#1: Shoulder straightener How to do it Squeeze your shoulder blades together (while sitting or standing). Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat a few times during the day. The benefit Those new curves can make your body hunch forward. This move realigns your posture and stretches chest and back muscles. #2: Baby hugs How to do it Draw in your abs as if to “hug” your baby. Focus on working your obliques too....
Do you Need a Travel Car Seat? What to Look for in a Travel Car Seat Age-appropriate. The most important factor to consider for any car seat type is whether it’s appropriate for your child’s age, weight and height. According to the AAP, children should use a rear-facing car seat until they’re at least 2 years old—or until they reach the height and weight requirements for a specific model. Children that weigh over 40 pounds can use an aircraft safety belt....
Ouch is right! It’s normal for a baby to occasionally bite the breast, but it doesn’t mean that she needs to be weaned, says Carole Kramer Arsenault, a registered nurse and lactation consultant. The biting should be temporary, especially if baby has been nursing effectively up to this point. What you’ll want to do is identify the underlying cause. Teething could be the culprit. If so, offer baby something cold to bite on before the feed to help soothe her irritated gums, says Arsenault....
Between splashing and scrubbing, bath time fun can come along with a few bumps and bruises if you’re not careful. One danger zone: the tub spout. We like the Puj Spout Cover because any babyproofing product that looks this cute and works is a win. WHAT WE LOVE The modern-looking elephant design is kid-friendly without being too cutesy Non-absorbent flexible foam fits spouts of all sizes and is mildrew-resistant It’s made entirely from recycled materials...
If your two-year-old is throwing temper tantrums (and even a few toys) around the house, you can obviously blame it on the fact that he’s two. But, you could also blame it on his sleep habits. Specifically: His snoring. A recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics found that persistent snoring in 2- to 3-year-olds led to behavioral problems later in life. (Not to mention it kept moms up at night!...
A new study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders found that women with eating disorders are less likely to have children . The study, which took place at the University of Helsinki, in Finland, found that the likelihood for miscarriage was more than tripled for women that had suffered from binge-eating disorders. They also noted that the likelihood for abortion doubled for women suffering from bulimia. Over the course of 15 years, researchers found that women with eating disorders were less likely to have children when compared to women without eating disorders in their age group — and they found that the discrepancy was highest in women with anorexia....
Your first trimester of pregnancy may seem like a series of nonstop tests. From that life-changing pee stick to batteries of blood tests, ultrasounds and more, keeping up with your medical to-do list can seem overwhelming. The truth is, though, many of those tests are merely diagnostic screenings. They give you an idea of how baby is doing, but they don’t tell you anything for sure. That changes as that first trimester starts winding down—when diagnostic tests become available, should you want or need them....
Getting pregnant [ ] Kick the pill (or any type of birth control) [ ] Read up on conception and ovulation basics [ ] Figure out when you’re ovulating [ ] Consider charting cervical mucus texture [ ] Learn to record basal body temperature [ ] Think about an ovulation predictor kit [ ] Potential dads — stay out of Jacuzzis and trade in briefs for boxers [ ] Lose the lube (unless it’s clearly marked fertility-friendly) [ ] Find the right position [ ] Spice it up in the bedroom [ ] Have sex!...
And the Winner Is: Tubby Todd Dream Cream Babies’ delicate skin can be easily irritated, so they need a good slather after the bath to keep their skin hydrated and protected. Enter the Dream Cream by Tubby Todd. Like its name suggests, it’s downright dreamy. It has a clean, light citrus and mint scent and effectively hydrates even eczema-prone skin. It’s thick but absorbs easily and is packed with plant extracts that completely transform dry skin (we may or may not “borrow” our kiddo’s lotion on the regular)....
Turns out, you didn’t just marry your significant other—you married their family too. Welcome to life with in-laws. It can be wonderful (the more loved ones, the merrier!), or it can be challenging (especially if you and your mother-in-law dearest don’t exactly see eye-to-eye). So what happens if you do find yourself in conflict with your spouse’s parents? Suffice to say, your happily ever after may be thwarted by petty power struggles and passive-aggressive commentary....
