“It’s like when you’re in college and you’re fascinated by a book on a certain subject, and suddenly you’re required to read it for class,” says Laurie Watson, sex therapist and author of Wanting Sex Again. “Trying to conceive can take away the joy of curious exploration.” If the sex becomes awkward or a point of conflict now, it could affect your intimacy in the future. Don’t let that happen to you....
There’s nothing unusual about food cravings during pregnancy—studies show up to 90 percent of pregnant women experience them. But Vicky Jacob-Ebbinghaus and Juarez Rodrigues have uncovered—and recreated—75 of the strangest pregnancy cravings from around the globe for their new book, Pickles and Ice Cream. The project began when a friend admitted to eating Oreos with toothpaste during pregnancy. The duo wondered what other concoctions desperate moms-to-be were whipping up. After a year of research and sorting through 50,000 submissions, they created a hilarious cookbook from their findings, complete with artfully-staged photos of each masterpiece, like this one: Image: Pickles And Ice CreamBelow are 10 cravings, complete with an explanation from the women who ate every bite....
And the Winner Is: Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum Changes to your skin during pregnancy is expected. But changing up your whole routine? It’s important to skip the retinoids and double check the ingredients list of your favorite products—some are not safe to use while pregnant or nursing. Thanks to huge strides in the clean beauty industry there are lots of clean swaps that deliver excellent results. This vitamin C serum is one of them—it’s packed with antioxidants and fruit enzymes that tackle dark spots and uneven texture....
Whether Halloween is around the corner or months away, the witching hour—that chunk of time at night when an otherwise content baby starts fussing incessantly—will undoubtedly haunt many a new mom. What’s especially scary is that the baby witching hour always seems to coincide with when you’re most tired: It hits when you’re sleeping or just starting to relax after dinner. The good news? If your little ghoul is healthy and doing well otherwise, her witching hour days are numbered—we promise....
You can expect your OB to do an early ultrasound on your first office visit post-conception, just to make sure everything’s okay. If you’re transporting fraternal twins or triplets, you’ll get your big anatomy scan between weeks 18 and 22. Prepare to settle in — because your OB will be looking at everything (heart, lungs, liver) times two (or more), the scan can take a good 45 minutes or more. After that, expect to get an in-the-womb look every four weeks, starting at about your 26th week....
Going into labor means the finish line is officially in sight. And while the end of your pregnancy is quickly approaching, this grand-finale event may be filled with dramatic twists, surprising turns and—let’s be honest—a fair share of pain and anxiety. Often, there’s a sequence of steps—known as the stages of labor—that take you from those early mild contractions to that incredible moment when you finally meet baby. Of course, every labor and delivery can progress a bit differently....
You made it through nine+ months and childbirth—now what? Week one will be an endless merry-go-round of sleeping, eating and changing diapers, made even crazier by your postbirth exhaustion and new-parent anxiety. But trust us, you can do it—especially if you’re prepared with what to expect. Since you won’t have a drill instructor on hand to coach you, we thought we’d give you some expert pointers to help get you through it....
Today we honor the life and the work of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the sacrifices he made to ensure equality and justice for every citizen in the United States. Because of his struggles, young Americans today are endowed with certain invaluable rights and because of the depth of his work — and of those who worked diligently by his side — we’ve rounded up some of the best and most inspiring baby names!...
When baby arrives into the world, his digestive system is especially busy, learning to process nutrients and waste as baby eats and drinks. What’s more, that system is still developing, so it’s no wonder some tummy troubles tend to pop up. Whether baby is super-cranky or braving the icky symptoms like a soldier, learn how to spot these common culprits so baby can feel better in no time. In this article: Gas pain Spitting up Reflux disease Constipation Diarrhea...
What is a blood clot? A clot is formed by platelets in the blood clumping together to form a solid plug at the site of an injury, which reduces bleeding. Everyone’s blood is meant to clot (it’s how you keep from bleeding to death if you cut yourself while shaving). But during pregnancy, increased levels of estrogen means blood clots more readily. The clot itself isn’t necessarily the problem, it’s the location of the clot and what symptoms it may cause....
