When to Splurge on Maternity Clothes

If you’re preoccupied with baby budgeting, you may not be in the mood for a mammoth shopping expedition. Whether you’re saving for that top of the range pram, or trying to minimise your spending, you may be trying to pick up maternity clothes at bargain prices.

There are some items, though, that you should splurge on, if you can afford to. These include:

  • Maternity bras – if there is one time in your life when your breasts need good support, it’s now. Your breasts will grow during the pregnancy, and again after the birth if you decide to breastfeed. They may feel sore, itchy and tender, so they deserve a bit of TLC. Head down to your local department store, or invite a maternity bra specialist to your house, for a fitting. You will probably need to be fitted twice during pregnancy, once when you first outgrow your pre-pregnancy bras, and again around week 36 if you are planning to breastfeed. If you value comfort, it’s worth splurging on this necessary purchase. You can save a bit of money by choosing nursing/maternity bras which will be useful after the birth too.
  • Occasion wear – whether it’s a wedding, charity ball or birthday party, if you’ve been invited to a special occasion, you deserve a splurge. You’re already going to be the sober one, and will probably spend most of the evening answering the same five questions about your pregnancy. So, if you’re feeling a little self-conscious about your body, invest in an outfit that makes you feel your best. There are lots of flattering dresses, expertly tailored suits, and cute skirts available in the maternity section, so shop around until you find something you love.
  • Shoes – some women find that their feet grow during pregnancy. You may find yourself needing a bigger size of shoe. Comfort is paramount during pregnancy, so if your shoes are feeling tight, buy some new ones. Some pregnant women suffer from swollen feet and ankles by the end of the day, and properly-fitting shoes could be all you need to reduce this pregnancy symptom.
  • Coat – if you’re pregnant over the winter months, you will want to invest in a warm maternity coat. By the end of the pregnancy, your pre-pregnancy coat probably won’t stretch over your bump, meaning you’ll be left vulnerable to the cold. Invest in a good quality, warm winter coat, and make sure there’s room to grow into it.
  • Pyjamas – ok, you could just make do with an oversized t-shirt, but there are some really cute maternity pyjamas out there and you deserve a treat. After all the sickness, and the fatigue, and the stretch marks, and the barely getting any sleep because you always need a wee, you deserve some comfy pyjamas.

Remember, any clothes you buy can be saved for later pregnancies or sold after the birth, so you can (sort of) argue they’re an investment for the future.

What is your favorite maternity clothing splurge?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

4 Ways to Honor Your Baby Bump

Pregnancy by nature is transient. Even though you’re maybe trudging through your final weeks with all the inherent aches and pains of a growing belly, you may want to immortalize this miraculous time of your life. Here are 4 ways to honor your baby bump.

Belly Painting: Taking the time to paint – or have someone else paint – a design on your growing belly allows you to really focus on your bump. Choose non-toxic craft paints and let your imagination go wild. You can pay close attention to your baby’s positioning and how your baby moves inside, and cater the design to his form. Be sure to take photos before you shower away your masterpiece!

Belly casting: You can purchase kits specifically created for pregnancy casting, or you can pick up supplies at your local craft store. Creating a body cast of your pregnant form can make a fun afternoon with your girlfriends. You might even want to incorporate decorating the dried cast into your baby shower – pick a design and allow guests to paint or glue pieces or have everyone sign the cast with well-wishes for birth and parenting.

Henna (Mehndi): Have a henna party to have your pregnant belly decorated or see a henna artist to create a beautiful, temporary design on your bump. While henna seems to be a new fad, it’s actually an ancient tradition. Typically used to mark a major rite of passage, women had their hands, arms, feet and legs decorated with henna (or Mehndi). This practice continues in many traditional cultures today, and can be translated to modern Western pregnancy culture as a way to honor this life transition. (An added bonus if you have a summer due date – henna is cooling and as long as your skin is stained, you’ll be less affected by heat.)

Photography: Whether you snap a couple of selfies with your smartphone, or hire a photographer to immortalize your pregnant form, you’ll be amazed by the changes in your body. While some women feel camera-shy and don’t want to record the weight gain, skin changes and fatigue on film, other women choose to take at least a monthly profile photo of their changing belly bump. Consider hiring a professional and having a boudoir photo shoot – a sexy pregnancy nightgown and some seductive poses may make you feel better about your growing form.

