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]]>Babymoon:
Babymoon: EXCELLENCE PLAYA MUJERES Is Absolutely Gorgeous!
Gorgeous mama-to-be was on a babymoon vacation recently and she’s shared with us her amazing experience from her trip to Mexico.
Enjoy!
At what week of pregnancy did you take this trip?
I was 23 weeks pregnant during my vacation.
Your babymoon destination and why?
We went to Playa Mujeres Mexico. We chose this because of the resort – it was adults only and was known for its amazing food! We are both foodies so it seemed like the perfect fit. The beaches were so gorgeous with fine white sand and clear turquoise waters! A plus – it doesn’t break the bank.
How long was the plane trip and how did you cope with flying during pregnancy?
I was asleep most of the flight, to be honest. The flights themselves weren’t long it was the layovers that were lengthy. I believe the total flight time (between two flights) was five hours.
How long was your babymoon vacation?
It was one week!
How would you describe your babymoon experience?
It was amazing. It was relaxing. We had perfect weather and the best food. I loved the luxurious treatment and pampering I received at the resort. My boyfriend got me a lovely prenatal massage that was heavenly and we did many excursions. Every night was like a date night!
Fun things to do at this destination
For anyone visiting this area of Mexico a tour of Chichen Itza (Mayan Ruins) is a must. We also took a catamaran ride to Isla Mujeres. And went swimming in a cenote (a sinkhole within a cave that contains groundwater) it was BEAUTIFUL!
Which of these activities did you enjoy more?
Swimming in the cenote was definitely lovely! This and Chichen Itza were my two favorite excursions. I really enjoy experiencing history – such as the Mayan ruins.
Things to know about this destination
For pregnant women traveling here, I would be mindful that some areas in Mexico do have outbreaks of Zika virus – even currently. There were no mosquitoes in this area of Mexico but in other areas they are rampant. I would suggest to do your research to best protect you and your baby!
Some of the amenities you enjoyed?
Room service! All-inclusive is lovely in that you can order whatever you’d like. I definitely ate like a queen while I was there! Eating for two had me eating well haha!
The funniest thing that happened to you during your babymoon?
I blame my horrible pregnancy brain for this. Haha, I can’t remember a specific funny moment!
5 essentials to pack for your babymoon and why?
Especially for a beach babymoon – I would say these are 5 essentials
Sunscreen!
Comfortable maternity swimwear. Laying on the beach with a baby belly is no fun if you have a fussy swimsuit.
Dresses! For me easy of wear was huge. I loved being able to just throw on a cute summer dress and go. Maternity shorts? Meh. No thanks.
A good tinted moisturizer. For my makeup-wearing ladies, this was a must! I love to wear makeup but a full face in that Mexico heat? No thanks. The tinted moisturizer had me feeling pretty without all the cake.
An insulated water bottle. This was a lifesaver for me. It kept my water cool while on the beach and made sure I was hydrated.
Would this have been a good babymoon destination at a different time of the year?
I’ve heard mosquitos are rampant in the summer months so I’d do my research! Also. Be mindful of the heat. I’m sure this would be lovely during the summer if those two factors checked out.
5 Keys to a fantastic babymoon?
Relax!
Indulge! Get a massage. Explore. Just because you can’t drink while pregnant doesn’t mean there are more fun things you can do.
Enjoy alone time with your partner. Do things you both find fun that you might not be able to do when the baby comes.
Sleep. I don’t know about y’all but I had a lot of sleep to catch up on.
If your location permits it and you’re like me – shop! Shopping alone is relaxing and finding pieces from new and exotic places is fun.
On a scale of 1 – 10 with 10 being the most positive, would you recommend this destination to other expectant mamas?
If you’re heading to an area in Mexico that is NOT at risk for Zika this location is very accommodating for future mamas. I’d give it a 9!
Thank you for sharing your honeymoon adventure with us!
