non-gender disclosure is seriously cramping her shopping style.  I understand. Girls’ clothes are wayyyy cuter than boys. It’s tempting to want to buy, just in case.

But we’re holding our ground.

With kiddo #1 everyone told us we were having a boy- even the guy selling Gelato at Whole Foods told me I was having one. My mom knew it would be a boy before we were even pregnant- I chalk that up to that strange “mama always knows” intuition -which hasn’t necessarily made its appearance in my life yet, but I’m looking forward to that “eyes in the back of my head- when I ask you a question, I already know an answer” phenomenon.

Now with kiddo#2 everyone is convinced it’s a girl. I barely have a baby bump and yet everyone is convinced.  This time around I am pretty convinced as well. The reason?  My skin.

I have battled adult acne/break outs. Nothing helped so I chalked it up to hormones. When I got pregnant with Jackson, my skin cleared up and was glowing. I was pretty stoked.

I told my mama the other day, this baby is a girl, only a girl would make her mama break out this bad. First I was vomitous for a good 15 weeks and NOW I have constant pimples to contend with. It’s gotta be a girl- I don’t think boys do stuff like that to their mamas. Other stuff of course, but not this stuff.

Do you guys have any wivestales to share about telling the gender of your baby (without ultrasound?)

I interviewed a midwife, Pat Burkhardt,  the other day, mama of two kiddos, Ph.D. in Public Health and midwife for 45+ years. She answered some of your Holistic Health questions from Facebook and I recap them for you here in this short video.

Interviews with amazing experts such as Pat Burkhardt is just the tip of the iceberg for our new project launching in the next couple months.  If you want to be among the FIRST to know when we’re live, put your email below.

We’re starting a new series of posts called “Thoughts from a husband about pregnancy & childbirth.” Steve, a.k.a. “Mr. Baby Booty” will be sharing various thoughts and info along his journey to the fatherland. 

by Steve Blight C0-Founder Your Baby Booty

Foolish. Short-sighted. Stupid. And straight-up Negligent. For so many reasons.

Having sired a beating heart in my wife’s fertile loins, she now wants to deliver this baby without a doctor? WTH. What is she thinking? Is she serious or is it another crazy emotional tangent she’s running down?

I don’t get it.

It’s not easy getting pregnant. We haven’t struggled, but we’ve had many friends who have. It’s a freaking’ miracle all that has to happen to get pregnant, to grow a baby and to birth a baby. During go time, she wants to run the offense without the quarterback (like Tom Brady) we need running the show?

I really don’t get it.

What I do get is that my wife is smart. She’s wicked smart. She says she wants a midwife instead of an OB/GYN. Didn’t most midwives live in the 1800’s, wear long dresses and run around delivering babies village-to-village with sweaty rosey cheeks? I know midwives still exist in Europe and other cultures, but why a midwife when we can have a real doctor? Did I mention, I don’t get it.

What if something goes wrong? What if the baby needs help, what can a midwife do? What if the baby turns around in the womb and can’t get out, what can a midwife do? What if Sarah needs help, what is a midwife gonna be able to do? A midwife is just some woman who delivers lots of babies, they aren’t trained to handle medical needs like doctors right? Why does she want a midwife over an OB?

I need to find out.

I need to do some research.

As the dad-to-be, don’t think I’m comfortable using a midwife. This is our decision, not her decision for our family. This decision affects everyone.  I am always open to learning more, but I just don’t get this one??

Anyone with experience on this have thoughts?  Please share. If you don’t but know someone who does, please ask them to share.

I need to learn why anyone would want to use a midwife over an OB. Thanks- Steve