Danni Minogue Style Queen

Danni Monogue steps out in style in London wearing her new Seraphine Jeggings, sparking a maternity fashion frenzy.

These new 'must have' maternity fashion Jeggings from Seraphine UK, are real denim with extra stretch. These Jeggings look like a real skinny jean and feel soft like a legging. Elastic waistband and faux zipper.

Available online at Sweet Lilly Maternity now. Be quick as stock is flying out the door .....

Celebrities LOVE Lilly B Australia

TV Presenter and new mum to Beaudy (Beau), Andi Lew took centre stage as Host at the recent Baby Show in Melbourne.

Andi looks fantastic in the Geneva Tri Colour Maxi Dress by Lilly B, also loved and worn by Catriona Rowntree on Getway.

Andi says the dress was wonderful to wear throughout her pregnancy and now afterwards whilst breastfeeding her new son Beaudy (Beau).

Check out more celebrity 'must have' dresses from Lilly B online at http://www.sweetlillymaternity.com.au/

Super Stylish Maternity Jeans

When it comes to denim, a girls gotta have her fashion fix and being pregnant is no excuse to not looking hot in a pair of maternity jeans.

Maternity jeans are a pregnant gals' wardrobe staple to looking good throughout your nine months of preparation into motherhood. Gone are the days of baggy make-dos and welcome in the arrival of hot maternity jeans that fit like a glove to make you feel one hot mama!

Skinny Leg Jeans are a fashionista's 'must have' and there's no need to worry about style as maternity skinny leg jeans are just as fitting as the mainstream versions. In fact, why stop at the maternity skinny jean when you can get all styles including bootleg, wide leg, straight leg and the new maternity jegging (jean + legging = jegging).

Favoured by celebrity A listers, the new maternity jegging is literally running out of stores as pregnant mummies-to-be catch onto the new hollywood craze. The maternity jegging still has the great lightweight denim fabric and feature jean stitching with additional rise to nestle comfortably under your belly.

You can check out a great selection of stylish maternity jeans and maternity jeggings online at www.sweetlillymaternity.com.au who can arrange shipment within 24 hours.

Sweet Lilly Maternity is Australia's premier and favourite store for super stylish maternity clothes sourced from around the world. Particularly well known for best fitting maternity jeans, heavenly maternity bridal dresses and gorgeous maternity dresses, Sweet Lilly Maternity is THE place to shop for the best in maternity.

Celebrity's Love Sweet Lilly

Gorgeous Anna Dusek, wife to Getaway's Jules Lund, is the latest celebrity to enjoy the delightful shopping experience at Sweet Lilly Maternity.

"I cannot thank you enough for the beauiful dresses you sent down. I have been wearing them over Christmas and now on my holidays (yeah!) You have definately saved me and now I look forward to socialising."

Anna Dusek, December 2009

Lilly B Collection - fashion worth giving birth for!

From Autumn 2009 Sweet Lilly Maternity will stock the new collection from Lilly B – fun, sexy and always a little bit edgy, Lilly B is maternity fashion that understands style doesn’t end at conception!
Designed and manufactured right here in Australia, all Lilly B pieces are available exclusively through www.sweetlillymaternity.com.au.
“We are extremely proud to be a wholly Australian made and manufactured label,” said Sally Hainey, Managing Director and creator of Sweet Lilly Maternity.
“Australian women have a unique sense of style which doesn’t cease during and after pregnancy. Lilly B has everything that the pregnant fashionista wants; chic, flattering designs, comfort and easy-to-wear styling plus amazing quality and attention to detail, ” added Hainey.
The Lilly B Autumn/Winter collection includes this season’s hottest items fresh from the runways of Paris, Milan, London and New York.
“We’ve taken our inspiration from Europe and NY and adapted the pieces to cater to pregnant tummies,” Hainey said.
“The must-own pieces from this collection have to be our ‘Wet Look’ Leggings in black, gold foil, electric blue and lilac, as well as the gorgeous Serengetti Shimmer and Shannon Leopard Print Dresses – both pay homage to this season’s infatuation with animal prints”, she said.
All of the pieces in the Lilly B collection can be worn whether you’re pregnant or not, which means you’ll be able to wear your ‘maternity’ clothes well after the birth of your child.
“We’ve designed the Lilly B range so that women can get the most wear out of the garments as possible,” says Hainey.
“We want to offer quality, edgy designs and exclusivity but above all else Lilly B represents exceptional value for money. We’re turning fashionista’s into recessionista’s!” adds Hainey.
All garments purchased through Sweet Lilly Maternity are gift wrapped and sent via express post delivery, which means the average waiting time for goods is one to two days.

