Tips

The 5 Things To Do To Avoid Vericose Veins While Pregnant

Posted on January 9, 2018

Guest Post

Whether it’s your first or your third, pregnancy is an exciting time for you and your family. There are a lot of changes going on in your body to prepare it for the delivery of new life. As part of this, your body has an increased amount of blood flow, which is why you have a higher chance of developing varicose veins during pregnancy.

However, there are a few things that you can do to prevent varicose veins during pregnancy:

1. Create healthy habits. Healthy habits help to prevent varicose veins, and promote good health all around for you and your baby. Make sure you are eating a balanced diet with substantial vitamin C, as it helps promote good blood flow.

In addition, exercise each day. Cycling, swimming and walking are low-impact exercises that help move blood through your veins.

2. Invest in compression socks.

Compression socks provide constriction to your legs, where varicose veins are most likely to develop. This tight fit can help to promote blood flow to prevent blood from pooling in your veins, which causes varicose veins to form.

3. Dress smart. While compression socks are recommended, other tight-fitting clothing is not. Instead, make sure you are wearing loose-fitting apparel.

Wearing high heels while you are pregnant is also not recommended, as it can result in circulation issues. Avoiding both of these types of clothing will make you and baby more comfortable during your nine months.

4. Pay attention to your legs.

Whether you stand or sit for a long period of time, it can have the same effect on your legs. A stagnant position can lead to blood pooling in your veins. Make sure you are moving around throughout the day and spending time elevating your legs as well.

Propping your legs on a chair or stool can help to promote good circulation. Add ankle flexes for extra blood flow benefits.

5. Avoid heavy lifting. Lifting heavy objects while you are pregnant can be challenging, resulting in straining. This straining can increase vein visibility and your chance of forming varicose veins.

After pregnancy, the appearance of varicose veins may diminish. However, you may want to consider consulting a medical professional for treatment. There are several treatment options available and a doctor can help you determine what works best for you. If varicose veins are left untreated, they can lead to health complications that can be life threatening.

Dr. Yan Katsnelson has more than 20 years of experience in surgical treatment of cardiovascular diseases and currently practices at USA Vein Clinics. He specializes in non-surgical treatment of vein disease to oimprove and enhance the lives of his patients.

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5 Exercises You Can Do With Your Baby at Home; No Gym Required

Posted on January 8, 2018

It’s a New Year and a new opportunity to get in shape, even if you just had a baby.

After getting the A-OK from your doctor, there are certain exercises that you can safely to with your baby in tow! These exercises are great for the woman who cannot get to the gym.

I also highly recommend doing Gaiam‘s Pilates for Weightloss ($11.99) which I did relreligiously every day while breastfeeding and lost an average of 2 lbs per week steadily. I was really shocked that the weight peeled off like that without me really altering my eating. Great stuff!

Finally, for not-so-new moms, check out these older fitness-related posts that are still relevant and can be used to help you get in shape from home, today and beyond!

http://bellyitchblog.com/2013/01/10-tips-for-exercising-when-you-have.html

http://bellyitchblog.com/2013/01/new-year-new-you-10-free-iphone-health_11.html

http://bellyitchblog.com/2012/04/4-best-ways-to-lose-weight-after.html

http://bellyitchblog.com/2013/10/zumba-and-9-other-free-ways-to-exercise.html

http://bellyitchblog.com/2013/05/10-iphone-apps-to-help-you-lose-your.html

http://bellyitchblog.com/2014/07/moms-try-these-3-workout-moves-fro.html

http://bellyitchblog.com/2014/09/national-yoga-month-pre-post-natal-yoga.html

http://bellyitchblog.com/2017/12/all-the-ways-to-get-your-pre-baby-tummy-back.html

http://bellyitchblog.com/2016/12/heres-how-to-boost-your-babys-brain-with-a-healthy-prenatal-lifestyle.html

http://bellyitchblog.com/2013/06/3-exercises-to-help-you-get-your-pos.html

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Celebrity

Pro Surfer Bethany Hamilton Temporarily Quits Surfing Until Baby #2 Arrives

Posted on January 8, 2018

Second-time mom-to-be Bethany Hamilton has decided at 7-months pregnant that she’s going to take a break from surfing until baby number 2 arrives.

“The hardest part of pregnancy for me is not surfing!” Hamilton captioned a photo of herself in a bikini in front of a board where she shared the news at the end of the year. “I’m taking a lil break, but it’s soooo worth it! Grow baby grow ??✨?”

