Postpartum Depression Miracle Cure now available with 100% money back guarantee

The other day I was surprised to find that the Postpartum Depression Miracle Cure is available with a 100% money back guarantee. 

That, in itself, speaks volumes about the effectiveness of this amazing remedy. Surely it must have proved so successful that the manufacturers are ready to offer a risk-free trial period to new mothers suffering from postpartum depression. You can ask for a full refund – not a part or installment-based refund – within 60 days of purchasing your supplement.

Actually, there seems to be nothing better than the Postpartum Depression Miracle Cure in the market for new mothers right now. Trying harmful drugs like anti-depressants and muscle-relaxants is not a great idea for new mothers who are breastfeeding their babies. Holistic cures come with no side effects and give you a peace of mind not guaranteed with regular prescription drugs. Some doctors also suggest psychiatric therapy sessions but you just might not need them if you try the Postpartum Depression Miracle Cure.

When combined with nutrition, diet and sleep changes, Postpartum Depression Miracle Cure is a potentially successful treatment for postpartum depression.

Several women have tried the remedy with great success. Postpartum depression is a trying problem in itself. Amidst all the household duties, responsibilities of raising the baby and looking after yourself, postpartum depression could be devastating. You would only worsen matters by resorting to drugs with side-effects. Holistic cures like the Postpartum Depression Miracle Cure is ideal for all such situations. And, not just treat postpartum depression, you could prevent it occurring at all when you decide to become a mother next time.

Say goodbye to 'baby blues', regain enthusiasm, energy and continue to feel the joy of being a mother – every single day – with the Postpartum Depression Miracle Cure. You have nothing to lose with their risk-free money back guarantee offer!

The miracle that changed my life

I had no need for it at that time. I had visited my cousin in New Jersey. She had just had a baby. It was on her kitchen shelf that I found the 'concoction' – or so I scoffed. Whoever could get depressed after having a baby wasn't in their right mind to have a baby in the first place.

Surely, bringing a bundle of joy into the world is a matchless experience. You prepare so long for it and you pray so fervently  that everything should go well. So when all things do go well and this brand new person is right there in your family – how can possibly anybody in their right mind be depressed.

At least that's what I was sure about till it happened first hand. Doctors have a logical reason. Your hormones go through a roller coaster trip when having a baby. It is actually normal to get feelings of acute depression after having a baby. You don't feel like eating anything. You don't manage to sleep well. You feel frustrated and sometimes don't even want to look at your own baby. That's got nothing to do with the hard work that goes into looking after the baby. Surprisingly, all your doctor can ever give you is a muscle relaxant or anti-depressant. Would you like to use those drugs while breastfeeding your baby?

I didn't feel comfortable and no mother would be comfortable with all those drugs. That's when I happened to call my cousin and discuss the Postpartum Depression Miracle that I had seen in her house so many years back! Yes, it worked miracles for me. I was back to feeling good about myself, and of course, about the baby. I think all mothers should give the Postpartum Depression Miracle a try – particularly because postpartum depression, if untreated, can turn into something worse like psychosis.

Drop the drugs, try the healthier cure for postpartum depression

Have you seen what Katherine Smith – nutrition specialist, health consultant, medical researcher and author of Postpartum Depression Miracle – has to say about the Postpartum Depression Miracle Cure?


To begin with, you can try the natural cure for a risk-free 60 days! She says, the success of this natural cure has been 100 per cent. A total of 342 women tried it in a span of one year and successfully avoided or overcame postpartum depression completely. The Postpartum Depression Miracle worked irrespective of the women's age or ethnicity. Now, there is a step-by-step guide to help you manage postpartum depression with this 'miracle' cure.


The main problem with cures for postpartum depression is that they include drugs like anti-depressants and muscle relaxants. These could have potential side effects and be really harmful considering that a new mother would be breastfeeding also. But nutrition does play a role in it all and when combined with the Postpartum Depression Miracle cure, 100 per cent women have reported 100 per cent success – without side effects at that.


The emotional turmoil of a postpartum depression patient is tough to handle. Most drug-based treatments do not really work. Of course one needs family support – particularly from the spouse – during those periods of depression but a natural cure is the one to adopt for a long-term cure. Postpartum Depression Miracle is the healthier option for all women.


In fact, Postpartum Depression Miracle can prevent the onset of the problem in the first place. New mothers can be prepared to prevent the depression knowing that it could strike right after giving birth. Combining awareness, a proper diet and exercise regime along with the Postpartum Depression Miracle Cure would keep that smile intact for all new mothers. Some men too suffer from the problem. And, they would benefit too.

What is the best treatment for postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression affects one in every four new mothers. 

It is a common problem that can occur a few days after giving birth and continue for a few days, weeks, or years. Usually, it passes off. However, treatment is required when postpartum depression continues for a few weeks. It is in chronic cases that PPD lasts for several months.

The first thing doctors are most likely to tell a patient of postpartum depression that there is no real treatment available. Doctors can give anti-depressants, muscle relaxants and lead the patient to psychiatrists. That is not really much of a treatment. But the problem is, if no treatment is taken for the symptoms of postpartum depression then it can last for years.

Doctors handle postpartum depression as just any kind of depression. They resort to medication, counseling, and suggest support groups as treatment.

Psychotherapy could be helpful to some extent in the treatment of postpartum depression. In fact, psychotherapy is the most popular treatment choice among patients of postpartum depression because breastfeeding mothers would be concerned about taking medicines with potential side effects. One crucial aspect of psychotherapy in the treatment of postpartum depression is Interpersonal therapy (IPT). This takes up interpersonal relationships of the patients with other family members and friends.

Some patients do go for hormone therapy which includes the replacement of estrogen. This is combined with anti-depressants. However, such therapies have their own side effects. Anti-depressants are given when the patient is unable to care for herself and the baby. It requires close monitoring of the patient too. Doctors also discuss marriage counseling if there are triggers at home that propel the patient into postpartum depression.


But all these kinds of postpartum treatment are limited in their scope. The main issue with a patient is that she does not realize when the depression strikes. On one side the patient is thrilled on having a baby. On the other the patient might be overwhelmed with fears and doubts about being able to take care of the baby. Initially, most new mothers tend to dismiss the 'baby blues' as a passing mood. Feeling dull, crying at the slightest of things and even thoughts of death could overwhelm the patient.

Symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) could also include anxiousness, frustration, refusal to get out of bed, difficulty in eating or sleeping, etc. Plus there could be other psychological problems too.

Considering the limited scope of conventional treatment, a holistic approach that uses herbal or natural supplements along with counseling diet and fitness regime would be the best approach for any patient. Family support is essential. A natural cure could work wonders for most patients.

The best part about a natural cure is that it would not have any side effects Combined with a proper diet, recommended exercise, improvement in interpersonal relationships with the help of counseling if required, etc. can all prove to tackle postpartum depression very easily. In fact, most women who have conquered their postpartum depression have used a holistic and natural treatment strategy for postpartum depression.

What is the best cure for postpartum depression?

Having a child is a fulfilling and demanding task.

Parents wait anxiously for the newborn and prepare for it every day throughout the pregnancy. The joy of having a baby is tremendous but that's when some women fall prey to postpartum depression. One in every four women is likely to suffer from postpartum depression.

Some men too suffer from postpartum depression though there percentage is very low.

Postpartum depression usually sets in when the mother (or father) is not even aware that such a condition could exist particularly when they are so thrilled to have a baby. Most mothers report that depression set in suddenly a few days after giving birth. At first, most mothers didn't even realize what was happening. They just felt dull, unable to get out of bed and ready to cry at the slightest of provocation. Most new mothers suffering from postpartum depression said they were overcome with feelings of inefficiency and inability at coping with motherhood.



Symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) could include anxiousness, frustration, constant sadness, bouts of uncontrolled crying, refusal to get out of bed, difficulty in eating or sleeping, etc. PPD could also include other psychological problems relating to depression. These symptoms might last for months or even years in some cases.

Doctors suggest several options to cure postpartum depression. But drugs do not really work to give permanent relief. Studies show that 93 percent of patients who took drugs as part of conventional treatment for PPD are benefited only temporarily. Traditional methods of PPD treatment with drugs give relief for a short time. The symptoms might return – with greater severity in some cases – once the drugs are discontinued.


Most doctors would tell you there is no cure for postpartum depression and all they could help you with is anti-depressants! Some doctors resort to muscle relaxants and suggest you see a psychiatrist if your condition does not improve.


Conventional methods of treatment for PPD would also include psychiatric help. All this would not only take a long period of time but might just prove to be an unnecessary waste of time and money. Eventually, the patient might end up with heightened depression – even worse than before.


A non-conventional natural cure is more likely to help you eliminate your sadness and feelings of hopelessness – permanently at that. A natural cure works by tackling the postpartum depression in a holistic manner. Drugs are limited in scope. Drugs could also have long-term negative effects on the mother who is breastfeeding. Alternatively, even just changing your diet or visiting a psychiatrist is not enough. A natural cure that combines changes in diet, self-control, personal effort along with the intake of proven natural remedies could work as a wonder cure for anyone suffering from postpartum depression.


A herbal cure coupled with nutrition would give you a new life getting rid of postpartum depression forever. That's a way more healthier option than trying drugs. You could even prevent postpartum depression by being prepared to handle it the natural way even before your baby is born.

Postpartum Depression Miracle changed my life

Could the days of your greatest joy also become the days of your worst depression.

They did - with me - and I had no clue what was happening. Right after my baby was born, something happened. I was on top of the world. My husband and I were happy that all had gone well.

Two days later I was very scared. I couldn't get out of bed. I felt a dullness envelope me. I didn't want to look at the baby and I knew I was snapping at everyone around for no rhyme or reason. Initially, I thought it would pass. An elderly neighbor also told me that women do go through these 'baby blues'.

She said these bouts of depression were a normal part of motherhood and I would be okay in a few weeks once the hormonal changes settle down. However, despite my husband being extra loving during those days, I only got worse. Eventually, we went to see my doctor. She advised me a couple of pills and therapy sessions. I was sure I didn't need those. More so, I didn't want to take drugs while breastfeeding my baby. You won't believe the mess I was in. I was going crazy. Finally, my husband found this Postpartum Depression Miracle. It changed my life. I combined it with a nice exercise routine, a low-fat diet and started getting back to my radiant self – or said my husband and family.

My doctor too was surprised. She wanted to know what I had been using considering I was not willing to take drugs recommended by her. She was quite impressed by the results I got with the Postpartum Depression Miracle. A natural healer that brought my happy days back. I don't hesitate to recommend it to new mothers in my family!

My wife personal story of postpartum depression

I was thrilled to have my first child.

We had been married for a couple of years before we decided that there was more to our love. Having our very own bundle of joy around the house would surely take our relationship to the next level. We were so excited about having another whole new person in the household. My husband and I, through the nine months of pregnancy, would spend hours wondering what personality our baby would have. There are no words to describe when our first son was born. For the first few days, we just couldn't have enough of him. There seemed to be no world beyond him. We were on an amazing high amidst all the good wishes and congratulations that poured in from friends and family. You won't believe it, I was already feeling excited about having my next baby. That's when – just a week after the birth of the baby – postpartum depression set in. I had no clue what was happening. I got up in the morning totally tired and feeling extremely low. I thought maybe I didn't sleep well. By afternoon I was feeling worse and even started crying while breastfeeding the baby. My mother, who had dropped in to help me, was quite surprised. Initially, I thought it was just one of those dull days. But within two days the symptoms had worsened. I started fighting with my husband, didn't want to eat and couldn't sleep more than a few hours. I lost all interest in the baby. I felt as if I was going to die and it was all dark around me. That's when I called my doctor. She explained that I was suffering from postpartum depression or, as they call it, baby blues. My mother had not gone through it. But that very evening, my cousin dropped by. That's when she told me that she had gone for a very nice holistic and natural cure for her postpartum depression which was called Postpartum Depression Miracle. She also explained to me that regular drugs won't help. I am really very happy that I did not go for anti-depressants and understood what was happening. It's been two years and I am happily planning for my second baby. Of course, this time, I would be prepared before hand for any baby blues! My only suggestion to all would-be mothers: Go for a natural holistic cure – that's permanent! Have fun with your baby.

125 Million Pregnancies Globally at Risk from Malaria Every Year

ScienceDaily (Jan. 25, 2010) — Research published this week in PLoS Medicine concludes that at least 125.2 million women at risk of malaria become pregnant each year.

