She wasn’t pregnant at 4 am (or so she thought) but became a mother several hours later. Klara Dollan spent nine months not knowing she was pregnant until she went into labor and gave birth in her apartment bathroom. Circumstances like hers are known as cryptic pregnancies, a rare but not unheard-of phenomenon. What are...

“All the forces on this planet will never beat that of a mother’s love.” – Elle Smith She didn’t actually believe it was possible that at the age of 60, she could go full-term as a gestational surrogate for her son and his partner. 61-year-old Cecile Eledge from Nebraska, Omaha, desperately wanted to be a...

They say no one is truly prepared for the life-changing experience of childbirth, but no person was as unprepared as this mother. Imagine rushing to the hospital for a kidney stone operation, but as you arrive, you are giving birth — to triplets. This is what happened to Dannette Giltz from South Dakota on August...

Many animal mothers instinctively lick their newborns to clean them. This act of grooming is important for several reasons. One, it removes amniotic fluid, which conducts heat away from the body and warms the baby. Plus, it stimulates the newborn and brings their attention to their mother. Another possibility is that licking removes the smell...

According to a report published by Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF), 95 percent of baby foods tested in the United States contain toxic heavy metals. HBBF is a group composed of non-profit organizations, scientists, and donors, and their goal is to reduce babies’ exposure to toxic chemicals in their first 1,000 days of development [2]....

Nancy Ray was certain she was pregnant with a girl. However, after a laborious birth, the parents were shocked by a newborn baby boy. The photo of that moment—full of heart and joy—went viral, but most people don’t know the full story behind it, which includes a heavy snowstorm and two strains of flu as...

We have no control over our birth month. But of the twelve months, if you were born in December, science is on your side. Whether you’re supposed to give birth to a December baby or you are a December baby, we’ve got some good news. December babies are extra special! Many parents have anxiety over...

This article was originally published on February 26, 2019, and has since been updated. An opioid epidemic is affecting millions of newborn babies, nationwide. The National Institute of Drug Abuse reports that a baby is born suffering from opioid withdrawal every fifteen minutes [1]. These babies experience pain and suffering before they can experience anything...

When this photo shared by a doula went viral last year, we embarked on this new trend of a “gentle” C-section. This wholesome and raw photo depicted how heartwarming it truly is for parents to welcome their newborn in a clear drape or window cesarean section.  This option is now being offered in many hospitals,...

Pregnancy is a time of careful consideration of everything that goes into your body, including beverages like tea. While tea is generally considered a healthy beverage, not all types of tea are safe for consumption during pregnancy. It’s crucial for expectant mothers to be knowledgeable about the potential risks associated with certain teas. Let’s dive...

A family in New Jersey was told that their son would not survive past birth. He was born with neural tube defect that caused the boy’s skull to stop developing in the womb.  However, he’s beating the odds and will be celebrating 7-months on earth this month. A miracle to say the least.   Lucas was...

In life, sometimes the hardest and heartbreaking stories are the ones we need to tell. They’re the ones that are raw, make us vulnerable, and lead us down the paths we fear most. But they are the stories and experiences that can be followed by immense growth. This is one of those stories… Kyrstyn Johnson...