LOVE YOURSELF - DAY 4 - STRETCHMARKS

Hey mums - When last did you stop and say: 'Wow, I'm amazing!' We bet not often. We bet you're more likely to be finding fault with yourself or feeling guilty about something and saving all that love for your family. Our Love Yourself Valentine's Day campaign is here to remind you to love yourself too.

Day 4 - Stretchmarks
What the heck is there to love about stretchmarks, we hear you cry. Those silvery or red streaks that suddenly appear on your belly or breasts in the late stages of pregnancy. They don't look especially good then and once your belly has shrunk back to its normal size and your breasts aren't straining your bra cups, they add a fetching puckered look to skin.

They take some getting used to don't they?

But you know what? They're normal and they say something really important about you. That prune-like skin and those little tiger-like stripes are the badges mothers get to wear. A badge that says: I've done it. I've created a baby. I've given birth. I've survived the sleep deprivation. I've learnt a million new skills. I know what real love is.

Change the way you look at those lines. They might not be what a vain society equates to perfection, but they represent something so much more beautiful. Love them and love yourself.

How do you feel about your stretchmarks? Tell us below or on Facebook by Liking Us and you'll be entered into a draw to win some scrumptious Valentine's chocolates.

LOVE YOURSELF - DAY 3 - THE GLOW

Only 5 days till Valentine's Day. Before you rush out to buy a card for your loved one, take five minutes to love yourself.

Day 3 - The glow
There is something special about a pregnant woman. Particularly that second trimester when your bump starts to show, your hair gets thicker and your skin gets that glow. That 'glow' isn't just the contentment radiating out of you (although that's probably part of it). It's caused by the increased volume of blood in your body which creates an attractive blush on your cheeks, plus the increased secretions of oil glands giving skin a waxy sheen. Perhaps all you can see is pigmentation or spots or increased facial hair. But ignore those. Look deeper and you'll see the glow - even if it's just in your eyes.

For new mums, you might feel as though your glow has gone only to be replaced with dark circles under your eyes and hair that's falling out in handfuls. You might wonder if you'll ever feel beautiful again.

What you need to do though, is get your partner or friend to be on standby with a camera. And next time you're feeding your baby and gazing into their eyes and holding their tiny fingers in your hands, get the friend to take a picture of you unawares. Then look at the picture and what you'll see is the most beautiful thing ever - even if you've got uncombed hair and are in your PJs. Because nothing makes a woman more beautiful than being in love. And as a new mum, that's exactly what you'll be.

Tell us about your glow below and don't forget to like us on Facebook to be entered into our Valentine's Draw to win these scrummy chocolates

LOVE YOURSELF - DAY 2 - LOVE YOUR TUMMY

Yesterday we kicked off our 7 days till Valentine's Day Love Yourself campaign. We know that feeling good about yourself can be hard when your body is a completely different shape, your emotions are in a muddle and sleep is something you dream of. Which is why every day we're going to give you a reason to love your pregnant and new mum self.

Day 2: No need to hold in your tummy
Most women spend a good amount of their lives holding their tummy in. They wear uncomfortable body shaping pants and jeans that need to have the button undone when they sit down. But when you're pregnant you can breathe a sigh of relief. No matter how much you suck it in, that tummy is there. And it's beautiful. Perhaps for the first time in years, you can confidently wear a tight fighting top over your tummy and be proud of how it looks. So stop hiding under the baggy shirts, get yourself a fitted top instead, wear it with pride and most importantly, enjoy not having to hold your tummy in!

For new mums, that post baby belly can take some getting used to. It takes a while to get back to normal - despite what celebrities miraculously manage to do - and it might never return to its previous washboard state (assuming you were lucky enough to have one of those in the first place!) But cut yourself some slack. That belly has taken nine months to grow, don't expect it to shrink in weeks. Love it for what it has achieved and what it has carried. And if you're still not feeling comfortable about it, try one of these nursing tops which are cut long, keeping everything covered while you feed your baby and they're exceptionally comfortable.

So whether you're still carrying your baby or already have your little bundle, love your tummy. And enjoy the occasional treat - like these scrummy Valentine's chocolates which you could win if you just Like Us on Facebook or leave a comment below telling us how you feel about your tummy or any other part of your post baby body.

Have a LOVEly day!

Love Yourself Valentine's Day Competition

Valentine's Day is just a week away. And perhaps right now you feel too exhausted, too fat, too frumpy or just too busy to even contemplate a romantic Valentine’s Day.

We've decided to remove the pressure of trying to look sexy while wearing baby spit up or waddling to get your Gaviscon.  Instead, we're going to give all you mums-to-be and new mums 7 reasons why you should love yourself.  Some of them are physical. Others run deeper than that.

Come back every day between now and 14 Feb to get a daily reason why you should Love Yourself.  And because we know that you'd probably prefer the box of chocolates pictured below instead of a bunch of overpriced roses, we're offering it to one lovely mum or mum-to-be. Simply Like Us on Facebook and you'll be entered into the draw. For those of you who are already Facebook fans, leave us a comment on one or more of the Love Yourself blog posts and you'll be eligible too!

