Can a Baby Be Healthy on a Vegetarian or Vegan Diet?

For parents who shun animal products from their diet—whether just meat or all animal products—figuring out how to feed a baby can be challenging. Added to this is the fact that, when you tell people about your choice, many are liable to look at you like you are crazy. But do not let others’ misconceptions stop you. It is quite possible to raise a perfectly healthy child on a vegetarian or vegan diet. You have to be a little extra conscientious in some ways, but your child can get all the vitamins and nutrients he or she needs. So if you are seriously considering raising your child as vegetarian or vegan, tune out the naysayers and trust your own instincts. And if you decide to go forward, keep these tips in mind. Breastfeed as long as possible: As long as you continue to breastfeed your baby Read More

Best Position for Your Baby

Are you wondering which position your baby should be in close to your due date? The head-down position is the one that usually means an easier and shorter labour. Your baby’s head is down with the back of her head just towards the front of your tummy and this is known as the anterior position. By the end of your pregnancy your baby is most likely to have found this position. In this position your little one will be snugly fitting into the curve of your pelvis and once you are in labour your baby curls her back over and tucks her chin into her chest. If your baby gets into the anterior position then your labour Read More

Do I Have Infectious or Non-Infectious Mastitis?

If your breast tissue is red, swollen and painful it could be Mastitis. It most commonly occurs in breastfeeding women and is also known as puerperal mastitis or lactation mastitis. You can have the condition and not be breastfeeding but it is rarer and mastitis typically affects just one breast. If you are suffering from this condition you may be experiencing flu-like symptoms like a high temperature, chills and aches. Read More

Double Dangers of Drug Exposure During Pregnancy

Drug abuse is doubly dangerous if you are a pregnant woman as drugs can harm you, compromising your ability to have a healthy pregnancy and they can also directly damage your baby’s prenatal development. As a pregnant woman it is vital you lead a healthy lifestyle by having a well-balanced and nutritional diet, you get enough rest and carry out some light exercise. It is very important to abstain from doing anything that could harm your unborn baby like smoking, drinking alcohol or using drugs. Read More

Encouraging Your Toddler to Stay In Bed

Once your children are tucked up and asleep in bed it means that Mummy and Daddy get some precious ‘me time’. A successful and well established bedtime routine ensures sleep filled nights for your little ones so that they function well through the day and also you and your partner has time to relax. Your family’s bedtime routine is the foundation of all your other routines so it has to be working correctly. Read More

What to Do When Your Baby Rejects the Bottle

After several months of breastfeeding, many babies are understandably reluctant to change. Breastfeeding is warm and comforting, it brings mother and baby close together, and it comes easily and naturally. So when it comes time to introduce the bottle and your baby does not take to it right away, do not be frustrated. The plastic nipple takes some getting used to, and the temperature of the milk in the bottle can be difficult to regulate. Plus, if you are introducing formula at the same time, this adds another element of difficulty. Read More

Staying On The Ball!

You may be one of the many pregnant women who use a birthing ball to exercise and strengthen your back. Unfortunately, most do not utilize the benefits of their birthing balls until they have gone into labor. Midwives recommend birthing balls to pregnant women because they encourage you to maintain good posture by balancing on them. By sitting on the ball you are forced to sit properly so that your back is well aligned and this relieves your back of pressure which is especially helpful later on in your pregnancy. Birthing balls are sometimes used to encourage your unborn baby to move into the correct position enabling you to be more comfortable during labor. You often see them in maternity wards. Read More

The Bare Necessities for Newborns & Parents

Preparing for your newborn baby arriving can be overwhelming so here is a guide to getting the essential gear required for those first few weeks. The list can seem endless once you think about what you might need; pushchairs, cots, nappies, blankets. Here I will try and cut through the confusion and give you a guide to the top ten necessities as chosen by mothers and in a budget friendly way. Read More