Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms: Preconception, Pumping & Parenting Support

If you’re newly pregnant, one of the first questions that you might have is, “is it safe for me to exercise while pregnant?” Fortunately, the answer for most women is a resounding “yes.” In fact, exercise has tons of benefits for both you and your baby, but as with anything else related to your pregnancy, you’ll want to get the approval from your doctor first. If you’ve been exercising all along, chances are good that you can continue doing the same thing you’re doing now, but there are exceptions to this rule.   Exercising Basics for Pregnant Women Contrary to what some people believe, pregnancy exercises will not lead to a miscarriage, especially if you either stick with low-impact exercises or only exercises that you’re used to doing. At the beginning of your pregnancy, your doctor will take blood work and maybe even do an ultrasound, so they’ll know exactly how healthy you are and if they should be concerned about anything. If you and the baby are both deemed healthy, you can start exercising right away, but if you’re new to exercise, you should start out slow and build up to more intense workouts. Throughout your pregnancy, you need to let your doctor know if your workout routine changes in any way. After all, exercise is good for pregnant women, but just how good will depend on whether or not anything changes during your pregnancy.   What If You’re a Newbie to Exercise? If you’ve never exercised before and you want to start after you find out you're pregnant, you can start by choosing a low-impact type of exercise and exercise only 5 to 10 minutes per day until your aerobic capacity is built up a little more. Every 6 to 10 days, you can add another five minutes until you’ve built up to roughly 30 minutes of exercise per day. So, what exercises are considered safe workouts during pregnancy? Doctors recommend something aerobic, preferably low-impact, which can include exercises such as: Walking Yoga Dancing Using an elliptical Climbing stairs Swimming Cycling Of course, if you’re used to doing something a little more strenuous, such as jogging or running, you can go ahead and continue your routine as long as you have your doctor’s approval. Whatever your body is already used to doing is usually acceptable and won’t harm either you or the baby. That being said, it’s still a good idea to make sure that the doctor always knows what you’re doing just to be on the safe side.   The Many Benefits of Exercising While Pregnant We all know how beneficial exercise can be, but it’s especially advantageous when you’re pregnant. When you exercise during pregnancy, some of the many benefits include: Much more restful sleep Reduced risk of certain pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes and hypertension caused by the pregnancy Easier to maintain your weight and lose weight after the baby is born Much less anxiety and stress Faster childbirth An improved mood Lower risk of back pain and constipation In fact, many studies have even proven that for women who exercise regularly throughout their pregnancy, there is less of a chance of them having a C-section because their muscles are fitter and stronger. If you build up to 30 minutes of exercise per day for four to five days per week, you’ll benefit both physically and emotionally, and so will your baby.   Dos and Don’ts When Exercising While Pregnant Of course, even if you okay your prenatal fitness plan with your doctor, there are still some dos and don’ts to keep in mind. These include: Do: Wear comfortable clothes Don’t allow yourself to overheat Be aware of your heart rate at all times Stay well hydrated both before and after the workout Wear supportive shoes You should also listen to your body and if it’s telling you that you need to reduce the length or the intensity of your exercises, listen to it! There’s nothing wrong with exercising less often or going back to less-intense exercises, either short-term or long-term. Don’t: Participate in high-impact exercises Choose exercises the cause stress on your torso of pelvis, such as horseback riding Choose any type of contact sport Participate in exercises in which you might fall, such as aerial sports or gymnastics Also keep in mind that exercises that may cause you to overheat or raise either your heart rate or your breathing to high levels should be avoided. If you’re finished exercising and you can’t talk at a regular pace because you’re breathing too fast, it’s time to take it down a notch. It’s always better for your exercise routine to be too lax rather than too intense. In addition, if you’re finished exercising and you are dehydrated, feel nauseated or lightheaded, have a bad headache, or you feel like you’re overheating, this means that you’ve taken it to a dangerous level. If you build up slowly over time to a reasonable exercise routine, this likely won’t happen, but if it does, you need to slow it down a bit. You can always build back up later if your health improves.   Conclusion Exercising while pregnant, even in the first trimester, is acceptable as long as it’s low-impact exercises and you have your doctor’s approval. If you’ve never exercised before, you can start out with 5 to 10 minutes of exercise per day and build up slowly to 30 minutes or so per day. Never let yourself get overheated or dehydrated, and always stick with exercises that are low-impact, non-contact, and easy on your pelvic area and torso.

In your first trimester of pregnancy, there is a lot going on with both your body and your life, but with regular appointments with your doctor all of these things can be much easier. One of the things your doctor may suggest is a series of first trimester tests, most of which are optional but recommended. They can show you what’s really going on with your baby, and we’ll take a look at some of them now.   Do You Really Need These Screening Tests? Legally, no first trimester screening is required, but most moms-to-be want to know if their fetus is healthy and developing normally. Most of the tests are offered near the end of the first trimester -- usually between 10 and 14 weeks -- although some are given as early as nine weeks. If your pregnancy is an at-risk pregnancy or if you’re over the age of 35, the doctor will likely highly recommend that you take certain tests. First trimester prenatal screening usually includes two basic tests. The first one is a basic blood test, which tests the DNA of the developing fetus. They simply draw blood from one of your veins and send the sample to a lab. The second test is a transvaginal ultrasound, in which a tiny transducer is inserted into the vagina to help them get more accurate results.   More Specific Testing Is Sometimes Conducted Sometimes these tests are looking for general information, while other times they are conducted to look for something specific. For the blood test, two substances are looked for in the pregnant woman’s blood. The first is the level of pregnancy-related plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in the placenta. If the number is too low, it might mean the baby is at risk for some type of chromosomal defect. The second test looks for a hormone called the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Much like PAPP-A, an abnormal number might mean the fetus is at risk for a chromosomal defect. Neither of these tests mean for certain that the fetus will have some type of abnormality. It just means they might be at risk of it. There is also a test to determine if certain birth defects are likely. Many of these tests are done up to weeks 12 or 13 and test for defects such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Trisomy 13, or Trisomy 18. Some of these defects are incompatible with life, so it’s important to many expectant moms that they find this out as soon as possible. There is also an ultrasound test for fetal nuchal translucency, or NT. The test involves looking at the back of the baby’s neck in case there’s thicker-than-normal skin or increased fluid in the area. If there is, it might mean a defect. Finally, there is cell-free fetal DNA screening. With this test, structural birth defects are not found but it is easier to find defects in the X or Y chromosomes, which are the sex chromosomes.   What Happens Next? If you get any type of testing during one of your pregnancy checkups, it might mean that further testing is needed. These tests can sometimes cause false-positive results, and the doctor will want you to know for certain what your options are. First and foremost, you’ll want to ask yourself certain questions before getting any type of testing done. These include the following questions: Will the results be perfect? Before you agree to any type of prenatal test, you’ll want to know the accuracy of each test and what the results mean. Check with your doctor to get the answer to this question. Am I prepared for the results of the test? If you end up with unexpected test results, you’ll have some serious decisions to make, so you need to be prepared for the outcome of the test regardless of what it is. Are there any risks with the test? These tests generally come with very few risks, but since this is your body that’s being affected, not to mention your baby’s, you’ll want to know exactly what the risks are with each test. Once you agree to having the tests done, you’ll be meeting with a healthcare professional after they get the results. In that meeting, they’ll go over everything in detail and answer all of your questions. The test results may, in fact, affect your remaining prenatal care and might even make you change your course, but at least you and the doctor will both know that this is necessary. If something is wrong with your child, you will have to decide whether or not to continue the pregnancy. If you decide to do just that, at least you’ll be more prepared to take care of the child once they arrive. You’ll have the rest of your pregnancy to research the baby’s condition and learn all you can about it so you can be a better parent to the child. The bottom line is this: Only you can make the decision whether or not to get prenatal testing done. This is why it’s so important to ask lots of questions and check with your doctor before deciding for sure to have the testing done.   Conclusion Prenatal testing is done mostly to check for certain birth defects, but the tests can create both false-positive and false-negative results, which means the doctor will likely want to do additional testing. Some of this additional testing is done later in the pregnancy, and you should feel comfortable getting all of the facts about the tests before you make a final decision.

