tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:27:09 +0000It's becoming real. Single motherhood has begun. <br />We've conceived, delivered, received an adoption placement, <br />brought our child home. Now what?http://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)Blogger16125ChoiceMomBecominghttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098.post-3823598052746677240Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:32:00 +00002009-09-21T13:38:21.223-07:00sleep deprivationinfantnewborn stresspost-partum doulanew motherhoodmother fatiguebaby exhaustionA woman on the Choice Mom discussion board wrote with a common issue: dealing with the exhaustion of single parenting a newborn. Women have been responding with wonderful insight and tips, which will be featured on an upcoming "Choosing Single Motherhood" radio show. But here's the query that precipitated the advice. Please respond to it here as well.Hi ladies. My little one is now 1 week and 5 http://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/2009/09/baby-boot-camp.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098.post-3166090928472397087Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:44:00 +00002009-06-15T22:58:03.827-07:00newbornsinfantpost-partum doulanew motherhoodmother fatiguebaby exhaustionA Choice Mom-in-the-making asked what kind of help she should try to line up before her child was born. Experienced moms on the Choice Mom discussion board responded with a unanimous "ask for all the help you can get." This insight from Lily was especially helpful.You will need help especially for the first week at home. After that, you will need a human to talk to. A lot will depend on what you http://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/2009/06/help-after-baby-arrives.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098.post-2098919526798409064Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:53:00 +00002009-03-31T07:56:40.595-07:00mother worrychoice momnewbornssleep deprivationinfantnewborn stressnew motherhoodsingle mothers by choicemother fatiguebaby exhaustionsubmitted by DeniseHey Ladies,After 10 months of motherhood, these are just a few of the things that I have learned. 1. Your baby will stick their fingers up your nose and pry open your mouth while you are trying to sleep.2. Bodily fluids become normal and natural, even something to be celebrated. "Yay, she pooped!"3. You will have to count the amount of wet diapers that your baby produces http://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-ive-learned-about-motherhood-so.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098.post-4832363724890177551Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:05:00 +00002009-03-17T10:13:42.363-07:00mother worrymother fatiguebaby exhaustionsubmitted by CathiThe first few weeks (and months, and maybe years?) of motherhood are a beautiful and emotional time. You bond with Baby, and learn about each other, and stare dreamily into each others' eyes. You are also wracked with hormones, and lack of sleep, and an almost overpowering, choking terror. I tell you this not to make you cry, but because most people tell you lots about that http://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/2009/03/dealing-with-what-ifs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098.post-830332129700338063Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:39:00 +00002009-02-09T11:46:01.320-08:00estate planningchoice momfinancial planninginsurancesingle mothers by choicealso posted on Waiting and Choice Mom blogs, because it's just that important:I just learned that a 40-year-old Choice Mom-in-the-making, who lived in the D.C. area, suddenly died Christmas Day while 32.5-weeks pregnant, from the very rare pregnancy complication of HELLPS (Hemolytic anemia, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelet count).Her baby boy was born safely, but she did not get to meet http://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/2009/02/now-that-youre-momanother-step-you-need.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098.post-4897093888224067656Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:03:00 +00002009-01-03T12:13:31.634-08:00choice momnewbornssleep deprivationinfantnewborn stressnew motherhoodmother fatiguebaby exhaustionA new Choice Mom wrote about her exhaustion with the first months of motherhood. Women in the community chimed in with support. Here are two of the responses:Said Julia:It is not easy. I find myself thinking the same thing about how could I have ever thought that I could handle this on my own. It comes in waves (my daughter is 3), but in the end she is the best thing that ever happened to me - http://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/2009/01/when-you-wish-you-could-quit.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098.post-1103359982022779532Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:14:00 +00002008-12-03T11:29:36.281-08:00Mommy and Menewbornssingle parentingmallwalkinggrocery deliverpost-partum doulaWe had three new Choice Moms within a week here in Minnesota recently -- all moms to newborn girls -- and the common question came up: any tips for dealing with the exhaustion and logistics in these early days, especially if there aren't many family members around to help? The local Choice Moms responded with great advice:From Debbie, mother of an 11-year-old daughter: 1. My big recommendationhttp://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/2008/12/we-had-three-new-choice-moms-within.