Pregnancy can leave you with uncontrollable breakouts, oily skin and a slew of skin problems day in and day out. As the seasons change and temperatures start to drop, you might also start to notice your skin becoming more dry. The Fall months call for a change in your skincare routine and an update to your makeup bag. Here are some important makeup tips to keep in mind when you're pregnant during the Fall season:

1. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Even if you have oily skin, the cool and dry months ahead mean you need to protect your skin from the harsher weather. Make sure you're wearing a high-quality moisturizer under makeup, and apply it right after you cleanse and tone so that your skin stays soft and smooth. Keep in mind that dehydrated skin may be prone to breakouts, so you'll need to keep your skin as moisturized as possible.

2. Stick with warm tones. From your lip color to your eye shadow, Fall shades call for rich golden browns, deep purples and berry reds. Use these colors to freshen up your look for Fall, and try a mineral makeup brand to keep your skin looking flawless when hormones are raging. Avoid cream-based makeup that can make your skin appear oilier than it really is. When you're breaking out regularly during pregnancy, you'll need a mattifying, soothing makeup line that will keep your skin looking healthy.

3. Use oil-blotting sheets throughout the day. Pregnancy can make your skin produce more oil than usual, but you don't have to load up on face powder just to maintain your flawless look. Use oil-blotting sheets throughout the day so you can keep your skin clear and free of oil buildup.

As always, don't forget to wash your makeup off before you go to bed at night. Use a gentle, moisturizing cleanserthat breaks down dirt and oils, and then follow up with a light exfoliant at least twice per week to keep skin as clean as possible. Finish your nighttime routine with an emollient-rich moisturizer to pamper those skin cells and wake up refreshed and rejuvenated.

Being plus-sized and pregnant doesn't mean you need to wear miu-miu dresses and tops, hide in oversized tunics and t-shirts, and shy away from flaunting your figure. Plus-size moms-to-be can be just as stylish and trendy as their thinner counterparts because looking great has nothing to do with your weight!

Pregnancy is a great time to become more comfortable with your body and wear clothes that flatter you. In order to wear the latest styles and trends, you'll need to invest in some quality clothing that accommodate for your growing body. Here's what you need to know:

1. Stick with Lycra and knit tops. You need clothes that will stretch and conform to your changing body shape, not clothes that will constrict you or hug you too tight. Choose knit tops that are made with Lycra so you can enjoy the benefits of stretch fibers throughout your term.

2. Shop the maternity line, even in the plus-size section. It can be tempting to just go up a few sizes when shopping for maternity clothes, but you won't fit into these pieces of clothing properly. Shopping for maternity clothes in the plus-size section ensures that your clothes will fit you properly and accommodate your growing belly.

3. Get fitted for your pants and skirts. If you're unsure about the size you should wear for pants and skirts, get fitted by a tailor so you truly are wearing the right size. Once you know your size, you can purchase pants and skirts from the maternity department, because these are made with elastic waists and will accommodate baby bumps with ease.

4. Wear empire-waist tops and dresses for special occasions. Empire-waist tops and dresses are ideal for the pregnant woman because they emphasize your natural waistline and don't cinch or pinch around your baby bump. Look for these styles when shopping the special occasion section of the plus size department.

5. Wear larger prints and patterns to complement your figure. Wearing bold and large prints will complement your larger figure better than teeny-tiny flower prints and other delicate patterns. Look for these prints in either your top or your bottoms for a figure-flattering look.

Toting around the right bag for your body type is an important fashion 'do', but what do you do when your natural silhouette now has a baby bump? The pregnancy bulge can't be hidden behind an oversized tote (nor should it be), so you need to find a bag that will complement your natural body shape and your outfit. Here are some tips for choosing the right type of tote when you're pregnant:

First, you need to steer clear of loud prints. Most women draw plenty of attention to the baby bump during the second and third trimester, so there's no need to add extra flair to your ensemble. If you need to sport an oversized tote for day-to-day travels, stick with simple lines and the single-color variety. A glossy patent leather tote or oversized bucket bag in your favorite color are great additions to the mom-to-be's wardrobe.