When you’re in your first trimester of pregnancy, one of the most important things that you can do is eat properly. To be sure, “eating for two” is more than just an expression because you are creating a human being and your nutrition requirements are extensive. Still, this doesn’t mean that you can eat anything you like anytime you like. In fact, working with your doctor and establishing a pregnancy diet is crucial to the development of your fetus, and it isn’t as difficult as it seems.   Some of the Basics As a general rule, a developing fetus needs lots of nutrition, but what type? Even though you’re eating for two, you have to keep in mind that one of you is the size of a lima bean, so you don’t have to stuff yourself at every meal. Still, you do need to eat nutritiously at every meal, and when it comes to deciding which foods to eat during pregnancy, the following tips will help. 1. Aim for the Right Number of Calories Pregnancy is not a time to diet, and you’ll want to aim for 2,000 calories per day. If you go over that, it’s not a problem, but 2,000 should be the minimum. If you eat less than that, the developing fetus may not get the nutrition that it needs to grow properly, which is especially important in the first three months of pregnancy. 2. Eat Smaller Meals More Frequently When deciding how to eat in your first trimester, it’s easier to eat three small meals per day plus two to three snacks. Eating smaller and more frequent meals can also help with morning sickness and nausea, not to mention heartburn and tummy issues. Eating this way indeed offers a lot of advantages for the mom-to-be in her first trimester. 3. What You Need to Eat Of course, in addition to making sure that you eat the right amount of food, you’ll also need to eat the right types. This includes lots of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, as well as foods such as: Lean meat that is thoroughly cooked and has the amino acids needed to develop healthy cells in the body Beans and lentils, which have folate, iron, fiber, and protein Kale and other dark leafy green veggies, which contain calcium, folate, iron, fiber, and vitamins C, E, A, and K Yogurt, because of its high calcium content for strong bones and teeth Bananas, which have a lot of potassium and can be easily tolerated when you have an upset stomach Edamame, which are soybean pods and has a lot of protein, iron, calcium, and folate Ginger products, including ginger ale and ginger tea, for its ability to eliminate nausea Always keep in mind that you also should eat a wide variety of foods in order to provide all of the developing fetus needs to grow properly throughout the pregnancy. As far as the specific nutrients are concerned, look for ingredients such as: Protein: Roughly 75 mg per day Iron: Shoot for 27 mg per day Folic acid: Also known as vitamin B9 or folate, aim for 600 mcg per day Calcium: Roughly 1,000 mg per day Potassium: Shoot for 2,900 mg per day, which are usually contained in your prenatal vitamins Vitamin C: Aim for 85 mg per day DHA: This comes from omega-3 fatty acids and can be taken as a supplement 4. What to Do If You’re Nauseated If you’re nauseated a lot and you’re starting to worry that you’re not getting enough nutrition, eating four to six smaller meals per day can help a lot. You should also consider avoiding foods that are spicy or have a high fat content, and try to eat more foods that have a soft texture, are eaten at room temperature, and foods that are easy to eat on the go, such as graham crackers, whole-grain crackers, low-sugar cereal, and pretzels.   Are There Foods That You Should Avoid in Your First Trimester? While your doctor may not specifically prohibit you from eating certain foods, most experts recommend that women in their first trimester should avoid foods such as: Eggplant High-mercury fish such as king mackerel, tuna, orange roughy, and swordfish Certain raw foods, such as eggs, meat and poultry, cabbage, sprouts, and even fish that is undercooked Black grapes Unpasteurized milk Fruits such as pineapple and papaya Any soft cheeses Any processed or deli meats Fruits and veggies that aren’t properly washed Alcohol and caffeine Foods with too much sugar or “empty” calories When it comes to foods to avoid during pregnancy, these are some of the most important ones. If you have concerns about any foods that you’d like to include in your diet, you should contact your doctor soon so you can learn what foods are acceptable and what foods aren’t. Some of the foods mentioned above can be eaten in moderation, but to be on the safe side, it’s best to avoid them altogether. The bottom line is that you want to eat healthy and eat only foods that can help your baby grow and develop properly. Avoiding certain foods means that your growing baby won’t be consuming nutrients they do not need.   Conclusion Learning what to eat and how to eat in your first trimester of pregnancy is a must, but it isn’t that difficult to do. Try to eat a variety of foods that are high in vitamins and minerals and avoid sugary or high-fat foods. With some help and some common sense, it’s easy to eat right while you’re pregnant.

The first trimester of pregnancy is filled with excitement and a little nervousness, especially if this is your first pregnancy. Unfortunately, it also comes with numerous discomforts, the most common one being nausea and morning sickness. The thing is that you can handle these discomforts more easily if you know what to do about them, and it’s a lot simpler than you think. The Basics Up to 70% of all pregnant women experience some type of nausea or other discomforts in their first trimester, and while some of it is minor, some women can be quite miserable. It isn’t just nausea, either, because other symptoms can also be present. This is due mainly to the rapid changes happening in your body. Below are a few of the most common challenges in the first trimester along with things that you can do about them. 1. Nausea and Other Tummy Problems Nausea and vomiting are never any fun, but you might have other tummy issues as well, the most common of which is constipation. You may also get sick to your stomach from smelling certain foods, especially foods that are oily or have a very strong smell. The smartest thing that you can do when you’re nauseated is to eat smaller meals throughout the day and make sure that you’re eating foods high in protein and carbs. You should also have snacks with you at all times, and drinking something that contains ginger, such as ginger ale, can help with the queasiness. Whole-grain crackers, peanut butter, and cheese are good foods to eat, as is peppermint tea. Coping with pregnancy nausea is easier if you don’t let yourself get too hungry. Also, if your nausea gets so severe that you can’t seem to keep anything down, you should give your doctor a call. If you’re constipated, it is likely due to the pregnancy hormones, which tend to slow down bowel activity. The growing fetus can also start putting pressure on your intestines and even the rectum, which can make constipation worse. Light exercise, drinking 8 to 10 cups of water per day, and eating foods such as yogurt, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables can be a big help. 2. Extreme Fatigue The fact that your body is changing so much and at a very rapid rate can make you tired, but pregnancy fatigue is very different from other types. If you’re working, you might find the afternoons to be particularly tough, so you might want to consider taking a nap as soon as you get home. If this is your first pregnancy, getting in a few catnaps is a lot easier, but the bottom line is that you should rest as often as you can during the first trimester. The second trimester is usually better. In addition to resting when you can, going to bed no later than 10pm is highly recommended. Remember that you are creating a human being and it’s exhausting. Rest as often as possible during the day, eat right, and go to bed early so the fatigue is a lot easier on your body and your mind. 3. Heartburn Problems Many women experience heartburn in the first trimester and even later in the pregnancy. This is due to the fact that you’re producing a hormone called progesterone, which loosens the soft muscles that surround your uterus. It also slows down the digestive process, which can cause heartburn. Avoiding all spicy foods and eating frequent meals during the day is a great way to reduce this heartburn. You can also eat almonds because they contain an ingredient that helps the digestive process. Make sure that the almonds are raw and plain, not filled with sugar or salt. Eating a few raw almonds before you go to bed can help to greatly reduce heartburn pain, since a lot of this pain occurs at night. 4. Discomfort in Your Breasts Starting in early pregnancy, your breasts will begin to change to prepare for lactation. They may feel sore or heavy, and they might feel extra sensitive. They may also feel a bit tingly, but all of these things are normal. The main thing that you’ll want to do is wear a good support bra and maybe even go braless once you’re home. Soaking in warm water that contains a few drops of rosemary or lavender can also help because both of these oils are known to help you relax. 5. Light Bleeding or Spotting Bleeding during the first trimester doesn’t usually mean that you’re having a miscarriage, so you shouldn’t panic if you bleed or spot a little. Nevertheless, any bleeding or spotting at all should be reported to your doctor, and if you bleed starting in your second trimester, calling the doctor is even more important. Normal bleeding in the first trimester is light and temporary. If you’re having cramps or soaking through pads, it’s time to contact the doctor immediately. Other symptoms in the first trimester can include mood swings, food cravings, and having to pee more frequently. If you’re ever unsure about other symptoms, just call your doctor because they’ll know what’s normal and what isn’t. Conclusion As you can see, nausea during pregnancy isn’t the only common symptom in your first trimester. Fatigue, heartburn, and sensitive breasts can also occur, as well as other symptoms. These are normal symptoms for early pregnancy, but you should never hesitate to contact your doctor if you have any concerns about any of them. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Bonding with a newborn is an essential part of parenting, and it's not just for moms. Fathers also play a crucial role in building a strong relationship with their babies. However, dads of breastfed babies can sometimes feel left out, as they can't feed their little ones the way mothers can. But from my experience, there are plenty of ways for dads to bond with their breastfed babies.   Ways Dads Can Bond with A Breastfed Baby The truth is bonding with a breastfed baby can be a challenge for dads, especially if they feel left out of the feeding process. However, there are many other ways to bond with a newborn even if they are breastfed.  Here are some of my favorite ways for dads to bond with their breastfed babies.  1. Bottle Feeding with Expressed Milk Just because dads aren’t breastfeeding doesn’t mean they can’t be actively involved in feeding times. Moms can pump breastmilk and store it in a bottle for dads to feed the baby. This allows dads to experience the joy of feeding their child and create a special bond. It also can give mom a much-needed rest. 2. Burping the Baby After Feeding Another way dads can participate in the feeding process is by burping the baby after feeding. By holding the baby upright against their chest or sit them on their lap and gently pat or rub their back you are actively engaged in close physical contact which helps with the bonding process. 3. Diaper Change With feeding a baby comes diaper changes! Dads can use diaper changes as opportunities to bond with their breastfed babies. During diaper changes, dads can engage in playful interactions with their babies, such as making funny faces or singing songs. This can help create a positive association with diaper changes and make them a more enjoyable experience for both dad and baby. 4. Skin-to-Skin Time After Breastfeeding After the baby completes breastfeeding, fathers have a valuable opportunity to foster a deeper connection through skin-to-skin contact.  This practice involves holding the baby against their bare chest, providing a comforting and secure environment for the infant. Skin-to-skin time offers numerous benefits beyond mere physical warmth.  It encourages the release of oxytocin, often referred to as the "love hormone," which promotes bonding and feelings of closeness for both parent and child.  Moreover, this intimate contact allows fathers to become more attuned to their baby's cues and signals, such as subtle movements or changes in breathing patterns.  It's a serene moment where fathers can marvel at the miracle of life and create lasting memories with their little one.  Additionally, skin-to-skin time can be particularly beneficial for premature babies, as it helps regulate their body temperature and promotes weight gain.  5. Soothing and Comforting the Baby Babies can be fussy for all types of reasons other than just hunger. If mom is feeding on a schedule rather than on demand, dad can be the one to help comfort and sooth their baby.  My husband loved to use a baby carrier for this, which also helped to free up his hands, especially when our baby had fallen asleep. 6. Participating in Nighttime Routines Nighttime routines are an essential part of parenting, and dads play a crucial role in creating a comforting environment for their babies, even if they're not breastfeeding.  While moms may take the lead during nighttime feedings, dads can actively participate in other aspects of the routine to support both their partner and their baby.  Whether it's cuddling with the baby, singing a lullaby, or simply being there to offer a reassuring presence, dads have the power to make nighttime routines a bonding experience for the whole family.  7. Reading or Singing During Breastfeeding As mom breastfeeds, dad can participate in the nurturing process through reading stories or singing songs. This not only enhances the comforting atmosphere but also fosters a deeper bond between dad and baby.  By immersing the baby in the soothing rhythm of storytelling or the melodic cadence of songs, dad creates a shared experience that enriches their connection.  These moments of shared intimacy contribute to the development of a strong emotional bond between dad and baby, laying the foundation for a loving and supportive relationship as the child grows. 8. Attending Breastfeeding Support Sessions Dads can show their support for breastfeeding by attending breastfeeding support groups, lactation consultations or classes with mom.  This not only demonstrates solidarity but also enhances their understanding of breastfeeding and the bond it creates between parent and child.   Bonding Tips for Dads of Breastfed Babies Whilst moms can hold the advantage of baby bonding with pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding, it doesn’t mean dads can’t develop an intense and powerful bond with their baby. Whilst there are many ways dads can form that bond, I think that there are also a few additional tips to remember: 1. It Takes Time Don’t be discouraged if the bond doesn’t form straight away. It can take time for your baby to get to know you, after all you are only just getting to know each other. 2. Start Early You don’t have to wait till your baby is born to start your bond. From around 18 weeks babies can hear within the womb, so let them get to know your voice and start forming that connection prior to birth. 3. Be Present You need to be there to form a bond. So, engage in activities that allow you to spend quality time with your baby, such as reading books, singing songs, going for walks, or simply cuddling. The key is to be present and attentive to your baby's needs and cues. 4. Remember Your Bond Is Just as Special You might not be the primary carer of your breastfed baby, but that doesn’t mean that your bond isn’t any less special. Your relationship with your baby is something that is special and unique to you, so be confident in your bond with your baby.    Cherish it! Let it grow into something beautiful that will exist between you and your child forever.

