Back in the ’70s, Frederick Leboyer, MD, wrote a book called Birth Without Violence, which theorized that babies are happier when they’re born in a calm, gentle environment. (Not a bad theory, right?) Thirty-plus years later, you’ll find that many of his ideas — rubbing baby’s back before cutting the cord, immediately bringing the baby to you to nurse and bond — are now a natural part of a family-centered birthing experience....
Though not as widely used anymore, the clomiphene citrate challenge test is designed to help evaluate your ovarian reserve, or the quality of your eggs. If you do have the test, your doctor will instruct you to take a dose of the medication Clomid (or as it’s known by its generic name, clomiphene citrate), which helps induce ovulation. You’ll have your blood drawn on day 3 of your cycle to measure levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (a type of estrogen)....
What is acid reflux during pregnancy? It’s when stomach acid doesn’t stay put in your stomach and creeps up into your esophagus. Acid reflux is more common in pregnancy because progesterone, the main hormone of pregnancy, slows your digestive system. That, combined with the pressure of a growing baby, increases the possibility that stomach acid will make its way upward. What are the signs of acid reflux during pregnancy? The most common symptoms of acid reflux are a burning sensation in your throat or upper chest....
Is there anything yummier than a baby’s soft, smooth skin? Though babies are known for exactly that, picture-perfect skin isn’t always the case, and baby eczema is often to blame. Babies have extra-sensitive skin, so they’re more prone to rashes than older kids or adults. So the next time you spot some suspicious dry patches on your little one’s body, don’t be alarmed—there’s a good chance it might be baby eczema....
Right now, you want to wear earplugs when your baby screams. But in a few years (and with a few vocal lessons), you may be plugging in headphones to listen to their hits. Here are some singer-inspired names to get them on that track. Frank Who wouldn’t want their son to emulate Ol’ Blue Eyes (minus connections to the mob)? The Jersey born signer won ladies over by telling them that no man is good enough for them....
Happy National Siblings Day! While this celebration is basically an excuse to post embarrassing old family photos online, we stopped to ask ourselves a question: What was life like before baby no. 2 came along? Before there were siblings, there was an only child who had to be told there was a baby on the way. (Need help breaking the news and making the adjustment? We’ve got you covered.) And when your oldest gets to help tell the world you’re expecting again, it makes for some seriously cute photo ops....
There are so many classes expectant parents are encouraged to take: a childbirth class, infant care class, breastfeeding class, infant CPR class. But with so much to do, parents-to-be often skip over first aid courses. I used to think it was no big deal—until a toddler nearly drowned at our local pool, and I witnessed CPR bring her back to life. It was a Thursday afternoon. The Florida sun was suffocating and my baby daughter Stella had been inside all day....
So there I was, mesh underwear around my knees, peri bottle in hand, squatting over the hospital room’s toilet. I could hear my son’s determined newborn cry as I tried—and failed—to soothe him with shushes from the bathroom. It was my first night alone with my firstborn, Fox. I remember thinking: So this is motherhood. Ever since my son was born, mom life has been a far cry from mommy blogger perfection....
It’s thrilling to watch baby start to explore the world outside of the womb—especially as her newborn vision develops. During the first six months of life, she’ll begin to see the world in living color and with increasing depth and clarity, developing a whole new (and decidedly heart-melting!) level of curiosity. Newborn vision sharpens in gradual stages during the first few years of life, and as with other important aspects of growth and development, it changes and improves every day....
What if we told you there’s a way to get your kids to behave—truly behave because they want to and not because they’ll earn more screen time or a sticker because of it? And what if we said you can do this without arguing and shouting and losing your mind? It’s true! And more importantly, you’ll be strengthening the bond between you and your little one while you’re at it. The secret?...
My birth plan when I was pregnant with my son, Truman, was this: I had no plan. I knew I wanted a hospital delivery, so I selected one that had a birth center known for family friendliness and an OB-GYN with a reputation for erring on the side of safety. Beyond that, I just packed my iPod in my hospital bag, let my doctor know that I’d rather skip the C-section, thank you, and trusted that somehow the process of giving birth would take care of itself....
You may take this as good news or bad news, but to a degree, your toddler’s behavior might be out of your hands. That’s the word from a new study out of Ohio State University. Researchers found that the abundance and diversity of certain bacteria in the gastrointestinal tracts of kids between 18 and 27 months seems to impact behavior. The most social, curious, positive and impulsive toddlers had the most genetically diverse gut bacteria....
You have exactly five minutes to get ready in the morning and nothing seems to fit right. You don’t know how much your body will change after this (so how do you shop?). How the heck do you manage to look (and feel) hot? The answer is the right clothes! Here’s your wardrobe strategy. Try Renting While you can make do with a lot of what you have, clothing rental services are a great way to supplement your wardrobe without paying for a totally new one in this in-between phase....
Good news! Thanks to raging hormones and (hopefully) decreasing fatigue and nausea, your libido is rebounding nicely from the first trimester fade. In fact, some women find these middle months bring the best sex not just of their pregnancy but of their lives. Keep in mind, though, that the changes in your body certainly don’t skip your private parts. Due to an increase in blood flow to the muscles and lining in your vagina, it can make things feel fuller down below....
Wondering if sleeping pills are safe to take when you’re pregnant? The answer—not really. While your doctor may be able to suggest one that’s relatively safe, there generally aren’t any sleeping pills out there that are recommended for pregnant women. In fact, some studies have even found that sleeping pills can cause long-term problems for baby. So if you’re having trouble sleeping, try a few natural remedies first, like exercising more, skipping daytime naps, and creating a bedtime routine (try, for instance, having a snack, stretching or listening to soft music)....
With all eyes trying to catch a glimpse of the many celebrity postbaby bodies in the news, it’s hard to escape is the inevitable comparison — between celebrities and ourselves — over who lost the weight quickest and who isn’t sprinting to the scale. Any rational woman will agree that neither of those comparisons are healthy — especially for the new moms and moms-to-be of the world. There are two camps that weigh in on the issue: The Love-Your-Body-and-Don’t-Worry-About-Weight camp and the Keep-Your-Baby-Weight-in-Check camp....
My husband and I were regularly having sex—we had four kids in five years to prove it—but true intimacy between us was lacking. It took a two-week NICU stay for our fourth child, the stress of trying to be in two places at once for the duration of her illness, and feeling exhausted from meeting the needs of our other three children for us to realize something needed to change. We needed time for physical and emotional connection....
You’re in the grocery store when you spot a mother and child walking down the aisle. The boy asks if they can buy a bag of Cheetos. The mom says no; the child throws a tantrum; the mom immediately caves and tosses the bag into the cart. Or maybe you’re at a friend’s house and watch as the dad begs his daughter to help clean up her toys, then winds up doing it for her as she watches cartoons....
It may feel like just yesterday that you were changing baby’s first diaper, and in the blink of an eye you’ve reached the mother of all milestones: potty training! It may be difficult at times, but you can find comfort in the fact that all parents go through this. While the end goal is always the same—ditching those diapers, and ushering in the era of underpants—it’s not a one-size-fits-all process. Stressing over how to potty train your tot?...
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are uncomfortable, but they’re a common complaint for many women. Getting a UTI in pregnancy, though—well, that’s a whole other level of unpleasantness. Suffice it to say, you could be dealing with telltale signs like burning when you pee and a constant urge to go, while also navigating the many other not-so-fun side effects that come with pregnancy. But you don’t need to put on a brave face and suffer through; in fact, it’s important to seek out treatment ASAP....
