It’s normal to feel like you’re in a fog during pregnancy. Between doctor appointments, a new diet and changes to your body, not to mention the endless amount of information you’re trying to absorb, there’s a lot on your mind. So when you leave your keys in the fridge or can’t find your phone for the fifth time that day, it’s understandable. Old wives’ tales chalk up this state of forgetfulness to “pregnancy brain”—but is pregnancy brain real?...
When it comes to milestones, babies get all the credit. First smile, first word, first step; we document and celebrate these achievements all the time. Biz Ellis and Theresa Thorn, hosts of the comedy podcast One Bad Mother, think moms should be recognized for their own parenting achievements. So they created a Kickstarter campaign for funny — but well-deserved — merit badges. “We’ve created merit badges for parenting. Like Girl Scout badges, but for cleaning up baby barf and getting your kid to sleep!...
Yes. The mother’s hormonal changes increase her milk production. Whena mother has more milk, her baby drinks better than if she has less milk. When the baby is skin to skin with the mother he will often latch on on his own and that latch is often much better than if he is put to the breast by the mother. Abetter latch means the mother is less likely to get sore and the baby is more likelyto get milk better — all of which make breastfeeding easier....
For the first few weeks (until your milk supply is well-established), you’ll want to feed baby a minimum of every two to three hours. That means, counting from the beginning of one feeding to the beginning of the next. For example, if baby ate at 1 p.m. and again at 3 p.m., that’s two hours between feedings…even if she sucked for a full hour. Because you’ll be sleep deprived and the feeding routine will seem endless, it will help to keep a written record of the time that each feeding begins....
A new government report shows that in-hospital circumcisions for newborn boys born in the United States have fluctuated over the past three decades but the overall percentage of circumcisions had declined by 10 percent from 1979 to 2010. The most recent research suggests circumcision does “help prevent certain kinds of infections,” pediatrics group president Thomas McInerny said in an interview with USA Today. “There is some evidence that the cells that make up the inner surface of the foreskin may provide an optimal target for the HIV virus....
Grandparents can be blessings, stepping in to help care for children when parents need them most. But in the event of a messy situation where a family becomes fragmented, grandparent rights to visitation and custody are rarely guaranteed—in most cases, state courts tend to err on the side of parents. So do grandparents have rights? They usually do have some legal standing, but seeking grandparent rights can be an uphill battle, with some states providing more help legally than others to grandparents trying to keep up a good relationship with their grandkids....
Breast pumps and other breastfeeding supplies can get pricey, but (sigh of relief, nursing mama) know that now health insurance plans will cover the cost, due to The Affordable Care Act, the health insurance reform legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in 2010. It went into effect August 1, 2012. The Act includes new rules that expand access to preventative care, and that includes helping pregnant women and new moms pay for lactation support and counseling and breastfeeding equipment....
Yes! Believe it or not, babies born in Leadville, Colorado, a city with one of the highest altitudes in the United States, weigh less, on average, than babies born elsewhere in the U.S. The difference isn’t great — just a few ounces — but it does exist. In fact, Colorado has one of the highest low birth weight rates in the nation (more than 8 percent). Low birth weight can be attributed to other factors, such as improper nutrition, smoking and inadequate maternal weight gain....
You’re so exhausted you can barely keep your head off your desk—sound familiar? It’s super-common to feel fatigued when you’re expecting, especially during early pregnancy. It’s tiring work growing a baby! Here’s why you’re fighting fatigue during pregnancy and how to help keep your energy levels up. Why Does Pregnancy Make You Tired? Being tired all the time is pretty normal when you’re expecting—especially during early and late pregnancy, when your hormones are working overtime to make all the changes your body (and baby’s) needs....
In some cities, preschools can cost upwards of $18,000 a year, so it’s no surprise that more and more parents are opting to join or start an at-home preschool program. There are many curriculum kits available that you can order online, which may provide daily lesson plans including crafts and activity ideas, as well as instructions for teaching numbers, letters, colors, shapes, and other basics. In addition to basic academics, preschools play an important role in helping to socialize young children and get them ready for the bigger challenges they will face in kindergarten....
