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You might be excited to turn baby forward facing, so she can look out the window, and so you can keep a better eye on her. But you should delay the switch as long as possible. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents should keep toddlers rear facing until age two, or until they’ve reached the maximum rear facing height and weight limit for their seat. “If you’re involved in a car accident, baby is far more likely to be injured in a forward-facing seat,” says Rallie McAllister, MD, MPH, family physician and coauthor of The Mommy MD Guide to Your Baby’s First Year....

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends gaining 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy—but why? Here’s a pound-by-pound breakdown of how that weight is distributed across your body. 1.5 pounds: the placenta 7 pounds: maternal stores of fat, protein, and other nutrients 7.5 pounds: your average full-term baby 2 pounds: breast tissue (we know it feels like so much more!) 4 pounds: increased fluid volume 4 pounds: increased blood volume 2 pounds: the uterus 2 pounds: amniotic fluid Total = 30 pounds Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such....

You’re not alone in wondering how that sleepy baby disappeared. A lot of new parents are surprised when their newborn trades in quiet time for tons of crying—usually some time around the third day of life. Think about it this way: Baby just went through the biggest move of his or her life—from your warm and cozy uterus to a noisy, bright outside world. At the same time, you and your partner just became parents—and if you’re nursing, you’re trying to wrap your head around how to do it (not the easiest thing)....

Soon-to-be moms and their doctors talk a lot about pregnancy weight gain. After all, women are generally told to put on a total of 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy, depending on their BMI. But what if you’re losing weight while pregnant? It can happen. Depending on when it occurs, pregnancy weight loss could be perfectly normal or possibly concerning. Read on to find out the possible causes of weight loss during pregnancy, how you and baby can get the nutrients you both need, and when to call your doctor for help....

Meet Jessica Shortall, a working mom with a career dedicated to the intersection of business and doing good. As the former Director of Giving for TOMS Shoes, she literally circumnavigated the globe with a breast pump. Pre-order her upcoming book by Abrams, “Work. Pump. Repeat: The New Mom’s Guide to Breastfeeding and Going Back to Work,” out Sept. 8. In writing my book — a survival guide for working, breastfeeding women — I talked to hundreds of working mothers who tried, with varying degrees and definitions of success, to pump breast milk while at work....

A baby shower marks the first official celebration for your baby-to-be. Whether you’re sharing baby shower ideas with your host or planning a shower of your own, a surefire way to make the day memorable is with standout decor, starting with invitations and ending with favors—and what better way to bring it all together than with a sweet theme? With so many unique baby shower themes to choose from, the hard part will be narrowing down which baby shower ideas to bring to life....

Imagine you could listen to baby’s heartbeat any time you’d like during pregnancy without making a trip to your OB’s office. An exciting proposition, isn’t it? That’s the appeal of an at-home fetal Doppler device—to let an expectant parent use a fetal heart monitor and connect to baby from the comfort of home. The problem is, in untrained hands, a baby Doppler can give you a false sense of security or set off needless alarms....

All-inclusive vacations are no longer for spring-break singles or people who just want to lounge by the hotel pool for a solid week, Mai Tai in hand. Today, the all-in landscape is dotted with more kid-friendly all-inclusive resorts than ever—and they’re popping up all over the globe at just about any budget. Whether you’re looking to take the kids to a high-end dude ranch in Montana, a luxury safari in the Galapagos, or a downright affordable all-inclusive resort in Mexico, here are our picks for the best all-inclusive family resorts....

Greg Wickherst was a single dad who couldn’t put his two-year-old’s hair in a ponytail. So he did what any resourceful parent would do: he called in a top-notch cosmetologist. Wickerherst, 39, is an admissions officer at a trader school in Pueblo, Colo. He contacted the supervisor of the cosmetology program for a little help, who set him up with one of her best students. “She said, ‘Okay, this is how you do a ponytail and then from that, you can braid the ponytail and do a simple braid, or you can wrap it around and do a simple bun....

Contractions are a normal part of childbirth, but before “real” labor starts, you may experience “false” labor contractions, also known as Braxton Hicks contractions. While contractions of any kind are never fun, Braxton Hicks contractions are generally harmless (discomfort aside)—they’re just your body warming up for birth. Determining whether you’re going into labor can be confusing, especially if it’s your first pregnancy. You might feel like you’re about to have your baby, only for the doctors or nurses to tell you that you aren’t actually experiencing labor contractions yet....

