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    Blog Posts by TheBump.com

    • 7 Unexpected (and Unglamourous) Ways Motherhood Has Changed Me

      I used to love watching scary movies when I was younger. I still have memories of junior high sleepovers, when a group of us girls would make buckets of popcorn, curl up in our sleeping bags and watch horrible, D-list movies like "Silent Night, Deadly Night" and "Child's Play." We'd scream and shriek, finding some kind of bizarre delight in scaring ourselves. As an adult, I still got a thrill from a good horror flick, much more so than my husband, who jokes that you cannot make a scary movie unless it has the word "The" in the title ("The Others, "The Cabin in the Woods," "The Shining.")

      By Jessica Collins Grimes for TheBump.com

      Thinkstock / The BumpBut then I had kids. And scary movies were no longer fun or silly. They became, well, scary.

      Isn't that strange? That was certainly a side effect of motherhood that I was not expecting. But every time I watched some young starlet meet a horrible death onscreen, all I could think was, "What if that was my child?" Even watching movies like "War of

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    • 10 of the Most Ridiculously Funny Baby Memes on the Planet!

      In case you were ever worried that we couldn't get any funnier, go on and take a deep breath - 'cause I swear, we just upped the ante! The Bump team put their fabulous heads, hearts, sarcasm and their most embarrassing baby photos together to bring you 10 original, unbelievable, outrageous and abso-freakin-lutely hilarious baby memes!

      By Kylie McConville for TheBump.com

      So clear your calendars, folks! Because these amazing memes are going to take up the rest of your afternoon - and then some! Now go on and check 'em out:

      © 2013 The Bump. All rights reserved.

      More from The Bump:
      Worst parenting advice ever heard

      Fun ways to lose the baby weight!
      Baby sleep myths -- busted

      Top 10 fears of new moms

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    • How to Indulge Your Sugary (and Sweet!) Pregnancy Cravings Without the Added Guilt

      Cravings are one of the most stereotyped symptoms of pregnancy, and now a new study shows that they can have real consequences. Australian researchers found that if mother rats consumed junk food while pregnant and nursing, the babies had resulting changes to their brain chemistry, leaving them more susceptible to a junk food addiction later in life.

      By Mercedes R. Donis for TheBump.com

      Photo: Shutterstock / The BumpAfter the morning sickness of the first trimester, my cravings ranged from broccoli (very garlicky and stir-fried only) to raspberries (even better with frozen custard!) and by the end of my pregnancy, my go-to snack were s'mores with dark chocolate and mini marshmallows. Of course, I tried to behave myself, and once I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, I had to find new ways to satisfy my cravings.

      So what's a mom-to-be to do when she's jonesing for something sweet, salty, or fatty (possibly even ALL at the same time)? While I was diabetic and now that I'm breastfeeding, I take extra care with

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    • A Week in the Life of a Working Mom

      Photo: Thinkstock / The BumpMONDAY: Wake up, get breakfast for everyone, pack lunches, backpacks, daycare bag. Collaborate with husband to get everyone dressed, brush everyone's hair and brush and floss all the teeth in the house (except my husband's - I leave that to him!). Today is a work-from-home day, so I don't take the time to shower or put on real clothes. Put the first grader on the school bus, send the other two kids with dad to be dropped off on his way to work. Pump, then make a quick run to grocery store (speed grocery shopping should be an Olympic sport). Back at home in time to start the work day. Emails, meetings, pumping. Repeat. At the end of the work day, quickly assemble a dinner that can bake in the oven while I go pick up all the kids. Dinner, homework, bedtime (usually I put the baby down and my husband puts the two older kids down). Once kids are in bed, reset the house and bags for tomorrow. My husband compares this process to the scene in the movie "50 First Dates," where they return the

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    • Myths and Truths About Co-Sleeping

      Photo Credit: Veer / The BumpShould you let your baby or toddler sleep with you? Some people will tell you a resounding "No!" But we know plenty of parents who do. So why? We've debunked the myths about co-sleeping and asked moms why it works for them.

      By Kylie McConville for TheBump.com

      Myths About Co-Sleeping

      James McKenna, a professor of anthropology at the University of Notre Dame and director of the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory, says co-sleeping can be a good choice for some families. We asked him to give us the real deal on some of the most common co-sleeping myths we've heard.

      Never (ever!) say this a new mom

      Myth #1: Co-sleeping is always dangerous.

      It's common to be fearful of co-sleeping, especially because reputable organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, say letting baby sleep in your bed is a SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) risk. But there are ways to safely co-sleep (see right).

