3 Ways To Survive Stress In Pregnancy

Anxiety can actually have very notable and adverse effects on physical health.

This is especially considerable when you're pregnant. For your health, and the health of your developing child, it's absolutely integral that you find ways of reducing stress wherever possible.

Following, several strategies that may help reduce stress will be considered.

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1. Ensure You Have Firm Financial Foundations

As soon as you know you're pregnant, you and your spouse need to line out a financial strategy. This will be the quickest way of getting ahead of future stress, and alleviating that which you're dealing with in the present. It’s important to know that financial stress can be overcome.

There are programs available for expectant couples or single mothers—don't give up before you at least go looking. There are options for wherever you happen to be in life, and wherever your finances are. Also, future tax breaks will become available, so consider that as you budget.

When a couple gets pregnant, the time for easy days where a person comes or goes as they please ends. The man needs to have a stable job, and put his wife and child-to-be ahead of himself. If you're a single mom, this is going to be difficult. You can work until the last month or so of your pregnancy, but that's not good for you in terms of stress.

A better option would be for you to find relief options through local charities and religious organizations. Don't worry if you don't necessarily see eye to eye with those providing assistance. What's important is the end result. No, the ends don't always justify the means. But sometimes it's best to take a gift and not ask questions. You'll need discretion here, and making the right decision is best done as the fledgling family unit you are, rather than individually. This is the time to trust a spouse.

2. Surround Yourself With Family And Those You Can Trust

A pregnant mother needs a support network. She needs her spouse or partner readily available. If they aren't there, her mother should be available at a moment's notice. If there is no available future grandmother, it's integral to have some other family member that can be relied on, or friends at hand who are trustworthy.

Again, if you don't have friends or family, don't be afraid of the support option available through a Catholic charity, or something similar. There are boundless support options just waiting for mothers in need to find them.

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3. Keep Yourself Centered, And Understand The Road Ahead

Do a little looking around online. Your pregnancy will change the hormonal balance of your body. Such changes will lead to mood swings, and how you feel may not be an accurate gauge of how things are.

You have to keep yourself centered, and make sure everything is in perspective as much as it can be. Have the father nearby as much as you can; or at least available at a moment's notice should you need him.

If you have any mentors, you want to talk with them and keep them close to you as your child develops inside. There are ups and downs you'll have to deal with regardless of how well you prepare.

Avoiding Unnecessary Stress

A natural, healthy pregnancy will have its own levels of stress. You need to have support networks in terms of family, friends, and finances beforehand. This will help ensure the safety and health of you, as well as your developing child. The bad news is, there will be stress. The good news is, you can avoid the worst of it, and the joy before you is greater than the stress you'll leave behind.

About our Guest Blogger

Stephanie Bates

Stephanie is the founder of Military Travel Mama; she is the wife of a military professional and mother to two children. Follow her blog for more about military life, military discounts, family trips, healthy eating, and parenthood.

Our Mother's Day at Abe

Hey dear Mommies! How was your Mother's day celebration? I hope you had fun and spent it with your families.

I was lucky enough not to be on duty that Sunday. Thus, I got to spend Mother's Day with my Henry.

I received the sweetest letter that morning. 

The boys also treated me and the mother-in-law to a special late lunch/early dinner at Abe in the new Fashion Hall at SM Megamall. This restaurant is starting to become one of our favorites. Abe serves Filipino food, mostly Capampangan in origin. 

Good Housekeeping was there too. They gave complimentary fruit shakes to all the mothers that dined that day. 

Here's the MIL with her shake.

We had our usual order of Knockout Knuckles (Crispy pata), Kare-kare and Gising-gising. Each serving was good for 3-4 persons. 

They were all sooo delicious. Henry especially loved the crispy pata which went prefectly with the gising-gising. I'd have to say my favorite was the Kare-kare. 

Our family shared a very scrumptious meal but most of all we were just glad to have spent time with each other. 

The husband also treated me to some shopping, which made me extra happy. LOL. 

I hope you enjoyed Mother's day as much as I did. How did you spend your Mother's day? Please, do share. 

Momtuition: Is it Real? {Expo Mom 2013 Press Release}

Mom knows best is an oft-repeated expression. That’s because moms, it seems, are equipped with the inherent ability to know when something’s going on with their loved ones without exactly knowing how they know. While mother’s intuition sometimes defies logical reasoning, the medical community is increasingly acknowledging its existence. There are countless instances of mothers asking doctors to take “another look” at their children because they know in their heart of hearts that something’s wrong. Mo ore often than not, the mothers were proved correct.

