#“Single mom prenatal”

[betteradvice]

Self-Care Tips for Single Moms-to-Be

Self-Care is not Selfish

If you’re embarking on this pregnancy journey solo, you’re probably feeling a mix of excitement and “oh my gosh, what have I gotten myself into?” Don't worry, this is absolutely normal so let’s chat about some self-care tips that’ll help you from the get-go.

Creating a Support Network

First things first, you need a squad. You know that saying, “It takes a village to raise a child”? Well, it takes a village to support a pregnant single mom too!

Start by reaching out to single parent and pregnant & single organizations. They’re like your best go to, offering information, support, and pointing you in the right direction for services you might need.

Don’t be shy about connecting with other single parents, either online or in person. Trust me, they get it. Arrange playdates (yes, even before your little one arrives – it’s never too early to start building those connections), join local meet-ups, or dive into online communities. It’s like finding your tribe, but with more stretch marks and weird cravings.

And hey, if you’re feeling ready to dip your toes back into the dating pool, there are even apps designed specifically for single parents. Just remember, there’s no rush – your priority right now is you and the little one.

Mental Health Matters

Being a single parent-to-be can be tough on your mental health. In fact, a whopping 89% of single parents experienced anxiety at some point. That’s a lot of worried minds right?

But here’s the thing – taking care of your mental health isn’t just good for you, it’s crucial for your little one too. It’s like putting on your own oxygen mask before helping others on a plane, except the plane is your life and the oxygen is your sanity.

Consider setting up the support group we just talked about and joining peer-led support groups or workshops. They’re great for boosting your emotional wellbeing and even strengthening that parent-child bond before your baby arrives. Plus, it’s a chance to meet other parents who get what you’re going through.

And remember, it’s okay to ask for help. Whether it’s asking a friend to watch your other kids for a few hours so you can have some “me time,” or reaching out to a therapist, taking care of your mental health is not a luxury – it’s a necessity.

While we’re on the topic of self-improvement, pregnancy can be a great motivator for breaking bad habits. Whether it’s nail-biting, procrastination, or mindless scrolling on social media, now’s the time to work on those behaviors that aren’t serving you or your baby. It all goes towards mental health.

Daily Self-Care Rituals

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Self-care? I barely have time to pee in peace!” But hear me out. Self-care doesn’t have to mean day-long spa retreats (although if you can swing it, go for it while yo can).

It’s all about finding those little moments in your day to recharge. Maybe it’s savoring that first sip of your morning coffee (or your favorite sugar-free mocktails if you’re avoiding caffeine), taking a few deep breaths when you feel overwhelmed, or stepping outside for a quick dose of fresh air and sunshine.

For the working moms, try turning everyday tasks into mindful moments. That shower you’re rushing through? Make it a mini-meditation. Washing dishes? Focus on the warmth of the water and the smell of the soap. It’s about bringing intention to these small moments.

I always found Coloring books to be surprisingly soothing when you approach it with the right mindset. The key is finding what works for you and making it a consistent part of your routine.

Fitness and Nutrition Essentials

How do we keep that beautiful body of yours healthy and strong? Exercise during pregnancy isn’t just good for you – it’s great for your baby too! Aim for about 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. That might sound like a lot, but you can break it up into smaller chunks.

Walking, swimming, modified yoga, or stationary cycling are all great options. Just remember to listen to your body and check with your healthcare provider before starting any new exercise routine. And if your usual workout involves extreme activities, maybe save that for after the baby arrives.

As for nutrition, focus on eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy. Your body needs extra nutrients now, especially folic acid, iron, calcium, and protein. But don’t stress if you can’t stomach kale smoothies – do your best, and remember that prenatal vitamins are there to fill in the gaps. For those really short on time, consider batch cooking and meal preparation.

Time Boundaries and Priorities

Time management as a single mom-to-be is like trying to fit a week’s worth of laundry into a tiny washing machine – it takes some creative maneuvering! But with a few strategies, you can make it work.

Try using the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize your tasks. It’s a fancy way of saying “figure out what’s important and urgent, and do that stuff first.” And don’t be afraid to set boundaries with work, family, and friends. Your time and energy are precious commodities right now. For total control over your time and the option of having a practical checklist to run through to keep you on track and less anxious, download my eBook – Single & Expecting: Pregnancy Checklist for Solo Moms.

Time blocking can be a game-changer too. Schedule in your self-care activities, medical appointments, and baby prep time just like you would any other important commitment. And here’s a pro tip: apply Parkinson’s Law by setting shorter deadlines for tasks. You’ll be amazed at how much more efficient you become!

Conclusion:

Remember, self-care isn’t selfish – it’s essential. By taking care of yourself, you’re taking care of your baby too.

This journey of single motherhood might not be what you expected, but it’s going to be amazing. You’re strong, capable, and you’ve got this! Just take it one day at a time, be kind to yourself, and don’t forget to enjoy the ride.

And hey, if you ever feel overwhelmed or unsure about anything, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Whether it’s for emotional support, practical advice, or even questions about legal ramifications of certain decisions, there are people and resources out there ready to support you.

So here’s to you – growing a human, preparing for motherhood, and doing it all with grace (and maybe a little morning sickness). You’re a superstar, and your little one is lucky to have you.

Cheers,

Alex

[tomfoolerytime]

I need the anidala divorce fic to exist but I don’t want to write it

[daportalpractitioner]

mommy's moon sign: a thread ☾ part one — aries thru virgo

in a previous post, i mentioned that your mother's moon sign is very important in the sense that it tells us about the energy that was housing us during our prenatal development when we are baking in our mother's womb. during prenatal development, we are able to download our mother's experiences during pregnancy, emotions, attitudes, behaviors, and karmic patterns into our own DNA. the cosmic energy of her womb space tells us about patterns + themes that potentially lie dormant within our bodies with the desire to be either expressed or karmically released + healed for our highest good.

aries moon: your mother may have dealt with feeling misunderstood from a very early age due to her karmic responsibility to be a pioneer in this lifetime. even if she grew up close with her family, a part of her may have felt like she didn't fit in with the expectations that her parents had for her. the pain that aries moon mom carries in her womb stems from feeling like she has to do everything by herself + could also have had a pattern of attracting partners that she didn't feel supported by (classic single mom placement). a karmic lesson for aries moon mom to learn is to fully trust her feminine nature instead of constantly operating in her masculine so that she can attract the support that she has always desired since childhood. if you're a child of an aries moon mom, you could also have a pattern of experiencing loneliness + finding it difficult to cultivate supportive spaces because you witnessed your mom be so independent even in times where she didn't want to be. it's also not uncommon for children of aries moon mothers to exhibit or pass down disorganized attachment behaviors to their children. encourage each other to let other people help + support you. encourage each other to welcome vulnerability into the connection + value the act of processing/healthily releasing your emotions, especially rage.

taurus moon: mothers with an exalted moon usually do a great job at making their children feel safe, nurtured, and provided for on a physical + emotional level. when pregnant with you, your mother could have really valued her pregnancy + put lots of energy into preparing for your arrival. she could be very sensitive to your needs without even considering her own. from an early age, taurus moon mom had to learn to rely on herself to get things done first + foremost especially if she came from poverty or an unstable household. the self-esteem of your mother during pregnancy is crucial to your karmic imprint as you easily embed the way she feels about herself into your DNA + eventually grow to exhibit the same self-esteem patterns. it's important for the taurus moon mom to feel safe using her voice + exercising boundaries, especially when it comes to herself and what SHE needs. encourage each other to practice self-care + self-preservation. take yourselves out on nice mother/child dates. the key for taurus moon mom is to learn how to stop operating in survival mode, to welcome rest into her lifestyle + to not let motherhood become an experience that depletes her.

