by mmuse on December 17, 2008
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By Karen Pollak
When your twins arrive, it might feel like you are running a race…or more like a marathon! Just the thought of the daunting tasks ahead can send expectant couples reeling. Can we care for two babies well? How will we ever have time for ourselves again? What about “us”? As when running a race, you can’t dwell on the miles behind you, just the miles ahead. As one new mother of twins put it, “Caring for newborn twins is like running a marathon at a sprinter’s pace!”
Here are some practical tips to prepare you for, and get you through, the initial post-partum phase. There will be lots of fits and starts along the way, so remember to be flexible, have realistic expectations, and most of all, enjoy the journey!
Scheduling
You may have already heard about “scheduling” your babies from other parents of multiples. It may sound like an odd concept, but it will undoubtedly give you the much-needed breaks you need to rest and refresh between the seemingly never-ending demands of your babies. It will also allow you maximum your enjoyment of the babies, as you will have more time with them, versus bouncing between them to manage their separate schedules.
The concept is this; once nursing/feeding is established, you have a sense of the babies’ temperaments, and take into account any health issues they may have, you can begin syncing their patterns, so that in time they are eating, sleeping and waking at the same time.
It is important to first maintain a log of their individual patterns, then assess in which direction you want to move the babies eating/sleeping/wake times. Are they eating two hours apart? Is one awake while the other asleep? By moving the babies’ activities in subtle time increments, five to fifteen minutes at a time, it won’t be long before the babies are sharing the same pattern and you can achieve some order to your days and nights, thus allowing you to incorporate other necessary tasks and rest periods into your schedule.
Developing a Support Network
For any new parent, having the support of those around you aids in the transition to parenthood. For multiples families, it can be quite overwhelming. Although you might be able to anticipate what some of your needs might be once the babies arrive, it is important to remain flexible, as there can be many unexpected realities. Planning ahead for help is something many expectant couples of multiples do. Whether it is a parent, sibling or other relative, a paid caregiver, au pair or volunteer, considering some help at home might be an option for you. If you so choose, there are many resources available. Nanny agencies, post-partum doulas, night nannies, mother’s helpers, and au pair agencies are available in nearly every community. Consider what your needs and wants are for anyone you hire, and make sure that your expectations are communicated up front. Additionally, be certain to thoroughly check references of past employers and contact the Trustline Registry to verify if your candidate is a registered care provider.
Making contact with other parents of multiples through local twins/multiples clubs is a direct line to those who understand your circumstances and can offer you the wisdom of their own experiences. The National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs (NOMOTC) has a website full of resources, including information about clubs in your area. Its website is www.nomotc.org. For higher-order multiples, contact Mothers of Supertwins at www.mostonline.org. or The Triplet Connection at www.tripletconnection.org. Both organizations are nationwide and offer support, friendship and social gatherings for families of multiples.
There is so much to anticipate with the arrival of your twins. Planning ahead will ease your mind, but realize that you can’t anticipate every scenario. Just like that marathon, remain adaptable to the changes that your new family will bring. Be informed and gather the information you need to make the myriad of decisions that await you along the road. Lastly, surround yourself with a strong support system. Armed with that, you’ll cross the finish line with flying colors!
by mmuse on December 12, 2008
Parenting can be tough during the best of times. An unstable socio-economic environment can make the creation of a secure home environment that much more difficult. Many families no longer have a stable home, and jobs are being lost faster than they’re being created. Pregnant and postpartum new mothers who are already dealing with massive fluctuations in hormones and brain chemistry are among the most at-risk during these difficult times. Plenty of blogs will give you ideas about saving money and stretching your dollars. I want to give you some tips to cope emotionally during a recession:
•Be honest. Ignoring your emotions or hiding your feelings can work against you. Whether you are mad, sad, glad, scared or some confusing combination of these, please know that it is O.K. for you to feel whatever is going on inside.
