Spend any amount of time on Pinterest and you are sure to find adorable ways to document your pregnancy through photos. Like the cute ideas I found here, here and here.

I had grand ideas of documenting both of my pregnancies through photos but I never actually followed through beyond one 3rd trimester maternity shoot for each of them. I did, however, find other ways to record my progress to share with my child someday and so I could look back and reminisce the long lost days of my pregnancies.

Joshua's First 9 Month Photobook

Although the 9+ months of pregnancy seem to go by very slow when you are in the midst of nausea, food aversions and sleepless nights, they actually fly by in hindsight. Try your best to find a way to document this precious time. You will be so thankful you did! Here are some great ways you can easily document your pregnancy:

How did you record your pregnancy? We’d love to hear your ideas!

A couple weeks ago, as I was reading the Sunday paper (yes, how 1989 of me),  I saw an ad for a Mother’s Day 5 K called “Run Like a Mother.”  A Race for ‘women only’ to celebrate health and motherhood, on Mother’s Day. This seemed like an awesome idea, so I called up my running buddies and we made it a date.

The race was happening in a beautiful horse farm that has been converted to a park. What a great way to spend Mother’s Day morning, we thought.

Last night as we began to check the weather though, we got a little concerned.  The forecast called for heavy rains.

Whatever.  A little rain wasn’t going to slow us down.  I’ve run many races in the rain, as long as you avoid the big puddles, it’s really not a big deal.

As I pulled into the park this morning, I began to have my doubts.  As we gathered at the staring line,  a downpour began.  Next I realized that we weren’t running on pavement, we were running through the field.

A boggy field. Wet slippery grass. Mud. Awesome.

My shoes were sloshing, my socks soaked to the core as I rounded the first turn.  At times, I was running in 6 inches of water.

This was not what I had signed up for.

As me, my friends and 200 other crazy moms continued the race, we found our stride. The scenery was beautiful even in the rain. Faithful dads and tots stood with their umbrellas, cheering us on at the halfway mark.

It was definitely a unique experience: how often do I run through a horse field in a downpour?

As I rounded the final stretch with the finish line in sight, I realized that even in my cold, soggy state I was having a blast.

This race to celebrate Mother’s Day turned into a perfect analogy for motherhood itself: it’s  messy, much harder than I thought it would be, but exhilarating and totally worth it in the end.

What was the best part of your Mother’s Day?

Getting Ready to Run

"Mom, I don't need all that stuff. I just need you to know what you're doing."

I have been wanting to do a post about baby registries for months. The more I thought about all of the new tools and contraptions that pop up almost daily for moms, I realized it would be nearly impossible to complete a comprehensive post on the subject. If I did attempt “The Top 20 Baby Items You Must Have on Your Registry” post, let’s face it. . .it would be filled with 20 items that I love. . .that I’ve heard people say they love. . .that I’ve read on other blogs that people love. How could I possibly know what you will love or need for that matter? A few months back I did do a post called, “Our Essential New Mom Toolbox” which was filled with items that I have loved in the past year as mom to an infant. But it was far from comprehensive. I merely scratched the surface of possible aides to assist mother’s of newborns. So, aside from that post, for now, I’ve decided to not even try to tackle the fun and exciting adventure of gearing up for baby. . .well, not in the equipment sense anyway.

I have been working these past few months on the manuscript for The Baby Companion book release. As I’ve asked God to show me what he desires to say through us for new moms, there is one word he’s engraved on my mind. If there is one “item” to hope someone wraps up and delivers to you at your baby shower. . .If there is something you should pray your friend or family member drops by when you are in the hospital after delivery. . .If there is one gift you will never need to return, it’s

WISDOM.

“Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7

In this scripture, King Solomon implores readers to “get” wisdom. More than any other tool, he confidently places wisdom at the top of the list.

Friends…for every season of our lives but perhaps most of all the early years of motherhood, wisdom is the most important tool we can acquire. It’s not something we can order on Amazon, it’s an asset that comes from reading the Bible, prayer and the selective counsel of others. I say ‘selective’ because not all of the counsel you will receive as a mom will be wise. Which is why, most of all, wisdom comes from above, through God’s leading.