SEE OTHER BABYMOON DESTINATIONS
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]]>Nadia’s Royal Baby Shower:
Nadia’s Royal Baby Shower – Awe-Inspiring! This baby shower befitting for a princess is almost too pretty to believe! Gorgeous mommy-to-be Nadia Matovu is celebrating the upcoming birth of her daughter and this luxe shower which she planned all by herself was elegance exemplified.
The event which was held at The Dorchester, London United Kingdom featured a throne and a crown, a fresh flower wall of roses, and a custom Snapchat filter, you will love all the details and pictures from this baby shower occasion. Take a look!
Decor
The colors for the shower were red and gold combo. The decor featured a fresh flower wall of red roses, red rose centerpieces, red and gold B-A-B-Y blocks.
Menu
The menu was a 3-course sit-down meal and it included:
Starters:
Baby squid stuffed with feta cheese and chorizo
Sweet English peas and lemongrass emulsion.
Main Course:
Casterbridge rib-eye steak,
Bone marrow flan,
Hand-cut chips,
Sauce choron,
Saddle of wild rabbit with rabbit Tortelli,
Black trompette, salsify,
Ballotine of guinea fowl stuffed with herbs and truffle and fondant potato.
Dessert: Caramelised chocolate mousse with caramel crisp and granny smith sorbet
Sweet table
Treats on the sweet table included cupcakes and Ferrero Rocher towers, and a two-tier princess rosette cake with large monogram “M” which stands for Baby Matovu.
Baby Shower Games
Guest got entertained with games such as sing-along-baby-song and draw a baby on your head which the mommy-to-be found hilariously competitive “I enjoyed the “draw the baby on your head” game the most because everyone’s faces of concentration were hilarious even though the drawing results were a disaster LOL.” she said.
The fabulous mommy-to-be was happy to see all friends come together and here’s what she had to say “The main highlight for me was getting advice from my friends- they did not sugar coat anything and mentally prepared me for childbirth and motherhood. Opening gifts was another highlight, but it was the cards I loved the most- each card had heartfelt messages that made me cry.” She continued to say “This is my husband and I’s first child and we are so excited. I am so blessed to know so many positive women that my daughter will be fortunate enough to have as Aunties.”
“I’m looking forward to raising a strong black queen, and dressing her up as a doll along the way. Although our daughter will be Daddy’s Little Princess, I want to raise her to be a queen-an ambitious, intelligent, positive, black queen.”
Congratulations Nadia, sending royally sweet wishes your way!
Credits:
Join us over at the PB Moms Exclusive Circle, where we invite healthcare experts to prepare us for life after childbirth and motherhood. Go to: pregnancybeyond.com/exclusive-circle.
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]]>Bertrand Mukendi’s Babymoon: The Incredibly Beautiful Italian Island of Sardinia
Bertrand Mukendi’s Babymoon – Beautiful expecting mama, Bertrand Mukendi and husband recently went on a babymoon vacation to Sardinia, a large Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea. She some of her babymoon adventures with us!
Enjoy!
At what week of pregnancy did you take this trip?
I was between 28 to 30 weeks
Your babymoon destination and why?
We travelled to Sardinia, a large Italian island in Mediterranean Sea, because its great weather and its gorgeous beaches
How long was the plane trip and how did you cope with flying during pregnancy?
The trip took two hours and 45mins, I slept most of the journey as the flight was little uncomfortable.
How long was your babymoon vacation?
We were at Sardinia for 7 days.
How would you describe your babymoon experience?
As we have two other children, we wanted to go somewhere to chill relax, and have romantic time to reconnect and Sardina was just the perfect destination!
Fun things to do at this destination
There is so much to explore on this italian Island, mountain views, walking, massages and of course swimming. The sweeping views of the sea and the coast are certainly impressive.
Which of these activities did you enjoy more?
We most enjoyed doing nothing (LOL) but chilling by the pool and going to the beach!
Things to know about this destination
Sardinia is gorgeous island, full of overwhelming hospitality, outrageously good food, awesome white beaches and clear blue sea. It is certainly a beautiful place to visit, lovely people and awesome weather.
Funniest thing that happened to you during your babymoon?
