If you’re breastfeeding and/or pumping, breasts don’t require any special treatment, but proper care, awareness, and hygiene are especially important to help you feel more comfortable and head off some potential breastfeeding issues such as infection or sore nipples. Breastfeeding Breast Care There really isn’t anything special you need to do for your breasts when you’re breastfeeding, beyond basic cleanliness, monitoring the moisture balance of your skin (too dry can cause cracking and too wet can breed germs), and noticing any changes that might need attention....

Essential: One advantage to breast milk is the protective substances it contains that help protect the baby from various infections. One such substance, called “colostrum,” is a yellowish premilk substance secreted in the first few days after a woman delivers. It is believed to carry even more antibodies to help fight infection and is also rich in protein and zinc. Advantages of Breastfeeding Infants who are breastfed until they are satisfied, and infants who are fed a standard formula and whose mothers are in tune to their cues of hunger and satiety, will generally adjust their own intake to meet their calorie needs....

Length of wire (large paper clip, thin-wire coat hanger) Bubble solution Length of thread shorter than wire Directions

Your health-care provider will determine when your baby is due by using a handy little “due-date calculator” that figures out the date by simply targeting your last menstrual period. To do this calculation yourself, try one of two formulas: If your periods are a predictable 28-day cycle, your calculated due date should be fairly accurate. But if your cycles are longer or shorter than 28 days, your actual due date might fall before or after the projected date....

Labcorp, one of the country’s largest testing labs, offers the only FDA-approved at-home kit that allows parents to test their kids at home to see whether they are sick with RSV, the flu, or COVID. But, it is important to note this is a PCR test and not rapid like you are probably used to by now with at-home COVID tests. Instead, it must be sent back to a lab, with results arriving in a portal within one to two days....

To help you wade through any confusion on whether or not you can use a vibrator while pregnant, we tapped two experts. Ahead, learn all about when it may be safe—and when it may not—as well as what some benefits could be and certain precautions to take. Read on to discover everything you need to know about using a vibrator while pregnant. What Is Vibrator? Vibrators (a.k.a. personal massagers) are types of vibrating sex toys that a person can use to stimulate sensitive areas—like the vagina, clitoris, nipples, anus, penis, or scrotum—to help achieve orgasm....

Although stress can be more challenging to manage during pregnancy, it’s important to try to relax. Stress, especially chronic stress, can increase your risk of having a small baby or going into premature labor (also known as preterm labor). Stress and Preterm Labor The beginning of labor is a complex process that is not fully understood. Multiple hormones and body systems in both mother and baby are involved, and predicting when labor will start is very difficult....

But the price of artificial insemination can sometimes be a deterrent. Insemination cycles can cost between $300 and $4000, depending on factors like sperm source, medication, or insurance coverage, says Michelle Ottey, PhD, consulting lab director at Fairfax Cryobank in Fairfax, Virginia. If you have fresh sperm from a donor and no known fertility issues, it can be cheaper to try insemination at home, says Marea Goodman, licensed professional midwife and author of “Babymaking for Everybody, A Guide for LGBTQ+ and Solo Parents....

More: 25 of the Best Thanksgiving Movies for Kids Is Thanksgiving Turkey Safe for Pregnant Women? Let’s talk turkey. Turkey is a staple of the big day, but many women often ask their Ob-Gyn, can you eat Thanksgiving turkey when you’re pregnant? There’s no need to get your feathers in an uproar, Thanksgiving turkey can be a part of your Thanksgiving meal when you’re pregnant if it’s cooked to the right internal temperature....

When You Can and Cannot Combine Breast Milk When you’re dealing with your child and your breast milk, safety is the top priority. So, there are a few things to think about before you decide if combining breast milk is safe for your child. Here’s how to tell if you can combine your breast milk or not. You can safely combine your breast milk under these circumstances: Cleanliness: Your hands, pump, and collection containers are clean....

Directions Before your child begins to paint the rug, fold the edges over one inch and iron before securing with a hot glue gun. Put the acrylic paints onto a plastic plate and let your child paint the canvas. If there is a specific design he has in mind, pencil the design onto the canvas before starting. If you want to do a family rug, handprints are a good option....

Catfishing is the latest Internet safety hazard, so it’s important to know how to help protect your family. In addition to these other online safety tips you should know, keep these “catfish prevention tips” in mind: Tell your kids not to “friend” people online who they don’t know well — or who they have never met in real life. “People You May Know” is a feature that shows up on users’ Facebook pages, trying to connect them with friends of friends (of friends of friends…)....

Prostaglandin is a hormone that is produced in several parts of the body. Its function depends on which part of the body it’s made. Prostaglandin is responsible for controlling the menstrual cycle, ovulation, and inducing labor in the female reproductive system. A synthetic version of prostaglandin is used in Cervidil, to relax the muscles of the cervix and induce labor. Cervidil is also known as dinoprostone, which is its generic name....

You can slather on a good coating of zinc oxide cream to help fight off the irritating rash. These ointments have a particularly creamy consistency. They tend to glide on your baby’s skin easily without requiring you to rub the cream into the skin. Depending on which butt paste you purchase, these creams might contain a blend of zinc oxide and other ingredients that increase the barrier between your baby’s skin and his diaper, such as lanolin, beeswax, and/or balsam....

It also is not unusual to find records of the same soldier serving on both sides. The 19-year-old who went into town to run some errands for his family was spotted by southern (or northern) recruiters and forced to enter the service. At his first opportunity, he deserted and joined the opposing side, where his sympathies lay. If your ancestor was from a border state such as Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, or Missouri, you may find dual records for him....

What new and exciting things can you do with the things you see while you’re traveling? Turn them into sentences, of course. Give your kids a time limit – say, five minutes – and let them use that time to “collect” words they see out their windows. These can include the names of objects, descriptions of the items they see and hear (such as “blue” for the sky, “tall” for skyscrapers, “rumbling” for motors, and so on) and actual words your kids cull from signs....

Lying There are three main reasons kids lie: to get attention, to avoid getting in trouble, and to feel better about themselves. Distinguishing the reason for the lie can help you determine the best course of action. When you catch your child in a lie, ask, “Is that what really happened or what you wish would have happened?” Give your child an extra consequence for lying. Emphasize the importance of honesty by creating a household rule that says, “Tell the truth....