The Facts: Pregnancy and Homelessness Studies have shown that homeless women have an increased chance of becoming pregnant. Recent data showed that in Minneapolis, over half the female homeless population between the ages of 15-22 had already been pregnant at least once. In addition, 30% of homeless pregnant women stated they were forced into unwanted sex or needed to have ‘survival sex’ to access food, shelter, money, or drugs. Statistics also show that 42% of fertile homeless women do not use contraception due to lack of access, financial inability to purchase, or because they were in a monogamous relationship....

What Are Identical Twins? It’s important to accurately understand twin type. The term identical is used to describe monozygotic multiples—twins that form from a single fertilized egg that splits into two. Because they originate from the same sperm/egg combination, these twins have the same genetic origins. With the same DNA, they often have very similar appearances. Because they look alike, the term “identical” has become synonymous with monozygotic twins. However, the correct description is monozygotic, indicating that the twins formed from one (mono) zygote (fertilized egg)....

Bottles and Nipples Regardless of which kind of formula you choose, you must have clean feeding equipment or risk intestinal illness. After washing with warm, soapy water and rinsing thoroughly, boil bottles and nipples in a large covered pot for at least five minutes and not more than ten to make sure they are germ free. You can use a dishwasher that supplies heated water and has a hot drying cycle to clean baby bottles, but I have found that nipples must be boiled in order for them to come completely clean....

“I didn’t spill the milk,” said the 3-year-old who is standing in a puddle of the white stuff with an empty cup in her hand. “The baby broke my car.” “I didn’t take out all these toys, the dog did.” The tall tales go on and on. But the truth of the matter is all kids lie occasionally. And although lying is a normal part of a child’s development, it’s not something you can overlook....

Aprons White paper lunch bag Rolling pin Cookie cutters Playdough Prepared cookie dough (optional) Plastic knife (optional) Cookie sheet (optional) Directions

A recent study set out to find out exactly what the long-term effects of princess culture are on children. Surprisingly, they discovered the opposite of what they expected. Children exposed to princess culture in their toddler and preschool years had more progressive views of gender stereotypes and better body esteem by the time they reached their preteen years. They also found that boys exposed to princess culture showed fewer signs of toxic masculinity....

While prolactin is always present in the body, its levels rise significantly during pregnancy, at the time of birth, and while breastfeeding, affecting breast milk production as well as menstruation and fertility. What Is Prolactin? While it’s named for its primary role in lactation, prolactin also plays important roles in the reproduction system, including impacting the production of sex hormones (including testosterone), behavior, and the immune system in both females and males....

Communicating is the first step toward healing. To find a better sense of closure, meet with your doctor and ask whatever questions you need to ask. And not just about your loss but about what you and your partner can expect in the future. Here are seven questions that may help you get all of the answers you need: Generally speaking, the most common cause of a miscarriage in early pregnancy is a chromosomal abnormality, which is a genetic anomaly that the body recognized as being non-viable....

Wooden box measuring one yard long by 4 to 6 inches wide and 2 inches high 50 two-inch nails ½ cup dried peas

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Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about being reasonable. You cannot be perfect, but you can be reasonable. A reasonable parent: Tries hard and cares. Works hard to model the behavior she’d like to see in her kids. Sets her expectations and disciplinary goals for herself, and for her family, at reasonable, realistic levels. Defines reasonable limits for her children’s behavior. Identifies and discusses natural consequences that occur and provides reasonable, logical consequences when things go wrong....

Alternatives to these woods include…Pressure-treated lumber, which is impregnated with chemicals that protect it from insect and fungal damage. There are different types, rated for various placements: above ground, ground contact, and wood foundation. Wood-polymer lumber, which bonds wood with fungi-resistant plastic. Extruded plastic lumber made from recycled plastic containers. Building on well-drained sites with proper grading will also help prevent wood rot. In existing homes, periodic inspections can go a long way toward fighting off many problems, including wood rot....

It’s one thing to prepare and serve healthy foods. What’s tough is figuring out whether you’re feeding a child the right amount. How do you know how much to serve? The Pyramid Plan is based on the USDA Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children, which applies to kids age two and up. It provides the details about what and how much your two-year-old should eat. One-year-olds are another matter. You could go by the “rule of one,” as I call it: Serve one tablespoon of each food you’re eating at a meal for each year of your child’s life, plus the recommended 16 to 24 ounces of milk throughout the day....

Is a great SAT score your child’s key to the college of her choice? The importance of SAT scores depends entirely on where your child would like to go to college, according to Rick Dalton, former director of enrollment planning at Middlebury College in Vermont. He says, “College selectivity is a myth. Ninety-five percent of colleges accept most of the students who apply. It’s the other 5 percent — the Harvards and the Universities of Virginia — where test scores really matter....

A generous supply of washcloths, baby wipes, or cotton balls for wiping. Rather than using bathtub washcloths, get an entirely separate supply for bottoms only. (Make sure the patterns or colors are distinctive enough so that you can tell them apart, or you may end up washing your face with a bottom washcloth.) Warm water (for washcloths) and/or baby oil (for cotton balls). (Filling a thermos of warm water and placing it near the changing table right before bed can save a lot of trouble in the wee hours of the night....