Remember those early days of pregnancy when every little smell sent you running for the toilet?  You couldn’t walk past the Abercrombie & Fitch store at the mall without holding your breath to avoid the perfume wafting from the store.

Well, research shows it may all be in your head.  While many women say their sense of smell got stronger with pregnancy, research has not confirmed that women’s olfactory senses increase.  There have been several studies done on the subject and results are mixed. 

But ask any pregnant woman and she will tell you that she sure had experienced an altered sense of smell – especially in early pregnancy.

So why is your sniffer super sensitive now? 

Some scientists suggest that an aversion to smells might be a protective mechanism – like the spoiled meat doesn’t smell good, so you don’t eat it.

So trust your belly’s instincts.  If something doesn’t smell like roses to you, avoid it.  It may not cause food poisoning, but it might make you sick.

I’ll be honest.  With my first pregnancy, I did not care if we were having a boy or girl.  It was my first time to the rodeo and all I wanted was a healthy baby. 

But when the ultrasound technician announced it was a girl at our 20-week appointment – I did a little happy dance inside my head.  It’s not that I didn’t want a boy.  I was just more familiar with girls.  I’m a girl and I have a younger sister.  I knew nothing about boys until I moved in with my husband (and I still have a thing or two to learn about them).

My hubby was completely freaked when he found out we were having a girl.  He later told me that all he could think about was the wedding he would have to pay for one day.  It took him a while to adjust to the thought of having a girl, but two and a half years later, they have a special bond that he wouldn’t trade for the world.

The second time around, I was kind of hoping for a boy.  My husband and I decided we are going to be a two-kid family, so this was our last chance.  At the 20 week ultrasound I was convinced I would learn I was having a boy, but we found out it was another girl.  I was a little disappointed because it would have been nice to have one of each.  But again, a happy, healthy baby was more important.

My husband was a bit sad for the loss of the boy he would never have – but knew what he was getting into this time and welcomed the opportunity to be a father to another little girl.

The truth is, it’s normal to be happy or sad, nervous or elated, frustrated or excited when you initially find out the sex of your child.  After they are born and you get to know them, they become people.  You’re raising another human being and gender doesn’t make much of a difference when you are teaching them how to be a good person and live their life the best way they can.

And as Beyonce so poignantly says, “Who Run the World? GIRLS!” Oh yeah, that song was on my Lullabelly musical belt playlist. Maybe that’s why I was blessed with two strong-willed daughters!

Throughout my first pregnancy, I constantly asked my husband if he still found me attractive.  As I was ballooning up (as evident by my having to adjust my Lullabelly music belt every week!), and feeling less and less attractive, he always reassured me that he thought I was beautiful (and very sexy for carrying his child).

Then it was time to give birth and I was convinced that watching a small human come out of my vagina would turn him off for good.  But guess what? He thought it was the coolest thing ever! It had absolutely no effect on our love life… and two years later he knocked me up again.

And the second time around? He was even more into the labor and delivery because he knew what to expect.  He’s also patiently waiting for me to get the “all-clear” from the doc so we can have special “mom and dad” time again too.

It’s true that it can be strange for some men to watch the birth of their child.  And it may change his perception of your lady bits, but only for a minute.  Trust me, he’s a dude, he’ll be up for sex any time you say the word. 

My mommy friends agree too!  They’d be the first to tell you that watching birth hasn’t slowed down any of their husbands’ libidos.

Just remember that you shouldn’t have sex until four to six weeks after you give birth (and definitely wait to get the okay from your OBGYN). This will give your body time to heal. In the meantime, put on some of your favorite tunes, make a nice dinner, and enjoy some massage time together.

Ed Note: If your man has sexual issues from witnessing the birth of his child, definitely seek help from a therapist ASAP.

No matter how much you prepare (take classes, write up a birth plan, visualize your ideal birth), labor can be filled with surprises.  And even though your significant other has promised to be by your side and support you through the blessed event, sometimes a couple can benefit from hiring a doula.

A doula is a non-medical support person used to assist women and families during labor and sometimes the post-partum period. 