Most malaria deaths are caused by Plasmodium falciparum, which thrives in tropical and sub-tropical regions. But the most widespread type of malaria is P. vivax malaria, which also occurs in temperate regions. Most malaria deaths are among young children in sub-Saharan Africa but pregnant women and their unborn babies are highly vulnerable to malaria. About 10,000 women and 200,000 babies die annually because of malaria in pregnancy, which can cause miscarriages, preterm births, and low-birth-weight births. Estimates on the burden of malaria were previously only available for Africa.
The researchers estimated the sizes of populations at risk of malaria in 2007 by combining maps of the global limits of P. vivax and P. falciparum transmission with data on population densities. They used data from various sources to calculate the annual number of pregnancies (the sum of live births, induced abortions, miscarriages and still births) in each country. They calculated the annual number of pregnancies at risk of malaria in each country by multiplying the number of pregnancies in the entire country by the fraction of the population living within the spatial limits of malaria transmission in that country.
This study contributes to the global understanding of the risk of malaria in pregnancy. In 2007, 54.7 million pregnancies occurred in areas with stable P. falciparum malaria and a further 70.5 million in areas with exceptionally low malaria transmission or with P. vivax only. This marks the first time species specific risks have been estimated globally for malaria in pregnancy.

Stress in Early Pregnancy Can Lead to Shorter Pregnancies and Fewer Baby Boys

Resources taken from : Science Daily (Dec. 7, 2011)
Stress in the second and third months of pregnancy can shorten pregnancies, increase the risk of pre-term births and may affect the ratio of boys to girls being born, leading to a decline in male babies. These are the conclusions of a study that investigated the effect on pregnant women of the stress caused by the 2005 Tarapaca earthquake in Chile.

Although it has been known for a while that stress may affect the duration of pregnancy, until now, no study has looked at the impact of both the timing of the stress and the effect that stress might have on the ratio of male-to-female births. The research published online in Europe's leading reproductive medicine journal Human Reproduction on December 8, provides answers to these questions and also suggests that it is exposure to stress itself rather than other factors that can often accompany or cause stress, such as poverty, that appears to affect pregnancy.
Professors Florencia Torche (PhD) and Karine Kleinhaus (MD, MPH), of New York University (New York, USA), analysed birth certificates of all babies born between 2004-2006 in Chile; there were over 200,000 births a year. The birth records provided information on gestational age at delivery, sex, weight and height of the baby and whether any medical attention was required. They also included information on the mother's age, marital status, whether or not she had been pregnant before and in which of the 350 counties in Chile she lived. This information gave the researchers very specific information about how exposed the mothers were to the effects of the earthquake, based on how close they lived to the epicentre.
"Looking at information on gestational age at the time of the earthquake in a large, unselected group of women, enabled us to determine the risk for specific birth outcomes by gestational age of exposure to a stressor, which, because it was a natural disaster, was experienced by all at the same time, although in varying degrees of severity, depending on how close they lived to the epicentre," said Prof Torche who is Associate Professor of Sociology. "We were able to capture the developmental periods in which exposure to stress was most detrimental for either sex."
The earthquake measured 7.9 on the moment-magnitude scale (the successor to the Richter scale), which is classified as "disastrous." The areas most affected were the cities of Iquique and Alto Hospicio, and the surrounding towns. The researchers found that women who experienced a severe quake (because they lived closest) during their second and third months of pregnancy had shorter pregnancies and were at higher risk of delivering pre-term (before 37 weeks gestation). The pregnancies of women exposed to the earthquake in the second month of pregnancy were on average 0.17 weeks (1.3 days) shorter than those in the unaffected areas of Chile. The pregnancies of those exposed in the third month were 0.27 weeks (1.9 days) shorter. Normally, about six in 100 women had a pre-term birth, but among women exposed to the earthquake in the third month of pregnancy, this rose by 3.4%, meaning more than nine women in 100 delivered their babies early.
The effect was most pronounced for female births; the probability of pre-term birth increased by 3.8% if exposure to the quake occurred in the third month, and 3.9% if it occurred in the second month. In contrast there was no statistically significant effect seen in male births.
As the stress of the earthquake had greater effect on pre-term births in girls rather than boys, the researchers had to make adjustments for this when calculating the effect of stress on the sex ratio: the ratio of male to female live births. They found that there was a decline in the sex ratio among those exposed to the earthquake in the third month of gestation of 5.8%.
Prof Kleinhaus, who is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Environmental Medicine, explained: "Generally, there are more male than female live births. The ratio of male to female births is approximately 51:49 -- in other words, out of every 100 births, 51 will be boys. Our findings indicate a 5.8% decline in this proportion, which would translate into a ratio of 45 male births per 100 births, so that there are now more female than male births. This is a significant change for this type of measure."
Previous research has suggested that in times of stress women are more likely to miscarry male foetuses because they grow larger than females and therefore require greater investment of resources by the mother; they may also be less robust than females and may not adapt their development to a stressful environment in the womb. "Our findings on a decreased sex ratio support this hypothesis and suggest that stress may affect the viability of male births," said Prof Torche. "In contrast, among female conceptions, stress exposure appears not to affect the viability of the conception but rather, the length of gestation."
The researchers suggest that possible mechanisms to explain their findings could involve the placenta, which sets the duration of the pregnancy, and the effect of the stress hormone cortisol on the placenta's function.
Prof Torche concluded: "In terms of implications, it is clearly unrealistic to recommend avoiding natural disasters. However, this research suggests the need to improve access to healthcare for women from the onset of pregnancy and even before conception. Obviously this will not reduce the exposure to stress, but it may provide care, advice, and tools that would allow women to cope with stressful circumstances.
"A separate implication has to do with our ability to use a 'natural experiment' (the earthquake) to isolate the effect of stress from factors that commonly go with it. In particular, researchers have long suggested that poverty is bad for health outcomes because of the stress it elicits. This is very plausible, but it is difficult to disentangle the effect of stress alone from the effect of other factors associated with poverty, such as nutritional deprivation and poor housing, which could also have an independent impact on women's health and the outcome of their pregnancies. This makes it difficult to ascertain whether stress itself does, indeed, matter. Our research provides strong evidence that it does."

Morning Sickness During Pregnancy

Morning sickness can be one of your first signs that you are pregnant.  This doesn’t always mean that you’ll get sick only in the morning. This can happen, morning, noon or night. It will normally occur in the first trimester or your pregnancy and end by the second, this isn’t the case in all pregnancies though. Some women will continue with it until the very end of term.

