Day: April 22, 2023

While no type of hormonal birth control is 100% foolproof, you might have some questions about how protected you truly are against pregnancy, especially with more and more people on TikTok sharing their low-key scary “I didn’t know I was pregnant” stories.

These #crypticpregnancy stories seem to be taking over social media, with many mamas revealing that they had myriad symptoms but never linked them to pregnancy, for various reasons. Some seem to have had no symptoms at all, unlocking fears in anyone who has wondered whether or not that bloated feeling might actually mean a baby’s on the way.

Accounts of people getting pregnant despite seemingly consistent birth control use can feel terrifying, so Scary Mommy reached out to Dr. Suzy Lipinski, a board-certified OB-GYN at Pediatrix Medical Group, to get the scoop on whether or not you should be stocking up on pregnancy tests just in case your tried-and-true method fails you.

When To Test for Pregnancy

You’re likely well aware by now, but in case it bears repeating, per Lipinski: “No contraceptive method is 100% effective.” But how do you know if something going on in your body is pregnancy-related or not? Lipinski recommends testing at any time “if anything seems out of the ordinary for you and your body.”

“It is challenging with contraceptives that also stop periods as pregnancy may not be as obvious,” she says. “However, if you experience new symptoms like unexplained nausea, extreme fatigue, irregular bleeding, or breast tenderness, taking a pregnancy test is the safest way to rule out pregnancy. Any person on birth control with new onset pelvic pain, especially on only one side, should do a pregnancy test to rule out an ectopic pregnancy. Patients with ectopic pregnancies can also have bleeding, so bleeding doesn’t necessarily mean someone isn’t pregnant.”

These guidelines ring especially true if you’re just starting a new birth control method, even if you’re switching from a different one. “The most likely time to see birth control failures is in the first month of use,” says Lipinski. “If a patient has already ovulated prior to starting the contraceptive, then pregnancy is possible during that first cycle. Some contraceptives need additional time to become effective, so pregnancy in the first few weeks is a risk. When someone is starting a new contraceptive, it is important to discuss backup forms of birth control with their provider.”

The Story With the Shot

One of the common threads among the TikTok stories is that patients were on the Depo-Provera shot, a contraceptive injection given every three months. As Lipinski explains: “Depo-Provera has an efficacy of 99% with perfect use and 96% with average use. This means that even with perfect use, 1 in 100 women will get pregnant in a year of using Depo-Provera.”

So should patients be requesting a pregnancy test before they get their routine shot to ensure they are not, in fact, pregnant? Lipinski says that they’re not required, but there are some reasons why taking an occasional test isn’t the worst idea if you rely on the shot. “The key is that the first Depo-Provera be given within the five days after a period (aka before ovulation),” she explains. “If periods are irregular or there is any question about possible pregnancy, then a pregnancy test should be done before starting it. If someone is further into their cycle, they should wait for the period and use alternate contraceptives. For those with irregular periods, two pregnancy tests two weeks apart with abstinence or additional contraception in between can be effective.”

“Once a patient has started the Depo-Provera — as long as they’re on time for each subsequent shot — then additional pregnancy tests are not necessary. Follow-up Depo-Provera shots should be given 10-13 weeks apart. If you receive the shot late, then pregnancy testing is necessary. One caveat is that Depo-Provera is most effective in patients who weigh less than 150 pounds. For those above this weight, Depo-Provera may be less effective, and additional pregnancy tests may be needed.” Yep, while it’s absolute garbage that certain contraceptive methods don’t protect patients over a certain weight, it’s crucial information to know if it’s your birth control method of choice.

Efficacy of Other Birth Control Methods

Before you panic, breathe easy knowing that most birth control methods on the block today really are highly effective at preventing pregnancy. “IUDs have a higher efficacy at >99%, but a small number of patients will still get pregnant each year,” says Lipinski. “Compare this efficacy to no birth control, and 85% of patients will get pregnant in a year. With condoms alone, about 20 patients in 100 will get pregnant within a year, and with traditional birth control, 3-10 people in 100 will get pregnant.”

As with any body-related concerns you might have, Lipinski strongly recommends discussing your options with your doctor. “When deciding on a birth control choice, you should discuss any other health issues and/or lifestyle factors that may interrupt use and personal preferences to find the contraceptive that best fits your needs.” Having a couple of extra tests on hand is never a bad idea, either, and you should always listen to your body. If something doesn’t feel right or you have new, unexplained symptoms, you deserve care and the appropriate treatment that works best for you.

