Pregnancy is a remarkable journey filled with excitement, curiosity, and, let’s be honest, its fair share of worries. Growing a tiny human is no small task, so it’s only natural to have concerns along the way. One topic that often raises alarm is preeclampsia, a potentially serious pregnancy complication. Marked by dangerously high blood pressure, left untreated preeclampsia can pose significant risks to both mother and baby. Amid all of the advice and internet searches, one question seems to surface repeatedly: Can stress trigger preeclampsia? Let’s unpack this topic together, bust some myths, and provide you...

Welcoming a new baby is one of life’s most magical milestones, but for new moms, it’s also a whirlwind of sleepless nights, big emotions, and endless adjustments. While baby clothes and toys are undeniably adorable, new moms often need a little extra care and support as well. A thoughtful gift that puts her first can make all the difference. After all, a happy, cared-for mom is better equipped to care for her baby. Keep reading for meaningful and practical gift ideas to celebrate and support new moms in ways that truly resonate.  Gifts for new moms...

Pregnancy is a wild ride filled with excitement, wonder, and a fair share of curveballs your body throws at you. From growing a tiny human to navigating hormonal changes, there’s a lot going on. Amid all these changes, questions about what’s safe and what’s not often pop up, especially when it comes to beauty routines. A common question is: Can I get laser hair removal while I’m pregnant? Let’s take a closer look at what the experts say about this one. Why the fuss about laser hair removal during pregnancy? If you’ve noticed more hair popping...

After three years of secondary infertility, countless blood draws and ultrasounds, several failed embryo transfers, two pregnancy losses, and a fresh round of IVF, I’m finally pregnant with my third IVF baby.  But that still feels weird to say out loud, when it’s been hard enough to believe for myself.  I should say that this experience has been nothing like my previous attempts at getting pregnant. Following years of heartbreak and (unexpected) IVF failure after the birth of my twins in 2018, I took an indefinite break from treatment, unsure of what our next steps would...

In 2024, it’s practically impossible to think about wellness culture without thinking of red light therapy. Obviously, red light therapy is buzzy for its use as a skincare tool (see: LED face masks), but the buzz is going far beyond that: People are also considering red light therapy to help with wound healing, pain management, hair loss, burn scars, and more.  This is one of those social media wellness trends that has real credibility, too: Research has indicated that red light therapy can be effective for treating photodamged skin, wound healing, and more. But there are...

Pregnancy can be an incredibly beautiful experience, but it’s totally normal to feel a little anxious during those anticipatory months. One concern usually on the mind of expecting mamas is preeclampsia, a common and serious condition that is usually not caught until your blood pressure gets dangerously high and, if not caught early, can lead to some pretty severe complications for you and your baby. These can include poor growth of your baby, preterm birth, NICU or prolonged hospital stays, maternal seizures, organ damage, and other life-threatening conditions with lifelong impacts. Understanding all the risks of...

Whether you’re navigating your first pregnancy or this isn’t your first rodeo, it’s not out of this world to still feel like a beginner. Your body is changing and reacting to growing a baby, which can look unique for each person and each pregnancy. For some women, this can include intolerable morning sickness, unexpected random cravings, or developing conditions like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia.  While nausea and fatigue may bubble to the surface in your first trimester, the early signs of preeclampsia — a pregnancy complication related to your blood pressure that can impact both mom...

Pregnancy is a time when your body goes through some pretty amazing (and sometimes challenging) changes, and it brings a lot of questions about what is safe to do or try. One wellness trend that’s gained a lot of attention recently is ice baths or cold water immersion. But when you’re expecting, is jumping into an ice bath a good idea? Let’s dive in (pun intended) and take a closer look at what moms-to-be need to know about ice baths. Why ice baths are trending Over the past decade, ice baths have gone from something only...

If you’re currently pregnant or planning for pregnancy, cord blood banking (saving the blood and tissue from the fetal umbilical cord to preserve potentially healing stem cells) might not be the number one thing on your radar, but it’s an important health decision to make for your family.  The preservation of stem cells can be a worthy investment, particularly if you have a history of certain health conditions in your family (stem cells have been used to treat more than 80 health conditions).  There are some misconceptions about cord blood banking, including that the pricing is...

After all of the endless blood draws, ultrasounds, trigger shots, egg retrievals, embryo transfers, and two-week waits, you’re finally pregnant! For some women, however, it’s hard to feel optimistic after living with infertility. Especially when pregnancy loss is part of the infertility experience for so many people. It’s natural if anxiety is eclipsing any desire you may have to celebrate your good news because pregnancy carries a new set of risks even for those who didn’t go through infertility. Risks like preeclampsia.  According to a recent large U.S. study, preeclampsia affects 1 in 12 pregnancies. It...