Fresh air, some sunshine, a little warmth and breastfeeding at the park in front of strangers… Well, the first parts are fun. Clothes with easy access for nursing moms can be hard to come by. But fear not, you don’t have to turn in your style card when you have a new baby. Here’s a few spring styles available at Hip to be Round for spring 2015 that we can’t wait to get our hands on.
Basket Weave Nursing Maxi
Believe it or not this nursing/maternity maxi dress has a hidden nursing panel right behind the top basket weave. Works great for maternity and falls completely flat for a no-way-that’s-maternity look postpartum.
Zahra Applique Dress
Pleats and draped fabric hide easy nursing access just below the detailed neckline. Bonus: you can wear this one pregnant too!
Must Have Maxi Dress
Keep it simple with this solid maxi dress, seam lifts for easy nursing access.
Ikat Nursing Dress
This dress leaves a little room for that post-belly-belly to create a flattering fit, nursing access is hidden just behind the panel.
Gemma Nursing Dress
Cute print: check. Spring colors: check. Nursing access: check.
Enja Cap Sleeve Dress
Perfect dress for work which is great, because the word “pumps” has taken a whole new meaning.
Britney Bubble Top
Dresses not your style? We’re loving the watercolor print. Front pleating covers nursing panel and provides a flattering not-too-snug fit.
Express Nursing Tank
Can’t go wrong with a nautical stripe. This nursing tank is super cute on it’s own or paired with a light cardigan for spring.
Shop all the new arrivals and try them on in person.
Carytown
3124 W. Cary St
Richmond, VA 23221
Mosaic District
2905 District Ave, #125
Fairfax, VA 22031
This article was sponsored by Hip to be Round.
Hip to be Round carries new and consigned maternity and nursing apparel and accessories.
We hear it time and again: “Pain during pregnancy is normal… The baby must be sitting on the nerve…” We are told so by our friends, our sisters, our mothers and even uninvited strangers. But the truth is that pain during pregnancy is not normal. It is not expected because the baby is small and cushioned well, so he or she cannot be sitting on a nerve. However, pain during pregnancy is common. Statistics show 50-80% of women experience back pain while pregnant. This can range from significant to completely disabling pain– 80% will be unable to go through their daily routine because of their intense pain.
So the term “Pain is normal” is not a good enough answer for me. I’m a Physical Therapist, trained to help you with your “mechanical pain”. Mechanical pain means the pain that is coming from muscles, joints, lose ligaments, discs, and pre-existing asymmetries. A trained Physical Therapist can evaluate each of these structures for you, determine what is causing your specific pain, and help create a plan to help relieve that pain. Our evaluation results in a treatment plan that can implement in the office, and teach you an exercise program that you can take home to manage your pain.
Instability in the muscles and ligaments is the most common cause of the pain, resulting in other muscles working too hard to stabilize the tissues, resulting in spasms and shooting pain, that may even travel down the leg. Learning how to safely do a pelvic floor muscle contraction is the start of that stability.
Let’s try it: lie down, or sitting a chair, with your legs and back at rest. Then, squeeze up and in, imagine that you are trying to hold in urine. Try your best not to squeeze your gluteals, your knees, or your feet together, really isolate those pelvic floor muscles. Hold for a count of five, and repeat the exercise ten times. You can be make it harder by holding longer, or steadily increasing the intensity of the squeeze.
Another strong stabilizer is your abdominals! Again, sitting or lying, sink your belly button in to your spine, hold for a count of five, repeat ten times. Another nice way to help reset unstable joints is rhythmic motions, sit close to the edge of your chair and rock your hips backward and forward. You will be making your pelvis tilt forward and back, repeat ten times. All theses exercises can be done several times a day for the best results.
Here are some tips that will come in handy to help with your pain as well. Think about your posture. Imagine the string pulling your head up as you stand and walk. Keep your abdominal and pelvic floor muscles engaged when you change positions, like when you are going up and down stairs, or when lifting heavy objects or children. Wear sensible shoes, not heels and flip flops, throw the Uggs back in the closet, and instead, chose a strong heel, and good arch support.