Now that Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are officially morning talk show cohosts on a major network, it may be harder for their kids to avoid any of those cringey moments their mom and dad tend to share on social media.

Ripa and Consuelos, both 52, have never shied away from detailing some pretty intimate moments in their marriage — including Ripa’s recent admission that she and her hubby participated in FaceTime sex during the pandemic — much to the chagrin of their kids, sons Michael, 25, and Joaquin, 20, and daughter Lola, 21.

However, if Ripa’s suspicions are right, the acting couple’s kids might not even be aware of just how open and honest their parents can be with the media. “I’m pretty sure they’ve blocked us,” Ripa told E! News.

“When you have a news feed and it says, ‘Suggest more or suggest this, like this or block this channel,’ I’m certain they have blocked any channel with any mention of our names. Just like they block us on social media. They block us any way they can.”

She said that she understood the move by the her kids, noting that it was their way of “self-preservation.”

She then joked that the kids are so far removed from their parent’s online presence that they might not even know the husband and wife duo are now hosting Live! together.

“They’re in a whole ‘nother subculture,” she said. “They’re like, ‘What do you mean? What are you guys doing?’ They have no idea.”

Though they might not be privy to the ins and outs of their parents’ personal lives, Ripa did note that the kids’ asked for their personal lives to be left out of any public conversations on the show.

“Each kid, through different periods of time in their lives, go through a stage like, ‘Don’t talk about us or I’d rather not be a subject,’” Consuelos added. “We respect that.”

Though the kids probably won’t be making any appearances on Live with Kelly and Mark, the hosts appreciate that their kids are supportive of the new undertaking.

“They don’t really pay attention to what we’re doing,” Ripa said. “They’re just happy that mom and dad are finding ways to pass the time since they’ve left the house.”

The married couple of 26 years kicked off Live with Kelly and Mark today, with Ripa noting that the new launch was “the beginning of a new chapter” with Consuelos “joining me today — and permanently, until one of us dies.”

A Florida Superintendent channeled his inner Swiftie when he sent out a video and written statement to Hillsborough students who were planning to skip school this past weekend for the Taylor Swift concert in Tampa.

Hillsborough Superintendent Addison Davis wrote a lengthy statement using Taylor Swift song titles to make sure his students really got the message that no absences would be approved for Eras Tour related excuses.

By including 27 songs from most of Taylor’s albums, Davis hit practically every “era” Swift journeys through during her show.

“There’s a Delicate situation we must discuss. Are you Ready For It? I understand there is a rather big concert taking place in Tampa this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday,” Davis began.

“In my Wildest Dreams, I never thought I’d be sending a communication saying this, however, This is Me Trying to be the best Superintendent I can be without creating any Bad Blood between myself and our amazing students.”

“Students, You Need to Calm Down. Under no circumstances will Friday be an excused absence because you were having an Enchanted evening under the Starlight at Raymond James Stadium. I understand I am the Anti-Hero here, and Call It What You Want, but You’re On Your Own Kid if you think being a Swiftie is a good excuse for missing important instruction. You know All Too Well you Should’ve Said No to attending a Thursday night concert. Especially one from an artist who is known for putting on a 3-hour amazing show,” Davis wrote in part.

“You may think you’re Out of the Woods since it is the fourth quarter, but make no mistake, if you miss an important lesson, you will not be able to Shake it Off. Your report card could be Treacherous because you refused to Stay, Stay, Stay in class. I know, I know, You’re Not Sorry for attending such a Gorgeous concert, but I promise you, this is not a Hoax.”

He added by saying, “All You Had To Do Was Stay in class. I hope there is not a Blank Space in your seat on Friday morning. It could be a Cruel Summer if you prioritize being a Swiftie over being in class. You Belong With Me, Me!, in school.”

This hilarious message was not just something that Superintendent Davis was presented with to deliver by some of his younger colleagues. He’s actually a Swiftie himself.

“This was our idea, in Communications.” Davis’ media director Tanya Arja told the Tampa Bay Times. Then she added, “Of course he loves Taylor Swift.”

His love for the mega pop star did bring up a conflict of interest for the district head. Arja said that this message to students was the best way he could think of to show his love for T-Swift but also stay firm with school rules.

“Of course he wants kids in class,” Arja said. “But this is a fun thing. He knows it’s a big thing going on in Tampa this week. It’s just a fun little thing we did.”

