BellaBlu Maternity announces the addition of Caden Lane and Petunia Pickle bottom diaper bags!!

We are so very proud to announce the arrival of Caden Lane designs and Petunia Pickle Bottom to our diaper bag collection. Both of these designers are considered some of the best in the industry and have the track record to prove it. But don’t take our word for it, just check out these gorgeous diaper bags. Plenty of room, plenty of amenities, and simply a fantastic look. Many of them you can’t even tell are diaper bags! All are designed and manufactured with the highest quality and are built to last for the entire duration. Easy to clean and even easy to match with your favorite outfits!

Both Caden Lane Diaper Bags, and Petunia Pickle Bottom, come with several styles to choose from. Some are bigger then others and some are easier to get around for those quick trips. Regardless, you are certain to find one that matches your needs or style.

BELLABLU MATERNITY INTRODUCES THIS YEAR'S EXCITING NEW FALL 2009 MATERNITY DRESSES!

With each new fall and spring season we can hardly wait to see what gorgeous maternity dresses our designers have in store for us. This year, they didn’t fail to deliver as we have some of the most beautiful maternity dresses in the industry. With renown designers such as jules & jim, Japanese Weekend, Olian, and others, BellaBlu announces some of our favorite Fall 2009 dresses.

BellaBlu Launches new Toys/Games Site!

BellaBlu is please to announce the release of our new toys website, www.BellaBluToys.com! While it's still under construction, new products are being added on a daily basis. Check back frequently for the latest in toys, games, furniture, educational products, and more!

New Maternity Dresses at BellaBlu Maternity!

Come shop at BellaBlu Maternity and check out some of our new dresses! The Aylan Wrap Dress, our Peasant Dress in Plum or Sage, Floral Plum Print Dress, Contrast Dress in Lilac and Plum Dress, and our Crystal Swing Maternity Dress!

High Tide Hipkini!

Another hot item at Bellablu Maternity, is the High Tide Hipkini - available in brown and teal patterns, this swimsuit has been a HOT seller! Get yours now while they're in stock!

Cute summer maternity dress!

Summer's here, and there's no better time than now to look your greatest in our new cotton halter pink Maribou dress! This adorable new dress has taupe silk halter ties on one shoulder, and is very comfortable. Looks great on you even after your baby is born! Sizes extra-small to extra-large currently available.

Shopping Cart Covers

Get the cutest shopping cart covers from name brand designers at Shopping Cart Cover Shop! We have selections for boys, girls, gender neutral, and even twins! Keep your baby comfortable, clean and germ free while you shop!

Wearing Maternity Clothes

It is almost certain that as soon as women become pregnant, they start to surf the Internet or flip through baby and parenting magazines. Most marketing sales pitches suggest that you shall soon need specific maternity wear if you are to ensure that you carry yourself well throughout the pregnancy. One even tends to look at the model with pearl white teeth and a small baby bump and start wondering whether you will look as graceful when you start showing. That you will definitely need maternity wear is certain but the question is when?

There are no fixed parameters that decide when you need to start wearing maternity clothes. This is mainly because while there are benchmarks to assess whether your weight increase is normal or not as the months go by, there is a wide differentiation in how the body of each woman reacts to pregnancy. The size of the baby, the diet and various other factors like metabolism also affect the manner in which the tummy shall grow.

Maternity wear should ideally accommodate the diversities of the female body and the first thing is to know what is available for your size and shape. Below is some advice that may prove useful.

Regardless of the fact that it is suggested that most women do not start showing or gain significant weight before the first trimester is over, some women do gain significant weight in the first trimester. Many feel bloated and normal clothing may tug against the sensitive stomach. The best thing in this case would be to buy non-maternity clothes that have a drawstring or an elastic band at the hip. Buy a few pairs of maternity jeans, pants, skirts or shorts, whichever you prefer, and you will be able to wear them even after you deliver the baby. You can do the same with dresses as well. Simply buy those with a stretchy material and one size up from normal. A Bella Band is also an excellent device that allows you to continue to wear your current jeans and pants without buttoning them!

