Karissa Tunis

Mother’s Day Cards (free printables)

Need a last minute card for Mother’s Day? Simply print out one of these Mother’s Day Cards free printables on card stock (or plain paper), fold it in half, and write a sweet note on the inside 🙂

For more on this topic, check out the full All About Moms collection

Mother’s Day Cards (free printables)

MORE MOTHER’S DAY IDEAS

Check out 16 unique Etsy gifts for Mother’s Day

Get card inspiration with 70 mom quotes

Spoil mom with 101 self care ideas

Print out this free Mother’s Day card

Make mom a self care kit for all 5 senses

Shop more Mother’s Day gift ideas

And for more on this topic, check out the full All About Moms collection

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression & Anxiety

Many of us have heard about the symptoms of postpartum depression and even postpartum anxiety. We are very grateful that there is increasing awareness about this topic! However, even though we know that many moms suffer from postpartum depression and anxiety, it is natural for us to brush off the symptoms when we are looking at ourselves. We chalk it up to the “baby blues”. Or we rationalize that this is just a difficult phase. We downplay how much these symptoms are truly affecting us.

But this is extremely dangerous, not to mention disheartening…

For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

Motherhood is Hard, but…

While motherhood is an extremely difficult journey, there should be joy along the way! Each new mom should be granted the gift of enjoying her new baby during such a special time in their life. But when that joy is missing (or fleeting), we blame ourselves instead of reaching out for help.

Please know that things could be better! That there is no harm in simply asking questions and doing some self-reflection. There can be comfort in confiding in those close to you. And it is always better to err on the side of caution (because really… who doesn’t need a little therapy?)

Help for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety

The lists below provide you with some signs and symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety. We highly recommend that you send this list to your partner during your pregnancy so that they can also be aware of potential warning signs. But before we dive in to the list of symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety…

We are not medical professionals, and you should always consult your team of medical professionals before making decisions about your health. We also acknowledge that this article is not clinical data but is simply shining light and understanding on a complicated topic.

Signs and Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

Thinking thoughts such as, “I am never going to be able to do this.” “What have I gotten myself into?” “I don’t have what it takes to be a mom.”
Missing that magical bond that other people seem to talk about. Sure, you love your baby, but it is not what you’ve heard about.
Feeling like your baby deserves better, and feeling guilty that you don’t feel the happiness that you thought you would.
Having very little patience. You feel irritated, angry, or even downright rage.
Starting to resent your partner, your friends, and even your baby.
Completing tasks, but just going through the motions. You feel numb and empty.
Crying all of the time, even when there doesn’t seem to be a clear reason.
Blaming yourself and feeling like a failure. You begin to think that you must just be weak, and you will be stuck in this forever.
Feeling distant from everyone. You know that people are trying to help and connect with you, but there feels like a barrier there.
Eating habits change. Maybe you never have an appetite or interest in food, or maybe food is the only thing that brings you comfort.
Sleeping becomes an issue in one way or the other as well. Maybe you can’t fall asleep or stay asleep even when you’re exhausted. Or maybe you feel like you could sleep all day long.
Struggling to remember things and stay focused. You may feel like you are in a fog and can’t handle making even small decisions.
Trying to pick yourself up and get back on track, but it’s just not working. You may be trying to do everything you can to help yourself “snap out” of this, but you still feel much the same.
Wishing for the “old you.” You wonder what has changed, and if you will ever feel the same again.
Thinking about escaping from all of this. You may have thoughts of running away, driving off the road, or finding other ways to make it all stop.
Knowing something is wrong. You know on a gut level that the way your feeling is just not right.

