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Aside from morning sickness and your occasional heartburn, being pregnant is a pretty blissful time for most women...until you catch a dreaded cold! Taking medicine can be harmful during the first trimester and breathing with a big belly pushing up against your lungs is hard enough without having to deal with a stuffy nose, coughing and sneezing. Here are some tips for preventing and treating a cold during pregnancy. 1. Eat Healthy Having a healthy diet during your pregnancy is a great idea in general. The foods we consume have everything to do with how our bodies function. So even though it's ok to indulge in your occasional cravings, make healthy food choices to maintain your immune system strong. 2. Wash Your Hands It may seem a little paranoid, but germs are everywhere! Although our bodies are built to reject most of the common germs out there, there’s always a chance for something gross to makes its way through and get you sick. Washing your hands with antibacterial soap often is a great preventative measure to stay healthy. You can also keep antibacterial hand wipes in your purse to avoid having to go to the bathroom even more than you already do. 3. Avoid Crowded Places Ok, so this doesn't mean you should become a germaphobic hermit, it just means that you should consider keeping your interaction with really large crowds at bay. Lots of people together in one place make the environment less controlled and in turn increase your odds of catching some yucky cold. 4. Take Prenatal Vitamins Yes, prenatal vitamins are very important when you're pregnant. Not only do they help your developing fetus grow strong, but they also help mom stay healthy. These vitamins have come a long way too. No longer do you have to take gigantic and stinky prenatal vitamins. Today's vitamins are smaller and often have no scent or a subtle vanilla coating to make taking them way easier than it used to be. 5. Exercise Exercising during your pregnancy can be a great way to stay healthy. You will feel great, your body will remain active and your strength will continue to build as your belly grows heavier. Of course, you should always consult with your Doctor about your exercise routines since every woman is unique. If You Catch a Cold It’s true that our efforts to avoid a cold can fail, not because we aren’t doing everything right, but simply because at times the odds are not in our favor. If you do happen to get on the cold train, here are some great tips to help you recover faster. 1. Avoid Dairy Dairy products such as yogurt, milk and cheese are known to produce more mucus in the human body and when you have a cold the last thing you need is more mucus. Keep dairy at bay to make your recovery more comfortable. 2. Get a Facial Steamer A face steamer can do wonders in loosening up the mucus that is clogging up your nose and throat. A little steam will provide much-needed relief and you will be breathing again in no time. An alternative to the store bought steamer is to fill a bowl with hot water and hover your face over the steaming bowl with a towel covering your head to create a "tent" effect. 3. Lots of Rest Being that you're pregnant, you probably keep hearing people telling you to rest up, but lots of rest when you have a cold is also a great remedy. Sleeping will allow you to get much-needed rest and give your immune system a great boost to battle that pesky cold. 4. Steamy Baths or Showers A nice, warm, steamy shower or bath will also help you relax, loosen up the mucus that is clogging your sinuses and soothe your body. Take some time to add a little aromatherapy to freshen up before facing the day. 5. Face Massage As odd as this sounds, gently massaging your face around the sinuses can provide extraordinary relief when you have a cold. Simply use your fingertips with a light tapping motion around your nose, eyebrows and cheek bones. Staying healthy and preventing a cold during pregnancy doesn't have to be a challenge. Just keep these handy tips in mind and do your best to maintain your immune system strong. Always consult with your Doctor about matters concerning your health and the health of your baby.

Have you ever seen those neat time lapse photos of pregnant women and thought to yourself "I would LOVE to do that?". Well, now that you are pregnant you can! Take the time to catalogue the progression of your pregnancy by following these simple steps of a DIY photographing your pregnancy experience. Setup Choose a well lit area of your home where you can setup a tripod. You can leave the tripod there for the next 9 months, or you can mark the spot to make sure you place it in the same location every time. Setup your camera on the tripod with a self-timer so that you don't have to depend on anyone else's availability to photograph you. Choose a pose that is comfortable and shows the contour of your baby bump. Try to do a similar pose every time you take a photograph for this project. Wear form fitting clothing or if you are comfortable, lift your shirt to show your belly. This will ensure that the progression of your growing belly is accentuated. Specifics Before you begin this fun project, decide how often you will photograph yourself. Will you do it weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly? Choose a day of the week when you know you can commit to taking the photo. Keep it as your guide so that you don't forget and are able to complete this project. Setting a reminder on your phone is a great idea to ensure you remember. When you edit the photos you take, choose the same filter (if you're using one) and crop your photos in the same orientation. This will allow you to make a seamless photo collage or slideshow at the end. If you want to get creative, choose a theme that you can use throughout your pregnancy to make your photos pop. Make prints of the finalized project to share with your family and friends or make a video slideshow as a keepsake for many years to come.