Pregnancy can come with some unusual body changes, like hair in places you didn’t expect, sudden indigestion, hemorrhoids and acne breakouts. But here is a lesser-known surprise to add to the growing list of pregnancy pleasantries: Linea nigra. This dark line that can develop down the center of your bump may catch you off guard. So what is linea nigra, when does it appear and what can you do—if anything—to make it go away?...

After residency and chief residency at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, Dr. Paul Horowitz worked in Canyon Country for almost 9 years where he enjoyed caring for thousands of children in the community. After a detour to Portland, OR for 3yrs where he was the medical director of Pediatric clinics for a Children’s Hospital, he returned to Valencia where he and his wife Dr. Daphne Horowitz opened Discovery Pediatrics in February 2008....

Mother Nature designed moms to do some incredible things—like birth a tiny human. The downside? Pregnancy and childbirth can lead to some uncomfortable symptoms, like postpartum hemorrhoids. While technically harmless, they can be a real pain in the rear (literally), and if you have them, you’re probably eager to find relief. Here, get the lowdown straight from experts on what hemorrhoids postpartum are, what causes them, the best treatments to soothe them and how to prevent them from happening in the first place....

What is pregnancy-induced hypertension? As you might have guessed, pregnancy-induced hypertension (aka PIH) is where a woman develops abnormally high blood pressure during pregnancy. You’ll also retain water and have higher-than-normal levels of protein in your urine. This is also called toxemia or preeclampsia. What are the signs of PIH? You may have some swelling, but often there are no symptoms at all. In severe cases PIH can cause headaches, blurry vision, nausea and vomiting, pain in the upper right abdomen, and sudden swelling in the hands and face....

Sure. Many babies don’t mind a bottle of cold milk. Some moms like to take the chill off by running the bottle under a little hot water (or soaking it) for a couple of minutes, but you technically could go straight from fridge to baby. The problem is that it can be tough to get the fat layer to mix back in with the milk if it is cold. (You definitely want baby to get that fat — it will satisfy her for longer and contribute to healthy weight gain....

Sounds like you’ve got a keeper! We’re sure you can think of one or two or a hundred ways he can help you out, but if you’re having trouble getting started, print out these tips — sure to help most any relationship — and pass them along. [ ] Don’t take your wife’s mood swings personally — it’s not you, it’s the hormones. (Sound like a feeble excuse? Forget the hormone thing, then....

Yes, you can take comfort from the fact that women have been giving birth since the beginning of time, but that doesn’t mean it’s not momentous (and nerve-wracking!) for you. To help you get ready, we asked moms to share their best laboring tips—and what they wish they’d known before heading to the hospital. “The advice I give all my pregnant friends: be flexible. Things can happen that aren’t planned for and that’s okay....

Chad and Camie Berry received the gift of a lifetime 14 years ago, welcoming their daughter Madisyn into the world after the couple endured five miscarriages. Today, the proud parents gush over their daughter and want to bring the same joy to other expectant moms and dads across the country by hosting sonogram parties at baby showers, venues and at the homes of soon-to-be moms and dads. A sonogram party looks something like this: finger foods and drinks are passed around the room while the mother-to-be stretches out on an examining table and a technician moves the wand across her belly....

And the Winner Is: The Bellaband It may seem like you pop overnight, but the truth is, it’s more gradual. Your regular clothes might start to feel uncomfortable or too tight, while maternity styles may still feel too big. A belly band can help bridge the gap, allowing you to wear your pre-pregnancy clothing a little longer. It can even help maternity styles fit more comfortably in early days and best of all, it will help you wear your old favorites sooner after delivery....

What is a Baby Nasal Aspirator? Oral suction baby nasal aspirators. An oral suction aspirator is essentially a double-sided tube. One end goes just into baby’s nose (don’t push the tip in too far), and the other end goes into the caregiver’s mouth—oral suction is used to suck out the mucus and clear any obstruction. This gentle method ensures you control the force of suction yourself. Have no fear, filters and stoppers keep the process clean and hygienic....