ExpectingWords.com - Helping expecting couples find the right words at the right times

Is there something about having a child that makes a woman feel like she’s superior to others? That’s what you might think considering how often moms judge other moms for making “bad” decisions. Now I’m not talking about dangerous decisions, just ones that someone might not agree with, like deciding not to breastfeed, or to put your child in day care, or to have a child when you’re “too young” or “too old,” to let your child watch television, to enroll her in too many activities or too few, or to work full-time or part-time, or to exercise too little or too much during pregnancy. You name it and there are plenty of moms out there willing to shame you for it.

What’s got me started on this topic? A woman named Donna commented on my blog post “The Top 5 Rude Comments Pregnant Women Field.” She wrote, “I’m finding a lot of hostility toward a planned c-section. Maybe I’m just defensive, but people seem to give me the third degree about why I’m doing it and telling me that vaginal birth isn’t that bad. And frankly, I don’t want to share all my medical issues with them and debate what my doctors and I have decided is healthiest for both me and the baby.”

Even before that comment saddened me, I had read another one from Jane, over at (more…)

Can Health Insurance Be Denied Because You’re Pregnant?
Apparently, pregnancy is considered by some insurers to be a pre-existing condition. Better not lose your job and health insurance while pregnant!

The New Breastfeeding Rules
Is nursing always the best answer? You decide…

Two Factors Reduce Post-partum Depression Risk
Researches discovered two factors that reduce the risk of depression: age (the older the woman the lower her chance of depression), and whether or not a woman has worked during pregnancy (which reduces the risk). They also discovered a near spot-on method to predict PPD.

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Welcome guest blogger Hugh Weber, well-known in the online world as the man who went from Dude to Dad. His website (www.dudetodad.com) started as a genuine cry for help. As his wife’s due date approached Hugh found himself still firmly routed in his dudehood. How was this freaked out father-to-be going to make transition from dude to dad? He turned to the internet and received helpful advice from people all over the country. His quest for help eventually became a journey to help other dads. Today he shares some advice with us. Thank you, Dude!

The Top 5 Things This DAD Wishes Someone Had Told Him Before the Baby Came
by Hugh Weber (more…)

If you’re reading this you’re probably pregnant and looking forward to your due date because the greatest (or certainly the most powerful) memory will be of the actual birth experience itself. But during those 280 days or so before the arrival of your beautiful baby, many things will happen that will become permanently etched in your memory.

One of my favorite things to talk about with my husband now are our best moments during my pregnancy. I encourage you and your mate to enjoy a similar conversation. I’ll share my first best moment with you and I hope you will take a minute to share yours with me.

My first best moment

Mine was definitely seeing the heartbeat on the ultrasound. Filled with increasing anxiety and fear as the ultrasound day approached, I had come up with every imaginable reason (thank you google!) why we might not see the heartbeat. I was preparing myself for anything. I entered the examining room, positioned myself on the exam table and waiting. Then my doctor entered the room and as the instrument was inserted my husband and I held hands in silence waiting for the image to appear on the screen. (more…)

Maybe you cry in the shower because it’s the only place you can be alone. The water will wash away your tears and the sound will muffle your cry and no one will know your quiet desperation.

Sometimes it just feels good to cry, to get it out, and to let the angst go down the drain. But new research, according to this article, tells us that we should let our mate see our tears. Evolutionary scientists point out that tears show vulnerability and bring us closer to our families, loved ones, and friends.

I suppose the lesson from this research is that we shouldn’t feel shameful of our tears. We should use them to convey how deeply we feel about something, especially when our tears represent our fear, anxiety, frustration or hurt, rather than our joy.

Sometimes tears can say a thousand words. I remember (more…)