Holidays….a time for food, presents, love, and family…. lots and lots of family. It's no secret that this can be a little overwhelming for many parents, especially since you're dealing with so many different characters and personalities. Through it all, your best bet to keep your sanity is to spend some much-needed alone time with your spouse, so here is an array of simple tips because parents need alone time too! Run an Errand Together Offer to be the errand runners for the family. If someone forgot to pick up something at the grocery store or someone needs to be picked up at the airport, be the ones who volunteer to take care of it. This will give you a few minutes of alone time in the car, it seems small, but every minute of silence will count. Go to a Movie This one might be a long shot, but it's worth trying. Since there will be so many family members who want to hang out with your kids, plan on skipping out for a late-night movie when the kids are in bed. It might backfire if another adult begs to come alone, but like we said, it's worth a try. Wash the Dishes Together No everyone is fond of cleaning up, so if you offer to be the ones to do it, you will very likely be taken up on your humble offer. Get in that kitchen and wash dishes, trust us, no one will want to get in on that action and you will have a few minutes to chat or share silence with each other. Stay up Late or Get Up Early With so much going on, it's unlikely that anyone will stay up too late or wake up too early. Wake up early to have breakfast in bed or watch the sunrise with your spouse while everyone is asleep, or stay up late and go outside to star gaze together. Whichever you choose, it is likely to be a very nice and soothing time for you both. Go for a Walk When everyone is so focused on hanging out and eating, exercise is not a priority for most. Put on your sneakers and go for a walk, it's unlikely that anyone will want to join you in your quest for fitness during the holidays. This can be a very nice opportunity for you and your spouse to be alone. Keep in mind that before you know it, the joyful holidays will be over and life will go back to normal. But remembering to nurture your relationship with your spouse during these busy days will prove to be a very good idea so that your bond remains intact.

There are many ways to commemorate the beauty of a pregnancy, and one of our favorites has got to be Pregnancy Belly Paintings! This popular art form takes personalizing a Belly to the extreme with beautiful and intricate designs that make for breathtaking photographs. From colorful birds to popular cartoons, enjoy some of our Painted Baby Bump Favorites! Logos are a great way to show love to your favorite brands! Paint popular video game characters to show your fun and quirky side Love Board Games? Show it on your bump! For the nature lovers, colorful birds will do just right If you love cartoons, then go for it! Penguins are a great way to show eternal love How cool is this Ultrasound Belly Paint?!!! For the jokesters, Funny glasses are the way to go Colorful virtues will show how much you cherish life The silliest of characters are super fun to paint! A Zen Henna Belly design is an beautiful alternative to Belly painting If you love Comic books, this painted Belly design is right for you! Fall baby bumps are great for a Pumpkin Paint! Wise words by Dr. Seuss are always a great idea! Butterflies always make a delicate and loving statement A belly paint of Mother Earth is literally the mother of all belly paints There's always love for Apple and their pioneering founder Elegant roses will make your belly look as beautiful as you feel Pregnancy Belly painting is a very popular art form and a great way to decorate your baby bump for a memorable photo. We hope you enjoyed our Painted Baby Bump Favorites!

Expecting a baby is one of the most exciting experiences of a woman's existence. How amazing is it to be able to create a human being in their womb, and day by day feel it grow until that precious moment when you finally meet face to face? It truly is a beautiful thing. We asked moms what they love most about being pregnant and this is what they had to say: "I loved feeling my baby move inside my belly! And when I was in my third trimester it was so neat to get to see her movement and watch my belly sway from side to side." Andrea "The cravings!!! I loved the cravings and feeling like it was ok to indulge. The craziest thing I ever craved was pickles and whipped cream!" Amanda "I loved the first time my toddler felt the baby move in my belly. He was so excited and amazed to feel his baby brother and there was something really special about my boys bonding before they even met." - Carla "My favorite moment was when we found out we were having twins! It was unbelievable! My husband has cousins that are twins, but we just never imagined it would happen to us!!!" Brenda "Ok, I'm not ashamed to say this, but people would give me free stuff all the time! I guess I must've looked tired or something, but I would get free smoothies and meals and once I even got a free foot massage!" Kim "The best thing about being pregnant was having those quiet moments of meditation when I could just sit in silence and feel my baby living in my belly. There was a true beauty in having that oneness with her that I had never had with anyone else before" Allison "Let me just say that my favorite part was making my baby registry and attending my baby shower! It was so much fun to walk around the store with the little scanner and scan my little heart out! And then when I went to my baby shower, I got so excited when my friends and family actually got me all the