Trying to get pregnant can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, and if you’ve been trying for a while and believe you might have accomplished your goal, there are always certain ways to know for sure. If your periods have always been irregular, it’s a little more difficult to know for sure if you’re pregnant, so it’s good to look for other signs besides a missed period. Below are some of those signs. 1. Nausea As most people are already aware, morning sickness is common in the first trimester of pregnancy, and being nauseous, with or without actually vomiting, is often the first sign that someone thinks she’s pregnant. In fact, experiencing nausea during pregnancy is something most pregnant women deal with and it can start as early as four weeks. If you’re interested in learning more about coping with pregnancy nausea, it’s a lot easier than it seems. You might start by tracking your nausea so you know when you’re the most vulnerable. Eating smaller meals, smelling scents such as citrus and some herbs, staying hydrated, and drinking ginger tea can also help. 2. You’re Urinating More Often Even in early pregnancy, you may start taking more trips to the bathroom, and there are numerous reasons for this. For one thing, your kidney is growing and your uterus is expanding. Your hormones are also changing and the blood is circulating more intensely to the pelvic area. As the pregnancy progresses, the baby will put pressure on your bladder, which is yet another reason why you have to pee more often. 3. Mild Cramping If you bleed a little in the first trimester, it is usually not a concern, and you can also experience mild cramping due to the fact that the uterus is expanding. In most women, it can feel like menstrual cramps, and it can happen very early on in the pregnancy. Other tummy problems that you may experience in the first trimester can include constipation, bloating, and heartburn. If you are having any of these issues, it might be because you’re pregnant and you don’t know it yet. Keep in mind that bleeding after the first trimester should immediately be reported to your doctor, as it is not normal in most cases. 4. A Feeling of Lightheadedness Even people who have never had dizziness or lightheadedness in the past might experience these things in early pregnancy. They are caused by a change in your blood pressure, growing weight that can affect your balance, and of course, your changing hormones. That being said, it can also be caused by an iron deficiency or other medical issues, but once the doctor confirms your pregnancy they’ll do a complete blood workup so that the issue can be identified. Lightheadedness can also be made worse if you get up or lie down too quickly or even if you change positions quickly. Taking it a little slower when you’re pregnant can help. 5. Breast Changes The most common breast changes in early pregnancy include soreness and tenderness, and it’s the first sign that they’re pregnant for some women. Within two weeks of conception, it’s possible for you to experience changes in your breasts. This can include a tingly feeling or even extra sensitivity in the breasts, nipples, or both. Breast changes are caused because the breasts are preparing themselves for lactation. As a result, breast tissue increases, the nipples may darken, and the veins in the breast area can become more noticeable. All of these things are normal. 6. Fatigue and Extreme Tiredness In the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, fatigue and tiredness can make you miserable. In fact, many women experience extreme fatigue even if they take naps during the day, and they describe it as a “different type” of fatigue from what they’ve had in the past. There are now many physical demands on your body in order to accommodate the growing fetus, and this usually results in being extremely tired much of the time. Fatigue is also the result of the increase in progesterone that your body is making, which is essential to the fetus. Nevertheless, that progesterone can make the mom-to-be very tired. Fatigue later in the pregnancy is usually the result of carrying around so much extra weight. 7. Frequent Headaches For women who aren’t used to getting headaches, pregnancy headaches can be awful. Even if you’ve had headaches in the past, getting headaches while you’re pregnant is never a lot of fun. The fact that your hormones are changing so much is the reason for these headaches, and you should know that they will not harm the fetus in any way. If you find that your headaches are severe and/or they’re accompanied by other symptoms such as blurred vision, you should call your doctor sooner rather than later. The headaches may be normal, but they can also be a sign of something more serious, such as preeclampsia or a few other conditions. If you’re even thinking about getting pregnant and you experience severe headaches, it’s time to call your doctor. Conclusion While a missed period is often the first sign of someone being pregnant, that is not always the case. Some women have irregular periods and some women will have a period at the beginning of their pregnancy. Fatigue, breast changes, nausea, lightheadedness, cramping, and more frequent urination are other ways that may mean you’re expecting a baby. There are other signs as well.

Every mom-to-be wants a pregnancy that’s healthy and progresses normally throughout the nine months, but it doesn’t happen by chance. While a lot of what happens during a pregnancy is out of the mom’s control, there is still a lot that can be monitored to make sure everything is progressing as it should. If you want to feel more in control of your pregnancy, you’ve come to the right place. How Far Along Are You? When you go to your doctor appointments after finding out you’re pregnant, one of the things that they’ll do is measure your tummy in order to estimate the baby’s size, and the baby’s size will depend on the exact week of pregnancy. A typical pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, and the way your due date is determined is based on the date of your last menstrual period, or LMP. If your pregnancy hasn’t been confirmed by a doctor, you can use an online pregnancy due date calculator to determine when the baby is due to enter the world. Typically, women ovulate about two weeks after their last period, and since you can only get pregnant when you’re ovulating, a pregnancy is actually only 38 weeks long. In essence, you aren’t even pregnant the first two weeks of your pregnancy because the calculators always count from the last menstrual period and not when you were ovulating, since that date is difficult to determine. Is it Possible to Determine When You Conceived? Many women know exactly when they conceived, but this isn’t true for everyone. If you’re trying to get pregnant, you might be using one of those over-the-counter ovulation predictor kits, which tells you when you’re ovulating. Keep in mind that the day you have sex is not necessarily the day that you got pregnant. Sperm can live in the body for up to five days, so determining the exact day you got pregnant can be a challenge. Still, if you use an online conception date calculator, you’ll likely get closer to the exact date of conception. These calculators are easy to find and easy to use. Let’s face it -- babies don’t always arrive on their due dates anyway, but if you’re using one of these calculators, you likely won’t be off by more than just a few days to a week. If you use a calculator to determine how far along you are and when you conceived, it helps a lot. What If You Got Pregnant Through IVF? In-vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a way to help couples have a baby when they are having trouble conceiving the regular way. It involves mixing the sperm and egg in a lab and then implanting it into the mom-to-be. IVF is very successful and is a last resort for many couples, and if this is what you used to get pregnant, an IVF due date calculator -- again, which can be found online -- is the easiest way to tell when your baby is due. If you’re an IVF patient, you’ll need to know your IVF transfer date, which is easy to learn. Here’s an easy way to do this: For a Day 5 embryo transfer, count 261 days from that transfer date For a Day 3 embryo transfer, count 263 days from that transfer date When you go through IVF, everything is documented in your medical records well, so learning when your transfer date is never difficult. If you cannot remember the date on your own, call the office of the clinic where you got the procedure done and they can give it to you. Once you know that, these online IVF calculators are very effective. Your Doctor Has Methods of Keeping Track of Everything Right from the start, you’ll want to make sure you know when your baby is due and learn what you need to do to keep the pregnancy healthy the entire nine months. The doctor will also look at how much weight you’ve gained at each appointment, so now is definitely not the time to diet. Once again, if you’re monitoring everything, another type of calculator, the pregnancy weight gain calculator, is a good one to use. In most cases, the amount of weight you’ll need to gain will vary depending on your weight before you got pregnant. A healthy weight gain is 11 to 40 pounds, but you should talk to your doctor and go by that recommendation if you’re unsure. Women who are underweight at the start of their pregnancy will usually be asked to gain the most weight so that your BMI is always within a healthy range. OB-GYNs use a variety of methods to make sure that your pregnancy is progressing normally, including ultrasounds, prenatal tests, and of course, regular visits to the doctor that are usually scheduled every four weeks until late in the third trimester, when they are usually scheduled more frequently. If you keep these visits and listen to your doctor, it’s much easier to keep an eye on everything so that you can have a healthy baby in the end. Conclusion Making sure that your pregnancy is progressing normally is essential and usually starts with determining how far along you are. This is a lot easier if you use calculators to determine when you conceived or when your last menstrual period was. The good news is, most of the calculators can be found online and are free and easy to use. If you have any questions about the information that you discover when using a calculator, a visit to your doctor is recommended.

