mommymedia

Extreme Parenting

Satya — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:39:00 GMT

Extreme Parenting is the term author and parent Sharon Dempsey applies to parenting in the face of difficult circumstances, as parents of children suffering from a chronic illness must do. These parents must work harder than typical parents, as they ride the emotional rollercoaster that comes with serious illness.

Author Sharon Dempsey faced this challenge when her child was diagnosed with leukemia. Her son, Owen, struggled for many years until he finally passed. Her unique experience gave her the inspiration and strength to write Extreme Parenting. While her story is tragic, not all stories involving chronic illness are and, as she reiterates throughout the book, enjoying the time you have now with your child is the most important thing. A child with a chronic illness like cerebral palsy, eczema, diabetes, celiac disease, allergies, or leukemia, will experience life in a much different way than most of their peers. In and out of hospitals, changes in diet or appetite, frequent medication and physical limitations color their world in a way they may not understand. Dempsey emphasizes the child’s desire for normalcy and advises parents to make every effort to achieve a “normal” life, yet she also stresses the importance of being honest with the child regarding his or her illness.

Extreme Parenting provides parents with advice for handling challenges relating to school, friends, siblings and the child’s medical team. Dempsey also offers tips to help the child cope with treatments and readies parents for possible emotional reactions from the child at any age.

The most wonderful thing about this book, is its endearing and forgiving tone. Dempsey offers much-needed support, ideas and understanding to parents faced with this challenge. She shares her personal experiences, her mistakes and successes, the traumas and her emotional struggle. She offers her experiences as someone who has been there, encouraging parents to be strong and face one day at a time. This is a fantastic book for any parent with a child who has a chronic illness. Pick up a copy here.

The Yummy Mummy Manifesto

Satya — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:30:00 GMT

Anna Johnson is the author of Three Black Skirts: All You Need to Survive and The Power of the Purse. She has written for Vogue, Vanity Fair, InStyle, Elle and more. The fashionista and self-proclaimed artist is also the mother of a 5-year-old boy. In the Yummy Mummy Manifesto, Anna writes in the voice of your best girlfriend with ease and humor. The book is laced with fashion advice for all stages of motherhood and also provides some practical advice for common situations you will run into during pregnancy and motherhood.

At times, her book is addictive and enriching. There are certain sections that don’t quite hit the mark though, mostly when she gets into the technical aspects of pregnancy like diet, complications and birthing. On topics such as emotions, pampering, dressing, and decorating; her writing and advice is nothing short of fabulous. She also provides plenty of online resources for you to continue your Yummy Mummy journey with, although there are a couple that no longer exist (even though the book was copyrighted in 2008). This book is perfect for the yuppy city mom, the artist or the independent business woman – someone who wants to have it all and look good too. It also will cater to the crunchy granola mom, especially the ones who decided to or were forced to compromise those cherished ideals. Some of her advice will stay with you for many years like how to use fun colors and get daring with fashion, how to pamper yourself to the nth degree and how to deal with the baby blues or feelings of guilt.

Yummy Mummy is intuitive and supportive, giving the reader a strange mix of deep emotional advice and superficial tips for being fashionable. The dichotomy actually works quite well, giving the book some depth interspersed with “yummy” tips to make the mummy more happy and appealing. One of the best parts of the book is the beautiful illustrations on every page. This book is a fun, rich and interesting read for many moms and moms-to-be. Pick up a copy here.

The Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook

Satya — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:11:00 GMT

Look no further for your vegetarian diet plan during and after pregnancy. The Vegetarian Mother’s Cookbook by Cathe Olson provides the pregnant and nursing mother with a comprehensive and accurate diet plan, without making it too complex.

