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10 Things You Never Knew About Motherhood

FAM, pregnancy, self By Guest May 20, 2015 Tags: Baby Names, baby naming, featured, focus, motherhood, multitasking, nutrition, slider, therapy 1 Comment

Motherhood is quite like running an unending marathon – it requires an immense amount of preparation, strength, flexibility, patience and determination. Before you become a mother, many will sound you off about the do’s and don’ts needed to master this life marathon. Only when you experience the run yourself will you truly enjoy the euphoria associated with each little victory and realize how every bit of your effort was worth it! Being a mother is unique for every woman in the world. Just how no two people in the world are alike, so is the experience of bringing them up equally different. Some, experiences, however, form a part of every mother’s life and leave a mark far beyond the baby-naming, breastfeeding, nappy-changing and sleepless nights! Here are ten things you never knew about motherhood (unless you are a mother, of course):

1. Your Focus Will Shift From Yourself – Ever had your husband complain about how long you take to dress up before a party? When you become a mother, the complaining won’t stop; only now, it would be directed towards how long you take to dress your little one! Doing things for your kid will give you greater pleasure than doing anything for yourself.

2. You Will Cherish Being At Home – If holidays mean traveling the length and breadth of the world with your partner, wait till you have a baby! You would want to spend all your free time at home playing and fooling around with your little one. You’ll cancel lunch dates with your girls, your monthly spa appointments, and many other commitments so you can cuddle with your cute little angel all day long. You won’t have any regrets!

3. You Will Become An Excellent Multitasker – Of the many life skills that being a mother teaches you, multitasking features high on top! You’ll learn to do everything, from cleaning your baby’s dirty diaper to cheering him up, while gearing up for his next meal, all together. You’ll play the roles of a chef, doctor, entertainer and caretaker all at once!

4. Your Child Will Be Your Therapy – The world raves about peaceful retreats to help calm the mind. Only a mother, however, knows that her child can light up her life with the greatest amount of happiness and harmony, beating every other therapy hollow. Looking at your kid sleep is indeed the most beautiful sight that can bust your stress in a matter of seconds.

5. You Will Grandly Celebrate Every Achievement Of Your Child – No matter how self-critical a person you might be, when it comes to your kid, you will be an unabashedly proud momma! You will fawn over everything from his smile to his cute talks and will want to capture and share everything he does with the world!

6. You’ll Be Amazed At Your Strength – The world may see women as the weaker sex, but the truth is that they are much stronger than what they get credit for! Experiencing over 12 hours of painful labor to going many nights without sleeping and keeping composure in the most stressful days of initial motherhood, is highly brave! Motherhood requires not only physical strength but also emotional and mental strength.

7. You Will Discover A New You – Though you were once known to be the most impatient and non-accommodating person in your group but when you become a mother, you’ll discover a whole new side to you. You’ll amaze everyone around with your patient and calm demeanor! No matter how big a problem might arise, you’ll handle it with an immense amount of composure.

8. Your Friend Circle May Change – From a gang of crazy girls to a gang of overanxious mothers, your friend circle may also change over the course of your motherhood. Given the drastic turnaround of things and situations after the arrival of your baby, needless to say, your equation with your pals is also likely to get impacted. When all you’ve left to talk about is your kids’ weird rash and his potty training stories, you need someone who can relate to your situation and share tips that have worked for them!

9. You Will Become A Nutrition Expert – Vitamins, minerals, calories, fiber content – all of these details of various foods will be at your fingertips when you become a mother. You will become extremely cautious about healthy-eating to be able to give your child the wholesome nutrition he needs to grow up into a healthy individual!

10. You Will Love Beyond Comprehension – One never truly learns the meaning of the word love until they become a parent. It’s only your child that you can love unconditionally, even more than you love yourself. It’s the most satisfying feeling to see your child flourish and grow more than you did! Your child will give your life a whole new purpose!

Most importantly, motherhood will make you realize that there isn’t anything else that could give you as much happiness as seeing your child smile! Not a perfect job, a lottery or a couture gown – nothing at all!

– Aradhana is a veteran writer on topics concerning parenting, child nutrition, wellness, health and lifestyle. As a regular contributor to popular sites like Huffington Post, Natural news, Elephant journal, Thehealthsite, Naturally Savvy, Curejoy and MomJunction.com, Aradhana writes to inspire and motivate people to adopt healthy habits and live a stress-free lifestyle.

am i getting my period or am i pregnant?

Am I Getting My Period or Could I Be Pregnant?

FAM, LIVE, nourish, pregnancy By Jill Amery June 5, 2013 Tags: Am I Getting My Period or Could I Be Pregnant, backache, Conception, could i be pregnant, early pregnancy signs and symptoms, fatigue, featured, getting my period, menstruation, nausea, spotting before period No Comments

It can sometimes be difficult to tell your period apart from early pregnancy signs. I remember with both pregnancies asking myself “am I getting my period or could I be pregnant?” A lot of women confuse the symptoms with each other. Some of the early signs of pregnancy include: fatigue, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, sore breasts, and headaches. These are just a few of the early pregnancy symptoms. However each woman is different and the pregnancy symptoms may vary.

