Are you Looking for Baby Nursery Ideas?

Wall decals are an easy way to decorate your baby's nursery. You can find quality wall decals that are  made of a wonderful, new, extremely thin, high quality, self adhesive and waterproof polyester material with a matte finish. The decal material is so thin that they appear as if they are actually painted on the wall!

Simple apply the decals to any clean, flat, smooth surface. They are completely removable and reusable - just peel off and Put Em Up!! They are so easy to apply and you can change your room around by just peeling the sticker off the wall and moving it to another area. Be creative and have fun!
 
The decals are also child friendly and have passed all of the child safety (CPSIA) rules & are printed with eco-friendly ink. You can find them at ModMomMaternity.com!


To view or purchase the nursery wall decals, click here: http://modmommaternity.com/category_126/Nursery-Wall-Decals.htm

         Cute, casual, and funny maternity shirts are a great addition to your pregnancy wardrobe!

                                                   Showering Stylish Baby Shower Dresses!

Your family, friends, and co-workers are making plans to shower you & your baby with gifts to show their excitement and support. However, you may be stressing to find baby shower dresses that are flattering & affordable, especially during your final weeks of pregnancy!

Some helpful tips to consider are:

1. Buy a dark-colored dress. Typically, black dresses are most flattering for all body types.

2. Shop for maternity dresses early in your 2nd trimester that can be worn during and after your pregnancy. This allows you to wear them more often, making a better value.

3. If you plan to breastfeed, make sure if can function as a nursing dress with easy access to nurse your baby.

4. Having a stylish, comfortable, & practical maternity dress to wear for special occasions will be sure to ease the stress of last minute shopping.

During your pregnancy, you will most likely purchase a few maternity dresses for special occasions, like baby showers and weddings. But, you may hesitate to purchase maternity dresses too early or late into your pregnancy, due to the expense & not knowing how long the maternity dress will fit!

Some helpful tips to consider, when purchasing a maternity dress include:

1. Is it designed to be worn during my entire pregnancy and beyond?

2. Does it have nursing access, if I plan to breastfeed my baby?

3. Is it a neutral color, like black or brown, that is suitable for all seasons?

4. Is it a simple style that can be worn for both dressy and casual occasions?

Style Tip: Accessorize with jewelry, scarfs, and comfortable heels, for special events.

There are so many creative ways to announce your pregnancy to your loved ones, from a creative card to a specially planned moment! But, making the announcement to your employer may be more complex.

When I became pregnant with my first child, I hesitated to tell my employer because I was newly employed and feared that I would lose my job. I would fight giving in to my morning sickness nausea from 8am to 5pm, then zip home to throw up! Since my boss was a mother of 3 children, I thought my news would be received with better understanding. So, I decided to tell her early in my pregnancy. She was surprised, but received the news well. I felt a huge sense of relief and was happy to gain her support and understanding.

If you are facing the decision of when to announce your pregnancy to your boss, you may find the following article helpful:

http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-tell-the-boss-youre-pregnant_454.bc

The delivery of your baby is a very exciting moment that you have been anticipating for months! As you plan for your baby's delivery, whether at the hospital or home, be ready for those special photo moments by wearing your own delivery gown.  Afterwards, wear as comfortable pajamas!

You will find a unique & stylish selection of maternity hospital gowns in an array of beautiful, high quality fabrics at ModMomMaternity.com!

Hospital gowns feature:

1. Snaps down the back for full coverage from behind.

2. Snaps at the breastbone for easy & discrete nursing access.

3. Ribbon sash to tie in back or front.

4. Hospital-friendly design. Easy access for medical staff, without you having to disrobe!

 

                                                  Is Spotting in Early Pregnancy Dangerous?

