For many women, the larger they grow and the further along they get in their pregnancies, the less attractive and sexy they feel. This feeling was made worse by traditional maternity clothes from not so long ago that usually came in the form of a shapeless sack.

Thankfully funky maternity clothes have gone a long way to making women feel sexy and attractive as their unborn babies grow. Gone are the days of poorly made and uncomfortable polyester fibers. Say hello to maternity fashions made out of comfortable fabrics and flattering styles.

According to the dictionary, the slang definition of funky is something “characterized by originality and modishness; unconventional.” This is a perfect way to describe funky maternity clothing of today.

Many modern maternity clothes are fashioned with creative designs. Current styles include loud colors and designs made to help the pregnant women look as fashionable wearing it as she would have before her pregnancy. Funky maternity clothes are usually matched with equally funky and chic body accessories to make a complete and unique look that’s modern and fashionable.

Funky maternity clothes have a distinct appeal for the pregnant woman who wants to look her best. This is because most are designed with captivating colors and styles made to attractively accent the belly. They are meant to send out an outstanding aura that many fashion-conscious women look for. Funky maternity clothes are meant to be fashion provocative just like regular funky clothes on the store shelves for non-pregnant women.

Styles of funky maternity clothes vary. But like funky clothes for non-pregnant women, you can typically see funky maternity clothes in the form of t-shirts, Capri pants, blouses or tops, pants and skirts, and maternity dresses.

Of special consideration to pregnant women is selecting clothes that look good but are also extremely comfortable to wear. This is why a large percentage of funky maternity clothes have superior designs but are also made out of materials like cotton and silk.

If you’re looking for funky maternity clothes, you probably won’t find them in thrift stores. Occasionally you might find them in special consignment shops. But the best places to find these types of maternity clothes are in special maternity shops or boutiques. Many designs or lines of funky maternity clothes have displays in these types of stores to give more choices to pregnant women.

You might also find funky maternity clothes in online stores. Most sites feature impressive pictures so that women get a good idea of what’s available to them in regards to this style of clothes. The nice thing about online stores is that a pregnant woman can shop easily without leaving the comfort of her own home.

There are usually a variety of designs and colors to choose from with funky maternity clothes. Just be prepared to spend a little extra money than you normally would in order to look good.

Feeling Sexy in Trendy Maternity Clothes is a post from: Pregnancy and Childbirth Guide

There was a time when it was perfectly acceptable to discriminate against a woman once she became pregnant. But nowadays this practice is ethically unacceptable and 100 percent illegal.

Pregnancy is protected under the ground of gender. This means a pregnant woman is protected against
Being asked if she is pregnant or plans to have children
Being fired, laid off, or demoted because she is pregnant
Not being allowed to rent an apartment or house because she is pregnant. (This excludes residences that are specifically designated as adult-only or senior-only buildings.)
Being refused access to any type of public service like schools, hospitals, or restaurants, because she is pregnant.

Before a woman is ready to take maternity leave, her pregnancy may prevent her from doing her job. It is the employer’s responsibility to modify the workplace, if possible, so that she can work without harming herself or the baby she carries until she’s ready to take maternity leave. The employer cannot force a woman to take maternity leave earlier than she has planned.

Negative comments or reactions from customers or staff about an employee’s pregnancy cannot be used as a reason to fire her, demote her, lay her off, or force her to take early maternity leave.

In most states employers are legally required to continue paying the health related part of maternity leave benefit premiums if they already pay for employee benefit premiums when their employees are sick.

Naturally the type of maternity leave and maternity benefits vary from employer to employer and from state to state. It’s always best to do your research immediately once you find out you are pregnant and before you tell your employer, so that you know what you are entitled to receive regarding maternity benefits.
Another thing you should do when you find out that you are pregnant is to figure out what type of maternity care you would like to receive, what’s available to you, and what you can afford.
Many states consider primary maternity care a core service that is publicly funded and accessible and available to all women. But each hospital may have their own policies regarding maternity care. If you choose to have your baby in a hospital, be sure to check out the maternity care options available to you at the hospital of your choice.
And be sure to remember that maternity care is not just a matter of the service you’ll need during labor. It also refers to the services that you might need before pregnancy, as well as post-natal care.

