Tag Archives: pregnant

Secret Saviours Review: Does It Prevent Stretchmarks? UPDATED

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Secret Saviours range reviewThere are a lot of horrible things that come with pregnancy: nausea, sickness, rib pain, exhaustion, but most of these are not permanent. Unlike stretchmarks. These horrible little things take ages to fade and become silvery lines. You can get them for a few reasons and men get them too. To start off our new parenting section we started to review stretch mark products. We decided to review Secret Saviours after attending the launch at 34. Secret Saviours comprises of a Multitasking Support Band, which is used with a specially formulated Day Gel and Night Cream. Does it prevent stretchmarks? Let’s find out.

I start using Secret Saviours when I was 24 weeks pregnant. Everyday I apply the day cream, wear the band and then take if off and apply the night cream in the evening. It’s a bit of a fuss, let’s be honest. But if it stops stretchmarks then it is completely worth it. The band does not fit well to begin with. I measure my bump and I am a size small and the band is a large. It is not uncomfortable but ruins the silhouette of a lot of the clothes that I wear. The pattern is visible under most clothes, making me look like I have a spotty belly. As I said, it is quite cumbersome but if it works it will be worth it.

I am now 32 weeks pregnant and happy with the results so far. I have noticed two stretchmarks a couple of inches below my belly button. I was very annoyed and upset when I saw them but I don’t even think they would be visible if I was wearing bikini bottoms. Still annoying though. So apart from a few stretchmarks which are not very visible, so far so good. I can’t say the system completely works as I have obviously gotten a few stretchmarks but it is possible that it could have been a lot worse. I will update this post as I go along.

The band is not uncomfortable and can also work as a pregnancy band/belt. It is quite sticky when you take it off at night because the day cream you use is tacky to help the pads stick. There are times when I just want to put my clothes on and not bother with the whole thing but so far I feel the results have been more than worth the effort. I will update after the pregnancy to let you know the final results.

You can get the premium Secret Saviours pack here.

Update. 

I now have my baby, a son called Luke. Did diligently using the pregnancy band and creams work? I believe they made a difference. I did not come out of the experience with no stretchmarks. Small person + big baby is a recipe for lots of stretching, but the stretchmarks came late in the pregnancy. It is a bit annoying wearing the band everyday, but I actually think it helped my back. I think many people will get different results from Secret Saviours, even the makers said at the press launch that some women will get stretchmarks no matter what, but for most I think Secret Saviours pregnancy band and creams will make a difference.

 

British medics have designed a unique product which is scientifically proven to help prevent stretch marks during pregnancy.

The Secret Saviours Multitasking Support Band, which is used with a specially formulated Day Gel and Night Cream, reduces the risk of getting Striae gravidarum — the medical name for these unsightly scars – by 70 per cent.

Seven out of ten women who use this innovative under bump and lower back support will be spared these angry red marks which eventually fade to silvery pink, but stubbornly refuse to go away.

And if stretch marks do occur, the severity of them is reduced dramatically, a study presented at the American Academy of Dermatology has confirmed.

RIPPING YARNS: STRETCH MARKS – THE FACTS

Stretch marks are scars left by tearing below the surface of the skin and once you have them, without resorting to a tummy tuck, you have them for life.

TV doctor and GP Dr Chris Steele notes: “Stretch marks are very common in pregnancy, with some studies suggesting as many as nine out of ten mothers-to-be develop these unsightly streaks, but they can also spring from teenage growth spurts and rapid weight gain.

“It’s impossible to predict who will get them, although multiple pregnancies, ethnicity and family history all increase the odds of getting Striae gravidarum,, as doctors call them. And while many mums-to-be massage in moisturisers and oils in the hope of heading them off, there is very little evidence most potions and lotions will make any difference.,”

A BRITISH DISCOVERY
Secret Saviours was invented by leading vascular surgeon Mr Stephen Barker and an expert in tissue engineering at University College, London. It is the first product of its kind with clear scientific proof of effectiveness.

A trial, at the Institute of Maternity and Gynaecology at Tucuman in Argentina, recruited 159 women who were between 12 and 14 weeks pregnant. Half used the Secret Saviours system and the other half did not use any creams or devices to provide a control group for comparison.

Independent clinicians who saw the women at the end of their first trimester and around their due date assessed any stretch marks using a scale of zero to ten, with zero being no marks and ten being multiple, highly visible scars.

In line with studies examining the incidence of stretch marks, 66 per cent of women in the control group developed Striae gravidarum, with most scoring a seven for severity. But two out of three women who used Secret Saviours had no sign of stretch marks and those which did were very minor in appearance, with most scoring just four.

