Know What's Happening in Motherhood
Know What's Happening in Motherhood
Teen OCD spikes in puberty, experts stress ERP therapy
A 15‑year‑old’s obsessive‑compulsive disorder is worsening despite therapy, highlighting that adolescent OCD often intensifies during puberty. Specialists note that exposure response prevention within cognitive‑behavioral therapy is the gold‑standard treatment for teens.
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The author, a photographer and new mother, describes how postpartum body changes sparked shame and self‑criticism. By turning her camera on herself, she created self‑portraits that reframed stretch marks, a "mom pouch," and other changes as symbols of strength. This visual practice became a therapeutic ritual, allowing her to honor her body’s transformation rather than chase the cultural "bounce‑back" ideal. The essay illustrates how art can shift personal narratives about motherhood and body image.
Life changes quietly after becoming a mother. Not everything is visible to the world. You learn to stay silent instead of arguing. You let go of small things that once felt big. Some days are heavy. Some days feel lighter. But slowly, grow. You realise not everything...
It is honestly scary that microplastics are now being found in human placentas, amniotic fluid, breast milk, and even testicular tissue. A 2024 study found microplastics in every single one of the 62 placentas they tested. The plastics in your...
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Post‑birth hormonal shifts trigger a surge in androgen activity, leading many new parents to experience a flare‑up of acne, especially along the jawline and neck. The condition, known as postpartum acne, typically resolves within two to six months but can...
• Labels shape identity. • Comparison fuels rivalry. • Celebrate uniqueness. • Avoid side-taking. Reflect. #SiblingRivalry #HealthyFamilies #ParentingAdvice #ConsciousParenting #FamilyDynamics
Placing a sleeping baby in the crib shouldn’t feel like a covert mission… and yet here we are. You’ve rocked, bounced, paced the hallway like it’s your job. Th
Little Spoon, known for ultra‑transparent baby food, has entered the infant formula market with an organic whole‑milk product that applies its 500‑plus toxin testing regime. The company sets its own contaminant limits—10 ppb for lead and 3 ppb for mercury—and publishes batch‑by‑batch...
I constantly try to remind myself that my teenager is still just a kid, doing his best to navigate a world grown adults struggle with, and that I need to give him some grace as he grows into the person...
Confidence isn’t built by praise. It’s built by responsibility. Daily builders: • Small tasks • Problem-solving • Encouragement, not rescue Keep this as a parenting reminder. #BuildConfidence #PositiveParenting #RaisingStrongKids #MomTips #IndianParents
The article highlights a growing trend toward slower, more intentional family vacations, emphasizing destinations that prioritize relaxation over packed itineraries. It showcases mountain cabins, waterfall sites, lakeside cottages, farm stays, wellness‑focused resorts, and scenic road trips as ideal settings for...
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) commonly presents as a cold in infants, but babies under six months can develop bronchiolitis that quickly impairs breathing. Pediatrician Dr. Kristin Barrett advises parents to monitor peak symptom days (days 3‑5) and watch for red‑flag...
Calling all Late Night Moms 🌙 What do you work on after the house goes quiet? (I’ll go first — drop yours below 👇)
In this episode, child therapist Natasha Daniels explains that many OCD compulsions in children are hidden or subtle, such as mental rituals, reassurance‑seeking, and neutralizing thoughts, which parents often overlook. She outlines the two‑part OCD loop—intrusive thoughts or feelings followed...
Researchers found that women who experienced an adverse pregnancy outcome (APO) and reported high psychosocial stress had significantly higher diastolic blood pressure 2–7 years postpartum, whereas stress alone did not affect blood pressure in uncomplicated pregnancies. The analysis of 3,322...
I did placenta encapsulation with my first baby due to my prior midwife's recommendation, but I no longer do it or recommend it. Here's why. The only placebo-controlled trials on it (UNLV) found no meaningful benefit for mood, fatigue, bonding, or iron...
I'm not going to comment on the specific stats here because I haven't read the book yet and some of these numbers need more context. But the broader point matters. Women deserve full transparency before making a decision that costs $15-20K...
Yelp released a state‑by‑state list of the most‑saved kids’ activities, revealing a massive surge in indoor‑play searches and a growing appetite for STEAM‑focused venues. Parents are bookmarking weather‑proof, screen‑free options such as trampoline parks, play cafés, and ropes courses to...
Parents seeking gentle, breathable clothing for infants are turning to bamboo fabrics. The article highlights bamboo baby clothes and pajamas as solutions for skin sensitivity, temperature regulation, and longer sleep. It also emphasizes the eco‑friendly, durable nature of bamboo, which...
I weaned my first and second baby around 9 months. I'll see how long I go this time. I admire women who can do extended breastfeeding past 12 months. Some moms go 2+ years and that's remarkable. What most people don't...
UnitedHealthcare announced a nationwide rollout of its Doula Support program for employer‑sponsored health plans, potentially reaching 7.2 million members by January 1, 2027. The benefit gives members the option to engage doulas in‑person or virtually throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. UnitedHealthcare estimates its...
The article reveals that many mothers experience ambivalence toward their children, feeling love without genuine liking, yet this reality is shrouded in taboo. It highlights how societal expectations demand constant affection and enjoyment, labeling any deviation as moral failure. Through...
I run a pub. I have a one-year-old. And I don’t work 24/7. It’s not time management. It’s systems.
The 2026 Marketing Week Career & Salary Survey reveals that 44.6% of marketing mums say parenthood has damaged their career progression. The research also shows 35.6% of these mothers avoided applying for new roles and 14.1% were pushed into more...
