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What Is Pelvic Floor Therapy? Pelvic floor therapy is the work to target, strengthen, and balance the muscles that make up your pelvic floor, which supports the uterus, bowels, bladder, and rectum. Pregnancy and childbirth can have quite an impact on the muscles of the pelvic floor, and they can become stressed and weakened as a result. Living with a weak pelvic floor can cause long-term discomfort and complications. Pelvic floor therapists are physical therapists who can help treat pelvic floor issues....

What Is Prenatal Depression? Prenatal depression is depression that occurs during pregnancy. Like postpartum depression, which occurs after childbirth, prenatal depression can range in severity. If untreated, it can negatively harm the pregnant person and baby. It’s helpful to note that the terms prenatal, perinatal, and peripartum are often confused; but all of them refer to a specific time period between pregnancy and up to one year after birth. Depression that occurs around this time may be called different things depending on the time of onset....

Is it really possible to be depressed and not know it? After all, depression is a serious clinical diagnosis. In reality, it can be difficult to recognize signs of depression over common experiences like sadness or grief. Depression can appear suddenly or gradually. It can be related to a situation (as with adjustment disorders) or there may be no “reason” at all. You may be aware that you feel bad or not like your usual self, but you may not be aware that what you are feeling is clinically significant depression....

Parents of twins face a tough decision about their children. Should they be together in the same class or be separated into different classes? There is no clear-cut answer, as every set of twins is different, and the “right” choice may vary from year to year. Often parents are forced into a decision by school system policies. If you are trying to decide the best option for your twins, consider these reasons to keep twins together in the same class....

If you were bullied as a child, you probably remember feeling helpless, unsafe, insecure, and alone. In fact, studies have shown that the bullying you experienced in childhood may have been so traumatic that you are still feeling the effects even today. You may doubt yourself, have trouble trusting people, and lack quality friendships. This lack of healing and closure is especially true if the bullying was never resolved or addressed when you were younger....

Prenatal care for a pregnant person is critical for the healthy development of the baby. But harmful exposures, some of which can happen before someone even knows they’re expecting, can increase their child’s risk of cognitive brain development issues. Key Takeaways A new study notes that adverse conditions before a baby is born increases the likelihood a child will suffer from depression, anxiety, or behavioral issues.Prenatal care for pregnant people involves attention to physical and mental health....

When my younger son was in first grade, he came home telling us his teacher had been talking to the class about the bad “plane crash” that happened a long time ago in New York City. It was early September and I realized two things: his teacher must have been talking about 9/11, and even though it felt like it had happened just yesterday to me, it really was ancient history to him....

Is a 6-month-old baby too young to take antibiotics? Antibiotics, when needed, can be used at any age. In fact, some newborns are prescribed antibiotics as soon as they are born for conditions like: Group B Streptococcal Disease (GBS) Meningitis Pneumonia Sepsis Viral Upper Respiratory Infections Viral infections that should not be treated with antibiotics include: Bronchitis Common cold Croup Flu Sore throats that aren’t caused by strep Even many ear infections don’t need to be treated with antibiotics according to the latest guidelines....

When it comes to children and sleep, a good bedtime routine is a key to success. And the younger your child is when you start, the better. A May 2015 study published in the journal Sleep found that having consistent bedtime routines, and starting those routines at a young age, makes it more likely that your child will go to bed and stay asleep. The multinational study surveyed more than 10,000 mothers and found that a regular sleep schedule and nightly routines were linked to earlier bedtimes, falling asleep more easily, and reduced night wakings....

Education is expensive. And having twins is expensive! While parents of singletons can space their education expenses out over several years, parents of twins and multiples have to pay those costs simultaneously. There are a few opportunities for assistance in the form of scholarships specifically for multiple birth children. College Scholarships 101 We will look at college scholarships specifically for twins, but before doing so it’s helpful to talk about a few pointers in researching scholarships....

Thinking about the risks of having a premature baby probably won’t be your first reaction to a pregnancy test turned positive. There are many more exciting things to do when you find out that you’re pregnant. Tasks like choosing nursery decorations, registering for all things baby, picking a name, and planning a homecoming party are all parts of the thrill of expecting. However, planning for a healthy pregnancy is another important part of expectant parenthood....

Social aggression refers to intentionally harming someone using nonphysical means. It is a nearly synonymous term to relational aggression. The following are the most common forms of social aggression used during the tween years. Relationship Manipulation One form of social aggression is relationship manipulation. Relationship manipulation tends to be subtle, with the tween doing things behind a friend’s back that threaten the integrity of the friendship. For instance, a tween might tell a friend’s secrets in order to gain new friends and to undercut the existing friendship....

These Halloween games are perfect for kids’ parties, indoors and out. They get kids moving—the better to burn off those candy-coated calories and high-fructose energy. Monster Freeze Dance This is the perfect opportunity for kids to show off their silliest (or sickest) dance moves. Everyone dances while the music is playing. But as soon as the music stops, they all have to freeze like statues. Anyone caught moving while the music is off is out of the game until the next round (the next song)....

Family courts do their best to rule in the best interest of the child but occasionally mistakes are made. As a parent, you do have the right to appeal a custody order if you disagree with the custody arrangement determined by the court. However, there are rules—which vary state to state—regarding when and under what circumstances a child custody agreement can be appealed. Becoming well informed about the laws in your state is one of the best things you can do to help your next child custody hearing....

Does it sometimes seem as if your child doesn’t hear what you’re saying, or outright ignores you? Do you often find yourself having to repeat something several times to the point of exhaustion and, inevitably, exasperation? If selective hearing in kids is something you’ve been struggling with in your family, here are a few reasons why it may be happening—and some tips on what you can do to break the pattern....

If you have been a vegetarian for any amount of time, I am sure that you are used to the constant barrage of questions and comments about your choice of eating habits. The truth is most people are well-meaning but woefully misinformed. The vast majority of vegetarians have done extensive research on their dietary choices both before and during the transition to vegetarianism, assuming you were not raised as a vegetarian....

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) specifies that ADHD symptoms must be (or have been) present before age 12 to meet the criteria for ADHD diagnosis. Technically, this means attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not diagnosed initially in adulthood. What Is ADHD? ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition that develops in childhood. Key symptoms typically include lack of focus, difficulty controlling impulses, challenges with organization, struggles with paying attention, and/or hyperactivity....

Kids are just as likely to get COVID-19 as adults, but research led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) in 2020 suggests that most children have mild symptoms and don’t require medical care. Additionally, most kids with COVID-19 make a complete recovery within weeks of getting infected. Key Takeaways Most children with COVID-19 make a quick recovery and don’t require medical care, say new studies.However, it’s important that kids still wear masks to reduce the risk of infection, both to themselves and others....

Norm-referenced tests are a form of standardized testing that compares “normal” skill levels to those of individual students of the same age. By comparing students to one another, it is possible to determine whether, how, and to what a degree a particular student is ahead of or behind the norm. These tests help to diagnose learning disorders and also help special education teachers and other professionals develop appropriate program planning for students with disabilities....

One minute, your child is by your side as you’re navigating the grocery cart to the car. The next thing you know, they’ve dashed off—and you begin to panic. It’s a scary thought for any parent. After all, more than 50,000 crashes occur in parking lots and garages annually, resulting in more than 60,000 injuries and 500 deaths. However, crashes aren’t the only risk in a parking lot or garages. Potholes and cracks, debris, poor lighting, and ice are all risks for both parent and child....