Commenting on Secret Saviours, mum of two and women’s health expert, Dr Catherine Hood, notes: “The secret of the Secret Saviours system is its Multitasking Support Band lined with pads arranged in a random pattern which gently grip the stomach and literally redirect stretch marks.”

“Secret Saviours works by equalising pressure points within the skin and helping to prevent any tiny tissue tears from forming within the dermis, the inner layer of skin which contains blood and lymph vessels.

“But if they do, the Support Band provides a gentle barrier of bumps which block the path of any minor tears which could spread along straight lines of stress and turn into full blown stretch marks.”

Dr Catherine Hood adds: “The skin-saving support provided by the Multitasking Support Band is enhanced by the addition of Secret Saviours’ Day Gel and Secret Saviours Night Cream. Both are formulated using ingredients such as Centella asiatica and vitamin E, which have been shown to support skin healing.

“There are no parabens, PABA, animal ingredients, synthetic colours, mineral oils petroleum or paraffin in either the Day Gel or Night Cream.”

Vascular surgeon Mr Barker promises: “We cannot guarantee Secret Saviours will stop all stretch marks, but we can guarantee that it will significantly reduce the risk of developing them and minimise the appearance of any which do appear.”

As an added bonus, the Secret Saviours Multitasking Support Band also provides some welcome under-bump support, which has the added bonus of reducing lower back ache — a common problem in pregnancy.

 

 

 

Is It Really ‘Cause For Concern’ When a Supermodel Loses Her Baby Weight In 2 Months?

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I don’t think it really has to be said that supermodels aren’t like normal people. They are taller for one. While the vast majority of the women in the world are under 5.6′, that is considered short in supermodel terms. Then they are generally thin and beautiful. The very top of the gene pool. So should we compare ourselves to them? In some ways, yes. Controversial I know, but the training regime of the Victoria Secret Models would put some athletes to shame. I never thought there was anything wrong with aspiration. It is a models job to be thin and fit. Which is why I don’t get the controversy surrounding Russian supermodel Elena Perminova who stripped off for Vogue Russia two months after giving birth to reveal a stunning post-pregnancy figure.

Supermodel-Elena-Perminova-before-andafterpregnancy, pregnancy, post birth body,

In the first image, Elena is eight months pregnant. The second image is two months later. (Credit: Russian Vogue)

I am seven-months pregnant at the moment. I didn’t look like Elena before I was pregnant, and I won’t look like her after being pregnant. The truth is, genes play a role, but I will exercise and eat well. I have lost weight before, for my wedding last year. I had put two stone on after a back injury and despite having a full-time job and writing a book amongst a million other things, I exercised five days a week for at least an hour and lost all of the weight within months. I didn’t diet or deprive myself but I put the work in and pretty much hated every second. But is Elena being irresponsible? A debate started online with some people saying that she was promoting a lifestyle that was unrealistic for new mothers. The 28-year-old model is married to Russian millionaire businessman Alexander Lebedev and this was her third child. She started a hardcore 7-days-a-week exercise regime a mere two weeks after having her baby by caesarian last year. The article also featured advice to Russian women on how to get their figure back after pregnancy. Elena said in Russian Vogue, ‘Normally doctors say “yes” to sport only three months after giving birth. ‘But I started earlier, just two weeks afterwards, even though I had a caesarian. The doctor allowed me to do it because I felt very well. Naturally, at first I was not exercising a lot, or there was a risk to breastfeeding. And the main thing – I did not exercise my stomach. It is dangerous to do it right after birth.’

Elena did simple repetitive exercises while her daughter Arina slept, and jogged for two hours a day with her husband while on a holiday in Cyprus. He mother-in-law looked after the baby. She said the jogging got rid of her baby weight and the water in her body by helping her ‘dry out’. She ate ‘simple homemade fare, for example, steamed fish with lemon juice.’ Many Vogue readers praised her hard work but many others said she was promoting an unrealistic example. But does a supermodel have to set realistic examples? Is there anything wrong with being aspirational or losing weight quickly, especially when it is part of your job? The truth is: the average new mum doesn’t need to lose weight quickly as our career does not depend on it. We get to eat cake and be tired. We get to sleep and just watch TV when we have time. So is it irresponsible? Let us know your thoughts below.

