Expecting Parents News

This site was the digital version of MediaPlanet's most eagerly anticipated publications: a unique educational guide to understanding fertility, pregnancy health, and newborn and infant safety. It was launched on March 22, 2013 in partnership with leading bloggers, associations and companies, including Meridian Bioscience, Inc. The print version hit newsstands the same morning within the weekend edition of USA Today. The 12-page special remained on the stands through Saturday and Sunday of that weekend. 'Expecting Parents' was distributed in the highly targeted markets of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago within USA Today, with approximately 450,000 copies and an estimated readership of 1.3 million.

When ExpectingParentsNews.com's domain registration expired this site disappeared from the web. I was one of those targeted readers, an expecting first time parent, and avidly read many of the posts on this website. I was surprised when the site disappeared, although I realize this educational guide was basically a one off. I guess I was hoping that with such a positive response MediaPlanet would expand the guide and keep updating it.

Discovering ExpectingParentsNews.com was a game-changer for me as an expecting mother. The wealth of information on prenatal care and tips for maintaining a healthy pregnancy were both enlightening and reassuring. It was particularly comforting to learn ways to embrace this special time, even amidst the morning discomforts. My Batman sweatshirt, a symbol of strength and a cherished connection with my husband, became my go-to comfort wear. We're both Batman enthusiasts, and this unique bond has brought an added layer of excitement to our pregnancy journey. We plan to wear our Batman sweatshirts as a symbol of strength and unity when welcoming our baby, enveloping our child in love and the indomitable spirit of Batman from day one. This site is a must-read for every pregnant woman, offering a new perspective on pregnancy filled with support, care, and superhero resilience.

Recently I discovered that the domain was available, so I bought it with the goal of recreating some of its original content from archived pages.I definitely didn't want someone else purchasing the domain and re-purposing it for something that had nothing in common with the original website's concept. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PAGE CONTAINS SELECTIVE ARCHIVED CONTENT FROM THE ORIGINAL SITE.

Since the site will not be exactly as you remember it, please be indulgent. I have chosen just a few examples of the posts a reader would find. I hope Mediaplanet will do another similar publication not too far in the future for older children.

Welcome to Expecting Parents News

When the pregnancy test comes back positive, you've already begun a life-altering journey. Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can be very stressful. As the baby grows and changes through each stage of pregnancy, you go through changes, too, in your body, emotions and lifestyle. Every pregnant woman wants to make sure that her baby is healthy. From prenatal care to modifying your diet and exercise habits, staying healthy during your pregnancy will help create peace of mind during this chaotic time. Expecting Parents News aims to celebrate the joys of life and raise awareness about the issues surrounding infertility. In partnership with industry leaders, the site provides readers with educational insight about the resources and solutions necessary to maintain a healthy pregnancy and family.

 

Typical Article Headlines

Prenatal Screening for Birth Defects
Infant Health Many pregnant women have concerns about the health of their unborn child. But prenatal testing can help reduce these concerns.

Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby

Pregnancy Wellness A healthy pregnancy and healthy baby start with a “baby first” mentality.

The Truth About Early Elective Births
Pregnancy Wellness For decades, doctors have been warned about the dangers of delivering babies early without a medical reason. Finally, patients are taking note.

How To Appreciate Your Partner
A push gift demonstrates a deep appreciation for a woman's experience during the pregnancy period, from conception to birth.

Giuliana Rancic's Triumph Over Infertility
TV personality and cancer survivor Giuliana Rancic speaks out about her experience with surrogacy and how being a mom has changed her life.

Cord Blood Banking: The Basics
Mediaplanet sat down with Dr. Jennifer Arnold, MD, MSc, FAAP, a neonatologist at Texas Children’s Hospital, to learn the basics of cord blood banking.

Padma Lakshmi Takes On Endometriosis
Endometriosis is no longer under the medical radar, thanks to the Endometriosis Foundation of America and its passionate co-founder, Padma Lakshmi.

Denise Richards: Being a Parent

Denise Richards shares her experience as a parent and gives some useful advice.

Prenatal Screening for Birth Defects
Many pregnant women have concerns about the health of their unborn child. But prenatal testing can help reduce these concerns.

Molly Sims: Never Too Busy for Family
Model and actress Molly Sims opens up about what it’s like being a working mother and how her second pregnancy is different than her first.

Stacy Keibler: From the Ring to the Playpen
Actress and model Stacy Keibler opens up about the rewards and challenges of being a new mother.

Child Proof 101: Keeping Your Kids Safe and Sound
Keeping your child safe is a top priority. We caught up with Alison Rhodes, better known as Safety Mom, to shed light on how to protect your little one inside the home and out.

