Scars are an unavoidable part of giving birth by C-section. During your surgery, your doctor will make an incision in your abdomen before removing the baby. Afterwards, the incision will be sewn up and it will need to heal. Read on to find out more about what to expect from a healing c-section incision, how to care for your incision to reduce the risks of complications, and what your c-section scar might look and feel like....

What Is an Ectopic Pregnancy? An ectopic pregnancy (also known as a tubal pregnancy) is one in which the fertilized egg implants somewhere other than in the uterus. Most often this happens in the fallopian tubes but sometimes elsewhere in the abdominal cavity. These pregnancies are not viable and pose grave danger to the health and future fertility of the pregnant person until they are diagnosed and treated. If the pregnancy continues, the developing fetus will cause the tube to stretch and sometimes rupture, leading to potentially life-threatening internal bleeding....

When a baby is born with a tooth, it’s called a natal tooth. Though natal teeth are rare, they do happen. “A parent may be alarmed to see these teeth, but there’s rarely a reason for concern,” says Greg Grillo, DDS, of Express Dentist. “A consultation with a pediatrician is always a good idea to explore any risks or underlying conditions.” Let’s take a look at what parents need to know about natal teeth, what causes them, and what you should do if your baby has them....

While you may have strategies that worked in the past to fight constipation, when you’re spending so much energy breastfeeding it’s fair to look for a quick fix. And the over-the-counter (OTC) laxative MiraLAX (polyethylene glycol 3350) can be that easy solution. “Constipation is very common in the week or two after delivery,” says Nathan Fox, MD, OBGYN, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and host of the Healthful Woman podcast. “MiraLAX is a safe option to take while breastfeeding....

“Mushrooms aren’t really considered a common food for babies to eat. That said, the goal is to get baby used to eating what parents eat by around 1 year of age,” says pediatrician Tanya Altmann, MD, author and editor-in-chief of several best-selling American Academy of Pediatrics’ parenting books including Baby and Toddler Basics and Your Baby’s First Year. “If you are eating cooked mushrooms, and your infant can handle pieces of food, go ahead and try some....

It’s common for your immune system to weaken during pregnancy, making you more susceptible to catching an illness. On top of it, you’re more at risk for a urinary tract infection (UTI) between six and 24 weeks as the uterus grows and puts more pressure on your bladder, blocking the drainage of urine. “It’s a good idea to start taking a probiotic [after finding out you are pregnant], which will help maintain the good bacteria in your gut and vagina,” explains Andrea Chisholm, MD, a board-certified OBGYN and member of the Verywell Family review board....

More: Caffeine, Alcohol, and Pregnancy Many pregnant women often wonder if they need to switch to decaf coffee, lower their amounts of caffeine or whether they should quit cold turkey. We’re going to take a look at whether you can drink coffee while pregnant and if so, how much is safe. Is it Safe to Drink Coffee While Pregnant? Isn’t that the million-dollar question? Truthfully, the answers are going to vary depending on who you ask and what study about caffeine consumption and pregnant women you consult....

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines youth violence as an extreme form of aggression with the goal of physical harm, injury, or death. Examples of youth violence also include date rape, homicides, and gang violence. For parents and educators of teens, it is important to recognize that these types of violent behaviors are prevalent. In fact, homicide is the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 19 years old in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)....

Celebration: This is what we wish for all you moms, each time you achieve a milestone in this love-a-thon called parenthood. Our kids get gold stars and prizes every time they turn around – for doing their chores, for brushing their teeth, or for staying “on task” at school. It’s high time there was a party for the women who keep whole families, finances, logistics, and value systems on task....

However, a cervical exam at this stage does allow a practitioner to determine dilation and possibly the position of the baby, which can help define when labor actually does (or did) start. Overview Most practitioners do an initial cervical exam at the beginning of pregnancy to perform a Pap smear and other tests. Then, no further cervical exams are performed until about the 35- to 37-week mark, unless complications arise that call for further testing or to assess the cervix....

Internal Preschool Assessments To offer assistance, guidance, and a baseline for teachers, parents, guardians, pediatricians, and any other medical or education professionals that your preschooler may encounter, many preschools often conduct internal preschool assessments. And while there are standard tests available to preschool teachers and early childhood development experts, many preschools and daycares have their own assessments and qualifiers that they use. Preschool teachers and early childhood development experts usually use some form of preschool assessment to evaluate how a preschool student is doing in various skill areas including:...

Six-year-old Rudy, a kindergartner attending Jewish day school, came home one day and announced to the family that he believed Jesus was indeed the son of God. Thinking wryly of the thousands of dollars she was spending for the child’s private-school education, Rudy’s mother gently reminded him that he was Jewish, “and most Jewish people don’t believe that Jesus is God’s son.” Still, Rudy was adamant. “He is too,” the child insisted....

You should be comfortable with your dog’s vet, and confident about the care she can provide. If you find you’re uncomfortable with your vet, or you don’t care for the atmosphere or policies of the practice, find a new one. It’s to your dog’s advantage to see the same vet most of the time. The veterinarian will keep a medical history of your dog, including a record of vaccinations, illnesses, injuries, treatments, and so forth....

A therapist can help you uncover issues you have that might be interfering with your relationship. All of the common issues that may come up in a marriage—money, sex, housework, extended family, parenting, work, relocation, aging parents, second marriages, illness, addiction, and infidelity—can lead to conflicts that a therapist can help you resolve. The biggest challenge in therapy is getting over the hurdle of admitting you need help. Ten Common Myths People Have About Therapy Many people don’t seek help from a therapist because they have concerns about therapists and therapy....

Directions Using the pencil, make ten to thirty dots (depending on the counting ability of the child) on a plain sheet of drawing paper. Randomly number the dots in pencil with the first and last number on the same dot. Connect the dots in numerical order with the ink pen, creating an abstract drawing. Wait until dry and then erase the pencil numbers. Use crayons or felt pens to color in the design....

While the desire to have biological children is strong for some women, that’s not the case for everyone. There are many children in the world who need a family and a home to grow up in. Some parents would rather provide this to them than give birth to a biological child. Both pregnancy and adoption are completely valid choices. Only you and your partner can decide what is best for your family....

Also called a corpus luteal cyst, this condition often occurs during pregnancy. It can also appear at other times, primarily during the reproductive years. What Is the Corpus Luteum? Understanding the ovulation process can help explain how and why these cysts develop. Your ovaries have thousands of follicles, which are little pouches that hold eggs. Once a follicle releases an egg during ovulation, it forms the corpus luteum—a short-lived structure that releases estrogen and progesterone, hormones that ready the uterus for implantation....

Celebrating Pride is something that can start at home and crafting together is an enjoyable and educational way for your kids to learn and have some fun. The rainbow has been an emblem for the LGBTQ+ community, ever since artist Gilbert Baker created the LGBTQ+ flag in the 1970s. The range of colors is said to stand for diversity; each color represents a different element of the community. Rainbow-themed arts and crafts are a wonderful way to celebrate diversity and Pride with your kids....