Her main parenting focus is raising a “curious and inquisitive person,” she tells us. Akerman is confident he will read, write, and learn math, so she’s working hard to instill emotional intelligence. “I just want him to be a good human being,” Akerman shares. In our exclusive interview, learn how she’s parenting during a pandemic, getting support thanks to a pod of families in her son’s class, and relieved her “mom guilt” while learning to take some time for herself....

What Is Milk Thistle? Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a tall, purple flowering plant with prickly spines. Originally from the Mediterranean region, milk thistle has a long history of use in medicine and healing. For centuries, this plant has been used to treat health problems of the liver and gallbladder. It’s also a well-known galactagogue (something that promotes breast milk production) that breastfeeding mothers take to help increase their supply of breast milk....

Our team of editors and parents have tested more than 30 strollers to date this year in our Verywell Testing Lab and in the real world. In our most recent test, we evaluated both the Mockingbird and the Uppababy Vista V2 strollers on assembly, design, maneuverability, and value and quickly found a clear winner. We paid special attention to how difficult or finicky their different features were. Our testers observed small details (like whether the five-point harness is easy to put together and release) as well as larger details (like how smoothly the strollers were to steer over different surfaces and terrains) with the same level of scrutiny....

In fact, many parents go on to expect a baby after an early miscarriage. Here’s what you need to know about conceiving again. Chances of Conceiving After a miscarriage, it’s very possible to become pregnant, have a full-term pregnancy, and deliver a healthy baby. Most people will have a successful pregnancy the next time they conceive after their first miscarriage. If you’ve miscarried two or three times, your odds are lower, but still good....

What Are Identical Twins? It’s important to accurately understand twin type. The term identical is used to describe monozygotic multiples—twins that form from a single fertilized egg that splits into two. Because they originate from the same sperm/egg combination, these twins have the same genetic origins. With the same DNA, they often have very similar appearances. Because they look alike, the term “identical” has become synonymous with monozygotic twins. However, the correct description is monozygotic, indicating that the twins formed from one (mono) zygote (fertilized egg)....

According to the March of Dimes, you are six times more likely to deliver early with twins than with one baby. With triplets, quadruplets and other higher-order multiples, the odds are higher, nearly 100 percent. Before you get panicked at the inevitability of preterm labor, let’s break down the statistics. If you are having “just” twins, you are likely to have full-term, healthy twins within the last few weeks of the third trimester....

Signs you need a D&C include fever, severe abdominal cramping, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, and abnormal, heavy, or unexplained bleeding from the vagina. In some cases, a D&C is considered a medical necessity. For example, if you have heavy bleeding following a miscarriage, the procedure is the quickest way to stop the bleeding and prevent hypovolemia (excessive blood loss) and anemia. In non-emergency situations, including an incomplete miscarriage, a D&C may not be considered medically necessary....

Risks of Additional Preterm Births Previous preterm birth is one of the biggest risk factors for having another premature infant. The risk goes up when mothers have had more than one premature birth, and goes down when mothers have a term pregnancy after a preterm birth. Mothers who had medically indicated preterm births are also at increased risk for future preterm births—due to the same medical issues that led to the first preterm delivery....

Gellar is used to wearing many hats, but these new roles were overwhelming. Aside from acting, she is co-founder of Foodstirs Junk-Free Bakery, which offers sweet treats made from better-for-you ingredients, as well as a passionate philanthropist. Gellar also works with Lysol’s HERE for Healthy Schools initiative back, helping to educate students and educators on the importance of hand hygiene and a clean classroom. In our interview, Gellar shares how she navigated her kids, 12-year-old Charlotte and 9-year-old Rocky, through the darkness of the pandemic and how she tries to instill a philanthropic spirit as a family....

There are numerous reasons why these numbers are so high, and they are all rooted in racism, systemic medical bias, and discrimination. In order to combat the effects of these socioeconomic inequalities that make it more difficult for Black people to have healthy and successful pregnancies. Black parents ultimately need to know how to advocate for themselves before, during, and after childbirth. We’ve spoken to experts who can provide insight into why there are such vast disparities, as well as tips on how Black birthing people can advocate throughout the pregnancy process....

According to the American Pregnancy Association, you may have an increased risk of another pregnancy loss if your body isn’t ready to support a pregnancy yet. Both the uterus and the endometrial lining need time to recover and restrengthen. Many doctors recommend that women wait two or three months to conceive again after a miscarriage. This is so they can recover physically and emotionally from their loss. Some doctors may recommend waiting even longer if the couple needs more time to heal....

If this is the case, there are things your doctor can do to either confirm or rule out your suspicions. One of the more common complications in early pregnancy is a condition known as threatened miscarriage, or threatened abortion. What Is a Threatened Miscarriage? “Threatened miscarriage” is a term used to describe abnormal bleeding and abdominal pain that occurs while the pregnancy still continues. While vaginal bleeding is common during early pregnancy, anything other than spotting during the first trimester may be considered a threatened miscarriage....

According to a national study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, more than half of all children and adolescents in the U.S. are not getting enough hydration, with Black children and boys at the highest risk for dehydration. Whatever brings it on, the signs of early dehydration in a child can be sneaky. In fact, a kid who needs more fluid may not even seem very thirsty, if at all....