We have touched on some important exercises and tips to help you with your back pain, but there so much more to learn. Be sure to tell your ObGyn about your pain, no matter how small, even if you are in your first trimester! Ask if a Physical Therapist would be safe and appropriate for you. Remember, back pain is not “normal” and something you need to live with, but it is common. So don’t settle for dealing with unnecessary pain.
Mona Saeed DPT, Certified MDT, CHT earned her Bachelor of Science degree fromBarnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY, and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.
In addition to general orthopedics, Mona is experienced and certified in McKenzie’s method to treat cervical and lumbar spine dysfunction. She also has the unique experience of treating patients with pain related to pregnancy as early as 6 weeks to full term, in both high risk and “normal” pregnancies.
Many of the physical therapists at Tidewater Physical Therapy Inc. hold Direct Access Certification through the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy allowing them to evaluate and treat patients without a prescription. As part of your healthcare team, a physical therapist will make an assessment of your condition and create a plan to start you on the road to wellness. Our team will communicate with your physician of record and obtain a referral, if necessary, for your continued treatment. We will also work with your insurance carrier to make sure services are covered by your plan. To make your own appointment, find a clinic near you.
This article is sponsored by Tidewater Physical Therapy.
BACK PAIN: DURING AND AFTER PREGNACY
It’s estimated that 50-70 percent of women will suffer back or pelvic pain during pregnancy. Loosening of the ligaments due to hormonal changes, additional weight, and stretching of the abdominal muscles increases stress to the lumbar spine. If you’re lucky enough to sail through pregnancy without back pain, you’re not necessarily out of the woods. New moms need core strength to support their spines while they tote around that precious bundle of joy – a bundle that is getting heavier every day. We habitually carry our children on one side of our body due to upper body strength differences and hand preference. This asymmetrical force through the spine can also lead to back pain in the months after childbirth.
WHAT IS THE CORE AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
The spine is supported by several groups of muscles called the core. These muscles working together act like a corset. Your core muscles include the diaphragm, paraspinals (or back muscles), gluteals, the abdominals and the pelvic floor. Towards the end of pregnancy, the growing baby is placing outward pressure on your diaphragm, pelvic floor and abdominal muscles limiting their ability to help protect the spine. This places increased stress on the paraspinals, forcing this muscle group to work harder to compensate for the other muscles which have become too stretched to function properly. It’s important to tone these muscles after baby arrives to protect your spine from injury.
Remember to consult your physician before beginning any exercise routine after childbirth. If you’ve had a C-section, your doctor will likely limit your activity until your incision heals.
THE PELVIS AND DIAPHRAM
In most cases, Kegels and breathing exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor and diaphragm can begin almost immediately after childbirth. Kegels are performed by tightening the pelvic floor muscles as in stopping the flow of urine. This exercise has the added bonus of preventing incontinence in women who’ve had a vaginal delivery.
THE ABDOMINALS
You can also begin deep breathing exercises by sitting or lying in a comfortable position, then taking a very deep breath, imagining you are filling in every nook and cranny in your lungs. Next, fully exhale, pushing out every bit of air you just pulled in. Isometric abdominal exercises are also safe to perform early after childbirth. These are performed while lying on your back and pulling in your abdominal muscles – think about pulling your belly button in towards your spine.
Now that you’ve strengthened the top and bottom of the “corset,” you’ll need to work on the front, back and sides. It’s hard to find time for exercise in the first weeks following the birth of a child, so why not exercise while enjoying some time with your baby?
Prone Plank –For the beginner this can be performed on your knees but for the more advanced, try lifting one foot off the floor.
Side Plank – Beginners can perform this exercise on the elbow and knees. Progress the exercise by moving to the feet and hands. You can even try lifting the top leg.
Floor Marching– For the beginner, keep your back on the floor and the abdominal muscles tightened while marching your feet up and down. This should be done slowly and the trunk should remain stable. As you advance, lift your back off the floor for the Marching Bridge.
Squats – this is great for the gluteals! Make sure you don’t let your knees come over your toes and keep your spine straight. You can start with a shallow squat and try going deeper into the squat as your strength improves.