gemini moon: your mama may have dealt with a lot of movement (physical or mental) while pregnant with you, jumping from one place to another. the energy of a gemini moon's womb breeds natural chaos. focusing on tasks may have been a challenge for your mother, which tends to manifest into self-neglect due to being so preoccupied with the matters of the world. even if you haven't been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD or some form of neurodivergence, the expression of this mental energy can definitely be dormant in your DNA due your mother absorbing information to a hypersensitive degree during pregnancy. intentionality is key to foster a secure + safe relationship with a gemini moon mother as there is this tendency to develop preoccupied attachment patterns. make sure that you are really listening to each other instead of allowing words to go in one ear + out the other. communication goes a long way in cultivating a healthier relationship to mama. encourage each other to prioritize mental health + doing activities that feel nourishing to the brain (reading, writing, immersing selves in nature, art, etc). also, make sure that you're holding your gemini moon mother to her word if she is notorious for switching up.

cancer moon: your mother's pregnancy was undeniably significant to her on a karmically spiritual level. your ancestors, especially maternal, really do not play about you two as they protected your mother heavily when she carried you. giving birth to you was no mistake as your soul chose to expand her bloodline. cancer moon mothers may have went through their own personal issues with their mother (your grandma) that they hold resentment from in their wombs. these tensions are meant to be transmuted into breakthroughs for generational healing + curse breaking. her maternal instincts are her superpower, being able to guide you in any situation you need help in. even if you're not close with your cancer moon mom, her love does remain unconditional as she recognizes that you are a part of her + she is a part of you. even though mothering comes natural to the cancer moon mom, she easily could have felt the weight of motherhood + remained passive about how much of a responsibility it was, carrying all that load by herself. whether your mother was able to breastfeed you or not says a lot about the karmic disposition between you + your mama.

leo moon: your leo moon mother may have been super excited to be a mother yet also dealing with adjusting to the level of maturity required to be a mom. becoming a mother was probably not on her bingo card the year that you were conceived so the necessary growth that needed to take place was challenging + unexpected. motherhood may have triggered a sense of fear in your mother during her pregnancy with you because she didn't want to part with her youth just yet (classic teenage mom placement). regardless of her situation, she takes pride in being a mother + is very protective over her cub(s). she's the type of mother you can call to cuss out the school when there's an issue. i'd encourage you to keep her inner child alive + well by spending quality time doing things that make you both happy. leo moon mamas usually pass down at least one of their passions to their children, especially if they engaged with that passion during pregnancy. they love spending time with their children more than anything so don't be afraid to do something wild + fun that can free your mother's inner child. when your mom is connected to her inner child, it also connects her deeper to motherhood for she is able to relate to the experience of a child more + is able to distribute compassion to her child(ren) when needed.

virgo moon: it's not uncommon for virgo moon mothers to have experienced lots of angst when pregnant with you, especially if this was their first pregnancy. what isn't expressed + released in a healthy way stays trapped in the mind of the virgo moon mom, manifesting into anxiety. if anxiety was a theme for your mother while she was pregnant with you + it remained undealt with, then there's a big possibility that anxiety is something you've experienced on a chronic level as well. virgo moon mothers also deal with overcoming perfectionism — wanting to the perfect mother + projecting perfectionism onto her child(ren), so if you mother was hard on you growing up, that is why. if you are challenged by the illusions of not being good enough, this is probably something you've also picked up on from your mom during your time in her womb. but because of their will + dedication to be the best, virgo moon moms make very good caretakers as they are empathically connected to the needs of their children + are not satisfied until they can tell that their children are satisfied. even when virgo moon moms can be tough on their kids, remember that they are their own toughest critic + they really do mean well. i'd recommend being of service to your mother in any way that can lighten the load on her as virgo moon mothers tend to have a lot of their to-do lists. words of affirmation also goes a long way in gifting them peace of mind, especially from their children as they tend to be overthinkers when it comes to motherhood.

[chuunai]

baby daddy chuuya ! who has been there for you every step of the way since he got you pregnant. the moment you told him that you had his kid in your belly, he swore that he’d be the best dad and husband he could be, kissing your cheeks and resting a hand on your then flat stomach. he’s already scheduling ultrasounds and prenatal appointments of the best care. a baby. his baby. with you.

baby daddy chuuya ! who pulls back your hair and rubs your back while you vomit from morning sickness. gently wiping your mouth with a towel after you finish, hugging you for support before getting you medication. he’s a bit sorry that his kid is already causing issues, but he’s more focused on you. he HATES the fact that you’re suffering, and will be for nine months.

baby daddy chuuya ! who cries after finding out during your first ultrasound that he’s not having just one baby with you, but two of them. he’s a proud father, gladly framing the pictures of the twins in your womb in the main hallway and also keeping a small picture for himself in his wallet. he’ll show off to his men, obviously. his wife is expecting twins, and it’s something he’ll fucking celebrate, alright.

baby daddy chuuya ! who plans a lavish baby shower with your friends and his own friends from the Mafia. the whole time during the party he’s keeping a hand on your swollen belly protectively—his duty as a soon-to-be dad. you’re not lifting a single one of your pretty fingers, not when he can help it. it’s a great party, with it ending with gifts and congratulations from everyone.

baby daddy chuuya ! who goes wild on preparing a nursery for the twins—one boy, and one girl—and who isn’t afraid on spending a shitload of money while doing so. the safest sturdy baby cribs, the softest plushies, tiny clothes, diapers, etc. his children deserve the best, and they’ll get nothing less than that. plus, he finally learns how to build a fucking crib after staring at a manual for 40+ hours and cursing every two seconds. it makes your pregnancy a bit more bearable watching your husband glare at a wrench.

baby daddy chuuya ! who indulges in your weird cravings and tries to appease you. you want pickles dipped in peanut butter? weird, but he’s got it. oh, you changed your mind and instead want ice-cream with cheetos and banana slices? sure, babe. he’ll still make you eat healthy though, even deciding that since you couldn’t drink, he wouldn’t either. you’re carrying two energetic babies, the least he could do was not drink.

baby daddy chuuya ! who’s practically attached to your baby bump. rubbing it—with or without lotion—, kissing the distended belly button, or hell, even talking to his kids inside. playfully scolding them about ‘bothering mom’ and how they were little gremlins. or the times where’d it be late at night and his head rested on your belly, murmuring about how much he loved them and how he’d always protect them no matter what.

baby daddy chuuya ! who ultimately just wants to live as much as a ‘normal life’ with you and his children. his kids won’t be involved with Yokohama’s dangerous underground activities as long as he can help it. no, they’ll live a life he never got to have. safety. love. and the happiest family in the world. his top priorities, now? making sure his family is safe and happy. forever.

[silentcryracha]

Hey 🌷 so I was absolutely smitten over the Hyunjin Baby fever series and would like to request some headcanons for all skz as new dads 😩

Hi love <3 Thank you so much for reading! Apparently a lot of people got a soft spot for that 'series', and it makes me so happy lol

Of course, dad! skz coming right up!

warnings: afab reader, term wife is used, mention of pregnancy, mention of pain and giving birth (no graphic/descriptions), the gender of the babies is never specified

word count: 3.5k

masterlist

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Chan - From the exact moment he knew you were pregnant you became his number one priority. I mean, you already were, but things could always go south in a marriage/relationship. But he would never, ever, let things go 'south' with his kid. Absolutely not.

