You’ve been decorating the nursery, planning your maternity leave, taking your prenatals and reading your pregnancy books cover to cover, but have you thought about how you will diaper your baby? Most of us assume Pampers will do the trick and never consider the alternatives. But when you weigh in the environmental impact and the cost of disposable diapers, checking out cloth diapers should at least be right up there with picking out nursery furniture.

But aren’t cloth diapers expensive? They can be. Cloth diapering has the potential to save you a ton of money. If you stick to essentials, you can save upwards of $2000 over the first 30 months of your baby’s life. They get expensive when shopping for fancy covers and all-in-one’s becomes a hobby. The cheapest way is to use prefolds and basic covers, washing them at home. A diaper service will still be cheaper than disposables, but not by much.

What about the mess? I don’t think I can deal with scrubbing out poo. These days, you don’t have to. Inexpensive, flushable liners are available. Simply drop the liner and the waste into the toilet and flush. No spraying, dunking or scrubbing involved!

I’m afraid of sticking my baby with a pin. You don’t even have to use pins anymore. There are so many options available. All-in-one diapers are just like disposables and can be fastened with Velcro or snaps. Pocket diapers require you to stuff the cover with an absorbent liner before putting them on the baby, but they are easy to put on and the stuffing can be done straight out of the dryer ahead of time. If you want to use prefolds (the kind you used to pin), you have your option of laying them in a cover, which close up just like an all-in-one or pocket diaper with no stuffing involved, or using Snappis, which keep the diaper snug and fit without the risk of sticking yourself or your baby with a pin. And if you want to use pins, you can.

What about leaks? I heard cloth diapers don’t contain the mess. You heard wrong. When a cloth diaper is properly fit and changed promptly, they are less likely to leak than a disposable. More frequent changes not only prevent leaks, but prevent diaper rash as well.

What are the other benefits of cloth diapering? Because your baby is able to feel when they are wet, they are likely to potty train sooner than if they were in disposables. Cloth diapers allow your baby’s sensitive skin to breathe and they are not as hot and uncomfortable. Cloth diapers do not contain the chemicals found in disposable diapers. Have you ever noticed the warning on a package of disposable diapers that says you should not allow your baby to put the diaper in his or her mouth? Unfortunately, babies cannot read and will eventually get into the diaper bag.

1am – Wake up, search for the body pillow that fell to the floor. Spend five minutes getting comfortable. Drift back to sleep.

1:06am – Your eyes fly open. You run to the bathroom.

2:30am – Wake up to carefully roll over and adjust the pillow between your knees.

6:15am – You realize you cannot lay in bed another minute because your back is aching. Even if your back didn’t hurt, your bladder is about to explode.

6:30am – While reaching for the bag of coffee beans, you remember you kicked the caffeine habit and begrudgingly reach for the apple juice instead. You polish off two bowls of cereal and wonder what else might be in the fridge.

7am – In the shower you pick up your razor, realize you can’t see your legs anyway, and put the razor back on the shelf. Your husband can deal with hairy legs for one more month, right?

7:15am – Everything in your closet looks like a tent. Hmph.

8:30am – Walk into your office, field 50 questions from coworkers about your pregnancy. Thirty of those questions are variations of “how are you feeling?”

8:32am – Why is your coworker taking so long in the bathroom; doesn’t she realize there is a pregnant woman in the office?

9:00am – Your boss asks you to do something. You make a mental note and head back to your desk.

9:01am – You sheepishly return to your boss’ office. “What was it you asked me to do again?”

10am – Thank goodness you remembered to restock the snack stash in your desk yesterday. What’s for lunch?

10:30am – Bathroom break! Maybe you should just move your desk into the ladies room. That might be easier.

12pm – Freedom! You wonder how much food you can buy at Wendy’s with the $6.32 you found in the bottom of your purse.

12:28pm – At least public restrooms have seat covers.

1pm – Back to the cubicle. This time you remember to grab the pillows out of your trunk and add extra cushion to your office chair.

2:45pm – You realize your completely forgot about the post-lunch conference call. Call to reschedule!

3:15pm – Meet with your boss to finalize plans for your maternity leave. Make a pit stop on the way back to your desk.

3:30pm – Snack time!

3:31pm – You contemplate crawling under your desk with those chair pillows for a nap.

