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Anxious to avoid a c-section? Unfortunately, in most cases cesareans happen out of necessity—because baby can’t be delivered vaginally, no matter what you or your doctor does to help her along. You might need a c-section if baby is breech (bottom first) or transverse (sideways). Your doctor can try to move the baby into the proper (head-down) position, but this doesn’t always work. You may also need a c-section if baby is especially large or you have placenta previa (when the placenta covers the cervix and blocks baby’s exit)....

Pros ● Clean, modern design ● Can be folded flat ● Baby can sit at three different angles ● Machine washable Cons ● Toy bar is sold separately ● Doesn’t vibrate or make noise (if that’s what baby prefers) Bottom Line This beautiful bouncer is comfy for baby and perfect for small spaces. Thanks to its sleek Scandinavian design, it doesn’t add to the clutter of other bulky infant items around the house....

Whatever circumstances lead you to formula, you want to choose one with as many health benefits and nutrients as possible to foster your child’s growth and development. With plenty of healthy fats, proteins and carbs and without any GMOs or added sweeteners (only lactose, same as breast milk), Enspire continues to be a favorite. What We Love Enspire closely mimics breast milk thanks to two ingredients: MFGM, which is important for brain development, and lactoferrin, which boosts the immune system What it doesn’t have is corn maltodextrin, a common sweetening agent found in other formulas Prebiotics and probiotics make it easy for even the most sensitive of tiny tummies to digest, a top parent praise...

A good sippy cup is symbolic of a rite of passage—baby’s bottle days are over! But don’t expect graceful tilts from those little hands right away. You’re going to need a cup that’s easy to hold and truly spill-proof. The Miracle 360° Trainer Cup runs circles around the competition. WHAT WE LOVE Drink from anywhere on the rim; the spoutless design mimics a real cup That rim automatically reseals after each sip, so you don’t have to worry about spills With both a fast flow design cup and slow flow design cup, there’s a version that’s right for your child’s pace...

In the world of fertility, doctors are making huge strides forward to make treatments more successful — and more affordable — for women everywhere. In Belgium, doctors and scientists have developed a low-cost version of test-tube baby technology to be used in developing countries (where the sophisticated, high-end costs are entirely unaffordable). The new procedures, researchers said on Monday, cost somewhere around $260 per treatment cycle and were able to deliver results that didn’t differ much with conventional IVF treatments....

So you have a baby on the way–hooray! Picking out a baby name is a big to-do, but don’t forget to consider what baby’s last name will be. Will they be taking your name? Your partner’s? A combo of the two? And if you’ve been meaning to switch your own name from your maiden to your married, now may be the time. Because remember—just because you have a marriage license with your married last name doesn’t mean you’ve officially changed your name....

A sinus infection can be quite uncomfortable in and of itself—but when one strikes during pregnancy, things can get confusing. For one thing, you might be unsure as to whether it’s actually a sinus infection or just a run-of-the-mill pregnancy symptom. For another, it’s not always clear as to whether the typical treatments are safe for baby. That’s why we talked to experts about what it’s like to suffer a sinus infection during pregnancy, what causes it and how to treat it safely....

Contractions are a normal part of childbirth, but before “real” labor starts, you may experience “false” labor contractions, also known as Braxton Hicks contractions. While contractions of any kind are never fun, Braxton Hicks contractions are generally harmless (discomfort aside)—they’re just your body warming up for birth. Determining whether you’re going into labor can be confusing, especially if it’s your first pregnancy. You might feel like you’re about to have your baby, only for the doctors or nurses to tell you that you aren’t actually experiencing labor contractions yet....

Veins carry blood from your extremities back to your heart, which means they’re basically working against gravity. This ain’t easy, especially in a pregnant lady. And, thanks to your expanding uterus, increasing blood volume and changing hormones, your veins are even more pressure than usual right now. And, in the spots under the most pressure (usually your legs, rectum and vulva) blood can accumulate, which results in swollen — varicose — veins....

