Walk the Earth

Our feet are often the most neglected parts of our bodies, and pregnant feet suffer most of all. When you're pregnant, a combination of weight gain, changing shape and hormonal fluctuations knocks your centre of gravity and causes numerous problems including sore, swollen feet. Tracking down a good pair of maternity shoes can seem like a tall order, especially as most funky maternity lines don't carry footwear.

For both expecting and new mothers who don't want to sacrifice style for comfort, we recommend these Dazzle Metallic Bronze sandals by Earth. The ultralightweight sandals offer a plush foot bed that conforms to the shape of the foot, comfy mid-arch support and a dura-sole design that propels the foot forward in a natural walking motion. Earth shoes are created with Negative Heel Technology - a fancy scientific term meaning they reduce lower heel pressure to promote better posture and align your body correctly. All Earth shoes are approved by the American Medical Podiatric Association as well as celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennie Garth. So you can put your best foot forward while rocking this season's hot metallic trend. Available in US and Europe.

Mamalingual Dictionary: Birth Plot

Birth plot (noun) 1. a conspiracy between healthcare professionals, your baby and divine intervention to sabotage your birth plan (origin: BNM 2007)

Sometime in the weeks leading up to B-day, you’ll be advised to write a birth plan. It’s a useful tool to figure out what your expectations are and to discuss with your birth partner and medical team. A typical birth plan should include details of whether you want to use pain relief, if you want to be able to move around during labour, what props you might like to use (e.g. birthing pool), if you have objections to assisted delivery (e.g. forceps or episiotomy) and who you would like to be present at the birth.

Writing my birth plan gave me a sense of control and made me feel more prepared. But of course only about 60 percent of the delivery went according to what I’d written. It was only afterwards that I could laugh about having three medical students involved in my labour and birth when I’d specifically noted that none should be present. At some point, you have to toss preconceptions to the wind and just be in the moment. Here’s our five-point guide for writing a birth plan:

1. Do your research – the more you read, the more prepared you’ll be
2. Be flexible – each birth is different so expect the unexpected
3. Listen to your body – if she's crying out for pain relief, allow it!
4. Trust the professionals – they've done this hundreds of times before
5. Focus on what matters – getting baby out by any safe means necessary

Check out this birth plan calculator at Babycenter.

Pic source: American Pregnancy Association

Whose embryo is it?

A woman left infertile after cancer treatment is awaiting a final ruling today from the European Court in Strasbourg as to whether she can use frozen embryos fertilised by her former partner. Her ex says he doesn’t want the burden of being a father to children he will not bring up.

This is a tough one as I can see the arguments on both sides although I’m more inclined to side with the woman. My heart bleeds for her if the court denies her appeal. After all, this is her last chance to bear a child but the dad can have other children with other partners if he chooses.

I can’t help but think of the millions of women worldwide who have the legal right to choose whether to carry a pregnancy to term or to have an abortion, even without the potential father’s knowledge or consent. I guess when the embryos have been created outside the womb it’s no longer a question of ‘her body, her choice’. Tricky issue. Read the full story here.

Buckling up

During my first pregnancy I basically lived in my jeans, simply leaving button after button undone as the months went by until it became indecent and I switched to track pants. For my next pregnancy, I plan to shop early for funky maternity jeans or invest in some b-buckles.

These bad boys simply loop and snap onto your jeans to expand with your growing belly. So you can wear your favourite designer pair through pregnancy and into the 4th trimester or however long it takes to lose the baby weight. The b-buckles come in two styles, rock star (white) and rose tattoo (black and red) and ranging in size from zero to 12 (UK size 16) they're hot with celebs like Marcia Cross, Gwen Stefani and Tori Spelling. Snap some up at In Style Moms for only $21.50.

Mamalingual Dictionary: Highchair Five

Highchair Five (noun). 1. the five pounds or more weight gain caused by polishing off your baby's leftovers (origin: BNM 2007)


There are countless guides for parents with toddlers who are picky eaters. But few mention one of the side effects of having a fussy feeder: mum often feels inclined to finish off what her baby hasn’t started. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t bear to see food go to waste. And my hips are paying the price.

