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Pregnancy



Jillian Michaels Becomes a Mom to Lukensia and Phoenix

It’s a girl… and a boy! Jillian Michaels is a mom, a job title she’s been seeking for about two years. It was one of the main (or at least most public) reasons for her exit from Biggest Loser last year. And it’s no doubt her main focus from here on out.

Just announced today by People Magazine, Michaels’ adoption of a two-year-old girl from Haiti, Lukensia, has finalized. The adorable little girl is seen in a photo snuggled in her mom’s arms. And sitting in Jillian’s other arm is her newborn son Phoenix, born May 3 to she and partner Heidi Rhoades.

“We’re swimming in babies over here,” Michaels told People.

The fitness star and former Biggest Loser trainer hasn’t been shy about her adoption proceedings, letting everyone know she was in baby mode for quite some time. The latest update came back in January when her adoption referral came through. It was then that Jillian learned that Lukensia would soon be calling her home in Los Angeles home, too. It was previously thought that she would adopt from the Dominican Republic of Congo (DRC).
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‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’: 5 Lessons Learned

If you’ve ever been pregnant, dreamt about being pregnant, or been slightly terrified about what to expect while being pregnant, then the film “What to Expect While You’re Expecting,” is a must see for you.

With a star-studded cast with such famous names as Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Brooklyn Decker, Dennis Quaid and Chris Rock, this film is sure to be a big hit.

Surprisingly, it’s based on the best-selling book ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting,’ which at first glance seems like a traditional guide to pregnancy. But film producers have managed to bring the pages to life and even poke a little fun at the experience from the standpoint of both mothers- and fathers-to be.


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The Benefits of Breastfeeding and the Attachment Parenting Controversy

When it comes to motherhood, everyone has an opinion on how it should be done. So it was no surprise when 26-year-old model Jamie Grumet caused a near-cosmic stir when she posed on the cover of Time Magazine, breastfeeding her nearly 4-year-old son.

Grumet’s approach to motherhood is attachment parenting, which is a concept developed by Dr. William Sears, 72, as outlined in his 1992 book, “The Baby Book.”

Sears, raised by a single mother himself, believes that moms should be in near constant contact with their child, wearing their baby if possible, letting them sleep in the same bed with them, and tending to their every want and need.

Of the many benefits of this practice, Sears argues that attachment parenting produces children who are physically, emotionally and psychologically healthy, stating that children who are a product of this kind of parenting rarely – and possibly even never – turn out to be bullies or have other developmental issues.

One of the other prongs of attachment parenting is breastfeeding until the mother  – and child – feel the time is right to stop, which explains why Grumet still breastfeeds her almost 4-year-old son.

Grumet, who told The Today Show that she knew full well what she was getting into by posing so provocatively on the Time Magazine cover, says she was breast fed herself until she was six years old, and believes 100% in the concepts of attachment parenting.
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Aishwarya Rai Pressured by Bollywood Fans to be Skinny after Baby

Celebrity pregnancies are a very popular topic right now. More than the new baby is the trending topic about the mother’s weight gain and her return to her previous figure. Jessica Simpson has been criticized for her weight gain while Beyonce has been praised for her red carpet figure just a few weeks after delivery. While inquiring minds like to dig into celebrity lives in America, the tabloids are mild here in comparison to those in Bollywood.

Aishwarya Rai is a famous Bollywood star. She’s been praised for her beauty and her perfection throughout her career. Rai, who is called Ash by fans, recently gave birth to her first child. Her fans and the press have been brutal towards her regarding her post-baby figure.

One commenter stated that, “She is a Bollywood actress and being a part of showbiz, it is her duty to look good and fit. Till now she has been praised for her beauty, so it is only fair that she should also be criticised if she is not able to live up to it.”

This and other even harsher comments are spread across the media regarding the new mother’s larger frame. Those who defend Ash have pointed out the unrealistic standard that the masses expect her to live up to.
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Know Your Birth Control Options after Weight Loss Surgery

With the risk of blood clots and other complications following weight loss surgery, women are having to find other options than a typical estrogen-based contraceptive to prevent pregnancy. Estrogen-based contraceptives, like Ortho-Tri-Cyclen, that contain ethinyl estradiol are more likely to cause blood clots and increase blood pressure. But don’t fret, there are a lot of options available.

Estrogen-free birth controls, or progestin-only birth controls, only contain one form of hormone but are still effective in preventing pregnancy. These are a good option for those who are overweight, have high blood pressure and are at risk for blood clots. Weight loss surgery patients probably have at least two of these three issues.

Oral contraceptives include Jolivette, also known as Ortho-Micronor, which is taken daily; the Depo-provera shot, which is administered in a doctor’s office every three months; and Mirena, the intrauterine device or IUD. One concern with progestin birth controls is the increase risk of weight gain. This is usually pretty minimal and can be controlled with proper nutrition and exercise.
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