In hopes of a stylish pregnancy
I just spent a good long time on Pinterest filling my brain with images of stylishly dressed pregnant women. Not sure if I feel better or worse! On one hand, when I look at photos of gorgeous pregnant women I feel optimistic that it’s possible to be stylish in pregnancy… but in reality, I don’t have a supermodel’s body (shame!) and I find it really tricky to be stylish and comfortable.
But… with a growing baby bump and clothes which are getting tight and uncomfortable, I spent the past week investing in a few maternity pieces which I’m hoping will help keep things somewhat fashionable around here. Here are a few good maternity pieces I found:
- I invested in a pair of Koka-Mama black leggings. They are the best! They’re nice and thick, so you feel more like you are wearing a trouser, but they’re as comfortable as a legging (I wear these practically every day).
- I also pulled out my old Séraphine secret support vests and bought myself a new white one to wear under all my tops. These are a must have (I sleep in them too!).
- I went to Topshop and got this swimsuit and these jeans, both necessary maternity items. I love Topshop jeans — they’re cheap and they fit well, even the maternity ones.
- And of course I picked up a couple pairs of these leggings (for lounging around the house 24/7). They come up over the bump, so there’s no awkward elastic anywhere near your lower belly.
- I love the look of the entire Hatch Maternity collection (pictured above)…but so far haven’t bought anything. It’s hard to spend money on maternity pieces when you know you’ll only wear it for a few months. (Although the clothes at Hatch are meant to be worn both during and after pregnancy… so maybe it’s worth the investment?!)
What about you? Do you have any must-have maternity pieces I should know about? And… are you like me — do you immediately take your jeans off the minute you walk in your door and swap for something comfortable? Or am I just a major slouch?! (I think my postman thinks I only wear leggings and a big jumper!)
x Courtney
PS – Images from Hatch.
Koka Mama Maternity Wear
I am so excited for all you pregnant mamas to announce the launch of Koka Mama. Finally… here is a maternity label which is perfectly spot on in every way. It’s stylish and modern, it’s also quite practical and it’s very thoughtfully designed with clever cuts and special details to fit and flatter the pregnant body.
Tamara Hema, the (very stylish!) founder and designer, came over to my house recently with a big suitcase filled with her collection. She set each piece out on my kitchen table and walked me through all the tiny details which make each piece wonderful. All the trousers, for example, have not one elastic band in the waist, but two — to support the belly from below, and also to rise a bit high in the back to fit, support and stay up. Clever!
Each piece is better than the next, and all available to purchase directly from the Koka Mama website.
x Courtney
Junikit, stylish baby bags and accessories
I’m sure I’m not the only woman who ‘has a thing about bags’, am I? Anyway, I was pleased to discover Junikit, at the Kleine Fabriek last month. Junikit is a company run by the two stylish sisters Katja and Sidney, who aim to produce classy changing bags and accessories for the modern, trend-conscious parent (or non-parent!). I was immediately taken by the beautiful illustrations featuring animals from different continents, the lovely selection of matching scarves, and, smart find — the little emergency first-aid kit (just perfect to pop in a bag or in the car’s glove compartment). Stylish indeed! Also nice: the bags are made from water-resistant coated cotton on the outside (all PVC and phthalates free), and nylon on the inside, so they’re super easy to clean and look after.
If you’re also a little bit of a bag junkie, then take note: Junikit is now giving away an emergency first-aid kit in the Australia print to three lucky readers, so quickly head over to our Facebook page and leave a comment for your chance to win!
xxx Esther
The Truth About Trying
A friend recently told me about this amazing feature of video blogs on Redbook called “The Truth About Trying“. I thought it was a fantastic way to personalize and put a face to the issues that many women silently face. Whether you have ten children, one child, or in the midst of trying for your first – the struggle to conceive is a difficult and emotionally taxing journey when it does not work out as planned. Thought I would pass along and give praise to Redbook for helping to bring light to an often closely guarded subject.
-Dina
(Image from Redbook)
ONE YEAR AGO WE WROTE ABOUT:
• Bloesem Gift Guide 2010• Some MOR pampering please!
• In the mood for Yellow
Tribe Bags – The Ultimate Breed of Baby Bags
When I had babies, I was always the least organised and ill-prepared mum. I’d meet my friends in a café and I was always the one asking for a spare nappy or stealing other mum’s snacks for my own children (how it’s possible to forget nappies, I’m not sure… but I did it often!). I’m pretty sure, looking back, it was not entirely my fault — if I had owned one of these baby bags from Tribe I would have surely been more organised (and far more fashionable for sure!).