This type of clothing may serve you well even during the second trimester when you have a clearly visible baby bump. However, for your own comfort you can look for maternity wear with flat tailored panels and adjustable waistbands that are more discreet and comfortable. You may also have to get yourself good support bras to boost your confidence.

By the time you enter the third trimester you would have outgrown your wardrobe. Maternity wear at this stage is mostly dependent upon your size and selection. The basic theory is the same as in the first and second trimester. Trousers and stretch panel skirts with adjustable waistbands are a must as they fit comfortably over the bulge. Depending upon your mood and inclination you may choose maternity wear that covers the baby bump or shows it. This is also time for you to look for a nursing bra, nightwear suitable for breastfeeding and other loose fitting post-pregnancy clothing.

As stated earlier, when and what type of maternity wear you will require depends largely upon how your body changes during pregnancy. Some women are known to live through the entire pregnancy with adjustable non-maternity clothing while for some it may be necessary in the first trimester itself. The thing to cheer about is that there never was such a huge variety of affordable and fashionable maternity wear as there is today.

New maternity clothing lines coming!

In December of 2008 BellaBlu Maternity & Baby celebrated their one year anniversary of the opening of their retail store in Edmond, Oklahoma. In addition to celebrating a fantastic year, we will be adding several additional high quality maternity clothing and diaper bag lines. Lines such as Jules & Jim, Shade, James Jeans, Spanx, Nest, timi & leslie, and BumGenius. Soon thereafter, when the Fall season of 2009 approaches, even more high quality lines will be added! BellaBlu Maternity & Baby is determined to offer the highest quality maternity clothing options. We understand that maternity clothing is worn very frequently in the 4-6 months it is owned and therefore is expected to last. Our designers are some of the highest respected designers in the industry and know what soon to be moms expect. Buying a top and then having it shrivel up after two washings is not acceptable no matter what you paid for it! Lastly, we also know how important it is to find trendy maternity clothes that don’t have that boring look you often find in stores in the mall. You want to look great during this special time in your life and BellaBlu Maternity is the best online store there is. Locally owned and operated with fantastic customer service. At BellaBlu Maternity, we are here to make your online shopping experience as easy and as pleasant as possible because you deserve it!

Announcing the Arrival of your Baby - Birth Announcements

Babies are fun to have but the anticipation of their arrival and preparing for the baby can be just as exciting! And once your bundle of joy arrives, the joy and excitement is at such a level that you obviously want to announce it to the world. You want to share it at least with your friends and loved ones.

There are number of ways of sending birth announcements. Giving out a notice in newspapers is passé and too impersonal. The other two are sending hand written or customized birth announcements and sending e mails. One thing with e mails is that there is a chance that all may not have Internet access. Moreover, e mails too appear impersonal and designing one yourself to personalize it may require a fair amount of expertise in software that you may not be conversant with.

The age old custom is to buy cards at a card store and fill out information and post them. There are myriads of designs in birth announcement cards available in stores. Choose a card design and an envelope that appeals you the most. Refer to your Christmas card list and add any new names that you feel you should send birth announcements to. Put on your creative cap to add a personal touch to the birth announcement, which may otherwise appear mundane. For example, write a small poem that expresses your love for the baby to convey your feelings to recipients.

Howsoever excited you may be it would be a bit of a bother to arrange for all these immediately after the baby is born. You can of course order or buy in advance but that may require you to compromise on certain features that are determinable only after the baby is born.

However, in the present day scenario of fast communication, the Internet can help you in birth announcements just as it may have helped you in preparing for the baby: buying maternity clothes and loads of stuff that a baby needs immediately after birth. There are quite a few websites and online maternity stores that offer facilities for sending birth announcements, such as www.miraclemunchkins.com. They even offer choices for holiday birth announcements, and the darling driver’s license birth announcements!

Make sure that you choose two designs: one if it is a boy and second if it is a girl. The traditional way is to use a blue theme for a baby boy and pink for a baby girl but you may find some unisex themes also. Make sure to get envelopes delivered in advance. Keep envelopes ready: complete with addresses and stamp them if you are not using a courier service.