Nausea can happen immediately or you may get lucky and have no morning sickness at all. No one is for certain what causes morning sickness, it is a change in the body that happens during pregnancy. Many women seem to get sick after taking the prenatal pill, try taking it later in the day. Your doctor may even advise you to take some other form of vitamin instead of the pill. Always find out first with your doctor before taking anything new or taking yourself off medication, even prenatal pills.

There are a few ways to minimize the sickness, but they don’t work for everyone. Try keeping crackers on hand, I prefer saltines for some reason. Try drinking some ginger ale, it calms the stomach down.  Dry cereal is another good thing to eat, your stomach may just be a little bit hungry and trying to tell you. Remember to take small portions, this way you know if it is all going to come up or not. Sleeping is another good way to avoid it, however it will wake you up. Keep yourself hydrated, not only can this make your sickness come but you can become dehydrated and need to go to the emergency room if you aren’t careful.

Smells is another thing that seems to cause morning sickness. Imagine walking into a restaurant and the first thing you smell is grease. Yes, this can easily set it off. Bad smells and even certain tastes, get the feel for your body during the pregnancy and figure out just what sets it off. Knowing how to avoid it, can make a world of difference.

A few reasons you should go to your doctor would be if you begin losing weight because you are constantly sick. If you become dehydrated, faint, look pale, confused or throw up more than four times in a day. Your doctor may be able to prescribe something that will stop it.

Try slowing down a bit, sometimes your body is just exhausted from all the errands you are running and it tries to give you a break. Listen to your body, take a nap, relax and watch a television show…take some time off. If you are looking for remedies for your morning sickness, you may try buying some pregnancy pops. Or if you’d prefer to stay away from the sweets you can wear a bracelet designed to stop morning sickness, they are just like the motion sickness bracelets.  They don’t work for everyone but they could work for you.

Wives Tales and Pregnancy

Click here to view this ebook 

It's all great to hear advice during your pregnancy, especially unwelcome advice. I'm sure you've been told by one person or another how to live. Am I right? It only gets worse the further along in your pregnancy you are. Someone will want to tell you that you shouldn't bend, or walk a certain way, not to pick up a baby in case you hurt the one in your stomach or put yourself in labor. As the pregnancy gets closer to the due date you'll be told many different home remedies of how to put yourself in labor. Got a headache?  Someone can tell you exactly what to drink to get rid of it without any medication, remember it is important to ask a doctor before trying to take something you've never tried before doing it.  But the most fun I have during the course of the 9-10 months stretch is hearing all the wives tales, also known as myths.

I'm pretty sure you aren't going to even care at this point what sex the baby is, all you want is for the morning sickness to stop. You may even be counting down the days until the first trimester is over.  Chances are if you morning sickness someone is bound to tell you what sex of the baby is.  One wives tale is if you are having severe morning sickness is a sign you are having a girl.

Here's a wives tale that is a lot of fun and you can test it on everyone in your household. Take a thin piece of string or your hair, slide your ring down it, hold it above your belly and let the ring dangle above it. If the rings spins in a circle it is a boy, but if it goes from one side to the other, it is a girl.  Once you've tried it out on your tummy, get someone in your house and do it above their hand. Does the ring spin in a circle above your husband's hand? Hmm, is it really and old wives tale or is there really something to it?

Many women claim to suffer from bouts of heartburn during the pregnancy, according to the old wives tell this would mean your baby will be born with a head full of hair.

Right before the end of your first trimester your doctor will listen to your baby's heart rate, this is to make sure the baby is doing alright.  The wives tale goes, if the heart rate is high it is a girl and a low one is a boy.

Ever have someone tell you that you are carrying high or low and wonder what that really means? Basically if you are carrying your baby low it is closer to your abdomen, a high baby is closer to your chest.  Look at yourself in the mirror. How is your baby sitting?  The old tale says that if you are carrying high it is a girl, carrying low is a boy.

Wives tales can be a lot of fun but keep in mind these aren’t fact. Don’t go preparing your child’s room just because one of these told you, you were going to have a girl.

Pregnancy’s Beautiful Stretch Marks 

The minute you find out you are pregnant you know things are going to be changing, from your waist size to those little stretch marks that pop up. Stretch marks are exactly that, red or purple marks left in your skin because it has stretched. The most common areas for it to appear is the buttocks, thighs, stomach, breasts and even arms. 90 percent of all pregnant women will get them, whether they get a lot or a few depends on the body and how they are preventing them.

There are a ton of lotions out there that claim to help prevent stretch marks, such as scar serum, cocoa butter or Maderma. Make sure your skin is always moist, this helps in stretching the skin and not tearing it.  There are new discoveries every day, ask your doctor what he/she recommends.  Try them out yourself first and see if they work for you. This isn’t something you just put on one time during your pregnancy, you’ll have to make this a daily effort in order for it to work. That’s where most women fail, they just stop doing it.

During your pregnancy try to eat healthy and stay in shape. This can help to keep off any access weight. The recommended weight gain for the average, 25-35 healthy pregnancy is 25-35 pounds. Make sure you drink plenty of water, staying hydrated helps keep the skin healthy. The moment your skin dries out you can begin getting stretch marks.

If you’ve had one or more children your chances of getting more stretch marks will increase. Your skin has already been stretched out and you are about to do it again. Large babies and multiple babies can increase your chances of getting stretch marks too. Begin using preventing creams and lotions with vitamins A and E in them, as soon as you find out your are pregnant and try to lessen your chances of getting them.

After the pregnancy if you have any stretch marks you may still have a few stretch marks, even after all the care you took. These do fade over time, so don’t worry about the way you look.  If they are unbearable to you and you’ve waited a while, you can choose to have a tummy tuck or laser removal. Make an appointment with a dermatologist to see what he/she has to tell you. You may discover that you can live with them after all.

Besides caring for your skin daily and eating right, there isn’t much you can do to prevent these beautiful pregnancy marks, however this doesn’t mean you don’t have to try. Take comfort in knowing that half the woman you know that have been pregnant probably have a mark or two, they may even have a little road map. Think about it as you’ve just been initiated into the gang of motherhood. No woman should ever feel ashamed of her stretch marks, they may not be the prettiest thing in the world but they do represent one thing…your child. Remember that the next time you are getting disgusted by them.