Expecting mothers have a lot to prepare for before their newborn arrives, especially if it your first baby. Yet, with so many baby products on the market, it can be overwhelming for new moms to know where to start. As a mom of two, I know the feeling well!  So, let me share with you a few tips and tricks to help make shopping for a newborn much easier.   Tips for Moms to Shop for Their Newborn From one mom to another, here are my top tips for moms to shop for their newborn baby. Set your Budget When it comes to baby gear there are products to suit every budget! From luxury baby items to budget friendly, the key is to work out how much you are willing to spend when preparing for your baby.  This will give you a great guide to what shops to visit and brands to invest in.   Make a List Before you even start to think about hitting the shops, create a list of essential items you'll need for your newborn.  This can include clothing, diapers, feeding supplies, nursery furniture, and safety gear like the MomMed Baby Nasal Aspirator.  And then include all your nice to have items. Having a list will help you stay organized, on budget, and ensure you don't forget anything important.   Consider a Baby Registry Family and friends love to shower new parents with gifts to welcome their newborn, so why not consider adding your wish list of baby items to a baby registry. It’s a great way for family and friends can buy you baby items that you need and want. I also love this option if you are planning to host a baby shower. Make sure to add gorgeous gift set like the MomMed Baby Shower Gift Set for those family and friends that want to buy a few items all beautifully packaged together. Once you’ve had your baby shower, you can then look to hit the shops for the remaining items you need.   Start with Small Quantities of Consumables Babies are not a one size fits all, so I highly recommend starting with smaller quantities of consumables like diapers, wipes, formula, bath products, and baby clothes, till you know what items work for you and your baby. You don’t want to go all out buying a year’s worth of diapers only to find out that your baby reacts to them or that brand isn’t the right fit leading to blowout. The same goes for formula.   Or baby clothes that you baby has grown out of before they even had a chance to wear them. So, my tip is to focus on purchasing the essentials first, in smaller quantities. You can easily buy additional items such as diapers later as you determine your specific needs. 1. Prioritize Safety When choosing baby products, prioritize safety above all else.  Look for items that meet safety standards and certifications, especially for items like car seats, cribs, strollers, and baby carriers.  Avoid purchasing second-hand items unless you can verify their safety and quality. 2. Consider Longevity For me one of the biggest temptations while shopping for my newborn was to buy all the adorable newborn baby clothes! Seriously, they are so little and so cute!  But babies grow quickly, so I do recommend purchasing clothing and baby gear that will last beyond the newborn stage.  Look for adjustable or convertible items that can adapt to your baby's changing needs, such as convertible cribs or expandable strollers. Or even baby clothes in larger sizes. 3. Seasonal Shopping Similar to longevity, when shopping for a newborn, it's important to keep the season in mind for you newborn.  During the colder months, focus on purchasing warm clothing, blankets, and accessories to keep your baby comfortable. During warmer months, lightweight clothing and breathable fabrics are a better choice.  It's also really important to consider your baby's age and size for the season that you are shopping for. Ask yourself, will the season be different when your baby arrives? How long will they need to be in that sizing for that season? One great way to tackle this is to buy items that can be layered depending on the weather. 4. Think About Convenience Choose items that will make your life as a new mom easier. I love the MomMed Electric Bottle Brush Cleaner Set for example, as it helps to clean all the baby bottles with ease! Other items to consider are a diaper bag with plenty of pockets and compartments for organization or a baby monitor with features like temperature monitoring and two-way audio. 5. Ask for Recommendations Don't hesitate to ask other moms for recommendations on products they found useful for their newborns.  Online parenting forums, social media groups, and mom-to-mom networking can be valuable resources for gathering advice and recommendations. 6. Take Advantage of Sales and Discounts Keep an eye out for sales, discounts, and promotions at baby stores and online retailers. Sign up for newsletters or loyalty programs to receive exclusive offers and discounts on baby products. Just remember to keep in mind your baby’s sizing, quantities of consumables, and seasons. 7. Trust Your Instincts Ultimately, trust your instincts when choosing products for your newborn. Every baby is different, and what works for one may not work for another.  Choose items that feel right for you and your baby's needs.

When you’re trying to get pregnant, knowing when you’re ovulating can be a huge help. After all, you won’t be getting pregnant during your menstrual cycle but while you’re ovulating, and sometimes it’s hard to determine when that happens. Once you learn how ovulation works, it’s easier to tell when it’s happening, and starting with the basics is always a good way to start.   The Basics of Ovulation On the first day of your period, the body will release hormones that help your eggs grow. Starting on day two of your cycle and lasting for roughly two weeks, the uterus lining thickens in order to prepare itself for a fertilized egg. Between 11 and 21 days after your cycle starts, the luteinizing hormone, or LH, is released and helps start the release of the egg that’s the ripest. During this same time, the mucus in the cervix becomes slippery so that it’s easier for the sperm to get to the egg. Keep in mind that when preparing for pregnancy, the timing has to be just right. Once the egg gets to the fallopian tubes, it only stays there around 24 hours, and if the fertilization doesn’t take place during that time, the egg dissolves and the uterine lining is shed. Sperm can also live for three to five days, so if live sperm is already in the body once you start to ovulate, you can actually become pregnant even if it’s been several days since you’ve had intercourse. This is yet another reason why it’s so important to know when you’re ovulating if you’re trying to get pregnant. Many couples have sex every other day instead of every day when the woman is ovulating because having sex too much can be detrimental to your efforts.   Tracking Ovulation Helps a Lot Tracking when you’re ovulating is one of the first steps to take when a healthy pregnancy is your ultimate goal, and you can do this in several ways. These include: Using an online ovulation calculator or an over-the-counter ovulation kit. Tracking your basal body temperature, which has to be taken with a thermometer specifically designed for that particular task. Monitoring when your LH tries to stimulate the release of an egg, which is easier with a fertility monitoring kit from the drugstore. As you can see, there are various OTC kits available to help determine ovulation and make tracking what is going on with your body a lot easier. Most of the kits are user-friendly and inexpensive, but most importantly, they work. When you’re trying to get pregnant, knowing when you’re ovulating is important but often a little tricky, which is why these kits are so helpful.   Other Things That You Can Do to Become Pregnant When it comes to getting pregnant, your preconception health is more important than you think. Simply put, the healthier you are when you start trying to get pregnant, the easier it will be for you. Your diet, medical conditions, and even your mental health can affect your ability to conceive, but paying attention to the following things can help a lot: Stop drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco. Whenever possible, avoid anything that could be toxic, including certain chemicals and even cat feces. Take a folic acid supplement daily; the dosage should be 400 to 800 micrograms. Make sure that any medical conditions, such as diabetes or asthma, are controlled with medication. Discuss with your doctor any herbal supplements or vitamins that you’re taking. Naturally, eating right and exercising can help improve your overall health as well, and yet another reason to be healthy before becoming pregnant is that your odds of having a baby prematurely or one that has a low birth weight increases if you are unhealthy. If you are overweight, losing just 10% of your body weight can be a huge help.   Is it Normal to Bleed When You’re Pregnant? When you do become pregnant, don’t be alarmed if you experience a little bleeding early in the pregnancy. Implantation bleeding occurs when the egg attaches itself to the wall of the uterus, which is caused because the blood vessels in the uterine lining are disrupted due to this attachment. In most cases, the bleeding is only a spot and is much lighter than menstrual blood. This type of bleeding is most common roughly 6 to 12 days after the egg is fertilized. Approximately one-fourth of all pregnant women experience this bleeding, but most of the time it is no cause for alarm. Nevertheless, if you’re unsure or nervous about it, you should consult with your doctor to make sure there are no other problems occurring. In most cases, this bleeding is a normal part of the pregnancy and will go away in one to two days. When you’re trying to get pregnant, knowing as much as possible about ovulation can help increase the odds that it will happen sooner instead of later. Fortunately, it’s easy to learn about ovulation thanks to the OTC and online tools that are now available. Regular contact with your doctor is also a big help.   Conclusion Tracking ovulation is one of the most-effective ways to determine when to have intercourse when you’re trying to get pregnant. Fortunately, there are tons of tools that make the task a lot easier, and they cost very little money to use. Your health before you get pregnant also affects your chances of success, so if you are unhealthy or overweight, the time to do something about it is before you get pregnant, not afterwards.

