If your baby or child is often irritable, has trouble sleeping, reflux, diarrhoea, constipation, skin rashes or persistent respiratory congestion it may be worth checking whether they are reacting to wheat. Children who react to dairy or soy, or who have a family history of wheat intolerance, are more at risk of wheat intolerance.

If you suspect your child is wheat intolerant you should start by eliminating wheat from their diet for two weeks to see if their symptoms improve. If your baby is breastfed you will need to eliminate wheat from your diet too as they can react to the presence of wheat in your breastmilk. Your doctor may be able to perform an allergy skin test to check for a reaction to wheat, although mild wheat intolerance may not register.

If you discover your child has an intolerance to wheat you may need to reduce the amount of wheat in their diet or eliminate it altogether. If you eliminate wheat from your child’s diet it is a good idea to consult with a dietician about what you should substitute to ensure your child is not missing out on essential calories and nutrients. There are also a number of good cook books with wheat free recipes you may find useful. Wheat intolerance is often outgrown so you can reintroduce wheat and check if your child has a reaction when they are older.

Although wheat intolerance is a common condition in children the good news is it is rarely severe, can be easily treated and is often outgrown by the time they are at school.

Kegel exercises are designed to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles which support the bladder, urethra and rectum. If these muscles are weakened it can lead to bladder incontinence, prolapsed bladder and in more severe cases bowel incontinence. The majority of women will first realise their pelvic floor muscles are weakened when they notice a small amount of urine escapes when they exercise, sneeze or cough. To prevent this and to improve the function of your pelvic floor muscles you should practice Kegel exercises several times a week. If you are able to do this before you become pregnant you will be in a better position to avoid or minimise these issues.

For Kegel exercises to be effective it is important that you do them correctly. You need to practice squeezing your pelvic floor muscles and holding them for a few seconds, then releasing for a few seconds and repeating several times. It can be difficult to know whether you are squeezing the right muscles so it is a good idea to seek advice from your doctor, midwife or physiotherapist who can help. Many maternity hospitals will have a physiotherapist visit you in hospital who will give you information on how to do Kegel exercises properly. It will probably take 6-8 weeks before you start to see an improvement so don’t be disheartened if your pelvic floor muscles take some time to improve.

Kegel exercises are the most effective way to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and are something that every woman should learn to do correctly and practice consistently.

There are three main types of health problems relating to wheat. These are wheat allergy, coeliac disease and wheat intolerance. Wheat allergy and coeliac disease are easier to diagnose as exposure to wheat, or gluten in the case of coeliac disease, produces an immunological response in the person which can be measured through clinical testing.
The symptoms of wheat intolerance are often similar, although less severe, to those of wheat allergy and coeliac disease. These include bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, itchy skin or headaches. Many people find that if they are tested for wheat allergy or coeliac disease and the tests are negative their belief that they are affected by wheat is dismissed. Just because a diagnosis is difficult does not mean that there is nothing you can do if you suspect you have an intolerance to wheat.

One thing you can do is cut out wheat from your diet for a few weeks and see if your symptoms improve. If they do it does not hurt to eliminate wheat from your diet. Many people also find that alternative health practitioners such as naturopaths are more open to assisting with food intolerances so you could try consulting with them.

Wheat intolerance, although hard to diagnose, is a real condition. If you believe that you have a negative reaction to wheat you should seek medical advice to rule out wheat allergy or coeliac disease. If eliminating wheat from your diet helps relieve your symptoms there is no harm in doing so.

Although the softening of ligaments occurs in all women who are pregnant only some will suffer from SPD. The reason for this is not known but it is believed to be related to the difference in how much each side of the pelvis moves, not the size of the gap between them. It can also occur with no obvious difference in movement so this is not used a tool to diagnose symphysis pubis dysfunction.

The most common symptoms are back pain, pain across the pelvic bone area, grinding or clicking in the pelvic area and pain in your thighs. It is often worse at night. Usually if SPD is suspected you will be referred to a physiotherapist who will diagnose it and help you to manage it. They will usually tailor an exercise plan to help alleviate the pain, give you some advice on modifying your movements to minimise discomfort and may suggest you wear a pelvic support belt to give you some relief. Some women seek the advice of acupuncturists, chiropractors, osteopaths and other alternative health practitioners. If you decide to do this it is important to find one that is registered and experienced with pregnancy.
In most cases symphysis pubis dysfunction will clear up on it’s own some time after you give birth. This could be as quickly as within a week or two or as long as a year. Every woman is different and you should continue seeing the physiotherapist as long as you need to.

In most cases the cause of placental abruption is unknown but there are a number of factors that may increase your risk. These include abdominal trauma, high blood pressure, substance use, older maternal age, having twins, triplets or other multiple births, amniocentesis, polyhydramnios and blood clotting conditions.

