Now that the cat’s out of the bag and family & friends have heard the exciting news that you’re pregnant, reality sets in one morning– you can’t button your pants! Is your wardrobe prepared for the next 6 months with the basics for all occasions? Isis Senior Buyer Susan Scheele recalls her own experience with maternity wear and shares some of her top maternity fashion tips.

I’m so excited to introduce you to the incredible and stylish options you have, which are numerous compared to my own experience (to say the least).  Here’s how I did it: I graduated from college, got married 5 months later and had my first baby the following year; this was sixteen years ago and the maternity clothing options were pretty pathetic.  Add the fact that I went to Art School and studied Fashion Design so there was no way I was about to sacrifice my sense of style to dress in a frock that made me look like a beached whale.  Instead I shopped the clearance rack in the mens department at the Gap and survived my pregnancy in non-maternity leggings and mens button down shirts- I was comfortable but a far cry from my usual stylish self. 

Well, things have certainly changed; maternity wear hit the cover of Women’s Wear Daily for the first time and Hollywood has made the “bump” hyper trendy.  Invest in some high quality basics and then accessorize with pieces you already have and you won’t break the bank purchasing clothes you’re only going to wear for a short time. 

Here are my top tips for creating the ultimate maternity wardrobe:

A black bottom and a black skirt finish off any polished look.  These timeless trousers from Noppies are comfortable go-with-everything black pants you’ll wear throughout your pregnancy. The Basic A-Line Skirt from Ripe Maternity is the perfect throw on-and-go style.  Top this flattering knit yoke skirt with your favorite tank and a pair of comfy sandals for a walk along the Esplanade or dress it up for a night out on the town. 

A white shirt in long or short sleeves gives a crisp finish and can layer over if you’re looking to be a little more casual.  Say goodbye to your hubby’s oxford shirts, you can now have your own!  The sleeves and back of the Odessa Blouse by Noppies are jersey knit, which allow for stretch, making this a great everyday option.

A cardigan is a must-have layering piece to deal with fluctuations in temperature. (Welcome to the hormonal roller-coaster!)  We love this cardigan from Ripe Maternity– it’s the essential layering piece.

A pop of color off of dark bottoms is always a great answer to any wardrobing dilemma. We love the Scoopneck Tube T from Ripe Maternity. The rouched sides and long length will last throughout your pregnancy and grow with your belly.

And don’t forget jeans! Maternal America Distressed Denim has an incredible fit that will carry you through pregnancy and beyond.  The forgiving wide knit waistband rides below the belly and allows for maximum comfort.  You can also wear a trendy Skinny Jean, which despite their name are designed to fit and flatter a pregnant woman.

Not only will these pieces take you up to the big event, but they’ll transition you through those first few postpartum weeks as well.  Don’t be afraid of wearing these pieces over and over again – we’ve chosen quality, versitile, mix & match styles that will compliment any wardrobe.  Throw in your own accessories to add your personal flair and show off your baby bump with style!

At Isis, we’re here to teach families safer use of slings and carriers from birth and as their baby grows. It’s essential to ensure both a clear airway and correct positioning, especially for smaller babies and newborns.

In response to recent news reports regarding the safety of baby slings, we’ve prepared a short video demonstration of how to properly and safely position a baby in a sling.

When is the last time you saw a movie in the theater?

There are countless changes to your life when you become a mother. Some are expected, others come as a complete surprise. The one thing I wasn’t prepared for was the new inability to be out doing things. These days everything my 6 month old daughter and I do must be well thought-out. Restaurants need highchairs. Stores need elevators if we are bringing our stroller, and in bathrooms the first thing we seek out is a changing table. Going to the movies? Out of the question. Or so I thought.

Being a stay at home mom makes getting out and about all the more important. When I found out about Mom and Baby movie days I was so excited. Going to the movies is one of the many things that is not baby friendly. The volume is too loud, it’s dark and no one wants their movie to be interrupted by a baby. But thanks to some thoughtful theaters, moms don’t have to wait for video anymore.  There are several theaters in the Boston area that offer Mom and Baby movies. Editor’s note: Starting March 18th, “Baby Pictures” will be showing at Showcase Cinema De Lux at Legacy Place in Dedham every third Thursday of the month. See below for a chance to win tickets to a Mom and Baby movie at Legacy Place!

