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There’s a lot of confusion surrounding the issue of single mothers, fathers, and birth certificates. First, you should know that legally including the father’s name on a state-issued birth certificate requires his participation. If he happens to be unavailable—because you don’t know who he is or cannot locate him—it’s a non-issue. Even if you listed him on the application, it wouldn’t make it onto the actual birth certificate without his signature on a legal Acknowledgement of Paternity form....

Soon after you get that positive pregnancy test, you may not be surprised by impending nausea and exhaustion, but a metallic taste in your mouth is one pregnancy symptom you might not expect. Changes in your sense of taste, called dysgeusia, are very common in pregnancy with 93% of women experiencing some sort of taste change. Along with a metallic taste, you also may experience other taste changes. According to Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, FACOG, who is board-certified in both obstetrics/gynecology as well as maternal-fetal medicine and serves as director of perinatal services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, pregnant patients often complain that their mouth tastes foul, rancid, salty, or burnt, she says....

Mushrooms from the genus Psilocybe, more fondly referred to as “magic mushrooms,” will soon become a legitimate mental health treatment in Oregon. The state became the first in the country to permit the use of psilocybin—the psychedelic substance found in hallucinogenic mushrooms—to be used in therapy when voters passed Measure 109 last November. Key Takeaways Oregon has become the first state in the country to lay the groundwork for a therapy program that involves treatment with psilocybin, the psychoactive substance in “magic mushrooms....

Being familiar with the symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is key to preventing a severe case. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is typically mild, but it can become life-threatening. Catching the symptoms early, along with careful monitoring of your treatment cycle by your doctor, can lower the risk of serious complications. OHSS is a potential side effect of fertility drugs, particularly with injectables (gonadotropins) taken during an IVF treatment cycle. Anywhere from 20% to 33% of women going through IVF treatment will experience ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome....

Psychomotor agitation is an increase in purposeless physical activity often associated with depressive and manic episodes of bipolar disorder. Psychomotor agitation is also a potential hypomanic symptom that people with bipolar II disorder or cyclothymic disorder may experience. You can define hypomania by its shared features with mania—irritable or elevated mood—but hypomania is less intense than mania. What Is Psychomotor Agitation? Psychomotor agitation is a classic symptom that most people readily associate with mania: restlessness, pacing, tapping fingers, fidgeting hands, dashing about meaninglessly, or abruptly starting and stopping tasks....

Quitting smoking can sometimes cause constipation and other intestinal difficulties. Along with constipation, nausea and gas are considered symptoms of withdrawal from tobacco products. Fortunately, digestive issues usually resolve themselves in a matter of weeks. While they are not pleasant, don’t let the discomforts derail your quit program. In addition to nicotine withdrawal, it is also possible that other changes you may have made since quitting tobacco are contributing to the constipation that you’re experiencing....

For a person with epilepsy, pregnancy can be a confusing time. Historically, essential anti-seizure medications were linked to birth defects in offspring, both physically and mentally. In some instances, they still can be. Key Takeaways Most women on anti-seizure medication can have a safe and successful pregnancy.Some anti-seizure medications are safer than others in pregnancy.Talk to your doctor about anti-seizure medication and pregnancy management as early as you can. However, a new study published in JAMA Neurology has revealed that newer generation anti-seizure medications have a much lesser impact on the outcomes of children....

What Does Sarah Mean? Ask anyone named Sarah what their name means and you’ll likely get an enthusiastic response: “Princess!” The name Sarah is indeed often translated as “princess”—though Sarah’s more literal meaning in Hebrew and Persian is “woman of high rank.” You may also see the name Sarah interpreted as “noblewoman,” “lady,” or “happy.” The first known Sarah was a major character in the Old Testament book of Genesis (and plays a smaller role the Quran)....

The best quit smoking aid is your own will and determination. If you aren’t motivated and committed to quitting cigarettes, quit aids won’t carry you through cessation. But the good news is that if you are ready to quit, quit aids can provide the extra support you need to be successful. There are a variety of smoking cessation products that are designed to help people stop smoking. Choosing one that is right for you is essentially a matter of preference, barring any medical concerns you might have....

