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If you’re anything like us, getting a wedding invite sends a thrill of excitement down your spine. But when you’re pregnant, finding the perfect maternity wedding guest ensemble can be more than a little challenging. You want to look cute (of course), but these days comfort is key. Plus, the thought of dipping into countless stores to try on countless dresses can leave any woman feeling exhausted. Don’t sweat it. Here, you’ll find a handy guide on what to wear to every type of event—and a few picks from our favorite maternity fashion brands....

The road to pregnancy and parenting is different for every family. For Shanna and Ky Adderley, it’s taken an especially unexpected path: After heading down to Rio de Janeiro for work opportunities, they welcomed their daughter Gisela in 2014 and have been navigating the twists and turns of raising a child as expats there ever since. We caught up with Shanna to learn what life as a mom in Brazil has been like....

Reading the fine print in your health insurance policy isn’t how most people would like to spend an afternoon. But when you’re expecting, it should be added to the top of your to-do list. The thing is, your coverage can vary widely, depending on the type of health insurance policy you have and where you live. Unfortunately, new moms can end up with a major bill when they don’t know the rules....

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 First Trimester board shared how they just 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!...

What is melasma during pregnancy? Melasma (the “mask of pregnancy”), aka chloasma, is common among pregnant women and looks like dark patches on the forehead, cheeks or upper lip. What are the signs of melasma during pregnancy? Just the skin darkening. You’re likely to notice the brownish spots on your forehead, cheeks and upper lip. Are there any tests for melasma during pregnancy? No, but you’ll want to show your OB any skin changes you notice so she can rule out other skin conditions....

Cleaning the umbilical cord During diaper changes, wipe around the area with an alcohol wipe (check with your OB; some think it’s better to leave it alone). The remaining cord should fall off in a few weeks. Call your doctor if you see redness, warmth, swelling, or if it still hasn’t fallen off in 4 to 6 weeks. Trimming long nails It’s important to keep your baby’s nails short so he doesn’t scratch his face or eyes....

According to new research performed by Dr. Petra Arck, stressing out during your pregnancy might put baby at an increased risk for asthma and eczema. The study, performed at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany, examined data from 994children and their mothers who had participated in an Australian pregnancy study. Starting out, their purpose was to determine the effects of intensive fetal monitoring on pregnancy outcomes. For the analysis, researchers asked moms-to-be about recent stressful events at the midway point of their pregnancy and again as they got closer to delivery....

Are Nanny Cams Legal? What to Look for in a Nanny Cam Power source: Think about where you’d be placing the nanny cam before determining the best power source. If it’ll consistently be close to an outlet, a wired option might be best; if you prefer to move it from room to room or put it in an obscure place, a battery-powered camera will be a better bet, but those will need to have their batteries replaced or recharged on occasion....

Almost as soon as they’re born, baby begins to grow and learn and discover. And you’ll watch in absolute awe as that itty-bitty creature of yours finds their hands, uses their voice and cracks that first adorable smile. While some important developmental milestones may go unnoticed, others are more obvious—and more exciting. It’s especially thrilling when your little one starts to interact with you in new and super-cute ways. Yes, communication and gesturing start long before baby can verbally express themselves....

Once you get pregnant, your body stores more water to help supply an increasing blood volume, and you may also experience frequent urination. These two things can lead to dry mouth, thirst and other dehydration signs. Gestational diabetes may contribute to dry mouth and thirst (your doctor will most likely check you for it sometime between weeks 24 and 28, when you get your glucose tolerance test). Dry mouth isn’t just annoying, it can actually make you more susceptible to oral disease because it’s easier for bacteria to build up in your mouth....

It’s one of the greatest paradoxes of parenting: Research shows that raising small children is associated with psychological stress and marital blahs—but at the same time, it’s also scientifically linked to heightened feelings of exquisite joy and fulfillment in life. So how is this possible? How can such an exasperating, exhausting, often overwhelming job with zero pay offer such spectacular rewards? The explanation may lie in a burgeoning area of research called “relational savoring” As a 2015 Personal Relationships journal article reports, by taking the time to notice the tender little moments you share with your child and relishing all the little details surrounding it, you enhance your emotional well being and overall life satisfaction....

Nighttime separation anxiety? Resistance to crib at naptime? Nanny training basics? See all baby Q&As Square pegs Baby is starting to understand that objects have different shapes and sizes. He may enjoy stacking blocks (or knocking them down after you stack them) and playing with toys that have components that can be fit into each other. To-do: Watch out for sleep saboteurs Wean baby gradually Find teething relief [tip] Rough day at work?...

And the Winner Is: Boppy Total Body Pillow Growing a human is an utterly exhausting feat. But the great irony of pregnancy is that, despite feeling completely drained and depleted, sleep may torturously elude you. Suffice it to say that anything you can do (or buy) to even slightly improve the odds of getting a solid eight hours is worth the effort—and expense. One purchasable option? A pregnancy pillow. As your pregnancy progresses, it may become harder and harder to find a comfortable position for resting....

In the pre-covid days, the first few days at the hospital with a newborn might have felt like a minivacation, except you didn’t realize it at the time: Nurses took care of your needs, someone brought you food, you could sleep as much as you liked and a lactation consultant was a call button away. Two to four days later, assuming it was an uncomplicated birth, homecoming was a mash-up of emotions, sleep exhaustion and, possibly, minor chaos—and, since the pandemic, it may be happening much sooner for new moms....

Everyone’s talking about this interesting read in the July/August issue of The Atlantic called, “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All.” Anne-Marie Slaughter, a professor of politics and international affairs at Princeton University, the former director of policy planning at the State Department from 2009-2011 and the mother of two teenagers, takes an in-depth look at the belief that today’s women can have it all. Slaughter believes they actually can’t because the only women who seem to be achieving high professional positions are either wealthy enough to employ full-time nannies, are self-employed or have flexible work hours....

Right after birth, babies quickly have their heels pricked. A few drops of blood are collected on a card with your child’s name and taken to the lab to be tested for approximately 40 genetic diseases. But what happens next? That card typically goes into long-term storage, where it may later be retrieved and given to medical professionals — without baby’s name — for research purposes. But parents have no idea that this is happening....

Pros • BPA free • Patented vent system reduces gas and spit-up • Eliminates oxidation and preserves vitamins A, C and E • All parts are dishwasher friendly Cons • The nipple is a little long Bottom Line A shatterproof, BPA-free bottle that reduces gas and preserves essential vitamins—what more do you need? Rating: 4.5 stars Ready to register? Shop our catalog for Dr. Brown’s BPA-Free Polypropylene Natural Flow Wide Neck Bottles....

If you’re trying to conceive, your doctor has probably given you the classic spiel: take folic acid; cut back on drinking; exercise. The first two suggestions are generally keepers, but what about exercising? Could it be that regular, intense workouts are actually be harming your chances at getting pregnant? Yes, and no. 6 percent of infertility cases are the result of obesity. At the same time, however, another 6 percent are the result of being underweight....

First, take your time in finding a caregiver. Finding the right person to care for your most prized possession will be one of the first — and toughest — decisions you’ll make as a working mom. There are a lot of things to consider: Do you want a more formal daycare environment, or a private nanny at home? Do you have family member who can help part- or full-time? How much can you afford?...

To quote the American Academy of Pediatrics, they recommend “exclusivebreastfeeding for approximately the first six months and support breastfeeding for the first year and beyond as long as mutually desired by mother and child.” Although extended nursing may not be as common in the United States as it is inmost other parts of the world, it can still be valued. As parents, we are constantly advocating for our children and breastfeeding is often one of the first instanceswhere we make choices for our families....