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What’s in a name? Based on a growing trend, it can be either a good chunk of change or a lifetime of regret. In an attempt to persuade parents to follow family tradition, grandparents (and great-grandparents) are offering thousands of dollars in exchange for naming rights. Take the Hudocks, for example. The New York Times reports that after arguing over dozens of names, soon-to-be-parents Frank and Jennifer settled on Max. Until Frank’s grandparents offered $10,000 to keep the name ‘Frank’ in the family....

What is hypertension? High blood pressure is also known as hypertension (or gestational hypertension, if you developed it during pregnancy). It’s usually defined as a top (systolic) BP reading of more than 140 mm Hg or a bottom (diastolic) reading of more than 90 mm Hg. What are the signs of hypertension? You may have no signs, other than an elevated blood pressure reading when your doc takes it at a prenatal appointment....

The Bump presents #MomBoss, a series dedicated to showing off all-star moms. We catch up with mompreneurs behind products we love, influencers who get real about motherhood and SAHMs who can multitask in their sleep. Finding the perfect greeting card is never easy, but Arley-Rose Torsone and Morgan Calderini have made it their mission to craft gorgeous letterpressed cards with inclusive messages that resonate with diverse communities. Their secret? Tapping into their own experiences for inspiration—especially when it comes to pregnancy and parenting....

Gil Solano took a selfie with his wife, Sarah, as she was in the middle of delivering their baby. And he lived to tell the tale. In fact, Solano says it was his wife’s idea. “My wife wanted to make sure that someone took a picture of the expression on our faces when our daughter was born today. So I took one,” he writes on Reddit, where the photo was shared....

Manual or electric? Single or double? Choosing a breast pump can feel like a daunting decision—I know I found myself totally perplexed scrolling the insurance website as a first-time mom. Fast forward to today: I have two children and feel lucky to have been able to breastfeed them both (lucky because I know how hard it is and that this dynamic doesn’t work for every mommy-baby duo). I nursed my son until he was 14 months old and happily guzzling cow’s milk from a cup....

“He called me a loser.” My daughter was distraught over a boy and his callous remark. She couldn’t look me in the eyes, her head hung low, her knees were folded up into her suddenly fragile body, tears staining her sweet face. She no longer wanted to attend school or wear anything remotely resembling what she had donned that day. Even her lunch was dissected. She had trouble sleeping and would cry on the way to her classroom, and had completely abandoned her once carefree, confident personality....

You’ve made the decision to adopt—congrats! It can be an exciting journey, and you’re hopefully imagining the warm cuddles and happy times ahead as a sweet new child joins your family. A lot of prospective parents spend much of the pre-adoption waiting period emotionally preparing for the joyful goodness to come. But while planning and hoping and patiently counting down the minutes might feel protective for your mood and well-being, the reality is that adoptive parents are very much at risk for mental health conditions mid- and post-adoption....

What is poison ivy, oak or sumac in toddlers? Poison ivy, oak and sumac are three wild plants that tend to cause nasty, itchy rashes. The leaves of the plants contain a special oil called urushiol. Up to 85 percent of the population is allergic to urushiol. That’s why most people break out in a red, blistery rash after coming into contact with poison ivy, oak or sumac. Because the typical poison ivy rash is actually an allergic reaction, previous exposure is required for the body to develop sensitivity to urushiol....

Luckily, studies have shown that pregnancy doesn’t affect the long-term course of lupus, although flare-ups are more common after you deliver. It’s also extremely unlikely that baby will be born with the disease, no matter how severe you own case. That said, it’s best for you and baby if you can conceive when your disease is in a quiet period (if it’s at all possible to plan this). Make sure to let your OB know you have lupus so she can get in touch with your regular doctor, if need be....

You describe perfectly what many new moms, and some newdads, experience. They’ve been so overwhelmed with " baby chores" during the day that their minds simply can’t focus. First off, I’d like you to ask your health-care professional about postpartum depression because symptoms in mild cases can be a lack of focus and lossof sex drive. Next, if your mind is going to wander, let it wander to a fantastic fantasy that turns you on....

