Category: Motherhood

Missouri mom Lauren Flaugher picked up a copy of the seminal book Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, which outlines the midwife’s role in a pregnancy and encourages moms to return to the natural birthing methods of the past. The book—written by a woman often hailed as the “mother of authentic widwifery”—made a big impact on Lauren.
She was pregnant at the time, of course. As she and her husband, Joe, prepared for the birth of their second child, they discussed the ideas outlined by Ina May Gaskin.

Lauren decided that she would have a natural birth without medication. That choice would make the birth of her son all the more miraculous—but the birth did not go exactly as anticipated.

Lauren spent the days and weeks leading up to her labor studying the techniques recommended by Gaskin.

“I did a lot of visualizations, a lot of positive affirmations before the birth to kind of prepare myself,” Lauren told Fox 2 News. But nothing could prepare her for the midwives’ reaction when her son was finally born.

On May 2, 2017, Lauren’s water broke, with her husband by her side. Joe took her hand in his. When labor began, Lauren went to the Birth and Wellness Center in O’Fallon, Missouri.
This birthing center is owned and operated by midwives and is the only freestanding birthing facility in the area that offers water birth. It was the ideal place to welcome the newest member of the Flaugher family into the world.

Lauren’s labor lasted for nine long hours.

She dealt with the struggle by alternating between the Birth and Wellness Center’s hot tub and showers. Then it was time to push.
Joe was there the whole time, supporting his wife through the entire process. “He got me popsicles when I wanted them,” Lauren later told People. “And during the pushing he said, ‘You’re doing it! He’s going to be here soon!'”

Lauren pushed and pushed for 20 minutes. At one point, her son (who was later named Finnis Steven Flaugher, or Finn for short) seemed to get stuck in the birth canal. The midwives guided Lauren through a series of movements and postures to free the child.
Finally Finn emerged into the world. Lauren hadn’t taken medication of any kind. Her dream of a natural birth had come true.

Instead of painful, Lauren describes the situation as “intense.”

She had trained her mind to handle what might drive others over the edge. “Part of the prep for natural birth was not to think of it as painful, but intense,” she told People. “And it was really intense. I felt very aware of what was happening to my body.”
Once their son was free and clear, the Flaughers and their midwives were in for a real shock. A midwife placed the infant onto the nearest scale. Finn could barely fit.

“The scale only went up to 12 pounds, so our midwife looked at me and said, ‘We can’t use it,'” Lauren said. “I thought the scale was broken!”

The healthcare team brought in a larger scale—one without the 12-pound limit.

Everyone in the room stared in disbelief at the number that flashed across the scale’s display. Baby Finn, fresh from the womb, weighed an incredible 13 pounds. For context, the average baby of European heritage is just 7.7 pounds—nearly half of Finn’s weight.
“At first, I honestly could not believe it,” Lauren told Fox 2 News. “I kept saying, ‘That’s wrong, the scale cannot be right, this isn’t right.’ And they said, ‘No, that’s right. That’s actually true.'”
The Flaughers had some idea that their son would be a big kid. The 20-week ultrasound showed an infant who was a bit bigger than most.

“They said, ‘He’s showing a little big,'” Lauren told People. “A midwife did the measurement and thought maybe he would be at most a 10-pound baby.” Of course, Finn was not just “a little big” when he entered the world. He was enormous!
Women who have given birth shake their heads in disbelief when they hear the story of Finn’s natural, medication-free birth.

News of Lauren’s natural birth and her huge son quickly spread across social media.

Joe responded with a social media post of his own. He agreed that his wife was a “superwoman” and that the natural birth of such a big infant deserved applause.

But he wanted the world to know that his wife is fabulous for much more than the story of her second son’s birth.
“What the world doesn’t know is that, besides our children Finn and Aurea, she has had hundreds of children,” Joe wrote. “Lauren is a teacher. She has the task of teaching those who do not speak English as their first language. She has shed blood, sweat, and tears over hundreds of children… She has so much love in her heart that she has not only our own children, but her hundreds of students.”

