Let us lay down some facts. According to a recent poll, 60 percent of expectant moms want an application to track their pregnancy. Additionally, the use of technology among moms has drastically increased in just a few years, with 92 percent of moms saying they take their cell phone/smart phone everywhere. Nearly 50 percent are interested in technology that empowers them to be better moms and use technology to manage day-to-day activities.

“The BabyCenter® My Pregnancy Today app is everything that millions of women love about BabyCenter right in their purse,” says Linda Murray, BabyCenter editor-in-chief. “Mobile phones are changing the way women get their pregnancy and parenting information, and we want to make sure an expecting mom has all the answers she needs right at her side at all times. Our new app turns your iPhone into an expert guide for your exact date of pregnancy, making it that much easier to enjoy the rich, personal experience that is the journey of new motherhood.”

This new, free application guides expectant moms through their pregnancy journey, offering award-winning, medically reviewed health content; advice from obstetricians, midwives, nutritionists, and other experts; daily activities and reminders; and conversation and connection with other moms-to-be in BabyCenter’s community. The BabyCenter® My Pregnancy Today application is now available at www.babycenter.com/iphone-pregnancy-download.

Application features include:

• Your pregnancy, day by day: BabyCenter’s renowned weekly pregnancy experience now updated and expanded into a daily snapshot of your baby’s development.
• Fetal development images: Our one-of-kind, detailed weekly illustrations developed by expert medical illustrators.
• Pregnancy checklist: An interactive to-do list is filled with activities and reminders to keep you on track with decisions, appointments, and more.
• Award-winning videos: BabyCenter’s exclusive and breathtaking 3-D animations of a baby developing in the womb and live-action videos of women giving birth (from natural to c-section).
• Birth clubs: Instant, at-your-fingertips advice and support from BabyCenter women due at the same time.
• Due date calculator: Quickly find your due date and count down to the big day.
• Nutrition guide: Manage weight gain with tips and recipes to help you eat well.

The BabyCenter® My Pregnancy Today application is the latest innovative BabyCenter mobile program designed to provide the modern mom with trusted advice and friendship that’s remarkably right for her needs, and the first of its kind that will launch worldwide. Additionally, BabyCenter is currently participating in a number of maternal health projects around the globe including text4baby in the United States, collaboration with the Grameen Foundation in rural Ghana, and a new mobile program in India in an effort to reach underserved women and empower them to take control over their own health by implementing positive behavior changes.

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Everybody loves summer. Children love it because summer usually means the beach and the beach always spells out fun. Mothers love summer too. Sometimes because of the vacations but also because it is the time when many of you welcome your babies into the world. You will often find it hot in pregnancy but it’s eventually all worth it! Summer is not only characterized by rising temperatures, it is also the season for the most births in the United States, particularly during July.

It is estimated that virtually all women experience some degree of musculoskeletal discomfort during pregnancy, and 25% have at least temporarily disabling symptoms. During “baby season,” the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is educating pregnant and postpartum moms about health conditions that can arise during those periods, including low back pain (LBP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

To educate moms and moms-to-be, APTA will hold a tweet chat on July 13 from 1 to 2 p.m. EST to answer questions about LBP, SUI and a variety of other conditions that can result from pregnancy and that physical therapists can treat. Care by a physical therapist can be critical in preventing and treating these conditions since the type and amount of treatments that can be applied during these periods is limited.

“The prenatal and postpartum periods are a time of great change for women physically, emotionally, and hormonally, and musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction is common. But you don’t have to grit your teeth and bear it,” said APTA Media Corps member Jill Boissonnault, PT, PhD, WCS.

Low Back Pain According to one study, LBP affects approximately 50% of pregnant women, forcing nearly 30% of those women to stop performing at least one daily activity over the course of their pregnancies. LBP is also reported in 30% to 45% of women in the postpartum period. Depending on a woman’s specific needs, treatment by a physical therapist typically focuses on reducing discomfort and maintaining function during pregnancy. This may involve recommendations for sleeping positions, exercises to help postural alignment and body balance, exercises to improve strength, mobility and flexibility, and bracing for lower back support. Boissonnault stresses that, “patients who are experiencing low back pain that is preventing them from performing normal daily activities during or after pregnancy should seek the expert advice of a physical therapist.”

