So you discovered some ahem, pain down there. Maybe a spot of blood in your poop. Some gnarly itching….oh girl. We feel your pain, literally.
Hemorrhoids are one of those yucky pregnancy side effects that, on the surface, is slightly embarrassing to talk about openly yet they’re super common. You get hemorrhoids when the veins around your rectum become varicose, aka swollen and then they get super painful. Sad times. They often make their debut during the third trimester.
According to the Office on Women’s Health (OWH), up to 50% of pregnant women develop hemorrhoids. According to an article in World of GastroenterologyTrusted Source, hemorrhoids are common during the third trimester.
Healthcare providers divide hemorrhoids into two different types— internal and external hemorrhoids.
Internal hemorrhoids may require treatment, including medication or non-operative methods, such as rubber band ligation. However, external hemorrhoids do not require treatment unless they cause discomfort.
The most common reason for getting hemorrhoids is constipation combined with mounting pressure on the area from your growing babe and bod. The plus side to all this heinousness is the fact that the problem should improve once your baby is born. Of course the best way to avoid hemorrhoids is to not get them in the first place. Preventative measures include eating a high fiber diet and drinking plenty of fluids so to ensure smooth moves. If ‘rrhoids got you down, here are a few ways to seek relief:
Take a warm bath with baking soda
Use said baking soda around the area to reduce itching
Apply witch hazel to relieve swelling
Use medicated pads from your pharmacy
Try not to sit for long periods
Of course, if anything seems totally off with your hemorrhoids, if they’re exceptionally painful or you experience bleeding, call your healthcare provider ASAP.
Morgan Curtis is Making it Work From design meetings to bath time.
By Babe | Photos courtesy of Morgan Curtis
Morgan Curtis gets the whole “multitasking” thing. As mama to toddler daughter, Lottie and founder of modern sleepwear brand, Morgan Lane as well as a new sustainable cozy-wear brand Cozyland, she has her day timed to a science. Oh did we mention she’s got number two on the way?
When she’s not making scrambled “eggies,” Morgan’s in meetings, scarfing down lunch, taking a self-care moment and back home for dinnertime dance parties with her fam. It’s all pretty darn cute. Here’s how Morgan makes her day happen, one sweet moment at a time.
Above and at right: Morgan cuddles with daughter, Lottie in matching jammies, natch.’
7:27 am: I wake up thinking my daughter, Lottie, is crying…realize I’m just programmed that way and there’s nothing but silence, stare at my phone till I am “allowed” to go wake her at 8 am according to our recent sleep training procedures we were taught. I know it’s bad to look at your phone first thing, but I like to see what orders people have placed overnight and I work with a lot of overseas factories that need quick answers in the morning.
7:57 am: I sneak into her room, she knows it’s me. “Is that a mama?” Lottie asks. I scoop her up and smother her with kisses.
8 am: I take her into our bed for snuggle time while her sippy cup of milk gets warm. We are wearing our favorite matching Cozyland elephant pajamas and the sunshine is coming through the window in the best way. I deeply cherish this moment because she used sleep with us every night until very recently. We used a sleep trainer that I highly recommend, changed our lives completely. I secretly miss her in the bed though. Ha!
8:15 am: I go to brush my teeth and say hi to my soon to be baby boy in my huge belly, who is now significantly sticking out from my pajama top. He looks enormous in the mirror and is kicking me to say hello back.
8:20 am: I make scrambled “eggies” with Lottie. I let her mix the eggs and throw the pieces of cheese into the pan, it is the only way she will actually eat anything besides bread. My husband makes the coffee. We both need to rush out by 9 am for work.
9 am: My office is only an eight minute walk from our apartment, so I like to leave with Lottie and her nanny in the morning and walk them to the park on my way to work. We always walk by this beautiful fountain near our house. Today it is particularly glorious and I give Lottie a little spin in our matching Cozyland sweats before heading off to work.
9:30 am: I have a design meeting with one of my lovely employees Kelly, who helps me with the creative for our collections. Even though we now have two big brands, we are still a small team of four strong, inspiring women full time at the company. We are going over “Drop 3” of Cozyland and choosing designs and Pantone colors.
