Posts

And the Winner Is: Kindred Bravely Sublime Hands Free Pumping Bra If you plan to pump, you’ll want to invest in a hands free bra. It may seem a bit #extra, but it is not! The ability to muti-task (even just to scroll Instagram) while making milk for baby is a game changer. The Sublime offers hands free support with double layered cups (no nursing pads needed) and removable padding. You can nurse or pump in this flexible, underwire free design....

“This was the most empowering experience of my life.” That’s how new mom Kristen Shorey described her delivery at a birth center, after an unmedicated birth in a marble-lined bathtub. She’s not the only one raving about the experience. While 98 percent of American babies are born in hospitals, the number of babies born in birthing centers has jumped by 56 percent since 2007, making up 16,000 of the 4 million annual births....

There were times in new motherhood I was desperate and drowning — in questions, exhaustion, and insecurity. And just when I thought I couldn’t make it one…more… minute, someone rescued me. There’s a woman, a goddess really, who got us through years of toddler behavior issues and trying times. I could turn on her show, Supernanny, and feel like it wasn’t all that bad. We used her advice so often the term “Supernanny” became a verb in my house....

If you have cramps, it’s easy to assume your period is to blame. But experiencing cramping before your period is due can actually be a sign you’re pregnant! They’re called implantation cramps, and despite the fact that most women don’t know they exist, they’re actually pretty common. So what is implantation cramping, how soon do you feel it after conception and where exactly is the pain located? Read on to learn everything you need to know....

Although we all know the importance of a good cocktail, a new study by the Loyola University Health System says that women trying to conceive should stop drinking , since alcohol is associated with babies being born with mental delays, facial clefting and gastroschisis, a birth defect in the abdominal wall. “A woman can conceive at any point in her cycle, so women should avoid alcohol well in advance of becoming pregnant,” says Jean Goodman, MD, lead investigator, division director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at LUHS....

Is your toddler already a pro at swiping through your tablet? Those skills are about to go into overdrive with today’s launch of the YouTube Kids app. The first Google-built app designed specifically for children, YouTube Kids uses larger images and bold icons to help little fingers navigate through videos, which are filtered into the channels “Shows,” “Music,” “Learning” and “Explore.” Not at the reading level yet? Voice search is an option too....

And the Winner Is: Honest Me Moments Soaking Salts A warm bath is one of the best ways to ease the standard aches and pains that come with pregnancy. (Yes, baths are safe while pregnant—just keep the water warm, not hot, since your core body temperature shouldn’t exceed 100 degrees, especially in the first trimester.) What’ll help make that moment of self-care all the more beneficial is a scoop of Me Moment Soaking Salts....

What is considered an eye problem for a baby? A newborn baby doesn’t pay much attention to the world she sees around her, but by around six or eight weeks, she’ll start to fix her attention on an object and follow its movement. And remarkably, doctors are able to determine whether there are any significant vision problems shortly after birth. Parents get concerned if baby’s eyes change color, if there’s swelling or discharge, or if there’s a problem with her eyes aligning correctly....

“I breastfed during my sister’s college graduation and at the zoo at both the monkey and polar bear exhibits!” — Lindsay “On the steps of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC.”_ — Kim_ “My car and my husband’s boss’s office! No one was in the office, but it was still odd!” — Janine “At The Cheesecake Factory right next to the Tuohy family — the family from The Blind Side!” — Emily “I once pumped in the back of a van full of college students....

“When am I getting a brother?” It was a reasonable question, and one my son started asking when he was 4 years old. After all, siblings seemed to be an inevitable rite of passage. Both my husband and I grew up with them. Most parents he saw at drop-off had a baby or toddler in tow. When was it his turn? “You already have so, so, so many cousins,” I’d say to him....

We all want the best for our kids—so when it comes to planning for baby’s financial future, parents are eager to set aside money for their children to access down the line. Many parents opt to open a simple savings account to stash all the monetary birthday gifts that will trickle in through the years. And there’s nothing wrong with that—there’s no risk of losing the money, and your bank probably pays a little bit of interest over time....

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re putting together a nursery. Baby boutiques will have you ooh-ing and aah-ing over scores of items—all of which seem absolutely crucial to your tot’s future happiness and well being, including that pink couch fashioned out of 100 percent organic cotton by some artisan in Brooklyn. But the truth is, babies are simple folk. Only a few things are genuinely important, and everything else is merely nice to have....

Most of the time, no. In fact, many times, switching to formula can make colic worse. Colic — the term for extended periods of unexplained crying or fussy behavior — can have several different causes. We now know that many babies who would have been called “colicky” in the past in fact suffer from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease or “reflux”) or have a sensitivity or allergy to something in mom’s diet....

Blood in baby’s stool is almost always associated with a cow’s-milk allergy (bovine protein is the culprit). Thing is, that bovine protein can take up to two weeks to leave your system, so give yourself a little more time. Be sure to read all labels, and watch out for ingredients like “whey” and “casein” (both come from milk). The other foods you’ve been cutting out are common allergens, too, so keep ditching those for these two weeks as well....

Bed rest can be a dreaded term for a mama-to-be, but it doesn’t have to mean your life is totally on hold. The definition of bed rest isn’t the same for every expectant mother, and the key is to ask your doctor about your specific limitations. They’ll depend on the reason why you’re on bed rest. Some bed rest can be very strict—the doctor may not even want you to sit up, let alone get up to grab a snack....

Daily schedule for an eight-month-old, breastfed baby girl (submitted by Erin) 6:30 a.m. Wake up 6:45 a.m. Breastfeed 7:30 a.m. Breakfast (fruit such as apples, bananas or pears; or baby cereal, such as oatmeal or rice) 8 - 8:15 a.m. Playtime 8:15 or 8:30 a.m. Nap #1 9:15 or 9:45 a.m. Wake up from nap #1 9:45 a.m. Breastfeed 10 – 11 a.m. Playtime (Usually, she’s working on crawling and sitting up from laying down, or spends time in her Jumperoo....

Nope. Smoking’s not just bad, it can be deadly — each year over 1,000 babies die because their moms smoked during the pregnancy — and there’s no way around that. When you inhale cigarette smoke — no matter what brand it is or where you do it — you expose your baby to nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar, which in turn can reduce his oxygen supply, restrict his growth, damage his lungs and increase his risk of being born with a serious birth defect....

What is a Hands-Free Breast Pump? How to Choose the Best Hands-Free Pump Weight. A hands-free pump is worn on your chest, in your bra, so it needs to be lightweight. Fortunately, these devices are designed to be small and lightweight, with some wearable options weighing under 1 lb. Noise. All breast pumps make some noise, but some options are louder than others. If you’re planning to use the pump at home, noise level may not be a major concern; but if you want to use it on plane trips, during work calls or on your daily commute, it’s best to opt for a quieter model....

Having trouble feeding baby? You’re not alone! The moms on our Breastfeeding message board shared the #1 piece of advice they wish they’d known when they first started breastfeeding. “I am sure people have told you, but you will be sore at first. Make sure to get some good lotion, like Lansinoh cream. That was a lifesaver for me!” –dureem “Good advice I’ve gotten from moms is that if it hurts to breastfeed (as in not just tender nipples, but actual pain) get help from a lactation consultant right away—don’t suffer through it because you assume things will heal....

When actual labor sets in, contractions get longer, stronger, and closer together — and they won’t stop or decrease in intensity if you walk around or change position. You’ll also see a bloody show (heavy discharge that’s pinkish or blood-streaked), and, of course, it’s possible that your water will break. With false labor, however, contractions won’t be regular (you might have three that are four minutes apart, and then nothing for 20 minutes)....