Stress Urinary Incontinence While there are different types of urinary incontinence, SUI most commonly affects pregnant and postpartum women. This often under-reported and untreated condition is characterized by involuntary leakage of urine upon effort, exertion, or physical activity. A 2009 study found that SUI affects up to 67% of women during pregnancy and as many as 38% of women during the 3 months following delivery. “Stress urinary incontinence has a severe impact on women emotionally and physically and often impacts women’s ability to exercise. This condition can in itself affect women’s health across their lifespan,” says APTA Member Ruth Maher, PT, DPT, WCS. To help pregnant and postpartum women regain control over their lives and their bladders, physical therapists design individualized treatment plans, which may include exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles and advice on how to change behaviors that contribute to incontinence. “Many women feel that stress urinary incontinence is inevitable postpartum and is a normal part of aging,” said Maher. “I believe this misconception deters women from speaking with their health care providers regarding their incontinence.”

Research has shown that physical therapy has a success rate of more than 80% for individuals with SUI. Additionally, those who engage in physical therapy-led targeted exercise programs for the pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy are less likely to report urinary incontinence late in their pregnancy. Physical therapists educated in the area of women’s health have extensive knowledge about women’s health issues in all stages of life, from childbearing years through the post menopausal period. Visit www.moveforwardpt.com to find a physical therapist in your area and to learn more about these conditions and others that physical therapists treat. As experts in mobility and motion, physical therapists can reduce or eliminate a person’s need for surgery or the long-term use of prescription medications and their side effects, in many cases.

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Babies are truly amazing! It’s fascinating to document their development inside a mother’s womb. It’s heart stopping to watch them being delivered and enter the world after nine months. And it’s wonderful to watch them grow up and fill our hearts with joy and laughter. To celebrate this marvelous creation, Discovery Health is showcasing a whole week full of astounding baby stories. This July, Discovery Health delivers viewers an infusion of world-premiere programming from its signature event, BABY WEEK.  This latest edition showcases the riveting, real-life drama of babies born under extraordinary circumstances through six captivating specials and the network’s next breakthrough series, NICU.  From Monday, July 12, through Friday, July 16, baby-themed programming will air each night in primetime, with premiere programs beginning at 9 PM (ET/PT).

BABY WEEK welcomes the arrival of NICU, an original 10-episode docu-drama series that goes behind the scenes of top national neonatal intensive care units, showing the day-to-day care required to sustain the smallest of lives.  Premiering Thursday, July 15, at 10 PM (ET/PT), NICU follows real families as they experience the rollercoaster of emotions that come with having a premature baby.  The series also features doctors and nurses from leading hospitals in Baltimore, San Diego andCleveland, as they work around the clock to ensure the survival of their tiny patients.  Subsequent premiere episodes of NICUwill air weekly throughout the summer on Thursdays at 10 PM (ET/PT).

BABY WEEK also features six of the buzzworthy, gripping and occasionally bizarre one-hour specials that originally made the event so popular with viewers.  STRANGE PREGNANCIES details the most extraordinary and unheard-of delivery stories ever highlighted on television—including a woman with two separate uteri experiencing concurrent pregnancies.  Later in the week,BORN ON A BAD DAY profiles women giving birth under the worst possible circumstances—from hostage situations to natural disasters.  All six BABY WEEK specials need to be seen to be believed.

The following is a full rundown of all-new premiere programs:

• STRANGE PREGNANCIES

Every woman experiences pregnancy differently—but for these women, their pregnancies are unusual and downright bizarre.  This hour-long special focuses on three extraordinary pregnancies, from a woman with two functioning uteri, to a woman facing a rare and risky form of ectopic pregnancy, to a 56-year-old woman bearing triplets—for her daughter!

• A BABY TO SAVE OUR SON

Is it ethical to use one child to save the life of another?  Three-year-old Charlie has a rare genetic blood disorder—and without a bone marrow transplant, he could die before his seventh birthday.  This hour-long special follows Charlie’s journey and the difficult decisions his parents face in order to save their son’s life.

• BIG BABIES

This hour-long special follows the journeys of four obese, pregnant women as they struggle through the final weeks of pregnancy with supersized babies.  Showing the world through their eyes—along with the prejudices and challenges they face—BIG BABIES also records the crucial first months of their overweight infants’ lives and considers what the future holds for our supersized infants.

• TOO MANY BABIES? THE FIRST 16 MONTHS

Last spring, America fell in love with the Jones family and their five unexpected “blessings.”  Now, as they prepare for the next stage in their whirlwind lives, TOO MANY BABIES? THE FIRST 16 MONTHS will show the Joneses in a whole new light.  This hour-long special brings viewers behind the scenes in the quintuplets’ first year with never-before-seen footage and catches up with all that’s current in their ever-changing world.