I had back and pelvic pain during both of my pregnancies that resolved soon after birth. As a physical therapist and new mom, I can attest that taking just a modest amount of time to work on your core can really make a difference. Your spinal stability will gradually improve as your ligaments return to their pre-pregnancy state and your core muscle strength improves. If you have back or pelvic issues that persist, discuss these with your physician or physical therapist. You may have an alignment issue that needs to be addressed.
Diana Brooks, PT, DPT is a Physical Therapist with Tidewater Physical Therapy in their Iron Bridge clinic where she also serves as Clinical Director. Diana is Direct Access certified through the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy and can see patients without a referral from a physician.
This article is sponsored by Tidewater Physical Therapy
]]>We are not pregnant.
We are, however, in full-on we-want-a-baby-give-us-a-baby-now-now-now mode.
All of our friends know this. I think, really, most are rooting for us and excited by the idea of their favorite lesbian couple having a little liberal bundle of joy. Upon having dinner, going shopping, or something similar with one of our two gal-pal besties they’ll ask things like, “pregnant yet?”
Not pregnant yet, but that doesn’t mean I can’t buy my boo super adorable baby stuff, right?
My bestie, who already has an insanely cute kid of her own, is a great asset to our baby-planning. She offers up all sorts of sage advice and is totally fine with us being over-adoring aunt types to her energetic tike. Since she has gone through pregnancy herself, is a phenomenal mother, and an all around helpful gal — we feel pretty confident she’ll be there for us when we call her, sleep-deprived and crazed, because we have no idea how to get our newborn baby to stop wailing.
My lady’s bestie is in the same gimme-a-baby-now-now-now boat. She’s a great asset to our baby-planning because she and my missus are extremely close and both want babies like, right this very second. Seriously, I’m pretty sure if she and my wife could…they’d get pregnant at the exact same time so that they could go through the entire experience together.
Yep, we’ve got it bad. I find myself wandering into baby clothing stores and holding up little onesies and teeny-tiny chuck taylors with a stupid grin on my face. I wonder how a person could ever be that small. I wonder how on earth my itty-bitty wife can grow something so precious in her belly. I want to buy all the monster pjs and tees with puppies on them but put them back on the rack because…after all, we’re just not quite there yet.
These pjs combine two of the greatest things: monsters and Christmas! Want.
But is it completely ridiculous and just stupid to start “preparing” now? Is it overly silly to give in to the desire to buy the occasional irresistibly precious baby item? We just can’t help ourselves. Sure, sometimes it blows up in our faces — case in point: We’ve had our girl baby name picked out for about five years now, only to find out that it has shot up the charts in popularity. As discovered on our anniversary trip to Pennsylvania, according to nameberry.com, Penelope is the SIXTH most popular name in the U.S. right now. DAMMIT. We’d completely fallen in love with this name, but we sure as hell don’t want our kid to go to school with a garbillion other Penelopes. Granted, we only have a 50% chance of having a girl…but if we did, we would have had our name all picked out. So…back to the drawing board. After grabbing ice cream at the always delicious Bev’s Homemade, we passed by Chop Suey Books and I spotted a light read on the $1 rack right outside of their shop.
There’s a leopard-print bib on the front…it’s gotta be good, right?
Sure, it was riddled with movie-star and pop-sensation names like Apple or Joplin but it was bound to have at least one or two gems in it. Somewhat surprisingly, we did circle a few names. Nothing has hit us like a bolt of lightening, but we’ve got a while.
In the meantime if we happen to come across an awesome vintage baby rocker, we’ll do what any lesbian with baby-fever would do. Buy it. Clean it. Restain it…and keep on preparing for the day when the stork will finally make a stop at our home.
This post was submitted by Abby Waller. You can read Abby’s writing at ISpyRVA
Read Abby’s last post Two Moms are Better Than None
]]>
Congratulations everyone nominated for the Dream Baby Shower!
A big thanks to
Hip to be Round
For hosting our Dream Baby Shower Expectant Girls Day Out
and
The Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU
for sponsoring the 2014 Dream Baby Shower
Without further ado, the Dream Baby Shower Winner is….