Enjoy your time preparing for baby and dreaming about bedding and little girl dresses or little boy shoes. Don’t miss out on the fun of choosing every, little bit of gear that will aide in your days with your wee one. But don’t get so caught up in nursery decor and stroller options that you neglect to “get” the main thing. Ask everyone in your sphere to offer it up in abundance. Then ask the Lord to help you sift through every well-meaning piece of advice to find the wisdom that is meant for your family.

This way, you’ll be geared up and ready when baby arrives.

Mamas, what’s the best piece of wisdom that you were given before your baby arrived? {Not advice. Wisdom. There’s a big difference, isn’t there?!}

{Photo Credit}

“Can I eat pineapple when I’m pregnant?” A patient asked during a routine office visit this week.

“Yes, pineapple is great.” I replied, a little perplexed by the odd question.

“Are you sure? Because my friend’s mom’s sister is a nurse and she said I shouldn’t.”  she replied.

“Yes, pineapple is fine. Some people think it helps to bring on labor but studies show it doesn’t really work for that. It is definitely not harmful. If pineapple is something that you are craving, then go for it.”  I replied nonchalantly.

Later, I as thought back to this conversation, I began to chuckle.

Where are people coming up with this nonsense?

Must be the Internet.

A quick Google search lead me to several legitimate appearing websites that were declaring the dangers of many foods in pregnancy. The sensational headlines read:

“Pineapples cause preterm birth and miscarriage.”

“Peaches can lead to gestational diabetes.”

“Strawberries can make your baby develop food allergies.”

At first, I laughed at the ridiculousness of these pages.

But wait, I thought, What if a mom who had recently suffered a miscarriage came across that site? In her search for answers, she suddenly remembers that she ate some pineapple during her pregnancy and begins to needlessly blame herself for her loss.

My laughter quickly turned to anger.

Hopefully most women would not believe such hogwash, but what if they did? I shudder to think how these women would feel. Pregnancy loss is painful enough without the element of  guilt involved, especially the completely undeserved variety.

Even worse would be all the well meaning friends and relatives that might have ‘suggestions’ as to the reason for their loss after reading such a site. For hundreds of years we’ve had ‘old wives tales’ floating around. Now we have the Internet is full of glossy blogs perpetuating myths and half truths that confuse and condemn pregnant moms.

The truth is most fruits and vegetables are safe in pregnancy. Pineapple, strawberries and peaches are all great sources of fiber and nutrients that are wonderful to eat during pregnancy.  And don’t even get me started on lunch meat. For a review of the foods that should be avoided or eaten with caution check out this previous post.

If you read something fishy on the web, then check with a legitimate site like WebMD or talk with your provider. On days when I wonder if the time and effort I put into this site are really worth it, I think about conversations like the one I had this week and keep typing away.

What are the craziest things that people have told you to eat or not eat during pregnancy?

We are so excited to launch our new “sister” community, GraceforMoms.com! We have thoroughly enjoyed the community that has been built here and will continue to blog about trying to conceive, infertility, pregnancy and birth. Our hearts are passionate about ministering to women on their journey to motherhood.

In order to expand our reach (and in preparation for The Baby Companion book that we are working on now). . .we are launching a brand new community for moms where women will find a place of grace to share and discuss issues of motherhood, family, ministry and more.

The site will go live on Mother’s Day, May 13th and we’ll celebrate with 12 Days of Giveaways! You don’t want to miss the party where you’ll hear from several of the amazing women that will be writing with us. These moms have stories to tell and we know they will inspire and challenge us all. Most of all, we know they will start conversations about motherhood that are covered in grace. Stop by the site now and sign up to receive email updates. Then don’t miss our 12 Days of Giveaways following the launch on May 13th! Here’s a list of the great stuff we’ll be giving away:

GraceforMoms.com 12 Days of Giveaways

May 14 – What’s In The Bible DVD Pack

May 15 – Tommy Nelson Princess Prize Pack

May 16 – Small Bird Studios $25 Etsy Shop Credit

May 17 – Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman Books and CDs

May 18 – Angela Thomas Book Pack

May 19 – The No Brainer Wardrobe Eb00k

May 20 – Praise Baby CD/DVD Pack

May 21 – New Christian Music CD Pack

May 22 – Spirit Led Parenting Book

May 23 – Faithful Provisions Saving Savvy Book

May 24 – Word Records CD Brick

May 25 – Grand Prize, $100 Spa Finder Giftcard*

We look forward to seeing you over at Grace for Moms!

