Common 5 Mistakes Women Make with Curly Hair

Curly hair can be an easy and effortless way to style your hair or become your very own worst enemy. These techniques and unique methods come straight from learning under a curly hair guru. People traveled from all over the world just to have a curly haircut and style done with these tricks and truthfully achieving show-stopping curls is easier than one would think. When you learn to stop making these five common mistakes, gorgeous shiny curly hair can be yours on a daily basis. Are you making these curly hair mistakes right now?

1. The Wrong Haircut:

This is the most important aspect involved in achieving great curly hair and the most overlooked. Many hairdressers make so many mistakes cutting curly hair simply because they treat it the same as straight or wavy hair. However it is drastically different, the shape of your cut is of the utmost importance. If you have naturally curly hair then when you go in for a haircut try to avoid having it straightened and flat ironed when you have it styled. Hairdressers can straighten your hair and cut it perfectly and it will look wonderful, that is until you have to wash it and try styling it yourself. It is much easier to see the natural finish of a curly haircut after-wards and this is when any small changes can be made. If a haircut is done on perfectly straight hair, then how will you ever know how your curls will lay once you wear it curly?

2. Avoiding Layers:

You MUST have layers in your hair if you ever want to ever style it curly. This is critical because without them you will end up having that dreaded triangle top hairstyle. The hair would therefore end up flat at the roots because of the weight and then stacked on the ends because of the curls. The only way to get body and shape out of your curly hair is with layers cut into the shape. They should be rounded to give a more flattering shape.

There is this misconception that with layers you will end up with frizzy hair that poofs out everywhere. This is a myth and a direct result of not receiving the right haircut and style. If you have curly hair, I am sure you've had to go home and restyle your hair after going to get a haircut. This leads me to mistake #3.

3. Combing Wet Hair

It's common knowledge that combing dry curly hair just creates uncontrollable frizz, but what about if you comb you hair wet? When you get your hair cut at the hairdresser's they comb and comb your hair during the cut and then if you decide to style it curly what happens next? They reach over and grab the diffuser (which almost every curly hair person fears and rightfully so) and then proceeds to scrunch and blast your hair after having already combed out any natural curls. Leaving your once slightly curly hair in a disastrous state of frizzy fuzz.

The trick to solve this is once you have combed your wet hair it must be rinsed with water again. Even after a haircut. This reactivates the curls to form without any frizz. Combing is best when done with a conditioner then rinsed to return it to its natural curly state.

4. Scrunching

This is how most people were taught to style curly hair. This will just create a bigger, curly mess to deal with. Do not touch your hair! This is so important, once it has been rinsed with water any scrunching, towel drying, running your fingers through it will just make the curls unruly. Decide on where you want to part your hair. First comb with the conditioner on. After, rinse your hair and then when it is soaking wet you can take a towel and gently blot the ends. It will seem very wet at this point but still avoid towel drying your hair.

5. Wrong Products and Application

Curly hair is generally drier than straight hair and it needs moisture. If you want that shiny bouncy finish for your curls, then make sure you used the proper professional products to achieve these results. A lightweight cream used sparingly and dispersed evenly into the palms of your hands is better than any spray or mousse, which both offer no moisture or structure for the curls. Additionally they usually leave the hair feeling even drier and slightly crispy.

It is all about HOW you apply the product though. This method has been tested and if you avoid the mistakes made mentioned before; you will end up coaxing out your beautiful natural curls.

Eye Bags a Big Problem for Many Women

Many women are distressed by under-eye bags. The problem is usually temporary but can be long-lasting. Here, you can learn about what can cause the problem and what you can do about it.

There are two basic kinds of bags. There is the temporary puffiness that everyone gets from time to time due to fluid retention in the area. There is also a more permanent kind of bag that can accompany the aging process and is due to a gradual increase in the fatty tissues below the lower eye lids.

Fluid retention can be related to something as simple as the way that you sleep. The fluids may gather mostly on one side because you tend to sleep on that side. If you sleep on your stomach, you are more likely to see bags in the morning. Other causes of fluid retention include:

· Excess salt in the diet
· Alcohol use
· Tobacco smoke
· Crying due to the salt in the tears

Bags can also be caused by "leaky" blood vessels. The tiny vessels beneath the skin can become leaky for a number of reasons. Allergies can cause leaks that lead to swelling around the eyes and in other parts of the face. Leaky blood vessels can also accompany the aging process. A related issue that sometimes accompanies aging is poor fluid circulation.

