As The Bump editorial team’s resident pregnant woman (I’m 20 weeks as of yesterday — halfway there!), I get the pretty awesome job of being a guinea pig for the latest products. After all, someone’s got to see what works and what doesn’t, right? So of course, I wanted to pass along a few of my favorites so far.

What are your favorite pregnancy products?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Top 6 Pregnancy Skin Issues (and How to Deal)

Is Your Beauty Routine Safe for Pregnancy?

Sneaky (and Cheap!) Ways to Stretch Your Maternity Wardrobe

Moms are amazing! And not just at being moms. We know plenty of mothers who are also savvy innovators and businesswomen, and we’re in awe of what they do! We’re getting up close and personal with them and finding out their secrets to success in our new Inspiring Mompreneur series. First up, Julie Pickens, CEO and founder of Boogie Wipes.

The Bump: Julie, how was your business born?

Julie Pickens: My business partner at the time, who was also a mom, put baby nose drops onto a wipe to get them into her daughter’s nose. She realized that if she did it that way, she didn’t have to hold her down while she was kicking and screaming! That’s where the idea was born. It worked and we took the concept, named it and quickly went to work on formulating it. That was in May 2008, and we hired a chemist, since we didn’t have that technical background but we knew how we wanted it to perform and work. We developed the product and by October that same year, we had our first shipment of wipes and started selling them online. By January 2009 we were selling in retail stores. It happened really fast, and it’s been wild since then! I keep thinking, “Okay, when it calms down, when it calms down…” but it doesn’t calm down!

TB: Did your kids play a role in the creation of the product?

JP: At the time my kids were aged 13, 9 and 2. (Now they’re 18, 14 and 8.) We tested the product on them! Boogie Wipes were very helpful for my 2 year old. My older girls use them to this day use it take their makeup off. We stumbled on all kinds of uses we didn’t expect when we were developing because of trying our products on our own kids.

TB: Was it challenging juggling motherhood and starting a business?

JP: Yes, it has been a struggle. Being a mom is a demanding job, and it’s a challenge to be there for your kids and also make sure you have everything covered at work. When the business started, I thought, “This is great, I can bring the kids to the office with me,” and I really instilled a friendly workplace that embraced that. We hired other moms, we have flexible work schedules and people work around their kids’ activities. It was super important to us to create a fun working environment and everyone got their job done because the flexibility allowed them to work harder and get their job done.

But for me, personally, it was hard. I took on the role of CEO, did the capital raises and sales and distribution, and it became demanding very quickly. So I did have to learn how to balance all of that. At times I did it relatively well, and other times it broke my heart. I had to, at times, miss things because the business was growing and it got demanding. One night, I stayed at the office until 3 a.m. When I got home, there was a note on the stairs from one of my daughters. It was about how I was an inspiration to my girls to follow their dreams and to do what they wanted to do. She said she knew that it was hard for me and that I was tired. She thanked me for going to as many of their events and activities as I could. She also said she wanted to be like me when she got older. I’ll keep that note always.

Really, I think it’s a trade off. You do the best job you can. It’s not going to be easy; you can’t have it all. Sometimes you do feel like you let things slip, but in the end if you do your best, your kids really do see it.

TB: What three pieces of advice do you have for women wanting to start their own business?

JP: Number one, make sure the product or service that you’re putting out is something that really fills a need. Something that isn’t a “me too” product or service. Try to be unique and innovative.

Number two, always test your products. Run a focus group, do  consumer testing. Talk to other experienced (and brutally honest!) people for feedback on what you’re doing and to validate your concepts.

And last — the advice that saved us: Take a step back and write a business plan. You need a plan, so you know what it’s going to take to make this business a success financially. That will allow you to make smart strategic decisions about how to move it forward. Ideas are great, and there are a million of them, but planning and making sure you have the back end capital and resources to make this idea work are so important. Sometimes people miss that boat.

TB: What has been your biggest challenge throughout the process of starting your company?

JP: My biggest challenge really has been keeping up with the growth of our company. It took off fast in the first three years. And keeping up with that growth can give you some sleepless nights. When you have the growth, you have to fund the growth and it can be really stressful! We’re in year six and we’re finally profitable and to a point where I’m not losing sleep every night. It’s a very long road.