 

 

Things That Suck About Being Pregnant

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pregnancy, things that suck about pregnancy, pregnant, baby, hatePregnancy is supposed to be an amazing time but it doesn’t always work out that way. My mother always talked about her wonderful pregnancies and, in truth, I don’t think I ever heard a negative pregnancy story from a family member or friend. Sure there were some truly awful stories in the media and, although I found them horrifying, I cast them out of my mind. Which is why I am pretty annoyed now. Pregnancy is not this magical thing people told me about. It is not a magical time at all. Okay, creating our child is wonderful and I would not have it any other way but wonderful or any other such word does not encapsulate it. In fairness, my pregnancy has been termed ‘unlucky’ by my doctor. It is a bit of an understatement due to the horrendous acute morning sickness but, never mind. Here are my pregnancy rants. Feel free to add your own because ranting is good for the soul.

Bump Molestation

Seriously, what is up with this? Today I actually had a stranger molest me from barely underneath my breasts all the way down. I may have been in a sitting position but it was not appropriate and if it had not been an elderly woman she would have at the very least been slapped. It is not okay to touch a pregnant women’s bump without asking her. And even then, keep your hands to yourself unless you are a very close friend or family member. How would you like to be felt up? Especially when you are creating a life and feeling very protective of your bump? This brings me on to my next rant….

A Women’s Body Does Not Become Public Property When She becomes Pregnant

Not only does this mean NO TOUCHING but it also means you don’t get to tell her what to eat or drink, how to exercise or how much weight to put on. You don’t get to make comments on how she looks or what she does so mind your business.

The Unsolicited Advice

Your pregnancy choices were good choices for you. Only share them with other pregnant women if they ask. If you are a man, keep quiet unless you are a doctor and a question is asked. Also annoying is pregnancy advice from women who have never been pregnant. I mean, really?

The Constant Personal Questions

When people find out you are pregnant they ask you everything from what you are going to call your baby, what the sex is and how much weight you have put on. It really is too much. People seem to forget their manners when they are in the presence of a pregnant woman. If you feel uncomfortable just smile and avoid the question or say you are not sharing that information publicly yet.

Morning Sickness

As Miranda says in Sex & The City, ‘I don’t know why they call it morning sickness when it lasts all fucking day.’ Exactly Miranda, exactly. Some woman get barely any morning sickness and some, like Kate Middleton, get acute morning sickness which is otherwise known as hyperemesis gravidarum. Morning sickness is not fun. Think of your worst hangover ever and then think about suffering through it everyday for about three months, sometimes longer. There you go: morning sickness.

Not being Able To Tell Anyone Why You Are So ill

The chances of miscarriage are high in the first 12 weeks so you are recommended to keep your pregnancy to yourself. Suffering in silence is not= fun and colleagues will probably notice something is up. Just know you will get to the end of it.

Having To Do All of the Stuff You Did Before

There is a popular quote that Ginger Rogers had to do everything Fred Astaire did but backwards and in heels. Well, pregnant women have to do everything everyone else does but whilst dealing with morning sickness, being kicked internally, headaches, muscle pain, nausea, random pains, tiredness…the list is endless. The pressure for pregnant women to not let anyone down and act like some kind of superwoman is tremendous. The reality is: pregnant women should be given some slack. If you don’t like that, just remember that the little baby they are creating will be paying for public services in your retirement.

The Fact That EVERYTHING Hurts

I mean everything. From your head to your legs to your vagina. A lucky day is when it doesn’t hurt all at once.

The Constant Worrying

I stopped reading the pregnancy literature before 12 weeks. I could not take it. Even now the stuff overwhelms me. Sure, things can go wrong in pregnancy but do you really need to know about every single thing that could go wrong? No, you don’t. So relax and read a magazine or a good book instead. Ignorance is not bliss, but somedays it is easier.

The Glee of Awful Things To Come

Too many people take such glee in the fact that, apparently, you will never sleep again, nor have a life. People can seem pretty happy because they think that having a child will ruin your life or career. Ignore these people. They are jerks.

What are your pregnancy rants?

 

 

 

Struggling To Get Pregnant? Losing Weight Will Help

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Dr Sally Norton – UK leading NHS weight loss surgeon & consultantOne of the many reasons that women, and occasionally men, come to see me for weight loss advice is because they want to start a family, but are struggling. Did you know that obesity is a major cause of difficulty getting pregnant – and can increase the risk of miscarriage or problems during pregnancy and childbirth? In fact, there is a significantly greater risk of diabetes during pregnancy if you are overweight – and this can affect the future health of your child as well as you.