•Avoid comparison thinking. This is not a competition. It does not matter how the neighbors are doing for any purposes other than healthy collaboration. People around the world are affected by the United State’s recession, so let go of your feelings of guilt and the “should-have’s” running through your head. You will be more empowered by channeling that energy into creative, collaborative thinking instead.
•Connect. Connecting with other people and sharing your story can help you feel safe again and bring more peaceful moments to everyone. If you can do this face-to-face, great. If not, go online and find support groups to connect with there. Quality matters more than quantity. Connecting with just one person or group of people who can be present and supportive can do a world of good.
•Nurture yourself. Ask yourself what you love with each of your senses. What do you love to hear? What do you love to taste? What do you love to feel? What do you love to smell? What do you love to see? Write your answers down, and be creative. Nourish yourself with the best inexpensive or downright free treats you can. A cup of favorite tea or coffee can nourish your sense of taste, smell, touch, and even sight if you simply take the time to focus and enjoy it. Stroking a cat or dog can be tremendously soothing, nourishing your sense of touch and bringing a sense of connection at the same time. It is possible to become aware of beauty even in some of the most difficult moments.
•Ask for help. You do not need to prove your competence by trying to do everything alone. People may not realize you need help unless you let them know. Don’t let pride or shame get in the way. Whether you need help with housing, food, finding information, a safe person to talk to, a little time for yourself away from your baby or some extra sleep, give yourself permission to ask. Asking doesn’t guarantee you will receive the help you need, but it will dramatically increase your chances.
•Be grateful for one thing (or one hundred) every day. There is always something to be grateful for in every situation. Your kids, for instance. Forget whether anyone has new clothes or toys for Christmas. If you have each other, for these moments, that really is enough.
•Think creatively. About yourself, your unique skills and talents, and about problems you are working to solve. Avoid the pitfalls of trying to do something the same way it’s always been done. You have rich internal resources that you may not even be aware of. All you have to do is give yourself some credit, trust for a moment that you are worthy of creating a great life, and let your mind play with the possibilities.
•Educate yourself and Explore. The people at pic.tv , the public internet channel, are getting ready for the premiere of the Diary of a Single Mom. In their effort to help moms around the world, they are engaging bloggers to offer empowering ideas about parenting during a recession. Click through to find out more!
by mmuse on December 9, 2008
Anne Dimond, co-founder of Bella Materna, joined me today on The Mommy-Muse Is In: Empowering Your Journey into Motherhood for my “Favorite Things” show. Bella Materna creates the most beautiful maternity and nursing lingerie essentials. Their aim is to create sophisticated styles and beautifully crafted designs that celebrate a woman’s changing body during this amazing phase of her life.
Launched in 2000 with an exclusive line of panties that fit just under the belly, the Bella Materna collection has since expanded to include nursing bras, camisoles, sleepwear, transition, workout and loungewear. All the designs reflect their belief that women grow more beautiful during pregnancy and nursing, and that what they wear should enhance, not hide, this loveliness.
Using intrinsic elements of style, design, fit and comfort, Bella Materna has revolutionized the nursing bra, proving that fashion and function can beautifully coexist. The nursing line is designed with discreet and easy access but are stylish, versatile and flattering during the pregnancy and post pregnancy phases. I adored my Bella Materna lingerie while I was postpartum, and I still wear some of the line today. I am very choosy about what goes next to my skin, and their fabrics are simply amazing. While I was drawn to the visual beauty of their lingerie, it was the feel of their lingerie that I fell in love with! Bella Materna imports their high quality, patented, Italian Nylon/Lycra and French Lace. Knowing that our skin is the largest organ of our bodies, it is important to me that the fabrics I choose for myself and my children are free of toxins. Bella Materna’s fabric is completely safe, meeting the stringent European Oeko-Tex 100 standards, ensuring it is completely free of harmful substances.
While Bella Materna’s fabrics are imported, all their products are manufactured within the United States and are always produced under safe, healthy conditions. No outsourcing here!
