Life at Everyday Maternity: Tired Mummy, Tired Daddy

Life at Everyday Maternity: Tired Mummy, Tired Daddy

Tired Mummy, Tired Daddy

Life as a new parent can be exhausting and emotionally challenging, as well as a joyous time.

So here is a scenario, baby is bathed and in bed, the first glass of wine is poured and you are ready for a chat and relax on the sofa - and a little love and support from Dad......

 ...thinking you deserve a back rub or foot massage you move in for a little pat on the back, and guess what.....he's just as tired as you, if not more tired.

Don't think you are alone in this scenario, talk to any new parent and you'll notice the same tired feeling.

Mum is at home keeping baby fed, watered and entertained and of course fitting a touch of home-making in between the demands of a new born.

Dad is at work, facing the demands a job that throws at him - also exhausted from broken nights. Dads feel their efforts are not appreciated and their partners are less than sympathetic because they are just as tired. It can become a competitive cycle.

To be fair, both sides have their point. Mum feels its dad's turn, as soon as he comes through the door, dad feels he needs to wind down after a long day.

Here are some tips on coping with the tiredness:

Stop - try and put yourself in your partner's shoes and at least listen to their point of view.

Mood - try and find a time when you are both in a reasonable mood - possibly the weekend when you've had a chance to wind down a little. Talk through the issues - is the problem sleepless nights, unfair division of chores etc.  Try to be constructive - listening first, then come up with ideas between yourselves. 

Be nice - kindness begets kindness.  Do something nice for your partner to show you appreciate him - your kindness may inspire them to return the favour. Remember as much as we like to think our partners instinctively know what we want - it is often not the case. If you want him to run you a bath and make you a warm drink - tell him.  We can't all be married to Derren Brown!

Look forward - plan a night off, or a weekend away - give yourself some light at the end of the tunnel.  Our advice would be to avoid a beach holiday with a young baby - you'll probably spend all your time trying to avoid the sun and do we need to mention sandy nappies.......

Perspective - try and keep it - do the socks really need ironing? 

Me time - try and create a little me time for both parents.  Take a look at the New Parent Survival Gift for a gift that helps get the whole family through the early days of parenthood.

Great Gear for Grandmas

We love this website for the great products they have found for grandparents.  It has a selection of baby items that are easy to use, lightweight and compact - all the criteria a granny requires. For instance, they may need a baby bath, but Grand Pa doesn't want it taking up the whole of the bathroom. Well here is the answer:

The website is easy to use, but we all know the silver surfers are more than adapt at using the web - but there is a great tool to increase the font size! Amazing.  Well done Granny Takes a Grip.

www.grannytakesagrip.com

The LBD Maternity Style

Little Black Maternity Dress by ematernity featuring Monsoon

Items in this set:
Monsoon Accessorize - Gabriella Clutch Bag, 28 GBP
Monsoon Accessorize - Desiree Metal Sequin Scarf, 18 GBP
just amazing - maloonie make text,word, background
Little Black Dress Shop - Toronto, Canada
Fragile Maternity Flare Dress, 100 GBP

Little Black Maternity Dress

If you need a party maternity dress to see you through pregnancy, then take a peek at the Noppies Vladez Maternity Dress. Simply elegant.

Sparkle it up for the party season, or add some funky tights for a girl's night out.  A simple diamond for a formal meal or chunky jewellery for a more fun look.

Little Black Maternity Dress by ematernity on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
1/4 CT. T.W. Enhanced Black and White Diamond Heart Ring in 10K White..., $254
Label Gun™ Tape - Fonts.com, 30 GBP
Platinum half carat diamond ring - The Diamond and Watch Specialist -..., 799 GBP
Weiste 3m x 200mm Silver Tinsel - Christmas Time UK, 15 GBP
Kaemingk 60mm x 12 Dark Red Shatterproof Baubles - Christmas Time UK, 3.79 GBP

Shine in Maternity Party Wear

Pregnant Party-On by ematernity on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
Shiny Black Maternity Dress, Maternity Party Dress - £82.99, 83 GBP
rectangular picture frame, lg | frames | pewter | Cosi Tabellini |...
Noppies Chunky Cardy, Grey Cable Knit Maternity Cardigan - £72.99, 73 GBP
Boob Maternity Skinny Trousers, Slim Maternity Trousers - £69.99, 70 GBP
Queen Mum Maternity Party Top, Silk Maternity Top - £59.99 : Everyday..., 60 GBP

Party on the Festive Season with some gorgeous maternity evening clothes from Everyday Maternity

Best Nursing Bra

It is always difficult to choose a nursing bra, as your breast size can fluctuate in the early days of breastfeeding.

The Lace Trim Nursing Bra from Carriwell is an ideal starting bra for any breastfeeding mother. An affordable and multi-size nursing bra is a good option, just in case you are not sure how you will get on with breastfeeding.  As much as you may want to, a handful of women can struggle with breastfeeding.

