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College Scholarships 101 We will look at college scholarships specifically for twins, but before doing so it’s helpful to talk about a few pointers in researching scholarships. Look for a Good Fit There are many scholarships “out there” and the best way to budget your time is to apply for only those for which your child has a particular fit. This is the case for twins and multiples, but in addition to being a twin, there are other ways in which your children are unique....

Often, those expecting still have to care for children and the household while feeling unwell. It’s difficult to prepare meals for the rest of the family when the scent of cooking is unbearable. Sometimes, even the smell of clean laundry can be overpowering! Throw in juggling work responsibilities on top of home life and even the most upbeat of women can become discouraged. It’s important to take care of your emotional health while battling nausea—and below, we are sharing some coping methods....

At this age, many 14-year-olds are developing their unique identity, gaining independence, and likely exploring (or thinking about) romantic relationships. That can be a lot to take in as a parent. But, by providing plenty of supportive guidance and helping them gain the skills they need for a successful future, you both can weather this transition seamlessly. While it is true that parenting a teen can seem challenging at times, it also can be exciting and fun, especially when you know what to expect....

Learn more about what exactly the hCG levels monitored with this blood test mean, and what it means if serial measurements are falling or if they fail to double. What Is HCG? Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy, and an hCG blood test measures the level of this hormone in your bloodstream. There are two different types of hCG blood tests: Qualitative: This type returns a yes/no answer about whether there is hCG in the blood....

That said, some people consider diarrhea an early sign of pregnancy. It’s true that hormone changes around the time of conception and in the first weeks of pregnancy can cause stomach issues and even lead to diarrhea. However, breast tenderness, fatigue, and nausea are much more common symptoms of early pregnancy. Additionally, some pregnant people worry that diarrhea may be harmful to the baby or increase the likelihood of miscarriage....

All medications, including fertility drugs, come with risks. But should you be concerned about an increased cancer risk? Let’s take a look. Fertility Drugs and Cancer Risk In 2005, a widely publicized study reported that Clomid use might increase the risk of uterine cancer. However, since that time, more studies have been done, and most have found no significant increase in cancer risk after Clomid use. In fact, a 2019 review—which concluded that there is “no definitive relationship between the use of fertility drugs and cancer”—found that because estrogen helps protect against colorectal cancer, the risk of cancer should decrease in women who use fertility drugs....

Turns out, this response may not be completely accurate though. Even if you don’t fully recognize it, research indicates that there’s a good chance that you actually do have a favorite. Typically, this favoritism has nothing to do with loving one child more than other though. Instead, it’s more likely based on how your personality resonates with one child’s personality more than another. Even if parents recognize this connection, they are still reluctant to admit it out loud for fear of hurting the other child’s feelings....

If you’re more likely to think allergies in the spring and cold during those back-to-school months, you might be wrong. Although most people think of spring as allergy season, depending on what your child’s allergic to, autumn can be just as bad. Symptom Overlap Allergies and a cold are not treated the same, so it’s important to know exactly what’s behind your child’s symptoms. The problem is that the two conditions have similar symptoms, making them easy to confuse....

Take Bellevue School District in Bellevue, Washington, for example. Administrators have always been quick to address their schools’ staffing needs. When needs arise—say extra hands in classrooms, or more bus drivers—they are filled as soon as possible. But this year officials noticed a trend of more employee absences, and fewer people to fill the spots. They have monitored staffing needs daily since September, and employee absences continued to rise, with the number of missing personnel approaching 20%....

In addition to reading product reviews, simply trying the product for yourself, and asking friends and family members for advice before buying baby products, it can help to look for products endorsed by professionals you trust. For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) lends its name to the Infant CPR Anytime Kit, which was developed by the American Heart Association and the AAP. Pediatrician-Recommended Products Many products overuse these types of endorsements....

A 2021 Federal Reserve report revealed that, if faced with an unexpected expense of $400, close to 15% of Americans surveyed said they would put it on a credit card, 9% would borrow from a friend or family member, and 12% would not be able to pay for the expense right now at all. With inflation on the rise, making any purchase, much less saving for your child’s education or buying a home, can seem extremely daunting....

Motor skills enable the movements children need for everyday tasks, from playing and feeding themselves to moving from place to place. Typically, children develop certain motor skills at specific ages, but not every child will reach milestones at precisely the same time. A child with motor impairments has trouble moving in a controlled, coordinated, and efficient way. If your child seems to be delayed in developing fine or gross motor skills, they will likely undergo an assessment and may require physical or occupational therapy to catch up....

While fish may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of baby food, it is a nutritious source of protein that also contains many micronutrients, depending on the variety of fish and how it is processed. Here is what you need to know about feeding your baby fish, including when to introduce it, what types to select, and how to prepare fish for babies....

Folate Folate is a B vitamin, such as thiamine, niacin, and vitamin B12—all of which have important roles in a child’s normal growth and development. Children who don’t get enough folate (folate deficiency) can develop anemia (low red blood cell counts), diarrhea, weight loss, weakness, and irritability. Although many children don’t eat foods with naturally high sources of folate, such as leafy green vegetables and dried beans, they often do meet their recommended dietary allowances by eating foods fortified with folic acid—the synthetic form of folate....

Relationship Manipulation One form of social aggression is relationship manipulation. Relationship manipulation tends to be subtle, with the tween doing things behind a friend’s back that threaten the integrity of the friendship. For instance, a tween might tell a friend’s secrets in order to gain new friends and to undercut the existing friendship. Meanwhile, she acts like everything is fine with the existing friend and may even attempt to elicit more secrets so that she can pass them along....

Whether you’re trying to conceive after 35 or are just thinking about the future, here are some things you should know about getting pregnant later in life. Getting Pregnant After 35 Conceiving after age 35 has its challenges but it’s by no means impossible. Some people may need reproductive assistance, such as IVF, however, others will conceive on their own after just a few cycles. Learn more about what impacts your ability to get pregnant after age 35 and how you can improve your odds....

You may be wondering if now really is the best time to get pregnant. Are there added risks that you need to consider? Given the uncertainty of the short-term future, there is a lot to think about. We consulted with several different MDs about this very topic—and their insights should prove helpful as you make the best decision for your family. Is Now a Good Time to Get Pregnant? First of all, it’s important to note that there is no one right answer here....

Multiple pregnancies are on the rise in recent years with more and more twins and other types of multiples being born. The majority of the reason for this rise is the increased use of fertility drugs. How Twins Are Conceived There are a couple of ways that multiples are conceived: Multiple eggs are released or there is more than one ovulation. Both (or more) eggs are fertilized and this is how fraternal twins are made....

So what does this mean if your breastfeeding baby is showing a sensitivity to dairy or has a cow’s milk allergy? If you’re thinking about cutting dairy from your diet, you may need to think beyond the obvious dairy sources (milk, cheese, sour cream, ice cream). When you take a closer look at food labels, you’ll be surprised by the many foods with hidden dairy ingredients. Dairy Ingredients to Avoid Use the following list to help you steer clear of dairy products, including those hidden dairy ingredients....