Bump on a Budget- Month of December

Signing up for email lists can be great; you can get coupons, free samples, and lots of valuable information.  However if you sign up for too many emails you run the risk of getting your information sold to other companies and then the 5 emails you signed up for daily become 50 or 100 emails.

Before even getting pregnant consider creating a separate baby coupon email using Yahoo or Gmail.  If you get too many emails you can simply just ignore them or close the account when baby comes.  You also don’t have to worry about your personal account getting flooded with emails that you didn’t ask for and don’t want.

Coupons & Sales

SurePredict - 15% our 50 Pregnancy Tests Combo Pack with the code ‘Z3SDGT8V’.  Ends 12/31/2014

Amazon Mom - 20% off diapers if you join a free trail of Amazon Mom

Fisher Price - Free Rainforest Bundle. Details Apply

ViaCord - Enter to win free diapers for a year

Gerber – Free 15 minute phone call with a lactation consultant

Other Money Saving Tips

Say ‘Yes’ To Baby Showers – If your office, your sister, and your mother in law all want to throw you separate showers, let them.  Not only are showers fun, but you can get gifts that will save you money later on.

Shop Secondhand – You can grow out of your maternity clothes quickly so instead of buying a whole new maternity wardrobe, buy a few key pieces from secondhand shops.  Also invest in Belly Bands. For newborns, they grow out of their sizes quick so stock up clothes in a variety of sizes.  Try garage sales (sometimes they sell new clothes or very gently used that the baby only wore a few times), flea markets, and the clearance rack during your pregnancy. Ask your doctor to help guesstimate baby’s size.

Get samples from your OB/GYN – Ask for samples of formula, diapers, and other baby items.  Even a little bit will help you. 

Start clipping coupons – As soon as you find out you are expecting, start clipping coupons for diapers, formula, and wipes.  Stocking up with just a few every month will help you when baby comes and you go through a pack of wipes in one week. 

Avoid buying everything – You don’t need to buy everything for your child right away when you are still pregnant.  Make a budget and try to stick to it the best you can. 

Borrow from friends and family – If you have friends that are pregnant or were pregnant, see if you can borrow maternity clothes from them.  Same goes with baby goods.  Hand-me-downs can go through many children before being worn out since most clothes only get worn a few weeks to a month before being outgrown. 

Learn to love freezer meals – Start making freezer meals during your third trimester (or before if you are too tired to cook while pregnant) and then just pull them out and heat them in the oven when dinner time comes.  This will be healthier and save you tons of money on takeout when your little baby arrives. 

The 3 Best Things I Did Before Trying To Get Pregnant

By Nicole H.

Planning to get pregnant can be very empowering. In a world where so many of us unintentionally get pregnant, there is something to be said about being able to plan this one (or several) event whose repercussions literally last a lifetime.

It's not a luxury that everyone has, but those of us who do have it, have the benefit of laying the foundation of our child's development from as early as the first idea of them.  For women with that advanced notice, I offer you the benefit of my experience – the 3 best things I did before trying to get pregnant.

1.     I talked to my obstetrician/gynecologist.

One thing that may shock you about this conversation with the OB is that laying the groundwork for baby-making can take a few months.  When I walked into the OB's office and announced my intentions to get pregnant and asked what I needed to do, I was shocked to hear that I should be on prenatal vitamins for several months in advance.  What?! I wanted to get pregnant NOW. I'm not going to say whether I listened or not, but that's just one of the many reasons to check in with the doctor before you start on your merry procreating way.

Some other reasons include:

·       Making sure your hormone levels are good.

·       Making sure you're healthy.

·       Testing for risk factors of certain diseases like Tay-Sachs.

·       Checking your iron.

·       Learning your blood type (if you didn't already know).  

Nobody likes surprises, and should something come up while pregnant, it's good to have a baseline for your health pre-pregnant.

2.     I checked out the policies for pregnancy and maternity leave where I worked.

This is one of those things you may think you have down, but you might not.  Look into what kind of maternity leave, if any, there is at your office.  Familiarize yourself with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Also, look into any added benefits your office may offer such as a cafeteria plan to help you with additional expenses like daycare and other medical bills.

A word of caution, however, the workplace isn't always the friendliest place when it comes to women planning to become pregnant. For the higher ups, it means they now have the added stress of doing without you for a period of time or maybe forever.  Only you know your office climate, so just keep it in mind when you start perusing through the handbook and potentially asking questions.

