For the better part of a decade, Los Angeles–based Michelle Feiner freelanced as a media consultant, where she spent most of her time filling in for maternity leaves. “Not only were the new moms incredibly appreciative, so were their coworkers who don’t have to take on that added workload,” says Feiner, who launched the talent-matching company Emissaries in 2015 to help businesses find qualified freelancers to sub in for expectant parents....
This sponsored post was written by Audrey McClelland, a Tommee Tippee ambassador. Audrey is a mother of four boys and is expecting a baby girl this summer, she is also a founder of the website MomGenerations.com. When I became a first time mom back in 2004, I wasn’t prepared for how difficult the feeding process would be. I was all prepared to breastfeed, had everything set and ready to go for my baby-boy-to-be… and then when he arrived, everything I planned went out the window....
Let’s admit it… we’ve all been the judgmental parent on the airplane or in line at the grocery store or at the playground who looks disdainfully upon the misbehaving child and his parents. We’ve all thought OMG, can’t you control your child? or How can you just let him act like that? Even after having kids, most of us lack empathy in those circumstances, at least on occasion. I found myself remembering, and repenting, all the times I have been THAT parent last weekend when my kid was, once again, THAT kid....
Spend time with other breastfeeding mothers: Attend group meetings for nursing moms (find your local group at LLLI.org). Many problems are the result of misinformation and lack of familiarity with how breastfeeding works. Before your baby is born, make it a point to learn more about the basic dynamics of how breastfeeding works. (One resource to try: Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers, a book I wrote with Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD, IBCLC....
No, it’s not normal to have sore nipples. Mothers get sore nipples when the babyis not latching on properly. Many mothers are told that it is normal to have sorenipples for three weeks and that the pain then gets better, but that’s not alwaystrue (though it is sometimes). On the other hand, mothers are often told that painmeans a poor latch. This is usually true, but then mothers are told that if it hurtsthey should take the baby off the breast and put him on again, and if it still hurts,they should repeat this....
In just moments, my 14-month-old son Sylas escaped our supervision in our own home, and we lost him forever to a drowning accident. The things I wish I had known before this happened is something that brings a deep sadness in me every single day, because this accident could have been prevented. I could still have him in my arms today. We were in our first home when I exclaimed, “Where is Sylas?...
When you’re raising two kids that are the same age side-by-side, it’s really hard not to compare them. But remember that your twins are individuals who very much have their own personalities, likes and dislikes. That means they’ll reach their developmental milestones at their own pace. Milestones usually happen within_ ranges _of time — for walking, it’s typically between nine and 15 months. In other words, it’s perfectly normal that one twin will be walking well before the other....
When baby is born, you can’t wait to see his tiny hands and feet, the shape of his nose and the color of his skin, hair and eyes. But as you discover all his unique features and decide which parent he looks more like, you might start to wonder: When do babies’ eyes change color? Will he always have those baby blue eyes, or will they eventually turn brown? If one parent has brown eyes and the other blue, will baby get hazel?...
Today the March of Dimes is celebrating 50 years of progress in the fight against smoking during pregnancy. In a new report released by the Surgeon General, the organization confirms that babies born to smokers will have a cleft lip and a cleft palate. The report, titled, “The Health Consequences of Smoking — 50 Years Later,” was released in honor of the 1963 decision on death and disease caused by smoking and states that each year, more than 1,000 infant deaths can be attributed to smoking....
Your newborn might have red streaks in her eyes — and while it’s perfectly normal to get freaked out, it’s really nothing to worry about. These red streaks are called subconjunctival hemorrhages (that’s a scary name for something harmless!), which are just broken blood vessels that will usually go away in one to two weeks. Blood vessels in baby’s eyes can break as a result of pressure changes during the stress of delivery, causing these red streaks to appear....
