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Well, a vaginal breech delivery can be pretty tough. Baby’s head is the largest part of his body. When it comes out first, it stretches the cervix enough that the rest of the body comes out fairly easily afterwards. However, if the body comes out first (as with a breech baby), it might not stretch the cervix enough for the larger head to fit. In a vaginal breech birth, a prolapsed umbilical cord — when the cord goes through the birth canal before baby — is also more likely....

Dreams reflect your mental state, and let’s face it—you’re probably a bit of an anxious mess right now. The stresses and excitement of pregnancy don’t disappear when you sleep. Hormonal changes—specifically, progesterone and estrogen surges—also contribute to weird dreams. And don’t forget about your constant nighttime awakenings to run to the bathroom. Dreams come during deep REM sleep, and when you wake during this stage, it’s much easier to remember those vivid visions....

As you prepare your home for baby’s arrival, plenty of questions are probably whirling about: “Will the nursery be ready in time?” “Is the crib in the right place?” “Darn it, should I have ordered that shelving unit from IKEA after all?” But no matter how put-together the nursery is, in order to bring baby home, you’ll need to focus on car seat safety. Word to the wise: Don’t wait until the last minute!...

Pros • Excellent weight distribution • Machine washable/dryable • Built-in hood Cons • Gets hot in warm weather • Velcro belt is loud and sticks to everything • No little pockets or pouches Bottom Line Thanks to its smart design, the Ergobaby 360 is extremely comfortable for both you and baby and with four different carrying options and a helpful newborn insert, it’s going to be your best friend for the first two years....

“At the beginning of pregnancy, you’re already nauseous because of high levels of hormones, and you’re hypersensitive to smells,” explains Laura Riley, MD, director of labor and delivery at Massachusetts General Hospital and author of _ You & Your Baby: Pregnancy_. The aversions will subside as the nausea goes away, usually at the end of the first trimester. Until then, avoid the offending food. “You’re not doing harm if you’re not getting perfectly balanced nutrition in the first trimester,” says Riley....

Fatherly is a publication for modern fathers looking to make the best of a good situation. It’s hard to find a middle ground when saying no to a baby. Some parents refuse to say no. There are cultural and evolutionary reasons for this: Crying babies spark instinctual parental concern and pathos rooted in the amygdala. On the other hand, some parents say no constantly because, well, babies frequently make unreasonable and irresponsible requests....

Trust us, we feel your pain. You can blame these not-so-fun pregnancy symptoms largely on the hormones your body is producing (what else is new?), specifically all the estrogen and progesterone. Your body’s making more of both now to relax smooth muscle tissue. Unfortunately, this causes your gastrointestinal tract to relax a little too much, leading to side effects like bloating, indigestion, constipation, stomachaches and, yes, all that horrific gas you’ve been having lately....

After nursing her first daughter for nearly six months with virtually no problems, Meagan E. suddenly found herself in a lot of pain. “When I first experienced symptoms, it was primarily tender, hot, swollen spots in my breast,” she says. “It seemed to happen at times when my daughter’s nursing needs or habits changed and my body was trying to adjust. I was still producing milk, but she wasn’t eating as much, and I wasn’t pumping as much at work....

There are many reasons your baby may be waking more frequently now than she used to. The good news is that it’s often a temporary phase and may subside on its own within a few weeks. Sometimes when babies have lots of new activities going on, or their schedule is changed significantly (like when daycare is introduced, their feeding patterns change. Many babies eat just enough to satisfy their initial hunger during the day but then find at night — when everything is calm again — that they really are still hungry....

Baby books can drive you mad! I did a lot of reading before my son Finn was born last April, and there were two questions that every book I read assumed guys needed answered: “Why is my woman acting so crazy?” and “So, am I still going to get laid?” Not only was this info useless, it was pretty patronizing. The simple answers are “hormones” and “not as much.” (Look at that, hundreds of pages of reading saved....

