LilSugar

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining: The Positive Perks of Pregnancy

LilSugar — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:00:28 PDT

It's not all bad! Sure, it's easy to focus on the less-than-optimal physical manifestations of pregnancy, from commonplace stretch marks, weight gain, and uncontrollable flatulence to the more serious pregnancy complications - but there are some downright delightful effects as well.

Keep reading for a glass-is-half-full perspective on expecting.

What Was Your Biggest Fear While Giving Birth?

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:33:46 PDT

New moms love to talk about poop. The color, the consistency, the frequency, etc., but in the delivery room, it is a tightly held secret. For many expectant mamas, the prospect of pooping on the delivery table is the scariest part of delivery - even more than labor pains. On last night's episode of Up All Night, Reagan's biggest fear of dropping a deuce was escalated when the doctor filling in for her OB/GYN happened to be a young, good-looking man. Take a look at the clip below and tell me, what concerned you most while delivering?

12 Utterly Unglamorous Items to Have on Hand Postdelivery

LilSugar — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:41:45 PDT

Congratulations! Once a woman gets through the actual birth, the hard part is over, right? Not so much. As natural as it is, childbirth can wreak havoc on a woman's body, and we're not talking about stretch marks and a belly pooch. While mama is now dealing with the after effects of birth, she's also caring for a newborn and working her way through some powerful postpartum hormone swings. It's not exactly a cake walk, but it goes without saying that these effects should be worn as a badge of honor that helped bring a precious lil one into the world.

Keep reading for a selection of items that aren't nearly as fun to shop for as itty bitty booties, but will be far more appreciated in the weeks postpartum.

Beyond the Parenting Books: What You Really Need to Know About Motherhood

LilSugar — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 04:21:10 PDT

Somebody once told me that motherhood is like a secret society. It's full of dirty little secrets that no one says aloud because they might scare people away. While pregnancy and parenting books are filled with tips and tricks to get you through various situations, only your closest girlfriends are willing to tell you the truth. We've rounded up some of our favorite insights about pregnancy, birth, and new parenthood. Check them out!

Pregnancy and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome	Postnatal Short Shirts	Itchy Epidural
Birthing Class	Smells Like Maple Syrup	Bath Obsession
Shared Postpartum Rooms	Numero Dos	The "H" Word

We want to hear your shocking, funny, embarrassing, and insightful pregnancy and motherhood stories. Create a post and tell us all about it in our Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me? group.

Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me: Band-Aids Are a Sure Sign of Summer

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 08:27:53 PDT

Summer's only a week old, and I've already been through one box of Band-Aids for my kids. While you may think my tots simply love putting the Toy Story bandages on to show off their love of Buzz Lightyear or illicit sympathy for nonexistent boo-boos, they, unfortunately, have all been used for legitimate reasons.

Somehow, as soon as the thermometer passes the 70 degree mark and shorts are pulled out of the closet, my kids find a way to fall, slide, or scrape against every possible surface in sight. I've already found myself picking blacktop out of one banged-up knee, precisely working a splinter out of a tiny finger, and cleaning out an elbow wound that occurred when one tot unnecessarily slid into home base. With three months left of Summer, I'm thinking it may be worth investing in a warehouse club-size box of bandages – it will certainly save me from running to the drugstore every week!

What's you're unexpected sign that Summer's upon us?

What You Really Need to Know About Motherhood

Lil Community — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 04:06:25 PDT

Shared Hospital Rooms	Lactating Boys	Postnatal Belly Baring Shirts
Smells Like Maple Syrup	Numero Dos	The "H" Word
Birthing Class	Carpal Tunnel and Pregnancy	Itchy Epidural

We want to hear your shocking, funny, embarrassing, and insightful pregnancy and motherhood stories. Create a post and tell us all about it in our Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me? group.

Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me: Breastfeeding Is Messy

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:01:09 PDT

When I was pregnant, I'd look longingly at the women who sat in the park or at a restaurant and discreetly nursed their lil ones without ever fumbling the child or their cover in the process. It all looked so easy and natural. I was sure that I would be one of them after giving birth.

After my son arrived, it took me a while to get the hang of nursing him. For each session I was surrounded by a stack of burp clothes, bottles of water, and the occasional nipple shield to help both of us through the process. Switching him from side to side always resulted full-frontal exposure, dribbles of milk down the front of us, and an awkward shift as we both got comfortable. With such a cumbersome routine, it's no surprise that I never took my nursing public.

I never spoke with anyone about my leaky, messy process (I assumed I was doing something wrong) until last week when I attended an event for a new breastfeeding support system (more on that to come). The kit includes a nursing cover with a built in burp cloth to absorb leaks. When I inquired about it, they said most women complain that that they drip milk when taking their child off their breast, and this was a built in solution. Genius! I only wish I had known there were other messy breastfeeders when I was leaking away!

Imperfections, Photos, and Fun: Soleil Moon Frye's Manual For New Moms

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 11:16:10 PDT

Motherhood can often feel like a secret society that we are just dropped into once our lil ones arrive. When Soleil Moon Frye gave birth to her first daughter, Poet, she realized just how little she knew about being a mom:

As a new mom, I literally felt like everyone got that secret manual that I just never read! Everyone seemed to have the parenting thing down and I would be (wondering), 'Wait a minute, I don’t know how to open the stroller right!' I was totally that messy mom! I felt like I was on another planet and wouldn’t know how to do the right things.

As a mom of two – Poet, 5, Jagger, 3, the former Punky Brewster actress and current Mommy Ambassador for Target, she is now willing to impart her wisdom on other unsuspecting new moms. Soleil shared her words of advice with us. Check them out!

All You Really Need to Know About Motherhood

LilSugar — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:01:00 PDT

New to motherhood? There are plenty of dirty lil secrets that you'll learn after you've entered the club! Pregnancy and parenting books may offer tips and tricks to get you through situations, but only close girlfriends tell you the whole truth. I've rounded up some of our favorite insights about pregnancy, birth, and new parenthood. Check them out!

Pregnancy and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome	Postnatal Short Shirts	Itchy Epidural
Birthing Class	Smells Like Maple Syrup	Bath Obsession
Shared Postpartum Rooms	Numero Dos	The "H" Word

We want to hear your shocking, funny, embarrassing, and insightful pregnancy and motherhood stories. Create a post and tell us all about it in our Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me? group.

Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me: Cradle Cap Isn't Only For Infants

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:31:12 PDT

My sons were both blessed with full heads of hair when born. Within a week, both then developed cradle cap. My older son's was easily treated with a little olive oil and a baby toothbrush. My younger son's was a bit more persistent, becoming infected with his scratching and eventually requiring a topical antibiotic to rid his scalp of the itchy scales.

Fast-forward 15 months, and I recently noticed that my younger tot has been scratching his head a lot lately. A quick search of his scalp revealed the same yellowish flakes he had when he was born. His cradle cap was back. While some doctors believe that the condition's presence in older children is related to dandruff, repeating our oil and soft toothbrush routine cleared it up within days. I only wish I had known that the condition could occur long after a lil one has graduated from the cradle.