stuff I chose!" Daisy "Hands down, the best moment was when I went into labor. Of course, it was painful and all that, but just knowing that I was just hours from meeting my baby boy was so exciting for me, plus, I was so over being pregnant at that point, hahaha!." Terri "My hair, nails and skin looked AMAZING when I was pregnant. I didn't even have to try, it all just looked amazing on its own, lol." Sarah "That pregnancy glow they talk about, it's real! I felt so beautiful and like there was a glow around me. It was nice to hear compliments from so many people telling me how beautiful I looked" - Annie "OMG, my favorite part was being able to nap whenever I wanted, I miss napping" Cindy "Even though there was whole lot of pressure, it was really cool to get to name my baby. Choosing a name was not easy, but still, I felt a huge responsibility to give him a name he would appreciate." Teresa

Everyone knows (or eventually finds out) that music is the language of love. To help you choose the best songs for you and your sweetie, we have compiled a list of some great love songs for your playlist. The Air That I Breathe - The Hollies This song was a major hit for The Hollies in early 1974. This song conveys what someone feels when they are deeply in love and all they need is to breathe and be with the one they love. Maybe I’m Amazed – Paul McCartney This is one of Paul McCartney’s finest love songs. He dedicated the song to his wife, Linda, who had helped him get through the break-up of The Beatles. This song is a perfect way to show your woman just how amazing she is to you. Don't Let Go (love) - En Vogue Don't let go (love) is a song by American R&B group En Vogue released in 1996. This song is for those who are secretly in love and ready to make it known. Don't you want to be more than friends?! This Guy's in Love with You - Herb Alpert Burt Bacharach & Hal David wrote this beautiful song and it was recorded by Herb Alpert. Declare your love to your special lady with this old school, brass filled tune. This love song was recorded as a duet between Lionel Richie and fellow soul singer Diana Ross. In this ballad, the singers declare their "endless love" for one another. Do you have an endless love? How Deep is Your Love – Bee Gees This pop song was written and recorded by the Bee Gees in 1977. The Bee Gees definitely knew to make a girl feel wanted with their romantic lyrics: "I know your eyes in the morning sun, I feel you touch me in the pouring rain, and the moment that you wander far from me, I wanna feel you in my arms again." Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley "Can't Help Falling in Love" is a pop song originally recorded by American singer Elvis Presley. Sometimes, love transcends all barriers and no matter what you do, it remains. Just let yourself fall in love wit ha little help from the King. I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing – Aerosmith This power ballad was performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith for the 1998 film Armageddon. With out of this world lyrics, this song inspires even the most long distance love on earth (and beyond). "Don't wanna close my eyes, I don't wanna fall asleep, 'cause I'd miss you, baby, and I don't wanna miss a thing" You and I - Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder starts this 1972 ultimate love song with the words "Here we are on earth together, it's you and I." So for that special someone that makes you feel like no one else in the world matters, this song will help you show them just how you feel Simply Beautiful - Al Green Put your heart on the line with the help of one of the most gifted purveyors of soul music, Al Green. His 1972 classic, Simply Beautiful, will set your declaration of love in the right direction. "If I gave you my love, I tell you what I'd do, I'd expect a whole lotta love outta you." Make You Feel my Love - Adele Is that special someone playing hard to get? Sway them over to make them feel your love with this emotional love song by Adele. "I know you haven't made your mind up yet, but I would never do you wrong. I've known it from the moment that we met, no doubt in my mind where you belong." How Do I Live? - Leann Rimes Sometimes love finds itself in troubled waters, and we loose hope that everything will be ok. In her 1997 single "How do I live?" Leann Rimes conveys a hopeful message of with passionate lyrics and a powerful melodic ballad. Butterflies - Michael Jackson The King of Pop gave us "Butterflies", a midtempo love ballad song with groove musical influences. This song describes the amazing feeling of being in love. It just doesn't get any better than that. Lovesong - The Cure If new wave and rock are your thing, then express your love with The Cure's "Lovesong". Whenever I'm alone with you, you make me feel like I am home again, whenever I'm alone with you, you make me feel like I am whole again" Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton Eric Clapton wrote this song about his first wife, Pattie Boyd. Her beauty inspired the amorous lyrical content of this ballad, just as your beautiful lady will inspire you to dedicate this song to her. Boyz II Men – I'll make love to you This #1 hit single by R&B group Boyz II Men has set the mood for millions of loving souls. Let this passionate love song set the mood for you with it's romantic and fiery lyrics and beautiful ballad melody. Submerge til We Become The Sun - Maxwell The sexy music and vocal stylings of Maxwell in this tune "Submerge til we become the sun" will take you and your sweetie just where you want to go. "Submerge within the light, illuminate my night and let your atmosphere surround me."