Here are a few reasons why a doula may be worth your while:

Reason #1: They won’t pass out on you! 

Does your S.O. faint at the sight of blood?  Or maybe they become a “Nervous Nancy” when the needles come out.  A doula has participated in hundreds of births and will remain calm and supportive throughout the entire childbirth process.  Plus, labor and delivery nurses are busy updating charts, talking to doctors and monitoring your baby and other patients.  A doula will stay focused on you and only you.

Reason #2: A Faster Labor?

Studies show that doula-assisted labors are 25 percent shorter labors on average.  Doesn’t that sound nice?  Doula-assisted moms are also less likely to receive an epidural, forceps, or a Caesarean.  If you are looking for a natural childbirth experience, using a doula might just be the way to go.

Reason #3: They Come With SWAG!

Doulas bring a whole bag of tricks and goodies along with them to help keep mom calm and relaxed – scented oils, ice packs, heating pads, music, birthing balls, etc.  Doulas also know which labor positions are most effective for relieving pain and increasing effectiveness.  Think of a doula like your very own Mary Poppins!

As “Birth” Day nears, you should take time to assess if you’ll have the support you need during labor.  You may just find having a seasoned pro, such as doula, on hand will help you achieve the type of labor and delivery you are looking for. Let us know how it goes too!

Swollen feet and ankles, also known as “cankles,” are very common during pregnancy.  I remember the first time I experienced pregnancy-induced cankles.  We had a wedding to attend in the middle of summer in the heart of South Carolina.  I got off the plane and poof – my calves, ankles and feet ballooned to twice their size. 

When you are pregnant, the circulation in your legs can be strained, which can cause swelling.

If you are experiencing the dreaded cankle, try these tips to stave off swelling:

-       Don’t wear anything tight.  Keep clothing loose and avoid tight fitting shoes and boots.

-       Get up and move.  If you are sitting at a desk all day or taking a long flight, get up and move every hour.  Try rotating your ankles, flexing your feet and wiggling your toes to keep blood flowing.

-       Prop up your tootsies.  Elevate your legs and feet with a pillow when you are resting.

-       Drink plenty of H2O.  Guzzle down water as much as you can to stay hydrated and minimize sodium intake.

Remember, the longer you sit without moving, the worse swelling can get.  Movement is the key to a cankle-less pregnancy!

About the Contributor: Amy G. is the mom to a beautiful baby girl and pregnant with baby #2 (due January 2012). She is a regular contributor to The Belly Blog, a blog for pregnant women and is sponsored by Lullabelly, a prenatal musical belt.

Today I’m 10 days shy of my due date.  To say I’m anxious is an understatement.  I can’t sleep at night and it has nothing to do with being uncomfortable, hot or having a kicking, full-term baby inside of me.

I’m just so excited about meeting my little girl and so totally nervous about labor and delivery.  These are, of course, all very normal feelings for a 38-week pregnant woman.

This is my second baby, so I’m not the blissfully ignorant first-time mama I once was.  I know what’s going to happen (to an extent, as each delivery is different) and so I have a very pre-conceived notion of how all this will go down.

With my first baby, my water randomly popped (literally!) at 10:30 p.m.  seven days before my actual due date.  So now every night around 10:30 p.m. I begin to wait for my water to break.  And I wait, and I wait, and I wait.  But nothing happens.

My little family is in a holding pattern.  We don’t want to make too many plans.  My husband is afraid to commit to any business meetings or events.  I don’t want to schedule too many playdates for my oldest daughter.  And I take my own commitments day by day. Sure I could go to the store tomorrow, but better go now…  just in case.

Because I’m a second time mom and had a vaginal delivery the first time around, the doctors have offered me the option of scheduling an induction.  It sounds like a rather convenient way to have a baby (I’d be able to arrange childcare for my oldest, there would be no middle of the night drive to the hospital, I’d get to choose my daughter’s birthday and maybe even get a mani/pedi prior).  But when it comes down to it, I’d rather let my baby decide when she’s ready to come into the world…. well, as long as she’s on-time. I can’t promise I won’t change my mind when I’m five days past my due date!

