Giving birth in the era of the coronavirus pandemic requires some extra legwork when it comes to crafting your birth plan. Take it from Talitha Phillips, doula and CEO of Claris Health, a nonprofit health clinic. Twice in the past few weeks she has had to leave the laboring women she was working with at the entrance of the emergency room with their spouses, since the hospital was allowing only one support person to be present for birth....
What makes a successful birth plan? We got the inside scoop from Keith Eddleman, MD, division director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center, on how you can talk with your doctor and create a birth plan that truly works. Talk and listen Remember, you and your doctor are on the same team, and both of you need to be on board with the plan. Schedule a time to sit down and discuss the plan well before your due date....
We’re getting up close and personal with mothers who are savvy innovators and businesswomen and finding out their secrets to success. This time, we got the scoop from Christine Deehring, founder of BumpBoxes.com. The Bump: Give us a quick elevator pitch of your business. Christine Deehring: Bump Boxes were developed to take the guesswork out of choosing the best pregnancy products for you and your bump. Our team of experts have researched, vetted and approved every product included in our boxes....
A brand new analysis of 20 new and old crib mattresses sold in the US, containing polyurethane foam and polyester foam padding, release significant amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are harmful to baby’s health. The study, led by a team of environmental engineers from the University of Texas as Austin, identified more than 20 VOCs in the mattresses and found that newer models release up to about four times as many VOCs as older mattresses do....
Yep, giving birth to big babies can be hereditary. In general, babies tend to be in the same weight range as their parents. In other words, if you were nine pounds, eight ounces at birth, it’s incredibly unlikely that you’ll give birth to a five-and-a-half-pound peanut. Of course, there are other factors that can affect baby’s birth weight, though, including: • Birth order. Younger siblings tend to be larger than their older brothers/sisters....
First, remember that an increased risk isn’t an assurance that baby will actually have a genetic or chromosomal disorder… just as a totally normal risk doesn’t mean baby won’t. Evaluate your own risk by looking back at the family history of both you and your husband. Your future child is at heightened risk of any disorders that show up here. If either of you are carriers for a genetic disorder (carrier screenings can detect this) or you’ve already had a child with a defect, your baby’s odds also increase....
A nursing strike is when a breastfeeding baby suddenly stops taking the breast and may even become upset when it’s offered. If this is happening to you, the important thing to recognize is that this is not the same thing as a baby choosing to wean. Weaning is a gradual process that generally occurs when babies are much older and when baby is content to nurse during the times that he is, in fact, nursing....
Yes. If you’re carrying multiples, you’re not only “eating for two,” but potentially three or four! That means you’ll need to gain more weight than usual to support a healthy pregnancy. It’s generally recommended that moms expecting twins gain 24 pounds by 24 weeks of pregnancy (it will reduce your chance of preterm labor). The American Pregnancy Association says women carrying twins are expected to gain 35 to 45 pounds during their pregnancy and moms carrying triplets should gain 50 to 60 pounds....
And the Winner Is: Solly Baby Wrap Many parents reach for a sling or soft carrier in the early days. Baby will want to be in your arms and snuggled up to your chest 24/7, and a carrier gives you freedom—or at least allows you to be hands-free. This is especially key if baby has an older sibling who also needs some attention. The Solly Baby Wrap is a stretchy fabric wrap that offers great support and ultimate flexibility, like nursing without removing baby....
Life with a newborn can make you feel like a bona-fide member of the living, walking dead. It’s normal to wonder if you’ll ever re-enter the land of the sleeping and transform from zombie to human again. The answer, of course, is yes you will. Eventually, baby will start sleeping through the night, and you’ll get to luxuriate in some serious shut-eye. But when do babies sleep all night? Don’t expect baby to go from short sleeping sessions to 12-hour snooze-fests right away....
Pregnancy is filled with ups, downs and many unknowns. It’s normal to wonder whether baby’s okay, especially when you don’t know exactly what’s going on in the womb. But once you enter your third trimester, there’s an easy, free, at-home technique you can use to monitor baby’s wellbeing: fetal kick counts. We tapped experts to break down everything you need to know about baby kick counts, including why they’re important, when and how to do them and when to call your doctor about decreased movement....
Newborns’ skin (especially the face) is prone to peeling and irritation, and isn’t always quite as beautiful as you might expect in the beginning. You may have to hold out until baby’s around 4 months to see that soft, airbrushed, magazine-baby skin. At birth, baby’s skin will appear to be dry. Since baby has spent the last nine months surrounded by amniotic fluid, his or her old skin wasn’t able to flake off like an adult’s does....
We’re always on the lookout for smart, simple ways for parents to go green. Here are some of our favorite “go green” ideas to help keep baby’s clothes organized: Use the cardboard box packaging for diapers to store baby’s clothes when they outgrow them. For example, in the newborn diaper boxes store newborn clothes and any leftover diapers; in the size 1 boxes store clothes size 0-3 months; in size 2 diaper boxes store 3-6 months; in size 3 diapers store 6-9 months; in size 4 store 9-12 months....
The following story, Do This One Thing and Be a Better Parent by Kari Molvar was originally published on Boomdash. I hit my limit two weeks after having my second child: I was so sleep deprived and tired from around-the-clock feedings that I could barely function. I burst into tears frequently and found myself fantasizing (hallucinating?) about falling into a deep REM cycle, where I didn’t have to swaddle or diaper anyone....
Gestational diabetes has become one of the most common pregnancy complications in the US, with about 7 percent of pregnant women developing the condition. But just because it’s more widespread doesn’t mean it comes without risks. So what is gestational diabetes—and how can you minimize your chances of getting it? In this article What is gestational diabetes? What causes gestational diabetes? Gestational diabetes symptoms Gestational diabetes treatment How to prevent gestational diabetes...
What’s cuter than bringing baby to meet the Easter Bunny? Photos immortalizing that moment when your kid takes one look at that costume and totally loses it on the Easter Bunny’s lap. (Oh come on, you know it’s too funny.) Giving the best #SantaFail moments a run for their money are these hilarious Easter Bunny pictures gone wrong. (#EasterBunnyFail for the win!) Image: Tim Boyle/Getty ImagesSafe to say, baby’s not a fan of the Easter Bunny....
When it comes to baby bonding, mom typically has a clear advantage. The little creature has lived inside her body for many months, after all; and as Lauren Knickerbocker, child psychologist at the NYU Langone Child Study Center, points out, mother and baby have gone through “the mutual pain of birth.” Now as a newborn, he depends on her breast milk to survive, so there’s an undeniable biological drive to look to mom for comfort....
It’s no secret that babies need a lot of food to fuel their growing bodies. If you’re breastfeeding, you’re probably paying close attention to your breast milk production—and may even be concerned about low milk supply. In fact—because all parents want to ensure their child’s health and growth—a common question among new moms is how to increase milk supply. The good news is, if you are struggling with production, there are plenty of ways to increase milk supply....
The thick, yellow liquid that’s leaking out of your breasts is called colostrum, and it’s absolutely normal. This is just another part of your body getting ready for baby! Colostrum is chock full of protein, antibodies and immunoglobulins, and will protect baby from infections and help get out that first poop of meconium. It’s the perfect food for baby’s first days—easy to digest and loaded with just the right amount of nutrients....
Believe it or not, when toddlers show apprehension about the world around them, it’s actually a healthy sign. It means she’s aware of the dangers out there and wants to be cautious. This is a good thing. It means your toddler can determine the difference between the people she knows and strangers, and she’s wary of unfamiliar faces. It may also be a sign that she’s explored fearlessly and suffered the consequences (like touching a hot stove and burning herself)....
