My DVD Picks for Expecting Moms

There’s nothing more relaxing than putting your feet up and popping in a DVD. And when you’re pregnant the best DVDs are all about childbirth and the life thereafter. DVDs are great to stay fit, to learn how to swaddle them, bathe them and generally keep them alive and to discover the wonders of raising a child. Here a few of my favorite DVDs:

   BABIES: Whenever you need to feel broody, you just have to watch the new documentary, Babies, which follows four babies from different parts of the globe during their first year of life. The dialogue-less movie (unless you count coos and cries) follows Ponijao from Namibia, Bayarjargal from Mongolia, Mari from Tokyo and Hattie from San Francisco.  What I loved about this DVD is how the camera captures a babies’ discovery: from sights and sounds to body parts and animals and first steps.  

It was also amazing to witness what is the norm in different parts of the world. For example, in Tokyo and San Francisco babies were always guarded, protected and kept in structured classes, but the babies from Mongolia and Namibia played with goats, got licked by dogs (and licked back!) and simply played in  buckets of water.  When you watch this you will definitely learn, ooh and aah!  The DVD is only available at Target, but you can check out the trailer here.

FitMama by Leisa Hart: I love exercise. I can watch if for hours! That’s when a great pregnancy exercise DVD comes in handy, you can do a little and watch a little more. There are lots of great offerings out there. I found Buns of Steel instructor, Leisa Hart’s prenatal workout realistic, not ridiculously hard and I actually enjoyed the music ( I usually have to mute the DVD and play my own!).  The workout includes salsa dancing, stretches, and breathing exercises shaped to ease some of the discomforts of pregnancy, get your body in its best physical form, and prepare itself for labor and delivery. Sounds like a win-win!

Birthwise: Your Creation, Your Choice: I was so excited to hear that this popular UK video is now available in the U.S. (when I lived in London it was all the buzz among mums and celebs).  Birthwise: Your Creation, Your Choice, created by two amazing women, Shirley McAlpine and Caroline Flint, helps you prepare for pregnancy, labor, birth and life with a new baby. Leading midwife and prenatal teacher of over 30 years, Caroline, takes you through a full set of classes and helps you answer questions such as: What can I expect in labor? What kind of birth environment do I want? What is a “normal” pregnancy and birth? What sort of medical interventions might be recommended and how can I decide what is right for me? With so much information out there, how do I know who to listen to or what choices to make? This two-disc, approximately 8 hour DVD allows you to see real families grapple with questions, share their concerns and hopes and prepare for the life change that is having a baby.  It’s a must-see!

The Mocha Manual to a Fabulous Pregnancy DVD: Of course, no pregnancy DVD collection would be complete without this DVD based on my popular book. The easy-to -follow video features  a series of four instructional segments on things that matter most during pregnancy: Healthy Eating, Fitness, Style and Family Finances. You will be informed, inspired and laughing out loud (trust me, I was there for the video shoot!). This DVD, made particularly for women of color, features celebrity moms, real-deal girlfriend advice, a 20-minute workout and tips on getting those finances ready for a new baby!