RSSCategory: Pregnancy

New Arrival Bundle by Baby Elegance

| October 17, 2013

House of Fraser have just launched the New Arrival Bundle by Baby Elegance. It’s perfect for busy expectant parents and includes everything you need for your new baby in one package, whilst giving you the freedom to choose from a range of colours so you can personalise your baby bundle to suit you.

When I was pregnant the last thing I wanted to do was to spend time on my feet in busy shops trying to find everything we needed for our baby. I did the majority of shopping for baby essentials online and let my fingers do the work whilst my feet were firmly in place on an elevated cushion.

Baby Elegance Bundle

The uniqueness of the Baby Elegance New Arrival Bundle is that you have the option of choosing a pre selected bundle or creating your own. If you choose to create your own a representative from Baby Elegance will call you at your leisure to select the colour options of your choice (have a cup of tea in hand).

Baby Elegance Bundle

Included in your Baby Elegance New Arrival Bundle are all the baby essentials you need:

  • Beep Twist Travel System
  • Car Seat Rain Cover
  • Carry Cot Rain Cover
  • Baby Bag
  • Jersey Lined Footmuff
  • Cup Holder
  • Pram Hook
  • Travis Cot Bed
  • Healthguard Fibre Mattress
  • Cot Bed Cot Top Changer
  • PVC Changing Mat
  • Cot Bed Bumper Set
  • Cot Bed Bedding Bale
  • Moses Basket
  • Moses Basket Stand
  • Snuggle Pouch Sleeping Bag
  • Salt and Pepper High Chair
  • 7 pack Bibs
  • 8 x 150ml wideneck bottles
  • 2 x 2 pack teats slow flow
  • Milk Powder Container
  • 2pk soother 0-3m
  • Bath
  • Bather
  • Top n Tail Bowl
  • Hooded Towel
  • Bath Thermometer
  • Brush and Comb Set
  • Duck Set

The lovely selection of Moses Baskets and Snuggle Pouches gives you the choice of pink, blue or cream to suit all needs.

New Arrival Bundle

The Cot Bed is perfect for when baby has outgrown their moses basket. You can transition your baby from cot to bed when they are ready, saving you money and space.

Baby Elegance Bundle

Exclusive to House of Fraser the New Arrival Bundle is only £899 and includes free delivery to mainland UK.

Disclosure: I was sent a Baby Elegance baby blanket from House of Fraser for writing about the New Arrival Bundle by Baby Elegance.

Benefits of Breastfeeding

| October 28, 2012

No doubt you will have heard Breast is Best.

Despite this there’s still a lot of debate when it comes to feeding and what’s best for your baby.

Exclusive breastfeeding, mixed feeding with breast milk and formula or exclusive formula feeding?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) published a statement in January 2011 indicating findings show exclusive breastfeeding up to the age of 6 months is best for babies, as it helps to achieve optimal growth, development and health.

This statement on breastfeeding by the WHO is for all babies, not just babies in developing countries.

My thoughts are that if you can breastfeed and if you want to breastfeed then it’s best for Mum and baby to breastfeed. Nutritionally, emotionally and physiologically.

Here are just some of the Benefits of Breastfeeding

  • The fat in breast milk is more digestible for babies, compared with cow’s milk, so there’s a greater absorption of fat-soluble vitamins into baby’s bloodstream.
  • The hormones in breast milk promote baby’s growth.
  • Breastfeeding will give your baby the best start and allow them to grow and develop at optimal levels.
  • Breastfeeding decreases the risk of your baby developing infections as Mum’s breast milk provides antibodies for her baby.
  • Breastfeeding can help to reduce Mum’s risk of developing breast cancer.
  • Breastfeeding is the best way to burn calories, and you get to sit down and put your feet up at the same time!
  • Breastfeeding gives Mum and baby regular skin-to-skin contact which nurtures bonding and provides great emotional benefits.
  • There’s a reduced risk of breastfed babies developing childhood diabetes.
  • Breast milk provides baby with protection against allergies, eczema and asthma.

 
What are your thoughts on the benefits of breastfeeding?
 

Healthy Pregnancy Tips

| October 27, 2012

I want to share the things that helped me to enjoy a healthy and happy pregnancy.

These are my top Healthy Pregnancy Tips which I found easy to practice and essential for relaxation and keeping me supple.

Exercise gently everyday

A gentle walk and some Pregnancy Yoga worked wonders for my flexibility and my mood when I was pregnant. I used a Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat. It’s thicker than a standard yoga mat so it gave me extra cushioning which was really needed during the later months of my pregnancy. It has a great non-slip surface so it stayed in place during my yoga workout and stretching.

Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat from John Lewis

Neal’s Yard Organic Mother’s Bath Oil

 
Relax, don’t stress!

I found little treats worked wonders. I loved having a warm bath using Neal’s Yard Organic Mother’s Bath Oil for deep relaxation, listening to my favourite music and reading the books on my reading list while I still had some time to myself.

Eat healthy, organic foods

As a Nutritional Advisor and Mum I always make the following recommendations for pregnant women.

Look after your back

Being pregnant naturally puts strain on your lower back as your tummy blooms.

  • Don’t lift anything heavy.
  • Wear comfortable shoes.
  • I used a maternity support pillow to support my back when I was sleeping or relaxing.

Pelvic floor exercises

These are very important during pregnancy and help to strengthen your pelvic floor so your body can support the weight of your pregnancy. Pelvic floor exercises help to prevent stress incontinence.

If this is your first pregnancy you’re probably wondering what stress incontinence is! I certainly didn’t have a clue until we discussed this in our NCT Antenatal Classes. Stress incontinence occurs when you have weak pelvic floor muscles and can cause leaking urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh or exercise.

Here’s a really useful link from the NCT on how to exercise your pelvic floor during and after pregnancy.

Take a Pregnancy Multivitamin

Despite having a healthy diet, as soon as I knew I was pregnant I started taking Vitabiotics Pregnacare Plus Omega 3 and continued to take these throughout my entire pregnancy. These multivitamins plus Omega 3 ensured my baby and I had all the essential nutrients we needed, including the recommended level of 400mcg folic acid.