Celebrity

FABLife’s Leah Ashley Welcomes Son, Ford Francis After IUD Pregnancy

Posted on November 18, 2015

Leah Ashley livingwithleah • Instagram photos and videos

Happy Bornday to FABLife’s DIY expert Leah Ashley and her husband Michael Finn on the birth of their first child together, a son, Ford Francis Finn .

Homegirl worked right until the last day of her pregnancy because it was just yesterday when she was revealing a photo of the last day on the set on the daily lifestyle talk show.

The talk show host shared a photo on her Instagram of the new arrival.

Tune in today to @fablifeshow because its my last day before maternity leave & they threw me a surprise party!!! I’m gonna miss being apart of the show everyday so much!! But I’ll be back soon! I’m so grateful for all the love and support that I’ve received from the show, from our viewers and from all of you through out my pregnancy!! And I can’t wait for you all to meet Baby Finn!!!! ???????❤️?
A photo posted by Leah Ashley (@livingwithleah) on Nov 17, 2015 at 10:10am PST

And now he is here!

“And just like that, in an instant our hearts doubled in size & our lives changed forever. Introducing Ford Francis Finn. 7lbs 13oz of pure perfection,” Ashley captioned a tender moment between her newborn son and husband. “Thank you for all of your prayers and well wishes… They worked!! And thank you to @snap_jacks for capturing this sweet moment between my boys.”

And just like that, in an instant our hearts doubled in size & our lives changed forever. Introducing Ford Francis Finn. 7lbs 13oz of pure perfection. Thank you for all of your prayers and well wishes… They worked!! And thank you to @snap_jacks for capturing this sweet moment between my boys. A photo posted by Leah Ashley (@livingwithleah) on Nov 18, 2015 at 9:14am PST

Aww the cuteness and Thank GOD he is well! As Ashley shared with Glamour.com , this birth is a result of an unplanned IUD pregnancy.

The newlyweds had plans for kids but not in the immediate future but God. About the experience, Ashley told the site:

I would say get as much information as you can. I did a lot of research about other women who had experienced an IUD pregnancy and I had many long conversations with my doctor about the potential risks that my baby and I might face along the way. Overall, you have to take one day at a time and make choices that make the most sense for you. Every woman and every pregnancy is completely different. The ‘one day at a time’ motto has really kept me from becoming too overwhelmed and freaked out. If you can’t take it one day at a time, take it minute by minute…I’ve had those days as well.

She was fearful at first.

The scariest thing about finding out I was pregnant with an IUD was not knowing if the pregnancy was viable. For about a month, we didn’t know if the baby was forming in the correct place and there was a major risk of the baby forming in my fallopian tubes, which would have resulted in surgery. There was also about a 50 percent chance of miscarriage.

Ashley tempted plenty of odds up to the birth, starting with getting pregnant while using an IUD

I had [a copper] IUD for four years without incident before I found out I was pregnant, early this March, I knew that no birth control could ever be 100 percent effective, but I also knew that the probability of getting pregnant was very, very, very low. I never thought I would be one of the very few women that this happens to. But even once I missed my period, I figured it had to do with stress. It wasn’t until I started feeling extra tired and my period was about two weeks late that I decided to take a pregnancy test. Even then, I assumed it would come back negative!

Wow! Someone had other plans in mind!

It’s a Good thing the new parents got in one last date night earlier, cause it’s a wrap now!

My feet are too swollen for these heels but I’m sucking it up! Tonight is our last real date night as non parents & before we are inundated with family for the arrival of baby Finn! #37Weeks #AlmostThere #TryingToKeepItSexy
A photo posted by Leah Ashley (@livingwithleah) on Oct 30, 2015 at 6:47pm PDT

h/t on IUD story Glamour

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World Prematurity Day: Take the March of Dimes ‘Purple Pledge’ for Awareness

Posted on November 17, 2015

Today, November 17 is World Prematurity Day dedicated to increasing awareness on premature births worldwide and the need for research, resources and support to lessen the number of global premature births.

