Many pregnant mothers’ won’t start noticing pregnancy symptoms and/or be able to detect pregnancy until after implantation, which occurs from around 7- 10 days post ovulation. The longer you wait to test, the more accurate the result will be, and the darker the potential positive test line may be. Pregnancy testing should ideally be done from the day your period would have been due.

Below is a list of pregnancy symptoms which you may find signal pregnancy for your own body. Remember, every woman and every pregnancy is different, so there’s no need to panic if you don’t have all of the listed pregnancy symptoms.  A friend of mine had no noticeable symptoms, apart from not having her period with her second pregnancy.

Sign #1 – Missed or no period

Sign #2 – Morning Sickness

Sign #3 – Breast Changes

Sign #4 – Fatigue

Sign #5 – Frequent Urination

Sign #6 – Cramping

Sign #7 – Spotting

Sign #8 – Constipation and wind

Sign #9 – Sense of smell

Sign #10 – Nasal stuffiness / colds

Sign #11 – Pimples / Acne

Sign #12 – Cravings / Changes in taste

It’s important to try to wait until your period would have been due before testing, as the pregnancy hormone hCG may not be at a high enough level to be detected by a pregnancy test, which may only result in disappointment.

Love
Mother Maternity xx

When pregnant, the most important thing for women to be cautious of is what food they are in-taking. Every single thing that a mum-to-be puts in her body while pregnant, directly impacts her growing baby.

Most women know what kinds of food to avoid while pregnant, namely alcohol, any kind of raw seafood and caffeine. The problem is that some women eat all these foods and deliver healthy babies, while others abide by all the precautions and still have complicated pregnancies and deliveries.

The best way to ensure that you have a smooth pregnancy by avoiding sickness and in comfort is by eating according to healthy guidelines specific for pregnant women. Below is a summary of what guideline women should follow for healthy eating during pregnancy, as indicated by the Australian Government.
(http://www.health.gov.au/internet/healthyactive/publishing.nsf/content/pregnant-women)

Healthy Eating Guidelines for Pregnant Women

The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating recommends the following servings per day:

• 4 – 6 servings from the bread, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles group.

  There is an allowance of about 15g a day for poly or monounsaturated fats and oils that can be used to spread on breads or rolls or used elsewhere in the diet.

• 5 – 6 servings from the vegetables, legumes group.

• 4 servings of fruit.

• 2 servings from the milk, yoghurt, cheese group.

• 1 1/2 servings from the meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts and legumes group.

Note: You get plenty of fats and oils from the amount used with cereal foods and from meat, eggs, cheese, peanut butter, margarine, etc so fats and oils aren’t included separately.

For more information on what you should be eating during your pregnancy click here. (http://www.health.gov.au/internet/healthyactive/publishing.nsf/content/pregnant-women)

Love Mother Maternity xx

There was an article that I read which was published in the medical journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, which was published in 2001, talking about the effectiveness of ginger for pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting. 70 pregnant women who were less than 17 weeks pregnant were studied for 5 months to determine if ginger had any effect on morning sickness. Nausea and vomiting decreased significantly when you eat ginger daily. They reported that ginger is safe and effective for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

I think this is a great tip for us mother’s. I’m sure every mother-to-be hates feeling unwell especially when pregnant. Why take any prescription drugs when you can eat ginger and find relief in nausea and vomiting, after all ginger root is a safe and effective method.

Love Mother Maternity xx

I am happy to announce Angel Maternity’s amazing promotion that is not to be missed. If you purchase your very own Maternity mother’s day outfit or an outfit for another mother, you will receive 15% OFF.

Looking for an outfit for mother’s day to spend with your family? Angel Maternity has outfits for a breakfast, lunch or dinner outing you may have planned, a BBQ with the family, or even a quiet one at home. These gorgeous outfits are comfortable and very stylish.

Planning a mother’s day outfit is such an exciting thing to do. I have already chosen my Mother’s day outfit. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of this great offer - 15% OFF.

Make sure you take hold of this amazing promotion and purchase a fabulous outfit for Mother’s Day now! Shop any category or go straight to the best picks here http://angelmaternity.com.au/angelStore/index.php/cPath/68

Love Mother Maternity xx

What great news for the female employees of Australian Insurance Group who are currently pregnant or thinking of starting a family soon!

Australian Insurance Group, who own CGU and NRMA Insurance, recently announced that they will be offering mums-to-be 14 weeks’ worth of standard paid leave, plus an additional six weeks at double pay when they return to work. Along with the governments 18 weeks of paid parental leave, these fortunate employees will receive almost a year’s wage with they are at home adjusting to life as a new mum.

This announcement is not only fantastic for pregnant women working for the insurance companies, but a huge step for all women planning on having families.  ACTU president Ged Kearney has spoken out about what a major advance this decision is, and has urged other companies to follow the Australian Insurance Group’s lead.

