tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22129263889135859502011-11-27T16:31:33.725-08:00Maternity and Baby Related News blog for www.Mum365.ie websiteMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.comBlogger3731100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-44422977657650533512011-01-24T15:35:00.000-08:002011-01-24T15:37:26.677-08:00

By Muiris Houston © 2011 irishtimes.comIN A SIGNIFICANT change to national influenza vaccine policy, family doctors have been asked to recall pregnant women who have been given the swine flu vaccine so that they can also be immunised with the seasonal flu vaccine.Following a meeting of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) on Monday, Dr Kevin Kelleher, assistant national director of

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-8840988718019405442011-01-24T15:33:00.000-08:002011-01-24T15:35:32.461-08:00

By Jane Last © Herald.ie PREGNANT women who are due to give birth and have not been vaccinated against flu should have the inoculation as soon as possible.Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health, Dr Tony Holohan, said the vaccination would improve protection of unborn babies.And the risks of women contracting flu in the six weeks after they give birth is high."If you are pregnant, you

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-76850543151928332112011-01-24T15:16:00.000-08:002011-01-24T15:20:10.755-08:00

By Fiona Dillon © Herald.ie Taking too long off on maternity leave can be damaging to a woman's career.This is the belief of some experts who have been examining whether the longer the maternity leave, the bigger the price women pay in terms of their eventual earning power and career progress.Recently, feminist Sylvia Ann Hewlett, who fought to get women more time off after having a baby, admits

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-67614499946112013172010-04-21T16:12:00.000-07:002010-04-21T16:17:30.991-07:00

Smoking while pregnant increases the chance of eye problems and low fertility counts in babies, according to two separate scientific studies. Research on how women who smoke while pregnant affect the development of their child has been going on for decades. Recently published studies in the American Journal of Epidemiology and Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B add to the

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-62573846272011747942010-04-21T16:04:00.000-07:002010-04-21T16:12:04.128-07:00

In their rat-based study, researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center showed that pregnant females that ate a high fat diet not only increased breast cancer risk in their female daughters but also in that daughter's offspring – the "granddaughters."The researchers say they don’t know why this risk is passed on through two generations, but they believe it occurs through

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-33590052029189702282010-04-21T15:57:00.000-07:002010-04-21T16:04:52.681-07:00

Cork twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf are in a stable condition and making steady progress following their separation almost two weeks ago, London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital said today. The boys, who were conjoined at the chest when born in December, were successfully separated during a 14 hour operation at the hospital on April 7th and 8th.The procedure was carried out by Cork-born

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-91244030990576338372010-04-21T15:50:00.000-07:002010-04-21T15:57:13.277-07:00

Overweight, young, undereducated, Aboriginal and first-time mothers are more likely to gain more weight than recommended during pregnancy, according to a new Statistics Canada study released Wednesday. They're also more likely to retain that weight five to nine months postpartum, the study found. "Canadian women's adherence to Health Canada gestational weight guidelines has not been

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-21806778034060717892010-04-21T15:45:00.000-07:002010-04-21T15:49:43.961-07:00

When I was pregnant with my first child, I kept it a secret from everyone at work for the first three months. That was logistically simple — I was working in the Houston bureau of The Times at the time, and my editors and colleagues were almost all in New York. But it was physically and emotionally exhausting. I was spending as much energy pretending I wasn’t pregnant as I was actually being

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-42861739809427309952010-03-22T15:18:00.000-07:002010-03-22T15:24:41.483-07:00

A much-anticipated new baby arrives into the world, full of fresh promise and wonder, carrying its parents’ hopes, dreams and expectations on its tiny little shoulders. While it’s meant to be the most joyous of all life experiences, for some parents, their newborn baby brings with it an incapacitating psychological illness: postnatal depression (PND). It affects more than 15 per cent of new

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-56837837251758595102010-03-22T15:10:00.000-07:002010-03-22T15:18:36.773-07:00

New mom Ellen Pompeo (pictured) skipped maternity leave from Grey's Anatomy after the birth of her daughter Stella Luna, and she seems to indicate in an interview that she realizes some may have wondered why she had decided it was so important to get right back to work.She told Self Magazine: "A lot of people couldn't understand why I wouldn't take my maternity leave. I felt like I needed

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-21582180198858862962010-03-22T15:08:00.000-07:002010-03-22T15:10:34.610-07:00

The conjoined twin boys born to a Cork couple last December have travelled to London to prepare for their separation operation next month.The procedure to separate Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf is due to take place on April 7 in London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.The boys were born in London on December 2 and since then, their progress has been carefully monitored by Great

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-24692285862804037572010-03-22T15:00:00.000-07:002010-03-22T15:07:57.914-07:00

A recent study has found that the offspring of pregnant women who suffered high stress levels are at a higher risk of developing asthma. According towww.worldnewsnetwrok.com, a difference between the cord blood immune pattern of the offspring born to a stressed mother and an offspring born to a mother with lower stress levels has been found. The difference in the pattern could very well be

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-4171159456558899572010-03-22T14:54:00.000-07:002010-03-22T15:00:07.274-07:00

Dublin's three maternity hospitals will be able to move to new locations as planned -- despite the economic downturn. There had been fears that a freeze in the Health Service Executive's capital budget could have an impact on the plans. However, HSE chief executive Brendan Drumm said he was confident that the hospitals would be able to move as planned, in the next five to seven years. The

