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Moms are superheroes. Don’t ever mistake dirty hair, wrinkled clothes or a messy house for a lack of drive. They’ve got bigger fish to fry—like raising tiny humans to be happy, healthy adults. And when faced with common parenting woes, they don’t break the wheel, they reinvent it. Behind almost every one of your favorite baby brands, there’s a mom whose kid inspired her to change the game. Need proof? Take a look at some of the most cult-worthy brands and the empowering women behind them....

Photographer Ashlee Dean Wells’s 4th Trimester Bodies Project proves that stretch marks, scars and other changes don’t mar a mom’s beauty — they help tell her story. The project, which was born out of Wells’s difficult pregnancy experience, has been a labor of love. A long way from its humble beginnings as a Facebook page, the compilation is now available in book form. Here, some of the amazing women who got in front of the camera to share their honest experiences from pregnancy and labor to motherhood....

With your belly getting bigger and bigger just as summer hits, you may find yourself wondering if you’ll make it out alive. Don’t sweat it—while it’s true that a summer pregnancy isn’t always easy, we know a few tricks for easing your hot-weather woes. Summer Bummer #1: Dehydration Getting enough fluids is especially tough in the hot summer months, but staying hydrated is especially important in pregnancy. Ordinarily, you should try to drink at least 10 cups (2....

You imagine baby’s skin to be smooth, soft and to smell amazing. But in reality, it can be dry, flaky, sensitive and even have some funky discolorations—especially during the newborn period. Here’s the deal on how to care for baby’s skin, even when it’s not as perfect as you may have expected. Don’t go too crazy with the baths Sure, you take a shower every day, but baby really shouldn’t get a daily bath....

Melissa Ben-Ishay is the President and Chief Product Officer of the New York City-based dessert company Baked by Melissa. When Ben-Ishay was fired from her job in advertising in 2008, she decided to do what she loved—to offer consumers the ultimate bite-sized dessert experience. Ben-Ishay is expecting her second child, due this summer. Pregnancy is arguably easier the second time around; you know what to expect and the thought of pushing a human out of my body isn’t as frightening....

No matter which bottle best suits baby (and you’ll quickly learn what works and what doesn’t), cleaning and sterilizing all those bottle parts after each feeding is a mother of a job. Now meet the first-ever two piece bottle design in the Born Free Breeze. It’s as if Santa, your fairy godmother and a genie in a bottle all listened and made your wish come true. WHAT WE LOVE For the first time ever, there’s a two-piece bottle (standard bottles have at least three pieces—the bottle, a ring and/or inner valve, and a nippe) that consists of a bottle base and nipple ring in one The more streamlined design doesn’t mean fewer features....

I’ve heard before that having children can either make or break your relationship. Recently, we’ve added a second child to our family. Our little family of three became a larger family of four this past month and, so far, it’s been wonderful. But it’s been a whole new ball game for our marriage. With two children in our lives now, there just isn’t time for any marital discord. Between nursing, changing, burping, bathing, rocking and holding our newborn and then playing with, feeding, changing, bathing, reading to and teaching our toddler, we have to be a well-oiled machine....

What do you think of when cloth diapers come to mind? Most parents imagine down-and-dirty diaper origami, complete with cotton squares and safety pins (yes, safety pins)— because that’s how it used to be. But today’s reusable baby bloomers are not your parents baby cloth diapers. These days, the reusable diaper market is saturated with dozens of options and materials to ensure baby has a comfortable, cozy (and eco-friendly) experience, enticing more and more moms to opt for cloth diapering....

These past several months have been particularly tough on parents. Our schedules have been upended, our jobs have changed and our family lives have shifted, with partners working from home while juggling child care and remote schooling. And the fatigue is real. It’s been harder than ever to prioritize self-care, let alone time with your partner. We get it! But taking care of your connection as a couple is paramount, and your sex life is a great place to start....

It’s no secret that babies need a lot of food to fuel their growing bodies. If you’re breastfeeding, you’re probably paying close attention to your breast milk production—and may even be concerned about low milk supply. In fact—because all parents want to ensure their child’s health and growth—a common question among new moms is how to increase milk supply. The good news is, if you are struggling with production, there are plenty of ways to increase milk supply....