Preparing the kids for Pregnancy
The moment you find out your pregnant you want to tell everyone, including your kids. The way you tell your child depends on their age, an older child will understand what it means when you tell them you are pregnant or that they are going to be a brother or sister soon. However, a toddler is a little bit harder to explain this too.

Think about your child’s personality when it comes time to tell them. You know your child best. They may enjoy being sent little clues like you did with daddy, or they may just want you to tell them straight out.  You could get lucky and have them walk in the room while you are announcing it. This happened to me when I was expecting child number four. I had just walked out of the bathroom waving the wand in the air to show my husband. I had no clue that my kids had walked into the room until I heard them screeching I was pregnant. Oops.

Their Reactions
Don’t be shocked if at first your child acts distant, many children will respond to the news in their own way. One of your children may even start to pretend to be pregnant right along with you, mimicking everything you do. While another child may tell you they don’t want you to bring home a new baby. These are all common reactions to the news, the way you handle it will determine the outcome.

If your child seems reluctant to want another child in the home you may want to find out why. The only way to find out what’s bugging him/her is to ask.  Maybe they are just scared that you are going to stop loving them, or that everyone will forget about him/her when the baby is born.

Showing them They are Important too
A good way to do this is to make sure they get something the moment the baby is born, some have had the doctors give the sibling their own baby doll when their sibling was born. Try reading children’s books with them to show them that it’ll be a good thing. Dad can always spend some one on one time with them. 

Involving Your Child in the Pregnancy
This is their baby too, have your children accompany you to a few of the doctor visits. Let them hear the heartbeat of their little sister or brother. Watch their faces light up when they see the baby for the first time on the screen. There are many ways you can involve them, you can encourage them to help you decide on a name. Try letting them feel the baby kick for the first time by placing their hand on your swollen belly.

It’s easy to prepare the siblings for your new arrival as long as you involve them in the pregnancy along the way. They’ll be happy to be part of it and feel more of a connection to the baby when he/she is born.

Staying Fit During Your Pregnancy
Keeping fit during your pregnancy is great for you, not only will it help you keep your body toned but it also can help when it comes time to push that baby out. Every pregnant woman wants to be able to go back to her pre-pregnancy weight after the baby is born, but the only way to do that is to make sure you can. By excising or working out every day you are making sure you don’t add fat to your body.  During labor it’ll be much easier to push the baby if you’ve been strengthening your leg and stomach muscles. Who knows, it may even make labor a little bit shorter.  Isn’t that what we all want?

Plus when you are tired and just feeling a little blue, just by exercising you actually increase your energy.

Here are a few quick things you can do to stay fit during pregnancy, without really having to break out a sweat. I’m sure by now you’ve heard of yoga, this is a very good thing for you to practice, especially if you haven’t always been in the best of shape. Not to worry, there are beginning levels here, you don’t have to jump into the human pretzel right away. Try purchasing a set of small weights that you can use throughout the house, like hand weights or wrist weights that can use while walking. Instead of just laying on the couch while you rest you can be lifting small weights.

Get a chair and try doing a couple crunches, 5 to 10 in the beginning to make sure you don’t pull anything. Don’t worry you can always add to it as the weeks go on.

Try running, walking or jogging outside. Not only will this boost up your energy but it’ll also help get your spirits up, especially if you’ve been inside all day. Remember, if you are going for a walk to always bring a drink with you. You don’t want to dehydrate out there. Always make sure that you are wearing comfortable shoes, before you leave the house. If you didn’t always run, ask your doctor if you can. Sometimes a doctor may suggest you walk around the block at first and increase it from there, if you didn’t always do it before you were pregnant.

If you can you may want to try going for a swim or try bicycling. However, if you find that you are accident prone you may want to stay away from the bike.  A bike accident is something that can easily happen, even when you’ve always road a bike. Swimming can help you relax and stay cool. Take a dip in the pool near you, they may even have a swim class for pregnant women in your area. This would be a great way to meet other moms.

Whenever you are doing exercises, make sure you aren’t overdoing it. If you believe you could be stop immediately and take a break. You never want to do anything that’ll harm the pregnancy.

Concerns During Pregnancy
There is nothing more stressful than to have something go wrong during pregnancy. It doesn’t matter if it is your first time being pregnant or your fourth. There are many things to be concerned about during your pregnancy and it is easier when you know what they are.

Vaginal bleeding- This may also known as spotting, but make sure that is what is going on. There is a difference between actively bleeding and spotting. Spotting is lightly bleeding kind of like your period, the blood can be red, pink or even brown. If you are bleeding actively with any pain call your doctor, if you can’t get a hold of him go immediately to the emergency room. Bleeding can be a number of things from implantation, ectopic pregnancy, labor, infection or even miscarriage. Always let your doctor know, so everything can be ruled out, you’ll feel better too.

Stomach pain or cramping- During the pregnancy it may be hard to decipher the difference between a growing pain and an actual stomach pain/cramping. However, if you do get a pain of any sort rest. After a few minutes if it doesn’t subside, call your doctor and describe the pain to him. Don’t worry about it if you find out you only had gas or were having Braxton hicks contractions, at least you know everything is okay with pregnancy.

Gush of liquid- This could mean you are in labor and that your water broke, however if it isn’t close to the time of birth it can be something else. Call your doctor immediately and head for the emergency room.

Dehydration-  While you are pregnant it is easy to become dehydrated, especially if you have morning sickness or just don’t drink those 8 glasses of water. If you find yourself pale, dry mouth or dizzy, you could be dehydrated and should be seen by a doctor. Dehydration can cause premature labor and/or distress on the pregnancy.

Painful urination - Could be a urinary tract infection, also known as UTI. This can be easily treated with medication or by drinking lots of fluids and cranberry juice. A urinary tract infection isn’t something to be embarrassed about, it is very common amongst pregnant women. The growing belly pushes against your ureters and makes it harder for it to flow through. Which of course can cause infection. Another way to find out if you have it is if you have a foul odor when you pee.

Pregnancies can be scary enough, there’s no reason to add to it. If you are ever in doubt or have a concern talk with your doctor. It is common that first time moms are worried about many pains that they feel.  Never fear calling because you are afraid of waking the doctor up or because you feel silly. Being silly might just save the baby. While you are worrying, you are only causing stress on you and the baby, find out what’s wrong and relieve your anxiety.  