3.     I did the cold, hard math.

Having a child is expensive.  And while you may have heard that money shouldn't make a difference, that you'll "make it work" regardless, that just isn't good enough for some of us.  Make sure you do the salary to expenses math. Don't forget to factor in how much it will cost to add a child to your medical, dental and/or vision insurance.  Try not to get too upset if you come up short.  All that means is that you'll have to get more creative to get the needs of your family met.  And you can.  It doesn't mean you have to give up on your dream.  

Bi-Weekly Bump- Week of October 27th

Can marathoners keep up with their training during pregnancy? One woman says yes!

Jessica Biel and husband Justin Timberlake may be pregnant says new sources as she was seen buying baby goods

Woman told to stop breastfeeding her son in her OB/GYN’s office

Lots of celebrities are pregnant right now—here is the full list

How to tell your parents and in-laws that you’re pregnant

Duchess Kate resumes her royal duties as her second trimester of pregnancy begins

How to job hunt while pregnant and why it is harder than you think

How to survive chemo and breast cancer then find out you are pregnant

Is this the end of pregnancy and the start of the ‘artificial womb’?

And finally make sure to send us your BFP’s (Big Fat Positives for your newbies out there) so we can put them on our Tumblr Page!

Bi-weekly Bump- Week of October 13th

Blake Lively is pregnant and here is how the internet reacted to it

Is drinking will pregnant ever OK?

BPA exposure during pregnancy can be linked to lung problems in children 

Kelly Rowland shows off her very pregnant self in a new photo shoot for Elle Magazine

Are baby friendly hospitals hurting new mothers?

Young pregnant women need better dental care says new research

Kelly Clarkson brought her daughter River Rose on set of her new music video

Eating healthy while pregnant is a whole lot harder if you are poor

Holly Williams welcomes daughter Stella June

Here are some pre and post-natal exercises for pregnant women

Lots of celebrities are pregnant right now; here is the complete list of babies that will be born in 2015

And finally make sure to send us your BFP’s (Big Fat Positives for your newbies out there) so we can put them on our Tumblr Page!

Bi-weekly Bump- Week of September 29th

The new way to tell you your due date are chainging with these new pregnancy Due Date Recommendations that are good for every mom

Carrie Underwood talks about being in her first trimester of pregnancy

Chelsea Clinton had a baby girl on Saturday after midnight

Kate Middleton is pregnant with her second child! Will it be a little sister or brother for Prince George?

How Nashville handled Hayden Panettiere's Pregnancy in the Season 3 premiere 

Kristen Bell says she is much more comfortable during her second pregnancy because of new paparazzi laws

Low iron intake during pregnancy linked with autism

Gavin Rossdale says Gwen Stefani told him about her third pregnancy in an E-Mail

Sarah Drew's first pregnancy had her mourning her 20s

And finally make sure to send us your BFP’s (Big Fat Positives for your newbies out there) so we can put them on our Tumblr Page!

Breastfeeding in Public

Colborne mom Gianna Petrella breastfeeds inside the Tweed Tim Hortons Sunday during a nurse-in held by area mothers. A North Bay mother said she was asked by a staff member there to "cover up" while she was breastfeeding her child there last weekend. Emily Mountney-Lessard/The Intelligencer

Mammals are categorized by having a backbone, having fur or hair, being warm-blooded, and lastly whose females nurse their young with milk.  Like the over 4000 species of mammals female humans are naturally created to breastfeed their young. 

If breastfeeding is so natural and has been done since the dawn of time, why is it still taboo to see a woman breastfeed in public? Breastfeeding is considered one of the healthiest ways you can help your child.  Breastfeeding has even been linked to lower obesity rates in children and to influence the child's eating habits at age 6 and beyond. 

Why should she have to cover up when she is simply feeding her child?

Breastfeeding used to be 100% completely normal.  There are photos and paintings from hundreds of years ago that show breastfeeding.  If breastfeeding was considered acceptable then, why can’t we accept it now in this modern day society. 

In this world of sexualizing women why is it when a woman is using her breasts for the reason that nature intended for them to be used is offensive and unmentionable?

With the help of social media, pro-breastfeeding in public advocates are pushing for a change. 

