If You Just Need a Giggle...

The good folks over at Evian put together this video. It's only a minute long so take a second (ok, take 60 of them!) and watch. Babies on rollerskates will surely make you smile!

If My Baby is Only 7 Pounds, Why Did I Gain 30??

In America we women think about our weight. We think about it A LOT! It doesn't matter if you're underweight, normal weight, or overweight, either. So, for most women, the weight gain that comes with pregnancy is sometimes difficult to accept. The average "normal" weight gain during pregnancy is 27-30 pounds. Imagine any other time in your life when you would gain that much in a 9 month period and it's enough to make even a man shudder!

So, where does all that weight go? Here's a simple little list to explain all those pounds away.

Baby - 7 lbs
Placenta - 1–2 lbs
Amniotic Fluid - 2 lbs
Uterus - 2 lbs
Maternal Breast Tissue - 2 lbs
Maternal Blood Flow - 2-4 lbs
Fluids in Maternal Tissue - 4 lbs
Maternal Fat stores - 7 lbs

Total - 27-30

Please note that these are averages. Your weight gain during pregnancy is as individual as you are and can be influenced by many things, such as your pre-pregnancy weight, diet, level of exercise, and special circumstances during your pregnancy such gestational diabetes. It's important to work with your healthcare professional to ensure that you are gaining the proper amount of weight during your pregnancy.

The Ugly Truth About Baby Oil

Was doing some research online today for some new products and came across something that just grossed me out. If you know anything about Eternal Maternal, you know that we pride ourselves on using only natural ingredients in our products. Of course, we all know that natural is best; but sometimes I think it's even more important to know why some products out there aren't the best for us to use on/in our bodies, not to mention that of our darling babies!

So, first, a few questions. Raise your hand if you've ever used baby oil on your baby. How about on yourself? Tons of women use baby oil on their pregnant bellies to keep their skin soft, so, if you are/were one of them, it doesn't surprise me. And, baby oil seems like a perfectly natural thing to put on our babies, doesn't it? Think again!

I've known for years that the base ingredient in baby oil is mineral oil. You may know that, too. Mineral oil doesn't sound so awful, right? It must have minerals in it, right? In reality, mineral oils are made from petroleum. That's something I knew because of all the research I do, but is it something you knew? Most people don't even think of it. Petroleum is, of course, a naturally occurring substance. However, the refining process it goes through in order to render it into what is marketed to us as products to use on our bodies includes all types of caustic substances including sulphuric acid. Now, add to that the fact that many petroleum compounds are known to be carcinogenic. Thinking twice about the use of baby oil and petroleum jelly yet?

So, that brings me to what I found online today that made my skin crawl. Really, it's stuff I already knew; but I had never heard it worded this way and it's pretty powerful. This is from a description of mineral oils found on a Canadian aromatherapy site...

They should not be used for massage with essential oils; they are not a suitable medium as they do not absorb into the skin, but lie on the surface therefore stopping the skin functioning effectively. The body cannot cope with mineral oils so they are deposited in the tissue as toxin. Mineral oils are dead oils that diminish the positive effect of essential oils.

Umm, OK, like I said, can you say "gross"? Makes you really think about putting petroleum jelly on anybody's body much less using baby oil, right? The thought, like I said, makes my skin crawl. And, again, that's why Eternal Maternal only uses natural ingredients. Mother Nature gives us some mighty fine ingredients to use, and we think Mother knows best.

If you haven't tried our fabulous body products yet, I invite you to try them. You'll be delighted at how great your skin feels and you'll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you're doing the right thing for your skin. If you're specifically looking for something to replace your baby oil with, try our bellyoil. It's a delicious blend of 5 natural oils that is light enough to use everyday. Use the coupon code EM1500 when you check out, and you'll get 15% off your entire order, too!

Stretch Marks - A Dermatologist's Advice

Yesterday I had to go to the dermatologist. I'm basically covered in freckles, so I went in for an annual check to make sure there's nothing there that I should be worried about. My doctor is great and she's got her special little hand held magnifying glass thing that she uses to check all over and look at individual spots that interest her. Like I said, I'm covered in freckles so the whole process takes awhile, which leaves us plenty of time to chat. As the conversation came around to Eternal Maternal, I asked her three rather pointed questions.