It’s February, love is in the air and with Valentines’s day fast approaching, it’s a good idea to start giving thought to how you will set the mood for celebrating with your loved ones. Keep things interesting and go the extra mile with these fun DIY Valentines Day Decorations and other Valentine’s Day tips we gathered from Pinterest.com Wreaths Create this wreath with paint chip samples. Great DIY for your kids! Heart Shaped Ombre Wreath What you need: A ton of paint chip samples Hot glue gun Ribbon Scissor or Heart Paper Puncher Foam Wreath or Poster board Instructions: Cut out the heart shapes from Paint chip samples Glue cut out hears onto Foam wreath or poster board wreath in layers. Glue Ribbon on the top middle for easy hanging. Heart Argyle Valentine’s Wreath What you need: Yarn (gray is best) Felt in red and pink (or any color combination you prefer) Heart shaped template Sharpie Marker Glue Gun Scissors Thin rope Thick ribbon Round or heart-shaped wreath base Instructions: Wrap wreath base with gray yarn (try to leave no spaces). Use the heart template to trace heart shapes on the colored felt with a Sharpie. Cut out the heart shapes and glue onto yarned wreath. Wrap the thin rope around the wreath in a diagonal direction and then wrap diagonally in the opposite direction to achieve a criss-cross over the felt hearts. Tie the thick ribbon on the top center of the wreath for hanging. Cupid’s Arrow Valentines Day Wreath What you need: Foam wreath base Thin rope or yarn Crafting wooden dowel Felt Thick Ribbon Instructions: Wrap foam wreath base with thin rope or yarn (be sure to leave no spaces) Place wooden dowel through the foam wreath base diagonally to resemble the direction of Cupid’s arrow. Cut heart shape and arrow end shapes on felt. Glue felt shapes onto both sides of the protruding wooden dowel. Place thick ribbon on the top center of the wreath for hanging. Wall Decorations Heart Felt Garland What you need: Felt in pink, red and white Heart template Sharpie Scissors Pins Needle and Thread (or sewing machine) Instructions: Place Heart template on the felt and trace heart shapes. Cut heart shapes out of the felt Place hearts on a flat surface overlapping the edges a little bit. Use pins to keep the hearts together for sewing Sew the hearts together with needle and thread or with a sewing machine. Heart of String What you need: Panel of wood in your desired size. Nails Hammer Pencil Spray paint Painters Tape String of your desired color. Picture hanging kit (for the back of the wood panel) Instructions: Spray paint the wood panel and allow to dry. Using the painters tape or string, make the shape of a heart on the panel and trace it with a pencil. Remove the tape or string used for drawing the heart shape. Hammer the nails onto the wood on the heart shape you traced with the pencil properly spacing the nails about 1/2″ apart Using the colored string, tie a knot on a nail head and start wrapping the string onto all the nails with no particular pattern. Candy Heart Art What you need: A bag of Valentine’s Candy Hearts Blank canvas 1 color of Acrylic paint Glue Gun Pencil Instructions: Paint your blank canvas with a solid color and allow to dry. Draw a heart outline on the canvas. Glue the candy hearts inside the heart outline you drew on the canvas. Layer the candy as you go to make it three-dimensional. Allow to dry and hang Center Pieces Floating Candle Center Piece What you need: Tall clear glass vase Floating candles Rose Petals (real or artificial) Instructions: Fill tall vase with rose petals. Add water to the tall vase. Place floating candle on top. Candy Heart Flower Vase What you need: Bag of Valentine’s Candy Hearts A flower bunch of choice (Tulips, Roses, etc.) Clear glass vase Instructions: Fill Vase with Candy Hearts. Arrange Flowers in vase. Simple Rose Centerpiece What you need: A dozen roses (any color) Clear flower vase (any shape) Optional: small candles in small glass holders. Instructions: lace roses in flower vase. Fill vase with water. Place vase on center of table. Spread extra rose petals around vase. Optional: place small candles around vase. Decorative Treats Easy Valentine’s Day Cookies What you need: White Melting Chocolate Wafer Cookies Valentine’s Day Sprinkles Parchment Paper Instructions: Start by melting your chocolate as direct on package. While you are waiting for the chocolate to melt, gather your sprinkles and cookies. Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. This will prevent sticking while the cookies dry. Once chocolate is melted, dip the top half of a wafer cookie. Quickly sprinkle on your chosen sprinkles. Place on prepared baking sheet to dry. White Chocolate Reese’s Krispie Hearts What you need: 3 Tablespoons butter 1 bag miniature marshmallows (10 oz.) 1 box Jello white chocolate pudding (3.4 oz.z) 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal 2 oz. white CandiQuik, melted 15 Reese’s peanut butter hearts Instructions: Place the butter and marshmallows in a large saucepan. Heat and stir on medium heat until melted and smooth. Add the pudding and stir for about 1 minute so the pudding can dissolve. Stir in the cereal. Pour the cereal into a buttered 9×13 pan. Press gently and evenly. Let set about 15 minutes. Use a heart cookie cutter to cut out 15 hearts. Let cool completely. Drizzle the krispie hearts with the melted CandiQuik. Press a Reese’s heart on top before the CandiQuik sets. Let set before serving. Mini Red Velvet Milkshakes What you need: 1 cup Vanilla Ice Cream 3 tablespoons Red Velvet Cake Mix 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract 1/2 cup milk Instructions: Blend all ingredients together until smooth. Add more or less red velvet cake mix to liking (will alter color and flavor). Also try cake batter flavored ice cream for a more “cake-like” flavor!

