We often refer to the “arrival” of a baby as if this little one doesn’t yet exist or they are going to magically appear from some other place at birth. However, just because a baby is still inside the womb doesn’t mean they are not “here.” Nobody understands this better than the person sharing their body for nine months, give or take. And there are so many things…

Being a mom, particularly during pregnancy and the first few years is challenging enough on its own- adding the hustle and bustle of the holiday season can push us over the edge! The magic and joy of the season easily gets lost under the extra stress most moms feel at this time of the year. Here are a few tips to reduce the stress and increase the joy this holiday season.

Living in a culture that is so weight focused, it’s hard for most moms to make peace with the physical changes that pregnancy and postpartum bring. We are constantly bombarded with photos of hot, seemingly perfect celebrities just weeks after birth. Weight loss ads are everywhere you look. Physically, it often feels just plain weird to be pregnant (and postpartum) and let’s not forget all of the hormones that induce feelings of emotional vulnerability. This is the perfect recipe to make moms super self-conscious about their bodies.

I could not agree more with Oster’s philosophy on pregnancy decision making: “This book is very specifically not about making recommendations; it’s about acknowledging that if you have the right information you can make the right decision for yourself.” That is exactly what I strive for with my students- there is no one right way to manage a pregnancy, no one right way to give birth, and no one right way to parent.