Second, make sure your bag has plenty of strap support. If you're carrying a laptop, heavy books and other accessories around all day, you need to make sure the straps on the bag will support your shoulders and upper back. Invest in a sturdy tote with thick handles and straps so that you are getting the support you need. When you're pregnant, aches and pains in the upper back and shoulders are more common, so you can take some preventive measures by toting around the right type of bag.

Finally, make sure the bag has plenty of compartments to keep you organized during your busy day. Pregnancy can make you more stressed out than usual, so the last thing you want to worry about is where all of your daily accessories and gadgets are. Find a durable, sturdy bag designed with extra compartments so that you can keep all of your daily essentials in order. You may need extra room for medication, relaxation tapes and a CD player, and your favorite book if you're heading out on an all-day trip.

There are dozens of fashionable and functional totes out there. Take the time to find a bag that suits your style and meets your everyday needs during pregnancy.

Though pregnancy is an exciting and happy time in a woman's life, it still has its own fair share of ups and downs. From swollen feet to an ever expanding belly (and likely the rest of your body, too), getting comfortable may be one of the most difficult parts of your pregnancy.

Thankfully, clothing designers have realized that maternity clothing can be stylish, fashionable and improve your comfort level during pregnancy. By filling your wardrobe with a few maternity clothing basics, you'll help make your entire pregnancy a bit easier. By starting with your undergarments, you can assure that you get the support and comfort that you need where it counts the most -- close to your skin.

Start with the basics when selecting your pregnancy wardrobe. Purchase maternity underpants and bras, like the Nummies and Belabumbum lines. Nummies bras are also designed to serve as nursing bras, so it won't go to waste after delivery. If you need to purchase larger bras and underpants early in your pregnancy, consider leaving a bit of room to grow. You'll appreciate it when your third trimester is in full swing. Belabumbum also makes maternity swimwear -- a must if you'll be out in the sun during your pregnancy.

Add a belly wrap to your maternity wardrobe, too. Not only are these fashionable, but belly wraps, like those designed by bao bei, also offer increased belly support. For moms-to-be toward the end of their pregnancy or for women suffering from back pain during pregnancy, belly wraps can prove to be an invaluable addition to your wardrobe. Plus, they prevent unwanted belly exposure when your shirt shifts out of place.

Once you've got the basics of a maternity wardrobe in your closet, you'll be ready to make the move and expand your collection to pants, shirts, dresses and comfortable shoes suited for pregnancy. Dressing right can help make pregnancy comfortable and easy from the start.

Pregnant women have a lot more choices when it comes to birthing today compared to what our mothers had. Birthing choices today range from all-natural, at-home births to C-sections on demand, which are a common option in Latin America, though not recommended, as unnecessary surgery is risky. Here's an overview of at-home births, how to decide if they're an option for you and what you can expect from the experience.

At-home births were the standard for thousands of years, and they're regaining popularity as women seek to gain more control over the birthing process. Advantages of at-home births include being in comfortable surroundings, not having to accede to hospital procedures that make things more uncomfortable for you, like being forced to give birth lying on your back, which is one of the most painful positions. At-home births also allow you to invite whomever you like, including older siblings, to witness the birth. The main disadvantage to an at-home birth is that if something goes wrong, it can go really, really wrong. Don't even consider it if you have pregnancy complications or if you're far away from a hospital; even births that should be routine sometimes take a wrong turn and time is of the essence in that case.

If you desire an at-home birth, make sure you have an experienced midwife or doula overseeing things. Get a recommendation from a friend who's already been through the experience with her. There's a difference in personalities that comes out between talking to each other over a desk and in the heat of the moment, and you need to know beforehand if you're going to clash.

Get checked out by a doctor, because pregnancy complications like high blood pressure and diabetes will rule this possibility out. It's great if you can find one that's not opposed to at-home births, but be warned that you'll have to look far and wide, because doctors make the bulk of their money off of the actual birth as opposed to office visits. The midwife or doula may be able to recommend someone she works with. If not, try contacting your local La Leche League, a great resource for alternative birth information.

