Pregnancy and Parenting

From conception to cradle, the Pregnancy and Parenting Channel guides you on the journey to parenthood. Learn what to expect when you're expecting.

Topics to Explore

Guide to Being Six Weeks Pregnant

Can you get pregnant any time in your monthly cycle?

How will we have children in the future?

Preventing Birth Defects With Folic Acid

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Rare Condition Causes New Mom to Lactate Outside Her Breast

An Austrian woman who had just given birth began producing milk in breast tissue located in her vulva.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Jun 14, 2019 Pregnancy / Pregnancy Issues

New Dads Deal With Postpartum Depression, Too

We mostly associate postpartum depression with new moms. But studies show that new dads experience it, as well.

By John Donovan Mar 21, 2019 Pregnancy / Postpartum Care

Bed Rest Is Ineffective — Even Harmful — For Pregnant Women

What harm could it do, right? Turns out, quite a bit.

By Jesslyn Shields Dec 31, 2018 Pregnancy / Pregnancy Issues

What Is the Linea Nigra of Pregnancy?

The dark line that runs down a pregnant woman's belly is completely normal, and it even has a fancy Latin name.

By Jesslyn Shields Nov 14, 2018 Pregnancy / Pregnancy Issues

American Academy of Pediatrics Says Spanking Is Ineffective

Last time the American Academy of Pediatrics weighed in on corporal punishment, it was to say we shouldn't spank children in schools. Now it says we shouldn't spank children at home, either.

By Jesslyn Shields Nov 7, 2018 Parenting / Parenting Advice

Sometimes Babies Are Born With Teeth

Believe it or not, about one in every 2,500 babies is born with a tooth or three.

By Jesslyn Shields Aug 16, 2018 Baby Health / Newborn Development

Multiple Pregnancies Age Women's Cells Faster

And you thought you felt old because you had three kids? While that may be true, they're not the only thing to blame.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler Aug 3, 2018 Pregnancy / Pregnancy Issues

You Can't Name Your Baby That!

Having a baby? You can name your little bundle of joy anything you want to, right? Well, not so fast — there are some rules.

By Laurie L. Dove May 18, 2018 Parenting / Parenting Advice

Why Women Don't Lick Their Babies Clean After Childbirth

Animals of all stripes lick their babies clean after birth. Why is it that human women don't?

By Stell Simonton Jan 25, 2018 Baby Health / Newborn Development

How Doulas Work

Doulas don't have any medical training but many mothers depend on them to be in the delivery room to offer support. What do mothers like about doulas and how do you become one?

By Alia Hoyt Pregnancy / Labor & Delivery

More C-Sections Complicate Human Ability to Give Birth, Study Suggests

C-sections are life-saving interventions for many women. Could they also be messing with natural selection?

By Kate Kershner Oct 24, 2017 Pregnancy / Labor & Delivery

Why Would Anyone Eat Their Placenta?

More women are choosing to ingest their encapsulated placentas because of the supposed benefits they get after childbirth. But what does science have to say?

By Alia Hoyt Aug 3, 2017 Pregnancy / Postpartum Care

Is a Woman More Likely to Get Pregnant Naturally After Adoption or IVF?

You've tried to conceive and can't, so you adopt. Then boom, you get pregnant. What gives?

By Alia Hoyt Jul 31, 2017 Pregnancy / Fertility & Infertility

Men's Sperm Count Down Significantly, Study Finds

A new study confirms that sperm counts of men in Western countries are plummeting.

By Sarah Gleim Jul 26, 2017 Pregnancy / Fertility & Infertility

What Do Babies See Before Birth?

Very little is known about what or how fetuses see. This study shows their vision capabilities are more advanced than previously thought.

By Alia Hoyt Jun 20, 2017 Pregnancy / Fetal Development

'Latchkey Kids': What's Different About Leaving Children Home Alone Now Versus Then

Many latchkey kids remember their time fondly, even though they wouldn't leave their own kids alone.

By Dave Roos Jun 12, 2017 Parenting / Child Safety

Grandparents' Child Care Habits Can Be Outdated, Potentially Harmful

Sometimes, their old-school methods are benign. But other times, they're seriously risky, according to a new study.

By Kate Kershner May 10, 2017 Parenting / Child Safety

Experts Call for Egg Donor Registry

The registry would be used to track donor well-being and learn more about breast cancer and other health risks. But for some, it raises privacy concerns.

By Chris Opfer May 9, 2017 Pregnancy / Fertility & Infertility

Fetal Lambs in 'Biobags' Show Promise for Artificial Human Wombs

A new device tested on fetal lambs could change care for human preemies, immersing them in a "biobag" with lab-made amniotic fluid, keeping them underwater for weeks.

By Patrick J. Kiger May 1, 2017 Pregnancy / Fetal Development

Despite What You Think, Today's Teens Are Better Adjusted Than Gen X Teens

U.S. government survey shows that rates of drinking, smoking and having sex are all lower today than 25 years ago.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus Apr 24, 2017 Pregnancy & Parenting / Teenage Health

Rockabye Baby in a Smart Crib From Ford

Parents put down your keys and put your newborn to bed--in a concept crib from Ford. The car company has designed a smart crib that mimics your baby's favorite ride.

By John Perritano Apr 13, 2017 Baby Health / Baby Care

These Countries Have the Most Crybabies — Literally

It turns out that colicky babies in different countries don't cry the same amount. A new study measured which nation's newborns cried most.

By Laurie L. Dove Apr 6, 2017 Baby Health / Infant Health

Adults Who Choose Not to Have Kids Inspire Moral Outrage, Study Finds

Couples who feel judged for passing on parenthood might be right, study finds.

By Julia Layton Mar 17, 2017 Parenting / Parenting Advice

Kids Getting Sick From Hand Sanitizers

Kids are getting sick from ingesting hand sanitizer. Some are drinking it intentionally. The CDC explains why and what parents can do to prevent accidental exposure.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Mar 14, 2017 Parenting / Parenting Advice