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We know, after many months of being pregnant, you may be anxious to get back to some of your personal luxuries that aren’t safe for you or your infant while pregnant. However, there are ones you may want to hold off on for a bit longer if you are or are planning on breastfeeding—Botox among them. Even if you’ve never heard of this treatment, have merely been Botox-curious, or are a fervent fan of getting the skin-smoothing injectable, you may want to place any consideration of it on the back burner until you’re no longer pregnant or breastfeeding....

That being said, it’s normal to want to lose weight postpartum. If part of feeling healthy and confident to you means losing some weight, you may be considering intermittent fasting. In a nutshell, intermittent fasting is eating during set windows of time and not eating (fasting) during set windows of time. For example, you may eat during the first eight hours of the day and fast for the remaining 16....

Overview The thyroid is a gland in your neck (above your collarbone) that produces hormones involved with many of your body’s activities. It plays an important role in your body’s metabolic and hormone balance. When something’s off with your thyroid, there’s a good chance the rest of your body and its processes — including pregnancy — will be affected. What Is Hypothyroidism? Thyroid hormone controls your body’s metabolic processes. When you have hypothyroidism, the thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormone to keep these processes going at their normal rate, and they start slowing down....

Before becoming pregnant, cough drops might have been your go-to cough suppressant. However, as with any medication now that you are pregnant, it’s a good idea to make sure that they are safe for you and your baby before taking them. The good news is that experts widely consider cough drops safe to take during pregnancy. However, there isn’t any concrete evidence to support this. With that in mind, there are a few considerations to take into account before reaching for those cherry-flavored throat soothers....

What Is Carotenemia? First described in 1919, carotenemia occurs when an infant’s skin appears yellow, or even orange, after eating a lot of baby foods that are high in carotene. These foods include carrots, squash, sweet potato, corn, yams, pumpkin, egg yolks, spinach, and beans. Other vegetables and fruits with a deep green or yellow color may also contain high levels of carotene. A breastfed baby can even develop carotenemia if their mother is eating a lot of foods that are high in carotene....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently tracking a deadly outbreak of listeria linked specifically to deli meats and cheeses. Consequently, they are warning pregnant people—as well as the elderly and those with weakened immune systems—that they are at higher risk for severe illness. They recommend not eating meat and cheese directly from the deli counter, unless it has been heated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit or until it is “steaming hot....

Materials Chalk Paper Hair spray (optional) Water (optional) Sponge (optional) Liquid starch and/or buttermilk (optional) Paintbrush (optional) Sugar (optional) Cotton balls (optional) Ideas

Directions Making things out of clay is a challenging and gratifying experience for children. Give your child a lump of ready-mixed clay and let her create any kind of object or shape. The first step will be to soften the clay by kneading it, pushing it against the table and squeezing it so that it will be easier to mold. Visit a local art supplier to get a little lesson in the types of clay that can be molded and then painted without firing....

Materials 21 spring-style clothespins Paint and paintbrush Craft glue Clear acrylic spray Directions

Money Manipulators Beware of any agency that asks for a lot of money up front, even though there is no birthmother or child matched to you. (By “a lot,” I mean $25,000 or more). Instead, if you decide to sign up with an agency, you should pay an application fee and a home study fee (which together may cost several thousand dollars but should not run into five figures.) Often, fraudulent agencies who receive big bucks up front will spend your money, rather than putting it in an escrow account....

Now the decision rests mainly with the families, social workers, and agencies involved. What issues should you consider before making the final decision to adopt transracially? Here are some questions to ask yourself. How Will You Handle the Racism of Others? Despite the huge changes in our world, racism is still out there. Are you prepared to handle questions from people, sometimes total strangers, about your child’s heritage or parentage?...

Cardboard Crafting Yes, you read right – good ole cardboard shouldn’t make it to the trash! Gather a few unused boxes and let your imagination run wild. It’s fun to have a brainstorm with your child about what kind of things you can make together. I like to create things that complement toys we have; projects like train tracks, sandpits, garages, or a house are big hits in my home....

Directions Have your child draw a picture or design with the crayons on a sheet of paper. Crumple the paper and dip it into the water. Squeeze out the water and spread the drawing to dry on the newspaper. Paint over the drawing. Place another sheet of paper over the top immediately to soak up the excess paint. Separate the sheets of paper and your child will have a lithograph of the original drawing....

The game is fine for kids to play—as long as they are big enough to hold the mallet; they are old enough to play. You can buy a croquet set for under $100. You can play the game with two to six players. You can play in teams or as individuals (otherwise known as “Cutthroat Croquet.”) Play usually takes about two hours. To play the game, you will have to go to a sporting goods store and buy a croquet set....

In today’s world, a true food allergy can be properly diagnosed with scientific sound testing. If you think you might suffer from an allergic response to certain foods, get it checked out. The first step is to find a qualified and reputable physician who has been certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. Ask your primary doctor for a referral, or call the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology at 1-800-822-2762, and it’ll set you up with a physician in your area....