Christine Lowman!
(Read about Christine and all the other nominees here)
We had a great time giving away door prizes, eating cupcakes and getting to meet some amazing women. Pictures were taken by McAbbott Studios.
Best wishes to everyone and their new arrivals!
Photo booth fun
He was too cute!
One of our many giveaways!
Christine and her family have been showered with prizes provided by…
Science Museum- 1 year membership
$250 Gift Card to Hip to be Round
Massage Envy – Free 1 hr Massage ($80) 
All Fired Up – Gift Certificate
Romp n’ Roll – month membership
Virginia529 – $100 inVEST account
Real Life Studios -$350.00 gift certificate
Sleepytime – $50 gift certificate for sleep consulting
Shannon Milligan – piggy bank with $75 to start college fund
Nanny Van – gift certificate free registration for annual membership ($150 value).
Flying Squirrels – Baby’s first Flying Squirrels fan gear!
Fit4Mom – 1 month of stroller strides classes
ChildTime – free week of infant child care ($224)
Babbie Laddie – in-home lactation consultant (2 hours) and one follow up visit (1 hour) ($300)
Spinal Correction Center of Richmond (1) One BodyWorks Package (includes a wellness evaluation/exam, consultation and 30 minute customized massage) (2) One Full Hour Massage (choice of: Therapeutic, Deep Tissue or Swedish Massage)
Melody Magic – 1 month of free music classes
…and lots of other great goodies like:
Sticky Bellies – 12 month stickers to track your baby’s growth
Mommy’s Bliss Gripe Water and other great products from our Virginia This Morning Segment
See our past winners
]]>
The Children’s Hospital of Richmond, Richmondmom.com and Hip to be Round are excited to announce the 2014 Dream Baby Shower!
Recognize a mom to be and shower her with prizes!
Here’s how it works:
1. Nominate yourself or any expectant Richmond mom* here from by July 29, 2014. Nominations close at 7pm on 7/29/14. *Please note: multiple nominations do not impact winning status, only votes determine winners.
2. Vote: You’ll see your nomination here on the site (we’ll provide a link during the dates!) & you may only vote once per person between and August 1 – 14, 2014.
3. Celebrate: Every Nominee is invited to celebrate with us at the Expectant Girls Day Out at Hip to Be Round in Carytown on August 16th from 2:00 pm-4:00 pm where we’ll announce the winner! Each nominee may bring 1-2 guests and celebrate with us! You will receive an invitation to RSVP.
Nominations are closed.
A very special thank you to
AND
for making the Dream Baby Shower possible.
Check out our incredible prizes!
Science Museum- 1 year membership
$250 Gift Card to Hip to be Round
Massage Envy – Free 1 hr Massage ($80) All Fired Up – Gift Certificate
Romp n’ Roll – month membership
Virginia529 – $100 inVEST account
Real Life Studios -$350.00 gift certificate
Sleepytime – $50 gift certificate for sleep consulting
Shannon Milligan – piggy bank with $75 to start college fund
Nanny Van – gift certificate free registration for annual membership ($150 value).
Flying Squirrels – Baby’s first Flying Squirrels fan gear!
Fit4Mom – 1 month of stroller strides classes
ChildTime – free week of infant child care ($224)
Babbie Laddie – in-home lactation consultant (2 hours) and one follow up visit (1 hour) ($300)
Spinal Correction Center of Richmond (1) One BodyWorks Package (includes a wellness evaluation/exam, consultation and 30 minute customized massage) (2) One Full Hour Massage (choice of: Therapeutic, Deep Tissue or Swedish Massage)
Melody Magic – 1 month of free music classes
…and lots of other great goodies like:
Sticky Bellies – 12 month stickers to track your baby’s growth
Mommy’s Bliss Gripe Water and other great products from our Virginia This Morning Segment
See our past winners
I got a chance to spend some time with Jessica Knoll and her adorable 16 month old daughter, Pearl talking about some fabulous products that help fussy babies.
Click here or on the image below
to see the segment on the CBS6 website.