10:45 am: I run out to catch Lottie in her ballet class at Dance with Miss Rachel a few blocks from my office. She is spectacular as always. I love having everything so close by because I miss her so much throughout the day.
11:30 am: I stop at Joe and the Juice on the way back to the office for a Power Shake and an Avocado Sandwich that I save for later. It has become my new obsession. Somehow I am always getting free stuff on the app and I am satisfied throughout the day. I also can’t resist the pink packaging.
12:11 pm: I start working on a new print for the AW22 Morgan Lane collection. This is my favorite part of what I do. I start each season with a theme and create a watercolor that turns into a print and later gets printed on silk. The theme for this collection is forbidden fruit.
1:12 pm: I head over to our design board for the Pre-Fall 2022 Morgan Lane collection to get a sample status update on when they will be arriving from the factory. My head is spinning after reviewing three different collections for Morgan Lane and Cozyland in one day, but that’s the way fashion calendars work, you are always thinking about multiple drops at the same time that are in different stages of development in order to stay on time with your deliveries.
1:58 pm: Our Candy Land x Morgan Lane collaboration photoshoot is happening nearby at Pietro’s in Nolita. I walk over there to check on the styling, hair, and make-up. The girls seem to be having a great time and it is going well! I leave my sister Sophie in charge, who is art directing the shoot. It blows me away how talented she is. It is such a relief to have someone I trust this much involved in my creative. She put the whole shoot together for me!
2:45 pm: I head over to a trunk show I am having in my good friend, Sofia Karvela’s, store Wknd Nation in Soho. I throw on a Morgan Lane pajama top and snap a selfie. It just started hailing outside, just my luck!
3:10 pm: I quickly eat my avocado sandwich that I got earlier and hop on the train to go all the way uptown to my OBGYN for my 32 week appointment. The baby is looking at me on the ultrasound machine and smiling!
4 pm: I stop at Bespoke Brows on Lexington Avenue for a much-needed eyebrow wax. It costs $27 and you get a free one every few visits, it’s a great deal for an exceptional job. Best of all, I am in and out in less than 10 minutes.
5:05 pm: I walk in five minutes late for the nanny because my train had “extensive delays.” I hate when that happens. The craziness of my day immediately wipes clean when I hear Lottie’s little feet running around the corner to greet me at the door.
6:07 pm: My husband, Tom, is making dinner while I am having a dance party with Lottie to her favorite Frozen songs. Tonight he made “Tommy’s chicken” which is small pieces of chicken cutlet with panko bread crumbs, and a side of peas and mac and cheese. It is delicious and just what I wanted.
6:35 pm: Bubble bath time for Lottie. She loves the bath so much it is hard to get her to come out when she’s done. I get her back in her Cozyland jammies. She reads a book to me first, then I read one to her. I put her to bed by 8 pm and she miraculously now falls asleep within 10 minutes on her own, I never thought this would happen, life-changing.
8:26 pm: I make a bath for myself, light a candle, and reflect on my day. I usually get distracted though and start organizing Lottie’s bath toys. Organizing things is one of my most successful methods of meditation for some reason. It helps me to relax.
11:30 pm: After catching up on a few episodes of Only Murders in the Building with my husband, we finally get to sleep. I am beyond exhausted, but also so excited about what was created today and can’t wait to see Lottie’s little face again in the morning. Goodnight!
When to Start—And Stop—Prenatal Vitamins From our friends at Beli Baby
Beli is designed to create a positive foundation of health through one small, yet significant act of a daily vitamin. All products are vegan friendly, gluten free, GMO free, made in a FDA registered facility, and follow the Good Manufacturing Process Guidelines (CGMP), And today, you can use CODE: HATCH15 for an exclusive discount at checkout.
Moms-to-be are strongly encouraged to take prenatal vitamins to support their growing babies (and themselves!) during those exciting nine months. But the best time to start taking prenatal vitamins isn’t when you see those two pink lines—it’s actually before you get pregnant. By the same token, new parents shouldn’t stop taking prenatal vitamins when that sweet baby is finally in their arms. Here’s what to know about starting—and stopping—prenatal vitamins.