*Grand Prize winner will be chosen from all entries for previous days giveaways. So make sure you enter each day for more chances to win the Spa Finder giftcard!

I got in the car to drive to the hospital then suddenly realized that I had forgotten my camera. As I searched the house for my Canon, I laughed. How often am I  the one bringing a camera to the delivery? But this wasn’t just any birth.

This was Becky’s baby.

We have a unique friendship.

We had trained together in Ohio. Working side by side, often up to 90 grueling hours per week, we learned the essentials of obstetrics and formed a friendship along the way. Then I coaxed her to Tennessee 6 years ago to join our practice.

She was there at my son Ryan’s birth 8 years ago, acting as the official photographer.  Now, I got to deliver her much anticipated first baby.

My face hurt from grinning all the way to the hospital. I was finally going to find out if this baby was a boy or girl.

As I drove in, I remembered the day that she found out she was pregnant. We had an office full of patients, so I took her in an exam room room for some privacy to tell her the news.

“Your pregnant!” I said.

She began screaming and jumping up and down. Not bouncing, not hopping, I’m talking full fledged tuck jumps with 2 feet of vertical leap.

We jumped and screamed and laughed and cried for about 5 minutes. Then we composed ourselves and attempted to exit the exam room and pretend to be all ‘doctory’ again.

We didn’t fool anyone. The insulation in our office is not that good so everyone had heard our screaming and figured out the good news.

But that’s Becky, she gets so excited about things. It’s so fun to watch her open presents. At her shower, she would exclaim, “Oh, wow! bottles! These are awesome, I love them!”  One would have thought she was getting a diamond ring,  but her enthusiasm is sincere.

Getting ready to walk the halls

As I arrived at the hospital, she was walking the halls as she labored. Smiling and laughing in between contractions. I was here as her friend, who happened to also be her doctor.

Was I nervous? Honestly, yes, a little.

Luckily, everything went perfectly.

When she got to 10 centimeters, she pushed (only 3 times!).  As the baby crowned, we could see tons of thick, curly brown hair.

The baby began to cry immediately. I held her up and took a peek between the squirmy legs.

“It’s a girl!!!” I said.  The moment was surreal.

Then I placed her in her momma’s arms, and dad cut the chewy cord.

Tears were flowing around the room. Mom, dad, grandma, aunt and the nurses were all blubbering.

I might have shed a few myself.

“She’s so cute and perfect!” everyone kept saying. I totally agreed.

Brooklyn Marie

Once again, I stood in awe of the miracle of life. My heart was bursting with joy for my sweet friend and her precious gift. I was so honored to be a part of her most perfect moment.

I have delivered thousands of babies, honestly very few do I specifically remember.  This one though,  I will never forget.

I am very excited to share with you about a wonderful ministry to pregnant mamas that my new friend across the ocean started last year. Bloggers for Birth Kits is the brain child of the lovely Adriel at The Mommyhood Memos. I’ve shared Adriel’s blog with you as one of my favorite online destinations for Christian moms. The blog has a ton of insightful posts for moms but one of the main reasons I love it is because of Adriel’s obvious heart for others.

She writes. . .“At some point of wallowing in my own self-centeredness (as a weary pregnant mom of a toddler), I began to think of moms in places that would never expect to be celebrated (for Mother’s Day) the way I was assuming I ‘deserved.’”

Being on the mission field with YWAM, Adriel knew the normal, every day conveniences that other moms lacked. After being convicted of her own (understandably) weary state, the vision for Bloggers for Birth Kits was born.

“I thought of moms like the ones in rural Papua New Guinea where the rate of maternal death is 1 in 7 and it shook me right out of my pathetic, self-centered pity party. Instead of focusing on what I didn’t have, I decided that I would focus on honoring these precious and brave women by doing my small part to make their lives better.”

