Alison and Amelia Tucker finally received the surgery they’ve been waiting eight months for.

Yesterday afternoon, surgeons at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia successfully separated the 8-month-old conjoined twins. Hospitalized since birth, the twins from Adams, New York shared a chest wall, diaphragm, pericardium and liver. This situation occurs in 1 of 60,000 births, and often results in a stillbirth. To say these two beat the odds would be an understatement. They did, however, have a great team taking care of them. Prior to this procedure, the hospital had performed 20 separation surgeries.

It took 40 surgeons seven hours to complete the complicated procedure, but Lead surgeon Holly Hedrick told Time Healthland that it “went very well.” She adds that Alison and Amelia have a long road to recovery, but will be able to live, “full, healthy and independent lives.”

Congratulations to the twins and their family!

Plus, more from The Bump:

Twins: Fact or Fiction

Secrets for Moms of Multiples

What It’s Really Like to Grow Up as a Twin

Check out what’s buzzing around the Internet this week:

Gerber Babies Across the Generations: First Model Meets New Winner – TODAY

Sienna Miller: Naked Portrait of Pregnant Actress Unveiled in Berlin Art Exhibit – E!

Beloved Babar Celebrates His 80th Birthday! - LilSugar

Vanessa Lachey Jokes: Nick Would Be Willing to Nurse – People

Mom Gets $2,500 Public Urination Ticket After Toddler Pees In Yard – Huffington Post

Brian Austin Green: How We Kept Baby News Private – Celebrity Baby Scoop

Breast-Milk Donors Come to the Rescue of a New Mom with Breast Cancer – Time Healthland

“Dragon Baby” Will Have You Laughing Out Loud – YouTube

On Tuesday, November 6, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA)  and Britax Child Safety Inc. recalled over 60,000 Britax car seats. The recall comes after reports of children biting or chewing on the chest pad, which could result in injury or death via choking.

The recalled seats were sold throughout the United States and Canada between June and August of 2012.

Three models were included in the recall: the Boulevard 70 G3, the Advocate 70 G3 and the Pavilion 70 G3. The following model numbers, which can be found on the mattress, are included in the recall:

E9LJ91A
E9LJ91M
E9LJ91S
E9LJ92E
E9LJ93P
E9LJ93S
E9LK91A
E9LK31A
E9LK31Q
E9LK32D
E9LK32Z
E9LK33Q
E9LL11A
E9LL11Q
E9LL12D
E9LL12Z
E9LG81A
E9LG83N
E9LG83P
E9LG83X
E9LG83Y
E9LL21A
E9LL23P
E9LL23Y

If you own any of these car seats, stop using the product immediately and contact Britax Customer Service Department to obtain free replacement HUGS pads, which are made from more durable material than the current pads. Contact Britax  toll-free at 888-427-4829, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Want to make sure you don’t have any recalled baby gear at home? Read more of the latest baby product recalls.

Today, millions across America cast their vote for the next president, and many of us will complain about the long lines and confusing process. But how about doing it while having labor contractions?

When Galicia Malone, a Chicago mom-to-be, went into labor this morning, she grabbed her hospital bag and rushed to the nearest polling place. As a 21-year-old, this was Galicia’s first chance to vote in the presidential election, and she wasn’t going to miss it. NBC Chicago reports that when she arrived, her water had broken and her contractions were five minutes apart.

Many locals were impressed with Galicia’s determination and patriotism, especially Cook County Clerk David Orr.

“If only all voters showed such determination to vote,” Orr said. “My hat goes off to Galicia for not letting anything get in the way of voting. What a terrific example she is showing for the next generation, especially her new son or daughter.”

Congrats and kudos to the new mom!

Would you make sure to vote — even if you were in labor?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Presidents Holding Babies

Tool: Birth Plan

Craziest Places Moms Went Into Labor

It’s election day, and for some moms-to-be, choosing a candidate isn’t the only decision on their mind. There are baby names to think of! Try some of these picks inspired by past US presidents and first ladies.

George
Nothing beats the original! As the first president of the United States, George Washington led the country to victory during the Revolutionary War and allowed us to gain independence from Great Britain. While he sets a high bar, we’re sure your son can surpass it.

Dolley
This first lady made it into the White House before her husband, serving as Thomas Jefferson’s White House Hostess after his wife passed away.  In addition to throwing the best parties, Dolley Madison is responsible for saving many national treasures from the White House before it was burnt down in the War of 1812. Sounds like a brave woman for your daughter to live up to!

Ronald
Not many presidents, if any, have actor listed on their resume. Prior to leading the United States, Ronald Reagan starred in several movies including Kings Row, The Hasty Heart and Hellcats of the Navy.  Hopefully your son will have this many talents.

