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The latest study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that mothers who breastfeed may have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease as they get older. Researchers led by Dr. Molly Fox, from the department of biological anthropology at the University of Cambridge, interviewed 81 women between the ages of 70 and 100 (as well as their family and friends) at length about their reproductive history, their breastfeeding habits and their history of dementia....

Are more and more moms getting pregnant with multiples? The latest study says yes. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a team under lead author Aniket Kulkarni of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that more than three-quarters of triplets or higher-order births in the US were due to fertility treatments. For the study, Kulkarni and her colleagues gathered data on multiple births between 1962 and 1966, which was before any medical fertility treatments were available to women and men, and compared the pre-fertility treatment data against numbers from 1971 to 2011 (when fertility treatments were available)....

Gestational diabetes has become one of the most common pregnancy complications in the US, with about 7 percent of pregnant women developing the condition. But just because it’s more widespread doesn’t mean it comes without risks. So what is gestational diabetes—and how can you minimize your chances of getting it? In this article What is gestational diabetes? What causes gestational diabetes? Gestational diabetes symptoms Gestational diabetes treatment How to prevent gestational diabetes...

What is Graves’ disease during pregnancy? Graves’ disease describes a constellation of symptoms that affect several parts of your body, most notably the thyroid. Doctors call it an autoimmune disorder, since the body essentially attacks itself (rather than a bacteria or virus). Your thyroid is an important gland, and its job is to make hormones that regulate energy levels. With Graves’ disease, the immune system causes the thyroid to be overactive, making more hormones than you really need (aka hyperthyroid)....

There are several ways to pinpoint your fertile window (the days leading up to and after you ovulate) each month, from peeing on ovulation sticks and taking your basal body temperature to using a wearable device. But none are as easy, mindless and stress-free as Percept, which works while you sleep. Here’s how. What we love There’s nothing for you to remember or do with Percept; simply place it under your mattress so it can keep track of your body’s signals (like heart rate and breathing patterns) to pinpoint your next fertile window and period It’s thin enough to not create an uncomfortable lump underneath you, and sensitive enough to work even under the thickest mattress The information is transmitted to a coordinating smartphone app in real time, where you can keep track of your fertility and periods while you’re awake...

You may not have heard the term plagiocephaly (that’s pronounced pley-jee-uh-SEF-uh-lee in case you were wondering), but you might have heard of flat head syndrome. “The word plagiocephaly actually just means ‘flat head,’” says Michael L. Cunningham, MD, PhD, medical director of Seattle Children’s Craniofacial Center and division chief of craniofacial medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. So what is plagiocephaly, exactly? It’s an umbrella term used to describe an infant’s flat or deformed head shape, and while it sounds alarming, it’s usually pretty harmless....

While some say there is truth in wine, we have another motto at The Bump: There is truth—so much truth!—in children’s book quotes. From Anne of Green Gables’ truth bombs to Albus Dumbledore’s words of wisdom for Harry Potter, the best children’s book quotes are honest, timeless and often very funny. Which is how we divided them here: The Bump has listed our favorite children’s book quotes, classic children’s book quotes, funny children’s book quotes and children’s book quotes from five recently published books that you may have yet to discover, but which we suspect will be modern-day classics to you soon enough....

No matter what the disagreement is about, these four basic rules will help you cope. And remember — the conflict resolution and compromise you’re practicing now will be even more important once baby comes. Treat these discussions as learning opportunities! No pressure or guilt trips Rather than attempt to wear down your partner with endless appeals (never works), try to accept his different opinion, then revisit the topic once you’ve both had time to consider compromises....

While Ukraine is known for many things, it’s perhaps most known for its artistry and strength. Ukraine is home to many legendary artists and sportsmen, including the actresses Mila Kunis and Olga Kurylenko; boxers Vasyl Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk; and pianists Sergei Prokofiev and Vladimir Horowitz. Ukrainians have a deep connection to their country and culture, and picking a Ukrainian baby name is a great way to honor your family’s homeland—even from afar....

For baby’s middle-of-the-day meal, introduce him or her to all sorts of delicious fruit-veggie-protein combinations. His or her palate is a clean slate, ready to be exposed to delicious, nutritious foods. In fact, experts say baby can eat whatever you’re eating (in pureed or mashed form in the beginning), as long as it’s a healthy choice. “Introduce your baby to a wide variety of foods early on—you’ll create a better eater,” says Scott Cohen, MD, a pediatrician and author of Eat, Sleep, Poop: A Common Sense Guide to Your Baby’s First Year....

