Originally published on Motherly. By Neha Mandhani “Mama, are you okay? Are you happy now?” This is what my 2.5-year-old son asked me the other day as he saw me wipe tears from my cheeks. I was having an intense discussion with my husband and for someone sensitive like me, tears trickle down my cheeks
I’ve known my best friend Tia for 10 years. We’ve seen each other through marriages, career changes and the journey into motherhood. This year was a year of relationship changes for both of us. Her marriage was coming to an end, and my live-in boyfriend and I decided to take a significant step backward so
Nothing makes you feel old quite like starting a sentence with “Back in my day …” But if you’re an adult observing what childhood looks like today, you can’t help but reflect on how different things were when you were growing up sans YouTube, iPhones and other pillars of modern technology. The funny grown-ups of
Cute Kid Notes ‘I Am Sorry Ben’ <strong>Author</strong>: Zachary <strong>Age</strong>: 8 <a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/15/cute-kid-note-of-the-day-i-am-sorry-ben_n_4604175.html?utm_hp_ref=kid-note-of-the-day” target=”_blank”><em>Click here to read the full note</em></a> Jenny Horton Davidson
Pregnant women have enough to deal with without being stressed about finding clothes to fit their growing bodies. It’s a problem curvy gals are used to — scoping out stores that carry cute clothes with inclusive sizing. Many clothing stores are letting down their curvy mamas-to-be by not carrying inclusive maternity clothing. Those that do
Jim Gaffigan knows the highs and lows of parenting. The comedian and author has five children with his wife, Jeannie Gaffigan. Gaffigan often shares LOL-worthy anecdotes and musings about fatherhood on Twitter, in his stand-up routines and in the pages of his books. In honor of his birthday on Saturday, we’ve rounded up 35 of
Kids may say the darndest things, but parents tweet about them in the funniest ways. So each week, we round up the most hilarious 280-character quips from moms and dads to spread the joy. Me: Our kids are finally at an age where we can sleep in on week- Youth sports: Let me stop you right there.
By Mindy Fetterman Research suggests that early childhood education primes young minds for academic and social success. And yet in much of the country, many parents struggle to find any day care at all. To get more young children into high-quality programs, an increasing number of cities and states are imposing academic standards and other
During pregnancy, many women feel pressure, or heaviness, around the vagina. This is normal and can happen in the first, second, or third trimester. A pregnant woman’s uterus will expand from the size of an orange to the size of a watermelon or larger. Her body will not only need to provide space and nutrients
Every woman’s experience of miscarriage is different. Some people might want to know how long the process lasts so that they can prepare both mentally and physically. Miscarriage, or pregnancy loss, is classified as a pregnancy that ends before 20 weeks. It is more common than many people think, occurring in about 8–20 percent of
It can be hard to know what to expect from labor pains and contractions, especially if it is a woman’s first pregnancy. Pregnant women may wonder if they will recognize their contractions when they begin, or if what they are feeling is premature labor. While contractions can vary widely, there are some common symptoms of
As pregnancy progresses, a woman may have difficulty catching her breath after carrying out routine tasks, such as climbing the stairs. According to a 2015 study, an estimated 60 to 70 percent of women experience shortness of breath during pregnancy. Doctors often attribute this to the growing uterus pushing upward on the lungs and making
Many pregnant women experience bellybutton pain during the second and third trimester. The bellybutton, or navel, is the attachment point for the placenta in the womb. It is not attached to any part of the abdominal cavity after birth. Most causes of bellybutton pain are harmless and will disappear when the baby is born. This
During pregnancy, the body’s blood volume increases. The heart needs to pump faster to circulate the extra blood, and this can lead to a faster resting heart rate. Sometimes, the extra exertion on the heart can lead to palpitations. A heart palpitation may feel as though the heart is: skipping beats racing flopping in the
Some people believe that nipple stimulation can induce labor. However, while nipple stimulation can release hormones that cause uterine contraction, most studies show that it does not bring about the onset of actual labor. Most doctors do not recommend nipple stimulation to induce labor, but some anecdotal evidence exists for its effectiveness. In this article,
Apart from having a doctor’s opinion during an ultrasound, is it possible to predict a baby’s sex? Friends and family may point out signs of having a girl or boy, but most of these will probably be based on folklore rather than science. An ultrasound at 20 weeks into the pregnancy is the most reliable
A pregnant woman will notice many different movements as the baby develops, and these movements are likely to get stronger with each trimester. As well as kicks, rolls, and jabs, a woman may also notice fetal hiccups. Identifying fetal hiccups can be difficult. A woman may notice, however, that the sensation of hiccups is more
Cystic hygromas are fluid-filled sacs that occur most commonly on the head or neck of a baby. They are a result of blockages in the lymphatic system. Doctors can sometimes detect cystic hygromas using ultrasounds during pregnancy. They can also diagnose them after the baby is born. Some cystic hygromas may not appear until the
Heating pads can be used while pregnant to ease any pain in the muscles or joints, so long as they do not raise the woman’s body temperature too much. Obstetricians and midwives routinely caution against the use of hot tubs during pregnancy, so it is understandable that women may worry about other heat sources during
Baby ear infections are common but are usually nothing to worry about. Many young children will not need antibiotics and can be treated with home remedies, such as acetaminophen, warm compresses, and drinking more fluids. This article looks at when antibiotics might be needed to treat an ear infection in a baby, and how to