Food Groups and Servings

Food Group: Whole grains and Bread

Recommended Servings per day: 6-11

What is one serving?: 1 slice of bread or 1 cup of dry cereal

Whole grains and Bread - Stilettos2Strollers.Com

Food Group: Vegetables

Recommended Servings per day: 3-5

What is one serving?: 1 cup of vegetables (raw or cooked)

Vegetables - Stilettos2Strollers.Com

Food Group: Fruits

Recommended Servings per day: 2-4

What is one serving?: 1 orange, 1 banana, 1 cup of 100% Juice (just watch out for sugars)

Fruits - Stilettos2Strollers.Com

Food Group: Milk and Dairy

Recommended Servings per day: 4-6

What is one serving?: 1 cup of milk

Milk and Dairy - Stilettos2Strollers.Com

Food Group: Protein

Recommended Servings per day: 3-4

What is one serving?: 1 ounce of meat

Protein - Stilettos2Strollers.Com

Food Group: Fats and Sweets

Recommended Servings per day: Eat sparingly. These contain very high in sugar and also high calorie intake.

Water is also very important in a pregnant woman’s diet. Try and drink at least 8 glasses of water a day!

Avoid Accutane during Pregnancy!!!!

The most popular treatment for severe acne is known as Accutane. It is a medication that is taken orally to improve blemishes and major break outs. Most dermatologists will make you take a pregnancy test even before prescribing you this medication because of the high risks for birth defects. The scariest part of it all is the most birth defects are caused in the early weeks of pregnancy when most women haven’t even missed their period, let alone know that they are pregnant. Just a small dosage as short as a couple days taken it highly increase your risks of birth defects while pregnant. There is a new program called “IPLEDGE”, this is basically a contract saying you will not get pregnant while you are on this medication which helps their liability because the risks are so severe. The doctors will make you agree to take two different forms of birth control, which is usually the pill or ring, and condoms. Okay, so you have been taking Accutane and just found out your pregnant? Contact your doctor as soon as possible so they can further assist you with going over the risks and take further tests to be clear from those risks. Bottem line – AVOID ACCUTANE IF YOU ARE PREGNANT OR PLAN ON BEING PREGNANT IN THE NEAR FUTURE!

Avoid Accutane during Pregnancy - Stilettos2Strollers.Com

Clarisonic – Skin Care System

I never had much skin problems, everything was pretty manageable that was until I became pregnant. In my first trimester of pregnancy my face broke out completely. Not to mention, I was also getting married within the same month! Both of my cheeks not only broke out but it was also very red. Being pregnant, you are really limited on what types of skin care you use and how to cure acne. I first bought a whole new Clinique set (which was approved by my doctor first), it didn’t hurt my face any but it definitely didn’t have the effect I needed to feel confident again. My girlfriend, who was pregnant as well, is a skin specialist. She told me her girlfriend bought her a tool called “Clarisonic” that just rejuvenated her face. She described it as a big tooth brush made for your face (it is made by the same company as Sonicare, and if you use Sonicare for your toothbrush you know that they make awesome products). Clarisonic is a little spendy, it usually retails for about $195. At first there was no way I was going to spend that much money on a “skin toothbrush”. I gave it a week or two and came to realize how unpretty I felt with my situation and I was willing to go the drastic measure on spending that $195. I went to Sephora, purchased it, went home and charged it that night. The next morning I used it for the first time and my face felt SO SOFT! I was impressed but of course didn’t see any miracles after my first wash. I constantly used it twice a day for about a week and noticed I didn’t have one single new break out since I started using it. Then a few days after that, my spots actually started clearing up. I have been using it for about two months now and proud to say I have no more breakouts, all that’s left is my scarring (I picked…oops!).

Even if you don’t have blemish problems I would recommend giving it a try, they have a 30 day trial I believe, so if you end up not liking it you can always send it back. Lately I have been going for facial treatments at a few different spas to help my scarring, and every single one uses Clarisonic during their professional facial. The only thing I would avoid is using the cleansers that come with it. I have never tried it but I have heard the cleansers are not as helpful.

Clarisonic Skin Care System

• 6 times more makeup removal
• Leaves skin feeling and looking younger and smoother
• Cleanses so well that products absorb better
• Gentle enough for twice daily use
• Helps reduce oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes
• Helps reduce the appearance of visible pores
• Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

Clarisonic Skin Care System - Stilettos2Strollers.Com

The best maternity pillow- Boppy- “Total Body Pillow”

A lot of pregnant women, especially in their third trimester have a really hard getting comfortable when they are trying to sleep. Some people tend to think they have lack of sleep because how anxious they are waiting for baby to come, or some because their over stretched stomach can’t seem to find a place to fit on a flat bed. With this pregnancy pillow it is made for full support for you and your baby. No more moving around, rolling side to side, waking up your husband in the middle of the night. This pillow is designed for two different things. To go to sleep, resting your head and in between your legs. OR propped up or reclined for reading and relaxing. Every woman I have talked to, who either was pregnant or is currently pregnant states that the pillow was their best investment through out their whole pregnancy. A co-worker of mine referred it to me. Her daughter bought it over a year and a half ago for her second pregnancy and she still sleeps with it every night. The best place to buy this at is Costco.

Boppy Total Comfort Bundle - Stilletos2Strollers.com

Vicki Iovine “Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy”

“The Girlfriend’s Guide” is the best book I can recommends for first time mothers. Iovine covers everything from fears, myths and concerns of any new pregnant woman.  Her and her girlfriends came together to develop the ups and downs of carrying your little one, so it covers several of women’s different experiences they had while pregnant so you have a good variety of stories to relate to. She does a very good job walking through every step of pregnancy without boring you with medical terms that your OBGYN learned from. You will learn actually why it’s important to LIKE your doctor, if exercising during pregnancy really helps, maternity fashion, your physical changes and also covers “Pregnancy Insanity”.  Make sure you purchase the second edition since the first edition was made in 1995. Things have changed since then! This is  a great read and hard to put down.

Vicki Iovine "Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy" Stilettos2Strollers.com

Jenny McCarthy “Belly Laughs”

This is one of my favorite books I have read period. I’ve always admired Jenny McCarthy but I wasn’t expecting such a light hearted experienced pregnancy book out of her. This is not your doctor’s book so don’t rely on it for medical advice. But in my pregnant journey so far, I’d have to say I have learned a lot more from “personal experience” books compared to the medical A-Z pregnancy books. She doesn’t sensor ANYTHING but I think us prego’s deserve to hear the truth – we will find out sooner or later and aren’t we supposed to know what to expect? It is very easy to relate with her experiences. I was able to read this book within an hour and a half so it’s a pretty short read but definitely recommended. Her chapters are short and easy to read. I will refer all my fellow pregnant girlfriends to this book, but keep my own copy. I will be going back to her book through out my pregnancy. I can’t wait t read the next book “Baby Laughs”.

Jenny McCarthy- "Belly Laughs" - Stilettos2Strollers.com