“I waxed, gave myself a pedi and dyed my hair and got it trimmed before the birth.” — Cassie V. “I’m so glad I did my hair and makeup and wore some bling. I got so many compliments from people saying that I looked good and that my makeup looked professionally done. It made me feel better, even though I really felt terrible!” — Heather H. “I did my makeup, shaved my legs and put my hair up for delivery....
The path to parenthood isn’t always linear. Just ask Lilliana Vazquez, style expert, television host and new mom. Her journey to welcoming her son Santiago was anything but easy. She struggled with shame, stigma and a cultural barrier that made her foray into fertility treatments feel all the more harrowing. But now, Vazquez is using her voice and sharing her experience to help other prospective parents bravely navigate this emotionally charged and often tricky terrain....
It’s absolutely normal for baby to drink less breast milk if she is eating a significant amount of solid foods. She’s simply beginning to move toward a more “grown up” diet. If you think it’s because she’s just too distracted to breastfeed, though, try moving feedings to a dark, quiet room. (Some babies have a tough time concentrating on nursing once they are interacting more with the world around them.) And as always, keep an eye on her weight gain for assurance that she’s staying hydrated and getting enough nutrition....
If you’re a new mom with baby number two already on the brain, you might want to slow down. A new study published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, found that the shorter the interval between pregnancies, the higher the risk of preterm birth. What exactly defines a “short interpregnancy interval”? Researchers classified short IPIs into two groups: less than 12 months after the birth of the previous baby, and between 12-18 months after....
If you are visiting a fertility specialist, you’ll very likely become intimately familiar with subcutaneous (or sub-Q, for short) injections. These shots are administered in the fatty layer of tissue just beneath the skin. Blood vessels course their way through this tissue, which makes it easy for medications to reach their ultimate destinations and do their job. Almost all of the medications required for fertility assistance are taken subcutaneously. The good news is that the needle required is very small, so the shots feel like nothing more than a small pinprick....
Of all the pregnancy afflictions and discomforts, lightning crotch might be the most surprising. And while it’s not exactly a clinical diagnosis, you’ll know exactly what lightning crotch is when it hits you. That signature sharp, stabbing zap down by your vagina will wake you right up, but it’s likely to go away just as quickly as it came (not that this truth makes it any less unpleasant). So what causes lightning crotch—and why doesn’t it have a more official medical name?...
How to Use a Pregnancy Pillow Considerations When Shopping for a Pregnancy Pillow Sleep position. Are you a side sleeper, back sleeper or stomach sleeper? While stomach sleepers have obvious challenges getting comfy in bed, back and side sleepers have different hurdles to overcome. Firmness and support. Do you like firm foam or a softer fill? What’s going to feel best against your back or bump? If you’re picky about firmness and density, pay extra attention to find a pregnancy pillow that meets your needs....
Thought baby couldn’t read your mind? Well, think again. New research suggests that babies as young as a year-and-a-half can guess what other people are thinking_._ Yikes! Study author H. Clark Barrett, an anthropologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, says that these surprising new findings may help us learn more about the social abilities that differentiate us from our closest living relatives, chimpanzees. The study used a form of the false-belief tests , which is one of the few cognitive tasks that young children can do that primates cannot....
Chocolate Bunny The March of Dimes recommends keeping baby away from sweets because they can cause tooth decay and add unnecessary calories to baby’s diet. With more tots getting root canals and cavities, it’s a good reason to ditch the sweets for now. Plus, chocolate has a little bit of caffeine in it, which can affect your baby or toddler—he or she may have a sugar high or get a little wired from the caffeine....
Fertility isn’t usually something women think about much. You expect your reproductive system to produce babies, just as you expect your heart to pump blood and your lungs to breathe air. But if you don’t get pregnant after a few months of trying, fertility becomes all you might think about—and you’re not alone. About 11 percent of women of reproductive age in the US have trouble conceiving, which is why many doctors these days are having fertility discussions earlier with patients....