Signs and Symptoms of Postpartum Anxiety

Unable to relax. Your mind is racing, and you can’t manage to feel calm.
Feeling compelled to keep busy. You feel a need to stay busy and be doing something at all times.
Worrying about everything. You feel like the world is suddenly a very dangerous place, and no matter what anyone says, you can’t be reassured.
Eating is of no interest. You have no appetite.
Having intruding thoughts. You are experiences scary thoughts that just pop into your head unwanted, and they often start with the phrase, “what if…”
Not trusting yourself to be home alone with the baby. You are consistently aware of and worried about things in your home that could harm the baby.
Unable to sleep. You are exhausted, but you just can’t get to sleep.
Checking on things constantly. You feel compelled to check that you locked the doors, turned off the oven, or that the baby is still breathing.
Having physical symptoms. You may be experiencing stomach trouble, headaches, or even panic attacks.
Feeling a sense of dread. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you know that something bad is going to happen.
Wishing for the “old you.” You wonder what has changed, and if you will ever feel the same again.
Knowing something is wrong. You know on a gut level that the way your feeling is just not right.

After reading through this list, we want to assure you that you are NOT alone! 15-20% of new mothers experience postpartum depression, anxiety, or a combination of both; and the great news is that they are totally treatable!

Think of the person that you would feel comfortable confiding in, and then go tell them about your concerns right away. Simply tell them, “Something is just not right, and I don’t know how to fix it.” Once you take that first step, you will be able to continue on in this journey from there. Know that there is no shame in what you are going through, and there are many people out there who want more than anything to help!

For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

How To Make Time for Yourself – 5 Tips for Busy, Working Moms

‘I don’t have time for this.’ ‘All I want is some time to myself.’ ‘I haven’t taken a bath in ages!’ Sounds familiar? If you have kids and a job, you probably say this or similar phrases several times a week. Do you think it’s time for a change? Then try out these five small changes that will help you figure out how to make time for yourself. Some of them can even turn former daily chores into a mindfulness practice.…

Birth Stories – Each Beautiful in Their Own Way

Each and every birth story has its own tale to tell. There are always unexpected twists and turns whether the labor goes very quickly or drags on for days! But it is the unexpected that makes the birth process and individual birth stories so beautiful.

For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

Giving birth to your first baby is like a crash course in parenting. It is an incredibly intense, yet rewarding experience that you are responsible for, yet somehow is simultaneously out of your control.

Your birth story will be uniquely yours. The ups, the downs, and everything in between. And regardless of how that birth story plays out, it is beautiful. There are no medals given out for following your birth plan to the letter, and there should not be shame in any birth experience.

Bringing a new baby into this world should be celebrated, no matter how it happens! And we hope that you see that through the variety of experiences below…

Please note that we are not medical professionals, and you should always consult your team of medical professionals before making decisions about you and your baby’s health. We also acknowledge that this article is not sharing statistics, data, or research but is simply shining light and understanding on a complicated topic.

Non-Medicated Delivery, Pain Management, or Epidural

There is a spectrum of pain management that is available to you during labor and delivery. You can use natural ways to help breathe, walk, and focus through the pain. There are medications that will take the edge off of your pain. And there are epidurals that essentially numb the body while allowing you to stay alert and feel pressure.

No mother should be made to feel less-than for choosing any of these options. Birth is one of the most intense experiences that women get to go through, and you should choose whichever option will allow you to get through the labor process as best as you can. Consider what is most important to you, and then use that priority as a starting point.

Women’s bodies and personalities are all so different, and there is such a wide range of experiences. There are women who have progressed rapidly after being able to relax after an epidural, and there are women whose labor has stalled after receiving an epidural. There are women who felt that a natural birth was an incredible experience, while others felt that it was traumatic. Please know that there are no “right” answers here… only what is best for you! No birth stories are better than others – simply different.

[ Read: My 3 Different Childbirth Experiences ]

Home Birth, Birth Center, or Hospital Birth

Some women feel most comfortable in their own homes. They feel safe, calm, and at-ease inside their own four walls. However, there are other women that find the thought of giving birth at home terrifying. And, of course, there is the option to find a birth center that you are comfortable with as a sort of middle ground.

It is important to remember that the decision to deliver a baby at home is a very personal one. Each mother knows herself best, and it is so important to tap into your gut instinct on this decision. Birth is such a primal process that you should be where you are most comfortable and feel most taken care of! Taking in other’s birth stories can be helpful, but you still need to tune into yourself and figure out what you need most.

