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Bellyitch’s Top 5 Babymoon Destination Recommendations

Posted on July 25, 2014

Much is said about the importance of new parents getting a babymoon in before the delivery of a newborn, especially for first time parents who may be woefully unprepared for the drastic and dramatic shift in their lives to come. I don’t believe they were en vogue when I was first pregnant, but if I could go back in time and do it again, these would be my top 5 destinations and why:

1. La Jolla Cove, California- This quaint Orange County city is an absolutely fab place to get away to for several reasons. It’s near the water and provides a wonderful place to have a late evening picnic or to watch the sun rise or set. It boasts a generous amount of day spas for getting a pregnancy massage or a couple’s massage. It has lovely restaurants, boutique shops and brand name exclusive shops along the main boulevard. It’s moments away from bustling down town San Diego where you can find a live band in any genre playing at the varying pubs, clubs, nightspots and hangouts there. Highly rated. I loved going there on my one year wedding anniversary and would highly recommend it as a baby moon destination. If I could live my life over again, I’d apply to get into the University of San Diego which is near this town. Yeah. I love this area that much.

2. Saint Marteen and Saint Martin, West Indies. This twin island which is a Dutch property to the South and French one to the north provides visitors all the pleasures of vacationing in Europe but with the extra plus of being in a warm tropical hotspot surrounded by water. The few times I’ve visited, I was able to escape to the the North and take in the villas of the French side or walk into a bakery and greeted by the shopkeeper telling me “Bon Soir” just as if I were in Nice. I could also appreciate the wonderful international flavor of its multicultural population. Locals speak over 8 different languages and as you walk from one block to the next you are bound to hear people talking in different tongues. On the Dutch side, there is gambling and haggling. St. Maarten is known as one of THE best places to get a deal on jewelry. Then for an added bonus, for the fee of the price of a tiny ferry, you can take a day trip over to the even tinier island of Anguilla, a famous and often visited getaway for many A-list celebrities because of how secluded the villas and rented mansions are. It’s a great place to go to really get away and loaf on a quite beach. Love Love it!

3. Las Vegas, Nevada– You wouldn’t ordinarily think this is a wonderful place for a pregnant woman to go especially since many people smoke at the various casinos that litter that town. However, to the contrary, there is a variety of entertainment options offering from Cirque du Soleil to Vegas show girl caberets to world class concerts from music industry legends. Prince, Toni Braxton, Celine Dion and others all headlined major nightly shows there. Even if you go there for a weekend, you’re bound to take in a lot of sights and entertainment. And every time I go, I notice a brand new “it” hotel to supplant the one that was the hottest only a few years prior. Don’t sleep on Vegas as a baby moon option. You can’t get knocked up twice. So what happens in Vegas can stay in Vegas.

4. Paris, France – It’s not called the city of love for nothing. The museums, cultural sights, restaurants and shopping make this an ideal destination for any occasion. It may be a long while after baby comes that you will be comfortable either traveling with a baby, small child or children or okay leaving the kids for a Paris trip. While you have the opportunity, it may be a great time to take this sojourn across the ocean and to Europe.

5. Local Bed and Breakfast – Because not everyone has the budget, time away from work option or interest in traveling too far from family or the doctor or delivery hospital while pregnant, taking advantage of a quick weekend getaway to a nearby inn, bed and breakfast or hotel could do! There are sometimes specials on sites like GroupOn, LivingSocial and other sites that can be taken advantaged of and it saves the cost of car rental and air flight. You can plan to catch a play, movie or head to a local lounge or nightclub in the day and then order in, watch movies, chill by the hotel pool and vege at night. It’s a great option for those who already have kids and want some quiet time alone.

All these options are wonderful for mom and for dad who may have had to deal with an irritable, irate and demanding wife for nearly 9 months. Getting away on a baby moon gives couples that time to reconnect and rededicate their love one last time before the restless nights begin with a new baby!

Enjoy!

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Doctor who helped US Congresswoman through high risk pregnancy honored

Posted on July 24, 2014

A doctor who helped a Congresswoman go through a high risk pregnancy was honored yesterday on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Dr. Jessica Bienstock, who specializes in high-risk pregnancies at Johns Hopkins University, helped representative Jaime Herrera Beutler, congresswoman’s baby, Abigail Rose, now 1-year old, survive a rare condition in the womb. Abigail had Potter syndrome and didn’t have kidneys.

The disease causes the babies to have under-developed lungs and nearly always they newborns cquickly suffocate. Dr. Bienstock injected saline in the Congresswoman’s uterus and the baby improved substantially.

“If she’s a happy, healthy miracle, Dr. Bienstock is the miracle worker who helped give the gift of help and life to this family,” Speaker of the House John Boehner said when he introduced Bienstock on the House floor.

Abigail was born two months premature without kidneys and spent her first five months in intensive care. She is on dialysis and will need a transplant.