Keep track of your daily intake to make sure you (and baby!) get all the nutrients you need. □ Prenatal Vitamin □ Whole Grains and Legumes (6 or more servings) Try: brown rice, wild rice, whole-grain bread, whole-grain cereal, whole-wheat pasta, pita, tortilla, wheat germ, beans, lentils, peanuts, peas, quinoa, millet □ Calcium (4 servings) Try: low-fat milk, hard cheese, yogurt, collard greens, edamame, sesame seeds, calcium-fortified juice, canned salmon with bones, tofu □ Yellow, Green and Leafy Veggies and Fruits (3-4 servings) Try: winter squash, spinach, kale, lettuce, broccoli, red bell pepper, carrot, sweet potato, apricot, mango, cantaloupe, papaya □ Vitamin C (3 servings) Try: orange (whole or juiced), grapefruit, kiwi, strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, mango, peach, papaya, cantaloupe, honeydew, spinach, bell pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, tomato, avocado □ Protein (3 servings) Try: poultry, beef, lamb, low-mercury fish and seafood, DHA-enriched eggs, pasteurized cheese, yogurt, nuts, peanut butter, beans, tofu, edamame, soy pasta □ Iron (3 servings) Try: beef, duck, sardines, spinach, dried fruit, beans, soy products, pumpkin seeds, barley, oat bran □ Other Veggies and Fruits (1-2 servings) Try: green beans, zucchini, mushroom, corn, potato, apple, pear, banana, cherry, blueberry, avocado □ Fats (roughly 4 servings) Try: peanut butter, avocado, sour cream, cream cheese, cream, salad dressing, oil, butter, mayonnaise □ Fluids (at least 8 servings of 8 ounces) Try: water, juice, decaf tea, seltzer Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such....
You may be wondering why it’s important to clean baby’s teeth when he or she is just going to lose them in a few years anyway. Well, look at those baby teeth as benchwarmers—these first tiny teeth hold the place for baby’s adult teeth. If they’re unhealthy or deformed in infancy, chances are baby’s adult teeth will have some trouble growing in properly. And in the US tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children....
There’s nothing like starting a family to get you thinking about—and planning for—the future. Becoming a parent brings so many unknowns, both in the short term (What will they look like? What will their first word be?) and the long term (Where will they go to college? Will they have to care for me when I’m older?). The answers to those short-term questions are exciting to imagine, and you’ll find out the answers before you know it....
Nope. You should stay away from laser eye surgery such as Lasik while you’re pregnant. “I advise against corrective eye surgery within six months of pregnancy, through pregnancy and until two months after finishing breastfeeding,” says Suzanne Merrill-Nach, MD, a San Diego-based OB/GYN. Why? Because pregnancy can really affect your eyes. Hormone changes can make your eyes itchy, red and sensitive to light. Also, your cornea may swell and there’s a decrease in tear production, which makes your eyes dry and uncomfortable....
Skeptical about an epidural? Cringing at the thought of natural labor? The latest birthing trend is your happy medium: laughing gas. We know, we know, it sounds more like the dentist’s office than the delivery room. But it’s making its way back to the US (the practice of using nitrous oxide during labor has been used regularly in the UK since the 1930s), a few hospitals at a time. Last summer, Brigham and Women’s Hospital became the first in Boston to offer the service....
You’ll get your period in about a month, if you have a typical menstrual cycle. “Most of the time, the body treats a miscarriage as though it is a period. So if a woman has a 28 day cycle, she’ll ovulate around 14 days after the miscarriage and have a period about 28 days after the start of the miscarriage,” says Aszani Stoddard, Certified Nurse-Midwife with Park Nicollet Health Services in Minnesota....
Pregnancy puffiness: Another of those uncomfortable and annoying, but not usually dangerous, symptoms. First off, know what’s normal and what isn’t. Call your doctor if you see swelling in your face, your hands puff up more than just a little bit, one leg is much more swollen than the other, or your ankles or feet swell very suddenly. (This can be a sign of preeclampsia.) For everyday swelling, R&R coupled with prevention is your best bet....
Fatherly is a publication for modern fathers looking to make the best of a good situation. No matter where you fall on the sleep training spectrum, a kid who sleeps peacefully through the night can be a white whale for a lot of parents. Whether your kid is crying it out as you read this or you’ve already upgraded to a California king to accommodate your new roomie, research in the British Journal of Educational Psychology provides an important reminder: It’s the destination, not the journey....
“DH and I had a bet for March Madness with baby boy names. If his final pick won, we would use his favorite name. If my final pick won, we would use my favorite name. Neither of our teams made it to the end, and we found out we were having a girl, so none of it mattered anyway. But it was still fun!” — TheWop “We pulled names from two hats (one for first names, one for middle names)....
Toddlers are adorable, curious creatures. But, sometimes, they’re downright strange! Always wanting to be naked? Dumping things onto the floor? Putting food up their noses? Sure, a few of these behaviors may be considered cute or funny, but others can be completely confounding—and even concerning. So why do toddlers act this way, and how should you respond? We asked the experts to weigh in on nine common but bizarre toddler behaviors; here’s what they mean—plus, tips to help your little one understand what’s appropriate (and what’s definitely not)....