Six-month checkup? Safe to jog after birth? Squirmy on diaper table? See all newborn Q&As Roller Baby Baby loves to move around, whether it’s by rolling, sitting, crawling, or lunging. Just keep a close eye on him to make sure he’s not rolling into some type of trouble. Keep him in comfy clothes that let him move around easily rather than fancy outfits that can irritate him or inhibit his movement....
1. Oversharing. You survived the marathon of pregnancy and delivery, and you’re proud of it. Still, lots of people who haven’t pushed another human being out of their most intimate of orifices would prefer never to hear terms like “mucus plug,” “episiotomy” or “placenta” in casual conversation, says my friend Tawna. Save the clinical talk for your mommy group and stick to less-graphic terms when your freewheeling friends do ask about the birth....
And the Winner Is: Expectful Pregnancy can be stressful (no pressure, you’re just growing a human). One way to counter the worries and woes that come with the trying territory of each trimester? Meditation. Before you disregard and scroll by, take a break and a breath—and reflect on all the ways that adopting a mindful approach to motherhood can help you push through the many challenges ahead, from encountering unexpected complications (hello, high-blood pressure) to facing relationship changes, right up to labor, delivery and beyond....
And the Winner Is: Branch Basics If you haven’t had the urge to clean your house top to bottom in anticipation of baby’s arrival, just wait. This nesting instinct tends to be strongest in the later weeks as you count down the days until delivery—but it could hit at any time. Your hormones may be partially to blame, but nerves can play a big role too. As exciting as adding a new member to the family can be, change can be scary....
The holidays are a time to eat, drink and be merry—but when you’re pregnant, you’ve got to consider your meal selections a little more carefully. Thankfully, the handful of food safety guidelines during pregnancy don’t have to take all the merriment out of your seasonal celebrations. Here’s what you need to know before chowing down. Watch the Temp Follow this basic rule: If a dish is generally eaten hot, be sure you’re eating it hot....
I have a small Ziploc bag in my desk drawer containing a lock of hair from my son’s first haircut. I’m not sure exactly why I saved it (or what I’m going to do with it) but it seemed like something a mom is supposed to save. Same with other stuff I’ve kept for sentimental reasons – the extra birth announcements, the burp cloths, the binkies and every stuffed animal he ever snuggled....
Bow down, parents: This dad has just become the DIY nursery king. More specifically, when he tackled this project last year (it’s only now gaining traction thanks to Reddit) Eric Strong was helping his son transition out of nursery-mode. It wasn’t easy for the boy to leave his crib, and he had one stipulation: he needed the “most awesome” bed ever. It’s safe to say Strong obliged. After creating a lofted bed complete with a slide, secret door, ball run and pulley system, this clever dad perfected what he calls an ‘Extreme IKEA Hack,’ or “an IKEA hack in which one or more components has been used in a way that is completely different from the original intent....
Pregnancy weight gain is certainly healthy and inevitable, but nearly half of all pregnant women in the U.S. are gaining more weight than they should be. A new study, published in the April edition of the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, found that misconceptions are the source of blame. “Most women feel that pregnancy is the time when weight does not matter and it is an opportunity to eat as much as desired,” says Karen Cooper, DO, a Cleveland ob-gyn....
In those first years of motherhood, I was convinced my son, Jake, was trying to infiltrate my psyche and destroy me from within. I was an introvert who loved alone time, rejoiced in cancelled plans and harbored a legit phobia of chatty salesmen. On the other hand, he was like a little golden retriever with an acute case of FOMO, and one the most optimistic, people-loving, extra extrovert I’d ever encountered....
No matter where you live, 2020 has been a year of high stress. COVID-19 has impacted everyone’s lives, whether you’re under quarantine or have developed the illness, you’ve been laid off or are an essential worker putting yourself at risk. Many are spending unprecedented amounts of time at home with their families and partners—and all that stress and close-quarter togetherness may cause some strain in your relationship. “The quarantine has affected couples’ relationships by making them dig deeper into the reasons they came together initially,” says DeAnna Crosby, AMFT, an associate marriage and family therapist and clinical director at New Method Wellness....
