At the 12 week mark my doctor’s visits to the GP became trips to the OB. I became a regular at the ultrasound technician’s office getting multiple photo’s of my babies-to-be. Twins, in our case mono-di twins, meant I was a high risk pregnancy. Being high risk, especially following my miscarriage, meant trusting my OB completely in all aspects of the pregnancy including what could or should happen during labour and all moments leading up to it.

When I hit the 21-week mark my OB told me that I might have placenta previa. I really had no idea what that meant. He explained to me that my placenta was basically covering where the babies needed to come out and it needed to move, but it needed MY help to make that move.

After chatting about my situation with my OB I had asked him if I should let my boss know that I might not be back to work after the Christmas break, to which he answered, “No, you’ll tell them that you WON’T be back after the break.”

I had a feeling that I wouldn’t work right up until my due date, but I had no idea that I would be leaving work so soon…or did I? I had cleaned my desk as I do every December leading up to the holidays, but this time I didn’t stop at just throwing out some obsolete files and documents, I started organizing files, saving key items to a usb and making a ‘how to’ document for whoever took over my duties. I guess women’s intuition (or in this case mommy’s intuition) is a real thing.

Needless to say, I was organized and ready, before knowing that I needed to be.

My bosses were very understanding and supportive of me having to go on bed rest, and even the third party that handles our disability claims was actually very easy to deal with.

The difficult part of bed rest, was the actual resting part. The first two weeks was a tough transition from always being on the go, walking the dog, driving myself places and being able to do…well…anything. Now, I was limited to lying on the couch or the bed. My poor dog was so confused, our mommy-puppy morning walks had been replaced with morning talk shows.

Eventually I got used to the new routine and so did the dog.

My husband was very strict. He was not only my husband, but also my ‘warden.’ If the doctor said ‘no driving’ or ‘no vacuuming’ my hubby ensured that I followed the rules.

My friends and family helped keep me sane with numerous visits to the house, Skype dates and phone calls and before I knew it eight weeks of bed rest had flown by.

As difficult as it was to be so limited with my day to day routine, the bed rest did pay off. Listening to the doctor was the best thing I could’ve done. After weeks of taking it easy, my placenta did exactly what my OB had hoped, it moved far enough away to make my placenta previa scare a thing of the past.

My advice: listen to your doctor…and don’t just listen, actually hear what he/she has to say. If you have a question, ask it and fully understand the importance of the recommendations you’ve been given. Also, listen to your instincts. If you feel like you should start cleaning your desk or organizing certain things in your life a bit earlier than the books tell you to, it’s probably for a reason.

Your sense of time also goes through a transformation. After baby, your idea of being proactive and forward-looking expands from counting down the days until the weekend, to starting to imagine what it will be like when your baby will first say “mamma”; when your baby will take his or her first steps; what activities your baby will grow up to excel at in high school; and how to ensure that you will have enough money saved up for your baby to pursue their choice of post-secondary education and career path.

An “eco-mom” in the making

As a new mom, you want the very best for your child, not just for today, but forever. If you worry about what the world will be like when your child is old enough to inherit it, join forces with the millions of people who practice environmentally-conscious living every day by becoming an “eco-mom”. Here are some easy ways for the new “eco-mom” in you to practice environmentally-friendly habits and minimize your mommy footprint.

Try gently used items

Instead of buying all new clothes, bottle sterilizers, baby monitors, mobiles and toys for your baby, consider buying gently used items. If the idea of buying second-hand items for your baby from an unknown source makes you uncomfortable, start a gently used sharing club with your friends and family. As your friends’ babies grow, you can take on items they no longer need—good for the environment, and good for your wallet too.

Leave the mini van in the garage and walk

If you live close to a plaza where you do your daily errands like banking and shopping, consider leaving your car at home and walking instead. You save on fuel emissions and the cost of gas, and the exercise and fresh air are good for you and for baby!

