Posts

As a new mom, you may have a lot of questions about resuming birth control after baby. When do you start? How will the hormones effect your post-baby body? What if you’re breastfeeding? Now, the question of accessibility is also being brought front-and-center. In an effort to make access to contraceptives easier, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists announced its support of over-the-counter birth control on Tuesday. “Birth control is an essential component of women’s health care, and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports efforts to increase affordable, reliable access for American women to the contraceptives they need, when they need them," said ACOG president John C....

Following a Mediterranean-style diet high in vegetables, vegetable oils, fish and beans could increase your chances of getting pregnant, according to dietitians at Loyola University Health System. You hear that, ladies? Dietitians want you to eat more like a Greek—and to that, I proudly say: BRING. ON. THE. FETA. Brooke Schantz, who was involved in the study, told potential moms-to-be what they already know: “Establishing a healthy eating pattern,” she said, “and weight is a good first step for women who are looking to conceive....

Looking for the perfect way to announce a baby on the way? If you’re sharing your news during the autumn months, you’re going to want to check out these adorable fall pregnancy announcements. From colorful foliage and pumpkins to family pictures at football games, these adorable announcements offer ideas to suit every taste. Get ready to fall in love with these sweet and oh-so-timely fall pregnancy announcements. Precious Little Pumpkin Image: @keikilani_photography | Instagram Our Greatest Adventure Image: @pompyportraits | Instagram Barnyard Baby Image: Nicolette Sessin Best Foot Forward Image: KB Digital Designs A Roll in the Hay Image: @nurse_heffanie | Instagram A Piece of My Heart Image: @lauradidmynails | Instagram Gourd Morning Image: @riotgrrrlscout | Instagram The Newest Football Fan Image: @mrlmdiaz | Instagram Fall Flannel Fun Image: @katieesaint | Instagram A Sunny Prospect Image: @missbrunetka | Instagram Baby is Brewing Image: @alannaray | Instagram Joining the Party Image: @themillennialsahm | Instagram Ripe for Kisses Image: @lauren....

What is considered hair loss for a baby? Babies shed hair all the time, so it’s not unusual for your four-week-old to have less on top than she did when she first came into the world. And even toddlers have been known to shed hair from time to time. What could be causing my baby’s hair loss? Got a newborn? A drop-off in hormone levels after birth may have made her hair fall out....

Opinions run the gamut on this one. Some moms swear by their large, multi-pocketed diaper bags, while others simply stick the bare necessities in a favorite tote and are on their way. No matter what route you go, remember the golden rule: The bigger the bag is, the more you’ll find to fill it with. Straps Look for a long, adjustable strap. Being able to wear the bag over your shoulder will keep it from slipping off your arm, and the adjustability factor is key if you plan on sharing the bag with a partner or caretaker....

The Family and Medical Leave Act or FMLA is the federal law that makes your maternity leave possible. (FYI: It also applies to other situations where you might need to leave work for a while to take care of yourself or a family member with a serious health problem.) This law, which applies to you if your company has at least 50 employees in a 75-mile radius and you’ve been working there at least a year, entitles you to 12 weeks off in a 12-month period....

The Bump: There’s a moment every mom experiences when we realize, “Holy crap, I’m really a mom!” What was your moment? Molly Sims: I’ll never forget; I was leaving for Cabo to spend the weekend with some of my best friends to celebrate a birthday — Brooks was about seven months old — and while I was saying goodbye to him, I swear to you, I just started bawling! I couldn’t leave....

Well, let’s start at the beginning. When baby first starts growing in your belly (akauterus), your body begins to produce a hormone called hCG, or humanchorionic gonadotropin. You might hear this hCG stuff referred to as the “pregnancy hormone” — it’s the same hormone that a pregnancy test searches for in your urine. It takes a few days(around 11 to 14) after conception for enough hCG to show up in your pee, but whenit does…congrats!...

“I ran out of the bathroom with my pants still down at my ankles and screamed for my husband.” — _Rebecca J. _ “I called the nurse a liar and redid the test myself (I worked for a doctor’s office at that time). When the results came out positive, I apologized over and over again to her.” — June T. “I guzzled some water so I could take another test to be sure....

