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In May, Marybeth Scheidts gave birth to a healthy baby boy with her husband, David Levy, thanks to a new technique using modern, low-cost DNA sequencing to check for whole chromosome abnormalities and specific gene defects before the embryo is implanted into a mother’s womb. The new technique, used in in vitro fertilization (IVF), helped Marybeth and David conceive after four years of trying for a baby and could help thousands of other women become mothers....

Dr. Ashley Roman: In most cases, iron is prescribed in pregnancy to treat iron-deficiency anemia. Studies have shown that if the mother is anemic she is at higher risk for low birth weight and preterm birth. The goal in prescribing iron is to bring the hemoglobin level into the normal range. Some providers prescribe pregnant women iron regardless of hemoglobin level. The rationale behind this strategy is to prevent anemia from developing as the pregnancy progresses....

Sure, pregnancy can be exhausting, but it doesn’t mean taking a trip is out of the question—you just need to do a little pre-travel prep. Knowing about any medical or policy restrictions and how to stay as safe and comfortable as possible is key to making your trip a success. Whether you’re planning a babymoon, traveling for work or visiting family—and going by air, road or sea—check out these top tips for traveling while pregnant....

It pays to have a talk-back video monitor. That’s what one mom learned after her twin baby girls tried to get away with gabbing and giggling when they were supposed to be sleeping. In the short clip posted on the mom blogger’s Facebook page It’s Judy Time, Miya and Keir can be seen standing and talking to each other from their adjoining cribs. They thought their bedtime antics would go unnoticed....

When I was pregnant with my first child, I had no idea what to expect about, well, any of it. But childbirth seemed particularly mysterious. Everyone said it would be (painfully) obvious when real labor began, but multiple times a week, sharp Braxton-Hicks contractions would have me thinking, “This is it. This has to be it.” Then, when actual labor kicked in the night after my due date, I was totally in denial as I Googled “Did my water break?...

Meet Kaitlin Bell Barnett, a mom and journalist covering everything from psychology and medications to women’s health and child development. She’s opening up about the cost of her breastfeeding experience so far, and explaining why those costs, while frustrating, can be worth it. Earlier this week, I published a column detailing how six months of breastfeeding has cost me about $2,000—as much as a year of formula. I explained that I was—and still am—committed to nursing my daughter and feeding her pumped breast milk until she’s at least a year old....

“This one’s got long legs,” the sonographer whispered as she poked my belly with a jelly-covered probe. It wasn’t exactly comfortable laying on that cold exam table, but I felt overjoyed in that moment. Minutes earlier, the technician had told me that I was having a girl. Reaching the halfway point of pregnancy is a milestone. You’re probably a little less tired, you’re finally showing and you may be feeling baby kick and move around more....

And the Winner Is: Little Feminist Book Club One of our jobs as parents is to teach our children the importance of empathy, equality and inclusivity—and one of the best ways to raise kids who embrace all races, genders and family structures is to diversify their bookshelf. That said, finding books featuring diverse characters and inclusive narratives can be time-consuming (What’s good? What’s age-appropriate?). Take the guesswork out of the equation with the Little Feminist Book Club....

Two weeks ago we took our 10-month-old son on his first flight to visit his grandmother in Rochester, New York. Even though the airtime was only an hour and our total trip was only three days, we still hauled what felt like a week’s worth of gear through the airport—the concept of “traveling light” simply doesn’t exist when you’re flying with a baby. Plus, you’re likely bursting with several burning questions....

Your first checkup is nearly over, and your practitioner asks, “Anything else you’d like to know?” Here’s your chance to whip out the checklist. Remember, no question is too silly… so ask away! These should get you started: [ ] How much weight should I gain, and at what rate? [ ] Do I have an increased risk of any specific complications or conditions? [ ] What screenings do I need?...

