EasyWalker pushchairs are new to Blossom Mother and Child and will be available to buy online from next week
Described as an off-roading pushchair, they can travel over almost any terrain and are unbelievably lightweight, also very easy to assemble and pack away.

Watch out for the Qtro and Duo available online soon
 

A Mother's Touch

Kate Ogg gave birth to twins in a hospital in Sydney, Australia. They were delivered at 27 weeks, weighing just 2lb, and though Mrs Ogg's little girl Emily was healthy, her brother Jamie was not breathing. After battling to save him for 20 minutes, medical staff told her he had not survived.

"It was the worst feeling I've ever felt. I unwrapped Jamie from his blanket. He was very limp."
Mrs Ogg told Channel 7's Today Tonight programme that she wanted to hold him next to her skin.

"I took my gown off and arranged him on my chest with his head over my arm and just held him.
"He wasn't moving at all and we just started talking to him.
"We told him what his name was and that he had a sister. We told him the things we wanted to do with him throughout his life."

After two hours, he began showing signs of life.

"I felt him move as if he were startled, then he started gasping more and more regularly. I gave Jamie some breast milk on my finger, he took it and started regular breathing normally."
A short time later he opened his eyes. It was a miracle.
"Then he held out his hand and grabbed my finger. He opened his eyes and moved his head from side to side. The doctor kept shaking his head saying: 'I don't believe it, I don't believe it'."

It is thought that the warmth of Mrs Ogg's body acted like an incubator to keep the baby warm and stimulated.

Jamie is now a healthy five month old.

His father David told the Channel 7 programme: "My wife instinctively did what she did. If she hadn't done that, Jamie probably wouldn't be here.
 

Jen is Head of School at a Montessori School in London.  She lives in Fulham with her wonderful husband Stephen and their gorgeous cat Mesa.  This is their first child, and Jen’s first blog.

WEEK 16

Well, the cats out of the bag!  While we’ve told our families, friends and colleagues of our joyous news, there has been a certain population of my life that has been in the dark about the whole thing- the children and parents that attend the school I run. 

That all changed last week when one of my more astute students made a big discovery as I turned up on that sunny morning, clutching my Starbucks (part of my daily 200mg caffeine allowance), and thankfully feeling non-fatigued for the first time in awhile.  This particular little girl came out of the classroom to greet me in the cloakroom “Good morning Mrs….” She stopped short in her tracks. Her head cocked sideways as she stared at my mid section. She continued.  “You’re tummy is looking REALLY big.”   “Whyyy?” (thoughtful pause…) “Do you have a BABY in your tummy?”  I was more than a little surprised.  My eyes rose up from hers to meet another teachers who was looking on at the whole scene and she looked just as surprised as I did that this little one would make this discovery. In those seconds before I answered I caught a glimpse of two more children looking on from their breakfast cereal bowls- one was paused mid-bite waiting for a response.  I started slowly. “Well…. Yes, yes I do have a baby in my tummy!” It felt good to finally tell the people I actually spend the most time with.  “Yippppppeeeeeee!”  they cried and started chanting impromptu songs about the baby in my tummy.  

As each child and parent entered school that morning, they were met with a flood of cries from the three students that had ‘uncovered’ my secret.  I was met with loads of congratulations from the parents and questions from the students “is it going to pop out today?” “will you bring it to school so we can all see?” “is it going to be a boy, or a girl?”  “how did it get in there?” It was a very exciting day and the comments and questions continue to keep rolling in and keep me smiling.

I went home and took a good look at myself in that top I was wearing. I stood in the full-length mirror and turned from side to side. It’s the same cream coloured silk blouse I have had in my wardrobe rotation for the past school year.  Although it does have a lovely V neck, which used to be just fine, but now, with my ever increasing bosom, I have resorted to wearing what I’ve dubbed a “modesty tank top” underneath to make it school appropriate for little and big eyes alike.  It has a looser fitting bottom, as it is an empire cut, but now, my belly takes up all that room where there used to be excess fabric.  Who was I kidding?  I am showing big time. Hooray to my bump! 

I’ve been rigging most of my trousers and jeans with various bands and belts for a while now (will I ever fit into them again?) and have already packed away a box of tops that fit last summer, but definitely do not anymore.  I need to go shopping. 

