Tips For Your Maternity Photography.

During the 9 months you are pregnant an amazing transformation takes place. Are you taking pictures to capture this special time in your life? You will love remembering how you felt when you were taking them and your child will love looking at them knowing that he or she was in your belly. Whether you get a photographer or stage your own photo shoot, take the time to document the remarkable, loving bond between you and your baby which begins long before the baby is born. Maternity photography is a unique and fun experience to celebrate your pregnancy and new family.

Here are some tips to share with your photographer or use on your own:

Shoot in your home so you’re comfortable to let go. It’s also wonderful to truly show what your life is like at the time your baby came to be.

Consider taking some outdoor shots. Adding the natural beauty of the outdoors to the beauty of new life is simply breathtaking.

Go simplistic. Allow the miracle to speak for itself.

Read the rest of this entry »

Are You Pregnant and Tired of Looking Tired? When I was pregnant I would always get the “are you feeling ok?” question or the “you look really tired,” comment. Looking your best is important, but it can be hard when you have dark circles and puffiness under your eyes. Since your eyes are one of the first things people see when they look at you it is important that you address this problem.

To wake up your eyes, try these simple tips:

Drink lots of water: Water tends to make the skin plump increasing the area between your blood vessels and the skin.

Reduce sodium intake: This will naturally pull the water out of your eye area and every other area you are retaining water.

Get plenty of rest: Proper sleep will reduce puffiness in the eye area. Make sure that you get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. This will benefit your total appearance, and will be especially noticeable in your eyes.

Place cucumber slices over your eyes: This is the most common home-made remedy against dark shadows under the eyes. The slices should be left under the eyes for 5-10 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

Place raw potato slices over your eyes: It will reduce the dark circles significantly and it’s easy and convenient. The slices should be left under the eyes for 20 minutes if you can, then rinse with cold water.

Mash up banana: Put a little under each eye before you go to bed. The potassium helps to reduce your dark circles.

Apply a cold teaspoon under the eyes: Put two clean teaspoons in the fridge and when they are cold put the spoons on your dark circles.
Read the rest of this entry »

Sun-kissed Skin We all love it! If you’re not feeling attractive during pregnancy, the look of sun-kissed skin may do wonders for your self-esteem. A tan can make appearances of unsightly blemishes seem fewer and give you a healthy looking glow. I am very big on a woman feeling good about herself during her pregnancy BUT not however at the cost of her baby. This article will give you more information on tanning in a bed, outdoors, or with lotions and the effects it can have on you and even your baby.

Tanning Beds: There is some controversy on the subject of tanning salons and their use during pregnancy. Many physicians recommend not using them and are against any activity that raises your body temperature. Lying in a tanning bed can raise your body temperature to a level that may be hazardous to your baby and is associated with spinal malformations, particularly during your first trimester. There has also been an ongoing observation about what may be a connection between neural tube defects and ultraviolet radiation.

As of now, no conclusive evidence shows that tanning beds are harmful to a developing fetus, but there’s plenty of proof that they’re dangerous to you. Whether you’re with child or not, tanning beds definitely put you at risk for premature signs of aging and possible skin cancer. One study suggests that visiting a tanning booth ten times in a year can double your chances of developing melanoma — one of the most deadly types of cancer.

Although you are trying to look better you can actually make things worse. During pregnancy, levels of elaborates hormone are higher in the body, making your skin more prone to burning and chloasma – sometimes known as a pregnancy mask, those dark splotches that can appear on the face and occasionally the arms during pregnancy.
Read the rest of this entry »