Celebrities turn out for Motherhood Begins Now event to launch Pregnancy Awareness Month

Celebrities and experts in the field of parenting, health and fitness turned out at the Skirball Cultural Center on Thursday for the launch of Pregnancy Awareness Month. Declared and founded by holistic lifestyle expert Anna Getty (pictured left with brother Balthazar) May 2008 marks the inaugural year of Pregnancy Awareness Month (PAM).

Through PAM, Anna aims to empower pregnant women with information, “how to” ideas and inspiration to incorporate PAM’s four key initiatives: education, exercise, nutrition and wellness, and nurturing into their life routines and to show women how easy it can be to make healthy changes in their lives for themselves and their children.

Celebrity attendees included Diane Farr, currently expecting twins, Melissa Joan Hart and sons Mason Walter, 2, and Braydon "Brady" Hart, 7 weeks, Dawn Ballard, wife of Numb3rs Alimi Ballard, who gave us a first peek at their adorable 6-month-old son, believed to be named Cairo Che, Brooke Burke, most recently mom to 8-week-old son Shaya, and Josie Maran, mom to Rumi Joon, 23 months.

Attendees at the event were treated to a lavish and healthy buffet and round table discussion, featuring sage advice and amusing anecdotes from some inspiring moms and powerful voices in the world of motherhood:

• Spokesperson and Founder and prenatal fitness expert, Anna Getty
• Dr Alan Green, author of Raising Baby Green
• Model and actress and founder of Josie Maran Cosmetics, Josie Maran
• Founder of Stroller Strides, Lisa Druxman
• Christopher Gavigan, CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World 
• Alanna Stang, Executive editor of Cookie Magazine
• Actress and Momprenuer of Baboosh Baby, Brooke Burke
• Mompreneur and Founder of Scandinavian Child, Brenda Berg
• Authors of I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids, Pam Nobile and Trisha Ashworth

Click below for more photos and the rest of the event details!

The panel discussed the challenges that every mother faces, such asthe myth of "balance" and the struggle to have and do it all. Everyoneemphasized the need to make time for and take care of oneself whiletaking care of your baby. Dr Green and all the panel members also alltouched on the need for all of us to be aware of and to make greenerand healthier choices both for ourselves and our children.

Although the event highlighted Pregnancy Awareness Month, and therewas much discussion about prenatal care, the message that theorganizers, authors and spokespeople wished most to share was thatpregnancy should not be the only time for women to take care ofthemselves. Women need to properly care for themselves and establishroutines for fitness and healthy eating and living habits long beforethey wish to become pregnant, and to continue these habits after theirchildren are born.

These habits translate into our own wellness, andthrough that to the wellness of our children, and ultimately, that ofsociety. As mothers we have to the power to make a great impact on theworld. This sentiment was a perfect Mother’s Day message for the crowdassembled.

The atmosphere at the event was incredibly relaxed and positive as thecelebrities and moms from the LA area enjoyed mini manicures, massagesand card readings, dined on healthy salads and sandwiches and bondedover lunch on the sunlit and breezy patio of the Skirball Center. Theweather could not have been more cooperative for a Mom’s day out.

Celebrity moms and guests at the event casually swapped tales of theirown experiences and challenges, and shared some of the parentingsolutions they had found, including the use of some of the excellentproducts and services that had made their lives easier. Brooke Burke revealed that, although she had hoped to go longer, she has stopped nursing Shaya as she found it too difficult with so many kids and so little sleep. Her solution? Fiancé David Charvet keeps a thermos of hot water and measured formula on his side of the bed for middle-of-the-night feedings. Themes such as ways to get your husband involved were prevalent among moms.

On hand at the event were several hand picked vendors and serviceproviders with especially mom and earth friendly products. Many ofthese companies are run by moms, who were there to share and speakabout their genuine passion for their work, their children and theirproducts with the assembled crowd.

Scandinavian Child founder Brenda Berg was present not only to speak as part of the panel, but also demonstrating Scandinavian Child’s eco-friendly Cariboo Line of bassinets and bedding made from sustainable wood and organic cotton, their beautiful and environmentally responsible Svan Line of bouncers and highchairs and their Lillebaby Euro Totes, which work perfectly with the fabulous lightweight and easy to fold Micralite Toro Stroller, the newest product to the Scandinavian Child line-up. Seventh Generationwas present, spreading the word about their chlorine free line ofdiapers and babysafe line of home cleaning and laundry products.

Guestsstricken by a snack attack noshed on a delicious and nutritiousassortment of Luna Bars. Mom’s looking to learn about infant carriers had a chance to try on and learn about comfortable organic Moby Wrap baby carriers. The owners of The Cradle– a website dedicated to pregnancy and the first year — were presentas well, ready to provide moms with a wealth of indispensable info anda chance to win fabulous raffle items like a completely stockedhospital delivery bag from The Little Stork — the same bag carried to the hospital by Gwen Stefani.

Babies were truly celebrated from head to toe: RIE was there to share information about their educational philosophy, parenting classes and developmental playgroups while Stride Rite shared their uniquely flexible shoes that so expertly protect the feet of the newest walkers. Plum Organics shared information about their organic wholesome baby food, and G-diapers introduced moms to the latest option in responsible diapering — the cloth/disposable "hybrid."

VIPs at the event took away a fabulous goody bag full of Mom and Baby goodies including:

A Wee Generation Pack from Seventh Generation  (Featuring “Naturally Clean” by Jeffrey Hollander, a Wee Generation Baby Tee, Seventh Generation VIP coupons and Healthy Child Healthy World educational materials), a Moby Wrap Carrier, KokoBellies Organic Cotton Maternity Tee, Stride Rite Prewalker Baby Shoes, Moody Mamas Maternity Loungewear, Burt’s Bees Product for Mom & Babies, AFM Safecoat non-toxic earth-friendly paint for baby’s nursery, Anna Getty’s Pre & Post Natal Yoga Workout DVD, Raising Baby Green by Dr. Alan Greene, Bless You Mom Inspiring Affirmation Cards, a Born Free Baby Bottle Gift Set, Traditional Medicinals Organic Herbal Tea, Luna Bar, Svan Baby Bib from Scandinavian Child, Barielle Nail Polish, and Cookie Magazine.

Visit the Pregnancy Awareness Monthsite for more information about the event, sponsors and to sign up forPAM newsletter and a chance to win over $2500 in prizes.

Photos by Wireimage and Startraks.