Category: Mum & Baby

Growing up – Starting solids At some point you will experience that awkward moment when your little one lick their lips as they watch you eat your food. If that day comes, and bub is 4-6 months of age well its there lucky day because you will be able to introduce some solids (and avoid the awkwardness).Most heath organisations including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommend that for the first 6 months, mothers exclusively breastfeed their bubs and after this point introduce solids. The reason being is there is some research to suggest

The lead up to labour day (or a planned caesarean) is the primary focus for most pregnant women. The nerves and stress about pain overtakes the realisation that after this crazy ordeal you’re left with a tiny human being that you need to nurture while you have been through hell and back (literally). A good friend of mine described the scene of a maternity ward like being amongst battle victims, hobbling along, some unable to walk. It takes normally 6 to 8 weeks to recover, so it is super important to have a plan to take care of yourself, so

I’m currently preparing my hospital bag for the imminent birth of our baby boy. So I thought it would be handy to share with you (while I remind myself!) what is needed in “the bag”.It’s a good idea to have this bag ready to go, in your car or home from 36 weeks and on, as form then on you never know when baby might decide to show up. You may be planning to have an elective c-section or have an induction date organised but that doesn’t mean that baby won’t come before then, so best be prepared.For Mum:Your

A few handy do’s and don’ts of breastfeeding There are many myths about breastfeeding and you’ll hear many opinions on what to do, how to do it and personal experiences. With all the information on the internet, from your doctors and nurses it can all be a bit overwhelming. So I decided to compile a short and simple list of common “do’s“ and don’ts”.The do’s:Relax! It is sooo important for you to relax while you breastfeed. Make sure you’re seated comfortably, with enough support so your arms aren’t tensed. Some mums use normal cushions (like myself) or you can buy

Picture yourself on a beach, elegantly reclining on a daybed with the sun beaming warmth onto you,waves crashing, iced tea in hand.... then a handful of sand is thrown in your face! This is what holidaying with a toddler is like, or as how I have recently discovered after returning from a summer holiday to Lebanon and Greece. It was an enjoyable yet challenging experience in more ways than one, especially whilst being pregnant with number 2. So, I would like to impart with you some handy items you may like to take on board that may make the long

At the very start breastfeeding is not only painful but can be difficult because of milk production. This can become a problem at any stage of breastfeeding which I have personally experienced. A lot is happening in those first couple of weeks for baby but especially for you too. So I thought I would start with some background information: After our bundle (or bundles) of joy come into the world, what we produce is a special milk called colostrum. Colostrum is full of immune boosting ingredients for bub. Your newborn doesn’t need a lot to fill up its small tummy, so

Breastfeeding is a wonderful gift that we are given as mothers, however something so natural can be so difficult. When I speak to other mothers, their experiences of breastfeeding and duration vary, but the difficulties experienced in the first couple of weeks are synonymous – they can literally make or break you. I breastfed my son Isaac till he was 15 months old, but it was not always smooth sailing. So I want to share with you some things I found useful to help me get through those difficult first weeks. I hope that you might find something here that helps

Winter Is Coming – Cold, Flu, Baby And You There has been a chill in the air this week, and already I have had a cancellation for a playdate because mum and bub are both sick with the flu. It’s a menace and unfortunately once one of you is sick its very likely that the rest of the family will be too. Typical symptoms of the cold are runny/blocked nose, sneezing and cough. Whilst the symptoms of the flu are fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, blocked and runny nose and headaches. Both are caused by a virus, which means that what we

At first, I was a pharmacist married to a pharmacist but now I am a mother to our toddler Isaac and another boy on the way. Within this blog I will be sharing my experiences in pregnancy, motherhood combined with my health knowledge in baby care and motherhood matters. My 4 years of university training helped give me an understanding of baby care but would never prepare me for the challenges of raising a baby. I have depended on the experiences of friends of mine who are mums to help shed a light when I had no idea what to do