Consider reducing diaper damage

Cloth over disposable diapers? The environmental impact of both is a long-debated issue by parents. Both options have their merits, but disposable diapers are probably the easier option for busy moms, resulting in a huge amount of disposable diapers in landfills every year.

If you’re not quite ready to make the switch to cloth diaper but are still committed to minimizing your mommy footprint, think about using fewer baby wipes (which also contribute to landfill overload) and try making your own reusable wipes by cutting soft cotton fabric into squares for reusable wipes, or even just using half of a disposable wipe for small clean ups.

Bring reusable cloth shopping bags to the store

Having a baby means more trips to the store for food, necessities and cleaning products. Using reusable bags is a great way to reduce your mommy footprint by cutting down on plastic bags. Another easy tip is to bring along your own reusable plastic containers, so that you can avoid extra Styrofoam and plastic packaging at the deli and bakery counters.

Switch to reusable containers 

Being a new mom means having a “mommy tote” full of essentials like bottles, snacks, drinks, clothes, blankets—plus extra items for emergencies. Try using reusable containers for storing baby’s drinks and food to help reduce your reliance on disposable plastics. You can also buy food and drink items in bulk and transfer them to your reusable containers to cut down on plastic packaging.

Choose organic ingredients

When you buy products made from organic ingredients, you enhance your baby’s health and safety, and also protect groundwater, farmers and wildlife.

CST Plan is only sold by prospectus. Investors should read the prospectus before making an investment decision because it includes important detailed information. You can get copies of the prospectus from www.cst.org or by calling 1.877.333.RESP (7377)

About the author C.S.T. Consultants Inc

The Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation is the sponsor of the Canadian Scholarship Trust Plans,which are exclusively distributed by C.S.T. Consultants Inc.

This article was written by C.S.T Consultants Inc. (CST).  CST is the investment manager and distributor of the Canadian Scholarship Trust Plans and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation.  In Quebec, the Canadian Scholarship Trust Plans are distributed by C.S.T. Consultants Inc. Scholarship Plan Brokerage Firm.

Why should I swaddle my baby?

The main idea behind swaddling is to help comfort a newborn baby. Think about it: your baby right now is in a completely warm, cozy, dark, calming environment. What she feels in the third trimester is the tightness of your womb hugging her at different angles. She is sleeping in a warm bath of fluid. When she is born, there is no longer that feeling of security. It has been replaced with bright lights, unfamiliar sounds, diapers, and being placed in a bassinet to sleep. You may notice that unswaddling a newborn baby produces the ‘startle reflex’ when her limbs jerk out and she starts to cry.

The benefit to swaddling is to calm a baby and encourage sleep, which is very important during those early weeks of sleepless nights! It allows the baby to feel safe and secure in between feedings. However, you do not have to swaddle your baby at all times. You can also place your baby dressed in only a diaper on your bare chest. This is called skin to skin and promotes bonding as well as breastfeeding.

The dos and don’ts of swaddling

You do want to make sure that you leave a little bit of room in the leg area so that baby can still move her legs around somewhat. Generally babies remain in the fetal position with their arms and legs flexed when swaddled. Do not cover the baby’s head with the swaddle blanket as this can cause overheating, but rather use a hat if you’re worried about the baby getting cold. Remember not to swaddle babies with their arms straight down if you plan on breastfeeding, as infants often show you signs of hunger by putting their hands in their mouths. This is also a basic way most babies like to comfort themselves.

How do I swaddle baby?

There are many swaddling techniques, but loose and ineffective swaddling techniques made using an undersized blanket can generally be kicked off by a wakeful baby. Think of swaddling a baby like wrapping up a burrito — it needs to be secure on the sides or it won’t work! As you get more practice you’ll see what works and what doesn’t for your baby.

The best type of blanket to use for swaddling is one that is relatively sturdy yet does not overheat baby. Cotton is the best material. You will want to stay away from thick fluffy and furry blankets. Many popular types are made to prevent baby from moving the blanket over her face which could interfere with her breathing. They are typically fabric blankets such as a sleep sack, which are shaped like a small sleeping bag, with ‘wings’ that fold around the baby’s tummy and around underneath the infant. Some of these products employ Velcro patches or other fasteners.