We heard about Mom and Baby movies from our Great Beginnings class instructor Cindy M. When Cora was 4 months old, I was finally able to get us out to see a movie. It was just the two of us. Cora and I were so excited for our first movie date. I tend to arrive at things a bit early because you never know what is going to happen when you are out with your child! Most theaters can’t have a bunch of strollers blocking the aisles due to fire codes, so we came in our carrier. That was a great idea for a sleeping baby anyway, my arms didn’t have to bear the weight.

We did a diaper change before the movie–the bathrooms are equipped with changing tables. Everyone at the theatre was very nice, clearly happy to have some cute faces in the theatre for a matinee. The movie theatre turns the lights up a bit, so it’s not too dark to see your baby and baby won’t get frightened, which is great. The sound is lowered but still loud enough to hear over a crying baby. I brought several quiet toy options for my daughter to play with during the movie. Bringing more than one toy was important because if Cora tossed her toy on the floor, I could switch it out with something fresh and clean. (It is still a  movie theatre and even the cleanest of them have dirty floors!)

Babies are going to fuss sometimes but this is one time where no one is going to glare at you because of it. The other moms are used to it, all babies cry. When my daughter got fussy I was able to just stand up and walk the aisle with her so she was calm. I don’t think patrons at a regular movie would have cared for that! I was able to nurse Coraline right in the theatre while the movie was on, a very neat experience.  My daughter slept most of the time, so it was a nice break for me!

All in all going to the movies with my daughter is a fantastic afternoon outing. Some popcorn for me, some breast milk for her, a neat new adventure for the both of us together.

Kim Shipley, Isis mom to 6-month-old Coraline

Kim is a first time mom of a 6-month-old daughter.  She is originally from Pittsburgh, and currently resides in Somerville with one husband, one dog and one cat. When she’s not doing laundry or having dance parties with her daughter she writes a blog called The Girl Is A Mom. 

Giveaway Alert!

Isis is giving away 10 pairs of Free Passes to a Baby Pictures movie at Showcase Cinema De Lux at Legacy Place in Dedham! That’s two passes per winner, so you can bring a friend or go twice! To enter, post a comment on this blog telling us why you need to get out and about with your baby. We’ll choose the winners on Friday, March 12th at 10:00 AM.

Passes are valid for admission to Baby Pictures films only and expire at the end of 2011.

This giveaway is for US residents only. Sorry, Isis employees and their immediate families are not eligible to win. Limit one entry per family. Please include a valid email address so we can contact you if you win. Your email will not be published and will not be used for any other purpose. 

If your comment doesn’t appear right away, don’t worry. We monitor our comments for spam so there is a slight delay between the time you submit your comment and when it appears below.

Bianca and her son Liam, 22 months.

The art and science of bag packing has been something I worried a lot about even before having children. I’ve always been the lady carrying the huge bag with the sewing kit, first aid kit, and pretty much any other just-in-case supplies in fear of not being prepared for some unlikely emergency. When I became a mom I realized more was not always better – and smart, compact packing was an essential back saver, since a bag is not the only thing one carries around anymore.

It all starts with the right bag. My favorite type of bag is one that has built in stroller clips, plenty of room for everything, tons of pockets to keep it all organized, and it doesn’t scream “diaper bag”. An extra bonus is a bag that comes with a detachable clutch, in which I can store my essentials (money, cell phone, chapstick, keys, etc). Then I can remove the clutch and carry it by itself if I’m running out on a quick errand without the baby, or drop it into my regular purse when I am going to work.

Another great accessory is a changing pad “pack” which I use in place of the changing pad that comes with the diaper bag. That way I can just reach in and grab my diaper changing essentials all at once. In this storage pack I always have 3-4 diapers, wipes, a travel size tube of diaper cream, and a ziplock bag to store a soiled diaper and clothing in case of a blowout and/or a diaper change in a place with no trash receptacle. My husband also appreciates not having to lug around the entire diaper bag if he’s the one changing the diaper while we’re out or if he’s just taking our son for a quick trip to the park.

