Pregnant in Heels: Milk Donation; Rosie Prepares

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Well, this show is off again for a while. Perhaps forever, as no renewal has been granted as far as I'm aware. I thought that the branching-out to California was an interesting move, though now that Rosie has three children under five years old, I wonder just how much she'll be overseeing of that location... Of course, Daron is a great help. I was surprised that we didn't see LT featured all that much in the second half of this season - he was so great throughout season 1! Looking just at this episode, however, I was a bit underwhelmed. While it was nice to get some closure on Rosie's speech therapy, it was odd to see her as a client dealing with issues... I just can't believe that Rosie would get that close to her due date and not have DIAPERS in the home! Speaking of which, I guess she doesn't cloth-diaper, otherwise there would probably be some newborn sizes still around the home. Anyway, let's go through the episode:

Pregnant in Heels "A Labor of Love: Rosie Gives Birth" (S02E10) [season finale]: Rosie is nearly due and when the baby is already measuring about eight pounds, it's time to talk induction. [eep!] She's not ready to have another newborn in the home, but she only has five more days. She's SO "not ready," in fact, that Daron asks Alison to treat Rosie like a client - there are some big issues, like not having newborn diapers or new clothes, and she hasn't even moved her youngest son out of the nursery yet! [don't kids take time to adjust to changing rooms?] It soon comes out that Rosie is scared to have a daughter because her own relationship with her mother is bad. [interesting. My relationship with my mother also sucks, but I would be more afraid of having a daughter because of all the potential body-image issues she will face.] Daron suggests she get some therapy, and she agrees to do a one-hour session. There, we find out that she can't remember a time when her mom made her feel wonderful. Then, Rosie is thrown a baby shower, complete with some of her old clients. [Rosie doesn't like surprises?] The game is that she has to guess who each gift is from, and they're allegedly indicative of the time they spent together. [odd game. from which you receive a very random assortment of presents.]

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Alison takes Rosie to a ballet studio so she can spend some time with cute little girls. [she looked VERY overwhelmed at the beginning, there! and I'd probably be freaked out if that many little hands were rubbing me...] She also goes to a stage to work with her speech therapist on her projection. The morning of the induction, Rosie struggles with whether to call her mother and tell her "today's the day" or not. [I *believe* she decided not to.] Rosie has an epidural, and little Vivienne Madison is adorable! [I love how she kept sticking out her tongue.] Two months later, the family is talking about baby #4!! [whoa. just how young is Rosie??]

Client: Emanuelly came from Brazil six years ago and has a little girl already. Her husband is away a lot, but her main concern is actually breastfeeding. She didn't make enough milk last time (she has implants but is told that's not the issue) and her family shamed her for not continuing nursing after a month. Her backup is actually wanting a wet nurse (someone who breastfeeds for you). [why is Rosie so shocked that a client wants a wet nurse? this can't be the first time, however controversial it is.] Rosie brings a breastfeeding expert to meet with Emanuelly, then shares that wet nurses aren't legal in NY. However, there is a community milk-sharing program where you can have screened milk delivered to you. For whatever reason, Rosie and an expert bring over various types (from mothers following vegetarian, organic, spicy, gluten-free, protein-and-vegetables, etc. diets) and they sample them. After three weeks of struggling to breastfeed, Emanuelly resorted to the program and fed vegetarian milk to her son. [I think it's good that this show finally highlighted milk donation programs!]

No Mummy IQ.

Pregnant in Heels: Birthphobia/Bad Dog/Ghost!

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

I don't really understand why you'd allow yourself to become pregnant and then carry a child nearly to term when you are scared to death of giving birth and everything involved. Once again, maybe it's the plan-ahead mentality that I can't get rid of, but I'm just baffled. I'm glad that she got through it, but, honestly, what choices did she have? I mean, I guess she could have tried for an elective cesarean, but otherwise, Emily was going to have to deliver the child... however, at least the whole thing was more interesting that the "possessed nursery" concept. Maybe I just don't buy into the paranormal/supernatural as much as some people, but I wasn't impressed with the clients in any way, really. And, of course, it didn't help that there were no Mummy IQ questions in either episode to get some quick laughs. Oh well. it's been a quick run, though, the season finale is already next week!

Pregnant in Heels "The Case of the Ghost Infested Nursery" (S02E09): Rosie and Daron go to Pea in a Pod to present a line that might get picked up in their store. She has issues with her speech and it trips her up, and she doesn't say much about how this would work outside of New York, but she winds up accepted anyway. [so Rosie's background is working in maternity retail?]

Client #1: Emily and Dustin, nine months pregnant, and she's terrified of the labor process. [not unheard of, sure. but this girl... eek!] She doesn't want to think about the pain, needles, etc. That's not their only issue, though... one of their dogs is violent with dolls and territorial with toys, so Rosie worries about it being around an infant. [I would, too!] Emily doesn't think that this is a big issue, though Dustin is ready to ship the dog off to Hawaii to live with Emily's mother. [haha! one of these years I'm going to have to get a pet... I just don't totally get the emotional attachment that someone can feel for an animal...] Rosie brings a dog trainer to the house and they set up an infant living room, and, once again, Mikey the Dog goes after the doll. [why not just put up cages to isolate the dog to one area/room?] They do some exercises with the dog but Rosie still thinks that sending it away (even if only for a year) would be the best option. [a year? then bring it back? why bother bringing it back? again, I'm not a pet-person. we had fish, birds, and reptiles growing up... nothing you actually played with, LoL. although I hear some people become infatuated with their talking parrots.] Moving on, Rosie has a nurse talk to the couple about childbirth, and the mention of "tearing" and "episiotomy" cause Emily to need a break. [oh goodness! I bet the poor girl regretted ever getting pregnant in that moment!] She begins crying and is overwhelmed, so Rosie brings them to a behavioral therapist. [while that wouldn't have been my guess, I suppose it makes sense!] He helps her do some diaphragmatic breathing while listening to some women laboring. She doesn't want to finish the video, and although they encourage her, she stops. [can't do that when you're really in labor, hon!] They get Emily to watch the rest of the video, and when Rosie visits Baby Jaden, Mikey has made significant improvements. Emily says that the birth wasn't as bad as she thought it would be and that the breathing techniques helped a lot. 

