Post Pregnancy Belly Fat Blasting Foods: Our Top Ten

There’s no avoiding it – getting your figure back after pregnancy takes time. But there are a few clever tips and tricks you can use to speed things along! Here are our top 10 post pregnancy belly fat blasting foods to fight the bloat and slim your silhouette:

 

1) Camomile Tea – As well as having a stellar calming influence, camomile tea will work wonders when it comes to blitzing that post pregnancy belly bloat.

Try it – A cup before bed each evening will help you to drift off, safe in the knowledge that you’ll be fitting back into those skinny jeans before you know it.

 

2) Spinach – A great source of vitamins & minerals with virtually no calories: spinach is also packed with fibre, which will flush out any nasty toxins and whittle down your waistline.

 

 

3) Salmon – Not only is it delicious, this oily fish is high in protein and rich in essential fatty acids like Omega 3s which will help your body to burn off fat.

Try it – Nothing beats an indulgent Sunday morning breakfast of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs!

 

4) Pineapple – Containing the essential enzyme Bromelain, pineapple aids the break-down of proteins in the gut to help you combat bloating and slim your figure.

 

5) Fennel Seeds – With a sweet liquorice flavour and a whole host of bloat banishing properties, fennel seeds are a must-have digestion aiding ingredient for your kitchen cupboard.

Try it – Munch on a handful after meals to freshen your breath and aid digestion.

 

6) Avocado – This super tasty superfood is having a Vogue moment right now – and rightly so! Its good fats will fill you up for hours, and its high potassium levels will reduce water retention and bloating.

 

 

7) Ginger – Aiding digestion and easing gas, this spicy root is the first thing many of us reach for when feeling bloated. And as an added bonus it acts as an anti-inflammatory, expanding the blood vessels, increasing your body heat and helping you to burn off fat.

Try it – Add hot water to sliced ginger and lemon for a refreshing detox drink.

 

8) Almonds – A handful of these clever little nuts make a great low calorie yet highly satisfying snack. Replace those mid-morning biscuits with almonds to satisfy your sweet tooth & keep you full until lunch.

 

9) Apple cider vinegar – Top model and mum of one Miranda Kerr swears by apple cider vinegar for a detoxing, belly fat blasting health boost. It introduces healthy bacteria into your gut, which aids digestion and eases  post pregnancy belly bloating.

Try it – Add a teaspoonful to boiled water and allow it to cool for the ultimate detox drink.

 

10) Watermelon – Offering high water content and plenty of potassium, a delicious slice of watermelon after a meal will help to beat the bloat.

Stylish maternity clothes

Remember: Stick to your plan and be patient – slimming doesn’t happen overnight. And of course in the meantime great maternity and nursing clothes, along with a tummy-controlling pair of our Post Maternity Shaping Leggings, will give you that extra boost of confidence to strut your stuff in style. And with all the running around you’ll soon be doing with a baby over one shoulder and a stylish changing bag slung over the other, it won’t be long before you’re bouncing back.

 

 

 

Second Trimester Fashion Tips: How to Dress a Baby Bump

The secret is finally out… Baby is coming! Your second trimester is the time to settle in and start enjoying your pregnancy & flaunting your changing figure!

Every pregnancy is different, but it’s often at this stage that the bump will really start to show. Here are our top 5 tips for dressing a baby bump in the second trimester…

1) That’s a Wrap

This trimester you may go from barely showing at the start to beautifully blooming by week 27, so now is the perfect time to invest in maternity clothes designed to grow with you.

Wrap maternity dresses are perfect for this! A second-trimester mamma’s secret weapon, they’re comfy, stylish, ultra-versatile, and the clever wrap ties let you adjust the fit as you grow.

2) Let’s Talk Bras…


If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to invest in maternity bras – the sooner you make the switch the better. All of our bras offer a super flexible fit and easy access for nursing.

With the right support you’ll look and feel like a new woman!

3) The Perfect Pair of Jeans

With your newly budding bump, a comfy pair of maternity jeans is sure to be high up on your shopping list.