Inflammation is sometimes involved in the problem. Dermatitis, which is a general inflammation of the skin, can affect the area. Periorbital cellulitis is a type of inflammation and infection that affects the eyelids and the skin around the eyes. If you just have under eye bags, the problem is probably not cellulitis, because there would be a more generalized swelling with that condition.

The problem can be somewhat "circular". Inflammation can cause blood vessels to leak. Leaky blood vessels can stimulate the inflammation process. So what started out as a temporary problem may be experienced more often as one problem leads to another.

Over time, the blood vessels can repair themselves, if they have the right tools. The nutrients in the foods you eat provide the tools the body needs to repair all kinds of damage. Certain nutrients can also keep inflammation in the body to a minimum.

The increase in the size of the fat pad below the lower lids is often accompanied by a general decrease in the skin's fatty tissue layer, as we get older. This can make the problem even more noticeable because the rest of the skin starts to sag and the bags get pulled down even further.

There are surgical procedures for correcting the problem but that expensive solution is not without risks. Before you consider surgery, you should try the "nutraceutical solution".

Nutraceuticals are vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, proteins or other nutrients present in foodstuff that are known to have medicinal or "pharmaceutical" activity. Some of the latest research has focused on the benefits of applying nutraceuticals directly to the skin. When it comes to the problem of eye bags, the results have been quite impressive.

Female Menopause: How to Deal With Hot Flashes

If you ask women who have already gone through the menopause stage of their lives, they will usually describe that it is like having their very own personal sauna where they experience extreme heat on various parts of their body. When it is time for you to go through the menopausal stage, it is important that you should expect hot flashes to occur as a part of the signs and symptoms of menopause.

Menopause can be a very uncomfortable condition that will leave you irritable and extremely moody. So, here are some ways on how you can deal with it associated with menopause in order to go through it smoothly and with more comfort.

First off, the causes of this aren't actually known. Researchers suggest that menstrual may be associated with the constant fluctuations of the female hormones called the estrogen. During menopause, the female body will stop producing estrogen which causes an imbalance on hormones. Research has found that hormone imbalance is also one of the contributors during menopause.

There are actually no stopping this from occurring but there are simple ways on how you can effectively deal with it to decrease the discomfort that you will experience during attacks of it. First, simply doing some lifestyle changes can be very effective to treat it. One way to stop this from occurring frequently is by identifying what triggers it. Normally, most women who experienced this say that drinking hot beverages, such as hot tea and coffee is mainly the contributors. Also, stressful activities or just being in a situation that can be stressful to you can also produce hot flashes. So, the best way to minimize this is by avoiding these situations and other things that will trigger this.

Drinking alcohol and eating spicy foods are also one of the main contributors. Try avoiding these kinds of food and beverages in order to minimize the occurrence. When you are inside your home, try to turn the temperature down by turning on the air conditioning unit. A small fan may also come in handy when you are experiencing an attack of hot flashes.

Women who have gone through menopause say that adding more soy protein on their diet is also a great way to decrease the effects of hot flashes. However, it is very important to consult your doctor first before you make any changes in your diet.

When you go out, try going to cool places, such as the mall or by turning your car's air conditioning unit on. This will be helpful in decreasing the effects.

Other treatments may include the use of herb and vitamin supplements. Since this is usually associated with the decrease of estrogen, some recommends that you go through hormone replacement therapy. However, there are significant risks involved in hormone replacement therapy, such as increased risk of breast cancer.

Using one or a combination of the mentioned treatments will enable you to minimize the risk of hot flashes.

Always remember that this is a normal part of the menopausal period. Although there is no way that you can avoid experiencing this condition, there are effective treatments available that can alleviate the discomfort you experience.

Female Brain vs Male Brain

A new book that recently hit the market proclaims that women are much better than men when it comes to remembering the emotional times of their life.

According to the new book "The Female Brain" by author Lou Ann Brizendine, women tend to remember the emotional events of their lives better than men because women's brains are structured differently and contain a different set of chemicals than their male counterparts. The book cited scientific studies that used PET and MRI scans to support this conclusion. The authors also cited over 60 pages of references to support her findings.