He was attentive and very helpful thought the whole thing, including the actual birth, to which I'm sure he would've been in the room for. He'd 100% cry as soon as he holds his baby. He probably wouldn't even try to hold in the sobs as he leans down gently to kiss your forehead, showering you with praises and love.

'You did so well, my love, you're so strong' 'I love you so much, you know it right? You were so brave, my baby' . Would also thank you for giving him such a precious gift any chance he gets.

I feel like he'd take a hiatus for a while. Of course he would've done it anyway to be at home with you and help you, but he also wanted to be present as much as possible.

I feel like while he basically needs someone to drag him away from his work generally, in this case the decision would be the easiest of his life. He could almost be scared to get sucked in his overworking and not pay enough attention to you and his child, so he'd just take both a physical and mental hiatus.

But, I do think that he would feel very inspired especially lyrically, and maybe keep tabs and notes of inspiration that he would use later on. He'd be so inspired by this new kind of love that he's feeling.

Would absolutely be the perfect dad and husband. Taking turns both day and night to change diapers, feeding, bathing, dressing, playing with the baby and so on. I can't help but imagine him constantly having to cuddle his baby :(

He would pick them up, lulling them into his arms to make them stop crying or to sleep. He'd love to just hold them and walk them around showing them new things, like looking out of the window, or some mundane action like preparing their own milk/food. That's his new best friend for sure.

He would also love, safely, to let the child either rest or play on your shared bed, with their mom and dad at each of their side to watch over them :(

He'd sing to them, play the guitar and piano for them, and generally would try so bad to get the baby to enjoy/recognize his own music and voice.

The members would become instantly the privileged uncles. And I'm pretty sure that at least two of them would be named the kid's godparents. My bets would be on Minho and Changbin. Maybe Felix.

Minho - Minho starts behaving like a father way before the baby is born. Because now, his job would be to baby you. He'd make sure that you rest as much as possible, but also try to make activities that would help you physically. Absolutely he's the one that signs you up for prenatal classes, and would make sure to not miss a single one.

He's the kind of man that would rebuild his whole life and routine just to serve you. He'd become your personal driver, shopper, cook, exercise buddy, cuddler and motivational speaker. You need something? Just say it and he'll make it happen.

Now, of course he'd be in the delivery room. Of course. Because I also would imagine that you'd feel lost without him at your side after all those months he spent with you and taking care of you. He would be freaking out inside but he'd keep it cool for you, trying to help you breathe properly, checking in with the medics to make sure that everything was going smoothly, and encouraging you a lot.

'Okay kitten, you heard the doc, right? It's 7 centimeters of dilatation, so you just gotta hang in there for a bit more.' 'I know it hurts my darling, I'm so sorry, if I could take all your pain I would'

When the time comes he'd hold your hand, or better, he'd let you squeeze it, without saying 'ah'. He'd also peek once in a while to check the situation, out of concern and curiosity, which made you scold him for embarrassing you. But he'd say that it's nothing he hasn't seen before or something like that lol

Lee Minho never cries. But not even he could resist getting chocked up when he first heard his baby's cries. He watched quietly as the nurses brought it to your chest, caressing your hair gently and kissing your head and temple while he quietly praised you. 'You did so well, kitten' 'You're the strongest person I know, I love you so much'

The silent tears that he kept hidden at the beginning, couldn't be saved anymore the first time that he actually held his baby in his arms. You knew better than tease him in such a vulnerable situation, and you didn't even want to. You just watched quietly with a tired smile as he had his own little moment with his newborn baby.

He'd also be the perfect husband/dad. Everything was split 50/50 and even 70/30 for all he cared. He was always down to do whatever needed to be done, both around the house or with the baby itself.

Minho is not someone who usually expresses his feelings openly, which is why I feel like small moments of bonding with just him and his baby would be fundamental for him. He'd sing to them, play with them, take some walks with that chest carrier for babies. Yes, he'd love to bring them with him on his fishing, camping adventures. He'd bring them to the beach, around the city and so on.

Of course he'd love to spend time together as a family, especially knowing that you wouldn't have judged him for handling things as he saw fit. You'd organize movie nights, picnics, aquarium dates and so on, as a little family.

Changbin - The sweetest husband and daddy. So emotional too. We all know Binnie is such a sweet man and isn't afraid of showing this softer side, but he doesn't go as far as crying. Seeing Changbin cry isn't an easy occurrence, but you bet this man WILL be bawling his eyes out in the most important moments of his life.

From the time in which you confessed that you were expecting, to the first ultrasound scan, to the first time he noticed your belly showing, the first time he felt the baby kick. It was like putting down small green flags at each step.

His number one priority was your and his baby's health. He'd make sure that you're as comfortable and peaceful as possible during the pregnancy, and wouldn't hold back on expenses either. You'd have the best food, best maternity clothes, best doctors, baby supplies and essentials and so on.

He'd talk to your belly all the time. Sing to it, rap to it. You'd swear that the baby's first word out of the womb would be the whole Thunderous intro mentioning his name. Binnie would be obsessed with the idea of teaching them to rap, for real.

He's the type that would act all brave big and strong but would lowkey faint in the delivery room just from the though of pain. Yours, of course. Of course he'd be there to hold your hand, giving you kisses on the head and caressing your hair, offering words of comfort and encouragement but God forbid if he even as much gazed south to your belly.

Absolutely bawled shamelessly when he heard the first cry, and was so so gentle while holding them for the first time :( He was lowkey afraid of hurting them because his baby is SO tiny :( He'd keep repeating it like a mantra, ' They're so small, how can they be this small?' :')

Changbin wouldn't let you lift a finger, for anything that didn't specifically require your attention, like breastfeeding for example. That would be his way to bond with the baby too. Quality time with daddy Binnie since the start aw :(

He'd love to show his baby off. Like literally. 'They got their looks from us, that's why they're stunning' 'This Dolce & Gabbana jacket would look so cool with the Celine cap and the Gucci shoes wouldn't it?' 'Did you see how they looked at me? They already understand so much, my little genious' . Would absolutely be his mini me, doesn't matter if it's male or female.

Hyunjin - As soon as he heard the news, he was over the moon. Truly. And even more because I imagine that you and him were actually trying for one. He seems like the person who likes to do things in steps, or 'traditionally' if you will. So of course there was the dating, then marriage and then babies.

I also don't feel like he'd settle down too early or when he's still got an active and busy schedule like the one of a young idol. I imagine him still working but being comfortable enough to take some time off to focus on his family.

I feel like he'd take care of you well during the pregnancy, but aside from that his priority would be creating as much memories as possible, hopefully to show your children one day. He's the type of husband who would organize maternity photoshoots, both for you as a solo and with his 'little family', or paint on your belly, take SO many candid pictures.

He'd love to make you as relaxed as possible. He'd run you baths with bubbles and oils and candles, cook whatever you wanted for you, massage you when you were sore, spread creams and oils on your belly to keep the skin hydrated and soft. He'd pamper you, okay? You were about to give him the best gift of his life, you were about to make him a father. He worshipped you.

In the delivery room he'd definitely have to distract himself to not get too anxious, to be strong for you. Otherwise if he actually let any of the ugly and painful reality of it sink in his mind he would've not managed to be calm, and therefore he would've made you anxious too. He did feel like throwing up a few times from the anxiety of hearing you in pain, the doctors talking, and overall the ugly situation.