Sudden weaning, also called abrupt weaning, is the quick end of breastfeeding. Sometimes weaning has to happen quickly because of an unexpected situation or a medical emergency. Whether it’s deliberate or can’t be helped, sudden weaning can have more of an effect on you, your body, and your baby than you might realize. Sudden vs. Gradual Weaning With sudden weaning, you may not have the time to prepare yourself and your child for the physical and emotional changes that you’re likely to experience....

Many of us are familiar with the remote work life by now. Maybe you transformed a nook of your living room, or maybe you were lucky enough to take over a guest room in your home and create a full office vibe. Regardless of the size of your workspace, there are always things you can do to make it a healthier place for both your mind and body. There are plenty of quality products on the market that can help you live well as you work from home....

It’s hard to know whether bullying has gotten better, worse, or stayed the same over the last few decades. The government only began keeping statistics on bullying in the early 2000s. Since statistics started being collected, many teachers, bosses, and parents have developed a better understanding of bullying. However, many people still don’t understand how widespread bullying really is and why it’s such a problem. Here are some of the latest statistics on bullying in school and in the workplace....

If you want your children to get good grades, you should make sure they know that’s your expectation. Right? Maybe not. Research shows that kids may interpret these expectations as pressure. And pressure to perform doesn’t help them succeed. What children think their parents want for them can play a significant role in shaping the children’s chances of future success. Parental pressure to excel can increase kids’ risk of stress, as well as have a negative impact on their well-being....

As a new parent, you’re faced with an influx of decisions to make about your baby’s health and well-being. In fact, those choices begin the minute you see a positive sign on that at-home pregnancy test. As you get further into your pregnancy, more and more choices will pop up, whether it’s finding out the sex of your baby (or not), designing a nursery, creating a registry, or preparing a birth plan....

Autism, categorized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as autism spectrum disorder, is a neurodevelopmental diagnosis that begins in early childhood and impacts an individual’s relationships and behaviors. Schizophrenia is a mental health condition characterized by abnormal perceptual experiences, delusional beliefs, and other atypical behaviors. Language note: Although individual preferences exist, surveys of the autistic community consistently show that autistic people prefer identity-first language rather than person-first language (i....

A certain amount of anxiety is a normal part of a child’s healthy development. Brief separation anxiety and fears of the dark, strangers, loud noises, or storms are all common worries children may experience as they grow and mature. However, if your child starts to experience more consistent anxiety across a range of topics and areas of their life, such as around school, friends, family, health, and sports, it may be time to consider exploring the possibility of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)....

We all know that good sleep habits are important for children. But parents’ busy work schedules, after-school activities, and homework can all cut into family time on school nights and can have a big impact on how much a child sleeps.​ Given the fact that time together for so many households starts at around 6 or 7 o’clock or even later in the evening on a school night, it can be tough to set an early bedtime....

Whether you can’t get motivated to clean your house or you just aren’t feeling motivated to lose weight, a lack of motivation can be the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals. When you have no motivation to complete a task (or even start one), consider the possible reasons why you’re struggling. Then, develop a plan to help motivate yourself to get going. Keep in mind that not every strategy works for everyone—or in every situation....

An emotional affair involves having non-sexual emotional intimacy with someone who is not the individual’s romantic partner. Someone having an emotional affair may hide it from their partner or even use deception to keep the relationship a secret. An emotional affair generally starts innocently enough as a friendship. But when a person invests significant emotional energy and time in a close friendship outside of their marriage, it’s possible for the friendship to form an emotional bond that ultimately threatens and hurts the person’s intimacy with their spouse or partner....

Papers aren’t filed, and no judge hears the case, but more and more adult children are divorcing their parents, often completely cutting off contact. What’s driving the increase in parent-child estrangement? Professionals who work with families have some ideas, and thousands of individuals have shared their experiences in surveys. Definitive answers may be elusive, but it’s fairly easy to get a feel for some of the issues. Statistics on Estrangement On the website Estranged Stories, both parents and adult children can fill out surveys about their estrangement....