9 Things to Do to Avoid Hair Loss After Pregnancy

Posted on January 11, 2016

Bellyitch Rewind

Hair loss is a normal occurrence for a woman after a pregnancy. Telogen effluvium is the medical term for post-pregnancy hair loss, which happens to nearly 50 percent of women after they give birth. A temporary condition, this hair loss should not cause a woman to become bald or experience visibly thin spots. Use these tips to reduce or prevent hair loss after pregnancy.

Steps

Avoid hairstyles that pull or stretch your hair. Braids, cornrows, weaves or tight rollers can pull hair and cause stress and trauma to your scalp. Hair that is excessively pulled is more likely to fall out naturally, without the extra issue of telogen effluvium affecting your hair growth cycle.
Maintain a healthy diet that includes fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are not only naturally health, but they also contain flavonoids and antioxidants that protect hair follicles. Additionally, these foods encourage increased hair growth, which can offset any hair lost after pregnancy.
Add vitamins and nutrients to your diet. Vitamin B complex, vitamins E and C, zinc and biotin help increase hair strength and health. Take extra supplements or eat foods rich in these nutrients and vitamins to help retain pre-pregnancy locks.
Select a shampoo with quality ingredients. Shampoos that contain biotin or silica improve hair health and stimulate follicle growth. Use this shampoo regularly and rinse with cold water.
Comb your wet hair with a wide-toothed comb. A wide-toothed comb reduces the amount of pulling and stress you apply to your hair as you attempt to remove tangles after washing it. Excessive pulling of your hair can increase the chances of it falling out.
Reduce the use of heated styling tools. Heated styling tools like curling irons, hot rollers, flat irons and blow dryers dry hair out and may increase hair loss. Allow your hair to air dry and style it naturally. If you must use heated styling tools, use the coolest settings possible or give your hair a cool shot of air afterward with your hair dryer.
Trim split ends. Split ends cause your hair to be less healthy. Unhealthy hair is shed in larger amounts than healthy hair.

Avoid stress. Having a new baby to take care of can create more stress in your life, but try to avoid additional stressful situations or feelings. Stress can cause your hair to fall out or decrease in thickness. Avoid stress to increase your chances of retaining more of your pre-pregnancy hair
Get a shorter haircut. Long hair weighs more and pulls from your scalp with its constant downward pull. Shorter haircuts cause less pressure to your hair follicles, which will decrease chances of increased shedding. A shorter hairstyle may cause your hair to look fuller and healthier, in addition to being easier to take care of than longer styles.

Take it easy and good luck new moms!

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Don’t Tell Your Boss You’re Pregant Until You Do These 2 Things!

Posted on January 9, 2016

For many women, especially those who work in high pressure, productivity-related jobs, telling their boss and department heads they are pregnant can be stressful. It doesn’t have to be if you prepare. American Pregnancy put up a great post sharing excellent tips on how to prepare to do just that.

Of the tips that stood out, as an attorney, I highly endorse the following two:

Read your company’s maternity leave policy in their handbook and do some online research as well to get to know your state’s laws concerning pregnancy, maternity leave, and pay for when you’re on leave.
Put a plan into place that you can present to your boss. Think of who can cover on short notice if nausea sets in unexpectedly or you need to schedule a doctor’s visit during lunch.

Also, as the post notes, you don’t have to wait until you are 12 weeks to make your announcement, but since your chances of miscarrying reduce by 80% by then, it would be a good time to wait until you are at least that far along.

Certainly, you are free to wait longer but you may start to show at 20 weeks and you want to make sure you give your job adequate time to plan for your maternity leave and departure.

I know that some women elect to put it off as long as possible because they fear they will lose out on plum projects and opportunities if their office realizes they will be away from the job in the coming months. It’s a fragile thing, but planning is the best remedy to alleviate some of that anxiety.

Once an employer realizes you know your rights, they may be less likely to do something stupid like try to fire you or take away key responsibilities that you can handle perfectly fine until you deliver!

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Pregnancy

4 New Year Healthy Habits You Pregnant Chicks Need to Adopt Now!

Posted on January 6, 2016

While many people are dieting and changing their exercise and eating habits for the New Year, pregnant woman too can adjust theirs as well, not for losing weight, but for maintaining and elevating their health while carrying their babies.

Below are 4 tips from Veria.com, an online extension of the national health and wellness TV network Veria Living, to ensure a happy and healthy pregnancy.

