Pregnancy and Childbirth
Important Message from Park Slope Parents (PSP): Just a reminder, PSP member posts are not checked for accuracy. The content is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. www.parkslopeparents.com is not intended to, and does not, provide medical advice diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice, or delay in seeking it, because of something you have read on the PSP groups or on the www.parkslopeparents.com website.
Wisdom from our 2020–21 Birthing Experience Survey
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- Parent Category: Newsflashes
- Category: Newsflash, Pregnancy and Childbirth, Birthing and Delivery
The results are in from our 2020–21 Birthing Experience Survey! More than 250 Park Slope Parents members shared their honest reviews of OB GYNS, midwives, doulas, hospitals, and other support folks throughout Brooklyn and beyond, and they also passed along sage advice on pregnancy, birthing, and the post-partum period.
For member reviews and recommendations, view our Ob-Gyns, Birthing, Fertility and Post-Partum category; and for wisdom, read on!
Birth and Beyond: Wisdom from Our New Parents
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- Parent Category: Newsflashes
- Category: Newsflash, Birthing and Delivery, Pregnancy and Childbirth
Park Slope Parents ran two Zoom sessions for expectant parents, which included new parents who had their babies in July, August, September, and October of 2020. We had someone join with a four-day-old! Here’s a summary of some of the great advice they imparted to our expectant parents from the Park Slope Parents November 2020, December 2020, January 2021, and February 2021 groups! Takeaways will also be included in the great document The PSP Birthing and Beyond Toolkit, which has a list of must-haves, best practices, things to think through around COVID, and so much more.
If you’re not yet part of the Park Slope Parents community, join us HERE.
Incontinence after Childbirth
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- Parent Category: Advice - Health and Healing
- Category: New Parent Health Advice, Pregnancy and Childbirth
Are you suffering from incontinence issues post childbirth? You are not alone. Many Park Slope Parents describe this as a common but a rarely talked about experience. In this article we share what membershave said in the past for dealing with incontinence.
The PSP Guide to Starting a Preschool Co-op
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- Parent Category: Advice - Childcare and Education
- Category: Childcare Advice, Pregnancy & Baby Group Resources
The PSP Guide to Starting a Preschool Co-op
(download the PDF version HERE)
Things to do BEFORE giving Birth
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- Parent Category: Top 10 Pages
- Category: Top 10 Pages 1, Birthing and Delivery, Pregnancy and Childbirth
The top 10 things to do before giving birth.
Things to do AFTER the baby is born
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- Parent Category: Top 10 Pages
- Category: Top 10 Pages 1, Birthing and Delivery, Pregnancy and Childbirth
16 Things to do AFTER the baby is born
To Doula or Not To Doula During Childbirth
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- Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth, Birthing and Delivery
An extra set of caring hands or too many cooks? PSP members share their advice about hiring a doula.
Pre-birth Advice from PSP Members
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- Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth, Birthing and Delivery
How do you prepare for birth? PSP parents share their real life experiences and perspective on getting ready for giving birth.
Life After Birth: PSP Members share their Post-birth Advice
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- Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth, Birthing and Delivery
What happens after birth? PSP parents share their real life experiences and perspective about life after birth.
Birth and Beyond Stories: January 2021
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- Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth, Birthing and Delivery
Park Slope Parents held a meet-up headlined by a few awesome members who volunteered to share their experiences birthing in NYC during the last few months. Find the key takeaways for expectant parents below!
Also check out the PSP Birthing and Beyond Toolkit, featuring more than 50 pages of information, from full lists of things to bring to the hospital to questions to ask before you go!
The Park Slope Parents Birthing and Beyond Toolkit
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- Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth, Birthing and Delivery
Birthing in NYC (or beyond) in the coming months and need some guidance on what's in store? Look no further than the Park Slope Parents Birthing and Beyond Toolkit.
Since March 2020, we've been compiling guidance from Park Slope Parents members who have delivered during the pandemic, including details on safety protocols, virtual doulas, and more. But that's not all: The Birthing and Beyond Toolkit is your one-stop shop for everything pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum, with more than 70 pages of wisdom on everything from preparing for your BEST birth, caring from your mental health as an expectant parent, and hospital logistics to activities to do with baby, healing your body after birth, and managing the transition into motherhood.
No matter where you are in your journey as an expectant or new parent, the Birthing and Beyond Toolkit can help your days run a little more smoothly, lift a little stress off your shoulders, and make you feel a little more connected to the community of strong, capable warrior parents going through the same things as you are.
