Blog Posts by TheBump.com

Think you know everything about breastfeeding? Not until you read these (surprising!) facts.

By Elena Donovan Mauer for TheBump.com

Thinkstock / The Bump

1. Who needs the gym? The metabolic energy needed to breastfeed a baby each day is the amount you'd use to walk seven miles.

2. It's not always easy to learn, but it is instinctual. Newborns held skin-to-skin in the first hour or two after birth may push their way toward mom's breast and start feeding on their own.

The worst breastfeeding advice ever!

3. Liquid gold. Human milk is sold on the Internet for $4 per ounce. That's about 262 times the price of oil.

4. You're probably a righty. Almost three-quarters of moms produce more milk with their right breast (and it has nothing to do with being right-handed).

5. Distinctive scent. Breastfed babies can practically pick their moms out of a lineup based on smell alone.

6. Know your nipple. Breast milk sprays out of many holes, not just one. The exact number varies from mom to mom.

7. Bigger isn't

So the spontaneous trips to the beach (to make out!) or a chic restaurant (for a long, slow meal) are over. (Don't worry -- that's temporary.) Here are some ways you can still have romance while you've got a new baby -- and they don't all require a sitter.

By Sarah Yang for TheBump.com

Thinkstock / The Bump

Indoor Picnic
This one's for all our friends who live in apartment buildings. (Of course, if you have a real yard, you can have an outdoor picnic -- just bring the baby monitor with you outside!) Even if you can't get a sitter, you can make a meal feel special by rolling out a blanket on the living room floor after baby goes to bed. Cook (or order) your favorite meal, turn on some mood music, light some candles and pour some wine. Even though you're hanging out at home instead of hitting the town, an indoor picnic can feel really special and intimate.

Rev up your sex life after baby!

Staycation
We know, we know -- you're not ready to leave baby overnight yet. But definitely take the grandparents up

It's far-fetched but here's why it might be worth a shot.

By Sarah Yang for TheBump.com

Getty Images / The Bump

In news that's sure to excite your partner, a psychologist is theorizing that the cause of -- and cure for -- morning sickness is none other than your baby's father. More specifically, his semen.

According to Slate, Gordon Gallup, a psychology professor at SUNY-Albany, argues that since half of a baby's genetic makeup belongs to its father, it's possible that a woman's body treats that DNA as a foreign substance. So the mother experiences an immune reaction that involves vomiting and nausea, the same way it would if she'd caught a virus. Luckily, Gallup feels that the cause and the cure are both one and the same: (you guessed it) semen.

Pregnancy sex myths -- busted!

Although the theory has yet to be tested (read: it's nowhere near proven), Gallup speculates that to prevent symptoms of nausea during the first trimester, a woman should frequently expose herself to her partner's semen in order to

No, you don't have to say good-bye to your dog or cat once you have a baby, but you do have to take some safety precautions. Take notes -- these steps are super-important for pet/baby harmony.

By Lisa Milbrand for TheBump.com

Thinkstock/The Bump

Introduce them slowly
Your pet sees your home as his turf, so don't expect him to immediately accept your baby into it. "It can take two to three months for a dog to accept a new animal into a home, so you should assume the same for an infant," says Sam Basso, a professional dog trainer and behaviorist in the Phoenix area.

Ease the transition by introducing them slowly -- this can help head off territorial behavior. "Greetings are extremely important for a dog to distinguish welcome visitors from unwelcome intruders," says Basso. Start by bringing the dog to a neutral place, far from his territory -- like a local park -- and letting him sniff the baby's blanket, and showing the baby to him. Once your dog seems comfortable, you can move to step two, which is

We're obsessed with babies, and after reading these amazing reasons why, you will be too.