TB: Biggest reward?

Learning! I started with what I thought was pretty good knowledge and background on business. But to get to where I am now, running this company has provided me with so much learning about how to work with people and how to give back to the community. That has been so rewarding.

TB: Looking back, is there anything you’d do differently?

JP: There’s a million things I’d do differently! But I wouldn’t go back and change it because the mistakes provided great learning experiences for us.

TB: What’s a typical day in your life like?

JP: Disorganized chaos! I leave at 6:30 a.m. to take my high schooler to school, and I’m at the office until 5:30 or 6 p.m. two or three times per week. The other days I leave at 3 p.m. Both of my daughters are competitive cheerleaders and gymnasts, so they spend four hours in the gym a night. So I leave work, grab dinner at home or takeout. (We sometimes eat in the car or at the gym!) Once we’re at the gym, I get my computer back out and work while they’re practicing. My life is work and their activities, and I think most parents can identify with that for older kids — your life is ruled by their activities. We get home at 8:30 p.m., they finish up their homework, have a snack and then it’s off to bed by 10 or 10:30. I usually work again until 12:30 a.m. The weekends are different. I might answer a few emails, but I really try to focus the weekends on the family.

TB: How do you think being a mother makes you a better businesswoman?

JP: You have employees that need you because they need a job and an income. And they may come to you with personal issues. Being a mom, I have compassion and care for people and care about making my company a family. But truthfully, all those things have made me a better mom because I can model those work situations to the girls now. When they come home and tell me they’re mad at someone I can say, “Well what was their perspective and how can you work with them?” I have a lot more patience. As moms, sometimes we’re, like, Patience, where is that?  That’s what has helped me.

Plus, more from The Bump:

The Truth About Being a Working Mom

A Day in the Life or a Work-at-Home Mom

18 Worst Things to Say to Working Moms

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer sparked controversy earlier this year, when she announced that her company’s employees would no longer be able to work from home. That’s so anti-working-parent, people thought. But yesterday, Mayer made an announcement that may have people thinking her workplace is more family friendly: Maternity and paternity leave has been extended.

“Under the new policy, mothers can take 16 weeks of paid leave with benefits, and fathers can take up to eight weeks, each time they have a new child via childbirth. Both parents receive eight weeks of paid leave for new children via adoption, foster child placement or surrogacy,” reports NBC Bay Area. This is about double the maternity leave the company’s old policy allowed. This may allow Yahoo to better compete with nearby tech companies Google and Facebook for talent. Google offers 18 to 22 weeks of paid maternity leave, and Facebook offers four months of paid leave to both mothers and fathers.

So, is this normal? Well, no, it’s not. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Women’s Health USA 2011 report, the average length of maternity leave was 10.3 weeks, and only 24.9 percent of women had paid maternity leave for more than two months. In fact almost one-third (29.4 percent) didn’t take any maternity leave, and 33.1 percent of those who took it didn’t have any portion of their leave paid.

In the US, companies are required by law to hold a parent’s job for 12 weeks after the birth of a child, but that’s only if the company and employee both qualify under the Family Leave and Medical Act (FMLA). For example, if your company has fewer than 50 employees or you’ve worked for the company for less than 12 months, you wouldn’t qualify. And, none of those 12 weeks are required to be paid. How much you’re paid for depends on your employer’s policies.

So there’s quite a range, as working moms on The Bump message boards demonstrate:

“I took 12 weeks which was as much as was allowed by my employer. 6 weeks were paid. However I did just hear that our maternity policy changed and now they are paying the full 12-week period. So when I’m out this September with baby #2 it will be paid for. Yay!” – RedDDD

“I will take eight weeks off. I work for a small company and don’t qualify for FMLA. I negotiated it with my employer up from six weeks. I will have four weeks paid, made up of two weeks vacation and two weeks paid maternity leave. I am the first in my company to have a baby and two weeks paid maternity and paternity leave is now written into our company policy. I am proud to be a part of that added benefit.” – jlaOK