Breast soreness tends to come early in the first trimester and is one of the first signs of pregnancy. The growth and other changes in your breasts are necessary to help baby feed after birth, but man can it cause major discomfort. Increased blood flow to your chest (caused by surging hormones, what else?) is probably making your boobs swollen and sensitive to the touch. The soreness should fade after your first trimester, though your cup size will continue to increase as milk ducts and milk-producing cells form....

Tracey Mallett _ Fitness _ Learn more about Tracey and read her advice. See her bio Nicole Meadow _ Nutrition _ Learn more about Nicole and read her advice. See her bio Conner Herman & Kira Ryan _ Sleep _ Learn more about Conner & Kira and read their advice. See their bio Lisa Peri Parenting Learn more about Lisa and read her advice. See her bio Dr. Pam Spurr Sex Learn more about Dr....

Recently, I came across an article highlighting the differences between how American mothers are treated before and after birthing their children as compared to the treatment of mothers in different cultures. The article was eye-opening in many ways. While reading about how little support American mothers encounter after having children—and how completely different an experience this is from other cultures—I started thinking about the birthing experience I had with my son....

Baby heard your voice for nine months and needs continued chats to develop a language of his own, says Paula Prezioso, MD. Studies have shown that babies respond very early to voice — especially mom’s — and talking helps baby later progress through the milestones of cooing to babbling to single words and phrases. Children not exposed to language, even from an early age, can have delayed vocabulary development at school age, Prezioso says....

With COVID-19 wreaking havoc, staying at home is the new normal these days—but that doesn’t mean that you should succumb to the couch, especially if you’re pregnant. “It’s important to keep moving because as your body changes, you want to make sure you’re aware of the changes in your movement,” says Rachel Welch, a certified health and wellness coach and founder of Revolution Motherhood, a doctor-recommended fitness method that integrates yoga, pilates, barre and pelvic physical therapy....

Are you a mom-to-be that is having a tough time with morning sickness or know someone in the same boat? Bumpies on the First Trimester Board in The Bump Community share their favorite products for managing morning sickness (and even suggest gifting a pregnancy basket of goodies to those that need a little help!): “My suggestion would be to maybe do those one use toothbrushes, gum, bottled water, hand sanitizer, lip gloss and things like that....

Wondering if you need to ready your nipples for breastfeeding? Nope—your body is already doing everything it needs to prep. You may notice during pregnancy that the areola around your nipple becomes a bit darker, and sometimes the nipple itself seems to change in texture. These changes are hormonal responses to your pregnancy and help to prepare your nipples for feeding. Some products on the market claim to prep nipples, but there’s no need to use any of them—there isn’t even any clear advantage to using them....

Working on a budget to start a family? Take a deep breath and make sure you’re sitting down, because we have some news to share with you. It’s probably going to cost you about a quarter of a million dollars. Well, it will cost you $241,080 , to be exact (for the first child). That’s the estimated figure for middle income families ($60,640-$105,000) projected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)....

In many families, mothers and their toddlers share a close bond, and it’s not unusual for fathers to sometimes feel left out. This can happen whether the toddler is breastfeeding or not. Rather than putting your wife in the difficult position of having to choose between two of her favorite people, it might be a better strategy to work on developing a closer relationship with your toddler to help expand his horizons....

Make it about you __ “I wouldn’t mind being able to try and sleep in this year!” — Heather B. “If you think about it for a moment, it’s supposed to be a celebration for the mother and not necessarily the kids. So there is no point to going to the zoo with them or making them happy — Mother’s Day should be the other way around!” — Suzanne T. “You should be able to have time for yourself....

Forget those idyllic stock photos of moms and babies sharing a bed, slumbering soundly as if they were on a Sleep Number Bed. One mom, Esther Anderson, shared what it’s really like to sleep with her daughter — and it’s a literal eye-opener for Anderson and nearly 5 millions YouTube viewers. We really admire Anderson’s commitment to napping, but baby Ellia is just not having it. This little girl wants some attention!...