You will always remember the reactions that your loved ones have when you announce your pregnancy. In fact, it's one of the most exciting things after finding out you're pregnant. For a little fun, we've gathered our favorite and most epic pregnancy announcement reactions from around the web for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy! 1. Telling Mom and Dad is always the most exciting!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIixVt4PFz0 2. You gotta love this funny reaction! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbwSKN__tV0 3. The hubby in this video didn’t even see this coming!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VrGTbSiGnM 4. This sweet mother-in-law had to work hard to find out the big surprise! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MPQ9GblRJc 5. We love this reaction! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA3e2EjsUNw 6. This grandma is definitely thrilled about the news! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf9jAOD8k1E 7. These parents tell their kids that they are expecting and the kids’ reaction is adorable! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWFau-Q6HM4 8. This couple was super creative about their announcement! Twice! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHG8sLWFwE0 9. And last but not least, here is a pregnancy announcement compilation video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEFIgJ5HX5w

Valentine's Day is the loveliest of holidays! It is the perfect opportunity to share the love with everyone around you by finding that perfect Valentine's Day card….but that can prove to be quite difficult. Get inspired to make your own this year with these adorable DIY Valentine's Day Cards from Pinterest.com !!! Thumb Bunny Card What you need: Paintbrush White acrylic paint Paper plate Colored card stock Black and pink markers How to make it: Use the paintbrush to spread a thin layer of paint on the bottom of the paper plate -- this will be your ink pad. Have your kids dip their thumbs into the paint and print them on the card. Their thumbprint will be the bunny's head. For the ears, have them press down only half of their thumb to make a long, skinny shape. After the paint dries, they can decorate the face with markers, adding whiskers, eyes, and a nose. Use a black marker to write "Some bunny loves you!" on the front of the card. Puzzle Piece Card What you need: 2 matching puzzle pieces Red spray paint (tempera or acrylic will work too) Blank Card Pen Red marker or colored pencil Glue or tape How to Make it: Paint the matching puzzle pieces red (allow to dry) Glue or tape dry puzzle pieces to blank card. Write " We fit perfectly" on the bottom of the card. Personalize. Chocolate Heart Card What you need: Camera Font program on your phone or computer Tape Wrapped Chocolate Hearts How to make it: Take a photo of your child (or yourself) posing their hand up as if it was holding something. Upload the photo to your computer and add text "This Valentine's Day I give you my Heart". You can also do this on your smartphone with apps such as Over or Phonto. Print the photo. If you don't have a home printer, you can use a photo printer at your local convenience store. Tape the wrapped chocolate hearts onto the photo so it looks like it's sitting on the hand. Candle Card What you need: 3 or 4 birthday candles> Blank Card Pen Red marker or colored pencil Glue or tape How to make it: Glue or tape the candles to blank card. Write "You light up my life" on the bottom of the card. Draw little hearts near the top of the wicks as the "flame". Personalize. Lollipop Card What you need: Camera Scissors or x-acto knife Font program on your phone or computer Wrapped lollipops How to make it: Take a photo of your child (or yourself) posing their arm extended towards the camera and their hand clenched as if it was holding something. Upload the photo to your computer and add text such as "Happy Valentine's Day". You can also do this on your smartphone with apps such as Over or Phonto. Print the photo. If you don't have a home printer, you can use a photo printer at your local convenience store. Use the x-acto knife to slice two small, horizontal openings, one on the top part of the hand and one on the bottom part of the hand. Put the lollipop stick through both openings so it looks like the hand is holding the lollipop. Matchbox Card What you need: Matchbox Blank Card Pen Red marker or colored pencil Glue or tape How to make it: On the inside flap of the matchbox write "We're a perfect match" with a red marker. Glue or tape the matchbox to blank card. Write "Happy (Heart) Day" Personalize. Hershey's Kiss Card What you need: Aluminum Foil Pink or Red construction paper Tape Blank Card Pen Scissors How to make it: Tear a piece of Aluminum Foil Crumble up and then unfold and flatten the foil Cut the piece in the shape of a Hershey Kiss Cut a heart shape and a small banner shape on the construction paper. Tape all the pieces on the blank card. Personalize. Fingerprint