If you like a little extra support & cover, opt for a comfy over the bump style. Or for a pair that looks just like your pre-pregnancy jeans, under bump is the way to go.

Browse our denim collection online for skinny, slim leg, boyfriend fit, organic options and more in a great selection of colours!

4) Always Overalls


We don’t know about you, but we can’t think of anything cuter or more comfortable than a great pair of overalls – and they work so well with a second trimester bump!

Our essential denim overalls feature several size settings at the sides, so you can adjust the fit as you need to.

5) Flaunt that Blossoming Bump!

Styling in the second trimester is all about emphasising the empire waist. It’s your slimmest point right now, so highlighting it will flatter your figure & show off your beautiful bump to its best advantage. Afterall, now’s the time you want people to know it’s a baby in there… not a cheese burger!

Our double layer maternity & nursing dresses are perfect for this – the topper in a different fabric provides the perfect contrast to show off the bump.

Pamper Days at Home: Seraphine’s 10 Steps to Ultimate Relaxation!

During pregnancy you deserve to be pampered. And while a weekend at the spa isn’t always on the cards, at home pamper days are the perfect little luxury for an indulgent Sunday afternoon. So clear your schedule, relax, de-stress & unwind with our 10 steps to the ultimate at home spa day!

 

1) Set the mood – Before you begin, take some time to unwind & prepare your space. First, turn off your phone – nothing can compromise your Zen today! Next, slip into a soft pair of maternity pyjamas & brew a pot of your favourite herbal tea. Then dim the lights, put on a soothing playlist, light some candles & let the perfect at home pamper day begin.

 

 

2) Facial steam – Open up your pores & hydrate your skin with a relaxing herbal steam. Combine calming lavender, toning geranium oil & antioxidant green tea in a large bowl with warm water. Then sit with your face over the bowl & cover your head with a towel to create a sweet scented steam tent. Relax & allow the steam to work its magic for up to 10 minutes.

P.S. If you decide to create your own combinations of herbs, tea and essential oils – make sure to stick to the pregnancy-safe options, & always stop if you start to feel over-heated!

 

3) Exfoliate – Treat your skin from top to toe with a luxury exfoliating scrub. This will remove dead skin & impurities, leaving you with radiantly glowing fresh skin. Use a scrub from your bathroom cupboard, or whip up a home made batch combining sea salt, olive oil, lemon & lavender. Get the recipe here. Then rinse off in the shower & wet your hair.

 

Maternity nightwear

 

4) Hair mask – Smooth on a hydrating hair mask, then wrap up and secure your hair in a soft towel or old silk scarf and allow it to soak in. We love these DIY recipes from Hairspray & High Heels!

 

5) Soak in the bath – Lie back & indulge in a relaxing bath while you let your hair mask set. After all that exfoliation, your skin will be perfectly primed to absorb all the lovely things you can throw at it. Try adding 2 cups of full fat milk & half a cup of pure honey for a softening soak worthy of the queen of Egypt.

 

6) Rinse off – When you’re finished in the bath, rinse off the hair mask in the shower, and use a clarifying shampoo to prevent any product build-up. Once you’ve dried off, take a few minutes to massage your bump with bio oil, or any other anti-stretch mark product you like to use (if your partner is around, this could be a good job for him!)

 

 

7) Face mask – Slip back into your robe & apply a soothing face mask. You can find some fantastic DIY options at Wellness Mama, or check out the video above from Promise Phan for a miracle turmeric mask – and don’t forget the cucumber slices for your eyes!

 

8) Foot wrap – While the face mask sets, apply your favourite foot moisturising cream liberally, then wrap them up in cling film with a hot towel on top for 10 – 15 minutes. You can make a hot towel by getting a hand towel wet, wringing it out & microwaving it for 1 minute.

 

Pregnant women wearing black maternity pyjamas

 

 9) Mani Pedi – Rinse off the facemask & remove the foot wrap to reveal your beautiful soft feet. Time to paint your nails!