That is why we recommend this easy fit breastfeeding bra.  Sue - mum of two - had this to say about the product.

I really liked the style as it was soft and comfortable, no clips to fiddle with. The lace made it feel a little pretty.  I did need a more supportive bra for out and about, but this was great for lazy days at home.

We recommend you review the size chart before purchase to ensure you get the right size. The bra will easily take a nursing pad, to mop up any leaks.

www.everydaymaternity.com - Maternity Clothes for Every Occasion

Boob Maternity - Party in Pink

Boob Maternity create wonderful maternity clothing collections each year.

We have mixed and matched some of their collection to create a look that will see you through the Festive Season in style.  Great for parties and feeling special on Christmas Day.

We really recommend the Tie-Back dress - super comfy if you have one too many roast potatoes with Christmas Lunch.

Pink Maternity Leggings - £23.99
Tie Band Maternity Dress - £69.99
Sleeveless Party Maternity Dress - £82.99
Boob Shiny Maternity Top - £59.99
Boob Slim Fit Maternity Trousers - £69.99
Pretty In Pink Maternity Set by ematernity on Polyvore.com

Mix and Match Maternity

We are excited to be opening our account with polyvore, where we will be creating looks and capsule wardrobe suggestions for all you pregnant women out there.  We are going to take key pieces from our collection each week, and pair them with affordable, high street items.

We hope that you will be able to create the look yourselves - or at least get some inspiration.

As Gok would say ' you look pregalicious'! x

Polyvore lets you create sets composed of individual images using an easy to use, drag and drop editor. After you have created a set, you can publish and share it with your friends and the Polyvore community.

Maternity Clothes + High Street = Pregalicious

Staying Hydrated During Childbirth

The Hospital Bag Must Have 
Here is an idea that is totally simple, yet amazingly useful.

I used to work with Mark Moran, CEO of Hydrate for Health, many years ago. He recently contacted me with details of his new venture - asking if we would be interested in the product.  I thought it was a brilliant product straight away, but asked a few other mums their thoughts. 
Just to explain the product is a water bottle with drinking tube that can be clipped to a bed, chair or pram.  Here are some of the reactions: 

• Michele - I always tell people to pack a straw in their hospital bag, to sip water with during labour, so this would have been brilliant.
• Pat - Breastfeeding the twins was a handful, I would have a pint of water by the bed, but without a hand free to grab it I just used to get thirsty, the Hydrate would have been a good solution.
• Jo - I wouldn't have thought to buy one, but I ended up having an emergency C-Section, which made it hard to reach for my glass. The ward was really warm, so I did get thirsty. I would have been handy to have one.

The Hydrant - is a personal, hands-free drinking system for people who are in bed or have restricted movement. The unique clip mechanism enables The Hydrant to attach easily to beds and chairs thus giving the user instant access to fluids without having to reach out.

It is can be invaluable for pregnant women during labour and afterwards in recovery where soreness makes it uncomfortable or difficult to move for a while.  Those who have a C-Section or suffering with SPD will find the product very useful.

Once you are home with your baby, the drinking bottle can be attached to a nursing chair during breastfeeding, keeping you hydrated.

Here is a customer review for the product:

“The Hydrant was an absolute lifesaver after Joseph was born. For three days I was bed bound and had trouble reaching the drinks on the bedside cabinet. It took ages to get help from someone to just pass me the cup. We attached The Hydrant to my bed and I could easily drink at any time. The ward was very hot so it was brilliant to just grab the tube and drink – especially during the night. What a superb product!! – I think every new Mum would love it both during and after birth. It would be particularly invaluable to those who have had Caesareans. I’m now using it at home whilst feeding so it’s great there as well!!” Lizzie (06/09)

Latest Breastfeeding News from Lansinoh

Lansinoh the breastfeeding experts have been awarded Silver Medals from Practical Parenting Magazine.


All products are judged by real mums on:

• Practicality
• Ease of Use
• Value for Money
• Quality

The Lansinoh Latch Assist was awarded a Silver Medal  for the Best New Product, and the Lansinoh Lanolin won an award for the Pregnancy and New Mums Skincare category.


As Lansinoh say, all Lanolin is not the same - the safety and purity of Lansinoh Lanolin is not found in any other nipple cream.  The cream is put through a unique refining process to give it a level of purity unmatched in other lanolin products.


Moist wound healing, through the use of a moisture barrier cream such as lanolin, is the preferred treatment for sore or cracked nipples.  Lansinoh works by the process of moist wound healing, the sore nipples are soothed by the lanolin and kept moist so no scab is formed. The helps accelerate the healing process.


An important additional benefit of moist wound healing is that it offers immediate pain relief for any mother with sore nipples. The nipple cream allows some air through to help the healing process, but allows enough moisture to be retained to prevent further cracking and soreness.


Lansinoh lanolin can be used by all the family also to soothe: chapped lips, nappy rash, dry skin on elbows, heels and knees, itchy stretch marks, minor cuts, burns and skin abrasions. 


