FACT: Preggos get dehydrated.
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And, drinking gallons of water is a bore. How to boost H2O intake? Create a mocktail that looks and tastes like a minty, fresh mojito. Here’s what to do: Fill a water bottle or glass with water. Squeeze in ¼ fresh lime or lemon juice. Add sliced strawberries, raspberries, cucumber or even mango. Add a few sprigs of fresh mint. Voila. You will easily triple your water intake.
Not so long ago pregnancy was a private moment. But Demi Moore’s Vanity Fair cover (in 1991) along with the internet and fashion blogs generated the paparazzi fueled “bump watch” we know today. Here are some of the most glamorous bumps to date.
IT’S TRUE! I talk strategic styling tips with Lia Sophia. Read full story here.
Parks, culture, history, sports and a culinary scene that runs the gamut from old-fashioned hot dog stands to haute Michelin-starred cuisine—Chicago has no shortage of activities. If you’re looking for the kid-friendly variety, you’ll find your fill at five of our favourite Windy City attractions. READ FULL STORY HERE
Tiffany Burress, wife of NFL Super Star Plaxico Burress, is a go getter. Dissatisfied with the maternity offerings available during her two pregnancies, this mom of two (and full time lawyer) decided to take matters into her own capable hands. “During my pregnancies it was challenging to feel stylish,” she explains. “I wanted to present women with a solution; pieces that are flattering’ versatile and sporty”. Burress’ Joiful Maternity line is based on her own active lifestyle during pregnancy. The collection – dresses, tops, leggings and a pant – can easily go from office to school pick up and, with the addition of a statement necklace and heels, back out to an evening event. Fit is a huge issue in pregnancy. Burress chose modal for its softness and ability to embrace the belly in an elegant, sexy way. Happily, prices are reasonable. The stylish Assymetrical Maternity dress is $70. Maternity leggings are just $58. Her dream clients? On-the-go moms from every walk of life. And, of course, celeb moms-to-be Penelope Cruz or Kate Middleton. This accessible line is most definitely Bump It Up Approved.
Joiful Maternity is launching this week. See http://www.joifulmaternity.com for the entire collection.
No muu muus at Clarence House! A baby is no bump in the style road for super glam Kate Middleton. Bump it Up: Transform Your Pregnancy into the Ultimate Style Statement author Amy Tara Koch predicts that the Duchess of Cambridge will maintain her elegance throughout her pregnancy. She chatted with USA TODAY about how Kate the Great will craft maternity style that reflects her inherent poise and polish.
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I know what it is like to want to get pregnant. Ovulation charts. Temperature taking. Modified diet. Frustration. Sound familiar? Well, two moms-actually sisters-in-law-wanted to do something to help women who wanted to improve their chances of getting pregnant without serious medical intervention. So, they researched. They tested. They formulated. They conceived. Introducing PregPrep, a pre-pregnancy kit to promote fertility by creating a more hospitable fertilization environment. Since one founder, Dr. Lara Oboler, is a bona fide doctor, the medical research funneled into the product has a level of undisputed credibility. The key ingredient is NAC (N-acetyl Cysteine), a natural mucolytic that dissolves viscous mucus to facilitate fertilization. Thin cervical mucus eases sperm transport to your egg. NAC is also a naturally-occurring antioxidant that reduces levels of free radicals in the body.
“Trying to get pregnant can be an anxiety provoking experience. We want to take some of that anxiety out of the equation by empowering women to take control of their conception journey. We are giving them the tools to be proactive and put good things in their body while they are trying to conceive. Every ingredient and product in our MTB kit can only help a women and her baby,” explains Dr. Oboler
The kit provides two major conception-boosting benefits from one single source. The PregPrep formulation contains the most optimal dosages of NAC in a multi-ingredient fertility supplement available. FertilPrep is also fortified with a select blend of natural derivatives (including Chaste Berry Extract and Evening Primrose Oil) that offer further support to the quality of cervical mucus, fight free radical damage + support hormonal health.
I caught up with Dr. Lara Oboler to get the inside scoop on this groovy new pregnancy supplement.