When you’re trying to become pregnant, knowing when you’re ovulating is a huge plus. Normally, ovulation occurs around two weeks before your next menstrual cycle, but for some women this isn’t the case. If you use an online ovulation calculator, it’s much easier to keep track of it, but what if you determine that you’re ovulating a little later in the month than many women do? We’ll now explore some of the facts when it comes to late ovulation that some women experience.   Ovulation Basics Ovulation doesn’t occur when you’re menstruating; in most women, it occurs roughly 14 days before your next period is set to begin. This, however, is based on the average ovulation cycle of 28 days, which not all women follow. Ovulation is the process of releasing an egg from your ovaries, and it can occur anywhere between seven days and 19 days before your next cycle comes. If it happens only a week before your period, it’s important for you to know this. Fortunately, late ovulation doesn’t normally affect your ability to get pregnant, although it can cause you to change plans when trying to make that baby. Most doctors agree that as long as your cycles are 25 to 35 days apart, getting pregnant should not be a problem. Early or late ovulation may, however, make you miss the opportunity to have intercourse at the right time. What is the solution to this problem? First, you can determine when you’re ovulating and have sex more frequently, preferably about two or three days after your period ends. You can also test your basal body temperature and check to see if your cervical mucus is becoming thinner and clearer. Both are signs that you’re near ovulating or already are ovulating. Other signs can include mild cramping on one side of your abdomen, breast tenderness, and even light bleeding or spotting.   Does Late Ovulation Affect Your Periods? As a general rule, late ovulation doesn’t affect your periods. Your periods may occur a little later or even at the same time, and if you ovulate late but your period is on time, this is no cause for concern. You can also purchase an over-the-counter ovulation kit at the drugstore, and these kits are easy to use, inexpensive, and very effective. It is one of the simplest ways to tell when you’re ovulating. This being said, your period may be a little different than it was in the past. For instance, they can be longer in length and a little heavier, and the reasons are simple. Up until you start ovulating, the body produces more estrogen, which is meant to help build up the uterine lining. In women who experience late ovulation, this estrogen can make your period heavier and longer, but it doesn’t always stay that way forever. If you’re wondering about late ovulation causes, some of the most common causes include: Extreme stress can delay or even stop the ovulation process altogether, which means that it’s impossible to get pregnant. Certain illnesses, especially if they are acute or severe. If you have cancer, for example, this can cause you to stop ovulating, both because of the illness itself and the stress that goes along with it. Breastfeeding exclusively. If you only breastfeed, this can stop ovulation, but it doesn’t always happen this way. Always remember that it’s very possible for you to ovulate and get pregnant while breastfeeding, even if you’re not having periods. Being either underweight or overweight. Fat cells make estrogen, and if they make too many or too little of it, it can affect your ovulation. Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. An endocrine disorder, PCOS causes the ovaries to make a lot of androgens, which is a hormone. Androgens can prevent or delay ovulation. With this condition, the pituitary gland produces too much of a hormone known as prolactin, and prolactin can interrupt the signal from your brain to your ovaries to stimulate ovulation, which means ovulation won’t occur. If you’re transitioning into menopause, which is a phase known as perimenopause, ovulation may be very irregular and inconsistent. This illness causes you to produce too little of the thyroid hormone, and this can affect both ovulation and your menstrual cycle, making the act of getting pregnant a little more difficult. Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). Also called premature menopause, POI causes the depletion of eggs in the ovaries. It normally happens under the age of 40. You should also feel free to talk to your doctor about any concerns you have, including sudden changes or anything that seems out of the ordinary. If you believe you are ovulating late, it might not be a problem, but in some cases, it is. Your doctor needs to check and make sure that there are no serious problems that are affecting your ability to ovulate. You should also keep your doctor informed of any of these things if you are trying to get pregnant, especially if you’re having heavy or very painful menstrual cycles.   Conclusion While ovulation usually occurs around 14 days before your menstrual cycle, it can be much later than that in some instances. Fortunately, it usually doesn’t affect your ability to get pregnant unless something serious is wrong. It can change your periods, though, and affect the timing of your intercourse, which can make it more difficult to get pregnant. If you believe that you ovulate later than other women and you’re trying to get pregnant, talk to your doctor about it. Your doctor needs to know these things before you start trying.

If you’re trying to get pregnant and it isn’t working for you, your job at that point is to figure out why. This can be a little more challenging than you might think, but a lot of times it has to do with ovulation. Contrary to what many people believe, you can only get pregnant during certain days of the month when you’re ovulating. Unfortunately, the number of days you’re ovulating is very small. Still, there are things you can do to improve your odds each and every month.   Ovulation + Sex = Pregnancy? For a lot of us, we were told while we were growing up that getting pregnant involved having sex at any time, regardless of the circumstances. Unfortunately, this is not true for many couples and, in fact, it can take many months or even years for the feat to be successful. Nevertheless, knowing a little about ovulation before you start trying should help a lot. Ovulation occurs when the egg is released from the ovaries and awaits to meet with the sperm. Simply put, the highest pregnancy rates occur when couples have sex around this type of the month, but first you have to determine exactly when you’re ovulating. As a general rule, women ovulate around 14 days before their next menstrual cycle, but each woman is different. An OTC ovulation kit found in most drugstores can help pinpoint when you’re ovulating. Let’s take a closer look at menstruation so you can understand this concept a little better. If you start your period on August 1, that is day one of your month-long or 28-day “cycle.” After 21 days, you’ll be having another period, and 14 days before that is around August 7, which is technically when you’ll be ovulating. If your cycle is more than 28 days long, your ovulation day is likely to be different. In this same scenario, if your cycle is 35 days long, you’ll ovulate around the 21st day. If it is 26 to 28 days long, you’ll probably ovulate between the 12th and 14th day. Practical ways to tell if you’re ovulating is to take your basal body temperature daily and check your cervical mucus to see if it’s clear and thin instead of cloudy and thick.   Should You Have Sex Every Day? Many couples get anxious about the right time for sex and believe that if they have sex every day of the month, the odds of pregnancy occurring go way up, but that is not always the case. While this may be a lot of fun and bring you closer together as a couple, it doesn’t always work. Instead, try having sex every day or every other day during the six days starting five days before ovulation and ending one day afterwards. In this timeframe, your odds of a successful implantation are increased. Why these six days? Because the egg survives for roughly 24 hours after it’s released and sperm can live inside of the woman’s body for up to five days. If you wait until three to five days before ovulation before you have sex, it’s much more likely that sperm and egg will meet and make a baby for you. In addition, if you start having sex daily it might become a chore or take some of the enjoyment out of it because you may feel like you’re doing it just to get pregnant.   What If You’re Having Trouble Getting Pregnant? The truth is, even healthy couples may not get pregnant in the first six months or so, so expecting it to happen right away is unrealistic for many. Doctors recommend that if you’re under 35 years of age and you haven’t gotten pregnant within one year, you should see a fertility specialist or endocrinologist, which is a doctor who deals with hormones. If you’re older than 35, you should see someone if it’s been six months since you started trying. If you’re reading this and you’re having problems getting pregnant, don’t panic just yet. A lot of times, the reasons why you’re not getting pregnant are easy to fix, but only a doctor can make the right diagnosis. Some of the medical issues that might affect your fertility include the following: Pelvic surgery in the past. If you’ve already had some type of pelvic surgery, it could be affecting your ability to get pregnant. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is characterized by irregular or heavy periods, acne that doesn’t respond to acne products, and excess hair on the chest, face, upper thighs, or abdomen. In addition, four out of five women with PCOS are overweight. When the endometrium, which is the tissue that makes up the lining of the uterus, is found outside of the uterus, this is endometriosis. It is painful but can often be fixed with surgery. While you don’t need to worry right away when you’re trying to have a baby and it’s not working, you can still feel free to talk to your doctor any time that you have a question or concern.   Conclusion The best time to have sex when you wish to get pregnant is three to five days before ovulation starts and up to one day afterwards. If you need help figuring out exactly when you’re ovulating, you can assume that you’ll begin ovulating around 14 days before the start of menstruation. If you can’t figure out when your own ovulation is starting, you can pay attention to body changes and your basal body temperature, or purchase an ovulation kit from the drugstore, which is inexpensive and user-friendly.

It’s estimated that up to 25% of all pregnant women bleed some in their first trimester, so if this happens to you, you should never panic. If the bleeding occurs in the first three months of pregnancy, it is normally something called implantation bleeding, and if you’re curious about the differences between implantation bleeding and a period, you’ve come to the right place.   What Is Implantation Bleeding? Whether you’re trying to get pregnant, trying to avoid getting pregnant, or waiting for a sign that the pregnancy is at least starting out normally, looking for implantation bleeding can help. At a certain point in a woman’s pregnancy, the fertilized egg will snuggle into the lining of your uterus, which disrupts some of the blood vessels there. As a result, a small amount of blood can appear. Most of the time, implantation bleeding occurs between six and 14 days after the egg is fertilized. It is a normal part of pregnancy and nothing to be concerned about, but if it comes as a total surprise to you, you’ll need to know exactly where the blood is coming from so you can decide whether to panic or celebrate! To make things even more interesting, implantation bleeding often occurs at the time your regular period usually comes, so knowing what to look for is important.   What Are the Main Differences? If you research information on implantation bleeding vs. periods, you’ll discover the main differences between the two, which include: The length of the bleeding. Implantation bleeding usually lasts one to two days, whereas most women’s periods last three to seven days. The color of the bleeding. With implantation bleeding, the blood is very light and almost rust-colored, whereas menstrual blood is usually bright or dark red in color. The overall flow and consistency of the bleeding. Implantation blood is more like spotting and remains light. Menstrual blood starts out light but gets darker as the days go by. The pain that you feel. When you experience implantation bleeding, you may have light cramping but it is short-lived. When you’re having your period, the pain is usually stronger and longer. The amount of clotting you experience. While menstrual blood may contain clots, which consist of blood and tissue, this rarely happens with implantation blood. The timing of the bleeding. Normally, implantation bleeding occurs around day 20 to 24 in a 28-day cycle. Keep in mind that you can still get pregnant even if you aren’t experiencing a period. If it’s not quite time for your period and the bleeding is very light, it could be implantation bleeding. As far as symptoms go, being on your period can really suck, and even though the symptoms for implantation bleeding are usually less severe, they can include: Breast tenderness Nausea Headaches Lower back pain Mood swings Light cramping Some women experience implantation bleeding without any symptoms at all, and the light spotting is the only symptom that lets them know something is different. If you have this type of bleeding and experience a few miserable symptoms, not to worry because they will be short-lived. Whether or not you suffer with some physical symptoms, it is rare that they are severe enough to disrupt your life.   Things to Do to Learn the Differences Between the Two The differences between implantation bleeding and period bleeding are fairly different so if you pay close attention to the blood you’re experiencing, you should be able to tell which type it is. If it’s important for you to know for sure which one is happening to you, you can track your ovulation by purchasing an ovulation kit that you can find in most drug stores, which are very effective and inexpensive too. Regardless of what type of bleeding it is, you might be wondering at what point you should seek the help of your doctor, which is a good question. At any time, if you feel uncomfortable or concerned about what’s happening to your body, you shouldn’t hesitate to call your doctor because that’s why you have a doctor in the first place. Nevertheless, below are some situations where calling a doctor is highly recommended. These symptoms don’t mean for certain that there’s a serious problem, but you need to check them out anyway, especially if you know that you are pregnant and it’s your first trimester. They include: Extra-heavy bleeding or severe pain in the lower abdomen. Diarrhea that is bloody in nature. A fever that reaches over 101 degrees Fahrenheit. A severe thirst, especially if you’re not urinating regularly. A severe headache or a headache that lasts two to three hours or longer. Puffiness or swelling -- especially if it’s severe and comes on suddenly -- in your hands, eyes, or facial area. Pain when you urinate. Sudden weight gain that you don’t feel is caused by your diet. Having thoughts of either harming yourself or harming your baby. Pregnancy is a time of both physical and emotional changes; some are normal, others aren’t. You should never feel awkward about contacting your doctor for any reason. If you do, it’s time to change doctors.   Conclusion Implantation bleeding is light, short-term, and usually doesn’t make you too uncomfortable. Period pain lasts longer, is heavier, and can be quite painful. If you experience bleeding around the time you’re ovulating, it is likely implantation bleeding. Nevertheless, you can be a little more sure if you track your ovulation by taking your basal body temperature regularly or purchasing a kit at a drugstore that will let you know.