Here are my top 10 tips to combat the Highchair Five (or in my case, Highchair Fifteen):-

1. Offer smaller portions – most toddlers eat like birds, not vultures.
2. Share family meals – having your own plate will stop you eyeing baby's.
3. Chew like a baby – savour(or in his case spit) every mouthful and don't stuff.
4. Serve healthier options – swap oven chips for carrot sticks.
5. Add less salt – it's better for baby and less appetising for you.
6. Graze with your toddler – switch huge dinners for 5 to 6 mini-meals a day.
7. Eat his crusts – wholewheat crusts are packed with goodness.
8. Do some strollercise – walk off the baby fat.
9. Have a hot drink – a cup of lemon tea is fat free and keeps your mouth busy.
10. Throw leftovers away – it’s really that simple.

We realise that tip 10 is guilt-inducing for some. But eating every last morsel won’t do anything for starving kids in Africa. In fact, think of your greedy gut as an insult to starving kids everywhere. Toss those scraps.

Pic via Tiny Tums

Mamalingual Dictionary: Daddyproofing

Daddyproofing (verb) 1. a new mother taking sometimes extreme measures to ensure her child is safe and secure while in his daddy's care (origin BNM 2007)

Hands up: have you ever watched your baby daddy with your joint progeny and thought ‘what the hell is he doing to my precious child?’ Do you sometimes shudder to imagine what they get up to when you’re not around? Papa may be the Shiniest of New Dads, having attended every antenatal class and now handling diaper duty and night shifts without batting an eyelid. And yet the first time you leave baby alone in his care you might be fighting the urge to put safety locks on your pride and joy.

The daddy of all dads Dr. Sears explains in this CNN article how fathers have their own parenting styles which are meant to complement (sometimes improve on) our own. But even the most laidback mama (or stay-at-home-dad) is a potential micromanager when it comes to her favourite project. We’re so caught up in the personal responsibility/power trip of being primary caregivers that it can be hard for us to let go and let daddy do his thing. In the early days watching my husband casually lobbing Mr. Cheeks into the air, or even now when he gives him Pringles for breakfast, my daddyproofing instinct kicks in. Stop! I want to yell. You'll destroy everything I've worked for! But instead I get a grip, count to ten, inhale and exhale. Daddy and baby are doing just fine. And mama’s taking a breather.

Pic via Canadian Family

Scary Spice is a Brand New Mama

Flowers and pink balloons go out to Mel B a.k.a Scary Spice of former UK girl band Spice Girls who delivered a 5 lb. 4 oz. baby girl in Los Angeles at 12.11 a.m. on April 3. Her 7-year-old daughter Phoenix Chi and mother were present at the birth. Notably absent was Mel B’s ex and rumoured father Eddie Murphy. The Norbit star (ouch) publicly disputed the paternity claim in a TV interview last year. When asked if he and Melanie were excited about the baby, he replied, "You're being presumptuous, because we're not together anymore. And I don't know whose child that is, until it comes out and has a blood test. You shouldn't jump to conclusions, sir." Chivalrous.

Eddie is currently dating music producer Babyface’s ex-wife Tracey Edmonds. He also already has five children with freakily slender ex-wife Nicole. We’ll be keeping a look out for any early photos of the baby as experts suggest newborns are genetically predisposed to bear a striking resemblance to their fathers (supposedly to ensure they stick around). Interesting factoid: the baby was born on Eddie’s 46th birthday.

Source: Celebrity Baby Blog

Mamalingual Dictionary: Kegel Knievel

Kegel Knievel (noun) 1. a woman who rides her pelvic floor muscles like a motorcycle stunt professional (origin: Brand New Mama 2007)

Even if you've never read Cosmopolitan magazine or tried to hold back your pee when you're bursting, you cannot make it through pregnancy without discovering the joy of Kegel exercises. And rightly so. The general wear and tear on the muscles attached to your pelvis caused by carrying and releasing a baby can lead to untold future problems from urinary incontinence to uterine prolapse. Like any major muscle group, the pelvic floor muscles can be strengthened and toned through a series of repetitive contractions. By learning to isolate the right muscles and doing regular practice, you'll soon be flexing like a pro. As this Babycenter article explains, becoming a Kegel Knievel should improve circulation, help speed healing after childbirth and prevent unwanted leaks. And both you and your partner will enjoy the fringe benefits.

