by Anne Cavicchi

Some people think that the word sexy and pregnancy do not belong together. I have to disagree. In fact, I have heard many men say that a woman is her sexiest and most beautiful when she is pregnant!

So, how do you go about feeling sexy when your belly is expanding and your body is going through so many changes? So many women tell me they feel unattractive when they are pregnant, but they don’t have to!

The good news is that the days of the maternity tent dress are over! Today’s maternity wear is hip, trendy and yes, even sexy! http://maternitycorner.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=M The designers have brilliantly combined comfort and fashion in clothing that you can start wearing as soon as you discover you are pregnant right on through post-partum and beyond.

Just wearing your husband clothes may be economical – and they may fit fine over your expanding belly — but they will not have a good fit everywhere else! Buying bigger sizes in regular clothes is also never a great idea if you want to feel good about yourself. I’m sorry to say you will just look bigger and feel frumpy.

There are several “basics” that every woman should have when she is pregnant. For your first pieces, try to stick with basics that will go with everything. A couple of good pairs of pants, jeans or skirts are a good place to start (your lifestyle will determine which is best for you). Add a top or two and you are on your way! Then, as you “grow”, add tops in fashionable prints and colors that will mix and match with your basics, giving you fresh new looks, as well an occasional, much needed, psychological boost. If you are really keen, splurge on some “not-so-practical” tops or bottoms to round out your maternity wardrobe. Remember, many of today’s styles can be worn after baby too! If you cannot afford a whole new wardrobe, or even if you can and don’t want to spend the money, you need to get yourself at least a couple of basics and one outfit that makes you feel beautiful and sexy — there is no price for the way an outfit like this will make you feel!

Don’t forget your underwear! If your underwear binds you are not going to feel comfortable. There are so many great styles available now! And if you’re a thong wearer, there’s no reason to stop now. Maternity thongs, as well as the bikinis and briefs, are available in a wide variety of fabrics and colors.

Chances are you will probably require several different bra sizes throughout your pregnancy. No matter which type of bra you choose, fit is important. There should be room for expansion around the rib cage and room for expansion in the cup, but not so much that the bra does not provide adequate support. Have fun with your maternity and nursing bras — there are so many options available!

There are also some great skin care products available now. Pamper yourself with some luxurious creams or body wash! Take some time out for you — you deserve it!

Remember, when you feel good, you look great — even sexy!

About The Author
Anne Cavicchi is a mom and owner of Annie’s Maternity Corner — dedicated to providing a large collection of fashionable maternity and nursing wear to allow you to express your own style comfortably during and after pregnancy. We also carry all the products you will need for after your child is born. Accessories, diapers, sleepwear, breast pumps, playwear, and everything in between! http://www.maternitycorner.com.

By Aurel Radulescu

There are no two pregnancies that are alike so, while it is difficult to say exactly how each will progress, there are certain factors that are common among all women going through pregnancy. Quite often, early symptoms of pregnancy will appear and prompt the soon-to-be mom to purchase a home pregnancy test. These can be found at virtually every retail and/or grocery store. It is important to remember that pregnancy tests, while designed to be accurate, are sometimes wrong. Regardless of the result, it is recommended that women experiencing pregnancy symptoms should schedule an appointment with a health care professional who will accurately test for pregnancy.

Among the pregnancy symptoms that most women experience are heightened sensitivity to certain smells and/or food, exhaustion, recurring morning sickness and mood swings. During the entire pregnancy, it is very important that the woman participate in a healthy lifestyle. Among other things, this would include not smoking or being near secondhand smoke, avoid drinking alcohol, etc. In addition, the mom-to-be should drink plenty of milk and eat healthy foods. This will help to promote good development for the child and will be a healthy start for him/her.

Once a woman is confirmed with pregnancy, the next step is shopping for maternity clothes. There is generally a maternity section of every store, but many women simply wear oversized shirts and comfortable elastic waist pants. Preparing for a new baby will include shopping for nursery items, including a rocking chair, bassinet, baby blankets, clothes and toys. If there are plans to convert any room in the house into a nursery, it’s best to start early. It’s also very important that the mom-to-be not be near any paint or harmful products that may cause her, or her unborn child, any problems.

During the nine months of pregnancy, women will go through a lot of changes – both physically and mentally. Mood swings will become more intense and there may be frequent trips to the bathroom as the pregnancy progresses and the growing child begins to press more heavily on the bladder. After the baby is born, the woman will likely have a desire to lose her pregnancy weight. Immediately following birth, it may be a good idea to rest before starting on any exercise program. A licensed medical doctor will be able to prescribe a timeline for such things as physical activity, which will greatly be determined by the mom’s overall health.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only. It is not designed to be used in conjunction with, or in place of, professional medical advice. Any woman who believes she may be experiencing pregnancy symptoms, or has reason to believe that she may be pregnant, should consult a licensed medical physician for proper testing and determination.

About The Author
Find more about Chinese pregnancy calendar, Chinese gender chart and EPT pregnancy test and many other pregnancy resources on CareJournal.org.

When your baby was born diaper changing was probably pretty simply and as you got the hang of it, became pretty quick. About the time your baby reaches the halfway point of the first year of his life that may all change. Your baby, who may have once just lain there, letting you do what you needed to do, might start fighting and twisting and turning now as you try to just make him more comfortable.

The diaper changing battles generally start not because your baby doesn’t want his butt cleaned or doesn’t want you to change his diaper, but because he is getting bigger and there are bigger and better things he can be doing. Your baby isn’t just lying there anymore, he can now roll, sit and possibly crawl which have all opened up a whole new world to him. He has toys and things to do that are much more exciting than a diaper change, so he figures there is no reason to take a time out!

Diaper changing battles however can become very frustrating for mom and dad. It adds a whole new factor to diapering as now you have to try to use one hand to hold your baby down, leaving you just one hand to do all the dirty work. At times you may have to use both hands to keep your baby from rolling and to lie still so that you can do what should be a 10 second job.

Since your baby is moving so much, it is very important that you stay right there with your baby and keep a hand on him at all times. Your baby could easily fall off the table at this point and it would happen faster than you could react. You may want to start changing your baby’s diapers on a pad on the floor so that you know your baby will be safe and won’t be able to get hurt.

To encourage your baby to lay still and let you change his diaper, offer him a special toy that he can play with during diaper time, or bring his favorite toy, that he is playing with already, with you when possible. Sometimes a little distraction is all you need in order to quickly and smoothly get through the diaper change.

If worse comes to worse and you just can’t get your baby to lie still, let him have a little freedom. Five minutes of sitting, crawling, walking or even running around in his birthday suit will not hurt your baby. This amount of freedom to do what he wants may help him settle down easier when you do decide to put the diaper back on. Just stay near him so if he has an accident you can quickly clean it up, or if you can tell he is about to go that you can quickly lie him on a diaper.

Remember, the diaper changing battles won’t last forever. After a while your baby will realize that all he has to do is lay still and let you do your job and he will be back up and playing with his favorite toys faster than when he fights you. Eventually your nice, easy and quiet diaper changes will come back and the battles will be fewer and farer in between.