Posts

This is the third installment of Danica’s four-part series on her son’s Autism diagnosis. In her first post, The Moment Autism Changed Everything, she shares how her son’s diagnosis changed her family’s world. Her second post, Avoiding the Autism Diagnosis: Ignorance Is Not Bliss, takes us through coping with her son’s diagnosis. Danica is a stay at home mom of 3 who spends most of her time homeschooling and cleaning up the path of destruction her autistic son leaves....

Family planning can be complicated for prospective LGBTQ+ parents. While the definition of what constitutes the makeup of a family has thankfully evolved and broadened, legal protections haven’t quite caught up with the needs of everyone who wants to have or raise children. It can be a confusing process for those in the LGBTQ+ community—which is why it’s so important to educate yourself about your options and rights. Two major factors must be considered before you start a family: your path to parenthood and the laws in the state you reside....

Taking fertility drugs? Here’s one less thing to be concerned about: A new study from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology reveals that there’s “little evidence” of fertility hormones increasing the long-term risk of breast or gynecological cancers. Researchers conducted a 30-year follow-up study, after 12,193 women were treated for infertility between 1965 and 1988 in the US. Follow-up studies lasted until 2010, with a total of 9,892 women “successfully followed” for their cancer results....

This guest post was written by Karen Alpert, the ridiculously hairy, self-deprecating writer of the blog Baby Sideburns and author of the brand new and hilarious parenting book, I Heart My Little A-Holes. She’s spent the past fifteen years working for national advertising agencies until she was promoted to her newest favorite job: Mommy. She lives with her two amazing kiddos and a very forgiving husband. When I can’t find the time to shower, I use baby wipes to “clean” my pits, under my boobs, and, uhhh, some other places....

And the Winner Is: Cybex Sirona S 360 Convertible Car Seat Parents of toddlers know that if you want to elevate your heart rate and get your sweat on, nothing does the trick like trying to get your kiddo into their car seat. Even in those (rare) moments when they’re not tantruming or flailing about, angling your body to get your little one properly strapped in is a lesson in contortion....

Great news for women suffering from morning sickness during their pregnancies! The FDA has officially approved the drug Diclegis. The drug, which taken daily, must be taken whole on an empty stomach. Women new to the drug are only recommended to take two tablets at bedtime — but can take up to four tablets daily: once in the morning, once mid-afternoon and twice at bedtime. Hylton V. Joffe, director of the Division of Reproductive and Urologic Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said, “Many women experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and sometimes these symptoms are not adequately managed through recommended changes in diet and lifestyle....

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....

A successful, single Manhattanite in her forties, Jackie Cohen knew she’d find a way to start a family on her own. But she didn’t know she’d find a new calling and a new career opportunity along the way. Three years after an adoption story fit for a movie, Cohen finds herself with a boisterous, beautiful daughter and a sought-after jewelry line inspired by her. She’s sharing her story with The Bump to remind us that even the bumpiest roads to parenthood are worth it....

As a Hollywood actress, Jessica Alba knows typecasting all too well. “When I started out, everyone I approached was skeptical and didn’t see me as an entrepreneur, but I was determined,” says Alba, who cites a childhood marred by chronic health issues as a motivating factor in cofounding The Honest Company in 2012. She brought together a savvy, health-conscious executive team, began pitching venture capitalists (the company has raised about $200 million in funding) and got to work in a sprawling, gorgeously appointed office in Southern California....

This is the fourth and final installment of Danica’s series on her son’s Autism diagnosis. In her first post, The Moment Autism Changed Everything, she shares how the autism diagnosis changed her family’s world. Her second post, Avoiding the Autism Diagnosis: Ignorance Is Not Bliss, takes us through coping with the diagnosis and in her third post, Yes, My Son Is Autistic But No, He’s Not ‘Rain Main’, Danica details her son’s “super” powers....

As with those pesky monthly periods, ovulation feels different for different people. Some women experience ovulation pain every cycle; others, not at all. While being aware of any aches or cramping you feel during ovulation can be only somewhat helpful in tracking your fertility (more on that later), it’s just smart to get familiar with how your body feels from month to month, so you can separate what’s normal for you from what might require a visit to the ob-gyn....

We don’t have ounce markers on our breasts, but you know each exclusively breastfed baby is getting enough milk if, in every 24-hour period, each baby: •wakes (on her own) and cues to breastfeed at least eight (and up to 12 to14) times •wets at least six diapers •passes at least four loose, yellow, seedy stools (about the size of a quarter) until older than two months •gains an average of 2/3 ounce (20 g) for at least the first three months Breastfeeding and making enough milk is about meeting the needs of each baby as an individual rather than as part of a set (of twins)....

The truth is: Nobody really knows what the best course of action is. Some experts don’t think your diet during pregnancy has any effect on food sensitivities (or lack thereof) in your baby. Some say you should steer clear of allergens that run in your family. And others say you should simply play it safe by trying not to overindulge in any one type of food. There’s probably no reason to cut out cow’s-milk products entirely during your future pregnancies — some doctors even suggest that exposing a fetus to small amounts of an allergen might help keep her from becoming sensitive to it....

If you work in certain states, like California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and a few others…then yes, the law says that your boss is required to let you pump. He or she may also be required to provide you with a clean place (besides a bathroom stall) where you can pump in peace. To find out about the laws regarding breastfeeding and pumping in your state, check out the information on the La Leche League International website: LLLI....

Once you become pregnant, sex might be the last thing on your mind. It’s natural to wonder about what is and isn’t okay for you and your growing baby, and that includes the issue of sex: Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy? And how different is pregnant sex from sex when you’re not carrying a baby? Relax—stress will do nothing to enhance the mood. We’ve got all the info you need to help put your mind at ease and get you back into the groove....

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) believes that children learn best when they are in school. But COVID-19 cases are still on the rise, and now that summer is ending, many parents are faced with the difficult decision of whether to send their child back to daycare or school or to keep them home full-time. It’s a highly personal decision, to be sure, but here are some considerations to keep in mind when making your choice this school year....

I remember feeling like I had a baby permanently attached to my boob for the first three months after giving birth and for much of the time for the nine months that followed. I enjoyed very much gazing at my precious newborn for hours but with so many hours a day with a baby on the breast, at some point restlessness set in. Never one to sit still, I became the master of multitasking....

New research suggests that many women aren’t really aware of the toxins they should avoid that could pose a danger to baby’s health. Sure, we know to avoid drinking and cigarettes, but those things are pretty much common sense. Obstetricians across the country, however, are realizing that they need to spend more time talking to patients about other toxins that they should steer clear of while pregnant. Wondering what they are?...

Three-Parent IVF Do you have a genetic mutation you’re afraid of passing on to your child? In as little as two years, you may be able to swap it out with mitochondrial replacement (aka three-parent IVF). During IVF, faulty mitochondrial DNA—which contribute to conditions like brain damage, heart failure and blindness—is replaced with healthy DNA from a donor. Though three-parent IVF has yet to be carried out in humans, the FDA is currently evaluating whether clinical trials can take place stateside....

What is a blocked tear duct? Tear ducts are essentially a drainage system. Normally, they drain the eye of the tears that constantly bathe the eye’s surface. When the tear duct becomes blocked, tears aren’t able to drain normally and build up in the eye, causing teary, watery eyes and irritation. Blocked tear ducts are very common in newborns. “The place where the tears are supposed to come back from your eye, down through your nose, is smaller in babies,” says Katherine O’Connor, MD, a pediatric hospitalist at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in New York City....