Archive for the ‘Pregnancy’ Category

Get the Scoop on the Latest Celebrity Baby News

Monday, November 28th, 2011

The latest celebrity baby news seems to change as quickly as news of Hollywood weddings and breakups. Things change so quickly in Tinseltown that it’s often hard to keep up! Over the past year, we’ve seen countless stars adopt, announce their due dates, or announce their plans to try and have their first child. Plenty of mommies-to-be have fun following celebrity baby news to check out the latest fashion and parenting trends. After all, Hollywood is known for setting some fun, chic trends, even when it comes to parenting!

Here is some of the latest celebrity baby news to feed your Hollywood gossip cravings!

Lily Allen—British songstress Lily Allen is about to pop. She just recently tweeted a Halloween pregnancy photo that had everyone talking! She recently told ES magazine, “Believe it or not, I’m 26. And I used to be a pop star. I know. Weird right?

Hilary Duff—Starlet Hilary Duff is about 24 weeks along right now, and she recently stepped out showing her baby bump when she went for a visit to her mother’s and to do a little shopping. Speaking of her growing belly, she recently tweeted that she’d soon be hitting up the store A Pea in the Pod for a maternity wardrobe update.

Jessica Simpson—Everyone’s been speculating for what seems years now as to whether or not Jessica Simpson is pregnant. Rumors have been swirling and the singer finally confirmed she’s expecting! On Halloween, she tweeted a photo of herself dressed up as a mummy to make the big announcement.

Hugh Grant—We all know that witty, British hunk Hugh Grant and the many fun, romantic comedies he usually stars in. Well, it turns out Mr. Grant will be welcoming a new baby girl off the screen. On November 2nd, his rep confirmed that Hugh will in fact be expecting a baby girl in September with actress Tinglan Hong.

Other big celebrity baby news this year includes the fabulous diva, Beyoncé, who announced her news some time ago but has been keeping her bump under wraps as of late.

Angelic Baby Name Ideas for Your New Baby

Monday, November 14th, 2011

A new little angel is deserving of an angelic baby name! Here are some beautiful name ideas inspired by the angels themselves to help you find a name for your new baby boy or girl.

Angelic baby name ideas are plentiful, and choosing an angelic name is a great way to emphasize the essence of new life and happiness your bundle of joy will bring. Angels have long been prominent symbolic figures in many world religions, and their significance in art and culture around the globe has been and continues to be a fascinating phenomena.

Whether you choose an angel-inspired name because of your interest in the history of angels or you simply love the sound and meaning of an angelic name, any of the following angelic baby names are beautiful options:

SeraphimThis name is equally great for a boy or a girl and its meaning is just as majestic and mysterious as the name itself. The seraphim are considered the highest ranking of all of God’s angels. For example, they are above cherubim and archangels, which makes them pretty special in the heavenly realm.

UrielDo you love music? Do you want an angelic baby name that will have some musical influence as well as a heavenly symbolism? Uriel is the biblical name of the angel who is to blow the trumpet on Judgment Day and is a beautiful name for a new baby boy.

SolangeSolange is a very pretty baby girl name that means “angel of the sun.” It is French in origin and also means “dignified.” If you want an elegant, striking name for your baby girl, this is a good option.

GabrielThis is a very popular boy’s name and has been for many years. It is especially significant in the realm of angelic baby name ideas. Gabriel is a biblical name that is packed with a lot of honorable significance. It means “God’s able-bodied one” or “hero of God.” It is Hebrew in origin and offers many female variants, including Gabriele, Gabbi, and Gabriella. This is one of the strongest, most versatile angelic baby name ideas you can choose.

Three Fun Ways to Document Your Pregnancy

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

Your pregnancy is an experience like no other. Here are three fun ways to document your pregnancy and make it memorable for years to come.

Between your baby shower, any classes you take, and any other events that are thrown in your honor, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to document your pregnancy. If those occasions aren’t enough and you want something even more personal, we have three fun ways you can document your pregnancy and create lasting memories for yourself and for your partner for years to come.

While you’re waiting for your little one to arrive, try these three fun ways to document your pregnancy:

Have a professional photo session done—There’s nothing like documenting your pregnancy by treating yourself to a professional baby photo session. Pregnancy photos are beautiful and creative and they give you the chance to have your own personal “pregnancy artwork” in your home years after your little one is brought into the world.

