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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. The journey to motherhood isn’t always an easy one. Though it’s not often talked about, infertility affects more people than one might think. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 12 percent of women aged 15 to 44 have trouble getting pregnant or carrying the pregnancy to term....

Say no to stretch marks Cocoa butter is probably the most touted stretch mark preventer, but — sorry! — there’s still no concrete evidence that it actually works. Lately, natural vitamin E oil has received some buzz since it keeps skin nourished, and the healthier and more supple your skin, the better its elasticity. Bottom line? We can’t say cocoa butter or vitamin E oil will definitely work for you — no product can promise 100% prevention — but as long as your skin isn’t sensitive to it, a natural moisturizer is worth a shot....

Attention dads: pick up the vacuum, and your little girl could be well on her way to a career in investment banking. Maybe. A study out of the University of British Columbia found that dads who help with household chores are more likely to raise daughters with higher paying, non-traditional careers. When mom and dad split domestic duties, girls were less likely to envision themselves as stay-at-home moms, teachers, librarians, or nurses....

And the Winner Is: Eberjey Gisele Long PJ Set We’ve already established that a comfy pair of PJs is a pregnancy essential. Ones with easy access for nursing are a postpartum must have. It doesn’t get much better than Eberjey’s best selling Gisele Long PJ Set, made from super soft modal jersey. An elastic waistband offers maximum comfort postpartum, while a long sleeve button up top offers access for nursing. This is the perfect pair to pack in your hospital bag or to lounge in at home, especially if you’re expecting visitors....

And the Winner Is: Vitamin & Me Prenatal Vitamins are crucial to baby’s health and yours. Chances are you began the hunt for the perfect pill shortly after getting a positive pregnancy test. Or maybe you were already taking one in anticipation. Either way the store shelves can be dizzying. So. Many. Options. Vitamin & Me narrows your choices and helps you find the best fit for you. Started by a Johns Hopkins-educated Mom, Vitamin & Me is not a vitamin manufacturer but a unique matching technology....

UPDATE: We have a winner! While we loved all five of our very stylish maternity fashion bloggers, only one could come out on top. And thanks to your (amazing) turnout, Jessica Alejandro of Jessica Fashion Notes took home more than 1500 votes. Congrats, Jessica! Whether you’ve followed our maternity fashion face-off on Instagram all this week or you’re just joining in now, it’s time for your input! Whose maternity style do you like best?...

Pregnancy changes your body in many ways, and while all of those changes are a natural and beautiful part of your journey to baby, they can still feel jarring. One example? Postpartum stretch marks. These usually start popping up during pregnancy (mostly as your bump grows), but they can take some time—up to a year—to heal. While it can be hard to adjust, know that those stretch marks are a sign of the incredible accomplishment your body just pulled off and are nothing to be ashamed of....

It’s no secret that celebrities have a long track record of cranking out some cringe-worthy names for their offspring. Last year, it was Bronx Mowgli and Zuma Nesta Rock that left us wondering. But this year, Hollywood’s moms and dads stepped up their A game. While the rest of us were busy naming our babes oldies but goodies like Emma and Noah, celebs were taking things to new lows. Read as we weigh in on the headline-making baby names of ’09 that had us all shaking our heads....

A baby blanket is a classic gift for newborns—and with good reason. A snuggly throw represents warmth and comfort, and allows parents to wrap their little one in love. The best baby blankets are made from soft, high-quality materials and may even be passed onto the next generation (as long as they’re not worn ragged). Although young infants can’t sleep with a blanket in a crib, they still have plenty of practical uses....

What is a Nugget Couch? Tips for Choosing a Nugget Couch Alternative Materials: Play couch cushions should be made from a squishy foam to ensure a soft landing during boisterous antics. To keep it from getting too grubby, go for a play couch with a machine-washable cover that can be removed for easy cleaning. Alternatively, you could opt for something with a wipe-clean vinyl cover. Options made using certified foams and Greenguard gold certified materials are best, as they’ve passed rigorous tests for harmful chemicals and emissions....