Information provided by Lansinoh - www.lansinoh.co.uk

Multi Tasking Maternity Outfit

The new winter colletion is in from Noppies and one of our favourites ensembles is this Lynbrook Print Maternity Dress.  We think the look can be worked in a number of ways, so be a versatile part of your wardrobe.

So here are our suggestions on how to wear this dress:

The Work Look

Match simply with a pair of black maternity tights and a simple maternity cardy.


The Casual Look
Add a black long sleeve maternity top underneath and pop on your long boots.

The Party Look
Add a spark of colour with some blue footless maternity tights.

Funky Maternity Outfit

Could you pull this look off?

How about this look for a body-con pregnancy. The whole look was created by Boob Maternity - but we opted not to stock the mini-kilt skirt as we felt - as funky as the look is - would you lovely pregnany women dare to step out in such a short skirt.

We love the maternity polo-neck, and of course the maternity wear staple of leggings - but wonder who is brave enough to don the tini-tiny skirt. Let us know your thoughts, prove me wrong!

Boob Maternity Stripe Top, Long Sleeve Stripe Maternity Top - £59.99

Boob Maternity Stripe Top, Long Sleeve Stripe Maternity Top - £59.99

Boob Nursing Wear Collection - new additions

Just in case you hadn't noticed we love Boob Nursing Wear here at Everyday Maternity. And here is why: They design stunning breastfeeding clothes that allow new mums to feed their babies with ease.

They pioneered the double-layer top, meaning a breastfeeding mum doesn't expose her tummy every time she goes to feed her baby. Each season they come up with stylish prints, patterns and designs to ensure there is something fresh whatever season you have your baby. They are also ethically minded too, using organic cottons where possible, in fact over half of the range is made from organic cotton.

Their factories are based in Europe where they know the workers are treated fairly and decently paid. A new twist on the double layer this season is the Nursing Top with Drawstring. You still have the overlapping layer, but this time the drawstring helps create a feminine rouching at the bust.

Keeping Warm During Pregnancy

I am a big, big fan of vests in winter! That little extra layer of warmth against your skin. Vests span the gap between the top of your jeans and your pants. They are like a draft excluder for your back.

So we are pleased to add some new colours to our range of maternity vests. The Arabella B Seamless Vest is the perfect vest to wear when pregnant for many reasons. Here are just a few:

• Long, very long - they will cover your bump and beyond
• Soft, very soft - in 100% microfibre there are no itchy seams
• Stretchy, very stretchy - theses vests are going to grow with you, no matter how big your bump gets
• Useful, very useful - wear them for yoga, in bed as a support for your boobs at night or as a layering garment

Buy one in all four colours at Everyday Maternity - Maternity Clothes

Fragile Maternity Wear Collection

The winter collection from Fragile Maternity is always a pleasure to add to the site. Stunning fabrics, elegant designs and gorgeous knitted dresses.

http://bit.ly/FragileMaternity

Fragile Maternity take great pride in their maternity clothes and develop clothes with every aspect of a pregnant woman in mind.

For example the Cache-Coeur Dress is designed with pregnancy and breastfeeding in mind. The bolero wrap top looks great during pregnancy - as the top swathes your form. Then when baby arrives you can use the wrap as a discreet nursing dress. A true investment piece.

The Cosy Dress is another example of how Fragile use their extensive knowledge of pregnant women - they have their own shops in Belgium. The maternity wrap dress can be for many a love or hate item. So for those that like the shape of a wrap dress, but not the hassle of keeping it wrapped - the cosy dress is a happy medium. The Fragile Maternity range is designed and made in Belgium ensuring fair conditions for the people making your clothes and no excessive transport costs.

Lansinoh Breastfeeding Products

Lansinoh are celebrating their quarter century - 25 years old - wow!

Founded in 1984 by Resheda Hagen, a breastfeeding mother of two daughters. Resheda began by packaging ultra-pure medical grade lanolin in the kitchen of her home in the US, when no other pure nipple cream could be found.

To mark the occasion Lansinoh are giving away a Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump to 25 lucky winners. All you have to do to be in with a chance to win is to sign up a friend to the Lansinoh E-newsletter by sending their name and email address to jlancaster@lansinoh.co.uk The winners will be chosen at random and notified by e-mail before the 30th of November.


Don't forget that Everyday Maternity stocks a great range of breastfeeding accessories online.

Rocking Pregnancy in Style

Gisele Bundchen looking fabulous out and about in NYC. Take a look at http://celebritybabyscoop.com for more celebrity pictures.

Have a look at some of our maternity clothes to recreate the look for yourself.

Start with the White Maternity Top - the ruched v-neck will break up the size of your chest to give an even look.

Match with some Noppies Flared Maternity Jeans, then finish off with a cute little maternity blazer.

