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The decision to have a baby is rarely an easy one to make. For those who have experienced a pregnancy loss, this decision can be compounded with even more emotions and medical details than normal. When to Try Again Some families choose to try again immediately, while others wonder if they ever want to try again. The decision to no longer try to conceive can be made for a number of reasons, such as a history of fertility-related issues or complications, age of parents, or the chances of successfully conceiving being low....

New technology in the form of applications (AKA “apps”) offers potential risks and benefits for patients with eating disorders. Dangers of Fitness Trackers for Patients With Eating Disorders Although the impact of fitness trackers on clients with eating disorders has not yet been well studied, anecdotal evidence and some early research suggest these applications may be detrimental. People with restrictive eating disorders frequently obsess about the number of calories they are consuming and burning....

It’s no secret that kids don’t love shots—hardly anyone does—but we get them because the small discomfort they cause is worth the protection for both the individual getting their shot and those around them. Vaccinating children will help us reach herd immunity, and it can prevent kids from contracting and even dying from the virus. However, new research shows that the younger kids are, the more hesitant they feel about getting the COVID-19 vaccine....

All-or-nothing thinking is a negative thinking pattern common in people with panic disorder, depression, or other anxiety-related issues. All-or-nothing thinking, also known as dichotomous thinking or black-and-white thinking, is a type of cognitive distortion that involves thinking in extremes and using absolute terms, such as never or ever. Here’s an explanation of what it is and ways to overcome this common cognitive distortion. Understanding All-Or-Nothing Thinking All-or-nothing thinking is one of many negative thought processes, known as cognitive distortions, that are common among people with anxiety and depression....

As you outfit a child’s room, you probably take a lot of time to consider what crib or bed you are going to buy. But equally as important—if not more, for growth and development—is choosing the right mattress. “For the first year of life and beyond, children spend just as much or more time sleeping than they do awake,” says Rachel Mitchell, CEO of My Sweet Sleeper, a maternity and sleep consulting company....

The pressure to become Super Mom is overwhelming at times — even suffocating for some. For this reason, women often succumb to the pressures of becoming an overachieving mother to the point that they end up losing their identity in the process. How You Might Lose Your Identity It’s easy to lose your identity when you become a mom. After all, motherhood is a busy, never-ending list of demands including everything from sleepless nights, diaper changes and dinner-making, to carpooling, homework-helping, and errand-running....

“Wash your hands!” It’s a well-worn phrase that parents often say on repeat. Whether your child is exiting the bathroom, has come in from playing from outside, is about to sit down for a meal, or in any circumstance where they might not be totally clean, washing hands is something that should become second nature. With concerns about the coronavirus dominating conversations and headlines (not to mention the seasonal flu), it’s comforting to know that so many people appear to be aware of the need to stop the spread of germs and increase personal hygiene....

Heat rash, otherwise known as prickly heat, is a skin condition that strikes babies and toddlers during the summertime or other warm weather days. You’ve likely seen it before, perhaps on a warm day after being out and about with your baby or toddler. You may notice a raised pink rash—like tiny little dots or pricks—on their neck, upper chest, and back hours later when you change them for bedtime....

Subscribe Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews experts, authors, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Meet Dr. Jud Brewer Dr. Jud Brewer is a psychiatrist and a neuroscientist. He’s spent more than 20 years researching habit change and the “science of self-mastery....

Amniotic fluid is the watery cushion that surrounds your baby in pregnancy. It provides space for the baby to grow in the uterus and provides protection for the umbilical cord to protect it from being compressed in the uterus. After about the halfway point in pregnancy, the amniotic fluid comes from a combination of the baby’s urine and secretions from the lungs. The baby also drinks the amniotic fluid and urinates it back out....

What Does Marie Mean? Marie is a traditional French name that is believed to have several meanings because the name has a complicated origin story. In France, Marie came from the Latin “stella maris,” which means “star of the sea.” However, it is also a biblical name because it is the French version of the name Mary, the holy virgin mother of Jesus. There are also five other women named Mary in the Bible too, including Mary Magdalene, one of Christ’s favored followers, which is why the name was once considered too holy to use until late in the Middle Ages....

Advice on getting ready for pregnancy typically focuses on the physical aspects—getting the right prenatal vitamins, eating the right foods, and doing the right exercises to prepare your body. But what about mentally preparing for pregnancy? What can you do before you conceive to ensure that your psychological health stays intact during the prenatal period? Are their strategies you can follow to help minimize potential complications such as postpartum depression?...

October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Month, and it’s vital to acknowledge the often devastating stress that a miscarriage or the loss of a newborn baby can place on a parent. These stories need to be told. Key Takeaways In the US, National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Month has been recognized in October since 1988. The mental health impacts of pregnancy and infant loss can often be long-lasting for loved ones....

2019 is the best year Deja Young remembers experiencing as a competitor. Over a long season, the American 100- and 200-meter sprinter trained with vigor, knowing the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games were coming up the following year. Then, the pandemic came, and with it an indefinite delay of competition. At one point, Young stopped training altogether, overwhelmed and in search of a break. Key Takeaways The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will take place from August 24 to September 5....

Service dogs have a long history of providing assistance to people with physical challenges and are increasingly used to aid those with psychiatric challenges. Psychiatric service dogs are extensively trained to perform specific tasks to meet the individualized needs of their handler and are permitted access to public places in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Psychiatric service dogs can be trained to assist people living with bipolar disorder as well as other mental health challenges, including autism, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and panic disorder....

Suicides in the United States have been on the rise, up 33% from 1999 through 2017, and the pace of the increase has been rising since 2006. In 2016, suicide ranked as the 10th leading cause of death among Americans. It is the second leading cause of death for those under the age of 35. Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor....

Chronic stress puts your body through significant physical and psychological changes. Many people often underestimate the ability of stress to trigger several physical and mental health conditions. One such condition is temporal arteritis or giant cell arteritis. Temporal arteritis is a condition that causes your temporal arteries, which are the blood vessels that supply blood from your heart to your temple, to become inflamed or narrowed. This condition is a form of vasculitis, which are conditions that cause inflammation of your blood vessels....

For kids, stretches should be part of an overall, daily physical activity routine. Even though flexibility often seems to come naturally to children, we should pay attention to their level and type of activity to make sure stretching is included. Especially during growth spurts, children’s and teens’ muscles may be tight, and stretching can help. Why Stretches Are Important There are multiple advantages to stretching. Both you and your kids will enjoy these benefits if you stretch together....

Once you’ve stocked up on shorts, leggings, and fitness tops, you’ll want to buy some great workout underwear to complete your outfit. “Comfort is a key factor to having a feel-good experience while working out,” Shayra Brown, NASM-CPT, a personal trainer at Blink Fitness, says. When buying, “look for fabric that wicks moisture away from your body, so moisture does not accumulate in your crotch area,” Annette Dale-Kramek, activewear designer and founder of Ancient Language 97, says....

Whey protein powder is a high-quality protein source that can help fill protein gaps, especially for athletes and other very active individuals. Whey protein contains all of the essential amino acids, the building blocks of protein our bodies do not produce on their own. It is also typically easily digested when compared to other protein sources. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends that athletes obtain around 1.2-2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight per day....