5pm – Quick bathroom break before heading out the door. You quickly make a U-Turn after passing Sonic. It’s take-out for dinner tonight!

6pm – Start working on those booties you’ve been meaning to crochet. After the first row you realize your eyes are crossing from exhaustion. You decide to do a little online shopping before bed.

8pm – You’re still reading the reviews on the different cloth diapers you plan on trying. Fatigue will simply not permit you to continue and you head to the bedroom.

8:11pm – You finally get comfortable only to realize you have to get up and pee again. Such is the life of a pregnant woman!

8:30pm – You finally fall asleep… for now.

Pregnancy makes a woman more susceptible to colds, allergies,and flu complications. Our immune systems are compromised, making it easier to catch illnesses. We often struggle with concentration and balance due to hormones and their effect on our brains and bodies. Pregnant women are also apt to suffer mood swings, aches and pains, and nausea. Pregnancy is the only condition that makes it normal to suffer from so many different symptoms and side effects! Besides the various classic symptoms of pregnancy, you might find yourself at an increased risk for:

Developing gum disease. Pregnancy is no time to slack when it “gums” to taking care of your pearly whites. (Ha!) Make sure to visit the dentist at least once during your pregnancy and keep an eye out for symptoms of gum disease, such as bleeding gums.

Developing a urinary tract infection. A UTI does not always cause a lot of pain and the frequent urination that often occurs with a UTI could easily be mistaken for the common pregnancy symptom. Left untreated, it could lead to a nasty kidney infection. Your doctor will test your urine at each visit, so you shouldn’t have to worry about not catching it in time.

Diabetic retinopathy (if you have Type 2 Diabetes, that is.) Diabetic retinopathy is essentially damage to the blood vessels in the retina and can lead to blindness. Get an eye exam during your first trimester if you have Type 2 diabetes.

Thrush. You often hear about babies getting this yeast infection, but pregnant women are at risk, too, because of their compromised immune systems. It causes white patches in the mouth and on the tongue and can easily be treated.

So, when that cute little baby you’ve got growing inside grows up and has the audacity to say, “you don’t love me,” when you don’t give them something they want, you can show them this list of all the things you went up against to make them a part of your life.

One common element of most nursery designs is paint, but if you rent an apartment or a home that does not allow you to paint the walls any shade but white or beige, suddenly your options are limited. You could go with a white nursery theme, but only the bravest of mothers (with extreme stain-fighting skills) usually go this route. Fortunately there are tons of ways to add color to your walls without ever touching a paint brush or losing your security deposit.

1. Hang a quilt. Most crib bedding sets come with a matching quilt. Since your baby has no use for a quilt, they usually end up in the closet or draped over a chair. Why not use it as wall décor? Hanging a quilt can add tons of color to the wall without leaving a mark. The best part is it will automatically play into your theme.

2. Create a mural. If you are on the more artistic side, or you know someone who is, you might consider creating a colorful mural that features elements from your nursery theme. If you have access to a projector, you can scan an image that goes with your theme, such as a motif on a pillow, and project it onto the canvas. Trace it lightly with pencil and paint with acrylics once the lights are back on.

3. Create 3D color blocks. If your theme features simple shapes such as squares or polka dots, trace the shapes onto a thin sheet of MDF and cut them out with a jig saw. Prime and paint the shapes in the color(s) of your choice. You can use Command Strips or small nails to hang them on the wall in a creative layout. If you use nails, you will have the added step of attaching zig-zag hangers to the back of each shape.

4. Purchase removable wall stickers featuring your favorite words, quotes or themes. The only catch to these is you have to have smooth walls. They will not stick to textured walls very well.

5. Blow up your favorite photos of your family and create a large scale photo collage on one wall. You could also take photos of items that go with your nursery theme and feature those in the collage. For example, if you are designing a little girl’s nursery with a flower theme, you could take a trip to the local botanical gardens and snap closeups of your favorite flowers.

Some things about pregnancy have nothing to do with genetics. For example, if your mother had a son first, that doesn’t mean you will have a son first. Or if your mother had a ten pound baby, that doesn’t necessarily mean you will have a ten pound baby. Just because your mother had to have a c-section doesn’t mean you will, too. The list goes on! But, some things are linked to genetics. It turns out that if your mother suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, your risk of developing the same debilitating morning sickness is three times the normal rate. A recent study done by Norwegian researchers on 2.3 million births found an increased rate of hyperemesis gravidarum among women whose mothers had also suffered the condition.

