Bella & Fella's Boring Bedtime Stories

Back in April, I visited Washington, D.C. with my husband for a little weekend getaway. It also gave us a chance to catch up with one of his good friends, Jon, an acclaimed writer, professor emeritus and historian. During dinner, our conversation turned to more serious issues: How to keep your hair from turning grey. To this, Jon had a ready answer which, he swears, is bona fide from his own experience: folic acid.

Folic acid is one of those things you hear tossed about in the news media. But what, exactly, is it and where does it come from? Curious, I did some research and was surprised to learn of its many benefits, including those for pregnant women. 

What is folic acid?

Folic acid, also called folate, is a B9 vitamin. During pregnancy, it helps the body produce red blood cells so the neural tube can develop healthy brains and spinal cords. With folate deficiency, neural tube defects (NTD) such as spina bifida and anencephaly occur, causing the brain not to form properly or completely. Consuming folic acid reduces the risk of NTD by up to 70%, and can also protect against a cleft palate, premature birth, low birth weight and miscarriages.

When to Start Taking It

Many birth defects originate during the first 28 days after conception. Since only 50% of pregnancies are planned, and many women are not immediately aware of their pregnancy, it is advisable for women who are of childbearing age to consume 400 micrograms daily. After pregnancy, increase the amount to 600 mcg and when breastfeeding, ensure you’re still getting at least 500 mcg daily.

 What are good sources of folic acid?

Green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale are a great natural source of folic acid. Citrus fruits are another excellent source, as are bananas, asparagus and peanuts. Don’t forget your grains found in enriched breads, cereals, pastas and rice, and finally, legumes like beans, peas and lentils. 

To give you an idea of how much folic acid there is in various food sources, here is a small sampling:
Spinach, raw, 1 cup 60mcg
Green peas, frozen, boiled, ½ cup 50mcg
Broccoli, chopped, frozen, cooked, ½ cup 50mcg
Broccoli, raw, 2 spears (each 5 inches long) 45mcg
Avocado, raw, all varieties, sliced, ½ cup sliced 45mcg
Peanuts, all types, dry roasted, 1 ounce 40mcg*

If your lifestyle prevents you from meeting your daily folic acid requirement naturally, there are supplemental prenatal vitamins available. When in doubt, consult with your doctor to ensure you’re getting all the nutrients you need for a healthy and happy baby.

*Source

Looking for an infant bedding set for your loose papoose or little fella? Then check out Bella & Fella Children’s Bedding today, purveyor of all things pretty in the realm of baby nursery bedding.

External links
Italy Travel Deals
wooden chess set
lawn weed killer
Sleep Disorders
Google Analytics

If you’re planning to lose your pregnancy belly fat with some rigorous exercising right after giving birth, think again. Pregnancy alters the body in numerous ways. Your pelvis is weak, your muscles are loose, and if you have episiotomy stitches, watch out. Additionally, c-sections and diastisis recti (spreading of the abdominal wall) require extra time for tissues to heal. Healthcare providers strongly advise easing into a workout regimen. Otherwise, you may do more harm to your body than good, especially if you attend a muscle strength class like Marcy’s.  

Marcy Means Well

Marcy teaches a cardio sculpt class at my health club, Rex, in Wake Forest, NC where I live. My husband calls her a “good egg” and I couldn’t agree more. Marcy loves what she does and it shows. She’s fun, spirited, gregarious, and she’ll suddenly belt out lyrics to music when you least expect it. She brings so much positive energy to her class with one addition: she’s a workout nazi. 

Marcy has a way of waking up latent muscle groups. I know this because, for a few days following her class, I’m rendered an invalid, unable to walk. “I know you all like this,” she often says, “or you wouldn’t keep coming back.” She has a point. Her classes are well attended. During one killer session that seemed endless, she offered a morsel of advice. “You know how, on some days, you wake up and your muscles are so sore that it hurts to put on a bra? Well, you might want to sleep with your bra on tonight.” She was being serious. That’s just great, I thought. I’ll be in a wheelchair but at least I’ll be wearing a bra.

Wait, Mom!

Mothers, don’t end up in a wheelchair when you have a baby to attend to. Many health specialists prefer that you wait six weeks but if you’re raring to go, choose stretching and low-impact classes instead. Remember, it took nine months for you to put the weight on. Losing it slowly is a smarter choice, especially if you’re breastfeeding which tells the fat to hang on. But don’t give it up too early! Breast milk is very nutritious for the baby.

So how do you start getting back into shape? Here are some exercises you can perform 24 hours postpartum. Later, you can add more rigorous activities like walking and jogging.

• Kegel Exercises: These are repetitive contractions of the pelvic muscles that control the flow of urination. Contract and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat several times a day. You can do this anywhere, anytime, and no one would know!
  
• Stretching: Lie flat on your back and extend your arms and legs. Have your palms and toes facing upwards. Now press the floor with your hands and knees while your abs tighten and back flattens. Hold for 5 seconds. 
  
• Pelvic Tilt: Lie on on the floor with your legs hip-width apart, knees bent. Squeeze your abs and press the small of your back into the floor. Hold for 5 seconds.

Exercising after pregnancy can help you feel your best. Just be careful not to overdo it. Allow your body some time to recover while enjoying the joys of having a new baby.



External links
patio metal furniture
relationship coaching women muslim
Dog Stroller
Marine VHF
chapel hill houses for sale

 

In the movie, “The Family Stone”, Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker) very thoughtfully gifted duplicates of an old and lovely treasure—a beautifully framed b&w photograph of her beau’s then-pregnant mom, Sybil (Diane Keaton)—to his siblings for Christmas. Admiring the image of her young, pregnant self, Sybil expressed kudos to Meredith: “You’ve done good.” The pregnant condition is even more memorably celebrated in Vanity Fair’s August 1991 cover of Demi Moore (by Annie Leibowitz), who unabashedly bared all at seven months.

Although photography was once the only immediate way to capture, for posterity, this stage of motherhood (i.e. paintings can take time to complete), there’s now another option: belly casts. I was first introduced to this concept while doing other research, and it immediately struck me as something wonderful—a three-dimensional work of art—and a great keepsake for the mother as well as the baby that’s in the oven.

As the name suggests, pregnancy belly casts are plaster sculptures of an expectant woman’s belly. Often made during the seventh or eighth month of pregnancy, several layers of wet plaster strips are applied to the mom’s torso and then peeled away from the body when dry. The plaster sets in about half an hour, or in as little as five minutes with fast-setting strips. Left in its natural state, the unadorned plaster resembles prehistoric Venus goddesses and African sculptures representing fertility. Often, however, belly casts are painted and decorated in the most creative ways like these spectacular examples from Belly of Love.

 

I can see how belly casting can be fun. It’s also wonderfully intimate—a great bonding experience with your best friends. For myself, I know I would have enjoyed this experience with my mom each time she became pregnant with my three younger siblings. Who wouldn’t want to papier maché mom? While not exactly the same thing, it does have the same appeal for those with an artistic bent like myself.

There are many companies that sell do-it-yourself kits.
Here’s a small sampling:

Art, Body and Soul

ProudBody

Eternal Maternal



Resources
Fertility Testing
Information on female and male fertility tests, infertility treatment options such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), and fertility problems that can affect couples trying to conceive.



External links
electronic chess
TV stand furniture
find a job fast
olympus digital voice recorder
Italian herb garden