Client #2: Joanne and Damon live in NJ and are pregnant with their first. [I find it odd that Rosie would even entertain the idea of taking them on as clients when they won't discuss their desires beforehand.] They hear sounds in the house and think they have ghosts in their nursery. They don't want to move, but shades moving freaks them out. [agreed - that would scare me, too.] Rosie brings in some paranormal investigators who take some strong readings. [loves that maternity dress Rosie was wearing!] They have a recorder to capture any sounds when they are all in that room, but the only thing that is added to the tape when it is replayed is some creaking. Then, Rosie brings over a psychic/medium to try to talk to the ghost. [so... a seance leader? is a Ouija board next?] They put up three candles (for mind, body, and spirit) and sit on the floor with their palms face-up and their eyes closed. They realize that the ghost died suddenly and "returned home." [...ooook....] The medium says that they can clear the room with incense and just move on to have a safe room for the baby, so that's what they do. When Rosie meets Dylan, the parents report that they haven't heard anything. [so... the "ghost" just took off when a baby inhabited that room? again, I don't know enough about this sort of thing I guess.]

Mummy IQ: N/A

Pregnant in Heels: Traveling & Dating

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Why are the first words out of Rosie's mouth (aside from "hi, how are you?") are "can we sit over here?" ?? So weird. Otherwise, this was a pretty good episode. Rosie had a minimal but interesting storyline of her own, one client wanted to make her baby conform to her lifestyle (the impossible are always great) and the other was kinda lost in how pregnancy can affect dating. I thought it was a bit awkward that Rosie convinced Akua that her friends need to take some baby boot camp lessons, but I was very impressed with Akua's knowledge at the same time, so maybe her friends just needed a push to take things seriously. I was also pretty moved by the dinner that Rosie arranged for Akua to show how much she's cared for. Back on the other clients... well... let's hope that Seth calms down around crying, or that's just not going to work out...

Pregnant in Heels "The Pregnancy Dating Dilemma" (S02E08): Rosie and Daron go to the doctor's office and have the doctor write down the sex of the unborn child and put it in an envelope so that they can find out together in the place where they first met. It's going to be a girl! [no updates on the speech therapy.] 

Client 1: Aimee and Seth are due in 6 weeks. Aimee is 36 and wants a flexible baby - one that will blend into their lifestyle. He's a real estate lawyer and she works in fashion - but she'll be a SAHM now. They do a lot of traveling (both big trips and day trips) and they want to keep that up (along with their independence) after they have a child. They aren't big on schedules and don't want to do that with their kid, and it doesn't help that they look down on their friends who are rigid because of their children. [...oh boy.] At the same time, they've never met a baby that's as "flexible" as they want theirs to be. [don't you think that's a sign...?] When asked what they'd need to pack to spend a day away from home, they can't get past the diapers and wipes... though there's still things like bottles, toys, a change of clothes, pacifiers, clothes, food, spoon, teething toy, blankets, sunblock, changing pad being the bare minimum. So, Rosie brings the robot baby along for a day-trip to the Benmarl Winery, the type of trip they do 2-4 times/month. The baby starts crying and Aimee tries using a toy, then Rosie suggests she feed it - but Aimee removes the baby from the carseat. [um, whoa.] They pull over so Aimee can take it out of the seat safely, and Seth begins to panic, as he can't stand the sound of crying. [cue everyone watching to wonder how he's going to take parenthood...] At the vineyard, Seth is upset that they're missing the tour to care for the baby. [even in jest, why ask the group of strangers to help care for the child?] Later, while Seth is taking part in the tastings, Aimee changes the baby calmly but is frustrated that Seth is having a better time than she is. [yeah, I can see that!] On the way back, Aimee drives and Seth takes care of the baby, but he'd rather drive. [because nobody saw THAT coming!] They all have dinner to digest the day - maybe a winery wasn't the best choice, and maybe they should have pre-discussed who should care for the baby during which part of the day. Another day, Rosie introduces them to some other couples with children, and they ask questions about how their relationship will change and what they can still do. They worry that having a child won't be worth it. [not gonna lie, I know multiple people who don't think they should have had children, and that terrifies me.] Later, when Rosie meets baby Beckett, Aimee and Seth mention that they're on a schedule and do whatever their little girl wants. [ha!] They've joined a wine club and enjoy drinking at home. [odd update.]

Client 2: Akua is a former model and an independent filmmaker who will be a single mom with no family around to support her. The father is ignoring her, and while she has three close friends, she wants to be back in love, though. [understandable.] She wants help dating while pregnant - not finding men to date, but how to act on the dates. [did all of her previous skills get flushed from her memory?] Additionally, Rosie also wants to help Akua's three friends learn some skills to help care for the baby, so they learn to swaddle, burp, change, etc. [I was a bit shocked at how freaked out the women were by what could be inside the diaper.] Then, in the "dating class," Akua learns that it's not about auditioning him to be a father, it's about him being a potential partner. They talk about what to wear, not to talk about their exes on the first date, don't ask him to touch her belly, don't ask him if he wants children (weird and creepy!), don't talk about baby name ideas, and don't have sex in the missionary position. Akua is still nervous and wants Rosie to be there, but Rosie suggests that they set up a hidden cameras and give her a mic and an earpiece so that Rosie can give her advice if it's needed. [cue Cyrano!] The guy makes it clear that he knows she's pregnant, says that she's stylish, then they talk about work, travel, and then Akua flat-out asks what he thinks of dating a pregnant woman. It works out okay but when he asks her interests, she comes up with nothing. [she is terribly socially awkward in this moment!] Akua then offers to let him feel the baby kick, talks about food cravings and pregnancy restrictions, and hardly is able to discuss her career without jumping right back into the drama in her life again. [part of me wonders if she entirely misunderstood ALL of Rosie's advice!] She can't seem to think of other things to talk about and gets ready to cry, so he lightens things up with "a toast to friendship." [...yeah... that's the end of that!]