About two percent of women suffer from this severe form morning sickness, which leads to dehydration, weight loss, and can land a woman in the hospital. The condition may last for the duration of the pregnancy. Hyperemesis gravidarum needs to be treated for the health of the baby and the mother. There are treatments available today that are safe for the baby; they are not like the drugs of the past which were linked to birth defects. If a woman knows she is at increased risk because of a family history, she can work with her doctor to better prepare for it.

Interestingly enough, this is not the first pregnancy condition to be linked to genetics. Previously it has been found that high blood pressure and gestational diabetes during pregnancy may also be passed down from mother to daughter. These correlations allow researchers to better understand why these conditions arise in the first place and may assist with treatment in the future as well.

Do you currently suffer – or have you suffered – from hyperemesis gravidarum? Did your mother suffer the same condition?

There are currently 98,000 troops in Iraq as of February 28th. How many of those soldiers are expectant dads? How many women in the US are pregnant right now, while the daddy-to-be is across the world, missing every milestone and likely to miss the baby’s birth as well? I’m guessing the figure is pretty large.

Pregnancy and childbirth, not to mention raising a newborn, is difficult enough when both parents are present. Adding the pain of missing a loved one and going through all of these events on your own makes it that much harder. In past wars, couples had to rely on letters alone. Technology has not made for perfect communication, but it has helped bring families together and has allowed some troops to witness their baby’s development and birth from far away.

If you are pregnant and your spouse or partner is deployed, here are some things you can do to include him during your pregnancy and delivery:

1. Use webcams. A laptop with a webcam and wireless access is the perfect investment for a separated growing family. You and your partner are able to talk “face to face.” With the doctor’s permission, you can bring the laptop to your prenatal appointments and the delivery, allowing dad to watch as the events unfold.

2. If you don’t have access to a laptop with a webcam, record appointments and the delivery, as well as other milestones and memories using a video camera. You can then compile the clips into a movie, save it onto a DVD and mail it to your partner.

3. Take pictures of your belly each week and e-mail them to the expectant father. Wear the same outfit for the photo each week so you can really notice the progress. Also take tons of pictures of the birth with a digital camera so you can send photos to his e-mail right away.

4. Send your spouse a “daddy package” in the mail. Include a box of cigars, photos, an “I’m a New Dad” t-shirt, books about fatherhood, one of your baby’s hospital ID bracelets, and any other mementos from the birth.

5. Send him a book about pregnancy so he can read about what you are going through. That way, when you tell him news, he will know what you are talking about!

6. Sometimes, if you are able to contact the Red Cross early enough, your husband might be able to be sent home in time for the birth. At the first contraction, make the call. Still plan on taping the birth just in case he doesn’t make it, though.

7. Another option is to arrange for a phone call. Sometimes a soldier might be able to call in for the delivery and that will allow him to coach you through labor and hear your baby’s first cries.

Have you had to go through pregnancy and/or delivery while your husband or partner was deployed? What are some things you did to include him in the event?

My mother-in-law has a really impressive skill. She can whistle so loud, it can be heard above a cheering crowd at a wrestling tournament. (Just ask my husband; he was a wrestler.) But if you ask her how to do it, she can’t tell you. She knows how to do it because she figured it out by chance. As a kid, she just kept trying until it worked. Pushing a baby out during delivery is similar. You don’t really know how to push when you’re a first time mom, and you don’t know whether you’re doing it right until the baby starts moving down. The best way to learn is through trial and error because it’s something you just have to “feel” to do; it’s hard to explain it to someone who has never done it. But because there are people out there (like myself) who still want to know how ahead of time, I’ll do my best to describe the process.

First of all, you’ll need to know when it is time to push. This part is tricky if you have an epidural because you won’t feel the signals that tell you it’s almost time to push. You will need to rely on your doctor to let you know it is time based on your readings. During transition, as your body finishes dilating and gets ready to switch gears, the intensity of contractions reach their peak and you reach an emotional peak as well. This is the point when most women say, “I can’t do this anymore.” If you suddenly feel that you cannot go on, chances are you are about ready to push. Immediately following this stage you will begin to feel incredible pressure as the baby begins to move down the birth canal. Imagine what it would feel like to have a frozen turkey pulled from your rear. Yep. That is some serious pressure we’re talking about.