And that, my preggo friends, is what you call “the waiting for baby game.”

About the Contributor: Amy G. is the mom to a beautiful baby girl and pregnant with baby #2 (due January 2012). She is a regular contributor to The Belly Blog, a blog for pregnant women and is sponsored by Lullabelly, a prenatal musical belt.

When I had my first child, my husband and I went a bit overboard decorating her nursery.  We were first-time parents-to-be and wanted the best for our little bambino.

We set out to a high-end, organic baby boutique and got totally up-sold on our furniture.  Of course my daughter now has a very beautiful room.  However, we thought she would be out of her crib by the time we had number two and rationalized that we would be able to use the pricey furniture twice. 

Number two is on the way. My daughter isn’t old enough for a big girl bed. Now we have to buy another crib and more furniture to outfit our second nursery.  This time around, we were smarter and more economical – we will not be up-sold!

Here are a few tricks on how to find low-cost yet fabulous nursery furniture – take it from one who knows!

Determine Your Budget Ahead of Time: Before you run to the nearest Pottery Barn Kids or local baby boutique, set a budget for your furniture. Figure out what you are willing to spend before you decorate.  And if you fall in love with that designer crib, do some online comparison-shopping.  Cribs come in all different designs and prices and you can probably find a similar design at a lower price point.

Less is More: Pick out a few key pieces that you absolutely need in the nursery when you bring baby home.  A solid crib, changing table, glider, diaper pail and book shelf should do the trick.  Once you bring baby home you can figure out what you need as you go along so you don’t overspend on the wrong items.

Reuse: Instead of buying all new furniture, take inventory of old furniture to see what can be used in your nursery.  An old dresser can be refinished and outfitted with new handles to make the perfect dresser/changing table combo.  A comfy chair can be re-stuffed and re-upholstered and used as a glider.  Maybe there are some old keepsakes in your family that can be passed down.  Don’t forget to shop flea markets and garage sales for great finds too (just not the crib – so much has changed in crib safety that you shouldn’t buy a crib manufactured before June 2011).

Skip the “Baby Baby” Items: Lambs, butterflies and teddy bears are all sweet and cute. However, if you pick accent items and décor that are solid colors, your nursery design will grow with your child instead of your child outgrowing it first. Stick with classic colors and designs – you can’t go wrong!

Safety Comes First: Be sure to do your homework and don’t try to price cut where baby’s safety should be a priority.  Look for products that address concerns such as SIDS and antibacterial protection.  Also stick to safety guidelines when it comes to putting items such as pillows, blankets and stuffed animals in baby’s bed. And that pesky bumper, you don’t need that safety hazard in your crib. Skip it!

If you keep these tips in mind while shopping, you’ll outfit an adorable-yet-practical nursery within your family’s budget. Good luck!

About the Contributor: Amy G. is the mom to a beautiful baby girl and pregnant with baby #2 (due January 2012). She is a regular contributor to The Belly Blog, a blog for pregnant women and is sponsored by Lullabelly, a prenatal musical belt.

You lie in bed awake at night thinking about it.  You’ve heard stories and wonder if it’s just a myth.  You think it would be mortifying if it happened to you.  As your due date draws closer you may have more anxiety about it then actually giving birth.

What are we talking about?  You know it, pooping during delivery.

Not everyone experiences it, but yes, poop happens. Before delivery, your body has to get into “delivery” mode and that sometimes means cleaning out your bowels.

If it does happen to you know this…

• It’s not unexpected and your doctor and labor and delivery nurse have seen it happen (a lot) before

• There won’t be that much and it will get wiped away quickly – you may not even know about it and they may not even tell you.

• When you’re in the moment, you won’t even care that you did it and you might not even know it happened.

If you are really concerned about it:

• Give it the old college try and head to the bathroom while you’re in early labor to try and empty your bowels.

• Don’t invite anyone into the delivery room that you are not comfortable letting it “all hang out” in front of.

• Talk to your doctor. They will help you understand why it happens and calm your nerves about if it does. Your doctor will know best!