The Tribe Bags are made of luxurious soft-milled cowhide leather, come in several different colours, and are truly beautifully made. But more importantly, they’re completely practical. They have two large zippered pockets (suitable for spare outfits, muslin wraps etc.), four slip pockets (ideal for teething rings, pacifiers and toys), two side bottle pockets, a water-resistant nylon lining and change mat and two water-resistant nylon pouches perfect for stowing away diapers, medicines and snacks. Wowza! If that doesn’t keep a mum organised, I don’t know what would!
-Courtney
ONE YEAR AGO WE WROTE ABOUT:
• Rifle Paper Co. Assorted birthday set• Birthday Week: Esther’s top Five
Lulu Arver — comfy and stylish maternity fashion
I disclosed already how I feel about the fact that that ‘we’re done with babies’. I’m sort of in a mid-life crises about it! Thankfully one of my best friends is heavily pregnant with a little girl, so I have the foresight of having a little baby in my close surroundings very soon. Seeing my friend so big and beautiful, so happy with the little creature growing inside, almost makes me envious of being pregnant again!
Anyway (dream on), I’m writing this to tell you about the beautiful tops by Lulu Arver my friend has been wearing. Super feminine, comfy and fashionable — perfect for working (or non-working) mamas with style! I really like the strong lines and basic colours; they emphasise the best parts of the pregnant body and work for every occasion.
xxx Esther
Yoga for you and your baby
When I was pregnant with Sara I went to yoga class once a week faithfully. I danced around the room with other pregnant ladies and connected with my baby embracing my belly. After her birth I went back to a weekly baby massage/yoga class until Sara was crawling around and yoga wasn’t an option any more. Maybe the fact that she is nowadays such a balanced child has something to do with all of these yoga classes she enjoyed as a baby!
Sadly baby number two and three didn’t get similar treatments; it’s just too difficult to get out of the house these days with three small children and a household to manage. But… I recently received the DVDs Bump, Birth and Beyond by the London Yoga Company and Ava and I have been doing our own private yoga class in the living room, and we are loving it! I really feel so much better after the 5 minute quick fix, just incredible. And the exercises you can do together with your baby are wonderfully simple and effective. I wish I had known about these DVDs when I was pregnant, it’s such a lovely way to relax and connect with your baby… And get in shape at the same time!
Yoga for You and Your Baby is available through The London Yoga Company, together with the Pregnancy Health Yoga and the Post Natal Yoga ones.
xxx Esther
Organic goodies from BabyBearShop
Oh, I’m in love with the cute packaging of the BabyBearShop products. So adorable! This line of organic products is maybe not extensive but it is absolutely enough for what I need. Loving the cheeky baby butter that I’m using for Ava! The lip balms are delicious too (and they come in the cutest packaging), and how cute is the soap with the bird (and again, how beautiful is the packaging with the nest drawn on it and the little holes in egg shape). All available through BabyBearShop.
xxx Esther
Is that a nappy bag? Yes, it is!
Beautiful, this nappy bag by new company Rubizu! Rubizu is formed by two sisters Roba and Azza and together they design and produce a series of exquisite nappy bags that are not only beautiful and luxurious but also very practical indeed. It works as follows: the pretty turquoise insert pops out completely. The ‘empty’ bag can be used independently from the interior compartment as it has its own side pockets and is beautiful as is. The interior compartment can be easily organised once out of the bag. Very soon, a laptop insert will be available too which transforms the bag from mummy bag to business bag in a few seconds! (I’m particularly excited about this feature because my laptop bag is such an embarrassment — I think my husband got it for free at a conference about 15 years ago. It’s gross.) All in all, these Rubizu bags are pretty amazing. For available styles and more info on the functionality, check the Rubizu website. The pretty leather bag featured here is available through Blossom Mother and Child.
xxx Esther
Sweet Swimsuits from Sabina Swims
I’m not going to go in to detail about where exactly my body needs to be lifted and by how many centimetres, but let me just tell you that Sabina from Sabina Swims picked the exact right bikini from her gorgeous collection. A little bit of padding here, the exact right cut there… really does the trick!
Sabina Swims Swimwear is the perfect place to browse to if you’re looking for a swimsuit or bikini, especially if you’re a mum with a bit to lift or hide. I love how you can select your own ensemble — you can pick the top that suits your boobs best, and then choose a matching (or not!) bottom in the size and shape of your preference. There are more daring and more modest choices, cute swimsuits and tankinis too. I also love the look of the maternity collection! And Sabina very kindly included a tiny swimsuit for Ava in my order — in matching fabric to my bikini — so sweet!! Bring on the summer; I’m all set for the beach!!!
xxx Esther
Baby’s home… what now?
Yesterday I sat down with a friend who is expecting a baby in June, and we watched the DVD ‘Baby’s Home… What Now?‘ together. Cozy!