Let’s face it: The thought of sex after baby is pretty scary. And some moms are more eager to get back in the sack after pregnancy than others. A new study is taking a look at those women and asking an important question: Does their motivation stem from a higher sex drive or a desire to maintain their relationship? Several studies show women in Western societies focus more on their babies than their partners during the first six weeks after birth, often contributing to lower satisfaction and less sex in the relationship....

What to Know About DEET Bug Spray Alternatives to DEET Bug Spray The Dos and Don’ts of Bug Spray DO keep your infant and young child’s skin covered in lightweight clothing as much as possible, and try to cover exposed skin—for example, tucking pants into socks. DON’T use fragranced products such as scented laundry detergent or lotions, which can attract biting insects. DO consider using a mosquito net over your stroller or infant carrier....

Anyone who’s lived with a toddler knows the struggle of trying to make them do something they don’t want to do (hello, dinnertime). But when it comes to dental health, it’s important to get them brushing early and often to establish good hygiene habits from the start. So how do you convince them to do it? We asked The Bump users and a few mom Instagrammers to tell us what worked for their families, from singing a song to picking out a special toothbrush....

Uterine fibroids can be life-altering for some women, and they don’t magically go away when you get pregnant. If you have a history with fibroids, it’s understandable to wonder how they’ll impact your pregnancy and what kind of treatment, if any, may be available to you. Ditto if you suddenly develop fibroid-like symptoms while expecting. If you suspect you have uterine fibroids during pregnancy, talk to your doctor. In the meantime, here’s the lowdown on uterine fibroids and pregnancy....

It’s a little-known fact outside of parenting circles: Babies have a first poop called meconium, and it’s unlike any other BM you’ve seen. If you’re not prepared for that dark, tarry substance, you might understandably be concerned and even confused. For the record, it’s normal—and expected—for babies to pass meconium after birth. But if baby inhales it while in-utero, or if it causes an obstruction after birth, it can lead to potentially serious complications....

The decision to grow your family is no small thing. The addition of another baby brings big changes—for you and your partner, but also for your older child. So how can you tell if you’re really ready? Here’s how other moms knew. “I knew I was ready for baby no. 2 when my husband finally agreed!” — Rachelle M. “When I started packing away my one-year-old’s infant clothes.” — Jenna S....

Parenting is no small task—but there’s an upside to raising a kid in the modern era: access to endless choices of apps that provide much-needed help, literally at your fingertips. Whether you’re looking for the best pregnancy apps to guide you through those tricky nine months or for the best parenting apps to solve your everyday problems (you can save all that refrigerator art after all), trust us—there’s an app for that....

And the Winner Is: UppaBaby Cruz V2 Without a doubt, one of the most useful baby gear items is a stroller you can use every day while running errands, visiting friends or taking a stroll to your local park. Enter the UppaBaby Cruz V2. Not only is this stroller seriously stylish, it’s also highly functional, with an extendable canopy, a spacious storage basket and multiple seating configurations. Use the stroller frame with a car seat, bassinet or infant insert....

For most women, giving birth anywhere outside the hospital isn’t even on their radar. After all, we’re accustomed to the notion of pregnancy, labor and delivery as a health-oriented issue, something that requires the expertise of doctors with pain-relieving meds at the ready. But really, you’ve got options. You can go the “natural” route and choose to have baby at home or at a birth center. You can do a combination, where you bring non-medicinal pain-relieving strategies, such as acupuncture needles or even a birthing tub, into the hospital....

You’ve gotten all the essential baby gear, set up the nursery and brought your newborn home from the hospital. But when it comes time for baby’s first bath, there are suddenly so many questions. When can I give my newborn a bath? How often should you bathe a newborn? What’s the right water temperature? Not to worry. We’ve got all the bases covered to prep you for baby’s first bath—and beyond....