So instead he just focused on you, holding your hands, kissing them, kissing everywhere he could reach and would be comfortable to you. He'd also repeat til nausea how much he loved you, how strong you are, how amazing and magical you are, how you're going to be the best mother, and how lucky he was to be by your side.

He'd absolutely get ten times more relieved as soon as he hears the cries, because the worst part is over. But would actually get emotional only when you manage to have an intimate moment within you three. He'd fall in love instantly, feeling such a strong sense of responsibility and affection that he hasn't felt before. He would also bond with the baby by spending quality time with them, walking them around, taking care of them, playing instruments and singing for them. He'd absolutely encourage them to draw and paint, and would save every single Picasso style artwork (lol).

Jisung - Han is an anxious person who loves a lot. Which of course will influence his mood and behavior in such a situation. Regardless of the type of relationship that you have, married or not, for how long etc... when you tell him you're pregnant he'd almost have a heart attack. There's no other way to say it to be honest. He could be (and probably would) the happiest man on earth but could as quickly let his brain overthink, killing a little of his enthusiasm.

Mainly because he'd start questioning himself. 'Will I be a good father?' 'Am I mature enough?' 'Will I be able to care for them as best as I can?' and stuff like that. You'd eventually calm him down, so he'd just focus on starting to 'practice' by taking care of you. Whatever you need, you have it.

For the love of God don't let one of those hormonal crisis go around him or he'll just panic. You keep telling him that you can't quite control it and that he didn't do anything wrong but for some reason he'd just blame himself regardless and feel guilty. But he would truly be the best at taking care of you, and you'd make sure to remind him and thank him for it every chance you get, because he need to hear it.

In the delivery room, he's the kind of man who gaslighted himself on being mentally prepared but at your first hiss of pain he feels his legs go jelly. You'd probably have to calm him down and tell him to focus on you because one of y'all needs to make it out alive anyway lol. So he tried really hard, to the cost of going on autopilot and dissociate for the whole thing, but he pulls through.

Would absolutely need to sit down when he finally has the confirmation that both you and the baby are fine, otherwise he'd fall to his knees. Then he'd calm down, telling himself that he needs to be calm and strong for his baby. 'If I'm nervous he'll feel it and cry' 'Is this shirt too rough?' 'What if I hold them wrong?'

And once again you'd have to guide him through it and reassure him. 'See? They love you already. You don't have to worry, baby. Everything will come naturally' , you'd say as Jisung hold his child in his arms gently and sheds a few tears.

After the first few experiences he'd get the hang of it so he'd be way more calm and confident. The only things that would make him panic are the 'unexpected' things. Are they hungry? In pain? Is it the air in the belly? and all that. I feel like he'd never get rid of it truly.

But he would spend as much time as he can with the baby, taking small steps. For example, he'd start by hanging out with them while they're in the cradle, then on the (protected) bed, then on a soft rug and so on. He'd love to sing and play for them, and try to get them to watch his childhood cartoons and anime so that he could grow up with his same core memories.

Felix - A ball of sunshine that was gonna have another small ball of sunshine in 9 months. Of course he was beaming at the news, getting emotional and everything. He'd be the type to organize a whole list of creative ways to tell your loved ones the news and then shamelessly film their reactions.

He'd be your source of comfort and support thought the whole duration of the pregnancy and beyond that. Felix would take such good care of you, only letting you do whatever you felt like doing, not pressuring you on maintaining routines or stress you out at all.

His social media would immediately turn into a baby fever/daddy/family type of content, and he'd probably would try out some funny or sweet things. But he'd also get a lot of useful content, about pregnancy advice, facts and scientific informations and even some practical and medical videos.

By the time it's actually the time for you to give birth he'd be really excited but also quite stressed out, mainly by seeing you in pain and worrying about the baby's health even though (probably and hopefully) the doctors assured you both multiple times that they're fine. He'd hold your hand and support you through it but I feel like he wouldn't be able to look further, may even sob a little but desperately try to hide it.

Would definitely cry in your shoulder and hug you when it's over. But then he'd have the biggest sweetest smile on his face as he holds his baby for the first time. Would spend a lot of time with them and try out all the advice he gathered in the preparation months. To him it would be super important to make sure that he creates a strong bond with them.

Definitely the type of dad to take a shit ton of pictures and post them everywhere, not to show off but genuinely to share the immense joy that his little one brought him :(. Would probably make so many posts both with you alone, thanking you for this gift that you gave him and to tell you how much he loved you, and with you, him and the baby as a happy family.

Seungmin - Would be overwhelmed. He gives off a similar vibe to Jisung I think, in the sense that he'd feel a lot of pressure on his shoulders to be the best father for his child. He'd be extremely happy (and emotional, you can't tell me that he wouldn't fold and cry at the news) but also super nervous :(

Seungmin is another one of those who'd take it as a job to basically learn everything that he can before the time comes. How to take care of a baby, of you during the pregnancy, how to be a good father in general.

Like, one day you could be just chilling and he'd go 'You know that garlic can help cure fevers?' and you'd just look at him confused, 'Okay? Why are you telling me this now?' 'I mean I imagine sooner or later the baby will catch a cold'. The baby in question literally still being in your belly lol

He'd also be really attentive and do everything around the house, no questions asked. Not that he wouldn't do them normally, but of course he wouldn't want you getting fatigued. He's not the best on the emotional side of things but he'd try really hard to support you (and himself) through it.

In the delivery room I feel like the adrenaline and extreme pressure would make him act way cooler on the outside than he would be feeling. He'd be really grounded and so good at also keeping you sane and spur you on, encouraging you. As soon as he'd hear the first cry he would be almost in shock, struggling to believe that his child was just born, but probably allow a couple of tears only in private afterwards. He'd be the type to be super formal and thank the doctors for their work lol

As a new dad Seungmin would have to learn how to let himself be vulnerable sometimes. Not because he'd a cold person, the opposite. But because he seems like the person who'd want to be strong and balanced in the eyes of other people AND for his loved ones, so you'd have to help him with it. But in general he'd be the perfect husband, super helpful and willing to do what needs to be done. He'd like to play and hold the baby a lot, probably sing him lullabies too.

Jeongin - He'd a hundred percent a green flag, change my mind. That babysitting video just showed to me how good he'd actually be and how happy he could be. Jeongin would be overjoyed at the news, mostly because he's also another one of those who looks like the type that if he had a kid, it's only because he'd be actively looking for it. Otherwise he doesn't seem the risky/irresponsible type at all.

He has experience with a younger sibling so he wouldn't be totally oblivious to how to take care of a baby, which would make him way more confident and let him enjoy his happiness more. I feel like the happiness and excitement would overshadow any self doubt. Would announce the news quite privately and probably be careful for the first months, as people usually do.

Jeongin would do so so well I feel, both during and after the pregnancy. He'd take care of you, do chores, help to take care of your body, lighten your mood if you needed it and so on. In the delivery room his job would be to reassure you and calm you down. He'd probably be sick with the adrenaline of the moment but wouldn't let it affect him on the outside.

I don't see him as the type who cries easily, but I think that he would tear up as he hold his child for the first time. He'd be all smiles and giggles constantly, holding the baby and rocking them in his arms while he sings softly to them. He's another one who'd be big on play time, but would also just genuinely enjoy taking care of them. Like giving them baths, feeding them, dressing them up, would bring him such joy.

