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Self-care is the ultimate act of self-love. When you take time out of your busy schedule to take good care of yourself, you’re sending a message to your brain and to the people around you that you matter. This is an especially important habit to get into as you’re pregnant because you’ll soon have a little one to care for. Finding a spare moment for yourself to breathe and engage in pleasurable activities becomes even more crucial for physical and mental health. Here are 8 ways to pamper yourself when you’re pregnant: Make sure to rest as much as your body needs to. The more rested you are, the more you can do. Rest when you feel tired. Sleep is restorative. It’s a necessary part of healing. You’re going to experience many interruptions throughout the night once your infant is born. That’s why it’s so important to take naps whenever you can get them. The world won’t think less of you for taking time out for some necessary self-care. When you feel well-rested, you’re capable of doing so much more! Enjoy some along time with a nice cup of tea . Do things that bring you immense joy. Taking time out of your busy schedule to do the things that make you happy is a great habit to get into. It’s something that you’ll do regularly with your child once he or she is old enough to do things outside the home. Go for a walk, enjoy your favorite pregnancy-safe herbal tea, visit a used bookstore or go shopping for antiques. Whatever it is that brings you joy, make sure to do it and do it often. Prenatal massages has a lot of benefits for you as you go along in your pregnancy. Get a massage. A professional that specializes in pregnancy massages is ideal as you don’t want the masseuse to hurt you or your baby. Prenatal massage has its benefits. It is known to reduce headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, backaches, swelling, and edema. If you need an excuse to relax, you’ll find it on the massage table. Disconnect from technology and spend time in nature. Go on a media blackout. Turn off your phone. Step away from your computer. Spend some one-on-one time with nature. Take your shoes off if you can and feel the grass beneath your feet. Known as “grounding,” it has a positive effect on your body and mind. Give your feet an all-star treatment. Soak your tired feet. Get a pedicure by someone who can reach your toes! You’ll feel like a million bucks after giving your feet some TLC. Wear comfortable clothes during your pregnancy as your belly grows. Wear clothing that makes you feel beautiful. Express yourself through color, pattern, and texture. Choose pregnancy clothing that shows off your bump and makes you feel good about yourself. Accessorize like a professional. Just like your wardrobe, your accessories say a lot about you. Have fun matching jewelry, scarves, hats, shoes, and purses with your clothing. You’ll make a bold statement whenever you step out the door and into the public. Journal your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with your pregnancy. You’ll be left with a valuable keepsake that you can one day share with your child if you choose to do so. Include photos, artwork, poems, articles, and your own thoughts on being pregnant. There are many ways to pamper yourself when you’re pregnant. It’s important to come up with a self-care routine that you can manage even after you’ve had your baby. By making yourself a priority, you’re better equipped to help others, including your infant, because you’ll be at the height of good health and happiness.

Parenthood is a full-time job, but it’s one for which we aren’t really compensated or evaluated in a substantial way. What would motherhood and fatherhood be like if we treated it more like a job? Compensation and Evaluation Can you imagine a job that required you to pay thousands and thousands of dollars over several decades without any compensation in return (except a measly tax cut)? Only parenthood fits that bill. There are so many aspects of parenting that require professional-level skills, from the art of the mess-free diaper change to the science of monster-under-the-bed extermination and more serious skills like providing boundaries and structure without going overboard. You aren’t going to get regular performance reviews, bonuses and raises for doing this job, either. Stay-at-home and working moms alike often feel unsure about what they’re doing, and unlike the professional world, there really isn’t an established channel you can go through to validate your decision-making. Nine To Five? Sounds Nice There is not 9-5 Monday to Friday when you are a parent. This is a 24/7 365 day job. Another aspect of parenthood that makes it more grueling than your average job? The hours. You’re never not a parent. Most people are able to walk away from their jobs and at least leave the bulk of their work behind. Some upcoming projects or coworker conflicts might stay on our minds over the weekend. It’s usually actually better if we can compartmentalize and leave that behind. But for most parents, especially stay-at-home moms and dads, there are no breaks unless you get a babysitter or family member to step in and help. And even then, you’re still on call 24/7.If only parents could get state-mandated lunch breaks (or shower breaks) and