Day 1: Love your bosoms

We're a bra company so bosoms are a very good place to start. Many women are amazed at how big their breasts get during pregnancy. We know that for some of you, big can mean uncomfortable. But for many women, being pregnant or breastfeeding is the first time you actually have a cleavage. Those scoop necklines have never looked so good. Your husband or partner is secretly in awe and probably sneaks a peek whenever he can. Even if they feel enormous, celebrate them. Because they look gorgeous. And more importantly, they are creating breast milk, a substance that feeds and nourishes your baby. No need for a recipe book - your body just does it all on its own. Pretty clever things breasts.

If you want to show your bosoms some love, get them a supportive and comfortable nursing or maternity bra. You can also try anti-stretchmark oils or creams to keep the skin soft - just ensure they're suitable for breastfeeding.

Once you stop breastfeeding, you may find that your breasts seem to disappear. Having got used to your larger bust, you might feel a bit deflated. Don't. Firstly, remember what an awesome job they just did for you. Plus, they're probably less painful now. They belong to you again. You might even consider letting your husband or partner near them at last! And if all else fails, head to the shops and get yourself a new padded bra.

So go on mums, love your bosoms - no matter their size or shape. They're part of you!

Tell us below why you love your bosoms and don't forget to Like us on Facebook to be entered into our Valentine's draw.

LOSE THE BABY BELLY

The day will come when you decide the time is right to get back into shape after the birth of your baby.  Be it three months, a year or two…for many of us the baby belly is what we want to shift.

1. Start Slow! You might be eager to get back into your pre-pregnancy skinny jeans, but be patient. It can take up to a year to lose the weight and tone the belly, which is completely normal and even preferable. The amount of time it takes to see results also depends on your pregnancy, whether or not you had a caesarean section and your own body. Be sure to get the green light from your doctor or health visitor to start working out again.

2. Eat Right! A healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and low-fat dairy will help you lose weight and give you enough energy to work out and keep up with your baby.   Casseroles, stir-frys and hearty soups are a great in the winter months to keep you energised and feeling full.

3. Breastfeed! Breastfeeding is a great way to tighten the belly because it causes the uterus to contract and quickly shrink back to its pre-baby size. Women who breastfeed lose weight faster than those who don’t— up to 300 calories a day. And if you breastfeed for more than six months, you can burn up to 400 calories a day.

4. Exercise! Fitting in 30 to 60 minutes of cardio most days is a great way to burn calories and lose belly fat, and it doesn’t have to involve making time to go to the gym. Put the baby in the pushchair and go for a walk to the park.  Get on the Wii fit or invest in a workout DVD – personally we love a bit of Davina McCall! 

Don’t expect miracle results overnight, celebrate all achievements (like getting through a particularly hard-section of a work-out) take it a week at a time and do what you can. 

Support the Breastfeeding Pledge

Okay, so it will come as no great shock to readers of our blog that we love breastfeeding here at Emma-Jane.  Whilst pootling about on the old interweb, we came across the breastfeeding pledge.  Based in America, it’s written by Earth Mama and like them we too believe breastfeeding a baby is a gift of a mother’s love. 

The goal of the Support with Integrity Pledge is to strengthen and to unite the efforts of breastfeeding supporters who focus on getting the baby fed, and not taking sides about how it’s done, or being right. Each of us has preferences when it comes to technique, method, schedule or position, but quite honestly - whatever works for you and your baby.

So now we ask you to sign the Support with Integrity the Breastfeeding Pledge.

Still in its infancy as we write our blog we hope that British mummies can get behind the pledge and sign their support too.

To be clear, this pledge isn’t about breastfeeding vs. formula feeding. It’s simply about uniting breastfeeding supporters who have a common goal: to help normalise breastfeeding, to help remove the barriers to breastfeeding, and to provide a peaceful village of supporters united in their desire to help women successfully breastfeed.

Christmas Mocktails

Christmas is a time for eating, drinking and being merry, and whilst most pregnant women enjoy the merriment of the season, you do have to watch what you eat and drink.  Out go too many glasses of fizz, the pate starter and most of the Christmas day cheese board, in comes the alcohol free drinks, the well-cooked end of the roast beef and a token piece of cheddar!

Don't worry though, gone are the days of standing around at a party with a boring glass of orange juice.  There are now loads of fantastic non alcoholic cocktails around.   Here are three we particularly like that don’t need lots of obscure ingredients:

Non alcoholic fizz

In equal measure:

·         Orange juice

·         Cranberry juice

·         Soda water

 Simply mix together

Nojito – all the taste of a Mojito but without the rum

·         1oz lime juice

·         4oz soda water or sprite

·         6 mint leaves

·         2 tsps of brown sugar

1.      Bruise a few mint leaves using a spoon so that their juice can get out

2.      Add the lime juice, brown sugar and mint leaves in a highball glass

3.      Fill the glass with ice and stir

4.      Top with soda

5.      Add a twig of mint for decoration

Gentle Sea Breeze

Equal measures of cranberry juice and pineapple juice, and simply mix together and add crushed ice.  Garnish with a few sprigs of mint.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone at Emma-Jane.