--Leading Pregnancy and Parenting Website Predicts High-Tech Babies, Ballet-Inspired Prenatal Fitness, Unisex Baby Names and More for 2014 Pregnancies--

NEW YORK (January 13, 2014) - Today, TheBump.com, the fastest-growing pregnancy and parenting website, released its predictions for the hottest pregnancy trends for 2014. From notable nicknames and abstract art in the nursery to high-tech baby gear, moms-to-be will have plenty of trends to inspire them this year.

"Whether it's taking a ballet-inspired prenatal workout, registering for an experience or creating an over-the-top AND viral pregnancy announcement, pregnancies today are taking on a whole new meaning," says Rebecca Dolgin, editor in chief of TheBump.com. "Mamas-to-be are making a statement throughout their entire nine-month journey, and you can bet they won't stop after baby is born."

Here's What's Trending for 2014:

Making a Social Statement
Don't expect a call, text or email announcing your friend's pregnancy in 2014. Last year was the year of creative gender reveals, but this year, parents will be upping the ante with their pregnancy announcements. According to The Bump #SocialMoms survey, 63 percent of moms used social media FIRST to announce their pregnancy - so you can assume this year's announcements will be more entertaining and viral than ever. From bare-bellied sonogram sketches featuring a fetus inside the womb to coffee stencils that leave the words "I'm pregnant" outlined in your drink and YouTube rap videos revealing a bun in the oven, over-the-top pregnancy announcements will be popping up on your news feed more than ever.

Tech, Please!
It's no surprise that in this tech-savvy world moms are craving innovative gear for their babies as well. Car seats that install themselves, onesies equipped with a chip that informs you of baby's functions and monitors that snap photos and video of baby and send to an iPhone are just a few of today's advanced products that mamas will be researching over their nine months and adding to their registries in 2014.

Notable Nicknames
Don't be shocked if you see more Charlie, Kate, Tommy, Abby, Jack, Maggie or Alex babes around town this year. Instead of using full-length monikers, parents will be naming their babies nicknames (or even picking unconventional nicknames like Busy Philipps did with Birdie and Cricket). Another hot name trend this year: unisex names. For parents that aren't finding out the gender, picking a unisex name relieves the stress all together! Bailey, Dylan, Hadley, Kai, Kennedy and Rowan are just a few top gender-neutral favorites that we'll be seeing for both boys and girls in 2014.

Goodbye Chevron, Hello Abstract
Gone are the days of chevron and accent walls in the nursery. This year, nursery design is stepping up in a big (grown-up) way. Abstract art and large prints with bright colors, bold shapes and exaggerated strokes will make an appearance on nursery walls. Textures will also play a role in baby's room, with felt plush toys, leather gliders, velour accents and faux-fur rugs.

Registering for Relaxation
Expectant moms will still register for baby gear in 2014, but they'll also be requesting memorable experiences from friends and family. New to the game are experiential registries that allow the parents-to-be to register for massages, date nights, wine tastings (after baby is born!) and other treats that parents can use before baby arrives or after to keep the romance alive.

Grandma Showers
Yes, you read that right. Not only does the mom-to-be get showered with gifts, but the grandma-to-be now gets her own supply of baby gear too! With more and more baby boomer parents taking on the role of nanny to their grandchildren, they too need a car seat, stroller, high chair and other gear that can cost hundreds, even thousands, of dollars. With a grandma shower, Nana's friends can get together and gift her with the essentials for taking care of the new grandbaby on the way.

Raising the "Barre" on Prenatal Exercise
Expectant moms are tired of the same old prenatal yoga and Pilates classes. In 2014, the hottest trend is the barre workout, which utilizes the ballet barre for a full-body workout that's also low-impact (perfect for mamas-to-be!). Thanks to Pure Barre, Xtend Barre, the Bar Method and more, prenatal fitness never looked so good.


About TheBump.com
The Bump is the only multiplatform resource giving first-time moms the inside scoop on fertility, pregnancy and new mommyhood, reaching millions of moms each year through The Bump Network, including TheBump.com, Breastfeeding.com and The Bump local guide. The Bump editorial team, "born" from The Knot, provides new moms stage-by-stage advice, stylish ideas, local resources, interactive tools and a savvy online community who are obsessed with knowing about everything baby. The Bump is a part of XO Group Inc. (NYSE: XOXO), a global media and technology leader devoted to weddings, pregnancy and everything in between. Follow The Bump on Twitter @thebump.

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Contact:
Melissa Bach
Public Relations Manager
TheBump.com
(212) 515-3594
mbach@xogrp.com

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