Be sure not to miss Destination Maternity’s up to 50% off fall sale: www.destinationmaternity.com/sale.asp

Free Shipping at Destination Maternity on orders over $100 use promo code: DMFS10. Valid Oct 7-11.

Also, there is an up to 30% off fall sale at Motherhood Maternity
http://www.motherhood.com/sale.asp

Free Shipping at Motherhood Maternity on orders over $75 use promo code: MHFS10. Valid Oct 7-11.

New Books for Expectant Moms from Meadowbrook Press:

The Official Lamaze Guide (2nd Edition)
This new edition has been updated to reflect the latest evidence-based research on pregnancy and childbirth. Since the first edition, childbirth in the U.S. has gotten riskier. The cesarean rate has continued to rise; now almost one third of women in the U.S. have a cesarean. There’s been a shocking rise in the maternal mortality rate. More babies are admitted to NICUs, and there’s been an alarming increase in incidences of postpartum depression and post traumatic stress disorder related to childbirth. BUY ONLINE (no affiliate link)

Guía sencilla para tener un bebé (Spanish Edition of The Simple Guide to Having a Baby)
This Spanish edition of The Simple Guide to Having a Baby is available at the same price as the English edition—a welcome change for healthcare organizations, hospitals, clinics, and childbirth educators who had been paying significantly more for an imported Spanish edition. BUY ONLINE (no affiliate link)

I love Heidi Klum. I usually don’t care about celebs, but I like Heidi’s spirit. She seems to really value motherhood, her husband, as well as her life as a businesswomen. Love that!

Heidi is coming out with two new maternity collections that have people excited. They officially launch both in Motherhood Maternity and A Pea In the Pod stores nationwide as well as online on February 12, 2010.

Her two collections include the 15-piece Lavish and 14-piece Loved. They promise to deliver supermodel style at the Motherhood price point.

Above is the flyer I received this weekend announcing the collections. I’m really looking forward to seeing them when they hit the racks.

Meanwhile, here are a few photos to tide you over.

Heidi wearing Lavish’s black knit maxi dress. $128.
Available at www.apeainthepod.com beginning Feb 12.

Heidi wearing Loved’s oversized georgette top w/ signature hand-drawn print (39.98) and second skin dark wash jean with top stitching detail (34.98). Both are available at www.motherhood.com, beginning Feb 12.

SALE NEWS: Today only (1/11/10) Motherhood.com is having a 15% off sale on one item. Use coupon code MHsave15.

On Christmas Eve I was complaining on Twitter because it wasn’t even Christmas  yet and Target was already putting out Valentine’s Day items. But if you stop to think about it, Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it!

Destination Maternity understand how fast time flies, from nine months for pregnant moms to seasonally for the rest of us.

This Valentine’s Day, Motherhood Maternity has you covered with 3/4 Sleeve Faux Wrap Maternity Dress in deep red ($29.98). Also check out the Sleeveless Babydoll Maternity Blouse ($68.00) the and Long Sleeve Button Front Maternity Shirt ($29.98)

The second most likely diagnosed disease during pregnancy behind breast cancer is thyroid cancer. We don’t hear about thyroid disease very often, but an estimated 20 million people have been diagnosed with some form of thyroid disorder. Pregnant women with undiagnosed or inadequately treated hypothyroidism have an increased risk of miscarriage, preterm delivery, and severe developmental problems in their children.

The risk of hypothyroidism goes up during pregnancy and even after delivery, so the next time you have a prenatal visit, make sure to talk to your O.B. about your thyroid.

Click here to read, Thyroid Disease and Pregnancy, an online brochure from the American Thyroid Association.

Maternity Must-Have

If there is one thing that’s certain it’s this: Being pregnant is not the time to lose your sense of style. In fact, it’s the perfect time to push the limits of your style creativity. Thanks to forward-thinking, hip designers you can do that.

This 100% Make Love Not War funky maternity tee from Spunky Sprout will make your belly stand out in the crowd and put a little pep in your step when you’re out and about.

Find the tee on spunksprout.com. Price: $56.00

Motherhood Maternity launched preview outfits for their upcoming spring 2010 collection. What’s hot in the new year for maternity wear?

“This season is all about the details,” said Rebecca Matthias, President and Chief Creative Officer of Motherhood Maternity. “Lace trim, smocking, and rhinestones are the small touches that go a long way, all at a price everyone will love!”

On the Net: www.motherhood.com

Track Your Period With iPeriod

For those of you who are interested in chronicling each day of your period, I highly recommend the iPeriod app. It’s free and allows you to date your period, state the mood you’re in, and even write notes each day during your period. You can also track your weight and even your flow.

I love this app because it helps me remember what happened the month before. I know this is over sharing, but I tend to have painful cramps during my period and when I detail each day of my period I notice patterns and determine what works when getting my periods under control. For example, if I do yoga or drink more fluids and I see that it works to lessen the pain, I’ll do it again the next month. It’s all about taking notes and finding patterns for me. That’s why I love this app!

