Welcome to motherhood! Preparing for the birth of your child is a momentous and joyous occasion, and creating a birth plan is an essential part of the process (even if you aren’t Type-A). A birth plan communicates your preferences, desires, and expectations to your healthcare team, ensuring you have a more personalized and empowering birthing … Read more

Your Comprehensive Guide to Pregnancy Hormones Pregnancy is a beautiful (and wild) ride—a transformative experience that is marked by significant physiological and emotional changes. Hormones are the chemical messengers that jumpstart these changes, ensuring your body is prepared for pregnancy, labor, and eventually, motherhood. Understanding the role of these hormones and the impact they’ll have  … Read more

What Are the Stages of Labor and Delivery? While labor and childbirth is different for every woman (and different for every birth!), it generally follows a predictable pattern of 3 stages: First Stage of Labor The first stage of labor is your body preparing for birth: your cervix begins to open (dilation) and thin (effacement), … Read more

Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy You’re eating for two now, and trying to make the healthiest choices for you and baby-to-be: eating a (mostly) well-balanced diet, staying hydrated, and taking a prenatal vitamin. But knowing what foods and drinks to avoid during pregnancy is equally important, and thankfully, it’s a relatively small list. Here’s a … Read more

Everything You Need to Know About Morning Sickness  Morning sickness: one of the most common—and dreaded—symptoms of pregnancy. You probably expect to feel queasy and throw up, but how do you know if you’re experiencing morning sickness or something else? What’s considered a normal part of pregnancy, and when should you call your doctor? Here’s … Read more

The Best Baby Shower Gifts When it comes to baby shower gifts, it can be tough to know (or remember!) exactly which items are necessities, and which end up in a donation pile. And we know you want the best baby shower gifts. We’ve checked in with our favorite Albee parents and baby gear enthusiasts … Read more

The Ultimate Hospital Bag Checklist for Mama + Baby A tiny bit of planning and organization before your due date can make your hospital stay less stressful. Our ultimate hospital checklist will help you organize what you need to bring for labor and delivery, and what items will help make your stay a little more … Read more