Jessica Alba Shows Off Her Bump in NYC

---

Expectant mom Jessica Alba shows off her growing belly last night at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC.

Page six reports that “this glowing, proud mama strutted her bump, smiling to fans as she walked the red carpet.”

In a recent interview, the star said that since her pregnancy she is calm about everything.

“Being pregnant is kind of like a sedative… everything’s just chill.”

But, she insisted that the ‘chill’ effect is not in sync when it comes to her body.

“The heartburn, the hiccups. I wake up to hiccups every single morning. Never had hiccups before,” she said.

But the changes aren’t just physiological, they’re also emotional.

“Anything could make me incredibly angry or break down crying. That’s not something I’m used to. It’s quite a blessing and perfect timing,” she said, possibly referring to the writers strike,” she said.

---

OBGYN’s Urged To Warn Pregnant Moms About Cytomegalovirus

---

This news is worrisome…Pregnant women take note:

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging obstetricians and gynecologists to counsel women who are pregnant or may become pregnant to take hygiene steps to guard against becoming infected with cytomegalovirus, or CMV.

Contact with the saliva or urine of preschool-age children is a leading cause of this viral infection among pregnant women, the CDC says.

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection is caused when an infected mother passes the virus to her fetus through the placenta, during childbirth or while breast feeding.

Babies who have been affected by the virus will not show any signs until after birth, although some of these infants can develop hearing, vision, neurologic, and developmental problems over time. In some cases, there are symptoms at birth, which can include premature delivery, being small for gestational age, jaundice, enlarged liver and spleen, microcephaly (small head), seizures, rash, and feeding difficulties. These infants are also at high risk for developing hearing, vision, neurologic, and developmental problems.

Hand washing is the key and NO kisses: It is recommended that pregnant women wash hands often with soap and water, especially after contact with saliva or diapers from young children, to not kiss children under age 6 on the mouth or cheek to avoid saliva, and to not share food, drinks or utensils with young children.

How will a parent know if a child has the virus? The affected child will have ‘mono-like’ symptoms including a fever that lasts for several day, unusual or extreme tiredness, muscle aches, headache.

Kidshealth.org offers more information for expectant moms.

---

Amana’s Jot: Kid Friendly Fridge

---

In Just a few weeks, appliance company Amana will unveil a refrigerator that will make most parent happy. The Amana Jot will have a surface that can be used as dry-erase board and also still hold your favorite magnets.

USA Today reports that:

Appliance designers kicked around the idea of a chalkboard surface but quickly dropped it — too messy. Audrey Reed-Granger, Whirlpool Corp spokeswoman says more than half of American households have at least two refrigerators. “This could become the fun fridge No. 2 in the garage or the basement or the game room. The time was right to bring it to the U.S. marketplace. It was a hole waiting to be filled.”

The Jot will come in white in the standard freezer-on-top size, will cost $499 and will be available at major and independent appliance retailers.

It also will come with two Crayola dry-erase markers in black and blue.

“Let people have fun with it. Tell the kids it’s OK to write on the fridge.”

 

---

RECALL: My Organic Baby Cereal Due To Possibility of Being Rancid

---

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and a Vaughan, Ont.,-based company are warning the public not to consume four types of My Organic Baby cereal for infants, saying the product may be rancid.

My Organic Baby has issued a voluntary recall for 227 gram boxes of Barley, Brown Rice, Oatmeal and Multigrain cereal – all with ‘Best By’ dates of April 2008 and June 2008.

The affected product has been distributed nationally in Canada.

There has been one reported reaction associated with consumption of the cereal.

Consumers are warned that if the cereal has an unusual odour, or smells ‘off’ it should not be consumed. If an infant has been fed any of the products, parents are advised to monitor for possible symptoms of illness, and discontinue use.

Consumption of rancid food can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

---