You can rest assured that all of Bella Materna’s lingerie cleans up beautifully. I was hesitant at first to put such gorgeous fabric against my skin when I was continually exposed to spit-up, leaking milk, etc, but I quickly discovered that their beautiful fabric is remarkably durable and naturally stain resistant.
I believe every mother needs a little bit of luxury in her life. Bella Materna’s maternity and nursing lingerie essentials are one of the best way I know to bring affordable, ecological, functional luxury into your life! Just go to www.bellamaterna.com and explore all they have to offer!
You may be delighted to see that their 20% off special on orders of $100 or more, good on their entire line for the month of December. Just enter coupon MOM2008. Even better, you have a chance to win a $75 gift certificate for Bella Materna’s website! Just send in a question for me or for next week’s guest, Karen Pollak, a parent educator who specializes in twins and infant and toddler sleep, to mommymuselive@gmail.com. If your question is the first to be read on the air next week, you’ll be our winner!
by mmuse on December 6, 2008
The holidays can be filled with some of the most beautiful moments for your family, but with that beauty is sure to come stress and headache, especially for new parents. Taking care of a new baby in your home is a monumental task by itself. Throw in the madness that always accompanies the holidays and you have the perfect recipe for anxiety and stress. Most Moms and Dads dream of a storybook Christmas for their families, but as new parents, the reality is that you’re too tired to join in all your usual celebrations and activities. To help new parents survive the holidays while still enjoying the season, try the following strategies.
Let go of the picture on the front of the Christmas card. We’ve all received them in the mail: the Christmas card depicting Mom, Dad, kids, and dog all snuggled in front of the fireplace while a plate of fresh cookies cools on the table. Whether you were brought up in a family of no-holds-barred Christmas celebrators or just want to be the family that has the perfect holiday, you might need to let go of the illusion of everything going perfectly - you’ll just set yourself up for failure. Where will you find time to bake those cookies and hang those lights? Certainly not in between diapering and feeding your new precious bundle while attempting to score a few moments of sleep if Dad handles diaper duty. You’ll no doubt have many Christmases in the future - don’t overdo yourself during the holiday and miss out on all the fun of being a new Mom or Dad.
Add a very small new word to your vocabulary - “no”. It is one of the hardest words in the English language for some new parents to use, but it should become your new catchphrase. Don’t feel guilty that you cannot go out with family and friends for your usual holiday parties and celebrations if you simply don’t feel like going this time. New parents need time to adjust to their new family unit - especially if you are going from “you and I” to “we” as is the case with all first-time parents. Even those parents who already have children will find themselves stressed as they learn how this new little arrival can turn the entire household into an uproar! Take the time you need to make the adjustments to your new family circle - even if you have to strain out a few “no’s” here and there.
Are you smarter than a two-month old? By now you probably have been able to pick up on signals that baby is feeling stressed. All babies have their own temperaments, and if yours prefers the peace and quiet of an empty house, let baby be the guide and consider leaving the party early or even foregoing events that are loud and full of commotion. Party at your house? If you somehow mustered the nerve to invite over a few guests for a holiday celebration, don’t feel bad if baby (and you) decide to exit gracefully and leave the guests to your partner.
Don’t forget your partner in the hustle and bustle. The holidays are so event-packed and stressful even for single persons, but factor in the new baby to your arrangement and its so easy to forget your partner. It’s important to realize that all of the feelings you are having about your new role as a parent are probably felt in equal strength by your partner. Make sure your partner knows how you feel, and take your partner’s feelings to heart. Incorporate each of your wants and needs into the holiday so that your relationship doesn’t suffer.
Take a hint from Santa and make your list. Make a list of everything that you feel needs doing, and then separate into three categories - Musts, Shoulds, and Wants. The Musts category lists things that are inescapable and must be done because there is no way around them. The Shoulds lists things that others want you to do and you feel pressured to do, but don’t necessarily feel that they are Musts and you might consider not doing them. The Wants category is where you list the things you really want to do. Try to do mainly the Musts and Wants, and factor in the Shoulds if you find time.
