Pregnancy and Maternity

When I had my first baby four years ago, I didn’t realize the mountain of paperwork that would come home with me from the hospital. Once I got it home, I tried to figure out where to file it all. Some of it I ended up tossing, some got lost, and some actually got filed. I recently came across the BabyBriefcase, a unique organizer designed to store all your baby’s paperwork—from birth certificate and insurance paperwork to thank-you lists and baby equipment warranties. The easy-to-carry BabyBriefcase also fits into many standard size file cabinets. The BabyBriefcase retails for $29.95.

When I was pregnant, my two necessities for maternity clothing were comfort and something that I felt that I looked good in. Well, I never succeeded in my requirements, because the maternity jeans I wore were never comfortable and the t-shirts were very plain and unflattering. I recently came across this website called Bella Materna, and I have to say that I instantly feel in love with all their maternity clothing, even though I am not pregnant. Bella Materna sells luxurious nursing bras, maternity lingerie, workout clothing and casual comfortable clothing that you want to be in. They have a Maternity/Transition lounge pant and Lounge Wrap that can be worn from pregnancy through nursing. They also have a very cute halter dress that comes in three beautiful colors: black, cocoa, and olive. This dress is both simple and elegant and can be dressed up or down. They also have a variety of nursing bras to choose from, including their Ruched Clip Bralet, which offers an easy, one-handed clasp and their unique “Strap Keep” straps that are adjustable, for best fit when nursing.  They are currently offering free shipping when you purchase over $125 with promo code: FREESHIP.

Here's a quick tip for expecting moms from our friends at Barefoot & Pregnant spa in Sausalito:

Congratulations!  You are pregnant!  While you may have sworn off the cocktails, and (I trust) given cigarettes and second-hand smoke an extremely wide berth, chocolate in all its forms and flavors is a minor vice that’s very much tolerated by the pregnancy police. You can now give your addiction free rein with this wonderfully indulgent, deliciously aromatic chocolate facial mask. The combination of cocoa powder and cream really can refresh a tired complexion.
 
Oh The Decadence!
Yummy chocolate mask for normal skin
 
1/3 cup cocoa powder
3 tablespoons heavy cream
2 teaspoons cottage cheese
3 teaspoons avocado
1/2 cup honey
3 teaspoons oatmeal powder

Mix all ingredients together and smooth onto face. Relax for ten minutes, then wash the mask off with warm water (or if pregnancy has given you a taste for obscure food combinations, simply lick it off).
 
Stacy Denney
Stacy is the author of “Spa Mama” and “Fit Mama” (Chronicle Books) and the owner of Barefoot & Pregnant® at Casa Madrona in Sausalito, the first spa nationwide to focus on pre and postnatal women.  Barefoot & Pregnant provides a place of community where women can come to connect, relax and rejuvenate.  Through its spas and expanding Web presence, Barefoot & Pregnant meets the unique needs of mothers and mothers-to-be with spa services, education and support, rapidly growing online resources and retail therapy.
 

Are you a new or expecting parent? If so, don’t miss the San Francisco Birth and Baby Fair that takes place at the Fort Mason Conference Center  from 10:00 am-3:00 pm this Saturday, April 21, 2007. It’s your chance to meet and talk to birth and parenting specialists, including midwives, doulas, massage therapists, childbirth educators, lactation consultants, and experts in the birth and parenting community. Also, be ready to shop for maternity clothes and a variety of hip children items from local designers. The Fort Mason Conference Center is located at 99 Marina Blvd., San Francisco. For a list of workshops, participants and sponsors, go to http://www.maternityxchange.com.