When I was pregnant with my first child, I read about 5 different ‘What to expect’ books. Looking back, it’s sort of funny to realise how I was sweating it — the scary unknown made me reach out to all of the written wisdom I could find! I wish this DVD had existed then: yes, you can study how to swaddle a baby from books, but seeing somebody actually do it makes a LOT more sense! Same for breastfeeding, changing a nappy, or filing your baby’s nails! Even for baby number 2 or 3, this DVD is a nice refresher course for how it’s done best. Available online through Amazon.com
xxx Esther
ONE YEAR AGO WE WROTE ABOUT:
• Can’t beat the cuteness — Noonies from Lala’s• Papaw ointment — an Australian treasure
Cute, cool and practical. The DRIA cover.
OK, technically I’m not pregnant anymore, but I still love to wear my stripy DRIA top! Made of a high quality thin, silky-like jersey, this poncho t-shirt really looks very trendy and elegant over leggings or skinny jeans. It also works wonders as a nursing cover — it really hides it all, and still looks great! I think this poncho will stay a much loved clothing item; I can imagine it would be great on the beach as well, to quickly throw over a bikini. But that’s for the future — first, there’s winter (and second, there’s the question of whether I ever dare to wear a bikini again)!
Oh, the DRIA also doubles up as a car seat cover (the neck opening provides easy access to the carrying handle). I would say this poncho/cover is almost annoyingly perfect. A very good investment if you’re pregnant!
xxx Esther
Mamascarf, for discreet breastfeeding in public
Little did I know that breastfeeding a 5-day-old baby in the front row of a jam-packed circus was going to be a bit of a… challenge. Yes, you’re reading that right: 5-day-old, and: jam-packed circus. Thankfully I was wise enough to bring a Mama Scarf, so the spotlights on my boobs were cleverly avoided. The Mama Scarf is a stylish scarf that becomes sort of a hammock for your baby, allowing for discreet breastfeeding in public. What I like about it that it’s made of thin, cute fabric, and it doesn’t scream for attention. (It’s not like one of those, ‘hello everybody, I’m breast-feeding, but I’m covered up, as you can clearly see, so don’t look’ kind of covers.) Thanks, Mama Scarf, for saving my day at the circus.
xxx Esther
ONE YEAR AGO WE WROTE ABOUT:
• Bonnets for babies — vintage handkerchiefs for brides!• Wonderous Wovenplay
Nyp Balm, food for your boobs (and baby’s bottom)
The third time around, breastfeeding was easy. I knew exactly what to do, and the baby also got it immediately — she was breastfeeding within minutes after she was born, as if we both had been doing nothing else for years. Life is beautiful.
I also knew exactly what to expect a few days after the birth. Painful boobs the size of melons, hard, hot and with red blotches. Sleeping sitting up. Sore, cracked nipples, feeding bra size 100Z (too small). Have you ever had to pull a cracked nipple sticking to your bra? Ouch. Life is a bitch.
Enter Inlight Nyp Balm. A natural, 100% organic, wonderful smelling soothing balm that does the trick. Before birth, it’s used to help stretch the skin and prevent stretch-marks. After the birth it soothes and heals sore nipples. And, what I possibly like best about it is that now that I don’t need the Nyp Balm myself anymore (yay), I can use the rest for my baby’s bum. No spills! Because it also calms red and irritated baby bottoms wonderfully well.
All ingredients in Nyp Balm (like moisturising olive and coconut oil, protective beeswax, anti-inflammatory lavender and restorative rosehip oil) do not alter the flavour of the maternal milk and are easily tolerated by babies.
xxx Esther
Eco Nursing Pads from Itzy Ritzy
Although breastfeeding is in my opinion the easiest and cheapest way of feeding a baby, it does require some necessary investments to keep up appearances. Like a sexy maternity bra — Elle MacPherson does it for me. And, trust me, good nursing pads are an absolute must too. These glamourous Glitzy Gals nursing pads from Itzy Ritzy are my all time favourites. They are thin, soft and made from eco sustainable baby bamboo which is naturally anti-bacterial, deodorising and super absorbent. They are really comfortable to wear, easy to wash and can be used over, and over, and over again. And they look really cute too, with those patterned fabrics!
Available through our favourite eco store Shakshuka, where you can also find a matching nursing cover.
xxx Esther
Win! Maternity bag from Eva and Oli
I
don’t have the need anymore to carry around a maternity bag (which almost makes me sad), but I never did find the perfect one. The bags I had were either too big or to small, too bulky or to narrow, or just not stylish enough. And I do think you need a bit of style even if the contents of the bag are not the most glamourous!
