http://www.themotherhood.com/circle/show/id/5813 en-US http://www.designmom.com/uploaded_images/Picture-1-778108.png http://www.kirtsy.com/story.php?title=The_one_electoral_map_you_havent_seen : the best looking and http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/10/25/opinion/20081025_opart.html ever. ("Leaning weirded out by Joe Biden's hair" will make me smile all day.)Hey. I know the election is over, but if you're still feeling the urge to get your vote on, I suggest you head over to http://generationhuggies.com/ and vote for your favorite video. Moms from all over the country have submitted 60 second videos filled with their thoughts on Motherhood. They're super sweet and if I could, I would watch them all day. Seriously. I can't believe how much I like hearing mothers talk about their experiences.The videos with the most votes will be featured in a national ad campaign and recieve a cash prize. Best part: you (yes you!) can submit your own video as well. http://generationhuggies.com/ is accepting videos through November 20th. Go check it out.]]> webmaster@themotherhood.com (Cooper) Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:23:14 -0500 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/172098 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/172098 http://www.designmom.com/uploaded_images/Zella%27s-box-740978.jpg As I mentioned in my intro, I prematurely delivered a daughter in February, who passed away momentarily due to a chromosome abnormality. Her death was not a surprise. A couple months into my pregnancy I began to experience extreme pain, bleeding and nausea. Early ultrasounds suggested the baby was fine. At my 17-week appointment, however, an ultrasound showed cystic masses in my placenta and swelling on the baby's brain. An amniocentesis confirmed our worst fears: I was suffering from a http://www.babycenter.com/0_molar-pregnancy_1363614.bc , caused by a (very) bad egg. As a result, Baby Zee had an http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/triploidy of chromosomes and would pass away during pregnancy or soon after birth.It was devastating, of course, but in a way it was very peaceful. It was a beautiful experience to know that I had been chosen to carry a unique soul. My only mission as her mother would be to give her a body, share my love and send her home. I was honored, and I was distraught. Our doctors offered termination due to increased health risks, but that didn't feel right for us. Waiting for her die in utero was unbearable, but sending her away wasn't any better. After much prayer and contemplation, we decided to carry her as long as she would let me. Within minutes of that decision, I was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with http://www.preeclampsia.org/ . I would have to be induced to save my life, even though I was only 19 weeks along. The doctors recommended a surgical removal, but Baby Zee asked for a traditional chance at life. They induced me in the early morning hours on February 4. Within hours, I began to hemorrhage severely. Ultimately, I received an emergency C-section and blood transfusion. My life was spared, as was Zee's. While I lay under anesthesia, Zee slipped away after taking a few shallow breaths. She lived. The weeks that followed were bittersweet. I was empowered by my birth experience and thrilled to have pictures and mementos of my tiny little girl. At only six ounces, she fit in the palm of my hand, but all her miniature parts were perfect. Since then, I've had many hard days. I feel sad others can't understand the loss of an unborn child. I feel sad that I don't have a 4-month-old baby to nurture at home. I feel frustrated that the pregnancy has caused ongoing health problems that keep me from trying again. But mostly I feel joy that I got to be her mother. While most people have been understanding, some are so uncomfortable that I have to comfort them so they don't feel awkward. I don't mind doing it, but I know other people in my situation who are too fragile to bear that added burden. As a result, I'd like to share a few tips for someone who is mourning, especially the loss of an infant or unborn child: 1) Don't judge ? Every situation is different. Don't speculate on what might have caused the death. Don't hypothesize why it happened to that particular person. Don't criticize them for how they decided to handle their medical care, funerals, etc. And never, ever critique their grief, even if you think they are overreacting. The only way to get better is to get all the hurting out. For some people, this takes a lifetime. 2) Don't minimize their loss ? Don't tell them it was meant to be. Don't tell them to appreciate what they have. Don't tell them they are strong enough to handle it. Just listen. You don't have to make it better, because no words will change what happened. Just be supportive, sympathetic and available.3) Don't avoid the subject ? In the two weeks between diagnosis and delivery, my every thought was consumed by Zee; yet, many people who knew our situation didn't bring it up. I'm sure they thought I didn't want to talk about it, but they were wrong. I did, and I still do. Talking about Zee validates her existence. I love every opportunity I get to share her special life.4) Do show your love ? Call, visit, mail a card, send a gift. Showing you care about our pain makes it hurt less. One of the best cards I received simply said, "I don't know what you are going through, but I do know this: you have always seemed like a happy person, so it hurts me to know you are suffering."5) Do read about it ? Knowing about their situation will help you understand them better. In my case, a partial molar pregnancy put me at risk to develop placental cancer. I had to get weekly blood draws to ensure I wasn't growing malignant masses. Most people assumed I was better, but close friends continued to check on my health. Enough lecturing! How about some pretty things? Following Zee's birth, I received a tremendous amount of cards and packages. One friend sent me candy, magazines and some cozy pajamas. (Perfect.) Another friend sent me a gorgeous gold necklace from Anthropologie adorned with the word "February" and a small amethyst. My sister made me a stamped necklace with both my daughters' names and a birth announcement for our memory box.http://www.designmom.com/uploaded_images/grief-collage-740918.jpg Here are some other bereavement gifts ideas:1) A box - Most hospitals provide a free box for mementos, but it's usually flimsy. A special box, like these http://www.insideavenue.com/p-2850-beige-leather-boxes.aspx , is a great way to hold all the pictures, kind notes and memories of their little one. Our memory box for Zee is pictured at the top of this post.2) A blanket - If you know someone who is expecting infant loss, a small blanket like this http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_1&listing_id=16644971 is a perfect gift. They can use the blanket to hold the baby after birth, then save it as a keepsake or include it in the burial services. 3) A necklace - Most mourning moms want a daily reminder of their child, especially in the weeks following their passing. A delicate necklace like the http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetailp?itemdescription=true&itemCount=10&startValue=1&selectedProductColor=&sortby=&id=15216047&parentid=W_ACC_NECKLACE&sortProperties=+product.marketingPriority,-product.startDate&navCount=21&navAction=poppushpushpush&color= is a great way to keep their memory close. Plus, it's just a chic accessory.4) A letter - A written letter is great, but so is a letter hanging for their home, like http://search.anthropologie.com/?q=letter . Buy the first initial of the baby's name as a subtle memorial. (We have a Z hanging in our house.)5) (Not pictured) A hug.Last week, on Design Mom, I had a guest blogger named Mrs. Dub. She wrote such a beautiful post on infant loss. It just must be shared.]]> webmaster@themotherhood.com (designmom) Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:23:22 -0500 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/163787 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/163787 Some elections end onNovember 4th, but you can vote for your favorite Generation Huggies video until November 20th.
Moms in '08!]]> webmaster@themotherhood.com (Cooper) Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:31:28 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/154976 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/154976 What http://www.postadvertising.com/post/2008/10/8/Huggies-Community.aspx about the http://www.generationhuggies.com - The Motherhood campaign! We are having the best time working with Huggies on these amazing events. Look for four more cities - starting with Orlando tomorrow!  

