Pregnancy advice from a nurse practitioner who's been where you are
Fertility, pregnancy and postpartum guidance from Mindy Motta, FNP-C, after six years of her own infertility. Honest product picks, nothing she wouldn't use herself.
Board-certified nurse practitioner
Obstetrics and gynecology since 2012. Scripps Coastal Medical Center since 2014. Check her credentials.
5.0 patient rating
Across 56 verified Press Ganey patient reviews at Scripps.
Written or reviewed by Mindy
Every article and product page. We tell you who stands behind the advice and give you the links to verify it.
IS IT SAFE?
Is it safe in pregnancy? Straight answers from a nurse practitioner
The question you actually typed into Google. Each answer is checked against the label, the research and the professional guidelines, then reviewed by Mindy.
Is Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream pregnancy safe?
What's in it, what isn't, and the one ingredient class to check on any face cream.
Can you take collagen while breastfeeding?
Generally yes, with two caveats. Plus a look at the study the label leans on.
Do Gin Gins help with pregnancy nausea?
The ginger dose per chew, how many a day is reasonable, and when nausea needs a call to your provider.
Which skincare ingredients should you avoid while pregnant?
Retinoids, hydroquinone and high-dose salicylic acid are the ones that matter. Most of the rest is fine. Product by product.
ADVICE
Advice for the stage you're in
Trying to conceive
Ovulation tracking, supplements that have evidence behind them, IUI and IVF prep, and how to stay sane while you wait.
Pregnancy
Trimester by trimester: what to eat, what's safe to put on your skin, what to pack, and which symptoms need a call to your provider.
Postpartum
Recovery, breastfeeding, sleep and the fourth trimester, from someone who has done the night shift on both sides of the exam table.
MOST READ
What readers come here for
Pregnancy-safe collagen: what the research and the label actually say
Protiva Thrive, the study behind its claims, and who should skip it.
The wedge pillow that makes side-sleeping bearable
Why a small memory-foam wedge beats a giant body pillow for most of pregnancy.
Pregnancy diet plan by trimester
A realistic trimester-by-trimester eating guide from an OB-GYN nurse practitioner, without the stress.
Boppy nursing pillow: the 2025 federal safety rule and how to use it
Why the pillow was redesigned, the five CPSC rules, and how to use it for breast or bottle feeding.
PICKS
Products Mindy would actually recommend
Curated by a nurse practitioner, not by an algorithm. Every product page tells you what it can do, what it can't, and who shouldn't buy it. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases; that never changes what makes the list.
Fertility essentials
Ovulation trackers, supplements with evidence behind them, and support for the wait, chosen for women trying to conceive.
Pregnancy essentials
Comfort and care for every trimester: pregnancy must-haves that support your changing body and growing baby.
Postpartum essentials
Recovery and feeding essentials to help you heal, rest, and adjust after birth.
Baby care essentials
Gentle, practical baby essentials that simplify newborn care and support confident early parenting.
Product Spotlight
Frida Mom Hospital Bag Kit – Labor & Postpartum Essentials
This all-in-one kit from Frida Mom is a hospital bag game-changer. It has everything you actually need for labor and the first few days of postpartum recovery, from a comfy gown to genius perineal cooling pads. Every item is thoughtfully designed for a more comfortable recovery, making it our top pick for a stress-free hospital stay.
MEET MINDY
The nurse practitioner (and the mom) behind Awaiting the Stork
Mindy Motta, FNP-C, has spent 14 years in obstetrics and gynecology at Scripps Coastal Medical Center in San Diego. She and her husband Rodrigo spent six years and several fertility clinics trying to conceive before their son arrived. Awaiting the Stork is the site she wished had existed then: clinical guidance without the sales pitch, and product picks she'd give a patient.
One email a month from a nurse practitioner
Stage-specific advice and honest product picks. No daily drips, no fluff.
Frequently asked questions
What is Awaiting the Stork?
Awaiting the Stork is a fertility, pregnancy and postpartum guidance site founded by Mindy Motta, FNP-C, a board-certified OB-GYN nurse practitioner at Scripps Coastal Medical Center, and her husband Rodrigo Motta. It publishes clinician-reviewed guides and curated product recommendations, and earns commission as an Amazon Associate. Every page is written or reviewed by Mindy.
Who reviews the medical content?
Mindy Motta, FNP-C. She has practiced in obstetrics and gynecology since 2012 and at Scripps Coastal since 2014. Her Scripps, U.S. News and WebMD profiles are linked on the About page so you can verify her credentials yourself.
How do I know if a skincare product is safe during pregnancy?
Check the ingredient list for retinoids (retinol, tretinoin, adapalene), hydroquinone and high-dose salicylic acid, which ACOG and the AAD advise avoiding. Most everything else, including vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and mineral sunscreen, is considered fine. Our pregnancy skincare guide goes product by product.
Can I take collagen while breastfeeding?
Generally yes. Hydrolyzed collagen is a protein, not a hormone, and there's no evidence it passes into milk in a form that affects a baby. The caveats are the extras some powders add (high-dose vitamin A, herbal blends) and the quality of the evidence behind marketing claims. The Protiva page walks through both.
What should I pack in my hospital bag?
Less than you think: ID and insurance card, phone and long charger, your own pillow, a going-home outfit for you and baby, and postpartum recovery items the hospital won't supply well (peri bottle, cooling pads, a real nursing bra). Full list in the hospital bag guide.
When does implantation happen, and can you feel it?
Implantation usually occurs 6 to 10 days after ovulation, most often around day 8 or 9. Some women notice light spotting or mild cramping; most notice nothing, and the absence of symptoms means nothing about whether it worked. Timeline and what to expect in the implantation guide.
A quiet companion for the wait
Our affirmation candles were made for the nights when there's nothing to do but hope. Soy wax, 50 to 60 hours, one line to hold onto.
