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She's every bit as beautiful as we expected. Kate Hudson gave us a look at her new baby girl, Rani Rose, on Instagram this weekend and the cuteness is just too much.

The photo of Rani is pure newborn magic, hospital blanket and all. "Our little rosebud," Husdon captioned the snap.

Of course Rose is Rani's middle name, as Hudson's announced in her birth announcement.

"We have decided to name our daughter Rani (pronounced Ronnie) after her grandfather, Ron Fujikawa. Ron was the most special man who we all miss dearly. To name her after him is an honor," Hudson wrote in an Instagram post announcing her daughter's arrival and name.

Rani Rose is Hudson's first girl, but she's got two big brothers, 14-year-old Ryder Russell and 6-year-old Bingham Hawn, who have been very much a part of mom's pregnancy journey.

Back in April Hudson, her partner Danny, and Ryder and Bingham surprised fans by announcing the expansion of their family with a gender reveal video.

"SURPRISE!!! If you've wondered why I've been so absent on my social channels it's because I have never been more sick!" Hudson, who hadn't yet announced her pregnancy, captioned the video.

After a rough pregnancy, Hudson is now feeling better, and notes on Insta that she and Rani are both doing well.

Congratulations Kate, she's beautiful.


Heather Marcoux

Heather Marcoux is the News Editor for Motherly and mom to one little boy. A former television journalist, Heather lives in Canada with her husband, son and a foursome of adorable pets.

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This milk warmer does so much more than just warm your baby's bottles

The bottle warmer has long been a point of contention for new mamas. Hotly debated as a must-have or superfluous baby registry choice, standard models generally leave new moms underwhelmed at best.

It was time for something better.

Meet the Algoflame Milk Warmer, a digital warming wand that heats beverages to the perfect temperature―at home and on the go. And like any modern mama's best friend, the Algoflame solves a number of problems you might not have even known you needed solved.

As with so many genius gadgets, this one is designed by two parents who saw a serious need. It's currently a Kickstarter raising money for production next year, but here are 10 unexpected ways this brilliant device lends a hand―and reasons why you should consider supporting its launch.

1. It's portable.

Every seasoned mama knows that mealtime can happen anywhere. And since you're unlikely to carry a clunky traditional milk warmer in your diaper bag, the Algoflame is your answer. The super-light design goes anywhere without weighing down your diaper bag.

2. It's battery operated.

No outlets necessary. Simply charge the built-in battery before heading out, and you're ready for whatever (and wherever) your schedule takes you. (Plus, when you contribute to the Kickstarter you can request an additional backup battery for those days when your errands take all.day.long.)

3. It's compact.

Even at home, traditional bottle warmers can be an eyesore on the countertop. Skip the bulky model for Algoflame's streamlined design. The warmer is about nine inches long and one inch wide, which means you can tuck it in a drawer out of sight when not in use.

4. It's waterproof.

No one likes taking apart bottle warmers to clean all the pieces. Algoflame's waterproof casing can be easily and quickly cleaned with dish soap and water―and then dried just as quickly so you're ready to use it again.

5. It has precise temperature control.

Your wrist is not a thermometer―why are you still using it to test your baby's milk temperature? Algoflame lets you control heating to the optimal temperature for breastmilk or formula to ensure your baby's food is safe.

6. It's fool-proof.

The LED display helps you know when the milk is ready, even in those bleary-eyed early morning hours. When the right temperature is reached, the wand's display glows green. Too hot, and it turns red (with a range of colors in between to help you determine how hot the liquid is). Now that's something even sleep-deprived parents can handle.

7. It's adaptable.

Sized to fit most bottles and cups on the market, you never have to worry about whether or not your bottles will fit into your warmer again.

8. It's multipurpose.

If you're a mom, chances are your cup of coffee is cold somewhere right now. The Algoflame has you covered, mama! Simply pop the wand into your mug to reheat your own beverage no matter where you are.

9. You can operate it with one hand.

From getting the milk warmer out to heating your baby's beverage, the entire wand is easy to activate with one hand―because you know you're holding a fussing baby in the other!

10. It's safe.

Besides being made from materials that comply with the FDA food contact safety standard, Algoflame boasts a double safety system thanks to its specially designed storage case. When put away in the case, the built-in magnetic safe lock turns the milk warmer to power-off protection mode so it won't activate accidentally. Additionally, the warmer's "idle-free design" prevents the heater from being accidentally activated out of the case.