How long do I need to swaddle?

Every baby is different even from the start. Some babies are comfortable to never need swaddling, and others will want it for weeks or even months. You will know the time is right to stop when your baby is able to fall asleep without being wrapped tightly in a receiving blanket.

A general rule of thumb is that babies have outgrown the need for swaddling once they are able to roll over on their own at four to five months. This means that they will now need full use of their arms and legs to be able to roll back onto their backs.

Sara Fung is an experienced registered nurse specializing in postpartum, labour and delivery, and prenatal education. Currently she is a prenatal and postpartum nurse doula, providing at-home support for breastfeeding, baby care, sleep, and more. She also offers individualized, private prenatal classes to mothers and their families. www.storkmaternity.ca

As the baby is gently placed on your belly and you gaze into your child’s gorgeous eyes, the next step for most women is to begin to breastfeed their child. Upon reflection, most women are overjoyed that their pregnancy is finally over. For some, pregnancy was a wonderful deep experience, for others it may have been relatively uneventful, and for a majority of woman it was nine months of nausea, bloating and discomfort. As you gently stroke your baby’s soft and perfect skin you have the sense that you are not alone, like most women, you are overjoyed that the labour is also over. The experience of labour could have been fabulous and spiritual, or it may not have been what you expected, or for many women it could have been a scary nightmare filled with induction, IV’s and monitoring. But as you hold your baby in your arms and fall madly in love with this child, it is important to realize that the next step of breastfeeding is a skill both you and your child will need to learn and perfect.

Most people don’t realize that breastfeeding is a learned behaviour. Yes, it is true that most mothers and babies have an innate desire to breastfeed, but notwithstanding, it is a process that needs to be learned by most of them.

Babies, while in the womb for nine months, have been fed passively through their bellies, by the placenta and have not had to suck or swallow in order to survive. Everything was done for them. They just needed to float in fluid and grow. Then suddenly, they are pushed into the world and they need to breathe and eat on their own. In the first 48 hours of life, a baby needs to acquire a lot of new information, and within six weeks needs to perfect the new task of breastfeeding in order for it to be successful. Yes, it is true that there are specific guidelines that practitioners need to teach moms to ensure that their newborn’s development will be proper, but most forget the essential lesson — that a baby’s feeding patterns have a lot to do with it’s personality, it’s natural strengths and
weaknesses.

Having worked with new moms and new babies for the past 20 years, I always find that when I point out baby’s personality traits to new moms, breastfeeding always goes better. Some infants are adventure seekers, while others are cautious. Some newborns are slow and thorough learners, while some are fast and quick to pick up new information. Some infants eat slowly and others gulp down their food in three minutes. It is important to look at your newborn as a person with certain intrinsic personality traits and skills. People are always shocked when I spend 30 minutes teaching a woman to breastfeed, but I have to. Informing a new mother, I might say, “Your baby likes to be in a specific position and held firmly,” yet to another I say, “Loosen up your grip, your child swallows better when the she feels more in control.” Perhaps on another occasion I might observe that the baby seems to like the way it is being held on the left breast more than on the mother’s right, or I might have noticed that a particular baby coordinates his suckle better when he is spoken to.

I remember the time when a woman came to me after having seen three different doctors for her baby who was constantly crying and screaming. I asked her how she was feeding the baby. She answered proudly that she was feeding her baby for ten minutes on each side. I weighed the baby before the feed, and after only three minutes on the breast, I asked the woman to stop feeding and reweighed the baby. The baby had already consumed 4.5 ounces of milk. I asked the woman to burp her baby, and let her know that the baby’s feed was over. Shocked, the woman looked at me and said, “What are you talking about? This baby needs seven more minutes on this side and then ten more minutes on the other side.” Laughingly, I assured the mom that while she was correct according to the books which she had read, since her newborn had not yet read those books, he didn’t realize that 20 minutes was “normal” and he was just a fast eater so the crying would stop when the over-feeding stopped. The next woman came in complaining that her baby never seemed full, and could nurse for hours and hours. I watched the baby feed and saw that she was having trouble coordinating the necessary suckswallow- breath pattern. Here the solution was to teach the mom a little breast compression, in order to help the infant learn to eat a little faster. I brought these examples to illustrate how infants eating at
the breast were eating in a variety of ways, according to their varying temperaments, and therefore requiring different guidance.