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Rosie wants to cheer up Akua, who says that she's still upset that a baby isn't coming after she's found the one she's going to be with for the rest of her life. Rosie and Akua's friends all get together for a night out to remind Akua that her puzzle may not be "complete," but she still has a great life. When Rosie meets Nnamdi, Akua says that she has all of the love she needs right now, though her friends do step in to watch the 3-month-old when Akua dates. [anyone catch how to say that name? Normally we hear it...] 

Mummy IQ:
If you're out for a day with the baby, what do you need to bring?
How often does a newborn baby breastfeed? (every 2-3 hours)
At what age should the baby be able to roll over? (5-6 months)
How many wet diapers should a 4-day-old baby have? (4 days old, 4 dirty diapers)
What's tummy time? (baby exercises it's upper body muscles)

Pregnant in Heels: Trust, Botox, Colors, Presents

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Dang. The first 15 minutes of this broadcast were super-full of background on the clients! We also got more of Rosie's own life in this episode, which was nice. Unfortunately, we didn't see both of Donna's concerns fulfilled - while Rosie finally convinced her to trust a potential baby nurse, they left the botox issue alone after one suggestion... I would have liked to see a second attempt. This episode also offered some diversity to the normal clients - not only were we in California instead of New York, we also saw a male-male couple with children via surrogate, which I thought was more than appropriate, as I can't imagine all of Rosie's clients decide to birth their own children. Overall, I'd like to see more middle-ground clients - Donna was incredibly demanding while Victor and Chris were pretty easy to satisfy, so hopefully we'll see less of those types as the season rolls forward.

Pregnant in Heels "Welcome to Hollywood" (S02E07): Two new clients are in California, and Rosie is opening a new store in Santa Monica, so we see Rosie and her husband arrive at the new location. She's so shocked that they've gotten to this point. [I can totally believe that - who would have thought that there is a market for maternity concierge?] They celebrate the opening of the new store with some celebrities and the NY team.

Photo by: Evans Vestal Ward/Bravo

Client #1: Donna and Jason are pregnant with their first, and she has a demanding job in fashion. Her problems are 1) she misses her botox (she's been getting injected for about ten years now), 2) she needs to hire a baby nurse but is afraid of theft, and 3) she experiences a lot of random pains. The third issue is largely ignored, because although Donna says her feet, boobs, and "vagina bones" all give her trouble, she's found a chiropractor who has been taking care of her issues. [whoa. at first I thought she meant her pubic bone, but now maybe she meant her ligaments were tight?] The first concern is really Donna looking for a safe alternative to botox, so Rosie brings in a "facial fitness expert," which is something that Rosie doesn't know too much about. [I couldn't believe that Donna didn't believe Cynthia never had botox. more importantly, how does Rosie even have a basis for her "experts" out in Cali at this point?] Donna doesn't see herself practicing any of the exercises, and the subject is ignored for the rest of the episode.

Onto the nanny/theft issue. Jason isn't sure that cameras all over the house are necessary, but Donna wants 100-150 cameras. It seems that she's satisfied with the 64 or so that Rosie's security expert, Ray, installs, though, as long as she also gets alarms on doors so that if closets are opened, she'll get a text and call 911. [holy moly, this woman is RIDICULOUS!] The system records and streams, and you can check it from anywhere, even on a mobile device. [this must have cost a very pretty penny...] Rosie sets up some baby nurse interviews but also brings money, gift cards, financial info, CDs, and open chocolates that they place/hide in the nursery, so Donna can see if the nannies can be trusted amongst those things. [not a bad way to go.] Interviews begin. [way to lie about CPR, candidate #1! I totally didn't believe the idea that they'd have the candidates move around stuff and put away baby clothes as part of the interview...] #3 reads the titles of the DVDs and eats chocolates, so they get rid of her. #4 look through some paperwork more than once, and  doesn't find that to be inappropriate behavior. [wtf?] Donna is so upset that she doesn't even want to have any more interviews and asks Rosie to leave. [oh boy...] Rosie gives her time to cool down and then decides to try and figure out what it is that makes Donna so distrusting. We don't actually find out, but Donna does decide to trust Rosie and hire #2. ["I know that's what you want" was a weird thing for Rosie to say. and why are they calling from a really windy area?] Rosie meets baby Brooklyn via webcam, and (#2) Meg is working out well for the family.

Mummy IQ: [which, in this case, is more of a Nanny IQ] Do you know baby CPR? What are the healthy normal colors that poop can be? What temperature on a newborn are cause for alarm? How often does a newborn baby eat? How early can you sleep-train a baby? 

Client #2: Chris (real estate) and Victor (stay-at-home-dad) have been together for eight years and married for four - having tied the knot in St. Barts, South Africa, and New York. They are having their second daughter and are at odds over how to decorate - two-year-old Coco has a signature shade of pink, but they don't want to agonize for months again to find a color for new baby-to-be, Kiki. [let's pause for a moment to giggle at the names of the children being Coco and Kiki... also, I feel like purple or yellow are the obvious choices...] Jackie and Tyler are the color/design experts that Rosie brings in, and they have Victor and Chris cover up, then play with paint to see what "comes out." [...really?] They look at a bright orange, a cool electric green, a bright coral, an indigo purple, a red/blue thing... then they move on. Victor and Chris each pick a color and they mix it, back to an orange from yellow and red. They like a yellow-orange, called "Kiki yellow" that is close to "blazing yellow." [oooook] Rosie has a decorator handle the nursery in that hue, and Victor and Chris love it. [custom monogram??]

Their second dilemma is what to get their surrogate as a gift. Keira had a miscarriage, carried Coco, and is now carrying Kiki, so the guys feel a great gratitude towards her. Victor and Rosie go to Rodeo Drive, but Victor picks out terrible presents, like pens, phones, and watches, before finding a wonderful necklace. Later, Rosie meets Kiki via webcam.

Pregnant in Heels: Twins, Vaccines, Clothes...