overtime compensation for late-night hours. The parents’ union probably wouldn’t get very far in collective bargaining over this issue. Ultimately, you’re in charge, and you’ve got to captain the ship even if its passengers are cranky and threatening a tantrum if they don’t get that box of cereal they want. The Real Boss Of course, saying that stay- or work-at-home moms aren’t being evaluated and compensated diminishes the role of the closest person to a “boss” you have: your kids. Your kids may not reward you financially (other than that tax cut) and they may not sit you down for a quarterly performance review, but they will let you know, often without even saying it, how you’re doing. Their Success in Life is Your Reward There is nothing more rewarding then a hug or kiss from your kids. Ask any parent seeing their child graduate, accept a professional award or get married to the love of their life. There are untold riches waiting for you in the form of pride, joy, love and happiness.You don’t even have to wait a decade or two to cash in on your investment in your child. From the first step to the first day of kindergarten, you can celebrate your child’s successes and accomplishments alongside them.You can see every hug, every scrawled crayon drawing, as a token of love more precious than any paycheck. You Might Also Like: 10 Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms This Article was brought to you in collaboration with Bellefit, the makers of the best postpartum girdles Founded in 2008 Bellefit® is the most mom-trusted and awarded brand of postpartum girdles & corsets for recovery after c-section or natural childbirth. Bellefit® girdles come in five designs made using proprietary compression fabrics. Their unique design features triple-layered reinforced front and back support panels. As a woman-owned company, Bellefit® is no stranger to the challenges new moms face during and after pregnancy. The company helps women feel supported and confident in their changing bodies. Bellefit Girdles

Your baby’s nursery is more than just a room. It’s a space that they learn to become safe in. Their development during their first months of life depends on their environment. Therefore, the nursery is a place for growth, nursing, curiosity, entertainment, safety, and fun, too! When deciding how to decorate your baby’s room, there are many things to consider. From choosing a theme to determining what type of crib they will sleep in, there are many factors that shape your decisions. Cost is one as well as personal likes and dislikes as what you’re into often dictates what your child will be into, too. Here are Some of the Top Ideas for Nursery Rooms: Vintage: Think of the nurseries from your yesteryears. Depending on the decade you’re most interested in, you’ll find many vintage décor items at secondhand stores and on online auction sites. If you want your baby to live amongst things that you once owned as a child, you can find ways to tastefully incorporate your treasures among the other things you bought to decorate the space. Clean design is perfect for baby girls and boys. Makes it easier to update as they get older Scandinavian: Clean, minimalistic design is what makes this theme perfect for baby girls and boys. It’s easy to update when the child gets older, too. Neutral colors combined with natural elements makes this theme one that people love. By keeping furnishings gender-neutral, cribs, swings, and even car seats can be handed down to the next child you have. They’ll get a great deal of use, and you can justify spending more on these items because they last. Colorful nursery for you baby helps stimulate their minds Bright and Cheerful: Don’t be afraid to mix colors, patterns, and textures to create a virtual wonderland for the eyes. A bright and cheerful nursery gives your baby plenty of stimulation. It’s a happy place where your child will spend his or her first years of life. When looking for baby furniture to add to the space, choose bold colors or paint the items yourself. A hand painted dresser is a personal touch that everyone who sees the nursery loves. Statement Sheets: Highly illustrative, beautiful statement sheets for boys and girls are among the hottest trends available. Project Nursery included a photo of a sheet that reads, “You Are My Greatest Adventure” with a woodland scene. Details like this stand out among minimalist furniture. You could easily incorporate a statement sheet into any of the other themes listed here. Oversized Decals for Walls: The idea is to go big here. Really big. Oversized decals limit the amount of negative space there is on walls. It’s an easy way to add flair to a space without spending a lot of money, either. You will, however, want to choose removable decals so that you can update your child’s room as he or she gets older. Choose decals that can be removed so you can change as your baby gets older. Choosing a theme for your child’s nursery as a new mother is a truly intimate experience. It’s the first time you’ll be influencing your baby’s likes and preferences. The more they’re exposed to an animal or certain cartoon or book character, the more they’re familiar with it. You’ll find that your influence plays a role on what they choose to watch, read, and even play with as they grow older.

