Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone has had to get creative in how we go about our daily lives. Students, teachers, and parents had to navigate online learning, and professionals have embraced work from home and virtual meetings.  Even our social lives have found their way to the virtual world.  When it comes to the long-standing tradition of a baby shower, shower hosts and guests have also had to get creative. Keeping expecting mothers safe has to be the top priority, and gathering with many people may not be the best option.  Queue the virtual baby shower. I ..read more

You have seen them all over the internet and social media—unique gender reveal ideas. It seems like everyone is revealing their baby’s gender—or sex—in an over-the-top way.  For some, these reveals are big parties, and for others, they are often cute photos or gifts shared. The best part about a gender reveal is there are no rules.  You can share your baby’s gender—or another exciting reveal—in any way you want.  If you are looking for a creative way to reveal the gender of your baby, we have nine creative ideas to try. We will give you different ideas to make your reveal unique ..read more

At a Glance: Affirmations are positive statements used in repetition to build feelings of confidence, self-worth, and a belief in one’s own personal abilities. Affirmations quiet negative thoughts and self-doubt and are a useful mindfulness tool when trying to conceive. Suggested Meditation: Studio Vibes: Fertility Affirmations | Self-Worth Affirmations can be a beneficial component of any meditative practice. Whether used in journaling, self-guided private practice, or an expert-led experience (in-studio or virtual), many people find that affirmations are versatile and customizable, but mos ..read more

Postpartum OCD affects an estimated 1-3% of new moms. While it is rarer than some other perinatal and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, like postpartum depression and anxiety, it is categorized by the World Health Organization as one of the top ten most debilitating mental health disorders.  If you are experiencing scary thoughts about yourself or your baby, it can feel like the weight of the world is pressing down on you. That’s why we sat down with Jenna Overbaugh of NOCD to break down postpartum OCD, guide you through seeking a diagnosis, receiving treatment, and coping with your ..read more

Welcome to the transition from newborn sleep to infant sleep! Though many mamas, including us here at Expectful, commonly refer to any baby between 1 month old and 1 year old as a newborn, they are actually considered an infant by month 4 and toddler by 1 year. Your infant’s sleep needs won’t change much at month 4, but this is a time when many families will start to think about their longer-term sleep goals. Will you sleep train your infant? Do you plan to transition to a crib? Will you be out of town and need support with your baby while you’re away? Questions like these are just a few examp ..read more

Bringing home your baby means lots of big changes are on the horizon. One of the most difficult transitions for many mamas to master is the elusive newborn sleep. To better help you get through this time, it’s important to understand what changes your tiniest family member is actually experiencing. During the first 3 months, your baby is growing at a rapid rate. Their vision is getting clearer, their cries begin to change when they want different things, their stomach expands and feeding becomes more routine. Soon enough, by about month five, they will have nearly doubled their birth weight! U ..read more

“25, 30, 35 visits?” As I lay down for my ultrasound at 32 weeks, I tried to calculate how many more times I must visit the hospital before giving birth. At twenty weeks pregnant, I was diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy with multiple complications that required consistent monitoring—as many as five doctor visits a week. I was told matter-of-factly: I would not make it to term.  I was blindly walking through a field of grenades every day I advanced into my pregnancy, carrying my most precious possession. Will we make it to tomorrow? For weeks, I tried everything my team of doctors sugge ..read more

Expectful has announced a partnership with Solly Baby, the creator of the beloved baby wraps made to bring families together and keep parents and infants calm and connected. The two brands share a commitment to improving the pregnancy and postpartum experience through research-backed products that can help both mom and baby thrive. According to a study recently published in the Journal of Midwifery, up to 40% of patients report depression or anxiety symptoms in pregnancy; with increased feelings of stress being nearly universal. Stress during pregnancy is linked to adverse outcomes including p ..read more

“We sat down and got really serious. To become a mother, I had to put a lot down. Travel, stress, my career… I had to completely take a 180. I had to shift.” When Liv Lo Golding and her husband, Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding, decided they wanted to be parents, she says she had to completely shift in her identity. After experiencing a miscarriage in 2020, she knew that her life as it was—traveling across the globe, flying several times a week, living in different cities, and working to build her company—had to change.  In a recent Shared Story interview with Expectful, Liv explain ..read more

Maybe you’re pregnant, maybe you’re thinking about it, or maybe you’ve just had a baby and are scrolling the interwebs while nursing your newborn. Wherever you are on your fertility journey, Expectful wants you to feel equipped with the knowledge you need to make the best decisions for your health.  In partnership with SimpleHealth, a reproductive wellness brand making birth control more accessible, we sat down with their Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lisa Czanko to ask her some questions about breastfeeding and birth control methods.   Below, Dr. Czanko discusses the methods that ..read more