There’s lots of research around how parental feeding practices can help foster an emotional bond with baby. After all, babies need to be fed to grow and thrive, and they rely on parents for this (and every other) act of caregiving. According to clinical psychologist Shoshana Bennett, PhD, bonding is a process of familiarity and getting to know each other that happens over time—and it can be fostered no matter how baby is fed....
The main issue with colds and flus is that women who do get sick during pregnancy tend to get “sicker” (or experience worse symptoms) than nonpregnant women, and if your symptoms get out of control, it can affect the fetus. Dehydration specifically can lead to preterm contractions, and a high fever (over 103 degrees Fahrenheit) early on in the pregnancy can lead to a birth defect. So if you do come down with something, it’s important to make sure that you keep your fever down, stay well-hydrated and get enough rest....
Due to a choking hazard and the failure to meet federal safety standards, 29,000 Pampers Natural Stages Infant Ortho and Bulb Pacifiers have been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The pacifiers are oval-shaped and are available in yellow, pink and blue silicone. Only “Stage 1” pacifiers have been recalled, and you’ll see “Stage 1” and “Ortho” or “Bulb” written on the package. The pacifiers had been sold nationwide at retail stores from April 2010 through February 2011 and cost $6....
Among the long list of smoking’s evils is the effect that tobacco smoke can have on reducing both sperm count (quantity) and motility (how fast those swimmers can reach an egg). While doctors aren’t clear on the direct effect this may have on fertility (there are countries out there with high rates of smokers that are still making babies every minute of the day) there is good evidence that if your partner breaks his habit, he’ll see a marked improvement in his sperm within four to six weeks....
A newly released study from Denmark found that women who take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression or anxiety do not cause autism in their babies-to-be. But that doesn’t mean taking them won’t raise baby’s risk. While the study, which was published journal Clinical Epidemiology, found that these drugs don’t cause autism, researchers did find that children had a higher risk than usual when their moms took the drugs before getting pregnant , suggesting a possible link between a mother’s preexisting mental health issues and the autism developmental disorder....
How to Pick the Best Travel Stroller for Your Trip Your child’s age and size. Will you be traveling with a newborn? Taking trips with multiple kids? Hitting Disney with an older toddler? Your child’s age and size will be a major factor in deciding which travel stroller is best. A travel stroller that’s car seat-compatible can be a lifesaver for parents with an infant, while models with a higher weight limit and more spacious seat will work well for those with older toddlers....
You know all about contractions. You’ve wrapped your head around dilation. You have your deep breathing down pat. You’re as ready as you’ll ever be to push. But what happens immediately after you deliver baby? There’s the much-anticipated first snuggle, baby’s official weigh-in and lots of checks to make sure both of you are doing just fine. “The post-birth period is a really important time for bonding with your baby, while the nursing team is also monitoring your baby closely to make sure they’re adjusting as expected to life outside the womb,” says Monica Svets, MD, an ob-gyn at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio....
Everyone has her own opinion about how long to wait until trying again. Some say it’s easier to raise children as close in age as possible, and others would rather get one tot out of diapers before putting another one in. Of course some would rather stop with one altogether! At a minimum, experts recommend waiting at least 12 to 18 months before having another baby. Your body needs time to recover from the many changes it’s undergone during pregnancy, from fluctuating hormones to increased fluid levels....
When to nap? Sleep schedule? Dropping naps? See all newborn Q&As Getting control Baby’s starting to show more control of her head and neck muscles. You can see this in action when you lift her up from her back — her head and shoulders should follow your direction. Also, as her spine continues to straighten, she may start to successfully sit up with or without support. To-do: Keep an eye on baby’s moves Ensure baby gets enough shut-eye Start a mommy blog...
Maybe I was naïve, but I thought getting pregnant was as simple as having unprotected sex, and I’d be a mom in nine months flat. We spent years trying to prevent pregnancy, waiting until we were ready and having panic attacks if my period was late. So naturally, once we stopped preventing—boom!—it should’ve happened, right? Silly me. Here are the five things I wish someone had told me before I started trying to have a baby....