On the Net: www.winkpass.com/iperiod.html

OK…I admit it: When I was pregnant with my second daughter I ate everything under the sun. In fact, the day she was born I recall eating Chinese sesame chicken and a coke. Both my pregnancies were vastly different. For my first, I did everything by the book and for my second I did everything by my taste buds! While I wasn’t obese I sure was pushing it. I couldn’t stop eating and subsequently I have battled my weight ever since.

A new study from Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Reasearch says obese women gain too much weight during pregnancy and tend to keep 40% of the weight gained during pregnancy after the baby is born. That’s a lot of weight!

Here are some valuable tips for controlling excess weight gain during pregnancy.

– Every day eat 8-12 fruit and vegetable servings, 3 servings of low-fat dairy, 5-9 ounces of protein-rich foods, 6-10 servings of whole grains, and 3-7 teaspoons of healthy fat (e.g., olive or canola oil, nuts).
– Eat regular meals and small healthy snacks between meals.
– Reduce fat to less than 30 percent of calories.
– Reduce consumption of sweets and sweetened drinks.
– Keep a food diary to check for nutritional adequacy and portion
management.
– Eat only 100-300 extra calories per day beyond what your calorie needs were before you became pregnant.
– Exercise 30 minutes on most days. If you aren’t exercising, talk to
your provider about how to start an exercise program.

Below are four questions about infant mortality I hope you will answer or either pass along to your readers. Answers are after the jump.

1. QUESTION:

What is preterm birth?

a. Preterm birth is childbirth occurring earlier than 39 completed weeks of pregnancy
b. Preterm birth is childbirth occurring earlier than 40 completed weeks of pregnancy
c. Preterm birth is childbirth occurring earlier than 37 completed weeks of pregnancy

How many babies in the United States are born premature?

a. 1 in 5 babies
b. 1 in 12 babies
c. 1 in 14 babies

3. QUESTION:

Which women are at the greatest risk of preterm birth?

a. Women who have had a previous preterm birth
b. Women who are pregnant with multiple babies
c. Women with a short cervix
d. All of the above

4. QUESTION:

True of False: Can preterm birth can be predicted?

1. ANSWER:

The correct answer is C: Preterm birth is childbirth occurring earlier than 37 completed weeks of pregnancy.

2. ANSWER:

The correct answer is B: 1 in 12 babies are born premature in the United States.

Prematurity is the number one cause of death among newborns in the United States. According to the March of Dimes, prematurity has risen 36 percent since the early 1980s.
Babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are defined as premature and can face weeks or even months in the hospital. While most go on to lead healthy lives, many suffer serious lifelong disabilities such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation and learning problems, chronic lung disease, and vision and hearing problems. Half of all neurological disabilities in children are related to premature birth.

3. ANSWER:

The correct answer is D: All of the above. Researches have determined that these three groups of women are at the greatest risk of preterm labor and birth. Other possible risk factors include: late or no prenatal care, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, certain infections during pregnancy, a history of domestic violence, lack of social support and stress and a history of cigarette smoking, alcohol use, or illicit drug use during pregnancy.

ANSWER:

True! There is an FDA-approved, noninvasive test that provides healthcare providers with valuable information regarding a woman’s risk for preterm birth. The presence of fetal fibronectin is the single strongest independent predictor of preterm birth at less than 32 weeks.

Collection for fetal fibronectin testing (similar to a Pap test) can be performed in a healthcare provider’s office or the hospital. The test measures the amount of fetal fibronectin–the glue-like substance that holds the baby in the womb—in the vagina. Between weeks 22 to 35 of a pregnancy, fetal fibronectin should be almost undetectable. A negative test result reveals a less than one percent chance a woman will deliver her baby within the next 14 days; a positive test result is the single, strongest independent predictor of premature birth before 32 weeks. The fFN test enables physicians to improve outcomes by determining who is most appropriate for medical intervention while sparing many women from unnecessary treatment including powerful steroid drugs and hospitalization. To learn more about the fFN test visit www.fullterm.net and to become a fan on of the fFN Test on Facebook visit www.facebook.com/fFNTest.

There is a new strain of flu virus called the H1N1 or swine flu virus. This virus is quickly spreading throughout the world, causing much worry and fear among the general population and the medical community. Over 90% of flu cases this year will be caused by the H1N1 strain of virus.

As with the most strains of the flu virus, young children, the elderly, those with comprised immune systems and pregnant women are especially at risk. The H1N1 strain of flu carries a greater risk of complications and death compared to the traditional flu. This is due to the fact that the H1N1 virus causes more severe respiratory complications much faster.

As a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, I am very concerned that pregnant women understand the dangers of not being vaccinated for both the seasonal flu and particularly the H1N1 strain of virus. Pregnancy weakens a woman’s immune system making her more susceptible to catching viruses. A pregnant woman who already suffers from asthma or another chronic respiratory condition is at a greater risk for complications. There is an 8 percent or 1 in 12 risk of death if, a pregnant women becomes infected with the H1N1 virus. In addition, if a pregnant woman needs to go to the hospital and ends up on mechanical ventilation due to respiratory complications, the baby can suffer from decreased oxygen. This has the potential of causing neurological damage to the baby. It is also important to note that the majority of pregnant women who did not survive after contracting the swine flu were otherwise healthy.

