Not necessarily. Let your baby suck on the first breast (let’s call it Breast A) as long as he wants, and then offer Breast B. (Some moms like to take a diaper-change break between, just to make sure baby is good and awake.) If baby goes for Breast B, great. If not, he’s probably full. Begin the next feeding with Breast B. On the other hand, some babies might accept both breasts, nurse for a while, and still come off hungry....
It looks like the Bella Swan-naming trend from Twilight might be over, since the latest baby naming craze is all thanks to a little show called Game of Thrones. If you’re on the hunt for a fearless and strong name for your baby girl, Khaleesi is the top contender from the hit HBO drama, since 146 babies were given that name in 2012, according to Social Security Administration data. Daenerys garnered just 21, but Arya held strong at 700, since the name was popular before the show started....
Choosing to take cough syrup or a decongestant when you’re sick doesn’t usually qualify as a major decision. You’re feeling unwell, so you take immediate action—no second guessing required. But when you’re breastfeeding, taking any medication can feel like a big deal. Should you skip the pills and keep feeling miserable—or get some relief and give baby a side of Sudafed? Turns out, the choice of whether to take cold medicine while breastfeeding doesn’t have to be fraught....
When it comes to being single and pregnant, it can feel like everyone around you has an unsolicited opinion or invasive question. From trying to get the dirt on baby’s father to urging you to go after child support, it’s pretty shocking what some no-filter friends will let slip. We got single moms to share the outrageous things people have said to them and break down why certain questions and comments should be considered off-limits....
Types of Toddler Nap Mats Roll-up toddler nap mats. Roll-up nap mats tend to be the most popular; they’re portable and often feature nifty handles for carrying. Some options come with built-in covers and blankets, others are simply undressed mats you can roll. Stackable toddler nap mats. Stackable mats fold into three or four sections and can be stowed away, making them a good option for preschool. One possible downside is that they tend to be a little bulkier and may not be as travel-friendly as other options....
Trying to conceive is one big waiting game—you never can predict whether this is the month that pregnancy test will turn positive. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to boost your odds of getting pregnant each month. For instance, you can track your cycle, take prenatal vitamins, eat healthy and even, just for good measure, take a cue or two from a few old wives’ tales. But sometimes what you don’t do is just as important....
And the Winner Is: Wonderfold W4 Original Stroller Wagon Looking for baby gear you (and your brood) will get plenty of use out of? Check out this awesome stroller wagon by Wonderfold. The travel system offers all the conveniences of a traditional stroller—one-step unfolding, plenty of pockets, front-wheel suspension and a foot brake, in addition to the endless possibilities and fun of an all-terrain wagon. It can carry up to four passengers, and is suitable for kids ages 6 months and up....
And the Winner Is: Loyal Hana As if the learning curve of breastfeeding wasn’t enough, you also have to figure out how to do it in public. You’ll get the hang of it with some practice, but a stylish and functional nursing top can give you a major confidence boost. Loyal Hana was made for moms by a mom on a mission to ease the transition from pregnancy to motherhood. Hidden zippers in everything—from tops to dresses and jumpsuits—give you easy access, no nursing cover needed....
This post was written by Kori Gardner Hammel, one of the women on the chARTer Nannies team. She’s founder of the band Mates of State and tours with her daughters and the band full-time. My kids are now 6 and 9. I started touring with them when my first was 10 months old. We’ve done everything from flying 4 times a week, to multiple 10-hour van rides to living on a tour bus....
During pregnancy, your body does some pretty incredible things, including expanding to accommodate a baby roughly the size of a watermelon. So it’s no wonder that afterward, your body can bear signs of that monumental change. Some moms will experience a separation of their abdominal muscles, and if the gap is wide and/or deep, it may need help being repaired. The good news? That separation, known as diastasis recti, can usually be addressed with a few targeted workout moves you can do at home....
