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 New Mother - Expecting Respect |
| Job-hunt discrimination. |
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By: Tiffany Forte,
Photo: Getty Images
If you’re pregnant, you may be treated better as a shopper than as a job applicant, according to two studies from George mason and Rice universities. In one study, research participants—sometimes wearing prostheses to appear pregnant—entered 110 retail stores and either applied for work or ...
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| Featured Articles |
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Nursery Smarts  |
| Your baby’s due, your budget’s tight, and you’ve lost your decorating mojo. So how do you create a beautiful, unique room for your new baby? ... |
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| Considering Surrogacy |
| When the news broke late last April that Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick were expecting twins with the help of a surrogate mom, a ...
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| Money Smarts |
| The ultimate joy of a new baby can be tempered by worry in an economic climate like this one. We asked Erica Sandberg, a personal ... |
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| Go to Work, Baby! | |
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Zutano's baby-to-work perk
Every day is “take your baby to work day” at Zutano. The Cabot, VT–based kids’ clothing company, known for creating colorful, cheery apparel for the 0-to-4 set, saw a need seven years ago when its production manager had her first son. “It’s a dilemma many working women have to face when they have children: Do you take time off to launch this baby into the world?” says Zutano’s president, Michael Belenky, who cofounded the company two decades ago with his ...
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| Counsel and Calm for New Moms | |
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Wal-Mart's Life with Baby program pairs new parents with experts to reduce preterm labor.
When Cynthia Velasquez was pregnant with her first child, her doctor mentioned that her baby’s blood type was negative. She panicked. How could that be? She and her husband were both positive. Confounded by her physician’s explanation, Cynthia turned to someone she knew would keep her from coming undone: Tracey Bradley-Simmons, a nurse at Blue Cross Blue Shield. “I called her the second I got out of the doctor’s office, and she explained it all to me,” says Cynthia, 42, ...
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| Conceive Anew | |
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Millions trying for a second or third child can't seem to get pregnant. There's help available-just ask.
Your life’s dream: to work in a field that brings personal satisfaction and a good paycheck as you raise a family. So, like many working moms, you waited to have your first child until you were established in your job. Then you went back to work and waited a few more years to get pregnant again—only it isn’t happening. And it’s heartbreaking.
Infertility affects more than seven million Americans, roughly one in eight couples in their childbearing years.
And ...
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| Sweet Dreams | |
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Getting your tot to sleep
You’re back to work, coffee in hand, hanging in there because you’ve read that babies start to sleep through the night by around 4 months. Apparently your baby missed that chapter. When will she let you get enough rest? That’s what neuroscientist and sleep researcher Polly Moore, PHD, wondered after she had her first child. When she noticed that her baby seemed to get tired after being awake for about 90 minutes rather than randomly, she created a biological-rhythm-based strategy ...
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| Healthy First Foods | |
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The latest in frozen organic baby foods
You want to give your hungry little guy the best possible nutrition, but face it: Your work/life balance just doesn’t leave time for whipping up your own baby food. The next-best thing may be frozen organic. Quality products in this trend offer great nutrition and pesticide-free ingredients and avoid the high heating process that is sometimes involved during the jarring of preserved baby foods.
Here are three top choices:
Petite Palate , cofounded by chef-moms Lisa Beels and ...
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| One-Seat Shopping | |
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Online services just for you
If you haven’t grocery shopped online, try it now while at home with your new baby. Online stores like Peapod.com (which primarily serves Northeast and Midwest metro areas) and Netgrocer.com (which ships via FedEx to all 50 states) allow you to shop for everything from food to baby products within minutes. Shortcuts include selecting by aisle, by recipe and from customized grocery lists, says Peapod.com spokesperson Peg Merzbacher. You can also hunt by price and use tools like NutriFilter, Peapod’s ...
