Postnatal depression has again been in the spotlight as Covid19 restrictions left new parents and birthing people without their usual support systems.

There is perhaps nothing quite as life-changing as becoming a mum.

From the excitement of nesting and preparing a nursery to the oxytocin rush of that newborn baby smell, the maiden to mother journey is a beautiful one.

It’s a time of growth, evolution, changing perceptions, and often a spiritual and consciousness awakening.

Are you planning a new addition to your family and currently breastfeeding?

Then you might have some questions.

As a naturopath, I support people with conscious conception, including parents with growing families, so breastfeeding during pregnancy has become a common topic in my clinic.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion and misunderstanding in our society about fertility and breastfeeding.

To help, I have collated some of the latest data on breastfeeding during conception and pregnancy to answer all those commonly asked questions.

How do I know if I have a food allergy? 

Australia has been labelled the food allergy capital of the world.

Recent statistics have revealed up to 10 per cent of Australian infants have a proven egg allergy and up to four million Australians have some form of food allergy or intolerance.

The jury is out on why food allergies are increasing, but theories range from delayed introduction of allergenic foods and Vitamin D deficiency to the overexposure of certain medications and diets high in processed foods. 

The robustness of the immune system and gut health may also have an influential role on the development of food allergies. 

But how do you know if you have a food allergy? And what’s the difference between a true allergy and an intolerance? And what foods could you be allergic to?

We all dream of flawless skin.

But the mirror sometimes shows us a different picture.

Whether it’s acne, blackheads, scars, dry patches, redness or wrinkles, our skin can be plagued with problems seemingly beyond our control.

It’s tempting to reach for topical treatments like acne creams and wrinkle busters, but it’s important to remember problem skin isn’t just skin deep.

The Fluoride Debate Fluoride has been added to town water supplies in Australia for health reasons since the 1960s. But questions are increasingly being asked about the safety and consequences of what some have called ‘mass medication’. Fluoridation of water supplies began internationally in 1945 in an effort to improve oral health and reduce the risk of cavities. 

Let’s get right to it because time is a) important and b) in high demand. Realistically being a mum is different for everyone. I got given lots of advice (some unsolicited) and what I took from it and made my own is the following:

1. Remember to breathe. Take one day at a time. Feel what you are feeling and process it, get it out by writing, or talking about it; and breathe Mumma! 

It’s no secret that fertility is my passion as a naturopath. So I thought I’d share some of the basics about reproductive health, and what factors can help and hinder the baby-making process.

Chia seeds are a truley valuable addition to any diet, and they are so easy to squeeze into many different meals. These seeds are so tiny, its amazing that they are so nutritious - packed full of minerals like calcium and manganese but also a great source of protein, fiber and omega-3's. Black, white or brown, whichever chia you chose, you'll certainly benefit from having these every day.

What is PCOS, and what can we do about it? Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) describes a constellation of symptoms, although two out of three criteria must be met: impaired or no ovulation; excessive levels of “male” hormones and multiple (poly-) cysts on the ovaries. Symptoms commonly include menstrual difficulties; male-pattern hair loss or facial hair; acne; infertility and worst of all, miscarriages.

I see a lot of children with behavioural, developmental concerns and physical dysfunction such as loose or hard stools, reflux, flatulence, ear infections, headaches, low or excessive body weight and sleeping issues. 

Becoming a mum is exhausting. All of a sudden, you have another human 100% reliant on you. That’s a lot of stress to be under! So it’s no surprise that many of us experience the dreaded ‘mum fatigue’. Sometimes, it lasts for a few months, sometimes, it lasts decades!

Becoming a mum is exhausting. All of a sudden, you have another human 100% reliant on you. That’s a lot of stress to be under! So it’s no surprise that many of us experience the dreaded ‘mum fatigue’. Sometimes, it lasts for a few months, sometimes, it lasts decades!

Nine of us  like see our children sick, but unfortunately illnesses such as ear and throat infections are common in young children. To make things much worse, recurrent ear or throat infections often result in insertion of grommets, or removal of the tonsils and/or adenoids. We do not want our children to need surgery, so the question is,can we prevent the need for these procedures?