First of all, did you know that you can subscribe to Womb Within through RSS feeds? You can also get Womb Within delivered to your email. Simply click on the link up in the right hand corner that says "Subscribe to Womb Within." If you prefer to visit the site, you can bookmark it in your browser, so you know where to get it all the time. Depending on your browser, the usual way is to click on the "bookmark" tab at the top of your screen. You can also right-click on your mouse and select "bookmark this site."

Looking for information

Are you looking for anything specific, information on epidurals for example? If so, then the search box, just below the Subscribe to Womb Within, is likely your best bet. Simply type "epidurals" into the box and click on the magnifying glass or press enter. This will lead you to a list of posts where the word "epidurals" is mentioned.

If you’d like to explore what we have here, go down the right-hand side in the side bar. Below the section that says "Health and Wellness," where you will find a list of other blogs in this channel, you will find a list of categories. Scroll down the categories to find a section that interests you.

Sharing information and thoughts

Sometimes, writing a blog can be lonely. It’s like talking on the radio, not knowing if anyone is actually listening. If a particular post strikes you as interesting, if you agree with something or strongly disagree, it’s great to leave things like that in the comments section. What this does is stimulate conversations among other readers, plus it something gives me information on other issues to write about. It also reinforces that people are actually reading!

Spreading the news

Is there a post that strikes a cord that you would like to share with friends or family? You can do this through the "Share This" function, which you will find at the bottom of each post. If you click on this, you’re brought to a page that allows you to enter an email address and your info. By clicking "send it," the post is sent to whomever you want.

You can also let people know about a particular post using social networks, like StumbleUpon, Digg, and more. Using the "Share This" function, you can click on whichever ones you are signed up for and this brings the blog to the attention of thousands of other people who may also be interested.

Rating the posts

Did you think the post you read was useful? Good? Not too interesting? However you felt about it, there’s a scoring system just at the bottom of each post. To let me know what types of posts are the most appreciated, it would be great if people would click on the stars and let me know which posts they liked – and which they didn’t.

I hope you enjoy your visit and are able to find the information you are looking for. Please come back!

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Post from: Blisstree

Are you new to Womb Within?

I have 6 questions that I’m going to tag 6 blogs with. Let’s see what their answers are.

Here are the questions:

1. How did you find out you were pregnant?
2. How did you tell your partner (if you have/had one)?
3. Did you secretly hope for a girl or a boy?
4. Did you feel ready to have a child?
5. What bit of advice did you get that you hated?
6. What bit of advice did you get that you appreciated?

My answers:

1. The first time, my DH and I went to a pharmacy with my little sample. The assistant said, “yup, you’re pregnant.” The second time, I think I did the same, but alone. The third time, we could buy the kits in the store so I did it at home.
2. He was with me the first time. The second time, I told him when he got home from work. The third time, I just called him at work.
3. At first, I wanted a girl because I figured I knew what to expect with girls. I had a boy. The second pregnancy, I hoped for a girl and she came. The third time, I hoped for a boy because I thought that being an only girl might ward off some of the middle-child stuff my daughter may have. And, I did get my boy.
4. Although number one was very unexpected – yes, I felt ready.
5. I hated being told things like “have all the fun you can now because you can’t once the baby is born.” I mean, really, why do people have to be so negative?
6. “take time for yourself. You’re still a person, even if you’re a mom now.”

Now, don’t think you’re let off the hook! I want to hear your answers too.

Who am I tagging? I thought I’d send this over to:

1. Eliza at BabyLune
2. Heather and Sherry at Inside Motherhood
3. Grace at Kids Health Notes
4. Jennifer at Everyday Networker
5. Angela at Breastfeeding 1-2-3
6. Heather at Writing Mother

Ok tagged ladies – it’s up to you to keep the ball rolling. Please if you do play along drop a comment so I can visit.

Let’s see who you tag for the meme: 5 (or 6) blogs for 6 questions.
Now, what about you? (if it helps give you a nudge, don’t forget that all comments are entered into the perpetual contest – info in the sidebar)

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Post from: Blisstree

A pregnancy "meme" or game of tag

served by picapp.com

On May 25th, I offered a welcome gift to three visitors in this post: A welcome gift to Womb Within visitors.

I apologize for the delay in getting back to you with the winners, but here they are:

• Melissa

• Lori

• Marlene

I will try to make contact with you through your comments or else you can contact me through my email, which is in the side bar to your right.

Thanks for leaving your comment and congratulations.

For those of you who were hoping to win this book, I have several more to give away. Plus, don’t forget, I will have a monthly give-away for people who leave comments. Who knows? One of the months, it just might be this book!

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Technorati Tags: pregnancy blog,monthly contest,womb

Post from: Blisstree

and the winner is…..

First of all… wow! What a great start we had to this blog. Thanks so much to the many people who have stopped by to check it out. I sincerely hope that you all continue to come by and that you encourage others to do so as well.

Now, for some housekeeping.

Comments: I love comments – I really want comments and I’m on the computer almost all day long so if you’re a new commenter, it shouldn’t take too long for your comments to be approved. If you’ve commented before, you don’t have to go through the moderation process. The best way to start a community and to form on-line relationships with people is by leaving comments and starting conversations.