You can read Adriel’s post about this year’s Mother’s Day B4BK drive here. We are asking you to pray about how you can become involved in this effort to ensure mamas-to-be in developing countries have the minimal supplies they need to experience a safe birth.

How to get involved in Bloggers for Birth Kits:

1. Make a birth kit. Assemble one yourself or gather a group of girlfriends, a moms group, work associates, or a church group to make a box full of them! Mail your kits to: Adriel Booker, Bloggers for Birth Kits, PO Box 6221, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia

2. Donate for a birth kit to be made on your behalf. ($10 will buy 5 kits!) All donations for B4BK go toward the assembly and distribution of kits, as well as maternal care education. Make your online donation here. Please be sure to write “Bloggers for Birth Kits” in the box that says “additional comments” so the funds will be allocated properly!

3. Help raise awareness by posting about the cause on your blog, facebook, pinterest, and twitter. (Please use the hash tag #B4BirthKits!)

4. Add the Bloggers for Birth Kits button to your blog. (See the side bar for code.)

We are honored to partner in any effort to love and serve mamas around the world. Will you join us?

Jessica

A Day in the Life at Our Little Festival

I’m a picture-taking fool.

I think I got this endearing trait from my mother. I can remember whining, “Mom, enough with the camera already.” And now my daughter echos my adolescent impatience. If you follow me on Instagram or even Facebook – look out. You will likely get tired of the photos of my everyday life (i.e. my kids doing things only I find precious and yet still feel compelled to share with the world). I admire those moms who find the patience and the time to participate in scrapbooking rituals such as the amazing Project Life phenomenon that is taking over the world. I’m content to simply create one digital photo book per year and regularly switch out the photos that adorn our walls (I’m so old school).

Whatever your method for capturing and preserving memories, they are likely some of the most precious possessions you have. We are so blessed to have the options we have to chronicle our lives and the lives of our children. Now that we are inundated with Pinterest pins and Instagram feeds, it would be easy to feel overwhelmed or even as though we can’t measure up to other moms out there. Whether you go to town recording and capturing every moment or you follow a simple, minimalist method of memory keeping – the final product should reflect you and your family. Don’t get caught up in the competition of the process or you will miss out on the point.

We are excited to have the chance to do a fun giveaway this week in partnership with UPrinting.com

One lucky winner will receive one of UPrinting.com’s 16″ x 20″ Rolled Canvas Prints {free shipping in the US only}.

Their turn around time is pretty quick so you just might be able to give the print as a mother’s day gift!

Entry options are below. Make sure you provide your email address so we can get in touch with you.

We’d love to hear your methods of preserving memories. What’s worked for you? Share with us in the comments for one entry to win this great prize!

(more…)

Dear Mother Yet-To-Be,

I can hear the ache in your heart. It echos loudly in mine -

because I was once a mother yet-to-be.

I understand the longing unfulfilled, the questions, the pain. You wonder why you’ve yet to be chosen. . .chosen to lavish love on another like only you could. You wonder why you must wait while countless others go before you.

Oh how I understand. How I know the deep well of longing that often drowns all other aspects of life.

Your heart begs to know. . .What is so wrong with wanting to love with a mother love? How could this request go unnoticed. . . unanswered for so long?

You find yourself treading the path of bitterness and empathy yet you fight to keep your joy…

your peace…

your hope.

Oh dear mother yet-to-be, if I could I would kneel down to where you are, hold your face gently in the cup of my hands and wipe away your longing tears. I would whisper softly. . .

Mothers aren’t chosen. They are born.

They are born the moment a woman begins to long for life.

And as the Heavenly Father begins to fill your heart with hope, I would boldly say. . .

Stand.

Stand up dear mother. Stand up and fight for your family.

Let His faithful heart of favor reveal His plan for your children. . .

Then rise up with your mother heart and walk in confidence to contend for what is yet t0 be.

Because it will be.

{This post is part of the Mother Letters link up. I encourage you to check out this beautiful and powerful book written by several amazing mothers with a heart to minister to YOU and me.}

Loss after 20 weeks in pregnancy is medically referred to as stillbirth.