Put together a baby scrapbook—A baby scrapbook is not only a great way to document your pregnancy, but it’s also a good idea if you want to continue documenting the life of your baby once he or she is born. You can continue adding pictures, themed pages, and special sections to celebrate and document your child’s life as they grow older.

Take pictures of your belly every month—This is a simple yet fun way to document your pregnancy. Each month, take a picture of your belly to show how much you’ve grown. You can use the photos to add to your baby scrapbook or you can use them to create another piece of art to decorate your home.

For example, try making your own miniature clothesline and pin each month’s picture on a clothespin as you get closer and closer to your due date. You can even keep the clothesline decoration after your baby is born as a keepsake, or you can hang it in their nursery and continue to use it as a decoration. This is a really fun and creative way to document your pregnancy before and after you give birth!

Pregnancy Morning Sickness Remedies

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

If you’re just starting to feel the effects of morning sickness, try these common remedies to help ease the discomfort.

If you’re on the hunt for pregnancy morning sickness remedies, you’ve come to the right place. Every expectant mom has heard something about the woes of morning sickness, but not every mom-to-be experiences the same level of sickness throughout their pregnancy. Some barely feel any effects at all.

Whether you just found out you’re pregnant or you’re struggling with discomfort of morning sickness right now and are searching for some relief, try the following morning sickness remedies. These remedies are some of the most common methods for easing the uncomfortable effects that often accompany the early stages of pregnancy.

Keep your blood sugar leveled—Eating foods high in protein, especially before you go to sleep at night, is one way to level your blood sugar. This has been said to help morning sickness—even the kind that strikes at all hours of the day and night.

Get enough sleep—Getting the right amount of sleep each night (sometimes more than you are originally used to) is also said to help lessen the effects of morning sickness. This will also help improve your mood and energy level.

Avoid an empty stomach—Comfort foods are great as long as you eat just enough. Don’t allow yourself to get too full, but don’t leave your stomach empty, either. An empty stomach can aggravate any morning sickness you experience.

Wear acupuncture bands—Acupuncture bands have been known to help curb morning sickness nausea. There are all kinds to choose from, and the most common kinds are worn like bracelets or wrist bands.

Choose your liquids carefully—Two common morning sickness remedies include sipping cold ice water when you begin to feel the nausea rise and drinking flat Sprite throughout the day or when you begin to feel sick. Teas and ginger drinks have also been known to help lessen the intensity of nausea. Drinking the right liquids is one of the best morning sickness remedies you can try to ease your discomfort.

The Benefits of Staying Fit During Your Pregnancy

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

Your body’s changing, your back is aching, and you have crazy cravings, but that doesn’t mean you should skip on exercise. Check out some of the benefits of staying fit during your pregnancy.

You might already have a plan in place to stay active while you’re pregnant, but there are many benefits of staying fit during your pregnancy if you kick up your exercise’s intensity just a notch. You don’t have to overdo it, and any form and level of exercise should be discussed with your doctor, but whatever exercise plan you decide on, stick to it to reap the following benefits:

Prepare for Child Birth—Whether it’s your first time giving birth or not, giving birth is long, grueling, and very physical. The better shape you are in, the better equipped you are to deal with the demands of the process. There has been evidence that working out during your pregnancy might reduce your labor time.

Zap Stress and Gain Energy—Even with the joys of pregnancy, there can be a great deal of stress that accompanies pregnancy. This is one of best benefits of staying fit during your pregnancy—less stress and an increase in energy. As your due date draws closer, you’ll need as much energy as you can get.

Get a Better Night’s Sleep—Pregnancy steals a lot of your energy, so it’s important to make sure you get enough sleep. Staying fit during your pregnancy can help you achieve a better night’s sleep, so you’ll be less irritable throughout the day and rest easier at night.

Improve Your Mood—Emotions often run high during pregnancy and it’s not uncommon for your mood to shift numerous times in any given day. Working out will burn off excess energy, reduce your stress, and get those endorphins pumping. All of this, paired with a better night’s sleep, will give you an overall mood lift right up until your little one arrives. All of these things combined offer great benefits to staying fit during your pregnancy and might encourage you to continue the trend after your baby is born.