We were really excited to be on Virginia This Morning and share these great products:
Mommy’s Bliss Gripe Water
-#1 selling natural colic remedy in the U.S.
-Safe, gentle and effective liquid formula contains organic ginger and fennel, which are historically known to ease the nausea and discomfort caused by stomach gas and other colic symptoms
-Recommended by Pediatricians nation-wide as a safe and natural alternative to simethicone-based gas drops
-Does not contain alcohol, parabens or harsh chemicals
-Available for purchase at Walgreens, Rite Aid and Wal-Mart for $11.99
Kids Relief Teething Oral Solution
-Homeopathic Medicine
-Eases pain during the teething process
-Alcohol, dye, and sugar free
-Helps to relieve fever, gum pain and inflammation, restlessness, irritability and diarrhea
-No side effect risk or overdose risk
-Made from natural ingredients
-Safe and easy administer
-Available for purchase at CVS locations nationwide for $6.99
Xlear Baby Banana Brush with Strawberry Banana Tooth Gel
-Toddler friendly tooth gel that comes with a banana tooth brush
-The key ingredient is xylitol, which has proven health benefits
-Promotes calcium absorption and builds up tooth enamel
-Fluoride free and safe to swallow
-Delicious strawberry banana flavor
-Available for purchase at health and natural product stores and online at xlear.com for $12.99
Blooming Bath
-Plush flower insert fits in your sink to create a soft cradle for baby’s bath time
-Made from natural antimicrobial foam
-Can be used in the sink for newborns through six months
-Can also be used as a bath mat in your regular tub once baby outgrows the sink
-Included tag on the back makes it easy to hang dry
-Safe to toss in the washer and dryer
-Retails for $39.99 on bloominghbath.com, as well as at Buy Buy Baby, Babiesrus.com and Target.com
The unopened (and un-dropped) products will be a part of the prize package for a big upcoming contest to be revealed soon!
In consolation, I leave you with two absolutely ridiculous screen shots.
Feel free to “caption these” in the comments below.
Enjoy.
We had so much fun we’re already working on another one for fall…
]]>now through July 3rd!
Sale includes already marked down items (not consignment or the 19.99 clearance items) as well as best sellers like Michael Stars dresses & tees and Maternal America brand dresses.
Hot and humid season in Richmond has really just started, so grab some basics to look and feel great during those dog days of summer!
Absolutely in love with something that’s not red, white or blue? You always get an additional $15 off a $75 purchase with the Richmondmom.com Savvy Saver app!
3124 W. Cary Street
Richmond, Va 23235
(804) 340-1700
www.HiptobeRound.com
Hip to be Round Will be closed July 4
Never underestimate the value of doing nothing -Eeyore
For most of my years, I have been terrible at doing nothing. When I saw an hour in my schedule, I thought: How can I fill that time? What must get done? Who can do it with me? Let’s go go go!
As I grew older, I had less time to fill, but I didn’t lose that notion of DOING. When someone asked if I could meet, volunteer, call, work, write, or show up, I said, “Yes” even if it was the only 30 minutes of my day to do dishes or to eat lunch sitting at a table or to just catch my breath. I became so good at filling my time, a friend would ask to grab coffee, and I would pull up my color-coded calendar and offer them next month like I was a doctor’s office offering up physicals and not a person too busy to be a friend. An hour in my day meant another hour to plan, and I had no room for life or for rest.
I hit a wall during my second pregnancy when my midwife said I had to rest one hour every day to help manage my syncope, and I cried. I cried because being off my feet and relaxing for an hour every day was impossible. I couldn’t comprehend how to let go of my schedule. I did it anyway for the good of my daughter, and the lesson began to sink into my heart that perhaps resting could be for the good of me, too.
I guess I thought busy-ness would be make up for something I lacked, but as it turned out, I wasn’t missing anything except all the times life offered a moment to be entertained by glancing out the window or to be unexpectedly available to a worried friend or to be something as simple as petting my cat while reading a good book.
Being busy had its perks. I never had to think or feel as much as I do now. I never had to explain myself because I had concrete plans every minute of every day. I felt important even as I was missing out on what’s important.