Check out the Birthing and Beyond Toolkit HERE!
This is a living document, and we're consistently updating the Toolkit to reflect both the latest guidance on the pandemic and the latest advice fom our members. If you've got something to add or a topic you'd like us to cover, leave a comment on the document or email us at .
Last but not least, if you're a parent in Brooklyn who's not yet a member of Park Slope Parents, join us HERE to get access to our powerful, passionate, and caring community of more than 6,500 parents. We can't wait to have you!
Expectant Parent Quick Links
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- Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
Congratulations on your pregnancy! Now what do I do?
Park Slope Parents has a wealth of information to help you during this exciting time. We've pooled tips and advice that fellow PSP members have shared over the years about having a baby. In this section you will find articles related to...
Preparing for - and having - a C-Section
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- Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth, Pregnancy Health Advice
A Cesarean section is major abdominal surgery, but it is also the birth of your child! Before you head to the OR, you’ll want to feel ready for the surgery, your hospital stay, and your baby! Here, Park Slope Parents member share their tips for preparing for a C-section.
Pregnant on the Subway
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- Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth, Managing Urban Life
PSP members share their experiences, tips and stories about riding the subway (and trying to get a seat!) while pregnant.
Shoe Advice For Pregnant Moms
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- Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth, Shopping and more, Nesting and Preparation
Tips and recommendations from PSP members for what to wear when your feet swell during pregancy.
Prenatal Screening Tests
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- Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
Many parents consider prenatal screening tests to check for abnormalities with their fetus, like Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21), Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome), Trisomy 13, Trisomy 13 and Triploidy (known as the "trisomies"). With some some tests more invasive and riskier than others, parents wonder if it's worth it. Here, PSP members share their experiences with the different types of prenatal screening tests available.
How to Turn a Breech Baby
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery
Information about turning a breeched baby.
Tips on an Unmedicated Birth
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery
Tips for planning a natural or home childbirth, website links and advice from Park Slope Parents.
Things to think about before you go into Labor
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery
Advice to think about while you're still pregnant!
Advice to Remember About Your Hospital Stay
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery
Things to make your hospital experience better.
Don't Freak Out Advice
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery
Advice to help keep your blood pressure at bay! This article covers parents experiences with epidurals, breastfeeding, PPD & more.
Birthing Affirmations
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery
Things to visualize and think about as you go through labor to help you cope with pain and fear.
How to bring on Labor
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery
What to do when you're past your due date?
To VBAC or not to VBAC
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery
Advice about whether to have another C-section or try for a Vaginal Birth After C-section (VBAC).
Recovering from a C-Section
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery, Pregnancy Health Advice
C-section recovery can be full of challenges. You have to manage your pain, your scar, your movement—oh, and not to mention your new baby! Here, Park Slope Parents members share their Cesarean section recovery tips and experiences.
Umbilical Cord Cutting
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery
For parents to be, consider talking about umbilical cord cutting with your practitioner at your next check up. Recent research found positive outcomes for babies with delayed umbilical cord cutting. Here are some articles that discuss the findings but be sure to do your own research...
Things to do for new parents home from the hospital
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery
Here PSP members share how to really help a new parent.
Labor logistics with Baby #2
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery, Siblings
How do handle logistics of taking care of Thing #1 when you are in labor with Thing #2? PSP members share their advice.
Advice on getting to the hospital on "D" day
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery
How to get to the hospital.
PSP members recommend a car service. What do you think? Read what they have to say.
PSP Members Most Valuable Birthing Class Lessons
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery, Pregnancy and Childbirth
What PSP members thought was the most valuable takeaway from their birthing class.
Birthing during Covid: Key Takeaways from our Zoom-Ups
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery
We had two more Birth Experiences Zoom-Ups recently, with folks who have birthed in NYC and beyond in May, June, and early July volunteering to share their experiences with expectant parents. Here are a few key takeaways—and remember that circumstances will vary between hospitals, so always check with your birth provider if you’re looking for concrete guidance.
We incorporate these highlights into the PSP Birthing Toolkit for ~50 pages of advice and wisdom on birthing during coronavirus. If you missed these events, fear not—there will be another one in the coming weeks (along with one for second kids)! If you’re not a member of PSP, join us HERE to get access to all the great events and meetups on Zoom.
Virtual vs. In-Person Doula Support
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery, Pregnancy and Childbirth
As the new normal continues to evolve, so must your decisions around support from your birth team. Below, we've compiled insights and experiences from PSP members to help guide you as you and your doula think through whether they’ll be joining you up close or from afar.