He'd be the silly type of dad that would buy funny toys and onesies for their child but also like to play with them like little dolls to dress up. That baby would have so many unique and high fashion items and accessories, I just know.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

[quitealotofsodapop]

For slow boiled au i have been wondering for ages, how does Wukong's pregnancy with Yubei affect training? I can't imagine MK being comfortable fighting a pregnancy person, even if they are the Monkey King and just sparring at that

Hair clones and lots of them

The hit only a fraction as hard as the OG Wukong, and disperse with a single hit - so they're the perfect training dummies for MK to learn how to strike/defend himself.

MK still seeks out Macaque for training in the Slow Boiled au, mostly because he keeps hesistating to strike his own mentor, even if it is a clone. MK also feels that the Monkey King is "holding back" in terms of what he can teach MK, not maliciously though, just that your fighting mentor being a heavily pregnant person severely limits what moves/spells they can demonstrate.

Macaque at the same time suspects that Wukong is hiding something *important* from the world, and uses MK,not so much as to drain him of his inherited powers but to get information on how the Monkey King's been doing. So he trains him a little slower than in canon.

After the whole rocky reunion between the two monkeys happens; Wukong admits that he could try branching out for help in training MK.

MK is super-stoked!

Until Wukong forces him to come to prenatal yoga with him as punishment.

MK, in a painful pretzel: "Why is this considered training?!" Wukong, perfectly following the steps: "It isn't. Sandy reccomended it, and I need to stay limber since I haven't been able to lift weights for a thousand years."

The other participants comment on how nice it is for MK to "finally accompany his mom/baba for a class". This is how MK learns that Wukong has been boasting to people about him in diguise by calling MK his son. MK isn't sure how to feel about this.

After Yuebei is actually born, Nezha takes the reins of MK's physical training whenever he can. He's a lot more brutal than Wukong is, and MK appriciates the increase in difficulty.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Peter Parker seeing a single mom and doing his best to convince her it wouldn’t hurt to have one more as he’s actively trying to get her pregnant. making her smoothies each morning with some powder prenatal vitamins and switching out her birth control pills with the placebo ones. and ooops! oh no! the condom broke again? well, maybe it’s a sign 🤷‍♀️

Very Get Your Fix of him. He must be taking advice from Steve.

[hockeyboysimagines]

Isn’t she lovely

If y’all remember in the end of The Battle of Alberta, Matthew and Hallie are having another baby! Here’s a little shortie about baby #2! I will never stop writing for him.

Warnings: Childbirth

The cutest ever.

“If you hate me it’s okay.” He said rubbing a hand over her sweaty forehead. The pain she was in was almost crippling, and she was so nauseous she could barely see straight. She adjusted how she was sitting, getting a few seconds of relief before pain flooded her body again.

“I don’t hate you.”

“I would. I’d hate me.” He smiled sympathetically at her and gripped her hand.

“Hey.” She looked up to find Taryn standing in the doorway “You doing okay? Need anything?”

Hallie shook her head, eyes closing and wiggled around again till she got comfortable. This time around was way worse than when she’d been in labor with Thomas. The contractions were blinding, and the epidural had worn completely off. Matthew watched the monitors as they beeped and measured her heart rate, blood pressure and contractions. So far everything had gone the exact way it was supposed to. She was so thankful the others were here, leaving her to worry about labor.”

“Where’s Thomas?” He asked Taryn.

“In the waiting room with Brady and Dad. They just got him something to eat. Everyone’s waiting anxiously. My mom wants to know if you want her to come in?”

Hallie nodded “Please.”

Taryn smiled and disappeared out the door and she looked back at Matthew. He looked equal parts excited and concerned, and gave her a small smile. She smiled a little back as another contraction swept through her, sending a jolt of pain through her body, making her eyes burn as Chantal came in the door.

“Hi honey. How goes it?” Chantal looked at the monitor as she came to stand by Hallie’s head and swept a stray hair off her forehead “What did the doctor say?”

“She was 6 centimeters an hour ago. The doctor said they’d be back to check her shortly. But her contractions are like 3 minutes apart.”

Chantal looked mildly impressed that Matthew knew all of that. He may have been clueless about a lot of things, but he’d paid rapt attention during Thomas’s birth, and hadn’t missed a single prenatal appointment for both babies. If there was anything other than hockey he considered himself knowledgeable about, it was babies and how to birth them. He also considered himself an expert in how to create them. He had even joked he was so confident in his abilities he could deliver baby girl Tkachuk at home, until Brady reminded him he’d nearly passed out when Thomas was finally out.

Taryn was hovering by the door and Hallie smiled and beckoned her forward “You can come in Taryn. If you want.” Taryn nodded and smiled and situated herself in a chair next to Matthew “So what does that mean? 6 centimeters.”

“It means she’s almost there. Thomas is so excited.” Chantal said with a smile. Hallie had gone into labor late last night and by a stroke of luck, all of the Tkachuk’s had happened to be in town when it happened. She and Matthew had been in the hospital since her water broke, and the others had arrived that afternoon “He can’t wait to have a little sister.”

“I would have been more excited if you’d given me a sister first instead of Brady too.” Matthew chuckled, elbowing Taryn. Hallie chuckled a little and closed her eyes. She was so tired, and in so much pain she wasn’t sure how much more she could take. Her body felt spent and every part of it hurt.

The door opened again and a doctor breezed in followed by two nurses, smiling widely.

“Hi mama. How are you doing?”

“Terrible.”

The doctor chuckled and lifted the blanket to look underneath. After a moment or two she popped back up smiling “Good news is your ready to push. Let me grab an extra nurse and I’ll be back in a minute.”

Hallie took several deep breaths, and closed her eyes, relaxing herself as much as she could. She was hot and exhausted, but knowing that in a short time she’d have a precious baby girl sent a surge of excitement through her. Matthew stood and stretched and rubbed his hands together.

“Finally.” He said giving Hallie a kiss on the forehead and making his way down by her feet.

“Okay dear. Let’s get you situated.” Chantal moved the empty water cups and rags that were littered around and moved the table from over the bed, setting it to the side, and then pushed the chairs away from the bed so she could lean over Hallie to hold her hand if she needed. When Hallie opened her eyes, she saw Taryn stand and look towards the door before she looked back to her.

“Can I-can I stay?” Taryn asked looking between her and Matthew. He turned to Hallie and shrugged.

“It’s up to Hal. It’s her girl parts out on display not mine.”

Hallie smiled and nodded “Of course you can stay.”

Taryn smiled widely “Yay! I wanted to watch Thomas being born but I couldn’t because of covid.” Taryn switched spots with Matthew, and put a hand out to Hallie to hold.

The doctor appeared back in the doorway smiling widely and clapped her hands “Everyone here?” She asked looking around.

“I think so.” Matthew had a large smile on his face as he watched the doctor seat herself by the end of the table and pull on gloves, before moving the blanket up by Hallie’s hips area.

Hallie started to shake and Chantal reached one arm over her head and gripped her in a half hug with the other one. Taryn too grabbed a hand and squeezed it excitedly.

“Okay.” The doctor looked up at her and smiled “On three, I want you to push.”

Matthew put his hand on her knee and and rubbed it smiling encouragingly at her “You can do this Hal. Almost there.”

“Okay, one, two-“ Hallie felt a sudden burning, blinding pain and the Doctor gasped a little before she and the nurse started laughing.

“What?” She asked tilting her head up “What’s so funny?” She glanced at Matthew and saw him light up, and then she heard the most beautiful sound she had heard since Thomas was born.

A baby cry.

“You we’re supposed to wait for three!” The doctor exclaimed handing the baby to the nurse, who brought her up to Hallie and patching things up below Hallie’s waist.

