Posts

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that three out of four women consume alcoholic beverages while trying to get pregnant. Here’s what you need to know about the recommendations for alcohol use during preconception. Early Pregnancy and Drinking What if alcohol was consumed before you knew you were pregnant? Remember that once you get a positive pregnancy test result back, you’re already considered (at least) four weeks pregnant....

Street performers, jugglers, and musicians fill the former marketplace of Place Jacques-Cartier. And Mount Royal rises above the center of the city, offering beautiful parks, hiking trails, and horseback riding. A 23-year-old intern at TravelMuse.com sold us on the idea after she called it her favorite all-around city. This gorgeous 2-minute video sealed the deal. We’re booking our tickets now for the summer. Winter is icy. Nearby La Jolla boasts swanky boutiques and posh shops, and Coronado Island lends a retro vibe and powdery soft beaches to your must-see list....

Overview For married parents, the husband is automatically assumed to be the father of the child. However, unwed mothers are asked in the hospital—but not required—to provide the name of the birth father. Just as the mom does not need to put down a name, the father also does not need to acknowledge paternity, unless required to do so by a court order. Alternatively, a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity (AOP) affidavit or a court-certified judgment establishing paternity can be submitted either at the hospital or later on to add a father to the birth certificate....

Try any of these fun Valentine crafts with your child; you’ll find yourself having fun making and sharing them too!

To counter boredom complaints and lure your teen out of their room, help them find creative ways to stay active and busy. Try these fun fall activities: Get Outside Fall might be the perfect time of year to spend time outdoors, with its comfortable temperatures and photogenic foliage. Plus, outdoor activities usually offer much-needed exercise. Challenge your teen to recruit a friend or two and: Camp in your backyard. Bike five miles....

But, for women who fear that they don’t have the time to wait, or for women who have struggled with infertility in the past, the waiting may be more of a concern. Here’s what you need to know about getting pregnant again while you’re breastfeeding. How Breastfeeding Affects Fertility It can take a few weeks, a few months, or even longer for your body to become fertile again once you have a baby....

Many chore charts on the market are geared toward younger children. And you certainly don’t want your 15-year-old to think she’s being treated like a baby​ — that could backfire and cause her to become less responsible. Create your own teenage-approved chore chart. By doing so, you’ll be giving your teen more responsibility and you’ll spend less time battling over chores. Here are a few different types of chore charts that can be effective with teens:...

Many of us grew up celebrating Hanukkah with our families, and are looking for new ways to celebrate with our growing families. Others of us are looking to celebrate it for the first time, and may even be celebrating the holiday alongside other traditional winter holidays. The good news is that most of the heartwarming celebrations of Hanukkah can be enjoyed by anyone, and the traditions are easy to adopt and embrace....

In anticipation of this buzzy launch, we chatted with Ariane Goldman, the founder of HATCH (and mom of two!). “With all that women do, and with their strength and hardworking attitude, I wanted to give them something they could run and walk in,” she says of the HATCH x Keds collaboration. All of the styles are optimized for pregnant and postpartum feet—and yes, they’re also still a solid pick if you’re none of these things....

Along with monitoring and further testing when needed, hCG levels are especially helpful in determining whether the pregnancy is progressing normally, is at risk for a miscarriage, or is showing signs of other complications. Below, we will take a more in-depth look at hCG levels, how they’re measured, the different variations, and what they can mean throughout your pregnancy. What Is hCG? As soon as you become pregnant, your body begins producing hCG, which can be found in the blood as early as 11 days after conception....

Freshly pumped milk will be okay for 4 hours, but if you baby has some of it, the rest of the bottle can only stay out for 2 more hours. If you defrost frozen milk, it can stay out for 1 to 2 hours and it should never be refrozen. Let’s take a look at what that time frame is, what the storage options are, and tips for keeping breast milk fresh and safe for your baby....

Here’s a guide to help you get an idea of how many minutes newborns and older babies spend breastfeeding, what changes breastfeeding times, what short and long feedings can mean. You will also find advice on when to call the doctor. Factors That Affect Breastfeeding Time Some breastfed babies can take a full feeding in 8 minutes. Others need 30 minutes or more to get the same amount of breast milk....

You can usually use this type of pregnancy test from a few days before your period is due to a few weeks or months into pregnancy. The body continues to produce hCG the entire pregnancy. This is why it can be done even later in pregnancy with good results. How Much Does a Home Pregnancy Test Cost? You can purchase various brands of home pregnancy tests from drugstores, supermarkets, big-box stores, and even dollar stores....

You used to be a great multi-tasker, but now you can’t seem to even do one thing right. Why is your brain so fuzzy? What exactly is going on here? What Is Pandemic Brain Fog? If your parenting has been plagued by fuzzy thoughts or “brain fog” lately, you are not alone. Brain fog is a common reaction to anxiety and stressful situations. And there is no doubt we are living in stressful, unprecedented times....

It can be easy to forget the importance of countering the pervasive messages of instant gratification, consumerism, and selfishness prevalent in our society. As C.S. Lewis famously said, “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” How can we raise a good child, one who will do the right thing, even when no one may see them do it, and when there may be no reward?...

And so far it’s been going pretty well—maybe they urinate consistently in the toilet or will even use a potty that isn’t their own—but they’re still hitting some stumbling blocks. No matter how many stickers you reward them with, they just can’t seem to get over some of these hurdles. But don’t despair, all you need is a little potty training help! For many little ones using the toilet for the first time, it isn’t always smooth sailing....

But pregnancy can also impact other parts of your body, including your vision. If you’ve noticed some changes to your sight while expecting, you’re definitely not alone. As the hormones that support your pregnancy and your growing baby fluctuate in your body, they can cause some unintended consequences. You may retain more fluid, which in turn, may distort your vision, perhaps by affecting the shape and thickness of your corneas, and your eyes may feel dry and scratchy due to a decrease in tear production....

Why Falls Happen Sometimes it’s simply a matter of a change in the center of gravity. This happens at about the fourth month of pregnancy. Sometimes you may just be a bit more clumsy while pregnant because of the weight gain, protruding pregnant belly, or because of the softening of ligaments and joints due to the hormone relaxin. All of this combined makes for the perfect recipe when it comes to falling in pregnancy....

TANF replaces the federal programs previously known as welfare and enables states to offer a wide variety of social services. One significant change from the old welfare system is that TANF recipients must participate in work activities in or to receive benefits. This means that parents receiving TANF must be employed in some capacity, be working toward employment, or taking classes aimed at increasing their long-term employability. Recipients may also be eligible for:...