In this regard, the book said that the main difference between men and women is that women's brains had a larger hippocampus, which is the organ in the brain that stores emotions and produces memory formation. Women's brains also have larger areas for language than men. The book said that these differences are more pronounced during the eighth week of pregnancy when the female brain experiences a testosterone surge.

On the other hand and not surprisingly, men were found to have larger brain areas for aggression and action. Brizendrine also revealed that men's brains also have 2½ times more space than women's brains for the sexual drive.

Here are some of the other interesting revelations in the book:

- Men experience love at first sight more easily than women, according to the chapter on "Love and Trust"

- Women are more attracted to "symmetrical" men because such men are said to give them better and more frequent orgasm, according to the chapter on sex and citing the results of a study involving 86 sexually active 22 year old couples

- Handsome and symmetrical men tend to be more unfaithful and cheat more often than men with "less well-balanced bodies."

On the last item, it appears that women now face a tough choice: to either have a great sex life with a handsome, symmetrical partner who will likely cheat on them or settle for a "less well-balanced" male who will be faithful but lousy in bed.

Interesting dilemma, don't you think?

Danger of Wearing High Heels

The original function of shoes is to protect the feet, and the decorative function is just a derivative function, but today people are following a cart-before-horse thinking that the decorative function of shoes is the most important.

Shoes become more and more beautiful, but they are not necessarily comfortable, and in some cases they might even hurt foot or other body parts. It's really cruel torture when wearing uncomfortable shoes. Then what health effects of these styles of shoes and what kind of shoes can be both beautiful and healthy?

High heels will let you have a figure of perfect elegance, but it is real torture from the toe to the spine. It's obvious that because of the raising heels, weight borne by whole foot is centralized at the forefoot which is unfit for loading, adding burden to the forefoot, making you feel more painful when standing and walking.

High heels can affect the foot bone health. When wearing high heels, ankle joint becomes loose and not stable which will increase the possibility to get sprained and cause ligamentous injury, tendon rupture or even fracture. If the heel is too high, metatarsophalangeal joints in the excessive stretched state will lead to subluxation of the metatarsophalangeal joint, and even fatigue fracture (stress fracture).

High heel is one of the factors contributing to osteoarthritis of the knee. Ankle is unable to play the normal function because of high heels, knee joint must be under greater pressure in order to maintain stability of the body when walking; tension and pressure for a long time can cause inflammation of the knee. Studies have shown that wearing high heels for walking knee pressure will increase 23% on average. Wearing high heels when climbing stairs, pressure for knee increases 3 times than usual times; Going down the stairs will even increase 7~9 times of pressure than usual. Consequently, when wearing high heels, you'd better climb the stairs as fewer times as possible.

Is the thick heel safer than thin heels? Actually there's no big difference between both knee injuries. While thick high heel causes knee wear increasing 22%, fine high heel increases 26%. However, thin heels certainly increase the possibility to sprain ankle due to instability. When wearing high heels, human center of gravity moves forward, and to get balance human body will take initiative back. Physiological curvature of the spine gets worse; vertebra contact area reduces and pressure increases, the load on the spine becomes bigger. Back and hip muscles in contraction for a long time is easy to raise lumbago and back pain.

Remember the principle that to wear the right shoes on right occasions. In daily life, we recommend that you choose loose, suitable shoes in accordance with arches physiological principle with adequate height for heels. It is more suitable for you to wear sport shoes for a long time walking when traveling, and they would also be useful to correct foot problems. If you want to wear high heels, it is necessary to carefully select shoes. Suitable shape of shoe and heel height makes the foot not so easily tired; shoes with built-in auxiliary tools of certain hardness such as built-in heel cup and arch support pads will effectively reduce pressure to be healthier. At the same time it enhances the wearing comfort of shoes. When you wear high heels you can also use the forefeet mats to reduce foot injuries. Only protecting our own feet can we keep beautiful appearance longer.

7 Ways To Avoid Hemorrhoids When You Are Pregnant

1) Reduce Constipation

Getting rid of constipation is a major step towards the prevention as well as treatment of hemorrhoids. This is because it allows pregnant mothers to pass stool without straining. Some of the things that can be done to relieve constipation include:

2) Drinking Lots of Water

It is recommended that you take at least 8-10 glasses of water per day or more. This should be pure drinking water without any additives like tea, coffee, juice and so on.