It was a touching moment and the Speaker even got teary eyed a bit thanking Bienstock and all doctors and those in the medical fields who help deliver miracle babies each year. Check out the video:

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Mom’s Guide to Health Reform and Maternity Coverage

Posted on July 24, 2014

This week, two different U.S. Court of Appeals issued conflicting rulings about how the federal government can subsidize those residents who have signed up for healthcare.

A DC Circuit Court said the federal government went too far offering subsidies and a 4th Circuit Court of Appeals hours in a similar case upheld the subsidies in their entirety.

It all reminded me to share this guide that will help your realize how your old policy may have changed whether it is new, newly covered or discontinued.

Mom’s Guide to Health Reform and Maternity Coverage by JJ Ghatt

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Confirmed: Zoe Saldana is three months pregnant

Posted on July 24, 2014

It is confirmed! After early speculation a few weeks ago, a publicist for Avatar actress Zoe Saldana confirmed the star is three months pregnant.

This will be the first child for the Guardians of the Galaxy actress and her new hubby of about a year Marco Perego.

And how cool he shared the same name as a popular baby manufacturer who was listed in our 2013 Bellyitch 100! Peg Perego! ha!

Congrats!

photo: Starcast

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Moms: Try these 3 workout moves from Fitness Pro Tracey Mallet

Posted on July 23, 2014

Tracey Mallett Maker, creator of the BootyBarre was used to being super fit. The fitness professional has filmed over 25 fitness DVDs but when she got pregnant with her first child, she fell into the trap of believing that old “eating for two” adage and gained 55 pounds. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommended pregnancy weight gain of no more than 25–35 pounds if you start out at a normal body weight.

Mallet wised up and for her second pregnancy, channeled her new found determination to not gain too much weight the next round by penning a book, Super Fit Mama, targeting both pregnant and post-pregnant women alike. In addition to recipes, nutrition tips, and easy exercises for every trimester during pregnancy, all a mom-to-be need to complete many of the exercises are 2 sets of dumbbells (3,5 or 7lbs), a mat and supportive sneakers.

No doubt, light to moderate exercise is an important part of feeling your best during pregnancy and bouncing back into shape afterward. Working out gives you energy and, according to the ACOG, may provide some relief from pregnancy symptoms such as backaches, constipation, and bloating and swelling as well as reduce your risk of gestational diabetes and help you sleep better.

Here are three moves from her Fit Pregnancy DVD to help you stay in shape before, during and after pregnancy:

1. Squat with Dumbbell Fly’s

The Move: hold on to the chair, bend at your knees, then open and close one arm, keeping your shoulder blade down and away from your ear. Pull abs in to protect lower back.

What It Does: Working mid-upper back, and posterior shoulders.

2. Wag the Tail

The Move: Take your bottom, tilt the pelvis, and rotate or move your hips. Move from side, bend, tilt, other side, bend, tilt – creating a circular motion with your hips. You are circling your pelvis, and pushing it away from the floor.

What It Does: Works your pelvic muscles and abdominals.

3. Clams

The Move: Knees bent, hand on hip, and fan leg up and away from other leg, keeping one leg secured to ground, and then back down.

What It Does: Works deep into your core and glutes, making the pelvis more stable.

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Celebrity Bump Watch Roundup: Scarlet, Vanessa and Kate

Posted on July 23, 2014

Here is what’s going on lately in Celebrity pregnancy news:

Scarlett Johansson continues to not confirm being pregnant OK! spotted her recently with a pretty sizeable baby bump. (OK)

Vanessa Lachey picked up a comfy outfit to complement her new pregnant body and she shared her first bump pic. (Instagram)

With Prince George‘s first birthday fast approaching, betters have been speculating on when Kate Middleton will announce her second pregnancy. However, some bookies are suspending bets because they feel there is so many people betting they think someone knows something. (People)

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10 bad eating habits parents teach their kids

Posted on July 23, 2014

Kids most often learn by example and I think we as parents tend to forget that fact as they get older. Once our kids are a little more self-reliant we usually go back to our habits as they were pre-children. As life picks up, moms go back to work when the kids start school, and everything gets busier, and it gets harder and harder to set a good example for our kids. Do you do any of the following bad habits in front of your kids?