• BORN ON A BAD DAY

BORN ON A BAD DAY presents the true and remarkable tales of moms giving birth during natural disasters and other precarious situations.  From a woman who delivers a baby during a hostage situation in the maternity ward, to a mom who delivers by flashlight during a tornado, viewers will be amazed by these incredible tales—and by the babies who survived them.

• THE 10 MOST UNBELIEVABLE BIRTHS

This hour-long special celebrates the most dramatic pregnancy and delivery stories ever told on Discovery Health.  The dynamic real-life obstetricians from the network’s hit series DELIVER ME, Drs. Alane Park, Yvonne Bohn and Allison Hill, lead us through an hour filled with harrowing and heartwarming tales of human reproduction.  The 10 shocking stories include a young woman who didn’t realize she was pregnant until she delivered, a transgendered couple who accidentally conceived against all odds and the extraordinarily rare birth of double identical twins.

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Pregnant mothers and dentists are both hesitant to carry out dental procedures and may needlessly withhold or delay treatment of pregnant patients because they fear injuring either the woman or the fetus – or because of fear of litigation. Prenatal and oral health providers are sometimes limited in providing oral health care during pregnancy because they lack understanding about its impact and safety.

With the recently published Journal of the California Dental Association which is an expert guidance on dental care during pregnancy, health care providers now have evidence-based guidelines to emphasize the importance of pregnant women maintaining good oral health care and the safety of providing appropriate treatment during pregnancy as published in the June .

“Oral Health During Pregnancy and Early Childhood: Evidence-Based Guidelines for Health Professionals” was developed by a panel of state and national medical, dental, and public health experts who reviewed scientific literature and recent research on the relationship between oral disease, treatment and pregnancy outcomes.

The guidelines, which contain clinical recommendations tailored to specific health professionals, are intended to assist health care practitioners in private, public and community-based settings in understanding the importance of providing oral health services to pregnant women and making appropriate decisions regarding their care.

“Despite the multiple benefits of dental care for mothers and their babies, many women have nagging concerns about its safety during pregnancy,” said Lindsey Robinson, DDS, chair of the California Dental Association Foundation, which convened the panel in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, District IX. “We hope these guidelines put to rest some of those worries and make dental treatment a recognized staple of prenatal care.”

The panel concluded that prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases, including dental x-rays and the use of local anesthesia, are highly beneficial and can be undertaken during pregnancy with no additional fetal or maternal risk when compared to the risk of not providing care.

Specifically, studies show there is no evidence relating early spontaneous abortion in the first trimester to dental treatment. The panel also found that preeclampsia, a challenging condition in the management of pregnant patients, is not a contraindication for dental care. Additionally, control of oral disease in pregnant women has the potential to reduce the transmission from new mothers to their infants of the pathogenic bacteria that causes dental disease.

Robinson hopes the guidelines will encourage prenatal care providers to fully integrate oral health into the care of their pregnant patients. “Pregnancy is a teaching moment for expectant mothers who should be encouraged to include dental hygiene and treatment in their prenatal care for their own health and their baby’s well-being,” Robinson said.

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• Pregnant Women Need Dental Checkups, Too (livescience.com)
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Freezing a woman’s egg is not new.  But a new technology has been developed which dramatically increases a woman’s chances of having her own biological children well past the age of peak fertility. The new technology “flash freezes” a woman’s eggs until she’s ready to conceive, and yields significantly higher pregnancy rates over existing treatments. This technology is developed by Shady Grove Fertility, the nation’s largest fertility and IVF center. It recently announced the opening of its Center for Fertility Preservation, offering the most advanced technology in egg freezing.

“A woman’s ability to conceive is largely dependent on the age of her eggs,” said Robert Stillman, MD, Medical Director of Shady Grove Fertility Center. “Fertility is naturally declining with age, but the chances of getting pregnant drop off sharply after age 35. By the time she reaches her early 40′s there is only a very small chance of achieving a healthy, natural pregnancy and delivery.”

Until recently, older egg cryopreservation techniques were yielding unpredictable results and lower pregnancy rates. For this reason, they have been used primarily as a last resort for women with medical complications that compromise their fertility such as those at risk for premature menopause or those about to undergo cancer treatment. The unpredictable outcomes prevented most fertility centers from routinely offering the technology to women who wanted to proactively freeze and store their eggs for future use.