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-5005365708004643702010-03-19T11:26:00.000-07:002010-03-19T11:34:58.565-07:00

Pregnant women would be wise not to lose sight of their handbag or mobile phone, research suggests. Among the many odd effects that pregnancy can have, one of them appears to be increasing the risk of losing things. Scientists found women in the later stages of pregnancy tend to suffer a loss of spatial memory -- the memory of locations and positions of objects. The problem was apparent in the

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-16881296966645143552010-03-19T11:22:00.000-07:002010-03-19T11:26:09.992-07:00

Two young children called 911 for advice on how to help their mother deliver her baby after she quickly went into labor at home. Faith and Jabari Sanders were expecting a new sibling to join the family soon, but they didn’t expect on March 9 that they would be the ones bringing their new brother Joseph into the world. Their mother, Alana Sanders, began having labor pains around 1:30 a.m.,

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-26524508694721083232010-03-19T11:19:00.000-07:002010-03-19T11:22:31.771-07:00

HSE CEO Prof Brendan Drumm has said he is confident that the three Dublin maternity hospitals will be able to move to their new locations as planned in the next five-to-seven years, despite the current economic climate. The Coombe Hospital is due to move to the site of Tallaght Hospital, the Rotunda Hospital is due to move to the site of the Mater Hospital, while the National Maternity

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-82902089731353003102010-03-09T12:38:00.000-08:002010-03-09T12:46:11.686-08:00

PREPARING CHILDREN for the future is one of the most important tasks any society can set itself. And while the acquisition of skills and knowledge are the fundamentals of an education system, there is a growing body of research which suggests that children need a parallel set of social and emotional skills to help them develop key life skills of resilience and adaptability. In many cases,

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-11780335608324085002010-03-09T12:27:00.000-08:002010-03-09T12:38:08.832-08:00

WOMEN WHO are significantly overweight while pregnant suffer an “alarmingly” high rate of medical complications, new Irish research has found. The study of pregnant women, carried out by researchers at UCD’s Centre for Human Reproduction in the Coombe Hospital in Dublin, confirms the risk to pregnancy outcomes associated with obesity. The study, which analysed data from 5,824 women who

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-27757775073331850222010-03-09T12:22:00.000-08:002010-03-09T12:27:46.561-08:00

CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton, a practicing OB-GYN, said on "The Early Show" pregnant women should have a well-rounded nutritious diet. But in that diet, they shouldn't eat certain foods that may harm the baby.One of those foods is cooked seafood high in mercury. Ashton explained the bigger and older the fish, the more mercury it may contain. According to Food and Drug

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-83405086880912505472010-03-03T10:54:00.000-08:002010-03-03T11:08:21.814-08:00

Another day, another study showing that “educational” programming for babies isn’t. The latest research, which came out yesterday, shows that infants between 1 and 2 don’t pick up any language skills from Baby Wordsworth, a DVD in the Baby Einstein series. The paper adds to a huge body of evidence that, with very few exceptions, TV shows and videos are at best no help in teaching anything

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-33278080102828644692010-03-03T10:07:00.000-08:002010-03-03T10:54:55.607-08:00

Whether a woman gets pregnant the ‘traditional’ way or by assisted reproduction appears to have no effect on the birthing process or the baby, the results of a new study indicate. Norwegian researchers looked at the pregnancies of more than 1.2 million women who gave birth between 1984 and 2006. Of these pregnancies, over 8,200 were as a result of assisted reproduction, such as IVF (in vitro

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-79000309951629722362010-03-03T10:02:00.000-08:002010-03-03T10:07:50.486-08:00

Very early on in my pregnancy I found myself heading towards Bayswater for no other reason than a need to satisfy a sudden intense craving for a parmesan custard from Le Cafe Anglais. My desire was so strong I could smell it - £4.75 worth of wobbly, cheesy goodness was going to be mine, and nothing was going to keep me from it. No one would know, I reasoned, so why not, just this once? I'd

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-16025812725543252010-02-22T06:07:00.000-08:002010-02-22T06:10:10.773-08:00

YOU could easily wait on ultrasound confirmation, but we're sure you'll agree that guessing your baby's gender and hearing the odd explanations from friends about why it's one sex and not the other can sometimes be much more fun. There is no guarantee of course that the guesses will be accurate, but there are so many who swear by these old wives tales, that it's hard to believe that some are

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-63166259017097585362010-02-22T06:00:00.000-08:002010-02-22T06:07:16.250-08:00

FITNESS trainer Sarah-Jane Hunter is not letting her pregnancy bump stand in the way of her workouts. The expectant mum plans to keep working at her private health, fitness and wellbeing club as near to her due date as possible. And she is making plans for a prompt return to the studio after giving birth. As a personal trainer qualified in ante and post-natal exercise, Sarah-Jane is well

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-41558345882418175722010-02-22T05:55:00.000-08:002010-02-22T06:00:16.145-08:00

All parents tell their kids fibs to prevent them from eating unhealthy foods. My dad told me a doozy: drinking coffee would give me fleas in my tummy! But there are many other widespread myths about coffee that recent scientific studies have dispelled. The Coffee Science Information Centre says the most common misconception is that it is a diuretic. It does increase the frequency of