Eleanor
Many consider Eleanor Roosevelt the most inspiring and influential first lady. She was one of the first to use her title as a way to advocate for causes she cared about. As someone who believed in education and equal opportunity for all, she strongly supported civil rights and women’s rights, even after her term as first lady.

Franklin
It may not be the most common name on our list, but you can’t deny the impact Franklin D. Roosevelt had on our country. During a devastating  time of economic depression and a world war, Roosevelt managed to raise spirits and hope throughout the nation. Who wouldn’t want to be the namesake of an optimist?

Betty
Or Elizabeth, if you’re more formal. As a leader of the Women’s Movement, Gerald Ford’s wife Betty fought for equal pay and equal rights between the sexes. She was also a strong advocate for breast cancer awareness, having battled the disease and undergone a mastectomy. We hope your girl is just as strong as Ms. Ford.

Bill
He may not be the first choice for a role model (extramarital affairs and allegations of sexual harassment), but many Americans still love Bill Clinton. After all, he did a lot for American including passing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provided health coverage for millions of children. It’s hard to hate a guy who helps kids.

Hillary
She started out as a first lady, but Hillary Rodham Clinton has since served as United States Senator of New York (from 2001 to 2009) and ran as a Democratic Party nominee for President (and was the first woman to do so). Even though she lost, she still found her way to the White House when President Obama selected her as his Secretary of State. Now that’s someone your girl can look up to.

John
There was something about John F. Kennedy that made men admire him and women swoon over him. And almost 50 years after his term, which was cut short by assassination, people still love him. In a 2011 CNN Poll, JFK earned an 85 percent approval rating among Americans, earning him the title of most popular past president. We say that’s a good name association.

Jacqueline
Elegance. Intelligence. Style. These are only a few words to describe Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (better known as Jackie O).  While many First Ladies fade away after their husbands serve their term, Jacqueline continued contributing to the country. She worked to preserve historic landmarks and was a strong proponent for the arts. As a woman many of us admire, your daughter would be lucky to take after her.

Which President or First Lady would you name your baby after?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Presidents Holding Babies

Celebrity Baby Names: From Cool to Crazy

Baby Naming 101

To say Hurricane Sandy caused some damage would be a huge understatement. The superstorm that hit last week, in a short amount of time, cut power in 18 million homes and caused over $20 million in property damage throughout New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Millions have seen the destruction and have asked how they can help those in need. Here are some ways you can help the displaced families of Hurricane Sandy.

Donate Time
After hearing about the nurses that transported over 20 NICU babies to safety, many want to jump to action. If you were lucky enough to escape the damage, lend some time to help your neighbors. Several state organizations are informing locals about volunteer opportunities such as collecting clothes, distributing items, and cleaning up debris. New Yorkers and Rhode Islanders can visit NYC Service and Serve Rhode Island, respectively, for opportunities, while New Jersians can contact the state’s Emergency Volunteer Service Hotline at 1-800-537-7397.

Donate Items
Thousands of people lost their homes and have to start from scratch. Others have their homes but are without heat. Give them a jump start or warmth by donating items. Places of worship, such as churches and synagogues, and warm shelters are typically the go-to charity drop off centers. You can also search your local paper for other locations. As of now, most charities are asking for the following donations: bottled water, non-perishable food items, blankets, toiletries, pillows, personal hygiene items, diapers, bottles, formula, batteries, clothing (specifically winter coats, hats, scarves and gloves) and gift cards.

If you can’t find any donation drives in your area, start your own! Start a collection at work or in your neighborhood and bring the items to a nearby drop off station. If you don’t live in a hurricane-affected area, you can still help. The Knot reports that a Brooklyn-based group of friends have set up an Amazon.com Wedding Registry, which will allow you to send specific items the area needs to the group who will take them to a local drop-off center. Baby Buggy is another great resource that will inform you how you can help families year round (not just when disaster strikes).

Donate Money
If you live too far away for a drop-off or day long clean up, you can send support in the form of money. But before you write a check (never donate cash!), make sure the organization is legitimate and giving the most money to the cause. Our sister site The Nest has some great tips when it comes to donating money without getting duped.

One organization guaranteed to ensure your money is going to the right cause is the Red Cross, and thanks to technology it’s easier than ever to donate. You can make a donation on its website or text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.

As always, social media sites like Twitter and Facebook are a great source for up-to-the-minute information. Here are some great organizations to follow:

@NYCGov
@Fema
@RedCross
@CharityNav
@SalvationArmyUSA

Know of any volunteer opportunities in your area? Let us know!

It reads like a sitcom story line:  Pregnant woman gets stuck somewhere because of some crazy circumstance, goes into labor and delivers her baby on her own. But for Abby Wellington, a 34-year-old pediatrician and second-year neonatal fellow from New Jersey, this was no TV episode.

Last Monday, while Hurricane Sandy took down power lines and home across the East Coast, Abby gave birth to her second child.

