If you need another reason to quit smoking, we’ve got it. It turns out that smoking around a toddler can have the same effects on the child’s future weight gain as smoking while pregnant. Researchers from the University of Montreal and CHU Sainte Justine Research Centre found that by the age of 10, kids who were exposed to smoke (intermittently or continuously) had waists up to 3/5 of an inch to a full inch wider than their peers....
What is a sty like for a baby? A sty looks “like a red bubble on the eyelid,” says Alanna Levine, MD, a pediatrician at Orangetown Pediatric Associates in Tappan, New York. It may or may not be painful for baby. It’s the result of an infection of an oil gland or eyelash hair follicle. What are the symptoms of stys in babies? Think of a sty as a pimple on the eyelid....
A luteal phase defect (LPD as it’s sometimes known) is another way of saying a woman’s menstrual cycle is out of whack. The LPD usually occurs if your body fails to produce enough progesterone, which in turn means the endometrial lining of your uterus won’t thicken or develop. The luteal phase itself refers to the time between ovulation and the start of your next menstrual cycle. The condition affects about 3 to 4 percent of women with infertility and up to 5 percent of women who suffer from multiple miscarriages, and it can be found in up to 30 percent of otherwise healthy women who are menstruating....
It’s no secret that pregnancy comes with a long to-do list. There are the obvious tasks (setting up a nursery and babyproofing your home), and the less so (applying for baby’s social security card and buying life insurance). You’ll also be faced with a host of legal and financial decisions, like writing or revising your will. But with a little bit of planning, you can get a head start on these crucial to-dos to save you time (and stress) once baby arrives....
If you’ve been trying to conceive, the two-week wait before taking a pregnancy test can be absolutely nerve-wracking. And the couple of minutes before the results? Almost unbearable. So when it comes back with (drumroll)…a faint line, it can be pretty darn confusing. You’re left wondering: Is there a line? If held up to the light just right, is there something there? Does a very faint line on a pregnancy test really count as being pregnant?...
Any parent knows that keeping toddlers busy can be a tough job! Their needs may still be pretty basic, but now that they’re no longer a baby, your toddler pretty much has to be constantly engaged and entertained—otherwise they’ll get bored, and that’s when trouble starts to brew! The good news is, you don’t have to splurge on a cartful of new toys to keep your kiddo happy. Together, you can have tons of fun with items you probably already have in your home, or take a quick trip to a kid-friendly destination nearby....
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....
What is dry skin during pregnancy? You’d think that so-called “pregnancy glow” meant your skin would be radiant, not reptilian. And yet for many expectant moms, your skin is becoming as dry and flaky as a molting lizard. What could be causing my dry skin? Credit a loss of bodily fluids, which are traveling from you to baby, as well as hormonal changes that can have an effect on skin. When should I go to the doctor with my dry skin during pregnancy?...
We wish we could give you a firm number, but prenatal health care and delivery costs vary radically. How much you’ll pay will depend on factors like where you live, whether you have any complications and whether you have a vaginal birth or a c-section. But here are some ballpark figures: Prenatal care and delivery costs can range from about $9,000 to over $250,000 (quite a range, huh?). But before you freak out, know that we’re talking without insurance....
Every time an expectant celebrity steps out in sky-high heels, it makes instant headlines. Sometimes it’s because the mom-to-be looks so chic; other times people imply that her precarious footwear is somehow endangering her innocent unborn baby. It turns out that elevating your heels doesn’t impose any intrinsic danger to your joints or ligaments. But it’s your already-compromised balance that can and should be cause for concern, especially in that pesky third trimester, when your center of gravity is way off and you’re more likely to fall....
Breastfeeding can be a beautiful, bonding experience, but it’s far from easy. Sore nipples, clogged milk ducts and low milk supply are just a few of the issues nursing parents may contend with. But don’t let these common complaints sour your experience—most ailments can be safely treated at home. While it certainly isn’t a fix-all solution, gentle lactation massage can ease breast pain, loosen clogs and stimulate milk supply. Of course, you can always use your hands, but a lactation massager is great if you’re after a quick fix or want to target certain areas....
