Pregnancy + Postpartum

This post is part of an editorial series, Birth Stories, is brought to you by UnityPoint Health and Des Moines Mom. All 5 original articles from the Birth Stories series can be found here. Saturday night August 12 is an...

 Please Join Us for Bloom: An Event for New and Expecting Moms Saturday, April 26th 10 a.m. to noon Valley Community Center (4444 Fuller Rd. WDM) Who's Invited: This community event is for expecting moms, new moms, and any moms needing a fun morning out!  Maybe you...

I am a note taker. In meetings, in church, when reading a book. And apparently I can now add luncheons to the list of places you can find me taking copious notes. Back in April, I had the privilege of attending the...

My son, Trace, was born in May of 2011. I was on cloud nine when he arrived. He was my second son (my oldest, Michael, was born in 2009), and I loved having two cute boys who I could...

It’s marathon time in Des Moines and many motivated individuals are getting ready for the main event, a 26.2-mile course featuring some of the city’s finest fall scenery. A year ago, I was one of these people prepping for...

When I fill out my paperwork at the OB, I put down 4 pregnancies and 3 live births.  When we were trying to conceive our first child, we got negative pregnancy tests for 9 months before we got a positive....

“High-risk pregnancy” is a phrase no mom wants to hear, but it doesn’t have to be scary. The experts at UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Perinatal Center are here to calm your fears and help you have a safe...

As you are reading this I'm probably running around like crazy getting things ready for Charlie's 1st Birthday Party on Saturday. Where does the time go? I feel like I was just in the hospital cuddling with my newborn,...

Dear Diary, Today is Friday, September... err... let me check my iPhone... September October 3 (holy crap, it's October!). I am... twenty... something weeks pregnant. Oh, the glow of pregnant ladies. "Never so beautiful!" Yeah, right. Maybe for a first time...

Motherhood has ruined me. I am officially wrecked from these children. My hips will never again fit into a size 4. My chest has forever changed. My belly will always have a little bit of pudge and a whole lot of...