In autumn of 2021, millions of families will experience these same feelings while also making critical decisions that will affect their health, safety, and mental wellbeing. Yes, the pandemic instigated by COVID-19 has caused a ripple effect on households. But it does not mean we can’t collectively be enthused for the school year. And perhaps worry about some of the good ole things—like packing nutritious lunches or wondering if your kid will like their classmates....

That being said, some women do experience post-sex bleeding when they’re pregnant. Incidentally up to 9% of menstruating women also occasionally spot after sex. Naturally, when this occurs in pregnancy the anxiety and fear can be overwhelming, especially as you wonder what is causing it. Fortunately, in most cases, some light spotting or bleeding after sex is nothing to worry about. What to Know About Post-Sex Bleeding Most of the time, light bleeding after sex is due to a normal increase in the superficial veins and capillaries in the cervix and vaginal area....

Some of these books are how-to books — books that will give you guidance on specifically what you can do to help make labor more comfortable. This might be physical comfort techniques like positions to use in labor or breathing techniques, but it could also be more of how to find a supportive team to help you during the birth process. This might include finding a doctor or midwife who is used to attending births for women who choose to go unmedicated or other support you can find, like that of a trained labor support person, like a doula....

It can be a challenge to find a comfortable position where you can see your baby’s mouth and your nipple, making it harder to get the baby latched on correctly. It can also be awkward and uncomfortable to hold your breasts and your baby, especially if you are in pain from the delivery. Plus, you may be worried that your breasts are so big that they will block your child’s nose....

Breastfeeding and Miscarriage Although there are numerous conflicting opinions on the issue of breastfeeding during pregnancy, no research has ever found an increased risk of miscarriage in women who continue breastfeeding an older child during pregnancy. In the past, doctors used to advise women to stop nursing when they became pregnant again. The concerns were that breastfeeding could deprive the developing baby of nutrients, or that it could stimulate uterine contractions (because breastfeeding causes increased oxytocin levels, which also can cause uterine contractions)....

Since filler is often used to address signs of aging—and exhaustion—and lack of sleep often comes with being pregnant and taking care of a newborn, you may be tempted to pay a visit to your dermatologist for the injectable. That said, don’t go on Zocdoc just yet. “When it comes to pregnancy safety, fillers are a gray area due to their composition,” notes Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City....

For example, if you refrained from taking the MMR vaccine, or if your parents decided to forgo it while you were a child, you might want to get it now that you are pregnant. Alternatively, you may have gotten blood work done and found out that your immunity to one or more of the viruses covered under the MMR vaccine has waned. Unfortunately, getting the MMR vaccine during pregnancy is not an option, says Jennifer Jolley, MD, an OB-GYN with UCI Health and associate clinical professor....

You don’t want to take anything that could harm your baby, but you also can’t spend any more days walking around in an allergy-induced fog. What is safe to take for your allergies while pregnant and what isn’t? Here’s a breakdown of your options. What Allergy Medications Are Safe? Thankfully, there are more allergy medications that are safe to take than ones that aren’t, so you don’t have to suffer with miserable allergy symptoms just because you’re pregnant....

Celebrating Pride is something that can start at home and crafting together is an enjoyable and educational way for your kids to learn and have some fun. The rainbow has been an emblem for the LGBTQ+ community, ever since artist Gilbert Baker created the LGBTQ+ flag in the 1970s. The range of colors is said to stand for diversity; each color represents a different element of the community. Rainbow-themed arts and crafts are a wonderful way to celebrate diversity and Pride with your kids....

What exactly a developmental preschool is can vary, depending upon the region you are from and the context in which the word is being used. Sometimes, when someone refers to a developmental preschool, they are talking about one that is a play or socially based. A school where the focus is on play and socialization, rather than academics. Services Provided Developmental preschools or special needs preschools offer a full slate of services which can include (but are not limited to):...

The federal government enforces Section 504 in all programs or entities that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education. If your child has a disability, understanding the federal government’s definition of disability will help you know about and exercise the rights afforded to disabled students under federal law. Section 504 Definition of Disability As defined by Section 504, a student is understood to have a disability if they have a mental or physical impairment (or a record of impairment)....

The question makes sense when you think about it. Baby’s knees are very bendy and not nearly as firm as older children or adults’ kneecaps. This leaves many parents wondering what is going on with those sweet little knees. So, do babies have kneecaps? When do their knees become more firm? Are baby’s knees more prone to injuries? What else do parents need to know? We reached out to two doctors—Dr....

Of course, some parents continue to provide some level of financial support for their offspring beyond the age of 21, even though financial support is not required by law. And, in many families, adult children allow their parents to maintain some level of authority despite the fact that the adult offspring are not legally obligated to abide by parental rules. Child Support Basics According to the law, parents have the obligation to continue to support a child financially and to provide housing and food until the child reaches the age of majority....

And don’t forget yummy desserts. Go for a variety of mini cakes, eclairs, and colorful macarons (the ultimate pretty spring cookies)—anything that’s easy for kid fingers to pick up and eat and isn’t too messy.

And perhaps the biggest thing to worry about is what will happen if you come down with COVID-19 just prior to giving birth. With cases continuing to rise across the United States, the risks of contracting the coronavirus remain considerable, and the last thing you want to do is make your baby sick. While there’s very little data to look at yet, most of the limited studies that have been performed on COVID transmission from gestational parent to baby indicate that the risk is relatively low....

While brand’s biggest sale of the year, Way Day, just wrapped up, the sales haven’t dried up. You can still save big on a handful of items like bookcases, rugs, chairs, and more. Here are the best deals you can still shop for kids and your home at Wayfair right now. When is Way Day? This year the sale starts at midnight on April 28 and continues through 3 AM EST on April 30, 2021....

Many sleep experts tout the connection between day and nighttime sleep and encourage parents to take a close look at their baby’s nap times and daytime sleep routines in order to improve the quality (as in uninterrupted length) of nighttime sleep. Some of the prominent sleep experts who reference the importance of naps to nighttime winks include Dr. Jodi Mindell, Dr. Harvey Karp, Elizabeth Pantley, and Dr. William Sears....

Here, 10 families from the country open up about how they celebrate this special time of year. They share everything from hunkering down with little ones to new traditions to try with older kids. We hope their stories will fill your heart with joy and your mind with plenty of ideas to add to your holiday tradition list! Tara Meyers Who Do You Spend Christmas With? We are very fortunate to have our extended family living close to us....