Luckily, the risk of this type of loss is rare.  The current rate in the US at 6/1000.  Still, it’s a common fear among pregnant women.

Here are the most common conditions associated with stillbirth, and what you and your doctor can do to help lower your risk of a bad out come.

High Blood Pressure and Pre-eclampsia

When I was pregnant, my husband came to only a couple of my prenantal visits.  Afterward, he remarked, that they seemed pretty pointless. “All they did was weigh you, check your blood pressure, make you pee and listen to the heart beat.” He said. “It only took 5 minutes.”

I explained to him how much valuable information these routine checks actually gives the doctor.  The earliest signs of preeclampsia can show up in these numbers. By intervening  early in preeclampsia, we can help improve the safety of delivery and prevent bad outcomes.

Hypertension effects all the blood vessels in the body, including the placenta. Over time it can reduce nutrient flow to the baby.

Preeclampsia is a specific type of hypertension that you get only during pregnancy.  It is more common in the final weeks of pregnancy which is one of the main reasons we make you come to the doctor more frequently during the last month.

Attending your regular prenatal visits is the best screening for preeclampsia.  If you do have hypertension, then your doctor will often do ultrasounds and nonstress tests to make sure that your baby is doing well.

Diabetes

Much as high blood pressure effects the entire body, so does diabetes.  If you have diabetes, it is best to meet with your doctor before conception to optimize your health and review your specific risk. Well controlled blood sugars, frequent ultrasounds and nonstress tests are usually implemented to help reduce your risk of complications.

Gestational diabetes that is controlled only by diet, does not increase your risk of still birth.  If insulin is required, then gestational diabetics will also need nonstress tests.

Smoking

Smoking is bad. Don’t do it.  It is a completely preventable cause of stillbirth.

If you are having difficulty quitting smoking during your pregnancy, then talk to your doctor about medications or counseling that may help you stop.

Cord Accident

As I deliver a baby, 25% percent of the time the cord is wrapped around the neck. Usually it is only loosely draped and I can easily move it out of the way. Sometimes it is tight and I have to clamp it and perform maneuvers to safely deliver the wee one. When I inform the parents, they often look horrified.  I reassure them that this is common. The cord is made of a very pliant rubbery tissue that is designed to withstand the pressures of the womb.

One mom recently said that she had been terrified her last few weeks of pregnancy worrying that her baby might get entangled in its cord and die. This had happened to someone she knew. I realize this an extremely common fear.

A stillbirth due to cord accident is very rare, and is usually not due to the cord around the neck. There is not a way on ultrasound to determine if the baby is at risk for cord accident.

The best precaution is to perform daily movement counts after 28 weeks.  There are several ways to do this. Each day you want to make sure that the baby has an active time. We recommend our patients to feel for at least 6 distinct movements in an hour. This doesn’t need to be EVERY hour, just pick one hour during the day when baby is normally active. If you don’t get 6 movements, then lay on your side and drink  juice.  If he still doesn’t move, then call your provider.

Post Dates

The risk of stillbirth begins to increase if a baby goes more than 7 days past its due date. The risk increases exponentially (200 fold ) if the baby goes more than 2 weeks over the due date. For this reason, we usually recommend induction at 7-10 days overdue.

Other

Genetic conditions such as down syndrome and trisomy 18 are another common cause of stillbirth.

A BMI of >40 is associated with an increased risk of stillbirth.  Repeat ultrasounds and nonstress tests are also recommended for morbidly obese women.

And still, a small percentage of stillbirths occur for unknown reasons.

Stillbirth is one of the biggest fears of pregnant women. However, it is very rare. Even if you have one the conditions mentioned, your risk is less than 1%. Most of you are already doing everything you can to help prevent it: attending your regular prenatal visits, not smoking and doing your daily fetal movement counts. If you still struggle with fear, talk to your provider about your specific concerns and see Jessica’s article on Fighting Fear in Pregnancy.

I hope these facts help calm your anxiety but please, let us know how we can be praying for you. Do you find yourself fighting this type of fear in your pregnancy?

Photo Credit