When you’re trying to get pregnant, knowing as much as possible about ovulation is crucial. Ovulation isn’t that difficult to understand, but knowing the basics can help you decide which days you are most fertile. For many couples, getting pregnant can be a challenge, which can be nerve-wracking to say the least, but the more you learn about the process, the easier it’ll be for you and your partner.   What Is Ovulation? Ovulation is not the same as having your period. Most women start ovulating about 14 days before the start of their next menstrual cycle, but keep in mind that each woman is different. This is why you can’t just assume that you’ll be ovulating during that time. If you have sex five days before you start ovulating and on the day you start ovulating, the chances of becoming pregnant are much higher. Ovulation simply means that a healthy egg is released from the ovaries and then travels down the fallopian tubes, where it remains for up to 24 hours. If there is live sperm in the fallopian tube when you’re ovulating, you increase the odds of a successful pregnancy. Often, sperm can remain in the female reproductive tract for up to five days after you have intercourse, but this doesn’t always happen. Of course, these rules are based on women who have 28-day cycles, but what if your cycle comes every 30 days or they’re even further apart? If you’re included in this category, you can either purchase an ovulation kit at a drugstore or look for one of these two signs: Your basal body temperature will rise. If you take your temperature every morning using a thermometer specifically made for registering basal body temperature, you’ll notice a pattern. Take your temperature immediately after you get out of bed. Roughly two or three days before it rises, your fertility level will increase. Your vaginal secretions will change. Right before you ovulate, your secretions will be wet, clear, and stretchy. Once ovulation is over, the secretions become more cloudy and thicker and less noticeable.   It Doesn’t Happen Overnight Paying attention to your body when you’re trying to get pregnant is important, and in addition to the ovulation symptoms mentioned above, the ovulation kits that you find at drugstores can help. They are inexpensive, user-friendly, and help determine exactly when you’re ovulating. Keep in mind that once you get a positive result, you’ll be ovulating about 36 hours, or about one and a half days, later. It’s also a lot easier when you are preparing for pregnancy to write everything down so you know exactly what your body temperature is and any other symptoms you’re having on any given day. Again, writing everything down establishes a clear pattern, which can make it a lot easier to decide what days you should be having sex. You can also use an online ovulation calculator to make it easier to keep everything organized. If you’re learning how to figure out your ovulation window, keep in mind that having sex a day or two before you ovulate increases the odds of pregnancy occurring. Once you determine when you’re ovulating, many couples have sex every other day because if you have daily intercourse, it sometimes weakens the sperm and renders it a little less effective.   It Is Not an Exact Science If you’re tracking what’s going on with your body, using over-the-counter test kits, and paying close attention, learning how to predict when you'll ovulate becomes much easier. If your cycles do not occur exactly 28 days apart, keeping track of everything can help determine when you’re ovulating so you can have sex at the “right” times. Although it isn’t an exact science, after a month or two of writing everything down, you should notice a pattern at that point, which will help. If you’re one of those women whose cycles are more than 30 days apart, you might want to consult with your doctor, especially if you’ve been trying for several months and it hasn’t worked. And if you’re curious about some of the things that can affect how fertile you are, here are some of them: Obesity or being overweight. Losing even 5% to 10% of your weight can help you become more fertile. Your age. You become less fertile as you age, especially once you reach the age of 35. Your partner’s age and health. When men pass the age of 45, their ability to get their partner pregnant decreases. And if you’re wondering when you should be concerned enough to schedule a consultation with your doctor, you should do so if: You’re younger than 35 and you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a year or more. You’re over 35 and you’ve been trying to get pregnant for six months or more. Patience is also important. It doesn’t happen automatically for everyone, and just because you don’t get pregnant right away doesn’t mean that you never will. That being said, never hesitate to contact your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about your attempts to get pregnant.   Conclusion If you’re trying to get pregnant, knowing about ovulation and keeping track of what’s happening with your body are helpful tips. Ovulation normally begins about 14 days before your next cycle, and about two to three days before your basal body temperature rises is a good time to have intercourse. Once you track what your body is doing it becomes a little more obvious when ovulation is occurring.

MomMed, an esteemed maternity and baby brand with over six years of expertise, is gearing up to introduce its highly anticipated spring initiatives. Commencing this March, MomMed will embark on a series of comprehensive brand endeavors, commencing with the "LOVE MYSELF" Campaign in honor of International Women's Day from March 8th to March 15th, followed by an enticing Spring Sale promotion spanning from March 18th to March 31st.   The "LOVE MYSELF" Campaign:   MomMed's recent announcement of the "LOVE MYSELF" brand campaign, scheduled from March 8th to March 15th, has generated significant anticipation. During this period, female participants engaging in the MomMed survey stand a chance to win coveted sets of the brand's best-selling products. This initiative aims to cultivate solidarity among mothers, encouraging them to share their experiences and prioritize self-care needs.   MomMed Spring Sale Promotion:   In conjunction with the Women's Day Campaign, MomMed is set to launch an extensive Spring Sale event, featuring enticing discounts on a broad range of products. Split into two phases, the Spring Sale will kick off with the Breast Pump Promotion Week from March 18th to March 24th. Customers investing in MomMed's acclaimed S21 and S10 Pro Breast Pumps during this period will enjoy a substantial $40 discount.   Following the Breast Pump Promotion Week, MomMed will transition into the Parents Essentials Promotion Week, spanning from March 25th to March 31st. This segment will showcase a diverse selection of household must-haves, including Electric Bottle Brush, Diaper Bags, Exclusive Baby Shower Gift Sets, and Maternity Belly Bands, all offered at an attractive 38% discount.   Highlighted Products:   S21 Portable Breast Pump: MomMed's S21 Portable Breast Pump offers unparalleled convenience for nursing mothers on the go. With its compact design and advanced features, including customizable suction levels and quiet, efficient output, the S21 ensures hassle-free pumping sessions anytime, anywhere.   Electric Bottle Brush Cleaner Set: MomMed's Electric Bottle Brush Cleaner Set provides a solution to the challenges mothers face when cleaning bottles, allowing them to multitask efficiently. Equipped with a robust motor and interchangeable brush heads, this innovative device accommodates various bottle types and effectively cleans bottle nipples and straws. It removes stubborn residue with ease, ensuring thorough sterilization for the baby's feeding essentials.   MomMed Diaper Bag: MomMed's Diaper Bag is a versatile accessory designed to meet the needs of busy parents. With its stylish design and spacious compartments, it offers ample storage for all your baby essentials. Crafted from durable, easy-to-clean waterproof fabric, it offers versatility, whether worn as a shoulder bag or easily affixed to a stroller.   Maternity Belly Bands: MomMed's Maternity Belly Bands feature a 3D wrap-around design, offering precise support during pregnancy without compromising comfort. With a 360° high-elastic band, these belly bands remain in place during physical activity and feature breathable mesh material for added comfort.   MomMed Baby Shower Gift Set: This set comprises MomMed's popular Electric Bottle Brush Cleaner Set, along with a set of Baby Teethers, a Baby Silicone Placemat, and a set of Baby Spoon Feeders. Initially priced at $89.99, it is currently available for $55.79 during spring sale week 2.   For further details on MomMed's spring campaigns and product offerings, please visit the official MomMed website and social media platforms.   About MomMed:   MomMed is committed to supporting mothers and infants, offering a comprehensive range of products tailored to every stage of the motherhood journey. From preconception essentials to indispensable parenting tools, MomMed provides compassionate assistance to mothers worldwide. With a deep understanding of the challenges and joys of motherhood, MomMed strives to empower women and promote their well-being.