THE PRECONCEPTION WINDOW
What both biological parents do 6 months before conception helps prepare for everything to come. This is a time to fuel your fertility and boost the chances of successful conception, a healthy pregnancy, and a healthy baby at birth and well beyond. Studies have linked key micronutrients to the very processes that drive conception for both women and men. Let’s face it—we know the importance of nutrition, but most of us have pretty significant gaps. Even if you’re eating for fertility health, a high-quality prenatal supplement, like Beli for Her and Beli for Him, can make a really big difference at every stage.
During the conception stage, our women’s prenatal is formulated for success:
Vitamin C reduces the chance of miscarriage.
Vitamins B6 and B12 to trigger ovulation.
Vitamin D to support embryo implantation.
Vitamin E to help protect reproductive function and egg quality.
Zinc to support reproductive hormones.
Vitamin K2 to aid in the production of progesterone and estrogen.
Folate to help improve egg quality and boost the chances of conception.
Chromium helps improve fertility in women with PCOS.
Choline to reduce the risks of miscarriage by protecting your baby from neural tube defects.
For hopeful dads-to-be, our science-backed formula can make all the difference. Studies have found that specific nutrients can increase fertility significantly — increasing sperm count and quality, protecting sperm growth, and improving sperm motility and morphology.
WHEN SHOULD YOU STOP TAKING PRENATAL VITAMINS?
There’s no standard recommendation for when you should toss the prenatals, though the general suggestion is to continue taking them as long as you’re breastfeeding. That’s based on studies that have found that continued supplementation has direct benefits for your baby.
Beli’s formulation is designed to support new mamas and their babies with appropriate levels of key nutrients:
Vitamin D to help protect against postpartum depression and support healthy milk production.
Vitamin E to support immune and heart health.
Vitamins B6 and B12 to help regulate appetite and boost energy.
Iron helps minimize postpartum fatigue and protect against anemia.
Magnesium to help protect against postpartum depression and improve sleep quality.
In men, a steep drop in testosterone during late pregnancy and birth can be detrimental to mood and energy levels, leading to reduced sex drive, reduced emotional resilience, even paternal postpartum depression. A workaround to keep testosterone levels stable? You guessed it — the same quality men’s prenatal you started taking preconception.
TAKEAWAY
If trying for a baby is in the cards, start taking a prenatal vitamin six to three months before you hope to conceive. Continue taking that prenatal throughout your pregnancy and during the postpartum and breastfeeding stage. This is a frenzied, exhilarating, exhausting time, and new moms and dads will both benefit from a daily dose of all the right nutrients.
This article was originally published on belibaby.com and written in partnership with Beli Baby.
Remember to Take Care of YOU This Holiday This has been a PSA.
“I know we’re all supposed to give ourselves ME moments everyday, but during the holidays I double down on this sentiment. Because we’re already overly scheduled with parties, school Zoom events and a million other things, I lean into self-care now more than ever.
Molly Yeh The farm-based foodie preps for baby number two.
By Babe | Photos by Chantell Quernemoen
We sat down with Molly Yeh, cookbook author, blogger and host of Food Network show Girl Meets Farm to discuss her second pregnancy and all the feels coming along for the ride. As she preps for bringing daughter number two into her idyllic life on a Minnesota farm, Molly’s chatting everything from mac and cheese cravings to figure skating binge-watching and all the cozy moments in-between. Peep our interview, below.
How are you feeling?
It’s been good! I will say, the beginning was a little wild and it was different from my first. All my symptoms were heightened and I was eating all the mac and cheese and all the carbs all the time. I’ve also been really tired. I also got this weird metallic taste in my mouth. So basically, it was a lot of mac and cheese and naps. Now, in my second trimester, I’m out of the woods and I feel good. Large, but good.
How is this pregnancy different from your first?
