I vividly remember those first few months of feeding my daughter: I was exhausted after premature labor, a C-section, and then a two-week stay in intensive care. Once home, my husband and I would take turns feeding her at night, and I’m sure I accidentally closed my eyes once or twice while in the highchair. Even if only for a minute or two, it’s scary – but common. In fact, 28% of new moms report falling asleep while feeding, according to a recent study published in Pediatrics.

“It’s really important for moms to know that the likelihood of falling asleep while breastfeeding, especially when they’re breastfeeding, is very, very high,” study researcher Fern Hauck, MD. he told BabyCenter. “That means the babies are in a potentially dangerous situation.” The risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) is higher when babies are in an unsafe sleeping environment (which could be the case if a parent falls asleep where they are feeding).

The good news is that there are ways to prevent napping while feeding. dr. Hauck, a family medicine practitioner and professor of public health sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, shares how to arrange your space for optimal safety and what to do if you’re having trouble staying awake.

How common is it to fall asleep while feeding your baby?

More than a quarter of new moms (28% to be exact) said they fell asleep while feeding at some point in the past few weeks. The research included 1,250 mothers with babies aged 2 to 3 months. Of the moms who said they fell asleep, 83% said they did it by accident.

And overall, it’s probably much more common than this study even suggests, says Dr. Hauck. “We surveyed moms over a period of two to three weeks, but I bet if you ask moms over a longer period of time, even more will say yes, they fell asleep.”

It’s really important for moms to know that the likelihood of falling asleep while breastfeeding, especially when breastfeeding, is very, very high.

– Fern Hauck, MD

How to feed your baby safely when you are tired

It’s normal to feel tired after giving birth, and getting comfortable nursing your baby actually releases oxytocin, which can help you feel relaxed – and therefore sleepy.

But there are ways to make nighttime feedings safer for you and your baby, says Dr. Hauck.

• Feed your baby on a firm mattress. “The data shows that in terms of SIDS and suffocation risk, there is a much higher risk of infant death on the surface of a couch or sofa,” says Dr. Hauck. Compared to a firm mattress, a chair provides much less room for your baby to move around. They can fall or slip into a crack, which can cause them to become trapped or suffocate. “There’s more room in the bed in case you fall asleep,” she adds.

  Before feeding in bed, remove any pillows that may be nearby and remove heavy comforters and all loose bedding (such as blankets), advises Dr. Hauck, specializing in Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUIDS), including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

• Let your baby sleep in your room for the first six months, advises the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Whether they’re in a crib, stroller, or pack and play, ideally their sleeping environment should be right next to you, making it easier (and more convenient) for you to feed them. It is important to note that while the AAP recommends room sharing for babies, not recommended the bed sharing.
• Have ongoing conversations with your pediatrician. “Doctors should ask where you put your baby to sleep at night, how he’s doing, and whether or not you’re having any difficulties,” says Dr. Hauck. That way, you’ll feel comfortable sharing your current situation and asking the question “It’s essential to have open communication with your child’s doctor.”

How to avoid falling asleep while feeding

After accidentally dozing off for a few minutes, I remember waking up and thinking that I would do everything possible to stay awake next time. Here are the tips and strategies of Dr. How to stay alert:

• Have someone with you while you feed: If you have a partner or someone else helping you at home, have them stay awake while you feed – and check on you from time to time. “If mom is feeding and they go to sleep, the partner can take the baby and put the baby in their safe space, or help keep mom awake, talk to her, entertain her, and be involved,” says Dr. Hauck. You can also have your partner pick up the baby when you’re done feeding, so they can burp and change the baby while you sleep.
• Set a timer: dr. Hauck says many moms talk about setting timers for about 20 minutes. “They’ll set an alarm on their phone and if they do fall asleep towards the end of the feed, it will wake them up so they can put their baby back in the crib or bassinet.” You can use the alarm function of your phone or any smart home device.
• Watch the show or listen to the podcast: I was watching drunk working moms, listened to a LOTS of podcasts, and shopped online during late night shows. for shows, BabyCenter VAT I swear Office, Gilmore Girls, New girland Modern family. And for podcasts, many recommend Smartless (one of my favorites too), A toast, True Crimeand Morbid.

If you do fall asleep while feeding your baby, immediately put him back in the cradle or crib as soon as you realize it, advises Dr. Hauck. And don’t beat yourself up – we’re all doing the best we can in the first few months.