There are some basic guidelines that all babies must follow to stay healthy, but the most important thing to remember is that your child has a personality already, even if the baby is only three hours old. Babies, just like adults have different innate skills and different strengths and weaknesses, both physically and emotionally. Some children grow up to be naturally outgoing, some are shy, some are pushy, and some are pushovers. Each of these qualities is with them from the moment they are born.

I remember attending a breastfeeding conference once where the speaker asked the group of attending adults, “How many people eat three meals a day?” A portion of the audience raised their hands. Then she asked, “How many people are grazers? How many people only eat two meals a day? How many people forget to eat?” With each question different hands went up. Then she concluded, “Even though we ultimately all need the same amount of liquids and nutrients to survive, most of us go about it in different ways. So how can we expect one baby to eat exactly like the next baby?”

Follow the guidelines below to ensure your child’s health, but don’t forget that each baby eats and nurses differently, just like each adult eats in a different pattern. Enjoy the personality of your baby. Talk to your baby when you’re nursing. Ask your baby if he or she likes the position that he or she is in. Find out how your baby is feeling. Look at your newborn as a person with a personality — with likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses just like an adult. Learn to read your babies eating patterns. Follow the basic guidelines but realize your baby is an individual.

BABY’S FIRST THREE DAYS:
1. Four wet diapers the first three days.
2. Urine needs to be clear and not deep yellow or orange (if you cannot tell from the thickness of the diaper slip a white tissue in the diaper to see true color of urine).
3. Stools should first be black, turn brown, then light green.
4. Baby satisfied and drowsy after feeds.
5. Mom should never have nipple pain, if baby is latched on properly breastfeeding should never hurt.
6. Don’t look at a clock, watch the baby. The baby needs to be swallowing at the breast. If the baby is not swallowing the baby is not eating.
7. All babies require eight to 12 feeds in a 24 hour period. Some babies will eat eight times a day and some 12. Some days the baby will eat nine times a day and the next day only eight. Just like adults some days we are hungrier then other days, but eight feeds are what babies need.

SARA CHANA’S RULES FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS:
1. Six to eight clear urine diapers per day.
2. Some of the six to eight diapers will have stools that are bright yellow and seedy.
3. Some babies have as many 10 watery stools a day this is also normal.
4. Babies eat every one to three hours from the end of the feed and the babies eating pattern may vary from day to day.
5. Babies should be satisfied after a feed. Sometimes a baby will be hungry one hour later and sometimes three hours later and sometimes two hours later but the mom should have a period of time after a feed that the baby appears content and satisfied.
6. Babies still require eight to 12 feeds a day in a 24 hour period.
7. The rule is if a baby is swallowing then a baby is eating. Sitting on the breast without swallowing is not eating.

Sara Chana, IBCLC, RH (AHG) is a lactation consultant, classical homeopath, registered herbalist and mother of seven children. She has worked with over 10,000 new moms and babies. Please like her Facebook page ‘Sara Chana’ and follow her on twitter: @sarachanas. Also, check out her new Breastfeeding App with 102 original videos at www.sarachana.com

I just discovered your site and love it! My little girl will be three months in four days. I thought she may be overtired as she was waking constantly at night so I made her bedtime earlier, as a friend suggested that might help but she still wakes every hour, sometimes 1/2 hour, wanting to eat. Could this be a growth spurt? I’m going crazy and don’t know what to do anymore, I can see my little one is also tired during the day but she fights sleep and does not eat so much during the day but when night comes there’s no stopping her just bottle, bottle, bottle!