I’m actually out of town at a conference this weekend so it is likely taking me quite a bit longer to see comments and approve them than usual. Please don’t let that discourage you. If you want to leave comments on different posts but haven’t yet been approved, go ahead and they’ll all be done in one shot.

Give-aways: If you’re like me, many of you like give-aways. They don’t have to be large, they’re just fun to get. I have what I call a prize closet and in that prize closet, I have everything from pre-natal vitamins to books to “green” cleaning supplies. Some come directly from me, others come from the PR firms or company owners. These have been donated for review and for giving away.

Eligibility: To be eligible for a give-away, I have to have a way to contact you. So, if you don’t give your email address (not shown to the public) or some way for me to contact you, you’ll have to check in within 5 days of a contest ending to see if I’ve posted your name as a winner. If I’m not able to contact the winner within a week, I have to award the prize to someone else. Make sense?

Products: While I review and give away products, unless I specifically say that I recommend something, I’m not endorsing it or telling you that it’s the best thing since sliced bread. I’m simply telling you that it’s available, what it does, and if you’re interested, how to get it. If it’s something I can use and try myself, I will and I’ll let you know what I think.

Back to comments and give-aways! Because I have lots of small things in my prize closet, I am going to have a monthly contest for readers who leave appropriate comments on the blog. Every comment is eligible, so the more you comment, the more chances you have. At the end of each month, I will randomly choose one comment and the commenter will get a goodie (to be determined by me) from my prize closet.

So, ladies and gentlemen, go for it!

Image: Newscom

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Post from: Blisstree

A little Womb Within housekeeping

A welcome gift to Womb Within visitors

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Post from: Blisstree

Don’t forget our welcome gift

So, as a welcome gift, I have three copies of the book, Simple Principles For a Happy and Healthy Pregnancy, by Alex A. Lluch.

According to the editor’s review at Amazon.com, “Pregnancy is a fascinating and exciting experience. This book helps readers enhance this experience by outlining the most important tips for staying healthy and preparing for a new baby. It will reveal all the secrets to having a joyful, healthy pregnancy.”

To be eligible to win a copy of the book, leave a comment that says how far along you are in your pregnancy, if you are thinking of getting pregnant, or whatever reason brought you to the Womb Within. All the comments that qualify will be assigned a number in which they were submitted and three numbers will be drawn at random.

Please be sure you either leave in your comment or as a link an email address that I can use to reach your. If you don’t want to do that, be sure to check the website a day or two after the contest closes to see if you have won, so you can contact me. If I can’t reach you within 7 days of the end of the contest, I’ll draw another name.

The contest ends at 11:59 PM on Saturday, May 31st. Good luck!

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Post from: Blisstree

A welcome gift to Womb Within visitors

Meredith is a DONA-trained doula, mother of two very active boys, and wife of a very tolerant man. She believes in the innate strength and wisdom of women, and hopes that all women have birth experiences of which they are proud.

Meredith had two unmedicated hospital births (1997 and 1999), with the support of her mother. She became a doula in 2006 because she had always felt called to be a part of birth, and understood firsthand the impact one-on-one support has on an optimal birth. Eventually, she plans to become a certified professional midwife (CPM), and dreams of opening a holistic birth center in her hometown of St. Louis, MO.

She currently works as a staff doula in a Midwest hospital as well as being an Instructional Designer for a major brokerage firm (something has to pay the bills!). Meredith takes a few private clients each year as Birth Sister Doula Services. In her spare time, she volunteers for Heavenly Angels In Need, making memory boxes and burial garments for babies whose home is in heaven, and for various greyhound adoption groups.

Have you used a doula or do you want to use a doula? Please share your experiences with us.

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Post from: Blisstree

Womb Within has its very own doula

My name is Marijke Durning – I already have a blog here at b5Media, called Help My Hurt. It’s a blog about pain, managing pain, treating pain, and living with chronic pain.

The opportunity to take on this blog came up and I jumped at it. I loved the idea of blogging about pregnancy because there is so very much out there. By having this blog, I can put a lot of it together in one place, saving you from searching for it.

As well, so many of the women who may visit will have experiences and suggestions of their own, so they – hopefully – will speak up and share them with us.

Now, about me. I’m a registered nurse and I worked in postpartum many years ago. I always thought it was a bit odd that there I was, 20 years old, teaching women older than me how to hold, bathe and care for their babies. Six years later, I had my first child, and then I had two more. They’re now 21, 19, and 16, but I remember my pregnant days all too well. I was very lucky and I know that.

I’m an avid quilter and a greyhound lover. You might be reading some stories about my 9 and a half year old greyhound, Dee. She’s got us all beat (except maybe for Michelle Duggar) as she’s a retired brood mom who had three litters, with 14 pups total. She probably thinks I’m lazy with only three kids.

Pregnancy is such a unique time in a woman’s life. Some pregnancies are anticipated and enjoyed throughout; others are unexpected and maybe not as welcome as one would hope. However you came to be here to read this blog, I hope that I can make your journey a little easier, a little less mysterious, and – when possible – fun.

I’m looking forward to this. I hope you are too.

Images: iStock & Marijke Durning

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Technorati Tags: pregnancy blog

Post from: Blisstree

Welcome to the Womb Within!