The first question was, "Is there any way at all to prevent stretchmarks?" Her response was a resounding, "no," which I already knew. Unfortunately, though, there are many products available in stores everywhere that claim to prevent stretchmarks; and these companies, I'm sure, make thousands upon thousands of dollars each year cashing in on that promise. However, it's simply not a promise that they can keep.

To understand this a bit more clearly, though, you have to understand our skin. By nature, it's basically elastic like a rubberband. A new rubberband will stretch and spring back to its original shape without problems. However, skin loses it's elasticity in a number of ways, whether that be due to dry skin or age or any other number of reasons. Think of the rubberband again. If it's an older one, it may be dry with visible cracks in its surface and, if you try to stretch it, it will likely break. When the skin has lost it's elasticity and is then asked to rapidly expand due to weight gain, swelling, or, of course, pregnancy, the tissue under the skin can be pulled beyond it's ability to stretch. The result is scarring that we can see and call stretchmarks.

So, if you already have them, is there any way to get rid of stretchmarks? I asked that very question of my doctor. "Is there any way, any way at all, to 'erase' them or make them go away after a person gets them?" I asked. Once again, I knew the answer even before I asked, but I let her answer anyway. Another resounding, "no." And, again, it's a shame that there are products and services out there claiming to remove them. The truth is, they may fade over time just like any other scar might, but they won't ever go away completely. And, as far as the claims of removing them by laser, those aren't true, either. The laser therapy only reduces the appearance of them by reducing their color.

At this point, you may be thinking, "Great, well, I might as well just sit back and watch them appear since there's nothing I can do." Not so! This brings me to the third question I asked of my dermatologist..."Is there anything that a woman can do in the quest for a stretchmark-free pregnancy?" Although it is important to understand that your genes have a lot to do with whether you're body is predisposed to developing stretchmarks, you do have the power to minimize your chances of getting them. Like I said before, our skin is, by nature, elastic. The key to minimizing your chances of stretchmarks lies in maintaining the elasticity of your skin. Proper hydration from the inside and out is vitally important. Make sure you are getting plenty of fluids each day and make sure you're keeping your skin hydrated, too. Using a product like our bellyoil or bellybalm on a daily basis can help your skin regain and maintain the elasticity it will need when your belly begins to bloom. Equally important to remember is to begin this regime before your belly begins to blossom so that, if your skin does need to regain some elasticity, it has time to do so before the stretching begins!

I left the dermatologist yesterday with a clean bill of skin health and a renewed sense that, at Eternal Maternal, we're offering women some great products to help them maintain beautiful, glowing skin throughout their pregnancies and beyond. If you still have questions regarding stretchmarks, though, be sure to ask your doctor for his/her professional advice.

Breastfeeding Doll - What a Girl Wants?

The story on this new doll for girls broke just over a month ago, but I've refrained from writing about it until now. Honestly, I wasn't sure how I felt about it then, and I didn't want to write something that was simply a knee jerk reactionary piece. Now, 5 weeks later, though, I'm still not completely sure how I feel about it, so I figured that would be the point of the post.




If you haven't seen it yet, the doll in question is Bebe Gloton, the latest offering from a Spanish company by the name of Berjuan who is also the manufacturer of the toy. It is already being marketed in Spain and is slated to hit US stores next year. Basically, the way it works is that the owner of the doll, presumably a young girl somewhere in the age range of 4-7, puts on a specially made halter type top (it can be worn over her clothes) that has two plastic flowers strategically placed right where her nipples would be. When the doll's face is turned toward the girl's chest and is brought close to one of the flowers, a sensor in the flower activates motions and sounds in the doll consistent with that of suckling.

Like I said, I'm still a mixed bag of reactions to this doll. On one hand, I say "great!" I've watched little girls pretend to breastfeed their dolls before. It's only natural if the little girl in question is an older sister to a child that she regularly sees being fed that way or if the little girl herself is still being breastfed. Besides, teaching our young girls that breastfeeding is natural and a healthy way to feed our babies is a good thing.

