Pregnancy Life
Staff Picks: 7 Pregnancy Books You Should Read
Have you ever heard, "You have to get a license to drive but anyone can be a parent?" It's true, it's the toughest job in the world and most the training is on the job but you can get a leg up. Get your bookshelf stocked...
5 Not-So-Silly Pregnancy Questions Answered
Pregnancy is both such a personal and a universal situation all at once. Sometimes people can be afraid to ask some questions for fear of sounding silly, stupid or weird. There's no reason not to ask anything, though. It doesn't m...
7 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Parenthood
I was very young, ignorant and searching for knowledge. My husband and I had been married for four months when I found out I was expecting our first bambino. I was thrilled, but had no idea where to start. I must have looked like ...
Unexpectantly Pregnant
Not everyone has nine months to prepare for baby. Not everyone buys a kit to predict ovulation, takes her basal temp and charts her cycles in order to get pregnant. Some women think they have the flu, got food poisoning or are fee...
Pregnancy Hair Care Tips
During pregnancy your hormones throw everything off, and that includes your hair. You've heard about the glow of pregnancy, which is when your skin has a nice sheen due to increased oil production. However for some people that glo...
Summer Travel Tips for Expectant Moms
Summer vacation time is looming close and you may want to get out while you are still a couple rather than a family. However, you need to plan a good trip that is safe and fun. Talk to your doctor first. Discuss your vacation p...
Use Meditation To Calm Your Mood Swings
It's one of those neat "perks" of pregnancy; mood swings so intense you feel like you have emotional whiplash. You can't take medications to calm yourself or even have a glass of wine so what is a safe and effective way to deal wi...
2013 Baby Naming Trends
What does the baby-naming trend look like for 2013? The sky is the limit this year! Anything from modern and edgy to names fit for a king are being predicted as major hits with new parents for 2013. For the past two years, Isabel...
How to Prepare Your Children for Baby
The last few months of your life have been spent scurrying around to prenatal check-ups, Lamaze classes, baby clearance sales and baby showers, but wait! Something out of the corner of your eye catches your attention. Your four-ye...
10 Must Have Pregnancy Products
When you are expecting you face a multitude of products geared to the pregnant mom. Deciding which ones are lifesavers and which are money wasters can be a drain on your time, energy and wallet so here are our picks for top pregna...
Create a Functional, Yet Stylish, Nursery
The majority of a new mother's time is spent in the baby's nursery. Changing diapers, dressing the baby, rocking the little one and even activity time are often times spent in the nursery. With this in mind, many mommies-to-be wan...
New Poll Shows Baby Name Regret Is Common
In Scotland, 3,221 first names were changed last year. Of those, 311 babies were under the age of two and 1,129 children were 16 years and younger. With an increase from 2,841 in 2011 and 1,112 in 2005, these are very surprising s...
Pregnant... With Children
Remember being pregnant with bundle of joy number one? Everything was dainty pastel outfits and pats on belly. You were focused on baby's birth approximately 96% of all idle moments. Visions of an angelic cooing infant in your arm...
Preparing for Parenthood
So much of what we focus on during pregnancy revolves around the moment: what is baby needing, how is baby growing and will this harm the baby? Or else we focus on the near-future of labor and birth. But after that big day has pas...
Awaiting Your Christmas Baby - Ways to Celebrate
Santa has an extra special package just for your family this year. Expecting a Christmas baby is a gift that cannot be topped. But how do you celebrate the special occasion on the biggest holiday of the year? First, consider weav...
9 Baby Products You Can Live Without
The baby stores are full of tiny, adorable items that help you and your baby adapt to the new world of parenting. There are literally thousands of products to choose from. Your head would start spinning if you considered if each i...
"He said She said" - Relationship Problems During Pregnancy
"So, what are you going to name your baby boy?" your friend asks. "Andrew Logan Smith," you answer with a smile. "Ahem. She meant to say, Jeremiah Logan Smith," your husband pipes in. Both of you e...