Take a decorating cue from the Mommy Muse. One year, I ended up putting the tree inside my baby’s playpen, instead of her. I put all of the gifts inside there, which looked so silly, but it was a workable solution. I wasn’t willing to go without my beloved tree. I needed to keep her safe. This was a way to do it and I was really glad. We only needed to do that for one year. Sure, all those fancy decorations are great for at least appearing to be in the holiday spirit, but don’t worry if you can’t go all out this year. If your baby is in the exploratory stages of crawling, it may be wise to follow do a bit of non-traditional decorating to keep baby (and your heirloom Christmas ornaments) safe.
Shop online when possible. Shopping is one of the biggest chores of the holiday season, and new parents often don’t have the time to carry out their traditional shopping routines in crowded malls and stores. Online shopping can save the new parent tons of time and unneeded headaches.
Step away from the apron, Betty Crocker. If you feel that you must host a family gathering, then let the guests do most of the cooking. Ask each guest to bring their favorite potluck dish and you provide a precooked ham or turkey. Pick up a desert or two at the local bakery, and enjoy! You might want to consider having a desert-only get-together with your loved ones, which is a wonderful way to celebrate without the hassle of a big meal. Clean up is a breeze, too, if you just know how to ask for help. Be sure to buy some disposable dinnerware and plastic forks and spoons to top off the event in a pretty holiday pattern!
Give yourself the best and least expensive present you can. Take a bubble bath, walk the dog, read a short story in a magazine. It’s important for new parents to feel like they still have some of their “self” left after they give so much to care for their new baby or new family. You can better serve baby’s needs if you are refreshed and relaxed.
by mmuse on December 1, 2008
Do you sometimes lose sight of who you really are? Have you been so focused on taking care of others that you not only overlook your personal stress and unhappiness, but neglect to nourish yourself? Or maybe you’ve experienced an unexpected pregnancy that completely unraveled life as you knew it. You’re in good company!
Martha Beck, one of the best-known life coaches and authors in America, has been there too. She has a PhD from Harvard and is a mother of three who now has the blueprint to stress-free living. Oprah says “She’s one of the smartest women I know,” and I have to agree. There is smart, and then there is genius. I graduated from Seattle University with honors at the age of 18, but nothing I learned in academia ever taught me how to live joyfully.
Martha will join me on The Mommy-Muse Is In: Empowering Your Journey into Motherhood to share her life-changing ideas, answer your questions and discuss her books, The Joy Diet: 10 Daily Practices for a Happier Life and Expecting Adam: A True Story of Birth, Rebirth, and Everyday Magic.
The Joy Diet is designed for the soul and its nurturing. I read The Joy Diet two years ago, and it has become an integral part of my life. It consists of ten simple, but profound steps which guide us to reclaiming our birthright of living joyfully. Some of you might not immediately embrace the idea of adding anything extra into your life, but I assure you, this is worth it! I began the Joy Diet when my children were 1 and 4 years old, homeschooling, without enough time to take a daily shower! The steps involved require very little time, and the rewards can dramatically reshape your life for your highest good.
Expecting Adam is an autobiographical account of a young mother awaiting the birth of a Down syndrome baby while pursuing a doctorate at Harvard. The New York Times Book Review said: “It is hardly important that this is a story about bearing and raising an exceptional child – a son with Down syndrome-in exceptional circumstances. Beck is telling it for all women who have raised exceptional children and ended up feeling privileged, and for all mothers who have found communities that put a high value on material accomplishments simply unbearable.”
Dr. Beck is an expert on the stresses and challenges modern women face, and a master at reconnecting people with their own best destinies. She consistently offers powerful methods for solving the problems that beset all of us. Dr. Beck’s passion is reconnecting people with their essential selves. You are in for a treat as you tune in to let her gentle advice assist you in solving problems while fostering your strengths and creativity.
