“John Lennon’s ‘Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)’ right before bed.” — Ethomp “Bob Marley & The Wailers’ ‘Three Little Birds.’ I sing it to my son and it relaxes him. During late nights with teething pain, it seems to do the trick.” — Dpeters “When my infant gets fussy in the car, ‘Savannah’ by Reliant K always quiets him.” — Bbrowm “‘La La Lu’ from Lady and the Tramp. It comforts my two-year-old daughter, and I plan to sing it for my son....
Julia Wang, Queens, NY I wish I knew…that the love is deeper than you’ve ever known. I realized that I had no idea what love was until I met my son (sorry to my husband!). It’s a completely different kind of love—all-encompassing and fiercely protective and so pure. And because of that huge emotional shift, our lifestyle changed: We moved from the city within a month of his birth to a house where he could have a yard and garden and his own room....
While your child, no doubt, is thrilled with his new skill, you’re most definitely not. Your first concern is your toddler’s safety. Kids almost always figure out how to climb out of the crib before they figure out how to do it safely. So if your toddler can climb out of the crib, “it’s time to pack away the crib and move your toddler to a bed,” says Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution....
According to new research published in the BMJ Open, researchers from Finland found that women worried about childbirth are at an increased risk for postpartum depression.In a study that included more than 500,000 moms, researchers found that women with a history of depression are at the highest risk of postpartum depression (three times more likely than other mothers without a history of depression). The study, performed because postpartum depression was diagnosed in ....
When I heard about the 13.47-pound baby born in Germany, I instinctively did a Kegel exercise in sympathy for the mother who delivered the giant bundle of joy vaginally. How can a mother grow a baby that size? Such an anomaly is usually the result of undetected gestational diabetes, a condition that can put mother and baby at risk. A few things you should know about gestational diabetes: • The condition usually develops around 21 to 25 weeks gestation....
When it comes to baby-related old wives’ tales, we don’t know about you, but we’ve sure heard some real doozies. Read on to get to the bottom of a few common mistruths. 1Image: ShutterstockMyth #1: You need to orgasm in order to conceiveHey, orgasming is always a plus, but when it comes to conceiving, it’s not actually a must. What it does aid in doing is contracting the uterus — which definitely helps sperm travel toward the fallopian tubes faster....
What’s a doula? How can she improve your birthing experience? An actual doula weighs in. “Doula” is a Greek term for ‘slave’, which was appropriated to describe the women who lend themselves to serve birthing mothers. I use the term “birth coach,” since most people understand what that means. I think every mom-to-be should explore the option of having a birth coach as part of her birth team, and here’s why:...
Have asthma? Hoping that your baby won’t? A new study recommends steering clear of antibiotics during pregnancy. The study, published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, looked at how prenatal antibiotic use affected at-risk children. Children considered “at risk” for asthma included those with a parent who had asthma, hay fever or eczema. And when mom took antibiotics during pregnancy, twice as many babies were diagnosed with asthma by age three — 22 percent compared to 11 percent....
Vegans eat no animal products — meaning that, in addition to no meat or seafood, they don’t eat things like dairy products, honey and gelatin. If you’re raising baby as a vegan, you may have some concerns about her getting enough nutrients, since her diet is limited. Most parents worry about baby getting adequate amounts of protein and iron (which are normally consumed through meat products), and what kinds of foods will supplement those nutrients....
This article is part of The Bump’s Reclaiming Your Power series featuring changemakers who are dedicated to supporting and preserving Black maternal health. These doctors and thought-leaders share their insights and advice to help guide and empower women of color who are planning or navigating pregnancy. Charles Johnson IV lost his wife, Kira, to this country’s maternal mortality crisis. After a routine c-section to deliver their second child, Kira bled internally for more than 10 hours before her medical team took action....
Having baby glued to your side all day can get tough—just as tough as watching them cry every time you leave the room. The struggle is far from fun, but rest assured that clinginess in babies is perfectly normal and a pivotal part of their development. This separation anxiety happens when baby starts to realize you’re the best at taking care of them. Naturally, they want to keep you close by....
Helping baby establish a secure breastfeeding latch is a critical first step when you first start nursing, but it doesn’t always come easily to newborns. Sometimes they need a little guidance from Mom—and sometimes Mom needs a little guidance to understand what a good breastfeeding latch actually looks like, and how to get it. The breastfeeding latch is the moment when baby takes your nipple and areola into their mouth and “latches” on....
Getting the flu shot is the most important thing you can do to ward off the flu. It’s safe to get during any trimester, and studies have shown that getting the flu shot during pregnancy also reduces the risk that your infant will get respiratory illness in the first six months of life (i.e., before the infant can get the flu shot). Good hygiene (like coughing into the crook of your arm and regularly washing your hands) can also help prevent colds and the flu....
What is shortness of breath during pregnancy? It’s easy to be alarmed when you feel like you can barely catch your breath, but try to relax: Many pregnant women do feel winded, often starting in the second trimester. What could be causing my shortness of breath during pregnancy? It’s partially due to an increase in pregnancy hormones like progesterone, which stimulate your brain to tell your lungs that they need to take in more air....
As long as they’re properly installed and the right size for your car, most car seats offer the same safety features: plenty of padding, a five-point harness, simple strap adjustment. Then Evenflo debuted its latest, the SensorSafe, featuring an innovative sensor clip to guard against accidentally leaving baby in the car seat after arriving at your destination. WHAT WE LOVE A sensor chest clip on the five-point harness seat belt works together with a plug-in receive for your car....
Melissa Ben-Ishay is the President and Chief Product Officer of the New York City-based dessert company Baked by Melissa. When Ben-Ishay was fired from her job in advertising in 2008, she decided to do what she loved—to offer consumers the ultimate dessert experience. With the idea that people should be able to taste more flavors without a post-dessert guilt trip, Ben-Ishay personally develops all of Baked by Melissa’s unique, bite-size cupcake creations and product offerings....
There’s a reason why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of baby’s life. Breast milk gives baby some serious health benefits — everything from boosting brainpower to lowering the risk of some childhood cancers and decreasing the likelihood of food allergies, eczema and asthma. Considering all those perks, plus the fact that you two really have the hang of nursing, it’s understandable you’d prefer to just keep going without all that other stuff....
How much breast milk you can pump will depend on your individual circumstances: when you’re pumping, how old your baby is, whether you’re pumping in place of a feeding (such as when you are separated while at work), or whether you are pumping in addition to feeding your baby full-time. It can also have a great deal to do with the pump you are using and how you’re using it. In general, if you are only getting drops, or a very small amount of milk while pumping, but your breasts still feel heavy and full after you’ve pumped for 10 to 15 minutes, then it is very likely that you are having difficulty letting down in response to your pump....
What are swollen hands during pregnancy? It’s when your hands and fingers start puffing up. A sure sign this is you? Rings no longer easily slip on your fingers. What could be causing my swollen hands during pregnancy? During pregnancy, your body produces about 50 percent more blood and other body fluids to help baby grow. (In fact, about 25 percent of your pregnancy weight gain is from fluid retention—take that, double cheeseburger and fries!...
The history of Mother’s Day in the USA comes with deep-rooted traditions—breakfast in bed, beautiful flowers and heartfelt cards are all a standard part of the second Sunday in May. But that’s not the only way to celebrate the special women in your life. On Mother’s Day around the world, countries have their own ways of celebrating, and while some follow our break-from-housework, brunch-at-a-restaurant playbook, others have surprising, less familiar Mother’s Day history....