Tips for Creating a Birth Plan

Monday, August 29th, 2011

Whether you are planning on a natural labor or one that includes pain management, a birth plan can help you mentally prepare for the delivery. This will reduce stress and the chance of complications. If you aren’t sure where to start, use these tips to help get started.

When using tips for creating a birth plan, it is important to remember that things may change during labor. You will need to be open to changing your birth plan, no matter how well-organized it may be. That said, you may wonder why you should create one at all.

Preparing for labor is both a joyous and intimidating event, especially when it is your first child. You aren’t really sure what to expect. Creating a birth plan can help you mentally prepare for labor. It can also give you a goal to work towards during your labor so that you don’t panic when the pain sets in. If creating your own birth plan seems too intimidating, however, use some of these tips for creating a birth plan for some peace of mind.

Since the development of pain medication, few expectant mothers choose to go without it. However, there are situations in which the labor moves too quickly to receive pain medication. Issues may also arise during labor that could prevent you from receiving pain medication. Many expectant moms also fail realize that there will be pain before you can even receive pain medication. It is for these reasons that one of the best tips for creating a birth plan is to prepare for labor without medication, even if you think you may want it.

By preparing to give birth without medication, you will already know how to respond if you cannot receive it. Be sure to practice your breathing techniques. Remember that walking can help speed up the labor process. You may also want to consider some calming items, like a soothing CD, a focal point picture, or a birthing ball. Not all facilities have the same items available, so it is important to know what your hospital offers when using these tips for creating your birth plan.

When is the Best Time to Have a Baby?

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

This classic question is one many women ask when they consider the idea of becoming a mother for the first time. If you’ve been asking yourself if it’s the right time to have a baby, read on.

Is there really such a thing as the best time to have a baby? Some women would emphatically say “no,” while others can tell you plenty of stories of why certain periods in life are better than others to welcome a child into the world. For years, doctors have been telling hopeful mothers that there is an ideal age when they should become pregnant due to health risks, yet living in the modern age allows us more options than ever before to have a baby much later in life.

With all of the health and scientific statistics aside, it’s safe to say that the best time to have a baby is really a personal decision. Every woman will tell you something different, but in the end you’ll have to decide the best time to have a baby on your own, regardless of what the doctors, your girlfriends, or older, been-there-done-that mothers have to say about it.

 

Financial and Career Stability

Today, less mothers are able to stay home with their children, so financial and career stability issues are often what sway women one way or another when determining the best time to have a baby. Remember, financial stability doesn’t necessarily mean making high figures each year, but it does mean living within your means, regardless of how modest your income. This goes for your career, too. Do you still plan on changing careers or want to move up in the company? How will the lifestyle that accompanies your career work with motherhood? Even if you didn’t plan your pregnancy, the matters of money and career and what you expect from them will need to be evaluated.

 

Mutual Feelings

As many women can testify, many pregnancies aren’t planned. However, whether you’ve carefully planned your pregnancy or not, it’s a good idea to determine your best time to have a baby by discussing it with your partner first. Whether you will be a single mom, you have a surrogate, or you are married, it’s helpful to both you and the baby to know where both parties stand. It is ideal to have a baby when both you and your partner feel emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially ready to take on parenthood. Keep all of this in mind as you begin contemplating the best time to have a baby.

Items You Need for Your Baby’s Trip Home

Monday, July 4th, 2011

Packing your diaper bag for that first trip home can seem overwhelming. Learn what you need for your baby’s first trip home from the hospital.

It can be difficult to choose which items you need for your baby’s first trip home, especially if you are a first time mother. Luckily, there are many mothers that have come before you who can offer you advice. Additionally, this checklist can help you make sure that you are as prepared as possible for your little one’s arrival.

When to Pack the Bag

You should pack your diaper bag at least two weeks before your baby’s due date. However, if your doctor has indicated that you may be delivering early, you may want to choose your items much sooner. It is best if you pack everything in a diaper bag. The hospital will most likely provide you with a diaper bag, but you will have new items to bring home from the hospital. Use the hospital diaper bag to store these extra items, and use your bag to store items you need for your baby’s trip home.

Items for You

It is easy to get excited about packing for your new baby, but don’t forget that there are items you need at the hospital as well. Socks, a comfortable change of clothes, undergarments, a nursing bra, a toothbrush, soap, shampoo, conditioner, and a camera are just a few of the items that you will want to bring for yourself.