Of course, you should always listen to your medical professionals and take their advice under advisement. You would never want to put yourself or your baby at risk. Things don’t always go as planned, and I mean this regardless of which option you end up choosing! Every mom should at least acknowledge that things might not work out the way they hoped. How often have we heard about the poor moms that have given birth in the car on the way to the hospital? And similarly, situations can arise that require home births to seek further intervention and care.

[ Read: My Home Birth Birth Story (and why I loved it) ]

VBAC or Repeat C Section

VBAC stands for vaginal birth after cesarean and can be an option for many women who had a previous c section. However, it is not and option for all pregnancies as there can be risk factors or complications that may not allow for a safe attempt at a VBAC. Even if a VBAC could be an option, you are still able to opt for the repeat c section should you choose that route.

If you choose to try for the VBAC, it is important to surround yourself with supportive medical professionals that know your history. It is crucial to know and understand your information surrounding your first c section so that avoidable issues can be prevented and potential concerns addressed. You should also mentally and emotionally prepare yourself in case you end up needing a repeat c section.

If you opt for the repeat c section, that is completely understandable as well! If your first c section was done under emergency situations, then you can take comfort in knowing that a planned c section can be a much better experience. When you and baby are not in distress, it allows for more potential to hold them and bond with them more quickly.

And if the decision is essentially made for you, then you can take strides to come to terms with that! A VBAC may not be a safe option for you or your baby, and that is okay. As mentioned above, c sections don’t have to be a horrible experience; and you can take strides to prepare accordingly.

[ Read: My Successful VBAC with a Doula ]

All Birth stories are beautiful

Our main takeaway? Regardless of how your birth story turns out, you are not a failure. You made it through, you are incredibly strong, and you love your new baby more than anything. There are so many factors that are in play throughout the birth and labor process that it is impossible to completely predict and control it all. Take heart in knowing that whatever you decide (and whatever is decided for you) makes for a beautiful birth story.

For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

Postpartum Body Image – Why You Should Not Expect to be “Facebook Ready” after Giving Birth

Even though Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, looked great when she stepped out of the hospital only 10 hours after delivering her daughter, IT’S NOT THE NORM! And seeing these images can be detrimental to our postpartum body image.

After the excitement of childbirth, first-time moms are often shocked to discover that their bodies don’t automatically snap back into shape immediately after their baby is born. The first thing I remember after I got home with my new baby was looking sideways in a mirror and gasping…I still looked pregnant! Was I ever going to see a flat tummy again!?! Wow, how unfair! How come I saw celebrities looking like hot babes shortly after giving birth?

Expecting yourself to be “red-carpet ready” soon after delivering your baby is unrealistic, even for most celebrities.

This article is written by Marianne Ryan PT, OCS
For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

Be Patient with Your Postpartum Self

It will take time for your belly to shrink no matter who you are. Realistically, it takes at least a month for your body to start to get itself back together, usually longer for most women. Right after birth your body is left with a lot of excess fluid that can take a week or two to lose and it can take a full month for your uterus to shrink back down to its pre-pregnancy size. So don’t put yourself under the pressure to be “Facebook ready” right after you deliver your baby – it’s just not going to happen and you have far more important things to worry about! So do your self a favor, and don’t even try to put on your old jeans, wait.

Boost Postpartum Body Image by Steering Clear of the Scale!

Whatever you do, don’t even think of stepping on that scale for at least thirty days after you deliver your baby. I remember breaking down into tears after I weighed myself three days after I delivered my first daughter. I only lost a few pounds! How can that be? She weighed 8 ½ pounds and the placenta and amniotic fluid weighed about 3 or 4 pounds, so I should be at least 12 pounds less, right?

Wrong!