Exquisite Bridal Dress by Lilly B Maternity

Exquisite Bridal Wear now available at Sweet Lilly Maternity

The Florence Ruffle Maternity Gown, as pictured left is a favourite amongst Sweet Lilly clients wishing to purchase an inexpensive yet exquisite maternity bridal gown that will accommodate their growing bump.

"The gown has proved to be very popular mainly because of its adaptability, wearability and femininity", says Sweet Lilly store manager Sally Hainey.

"The maternity dress is made from top quality cream jersey with luscious gold flecks throughout. The supersoft cream microfibre double ruffle shoulder straps and co-ordinating sash finish the dress to give a very dreamy and pretty look", she adds.

The maternity dress is raised at the front to enhance the flutter edged hemline, accentuating the slimmest part of the leg and ankles and providing an opportunity to showcase your stunning, killa heels to complement the overall look.

The Florence Ruffle Maternity Dress is part of the exclusive International Collection of maternity evening wear by Lilly B Sydney and is only available online at Sweet Lilly Maternity (http://www.sweetlillymaternity.com.au/).

The dress is available in sizes XS to XXL and can also be made to measure by contacting Sweet Lilly Maternity at: info@sweetlillymaternity.com.au giving two weeks' notice.

Check out the fabulous range of International Collection evening gowns, maxi dresses and day dresses online at Sweet Lilly Maternity for your individual and unique maternity dress that can be worn well after your pregnancy.

Stylish Organic Nursing Wear

Why organic?

Our children and our children's children will inherit our beautiful planet and we owe it to them to ensure we all do our bit to converse this beautiful place.

The earth's ozone layer (and the damage our emissions are doing to it) is a constant hot topic of conversation these days. Love or hate them, our green conservationalists act as a constant reminder that our earth cannot sustain the pressure that we place upon her without consequences. It is with this thought that we at Sweet Lilly Maternity want to do 'our bit' for mother earth and our children's children.

Check out our stylish new collection of elegant and practical nursing wear - an absolute must for breastfeeding moms all over the world.

Clever styling and use of super soft organic soy bean cotton ensures you are contributing to the earth's environmental issues whilst getting the best of nursing and breastfeeding clothes.

These great pieces have a hidden privacy layer so that you can easily access your nursing bra to breastfeed your baby in public - no fuss.

The range includes a Yoga Top, Nursing Hoodie (as pictured above), Nursing Dress and Pyjama Dress (nightie) in a range of delicious pastel colours.

Maternity wear has never looked so good with our innovative range of organic nursing wear. Make sure you do your bit for the environment and make your purchases organic!

Organic Certification

Organic cotton gives the nursing mum the most luscious of fabrics
No pesticide use in the farming of the cotton used in the fabrics
No harmful irritants - for mums' peace of mind
Functional nursing wear without skimping on style
Skal certified organic cotton provides warmth retention and moisture transmission a nursing mothers' needs
Fair trade practice by all contractors

Celebrity Spot - Tori Spelling wears Silk Dress available at Sweet Lilly Maternity

Celebrity Spot!

Check out our stunning silk chiffon maternity dress as worn by Tori Spelling on the red carpet!

This gorgeous silk chiffon dress is the epitome of maternity style and its simple design with pretty torquoise and brown print makes this a sure maternity 'must have'.

Imported from LA's top maternity style house, Lauren Kiyomi, this dress is available in chocolate or blue colourways only online at http://www.sweetlillymaternity.com.au/

Ladies, we only have a limited supply of this beautiful dress, so be quick or may miss out on this season's hottest maternity style!

For more information, check out the following link: http://www.sweetlillymaternity.com.au/product.aspx?ID=490

7 Celebrity Maternity Secrets

Fashionistas around the globe are becoming fixated on celebrity maternity style and who wouldn’t blame them? “I bet she looks fat in that!” (snigger snigger) is whats on everybody’s mind, but time after time, celebrity A Listers appear in public looking fan-bloody-tastic ….how come, and how can we get the same look?

Secret Number 1

Its all in the maternity style! You gotta invest in some hot maternity clothing that is edgy, colourful with up to the minute style. Its ok buying a size up in regular clothing, but as your shape changes, so does the ability to look hot in regular clothes. So this is our very obvious secret: source out hot maternity wear! You know, these days, maternity wear is styled on what’s fashionable at the present time and gone are the days of flowing pinafores, tents and bibs n’ braces.