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| Safe Care, Soft Skin | |
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Steer clear of chemicals
You soothe your baby’s skin with lotions, powders and shampoos that will help him feel and smell like, well, a baby. But many baby-care products today contain phthalates, synthetic chemicals used in plastics, vinyl products and fragrance that recent research suggests may be harmful to little ones. A study from Seattle children’s Hospital research institute reveals a strong association between an infant’s phthalate levels and his exposure to these products. “Phthalates have been associated with conditions such as allergies, asthma ...
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| For Hire: Baby Planner | |
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Get the help you need
New moms need all the help they can get—and sometimes they are willing to pay for it. Hence the birth of a new trend: the baby planner. These for-hire “assistants” are coming to the rescue with services like babyshower coordinating, meals during pregnancy, arranging the nursery, sending out birth announcements, even babyproofing your home. They can also help you figure out essentials like what kind of child care to enlist and which nursing cream to use. While various packages of ...
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| Detecting Prematurity | |
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Scientific breakthrough for moms-to-be
There’s a simple medical procedure that can help ease worries of some moms-to-be: FullTerm, the Fetal Fibronectin Test. Similar to a Pap test, this FDA-approved assessment can help detect the likelihood of preterm birth and is recommended for high-risk women, such as those who are carrying twins or have delivered prematurely before, and for women experiencing symptoms like early contractions. A sample of secretions taken with a swab is analyzed for the presence of fetal fibronectin, a gluelike substance that ...
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| The Language of Tears | |
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All babies cry, but that fact doesn't always make it easier for new moms. Here are some insights that will.
Wailing, sobbing, whimpering, shrieking—they’re just things babies do. Besides smiling and frowning, crying is how your baby talks to you. The tricky part is decoding this “language,” something you want to do before you go back to work and your baby starts spending more time with a caregiver.
This is communication a new mom gradually develops by determining whether it’s her baby’s diaper, a feeding issue, fatigue or overstimulation that’s causing his cries, and then tending to these needs, ...
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| Protecting Baby Skin | |
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Gentle skin care for tender complexions
Most babies have delicate skin, but for those newborns, babies, and children with extra sensitive skin there’s a new line out dedicated to protecting them from the environmental effects that can exacerbate their condition.
Mustela’s Stelaprotect™ uses avocado sugar to help restore and reinforce the skin’s natural barrier in order to protect skin. The fragrance-free, colorant-free, paraben-free and preservative-free products include a convenient cleansing foam for bathtime ($16); a no-rinse cleanser ($14); and a soothing face cream ($16).
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| Sleep It Off | |
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Another reason new moms gotta get more sleep
What’s the easiest way to get your postbaby body back? Get some extra zzz’s. New moms who sleep at least seven (as opposed to five) hours a night are significantly less likely to retain baby weight, according to a recent study. Plus, consistent sleep deprivation can result in a release of hormones that stimulate appetite and possibly lead to overeating. “The study strongly suggests that a good night’s sleep may not only provide much-needed stress relief for new
moms, but ...
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| Really Fast Potty Training | |
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New technique with great results
It’s tough enough to be a working mom with a new baby. But if this is also the time for your older child to potty train—yikes! Weeks of vigilant toilet teaching while tending to an infant might seem overwhelming, but we’ve got good news: It’s possible to potty train your child in less than a week, according to Wendy Sweeney, RN, creator of the Booty Camp program in Chicago. Her prime strategy: Set aside one day to focus only on ...
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| 6 Myths About Pregnancy And Exercise | |
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Prenatal Fitness Expert and Fit4Baby Founder Lisa Druxman puts some old wives tales to rest.
With so many expecting moms working well into their 9th month (in my sister’s case, she worked passed her due-date), it’s remarkable that working out while pregnant is still seen as unusual. Turns out, prenatal exercise is not only safe, but also beneficial for the bump!
“Fitness professionals and pregnant women are finally becoming increasingly aware of the benefits prenatal exercise brings to both mom and baby during a healthy pregnancy, but it’s been a long time coming,” explains ...
