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Brave New Motherhood

30 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms & What to Know

30 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms & What to Know

You’ve reached week 30 of pregnancy! That means only 10 or so weeks left until your baby arrives. Early pregnancy symptoms like fatigue and frequent urination might be making a...

30 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms & What to Know

You’ve reached week 30 of pregnancy! That means only 10 or so weeks left until your baby arrives. Early pregnancy symptoms like fatigue and frequent urination might be making a comeback as your due date gets closer, and you may...

What to Bring to the Hospital When Having a Baby

What to Bring to the Hospital When Having a Baby

Since I’m a list maker by nature, when it came time to pack my hospital bag, I scoured my pregnancy books, dug through the internet, asked for suggestions from every mom...

What to Bring to the Hospital When Having a Baby

Since I’m a list maker by nature, when it came time to pack my hospital bag, I scoured my pregnancy books, dug through the internet, asked for suggestions from every mom I knew, and wrote the longest list ever written.

What (Not) to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

What (Not) to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

One of the final steps in preparing for your new arrival is packing your hospital bag. There are quite a few things that you may think you’ll use during your hospital...

What (Not) to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

One of the final steps in preparing for your new arrival is packing your hospital bag. There are quite a few things that you may think you’ll use during your hospital stay but will probably stay in your bag the entire...

For Our Covid Babies. For My Supernova.

For Our Covid Babies. For My Supernova.

Guest post by N'Jameh Russell-Camara

In the summer of 2021, my first child was born. She came into the world wide-eyed and ready. The night she was born, I held her, my whole body shaking...

For Our Covid Babies. For My Supernova.

Guest post by N'Jameh Russell-Camara

In the summer of 2021, my first child was born. She came into the world wide-eyed and ready. The night she was born, I held her, my whole body shaking after what had been an intensely traumatic birthing experience.

5 Tips for Recovering from a C-section with a Toddler

5 Tips for Recovering from a C-section with a Toddler

Guest post by Karissa Whitman

A C-section is no walk in the park. It’s a major surgery that involves incisions through the abdomen and uterus to reach that sweet little bundle of joy. Sometimes, a C-section...

5 Tips for Recovering from a C-section with a Toddler

Guest post by Karissa Whitman

A C-section is no walk in the park. It’s a major surgery that involves incisions through the abdomen and uterus to reach that sweet little bundle of joy. Sometimes, a C-section is completely unexpected, while other times it’s planned. No matter how...

30 Things Moms Wish They Had Known About Labor and Delivery

30 Things Moms Wish They Had Known About Labor and Delivery

Guest post by Jessie Wiener

As we thought about our own birth stories, we realized that there were a lot of things we wish we had known on those journeys to meet our babies. We decided...

30 Things Moms Wish They Had Known About Labor and Delivery

Guest post by Jessie Wiener

As we thought about our own birth stories, we realized that there were a lot of things we wish we had known on those journeys to meet our babies. We decided to ask our Facebook page followers about their experiences and what they wish they...

The Top 5 Things You Need <br> for a Home Birth

The Top 5 Things You Need for a Home Birth

Guest post by Jaimie Zaki

As awareness around birth plans and birthing options grows, more and more women without risk factors are seeking to have home births. Instead of wondering what they need to pack in...

The Top 5 Things You Need for a Home Birth

Guest post by Jaimie Zaki

As awareness around birth plans and birthing options grows, more and more women without risk factors are seeking to have home births. Instead of wondering what they need to pack in their hospital bags, many expectant moms are wondering what they...

11 Birth Affirmations for Labor and Delivery

11 Birth Affirmations for Labor and Delivery

Along with music and the support of my husband and our doula, birth affirmations were incredibly helpful for both of my labors.

11 Birth Affirmations for Labor and Delivery

Along with music and the support of my husband and our doula, birth affirmations were incredibly helpful for both of my labors.

5 Ways to Prepare for Your VBAC

5 Ways to Prepare for Your VBAC

Guest post by Cherie McCabe

After an unexpected Cesarean with my firstborn, my heart was set on one thing as I considered a second pregnancy: vaginal birth after Cesarean (VBAC). Was it the right choice for...

5 Ways to Prepare for Your VBAC

Guest post by Cherie McCabe

After an unexpected Cesarean with my firstborn, my heart was set on one thing as I considered a second pregnancy: vaginal birth after Cesarean (VBAC). Was it the right choice for me? Could I successfully and safely give birth to my...

What Is a Doula and Should You Hire One?

What Is a Doula and Should You Hire One?

Guest post by Gabrielle Mowry

When I had my first two children, I had never even heard the word “doula.” My second birth was precipitous (less than three hours). I had planned to have an...

What Is a Doula and Should You Hire One?

Guest post by Gabrielle Mowry

When I had my first two children, I had never even heard the word “doula.” My second birth was precipitous (less than three hours). I had planned to have an epidural as I did for my first delivery, but the...

The National Black Midwives Alliance

The National Black Midwives Alliance

To celebrate Black Breastfeeding Week, which is the last week of August, we’re honored to feature the work of the National Black Midwives Alliance: "In the past several months, the country has been...

The National Black Midwives Alliance

To celebrate Black Breastfeeding Week, which is the last week of August, we’re honored to feature the work of the National Black Midwives Alliance: "In the past several months, the country has been experiencing a new level of reckoning about how racism and...

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Breastfeeding in the Time of Coronavirus

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Breastfeeding in the Time of Coronavirus

Guest post by Shantel Harlin, RN, IBCLC

As cities and states adjust restrictions around COVID-19, I wanted to share the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19’s impact on pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. As an RN and IBCLC, I thought...

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Breastfeeding in the Time of Coronavirus

Guest post by Shantel Harlin, RN, IBCLC

As cities and states adjust restrictions around COVID-19, I wanted to share the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19’s impact on pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. As an RN and IBCLC, I thought it would be helpful to compile some opinions from leading...