Heart Card What you need: Red acrylic or tempera paint White card stock Black Sharpie markers How to Make it: Put red paint on your thumb and press it down slanted a little. Repeat step one in the opposite direction to create a heart shape After the red paint dries, grab a black sharpie and have fun making faces, legs, and arms! You Color My heart Card What you need: Blank Card (preferably white) Color Card stock (cut to be slightly bigger than the blank card. Pencil Sharpie Hole Puncher Tape Ribbon Box of Crayons How to make it: Have your child draw a heart with a pattern on the blank card. Trace over their pencil drawing with a Sharpie marker. Add the phrase "You color my heart" at the bottom of the card. Mount the blank card on the colored card stock with tape. Punch 2 holes on the side of the card. Run ribbon through the two holes. Tie the crayon to the card with the ribbon. Personalize. Eye Heart You Card What you need: Card stock Scissors Heart-shaped craft punch Googly eyes Fancy pen or favorite stamp How to make it: Cut card stock to 2 1/2-by- 7 inches and fold in half to make a 2 1/2-by- 3 1/2 inch folded card Next, use scissors or a heart-shaped craft punch to make hearts out of festive craft paper Then, about a half-inch from the fold, make one hole punch big enough for your googly eye to fit through and glue it in place Lastly, glue a heart to the right of your googly eye and use a fancy pen or stamp to write “you” Once all the glue has dried, your child can write a sweet message and their name on the inside of this DIY Valentine's Card

We're sorry to break it to you, but no undergarment alone will magically shed your pregnancy weight for you — it doesn't matter if Jessica Alba is endorsing it. Unfortunately, it takes a whole lot more than fancy underwear to get your pre-baby body back. A post-pregnancy corset won't magically burn fat, but it does provide benefits that can help you shed weight quickly. How can a waist trainer help you lose that baby weight? There are a number of factors that play into pregnancy weight gain. We'll get into the ways waist training with a postpartum corset can help you get your body back faster and give you tips for corset shopping. Table Of Contents Why Do You Experience Weight Gain During Pregnancy? What To Look For In A Postpartum Corset Here Are Some Corset Shopping Tips: How A Corset Promotes Weight Loss Compression To Speed The Fluid Expulsion Pushes Organs To Pre-Pregnancy Position Helps Treat Diastasis Recti Provides Extra Support For Workouts Bonus: Helps You Fit Into Your Clothes Better Bellefit Girdles & Corsets An Overview Of Corset And Girdle Features: Why Do You Experience Weight Gain During Pregnancy? To successfully lose weight after giving birth, it's helpful to understand where the weight comes from, and why you need it — the extra pounds don't come from the growing baby alone. It's normal for a healthy woman to gain between 25 – 35 lbs by the last trimester, but where does all this weight go? While changes to your body size may occur in the early stages of pregnancy, you're likely to gain more weight during the last couple of months of pregnancy. Most of those extra pounds are from water retention, which is needed to grow your baby. For example, you can carry up to 2 lbs of amniotic fluid and another 4 lbs in blood to nourish the developing fetus through the placenta — which can weigh another 1.5 lbs. You also have hormones running through your blood that increases those pesky cravings that can cause you to over-eat and store extra calories as fat. Those are the most common reasons why women gain weight, so where do waist trainers come in to help? Medical-grade compression from postpartum corsets speeds the drainage of excess fluids and also helps stabilize your abdominal and back muscles, so you can confidently get back to exercising. What To Look For In A Postpartum Corset To get the most out of postpartum compression garments, you need the right equipment. Look for corsets specifically designed for the post-pregnancy body. These may cost more than women's cosmetic, shape-wear underwear, but it will provide you with the right binding compression needed to start losing those excess pounds in no time. Here Are Some Corset Shopping Tips: Make sure its made with comfortable, breathable materials — for best results, you'll be wearing the corset around the clock in the first two weeks after delivery to get rid of excess fluids. Look for adjustable hooks and straps — as your body changes, you'll need to adjust the tension of compression. Only shop for FDA registered medical devices — these will offer the highest level of safe compression recommended by health professionals. The garment should accommodate heavy flow pads — full-coverage girdles with accessible crotch flaps are ideal. If you've had a c-section delivery, look for waist trainers with extra padding to protect the incision. Bellefit has the widest range of waist trainers and corsets for postpartum recovery in sizes XS – 4XL — but before we get into how to chose