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19 baby photos that will shatter your expectations of what it's like to be a parent
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Ever take a photo of your baby, or a post-baby photo of yourself? It's probably harder than it sounds, especially for these parents. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Feb 9, 2016, 7:19 PM
In the days and weeks after giving birth, some new mothers immediately try to slim down on their body weight. Theyve seen Beyonce do it and Kate Hudson do it, instilling this idea that slimming down after giving birth is an easily achievable and necessary goal.

But the reality of post-pregnancy and losing weight doesn't always meet expectations. A 2014 study found that most women weigh more a year after giving birth, NY Daily News reported.

The study, which followed 774 women who had an average body mass index before giving birth, found that about 75 percent of women weighed more the year after giving birth than they did before getting pregnant, with many women even becoming obese.

"This unfortunately showed that pregnancy itself is leading to obesity or (being) overweight for a substantial number of women," Dr. Loraine Endres, an assistant professor at the University of Chicago, said, NY Daily News reported. The more you gain, the harder it is to ever lose that weight. From the moment women conceive, as health care providers we need to start talking with them about appropriate weight gain and remaining active."

But another celebrity says this debate shouldnt matter. Haylie Duff, sister of actress and singer Hillary Duff, recently spoke out against this concept, saying that its important for new parents to understand that achieving the expectations set out by celebrities or dieting experts doesnt always meet the reality of being a new mother and thats OK.

Theres this very intense pressure to look like you didnt have a baby two days after you had a baby," Duff told Fox News. "First of all, I didnt get offered that deal with the devil. I didnt get to look like I didnt have a baby two days later, so that just wasnt an option for me. Its great for people who can look like that, but its so unrealistic for the majority of women in this country, and it also has the tendency to make you feel bad about yourself.

Thats why Duff has created a new food blog, called The Real Girl's Kitchen. Along with eventually becoming a Cooking Channel TV show of the same name, it helps real Americans learn ways to keep a healthy relationship with food.

Managing expectations is something that parents will have to deal with in more ways than just their weight, though. It also comes in to play when considering how theyll be as a parent, or how theyll carry out certain tasks with their children.

Many parents strive to have a perfect baby photo, for example, but that often doesnt meet the reality mostly because children can sometimes be messy and disrupt what would be a perfect photo.

Life with kids is rewarding, challenging, and a bit messy. Sometimes a massive cleanup effort or serious bath is required, BabyCenter reported.

To get a better look at the differences between a parent's expectations and the reality, check out the photos below.

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Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.