Join us tomorrow, December 2nd at Noon Pacific Time/3 PM Eastern Time on The Mommy-Muse Is In: Empowering Your Journey into Motherhood on the VoiceAmerica.com Health and Wellness Channel.
by mmuse on November 30, 2008
Here is your chance to win a gift box of your choice from Earth Mama Angel Baby Organics on the Tuesday, December 9th episode of The Mommy-Muse Is In: Empowering Your Journey into Motherhood! They are first up to kick off a month of giveaways on The Mommy-Muse Is In. All you need to do is send in a question for them to answer to mommymuselive@gmail.com. If your question is chosen to answer on the air, you will win an outstanding gift box. So take a look at the beautiful gift boxes they have to offer, and send in a question today!
I relied on products to nurture and support me from the Earth Mama Angel Baby line during both of my postpartum times. The quality of everything they create is consistently high and they are dedicated to making a healing difference in the lives of new mothers everywhere.
Earth Mama Angel Baby® created the only line of 100% natural skin and body care products to support the entire birth process: pregnancy, labor, postpartum and c-section recovery, breastfeeding, baby care and even the loss of a baby. They produce pure, natural products and gifts for pure, natural mamas and babies!
Earth Mama Angel Baby’s pregnancy, childbirth and baby products were born of their sincere faith in the natural process of birthing babies. Supporting the pure process naturally with nature’s gifts makes sense. Pregnancy is not an illness, merely a phenomenal process that has many wonderful and sometimes difficult stages. Why not trust in the wise women who have historically exalted the glories and eased the common discomforts of pregnancy naturally?
Earth Mama Angel Baby uses the highest-quality, certified-organic or organically grown herbs and oils for teas, bath herbs, gentle handmade soaps, salves, lotions and massage oils. Their products are 100% toxin-free, cruelty-free, vegan, and free from all artificial preservatives, fragrances and dyes. They have a commitment to honor the earth and her valuable resources, right down to their packaging — using only eco-friendly recyclable or reused/reusable packaging and packing materials. It’s true – they are even the proud recipients of the BRAG (Business Recycling Award Group) for their green practices.
Just as our foremothers did, Earth Mama Angel Baby honors the ancient knowledge of natural and herbal remedies and plant medicine. The wisdom we rely on has been passed down from great-grandmother to grandmother to mother to daughter, which we combine with the safety and assurances of contemporary evidence-based research.
The mamas (and honorary-mama papas) at Earth Mama Angel Baby are a dedicated and diverse group of nurses, herbalists, labor and postpartum doulas, childbirth hypnotherapists, childbirth educators, women, mothers and grandmothers, along with a father or two.
They strive to provide research, tools and products to empower women with knowledge about the earth’s natural resources for nurturing ourselves and our angel babies.
by mmuse on November 24, 2008
Are you caring for a new baby or small child?
Concerned about how to deal with the
upcoming holidays?
Whether you traditionally stay home or travel during this naturally stressful time of year, many new and unexpected challenges are likely to arise. That’s why I’m bringing you two amazing women, Audrey Krisbergh and Deb Cohen from The Center for Parenting Education. They are passionate about strengthening families by providing parents the support and education we all need in order to raise emotionally healthy, responsible children in today’s world.
The Center for Parenting Education, a not-for-profit agency founded in 1997, provides programs at their location in Abington, Pennsylvania, and at other sites in the surrounding communities as well as over the internet through on-demand programs and live on-line events.
Thanks for the questions you sent in! Tune in tomorrow to The Mommy-Muse Is In: Empowering Your Journey into Motherhood on the VoiceAmerica.com Health & Wellness Network at Noon Pacific / 3 PM Eastern as Audrey, Deb and I answer those questions and discuss strategies for making your holidays far more enjoyable!
by mmuse on November 21, 2008
When I was newly postpartum, I suspected that my body would need some serious replenishing, but was told that just taking a daily multivitamin would probably do the job. When I pressed the issue, I heard that it would be fine to continue my prenatal vitamins for a while, but didn’t get any other helpful advice. It turns out my instincts were right. A woman’s body requires tremendous support during the postpartum time, but there has been very little specific support available, until now!
