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Select hospitals around the country are now banning moms-to-be from scheduling their births before 39 weeks—without medical reason—in an effort to discourage planned early deliveries. The deputy medical director for the March of Dimes, Scott Berns, said that in the past, doctors weren’t against scheduled early deliveries, saying it wasn’t a “problem” for them. But Berns helped put together a toolkit hospitals could use to discourage—and eventually ban—women with healthy pregnancies from giving birth before 39 weeks....

One way to make your pregnancy photoshoot extra-special? By transforming your baby bump into a unique pregnant belly painting. Moms across the country are embracing this latest trend, decorating their bumps with images of everything from blooming flowers to sweet woodland animals, aquatic themes, Disney characters and much more. Want an artwork of your own? We’ve gathered up photos of some of the most beautiful painted pregnant bellies out there to give you some ideas....

Shopping Tips for Maternity and Nursing Bras Comfort. This should be at the top of your nursing bra must-have list during the first four to six weeks after having baby, says Stephanie Nguyen, founder of Modern Milk and a certified lactation consultant. She recommends stretchy nursing bras to accommodate the breast changes moms experience during this time. “Look for nursing bras in soft fabrics,” Nguyen says. You’ll also want to pick a bra with thick back closures that have four or more hooks and wide, cushioned straps, plus a band that doesn’t ride up in the back....

Baby’s arrival brings immense joy, but it also brings tons of new responsibility that can feel foreign and overwhelming. You of course want to ensure baby’s wellbeing, and the anxiety of caring for a newborn can lead to worrying over every detail. As a new parent, it’s normal to be afraid of doing the wrong thing—but sometimes it’s important to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. With all the time spent stressing about baby, you might be forgetting about another crucial aspect of that “fourth trimester”: your own recovery from childbirth....

With Mother’s Day around the corner, your loved ones are likely cooking up ways to make you feel special this holiday. But let’s be honest: While a handmade macaroni necklace and a homemade meal courtesy of your toddler are heartwarming gifts, it’s just as important to recognize your own hard work and success and gift yourself something that truly refills your cup. This Mother’s Day, use the weekend to carve out moments to take care of yourself—you deserve it!...

Starting fertility treatments begins with needing fertility treatments. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, a couple is considered infertile if they’ve been having unprotected sex for a year (six months if you’re 35 or older) without conceiving. Since egg quality diminishes over time, doctors recommend getting treatment earlier if you’re in that 35-plus age group. Some women—those who have very irregular periods or have already been diagnosed with a fertility problem, for example—will need treatments as soon as or before they even start trying....

It’s been about 75 years since the first paper was published describing the signs of autism in children. But even as new findings continue to crop up, its causes and cures remain elusive, leaving parents as confused as ever. The autism statistics are also somewhat frightening and, some might argue, misleading. According to the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, published in 2016, the overall prevalence of autism in children in 2012 was 1 in 68....

It’s true that baby poop can vary in color and consistency—and that these descriptors can change with age, stage and diet. Being on perpetual poop-check duty can feel like an ongoing biology lesson, but with an impressive number of diaper changes under your parenting belt, you probably have some idea of what your little one’s regular poops are like. So when that nappy load suddenly looks different, it’s only natural to wonder if baby has diarrhea....

Pros • Safely secures baby to your chest without any worry about straps or buckles loosening • Designed to grow with your child from newborn to toddler (up to 35 lbs.) • Slips on like a T-shirt and feels as comfy as one Cons • K’Tan sizing goes by your dress/jacket size, so if you plan to share, your partner probably has to buy a second carrier Bottom Line The K’Tan is, by far, the best baby carrier I’ve ever used....

Whether you’re breast- or bottle-feeding, one thing’s for sure: You’re going to spend many an hour cradling baby during mealtimes. Dr. Brown’s Gia Angled Breastfeeding Pillow helps make the experience all the comfier. Moms rave about the pillow’s superior support and how easy it is to use. WHAT WE LOVE The Gia’s patented angled design positions baby at an incline, helping to promote digestion and prevent reflux Because the pillow tapers from thick to thin, it offers near-limitless position options...