3) Increase Fiber Intake

This can be done by taking raw vegetables and fruits, beans, whole grains and other foods that are rich in fiber. You can also add prune juice to the diet as this helps to boost fiber intake.

4) Avoid Sitting or Standing For Long Periods of Time

Both activities increase pressure on the lower body and also slow down flow of blood to the rectal veins. If you sit at a desk while working, take a few minutes break to walk around. If you have to stand for a long time, make sure you take time to stretch and sit a little once in a while.

5) Relax When Passing Stool

Straining during bowl movements can cause hemorrhoids or make them worse. If you find yourself having difficulties during bowel movements, you can use a stool where you can put your feet up during the process. This allows the bowel movements to move more easily as it helps to relieve the pressure that is found around the rectal area.

6) Don't Hold Stool In

It is advisable that you go to the restroom immediately you feel the urge to do so. Waiting can make the process more difficult which leads to straining.

7) Kegel Exercises

Kegels are great exercises that help to avoid hemorrhoids when you are pregnant as they help to strengthen the pelvic which enhances circulation to the perineum as well as the rectum. You should also try to exercise for at least 30 minutes everyday as this also helps to improve digestion. This should however be approached with a lot of caution and you should talk to your doctor to find out the types of exercises that can be done to keep you and the unborn bay in great shape.

By William T. Gudino

Armpit Hair Removal - Simple Tips

Paste it on. Mix lime juice, milk powder, and honey into a paste and apply to skin in underarms. Leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. After several weeks, your underarm skin will become whiter.

Change your hair-removal method. Stop using hair dissolving/removal agents and depilatory creams and you may notice your dark armpits getting lighter. These products contain strong acids and other substances to remove hair but can also darken the skin beneath.

Shave less. Shaving may also cause your armpits to darken, so shaving less frequently may help lighten them. Since shaving removes the top layer of skin along with the hair, the newly exposed layer can darken instantly when exposed to sweat. Try waxing underarms instead or using a sugar procedure to remove unwanted hair. It’s best to have your underarms waxed by a professional, as your skin is very sensitive in that area and can burn or bleed.

Loosen up. Tight blouses brush against armpit skin, and the friction can cause underarms to darken. Wear loose, breathable clothes instead.

Wash your underarms regularly. Poor hygiene can cause dirt and oil to accumulate in your armpits, which makes underarms dark. Wash well with soap, and rinse with warm water.

Use lightening creams sparingly . If you choose to use a bleaching cream, do it only on occasion to lighten skin under arms. Talk to your pharmacist, doctor, or aesthetician for guidance on purchasing a product that’s safe.

reference: Dailyglow.com  & ehow.com

7 Beauty Secrets that You Need to Know

Drink water:

 Thinking it's no secret? 

Well, forget about the eight glass rule. Make sure you drink just enough that you don't feel thirsty.

"My skin gets all flaky and dry if I am not well hydrated."

Sunscreen is a must: 

Sunscreen is a guarantee for youthful skin. UV rays is the most common source of skin cancer and ageing. 

Be it rains or sunshine, make sure your skin is nicely smothered with sunscreen- and you know the rule-.

Apply it 15 minutes prior to walking out so the body absorbs it properly.

Moisturise:

 Make sure you have a moisturizing body lotion that includes a self-tanner. It helps you hide spider veins on your legs and give a slimming effect all over.

Hands and neck are important too: 

Treat your hands and neck like your face. Wash, cleanse and moisturise. Apply suitable creams and rub it nicely on your neck and hands to make sure they glow as much as your facial skin.

Exercise:

If you want glow on your face, facials are not the only option. Workouts help improve blood circulation and oxygen capacity. So hit the treadmill and enjoy the healthy glow!

Eat right:

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Stress a lot on vitamin A, C and E and they help deal with skin issues. Applying antioxidants on the skin also help...

Feel good: 

Do things that make you feel great about yourself. If you look happy you will automatically feel the glow. So smile and stay cheerful! It makes Life Beautiful.

Why Should You Wear Underarm Protection

TOP Reasons to Wear Underarm Protection

There are many reasons why a woman would want to wear deodorant or another underarm protection. The products in the personal hygiene aisles are so popular that they fly off the shelves. There is enough variety that any woman can find the right type for her skin and needs.