View this post on Instagram
The hardest part of pregnancy for me is not surfing! I’m taking a lil break, but it’s soooo worth it! Grow baby grow ??✨?
A post shared by Bethany Hamilton (@bethanyhamilton) on Dec 29, 2017 at 2:15pm PST

Hamilton became famous at age 13 when she was attacked by a shark while surfing but she didn’t let that very traumatic event deter her from returning to her love. She returned just one month after the attack and went on to become a top pro surfer. The true definition of a boss babe!

She and her husband, Christian youth minister Adam Dirks, wed in 2013 in Hawaii and welcomed their son Tobias, 2, on June 1, 2015.

We are LOVING her maternity photos and looks that she has shared on Instagram this pregnancy.

What an awesome year! Here are a few of my highlights!!! My family and I traveled international 6 times and in doing so, we wrapped the 4 year filming of my upcoming Documentary @unstoppablethefilm expecting to release summer/ fall 2018 ? we also enjoyed our annual events with our org @friendsofbethanyhamilton and I was inducted into the hall of fame for surfing! But most exciting moment of the year was realizing we are growing our family! God is good and we are so thankful for the good times and the growing times. We look forward to life in 2018! Happy new year?

View this post on Instagram
A new year with new life on the grow. I’m feeling so thankful!
A post shared by Bethany Hamilton (@bethanyhamilton) on Jan 2, 2018 at 5:12pm PST

View this post on Instagram
Bringing new life into this world. ✨❤️? @blendamontorophotography
A post shared by Bethany Hamilton (@bethanyhamilton) on Oct 23, 2017 at 7:21pm PDT

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News

Study: Eating Bacon and Eggs While Pregnant Can Boost Baby’s IQ

Posted on January 8, 2018

Eating a full English breakfast during pregnancy could increase a babies’ IQ, new research has found.

The study, published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, revealed that mothers who consumed eggs and bacon during the last three months of their term performed better in tests.

This, it says, is because both foods are rich in a nutrient called choline, which despite being vital during pregnancy, most women do not consume enough of.

The link between increased levels of choline and higher IQ has previously been made in mice but has now also been proven in humans.

Dividing 26 participants into two groups, half the women received 480mg/day of choline, slightly more than the adequate intake level of 450mg/day, and the other 930mg.

Researchers then tested information processing speed and visuo-spatial memory at four, seven, 10 and 13 months of age, the Mirror reports.

They recorded how long each baby took to look towards an image on the periphery of a computer screen, a measure of the time it takes for a cue to produce a motor response.

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America Ferrera and Eva Longoria Bump It Up at Golden Globes Red Carpet

Posted on January 7, 2018

The stars came out tonight for the 2018 Golden Globes Awards.

In solidarity with the “Me Too” movement which involves women (and men) coming forward with sexual assault and harassment allegations, almost all of the women attended the show in black.

That movement spawned a “Time’s Up” initiative where celebrities have vowed to take up the charge of women, like the average worker, who may not have the same resources as wealthy and influential Celebs.

We were happy to see two first-time moms-to-be and Latinas, America Ferrera and Eva Longoria show off their bumps on the carpet as well.

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Celebrity

Atlanta Director Actor Donald Glover Welcomed His Second Child, Another Son

Posted on January 7, 2018

Fern is a daddy again! Well, not really Fern but the actor behind the Atlanta character, Donald Glover, who welcomed a second son with his girlfriend Michelle.

The Emmy and Golden Globe director, producer and actor confirmed the news to PEOPLE magazine during the upfronts for FX this week.

“I think my partner, she does all the hard stuff, to be honest,” he announced during the annual event where programming networks roll out their upcoming shows for the press. “She’s just very supportive. I haven’t really had to change anything. But it’s given me definitely another perception on what life is. It gives me a lot of context.”

The actor, 34, told Entertainment Tonight that his girlfriend Michelle is doing well.

“She’s great. She’s good,” Glover, who goes by the recording artist name “Childish Gambino” , told ET Friday. “Baby’s born, so she’s happier now.”

The baby joins big brother, Legend.

No other details, including the baby’s name and birth date, have been released. The star said fatherhood hadn’t changed but that he’s excited about the addition to his family.

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Parenting

7 Ways to Tell If Your Baby Might Be a Genius

Posted on January 7, 2018

Your child learned to read at an early age, breezed through flash cards and mastered the multiplication tables. You wonder, is she gifted?

