Maternity

You’ve turned green with eco-friendliness when it comes to anything for your newborn. But what about your skin?

Honeydew’s maternity skincare is paraben and preservative-free, and full of natural ingredients like calendula, evening primrose and oats that will get you through those precious months. Try the clean-smelling belly balm that glides on deodorant-style, or the soothing leg and foot lotion scented with a hint of mint.

It’ll suit you.

Available at honeydewskincare.com.

During pregnancy you take things like prenatal vitamins and broccoli with a grain of salt. Too bad your favorite drinks are all on the forbidden list.

Martinis and diet soda may be out, but Bellybar’s new shakes (in Vanilla Dreams and Due for Chocolate) actually taste pretty good. The milkshake-like flavor (minus that icky chalky taste) has got prenatal nutrients (folic acid, calcium, protein) key for pregnancy and during nursing. Pop one in the fridge and celebrate your own cocktail hour.

Bottoms up.

Visit nutrabella.com.

Your co-workers, single friends and fellow UBers may be sick of your pregnancy stories, but there is an audience out there. Rick’s Picks pickles and SMITH magazine invite you to share your unique tale in 100 words or less. The contest ends August 1, and the winners get their words published on a jar of pickles — not exactly the Booker Prize, but you’ve gotta start somewhere. Visit smithmag.net.

There are so many things to worry about during pregnancy — what cheese you can eat, what stroller to invest in, whether to try for a natural birth sans the epidural — that many women tend to forget about themselves. Well, in a way, the birth really is all about you.

Taking care of yourself (and your emotional well-being) is key. There are even some simple things you can do during pregnancy to reduce your risk of developing postpartum depression. Dr. Lucy Puryear, author of Understanding Your Moods When You’re Expecting: Emotions, Mental Health, and Happiness — Before, During, and After Pregnancy, offers tips for alleviating stress and focusing on self-care:

• At about 35 weeks, develop a postpartum plan.
• Schedule time to sleep. In Dr. Puryear’s experience, one of the biggest risk factors for triggering PPD, or exacerbating it, is sleep deprivation. Have someone watch Junior so you can take an afternoon siesta. Get Dad to handle some of the night feedings.
• Figure out how to delegate household chores, food shopping and meal prep. You can hire help or recruit Aunt Hilda.
• Space visitors out over six weeks. You don’t want everyone there the first week you’re home from the hospital.
• Work out existing conflicts with your spouse. Share your expectations with each other about work, the new division of household labor, the amount of time DH will take off, and sexual issues that may arise during or after pregnancy.
• Engage a therapist. This can be especially helpful for women who have a history of physical or sexual abuse.
• Consider asking your healthcare provider about anti-depressants.
• Eat plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, which can be found in pharmaceutical grade fish oil (available at Whole Foods). Data indicates that omega-3 fatty acids may alleviate symptoms of depression.

New motherhood often sentences women to a stint in fashion purgatory, where tired maternity wear, sub-par transition clothes and bulky granny panties are pretty much the required uniform. Hey, some rules are meant to be broken.

Czela Bellies is fun and flirty supportive underwear specially designed for women who have just had a C-section. A soft chenille front panel covers the waistband, greatly reducing the ouch factor. These boy shorts come in funky patterns that are so cute you’ll want to wear them long after the scar heals.

La Perla is just on the horizon.

Available at czelablue.com.

Remember that inner glow everyone swooned about when you were pregnant? It’s been replaced by under-eye circles and a vacant, sleepless stare.

Fake it ’till you make it back to the facialist: Rosy Glow Beauty is for new moms who want to look less harried, more Halle Berry. The all-natural goodies, like lip plumper, cooling eye cream and facial cleansing wipes are just low-maintenance enough to fit into your pared-down routine.

Get your glow back.

Available at rosyglowbeauty.com.

“More sleep!” your body is saying. But that ever-growing belly keeps you tossing and turning at night.

A lack of shuteye is why a mom inventor came up with the Utterly Yours Pregnancy Pillow that helps you find a comfy resting positing. The cubic design opens to two triangles that support your belly and back while keeping your body positioned to one side. It’s all connected by fabric (choose the pattern you prefer) that stretches as you grow.

Whew. Get some rest.

Available at utterlyyours.com.

Getting back in shape post-baby is tough, even for the pros. UB checked in with tennis star — and new mom — Lindsay Davenport, on her off-the-court tips for getting your bod back.

• Once you get the OK from your doc, start back slowly. Get out and walk with baby in the stroller — and try some hills for an extra push. Obviously you’re exhausted, but try to be as active as you can.
• To get energy for your workout, nap whenever the baby naps (and don’t be ashamed to sleep during the day — Lindsay does it, too!). Perhaps during his third nap of the day, you can fit in a little exercise at home.
• Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity a day, five days a week. Try to do something different every day, to change up the routine and get your heart rate going. Lindsay recommends the elliptical machine, which doesn’t put too much stress on your body but burns more calories than the stationary bike.

May is National Salad Month, which means that now is the time to start eating healthy (summer wardrobe, notwithstanding). In honor of radicchio and romaine, below are some links that may come in handy.

• Check out kid-friendly chef Annabel Karmel’s easy recipe for Lettuce Boats.
• Before you hit the grocery, brush up on The Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce.
• And if winging it isn’t your thing, consult one of these books for leafy green tips on healthy pregnancy eating.

Do you know there are 31 days dedicated to your blossoming belly?

Not only is Mother’s Day on the way, but May is now Pregnancy Awareness Month, as declared by Anna Getty. In honor of PAM, check out some of these recently released books on fertility, the first trimester and beyond:

The Joy of Pregnancy: The Complete, Candid, and Reassuring Companion for Parents-to-Be
Author Tori Krupp, R.N., a childbirth educator and perinatal nurse, emphasizes what’s normal, fun and even funny about pregnancy. The month-by-month format tracks developments, concerns and expectations.

Opting In: Having a Child Without Losing Yourself
Amy Richards delves into the relationship between motherhood and feminism. She writes: “The most pressing political concern isn’t choosing work or family, but finding some way to reconcile our seemingly conflicting ambitions.”

Perfect Hormone Balance for Fertility: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Pregnant
This third title from hormone specialist Dr. Robert Greene empowers couples to take an active role in their fertility future. The book tackles specific diet and lifestyle changes to maximize health while trying to conceive.