I had a wonderful interview with Stephanie and Dr. Raffelock last Tuesday on The Mommy-Muse Is In show. Tune in to the archives to hear what they have to say.
Here is just a taste of some of the great information at www.SoundForumulas.com :
“A baby’s body is formed entirely of nutrients donated by the mother’s body. If there is a lack of vital nutrients, the mother’s body is the first one that is deprived because her developing baby is Mother Nature’s priority. All mothers need to consciously replenish their lost nutritional and energetic reserves during the postpartum period. If this isn’t done, they might end up spending the rest of their lives wondering why they “just haven’t felt the same since the baby was born.”
The energy demands of caring for a newborn can further drain and deplete the mother’s nutrient reserves, especially if she is breastfeeding and sleep–deprived. If a woman has lost a great deal of blood while birthing her baby, the need for replenishing the nutritional components of blood is even more critical. Women who undergo Cesarean section also need to restore nutrient reserves; not only have they become mothers, they have had to have major surgery in the process. Women who don’t replenish key nutrients might experience light–headedness and throbbing headaches, along with extreme fatigue, sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression.
A new mother is also faced with the stress of integrating the intense needs of a new baby into her lifestyle while tending to her mate and perhaps other children and returning to work. All of these responsibilities that women – and those who are cared for by them – have taken for granted for millennia demand high–quality nutrients. Our food supply presently contains only half the nutrients that food contained in the 1940s due to the nutrient depletions in our soil. This fact makes it very difficult, if not impossible, for a mother to fully replenish the nutrient reserves her body donated to make her baby’s body solely from the food she eats. Eating highly refined and processed “junk” foods further depletes vital nutrients, which deepens the need to replenish postnatal nutrients even more.
Every physiologic process in the human body depends upon nutrients. The most important time to consciously replenish postpartum nutrient reserves begins immediately after giving birth and extends to 24 months postpartum. The failure to do this often sets the stage for chronic health problems that may last for decades. A high potency postnatal nutrient program is now essential to help a postpartum woman replenish her nutrient reserves.
Postpartum nutritional depletion can cause a physiological despair that is far too often misdiagnosed as a mental/emotional despair. This is a medical short–sightedness that needs to change. A postnatal nutrient recovery program should be the very first thing a doctor thinks of and prescribes for postpartum women presenting these symptoms; especially with women who have no history of despair, hopelessness, anxiousness, sleeplessness, or fatigue prior to giving birth. Continuing to take a high quality, comprehensive postnatal nutrient program can also help determine if there is truly a need for pharmaceutical antidepressant support or if replenishing nutrients are sufficient.
If one does need the assistance of antidepressant drugs, it is important to note that these drugs contain no nutrients, so the need to replenish postpartum nutrient reserves still exists and should be addressed. This can also aid and prevent other postpartum health problems. The need for high potency postnatal nutrients is greater now than ever before because the pace of life keeps getting faster, more complex and stressful.
A high quality postnatal nutrient program should be an integral part of the pregnancy recovery program required for all postpartum women to fully replenish their nutrient reserves. This can assist new mothers to not only regain their health and prevent later health problems, but also to allow her the best chance of happily raising her family and having other healthy pregnancies and healthy children if desired.” ~ Dr. Dean Raffelock
I encourage every postpartum woman, and every person who loves them, to check out www.SoundForumulas.com. I certainly wish I had known about the After Baby Boost system after the births of my children! The Raffelocks have tremendous integrity, and have dedicated their lives to making a difference in the lives of mothers everywhere. Their website is rich with information and the best quality nutritional resources. They are also the first company to be awarded the Mommy-Muse.com Seal of Approval. Give yourself the nutritional support you need and your body will reward you with greater energy, improved mood and clarity of thought!
by mmuse on November 18, 2008
Are you pregnant, have you just had a baby, or do you know a new mother? Do you want to prevent as many postpartum problems as possible?