Today, while plans and events and work and kids keep happening, I sit and rest as often as possible. I marvel at the unstructured, quiet time life offers me if I take it with a simple, “No, I (we) can’t” when my calendar calls. I’ve realized these moments of nothing are like speed bumps keeping life from passing me by.
]]>
Hey Mamas there’s a new support group in town!
RVA Parents of Preemies (RVAPOP) is a Richmond-based group that provides community, advice, support, and friendship to the parents and family members of infants born prematurely.
RVAPOPs mission is to lessen the isolation of the NICU experience by uniting new preemie parents with experienced NICU families for local support as well as providing a safe space to celebrate successes and share concerns.
The RVA Parents of Preemies support group meets every fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm. Franklin Goose-Carytown, 3401 West Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23221.
For more information visit their Facebook Page, check out their website, or contact Leslie Forrest at rvapreemie@gmail.com. To donate to the RVAPOPs March for Babies team click here.
The Birth Story of RVAPOP:
When Leslie Forrest went into premature labor at 31 weeks gestation, she spent ten days in the antepartum unit while doctors prepared her daughter, Lucia, for an early arrival and also tried their best to keep her inside for as long as possible. During the quiet lulls not spent with her husband—who was also sharing time at home with their other three children 11, 5, and 2—Leslie worried, cried, and tried to find information or support online. She had so many questions and wondered what it would be like to give birth to a preterm baby, and what Lucia would look like when she was born. She knew that the Neonatal Intensive Care team would care for her daughter at birth and she wondered what to expect.
Leslie scoured the internet but eventually turned to Facebook and a local mothering group in hopes of finding someone to talk to. She posted a thread to share that she would be giving birth to a premature baby soon and asking for advice, but no one responded. Leslie was left feeling even more alone and scared.
The next day someone replied that they knew of a woman who had recently given birth at 32 weeks, and she offered to connect the two moms. “It was a relief to express worry to someone who truly understood. While friends and family were well meaning, they couldn’t empathize the way that another preemie mama could,” says Leslie. “Marissa really understood what I was going through. While everyone around me was saying ‘Oh the baby is going to be fine, everything is going to be OK,’ Marissa was able to be there for me and say, ‘This is NOT OK, and I’ve been through this. This is really hard.’”
As it turned out, Marissa had given birth at Henrico Doctor’s Hospital too, and so she was able to offer specific encouragement and reassurance. “She shared what I could expect from our NICU stay and even told me who her favorite nurses were.” When Leslie’s fears about giving birth surfaced, “Marissa’s listening ear and friendship were a godsend.”
Leslie and Marissa quickly realized how important and helpful this kind of one-on-one support could be for both new and experienced mamas of preemies. “It’s healing to be able to give back to another family if you’ve been there before and know the struggles of the NICU,” says Marissa.
The need for emotional support doesn’t often end after discharge from the NICU. For many families, leaving the NICU is only the beginning of their journey as babies born prematurely are at higher risk for a host of health challenges and special needs as they grow and develop throughout their first year and beyond.
Newly postpartum and home with her new daughter after a 30 day NICU stay, Leslie discussed with Marissa Richmond’s need for a community group to serve mother’s and families of babies born prematurely.
They organized a monthly meet-up for themselves and a few other NICU moms who they had recently met, Luci and Kasey, also founding board members. When the Christmas Season came they put together gift bags for mothers who were caring for their babies in the NICU over the Holiday. “We knew they would appreciate a little pick-me up,” says Leslie, “Something to say, ‘Hey, we know you’re in there, and we’re thinking of you.’”
They also started a Facebook group for local moms to connect, ask questions, and celebrate the big and little milestones. “Having a place to post questions as we navigate the medical challenges that our babies face, or just to encourage each other in the small victories, it’s been invaluable to bridging that gap of feeling isolated,” says Leslie. “We finally have community!”
With a lending library of books available as a community resource and a March for Babies Team that has already raised over $1,000 for the cause, these mamas are filling a previously unmet need in the mothering community and championing the cause of prematurity.
]]>