Information About Maternity Leave and Maternity Care is a post from: Pregnancy and Childbirth Guide

When a woman is pregnant, her breasts start to get bigger typically around 16 weeks. This is often when your breasts, as they get ready for the baby feeding duties, begin to outgrow your sexy little fashion bras. When your cups begin to runneth over, then it’s time to switch to a maternity bra.

A good support bra when you’re pregnant is essential to help you remain comfortable as well as prevent your breasts from sagging. A maternity bra, or even a nursing bra, will provide you with the level of support that average lingerie just can’t provide.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can simply buy a larger size in the same bra style. Fashion bras aren’t designed to hold the weight of pregnancy-heavy breasts. And you’ll still end up feeling uncomfortable or having to adjust your bra several times a day. A bigger fashion bra may fit over your enlarged breasts, but won’t provide the necessary support.

It’s a good idea to get yourself properly fitted for a maternity bra by a professional. When shopping for a maternity bra, be prepared to make two, maybe even three, trips. You’ll likely need your first pregnancy bra in your second trimester. But your breasts might grow so much that by the end of the second trimester and again near the end of the third trimester you might need a new maternity bra. Resist the temptation to buy your first bras with room to grow. Poorly fitted bras won’t be comfortable or provide you with the support you need.

Toward the end of your pregnancy, you may want to switch from maternity bras to nursing bras that you can use after your baby is born. Doing this may save you some money.

If you don’t want to get fitted by a professional bra fitter, there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure your maternity bra fits you as it should.
For the band size, measure around your body, just under the arms, with a measuring tape. If the measurement is an uneven number, round up to the next even number for the most comfortable fit.
For the cup size, take a bust measurement, using a measuring tape, around the fullest part of your bust. Don’t take a deep breath, just stand as you normally would. Also, don’t hunch over. Be sure the tape is flat against your back and level all around your body.
Take your time trying on maternity bras. It may take time to find one that’s the perfect fit. If the cup covers your breast with nothing spilling out and no band riding up your back, then you have a good fit.
Consider buying special maternity sleeping bras if your breasts are tender and need support at night.
Be sure to buy at least two or three maternity bras so that you can wash them between uses.

Tips for Getting the Best Maternity Bras is a post from: Pregnancy and Childbirth Guide

Maternity clothes can be very expensive. Probably for the simple reason that most styles require quite a bit additional fabric to accommodate your rapidly growing belly. However, there are ways to get affordable maternity clothes without breaking the bank, so to speak, or looking unfashionable and frumpy.

So don’t waste your time purchasing a lot of maternity clothes at top prices. Avoid those ultra-stylish, ultra-chic, and ultra-expensive maternity clothes boutiques and you’ll have more money to spend on your new baby after he or she arrives.

Remember, you’ll only be wearing your maternity clothes for a short period of time. Most women don’t even need them until they’ve reached the fifth or sometimes even the sixth month of pregnancy!

There are places where you can buy affordable maternity clothes, but if you can get some for free, that’s even better! If your husband is larger than you, raid his closet. You might be able to borrow his jeans and shirts to tide you over for a few weeks. His dress shirts might also be roomier and offer a longer length than your own regular shirts.

Ask friends and relatives if they have maternity clothes they can lend you. If you do this, be prepared not to be picky. Some styles may not be what you’d normally wear, but you might be able to modify them with a change of buttons or accessories.

Don’t just limit yourself to borrowing maternity clothes. Plus size fashions, if you have a bone frame that’s large enough, can also work throughout your pregnancy. Plus size shirts work exceptionally well, although plus size pants, if you’re not normally a plus size woman, might fit poorly and be baggy in all the wrong spots.

Consider clothes like stretch pants, baggy shirts, and dresses with no waistline to get you through that awkward stage where you’re too big for your regular clothes, but not big enough to properly fill out maternity clothes.

Few pregnant women wear out their maternity clothes before the end of their pregnancies. So consider visiting thrift stores and consignment shops to see if you can find good deals on affordable maternity clothes.

Sometimes children’s consignment shops will also have a small section filled with maternity clothes.

And always be sure to check out the plus sizes and men’s clothing in any department store to see if you can find a decent garment on sale that you can wear during your pregnancy. For example, if you’re a businesswoman, a men’s sport jacket may be the ideal solution to looking crisp and professional while your tummy expands.

Looking good throughout your pregnancy need not be expensive. With a little imagination and some planning you can get an excellent looking maternity wardrobe on a budget.

