Following The Baby Bump - Week 19 to 33

By . - Tuesday, November 03, 2015

Ladies and gentleman, I do not take excessive pictures of myself, even in this very important state of being pregnant. This is why no one likes me on Instagram, and I'm perfectly fine with that. Luckily for you, I have been forced to take photos on a few occasions, and this is the only reason that I can prove on the internet that I am in fact heavily pregnant.
Without further ado, my pregnancy and my funny clothing choices...

19 Weeks & 5 Days Preggers
I've had this black dress for over a year now, and it's quite stretchy and accommodating for my pregnancy. If there is something business orientated and important that I need to attend, you'll most likely find me wearing this. The jersey is actual from the maternity section at Mr. Price in Sandton City. I actually do not know what makes it different from any other jersey one would buy.

19 Weeks & 5 Days Preggers

21 Weeks & 1 Day Preggers
None of these are maternity clothes either! The cardigan and dress are both from WoolWorth's from over a years ago. Maxi dresses are forgiving for all body types. Go and get you one and live your life!

21 Weeks & 2 Days (The very next day from the above picture)
I look MUCH smaller here and I'm still not wearing maternity clothes. The tank top is from about 10 years ago! The stretch skinny jeans are a size 34 and from Woolworth's. Takkies are from Pick n Pay Clothing. So incredibly comfy in this outfit!

21 Weeks & 2 Days

24 Weeks Preggers
I'm still pretty active with walking and hitting the gym lightly. This is a typical gym outfit for me. You might even find me in the supermarket dressed like this. I really don't stress myself. Again, my bump looks pretty small at this point.

24 Weeks Preggers
I don't know what I was talking about at this moment, but I clearly didn't know that baby daddy was snapping away...

29 Weeks & 1 Day Preggers
We were on our way to church this morning and I felt like wearing something bright, so I wrapped my hair up and threw on this dress. Again, this is an old maxi dress that still fits. No maternity clothes yet!

33 Weeks & 1 Day Preggers
Ok, I live in Woolworth's clothing. This is a blue shift dress with peek-a-boo detail at the cleavage and blue, white and black slip ons. I'm finally starting to gain noticeable weight and my nose is expanding at an incredible rate. I was so tired this Sunday but I got my butt up to attend church.

33 Weeks & 1 Day Preggers

I can't promise that I'll start dressing any better anytime soon. This is it! I will start taking more pictures as I quickly approach my delivery date. 7 more weeks until my angel face is in my arms...can't wait!

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Parenting

The Best Parenting Style for Your Family

By . - Thursday, October 29, 2015

This article appeared originally on Tamera Mowry

I’m so happy to have a guest post from my good friend and doula Talitha Phillips today. She’s worked with Aden in the past and her and I have had many discussions about how Adam and I want to parent. Her perspective is amazing, so I’ve enlisted her to give you guys some food for thought and explain a little about how we choose to parent. Hope you love, and can connect, with this post.

Let’s face it, or publicly admit it, parenting is hard. It’s also beautiful and wonderful, but wouldn’t it be nice if each little bundle of joy came with a perfectly designed instruction manual? Not to mention if the demands of the world (families, siblings, spouses, jobs) could silence long enough for us to master this new addition.

For the past fifteen years, I’ve had the privilege of working with families during this sweet and often challenging time. One of the greatest things I’ve learned as a doula and as a mommy is to stop focusing on the answers (especially since often there are none) and to start asking questions that can help us embrace and enjoy the journey. It’s scary to feel like we don’t know what we’re doing, but by not having set guidelines, there is a beautiful opportunity in motherhood – we get to be a part of creating homes and families that reflect our values and fit within our lifestyles.

As Tamera recently prepared to return to work, we had many heartfelt conversations. We’re both wives, moms of multiple children, have incredibly busy and demanding work schedules, and want the best for our families. Yet there’s something about being a mom in our culture that tries to label us.

We hear: “Are you a traditional or an attachment parent?” “Do you breast or bottle feed?” “Do you work or stay home?” “Do you let your baby cry it out or not?” Instead of being simple and maybe even silly questions, we’ve allowed these questions to define us. Furthermore, we translate the questions into, “Do you love your baby?” “Are you a good mom?” Or my favorite, “How screwed up will your kid be?”

This video illustrates it so perfectly:

As parents we have one important thing in common–to love and protect these little ones that have been entrusted in our care. Instead of focusing on the potentially divisive approaches to parenting, I help create what’s best for the family. We talk about priorities, lifestyles, and goals. One of my favorite questions is, “Do you need the baby to fit into your world, or are you comfortable letting the baby set the schedule?” There are no right or wrong answers; it’s about navigating through the process and then making adjustments.