Secret Number 2

Don’t be afraid to layer it all up! In other words, go boho! Don’t be afraid to put stripes with floral or lace with hot colours, layer over layer. This works really well in the cooler months but remember to keep it simple. Don’t overdo it! Experiment and have fun.

Secret Number 3

Go the extra mile for really important events. So many beautiful maternity gowns, maxi dresses and minis are around at the moment in gorgeous prints and colours. Remember that your pregnancy should be a time to remember and you wanna remember yourself looking and feeling gorgeous and radiant. Baby showers, birthdays, office parties, hot dinner dates and family get-togethers – treat yourself to a few pieces of girly dresses and bask in the adoring looks that you are sure to receive!

Secret Number 4

Enhance the Glow! There’s gotta be some benefits to being pregnant, right? Make the most of that gorgeous shiny hair and strong nails and take time out for manicures (even if you have to do it yourself!) and trips to the hairdressers. You shouldn’t need much make up as the new you will be glowing with radiance!

Secret Number 5

Key maternity pieces such as wrap skirts & maternity dresses, maternity tops and maternity skirts with shirred panels and fabrics in soft jersey and lycra will ensure you look amazing without the bulk! Gone are the days when jersey was considered drab, boring and cheap! Nowadays, it made from super soft materials which not only drape fabulously but actually make you look slimmer, just enhancing the bump. Lycra used to only be used for swimwear or dancewear, but now it is available in gorgeous colours with lots of stretch-a-bility to create amazing styles that accentuates the bumps, curves and growing boobs.

Secret Number 6

Lets talk sexy maternity lingerie! Gone are the days of the shoulder boulder nursing and maternity bras, now we have some seriously sexy lingerie that brings a smile to everybody’s face. It simple: if you feel good, then you look good – its shows in your confidence and the way that you walk and talk.

Secret Number 7

Don’t hide your body! This is probably the most important rule of all and its very true. If you hide it, then you’re probably gonna end up looking bigger. Use belts positioned above the bump (on your torso’s smallest area) to ‘bring in’ wide smock flowing maternity tops and don’t be afraid of figure hugging fabrics layered to create a very sexy and feminine look.


The most important rule of all is to be kind to yourself. Take this time to relax, nourish your soul and create perfect harmony for your growing baby.

Sweet Lilly Maternity is Australia's premier home shopping website for funky, colourful and extremely edgy maternity wear for the fashion conscious mummy to be. We pride ourselves on keeping ahead of the rest by continually sourcing the worlds's best maternity styles that resemble runway fashion. All of our clothes are roadtested by mummies to be for practical wearing, glamour appeal, stretch-a-bilty and the feel good factor. We import most of our labels and have a fabulous collection of maternity jeans, maternity tops, maternity evening wear, sexy maternity lingerie and much much more. Our products are constantly featured in Australian Maternity Press and we have a delightful collection of newborn baby wear and designer baby shower gifts.

http://www.sweetlillymaternity.com.au

International Collection by Lilly B Maternity

Pure Maternity Ingulgence

The INTERNATIONAL COLLECTION by Lilly B Maternity has got the fashionistas speculating as this being the hottest designer maternity wear around, not looking out of place on the fashion runways around the globe.

Hand crafted from superb quality materials and workmanship, these pieces are serious eye candy and are guaranteed to make you look and feel a million dollars.

Check out the Florence Evening Gown (left); this dress would make an ideal maternity wedding gown with pretty ruffles and bows in a flattering ivory colour with gold flecks. Check out the entire elegant collection of maternity evening dresses available exclusively online at www.sweetlillymaternity.com.au.

Everybody's talking about Mama Black Maternity Jeans

Release the HOT MAMA within!

MamaBlack is a maternity line which offers a contemporary denim collection for hot moms-to-be. They have designed their maternity jeans to be well-suited for the daily grind yet classy enough to wear out on the town. MamaBlack maternity jeans are not only stylish but adaptable and very comfortable.

Jeans with names such as Celebrity, Princessa, Rebel, Cha-Cha and Original Mama will surely pique interest among the fashionable and expecting.

MamaBlack jeans are made of quality denim and tailored to fit any body shape at an affordable price.
NYC Fashion Loft, LLC was founded in 2006 as a Contemporary Apparel Company and unveiled the MamaBlack and SonnyBlack clothing lines to the New York City fashion world.

