You may know her as Carmen from the George Lopez show, but Masiela Lusha is also an accomplished poet and a devoted humanitarian. And she’s about to step into a new role: a mom. Here, she shares a glimpse into her pregnancy with The Bump. “I can’t move. I can’t breathe,” I hiccupped between sobs to my best friend. “I couldn’t sleep all night from this cramping pain.” I could hear her straining over the phone, attempting to remain calm....
Every pregnant mom knows she should be popping prenatal vitamins. For years, doctors and experts have been encouraging moms-to-be to take them, often before they even conceive. But, she might not be aware of exactly what are the benefits of prenatal vitamins—or their side effects. In this article: What are prenatal vitamins? Prenatal vitamins ingredients list Benefits of prenatal vitamins Prenatal vitamins side effects What Are Prenatal Vitamins? Prenatal vitamins are multivitamins that include a variety of vitamins and minerals....
There are several possibilities. Use the process of elimination to figure out what it could be. Maybe you have a plugged duct in the breast that your baby is dismissing. In this case, you probably have a lump or painful area in that breast. Or, if your baby just got immunized, she could have a sore area on her leg that’s being hurt when held in your usual position. Another explanation could be an ear infection....
With enough love, care and structure, all children can become happier beings. Babies are very difficult to understand, and need to be approached with a great deal of care. Sometimes, children that are deemed horrendous by their parents simply need some schedule tweaking and rule implementation. I find that they do best with adhering to a very strict schedule that keeps them becoming too tired or under-stimulated. Nap and sleep time should be the same each day, as should the schedule of events like getting dressed, meals, play and baths....
Most sex-ed classes casually gloss over an important truth: You can only get pregnant on certain days of your cycle, which some refer to as your fertile window. And if you’re new to tracking your cycle, determining your most fertile days can feel like a bit of a guessing game. Suffice it to stay, this can make conception tricky for those who’d like nothing more than to make a baby. So when are you most fertile, and what tip-off symptoms can you watch for?...
What to Consider When Buying a Toddler Lunch Box Need a dependable preschool lunch box that can withstand the wear and tear of busy kids? This classic L.L.Bean insulated lunch box is a great choice. One of the best kids’ lunch boxes for school, this option is much lighter than a bento box and keeps food cold until lunchtime, thanks to its insulated layers. Plus, with its compact dimensions, it can easily fit into a backpack....
Secondhand smoke poses some very real and immediate risks to baby’s health, even while still in the womb. If you’re having a hard time relaying that message to your partner, share a few of these facts: Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds. Many of these are toxins that are actually found in higher concentrations in secondhand smoke than in firsthand smoke. Secondhand smoke could cause low birth weight and restricted uterine growth, as well as preterm delivery....
When you’re nursing, you’re super-concerned with everything you’re putting in your body, so you’re probably studying the packaging of medications to see what’s okay to take. But labels don’t necessarily tell the whole story, says Thomas W. Hale, RPh, PhD, a professor of pediatrics at Texas Tech University School of Medicine, executive director of the InfantRisk Center and author of Medications & Mother’s Milk: A Manual of Lactational Pharmacology. “Package prescribing information is almost always wrong,” says Hale....
Pregnancy has some pretty weird side effects. No one knows exactly why some moms-to-be experience that funny metallic taste that won’t go away—or why some women don’t. It happens commonly enough that doctors have a name for it: dysgeusia. For some, dysgeusia starts very early in pregnancy, says Debra Goldman, MD, ob-gyn at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. You may have noticed it before you even knew you were pregnant....
The girls are suddenly as big (and as hard) as basketballs? You can target shoot across the room? This is completely normal. “The mother’s hormones go through a radical change just after childbirth that causes milk production to increase significantly,” says Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA, author of Breastfeeding Solutions. And there’s more than just milk causing the congestion. “You’ve got extra blood and lymph in there too,” Mohrbacher says. Pump a little If you’re having problems with engorgement (aka big, sore, hard boobs) and you’re still painfully full after baby has nursed, she recommends using a breast pump to pump just a little to take the edge off....