Early pregnancy symptoms are also similar to those of side effects of getting your period. But how do you tell if you’re pregnant and it’s not just your period? If your period is a few days late I wouldn’t get too worried just yet. While your period can be on time for many years, it can also regulate now and then. If your period is 7 or more days late, you can always try a pregnancy test. It’s usually difficult to even catch a pregnancy with a test at the very early weeks, so if it’s negative your first time and your period still hasn’t come, I would wait a week or so then try the test again. Cramping, hot flashes, headaches, and light spotting can very well just be your period.

Some pregnant women do notice a little light spotting around the time of their period, however you can also experience light spotting during the time of your period even when you are not pregnant. If you have more than a few of these symptoms, I would take a pregnancy test right away.

– Sore breasts
– Fatigue
– Nausea
– Lack of energy
– 5-7 days or later period
– Backaches
– Cramping
– Cravings or food aversions
– Mood swings
– Bloating
– Elevated body temperature
– Sensitivity to smells
– Dizziness or fainting

All of these signs can point to pregnancy. (We also have some ‘Very Early Pregnancy Signs‘ if you are interested). If you feel other symptoms such as pelvic or abdominal pain, or lightheadedness, call your practitioner immediately. These can be signs of ectopic pregnancy.

Understanding Labour Contractions

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery June 4, 2013 Tags: contractions, first stage of labour, labor, labour 2 Comments

Women periodically experience labour contractions when pregnant, even before they enter real labour. Every now and then, the tightening and relaxing of the uterine muscles can stop you in your tracks. These muscles are the largest on a female body. When pregnant, certain stimuli target the pituitary gland to release a hormone called oxytocin. The hormone then stimulates the lining of the uterus and controls its movements. It is then quite difficult to predict when the labor will actually be. It is best to talk to a doctor about understanding labor contractions so that you know what to do and what things you can do if you feel these contractions on your pregnancy.

Early Labour Contractions

When a woman has labor contractions, she would often feel like she is cramping on her uterine area. The sensation starts at the back and in a wave-like pattern, the sensation moves all the way to the front. For some women, the labor contraction is like a pressure on the back area. When a pregnant person has a labor contraction, the stomach feels very hard to the touch. These contractions are very necessary for labor as it is a combination of contractions. When this happens, the upper part of the uterus becomes thickened or tightened. At the same time, the cervix and the lower part of the uterus becomes more flexible as with contraction and relaxation to help the baby pass and be born.

More Regular Contractions

The labor contractions are timed and intermittent. There is a resting period in between the contractions. Contractions often last for 60 seconds with about 5 minute intervals for each. When you start feeling the contractions, it is best to make an effort and record them. You should check how long the initial contraction was and the relaxation. This will help a midwife or a doctor to know at which stage of the labor you in is. During these times, the pregnant woman would consider this as sever menstrual cramps or gas pains. These could at often times be mistaken for flu or intestinal disorders. Contractions are graphed as wave like patterns and it has a zero point and a peak where it is very prominent. As the time for the delivery arrives, the resting time between contractions will shorten as well.

When you are feeling contractions already, take these as signs that your newborn baby will soon be by your arms and all the pain will go away right after that. Looking at things positively will help you relax and calm when in labor. Pressure and negativity can cause stress to your body and if you have a weak heart, you could go to a critical condition. Calm yourself down whenever you can and think positively. Work with your body. Do not work against is. Once you have gotten the hang of it, you will notice that the contractions will pass by and soon enough, your new child will be there and it will all take the pain away and turn it into joy and relief as well as a feeling of completeness as a mother.

Trying to Conceive

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery June 4, 2013 Tags: Conception, featured, trying to conceive, trying to get pregnant 2 Comments

When you are trying to conceive, there are so many myths. A few of our favourites include elevating your hips after intercourse, making love while standing, or drinking various elixirs. What we do know, is that conception can only occur around the time of ovulation. Ovulation is when an egg is released, and for most women, happens approximately two weeks after the start day of your last menstrual cycle.

Should I see my Doctor before trying to get pregnant?

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery April 18, 2013 Tags: blood tests, chicken pox, Conception, doctor, early signs of pregnancy, family history, featured, german measlesfeatured, gp, preparing for pregnancy, see a doctor, spotting before period, trying to get pregnant No Comments

Q. Should I see my Doctor for a “trying” visit?

Running and Jogging During Pregnancy

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery April 18, 2013 Tags: bra, exercise, hydration, hypertension, is it safe, jogging, placenta previa, relaxin, running, running programs, running while pregnant, slider No Comments

Q. Is running a good exercise to maintain my fitness during my pregnancy?

Pregnancy Style Advice for Fall and Winter

FAM, GEAR, pregnancy, style By Guest October 17, 2012 5 Comments

It goes without saying that being pregnant places demands on your wardrobe that your existing clothes likely can’t meet. Dressing your pregnant belly shouldn’t be dreaded or seen as something that’s difficult but should be embraced as an opportunity to rise to the challenge of dressing your new shape. Pregnancy in the summer may be seen as easier to dress with maxi dresses and loose t-shirts but believe it or not, there are some easy tricks and trends to implement for fall pregnancy wear. This fall, there are some key maternity trends and modified runway trends to keep you and your belly always looking stylish. Here are the UrbanMommies pregnancy fall winter fashion trends.