The first few months with baby are full of emotion: joy, worry, excitement and everything in between. But unfortunately, what you’ll feel the most as you adjust to your new world is exhaustion. The good news? There are ways to make sure you and baby both get better sleep, starting with the right accessories. In the meantime, these GIFs and memes are here to remind you that the kill-me-now fatigue is totally normal—and more than a little comical....
And the Winner Is: Silver Cross Coast Stroller There are a million types of strollers for parents’ various needs, but when it comes to your everyday stroller, you want a workhorse that can keep baby comfy and cozy and adapt to your busy day. At The Bump, we’re having a bit of a love affair with Silver Cross, a UK-based brand that’s been around since 1877 (you read that right!) and recently made it onto the radar of savvy American parents....
And the Winner Is: Withings Thermo Smart Temporal Thermometer If ever there was a year to own a reliable thermometer, 2020 is it. Of course, a trusty temperature-taker is a key component of the family medicine cabinet even during non-pandemic years. Babies get their fair share of fevers, and knowing your child’s exact temperature is crucial in identifying next steps. You need something that’s easy to use, accurate and gives nearly instant readings....
And the Winner Is: Erbaviva Stretch Mark Oil Genetics largely determine whether or not you’ll develop stretch marks during pregnancy. Your best defense to prevent (and treat them) is a hydrating cream or oil. You’ll want a product with pregnancy safe ingredients that help restore skin’s elasticity and increases collagen production. Erbaviva Stretch Mark Oil is a nutrient-rich solution that does just that. The blend of rosemary, rosehip and vitamin e oil works as an anti-inflammatory, ensuring skin is calm and can expand more smoothly during pregnancy (thus reducing the likelihood of stretch marks)....
My kids love black olives, mustard, and lemons. Weird, right? Not to me. See, I always suspected this may have something to do with the salty, sour, and spicy foods I craved while I was pregnant with each of them. But I’d never heard of any science to back that up – until now. I recently read about some studies that showed babies’ taste preferences can be affected for life by what their mother did or didn’t consume while pregnant....
Who run the world? Firstborn girls, according to a study from the University of Essex (and Beyonce, a firstborn girl herself). Researchers found that firstborn girls are likely to be more ambitious than their siblings, based on data taken from the British Household Study. The survey studied 3,552 individuals and 1,503 sibling clusters to find that birth order does have an impact on academic and professional success. The university’s data states that girls born first in their family are more likely to be more ambitious and accomplished than their siblings, and are 13 percent more likely to try to attend graduate school than firstborn boys, no matter the number or gender of their younger siblings....
Trying to conceive is one big waiting game—you never can predict whether this is the month that pregnancy test will turn positive. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to boost your odds of getting pregnant each month. For instance, you can track your cycle, take prenatal vitamins, eat healthy and even, just for good measure, take a cue or two from a few old wives’ tales. But sometimes what you don’t do is just as important....
And the Winner Is: Canopy Humidifier A humidifier can work wonders when baby has a cold—the moisture helps clear up a congested nose or ongoing cough overnight. The problem is, moist spaces with poor ventilation are a prime breeding ground for mold and bacteria, and most humidifiers are designed so you can’t reach your hands (or a sponge) into the main water tank, making them a huge headache to clean. But get this: There is now a humidifier on the market that is not only made with anti-mold technology, but it’s also dishwasher-safe—so you can wash your hands of mildewy humidifiers once and for all....
For nine months, you carefully avoided deli meat, hot dogs and unpasteurized cheese (and all the other non-pregnancy-friendly foods) to keep baby safe and healthy. Of course, now that baby is finally here, those protective instincts are probably only heightened—so it’s normal to wonder if there are foods to avoid while nursing. After all, molecules from the food you eat can make their way through your breast milk and into baby’s system....