When Jenny Robberson learned she was pregnant, she was beyond thrilled. Early on, she had a clear vision of what the momentous event of meeting baby was going to be like—and an epidural would not be welcome. This was going to be a glorious, purely natural childbirth: There would be no drugs to speak of, and a midwife would do the honors of bringing her firstborn into the world. Then, around 33 weeks, she found out that wasn’t going to happen....
A photo of your newborn’s first day home. Pics from meeting the grandparents. Snapshots of the first steps, first foods, first haircut. We get it: You’re bursting with parental pride and want the world to see how amazing your little one is. But for your child’s safety, it’s important to stop and think before putting those photos online. That’s because you could be sharing more than a sweet snapshot of baby’s milestone....
The basic rule is that if it’s usually served hot, eat it hot. And if it’s usually served cold, eat it cold. You’re especially vulnerable to bacteria when you’re pregnant, so stay away from hot or cold food that’s been sitting out at room temperature for two hours or more. If you’re at a party and want to go for seconds, reach for safe items like veggies, fruits, and bread. Dying for more mini meatballs after the two-hour rule?...
Rachael, Los Angeles I wish I knew…how unbelievably teeny newborns are. I planned pretty well for baby before his arrival. I was on bed rest the last few months of my pregnancy, so I had plenty of time to research the baby gear I wanted. My husband, Ryan (read his take on the experience here), handled the budgeting, and Pinterest was my best friend in getting nursery ideas. But I didn’t prepare for how small newborns are....
Mucus plug. Effacement. Apgar score. With all the unfamiliar terms associated with childbirth and newborn care, it can feel like you’re learning a new language. One term you may have heard during your hospital tour is “rooming in”—meaning having baby with you in your hospital room 24/7 postdelivery. These days, many hospitals are encouraging the practice. But is rooming in with baby the best option for you? Learning what to expect from the rooming in experience, understanding how the hospital newborn nursery works and knowing you have a choice can empower you to make the best decision for you and your family when D(elivery) Day rolls around....
Once baby outgrows that handy, tote-able infant car seat, you’ll need a convertible seat — and the new Chicco NextFit is an awesome choice! It’s easy to install in a wide range of cars. Hey, easy-to-install means you’re more likely to do it right. Plus, you’ll stress less about having to switch it to grandma’s car or a rental. See us demonstrate how the seat adjusts to nine different positions, tightens firmly and converts from rear- to front-facing in this video!...
And the Winner Is: Halo Swaddle SleepSack Life outside the womb is a major adjustment for a newborn. After months of being curled up in a dark, warm, snug space, the harshness of our big, bright, open world can be pretty jarring. It’s no wonder, then, that infants find comfort in environments that remind them of their in-utero home. A swaddle is a great way to mimic that snugness, helping to soothe and lull them to sleep....
It’s been written off as the result of hormonal changes for years, but postpartum depression, and new-parent mental health in general, may have more to do with the way our culture shapes parenting. As you’ve probably noticed, having a baby is a pretty life-altering thing. So it’s not surprising that new moms and new dads are especially at risk for conditions like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis and bi-polar disorder during the perinatal period — the weeks before, during and after birth....
Denim is a timeless wardrobe staple. And whether you’re into slouchy styles or spray-on skinnies, a great pair of jeans can make or break your look. Unfortunately, denim is a fabric that doesn’t offer much give, meaning your favorite Levi’s will be one of the first things to go when your baby bump starts to show. Stressed at the thought of giving up jeans for the foreseeable future? Don’t sweat it!...
I heard it all after I miscarried—the assumptions, the inappropriate questions, the WebMD–worthy diagnoses. And I get it. When you learn that a friend or family member has miscarried, it’s hard to know what to do. Many, for fear of saying the wrong thing, simply say nothing at all—and I understand that too. You don’t know how or when to bring it up, and you don’t want to make it awkward or stir up fragile emotions (which almost always happens)....
