Whether you’re looking for advice on how to deal with the aches and pains of pregnancy, how to put together the perfect baby registry, or even how to have a peaceful labor and birth, we’ve got you covered.
Welcome home to Evidence-based Mommy.
Getting ready for labor and birth
The must-have baby registry checklist
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Pregnancy
Whether you just found out you’re pregnant, or you’re almost ready to meet your new baby, we’ve got all the tools you need.
1st trimester
Congratulations on your pregnancy! I hope you’re feeling well and loving every minute, but if you’re not… I totally get it. After pregnancies ranging from super easy all the way to “Can’t get out of bed without barfing,” I’ve learned how to handle pregnancy to make it go as smoothly as possible.
Did you know that your diet, even as early as the first trimester, actually affects the programming of your child’s genes? Get the scoop with the Perfect Pregnancy Plan.
Is nausea getting you down? Check out these tips on how to beat first trimester nausea.
2nd trimester
Maybe things are starting to feel real for you. Your bump is showing, you’ve had an ultrasound or two… and you’re suddenly realizing there’s a lot to prepare for!
If you’re wondering what you actually need for baby (and what you can skip), make sure you check out the Minimalist Baby Registry Checklist (and sign up for the free printable registry while you’re at it).
And if you’re starting to deal with 2nd trimester aches and pains – heartburn, a sore back, hips that are killing you when you try to sleep, or even restless legs – you can find tips for relief here.
3rd trimester
It’s getting close! If you haven’t been thinking about birth plans already, now’s the time. Here’s my take on whether to get the epidural or go natural, based on my experience through four labors.
One of the best ways to get ready for your baby to come is to have freezer meals stocked up. Here’s a list of 15 of my favorite batch cooking meals – make one for now, freeze the other for after baby makes his or her arrival.
You might really be sore at this point – dealing with even more back pain, leg or groin pain, or even Braxton-Hicks contractions. Here’s everything I can tell you to relieve those pains during the last few weeks of pregnancy.
Labor and delivery
I’ve gone through labor four times, and each time was different.
And the great thing is, each of these experiences have taught me how to prepare for a smooth, empowering birth.
The best-kept secret to a peaceful labor – birth meditations
No matter how your labor plays out, you want to feel at peace and release control to your body (yet simultaneously feel empowered – it’s an amazing paradox).
My favorite tool throughout all of my pregnancies? The pregnancy and birth meditations my dear friend and yoga teacher made me. Sharon is an E-RYT500 Professional Kripalu Yoga teacher and licensed massage therapist with prenatal expertise. Her passion is to share with others how to reconnect with your self and your body through the interplay between breath and movement.
Unmedicated birth or epidural?
I’ll be upfront – I’m team natural. But that’s because I’ve 1. done a lot of research, and 2. experienced birth both ways! Find out why I feel the way I do, plus decide if a no-epidural birth is for you with this article.
And if you’ve decided that an unmedicated birth is for you (or at least, you think you’d like to try), make sure to get my free Perfect Natural Birth Action Pack, which gives you tips for a natural birth (including ones I’ve never seen anywhere else), a birth plan template, and more.
And I’m here to support you once baby arrives too. Read here to learn how to take care of yourself and your baby during those first few days, whether you’re at home or in the hospital.
Everything you need when you bring baby home
There are SO many products for babies out there. But don’t worry, after 4 kids, I can help you figure out what you actually need and what to skip. Spoiler alert: You don’t even need a nursery – meaning you can save money on bedding, wall hangings, and all those cutesy “must-haves.”
Sign up for the Minimalist Baby Registry Checklist. You’ll get my best tips for everything to sign up for to make those first months with baby as easy (and enjoyable) as possible.