We love to hear feedback

If you have news for us or have a great product you think we need to see, then drop us an email on the following email:

Boob Maternity Home Collection

Here is something new from our favourite nursing wear company - Boob. It is a cute mix of pink polkas and black gingham, to make sure you look a fabulous lady of leisure when relaxing whilst pregnant or breastfeeding when baby has arrived.

The collection is multi tasking, as the tie-waist pj trousers can be worm post as well as pre-pregnancy.

The contrasting pj nursing tops can be worn with or without bump - there is enough space.

The even better news is that the tops and bottoms are both made from organic cotton

Take a look at www.everydaymaternity.com for the rest of our maternity nightwear

Am I too old for... jeggings? | Mail Online

Am I too old for... jeggings? | Mail Online

Great article from the Daily Mail about Jeggings.

Well we have added them to our maternity wear collection. If Beyonce can rock them, then so can pregnant ladies!

These legging/jeans hybrid are a hot fashion look this season - and they are the perfect item for pregnant women, being reasonably comfy and just a little smarter than leggings. The black denim maternity jeggings are great for those who want to wear a skinny jean - these offer better comfort than a pair of hard to find skinny maternity jeans.

Our advice - avoid white ones if you have started to retain water on your thighs.

Match them with some Ugg style boots for ultimate comfort. The hot look is to sport them with a pair of killer heels, but as we all know, pregnancy often brings cankles. (a combined calf and ankle = cankle!)

Go on be daring ladies!

Keep Warm with Maternity Tights

'Barbecue summer' is over, the Met Office predicts

The summer is truly over with rain set to sweep across much of Britain in the next few days, according to the Met Office.

But don't worry as Everyday Maternity can keep you warm with our range of maternity tights and warm maternity coats

We have ribbed tights, glossy tights and even purple opaque maternity tights. This wool rich maternity coat is a stunning addition to your maternity wardrobe.

Bellybutton Designer Maternity

Bellybutton Maternity always come up with an amazing collection of maternity clothes, and their Hot Spots designer collection is always the highlight of the range.This autumn we take they take us to Paris – the fashion capital. Inspired by the city of love the Hot Spots Paris collection is a violet fairytale. With bold prints that bring are femininely fresh and glamorously young - you will nothing but romantically decadent in one of these pieces.
Take a look at the Bellybutton Maternity collection online.

Noppies Maternity Autumn Collection

Its is here ....the first installment from Noppies Maternity.

Lots of wools, cords and lovely warm fabrics. You can't really go wrong with a pair of black maternity cords - if you want to play is safe and stick to dark shades.

Or how about swapping your regular denim for a little faded grey. These wide leg Casual Fit Maternity Jeans are a real change from blue jeans.


There are some other great maternity clothes online - and we are adding new stuff everyday.

Liverpool's Yummiest Mummy

The search is on for Liverpool's Yummiest Mummy...

DEADLINE: 12pm, 7th September 2009 We are so happy to be involved with this great idea from Alma de Cuba. Mums across Liverpool are being given the chance to be crowned the city’s “Yummiest Mummy” and win a spectacular prize worth over £1000. We are looking for the city’s hottest mothers to help launch our new monthly event, Yummy Mummy Mondays. The winner will receive: A luxury pamper day for two at Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa A Blissful Baby Box from Everyday Maternity Consultation and restyle hair make-over with Barbara Daley Venturephoto-shoot worth £205 for the mum and her family Pre Party Package from My Spa Clinics to get her looking fabulous for the event Girl's Night in/out package for two at Malmaison 50 free Cuba Libre Cocktails at Alma de Cuba An exclusive pass to the launch, which will take place on the 14th September 2009. THE LAUNCH The event will include pampering sessions from luxurious brands giving mums the chance to sit back, relax, and start the week in style. Children will also be treated to a touch of Alma indulgence, with story time in the venue’s private chapel, professional face painting and a picnic buffet on the altar. But before we officially commence the fun we want to find the city’s most glamorous mum to be the face of Yummy Mummy Mondays. HOW TO ENTER? To nominate/enter Liverpool’s Yummiest Mummy competition all you need to do is: Step one: E-mail a picture along with 100-150 words of why they should be given the title to yummymummy@alma-de-cuba.com Step two: Make sure you send us information before the deadline - Friday 7th September at 12pm. Step three: Good luck to everyone! The winner will be announced at the launch. Places are limited for each month, so contact yummymummy@alma-de-cuba.com today to reserve your space. Your friends at Alma de Cuba x

New Designer Maternity Clothes

The sun has finally appeared after a wet, wet July, so it seems a little early to be thinking of Autumn, but the new collection from Fragile Maternity has arrived at Everyday Maternity, and features some great cross-seasonal pieces.

Our personal favourite is the Cosy Wrap Dress with short sleeves and trendy pockets. The rose print is eye-catching and the fit will be exceptional. It is Fragile afterall.

Take a look at the rest of the stunning maternity clothes online at www.everydaymaternity.com

World Breastfeeding Week

World Breastfeeding Week, supported by UNICEF, WHO and FAO is celebrated every 1-7 August and over 120 countries around the world participate.