Hi there,
You must be exhausted! It sounds like your little one is mixing up days and nights. Try focusing on getting her to eat more during the day. Make sure you give her longer, fuller feeds, rather than short ones. This way you will also train her to eat at particular times, rather than whenever she gets cranky.  At this point, you should be able to tell the difference between a hungry cry and a tired or cranky cry. Until babies are four months old, they really are unpredictable. So, if she seems to be hungry a lot, then feed her, but try to make that happen during the day instead of at night.
Hope this helps!
Rosemary

Have a question for Rosemary? Email her.

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, supports a number of bodily functions like the production of red and white blood cells, protein absorption and the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels. Also, vitamin B6 deficiencies have been linked to nausea and morning sickness. Therefore, a healthy dose of vitamin B6 can often alleviate nausea-related vomiting. Natural sources of vitamin B6 include sweet bell peppers, spinach, squash, bananas, potatoes, sunflower seeds, chicken and pork.

Ginger

Studies have shown that ginger can actually decrease instances of nausea and vomiting. Eating or drinking anything that contains real ginger may be as effective as some medications for treating nausea and an upset stomach. Natural ginger is best (instead of sugary ginger ale or ginger snaps) and can be grated for tea or sprinkled on top of your favourite dish. Many traditional Asian or Indian recipes call for this beneficial and fragrant herb.

For some women, the taste of ginger only aggravates their nausea. This is part of the reason why Platinum Naturals has combined both vitamin B6 and ginger to create the ultimate anti-nausea aid in an easy to swallow capsule. While this anti-nausea product was designed to alleviate morning sickness safely and effectively, it can also help those who are suffering from motion sickness and digestive upsets.

Be sure to check with your doctor or natural healthcare provider before taking any supplements during pregnancy.

For more information on Platinum Naturals’ prenatal anti-nausea product, visit https://www.platinumnaturals.com/prenatalproducts.html.

Be Kid Friendly: Plan ahead and research your destination prior to going. If you’re camping with a small child you likely don’t want to camp in a destination near cliffs, cactus or poison ivy. Additionally, you’re going to want to have games, toys and activities that you brought along just for your child! Make the trip kid-friendly. If you have to drive a far distance to make it to the camping location you probably want to check into any kid-friendly roadside attractions or activities you can all enjoy along the way. Remember, everything changes once you have children, and you’re going to need to modify the way you used to camp, too!

Have an Adventure: Kids love adventure (as do most dads!). An adventure can be as small as collecting pinecones, drawing a picture in the sand, building something out of rocks and sticks, going for a hike, etc. Have fun as you go, and share in the moments of adventure and exploration with your child. Being outdoors and playing in the dirt can be both wholesome and educational. Give your child time to do their thing – learning about trees, plants, flowers and all of nature’s beauty along the way.

Be Prepared: Bottom line – you’re going to want to be prepared for anything – and everything! Bring extra diapers, extra clothes, plenty of warm items and comfort items, too. Have books and soothing toys squirreled away incase your child has a hard time and needs some comfort from home. I suggest going all out and loading your car full of everything you could possibly need, if you do that, chances are you’ll be prepared for every event.

Take Baby Steps: Take it small. Camp in the backyard a couple of times before actually heading out for a “real” camping trip. I also think it’s important to begin your first “real” camping trip in a campground, so you’ll have some amenities and you’ll likely be close to a town should something go wrong – finger’s crossed they won’t. You can build up to a larger multiple night campout in a more secluded location after you develop your child’s camping skills in the yard and at a campground. Trust me when I say learning to camp is an art, and you don’t want to rush it!

Be a Teacher: Use every opportunity you get to teach your child about something. While camping you might be able to teach your child how to fish, to tie special knots, to set up a tent to name a species of bird, etc. The things you teach your child while camping are sure to stick with them and they’ll reflect on the memories with fondness in their later years.

