Unexpected double trouble...

A good friend of mine and her husband have a gorgeous little three year-old girl, and having always dreamed of two children, decided they were ready to try for another.

Her husband, who luckily still has a good job in a well known bank, got to work converting the home office into a second baby bedroom, and she continued her part-time job as a French teacher.

When her doctor finally confirmed her pregnancy, she was thrilled ! Great news…or was it?

Within minutes her smile fell from her face as the doctor told her she was expecting twins! She was filled with misery as her picture-perfect life of two children in her meticulously prepared home dissolved, and panic if how to cope set in.

She asked her doctor how this could have happened, as there was no family history of twins on either side. She was taken aback when he said that having a baby after 30 considerably increases the chances.....she shrieked back, ' but I'm only 32!! '

So, after a few months of getting used to preparing for a life with three kids and an un-planned family of five instead of four, she was delighted to discover she is having two little girls.

She is now enjoying her pregnancy, and excitedly imagining future life with her trio of girls happily combing each others’ hair!

For anyone else who may be in a similar predicament, click here for 20 reasons why it's great to have twins!

Posted by Vanessa, mama-la-mode team

Babies on schedule...

Whilst scheduling a birth might be a convenience for the rich and famous, for some couples it is a real and valid decision.

If reports are correct it would seem as though Coleen Rooney who is 3 months pregnant, has been particularly organized with her birth plan. Rumours are circling that Coleen has already decided the date she will give birth by cesarean section later this year. The supposed reason for this choice is that her expected delivery date is thought to clash with the England vs Ukraine World Cup qualifier which her husband Wayne Rooney is assumed to be playing in, thus affecting Wayne Rooney’s chance to be present at the birth of his first child.

I’m sure many daddys-to-be secretly wish their partner would be so courteous as to arrange their birth schedule around the football season! However in the bigger picture, for many women their partners’ career does present an obstacle when it comes to the impending birth of their child.

There will be many expectant mothers whose partners are in the military with an upcoming tour of duty, for whom this choice is somewhat familiar. Naturally they would prefer their partner to be there for the birth before they are deployed, and therefore scheduling the birth is far more of a necessity than a luxury.

Are planned births a contrived attempt to control fate, or is this an acceptable response to managing a family within our ever increasingly busy working lives?

Posted by Shelly, mama-la-mode team

compression depression...

For first time mothers, knowing what is right or wrong for the baby is a constant debate. However, when it comes to your bump and maternity wardrobe the general rule is, if it feels comfortable, then it is safe.

Question: Is it ok to wear tights during pregnancy? ....the answer is yes, as long as they are not restrictive or too tight. Daphne Metland, the medical writer and author of pregnancy bible 'Expecting' says, 'It is safe to wear maternity tights all the way through your pregnancy. However, as tights are made of synthetic fabric they can make you sweat more and feel uncomfortable, so it is important to choose tights with plenty of cotton content. '

Our maternity tights by Trasparenze are made from fine Italian yarn, and feature a gently supportive cotton body which sits snugly over your bump. Available in Black in 20, 60, or 70 denier, and Nude in 20 denier, these are maternity wardrobe staples which due to popular demand will be available in more colours and weights for Autumn '09!

Similarly Maternity Spanx are also perfectly safe to wear, as long as they are maternity specific. As your pregnancy enlarges there is strain placed on the back, bladder abdominal muscles and pelvic floor. Abdominal support garments can decrease pressure on the spine and pelvic floor and many women report a decrease on low back pain, abdominal pain and bladder problems.
So as well as smoothing contours for vanity's sake, support underwear can actually help relieve muscle strain and discomfort!

Conclusion: Any two-in-one that helps an evening in heels whilst pregnant gets our vote!

Maternity Jeans Guide

Finding the perfect fit maternity jeans can be daunting, but with the widest online selection of designer maternity jeans, we have pooled our expertise and tips on finding the right style for you and your bump:


A good pair of jeans is an essential maternity investment as you are likely to wear them at least 5 days out of 7, so it is important to buy the right pair for you and your shape.

First you need to get to grips with the different ‘bump-band’ options available for maternity. It is really down to the individuals shape and size as to which is more comfortable, and this diagram (below) shows the difference between them, and which brands feature which band.


Stretchy Bandeau waistband = Paige Premium Denim & Citizens of Humanity


Under bump waistband = James Jeans
Elastic Side Panels = J – Brand


We normally advise to buy one size up from your pre-pregnancy size for a pair to see you through your pregnancy, however it totally depends on how much you have expanded around the middle, the thighs, and which style of bump band you are looking at. All our jeans are 34inches long on the inside leg.

Next, choose which leg you’re looking for; straight leg, boot-cut, skinny, flare, and cropped are the classic legs that we carry all year round, and they all come in various different washes, to enable you to choose smart, casual or evening denim styles.

• Fashionista's firm favourites are ‘skinny jeans’ which are one of our best selling styles, and work with flats, heels or tucked into boots. Our favourites are the Willow skinny’s from Paige premium denim, which along with being a rich dark Indigo hue, have a super comfortable higher than normal bump band, designed to fit snugly up over your bump.

• Kate Moss’s favourite denim label J-Brand also have gorgeous skinny maternity jeans which feature stretchy elastic inserts in the waistband, meaning once on, you can hardly tell they are maternity jeans ! Another high fashion jean made famous by Ms Moss are J-Brand’s Lovestory jeans – so popular they have been made into maternity jeans! A fabulous wide-leg flare they are right on trend come winter or summer.
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• Those looking for trusty classic boot-cuts, there is plenty of choice now between brands washes and pocket detail. Our best selling styles at mama-la-mode have to be the Laurel Canyon by Paige Premium Denim which we also have all year round in white, and the Faye Wide Leg by Citizens of Humanity along with the Kelly Boot Cut. A boot-cut is always more flattering for those with larger hips, and will wear well as an everyday jean – you really cannot go wrong with any of these styles.


• A straight leg is perfect for evening and teaming with heels for an elegant elongated look; the Melrose by Paige are a lovely smart dark blue, and also come in white. A black pair of straight leg jeans for work or evening will always be super flattering, and we love the classic Tom’s by James Jeans.
  
• Finally, Cropped jeans are absolutely ideal for summer or that all important holiday before the baby comes: a complete summer staple in white and well worth investing in to help you feel and look your best in hotter months, we advise the White Cooper Crops by James or for a blue denim, the Laurel Canyon crops by Paige which are the cropped version of our best selling Laurel Canyon Boot-cut jeans.

Hoping this is helpful, and you can always ring or email our customer care team for advice as we're all here to help !

Easter Bunnies

Three things to do this Easter :

• Order a Hot-Cross-Bun-Butter Pudding from Forman & Field for two-in-one indulgence.
• Order an irresistible tray of Easter Cupcakes from the Beverly Hills Bakery - mini bite sized wonders to share, or gobble all to yourself !
• Book in for a soothing session at Babyglow Maternity Spa to ensure a calm, glowing & serene aura for Easter.
• If you can't make it to the spa, then bring the spa to you by ordering the all new Cowshed Udderly Gorgeous Organic range for mother & baby.

Wishing you and your families a Happy Easter !