Mama Black Maternity Jeans are available exclusively in Australia through Sweet Lilly Maternity, an online hip maternity store where only fashion savvy labels reside.

Do you own a pair of Mama Black Maternity Jeans? If not, order a pair today and release the hot mama within!

Born to Shop

Maternity Clothing Guide for First Time Mums

f you've just found out that you're expecting your first child, congratulations and get ready for an exciting 9 months of your life!

Its fair to say that you'll probably have your share of the up's and down's and the effect of the baby hormones is something else! But there is an added bonus to becoming a new mum - you get to choose a new wardrobe for yourself and for your new baby too! Whoever said that retail therapy doesn't work can think again - its amazing how a spot of shopping can take the edge off morning sickness!

This is the point where you need to remind those dear husband and partners not to freak out ...you don't have to spend a fortune, in fact we have suggested a few basic, key maternity pieces to get you through the 9 months in maternity style.

Maternity clothes really do give you comfort and who wants to look back on their pregnancy photos with embarrassement at those huge tents or oversized, ill fitting sweatpants and tees?

Maternity clothing also doesn't have to be about contantly wearing dark colours to try and minimise your new shape. There are some wonderful maternity styles currently available that celebrate your shape, accentuating those womanly curves and minimising those flabby parts that we like to hide - all available in some wonderful exciting colours that reflect what's currently hot on the fashion runways across the globe.

Maternity wear in Australia has become an integral part of the fashion savvy mum-to-be wardrobe. Here is our list of essential maternity items:

Maternity jeans - invest in a couple of really good maternity jeans for best fit and cutting edge style

Maternity Pants - a couple of pairs of basic work maternity pants will ensure comfort whilst at work

Maternity Dresses - a good wrap dress can be worn over pants or maternity jeans and be dressed up or down and will 'grow' with your body

Maternity Lingerie - great fitting maternity bras that ooze sex appeal are fantastic to remind you that you are beautiful and sexy!

Maternity Nursing Tops - offer excellent value as many offer built in bras that can be worn during pregnancy and then afterwards for breastfeeding

Maternity Blouses - cute + colourful maternity blouses will brighten up a pair of basic pants or maternity jeans and enhance your new 'glowing' skin

Now that you have a better idea for what maternity clothing you will need - the real fun begins! There are some wonderful maternity wear, maternity clothing and maternity designs + labels on the market right now and overseas maternity labels are all accessible at Sweet Lilly Maternity.

Congratulations and good luck with your pregnancy.

From all at Sweet Lilly xx

Yummy Mummy Fashion

the hottest new accessories in Hollywood are babies ...