Getting both the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine is the best protection you can have to avoid contracting the flu. You should get both vaccinations to be fully protected. These vaccinations will also give protection to your unborn baby for the first six months of life. It is best to get both the vaccines before you become pregnant or if you are already pregnant in the first trimester of pregnancy. If possible it is important to try to avoid getting sick with an illness that will produce a fever, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. Having a fever in the first trimester doubles the risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect such as spina bifida. In addition, women who contract the swine flu are at a higher risk of a premature delivery.

Both vaccines can be given on the same day, but should be given in different locations such as one in your right arm and one in your left arm. The nasal spray vaccination should be avoided during pregnancy as it contains live virus. If you have suffered from a recent illness you should check with your physician as to when it is safe to get the vaccine. The side effects from the H1N1 vaccine are similar to those from the seasonal flu vaccine. Side effects include soreness, redness, and swelling at the injection site. Some women may experience muscle aches, headache, low-grade fever and nausea. These symptoms should disappear in 1-2 days.

Many pregnant women are afraid that the H1N1 vaccine is neither safe for themselves or their unborn baby. The H1N1 vaccine is made in the same way, in the same facilities as the seasonal flu vaccine. The main difference is that a different strain of inactivated or killed virus is used. The seasonal flu vaccine has been used for many years on pregnant women with no short or long-term risks to the mother-to-be or baby. A big concern among pregnant women is that receiving any type of vaccine during pregnancy will increase the chance that their unborn baby will be autistic due to the mercury content in the vaccine. The amount of mercury (thimerosal) in a single dose shot is extremely small, less than the amount in one spoon of canned tuna. However, several million doses without mercury will be made available for pregnant women.

Unfortunately, many pregnant women will not heed the advice of their physicians and will not receive the H1N1 vaccine. It is therefore very important to try to do what you can to prevent yourself from contracting this virus. There are certain steps that you can take to make you less susceptible and these include the following:

A nutritious diet should be eaten that is rich in fruits and vegetables.
Supplementing your diet with extra vitamin C D.
Washing you hands frequently.
Keeping your hands away from your mouth and eyes.
Staying away from people you know are not feeling well.

If a pregnant woman thinks she is coming down with the flu it is important that you contact your doctor immediately. Common symptoms of the flu include:

Fever (affects over 90% of people)
Cough
Sore throat
Stuffy/Runny nose
Body aches
Headache
Chills
Diarrhea/Vomiting

It is important to see your doctor as soon as possible to get an anti-viral medication. If you doctor is not available, you should go to your local medical center for treatment. This will lessen the symptoms, which will reduce the chance of serious complications and also shorten the duration of the illness. There is no risk to either the mother or baby from this anti-viral medication. The real danger comes from having an untreated case of the H1N1 virus while being pregnant.

The benefit of receiving the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine far outweighs the risks of contracting the virus. This is a very serious virus that will kill nearly 40,000-50,000 this year. If you are pregnant, make sure that you get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Dr. Charles Hux attended Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology and a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at Thomas Jefferson University. He received a master’s degree in genetics from Rutgers University. He maintains a private practice and is primarily affiliated with Monmouth Medical Center. His articles have appeared in American Journal of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Prenatal Diagnosis, New England Journal of Medicine and Genetics. He is the author of the new book, Nine Healthy Months.

For the last eight years, he has been the current resident “multiples doctor” on The Learning Channel’s A Baby Story.

Website: http://huxmd.yourmd.com

Moody Mamas, the brand that has graced the pregnant bellies of celebs like Laila Ali, Heidi Klum, and Jessica Alba is now available to everyday moms who want to look fantastic during their pregnancies and beyond. Moody Mamas’ style transitions well post-pregnancy.

Click here to see their collection on Target.com and visit MoodyMamas.com for their whole collection.

FUNKOOS.com

If you visit as many mom blogs and parenting sites as I do, then you know there are a plethora of companies out there that make organic clothes for babies and toddlers. How can you tell them apart?

Different companies have different styles. That’s a given. But when companies go beyond the call of duty and give back to charity and make the working conditions better for those laborers who manufacture their end product, that makes me very content and that’s a deal-sealer for me.

Funkoos not only had hip styles for your little one, they also manufacture their products in fair-trade factories that are certified by Global Organic Textile Standards.

On the Net: www.funkoos.com

For all of you out there who are expecting, look no further than Motherhood Maternity and A Pea in a Pod for the latest cashmere and wool sweaters that will enhance your growing belly and keep it snug and warm.

Motherhood Maternity grey heather cowl neck tunic sweater with button tab sleeve – $39.98

Motherhood Maternity brown heather cable toggle sweater coat – $44.98

A Pea in the Pod Collection faux fur vest – $195
On the Net: www.motherhood.com | www.apeainthepod.com