I was advised about this product in the early part of my pregnancy while shopping at Pea in a Pod. And now, I swear by it! Currently, I am 8 months pregnant and have yet to see one stretch mark on my ever expanding belly. I have told all of my girlfriends and pretty much anyone that will listen about how amazing this product is.

Prenatal Safe Exercises for Lower Back Pain

By Jaime Wooten, AFFA, CPT Prenatal/Postnatal Health and Fitness Educator

One of the most common complaints I hear from my pregnant clients is “my lower back is killing me.”

The relaxin hormone and a growing uterus are to blame, but there are exercises to help ease the pain!

Pelvic Tilt:

Lying on your back with arms are at your sides, bend your knees so that your finger tips are almost touching your ankles. Inhale and press your lower back to the floor. Exhale and tilt the pelvis to create space between the floor and repeat. It is a small but powerful movement that can bring big results. Try 1-20 reps working up to 3 sets of twenty, 3 times a day.

Yoga Cat Cow:

From an all fours table position, open your hands wide like a starfish. Have your wrists under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. Inhale Cow; make a hammock with your back, gaze is up towards the sky. Exhale Cat; arch your spine like a scaredy-cat, gaze down towards the floor. Work up to 15 breathes.

Table with Opposite Arm and Opposite Leg:

While in your all four position check your alignment for wrists under shoulders and knees under hips. Extend and raise your leg to hip height, be sure to flex your foot, and make sure your hips are square and even. Then, add your arm extending forward like you are shaking hands with thumb extending towards the sky. Be sure not to go above shoulder height. Inhale back to your original table starting position, then exhale your opposite arm and opposite leg to the extended position. Switch sides and repeat 10-12 reps.

Note: if you have any tingling in the hands or wrists you can modify any all-fours exercise by making fists with your hands.

Remember to continue core strengthening exercises when you are pregnant. Yoga is a fantastic way to build core strength and relieve back pain. After 20 weeks you can still do crunches but do them on a ball or slanted surface (3 risers and a step, head is above heart). Three minutes is the rule for exercising on your back when pregnant. Remember to roll to your left and take a break for circulation purposes.

Please consult your doctor or midwife before beginning any prenatal exercise program. These exercises were designed for low-risk pregnancies.

Finally, one last tip; purchasing a pre-natal support belt can also bring great relief to your lower back. Try one on and you will know right away if this will work for you. It is not a gimmick, but amazing, drug-free relief of back pain.

Jaime Wooten, AFFA CPT blends her background as a mother to 4&6 year old girls and 17 years as a certified fitness professional to assist her clients through this unique time of their lives. You can reach her at Jaime@fitnessadvantagetrainer.com

Current Exercise Guidelines For Low Risk Pregnancies

by Jaime Wooten, AFFA, CPT Prenatal/Postnatal Health and Fitness Educator

Exercise can be a wonderful outlet to prepare your mind, body and spirit in preparation for motherhood. New guidelines from ACOG & AFFA suggest that women with low risk pregnancies should workout 30-90 minutes a day! Walking, yoga, light weight-lifting and belly dancing are all fantastic programs to begin during your pregnancy.

Current Considerations and Modifications:

1) Perceived Rate of Exertion: On a Scale of 1-10, you should be about a 7/8 somewhat hard. If you need to test yourself make sure you can speak comfortably

2) Stay well hydrated! Take extra water breaks!

3) Second and Third Trimesters exercising on your back should be limited to 3 minutes. Abdominal work should be done on a slant ie: on a ball.

4) Avoid activities with high risk of falling or contact sports.

5) Hormonal carpal tunnel and tendonitis is quite prevelent. Lifting 3-5lbs weights is recommended. If you have a tingling in the hands or wrists, avoid direct pressure with palms while doing exercises on all fours and use fists and elbows as modification.

7) Especially in the 3rd trimester, if you have heartburn keep your head above your heart.

6) Signs to stop exercising and call your doctor include: vaginal bleeding, difficulting breathing, dizziness, and headache.

Listen to your body at all times, and remember to always consult your doctor or midwife before beginning an exercise program. Exercise can help you physically and mentally prepare you for labor and beyond. Enjoy your journey!

Jaime Wooten, AFFA CPT blends her background as a mother to 4&6 year old girls and 17 years as a certified fitness professional to assist her clients through this unique time of their lives. You can reach her at Jaime@fitnessadvantagetrainer.com

New Mom, Elaine, shared why she loves basq in the following testimonial!

During the first few months of being a new mom, the only time I really took for myself was locking myself into the bathroom for fifteen minutes and doing my BASQ ritual. I am still using all three products to the day, just because I love them and they make me feel good. The Citrus Sugar Body Polish with it’s great smell gives me an instant feel of awake and freshness.  After, I massage the Oil on the critical areas and I am happy to tell you that I do not have any single stretch mark. It worked for me. To finish off, I apply the Illipe Body Butter which makes my skin feel so smooth.  I appreciate that the smell is neutral so not to interfere with perfume.

I feel that each woman should have these three products on her baby registry.  After all, we all deserve a little pampering!

Thanks so much and keep up the great work.