While most appreciated the lighthearted message, others responded to the school district’s note with a bit of criticism over the strict nature of the underlying message. “HARD STOP. Kids have had a rough couple of years. I hope they go to the show and have the best night ever,” one user wrote.

“Please don’t. Let kids have a night to be kids. They’ve lost so much in the pandemic; don’t take more away from them. And I say this as an educator. Kids miss school all the time for so many reasons and I always get them caught back up. Life is bigger than the classroom,” another echoed.

There are many traditions that my late mother practiced that I have carried into my own family, like the way she always gave me a card on Valentine’s Day and how she celebrated Christmas for a month, long before anyone else. But there are also many things she did that I’ve happily left behind. Like, reusing our family “puke bowl” for mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving dinner — or, frankly, even having a family puke bowl at all.

Something else I resolved to do differently was how I would handle a pet dying. My mom’s approach to putting a dog down was to immediately replace it with another dog, often on the same day. She would try to mask our (her?) grief with joy and elation. And I hate to admit this, but it worked. It was a lot harder to focus on the ache of the missing dog with a puppy chewing on your toes.

When I had to put a dog down in early adulthood and there was no puppy or new pet to greet me after that final, bleak vet visit, I got to experience the full range of emotions that comes alongside such significant loss. Our pets are our families, after all. I cried, I laughed, I got angry, and finally, I felt at peace. It showed me how necessary each stage of grief was and how healing it could be to allow a mourning period and do some kind of a ceremony, just as you would for any other relative.

I swore to myself that I would do things differently when I had children of my own, but I didn’t expect having to have that talk when my son was two and a half. Nor did I expect to have to do it before our dog was even sick. And, as it turns out, I was so eager to get this talk right that I completely botched it.

One morning, on the way to school, my son asked about our dog, Tucker dying. His exact words were, “When Tucker dies…?” I can’t remember the rest of the question because I stopped breathing briefly.

Admittedly, I was confused why he was bringing it up right then. Our dog was very much alive. He wasn’t even sick. No one was talking about dying or death in our household. Sure, we’d seen a dead frog at the pet store when my son was one, but that didn’t really feel like the opportunity to teach about life and death, if you know what I mean.

I took a deep breath and decided this was it. This was the perfect time. He was a captive and curious audience and I had been preparing myself for years on how I would be matter of fact and relaxed when this time came.

I explained softly that everyone dies; that it is the natural cycle of life. I decided to spare him the detail that “everyone” included his mom and dad and pivoted the conversation to brainstorming different ways people honor those they have lost. I shared the example of a colleague who got a tattoo of his dog’s paw on his forearm to memorialize his fallen friend. My toddler said he definitely wanted a Tucker tattoo, too.

We pulled up to his school and sat in the car reviewing our hypothetical plan for when our dog hypothetically dies: the tattoo, scattering the ashes in the ocean, keeping the collar. I was surprised by how well he had taken the news, but when he got fixated on asking about Tucker going into the ocean, I realized to my horror that he hadn’t been thinking about death that morning, at all.

He had been asking about our dog diving.

Our dog loved the ocean and in his younger years would swim in the Pacific and dive into the waves. Though my son had never seen him swim in real life, he had seen videos and I guess, in true toddler-steel-trap-memory form he had remembered.

My son never said, “When Tucker dies…” He said, “When Tucker dives…”

Welp, now our toddler knows all about death and diving.

Sarah Ezrin is the author of The Yoga of Parenting. She is a world-renowned yoga educator, content creator, and mama based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sarah loves guiding people along their wellness and parenthood journeys. Her words, classes, and social media are supportive, healing spaces where people can feel seen and heard. For more information on Sarah please connect with her on Instagram and TikTok.

C’mon, say it out loud: “Twilight TV Series.” Rumors are swirling that a possible TV adaptation of the cult-favorite Twilight series — written by Stephanie Meyer — will be coming to a living room near you.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lionsgate Television is in the early development stages of a series that could give the vampire-centric book series new life after the wildly successful movies.

THR also reports that writer Sinead Daly— whose credits include Tell Me Lies, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, Raised by Wolves, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency and The Get Down — is set to write the script for the Twilight TV series.

“Sources say Daly is working with Lionsgate TV to determine what the specific take on Twilight will be and if it will be a remake of Meyer’s books or a different offshoot,” the outlet reported.