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-4883275255825332982010-02-17T13:02:00.000-08:002010-02-17T13:27:33.837-08:00

Monitoring the development of babies' motor skills could help to identify children who will need help with their learning at nursery, new research suggests. Youngsters who fail to reach key "milestones" are more likely to have learning and behaviour problems at the age of five, a study by the Institute of Education, University of London, found. The researchers analysed the development of

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-81875942774034399902010-02-17T12:59:00.000-08:002010-02-17T13:01:59.562-08:00

The refurbished emergency department and special care baby unit at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe will be officially re-opened tomorrow (Friday) at 12 noon by the Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney. The hospital which has been plagued in recent months with threats of downgrading and industrial action is now sending out a positive message to the people of Ballinasloe,

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-23889108601082271162010-02-16T05:49:00.000-08:002010-02-16T05:53:26.404-08:00

Q: I have a 20-month-old daughter and another baby due at the end of April. I would like to set up savings accounts for both of them and I wondered whether you would recommend a particular bank? Alternatively, would I be better off going for a post office or a credit union account? A: I have two girls (nine and six) and I have two AIB Parent Saver accounts. These accounts pay 5pc, but for

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-70767723325899802042010-02-16T05:45:00.000-08:002010-02-16T05:49:30.451-08:00

States are moving to ban the chemical BPA from food and drink containers, primarily those meant for infants and toddlers, because of health concerns.States are moving to ban the chemical BPA from food and drink containers, primarily those meant for infants and toddlers, because of health concerns.The Food and Drug Administration, which previously called BPA safe, announced last month that, in

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-29362508256052685452010-02-15T14:00:00.000-08:002010-02-15T14:06:24.382-08:00

Mary King, 30, and her husband David, 27, said they knew their son, Xavier, was a fast learner when he started sitting up on his own at just three months old. But they were astonished when he tottered to his feet and began walking distances of six feet without support in January.Mrs King, from Cambridge, said of her first child: "Xavier is more advanced than most babies his age. It was just

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-71484272710306064372010-02-15T13:56:00.000-08:002010-02-15T14:00:52.933-08:00

After pregnancy, anxiety about infertility is the main reason women of childbearing age consult their GP. One in three women experience problems in getting pregnant, with seven out of 10 childless women over 30 worrying that they are infertile. In their anxiety to beat the biological clock, many couples may be opting unnecessarily for assisted conception before they have exhausted natural

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-10602827741682957302010-02-11T13:41:00.000-08:002010-02-11T13:44:59.316-08:00

Children of mothers who had been diagnosed with anemia during pregnancy, most likely due to iron deficiency, had a significantly elevated risk of developing the mental disorder, the study's lead researcher Dr. Holger Srensen of the University Hospital of Copenhagen in Demark, told Reuters Health by email. Iron is necessary for the production of hemoglobin, a protein that distributes oxygen

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-24546948611988862912010-02-11T13:26:00.000-08:002010-02-11T13:41:24.809-08:00

Doctors in osteopathic medicine (DOs) are medical doctors additionally trained in gentle manipulative techniques to help restore function, range of motion, and lessen pain in bones and adjoining muscles supporting the neck, back, chest, shoulders, and hips. Osteopathic manipulation may particularly benefit pregnant women seeking medication-free back pain relief, note Dr. John C. Licciardone

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-66123562237345623202010-02-11T13:10:00.000-08:002010-02-11T13:25:57.760-08:00

New research has found that mothers who drink milk during pregnancy could help reduce the risk of their child developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in later life. According to findings from a Harvard School of Public Health report, which looked at almost 36,000 women whose mothers gave information during pregnancy, the risk of developing the illness was reduced among those whose mothers drank a

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-81953394018744073462010-02-09T06:22:00.000-08:002010-02-09T06:29:34.196-08:00

WOMEN diagnosed with fibroids often become concerned that they may not be able to get pregnant, or that the chances of them becoming pregnant are slim. However, doctors say this should not be a concern as women can in fact become pregnant despite the presence of fibroids. "Women can indeed become pregnant if they have fibroids," general practitioner Dr Orlando Thomas said. "This does not

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-33883308514922365212010-02-09T06:15:00.000-08:002010-02-09T06:22:55.825-08:00

Pregnancy may bring a rush of euphoric emotions for many women, but it can also mean nine months of paranoia and panic. We are fed so much information that the path from conception to labour can be fraught with confusion. Once that bump appears, everyone has an opinion on everything from the gender of your child to how you should live your life while carrying him or her. And who knows what

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-23344824204946051772010-02-09T06:12:00.000-08:002010-02-09T06:15:46.723-08:00

Many new Irish fathers are reluctant to take leave to help look after their offspringRECENT STUDIES in the UK show that almost half of all fathers refused to take paternity leave they were entitled to, because they feared it could affect their work prospects. For many new Irish fathers, choosing to turn down paternity leave is not even an option, as there is currently no legal entitlement to

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-14029716631913238492010-02-09T06:04:00.000-08:002010-02-09T06:12:09.307-08:00