Symptoms of placental abruption include bleeding, abdominal pain, lower back ache, uterine contractions and foetal distress. Since these symptoms are common to many other conditions you need to have them checked out immediately. It can be difficult to diagnose placental abruption so a range of tools may be used such as reviewing your medical history, physical and internal exams, ultrasound, foetal monitoring and blood tests.

If placental abruption is suspected you will be closely monitored and on bed rest, either at home or in hospital, until your baby is is mature enough to be induced safely. If you are at least 36 weeks it is likely you will be induced immediately as the risks of continuing the pregnancy is higher than the risks of inducing labour. Severe cases will require immediate induction or caesarean section as the risk of death to both you and your baby are high if you continue the pregnancy.

The most important thing you can do if you experience any of the symptoms of placental abruption is to seek medical help immediately. The sooner you and your baby are monitored, the more likely you can minimise the risks to you both.

The most common sign of placenta praevia is bleeding around the 20 week mark. If you have any blood loss during pregnancy you should have it checked out as it can be a symptom of a range of pregnancy complications, not only placenta praevia. In placenta pravia this bleeding occurs because the cervix is beginning to dilate and thin in preparation for childbirth. If the placenta is covering the cervix this causes it to tear and bleed.

Bleeding may be from a number of causes so further tests need to be done before diagnosing placenta praevia. Your obstetrician may palpate your uterus to see which position your baby is in because one third of babies whose mothers have placenta praevia are either sideways or bottoms first. In most cases an ultrasound is the first test used as this can provide an accurate view of where the placenta is attached.

If placenta praevia is diagnosed there are a number of precautions that will be suggested to you to prolong pregnancy as this will give your baby the best chance to avoid the complications of premature birth. Some of these include bed rest, hospitalisation, careful monitoring of you and your baby and blood transfusions for you if you have lost a lot of blood.
Once your baby is at least 36 weeks, or if prolonging the pregnancy any further would risk your life, your baby will be delivered by caesarean section. A vaginal birth is too risky, even if the cervix is only partially covered.

Although placenta praevia carries risks, if diagnosed early, they can be monitored and managed so that both you and your baby can navigate pregnancy and birth safely.

Cradle cap is most likely caused by an excess of maternal hormones in the baby that result in an increased production of sebum which traps flaking skin on the scalp instead of allowing it to shed normally. There is nothing wrong with leaving the cradle cap to clear up by itself but most parents prefer to try and remove it for cosmetic purposes.

The best way to try and remove cradle cap is to use a warm flannel at bath time to soften it up and gently rub the flaky skin off. Be careful not to force it off and don’t expect to get all the cradle cap off at one time. Another method is to gently rub a baby safe oil, such as jojoba oil or olive oil, onto the cradle cap and leave to soften overnight. Rinse it out and try to remove the cradle cap with a flannel or soft baby brush the next morning. It’s best not to use essential oils or chemical treatments and shampoos on your baby as they can cause irritation.

Usually you will see an improvement within a week but cradle cap is not something you can cure so you may need to continue to remove it until your baby grows. Although cradle cap is usually harmless you should still watch for signs of infection such as redness, blisters or spreading to other parts of the face or body. If you notice any of these you should seek medical advice.

Ectopic pregnancies are not uncommon and may occur in any woman. There are some factors which increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. These include scarring or a blockage in the fallopian tube, a history of ectopic pregnancies, a history of endometriosis, the use of fertility drugs, progesterone based birth control methods and in rare cases a genetic abnormality or birth defect which affects the shape of the fallopian tube.

Ectopic pregnancies can be hard to diagnose, particularly in the early stages, as the symptoms are the same as in a healthy pregnancy. Vaginal spotting, low blood pressure, fainting or dizziness and lower back pain are additional symptoms that can indicate an ectopic pregnancy so you should be checked out if you experience any of these.
If an ectopic pregnancy is suspected you may be tested for pregnancy and then your HcG hormone levels may be checked to see if they are low for your gestation. Ultrasound may also be used to check whether there is an embryo and if so where it has implanted but an early pregnancy may be too small to see. If an ectopic pregnancy can not be confirmed or ruled out you will probably need to have follow up tests every few days to check. Once an ectopic pregnancy has been confirmed it can usually be removed with laparoscopic surgery.

Ectopic pregnancies that are diagnosed and treated early give you the best chance of avoiding complications so if you have any of the symptoms you should seek medical advice immediately.

So what are some common mastitis symptoms to look out for? Generally they are similar to the flu with a high temperature, the chills and aches and pains all over your body. You may notice a hard lump in one of your breasts which is accompanied by redness and pain. This is caused by a blocked milk duct and is the most common cause of mastitis.

What can you do to relieve mastitis symptoms? The most important thing is to continue to feed your baby, even if it is painful, because this is the most effective way of unblocking your milk duct. A good tip is to feed your baby with their chin pointing towards the blockage as this will help to clear it. You may also find a warm flannel placed on the breast and massaging the blockage will help ease the pain and speed up recovery. It is extremely important that you rest to aid recovery. Most bouts of mastitis will clear up within 24 hours if you follow the advice above. If mastitis symptoms persist, or suddenly worsen, you need to seek medical advice as you may require antibiotics.