 

10) Treat – Slip into a pair of soft maternity pjs, stretch out on the sofa & indulge in a girly chick flick & chocolate while your nails dry.

 

 

Nursing Bras & Maternity Bras: Busting the Myths Wide Open

We want to talk about bras… Specifically, maternity bras & nursing bras. Bra buying can be a challenge at the best of times; add to that the drastic fluctuations in size and the extra features you’ll need for pregnancy and nursing, and you’ve got quite an underclothing conundrum on your hands. This week on the blog we are ironing out the issues and busting the myths wide open. Mamas: Welcome to Seraphine’s Ultimate Guide to Maternity & Nursing Bras!

 

Maternity & Nursing Bras: The Basics

 

First off let’s get one thing straight: your bra is not just there to look pretty. It has a very important job to do – keeping you and your bust fully secure and supported. During pregnancy this job becomes even more vital; as the added weight of your growing bust can put pressure on the delicate ligaments at the top of your chest, causing them to stretch. So we think it’s fair to say that your maternity and nursing bras are a pretty important underwear purchase!

 

Pregnant woman wears a Seraphine maternity bra & robe

 

When fitting your bra, the recommendation is that:

80% of the weight of your breasts should be supported entirely by the under-bust, and only 20% should be carried by the straps.

Seraphine maternity and nursing bras are made with super supportive elastic instead of underwire. This helps you to keep your shape and makes for a healthier, more comfortable option.

 

Buying Maternity Bras

nursing bras basics

 

When to Buy a Maternity Bra

Generally, your cup size will grow over the first 20 or so weeks of pregnancy. Your rib cage will start to expand after that from 20 weeks onwards.

We suggest switching to a maternity bra at some point in your second trimester. Your cup size should be fairly stable by then, and all of our maternity bras are made with extra hook and eye settings at the back to allow a flexible fit to accommodate your expanding rib cage.

 

Fitting Your Maternity Bra

As a general rule of thumb: Take your usual pre-pregnancy bra size, and then go 1 cup size up and 1 back size up. So if you usually wear a 34C, you’ll want to try a 36D.

When trying on your maternity bra, make sure that you feel comfortably secure on the tightest setting, giving yourself plenty of room to adjust the fit as you grow.

 

Buying Nursing Bras

buying maternity bras

 

When to buy a Nursing Bra

When your milk comes in for breastfeeding you may find that you’re busting out of your bras again, so it’s a good idea to buy new nursing bras a couple of weeks before your due date. That way you’ll be prepared when baby arrives, and will have a good idea of the size you’ll need.

If you continue with breastfeeding, you may find that once you’ve established a feeding routine and your body is basically back to normal, you’ll need a smaller size. All of our maternity bras feature nursing capabilities, so at this point, you can switch back to using the maternity bras you bought in your second trimester!

 

Watch John Lewis’ tips for choosing your nursing bra

 

Fitting your Nursing Bra

Take your pregnancy bra size, and then go 1 cup size up and 1 back size down. So if you are wearing a 36D near the end of your pregnancy, you should opt for a 34DD for nursing.

When you try on your nursing bra towards the end of your pregnancy, it should feel comfortably secure on the loosest setting so that you can tighten it up over time as your body settles back to normal.

 

Looking After Your Maternity Lingerie

Maternity lingerie

 

Remember: not all bras are machine washable!

To avoid disaster, always read the instructions on the label and if in doubt:

  • Hand wash with cold water
  • If you choose to machine wash, hook the bra together and use a wash bag, setting it to a delicate cycle.
  • Dry your bra in the shade to avoid sun damage and do not tumble dry

 

Nursing Clothes Shopping List

Nursing clothes must-haves

 

If you plan to breastfeed, it’s a good idea to have plenty of nursing clothes ready a couple of weeks before your due date. Nobody wants a situation where daddy gets sent out on an emergency clothes shopping trip – least of all him! So what will you actually need aside from nursing bras:

 

We know there’s a lot to take in here, but we hope you’ve found it helpful. For more info, make sure to check out our Maternity & Nursing Bra Advice online.

 

Translate »