One of the things I constantly stress during my group coaching sessions with moms is the importance of taking care of yourself. When you take care of yourself, you are in a better position to take care of your family’s needs. This simple analogy demonstrates my point, when you are on an airplane the flight attendant says “in the event of a loss of air pressure place an airbag over your mouth and nose, then secure the airbag over your child’s mouth and nose.”

In one of my groups a mom noted, “There are basically two kinds of moms, a mom that takes care of herself, dresses cute, wears makeup, and the frumpy mom who wears baggy sweats, no makeup, and rarely takes the time to do anything with her hair.” She admitted that she found herself turning into a “frumpy mom” because with the weight gain of having her baby, she didn’t fit into her cute clothes. Because she no longer fit into her cute clothes, she didn’t feel good about herself and stopped taking the time to put on makeup and do her hair. Read the rest »

The third trimester of pregnancy is marked with excitement, anxiety and irritability. Your belly feels big and there’s no hiding that you are pregnant. Everyone you meet makes a comment about how big or small your belly is, saying things such as, “you look like you’re about to pop any minute”. Read the rest »

A few days ago, my oldest son’s pre-school called to inform me he had a fever. When I picked Ty up from school, he was not his usual talkative self, he sat quietly and said he felt, “OK”. Once buckled into his seat he began to have a seizure. He was immediately rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.

I had no idea that seizures are a fairly common occurrence for children under the age of 6. Read the rest »

There are plenty of good reasons to love the second trimester. With the second trimester, you’re over the hump of feeling “big” or “fat” and begin to look and feel pregnant. Everyone else starts to notice too. This trimester is also marked by an increase in libido which is great for connecting with your husband or partner. With Mother’s Day around the corner, there is a realization that you will soon join the ranks of other women honored for being mothers.

Here are 3 simple tips to make the most of your 2nd trimester:
1. Daydream. On Mother’s Day, take some time to fill your mind and soul with pleasant thoughts of being a new mom. You will soon hold your baby in your arms. Daydream about your little one growing up and drawing pictures for you or picking a flower and saying “Here mommy”, or best yet, “I love you mommy”. Take it all in, and celebrate that you are momma to be!

2. Relish the Libido. In the second trimester hormones are fired up and your sex drive typically increases. Take advantage of a higher sex drive and use this opportunity to connect with your husband/ partner physically and emotionally. Keep the lines of communication open by letting him know what feels good. Certain positions such as him on top will likely feel uncomfortable because of the pressure on your belly. However, you may be able to still make love on top, and if so both you and he will enjoy looking into each others eyes while he caresses your new full breasts. Read the rest »

The first trimester of pregnancy brings body changes and with that your mood and energy levels can change too. It’s common to experience a wide range of emotions and body aches not just in your first trimester, but throughout your pregnancy.

If you exercise and eat nutritious foods during your first trimester and throughout your pregnancy, you can alleviate many of the aches, pains, fatigue and emotional ups and downs you might experience in your 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Plus, you can rebound quicker and lose pregnancy weight faster if you apply a few of these simple tips during your first trimester: Read the rest »

Being pregnant is an exciting time filled with anticipation and wonder. But it can also be a stressful time as your body changes and adapts to the new being inside you. As your baby develops, you’ll experience many emotions, from happiness to sadness, to fear. You may also experience physical discomfort and the feeling that your body is no longer your own. All of these feelings, thoughts and physical changes can create stress during your pregnancy. Here are 10 great tips that have helped moms-to-be that I’ve coached reduce and/or eliminate stress and make the most out of this joyful, life-changing event:

1. Listen to your body. Your body is going through a lot of changes as the baby develops inside of you. If you feel tired, relax. If you feel sleepy, take a nap… it will do you and the baby good!

2. Listen to your cravings…but do so wisely! As your baby is growing, you may notice you’re hungrier or that you’re craving certain foods. When you’re hungry, eat, and eat nutritious foods such as nuts, cheese, yogurt, and/or fruit because these foods nourish both you and your growing baby. Eat sweets in moderation. If you are craving sweets, have a nutritious substitute like a piece of fruit, or make a smoothie of your favorite fruits, combined with lowfat yogurt or milk and ice cubes. But, if you feel that you still crave something sugary sweet…do so in moderation, and enjoy free from guilt! Read the rest »