One out of four new mothers who experience mood swings, baby blues, depression or insomnia is prescribed an antidepressant. It is rarely on the doctor’s radar that the new mom, having just expended enormous nutritional resources in the process of forming her baby’s body and giving birth, may be nutritionally depleted. It is often the case that symptoms such as mood swings, fatigue, worry, irritability, mental fog and sleep problems are actually caused by nutritional depletion. Yes, antidepressants can and do help, but they contain no nutrients - and serious nutritional support is essential in order to replenish the new mother’s reserves.
Dr. Dean Raffelock and Stephanie Raffelock of Sound Formulas are out to help change the paradigm of how women are treated in the postpartum period. Just as we now accept that all pregnant women should have folic acid to prevent certain birth defects, the Raffelocks welcome the day when all new mothers are advised to take post-natal nutrients to help prevent some of the negative effects of childbirth.
Stephanie Raffelock, President of Sound Formulas (www.soundformulas.com), has a passionate desire to be of service to mothers in the arena of health care. In 1952 her own mother was just one of many who suffered a list of health complaints that included mood swings, exhaustion, insomnia, severe allergies and a general sense of ill being. Doctors never considered that these problems may have been caused because these mothers had donated nutrients from their own bodies to create their babies’ bodies, and were nutritionally depleted from the process of pregnancy, labor and childbirth. The cure for great numbers of these women? Hysterectomy.
I’m glad we live in a different time. We know more, and we have access to solutions our mothers and grandmothers never dreamed of. Sound Formulas, for example, makes revolutionary products that provide the precise nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and essential oils that pregnant and postpartum mothers need. Dr. Raffelock’s book, A Natural Guide to Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, is the first book by doctors devoted entirely to promoting a woman’s health before, during and after pregnancy.
Tune in at Noon Pacific/3PM Eastern Time on VoiceAmerica Internet Talk Radio’s Health and Wellness channel to learn how to prevent and overcome many of the most common postpartum problems. It’s about time for new moms to have the knowledge they need for optimal postpartum recovery.
by mmuse on November 15, 2008
I am delighted to be hosting a pre-recorded session of The Mommy-Muse Is In: Empowering Your Journey into Motherhood internet talk radio show on VoiceAmerica.com next week with Audrey Krisbergh and Deb Cohen, directors of the Center for Parenting Education. You can take a look at Audrey and Deb’s excellent work and online resources at www.centerforparentingeducation.org . We are going to be discussing ”Holiday Survival Strategies for New Parents,” which you’ll be able to hear the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Our goal is to nourish you with an hour of practical tips, valuable advice and solutions you can use to deal with common holiday dilemmas.
This is your chance to participate! Since this is one of the rare times in which we won’t be able to take live calls, I’m asking you to e-mail me at mommymuselive@gmail.com between now and November 18th or comment here on my blog to tell me what you want to know, or what you would like to share with other parents around the world. If you’re brave, we’d even like to hear some of your holiday disaster stories. Who knows, maybe the holiday moment you barely survived can help another mom learn what steps to take to avert disasters before they happen!
Audrey, Deb and I want to help you and your families have the smoothest, most enjoyable holiday experience possible this year. We look forward to reading your questions, comments and ideas!
I had a wonderful interview with Karen Pollak on this week’s episode of The Mommy-Muse Is In: Empowering Your Journey into Motherhood on the VoiceAmerica.com Health & Wellness Network. Karen is a well-known perinatal and parent educator, and expert on infant and toddler sleep. For over 11 years, she’s mentored thousands of new and expectant parents and helped them thrive during this joyful but demanding time in their lives. She founded DoubleTalk: A Resource for New Parents of Twins and Babies2Sleep and offers workshops, seminars and private sessions throughout the San Francisco Bay area as well as nationwide. Karen’s practical and effective solutions to day-to-day challenges have consistently helped new mothers and fathers enhance the quality of their family life and establish positive relationships with their young children. I am including a helpful excerpt from one of her articles that you can access in its entirety at http://www.doubletalkfortwins.com/article_1.html