It’s time we had the talk. Sure, you know about where babies come from, but do you know how the whole thing actually works? We finally have a great visual to show you the ins and outs of embryogenesis — the process of of egg fertilization and fetal development. Seattle-based designer Eleanor Lutz created this blow-us-away GIF of the fertilization process, beginning with a depiction of a fertilized egg before it breaks down into a multi-celled organism....
“Please don’t slap two names together that you like and think it sounds great — ‘I like Andrew and my husband likes Stephen…heck, let’s name him Standrew!’ Ugh.” — rosiep “Richard Gere named his son Homer. Oh man, the jokes this kid will hear.” — rp “I still haven’t gotten over Gwyneth Paltrow naming her child Apple. Notice how that trend never caught on!” — amyf “I thought Hashtag was bad, but then I read about a little boy named Facebook....
Not at all. There are so many factors that come into play that can increase the odds of having a c-section — the position of the baby, the size of the baby, the condition of the mother, the experience of the doctor and, sometimes, where you’re giving birth. (New Jersey and West Virginia, for instance, have high c-section rates. Wisconsin has a low one.) Unless you inherited some physical quality that caused your mom to need to deliver via c-section, like a small or unusually shaped pelvis, there’s absolutely no reason to believe that her c-section increases your chance of needing one....
When I was 20 weeks pregnant and went in for my anatomy scan, I thought my boyfriend, Matt (who’s now my husband), and I would just be finding out the baby’s gender. We did find out the baby was a boy, and I was thrilled. Then the technician who was doing the ultrasound told me it looked like there might be something wrong with his left kidney — that it might have some cysts in it....
Can’t stomach the thought of spending your dough on maternity clothes that only last a few months? Then reach for duds that you’ll wear longer! Maternity fashion has come a (very, very) long way, and the racks are full of cute pieces that can take you from that first little bump right through new mommyhood. Yes, really. Here’s what to grab: ** Empire waists **“They’re great for accommodating a bump or hiding one…and perfect skimming over a body that’s still getting back into shape,” says Hannah Macdonald, owner of chic maternity boutique Bump Brooklyn....
Developmental toys are wonderful, but it’s important for the parent to buy the appropriate toy for their child at the appropriate age. Premature infants are often behind on their developmental milestones so it is important to correct for gestational age when selecting age-appropriate toys. This is usually the case in significant prematurity, such as a 24-weeker, but not true for a baby born at 35 weeks. Many premature infants will “catch-up” in their development by their first birthday, most by their second....
It depends what the baby’s symptoms are. Gastroesophageal reflux is being diagnosed now as the new answer to “colic” in the baby. It’s good for everyone (except the mother and baby) because the doctor has a reason for the baby’s colic and difficulty breastfeeding and the pharmaceutical company sells a lot of ranitidine (Zantac). There is such a thing as GER, to be sure, but it is being overdiagnosed to the extreme....
Okay, I blame my hormones, (I’m 37 weeks now!) but for real, most people have lost the art of conversation when it comes to being knocked up. There are other things going on in my life other than the beach ball consuming my midsection! (Also, don’t stare. Didn’t your mother teach you not to stare at people?) I have to say there are some really annoying things people say that make my skin crawl on the daily — and it’s started to become a broken record of questions and statements....
Your guy might like to think that all his swimmers are winners, but unfortunately, there’s a possibility he’s got some duds in the crowd. A sperm DNA fragmentation test can tell your doctor whether there’s any DNA damage to be found among your partner’s sperm. That’s important because if there is significant damage, it may be difficult for you to conceive with his sperm. With the fragmentation test, a scientist will look at the cells themselves to determine what percentage of sperm have fragmentation, which basically means “damage....
Break out the Bumbo seats - a new study suggests that your baby may learn better when he or she is sitting up! Rebecca Woods, the assistant professor of human development and family science at North Dakota State University said recently, “an important part of human cognitive development is the ability to understand whether an object in new is the same or different from an object seen earlier.” Research now reveals that infants (ages 5....