Research evidence shows that being overweight can contribute to period problems, hormonal imbalances, lack of ovulation, resistance to fertility treatment and therefore fertility problems particularly in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

There is a higher risk of miscarriage, higher risk of abnormalities of the baby as well as still birth in women who are overweight. The pregnant overweight mother is also at higher risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and difficult or complicated delivery of the baby by Caesarean or forceps.

Some women end up seeking help with IVF (in-vitro fertilization) or other forms of fertility treatment, but this isn’t usually funded unless women are below a BMI of 30 or under the age of 40 – which is why I get women coming to me for weight-loss surgery. They are desperate, the clock is ticking, and they can’t seem to lose weight on their own. It’s sad to see, and the stress of it all doesn’t help fertility in the slightest!

Interestingly it’s not all about the woman’s weight. In men, being obese can cause the following problems: reduced semen volume, a reduced sperm count and increased sperm DNA damage. Losing weight will improve these parameters.

So, if you are thinking of starting a family, it is a great incentive for both you and your partner to lose weight. But you have to make sure you do it in a way that is good for you. Fad dieting which will starve your body of essential nutrients which, for women, is just at the time when you and your unborn child need them most. In fact, some studies suggest that a mother’s diet, even BEFORE she actually gets pregnant, can affect the health of her child. So instead of crash dieting, treat your body with the care and respect it deserves – after all, you’ll be relying on your body to create a healthy new life within it. Fill it with the most nutritious food you can find, keep active to ensure you are as fit as you can be – and not only will you be rewarded with a slimmer healthier body but you will find it easier to get pregnant too.

By Dr Sally Norton – UK leading NHS weight loss surgeon & consultant

 

 

Jaime King Talks About Infertility & Enduring Five Miscarriages

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Jaime King may be a very happy mother now but she endured years of painful infertility and five miscarriages due to PCOS & Endometriosis. The Hart of Dixie star shared her struggles to become pregnant. “For all the struggling women & moms out there that think they are alone – This is the truth about conceiving my son and struggles after, 8 yrs of pain and undiagnosed PCOS & Endometriosis. 9 doctors until Dr. Randy Harris diagnosed me & saved my life from a severe ectopic, 5 miscarriages, 5 rounds of IVF, 26 IUI’s, most with no outcome, 4½ years of trying to conceive,” she revealed on Instagram.
Jaime King Talks About Infertility & Enduring Five Miscarriages

King gave birth to her son James Knight last October. She went on to reveal: “26 hours of brutal labor, early delivery b/c of sudden preeclampsia, tearing and tearing after the stitches were in once I was home, milk supply issues, painful mastitis, uncontrollable crying while breast feeding.”

She then went on to say that she overworked afterwards instead of looking after herself and her new baby.

“[I] worked until the day before I [gave] birth and went back 6 weeks after, I was afraid of letting others down.”

King wanted to share her story to help other women who are struggling and captioned her Instagram post: “#youarenotalone,#ihavetobebravetosupportothers #realtalkthatterrifiesus.”

What do you think? Have you had problems with infertility?

 

 

The 6 Secrets to Starting a Business Whilst on Maternity Leave

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The 6 Secrets to Starting a Business Whilst on Maternity Leave

By Emma Walker

emmawalker

 

When you first get pregnant, you may think that you will go back to your current job without too many changes, and for some women this will happen.

 

But for others, when they’re holding their baby in their arms, they just know that things have changed forever and they might not want to go back to their job.

 

This is why using your maternity leave is a great opportunity to evaluate your career and decide what you want to do after your leave ends – return to your job, become a stay at home mum or start your own business.

 

Whatever direction you choose, just remember that you are doing what’s right for you and your family so please don’t feel like you have to follow ‘the rules’.

 

If you decide to take the plunge and start your own business, follow these 6 simple steps to make the transition easier:

 

  1. Decide on your business idea

Let me be very clear right from the start.  Running a business is hard work and definitely NOT a get rich quick scheme – if that’s what you’re after, you need to go elsewhere!

 

That’s why it’s really important to choose something that you’re going to enjoy doing a lot of.  Think about your past jobs, your hobbies, what your talents are – is there a business idea lurking there?  What can you do that you can get passionate about?

 

There are lots of business opportunities out there, whether you are selling your own products or services, or buying into a franchise or MLM business, you will find something that is a fit for your skills, experience and goals.

workingmother

 

  1. Get clear on the type of client you want to work with

You will spend a lot of time, and money if you’re not careful, on marketing so you need to make sure that what you do works.

 

This is where getting clear on who your ideal client is key and is something that you must take the time to do.

