Click below to read the other articles in this series!
• The Stages of Motherhood: New Mommy: Christina Blakely
• The Stages of Motherhood: Preschool Mommy: Leah Denke
Our expecting mom (and cover model), Monica Clark, shares her journey through pregnancy. She’s due any day now. We had a blast shooting the cover with this glowing expecting mom…who is savoring every moment of her pregnancy.
Tell us about your pregnancy journey…
Knock on wood, but my pregnancy has been so easy. No nausea in my first trimester, no swollen feet or ankles…easy breezy! I attribute some of this to my acupuncture sessions, or maybe just overall good luck. I haven’t had any strong cravings with the exception of “Sonic-like” ice, I crave it constantly. I did have an aversion to seafood, where shrimp sounded like a good idea, but then I ordered it, and I could not eat it. I did have a gender reveal that was amazingly planned by my younger sister. She was the only person who knew the gender for almost three weeks.
How are you preparing for the upcoming birth?
I have been attending birth planning, breastfeeding and CPR for Infants classes at Memorial Hermann, Memorial City. Also, I’ve been reading Pregnancy Day by Day – An illustrated daily countdown to motherhood, from conception to childbirth and beyond by Paula Amato, MD and Maggie Blott, MB BS.
As with all expecting moms, shopping for the nursery and baby is one of the highlights. Where are your favorite places to shop?
I love unique items, so Etsy is my favorite. As for the nursery, Restoration Hardware RH Baby & Child. There are so many small boutiques that I love, but I can’t forget about my go-to’s including Baby and Kid’s 1st, Buy Buy Baby, Target and Amazon.
Any tips to share with new expecting moms?
I would suggest that moms try to find an OB-GYN and pediatrician close to home. When searching for a pediatrician, my husband and I wanted a practice who will see our son through the age of 18. We also asked about wait times, walk-in policies and if they have a nurse on call 24/7. Their recommendations on vaccine schedules was also very important to us as well.
Do you have any expecting mom tips to share?
I’m a huge believer in acupuncture, it has helped me throughout my pregnancy. I also suggest buying a pregnancy sleeping pillow early on, you will need it. In the last trimester, bath bombs have been my saving grace!
What are a few items you can’t live without?
First and foremost, the loving support of my husband (his foot rubs are amazing!) I’m loving the “9 Months that Made You” on Netflix. My countdown app to my due date (Ava) is something I use daily.