Sleep is an essential facet of our health, and that’s especially true during pregnancy. Kick your self care routine into high gear with these pregnancy sleep improvement strategies. Make Your Bed Comfortable for Side Sleeping Most experts agree that pregnant women should sleep on their sides. This can be a major adjustment for back and stomach sleepers, but you can make it easier by making yourself a cozy pregnancy sleep nest of supportive body pillows placed between the knees, behind your back and/or under your chest. Even if you do ordinarily sleep on your side and already feel comfortable in this position, the experience of sleep is going to change as your body changes. Follow the same advice and you’ll feel much better. Reinforce Proper Sleep Hygiene Sleep hygiene is a research-backed concept that leads us to better sleep through a simple concept. Your bed is for sleeping and sex only. Do your pregnancy research and update your social media before you get in bed. So you can make the transition from wakefulness to sleep more seamless. Let Your Circadian Rhythms Get to Work Our bodies tend to respond in surprising ways to the sun’s natural schedule of rising and setting. This response is known as the circadian rhythm, and the bright screens on our TVs, computers and mobile devices can throw it out of whack. Staring directly into a bright light right before you go to sleep isn’t a good recipe for snoozy success. Try to limit your exposure to bright screens after the sun goes down. Also consider getting a sun-simulating wake-up light to help increase your enthusiasm for the morning. Create a Meditation Routine The old trope of counting sheep to fall asleep is actually rooted in a good idea. Counting is a basic meditation technique designed to calm our thoughts and turn our minds away from any discomfort we’re feeling, whether it’s physical or emotional. The idea is that focusing on the act of counting requires just enough attention to occupy your mind. It doesn’t require so much mental engagement that you remain alert while doing it. If you get comfy in bed and relax your mind in this way, you may be surprised by how quickly you drift off. Manage Your Schedule as Best You Can Whether you work in an office or stay at home, it’s important to get your body on a reliable schedule and try to stick to it. This is often easier said than done even when you aren’t pregnant, but you have a major incentive to do it now. Getting into a reliable routine will make it easier to get the sleep you need at night. Instead of taking naps during the day. Napping can make it much harder to actually get your full 8 hours at bedtime. If you’re trying these and other strategies but still find that physical discomfort is keeping your eyes wide open as you lie in bed, consider using a prenatal support girdle. Our supportive girdles take some pressure off the abdomen and provide a soothing embrace at any time of day. You Might Also Like: 10 Steps to a Healthy Pregnancy

Pregnancy has its ups and downs, and they can make giving birth feel bittersweet in a way. Once your little one has arrived, you may end up missing some of the best parts of pregnancy, but chances are that you won’t regret being done with the worst parts. https://youtu.be/A2t0F2gWvhQ The Best Part Of Being Pregnant Extra Kindness and Care Every ordinarily grumpy folks can get a bit overprotective of the pregnant ladies in their lives, and strangers can get in on the act too. Special acts of kindness like people you’ve never met rushing to help you with heavy groceries or giving up their seats on a bus or family members giving you special treats and generally fussing over you in the best way possible, being pregnant really lets you see the best of the people around you. The Special Pregnancy Bonding Feel There’s nothing quite like that feeling of knowing that your child is growing inside you. Getting to actually meet your child is fantastic, but it makes sense that some moms miss the feeling of being pregnant thanks to this special just-the-two-of-us bond. Shopping for Adorable Baby Stuff Shopping is always fun, but it’s even more fun when you’re designing a whole new wardrobe and bedroom for a little person who hasn’t arrived in the world yet. For many parents, picking out different colors and cute prints is one of the most enjoyable parts of pregnancy (other than the sense of excitement and happiness, of course). The Worst Part Of Being Pregnant Physical Discomfort From morning sickness to weight gain and other issues, pregnancy isn’t necessarily a physically enjoyable experience. While not every pregnant woman experiences significant discomfort, most feel some sort of nausea, fatigue, pain or general weirdness at some point in the process. Pregnancy skin might look totally different from what you’re used to, and sleeping can also be more of a challenge. Nosy Nellies You know what they say about opinions—everyone has one, and they don’t know how to keep it to themselves when they see a pregnant woman. From pressuring you about breastfeeding to policing what you eat and how you exercise, unwanted advice is one of the least-enjoyable parts of pregnancy. Unfortunately, this is an almost entirely universal experience, and even some women who hated getting this kind of advice when they were pregnant will turn around and do it to others. Anticipation and Nervous Energy There is some excitement that’s naturally a part of most pregnancies, but many expectant parents also experience a good dose of anxiousness as well. Whether your concerns are financial, logistical or theoretical, this is also totally normal. Luckily, by the time you give birth you’ll already have moved past most of the things that tend to cause pregnant mamas some agita, including the actual delivery itself. From start to finish, pregnancy includes its blissful moments of enjoyment and its minor annoyances and major concerns. This balance is part of parenthood as well, so why not take the bad with the good and make the best of it? You Might Also Like: 5 Things I Wish I’d Known About Before My First Baby

