Posts Tagged ‘pregnancy’

You may know popular science writer Jena Pincott because of her book, Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes? which has now been translated into 17 languages. Her accessible style of offering us scientific information about love and sexual attraction appears on her blogs for The Huffington Post and Psychology Today. In just the past week alone, she reports on: men’s pregnancy symptoms, sexual attractiveness during pregnancy, and how we appeal to others by a line in our eyes.

We’re thrilled that she’s reporting on pregnancy in a fascinating new way with her new book, Do Chocolate Lovers Have Sweeter Babies? The Surprising Science of Pregnancy. It has received a Kirkus starred review and digs into questions like:

- Do skinny chicks have more daughters?
- Why is hubby getting sick and chubby?
- Could sex prevent miscarriage?
- Is there a purpose to painful birth?

“A pregnant woman has more power than she realizes. Our ancestors believed that what we think, eat, and otherwise experience in pregnancy influences the baby in the womb - and there’s increasing evidence it’s true.” Jena Pincott

Available at Amazon.com and Independent Booksellers

When you’re pregnant, there are things that happen to most people: like having a keen sense of smell or being suddenly turned off by a familiar food. Then there are things that happen to lots of people, but not everybody, like your feet staying a larger size after pregnancy, or morning sickness. Then there are things that you’ve probably never heard of. Unless they happened to you. Such as:

Fun With Hair: Along with the well-known hair-thickening properties of pregnancy (which occurs because hair on your head ceases to fall out), your hair can change texture, from curly to straight or vice versa. Hair can suddenly spring up where it never grew before (hello new moustache!), or it can virtually stop growing: many pregnant women notice they no longer need to shave their legs as often to keep them hair-free.

Leg cramps: Waking up in the middle of the night with screaming charley horses? Try adding more potassium to your diet (bananas, oranges) and drinking more. Which will be followed by more waking up to pee in the night. You can’t win. There’s another disorder called Restless Leg Syndrome that is exactly what it sounds like, and disproportionately affects pregnant women.

Your ladyparts turn dark: Nipples, areolas, labia, all can change from light pink to deep brown. An increase in blood and blood vessels is the culprit; “deep wine” is usually the description for the labia of a woman who is pregnant or has given birth. They may revert back to their old color or not.

Skin problems: Oh, so many things can happen. Your palms and feet can turn red and itchy. You get skin tags, you get freckles, you get moles and age spot. Maybe you’ll get a pregnancy mask, and maybe it’ll go away and maybe it won’t. You get zits, you get spider veins, you get varicose veins — sometimes even in your labia! Oh, good times.

What am I, Pinocchio?: Your nose can grow during pregnancy. Sometimes it reverts to its old size after you give birth, other times, not so much.

Image source: Flickr member ulybug under Creative Commons

Now that you’re pregnant you know what you should not eat — but what are the best foods for the next 9 months?

Feed the Belly by new mom and nutrition expert Frances Largeman-Roth features nearly 70 easy-to-make recipes smartly categorized by craving (salty, sweet, spicy). This healthy eating guide for pregnant women shares easy-to-follow tips, like what should and should not be on your shopping list, how to choose the healthiest fish and what to eat to boost fertility. Kick off your new and improved diet with the book’s simple seven-day eating plan that will boost your bump and your pre-baby bod.

Available at amazon.com.

Pickle and ice cream cravings may be the most common thought on snacking while preggo, but it doesn’t end there — or even begin, really.

Food activist Nina Planck’s Real Food for Mother and Baby: The Fertility Diet, Eating for Two, and Baby’s First Foods advocates “real food” with advice that may differ from the books on your shelf. For example, Planck recommends eating more meat during pregnancy versus iron supplements, and good fat (olive oil, whole milk or cheese) for fertility — the book also includes the rundown on nursing and baby’s first foods.

Keep it real.

Available at realbabyfood.info.

You’re now treating your clothes as an investment — meaning, they have to last. So buying duds for each trimester — little bit o’ belly, bit more belly, whole lotta belly — is out of the question.