Don’t Push It: Camping just isn’t for everyone, and I totally get that. So my last tip is not to push it too hard. If your child isn’t enjoying camping don’t force them to go. Give it a year and try again. Build a special fort in the living room instead and have a family movie night/slumber party! Everybody is different, and we certainly need to respect that and appreciate each person’s individuality.

Enjoy every moment and treasure the entire journey, because, let’s face it, sometimes the journey can be the greatest adventure, and your kids may even remember the journey better than they’ll remember the destination.

Happy camping and happy parenting!

Sincerely,

Daddy Nickell

Daddy Nickell, father of 7, founder of Daddyscrubs.com and the Daddyscrubs parenting blog.

The cottage I’m referring to is my cousin’s cottage about a two-hour drive from Toronto. My kids really love being there. I love being there too, but I haven’t always loved it. You see when you have babies sometimes you’re a super relaxed parent and you just take your kids everywhere without batting an eye… or sometimes you’re like me.

Sometimes when your husband wants to go to the cottage or camping, you say, “Sure! That will be fun!” but then you stress about packing the million things that you need for a measly two nights. You stress out the days leading up to your “mini-break” and wonder how you’re ever going to make it. You hate the drive up there because one of your kids will most likely puke and cry the entire drive. Once you’re up there, you lose even more sleep because your baby is not in his/her regular surroundings and then you have a pretty miserable time. You’re hot. You’re tired. And you will likely do it again the following weekend — because, you’re either a martyr, trooper or an idiot. The three can be synonymous.

I did eventually see the light and started to say no. Sometimes it’s ok to just stay at home for the weekend in the summer and enjoy your neighbourhood. But now that the kids have grown a bit I don’t mind these trips as much. Sure I still don’t like packing, but it’s not so bad…

Truth be known: I have a little bit of OCD. Just a little. I don’t like sitting on couches that are not mine. Really. This is crazy I know, but I don’t. I don’t like sleeping on beds that are not mine. I don’t like bugs. I don’t like living out of a suitcase. I don’t like mosquitos. I don’t like the idea that the place is empty all week. See where I’m going with this? So you’re probably wondering why I’m going to the cottage… Well, I love my family and my friends. I also rarely turn down even a little bit of fun and spending time with my people trumps my issues. Thank God. Otherwise, I would never go anywhere.

So I’ve done something this year to lessen my load.

I’ve purchased some plastic storage bins. One for under the bed that we sleep in, and one huge one for the foot of the bed. I used to be super OCD and basically NEVER left anything up there… I think it was that deep down inside I was hoping that I wouldn’t return with my kids until they were older. But the frequency of my trips has increased and it’s annoying to have to bring these things up EVERY weekend, so I’m going to bite the bullet and leave some stuff up there in my pretty storage containers.

The under bed storage will be used for storing all of our sweaters and sweat pants. We always bring them up with us EVERY time we go up. We don’t always wear them as lately our summers have been so hot that they haven’t been necessary. My plan will eliminate a lot of back and forth of the same stuff.

My giant storage container will hold our four sleeping bags and extra bath towels. I still have to figure out what to do for my pillows… (Stella if you’re reading this I LOVE YOU and the bin is not actually that big! Oops.)

It makes sense to leave things up there. It will ultimately give me less stress when I’m packing and that’s the goal since we’ll likely be going up almost every weekend this year.

Here’s my list of what I’ll be leaving there this year:

Extra towels
Sunscreen
Hats
Sneakers
Hooded sweaters
Long sweat pants
Socks
Flip flops
All toiletries
Spare clothes
Sleeping Bags
Pillows (don’t know where yet…)

The cottage is perfect for the kids. It’s across the street from the beach — which they love and I love because the water is shallow for what seems like miles so I don’t really have to worry about them going too deep. This year we’ll be brining up all of our bikes — as both kids enjoy riding and we’ll make sure to explore the surrounding area… something that I really never wanted to do while they were babies.

