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Who said being too talkative was a bad thing? New research pinpoints extroverted moms as the ones most likely to breastfeed baby at birth — and continue to do so. The findings from the study, published online in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, shows that moms with certain personalities may need additional support and education to help them feel confident, self-assured and knowledgeable about breastfeeding before they’re able to be successful doing so....

Postpartum depression has gotten a lot of attention recently, and for good reason: The mental health disorder affects one in nine women. But there’s another important postpartum mental health condition that should be on your radar too: It’s called postpartum anxiety, and while it’s not as well known, it can also have a serious impact on your life as a new mom. So how do you know if you may be suffering from one and not the other?...

After pregnancy, you’re probably eager to enjoy certain things from your pre-baby life—like eating sushi, sipping wine or fitting into your favorite pair of jeans. While your dinner menu options basically open up the moment you give birth, postpartum weight loss takes time and patience—after all, it took nine+ months to grow baby! Give your body time to recover, credit for pulling off an amazing feat, and grace as you transition into a new phase of life....

According to new research, those white noise machines designed to soothe baby to sleep may not be safe for his hearing. Led by Dr. Blake Papsin, the lead researcher of the study and chief otolaryngologist at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, a team of researchers tested 14 popular white noise and soothing sound machines. They noted that at just one foot away from baby, three of the fourteen machines produced such intense sound levels at maximum volume that, if they were played throughout the night, they would surpass the noise limit levels for adults in the workplace....

It’s every new parent’s biggest fear: One moment, baby is sound asleep and the next, she’s not breathing. By definition, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has no known cause. It’s extremely rare, but a small percentage of babies do die in their sleep within the first year of life, without warning or explanation. The best way to decrease baby’s SIDS risk is to always keep her in a safe environment, especially while sleeping....

And the Winner Is: Juice Beauty From the moment you learn you’re pregnant, you tend to look at ingredient lists differently. From foods to medications to skincare products, you want to ensure that whatever you’re putting into and onto your body is safe for you and baby. Save yourself some stress by turning to a known pregnancy-safe skincare brand (and getting your doctor’s thumbs up, of course). Juice Beauty offers organic, antioxidant-rich skincare and plant-based makeup, and has a dedicated—and decidedly robust—selection of products specifically deemed safe for pregnant moms....

Finger foods? Best first foods? Teething toys? See all baby Q&As Bustin’ a move Baby’s fine motor skills (like picking up things with fingers and thumbs) develop faster than her gross motor skills (like crawling), which require the still-growing muscles in her arms, legs, and feet. Help her out by placing a toy just in front of her so she can practice moving toward it. Her improving agility makes keeping your home baby-proof more important than ever....

Introducing baby to solid foods is one of the most exciting (not to mention critically important) milestones during the first year of parenthood, and it’s always a special time to look back on as your little one turns into a not-so-little kid. Up to this point, all they’ve known when it comes to flavor is breast milk or formula. You’re about to rock their world by introducing vegetables, fruits, grains and all the delicious flavors and foods in the world....

Congratulations, bride-to-be—and mom-to-be too! If you’re getting hitched with a baby on the way, then you’re going to need a bump-friendly gown. Granted, sourcing a maternity wedding dress can be a little tricky, since you’ll have to consider your changing shape when selecting your ensemble. Not sure where to start your search? We’ve done the research and curated a list of the most stylish wedding dresses for pregnant brides. Whether you’re looking for something long and elegant or short and casual, we’ll help you find the right style for you....

A full year of paid leave? Offices accommodating newborns? Not the reality for most working moms. Despite the slew of parental perks we’ve seen from larger companies recently, data from the Department of Labor shows that one in four new moms return to work just two weeks after having a baby. While the federally-mandated maternity leave policy requires companies to give women a minimum of 12 weeks off, that time doesn’t have to be paid....