Once it it time to start pushing, you will begin to work with your pushing contractions to move the baby down. As the contraction comes on, you will feel the urge to push. Go with it. These contractions hurt, but what you will find is that the harder you push, the more relief you feel. This is nature’s way of making sure you work hard. Push through your bottom. It should feel like you are… pooping. As embarrassing as it is to think about, it is true. Push like you are having the largest bowel movement of your life. Put some power behind your push by temporarily holding your breath. Push for as long as you can, take a quick breath and push again. If you can hold your push while you take a breath, do it. Push as many times as you can during your contraction and then lay off once it is over. You might be able to get 2 or 3 really good 10-count pushes during one contraction. You’ll have a moment to catch your breath and rally before the next one comes.

Now, stay focused because this won’t be full speed ahead the whole time. When the baby crowns, you’ll have to slow down or even stop. The doctor will need to carefully guide the baby’s head through. You want a controlled exit, not a baby explosion. Because of this, your doctor will be giving you instructions on when to slow down or let up. You will need to listen carefully and follow his direction. You will want to keep pushing because it feels good, but you will have to suffer through a contraction or two while the baby’s head is born. After that, the baby typically slides out pretty easily and your body gets the message right away. Contractions come to a screeching halt once your little one is out.

On a final note, one thing to remember is that your body does do a lot of the work for you. In fact, if you were able to relax and not push (which is nearly impossible to do if you’re not drugged), you would find that you body pushes for you. The uterus squeezes the baby down with each contraction and it’s visible from the outside. You will see your belly scrunch up and slam downward – it’s a site to see! That is how women have given birth while they were unconscious. When the baby is ready to come out, nothing is going to get in her way!

For many families, deciding to have one parent stay home with the new baby is a difficult choice, and it’s even harder to carry out. It means making tough sacrifices. It’s interesting how many families say “we can’t,” when in reality what they are really saying is, “we won’t.” Are you willing to give up a few of life’s conveniences to stay home with your child?

Sometimes, the first step toward being able to afford staying home with your kids is honestly dividing your expenses into two categories: needs and wants. Sometimes, the only way to live on one income is to make a few drastic changes.

Some things you might have to give up: the new car (trade it in for a used one with a smaller or non-existent payment), eating out in restaurants, premium cable or satellite packages, expensive cellular plans, regular shopping trips for items such as clothes or electronics, an inflated entertainment budget, an annual vacation, subscription based games, purified drinking water delivery service, or your gym membership. You might even consider downgrading your living arrangements if you have too much home for one paycheck.

Some things you can file down rather than eliminate. By shopping sales with coupons, it’s easy to cut your grocery bill in half. Practice saving energy in your home by turning off lights and other items when not in use. Watching less TV can also save you a lot of energy. Saving energy means a lower electric bill. Call your cable or satellite provider and ask about budget plans. Sometimes they will offer cheaper, smaller packages to certain customers who specifically ask and these packages are never advertised. You can also sometimes work with your credit card companies to get lower interest rates or minimum payments if you have been diligent in paying your bill each month. Talk with your insurance agent to make sure you are not buying more insurance than you need. Talk to a broker about the possibility of refinancing your mortgage to get a lower interest rate, which could save you quite a bit on your monthly payment. Look over your property tax bill to make sure the assessment is fair and file an appeal if you feel you’re paying too much.

The best time to make these changes is during your pregnancy, before you actually lose one source of income. That way you have several months of practice to work out the bumps in your plan. You also have the opportunity to save quite a bit of money or pay off certain balances to eliminate a few recurring payments from your budget.

Speaking from personal experience, I can honestly say that while my family is living on a smaller budget than we ever have, we are so happy with our decision to do so. It can be hard to adjust at first, but after a while you realize you don’t miss the things you gave up. It is so rewarding to be able to live out our dream!

