The Curious Mom

If you’re thinking about starting a family, your health should be a priority. Many of us automatically start planning what a nursery will look like or trawling through name books, but the reality is that it’s not always easy to conceive. Even if you do fall pregnant quickly, the process is long and drawn-out, and it’s really important to consider your health, as well as planning for the arrival of a new addition. If you’re hoping to add to your family, here are some simple steps you can take to ensure that you’re in tip-top condition. 

Health checks

If you’re seriously considering trying for a baby, it’s hugely beneficial for both partners to see a doctor and have some basic checks and tests. In the unlikely event that tests flag up issues, these can be addressed before they start to cause problems and potentially reduce your risk of being able to conceive naturally. It’s a good idea to get your annual check up and have your BMI and blood pressure tested. Sexual health tests are also recommended, and you may be advised to have a blood test if you’ve been suffering from symptoms or you’ve been under the weather. The results of blood tests could help to rule out conditions that may make it harder to conceive. Dental health is also very important for pregnant women and those hoping to fall pregnant. Studies show that gum disease, which is much more common during pregnancy, can increase the risk of complications during birth and premature labor. If you haven’t been to the dentist in the last six months, it’s wise to book an appointment. Even if you feel fine and you’ve not had any problems, it’s helpful to have health tests, as sometimes, symptoms aren’t obvious. If you have high blood pressure, for example, this can go unnoticed for a long period of time if you don’t have regular checks. 

Every parent of a newborn is likely to face the issue of their little one waking up through the night. There’s no two ways about it.

But where is the “red line” where it becomes a concern. What’s normal and what might be a cause for concern?

These are the few issue that we’ll address today and, hopefully, clarify some things about the sleep patterns of your little bundle of joy. More importantly, we’ll offer some actionable tips on what you can do when it becomes a problem.

Most common reasons and what you can do

The sleep environment

Before we get to the more intricate causes, let’s mention the most obvious one – their crib and mattress.

Finding the sweet spot of what you think is comfortable enough for your baby and what’s really good and safe for them can be challenging and counterintuitive.

The best baby mattresses will usually feel like they’re too firm. You might think that the crib mattress your pediatrician is recommending feels like a rock and there’ no way it’s comfortable enough.

Nowadays we are more health conscious than ever. Scientific studies are constantly finding out more information about our bodies and we are constantly exposed to articles that let us know about the results. Think how far we have come over the past few decades. Not too long ago, people were unaware of even the negative health implications that come hand in hand with smoking, something that nowadays goes without saying. So, as we slowly become increasingly familiar with our bodies and their functioning, we are made aware of aspects of our health that we have to pay increasing amounts of attention to. The market also begins to offer us a whole array of products to make our goals of maintaining optimum health a little easier along the way. Depending on market trends, certain areas of our body will experience stronger exposure in the media and advertising. Almost every day we will see health announcements reminding us of the importance of brushing our teeth effectively and to visit our dental practitioner and hygienist at least once a year. We are reminded to book in for an eye test with an optician to ensure that we don’t need glasses. Health services remind us to check our bodies for unusual developments, lumps and bumps. We are asked to keep an eye out for any new moles, growth of moles or other unexplained changes in our skin’s texture or pigmentation. In short, we are sold all sorts of services and products that ensure we are always operating in peak condition, with as little bodily pain and inconvenience as possible. However, one body part that seems to be regularly neglected requires just as much love as any other part of your physical being: your ears! Here’s a quick run through of the importance of good ear health and practices or products that you can use to maintain its functioning as the years go by. After all, hearing is one of the greatest gifts that you have!

Every parent would agree that they would do just about anything for their baby. They would give up just about anything in the world to make sure that they were safe, healthy and happy. However, amidst all of the chaos of having a baby, it can be incredibly easy to make simple mistakes that could have some potentially deadly consequences. While no parent would ever willingly put their child at risk, here are just a few things that far too many parents do that could be putting them in real danger.

Leaving them in the bath

Plenty of babies, and parents, love bath time. Not only is it a chance to wash away any mess that's occurred throughout the day but it also serves as a great time for babies learn, play, and bond with you. But we've all had that moment, during bath time: maybe you left the stove on, maybe the doorbell rings, or many you get a phone call. You think to yourself "it'll be fine" and you leave your baby alone for even a few seconds. Of course, most of the time you come back, and everything's fine, but the truth is that even an inch of water is enough to be potentially deadly for a baby. This is especially true if they don't yet have the motor control to pull themselves up and out of the water. You should never leave your baby unattended in the bath, no matter how quick you're going to be

Food is powerful stuff, people, and our relationship with it can often be traced back to our earliest years. It’s a reward for good behaviour, a treat that triggers positive feelings, and its absence may even be used as a punishment when you didn’t finish your dinner. When you’re feeling low and in need of comfort, a decent chocolate bar can actually do you a lot of good; it’s why you keep coming back for more. 

By always answering your negative emotions by eating them all up, you’re encouraging this habit, though, and could easily fool yourself into thinking that another slice of cake will take the pain away. In some cases, it will - but not if you always turn to the fridge for comfort.

Here is how you can conquer your emotional binge-eating once and for all, regain control, and improve your relationship to food.