A Pure Pregnancy

At the moment I discovered I was pregnant, which was at 7 weeks, I realized, I'm a mother. Although my baby was yet a tiny bean in utero, I knew that I was already responsible for the well-being and health of my little one.

One way to nurture the precious new life within your blossoming body is to be conscious of what you ingest and feed yourself. Green Guide by National Geographic offers all kinds of great tips to organic living and ways to take care of yourself and the planet. This knowledge becomes all the more valuable when you're pregnant. It can be both enlightening and a bit frightening to wade through the information out there, but it's definitely worth the effort.

For myself, I was determined to have as pure a pregnancy as possible. Besides eating organic food, I wanted to use natural or organic products that would minimize my chemical exposure to the baby growing within me. I was especially frustrated with the difficulty in finding a great skincare line. Even when the box said "natural," the label noted a slew of "chemical" ingredients.

Then I discovered pure & true.

Free from parabens, artificial fragrances and colors, sulphates, phthalates, and petroleum-derived ingredients, pure & true skincare offers the real experience in organic beauty. From cleanser to masque, all of its products feature plant or floral ingredients such as organic aloe juice, avocado, rooibos tea, and kelp that are almost good enough to eat!

Hot Mama Maternity carries the full line of pure & true skincare, including mini-kits that are great for traveling or as a starter set. Stop in to check out our in-store samples and we can help get you started on your pure pregnancy. (LL)

Swaddle Sweetly

One of the best ways to keep your newborn feeling cozy and secure is with a swaddle blanket. Swaddling can enhance peaceful sleeping for baby and soothe them from their crying, especially because the very nature of swaddling mimics the warmth and comfort of being inside mama's belly.

Aden + Anais features an adorable line of cotton muslin swaddles, gentle on baby's skin but durable for everyday use. Each set comes with four generously sized blankets, each with a distinct pattern. Once the swaddling phase is over, Aden + Anais swaddles are perfect for using as stroller covers, burp cloths, changing table sheet, or anything else!

Swaddle blankets are the perfect baby shower gift. Stop by Hot Mama Maternity to pick up a set or two. (LL)

How to Swaddle Your Baby:

Step 1

Lay the swaddle in a diamond shape and fold the top corner down to form a triangle. Place your baby in the center of the folded area with baby's head just above the fold of the swaddle. Ensure that baby's shoulders are still below the fold.

Step 2

Place baby's right arm slightly bent at the elbow flat against her body. Take the left side of the swaddle and bring it across baby's chest. Ensure their arm is securely under the fabric. Tuck the edge of the swaddle under her body to ensure a secure swaddle.

Step 3

Fold the bottom of the swaddle up and over baby's feet

Step 4

Finally, place baby's left arm slightly bent at the elbow against her body, take the right side of the swaddle and bring it across baby's chest. Tuck the excess fabric underneath baby to secure the swaddle.