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

So, I'm rather upset with this show at the moment. I wasn't a giant fan of any of the past few episodes, as I had issues with each couple. Moreover, I sat and watched all three in a row, and, apparently, ended up timing-out on Blogger... so when I didn't finish editing this post until later, I wound up losing almost half of it. Yeah. Sucks. But, as I already mentioned I didn't like the couples being featured, I'm not about to watch that garbage for a second time. So, my apologies, but there are bits missing, particularly with the second and third episodes covered below. Life goes on... even though you click "save" apparently doesn't mean it saves... there's a hidden "time-out" feature... just be aware. ::grumble, grumble, grumble::

Pregnant in Heels "The Trouble with Twins" (S02E04): LT learns about c-section underwear. Rosie asks her son if he thinks that she talks funny, and he nods. [odd.]

Client #1: Corrie & Philip are in their late thirties and are expecting fraternal girls any day. She's Jewish (complete with a mother ready to move-in to help), he's German, and they're not prepared at all. She hasn't read much about twins at all. [that would terrify me... maybe that's why she hasn't prepared?] Rosie is worried that the parents aren't panicked. They have a few dressers in the nursery, but no cribs or anything. [no.cribs. and they're due any.day. eep!] The plan is that Philip will buy everything while Corrie is recovering in the hospital. [what kind of plan is that??] Rosie takes them and Corrie's mom, Lucie, to Twiniversity, and a bunch of real twins are brought in. Lucie takes over quite often, which frustrates Rosie and doesn't give Corrie a chance to work on her skills. [325 as the bath temperature?? ayayay. one load per baby per day? really?] Rosie then brings in a nursery expert/interior designer. Lucie thinks that Philip is boring, as he likes eggshell as a wall color and doesn't want any shapes on the walls. Rosie brings Corrie some toddler twins to spend the day with, and she and Lucie must change, dress, and feed the children, plus do some laundry. Rosie talks to Lucie about Corrie and Philip needing her, even though there's some worries about her being overbearing. The new nursery works out great for the family. Later, babies Charlotte and Noa are benefiting from Lucie's help, and Corrie is finding everything manageable. There's no leaving for Lucie in sight, though. [ha!]

Client #2: Nia (36 weeks pregnant) and Chris live in Brooklyn. Nia, a veteran model, wants a toxin-free environment, as she describes herself as "green," "Bohemian chic," and "crunchy granola." [oh boy. you guys already know that I'm sick of her...] Chris has been talking to her about vaccines, but Nia doesn't believe in them- she wants to do natural stuff and believes in natural immunities keeping a child safe. [simultaneous eye roll, guys!] Rosie introduces a "green team" to test their environment and talk about green, holistic parenting. Nia gets brought down fast as she's told about all of the junk in her home, like her makeup, cleaning products, and microwave usage. Rosie and Nia visit some young kids of her other clients, and Rosie talks about germs and shows them on the kids' hands. She then asks Nia if she'd be okay with her newborn daughter being around someone with polio, and she says yes - Nia believes that her child could fight off that stuff. [what makes her kid so special?] Nia talks about vaccines being antiquated and protocol at this point, so Rosie sets them up with one of Manhattan's top pediatricians, and Nia is ready to fight. Nia explains that breastmilk establishes immunities, but the doctor explains that antibodies aren't made on your own. The doctor explains that there ARE outbreaks of pertussis and polio again, and that worldwide travel spreads these things now more than ever. [Nia's belted outfit was SO ugly!] Chris tries to be the voice of reason, and the pediatrician tells a true story of procrastinating on a certain vaccine, which left her son with a 50/50 chance of living at one point. In the end, baby Isa has all non-toxic toys and will be vaccinated. [I wonder if they would have included Nia's story if she had chosen not to vaccinate...]

No Mummy IQ. 

Pregnant in Heels "Rosie's Relationship Retreat" (S02E05): Rosie isn't the greatest cook, but she thinks she can make anything. [why this scene is even included, I'm not sure.]

Client #1: Susan & Marcel are in their early thirties and she's feeling frumpy, so she's been avoiding sex. She doesn't feel attractive or sexy and he is missing the affection. She has 11 weeks to go and isn't even game to try some different sexual positions. 

Client #2: Jennifer and Curtis want an over-the-top baby shower in Bergen County, NJ... the most expensive zip code in the US. [wow, higher than 90210? ;) but, problematically, we see very little of the shower itself and NONE of the planning - both of which I thought would have been interesting.] She loves fashion. They met in May, married in December, and are snippy with one another. She knows that she's loud and demanding, and admits that she did move out for a little while. They have two months to go and she's had an easy pregnancy. She wants a c-section but didn't know you can't have sex for six weeks afterward, and neither is sure they can last that long. 

Well, Rosie brings both couples to the Dominican Republic and has them do couples' prenatal yoga to get things started. Marcel can't keep his hands off Susan, which only makes her shut down even more. So, Rosie sends the boys to play golf while she goes with the ladies to do some shopping (at the Oscar de la Renta boutique) and get prenatal massages. Marcel and Susan then have a dance lesson to teach them more about movement and touching, while Jennifer has to have a meal with a sash over her mouth, so she is forced to listen to Curtis for a change. Everyone learns some stuff and has a great time.

Photo: Bravo

No Mummy IQ.

Pregnant in Heels "Dressing the Diva" (S02E06): 
Client #1: Patrice is an uber-busy expectant mother who can't find anything she likes in any stores - she has a bad impression associated with anything labeled "maternity." She doesn't do prints or embellishments, and although she only has about six weeks remaining in her pregnancy, she wants Rosie to design several outfits for her - casual, dressy, and red-carpet-worthy. Rosie does her best, and a few of her designs actually pass the test, particularly a specially-designed pair of leather pants, Patrice's trademark look.

Client #2: Busy husband Alex calls Rosie for help with his wife, Elizabeth. She's pregnant with #3 and is a stay-at-home mother. Well, Elizabeth has gotten to the point where she wears boring sweatpants all the time, doesn't shower regularly, and sometimes goes a week without leaving the house. Rosie comes in, sees that Elizabeth has great clothing that she never wears, and convinces her to take the time to do things for herself. Rosie's assistant helps Alex find a babysitter, which will allow Elizabeth to take in some adult conversation and activity from time to time, plus give the couple a chance to take dance lessons, among other things.

Mummy IQ: stuff about baby's stool and two others I can't remember anymore.