Evel Knievel photo via Evel 1

Becoming Mamalingual

Attached parenting. Baby whispering. Lactivists. Perineal massage. New motherhood is a country with a language all its own. Baby manuals, parenting mags and even gossip rags are dotted with baby-centric terms that have become part of the lexicon e.g. mannies (male nannies as popularised by Britney Spears), babymooning (the honeymoon period with your newborn), glammas (glamorous grandmas) and more. The Macmillan Dictionary webzine has a fun article on new words and parenting called Babytalk.

Brand New Mama is creating our very own Mamalingual* Dictionary to help new parents navigate this strange terrain. Every week we will be updating our dictionary with words and phrases that we have coined or adapted. This is a collaborative project so contact us if you’d like to add or share your own made-up mama speak (and earn a creative credit in the Mamalingual dictionary). Let the mum-bo jumbo* begin.

Mamalingual (adj.) 1. fluent in the many languages of motherhood (origin: Brand New Mama 2007)
Mum-bo jumbo (noun) 1. meaningless language or rituals that only make sense to new mothers (origin: BNM 2007)

Pic via The Superficial.com

New Pregnancy Checklist: Baby Yourself

Nobody may be able to tell you're pregnant yet, but that doesn't mean you're not feeling the pressure. Growing a baby is exhausting work from the outset and the first 12 weeks leaves most women feeling drained. One of the most important things you can do is to take regular, relaxing breaks to keep both mind and body on an even keel.

Indulge in a Pregnancy Pampering Kit from Earth Mama Angel Baby that includes morning wellness tea and a bottom balm to counter any haemorrhoids-in-waiting. Mama Mio offers sensuous massage oils and a list of spas that provide their deluxe Mama's Touch treatments. Bumping Brits can splash out on Nurturer's personal services including anything from biking waxing to household maintenance. If you're in New York, don't miss out on the brand new Peppermint Reflexology technique at Maternal Massage and More.

Photo via Maternal Massage and More

New Pregnancy Checklist: Don't Blow It

Before you blow your budget shopping for yourself or your impending, take stock of your finances. The average cost of raising a child today is around one trillion dollars (cue Dr. Evil laugh and pinkie in mouth). Seriously though, once you're up to your neck in nappies and formula, you may regret frittering away your savings on non-essentials.

If money's a touchy subject, print out this family budget planner from Pregnancy Weekly and sit down with your partner to sort things out like grown-ups. BabyCenter has a fantastic range of resources ranging from a cost of a child calculator to tips for bargain hunters. For UK readers, NetMums will guide you through the maze of maternity pay, tax credits and Child Trust Fund accounts.

Photo via BabyCenter

New Pregnancy Checklist: Shop til u Pop

It's too early to splash out on baby gear, but it's never too soon to do a little window shopping for yourself. Gone are the days when mou-mous and man-shirts were the only options for a swelly Betty. Babealicious stars like Angelina Jolie, Gwen Stefani and Madonna have turned bumps into a high fashion accessory. Doing your style research early is the yummy mummy's trick to preparing for the curves ahead.

First rule: while your changing body's a great excuse to experiment, don't suddenly try to dress like someone you're not. Remember, comfort is key. If you're looking for functional but style-conscious clothes, pop into 1 in the Oven. Celeb haunt ProMom Couture does sassy tees that make a statement. Destination Maternity is a great one-stop shop for a range of figure-flattering lines. Isabella Oliver offers sleek, designer fashion for the metropolitan mama. And Crave Maternity has a wide collection of everything from smarts like this sexy wrap dress to nighties to see you through delivery and beyond.

New Pregnancy Checklist: Dining a Deux

Let’s clear one thing up. The phrase ‘eating for two’ doesn’t mean scoffing down double portions. After all, even at birth your baby weighs less than a 10th of your poundage. In fact you only need an extra 200-250 calories daily and that’s not until the last trimester. Think quality not quantity, especially in the first trimester when cravings abound and the sights/smells of even your favourite foods could give your belly the heave-ho.

The UK Food Standards Agency has a guide to eating well whether you're trying to conceive or heading for the labour ward. At Pregnancy Today, you'll find a list of foods to avoid when you're with sprout. If that makes for depressing reading, cheer yourself up with a copy of the Healthy Pregnancy Cookbook. It offers more than 100 safe, tasty and satisfying recipes for the mama-to-be.