YUMMY MUMMY Fashion

Written by Nicola Hyland

Baby fever is in the air! Fashionistas are now becoming Mama-nistas! Thank Goodness the fashion world is pulling up its socks for the fabulous Yummy Mummy! Posh Spice, Ginger Spcice, Baby Spice and Scare Spice! Mummyhood is spicy and we like it. Nicole’s doing it. Naomi just did it. Now the pitter patter of little feet is no longer just the sound of the tiny handbag dog. The hottest new accessories in Hollywood are babies and your favourite Celebrities are clamouring for the greatest roles of their career: motherhood. While many of these gals have not proven to be the greatest role-models, there is something that we mere mortals can thank the likes of Kate Moss, Gwen Stefani and Ange Jolie for- the rise of the ‘yummy mummy.’For centuries across the globe, pregnancy has been treated as some sort of unfortunate nine-month illness. Throughout history, women were often bed-bound and kept out of the public eye during the final months of pregnancy. Fashion was often designed to disguise the ‘offending’ bump; a practice still adhered to at least until the 1970s by the fashion world. Unflattering tent dresses and hillbilly-style dungarees were expected to be a staple of the expecting mother – no wonder they wanted to remain incognito!One of the pioneers of the ‘Yummy Mummy’ Celebrities was probably Demi Moore. In 1991, Demi posed nude on the cover of Vanity Fair while seven months pregnant with her second child. Provoking a bit of a scandal, Demi also managed to break through Hollywood preconceptions and affirm that pregnancy only makes a woman more beautiful. Now married to a mere boy - Ashton Kutcher - Demi still manages to prove that motherhood (and age) only makes a woman more attractive!Nowadays, Demi’s naked ambition seems pretty normal – Kate Moss posed naked for a life-sized painting for Lucien Freud while heavily pregnant (which later sold for more than $7 million!). Britney did it for Harper’s Bazaar, while pregnant with her second son and Jordan… let’s not even talk about her naked photo shoot…Younger celebrity mothers really embraced the idea of pregnancy as sexy and not a means to hibernate around the late 1990s. Both Scary and Posh Spice continued to tour late into their pregnancies during the Spice Girl heyday, showing off their bare midriff bellies to the world. Being pregnant was no longer the end of careers, with Yummy Mummy celebs like Catherine Zeta Jones continuing to work late into their third trimester. Sarah Jessica Parker managed to reclaim high fashion for the expecting by filming Sex and the City ‘around’ her baby bump. Amazing what a bouquet of flowers or constant head shots can do…While you may not want to wander around in nothing at all, the modern yummy Mummy can make fashion her friend. In Australia, trendy stores like Egg Maternity, Ripe and Mother 2B cater for the fashion-savvy mother-to-be. Other great local retailers include Barefoot Maternity, Soon Melbourne and Mamalicious, which caters specifically for the breast-feeding mother. Trendy babywear outlets like Pumpkin Patch are aware that Mums don’t just want their kiddies to look funky and generally cater accordingly. Designer Fiona Korvemaa from Belly Bulge Maternity writes how she designs Maternity wear to “create envy in the eyes of the non-pregnant.” High end fashion designers are starting to market for the trendy upcoming Mum, with labels like Trelise Cooper, Isabella Oliver, Tocca, L’Atessa and Anna Sui offering lines for those with growing bellies and healthy wallets. Fashion for Yummy Mummies combines comfort with style. As we are continually saying, the boho-inspired maxi dress and the empire line pinafores are flattering for almost everyone! We expect that YM’s will be following in Nicole’s footsteps and wearing the gorgeous tailored A-line smocks she has been seen in her early months. Form-fitting fabrics accentuate the best new bit of your body, with stretchy dresses and sweater tops made to fit all sizes. There is something about that ‘rosy glow’ of my pregnant friends that no amount of bronze or blusher can emulate – hey, pregnant women are gorgeous whatever they wear! Recent prizes for the best Yummy Mummies go to Heidi Klum, Gwen Stefani and that uber Earth mother, Angelina Jolie. Katie Holmes has definitely benefited from motherhood [and Posh’s stylist] in the fashion stakes, while Kate Hudson is a pretty hot Mamma - now allegedly back on the market again. Also a hot single Mum, Reese Witherspoon manages to match her outfits to her cutie-pied daughter Ava, which is just a little creepy… Apparently Kate Moss’s daughter Lila-Grace has become a true fashion addict – a much healthier addiction then some of the vices her Mum has had! Congratulations to Nicole and Isla Fisher on their newly revealed joys – who predicts will be the next to join the Yummy Mummy Crew? The booby prize for Faux-pas Ma’s inevitably goes to the troublesome Britney, while the less publicity Jordan gets for motherly advice the better! When you are thinking of naming your trendy new bundle, PLEASE don’t follow the lead of Demi, Geri or Gwyneth and name your child something ridiculous like Button or Moonflower. Not even famous Yummy Mummies get away with doing that to their children! Unfortunately, while fashion and babies might go together in most circumstances, you can’t exchange a baby for another pair of shoes. And nobody tells your wee one not to burp up on your brand new silk dress… I’m just enjoying everyone else’s babies for the time being! Need more advice on how to be a sexy Mum-to-be – just Ask Bronny! http://www.askbronny.com/

Shop at Sweet Lilly Maternity for a fantastic range of maternity clothing and maternity wear sourced from around the globe at affordable prices with FREE shipping Australia wide. Maternity jeans, maternity tops, maternity evening wear, maternity lingerie, maternity party dresses, maternity swimwear and maternity breastfeeding tops and dresses are all available with a huge selection of great maternity designs. You will find Australia's top maternity designers and labels as well as some fantastic edgy overseas maternity labels. Maternity wear has never looked so good!

Pavlina's Pregnancy Journal - Month 9 and the Birth!

Pav and Baby Isabella

The last month was not fun at all. My rash has spread all over my body except my face and became absolutely unbearable. The itchiness drove me mad. I couldn’t sleep. I woke up at 1am every night my body shaking and didn’t sleep since then; ended up having bath around 6am and then went back to bed, slept until 9am, getting up totally exhausted. I wore cotton gloves to protect myself from using my nails. My husband quite often held my hands so I didn’t scratch myself. But it was impossible. I had bruises all over my legs just from scratching. I’ve tried everything to calm it down but nothing worked.

