Blog
Who Should I Include In My Birth Team?
Having the right people by your side during childbirth can mean the difference between a smooth labor and delivery experience and a stressful one! When deciding who to have on your birth team, it’s important to think carefully about who’ll be physically present at the hospital, who’d you like support from, and what your priorities are.
12 Perfect Gifts For Pregnant People
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and trying to come up with the perfect gift for expecting parents can be overwhelming. While there is no one-size-fits-all present that will please every pregnant person, there are some staple gifts that can help make the process easier.
What Are Soft Markers, and What Does It Mean if They Appear in My Ultrasound?
An ultrasound appointment can be a special experience for expectant parents! You’ll have the opportunity to connect with your growing family and perhaps learn so much more about your baby, including your baby’s fetal sex. However, these scans are primarily tools used to check in on your little one's growth and development.
Why You Should Journal During Pregnancy and New Parenthood: Tips and Prompts
Pregnancy and motherhood introduce you to so many new emotions at all ends of the spectrum. Giving yourself an outlet to explore those feelings can help keep them from getting overwhelming. In your journal, you can honestly express your every hope and fear without holding back or worrying what others may think.
How To Pamper Yourself During Pregnancy
Between the fluctuating hormones, your changing body, and a whirlwind of baby prep, there are a million reasons you deserve a little extra pampering when you’re pregnant. Massages, mani-pedis, and hair appointments can help you relax and recharge (and maybe even inspire a little confidence boost). But are they safe during pregnancy?
New Year, New You–Easy Exercises To Get Back Into Working Out
We’ve all seen how quickly a single missed workout can turn into a full-on exercise hiatus. The more time passes, the harder it is to find the motivation to get moving again. But, if you’re reading this, you know how important it is to push through those feelings and embrace a new workout routine.
How To Handle The Post-Holiday Blues
The holiday season is filled with life’s biggest highs and lows as you balance family schedules, run back and forth in the kitchen, and push your social skills to the absolute limit. The “most wonderful time of the year” can quickly sweep you up in a whirlwind of presents and parties and leave you dealing with the aftermath long after the festivities end.
Is It Safe To Eat Fish During Pregnancy?
The FDA and EPA recommend eating 2 to 3 servings (8 to 12 ounces) of fish each week when you’re pregnant or trying to conceive. Fish are a major source of essential nutrients, including iron, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, iodine, and choline. During pregnancy, these nutrients can help support your baby’s brain, spinal cord, and immune system development.
Tips for Practicing Self-Care and Self-Love During Pregnancy
It’s not always easy to jump aboard the self-love train when you haven’t been able to button your favorite jeans in months and you’re running about a month behind on your pre-delivery to-do list. But that’s when you need it the most! Caring for your baby—both before and after birth—takes a lot out of you.
Understanding Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)
If you’re considering prenatal genetic testing, such as non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS), you may be curious about how these tests work. The short answer is that most NIPS tests use next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to assess a pregnancy’s chance for certain chromosomal conditions.
Understanding Cell-free DNA and Fetal Fraction
Cell-free DNA describes DNA (genetic material) that is not held or enclosed within a cell. Whereas most human DNA is typically stored along structures called chromosomes located within the nucleus (control center) of a cell, cell-free DNA pieces are no longer confined within the cell’s nucleus.
Learning Your Baby’s Sex in the Privacy of Your Own Home
There's a lot of planning that goes into preparing to welcome a little one into the world! Everything from trying out different colors on nursery walls to browsing baby names for hours to buying the cutest little socks. For many expecting parents, learning the biological sex of their baby can kick off this exciting planning process.
