Belly Blossom

eating for two? feeling frumpy because the bump is not quite showing yet?  Embrace your new curves, shout to the world…I am pregnant!  Great way to announce to family and friends at your next gathering, the grocery clerk, or to your child’s preschool teacher.

These hoodies by 2 chix says it all. You’ll love this yummy long sleeved pregnancy hoodie made of 100% cotton. It’s super soft and is pre-shrunk to fit most bellies!  It is available in one-size-fits-most (Fits pre-pregnancy sizes 2-14!!!)  These hoodies also make great gifts.

Our BRAND NEW maternity hoodies will keep your little “bump” warm and toasty all season long! 

Our Price: $49

Also, other sayings/colors available: here i grow again (poweder blue), knocked up (black), let it show (midnight), with bump, not plump (olive), what’s kickin’ (white)

Happy Blossoming!

It is never to young to coax little dude or diva which university you would like them to attend. The latest from Mascot Books is a good book to start baby’s library.  Join the University of North Carolina’s mascot, Rameses, as he takes a tour of the Tar Heel State.  Read along, “Rameses’ Journey Through the Tar Heel State”, as he makes new friends along the way.  The ultimate NC guide for Carolina fans.

These books make great gifts for baby showers, graduations, birthdays, or any other special occassion.  Also, available “Hello Blue Devil!”, “Hello Ramses”, “Hello Mr. Wuf!”.  Check out www.mascotbooks.com for a listing of 150+ different team books.  Also, availabe at www.bellyblossom.com.

This happens all the time.  Someone walks into the store to look around, and of course they always say “I am to small to start wearing maternity clothes.”  Or “my bump is not showing, but I don’t think I am ready to start wearing maternity clothes.”   Let me just say for the record, the minute that your clothes do not fit well anymore, start shopping.   Today though, I am not going to tell you about maternity clothes, but instead I will tell you about the bellaband!   

Yes, you can temporarily help your non-maternity clothes fit a bit longer by putting on a bellaband.  A bellaband is great.  You can unbutton your pants and unzip your pants, and no one will know.  It will look like you have a tank top layered under that too short of a shirt that you are still wearing. 

This is probaby our number one selling accessory in the store.  You can buy one bellaband, or some will buy three bellabands.  You will probably wear the bella band after you have the baby, as you lose that baby weight and try to get back in your non-maternity clothes.  For some reason your friends will forget to tell you that you will still look about 5-6 months pregnant when you leave the hospital.

Now there are other bands out there.  I do not think that the quality is as good as the original bellaband.  I know this because my customers come in saying that they bought one from one of the chains (I do not need to mention any of the three since you know what I am talking about).  They also say that the band loses its elasticity and does not hold their bottoms up.  They come in and walk out with the bellaband. 

I would love to hear what you think about the bellaband, or any of the other bands out there. 

Happy Blossoming!

Let’s start with the basics.  Stretch marks start off as pink, red, purple, or brown depending on your skin tone.  Stretch marks are slightly indented, and most often appear on the abdomen later in pregnancy as the skin stretches, and the support system (collagen and elastin) breaks down.  Because of the weight gain during pregnancy, some women will also get stretch marks on their hips, breasts, and buttocks.  These stretch marks will fade after awhile, but the texture will still remain.

Stretch marks are hereditary.  So ask your mum or sister if she got them.  But with daily dedication to using the right stretch mark cream or oil you may be able to get through your pregnancy without any stretch marks.  The key is to use an oil or cream that will fight against the stretch marks, in particular with elasticity enhancing products.  If you keep rubbing in moisture, especially products that promote elasticity you may be one of the lucky ones to be rewarded with pre-stretched skin.  Isn’t that fabulous?

Our favorite skin care for fighting stretch marks is the Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Oil and/or Butter by Mama Mio.  It is up to you to decide if you want to use a butter or oil, but all I know is these products have what you need to help prevent stretch marks.  To be effective use it once a day in the beginning of pregnancy, and later in pregancy use it twice a day—once in the morning and once at night.

What makes their skincare so unique is that the products are rich in Omegas 3, 6, and 9 which are the most important elements to give your skin strength and elasticity.  It also contains a fragrance called Gravida, which is made up of 10 pregnancy specific and pregnancy sfe essential oils.  It also smells really, really good!  And lastly, their products pride themselves with the NO NASTIES!  What does that mean?  It means it is totally free of all parabens, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances, sodium laureth sulfate and dyes.  This makes it safe for pregnant women, nursing women (and their babies) and any other women who is truly concerned about what they are putting on their skin, and most importantly what is absorbed into their skin.

You might be one of the lucky ones not to get stretch marks without even trying to prevent it.  Do you want to take that chance? 

Good luck!