Salting your food before you taste it: This used to be a secret test that interviewers would use to size up a candidate for a job. Their reasoning? Salting your food before you taste it at a restaurant means that you have preconceived notions about how it will taste and this could trend over into other aspects of your personality. With children, using too much salt is a bad habit to get into because it’s not good for blood pressure and it makes your body retain water. Instead, try to use other spices to season your food, adding flavor without unnecessary sodium.
Eating really fast: In our frenetic lives of running our children from activity to activity we often don’t have time to sit down as a family and enjoy our food. Eating too fast can lead to over eating because your body doesn’t realize that it’s full until after you’re done eating, and this can lead to weight gain. This is especially bad for our children because we are not teaching them to enjoy their food and listen to their body’s hunger cues. When they feel full they should stop eating.
Skipping breakfast: We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day so why do so many adults still skip it? Scientific studies have shown that people who eat breakfast weigh less than those that skip breakfast so why do so many women still skip breakfast to save calories? Kids especially need breakfast to fuel their bodies and brains for a long day at school. Unlike adults, they can’t – and shouldn’t – get up and go to the vending machine when they are hungry.
Midnight snacking: This late night habit of grabbing a snack is terrible for your system. Odds are that you are going to go to bed very soon after eating and those calories are not going to get burned off, which will also lead to weight gain. Kids who are active burn up calories a lot faster than adults and might need a healthy snack before they go to bed, but it should be at least a half an hour before bedtime and definitely not at midnight.
Eating while driving: Again, in our hectic lives we’re constantly running from one activity to another, whether with the same child or a different child or our own personal activities. We grab a bite through the drive-thru and inhale it while going down the road, and we are inadvertently teaching our kids the same as they eat their nuggets and watch us in the back seat. What we should be showing them is to drive undistracted and that it’s important to focus on our food and enjoy what we are eating. Mindless eating is what also another cause of people being overweight.
Skipping vegetables: We always think of children as not liking vegetables, but there are plenty of adults who don’t like vegetables either and it’s very hard to get your kids to eat vegetables if you don’t. Kids learn by example, and when you skip veggies they will skip them too.
Eating out a lot: See a reoccurring theme here? When we are busy there’s no time for preparing a home cooked meal. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that restaurant food has a lot more sodium and calories than a home cooked meal. Look into other options, such as making meals ahead of time on the weekends so you can just take them from the freezer and heat them up, or get out your slow cooker and use it for hectic weeknights. What’s nice about a slow cooker is that if you take a few minutes in the morning to prepare it and turn it on you can forget it until you get home. Also, if you eat in shifts everyone can eat hot food when they are ready to eat.

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Rachel Bilson and Kelly Rowland shopped baby clothes this weekend

Posted on July 22, 2014

Moms-to-be actress Rachel Bilson and singer Kelly Rowland were both spotted, separately, shopping for their babies this weekend.

Bilson was at the Bel Bambini store in West Hollywood, famous for being a celeb hotspot.

Rachel Bilson went shopping for baby clothes while displaying her bump: http://t.co/qvSd7JZt5n pic.twitter.com/2ANz18Qak2

— POPSUGAR (@POPSUGAR) July 15, 2014

Meanwhile, E! reports that their spies spotted Rowland at the Juvenile Shop in Sherman Oaks, California over the weekend shopping from a registry full of things for a baby boy. —and we’re told that her registry is entirely built for a baby boy!

Is @KELLYROWLAND having a boy?! The pregnant star goes shopping only for boy items! http://t.co/XpYJFIsxxZ pic.twitter.com/g5jgdLTPvL

— E! Online UK (@EOnlineUK) July 22, 2014

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This mom’s invention OmieBox takes on healthy lunch packing woes

Posted on July 22, 2014

They say necessity is the mother of inventions so are moms.

One such mom, Nancy Yen, set out to find a solution for parents who make an average of 180 lunches per child per year and are always struggling to find wholesome solutions. Most lunches are wasted and in fact, in most states food is the #1 source of school waste.

So with her design and engineer team of 2, Yen came up with OmieBox, an innovative bento box-like lunchbox:

It’s a lunchbox with a built-in vacuum insulated bowl, so parents can pack hot and cold food all in 1 box

It contains 3 leak-proof compartments that keep food separate and mess free

It includes special features that are so easy to use, kids never need to ask for help again

The OmieBox is also eco-friendly in that it is BPA-free and made of phthalate-free plastic. It is dishwasher safe, has an integrated utensil holder and comes in a variety of fun, eye-catching colors.

She is doing pretty well with her Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to mass produce and sell the boxes. It has far exceeded its $42,000 goal and has raised over $72,000 in orders and sales and support.

The campaign is still on and runs through August 20th. If you order a box through the campaign, you can get the box which retails for $49.50 for $10 off. Get yours HERE!

Sweet! Sign me up for three for my picky-eating brood of three!

photos: OmieBox

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Caught by Paparrazi: Bellyitch Alum Moms out and about

Posted on July 22, 2014

We usually don’t share pics taken by paparazzi per a new policy. However, while going through the pics of our favorite Pheeder Sellebrity Rick, we couldn’t help but to pick out a few of our Bellyitch Bumpwatch Babes looking fab while out and about, including Kim Kardashian back in May signing autographs after getting off a flight and landing at LAX, looking cute in all black.

And Hillary Duff looking tres buff after one of her intensive daily work outs.

And a surprised Nicole Richie shopping and still wearing her purple hair, we see.

And a rare shot of Jessica Alba emerging from a courthouse after someone got hitched!

And Saved by The Bell‘s Elizabeth Berkley giving her son comfort as he takes a pony ride.

And Rachel Zoe in June tending to her eldest son during an outing in an open air market.

And looking hawt is that Mrs Gwen Stefani baby wearing her son while shopping and stopping by for ice cream.

Lilit Avagyan, the new Mrs. Reggie Bush heading back to her car after a nail salon trip

And Hillary Duff again because she looks so svelte and saucy and is so cute! Love her!

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Jeneba Jalloh Ghatt