Pregnant in Heels: Learning & Choosing

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

I'm disappointed that Jenay chose Desiree. Yes, the Children's Bible was a bit of a cop-out, and I didn't see a lot of promise in the pick-a-dress category, but you'd think that being frustrated with a child but managing to have a teachable moment in the final two minutes wouldn't be worth as much as being willing to take your child to church and knowing some basic biblical facts (like which books are known as The Gospels). Especially after Jenay and Will had talked to Rosie about what they were looking for in a godmother. The dynamics between Paula and Jay were interesting, but I was a bit bothered by how little they knew about having a baby when they were already pregnant... it makes me wonder how many people are in that situation... scary!

Pregnant in Heels "When Baby Robots Attack" (S02E03): Rosie sees a speech therapist, Lynn, who does some mouth exercises with her. Rosie is surprised when she's told that she sounds young. [really? that surprises her? has she NEVER watched her show or a tape of herself speaking?]

Client #1: Paula & Jay - five months pregnant with their first child. Paula calls Rosie because she feels that Jay isn't being supportive, but it turns out that there are much larger problems at hand. While Paula is a personal chef, Jay runs his own fitness & wellness company, and he feels that he'll never let up on his work. She feels like she's second but he claims that she's not. [I'm with her so far...] Paula doesn't know about baths, umbilical cords, car seats, or how to swaddle, and Jay doesn't know much either, so Rosie has them take an all-day baby bootcamp, where they learn diapering, burping, bathing, feeding, swaddling... but never turn off their phones. [I can't imagine letting my phone ring TWICE at an event! I'd be mortified!] That night, Rosie brings a bassinet with a robot baby for them to care for, together. [wow. after spending all day learning, this could be rough... I bet I'd want a break!] The doll needs to be fed, burped, diapered, swaddled, rocked, and put to bed, and info will be sent to Rosie so she can evaluate how they do. They only feed the baby for a few seconds before trying to move on, and the same thing happens with the burping. Jay tries to help and Paula takes over, but Rosie winds up having to step in and help. [eeek!] When the baby cries, Jay tries to take care of it, but Paula won't let him. [hmmmm...] When Rosie returns to discuss their results, they had the baby for six hours and the baby was calm for only 7 minutes. [yep, rather worrisome.] Basically, Paula and Jay suck at communication. So, Rosie brings has them do some team-building exercises, and by the time Baby Max is born, Paula has given Jay some trust, and Jay has cut working three nights a week.  

Client #2: Jenay & Will are having their first baby - he's a family law attorney and she's a criminal defense attorney. They need to pick a godmother, and it's really stressful. [may the Lord bless me with that being my biggest conundrum, lmao. but not really, I'm not worried in that department.] She's between her sister, Monique, 11 years older and a mother and teacher, and Desiree, who has been Jenay's best friend for 17 years. Jenay and Will see the godparents having a close relationship with their daughter, and will take on the caretaking role if the worst should happen. For their daughter, their priorities are that she is raised in a caring home, brought up in the church, and understands dressing well. [while I can't understand that being #3 on my list, it should make for some interesting comments.] Jenay thinks both women are equal in advice-giving, care, etc. so Rosie designs a set of challenges to help Jenay decide. [could this be Rosie's easiest job yet?] Desiree and Monique name one another weak points - Desiree says Monique is sensitive and Monique says Desiree has no patience. [mmmhmm.] There's a religion pop quiz next - Monique gets 9 correct and Desiree doesn't know any of them. [well, for a family who wants their daughter raised in the church, a godparent should probably be able to name the gospels or know that God appeared to Moses as a burning bush. [failing at naming the three gifts that the Kings brought to baby Jesus was my personal favorite. If you know some basic Christmas carols, I think you could have gotten there.] Monique asks Desiree if she'd take Jenay's daughter to church, and she says no, unless Jenay and Will pass away. [probably not a good sign. it must be annoying to hear bells in a tea room like that!]

Photo by: Andrei Jackamets/Bravo

Next, Jenay's godson is brought to play with the contenders - each gets 15 minutes to try to teach the kid something. Desiree doesn't think it's fair, as she's at a disadvantage. Everyone watches as each woman attempts... though Cuba, three, just wants to run around instead. Desiree is disappointed that Monique didn't command attention better. Desiree doesn't know what to teach him, tries a few things, then leaves the kid to brood for a few minutes before teaching him to count to three. Monique is surprised that she was beat. [I don't know that she actually was, by the way.] Rosie has the girls each try to pick a dress for Jenay's baby's dedication, and Monique wins. [this was a shortened segment for some reason...] The final challenge is to bring a gift for the baby. Monique got them a children's Bible, and Desiree thinks it's an obvious choice that only looks at one aspect of the baby's life. [not her worst comment.] Desiree chose a charm bracelet, which could be added to whenever she does something with the child. [thoughtful now, though it does get her out of thinking of gifts for a long time.] Jenay says that Desiree's gift is nice because it represents exposing their child to different cultures. It's a tie, but Jenay chooses Desiree, who says that it means the world to her. Rosie points out that Monique still gets to be the aunt, and Monique says that Desiree deserves it. ["still gets to be the aunt" ? awkward.] At the baby dedication, Baby Leila is spoiled by both.

Mummy IQ: Do you give a newborn baby a bath? When does the umbilical cord fall off? When do you switch from rear-facing to forward-facing car seats? Do you ever put the baby to sleep on its back? When do you start tummy time?

Pregnant in Heels: Wimpy Men

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

What is with the men in this episode being wimps? I don't understand it - one can't stand up to his wife while the other can't stand up to his daughter. How and why did they even get pregnant for a third time with a daughter like that??!? And, as always, I don't understand folks who treat their dogs like gold... but that's another story. I thought that these two sets of clients went well in a single episode, and the fact that Rosie is pregnant makes it much easier to see the time progression she spends with each person - she is noticeably larger in some scenes (like when she takes Paul out with the baby). Still not the most exciting show, but a downer to this episode in particular is that there were no "mummy IQ" questions, which have kinda become Rosie's trademark.

Pregnant in Heels "Taming the Tiger and the Terror" (S02E02): Rosie's husband mentions that people sometimes have difficulty understanding Rosie when she speaks. Once he says that he doesn't always understand her, she begins taking it seriously. [that's gotta be rough to hear... you've been married for years and JUST find out that you're not always understood??!?]

