Are you a new parent or will soon be one? There’s a lot to learn and it’s important to prepare. From safe sleep to understanding cries to feeding, here are some baby basics to help you get started: Feeding Baby…
Crunches or Pilates may be the last thing you want to think about while you care for your new baby. Clearly, basic needs like sleep, nutrition and caring for your newborn take priority. But once your doctor indicates it is…
You and your newborn are returning home, but how do you introduce him or her to your pet? A new arrival is an exciting time for all members of the family, but it’s best to make the transition as easy…
Early in Rachel Kesler’s pregnancy, her physicians discovered that Rachel’s kidneys were beginning to fail. Kidney disease had been present but undetected until she began regular appointments and pregnancy testing. Jeffrey Olejnik, MD, at the SIU Center for Women’s Health,…
Even an experienced mother can feel unsure of herself and her body in the wake of delivering twins. Stephanie Yingling found herself in that indefinable mental and physical space between elation and exhaustion following the birth, via scheduled C-section, of…
Jennifer Hodgerson, 34, had never heard of tongue/lip ties in newborns prior to the arrival of her first child, Karl, five years ago. Hodgerson, a physical therapist and coordinator of Rehab Education at Passavant Area Hospital (PAH), delivered Karl after…
There’s a reason they call it labor – childbirth is painful. But strategies to manage pain can ease discomfort. One question many first-time parents ponder is whether or not to use pain medication or to go through natural labor. Regardless…
Three out of four car seats are improperly installed, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). For first-timers and even veteran parents, car seats can be an intimidating piece of safety equipment. But it doesn’t have to be…
The last trimester of pregnancy is a busy time to prepare for your new baby. Don’t wait until the last minute to pack a bag for your hospital stay. “Go ahead and pack your bag a couple months ahead of…
Every woman is unique, and not everyone experiences the same symptoms when pregnant. If you pay attention to your body, there are some common early signs and symptoms of pregnancy you might have. Breast pain. About a week or two…