“Oh thank God.” Hallie fell back against her pillow and breathe out a long breath she didn’t know she was holding in, and deflated like a balloon. She was sweaty, tired and hurting, but one look at her new baby made it all worth it. Thomas had looked like Matthew from the get, curly hair and all, and by now had become his double.

But baby girl Tkachuk, looked already like Hallie.

Taryn clapped her hands together and then put a hand over her eyes, giving her mom a side hug, who was already crying.

Matthew rubbed his eyes and made his way up to Hallie and rubbed her forehead, smiling. His eyes were red and he looked like he was dazed but he leaned down and kissed her in the head and then looked deep in her eyes.

“You did so good.” She nodded and tears leaked down her face and turned into a sob. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath while doctors moved around her for what seemed like ages until they sat her up and handed her her new baby. She was so beautiful and Hallie got lost looking at her for a second when she heard the door open.

Brady came in first, followed by Keith holding Thomas.

“Oh my god.” Brady whispered leaning over to look at her “She’s so perfect. Congratulations.” He kissed the top of her head and gave Matthew a tight hug. Keith set Thomas down and he came to greet his new baby sister. Keith grabbed Matthew by the shoulder and looked at him with so much pride Hallie wanted to cry.

“So?” Chantal asked, leaned forward in the chair , hands folded under her chin “Do we have a name?”

They did, and Hallie traced a finger down her new babies nose before she said very softly “Welcome to the world….” She looked at Matthew who smiled and nodded “Lilly.”

[texasobserver]

From “Millions of Texans are About to Lose Their Health Insurance” by TXO Winter/Spring Editorial Fellow Sara Hutchinson:

Last November, Tiayana Hardy gave birth to her first child, a baby girl named Laylani. 

“She came a week before her due date, but I can’t complain about that,” said Hardy. “She was born healthy, she’s an easy baby, and motherhood is amazing.”

But Hardy has concerns about her future. She is still experiencing bleeding related to the delivery as well as continuing postpartum anxiety. And now the Garland resident is about to lose the Medicaid coverage that got her through her pregnancy.

Hardy is far from alone. An estimated 2.7 million Texans—mostly children and new moms— are expected to lose their Medicaid insurance in the next few months, some as early as June. That’s almost half of all Texans now on the Medicaid rolls. Most of those affected had had their earlier coverage extended by the public health declaration that came during the COVID-19 pandemic. The declaration expires at the end of March. 

Now the state must begin a federally mandated review of its entire 5.9 million-member Medicaid caseload. Texans who no longer qualify will lose their coverage, but so could current eligible recipients who fail to complete required paperwork for recertification.

“Advocates are very, very concerned right now,” said Jana Eubank, CEO of the Texas Association of Community Health Centers. “Families aren’t even going to know what’s going on, and they’re just going to lose coverage and show up at a doctor or a health center, and they’re going to be told, ‘Oh, you’re not on Medicaid anymore.’”

For over a year, public health advocates have raised concerns about Texas Health and Human Services’ (HHSC) ability to handle this recertification process, which begins April 1 and is expected to be finished within 12 months. State officials are apparently worried, too: HHSC recently requested an additional $143 million to cover more staff to process the approaching onslaught.  

“It’s probably the largest enrollment event, if not the largest enrollment event since the ACA [federal Affordable Care Act],” Eubank said. 

Parents Tiayana Hardy and Desmond Gentle pose with their baby, Laylani, born Nov. 30, 2022. Hardy has relied on Medicaid to cover her health care needs since she became pregnant last year, but she’ll lose that coverage once the public health emergency expires.  

Medicaid, a federal entitlement program administered by states, provides health insurance for low-income residents who cannot afford private insurance. Nearly half of Texas children depend on the program, as do 51 percent of moms, whose prenatal care and hospital bills are covered.

In this, the most underinsured state in the country, millions of people fall outside of Medicaid coverage due to Texas’ strict eligibility criteria and Republican leaders’ refusal to accept billions of federal dollars to expand the program. The state’s requirements around income eligibility mean the vast majority of working poor Texans make too much to qualify for coverage. 

A single mother of two would need to earn less than $4,000 per year to be eligible for Texas Medicaid insurance, while childless adults are ineligible no matter how poor they are. Eligibility requirements ease for single pregnant women, who may make up to $2,243 a month, but that coverage cuts off two months after birth regardless of their care needs. 

Despite Republican leaders’ past opposition to any expansion of Medicaid, Texas Speaker of the House Dade Phelan and Governor Greg Abbott both have named postpartum Medicaid expansion as a top priority for this session. But even if it passes, it won’t come soon enough to prevent confusion and distress for low-income families. 

Under the national public health emergency initiated by the federal government in March 2020, no Texan who qualified and was enrolled in Medicaid could be dropped from the program. That meant Texas moms like Hardy who would have ordinarily lost their insurance two-months postpartum have been able to maintain their coverage for the duration of the pandemic. The same is true for Texas children who would have aged out of the program.

As a result, the state’s Medicaid rolls grew from 3.5 million before the pandemic to 5.9 million today. Federal dollars provided the financing for this temporary expansion.

But with the public health emergency set to expire, advocates say, families are now scrambling to find new coverage options and navigate a complicated and bureaucratic reenrollment process. 

Of particular concern are the millions of Texas children currently enrolled in Medicaid who could miss prescription refills or have to forgo doctor’s visits if their parents are unable to complete the upcoming recertification process. According to state data, 4.2 million Texas children currently rely on Medicaid to access healthcare, up from 2.8 million prior to the pandemic. 

“You’re going to go to your pharmacy to get your prescription renewed and they’re going to say, ‘Oh, you don’t have coverage anymore.’ Or you’re going to take your kids for their scheduled well-child visit to get vaccinations for school. And they’re going to say, ‘Oh, you don’t have coverage.’ That’s when they’re going to find out,” said Diana Forester, who oversees health policy at the children’s advocacy nonprofit Texans Care for Children. The organization recently launched a website to help Texans navigate the end of continuous coverage.

[oneforthemunny]

Can you do a series for nepo baby of how her pregnancies went. Like cravings, her attire, what emotions she went through, the birth(s), how Eddie handled it, something with Wayne and nepo baby’s parents involved. I really LOVE when pregnancy fics are in depth

so overall nepo baby had a pretty good pregnancy each time- obv she was pregnant six times lol. she's one of those people who say like they enjoyed being pregnant, and she meant that.

she was sick a little, but nothing horrendous, and tbh a lot of the reason she felt so well was she was pampered the entire time. prenatal massages weekly, she went to birthing classes, and did yoga and had a birth coach/ doula. she spared no expense, neither did her parents or eddie.

the worst was with vega bc it was unexpected and was considered a 'geriatric pregnancy' so she was a little more on edge. the symptoms hit her a little harder and she was on bed rest for a long while.

eddie was so enthralled watching her pregnancies, watching how she grew, feeling the babies grow and move, and just how every single pregnancy was different.

she had the biggest cravings with the twins, duh, and they were the weirdest. she craved halloween pumpkin reeses during her pregnancy, and eddie had to scour the earth for them- paying too much to get them, because the easter ones would not cut it!!! she doesn't eat a lot of processed food as a mom (she's one of those that is into organic and farm to table, not vegan or almond mom like extreme, just more so free from preservatives bc they're harmful) and tried her best during her pregnancy but she got the weirdest craving for cosmic brownies and cool ranch doritios... together, when she was pregnant with zarah. eddie's in heaven bc fuck yeah he loves those, but also... together???? doesn't dare question it bc her hormones still rage from time to time.

she's insatiably horny all through the pregnancy with persephone. more emotional and cries all the time with kensington (eddie swears thats why kensie is emotional). with the twins she's sick the majority of the time and swells a lot, but to eddie its a win because her boobs are huge. the third trimester is the worst with them and she's super tired but tries not to be bc she wants to be with her other babies, and eddie has to constantly tell her to slow down and take it easy. zarah she's got the weird cravings, but it's her best pregnancy. everything's easy and relaxed (just like zarah in general) and she's just glowing and happy and excited. then with vega her hormones are on level ten and she's all over the place, mood swings left and right, and eddie is thrown each time lol (we'd expect nothing less from the mini queen of chaos vega).