Joe concluded with a touching and heartfelt expression of love. “While the story of the birth of our son is wonderful, this is the story of my wife that should be shared for the world to see,” he wrote.

Fathers have a profound impact on their daughters’ lives. The relationship a girl has with her dad sends a message to her about how she should be treated by others.

It’s therefore critical that a little girl hear certain things from her dad to help strengthen her self-image and self-esteem. If you have a daughter, think about whether the things you say to her are building her up and helping her develop the skills she needs to succeed.

1) “I love you.”

This sounds simple, but it’s one of the most important phrases kids can hear from their dad. Unconditional love from our parents is the building block that helps us create meaningful relationships with others.

When a daughter knows she is loved, she knows that there’s always a safe space for her no matter how bad she may feel. When she makes a mistake, has her heart broken, or just needs to talk, she’ll know that her dad is there for her.

2) “I’m here for advice.”

Children may act like they don’t want advice from their parents, but they really do. Fatherly advice is particularly helpful to girls, because dads can often help their daughters gain some insight into male behavior and interpersonal relationships.

A dad’s perspective can prove invaluable. It’s important not be too pushy about it, but be sure to let your daughter know that you are there to offer your advice when she needs it.

3) “You can do better.”

There are times when little girls need some straight talk and tough love. You shouldn’t be hyper-critical of your daughter, but you also shouldn’t be afraid to give your daughter a little push when it’s warranted.

If you think your daughter is doing something wrong or could improve her approach to a challenge, find a way to tell her. She’s ultimately going to make her own decisions, but your direction may help her make better decisions in the future.

4) “I understand you.”

As children grow, they struggle to find their place in the world and strive to develop a unique identity. During this period, it’s easy for them to feel misunderstood or like they’re alone.

A father can be there for his daughter as she works her way through these existential growing pains. Knowing that her dad has her back may give her the courage to try new things and make some mistakes as she approaches adulthood.

5) “I accept you.”

Daughters need acceptance from their fathers. They want to feel like they are valuable and that their dads are proud of them. You should do everything you can—through both actions and words—to show her that you accept her.

That means putting in the time to go to dance recitals, soccer games, swim meets, and other activities that are meaningful to her. Going to those events and showing your daughter that you support her and are proud of her efforts and achievements goes a long way toward building her self-confidence.

6) “I’m here to help.”

All children need help from their parents at some point. Whether it’s help with homework, help learning a new skill, or help with a life event, daughters need to know that their dads are there when they need them.

By helping your daughter, you show her that she’s important and a priority in your life. This will help her both realize her own self-worth and be unafraid to tackle challenges in the future.

Drowning is every parent’s greatest fear when it comes to kids having fun splashing around in the summer sun. 

You’re right to be concerned for your child’s safety while in the water, but it’s also important to educate yourself about dry drowning, which is a little-known form of asphyxiation that can occur out of the water as well.

First of all, let’s quickly establish that dry drowning still involves water.

Dry drowning is similar to what’s known as “secondary drowning,” both of which can be described as a submersion injuries.

“In dry drowning,” according to Parents, “someone takes in a small amount of water through his or her nose and/or mouth, and it causes a spasm in the airway, causing it to close up. In secondary drowning, the little bit of water gets into the lungs and causes inflammation or swelling that makes it difficult or impossible for the body to transfer oxygen to carbon dioxide and vice versa.

“Dry drowning usually happens soon after exiting the water, but with secondary drowning, there can be a delay of up to 24 hours before the person shows signs of distress. Both can cause trouble breathing and, in worst-case scenarios, death.”

Pay close attention if your child is having difficulty breathing after getting out of water. There are a number of warning signs to pay attention to that may signal that someone is suffering from a submersion injury.

Did your child just get pulled from the water by a lifeguard?

“Any child pulled from the pool needs medical attention,” Dr. Kathleen Berchelmann of St. Louis Children’s Hospital told Parents.

 “At the very least, call the pediatrician.”

Is your child coughing or having a hard time breathing?

A cough that just won’t stop or labored, shallow breathing that makes it look as though the child is not getting enough oxygen can be a sign that you need to find medical help right away.