One of the tasks before you during your first pregnancy is picking out a pediatrician for the new baby. It may not be first on your list of things to do with fun stuff like picking out names and designing a nursery coming before it, but the very day your baby is born, he or she will need to be seen by a doctor. Here are a few tips for finding the right pediatrician:

Ask your OBG-GYN practice for recommendations. You'll want a pediatrician that's affiliated with the hospital where you're planning on having the baby. That may not be as much of an issue as it used to be with so many hospital closings, but I live about equidistant from two hospitals and was surprised to learn that not all pediatricians in my area were admitted to my hospital of choice.

Ask other moms for recommendations. The OBG-GYNs may know doctors that have a good reputation among doctors, but the other moms will be able to tell you who returns calls quickly, who has Saturday hours, and who reassures their kids as opposed to making them cry.

Pick a pediatrician well in advance of your delivery so that you can make sure they're covered by your insurance. My doctors have played roulette with which insurance plans they're a part of, and you don't want to find out they're no longer taking yours when you're in the hospital.

Try to meet the doctor(s) beforehand but don't be upset if you can't get an interview appointment. Some of them are very busy, and that's an indication they're among the popular practices in your area. If you don't like them once you've tried them, don't be afraid to switch. They are required to turn over your baby's medical records to any doctor you specify.

Look for an office with several doctors so you know they'll have adequate coverage. My pediatrician's office has four full-time physicians, and since we have our favorite among them, we're glad that it's no problem requesting her when we make an appointment. However, we're also grateful for the other doctors being on-call when she's away.

One of the fun parts of pregnancy is picking out baby names, but it can also be stressful, especially if you and your partner don't agree or too many outsiders offer too much input. Add normal aggravation to pregnancy hormones, and you're left with a situation like I had with my first daughter, where I spent months picking out the PERFECT name for my baby (Miranda Alison), only to go into complete hysterics when my sister-in-law named her daughter Allyson. (I eventually got over it and they're best friends today.) Here are a few tips to make the process easier:

1.If there's a conflict, the person who goes through labor gets the final say. Non-negotiable.

2. If you have bossy or opinionated friends and family, the best way to get them off your back is to pick out really horrendous decoy names. Your future daughter is going to be named Whiski, and if it's a boy, he'll be Gaylord—isn't that cute? When you produce the real name upon birth, they'll be so relieved you won't hear a word of disrespect.

3. Even if you have a very accurate ultrasound picture and find out the gender beforehand, pick out an opposite sex name just in case. Nancy Drew and country music aside, it's cruel to name your daughter George or your son Sue.

4. By all means, use this as an opportunity for personal expression, but do it within the bounds of taste. Try not to pick a name that's too popular. Your kid doesn't want to go through grade school saddled with a nickname like "Fat Jake," because there are fifteen other Jakes in his class. Standard spellings are almost always preferable to "creative" ones. Avoid names that can be seen as a joke—there really ARE people out there whose names are Justin Case - that's just cruel. And if you're doing something unusual, provide the kid with an opt-out. One of my best friends was known as Kari all her life, but the name on her birth certificate was Karen because her parents were worried people wouldn't get it. As it turned out, she loved it, but if she hadn't, she had an alternative.

One of the things you might want to start thinking about as you enter your third trimester is a birth plan. Although things can change depending on the circumstances of the birth itself—one of my friends actually gave birth to her third child in a borrowed SUV on the way to the hospital—or how you're feeling in that moment, having a map to start out with can only be a good thing and help you stay on course and not feel lost. There are many checklists available online that will provide preprinted birth plans, but it can be as simple as opening a document and writing down a few lines about your preferences. Here are some things to think about as you create your birth plan:

Who do you want in the birth room with you? Your partner or a labor partner is pretty much a given—things have changed since the days when I was born, and they forgot to notify my dad until three hours later. However, friends and family may be eager to participate. If you've given written instructions to the hospital staff beforehand about who to let in and who to politely turn away, it will make things less awkward in the moment.

Pain relief is the second major component of a birth plan. Your options range from hypnosis and acupressure to an epidural or other major anesthesia, and you can request that you not be offered pain relief unless you ask for it. The same goes for Pitocin, which speeds up your labor. Hospitals nowadays seem to try to make this appear a natural part of the birthing process, but they can't force it on you.