Sign language is being promoted as a way to improve communication between young babies and their parentsSIOBHÁN MURRAY cannot remember her son Charlie, who turns three next month, ever having a tantrum. Either she has a very selective memory or he is an extraordinary child. Or maybe, as she believes, the fact that he started to use sign language from the age of five months helped them avoid

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-21886693492034938012010-02-09T05:54:00.000-08:002010-02-09T06:04:42.515-08:00

A D.C.-based mobile technology firm is behind a new government effort to educate and encourage healthy habits in pregnant women. Launched last week, the free "Text4baby" program sends tips to expectant mothers who opt in to receive pregnancy-related text messages on their cellphones. Voxiva, the firm administering the service, is hoping that the project will raise the profile of such

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-27893614733389199992010-02-04T14:07:00.000-08:002010-02-04T14:17:15.450-08:00

Pregnancy is a joyful time for many women, but up to 20 percent experience symptoms of depression, with one in ten pregnant women having symptoms of major depression. Given the potential dangers associated with taking antidepressants during pregnancy, an effective non-drug approach such as acupuncture is welcome.Depression during pregnancy, also referred to as antepartum depression, is a

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-45710065010517421692010-02-03T13:03:00.000-08:002010-02-03T13:07:15.579-08:00

Pregnancy and motherhood do not affect a woman’s memory, the results of a new study indicate.According to the findings, so-called ‘baby brain’ is a myth and pregnant women and mothers should not blame memory lapses on their growing babies.Researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) assessed the cognitive functioning of 1,241 women, aged 20-24. Four specific areas were assessed –

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-84536887914710321362010-02-03T12:58:00.000-08:002010-02-03T13:03:21.887-08:00

A chemical imbalance in a baby's brain may be behind sudden infant death syndrome, the exact cause of which has eluded scientists for decades. According to a study published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, lower levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that aids several brain functions, as well as lower levels of an enzyme that helps create serotonin, increase a

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-64849928514984921092010-02-03T12:53:00.000-08:002010-02-03T12:58:41.213-08:00

The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative is a global campaign by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and The United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF), which recognises that implementing best practice in the maternity service is crucial to the success of programmes to promote breastfeeding. Genevieve Becker, National Co-ordinator of the BFHI in Ireland congratulated Portiuncula Hospital on being

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-69682005150680948822010-02-03T12:46:00.000-08:002010-02-03T12:53:45.146-08:00

PBDEs, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers, are hormone-disrupting pollutants that build up in the blood and tissues. In a study in the latest issue of Environmental Health Perspectives, researchers found that, for each 10-fold increase in PBDE blood concentration, women experience a 30 percent decrease in the odds of getting pregnant each month. PBDEs have been associated with reproductive and

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-60333265416778263622010-02-02T13:27:00.000-08:002010-02-02T13:32:06.350-08:00

PRICE differences between two of Dublin's major maternity hospitals have led to a call for regulation of fees which expectant mothers are forced to pay. Semi-private patients at the Rotunda Hospital have to fork out a non-refundable deposit of €1,200, while mothers attending Holles Street Hospital semi-privately pay €500. The Rotunda raised its price by €400 in the middle of last year, and it

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-83979711932230121132010-02-02T13:19:00.000-08:002010-02-02T13:27:15.832-08:00

New study indicates chemicals found in flame retardants may effect the intelligence of young children.The Environmental Protection Agency's administrator, Lisa Jackson, recently laid out her top priorities for the coming year. And right at the top of the list: Improving chemical safety."We will be accelerating work on chemicals of concern and supporting reform of our nation's chemical laws so

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-14466500117603501832010-02-01T12:45:00.000-08:002010-02-01T13:01:47.745-08:00

In between advice for expectant mothers on breathing, visualisation and when to push, the midwife who gave us our pre-natal course had a few words of advice for the fathers. In a nutshell, they amounted to "Keep out of the way" and "Don't imagine we'll have any time to worry about you". Beyond that, the only other advice aimed at the fathers was how to bath a new baby and change a nappy. It

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-66187469943047606542010-02-01T04:39:00.000-08:002010-02-01T12:45:20.737-08:00

Experts have long suspected a link between mouth bugs and the risk of miscarriage in pregnancy. But they now claim they have the first documented case of oral bacteria killing a nearly full term baby.The study – published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynaecology – reveals the case of a 35 year old woman who had the common gum disease gingivitis. She delivered a stillborn baby at 39 weeks

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-73300651284488284922010-02-01T04:32:00.000-08:002010-02-01T04:38:57.989-08:00

A father was forced to deliver his own baby in a maternity ward after the midwife abandoned them. Thomas Howard frantically pressed the emergency buzzer to alert staff for help when he realised the newborn's arrival was imminent. But when no one at the hospital's maternity suite arrived to deliver the baby, the 33-year-old had to act. Father-of-five Mr Howard said by the time the midwife had

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-59828975394147643842010-01-28T05:40:00.000-08:002010-01-28T05:47:38.578-08:00

Roughly 1 in 10 pregnant women in the U.S. expose their unborn baby to herbal products, according to a new study. Health This finding is potentially concerning, researchers say, given that data on the safety of herbal use during pregnancy is lacking. Furthermore, the prevalence of exposure was highest in the first 3 months of pregnancy, a critical period of development. "If we assume that

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-55105659787130295202010-01-28T05:37:00.000-08:002010-01-28T05:40:56.215-08:00