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| Get Cultured | |
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Take a proactive approach to pregnancy (and morning sickness) with probiotics.
Hey, moms-to-be…how’d you like to eliminate those pesky bouts of morning sickness from your daily routine for the next nine months? Believe it or not, riding the porcelain bus can be an avoidable side effect of pregnancy for moms who drink Kefir, a creamy probiotic dairy beverage. Kefir is similar to yogurt but jam-packed with vitamins and minerals, protein, calcium, and fiber, all thanks to seven active “friendly” microorganisms (yogurt typically has two or three) that stimulate digestion, ease lactose ...
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| Breastfeeding? Watch Your Mouth | |
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New study results
If you’re nursing, you may be at increased risk for bone loss around your teeth and gums, says a recent study from Tohoku University in Japan. “Women naturally experience a decrease in bone density during breastfeeding and pregnancy as our bodies nourish the baby,” explains Susan Karabin, DDS, president of the American Academy of Periodon-tology. “This study shows that the bone around the roots of teeth is particularly vulnerable.” For a healthy mouth: Brush and floss regularly to keep teeth ...
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| Lactose Tolerant | |
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How to keep your baby on breast milk when you're ready to head back to work.
Breastfeeding can be challenging enough for first time mommies–especially when they have to sort through all the conflicting advice out there. And there are a whole new set of concerns for moms who go back to work while their babies are still nursing. But if you follow a few common sense guidelines, there is no reason you have to give up all the breastfeeding benefits (for you and your baby) when you get back to your 9 to 5.
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| Taboo Foods Debunked | |
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Having a bun in the oven doesn't always mean you have to deprive yourself of the good stuff.
So you're having a baby and for the first time in your life, you don't know what to eat. Between advertisements, old wives tales, and expert nutritionist advice, it’s hard to know what is safe for both you and baby. Let's get to the bottom of some of the popular myths and deconstruct taboo foods during pregnancy.
Last Call For Alcohol
We know that extensive research has shown excessive alcohol to be harmful to fetal development, resulting in ...
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| Opting Out? | |
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If you're tempted to take maternity leave and then quit your job, you'll want to know what's legal--and ethical--before you do.
Before she became pregnant, Lori Mukoyama, 33, had been working at a hectic Chicago ad agency. “I’d always thought I would go right back after maternity leave,” she says. But shortly before the end of her three-month leave, a former employer she’d dropped in on to say hello to offered her a job that would allow her to work from home. “I suddenly realized I didn’t want to be apart from my new baby so much,” Lori explains. “So I ...
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| Less Mess | |
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There's lots of spring cleaning going on, but what about taking some preventative (or preparative) measures to keep you and your little one clean? Check out these great new products that'll help out with the laundry load.
Line Of Defense
What goes down, doesn’t always stay down, and thankfully there are burp cloths! We adore Burp Armor designed by a dad—love it when the men get it involved! Shaped perfectly for your shoulder, this armor is more than dribble proof with two layers of fleece and one of corduroy. (Prices start at $25.)
How many times have you been dressed for work only to have a little spit-up alter your feed-and-go plan? The limited edition Brooklyn Burp ...
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| Six Things Every New Mom Should Know | |
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Realistic coping strategies for first-timers
So you've read all the baby books and have prepared for the first few weeks and months with your newborn the way you would for any project at work. But there may be some things about this tough and intense—and wonderful—time in your and your baby's life that you may not have heard. Here are some great insider tips to carry you into maternity leave and beyond from leading obstetrician and mom Marjorie Greenfield, MD, author of The Working ...
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| Baby Talk | |
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Engaging baby's verbal skills early
Research suggests that children from birth to age 3—a period when language skills explode—should hear about 30,000 words a day. That's roughly 181/2 readings of The Cat in the Hat, say the makers of a device called LENA (Language Environment Analysis), which tallies the number of words spoken to a child. While LENA could be useful if you're curious about exactly how many words your child hears, the price tag is hefty ($400, lenababy.com) . But there are many ...