While the the Twilight TV series is only in concept phases right now with no network or platform home as of right now, there are plans to go on with development before shopping the show around.

Sources also tell THR that author Meyer will be involved in the television adaptation in some capacity. Some of the original heads at Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, including co-president Erik Feig (who during his time at Summit Entertainment bought the rights to the Twilight book series after Paramount Pictures passed) will also be part of the production.

As the news of a possible Twilight TV series made its way onto Twitter, fans had mixed reactions. “the amount of remakes they’re forcing on us is really getting outta hand……..” one user wrote.

Another wrote, “Why is everyone rebooting everything? Like make new things why tf do adaptions of movies released not even a decade ago…”

Others had mixed feelings about the reboot news and said, “HELP. I can’t decide if I’m excited or not. I’ve been a twilight fan for SO long and I just don’t know how this will play out.”

One Twitter user said she was excited , “I’m just gonna say it… I’m excited for a twilight TV series!”

While some may groan at the thought of yet another series being rebooted, the idea of a production company bringing back Twilight is kind of a no-brainer. The film franchise, collectively known as The Twilight Saga, was comprised of five films and released between 2008 and 2012. The five films grossed over $3 billion at the global box office in total and made stars of main cast members like Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner.

Why not try again?

Okay, picture this: you’ve been walking around a theme park for hours with hungry and thirsty kids in tow. The sun is beating down on your back. Your stomach is grumbling. The kids are whining. You’re about to reach peak meltdown mode.

You find a food stand that you’re convinced is actually a mirage and order three hot dogs and two bottled waters.

“That’ll be $40, m’am!” the cashier says.

As you stare at them in disbelief, you debate what’s worse: the sticker shock of the food or the fact that a 15-year-old kid just called you “m’am.”

One family on TikTok avoided at least one of these major summer bummers with a hilarious “hack” for sneaking food into theme parks where, let’s admit it, food prices are astronomically expensive because they know you have to eat there.

TikToker Shay (@shaynddream) gained over 3.3 million views and over 400k likes when she uploaded her family’s best trick for a budget-friendly theme park trip.

“So y’all, let me tell y’all a life hack,” Shay says in a voiceover on the video. “So we went to the water park, and of course they try to make us pay for every motherf*cking thing. But we not doing that.”

So, what did Shay and her family do? They decided that their trip to the water park would also be a “birthday celebration” complete with wrapped presents. “Presents” that were actually stuffed with warm, ready to eat, hot dogs inside.

“We had hot dogs for free and it was very motherf*cking good,” she jokes.

Over 6,000 TikTok users commented on Shay’s video, noting how they thought the trick was genius. One user wrote, “Not me taking gifts to concerts now. 😌🍸🍷”

A parent joked about how if this trick is going to work, kids cannot be in on the hi-jinx. “Just don’t let the kids know. They be done walked in there like ‘My mama put hot dogs in my gift bag, you want one?’ 😂” they joked.

“This is the best mom hack I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” another mom noted.

The video went so viral that some worried this money-saving hack wouldn’t last for long. “Ok We saw it now delete this before they start banning wrapped gifts lol brilliant!” joked another user.

While some may find this hack to be more work than it’s worth, theme park food costs have only risen in recent years. In early 2022, Disney goers saw literally hundreds of food price increases at restaurants and snack spots throughout Disney World.

In 2019, the Orlando Sentinel reported that a soft drink in a 20-ounce bottle will cost around $4.50 at a Central Florida theme park (take your pick of which one) today. At the grocery story, that same product might sell for $1.99.

Ice-cream treats sell from $4 and $5.75, while an Orlando convenience store is more likely to sell that same treat in the $2-$2.50 range.

It’s not just food stands in theme parks that are costing an arm and a leg. According to A.J. Wolfe, who runs the unofficial Disney Food Blog, restaurants in parks are also emptying people’s wallets.

While the sticker shock might be minimal for those who are taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to some of these theme parks like Disney or Universal Studios, for season ticket holders and frequent attendees, those costs add up.

“The prices are incrementally going up at all the restaurants, too. … Everything has gotten a price increase,” she says. “So yeah, you’re getting a lot of pushback from the Disney community, people who go all the time who know what the prices are because they budget for them religiously.”

While the Disney parks do allow guests to bring food, with some restriction related to glass, ice, and alcohol, many other amusement parks and water parks around the country do not — both for cleanliness reasons and because they’d rather guests buy from their own vendors. But many do allow birthday parties…