The Center for Fertility Preservation, along with a handful of other fertility centers across the U.S., is now able to offer a new, more successful egg freezing technique known as vitrification. Vitrification is a flash freezing technique which protects eggs from injury during the freezing and subsequent thawing process. The latest experience at Shady Grove Fertility and other leading groups consistently demonstrates dramatically improved pregnancy rates as compared to outcomes when using the now outdated, slow egg freezing methods.

“While not a guarantee, the ability to proactively freeze eggs at a younger age can greatly increase a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant with her own biological children well past the age of natural peak fertility,” noted Dr. Stillman.

There are roughly six million unmarried women in the U.S. between 30 and 39 years of age, many of whom are faced with a difficult personal dilemma: have children before they are ready, conceive through the use of donor eggs or run the risk of never having children at all. Fortunately, for those whose childbearing is delayed – for professional, personal, social or economic reasons – the Center for Fertility Preservation now empowers women with alternate choice to preserve their fertility. By making the choice to freeze her eggs during her fertile years a woman is able to help safeguard her fertility potential for future use when the circumstances and timing are right.

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• LifeQuest Centre for Reproductive Medicine Toronto to Offer Elective Egg Freezing for Fertility Preservation (newswire.ca)

Most mothers dream of having slim bodies before they get pregnant but many cannot make this a reality afterwards and feel stuck in their post pregnancy bodies. But this need not be the case anymore as Stroller Strides launches it’s newest fitness program that can help to enable Moms to get their body shape back!”

Ranked among Entrepreneur Magazine’s Fastest Growing Franchises in 2010, Stroller Strides (www.strollerstrides.com) offers classes in more than 1,000 locations in the United States and Canada. Their hour-long classes emphasize cardiovascular activities and muscle-strengthening exercises which uses resistance bands and strollers, thus allowing moms to interact with their babies throughout their workout. Their newest addition is a comprehensive fitness program designed specifically to battle baby bulge while balancing moms’ unique physiology and busy schedules. Continuing the brand’s ongoing dedication to health and fitness solutions for moms of all ages, Lisa Druxman, founder of Stroller Strides, introduces Body Back™ – a national and comprehensive fitness program designed to specifically target the unique physical changes resulting from pregnancy, days, months, even years after giving birth. This release coincides with a brand-new DVD series, “Mama Wants™.”

Realizing that moms at all stages are looking to target and combat post-childbirth problem areas, Druxman developed Body Back™ (www.bodybackworkout.com), an all-inclusive program that combines twice-weekly small group classes of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with at-home DVD exercises, meal plans and a food diary, online coaching, and “before and after” fitness assessments/measurements. HIIT workouts, a technique used by performance athletes that feature repeated bouts of short duration, high intensity exercises is a critical component to the program as it burns more calories, increases endurance and sheds more fat in the least amount of time. The result is weight loss, muscle toning, and increased strength and energy. To maximize results, the class does not involve a stroller or children – perfect for Stroller Strides graduates whose kids are now in school, or for all moms who need personal time to fully focus on their goals.

“Throughout my career, I’ve learned how to get the best results for a mom’s body, and I’ve combined all of these successful principles to create the Body Back™ and Mama Wants™ programs,” said Druxman. “We’ve taken all the elements that are proven methods for moms achieving fitness and weight loss success – motivating small group classes, nutrition, quick, at-home workouts and inspiring virtual coaching – and integrated it into one program that requires a small amount of time, but delivers big improvements to a mom’s waistline, booty, abs, arms and mind!”

“For the women who share their amazing journey to motherhood with me, Stroller Strides’ new Body Back™ and Mama Wants™ programs offer them an opportunity to feel as beautiful as they really are,” says Dr. Robert Biter, a San Diego-area based Obstetrician and Gynecologist and founder of Babies by the Sea Birthing Center (www.babiesbythesea.com). “I am so pleased that Stroller Strides is expanding their program as a mother is a role model to her children for maintaining physical fitness, a healthy lifestyle and self confidence at every stage of life.”

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A recent study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, shows that mothers who partake in light exercise throughout pregnancy can actually lower their baby’s risk of obesity later in life. This is proof that exercising during pregnancy is a win-win for mom and baby. Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the National Academy of Sports Medicine support exercise during pregnancy as long as the pregnant woman feels comfortable. This new data, along with anecdotal information that exercise leads to shorter labor and an easier recovery, is driving more pregnant women than ever to take part in fitness activities.

