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And the Winner Is: Bamboobies boob-ease Organic Nipple Balm Nursing and pumping sessions can be a bit straining on your nipples (especially in the beginning)—and when you become dry, cracked and sore, fast relief is key. The nipple balm from Bamboobies is designed to soothe, moisturize and protect your skin using 100 percent organic, natural ingredients. Apply after breastfeeding and breathe a sigh of relief. Plus, given that it’s safe for baby to ingest, you can even apply it before pumping sessions to help prevent chafing and avoid nipple pain in the first place (it worked wonders for us!...

Stenosis is a medical term that refers to the narrowing in any passage of your body, from your arteries to your spinal canal. Stenosis of the uterine cervix (shortened to “cervical stenosis”) has to do with the narrowing of — you guessed it — your cervix. You can sometimes be born with a narrow cervical canal, but more typically it’s due to a procedure like a LEEP or cone biopsy, where your cervix comes under the knife....

The Bump presents #MomBoss, a series dedicated to showing off all-star moms. We catch up with mompreneurs behind products we love, influencers who get real about motherhood and SAHMs who can multitask in their sleep. Pumping and work trips go together like oil and vinegar. But what if we told you there was an easy, stress-free way for you to travel in the midst of your breastfeeding journey? That’s where Milk Stork comes in....

There are a bunch of different stroller types out there to solve parents’ myriad needs: Compact strollers, umbrella strollers, travel systems, double strollers, the list goes on. Cybex recently added a new one to the mix: an electric motor-powered stroller. And for those who need a helping hand pushing baby’s ride over uneven terrain or up or down steep slopes, the e-PRIAM is pretty revolutionary. What We Love • No, this isn’t some suped-up ride where you flip a switch and watch your stroller take off—the e-PRIAM works just like a standard stroller, but with the push of your foot, the activated motorized support will give you a little boost as you stroll and stops when you stop • That little bit of help lets you walk up and down hills with ease (the braking support detects how much you’re pulling back on the handle and slows your descent accordingly); for those who are recovering from a c-section or struggle with strength or mobility issues (or are just out of breath from pushing their toddler and their haul of groceries), this is a pretty empowering gift • With the e-PRIAM, you can navigate all kinds of terrain, including sand, snow, gravel and cobblestones, giving you more freedom to explore • The electric motors, sensors and onboard systems are all discretely integrated into the stroller frame’s design, giving the e-PRIAM the same sleek, luxury look that Cybex products are known for • As a travel system, you can use the frame with a stroller seat, a newborn carry cot or an infant car seat...

As every cheek-pinching grandmother knows, a growing baby is a healthy baby. But how do you know if your child’s growth is on track? Enter the baby growth chart, the major tool your pediatrician uses to plot baby’s physical development—including weight, length and head circumference—at every wellness checkup. The baby growth chart may look intimidating, with its dots and curves and height and weight percentiles, but it’s easy to decipher with a little background and the help of your doctor....

Pregnancy is filled with all sorts of weird aches, pains and discomforts. Unfortunately, experiencing leg cramps during pregnancy is just par for the course. They can spring out of nowhere and stop you in your tracks, or even wake you up at night (and we all know how precious sleep is when you’re expecting). So what’s the deal with these unpleasant charley horses? Here’s why you might be experiencing leg cramps, what you can do to ease the pain in the moment and how to lower the odds of dealing with them again in the future....

“Don’t worry, honey. It will get easier.” It’s something new moms hear all the time from well-meaning relatives. We can’t say it’s true for all things baby, but when it comes to finally getting more sleep, you can bet that there’s light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. That’s because at some point, baby’s cries will be less likely to jolt you awake just as you’re settling into a dream....

Night owls may want to consider getting some shuteye if they’re thinking about having a baby. Or at least work on turning off the lights. A new study published in Fertility and Sterility says darkness is especially important for women’s reproductive health, and for fetal development in pregnant women. The magic’s in melatonin, a regulating hormone produced by the brain’s pineal gland and released in response to darkness. While it’s primarily responsible for regulating the sleep/wake cycle, melatonin also helps protect eggs from oxidative stress, according to Russel J....

Once reserved for new moms with Kate Middleton–esque bank accounts, baby nurses are now becoming more common. And for good reason: They’re pros at easing you — and your brand-new baby — into your new life together. What they do A baby nurse can help establish a bedtime routine, organize the nursery, help with feedings, and make sure you’re nourished and comfy in the first few days you’re home from the hospital....

