Best Of The Web

04.13.12 The online buzz for moms-to-be

• Safety groups finds that car makers are largely ignoring design standards that would make car seats easier to install. Head over to our How to Install A Car Seat page to see step-by-step photo instructions plus links to other resources.

• The challenges of modern motherhood have been at the center of a partisan political battle this week. As our Work & Mom blogger has shown us in her recent posts: Being a working mom is anything but easy no matter what your circumstances.

• A "super surrogate" in North Dakota who has given birth to 15 babies says she's "retiring" her uterus. Whether you're just considering starting a family or you've been trying for a while, our complete guide to conception on our How to Get Pregnant page can help you.

• The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a voluntary recall of Rockland Furniture drop-side cribs, which were sold exclusively at JC Penney. Browse through our Recalls page for more items recently pulled from store shelves for safety reasons.

• Our friends at LilSugar look at 10 milestones to celebrate during your baby's first six weeks. Check out our New Mom Milestones page to see your own set of "firsts" to strive for as a new mom.

• A new study has found a link between autism and a mom's obesity during pregnancy. Federal officials are currently debating whether very heavy women should put on fewer pounds than doctors now recommend.

• Hospitals in the U.S. are feeling the pressure from health groups to end formula freebies. Rhode Island recently joined the list of states to ban unsolicited baby formula at hospitals.

• One writer writes about her "pregnancy rebellion" of having her hair colored while expecting. Our Safety First page offers a helpful guide of beauty treatments and products that will help you fret less when you're expecting.

• More women are having their first child at age 35 or older and not stopping with one child, a new study says. Our Ask the Labor Nurse blogger talks about her experience with being an older mom.

• Celebrity mom-to-be Vanessa Lachey defends fellow star moms and says they're just following their own instincts like everyone else. Head over to our Star Moms section for more articles, photos and videos on the moms in Hollywood who are ready to pop.

• Joy over at the Oh Joy! blog talks about the frustration of "mom brain," which she thought was a myth until it happened to her. Fit Pregnancy previously reported on a study that found love actually makes a new mom's brain bigger.

— Maria Vega is Fit Pregnancy magazine's copy editor.