At 6 weeks pregnant, I noticed that I was spotting! Immediately, I called my doctor and he reassured me that it was common, yet I was fearful since I had experienced a miscarriage 2-1/2 years earlier. The spotting remained very light for the next 2 days and then disappeared. During that time, I took it very easy around the house. It was a challenge though, since my other children were 2 and 4 years old. Whether you have experienced spotting during pregnancy or not, you will find the following article to be very informative:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000614.htm

                                                          Maternity Swimwear for 2013

                                               

                                               Affordable Winter Maternity Wardrobe
  
A stylish, yet affordable winter maternity wardrobe can be created by pairing two basic maternity clothing items with colorful scarfs, jewelry, and hats. These include: neutral maternity tops and leggings. They can be worn during your entire pregnancy and beyond, providing a comfortable, yet stylish look. If you plan to nurse your baby, purchase maternity tops that provide nursing access. To complete your maternity wardrobe, buy a pair of comfortable flats or boots. There are many affordable "Ugg- style" boots that make a stylish casual or dressed up look, keeping you warm, too! 

                                   How Pregnancy Increases Risk of Flu Complications
                                                       by Shelley Scheibel, RN, BSN

Getting the flu shot during pregnancy brings special concerns, especially in regards to your baby's health and safety. But, due to the growing number of recent hospitalizations, and even deaths, associated with flu complications, you may be considering the flu shot in 2013. By doing some personal research, along with seeking the advice of your physician, you will be able to make a better decision for you and your baby.

A basic understanding of why pregnancy puts you at a higher risk of getting the flu and having complications may be helpful:

1. During pregnancy, your body has a decreased ability to fight off viral (flu/influenza) and bacteria infections, due to the changes in your hormone levels. This means you can catch the flu easier!

2. During pregnancy, your body has an increased demand for oxygen, needing to provide a good supply to you and your baby. During the flu, your lungs can fill up with fluid and mucous, decreasing oxygen supply, which is dangerous for the both of you!

3. During the final months of pregnancy, your body has decreased lung capacity. As your belly grows, it becomes more difficult to breath as the baby presses up against your diaphragm (under your lungs). Again, as the flu causes your lungs to fill up with fluid and mucous, this adds to the breathing difficulty you may already be experiencing with pregnancy. This not only causes decreased oxygen supply, but decreased ability for you to cough up mucous, which can lead to pneumonia!

4. During pregnancy, sinus congestion is common due to hormones and increased blood volume. During the flu, your sinuses fill with fluid & mucous, causing additional swelling and discomfort, then making you more susceptible to a sinus infection!

In summary, the physical changes of pregnancy, coupled with flu symptoms, can put you and your baby at risk for dangerous complications. If you experience flu symptoms, call your doctor!

Additional information can be found by clicking on the links below:

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/01/07/4-reasons-why-pregnant-women-should-consider-flu-shot/

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2013/01/11/flu-outbreak-prompts-cdc-action-to-get-more-latinos-vaccinated/

http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/27/14125722-flu-shots-still-a-hard-sell-health-experts-find?lite

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6132a3.htm

http://www.babymed.com/pregnancy/sinus-congestion-during-pregnancy

                                                       Personalized Gifts for Siblings 

The anticipation and arrival of a newborn is a very special and exciting time for the entire family! Yet, finding ways to make your other children feel loved and special can be a challenge as you are making plans for the arrival of your newborn and being showered with baby gifts from loved ones.

Most importantly, give them the gift of your time. You can read them their favorite book, sing them a song, tell them a fun story from your childhood, and pray with them as you tuck them in for bed at night. Giving your little one(s) a personalized gift from you and the baby is another way to let them know that they are special, too!

                                                             Walk For a Fit Pregnancy

Walking is a great way to stay fit during your pregnancy. Since the key to any fitness program is consistency, I have found walking to be the easiest to maintain since there is always a place to walk, even if it is around the neighborhood or mall.