Today, according to the March of Dimes:

• Prematurity is the No. 1 cause of death in infants

• The premature birth rate has risen by 36% over the last 25 years

• Every year 1,400 babies are born prematurely right here in Southwest Missouri

• Prematurity costs $71 million in the Ozarks, $26 Billion nationwide

• November is also Prematurity Awareness Month

“It just makes sense that an issue affecting a life at its earliest stages would affect every stage in life,” said Amy Temple, chair for the 2016 March for Babies campaign. “The research that is funded by the March of Dimes is linked to research in so many other medical breakthroughs.”

The March of Dimes’ 2015 birth report card released this month identifies different regions of the nation’s stats related to premature birth. Find out how your state fares HERE!

On today, World Prematurity Day, March of Dimes is also encouraging people to take the “Purple Pledge,” a social media campaign to spread awareness.

To take the pledge, visit the MarchofDimes.org

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Seriously…Dads-To-Be Are Social Media Posting the ‘Birthie’ Now?

Posted on November 13, 2015

Um…so you’ve heard of the Selfie and the Usie and the Belfie, but behold, a Reddit user this week went viral with his “Birthie“, a photo of his wife in the 12th hour of labor.

As one could imagine, the photos upset a few of the 1.4 million and counting people who saw the viral photo of Gil Silano all smiles with his wife Sarah grimacing in pain in labor on a delivery bed. But it turns out it was her idea to capture their expressions as the baby entered the world, Silano says.

‘My wife wanted to make sure that someone took a picture of the expression on our faces when our daughter was born today.,” Silano captioned the pic. “So I took one.”

The proud dad-to a daughter born soon after the photo said he showed her the photo and she chuckled and the laughter continued even as he read all the comments on it.

‘I showed it to her in between pushes and she cracked up. Now I’m reading her all of you guys comments while she feeds our healthy 7lb 6 oz girl,” he added. “P.S. Her mom took pics of our reactions 10 mins later :).”

In coverage of the viral photo, the Daily Mail reminded its readers of last year’s marathon photo session that Brit singer Robbie Williams took of his wife Ayda Field when she was in labor and eventually delivered their second child , son Charlton Valentine, last year, October 2014.

The “Take That” singer-songwriter snapped himself pleasant looking while his Turkish American actress wife looked downright miserable and probably in pain.

He also took a pic of her glittered Louboutin pumps on while her legs were propped up in stirrups with the caption: “‘When Ayda goes into labour she comes correct.” Funny!

He shared photos of himself entertaining her and of the two knocked out asleep wearing matching sleeping eye masks.

Honestly, I can dig it because it’s another example of social media being used to keep it all the way real with folks and share the insider look into what pregnancy, labor and delivery REALLY are about…and the wives looked like they appreciated the distraction from the other pain of labor and delivery. Good stuff!

h/t Daily Mail

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Celebrity

19 & Kids Stars Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald Welcome First Child, A Son

Posted on November 8, 2015

The seewalds jessa duggar and ben seewald

19 Kids & Counting stars Jessa Duggar Seewald and her husband Ben Seewald welcomed their first child together this week, November 5.

The couple released a first photo on their website.

“Our sweet baby boy was born last night.,” Ben wrote in the simple post. “He weighed 9 lbs and 11 ounces and is 21 1/4 inches long! He’s precious and both he and Jessa are doing great. Stay tuned—we will share his name.”

<3 this sweet family of three! #BabySeewald MORE DETAILS: http://ow.ly/Um42I
Posted by Jill & Jessa: Counting On on Friday, November 6, 2015

Whoa baby! 9lbs!?!

Soon the 111,000 folks who voted on a baby name will learn if the Seewald’s picked one of the top 5 vote getters in an online survey they ran on their website: Luke, Zachary, Sawyer, Noah or Benjamin. Obviously no longer in the running are the top 5 girl names their website visitors picked: Savannah, Sarah, Olivia, Rachel , Hope.