For extended daddy-and-me outings we have a plain black “daddy” diaper bag packed with pretty much identical contents to the main diaper bag (minus the mom-specific stuff) and we usually keep it in the car. The redundant supplies have also come in handy once or twice when I’ve forgotten to replace used supplies from my regular bag. We make an effort to restock the bag as soon as possible after we get home, so we don’t find a stinky diaper in there a week later.

What to pack in a diaper bag

For the newborn stage I always carried a nursing cover, burp cloth, a spare one-piece baby outfit and a spare T-shirt for me (learned that trick after a massive diaper blowout when I was out with my in a carrier, walking through a bookstore). Additional essentials included nail file and tweezers (trust me on this one), a little bottle of hand-sanitizer, a granola bar for me, and my knitting or a small book – it’s always nice to have something to do in case if you find yourself with an unexpectedly content napping baby and a nice place to sit and relax, like a park bench on a nice day, or a comfy coffee shop chair on a cold day.

Once we moved into the solid food stage I started carrying a favorite jar, spoon, bib (love those long-sleeved bibs, lovingly called the “haz-mat suit” around our house), disposable placemats to cover potentially questionable tables at restaurants, and an additional ziplock bag for food-related messes. I also always have an empty Take N Toss sippy cup – my sons favorite, which I can fill with water from my own bottle or whatever else he’s going to drink. Throw in a couple of little toys, like stacking cups and links and we were good to go.

Now that we’re in the toddler stage we updated contents to include an emergency box of snacks (raisins and cheerios are always popular), a set of pajamas and overnight diaper in case we stay somewhere through bedtime and expect our son to fall asleep in the car on the way home, a couple of small but fun and interactive books like Pat the Bunny, antibacterial wipes for restaurant high chairs or other shared surfaces, a sunblock stick, and my son’s very own refillable water bottle.

The next frontier will be packing for two – our new baby is arriving in a month and we will have to find new solutions and tricks for one and two child outings. I will let you know how it goes!

Looking for the perfect diaper bag? Visit Isis Boston, Brookline or Needham to check out our selection of diaper bags from GoGaga, Petunia Picklebottom and Skip Hop.

"Just sitting still and quiet, I feel a deep connection to the new being coming from a mysterious place through my body and into the world."

When I signed up for my prenatal yoga teacher training, I was a bit apprehensive about attending as I had not had children of my own.  However, my fears that I wouldn’t understand the women I would be teaching were alleviated when I met other not-yet-mothers in my class.

Now, I am ten weeks pregnant with my first child, and prenatal yoga is taking on a new importance in my life.   The first two months have been filled with so many physical changes, including intense tiredness and low blood pressure, that my yoga practice has completely changed.   I thought I would make it through my first trimester practicing as I had before pregnancy, but I never realized the changes would come on so quickly. 

After teaching this to others for the past three years, my personal practice is now prenatal yoga; and I love it!  I am also discovering what postures I can adapt and include in the prenatal classes I teach.  I feel confident practicing and teaching sun salutations with pauses and modified positions, which had not been included in my training.  New doors of possibilities open every day as I explore the potential and ability of my changing body.  I strongly believe my yoga practice is keeping me feeling healthy and strong.

Most importantly, my prenatal yoga practice is a time to connect with the little life that is growing within; and not a day goes by that I am not completely amazed.  During busy days, my yoga practice is the pause during which I can reflect on this amazing experience.  Meditation is very important for this purpose.   Just sitting still and quiet, I feel a deep connection to the new being coming from a mysterious place through my body and into the world.  Off the yoga mat, I find walking in nature, taking quiet time for myself, reading positive birth stories, and eating fresh healthy food is part of a yogic lifestyle that I feel is important to my overall well-being.  

In addition, these simple actions of being within help me to overcome some of the anxiety and fears that creep in when I get caught up in all the fast-paced information about pregnancy and birth.  It is definitely one of the most fascinating, exciting, and sometimes scary, adventures I have ever been on.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to share this experience with my students!

Tonya Solerno, Isis Prenatal Yoga Instructor

Prenatal Yoga classes are available at all four Isis centers.