“It’s someone’s job to stock porn!” “We see patients at their best and their worst. I know if they stick with it, they’ll walk out with their family. The best part of my job is calling patients with positive pregnancy test results. I do the biggest fist pump in the world. But it’s not just inspiring moments like that—there are also some pretty funny moments too. I’ve had patients who wanted to lie down for three weeks after the procedure—they were afraid the implanted embryo would fall out!...

Ah, we see baby has finally developed an opinion (and it’s that lying still isn’t his thing). Lots of babies get squirmy on the changing table, and it can be stressful and messy. Different methods work for different folks, of course. Here are a few to try. Use the art of distraction Keep a basket of fun objects above the changing table — toys that baby only gets to see at changing time....

To you, your entertainment center means downtime: a chance to plop down and catch up on your favorite shows, movies or video games. But to baby, it’s a life-size version of an ExerSaucer with tons of buttons, cords and gadgets to touch—and if it’s not properly babyproofed, that TV stand can pose some serious danger. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a child dies every two weeks due to furniture or appliance tip-overs—and televisions and related furniture are responsible for 70 percent of the accidents....

Lice. The word alone makes parents squirm. But while they’re definitely something we all want to avoid, the good news is that lice aren’t a serious health threat—just an uncomfortable nuisance that you’ll want to get rid of as soon as possible. And to do that, knowing what those pesky little bugs look like and how to check for lice is key. In this article: What do lice look like? How to check for lice Tips for checking for lice...

According to scientists from the University of Copenhagen, one in four miscarriages might be preventabl e if a woman pays closer attention to her lifestyle choices. The scientists, who published the study in _BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology _found that avoidable risks, like being under- or overweight before conception, working nights, lifting heavy loads, being over the age of 30 and drinking during pregnancy, were ways to reduce a woman’s miscarriage risk....

Choosing whether or not to circumcise your newborn is a highly personal decision. But if you’ve decided to do it, you might be wondering what you need to know about circumcision after care. From how to help soothe baby in the following days to what healing signs to look for, we asked experts for the lowdown on newborn circumcision care. In this article: Newborn circumcision care: Managing baby’s discomfort Newborn circumcision care: Tending to the area Newborn circumcision healing signs When to call the doctor about circumcision care What to know about re-circumcision...

Whether you’re going out for the evening, heading back to work or just need a break from breastfeeding, at some point most new moms rely on a breast pump. The convenient contraption can do a lot more than allow you to fill a bottle with your breast milk. A breast pump is also handy for storing a backlog of milk in your freezer, helping to keep your milk supply flowing and prevent engorgement....

I hear a lot about blood in the stool. Usually there are only flecks or streaks, and the baby is almost always happy and gaining weight well. Indeed, in the vast majority of cases, the babies are gaining more rapidly than the average. If this is the case, then it really is not something to worry about and I would ignore it. It is worth seeing the baby’s doctor just to rule out a fissure in the anus....

There are a few good reasons to fine-tune your eating habits now. First, a balanced diet is linked to increased fertility. The healthier you and DH are, the better your chances of conceiving. Plus, eating wisely now will get your body in prime condition to have a healthy pregnancy once you conceive. So how do you start? Make sure to get several servings of fruits, veggies (especially leafy greens), whole grains and dairy every day....

Kids under age five can choke on food and small objects. Believe it or not, a lot of the choking prevention advice for babies still holds for children up to 4 to 7 years old. [ ] Your baby should sit up while eating, and be supervised at all times [ ] Don’t hurry your child when eating — allow plenty of time for meals [ ] Only put a small amount of food on the tray at a time [ ] Avoid peanut butter — it’s a greater allergy risk at early ages and is a choking hazard [ ] Avoid round, firm foods and chunks (hot dogs, nuts, meat/cheese chunks, whole grapes, hard or sticky candy, popcorn, raw carrots, other firm, raw fruit or vegetable chunks) [ ] Avoid foods that are sharp or angular (tortilla chips, potato chips, bagel chips) [ ] Avoid foods that are small enough to be accidentally inhaled instead of swallowed (seeds, shelled nuts, popcorn, raisins) [ ] Avoid stringy foods like string beans and celery....