Pregnancy Blog
Managing Your Weight Gain During Pregnancy
Question: "I'm 21 weeks pregnant, and I feel like I'm starting to look huge! Am I gaining too much weight!? How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?" Answer: You're not alone if you're freaking out about your pregnancy weight gain! Many women have mixed...
What Kind of Parent Would I Be?
"I'm due in a couple of months, and I've trying to decide between adoption and keeping my baby. What is the best way to figure out what kind of parent I would be? I’m confused and really want to make the right decision." It's normal to wonder what kind of...
How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks
Stretch marks form when your skin changes shape rapidly because of growth or weight gain. In the later months of pregnancy, weight can come on rapidly. That, with the additional hormonal changes, can bring on stretch marks in all the worst places: the stomach, hips,...
7 Things to Buy Before the Baby Arrives
According to a survey on Stacker, only 12% of all parents feel prepared when they first have children. While most new parents know to get bottles, a crib, and clothes ready, determining what else is essential and what can wait is a little murkier. For any new parents...
8 of the Most Ridiculously Rude Things People Say to Pregnant Women
When you're pregnant, you may have many emotions, from fear to excitement to frustration. Pregnant women are regularly commented on, given advice, or asked ignorant questions. Unfortunately, some people don't think before they say things, ask rude questions, and say...
Smoking in Early Pregnancy Without Knowing
What happens if you didn't know you were pregnant and smoked the first month? Would it harm or affect the growth and development of the unborn fetus? In other words, will smoking in early pregnancy without knowing you're pregnant harm your growing baby? It's...
Am I Ready to Be a Mom?
"Am I ready to be a mom?" is a question that has been swirling around countless women's minds for centuries. Even if they've been planning for motherhood for years, many women wonder if they are ready to be a mom when the reality of it all sinks in. Becoming a...
I Drank Before I Found Out I Was Pregnant!
"I went out partying with my friends last weekend and drank a lot. Then today, my pregnancy test turned up positive! Since I drank before I found out I was pregnant, I'm freaked out! Could I have hurt my baby?" Having a couple of drinks before you knew you were...
Help! My Friend Is Pregnant and Thinking of Suicide
"My best friend just found out she's pregnant, and her boyfriend totally ghosted her when he learned the news. She doesn't have a good relationship with her parents, and she's terrified to tell them. She's just let me know that she feels so hopeless that she's...
Can My Parents Make Me Get an Abortion?
"I'm 15 and have been dating my boyfriend for a few months. We found out last week that I'm pregnant! He plans to start working full-time at his job so that we can afford to raise our baby. But I don't know if I'm ready to be a mom yet. When I told my parents I'm...
How to Deal With Pregnancy Heartburn
One of the most common pregnancy side effects (besides morning sickness!) is heartburn. You may have never before experienced the discomfort of heartburn — but now that you're pregnant, it's a common, uncomfortable occurrence. Why is that? Many women who don't...
Boy or Girl? Your Body May React Differently
Craving sweets? Get ready for a girl. Are you carrying low? It's a boy. There are plenty of other old wives' tales about predicting a baby's gender, but none of them appear to be backed up by science. While many gender-predicting theories are myths, they're not...
Post-Baby Belly: How Long Will I Still Look Pregnant?
Why do I still look like I'm pregnant? How long will it take for my belly to go back to normal? Does the mom pooch ever go away? What can I do to make my belly get flatter? Countless women have asked questions like these as they move through the weeks...
How to Recover After Giving Birth
Giving birth is one of the most remarkable things your body will ever do. No matter whether you had a cesarean birth (C-section) or vaginal delivery, your body has been through trauma just the same. As a result, it is going to need some time to recover after giving...
Your Guide to Pregnancy-Safe Foundations
There are a lot of things to take into account when you're pregnant. Besides physical changes, you also have to be mindful of what you put on your body, including everything from your sunscreen, shampoo, face wash, and more. So while you may already be enjoying that...
Your Guide to Pregnancy-Safe Shampoos
Shampoos and conditioners are generally considered safe for everyone, including pregnant women. But even though shampoos go through testing before they hit the shelves, healthcare, hygiene, and cosmetic products are not tested on pregnant women. Last time, in...
Your Guide to Pregnancy-Safe Sunscreens
When you're expecting, you have a lot of things to think about, from shopping for maternity clothes and creating a birth plan to stocking up on baby essentials and deciding on your baby's name. Choosing a pregnancy-safe sunscreen shouldn't have to be one of the many...
Your Guide to Pregnancy-Safe Skincare Products
Chances are, you've heard of "pregnancy glow," when a pregnant woman's face looks naturally bright and healthy due to all the hormones her body is churning out. But we often don't talk about other skin-related side effects of pregnancy, such as acne, sensitivity, and...
Pregnancy-Safe Skincare: Ingredients to Avoid
As soon as you find out you're pregnant, your whole world changes. And that includes your line-up of beauty products like shampoo, cosmetics, and skincare products. While you probably know that you need to shelve your favorite wine during pregnancy, having to stop...
How Could Adoption Benefit My Baby?
It's safe to say that every parent wants what is best for their child. For some, adoption is the most caring choice they could make. Placing a child for adoption is not selfish or a decision that is made casually. Birth parents decide on adoption because they want the...
How to Soothe Leg Cramps During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is full of weird aches and pains, from morning sickness and nausea to fatigue and bloating. Unfortunately, leg cramps (otherwise known as Charley horses) are no exception. Leg cramps can come out of nowhere, or even wake you up in the middle of the...