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| Move It, Mama | |
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New mom fitness help
Want to boost your energy and get your prebaby body back? Here are two DVDs for new moms: Postnatal Yoga stars renowned yoga instructor Shiva Rea, who offers movements to help new moms at various levels of physical ability regain strength and flexibility and "nourish your spirit" ($15, gaiam.com ). Postnatal Power Tae Bo Workout features Shellie Blanks Cimarosti, daughter of Tae Bo creator Billy Blanks, who gave birth to her son just ten weeks before shooting this video. Included ...
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| Nursing? Eat Organic | |
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Giving your baby the best possible start
If you're breastfeeding, consider including plenty of organic milk and meat in your diet. A new study has found that the breast milk of moms who eat high amounts of organic dairy and meat has increased levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). This fatty acid, which is found in dairy and meat, is thought to be important for newborns' immune system development and may help protect against cancer, allergies and diabetes. Researchers from Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands found ...
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| Beautiful for You, Safe for Your Baby | |
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Safe beauty fixes
You want to look your best for holiday parties and get-togethers. But when you're pregnant or nursing, you need to make sure the products and treatments you use to get gorgeous are not potentially harmful to your baby. The good news is that options like laser treatments, glycolic chemical peels and microdermabrasion are fine during pregnancy and breastfeeding, says Leslie Baumann, MD, a professor of dermatology at the University of Miami. But steer clear of these troublesome beauty products: Those ...
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| Newborn Screening Strides | |
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What you need to know about testing your baby
Babies born in the United States are more likely to be screened for serious diseases today than ever before, reveals a new study from the March of Dimes (MOD): Nearly 88 percent of newborns receive the majority of tests recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG), up from 38 percent in 2005. But while this is good news, more can be done to protect newborns. Doctors emphasize the importance of early detection for conditions such as sickle cell ...
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| Stealing Time | |
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It's easy to lose sight of your own needs when you're juggling a new baby, work and home. Here's how to sneak some R&R into your routine.
Once you have a baby, the little things you used to take for granted in your carefree pre-parenthood days—waking up late on weekends, showering when you want to or just finishing a cup of coffee while it's still hot—can suddenly become as elusive as those teeny baby socks that always seem to get lost in the laundry. The sudden lack of personal time can be a bit of a shock. And adapting to the change is even more difficult when, ...
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| Nursing Rights | |
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What you need to know
Over the past few years, there's been a lot of affirmation about how great breastfeeding is for both mother and baby. So why are U.S. laws still so far behind? Only 21 states formally exempt breastfeeding from public indecency laws, according to information from the National Conference of State Legislatures. There is no federal legislation to protect a woman's right to nurse in public, and even when there is a public breastfeeding law, in some states business owners can ...
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| You're Back! | |
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Returning to work after having a baby can be a tough transition. We make it easier for you with these smart tips.
No matter how prepared you think you are for your return to work postbaby, the first few weeks (and even months) back can pack quite an emotional and physical wallop. Our tried-and-true survival guide—with tips from moms who've been there, done that—will help you navigate this challenging transition. Take baby steps. After weeks of sweatpants, stroller pushing and nursing, jumping back into the world of work clothes, commuting and conference calls can be jarring. Find out if a more ...
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| A Stroke in Time | |
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Let infant massage help you build a bond with your new baby.
As a new mom returning to work, you've got a lot on your mind and a lot to do. In the rush to get everything done and fill your many roles, you may feel that you have to cut corners here or there. Connecting with your baby should be a top priority - and can be with the simple techniques of infant massage. Infant massage has been show to have many benefits for parents and babies, and it may ...
