thestorkfund

It’s The End Of My World As I Know It (And I Feel Fine)*

thestorkfund — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:35:15 +0000

Green Olive:: The size of my baby when I miscarried.

Despite the world not coming to an end twice in the last two months, I’m still a bit shell-shocked. My husband and I learned we were expecting our fourth child. Let me rephrase that: We were expecting our fourth child in less than four and a half years! Then only a month after we’d wrapped our heads around the impending chaos and fully embraced the idea of four beautiful, baby-bunched children I had a miscarriage.

The hardest part about this pregnancy ending is the loneliness that comes with it. I considered reaching to friends who have been in my position, but I haven’t because I’m not sure exactly what I am reaching out for. I don’t need help because medically there is nothing they can do. I don’t want reassurance because we aren’t planning to try again for another baby. Most of all, I don’t want to create an awkward situation since the only people I know who have miscarried are desperately trying to get pregnant and stay that way.

I admit I felt like the world was coming to an end when I learned I was pregnant. Call me selfish, but I was finally beginning to see the light at the end of the baby tunnel with my 14 month old nearly running, my 26 month old starting potty training, and my nearly 4 year old confirmed for 5 mornings of preschool next fall. I seriously believed this was the year I was going to get my pre-baby body back and enjoy a few cocktails. Instead I was facing more mummy tummy, more mocktails, and another year - at least! - without sleep.

Any ambivalence I had about a fourth quickly changed to excitement at my first sonogram. Due to my checkered health history, I met with an OB in Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital to confirm the pregnancy. When the technician found the heartbeat, I asked her to make sure there weren’t two. We had enough crazy with one baby on the way, not to mention zero room available in our beast of an SUV for two more babies! By my calculations I thought I was around 8 weeks along, but the baby was measuring 6.5 weeks. That’s a big jump this early on, however I’ve always had irregular periods. The likelihood of long menstrual cycle after multiple pregnancies is the probable reason I conceived later than I thought.

For the few weeks I was pregnant I was both nervous and excited. I felt great overall and had no pregnancy symptoms. (Maybe this time it was a girl!) On Super Bowl Sunday something wasn’t right - and I’m not just talking about the Patriots loss! I felt off and a little clammy. Then I noticed I was lightly spotting. I called my OB but decided to not to jump to conclusions as to what this meant. I’d been standing all day cooking and needed to rest with my feet up. The following morning, however, I was bleeding bright red. My OB scheduled me to come in for an ultrasound immediately.

I knew right away when the technician ran the wand over my abdomen my baby was gone. Being a high-risk patient I’ve had countless sonograms and I knew to look for that little flicker of a heartbeat. There was nothing there. The doctor came in and confirmed it and offered his condolences. I met with my OB and was given the option for a D&C or to let my body take its course naturally. I chose the latter with hardly any emotion. I waved off the hotline of miscarriage information to discuss things further. I just wanted to go home. When they left me alone in the room I did have a small pity party and wondered out loud through my sobbing tears “Why is this happening to me?”

It’s been a little over two weeks and for the most part I’m feeling good both physically and emotionally. The nurse told me I would be uncomfortable and the actual process of the miscarriage was painful. I delivered all three of my boys via c-section, so I was in awe that my body knew what to do. I felt physically normal within a week, but I will go back to the Brigham for what would have been my 12-week ultrasound to confirm I have physically recovered.

Emotionally things have taken a little longer than I thought. I am sad, but I am not depressed. I had my share of crying fits from the what-if’s that ran through my head. What if it was finally a girl? What if it was another boy? What if something was genetically wrong with the baby? What if we had a special needs child? What if I had to be on bed rest the entire pregnancy? What if I had to have a hysterectomy? For a couple of days it was all consuming. I did learn having a miscarriage isn’t all that uncommon, but I still don’t understand why it’s such a taboo subject. Thankfully, of the friends and family I told some of them generously opened up and shared their personal stories with me about their own loss. They helped me to accept the tired cliché everything really does happen for a reason.

These last two months have been a roller coaster of emotions. I didn’t plan to have another baby. Then I found out I was having another baby. Once I realized I did want this baby, my baby was gone. Talk about a Jedi mind trick. I know it’s likely there will be more emotional bumps down the road - my due date for one - but to be honest, I am so relieved this is (almost) over. I look at my three beautiful, healthy, baby-bunched boys and realize my world is better than ever.

*Apologies to R.E.M. for twisting up their song.