Actress Loisa Andalio and singer‑actor Ronnie Alonte announced the birth of their first child, daughter Runi Lior, affectionately called “Nili,” via Instagram delivery‑room photos. The couple expressed deep gratitude, highlighting the emotional journey, divine timing, and Alonte’s support throughout pregnancy....
A child needs trust and safety first to form a strong bond and connection before a parent can expect them to be regulated, behave and cooperate to requests, and respect them.
In this episode of Apparently Speaking, host Miriam Conner talks with school counselor and children's author Jennifer Leichtate about the growing pressure and performance anxiety faced by kids today. Leichtate explains the difference between healthy, motivating anxiety and debilitating anxiety...
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Labor shakes are uncontrollable shivering, trembling, or teeth‑chattering that some women experience during childbirth. Doctors attribute them to abrupt hormonal shifts, especially spikes in adrenaline, cortisol, and oxytocin, which also affect temperature regulation. Non‑pharmacologic measures like warm blankets can help,...
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Babies commonly produce a variety of noises while sleeping, such as moaning, grunting, gurgling, and snorting, especially during the first four to six months as their respiratory and digestive systems mature. These sounds are typically benign and linked to irregular...
Some women lose weight while breastfeeding. Most of my mom friends cannot. They hold onto 5 to 15 extra pounds no matter what they do. Then they wean and it falls off almost overnight. This is completely normal. Prolactin, the hormone...
Breast milk has a clock. Morning milk has higher cortisol and stimulating amino acids to help the baby wake up. Evening milk has more melatonin and nucleotides that have a sleep inducing effect on the nervous system to help the baby...
A longitudinal study of 127 first‑time mothers scanned before conception, twice during pregnancy, and at one and six months postpartum reveals a striking ~5% reduction in gray‑matter volume in regions governing emotion and social perception. The loss peaks in the...
Fitness entrepreneur Katie Austin revealed she is pregnant, describing an intuitive moment on New Year’s Day before a test confirmed the news. She and husband Lane Armstrong had planned the family carefully, completing fertility and genetic screening. Austin detailed a...
The placenta is honestly the most remarkable organ. A woman's body grows it from scratch in a matter of weeks. By week 12, it's the size of a dinner plate and fully functional. It produces its own hormones like progesterone, estrogen,...
Motherhood changes everything. Many mothers carry more responsibilities than anyone sees. Some of us pause our careers. Some resign from jobs. Some put our dreams on hold. not beacuse we are weak But because we are raising a human for this society. A child who needs...
The Guardian’s Letters page ran a Mother’s Day feature inviting readers to recount the advice they received from their mothers (and occasionally fathers). Contributors shared a mix of practical tips—like the classic "bus pass, dinner money, homework, handkerchief" mantra—and whimsical...
Get married and have kids so instead of literally doing whatever you want all of the time you can be forced to schedule every moment of your existence around ungrateful banshees who refuse to nap and won't stop eating your...
Sarah Hrdy, a Harvard‑trained primatologist, argues in her book *Mothers and Others* that humans evolved as cooperative breeders rather than exclusive maternal caregivers. Drawing on langur monkey observations and recent hunter‑gatherer fieldwork, she shows infants were historically cared for by...
A mother of four discovered her chronic dread during breastfeeding was due to Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D‑MER), a neurochemical response tied to sudden dopamine drops. Experts explain D‑MER differs from postpartum depression, affecting roughly 6‑15% of lactating individuals and...
The essay recounts a stepmother’s heartfelt experience of bonding with her partner’s children, only to lose that connection when the relationship ends. She describes daily rituals, shared moments, and the deep emotional investment she made despite having no formal parental...
Today my 13 year old learned the beauty of running errands with your Mom on a Saturday. As long as you don’t complain, don’t run over my feet with the cart you get — unlimited snacks — several food breaks...
A new study highlights that liquid medicines for children often lead to dosing errors, poor adherence, higher costs, and a larger carbon footprint. Research shows that most children from age four can be taught to swallow tablets safely with brief...
The luteal phase is the second half of your cycle, from ovulation to your period. It should be at least 10-11 days. If it's shorter than that, an embryto won't have enough time to implant. A short luteal phase usually...
Once you've figured out how to parent your first kid, it's already too late; the only way to put that knowledge into practice is to have another kid. Unfortunately, the second kid is so different from the first that none of...
The first pregnancy ultrasound is primarily used to confirm intra‑uterine placement, estimate gestational age, detect a heartbeat, and identify multiples. Scans before week 4 rarely show definitive anatomy, while the 6–7 week window begins to reveal a fetal pole and cardiac activity....
🌟Share with a new mom that needs some encouragement 🧩Learning your newborn’s cues is a process. Here are some things you can look for as you are getting to k
Online education is reshaping how busy families balance work and schooling by offering asynchronous, self‑paced learning that fits any schedule. The flexibility lets parents integrate lessons into their calendars, while location‑independent classes turn travel into educational opportunities. Commonwealth Charter Academy...
Nothing makes me feel older than going to a college campus chaperoning my 3rd grader’s field trip.
A prospective cohort of 894 women in Indiana’s WeCare community health worker (CHW) program found that 26% experienced rapid repeat pregnancy (RRP), defined as a live birth within 27 months of a prior delivery. Adjusted analyses linked younger age at...
Have you ever noticed how much newborns sneeze? It's because they're clearing their nasal passages. Newborns have tiny little nostrils and breathe almost exclusively through their nose for the first few months. Every little bit of dust, milk, or mucus makes...
Signs your child is MORE secure than you think: They can play alone and completely disappear into it. Self-directed play requires a child who is comfortable in their own company. That's a gift.