Scientists say flame retardant chemicals found in older furniture can cause delays in becoming pregnant. The chemicals, called PBDEs, were in common use in the 1970s in lounge suites, electronics, fabrics, carpets, and plastics, but were have been phased in Europe since the 1990s. The chemicals can leach out through dust gathered on surfaces which contain the compounds.They can be inhaled

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-58655846115196734892010-01-28T05:27:00.000-08:002010-01-28T05:37:40.327-08:00

'Desperate Housewives' star Neal McDonough and his wife, Ruvé Robertson, are celebrating the birth of their third child. People magazine reports that the couple's daughter, London Jane McDonough, was born on 11 January in Los Angeles, weighing 7.95lbs. Speaking to People, Robertson said: "Morgan Patrick, four, and Catherine Maggie, who is two-and-a-half, are thrilled to have a new baby sister

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-24493440907094921182010-01-28T05:23:00.000-08:002010-01-28T05:27:05.840-08:00

AN eight-year-old boy has secured a €3m settlement in a High Court action over severe injuries he suffered at birth. Sean Fitzpatrick, who has cerebral palsy, is unable to speak and will require a wheelchair as a result of the injuries he sustained during his birth at Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, on March 29, 2001. Sean, who sued through his mother Gillian Fitzpatrick of Nephin View,

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-18140492743696454212010-01-28T05:19:00.000-08:002010-01-28T05:23:32.089-08:00

Fathers will be able to take up to six months' paternity leave while their child's mother returns to work, under government proposals due to be announced later today. Ministers are expected to say that fathers will have a legal right to take the place of the mother at home for the last three months of her nine-month maternity leave. During that time, they would be eligible for statutory

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-30669669678842704242010-01-28T05:12:00.000-08:002010-01-28T05:19:22.187-08:00

Scott Moore, the world's second known "pregnant man," is expecting his first baby next month with his partner. Scott, a British transgender man who used to be a woman, is due to give birth to a baby boy in February, according to reports. Scott and his partner, Thomas, were both originally born as girls, but have undergone surgery and hormone treatments to transform their physical

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-20175839619059727992010-01-26T14:19:00.000-08:002010-01-26T14:29:23.384-08:00

Mothers are having to give birth in corridors due to overcrowding in Dublin's maternity hospitals, it has been claimed. Campaigners say the pressures on hospitals are so great that some women never make it to the delivery rooms. The Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services (AIMS) said there is evidence that corridor births are taking place. It is calling for a greater emphasis

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-61354124788740990652010-01-26T14:15:00.000-08:002010-01-26T14:19:32.513-08:00

Flame-retardant chemicals found in many household consumer products may reduce fertility in women, researchers reported today. Their study joins several other papers published in the last two years suggesting that the chemicals, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, affect human health.PBDEs have been used as flame retardants for four decades and are found in foam furniture, electronics,

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-26570023277213079232010-01-25T13:50:00.000-08:002010-01-25T14:23:49.910-08:00

THE parents of Cork-based conjoined twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf who were born seven weeks ago have been inundated with messages of support from well-wishers since they brought their "little fighters" home from hospital earlier this week. The twins, whose care is shared between Cork University Maternity Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, were born at University

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-21908296050076004242010-01-25T13:47:00.000-08:002010-01-25T13:50:22.991-08:00

Westlife star Shane Filan and his wife Gillian have welcomed their third child, a baby boy. According to the Irish Independent, the baby was born at 9.30pm on Friday night at Sligo General Hospital. The baby, who will be named Shane Peter Filan, reportedly weighed 6lbs 9oz. A friend told the newspaper: "Shane and Gillian are over the moon with their new arrival."© RTÉ 2010READ FULL ARTICLE

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-65411321666005814512010-01-25T13:43:00.000-08:002010-01-25T13:46:58.980-08:00

The connection between poor oral health such as gum disease and unborn babies has been established before but the new study from researchers at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio has for the first time connected a pregnant mother’s gum infection to a stillbirth.Pregnant women with untreated gum disease such as gingivitis may be risking the lives of their babies, says a new

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-76188468953195910252010-01-25T13:34:00.000-08:002010-01-25T13:43:50.878-08:00

I used to think travelling was a hassle; having a strange security woman getting more familiar with you than you'd allow on a first date, and handing over tweezers, lighters and expensive anti-cellulite cream (I tried to explain once that this was medication but they were having none of it). But the nice thing was, once through security, you could wander off to the bar for a drink, or spray

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-77790501381675838962010-01-20T14:22:00.000-08:002010-01-20T14:56:05.573-08:00

There is no reason why pregnant women at low risk for complications during delivery should be denied fluids and food during labor, a new Cochrane research review concludes. "Women should be free to eat and drink in labor, or not, as they wish," the authors of the review wrote in the Cochrane Library, a publication of the Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-56228463592674059172010-01-20T14:18:00.000-08:002010-01-20T14:22:13.037-08:00

Dannii Minogue dazzled on the red carpet at London's 02 Arena for the National Television Awards tonight - her first public engagement since she announced her pregnancy. The X Factor judge, who is three months pregnant with boyfriend Kris Smith looked blooming, but any signs of a baby bump were disguised by a full-skirted black and white striped vintage prom dress, which she wore with