At one minute and again at five minutes after birth, the medical staff will evaluate your baby’s activity and muscle tone, pulse, grimace response (ability to get mad), appearance (skin color) and respiration. They’ll give each of these a score from 0 to 2 (with 2 being the best score) and then add those numbers together. The point of the Apgar score is to check whether baby needs immediate medical care....

First off, don’t dwell on the fact that you have to give stuff up. “Instead of being negative, use this as an opportunity to do healthy things we all know we should be doing,” says Laura Riley, MD, ob-gyn, director of labor and delivery at Massachusetts General Hospital and author of You & Your Baby: Pregnancy. Plus, when you step back and really think about it, it’s not really that much that you have to give up....

Let me set the scene for you: It’s bedtime in the Barth-Boyce household. There’s laughing and crying and singing and wailing and begging and pleading and battling beyond measure. I panic mid-empty threat when I realize I left a window open, giving passersby an earful of our family antics. (Oh well, I suppose the neighbors know our nightly routine by now.) Motherhood has tested my patience in ways I never could have imagined, and I’ve discovered shortcomings I didn’t know I had....

Early cord clamping—almost immediately after birth—has been the standard procedure for decades, but new research suggests that waiting before clamping is better for baby. A 2013 review of 15 medical studies found that waiting to cut the cord improved babies’ birth weight, blood concentration and iron stores at 6 months of age without increasing moms’ risk of bleeding. “When babies are born, whether by caesarean or vaginal birth, they’re squeezed to some extent, and the pressure changes can cause of some of baby’s blood volume to become trapped in the placenta,” explains Stuart Fischbein, MD, co-author of Fearless Pregnancy: Wisdom and Reassurance from the Doctor, a Midwife, and a Mom....

Vision development? Crossed eyes? TV in the background okay? See all newborn Q&As Where’s that Gerber face? Still wondering where the soft pink skin and rosy cheeks are? While some babies are clear-skinned from day one, many newbies develop skin sensitivities like acne and eczema in their first month. Baby will probably outgrow these in a few months, but in the meantime, make sure to use gentle cleansers or (in severe cases) cortisone treatments as recommended by your doc....

The braid in her hair comes unraveled and it sends her into a tailspin. He hears a loud noise and screams for an hour. “Toddlers aren’t miniature grown-ups,” says Heather Wittenberg, child psychologist and author of Let’s Get This Potty Started! The Babyshrink’s Guide to Potty Training Your Toddler. “They really are a different breed. They’re built to freak out. Plus, they change so rapidly, it can be hard for you to keep up....

Gross headline, I know, but it’s not what you think. This article has nothing to do with my personal bathroom habits. It actually has nothing to do with bathrooms at all, come to think of it. But it does have to do with, well, doo — and our level of familiarity with it that becomes so nonchalant after a few months of parenthood that it’s almost disturbing. Prior to having a child, if I accidentally got poop on either of my hands in any way, my number one priority at that moment was to, not surprisingly, immediately wash the poop off....

After having a baby, lots of moms become extra mindful of chemicals in many cleaning products. Luckily, it’s easy (and inexpensive!) to keep baby’s clothes, toys and your home germ-free by making your own cleaning products. These eco-friendly ideas are from the moms on The Eco-Friendly Family message board. The best part? You probably have most of these ingredients lying around in your kitchen. For laundry “For laundry, (I have a top loader) I start to fill the tub with water and add vinegar, probably about a cup....

Once upon a time, Cupid struck you and your partner. You fell in love, you did what many couples do…and now you have a baby. With all the changes baby brings, being a new parent can affect your relationship—but Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to step back, relax and enjoy each other. Easier said than done, right? Sure, romance can be a bit more elusive with a newborn in the picture, but there are some simple ways to spice up your day (and night)....

Peggy Economou wears a couple of hats (as most women do). The native New Yorker is the co-founder and CEO of Teat and Cosset, an apparel company designed for pregnant and nursing women, and a mom to her adorable daughter, Dafne. With comfortable yet trendy pieces, like the totally chic Gemma sweatshirt, Teat and Cosset gives moms a wardrobe that boasts fashion and functionality. We picked her brain for the best parenting hack, her advice for new moms and finding that ever elusive work-life balance....