On the other hand, though, I say "oh, my!" Teaching girls that breastfeeding is as easy as putting on a halter top is not the right message. I mean, didn't people kick and scream when pregnant Barbie came out? They felt it sent the wrong message to have Barbie pregnant one minute and then just remove her belly and have her Barbie-skinny the next. Not to mention the fact that girls at that age are just learning about modesty, and this may send a mixed message to them. And, let's not forget that boys play with dolls sometimes, too. It's hard enough for some people to deal with the fact that their boy wants to play with a doll in the first place. What happens when little Tommy wants to put on the halter top and breastfeed, too?

To their credit, Berjuan did their homework before bringing the doll to market. Director of sales and marketing Cesar Bernabeu has indicated that psychologists and teachers were consulted in the development of the toy, and that it has also received the approval of a pro-breast-feeding organization in Spain, the Asociacion Pro-Lacttancia Meterna de Espana. It's important to remember, too, that in Spain, as well as in many parts of Europe and parts of the world other than the US, breastfeeding is seen much differently. It's seen as a natural part of mothering, and it's much more "normal" to see women breastfeeding.

So, given that this is coming from a part of the world where breastfeeding is more widely accepted, is it so surprising that a doll like this would emerge? Let's face it, we've had dolls in the US for years that drink from bottles, burp, pee, and poop. We don't seem to think that those things are unusual in a doll. We don't seem to think that teaching little girls to feed, burp, and change a diaper is too much at a young age, so why not teach them about breastfeeding, too? Is it rather hypocritical of Americans, in general, to say that this doll isn't sending the right message to our little girls, but then spend our dollars on Bratz dolls, backpacks, movies, etc.? Like I said, I'm still riding the fence as far as what my personal opinion is about the doll. I guess we'll see what happens when they emerge in our market next year!

Are Group Prenatal Visits Right for You?

Read this great blog this afternoon. It seems that women going to prenatal visits in groups tend to have more positive pregnancies and even fewer premature births. They were even more likely to initiate breastfeeding!

This doesn't really surprise me given that women, in general, tend to be social creatures who find security in the friendships and relationships that a group can bring about. Having a shared bond sure doesn't hurt, either. Brings a whole new dimension to the saying that "it takes a village to raise a child!"

Read the whole article by clicking on the link below!

Pregnant mothers see benefits from group prenatal visits

Planning Your Birth Day

Recently, I celebrated another birthday and, on my special day, I thought about how others may not think I actually did much "celebrating". For me, it was a bit of a lazy day. I did my "jobs" early in the day and then spent most of the rest of the morning and afternoon camped out in my bedroom. I had just put up new curtains the day before and had a renewed sense of relaxation in there, so that's where I parked myself. I watched a bit of TV, read a bit and even took an accidental nap (OK, I accidentally took TWO). It was a great day, and it turned out just as I wanted it to.

Like I said, though, others may not think so. There are others, I know, who would find my day wasteful and boring. No, I didn't have all my friends and family around. There were no cameras to memorialize the day. I didn't have a special outfit that I had to wear or have the place all decorated with balloons and manner of party gear. I didn't even have a strict plan for the day. My only "plan" was to just "be" and see where it took me.

Having a baby is rather similar. There are those women that plan on having their best friends, their mom, their sisters, aunts, mother-in-law, etc. all hanging out with them at the birth. There are others that approach their birth by picking out specific clothing, music, focal objects, etc. Some have extremely detailed birth plans and others have extremely flexible ones.

When it comes down to it, though, there really is no wrong way. We're all different, and what works for one may not work for another. What's important to remember is that it is perfectly OK if your approach to this momentous day is different than that of the people around you. No matter what your friends, family or a book may tell you that your birth day should be like, what you need, and how to prepare, the person who you really need to listen to is you!

Looking back at my three birth days, I see a definite trend. Sure, I had a grand plan for how my first birth would be. That all went out the window with the first real contraction, though. The common threads that I found were these...(1) I wanted only the one or two people that were closest to me to be with me (other than medical staff of course); (2) I wanted the room to be rather relaxed and quiet; and (3) I really went into each day with a "let's see what happens and go from there" attitude. Seems funny yet almost predictable then that, when recently celebrating my own birth, the same common themes were present.

So, how will you celebrate your birth day? However you do, remember that it's about you - not your friends, family, or the latest pregnancy book - and what your choices are. Whatever they may be, everyone at Eternal Maternal wishes you a very happy day!