In one way, it’s been a bit more intense because I’m pregnant and also chasing after my two-year-old daughter, Bernie. At the same time, I’ve definitely been more relaxed with my approach to being pregnant. I’m not as strict about everything. With my first, I was reading all the books and trying to make sure I was getting the exact ounces of protein everyday and exact ounces of vitamins etc. This time, I decided to listen to my body. I’m still following the important rules like no runny egg yolks, but when it comes to eating and exercising, I’m really just listening to my body’s needs.
Also, I’m going on walks everyday, which is the best thing ever. With food, my first trimester was all carbs and I went with it. I snuck in vegetables when I could and if it didn’t gross me out. In the second trimester, I feel more like a sane person. I’m trying to be healthy but if I need the bagel, that’s OK, too. I don’t have an app on my phone. I don’t know exactly how many weeks I am. I’m just rolling with it.
Do you know what you’re having?
We’re having a girl, which when they told me, I didn’t believe them because I feel so different this time around. I thought it must be a boy. But I’m so excited for another girl and Bernie is so excited to have a little sibling. She’s been changing diapers on her stuffed animals and wraps up her babies and carries them around.
I always knew I wanted to space my kids apart because I’ve had so much fun with Bernie and hanging out with her. We’re buds, like we do each other’s nails and makeup. I wanted to make sure to savor time with her and get to a point where we could feel like she would really thrive in her role as big sister. We were never in a rush after she was born. At some point last year, we were like, OK, why not? This sounds like a fun thing to do. We stopped not trying and so we’re very lucky that everything has gone smoothly. She’s two-and-a-half, so when the baby is born, she’ll be almost three.
Obviously food is central to everything you do. Can you tell me about your diet and how it’s changed since becoming pregnant?
I’ve paid closer attention to increasing my nutrient intake versus making nutrients more efficient. I’m switching to smaller meals throughout the day and making sure I get my vitamins. Now I sound like a rule follower, but whenever I’m filming, we’re on a pretty regular schedule because we have breakfast at the same time. The entire crew breaks for lunch at the same time and dinner at the same time. When I got pregnant, exactly two hours after breakfast, I’d be starving. So I’d have avocado toast and an orange, and even before lunch, I’d have another snack, like a hard boiled egg. Being starving as a pregnant person is so aggressive. A lot of my diet was how to avoid not being too starving and anticipating it with healthier snacks.
I don’t have an app on my phone. I don’t know exactly how many weeks I am. I’m just rolling with it.
How are you preparing your daughter for number two?
Every morning she wakes up and lifts my shirts and pats my belly and says good morning to the baby.
We talk about what we should name the baby. She says Bernie. I’m working on explaining to her that it would be a little confusing. We’re always talking about it. Bernie also decided which room would be her sister’s room and which would be her room. So we’re trying to let her have as much say in decisions as she is able to.
The walks have been a game changer. I noticed really early on that this time would be different with my workouts because right off the bat, they were a struggle. I’ve alwways worked out and with Bernie, I was lifting weights. But this time, I take walks, I listen to podcasts, I walk down to the neighboring farm and back. I’ve noticed how wonderful it felt physically and mentally to have that. They’ve been everything, such a priority. Other than that, I love skincare. I love face masks. May Lindstrom is my new favorite skincare and masks. She has this honey mud mask. So it’s little bits of that here and here. I love watching figure skating. That’s my favorite hobby. During Bernie’s nap, I sit and lean into figure skating on TV. I’m watching it all the time!
How will you handle working or time off with number two?
I am super strict about time off, even now during my weekends, I close my computer. I don’t do any work on Saturdays. During my first leave, I was very strict about the three months I took and I guarded those with my mama bear claws. That’s impenetrable and I’m so extremely lucky that everyone I work with is understanding of that. Everyone knows not to bother me between February and May.
You explore your Jewish and Asian roots in your cooking. Which traditions will you be bringing into your birth or your home with this new arrival?
I’m definitely superstitious. We did very little with Bernie’s nursery and didn’t do a lot until she was born. We got necessities but we didn’t make a big deal out of the nursery. We never did a gender reveal or anything and, in the Ashkenazi tradition, you name kids after deceased ancestors, so that was a tradition that we followed with her name. She was named for Nick’s great great grandpa who settled the farm and my grandpa Bernard and Rosemary after my grandma on my mom’s side. That to me is so important. Any time we talk about her name we can talk about her and tell her those stories. As far as traditions we do now, we do Chinese New Year. We do Jewish New Year. Matzoh ball soup is her favorite food. I’m always cooking up Chinese and Jewish food.
