This is a wonderful article by Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC (see at the end of this article his bio). In short, don’t give up ladies even if the pain becomes intense. I never suffered from mastitis but I did frequently get blocked ducts. As he describes, it felt like hard nodules of tissue and was usually a sign to sit on the couch and have a hardcore breastfeeding session. My daughter never seemed to complain and after a while my boobs were drained and everyone got on with their lives……

Mastitis…

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In week 34 it’s worth preparing your perineum for delivery. This seems to be particularly true for first time mothers over the age of 30 or for women who have not experienced tears or episiotomies in previous deliveries. Fans of perineal massage also believe, regardless of how many babies you have had, that massage helps you cope with the stinging sensation as your baby’s head crowns and helps familiarize you with the stretching sensations of delivery so you can more easily relax these muscles

Frank Anderson, MD, MPH, an assistant professor…

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I know I have talked to you about the importance of eating Essential Fatty Acids during pregnancy. For those of you who haven’t read this blog.

I just read an article in HealthDay News that talks about the importance of Omega 3 and cites fish oil as particularly effective because of the way it is broken down in your body. I consumed a lot of fish oil and flax seed during my previous daughter’s pregnancy and there is no question her hand-eye coordination is fantastic. The kid was holding…

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Nausea during pregnancy is a weird thing. Most of the time, it just feels like an all-enveloping cloud that doesn’t always result in vomiting but can just make you feel “blachhhh.” Usually it goes hand in hand with hunger or fatigue, but sometimes it is just there. Kind of oppressive and a big downer. I found myself making this fruit cocktail with OJ and soda water, it seemed to freshen things up. But sometimes it didn’t.

I know women who didn’t get nauseated but for those of you who are…

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This isn’t the only time you are going to hear me ranting on about Dr. Dean Raffelock and his wonderful work…. particularly his great postnatal supplements which can also be taken during pregnancy. My first encounter was when I stumbled upon his book, “A Natural Guide To Pregnancy and Postpartum Health” (check out my book section). Everything he said spoke to me, because I truly believe that food and supplements are essential fuels for you and your growing baby (yes, I know I am laboring this point).

Dr. Raffelock has earned…

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A friend of mine has just found out she is pregnant. This isn’t her first kid but it’s been a while and if the truth be known, she is not that concerned with nutritious food. Some people think I am over the top but I really do believe you are what you eat…. and I believe food is a vital fuel which not only powers you through the day but also fundamentally impacts your emotional wellbeing.

The pregnancy period, which technically should start a couple of months before conception and can…

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As soon as you get pregnant all your girlfriends suddenly feel the need to chime in with their two cents. "Are you taking folic acid yet?"…… "Stop drinking alcohol…." It all sounds like a bit of a downer and you’re just coming to terms with the fact that your boobs hurt like hell and you aren’t sure what you are supposed to be feeling. But folic acid also called folate is actually one of…

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Celia is a wonderful artist who lives in London with her Israeli husband. She grew up in Hong Kong where her father works as a Doctor in Chinese Medicine. After my first pregnancy and before I had overcome my thyroid problems, we all met in New York and went out for tea. I didn’t look very well and told her the pregancy had exhausted me. “Oh, you should try red dates and drink lots of chicken soup,” she said knowingly. I was kind of fascinated, and went off to research…

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The fatigue seemed to arrive like a 300lb gorilla just around the same time as the nausea. It was absolutely overwhelming. Feeling drugged I found myself panting as I pushed my daughter’s stroller up the high-street in the evening, and I would have to catch my breath as I climbed some stairs. Like my tender boobs, this seemed to be another physical manifestation that something profound was going on in my body.

Suddenly I wanted to take little naps around the same time as my two year old in the…

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