I hc on my last blog she'd do home births, just for more intimacy and privacy. I think the twins and vega would be in a private hospital, just because it's safer and they were more high risk. eddie was a wreck each time, just so nervous because he thinks it's "hippy california ways" to give birth at home and is against it, but she wants it so they compromise. he makes sure there's some medical person there to help, not just the doula because it makes him feel better.

I think she'd do the classic 90's all white maternity shoot. probably a naked one for eddie too bc he loves her like this, thinks she's sexy anytime but she'd also just like to document her body when she was pregnant with her babies.

farrah throws her a baby shower each time in malibu, and it's always with the theme of the babies birth flowers (they miscalculated with the twins since they came early-ish lol). eddie always gets the flowers pressed and preserved for her. it's very bright and pretty and classic... then there's corroded coffin in their black and leather lol. and she really wouldn't have it any other way because that's authentically eddie.

the nursery's are always very personal and classic, but baby nurseries. she wants bright colors and pretty things, child things that aren't tacky but aren't dull (no beige toy babies sorry).

eddie always has a rocking chair, but like one of those comfy ones, because he's very serious about skin to skin time. he likes to rock the babies to sleep in it, most of the time falling asleep with them on his chest.

I think for the first few months, they'd keep a bassinet in the room with them for the baby to sleep in bc it's easier and they're both a little scared.

the hospital outfit is always the same for every girl, a tiny white gown with pink frills that nepo baby actually wore coming home that her mother gave her. she at least gets a picture for her mom, and saves it.

I'm thinking of doing a full pregnancy fic (no smut or very minimal, it's not the center focus lol) of rockstar!eddie and nepo baby, but which pregnancy would you like to see???

[copper-16]

So any hc of any moody ingrid during pregnancy...i have funny one my dad told me that during my pregnancy, my mom got irritated with my dad for breathing too loudly and also for eating too loudly and told him to breathe in the next room.

Or did ingrid have any pregnancy cravings or get emotional...and all her teammates sometimes get whiplash from her mood change

Thanks

It wasn't Ingrid who was super emotional or anything during pregnancy, she got off pretty lucky in that part. But Mapi was an emotional MESS - she cried at every single milestone or exciting thing. She really wanted to be a Mom and was so thrilled by every tiny thing, to the point where all of the girls teased her because she never used to cry, and during Ingrid's pregnancy she cried on like a daily basis.

Ingrid did struggle quite a bit with prenatal anxiety, which ended up affecting her sleep a lot. Mapi would always wake up when she did and try to soothe her back to sleep. And in that aspect, Mapi was very protective of her, both emotionally and physically. She was always yelling at everyone to be careful around Ingrid, even when she *probably* did not need to be quite so intense. Ingrid pretends to be annoyed, but really she just feels cared for.

[betteradvice]

7 Coping Strategies - Single and Pregnant

Single Mom Survival Guide: 7 Essential Tips for Moms-to-Be

Here are seven game-changing strategies to help you rock solo parenting while preparing for your little one's arrival.

Build Your Tribe: Create a support network of friends, family, and other single moms. Don't hesitate to lean on them – they want to help!

Self-Care is Non-Negotiable: Prioritize your well-being with regular exercise, healthy eating, and plenty of rest. Don't skip those prenatal check-ups!

Establish a Routine: Create a flexible daily schedule to help you feel more in control. Prioritize tasks based on your energy levels and don't forget to include "you time."

Master Co-Parenting: If applicable, maintain respectful communication with your baby's other parent. Focus on what's best for your child.

Prepare for Solo Parenting: Get clear on your parenting goals and start stocking up on essentials. Set up systems now to make life easier once baby arrives.

Tackle Finances Head-On: Create a budget, explore assistance programs, and start building an emergency fund. Consider talking to a financial counselor if needed.

Boost Your Confidence: Focus on your strengths and surround yourself with supportive people. Remember, you're doing an amazing thing!

The road ahead will have some bumps and you need a strategy. You might not feel it right now but you're well-equipped to handle whatever comes your way. Be kind to yourself, celebrate your victories, and never be afraid to ask for help. Your strength, love, and dedication are all your little one needs to thrive.

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[harleiquina]

Fun story my name (Laura) "just came" one day to mom... when she was less than 3 years old.

She was given a doll and, of course, they asked her how was she going to call her and she said "Laura" without hesitation. The thing is: by then she had never met anyone with that name before (my grandfather wouldn't let his daughters watch TV so that option is not an option either). Jump to almost 20 years later and she named me after her doll 🤷🏻‍♀️

Given the fact that I don't click very well with women (but not to the point that I don't feel like a woman. I'm fine being one, but is it really necessary to have our periods eeeevery month?) and that I do have some character traits/ways of thinking that are slightly more masculine I came up with the idea that in another life I was a man and I wanted to be a woman named Laura. That's why mom just knew my name with so much anticipation. Do I actually believe in reincarnation? No, but I'm a writer... you can't tell me what stories can I make up and which ones I can't 😜

Other fun facts:

- 15 minutes before my birth a boy was born (he lives/lived near my house as well) and because of that the doctor got confused and told my mom that she had a boy. She reacted with such a disgust that the doctor double-checked and was like "oh, no... you had a girl. It's a girl!". Up to this day the joke that I might've been switched at birth is still strong and if it wasn't because I'm pretty much mom's carbon copy the idea could've been considered more than once.

- My second name (Vanesa) was chosen after a character/actress in The Cosby Show. I never watched a single episode.

- Apparently my grandfather had an aunt named Laura that played the guitar (I also sort of play it). He told me this 2 weeks before he died and didn't elaborated much about it.

- Mom just knew* that she was having a girl, so she never considerated a boy's name. And she knew that it was only one baby so she didn't toyed with the idea of having twins either. (*This was in 1992's Argentina. Ultrasounds were not a regular thing in prenatal care -unless you had lots money to pay for it- so people would use old methods to guess. It is true, as I've witnessed, that pregnancy bumps have different shapes: a girl makes the belly go really down and a boy makes a more pointed and lifted belly. The pendulum was also a method -you dangle anything and if it makes a line is a boy, if it makes a circle is a girl- it is more esoteric, but it is considered a game, not a fact... especially for mom because it told her that she was having a boy 🤣)

- There is a number on our ID card that -supposedly- indicates the number of people in our country with the same name. Apparently there is another Laura Vanesa García somewhere in Argentina 🧐

super curious today about how people feel toward the names they might have been given. apparently i used to ask my mom about my “boy name” several times a week and get really sad i couldn’t have both my given name and that name. being trans this is hilarious to me now so wondering

also curious how this intersects with being trans!! i feel like my fixation with it definitely had a lot to do with that, so idk add in tags? if you feel like being trans makes you more/less curious about it

[ayonj29]

“Single Mothers in Poverty in Brazil: Repercussions on Quality of Life and Anxiety for Pregnant and Postpartum Women"

“Single Mothers in Poverty in Brazil: Repercussions on Quality of Life and Anxiety for Pregnant and Postpartum Women” examines the psychological, physical, and social impacts of being a single mother in one of the poorest areas of the federal district within Brazil. The authors also examined how these single moms viewed their quality of life (QoL). 