A new product, the Ritmo Advanced Pregnancy Sound System™ created by Nuvo Group, Inc. is giving pregnant women around the globe the comprehensive fitness solution that they have been looking for — a comfortable and supportive pregnancy belt that provides a hands-free music listening experience for both mom and baby.

Founded in 2006 by Oren Oz, Nuvo Group, Inc., is comprised of full-time parents, who also happen to be internationally recognized engineers, award-winning designers, and entrepreneurs. Nuvo creates and manufactures innovative developmental products that are designed to create shared experiences between parents and their children. Acclaimed for using imaginative designs, cutting-edge technologies, and advanced materials, Nuvo Group’s solutions address the needs and lifestyles of modern parents and their kids.
In the case of Ritmo, experts in the fields of acoustics and bio-medicine developed its technology, based on hundreds of third party research papers and studies.

Fit Pregnancy has called this product a “Registry Essential” for physically active moms-to-be. Jeri Moran, a working mother of 2 boys under age 3 and a girl on the way exclaimed, “I have been using Ritmo for about two months and love it. It is easy to use and awesome for working out. Just put it on, insert your iPod and go! You can control the sound with different volumes for you and the baby.” Pregnant women love how easily Ritmo fits into an active lifestyle. Whether practicing yoga, exercising, walking the dog, working or simply relaxing, “It doesn’t move around while working out and is so comfortable,” says Ms. Moran. While mom moves and grooves to her favorite tunes she is sharing the endorphins with her developing baby.When mom and baby listen to music together, their connection is enhanced. During exercise, endorphins — a natural chemical that makes us feel good and happy — are released. And when mom is relaxed and happy, then baby is too.

Safety is of the utmost importance at Nuvo. Ritmo was developed under the guidance of world-renowned experts in acoustics, resulting in Nuvo’s Safe & Sound technology. Ritmo also meets the stringent safety standards of the CE & FCC. Not only is Ritmo’s soft fabric belt lightweight, elasticized, supportive, washable and irritation-free, but its state-of-the-art speaker system and controller/stabilizer easily connects to your own audio device to transmit music and sound safely in-utero.

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Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant death in the United States, and babies who survive face serious lifelong health problems. More than 543,000 babies are born too soon each year, and the nation’s premature birth rate has increased 36 percent since the early 1980s. In an attempt to combat this serious problem, an innovative program was developed aimed to develop current prenatal care practices known as CenteringPregnancy. This is a group model of prenatal care was developed by the Centering Healthcare Institute, which provides training and support to healthcare providers to adopt this proven intervention. It also requires pregnant women to spend a certain amount of time with health care providers and with other pregnant women. In this way they get a chance to learn a lot more about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. Regular check-ups, support, and education also take place in a group setting.

Interest in the CenteringPregnancy model has grown due to a randomized, controlled trial reported in 2007 in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, which found that women who received CenteringPregnancy care were 33 percent less likely to have preterm births than women who received standard prenatal care. The Institute for Family Health has successfully implemented the program, helping their prenatal patients decrease c-sections from 28 percent to 21 percent, preterm births from 8.3 percent to 1.8 percent and decreased low birthweight from 8.3 percent to 2.65 percent, according to results of an IFH evaluation of its 2008-2009 CenteringPregnancy groups.

Due to the success of the program, Kmart recently honored March of Dimes-in their support to this new prenatal care program during a ceremony at The Institute for Family Health (IFH) in Manhattan. March of Dimes (marchofdimes.com) is a leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. “It is such a privilege to see first-hand the amazing, life-changing work that is supported by the March of Dimes,” said Mark Snyder, Kmart’s chief marketing officer. “As a result of our employees and customers’ generosity, Kmart is proud to have surpassed the $80 million fundraising milestone this year, and we look forward to continuing our support of such a generous organization and celebrating our shared commitment to giving babies a healthy start in life.”

March of Dimes have provided support totaling $1.27 million in 2009 alone to fund more than 60 CenteringPregnancy programs in 31 of its chapters nationwide. Since 2005, the March of Dimes has invested $4.13 million to fund the expansion of this model of care to more clinics and more women. ”CenteringPregnancy is one of a small number of programs that we know work to reduce premature birth,” said Dr. Scott Berns, senior vice president of Chapter Programs, March of Dimes. “Since the evidence has mounted, we have stepped up our investment to make this model available to thousands more women every year.”

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Pregnancy should be a happy experience and anything you can do to make pregnancy more relaxing for you or your husband is worth a look.