There was currently a “Nurse-In” at a Tim Hortons recently when a mother was asked to “cover-up” by a female employee.  StaceyKennelly, who is from North Bay was traveling through the Tweed area, and was nursing her child while waiting in line.  She was asked to “cover-up” and she did not, saying it was against her human rights.  She says this has happened before.

“Unfortunately this is a major reason why mothers give up on nursing” she said.  Women don’t want to nurse their babies in public because they are afraid of being asked to leave, the dirty looks, and the comments.

There has also been the multiple stories of people asking nursing mothers to go into a public restroom and nurse there. 

"Do you like eating in public restrooms? Or does the sight of a toilet and the acrid scent of piss ruin your appetite?

Johnathan Wenske and Kris Haro, both juniors at the University of North Texas, created these nicely made student ads depicting young mothers breastfeeding on toilets—to support bill HB1706 in the Texas legislature, which would protect mothers from harassment and discrimination when they breastfeed their children in public.

The creatives were inspired by the story of a woman who was harassed for breastfeeding in a Target. They decided to shoot three young mothers, perhaps because young moms are least likely to breastfeed. To their credit, the ads don't try to shock. They merely capture the everyday situation many mothers face "when nurture calls." They don't go overboard by art directing a dirty bathroom or even a poorly lit bathroom, but the images are still powerful because breastfeeding in a toilet stall, even a reasonably clean toilet stall, is disgusting.

The three simple headlines are pretty perfect, too." -- Adweek 

15 ways to reducing Pregnancy Stress

Last week we talked about how being stressed during pregnancy can affect up to four generations down the road.  To help cope with a stressful pregnancy, we have put together our top 15 ways to reduce stress during pregnancy.

1.              Practice Saying “No” — Pregnant women tend to try to work much harder at the beginning of their pregnancy to compensate for the fact that they might not be able to do as much later on and when little one arrives.  So if you really can’t do it don’t take on that extra project at work and don’t volunteer to make 100 cupcakes for the bake sale when you know you can’t.  It will be a lot less stressful and you will thank yourself later on.   

2.              Limit “information overload”— Reading a few pregnancy blogs and books will help you prepare for the future but reading too much or reading the scary (and probably unlikely) stories might just stress you out a little too much. 

3.              Rest—If you need to take some extra time to take that nap at 2pm then do it.  Consider calling on close family and friends to help you if you need it.

4.              Mediate—If you are beginning to come undone, take 10 minutes are relax.  Shut your eyes and just imagine your future child. 

5.              Asking for advice—If you want the best advice ask your friends, mom, aunt, MIL, or even your grandparents.  The best advice tends to be from your close friends and family. Remember though, even though you asked you are not required to take any advice if you don’t feel that it is right for you.

6.              Talk to your baby—Starting at just 23 weeks your little one can hear you.  Make the time count by talking to your baby throughout the day or putting headphones on your bump.  Your soothing voice will comfort the baby when he is out of the womb and in your arms.   

7.              Go to bed early—There is nothing wrong with going to bed at 7pm after dinner.  You don’t need to stay awake to see the newest episode of “So You Think You Can Dance” if you would rather sleep.

8.              Talk about it—If you have any concerns about your pregnancy talk to your partner about it.  Keeping these fears in will only build up stress and hurt you later on.   

9.              Consult your doctor/ midwife—If you have a feeling that something is wrong with your or your baby talk to a professional about it.  A professional will also help you with any questions you have about the labor itself. 

10.          Visit with friends—Go to your local coffee shop with friends and get some green tea and a slice of shortcake.  Talk about anything under the sun and just relax.  If you are on bed rest or extremely tired at the end of your pregnancy have a few friends come over and bring the coffee shop to you… and don’t worry about the dirty laundry on the floor, they don’t care!

11.     Do regular exercise—Try to go for a walk at least three times a week and do some prenatal yoga or light swimming a few days a week. Check out our Pinterest board for more prenatal exercises. 

12.          Go shopping—There’s nothing less stressful than shopping for cute little baby clothes and accessories.  Who doesn’t love onesies with monkeys on them and hats that have Minnie Mouse ears on them?

13.          Eat a well-balanced diet—Even though you are craving Buffalo wing pizza with a side of mac and cheese try to eat a well-balanced diet when you can.  Eat lots of fruits, veggies, healthy fats, and grains.  It’s ok to give into cravings here and there but for the most part try to eat healthy.

