Posts

There’s a reason why the first breast milk expressed after childbirth is likened to “liquid gold”: Colostrum contains invaluable nutrients and antibodies specifically tailored to a newborn’s initial needs. Suffice it to say, it’s justifiably revered by new moms, lactation experts and pediatricians. So what are the colostrum benefits, exactly? When does colostrum come in, and what does it look like? Read on to learn everything you need to know about this type of early breast milk....

By the time you reach the end of your second trimester, you’re probably used to being poked and prodded. Ultrasounds and blood draws are par for the pregnancy course. But there’s another upcoming appointment you’ve probably heard some mixed things about: the glucose test. As if pregnancy isn’t sweet enough, around week 24, you’ll have to chug a syrupy drink to measure your body’s response to sugar. Pass this preliminary glucose test, and you’re generally considered good to go....

When it comes to maternal health, the United States notoriously lags behind other high-income nations. We are one of a handful of developed countries without paid parental leave at the national level. Maternal mortality rates here have actually worsened over the last 30 years, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And a 2022 report from the March of Dimes warns that maternity care deserts—areas completely lacking obstetric care—are on the rise....

Nix the processed foods. “The combination of little sleep and caring for baby means you need high-energy foods,” says Kimberly Altman, RD, of Pritikin Longevity Center + Spa in Miami. “The foods that will energize you best are unprocessed, whole foods that are loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Try choosing vegetables, fruits, whole grains, soy or low-fat dairy products, and healthy amounts of lean protein to fill you up....

Good news: By breastfeeding, you’re already making it easier for baby. Breast milk is much less irritating to the esophagus and easier to digest than formula. It also empties from the stomach faster, which leaves less content to back up and cause the esophageal irritation associated with reflux. Another thing you can do to help (or at least, alleviate) reflux is to hold baby at a semi-upright position during a feeding (use pillows to help with this)....

Is your toddler a picky eater when he’s sick? (And all you want to pump him full of fluids and food so he gets better soon?) Next time he refuses to eat or drink and you’re worried about dehydration, try this trick from user Christina-marie, who posted this suggestion on our Toddlers 12-24 Months board. “Once when my son didn’t want to eat or drink anything, my grandmother told me, ‘Give him some milk toast,’” she says....

Hyacinth Nicole Browne, MD, is a board certified OB/GYN, as well as board eligible in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. She currently works at Hudson Valley Fertility in Somers and Fishkill, NY. She has authored numerous publications in medical journals and is the recipient of various awards in medicine, research and academics. Her areas of expertise include: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and infertility, identifying key markers in evaluating fertility, third party reproduction (egg donation and surrogacy) and fertility preservation via egg freezing....

It’s no secret that American moms need more support than legislation has historically provided. Plus, there are significant disparities between the maternal health care given to white and Black moms in America. To help bridge that gap, together with co-owners Mykal Steen and Sanya Richards-Ross—a track and field athlete and four-time Olympic gold-medalist—launched MommiNation. MommiNation aims to provide Black moms with a supportive and uplifting community. Recently, the company also launched the non-profit arm of their business, MommiNation Gives....

When we’re fatigued, it’s hard to enjoy anything, including baby, says clinical psychologist Shoshana Bennett, PhD. Here are a couple things you can do: Make “me” time: Schedule a couple of hours a few times a week to focus on doing things for yourself while someone else is on duty with baby (Dad, Grandma, or another trusted person). This will recharge your batteries. Right now you might be too tired to do much, but at least get out of the house and relax at the park, window shop or have some tea at a favorite hangout....

Every pregnant mom knows she should be popping prenatal vitamins. For years, doctors and experts have been encouraging moms-to-be to take them, often before they even conceive. But, she might not be aware of exactly what are the benefits of prenatal vitamins—or their side effects. In this article: What are prenatal vitamins? Prenatal vitamins ingredients list Benefits of prenatal vitamins Prenatal vitamins side effects What Are Prenatal Vitamins? Prenatal vitamins are multivitamins that include a variety of vitamins and minerals....

You may have crafted a meticulous birth plan, but childbirth can be unpredictable. From what Mother Nature throws at you to what you end up throwing at your partner during labor, you never know what might happen. Here, real moms share the funny, bizarre and totally surprising things that went down in their delivery room. “I projectile-vomited on my midwife—we all laughed hard. It’s gross, I know, but to this day she says I laughed the baby out....