The overall miscarriage rate is reported as 15-20%, which means 15-20% of recognized pregnancies result in miscarriage. That’s a lot when you figure there are over 4 million confirmed pregnancies in the U.S. every year. Have you had a miscarriage? How did you get through it? Why is the subject of miscarriage so taboo?

You can help support our mission of healthy moms, healthy pregnancies and healthy babies with a financial contribution to The Stork Fund today. 100% of donations to The Stork Fund benefits Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Guest Mom Blogger: Pregnancy Heartburn

thestorkfund — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:22:48 +0000

Every pregnant woman has her share of discomforts but I would argue that none are quite as annoying or uncomfortable as heartburn. I say this because many other things that plague pregnant women (morning sickness, back pain, swollen feet, sleepless nights) usually don’t last the entire pregnancy. Heartburn, on the other hand, can often start at the beginning and last right on through until your little one is born. There are a host of factors that contribute to heartburn in pregnancy. Hormones and the pressure your growing baby puts on your stomach are the biggest causes. Clearly, there is not much pregnant mommas can do to avoid these things. If you are blessed enough to be heartburn-free during your pregnancy, thank your lucky stars. You have no idea how much fun you are missing.

Honestly, I never experienced a single episode of heartburn before becoming pregnant. Now, in my second pregnancy, I can say that I’ve become a heartburn expert. This second pregnancy is much worse than the first (although perhaps I just blacked out how bad it was the first time.) I recently heard an old wives tale that experiencing heartburn while pregnant means your baby will be born with a full head of hair. My first son was actually born with lots of hair (score one for the old wives). This time I’m fully expecting to deliver Chewbacca or the Woolly Mammoth.

In my case it seems that no matter what I eat or how careful I am to avoid the foods that will likely make things worse, I end up with heartburn. It’s maddening. Of course there are times when I absolutely bring it on myself. Cravings for spicy foods aren’t exactly satisfied with toast and milk. Despite the fact I know I will pay for it later, sometimes I just can’t resist a good bowl of curry. I mean, come on.

If you are having trouble, be sure to speak to your doctor about taking some over the counter antacid medications. Most doctors readily give you the green light on things like Rolaids, Tums and even Zantac – but check in just the same before taking these. Here are some additional tips to help manage your heartburn.

Slow it down. Eat slowly and chew foods well. When you eat quickly you end up gulping more air which only adds to heartburn and gas.
Size matters. Have smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. Five or six mini meals will be easier on your system than the traditional three. Avoid sitting down to large meals which can stay longer in your stomach (and make heartburn worse).
Avoid the main offenders. Spicy, fatty and/or greasy foods, chocolate, peppermint, carbonated drinks, citrus fruits/juices (orange, lemon, grapefruit) and tomato-based sauces/juices.
Keep liquids and foods separate. Drink liquids separately from your meals to avoid overfilling your belly. Small sips with meals are fine but avoid downing large amounts when eating.
Loosey Goosey. Choose clothes that aren’t too tight on your belly. Honestly, the idea of wearing tight clothes while pregnant is so unappealing that hopefully no one is doing this in the first place – however, it is worth mentioning.
Keep it up(right). Don’t lie down too soon after eating. Remain in an upright position (sitting or propped up with pillows) for at least two hours after each meal/snack. Sleeping with your head elevated may also help you avoid heartburn.

Originally posted December 19, 2011, this post is part of series of guest posts from Modern Mom Nutrition.

About the Author:: Leslie Judge MS, RD, CSO, LDN is a dietitian and a mother, dividing her life between work and home. She practices in the greater Boston Area and has experience counseling on a variety of topics including weight management, non-diet approach to weight loss, cancer prevention and mindful eating. Her personal experiences feeding her own toddler have given her insight into the nutritional issues that many mothers face. She knows first hand how chaotic the week can be and is focused on providing ideas for healthy eating that are convenient, smart, tasty and modern. Leslie enjoys helping other moms and families live nutritionally balanced lives in a realistic way.