the right style for you, we'll get into ways waist training will help you lose that stubborn baby weight quickly. How A Corset Promotes Weight Loss Compression To Speed The Fluid Expulsion Jessica Alba was reported to wear a corset immediately after delivery, day and night, to get her pre-baby body back after her two pregnancies. Luckily, your body is designed to self-regulate and bounce-back — although it may not be as instantaneous as we'd like. To get rid of excess fluids, you may experience intense sweating in the first three days after delivery and frequent urination. By compressing the midsection, the excess fluid becomes available for transport through the blood into the kidneys, where it's filtered before you urinate. Wearing a weight loss corset after childbirth, however, can speed the loss of this excess water. Pushes Organs To Pre-Pregnancy Position The uterus normally only weighs a few ounces, but it can weigh up to 2 lbs and reach almost as high as your rib-cage as it accommodates your growing baby. Wearing a corset after birth, will squeeze your uterus to its pre-pregnancy size and safely nudge the abdominal organs into its pre-baby spot. Helps Treat Diastasis Recti Diastasis recti is a common condition in pregnant women, where the connective tissues holding the six-pack muscles together separate at the midline to accommodate the stretching uterus. This is normal, but in especially severe cases, diastasis can cause painful hernias and the loose muscles and skin can create the appearance of an extra flabby belly. The best non-surgical treatment for diastasis recti is through strengthening the core muscles with exercise. An abdominal binder is a mom's best friend after childbirth for this reason. It supports the lower back and core, so you can regain mobility in ever day movements as you regain the strength in your core. Swelling that occurs after giving birth. Women with diastasis recti can find relief and support using a corset or comparable compression garment. Provides Extra Support For Workouts After you've lost most of that water weight in the first few weeks after delivery, you're likely stuck with the stubborn fat from the hormonal excess eating. The best way to shed those extra pounds is through a healthy balanced diet and an exercise program — You can bet Jessica Alba didn't get that body back without this. Without any complications, you should be able to get back to exercising six weeks after giving birth or eight weeks after a c-section. Wearing a corset during your workouts will make you feel more confident in your exercises because it protects your lower back and stabilizes your abdominal muscles — a strong core is the foundation of most movements. Before you jump into your regular workouts, get the green light from your doctor. Bonus: Helps You Fit Into Your Clothes Better As we've mentioned earlier, no underwear will magically shed fat for you, but it may help boost your confidence as your work towards your goals. As a bonus to all the compression health benefits we've listed, high-quality women's girdles are sleek and comfortable to wear under clothes. It smoothes your curves, slims the waist line, and can flatten the appearance your belly for a more confident fit in your pre-pregnancy clothes. Bellefit Girdles & Corsets All Bellefit girdles are FDA-registered and recommended by doctors to speed the recovery after vaginal or c-section delivery. These garments are designed for women's changing bodies postpartum and are comfortable to wear 24-hours a day, so you can take advantage of the benefits of compression therapy. An Overview Of Corset And Girdle Features: Girdle Style Features 1. Corset • Full rear coverage• 3-row adjustable front hooks• Adjustable crotch opening 2. Dual-Closure Girdle • Full rear coverage• 3-row adjustable front hooks• Convenient padded side zipper• Adjustable crotch opening 3. Cheekster Corset • Cheekster panty• 3-row adjustable front hooks• Adjustable crotch opening 4. Bodysuit Corset • 3-row adjustable front hooks• Full rear coverage• Open-bust bodysuit• Adjustable & removable shoulder straps• No boning• Adjustable crotch opening 5. Corset Thong • 3-row adjustable front hooks• Thong style panty• Adjustable & removable shoulder straps• Adjustable crotch opening 6. Girdle with Front Zipper • Padded zipper• Full rear coverage• Adjustable crotch opening 7. Girdle with Side Zipper • Padded size zipper• Full rear coverage• Seamless front• Adjustable crotch opening 8. Girdle Pull-Up • Slip-on design• Full rear coverage• Seamless for discretion under clothing• Adjustable crotch opening If you're looking for a panty-less corset option, Bellefit has a selection of premium quality abdominal binders. While wearing a corset won't directly affect fat loss, it will speed fluid expulsion, encourage speedy healing, and give you confidence wearing your pre-baby clothes. Deciding which corset style will work for you will depend on your preference and lifestyle — but you can rest assured that Bellefit has you covered for style choice and sizing.