A doula serves many roles to a laboring person, from coach to cheerleader to massage therapist. Their mission? To make sure you have the birth experience you want. That said, it’s essential to find someone you click with—which means a face-to-face interview is essential. Asking friends, family and your ob-gyn for recommendations is a great place to start. You can also visit the Doula Organization of North America website and use the “Find a Doula” feature to search for a doula in your area....

It’s a startling fact you’ve probably heard before: The United States is the only developed country that doesn’t offer paid maternity leave. Employers can offer some sort of compensated leave, but only 59 percent of workers say this is the case at their companies. With an immediate drop off in income and no subsidized childcare, women without paid maternity leave are slower to come back to work. While female employment in the US has been on the upswing since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, we’re just not stacking up well internationally anymore....

Sometimes celebrities like Alyssa Milano glam up to breastfeed. And sometimes nursing moms are transformed into goddesses. Both scenarios have their place, but Suzie Blake wants to offer another, more honest depiction of nursing. Enter her new project: What Does Breastfeeding Look Like? “I think it’s great that women like Gisele Bündchen are being public about breastfeeding, but we mere mortals, we need to have a space to express what breastfeeding’s like for us....

No, you’re free to Zumba. One study showed that extreme exercise — the kind that completely wipes you out and turns your muscles to jelly — raises lactic acid levels in your milk, which could potentially make it taste a little bitter. Normal aerobic exercise (a dance class, a workout video, a nice jog) shouldn’t have any effect on your milk’s taste, though, so go ahead and get out there. There have been several studies testing the quantity and quality of exercising mamas’ milk — and you’re in the clear on that front too....

Pick the cheapest cow’s-milk based brand you can find, unless your doctor suggests soy-based, lactose-free, or another alternative. Avoid low-iron (under 4 mg per liter) formulas, which the American Academy of Pediatrics says are nutritionally inadequate. (Forget the misconception that iron causes constipation.) The government mandates nutrient levels in formula, so generic choices are fine. And, go for powder over liquid- there’s no difference in nutrients or digestibility, and it’s cheaper, portable and doesn’t need refrigeration....

Fetal fibronectin is a protein that’s normally present in a pregnant woman’s uterus. It’s thought to be the glue holding the bag of water to the uterus. If your doctor says you need this test, it’s likely because you have a condition that puts you at risk for preterm birth, such as you’re carrying multiples or you had a previous preterm birth. For the test, your doctor will test a swab of your vaginal secretions to see if there’s fetal fibronectin present....

Making baby food? Best first foods? Eating out with baby? See all newborn Q&As Poop changes Once baby starts solids, his stool will start looking different. Breastfed babies produce soft, relatively inoffensive stools, while babies on solids have thick, dark, smellier stools that usually resemble what they ate. Don’t be concerned unless his stool is unusually loose or contains mucus — both are signs of gastrointestinal irritation. ** To-do:** Help relieve the pain of teething Stay in touch with friends Try these body fixers...

Hey, not everyone automatically snaps into parent mode the second baby arrives. Moms may have it a tad easier (being that baby’s been hanging around in there for nine long months and all); but for dads, growing into parenthood can take some time. Read on as real dads look back on that moment when suddenly, the name Dad finally started to feel like it fit. I knew I was a dad…“when I went to the hospital waiting room, announced to our families that the baby was born, and revealed her name—Avery—which we’d kept a secret from everyone....

There was a moment shortly after I brought my first child home from the hospital when I found myself lying on the bed, sobbing. What had I DONE, bringing a BABY into this world? It had suddenly occurred to me that we lived in Baltimore, a city with one of the highest murder rates in the country, the setting for TV’s gritty crime dramas Homicide: Life on the Street and The Wire....

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released recommendations for the care of infants born at home or in a home setting. Here’s what the new guidelines state: Regardless of the circumstances surrounding baby’s birth (including location), every newborn infant deserves health care that adheres to the AAP standards. The AAP also agrees with the most recent statements from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) that the safest setting for a child’s birth is a hopsital or birthing center, but recognizes that women and their families may deserve a home birth for a number or reasons....