Items for Baby

Most of the items you need for baby’s trip home will be worn on the day you bring them home. This includes an outfit to wear home, some socks, a hat, and a receiving blanket. If the weather will be cold, you will need a heavy blanket as well. However, there are also a few items you will need for your time in the hospital. These include extra hats, baby mittens, and an outfit to wear for pictures.

In addition to all of the items you need for baby’s trip home, you may want to pack your baby’s baby book and things to keep you occupied during your hospital stay.

 

Three Things Every New Mom Needs to Do Before Baby Arrives

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Preparing for motherhood can be overwhelming, but starting with the essentials is a great way to feel more prepared.

There are a lot more than three things to do before your baby arrives, but certain tasks are more immediate than others. Getting ready to bring a baby into the world is an exciting time in your life, but it also makes you think of the hundreds of things that you need to add to that lengthy to-do list in order to get ready for your little one’s arrival. To get you started, here are three essential things that every mom needs to do before they bring their baby home.

Decorate the Nursery

Nesting is a normal part of expecting. If you haven’t already, you’ll probably be on a mission to start picking out nursery items and colors for the walls. If you want to feel instantly more prepared for your little one’s world debut, then start decorating the nursery. Even if you’ve already painted or picked out the furniture, start adding extra touches to make it more cozy and more personal, such as picture frames, wall décor, and curtains.

Start a Baby Bank

Whether you use a plastic piggy bank on the baby’s new dresser or you go to the bank and open up a fund, starting a baby bank is the perfect way to prepare for your child. Whether you save up pennies or you are able to put hundreds of dollars away, saving a fund for your baby before he or she even gets home will make you feel more prepared, regardless of your budget allotment ad financial situation.

Establish a Legacy

No, your baby’s legacy won’t be left overnight, but you can start building your child’s legacy before they are even born by choosing a good, solid name for them. Research your family history, talk to your family members about names, and study the meanings of the names you like. Deciding on a first and middle name that represents your family is a surefire way to feel like you are getting started on the right foot when it comes to preparing for motherhood. Any new mom can do these three things before baby arrives.

 

Simple Tips to Help You Enjoy Your Pregnancy

Monday, April 18th, 2011

Oh, baby! No one ever said pregnancy was going to be easy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the ride.

A few simple tips to help you enjoy your pregnancy can make a big difference while you wait for your little one to arrive. For many women, pregnancy is a joy and a wonderful experience, but more often than not, you don’t hear about the tough stuff.

Sure, you might hear about nasty morning sickness, annoying cravings, or the pain that comes with those final days when you are waiting to go into labor, but pregnancy can be downright uncomfortable for even the most chipper mommy-to-be.

There’s no shame in admitting that every mom benefits from a few simple tips in order to cope, so if you or someone you know is expecting soon, take the following into consideration for a less stressful, more enjoyable pregnancy.

1. Stop and Smell the Roses– You hear it all the time when they tell you to slow down and enjoy life. Well, the same applies when you’re pregnant. After all of the running around between doctor appointments and shopping for supplies, it’s easy to get caught up in the stress of being pregnant. Don’t forget to take time out for the simple things, like taking a stroll in the park, reading a good book, or taking a bubble bath.

2. Sing to Your Baby– Whether you have pipes like Celine Dion or you can’t hit a note to save your life, singing to your baby while they’re in your belly is relaxing for both you and baby, and it can be a memorable experience that you smile at when you look back at your pregnancy. Settle into a cozy rocking chair in the nursery where you can have some peace and quiet, or plop into a relaxing porch swing while you sing.

3. Take up Scrapbooking– Even if you don’t intend on scrapbooking as a hobby, consider trying it out while you are pregnant. Relax after a nice lunch and put together a scrapbook for your new baby, with places for milestones and newborn pictures. When he or she finally arrives, you’ll have a nice keepsake that you can begin working on right away.

4. Keep Exercising– As if your doctors don’t drill this into you enough, exercise is still one of the best ways to manage stress. It is especially important during pregnancy, and you will benefit greatly from the endorphins. If you want to spike your good mood and sleep better at night, keep exercising. Talk to your doctor about how much exercise is appropriate depending on your specific health and needs. Stick with these simple tips to stress less and enjoy your pregnancy more.