Posts tagged: Pregnancy

Worried about making a career change with a baby on board? Don't be. It’s normal to wonder—will a prospective employer pause before offering you a gig, knowing that you’ve got a slew of doctor appointments and maternity leave on the horizon? Here’s the truth: pregnant women can (and do!) take on new opportunities every day, and if you're the best fit for the job, the right employer should want to bring you on regardless. Pregnant women have rights, too. We spoke with employment lawyer Omar A. Lopez, Esq., owner of...

Consider this dilemma: It's your first family outing and your baby wants to nurse...and while ordinarily, you'd make it work right there and then (whether you're comfortable doing it out in the open or would prefer to cover up, you do you, Mama!), you realize you've hit a bit of a snag. You're wearing a dress and, save for pulling the whole thing up around your neck, there's really no great way to get the baby to the breast.Dressing during the postpartum period can be a challenge, particularly for breastfeeding...

When you think of maternity photos, you probably envision a woman holding her beautiful bump under a long, floral-printed dress with a flower crown on her head. And while we love the gorgeous, ethereal vibe those photos carry, we have news for you: there's more than one maternity aesthetic for you to consider.Whether your style is classic, edgy, or more traditionally feminine, the perfect dress is out there for you. (If you're typically a jeans-and-leather-jacket kind of girl, go ahead and skip the dress all together.) The key is to...

It's a fact: people love to pepper pregnant women with questions. Lots of them. And while you can expect to be grilled at your doctor appointments, daily convos with friends, colleagues, and even strangers can start to feel like interviews, too. Some questions are fairly benign, while others can feel totally invasive. Looking for advice on how to handle them? We've got you. Read on for some of the most common questions and how to address—or, uh, deflect—them. How are you feeling? Expect this question from the day you announce...

You've probably heard friends or fellow pregnant women talking about hiring a doula to help them through labor, delivery and early motherhood. But if you're new to all this, you may be asking yourself: What exactly does a doula do? Doulas offer physical, emotional and informational support to couples as they prepare to enter parenthood, says Lindsey Tjernlund of Minnesota-based Hummingbird Doula. Doulas — who are trained and certified through organizations like DONA — are most commonly known for helping out during labor and delivery, but a doula's services aren't...

You've found the perfect pair of maternity jeans, rediscovered your love of breezy daytime dresses, and worn a hole in your comfiest leggings...but what's a preggo supposed to do when she has to turn up the fancy? If you're slated to attend a formal event, you're probably a little nervous about choosing the perfect outfit. Getting dressed up is always fun, but it's definitely not as easy when you're contending with a growing baby bump, swollen ankles, and the general discomfort that can accompany pregnancy. The good news? There are...

There are two kinds of expectant parents: The ones who can't wait to learn the sex of their baby, and the ones who are equally curious...but choose to wait until delivery day to learn the big news. Of course, the line isn't always so clearly drawn: Maybe you're dying to know if it's a little boy or a girl, but your partner would love it to be a big surprise (or vice versa!). Maybe you're tempted to rip into that envelope you receive post-anatomy scan...but are also contemplating just letting...

Pregnancy tends to get a bad reputation, and we're not here to sugarcoat it: Carrying a baby can be tough. Some people certainly have it harder than others, but let's not forget: It's a pretty magical experience, despite all its difficulties! Aside from the obvious upside (the beautiful baby in your belly!), there are quite a few things that are enjoyable during pregnancy. It's easy to forget it when you're dealing with a hard day, but it's important to not lose sight of those things...because at the end of the...

One of the best parts about being pregnant today? Choice! There are hundreds (and hundreds) of products out there meant to support mamas with a growing belly and make life a little easier. But which items are worthy of that must-buy status? We asked a group of Monica + Andy team members — all of whom have been through pregnancies recently — to share their favorites. AG Secret Fit Belly Farrah Skinny Ankle Maternity Jeans ($198)'I really could not live without my AG maternity jeans - I wear them for...

If you're playing for team green — which essentially means you're choosing not to find out your baby's gender until he or she is born — you're in for a majorly fun moment after you deliver. But there's something else you're in for, at least until your babe arrives: The tricky task of decorating a nursery that's fit for a baby boy or a baby girl. #TeamGreen members aren't the only ones who love a gender-neutral look (it's trending!), and parents who want to prep for boy-girl twins or an...