With its stunning sets, beautiful costumes, soaring songs and excellent characterizations, this dazzling musical adaptation will delight legions of musical fans. Wicked is unbelievably true to its Broadway origins, from Grande’s many exaggerated ruffles and hair flips as Galinda to Er’s spine-chilling take on Elphaba’s “Defying Gravity.” Yes, there are a few changes, but they’re unlikely to piss anyone off; instead, they offer an opportunity for a bit more story development and the addition of a few new memorable characters.

What quibbles there are are minor: most of the actors aren’t very believable as students, the opening moments of Bailey’s “Dance Through Life” are a bit awkward, and Goldblum somehow always plays a variation on Jeff Goldblum, no matter what he’s in. And there’s no denying that some of the scenes near the end are downright scary (you always seem to go back to the flying monkeys in the Oz movies!). But the story’s themes of friendship and not letting others define who you are are powerful, and the two stars are incredible, living up to the expectations of even the most ardent fans of the musical’s original stars, Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. Grande perfectly portrays Erivo during “Popular,” Erivo conveys every iota of Elphaba’s hope that she finally belongs in “The Wizard and Me,” and the scene where Galinda rescues Elphaba on the Ozdust Ballroom dance floor is a beautiful moment of empathy and connection. Just be prepared for the kids to jump a few times, and prepare them for the fact that this is only the first part of Galinda and Elphaba’s story: The conclusion is reserved for Wicked: Part 2.

Stickers can end up in all sorts of places where they don’t belong, from stark white walls to shiny wooden floors and everywhere in between. And once a sticker sticks, it can prove quite difficult to remove (and its sticker residue).

But don’t worry: there are easy ways to peel off even the most stubborn stickers, and some of them use ingredients or materials you probably already have. Here’s how to remove stickers in 10 easy ways.

Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest hacks, expert tips and more!

Prenatal tests are no fun, but they are an important part of pregnancy. And the NIPT test is one that some moms-to-be actually look forward to. With just a blood draw, NIPT can reveal your baby’s gender and give you useful information about your baby’s chances of having a chromosomal disorder.

What is NIPT?

NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) is a blood test used to screen for Down syndrome and several other chromosomal conditions. It is also known as a cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screen, as it tests the small amount of DNA that is released from the placenta into the mother’s bloodstream.

The American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that all patients, regardless of risk, be offered genetic screening options, including NIPT.

There are different brands of NIPT tests, and not all tests do the same thing. Brands include Harmony Test, Panorama Test, Materni T21, and Vistara Single-Gene NIPT. Your doctor or genetic counselor can help you decide what’s best for you, depending on the condition you want your baby to be screened for.

“As a screening test, nothing beats NIPT,” says Layan Alrahmani, MD, a board-certified gynecologist and member of BabyCenter’s medical advisory board.

Advantages of NIPT

NIPT is a simple procedure that provides a lot of useful information.

As a screening test, nothing beats NIPT.

– Layan Alrahmani, MD, board certified specialist in gynecology and maternal-fetal medicine

There are several good reasons why this is such a popular test:

• It is not invasive. A simple blood draw at your regular prenatal check-up is all you need.
• It is perfectly safe for you and your baby and carries none of the potential risks of some other tests. (Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) carry a small risk of miscarriage, for example.)
• Although you’ll need follow-up testing to confirm positive results, negative results provide a high degree of accuracy—and certainty—for several conditions.
• It is available very early in pregnancy, at 10 weeks
• It is available until delivery
• Results are obtained quickly (within a few weeks, often sooner)
• If you want to know, a test can tell you whether you’re having a girl or a boy

Although it is offered to all women, not all benefit from NIPT. Some worry that a false positive could cause unnecessary worry and stress, while others say that because they will have a baby regardless of the test results, there is little reason to have one.

“I have two children, 4 and 2.5 years old, and I’ve never finished either of them,” she says BabyCenter Community mom Crissybee18.

Others want to know as much as possible before their baby arrives. “Personally, I think it’s important to understand if there is a potential problem with the baby so that they can get the best care right away from a care team that is prepared for their specific problem,” says Community Member AngryLittleGoat.

Some women at higher risk of having a baby with a chromosomal disorder may find negative NIPT results very reassuring. This includes women over 35, women who have had another baby with a chromosomal disorder, and women with worrying results on other prenatal tests.

Is the NIPT test accurate?

NIPT is accurate, but keep in mind that it is a screening test, not a diagnostic test. This means that the results cannot say for sure whether your baby has the chromosomal condition or not.