What are you hopes for your child?
I think the greatest gift my parents gave me was encouragement to follow my passions and follow my heart and really lean into whatever it was excited about. I went to Juilliard for classical percussion and almost as soon as I got out, I decided I wanted to go into food and blogging and writing. They were always supportive of that. That’s what I want to give my child. And I want to example Tikun Olam – making the world a better, more accepting and welcoming and loving place. I want to help them embrace and celebrate others and differences. I really want them to feel excited about their heritage and their family traditions and also celebrate those of others.
Gift Your Kids Some Chill with Sound Bowls Made Just for Them Ohhhhmmmm......
By Babe | Photos courtesy of The Ohm Store
This holiday, let your kids into the mindfulness moment with children’s sound bowls, courtesy of The Ohm Store. This online wellness destination offers authentic singing bowls directly from artisans in Nepal and recently launched a kid’s line of the bowls in fun designs with pillows rests shaped in stars, flowers and smiley faces. They are designed to help get kids off the screen and into their own inner awareness.
After this holiday, you might need your own version.
In its 10th Year, Every Mother Counts Lists the 10 Things It's Fighting For And we're joining the pledge.
By Babe | Illustration by Ana Hard
Over the last 10 years, Every Mother Counts has acted on its original mission of improving the maternal health crisis around the world, in local communities throughout Guatemala, Haiti, India, Tanzania and more. It’s done so by raising awareness through education, mobilizing for change through policy and advocacy, investing in solutions through grant-making and fostering transformation through strategic initiatives.
Now, EMC is taking stock of its impact from its first decade and generating engagement to improve the maternal mortality crisis in the next 10 years. In honor of Giving Tuesday – where today HATCH is donating 25% of sales from its intimates collection – EMC is reaffirming its goals and vision for the future with a list of the 10 things it’s fighting for. Check out the list below and get involved!
Midwives, doctors, doulas, and nurses work as a unified care team to put the birthing person at the center.
Support from non-clinical specialists including doulas, community health workers, lactation counselors, and peer mental health counselors is recognized as an essential component of quality care.
Tenoverten's Manicure Kit is the Chicest Way to do Nails at Home And makes a pretty luxe gift.
By Babe | Photos courtesy of Tenoverten
For over 10 years, Tenoverten has offered a new vision in hand and nail-care that’s clean, safe and luxe. Think thoughtfully designed IRL spaces featuring formulas that cleanse, nourish, color and gloss, all without harmful ingredients.
Then, Tenoverten founders Nadine Abramcyk, Adair Ilyinsky, and Jaclyn Ferber created the same enriching experience at home filled with products carefully curated to become the ones you reach for first, again always 8-free as well as vegan and cruelty free.
The Tenoverten Manicure Set
Now, just in time for the holidays, the women have done it again with The Manicure Kit, a chic carryall with the Tenoverten starting line-up of the ultimate finishing touches, taking you from a smooth, streak-free foundation to locked-in shine that lasts.
The Tenoverten Manicure Kit
The Cuticle Eraser for smoother, softer nailbeds.
The Foundation to strength from the start. Part base and part polish.
The Shield to protective shine in no time for extra endurance.
The Accelerator aka smudge-defying drying drops.
The Rose Oil, an ultra-hydrating cuticle oil.
The Buff Plus, which buffs and shines nails for a natural glow.
The Rose Wipes that removes polish naturally – anytime, anywhere.
The Eco File, which gently smoothes and shape your nails.
Avoid Under-the-Tree Confusion with this Gift-Wrapping Tip Head...exploded.
“Instead of using multiple papers and tags for each giftee, I like to optimize the whole thing by picking one paper for each person. If you’re giving a lot of gifts to just a few people, like your kids, try using a different wrapping paper for each recipient to differentiate everyone’s gets.
The BO Foundation is Evolving Black Maternal Care in West Africa Discover this game-changing org.