Here is why: Right after giving birth, your body is still going through hormonal changes. The amount of fluid your body retains can fluctuate hourly, especially if you are nursing. It takes a few weeks for your body to lose the excess fluid you build up during your pregnancy and for your uterus to return to normal size. So, as much fun as it may seem to find out how much you weigh, don’t do it; it can drive you crazy.

Return to Exercise Gradually after Giving Birth

Most women want to get back into pre-pregnancy shape immediately after childbirth, but it is important to make a slow return to full activity. In my book, Baby Bod®, I explain the effects of pregnancy on the body, offer many more tips, and advise on the best way to get back into shape after having a baby. There is more detailed advice in Chapter 8 for moms who had a vaginal delivery while Chapter 9 gives advice to moms who had a C-section.

For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

Featured Contributor: Marianne Ryan

Marianne Ryan PT, OCS is a physical therapist and board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist. She is an award-winning author of the international best selling book, Baby Bod – Turn Flab to Fab in 12 Weeks Flat (available on Amazon), Clinical Director of MRPT Physical Therapy in New York City and a spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association Media Corps. With more than 30 years’ experience, she specializes in helping women reclaim their bodies after childbirth.

Website: mrptny.com
Website: babybodbook.com
Facebook: @MRPTPhysicalTherapy

Pumping Hacks: Time Saving Tips for Pumping Breast Milk Efficiently

Pumping sucks… but it doesn’t have to! I am here to share my favorite time saving pumping hacks for pumping breast milk efficiently.

For many families, pumping is an unavoidable activity. You may return to work outside the home, you’re working to increase your milk supply, or baby has special feeding needs. However, it’s no surprise that pumping can feel like a chore. But there are ways to make your pumping routine a little easier on everyone….

5 Free Ways to Help a New Mom after Baby Arrives

Newborn babies are super sweet. And they come with a lot of responsibility and work. Which is why it’s so important to help out new moms experience all of this for the first time! Below you’ll find five free ways to help a new mom…

This article is written by Lindsey Cover
For more on this topic, check out the full All About Moms collection

If you’re a mom, do you remember your first pregnancy? All the excitement and anticipation of holding your sweet little one, to kiss their smooth cheeks and allow time to stand still every time you rocked them or watched them sleep?

If you have several children, you may also remember your second pregnancy being slightly (if not drastically) different than the first! Of course, your attention must be divided between your firstborn and the baby to come. You love them both dearly, but things have changed.

I clearly remember this struggle while I was pregnant with my second son. This time around, instead of focusing all my attention on researching labor techniques and breastfeeding positions, envisioning a picture-perfect nursery, registering for the “best” baby products, and asking my friends and family for advice (or receiving unwanted “advice” and personal stories), I was caught up in the day-to-day busyness of caring for and entertaining my older child. Most days, I just hoped to have one uninterrupted meal or a long shower to relax and gather my thoughts.

Check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection which offers advice, free printables, birth stories, and more!

All Moms Need Help

All moms need help from time to time—whether they’ve just entered the world of motherhood or not!

New moms may think they’ve read it all, heard it all from other moms, and have this mommy thing in the bag. But nothing can truly prepare you for the first few months of getting to know your baby and yourself as a mother.

If there’s one thing I’ve personally learned along the way, it’s this: Accept help when others offer it!

So here are five practical ways you can serve a new mom:

Visit the New Mom after Baby is Born

Let’s be honest—most people that come to visit after a new baby is born are only there to “ooh” and “ahh” over the sleepy infant, and often neglect to pay much attention to the mama! Show her you care about her friendship and ask her specifically how she’s doing before whisking her brand new baby out of her arms. Before you visit, ask her if you can pick up her favorite drink.

Help the New Mom by Bringing Her a Meal

Most new moms will not care whether you bring a home-cooked meal or takeout; they will appreciate not having to think about what’s for dinner as they adjust to their new (sleep-deprived) schedule with baby at home. Kindly check if there are any dietary restrictions for anyone in the family ahead of time. Even better than taking one meal, double your recipe and freeze one for the family to eat later!