Is your child acting strange or showing signs of sleepiness or forgetfulness?

When the body’s bloodstream isn’t getting enough oxygen it can cause extreme fatigue.

If your child was just running around like a wild thing and suddenly needs to lie down and take a nap after displaying some of the other symptoms, don’t let them fall asleep just yet—call a doctor first.

Did your kid just yack out of the blue?

“Vomiting is a sign of stress from the body as a result of the inflammation and sometimes a lack of oxygen, also from persistent coughing and gagging,” added Dr. Berchelmann.

If you notice any or all of these signs, get in touch with a medical professional immediately.

As they say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Dry drowning is pretty rare, but proactive prevention is definitely better than needing to call in backup.

Get your children swimming lessons before they spend much time playing in the water. With the proper training, children can learn to swim before they even learn to walk!

Don’t let children swim or splash around in any body of water without close adult supervision.

Make sure children are wearing properly fitted flotation devices on boats and in open water.

Have fun this summer swim season, but practice safety first and keep your eyes peeled for the signs of dry drowning when you’re out there.

For one Massachusetts mom, a joyful children’s party turned into a mother’s worst nightmare.

Brenda Sanderson’s two sons were thrilled to attend a graduation party in the summer of 2015. It had everything, including an inflatable, enclosed trampoline known as a “bounce house.” The boys gleefully entered the bounce house and did what you do in bounce houses—they jumped, they wrestled, they rolled and slid.

Everything seemed fine. Two days later, though, Sanderson saw some funny blemishes on her 10-year-old’s arm. She asked him where they came from. Sanderson relayed the ensuing conversation to Fox 25 News in Boston.

“He said, ‘Well, Mommy, I think it’s from sliding around and bouncing around the bouncy house. I think I just got burned from the plastic because it was hot.”

So Sanderson treated her boy for a burn.

She covered the marks with Neosporin and kept an eye on them. To her horror, the blemishes didn’t heal. In fact, they started getting worse. Then they began to ooze and fester. Soon the 10-year-old was covered in open sores.

“It was oozing, and when it oozes, it spreads,” Sanderson said. “He said they hurt to touch.”

These were no simple burns, Sanderson realized. It was time for a visit to the doctor.

Her son’s doctor took one look at the boy’s wounds and came up with a theory. She asked where the boy thought the marks came from. When she heard about the bounce house, there was no doubt left in her mind.

Sanderson’s little boy had a staph infection.

Staph infections are a potentially serious invasion of Staphylococcus bacteria. If the infection spreads far enough, the malady can be life-threatening. It’s vital that people with staph infections get treatment as quickly as possible.

The bacteria were hiding on the plastic surface of the bounce house’s interior. The boy must have had cuts or abrasions on his arm, and that’s how the bacteria entered his system.

“Any time you break the skin, you’re at risk of getting some sort of skin infection,” Ari Cohen, Chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Mass General Hospital told Fox 25. “Staph being probably the most common and the most talked about. As long as you wash up any wound after you get it, that should minimize the chance of getting significant infections.”

Sanderson’s boy was treated for his infection and came out okay in the end. Still, it was a terrible ordeal, and Sanderson doesn’t plan on letting her kids back into a bounce house in the foreseeable future.

In addition to the risk of bacterial infections, playing in bounce houses leads to bruises, concussions, and broken bones with startling regularity.

A 2012 study in the health journal Pediatrics found that bounce houses caused 11,300 injuries to children in 2010. That’s twice the number of bounce house–related injuries recorded in 2008.

The study, which was conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, observed that this injury rate “equals a child every 46 minutes nationally. This epidemic increase highlights the urgency of addressing the prevention of inflatable bouncer-related injuries among children.”

So the next time you bring your kids to a rollicking birthday party complete with a bounce house, you might want to tell them to steer clear. No amount of fun is worth a staph infection or a broken bone.

Natasha Gent knew that her baby would be different.
After all, a nurse had given her a warning. During one of Gent’s ultrasounds, medical staff noticed a “halo” around her baby’s head. It wasn’t anything dangerous, they said, but it did mean that the child would be somewhat unusual.