Possibly even genius level? Well, there are a number of ways to know for certain just how sharp your little whiz-kid really is. We’re going to share some with you – ten ways to see if your kid really is a genius:

It’s in the genes. – To an extent at least, you can get a sense of a baby’s intellectual capacity from her parents. Are you and/or your spouse of genius level intelligence? Gifted parents will tend to have gifted children.
Verbal benchmarks. – If your child began talking before the age of one year, she is very likely gifted, possibly genius level, which is a score of 140 or more on a standard IQ test, by the way. There is really no more significance to the label than that, something to keep in mind.
IQ testing – Results can vary, as do the forms of testing depending on where they are taken and who is administering them. An IQ exam will test a wide range of skills and aptitude. Experts suggest testing a child’s IQ between the ages of 4 and 9 years old.
Child Development Specialist – A good place to start if you really wish to rate your child’s level of giftedness is with one of these professionals. They can administer the appropriate tests, and identify indicators that are common among gifted children.
Vocabulary – A gifted child will not only learn to read and speak at an early age, but also demonstrate command of an extensive vocabulary for their age. Reading will be a strong habit for a gifted child, and she will be able to incorporate newly learned words into her vocabulary quite readily.
At ease with adults. – It is common for gifted children to be able to interact easily with adults. Their interests and conversational skills will be considerably more advanced than those of average child their age.
Reasoning/Logic – A highly developed power of abstract thought and reasoning is another common trait among gifted children. They will typically be able to conceptualize subjects and ideas that are too complex for an average child to comprehend.

Let us know if you have a real Baby Einstein in your home.

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Celebrity

Leonardo, Dax, Denzel, Milo, Asthon and 7 Other Celebs Who Inspired Baby Names (INFOGRAPHIC)

Posted on January 7, 2018

There can be no doubt that celebrities impact what names we give our babies. There is research to back it up. A survey by Names.org looked at actors with unique names and found that as their star rose in Hollywood, the number of babies named after them skyrocketed.

“Most of the top 10 baby names of any year don’t come out of nowhere – they are usually quite popular the year before,” states CEO of RN Public Relations Rick Neil who handles PR for Names.org and who helped commission the study. “In fact, the top 10 names of any year are quite predictable.”

He added: “Since 1937, every single top 10 name for each year was in the top 25 the year before and nearly 99% of their time it was in the top 25 two years before. So, to make our predictions for 2018, we need to look no further than what is popular now. Some of the top boy names in 2016 (the most recent year the Social Security Administration has released data), including Noah, Liam, William, Benjamin, and James, will certainly make the list again in 2018. Likewise, Olivia, Emma, Ava, Sophia, and Mia will certainly be among the top girl names of 2018. We can say with nearly 99% certainty that the top 10 boy names and top 10 girl names of 2018 will be among the top 25 baby names of 2016. What about that other 1%? Check out the wildcard list of baby names trending now that might skyrocket in popularity.”

Foe example, Leonardo DiCaprio‘s career began in 1989 and that year, 398 boys were named Leonardo. As he got popular so did his name. In 2006, the year he filmed The Departed, 2,186 boys were named Leonardo.

Similarly, in 1998 when Ashton Kutcher filmed That 70s Show comedy, there were 1,028 boys were named Ashton. At the height of his popularity in 2005, when he filmed The Butterfly Effect, 5,435 boys were named Ashton.

Dax Shepard, Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Dustin Hoffman and many others have had an affect on baby names. Check out these 12:

12 Actors Whose Fame Inspired Baby Names

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7 Things To Do Before Returning to School After Having a Baby

Posted on January 6, 2018

You don’t have to let the fact that you had a baby before or in the middle of college deter you from returning or starting. Despite all the obstacles and challenges associated with returning to school after a baby, if you put in a plan, you certainly can do it and findAnanny.com wants you to use these beneficial suggestions to get it done.

1. Build a Support System – The most important thing for a student mom to have in place is a strong and reliable support system. Not only will you need help with childcare and managing the needs of your new baby while keeping up with your studies, you’ll also need a shoulder or two you can cry on when things get difficult. Finishing school as a parent will be a challenge, and having a few people in your corner can make all the difference.

2. Create a Routine That Works For Your Family – There is no hard-and-fast rule about how you have to structure your household routine, especially when your little one is still an infant. Find a schedule that works for you and build around it. If online classes are more conducive to learning and completing assignments than a traditional classroom setting, that’s the best solution for you. On the other hand, getting out of the house and interacting with your classmates may help you manage the demands of parenthood more easily. Whatever works for you is the best solution, regardless of how well it would work for someone else

3. Set Realistic Goals -You may have planned to take on a full course load before your pregnancy, but that may not be realistic after the birth of a child. Rather than setting goals that aren’t feasible and being disappointed when they prove to be a bit more than you’re ready to handle, take your time and make a plan that you can actually adhere to. Celebrate each milestone along the way and stay focused on each smaller goal as they approach

4. Work Out a Reasonable Timeline- Finishing school on the standard time table may be out of the cards for you as a new mom, and that’s okay. The goal is to finish, so take the time to figure out when you can realistically complete your studies. You may have to shoulder a lighter burden in terms of classes and finish later than some of your peers, but you’ll still leave with a diploma, which is better than trying to take on too much only to end up burned out and frustrated enough to quit school altogether. You may also have ideas of returning to school days after the birth of your child, however, that may not be possible. Finding the right time to return to school after you recover from delivery and have bonded with your new baby may be a bit more complicated than simply returning as soon as you’re discharged from the hospital.