14.          Decorate the nursery—Once you find a designated area in your home for a nursery start planning it out.  For more information on decorating your nursery see our top ideas on Pinterest.  

15.          Pamper yourself- Being pregnant is stressful so consider making yourself an appointment at your local salon.  Make sure to tell them you are pregnant when booking the appointment.  Consider making your appointment early in the morning so you can avoid the chemical smells in the salon that build up over the course of the day.   

SurePredict Guarantee

Here at USHealth Tests and SurePredict we know that sometimes tests are faulty.  This is because of natural human error, a slight manufacturing flaw, or bad dye in the test itself.  We are committed to make sure you have a beneficial experience with SurePredict which is why we are offering a 100% replacement guarantee if any of the tests fail you.  

 If you have instructions regarding our tests: 

Please read over all of our instructions carefully.  If you lost your instructions you can download them here on our website. If you still have questions you can call us Monday through Friday at 

511-866-TEST-NOW or email us at sales@ushealthtests.com. 

If you experience a bad test: 

 If you have received a bad test please call us at 511-866-TEST-NOW or email us at sales@ushealthtests.com.  Please have your order number, where you ordered our tests from, the date, and your personal information when you call so we can verify your order before we initiate the replacements.  If you do receive a bad test please take photos for us before you throw them out. 

How do Pregnancy Tests work?

All pregnancy tests work by detecting a certain hormone in the urine or blood that is only there when a woman is pregnant. This hormone is called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG). It is also called the pregnancy hormone. hCG is made when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus. This usually happens about six days after the egg and sperm merge. But studies show that in up to 10 percent of women, implantation does not occur until much later, after the first day of the missed period. The amount of hCG rapidly builds up in your body with each passing day you are pregnant. 

SurePredict tests work by testing for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG).  HCG is a hormone produced by a trophoblastic tissue and it appears around the 8th to 9th day after ovulation.  In a 28 day cycle with ovulation occurring at day 14, HCG can be detected in urine or serum in minute quantities around day 23, or 5 days before the expected menstruation. The hormone concentration doubles approximately every 2 days and peaks 7-12 weeks after first day of the last menstrual period.  IN normal subjects, HCG is urine provides an early indication of pregnancy.  The elevated HCG levels are also associated with trophblastic diseases and certain nontrophoblastic neoplasms.  This, the possibility of other diseases must be eliminated before the diagnosis of pregnancy can be made.  

The detection limit for the HCG test kits is 10 mIU/ml HCG.  Urine samples equal to or greater than 10 mIU/ml will be tested positive.  Samples containing less than 10 mIU/ml HCG may also produce a very faint positive line.  

You can read and download the instructions that come with our SurePredict pregnancy and ovulation tests here on our website.

This definition was provided from Women's Health.com

SurePredict New Packaging Survey

We have gotten our results from our 

SurePredict Packaging Survey.  

The feedback was phenomenal! 

We have a winner for the $25 Amazon Gift Card -- Amy M! 

Congrats Amy M! 

♡♡ Be on the lookout for more 

contests and giveaways ♡♡

New SurePredict!

As many of you may know, we have had our flagship product our 

SurePredict Pregnancy Tests.  

The 10mIU SurePredict tests are the most sensitive available urine pregnancy tests. Most other tests are 20,25 or 50mIU; but the more sensitive the test, the sooner a pregnancy is detected. These tests are easy to use and come with very complete instructions.

Check out more information about SurePredict on our website

Here are some positive comments and other feedback about SurePredict. 

We are now introducing our new SurePredict Ovulation Tests. SurePredict(TM) Ovulation Test Strips are an excellent value. They are FDA-cleared, highly sensitive (detecting a level of 25 miu/ml LH), and provide a high degree of accuracy in pinpointing your most fertile time of the month. Ovulation Test Strips work by allowing you to detect your monthly "LH Surge" - the dramatic increase in Luteinizing Hormone present in your urine just before you ovulate. Since the best time for fertilization of your egg to occur is within 6-24 hours after you ovulate, correctly gauging your body''s cycle is extremely helpful in increasing your chances of becoming pregnant.

For a limited time, we are giving our blog readers a coupon code for ANY SurePredict Pregnancy or Ovulation product.  This coupon code is good for 5% off any product besides combos.  

COUPON CODE: Q2P7A5Z8

Please comment below if you have any questions!