When it comes to feeding babies and toddlers, the main concern many parents have is how to choose foods that are tasty and will teach them healthy eating habits. After all, learning how to eat healthy is not innate; instead, people have to be taught how to eat healthy and it’s never too early to start. Fortunately, establishing healthy eating habits for infants and toddlers isn’t as complicated as it seems, especially if you use a little common sense. The Basics: What You Need to Know For the first year in a baby’s life, they should get most of their nutrition from either breast milk or formula. At around six months, most parents begin to add solid foods, but keep in mind that breast milk or formula should still be their main source of nutrition. Babies need to remain on breast milk or formula until they are one year old, at which time you can switch them to whole milk. Solid foods should include pureed baby food and eventually finger foods such as soft diced vegetables and fruit without any salt or other things added. These things may sound simple but they are crucial when it comes to establishing mealtime routines and healthy habits for your child. Babies are watching what you do and how you’re taking care of them, including the food you give them. The first rule of thumb is that everything you feed them should be pure and as fresh as possible with no sugar, salt, butter, etc., added to it. If you give them diced carrots, for example, they should be eating only the carrots with nothing added. Let’s Get Specific! As a general rule, what your baby eats will depend on their age, and here are some basic guidelines to follow: Zero to six months: Breast milk or baby formula only. Six to eight months: No dairy. Start solids with two tablespoons of single-grain cereal mixed with a little breast milk or formula. Start them with cereal, then add veggies, and finally, fruits. Your goal should be to feed them two to three tablespoons of each food once or twice a day. Eight to twelve months: At this age, you can add a little bit of dairy. You can continue to feed them cereal, veggies, and fruits, and you can add cottage cheese, yogurt, or cheese in small amounts once a day. If you eat healthy yourself, there is nothing wrong with letting your baby have a little bit of what you’re eating, as long as it’s soft, cut up into small pieces, and nutritious. There are also foods that babies should never get in the first year of life, including cow’s milk, honey, hard foods like raw fruits and vegetables, any type of fruit juice (they’re just empty calories), and sticky foods such as peanut butter. Yet another rule of thumb is to keep portion sizes small. If you compare portion sizes for adults in the United States, they are much bigger than in other countries, so the sooner babies learn about portion size, the better. When you’re feeding them any of the foods listed above, stick with one to two tablespoons per serving and no more. Ways to Develop Healthy Eating Routines for Your Baby Eating healthy takes more than just feeding your baby the right foods. They also need to establish a routine for eating their meals because the right baby feeding schedules help teach them the importance of eating at regular intervals throughout the day. Here are some tips that can make this happen: Try to feed the baby at the same time every day. Babies like routine, and knowing that they’ll be fed at certain times throughout the day, every day, is something they’ll love. Eat as a family whenever you can. Babies love eating with the rest of the family, and they’ll learn something new every time they do so. Make sure the environment is calm. Meal times can be messy and fun, but they shouldn’t be unpleasant or too chaotic. Encourage them to feed themselves. Babies might be awkward with a spoon at first, but it’s the only way for them to get good at it. Establish some type of post-meal routine. Let the baby see you pick up dishes and clean up so they can know that mealtime is done. Promoting healthy eating in babies is not difficult, but it is still an important task if you want to give your baby the best start in life. They deserve nothing less. Conclusion Giving babies a healthy start in life requires a little planning on your part, but it is not difficult. Feeding them the right foods at the right age and making sure that all of the foods you give them are nutritious, soft, and cut into small pieces makes a huge difference. So does feeding them at regular intervals, letting them eat with the family, and encouraging them to feed themselves.

The first year of a baby’s life is always a challenge, and one of the biggest challenges is dealing with their tummy problems. Babies’ tummies are very sensitive, which is why only breast milk or baby formula is recommended until they’re one year old. Many people are familiar with colic in babies, but there are other tummy issues that can occur and we’ll take a look at each of them in more detail. 1. Colic Colic often starts around two weeks of age and peaks around six weeks. By the age of four months, it’s normally gone. It is characterized by consistent crying in a baby that is otherwise healthy, and it usually lasts around three hours a day, three or more days per week. It also usually lasts for a minimum of three weeks, and these stats prove why colic is so difficult on both the mother and the baby. If your baby has colic, schedule a checkup so the doctor can rule out anything serious. Each baby is different, but when managing colic in babies, try one or more of the following: a gentle massage, some type of motion such as being in a baby swing, some humming noise such as the clothes dryer, snug swaddling with a blanket, or putting the baby in a different position. 2. Constipation As a general rule, babies should have up to ten bowel movements per day, but that number is reduced to once every four to five days once they are eight weeks of age. In most cases, constipation can happen when you introduce a new food or you’re transitioning from breast milk or formula to regular milk. Hard, tiny balls of poop may indicate constipation, and your doctor may recommend prune juice or even an infant suppository. 3. Reflux Disease GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is painful, and your baby may have it if they cry after a feeding or start to cough or gag. If you’re concerned, the baby needs to see a doctor. Otherwise, make sure the baby stays upright for a while after each feeding with their head elevated. When it comes to coping with baby reflux, frequent burping of the child can also make a big difference. You should also look for symptoms that include a bluish skin color or difficulty breathing. If either of these things happens, you should seek medical care immediately. 4. Diarrhea Diarrhea is characterized by loose watery bowel movements, but the first thing to remember is that if you’re breastfeeding, this type of BMs is normal. If the stools get too watery or loose, however, it can lead to dehydration. Babies dehydrate rather quickly, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on this condition. If the diarrhea lasts for more than three days, the baby should be taken to the doctor. You should also do two things if your baby has diarrhea. The first is to feed them extra fluids, which means extra breast milk or formula. The second is to feed them bananas, bits of toast, and rice or rice cereal if they are eating solid foods. Also, make sure the baby is having at least four to five wet diapers per day. 5. Spitting up Most of the time, when babies spit up it’s due to one of two things: being fed too much or being fed too quickly. Whether you’re breastfeeding or giving them a bottle, it’s a good idea to stop half-way through the feeding and burp the baby so they don’t eat too much at one time. If you’re having trouble with the burping, try burping the baby in different positions such as having them lean forward as they remain upright or lying them on their stomachs as you burp them. In addition, bring them to the doctor immediately if they aren’t gaining weight, are projectile vomiting, or their coloring looks a little bluish. 6. General Gassiness When it comes to tummy problems in babies, one of the most-common infant feeding issues is general gassiness, and while a little gas isn’t harmful, it can make babies miserable. If your baby is squirming, crying, and has a distended belly, they might be experiencing gas. One of the easiest things to do is lay the baby on their back and gently bend the legs so that they are pushed up towards the stomach. Do it very slowly for the best results. If your baby is constantly gassy, it’s time to take them to the doctor because gassiness can be severe and you don’t want your baby to be in pain for that long. Conclusion Some of the common baby feeding problems include gassiness, colic, acid reflux, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting. Fortunately, there are simple tools you can use to improve all of these conditions. Still, never hesitate to seek the help of your pediatrician if the symptoms continue for a long time or it seems more serious.

When it comes to weaning your baby off of breast milk, it isn’t usually as difficult as it sounds. More importantly, the steps to weaning your baby aren’t etched in stone and there are no hard-and-fast rules. Sometimes your baby will initiate the transition by either not wanting the breast or not eating very much at each meal. Other times, it’s the mother who wants to wean the baby, but both methods are a lot easier than you think. A Few Basics to Remember Babies should be breastfed or bottle-fed until they are one year old. You can start giving them solid foods at around six months, and at one year, you can start them on whole milk that you can put in a sippy cup. Babies under one year old cannot tolerate milk, so it shouldn’t be started until that time. If you stop breastfeeding before the baby turns one, you should switch them to formula until they are ready and able to drink milk. As far as learning toddler weaning tips, it’s really simpler than it sounds. You can start by feeding them formula instead of breast milk for one meal a day. Do this for three to five days and then replace a second meal with formula. After three to five days, continue with this method until all of the baby’s meals consist of formula and not breast milk. Give yourself those three to five days in between changes so that both the baby and your body can acclimate to your new schedule. If you’re wondering if you should pump at the time your baby is getting the formula meal, that’s up to you. If you replace just one meal for three to five days at a time, your breasts can probably adjust, especially if the baby is close to one year old. On the other hand, if your breasts are so full that it’s painful, you can go ahead and pump, but try to pump only until you start to get a little more comfortable, not until the breasts are empty. A Practical Way to Wean Your Baby There are a few other things you can do when your baby is transitioning off breast or bottle. If you’ve been giving the baby formula since Day One, and once they turn one year old, you have to do things a little differently than the suggestions made earlier. Here are some methods that you can use when you’re trying to wean your baby: Try to postpone your feedings. Extend the wait time in between feedings by 30 minutes, and if the baby gets hungry, give them solid foods, formula, or whole milk if they have already reached one year of age. Try to shorten each feeding. In this method, you’ll shorten each feeding time by several minutes. Just like when you’re weaning from breastfeeding, you can shorten the time continuously for three to five days each time and make the feeding shorter each time. If they get fussy, give them formula, breast milk in a bottle, or milk for older babies. While some things are the same whether you’ve been breastfeeding or feeding the baby formula, some things are a little different. Choosing to shorten your feedings, postponing them, or eliminating one meal per day until they’re no longer breastfeeding are considered the basics of weaning, but keep in mind that every mother is different and therefore, the way you do it might be different from the way other moms do it. Is Weaning Ever Difficult? When it comes to different weaning techniques for toddlers, many mothers are concerned about babies who seem to resist weaning, but even this situation doesn’t have to be complicated. The fact is that both you and your baby have to make adjustments when weaning time comes. For instance, if the baby gets sick, they might revert back to breastfeeding and you may have to start all over again once they get well, but it shouldn’t be a problem. Eventually, the baby will learn and understand what you’re doing and will go along with it, even if they don’t want to in the beginning. What should you do if your child refuses to go along with the weaning process? Unfortunately, you have to keep going. Taking your time helps, but remember that at some point, you must wean the baby or toddler. They might resist at first, but they won’t resist forever, so keep going, be consistent, and eventually your efforts will be successful. Conclusion Weaning is not a huge mystery or secret, and it also doesn’t have to be complicated. Replacing one meal per day with a bottle of formula, then waiting several days before replacing a second meal, seems to work best. That being said, each baby and each mom are different, so your method may look a little different than the ones mentioned here. If you’re having more problems than you feel are normal, you can talk to your doctor or organizations like La Leche League.