To get involved and help bring the Algoflame Milk Warmer to new mamas everywhere, support the brand's Kickstarter campaign here.

This article is sponsored by Algoflame Milk Warmer. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Motherly and mamas.

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Perdue's chicken nugget recall—what parents need to know

The shape appeals to kids and the organic and gluten-free labels appeal to parents in the freezer aisle, but if you've got a bag of Perdue's Simply Smart Organics Gluten Free Chicken Breast Nuggets, don't cook them.

The company is recalling 49,632 bags of the frozen, fully cooked Simply Smart Organics Gluten Free Chicken Breast Nuggets because they might be contaminated with wood.

According to the USDA, Perdue received three complaints about wood In the nuggets, but no one has been hurt.

The nuggets were manufactured on October 25, 2018 with a "Best By" date of October 25, 2019. The UPC code is 72745-80656. (The USDA provides an example of the packaging here so you'll know where to look for the code).


In a statement on the Perdue website the company's Vice President for Quality Assurance, Jeff Shaw, explains that "After a thorough investigation, we strongly believe this to be an isolated incident, as only a minimal amount of these packages has the potential to contain pieces of wood."

If you have these nuggets in your freezer you can call Perdue 877-727-3447 to ask for a refund.

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Maternity leave can feel lonelier than you would expect

Maternity leave is not always a walk in the park, pushing a stroller on a sunny day. Sometimes it's sitting at home with the curtains pulled, feeding your baby and wondering if your old co-workers are all out at lunch together.

It's common to feel lonely during this time of transition. But for some, adjusting to maternity leave is even lonelier and harder than they imagined.

In fact, according to a poll conducted for BBC Radio 5 live by ComRes in the U.K., 47% of women felt lonely while on maternity leave. But that's not all the study of just over 1,000 women discovered.

While loneliness was felt by almost half of the respondents, 27% also said they didn't enjoy maternity leave as much as they thought they would. How unpleasant was maternity leave for some? Well, two out of five women missed their jobs and going to work, and one out of five wished they went back to work sooner.

New research also out of the U.K. shows that a staggering 82% of moms under 30 feel lonely some of the time while more than four in 10 (43%) are lonely often or always. And it's worse for younger moms; those between 18 to 25 are often or always lonely compared with 37% of those 26 through 30.

So, we know not all mamas are enjoying their maternity leave, but why is it so hard sometimes?

This U.K study revealed that more than 80% of mums under 30 say they meet their friends less often after having their child. It makes sense that someone would feel lonely when they suddenly don't have a job to go to, aren't seeing their friends anymore and are home alone with their beautiful baby all day.

But it won't be like that forever, according to Angela Anagnost-Repke, who previously wrote for Motherly about her experiences. Initially lonely and overwhelmed, Angela wasn't sure how to overcome her feelings of despair.

"After a few months of staying home with my two small children, sorrow began to creep into me. My life began to feel like it was stuck on repeat. I'd wake up, perform mundane chore after mundane chore, and play pretend Little People with the kids," she wrote of her personal experiences.

But by reaching out to her husband and letting him know how she felt, she felt a burden lift off her shoulders. Soon, with his encouragement, she was able to find herself again.

"I started graduate school, began typing stories on my laptop, and trained for a half marathon. Slowly, the loneliness faded and my vivacity sprang back into me. I became a happier mother."

Besides confiding to loved ones, making friends with other moms is a huge help for getting over the maternity leave blues. It's not always easy, but worth the effort, noted Mellisa Skolnick, who detailed her experiences in the past.

"You keep looking though. She's out there. Just like that one true friend you had in high school. Just like a unicorn riding on a rainbow. That elusive four-leaf clover. If you kiss enough frogs you will be rewarded. And when it happens, it's like fireworks on the Fourth of July. Time stops and a theme song begins to play in the background of your life. That's when the wooing begins," Skolnick said.

Last month, the British government appointed a Minister for Loneliness. The new role was created to look at strategies for dealing with what health professionals around the world are calling an "epidemic" of isolation and disconnection—an issue widely attributed to an aging population and rising rates of people choosing to live alone in countries like the United Kingdom, United States and Canada.

