Our environment today can easily disrupt our hormone system and cause us to come up against difficulties conceiving. A recent study showed that 11.5% to 15.7% of Canadian couples struggle with infertility, which is close to 1 in 6 couples. That number has more than doubled since 1984, where the estimated percentage was 5.4%.
Written By Breanne Percy - INHC, FDN-P
Read MoreI have these warm fuzzy memories of Christmas as a child. My mother always had the house looking festive with decorations, delicious baking and savoury meals being cooked, holiday music playing and fun activities that lasted for days. It seemed so seamless and shaped a deep love of the holidays and the associated family times for me.
Now that I am a mother, my appreciation for all of that has truly grown ten-fold. My first few christmas experiences as a mother were valid attempts to replicate what I wanted my children to see, smell and experience through the holidays. An honest confession though, it was not seamless, I was exhausted and really did not enjoy much of it.
Contributor: Kristy Martin Hale, Mother/Writer
Read MorePassing clots of blood is not uncommon during the first two weeks postpartum and clot size can range from the size of a pea to a golf ball – and can be quite shocking if you’re not prepared.
Blood clots form when you are sitting or laying down – remember that blood we talked about pooling in the vagina? As it pools, the blood may clot. Some women experience discomfort walking or using the toilet and many report that after passing a clot the discomfort goes away. Typically the rule of thumb is golf-ball sized clots are fine but baseball-sized clots require follow up with your midwife or doctor.
However, if you have prolonged red bleeding and clots after the first week postpartum and are experiencing pain in your abdomen or have any sign of fever or chills you should contact your care provider.
Written by Gill Polard
Read MoreSince the 1990s, services for pregnant women and mothers using harm reduction approaches have emerged in many areas of Canada. Harm reduction is an approach that helps to reduce the negative effects of alcohol and drug use at the same time as helping women to meet their immediate health, social and safety needs.
Read MoreContributed by Guest Blogger: Opeyemi
Read MoreContributed by guest blogger: Colleen Gray, Financial Advisor
Read MoreContributed by Guest Blogger: Lindsay Campa
Read MoreContributed by Baby Blogger: Cate Black
Read MoreContributed by Guest Blogger: Kristy Martin Hale Mother/Writer
Read MoreGuest Blogger: Kristy Martin Hale, Mother & Writer
Read MoreManda Aufochs Gillespie, founded The Green Mama in 2007, bringing 15 years of environmental planning and research to the issue of raising healthy children. She has been described in the media as “the green guru” and “serious, but not absolute.” Her work has most recently been showcased on the televsion shows Save My Planet (on ABC’s Living Well network) and The Lazy Environmentalist (on HBO). She is currently writing a book on the environmental impacts on pregnancy and birth.
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