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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....

What Is a Smart Bassinet? Things to Consider When Buying a Smart Bassinet Budget: A smart bassinet or smart crib is great—but along with all the bells and whistles comes a pretty hefty price tag. While standard bassinets start at around $100, some smart bassinets and cribs can set you back more than $1000. Remember that a bassinet is smaller than a crib, and your little one will outgrow it sooner....

Motherhood is something most women aspire to. It is a rite of passage — almost what I imagine being in a sorority is like. Everyone always has amazing stories of how becoming a mommy changes them. These conversations are romanticized most of the time when overheard at baby showers. If you have ever eavesdropped a one on one confessional in the corner table at a crowded restaurant you can appreciate what I am about to share....

A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics says to bring on the fluoride toothpaste as soon as baby’s teeth start to come in. This comes in response to the fact that dental caries, or tooth decay, is the most common chronic disease in US children, especially among poor and minority populations. Last year, the American Dental Association made this same recommendation, but it is only now being approved by the AAP....

Yes, for most women, carrying a toddler while pregnant with baby number two is totally fine. But there’s a trick to it that you should know: When you do pick him up, lift with your legs so you don’t strain your back in the process. You’ll probably be most comfortable holding him on your hip, below your bump. And while there’s no weight limit, just remember that it is possible to overdo it....

We probably all know someone who’s turned to technology to help her conceive. And the good news is, some new developments in reproductive medicine may mean better pregnancy success rates for people struggling with infertility. “It’s the most exciting time I’ve seen in reproductive medicine,” says Mark P. Leondires, MD, medical director and lead infertility doctor with Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut. “Basically, in the past five years, our field has changed....

“It’s okay. We’ll try again.” This was my response after my wife’s last miscarriage. It wasn’t her first. Nor second. It was her third, one right after the other. Between December 2019 and April 2020, we tried three separate times to conceive, and failed. None of the advice from our well-meaning family and friends did anything to alleviate the pain we felt at the ever-growing possibility we might never be parents....

When you’re a parent of an infant, there are few things as deeply satisfying as the sound of baby’s burp. After a good minute or so of back patting, the tiny fellow in your arms suddenly lets out a deep, outsize belch—ah, the sound of accomplishment! Music to your ears. Sure, it’s embarrassing when one slips out of you, but for babies it’s among the most important things they need help with on a regular basis....

Some of them, yes. So you’re not destined to rushing for the nearest bathroom for the next nine months. The most recommended antidiarrheal for pregnant women is a kaolin-and-pectin-type medication (Kaopectate). Avoid antidiarrheals that contain bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) or atropine/diphenoxylate (Lomotil). Most likely it’s just a bug, but it could be something more serious. If you’re having a lot of diarrhea or if it’s severe or bloody, you should have this checked out by your OB....

As pediatricians, the stomach bug is one of the top calls we receive from worried parents. Here’s the lowdown on what causes a stomach bug, the symptoms to look out for, how to treat and even prevent it and when you should call your child’s pediatrician. Stomach Bug Symptoms Kids with the stomach bug can often have: • Nausea and vomiting. We’re talking forcefully emptying the stomach contents, not just a little spit up, a few to multiple times....

A biophysical profile is a painless, noninvasive test used to evaluate baby’s well-being, and is usually performed when pregnancy extends past the expected due date and in the third trimester of high-risk pregnancies. The test consists of an ultrasound and a nonstress test, and uses five different measures to create an overall picture of baby’s health. Your doctor will assess baby’s body movement, muscle tone, breathing movements and amount of amniotic fluid during the ultrasound, and fetal heart rate during the nonstress test....

Looking to learn more about your high-risk pregnancy or premature delivery? Read on for a list of helpful books and official resources on the web. Books to Read The Preemie Primer, by Dr. Jennifer Gunter $11.53; Buy it now » Your High-Risk Pregnancy: A Practical and Supportive Guide, by Errol Norwitz $16.95; Buy it now » The Premature Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Premature Baby from Birth to Age One, by Dr....

You know all the right things to do to protect your child’s physical health—make sure they eat healthy foods, see the doctor and get enough sleep and movement in their day. But what about ensuring that your child grows up with good mental health? It turns out, there is plenty you can do as parents to help foster your child’s emotional and mental wellbeing. In this article: What does ‘good mental health’ really mean?...

When it comes to raising a newborn, seasoned parents will tell you to expect the unexpected—and they’re totally right. Just when you start to feel like you’ve got the feeding and sleeping routine down pat, baby can suddenly become a seeming insomniac who’s ravenous and irritable all the time. And then, just as quickly, they’ll bounce back to normal. So what gives? Chances are, you can chalk up this roller-coaster ride to baby growth spurts....

What is blurry vision during pregnancy? Now that you’re expecting, you might find your eyesight isn’t as sharp as it used to be. What could be causing my blurry vision during pregnancy? There are actually a lot of reasons you might not be seeing clearly. Hey, it could just be a product of pregnancy dizziness. “Pregnant women may complain of blurry vision when they go from reclining to standing up too quickly,” says Robert O....

As soon as baby can sit up and pivot on her tummy, it’s time to start childproofing your home in anticipation of the next big baby milestone that’s not far behind—crawling! Once baby is on the move (generally between 6 and 10 months), she enters a whole new world of potential dangers and disasters, so now’s the time to double down on safety. You probably did a round of baby proofing before your little one even arrived on the scene, but recheck those safety preparations, since baby’s height, reach and mobility are significantly greater these days....

I glanced down at my swollen belly and released a heavy sigh. The baby had transformed from a gentle butterfly, fluttering deep in my stomach, to a Bruce Lee wannabe, delivering roundhouse kicks to my bladder. A distinct knee then forearm rose and rolled the perimeter of my abdomen before pausing to thrust a one-two punch into my ribcage. I couldn’t help but think of the chest-bursting scene from Alien. Sigourney....

The right way to store your breast milk depends on what works best for your schedule. If you have to return to the workplace and plan on having a large supply you’ll want to keep for a long time, you may want to freeze some. But if you work from home and only need a little bit at a time, you could store it in the fridge. According to lactation consultant Nancy Mohrbacher, the longest you can store breast milk, using different methods, is: • Freezer: 3 to 4 months • Refrigerator: 8 days • Cooler with ice packs: 24 hours • Room temperature: 4 to 10 hours Once the milk is thawed, there’s a limited time frame for feeding it to baby....

Do you have a habit of showing your partner how to put on a diaper the “right” way? Laughing with friends about the outfit your mother-in-law chose to dress your 3-year-old for daycare? Leaving four pages of instructions for your babysitter when you snag a night out? These behaviors sound like no big deal, but they could be signs you’re guilty of “maternal gatekeeping”—exhibiting behavior that drive would-be caregivers away, leaving you prone to irritation, anger and burnout....

Absolutely. Having a miscarriage can be a heartbreaking and traumatic experience. Everyone responds differently to loss, and there is no “right” way to grieve a lost pregnancy. Emotions can range from sadness and depression to shock, anger, and guilt. You may feel as if you are somehow to blame for your loss (no matter how many times you are reassured that you’re not), or very apprehensive about trying to conceive again....