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) was formed in 1991 to protect and promote breastfeeding. As part of its action plan a week dedicated to breastfeeding bring much needed attention to the subject.

So why is World Breastfeeding Week so important?

Each year a theme is chosen to focus the activity and bring people’s attention to a particularly important aspect of breastfeeding. This year the theme is - BREASTFEEDING, A VITAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

Naturally this is an important theme to promote in third world countries, but here is a story from a counsellor who assisted a woman when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005.

“A mother had been stuck on a rooftop with many family members and her two week old baby who was bottle fed. They had no access to safe water for five days. Her baby was immediately hospitalised when they arrived in Austin, but she died several days later.

The nutritionist of a relief organisation supplying food aid asked the mother if there was anything else she could help her with. The mother asked for help drying up her breastmilk as her breasts were still sore. The nutritionist asked the mother why she hadn’t breastfed her baby while she was stuck on the rooftop. But the mother had felt quite unable to do this. What amazes me is that no-one with the mother knew to have the mother put her baby to her breast. So many generations had not considered breastfeeding as a way to feed babies that the memory was lost. The baby was lost, also.”

– Experience of a peer counsellor, Hurricane Katrina, USA, 2005

Everyday Maternity MD, Amanda Gregson notes, ’We feel it is important to spread the message, as even in this day and age babies die needlessly when breastfeeding could have saved them. We read the Hurrican Katrina story and knew we had to be involved.’
Everyday Maternity is calling for others to support World Breastfeeding Week by getting informed, and help others get informed.

Everyday Maternity is supporting the week-long celebration by promoting the event to all our customers, asking them to get involved, and spread awareness. They are also preparing Breastfeeding Information packs that can be sent out to Mums to Be. As part of their commitment to supporting breastfeeding they will also make a £1 donation to the La Leche League for every order of breastfeeding goods from www.everydaymaternity.com placed during World Breastfeeding Week.


Information can be found on the website www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org

Maternity Clothes Essentials

Key Maternity Wear Essentials

If you are on a tight budget, perhaps consider the following items as you maternity wear 'must haves':

Maternity Jeans - you that you can dress your jeans up for nights out or dress them down for coffee with the girls. Maternity Jeans have different waistbands to accommodate your tummy, have a read of the Maternity Jeans Guide on Everyday Maternity's Fact Sheets.

Black Maternity Trousers - again these are a multi tasking item, used for the office, dressed up for a night out or just a change from your jeans. For information on maternity waistband styles read the Maternity Wear Tips section.

Maternity Wrap Dress - this dress suits most shapes and bumps, and can be very comfortable. Avoid non-maternity ones otherwise you could have more material at the back and the front sitting 4 inches above your knees. Don't underestimate how long it could take to loose the weight - its is not a race - so a wrap dress will see you right after baby arrives. Black is of course the staple, but we have some bright prints of you wish to make a statement.

Fitted Maternity T-Shirt - again opt for a maternity one, that will stretch and grow with you. Choose one in a neck-line that suit your shape and if you want to play it safe go for black and jazz it up with necklaces, brooches or scarves. Your boobs and back will grow, but your shoulders are unlikely to change, so buying larger regular clothes will make you look over-sized across your shoulders.

White Maternity Shirt - every season, without fail, the white shirt makes an appearance in the fashion pages. We've had pussy-bow, oriental collar, wrap around.....so with a white maternity shirt in your wardrobe you can always pull a smart outfit together either with your jeans or your black trousers. You can get away with a man's shirt here, and no doubt your partner will find it a sexy look, but for a more together look, opt for a stretch maternity version. So if you only buy 5 things items of maternity clothing this pregnancy, we suggest you consider these!

BPA in Baby Bottles

A chemical found in some babies’ bottles can be harmful to women, a recent study has shown.

Bisphenol A or BPA, which is a common component of a lot of plastics, can raise the risk of heart disease, such as heart arrhythmia, or complications to your heart rhythm.

The report was based on tests done on female mice and rats, and these tests showed that the chemical, bisphenol A causes the heart to beat out of rhythm. When this chemical was mixed with oestrogen, the heart began to beat even more out of rhythm, showing that women could be more at risk from this chemical.

This latest report is one of a long line of bad press for the controversial chemical that many believe is linked to early puberty, breast cancer, miscarriage and infertility.

For more information on the use of BPA in babies bottles read our BPA in Baby Bottles Fact Sheet.

At Everyday Maternity we only stock Lansinoh, who aim to provide the safest, purest products for breastfeeding mothers. Many parents and parents to be are aware of the current debate around the use of plastics containing Bisphenol-A for baby feeding products. It isn't yet known what risk, if any, they pose. However, until more is known about the effects of Bisphenol-A all our products are Bisphenol-A free.