Picking a Name Before Your Pregnancy Ends
Choosing a name is one of the most important things you'll have to decide on during your pregnancy.  Pick a name that your child is going to love, not something he/she will hate or be made fun of. There are a lot of things to consider when naming your child.

Origin
The origin of a name can help you pick out what name you like best, this also adds a piece of history to your child. Giving your son/daughter an Italian name because their great grandfather originally came over from Sicily will mean a lot to the family. Not to mention your child will always know they’re Italian. This doesn’t mean you can only choose names that go with your heritage, there may be a name out there that belongs to your child that isn’t.

The Sound of the Name:
Names can be hard to pronounce sometimes, not just for other people but for your child as well. Don’t choose a name you have a hard enough time saying, imagine how hard it’ll be for your own child to learn. The spelling can also be a cause for concern. Your child must learn how to spell his/her name, you don’t want a name that has over 20 letters long. Do you think you’d be able to learn to spell that in kindergarten? Think about your child first, sure the name might sound great but make sure it isn’t something that is going to be really hard. This doesn’t mean don’t choose a name that is unique, that is what makes your child stand out. But make sure that is what you really want.

Meaning
Meaning can be another factor when choosing a name, learn what that name means before you pick it. You might want something that means something dear to you. My daughter’s name means pure hope, I thought it was a lovely gesture and it sounded beautiful. Think about choosing a positive meaning for your child, this is the first thing that will be associated with him/her the moment he/she is born.

Gender names
Gender naming is another important issue. Think about if the name sounds like a boy’s name or a girl’s name. There are names that can go either way such as Sam, Erin or Angel.


Nicknames
When picking out a name, don’t forget that your child may end up being called by a nickname because of the name you have chosen. If this is something you don’t want, try picking a name that can’t be shortened. But don’t be surprised if it happens anyways. If you don’t mind, try picking out a name that’ll have a nickname you enjoy.

Last but certainly not least, remember children can be cruel think about the initials your child will have. You don’t want something that it’s initials mean something else. You want your child to be proud of his/her name. Not everyone is going to like the name you have chosen for your child, but as long as it is something you like, your child will like it too.

Stress Free Holidays During Your Pregnancy
Holidays can already be a stressful time, and mix that with pregnancy and hormones and you can be asking for trouble. I’m not meaning for just the pregnant woman either, anyone and everyone in her path.  Women already feel the pressure of having that perfect holiday for her family, which is probably why she decides to do 100 things at a time...stressing herself out in the end. However, she doesn’t have to have a stressful holiday. There are five ways to make your holidays something to remember.

Mark the Dates
Go out and buy yourself a calendar for the holidays. Post it up on the wall and start marking dates. You won’t need to stress out because you won’t be double booking yourself. This can also help you in preplanning, mark the day you should send out the holiday cards or buy certain items.

Choosing Your Activities
During the holiday season you are sure to be invited to a couple of parties.  It isn’t necessary to attend every one of them.  Decide which ones you’ll enjoy the most, maybe two or three and explain to the rest you’ll miss going but need some rest.

Choose Where You’ll Go
Whether you want to stay home for the holidays with your own family or go across country to be with the entire family the decision should be yours. Don’t feel guilty telling them you won’t be making it this year, explain you need rest and traveling isn’t very helpful. You may even want to extend an invitation for the family to come to your house instead.

Designating Jobs
If you’ve decided to have the holidays at your house you can still have a good time. Don’t forget that asking for help is okay.  No one expects you to do it all on your own.  Do you really have to cook the ham, bake the potatoes, make a cake, clean the house and set up the tree all by yourself? Designate others to help, they'll feel happy you’ve given them something to do instead of sit around waiting while they watch you do it all. 

Shopping Time
Shopping during the holiday season can be a nightmare that you don’t need to attempt while pregnant. It’s safer to just stay home during some of those sales. Instead you may want to try shopping online, not only will you be home but you can relax. The only thing you’ll need is a credit card and let your fingers do the work. You can even do all your holiday shopping early and have it delivered right to your front door. All you need to do is wrap it up and hide it in the closet.

Remember the holiday season is all about making memories that’ll last. You may be pregnant but you don’t have to sit at home the whole time stressed out, instead you can actually enjoy yourself with these helpful tips. Don’t forget to take a little time off to do something just for you, after all you deserve it.

Halloween Pregnancy Ideas
The minute you begin your pregnancy everything is changing, your body, your clothes sizes, even your looks. But that doesn't mean you have to skip out on your favorite holidays, like Halloween.  Being pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t dress up.  Whether you are buying your costume or making them yourself, you can have fun. There are many costumes you can buy for couples or just for yourself. The Pregnancy couple may want to go as a baker and an oven, or an egg and bacon bit. Both outfits are really cute and creative, you can even make them at home if you chose too.

If you want to get really creative you can make your own costumes, here are a few costumes that you can make just using your belly and normal clothes are:

The eyeball-  This is something my husband created, all you need is a little facial paint and black clothes.  This is something even a person that can't draw can have a little bit of fun with.   Wear all black clothes on Halloween and paint your belly white, make the center of the eye whatever color you desire and don't forget the red veins. Make it scary or cute, whatever fits your desire.  Have a bit of fun and show off that tummy by keeping the shirt up or wear a shirt that shows your tummy.  My husband got a kick out of this one and was so excited that he got to do the artwork.

If you want to dress up completely but not stand out, try going as a human pumpkin. Wear a tiny green cap or make one out of felt and all orange, if you can cut a slit in your shirt for your belly to stick out. Now, paint it orange and decorate your pumpkin.

A pea is another simple costume you can make and stay warm. Go find some green jeans or sweats and a green sweatshirt. Keep the shirt up or cut a hole in it to make your little pod stick out and paint it all green.

If you aren't feeling up to having a full body costume, you could always just paint the belly and proudly show it off. After all, how often will you be pregnant?  Think of anything that is round:  basketball, volleyball, soccer ball, a bowling ball, etc

Don't forget witches were mothers too, so if you've always dressed as a witch for Halloween you don't have to stop the tradition. This year go as a pregnant witch or maybe a witch holding a pumpkin. Use that belly!

A Bun in the oven- Get a medium or small box, cut it out so that you can wear it over your shoulders. Make room for your head to slide through. Decorate it with paints like an oven. Cut open the front of the box so that it will open and close. On the outside of the box write, “Bun in the Oven.” Paint your belly a light beige for all to see the little baby bun.