While something similar hasn't popped up in North America quite yet (though there should be as loneliness is a societal problem that is as dangerous as obesity some say) there are still ways to reach out and tackle those lonely days.

1. Mama needs mama friends. Sometimes making friends with other moms is harder than it sounds but a great way to make new friends is to just strike up a conversation at the local park, your next yoga class or even online in a local mom group chat. Don't be shy! There's thousands of other moms out there going through the same thing as you.

2. Schedule some YOU time. Newborns take a lot of time and energy and it's easy to become overtired and overwhelmed so it's important to look after yourself, too. Whether it's a walk in the park sans stroller, a bubble bath or yoga and meditation, don't forget to set some time aside to collect your thoughts. According to psychologist Dr. Christina Hibbert, this alone time should be to unwind, relax, rest, and revive mama, (not complete your to-do list).

3. Confide in someone you love. Whether it's your partner, your parents, your siblings or your best friend, it's important to open up about your experiences when transitioning into motherhood and remember; you're never alone!

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This heroic mom carried her baby to term knowing her organs would go to other families

Christmas Eve is a rare birthday, and it's a fitting birthday for a baby girl who was a gift to her own family, and those of other sick babies.

When Krysta Davis was four months pregnant with her daughter, Rylei Arcadia Lovett, Krysta and her husband Dereck got some heartbreaking news. Baby Rylei had Anencephaly. Her brain was underdeveloped to a fatal degree. Doctors gave Krysta the option of having Rylei then, in her second trimester, or carrying her to term so that her tiny organs could be donated to babies who needed them.

"If I wasn't able to bring my baby home, at least others could bring theirs home," Davis told ABC affiliate News Channel 9.

As heartbroken as she was, Krysta carried her baby girl for five more months, giving her body time to grow the organs that would be such an amazing gift to families who were in a kind of pain the Lovetts know all too well.

Doctors told the couple that Rylei would probably live for about 30 minutes after birth, but Rylei held on for an entire week. "There's no way to describe how amazing it felt. When you go to thinking you'll only have 30 minutes with your child and you get an entire week," Davis told News Channel 9.

For that week, Rylei got all the cuddles and skin-to-skin contact a baby could ask for. "I wouldn't trade this week for anything in the whole wide world," she wrote on a Facebook page dedicated to Rylei's memory, adding that she was so proud of her daughter and the fight she put up.



Rylei was then taken for surgery, and although some of her organs were no longer viable due to oxygen loss, some very important ones were.

"They said her heart valves will go toward saving two other babies and the lungs will be sent off for research to see what else can be learned about Anencephaly from them," Krysta wrote.

Krysta and Dereck only got to hold onto their baby for a week. It's not fair and that pain is unimaginable. But now, two other families will get to hold their babies for a lot longer. It can't take away Krysta's pain, but it does make her happy to know that somewhere, another mama is holding a little piece of Rylei.

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Gymboree is closing 900 stores nationwide

If you have Gymbucks, you should spend them soon, because children's clothing retailer Gymboree is closing stores nationwide, the Wall Street Journal reports. All 900 of the Gymboree stores, including the Janie and Jack and Crazy 8 stores, are reportedly set to close as the company faces bankruptcy.

In some American malls those three stores make up the bulk of kid-specific clothing retailers, so the closures could be a major hit to local malls and shoppers. According to CNBC, Gymboree is trying to sell off the higher-end Janie and Jack brand, which operates 139 stores nationwide.

This isn't the first time Gymboree has closed stores or faced bankruptcy. It filed for bankruptcy back in June of 2017. At the time it had 1,280 stores, and it closed some 375.

For a time, it looked like Gymboree was bouncing back from those closures, but this week's news proves otherwise.

Gymboree has yet to make a public announcement, but parents are already mourning the retailer's demise comments on its Facebook page.

"My daughter is a Gymboree girl! Don't know where we're going to get reasonably priced girly clothes and accessories now," one mom writes.

"So sad. My son and daughter wear almost all Gymboree clothes," says another.

For Gymboree fans, the consolation prize may come in the form of markdowns in the coming weeks, so keep your eye on your local Gymboree, mama.

It's important to note that Gymboree Play & Music classes are no longer part of the Gymboree Group, having been sold off in 2016.

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