The funniest thing to happen on this trip was that we found out our hotel was four hours drive from the airport, so we decided to get the train there but as we didn’t know the area, we ended up going the wrong direction. We rod around a few trains till the train service ended and we were back at where we started! ( Lol! ) . We had to abandon our plans of getting to our hotel and checking in to another hotel till the morning, we laughed about it and surprisingly no one wanted to kill the other person so it was all good fun and we got to explore Sardinia further. My belly and I did a lot of running and walking that day (Lol!)
5 essentials to pack for your babymoon and why?
– – Pregnancy pillow- you want to have a good night’s sleep
– – Maternity swimwear you want to be comfortable and show off your bump
– – Comfortable footwear always a good idea
– – Sunscreen to protect you and your growing bump
– – Compression stockings to avoid swelling of the feet during the flight
5 keys to a fantastic babymoon?
– – Agree on a destination
– – Plan your days
– -Chill out loads
– -Make it romantic
– -And enjoy every second
On a scale of 1 – 10 with 10 being the most positive, would you recommend this destination to other expectant mamas?
Are you looking for a brilliant Italian break without the noise and stress of the mainland? Sardinia has some of the Mediterranean’s most seductive beaches, yet within tootling distance of some great restaurants, agreeable bars and the soothing evening, it’s just an amazing place to visit.
Congratulations mama and thank you for sharing your babymoon experience with us! Find more of Bertrand on her Instagram page
RECOMMENDED : IMPORTANT THINGS FIRST -TIME MOMS SHOULD KNOW
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]]>Gabrielle Dadzie “IT’S A BOY” Baby Shower:
It’s no question that it’s a little gentleman on the way! Gorgeous mommy-to-be Gabrielle Dadzie is expecting a cute baby boy and to celebrate his arrival, friends and family all gathered to surprise the expectant mom.
The color palatte were in different shades of blue : baby blue, azura and cobalt blues. The décor consisted of white and blue balloons, baby socks and dummies, and floral arrangement on every table.
Read on to see photo and watch the video from this unique and simple baby shower celebration.
Baby Shower Games
Guests had a good time and played fun games such as “Guess What’s In The Bag” where people were blindfolded and had to place their hands in a bag full of baby items and guess what it was. The mom-to-be really had fun playing “Taste The Baby Food” where people were blindfolded and had to taste baby food and guess what it was “it was so funny seeing people’s facial expressions while eating the food and hearing the radical answers they come up with” she said.
The fabulous mommy-to-be was happy to see everyone come around and here’s what she had to say “the highlight of my day was seeing all the guests saying something nice about me and giving me advice on how to be a mother. I just can’t to be a mum and start a family with the love of my life! I can’t wait to see what my baby looks like and just see him grow into a man”
Congratulations Gabrielle, sending sweet wishes your way.
ALSO SEE : UNIQUE BABY SHOWER IDEAS
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]]>Esther Junaid’s Baby Shower
Esther Junaid’s Baby Shower “A Princely Arrival”
A sweet little prince is on his way and to royally welcome him, beautiful expecting mama Esther Junaid celebrated with this super stylish ladies-only baby shower. The party was held at BelAir House in West Dulwich, London and the theme of the baby shower was A Princely Arrival.
Every royal celebration involves gold, and this baby shower does not disappoint! The color scheme was a combination of muted mint green, gold and white color palette. The decor featured beautiful custom signage, elegant centerpieces, pretty golden balloons and LED marquee sign letters which spelt out b-a-b-y. The beautiful design definitely created a beautiful ambiance to welcome the little bundle of joy. Oh and lets not forget the custom Snapchat filter! Read on to see photos from this luxe baby shower celebration.
Mom’s Gorgeous Outfit
The gorgeous expectant mom was glowing in a grey colored high low layered ruffle dress by a British designer Gbemi Okunlola. Her dress was paired with a personalized handheld clutch and Aquazzura shoes . Her outfit perfectly complemented her pregnancy curves!
Menu
Guests enjoyed a delectable three course meal which was accompanied by a champagne and canapé reception.