There are issues to be dealt with after the birth itself as well, most importantly, how the baby will be fed and where he or she will be kept. Even in the best hospitals, the nursery can be something of an assembly line, as I found out when they gave my daughter, who was supposed to be breastfed, exclusively sugar-water to pacify her. If these issues are crucial to you, consider hiring a doula to act as your advocate.

Trust this two time mom when I say that once your kids are here, especially the second one or afterwards, you're not going to have a lot of time to work on scrapbooks, baby books or baby albums. I decided to do a handwritten journal for my two, figuring it would be easier. Neither of them has been written in since 2003, although I keep them on my nightstand, every night thinking, "I'll update them tomorrow."

Why not start a pregnancy scrapbook? If you're totally swamped once he or she is here, at least your baby will have mementos from this special time in your life. It doesn't have to be one of those huge projects that make you feel guilty. You can find a simple predesigned scrapbook at a craft store that only requires you to put down pictures and stickers, or you can do it the old-fashioned way and use a plain photo album, making your own tags in your word processor. Substance, in this case, is preferable to style.

Items to include in the pregnancy scrapbook include sonogram photos, cards from your baby shower, e-mails announcing you're pregnant to faraway family and friends, printouts of baby names and photos of your baby bump from month to month. Be creative! Anything that has meaning to you goes, although the actual EPT pregnancy test probably won't fit in the pages of your book.

Try to keep things roughly chronological, which you can do by putting an item in the day you decide to use it. That keeps the whole thing from getting out of hand. Buy the book and do the first page the day you get home from the sonogram appointment, adding each item as you acquire them.

Finally, finish up with a page full of predictions for your baby from your friends and family. These are delightful to read later as your child grows up. Everyone predicted my first daughter would someday be an ace left-handed pitcher for the Yankees, and I still think she might achieve that goal, except for the left-handed part!

The rules for a healthy pregnancy have changed a lot over the years. I discussed this with a friend who's old enough to be my mother once, and she said that during her pregnancy her doctor's advice was diet pills to keep her weight down and a cocktail every night so she remained calm! (In case you're worried she only had one child and that one turned out to be fine, thank goodness.)

These days the rules can pretty much be summed up with the word "No." No drinking and no smoking are obvious, but books like "What To Expect When You're Expecting" will have you believe it's not okay to ingest anything but wheatgrass toast. If you can handle that, fine, but some of us have health issues that need to be managed even during pregnancy. Here's a quick guide to how to deal with them.

This is going to sound obvious, but call your doctor to check before taking any over-the-counter medication (if he or she isn't available, and you need to know right away, a local pharmacist is a good resource.) There are things some of us take without thinking twice, like cold medicine or pain relievers, which could be dangerous to the baby. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is fine, but aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil) aren't. Antihistamines (Benadryl) are okay but decongestants (Sudafed) aren't, and the jury's still out on cough suppressants. And don't forget to check with your doctor again after the baby is born if you're nursing. There's a difference in what's absorbed by the baby before she's born, and what's excreted in breast milk, so don't assume anything.

With prescription medication, don't forget to inform your other doctors of the pregnancy. For example, if you're taking antidepressants, Paxil isn't good for the baby but Prozac is okay Work with both doctors to find the right replacement.

Finally, be careful with medication substitutes like herbs, dietary supplements and teas. Some of these products are VERY dangerous to fetuses, even to the point of inducing miscarriages, so it's best to check with your doctor before taking any such thing.

Tomorrow is my firstborn's 10th birthday! In honor of our happy memories, the topic of this post is how to recognize you're in labor the first time around! Believe it or not, it's not always immediately apparent, especially if you've never been through it, but there are some clues that it's on its way. This post is in honor of the birthday girl, Miranda.

The Nesting Instinct
Books like "What to Expect" describe the nesting instinct as an overwhelming urge to clean your house, paint the walls, etc. That's true, but it can manifest itself in different ways if cleaning and painting aren't in your vocabulary. Basically it's a burst of sudden energy at the very end of pregnancy that gets channeled into preparing for the baby in some way.