My doctor said that the rash will disappear a few days after the labour. It’s called PUPPP and there’s no medication for it. Only about 1% of pregnant women get this nasty rash. Hmmm…why it had to be me….???
Even though I didn’t want to, I ended up taking antihistamine tablets at night to give me at least a few hours of sleep. My doctor assure me that 1 tablet a day won’t hurt my baby.

Before I went on my maternity leave I had lots of plans in my mind, what I’m going to do in the 3 weeks before my labour. I’ve done nothing, except of painting one picture for our nursery. I had no energy at all. I managed to do my final maternity shopping online at Sweet Lilly Maternity, purchasing maternity nursing tanks and maternity tops for the hospital. I also bought some gorgeous breastfeeding tops and nursing dresses and pyjamas to make breastfeeding a little easier in public. My husband bought me a lovely maternity evening dress from Lilly B for me to wear after the birth so that we can go out and celebrate in style! I also found some lovely newborn wraps and clothing for the new baby at Sweet Lilly Maternity so I would really recommend this site to all new mums to be.

I finally had my C-section on the 5th April but could't wait for the day to arrive.

4th April in the afternoon I started feeling contractions. It wouldn’t stop. I was booked in the Hornsby hospital which is about 40min drive from our place. My husband was terrified, grabbed my hospital bag and placed it in our front room so it’s ready if we need to go earlier. I had my contractions all night, luckily not too regular.
The next day we got to the hospital about 11am. They did all the checking (temperature, blood pressure, etc) and then we waited and waited. I was so exhausted from all the sleepless nights that I wasn’t as scared as I thought I’d be. I just wished it was over so I can get some sleep. My husband was very brave, showed no fear and was my big support during the whole time. I think not only mothers but also fathers deserve a medal after the birth of their little ones.
Finally at about 2.30pm we went to the operation theatre and I got a spinal injection that numbed me from stomach down. At 2.58pm our little daughter was born weighing 3.58kg and measuring 47cm. It was a fantastic, very happy, very emotional and unforgettable moment. A moment when you do forget about your pain, about your rash about everything bad, because by looking at the little bundle all you can think of is “it was worth it”. She’s absolutely gorgeous. I can stare at her for hours.

Just make me wonder how two totally average and ordinary people could produce something so beautiful and perfect…..

Shop at Sweet Lilly Maternity for Australia's premier online maternity store, now showing hot maternity clothing sourced from around the globle. Shop for best fitting maternity jeans, maternity tops, maternity party dresses, maternity lingerie, breastfeeding tops and dresses, maternity pants and baby clothes. Maternity wear has never looked so good and many of our maternity labels have been imported from overseas. Maternity clothes and maternity clothing has been taken to a new level with great labels such as Lilly B, Maternal America, Lauren Kiyomi and Mama Black New York to name a few. Other Australian favourites include Ripe Maternity, Soon Melbourne Maternity and HOTmilk Lingerie from New Zealand.

Pavlina's Pregnancy Journal - Month 8

Had my last ultrasound this week. My baby has grown so much since last time that we could hardly see anything. Just parts of her body we couldn’t really recognize. Because of her position they couldn’t even tell us if it’s a girl or a boy. Luckily from the doctor’s point of view everything looked fine. (Apart from the fact that she’s turned 180 degrees the wrong way around – head-up instead of down. That means she will have to be delivered by caesarian).

I feel like the skin on my belly can’t stretch any more…I was wrong. Now I really feel like I am a house (for the baby). A mobile house. I’ve also developed the penguin walk and can’t remember the last time I saw my feet. I’ve stopped weighing myself because I can’t see the numbers on the scales any more! I can’t sleep at night; it’s really hard to find a comfortable position and when I manage to fall asleep I’m waken up by the urge of emptying my bladder or by cramps in my leg. And I've also developed a nasty rash on my tummy; it’s horribly itchy, 24/7. But other than that, I can’t really complain… That’s the beauty of the third trimester.

Due to the expansion of my stomach, I've been buying lots more maternity clothes at my favourite maternity stores. Online stores seem to work best for me as it takes up a lot less time and I can always send them back if they don't fit right. This month I purchased some white cropped Maternity jeans and a great silk maternity top from Sweet Lilly Maternity, both of them available at Sweet Lilly Maternity. They have a great selection of cool maternity wear. I've also bought some maternity lingerie and maternity swimwear. I didn't realise how great maternity clothing could make you feel. At last, lots of room to move!

