If you can, the answer is yes

As a pregnant woman, you probably know that smoking is not good for your growing baby and are ready to quit. However, quitting is harder than it sounds, so many pregnant woman wonder what the best way to quit smoking is and whether cold turkey is safe for them and their infant.

The best way to quit is different for everyone

The best way to quit smoking is a way that works for you, and works as soon as possible.

If you can quit cold turkey, that would be the ideal choice because it stops the flow of nicotine and other toxins into the baby’s system as soon as possible. Although you may experience side effects and irritability, the baby will not, so it is not harmful to him or her.

Unless you are such a heavy smoker that you go into severe withdrawals such as seizures, cold turkey is the best option as long as you can do it successfully.

When going cold turkey is too hard

For many smokers, quitting cold turkey is simply too difficult. They are unsuccessful without other means of support during the challenging process of stopping. For these women, it is important to consult your doctor before using any stop-smoking aid.

Although medications and nicotine replacement therapies are safe for adults, they may have side effects that can be dangerous to your baby. As long as your doctor knows that you are a smoker and trying to quit, he or she can help you make the best and safest decision to help you stop smoking and have a healthier pregnancy.

Mom-Approved “Must Have” Sleep Aid

We just heard back from one of our blogger friends at the Kindred Spirit Mommy with a review of the Bosom Baby Nursing Pillow.  Lindsey is pregnant – and moms that actually use these products often provide the best feedback.

Spoken like a truly pregnant mom, Lindsey says that having a pillow between the knees doesn’t just make sleeping more enjoyable – it’s necessary to make sleep POSSIBLE!  And she considers herself a new convert to those who love sleeping with Bosom Baby:

“My first pregnancy I used several pillows in an attempt to stay comfortable, but this time I have one of Luna Lullaby’s Bosom Baby nursing/maternity pillows and I love it!  I use it in bed between my legs at night and during the day it resides on the couch.  I’m actually uncomfortable sitting on the couch without it.  I have even considered dragging it with me to friends’ houses.  At a small get-together we had at a friend’s house the other night I wished I had it while sitting on their couch.  I just may start bringing it with me everywhere.”

> Read the full review from Lindsey at Kindred Spirit Mommy

Congrats to this week’s winner!

Congratulations to Jill from North Carolina, the winner of a free Bosom Baby pillow as part of the Kindred Spirit Mommy contest!  We’ll be sending your gift out soon just in time to enjoy for the holidays!

Bigger and better than expected

This week we received another review back from a blogger reviewing one of our products. And this time it was the team at Macaroni Kid, a popular mom blog from York PA, that tested out our Soothing Swaddle Blanket.

We’re pleased to report that they were especially impressed with the size of the blankets – which are over 3 feet long and much longer than many competitor blankets.  And even though they had experience with swaddling their children, they found great value in the instructional DVD that comes with the 3 packs.

Here’s a sample from their review:

That was always a problem that I had with my other swaddling blankets, they never seemed big enough. Along with these extra large blankets comes a DVD with step-by-step demos on how to swaddle your baby. Even after having a child and learning how to swaddle her, I found this helpful for future use and with the larger blankets I know it will be much easier!

> Read the full review from Macaroni Kid

These days, Luna Lullaby is getting more and more requests from Canada to review our products.  And as eager as we are to get them into the hands of parents everywhere, we sent the Zebra nursing pillow to our friends at Mommy Time Out for a product review.

Use for sleeping or twins

One of the things Mommy Time Out mentioned in their blog was how much they loved the oversized shape of the pillow and what that means for parents:

“…I wanted to curl up with it and go right to sleep.  I’m not even pregnant and I’ve used it to sleep.  Breastfeeding mommies can use the pillow to allow for comfortable feeding. It is also great if you are really lucky to be nursing twins!…”

> Read the full review at Mommy Time Out

Enter to Win a Free Blanket

So for those of you who like a little something FREE, jump on over to Mommy Time Out and check out the contest rules and take a chance at winning a free nursing pillow of your choice!

> Enter to Win!

Almost every mother is concerned about having a healthy pregnancy, even if she was never concerned about being healthy before she became pregnant. Here are five tips to having a healthier pregnancy that will help both you and your growing baby during this exciting time.