Keep in mind that when toddlers touch themselves, it’s not about sex — it’s about curiosity: Toddlers learn about their bodies by investigating them. Plus, even at a young age, touching themselves feels good so, without thinking twice, they do it often. What they have no concept of is “right time, right place.” So, while being as matter-of-fact as possible (as opposed to shocked or disgusted), you just need to explain to her that touching herself on that part of her body is something she should do when she is alone in her room....
Ever wonder if your baby is spending too much time in front of the TV? A new study led by nutritionist Margaret E. Bentley states that moms (especially mothers who are obese) are more likely to use TV to entertain and soothe their fussy and active infants. Performed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the findings examined the interplay of maternal and infant risk factors that lead to TV watching in infants....
Amid the fog of childbirth, you probably won’t remember reading every word on the forms for standard medical procedures you signed just after arriving at the hospital. If you do, you might recall the short section that mentions newborn screening—the tests that the hospital staff runs to detect if your child has any life threatening disorders. But if your memory isn’t jogged by the time the nurses are carrying off your infant for a heel stick, hearing test and pulse oximetry, don’t worry....
Just over a week ago, a judge in Tennessee ordered that parents change their 7-month-old baby boy’s name from “Messiah” to “Martin” because the name Messiah is a title that has “only been earned by one person and that person is Jesus Christ.” Following the court ruling, the baby’s mother, Jaleesa Martin, told reporters that she plans to appeal the case, saying, “I never intended on naming my son Messiah because it means God and I didn’t think a judge could make me change my baby’s name because of her religious beliefs… Everybody believes what they want so I think I should be able to name my child what I want to name him, not someone else....
Squirreling away some precooked meals in your freezer before baby arrives will cut down on some of the stress (and take-out!) during your first weeks as a parent. After a sleep-deprived night and exhausting day of tending to baby’s every need, you’ll feel like you hit gold when you open the freezer and see it stocked with delicious, homemade, heat-and-eat meals. Soups, stews, casseroles, lasagna, and pasta sauces are best for freezing....
First things first—what is colic in babies? You know babies are supposed to cry, but sometimes it can seem like your child’s cries go on a little longer than “normal." Even after you’ve checked their diaper and made sure they’ve been fed and burped, no amount of holding, rocking or jiggling seems to console them or stop their cries. Watching baby sob and writhe in pain, you probably feel helpless and at the end of your rope....
Smart playtime? Should baby watch TV? No libido? See all newborn Q&As A whole new world It’s the simple things that bring out baby’s personality. Toys that he can hold, shake, watch, and listen to make him feel empowered — he’s pretty awed by what he can do. He’s still fascinated by everything he sees and hears and loves putting objects in his mouth. Encourage his exploration by using words to label things he encounters, and keep reading and singing as much as possible to further his verbal development....
And the Winner Is: Baby’s Brew Portable Bottle Warmer Pro Heading out for a day of activity with baby? Your little sidekick loves adventuring with you—that is, until you try to give them a cold bottle of breast milk or formula. Thanks, but no thanks, Mama. Your perskinity peanut prefers their meal warmed to perfection, and luckily you don’t have to improvise. No outlet or running hot water? No problem. The Baby’s Brew bottle warmer is battery-powered and can heat breast milk or formula to a safe temperature without compromising those all-important nutrients....
It can trigger a temporary case of diabetes. One major hiccup plus-size moms-to-be might face is gestational diabetes—overweight women are two to eight times more likely to develop it than women with BMIs under 25. Diabetes during pregnancy is a serious concern, since it increases the risk of preterm labor and c-sections, among other possible complications. But, as was the case with Orlando-based mom Dawn Veselka, 45, it can often be managed with activity, diet and/or medication, says Romy Block, MD....
Crib Mattress Safety Guidelines Crib Mattress Types Innerspring crib mattress. Like a traditional full-size mattress, this type features sturdy metal coils surrounded by layers of soft padding. This type of crib mattress is durable and holds its shape well. If you opt for an innerspring mattress, check the coil count—this specification refers to the amount of springs inside. Mattresses with a high coil count tend to be more supportive, but they often come with a high price tag....