A research study published in The Lancet, one of the world’s oldest and most respected general medical journals, suggests that doctors should take mother’s instinct into serious consideration when treating sick kids. Judith Orloff, M.D., psychiatrist and author of the New York Times bestseller “Second Sight,” supports this statement and says that in her profession, she has seen intuition at work many times, especially among mothers. Intimately intertwined for nine months, mother and child form a unique bond, allowing the former to tap into the latter’s thoughts and feelings intuitively.

Mom bloggers, Jenny Infante-Reyes of mymommyology.com and Kris De Guzman of ocmominmanila.com, who both have two daughters, attest to this. Jenny shares that her daughter Jamie once had a bad cough and at one point she just had a nagging feeling that she should give this case more attention. Fortunately, she listened to her inner voice and took her daughter to the hospital and found out that Jamie had early stages of pneumonia. Kris shares similar experiences with her own daughters, and because of this has tried to become more attuned to her instincts as a mother. “I believe that mom intuition is real. I think every mom has a connection with her child, perhaps because we were bonded together in utero via the umbilical cord for 9 months, and now there is still that invisible bond. I call it a mom’s sixth sense”,says Kris.

Jenny and Kris

“Today’s moms have access to so many sources of information that we sometimes forget that we are gifted with a very powerful sense—our instinct. They say all women are born with such an instinct, but I believe that moms have a heightened sense since we give so much care and nurturing love to our family and children and are so connected to them. We want to remind moms about this “superpower” and this is why we chose ‘mothers’ instinct’ or we call it MOMTUITION as our theme for this year’s EXPO MOM,” says Janice Villanueva, founder of Mommy Mundo, organizers of Expo Mom, the definitive source of parenting-oriented trends, products, and information.

At Expo Mom 2013, moms will be reminded to trust their inner voice, listen to their guts, and realize ways of tuning in to this most precious gift as a way of celebrating it! It is the perfect venue for moms to connect with other moms about their intuitive experiences as Expo Mom 2013 will gather influencers to give testimony to the power of mom intuition. Experts will teach moms to develop this gift and take full advantage of it.

At Expo Mom’s trademark mompreneur market, a wide range of products and services, including the latest from fave mom and baby brands, will bring out the best in mommies. Mompreneur booths such as Nursing Mom, Mama Baby Love, Momtrepreneur Shop, Tot Couture, Indigo Baby and Nurture Nook. Expo Mom 2013 will also showcase of host of informative and entertaining workshops and activities. Created for moms and moms-to- be, Expo Mom also provides the necessary mom amenities such as a breastfeeding lounge, a diaper changing area, and a play area for young kids.

Mompreneurs at Expo Mom

On April 6 and 7 (Saturday & Sunday), visit Expo Mom 2013 at the Rockwell Tent, and find out why moms know best! Gates open at 10am. There is a minimal entrance fee of P30 per person, 100% of registration fees go to the MomShare outreach projects. To be updated on Expo Mom, LIKE the MOMMY MUNDO page on Facebook or visit www.mommymundo.com or www.expomom.com.

EXPO MOM 2013 is made possible by Shop Mommy Matters, Philippine Association of Childbirth Educators (PACE), Wilkins Distilled Water and Jakenpoy.com.Supported by: Johnson & Johnson, Cycles Mild Detergent, Cradle, Parteizeit and Bobble. Media Partners include Manila Bulletin, Sense & Style Magazine, Style Weekend, Working Mom Magazine, Lifestyle Network, Smart Parenting, Baby on Board,Crossover 105.1 FM, Ourawesomeplanet.com, Urban Mom Magazine and www.MommyPages.com.ph.

5 Mommy Closet Must-Haves

Last Thursday, I got to attend the annual Smart Parenting Magazine Meet and Greet for avid readers and fans. It was such a fun and awesome event. (read about it here).

One of the speakers was Cosmopolitan Magazine (PH) Fashion Director Donna Cuna-Pita.  Being a mom herself, Donna shared 5 closet staples that every mommy must have:

1. The little black dress (LBD)

Every mom, well every woman, should have an LBD in her closet. It's our go-to dress especially for sudden occasions. The LBD goes well with both heels and flats. Just make sure that you choose a dress depending on your own body type. 