Here are just a few reasons to wear some type of underarm protection on a daily basis.

Prevent Odors 
Even women who do not sweat very often may emit odors from their armpits. Showering helps to kill bacteria under the arms and in many other areas of the body, but that bacteria begins to grow again immediately. When a woman sweats, the bacteria mixes with the sweat and that creates a foul scent.

Deodorants & antiperspirants:

Deodorants & antiperspirants for women can help to prevent these odors from occurring. Deodorants mask the scent while antiperspirants stop the woman from sweating in the first place so there is no scent to cover. There are also combination products that can help with both issues.

Feel Fresh 

Not every woman has the time to shower on a daily basis. Part of her grooming process, even when she does not have time to take a shower, should include putting on a superior dry protection deodorant or another similar product. These items can help a woman stay fresh all day long. Showers are always best, but deodorant can really help a woman feel as if she is clean.

Smell Better 

Not only do underarm protection products help a woman stop sweating or limit the odors that sweating emits, but they can even make a woman smell nice overall. Many of the products on the market are scented and the scents can be rather pleasant. Some women do not like overpowering perfume and some even have allergic reactions to strong fragrances. Good underarm products can give a woman a pleasant scent without becoming too overpowering.

These are just a few of the reasons a woman should wear underarm protection on a daily basis. Once she commits to using such products, she will need to find the right options for her skin and needs. If she has sensitive skin, for example, she will want to read the labels on the products and make sure the one she chooses does not have any ingredients in it that will irritate her skin. She should also think about whether or not she prefers to mask scents or prevent sweating.

Best Natural Treatments To Fight With Signs Of Menopause

What is menopause?

Every normal female will go through the period known as menopause. This is an unavoidable reality.

It comes with being a member of the female species. It's a stage that one will come to eventually at the end of her reproductive life span.

However, not all women can go through it without too many problems.


There are those that experience ordinary symptoms, but there are also those that go through more severe situations.

Two main categories as far as these symptoms are concerned:

The physical and the psychological ones. Sometimes, the latter can prove to be more difficult.

Normal signs for menopause:

The usual signs for menopause include hot flushes, weight gain, mood swings, and sleeping difficulties. Some luckier women experience only mild stages of these. Others are not that fortunate.


They have to go through several months or even years suffering from such symptoms. But the thing is that this is not a disease, so there's no need to cure it with medication. That's why the better alternative to handling it is to seek for natural treatments and therapies. It's because menopause is a natural phase of life and it will come to an end eventually.

One of the most recommended strategies to overcoming these symptoms is to lead a more active and healthy lifestyle. It may sound so basic and clichéd, but it's very effective.

Women who exercise regularly and are conscious of their diets can deal much better with stress, anxiety and depression post-menopause. Studies also show that they experience these signs for a much shorter period of time.

YoGa:

Yoga is one of the most recommended exercises, as well as Kegel exercises which help prevent urinary incontinence. You can also try taking up low-impact sports like golf, bowling, swimming, cycling, and long distance running.

AcuPunture:

Another effective natural therapy is acupuncture. There are researches showing that women receiving this therapy had less severe hot flashes and mood swings compared to those receiving placebo treatments. It's also time for you to get acquainted with herbal remedies if you're entering this phase. Supplements with ingredients such as gingko biloba, sage leaf extracts, and black cohosh have been shown to be very helpful in bringing relief.

Water:

The last tip is to drink more water and increase your fiber intake. These can help increase your estrogen levels in order to avoid vaginal dryness and bladder problems. Of course, you should never forget to consult your doctor when the symptoms become really unbearable.

15 Tips to Care Your NAIL for Women

Having trouble with dark polish discoloring your nails? Always apply a base coat to prevent this problem. Also, applying a top coat will ensure that your polish lasts for days and days.

Before you purchase nail files, check with your nail technician to see what number grit you should use. Higher numbers are finer grit, perfect for natural nails; lower numbers are coarser, and best for artificial nails.

Manicure tools should be sterilized between uses. You should also wash your hands with a disinfectant soap before working on your nails.

Give your hands a spa treatment to keep them soft and supple. Just like your face, hands need exfoliating and moisturizing treatments.

If your job require lots of typing in front of a computer all day, consider using a lighter shade of nail polish; any chips you might get will be much less noticeable. Also, you'll want to moisturize your hands and nails frequently throughout the day, so as to keep them from cracking under the pressure.