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| New Breastfeeding Study Results | |
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Breastfeeding at Work Still Tough But Older Moms Better Off
A new survey by the National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC) and Medela, Inc. reveals one-third (32 percent) of new mothers give up breastfeeding less than seven weeks after returning to work because of significant barriers. This percentage is even higher for those new moms aged 18 - 24 at 51 percent. According to the survey the biggest barriers include no privacy, inflexible schedules, lack of refrigeration to store breast milk, and insufficient company policies to allow them to ...
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| Bathing Suits | |
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Hot Swimwear for Hotshot Mamas-to-Be
Today's expectant moms and new mothers are confident and self-assured, and the latest swimsuit styles reflect their attitudes. Show off your fabulous expectant self in these gorgeous new maternity swim styles. They're so pretty, you'll want to wear them postbaby, too. A couple of our favorite lines: Bella Diosa ($75 to $95, www.belladiosa.com ). Maternal America (above, $95, click "resort" at www.maternalamerica.com ).
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| Magic of Massage | |
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New Study on the Benefits of Touch
Improved sleep—for both your baby and you—might be just a touch away. Recent research indicates that giving infants massages may help them sleep better, cry less and feel less stressed. Researchers from the University of Warwick in England reviewing nine studies about children who received massages discovered a range of significant results including a decrease in the stress hormone cortisol and a link to the release of melatonin, which aids infant sleep patterns, says lead study author Angela Underdown, ...
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| Tax Tips for New Parents | |
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What you need to know this tax season
Having a baby can take a toll on a family's budget, so you'll want to take advantage of every kid-related tax break Uncle Sam has to offer, says Jackie Perlman, senior tax research coordinator at H&R Block. Four tax credits you may qualify for as a new parent: The child tax credit could lower your tax bill by as much as $1,000 per child. Couples filing jointly who earn no more than $110,000 are eligible to claim the full credit. ...
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| Eating for Three...Generations | |
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Take the Long View when it Comes to Prenatal Nutrition
Here's another reason to eat right during pregnancy: A compelling new study out of Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI) in California suggests that what an expectant mom eats can affect not only her child but her grandchild as well. Researchers fed pregnant mice supplements to change the fur color of their offspring. When those babies grew up and had babies of their own, the fur color of the third generation remained changed, even though they were not given ...
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| Got Nausea? | |
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Help is on the way--at work and at home.
Pregnancy brings many joys, but nausea is certainly not one of them.
Affecting about 70 to 85 percent of pregnant women to some degree, it
can be particularly difficult for working moms-to-be, who have to
contend with ill-timed queasiness or curious colleagues.
Morning sickness—a misnomer since many women experience nausea
throughout the day—usually creeps in at around seven weeks, peaks
between eight and 12 weeks and tapers off by the second trimester,
usually at about 18 weeks. In most cases, nausea and vomiting ...
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| News, Trends & Tips | |
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Say "Aaahh!" Organic baby foods & the upside of stress
The latest culinary trend, organic, has trickled down to baby food,
made fresh and shipped right to your door or available at select
retailers. Developed by moms, these infant and toddler edibles have
higher price tags, but they tout convenience and better nutrition. A
sampler:
Plum Organics Flavors
include Red Lentil Veggie and Banana Peach Rice Pudding. Available at
select Whole Foods and Wild Oats Stores. ($2.89 to $3.49 for a box of
two 4-ounce cups; www.plumorganics.com)
Bohemian Baby Tempting
combinations like pear-pomegranate or ...
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| Support Management | |
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Getting the help you need & eating for two
You're a natural at work: delegating, juggling, being a team player, rallying colleagues around you for support. But as a new mom with all the accompanying emotions and fatigue, you may feel overwhelmed by offers of assistance—and even visits—from family members and friends. To help you take advantage of the help at your disposal and keep things manageable, Amy Miracle, a certified nurse-midwife in Columbus, OH, offers these smart strategies.
Know your needs. When accepting help, consider what ...