Congrats to the Happy couple and growing Duggar (and Seewald) family.

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Stanford Students Created a $300 version of a $20K Incubator For Babies in the Developing World

Posted on October 22, 2015

Each year, more than 1 million babies die on their birth day.

About 20 million premature and low birth weight babies are born worldwide each year with 4 million dying within the first 4 weeks of life, according to the World Health Organization. This amounts to 450 babies that die each hour and a substantial number of those that die are born in the developing world where there are not enough incubators which cost about $20,000.

Also, many babies are born in rural areas far from hospitals with adequate facilities to care for a premature newborn. A lot of the babies really just need warmth an incubator provides during those first crucial months. Some babies are born with so little fat and many are unable to control their own body temperatures.

About 6 years ago, four Stanford University students were challenged in a class project to design a portable life-saving incubator that cost less than $300. The group, led by then female student, Jane Chen traveled to India, where the caregiver to patient ration is 1:2,000, to research and perfect their design.

And they did it, creating the Embrace Infant Warmer.

“Incubators are vital because the internal organs of premature babies are not fully developed at birth,” Chen wrote in a 2010 piece on CNN.com. Chen is now the co-founder and CEO of Embrace Innovations, a social enterprise that aims to help the 20 million premature and low birth weight babies born every year, through a low cost infant warmer.

She explained the concept and design of Embrace:

Embrace Infant Warmers are non-electric, miniature sleeping bags that use a removable wax insert, which can be heated safely using hot water. The product is easy to sanitize and can be heated over and over again.
The product has been designed specifically for resource-constrained settings. It looks like a small sleeping bag, which incorporates a wax-like phase change material in a plastic pouch that melts at body temperature (98.6 F) to keep the baby at a constant temperature.
The PCM pouch can be heated with either a short burst of electricity or by placing it in boiling water. Once melted, it can maintain a constant temperature for up to eight hours, after which it can be reheated.
In addition to being low cost, the product does not require a constant supply of electricity, complements existing practices such as skin-to-skin care and is extremely safe and intuitive to use.

After creating a prototype, the team launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to produce their first round of Warmers used in India. Today, Embrace ships the warmers to local clinics and other areas in the developing worldwide. Costing less than 1% of a traditional incubator, the Embrace Infant Warmer has helped over 150,000 babies to date.

The goal is to save the lives of 20 Million babies and they are well on their way. Embrace is not stopping there. This May, it launched another campaign and are creating a line of affordable healthcare technologies for women and children around the world.

This invention looks like a tiny sleeping bag and it s helped save 150 000 babies.

Good stuff!

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Celebrity

Jersey Shore’s JWoww got Married, Announced 2nd Pregnancy, Gives up Reality TV to Be a Stay-at-home Mom

Posted on October 19, 2015

Another MTV Jersey Shore cast member has gone from wild, reckless party girl to a settled mom and wife!

This Weekend, Jennifer “JWoww” Farley married her longtime beau Roger Matthews who is the father of her 14-month old daughter, Meilani.

E! News reports that the couple revealed during the wedding night party that JWoww is expecting their second child

“By far one of the best days of our lives outside Meilani being born,” the couple said to E! News shortly after their wedding. “So blessed to have our daughter share this day with us!”

Meilani served as the flower girl for the event, the entertainment website reports.

JWoww and her bestie Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi were featured cast members of the long running show about young adults that vacationed on the Jersey shore for the summer and a spin off about their new more domestic lives called Snooki and JWoww.

Snooki has announced that she will focus on her role as a mom for a while. She and her husband Jionni LaValle are parents to one-year old daughter Giovanna Marie and 3-year old son Lorenzo Dominic. The two married last year in November, a few months after their second child was born. JWoww was one of 15 bridesmaids at the “Great Gatbsy” themed wedding.

They are following in each other’s footsteps because JWoww too has said she will become a full time stay at home mother.