A Guide To Your Pregnancy
 
The first step of your pregnancy, after seeing the little positive stick should to have it confirmed. Call immediately to have a pregnancy test done with your local doctor, you may be in luck and get in that same day or have to wait about a week or two. Patience will become your best friend during this time or your worst enemy, waiting can become a very hard thing when you want to know for sure whether you are or aren't pregnant. More than likely you'll get a phone call a few days later to confirm it.

Set up an appointment to see your OB/GYN or midwife as soon as possible, chances are you'll be meeting his/her staff before you ever meet them. This is the first appointment where your doctor/midwife will want to know all your medical history. If you’ve been pregnant, what types of sicknesses run in your family, etc. If you can, try making sure you know all of this ahead of time, maybe even have it all down on paper so when he/she asks you are prepared. During the days or weeks leading up to this meeting you may have concerns, write them down and ask them. Believe it or not doctors are there to help you, and they’ve been asked every question you can possibly think of. Before leaving your doctor may even give you a bag full of goodies all about being pregnant. Read these, they may prove beneficial and not to mention they’ve got coupons. Your doctor will either give you another appointment or have you set one up before leaving. There are some great books out there if you are really worried about what will happen next or how birth is going to be, check them out at your local library.

Make sure that you get your prenatal vitamins, they are very important during pregnancy. If for some reason you can’t take them, talk with your doctor he/she may be able to prescribe a lower dosage or something else.  You’ll get your first ultrasound, also known as US around week 20, this is normally when you find out what sex the baby is.  However some doctors like to call it safe and give you an ultrasound around 10-12 weeks just to make sure the baby is in the proper location and all is going well. You will also be asked to take an orange drink that you must drink in five minutes. You’ll wait around for an hour to three hours, at which point your blood gets drawn and you can go home. The test determines if you have or have a chance of getting gestational diabetes.

At first your appointments will be about 4 weeks apart until you hit the 36 week and at that point it’ll be two weeks later and a week later after that until the baby is born. By now you should be preparing to have the baby.  Yes, I’m sure you’ll have some anxiety towards the end of your pregnancy. You’ve went this far, it’s time you see your reward.

Fun Ways to Announce Your Pregnancy
Whether you just found out you’re pregnant or you’ve known for a few months, announcing your pregnancy to family and friends can be a lot of fun. Some may want to wait until a certain time during their pregnancy, while others want to call everyone immediately after finding out themselves.

Telling The Father
Have a romantic dinner for two with candle lights, it may be your last time for a while, between morning sickness and raising your little one. Serve up baby carrots, baby back ribs and anything else you can think as baby. At the end, pour apple juice instead of wine and hand him a present. Inside you can have a tiny baby bib that says, “I heart My Daddy” 
or a pair of baby booties.

If you can’t tell the father right away because he’s away on business, or deployed try sending him a care package. Inside the box place a few baby items, everything in blue and pink and a baby naming book in the center. Place a note on top of the book with, “I need a name soon, I’ll be here by June.” Or whenever the baby is due.

You can also see how long it takes him to figure it out. Go to the dollar store and pick up a bunch of small baby items, a bib, rattle, bottle, booties, etc. For a week, leave an item laying around the house where he is bound to find them. At the end of the week if he hasn’t figured it out yet, prepare the big gift. Have a large teddy bear sitting at the dinner table in the seat beside him, make sure there is a bib wrapped around him and maybe a sign that says Hi Daddy.

Telling Family and Friends
Show up to a family gathering wearing a shirt that announces your state. These days there are a ton of shirts out there with clever sayings, “Baby on Board,” “A Bun in the Oven,” or something related to the pregnancy. The moment you walk in or take off your jacket everyone will figure it out without you ever having to say a word. Now, get ready for the tears and excitement. You’ll be answering a ton of questions.

If you already have children you may want to call the grandparents up and tell them that the next Christmas they may want to add one more to the list.

If this is the first grandchild, you may want to get a bracelet link for your mom that reads, “#1 Grandma” or grandparent t-shirts. This will not only be a great present for them but something they will cherish and love forever.

No matter when you spread the news it can be a lot of fun, just think creative and let the pieces fall. You may even want to try catching all of it on video, so think ahead and prepare for the BIG moment, and I’m not meaning the birth.

Eating Right During Your Pregnancy
You already know it is important to eat a well-balanced diet, but it is even more important when you are pregnant. Keep in mind now you are eating for two. Whatever you eat, the baby eats as well. In fact the baby actually takes your nourishments so you must eat enough for both of you. The healthier you eat the better it is for the pregnancy and you.

Never miss a meal while you are pregnant, especially breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and your baby has probably been waiting since he/she woke up in the middle of the night. You may learn that if you wait so long before eating you start to feel sick, this is your body telling you to eat. Do it!

Make sure you are getting enough of the food you need daily.  It takes 4-6 servings of dairy a day for a healthy pregnancy, this can include some cheeses, milk, yogurt. This provides the baby with calcium which it’ll need to develop healthy growing bones. Adding extra calcium to your diet wouldn’t hurt you either, especially your teeth and bones.

Don’t forget about your fruit and vegetable servings. Lots of green is always a good choice, so are sweet potatoes.  Not only will you be giving your body what it needs but you’ll start to have more energy. Try laying off the sweets for a week and replace them with healthier items and see how alive you feel.

Foods to Avoid
Not all foods are safe during your pregnancy, there are a few things you should avoid eating:

-  unpasteurized  products- brie

-  Certain fish- exotic, shark, swordfish, anything high in mercury
-  Raw eggs

 -  Undercooked meats- lunch meats. If you are buying a deli sandwich you can ask for them to eat the meat up a little.

-  Caffeine- soda, chocolate. If you find this difficult you can wean yourself off, but the less caffeine in your system the better it is for the baby.

If you are ever unsure of the foods you can eat you can ask your doctor for a list of items to avoid during pregnancy. They’ll be more than happy to share this with you.

You may also learn that your stomach won’t handle certain foods that it would before. Some of those foods may include foods that contain grease, fast foods, meat, and certain foods that have a strong odor.

Eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to cut out all the fun in your life, you can still treat yourself from time to time. Go out and get a frozen yogurt or a smoothie.

While you are making sure you get enough to eat throughout the day, that doesn’t mean neglect your fluid intake. You’ll need lots of water and juices from here on out. The baby will thank you later. Who knows, you may discover that you really enjoy eating healthier and continue it even after the pregnancy.