I head to Blossom and because it’s a blazing hot day, one of their new swimsuits catches my eye.  It’s a tankini, a new concept in beachwear for me,

I’m partial to the bikini, but it’s such a vibrant cornflower blue I can’t resist.  I try it on and presto, looking good and feeling good, hmm maybe there is something to this maternity wear.  It also comes in a tomato red that I think would look fab on a brunette. 

Next item I go for is a lapis blue dress
with lovely turquoise beading around the neckline, which had caught my eye on the website.  It also looks great, it’s a really vibrant color spun out of super soft cotton.  It feels really nice on and my bump looks adorable.  It too is coming home with me. Next stop, jeans.  I am really tired of leaving top buttons unbuttoned and feeling frumpy.

I am recommended to try Blossom’s new bootcut style with a halfband to accommodate my bump.  First thing I notice is how soft they are and when I slip into them, I realise they also have a bit of stretch leaving my curves feeling supported and my rear looking fantastic. They are really great jeans that I actually feel, dare I say, sexy in?   I leave the shop with my new items feeling excited and proud of my new physique. 

When I get home I model the jeans for my husband.  He enthusiastically approves by raising both eyebrows and saying “score!” Mission accomplished. 

I’m grinning like a Cheshire cat and looking forward to my next visit to the shop.

 

Keeping fit with Tara Lee

Tara Lee has been practicing yoga for 20 years and has been teaching yoga for 10 years.

She has studied with world renowned teachers such as David Swensen, Shiva Rea and Pattabi Jois. She comes from a background of Sivanada and Ashtanga yoga and has developed her own dynamic style fusing many disciplines. She has also trained with leading pregnancy yoga teachers Janet Balaskas and Uma Dinsmore –Tuli.

Tara teaches Dynamic Yoga, Pregnancy Yoga, Post Natal Yoga and Mummy and Baby Yoga. Tara has created 3 DVDs focusing on each of the pre and post natal stages making it easy for women to do yoga at home. Her first DVD, Pregnancy Health Yoga, is currently the UK's best selling Pregnancy Yoga DVD.
She has been photographed for yoga books by Liz Lark and Louise Grimes and has been featured in magazines including Tatler, ES magazine, W magazine, Vanity Fair and she has also written a monthly column for Yoga Magazine.

Tara currently teaches ‘Pregnancy Yoga’ and ‘Mummy and Baby Yoga’ at The Life Centre, Notting Hill. She is also a qualified Shiatsu practitioner and a trained Doula.

 

From Nappy Changes, Tummy Time to Baby/Parent Classes The Plush Pad® is the multi-purpose memory foam surface for your baby.  It's great to use on-the-go or around the home -- in any room or any place. 

The Plush Pad® is in a category and class of its own.  It is definitely not just a changing pad, it’s a portable changing station, because the memory foam makes it comfortable enough to be used all the time - in another part of the home, during extended stays with the grandparents, while on holiday at hotels, or to reclaim counter space for parents with smaller living spaces.

Simply roll it up and take it with you daily on-the-go.  Versatility, coupled with comfort, style, and portability is what separates The Plush Pad® from the rest.

 

Here’s a secret no one shares about pregnancy: One morning, you will wake up and nothing will fit around your waist. Your favorite pre-pregnancy jeans simply won’t button. It’s that sudden. Easy fix. The BellaBand. 

Simply the most versatile maternity essential during and after pregnancy.

The BellaBand works throughout your entire pregnancy when trousers, skirts or shorts aren’t fitting quite right.

Early in pregnancy, slip this ultra-soft, seamless knit band around the waistline, over unbuttoned jeans, skirts and shorts to hold them up and hide unfastened clothing.  It’s also ideal mid-pregnancy over too-loose maternity or snug-fitting transition wear, in late pregnancy as an extra-hold accessory for under-the-belly styles that fall down around the hips when the belly pushes them down, and after pregnancy when maternity becomes big and pre-pregnancy is bit snug.

Pregnancy confirmation

You may prefer to find out your pregnant in the privacy of your home, and there is a range of home pregnancy test to choose from, they are simple to use and you can get a result straight away.