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-33933474920606155252010-01-15T13:01:00.000-08:002010-01-15T13:08:28.361-08:00

A baby boy has taken part in a brain study to help psychologists understand how autism develops. Four-month-old Matai Reid was monitored by scientists at Durham University to see how he responded to different moving images on a television screen. Matai, from Durham, was fitted with a cap with sensors attached so his brain activity could be recorded. Dr Vincent Reid, a psychologist at Durham

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-17146486259802175422010-01-15T12:47:00.000-08:002010-01-15T13:01:30.528-08:00

Dannii Minogue is pregnant with her first child. The 38-year-old is expecting a baby with her former rugby player boyfriend Kris Smith. The pop star-turned-X-Factor-judge has received the results of her 12-week scan, and she and her partner were said to be "delighted". Dannii's spokesman Simon Jones said: "Dannii and Kris are very excited and can't wait to start their family in 2010."Copyright

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-48998817220156221262010-01-15T12:40:00.000-08:002010-01-15T12:47:24.535-08:00

Schiffer, 39, and husband Matthew Vaughn, the British film producer and director, already have two children - Caspar, six, and Clementine, five. The German model married Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels producer Vaughan in 2003 and immediately decided to start a family."I thought, 'I have the right man, I'm going to have kids right away, let's not waste time'," she has said. One of the

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-72920153340067483992010-01-13T06:05:00.000-08:002010-01-13T06:11:41.719-08:00

An estimated nine in 10 people have traces of Bisphenol A, or BPA, in their bodies. Scientists found that those with high levels of the chemicals in their bodies were a third more likely to develop heart disease than those with low levels.The findings follow similar results from a study last year and prove that they were not a “blip” researchers said. BPA is one of the world’s most common

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-68438220797451171812010-01-12T13:11:00.000-08:002010-01-12T13:17:14.971-08:00

While many plastic baby bottles do not contain BPA, even BPA-free plastic can leach petroleum by products and other chemical components of plastic when heated, scuffed, scratched or worn. Glass bottles are an inexpensive baby bottle option, but glass comes with its own safety hazards... you can't exactly toss a glass baby bottle in the car or the bottom of your bag and expect it to remain

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-20743004048608448782010-01-12T13:02:00.000-08:002010-01-12T13:11:40.638-08:00

Midwife-led, woman-centred care is key to the transformation of maternity services, according to the Association for Improvements in Maternity services (AIMS Ireland). AIMS was commenting on a new study by TCD researchers which showed that midwifery-led care as practised in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and Cavan General hospital was as safe as consultant-led care, resulted in less

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-6344900476460711742010-01-12T12:57:00.000-08:002010-01-12T13:02:10.344-08:00

The risk factors for depression in pregnant women have been thoroughly reviewed to help clinicians identify and treat women early. Researchers out of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor have reviewed over 1,300 peer-reviewed articles about depression in pregnancy with hopes of clearly identifying risk factors for antepartum depression. The researchers expect the identification of risk

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-8533013795866004492010-01-12T12:48:00.000-08:002010-01-12T12:57:48.527-08:00

Love her or hate her, when it comes to Gina Ford, parents seem to almost always fall into two camps, and very rarely does anyone sit on the fence. Dubbed the "Queen of Routine", she took her 12 years of looking after 300 babies as a maternity nurse to publish a strictly regimented method for raising infants. Her best-selling guide The Contented Little Baby Book, first published in 1999,

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-29844876054118865422010-01-12T12:41:00.000-08:002010-01-12T12:47:58.843-08:00

One step forward, two steps back. Just when we thought the State had learned lessons on the need to own up to health scandals come revelations about its attitude to thalidomide survivors. Thalidomide was a wonder drug licensed here in the late 1950s and early 1960s which was given to pregnant women to prevent morning sickness and insomnia. But it led to one of the worst drugs scandals

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-49957087099336167452010-01-08T08:19:00.000-08:002010-01-08T08:21:51.029-08:00

THE National Maternity Hospital at Holles Street has been granted permission to expand after the HSE was told facilities in the hospital were resulting in law suits. An Bord Pleanala said the hospital can now go ahead with plans to build a six-storey extension. The HSE approved the expansion in 2008, four years after an internal report told them that inadequate facilities and staffing were a

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-54342030854880295932010-01-08T08:12:00.000-08:002010-01-08T08:19:08.026-08:00

ONE of the first babies of the new year was delivered by her father in a dramatic home delivery, 10 days before the due date. Robyn Gahan Darcy was delivered by her dad John Gahan in a bedroom at the family home in Tinahely, Co Carlow, at 3am on New Year's Day. Her mum Margaret Darcy, went into a shock labour after she experienced slight pains on New Year's Eve, and Robyn arrived just five

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-5348125168569519642010-01-08T08:06:00.000-08:002010-01-08T08:12:19.684-08:00

LAYERS of grime and dirty equipment used to examine the condition of babies in the womb were discovered by inspectors in one of the country's main maternity hospitals, a report has revealed. An inspector's visit to Limerick Regional Maternity Hospital, which delivers 5,000 babies a year, found that the standard of hygiene was poor in most areas examined. Medical equipment was "visibly not

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-30292297579065595682010-01-08T08:03:00.000-08:002010-01-08T08:06:12.890-08:00