Remember, if you do go #2 on D-day, life will go on and the memory will be short-lived once you have that beautiful baby in your arms. 

I just came back from lunch where I spilled or dropped food five times on myself.  Before pregnancy, I was clean as a whistle at every meal.  As an eight month pregnant lady, I’m a food catching mess!

Throughout the day, I am dropping or knocking things over constantly and having to bend over to pick things up or clean up my own accidents regularly.  I can’t remember dear friends names or come up with words to express how I’m feeling.  Oh and I have to set reminders on my iPhone to make sure I do simple tasks around the house (Did you run dishwasher? Did you fold laundry?).

Yes, it’s true, I have a serious case of pregnancy brain.  This is when pregnant women feel scattered during pregnancy.  Typically organized women (such as myself) feel completely out of sorts.  It’s driving me mad!

Are you feeling the same way? Are you concerned that your brain will be a complete blob once baby arrives?

Well, studies show that a new mom’s brain actually grows after pregnancy!  The areas of the brain that drive nurturing instincts expand after the first few months of birth.  The result is that your mind is more primed for the demands of motherhood, such as feeding and responding to cries. 

Oh, and the more in love mom is with her baby, the bigger the surge in brain volume.  Scientists believe that this surge in brain growth motivates mom to take care of her baby and feel happy and rewarded by doing so.

Enough about that, now where did I put my keys?

About the Contributor: Amy G. is the mom to a beautiful baby girl and pregnant with baby #2 (due January 2012). She is a regular contributor to The Belly Blog, a blog for pregnant women and is sponsored by Lullabelly, a prenatal musical belt.

Two years ago, when my water broke while watching TV with my husband on a Thursday night, I waited for the contractions to come roaring at me full speed ahead.  I thought that surely because my water had broken that I must be in the throes of labor.  All I had were some minor “menstrual-like” cramps and it wasn’t until hours later that the real deal (i.e., major labor pains) kicked in.  Then I asked for my epidural to get some relief and it was smooth sailing from then on.

Some friends I know had intense contractions from the start and the doctor needed to break their water for them at the hospital.  Some asked for epidurals right away to avoid pain altogether and others delivered au natural (what I call “au painful”).

You see, just like no two pregnancies are alike, the same applies to childbirth and labor (and that goes for the same woman too).  Until you go through childbirth, you won’t know where on the spectrum of pain (and tolerance) you’ll fall.

Pain: How much pain you’ll experience depends on a variety of factors, including the strength of your contractions, whether you were induced (drugs can cause stronger contractions), your baby’s size and position in your pelvis and the speed of labor.

Tolerance:  A combination of life experience and genetics determines your ability to withstand pain.  A social support (or lack of it), fear, anxiety and even the positive and negative labor stories you’ve heard can contribute to your perception of pain. 

Coping: If you know you have a very low tolerance for pain, you might want to consider lining up a doula or midwife.  Studies show that women who give birth with a support system in place report less use of pain medication, fewer Cesareans and greater satisfaction with their birth experience. If you already know you have a low tolerance for pain or that you don’t cope with pain well, you can always opt for an epidural and other labor-pain medications.

Alternatively, breathing and relaxation techniques can also boost your ability to handle pain.  You can sign up for Lamaze, Bradley Method or HypnoBirthing classes with your partner prior to D-Day to learn breathing, visualization, meditation and other strategies to help keep you calm and to minimize your pain.

The most important thing to remember about labor and delivery is that you should be flexible.  It’s great to have a birth plan and know what you want and don’t want ahead of time, but your little guy or girl may have other plans (and medical needs). Be flexible enough to listen to your body’s needs, trust your instincts and take-in various medical professionals’ advice. Doing so will ensure your labor and delivery are one of the best and most memorable experiences of your life. Good luck!

About the Contributor: Amy G. is the mom to a beautiful baby girl and pregnant with baby #2 (due January 2012). She is a regular contributor to The Belly Blog, a blog for pregnant women and is sponsored by Lullabelly, a prenatal musical belt.