Sincerely,

Elaine

Praise for basq!

basq is starting the New Year off right with praise from fans of our products.  The following testimonials were posted on the basq website.  

Jennifer from New York City posted: “I was at a baby shower event in Manhattan, and having a SUPER ITCHY day- I saw their (basq) booth and snatched up a bottle of their Resilient Body Oil (I was desperate at the time for some sort of relief)- Well, let me tell you something- this stuff is INCREDIBLE. I mean, stop shopping around for other oils and creams, add this to your cart and buy it! I absolutely love the texture, which reminds me of a hair serum/oil- but it has a faint powdery scent and once it's applied, absorbs right into the skin! Not sticky, not greasy- just smoothing, hydrating, and most importantly- relieves my pregnancy itch and skin dehydration. I am now online purchasing a few more as gifts for my newly pregnant friends. Try this stuff- you will be IN LOVE. ”

            Andrea, a certified massage therapist posted: “As an Certified Massage Therapist I enjoy all the Basq product with my Mothers2be but recently had a pleasant experience in which my client experienced relief from her aching and tired legs after I used the Energizing Body Lotion.”

            Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about basq!  We love the feedback. 
By: Brooke Ditlow 

The Dry Skin Cure

By Brooke Ditlow

                Is your skin starting to react to the change in season?  As the temperature drops, it can really do a number on our skin.  I live in a dry climate and the colder it gets outside, the worse my skin looks and feels.  It got to the point where I was putting on lotion several times a day and my hands were still cracking.  Luckily, I discovered a cure!  I started treating my hands to the following routine several times a week.  It has made a world of difference.

                Step 1- Wet hands and apply basq Citrus Body Polish.  Massage into hands and each finger in a circular motion.  This Citrus Polish is great because it exfoliates but it doesn’t dry out the skin.  It has Shea Butter and Essential Oils so it leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth.

                Step 2- Rinse and dry hands.

                Step 3- Apply basq Resilient Body Oil.  I fell in love with this oil when I was pregnant.  basq’s Resilient Body Oil provides amazing hydration without leaving skin feeling oily.  This oil sinks in very quickly and it has an amazing smell that makes me feel like I just left the spa.   

If your hands feel this good after using these products, imagine what it will do for the rest of your body!

Delicious Healthy Meals for Women on the Go: Fall Edition- Brooke Ditlow

Finding Balance in Life and Pregnancy this Fall

It’s fall!  I love fall.  The air is crisp.  The beautiful colors of fall surround us and we no longer get overheated every time we go outside.  I also think it is a great time to evaluate our lives in that constant search for balance.  If you have a child at home who is in school or if you yourself are a student, you know what an exciting time the start of a new school year can be.  You have brand new school supplies, brand new clothes, a brand new schedule and a brand new chance to start fresh!

As the leaves change, this may be a great opportunity for some self evaluation.  How are you feeling right now?  Do you feel like you need a change?  Is there something that is making you feel out of balance or out of sync?  When the schedule changed at our house this year as my daughter started school, I realized that I had an amazing opportunity to start fresh.  I looked at my ridicules schedule and started weeding.  I tried to take out all of the things that I didn’t actually have to do and the things that I felt did not make my life more satisfying and more balanced.  This can be very difficult because it often means telling people “no”.  However, this time of year people tend to be a bit more understanding of schedule change.

Another reason that fall is absolutely my favorite time of year are the cold weather recipes!  I love the fresh food and grilling that come with summer but there is nothing like walking in the door at the end of the day to the smell of soup cooking in your kitchen.  I’m sure that when you hear the words Slow Cooker, many of you think of your grandma in her house coat.  However, if you do not currently use a slow cooker, imagine yourself walking into your house at the end of the day to the delicious smell of dinner already made.  Added bonus, the recipe that I am about to share with you is healthy! 

If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can pick one up at target for between $20.00-$40.00.  Then try out this great recipe from Disney Family.com: http://family.go.com/food/20-crock-pot-slow-cooker-recipes-pg/#Creamy Farmhouse Chicken and Garden Soup;16

I made this Creamy Farmhouse Chicken and Garden Soup for my family and they all loved it.  My 4 year old daughter is getting more and more difficult to please and even she loved this meal.  I loved the soup and I really loved that the crazy hours in my house, (4-6 o’clock) were calm and peaceful since I wasn’t scrambling to get dinner on the table!   

Do my eyes look as tired as I feel?- By Brooke Ditlow

Back pain, discomfort, and indigestion along with nonstop worry and anxiety can make it very difficult to sleep during pregnancy.  Once the beautiful bundle of joy is born, a full night of sleep certainly does not get any easier.  How do you go out to face the world in the morning with those puffy tired eyes?  Try the basq Cucumber Tea Eye Gel.  Not only does it feel great on tired puffy eyes, but the natural coolant of the cucumber fights swelling and puffiness.  The green tea fights environmental free radicals that damage the skin.  The best part is that this gel feels wonderful and truly makes me look more alert.  I like to store it in the refrigerator for an extra cooling sensation.  The basq Cucumber Tea Eye Gel is featured in the September 2010 issue of Pregnancy & Newborn magazine as well as OK Weekly.