How to Find Affordable Maternity Clothes is a post from: Pregnancy and Childbirth Guide

Becoming a mother is one of the most exciting journeys a woman can take. There is a lot of joy that comes with expecting a new addition the family. And throughout this joy and excitement a woman must adjust to her changing body.

It’s usually a matter of weeks before your clothing will get too tight and you must shift your wardrobe to maternity clothing.

Keeping up with your changing shape and finding maternity clothing that fits can be a real challenge and sometimes a real financial drain. But with a little know-how and planning you can have a wardrobe that will work with you throughout your entire pregnancy.

There are several things to keep in mind when buying maternity clothing.

Buy the staples. This means when invest in a good pair of maternity jeans. Jeans go with many different tops and will help you not to have to purchase too many other bottoms.
All the bottoms in your maternity wardrobe should have adjustable drawstring or elastic waists that can expand with you.
When buying maternity clothing, remember that comfort should be a big factor. Pregnancy is uncomfortable enough without making your life miserable with clothes that don’t fit comfortably.
Just because you should focus on comfortable maternity clothing doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style and walk around in muumuus for your entire pregnancy. Styles of maternity clothing have come a long way and there are many chic and comfortable pieces available.
Begin buying your maternity clothing only when your current clothes become uncomfortably tight. By waiting you’ll get a better idea of how you’ll look in the clothes with a belly.
Don’t depend exclusively on the pillows in retail stores to tell you how certain clothes will fit as you get bigger. They don’t take into account that most pregnant women get more than just a big belly; they gain weight all over.
Don’t forget to make sure all the tops in your maternity clothing selections have some room for growth in the chest. You’re going to expand there too.
Buy a few pieces of maternity clothing at a time. You’ll find that near the end of your pregnancy, you might not be able to fit as comfortably the clothes you could fit into at the beginning of your pregnancy.
If you want to know the types of maternity clothing styles available without running around to all sorts of stores, use the Internet to your advantage. Visit several maternity clothing Web sites to get an idea of what’s available. You can even order online, and sometimes these Web stores have great clearance sections.

Tips for Buying Maternity Clothing is a post from: Pregnancy and Childbirth Guide

Did you know that approximately 13 percent of all pregnant women in the United States are without maternity insurance? This means that a large percentage of women go without prenatal care until the second or third trimester.

The reason why so many women go without maternity insurance is either they can’t find a health insurance that will cover pregnancy, or they simply can’t afford it.

A company called Affordable Health Care Options has what’s called the Maternity Card Program that can be of great benefit to pregnant women. The Maternity Card can slash costs of pre- and post-natal care by up to 60 percent.

Women who choose to get the Maternity Card can focus more on the wonderful and exciting experience of having a baby, instead of worrying about not having maternity insurance and how the lack of insurance will make the costs of having a baby unbearable.

Affordable Health Care Options realizes that many women have limited financial option when they’re already pregnant. During this time it can also be easy to become frustrated and confused with mountains of paperwork and confusing legal jargon that some basic health insurances are known for. With many health insurances maternity insurance is usually a limited options when a woman is actually pregnant.

Maternity Card is designed to provide women with full maternity coverage even if they are already pregnant. It covers the following maternity services:

• Doctor Visits
• Hospital Stays
• Lab Work
• Sonograms
• 24 Hour Counseling
• 24 Hour Nurse Hotline
• Anesthesiologist
• Pre Natal Vitamins
• Newborn Tests and checkups
• Immunizations
• Prescription Drugs

Maternity card is meant for uninsured women who are already pregnant and women who have health insurance, but no maternity insurance coverage.
There are many group insurance plans provided by companies that do provide maternity insurance coverage, but there’s often a catch. With a lot of plans women need to wait a period of three months to one year before the clause becomes effective.
Medicaid sometimes offers some maternity insurance benefits, but usually only for low- income groups. In California there is a special plan for pregnant women called Medi-cal. To qualify for Medi-cal maternity insurance a woman needs to be less than seven months pregnant and have lived in California for the past six months. Necessary expenses of pre-natal care and medical care for 60 days postpartum are covered. Women contribute two percent of their gross family income to help pay for the costs.
If you don’t qualify for the other types of maternity insurance available and would like to get some good insurance fill out the maternity card information page at http://www.maternitycard.net/enrollt.asp to get more information.

Understanding Maternity Insurance is a post from: Pregnancy and Childbirth Guide

The United States is the only industrialized country besides Australia that doesn’t provide paid maternity leave for new mothers nationally.