Now that you’re well into your pregnancy, you’re probably spending a solid chunk of time researching the major signs that you’re about to go into labor. And, at some point, you’ve probably come across the term “bloody show.” It may sound like the latest Quentin Tarantino movie, but the bloody show is really just nature’s way of telling you that things are kicking into gear. Suffice to say, it’s harmless. But the less-than-benign name may still stir some feelings of apprehension....

During the baby stage, you naturally do everything for your child, from dressing and feeding them to pulling out and putting away their toys. Once your little one hits the toddler years and is actually capable of doing some things for themselves, though, it’s important to start teaching some early self-help skills. Of course, that’s often easier said than done, especially when it’s so much simpler (and faster) to just do it for them....

Back pain is no laughing matter for expectant mothers. Nearly every woman is affected by lumbar pain at some point during pregnancy, a pain that can limit mobility and put a damper on the pregnancy experience. The physical changes in your pregnant body contribute to the propensity for lumbar pain. As the uterus expands upward out of the pelvis, the weight of the growing baby causes the body’s center of gravity to shift upward and forward....

Becoming a parent is both an exciting and stressful time, especially for first-timers. Naturally, expectant moms and dads have lots of questions when it comes to newborn care. Your doctor should be a go-to for guidance—but research shows that not all doctors arm their patients with key info about what’s best for baby. A study funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in Pediatrics found that many new mothers receive either no advice or inconsistent information in four important areas: sleep position and location, breastfeeding, immunization and pacifier use....

Can Twin Babies Sleep in the Same Crib? Types of Safe Twin Cribs Double bassinets. Bassinets are a convenient option for parents that want to keep babies nearby for middle-of-the-night feeds and diaper changes. Specifically designed for twins, double bassinets offer two sleep zones separated with a dividing wall, which is often made from mesh for airflow and visibility. It’s a good choice for siblings who like to sleep next to each other, as they can still see their twin....

Here’s your chance to make good on the saying ‘mom has eyes in the back of her head.’ The camera allows you to pan, tilt and zoom in on baby day or night. Plus, with the choice of two different monitors, you can keep an eye on things no matter where you are in the house. WHAT WE LOVE The system features a remote pan/tilt/zoom camera with a room temperature sensor and infrared night vision...

Whether you’re breastfeeding, formula-feeding or doing a combination of both, chances are you’ll eventually use a bottle with your infant. No big deal, right? But while images of a parent blissfully holding a bottle make the process look easy, there’s a learning curve when it comes to proper bottle-feeding. Here, everything you need to know about how to bottle-feed a baby safely and happily. In this article: How to choose the right bottle and nipple How to make a baby bottle Best bottle-feeding positions What is pace feeding?...

We’re still reeling from the gut-wrenching news earlier this week: Nineteen kids and two teachers dead after yet another school shooting, this time at Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. It’s sickening and heartbreaking and beyond frustrating. How is this reality? As parents (and humans), we ache for the families of those innocent lives robbed by a man with a gun. We grind our teeth and clench our fists in fury at this cycle of senselessness....

Natalie Nicole Foster was excited about the birth of her first child. She was fully aware that a newborn would require mountains of baby gear, sleepless nights and a shift in priorities. She was ready. But there was one thing she wasn’t completely prepared for: postpartum depression. A week and a half after her son was born, an overwhelming depression and anxiety enveloped her. “I had feelings of not wanting to keep my son,” she shares....

“Probable fetal demise.” These words changed our lives. On July 17, 2011, when my husband Bryan and I walked into the anatomy scan for our second baby, we expected to hear nothing but “looks perfect.” In fact, my biggest concern was that the ultrasound technician might accidentally reveal the baby’s gender. I knew that the appointment was for more than just learning if we were having a boy or girl (which we didn’t want to know anyway) but the gravity of the anatomy scan had never really sunk in with my first pregnancy, as our first baby was completely healthy....

A mom’s body is a brilliant, resilient and delicate ecosystem designed to nourish life. While a baby’s development is informed by genetics, it’s also influenced by what mom eats, drinks and breathes during pregnancy. Suffice to say that your environment plays an important role in building a healthy foundation for your newborn. What’s more, our growing understanding of epigenetics—the study of how our behaviors and surroundings can cause changes that affect the way our genes work—indicates that we actually have more control over our health and that of our children than previously believed....