1. Stay hydrated

Drink 8-10 cups of water each day. Even slight dehydration can dramatically reduce energy level. Avoid reaching for caffeinated beverages – anything more than two cups of tea or coffee a day can reduce your body’s levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin.

2. Think of lean proteins, including eggs and poultry as your friend

Remember to include some in each meal. Lean protein is super rich in B vitamins, which help convert food into energy.

3. Eat every 3-4 hours, 3 meals and 2 snacks

Not going more than 3-4 hours without food helps to stabilize your blood sugar. When blood sugar drops from lack of food you feel tired and cranky.

4. Take fish oil supplements

2,000 mg fish oil daily during pregnancy was found to reduce the incidence of Postpartum depression following delivery. If you didn’t take fish oil while pregnant, it is never too late to start. Other studies have found a higher intake of Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil will decrease depressive symptoms in non-pregnant individuals as well.

It’s Important to differentiate between the typical “new mom blues” and Postpartum depression. Some common symptoms of Postpartum depression are depressed mood, sleep problems, loss of appetite and trouble caring for your infant.

If you suspect you have Postpartum depression contact your healthcare provider to discuss treatment options.

Be well!

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How to Fake the Celeb Pregnancy Glow (A Step by Step Guide)

Posted on January 6, 2016

We share the secret of getting a beautiful pregnancy glow out of a bottle!

Theoretically pregnancy is meant to make you glow, its a biological ‘fact’. The increased amount of blood that’s circulating around your body is meant to give you a beautifully flushed look and as your skin retains more moisture and produces more sebum you’re meant to be glowing with a luminous dewy sheen – sound familiar?

Don’t worry if not, the combination of nausea, lack of sleep and sensitive skin experienced by many mums-to-be doesn’t lend itself well to natural radiance. Thankfully its easy to fake it – we explain how to get that ‘movie star’ pregnancy glow and only you need know its not real!

Step 1 – The Start

The first place to start is on the inside, drinking 8 – 10 glasses of water a day will do wonders for clearing your skin and helping to flush out water retention too. A good prenatal vitamin combined with a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruit, vegetables and omega rich foods will help too.

Step 2 – The Cleanser

Whether you suffer from dry, normal or oily skin its important to wash your face thoroughly twice a day. Using a gentle exfoliater such as Botanics In Shower Facial Polish will help to remove dead skin cells and improve circulation, banishing dull skin for good.

For best results apply in circular motions with your fingertips and rinse off with lukewarm water. Patting rather than rubbing your face dry can also help prevent blotchy skin and spider veins as you’re less likely to break the tiny capillaries that sit just under the surface of your skin.

Step 3 – The Moisturizer

Using a good moisturizer after cleansing is a must for gorgeous glowing skin. Massaging a fragrance free, sensitive moisturizer such as OZ Naturals Facial Moisturizer into your face and neck will really help to give your complexion a lift without irritating your skin. If possible it’s best to go for a moisturizer that contains an SPF factor to protect your skin against the sun’s harmful rays especially as this can also help to reduce the likelihood of chloasma (brown patches) developing.

Step 4 – The Base

Blend a light base into your skin with your fingertips. It’s specially designed to conceal dark circles and skin imperfections with minimal effort so you needn’t spend hours blending for that flawless finish. Tinted moisturizers and foundations like stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF contain light reflecting particles are also great for giving that dewy, smooth finish we all wish we had naturally.

Step 5 – The Blush

Recreate that gorgeous flushed look and perk up a grey complexion with a swirl of pink blush on the apples of your cheeks. A slightly shimmery, rosy color is always a good bet as it fakes a really healthy glow in an instant. I like Bobbi Brown’s Shimmer Brick because it accommodates all complexions.

Step 6 – The Highlighter

Blending a peach toned highlighter along your cheek and brow bones will really help to lift your look and mimic that pregnancy sheen in seconds. You only need to use a dot and you’ll be able to recreate that ‘slept like a baby look’ on the sly. MAC’s Primed for Perfection Prep + Prime Highlighter brings a soft, sheer wash of color to the skin and goes on smoothly.

Step 7 – The Mascara

A sensitive mascara in black/brown will be gentler and more flattering on tired eyes. Curl your eyelashes first for a really wide awake look. You can’t go wrong with the old drug store fave, Maybeline’s Great Lash that usually runs under $5!