A quick precursor on necessary nutrients and calories for the prenatal and postpartum stages opens the book. Olson then shares a plethora of yummy and simple vegetarian recipes. Each recipe has a nutritional break-down at the bottom and includes options for vegans to use them too. The book has a personal tone to it – you can tell that she has made and loved each and every recipe. She includes comments such as: “my kids love this one” or “even toddlers will help with this.” Her personal advice is sparse; concise but very helpful. In the beginning of the book you will find lists of foods that she has chosen for each trimester of a pregnancy as well as the postpartum period. She advises the reader to make lots of extra meals during their third trimester to store and cook quickly once the baby has arrived. Many of the recipes can be made in 35 minutes or less. EVERY recipe is chock-full of nutritious ingredients, even the desserts. Vegetarian cuisine has come a long way in terms of flavor, and these tasty recipes are perfect evidence of that. Olson takes her recipes to the next level by making a lot of the ingredients from scratch like sauerkraut, vegetable broth and non-dairy milks. She gives lots of quick-meal tips, including some really helpful ways to freeze key ingredients in order to always have them on stock. If you are a vegetarian and pregnant, you absolutely should pick up this book. Pick up a copy here.

Pregnancy Sucks For Men: What to Do When Your Miracle Makes You BOTH Miserable

Madelyn8278 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:21:00 GMT

Unlike its esteemed counterpart Pregnancy Sucks, this book might not be enjoyed by couples who lack a sense of humor. If you don’t find the bulging, hairy belly on the cover of Joanne Kimes’ book funny or attractive, this book won’t be either. Kimes offers men yet another survival guide, but her sarcasm and lacking wit miss the mark.

“Offer and prepare the right foods when the woman of his dreams turns into a frightening hungry beast,” writes Kimes. “Your wife should be treated like any other savage creature ready to attack.”

Yikes. Maybe we’re wrong and you’ll think it’s funny when pregnant moms-to-be are referred to as a “savage creature” or “hungry beast,” but we think most people would agree that this book is over-the-top. We understand that getting your husband to read a pregnancy book can be difficult, but the only thing of value in this book are the worksheets which include “How Much Does it Cost to Raise a Baby?” and “Must-Have Things for the Delivery Room.” If your partner is having a difficult time picking up a pregnancy book, don’t bother giving him this one.

Purchase a copy here.

Crunch: Yoga Mama DVD

Satya — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:14:00 GMT

The Crunch: Yoga Mama DVD is a good prenatal workout for beginners. The poses are easy and relaxing, and most women who viewed the DVD found it most beneficial during their third trimester.

In addition to the gentle prenatal exercise provided by the poses, instructor Susan Elkind gives you bits of useful information as you breathe into each pose. She explains the chemical - relaxin - that makes your ligaments suppler during pregnancy, suggests pose modifications for those with carpal tunnel, and points out poses and breathing that could be of assistance when giving birth. Even though the regular routine is simple, an assistant instructor provides visuals of pose modifications that can be made to increase the difficulty of the workout. A big positive of this DVD is the limited amount of equipment required for the workout. Another great plus is that all the women featured on the DVD, including the instructor, are in various stages of pregnancy. On the downside, some viewers might feel that the meditation at the end goes too quickly and isn’t deep enough, and may find the background music throughout the DVD not as soothing as they’d like. I was a bit surprised at some of the poses chosen because they are fairly strenuous on the ligaments, when there are so many other, gentler poses to choose from. Nevertheless, none of the poses were too strenuous and it’s unlikely that anyone would hurt themselves performing them.

Pick up a copy here.

When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets or Quads, Revised Edition: Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy

Madelyn8278 — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:22:00 GMT

Two’s company and three’s a crowd, but how do you prepare for quadruplets? Moms-to-be are ranting and raving about When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets or Quads, claiming it’s the best resource they’ve gotten their hands on. Never mind other pregnancy books that undermine your twins, triplets or quads as “a little extra pregnant” because authors Dr. Barbara Luke and Tamara Eberlein understand the special needs of your unique pregnancy. This book acknowledges the importance of diet and nutrition in a multiple pregnancy, dedicating chapters to weight-gain and nutrition know-how. However, the feeding frenzy doesn’t stop there: When You’rer Expecting Twins, Triplets or Quads also shows you how to feed all your new additions effectively including yourself.

Overall, Dr. Luke is dedicated to improving the outcomes of multiple pregnancies. Her book aims to help mothers make wise decisions during pregnancy which helps them develop fewer infections, maintain healthy blood pressure levels and have healthier pregnancies.