After the birth of the baby, click as many pictures of the baby as you possibly can with a digital camera. Choose the best of the lot and upload to send it to the chosen facility by e mail along with relevant information: date and time of birth and birth weight. You may also want to add the names of those present at the time of birth.

Once the photo cards are delivered, which is usually a couple of days after you send the details. You may also choose to give the names of your friends and relatives for printing each name inside just to show them that you care!

Stretch marks during pregnancy – can you avoid them?

Stretch marks are a bane of pregnancy and there are quite a few women who fear these lines, dreadfully. However, while one cannot avoid stretch marks completely, there are certain tips that can be kept in mind, which will help reduce chances of developing stretch marks.

1. Weight – Keep your weight gain in control during your pregnancy months. Excessive weight gain is one of the primary reasons for stretch marks. Since the skin expands the most around the belly area, this is where women most often complain of stretch marks, but these marks will appear almost anywhere, if the weight gain in that area is excessive and sudden. However, if one keeps within the normal levels of weight gain and spreads it out over a period of time, then these marks are less likely to appear.

2. Skin care – When the skin expands there is loss of moisture and the skin undergoes tremendous trauma. It is during these times that maternity skin care takes a whole new meaning. Do not ignore skin care routines - use body moisturizers and creams liberally specially in areas where the stretch marks are more likely to appear.

3. Prenatal vitamins – A pregnant lady’s body needs added sources of minerals and supplements and prenatal vitamins are a good way to go about doing the needful. These vitamins help the lady in question to keep her skin and hair duly nourished and glowing through the pregnancy term.

4. Anti-stretch mark creams – Creams that contain vitamin E oil or coconut oil are said to be highly beneficial in preventing stretch marks. Applying such creams on the belly and other stretch mark prone areas helps keep the occurrence of stretch marks at a lower level.

5. Liquid intake – Consuming adequate water during pregnancy and even after the delivery, is highly recommended for several benefits, including prevention of stretch marks. If the skin and body remain duly hydrated, the chances of occurrences of stretch marks are reduced drastically.

While ladies who are genetically prone to stretch marks may suffer them despite taking several precautions, it is important to remember that these marks fade over time and can even be treated by a dermatologist permanently. It is also important to remember that stretch marks are a cosmetic complaint and that they do not harm the baby or the mother in any way.

Staying fit during pregnancy

Most women put in a lot of effort to stay fit before their pregnancies and then to get back into shape once the delivery is over, while completely ignoring the three trimesters when they are carrying their babies. Though it is true that during the pregnancy term women must maintain some caution in exercising, it does not however mean that they cannot stay fit during this period. In fact doctors state that women who exercise regularly during their pregnancies have much easier labor and are also able to move back into pre pregnancy shape sooner.

There are several methods by which women can stay fit during their pregnancies and ensure not only a good shape for themselves but also enhanced blood flow to the fetus. A few of these methods are discussed below:

1. Watch your diet – Do not misinterpret this as eating less but shelf the myth that when pregnant you have to eat for two, and God forbid for three, if you are carrying twins. Do not over consume sugar and other such useless calories which do nothing for your energy level. On an average doctors’ advice 3-4 servings of dairy products, 4-6 servings of fruits and vegetables, and 6-11 servings of grain products with iron and folic acid intake too.

2. Stay active - While the first trimester may leave women feeling a bit weak from the nausea that distinctively marks it, do not let the laziness spill into your entire term. Staying active is the key to staying fit during your pregnancy too. Continue to do your home chores and lead a normally active life. Remember you are not sick, just pregnant.

3. Exercise – While walking is said to be the best form of exercise for a pregnant woman, there are those who have adopted yoga, weight training, spinning and even swimming to keep their fitness levels high. Do not confuse bodyweight with fitness. While the former is bound to increase during your pregnancy, the latter is about keeping in shape and feeling energetic. So do not loose heart if despite your efforts you find the weighing scale tipping further.

4. Adequate rest - Ensure that in your drive to stay fit you do not go over the hedge. Get adequate rest and adopt power naps to keep your energy levels high. A fatigued body is unlikely to stay fit and therefore rest is one of the key components to achieving your fitness targets, during your pregnancy.