39 Weeks is Magic Number for Healthy Babies
More and more births are being scheduled a little early for non-medical reasons. Experts are learning that this can cause problems for both mom and baby.

The Power of Talking About Infertility
Getting Pregnant One in eight American couples has trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy, and 7.4 million women have received some sort of infertility services in their lifetime.

5 Essentials You Need When You’re Expecting
Baby Necessities Be prepared with five basics to have in place before the “big event.”

Building Your Newborn's Wardrobe for the Big Arrival
Baby Necessities Shopping for baby clothing can be a fun experience, but if you're not careful it can also be a very expensive experience.

Budgeting For A New Baby
As you prepare for your new bundle of joy, now is the time to reduce debt, create a realistic spending plan and build your savings.

Cord Blood Banking: The Basics
Cord Blood Mediaplanet sat down with Dr. Jennifer Arnold, MD, MSc, FAAP, a neonatologist at Texas Children’s Hospital, to learn the basics of cord blood banking.

The Value of Saving Umbilical Cord Blood
Cord Blood Knowing your options is essential when it comes to saving your newborn's umbilical cord blood and tissue.

***

The Power of Talking About Infertility

OPENING UP: When you are experiencing infertility, communicating with family and friends can be difficult and challenging.
The Power of Talking About Infertility

One in eight American couples has trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy, and 7.4 million women have received some sort of infertility services in their lifetime.

There is often a lot of secrecy around this remarkably common disease.  Women and their partners often conceal their fertility issues from their closest friends and even their family. The consequences of secrecy—the shame, the sense of failure and humiliation—wreak havoc on people struggling with infertility.

Click here to learn more about the Genesis Group, a full service egg donor and surrogacy agency specializing in hard to find egg donors.

Finding support

"You and your partner do not need to face infertility alone."
It tkes courage to come forward and share something so all-consuming and personal. I have seen the miraculous transformation of women and men who break their silence, who share their story, who seek help, who find community. Many cope by joining an infertility support group. Perhaps one of the most important benefits of participating in a support group is a decreased sense of the isolation so many people feel when they are experiencing infertility. In a support group environment, feelings of anger, depression, guilt and anxiety can be expressed, validated by others and accepted as a normal response to the infertility crisis. When you participate in a support group, not only are you getting emotional support, you are also learning from others and perhaps discovering new ways to build your family that you had not previously considered.   

Sharing your story with other people experiencing infertility is one thing, but telling fertile friends and family is another issue. Of course, it puts you at peril of receiving unwanted advice, such as “just relax, and it will happen” or being asked awkward questions, especially when it involves your private intimate life. But many people will have a sensitive response, and some will even confide struggles you would have never imagined they faced. For those who want to know how they can help you, RESOLVE has a helpful “family and friends” section on its website with resources and advice on how to offer compassionate, nonjudgmental support. You and your partner do not need to face infertility alone.  Get the support you need by utilizing the resources available to you through your doctor, mental health professional, and RESOLVE.

Barbara Collura
President/CEO, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association

[email protected]

***

Child Proof 101: Keeping Your Kids Safe and Sound


Parenting Tips Keeping your child safe is a top priority. We caught up with Alison Rhodes, better known as Safety Mom, to shed light on how to protect your little one inside the home and out.
Alison Rhodes Blogger, SafetyMom.com

BUCKLE UP: A recent study found that 72 percent of observed car and booster seats were misused in a way that could be expected to increase a child’s risk of injury during a crash.

Mediaplanet: How do I know if my car seat is installed properly?
Alison Rhodes: According to statistics, up to 75 percent of car seats are installed improperly. Before you install a car seat, read the manufacturer's instructions and the section on car seats in the vehicle's owner’s manual. Make sure the seat is tightly secured — allowing no more than 1 inch of movement from side to side or front to back when grasped at the bottom near the attachment points — and facing the correct direction. In the rear-facing position, recline the car seat according to the manufacturer's instructions so that your child's head doesn't flop forward. For newborns, place a rolled up receiving alongside the baby’s head to provide support – butnever behind the baby’s neck.

MP: Should bumpers be used in a crib?
AR: In order to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), nothing should be in a crib but a firm-fitting mattress and sheet. Never place pillows, blankets, stuffed animals or bumpers in the crib. To keep you baby warm, either swaddle them or use a sleep sack. Additionally, it is not safe to have your baby sleep in bed with you due to the possibility of rolling over or loose bedding. Instead, use a co-sleeper that will attach to your bed or a bassinet.

