Apparel Announcements
One of the hottest maternity lines to hit the market since Liz Lange is now set to launch on Target.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
Beautiful Maternity Sweaters for Fall
I cannot believe fall is officially here. Where I live it does take a while for the leaves to finally start turning colors and the nippiness to touch the air, but that time has finally arrived. And you know what that means: sweater time!
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
Motherhood Essay: What My Mother Did Not Tell Me!
By Alanda G
Cocoa Mommy
Motherhood has opened up a plethora of emotions in my life. In order to explore the facets of motherhood I must reflect on the birth of my first child. You read how your life changes after becoming a mom, but who knew by what degree. Shortly after getting married I decided that my biological clock was buzzing really loud and I wanted to get pregnant right away. My biological clock was definitely in tune because four months later I was expecting. When I first received the news I went in search of pregnancy books and magazines to get the the most up to date information on “what to expect”. The first challenge of my impending step into motherhood was how to balance a full-time job and still manage to bask in the glow of pregnancy. I felt like my emotions were on a constant roller coaster.
80% of Moms Experience Postpartum Blues
New research reveals 80% of moms of newborns experience postpartum blues from sadness to feeling weepy, anxious, and moody. So, if you or anyone you know starts to feel this way make sure to share these feelings with your doctor.
While 80% of women experience baby blues, 15-20% of mothers experience postpartum depression. There’s no need for me to impart how important it is to get help if you begin to feel severely depressed after giving birth.
If you feel depressed after having a baby, there is immediate help out there. You can:
- Call you doctor or go to the emergency room
- Call the Postpartum Support International Help Line at 1-800-944-4PPD or visit www.postpartum.net.
- Call the Postpartum Stressline at 1-888-678-2669
Middle School Youth As Young as 12 Engaging in Risky Sexual Activity
When I read studies such as the one recently released by the University of Texas School of Public Health, I just hold me head in my hands and sigh. According to the study conducted by Christine Markham, Ph.D., assistant professor of behavioral science at the UT School of Public Health and her colleagues, children as young as twelve are having sexual intercourse, and while that is not surprising news, of those who are having sex, they are engaging in vaginal, oral, and/or anal sex.
According to their research, by age 12, 12 percent of students had already engaged in vaginal sex, 7.9 percent in oral sex, 6.5 percent in anal sex and 4 percent in all three types of intercourse.
Markham said, “These findings are alarming because youth who start having sex before age 14 are much more likely to have multiple lifetime sexual partners, use alcohol or drugs before sex and have unprotected sex, all of which puts them at greater risk for getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or becoming pregnant.”
The study found one-third of sexually active students reported engaging in vaginal or anal sex without a condom within the past three months, and one-fourth had four or more partners. The more experienced students in all three types of intercourse were more likely to be male and African-American.
“We need to develop prevention programs that address the needs of students who are not yet sexually active in order to promote skills and attitudes to help them wait until they are older to have sex,” Markham said. “And we need to provide skills and knowledge related to condoms and contraception for youth who are already sexually active.”
How can children this young know anything about having sex? It pains me to no end! I am fully aware that children should be taught the birds and the bees, but I am staunchly in favor of making sure children are not acting upon the birds and the bees lectures.
Information Sources:
New Couture Maternity Collection By Project Runway’s Christian Siriano
I am a huge Project Runway fan; always have been, always will be no matter what channel it finally winds up on. It was no surprise to me that Christian Siriano, who ultimately won season 4, was the most talented designer on the show even though he was the youngest of the bunch. Now back in the real world of design he is using his skills to create collections for women that are, in a word, stunning. First, he threw his creative talents at women’s feet by creating an exclusive shoe collection for Payless. And now he has created a couture maternity line for fashionable expectant moms for Moody Mamas.
Christian’s line of maternity wear, FierceMamas for Moody
Mamas, is not dirt cheap, but nothing that is well-designed is. But, the price is certainly reasonable. Tops range in price from $55 to $119 and his maternity dresses run from $65 to $246. Fierce Mamas for Moody Mamas by Christian Siriano is suitable for the office, a daytime or evening party and even a casual night out on the town. All of the interchangeable pieces are priced under $300 and range from a size small to x-large. Go to www.moodymamas.com to find out where to buy the collection.
Pampers and UNICEF Come Together for “One Pack = One Vaccine” Campaign
Did you know that 128,000 babies and 30,000 mothers who live in less industrialized areas of the world die each year from neonatal tetanus? That is one death every four minutes and it can be prevented.
Through May 1, simply by purchasing specially-marked Pampers diapers, wipes, or redeeming the campaign infant onesies you can help save a life. These specially marked packages of diapers and wipes cost 
the same as traditional products and are available wherever Pampers products are sold. Pampers will donate US$.07 to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to help provide one tetanus vaccine to a pregnant woman or a woman of child-bearing age in the less industrialized world. For more information visit http://www.pampers.com/en_US/unicef/. You can also find additional information on the UNICEF web site.
Mom and actress Salem Hayek is the international spokesperson for the “One Pack = One Vaccine” Campaign and recently visited Sierra Leone where she witnessed a baby die of tetanus and also saw how many mothers were already benefiting from the tetanus vaccine.
To raise even more awareness and excitement for this campaign and to help mothers all the way around the world, we’re giving away two Pampers “One Pack = One Vaccine” campaign onesies. To win, tell me what you think about this campaign, how you will spread the word, and make sure to leave your email address in the comments. Two winners will be picked at random and will be notified on March 11.
Pregnancy and Depression
Low-income pregnant and new mothers with diabetes have twice the risk of experiencing depression during and after pregnancy than women without diabetes, according to a study in the February 25 issue of JAMA.
Depression during the perinatal period (often considered as the last several months of pregnancy and the year following childbirth) affects at least 10 percent to 12 percent of new mothers, and approximately 2 percent to 9 percent of pregnancies are complicated by diabetes. Prior studies have established an association between diabetes and depressive disorders in general adult populations.
The researchers found that women with any form of diabetes were significantly more likely to experience some indication of depression during pregnancy or postpartum. This association remained consistent across the various types of diabetes.
It is imperative that you take care of yourself while you are pregnant and be honest with yourself if you are experiencing any depression symptoms whatsoever so you can get the help you need.
GETTING HELP
- Visit AmericanPregnancy.org to find out more about pregnancy and depression and about how you can find help and support.
- Six Strategies to Help Avoid Prenatal Depression (iVillage)
- Depression and Pregnancy (Web MD)
- Depression During Pregnancy (Baby Center)
Nadia Simone: Age 2 1/2 years
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