Posts tagged: Pregnancy

The coziest button-up pajamas, the softest baby coming home outfit, nursing mama must-haves, and superhero baby care essentials—our hospital bag essentials checklist has everything you need for a smooth hospital stay! Every new mom needs more than just a nursing pillow and a swaddle blanket in her hospital bag. You need to add in a body wash, pads, and some comfy clothes too. Take a peek at the video below for our ultimate hospital bag checklist (modeled by a M+A twin mama), and don't forget to share with any expecting friends.  ...

Curious about what superfoods can do for you and your bump? Guest blogger Carla Jian, a personal trainer and holistic health coach based on Chicago, dishes on the best foods for a healthy baby and happy mama during pregnancy. When I was first became pregnant, all the restrictions that came with a prenatal diet felt a little overwhelming—and a little scary. All of a sudden there was a list of foods I wasn’t allowed to eat because they could harm my baby. Then I was warned that since I was...

For those accustomed to tracking their steps and sleep with the swipe of a finger, it would make sense that pulling up data about our ovaries should be just as easy. A number of startups and drug developers think so—as more women put off having a baby (or another baby) until their late 30’s and 40’s, at-home fertility tests (a relatively cheap and easy way to ease that biological clock panic—or trigger it) are popping up. But do they work? Is it possible to tell how fertile you are before...

There’s really only one thing you can bet on when it comes to delivering a baby—unpredictability! Babies tend to arrive on their own schedule, in their own way. But there are lots of choices to be made in the delivery room, and before the action starts, it’s helpful to write down your preferences and hopes in a “birth plan.” (Because hey—even if that all natural water birth doesn’t go as planned, you’ve still got control over the music.) To get started, create a bulleted list answering these questions: Who should...

Compiling a baby registry—and figuring out how to dress your bump—can feel like learning a different language. As you sift through a sea of recommendations from friends and family, don't miss these six Monica + Andy mom-approved brands designed to make the mama life a little easier. From a stylish swing made to soothe the fussiest of babies to clothing brands that will live in your closet for longer than a trimester, you won't want to miss out. For Moms... 1. Hatch These effortlessly-chic maternity clothes made by a mom-of-two...

Welcome to The Delivery Room Dish—a place for new moms to spill on the highs, lows, and nitty gritty of giving birth. What you'll learn: there's no one 'right' way to have a baby, the delivery room is full of choices (even when labor doesn't go as planned), and every mom's got a birth story worth sharing. Up next: Monica + Andy's Director of Brand Strategy and Digital Content Jessie Mash, who gave birth to her daughter Maxine in November.The first sign of labor was: contractions I thought were Braxton...

Welcome to The Delivery Room Dish—a place for new moms to spill on the highs, lows, and nitty gritty of giving birth. What you'll learn: there's no one 'right' way to have a baby, the delivery room is full of choices (even when labor doesn't go as planned), and every mom's got a birth story worth sharing. Up first: Monica + Andy Editorial Director Kristen Dold, who gave birth to her son Peter in May.I knew it was ‘go time’ when: my water broke. I woke up around 3 am...

You've been warned about sleepless nights with a newborn, but pregnancy insomnia can leave some women just as exhausted. With a round belly and the anxiety of being this close to delivery, home-stretchers often suffer the most. (Insomnia may be nature’s way of prepping us for the sleep loss that comes after delivery, but we want you to clock the most zz's while you can.) Try these tips before you hit the sheets next for a better night’s rest. Skip liquids right before bed Getting up to go to the...

Tempted to shell out all your cash on cute maternity clothes? We get it. Once you sprout that baby bump, it becomes virtually impossible to resist clothing made to fit and flatter a pregnant body. But here's the thing: pregnancy is pretty short. (Not that it feels that way when you're in it!) And you only need a few essential pieces (plus some mix and match creativity) to sail through those ten months in comfort and style. Here’s where you’ll get the most bang for your buck: Maternity jeans Loose...

Being told you’re having a caesarean section (whether it’s in advance of labor or smack dab in the middle of it) can feel a little unnerving, despite the fact that it’s pretty common. (32 percent of all deliveries are by C-section!) And while you can't always choose whether or not to have one, you can arm yourself with the facts well before your delivery date, says Jennifer Hollings, MD, an ob-gyn with the Richmond Community Hospital in Richmond, VA. (She’s had three C-sections of her own.) Here’s what to expect...