“I took two weeks before birth and 20 afterwards. This is two weeks beyond my company’s maximum policy. An exception was allowed since I had a huge vacation balance and the last two weeks fell during the holidays which are slow for us. The company fully paid my salary for the two weeks before and I had a combination of Short Term Disability and pay (for a total of my whole salary) for 12 weeks after birth. I was then able to use sick and vacation pay for weeks 13 through 20.” – whynotwhynot

“I am taking six weeks off and then going back part time for six weeks. Then I’ll be working from home two or three days a weeks and in the office either two or three days a week. It will all be paid, thank god.” – JNLSLSM

“I took six weeks with my first child and five weeks with my second. I needed the money, so I returned to work. Besides, both times, my employer called or emailed me while I was off, and I worked from home anyway. Four weeks was paid at 60 percent of my salary. The other two weeks were unpaid.” – LoCarb

“I took the 12 weeks allowed under FMLA. They wouldn’t hold my job any longer than that. I received four weeks of Short Term Disability pay at 60 percent of my wages.” – financial diva

“All in all I took six-and-a-half months. I did a lot off research and the other people in my company who had taken maternity leave said seven months is the max. 16 weeks were paid.” – Brendamndz

“I took 13 weeks off. The plan was 12, but my daughter came early. I’m a teacher, and I had to give a specific date that I could come back, so they could put a substitute on contract. 10 days were paid — five were sick days and five were childbirth leave. The rest was unpaid.” – dizzykates

How much maternity leave did you take or do you plan to take? Do you think more companies should extend their maternity leave, like Yahoo did?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Maternity Leave Around the World

The 10 Hardest Things About Maternity Leave (and How to Deal)

Maternity Leave Checklist: Prep for Your Time Off

It’s an age-old issue: How do you get fasten all those teeny little snaps on a wriggling baby’s clothes without a struggle? Enter Magnificent Baby, the ingenious line of baby clothes created without snaps or zippers — but with magnets instead. No fumbling around to line up the snaps perfectly, and no pinched-by-a-zipper skin.

Two of the company’s newest products include a sleep sack — a safe substitute for blankets — and an adorable and super warm hooded jacket. (Aren’t the little ears adorable?) Watch this video for more details on why these are on our must-scan list.

Buy these items here and here, or register for them here.

What are your favorite products for keeping baby warm?

Plus, more from The Bump:

How to Buy Baby Clothes

Best Clothes for a Newborn

Baby Clothes Registry Checklist

Looking for the perfect baby monitor? Our friend, Christopher at Buy Buy Baby says his #1 pick is the Motorola Remote Wireless Video Baby Monitor for it’s reliability, versatility and high tech features. It even inconspicuously mounts on the wall! Watch this video for more on why you’ll love this monitor.

Register for the Motorola Remote Wireless Video Baby Monitor here, or buy it here.

What baby monitor have you used? What did you think of it?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Top 10 Baby Monitors

How to Buy a Baby Monitor

Top 12 Babyproofing Products

If you’re pregnant, you probably don’t need us to tell you that pregnancy can do some pretty crazy things to your hair. For some lucky moms-to-be, it gets thicker and shinier. For others, it can get dry and frizzy and even thin a bit (eeek!). Watch this video to see what our expert says on why pregnancy wreaks havoc on your hair and what you can do to help it.

Plus, more from The Bump:

Hair Issues During Pregnancy

Can I Color My Hair While Pregnant?

How to Make Over Your Beauty Routine for Pregnancy

Girl Next Door turned Vegas performer Holly Madison confirmed to People that she and boyfriend Pasquale Rotella welcomed a baby girl Tuesday.

The new mom may have been induced on her due date (which was Tuesday as well). “It’s time now,” she told the Las Vegas Sun on Monday. “We have decided to induce the delivery if necessary. I will go in Monday afternoon or early evening. It still might take up to three more days, though.”

“You’ll know when the baby is born, but I’m not going to be tweeting during the delivery,” she jokingly told the paper.

So far, no word on the baby girl’s name. “We have her name picked out, but that has to remain a secret for now,” she said. “It’s such an unusual and difficult name, I have a feeling we’ll add something simpler once she’s arrived safely in our world.”