 

Really get to know the type of person you want to buy your product or service, this makes marketing so much easier.  By focusing on one type of person (instead of everyone), you can tailor all your marketing materials to speak to only those people – this is what will get results.

 

You want your ideal clients to see any of your marketing materials (your website, business card, leaflet, advert etc) and know that you are the person they need to work with as you obviously understand them, after all, you speak their language.

 

  1. Stand out from the crowd

The sign of a good product or service is if there’s already some competition, this means that people are already buying what you’re offering from competitors.

 

It is your job to make sure that you stand out from all your competitors in the eyes of your target market so that you are the only choice they should be making when they want to buy your product or service.

 

Think about what extras you can add that will really appeal to your customers and make them spend their money with your business.

 

The other thing you can do, that a lot of people don’t do, is make sure that you inject your personality into your marketing.  We all buy from people so be yourself as that will attract people to do business with you.

 

  1. Speak your customers language

If you’ve taken the time to really get to know your ideal customers, you should have discovered what their issues are and why they’d want to buy your product or service.

 

What is keeping them up at night, what are they prepared to pay anything to solve?

 

Knowing this can help you to create a marketing message that will show them that your product or service is the perfect solution they need.  You can turn their big problems into questions that will make them say yes to you.

 

  1. Manage your time

As a busy mum, we only have a limited time available to work on the business so you need to get focused so that you get all the important work done – instead of chatting to friends on Facebook.

 

Set up a schedule so that you know exactly what time you have available to work on the business and when you will be with your family – a great visual for everyone in the house to know when mummy is working so that there aren’t any interruptions.

 

Talk to your partner and get them on board to help you out – can they do some of the housework, help out with the kids more, do the cooking?  Anything that can free up your time to focus on the business.

 

Take the time to plan out what work you need to complete for the week so that you can get straight to work as soon as you’re in work mode – instead of wasting valuable time wondering what you should be doing.

 

  1. Plan for success 

Map out your goals for your business as well as the tasks you need to do to achieve that goal.  You then need to break those tasks down to 90 day chunks as this timescale is perfect to make you focus on what is important.

 

These tasks can be included on your weekly planning to make sure that you get them done and stay focused on achieving your goals.

 

If you’re struggling trying to fit everything in, ask yourself if the task to do on your list will move you one step closer to your goal.  If the answer is no, it can wait until a later date and you need to focus on something else that does move you closer to your goal.

 

Use your goals to keep you accountable so that you do achieve exactly what you want with your business.

 

There are lots of things to start and market a successful family friendly business but these are the 6 essential things you should focus on first whilst you’re still on maternity leave.

 

 

About the author

 

Emma Walker is the founder of The Mumpreneur’s Mentor and a busy mum of 2 little divas.  As a mums in business coach, she works with mums who want to start and market their own successful family friendly business as well as mums already in business who want to take their business to the next level without sacrificing time with their family.

 

Learn her ‘6 Success Secrets to Running a Family Friendly Business’ in a free training session. Get the details and register now at www.MumpreneurSuccess.com

 

 

Flat coke may be the cure for Kate Middleton’s morning sickness

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katemiddletonThere is a high probability that Kate Middleton will experience the same morning sickness as with her first pregnancy, say Alison Edwards – Senior Lecturer in Midwifery at Birmingham City University. In fact she has had to cancel some of her engagements already because of her acute morning sickness.

 

“Though there is an increased chance due to having the excessive sickness before she may well have an entirely different experience this time with little or no sickness.  Though there is no ‘cure’ for morning sickness (and certainly not hyperemesis) there are steps that can be taken to try to settle the unpleasant symptoms.”

 

“Though there are few sources of scientific evidence to support any ‘remedies’, making sure fluid intake is maintained is a priority. Flat coke has been found to help here as can arrowroot or ginger. Some women swear by travel bands.  Small low fat meals can help and avoiding anything spicy.  If the symptoms become excessive then medical advice must be sought as there are medications that can reduce the sickness and nausea; these do need prescribing however.

 

“Excessive morning sickness can make women unwell and certainly miserable, so plenty of support and rest are vital, especially if admission to hospital is required as Kate was last year. There are also support groups set up by women who have experienced hyperemesis.”

 

 

Erin O’Connor Poses Nude At Eight And A Half Months

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Erin O’Connor has done a Demi, posing nude at eight and a half months pregnant. She was photographed by Nick Knight and he posted it on his Instagram account. The pose is typically arty and Erin looks great.

Credit: Nick Knight Instagram

Credit: Nick Knight Instagram

What do you think? Would you pose nude when pregnant?