According to a Harvard University study of 168 nations, 163 had some form of paid maternity leave. This means that the United States in the company of Lesotho, Papua New Guinea and Swaziland when it comes to providing paid leave for pregnant women.

No one really knows why this is the case, although some professors and experts claim that the difference in European and American feminist movement goals could have contributed to the lack of paid maternity leave for mothers in the United States.

In Europe the early feminists emphasized special treatment for mothers, including maternity leave. American early feminists downplayed motherhood, wanted equal rights for women, and no special treatment.

There has been some effort put into introducing paid maternity leave in the United States. The Clinton administration wanted to let states use unemployment fund to supply paid maternity leaves. But opposition from business groups resulted in this plan being shot down by the Bush administration. Businesses argued that they’d have to increase their contributions to state unemployment funds.

In 2004 California introduced a family leave (meaning either paternity or maternity leave) with around 50 percent pay for six weeks. The money came from a fund paid into by employees, not employers.

Currently there are five states – California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island – that have temporary disability programs that require employers to pay benefits if the pregnancy is defined as a disability by a doctor.

Almost every state allows a woman to have unpaid maternity leave. You’ll qualify for unpaid leave if you:

Work for the federal government, a state or local government, or any company that has 50 or more employees working within 75 miles of your workplace
Have worked for your employer for at least 12 months and for at least 1,250 hours during the previous year (an average of 25 hours per week for 50 weeks).

Employers are not required to keep your job open for you when you return if you’re in the highest-paid 10 percent of wage earners in your company and if your employer can show that your absence would cause substantial economic harm to the organization.

Unpaid maternity leave can be used in any way you want during your pregnancy and up to a year after your child is born. This means you can take it all at once or spread it out over your child’s first year by reducing your normal weekly or daily work schedule, if your employer agrees.

Federal guidelines require you to request leave at least 30 days before you plan to take it. But it’s a good idea to let your boss know you’re pregnant well before that.

The Basics About Maternity Leave is a post from: Pregnancy and Childbirth Guide

Congratulations on your pregnancy! This is a happy time in your life that only lasts a short while even though some days may seem like an eternity. So why not make permanent memories and take advantage of your ripe, pregnant silhouette with some beautifully done maternity portraits?

Done properly, professional maternity portraits will create a special memory for you and your baby.

To make sure you have the best pregnancy picture possible, you need to make sure you select the right photographer. You’ll want to choose a pro who makes you feel comfortable. This is especially important since most maternity portraits are done in the nude or semi-nude to get the best shot of your belly. If you’re uncomfortable with your photographer, it’ll show up in your pictures.

A photographer is only as good as his or her past work. Make sure you see portfolios so that you can determine if the photographer’s style matches your own. Also ask your photographer what a typical maternity portrait session involves. Some prefer to work in their studios; others are willing to come to your home.

Find out how long the session will last so that you can set aside an appropriate amount of time. Your photo session should be quiet and relaxing, and you don’t want to be worrying about what you need to do next. Any type of tension will show up in your photos.

Naturally pricing is always an important consideration. Don’t be afraid to ask for specifics. Find out what the pricing includes. Let your photographer know exactly what you want so that you will get the type of maternity portraits you want.

When dressing to go to the actual session you want to avoid any type of clothing that will leave a mark or indentation on your skin. This usually means no bra, underwear, or anything elastic around your belly. If your photographer will come to your house, this can be done fairly easily.

Dressing might be more of a challenge if the photographer prefers to work in a studio. You can always wear a loosely fitting dress with no bra or underwear and then make sure you don’t schedule any errands until you’ve had a chance to go home and put on your undergarments.

If you want to wear a favorite robe, color, or outfit in your maternity portrait, be sure to let your photographer know. He or she can’t give you what you want if you don’t communicate!

As far as hair and make-up is concerned, that’s up to your personal preferences. You can get your make-up and professionally done for the photo. But sometimes wearing your hair and make-up in a style that you normally wear will make your maternity portraits look more real and natural.

Above all, relax and have fun.

Tips for Perfect Maternity Portraits is a post from: Pregnancy and Childbirth Guide

Finding appropriate maternity wear doesn’t have to be a chore. It can actually be just as fun as shopping for any other types of clothing. But there are a few things that you can do to make the process of shopping for maternity wear a whole lot more enjoyable and save yourself some money.

