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Think fertility is a “you’ve-got-it-or-you-don’t” kind of thing? Think again. There are some simple lifestyle steps that can rev up your fertility…and your chances of getting pregnant. Start eating for two You need to nourish yourself before you can begin to nourish a growing baby. In general, good nutrition for your health is going to be good for conception and pregnancy, too. Start by choosing foods rich in whole grains, plus a rainbow’s worth of colorful fruits and vegetables every day....

When you were a baby, there’s a good chance your crib was decked out with bumpers, blankets and maybe even a stuffed animal or two. But now that sleep environment is totally taboo. Wondering who makes the rules when it comes to baby safety? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is the definitive arbiter of policies and practices when it comes to children’s health. And throughout the year, the organization reviews studies to see which policies and practices need updating....

Dr. Preeti Parikh is a Board-Certified Pediatrician with a special interest in preventive medicine, advocacy and patient education. Her goal is to empower both parents and children with the right knowledge and tools to achieve their optimal health. Dr. Parikh holds degrees from The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Columbia College. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Pediatrics Department at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and sees patients at Pediatrics of New York ( www....

The alarm is going off. It’s 7 a.m., but I feel like I just went to bed. I fell asleep again without washing my face. My mascara-stained pillow cover and sheets haven’t been changed in over a week, there are several cans of seltzer on my nightstand and my tattered, decades-old flannels with a hole in the knee are all bunched up. It’s a familiar scene, one I’ve been playing out for years....

After pregnancy, you’re probably eager to enjoy certain things from your pre-baby life—like eating sushi, sipping wine or fitting into your favorite pair of jeans. While your dinner menu options basically open up the moment you give birth, postpartum weight loss takes time and patience—after all, it took nine+ months to grow baby! Give your body time to recover, credit for pulling off an amazing feat, and grace as you transition into a new phase of life....

When you become pregnant, you of course expect your body to change—but you probably never considered how pregnancy would affect your vaginal discharge. Surprise! Even immediately after conception, the consistency, color and odor of your pregnancy discharge is likely to change due to hormone fluctuation. And if you’re not up to speed on those changes, things can sometimes look strange or feel pretty wet down there. Right off the bat, you may find yourself with questions about your early pregnancy discharge—like, should my discharge look that color?...

The likelihood of pregnancy depends mostly on maternal age rather than paternal age. There is no definitive age when men cannot reproduce because the number, or concentration, of sperm remains relatively constant for them. Even with decreases in semen volume, sperm motility and sperm morphology (the size and shape of sperm), men are able to produce sperm well into their senior years. While some studies have shown that advanced paternal age may be linked to higher miscarriage rates, these data are difficult to interpret due to differences in maternal age and the small numbers of patients in these studies....

The good news: About two thirds of infertile couples have children after treatment. The bad news: Many insurance plans don’t cover infertility treatments. (Thirteen states, however, mandate at least some coverage, and more and more HMOs are covering part or all of it.) There are a myriad of options, depending on the cause of the problem. For men, medication can often correct impotence and premature ejaculation, and surgery can reverse low sperm count....

“Please don’t put your fork in your eye!” No, seriously, I actually said that this week, to both my husband and my son… Yep. My husband was sitting at the dinner table playing peekaboo with our 20 month old toddler, hiding his eyes behind his fork. It was a fun game, until our son decided he’d like to play, and started pressing his fork into his eyes. Thankfully, he was eating with a plastic toddler fork, and we were able to quickly redirect his attention to something else....

The idea of a water birth being a tranquil extension of pregnancy is supported by thousands of YouTube home videos, many of which show laboring moms kneeling or squatting in small blow-up tubs, seeming to effortlessly push their babies out, underwater, into the world. Of course, while a water birth can be a wonderful way to deliver, just like any birth, it requires lots of mental, physical and logistical preparation, and there are certain risks to be aware of....