Organic baby food company founder and yoga expert husband create one-of-a-kind video
Expectant mothers and their loved ones can now more closely share in the pregnancy experience thanks to the new Prenatal Yoga for Partners DVD created by HAPPYBABY, the nation’s leading premium organic baby and toddler food company. One of the only products of its kind, this wellness DVD features HAPPYBABY CEO and founder Shazi Visram and her husband, Joe Kulak, a certified yoga instructor and physical therapist with more than a decade of experience, sharing a thoughtful yoga flow for expectant parents and practicing exercises to ease the aches and pains of pregnancy for moms-to-be. HAPPYBABY is quickly becoming a premier green lifestyle resource and is committed to the overall health and wellness of their customers and their families.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, practicing yoga during pregnancy can benefit both mother and baby by lessening discomfort and fatigue, providing a sense of well-being, and increasing the likelihood of early post-delivery recovery. Visram had these health benefits in mind as well as a desire to find a way for her husband to be able to be more involved in the pregnancy experience when HAPPYBABY set out to create this DVD.

Designed to promote relaxation, build strength and flexibility, and prepare the body and mind for labor, Prenatal Yoga for Partners features sections for both partners as well as exercises just for moms-to-be. Kulak offers instruction on traditional yoga postures, breathing techniques, massage tips for dads-to-be, and guided relaxation for expectant moms. He also demonstrates quick fixes to common prenatal aches and pains such as lower back and sciatica pain, leg cramps and heartburn, and overall prenatal stress.

“As a very recent first-time mother, I wanted to do everything I could to remain healthy and happy, stay active, and involve my husband, Joe, as much as possible during such a miraculous time in life,” says Visram. “Prior to my son’s birth, Joe and I bonded by practicing yoga together, which strengthened our partnership, helped him feel much more involved in my pregnancy, and got me mentally and physically prepared for labor and a speedy recovery. It really worked wonders, and I would recommend our DVD to every expecting couple I know.”

The HAPPYBABY Prenatal Yoga for Partners DVD will be available in March 2010 for $14.99 on the company’s website at www.happybabyfoods.com. This is just the first in a series of family yoga DVDs from HAPPYBABY.

ABOUT HAPPYBABY:

Launched on Mother’s Day 2006, HAPPYBABY is the leading brand of premium organic meals for babies and toddlers. The company makes HAPPYBABY^™ fresh frozen organic baby meals, HAPPYBELLIES^™-the only organic baby cereals with DHA and probiotics, HAPPYBABY PUFFS^™-the only organic baby puffs with whole grains, real fruits and vegetables, HAPPYBITES^™-handheld organic toddler/kids meals with hidden veggies, HAPPYMELTS™, the first USDA organic freeze-dried organic yogurt and fruit snacks containing both prebiotics and probiotics, and the recently released HAPPYTOT^™-fruits and vegetables enriched with super-grain Salba in a convenient easy-to-handle pouch. For more information, log onto www.happybabyfood.com.

HAPPYBABY believes every baby deserves to be a happy baby. The company collaborates with Project Peanut Butter (www.projectpeanutbutter.org) to feed malnourished children in Malawi and Sierra Leone. For every HAPPYBABY product purchased, Project Peanut Butter is able to provide food for a child for an entire day.

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Sometimes, the paperwork involved in pregnancy can spoil the joy of the experience to some extent.

New mums often tell you that having a baby is as much an exercise in paperwork and organization skills as it is joyous journey and whilst the jury is out on whether mums get ‘baby brain’, according to Bounty Parenting Club, almost half of mums (44%) admit to forgetting dentist, doctor and midwife appointments and a third forget important family birthdays.

To manage the piles of pregnancy paperwork and make family life easier, parenting website Bounty.com is offering new and expectant mums a free online organizer service, so if you want to get your head around parenthood go to: http://www.bounty.com/organiser where in a quick click you can:

1. Drop in your baby’s due date and ages of your children and the organizer will automatically fill itself in with other ‘need-to-know’  dates such as: when to give your MAT B1 form to your employer, the earliest date you can start maternity leave, and when to apply for free prescriptions and dental treatment, the Health in Pregnancy Grant and Child Benefit
2. To save typing you can drag and drop into the calendar from a menu of everyday events like immunizations and swimming lessons to family days out
3. Key events are also automatically linked to printable checklists. For example, as your baby’s due date gets near the organizer will flag a checklist for ‘What to pack in your hospital bag’. There are also checklists for events like ‘Getting ready for weaning’ and ‘Organizing birthday parties’ so making family life easier really is a piece of cake!

To use this great new service sign-up at http://www.Bounty.com

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