For many women, excelling in the professional realm means gracefully balancing motherhood with proper planning at work. Get started with your plans as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed. This will help you set the stage for a smooth future through each stage of the experience. Read more to learn some helpful tips on how to manage a full-time job during pregnancy. Breaking The News Even if you’ve already decided to tell your friends and family, it’s often best to wait until your second trimester to announce the news at work. Gather as much information as you can from your doctor about when you might need to start maternity leave. If you’ve been pregnant before and were put on bed rest or otherwise had to start your leave earlier than expected, be prepared to discuss this with management. Start by telling your direct supervisor and management in a closed-door meeting. If you’d like, you can ask them to keep the news confidential. Otherwise, give them permission to share with the whole team. Confirm details of the company’s maternity leave policy ASAP. Ideally you should do this before the meeting. Share your expected timeline and, if your employer isn’t being flexible or is showing signs of frustration with the news, make it clear that you know your rights as a working mother in your state. In most states, this does not include mandated paid time off. But it does often mean that you can’t be fired. Know that some employers are quite selfish with this kind of news and will even try to break the law. That does not mean you’re wrong. They are. Update your employers or managers every month or so with how your pregnancy is progressing . This includes if your expected due date changes or it’s seeming likely that you’ll be on bed rest, when you may need to take time off. Taking Care of Yourself and Your Little One Stay connected to your body and be mindful of what your hormones are up to. If you’re experiencing nausea at a certain time of day, bring ginger ale or anti-nausea medication to work. This way, you can fight those yucky feelings. Wear comfortable shoes and ask your employer to temporarily relax the dress code if your comfy shoes don’t match. Schedule appointments around your work schedule as much as possible. This is even if everyone at work is being super supportive. If your direct management isn’t being understanding of your completely reasonable need to take time off for doctor’s check-ups, consider talking with their higher-ups. After you welcome your new baby to the world, be prepared to wear compression garments and ask for permission to extend your maternity leave if you won’t be able to perform your regular job duties due to doctor’s orders. If you’ve already planned and prepped your work crew before your left for leave, a few extra days off shouldn’t be a big deal.

We're pretty sure that the days of getting dads a tie or a drill for Father's Day are sort of in the past. Although dads appreciate those hugely stereotypical (yet heartfelt) gifts, wouldn't it be nice to do something different this year? Let us help you do just that with this simple list of what dads really want for father's day. Happy Father's Day to all the awesome dads of the world! Quality Time Dads love their families more than anyone else in this world. They truly do cherish spending quality time together, especially when everyone is getting along. Find out what dad enjoys doing most, whether it's going on an adventurous excursion up the side of the highest mountain or simply watching his favorite show on Netflix, and make it happen. Acknowledgement Dads today definitely do a lot for their families, and because what they do is done very selflessly, it normally goes unnoticed. Take the time to acknowledge dad on both the big and little things he does. It will mean the world to him that someone is paying attention to his efforts. A Gift Card (why not?) OK, so metaphorical and intangible gifts to show dad you 'get him' are great, but why not get him a gift card as well? Find out what his favorite store is and get him a gift card so he can go choose whatever he wants. Sounds easy enough? That's because it is! Freedom This one sounds a bit harsh, but it's really not. Sometimes dads need a little bit of freedom to just be them without having to worry about everyone else's needs. Give dad the freedom to choose just what he wants to do that day, be it alone or with the whole family. He will certainly appreciate the extra slack and room to breathe. Silence Give dad the gift of silence by just being quiet. Men in general appreciate peace and quiet. Some of the most amazing moments, the ones they remember most fondly are those in which the bond with their family was covered in a blanket of silence in which everyone was just enjoying the moment and soaking it all in. Make Dad a Movie A man's legacy is very important to him. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to show him just how much he means to you? Make a simple 'Dad Movie' on your computer by compiling all of your favorite dad photos and videos. On Father's Day, do a screening with dad to show him the movie and just sit back and enjoy watching him light up with pride. This project may be a little more time consuming, but dad will absolutely love it!

