Most likely you were shocked and in disbelief, the anxiety and stress washing over you in waves. And, even though the doctor likely provided you with some initial predictions on how likely it was that your baby did indeed have something wrong with it, all you could think about was what this would mean to your family. You may have wondered, “How am I going to cope if the additional ultrasounds and tests showed something was truly wrong?...

Other IVF contests are more like a lottery. For example, attendance to a particular event (like an informational session at a clinic or a fertility trade show) would get you an entry. Then, a winner is chosen at random. If you’re interested in entering a contest, arm yourself with information first. Then, take care to protect yourself as you move forward. Consider the Ethics of IVF Contests There’s some debate on whether these contests—especially those that ask infertile people to submit their stories—are ethical....

If you don’t happen to have the necessary resources to pay for IVF outright, the high price tag may feel like a dead end. “Sadly, this reality prompts some people to give up on their baby dreams,” says Leslie Van Everly, head of content & communications at Future Family, a San Francisco-based online company offering fertility financing for IVF. Others may scrape together the necessary funds, borrow the money from family, friends, or banks, or put it all on a credit card and hope for the best, says Van Everly....

In addition to kids choosing screen time over outdoor play and sports, schools and homework also increasingly put children in front of computers, even when they are attending class in person. This cuts into the time kids have to be physically active. In fact, concerning statistics show that students are far too sedentary at school and at home—a trend that’s contributing to serious health concerns. There are plenty of ways for teachers and parents to encourage movement throughout the day, from running around outside at recess to signing your child up for an afterschool sport....

How to Hand Express Milk Expressing breast milk by hand is a skill that may take time and a little practice to learn how to do it properly. You can follow these steps to express breast milk by hand. Remember to have a storage bottle, cup, or bowl ready to catch the expressing milk. Here are the step-by-step instructions for hand expressing breast milk. Step 1 Wash your hands with soap and water....

But for families who don’t celebrate Christmas, being surrounded by holiday decor for months can be overwhelming. It might even feel exclusionary, particularly if you have young children who are wondering why they don’t participate in the same customs as their classmates. We turned to some experts to dig into the trends surrounding the holiday hype, along with some tools for how to cope if your household isn’t a Christmas-celebrating one....

Most children have occasional bad moods and misbehavior, whether they have visited a grandparent recently or not. Parents may be falsely attributing a bad mood to the hangover from a grandparent visit. Still, grandparents should strive to preserve their grandchildren’s bedtime routines during sleepovers, as well as expecting grandchildren to meet normal expectations for behavior. Grandparents who resist spoiling the grandchildren too much have the best chance of getting to repeat the sleepover experience....

Why Some Teens Are Shy Teens may be more likely to have unhealthy coping skills. So whereas an adult who feels shy may still greet someone or may force themselves to attend functions, shy teens may be more likely to avoid people or steer clear of optional social gatherings. Genetics can play a role in why some teens experience moderate or severe amounts of shyness. Teens whose parents grew up being very shy may be more likely to experience shyness....

With all the pressure piled onto today’s teenagers, it’s no surprise that some start to get in trouble with their schoolwork. Teens who fall behind may fall into a pattern of poor test grades, incomplete homework, and failing grades. While you can’t force your teen to do their work, you can offer a little extra support to help them. With your help, they should be able to catch up on homework before they fall behind too much....

But what if your child starts hating bath time as they get older (or never even liked it in the first place)? It’s not like bathing is optional! Meanwhile, your child’s reluctance could cause major issues in the house, disrupting the bedtime routine and leading to unnecessary tears. If you’re tired of battling with a semi-nude, tantrum-throwing toddler every night at bath time, never fear: we have all the tips and tricks you need to turn bathing into a positive activity that your kiddo looks forward to instead of protesting....

If you find yourself thinking similar thoughts, start keeping track of your baby’s wet diapers and seek out a lactation consultant who can help you figure out what the problem really is. If it is low milk supply, rest assured that there are many ways to build your supply and help your baby gain weight. Cluster feeding, a breastfeeding pattern where baby cries to be fed very often for a block of time, can also be extremely helpful to build your milk supply....

The products recalled were Walgreens Pain Reliever Acetaminophen (150 count bottles), Kroger Aspirin (300 count bottles), Kroger Ibuprofen (160 count bottles), and Kroger Arthritis Pain Acetaminophen (225 count bottles). These products are required to have child-resistant packaging because of the risk of poisoning. Child-resistant packaging is one of several ways we can keep our children from accessing medicine. But, it’s not enough on its own. Manufacturers can slip up, as we see in these recalls....

“The worst thing you can do it treat this Thanksgiving like any other year,” warns Jill Grimes, MD, author of “The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook.” There are few, if any, 100% safe activities during the pandemic. With that being said, keeping your celebration small and making smart changes at your feast could reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 on one of the biggest family gathering days of the year....

Connect With Your Kids Children and teens need to have a solid connection with parents and other adults to fully benefit from their experience, wisdom, and support. Don’t forget to spend time with your children, listen to them, and connect while doing things together that you both enjoy. If the lines of communication are open, they’ll be more likely to talk to you and use you as a resource when they’re stressed....

Each round takes only 15 to 20 minutes to play. That means you can play the game as a tournament or a best-of-three contest too. When you’re done, move on to kickball or tag. How to Set up the Game Rules for Playing

Statistics on the prevalence of Irish twin births in the United States are lacking. However, extremely short birth intervals are relatively uncommon. One study found that 35% of subsequent pregnancies were conceived within 18 months of a prior birth, which is over two years apart or less between births. Typically, Irish twins are conceived within just 3 months of a prior birth. Longer intervals from previous childbirth to conception are possible if the subsequent child is born prematurely....

It is a normal concern for families in these times. With economic pressures mounting, it only makes sense to consider the financial impact of having children two (or more) at the same time. When your family grows by a single child, there are expenses. When it multiplies with multiples, the costs grow exponentially. How Much Does It Cost to Raise Twins? An estimate by the United States Department of Agriculture indicates that the cost of raising a child born in 2015 (the latest date for which figures are available) to the age of seventeen is $233,610....

Lead exposure is associated with damage to the immune and reproductive systems, as well as blood disorders. In fact, the detrimental impact of lead exposure led federal, state, and local institutions to impose regulations to lessen its potential risks. Despite these efforts to mitigate the issue (which have been in effect since the 1970s), a new study shows problems still persist. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics in September 2021, notes that children in low-income housing are still exposed to the substance at a high rate....

Because the ability to read is an early predictor of educational achievement, students with reading disorders are at risk of poor academic performance throughout their school years. They may experience low self-esteem and negative outcomes later in life if they don’t receive the help they need. As with all learning disabilities, there is no cure for reading disorders. However, a variety of teaching methods are available to help students cope with their disability and learn to read successfully....