We are very lucky to offer a maternity bag from one of my very favourite labels Eva and Oli. The bag is super practical, as it has been designed to open up wide so you have extremely easy access to everything. And it closes with a magnet so you don’t have to fiddle around with a zip. It is also really stylish, so stylish that most people continue using it as a laptop bag once it has rendered its services as a maternity bag.
Just leave a comment below by Wednesday, June 23rd and we’ll pick one winner at random. Good luck!
In addition, Eva and Oli are offering Babyccino Kids readers an exclusive discount of 10% for the next 3 weeks, just used the promotional code: BABYCCINO.
Gittabags
I was never really into the diaper bag thing. I think that the litany of awful maternity bags out there screaming ‘I am an unsightly post-partum bag’ with very little in the style-stakes really ruined it for me. Instead I opted to use one of my larger handbags, although I never found them particularly practical — mainly for want of a milkproof lining. Yes…sigh…regrettably I ruined a couple of my beloved bags (consider this a warning for those entertaining the very idea — milk spillage, inside bag, ruins bag). But, maternity bags have come a long way and if I had my time again I think the Gittabag would be a strong contender. In terms of practicality, it ticks all the boxes and then some and there is a design and color combo to suit almost everyone.
These diaper bags run the gamut from small backpack to medium and large messenger bags and even a handy tool-belt style kit for your waist. The colors are bright but neither too baby nor too feminine. The bags are of very high quality materials, meticulously sewn and machine washable with so many nooks and crannies that it is impossible to mention them all. But the standout feature is the ‘Activefold‘, a patent pending foldout, collapsible activity bar. (more…)
A good maternity swimsuit from Blossom
The other day, I was talking about swimsuits with some friends, and they told me one of us should write a post about the best swimsuits for mums. ‘Mums’ meaning: boobs a tad less firm, a belly a little less flat, a bum just slightly wobblier, possible stretch marks, maybe some scars, etc. And ’swimsuit’ meaning: a piece of cloth strategically covering, lifting and enhancing the right pieces of the mum’s body. I thought it was an excellent idea, but of course at the moment, being 8½ months pregnant, the only thing I can personally talk about is maternity swimsuits!
A maternity swimsuit is a good thing to invest in if you’re going to be pregnant throughout the summer, or even in winter, as swimming is one of the most pleasurable maternity exercises (think weightlessness). The ‘tankini’ varieties are perfect — very flattering and covering strategic parts of the body. This beauty from Blossom is a good choice as it gives hidden support and has plenty of room for a growing belly. I tried normal bikinis but I can tell you — this tankini looks a whole lot better on!
If you make your way over to Blossom you should also check out the gorgeous maxi dresses in their new collection… Almost a pity that I won’t be pregnant anymore in summer… (Just kidding!!!)
xxx Esther
National Infertility Awareness Week: April 24th-May 1st
This week is National Infertility Awareness Week in the U.S. — a movement that aims to raise awareness about how infertility impacts more than 7.3 million people in this country alone (that we know of). Not even sure what the worldwide figures are. This week, a website called Stirrup Queens is hosting a blogging event called Project IF…the “IF” standing for both “infertility” as well as posing the question (IF?) which asks women who have faced the challenges of infertility to contribute the answers to the big “what ifs” in their lives. Although the website is a bit overwhelming and clunky to navigate, there are a lot of links to very personal tales of the journey towards motherhood – many answering some tough questions and revealing a lot of brutally honest emotion. It also links into a list infertility blogs. I wish I had more time to read it all. I know many of us have been either personally affected by a bumpy journey towards motherhood or know someone who has and I think this blog event is a great way to share what women often feel, but rarely say.
For more information on National Infertility Awareness week please check out the Resolve website for other things that might be going on in your area.
-Dina
The Lambini Papoose
When my daughter was born I remember lusting after the leather, sheepskin Bill Amberg papoose… but, I just could not justify the cost. So I settled for a far less stylish middle of the road baby carrier, which not only clashed with my clothes (very much to my annoyance!) but I had to refer to the instructions every time I wanted to use it. Pretty soon I gave up as it caused me considerable stress, and sometimes even induced tears… (as many new mothers can attest; complicated instructions plus a severe case of sleep deprivation can do that). These days my babies are growing up, much too fast for my liking, but that hasn’t stopped me lusting after a new baby carrier called the Lambini Papoose. It is a gorgeous contraption, with a far more affordable price tag and so simple to use.
Firstly, it is very stylish (and co-ordinates well with most wardrobes — earthy, neutral colours). Secondly, there is no need to add blankets as it’s lined with super-soft Australian lambswool which keeps baby warm in winter and cool in summer. There is the added bonus of using the lambswool separately to line the pram or car seat. But the best thing about this papoose is that you don’t need an instruction booklet to work out how to put it on. It just slides right over your head! For online purchases, both local and international, please click here.
- Sara