The Bump Editor-in-Chief and fashion-forward mom-to-be Kristen Maxwell Cooper recently tried out Rent the Runway’s new Unlimited service for maternity clothing rentals, and fell head over heels. Here are the dresses she scored and how she styled them for fresh looks throughout her pregnancy. Rent the Runway’s Unlimited maternity service was announced mere weeks after my own pregnancy announcement. With their monthly membership, you’re able to rent four pieces and return them whenever you want for unlimited swaps....

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. Stepping into motherhood with ease has less to do with skill and more to do with your—yes, you guessed it—village. But we get it—making mom friends isn’t at the top of your priority list during those crazy early years of parenting....

Singer and songwriter Melanie Fiona has two new projects underway: her second baby, due soon, and MellyBelly.com, a platform to connect and empower mothers through wellness. Unable to perform during the pandemic, Fiona leaned into connection as a way to impart positive change in the lives of others. Her viral video “It’s Time We Told The Truth,” where she details the guilt she felt after a traumatic childbirth experience, was where it all began....

The two most important things you can do to prevent medical emergencies with toddlers are to watch them carefully at all times and to child-proof your home: covering outlets, locking cabinets (especially ones containing cleaning products), securing furniture, padding sharp edges on tables and so on. Toddlers are curious, and unless you tell them, they don’t understand that touching the stovetop can lead to burns — or that turning the “fun” knobs on the oven makes it hot....

Babies are most active after meals or if you’ve just had some caffeine or sugar. You can help nudge baby into wiggling with a glass of cold milk (or anything else chilly and sweet) and lying on your side to increase blood flow to baby. Or try one of our favorite pastimes: The remote control trick. Drink something sweet, then lie back in a recliner (or on the couch propped up with pillows) with the TV remote balanced on your belly....

It’s tough to watch your little one get poked and even worse to hear their inevitable cries, but immunizations are crucial for babies’ health, as they help the body build up immunity before babies are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. In fact, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a recommended immunization schedule for infants that lists out which vaccines baby should get and when, starting from birth....

What is itchy skin like for a baby? If your baby or toddler’s got the itchies, she’s likely to show you any problems before she tells you about them. You’ll probably see her scratching herself silly, with the telltale signs of redness or streaks on her skin. What could be causing my baby’s itchy skin? Many babies and toddlers have dry skin, so if she’s itching all over, you can often blame a lack of essential oils in your toddler’s otherwise smooth skin — especially in cool or dry weather, when there’s less humidity in the air (good for your hair, bad for your kid’s skin)....

Interpreting baby’s cries can be daunting when you feel like you’ve just started to get the hang of parenthood. And when we say “get the hang of” we mean you’ve recently discovered that bottle nipples have different flows and mastered the art of one-handed emailing. Let’s focus on the “I’m in pain” cry first. All the shots baby gets the first year of life do more than keep your child healthy....

Dads don’t always say and do the right things—especially when their partner is in the delivery room, about to give birth. So if you’re expecting, do you both a favor: Forward them this delivery room etiquette crib-sheet, then discuss. (Dads don’t have to agree with the rules. They just need to accept them.) It’s chock full of frank advice from moms who’ve endured, while in labor, all sorts of indignities and their partner’s clueless bungles—including bad jokes, snoring and whining....

For many nursing women, breastfeeding is something that comes after pregnancy—but if you’re ready for baby no. 2 when your firstborn is still young, you might find yourself breastfeeding while pregnant. Nursing can come with its fair share of surprises and challenges, so you can bet the prospect of breastfeeding during pregnancy raises a bunch of questions for moms, starting with whether it’s even safe. Here’s what you need to know about breastfeeding while pregnant, the hurdles you might face along the way and tips to help make the whole process a little easier on you and your body....