The reason? The “halo” was actually a substantial amount of hair.

That’s not exactly rare; many children are born with some hair, which is quickly replaced after a few months. But Gent’s baby was different: When the infant was born, she had a completely full head of brunette hair.

And baby Holly continues to grow her salon-ready locks.

“We were prepared after being told she would have a bit of hair at her scan, but it was still a shock when she came out and we could see just how much she had compared to other babies,” 28-year-old Gent told Caters News.

“It hasn’t stopped growing since the day she was born. We’re lucky that it has always been really easy to look after,” she said.
The 4-month-old’s parents insist that although they love her wild hair, they’ll let her make her own decisions about styling it when she’s older.

Of course, Holly’s incredible hair attracts plenty of attention.

“It doesn’t matter where I am, the supermarket or out for lunch, guaranteed someone will come over to say how amazing her hair is and loads of people tell us she looks like a little doll,” she said. “I catch people staring and nudging each other, going, ‘Wow, look at that baby’s hair.'”
“Obviously to me, Holly will always be the most beautiful child, but to get compliments from other people is so nice…and Holly absolutely loves the attention. She is so friendly, and when people come over to her, she just smiles away.”

Gent said that when she told her parents about Holly’s hair, they weren’t at all surprised.
“My mom said she is the spitting image of me when I was born, and looking back at baby photos, I can see it,” she said, “but my hair has gotten thinner. I think Holly’s is so thick, it will be with her for life.”

Of course, the hair requires some extra attention.

But the Gents certainly aren’t complaining. In fact, they describe their bathtime rituals as adorably hilarious.
“Holly absolutely loves bath time and afterwards when her hair is dead straight it goes all the way past her shoulders,” Gent said. “Sometimes she has a blowdry if her hair needs to dry quickly. She really enjoys it, but sometimes she does try to eat the air.”

“Her hair afterwards is so funny. It has grown straight upwards, so after it’s dried, it looks like a little afro. It makes us laugh so much. It’s a bit of a crazy hairstyle and it has a little mind of its own, it is completely untameable no matter how hard I try.”
In any case, the strange situation gives a new meaning to the slogan “Maybe she’s born with it.”

When we were kids, a day at the beach always began with the same humiliating ritual.
Our mom would pour herself a fistful of sticky sunscreen and vigorously slather it all over our bodies. Not even our faces were spared. When the kids were good and gooey, mom repeated the process on herself.

We were all smeared from the same massive bottle, some generic brand with an awful odor.
We get it. Our mom was just trying to protect us from the hazards of sunlight, which are very real. The National Cancer Institute warns that “exposure to UV radiation causes early aging of the skin and skin damage that can lead to skin cancer.” Of course parents want to protect their children.
According to dermatologist Doris “No Relation” Day, who recently spoke to Reader’s Digest, dear old Mom might have been subjecting us to a whole new set of risks when she shared her sunscreen—especially when it came to our baby siblings.

“Babies need to have physical protection such as protective hats and clothing,” Day said. “They have a lower body surface-to-volume ratio, so anything that’s applied topically has a greater chance of penetrating and impacting them systematically.”
That’s why pediatric dermatologist Patricia Treadwell recommends avoiding chemical sunscreens like the ones many adults use.

To clarify, there are two general types of sunscreen on the market these days: chemical and physical.

Chemical sunscreens absorb into your skin like a fine lotion, so they must be applied 20 or 30 minutes before exposure. These substances contain chemicals like avobenzone or oxybenzone, which absorb UV radiation before it can damage the skin.

Physical sunscreens, on the other hand, simply deflect the sun’s rays with zinc oxide or titanium oxide (or both). More properly known as sunblock, these pastes coat the skin with a thick white layer of schumtz. It’s not beautiful, and some people even find it uncomfortable, leading to the popularity of chemical-based sunscreens.

Many doctors say that you should never use chemical sunscreens on your children.

If you prefer these residue-free lotions, that’s probably fine. Just make sure you only use zinc or titanium sunblock on your kids.