Usually when we’re talking about maternity clothes on this blog, we’re talking about ways to dress around the bump, but sometimes it’s necessary to hide it. The most common reason for hiding a pregnancy is if you are an actress playing a role that does not involve a pregnancy. You might also hide a pregnancy if you feel your job is at stake, such as during an interview. Even though it is unethical, women do sometimes get turned down for positions because they are pregnant. I’m sure there are other reasons a woman might want to hide a pregnancy, at least in the early stages, but that’s a whole blog topic by itself.

What Not To Do:

Most maternity clothes these days feature an empire waist, which really accentuates the baby belly. Avoiding these types of blouses would be your first step in trying to hide your bump. Another popular style is the fitted shirt with side ruching – or gathering – which pulls in the bottom of the shirt tightly under the baby bump. You definitely want to avoid these types of shirts if you don’t want people to get suspicious. In fact, you might just want to avoid maternity clothes altogether by buying misses sizes in a larger size as needed.

At the same time, you don’t want to go to the other extreme by wearing really baggy clothes. Anyone who has ever seen a tabloid claiming a celebrity is pregnant will also note that the incriminating picture shows the woman wearing a loose shirt or dress. “What is she hiding?” they always ask.

What to Wear Instead:

The key to hiding a bump lies in fitted, but not tailored tops and using layers to disguise your new-found curves. As long as your bump is smaller than your bust, you can wear shirts that will drape over your belly without hugging it or looking like a tent. Shirts and tops should also feature details that draw attention to the neckline or bust, such as embroidery or beading. Keep the waist low, well below the tummy area (think tunic). Wear flashy earrings to keep people’s eyes at your face level. You could also wear a colorful scarf to draw attention to your neckline and face. Another great way to hide a bump is to wear a jacket. I wore a black blazer when I was five months pregnant for a Christmas play, and a stranger I met that day was shocked to see my bump when I took the jacket off. It works!

Delivering a baby requires a little flexibility. I’m not talking about compromising your birth plan, either. When you’re trying to squeeze a seven or eight pound baby through a space that is pretty small to begin with, you’re kidding yourself if you think you won’t have to contort into a number of rather awkward positions to make it happen. If you don’t stretch and limber up your muscles beforehand, you can expect quite a bit of extra soreness after you deliver. Who wants extra pain? Getting your body ready for delivery is not difficult, it just takes a little planning and routine exercise. Here are some easy exercises recommended by the Bradley Method of Childbirth to help you prepare your body for the ultimate marathon.

Tailor sitting is something you probably used to do as a child all the time. It’s also known as sitting “Indian Style,” though that term is no longer considered “PC.” If you haven’t done it in a while, you might find that it is hard to get your knees very close to the ground. Don’t force them. The more you sit like this, the more gravity will work in your favor and stretch out those hip flexors and leg muscles. Avoid sitting in cushy chairs. Instead, sit on the floor while doing things like folding laundry or watching TV. It’s not an exercise that will take up any of your time since you’ll be doing it while you do the things you always do. Doing this exercise will help you to be comfortable during the pushing stage of labor, when you’ll essentially be doing the splits for a very long time.

Another exercise, more accurately described as a posture, is squatting. Squatting is going to provide you with the same benefits as tailor sitting, but it’s going to take it to the next level by giving you a much deeper stretch. Until your calves are stretched out, you may need to grab onto a chair or a partner to keep yourself from tipping backward. Eventually, you will be able to lower your heels to the floor while leaning slightly forward, which will keep you from falling over. When you’re standing up, place your hands on the tops of your knees and lift your bottom up first, then roll up to a standing position.

A third helpful exercise is pelvic rocking. Pelvic rocking can help alleviate a backache during pregnancy and also helps prevent varicose veins. If you practice yoga, chances are you have done this exercise before. Get on all fours and gently drop your belly towards the floor while arching your back and letting your bottom stick out. Then tuck in your bottom and pull in your belly. Do several repetitions and don’t worry about speed.

The legs apart exercise is a more active way of stretching the muscles that tailor sitting and squatting both target. Remember the Thigh Master? This exercise is basically the opposite of what the thigh master does. You’ll need a partner to sit across from you on the floor and gently apply counter-pressure while you try to open your legs. Your partner’s job is not to keep you from opening your legs, but to provide some resistance.

Finally, the infamous Kegels! We’ve talked about Kegels plenty of times before on this blog, so I will simply redirect you here for a good description of Kegels and their benefits.