Not Another Stork Story: Telling Your Kids You're Expecting
Adding to your family again? Sometimes it can be hard to know the right moment and method to share your happy news with your children. If you tell them too soon, they will likely drive you crazy, with questions not too different t...
Planning a Budget for the New Baby
During those nine long months of waiting for baby, you have an ideal time to sit and contemplate exactly how you are going to stretch your money to accommodate a new little being. While estimates range from 4,000 up to over ...
What Are First Time Moms Most Scared Of?
Becoming a mommy can be an intimidating experience. Once the two pink lines move across the pregnancy test screen, many women become frightened at the unknowns of the future. Here is a list of questions and answers to put your min...
7 Pregnancy Must Have Products
It can be hard at times to know what items you need or even want while pregnant and which things are merely silly wastes of money. You probably do need to watch the family finances if you have a budget like most growing families i...
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Aims to End Pregnancy Discrimination
In 1978 the Pregnancy Discrimination Act was passed with the intention of ending discriminatory treatment of pregnant employees. However, the law lacked the teeth to adequately protect pregnant women in their jobs. A new bill...
Pregnancy Proof Your Home: Safety Precautions for Expectant Moms
When starting a family, we all worry about baby proofing and creating a safe environment for the baby. However, keeping baby safe actually starts before birth in keeping Mom safe especially in her own home. 1. Keep stairways clea...
Top 5 Worries of Expectant Dads
So much of pregnancy focuses on the expectant mother and unborn child that the dad-to-be often is overlooked. True he doesn't deal with swollen feet, weird cravings or getting kicked in the ribs from the inside. But his life is ch...
Top 5 Cloth Diapers
If you decide to go the cloth diaper route, chances are you have realized the wide variety of cloth diaper products available today. It can be a major investment, but don't feel like you are imprisoned by an all or nothing state...
Mommy Poll: The Top 5 Baby Bags
Baby bags (or diaper bags, as they are sometimes still called) come in many styles and colors. Some are practical and inexpensive, and some are not. The funny thing about baby bags is that it's hard to get any two mothers to agree...
Carrier or Sling?
Many parents choose strollers for transporting their toddlers about town, but you may have also considered acquiring a baby carrier or sling for shorter trips or for around the home or office. Carriers and slings allow you to keep...
The Best Parts of Being Pregnant
Sometimes it can be easy to fall into the trap of whining about every ache, pain and inconvenience of pregnancy. And yes, there are many of those, no doubt. But there are also some secret pleasures, some added bonuses and sheer jo...
10 Ways to Bring Out Your Pregnancy Glow
Pregnancy is a unique time in a woman's life. While there will be days when you feel absolutely supremely feminine and lovely, there will also be days when you feel huge awkward and unattractive. There are ways to minimize the du...
Tips for Buying a Stroller
Chances are, you may receive a stroller as a shower gift. Even if you do, you may need to purchase another at some point--either because your first one wears out or because your baby gets bigger or your travel needs change. Whe...
Make Your Own Birth Announcements
If you are a crafty do-it-yourself mom or mom-to-be, you've probably considered making your own birth announcements. Not only can they be a little cheaper to make than buy, depending on materials and how elaborate the design, b...
Do It Yourself Pregnancy Announcements
When you decide it's time to share the good news with the world at large, you may want to do something a bit more creative than making a simple speech at your next gathering or shooting out an email with the announcement that y...
10 Parenting Discussions to Have Before Baby Arrives
Sometimes as expectant parents we can be all about the big day, the birth, and forget about so much that follows. So if you know what to pack in the labor bag and know whether or not you want an epidural but haven't decided where...
Are Twin Pregnancies on the Rise?
No, you're not seeing double. Twins are on the rise! You're likely to encounter a pair everywhere you go: the shopping mall, your pediatrician's office, the park. Are there really more twins these days, or does it just seem so? ...