The kit contains a 2 month supply of 3 formulated products to increase the probability of getting pregnant and a guide of essential information to get the most of your kit. ($48)
Q: What sparked the idea of PregPrep?
A: I conceived the idea for PregPrep 9 years ago, when I was having trouble getting pregnant. I was in my mid 30s and had been trying for six months. I had an appointment booked with an infertility specialist when I read a fertility book suggesting that for the 5 days leading up to ovulation, women should take a mucolytic (which can be found in some cough syrups).. Mucolytics are substances that thin out bodily secretions. The logic of using a mucolytic was explained: just as a mucolytic thins out the mucus in your lungs, it also thins the cervical mucus (making it less sticky,) which makes it easier for the sperm to swim to the egg.
As a physician, I thought, “ok, this makes medical sense”. So I took a mucolytic the following month for the 5 days leading up to my ovulation and found out I was pregnant while sitting in the infertility specialist’s office for my first (and only) visit.
During that embarrassing appointment, the doctor told me they prescribe mucolytics all the time. How could it be that I was a medical doctor and a woman desperately trying to get pregnant and had never heard of this?
That was my “aha” moment.
My next two children were conceived first try – with the help of a mucolytic. (I was 40 years old when I conceived my 3rd child).
It was then that I realized I wanted to develop products to help all women trying to conceive and empower them to take control of their fertility journey.
Q: What were the biggest challenged faced when developing PregPrep?
A: Our biggest challenge was finding a safe, natural mucolytic. That’s where NAC comes in. NAC (N-acetyl Cysteine), is an extremely safe, well-known mucolytic used for multiple medical problems. it is also a natural substance that is found in our bodies. In addition, NAC is not only a mucolytic but a highly effective antioxidant. In short, NAC renders cervical mucus less sticky and helps facilitate the successful transport of sperm to egg. And because it is also an antioxidant, it rids the body of free radicals (which are the body’s toxins) and supports its natural fertility functions. As a physician, I felt that the products we produced had to be safe, first and foremost. The Hippocratic oath states that doctors should do no harm so that has always been #1 in my mind.
Q: How did your background as a physician aid in the development of the brand?
A: In terms of the development of our kit, we worked with an incredible team to produce the highest quality, research-oriented products. As a physician, I am able to navigate through the medical world and select ingredients to create the most medically sound, safe, natural products.
Q: Were you surprised by any of the research you found when creating the product?
A: Actually – yes. Little did I know that there has been several double-blind, placebo-controlled research studies performed on NAC in terms of helping women conceive. We have sited several of the studies on our website. We also have streamlined a prenatal vitamin with ”just the essentials.” Again, we have several studies cited on our website.
Q: What does Preg Prep offer that other prenatal vitamins don’t?
A: PregPrep’s Make That Baby Kit (MTB) is an amazing, natural alternative to other fertility products. It is truly revolutionary and fills a void in the marketplace by allowing women to take control of their conception. MTB puts women on a program. It’s a comprehensive kit with a 2 month supply of 3 unique, natural products, as well as a manual filled with all the information a woman needs to start her pregnancy journey.
Our FertilPrep is a physician-formulated capsule that targets your 5 most fertile days and optimizes your fertility. It thins your cervical mucus to help transport the sperm to egg.
Our VitaMelt is also unique. Conventional prenatal vitamins are used pre, during, and post pregnancy. And because of that, typical prenatal vitamins end up being incredibly large and difficult to swallow. They also commonly cause nausea and constipation. Our VitaMelt is streamlined, with only the essentials of what you need before getting pregnant, including Folic Acid. They are small, pleasant tasting, melt on your tongue, and cause no unpleasant side effects.
Our Essential Balance OIl – to use in bath or shower — is calming, aromatherapeutic, and gets you in the mood for the best part of baby making!!
Co-founders of PregPrep
Marjorie Jaffe Goldner & Dr. Lara Oboler
For more information about PregPrep please visit www. pregprep.com
Grace Kelly, Marlene Dietrich, Brigitte Bardot, Joan Crawford and that mom at school pick up that ALWAYS looks cute all have a common bond: a signature style. Through their fashion choices, their personalities loom like a halo over their heads.
