It might be the toughest stretch of time for moms: postpartum. Between the lack of sleep, recovery from birth and adjustment to a new normal, the period after birth can be grueling—and lonely. But a new survey from Lansinoh shows you’re not alone if you’re struggling: 88% of moms surveyed said they weren’t prepared for the postpartum period and more than 95% think moms need more support from society.
Almost every mom-to-be has a birth plan, but not many have a plan for recovery. The survey showed that only 11% of moms had that plan, even though 90% recommended that new moms prepare for the days and weeks after birth. And there were common struggles that the group faced. Nearly 3/4 said that they were unprepared for breastfeeding, 66% cited mental health concerns and 65% said they weren’t prepared for the lack of sleep.
One word representing postpartum experience
Postpartum support is essential and support in the workforce is extra important, with 72% of moms currently working, according to PEW Research. This survey revealed that above all else, moms want stronger government policies for working parents, especially since the US is the only industrialized country without a federal paid maternity leave policy.
As fellow parents, we know how tough the transition to motherhood can be, even with all the magic it brings. That’s why we have thousands of articles with tips, tricks and hacks to make life with baby a bit easier. And Lansinoh also offers 100% insurance covered breast pumps to moms nationwide—just fill out a quick online form and simplify one part of postpartum.
To kick off Pride month, former NSYNC member Lance Bass and his husband Michael Turchin had a special announcement to make! They’re expecting boy-girl twins in November with the help of a surrogate. Since the duo is due around Halloween, Bass and Turchin created a humorous horror-inspired video to share the exciting news.
In an interview with People magazine, the dads-to-be revealed they’d been talking about starting a family since they met—and they’ve been together for 10 years. They also said they’d hoped to have two kids and since Turchin is also boy-girl twin, the result is meant to be! The couple shared the reveal video simultaneously on Instagram today, after Bass posted to TikTok early in the afternoon.
After Bass skyrocketed to fame as a member of one of the planet’s most popular boy bands, he revealed he was gay in 2006 and subsequently awarded the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award. He began dating Turchin, an artist, in 2011 and they married in December 2014. Turchin also shared a throwback magazine cover with one of the couple’s wedding shots to his Instagram today, writing “Happy #pridemonth everyone! Don’t let anyone diminish your worth and let that love & light shine bright.”
No question the twins will add plenty of love and light to the lives of Bass and Turchin. Congratulations to the happy couple as they embark on the journey of fatherhood!
Parenting a pet is a lot of work, but new data shows that furry friends make life better. A survey of over 2,000 U.S. pet parents revealed that four-legged companions are calming, improve moods and “nourish the soul.”
A study conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with Fuzzy—The Pet Parent Company, found that pets are significantly improving their parents’ lives. Seventy-nine percent of pet owners said they wouldn’t be as happy as they are now without their pet, 76 percent said that having a pet nourishes their soul and a whopping 82 percent said having a pet in the house provides a sense of calmness throughout the home.
Just like parents of human children, pet moms and dads have their fair share of concerns. Almost half (44 percent) worried about becoming parents for the first time and over half (54 percent) didn’t expect to spend so much money on their canine or feline companion.
“Pet parents are often surprised by the unexpected costs and time required to be a good pet parent. From medical bills to toys for playtime it’s a full-time responsibility. Having a pet by your side, however, is worth the cost” says Dr. Cherice Roth, Chief Veterinary Officer for Fuzzy.
Survey respondents certainly seem to agree that it’s worth the cost. And even as the pandemic brought many unwelcome changes to the world, 69 percent said they used the time to bond with their pet more than ever before. Turns out your fur baby might be even more essential than you think!
—Sarah Shebek
Video courtesy of Fuzzy and OnePoll/Feature photo: Annenberg PetSpace
Three’s not a crowd for Alexa and Carlos PenaVega! The former Spy Kids star and Big Time Rush bandmate welcomed their third child, daughter Rio into the world, more than a month early.
“Little Rio could not wait to come out and play with her brothers! Momma is feeling good and baby girl is kicking some serious booty in the NICU. Praying we can all be home together very soon! What a wave of emotions,” the PenaVegas both shared on Instagram.
Carlos PenaVega added, “I lift up my wifey @vegaslexa on this Mother’s Day. YOU ARE A CHAMP! I could never do what you do,” he added. “The best momma to our 2 boys and now little girl. Thank you for being a solid rock for this family❤️.”
Baby Rio joins brothers Ocean King, 4, and Kingston James, 1 ½. Alexis PenaVega revealed last month on Instagram that her daughter’s due date was in June. Sending good thoughts to the expanded PenaVega family!
—Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
There was a glittery purple tricycle at the preschool I attended. High in demand, each day at recess time a gaggle of girls—myself included—would rush to grab it first.
Interestingly, it was a disappointing experience once the battle of the tricycle was over. Once the rider mounted it and began pedaling, the bumpy, jerky motion revealed an unfortunate reality: the tricycle frame was bent, resulting in a wobbly, lackluster ride. The back left wheel was about two inches higher than the other wheels. Even back then it was evident that each wheel relied on each other to make the experience successful, and the frame must be a strong support for the wheels.
I rode on through my childhood and grew into a larger, two wheeled road boke with a banana seat. In high school, I begrudgingly rode my 10-speed Schwinn bike to school until I could drive.
In college, occasionally (and by “occasionally” I mean, like twice) I rode a mountain bike on some local LA trails with friends.
Marriage and then early motherhood brought that concept of balance to a standstill—once a high school English teacher, I was now staying at home with little ones. I discovered alcohol was the answer to quiet my stress and insecurities.
Eventually I discovered I was back on that purple glittery tricycle, if only figuratively. It looked exciting and seductive at first glance, but it revealed its’ failures once I started riding it. Jolting along, I became tipsy and I began to see and feel everything from a shaky, unstable perspective. An off-kilter experience revealed that same sense of disappointing imbalance.
Summer days as young mom were spent outside in the cul-de-sac, watching my own kids whirling around on tricycles, on scooters and big wheels. I remember how awful I felt inside, suffering from a self-induced case of persistent guilt and shame, fueled by alcohol. I had lost balance physically, mentally and emotionally. I was rotting from the inside out. I knew my kids could feel the ripple effect of my constant inability to find and maintain a steady sense of self.
Each morning I’d wake up stunned and demoralized, my shaky hands attempted to finish my eyeliner. My goal was to achieve a decent look instead of what had become my usual jagged makeup job: A makeup job one might wear if they were on their way to see the group “Kiss” in concert. The day dragged on until the arrival of a respectable drinking hour. Then vodka in my coffee cup would surely at least temporarily mute the deafening screams of reality, which reminded me every day my kids were growing up in front of my glazed-over eyes.
Finally, I reached a fork in the road. A turning point. This was my night in jail, after being arrested for a DUI. Ironically, the roadside sobriety test administered is partially about balance. I didn’t have the ability to walk on the line without leaning and falling over. It was the soul annihilating moment when I had to face the fact that I was utterly addicted to alcohol, and I might lose my family.
That night in jail, I stood at the proverbial end of the road. I could choose to turn one way and keep drinking, or I could choose the other way and try to quit. Two seemingly terrifying options. I knew if I wanted to try to keep my family life together, I was going to have to turn in the direction requiring me to give up booze. It seemed like the harder option, but lowly, one painful hour at a time became one day at a time. One day at a time became one month at a time. Once month at a time became one year at a time. All because of the decision to try. That’s the key to sobriety….The willingness to “tri.”
What I discovered by making that fateful turn a decade ago was beyond what I could have imagined. Today, I don’t lead a perfect life, but I do lead a steady, predictable life. I don’t ever wake up hungover anymore. I don’t ever have to wonder if I’ll be too obliterated to attend a parent teacher conference. I don’t have to look up liquor laws for the state I’m traveling to. I don’t fear that my kids will pick up my cup and unsuspectingly take a swig of soda spiked with vodka.
You know what that steady, predictable ride feels like? Freedom. Balance. If I hadn’t tried to ride other tricycles on the playground, I never would have realized how unfulfilling that purple glittery tricycle actually was. Today, that feeling of freedom and balance brings limitless expansion. An ability to blaze new trails. The possibility of discovering new journeys. The hope of fresh chapters revealing what’s around the next corner. As it turns out, that freedom and sense of balance is the proverbial glitter I was looking for all along.
Amy Liz Harrison is one of recoveries newest voices and author of Eternally Expecting: A Mom of Eight Gets Sober and Gives Birth to a New Life...Her Own.
Marie Kondo recently announced the birth of her third baby! The organizer extraordinaire posted a sweet pic on Instagram of one of her daughters holding the newborn.
Her upcoming Netflix show isn’t the only think “sparking joy” in Kondo’s life right now. The Tidying Up and soon-to-be Sparking Joy star is now a boy-mom.
Kondo captioned her IG post, “It’s a boy! I am over the moon to welcome this bundle of joy into our family.” She added, “We are all doing well. Now comes the fun part—spending this special time with our little guy.”
This is the first boy for Kondo and her husband Takumi Kawahara. The couple are already parents to daughters Satsuki and Miko.