“Screening tests are used to assess whether your fetus is at higher or lower risk for a particular condition,” ACOG explains. A “normal” NIPT result does not guarantee a healthy baby, and an “abnormal” result does not mean your baby has a particular condition.

However, when testing for the main conditions (see below), the NIPT test is very accurate – especially if you get a negative result.

For example, when testing for trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), the accuracy of a negative test result is 99.5%. If you get a negative result, there is less than a 1% chance that your baby has Down syndrome.

For trisomy 18, the accuracy of a negative result is 97.7%, and for trisomy 13 it is 96.1%. If you get a negative result for these conditions, there’s a good chance the test is correct and you can feel pretty confident that you don’t need further testing.

However, if you get a positive result, the accuracy is less reliable. This means you could get a “false positive” result which would be worrying and could prompt you to get further testing. For trisomy 21, the chance of a positive result being correct ranges from 33% to 83%. (The range of accuracy is slightly lower for trisomy 18 and trisomy 13.) You are more likely to get a false positive if you are at low risk of having a child with the chromosomal condition.

Amniocentesis and CVS are the only two tests used to diagnose Down syndrome and other chromosomal conditions prenatally, so if NIPT indicates a possible problem, experts recommend these tests.

Occasionally (1% to 5% of the time) the test does not produce a result, possibly due to insufficient fetal DNA in the sample taken.

NIPT may not produce a result for you if:

• You are obese (have a BMI of 30 or higher)
• Multiple pregnancies
• Are you pregnant as a result of IVF
• You are taking certain blood thinners

Your provider can review your options with you if this happens. You may want to do the test again later, for example, or your doctor may recommend an amnio or CVS.

How does the NIPT test work?

For NIPT, your blood is drawn and your blood sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis. The test counts DNA fragments from your placenta that circulate in your blood, so it contains cells from you and your pregnancy. These fragments are free-floating and not inside cells, so they are called cell-free DNA.

By examining the chromosomes (the part of cells that contain genes), doctors can determine whether your baby is more likely to have certain disorders. There are usually two copies of a chromosome. If one of the pairs has an extra chromosome, it is called a trisomy. For example, Down syndrome is also called trisomy 21 because there is an extra copy of chromosome 21.

Along with all this chromosome testing, NIPT can also tell you the gender of your baby. Make it clear to your provider whether you want this information disclosed to you when you receive your results.

It usually takes a week or two to get NIPT results.

What does NIPT screen for?

The main requirements for NIPT screens are:

• Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)
• Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome)
• Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome)
• Common sex chromosome conditions, such as Klinefelter syndrome and Turner syndrome
  

  I think it’s important to understand if there is a potential problem with the baby so that she gets the best care right away.

  – BabyCenter Community mom AngryLittleGoat

Some labs can screen for several other conditions as well, if you choose. In many cases, the results of these tests are much less accurate than those for the conditions listed above – so if you’re concerned about the conditions below, you may prefer to have an amnio or CVS.

Additional tests may include:

• Trisomy 16
• Trisomy 22
• Triploidy
• Aneuploidy of sex chromosomes
• Certain disorders caused by small deletions of chromosomes (microdeletion syndrome)
• Certain single gene disorders

Conditions no which NIPT reviews include:

Again, NIPT only screens for some chromosomal conditions. CVS and amnio, on the other hand, can diagnose almost all chromosomal abnormalities. They can also be used to screen for any of several hundred genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis.

NIPT can also be used to check Rh blood type. Rh is a protein found in red blood cells. If you have the protein, you are considered Rh positive. If not, then you are Rh negative. If you are Rh negative and your unborn baby is Rh positive, your body’s immune system may attack your baby’s blood cells. If you discover that you are Rh negative, you will be given a RhoGAM injection to prevent your body from making antibodies against your baby’s Rh-positive blood.

How much does NIPT cost?

NIPT costs vary widely, depending on where you live, which test you use, which lab performs the test, and your insurance. Be sure to ask your insurance provider if they cover the cost of NIPT in full or in part.

Some insurance providers will only cover the test if you are considered at high risk of having a baby with a chromosomal problem. Others consider it routine prenatal coverage and cover it in full or in part.

BabyCenter community member taylerg23 says she was low-risk, so her insurance wouldn’t cover the NIPT test. She ended up paying $600 out of pocket.

If you don’t have insurance, out-of-pocket costs for NIPT can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Some manufacturers offer discounted prices for those who qualify for a hardship discount. Ask the billing department at your doctor’s office for help if you think you qualify.