I have a friend, Christina, who is allergic to dogs–when she’s around them, her airways start to close, and she has a difficult time breathing. I am the owner of two shaggy dogs and a house full of hardwood floors. What this means is that no matter how often I sweep or vacuum, I can never get rid of all the hair. So when Christina and I first became friends, she wouldn’t be able to last five minutes in my house. But we noticed that the more she came over, the longer she could stay, until we got the point where she could be here for a dinner party–and stay from appetizers to dessert time. We always joked that she was “building a tolerance,” but after reading the LA Times article, In the Works: Immunotherapy for food allergies, I realized she really was.
Immunotherapy is when an allergy sufferer Read More
Some very strong emotions usually erupt following the birth of a baby. While most new mothers experience a combination of excitement, anxiety, fear, or happiness, some women also experience symptoms of depression. In fact, about 10% of new mothers develop a more severe type of depression known as postpartum depression.
Duke's Cord Blood Kit
When I was pregnant with my first child, I had read about the benefits that the blood in my baby’s umbilical cord could have for others. Filled with stem cells, this blood could help those with cancer, sickle-cell anemia, immunodeficiency, marrow failure and genetic diseases that call for transplants. Normally, this blood is literally thrown away, so if it has so many benefits, I thought, why not donate it? Unfortunately, when I told my OB my intentions, she informed me that the hospital that I was giving birth at didn’t have the availability to store the blood and get it to a bank. And my hospital was of the norm–there are only approximately 175 hospitals in the United States that can transfer cord blood to a bank, but it looks as if that’s about to change.
Time recently reported on a Public Donation Kit that’s allowing Read More
Though most people really do not think about it much, baby teeth serve a very important purpose. Baby teeth help your infant learn how to speak and chew food properly, and they act as a type of space saver for the adult teeth that will grow in a few years down the road. Baby teeth also promote healthy jaw growth, so it is important for parents to take care of these teeth from the beginning.
Some babies have food allergies. The trouble with them is that you will not know about it until after the food has been eaten and the symptoms show up. Such symptoms may simply be a rash or irritability, or they can be more severe. Read More
Thankfully, most babies get through their first few months without any serious illnesses. However the time may come when your baby seems quite ill, or he may catch something off older siblings. It pays to keep an eagle eye on your bub so you will know when he or she seems unwell. Read More
The specific care given to a sick baby will depend on the kind of illness he has. However when baby is sick he will often run a temperature. If the baby is very young – under three months – health-care experts usually advise not to give medicines, but to take other measures for temperature and pain reduction. Tepid baths will often reduce a high temperature and several may be given throughout the day. After three months, baby medication can be given in small doses. Read More
Some babies get their first teeth with no more trouble than chewing on everything they can get hold of; others develop a temperature or become irritable and off their food. Sometimes chewing on things can cause diarrhoea due to the germs baby ingested. If your baby is chewing frantically on everything he can get his hands on, be on the lookout for those little pearly whites to show up soon. Read More
It won’t seem long before that helpless little bundle of joy that you brought home from the hospital is crawling around the home, investigating all that he can see and touch. Many parents feel that even precious goods should be left within baby’s reach so that he can learn not to touch them. This is not fair to baby or parents. Read More
Many babies fall asleep and establish a good routine right from the start; others need a little help from their mother in establishing the correct sleeping patterns. Still others seem to cry at night for no rhyme or reason and the whole household is upset and disturbed for months – sometimes years. So what are the things that might prevent baby from sleeping well during the night? Read More
I have a friend, Christina, who is allergic to dogs–when she’s around them, her airways start to close, and she has a difficult time breathing. I am the owner of two shaggy dogs and a house full of hardwood floors. What this means is that no matter how often I sweep or vacuum, I can never get rid of all the hair. So when Christina and I first became friends, she wouldn’t be able to last five minutes in my house. But we noticed that the more she came over, the longer she could stay, until we got the point where she could be here for a dinner party–and stay from appetizers to dessert time. We always joked that she was “building a tolerance,” but after reading the LA Times article, In the Works: Immunotherapy for food allergies, I realized she really was.
Immunotherapy is when an allergy sufferer Read More
