Ann Douglas is like the mother to all us mothers since she's written a mother lode of motherhood books, 29 to be exact! Her popular pregnancy book The Mother of All Pregnancy Books is being released as a second edition so it's brand spanking new (pardon the pun), updated and revised with new content.

Ann Douglas fans and followers, and I don't mean just on Facebook and Twitter, will be tickled pink or blue (depending on what the ultrasound reveals), to learn more about how to be prepared for their pregnancy. Another great way to share this book is to pass it along to a friend or family member who may find themselves "in a family way". Hint: it makes the perfect baby shower gift! Hmm, I wonder if my new sis-in-law would like a copy? Just dreaming of that fresh new baby smell and hoping to become an auntie. Oh my - um, where was I? Back to the book and its bounty of information for moms planning a pregnancy, glowing moms-to-be, and mom's who are postpartum with baby. Ann has a mother lode of information and she's sharing a few tips from her book, so take a gander, ponder all the possibilities and have a happy pregnancy!

Excerpt from THE MOTHER OF ALL PREGNANCY BOOKS: An All-Canadian Guide to Conception, Birth and Everything In Between 2nd Edition by Ann Douglas

Planning Your “Babymoon”

Everyone expects a newly married couple to take some time to themselves after the wedding: it’s widely recognized that they need to be given some space so that they can become comfortable in their new roles (to say nothing of beginning to recover from the sheer insanity of those stress filled weeks leading up to the wedding). But when couples who’ve just had a baby ask to be given a few days to themselves before the visitors start arriving in droves, they’re sometimes made to feel as if they’re being unreasonably selfish in depriving other people of the chance to sneak a peek at the new arrival.

There’s certainly a strong case to be made for taking what renowned anthropologist and childbirth educator Sheila Kitzinger has dubbed a “babymoon”—time alone as a family during a baby’s first few days of life. Not only do new mothers need to physically recover from the rigours of giving birth and adjust to the hormonal changes that are triggered as they move from a pregnant to a non- pregnant state, but both parents also need a chance to regain their bearings and to get used to the fact that from this point forward they’re going to be someone’s mom or dad. As Kitzinger notes in her book, Homebirth, “The time immediately following birth is precious . . . A child is born and for a moment the wheeling plan- ets stop in their tracks, as past, present, and future meet.”

People in other parts of the world would no doubt be amused to hear about Western society’s supposed “invention” of the babymoon. In many cultures, it’s been a long-standing tradition to give mothers and babies the time and space required to get to know one another better. One tribe in Brazil, for example, routinely grants a mother and her baby a month of seclusion, while in India, it’s traditional for new mothers to focus solely on meeting the new baby’s needs during the first 22 days after the birth. These cultures have long known what we’re just now discovering: that it’s only natural to want to drink in everything about your new baby— the softness of her skin, the vulnerability of her cry, the irresistible smell of the top of her head, and those soulful stares that tell you there’s a lot more going on inside her head than you might otherwise have suspected.

Consider Hiring a Postpartum Doula

You’ve no doubt heard the buzz about birthing doulas—labour assistants who offer support to a woman and her partner during and immediately after the birth. (You can find out more about them in Chapter 11.) You might not be quite as familiar with postpartum doulas, but they offer a similar service during the postpartum period, providing hands- on assistance to new parents during the first days or weeks of parent- hood. Postpartum doulas are “jills of all trades” who bring a range of different skills to the table. As Elisabeth Bing and Libby Colman note in their book, Laughter and Tears: The Emotional Life of New Mothers, “The postpartum doula is baby nurse, housekeeper, and experienced advice giver all in one.”

If you don’t have extended family members in the area who can provide you with this kind of hands-on help and emotional support, a postpartum doula might be just what you need.

Postpartum Essentials for You

These are the types of items you’ll definitely want to have on hand after you have your baby.

The Mother of all Sanitary Napkins - You’ll need at least two large boxes of the most absorbent sanitary napkins you can find—ideally ones designed specifically for postpartum or overnight use. Light pads won’t cut it, even when bleeding tapers off, about 10 to 14 days post- partum. Avoid pads coated with wicking material, which can cause contact dermatitis that you may mistake for a yeast infection. Tampons are taboo during the postpartum period, and they’d be next to useless anyway, so forget about simply relying on any old tampons you might have kicking around in the back of your bathroom vanity.