The main menu comprised of:
Starters:
Fried salt fish fritters with a mango and chilli salsa
Tomato, mozzarella and avocado salad with a balsamic glaze
Mains:
Jollof rice (a classic tomato based rice infused with herbs)
Nigerian fried rice (vegetable variety rice with prawns)
Stewed chicken (peppered chicken in a tomato based sauce)
Dessert:
Dark chocolate and coffee mousse
Fresh fruit jelly with ice cream
Sweet table:
The sweet table was absolutely enchanting. It featured red velvet iced cupcakes and assorted candy in the color palette (mints, chews, sweets, individually wrapped chocolates balls, mint colored marshmallows) as well as paper bags and gold serving scoops.
Also featured was a two-tier cake with the custom “Oh Baby” gold cake topper. Each tier of the cake was a different flavor; the top tier was strawberry and vanilla sponge cake with a buttercream and strawberry jam filling and the bottom tier was a chocolate cake with a chocolate fudge filling.
Beautifully arranged alongside were decor items such as fresh flowers and a balloon cascade, a miniature pram, rocking horse and roll top bath, as well as two golden teddy bears.
Baby Shower Games
Guest had an amazing time and played fun games such as Don’t say Baby, Baby Bingo, Guess the size of the Bump, Drink the Baby Bottle Race . The game Drink The Baby Bottle Race had the expecting mommy caught up in laughter “I didn’t realize how many of the ladies were so competitive” she said.
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The fab mommy was so glad to see her vision come to life and here is what she had to say; “The highlight of the day was celebrating the upcoming arrival of our little prince with my sisters, cousins and friends. I was overwhelmed with how much love and excitement there was in expectation of our newest son #APrincelyArrival.”she told Pregnancybeyond.com. “This is baby no.2 for my husband and I, and so I’m most looking forward to witnessing how our family dynamics will adjust with our new arrival, especially how our eldest son will adjust to the role of a big brother”.
Thank you Esther, and congratulations to you and your family on your newest addition.
Credits:
Fab Mama: Esther Junaid
Dress: AloNuko ; Event Planner: Mrs Wedding Planner
Sweet Table: Sugar Tables London ; Cake: Panari Cake
Photographer: Love Exposed Photography ; Videographer: Dan Erman
Also Read: Whitney’s Garden Theme Baby Shower
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Preeclampsia: Your Questions Answered By Preeclampsia Foundation
What is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a serious disorder related to high blood pressure. It can happen to any pregnant woman during the second half of her pregnancy or up to six weeks after delivery.
How is preeclampsia diagnosed?
Preeclampsia is diagnosed by the presence of high blood pressure and, usually, protein in the urine. This is why the mother’s blood pressure and urine are checked at every prenatal appointment.
Who is at risk for preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia affects as many as one in every 12 pregnancies, including pregnant women who have no risk factors. These factors increase the risk of developing preeclampsia:
- First pregnancy
- Preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy
- Kidney diseas
- Over 40 or under 18 years of age
- High blood pressure before pregnancy
- Diabetes before or during pregnancy
- Multiple gestations (e.g., twins, triplets)
- Obesity (BMI>30)
- Lupus or other autoimmune disorders
- Some blood clotting disorders
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- In vitro fertilization
- Sickle cell disease
What causes preeclampsia and can it be prevented?
The cause of preeclampsia remains unknown and there is no sure way to prevent it. Several prevention strategies have been tested, but none have proven to be successful for all women. Low dose aspirin may help some women at high risk. Calcium has been studied and may be helpful in certain populations, but the results do not support widespread adoption in the U.S. Bed rest has not been found to prevent or treat preeclampsia. Exercise may be beneficial, particularly if started before pregnancy, to improve heart health and maintain a healthy weight.
READ :- HELPING TO GET BREASTFEEDING OFF TO A GOOD START: LATCH
What are the possible consequences of preeclampsia?
Most cases are not severe and occur near term with healthy outcomes. Preeclampsia can, however, be very dangerous for mother and baby, progressing quite rapidly in some cases. Risks to mom include seizures, stroke, and organ damage, and premature birth for baby. Both mom and baby could die.