As I’ve watched Tamera embrace motherhood, I’ve seen her and Adam work as a team to create a parenting style that upholds their values and makes their life manageable. This includes sleep and feeding schedules, and everyone sleeps in their own beds; it means less baby sitters; it involves discipline and potty training and, at times, battles over toddler meals and tantrums. It also includes laughter, snuggles, bedtime stories, kisses, playtime, and date nights.

How we choose to parent is simply our unique way of expressing love for our children. We will make mistakes, but we’ve been given these children to love and nurture and we need each other’s support. Today, when we encounter another mom or dad, let’s not critique or label. Let’s instead appreciate the ways they are caring for their little ones and tell them they’re doing a good job. You never know, it just may be the very thing that encourages them to do it all over again tomorrow.

-Talitha

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Hair

What my hair is doing today: Box Braids!!!

By . - Tuesday, October 20, 2015

4 Comments

Events

South African Pregnancy & Parenting Facebook Group

By . - Tuesday, October 13, 2015

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The Baby Bump

7 baby bath basics you need to know

By . - Monday, October 12, 2015

Rolls and folds are undeniably adorable but they can be tricky to wash - here's how to get your baby squeaky clean.

Source

Aside from changing a baby’s first nappy, what many new parents fear most is bathing their baby for the first time. Perhaps you’ve been doing it for a while and still don’t feel entirely confident. Maybe you’ve fallen out of practice since your firstborn. Whatever the case, follow this simple bath-time guide.

1. How often should I bath my baby?
You do not have to bath a newborn baby every day. Over-bathing can dry out a baby’s delicate skin and, because they can’t move around on their own, they tend to stay fairly clean.

“In most cases, giving a proper bath three times a week is sufficient, with cloth-bathing [use a warm, damp facecloth to wipe their face and then the groin area] in between,” says Clicks Senior Clinic Sister Carol Gray.

2. Is the elbow rule accurate?
Babies get cold very easily as their bodies are not yet able to regulate temperature effectively. If it is very cold in your home, try warming the bedroom and towel while you bath your baby, and make sure that the bathwater is ready before you start to undress them. Getting the water temperature right is crucial.

“You can buy a thermometer to check the temperature of the bathwater. Most thermometers indicate an ideal temperature of 37°C to 38°C, which is around body temperature. If you’re not using a thermometer, you can use your elbow – rather than your hand – to gauge the temperature. The water should feel neither hot, nor cold,” says Gray.

3. Where do I start?
“A baby’s hair tends to get greasy quite quickly, so it’s best to wash their hair every time you bath them,” advises Gray.

Undress your baby and wrap them in a towel to keep them warm, (keep the head exposed). Then carefully hold your baby over the bath (head tilting slightly downwards) and gently scoop the warm water over their head to wet it; apply a small amount of baby shampoo, lather and rinse.

4. Do I really need special soap?
To bath your baby, support the head, neck and back on one arm, while using your free hand to gently wet, wash and rinse their body.

“Only use soaps that are specially formulated for babies. Adult soaps contain ingredients designed to remove oil and cleanse the skin. These detergents tend to dry out a baby’s skin very easily,” says PaedIQ paediatrician Dr Iqbal Karbanee.

5. What about hard-to-reach nooks and crannies?
“Often the skin folds can be tricky to keep clean. Remember to wash under the neck where drool or regurgitated milk can collect, between the innergroin areas and in the folds of the arms. It is also very important to ensure all these skin folds are thoroughly dried to prevent skin breakdown and fungal irritations,” says Gray.

Remember to clean your baby’s eyes too. Use a clean piece of wet cottonwool to gently wipe the eyes from the inner corner to the outside. Use a new piece each time (and on each eye) to prevent possible infection.

6. And tiny teeth?
Gray recommends brushing as soon as the first tooth bud becomes visible (before the tooth cuts through the skin).

“Initially it might be easier to wrap some gauze around your finger with a small drop of baby toothpaste on it and rub in soft circular motions over the gum area. You can also purchase soft silicone brushes that slip over an adult fingertip that gently brush the teeth and massage the gums,” she says.

Dr Karbanee also suggests giving infants a baby toothbrush to play with as soon as possible, so they can get used to the sensation.

7. Cleaning sensitive skin
Some babies have particularly sensitive skins and will even develop a reaction to bath and skin products formulated especially for babies.

“The main ingredients that tend to irritate the skin are the preservatives and fragrances in some baby products. If your baby does have a skin reaction, then only very simple, fragrance-free products should be used. If the sensitivity persists, see a doctor to assess if they have an underlying medical problem such as eczema,” says Dr Karbanee.

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Good Hair Diaries says...

I can't wait to hold my baby you guys! Baby baths will be everything and I'll be sure to follow the guide above. There is a high chance that my baby will have eczema like myself, so I've already got the fragrance free/no frills stuff on deck so baby doesn't suffer.