Pregnant women who are induced may be at an increased risk of needing a Caesarean section, the results of a new study indicate.In Ireland, the induction of labour is carried out for a range of reasons, such as if the baby is a certain amount of time overdue or if a woman’s water has broken but labour had not started spontaneously.Previous studies have indicated a link between induction and

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-22170174271278292202010-01-08T07:57:00.000-08:002010-01-08T08:03:35.772-08:00

A hospital administration error saved an unborn baby from dying in the womb after his pregnant mother was mistakenly called in for an extra scan.Alfie Buckle could have died, three months before he was due to be born, after complications with the placenta. His parents Emma, 28, and Gregg, 36, were completely unaware of the problem with their first-born - having been told he was completely

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-57150720320853553542010-01-07T09:06:00.000-08:002010-01-07T13:01:05.192-08:00

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month, and the week of Jan. 4-10 is Folic Acid Awareness Week. As you may know, there is a relationship between folic acid and birth defects. Many birth defects of the brain and spine, called neural tube defects, occur in the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. The good news is that 70 percent of neural tube

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-23849041611422317992010-01-07T09:00:00.000-08:002010-01-07T09:06:06.054-08:00

For one Granard family, this Christmas was extra special. On December 23, Pat and Eilish O'Hara's 11 month old baby, Ronan was electrocuted after he pulled a light from its holder on a Christmas decoration. Were it not for the quick thinking of Ronan's nine year old brother Cian, who realised what had happened and pulled the decoration's plug from the socket, the little baby could have

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-67984320620661314202010-01-07T08:51:00.000-08:002010-01-07T08:59:58.908-08:00

Teenage girls who are too thin may face major problems with their bones, including osteoporosis, new research indicates.It is already known that the amount of muscle in the body is related to bone growth. However these new findings show that fat mass is also important for the building of bones, particularly in girls.The findings come from the ‘Children of the 90s’ project, an ongoing health

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-78555189323997346512010-01-07T08:39:00.000-08:002010-01-07T08:51:12.338-08:00

MATTHEW AND Lucy were the most popular names chosen by parents who announced their babies’ arrivals in the birth columns of The Irish Times last year. This was a major comeback for Lucy, which languished in tenth place last year after being the second most popular name in 2007. Matthew shared the fourth most popular slot with Adam in 2008 but toppled James from the top spot last year. More

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-24125521702087919892010-01-07T08:33:00.000-08:002010-01-07T08:39:17.466-08:00

Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe has again scooped the “Baby Friendly Hospital” award. The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative is a global campaign by the World Health Organisation and The United Nation Children’s Fund. It recognises that implementing best practice in maternity services is crucial to the success of programmes promoting breastfeeding. Mary Mahon, clinical midwife specialist

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-25004913507856749362010-01-04T09:16:00.000-08:002010-01-04T09:41:36.694-08:00

If you're pregnant and looking for an excuse to eat bacon and eggs, now you've got one: a new research study published in the January 2010 print issue of the FASEB Journal by a team of University of North Carolina researchers shows that choline plays a critical role in helping fetal brains develop regions associated with memory. Choline is found in meats, including pork, as well as chicken

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-45558117636216818542010-01-04T09:09:00.000-08:002010-01-04T09:16:09.976-08:00

So what’s the most scrumptious, wholesome, exquisite, healthful, gratifying food in the world? It’s not ambrosia, and it’s not even pepperoni pizza. Hint: It’s far cheaper. A year’s supply costs less than the cheapest hamburger. Give up? Here’s another hint: It’s lifesaving for children and for women who may become pregnant. If you know of a woman who may become pregnant, make sure she gets

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-32368967954906657842010-01-04T09:04:00.000-08:002010-01-04T09:09:20.871-08:00

Reports on the benefits of breast-feeding continue to accumulate as researchers evaluate the breast-over-bottle option. It's been shown to help a baby's later performance in school, to reduce the odds of problem behavior and to help kids cope with stress. And moms stand to benefit later on as well, studies show. But what is it about breast-feeding that's so helpful and healthy? For starters,

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-91529384451934650202010-01-04T09:00:00.000-08:002010-01-04T09:04:44.034-08:00

If you are pregnant or plan to get pregnant, is it safe to take medications, or will they harm you and/or your baby? That’s a question that haunts many pregnant women and medical professionals alike, and it is one that a new research program plans to investigate.The program is called the Medication Exposure inPregnancy Risk Evaluation Program (MEPREP), and it is a collaborative effort of the

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-48716779879713434082010-01-04T08:55:00.000-08:002010-01-04T09:00:03.737-08:00

One in six children experiences difficulties in learning how to talk, according to a poll published today. Boys are twice as likely to struggle as girls, the survey of more than 1,000 parents also reveals. The poll, conducted by YouGov to coincide with the first day in office of the new Communication Champion for Children Jean Gross, says four per cent of children had still not said their

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-42145776787896761792010-01-04T08:52:00.000-08:002010-01-04T08:55:34.276-08:00

A Filipina maid was caught on closed-circuit television slapping the 11-month-old baby of her employer and later pushing the child to the wall when both of them were home alone. The 31-year-old maid was arrested by police following the incident in a house in Bandar Sri Damansara around noon on Friday. It is believed the baby’s parents had taken their older child out to lunch at 11.30am and

