Having a baby and making the transition to parenthood is a very complicated process. I say this from both my professional perspective as a family counselor, and my own experience as a father of a 10 and 14 year old. With all the various pressures on young families, often there is not enough time or energy for parents to have the sexual contact one or both partners desire.

Our baby just had her first birthday, and my husband and I are getting along OK, but the problem is he's really frustrated that we almost never make love because I usually feel too tired and "touched-out" when we finally get to bed.

If you have experienced problems in becoming sexually excited, you can actually do a lot to help yourself to sexual arousal with the following program of action steps. If they do not help, it's a sign that you may need sex therapy with a professional to make sex work for both of you.

It is common for couples to wonder whether sex is safe when they discover they are pregnant. Unless your health care provider advises you otherwise, sex during pregnancy is safe for both you and your baby.

Pregnancy is a time of many changes for both partners, including changes in their sexual relationship. You and your partner may experience different emotions and feelings, so communication is as important now as always.

First of all, relax. This isn't an official motherhood exam designed to assess your fitness for motherhood. It's just for fun-a chance to test your knowledge of pregnancy and babies before you find yourself being put to the test for real.... Here goes.

QUESTION

Dear Lactation Consultant,
I am 6 weeks away from having my first child. I am a black woman age 26, and I am starting to develop some milk I guess, because my breasts are swelling a little now and leaking just a little, is that normal to start developing milk at this point in my pregnancy? How much milk should I be developing between now and my babies birth?