You should avoid removing acrylic artificial nails on your own; it leaves your natural nails dry and brittle, making them much more susceptible to fungus, bacteria and infection. You should also avoid using acetone nail polish remover on artificial nails; it can loosen them and cause them to peel off. Look for polish made for use with artificial nails.

Soaking your nails in sweet almond oil will moisturize and strengthen them. Pour 4-5 tablespoons of the oil into a small bowl, and then set the bowl in a shallow dish of hot water to let it warm up. Soak your hands in the warm oil for about ten minutes, and then wipe the oil off with a tissue.

Don't let trends influence you in the shape of your nails; talk to your nail technician about whether you should go with rounded or square tips. Longer nails are best with squared tips, as round tips break more easily.

Using a nail polish remover that contains lanolin will help prevent drying of the skin and cuticles.

Do your nails have ridges running up and down the length of them? If so, it means that you may not be getting enough Vitamin D and calcium. Other nutrients you need for healthy nails can be found in carrots, blueberries and strawberries. Massage your nails with almond oil or olive oil to keep them looking strong and healthy.

You should avoid cutting the cuticle of your nail - It's best just to push them back as cutting can cause them to grow back more thickly. Cuticle cutters or scissors shouldn't be used as you may damage the cuticle and leave yourself open to infection. Have your nail technician trim them if necessary.

Use a hot air dryer instead of a towel to dry hands and feet after washing. The warm air increases circulation, leading to healthy, well-nourished nails.

Wear kitchen gloves when washing dishes or unloading the washing machine or dishwasher. The reason is because washing detergent is harsh on nails and skin, so you should avoid getting it on your hands. Soaking your hands in whole milk can also help to significantly reduce any damages from harsh cleaning chemicals.

Polish and buff your nails three or four times a week. It will keep them healthy and looking great as well as help prevent discolorations.

Apply plenty of pressure when buffing your toenails to help get rid of ridges in the nail. You should avoid using dark colored polish on the toenails to help prevent yellow discolorations.

Cancer Symptoms in Women

Potential signs and symptoms of cancer are outlined below. 

Lump in your breast

See your GP if you notice a lump in your breast, or if you have a lump that is rapidly increasing in size elsewhere on your body.

Your GP will refer you to a specialist for tests if they think you may have cancer.

Coughing, chest pain and breathlessness

You should visit your GP if you have had a cough for more than three weeks.

Symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain may be a sign of an acute (severe) condition, such as pneumonia (a lung infection). Go to see your GP straight away if you experience these types of symptoms.

Changes in bowel habits

Go to see your GP if you have experienced one of the changes listed below and it has lasted for more than a few weeks:

• blood in your stools
• diarrhoea or constipation for no obvious reason
• a feeling of not having fully emptied your bowels after going to the toilet
• pain in your abdomen (tummy) or your anus (back passage)
• persistent bloating

Bleeding

You should also go to see your GP if you have any unexplained bleeding such as:

• blood in your urine
• bleeding between periods
• blood from your back passage
• blood when you cough
• blood in your vomit

Moles

Go to see your GP if you have a mole that:

• has an irregular or asymmetrical shape
• has an irregular border with jagged edges
• has more than one colour (it may be flecked with brown, black, red, pink or white)
• is bigger then 7mm in diameter
• is itchy, crusting or bleeding

Any of the above changes means that there is a chance you have malignant melanoma (skin cancer).

Unexplained weight loss

You should also go to see your GP if you have lost a lot of weight over the last couple of months that cannot be explained by changes to your diet, exercise or stress.

These symptoms are often caused by other, non-cancerous illnesses, but it is important you see your GP so they can investigate.

Best 10 Pregnancy Tips

Pregnancy Tip 1:

Learn to love your belly: Strangers on the street exclaimed, "Wow! Are you big! Must be any day now," when I was a mere four months pregnant. After months of experiencing a pang of panic each time I caught a glimpse of my reflection, I finally came to love my belly in a pregnancy photo shoot my girlfriend gave to me. The photographer was so supportive that I finally began to see myself how others did--a beautiful pregnant woman.