Can Baby Hear Me in the Womb?
Experts now agree most unborn babies can hear sometime in the third trimester, some as early as 20 weeks. Sonograms have shown a fetus to turn its head toward a sound, and very loud or startling sounds can speed up a baby's heart ...
Waiting to Find Out the Sex: How to Prepare
While you may be in a distinct minority these days, plenty of couples opt to remain clueless on the boy/girl verdict until birth. However, it's the way generations upon generations of parents found out so why not be surprised if ...
10 Ways to Skimp on Big Ticket Baby Items
Raising a baby can be quite the costly affair. However, there are areas where it's wise to save and others that you cannot cut corners. Safety is the main issue with intelligent baby purchases. 1. Know what you truly need to t...
How to Tell Your Boss You're Pregnant
Sharing the happy news that you're expecting is a bit more complicated in the workplace. Knowing the right timing and way to inform your employer can be a tricky matter. Sometimes knowing the right method and when to tell will ...
10 Tips For Sharing your Pregnancy with Those Struggling to Conceive
You've gotten the positive test result and are ready to burst with excitement. You can't wait to share your amazing news. However, someone close to you has experienced a pregnancy loss or has been having difficulty conceiving. Is ...
Baby's First Layette
For many moms, this is when the real fun starts. Finally after daydreaming you get to buy those teeny-tiny adorable outfits you've had your eye on since before the stick turned pink. However, it can be a bit confusing. How many li...
Babies Close in Age: Best Friends
While there are pros to having kids close in age, such as built in playmates and closeness, and cons such as jealousy and time issues, once you're bringing home baby the advantages and disadvantages are unimportant. What you need ...
Choosing a Diaper Bag
Choosing the right diaper bag is akin to choosing the best baby name. The bag your next door neighbor fashionista insists upon will most likely not be the one your sister in law, the already-soccer mom, swears by. However there a...
Gender Prediction Myths and Old Wives Tales
While we know none of these gender predictions tests are scientifically sound, they are fun. And of course, they have a 50/50 chance of being right! If you really want to know the sex of your baby, CVS or amniocentesis testing ar...
When Did I Conceive?
While actual dates of conception are difficult to determine because of the number of biological unknowns, it generally is fodder for conversation or guesstimating. However, it’s fun to try to find out if it happened that long week...
Nesting Instinct During Pregnancy
Cooking and cleaning. Organizing and sorting. Packing and preparing. It's all quite common and sometimes even comedic. The nesting instinct doesn't hit all pregnant women, and may not be restricted to women. Some men have their o...
Top Baby Names of 2010
The culture of baby names is ever- changing. Some years are dominated by the modern and trendy while others favor the old-fashioned and traditional. Certain names stay in the top 100 every year, solid perennial favorites. Knowi...
Pregnant with Twins
Being pregnant with twins does indeed change a pregnancy. Your nutritional needs are higher, your weight recommendation is likewise more, and your morning sickness is likely more intense than those only carrying one bundle of joy....
Baby Name Dilemmas
One of the first potential fights couples face as new parents is choosing a baby name. While most parents resolve the issue before the child actually arrives and the birth certificate awaits a decision, some couples really struggl...
Pregnancy - How To Handle Rude Strangers
It seems odd that being pregnant makes you a target for all kinds of rude questions, remarks and behaviors. After all, people do know pregnant women are already coping with crazy hormones, right? For some reason a protruding baby ...
Sharing the News That You're Pregnant!
So you've gotten the confirmation; you are indeed expecting a new baby. Now when and how to tell everyone else? Everyone has different ideas about timing. Some prefer to wait until the critical first trimester passes, and the ...
Car Seat Selection
Selecting a car seat or travel system for your baby can be mind-boggling with all the latest options available. Take a moment to understand the basics of choosing a car seat and your decision will be a bit easier. Types of Car Se...