Start out with a simple goal, walking 20 minutes, 2-3 days a week. Then, build up to 30 minutes 3-4 times a week. The hardest part is getting started, so you may want to find a walking buddy to keep you accountable and motivated. When you walk with an exercise partner, you will find the time passes quickly, especially as you talk! If you walk alone, listen to music to pass the time.

If you find it difficult to find time to walk due to a full-time work schedule, try walking for 20 minutes during your lunch break. Into the spring and summer months, you can often find a safe place to walk, as the day light extends. I have found that once I get home, especially after a day's work, I am less motivated to walk. So, I bring my walking shoes in my car and stop by the gym, park, or mall to walk before I return home.

Some helpful tips for a simple fitness program, like walking, during pregnancy include:

1. Stay hydrated. Carry a water bottle with you at all times.

2. Wear comfortable & supportive walking shoes.

3. Consult your pregnancy doctor about your exercise program to discuss any concerns.

4. Don't push it, take it easy and slow. Never walk to the point of exhaustion or breathlessness, as this can be harmful to you & your baby.

5. Stop walking immediately and call your healthcare provider, whose phone number you should have in your cell phone contacts, if you experience any unusual symptoms. These may include: vaginal bleeding, difficulty breathing, dizziness, exercise, chest pain, muscle weakness, calf pain or swelling, preterm labor, decreased fetal movement, apparent leakage of amniotic fluid, or contractions.

6. Always carry your cell phone and a small healthy snack & water bottle with you in a small fanny/back pack.

                                Why Pay Special Attention to Dental Care when Pregnant?

Even though it is tempting, pregnancy is NOT the time to avoid the dentist! Since the hormone changes of pregnancy can cause many women to experience pregnancy gingivitis, it is especially important to see your dentist if you notice that your gums are red, puffy, tender, and easily bleed with brushing and flossing. When you schedule your dental appointment, tell them your symptoms, that you are pregnant, and any other medical concerns from your pregnancy doctor. On the day of your appointment, remind those who are treating you that you are pregnant and discuss any concerns, so that special precautions can be taken to assure the safety of you and your baby.

Some helpful dental guidelines during pregnancy include:

1. Maintain regular dental checkups. Unless you have dental concerns, schedule your routine dental check-up during your second trimester, which is the safest for your baby. Inform your pregnancy doctor that you will be seeing your dentist & ask if there are any specific medical concerns that you should tell your dentist.

2. Avoid dental x-rays, unless it is an emergency. In this case, you and your dentist should first notify your pregnancy doctor for medical advise and to discuss the special cautions which will be taken to protect you and your baby.

3. Follow good oral hygiene, brushing and flossing at least two times a day. Do not let morning sickness keep you from brushing your teeth, ask your dentist or hygienist to recommend a safe, bland-tasting toothpaste and mouth rinse. If you experience morning sickness with vomiting, be diligent to rinse your mouth with water.

 4. Eat a healthy and balanced diet, which not only supports your general and dental health, but that of your baby's proper growth and development, too. Keep in mind that your baby’s first teeth begin to develop about three months into your pregnancy!

                                                                  Colorful Fashion

Studies have shown that wearing bright and cheery colors tends to have a positive outcome on one's mood and those we come in contact with, especially during the winter months! During the winter months, many tend to wear dark colors which have been shown to have the opposite effect of bright colors! Wear a colorful maternity top and test this idea out for yourself this winter!

  New Year's Day is a great day to have a crock pot of chili for your family and friends to enjoy.
                                                          It's easy and delicious!

                                                 New Year's Day Crock Pot Chili Recipe

Brown 1 pound of ground turkey in large skillet, mixing in 1 packet of mild chili seasoning & 1/4 cup water. Stir in diced sweet onion & celery, cooking until tender. Stir in meat mixture to crock pot of beans. Set crock pot to high for 1-2 hours, then set to low to keep chili hot through out the day. Set out bowls, spoons, hot sauce, garnish, & corn bread for your family and friends to enjoy a delicious meal at their leisure! Happy New Year from ModMomMaternity!