Three or four months after baby is born, you may start to feel like you’re ready to emerge from that bleary-eyed newborn fog. You’ll have some experience under your belt and maybe even the semblance of routine. What’s more, you (and baby!) will hopefully be sleeping for longer stretches of time. Along with this restorative transition, you may have a renewed desire to care about how you look. But before you dial the salon and schedule an appointment for the works, be warned: Change could be coming....

Christmas isn’t just about the one day—it’s a whole month of decorating, cookie-baking, merry-making and thinking about the true meaning of the holiday. And by crafting a DIY Advent calendar with your little one, you can plan on each day being just a teensy bit more special. Many of these Advent calendar ideas use items you probably already have, like paper cups, balloons and cotton balls. And because you decide on the daily loot, you can think beyond sugar and opt for meaningful treats, such as a homemade coupon for a fun activity or a slip of paper with a joke or poem you can share....

And the Winner Is: Ergobaby Omni 360 Mesh Baby Carrier What We Love With built-in lumbar support, an ergonomic design and padded, curved shoulder and waist straps, you’ll remain comfortable as you carry baby—plus, the straps can be crossed to offer even more support The carrier is one of the most lightweight options out there, weighing under 2 lbs; it’s machine-washable and super-easy to clean It supports a child weighing up to 45 pounds, and can be used from the newborn days (insert sold separately) well into toddlerhood...

When Lauren Parr found out that her newborn girl had hip dysplasia, the news didn’t initially sink in. “The nurse first told us, but I had just given birth and there was a lot going on,” she says. It wasn’t until the next day, when doctors took her baby for an ultrasound and confirmed the diagnosis, that the reality of the situation hit her. “We were pretty devastated,” Parr says. “We felt badly for our child and didn’t know if she was in pain....

With role models around like New York Marathon winner Paula Radcliffe, who trained throughout her pregnancy, it’s clear that exercise doesn’t need to stop when pregnancy begins. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day (with your doctor’s approval, of course), and you’ll lower your risk of complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Exercise is also associated with shorter labor and speedier recovery—a pretty good deal, if you ask us. “If you’re pregnant, get active!...

The highs and lows of pregnancy tests can be a killer. We all dream of that big fat positive (BFP), but sometimes you can tell the babymakin’ worked well before even taking a test (ugh, my achin’ boobs!). Bumpies on the 1st Trimester board shared how they knew : “All of a sudden my dog smelled horrific even though he was clean and all smells/scents were much stronger." –Wildblue22 “I had been eating everything in sight!...

For most new parents, it’s the eternal question: How to get baby to sleep? When it comes to putting baby down to sleep—and helping baby stay asleep—it can feel like mission impossible sometimes, especially in those first few days, weeks or even months with your newborn. That’s because no two babies are exactly alike, and there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy when it comes to how to get baby to sleep at night....

Well, that depends on your own preferences — and on baby’s head of hair. (Some are bald; others come out with a ‘fro. Some cultures are adamant about shaving newborns’ heads; other parents wait two years or more.) For simplicity’s sake, it may be best to at least wait to grab the shears until baby can hold up that wobbly head. After that, it’s up to you. There often comes a time when it just seems necessary, or when you’ll start imagining baby with a cute little cut....

Stocking up on organic foods? You’ll want to read this before throwing them into the shopping cart. For the past decade, people have bought organic products thinking they’re the healthier option. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), however, has released a report stating that organic products may not offer as many nutritional benefits as people think. The AAP also, for the first time ever, offered advice for pediatricians when it comes to talking with patients about feeding their children organic foods....

What is joint pain during pregnancy? You might be feeling stiffness, soreness or pain in the places your body bends: elbows, fingers, knees, hips and more. What could be causing my joint pain during pregnancy? Pregnancy weight gain itself can put strain on your joints (knees and heels in particular) and make them hurt — especially if it’s your first baby, says Joseph A. Salinas, MD, ob-gyn at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in Houston....