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098.post-3512525245131197140Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:41:00 +00002008-11-14T14:00:04.641-08:00choice mominfantsingle parentingnew motherhoodmother fatiguebaby exhaustionNew Choice Mom Jo, 36, wrote when her daughter was 11 weeks old. Her daughter was conceived accidentally (failed contraception), shortly before her relationship ended, and she opted to raise her child alone. "She is beautiful, a joy, but I am really struggling with being a single parent. I do have a support network of family and friends but there's only a limited amount others can do. What I http://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/2008/11/feeling-alone-and-tired-as-new-single.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098.post-1367365988426440827Tue, 23 Sep 2008 03:07:00 +00002008-09-22T20:09:03.047-07:00parent support groupsingle parentingtwins clubsingle mothers by choicesupport networksubmitted by LaraIt seems that the most common question I've gotten both from health professionals and others is "what kind of support system do you have?" or "you must have a huge support system to being doing so well with twins." My answer is always I have enough. And I have had enough for the most part. I've had a day or two where a break or an extra set of hands would have made me a happier http://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/2008/09/creating-support-network.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098.post-2209898875275105971Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:13:00 +00002008-09-11T22:19:20.665-07:00newbornsonesiesA group of Choice Moms on the discussion board have been offering tips on must-have items for the newborn months. One woman is compiling the list and we will make it available soon on the ChoiceMoms.org website in the BECOMING section.But this particular post seemed especially apt, submitted by J Moran: required 1) two arms 2) two breasts nice to have: 3) a boppy 4) a "carrier" http://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/2008/09/newborn-needs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098.post-8238354370994622769Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:44:00 +00002008-07-30T09:51:51.762-07:00sleep deprivationsingle parentingnewborn stressnew motherhoodsubmitted by CathiWell, I started back to work yesterday, and if I thought I was tiredBEFORE, man, it's going to be a tough week! Err, make that, toughyear.Jenny is now 2 ½ months old and sleeping in longer chunks which makesit a little easier, but it's still really tough not to have someoneto hand her over to. I guess I thought she'd be magically sleepingthrough the night by now. My friends havehttp://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/2008/07/week-10-being-new-mom.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098.post-289082290278976604Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:49:00 +00002008-07-02T20:58:46.473-07:00from Cathi1. I can eat a meal with one hand and a baby’s butt 5 inches from my face. With a full diaper. (The baby, not me.) Although I wish it was politically correct to wear Depends all the time, since I never have time to go to the bathroom, or I pee when I sneeze. And yes, you learn to pee while holding a baby.2. I watch the baby instead of whatever is on the TV, and it’s much more http://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/2008/07/10-ways-i-know-im-mom.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098.post-2190358021270401465Thu, 22 May 2008 12:28:00 +00002008-05-22T05:38:11.818-07:00from Sarah, who noted that she was able to write only because her mother was around to hold her one-month-old sonI had been so focused on the trying to become a mom that actually becoming a Mom has blown me away! All in a good way of course... but nothing could prepare me for those first few nights in the hospital by myself and this little face with these huge eyes staring out at me. I felt like http://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/2008/05/from-sarah-who-noted-that-she-was-able.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098.post-5407226166708777029Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:02:00 +00002008-04-09T10:11:28.918-07:00 (submitted by one of my favorite Choice Mom bloggers, Cathi):Now that I’m getting really close to D-Day (supposedly less than six weeks, which is just totally unimaginable after a lifetime of waiting), I am finding myself more and more irritable rather than excited. I’ve heard that there are women out there who just love being pregnant, that they glow and bond and gain three http://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/2008/04/grumpy-sleepy-and-dopey.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098.post-3188873084786918346Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:15:00 +00002008-03-17T09:16:45.101-07:00In recent weeks I've been reminded deeply of the very strong power that community can provide, and wanted to use the emotions of the moment to reiterate to Choice Moms the value of extending your networks as head of a household. Including the sometimes isolating time at home with a newborn.My mother's father died when she was 9, and her brother was 6. My grandmother was a pretty woman who had no http://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/2008/03/finding-community.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399272043237340098.post-1010933437428613422Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:00:00 +00002008-03-05T15:00:55.494-08:00stress, isolation, building support networks, chat room for mothers of newborns, dealing with twins, early money issues, estate planning directory, telling the story, emergency plans, logistics tips, illness, finding childcare, travelhttp://becomingchoicemoms.blogspot.com/2008/03/to-come.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Choice Mom)0