“Why shouldn’t a woman who’s expecting twins or supertwins just follow the same standard advice given to a woman pregnant with one baby (a singleton)?” writes Dr. Luke. “Because when you’re carrying multiples, your pregnancy requirements go beyond what is standard.”

What most moms-to-be might love most about this book is Tamara’s story. While Dr. Luke offers excellent medical advice, Tamara humanizes the otherwise rigid facts. Hoping to inspire mothers, Tamara tells her tragic story to help ensure other moms-to-be understand the importance of proper nutrition and medical care.

“Nine weeks before my due date, my water broke and my twins were born,” Tamara writes. “My 3-pound son was too weak to suck or cry; his 2-pound sister couldn’t even breathe. What followed was a nightmarish blur of respirators and incubators, brain hemorrhages and faltering heartbeats, feat and guilt and regret.”

Be proactive during your pregnancy and grab a copy of this important resource! Plus, you’ll love the 50 recipes specially tailored for your pregnancy. Have you read this book? Let us and other moms know about how this book impacted your pregnancy!

When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets or Quads, Revised Edition: Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy

Due Dads: The Man's Survival Guide to Pregnancy

Satya — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:36:00 GMT

Although a bit cheesy at times, this DVD is informative and the men who follow the hosts’ instructions are guaranteed to please their pregnant wife or girlfriend. There are some jokes you really won’t be able to resist laughing at, but most of it is just silly.

Beyond the satirical nature of the two men that star in this DVD, there is some valuable information that all expectant fathers should learn. The material covers each trimester, including the symptoms, what to do and what not to do, and a small portion of fetal development. There are also topics that women might not expect to be covered; for instance, the DVD breaks down the various categories of dreaded advice-givers and then gives guys a 3-option plan to help their partner deal. Viewers will also receive crash courses in foot massages, cooking a frittata, and cleaning the bathroom if they view the extras on the DVD. What more could a woman ask for? This DVD also covers something you don’t usually see in movies or even books for expectant parents: the true cost for baby items and overall childcare. It’s enlightening to see the break down of how much each type of advanced schooling would cost per month if you start saving the month your child is born. These guys give great tips, such as don’t try to cut corners with the diaper pail – you need one that keeps the stink in! They also explain how to make sure the crib is safe, including measurements that should be taken of spaces that could be dangerous for newborns.

For guys that want to go above and beyond the call of duty, a quick synopsis of shopping for maternity clothes and packing some romantic goodies for after the baby is born will go a long way. If you can see past the cheese, or if you like that kind of humor, then this movie provides a great crash-course for any expectant dad. Pick up a copy here.

The Pregnancy Countdown Book: Nine Months of Practical Tips, Useful Advice, and Uncensored Truths

Madelyn8278 — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:51:00 GMT

Reading one pregnancy page a day will keep pregnancy complications at bay! Susan Magee and Dr. Nakisbendi count down the biggest milestones during your pregnancy with one page of helpful tips each day – or so they say. The tips for your first four weeks are lumped together in the first 15 pages and your daily facts actually start on day 28. Aside from the authors’ slightly misleading tagline, The Pregnancy Countdown Book does a nice job of providing daily tips for moms-to-be from midwives and doctors. The book also serves as daily reminders of when you should stop sleeping on your back, when traveling becomes risky and how to deal with varicose veins. The author is also witty with her daily tips, claiming that if you haven’t planned your baby’s nursery by Day 45, you could be in trouble.

Magee is also not afraid to tackle gory subjects that some moms-to-be might be reluctant to ask like, “What is lochia?” While some might agree that this book is not intended to replace your doctor, you’ll enjoy learning about your baby’s developments and Magee’s amusing anecdotes and quotes. Overall, this book will be a nice addition to your pregnancy library.

Do you own this book? Share your thoughts with other moms-to-be by leaving us a comment!

The Pregnancy Countdown Book: Nine Months of Practical Tips, Useful Advice, and Uncensored Truths on Amazon.

Positions for Labor: Maternal Movement and Optimal Fetal Positioning DVD

Satya — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:25:00 GMT

Before you go into labor, knowing the positions you can assume is invaluable information that every pregnant woman should have. Changing positions can help turn a baby that is in an undesirable position, relieve pain, hasten labor and produce a change in fetal heart rate.

