History of Kegels Invented by American gynecologist Arnold Kegel in the 1940s as a nonsurgical treatment for incontinence, the exercise has become a first-line treatment for urinary stress incontinence; vaginal, bladder, or uterine prolapse (sagging); and other pelvic health concerns. Additionally, Kegels can also be used to prevent these issues, which is why many healthy women, especially in mid-life and later are encouraged by their doctors and other health professionals to perform them regularly....

The umbilical cord has two arteries and one vein. The vein’s job is to transport oxygen and nutrients from your placenta, to your baby. The arteries are responsible for transporting your baby’s waste material, which are eventually disposed of through your kidneys. The umbilical cord’s arteries and veins are surrounded by a gelatin-like substance called Wharton’s jelly, which cushions and protects the veins and arteries. Umbilical Cord Abnormalities For the most part, umbilical cords do not have issues, and do a great job of keeping your baby healthy during pregnancy....

It is performed as part of a type of minimally invasive surgery called laparoscopy. What Happens During the Procedure A camera-equipped surgical device is placed into the abdominal cavity through a small incision typically just under the belly button, so that doctors can see internal organs—in this case, the fallopian tubes. Before the laparoscope is placed, a device called a uterine manipulator is placed through the vagina and cervix into the uterus....

You have likely heard of postpartum depression, but that’s not the only mental health condition that a new parent might experience. Though much rarer than postpartum depression, puerperal psychosis, also called postpartum psychosis, is a postpartum mood disorder that every new parent and their loved ones should become aware of. Puerperal psychosis is a rare, and very severe postpartum mood disorder commonly referred to as postpartum psychosis. Symptoms appear suddenly within the first couple of weeks of giving birth....

What do we mean by ovarian reserves? What happens if your results don’t look so good, or if your results are too good? And how does all of this play into your biological clock? What Is Meant By Your Ovarian Reserves When doctors talk about your ovarian reserves, they are talking about the possible quantity of eggs in your ovaries. When we say quantity, in this case, we aren’t talking about an exact count....

The truth is that becoming a blended family—and a stepparent—can be a bumpy adjustment, says Lori Sims, a stepparent to four children and a co-founder (with her husband David Sims) of the “nacho parenting” movement, an approach that guides stepparents in how to cultivate happily blended families. If this is your situation, you’re not alone. Around 30% of children now grow up in blended families. Sadly, 70% of those second unions don’t last, and research shows that conflict between the kids, stepkids, stepparents, and parents is a big driver of unraveling these marriages....

If you receive a call like that, don’t panic. Instead, take swift action to ensure your child’s suspension becomes a valuable life lesson that discourages them from ever getting suspended again. Get the Whole Story Hearing your child got into a fight or that they were suspended from school may leave you too overwhelmed to listen. But it’s important to take a deep breath and try to really understand what happened....

The reality is grim. Studies show that because people with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS and AIDS-related complex) usually don’t display symptoms for many years, many of the cases of AIDS that are appearing in people in their twenties were contracted while these individuals were teenagers. You (and your teen) should know the following about AIDS. How AIDS Is Transmitted AIDS is transmitted by an infected person in four ways:...

Infant Signs of Readiness for Solid Foods A baby will display certain cues to let her parents know when she is ready for solid foods. Most babies start showing signs of readiness between five and six months of age. Some will be ready for solids as early as four months, while a few won’t need, or be interested in, solid food until seven months or so. Solids are meant to complement, or be added to, the breast milk diet, not to replace breast milk....

During my recent Cape Cod vacation, I rarely saw any less than lithe teenage girls on the beach. For five days I saw teenage girls of different shapes and sizes at the movies, malls, and mini-golf – but only the lean and the shapely showed up in bathing suits at the beach. We’ve taught our girls to be ashamed of their less-than-perfect bodies. We’ve made them afraid of the beach....

“She was pitching out there and all of a sudden she broke down crying,” the volunteer president of the Jupiter-Tequesta Athletic Association recalls. “The coach went out to talk to her and she said, ‘My dad is embarrassing me to death.’” The child, like many others, had a father who spent much of his time during the game yelling and screaming at coaches, and at members of opposing teams. It is with such children in mind that Leslie’s six thousand member league has decided to require parents to attend a mandatory “ethics” course....

1. Set expectations from day one. Sure, it’s grandma, and she can’t wait to have one-on-one time with your child. But what do you expect from the arrangement? This should be clear before the arrangement begins. Are your expectations that grandma provides a safe and nurturing environment or do you further want your child to be kept on a strict routine? Do you have certain foods that are “musts” and others that are “no-no’s?...

While the American Academy of Pediatrics maintains waiting until 4 to 6 months to introduce solids foods, for most babies the common allergens no longer need to be limited. Below are more details on many common first foods. But remember, this is by no means an exhaustive list of all the possibilities for feeding an infant. As always, talk with your pediatrician about their insights on when your baby can start solids and what types of foods might be best to begin with....

What better way to accomplish this than with a race car bed to hop into for a good night’s sleep? Whether you’re making the switch to a big kid bed or simply want to support your toddler in having more bedtime fun, a race car bed is a super cool way to put the brakes on bedtime stalling and get your little one to zoom off to sleep. Here are 5 beds to check out and even a DIY hack that can help....

My teens were missing out on a lot, especially our high school seniors, but they were able to process things on a higher level and have coped pretty well over the last eight+ months being home, it was our little guy who was beyond lost. He would hold it together during the day until dinnertime when he would whisper in my ear, “I miss my friends,” then burst into tears....

A sense of community has long played a pivotal role in the Black parenting experience. In fact, many Black communities approach parenting as a group effort—offering everything from encouragement to a stern course correction, if needed. While all parents appreciate family and friends who help support their journey, Black parents take pride in a special sense of community. “Historically, child rearing has been approached from a collectivistic point of view within the Black community,” explains psychotherapist Kyra Ross, MSEd, MHC-LP....

If you’re tired of listening to Eliza play “Three Blind Mice” on her recorder for the hundredth time, think about this: amazing links are being uncovered between music education and other areas of learning. Research done at the University of California-Irvine indicates that young children taking music lessons have a greater ability to grasp concepts that are also essential to math and science. Coordination and concentration are also improved when, for instance, children take piano lessons and learn to play a different line of music with each hand....