The beauty of birth (like, physically pushing a baby out of the womb and into the world) is something that most women wait to experience first hand. Now, thanks to modern technology, we don’t have to wait until our time comes to see just how incredible the moments leading up to baby’s first cries truly are. Case and point: Ruth Iorio. Ruth had her heart set on sharing her thoughts, feelings and photos the moment her contractions started....
Want to have a truly empowered labor and delivery, where you focus on progress over pain and have a calm and connected experience? You might consider opting for a HypnoBirth. No, this doesn’t mean someone will put you into a trance or that you’ll lose control of your mind and body. Rather, with HypnoBirthing, you’ll take the reins to get yourself relaxed and ready. But exactly what is HypnoBirthing—and what are the benefits?...
The multiple marker screening (or triple screen or quad screen) is a simple blood test done between 15 and 20 weeks to detect the level of different substances in your blood: estriol, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and, if you’re having a quad screen, inhibin-A. Estriol is a hormone manufactured in combination by you, your placenta, and baby, while hCG and inhibin-A are hormones made solely by the placenta. AFP is a substance made by baby, and passes in a small amount from the placenta to your blood....
The following story, “Why the ‘One and Done’ Label Makes Me Cringe” by Anna Davies was originally published on Boomdash. I have some news… I know what’s coming in the ellipses. My stomach clenches and, even though I’m texting, I set my face in a smile. I’m ready. The announcement takes many forms. There’s the cutesy: Madeline is going to be a big sister! The coy: Looks like I’ll be sticking to seltzer on our next girl’s night....
For nine months you prep and plan for baby’s arrival. You read books, watch videos and maybe even take a birthing class or two. But while movies and TV shows have led many of us to believe both labor and delivery happen while lying on your back with your legs spread wide, anyone who’s been through the experience will tell you it doesn’t have to play out that way. There are actually a variety of labor positions you can assume during the first phases of childbirth and a whole other set that makes for good birthing positions when it’s time to push—and they don’t all call for you to be flat on your back....
The USDA recently released a report saying that the average parent will spend $245,340 raising their child from birth to age 18. That’s a lot of money! But here’s the good news: that number is just an average, and there are some easy ways that you can be different from that average and completely offset the cost of a child. Here’s how to do it. Buy a smaller house Did you know that in 2013, the average single-family home sold in the United States cost $324,500, had 3+ bedrooms and was 2,662 square feet?...
Effecive communication and empathy are essential cultural components of a civilized society. But empathy manifests itself in people in different ways, and the how you pass these traits down to your children can affect them on social, academic and professional levels later in life. So, what can you do now to set your toddler up for success in the future? The Mother Company spoke with Lawrence Shapiro, PhD, a child psychologist, who says nurturing empathy is key to raising good people....
It’s usually safe to get certain x-rays while pregnant. In fact, the FDA makes clear that the risk of not having a needed x-ray could be much greater than any risk of radiation. Still, if you’re told you need an x-ray, make sure to alert the medical staff that you’re pregnant. Depending on the body part involved, they may decide to postpone or reduce the amount of radiation. X-rays work by allowing radiant energy to penetrate the body, producing a picture of internal structures like bones and organs....
“Oh no, they did not just say that out loud!” said my shocked husband as I read to him from the new book _ Shtty Mom,_ a totally hilarious and uncensored look at some of the impossible situations we mothers find ourselves in. We’re not talking about just the run of the mill breast milk stains and poop explosions here. For example, there are chapters called “Organized Sports Might Be Great for the Kids, but They Suck for You” and “He Wants Sex, You Want to Sew Your Legs Shut for Ten Years....
All those pee cups and needle sticks starting to blur together? This guide to the most common first trimester tests should help you keep things straight. You’ll definitely receive these screenings, and should discuss those marked optional with your doctor. • Initial Blood work At your first prenatal appointment, your doctor will take blood for a long list of screenings. First, she’ll determine your blood type, in case you need a transfusion (very unlikely!...
