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Want to end the Mommy Wars? We’ve created Moms for Moms Day with CTWorkingMoms.com in an effort to support, encourage and stand behind each other’s choices, judgments aside. Join moms (and moms-to-be!) by sharing your Mommy Truths with us. _ On your postpartum body The comment: “One of the moms in my Mommy & Me class came up to me about 15 weeks after my daughter was born. She asked if I was pregnant again because I looked like I was showing....

When baby arrives, you can’t help but dream of the future and all the joy it’ll bring. The last thing you want to be thinking about is the possibility of your family needing to use your life insurance policy. But if you haven’t purchased life insurance yet, it deserves a top spot on your to-do list. Think of it as a hedge against anything bad happening that could derail the plans you’ve imagined for you and your loved ones....

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....

Spice-inspired names Names like Poppy, Sage, Rosemary and Bay are going to be all the rage in the coming year. They’re unique and lean gender-neutral, so we’ll most likely see parents picking these for both boys and girls – and they’re fairly easy to pronounce — if you stick to traditional spellings! At first, we weren’t totally sure we were into the trend, but our stance shifted when we thought of how cute a baby Cassia or Lavender would be....

Once you’ve done your research and decided on the best bottles for baby, there’s still another step to consider: how to clean them. Whether you’ve chosen glass, plastic or silicone bottles, you’ll have to keep them as pristine as possible to protect baby’s developing immune system. If you listen to advice from your mother or grandmother, you might be fretting over how to sterilize baby bottles—but nowadays sterilizing baby bottles isn’t absolutely necessary, except in certain situations....

Apparently, timing is everything. According to the findings from a study conducted by Princeton University, there’s a 10 percent higher rate of prematurity among babies conceived in May than any other month. Study authors Janie Currie and Hannes Schwandt, researchers at the Center for Heath and Wellbeing at Princeton University, found that the rate may be due to the fact that moms-to-be began their third trimester around flu season — which is a known factor in kick-starting early delivery....

When it was my turn to coach my wife through the birth of our first, I wish I’d been better prepared. Case in point: As I rode the hospital elevator with another expectant dad, he asked me if I knew about “the bathing suit thing.” What!? (More on that below.) Since I’ve been down that road three times now, allow me to share my experiences with you, along with some advice from the experts....

On the Farm: Talina Norris-Ryder When Talina Norris-Ryder first started prenatal appointments with her ob-gyn, there was one word she heard again and again: “can’t.” No, you can’t walk around while in labor. You can’t have a water birth. You can’t eat while in labor. And considering you’re only a petite 100 pounds, odds are you can’t even have a vaginal birth. Norris-Ryder doesn’t like being told what she can — or can’t — do....

Trying to get pregnant? You probably already know there’s foods that can help boost your fertility and get you in tip-top baby-making shape. But your pre-pregnancy diet isn’t just important for the sake of getting pregnant. It can influence the health of your future baby as well. Previous studies have found that eating lean meats, fish, chicken, fruit, whole grains and vegetables before pregnancy is linked to lower rates of preterm birth....

Babies are born with definite feeding instincts that help them breastfeed, and mother’s instincts help in this process as well. That being said, it’s still often challenging to start. Having good basic information ahead of time can help you make sense of everything that is happening and make things go a lot more smoothly. One of the best ways to learn the basics of breastfeeding is to attend a class or a group meeting....

Clomid, or Clomiphene Citrate, is a medication the blocks the receptor for the female hormone estrogen. This causes the pituitary gland to secrete more follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which in turn stimulates the ovary to make an egg. This medication is useful in helping women who do not ovulate regularly to produce an egg every month, but has limited use in helping women who already ovulate become pregnant. If ovulation does not occur using this medication, there are others available that may....

This sponsored post was written by Lisa Carnevale of Avent. The benefits of breastfeeding for both baby and mom are numerous and well-known. Breastfeeding provides your baby with optimal nutrition and antibodies, boosts general health and development, and is a great way for the two of you to bond. At the same time, it helps moms shed pregnancy weight and is more economical than formula. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends new mothers breastfeed for the first year....

Now that your kiddo has entered toddlerhood, they’ll start to become more independent and show off their budding personality. The ages of one through three are key years for mastering critical skills, like progressing from crawling to walking and from babbling to saying full sentences. But some of the biggest strides in toddler milestones and development will be how your child relates to others. “[Toddlerhood] is the time when kids should be able to engage in a loving fashion with family and be able to navigate play with other children in their age group,” says Caesar Djavaherian, MD, co-founder and chief clinical innovation officer at Carbon Health....

Most women are anemic after delivery, which means you’re liable to feel extra-tired and weak (as if you need that with all this other stuff!). This is because you lose blood, whether you have an uncomplicated vaginal delivery or a c-section. Getting plenty of iron will rebuild your iron stores and make you feel better. You can do that with either an iron-rich diet or by taking iron supplements. But don’t go too crazy....

Pros • Super-easy installation • Top-of-the-line safety features • Holds up well over time Cons • Leveling the base can be tough Bottom Line The Britax B-Safe is the marriage of top-line safety features and amazing ease of use. That’s happiness in our book. Rating: 4.5 stars A car seat often works as the sum of two complementing parts: the actual car seat in which you place baby and the car seat base....

Use this guide to stock your medicine chest, and you’ll be prepared for all of baby’s minor aches and illnesses. Always discuss medications and treatments with your pediatrician before giving to baby. (Items with a * are must-haves.) [ ] Baby nail clippers or blunt scissors* [ ] Cotton balls (don’t use swabs to clean baby’s nose or ears) [ ] Baby thermometer* [ ] Bulb syringe/nasal aspirator [ ] Medicine dropper or spoon with measurements [ ] Petroleum jelly and sterile gauze (for circumcision care)* [ ] Infant acetaminophen [ ] Antibiotic cream [ ] Saline nasal drops [ ] Baby gas drops [ ] Disinfecting hand soap (for you) Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such....

You know cute maternity clothes exist, but to some, shelling out top dollar for something that won’t last feels foolish. We feel you! Which is why we’ve gathered up seven workarounds for making maternity clothes—and your existing wardrobe—work for your style and budget. Shop Affordable Brands Yes, there really are brands out there selling super-chic maternity clothes at ultra-affordable prices. Take full advantage! Not sure where to head? Some of our favorite places to tap when building a cute maternity wardrobe that won’t break the bank include ASOS, H&M, PinkBlush and Old Navy....

Am I somehow messing her up? This is my greatest fear, and one that runs through my head basically every day. And while I’m fairly certain most moms struggle with the same question, it’s still a pretty isolating concern. My daughter is one of those “spirited” kids. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t have her any other way, but she oftentimes demands more than what other children might require, and that usually causes me to question whether I’m doing this whole parenthood thing right....

Yes, it’s fine. There’s no reason to push solids. If baby is breastfeeding well, his calorie and nutrient intake should be enough for the moment. However, watch out for your baby’s signs that he is ready to eat solids. Sometimes parents miss these. They will be easier to catch if your baby is at meals with you. If he is starting to reach for food, he is probably ready. Give it to him....

You glance down at your legs and see them—spider veins, those little, visible red blood vessels with jagged lines branching out (so, yep, they look kind of like spiders right under your skin). They’re common on the legs and face, especially during pregnancy. So what’s the deal with spider veins, and how do you get rid of them? What Causes Spider Veins During Pregnancy? You’ve got more blood circulating through your veins now that you’re pregnant....