Positions for Labor is a 20 minute guide to each position that you can assume during labor, with graphic images of how the positions affect the baby within. The short film provides some of the most important information a pregnant woman and her partner could have. Positions covered include: walking, stair-climbing, on hands and knees, sitting upright, upright lunging, squatting, side-lying and more. The positions are covered in simple detail with explanations of each of their benefits.

Unfortunately, this DVD costs almost $150! So, check your local library or ask local childbirth assistants if they have it available. You could also convince your primary care provider to purchase for use with all their patients – a purpose that it is ultimately geared (and priced) for. If you can get your hands on this DVD though, it is well worth the money and effort! Pick up a copy here.

The Guy’s Guide to Surviving Pregnancy Childbirth and the First year of Fatherhood

Madelyn8278 — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:50:00 GMT

A strong advocate of premarital sex and living with your partner before marriage, Michael Crider recounts the day his wife said those life changing words – I’m pregnant.

“Truth be told, we had all but decided not to have children at all. We were content in our current situation, and we both felt like our lives were complete…But sometimes fate plays its fickle hand,” writes Crider.

For first-time fathers, this book offers its reader some comic relief during the aches and pains of pregnancy. Don’t be surprised when you discover this book isn’t really a guy’s guide to surviving pregnancy; Crider details his journey through an unplanned pregnancy and how he survived. In any case, dads-to-be might identify with Crider’s situation while enjoying the author’s sarcasm and wit.

“How could you marry someone without first having sex with them?” writes Crider. “Would you buy a car without test driving it? Would you buy a house before seeing it? No. Hell no.”

Crider’s brutal honesty will either be a hit or miss, but if you and your partner have a good sense of humor, you’ll enjoy Crider’s warped sense of humor. This book is a breath of fresh air and a nice break from all the other “real” guides, and moms-to-be might enjoy watching a pregnancy through a different set of eyes.

The Guy’s Guide to Surviving Pregnancy Childbirth and the First year of Fatherhood

Lose That Baby Fat!

Satya — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:09:00 GMT

This is a great book to have during the postpartum period. La Reine Chabut is an international fitness model, actress, writer and mother. She is certified as an aerobics instructor, personal trainer and Pilates instructor. While her credentials might make her fitness program seem inaccessible, nothing could be further from the truth. Her book is beautifully designed to be simple, easy to understand and geared towards anyone and any schedule.

She leads you through each month of the postpartum period, and includes updates on how you might be feeling and the progress you should be making. The easy fitness routines can be done in 20 minutes a day - that’s 10 easy minutes in the morning and 10 quick minutes in the evening - without ever leaving the neighborhood. The routine is geared towards working the areas that most new moms want to focus on. There are only a few items of equipment that you need (an exercise ball, a resistance band, a jump rope and a jogging stroller) and simple walking plays a significant role in the regular routine as well. The book also provides an easy diet plan that won’t leave you starving but helps to cut down your calories gradually. The whole routine is geared towards not only losing weight and toning muscles, but also towards speeding up your metabolism, a key component to losing weight. To top it all off, Chabut’s voice is personal, sweet and often funny. It requires very little time to read this book and complete the routine. A must-have for moms who want their pre-baby body back! Pick up a copy here.

The Black Book of Hollywood Pregnancy Secrets

Madelyn8278 — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:03:00 GMT

For only $6.00, this book can be yours! The Black Book of Hollywood Pregnancy Secrets includes major celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Katie Holmes talking about their weight gain, cravings and acne. You’ll also learn tips and tricks from the stars on how to lose those extra pounds after pregnancy and how to feel beautiful and sexy during your nine months.

You might also enjoy the funny Q&A with baby planners Ellie Miller and Melissa Gould who promise to take the “labor out of your delivery.” These two women help A-list celebrities plan their births, answer questions and even give advice to celebrity dads. Celebrities have hired these ladies to do anything from registry consultation to stocking nurseries, and the only thing they claim they won’t do is provide a name and time to give birth to your baby. Want to know what moms always forget to buy before giving birth besides nipple cream?

