It may not be your ideal parenting situation, co-parenting with a partner you don't co-habitate with, but it can be done - and peacefully, too. No matter your circumstances, whether you're separated, divorced, or never intended to be together, you can ensure you share parenting duties without losing your sanity. After all, your new focus should be making certain your baby always feels loved, safe, and cared for - no matter what kind of baggage either of you brings to the table.To that end, Brette McWhorter Sember, author of How to Parent with Your Ex and …

What’s one of the best things expectant moms can do for themselves and their unborn babies? Follow their doctor’s orders and get a flu shot.As pregnant women, we’re naturally wary of everything we put in our bodies. From food to toothpaste, everything that crosses our paths goes under the microscope before we consume it. And while many a mom-to-be may feel that skipping vaccines and medications is safer for her little one, the side effects of the flu shot are nothing compared to getting slammed by a prenatal flu.Read more: The pregnancy-safe way …

There’s a common misconception that a pregnancy is either “natural” or “not natural.” But the state of being pregnant—no matter what your route of conception or your choices during pregnancy—is inherently natural. As for what you include, exclude, or experiment with along the way, you can certainly choose a more natural-leaning pregnancy. The important thing to know is that there’s a spectrum. Having a reasonable set of choices around nutrition and lifestyle fortifies both you and baby. And just because you may choose to use complementary …

Of all the new baby things you’re looking forward to, sleepless nights aren’t one of them! You’ve heard your friends’ horror stories of being woken up ten times a night, and just the thought of it makes you yawn. I have good news for you! There are many things that you can do to help your newborn sleep well, and five important tasks to put on your to-do list before your bundle even arrives. 1. Learn about newborn sleep Everyone, including your pediatrician, is going to ask, “How’s your baby sleeping?” and you can’t answer that if you don’t …

Do your best to avoid vericose veins Varicose veins are mainly a hereditary condition, but doctors actually see them two to four times more frequently in women than in men. The reason? Pregnancy. Your growing uterus, along with weight gain and fluid retention, all put extra pressure on the vein walls, which can accelerate vein damage.Wearing compression or support hose controls leg swelling and stops blood from pooling in your leg veins. “If you have a family history of varicose veins, I would recommend hose because your chances hose.” Here's our list …

Many of my pregnant patients ask me the same question the first time they come to see me: How is one supposed to feel while pregnant? Each time I have to force myself not to laugh, not because it is a funny question but because there is no logical answer. The fact is, the way you feel today has absolutely no predictive value as to how you might feel tomorrow. And if you want to get really specific, the way you felt this morning may or may not be similar to how you might feel later in the afternoon. Although the one definitive thing I can tell you is that the term …

The goal of a professional maternity photographer is to create a truly unique experience in which the mother-to-be feels comfortable, relaxed, beautiful, pampered, and empowered from the moment she enters the studio. Your professional photographer should guide you every step of the way. Scheduling your session Maternity portraits are best captured from weeks 31 to 36. Of course, timing can vary.How to feel and look your best A maternity session is more than just a photo shoot. It is a day of well-deserved pampering that should include a manicure, hair …

For the needle phobic among us, we have bad and good news: On one hand, there are quite a few blood draws throughout your pregnancy. But on a positive note, you won't bat an eye at a syringe by the time you check into the hospital for labor. If your fear of having your blood drawn is getting in the way of your excitement over baby, here's what you need to know: Just how many blood tests are there? The number of times your doctor or midwife will order blood work really depends on the practice. At the very least, you will be asked to have a full screening …

Once women make the decision to start a family, they may begin wondering when the best time to do this is. Just because you know you want kids doesn't mean you're ready to have them yet, after all. But is there a specific age when it's best to get pregnant? People have been speculating for years about this question, and the answer is no. There's no single age when women should aim to get pregnant. Every woman is different, with varying health issues, financial statuses, and responsibilities.But that doesn't mean there aren't positives and negatives to …

Are you sleep-walking through your first trimester? If so, you're in good company. Fatigue is one of the most prevalent side effects of pregnancy, with more than half of all expectant moms fighting to get out of bed in the morning. Here's the lowdown on why you're so tired and what you can do about it: What's the deal? Growing a tiny life form is grueling work, so it's no wonder you're exhausted. In the first trimester, when fatigue is most common, your body is putting all the pieces in place to ensure your baby is as healthy as can be. Around the ninth week, …