The announcement is an indication of how valuable the female employees at AIG are, and how much the insurance company wishes to assist their pregnant employees. This decision will hopefully push other companies to offer their pregnant employees a similar scheme.

Paid parental leave is extremely important to growing families, and it is very exciting to see that it is beginning to be taken seriously.

Love Mother Maternity xx

Happy autumn Angels!

It took a while but it seems like autumn is finally among us. How chilly has it been the past couple of days? I am sure that all our pregnant ladies felt the shift in weather over the weekend. I will bet my boots on the fact that it is only going to get colder from this month onwards- so rug up mums! It is also predicted that the cold weather will hit us all in one go, rather than creeping up slowly as we have experienced in previous years.

For this reason it is important to get your maternity autumn wear wardrobe updated and ready-to-go! During the cold autumn and freezing winter months, it is important for all mums-to-be to remain comfy, warm and on top of the latest and greatest maternity autumn wear.

The best thing about the cold Australian months is that you can look stylish and comfortable at the same time, especially when considering maternity autumn wear! Most maternity autumn outfits are easily transitioned from everyday autumn maternity wear to evening maternity autumn wear, simply by swapping your flat boots or ugg’s for a pair of heels. Better yet, for most of us winter doesn’t involve snow, therefore your maternity autumn wear can double as winter wear also!

A Mother Maternity secret: use your maternity autumn wear, especially maternity shirts and long maternity tops, even after your pregnancy by teaming it up with a high wasted belt or long scarf on top of leggings.

Stay warm!

Love Mother Maternity xx

To all my Angels,

For all you mums-to-be who need help, advice, or just someone to talk to regarding all things maternity, look no further than Angel Maternity!

Thanks to Angel Maternity, I Mother Maternity will have a weekly blog spot, answering all of your questions from my perspective.

Stay tuned and don’t miss out on my weekly blogs, as I will be giving tips on how to cope before, during and after your pregnancy. I will be passing on my knowledge and making sure every question from all of Angel Maternity’s expecting mums is answered.

Every week there will be a different blog topic on a large range of things, pregnancy related and even non-pregnancy related. I will even be reviewing some of Angel Maternity’s newest and most popular products.

If there is anything you would like to ask, any clothing items you would like me to review, or need any fashion tips or tricks, don’t hesitate to comment here!

Love Mother Maternity xx

Are you pregnant after having had a caesarean previously and wondering what to do with your next birth? Or are you expecting your first baby and considering how you would like to give birth?

According to a recent major study led by the University of Adelaide, it is safer for women who have had a caesarean previously to opt for a caesarean for their next birth. The study proves that this decision can lower the risk of serious complications and even death for both mother and baby.

This study is the first of its kind in the word, and a great resource for expecting mothers trying to decide whether to deliver their baby naturally or have a caesarean. Professor Caroline Crowther leader of the study, known as the Birth After Caesarean (BAC) study, says that “until now there has been a lack of high-quality evidence comparing the benefits and harms of the two planned modes of birth after previous caesarean. The information from this study will help women, clinicians and policy makers to develop health advice and make decisions about care for women who have had a previous caesarean.”

What do all our expecting mothers think about this recent study? Angel Maternity would love to hear what experiences you have had with having multiple natural births or multiple caesareans. Share your thoughts and experiences to help all our mums-to-be who have not yet made a decision on how they would like to deliver their babies.

If you’re a mum-to-be and would like to read more about this study, follow the link below

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120313185229.htm

After reading a recent article titled Bossy: Why we need Abbott’s paid maternity scheme, Angel Maternity is torn as to what sort of payment is fair for mums-to-be who are about to go on maternity leave.

The story, by Kate De Brito, says that at the moment, Labor’s maternity scheme offers 18 weeks maternity leave, with every new mother being paid the same rate of the minimum federal award, no matter what their job description is during their pregnancy. Does this means that if you get paid under the minimum federal award, your maternity payment will be higher than your salary?

In contrast, Abbott says that the Opposition would pay new parents the equivalent of their salaries capped at $150,000 for six months, working out to a maximum maternity payment of $75,000. This paid parental leave scheme is more focused on occupation, offering maternity payment based on the salary of expecting mothers.

The difference with the Opposition’s scheme is that if you are unemployed or a stay at home mum during the time of your pregnancy- you don’t get paid.

Angel Maternity wants to know what our mums-to-be think about Labor’s current maternity leave scheme, and the scheme that Abbott is proposing. What would you prefer? To be paid the equivalent of your salary for six months and expecting mothers who don’t work not getting paid, or for there to be a standard payment across the board for all pregnant mothers wanting to go on maternity leave?

Angel Maternity would love to hear your opinion.