Another helpful tool is a service like Meal Train, which is an easy, free way to encourage family and friends to bring meals on designated days! Offer to set this up for her—with meal sign-ups on the days she chooses—and then post the Meal Train link on social media or in an email to friends who know her and may be looking for a way to serve. Check out these simple delicious recipes.

Offer to Babysit as a Free Way to Help

Relieve her of having to keep older siblings entertained constantly. With a new baby in the house, older kids may be craving some undivided attention. Offer to watch the children at home or plan an activity like going to the park or movie theater to get everyone out of the house for a bit. Here are 50 easy toddler activities.

Run Errands for the New Mom while You’re Out

Check in with her often to see if there is anything she needs, then offer to pick it up for her. New moms may not want to bother anyone to ask for a small favor, or they may feel anxious about taking their newborn out to certain places. And Dad might be working or wanting some much-needed family time. Some common errands may be picking up a few groceries, returning library books, or taking older kids to school or daycare. Here are other simple ways to help others.

Encourage the New Mom to Nap and Offer to Help

They say, “sleep when the baby sleeps,” as if that is an easy rule to follow. Usually, moms wake to every breath and snore their baby makes, preventing Mom from getting quality rest. That is, if she isn’t using that time to shower, eat without interruption, or cook or clean! Ask her if you can come over so she can take a nap and catch up on needed rest. Be persistent if she doesn’t initially accept your offer!

No matter how you choose to help a new mom, they will be most grateful for any thoughtful service you can give during this crucial transition of welcoming a new baby.

For more on this topic, check out the full All About Moms collection

Featured Contributor: Lindsey Cover

Lindsey Cover is a work-at-home wife and mom of two young boys, Jadon and Owen. She blogs about affordable healthy living, money-saving methods, simple recipes, and more at SimpleSaverWife.com

Facebook: @SimpleSaverWife
Instagram: @SimpleSaverWife
Pinterest: @SimpleSaverWife

Birth Stories: My 3 Different Childbirth Experiences

I am the proud mama to three little ones…. but each pregnancy, labor, delivery, and childbirth has been very different! 3 healthy births, 3 different childbirth experiences! I guess that is good for memories sake, and boy do I have some stories! But when I reflect back on everything, I have realized 4 things that I am sharing in this article…

This article is written by Karissa Tunis
For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

Every Childbirth Experience is Unique

Each and every childbirth is completely unique!

My husband and I are the pair that conceived each of our children. We delivered each of our babies at the exact same hospital (be prepared with this Hospital Bag Checklist). And yet, each of our three childbirths resulted in different childbirth experiences!

With my first pregnancy I had developed gestational diabetes, and had the worst labor experience! After over a month of inconsistent and painful contractions, several false labor starts, I finally went into full force labor. Over 15+ hours of relentless pain, and contractions that barely gave me a full minute in between to catch my breath. The actual delivery itself was also pure chaos as our little girl entered the world completely blue and unresponsive, with dozens of medical personnel running around us.

There have been three truly terrifying moments in my life, and this was one of them. Thankfully it eventually took a positive turn, and our precious baby was eventually handed to me. I truly feel that she is a miracle and was placed on this earth for a very special reason. And eight years later, she continues to bring so much joy and amazement to our family!

Second and Third Childbirth

Our second child came into this world after a difficult pregnancy, but a smooth labor and delivery.

However, he ended up spending months on medications, and spent days filled with doctor appointments. By his first birthday we were making progress, but he has been through a lot! He is our little stud that has already conquered more than most other 5-year-olds. And he has taught us more about life in the past couple of years, and challenges us everyday to be better people.

And then there is our last. I arrived at the hospital for an induction only to find out I was already in labor and dilated. After progress, stand-stills, and repeats, I finally delivered our baby when no doctor was expecting or ready…. truly eventful! Four years later he keeps us laughing and always guessing what will happen next. He was the perfect addition to our family, and nicely rounded out our family of five 🙂

What I have learned from all of this is that you can do your research, you can poll your earlier generation ladies for their stories, you can check family genetics, statistics, watch hours of birth stories, and soak up as much information as possible. However, when it comes down to it –

Each and every time, it will be different.

