It’s exciting to know you can nourish your baby, no matter what feeding choice works best for your family. You can’t know exactly what your infant feeding experience will be like or what resources you will need until you’re immersed in the experience (e.g., after your baby has arrived). However, you can become aware of the options ahead of time so that you know where to find resources when you need them....
Types of Quadruplets Quadruplets can be fraternal (multizygotic), identical (monozygotic), or a combination of both. Multizygotic quadruplets occur from four unique egg/sperm combinations. Monozygotic multiples are the result of a fertilized egg that splits into two or more embryos. It is possible for a split to occur more than once, producing monozygotic triplets or even a rare set of monozygotic quadruplets. According to research from an organization supporting mothers of super twins (Raising Multiples: a MOST Community), more than half of the families registered with their organizations are a combination of monozygotic and multizygotic individuals....
One study showed that women who had morning sickness severely enough to be hospitalized during their pregnancy were slightly more likely to have girls rather than boys. Severe morning sickness is called hyperemesis gravidarum. What is more worrisome is the sudden disappearance of early pregnancy symptoms, including morning sickness. If this happens and you are worried, you can call your doctor. It could be a sign of problems with the pregnancy such as an impending miscarriage or it could be a non-issue....
The monumental impact lockdown had on children cannot be overlooked. We’ve seen a crisis within a crisis, as state and school district officials faced the daunting challenge of trying to balance public health and the mental well-being of students. To illustrate the emotional toll of the pandemic, a recent report from Mental Health America highlights the internal struggle children have been experiencing due to COVID-19. And the data shows that coronavirus threatened lives in more ways than one....
Research shows up to 50% of children have hurts classified as growing pains. For some kids it can mean leg pain; for others, it can mean soreness in their arms. “What [this study] found was that the description of growing pains was varied…There was no definitive criteria that established the diagnosis, or that was used to make the clinical diagnosis,” explains Carlos Uquillas, MD, a pediatric sports medicine specialist and pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute....
Remember, though, that deciding what snacks to offer children is really a personal decision. A child’s taste and texture preferences, developmental needs, and food access are among some of the things that factor in when deciding what snacks might be regulars around your house. Here is what you need to know about raisins. The Facts About Cavities When it comes to raisins, it is not uncommon to hear that frequent snacking on these little morsels is associated with cavities....
Attachment parenting is somewhat of a controversial parenting method. Although psychologists agree that forming a secure attachment is important to children, some parents find this parenting method too child-focused and feel that their own needs as a parent are neglected. Other parents find that this parenting method matches their instincts to want to be intimately attuned to the needs of their children. In a nutshell, attachment parenting focuses on the idea of being closely bonded with your child during the early years, says Bethany Cook, PsyD, a clinical psychologist who specializes in neuropsychological assessment....
Avocado Nutrition Information Avocados contain an assortment of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C, E, and K; B vitamins; magnesium; zinc; and manganese. They’re also a potent source of fiber (one avocado contains 9 grams of fiber!). Contrary to what you might hear, they do not contain much protein, however they are a rich source of poly and mono-unsaturated fats. Fat Content and Avocados The fats found in avocado are primarily monounsaturated and polyunsaturated....
The contrast between light and dark will really pique your baby’s interest, and it’s important to encourage those new skills by stimulating your baby. Take advantage of their newfound awareness to help further develop their visual tracking skills by playing fun and easy shadow games indoors and outdoors. How to Use Shadows Position yourselves between a light source. Sit with your baby on your lap and shine a flashlight at the wall or go outside and use the sun on a bright, clear day....
Pre-Baby Vacation In recent years, a baby moon has come to refer to a last big vacation prior to baby—a chance to get away while you still can and enjoy a romantic getaway. Some resorts sell packages for a complete vacation, including childbirth classes, prenatal massages for two, and much more. Ideally, you would take a baby moon in the second trimester or the very early part of the third trimester....
Instead of the child starting at the beginning and getting lost somewhere through, with the adult having to complete the task, the adult does all but the last step and lets the child complete the work. Then the adult fades back, doing less and less while the child does more and more, always ending with the child performing the final step. Teaching Children How to Do Common Tasks With Backward Chaining Here are several common tasks and life skills that can be broken down into steps and taught in reverse order....
A portable filing bin that accommodates hanging filesA hanging file for each child2 additional hanging files10-inch by 13-inch envelopes Take Action/Sign: This folder will be for forms that need to be signed like permission slips that need to be returned, teacher requests, PTA announcements, and flyers about events that need to be added to your calendar. Short-Term Storage: This file is for forms or information that you don’t need to keep forever but will need to refer to at some point in the near future....
Pros & Cons Enter BetterHelp, the largest online therapy company in existence today. Its platform has broad appeal and offers a quick, easy solution for almost anyone looking for mental health care. With a stable of over 28,000 licensed therapists on board, the platform has considerable reach and provides coverage across remote areas where it might otherwise be difficult to access therapy. In order to evaluate the company, I did a one-month trial of the service and we surveyed 105 users....
As you embark on your breastfeeding journey, you might want to know if you can go back to using your go-to prescription and over-the-counter remedies for acne, sun protection, skin spots, and more. The answers to these questions aren’t totally clear cut, because (as mentioned) not all skincare ingredients have been tested in breastfeeding populations. There are some basic facts to know about how skincare products can affect breastfeeding. Here, we explore which ingredients it’s probably best to steer clear of and which formulas are most likely safe to use when breastfeeding....
No one could blame you, then, for wondering if something like acupuncture—which doesn’t involve putting anything into your body except the end point of a sterile needle—could help relieve your most annoying pregnancy symptoms. But can it really help you, or is the evidence all anecdotal? And if it can help, is it safe? Here’s everything you need to know about using acupuncture to treat your pregnancy symptoms (including which ones might benefit the most from this ancient form of Chinese medicine)....
Whether you get migraines or just brutal headaches, chances are you have a bottle of Excedrin (acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine) in your medicine cabinet. But if you’re nursing, experts recommend you steer clear of this medication. “I don’t recommend Excedrin while a mom is breastfeeding,” says Maureen Mills, RN, IBCLC, a lactation consultant at Potomac Pediatrics in Rockville, MD. Learn why you should avoid Excedrin while breastfeeding and what you can choose instead....
Ahead, learn all about using azelaic acid while pregnant—or at any point in your life, for that matter. We asked two board-certified dermatologists to explain what this skin-loving ingredient is, as well as its many benefits. You may just become a fan of using it yourself. What Is Azelaic Acid? Azelaic acid is a topical skincare treatment that can help tackle multiple skin concerns. You’ll find it in various creams, foams, serums, and gels....
“The general recommendation is to skip keratin hair straightening treatments during pregnancy,” says Sally Sartin, MD, women’s health expert at K Health. “Keratin treatments may compromisethe health of your baby as they can contain formaldehyde or other substances such as ethanediol and glyoxal, which are known carcinogens, or chemicals that can cause cancer.” See exactly why keratin and similar hair treatments should be avoided while pregnant and find out some safe at-home options you can use while expecting a baby below....
When you start to notice pregnancy breakouts and hyperpigmentation, your first instinct might be to use salicylic acid—especially if it was a regular in your skincare routine pre-pregnancy. Not unlike other powerful ingredients, it can carry with it a number of potential risks and side effects when used while pregnant. Rest assured, though: growing a baby doesn’t mean you have to kiss salicylic acid goodbye entirely. There are still plenty of ways to still reap its myriad benefits while prioritizing safety, as well as incorporate several alternatives into your routine....