Whether or not you choose any of these options, take time each day to bond with your baby and feel good about your baby bump. Massage your baby, imagining what his or her hair color will be and whose personality traits he might have. Enjoy the final weeks of your pregnancy – before you know it you’ll be holding baby in your arms instead of your bump.

Written by Michelle: writer, editor, childbirth instructor, lactation consultant, and mother to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Breast Exams During Pregnancy

Chances are you already know how important it is to check your breasts for lumps. You may even have a regular routine so you can be sure you check them monthly. But did you know that it’s important to continue these checks during pregnancy? If you haven’t checked your breasts before, now is a good time to start.

How to check your breasts

You should check your breasts every four to five weeks. You should expect your breasts to feel different each time during pregnancy, as your body prepares for motherhood. Experts advise checking your breasts in the shower, as the soap and water will allow your hands to glide smoothly over the breasts. You should lightly massage your breast using the flat of your hand, taking note of any lumps and bumps along the way. Be sure to massage the whole breast, including the nipple, right up to the armpit.

Remember, your whole body changes drastically during pregnancy, and your breasts are no exception. You are likely to notice a host of changes during these nine months, as your breasts prepare for breastfeeding.

What to look for

You should look out for any lumps, bumps, skin texture changes, skin dimpling and pain. Breast tenderness is common during pregnancy, but significant pain should be reported to your healthcare provider. Pregnancy hormones cause a number of breast changes, but these usually occur in both breasts. If you can feel lumps or bumps in just one breast, you should inform your healthcare provider.

Remember, most bumps and lumps turn out to be nothing, but it is always worth getting checked out. Your healthcare provider will perform a breast examination to investigate the breast changes you have noted. More than likely, you will go home feeling relieved. If your healthcare agrees that the lump is suspicious, an ultrasound, mammogram or biopsy may be performed. This will depend upon the location of the lump, your stage of pregnancy and other risk factors.

Breast cancer

Around 1.5 percent of breast cancer sufferers are pregnant when diagnosed. Pregnancy can mask the symptoms of breast cancer, leading to later diagnosis. This can mean that the cancer is more advanced at the time of diagnosis. By regularly checking your breasts during pregnancy, you can increase your chances of detecting problems early.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Five Widely Believed Pregnancy Myths

It can sometimes be hard to differentiate fact from fiction. Just because you’ve been told something more times than you can remember doesn’t mean it’s true. In fact, a lot of the popular old wives’ tales about pregnancy are false. Here are five widely believed (but definitely not true) pregnancy myths:

1. Your bump can give clues as to the sex of your baby – if you’ve decided to wait until the birth to discover the sex of your baby, you probably hear this one a lot. Friends, family and strangers will be using the size and position of your bump to guess the sex of your developing baby. According to legend, a high bump indicates you are carrying a girl, while a low bump is a sure sign you’re having a boy. Sadly, there is no truth to this myth, so you can keep the gender a surprise if you wish.

2. If you suffer from heartburn, your baby will be born with a full head of hair – heartburn has little to do with your baby’s ‘do, and more to do with the foods you eat and with your slowing digestive tract. Whether you suffer from heartburn or not is really no indication of how much hair will be atop your baby’s head at the birth.

3. Having sex while pregnant could harm your baby – don’t worry, you can continue to have a sex life during pregnancy. Unless your healthcare provider has advised you to go on ‘pelvic rest’, sex during pregnancy is perfectly safe. Your mucus plug will keep your uterus closed, and your baby safe from infection during pregnancy.

4. You should be eating for two – this is something you have probably heard a lot, but it’s factually incorrect. During the first and second trimester, you shouldn’t need to eat any extra calories. By the third trimester, you will need an extra 200 calories a day, but this amounts to two slices of wholemeal toast with a thin spread of butter. It’s hardly eating for two.

5. You shouldn’t start exercising during pregnancy – this isn’t true at all. Even if you’ve never exercised before, pregnancy is the perfect time to start. It’s more important than ever to look after your body, and keep fit in preparation for the birth. If you are a bit of a couch potato, break yourself in gently with some walking, swimming and prenatal yoga. If you’re a keep-fit fanatic, you can keep up your exercise routine, but be wary of any potentially dangerous activities such as extreme sports.

What pregnancy myths have you heard?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.