Tailored pieces. Though it may seem easier to hide your belly under loose sweaters and baggy pants, that can actually make you look bulkier. It definitely doesn’t make you feel as pretty as a nicely tailored pair of jeans or jacket will either. If staying fashionable is super important to you, you could go for a pair of maternity jeans that hits below your belly, though these will be a little more uncomfortable. If you’re OK with wearing real maternity jeans, find a pair that fit you perfectly and have a nice tailored look. If you can’t find a pair that fit you exactly right, get the pair that fits your belly best and then get the pants tailored at a seamstress. Jackets for maternity wear this fall should also have a structured look to them. Jackets are often the item that gets overlooked during a fall pregnancy but with the tailored trend this fall, the maternity jackets look great on everyone. The jacket trend for this fall in maternity wear combines timeless and classic cuts to create a tailored jacket that will keep you warm and flatter your growing belly. Just remember—get one size bigger than you need if you’re buying before the third trimester!

Colored Condiments. If you’re a fan of colors but like to stay in earth toned hues, then you will love the color trend for maternity wear this fall. Olive greens, mustard yellows and brick red (like ketchup!). These colors really match the fall colors that surround you and generally look good when mixed together and with most skin tones.

Leather pieces. This is one fall runway trend that can be taken into maternity wear! Even though pregnancy might not allow you to wear leather pants or a skirt, you can wear tops with leather pieces. Leggings now come in stretch leather which would look great with a structured jacket or mustard sweater. Keep in mind whenever you’re buying something with leather, to try it on, make sure it’s comfortable and that it will expand with your belly.

Prints and Details. Another trend that was translated from the runway to maternity trends for this fall is prints and details on different pieces. Matching prints is the thing right now but if you feel that draws too much attention to your bump, then add just a splash of print to an outfit for some interest. Details added to clothing such as appliques, zippers or beaded detail adds great emphasis to an empire waist.

Use these fall maternity trends as inspiration to spice up your maternity wardrobe this fall but always remember to invest in pieces that are stylish and comfortable!

Allie Samborn is a freelance writer based in Vancouver, BC. She has covered a wide range of topics from fly fishing destinations to annual makeup trends. She has her BA in English Literature and a diploma in Fashion Merchandising.

What is Safe During Pregnancy?

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery August 25, 2012 Tags: alcohol, constipation, dieting, exercise, hair dye, jogging, lying on back, overheating, pregnancy, running, Safety, sushi, water, weight gain 1 Comment

Many a newly pregnant woman has several panic attacks when she realizes that pregnancy means changing some habits. What is safe during pregnancy? Can I dye my hair? Eat Sushi? What about nail polish fumes and second hand smoke? And the stress that all of these questions are causing. UrbanMommies has pulled together articles and advice from our medical experts to help you navigate the beautiful months while pregnant. Breathe, relax, and remember that moderation and instinct should always remain in the equation. As with anything, your doctor or midwife should be consulted if you are concerned about any issues you are having.

Morning Sickness Remedies

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery July 28, 2012 Tags: Conception, First Trimester, morning sickness, nausea, remedy, slider, vomiting 2 Comments

If you are not one of the lucky few who feels great during the first trimester, read on. As hormones shift in early pregnancy, morning sickness, nausea and vomiting can wreak havoc on daily life. For morning sickness rememedies you may have tried preggo pops, tums and dry crackers, but there are a few other options as well. Motherisk is run through Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children and provides excellent support for pregnancy and parenting. The phenomenal Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (NVP) forum is great.

Here are some morning sickness remedy tips:

Ice cold drinks can calm the stomach.
Complex carbohydrates are best.
Eat every 2 hours.
Limit straight milk.
Talk to a health provider about Diclectin, a drug that can help.
Ginger settles the stomach.
Freezing Gatorade in ice cube trays can help keep you hydrated and replace electrolytes.
Grab an essential oil that calms you (grapefruit is amazing).
You can try this old home remedy: 1T pure apple cider vinegar, 8oz. filtered water, and 1T pure honey
Take some Vitamin B6
Sea Bands can help by using acupressure on the inside of the wrist
Licorice (tea or candy) has been said to help greatly

And if that doesn’t work, go buy yourself a comfy Juicy tracksuit, get a massage and get some firefighters to fan you with palm leaves. It’s worth a try.

Motherisk Nausea Hotline: 1-800-436-8477

Chinese Gender Prediction Chart

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery May 26, 2012 4 Comments

We know all you want is for your baby to be healthy…but what you’re dying to know is whether your baby will be a boy or a girl. And like with many questions, the Chinese have answers. Enter the Chinese Gender Prediction Chart. What your baby’s name will be, how you decorate the nursery and what styles of clothes you buy for the wee one is all dependent on its gender. It’s the big burning question and this ancient Chinese chart can predict your child’s gender…with (technically) about 50% accuracy. But it’s fun. And some say, a very accurate measure.

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