5 tips for a healthy pregnancy

1. Get started before you get pregnant. The best way to have a healthy pregnancy is to plan ahead, whether it is starting an exercise regimen or eating a more balanced diet.
2. Take a prenatal vitamin with folic acid. Your normal vitamin probably doesn’t have all the vitamins you and your baby will need while your pregnant, so starting on a prenatal vitamin as soon as you start trying to conceive will ensure that your baby has all those nutrients from the first day of development. Plus, these vitamins may help with fertility.
3. Rest up. Get at least eight hours of sleep each day. If you are having trouble sleeping at night, take afternoon naps to get the rest you need.
4. Exercise daily. If not daily, then as many days a week as you can manage. The workouts should not be intense or exhausting – try a workout class aimed at pregnant women or just walk for 20-30 minutes a day.
5. Avoid dangerous toxins. Don’t drink while you’re pregnant and if you are a smoker, this is a great time to quit. Avoid areas where others are smoking as second hand smoke is also detrimental to both mother and child.

What every mother wants

Healthy moms and healthy pregnancies are the best way to get a healthy baby, so having a healthy pregnancy is something that is important to everyone during this incredibly exciting time in your life. Here are some ideas to help you have the healthiest pregnancy possible!

Educate yourself

The best thing you can do is to learn as much as possible about what is happening and what to expect during your pregnancy, childbirth, and infancy. Once you have this information, you will be able to discern between normal changes and ones that should be discussed with your health care professional. You can read books, check out websites (being careful to stick to reliable sources), and ask your doctor for advice and information to add to your knowledge base.

Good habits

Another way to stay healthy during this time is to establish habits that will help you be healthy and safe after your pregnancy as well. Remember to wear your seat belt and exercise regularly – these are things you know you should have been doing anyway, but with the baby growing inside of you, you have a better reason than ever to take especially good care of yourself.

Better diet

Eat a varied diet while you are expecting with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. This will help you get the nutrients both you and the baby need and the fiber in these foods will alleviate constipation issues that are common among pregnant women. Also, drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily.

What’s the real story?

With over half of Americans classified as overweight, the concerns about weight gain and pregnancy are not unfounded. Although it may not be something you have considered before, many women ask their doctors if it is safe to diet while they are pregnant.

Gaining weight is ok?

For women who are already overweight, the idea of putting on thirty or more pounds seems counter productive and perhaps even unhealthy. It is important to know it is not safe for women who are pregnant to try to lose weight by restricting their caloric intake because your body needs nutrients to help your baby develop properly and your body to adjust to the demands placed upon it during pregnancy.

General guidelines you can learn

However, if you are overweight and pregnant, the amount of weight that you should gain during a normal pregnancy is different than the amount that a woman who is at a healthy weight should gain. Doctors use a patient’s body mass index, or BMI, to determine whether they are at a healthy weight (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9), overweight (BMI between 25 and 29.9), or obese (BMI over 30). This scale is based on height, weight, and gender to give an accurate assessment.

Based on this number, pregnant women should aim for the following amount of weight gain while pregnant:

• Healthy weight: Between 25 and 35 pounds
• Overweight: between 15 and 25 pounds
• Obese: Between 11 and 20 pounds

Focus on health not dieting

Even if you are overweight or obese, pregnancy is not the time for a diet. Take this time to establish a healthy way of eating and you will be in a better position as a new mother to lose weight, be healthier, and have more energy.

How to tell if it’s menstruation or pregnancy

When you are trying to conceive, each month is a rollercoaster of hope and excitement, often characterized by a newfound awareness of the changes that occur in your body over the course each month. You may notice cramping and spotting and wonder if these symptoms are the first signs that you are pregnant.

While cramping and spotting can simply be indications that you are about to start menstruating, they can also be signs that you are pregnant!

Some facts to know:

• Cramping often occurs as the egg moves from the ovaries into the fallopian tubes and finally to the uterus. In a woman who is not pregnant, this process ends with menstruation, when both the egg and the uterine lining are shed. However, if you are pregnant, the movement of your fertilized egg along the same path may trigger these cramps.
• Spotting can also be an early sign of pregnancy. Implantation bleeding is often confused for spotting and occurs when a fertilized egg implants into the wall of the uterus where it will begin developing as a fetus. This bleeding is generally earlier than you would experience spotting normally during your period, doesn’t last as long, and is lighter in color.

Still unsure? Take a test or call your doctor

Early signs of pregnancy can be subtle, so if you are wondering if you might be pregnant, the best thing to do is take a pregnancy test. Today’s tests are more accurate than ever and can successfully detect pregnancy in many women before they even miss a period!