5. Meditate - Fitness is often seen as a physical attribute, but ignoring the mind will not be a good idea. Women who meditated during their pregnancies claimed to have had higher energy levels along with a more positive aura about them. So when planning your fitness regime during your pregnancy months, do keep a slot for meditation too.

Keeping these pointers in mind will go a long way it keeping fit during your pregnancy and also facilitate in easier labor, not to mention help you cope with the tiring months that are to follow!

Opting for a water delivery?

As pregnant women come closer the end of their term, delivery options stare them hard in the face. The development of science and technology has today made it possible for women to opt for painless delivery methods too. However, most physicians recommend the natural methods, which are said to be most suitable for both the mother and the child. Keeping this in mind several ladies do opt for water deliveries since the method is known to be comparatively less painful for the mother and less traumatic for the baby.

Below we shall discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the water deliveries both from the mother’s and the child’s perspective.

Advantages for the mothers:

1. Lesser pain – Women who have opted for water delver state that the effect of water was definitely a positive one in reducing the pain felt during delivery. The principles of Hydrotherapy state that water helps reduce the pain levels especially in the lower back during the process of labor. As opposed to chemical pain killers like epidurals, water is considered a natural and safe method to cut down on labor pains.

2. Zero episiotomy – In all the years that water deliveries have been undertaken there is no record of an episiotomy ever having occurred during this process. Since the water tends to provide support while the babies head is descending chances of skin tear are also reduced drastically.

3. Relaxed environment- Women who have chosen to have their deliveries in the water state that the liquid does help the entire body relax and stay cool. Since the water chosen for this method is generally lukewarm, women find it therapeutic and highly relaxing even when the labor pains are towards their peak.

Advantages for the baby:

1. Less traumatic – Studies show that since babies are used to the intra uterine fluids, they find a similarity in the warm water environment provided right from the birth canal, and therefore the transition is smoother for them than otherwise. Having fewer traumas is known to help in the development of the baby, since it is scientifically proven that trauma babies sometimes face development issues too.

Disadvantages for the mothers:

1. Longer labor – There are people who believe that water tends to decrease the intensity of the contraction and thus cause the labor to last longer. While doctors argue that this has not yet been proved to be true, most hospitals suggest entering the water once the cervix has opened up to 5 centimeters at least.

2. Judgment on blood loss – Another problem associated with water birth is the assessment of the mother’s blood loss. However, since most established hospitals have advanced methods to judge this situation, this problem can be overcome easily.

Disadvantage for the baby:

1. Infection – There is a theory that the child (and mother) is exposed to higher risks of infection due to the bacteria present in the tub or the water during the delivery. However, hospitals are known to follow very strict cleanliness routines in this area and therefore the rate of infection in water deliveries has not been reported to be higher that those choosing to have their babies on land. Also there has never been a case reported of infant death due to water consumption by the baby.

All in all it is safe to state that water deliveries are fast gaining high acceptance and the only caution one needs to maintain when opting for this method is select an authorized hospital environment for the purpose, rather than trying it at home.

Morning sickness – How To Overcome It

Congratulations! Your family is on the way, but if you are one of the 75% of those ladies who suffer from morning sickness, then the first trimester will be like a roller coaster ride on a full stomach and you may feel as if there is not much to celebrate about. :(

Though termed as "morning sickness", most women are usually afflicted by it in the evenings and the experience is especially nauseating if the lady is carrying for the first time. Ladies experience varying levels of heartburn and nausea, while some even find themselves vomiting almost everything they eat during this period. While the symptoms of morning sickness cannot be completely eradicated, there are several ways to go about diminishing its effect and some of these methods are listed below:

1) Eat first thing in the morning – Keep a few crackers on your bedside and munch on a few before stepping out of bed. An empty stomach tends to aggravate the situation and leads to heightened heartburn.