      Definitions of co-sleeping vary

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    • The New Mom’s Guide to Nursing in Public (and Liking It!)

      As a new mom breastfeeding twins, the first few months were rough for me. I definitely felt like a prisoner in my own body (and home) at times. Getting out of the house was hard enough, and I also felt pressure to get back home before the next feeding to avoid a scene. I have to say, my life change dramatically when I became comfortable nursing in public.

      By Mercedes R. Donis for TheBump.com

      Shutterstock / The BumpHere are some tips to help you nurse with ease on the go:

      1. Nursing in public really is all about you and your baby.

      You are attending to his needs and you shouldn't feel ashamed or embarrassed for doing so. Your attitude will color the experience, so try to keep it light. Relax and enjoy this time out in the world with your baby.

      Top 10 reasons to breastfeed

      2. Do some recon ahead of time.

      Ask friends for recommendations or look around online for family friendly establishments like restaurants or play areas (but beware - there's a fair share of bad advice out there!).

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    • The Truth About Being a Single Mom

      Whether you're divorced and co-parenting with an ex, never married, or chose to be a single mom, one thing's for sure: Once you've crossed over to single mom status, life will never be the same again.

      By Christine Coppa for TheBump.com

      Thinkstock / The BumpAs a five-year veteran of the single mom gig, I've been on a constant emotional rollercoaster -- feeling like queen of the universe for potty-training my son in a month, panicking at 3 a.m., as I nurse his 104-degree fever, and even doing a happy dance after dropping him off at day care. I'm free, I think … even though I'm headed straight to work. Then there's the sinking guilt of raising my son without his father and the exhaustion of having to do it all. Being a single mom is pretty much as tough as it's cracked up to be, but that doesn't mean I don't love it.

      You've got to work at having a social life
      Office happy hours, a girlfriend's jewelry party and an impromptu date all take a backseat to your child (and so do dental appointments and

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    • Never (Ever!) Say This to a New Mom

      You know what never gets old? Being accosted by a complete stranger in the grocery store as you're trying to wheel your cart down the international foods aisle without the baby grabbing and smashing an expensive jar of kalamata olives on the floor.

      "Ohhhh, just look at that little face!" these people squeal. "Enjoy every minute, because they grow up before you know it!"

      By Abigail Green for TheBump.com

      Veer / The BumpOK, I'm lying. This gets very old, very fast. As does the advice - no, demand - to focus on the present, be in the moment and appreciate the little things, because it all goes so fast. People especially love to say this to new moms.

      I know they mean well, but I always wanted to tell these people, "Look, I get that your baby grew up overnight and is now graduating college and you're all sentimental about it, but mine is still an actual baby who gets up multiple times a night and demands attention and nourishment and diaper changes around the clock. So you'll excuse me

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    • Will Your Kids Hate You for What You’re Sharing Online?

      I share a lot of information about my kids online. Of course I think my kids are awesome, funny and adorable and being their mom is so much a part of who I've become that, naturally, I love talking about them. I post status updates, photos and funny quotes to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I blog about my kids on The Bump. I also started a Tumblr to both archive and showcase my son Cooper's amazing writing projects. And last week, I shared his first love note with all 480 of my Facebook friends.

      Shutterstock / The BumpBy Lori Richmond for TheBump.com

      His kindergarten classmate Janie (name changed to protect the child whose mother may not be an over-sharer) wrote him THE MOST AMAZING love note, ever. She told him everything she loved him more than. She drew pictures of them holding hands. She was so excited to give it to him. It was delightful, delicious and memorable and my knee-jerk reaction was, "OMG I totally have to post about this amazing thing on Facebook!" So, I did.

      Are you

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    • The 4 Commandments Every New Mom Needs to Follow

      This may not be the list you expected to see…

      I'm not going to tell you how or where your baby should sleep, what the best remedy is for a gassy babe, if or when you should try crying it out, or even the best baby products for your new child. Even though there are a lot of things I won't tell you, there are still 4 important new mom commandments you must follow in order to keep functioning as a new mom:

      By Jayne @ The Naptime Organizer for TheBump.com

      Veer / The Bump

      1. Don't sit down.

      No, really! When your child finally goes to sleep somewhere other than in your arms, do not sit down. With my first child, I often made the mistake of thinking, "I'll just watch TV and veg out for a few minutes of me time." Which was great, but then a half hour later my son was waking back up, and I hadn't peed, showered, or eaten anything - all of which I had intended to do during the nap. When your child falls asleep or you are able to put them down, immediately do the quick things you want

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