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Separation anxiety is emotionally draining for working parents and their children but the good news is that it won’t last forever. To help you through these emotional times, here are nine things to try to help ease baby separation anxiety. Use Routines to Help Set Expectations Children feel more secure when they know what to expect. Following a morning routine helps them through the transition from home to childcare. It helps them remember what’s coming next, which is you leaving for the day....

These last weeks of pregnancy are an important time of preparation as you both eagerly await the arrival of your little one. You will want to support your partner in any way you can as well as begin to prepare for the arrival of your baby. Let’s look at what the third trimester has in store for your baby, your partner, and you and how you can prepare. Baby’s Third Trimester Development A lot will be happening with your baby’s development during these last few months....

Types of Tests Most home tests use a dipstick to collect and analyze urine. These one-step kits are usually considered the most convenient to use. You either hold the stick briefly in the urine stream or dip it into a cup of collected urine. You can also buy individual paper testing strips to dip into a cup of urine (these are very similar to the one-step kits, just without the plastic cover)....

Do Multiple Babies Have Different Needs Than Singletons? Full or near-term healthy multiples have the same needs as full-term singletons. Depending on the ease of the delivery, you should be able to breastfeed as soon after birth as possible. Premature infants or those with medical complications are going to require a bit more. Because these babies are typically taken to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) immediately after birth, you will not be able to put the babies to the breast....

History of Alternative High Schools Alternative high schools were initially developed to serve the needs of teens with mental health or behavioral problems. At that time, alternative meant, “get’em out of our school,” due to defiant and disruptive behaviors the public schools were ill-equipped to handle. Teens who were suspended often for fighting or those who disrupted classes may have been sent to an alternative school so they didn’t disrupt the other student’s educations....

There are some pregnancy complications that are more common than others. While they may still only affect a small percentage of pregnant women, they can be painful and potentially dangerous to both mother and/or baby. Here is a starter list of complications you might be screened for in an average pregnancy. Rh Factor Everyone has both a blood group type and an Rh factor. In addition to the blood group (A, B, O, AB), the Rh factor is written as either positive (present) or negative (absent)....

Once you know what should be in a first-aid kit, you can put the essential items together yourself in a waterproof box or buy a pre-assembled kit from a pharmacy. Store your first-aid kit in an area of your car that stays relatively cool since heat and sunlight can degrade certain products, like medicated creams and ointments. It’s also a good idea to have copies of important health forms in your car, including:...

There are many things you should consider before you decide whether or not to enroll your teen in martial arts classes. Learn about the benefits and risks and how to determine which type of program is best for your child. Forms of Martial Arts When choosing a class, make sure you and your teen have a basic understanding of that particular style of martial art. There are many different types, each with its own unique history, focus, and style....

If you’re worried about the time or space needed for gardening, know that a big yard is not necessarily required. Many plants—including fruits and vegetables—can grow in containers, on patios, or in community gardens. Here are some reasons to garden with your teen, as well as some tips for getting started. 1. Plant Care Fosters Responsibility Whether it’s flowers or vegetables, caring for plants helps teenagers develop responsibility. They also gain a sense of accomplishment and self-confidence as they raise small sprouts into full blooming beauties....

There are several factors many parents consider when deciding what to call their new bundle of joy. Some opt for finding a name with a strong message such as Jarel, which means brave and open-minded. Parents with strong religious ties may choose to go with something biblical like Malachi. Regardless of the reasoning, Black names are so diverse that there are virtually limitless options to fit each family’s desires. Aaron Origin: Hebrew, Arabic Meaning: Strong, exalted Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aron, Aaryn Famous Namesakes: Rapper and singer-songwriter Aaron Dontez Yates, known as Tech N9ne Peak Popularity: Aaron’s popularity has remained steady over the past 40 years with its lowest ranking peaking at 63 of the top 1000 baby names for boys in 2020....

A blanket sleeper is a one-piece outfit that helps keep baby warm and comfortable during the night. Wearing these toasty pajamas means baby doesn’t need to be covered by a blanket. Infant sleepers made of thinner material may also be called stretch-suits, one-piece pajamas, or footie pajamas, while thicker versions are generally called blanket sleepers. Keeping Baby Warm at Night Typically, babies need about one additional layer of clothing beyond what an adult would wear in the same temperature....

Many people rely on Adderall (dextroamphetamine and amphetamine) to help them focus and perform to their best abilities. If you take Adderall to improve your Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD) symptoms, you will most likely want to start planning on how to function without it for the next nine months. Research shows that Adderall can cause birth defects, so it is not considered safe to take during pregnancy. “Taking Adderall while pregnant may increase the risk of congenital defects affecting certain organs,” says Kim Langdon, MD, an Ohio-based OB/GYN with over 20 years of experience....

“Different schools will have different thresholds for creating mandates. There are some that have already talked about instituting mandates; others may wait,” says Kawsar Talaat, MD, associate professor of international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. American public schools require children to receive all of the routine vaccinations recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). However, parents who don’t want their kids to adhere to these guidelines can typically seek special permission for an exemption....

If you regularly use cannabis, you may wonder whether smoking weed will have an impact on your ability to conceive. Many of us know that smoking anything while pregnant is a no-go, but there is less readily available information about whether current or prior cannabis use has an impact on getting pregnant in the first place. What we do know is that it is best to put a stop to smoking weed when you decide to try for a baby, as cannabis can lower your chances of conceiving....

The key is to find out why your periods have been absent and what you can do about it. Read on to learn more about amenorrhea (or the lack of a period) including why you may not be having regular menstrual cycles and what can be done about it, especially if you want to get pregnant. Your Period and Getting Pregnant Your period is the most obvious sign that your body’s reproductive system is at least trying to operate....

The U.S. has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among developed countries, and during the pandemic, deaths among birthing parents increased. This CDC report highlights issues that have led to this growing problem, but it also offers hope for change. “The most important takeaway from this report is the high rate of preventability,” says Afshan B. Hameed, MD, an OB/GYN and medical director of obstetrics at UCI Health. “80% of the deaths could have been prevented (i....

The test is typically performed after the 18th week of pregnancy and can test for certain genetic conditions, blood disorders, and various infections. If need be, the procedure can also be used to give medication to the fetus through the umbilical cord, as well as blood transfusions. Cordocentesis isn’t being used as much as it has in the past because there are other prenatal diagnostic tests that can be used instead that are less risky to the fetus, like amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS)....