Serenity now.

We are very lucky and blessed to have a relative who enjoys our company so much that she doesn’t mind having us with her every weekend. And this plan is to make it as enjoyable as possible for all of us (ahem, ahem… me). Really? A happy Sandy is a guaranteed happy weekend.

Do you frequent a cottage in the summer time? Is there anything that annoys you about going?

In celebration of moms everywhere, let’s take a look at Hollywood’s newest matriarchs who will celebrate their first Mother’s Day on May 12. From Drew Barrymore, to Giuliana Rancic, to Shakira, to Adele, look through our list of 15 star moms celebrating for the first time this year.

◦   Giuliana Rancic:

Reality stars Giuliana Rancic and Bill Rancic welcomed their first child, son Duke, on August 30. The new mom opened up to Celebrity Baby Scoop about her big plans to celebrate her first Mother’s Day.

“Bill and I are having our moms come to LA for Mother’s Day – to make it special for all of us,” she shared. “We’re planning a fancy bunch with the whole family at a nice hotel in Newport Coast and then a walk on the beach. Reall, I just want to relax and enjoy the day together as a whole family.”

She added: “This Mother’s Day is especially meaningful because it’s my first time to celebrate as a mother, of course! After struggling for years to have a baby, it’s a real gift to be able to spend the special day with Bill, Duke and our family.”

◦   Holly Madison:

Before welcoming her first child, daughter Rainbow, on March 5, Playboy model Holly Madison spoke to Celebrity Baby Scoop about her hopes for her first Mother’s Day.

 “I hope my boyfriend [Pasquale Rotella] and I can find something fun to do that someone only a few months old will enjoy,” Holly shared. “Maybe we will take her to the Springs Preserve (a park here in Vegas) and see if she reacts to any of the animals and the nature.”

◦   Kristin Cavallari:

The Hills alum Kristin Cavallari, 26, welcomed her first child, son Camden, on August 8.

Engaged to Camden’s dad, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, Kristin recently chatted about the joys of motherhood.

“Motherhood came very naturally to me. I’m enjoying every second. He’s such a happy, sweet baby. Every day is something new and exciting. Being a mom means being responsible for another life and it no longer being about you. It’s the most rewarding thing in the world.”

◦   Malin Akerman:

Rock of Ages star Malin Akerman, 34, and her drummer husband, Roberto Zincone, welcomed their first child, son named Sebastian, on April 16.

“My husband and I welcomed our beautiful, healthy baby boy to this world this morning! Biggest joy of my life!!! #lovemykid” Malin announced via Twitter Tuesday.“PS and his name is … Sebastian Zincone )) Love him more than life itself!! #whatafeeling !!!”

◦   Kristen Bell:

Parenthood star Dax Shepard, 38, and House of Lies actress Kristen Bell, 32, became parents in March.

The longtime couple welcomed a daughter on Thursday, March 28. “Lincoln Bell Shepard is here,” the proud new papa announced via Twitter. “She has mom’s beauty and dad’s obsession with breasts. Hooray!!!”

“My new roommate poops her pants and doesn’t pay rent…basically Dax pre-sobriety,” the new mom added via Twitter. “Welcome baby Lincoln.”

◦   Amber Rose:

Model Amber Rose, 29, and fiancé Wiz Khalifa, 25, welcomed their first child, son Sebastian ”The Bash” Taylor Thomaz on February 21.

The rapper Tweeted the happy news today, writing, “Happy Birthday Sebastian ‘The Bash’ Taylor Thomaz!!! Everyone welcome this perfect young man into the world.”

◦   Shakira:

Colombian popstar Shakira, 36, and Gerard Piqué welcomed their first child, son Milan, in January.

“We are happy to announce the birth of Milan Piqué Mebarak, son of Shakira Mebarak and Gerard Piqué, born January 22nd at 9:36pm, in Barcelona, Spain,” the proud parents announced.