The study had a sample size of 545 women who they invited to be interviewed. At the same time, they waited for their prenatal, checkup, or baby vaccination appointment slot at a Community Health Center. To measure Household Food Insecurity they used the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale; the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used and had 20 questions with answers on a 4-point Likert Scale; and lastly, the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) questionnaire was used to evaluate these single mothers in the following areas: psychological, physical, social-relationship, and environmental. In addition to these methods, the authors used a Logistic Regression Model as well to predict the chance of single mothers experiencing anxiety.

The results showed that more than half of them had low perception of themselves psychologically (54.5%), physically (59.8%), social relationship (50.8%) and environmentally (51.4%). Furthermore 65.9% of the respondents had trait anxiety, and 67.3% showed characteristics of state anxiety. The data from the Logistic Regression analysis demonstrated that ingle momes 1.92 times the chance of trait anxiety and 1.87 times the cance of state anxiety than those who had a partner. Of the different areas examined in relation to QoL, there was clear linkage between low perception of self in trait/state anxiety, psychological and social relationship to single motherhood. 

Single mothers struggle more in the anxiety, psychological, and social-relationship domains compared to mothers with partners because they do not have somebody to fall back on for support, they have to work long hours to support their kids, and in doing so are isolated from people they can connect with. “Single motherhood is an independent risk factor for anxiety and less satisfaction with QoL. The relationship was stronger in the context of extreme poverty.” (Dal’Ava Dos Santos et al. 2023). On top of caring for children and or being pregnant, women in Brazil also have difficulty entering the job market because of their gender, and it does not help the fact that they are single mothers as well. This adds to one’s stress, and in turn, allostatic load. Overall, we see that as poverty (and the risk of it) increases, these women’s mental health and perception of their QoL worsens. In these common instances, increased funding and availability of social welfare services can be beneficial to these women with their financial hardships, and mental and social well-being.

Dal’Ava Dos Santos, Laura Mendes Toledo, Gabriela Buccini, Jéssica Pedroso, Raquel Machado, Rodrigo Pinheiro de Toledo Vianna, Rafaela Lira Formia Cavalcante de Lima; Maria Augusta Correa Barroso Magno Viana, Muriel Bauermann Gubert. 2023. “Single Mothers in Poverty in Brazil: Repercussions on Quality of Life and Anxiety for Pregnant and Postpartum Women” Journal of Poverty 27(4): 294 - 308

[theyogahousesg]

How Can Breathwork Transform Your Yoga Practice?

By improving attention, relaxing deeply, and raising general consciousness, breathwork can significantly alter your yoga practice. Through intentional breath control, practitioners can access the body's inherent energy flow, strengthening the bond between the mind and body. By lowering tension and anxiety, this method enables a more focused practice. Breathwork increases endurance and flexibility by growing the body's oxygenation through deeper inhalations and exhalations. Including breathwork into yoga lessons can also help practitioners gain deeper understanding of themselves and their surroundings, which encourages emotional stability and fortitude. In the end, it enriches and Trans formatively improves the yoga experience.

In Singapore, Yoga Can Change Your Path to Wellbeing

Yoga is not only a physical discipline but also an inclusive technique to well-being that takes into account the mind, body, and spirit. Everyone can discover the ideal fit more easily in Singapore because to the wide range of yoga sessions that are offered to suit different demands. There are choices to assist you improve your well-being, whether you're seeking for breathwork techniques, prenatal yoga programs, or corporate yoga sessions.

Find Yoga Courses in Singapore

Yoga Classes Singapore cater to all skill levels by a variety of styles and levels obtainable. Each style of yoga, from Hatha to Vinyasa, has superior benefits that include strength, flexibility, and mental clarity. The region of these workshops is to foster a community of support so that people can discover their practice in a sympathetic and safe setting.

The Benefits of Yoga Breathwork

A key component of improving your yoga practice is Breathwork Singapore. Meditation practitioners can improve their experience and strengthen their connection to the body by concentrating on breath control. Breathwork methods promote calmness, lessen tension, and enhance emotional equilibrium in general. By incorporating breathwork into yoga courses, people can develop awareness and find more inner peace.

Workplace Yoga for Well-Being

As businesses understand the importance of their employees' well-being, corporate yoga is rising in popularity in Singapore. Stress reduction and increased productivity are two aids of offering yoga developments in the office. These sessions, which emphasize stretches to release tension from prolonged desk work, can be tailored to the team's needs. Breathwork techniques combined with corporate yoga sessions promote a calmer, more focused work atmosphere that benefits mental and physical wellness.

Accept Prenatal Yoga Courses

Prenatal Yoga Classes Singapore proposal expectant moms a safe and encouraging environment to get in touch through their bodies and be ready for birth. Specifically designed for expectant mothers, these programs highpoint breathing exercises, light stretching, and relaxation methods. Yoga for pregnant women not only improves emotional health but also helps with frequent pregnancy discomforts. Building strength and flexibility, it also helps expectant moms form bonds with their babies.

Come Along on the Wellness Journey

The alternatives are numerous, whether you're looking for pregnant yoga courses, corporate yoga, yoga lessons in Singapore, or you want to learn more about the health benefits of breathwork. Every single one of these techniques has special benefits that enable people to enhance their overall health and fitness. Take a step toward wellness and learn how yoga can change your life right now.

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Prenatal Massage: Nurturing Moms-to-Be:

Overview:

Tailored for expectant mothers, Prenatal Massage addresses the unique needs and discomforts associated with pregnancy. It utilizes gentle techniques to enhance relaxation and ease muscle tension.출장안마

Therapeutic Benefits:

Prenatal Massage supports the physical and emotional wellbeing of expectant mothers. It helps alleviate pregnancy-related discomforts, reduces stress, and promotes a connection between the mother and baby.출장마사지

Creating a Personalized Wellness Journey:

Combining Modalities for Synergy:

For a truly personalized experience, individuals can explore the combination of different massage modalities within a single session. This approach allows for a tailored approach that addresses multiple aspects of wellbeing.

Mind-Body Connection in Massage:

Many massage modalities acknowledge the mind-body connection, recognizing that physical tension often mirrors emotional or mental stress. By addressing both aspects, massage becomes a holistic tool for overall wellness.

Cultivating a Regular Massage Routine:

Benefits of Regular Massage:

Integrating regular massage into a wellness routine offers cumulative benefits. These include improved sleep, reduced anxiety, enhanced immune function, and a greater sense of overall vitality.

Self-Care Practices Between Sessions:

Encouraging clients to practice self-care between massage sessions extends the benefits of massage. Simple practices like stretching, mindfulness, and proper hydration contribute to ongoing wellbeing.

Conclusion:

In the mosaic of massage modalities, each stroke, stretch, and pressure point weaves a narrative of self-discovery and wellbeing. Whether seeking relaxation, therapeutic relief, or a holistic approach to wellness, the diverse array of massage modalities invites individuals to embark on a journey of self-nurturing and profound healing. Beyond the physical touch, these modalities cultivate a sense of balance, harmony, and connectedness, providing a sanctuary for individuals to nurture their wellbeing on multiple levels.