When people find out you are pregnant, everyone has a bit of advice to share. Some is good, some makes you scared, some makes you think “I’m never going to do that,” but some advice helps prepare. Whatever advice you receive, one thing is for sure: Everyone is different, everyone’s journey is different and at…
It’s August … and I am pregnant. Not just a little pregnant, but at the end of my second trimester and entering my third trimester. And, did I mention it’s August? My challenge is two-fold: I really hate staying inside on beautiful summer days and I have two very sweet pups who also dislike being…
Breastfeeding is one of the body’s most amazing functions. You’d think it would come naturally and baby would automatically know what to do. Sometimes that’s the case, and sometimes it’s not. Knowing what to expect during the first weeks and months of your baby’s life can help ensure breastfeeding success. How do you prepare for…
One out of every two newborns around the world is being put at risk because they are not breastfed within an hour of birth, according to UNICEF. “Breastfeeding an infant within the first hour of birth is crucial for good health,” said Elizabeth Doyle, M.D., internal medicine physician and director of lactation services for Norton…
Babymoon: A relaxing or romantic vacation taken by parents-to-be before their baby is born Considering a vacation for just the two of you before your new baby makes his or her appearance? We did! And many couples we know have taken a pre-childbirth trip to spend some quality time with their partner before baby’s arrival…
Every year, more than a quarter million kids are injured by dangerous or defective toys. The Courier-Journal recently compiled a list of recalled products that local parents of young children need to watch out for. http://www.courier-journal.com/story/life/wellness/family/2016/07/07/8-recalled-products-can-lead-serious-injuries/86710536/ Want to receive recall notices on child products? Sign up here.
Infant car seat? Convertible car seat? All-in-one car seat? Travel system? What’s the difference? Why does it matter? Is one brand really better or safer than another? These were some of the questions I asked myself as we started down the path of making our first major baby purchase. Because, let’s face, I really had…
In addition to saving more babies’ lives, breastfeeding also is tied to better behavior in children, according to new research. A study in South Africa looked at 1,500 children and found that those who were exclusively breastfed for the first six months were less likely to have behavioral issues once they started school. Researchers stated…
The breastfeeding classes I took before having my first baby were far and away the best thing to prepare me. No books could have prepared me for what I was about to experience after Jude was born. Without those classes and the support of my family in those first 10 to 14 days, I think…
My husband is currently completing his master’s degree in secondary education with a specialization in English as a second language. Part of this degree requires the completion of a clinical teaching experience. An option for his teaching clinical was traveling to Ecuador to teach English. We researched the opportunity last fall, and in December he…
Before I got pregnant with my first daughter, my fitness routine was running on all cylinders. I just finished a 30-day nutrition challenge, which totally transformed how I felt and looked. I had set some lofty goals for myself in the gym, and since I had a flexible work schedule at the time (oh, life…
Now, I don’t want to paint an unrealistic picture of the delivery. I have heard the horror stories of emergency cesarean sections after two days of labor and three hours of pushing. Honestly, my deliveries were much easier, and I wish everyone could have the same experience. While I will say my body in both…