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The World Health Organization and most health authorities recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding with complementary foods for at least the first two years of life. Key Takeaways The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine recommends that the breastfeeding parent and their nursing baby be hospitalized together if either of them requires a hospital stay.This is to facilitate bonding, prevent disruption to breastfeeding, and avoid complications like mastitis....

As unpleasant and frightening as it may be for parents to think about the possibility of their child being hurt by a predator, it’s crucial that parents talk with their kids about personal safety. Teaching your children how to protect themselves against child predators is as important as other measures you use every day to keep them safe, such as making sure they use a seat belt. By teaching your children how to avoid possible dangers and what to do if they find themselves in a potentially threatening situation, you will empower them to know what to do in the event you are not there to protect them....

It is estimated that less than 1% of children have selective mutism. The first described cases date back to 1877 when German physician Adolph Kussmaul labeled children who did not speak as having “aphasia voluntaria.” Selective Mutism Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder characterized by an inability to speak or communicate in certain social settings, such as at school, work, or in the community. The condition is usually first diagnosed in childhood....

There are lots of reasons smoothies might be especially appealing during pregnancy. When you’re pregnant, especially during the first trimester, you might experience nausea and vomiting (often referred to as morning sickness) that can make your typical go-to meals tougher to get or keep down. As your pregnancy progresses, you may experience heartburn and a feeling of fullness making it common to need some adjustments to go-to meals and snacks. Smoothies can often be helpful....

What Is the Gottman Method? The Gottman Method is a kind of couples therapy developed by Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman. Interventions used in the Gottman Method are research-based and grounded in the Sound Relationship House theory, which specifies nine elements of a healthy relationship. The Gottman Method aims “to disarm conflicting verbal communication; increase intimacy, respect, and affection; remove barriers that create a feeling of stagnancy, and create a heightened sense of empathy and understanding within the context of the relationship....

Whether you are planning a divorce or you are in the midst of fighting for child custody, it’s important that you understand what it means to sue for sole legal and/or physical custody. Having sole custody, which is also called sole parental responsibility, means that you are the primary parent and are responsible for making all major life decisions for the child. While sole custody is generally not preferred by family courts, it is an essential consideration if you are leaving an abusive relationship or are dealing with a former spouse that is regularly unavailable....

It is natural to be concerned when a child seems substantially shorter than other kids their age. And in rare cases, short stature can be something to worry about, particularly if a child’s rate of growth slows down suddenly for no apparent reason, or they seem to stop growing altogether. In some circumstances, parents may decide to treat a short child with growth hormone therapy. This long-term treatment stimulates growth in children who have a specific hormonal deficiency or a health condition that prevents normal growth....

Many pregnant women wonder what happens if their pregnancy goes past their due date, continuing beyond the expected 40 weeks or 280 days. There are some risks if your pregnancy goes well beyond the typical due date, but there is actually a wider healthy range in pregnancy length than most people realize. Full-term pregnancies typically last from 39 to 41 weeks, but it is also not uncommon for a baby to come slightly before or after that timeframe....

Gender essentialism, which has long been discredited by psychologists, is a lay theory that posits that men and women are fundamentally different due to their biology. Gender essentialism is responsible for gender stereotypes about men and women, such as the idea that men should be aggressive while women should be caretakers, and is used to justify social issues like sexism and the gender wage gap. This theory suggests that there are essential, unchangeable qualities that make males and females who they are....

A relationship is said to be serodiscordant where one partner is HIV+, and the other is not. Serodiscordant couples should not be confused with a seroconcordant relationship. In the latter, the couple share a positive HIV status. While every relationship faces its fair share of challenges, serodiscordant couples are required to practice an extra level of care due to their respective health statuses. These couples may. otherwise be described as mixed-status, serodivergent, or discordant....

You may have noticed that your newborn is a funny little creature with a few inborn quirks. For example, if you touch the corner of your newborn’s mouth, they will often turn right toward you, rooting and looking for food—whether you are ready to feed them or not. This is just one of many newborn reflexes that your baby was born with, and that remains strong for the first few months, and up to the first two years of life....

Vivitrol is an extended-release formulation of naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist used in the treatment of alcoholism and opioid addiction. While naltrexone hydrochloride is for both daily and once-a-month dosages, Vivitrol is the once-a-month form of the medication. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Vivitrol for the treatment of alcohol abuse in 2006. How Vivitrol Works Vivitrol works by blocking the effect that opioids have on the brain, and reduces the cravings that many people experience after they quit....

Affirmations are statements that you use intentionally to instill a sense of positivity and purpose in your mind. During pregnancy (or anytime), you can use these short phrases and sentences to help yourself focus on and accept a positive message that you wish to remember. Affirmations are an example of using positive thinking to set an intention and increase the likelihood of positive results. Even better, they are simple to do, free, and accessible to all....

Being held back a year is a dramatic step in the life of a child or teen. If you have tried all the other alternatives, if you have checked to see that your student really would benefit from repeating a grade, or if your school district is requiring your child to repeat a grade after a year of struggle, you are probably still afraid that another year in the same grade will end the same way....

Entering a conversation with someone who is shy or who has a social anxiety disorder (SAD) requires a bit more effort on your part. People with SAD experience anxiety in both one-on-one and group situations and often need time to get comfortable before conversing. Tips for Chatting With a Socially Anxious Person There are a number of steps that you can take to encourage someone with SAD to talk more and participate in the conversation....

Behavior based on cooperation, compassion, trust, and altruism can boost individual and community well-being, especially in the midst of COVID-19, according to new research in Psychological Bulletin. Key Takeaways Behavior that relies on cooperation and altruism can increase your sense of well-being, a recent study suggests.Researchers said kindness tends to have a modest connection to health and psychological function, but can have a significant impact on community health.Certain types of kindness are more powerful than others; those that are unplanned tend to fuel overall well-being....

Finding out that you’re pregnant can be an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming. This might especially be true for first-time parents, who are busy shopping for all the things their little one will need. And as fun as putting a registry together can be, it can also be stressful. There are countless baby products on the market, and obviously, you don’t need them all. In fact, some registry “must-haves” can turn out to be impractical, time-consuming, unnecessary, and even unsafe....

The journey to pregnancy and parenthood is not always easy. Miscarriage, or the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks gestation, is a common occurrence for those trying to conceive. “It’s been estimated that one-third of all pregnancies end in miscarriage,” says Brian Levine, MD, practice director of CCRM Fertility in New York City, and a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist specializing in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. He also explains that this number includes miscarriages that occur very early on in pregnancy before someone realizes they are pregnant....

While panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) share some common symptoms, such as excessive worrying, they are two separate and distinct mental health conditions. Gaining knowledge about these two common mental health conditions may be the first step to helping yourself or a loved one. Characteristics of Panic Disorder Panic disorder is characterized by recurring, unexpected panic attacks that occur without the presence of actual danger. The “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders,” (DSM-5) defines a panic attack as a sudden onset of intense fear during which time at least four of the following physical and psychological symptoms are present:...

When we think about partner abuse, the image that comes to mind is of a man physically harming a woman. Intimate partner violence can be very different from that common vision of it, though. Domestic violence can cause a victim incredible, long-lasting harm even if they are never touched physically. And while the image we hold of an abuser is usually a man who hurts a woman, any person can be an abuser....