I’m just being honest here, folks, because there are no words to adequately explain just how breathtaking the photo series below is. So today, I won’t even try. One unbelievably talented mom made her sleepy baby’s dreamworld a total reality — and we’ve got the photos to prove it! The artist, Queenie Liao, is mama to three boys and has given the world an inside look at just how glamorous and wondrous her child, Wengenn’s dreams are....

Playskool Sit n’ Spin Classic Spinning Activity Toy Hape Pound and Tap Bench with Slide Out Xylophone Little Tikes Go and Grow Lil’ Rollin’ Giraffe Ride-on Playskool Busy Ball Popper Toy LEGO DUPLO Disney Frozen Tea Party Toy Set Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball Set Infantino 4-in-1 Jumbo Baby Activity Gym & Ball Pit Damhorst Personalized Wooden Puzzle Stool Fisher-Price Color Climbers Jumperoo Melissa & Doug Star Diner Restaurant FurReal Roarin’ Tyler, the Playful Tiger Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank The Play Gym by Lovevery Step2 Espresso Bar Play Kitchen Green Toys Seacopter Melissa and Doug Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Counter Battat Big Red Barn Playset Little Tikes Cape Cottage Paw Patrol Adventure Bay Rescue Playset VTech Touch and Swipe Baby Phone Peppa Pig’s School Playset** Melissa & Doug Geometric Stacker Skip Hop Bandana Buddies Baby Activity and Teething Toy Nuby Floating Purple Octopus Interactive Bath Toy Jellycat Bashful Cream Bunny Stuffed Animal

Summertime and the livin’ is easy! Unless you’re a new parent, of course, in which case the livin’ is pretty hard, what with all the diapers, feedings, not sleeping… But if you’re lucky, you’ll still be able to get away for a little summer break, like you did before you had kids. We took our first post-baby vacation when my firstborn was 3 months old. I knew things would be different with a baby but I didn’t fully understand just how different....

Birth control and breastfeeding? Back to work reluctance? Unsafe food for nursing? See all newborn Q&As Sleeping beauty Baby’s starting to sleep for longer intervals — up to five or six hours at a time, if you’re lucky. While she’s probably still waking up for nighttime feedings, you can try to space them out by increasing the amount of milk she drinks during the day, particularly before bedtime. Weaning baby off nighttime feedings is the first step toward sleeping through the night, but as always, follow baby’s lead....

After months of severely fragmented (or virtually nonexistent) shuteye, the prospect of getting your baby to sleep through the night can be downright thrilling. But the journey can also feel a little unnerving—especially if you’re thinking about letting baby cry it out. The cry it out method—also called extinction sleep training—is hailed as a no-nonsense way for getting babies to fall asleep on their own quickly and easily (and put themselves back to sleep if they wake up during the night!...

Move Over, Twilight: _The Hunger Games _ So we all know names like Isabella (Bella), Jacob and Edward surged in popularity after the Twilight books and movies came out. Now that the vamp movie series is wrapping up, it’s all about The Hunger Games. We predict that the already popular young adult book trilogy will get even more love when the first movie (starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth) comes out in March....

For many, working from home is the dream—after all, being able to avoid long commutes, wear PJ bottoms all day and throw in a load of laundry in between calls are big bonuses. In the aftermath of COVID-19, some parents are continuing to work from home offices. And while daycares and schools are open, due to exposures and holidays, many parents are still having to figure out how to be productive while simultaneously caring for their kids during the work day....

Apparently, parents are skipping time out and going straight for spanking. A new study, conducted by the University of Michigan, revealed that 30 percent of one-year-old babies had been spanked at least once in the past month by either their mom, dad or by both parents. To put it in perspective, that’s just about one out of every three kids. Researchers in Michigan examined 2,788 families that signed on to participate in a study of new births taking place in urban areas....

And the Winner Is: Fridababy SmileFrida the Toothhugger Even baby teeth require good oral hygiene. But as important as it is, brushing those tiny teeth—especially as your child grows older, squirmier and more opinionated—is not always the easiest task. SmileFrida to the rescue! This cleverly designed toddler toothbrush for kids 18 months and up features a unique angled brush to clean your little one’s teeth quickly and effectively, before they throw a fit....