Music and Sounds in the Womb
Have you ever wondered what it sounds like inside the womb? Listening to a CD with natural womb sounds, the sounds of heartbeats and relaxing arias might give you some idea. Putting your ears against a friend’s stomach is a...
Pregnant With Depression, Anxiety and Stress
Pregnancy brings so many changes to woman’s life. Her body is constantly changing, and the hormones fueling the changes bring added stresses or emotional highs and lows. With so many huge life adjustments looming, it’s no wonder t...
The Frugal Mom's Essential Baby Gear Guide
You’ve gone to the store to start your baby registry. The excitement and fun fizzles into confusion rather quickly, as all the equipment, options, and choices overwhelm you. What do you really need for your baby? What items are ab...
Expecting and Expectations: Are You and Your Spouse on the Same Page?
When you’re pregnant you soon become full of expectations. You dream about what your baby will be like, you dream about how you and your husband will parent. You dream about how you will handle any problems that come up. You...
Prepare to Breast Feed Your Baby
Breastfeeding your baby can be a rewarding experience for you both. Not only are you providing essential nutrients, but the act of breastfeeding is a bonding experience like no other. If you’ve decided that you will breastfeed you...
Traveling Safely During Pregnancy
If you have to travel for work or for other reasons during your pregnancy, don’t fret. While there are safety issues to consider, traveling during pregnancy is generally safe for both you and baby. Following are some precaution...
Unique Ways to Announce Your Pregnancy
Are you expecting a baby and looking for a great way to let friends and family know? Here are some unique ways to announce to family and friends that you're a proud parent-to-be. Pregnancy Announcement Spread the news about...
Choosing Perfect Baby Names For Girls
The list of baby girls names that are the most popular can help you when deciding on which names are the best baby names for girls. Choosing her name is fun for the parents, family and friends, and her name will be something s...
Mommyhood Is Hot
From the looks of it, the "Prego Club" is recruiting, with a vengeance. While black may be back, and plum may rule the runway, this year nothing is quite as fashionable as having a baby. As with all other trends, the celebritie...
Pamper Your Pregnancy - Naturally!
If you're like most women, the moment you discover you're pregnant, your whole world turns upside down. But while all eyes remain focused on baby, sometimes you may begin to feel that you - and your needs - are fading into the bac...
Cost of Raising a Child
The biggest investment of your life won't come cheap. As you anticipate the joys of parenthood, a few mundane matters beg to be considered. One of the most fundamental is the question of money. The bottom line is, inquiring min...
Ancient Chinese Gender Prediction Chart
The Ancient Chinese Gender Prediction Chart is said to help parents predict the gender of their baby based on the Mother's age and the month of Conception. This chart is said to have been drawn by a Chinese scientist about 700 yea...
Sexual Positions During Pregnancy
During the early stages of pregnancy, you may not have any issues regarding your comfort level during sex. However, as your body changes and grows, your "normal" positions may become much more uncomfortable. Having your partne...
Stocking Up The Freezer Before Baby Comes
Never underestimate the power of a stocked freezer. I didn't plan ahead with my first pregnancy, and we ate like scavengers for two weeks. Being a new mom took quite a toll on me, and the last thing I wanted to do was prepare meal...
Baby Naming Tips and Considerations
Choosing the name for your baby will probably be one of the most important, exciting and fun things you will do during your pregnancy. Throughout the pregnancy, many hours will be spent on choosing the baby's name. Friends, relati...
Genetics ~ The Science That makes A Person
When thinking of pregnancy, most feel the "difficult" part is actually achieving two lines on the test. However, when you delve deeper into the conception process, it's amazing that babies are ever born at all. In order for one ey...
Pregnant but Organized
I will admit that I am very fortunate. I have two children already, and they are ages 10 and 8, and are fairly self-reliant. If Mom can't tend to the household duties, they can help. However, with all that said, the Mom in me stil...