5. Find a Caregiver You Trust – Your child will have to be cared for while you’re at school since you won’t be able to take her to class with you. To make the transition into school after becoming a new parent, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve found a childcare provider you absolutely trust and have no qualms about leaving her with. If you’re distracted and worried about your child’s safety while you’re in class, your academic performance probably won’t reflect your actual abilities.

6. Prepare for a Bit of Separation Anxiety -Regardless of how excited you are to get back into school after your maternity leave ends, you will feel at least a little bit of separation anxiety until you adjust to the idea of no longer spending the entirety of each day with the fascinating little person you’ve created. If you’re prepared for the stress of leaving your child in someone else’s care and understand that it’s just temporary, it can lessen the sting and help to make that pain a bit more manageable.

7. Don’t Be Scared to Adjust Your Schedule – As a new mom and a student, your schedule may have to be adjusted a few times until you find the one that works for you. Making adjustments is not the same as admitting defeat, so don’t be afraid to finagle things until you find the methods that work best for you and your new family.

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Tips

My Recommendations For At Home Spa Treatments for Cold Weather Self-Care

Posted on January 6, 2018

If you live in the East Coast, then you are aware that the weather temps are pure disrespectful! It’s a great time to stay indoors and keep warm. Whether you’re recovering from the bomb cyclone or stuck indoors because you’re on bed rest, one sure fire way to soothe your body and get some self care is to pamper yourself.

Personally, I am a BIG fan of pamper products, facials, manicures, body scrubs, pedicures, peels, you name it. All of it is not just great for helping you relax, but spa treatments can also help you expel toxins from your body. The top of the year is a great time to get a head start.

Pregnancy generates all sorts of hormones in your body that you can’t control. You may find yourself having a difficult time dealing with stress, and may be short tempered, moody and otherwise just irritable and miserable. A good facial, massage or body scrub can do wonders to ease some of that tension.

Start with some home brewed herbal tea. Chamomile, Peppermint, English Breakfast will work too. Sip slowly throughout your day to calm your spirit.

You don’t even have to leave the home to get a good facial or body scrub Hubpages has some great low cost recipes that you (or your spouse or partner, if you are on bedrest) can whip up using items already in your fridge and kitchen cabinet! Fab!

Facial Mask Recipes

Recipes for my favorite at-home face masks. Each provides unique benefits, but all are quick and easy to blend up at home, with ingredients you use every day.

Body Scrub and Salt Glow Recipes

Use these easy at-home body scrub recipes to bring life back into tired skin and give you the youthful glow of nourished, healthy skin all year round! Coffee Body Scrub Coffee tightens and rejuvenates skin.

Facial Cleanser and Scrub Recipes

Try some of these easy-to-follow recipes for homemade cleansers and scrubs that provide amazing benefits, for a fraction of the cost of those expensive brand-name formulas at the drug store.

If your budget can afford it, I recommend investing in a parafin foot tub. Add the wax blocks they come with that are infused with lavender and peppermint, then plug in and let the wax melt, dip in your feet, elbows, knees, hands or whatever body part needs smoothing and watch it work wonders. I have a tub under my desk as I type.

The South Korean face sheets were big and trending last year and the obsession with them has spilled into this year as well. Per InStyle mag, Chrissy Teigen and Karolina Kurkova to Lena Dunham and Lady Gaga hailing them for their skin-plumping, mind-stilling abilities.

Purchase them in your local drug or department store or order online and use them at the end of a stressful day or for no reason at all. There is no need to have an excuse to treat your body right. They start as low as $1.50 online.

Aromatherapy is excellent for the mood as well. Invest in a diffuser and some essential oils and have rosemary, lavender, sage waffling through the air as you work, do some housecleaning, listen to your fave podcast, or read a good book.

Essential oils can get costly so your best bet is to get a kit. My fave is ArtNaturals Aromatherapy Essential Oil and Diffuser set which comes with a vial of Peppermint, Tee Tree Oil, Rosemary, Orange, Lemongrass, Lavender, Eucalyptus and Frankincense.

I love that it glows in 7 colors and for safety it shuts off automatically. At $43 this is a steal because if you were to purchase each vial separately in a lot of places, you’re looking at spending $80 for the oils alone!

All of these recommendations will surely help you re-center yourself and your sensibilities and be able to tackle all that life throws at you…at least for the next few days, then repeat the process and get carried away all over again!

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Jeneba Jalloh Ghatt