Step 8 – The Lips

To top off your gorgeously glowy look a sheer lipstick is a must. Go for a shade that’s as close to your natural lip color as possible as this will really help to finish your ‘natural’ look. Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip is a light gel that has a plumping effect.

So, now you’ve faked radiant, glowing skin all you need to do is smile and pretend that you feel as gorgeous as you look!

photos: Getty, Imagestock, Starcast

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STUDY: Prescription Yeast Infection Medicine Linked to Miscarriage Risk

Posted on January 6, 2016

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A prescription drug for yeast infections may increase chances for miscarriages when used early in pregnancy, a large study in Denmark suggests.

The 17-year study involved oral versions of fluconazole, available in pills or liquid. It doesn’t provide any proof of harm, although the drug has been linked with other problems when used in high doses in pregnancy.

The researchers looked at more than 1 million pregnancies in Denmark, comparing outcomes among women who used oral fluconazole and those who didn’t.

Women who used the drug during the first six months of pregnancy were almost 50 percent more likely than nonusers to have a miscarriage. Women at increased risk included those on a low 150-milligram dose; those on higher doses faced greater miscarriage risks.

While fewer than 10 percent of women in each group had miscarriages — they totaled 710 — the researchers said doctors should use caution in prescribing the drug early in pregnancy.

The study, by researchers at State Serum Institute in Copenhagen, was published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Pregnancy

At Home Facial & Spa Recipes for Moms-to-Be on Bed Rest

Posted on December 29, 2015

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.

However, those on bed rest while pregnant can’t get away to get that much needed facial or body scrub. Also, in these tough economic times, it may not be financially feasible for non-bed ridden pregnant women to blow away cash pampering themselves, but that doesn’t mean they cant.

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!

Enjoy!

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.

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Why The Riding Boot is a Winter Wardrobe Staple for all Moms-to-Be

Posted on December 16, 2015

This winter, if you are preggers and looking for winter footwear to purchase for yourself or put on your holiday wish list, you cannot go wrong with The Riding Boot. Traditionally, these are Equestrian boots worn by those who ride horses, but fashion houses have taken them and put a fashion twist on them and mass produce them for the cosmopolitan market of fashion-conscious female shoppers.

It’s a wardrobe “must-have” in my book. Pregnant or not, each woman should have a pair of Riding Boots in her shoe closet.

The Riding Boot is also the pregnant woman’s best friend compared to other types of fall and winter boots.

The Riding Boot is stylish and comes in a lot of different colors and variations. Most brands sell leather Riding Boots but occasionally, you will spot a pair made of tough suede.

The Riding Boot is also easier to slip into while pregnant compared to a wedge boot. A lot have zippered sides and the calf area is usually wider so if you’re experiencing swelling during your pregnancy, that wider shaft can assist that extra girth in the calf.

You can also get a Riding Boot in a supple and flexible material with some give.

The heels on Riding Boots are usually low or flat which are perfect for moms-to-be who have to adjust as their center of gravity shifts as their bellies grow. With high heel boots, a pregnant woman risks a fall that can be potentially fatal to her baby.

My fave brand is Via Spiga because they sell in a moderate price range and you can get a good boot between $70 to $100 and even way less if you catch a good sale or find a pair in one of those discount stores.

Vince Camuto and BCBG Generation boots are most stylish and appealing to me. I love the classic look of Tory Burch. Her signature gold insignia on the boot also stands out and lets others know you’re wearing a quality boot. Of course, the Hunter and Burberry Boot is a great brand that is quality and recognizable. They are long lasting. Take care of them by polishing and brushing them regularly.

They’ll be a great investment!

Here are a selection of my fave Riding Boots, powered by our partners at ShopStyle:

Easy Street Women’s Kelsa Wide Calf Riding Boot • Easy Street Shoes • $89.99

Journee Collection Women’s Taven Riding Boot • Journee Collection • $69.99

Women’s Fly London Axil Elastic Back Riding Boot • Fly London • $299.95

Women’s Blondo Pakita Waterproof Riding Boot • Blondo • $169.95

Burberry House Check and Leather Riding Boots • Burberry • $495

Crown Vintage Women’s Sporty Riding Boot • Crown Vintage • $59.99

Women’s SlimpackTM Riding Tall II Boot • Sorel • $215

Tory Burch Sofia Tall Riding Boots • Tory Burch • $348.60

Sam Edelman Portman Riding Boots • Sam Edelman • $175

G by Guess Harson Tall Riding Boots Women’s Shoes • G by Guess • $89

Tommy Hilfiger Ilia2 Wide Calf Riding Boots, Created for Macy’s Women’s Shoes • Tommy Hilfiger • $79.99