2) Small meals – While keeping an empty stomach is not a good idea, the other end is not beneficial either. Do not consume large meals that tend to make you feel bloated, instead go with small meals and space them out closer than otherwise. Eating small meals every two waking hours is usually reported to help in keeping the food inside.

3) Ginger ale - Said to be the best companion of women suffering from morning sickness, ginger ale is most definitely recommended. Some women even state that simply adding ginger to their food has also helped in keeping the nausea down.

4) Low spice, high carb – Avoid eating spicy foods since they are known to increase the heartburn level tremendously. Instead high protein and carbohydrate meals that are low on spice seem to help the mother to be feel better.

5) Rest – Your body is trying to cope with the new levels of hormones and adequate rest will help it perform better. Morning sickness tends to de-energize women suffering from it and therefore over-activity must be avoided at all costs.

6) Liquids – At least 8-10 glasses of pure water must be consumed by almost each one of us, but since women suffering from morning sickness tend to lose a lot of liquid due to the constant vomiting, it is advisable that they increase their level of liquid intake.

7) Wristbands – There are several women who state that wearing magnetic wristbands has helped them over come morning sickness during the first trimester. These bands are easily available in most drug stores and do have a scientific explanation as to why they work as well.

8) Homeopathic remedies – There are several homeopathic remedies said to cure morning sickness to quite an extent, but it advisable that these be taken only under the advice of your physician.

While morning sickness is a harmless problem during pregnancy, it can sometimes be cause for concern too. The condition is referred to as hyperemisis and the patient suffers malnutrition and dehydration due to loss of appetite and excessive vomiting. In the case that you feel that morning sickness is overwhelming you, seek immediate advice from your physician. All the same most women are rid of the problem once the first trimester is over and are able to enjoy their term smoothly from then on.

Maternity sleepwear

Most pregnant women will confirm that sleep is a sweet commodity when you are carrying a baby. The initial few months have you queasy and therefore uncomfortable, while as time passes by, a growing stomach and frequent trips to the bathroom can ruin your sleep pattern completely. However, there are few things that help make the situation better and appropriate maternity sleepwear is one of them.

To begin with, it is important to remember that maternity day wear and maternity night wear must not overlap. Maternity day wear is designed keeping both comfort and style in mind and the use of elastic bands, lace trimmings and even buttons is fairly prevalent in them. However, maternity night wear adopts a completely different approach. Below are a few tips to keep in mind when choosing your maternity night clothing:

1) Fabric – The fabric of your maternity PJs must be extremely soft and irritation free. So at all times choose a cotton based fabric when selecting your maternity night wear. Even during winters, it is recommended that cotton based jersey knits are selected instead of opting for wool.

2) Styles – While you may have done very well in shorts and T’s as sleepwear when you were not pregnant, things may be different now that you are carrying. Avoid garments that lay too much pressure on your belly, so a night t-shirt, a gown or even a nighty will work better than a pajama set. However, PJs designed for the pregnant women usually ensure that they come with draw-strings, so that they do not pressurize the belly area. In such a case of course it is safe to go with a pajama set too.

3) Avoid Accessories – Large buttons, zips, nylon laces and other such accessories that may poke you or cause irritation must be avoided at all costs. Instead if you are looking for attractive maternity nightwear try nice printed ones instead of those accessorized by the above mentioned products. If you are someone who enjoys wearing garments with quotes on them, then you will be pleasantly surprised by the number of maternity nightwear available in the market that have witty quotes on them. Ribbons and similar satin based accessories on the other hand look good as well as cause no hindrance to the wearer.

4) Growth and movement room – Of course while selecting maternity wear of any type, one must cater to room for growth, but for maternity sleepwear, room for movement is also essential. When you sleep the garment must allow you to easily position yourself in any way comfortable to you. Therefore keep these two basics in mind when buying maternity sleepwear.

5) Look beyond your expectancy period – When buying maternity sleepwear, keep in mind that the clothing will last you even after the baby has come into the world. So choosing maternity sleepwear that allows you all the above advantages and is also suitable to feed the baby is a definite plus.

Keeping these pointers in mind will help you select your maternity sleepwear for optimum comfort and thus sleep easy even during tiring times.