Breastfeeding While Pregnant
Being pregnant doesn’t mean you have to stop breastfeeding your child. Long ago doctors believed it actually took nutrients away from the baby inside you, however that is not the case. Even today we have people that believe this and they will argue with you the entire time.  Only you can decide if you should stop breastfeeding your toddler or not. Don’t let someone else make that decision for you.

Reasons to Stop
A few reasons you might want to stop breastfeeding may be if you are feeling constantly drained of energy. Or maybe your child has started to bite. Sometimes your milk will just dry up, this is your body’s way of telling you that it has had enough and to take a break.  Mastitis could play a big role in making you stop immediately as well. Mastitis is an infection in the breast when it isn’t expressed enough and gets engorged.

Stopping or Weaning
If you do plan on stopping because you are pregnant, make sure it is for the right reasons. If your child has reached a certain age, it might be best. But never just yank it away from them.  Your child could wonder why it is being taken away. Wonder if they had done something or become discouraged about the new baby coming. Some children decide to wean themselves, which is a big help to you and you won’t feel so guilty about it. You can choose to do it cold turkey, or slowly wean him/her off. Cold turkey can have some bad results.  Try limiting his/her feeding times to certain hours and gradually as time passes take away more. Your child will quickly stop on his/her own and it won’t be a traumatic event.

Continuing to Feed
If you do plan on continuing to breastfeed while you are pregnant, talk with your doctor about it. Not all the time will the doctor agree with your decision.  Sometimes he/she may see something in your health that you don’t. Listen carefully and find out if it is a health reason or simply his/her own belief.  If it is the doctors belief, you can always seek out one that agrees with you.  Being pregnant is hard enough at times, knowing you have someone in your corner will only relieve the stress.  Don’t be surprised if your family and friends want to say something about it and they will probably give you all kind of advice on how to stop and what they’ve read. Nicely explain to them it is your decision and you’ll do what you think is best for your children. Try finding a support group in your area so you have someone to vent to or talk about these issues. Check out if there is a La Leche League near you or online that you can join.

Remember that as long as you take proper care of yourself and your body, you’ll be able to safely breastfeed while pregnant.  

All Hands on Baby
Everyone wants to touch the baby, especially during the pregnancy but no one every asks.  If you haven't noticed yet, the minute you start to show a tummy everyone else will gladly show you.  The tummy becomes this magnet for hands and everyone wants to handle it. It doesn’t matter if you are walking around in a store, sitting down in a restaurant or walking on your own street, someone is bound to start rubbing all over it.

You aren’t the only one that is being driven nuts by this either, take a look at your husband. Sure he seems like a trooper but deep inside he’s probably ready to put someone’s lights out.  Talk with your husband and see how he feels. Even if you don’t mind, he might not like other men’s hands on you. He may not care if it is a female touching your body but he can mind about a man. Think about how you would feel if you saw some woman rubbing her hands all over your husband’s chest. Maybe the two of you can come to an agreement, after all do you have to let everyone touch the baby?

Your belly, clothed or not is a personal space, sure there is someone intruding inside you but that person in welcome. But to actually touch someone else’s belly one should ask before they do it and respect your answer. If you don’t want them to touch it, tell them. While some women don’t mind all the attention, there are other women that don’t want their belly’s touched, let alone them to be showing for the whole world to see. Maybe they’ve gained 10 pounds and feel conscious enough about it, or they could be a very private person. 

Children may also want to touch the belly, normally it is because they know someone that has had a baby and they were able to do it. If you don’t like it, let them know. If you don’t mind, you may want to place their hand on your belly. Children tend to get excited and actually smack the belly when they are trying to reach for it.

Forget about the rubbing the belly for a moment, be careful that you don’t get the person that likes to poke at it. That hurts more than anything and half the time they don’t get it. Try explaining to them as nicely as you can that it hurts. They may only be doing it because they want to see the baby move and when you jump they just think it is part of the pregnancy reaction. They may think twice before doing it again to you or anyone else.

If nothing else seems to work and you’ve been polite in letting people know that your belly is off limits, feel free to sick your husband on them or start swatting. You’ve already given fair warning.  Don’t feel bad if you smack a person that lifts up your shirt in broad daylight either. This is a normal reaction and people should really think twice before doing it. They wouldn’t do it if you weren’t pregnant.   

Planning a Baby Shower
Baby showers are a lot of fun, especially for pregnant mom-to-be. Not only is this something for the baby, but now she doesn‘t have to go out and buy. Before you throw a baby shower for someone there are a few things you should do to prepare. The first thing is figure out if this will be a surprise shower or not. There are benefits to both, the first one being if she knows she can help  you with a list of people that she would like to be there. However, if it is a surprise she’ll be touched that you cared enough to throw her a baby shower, but be careful you don’t want to give her too much of surprise and put her in labor.

Making the Guest List
When it comes to making the guest list things can get a little tricky. Find out if there is anyone that would be upset if they weren't invited. Never leave out close family or friends, at least give them the option of showing up. 

Games
Planning games for a shower can be a bit difficult when you have so many fun games and have a few gifts to pass out as prizes.  Baby shower games are a lot of fun, here is a quick list.

Mommy’s belly- The mom-to-be  stand in the center of the room and each guests get to decide how big her belly is using a string or a toilet paper sheets. Find out who guessed the closest.

Guess the nursery rhyme-  Give each guest a sheet of nursery rhymes and have them guess the nursery rhyme or finish it. This will help everyone remember them and see who reads those bedtime stories.

Did you say Baby Game?- Each guest is giving small clothespins to wear around their neck on a necklace or on their shirt. Every time someone says “Baby” if someone catches them they get to take one pin. At the end of the party the guest with the most pins wins a prize.

Memory- Using a plastic tin of some sort place a bunch of baby items in it such as, bib, thermometer, baby spoon, diaper rash crème, etc. Anything you’d use on a baby. Let each guest get a chance to look in the bin for a few seconds and take it away. Once everyone is finished have them write down everything that was in the box. The person with the most correct answers wins.

Baby Food Tasting - Have a variety of baby food in jars, take off the outside wrapper and place a number at the bottom of the jar, on a separate piece of paper write the name of each jar. Each guest is dished out a spoonful of baby food to try. Have them write down what they think each one is. The one with the most correct answers wins a prize.

Have a great baby shower and don’t forget to bring a gift.