You can help support our mission of healthy moms, healthy pregnancies and healthy babies with a financial contribution toThe Stork Fund today. 100% of donations to The Stork Fund benefits Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Good News, Bad News & Hoping to Hear More

thestorkfund — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:21:40 +0000

The good news is Dos is officially not deaf. {sighs of relief} I mean we knew he could hear. He does talk a little bit. But at 26 months old he should have at least 50 words in his vocabulary. He says maybe 10 words…on a good day. And out of that little amount, you can barely make out anything else he’s saying. It’s gibberish with a clear one-syllable word thrown in ever so often. We’re frustrated because we don’t know what he’s saying. He’s frustrated because we don’t know what he’s saying. As such, he’s become incredibly temperamental throwing multiple tantrums a day. Our former pediatrician tried to calm us and say it’s normal behavior. This is also the same doctor who I had to practically bully into a referral for ear tube surgery after more than 7 raging ear infections in less than 5 months. I’m glad I did because the ENT said one of Dos’ ears was “full of goop as thick as airplane glue.” Imagine having to listen to someone talk to you underwater - that’s what Dos was hearing! I’m no doctor, but I trust my mothers intuition. When his vocabulary stalled I reached out to his ENT and he agreed we should have him tested.

The bad news is we don’t know what exactly Dos can hear and how well he hears it. He will have to be retested in another month. It’s called a Visual Reinforcement Audiometry exam. Your child sits on your lap in a soundproof room and frequency specific sounds are presented either through speakers or through earphones. When your child hears the sound and turns to look, mechanical toys mounted on walls light up to reinforce the turning behavior. The quietest levels that your child turns to the sounds are recorded. If poor hearing is noted, testing is done through bone conduction to determine if the hearing loss is permanent, or due to conductive problems.The audiologist explained testing for children who are over 2 but younger than 3 is a challenge. “They are usually easily bored with the visual aspect of the test and not mature enough for the testing we provide for children over age 3.” This was true for us. Dos hated the earphones, did not want to sit still in my lap, and attempted to pull on every knob or cord he could find in the little soundproof room.

We go back to MEEI in another month for more tests. In the meantime, the audiologist instructed me to let Dos practice by wearing headphones and make a game out of placing a toy in a bucket or game when a sound is heard. He also suggested simple interactive questions like Where’s your nose? Where’s your belly button? to see if Dos will respond and understand easy commands. Lastly, he recommend Dos see a speech pathologist to work on speech, too.

So now we will wait. We will play the games. We will set up the appointment with the speech pathologist. We will be anxious again for the next round of tests. We will hope this is a just a taste of his teen years and perhaps he’s only ignoring us.

Do you have a child who has hearing or speech problems? Are you aware of the warning signs? Advocates of early intervention emphasize the importance of having your child tested. If you’re concerned about your child’s speech, language and auditory development speak to your pediatrician.

You can help support our mission of healthy moms, healthy pregnancies and healthy babies with a financial contribution toThe Stork Fund today. 100% of donations to The Stork Fund benefits Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Guest Mom Blogger: Working with Your Tot’s Taste Buds

storkblogger — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:54:36 +0000

Many parents are unaware of one of their greatest tools in feeding their child: knowing your little one’s palate. Yes, a discerning palate isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when looking at your child but just like any fine food critic out there, they have a certain taste preference and it’s in your best interest to use it.

This is an especially important method to use in children with a history of acid reflux. Many of pickiest eaters referred to me tend to have a history of reflux. Parents offer them the usual kid-friendly options of chicken fingers, pasta and oatmeal without much success. The reason these child favorites aren’t working is because they might not be flavorful enough. Children with a history of acid reflux may experience a desensitization of their taste buds, making typical foods taste bland and un-interesting; leading to fewer bites and pickier eaters.

To get your child interested in trying more bites, first learn what their taste buds like. There are the sweet toothed kiddos who tend to like things like yogurt, fruit, desserts and other sweet treats. While the savory tots tend to like things like olives, garlic, cheese or lemon. Determine what may be your little one’s preferred flavor group and start introducing these tastes into meal times to get a bit more interest and a few more bites. This can be especially helpful with getting children comfortable with trying some new healthy foods that may be a bit challenging such as the ever dreaded vegetables. Don’t worry about adding a few dips here and there to increase your child’s interest; it can help to increase intake and acceptance of healthy foods in the long run without too many added calories.

Here are a few ideas for working some flavorful options to tantalize those taste buds!