In pregnancy, the growing tissues of the new conception (early foetus) secrete a special hormone into your body called ‘human Chorionic Gonadotrophin’ (hCG). This enters your blood as early as one week following fertilisation.This can be traced from your blood or urine by special tests.
Depending upon the type and sensitivity of the test used, pregnancy can be detected as early as a day or two from the missed period.

You need to make a doctors appointment to confirm your pregnancy and to be booked into the antenatal clinic.

The doctor will ask  you when your first day of your last period was and give you a tentative date of birth. This date of birth will be verified later by an ultrasound. They will also tell you how many weeks they believe you are pregnant. It is calculated based on the first day of your last period. You will likely be at least 4 weeks pregnant by the time you test positive as most home tests are accurate shortly after the first missed period.

Once your pregnancy is confirmed the doctor’s office will schedule your first prenatal appointment for between your 8th and 10th week of pregnancy. 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. There are no dumb questions when it comes to prenatal care.
 

Pregnant!

There are a few signs and symptoms which are associated with early pregnancy. None of these can be taken as certainty that you are pregnant though if you experience more that one of the symptoms, this might be the case. The surest sign of being pregnant is a positive pregnancy test.

Pregnancy symptoms differ from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy; however, one of the most significant pregnancy symptoms is a delayed or missed menstrual cycle.

Here are our top 9 symptoms:

Delay/Difference in Menstruation:                                                                                     

A delayed or missed menstruation is the most common pregnancy symptom leading a woman to test for pregnancy. When you become pregnant, your next period should be missed. Many women can bleed while they are pregnant, but typically the bleeding will be shorter or lighter than a normal period.

Swollen/Tender Breasts:
Swollen or tender breasts is a pregnancy symptom which may begin as early as 1-2 weeks after conception. Women may notice changes in their breasts; they may be tender to the touch, sore, or swollen. Tender and swollen breasts or nipples can occur as hormonal changes caused by conception can lead to breasts feeling larger or swollen and tender to the touch. You may also notice a darkening of the areolas.

Frequent Urination:
Around 6-8 weeks after conception, you may find yourself making a few extra trips to the bathroom

Food Cravings:
While you may not have a strong desire to eat pickles and ice cream, many women will feel cravings for certain foods when they are pregnant. This can last throughout your entire pregnancy. Your sense of taste may change and certain foods or smells might make you feel nauseous. Some women also report having a strange metallic taste in their mouth.

Fatigue/Tiredness:
Feeling fatigued or more tired is a pregnancy symptom which can also start as early as the first week after conception.

Implantation Bleeding:
Implantation bleeding can be one of the earliest pregnancy symptoms. About 6-12 days after conception, the embryo implants itself into the uterine wall. Some women will experience spotting as well as some cramping.

Nausea/Morning Sickness:
This well-known pregnancy symptom will often show up between 2-8 weeks after conception. Some women are fortunate to not deal with morning sickness at all, while others will feel nauseous throughout most of their pregnancy.

Sensitivity to Odors
Many pregnant women complain of oversensitivity to odors that otherwise never affected them before pregnancy. Odors such as food cooking, cigarettes or cigars can trigger off strong waves of nausea in a pregnant woman.

Mixture of symptoms
Other symptoms could include constipation, heartburn, headaches, and mood swings.

Here are some beautiful pictures of Pam from Blossom Mother and Child, Beirut wearing and looking stunning in the Summer collection online.

Wearing Blossom Mother and Child best selling Inge shirt and True Religion Joey jeans.

Looking fab wearing Single for Blossom Kaftan.

The five-month-old boy taken to hospital with burns over 40% of his body after spending a day in the sun on Brighton beach has been discharged.

Temperatures on Brighton beach reached 25C (77F) on Sunday.

A burns specialist from The Queen Victoria Hospital (QVH) in East Grinstead, West Sussex - who was consulting with the Royal Sussex - said the boy's injuries could have been potentially life-threatening.  Consultant Baljit Dheansa said the baby's skin showed signs of blistering.
He explained that the danger of blistering was that it could lead to the loss of body fluids. In a five-month-old baby, this could ultimately lead to risks of dehydration, low blood pressure and kidney failure.

With the weather getting increasingly warmer, please remember to keep your little ones delicate skin covered and well protected.