Breast milk for adults, a parental stress experiment & more

Hey -,

🥛 Why is the Food Network writing about colostrum? The rich breast milk produced by a pregnant woman’s body as early as 16 weeks (to be consumed by newborns in the first days after birth) is known as “liquid gold” for good reason: it’s packed with nutrients. The recent story echoes what news outlets reported earlier this year: colostrum supplements sourced from cows are hitting the shelves—for adult consumption. All of which may leave some wondering, “Do they work?” or even, “Should I breastfeed my husband or partner?” (Remember when Kourtney Kardashian Barker downed a glass of breast milk to ward off illness?)

🏅 Did your hospital make the honor roll? US News & World Report just released its annual guide to the best medical institutions, which includes a list of the best for ob-gyn care. 

💆‍♀️ Is coconut oil part of your beauty regimen yet? The popular natural cure-all, which is safe for nearly a dozen healthy and curative uses during pregnancy, is cementing its life-hack status on TikTok with a “new” use rooted in Ayurvedic tradition.

WHAT IF…

Photo by: Brandi Ceci

VOX 

Can more money make parents less stressed?

Researchers decided to find out by giving families $4,000 a year with no restrictions. The funds didn’t seem to impact whether a child was, say, breastfed or enrolled in daycare. As for the cash’s effect on cortisol levels…

HOT TOPIC

The mental load: reframing the problem & restoring balance

According to gender expert Kate Mangino, one of the latest guests on the “We Can Do Hard Things” podcast, two-parent households haven’t changed much since the mid-80s: one parent typically owns a third of the chores while the other owns the rest.  

In the episode, Mangino turns the usual mental load narrative on its head a bit—explaining that the person not carrying the mental load is actually missing out (!); and that the person carrying the mental load might want to step back and create space for their partner to help. She shares helpful tips, too, like approaching conflicts with “let’s figure this out together!” instead of “you’re doing it wrong!”

If this resonates, you may be interested in this free guide to Welcoming a Child Into the Home from our friends at Fair Play, who have made waves in this space for helping parents rebalance household tasks.

And if you missed it, here’s how to communicate with your partner when you’re short on sleep. (We’ll just leave these guided meditations for sleep here, too.)

IN HER WORDS

Photo by: Heather Sten

VOGUE

She didn’t tell anyone she was pregnant for six months. “They just thought I was drunk.”

Actor Alexandra Daddario opens up about the “complicated feelings” of expecting after loss and her new Reddit addiction (hello, mom message boards!). The story’s photographs are A+ maternity shoot inspo, too.

SAFETY FIRST

Photo by: LM Otero/AP

THE WASHINGTON POST

What to know about being pregnant in extreme heat.

Some women, including those in the third trimester, are more vulnerable than others. These are the potential risks and how to avoid them. (You'll be asked for an email address in order to view this free article.)

MIND GAMES

Illustration: Emma Kumer

THE WASHINGTON POST

Overwhelmed by parenting advice? It’s definitely a sign of the times.

“There has never been a shortage of parental worry… But now…if you’re a parent (especially a mother) on social media, the myriad instructions and expectations online can coalesce into an inescapable, ambient drone.”

3 more things

🤢 Hyperemesis gravidarum: meet the mother behind the forthcoming cure

👟 Exercising: learn why you shouldn’t work out daily (related: fitness 101 for every mom stage, whether you’re trying to conceive, pregnant, or postpartum)

👗 Getting dressed: embrace life’s chaos (coffee stains, wrinkled tops, and all) with this summer style trend

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