If you have young children at home, you know first-hand that their little minds are always eager to explore and learn. Thanks to modern technology, parents today can encourage their young children's growing minds with the help of applications for iPhones, iPads and other types of smart devices. We have filtered through thousands of apps and come up with a list of our favorite top educational games for young children. Endless Alphabet Endless Alphabet is a delightfully interactive educational app. This fun app featured the most adorable "monsters" in the form of animated letters that teach letter sounds and word composition for over 50 big words. When composed properly, the talking letters lead to a short animation illustrating the definition of each word in fun and unforgettable ways. Before you know it, your child will be using words like gargantuan and cooperate! This app is available for iPhone and iPad at $6.99 but worth every penny. Click here for details. Endless Reader The makers of endless Alphabet introduced the follow-up app, Endless Reader to set the stage for early reading success. This app introduces "sight words", the most commonly used words in school, library, and children's books. Kids need to recognize these words by sight in order to achieve reading fluency. Endless Reader uses the same interactive and animated formula used in endless alphabet to teach children these important sight words in the most fun ways! This app is available for iPhone and iPad for $2.99. Click here for details. ABC Mouse by Early Learning Academy This revolutionary learning app teaches young children all the subjects that are taught in school in an interactive school-type setting. Lessons are tracked in paths as children learn to read through phonics, take lessons in math, social studies, art, music, and much more. This app is available for iPhone and iPad and is FREE but an ABC Mouse membership is required to access. Click here for details. Toca Boca Toca Boca is a game development studio focused on child-friendly applications for tablets and smartphones. With over 20 fun and educational apps, Toca Boca makes digital toys and games that help stimulate the imagination of children. Some of the most popular Toca Boca apps include: Toca House, Toca Kitchen, Toca Hair Salon, Toca Tailor, Toca Doctor, Toca Robot Lab and many more! These apps are available for both iPhones and iPads and prices range from Free to $2.99. Click here for details. Stack The States Stack the States makes learning about the 50 states fun! Watch the states actually come to life in this colorful and dynamic game! As you learn state capitals, shapes, geographic locations, flags and more, you can actually touch, move and drop the animated states anywhere on the screen. Carefully build a stack of states that reaches the checkered line to win each level.This app is available for iPhone and iPad and is only $0.99!!! Click here for details. The Human Body by Tiny Bop With this app, children can explore a working model of the human body. Every body part is animated and interactive: the heart beats, guts gurgle, lungs breathe, the skin feels, and eyes see. Designed for kids ages 4+ to discover what we’re made of and how we work. Some of its features include: Six interactive, animated layers of the body teach basic human anatomy including the skeletal, muscular, nervous, circulatory, respiratory, PLUS a recording mode that enables kids and parents to ask each other questions. This amazing app is available for iPhone and iPad and is $2.99. Click here for details. PBS Parents Play & Learn PBS’ first app designed specifically for parents, PBS Parents Play & Learn provides more than a dozen games parents can play with their kids, each themed around a familiar location – including at the grocery store, at home, in the kitchen, and many more. This bilingual (English/Spanish) app makes it easy for parents to seize upon those daily “teachable moments” through theme-based interactive games and simple hands-on activities that connect math and literacy skills to everyday experiences. Each game comes with a parent note that provides information about the math and literacy skills woven into the game and suggestions for effective ways to interact with a child while playing the game to maximize the learning experience. This app is available for iPad and is FREE! Click here for details. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss Join Sam-I-Am in this interactive book app as he offers his friend green eggs and ham here and there and everywhere! Explore pictures, learn new vocabulary, and personalize the story with your own narration to encourage your child's literacy skills with highlighted narration, learn new vocabulary with tappable words and pictures, and record your own narration & share it with others. Best of all, you can keep kids in the story with parental controls! This app is available for iPhone and iPad for $3.99. Click here for details.

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.