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-9077746433757807972010-01-04T08:46:00.000-08:002010-01-04T08:52:36.642-08:00

Matthew McConaughey and his girlfriend Camila Alves have welcomed a baby daughter. Vida Alves McConaughey arrived on Sunday at 12.13am weighing 7lbs 7oz, the 40-year-old actor announced on his website. 'Vida is Portuguese for life and that's what God gave us this morning,' McConaughey blogged.'Camila's recovering wonderfully and we are both truly honored to welcome this little lady into our

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-65984464683271598352010-01-04T08:34:00.000-08:002010-01-04T08:46:41.965-08:00

I know there are many brilliant women out there who work on jobs right up to the moment they go into labour. Who don't drop the ball ever in the nine months they're carrying their babe inside - who never forget things... and hats off to them.But that definitely wasn't me. Now I know being pregnant isn't an illness and doesn't suddenly render you completely incompetent - not usually anyway.

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-28226249739465066252009-12-30T07:47:00.000-08:002009-12-30T08:01:00.995-08:00

THE American dream has turned sour for one young mother as she spends the festive period in a legal limbo, unable to take her child home to Ireland. Ciara (not her real name) was branded a child abductor after she failed to bring her three-year-old daughter Lauren back to the martial home on the west coast of the United States after a visit to her family in Ireland. It was during this trip

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-27726002612899683392009-12-30T07:43:00.000-08:002009-12-30T07:47:04.479-08:00

The Health Service Executive (HSE) was warned a year ago that the Coombe Women's Hospital building is "rapidly deteriorating" and poses serious risks in areas like infection control. But nine months later, in September, it was again pleading with the HSE to provide €3.2m in capital funding -- otherwise it could not take responsibility for the risks involved. Coombe Women's Hospital Master

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-69305379763126526332009-12-30T07:34:00.000-08:002009-12-30T07:43:11.158-08:00

The staff were under so much pressure they couldn't spend time showing me how to breastfeed WHEN I was first pregnant with my son Mitchell seven years ago I thought it sensible to go semi-private in a busy Dublin maternity hospital. In the end, it made no difference. The delivery suites were full while I laboured and I had to wait in line until one became available. Likewise, the private and

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-76554964147075436702009-12-30T07:29:00.000-08:002009-12-30T07:34:45.015-08:00

Jack – the moniker of Messrs Nicholson and Straw – retained its title for the 15th year running. Olivia secured a second successive stint as the girls' favourite having taken over from Grace in 2008.The highest climbers this year were Lucas, which raced 24 places up the charts to make number 15, and Maisie, which moved up 29 places to 41st. Layla also scored well, up 21 places to number 46

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-55613509353685495342009-12-30T07:18:00.000-08:002009-12-30T07:29:38.727-08:00

SADLY, people who avail of hospital services these days routinely expect to be put on a waiting list for some sort. It's a symptom of the times. However, patients who are already stressed by the impact of economic recession should at least be able to feel safe and secure in a hospital. One group of patients remains resolutely indifferent to cutbacks and the under-resourcing of services. They

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-4377330430531871812009-12-30T07:13:00.000-08:002009-12-30T07:18:56.396-08:00

Champagne and eggnog are holiday favorites, but if you're pregnant, those two drinks are on the top of the list of drinks you should avoid.Homemade eggnog tops the list because it contains raw eggs, which carry the risk of getting you and your baby sick with salmonella.That eggnog is especially bad if your party host decides to mix it with alcohol.Store-bought eggnog is fine as it is

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-74957305953619703612009-12-30T07:03:00.000-08:002009-12-30T07:13:45.746-08:00

Traveling during the holidays can be difficult, even more so when you're pregnant. Hauling luggage, navigating crowded airports and sitting for hours in cramped seats can make you wish you stayed home. But you don't want to miss the eggnog at Grandma's annual gathering, right? To avoid problems, pregnant women should take a few precautions, Dr. Charles Hux, an obstetrician and maternal fetal

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-34571777895669728432009-12-27T09:06:00.000-08:002009-12-27T09:12:30.178-08:00

Though a growing percentage of American moms start their infants on human milk, relatively few continue breast-feeding for the baby's first six months of life, let alone an entire year. Why not stick it out longer? Numerous obstacles can prove difficult for new moms, but California researchers say they found that returning to work soon after giving birth presents a major barrier to

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-56583960718166725432009-12-21T13:05:00.000-08:002009-12-21T13:30:38.361-08:00

Many clinical studies have concluded that exposure to large amounts of Bisphenol A can be fatal, and now the US Senate has started discussing legislature relating to a proposed ban on it's use in products for kids under the age of three, like toys and baby's bottles. It seems like a storm is brewing for this particular organic compound, and now people are finally beginning to take real note

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212926388913585950.post-57449797442246700742009-12-16T07:16:00.000-08:002009-12-16T07:19:48.056-08:00

Sleepless nights and crèche runs used to be the lot of the working mother, but now working fathers are feeling the strain too. This comes as no surprise to parenting coach Sheila O'Malley, who has seen an increase in the number of men attending her courses in recent years. "Much more is expected of the Irish father these days," says Sheila. "Now both parents are working, no one is in a

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992130870581327367noreply@blogger.com0