Pregnancy Tip 2:

Beg and borrow maternity clothes: No matter how ugly and how huge some of the maternity pieces seem, accept them all. You truly don't know how big you may get and how comfortable those hideous panels might be later on. Put away your pre-pregnancy clothes once you grow out of them so you aren't constantly grieving the loss of your old wardrobe.

Pregnancy Tip 3:

Let go of your due date: Did you know only 4% of babies are born on their actual due date? Who knew! Once I found out that it is perfectly normal for a baby to arrive anytime between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy, I let go of my due date altogether and followed the scout motto of "be prepared" (at any time during that five week window).

Pregnancy Tip 4:

Learn to enjoy your admiring public: Yes, strangers will sometimes see your belly as public property and dish out a host of comments and advice. My husband helped me to start having fun with this new celebrity status. For instance after being annoyed by comments such as, "Looks like your due any time now!" my husband suggested I say things like, "Yup, any minute now!" or even joke, "Can you believe I'm not due for another 8 months?!" The fact of the matter is most people actually mean well--this milestone in your life brings up fond memories for them.

Pregnancy Tip 5:

Find a health care practitioner you love: The ups and downs of your pregnancy require special support and pregnancy resources. Find someone who welcomes your questions, puts your fears to rest and supports you in having the best pregnancy and delivery you can. For me I found this support in my midwives who gave me one hour session and even made house calls. Plus, once I found out my midwives' statistics on c-sections, forceps use and episiotomies I was hooked! Other friends hired a doula (birth coach), or had a doctor they loved, and were thrilled with the care they received.

Pregnancy Tip 6:

Listen and learn to trust your body: Surrendering to my cravings (turkey sandwiches with cranberry sauce and chocolate ice cream), the need of extra sleep (sometimes I would simply sit down to rest and suddenly wake up two hours later!) and being gentle with myself was what got me through.

Also, reading parenting books like The Girlfriends Guide... (for the humor and practicality), to fabulous hardcore midwifery books like Ina May's Guide To Pregnancy (my favorite) helped me to learn to trust my body more than ever before. These books (another good one was Birthing From Within) helped to dissolve many of my fears, as I learned things like no matter how big your baby is, babies heads are mostly around the same size, and are designed by nature to make the journey through the birth canal.

Pregnancy Tip 7:

Find other pregnant women and hang out with them: My pre-natal exercise class is a real pregnancy resource blessing. Not only am I getting fit but I found a sense of belonging, where I could really let my belly hang out with the best of them. Whenever I began to pity myself (like on an especially nauseous day) I would find another pregnant woman who was going through a tougher situation (like kidney stones or painful hemorrhoids!), or a real trouper in class would say something that lifted my spirits. Plus, by finding other pregnant women I saved my non-pregnant friends the hassle of listening to me share every play-by-play experience of my pregnancy--which likely saved a few of my friendships. ;-)

Pregnancy Tip 8:

Spend money only on the baby things that will make a real difference to you and borrow or buy the rest second-hand: Babies don't care about paint chips and décor, only about being close to the milk source--you! The fact they will rapidly grow out of any and all clothes helped put my priorities in order. So we splurged on the things that mattered to me: the stroller (as I am a huge walker), a safe car seat (for obvious reasons) and a rocker/glider (once I realized that I could be feeding up to twelve hours a day for the first six weeks).

The rest we either borrowed or bought second-hand, and we saved a mint! By getting so many great deals from places like eBay, and going to local 'mothers of multiples' sales I saved enough to put away for extra cleaning hours, and a special service to bring meals in during the first three months of our child's life.

Pregnancy Tip 9:

'Morning sickness' can happen at anytime!: Morning sickness can happen at any hour of the day, all day or not at all. Fortunately not often, it can even creep into the second or third trimester like it did with me.

Pregnancy Tip 10:

Everyone's experience of pregnancy is different, so take what is useful and ignore the rest: So many experiences and so many people dishing out advice. What I have observed is that pregnancy for the most part is the great equalizer--if you don't get something on one end you'll likely get something on the other. Fortunately, whatever our pregnancy experience may be, the majority of us end up with a little bundle of joy that makes the journey worth all the effort. 
I am off to bed now to join my sleeping husband and my five pillows that prop up my bountiful belly, my buxom boobs and weary head. As I go off to sleep, I go with gratitude in my heart, knowing that soon we will be welcoming a beautiful new addition into our little family. This truly is the greatest parenting miracle of all.