“The name Milan (pronounced MEE-lahn), means dear, loving and gracious in Slavic; in Ancient Roman, eager and laborious; and in Sanskrit, unification. Just like his father, baby Milan became a member of FC Barcelona at birth.”

◦   Claire Danes:

Homeland star Claire Danes, 34, and husband Hugh Dancy welcomed their first child, sonCyrus on December 17.

“It’s been a huge joy, this experience of becoming a mom,” Claire gushed in January. “I don’t know how to articulate it yet because it is so fresh.”

◦   Adele:

Singing sensation Adele, 24, and boyfriend Simon Konecki welcomed their first child, a son rumored to be Angelo, on October 19.

While at the Grammys in February, the new mom admitted to being “out of the loop.”

“I’ve been singing my baby nursery rhymes so I don’t really know what’s cool and what’s not,” Adele shared.

◦   Megan Fox:

Transformers star Megan Fox, 26, and husband Brian Austin Green welcomed their first child together, son Noah, on September 27.

“I’ve never been validated by work or fame or Hollywood or any of that. I recognize the blessings when they come – like, I recognize I’m so lucky to work with Judd [Apatow] – but the ultimate satisfaction for me is being with my son,” Megan recently said.

“All I wanted to do my whole, whole life was have a baby and, now, I’ve finally done it,” the stunning actress added. “I just want to give Noah as much of myself as I can. And I want to have more kids. That is where my heart is.”

◦   Drew Barrymore:

E.T. star Drew Barrymore, 38, and husband Will Kopelman welcomed their first child, daughter Olive, on September 26.

“When my daughter was born, I thought to myself, How do I go past infinity with my efforts and care? I asked my mother-in-law questions,” Drew shared. “I psycho-stalked all of the nurses with so many questions. I asked every single question. I’m a real stay-at-home mom. I’m really hands-on. Everything else became secondary.”

◦   Anna Paquin:

True Blood star Anna Paquin, 30, and her costar hubby, Stephen Moyer, welcomed their first children together – fraternal twins whose names have not been revealed – last fall.

“We can confirm that Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer recently welcomed their twins into the world,” reps for the actors stated in September. “The babies were born a few weeks early, but are in good health and both Mom and Dad are overjoyed.”

A friend of the couple revealed the twins’ gender.

“They had a boy and a girl and thought that was perfect,” shared the pal. “Anna is a natural mother, and Stephen is a doting dad,” the insider continued. “He turns to mush around those kids!”

◦   Snooki:

Nicole “Snooki” Pilozzi shared some motherhood advice as the Jersey Shore star, 25, and her fiancé Jionni LaValle welcomed their first child, son Lorenzo, on August 26.

“Advice to be a mom: don’t panic,” said Snooki of first-time motherhood. “Everything comes maternally. Honestly, I don’t even know how to hold a baby. I wasn’t good with kids. And everything just came so naturally. I feel like I’m the best mom ever.”

◦   Anna Faris:

Scary Movie star Anna Faris, 36, and husband, Zero Dark Thirty actor Chris Pratt, welcomed their first child, son Jack, on August 25.

“Anna Faris and Chris Pratt are happy to announce the birth of their beautiful baby boy Jack,” their rep stated. “He arrived earlier than expected and will be spending some time in the NICU. The happy parents thank you for your warm wishes and ask that you honor their privacy during this time.”

In January, Chris spoke out for the first time since Jack’s birth, proudly stating that their baby boy is healthy.

“He was born nine weeks premature, so we spent a month in the intensive care unit with him,” he revealed. “But he’s totally healthy now. He is just so perfect and I love him so much.”

◦   Sienna Miller:

Factory Girl star Sienna Miller and fiancé Tom Sturridge welcomed their first child, daughter Marlowe, in July.

The British beauty recently said she has “much less energy” for showbiz, and is now focusing on motherhood.

“My daughter monopolizes my time. I spend my days making pureed food for her,” Sienna said. “Becoming a mother [has] made me not miss working in the industry. For the time being at least, I prefer watching my daughter grow up.”

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