Client #1, Eelain (& Paul): Due in four weeks. She's a perfectionist who wants to train her dog and husband. [who goes on television and admits that their husband needs "training" ???] She was raised by a TigerMom and wants the same thing - obey your parents, high academic standards, children are seen and not heard, etc. They have a French bulldog which Paul has spoiled, and Eelain is worried about the interaction between the baby and the dog. [valid.] Paul is fine being told what to do as long as it keeps the peace. [pansy.] Paul was given freedom growing up, so Rosie is concerned that his parenting philosophy is different from Eelain's. Rosie takes them for some dog training, and Paul has a difficult time not playing with the dog and rewarding him for negative behavior. [dog people are weird...] Paul also needs some experience with infants, so Rosie brings a baby and has Paul hold and feed him... but Eelain keeps barking orders instead of letting him try. [booo!!] Rosie takes Paul and the baby to drop off laundry, order bagels, and catch a cab - which requires disassembling the stroller while wearing the baby and getting the car seat in the vehicle. He forgets the coffee on the car, but otherwise manages. Because things are going okay, Rosie asks Paul about how he would want to parent, and he admits that he's worried that Tiger Parenting is too rough and will damage the child. So, Rosie brings in a few experts for a parenting debate, which puts Eelain on her guard. Paul having different opinions bothers Eelain, but she thinks twice about the potential negatives of Tiger Parenting. Later, Rosie meets Eelain's mother, who came from Shanghai to perform the Chinese tradition of confining the mother to the house for thirty days and not allowing her to bathe. [I've heard the confinement thing in other cultures, but the bathing thing?!?] The confinement isn't causing much concern, but the bathing thing bother both Eelain and Paul. Baby Alexander was born four days early, but we don't find out if Eelain put up with the confinement and bathing traditions.

(Photo by: Heidi Gutman/Bravo)

Client #2, Jessica (& Carlo): They're having their third child, but the big problem is that their six-year-old, Leah, is out of control. Two-year-old Carlo is okay. [lovely house from the outside!] They want Leah to be a little more independent and more of a helper, and to get her to stay in her room all night. They put cameras in the house so Rosie could see how things go down in their household. Leah kicks Carlo, makes a mess of her bed at night, etc. [what a terror!] Rosie suggests a bedtime routine and more discipline, so they start by removing all of Leah's playroom toys and putting them into a truck. The next step is sleep training - every time Leah gets out of bed, she's put back, regardless of how many times it takes. Rosie spends the night to make sure that the parents follow through. [I didn't realize this was necessary, but it's a good thing she did!] Leah lasts about half an hour before she gets out of bed and lays on the hallway floor. Jessica can't lift Leah, so Carlo has to put her back to bed. Ten minutes later, it happens again. Another forty minutes later, Carlo doesn't want to do it anymore - he claims that Jessica is the strong one. [pansy.] So, she goes for it, even though she can't carry her daughter. By 11:30pm, Leah has given up. The parents are shocked, but agree to follow through with it as needed. [I'm amused that they're shocked!] Then, Rosie brings three nice British girls to help Leah understand how to help with babies. She does well, so Rosie returns the toys - Leah even offers up a toy for the new baby. In the end, Rosie meets baby Anthony, and learns that Leah has been helping.

Mummy IQ: no questions this week.

Pregnant in Heels: Intimacy & Quirkiness

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

It's been a while since Rosie Pope's Pregnant in Heels was on the air. If you didn't catch any of the first season, the Bravo program follows Rosie's "maternity concierge" business, where she basically attempts to solve any pregnancy-related problem you can imagine. She has people to help you decide on a baby name, be a midwife, plan a baby shower, ask someone to be a godparent, paint a maternity portrait, and more. So, each episode focuses on Rosie helping out two soon-to-be mothers, throws in a sprinkling of Rosie's own family (and her infertility), and makes sure to throw in a few "Mummy IQ" questions to quiz parents' preparedness for children. This episode had one couple who was struggling with intimacy in the third trimester (we've seen this before) and one who wasn't 100% sure what they wanted in a laboring experience. Neither really stand out in the grand scheme of things, but it's a fine comeback for the New York reality project.

Photo by: David Giesbrecht /Bravo

Pregnant in Heels "Homebirth with a Side of Placenta" (S02E01): Rosie's clothing line is selling well and she's had to hire more help with her maternity concierge business. Darrin also runs the business side now, which is probably a good thing, because they're now expecting their third child so they'll be plenty busy with lots of things! 

Client 1: Helena and Svet - a couple with LOTS of money - like they own a handful of cars including a Ferrari and a Maserati. Helena wants a more active sex life but Svet doesn't want to be intimate while Helena is pregnant. Helena struggles to swaddle a doll (though she has a nanny for her first child). Helena struggles with urine control, so Rosie suggests 200 Kegels a day. [200? higher than you normally read, I believe.] The first specialist Rosie brings in is Catherine, who talks to them about their former sex life. Then, they go to a Kama Sutra expert to work on some positions that might make Svet more comfortable. [AKA stop him from focusing on the belly.] The couple finally connects a bit, but Rosie isn't done yet. She introduces Svet to Brett, a lifestyle coach, who gives him a wardrobe makeover, works him out at the gym, and gives him a spray tan. We learn that Svet has gained weight and lost self-confidence. [poor guy seemed to be taking that hard.] Meanwhile, Rosie takes Helena for new bedroom wear... but instead of lingerie, they focus on a conservative nightgown, as Svet has previously mentioned that he fantasizes about cabins in Canada and bundling up. [to each their own, right?] Rosie sends them on a private dinner date in a great location and things heat up. At the end of the episode, Natalija is born and the couple is planning a romantic getaway to Canada.