Everything is going to be great, mommy!

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The Baby Bump

Coffee and Pregnancy

By . - Monday, October 05, 2015

Coffee is the lifeline I use to get me through the day. But now that I am pregnant I am feeling uneasy about drinking it.

The fact of the matter is that coffee does get through to your baby. So while there are no definitive studies that show that coffee is harmful to your foetus, you know in your heart that it can’t be good, hence your uneasiness. Your baby’s system takes longer than yours to process chemicals, which means that the caffeine also stays in the baby’s system for longer than it does in yours.

If you are unable to quit drinking coffee you should cut down as much as possible – ideally to one or two cups per day. There is a reported link between heavy coffee consumption (around 6 cups per day) and increased risk of miscarriage. Perhaps it would be helpful to try a lighter brand, since the caffeine content of different coffees varies dramatically. Since you’re already consuming considerable quantities of caffeine, be sure to check the labels of the foods you choose because a surprising number of foods such as chocolate, tea and soft drinks also contain caffeine.

There are a couple of other aspects you need to be aware of. The first is that the diuretic effect of coffee can deplete your calcium stores, and also leach water from your system. In addition to making you run to the toilet even more than normal, this can be unhealthy for the foetus. Also be aware that you may be taking in more empty calories than you realise, what with the sugar and milk or cream.

Source

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Good Hair & Beauty Diaries says...

I've managed to stay away for coffee throughout my pregnancy. I'm mainly a green tea drinker and I have a pot of that 5 days a week at the gym. Naturally, I am all for staying away from anything that could cause a difficult pregnancy or harm your baby. If you're properly addicted, I would say that it's best to find a safer alternative and ween yourself off with the help of your doctor.

It's going to be ok, mommy! <3 font="">

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Healthy Relaxed Hair Week

Are Relaxers Safe To Use During Pregnancy?

By . - Friday, October 02, 2015

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Hair Loss

Breakthrough hair loss product works on stem cells

By . - Tuesday, May 07, 2013

By Andrew Hough via Telegraph

Scientists at cosmetic company L’Oreal claim to have invented the first product which can acually "reawaken" dormant hair cells and allow them to grow back.

It could offer hope to millions affected by male pattern baldness or just the thinning of hair through old age or for medical reasons.

Already demand for the new treatment has seen salons taking thousands of pre-orders even though the recomended three month treatement costs nearly £300.

After 90 days researchers claim that the liquid "Kérastase Densifique", when applied to the roots, can promote the growth of more than 1500 new hairs.

Patricia Pineau, the head of scientific affairs at L’Oréal, added: “We’ve known for 100 years that hair grows and falls out.

“We haven’t known what makes hair regenerate until now. It is all about hair stem cell environment. We have been able to develop a cosmetic product that respects the natural way hair regenerates.”

Scientists said the product, called Densifique, regenerated roots by targeting areas of the scalp prone to hair loss rather than actual fibres.

Experts say there are a variety of factors which can cause hair loss ranging from stress levels and a person’s diet, through to hormones and pregnancy.

Award winning hairdresser Luke Hersheson said: “Many women are really worried about the loss of their hair, the loss of volume, and the fact that they don’t have as luscious locks as they did when they were in their early twenties.

“Stress, diet, hormones and pregnancy are all factors that can affect the health of the hair and scalp.

“This new treatment is set to help alleviate this problem. It has an instant densifying action on the hair fiber, boosting the number of hairs on our head and the quality of these new hairs directly at scalp level. It’s set to be the holy grail for a lot of women – and men.”

The average human has on average between 100,000 and 150,000 individual hairs and the manufactures claim the new product “assists” natural growth rather than “disrupt” it.

Scientists, based in laboratories of L’Oréall in Paris, developed a molecule using a formula called Stemoxydine, which after testing was found to have increased hair density by up to four per cent.

Cass Coulston, Kérastase general manager, last night described it as an astonishing “technological breakthrough”, which led to improved hair density.

She added: “Hair thinning is not just associated with ageing, it can happen as a result of a poor diet, hormones, stress, post pregnancy and over processing hair.”

Kérastase Densifique will be available in salons within the next fortnight.

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Following The Baby Bump - Week 19 to 33

The Best Parenting Style for Your Family

What my hair is doing today: Box Braids!!!

South African Pregnancy & Parenting Facebook Group

7 baby bath basics you need to know

Rolls and folds are undeniably adorable but they can be tricky to wash - here's how to get your baby squeaky clean.

Coffee and Pregnancy

Coffee is the lifeline I use to get me through the day. But now that I am pregnant I am feeling uneasy about drinking it.

Are Relaxers Safe To Use During Pregnancy?

Breakthrough hair loss product works on stem cells

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