By Lissa Poirot and Sarah Yang for TheBump.com

Thinkstock / The Bump

1. They survive with holes in their skulls
You know those soft spots on baby's head? There are actually two "holes," one at the back of the head and the other at the top, called the fontanels. Baby's skull isn't fully united at first so he can make that trek down the birth canal. The soft spots are a little freaky in the beginning, but they close up -- the one at the back within two to six months and the one on the top by about 18 months.

2. They can turn a cynical person into a pile of mush
You might have a friend who's the most stoic person ever. But when he meets your baby, he's oohing, aahing and busting out his high-pitched voice with the rest of us.

Funny ways kids say "I love you"

3. They have incredible brains
During the first few years of life, an infant's brain nearly triples in size. Not only is your baby's brain going through a weight

It's his first Father's Day and we've rounded up awesome gift ideas to make him feel like he's the best baby daddy ever.

By Sarah Yang for TheBump.com

Man Bag
Photo Courtesy of the Manufacturer
Trust us, he doesn't want to carry around a floral or girly diaper bag. Give him this manly messenger bag from Diaper Dude so he can blend in with the other guys. $98, DiaperDude.com

Top 10 things every dad should know

Graphic Tee
Photo Courtesy of the Manufacturer
This T-shirt might turn diaper changing into a proud accomplishment for your guy. $15, Etsy.com

Baby Carrier
Photo Courtesy of the Manufacturer
He's going to need a manly baby carrier when he's hanging out and running errands with baby. Get him the newest BabyBjorn carrier, the Miracle. It's high-tech enough to appeal to his geeky side. $128, Amazon.com

"Before I had babies, I never appreciated…."

Handheld Vacuum
Photo Courtesy of the Manufacturer
Our dad blogger, JD Roberto, recommends all new dads get a cordless hand vacuum to deal with all the crazy messes. Why not splurge on this sleek Dyson? Bonus: It looks more like a power tool than a vacuum, so he'll actually

If you're trying to get pregnant -- and you're telling people you are -- you'll probably hear a wide range of advice on how to make it happen. But don't believe it all.

By Laura Schocker for TheBump.com

Thinkstock / The Bump

You're past the annoying "So, when are you two going to try for a baby?" question -- now come the tips on trying to conceive. We asked Bumpies to vent about the worst TTC advice they've ever heard -- from the depressing ("Relax!") to the weird (post-coital headstands) to the downright funny ("We're supposed to do what with a turkey baster?). Read on for some of your most outrageous answers.

"Just get drunk and you'll get pregnant!" Right because I HAVE to be intoxicated for the sperm to know where it's going. Thanks! -- Jewlz018

Sex ed for baby-making

"Just relax and it will happen". When someone tells me this, I feel like it's almost a slap in the face. -- youngin12

"Try not to take a big poo after ovulating. You'll push everything out." Obviously… -- rrcraz7

"When you sign up to

Here's some gifts you'll actually want for Mother's Day. Start leaving some hints now.

By Sarah Yang for TheBump.com

Initial Necklace
Courtesy of the Manufacturer / The Bump
Maybe you said you'd never wear anything like this, but now that you're a parent, you know you want some sweet "mom jewelry." This branch with "leaves" for each of your kids' initials is pretty freaking adorable. $30 at Etsy.com

Funny ways kids say "I love you"

Stylish iPad Case
Courtesy of the Manufacturer / The Bump
Dress up your iPad with this way-too-adorable Kate Spade case. $50 at KateSpade.com

Artsy Portable Speakers
Courtesy of the Manufacturer / The Bump
Take a dance party wherever you go with this colorful iPod speaker. $24 at CWonder.com

Monogrammed Coffee Cup
Courtesy of the Manufacturer / The Bump
The only "me" time you have all day long might be over your morning cup of coffee. These mugs are pretty, girlie and have your initial -- so you can tell everyone else "hands off!" $8 each at Anthropologie.com

The best advice your mom ever gave you

Fragrant Candles
Courtesy of the Manufacturer / The Bump
If you want to get away but can't really hop on a plane to Capri or Acapulco right now, try a