I am a huge shopper. The afternoon I went into labor, my husband was with a coworker who has five kids. Over the phone I told my husband I hadn't found the right bassinet for the baby but had driven to five separate counties looking for it and planned on visiting three more. After I hung up, he conferred with the experienced dad, who correctly told him, "Go home early, you'll be at the hospital by midnight."

Minor Back Pains or "Gas"
Labor doesn't start as immediate excruciating pain (and even when it gets excruciating, you have periods of rest in between). The night of my labor, I had a very minor, dull backache - not really even distinguishable from the usual pregnancy backache. (With my second daughter, I had what I thought was gas.) It wasn't even noticeable enough to alarm me, but I lay down on the floor while watching TV to relieve some pain. When my husband asked me what I was doing, I said, "I have a small backache and it's nothing more than a nuisance but it comes and goes." It was only when he made me time my "backaches" that I realized they were exactly six minutes apart. He made me call the doctor, who said, "Mother to be, come on down!"

Being pregnant doesn't mean you have to stop exercising. In fact, exercising can actually make you feel more comfortable during pregnancy and help you bounce back more easily after the baby is born. Here are some ways exercise can make pregnancy easier and some recommendations on the right kind of exercise to do during pregnancy:

• Exercise releases endorphins that can help improve your mood when other hormones are making things difficult.
• Exercise can keep you flexible, preventing injuries caused by clumsiness as your body changes.
• Exercise can improve posture and relieve backaches by strengthening muscles, making them more capable of supporting your increased mass.
• A fit body makes labor and delivery easier.
• Exercise helps you sleep better at night.

Exercise during pregnancy is generally forbidden for women who have vaginal bleeding, early contractions, high blood pressure or other complications. Otherwise, most pregnant women will feel comfortable doing any exercise that is not high-impact. Examples of exercises that are comfortable and safe during pregnancy include swimming, walking, biking and yoga. Women that are already very fit, such as runners, may be able to continue their regular exercise programs with certain modifications, as long as they don't overdo it.

Before you start a new exercise program, check with your OBG-GYN. Once he or she has given you the go ahead, try to schedule exercise regularly. Exercising half an hour, four days a week is a good start if you've been relatively inactive beforehand. Wear loose-fitting, cool clothes - overheating is dangerous to the baby - and a supportive bra. Comfortable sneakers with good support are essential. Your feet may swell during pregnancy, so consider ordering or buying a half size larger.

Drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise to keep your body cool and hydrated. If the exercise ever causes pain or discomfort that's out of the ordinary, stop working out and immediately call your doctor. But in most cases, you should be fine. By the time the baby comes he or she will have a mom that can set a good example with healthy habits!

Being pregnant doesn't mean you have to stay home for nine months with your feet up on the couch. If you're an executive experiencing her first pregnancy, you won't want to call off the annual sales meeting in Mazatlan due to morning sickness, and if you're a stay-at-home mom with number three on the way, numbers one and two aren't going to want to see Disney World over Columbus Day weekend any less. With a few precautions, though, travel during pregnancy can be both safe and comfortable.

The easiest time to travel during pregnancy, like the easiest time to do most things during pregnancy, is the second trimester, when you are feeling great, but travel can occur during the other trimesters as well. (I took a long car trip during the first trimester of my second pregnancy while suffering from horrendous morning sickness and unexplained bleeding. It was doctor-approved and the micro-brewed ginger ale I picked up in South Carolina helped with the nausea, while the sight-seeing helped distract me from the worry.) Of course, air travel for women in their third trimester is not recommended unless it's absolutely necessary, but other than that, you can pretty much do as you please.

When travelling by car, bus, plane or train, limit the amount of travel time to six hours at a time and be sure to take walks or stretch periodically to keep your circulation stimulated. Travelling by sea is not recommended due to the potential for seasickness and the fact that anti-nausea medications may not be approved for use during pregnancy.

International travel is acceptable as well if your OB/GYN okays it, but be sure to make sure you're immunized properly before going and carry a copy of your health records with you in case of emergency. The potential for diarrhea in a foreign country is the worst concern for pregnant women; drinking bottled water, canned juices or soft drinks, avoiding raw fruits and vegetables, and making sure all dairy products are pasteurized will go a long way towards alleviating that concern.