Fragile Summer 2009 collection

The new Fragile Summer 2009 collection, now available on the Everyday Maternity website. We think you'll look stunning in any of the dresses, particularly the Serena dress and the Wrap Dress. Head on over to the website and check out the other maternity dresses in the Fragile Summer 2009 collection.

New I Cup Bra in stock

This Anita Maternity breastfeeding bra is suitable for a heavy bust after pregnancy, and is available in sizes up to I cup. These have a high cotton content, so they are wonderfully soft against your skin.

They also feature wide, padded straps to relieve strain on your back and to ensure that you have the best support possible.

We particularly recommend these bras for ladies who may wish the support of an underwire bra, but prefer a non-wired product.

For information on what size to wear please take a look at the How to Measure for a Nursing Bra Fact Sheet at www.everydaymaternity.com

With the recent outbreak of swine flu, you may be worried about it and the effects it can have on you and your unborn baby. We’ve put together a fact sheet with some links on where to get advice.

The best source of information is the NHS website - take a look at the Swine Flu Information/Pregnancy section.

The Government’s own website has a special Swine Flu Prevention and Treatment section

It has been reported, that unlike normal flu strains that seem to strike the older population swine flu is more prevalent among the middle aged, so you should use precautions to avoid all illness when you’re pregnant.

Take note of the campaign catch-phrase:

CATCH IT. BIN IT. KILL IT.

This means covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, using a tissue. Throw the tissue away quickly and carefully, and wash your hands regularly with soap and water. Take extra precautions by cleaning hard surfaces (like door handles and remote controls) frequently with a normal cleaning product.

You should wash your hands and avoid sick people.

If you think that you’re sick, then take care of yourself. Put your feet up and rest and relax, and talk to your regular doctor as well as your midwife. They may recommend that you be treated with pregnancy class medications.

While you have your feet up take the chance to do some online maternity wear shopping – that way you will avoid the crowds!

The NHS website answers the following specific questions:

* Does swine flu pose special risks in pregnant women?
* Can I take antiviral drugs if I am pregnant?
* Will pregnant women get preference for a swine flu vaccine?
* Should I stop breastfeeding if I need to take antiviral drugs?

If having read the information on breastfeeding and your require a manual breast pump, visit www.everydaymaternity.com for information.

Featured in Pregnancy and Birth magazine

We've had our 9Fashion maternity denim jacket featured in this months issue of Pregnancy and Birth magazine.

Denim never goes out of fashion, so is a perfect piece of maternity wear, as it spans the seasons.

If you want to create your own denim look this summer, we have plenty of different styles of denim maternity skirts and denim maternity shorts in stock, as well as denim maternity jeans and the aforementioned denim jacket, so you can mix and match and make your own unique denim look this summer.

Maternity Support Band

We have a great video for you to watch from Carriwell Maternity. It shows how to use the Maternity Support Band. Discrete and supportive, this support band helps support your bump and lowers the chance of backache during pregnancy, this fits under your clothing, so you can still look stunning in your summer dress.

Dressing for Summer Weddings

One of the upsides of summer is that with the glorious weather at hand, more and more people are choosing to get married both outdoors and indoors. We here at Everyday Maternity think that you should look stunning at any wedding or any social event for that matter, so we have chosen a couple of dresses from our collection that we recommend for both wedding wear and evening dress wear.

First up is the Maternity Wedding Dress, from Fragile Maternity, also shown in the picture above. This elegant cream dress is fully lined, and has an intricate hand-sewn beaded neckline that is stunning. We particularly recommend this dress as it is suitable not only for weddings, but for any formal or social event and will make you look absolutely gorgeous.

Secondly, we recommend the Silk Maternity Evening Dress. This chocolate brown sleeveless dress is perfect for weddings and evenings out, and features a ribboned band hem and a bow detail at the chest, enhancing the subtlety and stylishness of this dress.

Lastly, the Lace Maternity Occasion Dress is great for special occasions, including weddings, particularly as a bridesmaid dress. It comes with detachable bra straps, allowing it to be changed as necessary depending on the occasion. The colour provides an elegant change from most formal wear, so we particularly recommend this one.

For more dresses and other evening wear, we recommend you check out the rest of our formal maternity dresses.

New Summer Range

We have just started stocking the new stunning summer range from Fragile, so check the website for more details. We particularly recommend the Halter Dress, shown in the picture, as it is perfect for almost any occasion, and will stretch to accommodate your growing bump over time, and will accentuate your curves beautifully.

Check out the website for more in the new Fragile summer range, and be sure to enjoy the striking new clothing.

Maternity Maxi Dress

The maxi dress is still a hot style tip this summer, whether pregnant or not.  The loose style of the maxi dress is very feminine, and the figure concealing full length will hide those swollen ankles and puffy pregnant knees as well as being ideal for the summer.  

For added impact choose a bold print maxi maternity dress to brighten up your pregnancy.  Maternity Maxi Dresses are an ideal wedding outfit or special occasion dress - just add a fascinator.