Stages of Childbirth

Leave your delivery expectations and plans at the door!

While pregnant with our first child, I had planned out in my mind how I wanted the entire labor, delivery, and childbirth process to go.

However, when you are in the moment, and you are watching your little one’s heart rate drop on the monitor, all plans go out the window. My only thought and focus became delivering a healthy baby! When she entered the world not making a single sound, all I now wanted was for her to be alive. Thankfully she was, but we were only moments away from having a very different outcome.

Personally I think it is best to keep your childbirth expectations low. Go into it all with an open mind, and keep your focus on just delivering your baby. However that happens, whatever needs to happen in between, please do not stress or get sidetracked. Keep the focus on your baby and the rest will play out the way it needs to. Either way, you will be delivering your baby in way or another, and you will be delivering…..eventually. But remember that at the end of this, the most important thing is that you have a baby to take home with you. And a bonus is if they are healthy.

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Instincts During Childbirth

Trust your instincts!

A mother’s intuition is not to be ignored.

While pregnant with our daughter, I had a strong feeling that the umbilical cord was around her neck. I brought this up at every single doctor appointment, and yet they always dismissed it. I was terrified for childbirth, and often begged for a c-section. Because of this, I even tried to find another doctor that would give me an elected c-section, but no one in my area would. Turns out, the cord was around her neck and literally almost hung her. My instincts were real. They were accurate. And time and time again, my instincts have been proven to be right.

The interesting thing was each of my boys were also born with the cords (more loosely) around their necks. But it was never a problem, and I never was concerned during my pregnancies. You would think after our first experience that I would have been terrified to deliver again, but I wasn’t. I had such peace that they were going to be born without the same complications, and again I was right – making me so grateful for different childbirth experiences.

Different Postpartum Experiences

Every AFTER childbirth experience is also completely unique!

No one seems to discuss the after delivery part. Maybe because there is not much nice to say about it, or maybe because looking back those moments become a bit hazy. Either way, I learned that just as every delivery can be so incredibly different, after the delivery can be just as unique. Different childbirth experiences often lead to a much different recovery process!

After delivering our first, I could barely move. I had to be assisted every time I needed to get out of bed. For three days I needed help for everything! I could not get up to use the bathroom, I could not get up to change our baby’s diaper, and I definitely could not get up to go for any strolls around the hospital. For three days I literally laid in bed. Thankfully I have an incredible husband, and had a very responsive nurse on the other end of my call button. But I was helplessly limited by immense pain, stitches, and physical limitations for weeks.

However, after both of my boys, I was much better. The second delivery took me a couple of days to heal, but within a week I was at my daughter’s preschool orientation.

After my third delivery, I was up and walking within a couple of hours. I felt like I had barely given birth! Had that been my only experience, I would never believe the stories that woman tell – the kind like my first delivery…….

Different Childbirth Experiences

From everything that I have been through, and all that I have shared, my advice is this: do your research, know your options, but keep your expectations and plans in check. Also, no matter your experience, remember to have compassion for the other moms out there! They will not all be as lucky as you. They will not all have smooth natural deliveries with healthy babies, beautiful photographs, and their pre-pregnancy jeans on when leaving the hospital, so please be kind!

Labor and Delivery is truly an incredible achievement, no matter how it happens!

How to Count Kicks and Keep Track of Baby’s Movement

Many doctors recommend kick counting as a way to monitor your baby’s health in the third trimester. In this article, we’ll teach you how to count kicks and keep track of baby’s movements.

Scientific studies indicate kick counting, a daily record of a baby’s movements (kicks, rolls, punches, jabs) during the third trimester, is an easy, free and reliable way to monitor a baby’s well-being in addition to regular prenatal visits.

When you start your 3rd trimester, it’s time to start counting.