2. Good fitting pants

We all know how hard it is to find good fitting pants. Donna advises that if we find one, buy two pairs. Why? Because chances are, we will use it often. 

3. A good set of underwear

When was the last time you bought a new set? Hopefully it wasn't during your last pregnancy. When choosing panties, go for the plain old cotton panties - preferably in beige or nude color.  Black or white can usually be seen through your clothes' fabric. And don't get the lacy ones, unwanted adipose might bulge out. 

3. All-purpose bag

You know us moms, we bring everything but the kitchen sink. Mommies should have an all purpose bag that we can grab and go. Choose a bag that you can use for several occasions, be it for a play date or a lunch date with your amigas. 

5. A crisp white top

Donna suggests that we invest on a wrinkle-resistant crisp white top. Like the LBD, it would go with anything. Plus, it provides for a classic look. 



Do you have everything on Donna's list or would you like to add something to it? Please, do tell. I'd love to hear from you. 

It's a WAHMderful Life Workshop: Real Ways to be a WAHM

Finally! After the success of their 1st sold out event, DaintyMom and ManilaWorkshops.com are back to present the 2nd workshop of their It's a WAHMderful Life series entitled, It's a WAHMderful Life Workshop: Real Ways to be a WAHM . This time, the workshop will have breakout sessions to choose from so that you can focus on the WAHM job that interests you.

A WAHMderful Life: Real Ways to Be a WAHM is a one-day workshop for moms who want to find their bliss working from home while making a home. This is for stay at home moms, moms who want to start a home-based business, moms interested in working from home via outsourcing or telecommuting, women who are interested in starting a online business ... or anyone (single ladies, even dads!) who want to know more about starting a work-from-home career.

Featuring: Morning Plenary session on WAHM Realities (and How to Cope!) Afternoon Breakout sessions on Real WAHM Jobs Date: Saturday, January 26, 2013, 9:00AM to 5:00PM Venue: Studio SnR, 3/F Millenium Plaza Building, Meralco Ave, Ortigas, Pasig City Choose your afternoon session! Workshop Break-out 1: Virtual Assistance Business for the Work at Home Mom Workshop Break-out 2: Freelance Writing for the Work at Home Mom Rates: Regular rate: Php1,500.00 (Starting December 21, 2012) Early bird: Php1,300.00 (Paid by December 20, 2012) Group Rate of Php1,100 for group of 3 or more (until January 19, 2013)

If you are interested to attend, kindly fill out the form seen in either of these two links:

http://daintymom.com/wahmderful-life-workshop-work-at-home-mom-2/ or http://manilaworkshops.com/2012/11/its-a-wahmderful-life-real-ways-to-be-a-wahm.html

Eat Right & Feel Good During Pregnancy

Today, I welcome, a guest blogger, Katie Moore of Moore from Katie whos hares with us tips on how to eat right and feel good during pregnancy. 

Eating right and exercising regularly are things all women should do on a regular basis. However, many of us look at eating right and exercising as something we want to do to look good and stay fit. When we get pregnant, some of us don’t think we have to exercise or eat right because it’s a time in our lives when we get to get fat without being unhappy and when we can eat whatever we want because we get a free pass for the next nine months. For me, this wasn’t the case. During my pregnancy I had plenty of cravings, but I didn’t give into temptation and instead used pregnancy as the perfect catalyst to jump into the best lifestyle I could manage—a healthy one! 

Feeling Great
I learned during my healthy transition that I feel more energized, happier, less tired, and better when I eat right. I decided that I would take that with me into my pregnancy because I didn’t want to give up feeling good at a time my body was working extra hard to keep my baby healthy. As a result, I spent my entire pregnancy feeling as good as I do when I wasn’t pregnant. I hardly felt sick, I slept well at night, I didn’t experience many mood swings, and I was full of energy. I felt better than ever, and I credit it to a healthy lifestyle change. 

