A group of friends, all of whom are also both actors and new moms, have joined together out in LA to raise funds for the March of Dimes.  The March of Dimes advocates for all aspects of babyhood, from conception to early infancy, and is perhaps best known for its work fighting to prevent birth defects. 

I think this is so great.  Not only are these moms supporting each other through pregnancies and the young babyhood of their kids, but they’re reaching beyond themselves to help make life better for other parents, other kids. 

And it’s not like these ladies are any less busy than the rest of us.  So, how about it, moms?  What can we be doing to help support other moms, and make life better for babies we might never meet?  Kudos to you, Elizabeth Rohm, Melissa Joan Hart, Nancy O’Dell, Julie Bowen, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, Jenny Garth, Diane Farr, Kellie Martin, and Nancy O’Dell.

A Pea in the Pod released today the first official details of its partnership with Nicole Richie. A Pea in the Pod, the brand moms-to-be consistently rely on for stylish maternity clothes, worked closely with Nicole Richie to create a free-spirited designer line.

The 14-piece capsule collection captures Nicole Richie’s signature bohemian look with key items such as the peasant top, caftan, cascade cardigan, patio dress, and maxi skirt. Signature details like asymmetric hems, braid trim and smocking are important elements in this free-spirited collection.

Tissue knits and silk are available at prices that range from a $48 tank top to a $148 maxi dress. Items will be available at all A Pea in the Pod and Destination Maternity locations and online at www.apeainthepod.com and www.destinationmaternity.com beginning August 7, 2009.

“I’m excited to join A Pea in the Pod in creating my capsule collection,” said Nicole Richie. “I hope that the ease and comfort of my designs will help expectant moms to look and feel amazing throughout their pregnancy.”

Image courtesy of fitsupermom.com

There are many health practices that are always a good idea, like eating right, sleeping well, and exercising, that are even more important during pregnancy.  Pregnancy is natural, it’s what a woman’s body was designed for, so it stands to reason that there aren’t that many extraordinary measures you have to take to care for yourself during pregnancy.  Just do the usual good things, only be more diligent and more careful about them.

This is especially true of exercise.  There used to be an idea that a pregnant woman had to take it easy, that she should avoid physical activity as much as possible.  That’s really not the case.  The stronger you are, the more toned your muscles are, the more healthy your heart and lungs are…the easier your pregnancy and childbirth are going to be.

Frankly, there’s not much you can’t do while pregnant.  There are no target heart rates, not level of exertion you can’t go above.  Abdominal exercises, once thought to be harmful, are now known to be beneficial.

There are a few things you should avoid in your regular exercise regimen.  They include:

• Don’t exercise lying flat on your back after the first trimester.  Any exercises you used to do lying down, you can modify to do standing up.
• Avoid exercises with deep muscle or joint movement, such as squats or lunges.  You’re off balance and carrying more weight than usual, and your joints are all wonky as they prepare for labor. 
• Be careful doing anything that requires balance after the 4th month.  Your center of gravity shifts, throwing you off balance easily.
• Avoid contact sports, like soccer.

That’s about it.  Besides those things, you can do whatever feels comfortable.  And you should do those things; your body has a hard job ahead of it, and you need to be giving it everything it needs.

Obviously, healthy eating, especially during pregnancy, includes a lot more than a list of things to avoid.  When you really only need to add about 300 calories a day for a healthy pregnancy, it matters even more what you actually do put into your body and your baby’s body. 

But for those of who try in whatever small way to eat healthy, we know that it’s not the things we should eat that give us problems, but the things we shouldn’t.  I mean, a chocolate-covered granola bar is healthy, right? 

So, for those who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, here is a list of don’ts for eating during pregnancy.  Some of them might surprise you. 

• Unpasteurized dairy products (milk, cheeses).  I didn’t even know you could get these things unpasteurized these days.

• Raw sea food.  Oysters and raw sushi are on this list.  Though why anyone would eat an oyster is beyong me, and living with two shell-critter eaters has not solved the mystery.  Anyway, these things could have bacteria that can harm you and your baby.

• Fish.  This is more of a “limit yourself” than a strict “don’t.”  But even cooked fish can have unhealthy levels of mercury, which can affect how your baby’s brain develops.  However, a couple of servings of fish a week can give you a good boost of vitamins.

• Alcohol.  Even though my mom was told to drink a Porter a day through her pregnancies, you should avoid all alcohol.  Period.  Don’t mess with this one. 

• Caffeine.  If you’re as lucky as I was, your body won’t want your morning cups of joe (a miracle in my case; I’ve been a faithful coffee drinker since I was 14).  But this also includes teas and sodas, and yes… even chocolate.  This is another brain thing–your baby’s.  Caffeine can cause ADHD and learning disabilities in fetuses.

• Diet drinks.  The ones with aspartame can cause headaches in both you and your wee one.  If you must drink these, choose the ones with splenda or stevia.

Don’t forget to replace all those don’ts with some healthy do’s, like eating more often, eating fruits and vegetables, and drinking plenty of water.

I’m a complete hypochondriac.  I think this is because I read too much, and I’m far too aware of stories where people have a headache, then they’re dead.  So, I rely on a couple different websites to help me keep myself in check.  They’re mostly successful at this, since I can look up “headache” and learn what causes them, how serious they are, and when I should, and shouldn’t, be concerned.

One of the best of those sites is Web MD.  Web MD offers lists of symptoms, causes, and treatments for every ailment you can imagine, accompanied by articles that explain things in clear layman’s language.  I was impressed, on doing research on abuse in teen relationships (for a future article), that Web MD has articles on it, along with supporting articles with information on how to recognize it and what to do if you find yourself in that situation (or your teen is).

Their tabs, or general categories of information, include Home & News, Health A-Z, Drugs & Supplements, Healthy Living, Healthy Eating & Diet, Parenting & Pregnancy, and Mental Health.  Every one of these topics offers subtopics, quick lists, supporting articles, and related articles.

Parents always need to have a wide variety of medical information close at hand.  Between illnesses and injuries–both our own and our kids’–we are responsible for getting the right treatment at the right time, and we need all the help we can get.  Web MD is one good resource for that.