This article is reposted from Count the Kicks with permission.
For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

How to Count Kicks

Download the FREE Count the Kicks app.
Count the Kicks every day, preferably at the same time.
Pick your time based on when your baby is usually active.
To get started, sit with your feet up or lie on your side. Count each of your baby’s movements as one kick and tap the foot on our app until you reach ten movements. After a few days you will begin to see a pattern for your baby (how long it takes you to get to ten).
Most of the time it will take less than a half hour, but it could take as long as two hours.
Save your kick counting sessions in the app to see your baby’s movement history.
Knowing what is a normal movement pattern for your baby is key. When “normal” changes, this could be a sign of potential problems and an indication to call your provider.
Your kick counting history can be useful for visits with your provider.
The app will record the amount of time it took to get 10 movements, or you can log your times into a downloadable Count the Kicks chart.

Reminders when tracking baby’s movement

Every pregnancy and every baby is different.
- The most important thing is to count your baby’s kicks every day so you will know what is normal for your baby. For example, if you normally count 10 movements within 30 minutes and then you notice that it is taking two hours to record 10 movements that is a change in your baby’s movement pattern.
Babies don’t run out of room.
- Babies do not slow down at the end of pregnancy. While they may run out of room for somersaults, babies move all the way up to and during labor.
Don’t hesitate to contact your provider or go to the hospital if you notice a change.
- If you notice a change in what is normal for your baby, contact your provider immediately. Your provider will want to hear from you with any concerns during your pregnancy. Trust your instincts!

Read pregnancy and birth stories:

3 Kids, 3 Very Different Birth Experiences

Successful VBAC with a Doula

My Home Birth, and Why I Loved It

For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

Featured Contributor: Count the Kicks

In the early 2000s, five Iowa moms endured the heartache of losing a daughter to stillbirth or infant death. After being connected through friends and pastors, a strong bond quickly formed between Jan, Janet, Kate, Kerry and Tiffan. During many connected conversations over coffee, the women decided to channel their grief into stillbirth prevention efforts to keep other families from facing the pain of losing a baby. Read their full story here!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

My Home Birth Birth Story, and Why I Loved It

– Jess Robertson shares her home birth birth story, and why she loved the experience –

Have any of you experienced that phenomenon of wanting something SO badly and then when you’re finally IN IT, you’re like “I immediately regret this decision!”

I can think of many times this has happened in my life… jumping out of a perfectly good plane, traveling to Africa alone at 18, backpacking across Europe with someone I barely knew, getting a tattoo of a bible verse… on my lower back. And again, within a couple of weeks of peeing on a stick and seeing that positive pregnancy sign, when I started puking my brains out.

And didn’t stop. For 5 months.

This article is written by Jess Robertson
For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

Research During Pregnancy

People would try to make me feel better by telling me this meant my baby was healthy…or smart. But all I could think about was how something the size of a kidney bean was preventing me from eating a saltine cracker.

Things got better around 22 weeks, but that was when the real anxiety started to set in. I didn’t realize you had to make so many decisions when you become a parent. And I’m not talking about what color to paint the nursery they will never sleep in.

I spent 7 hours a day researching the best diapers and wipes and butt creams. Butt cream.

Moms, did you ever think you would spend so much of your time looking at ingredients on the backs of products and researching what said ingredients were? I probably called my poor mom 10 times a day going “Did you use this on me when I was a baby? This causes cancer!”

Attending Birth Class

Around 25 weeks, it was time to attend our birthing class.

After 8 hours of learning about the phases of labor and hospital policy and procedure, we walked out of our class completely overwhelmed. I was totally planning on giving birth in a hospital like a majority of women. Sure, I had the dream of having a water birth for like 5 seconds after seeing that Ricki Lake movie in 2008, but I also wanted to be an FBI agent after watching The X-Files. These things fade, ya know?

But I went home after our class and, per the instructor’s recommendation, I began working on my birth plan. You know, that thing that goes out the window the second you go into labor and all you can think about is “get this thing out of me…stat!” Yah, well my birth plan was about fourteen pages long. I’ve always been an over-achiever so this didn’t surprise people who know me. But my OCD and control freak-ness (yes that’s a word) got the best of me and I started panicking about giving birth at a hospital.

