Despite the known benefits of exercise in pregnancy, I am continually asked one specific question by friends and patients. Is childbirth going to be easier because I am working out? One factor that has a negative impact on the length of labor and can be modified by routine exercise in pregnancy, especially in first-time moms, is a higher maternal weight at the time of delivery1. In other words, routine exercise can limit the possibility of excessive maternal weight gain during pregnancy and potentially shorten the first stage of labor....

It raises the question: Does lotion ever, uh, go bad? And if so, when? Read on for all the details. However, expiration dates can differ depending on the product, so be sure to check the label each time. For instance, lightweight hydrators tend to be water-based to achieve a thinner consistency—and as you may know, water creates a fertile breeding ground for bacteria. While most market products do include safe preservatives to make the formula shelf-stable, they still typically have a shorter lifespan....

We spoke with nutrition experts to help answer all your protein and weight gain questions. “Eating protein earlier in the day, such as at breakfast, increases satiety,” says Don Layman, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “The main effects on appetite appear to be reduced snacking between meals and at night.” Gabrielle Lyon, D.O., a functional medicine physician and the founder of the Institute for Muscle-Centric Medicine, tells mindbodygreen, “Protein can stabilize your blood sugar by preventing insulin spikes....

Sure, you can use well-formulated, natural conditioners, oil treatments, and masks to improve texture and disguise hair issues temporarily, but that stuff is akin to using makeup to improve the appearance of your skin — eventually they’ll wash out and you’ll be left with the original problem. To understand damaged hair, it’s important to know how hair works1. Most hair is made of three layers: the inner fiber called the medulla, the middle layer called the cortex, and an outer layer called the cuticle....

A TENS unit consists of an electrical signal generator, a battery and a set of electrodes (adhesive pads). In order to understand how TENS units affect pain, we spoke with experts to dive deeper into the neurophysiologic mechanisms of pain control. Below, learn more about who these devices are good for, and find our picks for the best TENS units for back pain. These machines are battery-powered, with small electrodes that are placed on your skin, either where you have pain or on corresponding trigger points....

Maybe you simply suspect your new partner or fresh Tinder honey might be emotionally unavailable. Here’s what you need to know about how to spot an emotionally unavailable person. Licensed psychotherapist Pam Shaffer, MFT, adds that being emotionally unavailable often reflects a lack of emotional depth. “It doesn’t mean that something is wrong with you, but it may mean that you are using your emotional bandwidth to cope with your own feelings or circumstances, so you don’t have enough to necessarily tune into another person,” she explains....

Narcissistic personality disorder involves a pattern of selfish, arrogant, and often manipulative behavior. A narcissist typically operates with a superiority complex and almost never shows empathy. Trying to co-parent after a breakup with someone like this won’t be an easy feat. “Narcissists do not leave relationships on good terms, and they’ll often burn the emotional house down on their way out the door,” explains licensed clinical social worker Kimberly Perlin, LCSW....