Finally, dress comfortably in loose clothing made of natural fibers, wear comfortable shoes, and carry snack foods with you in order to keep your energy up and your nausea down.

comfortable shoes,

Eating right during each trimester
can go a long way towards making pregnancy easier. For one thing it can
help prevent the problem my best friend had when her husband and son
had to eat takeout for dinner every night for four months because she
couldn't stomach the smell of food. Each trimester has its own needs,
but if you follow a few helpful tips you can ensure that your family
doesn't have to survive on Wendy's, your baby grows properly, and you
don't need to wear elastic waistbands for a year or three after you have the baby.

Eating Right During The First Trimester
Morning
sickness is the biggest enemy during the first trimester. For both my
mother-in-law and me, the mere thought of chicken sent us into a head
spin that was the first sign that we were pregnant (another sign is
foods you normally love suddenly tasting very, very off). There are a
few easy ways to combat morning sickness, though: carry around bland
foods like crackers that will help settle your stomach when it does
occur; indulge in snacks made from real ginger, like gingerbread,
gingersnaps, ginger beer (non-alcoholic but stronger tasting than
ginger ale), or candied ginger, which have serious anti-nausea
properties; and take good pre-natal vitamins so if your diet isn't so
great during this difficult time, the baby will still get the goodies
she or he needs.

Eating Right During The Second Trimester
The
second trimester is the golden age of pregnancy. This is when you glow
and everyone loves you. There are only two real concerns during the
second trimester. Gestational diabetes sometimes shows up now, so go
for all the tests your doctor recommends and eat whole grains rather
than sugar or refined starches. Also, allergies can be exacerbated
during the second trimester as the body tries to protect the growing baby,
so be extra vigilant about any foods that normally give you trouble,
and if you react to a known allergen food that you've never had trouble
with before (shellfish, peanuts and dairy are common culprits), avoid
it for the rest of the pregnancy.

Eating Right During The Third Trimester
Problems
during the third trimester include loss of appetite (due to your organs
getting crowded by the kid), constipation and heartburn. To combat loss
of appetite, eat 6 small meals a day 4 hours apart rather than larger
meals three times a day. Include lots of fiber and avoid spicy foods,
even if it's 3 days beyond your due date and the old wives tell you
they'll induce labor.
<!-- text:end//-->

Dressing well during pregnancy is a lot easier now than it was when I had my first child 10 years ago. The options are so numerous at different price points that it's easy to be stylish and comfortable without spending a fortune, and with careful planning you can find clothes that you can actually modify and continue to wear once you've had the baby.

Maternity clothes aren't really needed during the first trimester, although in your excitement about the baby you're likely to want to run out and buy them the moment the little line appears on the stick. Wait a while, really, because by the third trimester you'll be sick of the sight of them, and by the second kid you won't be willing to put maternity pants on until you're ready to pack your bags for the hospital.

Here are a few tips to make dressing during pregnancy easier:
During the first trimester, you almost certainly can get away with wearing regular clothes in styles that accommodate changes to your figure, such as the Empire-waist blouses that are so popular right now. Your breasts will be larger than usual due to hormones, so purchase a well-made supportive bra. A nursing bra is a good investment even this early, as it will be one of the few items you'll be able to continue to use for months or even years after the baby is born.

Feet will swell over the course of the pregnancy too, so if you buy shoes at this time, go for a half-size larger.

The second trimester is when maternity clothes become appropriate. Dresses are a great option for work, although some upscale lines such do also make maternity suits. For casual wear, tops and maternity pants are probably the easiest choice. Maternity pants come in two basic styles: elastic-waist, which expand to fit your belly, and under-the-belly waists, which just hang below the baby bump. Try both kinds on to see which is more comfortable for you, but remember that how you feel the first week of the second trimester compared to the end of the pregnancy may be very different.

Liz Lange has also come up with a line called The Fourth Trimester that is intended for transitional wear after the baby is born, although most of us are resigned to the fact that you may need to keep wearing maternity clothes for a couple of months postpartum. Just make sure you're not still doing it when the "baby" turns six!