Breast Pads - Washable cotton or wool breast pads are not only the most economical and the most environmentally friendly, they’re also the most comfortable. (Unlike paper breast pads, they don’t have the annoying habit of cementing themselves to your nipple—something that makes removing even the most stubborn of bandages seem like a picnic.)

A Nursing Bra or Two - You’re going to need more than just one or two—particularly during the early days of nursing, when leaking is the norm—but you don’t want to load up on too many nursing bras until you’re reasonably confident that you can judge the final size of your postpartum breasts. In other words, don’t blow the entire bra budget all at once.

A Breast Pump - A breast pump is handy to have, even if you’re not planning to spend much time away from your baby. It can help you to relieve engorgement during the early days (although you’ll also want to learn how to hand-express milk, so that you’re not totally reliant on your breast pump each time you need to get rid of a little excess milk) and allow you to stockpile some breast milk in the freezer so that you can enjoy an occasional baby-free outing. If you’re intending to return to work, you might want to consider renting or purchasing a high-end breast pump—one that will allow you to pump quickly and efficiently with minimum noise and discomfort. Hospitals often have rental options, or if you’d like to try before you buy, many breastfeed- ing clinics will allow you to test drive them.

A Bottle of Witch Hazel Lotion or Ointment - There’s no denying it: witch hazel is a hemorrhoid-suffering girl’s best friend. (Hemorrhoids are a common by-product of both pregnancy and the pushing stage of labour.) Pick up a bottle at your pharmacy or health-food store and apply it to your tender parts with a cotton ball, or buy witch hazel− soaked pads. It will help to reduce some of the itching and burning. If you prefer, pick up alcohol-free baby wipes (ones that contain alcohol sting and can be drying to your skin) or hemorrhoid wipes instead— keep the container in the fridge to help put the fire out. While you’re at it, why not splurge on some really good toilet paper?

A Hemorrhoid Cushion - These doughnut-shaped pillows can make sitting a little more comfortable if you’re dealing with a tender perineum and/or hemorrhoids. Be sure to have one on hand.

Prenatal Vitamins - It’s a good idea to continue taking your prenatal vitamins throughout the postpartum period (and even beyond that if you’re nursing or planning to get pregnant again in the very near future).

A Sports Bottle and a Hot Beverage Container - You’ll be unbelievably thirsty if you’re breastfeeding, so you’ll want to tote a container of liquid with you wherever you go. You can fill your sports bottle with ice-cold water and your hot beverage container with decaffeinated coffee or tea. It doesn’t matter which type of beverage is on tap as long as you’re getting plenty of fluids.

Clothing: What Your Newborn Needs

12 sleepers in a seasonably suitable weight and fabric

2 hooded towel and washcloth sets

3 fitted crib sheets

12 extra-large receiving blankets

3 pairs of socks

3 sweaters (depending on the season)

2 cotton hats

1 snowsuit or bunting bag (depending on the season)

4 large bibs

Nutrition on the Run: Healthy Foods for Busy Moms

These foods have been chosen because they take just seconds to prepare and can be enjoyed with a baby in your arms. Best of all, they work equally well at mealtime and snack time and are all highly versatile.

yogurt mixed with cereal and diced fruit

hard-boiled eggs sliced meat english muffins, bagels, or pitas whole-grain crackers fresh fruits

salads in bags (stuff the salad in a pita to make it easier to eat when you’re holding a baby)

peanut butter or soy butter and banana on whole-grain bread

chocolate milk or almond milk fruit-and-yogurt shakes low-fat cheese hummus, tzatziki, and other spreads/dips bran muffins dried fruits and nuts fresh vegetables granola bars

hearty soups with a stew-like consistency (full of good stuff; less likely to drip)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

You can follow Ann Douglas on Twitter @AnnDouglas and find her on Facebook: The Mother Of All.

BOOKALICIOUS BOOK GRAB GIVEAWAY

Wiley Canada Trade Books has signed copies of THE MOTHER OF ALL PREGNANCY BOOKS Second Edition to give to 2 lucky Bookalicious readers who leave a comment sharing their pregnancy tips and Kathy and Kim Originals will include one of their limited edition water bottle for each winner!

Yummy Rules and Regulations:
You must be a Yummy Mummy Club member to win. Click to sign up! It's free and filled with perks. One comment per member. Entries accepted until July 6th , 2011. Contest open to Canadian residents. Winners will be picked using www.random.org. Please mark the email [email protected] as a "safe sender" when you enter the Bookalicious giveaway!

Relish reading,

Wanda Lynne Young