If I thought last month that people around me are exaggerating about my size…well now it became a hell. People are stopping me on the street, in shops, in lifts; they’re not asking me any more, but telling me, I must be due NOW! I’m leaving shocked faces and open mouths behind me. Clients at work are jumping from their chairs when I bring them cup of coffee, saying “Oh my God, women, sit down and put your feet up”. I tried to calm them down saying I have still 8 weeks to go but they don’t seems to believe me.
Only my husband and my hairdresser are not saying that I’m too big. My husband doesn’t because he’s a real English gentleman. And my hairdresser doesn’t because she put on 35kg when she was pregnant with her child. She brought me a picture of her when she was 7 month pregnant and I didn’t recognize her…There was this huge women on the photo who looked nothing like my hairdresser. That’s what I call big! But she’s lost all the weight and laughs about it now. She said to me “If you feel down because you think you’re too big, just remember me and I’m sure you’ll feel better”. I wish I could have my hair done every second day. Its funny cos, whenever I feel down, a bit of retail therapy always seems to lift my spirits. Now I'm an expert on cool maternity wear or clothes that look good as maternity clothing.

Pavlina's Pregnancy Journal - Month 7

Getting bigger and bigger (seems like every hour). Most people think I must be almost due. Total strangers are asking me if I’m about to pop out; the same question again and again….
I wish I had a maternity tee with a sign on it: “I’m due in April, NOT tomorrow” and underneath “No, I’m not having twins”. But in the end of a day all I can do is laugh. Protects me from going mad… or is it the first sign??? Instead, I bought a great maternity top from 2 chix at Sweet Lilly Maternity that says 'Whos ya daddy?" I wear it most of the time as it feels so comfy and is a little bit cheeky too.

There is a great selection of great maternity wear on the web and some cool maternity clothes also in some of the stores. I really like shopping online as it saves me heaps of time. I've found a couple of really great maternity clothing websites but the Sweet Lilly Maternity site is my favourite as there is lots of choice and has great customer service.

As well as maternity clothes shopping, we have been stroller hunting. I was very excited but it turned out to be quite a painful experience. Walked into Babies Galore, found they have only 5 brands to choose from and 2 of them totally out of our budget. Firstly, a shop assistant tried to sell me a stroller with toddler seat insisting that I should have a second child soon. Even though I told her it wasn’t my plan. My husband ran out of patience and left the shop. I continued arguing for little longer. Then when I was about to explode, she showed me another stroller and insisted that that’s the best one on the market. The one I have to have. It was ugly, looked uncomfortable, didn’t have any accessories and was very expensive. Then I left the shop too. I had no idea choosing a stroller would be so difficult…
A week later I found what I was looking for. Bought a stroller and a car seat. In a shop that had no air-condition so all the shop assistants were so hot that didn’t have any energy to try to talk us into buying something we didn’t like. They were just sitting in front of a fan, showed us only what we wanted to see and then went back to their fan and were waiting for us to choose.

At 28th week I had my glucose test done. Apparently before this test you’re allowed to eat and drink. I had banana bread and latte. My results were too high so I had to have diabetes test done afterwards. It came out negative. The diabetes test is not fun. It takes about 2 and ½ hours. You have fast before and during it and involves 3 blood tests. A few of my girlfriends had the same problem as me. So I have a little advise: all you pregnant girls try not to eat before your first test and safe yourself from endless test and needles.

Prenatal Tests Week 24-28
Glucose Test

Month 5

Finally had my appointment in hospital. Have to say I wasn’t very excited as I assumed I will get some useful information about my pregnancy and labor but instead, I spent 3 hours (!!!) filling forms with a midwife. Not fun. Hopefully the next one will be better.
Also had another ultrasound. This time my husband was very brave and showed no sweat or fast heartbeat. Hold my hand all the time while watching how our girl (YES, it’s a GIRL!) has grown. I was little bit scared and awfully nervous but luckily everything looked fine. It was big relieve for both of us and I was, first time, truly very happy and excited.
As everything went so well, it’s time to do some shopping…
Bought some beautiful maternity tops and maternity pants from Sweet Lilly Maternity. They fit perfectly and are so comfortable and will last for a while even though I grow every hour and the material is very nice too…just everything you need if you want to feel great (as much as your big belly allows). Definitely not a waste of money.
My husband was impressed (started calling me yummy mummy) and I even had some nice comments from his friends. That felt fantastic! So I told him to buy me some more maternity clothes. He was pretty interested in buying me some maternity lingerie!