Considering a Home Birth

My online researching time increased to about 12 hours a day. And, once again, my husband and I started discussing our options. Should we add a doula to the hospital birth plan? Do we need to revisit the home birth idea? Should I just suck it up? I didn’t like that last option at all, of course.

When I tried to envision my labor and birth, not once did I see it happening in a hospital room. Now, I acknowledge that home birth is not for everyone. And I know many people that have had wonderful hospital births. But if you’ve ever considered having a home birth and just thought it was too dangerous or too difficult or too scary, I encourage you to do the research. Ask the questions. Find out for yourself. It was the best door I’ve ever opened…

Home Birth Benefit: I got to choose my birth team

Birth is already a very unpredictable experience. I didn’t need any more surprises, like Nurse Ratched. We started meeting with midwives and doulas, and chose every person we wanted to be there (thank god for credit cards).

Home Birth Benefit: Amazing Prenatal Visits

My 10 minute prenatal visits with a doctor were now hour-long therapy sessions with a birthing team. This is what I had been missing all along. They got to know me and my husband. They talked to our little guy. We explored my concerns and fears, and I felt understood. The talks of medications and epidurals and sanitary birthing rooms were replaced with talks of essential oils and a birthing tub and our own bedroom. Which brings me to…

Home Birth Benefit: Giving Birth in the Comfort of Home

I hate hospitals… being unnecessarily poked and prodded… having to wear hospital gowns in hospital beds. I wanted to wear whatever I wanted, eat whatever I wanted, be in whatever position I wanted to be in. And I wanted a water birth.

Home Birth Birth Story

It was almost 2 weeks past my due date when I went into labor on a Sunday at 2:30 in the morning. My doula arrived first and helped me with my meditation and breathing, while my husband got the birthing tub ready. Those things are no joke people. They should have a class for them.

The first 12 hours were actually really peaceful and went by pretty fast. But as soon as I began pushing, we realized something was off. Our little guy had turned and was no longer in an ideal position. Panic and fear filled my body as everyone quietly discussed options. They checked his heart rate. He was doing great.

After 3 hours of pushing with no progress, they decided to call in the head midwife that had trained all of them. This was my lowest point of the day. I felt completely hopeless in that moment and for the first time questioned my decision to have a home birth.

Home Water Birth

I remember climbing back into the birthing tub, the beautiful birthing mix my husband had made me was playing in the background, and as he sat with me, I just continued to push with every. single. contraction.

I tried to focus on the fact that we would get to meet our little guy soon.

When the head midwife arrived, the energy in the room suddenly changed. She assessed me and the situation, and calmly and confidently said “You’re going to have a baby.”

She told me exactly what we needed to do, and with all 6 of us adults on our Ikea bed (yes, it broke), I gave birth to a beautiful, almost 10 lb. baby boy.

They handed him to me and this peace flooded my entire body. In that moment, it was as if I had gone to another world to bring him here and I returned to my body in the same moment he was earthside. Surreal is the only way to describe it.

The pain was gone. Just like that. It was replaced with pure joy. I couldn’t stop looking at him.

He was here. My baby was safe. He was mine.

And in that moment, I became a mom.

Want to read more birth stories?! Check out:

A VBAC Birth Story, and How Each Birth was Different for this Mom

For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

Featured Contributor: Jess Robertson

Jess lives in Redlands, CA with her hubby and two boys. She is the owner of Honest Mama, which was born out of the desire to connect with mamas everywhere. You can follow her crazy and beautiful journey through motherhood on Instagram: @honestmama.co

Website: honestmama.co
Facebook: @honestmamaco
Instagram: @honestmama.co

Karissa Tunis

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Home Birth Benefit: I got to choose my birth team

Home Birth Benefit: Amazing Prenatal Visits

Home Birth Benefit: Giving Birth in the Comfort of Home

Home Birth Birth Story

Home Water Birth

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