For the sweet lovers…

Honey glazed cooked carrots
Strawberry cream cheese on graham crackers or wheat toast
Grilled chicken with duck sauce
Beef with honey barbeque sauce
Sweet red pepper hummus with cucumbers
Honey mustard dressing with a variety of raw veggies

For the savory kiddos…

Broccoli in cheese sauce
Zesty lemon hummus & baby carrots
Garlic mashed potatoes
Lemon pepper chicken
Guacamole with a variety of veggies
Sautéed veggies in garlic or soy sauce

About the Author:: Ashley Bade RD, LDN, CNSD is a pediatric dietitian in the greater Boston Area, counseling newborns to young adults. Her specialty areas include weight management, disordered eating, infant feedings, failure to thrive, feeding behaviors, and non-diet approach to lifelong healthy eating. Ashley hopes to help families overcome the struggles of today to raise the healthy eaters of tomorrow.

This is the second in a series of guest posts by Modern Mom Nutrition.

Guest Mom Blog: Pregnancy Journal, Week 34

thestorkfund — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:34:00 +0000

You know how a song can get stuck in your head? These days there’s some serious Cat in the Hat love at my house and so it’s that darn theme song for me: “We’re gonna go-go-go-go on an adventure…” But with all my pregnancies - yes, all of them - it was The End by The Doors. You know the one I’m talking about. And it wasn’t whole song that would repeat; just the beginning of the song playing over and over and over again in my mind. I kept thinking this is the end. I’m almost finished. As much as I enjoyed being pregnant there came a point and time when it was simply no fun anymore and incredibly uncomfortable. But having a baby early is no fun either. Tres was born at 37 weeks and 1 day. It was a scary time: deliver and risk breathing issues or stay and risk continued decreased movement. My doctors and I chose to the former. Over a year later, Tres continues to thrive – you’d never know he was born early or had serious breathing issues – but not every child born early is so lucky.

In Jessica’s latest post, she shares her thoughts about (spontaneously!) delivering early and the risks involved for babies who are born before 39 weeks.

THOUGHTS ON GOING EARLY: PREGNANCY JOURNAL, WEEK 34
by Jessica Severson

The last month of pregnancy can seem like an eternity.

Since my son was born I’ve heard lots of pregnant friends say they expect to go early. And I can’t blame them for thinking that. There’s something about these last weeks of pregnancy that makes you think it isn’t physically possible to keep this going until your due date. A few of them do give birth early, but most of us are still gigantic and uncomfortable once 40 weeks goes around.

This is when it’s good to do your research. Even though babies born around 34 weeks have excellent survival rates, their odds of spending time in the NICU are much higher. 37-42 weeks is considered “term” but with respect to elective deliveries (not medically indicated) it’s better to wait until 39 weekssince some babies are not fully developed until then. (If a baby spontaneously delivers in “early term” (i.e. 37-38 weeks) it’s typically because they were ready. So no worries.) These are comforting thoughts as I watch the days tick by.

Click here to continue reading Thoughts on Going Early

About the Author:: Jessica Severson posts weekly for the Isis Parenting blog, Parenting Starts Here, about her pregnancy. Due in February 2012 with a little girl, Jessica plans to deliver at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

You can help support our mission of healthy moms, healthy pregnancies and healthy babies with a financial contribution toThe Stork Fund today. 100% of donations to The Stork Fund benefits Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Run, Mama, Run!

thestorkfund — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:31:46 +0000

You’re like Lola, Gump, and DMC. Always on the run. For your kids, for your job, for your life.

So why not get a run for your money and help support The Stork Fund at the same time?

Whether you’re a novice (your treadmill doubles as a drying rack) or an athlete, a transplant or homegrown Bostonian, we want you on Team Brigham! Join us for the 2012 Boston Marathon. Our awesome trainers and runners will support every step of your journey.

At the end of it all, you’ll walk away with better health (hey, that’s one thing off your list of resolutions this year) and the satisfaction of knowing that the money you raised goes towards delivering the future.

To sign up and for more information, please visit: http://www.teambrigham.org

You can help support our mission of healthy moms, healthy pregnancies and healthy babies with a financial contribution toThe Stork Fund today. 100% of donations to The Stork Fund benefits Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Stork Fund Symposium

thestorkfund — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:22:55 +0000

Hosted by The Stork Fund Leadership Council, the first annual Stork Fund Symposium is an opportunity for Boston area parents, patients and the general public to engage with some leading doctors at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH).

Dr. Audra D. Robertson will speak on the Birth Equity Initiative (BEI) which is BWH’s comprehensive effort to address persistent disparities in infant mortality and low birthweight, particularly among infants born to black women, through the engagement and empowerment of women, their families, and their communities.

Following the BEI discussion, Dr. Catherine Racowsky will discuss the needs for preserving fertility for young female cancer patients and the technology to do so.