First, of course, is safety. After that, some other things to consider: Simplicity Make sure you find a seat that’s easy to use. You should be absolutely positive that you can easily install the base (or the full seat, if you go the convertible route). An improperly installed seat is dangerous, so stay away from anything with overly complicated instructions or that requires adjustments with each use. And remember, you might not be the only one doing the installation....

Cleaning baby’s teeth? Ear infection symptoms? Diaper table distraction? See all baby Q&As Becoming a little person From playing patty-cake to holding out her arms while you get her dressed, baby’s growing up in little ways every day. Her vocabulary is also expanding — expect to hear more than “mama” and “dada” pretty soon. Your words are starting to make more sense to her too, so keep up your end of the chatter as much as possible....

As with any party, the best baby showers are those where the conversation is lively and time seems to fly. And nothing does that better than a few well-chosen baby shower games. We’ve rounded up our favorites, from co-ed baby shower games that all your guests will enjoy, to easy baby shower games you can pull off in a moment’s notice and even unique baby shower games that’ll impress even the most jaded of guests....

When it comes to feeding baby, everyone has an opinion. And while some of that well-meaning advice may be hard to ignore, a lot of it isn’t based on fact. That’s why we reached out to leading experts to help break down some common myths and misconceptions when it comes to baby formula. Whether you choose to exclusively breastfeed, formula-feed or do a combo of the two, the best choice is always to do what’s going to meet your and your child’s unique needs....

When I had my first child six years ago, I was grateful breastfeeding turned out to be, for the most part, a smooth ride. After a visit with the hospital lactation consultants, who showed me the best breastfeeding positions and gave me the support I needed, I was on my way, and continued to breastfeed exclusively for the next 12 months. In those early months, though, I’d experience something odd—and often frightening—that I never told anyone about....

Every year, we make it our mission to find the coolest, most innovative and practical baby gear to make parents’ lives easier. But we need your help to do it. Entry is now open for the 2018 Best of Baby Awards! Whether you’re an established company or an entrepreneurial startup, if your product excels in design, functionality and innovation, we want to hear from you. From baby strollers and carriers to breast pumps and baby toys, we’ll be reviewing hundreds of products and handing out The Bump Best of Baby seal to product winners....

Father’s Day is a great opportunity to remind Dad how much he means to his family—and if he’s got toddlers or preschoolers at home, his special day couldn’t possibly be complete without a Father’s Day craft. It doesn’t matter if it’s covered in scribbles or dripping with glue; he’ll look right past that and see a heartfelt gift made just for him. Need some great Father’s Day craft ideas? You’ve come to the right place....

Nowadays women can buy a pregnancy test from any drug store and upload the results to the Internet within minutes, but it wasn’t always that easy. In the ultimate #throwbackthursday move, we’re looking back on the first home pregnancy test ever invented: the Predictor, a test kit which was recently highlighted by the Smithsonian. Patented in 1971 but not released for purchase until years later (the first US ads for the kit were released in 1978), the Predictor took two hours to get results....

Every mom wants to know the key to getting her pre-baby body back. Here is the secret…it actually begins during pregnancy if your doctor gives you the thumb’s up to exercise while you are pregnant. Focus on strengthening your deep core muscles to help prepare your body for weight gain, postural changes, labor, delivery, and of course, recovery after baby. Your deep core muscles are your pelvic floor and transverse abdominals, think “kegels" and “hugging your baby....

Sure, you’ve heard the benefits of breastfeeding. But have you ever thought about how what you eat while breastfeeding can affect baby? Certain nutrient-packed foods can help keep your body and your milk supply nice and healthy, while other foods can lower your milk production and impact baby’s digestive system. We’re here to help you get to the bottom of all your breastfeeding diet concerns, from the best foods to eat while breastfeeding to the best vitamins to supplement your meals, plus which foods to avoid or limit while breastfeeding and why....

When your back is aching, your arms and ankles look like sausages and your wardrobe choices have been reduced to a handful of tent dresses, no one can blame you for wanting a dazzlingly white smile—it could just make you feel so much better. But to be on the super safe-side, you may have to add sparkly teeth to the list of ways you’re going to have to take one for the team’s tiniest member....