Balancing Cravings
There are healthy ways to manage cravings. When I wanted something sweet, I ate chocolate covered strawberries. When I wanted something salty, I ate chicken sausage, red, green, and yellow bell pepper, onions, and pasta. When I felt like I needed more energy, I ate fruit. Whole grains and protein are also good to eat when you are expecting. Since the thought of milk makes me sick to my stomach on a regular basis, I had to figure out another way to get the extra calcium I needed to make my daughter healthy. I ate yogurt. I filled it with fruit sometimes. Other times I sautéed broccoli and spinach, both very high in calcium. All the alternatives I came up with were healthy, made me feel good, and made my baby healthy. 

Exercising ALOT

Furthermore, I exercised. I took plenty of naps and rested when I felt the need throughout, but I found that I slept better, longer, and deeper on the evenings I walked for a half hour with my husband. When I woke up in the morning I found that prenatal yoga gave me energy and calmed me. I was happier, healthier, and fitter. Additionally, all that exercise prepared my body for labor, which meant that I was more comfortable, labor was shorter, delivery was easy, and I felt good sooner. I also lost my baby weight very fast after both pregnancies. 

Before changing your diet and health routines too drastically, be sure to speak to your doctor. Pregnancy is a delicate time in your body so making too many changes too fast can be harmful to your health. Your doctor should help you figure out the best course of action to take. Your doctor can also educate you on other aspects of your pregnancy like preparing for labor, educating you on birthing styles, and educating you on delivery and post-delivery methods, like pain management medications and cord blood banking. With so much information on ways to improve your health, you can expect an easier labor and a smooth transition into motherhood.

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Katie Moore has written and submitted this article. Katie is an active blogger who discusses the topics of, motherhood, children, fitness, health and all other things Mommy. She enjoys writing, blogging, and meeting new people! To connect with Katie contact her via her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter, @moorekm26.

Taming Toddler Tantrums: Tips that Really Work

photo credit: tacit requiem (joanneQEscober ) via photopincc

Young parents get scared when they hear stories about the terrible twos. Take courage, though, you will survive the toddler stage.  It's not easy to understand why your toddler has a tantrum but at such a young age, a child is consumed with thoughts of themselves.  Everything is about them and how they feel.  Until they are taught how to share, every toy or piece of food they see automatically belongs to them.

Toddler temper tantrums can have a variety of effects.  Your first thought might be that everyone is focused on you and your screaming child, but getting embarrassed wonít diffuse the situation.  Besides, as a parent, you have many more years of embarrassing situations to look forward to courtesy of your children.  So worrying about what others think during this situation is simply going to stress you and make you feel worse.

Here are a few tips to help you cope during tantrums:

1. Ignore the tantrum.  This technique works best when at home.  In public places, you don't want to ever leave your child unattended as a form of punishment.  Good behavior in public begins at home.  Ignoring a toddler is not harsh.  If your child is squirming on the floor screaming for a cookie, continue to talk to them as if you never noticed.  Eventually, they will get the hint and stop screaming.

2. Avoid instant gratification.  In public, toddlers throw tantrums when they are denied something that they want.  Some parents give in to keep their child quiet but a child learns quickly.  Tantrums will continue if they know you will cave.  Simply tell them ìnoî and keep moving.

3. Don't get angry.  When you scream and they scream the situation is wildly out of control.  Youíll end up crying and your toddler will still be screaming.  In any situation, raised voices mean civilized conversation has ended in favor of basic primal instincts.  Donít revert back to the days of early man.  Keep using the same calm voice you use when they are behaving to get your child to calm down as well.

4. Praise your toddler when they behave well.  Positive reinforcement is better than negative.  In the absence of positive attention a child will behave badly just to get some attention at all.  Acting out and throwing tantrums may be a cry for attention.  Don't let it get to this point.  Clap and celebrate when they go to the potty successfully and when they put away their toys.  Good manners such as saying "please" and "thank you" deserve a smile and a hand clap as well.

5. Run errands after nap time.  Kids get punchy when they get tired.  A toddler misbehaves more often if they are dragged around when they are tired.

6. Carry snacks with you.  Low blood sugar can lead to tantrums.  If you are out longer than anticipated and lunch or dinner time is close at hand, let them eat a healthy snack to keep their hunger pains at bay and sugar levels stable.

7. Be consistent in your punishment.  At home, you might use "time out" to deal with a tantrum for bad behavior.  In public do the same.  Sit your child on a bench for five minutes or take them to the car.  Eventually they will learn that you are not a pushover and they will begin to behave.

You will survive the toddler years.  Nip temper tantrums in the bud with the above tips.