“The chemically based screens are absorbed into the skin in order to protect the skin from UV rays,” plastic surgeon Norman Rowe told Reader’s Digest. “These chemicals can be harmful in high doses to infants and children.”
Considering that the higher the sun protection factor (SPF) rating of chemical sunscreen, the higher the dosage, it makes sense that sunblocks are better for growing children.
“Zinc oxide blocks are generally the best, as they are not absorbed by the skin, making it one of the safest sunscreens for kids,” Rowe said.

Day agrees.

Infants shouldn’t be in the sun very much until they’re at least six months old, she said.

“Once they reach about six months it’s considered safe to use a physical protection sunscreen like those containing zinc or titanium, and always choose SPF 30 or higher,” she said.
Come to think of it, our dear old mom was probably using a zinc oxide sunblock on those visits to the beach so long ago. We’re sorry we doubted you, Mom!

Our parents never had to deal with this.

You know the story. You hand your kid your Android phone or a Kindle Fire just to keep them quiet while you finish balancing your checkbook. Next thing you know, you get hit with surprise Amazon charges from in-app purchases. So much for a balanced checkbook.

The problem is that many apps labeled “free” are anything but, and some of those apps are games that greatly appeal to children. Although downloading and playing the game won’t cost you anything, kids may be tempted with highly coveted items or enhanced functionality that come only at the cost of real money. And guess whose debit card is associated with that Amazon account?

If these charges seem unfair to you, well, the Federal Trade Commission agrees. As of April 2017, the FTC negotiated a deal with Amazon that will end with the tech giant handing out more than $70 million in unauthorized in-app fees.

If your kid splurged on digital coins or fancy digital outfits between November 2011 and May 2016, you may be eligible for a refund. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Amazon will send emails to customers they believe deserve a refund.

The FTC assures us that Amazon will reach out to affected parents. “All eligible consumers should have received an email from Amazon,” according to an FTC press release dated May 30, 2017.

We all know how things like this work, though. It’s easy to slip through the cracks. If you haven’t received an email offering you your money back, don’t despair. There are a few ways to request a refund for the unbelievable amounts of money your kid was able to spend on Farm Story. 

2. You can also request a refund directly from Amazon.

Amazon set up a web page for eligibility claims, and it’s live now. Just visit this page, log in to your account, and follow the prompts.

3. Learn more about requesting refunds in your Amazon Message Center.

Yep, there is such a thing, though most users don’t check it very often. To access your Message Center from a desktop, log in to your Amazon account just like normal. Hover over the “Accounts & Lists” link to open a drop-down menu. Select “Your Account,” the first option in the right-hand column.

Then locate the box labeled “Email alerts, messages, and ads.” Select “Message Center” from that list, and you’re there. Information about requesting a refund for unauthorized in-app purchases should be listed under “Important Messages.”

4. We’re guessing that Amazon would rather you take care of this online, but there is a phone number you can call.

Just give Amazon a ring at 866-216-1072 to discuss your refund (or just to complain about how your kid managed to spend $5,000 without you even being notified).

No matter which path you take toward your refund, don’t wait too long to get started. The deadline for a refund request is May 28, 2018. After that, you’ll be stuck with your kid’s virtual purchases, which, of course, burned real-life money.

In Greek mythology, the goddess Athena emerged from the head of her father, Zeus. She was fully grown and clad in armor. We’re surprised that one Florida family didn’t consider Athena as a name for their new baby daughter.

“It looked like they pulled a toddler out of my belly,” proud mom Chrissy Corbitt told ABC News after the birth. “She’s so big.”

Chrissy and her husband, Larry Corbitt, live in Keystone Heights, Florida, with their four kids. As of May 15, 2017, make that five kids—and what a kid this latest turned out to be!

Baby Carleigh (not Athena, alas) was born at Orange Park Medical Center, and at first, Chrissy couldn’t understand why all the doctors and nurses were so excited.

“When the doctor was pulling her out of me I just started hearing them all laughing and excited in the operating room,” Chrissy said. “They were throwing out numbers and when they showed her to me and said ‘13.5,’ I couldn’t believe it.”

That number—13.5—refers to the infant’s incredible weight.