Congrats!

photo: MTV

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‘Nashville’s Hayden Panettiere Opens up About Her PostPartum Depression

Posted on October 1, 2015

Nashville star Hayden Panetierre accepted the “25 Things You Don’t Know About Me” challenge and revealed a lot about her pregnancy and the fact she suffered from postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in December 2014.

From the list she posted inside an US Weekly piece, we now know:

She and her best friend had their babies 6 months apart, she gained 43 pounds during pregnancy, she delivered her daughter in Hawaii, and said daughter is in the 88 % for height already, probably because her dad world fighter champion Wladimir Klitschko is super tall.

The last item on her list of the 25 items: “I suffered a bit of postpartum depression. You’re not alone or crazy, ladies!”

The original Heroes alum opened up some more this week during a visit to Live with Kelly and Michael morning show. She revealed that she too had previous misconception about the condition:

“I can very much relate. It’s something a lot of women experience. When [you’re told] about postpartum depression you think it’s ‘I feel negative feelings towards my child, I want to injure or hurt my child’ — I’ve never, ever had those feelings. Some women do. But you don’t realize how broad of a spectrum you can really experience that on. It’s something that needs to be talked about. Women need to know that they’re not alone, and that it does heal.”

Postpartum depression is a condition that affects up to 80 percent of mothers in the US.

This ailment, sometimes called the “baby blues”, can vary from mild to severe depression and can last from weeks to months. Before you give birth, it is important to understand the warning signs of postpartum depression and know where to seek help if you suspect you have this condition. For most women, postpartum depression strikes within the first weeks after their baby is born.

The common symptoms are crying, mood swings, and a feeling of sadness. Some women experience decreased energy, a loss of interest in things they previously enjoyed, and sometimes trouble bonding with their new baby.

Postpartum depression usually fades away within weeks after the baby is born, but for some women it can last longer and be more severe than the simple “blues”. Women experiencing severe postpartum depression may feel irritable and irrational.

Some with extreme cases may even have thoughts and feelings of hurting themselves or their babies.

These are serious signs that need to be treated right away. If you suspect that you are suffering from postpartum depression the best thing you can do is seek your doctor immediately. She will have some suggestions for how to help cope with these feelings in the following weeks. Women suffering from severe depression may be given a prescription for an antidepressant medication that will help ease the symptoms.

If you are suffering from postpartum depression, remember that you are not alone. This common condition happens to most mothers shortly after birth. It is treatable and for most women it goes away easily within a few weeks. There is no reason to suffer in silence with this kind of depression. Talk to your doctor, seek help, and know that you are facing what millions of other mothers have also faced.

h/t I am not the babysitter

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Celebrity

DWTS Alum, Model Elisabetta Canalis is having a Fabulously Fit Pregnancy (EXCLUSIVE INTVW)

Posted on September 25, 2015

When you last saw the leggy Italian beauty Elisabetta Canalis she was probably doing a pirouette with her dance partner on Season 13 of Dancing with the Stars. Too bad she didn’t make it too far in the competition, which included currently preggers Kristin Cavallari. Some have joked women were jealous that she had once dated George Clooney for a couple of years.

In any event, the actress and working model has moved up and on and these days can be seen looking fabulously preggers. She and her orthopedic surgeon husband Brian Perri are expecting their first child together.

Bellyitch nabbed an exclusive chat with the brand new Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF Italy to check in on her before she gives birth in a few weeks.

So far, she and hubby have not yet picked a baby a name and will do the unconventional thing and wait until they see her to decide.

Canalis and husband Dr. Ben Perri – Instagram

“We have changed the name so many times” Canalis states. “My husband and I have different taste so we will decide after looking at her little face!”

Sounds like a plan and fortunately, from scanning her Instagram pics where she shares pregnancy with fans and followers, she looks like she is managing weight gain despite the fact she is craving “carbs and sugar.”

No one ever is lucky enough to crave something healthy like carrots and wheat grass, but Canalis is managing the cravings pretty well.

