It's time to get ready for baby! During those nine months of pregnancy, mamas-to-be have a laundry list a mile long of things that need to get done before baby arrives — like prenatal checkups, labor and delivery classes, finding a pediatrician, and learning how to properly install a car seat, to name a few. It's easy to get overwhelmed, but mamas-to-be can get some guidance — and get organized! — with the help of these five baby planning guides covering everything from going green with baby to baby gear demystified!
Male Infertility Explained: Test Your Knowledge of the Causes
Wearing a cup while playing sports and avoiding hot baths before sex used to be the only advice men were given to prevent fertility issues. With one in six couples now having trouble conceiving after a year of trying, it's no wonder that younger men and women are seeking to prevent infertility even before they are ready to become parents. A recent article in The Wall Street Journal identified several surprising causes of male infertility. Take this quiz and see how much you know about issues affecting men's sperm.
Household Items Can Affect Men and Women's Fertility; Test Your Knowledge!
Are items in your home keeping you and your partner from filling it with children? You will be surprised to find out which standard products might affect your fertility. In a soon-to-be released book, titled The Healthy Home: Simple Truths to Protect Your Family from Hidden Household Dangers, Dr. Myron Wentz and his son Dave Wentz talk about common household items that may pose problems. Test your knowledge!
Is It Safer to Raise a Family in the City or the Suburbs?
Are children more protected in an urban or suburban area? Some couples exchange their metropolitan dwellings for more spacious (and allegedly safer) suburban spaces when they decide to start families. Others believe the culture, options, and access a city offers are unmeasured. Crime can happen anywhere, but which setting makes you more comfortable?
Should Hereditary Conditions Affect Baby-Making Decision?
A woman's love may be unconditional, but do hereditary conditions make or break baby plans with her partner? From baldness to color blindness and sickle cell anemia to heart disease, should a person weigh her co-parent-to-be's genetic disorders before creating a family?
How Having a Baby Changes a Relationship...Chime In!
Having a baby changes a relationship. Fifty-three percent of LilSugar readers said the demands of a child affected their marriage. When a couple chooses to start a family, the extra person — especially a demanding and adorable bundle of joy — can test even the strongest of bonds. What has your experience been? Chime in!
Mom-to-Be Panic: Did You Experience Pregnancy Remorse?
There are "aha!" moments and there are "What did I just do?" ones. Parenthood is full of both. The prospect of becoming a mother can make a lady anxious. In response to a recent post about women who have IVF and then abort, an anonymous commenter said:
I was really excited to get pregnant and then when I realized I was, I was suddenly like, "Oh no, what did I just do!? My life is over now!" but that's actually a fairly normal reaction I found out, and once the news had time to set it I started getting excited again. I wonder if some of these women just panicked? But I also agree with above posters that I doubt this is a very statistically significant number of women to begin with.
The remorseful moment can be fleeting and the mom-to-be may embrace her new role. Did you experience any of these feelings while with child?
Ashton Kutcher Says "I Don't Know" to Biological Babies
Ashton Kutcher may have social media figured out. He flirts with his wife, Demi Moore, in front of almost five million Twitter followers and more than three million Facebook fans, but he isn't sure if the couple will have offspring of their own. When Cynthia McFadden asked Ashton if he wanted a biological baby on last night's Nightline, he said, "I don't know". He also noted that because Demi has three daughters — Rumer, 21, Scout, 18, and Tallulah, 16, — their relationship has always involved kids. Despite his wife's questionable child bearing age of 47, Ashton said he's "not worried" because he thinks Demi is a "genetic freak".
Seven Costs to Consider When Budgeting For Baby
Babies cost big bucks! Parents-to-be have nine months to prepare for their lil one's arrival, but all of that time shouldn't necessarily be spent painting the nursery and picking out clothes. The average first year cost of raising a baby is over $16,000. Here are seven costs expectant parents should consider when budgeting out their tot's first year.
Baby Time! Did You or Your Partner Want Children First?
The maternal or paternal itch! Lots of people talk about a woman's biological clock, but a man's inclination to become a father can be just as strong. Last night on How I Met Your Mother, Marshall was seeing babies in the future before Lily. How did family planning shake out in your household?


