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The answers to these questions depend on many factors, including the type of birth control pills and other hormonal contraception and when they are used. Birth Control Pills Prior to Conception According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, taking birth control pills before getting pregnant does not cause early pregnancy loss. If you experienced a miscarriage and were taking oral contraceptives prior to conceiving, that was not the cause....

Considerations Here are five things to consider before taking out a loan from the Bank of Mom and Dad. Is Your Family Borrowing Friendly? This should be considered both from a relationship aspect and a financial aspect. Relationship-wise, this can be a tricky territory. There is the question of whether your relative is the kind who would lend you cash without emotional “payment” in guilt, never-ending reminders, or unreasonable demands. For example, if they help pay for IVF, will they then feel they have the right to dictate your treatment choices?...

If you’re a nursing mom and these conditions appear on your breasts, it can interfere with breastfeeding. Here’s what you need to know about dealing with skin conditions of the breast. Breastfeeding With a Skin Condition A rash or any other type of skin irritation on your breast, areola, or nipple can make it painful to nurse to your child. However, you don’t have to stop breastfeeding. Here’s what to do if a skin condition develops....

“Eating sushi in moderation while breastfeeding is perfectly safe. However, just as when pregnant, breastfeeding women should continue to avoid high mercury fish,” says Claire Virga, RD, MS CDN, registered dietitian with Rooted Wellness, a private nutrition practice dedicated to fertility, prenatal and postpartum health. If you follow certain guidelines for safe sushi-eating, you can enjoy your meal without having to worry. Eating Sushi While Breastfeeding Fish is a great source of lean protein and important vitamins for a breastfeeding parent and their baby....

While you may have strategies that worked in the past to fight constipation, when you’re spending so much energy breastfeeding it’s fair to look for a quick fix. And the over-the-counter (OTC) laxative MiraLAX (polyethylene glycol 3350) can be that easy solution. “Constipation is very common in the week or two after delivery,” says Nathan Fox, MD, OBGYN, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and host of the Healthful Woman podcast. “MiraLAX is a safe option to take while breastfeeding....

The good news is that eating spicy food will not harm you or your baby. “There is no inherent harm to spicy food in the health of mom or health and development of the baby,” explains Jennifer Hanes MS, RDN, LD, a Texas-based registered dietitian nutritionist and licensed dietitian. Eating Spicy Food During Pregnancy Eating spicy food during pregnancy is safe, but it may contribute to pregnancy discomfort. “Eating spicy food while pregnant is completely the decision of the pregnant person,” notes Hanes....

If you are a stomach sleeper, you may also wonder whether your preferred sleeping position is safe now that you are carrying a developing baby. You may even worry that lying down on your stomach to relax or stretch could hurt your baby. Turns out that you cannot hurt your baby by lying on your stomach while pregnant, but once you are further along you might not be able to do it anyway....

Usually, hCG is present in urine by 10 days after a newly pregnant person misses their period, which typically is when the fertilized egg attaches to the walls of the uterus. While HPTs can tell you if hCG is present in urine, they can’t measure the exact hCG levels at home. If needed, blood tests can measure the amount of hCG in the body. Learn more about home pregnancy tests and measuring hCG levels in your urine....

However, it’s understandable that the thought of your baby not being able to breathe, even though he can, while he’s nursing can be stressful. If you worry about your baby’s nose getting covered, here are a few things you can try.​ Use your finger to gently press down on your breast near the baby’s nose. Try to be very careful not to break the suction of the latch. Bring your baby’s lower body (hips and legs) toward you until his nose lifts a little bit off of your breast....

Custody After a Parent Passes Away The question of who should receive custody of a child when a custodial parent dies is a difficult one. Here are some possible candidates who may be willing to serve as guardians: Non-custodial parent, if paternity has been acknowledged Grandparents Other relatives, such as aunts, uncles or cousins Family friends such as godparents or neighbors The state That last one stands out as the least favorable option....

What Is Co-Sleeping? Though many may assume that co-sleeping means that parents and their baby share the same bed, Dr. William Sears stresses that definition is a bit too narrow. Sears, a well-known pediatrician, and author of many popular parenting books defines co-sleeping as sleeping within arm’s reach of the baby. So, as noted above, this includes having the baby in their own sleeping space but within the same room, which is the sleep practice advocated by the American Academy of Pediatrics....

We can’t always change our circumstances. What we can control, however, is how we cope with the challenges we face. With something as heart-wrenching as trying to become pregnant, it’s not always easy. It might help you to find healthy ways to express your grief and frustration. Here are 12 things to keep in mind as you try to cope with the challenges of getting pregnant. 1. Don’t Let the Two-Week Wait Take Over The two-week wait is a time of high stress when you’re trying to conceive....

What Did the Study Find? The study, conducted by Deborah Karasek, PhD, MPH, an epidemiologist at the University of California San Francisco, found a significant connection between COVID-19 and preterm birth risk. The researchers classified preterm birth into two categories: very preterm birth (less than 32 weeks) and preterm birth (less than 37 weeks). They concluded that pregnant COVID-19 patients had a 60% increased risk of very preterm birth and a 40% higher risk of preterm birth....

If you spend any time in a kindergarten classroom or elementary school, you will likely marvel at the teacher’s ability to organize the children’s day. For elementary school students, providing a reliable structure is a critical part of developing a sense of security and mastery. In older children, attachment looks different than it does in younger kids, with shared communication and objectives replacing some of the physical closeness that typifies attachment in the early years....

One year earlier, she was told by a female superior within her legal department that she would “ruin” her career if she was to ever have a baby. At the time, she was secretly pregnant. When she went back to work after her maternity leave, she felt a lack of support as a breastfeeding mom, and there seemed to be absolutely no flexibility within her schedule. Back then, working from home was not permitted....

Understanding what milestones are, and whether children are meeting them can help parents identify problems early, or reassure them that their children are on track. Learn about the main types of milestones, why they matter, and how you can use them effectively to guide your parenting journey. Why Developmental Milestones Matter You can think of the developmental milestones as a checklist. They represent what an average child can do around a particular age....