The new mama-times-three first revealed her pregnancy earlier this year, posting, “I have some news! Another bundle of joy on the way” along with a baby bump photo on IG. Congrats go out to Kondo, her husband, and her two new big sibs!
Are you a cool mom? Is your own mama cool too? A new survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Angara.com revealed nearly seven out of 10 Americans count their mom as cool!
The recent survey includes data on mom coolness from 2,000 American adults. Of the thousands of participants, 68 percent agreed their mom was cool. Sixty-two percent of the respondents said the reason they ranked their mom as cool was the ability to talk honestly and openly with their kids.
Along with honest communication, more than half of the people surveyed said they ranked their mom as cool because of her decisions to relax the rules. These cool mamas reportedly let their now-adult kiddos get away with things “normal” moms wouldn’t during their childhoods.
Fifty-two percent of the adults surveyed said their mom spoiled her loved ones, making her gift-giving a cool factor. Even though the survey shows that cool moms are possibly the ultimate gift givers, this doesn’t mean moms shouldn’t get gifts too.
Ankur Daga, Founder and CEO of Angara.com, said in a press release, “One of the coolest things about moms, and the role they can play in shaping who we grow up to be, is that every mother’s relationship with their child or children is different. Moms can be such an influential and guiding force in our lives, so it’s only natural to want to give your mom the world.”
Tan France and husband Rob are expecting! The Queer Eye star recently revealed the couple’s baby news in a sweet Instagram post.
France posted a “pregnancy” pic of himself with his soon-to-be baby’s ultrasound on his belly. He captioned the first family photo, “So happy to finally share that WE’RE HAVING A BABY!!”
The fashion guru went on to add, “No, I’m not pregnant, despite this VERY realistic pic. With the greatest gift/help of the most wonderful surrogate, Rob and I are lucky enough to be on our way to being parents, this Summer.” France continued, “Something we’ve wanted for SOooo many years. Our hearts are so full right now. I cannot wait to hold this baby, and to show him so much love.”
France’s husband Rob, an artist, posted a sweet drawing of a baby with the caption, “We have a beautiful little angel on the way and I didn’t think it was humanly possible to feel like this.”
Fellow celebs sent warm wishes to the happy couple via IG. Maren Morris posted, “Congratulations, Tan!,” and Chrishell Stause wrote, “Awwww!!! So happy for you-congratulations.”
Yelp continues to make it easier for consumers to shop and dine specific communities. The platform’s newest Economic Impact Report on diverse businesses has revealed a 130 percent surge in searches for Asian-owned businesses so it has partnered up with Gold House to provide a new feature.
Gold House is a nonprofit organization that creates inclusive unity, representation and success of Asians and Pacific Islanders. Their partnership with Yelp is providing a way for businesses to self-identify as Asian-owned, if they choose.
photo: Yelp
The new option allows businesses to self-identify so it will be opt-in only. Yelp will also be proactively monitoring businesses for hate speech against the Asian community, ensuring content guidelines are being followed.
Business owners can log into their Yelp for Business account, then navigate to the Amenities section. Then click Add or Edit, “Yes” next to “Asian-owned” and then Save.
It’s Yelp’s hope that this new option will help elevate Asian-owned businesses and bring owners and consumers together to support local businesses.
Have you upped the ante when it comes to family walks this year? If you’re hitting the sidewalks and trails more now than ever before, you aren’t alone.
According to a new survey conducted by Rockport, more than half of Americans walk between one and five miles more per day now than in years past. Why are so many people walking more these days?
Other than the obvious pandemic-related lack of anything else to do, it turns out Americans are walking to relieve stress. Fifty-seven percent of the people surveyed said they walk as a stress reliever and 67 percent agree walking can help clear the mind. Thirty-six percent of survey respondents walk one to two miles daily and 21 percent walk between three and four.
Along with stress relief, Americans are also walking more to take a break. Thirty-three percent of people surveyed said they use walking as a way to take a break from the daily grind of work and 28 percent use this form of physical activity to catch up and reconnect with their family
Lisa Laich, Chief Marketing Officer at The Rockport Company, said in a press release, “For 50 years, Rockport has celebrated walking and comfort, helping people power their lives from morning to night. And while routines have changed this past year, 2020 has shown us the clear value and importance of walking – even if it’s just one mile each day.”
Laich continued, “This survey shows that Americans of all ages and across geographic locations are more interested than ever in getting in their daily steps, and we’re excited to help people navigate each step of their walking journey.”
Even though the uptick in walking may seem like a popular pandemic trend, the survey revealed this activity is here to stay. A whopping 93 percent of people surveyed said they’re very or somewhat likely to continue their walking routines after Covid-related restrictions are lifted.