Around 9 p.m. on October 29, she and her husband Stephen Olefson were laying in bed and listening to the wind beat on their door. Their house had lost power and had little running water. All of a sudden Abby felt some stomach pains, and the pain returned five-minutes later. At Stephen’s suggestion, Abby ran a warm bath and told her to get comfortable.

“I didn’t realize I was in labor until halfway through,” Abby told the Huffington Post. ”All of a sudden, it just got very intense. Either something was wrong and we needed to leave right away, or I was about to deliver, which I just couldn’t wrap my brain around.”

With a due date of October 30, the couple, already parents to a 2-year-old son, had prepared for the worst. They met Abby’s OB and physician’s assistant, who gave the couple some sterilized gloves just in case. That evening, they put the gloves and some other household items to use.

“My wife said, ‘You know those potato chip bag clips? Let’s just find them and keep them out.’ So now we have gloves and a potato chip clip to clamp the umbilical cord. And we were thinking, ‘This is totally far-fetched, but at least we have it,’” Stephen says.

Around 10:30, Abby knew she was about to give birth. While most moms-to-be would have freaked out, Abby remained calm. Stephen asked a neighbor, who’s a physician’s assistant, to come to the home to help. Together, they delivered her 8-pound baby Henley in less than 30 minutes. Given her experience, both personally and professionally, Abby knew what to do.

“Once the baby was out, I became my neonatologist self and told them what to do: Clamp the cord! Get towels! Get a hat!,” Abby recalls.

“Fifteen minutes later, in comes the ob-gyn from upstairs, in come all of these police and ambulance people, and we’re sitting in the bathroom with two potato chip clamps on each end of the umbilical cord,” Stephen says.

The ambulance eventually transported Abby and Henley to a nearby hospital. Can you believe Henley was one of several babies born healthily during Hurricane Sandy?!

Did you /do you have a birth back-up plan in case of an emergency? 

Plus, more from The Bump:

How to Know You’re in Labor

20 Babies Saved During Hurricane Sandy

More Amazing Birth Stories

With Hurricane Sandy postponing Halloween for some and causing chaos for many, it seems everyone was in need of a laugh this week. Luckily, Jimmy Kimmel knows how to lighten even the darkest of moods.

Famous for challenging parents to humorously torture their children, the late-night talk show host brought back a fan favorite this week. “I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy (Again)” showcases the funniest (and somewhat sad) reactions of children who’ve been told their Halloween candy has disappeared. Want a laugh? Watch this.

What do you think of the video? Would you play a prank like this on your kids?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Craziest Things Tired Moms Did

7 Annoying Moms You’ll Meet at the Park

8 Annoying Moms You’ll Meet Online

A baby is on the way for Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard!

Monday morning, a rep for the couple confirmed the news to People magazine. The pair have been dating since 2007 and say they always knew children would be in their future.

“They’re so excited — they’re both ecstatic. They can’t wait to become parents!” a friend of the couple says. “Kristen had a little bit of morning sickness early on but she just started shooting the second season of House of Lies and is feeling great now.”

But will Kristen and Dax walk down the aisle before the baby arrives? We think not. The House of Lies actress and Parenthood star are both strong advocates for legalizing gay marriage and have said they won’t wed until same-sex marriage is legal in their home state of California.

Congrats to the happy couple! We can’t wait to see how cute — and funny — this baby turns out to be!

Which celebrity baby are you most excited to meet in 2013?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Celebrity Pregnancy Cravings

Pregnant Celebrities on Magazine Covers

Crazy Celebrity Birth Stories

This morning, Beverley Mitchell, star of the Secret Life of the American Teenager (if you’re nostalgic like, us, you probably also know her from 7th Heaven) announced that she is expecting her first child in April.

She explains her first signs of pregnancy: “My sense of smell was off the charts, to the point where I could smell a kid’s dirty diaper from the other side of a restaurant,” Beverley tells People magazine. Eventually she went to the doctor, who told her the good news. Still, Beverley was hesitant to believe the results.

“I was like, ‘No, it can’t be that,’” the star says.”I took seven pregnancy tests. I went to the doctor and had two more tests and they were like, ‘Bev, usually when the first one comes out positive, the rest of them will all say the same thing.’”

Beverley and her husband, accountant Michael Cameron, celebrated the news with a trip to Ravello, Italy, where the couple wed in 2008. While there, they also attended the wedding of Beverley’s former co-star and friend, Jessica Biel. But Beverley made sure she didn’t spill the news until after the nuptials.

“Jess was one of the first to know [the baby news]. I started crying,” Beverley says. “It was really exciting to share that with Auntie Jess.”

Congrats to Beverley and her husband on the amazing news — they must be in heaven (sorry, we couldn’t resist)!

What was your first pregnancy symptom?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Pregnant Celebrities on Magazine Covers

Crazy Celebrity Birth Stories

Celebrities with Twins