Finally, Dr. Robert M. Insoft will talk about ways to improve the efficiency of hospital systems that impact care to critically ill NICU babies.

The symposium is Tuesday, January 10 from 11AM – 2PM. Additional details are available here. This event is free and open to the public, but you must register in advance to attend.

You can help support our mission of healthy moms, healthy pregnancies and healthy babies with a financial contribution toThe Stork Fund today. 100% of donations to The Stork Fund benefits Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Guest Mom Blog: Pregnancy Journal, Week 32

thestorkfund — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:34:33 +0000

I had a nearly perfect pregnancy with Gus - despite the ridiculous weight gain and a bleeding scare at 25 weeks - and so I figured I would have a perfect delivery, too. Four hours of pushing with no baby and a c-section later, my beautiful baby boy arrived. Our little family had few visitors in the hospital without any relatives nearby and we came home to an empty house. Gus was truly the best baby, but I knew I wanted to do things differently when it was time for Dos. Despite my efforts, that delivery was marred in complications, although we did come home to family who was in town to entertain the new Big Brother. Thinking the third time would be a charm was anything but when Tres arrived nearly a month early. No one was prepared - especially me! All in all in the end, while none of it was perfect everything worked out, well, perfectly.

FANTASY AND REALITY: PREGNANCY JOURNAL, WEEK 32
by Jessica Severson

Why am I so stuck in my baby daydreams? I keep trying to remind myself that most of this is out of my control.

As the time till delivery nears, it can get a little scary. Even though I feel like we have all our baby necessities, how ready can you ever really be?

I don’t know yet if this baby will sleep, how she’ll eat, or if she’ll scream. And because I don’t know I have a tendency to imagine how I’d like things to be.

I have in my head how I’d like everything to go. Deliver just a few days early. (I’m shooting for Valentine’s Day, 4 days before my actual due date.) No need for induction. A smooth labor, not much pushing, and no new stitches.

Then when they move us up to recovery I imagine seeing my baby—I’m picturing a head of dark hair. I hold her and nurse her and everything happens just like it’s meant to. She sleeps soundly, there’s no need to send her to the nursery so I can sleep and no need to give her formula to supplement her nutrition.

A few calm days in the hospital. I feel good enough to see a few visitors and they coo over my beautiful new girl. My husband brings me a cheesesteak from the greasy spoon downstairs. (If my stomach is up for it, this is definitely going to happen. They’re really good.)

I come home to greet my toddler, who’s missed me. And he investigates the new baby calmly. My Mom and my husband tend to me and my son, while the baby and I hole up in the bedroom sleeping and feeding. After a week or two, I start to carry her around the house in a wrap or carrier that she can get comfy in. My son gets to spend more time with her. My husband and I change diapers and wash onesies and shush and bounce our new baby to sleep.

For the four weeks of my husband’s paternity leave and the visits from our parents, we manage a smooth transition to a household of 4.

Of course, this fantasy only lasts so long. I can’t quite envision a beautiful fantasy AFTER my husband goes back to work and I’m suddenly there with 2 kids all by myself. That part is terrifying, but everything else is lovely in my mind.

As nice as it is to think about all this, I know I’m deluding myself.

Click here to continue reading Fantasy and Reality

You can help support our mission of healthy moms, healthy pregnancies and healthy babies with a financial contribution toThe Stork Fund today. 100% of donations to The Stork Fund benefits Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Guest Mom Blogger: Tips for Baby’s First Foods

storkblogger — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:12:49 +0000

This is the first of a series of guest posts by Modern Mom Nutrition.

So, you’ve decided your up for the challenge. Read on for the basics on how to get your baby food factory into full swing.

How to begin: There is controversy as to whether it is better to give baby fruits or vegetables first. Some believe that starting baby on fruits, which are sweeter, will ruin her little palate for vegetables. Others believe that since breast milk is naturally sweeter, starting breastfed babies on fruits may be an easier transition to solids. Our resident expert, Ms. Ashley Bade, usually counsels parents to start with green veggies and introduce other, sweeter veggies from there before starting fruits. Its best to start with mildly flavored and easily digested foods. Here are some good first options:

Grains: rice cereal, barley cereal
Vegetables: green peas, zucchini, avocado (raw, mashed), butternut squash, sweet potato or yam, carrot
Fruit: pear, apple, banana (raw, mashed), plum, peach

The Right Consistency: The first foods you give your little one should be more on the watery side rather than thick. Baby will need to learn to swallow thicker textures so start out with more watery purees and move towards thicker consistencies as he/she becomes more advanced. You can thin out thicker purees by adding breast milk, formula or water.

