If I’m honest, the idea of having biological children never made sense to me. I have no idea what a biological clock is and why it might be ticking. I’ve never come down with a case of baby fever or felt an obligation to pass on my genes. I can’t recall sitting and wondering if my husband and I would make cute kids. I never doodled favorite baby names down on scrap pieces of paper or contemplated how I’d handle pregnancy....
The mere mention of “hand, foot and mouth disease” is enough to make any parent shudder. This common childhood illness is incredibly contagious and can tear through playrooms, day care centers and preschool classrooms at an alarming clip. And while its symptoms tend to be relatively mild, hand, foot, and mouth disease can make babies and toddlers (and their caregivers) pretty miserable. Here’s everything you need to know, including how to prevent it in your little one (and yourself!...
Jillian Benfield, a military wife and mom of three, remembers being pregnant with her second child and taking an unexpected phone call. “The doctor called,” her husband Andy said. “The test came back and it’s not good. I’m coming home.” When they arrived at the doctor’s office, he explained there was a 99.9 percent chance that their son had Down Syndrome. “Though we feel very differently about Down Syndrome now, that day we grieved like a death had taken place,” Jillian says....
If you’ve tried searching the web to find out when each trimester begins and ends, you’ve probably noticed that there are many answers to this question. Different practitioners may use different markers to determine the start and end dates of each trimester. Some just break it up into three chunks of 13 weeks, but most add on an extra week for a grand total of 40 weeks of pregnancy. Here’s the most common breakdown, along with official weeks from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: First Trimester: 0 weeks–13 and 6/7 weeks (Months 1–3) Starts with the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP) and ends with the last day of the 13th week thereafter....
It’s certainly not breaking news to say that your body goes through massive changes during pregnancy. It’s a miraculous, life-giving transformation for sure, but it can be a difficult one—physically and mentally—nonetheless. The reshuffling of internal organs, the too-tight skin stretching and that ever-expanding bump can make you feel less than physically comfortable (and less than physically attractive). The literal growing pains of pregnancy can be downright consuming. What’s more, for someone with body image issues, or body dysmorphia, seeing an evolving reflection in the mirror can weigh heavily on their mind....
Decorating the nursery is practically a rite of passage for parents-to-be, and picking out the perfect wall color is central to the décor. But can you paint while pregnant and still stay safe? Here’s the 411 on painting while pregnant and the precautions you’ll need to take when you’re in full-on nesting mode. In this article: Can you paint while pregnant? Safe paints to use while pregnant Safety precautions for painting while pregnant...
As you probably learned back in high school biology class, a gene is a piece of DNA with chemicals arranged in a specific sequence. When changes occur in those sequences, the genes become mutated and can lead to a variety of genetic disorders. “Carrier testing is done to identify whether or not you’re at risk of having a child with a genetic disorder,” says Lakshmi Mehta, MD, FACMG, a clinical geneticist....
Karen Moise has been a registered nurse for nearly 30 years, specializing in fetal intervention for multiples at risk of suffering from Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome. Currently, she’s a member of the fetal intervention team at Texas Children’s Hospital, along with her husband of 24 years, Dr. Kenneth Moise, Jr. M.D. Together they share a passion for ensuring the best care is given to each and every patient that walks through the doors of Texas Children’s Hospital....
What is obesity during pregnancy? Obesity is officially defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above. BMI is a measure of your height and weight to estimate the amount of fat on your body. The higher your BMI, the more body fat you typically have. What are the signs of obesity during pregnancy? In some cases, it can be hard to tell the difference between “a few extra pounds” and “obesity....
Because their immune systems aren’t mature, infants are more prone to serious infections, especially during the first three months, which is why it’s important to see your doc if your newborn has a fever. But please don’t assume that a baby has to have a fever for something serious to be going on; sometimes their smoke alarms have been unplugged. If your child doesn’t look right or you just have a feeling something is up, it’s never—repeat, never—wrong to call your doc....
Some mothers will see a drop or two of colostrum on their nipples before or after baby sucks, and some will see a little dripping out of baby’s mouth. Still, some moms never catch a glimpse of colostrum. This doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Watch baby. Does he have most of your areola (the dark part around your nipple) in his mouth? Do you see his chin pause slightly between sucks?...
The medical definition of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is an unbalanced blood flow between monochorionic (MC) fetuses. But let’s break down what that means. Monochorionic twins are twins who share the same placenta, which means they also share blood vessels that distribute blood-flow between each baby. For reasons that are actually unknown, 10% to 15% of MC twin fetuses will develop an uneven flow of blood between the shared blood vessels, resulting in TTTS....
According to Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA, the answer is no. “It’s totally normal — and expected — for your newborn to lose up to 10 percent of his birth weight in the first two days,” she says. “Babies are born waterlogged (imagine taking a nine-month bath), and a good bit of what comes off is water weight. Plus, baby is adjusting to living without the constant stream of nutrition that he was receiving in your womb....
Mother’s Day is next Sunday, May 13th, and while a lot of moms will be celebrating their special day, some moms are looking to “disappear” on that day and not accept cards, gifts or flowers. Christy Turlington Burns rounded up a group of mothers — from celebs to non-famous women to create a video urging others to participate in “No Mother’s Day”. The campaign was founded in 2010 by Christy and is sponsored by the organization, Every Mother Counts....
We all want our kids to develop on track — and if they’re not, we want to get them help as soon as possible. But identifying a delay can be tricky, especially for first-time parents. It’s a good idea to become familiar with several important developmental milestones. Most kids, for instance, walk around one year of age and most kids talk around age two. Keep in mind, though, that there is a wide range of normal when it comes to developmental milestones....
The Bump: You seem to have great adventures with your kids. How are you such fun mom? Soleil Moon Frye: I try my best! We’re all about the chaos! Embracing the chaos, enjoying the insanity of it all, and not trying to be too perfect. I’ve realized that perfection does not exist. TB: What tips do you have for pregnant women to stay comfortable and enjoy pregnancy and motherhood? SMF: Be comfortable, and don’t be too hard on yourself....
And the Winner Is: 4moms mamaRoo4 Babies like to be held. A lot. And while baby cuddles are magic, after some time you may start suffering from arm fatigue—that’s where the mamaRoo4 swoops in. This super-smart infant seat bounces up and down and rocks side to side, just like you! It features five motions and five speed options, so whether baby is a “tree swing two” or a “car ride five” (or sometimes both in the same day!...
It’s a beautiful thing when baby drifts off to sleep—but when your new-mom paranoia kicks in, you might find yourself constantly checking on your infant to make sure they’re still breathing. And it’s not a wholly unreasonable concern: According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are about 3,500 sleep-related deaths among US babies each year. Luckily, experts have figured out a few easy things parents can do to help ensure safe sleep for babies....
If you became a new mom like I did this year, you were thrust into a huge life change amid circumstances that no parenting book could’ve prepared you for, from heightened health worries and social isolation to financial struggles. Finances often play a big part in how “secure” we feel as parents, while also influencing our mental health and livelihood. In 2020, I learned a lot about myself, my son, my marriage and my community—and how to effectively manage our money in particularly stressful times....
Tubal ligation — aka “having your tubes tied” is one of the most common methods of permanent birth control. With this procedure, your fallopian tubes are cut, clamped off or burned (cauterized) so an egg can no longer be released and fertilized. The surgery is usually performed laparoscopically (through or near your belly button) and only takes about a half hour. On the positive side, tubal ligation is an easy way to ensure you won’t have an accidental pregnancy (only about 1 out of every 200 women who have had the procedure get pregnant later)....