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| Prevent Pains & the Perfect Bag | |
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Bold, Beautiful--and Really Big
Searching for the perfect diaper bag? This large and colorful one,
appropriately named "MotherShip" ($155, www.fleurville.com), can hold
almost every baby essential in its roomy compartments. It comes with a
wipe case, insulated bottle holder, cinch sack and changing pad—perfect
for toting with your baby to day care or on any other outing.
Preventing Pregnancy Pains
Many jobs, such as those that require computer work or standing or
sitting for long periods of time, can exacerbate common
pregnancy-related complaints. To prevent or ...
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| Joys of Motherhood | |
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Moms-to-be Read This!
Talk about entrepreneur moms! Rebecca Matthias is the awe-inspiring
mother of four at the helm of Mothers Work, a multimillion-dollar
corporation that includes Mimi Maternity, A Pea in the Pod and
Motherhood Maternity boutiques, as well as Destination Maternity,
nationwide megastores featuring the three—plus spas for moms-to-be in
several. Now, Rebecca has written a book, 51 Secrets of Motherhood (That Your Mother Never Told You) . Some of her pearls of wisdom:
Motherhood is hot. A pregnant body is beautiful, and ...
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| Carpal Tunnel Risk | |
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Hands-On Pain Relief
If your hands or wrists suddenly ache, consider this: Doctors say
carpal tunnel syndrome is a common problem among expectant and some new
moms. "Water retention during pregnancy can put pressure on the median
nerve in the wrist," says Christine Muhleman, president of the American
Society of Hand Therapists. "Though most carpal tunnel cases get better
on their own after delivery, for some new moms, holding or picking up
the baby in a way that puts stress on the thumb or wrist can increase
the risk of ...
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| PostBaby TLC | |
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New to try
Treat yourself to L'Occitane's new skin-care line. Touted as great for
"postpregnancy detoxing," the yummy-smelling organic grape body-care
line features an Anti-Water Retention Gel ($34, www.usa.loccitane.com)
to reduce excess water stored in tissues and help eliminate toxins.
...
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| Breastfeeding at Work | |
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Smart Strategies to Get the Support You Need
When it comes to how much support a breastfeeding working mom gets from
her employer, all things are not created equal. According to the latest
benefits survey of the Society for Human Resource Management, only 23
percent of U.S. companies offer a lactation program or a designated
area for breastfeeding. In striking contrast, 85 percent of the Working
Mother 100 Best Companies provide these benefits. And many of these
companies go above and beyond, offering perks such as pumps and 24-hour
access to lactation consultants. To get ...
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| 10 Best for Breastfeeding | |
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Which Working Mother 100 Best Companies stand out in their efforts to support their breastfeeding moms?
Based upon criteria including designated private pumping rooms,
lactation education programs, consultants and pumps, here's our Top 10:
Arnold & Porter LLP
Bayer Corporation
Bronson Healthcare Group Inc.
Children's Memorial Hospital
Ernst & Young LLP
Ford Motor Company
Freddie Mac
Northwestern Memorial HealthCare
S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
Wachovia Corporation
...
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| Primer on Pumps | |
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Making the right choice
It's important to find a pump that best mimics your baby's natural suck
strength and cycle. You can rent a hospital-grade pump for top strength
and efficiency. (You can usually pump both breasts at the same time,
reducing pumping time at work.) If you don't have access to an
electrical outlet where you'll be pumping, a hand pump might be your
best bet. Other factors to consider are the size of the pump
(especially if you have to carry it to and from home every day), ...
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| Pamper Yourself | |
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Indulgences for Moms-to-Be
You're working double duty during your nine months, keeping up with
responsibilities on the job while handling the physical demands of
pregnancy. So indulge in delicious, healthy snacks like fresh fruit.
And also enjoy one or more of these prenatal treats—on any budget.
Aromatherapy
Some women find they're easily overwhelmed by certain smells during
pregnancy—everything from cooking aromas to a colleague's perfume. But
when they please you, scents can actually refresh, soothe and calm.
Steal: Put a few drops of a favorite essential ...
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