Go Slowly: Introduce new foods one a time. Watch your little one for any signs of adverse reactions. The general rule of thumb is to offer a new food for three days before moving on to the next new food.

What You’ll Need: The first foods your little one eats will likely be steamed. This is good news as steaming is a relatively simple process that utilizes cooking equipment you likely already have at home. Items you will need include: knives, cutting board, steaming basket, sauce pan and a food processor or blender. Covered ice cube trays or small plastic or glass containers are great for storing foods in the refrigerator and freezer.

Baby Food Makers? There are baby food makers that you can purchase which include all the necessary tools and streamline the process for you. It definitely isn’t necessary to purchase one of these gadgets but it may make things simpler. A few brands include: Beaba babycook, Baby Brezza, Kalorik food maker, and the Baby Bullet. Prices range $79 – $129.

Storing Baby’s Food: Generally speaking, freshly made baby food can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 days but you can keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Once you’ve prepared a batch of pureed food, let it cool to room temperature (approximately 30 minutes) before putting it in the refrigerator or freezer. Don’t forget to label everything you make with the date and the contents. Never re-freeze foods that have been frozen and then thawed.

Thawing Baby’s Foods: Thaw frozen foods in the microwave or in the refrigerator. Avoid letting baby’s food sit out on the counter for more than 60 minutes (or more than 30 minutes in hot weather). If using foods that have been refrigerated, take them out of the fridge 15-30 minutes before serving and allow them to warm to room temperature.

Reheating Baby’s Foods: It’s safer to warm foods for your little one on the stovetop, using medium-low heat. Microwaves can be problematic because they often heat foods unevenly and can leave hot spots that can burn baby’s mouth. Of course, using a microwave can be safe if you always make sure to stir the food well and test the food before serving. Regardless of the method used, always test the temperature of the food before giving it to your little one.

About the Authors::
Ashley Bade RD, LDN, CNSD is a pediatric dietitian in the greater Boston Area, counseling newborns to young adults. Her specialty areas include weight management, disordered eating, infant feedings, failure to thrive, feeding behaviors, and non-diet approach to lifelong healthy eating. Ashley hopes to help families overcome the struggles of today to raise the healthy eaters of tomorrow.

Leslie Judge MS, RD, CSO, LDN is a dietitian and a mother, dividing her life between work and home. She practices in the greater Boston Area and has experience counseling on a variety of topics including weight management, non-diet approach to weight loss, cancer prevention and mindful eating. Her personal experiences feeding her own toddler have given her insight into the nutritional issues that many mothers face. She knows first hand how chaotic the week can be and is focused on providing ideas for healthy eating that are convenient, smart, tasty and modern. Leslie enjoys helping other moms and families live nutritionally balanced lives in a realistic way.

You can help support our mission of healthy moms, healthy pregnancies and healthy babies with a financial contribution toThe Stork Fund today. 100% of donations to The Stork Fund benefits Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

New Year, New Guest Bloggers

thestorkfund — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:11:33 +0000

One of the reasons I was so excited at the opportunity to write for The Stork Fund blog was the chance to connect with readers about life as a mother. This includes sharing the stories of not only my own children, pregnancies, and general motherhood experiences, but also to introduce a community of mothers (and fathers!) to all the wonderful things Brigham and Women’s Hospital is doing to help deliver the future.

Starting this week I’ll introduce you to two people who are making a difference in the lives of modern moms everywhere. They have advice and real-life tips that I think every mom should hear. Several times each month, you’ll read a new guest post from Leslie & Ashley, the moms behind Modern Mom Nutrition. They’ll bring you stories from their own experiences – sharing what matters most to them and how it can impact your life. In addition to hearing from Leslie & Ashley on a regular basis, you’ll also have the opportunity to ask them questions about making your own baby food to mommy weight loss and everything in between.

Join me in welcoming Leslie & Ashley! In the spirit of the New Year, their first post to be featured will be on the subject of Baby’s First Foods.

What kinds of topics would you like to read from Leslie & Ashley? Tell us what you want to know and we’ll ask them to share their expertise.

You can help support our mission of healthy moms, healthy pregnancies and healthy babies with a financial contribution toThe Stork Fund today. 100% of donations to The Stork Fund benefits Brigham and Women’s Hospital.