Indulge Yourself
You're the chief, cook, and bottle washer of your household, not to mention resident caregiver, referee, and counselor. You're Mom. You tend to the needs of your children and husband and still manage to cater to those of your boss...
Things I Wish I'd Known Before Parenthood
Children reawaken in us lessons long forgotten; perspectives lost in the clutter of our adult lives. My sister is due this month to give birth to her second child. As an aunt-in-awe of all that her first child, Katie, has taugh...
Matters of Maternity Leave
Pregnancy can be a thrilling time of anticipation and joy. But when you start contemplating how on earth you'll manage to be both a stellar employee and a stellar mom, your nine months can also be fraught with anxiety and conflict...
Heart Beat
I wondered what I would be writing here as I went through the last four weeks. I had many bad moments when I would cry and through clenched teeth, tell my husband that I did not want to go through another miscarriage. To his credi...
The Circumcision Decision
Until recently, it was a routine, common practice to circumcise an infant male. Whether done in the hospital, at a religious ceremony, or through other means it was widely held that the vast majority of males were, at some point, ...
The Art of Decorating the Nursery
It's a rite of passage. Once you find out you are pregnant, you must immediately begin planning for the nursery. Will you paint or use wallpaper? Maybe stencil? How about the matching lamps, curtains, rocker cushions, wallpaper bo...
What To Expect When You're Expecting Twins!
I think that any woman in any given time during the course of her pregnancy wonders if she would be carrying twins. When her belly grows and she feels baby's movement she must wonder if she was carrying an octopus, much less twins...
Pregnant With Baby #2
I find it amazing at just how different this pregnancy is from my first; right down to how easily I cry. This pregnancy is moving at the speed of light, and I don't know where the time is going. I suppose I have no real advice for...
Pregnancy After A Loss
When my husband and I decided to try and become pregnant, it was an exciting and confusing time. I couldn't help but wonder if we were really ready to make the big step from just the two of us to becoming parents. But, the time wa...
Pregnant and Working,What You Need To Think About
We all know pregnancy is a time of great confusion. What will the baby's name be? Will it be a boy or girl? Will I breastfeed or bottle-feed? The questions are endless, and so are the possible answers. However, when you are workin...
Sex During Pregnancy� Is It Possible????
A pregnant woman's sex drive can change as often as her moods. Through the different stages of pregnancy, different questions and concerns arise as to the safety of having sex while pregnant. Before I address some of the more c...
Bonding with Baby, During Pregnancy
By nature, mothers are nurturers. From the moment of conception, a mother's love will greatly influence her baby's journey through life. As babies are conceived out of love, they need to be cared for and loved. Bonding with your b...
The Pregnancy Merry-Go-Round
I am a Mom to two wonderful small boys. I also had two miscarriages in the last year. The first time I was caught off guard. We had told everyone the moment we had found out,and I was in denial right up until the D and C procedure...
When Baby Makes Three
Most couples can anticipate the birth of a first child with joy, and then make the transition from being a couple into a family, but there are some who find this a difficult and complex step to negotiate. The preparation for a ba...
Buying Baby's Layette On A Budget
One of the first things you hear when you get pregnant is how expensive babies are. You'd think the little bundles come out requesting caviar and Perrier. Now don't get me wrong--there's definitely some added expense with having a...
Welcoming Your Second Baby,The Impact on Older Siblings
The impact of having a second or subsequent child is often overwhelming to parents. Your first child has taken so much of your love, time, attention, space in your home, income, that parents wonder how they will ever manage more t...
Stolen and Switched Babies:How to keep your newborn safe
Loss of innocence On Friday, June 12, 1992, I reported after work for my usual volunteer duty at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, California. I worked in the nursery as a 'cuddler,' holding and touching the ill and premature infan...
"Welcome Baby Number Two!"
I recall when my first son was just 8 months old, I found out I was pregnant with my second child. That was quite a shock. My head did all the calculating: "When Alec is 17 ½ months old, this child will be born." I felt so overwh...