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But, many women don’t necessarily have a “signature look.” If you have lived for years mystified by what happens on runways, red carpets and hyped paparazzi shots in gossip magazines, call upon your dormant SAT studying skills and study fashion divas of the twentieth century. Pregnancy is, in fact, a golden opportunity to exit your comfort zone and bring your inner glamazon to life. Give a nod to the fashion icons of the twentieth century and use your belly as a VIP pass to the order of eternal divahood. Go to Barnes & Noble and purchase Fashion Icons: Fashion Trends Throughout the Century, Star Style, Thje Marchesa Casati Portraits of a Museand Mistress of Modernism: The Life of Peggy Guggenheim, and start thumbing through. Eccentric? Yes. But, absolutely scintillating. Learn about silhouettes. Discover accessories. Investigate why muses perenniale- marvelous Marchesa de Casati, dynamic Diana Ross, chic socialite Babe Paley, 60s siren Edie Sedgewick, boho babe Talitha Getty and art deco diva Nancy Cunard-became style revolutionaries. These histrionic women dissed convention and used fashion to express themselves. Such bravado is evident in their outré fashion choices: gowns as daywear, turbans, shoulder sweeping earrings, extreme eye makeup, stacked-to-the-elbows bangle bracelets, cloaks fashioned of peacock feathers. Don’t feel pressured to swap your skinny jeans for an electric blue jumpsuit. Just get inspired. Then, take it down a notch to reality. In your free time, let your fingers do the walking right over to Netflix. “Fashion moment” TV shows and films are a great way to research style and learn about silhouettes. Once the kid(s) are asleep, rent Mad Men, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Women, Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby, Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Katherine Deneuve in Belle Du Jour, Mia Farrow in Great Gatsby, Marlene Dietrich inShanghai Express, Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada and Joan Collins in Dynasty.
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I am not suggesting that you go radical. Your task is to find a scintillating look which suits your personality and flatters your body type. Upper East Side Lady Who Lunches? Downtown “it” Girl? Haute Hippie? Groovy Gal About Town? Be the girl with the Bakelite cuff bracelets and fabulous YSL scarves adorning every outfit. Wear Grandma’s lurex sweater sets to go to the supermarket. Layer vintage Betsey Johnson baby doll dresses with Byzantine beads and rhinestone crosses just because. The larger you feel, the more accessories required. Your Cinderella moment awaits!
The grass is always more alluring on the other side.
Many women say that a summer pregnancy is worse than a winter one. I disagree. While it’s true that you can “hide” in mountains of wool and cashmere, these layers actually add extra pounds to your already expansive frame. Factor in a coat and you’ve got bulk. While it’s true that the heat of the summer months can cause additional swelling, warm weather dresses offer an element of sultriness that is tough to pull off in tundra like conditions. Why? Well, summery, light-as-air dresses celebrate a pregnant woman’s body. They play up décolletage, bare arms, neck and the slope of the shoulders, sexy hot spots where pregnancy weight does not manifest. The drape ‘n cling of the lightweight fabrics prove that the bump (and boobs) are, in fact, showstopping accessories. The best part? Fashion longevity. Because they are inherently drapey, most of these dresses will look great during your pregnancy and afterwards.
Here are some of my favorite summer dresses:
1. Nuka Maternity Sharnee maxi dress/skirt in Coral $96.99
2. Isabella Oliver striped ruched dress $159
4. Ella Moss rio maxi dress $268
5. Calypso St. Barth bloussant full maxi dress $250
6. Rachel Pally long fortuna dress $251
7. Destination Maternity A Pea in the Pod tiered dress $129.50
8. Ingrid & Isabel maxi tank dress $128
9. More of Me Maternity favorite shirtdress $170
10. Ingrid & Isabel waterfall dress $88
From Left to Right: Calypso St.Barth gold disc necklace $110 // Stella & Dot rebel pendant $79 // Stella & Dot cameron pendant $79 // Stella & Dot camilla ring $49 // Sequin NYC petra horn earrings $28 // Hive & Honey arrow drop earrings $22 // Sequin NYC tatijana cuff $178 // Tinley Road enamel bangles $26 each