Try something that grows with you: FIT2BEMOM just launched as a maternity active wear brand for both exercise and extracurriculars (lounging, lunching). Details like side-seam shirring, a roll-down waistband, built-in shelf bra and adjustable straps contour to your shape, resulting in a proper fit throughout the stages of pregnancy. Plus, the line’s moisture-wicking fabric will keep you cool during prenatal Pilates — or during that sweat-inducing trip to Strollerland.

A good deal is the 2BActive Kit, which includes a round-neck tee, long pant and headband in a drawstring bag, for either the active life or the active look.

Available at fit2bmom.com.

On your ever-expanding list of “things that freak me out about pregnancy,” are lurking environmental toxins and landfills full of disposable diapers. Fret not: Taking baby steps to go green will improve your health and home before and after a newborn arrives. Check out these tips from Kim Carlson, a green expert, author and creator of the EarthSmart Certification Program on how to be eco-conscious on the cheap:

Look for vintage maternity clothes. No need to invest in a pricey wardrobe when you can “recycle” previously owned duds (that were probably worn for a limited time only). Find a consignment store that sells gently worn clothes and allows you to try them on. Or have a clothes-swapping party with newly and formerly preggo friends.

Switch to non-toxic cleaning products. Pregnancy is a time to be careful about what household products you use. Opt for products that use botanicals, enzymes and are labeled non-toxic (try the less toxic cleaners first and use stronger chemical cleaners only as a last resort).

Get the lead out. If you live in an older home, have the paint checked for lead — it’s highly toxic, and exposure to infants can cause nervous system damage, learning disabilities and behavior problems. At the very least, make sure that there are no peeling or cracked painted surfaces in your home. Any certified home inspector can do lead test, or buy a home lead test kit for less than $30.

Choose glass baby bottles. Some plastic baby bottles have been found to contain and leach a plasticizer, BPA or bisphenol A when heated. BPA is an estrogen-mimicking hormone or endocrine disruptor that may interfere with a baby’s developmental, reproductive, neurological and immune systems.

You’re tired of hearing about the “right” time to have a baby. You seek advice from someone who knows that planning for a pregnancy is different these days.

In her latest edition of Dr. Miriam Stoppard’s New Pregnancy and Birth Book, the author takes into account the fact that women are becoming mothers later in life (”It’s now commonplace for a woman to pursue her career into her thirties and decide to have her first child somewhere around 35,” she writes). This updated version of the bestseller includes new info about the latest fertility treatments, antenatal tests, obstetric procedures and working during pregnancy. Also included is month-by-month pregnancy calendar highlights all the changes that are about to occur, sprinkled with tips on diet and exercise (plus the images are um, realistic).

It feels good to be acknowledged.

Available at amazon.com.

Maternity yoga pants are perfect for weekends, and 7 for all Mankind’s Secret Belly jeans would be great if you worked in a creative field. But when it’s time to get down to big business, your mom-to-be wardrobe is shouting out for a Monday-to-Friday makeover.

Isabella Oliver’s new Corporate Pregnancy Kit helps your bump fit in with the boardroom. A sleek grey pinstripe jacket, pencil skirt, pants and classic white button-down help you mix-and-match your way through presentations and client meetings with pre-baby panache.

It’s not a bad deal for a little peace of mind — and maybe a promotion.

Available at isabellaoliver.com.

You burned all photographic evidence back in the ’90s, but you did actually go through a Goth phase. Black nail polish was your thing — and you’ve never completely recovered.

Give a shout out to your inner punk with MamaSan Maternity. The rocker-inspired collection features black skirts, strapless tops and dresses, highlighted with embroidery of skull and crossbones, pin-up girls and cherries. It’s just edgy enough to wear over a baby bump.

Rock on.

Available at mamasanmaternity.com.

You’re a Spanx girl — the more sucked in, the better. But after giving birth, there are only so many sit-ups a new mom can do. You need an extra push to pull in that tummy.

The Belly Bandit is an abdominal compression binder to help flatten the belly and redefine the waistline post-baby (moms around the globe have been doing this for centuries). The wrap also helps decrease bloating caused by water retention, give support to legs and back, improve posture and reduce back and shoulder pain associated with breastfeeding. It’s OK for use after a C-section, and can be worn all day (even while sleeping).

That will help you rest easier.

Available at bellybandit.com.