Client 2: Christina and Fritz - first-time parents who run a conceptual art space. She's eight months pregnant and thinking about how she wants to give birth. Fritz envisions delivering unassisted in the woods, but Christina is thinking perhaps a home birth, though she'll need a midwife. They also discuss "elimination communication" as an alternative to diapering, and it's something that Fritz wants to explore more, so Rosie gives him a doll in a carrier and they go to the grocery store to run an errand. She tells him when the baby will has to "go," and if he can't handle the situation quickly enough, Rosie uses basters of "stuff" to show what a mess the newborn will make. [this whole thing messed with my mind. GROSS. at least she helped him by "saying" when the child would relieve himself! oh, and they do decide to diaper after all.] Next, Rosie brings a hypnotherapist to prepare Christina for her preferred type of pain management. Then, it's time to interview two potential midwives. Simone talks about positioning and instruments, but they choose Linda who talks about safe home births. [and there's a very odd moment when Fritz raps in Chinese.] Christina is in a lot of pain during the labor, and she spends hours in various positions, and the midwife threatens an episiotomy before baby Keats is born. The storyline ends with Rosie making a placenta smoothie for Christina, who wants to drink it to prevent post-partum depression.

Mummy IQ Questions: How do you swaddle a baby? After a second baby, how likely will it be that you'll struggle to control your urine? What percentage of home births get transferred to a hospital? (12%) What are some reasons? (breach baby, fetal distress, high blood pressure) How often a newborn baby goes to the restroom? (every ten minutes)

News Roundup: Half of May is Over!

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

If you're looking to find out which broadcast network shows were renewed or cancelled, try here instead. A few new additions include CBS renewing Two and a Half Men and canceling Unforgettable, Rob, and NYC 22 and FOX canceling Napoleon Dynamite and renewing Bob's Burgers.

We'll also be doing a post or two about the new pick-ups later in the week, so be on the lookout for that. The below will focus on cable shows with renewals/cancellations and leave off some "shows in development," but will otherwise give you a nice round-up of what's been announced recently. 

Renewals, Cancellations, & Scheduling:
HBO has renewed Real Time with Bill Maher for two more seasons.

ABCFamily has renewed The Lying Game for a second season. The network has canceled Make It or Break It, with the series finale airing tonight, May 14th. 

The NBC Sports Network has renewed NFL Turning Point for the 2012, 1013, and 2014 seasons.

E! has renewed Keeping Up with the Kardashians for three more seasons, with the seventh beginning May 20th.

True Justice, REELZ's Steven Seagal show, has been renewed for a second season of thirteen episodes.

HBO has renewed Girls and Veep.

TLC has renewed Long Island Medium for a THIRD season!

Showtime has renewed The Borgias for three seasons.

Southland has been renewed for a fifth season on TNT. Maybe NBC should have kept it after all, huh?

WEtv has renewed Mary Mary for a second season.

Mob Wives has been renewed for a third season on VH1.

AMC has renewed Comic Book Men and Talking Dead.

Flashpoint will end after this season, its fifth on ION.

Lifetime's The Client List has been renewed for a second season of 15 episodes.

ABC has renewed Shark Tank, Dancing with the Stars, and The Bachelor. Plus, America's Funniest Home Videos and Wife Swap.

NBC has canceled Fear Factor, Minute to Win It, Who Do You Think You Are?, The Marriage Ref, and The Sing Off. Their renewal of 30 Rock will be its final season.

History has renewed Top Gear for a third season.

Bravo's Pregnant in Heels is back tomorrow, Tuesday, May 15th at 10pm ET/PT.

TLC has two specials premiering on Thursday, May 17th. At 9pm ET/PT we have Obese & Expecting, and at 10pm ET/PT we have Birth Moms.

Current's The Gavin Newsom Show debuts Friday, May 18th at 10pm ET.

TLC's long-awaited On The Fly begins Thursday, May 24th at 9pm.

Remember How to Be a Gentleman? CBS pulled it back in October, but they're going to burn off the episodes this summer, beginning at 8pm on Saturday, May 26th.

A&E's Gene Simmons Family Jewels will be back on Monday, May 29th at 9pm ET/PT.

Comedy Central's Workaholics is back Tuesday, May 29th at 10:30pm.

Dogs in the City will premiere on CBS on Wednesday, May 30th at 8pm ET/PT.

Mountain Men on History begins Thursday, May 31st at 10pm.

Drop Dead Diva's fourth season will begin on Sunday, June 3rd at 9pm.

Also on Sunday, June 3rd, you can catch Head Games on the Discovery Channel at 10pm ET/PT. It's an interactive series where "both viewers and on-screen subjects are challenged with brain games, mind puzzles and social experiments." It's a three-part series.

FOX's Hell's Kitchen will begin the summer at 9pm ET/PT on Monday, June 4th, followed immediately by Masterchef at 10pm ET/PT.

Storage Wars is back June 5th at 10pm ET/PT.

SyFy's Haunted Collector begins its second season on Wednesday, June 6th, at 9pm.

The Choice premieres 9pm ET/PT Thursday, June 7th on FOX. 

A&E's Barter Kings will premiere Tuesday, June 12th at 9pm ET/PT.

Ready for another competition series? ABC has The Glass House beginning Monday, June 18th at 10pm ET/PT, where 14 contestants will live together, trying to win $250,000. It's going to be really interactive, using social networking to decide what players wear or where they sleep, for starters.

Monday, June 18th will also be the premiere of Bravo's Miss Advised, a docuseries about three single relationship experts.

Spike's new Diamond Divers, an unscripted series, will begin on Wednesday, June 20th at 10pm ET/PT.

Comedy Central's Futurama will return on Wednesday, June 20th at 10pm ET/PT.

Bad Girls Club: Mexico premiered Monday, July 9th at 10pm on Oxygen.

Travel Channel will premiere season six of Bizarre Foods America on Monday, July 9th at 8pm ET/PT.

ABCFamily's Beverly Hills Nannies will begin Wednesday, July 11th at 8pm ET/PT.

Big Brother will be back on Thursday, July 12th at 9pm ET/PT.

3, CBS' new dating series, will begin Sunday, July 22nd at 9pm ET/PT.

Cast & Plot Updates:
Jennifer Morrison's Dr. Cameron will be appearing on House's series finale.

Betty White will appear in June 10th's season finale of The Client List, playing a character who gives marriage advice.

Not only will Ryan Seacrest be coming back for American Idol, but he's also joining Today as a special correspondent for two years.

