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Getting COVID-19 while pregnant can be terrifying enough on its own. But now researchers have identified additional risks for the birthing person and the baby, including preterm birth. Babies are supposed to keep growing for 40 weeks in the womb to achieve the best possible health outcomes, and some stay even longer (up to 42 weeks). But a recent study found an increased risk of preterm birth for parents who had contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy....

Ectopic pregnancy can be challenging to diagnose based on symptoms alone because symptoms may not always be obvious. Early diagnosis is essential, though, as an untreated ectopic pregnancy can result in a ruptured fallopian tube, resulting in serious complications for the pregnant person. What Is an Ectopic Pregnancy? An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus. More than 90% of ectopic pregnancies implant in the fallopian tube....

Euthymia in bipolar disorder is a term used to describe a relatively stable mood state, where you are neither manic/hypomanic nor depressed. However, some dictionaries have offered variations of the definition which can be confusing when used in the context of a mental illness. To complicate matters even further, a significant number of people diagnosed with bipolar euthymia will show signs of depression or anxiety, casting into doubt as to what the term actually means....

There’s no doubt that COVID-19 has been the most pressing public health concern this year. In the U.S. alone, there have been over 13.4 million cases of the disease and 267,302 deaths, as of December 1, 2020. Key Takeaways Around 40% of parents say that their kids have missed vaccinations due to COVID-19, according to data from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.The data also showed that the United States may lose herd immunity against measles and whooping cough as childhood vaccination rates fall this year....

Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Friday Fix: Episode A town in Scotland made its street lights blue, and the crime rate decreased. Casinos keep people gambling at their tables longer by making the tabletops red. Those are just a couple of fascinating examples of how color affects behavior....

It’s very hard to deal with painful, extreme, and sometimes even scary emotions. However, accepting your emotions can actually help improve your emotion regulation, lead to fewer mood swings, and improve emotional balance. People with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and other psychiatric disorders that involve intense emotional experiences have trouble accepting emotions. They may engage in unhelpful behaviors to avoid experiencing those painful feelings. This article discusses emotional acceptance and why it can be so difficult for some people....

Long gone are the days when psychedelics and hallucinogenics were solely illegal substances used on the clubbing and underground circuits. In fact, these days, it is possible to get psychedelic teletherapy from home to treat depression and other mental health conditions. With the legalization of marijuana, Americans’ attitudes towards these substances are loosening—along with research showing the potential for healing with many of these drugs: particularly psilocybin (mushrooms), MDMA (ecstasy), and ketamine (Special K)....

Self-confidence refers to your belief in your skills, qualities, and ability to succeed. Having confidence in yourself is not only important to your health and well-being—it can also affect how you are perceived by others. People who exude confidence tend to be seen as more capable and trustworthy. Unfortunately, not everyone feels confident in their abilities. For example, you might feel more insecure in certain situations or settings. In other cases, feelings of anxiety or low self-esteem might interfere with your ability to act assuredly....

If you found this article, you’re probably looking for emotional healing of some sort. You may even be wondering if it is possible. The answer is yes—emotional healing is always possible, as long as you are open to releasing expectations about what the experience will be like or what it will lead to. The reality is that you will never be the same person as you were before whatever happened that you are healing from....

Subscribe Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Meet Skyh Black Skyh Black spent much of his life dancing. In fact, he used to be a backup dancer for superstars like Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, and Rihanna....

Avocado is a great choice for baby’s first food. Actually, it’s a great choice for anyone to eat, but it’s an especially great choice for babies. Avocados are chock-full of nutrition, including protein, essential vitamins and minerals, and even good fat to help your baby’s brain. (Did you know brains need fat to work properly? Fun fact!) Plus avocados are delicious, so let’s not forget that fact either. Sadly neglected for a long time, avocados have become much more popular as more and more adults are eating them for their countless nutritional benefits....

If you’ve been a parent or guardian to anyone under the age of ten in the last decade, chances are you’ve handed a fussy child a piece of technology as part of their bedtime routine to make life just a little bit easier. Key Takeaways Recent academic research adds to evidence that allowing young children to watch television before bed has negative impacts on their brains.Experts say reducing or eliminating television before sleep at a young age sets families up for success....

How does the color orange make you feel? Orange can be a very strong and energetic color. Like yellow and red, it can be very attention-grabbing, which is perhaps why it is often used in advertising. People often describe the color orange as bright, happy, and uplifting. In some cases, however, it can seem too bright and overwhelming. Much like purple, orange tends to be a controversial color. People tend to either love it or hate it....

For a preemie, feeding can be a big challenge to overcome while in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Some premature babies don’t have the strength or coordination to breastfeed or bottle-feed successfully, and that can hamper their growth. However, preemies can overcome their feeding challenges with a little help. By understanding why your baby is having trouble, learning some simple techniques, and knowing who to turn to for extra guidance, you can get your preemie on track to steadily growing and gaining weight....

A sonohysterogram is a special kind of ultrasound that evaluates the inside of your uterus. You may have this test done during fertility testing, just before IVF, or when you have symptoms of possible uterine abnormalities. Sonohysterography may also be referred to as hysterosonography, saline infused sonography (SIS), transvaginal sonography with fluid contrast augmentation, and the abbreviation SHG (sono-hystero-gram). This same test with special attention to the fallopian tubes may be referred to as sonosalpingography....

Being told by your doctor that you need to consider ending a pregnancy for health reasons—sometimes called therapeutic termination—is very difficult news. Therapeutic termination is also known as medically indicated termination or medically indicated abortion. It is only recommended in cases where: The fetus has a medical condition which is certain to result in death either before or shortly after birth.The mother risks death by continuing the pregnancy. The decision to go ahead with a termination is usually very painful for parents....

Self-compassion is often lacking when you live with social anxiety disorder (SAD). While others may easily let mistakes that they make go, you are more likely to hold on to those memories and relive them each time you are faced with another social or performance situation. While holding on to critical thoughts about yourself might come naturally for you, there is a better way to manage your thoughts and emotions in these situations....

Shoulder dystocia sounds scary—and it is. This potentially life-threatening complication of vaginal delivery occurs when one of the baby’s shoulders (or less frequently both) does not enter the pelvis during the birth as they should, stalling the baby mid-delivery. Overview Shoulder dystocia happens in less than 1% of all births but can lead to serious complications for the baby and/or mother. It can also be fatal and is considered a medical emergency when it occurs....

Social cognition is a sub-topic of social psychology that focuses on how people process, store, and apply information about others and social situations. It focuses on the role that cognitive processes play in our social interactions. How we think about others plays a major role in how we think, feel, and interact with the world around us. Social cognition refers to the different psychological processes that influence how people process, interpret, and respond to social signals....

GPS units are devices that help you figure out where you are when you’re hiking. Mark Evans, a summer camp guide at Summer Camp Hub, says GPS units can be useful for any hiker. “People don’t think they will get lost until it happens,” he says. “But all it takes is a little bit of wandering in the wrong direction with no trail road in sight before panic kicks in.” Since cell service isn’t always reliable in the great outdoors, your phone may not be as handy as a GPS unit in helping you find your way home during a hike....