So how can you prevent mastitis? The most effective way is to feed your baby as often and for as long as they want. Check your baby’s position and that they are draining your breasts. Keep an eye out for any redness or lumps and apply heat or massage them immediately. Try to get as much rest as possible too.

Mastitis symptoms are uncomfortable but with a bit of knowledge you can learn to recognise them and treat them before you become too unwell.

Your newborn baby will probably look ’scrunched up’, with his arms and legs not fully extended. This is normal, and his limbs will uncurl as he gets used to being outside your tummy. If he appears bowlegged, don’t worry. It’s part of the stretching-out process and will most likely take care of itself by the time he’s five or six months old.

By the end of the month, your baby may lift his head briefly when he’s lying on his stomach and may also be able to turn it from side to side. Jerky movements give way to more fluid ones as his nervous system and muscle control mature. Still, your baby’s primitive reflexes, such as sucking and chewing on his hands, remain dominant.

Newborns are adjusting to a new world very different from the warm, safe confines of the womb, which is why so many infants take to swaddling — being wrapped securely in a blanket.

Ruled by his hunger

Food is the most important thing in your newborn’s life, with sleep running a close second. Most newborn babies will feed every two to three hours around the clock. Sleeping patterns are equally intermittent. Most newborns sleep for a total of 16 to 17 hours in a 24-hour period, but that’s usually broken up into eight or so naps. By the end of the month your baby may have developed something of a feeding and sleeping pattern, but you may not notice any real pattern for months.

Crying is the main form of communication

Your baby doesn’t have much of a personality now — or at least what you might recognize as personality. But he’s busy expressing himself the only way he knows how: crying. He spends his time moving in and out of several different states of sleepiness, quiet alertness and active alertness.

Having undergone the trauma of birth, he’s now trying to deal with an onrush of stimulation. This month your baby becomes quiet and calm when you speak to him gently and hold him upright. He may even make an ‘ah’ sound when he hears your voice and sees your face. Most babies love to be held, caressed, kissed, stroked, massaged and carried. Touch is an important means of communicating with your baby.

He only has eyes for you

Your baby’s vision is still pretty fuzzy. Your face is the most interesting thing to him right now, followed by high-contrast items, which is why black and white toys and mobiles have been introduced. In fact, a newborn’s range of vision is only 12 inches/30 centimeters or so. In other words, your baby can clearly see the face of the person holding him but not much beyond that. Studies show that babies prefer human faces to all other patterns or colors. So keep your face close to your baby’s so he can study your features, and talk to him.

Learning begins immediately

You may notice short periods of time when your newborn is quiet and alert. This is prime time for learning. Use these periods to play and talk with your baby. But if you try to interact with him and he doesn’t seem receptive, he may have become sleepy or moved into a state of active alertness.

Even this early, babies can recognize faces and gestures intuitively — and sometimes even imitate them. Give your newborn a chance to imitate your facial expressions by putting your face close to his and sticking out your tongue or raising your eyebrows a few times. Repeat it. Then give him some time to mimic your gesture. It may take him a few minutes, or he may not do anything, but he’s definitely watching you.

Playing with your newborn

Mobiles with high-contrast patterns, and picture books with strong line drawings will captivate your baby. But be alert to your baby’s reactions to stimulation and interaction. While it’s great to help him start learning about his world, some babies can tolerate only brief periods of interaction, or stimulation of just one sense at a time. Your baby will show you he’s over-stimulated by yawning, averting his gaze, arching his back, turning his face, fussing or crying. He’ll also tell you what he enjoys, and believe it or not, you’ll understand his signs in no time.

Babies find their own reflections fascinating. You can amuse him by propping up an unbreakable baby mirror at cotside for him to focus on. He won’t recognize himself just yet but will watch the movement in the mirror at least some of the time. A play gym with plenty of compelling things to watch, swipe at and listen to allows your baby to practice his arm, hand and finger coordination skills — and lying down becomes less boring. In the first few months, he won’t move his arms purposefully to really try and reach particular objects — this sort of movement comes later, in month four or five.

Is my baby developing normally?

Remember, each baby is unique and meets physical milestones at his or her own pace. These are simply guidelines to what your baby has the potential to accomplish — if not right now, then shortly.

And if your baby was born prematurely, you’ll probably find that he’ll need time before he can do the same things as other children his chronological age. That’s why most babies born prematurely are given two ages by their pediatricians — their chronological age (calculated from their birthday) and their adjusted age (calculated from their due date). You should measure your child against his adjusted age, not his chronological one. Don’t worry, most doctors assess a preterm child’s development from the time he should have been born and evaluate his skills accordingly.

If you have any questions at all about your baby’s development, check with your doctor.