“After giving birth you’re really sore,” tells Ellie. “We have clients put a maxi pad in the freezer. It’s very soothing, although hard to wrap your head around it. We put it in our nursery package.”

This will make a great gag gift for the holidays and baby showers. Pick up your copy today while it’s still on sale for this bargain price.

The Black Book of Hollywood Pregnancy Secrets

True Mom Confessions: Real Moms Get Real

Satya — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:02:00 GMT

The time you have to read is limited, being the busy mom that you are! A book that you can read, spending just one minute a day, and find some gratification in seems like an anomaly. Thankfully, that’s just one of the great things about Romi Lassally’s book. Read it for one minute a day or finish it in an hour.

The pages are filled with small quotes from moms who have bared their deepest, darkest secrets so that moms like you can know that you are not alone. You will laugh, draw back in disgust, and feel thankful to be a mom as you read the confessions in this book. You’ll read things that you might’ve done before, but never admitted to; things you would never do and are shocked to know someone else has; and things that you considered doing but never had the nerve to try. Lassally has put together a bird’s eye view of what motherhood is really like, behind the scenes, in the frazzled minds of moms. One mom admits to biting her baby’s fingernails instead of clipping them, another to fantasizing about another man while in bed with her husband, and one mom plays Guitar Hero after the kids are in school so she can get the highest score. When you read this book, you start to see a bigger picture of how moms are denied time to themselves - time to be human - and how they compensate regardless of the outside pressures. If more people knew these things, mothers wouldn’t be left holding such a heavy load all the time.

Pick up this book if you are a veteran mom, a first time mom or expecting – any mom can get something out of this candid book. Pick up a copy here.

Expect the Best: Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During, and After Pregnancy

Madelyn8278 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:18:00 GMT

This book will be your faithful companion “before, during and after your pregnancy.” Expect the Best offers great insight into how a healthy lifestyle before conception increases your chances of a healthy pregnancy. Elizabeth M. Ward, a mom and registered dietician, also gets you primed for pregnancy by asking you to kick bad habits before you decide to get pregnant. Her book is easy-to-read, and you’ll feel like you’re getting advice from a close friend who genuinely cares about your pregnancy.

“If your diet wasn’t so great before you got pregnant, don’t sweat it,” Ward writes. “Just take it from here, eating what you need for the stage you’re in now.”

The author doesn’t ridicule your bad habits, and she certainly does not tell you how to live your life. Instead, she focuses on “expecting the best” and adopts a sort of “never too late” approach to creating a healthy future.

This book isn’t just for first timers either. You’ll find this book offers a helping hand to women already living a healthy lifestyle by covering topics such as important vaccinations, what to expect during the months after delivery and dozens of quick and easy recipes rich with vitamins and minerals. Ward also offers great insight into the father’s role and how it doesn’t necessarily stop at conception.

The author ends her introduction on a positive note, stating you will ultimately decide what your diet is composed of – but in case you need some help – this book is here for you.

Pick up a copy here.

Fatherhood by Bill Cosby

Satya — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:22:00 GMT

This book is over 20 years old but still enjoyable and enlightening. Bill Cosby was the role-model father of the 80s and his refreshing sense of humor applied towards parenting is just what every parent needs. His book won’t teach you any miraculous parenting tips, and in fact, much of book might dissuade you from wanting to have kids. Somewhere in between the jokes that he makes about each milestone that his children have gone through (he is a father of five), there is a parenting technique that can not be named. His calm reasoning and strict set of rules are just two devices in his rather normal attempt to raise kids.

The book shows you how you might end up doing all those things you swore you’d never do. It gently guides you into the realization that children will push you beyond your limits, leaving you a stronger and better person. The best part of this book though is hearing the stories about his kids growing up, strewn with tidbits from his own childhood. His reverence for his wife and love for his children are endearing. There is nothing fake or glossed over in this book; he gives you the straight dirt on what you will be dealing with for 18 years or more. If you need a laugh or some perspective on what being a father (or even a mother) is all about, then this book is perfect. It is an easy and quick read that asks nothing of the reader except to enjoy the story-telling. Pick up a copy here.