They say life changes when you become a mother. And in so many ways, it’s true. Your body, your family, and your perspective on the world will never be the same. Being a parent comes with its ups and downs, but for all the sleepless nights, each day you get to hold the most precious thing you have ever known.Remaining positive isn’t always easy. Especially when it comes to missing out on activities that were a regular part of your life before the baby. But what if foregoing those activities (whatever they may have been!) could have an important silver …

How have your abs changed?  It’s hard to believe, but over the course of your pregnancy your abdominal muscles will stretch by more than 50 percent. As your baby grows, your muscles will lengthen and your six-pack muscle (Rectus) divide and separate into two halves. This stretches, and in some cases, tears the delicate tissues of the Linea Alba. Your Linea Alba, which for some women darkens during pregnancy, is the connective tissue that joins all the layers of your abs at the midline of the body, reaching from your sternum to your pubic bone. The separation …

As you probably know, breastfeeding provides countless benefits to you, your baby, and your family. Although as comforting and healthy as breastfeeding can be, it is not always easy in the first few weeks after giving birth—especially at night. To help moms feel a bit more at ease when handling these nighttime nursing sessions, Lamaze International President Maria J. Brooks, BSN, RNC-OB, LCCE, FACCE, shares four tips:Follow baby's lead If you are waking up several times to feed your baby at night, remember that this is expected! Newborns need to feed …

Of all the contentious items of pregnancy and childbirth, who knew choosing when to cut the umbilical cord would inspire so much debate? First, let's back up. When babies are born, they are still connected to mom by this cord - and the cord must be cut and clamped shortly after birth to separate the two.In the 1950s, it was considered early to clamp the cord 1 minute post birth, and late after 5 minutes. Nowadays, it's customary to do so immediately, usually 15-20 seconds after a baby is born. However, a new study out of Spain suggests that women and their …

When I found out I was pregnant, I freaked out. I knew I wanted to have kids eventually but having one so soon was definitely not my plan. It was 2009 and the economy was melting down like a Twitter celeb on Ambien. I lost my job at an art restoration firm in Chicago. No one was hiring—and even if they were, a pregnant woman was not their ideal candidate. So just like that, I went from the cool-kid city life to being a stay-at-home mom. I loved being a mom, but I was losing myself as a person.Mom’s aren’t cool (think about mom jeans and 'yo mama' …

Ladies, I have figured out the real reason that French women are so darn confident. Four years ago, I gave birth to my first child in France and became privy to a fascinating secret: pelvic floor and vaginal health are incredibly important to the French. The reason I know that now is because I took part in a program that every woman who gives birth in France participates in called, “la rééducation périnéale”, which translates to, “perineal re-education." You’re probably thinking, how much education does my perineum really need? Well, if you …

Congratulations! You’re pregnant and you know your calorie needs have increased to support your growing baby. But, your new calorie goals are not a free pass to eat anything and everything you can get your hands on (Hardly! Most pregnant women need just 300-450 extra calories per day during pregnancy and breastfeeding). Pay attention to the quality and type of nutrients you need, perhaps most importantly omega-3 fatty acids. What are omega-3s? Omega-3s are a type of unsaturated fat. There are three main types found in the foods we eat: ALA (alpha-linolenic …

My pregnant and postpartum body brought up deeply ingrained painful body memories of the transitions and awkwardness that accompanied puberty.I was used to feeling confident, empowered, and present in my body. Now I felt weak, confused and detached. Why did this feel like a huge cruel joke that I was supposed to now care for my child in a body that I didn’t know, recognize, or want to be in? I didn’t know how to move around in this body.There is a loss of identity. A feeling that you are waiting for something, for time to pass, for a sign …

Flying to Bali is literally traveling to the opposite side of the world. The flight is exactly 26 hours, whether you fly east or west around the globe. When we decided to build our dream house in the rice paddies of Ubud, we had no idea I was pregnant with Baby Elvis. Now as we traveled to check-in on the completion of the house, we faced so many unknowns. Traveling two weeks to the tropics with our 4 month old son definitely brought well learned lessons and surprises.Pre-baby packing used to be done the night before, making sure not to forget my favorite …

My friend Dan called me at work and I could sense the excitement in his voice. His wife was out of town with both their kids. Did I want to meet him at the sports bar tonight? The Bruins were playing the Canadians. The Celtics were wrapping up their regular season. And, drum roll please, the Red Sox and Yankees were on, too!If there was ever a night for some serious male bonding over greasy burgers and cold beer, this was it. I said yes, before even checking with my wife, even though she was eight months’ pregnant, we had a toddler in the throes …