Work for it

Being a sleepy girl with a busy life is hard. Sleep when the baby sleeps, they say. Well, are you lying down? Because now your sleepy little baby now has distinct periods of activity and rest, and may even react to loud sounds like your dog barking or fave workout music playing. (AWWW! ?) You may also be noticing your own body changing—stretch marks, weight gain and slightly swollen hands and feet. So take the break that you deserve from all this human-growing work, and schedule a Babymoon for the next 10 weeks. Rest and recharge, lady. Your baby will be here before you know it. XO, TeamMotherly P.S. Worried about COVID? Here's everything we know so far.

Start where you are."A grand adventure is about to begin." Thus spoke Winnie the Pooh. And girl, we promise you, that isn't the last time you'll be quoting children's cartoon characters in the years to come. (What's up, Paw Patrol? ) It feels really good to take small, practical steps toward becoming a parent, like discussing 10 key questions with your partner, eating well to boost your fertility and getting your financial house in order. You responsible adult, you!XO, Diana + TeamMotherlyP.S. Responsible adults stay hydrated, and hydrated adults have healthy amounts of cervical mucus?. We dig S'well water bottles—the stainless-steel containers are chic + fertility-friendly (no BPA!).

“Nothing worth having comes easy.”

Getting pregnant can be hard, so if you're in need of a little reminder of all the wonder to come, here are our favorite things about babies.XO, TeamMotherly

Find the silver lining. Mind if we take a moment to tell you about why we're here? We created Motherly because motherhood is hard—and beautiful!—and when we were dealing with ovulation signs, morning sickness and first-time momlife, we found ourselves wishing we had a community of women who just got it. So we created Motherly from nothing more than a twinkle in our eyes. Women are powerful creators. (In fact, we're sort of the original 3D printers. Get it?) Wishing you inspiration and confidence for whatever you're creating this week. We're so glad you're here. XO, TeamMotherly P.S. Have you created a budget for baby? We've got a printable guide to that cash money .

“You are in charge of how you react to the people and events in your life." Get it, girl. The journey to motherhood is all about taking ownership of what you can control, and having confidence and trust in the rest. So much of motherhood is making peace with what is out of your hands. Deep breaths, mama. You've got this. XO, TeamMotherly P.S. Check out the products that Motherly's mamas used to conceive.

Cupcakes are muffins that believed in miracles. By now you've probably figured out that getting pregnant, much like motherhood, is a journey. A journey that requires faith (in an invisible process that unfolds right below your belly button), hope (come on, baby!) and so much love. And honestly? Stress cupcakes. Absolute requirement. XO, TeamMotherly P.S. We're not saying you should FedEx Georgetown Cupcake's world-famous treats to your house, but we're not not saying you shouldn't, either.

She who is brave is free. How's your partner handling the TTC process? Is he loving all the action—or stressing about his fertility? We checked in on common men's fears when trying to get pregnant. Long story short: He wants to know if his boys can swim, if you're happy and healthy, and how he's going to afford all those diapers. Your job? Remind him that these worries are so normal, and that you're in this together. XO, TeamMotherly P.S. These are the 10 questions you should discuss as a couple before getting pregnant. We asked the experts, rounded up their answers and even put them into a printable format to bring to your next date night. If only we could answer them for you, too...

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The gates pose a risk because a child’s torso can fit through the opening between the gate and the floor.