Holly has been really vocal about her pregnancy. She opened up to The Bump about how pregnancy has changed her, and recently shared photos of herself putting finishing touches on the baby’s Alice in Wonderland-themed nursery.

Congratulations to Holly and Pasquale (who also plan to marry this summer)!

Do you feel pregnancy changed you? How so?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Get Holly Madison’s Maternity Style

Crazy Celebrity Birth Stories

Worst Celebrity Baby Names of All Time

The media’s abuzz because Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge may have let it slip that the next heir to the English throne is a … wait for it… girl!

On Tuesday, Kate was visiting Grimsby, England, when a woman in the crowd handed her a teddy bear. “Oh, this is for our d…” said Kate. “That’s very sweet of you.”

Another woman, who’s been identified as Sandra Cook, 67,  asked, “‘Did you say daughter?” and the Duchess replied. “No, no, no. We don’t know.”

See the video for yourself — what do you think she said?

Me, I’m not sure I’m convinced, but I would love to see a princess welcomed into the royal family.

Did you find out the sex of your baby before the birth? Did you tell everyone, or keep it a secret?

Plus, more from The Bump:

10 Creative Ways to Reveal Baby’s Gender

What’s the Chance Baby’s Gender Could Be Wrong?

Chinese Gender Chart

Consider this your warning: In most places in the country, we begin Daylight Savings Time in the wee hours Sunday morning. And that, of course, means moving your clock one hour forward before you go to bed Saturday night.

For most people, this simply means one hour less sleep, but for a sleep deprived new mama, it could mean having a very unpredictable baby. That one hour is a big deal for baby! “It can be kind of like the baby has jet lag,” says Angelique Millette, a family sleep consultant in San Francisco. “They may be harder to put down at bedtime, or awake when they’re not supposed to be. When toddlers or older kids get off-schedule or their routines change, they may exhibit ‘testing’ behaviors.” Your child could be moody or cranky or act up, or need more naps.

Millette suggests starting early — tonight! — and putting baby down for bedtime about 10 minutes earlier each night, so that by the time you reach Sunday, baby’s going to bed one full hour earlier. (If you start a few days later, that’s okay — it will just take that many days longer to get baby completely adjusted.) And, hopefully, baby will be waking about an hour earlier. This can make the transition go much more smoothly, since it makes the change in bedtime and wake-time less abrupt for baby, and hopefully, makes the switch to the new routine less jarring.

Get more expert tips on dealing with the clock change.

How do you plan on getting your child ready for the start of Daylight Savings Time?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Baby Sleep Myths — Busted

Baby Sleep Schedules: What You Need to Know

Craziest Things Tired Moms Did

You’ve probably heard a horror story or two about a friend of a friend whose feet got bigger during pregnancy — and never went back to “normal.” She had to toss a closet full of precious Louboutins and Choos. Could this happen to you?

Yeah, it could. (Sorry!) A new study conducted at the University of Iowa followed 49 women throughout their pregnancies. Researchers measured the women’s feet in the first trimester and then again about five months after their babies’ births. They found that, for about 60 to 70 percent of the women in the study, their feet became longer and wider. Women’s arch height and arch rigidity tended to decrease significantly, too. Women’s feet were likely to change if this was their first pregnancy, but not if it wasn’t. (Whew. At least it doesn’t keep happening!)

“We found that pregnancy does indeed lead to permanent changes in the feet,” says Neil Segal, UI associate professor of orthopedics and rehabilitation, who conducted the study.

“We know that women, and especially women who have had children, are disproportionately affected by musculoskeletal disorders,” says Segal. “It is possible that these foot changes that occur during pregnancy may help explain why, in comparison with men, women are at higher risk for pain or arthritis in their feet, knees, hips, and spines.” Segal said his next steps are to study whether or not there’s connection between foot changes in pregnancy and later-life health problems, such as arthritis. He’s also studying how to protect muscoskelatal health during pregnancy.

A little freaked out by this study and hoping to prevent foot growth during pregnancy? It’s possible! Check out our tips.

Did you notice any changes in your feet during pregnancy? Were they permanent?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Swollen Feet and Ankles During Pregnancy

What Your Body Will (Really!) Look Like After Having a Baby

How to Love Your Postbaby Body