The average weight for an infant with Carleigh’s background is just 7.7 pounds. Only 5 percent of newborns end up outside of the “normal” range, which is between 5.5 and 11 pounds.

A 13.5 pound baby is nearly unheard of. Still, the Corbitts are truly enjoying their big bundle of joy. They’re not alone.

Once Chrissy had recovered from her C-section, the family brought baby Carleigh to Sweet Smiles Photography Studio. There, photographer Debbye Benson immortalized the infant with adorable pictures that quickly blazed a path through social media.

“I’m so happy I was able to meet and hold this mini celebrity,” read one social media post from Sweet Smiles. “She was such a perfect model during our session—so gorgeous and squishy!”

Despite their newfound fame, the Corbitts know that it’s not going to be easy to raise this little goddess.

She isn’t easy on the back. Also, as the Corbitts discovered on day one, finding baby clothes has been a challenge.

“She’s like a 6-month-old baby,” Larry told ABC News. “We even contacted Pampers and Huggies to help us out because everything we got to prepare is just out the door. None of it fits. She’s in size 3 diapers. The clothes she had on yesterday was a 9-month outfit.”

Then the proud father said something simple and profound that sums up the miracle of this newborn. “She’s huge,” he said.

Meanwhile, we can all enjoy the pictures of this cuddly cutie.

“She’s just filled with rolls,” Chrissy said. “She’s just a big squishy baby. She’s so adorable.” The family is getting used to baby Carleigh’s fame, although they’re a bit surprised by it.

“I had no idea she was going to be so popular,” the beaming mom said. “It’s been a great experience and I can’t wait to look back on this and share it with her to show her she became a celebrity overnight.” That’s just one more thing that Carleigh has in common with the mythical Athena.

When a woman is pregnant, her body will send her signals long before she ever takes a pregnancy test or misses a period. If you’re looking to become a mother—or just want to know what’s going on with your body—here are some signs that you may be pregnant.

1) Your favorite jeans have suddenly stopped fitting.

The first sign many women have that they are pregnant is that they are struggling to button pants that they wore just a couple of days earlier. That’s because pregnancy can cause immediate bloating.

Your hormones will kick into overdrive right away, leading to extra bloating of your abdomen. If you’re bloated and can’t figure out why, it may be due to pregnancy.

2) You have intense food cravings.

Everybody has food cravings from time to time, but if you feel like you need a cheeseburger or some other random food NOW, that could be because you’re pregnant. This is especially true if you wake up during the night with these cravings.

The flip side of this is that when you’re pregnant, your favorite foods may make you feel queasy. If you’ve just noticed a general weirdness about food, it may be related to hormone changes caused by pregnancy.

3) You’ve been nauseated and it doesn’t seem to be getting better.

Many women experience nausea in the first trimester of pregnancy. This typically happens in the morning but can happen throughout the day. Many women just chalk it up to a stomach bug at first.

If you’ve felt nauseated and it hasn’t gotten any better after a few days, that could be a sign that you’re pregnant.

4) You’re extremely emotional over minor things.

Your hormonal changes will cause you to get emotional over strange things or to flip out over minor inconveniences. If you find yourself crying at that rental car commercial or flipping out at your partner for no reason, that could be because you’re pregnant.

Mood swings are a perfectly normal part of pregnancy. They’ll happen throughout the nine months but can be especially pronounced right in the beginning.

5) You’re having cramps but no period.

Every woman knows how awful period cramps can be. Being pregnant results in similar cramps but without a period.

If you’re feeling cramping but it’s not your time of the month, that’s a sign that you’re pregnant. You may also experience spotting with the cramping, which is a sign of pregnancy if it’s not on your cycle.

6) You fall asleep watching your favorite shows.

Women are notorious for falling asleep during certain movies or TV shows, but most would never fall asleep during the show they’ve been waiting all week to watch. If you can’t keep your eyes open even though you’ve been dying to see what happens on How to Get Away With Murder, you may be pregnant.

That’s because the fetus growing inside your womb is sucking up a lot of your energy. Being tired all the time is just a part of being pregnant, so be prepared to deal with nine months of falling asleep on the couch.