Having Another Baby - Later in Life
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Birthing and Delivery, Pregnancy and Childbirth, Siblings, Growing Families
PSP Members who got pregnant later in life (late 30s and early 40s) share their experience of giving birth and being a parent at a more mature age.
Cord Blood Banking
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Nesting and Preparation
Wondering what to do with your baby’s cord blood? Park Slope Parents members discuss the pros and cons as well as deliberating public vs. private cord blood banks. Here are some tips and insights as well as some resources for further research.
Stuff for Baby
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Nesting and Preparation
Suggested list of items to buy for your new baby
Belly Cast
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Nesting and Preparation
What is a belly cast and should I care?
What to Bring to the Hospital
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Nesting and Preparation
A list of things to make your labor, delivery, and recovery comfortable.
Morning Sickness/ Nausea
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Nesting and Preparation
Help for Morning Sickness
How To Take Beautiful Maternity Photos of your Pregnancy
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Nesting and Preparation
Taking photos of your body developing, growing, and expanding with your baby is a wonderful way to document your experiences as a soon-to-be-mother. You don't need to be a professional to take beautiful images. Here, Park Slope Parents' own Susan Fox shares her images and wisdom that will hopefully inspire you to take beautiful photos of your own.
Tips for managing the family - before, during, after giving birth
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Nesting and Preparation, New Parent Big Stuff
Here are some tips and advice on how to strike the right balance of managing the family before, during, and after giving birth…
Baby Resources - awesome advice from a PSP Member
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Nesting and Preparation, Pregnancy and Childbirth
Below are Resources offered by one of our Park Slope Parents members based on her journey. It was adapted from “MARA’S BABY RESOURCES” by Park Slope Parents Member, Mara Sheftel. Thanks Mara!
Gift Ideas: Practical Baby Items
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Nesting and Preparation, Gifts and Tipping, Pregnancy and Childbirth
One PSP member asked their baby group: "I'm putting together a baby gift for my newly pregnant friend, and the theme of the gift is "highly practical baby items." (I suspect most of her other gifts will be highly impractical.) Thinking back to after you had your baby: what were highly practical, must-have items you wish you'd gotten in advance, rather than having to do a midnight Duane Reade run?"
Pregnancy & Baby Group Resources - How to Make the Most of your Group
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Pregnancy & Baby Group Resources
Make your baby group a family resource!
FAQs about NANNIES on the PSP Baby Groups
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Pregnancy & Baby Group Resources
Here are answers to your Frequently Asked Question about NANNIES on the PSP Baby Groups...
Top Tips for a Plant-Based Pregnancy
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- Parent Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Category: Pregnancy Health Advice, Recipes and Food Ideas
Looking to maintain a vegan diet during pregnancy and/or the postpartum period? PSP members on our Vegan & Vegetarian Families Group have advice for all stages of the journey.
Important Message from Park Slope Parents (PSP): Just a reminder, PSP member posts are not checked for accuracy. The content is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. www.parkslopeparents.com is not intended to, and does not, provide medical advice diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice, or delay in seeking it, because of something you have read on the PSP groups or on the www.parkslopeparents.com website. Never rely on information in an e-mail or on our web site in place of seeking professional medical advice.
For more resources geared toward plant-based parents, check out our Plant-Based Resources page. Want to chat with fellow parents about veganism and so much more? Join Park Slope Parents HERE, and if you’re already a member, join the Vegan & Vegetarian Group HERE!
PSP Guide to Organizing a Meet Up
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- Parent Category: Working Parents
- Category: Networking Resources, Pregnancy & Baby Group Resources
There's been a lot of talk about people wanting to meet up. The only thing stopping you is an organizer, so how about YOU? Create the meetup you want to attend! Here are a few quick tips to make it happen.
Pregnant Sloper in Subway Seat Shocker!
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- Category: Classic PSP Discussions, Pregnancy and Childbirth
When I told friends and coworkers I was pregnant, after congratulations I got one of two responses: “New Yorkers are so nice; I was always offered me a seat.” Alternately, “New Yorkers are so rude; no one ever offered me a seat.” One friend, a problem-solver, said, “I was never offered a seat until I wore a t-shirt that said ‘Future Yankees Fan’, then I always got a seat.” I was tempted to buy a commuting t-shirt but came up with a different idea to figure out how nice New Yorkers really are. My last two weeks of work I’d log how often and who would offer me a subway seat.
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