MP: What baby proofing do I need to do immediately?
"Too often, parents have the nursery decorated and baby gear selected before the baby arrives, but they don’t consider baby proofing. One of the leading causes of injuries in the home are falls for young and old alike."
AR: Too often, parents have the nursery decorated and baby gear selected before the baby arrives, but they don’t consider baby proofing. One of the leading causes of injuries in the home are falls for young and old alike and, because you can never be sure when your baby will start crawling, being prepared is critical. Baby gates that are hardware mounted (screwed into a stud in the wall) must be placed at the top of any staircase. They should have an automatic locking mechanism and never open out over the stairs. Be sure that there are no tears or holes in carpeting on the stairs and that the treads are covered with a non-slip surface to prevent falls down the stairs as you are carrying your baby.

MP: How do I know if my baby products are safe?
AR: Whether you are receiving an item as a hand-me-down from a friend or relative or you’re purchasing it at a tag sale, be certain that the product hasn’t been recalled. You can sign up on the Consumer Products Safety Commission website to receive e-mails about products that have been recalled. One item that should never be purchased as used is a car seat. Car seats should not be re-used if they have been in a moderate to severe crash, which would be impossible for a parent to know. A used car seat should also be avoided if it has visible cracks or missing parts, has past the expiration date (usually six years) and is missing the label with the model number. Parents should also check whether an item has received the JPMA Safety Certification.

MP: What are some other over-looked safety hazards in the home?
AR: As babies begin to crawl and walk, they will get into everything. Parents often forget to check out their own bedroom, especially nightstands which can contain prescription medications, loose coins, lighters and other dangerous objects. Window cord blinds are other often over-looked items. Almost every month, one child dies from strangulation due to a window cord blind. Even though there are retro-fit kits for cord blinds, it’s best to replace all blinds with a cordless model. Topple over accidents from heavy furniture are another serious concern. Most parents underestimate the possibility of a heavy piece of furniture to topple over but if a child stands on a bottom shelf of a dresser, the weight can easily be displace and fall forward. All furniture should be properly secured to walls.
Staff, [email protected]

***

A Mother's Pursuit of Safety

When Alison Jacobson lost her first child to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in 1997, she could have easily given in to her grief and retreated from life, but that was not an option. 

“My passion and mission was born out of tragedy. While SIDS is unpreventable and unpredictable, accidents are the leading cause of death for children and the majority are completely preventable. I felt if I could help save one child’s life I would have done something in honor of my son, Connor.”

Sharing the message

Known as “The Safety Mom”, Jacobson, invests countless hours as a blogger, nationally recognized family safety and wellness expert, radio host and corporate spokesperson.

“My job is to get the most accurate information out to parents so that they can make the safest choices for their family. I’ve aligned myself with doctors, security professionals and therapists to provide advice and resources,” explains Jacobson, who runs a child safety/baby proofing company based in Connecticut. “Many parents live in denial and don’t believe something could happen to their child until it’s too late.”

Click here to find out how the American Cleaning Institute is helping keep you and your family clean, safe and healthy at home, work and school.

Giving back

Jacobson, whose second-born child has intellectual disabilities, also focuses on issues affecting special needs youth, as well as seniors needing home safety modifications. Whether she’s advising parents to use self-locking baby gates and properly installed car seats or alerting them to the dangers of social media cyber-bullying and driving while texting, she wants every family to be safe.

“If I had the choice between having my son back and doing this, I would choose having my son here. But his short life pushed me along the path that I was meant to be on. My gift is communicating and I want to give back.”

Click here to learn more about the American Cleaning Institute’s vision to enhance health and quality of life through sustainable cleaning products and practices.

Cindy Riley
[email protected]

 

***

Mediaplanet : About Us

We turn interest into action. 

Mediaplanet specializes in the creation of content marketing campaigns released through multimedia platforms. We provide our readers with insightful and educational editorial in the fields of their interest, designed to motivate them to take action. Our unique ability to pair the right leaders, with the right readers, through the right platforms, has made Mediaplanet into a global powerhouse in content marketing. We continue to explore and expand our network of partners and clients through the shared interest of providing our readers the best experience possible.

For more information on advertising with Mediaplanet, please contact us at [email protected]

Mediaplanet New York
3 E 28th Street, Suite 1000, New York, NY 10016
646 922 1400

Mediaplanet San Francisco
24 Taylor Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
415 697 1229

Publishers: Jessica Guggenheimer Caitlin Wade
Business Developer: Nathan Tuchman
Sales Director: Becky Kuperhand
Director: Luciana Olson
Content and Production Manager: Lauren Hubbard
Digital Editorial and Production Assistant: Chad Hensley
Lead Designer: Alana Giordano
Designer: Melanie Finnern

Contributors:
Jennifer Arnold
Barbara Collura
Siobhan Dolan
Genesis Group
Brad Imler
Erik Kaplan
Janet Ozzard
Stephanie Stephens
Rebecca Wiggins

***

ExpectingParentsNews.com