With Mother's Day fast approaching you're probably wondering what to get for the special mothers in your life. But has anyone ever told you that flowers and chocolate for Mother's Day are just chump change compared to what you can do to make sure she has a really great day? Here is our handy guide to what moms REALLY want for Mother's Day (and every day!). Give the gift of peace to mom on Mother’s Day by getting along with your siblings. 1. Be Nice to Mom (and to each other) How about some peace and quiet for Mother's Day? That's right, more than anything in the world; moms want their families to get along, to work together and to be nice. It will take time but you can work on it every day. Trust that when everyone gets along, moms will reach a level of happiness that money just can't buy. Mom deserve a break from cleaning on Mother’s Day 2. Clean up after Mom (and after yourself) Cleaning is a huge and eternal job for moms. They seem to spend most of their time picking up and cleaning up after everyone else. Show your mom how much you really love her by cleaning up for her and even more importantly, after yourself. Dishes in the sink? Wash them. Laundry basket full? Do the laundry…well, you get the point. Cleaning up to help mom may just be the most valuable gift you can give her. Let mom sleep in on Mother’s Day , she deserves to relax. 3. Let Mom Sleep In Do you remember the last time that mom slept in or didn’t have to wake up early just to get everyone else ready and out the door? Perhaps mom likes to wake up early, let her wake up to catch the sunrise with a cup of coffee or let her sleep in through the sunrise and take care of everything for her that day. Those little moments when she’s not responsible for everything will be like a breath of fresh air. Celebrate Mom on Mother’s Day by cooking her a meal she loves. 4. Feed Mom Moms spend years feeding their families, from the moment her kids are born to the time they all move out. And chances are she will always want to feed everyone because that's just how awesome she is. Now is your chance to show mom just how much you care. Cook a meal for mom and serve her a delicious dish. Make sure you don't let mama do anything…..including the dishes! As simple as this sounds, mom will be proud and especially thankful to have a day off from cooking for the family. A gift any mom would love, a day at the spa to pamper herself on Mother’s Day 5. Comfort Mom For all those times moms make everyone feel better, how about comforting her for a change? Book her an appointment with her stylist so she can go get her hair done (and whatever else she wants!). The gift of getting pampered will get mom feeling like a million bucks! What woman doesn’t love shopping! 6. Dress Mom Ok, so you don't literally have to dress your mom, but you can get her a gift card to her favorite clothing store! Let her go on the solo shopping spree of her dreams, no kids, no curfew, just her, a gift card and an afternoon of shopping therapy. Mom will absolutely love that! Love your mom not just on Mother’s Day but everyday! 7. Love Mom Last but not least and more important than anything else, make sure you ALWAYS tell mom how much you love her. Her love for the family despite all of their shenanigans will be unconditional. So it's good for her to hear that you appreciate and love her not only for what she does for you everyday, but also for whom she is. Who doesn't like a day that celebrates them? Just be sure that you continue to thank and help mom everyday. She will appreciate it more than you can even imagine. Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing moms out there!

Your body shape changes significantly when you are pregnant and knowing how to choose the right maternity clothes to enhance your maternal shape is a plus. You will see that for at least the first 12 weeks, you may still be able to wear your pre-pregnancy clothes, but once your bump begins to show, you may want to take a look at some points to show you how to buy maternity clothes that fit you well. Keep Your Style One thing to keep in mind before you purchase maternity clothes is your style. We all have one and why get away from it just because you are pregnant? Maternity clothing has come a long way and many designers have created designs that can help women dress as they normally would with a little help in all the right places. Buy the Right Size for Now Your body will be expanding and changing constantly for the next 9 months, so try to buy maternity clothes that fit you now. In other words, don't buy things a little bigger just because you want them to fit longer it's possible that it will not fit you well later on simply due to your body shape. Don't Believe the Size Hype There are a variety of Maternity garments that claim to fit for the duration of your entire pregnancy. With the exception of hats and sunglasses, it’s unlikely that this statement will be true for most women. So if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Second Hand Is Ok Maternity clothes tend to be a bit on the expensive side. Thankfully, once most women are done with their pregnancy, they tend to donate or sell their clothes to a second hand stores. This is where you can take the opportunity to scout the second hand stores in your area to find garments that will fit you well at a reasonable price. Comfort Is Key During your pregnancy it will be very easy for you to look great, but always keep in mind that your comfort is very important. Don't buy maternity clothes that are uncomfortably tight anywhere on your body. If it hurts, itches, or feels odd in the fitting room, chances are those annoyances won't go away. Solid Colors for Daily Wear Last but not least, try to find garments that don’t have too many patterns and are mostly solid colors for your daily wears mix and match outfits. This will increase the number of matching outfits you can wear from a small amount of garments without seeming like you are wearing the same thing every day. So enjoy your pregnancy and have fun looking fabulous!