Blog Posts by Being Pregnant

Lets face it… When it comes to books on pregnancy, and childbirth… there are a ton! And that means there are just as many crappy books out there that really shouldn't be on the shelves, as good reads. But weeding through the titles can sometimes be a project, especially for a new mother who may not exactly know what she should be looking for.

We've read some of the worst pregnancy books out there which scared the living crap out of us, and forced us into the train of thinking that every little bump or movement is something going extremely wrong.

Related: Caliente! 5 hot maternity dresses for spring

When I found out I was pregnant with my third child, it was a huge surprise in many ways. My husband and I were basically done having children, at least for the time being, but our daughter had different plans for us.

In the weeks after our discovery, I panicked, not knowing what kind of provider I was going to see, or what my plan for my pregnancy would be. With two previous c-sections, it doesn't really leave options open, despite the newest recommendations for vaginal birth after 2 Cesareans, also known as VBA2C. While this was typically frowned upon in the past, new research shows it is a safe and viable option to most women. Of course they would have to look at each individual woman and weigh the risks and benefits, and of course, the comfort level of the mother. But to have a large medical organization like ACOG come out and say that VBA2C is acceptable was a big deal.

Related: The glow, the hair, the cleavage - the 50 BEST things about being pregnant

It got me excited

Every pregnant woman has a moment - in the midst of doing something they've always done - when they find out that very thing has been decreed by someone to be totally verboten in pregnancy.

For me, it was drinking green tea. As I was warming my hands around a cup during my first pregnancy, I decided to see what great benefits green tea gives pregnant women, so I Googled it - Googling, of course, always brings up a wealth trouble when it comes to pregnancy health.

Related: Eek! Nausea, peeing your pants, and 8 other embarrassing pregnancy symptoms

And there on the pages of Google, I found out that drinking green tea can reduce a woman's folate levels. I, of course, then imagined I was damning my unborn child to birth defects thanks to my love of a morning cup of green tea.

A totally overblown reaction, of course (moderation in all things!), but when it comes to the health of your unborn baby - especially your first - you want to do no wrong. The second time around, I'm a little more moderate in my views, and here are five common pregnancy don'ts that I do.

Pregnancy is STRESSFUL. Stress is not good for you and NOT good for the baby. So what to do?

Before you get pregnant, people tell you lots of stuff about it. "You'll get morning sickness! You'll gain weight! You'll be tired!" While none of that is necessarily fun, I wouldn't call it embarrassing. But, see, there are a lot embarrassing pregnancy symptoms that you may experience. Pregnancy is not a delicate time!

So, what might these embarrassing symptoms be? (First-time moms, beware!)

Related: 15 things you should know now before the baby gets here

You think having a baby is hard? Try picking a nanny. Once you hold that little one in your arms, you're not going to want to give them up for nine or 10 hours a day to just anyone.

But the truth is, no matter how thorough you think you're being, only a certain amount of information can be gleaned from a 30-minute Q&A with a prospective nanny. Some parents seem happy with a name, telephone number and references (and by "some parents," I somewhat shamefully, admit I am referring to myself).

Related: 15 things you should know now before the baby gets here

Of course, you can always go with a nanny service, but the vast majority of families I know opt to use friends, friends of friends and online parenting groups to whittle down their list of nannies.

This kind of casualness with those watching young children alone begs the question: If you were hiring someone for your company, you'd likely do a background check, so why wouldn't you with your nanny?

Okay, this is serious. It's something I've been thinking about for a very long time, but I've been too afraid to say. I can't be the only one out there who feels this way, though. Because moms aren't perfect. Maybe we pretend that we are in front of other moms, lest we be judged for our failings. But we do all have them. And so…I've taken a deep breath, and I'm going to share:

I think I love my son just a little bit more than my daughter.

If ever there was a holiday that called for boozing, it would be St. Patrick's Day. In the pregnant state, however, green beer loses its luster, as does toasting in the name of Ireland. Thankfully, there are a bunch of non-alcoholic or mocktail drink recipes that will have your non-pregnant partner or friends green with envy. The best part? The kids can join in the fun.

Related: Can drinking while pregnant actually be good for your baby?

Here are our three favorite mocktail suggestions for a great non-alcoholic St. Patrick's Day 2011:

1. Basil Lemonade - Epicurious has a simple, delightful recipe for the drink that uses a basil lemon syrup, which can also be the base of a gimlet. I'm a huge fan of herbs in my drinks, and lemon and basil naturally compliment each other with or without vodka.

Related: Major mom confession: I think I love my son more than my daughter.

2. Green Tea Mojito - The Kitchn has adapted an awesome recipe from Paul Abercrombie's book Organic, Shaken