Category Archives: Pregnancy Blogs

Birth, the Old-Fashioned Way

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Sometimes it’s good to see something like this to remind us of 1) how good we have it and 2) how f–ing hard labor can be. Check out this piece from Reuters about birthing in a primitive place. No lights, no anesthesia, lack of sterilization, and the woman giving birth had lost the baby’s father months before. The picture of her enduring all alone is breathtaking.

I went through a C-section (Vivien was breech and late), no walk in the park. But when I miscarried I went into labor. I would not have thought at 15 weeks it would have been as UNRELENTINGLY painful as it was. But after begging them in the ER, I was eventually given something for the pain which helped a bit ’til it was over. I was so GRATEFUL for the care I got.

I know some women, like my mother, opt for natural childbirth. I thought I would be that person, but my experience changed that. I cannot believe the pain women go through. And the women in this story don’t have an option. It’s not a planned, at-home, water birth by affluent Americans. It’s all there is. Just something to think about.

C-Section Lingerie

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Where were these when I needed them? Cool, hip, pretty panties for that wretched, post-C-section time of your life. (Props to commenter Jennifer from the Older Moms vlog, who’s behind this smart design.)

Czela bellies C-section panties

After my C-section, I didn’t know what to expect. Some rebound more easily from this event. Not me. I was in pain, uncomfortable, hobbled around – I’m not a quick healer. In the hospital they gave me white mesh panties to wear. They were large, but comfortable. I had two pairs and I washed them over and over again. They became like my Linus blanket. They wouldn’t hurt my stitches and made me feel protected.  I also had a big pregnant butt, so cute little panties wouldn’t have fit anyway.

If you are going under the knife for birth, I would suggest checking out these cute panties. Now if they could just do something about that awful IV…

This “Lost” Star Is a Cool Mom

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In my job as one of the hosts of “The Fashion Team” on TV Guide Channel – or, as I like to call it, “deep cable” – I meet various celebrities. One of the great aspects of motherhood is the insta-connection you can make with people of all stripes. Between takes on my show, it’s best to chat with your guest, get to know them, make them comfortable, distract them so they don’t notice it’s taking 20 minutes to set up a shot. Some are more fun than others.

Elizabeth Mitchell, “Juliet” on “Lost,” was a recent fave. We all loved her. I remember her from 10 years ago as Angelina Jolie’s girlfriend in “Gia” (hot!). It took us about 10 seconds before we were chatting about our kids, who are only a couple weeks apart. Mitchell’s not a Hollywood mom; she lives in Hawaii for the show half the year, and Seattle is her homebase and she doesn’t have a nanny. Her husband and relatives help her out. Love a Mister Mom!

I asked her what’s one of the beauty rituals that’s gone out the window with motherhood. She said, “I’m doing it.” She said she only puts nail polish on the toes that peek out of her pumps and since she doesn’t wear those much (for motherhood or “Lost”), she doesn’t bother with a full pedi – it’s outfit dependent. Good tip! (No pun intended.)

She gained 70 pounds with her pregnancy. Wow, that’s a lot of girl. She is tall so she could carry it better than I – I would have been a perfect circle. She’s lovely now, so I asked her how she lost it: “Nursing and running.” We chatted about how nursing peels off the pounds. I have the knees of 60-year-old, so the running isn’t happening for me anymore.

I asked her if I could quote her on my blog. Being Ms. Perfect, she said (paraphrasing), “Oh, yeah, I think motherhood can be really hard, all that goes with it, and I like to demystify it.”

I gazed at her, “You had me at the toenails.”

Prenatal Waxing

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A down-there grooming for the mom-to-be, as mentioned in Jezebel, is no joke. Before I gave birth to Vivien, I braced myself for my first-ever bikini wax. At the time I thought I was going to have a vaginal birth and wanted a clean plate on which to serve my daughter, so to speak. Also, the bigger the belly gets, the harder it is to do any kind of trimming. If you can’t bend over, it’s a jungle down there.

My Two Loves
Creative Commons License photo credit: virexmachina

But don’t let anyone con you. Waxing hurts. When I got it done, waxer lady said I was sensitive because of my hormones. I was sensitive because my hair was being yanked out by strips of hot wax.

Do get a wax, and getting a mani-pedi is smart. ‘Cause, let’s face it, once that new baby comes, you are a prisoner in your house for a while and you want to look your best for… for… for… hmmm, who will see you?