“I accept my cravings but I make compromises. If I eat cookies, tarts, cakes or pizza I cannot eat other carbs. For me, personally, I am happy this way. If you crave more pasta than other stuff, don’t eat sugar. Drink water!” she advises.

Staying healthy and fit on the Reformer in a Pilates Studio – Instagram

It may not matter anyway because Canalis stayed quite active during her first pregnancy and that’s usually a guaranteed way to drop baby weight. In IG pics she’s seen rowing and being pretty consistent and religious with Reformer Pilates, a machine we here love at Bellyitch.

Canalis stays fit on a reformer, a pilates exercise equipment, keeping fit – Instagram

She also tells us she goes to the gym twice a week, hikes, drinks plenty of fruit and veggie juicesto stay healthy, adding “I found that reducing the salt gives great benefits too!”

On handling unsolicited advice, Canalis says she takes it all in but will adhere to only certain ones, depending on the source.

” I get so much advice and I am happy to have friends who can tell me what is the best thing to do in any case,” she says. “For sure I will take the advice from friends whose children are raised to the way I want to raise mine. I had the chance to see accomplishments and mistakes that many of my friends made with their kids and I will use their examples.”

Showing off her baby bump with her mom. – Instagram

Friends’ stories can also pile onto existing fears and to avoid stressing over the horror stories Canalis recommends you stay away from YouTube.

She did watch “The Happiest Baby on the Block” and recommends at least one baby book though you’d have to understand Italian (or get a translated copy).

“There is a book I am reading that has been a blessing for some friends of mine, it is about understanding the difficulties that newborns generally have falling asleep and what the parents shouldn’t do! The names of the writers are Eduard Estivill and Sylvia de Bejar (Italian title Fate la nanna).”

It’s very common for children of celebrities to follow in their footsteps. Canalis says won’t discourage her soon-to-be born daughter (who we know will be gorgeous) from going into the entertainment field.

Looking great while chilling at Manhattan Bridge in New York -Instagram

“She will have to study first then she can try to do whatever she likes,” Canalis says then jokes, “she will have 2 kinds of examples at home, mine, working in the entertainment business, and her dad’s example of doing a serious job “.

She must not be serious because, although fabulous, the life of an actress and model can be taxing.

She has no time to chill and has to get back into shape soon after giving birth.

Posing an an awesome shirt earlier in her pregnancy – Instagram

“I will start to work out and eat properly as soon as I’m be able to. I have to shoot a fashion campaign 2 months after I deliver so…I won’t have that much time!”

Canalis has a very healthy attitude about sharing her pregnancy with her fans and followers on social media, she tell us:

Sometimes I just don’t want to bother people or my fans by saying how I don’t feel great during these 9 months for this and that…. Talking about back pain, carpal tunnel or about all the bad sides of pregnancy makes this moment only harder and…. there is always someone who feels worse than you. I don’t even like the idea of taking sexy provocative pictures right now…But this is only about me. Demi More was stunning when she posed naked for a magazine cover during her pregnancy…. I would only look goofy trying to be like that!

Bravo! Bellissimo!

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Celebrity

Cocoa Austin compares bump With hubby’s SVU co-star Kelli Giddish

Posted on September 10, 2015

While visiting the set of her husband Ice T‘s show Law and Order: SVU recently, talk show and reality TV star Coco Austin used the opportunity to update her Instagram fans on her pregnancy and catch up with fellow preggers SVU star, Kelli Giddish.