Gift getting for toddlers isn’t as easy as you’d think. Gone are the baby days when a generic teether or blanket would do the trick; these little tykes have personalties of their own, and demand presents to match. Whether you’re shopping for an on-the-go two year old or a little budding artist, we’ve rounded up the gifts to keep everyone happy. Chillafish Bunzi Toddler Balance Bike Buy It: $60, Chillafish.com Why They’ll Love It Your one-year-old may not be able to pop a wheelie, but this indoor/outdoor starter bike will have him hanging with the big kids in no time....

Like most women, you probably have a love-hate relationship with your period. It’s a nice reminder that you’re not pregnant (provided you’re not trying to conceive), but it’s also a total pain to deal with. Pregnancy gives you a much welcomed break from Aunt Flo’s visits, but clearly your period has to come back at some point. Here’s when you’ll likely get your first period after pregnancy, and what to expect when it finally does arrive....

I didn’t necessarily think breastfeeding would be easy. I had read enough to understand there is often a steep learning curve for mom and baby. But, like so many expectant moms, I focused on visions of a beautiful bonding experience. I believed it would be the experience I was robbed of with my first son, Lex. Born 6.5 weeks early, he spent the first month of his life in the NICU because he had not developed the suck-swallow-breathe reflex....

The first myth we should be busting about baby sleep? That there’s a magic sleep solution that applies to all babies. Still, there’s a few rumors about baby sleep and sleep safety that need to be put to bed, so to speak. And we got to the bottom of them. Myth #1: You should never wake a sleeping baby The truth: You’ve probably heard this one a thousand times already (and maybe even used it when your in-laws dropped by unexpectedly for a visit with baby), but don’t believe it....

Swaddling comes with loads of benefits—it helps to soothe and calm, prevents the startle reflex, and keeps baby sleeping longer and more soundly—but wrapping up a secure baby burrito is no easy task (especially in the wee hours of the night). That’s where the Ollie Swaddle comes in to save the day—and night. What we love Velcro fasteners make securing your swaddle super simple, and allow you to achieve a snug fit that even baby Houdinis can’t escape The open, adjustable bottom is perfect for long-legged little ones, protecting their hips and giving them room to stretch out (and providing mom and dad with easy access for diaper changes) Specially designed moisture-wicking fabric means you don’t have to worry about overheating The swaddle can be fastened with arms either inside or outside, depending on baby’s preference or age...

Most women don’t experience any side-effects after getting an epidural. A headache is probably the most common side effect and can happen if the needle used to place the epidural catheter accidentally punctures the dural membrane of the spine. This puncturing causes the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid and leads to what’s known as a spinal headache. But not to worry—it only happens in 1-2 percent of epidural catheter placements. While it was initially thought that the epidural is associated with back pain after delivery, more recent data shows no link between the two....

In the second trimester (weeks 14 to 28), baby goes through major development, forming more detail and getting all of those brand new body parts into working order. The organs further develop and start functioning, getting ready for life in the outside world. Baby also grows eyebrows, eyelashes and fingernails (aww!), and his or her wrinkly skin becomes covered with fine hair (called lanugo) and a waxy protective coating (called vernix)....

Boil, boil, but no toil and no trouble! You may think DIY Halloween games for kids mean a ton of work. But they don’t have to be—and you can forget bobbing for apples. We’ve borrowed the brains of top DIY bloggers to gather the best Halloween games for kids from the web (complete with easy how-to tips and tricks) so that you can make your next scary shindig an out-of-this-world delight—full of (kid-friendly!...

A baby’s breastfeeding needs definitely evolve over time, and certainly change as solid foods become part of the daily routine. Some moms see their milk supply lessen at this time. If you’re pumping because you are going to be away from your baby, first, build up a supply of milk so baby will have enough for the number of feedings you’ll miss, says Andi Silverman, author of Mama Knows Breast. Second, bring your pump with you when you’re away from baby....

Breast shells were once used to help flat or inverted nipples stand out more. But research showed they do not help. Other devices may be more effective. If you have flat or inverted nipples, consult with the International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) to get suggestions on what can help in your specific case. You may decide to use breast shells if your nipples are sore, to keep your bra from rubbing them....