What are the symptoms of preeclampsia?
Early recognition and reporting of symptoms is the key to timely detection and management of preeclampsia. Women who are pregnant or recently delivered should contact their doctor or midwife
right away if they experience any of the symptoms listed below. While these symptoms don’t necessarily indicate preeclampsia, they are cause for concern and require immediate medical evaluation.
- Swelling of the hands and face, especially around the eyes (swelling of the feet is more common in late pregnancy and probably not a sign of preeclampsia)
- Weight gain of more than five pounds in a week
- Headache that won’t go away, even after taking medication for pain relief
- Changes in vision like seeing spots or flashing lights; partial or total loss of eyesight
- Nausea or throwing up, especially suddenly, after mid pregnancy (not the morning sickness that many women experience in early pregnancy)
- Upper right belly pain, sometimes mistaken for indigestion or the flu
- Difficulty breathing, gasping, or panting
Can I have preeclampsia without symptoms?
Yes, it’s important to know that some women with preeclampsia have NO symptoms or they “just don’t feel right.” If you have a sense that something’s wrong, even without symptoms, trust yourself and contact your healthcare provider immediately.
What should I do if I experience symptoms or just don’t feel right?
Call your doctor or midwife right away. Finding preeclampsia early is important for you and your baby.
RECOMMENDED: Postpartum Psychosis – First 24 Hours of Postpartum
About the Preeclampsia Foundation
A U.S.-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2000, the Preeclampsia Foundation is dedicated to providing patient support and education, raising public awareness, catalyzing research and improving health care practices, envisioning a world where preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy no longer threaten the lives of mothers and babies. More information is available at www.preeclampsia.org or by calling toll-free 800.665.9341.
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]]>To-Do List For The First Trimester
Ultimate To-Do List For The First Trimester.
Image Credit: thealishawilliams
Congratulation on your pregnancy! Discomforts in early pregnancy are common and can really put a damper on your first trimester. Specifically, we have put together a pregnancy to-do list that can definitely help you go through your first trimester and pave a way for the rest of your pregnancy.
Take your prenatal vitamin
Folic acid greatly reduces your baby’s risk of developing neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida
If you smoke, quit
smoking raises your risk of a host of problems, including miscarriage, placental problems, and preterm birth. It also slows fetal growth and increases the risk of stillbirth and infant death
Stop drinking alcohol
As little as one drink, a day can raise the odds of low birth weight as well as your child’s risk of problems with learning, speech, attention span, language, and hyperactivity
Cut down on caffeine
High caffeine consumption has been to miscarriage and other pregnancy problems. Limit caffeine intake to <200 mg per day (12-ounce cup of coffee).
Start avoiding hazardous foods
Now, it’s especially important to avoid foods that could contain bacteria, parasites, or toxins, including undercooked meat, unpasteurized soft cheeses, anything that contains raw eggs, sushi made with raw fish, raw oysters and other shellfish, fish that’s high in mercury, and raw sprouts
Learn the signs of a pregnancy problem
So many aches, pains, and strange feelings arise during pregnancy that it can be hard to decide what’s normal and what’s not
Make a baby budget
Think about how to handle baby expenses, the cost of clothes, food, diapers, toys, and gear add up fast. Make a budget spreadsheet and brainstorm where you can trim your budget to make room for your baby’s needs. Consider making some budget adjustments now, and start banking your savings for your baby
Other things to consider are:
Buy some new maternity bras and undies
Consider your options for prenatal testing
Investigate health insurance
Choose a caregiver
Make a prenatal appointment
Make sure your activities are pregnancy-safe
Have sex if you feel up to it
Consult your caregiver about medications you’re taking
Do your best to eat well
Stock your kitchen with healthy stuff
Follow your baby’s development
Join your birth club
Start taking belly photos.
Start a daily ritual to connect with your baby
Talk to your partner about parenting.
Start a baby name list.
Think about how you will announce your pregnancy.
Go to bed early
ALSO READ: IVF Process Can Differ for Women With Endometriosis
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