By Babe | Illustration by Ana Hard
When it comes to bettering women’s lives in West Africa, The BO Foundation is on it. The NGO, headquartered in Burkina Faso with a presence in five West African countries and US satellite offices, is seeking to eradicate poverty, and create social justice platforms and equitable wealth distribution for all. We sat down with Latisha Robb, Madame Director General at The BO Foundation talk through its initiatives for 2022 and beyond, and how it’s improving Black maternal healthcare one woman at a time.
Latisha Robb Photo courtesy of Latisha Robb
Can you tell us about the BO Foundation and the inspiration behind the launch of this nonprofit?
The BO Foundation is an NGO headquartered in Burkina Faso with a presence in 5 West African countries and a U.S. satellite office based in Nebraska and Ohio. We’ve been around since 2010, living by our slogan “Serving the People.” We believe that all men and women have the right to a good quality of life. We defend the principles of poverty eradication, social justice and equitable wealth distribution. That’s how our initiatives are generally launched.
Can you briefly walk us through some of your core initiatives?
We are excited about many initiatives right now. Good Burkina is our key health initiative where we’re focusing on addressing specific health disparities in Burkina Faso such as quality care, access to quality care and needed supplies.
We’ve partnered with the three major health centers in Burkina Faso The Koubri Village Clinic, Tengandogo hospital, and Bassayam Village Clinic.
Can you give us some examples of work you’re doing on the ground through The Bo Foundation?
Through Good Burkina and our U.S. satellite and partners, a 40ft shipping container of medical supplies and equipment is headed our way. It costs $15k to get this shipment to us each time. We’ve committed to raising the initial $7,000 every time. These medical supplies are much-needed and valued between $350k – $500k, these supplies will help this nation.
Our next shipment will be dedicated to holistic maternal care and the certification of midwives and doulas. The infant mortality rate in Burkina Faso has crossed the benchmark of one death per 10,000 children per day for displaced populations, which is the primary demographic we serve.
I’m a proponent of this specific maternity care because I experienced the positive and quick healing benefits of this with my second daughter. I almost died having my first daughter in the hospital because the doctors and nurses ignored my pleas for help. Disparities in Black maternal care is a global issue.
What are the challenges these women face specifically? What makes the Bo Foundation’s work most meaningful in this area of the world?
Many women are not educated about proper feminine hygiene and reproductive care. That is compounded with the day-to-day challenges displaced families face from food, shelter, clean water and emergency medical care and money. Yet women are the cornerstone to survival and innovation. At the moment, the BO Foundation is woman-led and I’m supported 100% by the Founder. My passion is to help my fellow sisters, I understand them, I’ve been them and I’m here to help them overcome and thrive.
Many women are not educated about proper feminine hygiene and reproductive care.
What are the challenges associated with your work?
The language barrier is the biggest challenge associated with my work and understanding of western ideas, but the team I am working with are adapting to my way of thinking. I’m excited to build on the progress we began this year.
Another major challenge I’m facing is getting real support from global institutions, businesses and organizations that truly believe in our initiatives and truly have a passion for giving.
What are some of your proudest accomplishments to date?
In April, we launched an initiative called, “My Sisters Keeper”, a mentoring program that teaches young ladies ages 13 – 25 health and beauty ‘secrets’ from head-to-toe including reproductive health and menstrual awareness. We traveled throughout Burkina Faso visiting schools and to date, have mentored over 700 young ladies.
We also launched the “Beautiful Burkina” initiative during “Earth Month” which is also in April to address the blight in major cities. Our biggest cleanup happened in the city of Kaya where over 700 volunteers, mainly women, showed up! It was incredible.
I’m also proud of the partnership we established with One Africa Biomedical Services (OABS)Securing $250,000 worth of medical equipment for the country, the first shipment is officially headed our way this week from the U.S.
What initiatives or work do you have yet to do that you’d like to do moving into the future?
I would like to expand Good Burkina to have an entire container of gently used clothes and shoes donated from America with designated pick-up locations in every state and having the technology and logistics in place to seamlessly get it all shipped at one time.