Style & Co Madixe Riding Boots, Created for Macy’s Women’s Shoes • Style&Co. • $49.99

Inc International Concepts Frankii Riding Boots, Created for Macy’s Women’s Shoes • INC International Concepts • $129.99

Croft & Barrow® Alice Women’s Ortholite Riding Boots • Croft & Barrow • $49.99

Women’s Cole Haan Katrina Riding Boot • Cole Haan • $219.90

Women’s Blondo Volly Waterproof Riding Boot • Blondo • $159.90

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Get Out of My Uterus: Talking Societal Pressure to Have Children on Stiletto Moms Radio (VIDEO)

Posted on December 15, 2015

Married or committed couples get asked repeatedly over the course of their relationship when they will start a family. For some, they are not ready. For others, they don’t want children ever. Still, many are actually trying to conceive but facing difficulty, yet get to have to deal with the intrusive queries from well-meaning family and friends.

The cost of having children also weigh heavy on many young couple’s minds and a lot of people still want financial stability in their lives before going down that path. Some single women get tired of waiting for Mr. Right and decide to have a baby on their own.

Others are more traditional and because of religion, their Faith or other reasons decide they will not have a baby out of wedlock or a committed relationship.

Some opting out of raising a baby alone know the struggles of single parenthood and others were raised by a single mom or dad and know how difficult it was for them and do not want to subject their would-be offspring to the same challenges.

All of these complex issues were discussed on a recent episode of Stiletto Moms Radio.

I was a guest on the show and had a great lively, animated and very REAL conversation with the host, Neneh Diallo, and her other guest, Nina Perez of Mom Rising.org. who penned a popular blog post, “Stop asking me when I’m going to have a baby, because I just can’t afford it.”

The full show is 45 minutes. Watch or listen in the background! (AND SUBSCRIBE to STILETTO MOMS RADIO for future Shows)

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REPORT: US Pregnancy & Abortion Rate Hit Record Low

Posted on December 13, 2015

The U.S. pregnancy rate and abortions have hit a record low, according to a new research by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the Guttmacher Institute released Friday, NBC News reported.

“The pregnancy rate for women in the United States continued to decline in 2010, to 98.7 per 1,000 women aged 15-44, a record low for the 1976-2010 period. This level was 15 percent below the 1990 peak,” wrote researchers Sally Curtin and Joyce Abma of the NCHS and Kathryn Kost of the Guttmacher Institute.

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Pregnancy

Eco-Friday: 4 Things you Can ReUse While Pregnant

Posted on December 11, 2015

Reusing items is one way to “go green,” since doing so produces less waste and ultimately means less resources are used to manufacture new items. Here are a few items you can reuse during pregnancy to reduce your – and your baby’s! – carbon footprint.

1. Reusable water bottle – It’s vitally important to stay hydrated during pregnancy! Instead of buying bottled water, invest in a high quality and eco-friendly reusable water bottle so you can fill up at home and keep water with you while you’re on the go.

2. Food storage containers – During pregnancy, it’s important to keep a light snack with you while you’re out and about in case hunger strikes. Be sure to keep your snacks in reusable food containers rather than disposable plastic bags.

3. Maternity clothes – If you don’t already have maternity clothes from a past pregnancy to reuse, consider finding what you need at a thrift store, garage sale or consignment store. You might even have a no-longer-pregnant friend with some maternity clothing to get rid of.

4. Items for baby – Since you’ll be doing plenty of shopping for baby now, during your pregnancy, start thinking about how you get your baby off to a eco-friendly start in life. Cloth diapers are reusable – you can even use them for more than one child! Some cloth diapering moms also use reusable cloth wipes for clean up at changing time. You can also reuse toys, clothes and larger items like cribs and play yards. You might have these items still on and from when older children were little, but even if this is your first baby or if you got rid of those items before, you can still reuse by shopping at thrift stores, consignment shops, garage sales and looking out for general freebies. Family members and friends might also have items they’d like to unload.

As you can see, there are many ways to make use of reusable items during your pregnancy. Many cities even have entire consignment shops dedicated to items and clothes for pregnant moms and babies, so you can be green even without having to search and search through thrift store racks and garage store piles to find what you need – unless that’s something you enjoy, of course!

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