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It’s common to be concerned about the amount of weight you will gain during pregnancy. As you might suspect, when you are having multiples you’ll see more of an increase on the scale than if you were only having one baby. It’s not just that you’re eating more. The extra weight can be attributed to the babies’ combined weights as well as extra fluid, tissue, uterine growth, and the increased blood volume needed to supply the placenta(s) with nourishment for two or more babies....

For anyone that experiences trouble sleeping, sleeping pills are a common recommendation to achieve a good night’s rest. These pills are also handy for anyone prone to waking in the middle of the night, as certain sleeping pills can assist with staying asleep as well. However, for all the help provided, a major downside to some sleeping pills is that users tend to become dependent on their effects. This is particularly true when they are taken for too long, or in very high doses....

Do you ever walk into a room only to forget why you went in there? Have you ever been searching frantically for your cell phone or your keys, only to find that they are in your hand? Or maybe you call your dishwasher the washing machine or blank out on the names of your coworkers. If you are experiencing any of these things, it is likely that you have “mommy brain....

If you are a parent of a student with college loans, or if you have student loans yourself, you know how long it can take to pay those back. President Biden is hoping to help ease that burden, announcing a plan to try to fix the student loan crisis on August 24, 2022. It is made up of three parts: targeted debt relief, ways to make repayment more manageable, and programs to reduce the costs of higher education....

In 1992, author Gary Chapman revolutionized the way many people view love with his bestselling book, “The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate.” In the book, Chapman shares five primary ways romantic partners give and receive love, adding that we all speak certain languages better than others in our romantic lives. Understanding your own love language and the love language of your partner can help you both get what you need from the relationship....

One of the most important things for any new parent is learning the best way to get their baby to sleep at night. Sleep is a precious commodity for babies and their parents alike. So tips for infant sleep are always a great idea. Except there’s just one teeny, tiny little problem when it comes to babies and sleep. No one can quite seem to agree on the best way to get babies to sleep....

Why is it that we can hardly remember what we had for breakfast, but we can’t forget stressful moments in our lives? Recent research may have just uncovered the key reason why. Key Takeaways A new study found that recollections of objects related to a stressful event can be closely linked in our brains, which could explain why memories of these situations are so strong.Experts say there may also be other factors, such as hormonal responses and important lessons learned from challenging situations, that cause imprints of stressful memories....

Shyness is a feeling of awkwardness or discomfort in the presence of others. Most people who are shy learn to adapt to their surroundings and function in a world that is dominated by more outgoing and extroverted types. At the same time, it can be easy to get down on yourself if you are shy; it might seem like everyone else is doing better socially than you. At times like these, it is helpful to consider some of the benefits or advantages of being shy....

Marriage is a serious commitment intended to last a lifetime. If you are dating with marriage in mind, it is important to look for qualities that would make someone a good life partner. Choosing a good partner can have a major impact on your well-being. You want to look for certain characteristics that will benefit your relationship in the long term. In order to do this, you need to search past chemistry and the physical attributes you find very attractive....

Blood alcohol content (BAC) is a measure of the amount of alcohol circulating in the bloodstream. It is expressed in terms of weight (milligrams) per unit of volume (milliliters); BAC levels are usually shown as a percentage. Blood alcohol content is used for legal and medical purposes to indicate a person’s level of intoxication. Synonyms for BAC include blood alcohol level, blood alcohol concentration, and blood ethanol concentration. What Are Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Levels?...

Breastfeeding your baby takes a lot of energy from your body, so don’t be surprised if your appetite is ravenous. As you flip through takeout menus or write up a list of foods for your partner to pick up at the market, you may start to wonder whether some of the foods you are craving are safe to eat while breastfeeding. If you are a shrimp lover, take heart. Shrimp is safe to eat while breastfeeding and it offers many benefits to both you and your baby....

Most people think of self-compassion as being kind to yourself. Although that is certainly a part of the concept, self-compassion involves a way of relating to yourself in a way that allows you to become more emotionally flexible, able to navigate challenging emotions, and enhance your connection to self and others. The ability to relate to ourselves in a compassionate way may sound easy enough but, in fact, it can be quite a challenge....

Most parents want their child to be outgoing and carefree and will often struggle if the child is anything but. Even if the son or daughter seems perfectly well-adjusted, the fact that he or she is quiet and prefers to spend time alone can drive some parents to the point of distress. The question is why? The simple fact is that some children are inherently introverted. It’s a characteristic that many people seem uncomfortable with, misconstruing it as a personality flaw by which a person is seen to be anti-social, troubled, or even arrogant....

Friday Fix: Episode 210 Sometimes we set out to work on big goals—like we want to pay off our debt or learn a new language. Every Friday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, shares the “Friday Fix”—a short episode featuring a quick, actionable tip or exercise to help you manage a specific mental health issue or concern. But, without a clear timeline or short-term objectives, those goals often fall down on our list of priorities, and we never find time to work on them....

Corporal punishment encompasses all types of physical punishment, including spanking, slapping, pinching, pulling, twisting, and hitting with an object. It also may include forcing a child to consume unpleasant substances such as soap, hot sauce, or hot pepper. Corporal punishment is a hot topic that is widely debated by parenting experts, psychologists, and parents. Fueled by news stories about child abuse, many of those opposed to corporal punishment question whether or not it should remain legal and what steps could be taken to reduce incidents of physical abuse to children....

What Is Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD)? Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a psychological disorder in which a person has a pattern of extreme emotionality and attention-seeking behavior. Its name comes from the word histrionic, which means “dramatic or theatrical." In addition to displaying attention-seeking behavior, histrionic personality disorder is characterized by shallow emotions and manipulative behavior. It begins in early adulthood (when personality begins to form) and is obvious in different situations....

What Is Masturbation? The term “masturbation” can mean different things to different people. Some may choose to engage in it alone, while others may masturbate in the presence of a partner. Masturbation Masturbation refers to stimulating one’s own genitals for sexual arousal or pleasure, often to reach orgasm. It’s common among individuals of all age groups, and is considered a key player in healthy sexual development. Regardless of how it’s practiced, masturbation can be an effective tool for improving mental health and relieving stress....

Breast milk goes through changes from the end of pregnancy through the first few weeks after your baby is born. These changes are often called stages or phases. Colostrum is the first stage, transitional milk is the second stage, and mature breast milk is the final stage. It is the mature breast milk that will adjust to meet your baby’s changing needs throughout your breastfeeding journey. Here is what you need to know about mature breast milk including when you will make it, what it looks like, and how much you make....

Many parents know that their own pulse or heart rate should be within about 60 to 100 beats per minute. Your child, however, may have a higher pulse rate, depending on their age. Because heart rate generally decreases as body size increases, babies have the highest pulse. Heart rate slows down as a child grows. Knowing what a normal pulse rate is and how to check your child’s pulse can help you avoid unnecessary worry about your child’s heart rate....

Once your teen gets their learner’s permit, it’s up to you to help them practice safe driving. But, if you’re like many parents, there’s a good chance you aren’t quite sure how to best teach your child to be safe behind the wheel. Driver inexperience is a main factor for fatal crashes involving teenagers (including not wearing a seatbelt as well as reckless and impaired driving), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)....