Blog Entries - April 2008

Pregnancy, vulnerabilty and the rite of passage

smottram — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Pregnancy is a time of such vulnerability. Your body is on display for the entire world to see - and comment on. From the sickness of early pregnancy to the cute baby bump of the second trimester and finally "this baby is taking over" feeling of the final weeks before delivery. It's hard to ignore the transformations that occur during pregnancy.

When I revealed I was pregnant, I thought my pregnancy was about me. But in many ways, pregnancy is [...]

Pain, pain go away...but when?

smottram — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:00:00 +0100

It was June 25. My due date had finally arrived! The shear terror about the pain of labor that worried me throughout my pregnancy was gone and I just wanted to get the show on the road and have this baby already. A week past my due date, baby got an eviction notice (formally known as an induction) and it was time he vacate the premises!

I was not against the thought of having an epidural but really wanted to experience labor pain so I could understand what my m [...]

"Terrible Twos" are a myth!

nikkik — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Someone somewhere coined the catchy phrase "terrible twos," and although every 2-year-old has their moments (what age group doesn't, including twenty- and thirty-somethings?), I've decided, based on anecdotale evidence and personal experience that the terrible twos are, in my opinion, a myth. When my first daughter approached that fabled age, I braced myself for the worst, but it never happened. Although this could very well be atypical, as I have [...]

"I'm new to the area. How do I choose an doctor?"

drchang — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Hello, again. This is a question I also get asked a lot by friends and family. (Obviously, my patient don't ask me since they've already chosen me for some reason...HA!)

How many of you have developed a relationship with your doc only to have to move because of one reason or another? Most of us. Some of us more than once!

It's really hard, right? Think about it. Childbirth is one of the (if not THE) most wonderful, exciting, n [...]

The Positive Effects of Childbirth Education on a Woman's Birth Experience

familybirthcenter — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Today I would like to share with you the advantage of going in to birth prepared and not just "winging it." Yes, your birth center will provide you and your baby a safe environment. They will also provide individualized care that supports you and your family. And it's true the baby will come out even if you have not taken any preparation classes but, the more information y [...]

My journey to parenthood

smottram — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 01:00:00 +0100

I remember it like it was yesterday. September 2003, my best friend Mari called to tell me she was pregnant. Mari and I went to high school and college together, traveled throughout Europe, shared in the many highs and lows of young adult life. Our lives had paralleled in so many ways. But, now it seemed her life was headed in a new direction.

While my husband John and I always knew we wanted children, we had not started seriously trying to conceive. I was finis [...]

"I can't figure out when to start a family!"

drchang — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Hello, all. This is my first foray into the world called "the blog..." (Sounds almost like a crazy monster out of a black and white movie, doesn't it??)

Anyway, a question that I'm asked a lot is "when is the right time to start a family?" I wrote an article about this is Lacamas Life (It's a magazine in Clark County, in case you don't know!) a couple of years ago. My answer then is the same as it is now. There [...]

Accepting the Roles We Play

nikkik — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Work From Home Mom. Although the label describes my occupational circumstances accurately, I have to admit it makes me a bit uncomfortable. I'm absolutely proud of my paid job (editor and co-owner of Vancouver Family Magazine), but every parent "works," by nature of that sacred title, whether they're being compensated financially or not. I'm no different from any other parent, regardless of their professional situation.

I've alwa [...]