We totally understand your dilemma. You’re an old pro at thank-you notes, are a gracious host and have mastered the art of the introduction…but do you know how to treat a newborn? To get your infant interaction etiquette up to par, consider these helpful mom tips that everyone could stand to learn from: Don’t forget to sanitize “Don’t touch my baby’s face/hands unless you’re going to use Purell or wash your hands right in front of me first!...

The average pregnant woman is advised to gain no more than 25 to 35 pounds, yet the average newborn weighs only about 7 1/2. So what’s with those extra pounds? They’re distributed to areas vital to your developing fetus: your uterus, amniotic fluid and placenta, to name a few. But experts say enough is enough. “If you gain significant weight above and beyond what you need for the pregnancy, you’re just gaining fat,” says Heather Blazier, RD, a clinical dietitian who specializes in pregnancy nutrition at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta....

Shannon Watts had never joined a protest group, signed a petition or even participated in a rally. Then Sandy Hook happened. “I just lost it,” Watts says. “I thought, I’m going to be culpable if I don’t do something.” As the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, the mom of five (she has four daughters and a son) didn’t just “do something”; she created a movement with 3 million members, 47,000 volunteers and chapters in every state....

It’s easy to feel left out when you’re the only mom-to-be in the doctor’s waiting room without a partner, and your expectant friends are planning romantic babymoons. But remember, your pregnancy should be celebrated just as much as anyone else’s. Make it special Take a babymoon with friends (aka, a mommymoon) and have maternity photos taken by a professional, suggests Christine Coppa, a single mom and author of Rattled!, a memoir about her own experience being pregnant and unattached....

Their popularity is on the rise, and now their duration might be too; researchers think that intrauterine devices (IUDs) and hormonal implants may work for one year longer than their intended length of use. A new study, published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, looked at 263 woman using the IUD Mirena and 237 using the implants Implanon and Nexplanon. (FYI: An IUD is inserted into the uterus, while an implant is placed in the upper arm....

And the Winner Is: Honest Hand Sanitizer Spray The accessory dujour—hand sanitizer—is a necessity when you’re a parent. A couple of quick spritzes on your hands after a diaper change or on your toddler’s hands after a playground play sesh can make all the difference in combating germs when regular hand washing isn’t available. (Note: For kids under 6, you’ll need adult supervision; it’s not recommended for infants.) Honest Hand Sanitizer Spray is an editor favorite, thanks to its plant-based ingredients and easy-to-stash size (perfect for diaper bags and stroller pockets)....

A common question among first time parents: When do babies start talking? Believe it or not, baby’s journey to two-way communication begins earlier than you might think. Here’s further proof that babies are pretty incredible: They start learning language even before birth! That’s because baby could hear you speaking while in the womb and got familiar with the rhythm and sounds of the language you spoke. In fact, studies show that babies whose moms read specific books to them while pregnant go on to prefer hearing those books once they’re born, as measured by an increase in their sucking motion....

Pelvic exams in pregnancy vary depending on the doctor and the practice. Your cervix’s dilation and effacement might be checked every week starting at week 36 (or earlier!), or not until week 38 or 39, or your OB might not do a vaginal exam until you’re in labor. Why? Well, the progress of your cervix doesn’t always mean a lot, since it could dilate and efface slowly over the course of several weeks–or all at once on the day you deliver....

As new parents, we all want to provide our newborns with the best possible nutrition. When breastfeeding isn’t an option, families often have questions about the many different types of formulas that are available. In our practices, a number of parents have expressed interest in using imported European infant formulas, such as Holle and HiPP. Although these formulas may be completely fine to give babies when you buy them in the country where they’re made, purchasing these formulas online from third-party sellers can create some serious safety issues....

Weaning strategies? Bottle-feeding basics? Bonding over the bottle? See all newborn Q&As Baby talk Baby’s always known who you are, but now he can really show it. You may notice him smiling and kicking when you make eye contact, or replying to your conversation with little gurgles. Talk with baby as much as possible to help develop his language skills — point out things you see, read out loud, sing to him, and do everything else you can to keep the conversation flowing....