You were pregnant and you gained a little extra weight along with the baby weight. (Or maybe a little more than a little). Then you gave birth to your precious baby and now you’re ready for all of that extra weight to come off. So when the heck is that going to happen??

Unfortunately, the weight that you gain while you’re pregnant doesn’t instantly evaporate (no matter how much you wish it would). But the good news is that it will eventually come off! It just takes a little time.
Are you worried that it’s not coming off fast enough? It may not be—and there are certain things that you may be doing that are keeping the numbers on the scale from budging.
Here are the five most common reasons that women don’t lose baby weight quickly.

You’re too stressed.

Stress can not only make you feel crazy…it can also make you eat more. When you’re stressed, your body goes into emergency mode and experiences fight-or-flight syndrome. Your heart rate increases, your metabolism goes nuts, and your body produces a hormone known as cortisol in order to deal with it.

Unfortunately, this hormone can do a number on your body. It causes your insulin to spike, which can cause your blood sugar to drop, which in turn makes you crave carbs and sugary items. Studies have also shown that when you gain weight due to increased cortisol levels, the fat deposits right to your midsection (the area most of us are trying to tone).

Try to keep your mental health in check by implementing some stress management tools such as meditation, breathing exercises, or even some light walking or cardio.

You’re not sleeping enough.

Sleep deprivation can not only make you tired, but it can also make you hungry. When you don’t sleep enough, the hormones that affect your appetite become unbalanced and make you want to eat.

A study presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific sessions in 2011 found that people who slept for only four hours ate more calories the following day (as opposed to when they had gotten a full eight hours).
When you’re sleep deprived, your body overproduces a hormone known as ghrelin and underproduces the hormone leptin. Ghrelin’s job is to increase hunger, and leptin’s role is decreasing hunger. As you can see, this can be a recipe for a disaster when it comes to weight loss.
In order to combat this hormone imbalance, try to nap whenever possible (like when your baby’s napping), avoid caffeine and adult beverages (which are known to disrupt sleep habits), and put off late-night chores so you can get to bed earlier.

You’re hitting the gym too hard.

Cardio and weight training are great at helping you burn calories and tone the muscles that have gone a bit flabby, but if you overdo it at the gym you may find yourself in a catch-22.

You see, if you exercise too hard, your body turns to emergency sugar stores (not fat stores) for energy. These sugar stores need to be replaced and your body responds with lower blood sugar levels.
Lower blood sugar levels can cause you to eat too much of the wrong foods (which make you gain back the calories that you just burned off). So you can never catch up, much less get ahead.

The best way to exercise for weight loss is to do moderate weight training with moderate cardiovascular exercise. The “talk test” works well to make sure that you’re burning fat not sugar. You can test yourself by talking to someone else (or yourself) while you exercise. If you’re out of breath and you can’t carry on a conversation, you’re working too hard. If you can talk (with a couple of intermittent breathy words), you’re in the right zone!

You’re not eating enough.

When caring for a baby, a mom’s schedule is often erratic. Crazy schedules can cause you to forget to eat or eat at irregular intervals. Unfortunately, when it comes to weight loss, your body loves to be on a regular schedule.

When you’re consistent with your meal times, your body’s metabolism is kicking, your blood sugar levels are stable, and you’re not craving unhealthy, sugary items. If you’re not remembering to eat, all hell can break loose, making it nearly impossible to lose weight effectively.
Keep your body running efficiently by eating small, well-balanced, unprocessed meals every 3 to 4 hours. And don’t forget to keep your body hydrated as well! Often dehydration can mask itself as hunger and cause you to eat when you’re really just thirsty.

You have a thyroid issue.

Shockingly, studies have found that up to 30 percent of postpartum women have thyroid dysfunction due to an iodine deficiency as a result of pregnancy.

During pregnancy, your baby takes iron from you, which can cause hypothyroidism (this is when the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone).
If this happens, your body processes slow down and you can feel symptoms such as fatigue, depression, and even weight gain. Ask your doctor to run a thyroid panel to see if you may be experiencing any thyroid issues.