Before you even begin shopping, set aside 60 minutes to help you find maternity wear for less. The hour (give or take) that you spend on this will save you aggravation and money in the long run. So take your time. Be honest with yourself. And above all, be realistic.

Determine what you need. You’ll find that when shopping for maternity wear what you need and want will be different, just like your needs and wants will be different when shopping for your regular clothes. Keep in mind that the impulsive want purchase of maternity apparel is much more costly than the impulsive purchase of regular clothes because you’ll only wear maternity clothes for a short period of time.
Take an inventory of your closet to see what clothes you already have. Is there anything that you can make do with until mid-pregnancy? Stretch pants or even your regular pants with elastic waists can often be worn well into your pregnancy.
Look through your closet to see if any of the clothes you’ve inventoried can be worn through your entire pregnancy. Things like oversized t-shirts work well throughout your whole pregnancy, even if you just wear them while lounging around at home.
Raid your husband’s (or partner’s) closet for bigger shirts and sweaters.
Ask friends and relatives if you can borrow any of their maternity wear.
Once you’ve completed steps one through five, you’ll have a small selection of maternity wear you can put on throughout your pregnancy. Now you need to reevaluate what you still need.
Based on what you still need, determine how much money you have to spend. Be realistic and practical. And remember that maternity clothes usually cost more than regular clothes.
Save some money on the maternity wear you still need by visiting garage sales, second hand stores, consignment stores, and even online classified ads for gently used maternity clothing.
Again, reevaluate what you still really need. You’ll probably still have a few requirements for your wardrobe. Don’t waste money on items such as maternity underwear since you can usually get away with a larger size of your regular style.
Take the time to comparison shop. Comparison shopping is the only way that you’ll get the best deals on your maternity wardrobe. Check local stores, catalogues, and online.

10 Steps to Selecting Maternity Wear is a post from: Pregnancy and Childbirth Guide

Mimi Maternity is a clothing store that promises to provide nice clothing for the “fashion-conscious mother-to-be.”

The company provides all sorts of great maternity clothing styles such as denims, career collections, sweaters, active wear, leggings, outerwear, dresses, special occasion outfits, intimate apparel, swimwear, tops and tees, casual skirts, and casual bottoms. Mimi Maternity also has a line of nursing clothing.

For the pregnant woman who likes to do Yoga, the store also has an extensive yoga collection. The yoga collection includes yoga v pants, crop tanks, and yoga tops with built in shelf bras. Although the tops feature built-in shelf bras, you may still want to wear a sports bra underneath your top to help support your larger-than-normal breasts.

Mimi Maternity also offers a nice selection of yoga accessories such as yoga exercise DVDs for pregnant women, yoga mats, yoga straps, and balancing balls.

Mimi Maternity bottoms come in seven belly styles:

No belly
Under belly
Mid-belly
All-around belly
Classic belly
Miracle belly
Pull on belly

No belly styles are made to resemble your pre-pregnancy pants. They are constructed with a waistband and a zip fly, but the back is elastic for stretch and comfort. They’re a great style for transitioning into and out of pregnancy.

Under belly styles feature a small cotton spandex panel with a wide elastic band for maximum comfort. These styles are designed to fit under your belly and are a great style for transitioning into and out of pregnancy.

Mid belly styles also have a cotton spandex panel that’s a little larger than the under belly styles. Mid belly styles have a drawstring in the cotton panel to allow for an adjustable waist. The style is meant to sit at or below the belly button and works well throughout your entire pregnancy.

All-around belly styles have a large cotton spandex belly that sits above the belly button for maximum comfort. The cotton belly wraps around your entire waist. This style is great for your entire pregnancy, but may be the most comfortable to wear during your third trimester.

Mimi Maternity’s classic belly styles are like traditional maternity styles with a full coverage cotton spandex belly in the front that sits above the belly button. This style offers great support and coverage. Many women prefer this style towards the end of their pregnancies.

Miracle belly styles feature a constructed waist with zip fly and a side panel that unzips for two more inches of growth. Mimi Maternity suggests you wear this style as you transition in and out of your pregnancy.

The final belly style provided by Mimi Maternity is the pull on belly style that the company suggests you wear full-term for optimal comfort. The pull on belly style has an elastic waist with drawstring pull or a fold over waistband created for the perfect fit. This design is meant to sit at or above the belly button.

What is Mimi Maternity? is a post from: Pregnancy and Childbirth Guide