When it comes to feeding 9- to 12-month-old babies, it’s easier in some ways because they usually have several teeth at this point and can eat a lot of different foods. That being said, they shouldn’t eat just anything because in the end, they need to be eating only healthy foods. If you’re looking for the most nutritious baby snack ideas, keep in mind that a lot of them are the same foods that many adults eat. You just have to make sure that they are cut into small pieces and they are soft enough so the baby doesn’t choke. Below are several healthy snacks to give to older babies that are also fun to eat. 1. Shaped Foods Buy yourself some cookie cutters in many different shapes and use them instead to cut soft melons, including watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew melons. The softer the food, the better, and they can be cut into lots of different shapes, including flowers, circles, triangles, crescent moons, and even numerous animals. 2. Colorful Fruits Fruit is always a good thing to give older babies because it is nutritious and usually soft enough to eat immediately as long as it’s cut into small pieces. Try mixing lots of fruits together and use different colored fruits, including strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, bananas, and kiwi fruit. Just make sure that they are small and easy to grab, and mixing them all together makes them fun to eat. 3. Crackers and Nut Butter When it comes to healthy baby snacks, few things are better for them than nut butters. You can try almond, cashew, hazelnut, or sunflower butter, and kids will love them. Even better, spread them on crackers that are fun and easy to chew, such as graham crackers or Town House crackers. Try not to use products such as Nutella too often because of their high sugar content. 4. Eggs Eggs are filled with protein and healthy for growing babies, and you can serve them many different ways. Try some egg salad or boiled eggs that have been cut into small pieces for the best results. Eggs have a lot of flavor and are nutritious as well, and kids will consider them fun to eat. Again, try not to add salt to the eggs because that ingredient is simply not needed. 5. Fruit and Yogurt When it comes to snack options for infants, this combination is one of the best. Always use plain yogurt, preferably the Greek kind because it’s more nutritious, and add your own fresh fruit to give it some flavor. It’s a messy snack when kids are allowed to eat it on their own, but they’ll love the taste and the fact that it’s easy and fun to eat. 6. Whole-Fat Cottage Cheese When children are under the age of two -- some doctors will say five -- you should never give them any type of low-fat foods. Their brains need the fat to grow properly, and whole-fat cottage cheese is a healthy snack that many babies love. You can even put a layer of all-natural applesauce on top of it to make it tastier and even more nutritious. 7. Avocados Everyone knows that avocados are filled with healthy fats, and even if you eat one every day, it won’t hurt you. You can either cut it into small pieces or mash it up and feed it to your child, and that one piece of fruit will give them plenty of nutrients to grow and thrive. 8. Carrot Sticks For children under the age of one, it’s best to chop the carrots into matchstick pieces so they aren’t difficult to swallow. Carrots are filled with many different vitamins and their bright orange color will make kids want to eat them even more. Just make sure that they are cut into very thin, small pieces to keep your baby as safe as possible. 9. Canned Peaches Canned peaches are nice and soft and can be cut into small pieces very easily. Try to find peaches in their natural juice so that no sugar is added. When it comes to nutritious baby finger foods, canned peaches are some of the best. It is super easy for babies to pick them up and put them in their mouths, and they love the flavor! 10. Muffins Muffins are both soft and healthy, and you can cut them into small pieces and make them finger food easily. For the best results, find healthy muffins such as blueberry, banana, apple, pumpkin, or oatmeal muffins. Conclusion There are tons of snacks that babies 9 to 12 months old can eat with ease. The main tips to remember are to make sure the snacks are healthy and have no added sugar, and are cut into small pieces so they can pick them up easily to eat them. If they’re colorful, that’s even better!

If you travel with a baby because you’re constantly on the go, it doesn’t mean you can’t take healthy snacks with you to feed your child. To be sure, the most effective baby travel tips include what snacks to bring along when you have to go somewhere with your baby and you want to make sure they eat healthy while you’re there. Making sure that your baby eats healthy when you have to go somewhere isn’t a challenge if you follow a few important tips. Things to Remember First of all, the foods that you take with you for your baby should be healthy for them. This means no foods that have added sugar or too many preservatives in them. Second, try to bring foods that don’t need refrigeration or won’t be a problem if your child doesn’t eat them right away. Finally, make sure that you put them in containers or reusable bags that you can use over and over again, or something that is disposable once the baby is done with it. Below are some great suggestions for you. 1. Sliced Turkey Actually, it can be any type of sliced meat, but you should cut it up into small pieces first, and you can add pieces of cheese to go along with the meat. Even though a lot of meats and cheeses are soft, they should still be cut into small pieces so the baby can use them as finger food. It also provides a lot of the protein they need to grow and thrive. 2. Hummus Okay, this one will require a container with a lid that shuts tightly, but hummus is extremely nutritious and can be eaten with crackers or steamed veggies. It is rich in fiber and perfect when paired with whole-grain crackers, veggies that have been sliced very thin, or even whole-grain pretzels. The latter, of course, is best for older kids or toddlers. 3. Dried Fruit It was recently announced that raisins are not actually a choking hazard, and their naturally sweet tastes means that babies and toddlers will love them. They are also small enough that you don’t have to cut them into tiny pieces. For even more nutrition, add other dried fruit such as figs, dates, and prunes. As long as you cut them into small pieces, dried fruit works great. 4. Food Pouches If you’re interested in feeding baby while traveling, you can’t beat these food pouches. They come in tons of different foods, including fruits and veggies, and the best part is that babies can feed themselves with just a squeeze of the package. Even better, you simply throw them away when the baby is done eating because the pouch goes straight into the trash can. 5. Pears and Apples Both pears and apples can be sliced thin and placed in a reusable bag or container. Kids can pick them up and eat them without fear of choking, as long as you remember to peel them, and their sweet taste means that kids won’t even realize that they’re eating something nutritious! These fruits are also cheap and easy to find, not to mention filled with nutrients. 6. Cheerios Let’s face it -- what parent of small children doesn't keep Cheerios in their kitchen? Cheerios are healthy, have only a tiny amount of sugar and are an inexpensive cereal to buy. They are also great for kids trying to perfect their pincer grasp. When you’re researching lists of on-the-go feeding tips, Cheerios cereal is almost always on at least one of those lists! 7. Whole-Grain Graham Crackers There are many different types of graham crackers, but when you compare them to other types of crackers and cookies, you’ll find they have much less sugar than others do. You can put a layer of nut butter on them to make them even tastier, and if you have dairy- or nut-free kids in the home, you can let them eat the crackers without the nut butter. 8. Pancakes or Waffles If you have leftover waffles or pancakes, break them up into small pieces and place them in a reusable bag. This travel-friendly baby food is healthy, especially if you choose the whole-grain options, and is soft enough for them to eat without choking on the pieces. You don’t even have to cut them; just tear them up with your hands and you’re all done. Conclusion On-the-go food for babies isn’t hard to come by, especially since a lot of it includes food you probably already have in your home. Soft foods cut into small pieces are what you want, and these can include Cheerios, dried or fresh fruit, hummus, food pouches, and crackers, but you can come up with other foods on your own if you think about it. Just make sure that they have no added sugar and are easy to fit in a travel container or reusable bag.

Moms and dads know that when feeding their baby, there has to be a process followed because the last thing you want is for your infant to be fussy or uncomfortable because you’re feeding them the wrong foods. When it comes to the different baby food stages, they’re really very simple to understand and a lot of your decisions will be based on what the baby seems ready for at any given time. Always Start with Soft Pureed Foods At four to six months of age, babies can have pureed foods, and it’s best if you stick with a commercial baby food that is specifically made for infants. Start with fruits and vegetables, and only feed them one food per day in the beginning. If the baby reacts well after three days of eating the food, you can move onto another type of food. Eventually, you can add protein such as chicken or beef baby food, but it’s best to start with baby cereal and fruits in the beginning. You should also keep in mind that babies have to be ready both physically and emotionally to go from only consuming breast milk or formula to eating pureed foods. If you have any questions about your baby’s ability to eat pureed foods, or their interest in it, you should talk to your pediatrician. Generally, babies’ main source of nutrition for the first year of life comes from breast milk or formula, so if you’d rather wait until they’re a full six months of age, that is perfectly acceptable. So, when is a baby generally ready to eat table food or finger food? Normally, it’s around eight to nine months of age. At this age, their digestive systems are better able to handle foods besides pureed food, and they’ll also become more interested in it. Keep in mind, however, that “finger” foods do not include grownup food. Finger foods should still be soft and cut into small pieces so the baby doesn’t choke. You can either cook the food yourself or buy finger food specially made for older babies. How Do You Know If Your Baby Is Ready? Transitioning to finger foods isn’t an exact science. If your baby seems disinterested, acts distressed, or starts coughing or shaking their head when you try to feed them soft diced carrots, you can simply wait until they’re older. While many older babies enjoy at least a few finger foods at eight to nine months of age, some may not show any interest until they’re a year old or even older, and that’s okay. Since breast milk or formula is their main source of nutrition, they really don’t need finger foods to stay healthy. You should also keep in mind that when babies go from purees to solids such as finger foods, a lot of their like or dislike of the foods will depend on their ability to chew. From seven to eight months until around 11 months, babies begin to chew instinctively, so if you introduce finger foods during this time frame, they are more likely to want to eat it. That being said, the longer you wait to introduce them to finger foods, the harder it sometimes is for them to eat the foods. You’ll also want to make sure that your baby is able to pick up small items with their fingers. Otherwise, they won’t be able to pick up the food. Another tip to remember is that this is a time for babies to learn about both taste and texture, which is why those commercial dissolvable “puffs” are so good for them. They provide a little texture that the baby will love but they won’t have to chew them a lot because their saliva will make the puffs dissolve in a short period of time. What Should You Feed Them? Some of the best finger foods include pieces of banana, diced veggies such as cooked carrots, and Stage 1 foods that can include rice husks, teething wafers, and even baby cheese puffs. If you cook the foods, never add anything like salt or butter because this is unnecessary and besides, the foods themselves are what the baby needs most. Town House crackers and graham crackers are also good for babies to chew. Stay away from Ritz crackers, though, because they are harder to chew. When you’re introducing textured foods, make sure that they aren’t too hard and break them into small pieces. Babies love textured foods, but you don’t want them to choke on them. If you use a little common sense, these rules should be easy to follow. Conclusion Going from pureed baby food to feeding a baby finger or table food isn’t that difficult. Just like feeding them pureed food, it has to be done slowly. Foods such as hot dogs aren’t a good idea because it is very easy for babies to choke on them. If you think about the foods before you give them to the baby, it helps a lot.