I will also need something for our company’s Xmas party and my friend’s wedding I’ll be going to in January. I’ve already spotted some…Girls, don’t be afraid to spent some money. It’s not a waste, it’s an investment. You’re worth it! Have you seen the Broderie Dress by Ripe Maternity on the Sweet Lilly Maternity site? I think it will be the one I’m going to get… There are some wonderful maternity designs around. Have you looked in Cosmopolitan Pregnancy Magazine? There is so much choice! I never realised that there was so much choice in maternity wear. There are also some very beautiful maternity party dresses and maternity evening wear, as well great functional maternity wear for the office.


Prenatal Tests Week 17-20:
Ultrasound
- This time the doctor will do thorough examination of your baby’s heart, kidneys, liver, bladder and checks for any abnormalities

Pavlina's Pregnancy Journal - Month 6

Month 6

Another doctor’s visit. Since my last experience with the midwife I was glad that every future visit I’m going to see a doctor. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe midwifes are well educated and experience professionals but for some reason I found myself feeling ‘safer’ by talking to a doctor. This time there’re no tests. Basically your doctor check your blood pressure, listens your baby’s heart beating and ask you if you have any problems or generally how you feel.
I’ve chosen a public hospital, instead of private (mainly for financial reason). That means you can’t choose your doctor, so most likely you have a different doctor on every visit.
So far I had a good experience, as both my doctors were very nice and thorough. The only annoying thing I found is, that they don’t read your file beforehand; they read it in front of you and if you had some medical problems in your past, they ask you the same questions every time and you have to explain everything again and again.

Having crazy dreams every night. Don’t think I rest at all as my dreams are keeping me pretty busy all night. It’s all kind of dreams. In the beginning they were mostly erotic dreams. (Like it wasn’t enough that I can’t stop thinking about sex during day). These dreams feel fantastic! The erotic fantasy life of a pregnant woman has no boundaries. They’re not ordinary, they are nothing like a romantic flirt from 17th century. They’re about the actual sex act and they feel like they REALLY happened when you wake up. In those dreams I had ‘affairs’ not just with my husband, but also with several different women, friends, colleagues, neighbors or total strangers.
I’m also having ‘normal life’ dreams about traveling, playing sports, partying, etc. They’re sometimes totally crazy, or totally real or sometimes so upsetting that I wake up crying.
Oh my…and I still have 4 months to go….

I've been online shopping again at Sweet Lilly Maternity and have found more gorgeous maternity clothes and maternity jeans. The maternity jeans didn't fit quite so well as I had hoped so I returned them for the smaller size and they now fit perfect. I also bought some great maternity nursing bras and lingerie (to go with my erotic dreams!) and some lovely maternity dresses for work.

Prenatal Tests Week 21-24:
Blood pressure

Month 4

I’m not as sick any more. My husband showed me he can cope more than well…has been very patient, learnt to ignore my moodiness, always stops (immediately) when I need to wee (about every 20 min) and always makes sure I get lots of food (at least every hour), to avoid any breakdowns.
I can’t fit in my clothes any more…first crisis…went shopping, looking like I’ve grown beer belly but keep forgetting it and asking for size 6 even though I can’t fit into size 8 any more.
Feeling down just walking into maternity clothes shops… Decided to shop online.
Found a very good web site called Sweet Lilly Maternity (http://sweetlillymaternity.com.au), offering not only very trendy maternity clothes but also baby clothes and cosmetics (something I’ll need in near future..).

Another message for all pregnant women!! Do not hesitate to spoil yourself. This is the time of your life when you need it most. Go to a hairdresser; buy new shoes, go to see a concert, have your facial done, and BUY NEW MATERNITY CLOTHES!
Trust me you’ll feel fantastic for at least half an hour every time after you bought something for yourself. Feels like nice food on empty stomach (at least for me who eats a lot)

Prenatal Tests - Week 13-16:
Amniocentesis
- It’s a test that determines whether your baby has genetic or chromosomal abnormalities, such a Down syndrome
- Firstly the doctor uses ultrasound to pinpoint a pocket of amniotic fluid a safe distance from both the baby and the placenta
- The doctor takes a sample of your amniotic fluid by inserting a long, thin needle through your abdominal wall and into the sac of fluid around your baby; withdrawing the fluid should take less then 30 seconds
- There is a slight risk of miscarriage