Teen Mom 2's Jenelle Evans is trying to sell photos of her new 34C chest.

Teen Mom's Amber Portwood is back in jail, having been caught lying to get out of her drug test and court date.

Pregnant in Heels' Rosie Pope live-tweeted her labor yesterday.

Mitchell Guist of History's Swamp People died after a seizure today.

Shows in Development & Other Fun Stuff:
While not everyone would consider it a "fun fact," the CW's debut of LA Complex managed to get the very lowest broadcast drama premiere EVER, at just 646,000 viewers.

ABC's got Tony Danza and Vince Vaughn working on a multi-camera comedy about "three old friends whose lives have taken them down very different roads."

SyFy will be making Stephen King's Eyes of the Dragon into a movie or miniseries.

Axe Cop will be joining FOX's late-night cartoon block that launches in 2013. Five episodes aired in January 2010, but another six 15-minute episodes have been ordered now.

Oxygen will be adding My Shopping Addiction (folks obsessed with shopping), I'm Having Their Baby (women deciding if they'll place their babies up for adoption), All the Right Moves (following So You Think You Can Dance's Travis Wall and friends), and NYC and LA editions of Girlfriend Confidential to the fall slate.

E! has some new one-hour series in development, including Amy Devlin Mysteries (a procedural about a twentysomething detective), Anne of Hollywood (the story of Anne Boleyn), Dorothy (a modern Wizard of Oz), Fascination Street (two brothers in a band), The 400 (following the Vanderbilt dynasty), Juror #9 (a twisted trial show), King David (a billionaire playboy in Washington, DC), Upstarts (three guys trying to gain power and money during the dot-com boom), and the Untitled Assistant Project (some office assistants want more power).

truTV has some new series in the works as well. Killer Karaoke is singing with physical challenges. Guinness World Records Gone Wild has folks setting out to break dangerous records. Container Wars is like Storage Wars but with shipping containers. Hardcore Pawn: Fort Bragg is another pawn shop show. There's also a possible Shaquille O'Neal show, a weight loss show with a comedy duo, and a game show where contestants fly around the country.

There's a possibility that Murphy Brown will be back on the air in a series of specials full of political commentary.

Netflix is interested in reviving Jericho, which CBS canceled in 2008.

Amazon is jumping into the television business, inviting original ideas for primetime comedy and children's series!

Starz is getting Michael Bay to develop Black Sails, an eight-episode season show about Captain Flint and his pirate adventures.

CMT is working with Stone Cold Steve Austin for a ten-episode series called Redneck Island, which will have 12 Southerners competing for $100,000.

TNT's new medical show, originally known as Chelsea General, will now be known as Monday Mornings, and the 10-episode first season will debut in summer 2013.

A fan of Burn Notice? You can vote on the new main title sequence! Head to the official website or the facebook page.

TLC has two more specials of Virgin Diaries to air later this summer.

A&E is working on Southie Rules, about the iconic working class of South Boston.

DirecTV's first original series will be ten episodes of the drama Rogue, which will focus on a cop who lost her son.

Just some Pregnancies...

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Reviews & [Commentaries] for "unscripted" shows this week include: Pregnant in Heels and 16 and Pregnant.

Babies Share a Room; Another Crappy Dad; Engaged Wipeouts

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Reviews & [Commentaries] for "unscripted" shows this week include: Pregnant in Heels,16 and Pregnant, and Wipeout.

Minimal Summaries this Week...

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Reviews & [Commentaries] for "unscripted" shows this week include: Pregnant in Heels,16 and Pregnant, and Wipeout. 

Note: Complete reviews were written for Pregnant in Heels and 16 and Pregnant, but Blogger's outage erased them. So, I jotted down a few notes from what I can remember at this point (I was hoping that they'd come back like they were supposed to, but apparently not), and Wipeout still has a full review.  

More FOX Renewals; Charlie Sheen on Entourage?

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

There will be a Glee 3D movie.

Negotiations didn't work out, so Katie Couric won't have her own CBS talk show.

Ted Nugent will be running for President next year... on The Simpsons.

Teen Mom got renewed for a 4th season... and, bonus.... season 3 will begin July 5th.

House faced a lot of potential issues in getting renewed, like the licensing fees, but it ultimately was renewed. However, the actors who play Foreman and Cuddy likely took a pay cut.

Some people think that maybe Netflix will come in and pick-up Lie to Me, which still hasn't been cancelled or renewed.

As we reported earlier this week, Jerry Seinfeld can't stand to watch Seinfeld.

Charlie Sheen wants to do a show on another network, since things aren't working out well over at CBS. Entourage wants him for their final season.

Bristol Palin will get a reality show on BIO.

I've been enjoying the new show, Pregnant in Heels. Crazy things like this are fun for me. Parodies are even starting to develop.

Family Guy and The Cleveland Show both got renewed.

MTV UK is going to have Geordie Shore, a British adaptation of Jersey Shore. Read this in Entertainment Weekly, and I must share their commentary with you! "Finally, a version of Jersey Shore in which people speak English!" hahahaha.

Kate in Philly, No Mummy IQ, A GingaNinja

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Reviews & [Commentaries] for "unscripted" shows this week include: Kate Plus Eight, Pregnant in Heels,16 and Pregnant, and Wipeout.

Rosie Down a Tube; Teen with Twins

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Reviews & Commentaries for "unscripted" shows this week include: Pregnant in Heels and 16 and Pregnant.

Just Kate, Rosie, and a Pregnant Teen this Week

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Reviews & Commentaries for unscripted shows this week include: Kate Plus Eight, Pregnant in Heels, and 16 and Pregnant.

Mauro does Morocco; Kate with a Koala

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Reviews & Commentaries for unscripted shows this week include: Cake Boss, Kate Plus Eight, Teen Mom 2, Pregnant in Heels, and Wipeout.

Pregnant in Heels Begins; Teen Mom 2 about Over; Kate in Australia

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

These posts are changing format just a little. Instead of just commentaries, I'm going to do a synopsis and then put my thoughts in brackets as I go along. Unscripted shows this week include: Cake Boss, Kate Plus Eight, Teen Mom 2, and Pregnant in Heels.