]]> webmaster@themotherhood.com (Cooper) Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:38:48 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/84332 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/84332 ]]> webmaster@themotherhood.com (Emily) Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:33:44 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83601 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83601 This is the inside of the Huggies Mobile where moms are being interviewed about motherhood.]]> webmaster@themotherhood.com (Emily) Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:17:24 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83592 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83592 I only got part of the conversation - but here they are chit chatting at the Autumn Festival near Union Square yesterday.]]> webmaster@themotherhood.com (Emily) Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:06:32 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83590 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83590 /audio/1223224239.37message.mp3 ]]> webmaster@themotherhood.com (designmom) Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:31:49 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83581 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83581 This just in from our dear, on the ground blogger, Gabrielle: Candy Apples just made an appearance (Gwen Bell says they're the new cupcake.) This live-blogger is getting a craving.  

]]> webmaster@themotherhood.com (Cooper) Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:18:24 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83579 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83579

]]> webmaster@themotherhood.com (Cooper) Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:09:45 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83574 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83574 webmaster@themotherhood.com (designmom) Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:05:59 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83572 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83572 webmaster@themotherhood.com (designmom) Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:01:23 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83570 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83570 Be sure to go to http://www.generationhuggies.com to enter the $30,000 sweepstakes - what a fabulous prize.

]]> webmaster@themotherhood.com (Cooper) Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:59:20 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83568 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83568 /audio/1223221098.93message.mp3 ]]> webmaster@themotherhood.com (designmom) Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:39:28 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83565 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83565

]]> webmaster@themotherhood.com (Cooper) Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:27:42 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83561 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83561 I love seeing the golden touches on the face of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel ? a New York landmark.Fun to see the contrast of the streetfair and the luxe hotel.Everyone is in a good mood!And Ben may bring my kids by ? I hope so.

]]> webmaster@themotherhood.com (designmom) Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:22:37 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83559 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83559 webmaster@themotherhood.com (designmom) Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:14:12 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83557 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83557 webmaster@themotherhood.com (Cooper) Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:03:19 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83556 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83556 webmaster@themotherhood.com (Emily) Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:58:30 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83542 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83542 webmaster@themotherhood.com (TesterB) Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:15:38 -0400 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83467 http://www.themotherhood.com/post/show/id/83467