5 Simple Tips for Massaging your Baby

Baby massage is a fun and rewarding experience as we’ll show below, and can be very helpful too in keeping your baby’s health in top shape. The Blissful Baby Box is an ideal starter kit for new parents, so either treat yourself to one, or nudge your friends into buying it as a present for you.

So here are the top five facts and tips for massaging your baby.

1) Bonding – One of the best ways to bond with your baby is through skin-to-skin contact, so massaging your baby can be the best way to bond with them. It also allows your partner to be involved, so fathers can join in and help out too and not feel left out during the bonding process.

2) Massaging helps out a lot – Not only will massaging with Baby Massage Oil help keep their skin clean and fresh, it also helps out with their digestive system, lets them relax, improves their skin condition and blood circulation system, and their immune system too. It can also relieve teething pains too! And massaging allows you to learn your baby’s moods and particular idiosyncrasies, so you’ll be able to tell what kind of mood your baby is in a lot faster. So there are definite benefits to massaging your baby!

3) It builds self-esteem – If you’re feeling low after giving birth, then massaging your baby can help out as it allows you to gain self-esteem by building trust and communication between you and your baby, as well as gaining a new skill for helping to care for your baby. This can help you regain your self-esteem and become confident in yourself again.

4) Make it regular – Babies both appreciate and need a regular routine, so make sure that you massage them at a set time, for example, after their evening bath but before bedtime.  You can use the Top to Toe Wash from the Blissful Baby Box. This all over wash contains lavender water, calendula and aloe-vera and can be used before a lovely massage to help baby go to sleep and sleep better  This could help both of you relax and unwind after a stressful day and get better quality sleep.

5) Enjoy it! – This tip may seem daft, but remember that you’re doing this massage to bond with your baby. Both you and your baby should enjoy it and see it as something fun to do and not a chore. If it does start to feel like a chore, then ask your partner to take over for a few days whilst you take some time off to relax and rest up. Remember to enjoy yourself and your bonding time with your baby.

New Summer Range

We're now stocking the new Noppies summer range, featuring colourful prints, delicate fabrics and flattering styles, so you can look good in the summer sun and feel good. 

These include a stunning silk halter dress and a gorgeous silk maternity blouse, so you can enjoy the feel of soft silk against your skin and not feel constrained by your clothing.

Click here to check out the other products we're stocking in the Noppies Summer Range.

Facebook Group

We have a new Facebook page here, so if you're a member of Facebook, please drop by and become a fan!


We'll be updating it once a week, so keep checking back for news and other updates on the page.

Noppies Spring Sale Now On

The Noppies Spring Sale is now on, with 20% off selected products.

Click here to go and browse through the products on sale. We particularly recommend the Crop Maternity trousers.

Everyday Maternity Stocks Award-Winning Breastfeeding Cream

Lansinoh Lanolin was recently awarded the British Allergy Foundation Seal of Approval after a recent trial conducted amongst a lanolin sensitive population showed that Lansinoh Lanolin provoked 0% allergic reaction in subjects.

 Online breastfeeding clothes and accessories retailer, Everyday Maternity, has stocked Lansinoh Lanolin, which has proved to be one of its more successful products since being stocked nearly two years ago. Director Amanda Gregson said of Lansinoh Lanolin, “We find that new mums add a tube of Lansinoh Lanolin to their order when purchasing their nursing clothes, and often come back and buy additional tubes a few months later. It is a word of mouth product - their friends who have already had babies will recommend the product, so this is why they buy it.”

 Studies suggest that up to 90% of breastfeeding women suffer nipple soreness, and that this is one of the most common reasons for giving up breastfeeding. The preferred treatment for sore and cracked nipples is moist wound healing, in conjunction with help to address the cause of the condition. 

 Lanolin provides an ideal moist wound healing environment, but there are concerns relating to allergic reactions to some grades of lanolin. However, Lansinoh Lanolin has proved that it doesn’t provoke an allergic reaction amongst users. Lansinoh Lanolin cream is also used in 90% of all UK hospitals to help wounds heal quicker.

 Lansinoh Lanolin contains no preservatives, no antioxidants, no water, no chemicals and no perfume.  Mothers can be confident in the knowledge that Lansinoh Lanolin does not need to be removed before breastfeeding, and is safe for both mother and baby.

 For more information on Lansinoh Lanolin, visit www.lansinoh.co.uk, to order the product from Everyday Maternity, visit here

 Everyday Maternity is currently supporting National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (running from the 10th - 16th May) by offering free delivery on all Lansinoh products until the end of the month.  

Italian Designer Maternity Wear

New Italian Designer Maternity Wear comes to Everyday Maternity Everyday Maternity presents the Summer 2009 collection from Attesa, combining essential comfort with the prestige of Italian style. Attesa Designer Maternity is the latest addition to the range. The Italian designer dresses mothers-to-be with femininity and their clothes express the elegance of a woman during pregnancy. Founder and owner Vittorio Martinelli remains faithful to his philosophy: designing collections that allow mothers-to-be, at such an important time of their life, to feel beautiful and fashionable.