Of her pregnancy, the buxom host of FOX talk show Ice and Coco wrote in a photo of herself in a paisley halter maxi dress cupping her belly:

So u ask where is my baby bump? Well, basically its going ALL to my boobs.LOL almost 26 weeks & there is still little sight of #babychanel

Again I feel so blessed to be breezing through the stages of pregnancy and hope it doesn’t change. I do wear less heels but honesty my feet haven’t given me problems yet! Instead of working out 3-4 times a week I brought it down to maybe twice a week but then again fitness hasn’t even been a priority..I don’t really crave food that much and have only gained 5 pounds.. I’m not usually a sweets person but I do crave a little at night right before I go to bed now and lastly she’s kicking & moving around like crazy in my belly..I always joke, she’s practicing her yoga!! Haha….. Ok so there is your update. I’m on the set of Law&Order and had some downtime to fill you in

She also posed with Giddish (Det. Amanda Rollins on the show) who is 33 weeks along and who had a less glam, and more laid back natural barfeet boho look going on.

“I love my homegirl @kelligiddish its so cool were preggers at the same time!” Austin captioned the pic. “LaborDay weekend fun! #svu

Kelli is #33weeks I am #26weeks”.

Giddish, who married husband Lawrence Faulborn in an intimate ceremony on June 20, is also expecting her first child…just as Austin is with hubby of over a decade, rapper and actor Ice-T.

Cool! Looking good ladies!

photos: Instagram

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Parenting

Your Birth Order says This About Your Love Life

Posted on July 29, 2015

Since I am a BIG believer in birth order shaping the personality of individuals, I was very interested to see this article from Yahoo!Match.

Want some fresh insight into your love personality? Forget about whether you’re a Leo, Pisces or Aquarius; instead, consider whether you’re a first-born, middle child, or baby of the family. If you want to understand how you operate in every kind of relationship, “understanding birth order is a lifesaver,” stresses psychologist Kevin Leman, Ph.D., author of The Birth Order Book. Read on for more insight into your love life:

If you’re an oldest child…

It’s no coincidence that most U.S. Presidents were first-borns, because this is the sign of natural leaders. You’re a take-charge person, so not the type to drive friends and romantic partners crazy asking questions like, “I dunno where we should eat; where do you want to go?” Instead, you’ll make sure you have reservations — and land a prime table, too. And anyone lucky enough to pair up with you won’t spend weeknights wondering whether he or she has Saturday night plans, because “oldest kids are planners,” says Dr. Leman. You’re also old-fashioned (in a good way). You always come through on anniversaries and Valentine’s Day.

Your love challenge: Being more spontaneous. First-borns aren’t the “seize the day” sort (you’re not one to text your sweetie to suggest meeting at this fun café you just walked past). Likewise, “you hate surprises,” Dr. Leman warns. Pity the fool who springs meeting the parents on you or when you thought it was just the two of you going out tonight!

Best match: The youngest child. “It’s a case of opposites attracting,” says Dr. Leman. “You help the last-born be more organized, and the last-born helps you lighten up.”

Read more about middle kids, only children and youngest at Yahoo!Match

Also, to pair it, here’s a 2009 article about the characteristics of birth order from Popsci

First Borns: Energetic, Logical, Ambitious, Enterprising, Scholarly. Famous first born children: Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, Oprah Winfrey, Rush Limbaugh and Arsenio Hall.

Middle Children: Flexible, Diplomatic, Rebellious, Attention-seeking, Competitive, Peacemakers. Famous middle born children: Donald Trump, Ted Kennedy, Tim Allen, Julia Roberts, and Rosie O’Donnell.

Last Born Children: Risk takers, Idealists, Good sense of humor, Immature, Attention-seeking, Secretive, Sensitive. Famous last born children: Howard Stern, Jay Leno, Ralph Nadar, Bill Gates, and Danny DeVito.

Only Children: Mature faster, Get along well with older people, Responsible, Self-Centered, Perfectionists, Attention-seekers and Have difficulty sharing. Only children tend to be a special breed in that they can share the common personality traits of any of the above 3 main birth orders. However, they are generally more aligned with the traits of the first born. Famous only children include: Nancy Reagan, Chelsea Clinton, Carol Burnett, and Ted Koppel.

Interesting stuff, no?

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The last baby born

Another MTV Jersey Shore cast member has gone from wild, reckless party girl to a settled mom and wife!