You’ve decided to commemorate your pregnancy with a babymoon—now, it’s time to plan the extra-special trip. As you can imagine, traveling when you’re expecting comes with its own set of quirks and considerations. You already know you want to get away and have the time of your life, but there are some things you definitely don’t want to do. Here, some key things to avoid as you embark on your babymoon, so you look back on this memorable time with zero regret....

For many women, a positive pregnancy test means no alcohol whatsoever. For other moms-to-be, it’s an occasional sip or drink on special occasions. Although numerous findings show that drinking during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), a new study has discovered that moms are taking the risk: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1 in 10 pregnant women consume alcohol during their pregnancies. And a number of moms-to-be aren’t holding back: A third of these women surveyed admit to binge-drinking—consuming four or more alcoholic beverages on one occasion....

Amenorrhea: This is the absence of menstruation. A woman is considered to have amenorrhea when she has missed her period for three or more months in a row. Aneuploidy: Aneuploidy means there are an abnormal number of chromosomes in a cell. This mutation could cause miscarriage or health problems for baby. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH): If you go for fertility testing, your doctor may check your blood’s AMH levels to make sure your ovaries are still producing eggs....

Fatherly is a publication for modern fathers looking to make the best of a good situation. All parents can agree that the purpose of child rearing and discipline is to help a kid become a successful, prosocial member of society. But the way a parent raises a child to reach the apparently universal goal of becoming an upstanding member of their community is largely based on cultural norms. Depending on where a child is born on the globe, the cultural norms for parenting may be rooted in traditions that go back thousands of years....

We’re still four days away from Halloween, but baby Noah has already had 27 amazing Halloween costumes — and he can’t even walk yet. And the little guy is such a quick character study: Jean Valjean, a Minion, Harry Potter, Charlie Brown — he’s been there, worn that. As you can guess, behind any kick-ass baby Halloween costume is a kick-ass mom creating it. But why did New York writer and mom Jessica Chavkin want to go so big this Halloween?...

There’s enough to get used to being a new mom… add your busy job back into the mix, and it’s a recipe for utter chaos. Make your transition from new mom to working mom less stressful with these helpful hints: Practice your morning routine. During the two weeks after my nanny started and before I went back to work, my husband and I did “dry runs” of what our mornings would be like getting ready for work....

Yes! The four below are our favorites… | | | | | The New Dad’s Survival Guide: Man-to-Man** Advice for First-Time Fathers ** _ by Scott Mactavish _ A personal favorite of our Online Director Bump Kate, this funny and straightforward guide covers all the basics. Scott(who’s been through it twice!) keeps things light, and knows how to take the edge of first-time fatherhood. Get it now! $12.99 | | | Don’t Just Stand There: How to Be Helpful, Clued-In, Supportive, Engaged & Relevant in the Delivery Room by Jon Lichtenstein and Elissa Stein This step-by-step guide through the big day is written by a husband and wife who’ve been through it together — twice....

Some women find that when they thaw their frozen milk it has a strong, soapy, or even rancid, smell. Assuming the milk was fresh and smelled fine when placed in the freezer, this is most often due to an excess of the enzyme lipase in the milk. Lipase helps to break down the fats in breast milk, making it easier for babies to digest. Women who have a lot of lipase in their milk find that it continues to break down the fats even when the milk is frozen, resulting in a soapy or rancid odor when the milk is thawed....

We hear this complaint from many parents. The simple answer is that getting daytime sleep is a different animal than getting nighttime sleep. This is particularly true if your child is light sensitive or has a hard time winding down and/or making transitions. At your daughter’s age, she still needs two naps a day (ideally one hour in the morning and two hours in the afternoon). After you have her nap schedule ironed out, the trick is communicating, “You can do this!...

Each year, more than 4 million babies are born in the United States. Most of those pregnancies started the old-fashioned way, involving just two people and no hormone treatments or in vitro anything. But for one in eight couples, getting pregnant and carrying a baby to term only happens with medical intervention. And for a portion of them, it doesn’t happen at all. Here are the stories of three women who faced infertility and decided against the treatments doctors said they’d need in order to ever realize their dreams of motherhood....