"Real Live" Advice from Experienced Moms

"Do not be afraid to ask for help or advice. All moms know exactly how you are feeling and how hard motherhood can be."

Michele, mother of 1

"Time frames for development, umbilical cord healing, and circumcision healing are guesses. They are not exact and don't ring true for every child."

Stephanie, mother of 2

"You should hold your baby as much as you want. I have been told repeatedly that it is NOT possible to spoil an infant. You cannot spoil them until they are old enough to manipulate situations."

Sarah, mother of 2

Original post on New Mom Central.

GUEST POST: Nicole Crowley on "Listen to Your Baby"

The months and weeks leading up to delivering a baby are exciting...and tiring, too. Then the whole world changes in the instant you give birth and any thoughts of those nine

 long months of pregnancy vanish and you redirect all of your attention to your newborn child.

It quickly sinks in that you are completely responsible for the well-being of another human being, and this human being can't even hold his head up yet.

I remember looking down at my son as we drove away from the hospital; we had him elaborately hooked into his car seat and all I could think of was how small he looked in the middle of that big contraption.

And then I thought, "I can't believe they're letting us leave."

I had never taken care of a baby before...I hadn't really even babysat. And then it occurred to me that I had been so busy reading all my pregnancy books that I hadn't read any parenting books. ARGH!

And then we got home and I thought, "Where's the band?"

Where was the band to welcome us home? There was no band...and there was no instructor waiting inside our home to tell me about feed

ing, or changing diapers, or burping, or appropriate winter outwear for babies, or preschool, or kindergartens in the area, or college funds.

But I did it...and everyone does.

Every baby is different...so, if your friend tells you to get a certain brand of bottle and it doesn't seem to work for you and your baby--try another type of bottle. It doesn't mean your baby is difficult or wierd. Don't worry--every baby is just different.

LISTEN to your baby.

The best advice my pediatrician has ever given me was this, "Relax. Babies let you know when something is wrong."

He's right. Babies do let you know.

Babies cry if they want their diaper changed, need to be burped, or helped to sleep, but mostly it means they are hungry. YOU can take care of that.

It's nice how motherhood works out: You're new at it, but the baby is too. You will learn together.

Nicole Crowley likes to concentrate on the good stuff over at her blog "BananaBlueberry.com."

Original post on New Mom Central.

NEW MOM CENTRAL INTERVIEWS MELANIE BOWDEN ON BLOGTALKRADIO!!!

On Friday, May 23, 2008, New Mom Central interviewed Melanie Bowden, author of "Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me: True Stories of New Motherhood" on Blog Talk Radio. Ms. Bowden is a registered postpartum doula and a mother of 2 children living in Davis, CA.

In addition to her book, Ms. Bowden has published an e-book called "Get Your Articles Published" and has been freelancing for magazines and websites since 1999. Her articles have appeared in over 100 publications including Vibrant Life, Jugglezine, Parents' Monthly, and Writers Weekly. She also teaches magazine writing classes, coaches writers, and speaks to writing and parenting groups. You can find out more about Ms. Bowden by visiting her website at MelanieBowden.com.

The topic of the show was "Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me?" Ms. Bowden and I discussed some of the things that we wish someone would have told us before we became mothers. Ms. Bowden also shared information from her interviews with other mothers about the things they wished someone would have told them when they became mothers for the first time.

Here is the link to the interview: New Mom Central Talk Radio and Melanie Bowden. 



Original post on New Mom Central.

BOOK REVIEW: "Mama Knows Breast: A Beginner's Guide to Breastfeeding," by Andi Silverman

Learning how to breastfeed your baby takes practice and persistence. But it also takes a mentor, someone who can teach you the basics, as well as help you navigate the unique problems you may encounter. Andi Silverman is that mentor.

Even if you have been breastfeeding for a while, the invaluable advice and tips offered in this book will help you iron out any problems you may be having so that you can enjoy breastfeeding your baby even more.

"Mama Knows Breast" is a virtual breastfeeding manual that is based on Silverman’s own experiences, as well as input from other breastfeeding moms. Her intention was to write a book that addresses the issues she wished someone had told her, but the end result is a virtual compendium that covers everything from the basics to more complicated issues such as how to breastfeed if you have had breast augmentation. There is even a chapter called “Answering Your Questions” that addresses just about any question on breastfeeding you might have!

Although the main focus of Silverman’s book is breastfeeding, she takes a holistic approach that includes practical advice on how to care for yourself, as well as tips for adjusting to the lifestyle changes that are brought about once your baby arrives.

The book is written in what I like to call a girlfriendese style, making you feel like Ms. Silverman is speaking to you directly. It is succinct, straightforward, and easy to understand.

Mama Knows Breast is a must-have book for every breastfeeding mother. It’s the closest thing you can get to a lactation consultant without paying for one!


Original post on New Mom Central.

NEW MOM CENTRAL GOES LIVE WITH CHRISTINE LOUISE HOHLBAUM!!!

On Friday, April 25, New Mom Central interviewed Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of Diary of a Mother and SAHM I Am: Tales of a Stay-at-home Mom in Europe, on Blog Talk Radio. The topic of the show was "Making the Transition to Motherhood." Christine has two children, lives with her family in Europe, and has a lot to say about becoming a mother and motherhood and shared her own story about what it was like for her to become a mother for the very first time. To find out more about Christine, visit her blog, Diary of a Mother.

Here is the link to the interview: New Mom Central and Christine Louise Hohlbaum.


[Christine Louise Hohlbaum]
[Diary of a Mother]
[Tales of a SAHM]
[the transition to motherhood]
[mother]
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[Blog Talk Radio]