Breastmilk Storage Bottles

Breastfeeding, even for a short time, provides your baby with the best start in life. It helps to protect them against allergies and illnesses such as vomiting and diarrhoea, and also reduces the risk of many serious illnesses.

Breastfeeding saves time – and is free ! You do not have to buy, measure and mix artificial milk, and there are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night.

But should you need to store your milk, if you are a working mother or if dad is helping with some of the feeds then you'll need to refrigerated or freeze milk. Your milk may be stored in either hard-sided plastic or glass containers with well-fitting tops or freezer milk bags that are designed for storing human milk. Disposable bottle liners are not recommended

Lansinoh have both Breastmilk Storage Bottles or Breastmilk Storage Bags to help breastfeeding mothers.

All the Lansinoh products are Bisphenol-A free and the pump and breastmilk storage bottles are made of 100% polypropylene, the preferred plastic for breastmilk storage. And they are now available at Everyday Maternity

The New Valja Maternity Summer Collection

We've added some more great summer clothes for you lovely pregnant women. This time it is the Tete-a-tete and To-Be ranges from Valja Maternity.

An affordable maternity brand, Valja have come up with some fabulous lines for Summer 2009. Valja designs are stocked due to their soft and comfortable use of fabric whilst being feminine and flattering to all sizes of expectant mothers.

Take a look at the collection at Everyday Maternity

Emma Jane Breastfeeding Kit

Emma-Jane Breastfeeding Kit - now available at Everyday Maternity.

We have a great new kit for Breastfeeding Mothers, here at Everyday Maternity. The Breastfeeding Kit from Emma-Jane Maternity contains the following:

• 4 x Bra Extenders
• 6 x Washable Breast Pads (3 pairs)
• 1 x Nursing Band
• 1 x Laundry Bag

These breast pads from Emma-Jane Maternity are ideal to soak up leaks and absorb moisture away from the skin and will protect your clothing from breast milk and prevent staining. The machine washable breast pads are an environmentally friendly option. They are placed in your nursing bra to protect outer clothing and for additional comfort they are moulded.

The bra extenders are in 2 widths and in black and white. They add 3 rows of eyes to the back of the bra to ensure it fits an ever-changing shape. No sewing required.

The nursing band conveniently reminds which side to feed from next. Nursing mothers are often recommended to alternate which breast they start feeding from. Starting from the wrong breast can be painful.

The laundry bag ensures that all these items can be machine washed without
damage.

Anita Underwire Nursing Bra

It seems many nursing mothers prefer the support of an underwire bra, given the recent popularity of our two new underwire bras.

So to make sure they have real choice, we've added a new underwire bra from Anita Maternity.

This one goes up to a H-Cup and starts at a B Cup - so fits a wide range of breastfeeding mothers.

If you are worried about wearing an underwire bra while nursing your baby, why not read our helpful fact sheet Can I wear an Underwire Bra when Breastfeeding

More plus size maternity wear

Smart Plus Size Maternity Trousers

We've responded to requests from pregnant ladies to have more sizes in our Plus Size Maternity Wear. We now stock up to UK28 maternity wear.

The latest addition are a pair of black maternity trousers in a stretch viscose fabric.

These Bengalin Maternity Trousers are a comfortable maternity trouser with a straight leg cut and are worn on the bump, with internal waistband adjusters to alter the fit depending on your stage of pregnancy.

Noppies have designed these plus size maternity trousers to ensure a great fit from UK20 up to UK28.

Lansinoh Breast Pump

Lansinoh products are popular with the customers of Everyday Maternity, and have been awarded numerous awards from pregnancy magazines, so we are happy to expand the range of products available. The latest addition is the Bisphenol-A free Manual Breast Pump.

Bisphenol-A is a chemical considered to be potentially harmful to human health and the environment. It has been known that scratched and worn polycarbonate feeding bottles will leach this chemical into liquids. Studies suggest that this chemical can have disruptive effects on hormone circulation. So it is great that the Lansinoh Breast Pump is free of this chemical. Some of the key features of the bottle are:

Comfortable Unique ComfortSeal™ cushion provides steady, comfortable suction for a secure fit and faster milk flow.

Safe Made from 100% Bisphenol-A free polypropylene - the preferred plastic for breastmilk storage. Dishwasher safe.

Ergonomic The ergonomic handle puts no strain on the wrist, providing efficient one hand pumping for ease in imitating a baby's nursing rhythm.

Portability Compact size, and very light, the pump can be assembled in under a minute.

Efficient Fast, gentle, convenient – no need for batteries or electricity.

Standard size Standard size allows you to pump into most baby bottles.

Accessories The Lansinoh breast pump has only 7 parts. It comes with two extra valves and a spare silicone diaphragm, as well as two storage bottles, bottle rings and specially designed sealing disks to prevent leaking. Breastmilk storage bags can also be bought separately.