Spit-up On My Shoulder

Last Saturday, I attended a six-hour all women retreat. November was a month of many deadlines and other stresses, so I was VERY ready for this retreat.
The woman who ran the retreat, Jo Hatcher, was wonderful, but I had the darnedest time relaxing because of the build-up of stress in my body. [...]

A recent study found that married women do about one less hour of housework per week for every $7,500 they earn as full-time workers outside the home, regardless of the husband’s income.
I found the study’s conclusions interesting, but was surprised about the following comments from women in the article:
“It’s not about the paycheck for [...]

If you haven’t heard of MOTHERS (Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights), I hope you’ll check out their website here.
MOTHERS is a grassroot organization whose mission is to improve the economic well-being of mothers and other family caretakers. Below you’ll find some startling and disappointing recent statistics from the MOTHERS newsletter. The United [...]

Have you heard of domperidone? Domperidone is a prescription medication for gastrointestinal problems that also works as a lactation aid. The problem? In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration banned its sale for any use, due to concerns about health risks. Therefore, domperidone is illegal.
From Rachele Cooper’s piece in the October [...]

A great book on how mothers can take better care of themselves is Mother Nurture: A Mother’s Guide to Health in Body, Mind, and Intimate Relationships by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Jan Hanson, M.S., L.Ac., and Ricki Pollycove, M.D.
Rick kindly agreed to share the list below with you from the Mother Nurture newsletter.
10 Reasons [...]

Dear Readers,
I recently came across some pages I had written when I was in the worst of my postpartum depression. The entry is dated 11/29/95 when my daughters were 3 (Danielle) and 6 months (Linda). It’s still painful for me to read these words, but I’m hoping sharing them will help any of [...]

From 2001-2004, 344 women with gestational diabetes (GD) – high blood sugar during pregnancy – were tracked by Dr. Michelle A. Russell, MD, of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Vermont.
Dr. Russell found that less than half of the women were checked for blood sugar levels at their postpartum visit. [...]

Do you have days where you really need to get your emotions out on paper, but don’t know how to start? I love the journaling prompts below from Melissa Gayle West’s book, If Only I Were a Better Mother: Using the Anger, Fear, Despair, and Guilt That Every Mother Feels at Some Time, as [...]

Today we’re continuing our discussion about the benefits to you of joining a pregnancy or postpartum support group.
Our guest is licensed clinical psychologist, Dana Paskowitz, Ph.D., who runs support groups and has a special interest in working with women around issues of pregnancy, postpartum adjustment, and parenting. To see Part 1 of [...]

Today I’m talking with Dana Paskowitz, Ph.D., and licensed clinical psychologist. Dana has provided psychological services to individuals, couples, families, and groups within a variety of settings and across a wide range of clinical issues, since 1995.
She is also a trained doula, and has a special interest in working with women around issues of [...]